MeiLin Miranda's Blog, page 63
December 2, 2010
Flash Fiction: Non Si Muove
This was written for the recent New Scientist contest. The challenge was to write a story less than 350 words including the title: "Send us your very short stories about futures that never were. Tell us where we'd be today if the ether had turned out to exist after all, or if light really was made up of corpuscles emitted by the eyes. You don't have to be scientifically accurate, but the more convincing your story, the more likely it is to win!" I think I failed in meeting the criteria, but I still like the resulting story enough to let you see it.
Non Si Muove
December 1, 2010
"Scryer's Gulch" episode 36 is live
"You gonna go?" said Rabbit, examining the ornate invitation to dinner at the Bonham house.
John shrugged and didn't look up from the shotgun he was cleaning, pieces laid out in precise positions on top of his jailhouse desk. "Haven't decided yet." Which wasn't at all true. He had decided the minute he got the invitation to accept it--anything involving Annabelle tugged at him with a power he chose to chalk up to her mission.
His brother squinted at him, and left off leaning against John's desk. "Uh-huh. I'm going home to eat some lunch, even if you're not. I'll tell Minnie to set aside a plate, but if you know what's good for you, you'll light along to the house and eat it hot. You're apt to get a wrathy look from Minnie to wash it down with otherwise." He paused at the jailhouse door. "And I'll tell Minnie to make sure your best suit is aired and brushed." He ducked out before John could protest.
"Hmf," he said to himself.
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November 29, 2010
"Lovers and Beloveds" chapter 4.8 is live
Temmin's dinner curdled. Who could have told his mother? Was it Jenks? No, never! Someone else at the Estate must have found out and told her. He wondered if he could send a letter to Alvo to find out who--Gods, it wasn't Alvo, surely? "What did Mama say?"Read more -->
"That you kissed a maidservant under somewhat coercive circumstances."
"Coercive? She said yes."
"Temmin, we both know she said yes because she was afraid of losing her job." She'd certainly begged him not to tell Crokker, but he'd never considered she really might lose her job. Why would she lose her job? "There's nothing wrong with that," the King smiled, his teeth white against the dark of his beard and moustaches. "I've always found something rather arousing about holding that over them. Apparently you are of my mind."
"But I didn't hold it over her," said Temmin, appalled.
November 28, 2010
An interview with me
Over at kinky-world.net, there's an interview Mistress Kay did with me in which I talk about a number of things including a little info on book two. Make of that what you will. 
MLM/Twitter integration is working again! Or not!
This is more of a test of the system, but it appears to be working again. If you have a Twitter account listed at MeiLinMiranda.com, your posts (not comments--posts) will be linked on your Twitter account, and your tweets will be listed in your profile. You should also be able to log in with a Twitter account now.
Here's hopin'!
update 1: I am seeing tweets in my profile, but my postings here don't seem to be posting there in spite of the cheery green box telling me the post has been successful...
November 26, 2010
"Lovers and Beloveds" chapter 4.7 is live
Long after Teacher left, Temmin considered the story, and Teacher's last stinging remark; he repeated it to Jenks, leaving out the whole magic book part. "What could he have meant, Jenks?" he asked as he dressed for dinner. "As if I had any say in anything! If I did, I certainly wouldn't be studying with him, the old crow." Choices that aren't choices--he could come up with several examples from his own life, if he squinted hard.
"Your Highness," said Jenks, "I suggest you grow up."
"How'm I supposed to grow up when I'm not allowed to do anything?" said Temmin. "And stop rolling your eyes!" When they'd gone walking, Sedra hadn't been terribly sympathetic either, now that he thought about it. He gave an aggrieved, inward sigh; sympathy was in short supply in the City.
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November 22, 2010
Wanna hear my voice again? This Friday?
If you missed last night's Flashes in the Dark appearance, you can catch me on Blog Talk Radio again this coming Friday. I'll be on Kat's Writing Pen at 3 pm PST / 6 pm EST / 11 pm GMT. If you can't listen live, it'll be archived. I'll try to find out if you can call in or not.
"Lovers and Beloveds" chapter 4.6 is live
"What will happen to me? What will I do?" Edmerka sank to the ground, sobbing and clutching her knees. If she held on tight enough, she reasoned through the red and silver haze blanketing her mind, she wouldn't pull the nearest man to her, though her body ached for him.
She rocked back and forth and wailed, until the Traveler Queen took pity and said, "I cannot lift the curse, but I can ease it." Edmerka looked up in unwilling hope. "Give your maiden blood to my son, and I will make you forget who you are. It won't change anything, but perhaps remembering no other life will make this new one easier to bear."
The more she turned it over in her mind, the more Edmerka realized it was the only kindness she would get. "Very well, I agree," she said in a small voice. She let the Traveler Prince pull her gently to her feet. His mother licked a finger and traced a sigil on Edmerka's left hip, to her disgust; it glowed silver until the spit dried. The Queen's son led the Princess to his caravan as the Travelers hooted. To Edmerka's surprise, the Queen scolded them: "Hush! It's difficult enough for her."
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November 21, 2010
Wanna hear my voice? (updated)
I'm going to be on Blog Talk Radio's Flash in the Dark show with Lori Titus today at 3 pm PST / 11 pm GMT. I'm not sure if they're accepting call-ins, but I'll be there, and it'll be archived. Tune in!
Update: That was a fast hour. Sorry they didn't take calls, guys. If you missed it, you can listen to the archive at the above link.
November 18, 2010
"Lovers and Beloveds" chapter 4.5 is live
"Now, my dear," said the old woman, "let's see what the cards say about you, eh?" She spread the cards out one by one on the little table; it trembled precariously under the weight of each one. "Ah, how fitting. The Princess of the Flames, reversed--d'you see? Wrong-side round. Bad-tempered, easily provoked to foolishness, spoiled, bored and spiteful."
"And who is she?" said Edmerka, thinking of her stepmother.
"Oh, she's you, miss," said the old woman with an empty-mouthed grin.
"How dare you!" said Edmerka.
"Travelers dare often, and easily, miss," cackled the woman. "What stands in your way--my, my. Farr the Warrior, reversed. Uncontrollable impulses and ruthless lust." She clacked her tongue. "And such a nice girl you are. Who'd've suspected?"
Edmerka's face grew blotchy, but she held onto her temper. "Go on."
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