The silence at the dinner table was deafening, Maria wanted to clatter her knife against her plate, or her glass, something, anything to break the bitter, suffocating blanket their mother had thrown over all of them and their father was doing his best to ignore. Marcus did it for her, casting down both knife and …
Juanita raised a brow when Xavier sidled into her kitchen in Marya’s wake. Her second brow went up when Timon raced through the front door, spotted Leila and his daughter, and sagged in relief. “I’ve been hearing such stories.” He straightened and eyed Xavier. “Are you the lad who was harassing Leila, or are you …
The first time it happened, I was sitting under the kitchen table. It was a good place for a small child in a busy household. Out of the way, unseen, but aware of all the goings-on. So anyway, the first time. It was a holiday, so I wasn’t at school and the kitchen was full …
Emrys walked through the station, making for the café he preferred to use for initial contact meetings. It was public, busy, and open. So, anonymous in a way that only hiding in plain sight could manage. He was in there often enough that all it took was a nod to the people behind the counter …
Xavier accompanied her to her home, then continued on to the galleon with Marya. It was a tense, quiet walk. Marya asked. "Are you going to go back tomorrow?" Leila nodded. "I have to." Marya tensed. "What did he say? He might be the prince but he can't force you into doing anything." Leila summoned …
Another exercise from Steering the Craft, this one playing with tenses and perspectives. Which version do you prefer? Third person, all past tense Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Janice logged in to the blog she’d created all by herself and hit the ‘new post’ button. This week’s recipe ‘From the …
After all the excitement I decided a quiet, at-home day was on the cards the next morning. Chloe had left me a message in the crystal ball. She’d gone up to the tower to visit Ulfgar and I supposed I should follow her up there later. Or not. I sipped my morning cup of tea …
Writing Prompt: You found an abandoned puppy on the side of the road and took it home to keep as a pet. It wasn't until it started to sprout horns did you realise you, unwittingly, adopted a hellhound. It was the eyes, reflecting red in my headlights that caught me. Of course I had to …
Leila twisted her hands into her skirt and looked around the pretty wooden summer house she stood in. Prince Andreas watched her in turn. She wasn’t sure what he was looking for. She turned to take it all in. The walls of the house were an airy lacework of carvings and whimsical pictures. In truth, …
Daniel staggered into the bare, single room of his home, leaning back against the rickety wooden door and groaning. A movement by the fireplace caught his eye and he groaned again. “Really? Can’t you go and be inspirational at someone else tonight? I’m exhausted.” Hope rose and drifted towards him. “It is when you’re at …
The DNA of Stories 