James Erich's Blog, page 3

Guest Blog: Jamie Mayfield – Tackling Issues in LGBT YA Fiction

I first heard the phrase “Issue Fiction” at RT earlier this year. It’s the concept of writing about things like eating disorders, drug abuse, self-harm, and other gripping issues facing teenagers into YA fiction. I attended a panel on the subject where they discussed how to approach such topics, and thought to myself – our kids have to deal not only with the same issues as an average teenager, but an entire layer of being “different” on top of that. Plus, being taught to hate yourself helps to manifest other behaviors that may not have otherwise surfaced.

As a YA author, I think it’s important not to gloss over these topics, but to give teens an honest look with consequences and solvable problems. Give them hope, but show them that sometimes, they have to work for it. Mainstream books like Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson or Willow by Julia Hoban show the depth of pain involved with self-mutilation while other books like All of Me by Maureen Stewart or The Best Little Girl in the World by Steven Levenkron talk eating disorders. Other books cover the spectrum of drug and alcohol abuse—all subjects that teenagers shouldn’t have to deal with, but do, every day.

In the Waiting for Forever series, Jamie battles a serious drug addiction. He makes some good choices, and some bad choices—both have consequences.  Teens who read the series learn that even good people make bad choices, and they have to live with those choices. Having sex, blowing off college, getting into porn, coming out, drugs, standing up for your friends, putting your life back together—everything has repercussions, some good, some bad. In A Broken Kind of Life, Aaron is recovering from a traumatic experience that many adults wouldn’t be able to come back from. He meets Spencer, a deaf classmate and finds the strength to fight his demons and persevere.

By bringing these issues out into the open and talking about them, my hope as an author is that teens will see themselves in these books and be able to find some peace within themselves. With a teen in the Harmony Ink age range, I want them to seek out help—a parent, a teacher, or some other adult they trust and find the help they need. For our LGBT kids—I want them to know that they’re not alone. There is an entire community of us all around them, and we love and accept them just the way they are. When they’re ready, we want to watch them shine.

Jamie Mayfield is celebrating the release of the  Waiting for Forever   series with a 12-week blog tour and giveaway. View the full tour schedule HERE . Comment on any blog tour post or tweet using hashtag #WaitingForForever to enter to win a Kindle! Drawing will be held on 8/15/2013. You must be 18 to enter and have a valid US mailing address.

About Jamie Mayfield:

A survivor of the ex-gay residential institution The Sunshine Center, fictional author Jamie Mayfield went on to find his voice in novels. Always a great lover of books, Jamie found his passion as he began to pursue a liberal arts degree in creative writing. An avid reader, he’s a fan of gay romance, suspense, and horror—though not all in the same novel.

Jamie lives in San Diego with his fictional husband, Brian. He writes YA fiction as a way to let kids know that they have an entire LGBT family all around them. Above all, he wants them to know that they are not alone. It does get better.

Jamie Mayfield is a fictional character from the acclaimed Little Boy Lost series by female author J. P. Barnaby.

Website: http://www.JamieMayfield.com

Tumblr: http://JamieMayfieldYA.tumblr.com

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/JamieMayfieldYA

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/JamieMayfieldYA

Guest blog: Eli Easton – Inspiring “Superhero”

Today, we welcome guest blogger Eli Easton, talking about the inspiration for her new YA novella, Superhero!

“Superhero” is my new YA novella from Harmony Ink.  It’s a story about two best friends, Jordan and Owen, growing up in a small town in Wisconsin, and the way their relationship changes as each character comes to terms with his sexual orientation.  Jordan realizes in sixth grade that he’s gay.  For Owen, it’s a much longer and more difficult road to find his own truth, one that strongly tests the nature of he and Jordy’s friendship. “Superhero” is primarily a m/m romance with lots of heart, a little angst, and some sexual tension!

So where did the idea for the book come from?  There were a few inspirations.  I began the story as an entry for a sports-themed anthology (Owen is a high school star wrestler).  But it soon became clear to me that I was going to go WAY over the word count limit so I decided to write it as a stand-alone novella instead.

The inspiration for the high school setting for this love story was Fer and David, characters on a Spanish TV show who play two high school boys who fall in love.  The show is called Física o Química (English: Physics or Chemistry).  I discovered the show while browsing around youtube and trolled the web until I found videos with English subtitles.

Fer (in back) and David, played by Javier Calvo and Adrian Rodriguez

What I particularly like about Fer and David is the fact that the show is a soap opera about a high school, and Fer and David are just one plotline among many and are treated much like any other romance.  They have a loving and public relationship, including PDA in the halls, and neither the teachers nor the others students have a problem with it.  That was very refreshing to me.

Fer was an inspiration for Jordan.  He was the model for what Jordan looks like (a tall and very lean cute brunette) and for Jordan’s self-confident attitude.  Like Fer, Jordan is completely comfortable being gay and he’s really very emotionally mature.

Of course, I don’t live in Spain. I grew up in Ohio so I set my YA story in the American Midwest where things are not quite so progressive.  Being gay is definitely not widely accepted at Jordan and Owen’s school and so that figured into the plotline of “Superhero” in a big way.  And Jordan, unlike Fer, is a very talented artist who is obsessed with comic books and in love with his best friend.  Owen is not really anything like David in the show.  He’s an athlete, a wrestler from a family of wrestlers, who ends up being good enough to be ranked number one in the state.  At his core Owen is a big-hearted, very responsible guy. But the really important thing about these two is not so much who they are as individuals, but the beauty and strength of their friendship.  They’ve been best friends since second grade and nothing can come between them.

As a writer, I love it when I find something that excites me and makes me feel intensely.  I want to channel those emotions and direct them into my work.  Because if I can feel passionately about something, I know my audience can too.  So whether the inspiration is a friend, a beautiful painting, a song, a movie, a biography, or a TV show, I’m happy to let that emotion churn up inside me and get poured into a new work that will then, perhaps, inspire others.

If you want to check out Fer and David’s story, here’s a link to videos with English subtitles:

http://foqmylife.tumblr.com/Playlist

And here’s a lovely screen grab of Fer and David from a FoQ fan on tumblr:

Eli Easton

Read an excerpt from “Superhero” here:  http://elieaston.com/books-by-eli-easton/superhero/

About Eli Easton

Eli Easton is a new nom de plume for an author who has primarily published mystery thrillers in the past.  As an addict of m/m romance novels, she decided to tip her size-nine toe in the water and write in the genre herself.  “Superhero” is her first YA novella.  She has various other m/m titles out or soon releasing from Dreamspinner Press.  She lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, three bulldogs, three cows, and six chickens.  You can get news about her books at the links below:

Eli on goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7020231.Eli_Easton

Eli’s blog:  www. elieaston.com

Eli’s Tumblr:   http://elieaston.tumblr.com/

Eli’s Twitter:  EliEaston

Superhero links:

Buy at Dreamspinner here: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4081

On Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17855574-the-lion-and-the-crow

Eli Easton’s website:  www.elieaston.com

GIVE AWAY:

Check out True Colorz for an interview with Eli and a chance to win a free ebook of “Superhero” (just leave a comment). http://true-colorz.blogspot.com/search/label/featured%20author

“Gods” has been contracted!

I just signed a contract with Harmony Ink Press for book three of my YA fantasy trilogy Dreams of Fire and Gods!

Things are moving fairly quickly on this one — quicker than I could have hoped.  I can’t give a definite publication date yet, but I expect it to be out this fall!

Part three of “Dreams of Fire and Gods” (called “Gods”) is submitted!

It took a couple weeks longer than I anticipated, back when I was working out my writing schedule for the year, but Dreams of Fire and Gods: Gods is finally finished!

I finished polishing it up and sent it to my publisher yesterday afternoon.  I can’t even begin to describe how good it feels to get that one out the door!

I don’t know, of course, how soon it will be published.  Harmony Ink is pretty busy these days, so it may not be for six months or so.  I’ll let everyone know as soon as I have a release date.

I’m currently tossing around ideas for my next novel.  Maybe something about cavemen… or maybe a science fiction novel….

New 5-heart review of “Seidman” on MM Good Book Reviews!

“I absolutely loved Kol. He was like the Viking Harry Potter of his era. He was very shy, but incredibly brave. Even when death was staring him in the face he stood stall and strong.

…

I recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a very entertaining and historical book depicting young love, magic, and adventure. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.”

(Click the image to read the full review!)

“Gods” is now officially longer than “Fire”

The final novel in the Dreams of Fire and Gods trilogy, which is called Gods, is now about a thousand words longer than the second novel Fire was.

This probably isn’t terribly exciting news to most people, but it is to me.  Although Fire was exactly as long as I felt it needed to be, it was considerably shorter than Dreams, the first novel in the trilogy.  In order to wrap things up properly, I wanted Gods to be longer than that.  There are so many twists and turns in the plot that I felt a short novel would be cheating readers.  

Not that I wanted it to be War and Peace.  Dreams was actually a bit long at just under 80,000 words.  It’s looking like Gods will probably roll in at about 65,000 words, and everything should wrap up very nicely.

However, this means I have to adjust the meter on the sidebar to reflect the new estimated word count.  (It’s been at 55,000 words for a while.)  So if it looks like I’m deleting pages, that isn’t the case.  It’s still moving forward.  I estimate it will be finished (first draft, anyway) within the next two weeks!

 

Progress report on “Gods” and other things in my life

First of all, to anyone who has read Dreams and Fire, the first two novels in the Dreams of Fire and Gods trilogy, the third novel (Gods) is definitely on its way.

I realize it’s been dragging on a bit.  The Evil Day Job was really interfering with my writing—for the past two or three months, things got so insane there that I was coming home every night and finding myself too exhausted to write much—and that’s put me really off schedule.

The good news is that my husband and I made the decision that my writing needed to come first.  So with some trepidation, but his blessing, I’ve quit that job to write full-time.  Gods is, I’m estimating, within about 15,000 words of completion.  I’ll keep people posted, and hopefully make an announcement soon about it being finished!

So, please bear with me.  I think you’ll find it worth the wait.  The story has taken a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and I really love where it’s gone.  In the meantime, here’s a sneak preview!  This scene takes place about a third of the way in, as Master Geilin begins training a new type of mage not seen in Dasak for thousands of years—one skilled in the use of Taaweh magic!

EXCERPT — Gods by James Erich — Chapter Three

The south courtyard had become a hedge maze.  No, worse, Sael reflected.  The maze wasn’t composed merely of yew and cedar hedges, but also had stone walls that hadn’t existed in the courtyard the day before.  Apart from the hedge, and two guards posted by each entrance, the courtyard appeared to be empty.

“What is all this?” his father asked sharply, as they approached.  He didn’t raise his voice, particularly, but it could still be heard clearly in the enclosed space.

Sael thought he heard giggling—the giggling of a woman—coming from somewhere in the maze, followed by what sounded like young men snickering.  The vek looked as if he were about to boil over.

Fortunately, before that could happen, Master Geilin called out from the depths of the maze, “Your Grace!  Forgive me.  I will be with you momentarily.”

At that, the stone wall immediately before them melted into the cobblestones like warm butter, leaving no trace that there had been anything there just a moment before.  Behind it, branches of yew curled to one side, forming a direct path into the center of the maze, where Master Geilin stood with four others—three young men Sael only vaguely recognized and… Tanum.

Geilin bowed formally, his students imitating him.  “Your Grace.  Your Lordship.”

“Master Geilin,” the vek said coolly, “Might I have a word with you in private?”

Geilin walked forward calmly, a stone wall rising up out of the cobblestones behind him to prevent his students from listening in on the conversation. 

“I don’t recall giving my permission for Lady Tanum to be included in your classes,” the vek told him, when he drew near.

Geilin looked perplexed.  “I’m very sorry, Your Grace.  Lady Tanum informed me that she had permission.” 

“She did not.”

“Father,” Sael interrupted.  “Tanum and I spoke of it before Koreh and I went into the mountains.”  He hadn’t exactly agreed to let Tanum train, but he wasn’t opposed to lying in order to help Master Geilin and Tanum save face.

Fortunately, his father didn’t see fit to grill him on the subject.  Though he looked at his son with an expression like someone who’s just bitten into a lemon, he turned to Geilin and asked, “These boys….  Clearly you’ve not chosen your apprentices from among the vönan.”

“I did try, Your Grace,” the wizard replied.  “But it’s a big step for a vönan to deliberately sever himself from the power of the Stronni, even though we’ve been cut off from it for several weeks now.  None are yet willing to take it.  They are all watching me to see if I burst into flame or, worse, become powerless.”

“I suppose we can’t blame them.”

Geilin shook his head and ran a hand over the spot where his tattoo had once been.  He’d mentioned to Sael recently that it didn’t exactly hurt, but he could feel that it was missing.  “No, sir.  But although I’ve found my training as a vönan an aid to learning Taaweh magic, the Taaweh themselves insist it isn’t essential.  All men—and women—have the ability to learn it.”

Sael saw his father’s eye twitch at the obvious reference to Tanum, so he attempted to redirect the conversation.  “Those young men looked familiar,” he said.  “Who are their families?”

“They are stable boys!” his father snapped.

Sael was taken aback by this, but Geilin seemed unperturbed.  “Only Nalekh lives in the stables, Your Grace.  I believe his family resides in Tessam.  Bol and Ahvi are brothers and they live in the servants’ quarters.”

“The servants’ quarters?”  Sael was just as surprised as his father.  Master Geilin was creating a new order of mages… out of servants?

“They were the only volunteers, Your Lordship,” Geilin explained patiently. 

The vek sniffed.  Then with an air of resignation, he asked, “Have they made any progress?”

“Today is their first day.  It will take some time.”

“How much time?”

Geilin merely spread his hands to indicate he had no idea. 

The vek gave him the bored half-smile he normally reserved for servants he’d grown weary of talking to.  “Carry on, then.”

Sael had no doubt that Geilin sensed the disapproval behind that smile, but the old man merely nodded and said, “Thank you, Your Grace.  Your Lordship.”

He bowed formally and left them to return to his students, the stone wall melting away as he approached it.

The vek muttered under his breath, “I confess I’m skeptical about how useful these new ‘mages’ will prove to be,” before heading back toward to the keep.  Sael fell into step behind him.

This courtyard was somewhat smaller than the main courtyard and it was bordered with decorative wading pools in the four corners and bordering the entrance.  When Sael began to walk past one of these, something reflected in the water caught his eye and he slowed to get a better look.

It was Koreh.

Not a ghostly apparition, but a very clear view of Koreh’s face and shoulders against a bright blue sky.  The angle put his face in shadow, but there was enough light reflected up at him—rippling as though he were peering down into a moving river—that there was no mistaking it was him.  His eyes lit up with recognition, as though he could see Sael too.  Their eyes locked for just a brief moment, before something dark seemed to swim between them and the vision disappeared.

Sael staggered and made a grab for something to steady himself.  He was surprised to find his father there, though the man had been ahead of him a moment earlier.  His hand gripped the vek’s strong forearm tightly, as he fought back the wave of grief that threatened to overwhelm him.

“Are you ill?” his father asked.  “How do you summon that blasted Taaweh physician?”  He was reacting with his usual haughtiness, but Sael could hear the note of concern in his voice.

“I’m all right, father,” Sael told him, though he didn’t feel all right.  His heart felt as if it were being wrenched out of his chest.  “Just… a little lightheaded.”

It couldn’t have been Koreh.  It had to have been a trick of the light.

But it was so clear. 

“Have you eaten anything this morning?” the vek asked.  Then without bothering to wait for an answer, he said, “Let’s get you inside.  I’ll have something brought up from the kitchen.”

Day of Silence flash fiction

My publisher, Harmony Ink Press, began posting flash fiction from Harmony Ink authors in honor of the Day of Silence on Friday, April 19th.

If you’re not familiar with the Day of Silence, it’s an annual protest that’s been held every year since 1996, when it was started by then-student Maria Pulzetti as a protest against bullying and harassment of LGBT students.  As stated in the wikipedia article, “Students take a day-long ”Vow of silence” to symbolically represent the silencing of LGBT students and their supporters.”

Harmony Ink decided it would be cool to have participating authors write a flash fiction piece symbolizing silence in some way.  Mine was a modified excerpt from the third novel in the Dreams of Fire and Gods trilogy (called Gods), which is still being written.  You can read it by clicking on the image above.

You might ask, “Why did you wait until the 24th to post this, if the Day of Silence was on the 19th?”  Basically, I didn’t post until today because I was at a workshop with my publisher in Chicago over the weekend and between that and traveling, things have just been too chaotic for me.  Also, due to the large number of submissions Harmony Ink received, my story wasn’t put on the website until this afternoon.

I’ll close this post with a picture snapped at the workshop of some of the Harmony Ink authors in attendance:  Me (James Erich, looking like I just stepped out of the shower, because I had), Robbie Michaels, Madison Parker, Nessa Warrin (YA Coordinator), Jamie Mayfield, and Geoff Laughton.

Guest Blogger: Madison Parker on Gay Siblings

Gay Siblings

If you’ve been following me along my blog tour, you know I’ve talked a bit about bullying. One of the things I was interested in exploring when writing Play Me, I’m Yours, was the impact that bullying can have on other family members. In the novel, Lucas has a younger brother named Mason, who is fifteen years old. Because their age difference is only two years, they attend the same high school. Mason is well aware of the taunting Lucas endures, and it greatly affects the relationship he has with his brother. Mason doesn’t have a problem with Lucas being gay per se, but rather the impact it has on his own social life. Mason’s mindset is one of self preservation. He gets angry when people tease him for having a gay brother, and even angrier when people assume he’s gay too. He lashes out at the easiest target—his brother.

I hope readers find Mason to be a sympathetic character. Sure, he’s a brat, but deep down, he’s a good kid. Although much of his internal struggle occurs off-page or is implied through dialogue (both by the things he says and the things he refrains from saying), I think he’s one of the most interesting characters in the novel, and he does show personal growth over time.

Interestingly enough, studies have shown that younger sons are more likely to be gay than older sons. Had the ages been reversed (if Lucas were the younger gay brother, and if Mason were the older, straight brother), I think the relationship would have played out very differently. Mason, in that case, would probably be more outwardly protective of his brother. But since Lucas is the older brother, the one Mason is supposed to “look up to”, the stigma surrounding Lucas’s effeminate nature causes a lot of resentment on both ends. Lucas looks at his younger brother as the type of person he’s “supposed” to be—the one everyone loves and admires. Neither brother feels he has anyone he can talk to about his feelings. Their parents come with a whole other set of issues. The saddest part is that everyone means well. They’re all just horrible at communicating with one another, as is the case in many families.

I haven’t read many “coming out” stories that deal with sibling relationships. Many focus on the reactions of parents and friends instead. One notable exception is Andy Squared by Jennifer Lavoie. In that story, the young gay man has a fraternal twin sister, who reacts very badly to her brother’s coming out. In this novel, her feelings stem from her personal beliefs that homosexuality is wrong, and she has a difficult time coming to terms with the fact that her brother, whom she has always been close to, is gay.

What I have not yet come across in fiction, although I’ve seen some articles and videos about the subject online, are stories of families with multiple gay siblings. Surely authors are writing about that too, and if you have any recommendations for me, please list them in the comments.

Resources, such as “My Brother or Sister is Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual“, published by PFLAG are available to help family members deal with questions and concerns they have regarding gay siblings.

Of course not all siblings struggle with finding out their brother or sister is gay. Some offer unconditional love and support from the beginning, and in some cases, finding out a sibling is gay even strengthens the relationship. In closing, I’d like to share the video “My Brother Does My Makeup TAG! (feat. Brian)“, made by YouTube vlogger Coen with his (adopted) younger brother, Brian. Although Coen is an out-and-proud gay man (see his coming out video here) whose look is the perfect blend of both masculine and feminine beauty, his younger brother, Brian, appears to be completely comfortable with Coen and his love of makeup. I love how playful they are with one another. I also love the part of the video where Brian reaches for a blush brush and Coen says, “Why do guys always like the big fluffy brushes?” and Brian, without even thinking about it, says, “You’re a guy.”

Mason could learn a thing or two from hanging out with Coen and his brother!

Play Me, I’m Yours by Madison Parker

Published by Harmony Ink Press

Fairy Tate. Twinklefingers. Lucy Liu. Will the taunting ever end? Lucas Tate suffers ridicule because of his appearance and sensitive nature. When he’s not teased, he’s ignored, and he doesn’t know which is worse. His one comfort in life is his music; he feels unloved by everyone. What he wants more than anything is to find a friend.

Much to his dismay, both his mom and a schoolmate are determined to find him a boyfriend, despite the fact Lucas hasn’t come out to them. His mom chooses a football player who redefines the term “heartthrob,” while Trish pushes him toward the only openly gay boy at Providence High. But Lucas is harboring a crush on another boy, one who writes such romantic poetry to his girlfriend that hearing it melts Lucas into a puddle of goo. All three prospects seem so far out of his league. Lucas is sure he doesn’t stand a chance with any of them—until sharing his gift for music brings him the courage to let people into his heart.

Click here to read the first chapter.

Visit Madison Parker’s Website at www.madisonparklove.com for bonus materials including character sketches, piano covers, music videos, and lyrics for songs referenced in the novel.

Connect with Madison:

To celebrate the release of Play Me, I’m Yours, Madison Parker is hosting a giveaway. Enter to win your choice of a free copy of Play Me, I’m Yours or a $10 gift certificate from Rainbow eBooks by leaving a comment below along with your email address. For multiple chances to win, comment at each stop along the tour. Click here for the complete tour schedule. Winners will be chosen randomly on April 23.

Status update on “Gods” – Book Three of “Dreams of Fire and Gods” (and an excerpt!)

Gods is coming along, so for those who didn’t like being left hanging at the end of Fire, I’m expecting to have the final novel finished this month!

It’s been a challenging novel to write, though.  I now have four threads weaving back and forth, following Sael, Koreh, Donegh, and a new character, Gonim.  Making sure they all arrive at the end together and everything from the previous two novels wraps up properly has proven to be difficult.  I’ve had to extend my deadline with Harmony Ink a couple times.  But I think the end result will be worth it!  I’m very excited by all the plot twists and character development and I don’t think readers will be disappointed.

So, for everyone waiting anxiously for Book Three, here’s a little taste of it—an excerpt from the beginning of the novel, in which we meet the new viewpoint character, Gonim.  Keep in mind that this isn’t a final polished draft, but I think it’s reasonably presentable.  It’s a bit PG, but I promise that there isn’t any more explicit sex than in the previous two novels.

Prologue

Gonim knew he was dying and he welcomed it.  The young acolyte was burned severely over most of his body, after getting caught in one of the firestorms two days ago, and he was in agony.  A carriage had overturned in an intersection and he had rushed to aid the driver and passengers.  But he’d been too late.  A fireball caught them out in the open and only Gonim had survived—barely. 

Father Turs was the only ordained caedan left in the infirmary now, his staff reduced to a few acolytes like Gonim and a couple female nurses.  All the other priests in Worlen had evacuated—those who hadn’t been killed when the temple was incinerated.  The old caedan had done his best for Gonim, covering his burned skin in a healing ointment that relieved some of the pain, and then bandaging him.  But the burns were too severe.  A nurse had given him a potion to help him sleep, but they had little healing potion to spare for someone so far gone.  Now Gonim’s head swam in a haze, the pain still with him, but somehow seeming far away.  Father Turs had prayed over him, but eventually he’d been forced to leave Gonim to suffer in private, while the father attended to others who could be helped.

Gonim was at peace with his life.  He had been devoted to the gods and his duties as an acolyte.  His only regret was that he would die before being ordained.  But no man knew what the Perfect Order held for him.  It was enough to revel in its beauty and accept one’s place in the pattern.

A light appeared to the young man as he contemplated this, drifting into his small room through the window, though it was nearly midnight.  Gonim’s eyes had difficulty focusing, but it seemed to him that a beautiful woman with raven-black hair was walking toward him from somewhere much farther away than the nearby plaster wall.  Her gown was made of rich silks, so sheer that they appeared to reveal much of her body, though cut in such a way as to not reveal as much as it seemed.  Precious gemstones adorned the hem and neckline.  The woman drew close and leaned down to look at him with a gentle smile, while her hand reached out to stroke his hair.  At her touch, all pain left his body.  Had she come to take him into death? Gonim wondered. 

“I am Imen,” the woman said softly, “the queen of the gods.  And you, my young acolyte, have pleased me with your self-sacrifice and devotion to us.”

The youth had no doubt that she was speaking the truth.  Never had he seen a human woman of such surpassing beauty!  Never had he been so overwhelmed by a man or woman’s mere presence!  She could be nothing other than a god.

“I wish to grant you a boon, my faithful warrior,” Imen purred, as she traced a finger along his cheek and down the side of his neck.  The flesh there was blistered and her touch should have been agonizing, yet Gonim felt nothing but pleasure at it.  “First, you must tell me… Are you willing to die for me?”

Gonim could imagine nothing nobler than to sacrifice himself for his goddess.  In a paroxysm of religious fervor, he attempted to speak, but he had breathed in some of the flame and his throat was too scorched to choke out even one word.  Imen seemed to sense this and she bent her face near his.  Then she blew gently into his mouth.  Where her sweet breath touched, his flesh was healed, and as he exhaled, Gonim found himself able to say, “Yes, Your Majesty!”

She smiled, her face seeming illuminated from within, as she straightened.  “Then you shall.  But not today.  There is much to be done.”

Imen stepped away from Gonim’s bedside and a stooped old woman Gonim hadn’t even known was in the room with them came forward.  The crone held a small rolled-up strip of leather, which she laid down on the edge of his bed and unrolled.  Fastened to the inside of the strip by small loops were the tools of a seamstress—shears, needles, rolls of thread, and measuring tape.

While Imen stood silently nearby, the old woman set about her business, humming an unfamiliar tune.  She chose a large needle and threaded it with a thread that shimmered and flickered as if on fire, and then she held it aloft in one hand, while her other slid Gonim’s blanket down to expose his naked chest.  She picked up the shears and with a motion so quick Gonim barely had time to flinch, she stabbed him in the chest with one of the blades and snipped his sternum open.

Gonim felt the cut, yet it was oddly painless.  Though he had difficulty raising his head, he was able to tilt his face so that he could watch as the old seamstress snipped open his chest cavity.  Blood welled up in the wound, but did not gush out or spray as he would have expected it to.  The woman set the sheers down on the mattress and slid her hand into the wound, where Gonim could feel her fingers groping…until a sharp, intense pain made him cry out.  He wondered if Father Turs would hear him screaming and come to investigate.  What would happen then?  Would Imen kill him for intruding?  Gonim bit down on his screams, fearing that possibility, but it was impossible for him not to grunt and whimper in agony.

Then the pain grew more and more severe, until Gonim’s vision began to grow dark and he thought he was going to pass out.  The seamstress withdrew his beating heart from his chest and held it up as if inspecting it. 

“Your Majesty,” she said in a dry, rasping voice.

Imen plucked a large ruby off the neckline of her dress and stepped forward to drop the jewel into Gonim’s open chest cavity.  Instantly, the pain ceased.  Gonim settled back onto the mattress and sighed in relief as a warmth emanated from the ruby and flooded throughout his body.  He almost didn’t notice, when the seamstress snipped the arteries of his heart and cast the organ aside. 

The old woman stitched his chest back together with the needle and fiery thread, but Gonim no longer bothered to watch.  The warmth flooding through his body spread throughout his limbs, easing all pain, energizing his exhausted muscles, and pooling pleasantly in his groin. 

When the seamstress had finished her work and left Gonim’s bedside, taking her tools with her, Imen extended her hand to the youth.  “Come.”

Hesitantly, Gonim raised his head off the pillow.  He felt no pain and, looking down at his chest and stomach, he could see no trace of the severe burns that were killing him just a short time ago.  Indeed, there was also no trace of what had just transpired—no blood, no cut on the skin of his chest, not even a scar.  Gonim sat up and put his bare feet on the stone floor.  Not only were there no traces of his injuries, but he felt stronger and healthier than he’d ever felt before. 

He stood and faced the goddess, who regarded him with a triumphant smile. 

“You are very beautiful,” Imen said, looking him over as she circled around him.

Gonim had been wearing nothing at all under the blankets, his kilt having been burned beyond saving, and he had stiffened a bit when the warmth flooded his groin.  This embarrassed him, but the goddess did not seem concerned about it. 

“The magics of Harleh Valley cannot prevent me from entering, if I choose,” Imen continued in a voice as smooth as warm honey, “but there are times when a subtle approach is best.”

She stopped in front of Gonim and placed her hand lightly upon his breast.  It felt hot against the young man’s skin and caused him to become even more aroused.  “This body is now my vessel and I will safeguard it.  Go to Harleh!  Be my eyes and ears, where others are now useless.”

Gonim was beyond being confused by what was happening to him.  He didn’t know whether to be elated or terrified by the goddess’s charge.  “Y-Your Majesty,” he stammered, “what shall I do in Harleh?”

Her laugh was the first unpleasant sound to come from her mouth since appearing to Gonim.  “That, my warrior, will depend upon what you find there.”