Michelle Franklin's Blog, page 45

Story for the Day: The Butterfly

It was a hard day. How about a nice story?


                Morning ebbed over the Haanta archipelago, and with it brought the beginning of Kai Linaa’s day. The Phoraas was prepared, the early osculations between her and her mate were thoroughly enjoyed, and after Unghaahi had gone to begin his training on the shore, Kai Linaa was off to the well house to fill her stores and divest them across the island’s southern border. The sky, however, threatene...

Story for the Day: The Commons' Chair Part 2

The same thing happened the first time Rautu sat in that chair.
The more Bryeison surveyed the detail and the craftsmanship of the chair, the more desirous he was of trying it. The mahogany carvings lining the palmette spiraled down to the back of the seat and faded into the hickory of the arm; the leather, soaked in a brilliant red tannin, radiated his warm hue and dull sheen; the soft cushion of the seat gave way under the pressure of his hand and sprang back to its curved shape when he remo...

Story for the Day: The Commons' Chair P1

Rautu adores his chair in the commons, so much so that he doesn't allow anyone to sit in it. That chair, however, once belonged to High Commander Bryeison and was a gift from Prince Draeden upon their promotion. 


The quarters set aside for their express use was the castle commons. Once belonging to Frewyn’s heralded Captain of Guard, the two large rooms on the isolated upper floor of keep, above the kitchen and below the battlements, would now be regarded as their home. Draeden must relin...

Story for the Day: The Painter

The Haanta Series has over 300 characters, some minor some major, but all important in their own way. I often like to write short stories about minor characters simply to see where their paths take me. Sometimes they come and go, as the reporter in the Reporter from Marridon does: he visits Frewyn in hopes of getting some fresh gossip to take back to the Triumvirate; but sometimes characters who demand to have a short story written about them end up becoming major players in later books....

Special Story: The Wish

I was walking by the park when I found a small garden filled with gnomes. I looked at it for some time when an old man came up behind me and said "You can just look, you know. You have to offer 'em something." He stashed a penny in my hand and bid me to make a wish. I said, "Where should I throw it?". He said, "Wherever gets you the wish." 
Life is full of magical moments like this. And so, to honour the old man, a story: Her fists unclenched, and she gave a deep exhalation as all her unqu...

Reporter from Marridon Tour!

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This Tuesday marks the beginning of the Reporter from Marridon tour! Join us this coming week for reviews, giveaways, and guests posts to celebrate the re-release of the novella. Thank you to Paper Crane Books and to all the hosts for posting along the tour!August 21: Excerpt @ Mariam KobrasAugust 21: Review and giveaway @ Castle MacabreAugust 22: Review @ JAustenwannabe PresentsAugust 23: Guest post and giveaway @ Moonlight Gleam’s BookshelfAugust 23: Excerpt @ Aobib...

Story for the Day: Gods' Day in Tyfferim

Though every municipality practices a different level of worship, Frewyn upon the whole is a religious kingdom. Many Frewyns keep family shines to their patron deities and have little time to spend in the throes of church. Come Gods' Day, their Sunday, some find reason enough to gather in prayer:
St. Stephen's Church, the parish that inspired the
look of the Churches in Frewyn.Gods’ Day in Tyfferim brought an abundance of volubility and liveliness to the town square: vendors came with their car...

Reviewing the Classics: T.H. White's The Elephant and the Kangaroo

Almost the moment after The Elephant and the Kangaroo went to print, it was placed under a book ban. Though meaning to be generous by keeping the names of his friends and renters the O'Callaghans in the piece, White's semi-autobiographical story about the time he spent with them on their failing farm in Ireland did not laud their powers of understanding, their generosity, or their religious faith by any means. The book was meant as a dark comedy, and though it is dreadfully hilarious due to t...

Story of the Day: Rotten Potato

My mom used to tell me lies like this all the time just to get me to eat different things. Didn't work then, and nothing has changed since.
Beryn waved to the boys as they hastened over, their arms laden with biscuits and buns wrapped in brown paper and their faces alight with exuberant smiles. They called out for their uncle and hopped up and down beside the jaunty until Beryn pulled over to the stall at the side of the assembly hall and leapt down from his seat.               ...

Story for the Day: Of Suet Pie

Suet pie, depending how it's made, is not my favourite thing in the world. Sheamas has an interesting way of disposing of the crusts, but his secretive schemes cannot last forever.
Meraliegh’s gift secured and the sun making its gradual descent over the horizon, Sheamas closed the shutters to his shoppe, turned the open sign closed, and locked the door with a happy sigh. He went to the cellar to fetch the coarse salt and brick dust that his wife requested, and while he was there, too...