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The Book of the New Moon Door: Part Two, Chapter Five
Holy Ground
“There is another ghost in this house.”
Isabel wakes with a start and sees nothing. It’s grown dark, which means she’s slept much longer than she planned, and she’s not entirely sure what day it is now. The translucent form of Arden Geray hovers beside her narrow bed, the sockets of his eyes as dark as the night outside.
For however many blissful, oblivious hours she was asleep, she had forgotten about him. She groans and pushes herself up. “What are you talking about?”
“A spirit,” he says, enunciating carefully as though he is speaking to a child. “It’s just arrived and it’s none too pleased. What are you going to do about it, Sentinel?”
Continue reading “The Book of the New Moon Door: Part Two, Chapter Five”New Patreon Post/ Journey to the Water Chapter XIV
I could not help but think of Phyreios in ruins. Whatever was taking place in this city, no good would come of it, I was certain.
Chapter XIV: The City on the Hill
There is a new chapter over on Patreon!
Song of the Week
Evanescence, “The Chain” (Fleetwood Mac cover)
Happy Monday! Have you voted in the Reader Poll yet? I need to know if you want to receive an email newsletter.
This is going to be a typical week here in blog-land: there will be a new chapter of Journey to the Water on Patreon tomorrow, and the latest chapter of The Book of the New Moon Door will be up here on Wednesday.
Have an excellent week!
Official Reader Poll #2
I’ve been reluctant to start a newsletter because my plate is full enough with THREE serial projects and a social media presence (also, I hate emails and didn’t want to inflict more of them on you), but my marketing research is saying that authors need to have a newsletter and people like receiving them. What do you think?
(ETA: Give the poll a second to load. It should appear right below this sentence.)
Feel free to post any other thoughts you have in the comments!
Journey to the Water Chapter XIII: Empty Salmacha
“Where is everyone?” Hamilcar asked the crew, the island itself, or the gods, giving voice to the unspoken question we had in common.
No one answered.
A high tide had carried our ship to the harbor, but the six thatched-roof houses and solitary central structure stood well clear of the water, raised up on wooden beams against the possibility of a flood. Their doors were shut tight, and their windows covered. A wind from the sea moved across the sand, but the village was otherwise still.
I led Bran by his halter to the deck and down the plank to the dock, keeping my hand below his chin so he could not turn his head and see the terrifying expanse of ocean surrounding him on three sides. Once his hooves touched solid ground, his body relaxed, and so did my grip. I, on the other hand, felt a nervous energy like crackling lightning in my bones. There was a threat here in this silent place.
“I don’t like this,” Halvor muttered.
Continue reading “Journey to the Water Chapter XIII: Empty Salmacha”New Patreon Post/ The Book of the New Moon Door: Part Two, Chapter Five
The old monk bleeds from lacerations on his face and arms. One side of his thick lenses shows a crack through the center. “Ondir preserve us,” he wails. “This is holy ground!”
The Book of the New Moon Door
There’s a new chapter available on Patreon! If you’re a blog reader, you’ve probably heard my Patreon spiel, but if you’ve got an extra $3 a month, I’d appreciate your support. Otherwise, keep an eye out for this chapter on this website next week.
Song of the Week
Queens of the Stone Age, “I Never Came”
Happy Monday!
I’ll have a new chapter of The Book of the New Moon Door up on Patreon tomorrow, and the latest chapter of Journey to the Water will be up here on the blog on Wednesday. Later this week, I’m going to be having a new Reader Poll, so be sure to check back!
Not much else to share this week, though this weekend I am going to a talk by Neil Gaiman, who is one of my favorite authors. The event was originally in 2020 and was rescheduled at least twice. I’m very excited.
Have an excellent week!
The Book of the New Moon Door: Part Two, Chapter Four
Prodigal Son
Berend takes a sudden, involuntary breath. Pain digs into his ribs. He kicks at the bedclothes, the ache moving down his legs, and tries to sit up.
The nurse’s hands on his shoulders are firm and heavy. “Be still,” she says. “It’s all right.”
It is most assuredly not all right. At best, there’s a member of the illustrious and unscrupulous Belisia family here to threaten his life, limbs, and everyone he cares about—a dwindling number, these days, and one he can count on one hand, but still. At worst, someone is here to kill him.
“My effects,” he says. Talking moves the pain up underneath his lungs. “Where are my things?” His pistol almost certainly isn’t loaded, and there’s no chance he could lift his saber in this state, but his mysterious visitor doesn’t know that.
“They’re locked away on the lower floor,” the nurse says, pushing him into the bed. “What’s wrong?” Her hand moves to his wrist, gentle but strong as a vise.
A shadow darkens the entrance to Berend’s curtained room. He looks up, his pulse pounding in his ears and under the nurse’s fingers. At least she’s here. There will be a witness.
Continue reading “The Book of the New Moon Door: Part Two, Chapter Four”New Patreon Post/ Journey to the Water Chapter XIII
I had learned that even forgotten, nameless gods had power at their disposal, and they guarded that which they saw as theirs with jealousy.
Journey to the Water
Eske is searching for buried treasure with his newfound friends in the latest chapter of Journey to the Water, now available on Patreon. Unseen dangers, however, lurk on the island. You can read this chapter right now if you sign up for Patreon, or you can wait a whole week until it makes its appearance here on the blog.
Space Whales Press 