Hi. I’m back :)

Hello everyone. Gosh I can’t believe it’s been over five years since I’ve done a post. Well, where to start. I had another child. His name is Ashton and he’s three, the most beautiful boy in the world, and a little poop head most of the time 🙂 We’ve moved several times, which is dull but I hate moving so I thought I’d mention it 🙂

I have also been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. I’ve had a single mastectomy and chemo so I think I’ve beaten it, but I am on five years of hormone therapy just to make sure 🙂 It’s been hard, I’m not going to lie, but I fight to remain the positive, cheerful person I’ve always tried to be.

Oh, and I’ve self published my novel Incarnate. I know, a lot of you may ask why I didn’t go down the traditional route of finding an agent, finding publishers etc. Well, it comes down to family. My nanny, Mary, has always wanted a signed copy of my first novel. She now has failing health and it is generally believed that she may not be around for much longer. My life goal was achieved by getting her my book by which I went the self publishing route and you know, I don’t regret it 🙂 It is more work but I can do it, I’m determined. The cancer is a wake up call that no one can ignore.

So the link to my book is below. There’s no forceful pushing for sales from me. If you’re curious and want a look, I hope you enjoy. If you don’t, please look after yourselves and stay safe 🙂

Life is a lie, an outcast’s on the run. A fate I was born to but refuse to accept. I am Anahlia, angel of death incarnate, and I’m pissed. The apocalypse best fear me!

My beautiful and awe-inspiring nanny, Mary.

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#FlashForFriday – Terribleminds Fairy Tale Flash Fiction Challenge

Hello lovely readers 🙂

Last week I mentioned that I was attempting a flash fiction challenge set me by my wonderful author friend J S Collyer. In this you had to pick a fairy tale to rewrite and add into it a sub genre that was not in the original 🙂 You then had to use any random number generator to help you pick your sub genre from a list on the website and I kid you not I got sword and sorcery 🙂 How perfect is that? I almost exploded with glee when I got that. Anyone who has visited my page previously will know that I am a bona fide fantasy nut. This is the result I came up with; I hope you enjoy 🙂

Cin

“Cinderellaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa,” rang out her stepmother’s shrill voice. Cin sighed. Why won’t you die old woman? she thought as her body moved to comply to the harpies wail. She found herself ascending the stairs in their, sorry, her home. She had no desire to think of it as theirs. She still saw those upstairs as intruders.

“Yes stepmother?” she asked on a sigh as she entered the room. Sat on the chaise was her stepmother and step sisters draped in the finery that her family’s wealth bought them. They’d squandered the gold her father had earned before his ‘absolutely-not-suspicious-death-in-anyway.’ She’d been left with rags as her clothes and no shoes, her robes and staff were gone, while they had kept the gold for themselves. Her estate was almost bankrupt and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.

“Tonight is the night,” began the harpy. “We need you to go and get our robes, our staves and the armour. They won’t know what hit them,” giggled her stepmother.

“But motherrrrrr,” whined the fat sister. “How do we decide who gets the Prince?”

“We decide after the spell wears off,” informed the ugly one. Cin made a point of not thinking of them in relation to their names. That personalised them and they deserved no such consideration.

“Yes stepmother,” Cin reiterated as she went to do what they bid. The damn spell that awful woman had put on her the night she had entered her home meant she had no choice to obey. Her own considerable power had been nulled by it so she was as much a Norm as her pathetic step sisters. Norms were those born without magic and shunned by the ruling sorcerer aristocracy. An aristocracy her father had been part of…

… Cin watched as her step family streaked off to the ball on their broomsticks, sorry, in their carriages. She wasn’t envious of them per say more that she thought herself a good person and she was loyal to the royal family. Knowing the plans that her step family had for them grated on her but what could she do? She went back to the fireplace that served as her bed, sat down on her chair and sighed. She felt restless but somehow defeated, which was a feeling she loathed.

Her attention was suddenly drawn to the kitchen window she had left open as an almost transcendent bird song began as if from nowhere. Gradually a ruby red shine began and in its midst appeared a small songbird made of pure flame. Cin was mesmerised by it. She had an affinity for birds and this one was truly beautiful.

The songbird finally finished its song and looked directly into Cin’s eyes. Did the bird actually smile at her? With a tweet and a wink the bird coalesced into itself, grew and the image of her father appeared within. Cin almost swallowed her tongue. What? How? When? Her father was dead, wasn’t he? She had never actually seen a body.

“Yes I am dead Cin,” her see through father began. “Your stepmother saw to that, but I couldn’t just sit idly by in paradise while my daughter was treat the way she is. Had not time moved differently there I would have come sooner. Don’t say anything my little love, we don’t have a lot of time and we need to stop the fool woman I stupidly married.”

“How do you mean father?” Cin asked, not really knowing what to expect.

“You know only half of what they have planned. They are going to spell the Prince, marry him to one of the daughters and kill the King and Queen to gain power. My former wife believes she has enough magic to do that and we can’t take the chance that she has. You are powerful daughter, you will stop them.”

“I can’t father,” Cin sighed. “The harpy you married spelled me the first night she was here. She nulled my power and made me obey. I am helpless.” She watched as her father smirked,

“I may be dead Cin but I am not altogether powerless.” She watched as her father closed his eyes and held up his hands. Purple energy surrounded her and she heard a sound akin to a lock unlocking. She felt her power rush back to her in all its flaming ruby glory and she had to smile. It felt wonderful.

“I will empower you also daughter to ensure you prevail.” He held up his hand again and a doorway of purple flame appeared. She watched as her father reached through it and withdrew a bundle of ruby-red clothing and a staff. He blinked and the purple doorway dissipated as if it never was. He handed her the staff with a perfect, fist sized ruby floating atop of it and held the robes, armour and boots up for her to see. The robes and boots were flaming red ending in magical, transcendent flames and the armour was the purest silver. Cin was eager to put them on, they were beautiful. She took them from her father with almost reverence.

“Remember Cin, I love you always,” and with that her father disappeared back into a flaming purple birdsong and then vanished. She was touched he came as a ruby-red one for her. He was always that thoughtful. She smiled but she had to turn her mind to tonight…

…Cin stood to one side of the ballroom with her hood over her head. She had already started to garner notice from the quality of her robes and armour so she prayed her stepmother would hurry up and make her move so she could disappear again. It hadn’t even occurred to her to wonder what she would do afterwards she was that focused on her task.

The orchestra began and Cin was almost blinded by what she saw. The King and Queen came down the stairway resplendent in their robes but it wasn’t them that caught her attention. Following after them was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. He had beautiful ebony hair, handsome features and a well muscled body under his beautiful sapphire robes. Cin reasoned this must be the Prince. She was spellbound.

Suddenly she heard a familiar shrill wail that turned her stomach and hardened her heart.

“Your royal majesties,” began her stepmother. “I am Lady Lanaya and I must respectfully ask you to step down from power.” The crowd parted and her stepmother came forward flanked by her two ridiculous daughters.

“Who are you to demand such from royalty?” exclaimed the Prince, angry that someone could demand such from his parents.

“I am the new Queen,” stated her delusional stepmother. She watched as she raised her hand towards the Prince and Cin’s heart accelerated. Lime green energy flew towards him and she watched in horror as he was encased in crystal. There was gasps among the crowd and his parents seemed frozen, unsure what to do. She saw her stepmother turn with glee to the Queen and Cin knew she had to act. Stepping in front of the Queen Cin pointed her staff towards the frozen Prince and watched in satisfaction as flames engulfed him and he was once again free. She heard a distraught scream and had to smile.

“Who are you to interrupt my plans???”

“Oh you know who I am,” Cin replied and removed her hood to reveal her perfect golden features.

“Cinderella!!! My spell should have kept you at home.”

“Sorry stepmother,” Cin replied with sarcasm. “You’re out of luck. I got some unexpected help and now I’m here to stop you.”

“Pathetic child,” her stepmother spat. “I should have ended you long ago.” With that, her stepmother brought her hands together glowing the lime green of her magic. She began to swirl them in a circular motion and once a ball of lime green flame was sat between her hands she projected it towards Cin. She had to smile as the sad attempt at magic bounced off the shield of flame surrounding her.

“My turn,” Cin said with a wicked smile. She echoed her stepmother’s motions and projected her power towards her. Many songbirds of ruby red flame flew towards her stepmother with force and vengeance. Around the sad woman the power coalesced and cocooned her in bright red crystal. For her step sisters, two ruby-red songbirds plucked out each eye, penance for the torment they put her through. She turned to the royalty,

“Forgive me your majesties for bringing warfare to your home. I learnt what they had planned and couldn’t stand idly by. I leave them here  for you, for your just punishment and what they deserve.” She was about to leave when someone caught at her arm,

“Cinderella, wait,” began the Prince. “You don’t have to go so soon do you? My family and I would like to reward you for your bravery and I would like to comment on your beauty.” Cin felt her heart thaw a little at that.

“Please you don’t have to do that but a dance would be nice. I haven’t done so in so long and I so love to,” she smiled at him. “But my name isn’t Cinderella, it’s what my stepmother demeaned me by, denying me my true name. It’s Cinder named so for my affinity with the magic that burns. You however can call me Cin.”

Frozen

This is the working title I have given to my second concept for a novel. I want to store the first writings of it here and if you wouldn’t mind giving me feedback that would be wonderful 🙂 Please keep in mind this is a very, very early attempt. Thank you 🙂

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The journey to the High Court was always perilous for her people at this time of year. The golden sunshine shone down on their carriage with intense venom. Snow sighed and pulled the silk back over the window, being enveloped once more in its cool calmness. The silk was made especially for her family by the Oracles and she appreciated them beyond all others. Her people thrived in the crystal snow and silver moonshine and could not understand why her father was insisting they make the journey now. The High Court existed in a realm between all others and every season had a turn of being predominant; at this moment it was Summer with its treacherous sun. Snow sighed again and adjusted her spiders silk gown. In turn she heard her father sigh;

“Do not fret so Snowflake,” her father pleaded. He was Frostfall, King of the Winter Fae and she was sure she had never heard him plea before, what was he up to? “This is merely a trip to acquaint ourselves with the other Fae people’s. You know things have been tense between us and we do not want war to break out.”

“Father,” she began tentatively. “You worry beyond measure. I know of the myth where the War of the Fae begins and I think you put too much merit into it. Why did I have to attend?” She knew she was whining but couldn’t help it. She had been happy hunting and defending the borders when she had been called home. She was surprised her father had even remembered her existence. Yes she was the Crown Princess but she had been sure her father had been intent on naming one of his several other children as heir. She was the only child by Queen Winter before she had been killed in a riot and that made her sole heir but she was allowed to not like it.

“You come because you are needed.” That was all her father would say and he sat back and shut her out once more. She knew she should be insulted but she had been shut out most of her life so she was indeed used to it.

The dress felt alien to her, like it was too heavy and it over encumbered her. She longed for her Nightsilver armour and pure Nightsilver bow. Then she felt invincible, away from the politics and drama of the court. No one could touch her, ignore her or demean her. She had no responsibilities there and it felt wonderful. She brushed a lock of silver hair back behind her ear and winced. Her hair was a sign she was of royal blood; her family were signified by their silver hair, piercing ice blue eyes and blue tinged skin. When away she had sought different ways to hide it and blend in with the green-eyed, black-haired demeanor of her people but had failed miserably. Instead she had woven a tail about the bastard child of the High King unwanted and unneeded and for the most part it had worked.

She sighed and was just about to settle back into her contemplative whining when a heavy object hit the side of their carriage. It was quickly followed by another and another. The horses screamed in protest and bolted, breaking their fine Nightsilver chains and leaving their passengers behind. Snow stood, a little unsure of what to do in her father’s presence. He never condoned her fighting in any sort of way; he prefered she sit back and let the men fight in her stead. Her luminescent wings twitched in annoyance at that thought.

She could hear the footmen fighting outside and feared for them. They were part of the army but they were not her father’s elite, the men he usually took everywhere. Perhaps he had not expected an attack of this level on this particular journey. Whatever the reason he should have been more prepared and the warrior side of Snow rebelled.

She was taken aback however when her father stood, moved in front of her and drew his sword. Even she was not foolish enough to go outside, they would lose their strategic ground, surely he must know that. In any case he adopted a defensive position and waited. She hoped he did not need to fight as he hadn’t done for an age and she was unsure how good he was anymore.

They waited in silence while the fighting quietly ended outside; she wept silently for the footmen as she knew by now they must be dead. They had been good men and all with families who loved them. How would she ever be able to face them again?

Suddenly, the door to the carriage flung open and both were dazzled by the harsh sunlight. Her father faltered, as she somehow knew he would, and she had to listen as a sword sliced through his ceremonial armour and pierced him. She screamed. Still blinded by the sunlight she felt for the sword and started swinging it almost wildly, hoping she wasn’t injuring her father in the process. She could hear male laughter coming from all directions. How hilarious it must be to see a woman struggle with a sword. She wished again that she had her bow, then they would not be laughing as hard; she loved to shoot things blindfolded.

This carried on until someone grew tired and decided to hit her over the head and pick her up. She was trying her hardest to stay awake but the blackness of oblivion was quickly replacing the golden sun spots. She caught a brief glimpse of her father knelt as if in pain and in a pool of his own silver blood. She hoped he would make it; her heart broke at the thought of him dying. She tried to get to him but the overwhelming darkness consumed her…

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Thank you for taking time to read this 🙂 I would love just a general thought on how I could improve it. Thank you.