Christa Kinde's Blog, page 68
February 19, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 73: Blooming Colors
Chapter 73: Blooming Colors
Even the boys’ furled wings were similar—both in shades of orange. Adin’s bold bangles encircled his upper arms. Tamaes’s were decorated by a profusion of delicate rings that began to separate from his skin, edges fluttering.
Adin unfurled first, revealing wings the hue of ripe musk melon, faintly blushed with rose. They quivered in limp folds as he drew them around his friend. Tears streaked his upturned face as their duet continued.
Tamaes’s wings emerged in a broader range of colors, from deep oranges to gleaming amber. The blend reminded Taweel of firelight.
Both were beautiful—flower and flame.
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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.
February 18, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 72: I Can Help
Chapter 72: I Can Help
Taweel shrank from the offer Asaph’s words held. Hadn’t God made him to love his charge? Was he wrong to grieve?
But the Worshiper made no demands. Focusing on Adin and Tamaes, Asaph asked, “Will you sing with me?”
Words and melody. Worship and harmony. He led them in a song of faithful service, trust in their Creator, and hope for a joy that would be full.
Face blank. Tongue locked. Eyes dry. Taweel still couldn’t bring himself to sing, even when the sweet duet of praise brought a telltale sparkle to the wings furled against the boys’ slender arms.
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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.
February 17, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 71: Wrong
Chapter 71: Wrong
At a whispered word from the Worshiper, the boys rushed back to Taweel, preventing his escape.
“Asaph is nice,” Tamaes promised, leading him toward the seated angel.
“He led our first evensong,” Adin explained before switching his attention to Asaph.
“Can you help? Taweel thinks we sang wrong before, because we sang for ourselves. But he doesn’t sing, so he can’t help us unfurl.”
Tamaes squeezed Taweel’s hand. “Weft told us.”
“An angel without a song?” Wide-set green eyes noted the amateurish stitching at Taweel’s collar, the yahavim perched on his head, and his pierced ear. “Yes, I can help.”
<< 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.
February 14, 2014
The Week’s Accumulation lxxvii
My desktop is comfortably cluttered after a week that allowed me some creative space. It’s tough to strike a balance between writing time, promotional efforts, and sock-sorting. But this week was a good’un. I finished a couple of things. (Nothing is more mood-elevating for a writer than getting something done.) Good news and good art arrived in my inbox. And y’all have been keeping things lively by chatting with me in comments. So let’s do some show-and-tell while I put my clutter on display for Valentine’s Day. ♥
This week’s accumulation:
♦ Last weekend, I was able to host a book table for the friendly folk at The Branch, my home church here in San Diego. Not sure if I’ve ever mentioned it here, but my husband’s one of the pastors, so “Mrs. Pastor” is on my list of unearned credentials. Here’s a snapshot taken last Sunday:
♦ This week’s been full of fun extra posts, all of which spurred on more interesting conversations in the comments. I’ll share just a few.
From the Valentine’s Day Invitation:
♦ I was wondering, what happens when a Guardian Falls? Is that person Guardian-less, or is a new angel Sent?
♦ Marcus and Ransom, do you guys have any nicknames for each other?
♦ Do you believe that we have Guardian Angels ourselves?
♦ Hey Prissie, can I have one of Tansy’s kittens? I love cats and would take good care of him or her.
Which led to the Pick of the Litter post, where I used the comments to share odds and ends about my feline-infested childhood (I say that fondly):
♦ I grew up with barn cats, and many of them were polydactyl. Do you know what that means?
♦ Thanks to the neighbor down the road, who owned a male Siamese, we’d occasionally get kittens that were white with gray points!
♦ I always, always, always claimed the runt of the litter.
There’s more Q&A, trivial bits, and nonsense in the comments on both those posts. If you have a chance, go back and read through them. ; )
♦ What were some of the kitten names we came up with this week? I have a list! (And new art to share!)
Strudel ♦ Marzipan ♦ Thing-a-ma-jig ♦ Wifi ♦ Mouse
Myron ♦ Milo ♦ Adagio ♦ Button ♦ Hymn No. 87 ♦ Yo
Camo ♦ Twinkle ♦ Patches ♦ Princess ♦ Starlight
♦ May I just say it’s also nice that you’ve started responding with comments to my weekdaily updates of Tried and True. By all means, keep it up. I can’t always answer your questions because of my firm No Spoilers policy, but I like hearing your reactions and speculations. ♥
♦ One of the pieces of art cluttering up my desktop is a set of rough sketches from Anna Earley, who’s done the book covers and illustrations for my short stories. She’s been working her way through my serial covers, which start as nothing more than wee ickle thumbnails like the ones below. Which of these would you have picked for Tried and True?
♦ February’s newsletter went out earlier this morning. If you missed it, fear not! There’s always next month. I’m already plotting and planning the treats for March’s issue, so join the virtual mailing list (and include your address if you want to be added to my traditional one!)
So what’s cluttering up your desktop? Do tell!
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Tried and True, Chapter 070: Him
Chapter 70: Him
Taweel missed having a child under his watch-care, but these boys would soon be paired off with mentors. Getting attached would be foolish. Jaw set. Eyes averted. Guard up. He escorted Adin and Tamaes toward the hadarim encampment.
“Listen!” whispered Tamaes, stopping in the middle of the street.
“It’s him!” Adin tugged Taweel’s hand. “This way!”
His feet dragged, but the boys pushed and pulled him along. A confident song, rich with emotion, rose from the circle. When its singer held out his hands, Adin and Tamaes darted forward, abandoning Taweel, who stood anchored.
It was him. The blue-haired angel.
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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.
Happy Valentine’s Day
to take your sweet time today! ♥
Have a cupcake! ♥ “Cupcakes” by cantieuhy
February 13, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 69: One of a Kind
Chapter 69: One of a Kind
Differences in the boys’ appearance became increasingly obvious to Taweel. While both had brown eyes, Adin’s were clear as topaz, but Tamaes’s had a reddish cast, like mahogany. And Adin’s hair was a slightly darker shade of auburn.
Tamaes peered up in a puzzled way. “I think that yahavim followed us. Is he lost?”
“No. This is Omri.”
“He attacked us before,” Adin said, sounding impressed.
Tamaes’s eyes crossed when Omri zoomed in close and tapped his nose. “Is he yours?”
Taweel’s grunt and Omri’s squeak came at the same time, making it tricky to tell who belonged to whom.
<< 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.
LAST CALL: February’s Newsletter
I now have a monthly newsletter, and February’s issue is prepped and ready to release tomorrow, February 14. ♥ This time around, there are two very special treats:
♦ A first look at the art I used on the postcards for Book 4. : )
♦ An excerpt from a brand new Threshold serial, which will debut in Christian Fiction Online Magazine in March.
You won’t want to miss out! Subscribe here >>
February 12, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 68: Evasive Maneuvers
Chapter 68: Evasive Maneuvers
“Does it have to be a Worshiper?” asked Weft.
Taweel reluctantly admitted, “No.”
“Does it have to happen during evensong?”
“No.”
Adin and Tamaes traded excited glances. “Here? Now?”
Taweel gruffly replied, “Wait for your masters and mentors to guide you. They would want to share ….”
“Sing with us!” Adin begged.
Tamaes worked hard to catch the big warrior’s gaze. “Please?”
Hastily furling his wings, Taweel stood. “I need to check the perimeter.”
He didn’t even make it to the door.
Adin slipped his hand into Taweel’s. “We’ll help!”
Tamaes’s fingers tangled with his. “We will join your Hedge.”
<< 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.
February 11, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 67: Songs in the Night
Chapter 67: Songs in the Night
“Training camps observe evensong,” Taweel explained. The weapons masters and prospective mentors who oversaw each newfoundling’s progress would bring in guest Worshipers to help the young ones along. “Most learn to unfurl then.”
“Evensong?” asked Weft.
Adin spoke first. “On earth, when day becomes night, angels gather for worship.”
“Children of light sing in darkness,” Tamaes added.
“We’ve had three evensongs,” Adin reported. “But no one’s figured it out.”
Taweel huffed in amusement. “Impatient?”
“Yes!” exclaimed Adin.
Tamaes nodded. “We were made to fly!”
Taweel asked, “Do you sing for wings, or for the One who gave them to you?”
<< 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.
