Michelle Franklin's Blog, page 53

Story for the Day: Rautu's Birthday P3

He raced down the main hall, silently begging for his cake to be unsoiled by her hands. Thrusting aside the scullery maids and yeomen about who were clearing away the accoutrements yet lingering in the great hall, Rautu hastened to the kitchen, and there, upon the table was a chocolate cake, the perfect rotunda of icing unblemished, its top sprinkled with chocolate shavings and its bottom a delicate chocolate crust. It was here, it was safe, and the giant must be satisfied. His chest surged w...

Story for the Day: Rautu's Birthday P2

Cake is serious.He camped accordingly for his conquest: the fires in the hearth were lit, his trappings were got and secured about him to give him all the advantage of a mountainous and menacing aspect, his scowl was apparent and firm, and when he declared himself ready, his closed his eyes and submitted to Haakhas until the cake should arrive. His peaceful ruminations were inundated by notions of his impending treat: its delicate and slightly bitter savour, its pleasant texture, its...

Story for the Day: Rautu's Birthday P1

Rautu's Birthday                  While the Great Hall was being cleared of the day's festive remnants, Kai Linaa was secretly conniving at continuing the celebration later in the evening. Though the Haanta did not celebrate birthdays with all the gaiety, the gifts, and the bustle that such a commemoration usually required, she, with all her powers of merriment, decided that Rautu must have a cake. He might deny an acknowledgement of his birthday in the ways of supernumerary knitted socks and ...

Story for the Day: A Retreat

I cannot wait to have a cottage. There is nothing like sitting around the fire and doing nothing.
                Once Kai Linaa's letter of decided approbation was procured, though not requisite as she had so vehemently stated in the contents of the note, Sheamas and Margilesse accepted the commander's and Hathanta's offer of watching Little Jaicobh in favour of a much needed escape from the capital. They had not been alone for one day together since their return to Frewyn, and though they...

Reading the Classics: Review of T.H. White's "Letters to a Friend" and Jane Austen's "Complete Letters Collection"

An epistolary novel, for those who are unaware of the term, is a novel written as a series of documents, usually through diary entries. Although the aforementioned titles are not fictional, they do read as though they could have been. Epistolary novels such as The History of Sir Charles Grandison, Clarissa, and Pamela were amongst Jane's favourites, and she even wrote one of her first books, Lady Susan, in the same style. Though T.H. White did not publish any epistolary work, he certainly...

Story for the Day: Mureadh and Tiulaine

Everyone always teases Mureadh for his devout constitution, not because he's religious but because he loves the Leabhar Maith more than anything in the world. Here he finally has his two loves come together, and he's a wreck. 

A gentle introduction would be both their tranquility, and Mureadh graciously did her the honour of a bow. "I am Sir Mureadh Farhayden, Captain of the Royal Guard and protector of the Brennin line," he said, his long red mantle draping over his shoulder as he righted...

Khantara Tour: First Stretch!

Here are the highlights from the first stretch! Be sure to visit all the hosts and participate in their giveaways!

Excerpts from the book:
Moonlight Gleam
LovLivLife Reviews
Mila Raimos

Guest Posts on writing:
Avery's Book Nook

Reviews of the book:
Zen Cherry
A Book Vacation

Story for the Day: A Day in the Keep

We're a set of quiet and simple folk, but sometimes we do need to get out.
A Day in the Keep                 Although Alasdair was not fond of patrolling in the winter months, on account of his hair being to freeze and the horror of it breaking off with the waft of a gentle wind, he must at last venture outside the warm auspices of the keep. It had been a tiresome day at court and he was in desperate want of an airing: the indefatigable nagging of Count Ross, the idle prattle of the two Ms...

Tales from Frewyn: Opera Tour Last Stretch!

Here we are, almost at the end of the Opera tour! Here are the ending highlights:

Excerpts:
See Alasdair and Carrigh enjoy themselves on Roxxane's Realm: 

Other excerpts:

Simplistik:

Lisa's World of Books:

Review 
A Book Vacation:

Interview (probably one of my best)
Vicariously Jane

Khantara Preview and Haanta Series:
Moonlight Gleam

Tomorrow, be sure to visit Avery's Book Nook for the last Opera stop and Lovlivlife Reviews for the first official stop on the Khantara tour!


Thank you to all the hosts and a...

Story for the Day: Special

Someone, I won't say whom, was declaring all day that she is not special. Well, Alasdair has something to say about that. So, there.
Special                  The celebration cleared away, the remainder of the cake placed in the larder, the chief of the celebrants prepared for a most needed rest, and the visitors from the islands enjoying their training together in the yard, Kai Linaa was at liberty to enjoy a small cup of tea, watch her mate and his brothers flip one another about, and think...