Infinity Dreams Award

Lydia S, my top instructor in the ways of that strange breed called Americans (not mentioning that she's the kind of cool person who doesn't mind being called that), has deemed me worthy of this Infinity Dreams Award. For that, I thank you with the deepest fulsomeness of heart.

One day I'm gonna do a blog post that doesn't involve showing the world my crazy humour...

Here be rules:

1. Use the Infinity Dreams Award picture
2. Thank the blogger who tagged you
3. Tell us 11 facts about yourself
4. Answer the 11 questions
5. Tag 11 bloggers

(Thanks greatly to Clare for the picture, I couldn't of made something anywhere near as cool)

Why? Why do these things tell you to tag so many other blogs? Why? Meh...just another rule for me to break I guess. So...I've followed the first two rules, now for the third!

1. I like listening to The Hobbit soundtracks. Even while going to sleep...Apparently that's weird because they sound creepy. I like 'em though, along with a heap of other soundtracks.

2. I am actually fairly rule abiding, whatever it looks like when I do a tag/award and break all the rules.

3. I have a TARDIS brain/imagination. It's bigger on the inside and never runs out of room and ideas.

4. I have a large collection of dead pens that I'm yet to discover a use for but I'm sure they'll come in handy sometime.

5. Now this is a really important one: When I take of my glasses I don't turn completely blind. Everything is slightly blurry, but I'm not blind and can still count how many fingers someone is waving in front of my face. Amazing, I know!

6. I haven't given up on my Chemistry yet...I'm just wading through it, understanding a reasonable amount and pretending I understand the other parts. :) So far, so good.

7. I have a habit of randomly tapping my fingers on stuff, be it my legs, the table, bench, book...basically whatever happens to be under my hands at the time. I don't even think about it, it just happens by itself!

8. I don't like chocolate. I've said this a lot of times before, but it's still true. It's amazing how many people forget! I might have known them forever but if I just happen to mention my dislike of the stuff they'll be utterly horror-struck. For example, my aunt gave me some chocolate for Christmas...

9. I have only had my first name spelled wrong once, and that was with a 'y' in it (Jayne). I didn't actually mind because it looked kind of cool. Besides, we were good friends with the person who did it, and they'd only known us for half a year.

10. I have an aversion to talking on the phone. I just don't like the awkward silences, the mind blanks of what to say, the lack of being able to use facial expressions. It's just...egh. It's not like I'm afraid of answering the phone...it's just I don't like to.

11. I once half dislocated my cousin's wrist while doing an arm wrestle. She spent the next few minutes muttering over her wrist while trying to fix it.


Phew, eleven facts done. Here comes the questions, not to mention their answers...


1. What is your biggest hobby?
I was going to say something like archery but I've decided that my writing is a much bigger hobby. Much harder too. But it's so rewarding when someone says they liked it and it affected them. It's really encouraging to have people like that.

2.Who is your biggest inspiration?
Aside from the obvious Jesus, I'm not really sure. But following on that style of inspiration...The pastor we used to have at our church had a really lovely wife and she really inspired me in many ways. Same goes for our current pastor's wife.
But I can't mention them without giving a short word about my mum. She's truly a wonderful person, and I wouldn't be the person I am without her.

3. What is your favourite piece of music (can be either classical or modern)?
I really don't know. I'm a musical person so I have a lot of songs that I like. As I mentioned earlier I like soundtracks. I have a large stack of soundtrack music books in my music drawer including: The Man from Snowy River, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Tangled, Brave, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit (three books, one for each movie), Pirates of the Caribbean and one of a random bunch of tunes from different movies.
There are a few songs that we sing at church which I quite like: No Other Name (Trevor Hodge) and Man of Sorrows. Also, just yesterday we listened to 'The Simple Gospel' during communion and I really liked it. Playjerise ain't bad either.
To tell the truth I don't think I have a specific favourite, I like too many.

4. What is something you wish you knew more about?
Umm, quite a few things. Martial arts could be a cool subject of knowledge and it would be useful in story writing.

5. What is your favourite quote?
This is the hardest question in my life. I have a huge arsenal of quotes, memorized from the hundreds of books I've read in my lifetime. I use them all in random conversation quite frequently. But choosing a favourite!? Could I actually do that? I doubt it, I seriously doubt it.

6. What is something you look forward to doing each day?
I dunno...Eating lunch?

7. What is your favourite way to get exercise?
Archery. Or Badminton. Both are fun, in different ways. In badminton I'm the one who does the crazy dives that don't actually work, and gets the grass stains on the knees of my jeans. I'm certain that everyone else agrees to play just so they can watch me running around after the shuttlecock and lying on the ground after a particularly epic dive. But it's good fun. :)

8. Describe yourself in three sentences:
Describe my personality or my looks? I'll presume personality because I've got a picture or two of me around my blog. 
I'm amusing, sarcastic, and joking, for strangers I'm quiet and shy/awkward (the one sitting at the back of the room with a notebook, deep in thoughts of stories), but my good friends barely see that half of me. :D If a friend dares me to do something hilariously crazy or dangerous I'll probably do it, just for the laughs. I can be sensible at rare times, I like playing cool music (on both flute and guitar) and if you sneak into my room when I'm there alone you may just catch me acting out a scene from a story idea -- plus I'll be super embarrassed if you see me.
Sooo, there's a three sentence description of me. I have several other things I could add to that but I've used up my stock of full stops/periods. (I dunno why I bothered to mention that I was sarcastic and funny, you've just got to read this blog to find that out.)

9. What has been your biggest life achievement so far?
Living to the impressive age of fourteen-and-a-half.

10. What is something you learned recently?
I am extremely bad at answering serious questions in a serious way.

11. Where is the most interesting place you have ever gone?
Worlds away, in my imagination and that of others of my race. The race of writers. I can travel as far, and live as many lives as I wish.
Back to reality...It may not be the most interesting, but it is reasonably: I actually might say the sea. When we last went to the sea for a holiday (last year in May) I was really struck my the power of the sea. Nothing could stop it, nothing could ever tame it. It was wild, just the way God created it. I could just sit there staring out over the breaking waves and think. My thoughts weren't confined to any certain topic, I thought about a lot of different things, and never ran out of stuff to think about.
So, I'll say that the sea is greatly interesting


Looking back to the rules, I've got to tag/award some people and...Ooh, it doesn't say that I have to think up questions! I guess I'll do it anyway...just think up a couple tricky questions, what could go wrong? (Famous last words...)

I'll award my cousin Jessica from Inspiration. Jessica, this is in return for the Riddle Answering Prize that you gave me. :D

Now, since I've only awarded Jessica, I can think up some impossibly hard questions! Yay! My favourite occupation!

Here be your questions Jessica (I've been terribly nice and avoided the word 'favourite' because it is sooo hard to choose):

1. Are you guilty of hitting anyone uncommonly hard on the head?

2. A calorimeter holds 175.0 grams of water at an initial temperature of 25.3 °C. A 54.3 g piece of metal at 100.0 °C is dropped into the calorimeter, and the final temperature of the water is 27.1 °C. What is the specific heat of the metal? (*Evil laughs*) (How do you like the sound of Chemistry?)

3. What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought/are saving up to buy?

4. Have you ever injured yourself in a really silly way?

5. Do you have some specific aim for the future?

6. What's a movie you really like?

7. What's a book that you've dreamed about?

8. If you woke up in the middle of the night to someone blowing a party blower in your ear, who would you immediately suspect?

9. What would be your revenge?

10. If I allowed you a single trip in my TARDIS ('cause it's a well known fact that I'm secretly a Time Lord), where would you want to go? Or more importantly, when?

11. What's it like to have a crazy cousin like me?

I hope it takes you less than infinity to answer the questions, 'cause I'm amusedly waiting for your blog post! (If it takes too long, you'd better watch out for an extremely loud noise in the middle of the night.) :D

Allons-y!

If Adventure Comes Your Way - Fragment Sixteen

February. The month in which we begin to look forward to the ever nearing coolness of autumn. Or, if you're American (which I'm not), I suppose you guys look forward to the warmth of spring? Meh, I really wouldn't know.

On the topic of the story now:

Number three was voted in...and onto the stage comes a massive plot twist. A plot twist that is going to make this a little longer, and (I honestly don't know why I'm doing this to myself) it will have a sequel. Boy, I think I must be super crazy to do this, but for now it's a cool idea.
You know how I mentioned in the last Fragment how the two random characters, 'Ana' and 'James', wouldn't play a big part and were just totally random...weeeell, about that...Ahem, I think I'll let you read it so you can see for yourself.

I realised what had been shouted and looked at Maree. “Run?”

She was frowning and peering out of the cave entrance. “Jest weet a moment,” she said. “Somethin’ dinna be quoite right.”

I raised my eyebrows. “But they’ll catch us!” I exclaimed. “The soldiers will climb up here and catch us!”

“Thet voice were no soldier,” Maree said slowly.

Jack rose and stuck his head out of the cave. “I don’t see anyone yet,” he said. “Why not hide, just in case?”

Maree hesitated but I dragged her to her feet. “Come on,” I urged, pulling her out into the rain.

Jack dodged behind a large outcrop of rock, looking around. “There is some other way to get down?” he asked Maree, craning his neck to see down to the ground.

Maree nodded. “Ye’ve jest got t’ jump thet gap there, an’ then climb doown on the far soide,” she said.

I gulped as she pointed to the gap between our position and the far outcrop. “Did you say jump?” I asked, hoping that I’d been mistaken.

“Yes,” she returned.

“I’m not doing that,” I said definitely, taking a step backwards. “Nothing could make me jump that.”

Over the sound of rain I heard a yelp and the crunch of loose stones under feet. Jack grabbed my arm and pulled me behind a large rock hump.

The rain drifted down, making everything blurred and grey. I steadied my heart, keeping my breathing as quiet as possible. And, as so happens when one attempts such a feat, I felt the deep need to cough. First it tickled the back of my throat, making my breath croaky, and then it started to worsen until I feared that I would not be able to breathe.

The sound of more footsteps came from the other side of the rock.

Eventually I couldn’t hold it in. I covered my mouth and did my best to make it quiet, but in the lack of any other noise it came out much louder than I’d meant.

A hand shot around the corner and jerked me forward. A man faced me, his strong hand on my arm. I opened my mouth to scream but his hand clapped over my mouth. “Shut it!” he hissed. “You’ll bring the soldiers.” He turned his head. “It’s a girl,” he said to his companion.

For the first time I noticed another figure a little way off. I couldn’t make out any features in the gloomy light. The grip on my arm didn’t lessen as the man pulled me over to his companion.

A dark shadow flew through the air and Maree landed on the other figure, both falling to the ground in a struggling heap. A second later Jack ran for my captor, leaping at him.

I lost my footing and stumbled, banging my knee on the sharp rock. Everything moved too quickly, but in a moment everything was over.

Jack kicked and struggled against the restraining arms of the man just beside me, his mouth firmly covered with a hand, and Maree lay on the ground perfectly still, the point of a sword at her throat, and I saw the face of the wielder clearly now. A tall young woman, and something about her made me frown, something undeniably familiar.

I stood, limping backwards a few steps, conscious of the steep drop behind.

“Okay,” the man said. “A bunch of kids.” He looked to the woman, “Now what? You got some idea?”

She looked down at Maree and I was again stuck by something familiar about her. “The only thing I’ve got is no clue,” she said. A frown crossed her face as she studied Maree. “I’m certain I’ve seen this one before…” her voice trailed off and then her eyes widened, she clicked her fingers. “That’s it! You’re that…er…Flee…fleesprit or something…Freespirit!” She moved her sword, sheathing it quickly.

I looked on in confusion as she offered a hand and pulled Maree to her feet. “Sorry about that, if I’d known it was you I wouldn’t have hit so hard.”

“A-Ana?” Maree said hesitantly.

The woman frowned, then her face cleared. “Aye, that’s me,” she agreed. “I must say, I’d mostly forgotten about you, it’s been almost two years, right?”

Maree nodded.

I looked at the two strangers, either I was going mad or these were the very same two that had saved Maree from the soldiers all those years ago.

James coughed. “If this one is a friend of yours,” he said to Maree. “Perhaps you could tell him to stop kicking me?”

Maree shot him a look and Jack stopped struggling. “Ye can be puttin’ him down noow,” she said.

Jack dropped to the ground, stepping quickly out of the reach of the strangers. “Thees es Jack Danson,” Maree said. “An’ Looise Conweel.”

I only just stopped myself from dropping a curtsey. Such an action would betray my noble rank to anyone with half a brain.

A crash below cut off the pleasantries. Ana gave her brother a quick glance. “I forgot to mention the fact that we’re being tracked by a dozen soldiers, so it might be a good idea to move out.”

“So are we,” Maree added. She turned to the far side of the massive boulder. “We’ll have to go down the other way.”

I froze, staring at her. We couldn’t. Surely she couldn’t actually be suggesting to jump across that gap.

A small bird fluttered by, swooping close to Ana. She stood, blinking for a moment, then sneezed.

Voices erupted from the ground below, men shouting for their companions and running from all directions.

“Where’s that ‘other way’ you mentioned?” James hissed.

Maree led the way to the wide gap on the other side. I closed my eyes, imagining myself back in my bedroom in the De Corlette manor, wishing the whole thing to be just a dream.

I opened my eyes to see Maree jumping across to the far side. Ana followed and then Jack. I looked up at James and he motioned for me to go first. I winced, I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t.

“Need a hand?” James’ low voice spoke in my ear.

I shook my head, and tried to stop myself from thinking about it. I jumped.

Maree caught my hand as my feet slipped on the far side, her weight pulling me up. For a moment my feet slid down but then I was across, sprawled on the ground beside Maree.

I picked myself up, Maree doing the same, and James jumped across, landing at least a meter further from the edge than he needed to.

Maree pointed a finger. “There be a beet o’ a track jest thet wey, noot too hard t’ climb,” she whispered.

I rubbed my sore knee as I followed he others to the track. Maree scrambled down agilely, her feet quick to find the tiny ledges that could support her weight.

The sounds of soldiers were dim but still near, and we moved slowly, keeping noise at a bare minimum.

When we were all on the ground Maree looked around, uncertain of the way to go. Jack tapped her shoulder. “I know a good place to hide,” he whispered. “I’ve got a friend who lives near here.”

She nodded, and he led the way. He paused often, looking around to get his bearings, but through the rain it was hard to see anything.

I shivered in my wet clothes, wrapping my arms around myself for warmth. My head felt light and I blinked away a wave of weariness.

Jack dropped to his knees in front of a large clump of bushes growing close together. He turned. “Okay, I’ll just warn you that this friend of mine is a little...strange. He’ll be very pleased to see you all,” he said reassuringly as he saw the look on Maree’s face. “He just might show it in an odd way. He’s a hermit,” he added as an afterthought.

I nodded slowly, peering into the bushes. If this friend lived under there, I wasn’t going to be looking forward to a warm bed. Hermits didn’t really have things like that. I’d never seen a hermit before but I’d always been mildly afraid of the ones in pictures – particularly their long, white beards that went down to their knees.

Jack pushed through the bushes. His feet disappeared and the only sign that he was still there was the moving branches. I glanced around, everyone else hesitated, so I shrugged.

I stepped forward, parting the bushes with my hand. A sort of track appeared before me and I crawled in. The bushes were surprisingly soft, and I had no trouble moving onward. In a moment I came into the clear. I looked up, uncertain whether I actually wanted to see the ancient hermit.

I never did.

***

1. A body crashed into me before I could rise and I started to struggle. Then I realised the hermit was hugging me. Awkward.

2. A boy of about fourteen looked at me curiously, his head on one side. “A girl,” he murmured. “So that’s what a girl is like.”


3. Jack pulled me to my feet. “Don’t say anything,” he breathed in my ear. “Just stand still and don’t yell, or scream. Don’t say anything.”

***

Sorry if this Fragment wasn't terribly interesting. More was supposed to happen but somehow it got long when only a short amount of story-time had passed. That just happens sometimes...

I also realised a fatal flaw in the story so far...They haven't eaten anything yet. Oops. I'm hopeless when it comes to writing practical things like that. In 'The Bridge of Anskar' there were a couple whole scenes that I got rid of because they were utterly ridiculous: my attempts at practicality. :D

Thanks for reading.

Fare Thee Well!

Cover for The Ghostfaces by John Flanagan

He he he...two days after I do the post on my bookish discovery and, wow, would you look at that! There's a cover! I'm certain that it was just waiting for me to do the post before it appeared...Plus, I also found it before the 'official cover reveal' thingy, which is just fun... :)

So here it is:

Ooo, it looks so cool...I can already picture it on my bookshelf... :)

I think I said everything already on my last post so I can't think of anything else to write. Except for the fact that I want to read it even more, 'cause the cover looks pretty interesting. 

I always enjoy hearing more about the Herons' adventures and this one sounds new and different and exciting. Have you read any of John Flanagan's Brotherband or Ranger's Apprentice series?

Fare Thee Well!

If Adventure Comes Your Way - Fragment Fifteen

Fifteen? Are we seriously already up to that? I could just make you all sad and say "More than halfway through!" but I'm so nice and won't even mention it.

A while back I tagged Sarah for the Lovely Blog Tag and she was exceedingly good and did it within a week! And now, just to make her feel special I have decided to temporarily bring a favourite character (that I wrote) of hers into the story...she's from a completely different story and I'm not going to give her much to do, but she'll be there for a short time. Sarah, you'll know who I'm talking about. :)

Sorry to all those who haven't read my WIP novel - The Bridge of Anskar, I'll just say that the two random characters are good guys and (to satisfy curiosity) their real names will be mentioned at the end of the post.

Option three was voted in (which is lucky because that one was the only one that I thought might possibly work for bringing in the random characters)...but on the unlucky side my head is really sore. In other words...I whacked in on the desk a lot of times. The Fragment was stubborn. Very. 
Thus my head is sore. 
Very.

“Who are you?” Maree gasped, blinking her eyes to clear her head.

“It might sound crazy to say this, but I’m not actually allowed to tell you,” a young voice replied near her ear.

Maree tried to twist around to see her companion but another wave of dizziness swept through her. The combination of pain and shock worked together and she knew no more.


Maree woke to the sound of lowered voices and crackling flames. She lay for a minute, not wanting to move. The bed under her was soft and the blanket warmer than any that she’d owned before. 

“I think she’s awake,” a voice said, a different one than belonged to her rescuer.

Maree blinked her eyes open. She found herself staring at a dark roof flickering with firelight. A young woman’s face came into view, and Maree stared in fascination.

A long fringe of brown hair hung over her bright green eyes and a long, pale scar ran from above her left eyebrow to the corner of her mouth. A wide grin split her face when she saw Maree awake. 

“Oh, it’s great you’re awake. We were beginning to wonder if you were okay. How are you feeling?” she asked, her voice foreignly accented.

Maree tried to speak but found her mouth was dry. The girl offered a mug of water. “Here, this might help,” she said.

Maree drained the water and tried again. “Noot to bad,” she answered, her voice finally responding. She sat up, wincing as pain shot up her shoulder. The room was small but homely, the firelight danced over the contents, illuminating them and leaving them in shadow in turn.

A man sat in a chair by the fire but other than him and the strange girl, there was no one else.

“Who do ye be?” Maree asked.

Her rescuer chewed her lip. “As I said before, we’re not allowed to tell anyone. But...you can call me...er...Ana if you like. And him – he’s my brother, by the way...can be James for now,” she shrugged. “Sorry. What about you?”

Maree hesitated by sensed that the girl was telling the truth. “Maree Freespirit,” she said, emphasizing the ‘Freespirit’.

“Pleasure to meet you,” came the cheerful answer.

Maree rubbed her forehead, thinking about Hacaz and his soldiers. Someone had to stop him. “Do you be havin’ any connection with the keeng?” she blurted before she could think any better of it.

‘Ana’ shook her head. “Sorry, we’re not from here, we come from...across the sea. Currently we’re just here to sear—” she stopped suddenly, clamping her mouth shut.

“We’re just visiting,” James put in, rising from his seat. “We’re heading back in a few days.”

“Why do you ask?” Ana tilted her head to the side, curious.

Maree lifted a shoulder – making sure it was her uninjured one – in a tired shrug. “Jest in case,” she replied. In another moment she asked, “Why did you save me?”

“Aww, that?” Ana shrugged. “It was nothin’, I’d been spying on the soldier’s camp and I saw that you were in a little trouble so I thought I’d lend a hand.”

Ana looked into her eyes but Maree avoided her gaze, knowing that her feelings were clearly visible. “What dey es eet?” she asked suddenly, looking up.

“Two days since I found you,” Ana said. “Thursday’s today.”

“Don’t you mean ‘today’s Thursday’?” James replied with a raised eyebrow.

Ana punched his shoulder, screwing up her nose at him. “You were unconscious for two days and half a night,” she continued, turning back to Maree.

Two deys, Maree thought, they’ve bin...deid for two whole deys. Tears threatened to overflow but Maree blinked them back. Nia, Jonny, Ellie, Freya, Sam, Anita, Tilda an’ Dael. They all be gone, and there ain’t nothin’ ye can do. She took a deep breath; she still had a job to do. She had to prevent it happening again.

Hacaz couldn’t succeed.

Maree tried to stand but Ana put a hand on her shoulder. “You’re to stay right there,” she said firmly.

Maree shook her head. “Ye dinna—”

Ana narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know exactly what is going on right now, but there’s something between you and those soldiers. They’ve searched this house once already, and getting seen by enemy soldiers wasn’t on my job description. I have certain experience in these kind of matters and I know that it is not a smart plan to run off to save the world after being unconscious for two days.”

James grinned. “Trust me, she’s had personal experience with that particular situation.”

Ana grimaced in return. “Aye, I have that. If I could give you one important piece of advice that I’ve learnt in my career it would be this: Don’t rush off if you’re injured. The world’s not about to blow up without you and it’s doubtful that anything is going to happen in another two days. It would be much better to wait until you were properly – or at least more so – healed.”

Maree released a puff of air. “But me shoulder dinna be hurtin’,” she protested.

Ana nodded exaggeratedly. “Course it’s not,” she remarked sardonically. “And I suppose you’re perfectly fit to go tramping about with no food or bed or anything?”

Maree slumped her shoulders, giving in. “I’ll stey for a while eef ye put eet thet wey,” she said reluctantly.

“I most certainly do,” Ana replied hurriedly.

Maree settled back down on the pillows, sighing heavily. Ana yawned and moved away, Maree followed her with her eyes. Her clothes were of very strange style; a green cape – offset to one side, black leather leggings and boots, a tunic of the same and worn over a full sleeved, white blouse. A long sword hung from a weapons belt at her side.

James was dressed in a more familiar fashion, with a heavy tweed jacket, flannel shirt and wool pants. 

Maree wondered vaguely what their real names were. The soft sound of the fire soothed her and she soon fell asleep. She didn’t wake again until morning.


Maree stayed with the brother and sister for another two days but they parted ways on the morning of the fifth. Ana and James headed west towards the sea, and Maree went north, following the direction Hacaz and his soldiers had taken...


“An’ so, I followed ‘em ‘cross half o’ the coontry, tryin’ me beest to stop Hacaz. I coold niver git into the keeng’s court so I geeve tryin’.” Maree shook her head slowly. “Thet was near two years ago noow.”

I remained silent. In the light of Maree’s past, my own adventures in the last week could barely be considered mildly interesting. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

Maree turned to look at me. “Dinna worry,” she said. “I’ve ‘bout come t’ terms weeth eet. I miss ‘em soome toimes though.”

I laid my hand on her shoulder. “I’ll help,” I said. “Now that I know, I can help you get to the king. Surely he’d let me in. All we have to do is get there.”

Maree smiled faintly. “Ye be right there,” she replied. “Jest a noice run across the coontry with a bunch o’ soldiers on oor treel.”

“Why has it taken Hacaz so long? Couldn’t he have just gone right and kicked out the king in the first place?” I asked, frowning.

“He’s gathering forces,” Jack spoke. I jumped, forgetting for a moment that he was there. “He’ll get onto the king’s good side and then quietly dispose of him, probably making sure that he signs the paper that says Hacaz is to be his heir.”

I pressed my lips together. “So we’ve got to warn the king that Hacaz isn’t a good heir?”

“Eet woold be better to tell heem all of what Hacaz be plannin’,” Maree said. “Then we ‘ave t’ see eef ‘e beleeves us.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“We theenk up a deefernt plan,” Maree said steadfastly.

A small bird flew into cave, its tiny wings wet and bedraggled. It huddled on the stone ground and watched us. I stayed as still as I could so it wouldn’t fly away again.

It may have stayed but for a shout from far below us.

“Up there!”

At the sound it jumped into the air without hesitation, disappearing into the misty rain.

I realised what had been shouted and looked at Maree. “Run?”

***

1. Maree shook her head slowly. “There be no back door,” she said in horror.

2. “Run,” she agreed.

3. She was frowning and peering out of the cave entrance. “Jest weet a moment,” she said. “Somethin’ dinna be quoite right.”

***

There, just as I promised. No more depressing-ness.

Here are the real names of 'James' and 'Ana': Eumin and Leonora! (The other names were just the first ones that popped into Leonora's head at the time) They are friends of the main character in The Bridge of Anskar so they play a fairly major role. Sorry that you don't really know much about them. :( If I was in an optimistic/dreamy mood I'd say that I may publish it some day...but at other times I feel sure that that is 'not this day'...
Looking forward to your comments.

Fare Thee Well!

Brotherband Book Six: The Ghostfaces

Okaaay, so this post has taken a while in coming because I've been slack on my 'Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband new books Watch' so I only recently (as in, about half a month ago) found out more than slight rumors.

Here is the cover...

Meh, no cover yet, but I'm sure it'll turn up soon enough (and quite possibly I'll do another blog post on it). 

But here is the synopsis. This'll probably change and be refined slightly before the release date but it's all I've got so far.

(Wait for it...)

When the Brotherband crew are caught in a massive storm at sea, they’re blown far off course and wash up on the shores of a land so far west that Hal can’t recognize it from any of his maps. Eerily, the locals are nowhere in sight, yet the Herons have a creeping feeling they are being watched.

Suddenly the silence is broken when a massive, marauding bear appears, advancing on two children. The crew springs into action and rescues the children from the bear’s clutches, which earns them the gratitude and friendship of the local Mawagansett tribe, who finally reveal themselves. But the peace is short-lived. The Ghostfaces, a ruthless, warlike tribe who shave their heads and paint their faces white, are on the warpath once more. It’s been ten years since they raided the Mawagansett village, but they’re coming back to pillage and reap destruction. As the enemy approaches, the Herons gear up to help their new friends repel an invasion.

In this sixth book in the action-packed Brotherband Chronicles, the Herons find themselves in unfamiliar lands and prepare for battle with a ruthless, unknown enemy.

It sounds kinda interesting and strange at the same time. Also sounds just slightly similar to stories about Leif Erikson discovering America...Hmmm, I wonder...

I'm really looking forward to reading it though. But wait! I haven't told you the release date! There are slight conflicting resources on this point. Random House Australia says that it's in May but other places say June...I'll just go with the May one 'cause Random House is the publisher so if they don't know I'll start getting worried. (Also, the June one might be American but I really dunno.)

16/05/2016

That is the hopefully, maybe release date of Brotherband Six - The Ghostfaces!!!

Read this series everyone, I'm telling you for the...er...somethingth time, but you really should. 

I also discovered here that apparently there's going to be another book about Will and Maddie and at least one more prequel. I reckon there should be something about Gillan's apprenticeship, because that sounds extremely amusing...

Anyway, I'm keeping a half-watch for the cover and will hopefully do a post to show you all what it looks like. Anyone else dying (not literally) to read it? And, if not dying, really looking forward to it?

Fare Thee Well!