Cadan sat up. “There’s a place closer where we can dry off and rest.” Eleanor looked around, at the dense cover of trees and thick undergrowth. “Someone lives near here?” As they began picking their way through the undergrowth, Cadan said. “Not exactly. Lily Smith’s father liked building things, tinkering about, experimenting. Sometimes the results …
Cadan loosened his hold on her and turned so they could look around. Maybe the pool would recover, become the tranquil haven she’d glimpsed on their race against the flood, but it would take a long time and may never be quite the same, trees fallen, sloping banks gouged out, stones and debris everywhere. The …
We interrupt these stories to bring you news of another story. My first book is up on Amazon! You can read the first part of the first draft here (remember to read from the bottom). But the whole book is now out in the world, with the most gorgeous cover, and was described by my …
They walked for a long time, if she’d done this straight after arriving from town, Eleanor wasn’t sure she would have made it halfway without misery and blisters. Finally, the path began to run beside a gully, containing a stream that Cadan said was the same one running past the village. He found a suitable …
The next morning began in the bath house as usual. When she heard about the planned outing, Martha scoffed. “Typical, taking holidays while the rest of us work.” Eleanor raised a brow. “Like you work on the afternoons I’m with Sarah?” That earned her a hair toss. Martha had irritatingly pretty hair, all black and …
This is a free novella for subscribers to my monthly newsletter, I'd love you to join, and find out what happens... My name is Arianna Goldbest, or possibly FitzMichael. I'm a stain on the family, a dishonour to the name, for I had the temerity to be born out of wedlock. One might presume my …
A week passed, with Martha appearing in Maggie’s workroom on the days Eleanor was there, Tilly said she stayed at the forge or roamed about the village on the other ones. On healing days, she chopped and ground and mixed and stirred and strained. It was tedious work, and for all Sarah claimed to experiment …
The following afternoon, she presented herself at Maggie’s front door, and was handed the spindle. “Best get this out of the way before the horde arrive. You can do your carding while you’re weaving tales.” She’d lost the knack in the short time she’d been away. It took several false starts before she managed to …
Eleanor placed a tentative hand on the cover of the book. “Are these your recipes?” Sarah nodded. “I don’t let on to many that I can read and write. Some in this village made life hard enough that I came from Away, let alone had education. Well, you know a little about that. ‘Twas worse …
They knocked and found Samuel did indeed have time to spare, and more, was delighted to meet the village’s new storyteller. “The younglings were full to bursting with your stories of the last couple of days. And my Tilly, o’course, she’s been parading about the place with her new town braids like the fanciest little …
The DNA of Stories 