MeiLin Miranda's Blog, page 8
October 15, 2013
New cover for "Accounts"
I'm spiffing things up. I went back to the original covers for Lovers and Beloveds and Son in Sorrow, since the new ones didn't seem to be helping.
I've also learned a few things about cover design in the last few months; I do my own covers for most short stories and novellas I release, the exceptions being The Mage's Toy and The Amber Cross, which were both premades.
So now I'm dinking around with the cover for "Accounts." I don't have time to dink around with any others; this is my only experiment for now. Here 'tis; click to embiggen:
October 14, 2013
For Patrons: Allis Obby's account
I'm working on a new cover for Accounts, and as part of it I mocked up a page from Maleen Polls' ledger. The full page is only available to patrons. It tells some rather harrowing stories...
October 10, 2013
Four Tremontine fairy tales for four royal children...
Fairy Tales from the Greater Kingdom Vol. 1 is live! I've put together a little collection of four fairy tales, one for each of the children (but little Anneya--she doesn't know any fairy tales yet). Three of these may be familiar to a few readers, but one is brand new:
For Ellika: "Little Snowflake," the tale of a queen and her bear
For Temmin: "The Fisherman's Teeth," a classic Kellish ghost story
For Mattie: "Winter's Girl," the story of a sassy girl who says she doesn't believe in the spirit world...
...and a brand new one none of you have read:
For Sedra: "The Clever Boy," about a youth who thinks he's smarter than the Gods--you may think you know who the boy is, but remember: this is a fairy tale!
Right now, Fairy Tales from the Greater Kingdom Vol. 1 is only available in my store, but if you'd rather buy from Amazon, Kobo, B&N or another etailer, it should be live within 48 hours. Just search for my name. Wherever you find it, it's only 99 cents! If you're a patron>, it's free from my site; just use the coupon code FTV1-PATRON.
Fairy Tales from the Greater Kingdom Vol. 1
This collection of four fairy tales is set in the world of An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom:
In Ellika's favorite, the classic Corrish tale "Little Snowflake," an abused queen finds help in the forest.
"Winter's Girl," one of Mattie Dunley's favorite stories, pits a sassy girl who says she doesn't believe in the spirit world against the brothers Summer and Winter.
A favorite of Temmin's is the Kellish ghost story "The Fisherman's Teeth," in which a grieving fisherman's wife cannot bear to let his spirit rest. (This story appeared in the out-of-print collection, Harla's Night.
And finally, one of Sedra's favorite stories, "The Clever Boy," about a youth who thinks he can outsmart the Gods. You may recognize the boy, but don't assume this is the truth: this is a fairy tale, after all!
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Cover reveal for "Fairy Tales from the Greater Kingdom Vol. 1"
I have a little collection of Tremontine fairy tales coming out this week! It's four short stories, some of which have appeared here: "The Fisherman's Teeth," "Winter's Girl," "Little Snowflake"...and a new one, "The Clever Boy." Here's the cover, I just finished it:
I'm happy with the way it turned out. I'm releasing this tomorrow--99 cents here and at all fine ebook retailers near you. 
October 9, 2013
Chapter 10 Episode 3 | The Machine God | The Drifting Isle Chronicles
As he pressed further into the cave, the keening voice in his mind grew stronger: Why do you bring it here? Did I not go far enough? Let me stop dreaming, please take it away. It played down his back like cold rain down his collar.
From the descriptions in the Vatterbroch manuscript’s coda, Adewole had expected something different than this childlike plaintiveness, threats perhaps, or boasts or even cajoling—more likely, nothing at all. The postscript said the god was dead. A kernel of truth always slept in the center of every myth, but the layers accreted over centuries were nothing but gloss and lacquer. He was certain he’d find something, but a god? No.
Faced with a fork in the chamber, he chose the lefthand side; the voice faded, a relieved tone slipping into the distress. Yes, please go away again, let me go back to sleep. Adewole backtracked to the fork’s junction and headed down the righthand side. The voice strengthened, once again pleading for him to leave. The hallway narrowed until Adewole had to turn sideways to continue on. He fought down a trapped sensation.
October 5, 2013
New fairy tale collection on the way!
In the coming week or so, I'll be putting out a collection of four Tremontine fairy tales. Some of you will have read three of them--"The Fisherman's Teeth," "Little Snowflake" and "Winter's Girl"--but the fourth story is brand new. It's called "The Clever Traveler Boy," and some of you may recognize the hero. It's a fairy tale, though, so don't take it at face value! 
Here's a little taste of it:
There once was a boy, a Traveler, though they didn't bear that name back then. He was red-haired but handsome, and played the harp so well it charmed the birds from the air and the girls to his bed. Everyone thought this boy exceedingly clever, but no one thought more highly of his cleverness than the boy himself.
One day as he walked along the road, he found a book lying in a ditch. The mud all around was mounded up, as if the book had fallen into it from a great height, but the book itself shone like the sun. The clever boy picked it up; in spite of the muck, it was clean as anything and encrusted with gold and jewels. "Well," said he, "here's a pretty thing I can sell." He opened it to the first page. "Oh," said he, "here's a pretty thing I can keep for myself," for it was the book of Pagg, filled with every Law both known and unknown. "With this book I can make and unmake everything in the world."
This was in the days when the Gods walked the earth more freely than they do now. Everyone knew to show respect should they meet a God, but the boy thought he was as clever as They were. So when he saw Pagg Himself come running up, he only whistled a little tune and didn't even bow his head. "Give Me My book!" Pagg said.
"Your book? I found it lying in the road," said the clever boy.
"I dropped it from the heavens. Give it back, or I will make it so you've never been born!"
"Not so fast," said the boy. "To do that, You need this book. Who's to say I can't unmake You with it?"
Fairy Tales from the Greater Kingdom Vol 1 will be 99 cents here and at all major retailers and will be free to all premium members. Meanwhile, if you haven't signed up for my newsletter, you're missing out on a free mini-ebook you can't get anywhere else, full of episodes of "Ask a Tremontine." It doesn't come very often--no more than every other week usually--and has news of book releases and samples I won't be sharing here. Hey, incentives, my dears!
October 2, 2013
Chapter 10 Episode 2 | The Machine God | The Drifting Isle Chronicles
The western road out of town ran straight and geometrical, like all the remnants of the old city. Its surface was the same as the Risenton Road splitting the island into east and west, and the Great Road ringing the island. The further Adewole got from the City, the more suspicious-looking stone foundations appeared on the cob houses alongside the road even as cobbles disappeared from the road itself, until the paving petered out into a dirt track.
Adewole kept walking. The sun crested the island’s edge at his back, though clouds and mist diffused its light. Few people shared the road today; he’d seen a bare handful of couriers and not a single barrowman. The couriers made almost no sound and came in and out of the mist most disconcertingly. “Why is no one out and about today?” said Adewole.
“First rain of the season yesterday,” said Ofira. “T’unfeathered ‘uns will be sick of that soon enow, but the first time’s allus a holiday. Nowt much out this way any road—we walk toward the Forest.”
September 30, 2013
Happy birthday, Je Voudrais Cake!!
It's Jim's birthday! Cake all around! 
September 29, 2013
Me at the Vancouver Community Library
I spent a lovely afternoon yesterday at the Vancouver Community Library as part of a panel on self-publishing. From left to right up there: organizer and general mensch Erik Wecks; yrs trly; James T. Wood; local indie superstar Ernie Lindsey; and Ryan Bethurum (sorry, Ryan, I couldn't find your site). We talked about our work, the process of self-publishing and its impact on not just the publishing world but our own lives in particular.
Thanks to Erik for organizing it and inviting me, and to the Library's Amy Scott for hosting us. If you're in Vancouver (the American one), all three of my novels will be added to the library catalog soon!
That makes two library systems that I'm aware of where my books can be found. The Multnomah County Library has six copies each of Lovers and Beloveds and Son in Sorrow, and has an order in for copies of The Machine God. If you'd like to see my books in your library, drop me a line and I'll help you get the information you need.
