Alec gave an internal sigh of relief as the towers of Lilyfeld Hall came into view over the trees. In hindsight (always helpful), he should have had it out with Mellisande before they left her father's keep. The events of the past two days had made any sort of conversation impossible, let alone one likely …
She was dealing with two couriers, a client demanding an immediate showing of a line that was still only on paper and a journalist hoping to score an unscheduled interview with anyone she could wangle her way in to see. The phone rang, she answered, and asked them to hold, pressing the button before they …
Anaria felt Liam leave the bed the next morning and reluctantly decided to follow suit. This was her life and she needed to get on with living it. She started sorting though her bag for fresh clothes, surprising Liam when he came back through the door moments later with a large jug of water and …
The conversation was interrupted by the reappearance of Violetta, alone this time. "Oh I'm so glad you're still here, I wanted to talk to you without Stephen." Sophia and Connor eyed her with foreboding. "You see, I really want one of those dresses you're making for the other girls. It will be so much fun …
Millie carefully picked her way down the stairs, only looking up at her destination when she was halfway down. What she saw had her staring in amazement. The hollow was a tiny, piled up village, gathered back against the hill, to face a grassy square and an open view to woods and trees beyond. The …
Mav was first with the news, Rory supplying added colour and commentary. "Lady Rosarina is livid! She's the one who sent her father down here to give you a telling off and now he's yelling at her for inappropriate behaviour and being rude to a foreign diplomat." Rory was bubbling, "Of course her tantrum when …
I was sent a brilliant quote in an email newsletter recently. The author of both the newsletter and the quote is a guy called James Clear: "Slow and steady often wins because it keeps you motivated. Take on manageable challenges and you'll get frequent signals of progress. Bite off more than you can chew and …
The laughter was an unexpected relief. "An interesting assumption to make soldier, why do you think he's mine?" The flushed and mumbled answer was cut off by a furred fist punching through the ceiling, then hooking back to tear the hole larger. As with the one on the shutter, this creature added teeth to claws …
Mrs Gresham asked, "Around your age, thinning blond hair and a green coat?" Lexi looked puzzled, "No, age is probably about right but dark hair and his jacket is black or near enough." "Hmm, not the usual one then. Michael, when Steven arrives, tell him to bring the photographer lurking outside with him. They should …
It’s what you’re told, time and time again, when you’re thinking about getting into writing as more than just a pipe dream. You have to write every day. It needs to be a habit, a compulsion. The challenge, of course, is creating the habit. Frankly, when it comes to this sort of thing, I have …
The DNA of Stories 