Christa Kinde's Blog, page 73
January 4, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 40: Omri
Chapter 40: Omri
Omri rushed at Taweel, who lifted his hands to fend off the tiny attacker. Weft dissolved into giggles, and the Guardian sheepishly lowered his hands. To Taweel’s surprise, the little one landed on his knuckles. Up on tiptoe, hands clasped behind his back, he leaned forward … waiting.
“Omri,” Taweel said, tasting the name and finding it pleasant. “I am Taweel.”
The yahavim sprang upward, capered around the room in a wild aerial dance, finally coming to rest with a flop on Taweel’s head.
Holding very still, he asked, “Is this normal behavior?”
Weft nodded eagerly. “Happiness is for sharing!”
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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 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.
January 3, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 39: He Needs a Name
Chapter 39: He Needs a Name
“What’s his name?” asked Weft.
Taweel shook his head. “How would I know?”
“Because he looks to you.”
At a loss, the Guardian gruffly said, “He did not mention a name.”
Weft giggled, and with the crook of a finger, he coaxed the little angel over. Nonsensical chatter. Gentle praise. Murmured suggestions. One must have pleased the yahavim, for he brightened considerably, then darted into the vines overhead to unwind a length of gleaming thread from his abandoned wreath. Weft used it to tie his long, yellow hair into a high ponytail before making an introduction. “Taweel, this is Omri.”
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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 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.
January 1, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 38: Good Boy
Chapter 38: Good Boy
Weft found them still staring at one another. “You tamed one!” he rejoiced.
The yahavim flipped long yellow hair.
These tiny angels were intuitive and intelligent, but they couldn’t speak for themselves. So Taweel corrected the boy. “If he is tame, it is by his choice, not my doing.”
Wee eyebrows arched, and the yahavim leapt into the air, turning a tight somersault that condensed light into a translucent flake. Flying into the Guardian’s face, the sprite shoved the manna into Taweel’s mouth, then patted his cheek as if to say, good boy.
“Perhaps this little one is taming me.”
<< 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 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.
December 31, 2013
Tried and True, Chapter 37: Tiny Perfections
Chapter 37: Tiny Perfections
Tiny feet marched up Taweel’s cheek. Then the yahavim grabbed several eyelashes and yanked open his lid. Taweel grunted in surprise at the miniature person filling his view. Straight hair framed a cherubic face—round cheeks, pointed chin, knit brows. And squeaking. Lots of squeaking.
“Have I offended you, little one?”
An emphatic buzz of wings accompanied chatter that was more emotion than sense.Indignation was plain on a face dominated by large, slanted eyes with rainbow colors glittering across dark facets. Taweel quietly remarked, “You have pretty eyes.”
The little angel stopped mid-squeak … blinked … and let go.
<< 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 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.
December 30, 2013
Tried and True, Chapter 36: Sympathy
Chapter 36: Sympathy
Every time Taweel closed his eyes, he’d catch the whisper of wings. He never peeked because he had the impression that his benefactor didn’t like his task. But once Sent, the tiny angel would have no choice but to obey.
So the next time the little manna-maker landed on his shoulder, Taweel murmured, “Do you miss your spinning?”
The yahavim froze.
“I miss ….” Taweel’s voice cracked. “I did not wish to abandon my task either.”
His visitor hummed uncertainly.
Taweel sighed wearily. “I am sorry, little one. The threads were pretty.”
The warrior was ill-prepared for what happened next.
<< 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 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.
December 28, 2013
In which we spy the fourth threshold…
Authorial Endeavor #031. Today, we’re one month away from the release of the fourth and final book in the Threshold Series. The Garden Gate‘s book birthday will be January 28, 2014, so I’m kicking off a countdown! There’ll be teasers, gossipy tidbits, new art, and giveaways. Watch for updates on Tuesdays. But for today, it’s a back cover reveal!
“Be a good girl and stay still for me, Prissie. You don’t need to do a thing.”
She froze as he flung Tamaes’s sword straight at her, but Koji shoved hard, pushing her out of danger. Purple wings blossomed before her, knocking aside the blade, which whirled end-over-end before sticking into a pile of lumber stacked against the far wall.
As it quivered, Prissie slapped her hands over her mouth, smothering her scream.
Four Thresholds. As you may have noticed, there’s a threshold on each of the back covers—the blue door, the chained entrance to the Deep, the broken window, and now … a gate! Here are the four together…
And a closer view of the gorgeous back cover for Book 4: The Garden Gate…
You can pre-order now: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Zondervan
If you’re curious about past countdowns, they’re archived on my Events page. : )
MORE SOON >>
The Week’s Accumulation lxx
Season’s greetings from the land of jigsaw puzzles and word games, where cookies are nibbled between meals and New Year’s cleaning is already underway. Even though we live in Southern California, we may as well be snowbound for as often as we’ve left home this week. For a homebody like me, this is bliss. : ) I’ll keep my news short, but the tidbits are juicy. Don’t miss them!
This week’s accumulation:
♦ Christmas was a blend of new traditions and old. Our church celebrated its first annual Christmas Eve service, so we donned our gay apparel and took part in the fa-la-la-ing. Everyone I hugged probably still has blue glitter stuck somewhere. Loved the children’s lesson, when the youngsters piled up front to hear the “James Version” of the Christmas story, in which Jesus came as a kiddo. The harmonies of the ladies chorale group are still spinning through my mind (especially that Latin piece).
♦ Reminder! In an effort to spread the word about my new free short story, Angels in Harmony, Grandma’s Cookie Jar is hosting a Christmas giveaway! Enter for your chance to win a signed set of the first three books in the Threshold Series: The Blue Door (Bk 1), The Hidden Deep (Bk 2), and The Broken Window (Bk 3). The drawing will take place on January 1, 2014!
Enter the Giveaway @ Grandma’s Cookie Jar >>
♦ Did you nab your copy of Angels in Harmony yet? It’s free. It’s illustrated. It’s fun! As a special treat for you today, I’m gonna show you one of Anna Earley’s illustrations. The events of this short story overlap those in The Broken Window, making this a Christmas story. Readers already know that the Pomeroy family has been gearing up for the annual performance of Handel’s Messiah. Well, in the short story, so are Baird and Kester. Well… mostly Baird. This is a formal occasion, so tank tops and flip-flops just won’t cut it. Kester insists that his mentor suit up for the festivities.
Poor Baird. ♦ Bonus points if you can name the gal in the background!
♦ Cookies! I took some pictures of our annual extravaganza of cut-outs cookies. It’s culinary artistry. It’s crazy family fun. Fictional allusions abound. Tweezers may have been involved.
Decorating Christmas cookies like this is one of the traditions I grew up with and have carried on through the years. We even have dala horse cookie cutters from my hometown.
♦ Quiz! My daughters took it upon themselves to decorate cookies for each of the members of Jedrick’s Flight. Can you tell which stocking belongs to which angel?
♦ The Garden Gate will release one month from today! With that in mind, we’ll have another short burst countdown. Watch for the back cover reveal later today! : )
♦ Did you catch the new watercolor of Prissie and Milo I posted on Christmas Day? Click the preview image below to see the full piece.
So what’s cluttering up your desktop? Do tell!
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December 27, 2013
Tried and True, Chapter 35: Starved
Chapter 35: Starved
When Weft returned, he made a soft noise of dismay and reached up to touch Taweel’s tear-streaked face. “What happened?”
“One of your friends fed me.”
After a long pause, the boy said, “It wasn’t one of my flock. I was just tending them.”
“A wild one, then?”
“No. Wild yahavim spin thread. Manna is brought by those with a shepherd.” Weft cautiously asked, “Were you hungry?”
Taweel grunted noncommittally. He’d been refusing meals, but that single taste of angel’s bread had stirred his appetite for more.
Weft explained, “If you’re hungry, they know. Yahavim always know when they’re needed.”
<< 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 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.
December 26, 2013
Tried and True, Chapter 34: Sneak
Chapter 34: Sneak
Taweel felt the yahavim land on his forehead, but he didn’t open his eyes. If ignored, the spinners usually wandered off. This one didn’t. Small feet stepped lightly along his nose, and with a fluttering hop, landed on the Guardian’s chin. Suddenly, a tiny arm pushed past Taweel’s lips, followed by a heady explosion of sweetness in his mouth.
His first taste of manna since his charge’s death.
Tears welled in Taweel’s eyes, preventing him from seeing which of the yahavim had taken it upon himself to force-feed a dimming warrior. More amused than annoyed, Taweel grumbled, “Audacious little thing.”
<< 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 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.
December 25, 2013
Tried and True, Chapter 33: Deserving
Chapter 33: Deserving
Another yahavim turned up to claim a wreath. As the little one spun, Taweel found himself envying his patient, peaceful pastime. Suddenly, the tiny angel started and turned to look over his shoulder at Taweel. Faceted eyes widened slightly, then blinked.
Taweel grunted in surprise. It was that yellow-haired one from before.
They stared at one another for some time. Then the yahavim shifted around so his back was to the Guardian.
Snubbed.
Taweel didn’t doubt that he deserved the little angel’s derision. After all, the sprite was faithfully tending to his duties while his audience wasted away in shadows.
<< 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 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.
