Michelle Franklin's Blog, page 52

Khantara Vol 2: Sneak Peek!

I am in the middle of heavy edits for Khantara Vol 2 and 3. Posting will be less than usual for a few days, but here is a sneak peek of what's to come in Khantara to tide you over. Enjoy!
Knowing how their brother's usual state after having performed the Haanta ritual, Bhaaldhena and Mhardhosa waited for Jhiaanta neat the temple's entrance, sitting amidst the verdant rows lining the path of the central walkway leading to the outer sanctum. While Bhaaldhena was distracted with the few temple...

Reading the Classics: Review of Paul Creswick's "Greypaws"

This is one of Alasdair's favourite books.

Certainly one of Paul Creswick's lesser known works, Greypaws tells the story of a little field mouse who, quite by accident, has an adventure. The story is told from his perspective: he's a small mouse on the lower rung of society, who though educated is seen as a mere peasant to most. He has a terrible family row and decides he has done with being a common field mouse in a family of unreasonable women. He quits his home and is taken up by an owl, th...

Story for the Day: Captain Sarasa Darias Buthaena, Prince of Livanon

Sarasa makes his first appearance in Vol 2 of Commander and Den Asaan. He is an important recurring character in the series. Here is his history as taken from Vol 2:


At twenty, Sarasa Darias Buthaena had done more than most of his noble kinsmen would ever do at fifty. Growing up on his father Prince Darias' moderate estate, he had learned the value in economy, the importance of good sense, and had inherited his father's character of cheerfulness, prudence, and sensibility. His mother dying...

Happy New Year from the Haanta Series!

See you all in the New Year! Looking forward to the apocalypse, or whatever the kids are calling it. We'll be at Raneca's when the world explodes.

New Year's Resolutions!

Party Turkey is ready for New Year's!We all make them, but not all of us keep them. I do, as much as I can do, but I think the secret to making resolutions is to forget about them. Many people seem to fret about not losing enough weight or not moving forward in their careers, get frustrated, and just give up altogether. I write them down in the back of one of my numerous notebooks, feel positive about them, and then close the book and don't look at them until the end of the year. Here is a re...

#BoxingDay story: The Crumble

Alasdair loves baked goods, much to his dismay. Holiday time ruins him.
As the meal began, everyone soon realized that the plates had been calculated to everyone's differing tastes: a platter of cold meats, fresh lettuce, and boiled eggs was laid before Alasdair; a large bowl of steamed grains was set before for Unghaahi; a veritable meat salad and mountain of Calleen's famous garlic potatoes was planed near Rautu, much to Unghaahi's dismay; pasties and meat pies and hardier fare were there...

Maith Ailineighdeath from Twisk and Red Willow Press

 Ailineighdaeth wishes from everyone here in Frewyn!

Twisk has made a special drawing for the occasion, furnished with stockings my Mrs Cuineill and a hat from Mr Craw's collection!

And since the holiday and Rautu's birthday coincide, Red Willow Press, publishers of the Haanta Series novels and short stories, have sent a special cake his way!

Happy Ailineighdaeth!

Ailineighdaeth (pronounced Alinade in Old Frewyn) is the Day of Renewal or Rebirth and is one of the major holidays of the Frewyn calendar. It commemorates the day that the Gods forgave their children by reappearing as stars in the night sky. Various customs are associated with the holiday, like eating more cake than is advisable, thanking grandma for the tenth pair of socks you somehow needed, being forced to sit through the dirge of Church sermons, and spending the day in the throes of...

Story for the Day: Inpalo

Nidello and Arkastino, Ladrei's brothers and guardsmen, have always been in love. 
Arkastino was still sleeping when Nidello entered their apartment, and was snoring so sonorously as to make Nidello's laughing at him muted by his strident drones, his hissing snuffles, and his whistling exhales. Nidello closed the door quietly behind him, but he had some misgiving as to whether his mate should hear him regardless of his attempts to be as silent as was possible as he approached. He undressed...

Story for the Day: Rautu's Birthday P4

An awesome picture from The Rat story that Twisk just finished
Anxious that the cake had never arrived, Kai Linaa paced the length of the main hall, ever spying the entrance with a vexed look and a craned neck while keeping within sight of her door in the guest quarter. She wished to remain tolerably close to keep Unghaahi's suspicions from impeding the delivery, but when two hours had gone and no delivery was made, she began to agonize in a frantic fit, proclaiming her ill-luck, reproaching h...