Christa Kinde's Blog, page 64
March 31, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 101: Sent Away
Chapter 101: Sent Away
Tamaes’s hand hurt, so the weapons master told him to go rest.
Partway to the tents, the boy received a Sending. He chased the bright certainty all the way to Weft’s home and listened breathlessly to the young Weaver’s sing-song recitation in the garden. But a final nudge put Tamaes outside Taweel’s dim alcove.
Through the curtain, he could see the Guardian slouched against the wall with Omri sprawled on his chest. Taweel’s expression was peaceful. He was humming. Not sad. Not lonely.
“He does not need me,” Tamaes whispered, very much confused.
The answer came kindly. ‘You need him.’
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Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don’t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, © Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
LAST CALL: CJ’s First Newsletter
Just a quick heads-up. Many of you have asked for MORE of my writing, but maybe you didn’t know that I publish stories under my maiden name. If you’re at all interested in family-friendly fantasy tales, I invite you to check out CJMilbrandt.com. Same me, different genre. : )
I’ll be sending out CJ’s first-ever newsletter later today, which will include the first chapter of Harrow, the second book in my Galleries of Stone trilogy (releases April 8, 2014) and an exclusive peek at an upcoming series of children’s first chapter books (Book 1 will be out this July). Curious? Interested? Then by all means, SUBSCRIBE >>
March 30, 2014
This Week’s Accumulation lxxxiii
This was a dabbling sort of week. I didn’t make great headway on any one project, but I enjoyed puttering here and there during spare moments. Variety. I wrote several devotionals, edited one of my children’s books, swapped emails with two of my artists, organized a heap of notes for a sequel, prepped a quarterly newsletter, responded to an interviewer, and made significant progress on a short story. Busy, busy, busy! Care to see the cluttered aftermath?
This week’s accumulation:
♦ Thank you to everyone who requested Israel postcards! I have a tidy stack ready to mail on Monday, so watch your mailboxes! ♥
♦ Speaking of postcards, I’ve been addressing the ones I had printed to celebrate Book 4: The Garden Gate. Those will start going out in batches this week, too. Newsletter subscribers have already gotten a sneak peek at the art I chose. Here’s Study Buddies by Stella Candente.
If you want these postcards, all you have to do is ask. They’re free. I adore “real mail,” and putting something in your mailbox would be my delight. More information >>
♦ It’s been a while since I nudged y’all toward my Pinterest boards. I have several that are Threshold related:
Threshold Series
Threshold Series – Miscellaneous
Prissie Pomeroy
Give Baird a T-Shirt
Threshold Series – Secret Santa
Reader Show-and-Tell
Threshold Series – Story Art
If you’re a pinner, and you’d like to be added to the group boards, let me know! Also, make sure your settings allow me to send an invitation to join a group board.
♦ Milestone Alert! In less than a month, I’ll be celebrating the book birthday of Book 2: The Hidden Deep. To celebrate, I’ll be doing a special giveaway, a character Q&A session, and a review challenge. I’ll also be asking for people to share their favorite moments or quotes from the series, but Book 2 in particular. In preparation for the festivities, I’d encourage y’all to do a re-read. And be thinking about what questions you might have for Prissie & company. Be ready for Wednesday, April 23, when The Hidden Deep marks its first year of publication. : )
So what’s cluttering up your desktop? Do tell!
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March 28, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 100: Ask
Chapter 100: Ask
Taweel retreated to his shadowy alcove for a private conversation with Omri. Spreading his hands wide, he said, “See for yourself. I am no longer dim.”
With a flit of wings, the yahavim landed on his palm and tiptoed across the names painted there.
“My voice has returned. There are songs I can sing.” Taweel pointed out, “You are free to go.”
Omri sat.
He amended, “Naturally, you are free to stay.”
The little angel responded with a tirade of bossy squeaks.
Taweel cut him off by pulling him close and gruffly begging, “Please, stay.”
Omri’s sweet chirrup settled matters.
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Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don’t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, © Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
March 27, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 99: Leaving Openings
Chapter 99: Leaving Openings
“I’m no Caretaker, but this should do,” Loris said, tying off the bandage. “It’s not like you to leave openings, Tamaes. Where were your thoughts?”
“Wandering.” The boy flexed his fingers and winced. “Wondering.”
“About …?”
“Taweel.” Glancing at the warrior who coached Adin, Tamaes asked, “Is loneliness a kind of pain?”
“I suppose so.”
Tamaes scooted closer to the Weaver. “But we are here.”
“I believe Taweel’s thoughts are also wandering.” Loris wrapped his arm around the boy’s shoulders. “Newfoundlings who have found their wings soon find themselves in a mentor’s keeping. Taweel is grieving a loss that’s coming.”
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don’t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, © Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
March 26, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 98: Learning the Hard Way
Chapter 98: Learning the Hard Way
“How can I be lonely?” Taweel murmured. “You are here.”
Tamaes wasn’t satisfied, but he’d learned something new. Asking didn’t always bring answers. So he wondered his way through training.
Crack!
Tamaes yelped and dropped his staff.
Adin let his own practice weapon fall. “Why didn’t you block?”
“Sorry,” he mumbled, awkwardly cradling his hand. Bright droplets slipped between his fingers and spattered the floor.
Taweel called, “Loris, bring bandages!”
“It hurts.”
“I know,” sighed Taweel. “Try to bear it.”
Blinking back tears, Tamaes asked, “Like you?”
“You can do better than me,” he gruffly retorted.
Tamaes sincerely doubted it.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don’t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, © Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
March 25, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 97: Telltale
Chapter 97: Telltale
An angel’s wings whispered about the state of his heart. For too long, Taweel’s had keened like a winter wind through ice-brittle branches. But the lament had ebbed to faint sighs.
“Better,” Adin pronounced.
Weft rubbed the draped folds against his cheek. “But still sad. Are you sad, Taweel?”
“Yes.”
“No,” Tamaes said at the same time.
When the boy tucked his chin to his chest, Taweel tapped the top of his head. “Feelings overlap and contradict. We could both be correct. What did you hear, Tamaes?”
“Loneliness.” The young Guardian shyly caught Taweel’s full sleeve. “Why are you lonely?”
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don’t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, © Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
March 24, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 96: Coming Changes
Chapter 96: Coming Changes
“Your voice is low,” Adin said, hanging onto Taweel’s arm.
“Deep,” agreed Weft.
“And big,” Adin added. “Will my voice get bigger?”
“Your voices will change,” Taweel confirmed, unfurling his wings in order to catch Tamaes, who was shyer about demanding attention. The Guardian held all three close while he could. Adin and Tamaes would go to mentors soon, and that would be goodbye. “Many things will change.”
“You changed,” Tamaes said.
Weft nodded eagerly. “You sing!”
“And your wings, too,” murmured Tamaes, who was swathed in their purple light.
To Taweel’s embarrassment, the boys held their breath and listened.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don’t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, © Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
March 21, 2014
The Week’s Accumulation lxxxii
This was one of those deeply-entrenched writing weeks when I was virtually scarce and rather late with my Tried and True posts. To be honest, I adore weeks like this. Whatever book I’m writing absorbs most of my time and thoughts. Even my dreams are swamped by scenes and scenarios. My focus is inexhaustible, and chapters fall into place. The plot drives me to finish. And in point of fact, this week I did finish a manuscript! -confetti toss- But more about that below. Take a gander!
This week’s accumulation:
♦ For the last three weeks, I’ve been living and breathing the world of Galleries of Stone, my fantasy trilogy. A mountain touched by magic. Freydolf the master sculptor. The boy he hires as a servant. [More about the story here.] I’ve always felt that too many fun things got lost in the time skip between the second and third sections. So in preparation for publishing Book 2: Harrow, I opted to expand the story. Four new chapters add some 17,000~ words to the tale. I’m quite pleased with the results!
Book 1: Meadowsweet is available now | Book 2: Harrow releases April 8
If you enjoy fantasy stories, I’m publishing these family-friendly books under my maiden name. You can keep up with these adventures at CJMilbrandt.com. I’d encourage you to follow that blog via email subscription. I’ll also be releasing a quarterly newsletter for Galleries of Stone readers, beginning at the end of this month. Subscribers will get a sneak peek at future plans for Galleries companion stories … and a brand new kids series for young readers! ; )
♦ My husband returned from a 10-day trip to the Holy Land yesterday, and he kept his promise to bring home something special. Postcards! So on Monday, I’ll be doing a giveaway. In order to have a chance to receive a postcard from Israel, you’ll need to be a newsletter subscriber. So make sure to sign up! Then on Monday, watch your inbox for further instructions. Only the first twenty to respond will find a souvenir of the Holy Land in their mailbox! : )
Fun Facts
♦ I’ve been to Israel twice, and a return visit is planned for next winter.
♦ My agent had a hard time contacting me to let me know that Zondervan wanted to publish The Blue Door because I was in Israel at the time. I was able to thank God for His perfect timing and celebrate this good news beside the Sea of Galilee.
♦ Even though I’m a happy homebody, I’ve tiptoed through wavelets along the blue-green Mediterranean’s shore, risen early to watch the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee, and braved the inky, water-filled secret passage known as Hezekiah’s Tunnel.
♦ I may have mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. Thank you to everyone who’s been commenting on the weekdaily updates of Tried and True! Your insights, reactions, speculations, and hopes are a real encouragement. And it’s always fun when storytelling takes on an interactive element. ; )
So what’s cluttering up your desktop? Do tell!
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Tried and True, Chapter 95: Valerian the Overseer
Chapter 95: Valerian the Overseer
“Valerian heard a rumor in the encampment and called for me.” Stepping closer, Dorum added, “I am glad he did.”
Taweel glanced at the other Guardian, a lean spearman with straw-colored hair gathered into a loose braid. “Overseer,” he greeted.
“Yes and no. I’m no longer leader of the encampment where you trained. God Sent me here.” After a thoughtful pause, Valerian added, “Adin and Tamaes are under my watch-care.”
“They will surely prosper.” Taweel hesitantly asked, “Are you also a prospective?”
“We both are,” Dorum confirmed.
Taweel understood then. Valerian and Dorum were going to take away the boys.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don’t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, © Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
