Rethinking. Removing, and Adding

"The Husband" has been on vacation for the past week. We didn't go anywhere special, so those of you housebound wives know that I didn't get any vacation! Anyway, I didn't get to write--I should say, I didn't get to use my fingers on the keyboard. I did quite a lot in my head, though.

You see, the posts so far have been teasing about the middle part of my story; the reason for doing so is that I wrote three to four chapters of the beginning third, but writer's block formed a wall I could not break through, so I decided to forget the first chapters--put them on the back burner--and concentrate on the middle, as if I were writing a new story that began when Sarah and her friend fell into the passage and entered the parallel universe.

Now, though, I have my middle "story" sorted, I have to go back to the beginning, delete a couple of characters who apparently don't belong, but add at least one who has intruded into my mental draft.

Those of you who have kept up with my other blog probably know that I won an award for the first chapter of this book, I was one of the five Finalists in a contest through the East Texas Writer's Guild in cooperation with Venture Galleries and Caleb Pirtle. If so, you may have read the first 1500 words, words that introduced a scene from four hundred years ago--a pregnant Jane Bulcock being taken, with several other alleged witches, to be tried and executed by hanging.

Present day nineteen-year-old Sarah Jane Bulcock, born in England raised from the age of nine or ten in Texas, travels back to England to help her aunt settle the estate of her recently deceased English father. Sarah's father, a descendant of the original Bulcock family, left Sarah with some intriguing items--items which will become important in her quest to find her way back to the present and so define her future--and change her mind about a lot of things...

Conflict--a rethinking

In the middle of the night--or rather, the early hours of the morning, I realized the chapter I've been working on doesn't have enough (or any) conflict. So I've been re-writing it and adding as much as I can.

So far, I have intensified Sarah's dislike of Elijah (he really is a rude, uber-male) and since she herself is a "Miss Bossy-Knickers" (according to him) she feels the need to stubbornly oppose any of his ideas or suggestions. She accuses him of being controlling. He says if he doesn't take the lead, who will--he knows more about Lancashire and Ravenwood than she does; however he also says he doesn't think they are in Ravenwood at all, now--Sarah says of course they are. We shall see who is right.

The producers of the argumentative shouting seem to have disappeared in a puff of smoke--or at least, a billow of mist. The only things in the forest clearing are three black crows, two of which show evidence of a tussle--feathers flying, They bumble off as our two friends (or non-friends, if you like) arrive in the clearing.

With Sarah hanging back, and Elijah crashing through the undergrowth, they are about to encounter, well, let's see, will it be Herne the Hunter (or Herne the Horned god?) Whoever they meet, will they be help or hindrance? Friend or Foe?

I'll tell more when I get Sarah and Elijah--well, somewhere out of the woods.

What Light Breaks at the End of the Tunnel?

FACT:

During the reigns of Queen Elizabeth the First and King James the First, (of England, of course) it was a punishable offence to celebrate the Catholic Mass. It was dangerous to be known to do so, both for the Priest and the worshippers. So strong were those of the Catholic Faith, and so determined to continue to worship in that Faith, that they built “Priest’s Holes” into their homes (at least, those who could afford to)—secret hidey-holes where a Priest could be hidden away from the authorities. Some were so small a man couldn’t turn around—and sometimes a Priest would have to “lay low” for several days in such a hole while authorities conducted a search.

Passages, also secret, lead from some of these homes to neighboring houses, allowing a Priest access to other devout families. It was a dangerous time for Catholics.

MY FICTION:

Like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, Sarah and her friend Elijah accidentally fall into the hollow of an ancient oak tree while trying to retrieve the medallion stolen by a mischievous crow. This hollow tunnel deposits them in a passage man-made with rough-hewn stone blocks.

But the passage doesn’t lead to another house—so where do Sarah and Elijah find themselves? And to whom do the angry voices belong? Will they be involved in a fight—prevent a killing—form a friendship? And what happened to that medallion? Hmm, I shall have to keep writing to find out :-)

Is he good or is he bad?
Ooh, that Herne is quite a lad!

                                                         

Herne the Hunter--Helpful, or Harmful?

There are many legends surrounding Herne; some depict him as good, a protector of the forests and the hunt. Some say is he a representation of the Devil--the mythical Horned God.  Others  describe him as simply another version of the Green Man.

In THE RAVENWOOD PORTAL, Sarah Jane Bulcock will encounter both. Which will she trust? Who will she follow? What will she discover in this Alternate Universe--a universe that holds the answer to a secret, a secret that will guide Sarah to her future--if she can get find her way back to the present.

What is the significance of the White Raven--and what powers does she  have? Can she and Sarah help each other find the peace they both yearn for?

Please keep following my journey in Ravenwood--I'd like to tell you more about the human characters who journey with me.

The White Raven--Princess, Goddess, Witch?

I am fascinated by rarities. My Ravenwood harbors a rare white raven. Sarah catches glimpses of it as she explores the woods around Ravenwood Hall. Her aunt is horrified when asked about it--the locals say such a bird is an omen of doom and death.

In fact, it is the black members of the Corvus Corax family--ravens, crows, etc., that are feared as being connected with evil. That is probably because of their fondness for carrion--and for mischief. They will steal anything bright, shiny, and round--even polished pebbles.

More fact: it is the opinion of those who haven't seen one up close, that the white ravens are merely albino versions of the bird; however, albino birds would have pink eyes and a pink beak. A true white raven has blue eyes, and a thick, white, beak--no trace whatsoever of pink among its feathers.

Why does Sarah think this White Raven of Ravenwood is stalking her? Why do three crows always seem to be in attendance when the white bird is seen? When will Sarah meet the legendary Green Man--and will he be able to answer her questions?

I won't tell you the answers to those questions--I will give you clues as my work in progress, um, progresses. Stay tuned, friends.

More facts, and a lot of fiction

In the shadow of Pendle Hill lie many small towns and villages, all with centuries-old houses, farms, barns, and buildings. They have names--Clitheroe, Roughlee, Trawden, Wycoller, Colne, Burnley, and Barley--and Cowark.

My Ravenwood Hall and Estate is located among them--fictional, of course. The inspiration for Ravenwood is historical Browsholme Hall, at least five hundred years old, and owned since the beginning by the Parker family.

My fictional family and its descendants, the Bulcocks, have owned Ravenwood since the 1600's. John Bulcock and his pregnant wife, Jane, were among the party of alleged witches sent to Lancaster for trial in 1612. In fact, however, the couple sent for trial was a Jane Bulcock and her son John--I changed the relationship for the sake of my story!

Browsholme has a ghost, and my Ravenwood has one. You will have to read the book to find out what it does, and who it might be. That area abounds with stories and myths of hauntings and surely descendants of the Lancashire Witches could be up to mischief to this very day.

And here's another Green Man...ooh, I wonder what he wants?

Why the three crows?

Crows and their larger cousins, ravens, show up in my Work-in-Progress (hereinafter known as my WiP) THE RAVENWOOD PORTAL. A novel of the paranormal for young adults--and I mean young adults, not "old teens".

A mixture of mystery and myth, witchcraft and war, and yes Good versus Evil. Involving Sarah, a Texan who's English father has just died leaving her his English estate, Ravenwood Hall, and a young man she thinks she dislikes (because she forms an impression before she knows who he is.)

They fall, like Alice in Wonderland, into a parallel universe--a universe that shows Sarah where her future lies, and it's not where she originally wanted or planned.

A mysterious shape-shifting white raven, three golden medallions, a witch (who turns out to be Sarah's ever-so-many greats, grandmother) a hidden hoard of stolen Church plate, all come together to guide Sarah into making the right decision.

Come back often to see how the story progresses.



And, who knows--The Green Man himself might appear...