K.D. Jones's Blog, page 2
March 29, 2018
Guest Flash Fiction by Fantasy Author Jennifer Silverwood
*First appeared on We Write Fantasy. Reposted with permission.
Read more of Jennifer’s writings at her website – https://jennifersilverwood.com/.
***
Mama first told her about the magic in trees after Papa disappeared in the flood.
“Listen good, Lou,” she had whispered, “the tree’s memory is longest. They got roots dug deep in that old earth. Water washes us away but the trees remember.”
There was no headstone for Papa, just a tree Mama carved his Christian name into.
CONRAD LAFAYETTE MASON
Sap bled over the letters often.
“See the tears the trees shed for your Papa?” Mama had said.
Lou took her papa’s knife to the bark, carefully carving Papa’s name over and over.
She marked moments in her life under that tree.
Carving Papa’s name with their dog, Rusty licking her tears away.
Carving Papa’s name again with her first boyfriend pressing kisses down her neck.
Sometimes, when she was alone, Lou swore the tree whispered with her father’s voice.
They buried Mama under that tree years later, adding her name in strong block letters under Papa’s.
LETTIE WOOD MASON
A new dog and boyfriend stood by her side as she insisted on carving Mama’s name.
“The trees remember best,” she whispered to the boyfriend, to the dog and the wind whispering through the branches with Mama’s voice.
The family thought it unhealthy she took so many trips back to the old farmhouse alone. They wanted her to bring her boyfriend. But she couldn’t bring him and hear Papa and Mama’s voices.
She brought her dog instead, for the family’s peace of mind. The tree liked her dog.
“I won’t forget,” she promised the aged bark, cheek pressed to the freshly carved names of her parents.
Years passed, adding wrinkles and gray hair to hear head. Her children accepted her need to visit “the tree” as they called it, though none understood “Mama’s obsession.”
She laughed with the tree about her silly children.
“They worry I’m getting on in years, too old to come up here alone. Too feeble to use a knife.” Her cackle sounded brittle.
The wind whispered back Papa’s hearty chuckle with Mama’s sing-song gale.
When Lou pressed her ear against the tree, she listened to the creaks and groans that seemed to promise, “Soon.”
Lou smiled, agreeing, “Soon.”
Death didn’t frighten her like it frightened her children and grandchildren.
In those final weeks with sickness eating away her limbs, she often told them, “Time turns us all to dust, but the trees remember. When I’m gone, listen for me by the tree.”
Her children buried Lou beside her mother, beneath the tree she had loved so much.
They carved her name in strong block letters, just like she had wanted.
LOUISE MASON BIRCH
They took turns each month, visiting Mama’s grave and carving over her name.
The tree cried tears of sap along with them.
The wind often whispered with her voice, “Remember.”
So they did.
****
I love this so much, and hope you did, too. Jen is a fabulous writer and such an awesome person. Read more of her writings at her website – https://jennifersilverwood.com/.
Thanks for letting me share, Jen!
March 25, 2018
Flash Fiction Friday #10: “Bright as Stars”
What is flash fiction? It’s an itty bitty story, generally under 1,000 words or 3 printed pages. Fresh fantasy and sci fi flash fiction every Friday!
*Please pardon grammar whoopsies. They will be fixed when this story is published in a collection later this year.
“Bright as Stars”
A Fantasy Flash Fiction
By
K. D. Jones
“You must hurry, my dear!” said the old wizard, clutching the young starling’s hands. “Tonight is the night. You must release your power into the sky, or you will turn into stardust.”
“Stardusting” was what her friends called it. She’d seen her sister turn into stardust because she couldn’t release the Light in time. The loss of her sister ached deep within her, but she couldn’t focus on her pain now. She had to release her gift.
She let the old man usher her up the stairs of the palace. “Why do the royals keep starlings?” she asked as their footsteps echoed off the cold stone walls.
“Because your Light is precious. It lights up the night sky with beauty and wonder. Otherwise, we would have nothing but darkest night, stretching on forever. New starlings are needed once the Light burns out up above.”
“Why do I even have this gift if my fate is to give it away?”
“Why do flamecasters bear flames? Or watermancers create water? Why do wizards shepherd all the magical children? Everyone has a purpose, my dear. Now hurry.”
Up and up they climbed. Already dizzy, the girl didn’t dare look down. Her sister was afraid of heights. That’s what did her in—she couldn’t make the climb. She would not—could not—be her sister. Her mother and father wouldn’t survive the loss of two children.
Out they burst through a wooden door and onto the rooftop terrace. Bright yellow flags rippled on the night wind, and the moon cast a silvery glow on the crests of waves in the surrounding moat.
The girl looked up, straight up. So many stars! So many had released their gifts—or became stars themselves. Was her sister watching her right now? Was she proud of what she was about to do?
Sparkling white light began to build in the girl’s hands. She lifted them as her blood began to thrum.
“Now, child!” hissed the wizard.
Unsure what she was supposed to do but trusting instinct, the girl thrust her hands up. Light shot from her fingertips, and she cried out at the joy and the pain. It bolted into the sky, ricocheting off clouds and moonbeams until at last settling into thousands of tiny drops of glittering starlight.
Weary but grateful to be relieved of her gift, the girl stumbled.
The wizard caught her. “Well done, my child.” He stroked her hair. “You’ve done this kingdom a great service. All those people below—” with his staff, he gestured out at the twinkling city below—“will be so glad you were selfless enough to brighten their days.”
“Yes,” she murmured, her eyes growing heavier. “Selfless. I’m thankful to share my gift with others.”
She drifted off to sleep, seeing her sister smiling down at her, the pride and affection in her gaze shining bright as stars.
Flash Fiction Friday #9: “Dreams of Gold”
What is flash fiction? It’s an itty bitty story, generally under 1,000 words or 3 printed pages. Fresh fantasy and sci fi flash fiction every Friday!
*Please pardon grammar whoopsies. They will be fixed when this story is published in a collection later this year.
“Dreams of Gold”
A Fantasy Flash Fiction
By
K. D. Jones
The duchess couldn’t remember why she’d entered the trinket shop, except that something gold and shiny had caught her eye from the window. Again.
She could hear her husband now. “You spend all our money on jewelry!”
“I have to have it!” she’d whine. “Life’s not the same without the shiny.”
“Hello!” said the girl behind the counter, dropping a curtsy. “Looking for something in particular?”
“Oh, I’m just browsing. Don’t mind me.”
“Sure, my lady,” said the girl, with a knowing smile.
The duchess browsed the wares, silver rings laden with gems, sparkling earrings big as her palm, and necklaces made of ribbons and crystals. It was all so magical and wonderful!
“Do you have anything in here that will grant wishes?” the duchess asked suddenly. She’d never owned a piece of magical jewelry before. She should add that to her collection, flesh it out a bit more.
A haunted look came over the girl’s face. She pressed her lips together.
The duchess eyed her shrewdly. “You do have something—I can see it in your eyes. Come on, out with it.”
“I—it’s not for everybody.”
“I’m not just everybody. I am a duchess.”
“I can see that, my lady. I just don’t think you would want this particular item.”
“Clearly, if I didn’t want it I wouldn’t have asked for it! Bring it out.”
Resigned, the girl ducked her head and went to the back to fetch said magical item. She returned with a small black box.
“If I give this to you, all your dreams will come true.”
“Well, that sounds fantastic!”
“No, you don’t understand. The ring pays no mind to how your dreams come true. Anything can happen.”
“Oh, what could possibly be so bad about that? How much do you want for it?”
“It’s priceless.”
“Nothing comes without a price. Name yours.”
The girl bit her lip. “I will give this to you, freely, if you promise never again to return to my shop.”
The duchess eyed her suspiciously. “That’s an odd request. Let’s see this magical ring.”
The girl opened the box. Light shone faintly from a simple ruby set in a band of burnished gold. The gem seemed to pulse and call to her, beckoning her to pick it up and put it on. Mesmerized, the duchess started to reach for it.
The lid slammed shut. “Promise me,” snapped the girl.
Taken aback, the duchess blinked several times. “Dear girl, I promise.”
“Good.” The girl shoved the box into the duchesses’ hands before she’d barely finished speaking. “Now, please, take your leave.” Without another word, she turned away.
“Well, how rude!” said the duchess. But she couldn’t complain too much. She’d gotten a free ring! Exactly what she’d come in here for!” Was it odd she’d seen the box on display in the window, or thought she had, and yet the girl had retrieved it from the back? Maybe she had seen a similar item. Jewelers tended to copy each other, after all, once a piece became famous and started to sell.
After arriving at home, she put the ring on and made a wish. “I wish to be able to buy as much jewelry as I want!”
That night at dinner, the duke choked on a piece of steak and died right there, face-down in his plate. The duchess, distressed at suddenly becoming a widow, fretted and fussed over him, but alas he was gone.
The next day, she found out she was to inherit his fortune. “But I don’t want that!” she whined to the handler of their estate. “I want my husband back!”
The day after that, she found out her father, mother, and siblings died in a tragic fire, leaving her the family fortune.
“You are wealthy beyond dreams, my lady,” said the estate planner. “You are able to afford anything you wish—including as much of your beloved jewelry as you want.”
“But I didn’t wish for this!”
“Did you not?” asked the planner.
She blinked at him. “Who are you, really?”
His eyes glowed faintly red, and he smiled, looking at the ring on her hand. “I am the granter of wishes. Not all genies come in lamps.”
With that, he vanished in a plume of smoke, leaving the duchess alone with her ring and a great big empty house.
Flash Fiction Friday #8: “Purple Rain”
I know it’s not Friday, but I owe three flash fictions because I’ve been traveling and have had a lot on my plate. This one is less fantasy and more straight fiction, but it was still fun and cute to write. I hope you enjoy it!
What is flash fiction? It’s an itty bitty story, generally under 1,000 words or 3 printed pages. Fresh fantasy and sci fi flash fiction every Friday!
*Please pardon grammar whoopsies. They will be fixed when this story is published in a collection later this year.
“Purple Rain”
A Fantasy Flash Fiction
By
K. D. Jones
The little girl cupped her palms together as it began to rain. “Why is the rain clear, Mother?”
“Because that’s just the way it is,” she said matter-of-factly, fishing through her bag for her umbrella. “Put your hood up before you get wet.”
“I don’t mind if I get wet. I can always dry off.”
The next day it rained again, except this time the little girl was visiting at her grandpa’s. “Grandpa,” she said, “why is the rain clear?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know, little one. It’s just the way it is.”
Dissatisfied, the girl frowned but said no more.
One week later, it rained again. This time the girl was in a carriage with her father, rumbling along a gravel road. Removing her glove, she stuck her hand out the window and said, “Father, why is the rain clear?”
“Because it just is,” he said, skimming over the morning paper.
“But I want the rain to be purple.”
“Such a thing is impossible, dear.”
“Why?”
“It just is.”
Why couldn’t the rain be other colors? She loved rain, and she loved the color purple. She wanted the rain to be purple! There had to be some way to make her dream come true.
The following week, she returned to her manor. She was sitting in painting class when it began to rain. Their teacher walked around, commenting on her students’ work. She stopped by the girl’s easel. “You’ve painted purple rain.”
“It’s the only way I can make the rain purple. To dream about it. Everybody else tells me it’s impossible.”
The teacher grinned. “Nothing is impossible.”
The next painting class, it was raining again. Only this time, the teacher had her students meet her outside. Half of them met on the roof while the other half stood on the ground far below, including the little girl. The teacher had instructed them to wear something they didn’t mind getting a little bit dirty.
The little girl wore her normal clothes, because she figured she could always wash them. She wasn’t afraid of hard work and rather enjoyed it.
“Are you ready?” the teacher called, leaning over the side of the building.
“Ready for what?” called back the little girl.
“For purple rain!” The teacher grinned from ear to ear as she positioned a wooden beam contraption with many little holes in it along the side of the roof. Once it was in place, she instructed two of her students to take a large bucket and slowly dump it into the contraption.
They did as she said. Tiny, dark raindrops sputtered out of the contraption, falling, falling, falling—
The little girl cupped her hands.
The water was purple.
Her face lighting up with glee, she threw the purple rain in the air and danced in it with her friends. When they all got back to class, soaked to the bone but happy and free, the teacher handed each of them a dry towel. “What was the moral of today’s demonstration?” she asked the class.
Small hands shot up.
“We can paint the rain!”
“That the rain can be multiple colors!”
“Yes, it was all those things. But what else?”
The little girl raised her hands, smiling. She now knew the secret. “That the impossible can be possible.”
“Yes, little one. That is exactly it.”
March 3, 2018
Flash Fiction Friday #7: “Moon-Kissed”
What is flash fiction? It’s an itty bitty story, generally under 1,000 words or 3 printed pages. Fresh fantasy and sci fi flash fiction every Friday!
*Please pardon grammar whoopsies. They will be fixed when this story is published in a collection later this year.
“Moon-Kissed”
A Fantasy Flash Fiction
By
K. D. Jones
Leaves of gold and crimson crunched under the woman’s boots as she trudged through the forest. The sun was almost set now, the last rays of daylight casting everything in a dim golden glow.
“Are you ready for the Change?” asked her mentor in a ragged voice. He was too old to be hiking, she thought, though she wasn’t about to tell him that.
“Yes,” she replied without hesitation, though nerves thrummed beneath her skin. She kept climbing the hill, kept her eyes on the darkening horizon.
The air turned cool and misty. Crickets and frogs began singing and belching in the thickening night. Fireflies danced in the fog, glowing like fairies.
“We’re almost there,” said her mentor.
Her heart skipped a beat. Could she survive the Change? Did she truly have what it took to be one of the Moon-Kissed?
The trees parted, revealing a placid lake. The sky, now indigo and star-dappled, began to glow near the horizon.
“It is time,” her mentor said. “Kneel.”
She did. He tapped his staff on both shoulders. A blade hissed as it was drawn from its scabbard, and he held the point to her heart. “If your heart is not true, run yourself upon the blade now and be done with it.”
“My heart is true.”
“As one of the Moon-Kissed, one of the sacred warriors assigned with protecting our village, you must complete the Change to officially join our ranks and complete your training.”
“My heart is still true, Mentor.”
“Good. Rise, and let’s test your will.”
She stood. Though her legs wobbled, she straightened her spine and shed her thick robe. Her white silk dress billowed in the breeze blowing off the lake, and goosebumps popped up along her pale skin. Her white hair whipped behind her. Heart galloping, she lifted her eyes to the sky and felt her skin begin to itch and tingle as the moon rose.
Her mentor began chanting.
Her breath came faster and faster as silver light spread across the meadow, then the lake, then—
She cried out as the first rays of moonlight hit her, setting her flesh aflame and her bones twisting. All the while her mentor chanted, his eyes glowing with the same silvery light that now drenched her and was tearing her body apart.
She screamed, which turned into a roar as straight, white teeth became fangs the size of the blade he’d held to her heart, and her nails turned to darkened claws. Her flesh stretched and stretched as her bones broke and reformed, as muscle and sinew twined and bent around a new shape.
A stronger, more powerful being than human or animal.
The pain at last subsided, and she slowly straightened, the transformation complete. Her long, fur-tipped ears perked. So many noises. There was the rush and hiss of the waterfall, five miles away! And the sound of wagons rolling along cobblestone in Mistburn, the city ten miles from here. And the smells, so many new smells—rain-soaked earth, the incense of wildflowers, the freshness of the nearby stream—and the sights, a million vivid colors, colors she’d never dreamed of or knew even existed.
This is amazing, she thought with wonder.
All her fears abated, replaced by awe and triumph. And as the last of her doubts died, she knew her faith in herself had been rewarded.
She was strong enough to survive the Change. Strong enough to be a warrior, one of the Moon-Kissed. And now she would take her place among her people and do what she was born for.
To protect, to believe in a better tomorrow. To elicit fear in the hearts of her enemies.
And to inspire faith in those who needed it.
June 29, 2015
Moving all books to Amazon for KU trial period
I've pulled A White So Red from all vendors for a three-month-long trial run in Kindle Unlimited on Amazon. This means the book will only be available on Amazon from July 1st-October 1st. (I may pull out, with advanced warning for anyone in KU, and go wide again with distribution. We shall see what happens.)
BTW, the quickest way to reach me is my email address - kdjonesepicfantasy@gmail.com. You can also use the contact form on this site.
I'll be creating a New Release Reminder listing for when I finish new books, and adding it to the top menu as well as the sidebar. If you want a "heads-up" and nothing more for when new books come out, then please consider signing up. The only time you'll hear from me is when I let you know I've published something new. =) It'll be rather infrequently, maybe once or twice a year at most. Any announcements will be kept on the main page of this website.
Thank you always for your support, and happy reading!
K. D. Jones
September 2, 2014
Waking Snow White: a Snow White compilation
Smashwords Pre-order
What if the wicked queen was once Snow White's best friend? What if Prince Charming rode a motorcycle instead of a white horse? What if Snow White was a warrior princess fighting for her country instead of a damsel in distress? In WAKING SNOW WHITE, seven independent authors offer their own take on one of the most beloved and iconic fairy tales of all time. Step outside of a kingdom far, far away and into fantasy worlds and magical contemporary settings in these six unforgettable YA stories.
SNOW, BLOOD AND ENVY by Jean Haus
With aspirations of being an animator, sixteen-year-old Nivi Nash thought she knew all about fairy tales. But caught in a real one, she learns the hero isn’t always charming, the story far from pretty, and that failing to achieve "happily ever after" might just get her killed.
POISONED by Katherine Pine
Poisonous mists settled in the lowlands 17 years ago, rendering ninety percent of the land uninhabitable and killing over half the population. Snow White has dedicated her life to finding a cure. When her quest leads her to her late father's secret lab, she discovers something so powerful that kings would destroy entire kingdoms to possess it.
A WHITE SO RED by K. D. Jones
Seventeen-year-old Snow’s life changed forever the night her stepmother, the Queen, sent her huntsman to cut out her heart. With no one at her side but a rowdy band of carnivorous dwarves and an arrogant, rogue prince who’s too handsome for his own good, Snow must take back her kingdom.
SNOW WHITE by Cindy C. Bennett
When Snow White foils her wicked stepmother's plot to kill her she finds herself in Fableton, an enchanted village her stepmother created to entrap the prince who spurned her. Phillip immediately recognizes Snow White as the one girl who could break his curse, but is he willing to risk her life to gain his freedom?
SNOW WHITE'S KNIGHT and MAGIC MIRROR by Laura Briggs
In Snow White’s Knight, dark adventures await Prince Reiden when he attempts to rescue the innocent princess from a fateful spell. In Shakespearesque tragedy Magic Mirror, a vengeful wizard, an obsessed warlord, and a callous ruler are connected by a fatal prophecy from the enchanted mirror.
NOT SO SNOW WHITE by K. Sean Jennkrist
Winter Snow always knew she was different and as she nears her eighteenth birthday Winter discovers just how much.
June 13, 2013
Officially on hiatus
I'm officially putting this pen name on hiatus.
I won't say I'll never publish any epic fantasy titles ever again, because I quite enjoy them. However, I can say I don't know when I'll get around to writing more books under this pen name.
Veiled Innocence has also been retired from print, but A White So Red is going to remain in circulation because I know people are searching for it. Plus, it's a standalone.
I also have an urban fantasy/dystopian trilogy under my other pen name, Krystle Jones. So if you're into that sort of genre, please check me out at www.krystlejonesbooks.com.
Happy reading, and thank you for your support and understanding.
K.D.J.
June 3, 2013
Hiatus and pulling 'Veiled Innocence'
Long time, no write. I'm sorry I've neglected this pen name, which is precisely why I've come to this decision:
I'm putting K.D. Jones on a temporary hiatus.
How long is temporary? Temporary could be a few months, it could be a year, or it could be two years. I don't know. Right now, my other pen names are growing at a much faster rate, and I feel I would be shooting myself in the foot if I didn't try to fuel the flames.
So, as much as I love epic fantasy, I will not be writing anymore stories under this pen name for a while. Yes, that means Maid of Iron and Darkest Destiny are on the back burner. I'll return to them someday, but I don't know when.
Which brings up another point:
I'm pulling Veiled Innocence from the market.
It's going to disappear one week from today - June 10th - so if you're wanting to read it, you can snag it for free from Amazon, Smashwords, and I think maybe B&N. (If they've price-matched the other sites, that is.) After that, it's not going to be available for a long time, if ever again.
I'm not pulling it because I think it's bad, though some people would probably like to argue that statement. It's more like I don't want to give readers the first book in a series, then make them wait who-knows-how-long for the next book. It's not fair. And I'm not even sure I'm going to continue the series.
It all remains to be seen in the foggy future of this pen name.
I do want to eventually return to epic fantasy because I really enjoy the genre. But that time is going to be a ways away because of my schedule and the time allotted to me for writing.
I'm sorry to any readers who were looking forward to these books. I'll leave Snow White up since it's a stand alone, and it's one of my most searched-for books (for Krystle Jones or K.D.).
But Cinderella, Lianora, Vishka, Rowan, and my whole clan are going back on my proverbial story shelves until I have time to attend to their stories.
I'm sorry for any frustration this may cause, and thank you so much for seeking out my stories and encouraging me to write.
All the best,
K.D.
April 7, 2013
Cover Reveal: 'Maid of Iron'
Before his assassination, Ella’s father spent his entire life trying to right the wrongs of the war-devastated city of Elborn. When the system fails to deliver justice for his death, Ella decides to take up his mantle. Servant girl to her cruel stepmother by day and hooded vigilante at night known as “the Wraith,” Ella vows to finish what her father began. Her first target? The source of the city’s corruption - Van, the young and handsome newly-crowned king.
But the night Ella seeks her revenge, she finds Van is not the monster she thought him to be. If anything, he has been fighting just as hard as she. But there are more players in the game than either of them realize, and Ella isn’t the only one plotting treason. A secret society known as the Nine are closing in, devising a future darker than anything Ella or Van can imagine. When Van asks the Wraith to protect him and help take down the Nine, Ella finds her heart torn between wanting to save the man she’s falling in love with or save the city her father failed to protect.
Add it to your Goodreads shelf.
