Welcome to the scenic route! I happy to get back to my usual Friday posts after missing two of them. I can't wait to share another chapter of Surge with you and give you a bit of an update on what's been happening lately. I also have a new word prompt for those wanting to use it for a creative project. Are y'all ready? Let's go!
Author Journey: Catching You Up
A lot has happened in the last two weeks, mostly to do with traveling unexpectedly. That puts a huge crimp in my usual schedule and it was just much easier to skip the posts. Not only that, I can't sign into my blogger account when I'm away from the house. I really need to get that set up. 😅
I haven't been able to do a lot of writing in the last couple of weeks either. I've been keeping up with the blog posts most days, but that was as much as I could handle with all the upheaval going on around us. And being home for a couple of days between trips meant that I was more focused on prepping for that last trip.
I'll finally be able to crack down on some actual writing work for the rest of the month. It's necessary, too, because NaNo is knocking at the door. I can't believe how quickly this month has passed. I still need to do a little refining work on my characters and settings and be certain my timeline makes sense. And the cover art still isn't finalized... So much to do!
Writer's Life: Current Things
Currently, we're having some Louisiana autumn weather. This means the temps are hanging out in the 60s and it's gray and wet. I prefer the sunny autumn days to the rainy ones because cold and humid is not a great blend. Just ends up being awfully clammy and uncomfy. Great for a cuppa, though.
Speaking of having a cuppa, I recently discovered that a blend of peppermint, darjeeling, and green tea is quite pleasant. My last attempt, though, was a bit strong and I'll need to adjust the steeping time.
In the cat chronicles, Spartacus is around 13 pounds now. He's come a long way from being tiny enough to fit in our youngest daughter's hand, which is a little smaller than mine. He's still a sweetheart and not much trouble to take care of.
He doesn't bother TV trays or hover at anyone's elbow while they're eating. He doesn't go after mugs or cups and only rarely knock things off shelves. He did get up on the piano and on the TV console while we were gone over the last weekend. The fish was too fascinating. He didn't make a mess, except for knocking over a couple of chess pieces. I think he just wanted a closer look. I sometimes wonder if he's part something-else-besides-cat.
Just Keep Writing: Friday Fascicles
If this is your first time participating in this kind of writing exercise, you're in for a treat. If you've done this with me before, just keep scrolling for the prompt.
Rules:
- You can use any/all of the words and/or the photo in the prompt below to create a unique written work. Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, even lyrics are acceptable.
- Please keep the material you write clean (i.e. nothing R-rated or worse) if you wish to share the link to your work here, as well as if you link back to my site. I strive to keep my site free of such things. My readers know and expect this. I respect your right to write whatever you feel you need to write. And you're free to use my prompts. But if your material is graphic, I'd rather not view it, and most of my readers will not wish to.
- Have fun! This type of exercise is perfect for growing in the writing craft, or for helping through a rough patch in your current WIP. If you're looking to push your author limits and you normally write in nonfiction prose, try a whimsical collection of lyrics. If you normally write poems about real life events, try your hand at a fanfic. Give yourself some room to explore.
Don't forget to leave a link to your creation (unless you're writing graphic material) so my readers and I can check out your work. I'd appreciate a link back to this post to help me reach more readers, but it's not required.
I'm sure you creative sorts out there will have fun with this collection of words. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Story Snippets: Surge (Children of Y'Dahnndrya, book 2)
Chapter 6
Choices
“You have chosen the harder path,” the ethereal voice echoed in the small chamber.
"Edrea?" whispered the young woman in awe. Louder she said, "I've always wanted to know more about you, even before my Visioning." She beamed as she scanned the room.
"You are eager to smile, to look for the joy around you. This may stand you in good stead, youngling. But Mi'yat is right. This is no time for recklessness. You must learn to control your impulses and surrender the desires of your heart in order to become what you must, for the sake of us all, and for the glory of the Creator."
"All? Who do you mean?" Being the daughter of the M’Neshunnayan High Priestess, Ya’el knew the purpose of all created things was to glory the One who created them. But she wasn’t sure what ‘for the sake of us all’ meant. Sifting through her memories proved useless.
"All the Children who live here. All the Children who do not. All created things. All are connected. Did you not know this, child of the High Priestess?"
"I know we're all connected. I guess I just missed the point that each action we take affects all of us."
"You are quite interesting, youngling," Mi'yat uttered with a mirthless laugh. "Edrea is the last of her kind. When she dies, a hole will be left in the fabric of Y'Dahnndrya that will take more tsimikin to mend than you can imagine."
"Peace, Mi'yat." Mist wafted up from the floor and through the vines covering the walls to gather in the center of the room, forming a pillar. The pillar took the basic shape of a youngling with leafy vines for hair, a tsa'gra's nose and fangs, and the talons of a preying flier for hands and feet. Ya'el was speechless.
"Is this your true form, then?" Ya'el blurted out, then cringed at the obvious answer. How she wished Azilet’zal would take her voice sometimes!
Edrea's chuckle was a zephyr zinging through the tree-tops as she shook her head. "This form makes it easier for us to speak, does it not?" Though the illusion had a mouth, it remained closed while Edrea laughed and spoke.
"I wasn't having trouble." Denial sprang easily to Ya'el's lips, the corners of which turned up in a grin. "I thought it was the most interesting conversation I’ve ever had."
Edrea’s misty form hovered in front of her. "You are interesting, too, Ya'el Shirasdatir, Serafin'an of Yacan," she spoke as she glided around Ya'el, her feet never touching the ground, studying her from every angle. "I will eventually die. All things of this world must die. The Creator ordained it so. The Creator does not make mistakes."
Ya’el nodded as Edrea finished her cycle and lowered herself to squat at eye level before continuing. "Even so, the Most Holy Creator spoke a blessing to me while I suffered the agony of mourning my arbor-mates. I was given a reprieve, offered a choice. I could live on as a guide for the smaller beings of this world, continuing in my purpose. However, I would need to accept a companion not of my kind to serve with me so I would not be left alone."
"What was the other option?" Ya'el gazed at the misty Edrea, mesmerized, lost in a tale she'd never before heard.
Edrea sighed and chuckled. "Is not the other option obvious? I could join my arbor-mates in the glorious world of the bright souls. Your Clan calls it Shinali, I believe."
Ya'el nodded and a tear rolled down her cheek. Edrea's misty form looked to Mi'yat and the older woman strode over, crouched before her and wiped away the tear. She grasped Ya'el by both hands and drew her to her feet as she spoke. "As Edrea said, the decision to keep the memories of your life before coming here is the most difficult path. Many more choices lay before you. The time to begin this part of your journey is long past and you must conquer the training as quickly as possible."
"But why? That part I don't understand," the maiden's brow wrinkled in genuine confusion.
"Festifi Geil'ya is coming." Edrea spoke matter-of-factly, as if the newcomer would know what she spoke of.
Mi’yat hastened to explain. "The lunar conjunction will be here before you are ready.”
"Why is the lunar conjunction important?"
"At the next lunar conjunction, your life-force must be joined with Edrea. It is a life-mating of a different kind -- like a beneficial graft, you will each have a share in the other's power."
"But I don't have any power," Ya'el protested, waving her arms in denial.
Edrea’s laugh this time sounded like the light rains of late Y'Ma, droplets pattering on leaves. "You do! Everyone has power within them. You may not have discovered it yet, but now you know it exists, and you will learn more. Your power will help you to reach new heights. I see it clearly. Do not fear. Just trust in the Creator whose guidance and provision never fail."
Suddenly, Ya'el and Mi'yat stood again in the antechamber. The Ammyr rose from his squatting position beside the tunnel opening.
"Ammyr Kol?"
"Yes, Lady Mi'yat."
"Take Ya'el to the place Edrea has prepared for her."
The giant shadow shifted uncomfortably and sighed before answering, "Yes, Serafin."
"Is there a problem, Ammyr Kol?"
After a moment, he snorted. Words bottled up for too long overflowed. "Yes. I don't understand why I was chosen as Ammyr if I was to be given this task, too. It will keep me from all the duties I normally have. I don't see any wisdom in this choice."
"Are you finished?" At his stiff nod, Lady Mi'yat moved on. "Good. Now take your charge to her living quarters."
Kol scowled as he responded formally. "Yes, Serafin." He gave a crisp salute and grabbed for Ya'el's wrist.
What do you think? Want to hear more of the story? I hope you do. I'll share another chapter in each Friday post until NaNo starts. Then, if you still want to know more, you'll have to wait for the book to be released.
If you came to the scenic route for the word prompt, what did you think? I hope you found it useful.
If you're a writer like me and just visited, hoping to find out you're not alone in the struggle, I hope you found that is very much true.
You can share about these or anything writing related in the comments below as long as you keep it clean and courteous. I want this site to be friendly to all visitors, no matter the age.
Next week, I'll have a line-up of posts including fresh word prompts, book reviews, and updates on this indie author's life. I hope you'll visit again and bring a few more of your creative friends along.
Until next time,
Turn the page...
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