2021: Day Six

*Update: 1/2/22 -This post was originally written and scheduled late night on Jan. 4th 2021 to publish on this blog on Jan. 6th 2021, without any prior knowledge of what was to occur. 

Fantasy Friday: Quest - Chapter Twelve

Happy Friday! I've kept you waiting long enough, so I'll skip the intro. Here's the next chapter of Quest of No Return....

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Chapter 12

The second round of horns sounded. Taura still saw no sign of her sister. "I expected her to be back before now. I hope she didn't go out too far."

"Na ahana, Taura. She'll be here." Ziliena reassured her. "She's fine."

"I'd like to think I would know if she weren't."

Fantasy Friday - Quest: Chapter Ten

Happy Friday, friends and fellow fantasy lovers! Hoping you're still coping with these strange times....

I almost didn't make it here with Chapter Ten this week. Sleep is essential for my brain to piece words together coherently, and I've been having a terrible time falling and staying asleep the last few weeks. So, I hope you can ignore the typos, I will fix them later!

If you're new to Isiterra, you can catch up with all of the chapters here.

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Aria lay awake with Hunter stretched out along her side. Her mind was too busy making plans for the hunt to let sleep creep in.

Though she wasn't keeping track of the time, she did notice the light outside changing colors as twilight drew near. Hunter, you awake? She gave him a gentle nudge.

His tail thumped twice on the bed. Is it time to eat?

Yeah. If we hurry, we can save the girls the trip up here.

I'm waiting on you. He jumped from the bed and sat facing the door while Aria dressed.

She pulled on her boots, but didn't lace them up. Do you think I'll need my coat?

I'm planning to wear mine.

Fantasy Friday - Quest: Chapter Seven

It's Friday again, which means more chapters of Quest of No Return! Yes, this week I have two more for you...
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If you need to catch up, you can find the previous chapters here.

Well, here goes....

I've been away, not only from the blog, but Facebook and Twitter too, for what seems like forever. Okay, I've peeked at Twitter here and there. Every site has changed its design. Everything feels like I'm having to learn it all again, and with my inability to really focus on anything for the last couple of years... Yeah. It's been a slow start getting back into it all. 

Not only has everything on the internet changed, but so has the whole world outside. There is so much pain and anger, strength and resilience flying around so fast..... I'm at a loss for words. 

But, I am back at my writing thing. I know it's not going to cure COVID, fix police brutality or remove anyone from office. However, I do hope it might entertain, or at least temporarily distract, someone from their troubles for a little while. So, starting tomorrow, I'll be back to posting weekly chapters from Quest of No Return. And, because I've been away so long, there will be three chapters tomorrow. 

I'm also working on the Society - there are some new Fore Shadows up in my WDC port, if you'd like to check them out. (They're not done, but they are there!) 

Thank you for stopping by, and reading! Please know that I hope you are safe and well, wherever you may be. My usual sign off doesn't seem to feel quite right, given the state of the world - and yet, I still wish for your day, night or sometime in the between to be as beautiful as it can be, in the here and now.

Roari

Continuing the Quest

When I set out to revise Quest last year, my original intent was to post a new chapter each week. Then, the reality of what needed (and needs) to be done set in, and I fell behind. And now, as I get back to it again, I remember what still needs to be fixed. So I'm still behind. In the mean time, the working draft is up on Writing.com. I'm still considering uploading it to Wattpad - if I ever get them posted here!

Midnight Ramble: Catching Up....

Sunrise 1/30/18

It's been too long again. I figured I better post something before January is over. Which will be about an hour from now.

With the dawn of this last school year, the boy and I started having to rise before dawn to get to school. No one in this house is a morning person. Except for Wookiee (he's my back up alarm).

Where April Went...

April was a busy month for me again, mostly in all areas of life other than writing. Though, I'm making some progress there, too....

Getting back to Isiterra....

I've been scattered all over the place except the internet lately, but, somewhere, elsewhere, I did mention something would be coming last Friday.

Midnight Rambling: Inspiration. Motivation. Purpose.

When I start writing a story, I don't think at all about themes. Characters and crazy plots, sure. But, themes? Those work their way into the story along the way. 

There are probably more underlying themes in my Society in the Shadow of Civilization series than even I realize. Some are more subtle than others. Maybe too subtle.

On the surface, it's a roller coaster of emotions following a woman who finds out nothing about her life is what she thought it was, and her journey to finding her place in both the real world, and another time. It's also a tale of time-crossed lovers. But, there's more to it than that.... 

Hello 2017!

It didn't really feel like a New Year until Monday. It bothers me when January 1st falls on a Sunday, because then they go and push the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl to Monday the 2nd, and it just throws me off. Sorry. It's tradition.

Happy Thanksgiving!

via GIPHY

Marking the Milestone

Character Spotlight: Tollack - The Elder

Fore Shadows: Escape 2169 was public on Writing.com first. (Most of what I write starts there.) Over the years, I've had all sorts of feedback on my writing - good, bad, soul-crushing - but, I think my favorite comment on any of my work, to date, was simply "I love Tollack!" I knew I'd accomplished my task.

See, when Sam first learns of the Society in the Shadow of Civilization in The Shadow Watcher, Tollack Pennington isn't so lovable. Having put himself in control of the world her grandfather founded, Tollack is less than thrilled to see Sam show up, because, as Samuel's heir, she could challenge his position. And she does.

What Sam doesn't know is the complex, centuries-old history between Tollack and her family. As her grandfather's best friend, Tollack was more than just one of the founding members of the Society - he was Samuel's most trusted confidant. But the Elder Sam meets is a bitter, jealous, power thirsty dictator. So, how did he go from Earth vacation fishing buddy to nemesis? Yes, it has something to do with a woman ... or two. At least, that's part of it....

Happy Groundhog Day! (Thank you, Phil. We'll take an early Spring, happily....)

It's been quiet in my little corner of the webiverse lately. Okay, more like silent. Except for the choir of crickets singing. Do you hear them? Oh, and the wind from this last storm system howling like a rabid pack of wolves for the last three days - that was exciting.

Snow blew in with the pack for about forty-five minutes Sunday. It wasn't cold enough to stick, but just enough to run around in and have fun with the kids. It also brought a mountain of tumbleweeds to our backyard, which was not as much fun. (Picture this multiplied by ten.)

Society (in the Shadow of Civilization) Talk

I've been on a break from the Society since A Shadow in Doubt. Mostly. The timelines, the hopping, the Fore Shadows, and the events unfolding were making my head spin. I have scenes, little bits and pieces, scattered about all over six hundred and seventy some-odd years now. Sometimes the best way for me to stitch the pieces together is to step away and come back later, with a fresh perspective.

So, I wrote something else for NaNoWriMo again this year, then let my brain turn into jelly for most of December. Now, it's eight days into January. Time to get it back together!

Wrapping up 2015 with a Few of My Favorite Things

One the many things my best friend (henceforth to be known as M) and I share is an unhealthy attachment to cats. M's cat, Michonne, had kittens in November, so she had the opportunity for these adorable Christmas kitty pics! (We might have to use them for Christmas cards next year!)

Holiday Wishes....

'Tis the season, Dear Reader!

Wonder

Hidden messages, plain, in sight,

Whisper, Here, true magic thrives.

Nature beckons, See Earth with open eyes,

And Wander, unraveling its Mystery

While marveling, with Wonder,

At what Miracles appear in the ordinary.

Thank you for reading! I hope you're having a beautiful day, night, or sometime in the between....

Roari

Falling Leaves

Legends of Autumnal Splendor 

Unfold in changing Leaves,

Emblazoned memories

Of Glorious Golden Afternoons,

Drift away, one by one,

Curling up to slumber 

Under Pale Winter's white light,

Dreaming with Hope

To Awaken, Anew, with Spring.

Autumn Leaves Image from Pixabay