Deby Fredericks's Blog, page 6

The Apothecary Diaries

Today I’m taking a break from “all Queen Titania’s Court, all the time” to highlight an anime series I’m enjoying. The Apothecary Diaries is a historical mystery series, written and performed in Japanese but set in the Tang Dynasty of China. Like a lot of anime, it was first a novel, then a manga, and finally adapted for the small screen.

Maomao is the lead character. She grew up working beside her father, a renowned apothecary doctor. She was kidnapped off the street and sold into servitude in the “Rear Palace” — basically the walled villas and gardens where the emperor’s concubines live. The scheme as I understand it is that Maomao has to work for a certain length of time to pay off her own ransom. Discipline is extremely strict, people are frequently executed, and it’s not at all certain Maomao will live to redeem herself from servitude.

Initially, Maomao tries to hide that she is educated. She doesn’t want more ransom being paid to the gang that abducted her. However, she can’t resist using her knowledge to try and save lives. Before long she’s found out by one of the principal concubines, Gyokuyou, and the head eunuch, Jinshi. Once they realize Maomao can detect poisons, she is elevated from the servant pool to be Guokuyou’s taster. From there she gets embroiled in palace politics and is enlisted to investigate a number of crimes (usually involving poisons).

Other characters in the series are Maomao’s fellow servants, the handmaids of each concubine’s staff, and the concubines themselves. There is also a corps of eunuchs who oversee the concubines. It’s as tangled a political web as you can imagine. One of the most interesting characters is Jinshi, who is incredibly handsome and charismatic. He flirts outrageously and can persuade the women to do what he wants. Except for Maomao, who rebuffs him. This only makes him focus on her. You want to like Jinshi, who mostly acts toward justice, but his continual harassment reminds you how entitled someone in a position of power can be.

The series does a good job of showing how precarious everyone’s situation is. Concubines and servants alike are surrounded by luxury and yet held to impossible standards. Several of the episodes highlight how the women try to work things out in their own favor. In one case, a concubine starts dancing on the walls at night, because she is going to be given away to a man she despises. Considered “flawed,” she instead is granted to the young man she really wants to be with. In another case, an abusive nobleman is poisoned. It turns out he had promised to buy a concubine’s contract but cruelly backed out of the deal. The broken-hearted concubine and her staff are out for revenge.

The Apothecary Diaries has been an entertaining series so far. I’m watching it on Netflix, but I know there are multiple other places online to watch anime.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

Still Working On It

The posts for Queen Titania’s Court, that is. Each one takes focus and making sure I’ve tracked down all the details, and that the formats for the individual posts are consistent. It’s a lot. I get a couple done, and my eyes start to bother me.

Yet, I am getting close. Just five more posts to go, including the finale which I will also write. Perhaps by the end of Memorial Day weekend they will be set up. Depends if we go anywhere for the holiday. (The lake is calling my name.)

Then I have to go over each individual post to make sure I didn’t mix up any of those details. And then it will be time to party!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

It’s Here!

Yes, my latest masterpiece has now gone live. Willow Lake (Cleodora Book 2) is available from Books2Read, which will link to your favorite online book seller.

If you could get into the story of a bold girl who serves the nature spirits in a subversively non-royal, non-capitalist, non-patriarchal setting, I hope you’ll give it a look.

Cleodora’s family are the spirit guardians of Acorn Canyon Shrine. Three years ago, she saved a corrupted spirit instead of fighting it. Cleodora became an archel, bonded with the nature spirit Tef as one soul with two bodies.

But the land of Tenebira is suffering under a terrible drought. It’s all because of something her relatives did at Willow Lake Shrine. Now the auctere of Acorn Canyon’s sacred pool calls on Cleodora and Tef. They must travel to Willow Lake, confront her family, and heal the broken shrine.

If they fail, all life will wither away!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

Working On It

Queen Titania’s Court, that is. I’ve begun setting up the blog posts. There’s been a good response this year, which means more posts to set up. It’s a problem I’m happy to have.

Anyway, cheers to you all! And I’m back at it.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

Together Again

Yesterday, we crossed an important horizon. It was Friday, our regular night for gaming group. However, since COVID, we have been calling in to Discord rather than meeting in person. Yesterday we got together again!

Obviously, it’s been years since COVID really ran rampant. Other obstacles have kept us apart. One of us lives out of town and faced a long drive in. Another was caring for an elder and couldn’t leave home. That circumstance has changed.

Perhaps not surprising, I was the one who pushed to meet in person. There were constant technical glitches with the online format. Calls dropped, weird distortions and echoes. Also, as we’re all getting older, some players can start dozing off. Then you have to wake them up when it’s their turn to act.

So it was great to get together. Bring out the miniatures and the maps and the books. Personal interactions help with the nodding off problem. Old school role playing for the win!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

Sparks to Flame

I have begun tentative work on the opening scenes of The Warlock’s Army. It’s been going pretty well! I thought I would start with my protagonist, Jeniana, sensing the presence of a lost boy and going to find out what his story is. My muse said, “LoL, no! How about an exciting chase scene with derring-do. And a giant crawdad!”

The whole thing has been developing so quickly, I can hardly keep up. Which is great! Except I was supposed to be running small groups with my students today, not making story notes. (Don’t tell the principal, okay?)

It’s fun when a story grows on its own like this. And the themes that are developing are rich, with lots of room for exploration. They are a group where the young women and girls are kept apart from the young men and boys. With the giant crawdad situation, a few of them come face to face for the first time in years. It was surprisingly emotional. The adult who’s running the scheme is treating them as pawns to move on a game board. I suspect the kids are going to bust out of that before long.

Of course, I’m second guessing myself, too. Giant badgers made significant appearances in my Minstrels of Skaythe series. If I bring a giant crawdad into this new story, am I repeating myself? I wouldn’t want to stifle my own creativity. But I also don’t want to do too much work that has to be done over. Talk about bringing your story to a halt.

Anyway, I’m just at the start of this and as I’ve mentioned before, I really do need to focus on Queen Titania’s Court. Regardless, it looks like I’ve found my summer writing project for 2025.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

Woman at Work, May 2025

What’s Happening? I am loving the emergence of spring. Green grass, flowers, bird song, planting seeds and waiting eagerly to see them sprout. My favorite time of year.

What I’m Working On. I am world building on a new project, tentatively called The Warlock’s Army. Since everything is still in flux, there isn’t much more to tell. But, as per my usual, it will feature at least one bold girl with powers!

What’s Next? Queen Titania’s Court is taking shape. I’m pleased with the response so far, though there is still room for more authors. If you happen to know a fantasy writer, send them my way!

Where I’ll be. I am going about town, taking part in protests, but currently don’t have any travel plans related to my books.

Fun and Games. I’m revisiting the classic game, Oblivion, and continuing to tend to my village in Animal Crossing. My current read is The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu.

I hope your spring is coming along beautifully!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

Small Things

I have been gathering inspiration for my new project, which so far has no name. Not only the names of characters and defining what sort of magic they have, but also the general landscape where they live. I don’t want this to be just another generic, quasi-Medieval setting. So that means more pre-work.

Of course, I probably shouldn’t worry too much about starting a new story just now. Queen Titania’s Court is going to take a lot of attention through the month of May. However, I have started poking at the opening chapter and seeing what might develop that way.

Other things are diverting my attention, though. We had a fence project done, to enclose our vegetable garden and keep out all the neighborhood cats. That has finally been leveled and the path laid out. Just last Sunday I was able to begin setting out plants. I cleared off some remaining construction debris in order to mow, although there are a few more items that need to be put away.

Now that my husband saw it, he is wondering about fencing more of our yard. The neighbor on one side seems to have an informal used car lot. On the other side, they only mow their yard about every other year. So I wouldn’t mind doing that at all, it’s a matter of making arrangements.

The other major thing is that we had solar panels put on in late January. There was a long process to get them inspected and approved, and at every step I had to email the installers to ask for status updates. Only yesterday were we able to turn them on. However, even now, they don’t seem to be working properly. I suppose my email campaign must go on.

But the real distraction is that the classic fantasy game Oblivion has been remastered. On my birthday, no less! So I’m revisiting that story world as well. But never fear, I’m not forgetting Jeniana and her sprawling family of wizards and witches.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

Queen Titania’s Court 2025

This is just a reminder that Queen Titania’s Court is coming. I’ve had a good response, but still need more authors to participate. If you know a fantasy author, please go ahead and refer them!

The silvery gates of Faerie are about to open up! That’s because this June I’m hosting my annual blog event, Queen Titania’s Court. And I’m inviting my fellow fantasy authors to take part.

The setup is that one character from one of your books will be summoned to Queen Titania’s Court. You’ll you’ll answer a couple of questions, interview style. This gives you a chance to show off your book in a more fun way than just an ad or the cover copy.

It’s a chance for Indy fantasy authors to shine. Whether you work is epic, contemporary, urban, fairy tale, grimdark or cozy — if it can be categorized as fantasy, this is for you. It’s also my chance to reach out and support the community of Indy fantasy authors.

If you’re interested, all you have to do is e-mail me, CAT09tales -at- protonmail -dot- com. Or if you aren’t a writer, but you know someone who is, please give them to info. I’ll get you all the details. It’s so simple! I look forward to planning this year’s event with everyone.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

New Project

Yep, I did have a new project emerge from the mists! It’s a juicy one, but still in the exploratory stages.

I start these things by writing a paragraph about the basic concept. Then I go on to start asking questions about the bones of the story. Who are these characters? Why are they doing this? What kind of society are they living in? Especially with fantasy, I work through the social viewpoint on magic. Is it known and accepted, or strange and feared?

As I work on this, I try to come up with as many possible answers as I can. The next step is to go through and highlight the ones that seem most interesting. And that typically leads to another round of why are they doing this, what does it mean?

Not that I ever develop a full outline with a list of required events or plot beats. My stories are more like a river that flows in (I hope) unpredictable but still valid directions. Usually I do have an idea what I want the ending to look like. Thus far I haven’t developed that.

I also need to consider length. Is this a novel or novella? Who is the intended audience? Based on my initial concept, I doubt it will be a YA title. Though there are a number of child characters, the content is too mature for young readers. Maybe. It’s early to say.

The last step, which I’m currently working on, is to start naming people and places. When you follow your plot like a river, it’s a pain to have to stop and think up names! However, I’m nearly at the point where I can begin drafting and see how the tale takes shape.

I’ll be sharing more of this soon, I’m sure.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.