Today is a story share — or more specifically, a poetry share. One of my online friends, Charles Yallowitz, posted his original poem, “Rushing to the Reaper.” The link will take you to his web site.
I think we all can recognize the sentiment, that the world seems determined for us to rush through everything, or to be more productive, or whatever. So here’s your chance to slow down and savor a poetry moment.
Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.
Queen Titania’s Court is going on at my blog, Wyrmflight. Today it features the work of Joyce Reynolds-Ward in her complex agripunk series, The Cost of Power. If you don’t know what agripunk is, maybe you’d like to click that link and learn more.
Meanwhile, I’m gathering momentum for my summer writing project, The Warlock’s Army. It’s still at that awkward stage where I’m doing more world building than actual writing. The map is pretty well set, with locations along the shore and on a large island in the center of Revelary Lake. I’m still working out who lives where, and particularly naming key characters. It bugs me when I have to stop in the middle of writing in order to figure out someone’s name.
Despite that, I surprised myself by completing the first chapter. With just one and a half days of school left this year, I look forward to focusing more on this new novel. And working in my garden, which is also where I do a bit of the thinking part.
Happy June, everyone!
Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.
Over on my blog, Wyrmflight, it’s Queen Titania’s Court! Here’s the latest installment.
Shonn is arriving today, from the depths of Fang Marsh. He’s from The Tale of the Drakanox, the finale of my high fantasy series, Minstrels of Skaythe.
“What is this?” Shonn braced his pole to slow his raft as it glided through the channels of Fang Marsh. Sparkling lights, cheerful voices and glittering music drifted to him through the screen of mangrove branches.
He was probing the marsh, looking for a break in the ice walls Meven had put up. It looked like he had finally found one. Cautiously he pushed forward until his raft nosed through the vegetation. He crouched to study the scene.
A great hall was there, seemingly woven of grass trees and mangroves. Dazzling lights drifted over the heads of a crowd of revelers. They were a strange lot, some with wings or beast heads, all dressed in the strangest clothes.
Were they mages? This was dangerous! Yet his deeper drive compelled him. Meven was a mage, too. She might somewhere be in the throng. He couldn’t lose her again.
Character Questions
Have you ever kissed the wrong person? It seems so. I spent weeks wooing a girl named Addith, who lived with her foundling in the depths of Fang Marsh. But she was never who she said she was. Her real name was Meven, and she was an ice witch.
Do you trust your country’s leaders? Absolutely not! Mages are in control of everything. They take what they want, and kill without a reason. Anyone with sense is scared of them. That’s whyit was so terrible to find out Meven was one of them.
Author Questions
Chosen Ones, yes or no? I’m not a fan of this trope. There always seems to be someone perfectly competent around, who’s doing their best to keep things together, and they get shoved aside by a “chosen one.” That just rankles.
What inspires you to create your work? It’s often something I read or watch that sparks an idea. Some small idea or aspect that the author might not think important can catch my attention, and I explore that. This is why it’s important to not stop reading books or blogs, watching the news, etc. Even if writing time is precious, you still need to leave room for new ideas.
It was just an old story. There couldn’t really be a lost civilization based on trust and equality. Not when the Wizard-King Dar-Gothull rules Skaythe through cruelty and terror.
But when Ar-Thea told the story of the Shining Ones to her six magelings, the legend took root in their hearts. For years, they traveled the land as Minstrels. Through stories and song, they offered light and hope in dark times. Now their secrets have been laid bare. The Minstrels flee as the regime gathers its forces to crush them.
Yet there is hope. Deep in the cursed Hornwood, there is an incredible power that only the Monstrels can use. It is guarded by a terrible beast — the drakanox! The Minstrels must call on every ally and avoid every enemy if they hope to recover what has long been lost.
Available in ebook formats or paperback through Books2Read.
Deby Fredericks has been a writer all her life, but thought of it as just a fun hobby until the late Nineties. Since then she has published twenty fantasy novels, novellas and novelettes, either with small presses or independently. Her short fiction has appeared in Andromeda Spaceways, selected anthologies, and small magazines.
Since 2018, her significant work has been the Minstrels of Skaytheseries, about a group of pacifist mages who seek hope in a world ruled by darkness.
In addition, Fredericks writes for children as Lucy D. Ford. Her children’s stories and poems have appeared in magazines such as Boys’ Life, Babybug, Ladybug, and Spider. In the past, she served as Regional Advisor for the Inland Northwest Region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, International (SCBWI).
Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.
What’s Happening? June is here, and the end of the school year is nigh. I’m looking forward to relaxing on my own schedule and enjoying the early summer weather.
What I’m Working On.Queen Titania’s Court is just starting on my blog, Wyrmflight. It’s a special blog event for indy fantasy authors. This blog will continue with other topics. If you want to see all of Queen Titania’s Court, check out the first post here!
What’s Next? My summer writing project will be The Warlock’s Army. After focusing intensely on Queen Titania’s Court, I’m slowly getting into the book, discovering characters and all that.
Where I’ll be. I have no appearances planned, but always open to invitations. (Hint hint!)
Fun and Games. I’m enjoying the classic rpg, Oblivion. It hit me in the feels, just as it ever did. In Animal Crossing, I reached a huge milestone: I completed the whole museum! Bugs, fish, fossils, and now the art collection. My current read is The Tale of the Drakanox by Deby Fredericks. (Who?)
I hope your summer will be warm and welcoming!
Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.
The posts for Queen Titania’s Court, that is. Each one takes focus and making sure I’ve tracked down all the details, and that the formats for the individual posts are consistent. It’s a lot. I get a couple done, and my eyes start to bother me.
Yet, I am getting close. Just five more posts to go, including the finale which I will also write. Perhaps by the end of Memorial Day weekend they will be set up. Depends if we go anywhere for the holiday. (The lake is calling my name.)
Then I have to go over each individual post to make sure I didn’t mix up any of those details. And then it will be time to party!
Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.
Yes, my latest masterpiece has now gone live. Willow Lake (Cleodora Book 2) is available from Books2Read, which will link to your favorite online book seller.
If you could get into the story of a bold girl who serves the nature spirits in a subversively non-royal, non-capitalist, non-patriarchal setting, I hope you’ll give it a look.
Cleodora’s family are the spirit guardians of Acorn Canyon Shrine. Three years ago, she saved a corrupted spirit instead of fighting it. Cleodora became an archel, bonded with the nature spirit Tef as one soul with two bodies.
But the land of Tenebira is suffering under a terrible drought. It’s all because of something her relatives did at Willow Lake Shrine. Now the auctere of Acorn Canyon’s sacred pool calls on Cleodora and Tef. They must travel to Willow Lake, confront her family, and heal the broken shrine.
If they fail, all life will wither away!
Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.
I have begun tentative work on the opening scenes of The Warlock’s Army. It’s been going pretty well! I thought I would start with my protagonist, Jeniana, sensing the presence of a lost boy and going to find out what his story is. My muse said, “LoL, no! How about an exciting chase scene with derring-do. And a giant crawdad!”
The whole thing has been developing so quickly, I can hardly keep up. Which is great! Except I was supposed to be running small groups with my students today, not making story notes. (Don’t tell the principal, okay?)
It’s fun when a story grows on its own like this. And the themes that are developing are rich, with lots of room for exploration. They are a group where the young women and girls are kept apart from the young men and boys. With the giant crawdad situation, a few of them come face to face for the first time in years. It was surprisingly emotional. The adult who’s running the scheme is treating them as pawns to move on a game board. I suspect the kids are going to bust out of that before long.
Of course, I’m second guessing myself, too. Giant badgers made significant appearances in my Minstrels of Skaythe series. If I bring a giant crawdad into this new story, am I repeating myself? I wouldn’t want to stifle my own creativity. But I also don’t want to do too much work that has to be done over. Talk about bringing your story to a halt.
Anyway, I’m just at the start of this and as I’ve mentioned before, I really do need to focus on Queen Titania’s Court. Regardless, it looks like I’ve found my summer writing project for 2025.
Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.
What’s Happening? I am loving the emergence of spring. Green grass, flowers, bird song, planting seeds and waiting eagerly to see them sprout. My favorite time of year.
What I’m Working On. I am world building on a new project, tentatively called The Warlock’s Army. Since everything is still in flux, there isn’t much more to tell. But, as per my usual, it will feature at least one bold girl with powers!
What’s Next?Queen Titania’s Court is taking shape. I’m pleased with the response so far, though there is still room for more authors. If you happen to know a fantasy writer, send them my way!
Where I’ll be. I am going about town, taking part in protests, but currently don’t have any travel plans related to my books.
Fun and Games. I’m revisiting the classic game, Oblivion, and continuing to tend to my village in Animal Crossing. My current read is The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu.
I hope your spring is coming along beautifully!
Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.
Yep, I did have a new project emerge from the mists! It’s a juicy one, but still in the exploratory stages.
I start these things by writing a paragraph about the basic concept. Then I go on to start asking questions about the bones of the story. Who are these characters? Why are they doing this? What kind of society are they living in? Especially with fantasy, I work through the social viewpoint on magic. Is it known and accepted, or strange and feared?
As I work on this, I try to come up with as many possible answers as I can. The next step is to go through and highlight the ones that seem most interesting. And that typically leads to another round of why are they doing this, what does it mean?
Not that I ever develop a full outline with a list of required events or plot beats. My stories are more like a river that flows in (I hope) unpredictable but still valid directions. Usually I do have an idea what I want the ending to look like. Thus far I haven’t developed that.
I also need to consider length. Is this a novel or novella? Who is the intended audience? Based on my initial concept, I doubt it will be a YA title. Though there are a number of child characters, the content is too mature for young readers. Maybe. It’s early to say.
The last step, which I’m currently working on, is to start naming people and places. When you follow your plot like a river, it’s a pain to have to stop and think up names! However, I’m nearly at the point where I can begin drafting and see how the tale takes shape.
I’ll be sharing more of this soon, I’m sure.
Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.
I received the printed proof of Willow Lake (Cleodora Book 2) and everything looks good. So I’m happy to say you can pre-order the book in printed as well as electronic formats. Release is scheduled for May 15, 2025.
But of course, now I see a typo in the back cover copy. Guess I’d better hurry up to fix that!
So if you could get into the story of a bold girl who serves the nature spirits in a subversively non-royal, non-capitalist, non-patriarchal setting, I hope you’ll give it a look.
Cleodora’s family are the spirit guardians of Acorn Canyon Shrine. Three years ago, she saved a corrupted spirit instead of fighting it. Cleodora became an archel, bonded with the nature spirit Tef as one soul with two bodies.
But the land of Tenebira is suffering under a terrible drought. It’s all because of something her relatives did at Willow Lake Shrine. Now the auctere of Acorn Canyon’s sacred pool calls on Cleodora and Tef. They must travel to Willow Lake, confront her family, and heal the broken shrine.
If they fail, all life will wither away!
Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.
Welcome to the Magical Worlds 