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Showing posts from July, 2016

Story for the Day: An Airing of Grievance - Part 1

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Many who join the Frewyn Armed Forces in peaceful times believe they will have an easier time going through training, as there is no war to immediately tend to. They would be wrong, however. T he morning continued well, a brave of gorm hovered majestically overhead, a rogue cloud broke away from its parent and calved off toward the east with uncommon alacrity, the plangent tones of the bells from the church competed with the drumbling steps of vendors in the square, the brontide of heavy carts   and the aurulent hue of the sun ascending illuminated the training yard. Vyrdin grunted as he strained, pushing the large casks of fresh water into place behind the barracks, Brigdan went in quest of him as he moved around the latrine, Bryeison stood by the garrison, counting the new recruits and latrating orders for men to clean the basins and scrub the floors,   and a collection of fresh cerns congregated to one side, to complain of being asked to do seemingly trival work and lament o

Story for the Day: An Invitation of Friendship

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The paperback of The Leaf Flute will be available August 8th. In the meantime, if you'd like another new novella to tide you over, join our Patreon campaign to receive the story about Brigdan and Vyrdin's budding friendship. And now, an excerpt from that novella. Enjoy: B rigdan had one moment to enjoy in his renewed serenity until Bryeison, accosting him with a serious smile, said, “Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”                 Brigdan gave a small start and put down his cup. “Bothering me, Commander?”                 “You wanted to speak to me alone, didn’t you? Why else would you be so adamant about having Vyrdin leave the room?”                 Bryeison’s gaze narrowed, and Brigdan’s courage began to fail him.                 “I’m not here, I ain’t listenin’,” said Ruta, shuffling by with a large sac of flour cradled in her arms. “You just go ahead and say what yer wantin’ to say, and I’m over here in the larder just mindin’ myself, not he

New Book Announcement: I Hate Summer #amwriting

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While the final touches are being done for the paperback of The Leaf Flute , there is another book I am currently editing, one which dictates all my animosity for the abomination that is the summer. Anyone who knows me understands that summer and I have a longstanding adversarial relationship. Summer might mean many exhilarating things for others, but summer means heinous allergies, seasonal depression, and profuse sweating for me. I often catalogue my violent hatred for the season on my personal page. Many readers seem to think my anguish is hilarious, and therefore, after much provocation, I've decided to compile my most unabashed misadventures with the wreck of a season into a book . Below is an excerpt. It will be out when this hell of a season is over. I have just had an argument with a child, which went thus: The face I make all day, every day during summer "But I don't want chocolate!" Instantly, my ear caught the obnoxious sound. It belonged to a chi

A Story for #PrimeDay: The Kitchen at the Keep

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Today is Prime Day, the day on which those with Amazon Prime download as many books as their devices can hold. Those with Amazon Prime can download the Leaf Flute for free today. For all our other readers, enjoy the comfort of the one place where the whole world congregates: the kitchen at the Diras castle keep: A moment passed, and Bryeison refilled his cup from the teapot. He lay the cup down momentarily, to turn the page in the herald and look disinterested, and as he took up his cup once more and brought it to his lips, he said, “The kitchen isn’t my domain, Brigdan. You don’t have to wait to be invited in.”                 Brigdan hemmed and seemed embarrassed. “Perhaps, commander,” said he, moving only slightly forward, “but, as this is not my mother’s kitchen, I feel rather as though I’m intruding somehow.”                 “Come on in, son,” Ruta beamed, returning by way of the larder. “Just sit down there, and take a tea with the biggun.”                 The biggu