Helen B. Henderson's Blog, page 31

Journeys in the Real World #mfrwauthor

Welcome to the monthly topic from the MFRW challenge. The topic is "Real life locations you have used in your books." First off, I write fantasy so using actual places isn't possible. That doesn't say that locales from around the world don't inspire sites in the worlds of imagination.

In Windmaster Legacy, Dal's mother's homeland, Tarekus, was inspired by the Australian outback. One of the landmarks that appears is Uluru also known as Ayers Rock.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

The dragons of The Dragshi Chronicles sitting on a ledge beneath the rim of a volcano's crater to bask in the warmth of the bubbling rock below. The dragon in the picture is Ollea, the first dragon to break shell in many generations. Hawaii and Kīlauea Volcano provide the locale.

The culture for FIRE AND ICE from the novella and short story collection First Change: Legends From the Eyrie came from time I spent in the orient.

If intrigued, click on the covers in the banner for excerpts, a free read of the first chapter, and of course, buy links.

~till next time, Helen

Be sure to see how the other authors answered the question. https://mfrw52week.blogspot.com/

Not Fun Anymore

 

Over on the BooksWeLove Blog, I'm dishing on adversity and a writer's job. Depending on the storyline and character, the author's job is to throw roadblocks into their creation's plans and make their life "interesting." While you can be told it is a blessing, "May you live in interesting times" can be a curse. This post covers a few examples of how "interesting" life can be from the mildly annoying to decisions that can change the direction of the someone's life. Hope you'll stop by.

~till next time, Helen

Not Fuss, No Muss #MFRWautor

 

Welcome to the monthly topic from the MFRW challenge. The topic is "the Perfect Weekend Getaway."

I would say a quiet weekend camping in the mountains amidst the trees would be perfect. But since the track record for camping has included several mountain cloudbursts and two hurricanes, that would probably not be a good idea. And mountain campgrounds are not known for good internet access.

The same applies to a seaside cabin. Hiking the dunes or bicycling a nice flat trail would be a good alternative. Again, storms or a hurricane have taken perfect and given it a different descriptor.

At this point I am not sure what a perfect weekend would be. Maybe a three-day cruise or a glamping camp out at a dude ranch. Good weather, comfortable accommodations are important. I've reached the age and stage of life where roughing it is no longer fun.

And the most important considerations to make a weekend perfect, someone to do the planning and cooking.

May all your weekends be your idea of perfect.

~till next time, Helen

Be sure to see how the other authors answered the question. https://mfrw52week.blogspot.com/

Green Plants vs Brown Thumb

 

Over on the BooksWeLove Blog, I'm chatting about gardens and my ability (or lack thereof) to keep plants alive and green. Hope you'll stop by.

~till next time, Helen

Sale ... Sale ... Sale

 

 * * * * NEWS FLASH * * * *

Need a summer read for the beach? The Windmaster Novels are 50% off Smashwords.  It's a great time to get the entire #fantasy #romance series described as “A great read by an author with magic in her veins.” 

Journey the high seas, and from mountain heights to cavern depths on an epic quest. But be warned, before a destiny is fulfilled, decisions must be made. Choose well. 

SALE ENDS JULY 30th, but don't wait until the last minute to pick up your books.

Eliminate and Execute #MFRWAuthor

Although I prefer to write tales that end happily, not every character written is so fortunate. I don't know if it is the result of the longer nights of winter or another reason such as dealing with family interactions during the holidays (I'm not saying which) but my characters particularly hate the months of November through January.  

And in a fantasy novel, especially a sword and sorcery, you cannot expect every character to escape unscathed. When you try to eliminate someone and fail, there is a price to be paid.

 

Sometimes combat is offered instead of a trial before the village elders, leaders of the trading house councils, or the dragshi. This option is often selected where the characters are not near civilization or when a warrior's mate is involved. Combat is not necessarily limited to the male characters. To see who this option is offered to, you'll have to read the Windmaster Novels and the Dragshi Chronicles. 

 

As a teaser, a duel from Windmaster Legacy. To set the scene, Ellspeth and Dal are travelling with a caravan. Shonky, one of the herdsmen had propositioned Ellspeth the first night out of Letralia. His advances grew stronger until finally she reported him, however the only punishment meted out was  reassignment to the back of the caravan. When the herdsman continued to raise trouble, including striking Dal's apprentice and insulting Ellspeth, the archmage takes action to eliminate the man's attitude. 

 

Metal clanged on metal. The sound of fast and intense blows and counter blows echoed across the grass. Dal blunted Shonky’s attack and stepped back. Sweat streamed down the teamster’s face and chest, yet only light moisture dampened Dal’s skin. As Shonky shook his head to clear the liquid running into his eyes, Dal waited for his opponent to resume to battle.

On the next round, Shonky’s thrusts slowed and reflected the clumsiness of exhaustion. Like a ship cat toying with its prey, Dal lured the teamster back and forth across the battleground formed by the encircling men. Where his opponent’s moves were meant to cut and maim, Dal used only the flat side of his blade to get his point across. With each stinging blow, the watching herdsmen grew quieter until the only sounds were Shonky’s labored breathing and harsh grunts when Dal’s sword connected in a “lesson.”

“Will you yield?” Dal asked with a light tone. “And apologize to my bride.”

“No,” the caravan worker grated. His sword waved in yet another attack.

Dal’s weapon responded. The edge caught the other man’s blade and rolled around it in a disarming move. Men scrambled out of the way as the weapon flew into the grass.

“Here, Murdo,” Dal called and threw his sword to his friend on the sideline.

The ex-mercenary caught Dal’s tossed weapon and shoved it into its scabbard. “Look out, Dal.”

Dal spun to face the enraged Shonky who, arms outstretched, ran across the trampled grass. Dal ducked beneath the swing. His clenched fist connected with his opponent’s chin with a solid thunk. Before Shonky could hit the ground, Dal threw a second blow into Shonky’s middle. His breath whooshed out in a single gasp and he collapsed to the ground. Dal entwined his fingers in the wide belt around the herdsman’s waist. A jerk pulled Shonky upright.

Open-handed slaps forced the man’s head to the left, and then the right until Shonky’s eyes rolled up in his head. The silence from those watching assured Dal his point had been made. Releasing his grip, he let the herdsman fall to the ground.

 ~ ~ 

~till next time, stay safe. Helen

 

Windmaster Legacy - one click to estores

The Dragshi Chronicles - one click to estores

Breaking a Rule

Today's post is from the dark side, and the non-fiction works.

Rules by one definition are a group of actions or restrictions commonly accepted as the standard. Sometimes for various reasons what is acceptable changes and a rule modified or discarded. When I first started working as a journalist, Rule Number One was the Five Ws, or "Who, What, Where, When, Why." Rule Number Two was "Just the facts." 

If you forgot a "W" where the information was available or relevant, the editor would write the appropriate one on the top  of the manuscript in red pen, then circle it to make sure you didn't miss it. Breaking Rule Number Two by including any personal bias, speculation, desired outcome, or even by what today would be considered a minor slant by choice of words would get you in hot water. Opinions and personal reactions were only allowed on the editorial page.

Our "Why" had to be expert-provided facts or in the case of a crime, a directly  quoted admission from the perpetrator, Recently I saw mainstream television news journalists proudly proclaiming their activism. They were not just reporting on an event, but justifying it. What once would be breaking a rule is now the rule.

 

Some could say that I exhibited a bias in my local histories with the selection of events to record or in the photographs included. At a book signing a very unhappy person approached my table. The reason? I hadn't included his grandfather in the section related to the schools.

 

But how to answer. Now consider that I hadn't included listings of the principals for all of the school.  I am sure my answer didn't satisfy him, but it was all that i could offer. Not everything that happened in the town over the previous 300 years nor every person who did anything could be in the book. And I added, I didn't even include my father-in-law despite his many, many years of service to the town and county.

~till next time, may you always know what rule to break (or bend.) And if so inclined check out the books that came from the dark side. Helen

 

 

Time and Turns, Seasons and Candlemarks #mfrwhooks

Time waits for no one. The topic began to percolate as a possible post while watching a beautiful June sunset. And thinking that the sun was going down earlier than I remembered as a child. And that outside activities are less and less. Of course, the heat index for most of the day was over 100 degrees, which precluded leaving comfort of air conditioning.

Time passes not only in the real world, but also in the worlds we create. A few examples follow where the word "Time" appears in a tale. First, from Hatchling's Mate, a volume in the Dragshi Chronicles. To set the scene, water is literally lapping at Talann's feet and there is a group of women and children stranded on a rapidly disappearing hillock on the other side of the river.

Talann pulled off his boots and tossed them aside. He let enough air escape to give the order. “Let’s do this.” His teeth chattering from the cold, he waded out into the rough waves and in a lithe move, dove into the dark depths. Currents countered his every stroke. Despite throwing every ounce of his will and muscle into the task he made slow progress. Each time he surfaced for a breath of air, the opposite shore seemed more distant.

Next, a few lines from Windmaster Golem, from the Windmaster Novels, of how time can change people.

Kia felt the strength of the Oracle in her brother’s gaze. Unlike the other times she had seen him in his official role, for the first time she saw him in the full splendor of this position. He seemed a pillar of lambent energy. Before she could react, he was once again the brother of her childhood.

Finally, a scene from yesteryear and today from the short story, The Introduction, which is part of the collection, Hearth and Sand: Stories From The Front Lines and the Homefront.

The flickering streaks of day’s end penetrated the deepening shadows. Barely visible was the shape of a man, a rifle held by his side. A closer view revealed a statue, frozen in time in a uniform of long ago.

 

May you have all the time to do all the things you want.

  ~till next time,  Helen

Be sure to check out the other excerpts by the authors of MFRW.

Storm Chaser?

Over on the BooksWeLove Blog, I'm chatting about storms I've weathered in real life as well as those written into my fantasy romance novels. Hope you'll stop by to see whether hurricanes, blizzards, nor'easters, or a tornado gets to make life miserable for a character or two.

~till next time, Helen

Perfect Union #mfrwauthor

Welcome to the monthly topic from the MFRW challenge. The topic is "Describe the Perfect Wedding."

The first issue is whether to answer this as myself or someone else. I had a small, informal wedding during war years. As to a fantasy wedding? Mega weddings where the gown costs a decade worth of income and the wedding and reception costs more than many people make in their lifetime may set the bar for comparison purposes. Would I want that? First I have too much Scotch blood for that. And, after almost five decades I think it is a little late to go the fancy expansive route. A number of the people I'd want to be there would have to be watching from beyond the veil.

After reviewing the Windmaster Novels and the Dragshi Chronicles, I decided to showcase a wedding that was the dream wedding of one of my characters. Although this is a duplicate topic from 2019, I didn't quite take the easy way out and duplicate it. That wedding came from the Readers Bonus included with the Dragshi Chronicle, Hatchling's Vengeance.

From Windmaster Legacy, snippits from the wedding of Lady Ellspeth, captain of Sea Falcon and Lord Dal, archmage. Now, keep in mind, that the event is being put on by the head of a trading guild, one of the leaders of their world and not without funds. This first snippit is the walk to the ceremony. The event is being held outdoors in the king's gardens.

Excerpt:

With a deep breath, Ellspeth stood and followed her mother, and soon-to-be mother-in-law, out the door to her future … and Dal. One corridor led to another, each one brightly lit by scores of servants holding candles or colorful lanterns. The path of light ended at the fern-covered arch of the garden entrance. Ellspeth halted in surprise. Old sailors had told her about passageways of honor, but she’d never seen one. Yet, before her stood a double rank of men standing at attention. Her first glance identified everyone in the left-hand column. They were the crew of Sea Falcon with its new captain at their head. On the opposite side of the path, the crew of Windmaster stood at attention behind Ailean. Each held a sword whose polished blade caught the light and reflected it back as a golden beam.

Now that Ellspeth has been honored and her professional life recognized, another item is needed to make it the perfect wedding. Someone to walk her down the aisle. The problem is that Ellspeth's father, Owain, was lost at sea many seasons ago.

Excerpt:

“Lady Ellspeth,” Vika said as he stepped out from behind the arch and offered her his arm. “Since your father Owain was lost at sea on Dragon Wave and there are no other male relatives, I asked Mirrim for the honor of being your escort.” He gave a wry smile as he added, “Your father and I shared a deck once upon a time. I don’t think he’d mind me standing in for him.”

“Thank you, Vika,” Ellspeth murmured. “I thought I would have to break tradition and walk in alone. However, I would be most pleased to have you accompany me.” Although her voice was light, she darted a glare at her mother’s back for not being informed of the arrangement. She thought she felt a feather-light touch on her cheek as if an invisible person laid a chaste kiss on it. Thank you, water gods, for letting my father share this moment. The sensation of unseen forces surrounding her grew, and when she placed her hand on Vika’s arm, their gold bracelets seemed to sing.

The final, and perhaps most important item at a wedding is the groom. Here Ellspeth sees Dal at the ceremony.

Excerpt:

As long as the walk to the garden seemed to be, the journey to its center flashed by in mere heartbeats. Time halted between breaths at the sight of Dal within the fern-covered gazebo. The silk collar of his black tunic matched the green of his mother’s gown. Embroidered symbols of his clan on the hem caught the light to glow against the dark cloth.

Timmel and Fraunces stood on each side of the wizard. Two leather strings dangled from the king’s fist in such a way only the tops of the wooden promise tokens could be seen. The similarity in stance between the king and Dal struck Ellspeth. Dal looks like a chieftain’s son. The old style suits him well. Her gaze took in the open throat of his shirt which revealed the leather neckband she had noticed upon their first meeting; the meeting when she mistook him for a common dockworker. A smile twitched at her lips at the remembrance.

Two floral wreaths of purple trumpet flowers interwoven with orange blossom12pt from the southern isle hung around the bard’s neck. “Those flowers must have been hothouse raised,” Vika whispered as he guided Ellspeth the final few steps to the waiting trio. “The trumpet flowers are only found in the highest mountain meadow and should just now be breaking through the ground. They are almost as difficult to grow as the island blossoms. It is a tribute to you and Dal that Fraunces had them produced for this day.”

The hidden musicians stopped at some unseen signal just as Ellspeth and Vika reached the gazebo. Timmel’s trained voice carried to everyone and broke the spell that held Ellspeth in its thrall. “On behalf of the Ladies Eilidh and Mirrim, I welcome everyone to witness the handfasting between Lady Ellspeth of the House of Cszabo and Lord Dal of Clan Daimh of the Mtwan Mountains.”

Now that sounds like the description of a dream wedding. To read the actual ceremony and the adventures that follow, read Windmaster Legacy. Click on the cover in the banner for a complete list of buy links and more excerpts.

~till next time, Helen 
Be sure to see how the other authors answered the question. https://mfrw52week.blogspot.com/