I've been away for a while--or I should say, my writing mind has been away. I tried to get Sarah to fill in for me, but she said she wasn't as brave as Elijah and wasn't ready to "talk", and why didn't I get him to write more.
My problem was ('was' because now I think it's fixed) my plot came to a fork in the road, and it wouldn't take the one I wanted it to. I wanted Tolkien and was getting Alice in Wonderland. After discussing the problem with writer friends who are more experienced than I, I'm taking their advice and letting my characters lead me where they may.
At this point, Sarah is about to enter the amusement park again, though she goes kicking and screaming (metaphorically speaking.) Elijah taunts her that she's not the brave Texan she claims to be, so she has to prove him wrong. Besides, she's the only one who is thin enough to accomplish the task at hand.
If their plan works, they will be on their way, hoping to rescue a friend, cross the stinking Brimstone Lake populated by Dragomonsters (dragons unable to breathe fire and banished to live out their lives on the sulphur sanded lake bottom.)
Will our fearless duo, along with Jane, Sarah's great-great-ever-so-many greats, grandmother (in human form, but a beautiful White Raven in the alternate world of the Corvids) be able to rescue the Dragomonsters from their imprisonment in Lake Brimstone? Will the rescued, and once again fire-breathing, dragons be grateful? Or will they remain angry and bitter against their enemies, which they think includes Sarah and Elijah?
What lies on the opposite side of the lake? If Jane is to be believed, the mutant results of a madman's experimentation; a cavernous world of beautiful but poisonous crystals; and the madman himself.
More news in the next few days, if I can get my friends out of their first dangerous encounter.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Hi, I'm Elijah, Sarah's friend
Hello, my name is Elijah. Vivra is keyboarding away on our story; she asked if I would mind submitting a post in her place. I told her I'd be glad to, and here I am.
Sarah and I are so glad Vivra agreed to write about our experiences--they were strange, to say the least. Anyway, let me introduce myself properly.
I'm twenty-two years old. My father was a Gypsy--a true Romani, not one of those fakes known as Travellers that make nuisances of themselves,setting up camp and leaving litter in places where they are not welcome. My father called them Diddicoys--fake Gypsies.
My mother was "gadje" or non-Gypsy. I was born in a true Gypsy "vardo" a horse-drawn wagon painted with bright colors and designs. There's a picture of one on the left.
Mother didn't like the Romani life, and father wanted her to be happy, so after I was born they settled into life in a brick and mortar house. After my sister was born, however, Dad became restless and rejoined his Romani family. At the time of Sarah's and my adventure, he was living in a shelter home, being too old and crippled with arthritis to continue the Gypsy life.
I knew Sarah way back when she was about eight years old, before her American mother took her from Ravenwood back to Texas. I'm pretty sure she doesn't remember me! I'd been spending the summer with my dad, in the vardo he still owned at that time; there was some big Romani gathering up in Scotland and we were on our way there. We'd stopped, as we had many times before, to camp for the night by the back entrance to Ravenwood Hall. Sarah's father was always good to us, turning a blind eye when dad surrepticiously acquired a chicken for our supper. I used to go up to the Hall and try to sell wooden clothespins. Sarah's Aunt Emma would always buy some, whether she needed any or not!
I think I've said enough for now. Vivra should be back again tomorrow. Who knows maybe I can talk Sarah into posting something one day.
Sarah and I are so glad Vivra agreed to write about our experiences--they were strange, to say the least. Anyway, let me introduce myself properly.
I'm twenty-two years old. My father was a Gypsy--a true Romani, not one of those fakes known as Travellers that make nuisances of themselves,setting up camp and leaving litter in places where they are not welcome. My father called them Diddicoys--fake Gypsies.
Mother didn't like the Romani life, and father wanted her to be happy, so after I was born they settled into life in a brick and mortar house. After my sister was born, however, Dad became restless and rejoined his Romani family. At the time of Sarah's and my adventure, he was living in a shelter home, being too old and crippled with arthritis to continue the Gypsy life.
I knew Sarah way back when she was about eight years old, before her American mother took her from Ravenwood back to Texas. I'm pretty sure she doesn't remember me! I'd been spending the summer with my dad, in the vardo he still owned at that time; there was some big Romani gathering up in Scotland and we were on our way there. We'd stopped, as we had many times before, to camp for the night by the back entrance to Ravenwood Hall. Sarah's father was always good to us, turning a blind eye when dad surrepticiously acquired a chicken for our supper. I used to go up to the Hall and try to sell wooden clothespins. Sarah's Aunt Emma would always buy some, whether she needed any or not!
I think I've said enough for now. Vivra should be back again tomorrow. Who knows maybe I can talk Sarah into posting something one day.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Amusement Park or torture chamber?
Sarah and Elijah begin to realize they're no longer in Ravenwood. Lights show up ahead, through the darkness. Lights beaming from a Ferris Wheel surrounded by the innocent booths and rides of an Amusement Park.
Sarah insists they are still in Ravenwood; Elijah is not so sure. Besides, nowhere in or around Ravenwood was there an amusement park; not a carnival nor a travelling fair. None that were advertised. And the crows, why are the crows still following them? Or are they leading them to somewhere--or away from somewhere?
As the dawn breaks, and the sun shows up the many shades of green in the grasses and trees--again, trees which Sarah still believes are the trees of Ravenwood--Sarah is eager to reach the sideshows, rides, and the Ferris Wheel. The child in her is excited. On the other hand, will there be clowns? Clowns are creepy and anonymous.
Why does a small child warn them of "the Devil's carnival"? What happens there? Why are there no crowds swarming around the booths and rides? The screams from the Tunnel of Horrors don't sound to be recorded sound effects--they sound so very real. What is going on?
Sarah insists they are still in Ravenwood; Elijah is not so sure. Besides, nowhere in or around Ravenwood was there an amusement park; not a carnival nor a travelling fair. None that were advertised. And the crows, why are the crows still following them? Or are they leading them to somewhere--or away from somewhere?
As the dawn breaks, and the sun shows up the many shades of green in the grasses and trees--again, trees which Sarah still believes are the trees of Ravenwood--Sarah is eager to reach the sideshows, rides, and the Ferris Wheel. The child in her is excited. On the other hand, will there be clowns? Clowns are creepy and anonymous.
Why does a small child warn them of "the Devil's carnival"? What happens there? Why are there no crowds swarming around the booths and rides? The screams from the Tunnel of Horrors don't sound to be recorded sound effects--they sound so very real. What is going on?
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
The Little white Cloud that Cried
(With apologies to Johnny Ray--anyone remember him--or was he too long ago?)
Another strange and spooky event that Aunt Emma speaks of happened "just down the road." Lady Parker-Jones of Beltenholme Hall throws open her beautiful gardens every Spring, for the annual May Day fete. The most recent fete, held a month or two before Sarah's arrival at Ravenwood, started out on the morning of a beautiful, sunny and mild, day. The Meteorologists forecast warm and sunny weather for the day before, the day of, and the day after the big shin-dig.
As the guest celebrity was about to cut the ribbon and declare "...this year's wonderful event open..."
a strange, dark, cloud appeared overhead and simply hovered there. Then it poured down rain. People ran for shelter, but the food and display tents collapsed; booths selling local produce floated off; for safety, electricity was turned off to the amusement rides--and the people flocked to leave the grounds and go home.
The cloud disappeared, but it was too late to get anything going again. The Meteorologists were puzzled. the cloud came from nowhere, stayed until the fete was ruined, then disappeared.
English weather is known for it's idiosyncrasies, but this appearance of a single, dark, rain cloud that stayed in one place while the sun shone all around, hovering over what should have been a happy celebration--simply inexplicable.
Who, or what, caused the phenomenon? And why? Did it have anything to do with Aunt Emma's "gentleman friend"--or his friend?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another strange and spooky event that Aunt Emma speaks of happened "just down the road." Lady Parker-Jones of Beltenholme Hall throws open her beautiful gardens every Spring, for the annual May Day fete. The most recent fete, held a month or two before Sarah's arrival at Ravenwood, started out on the morning of a beautiful, sunny and mild, day. The Meteorologists forecast warm and sunny weather for the day before, the day of, and the day after the big shin-dig.
As the guest celebrity was about to cut the ribbon and declare "...this year's wonderful event open..."
a strange, dark, cloud appeared overhead and simply hovered there. Then it poured down rain. People ran for shelter, but the food and display tents collapsed; booths selling local produce floated off; for safety, electricity was turned off to the amusement rides--and the people flocked to leave the grounds and go home.
The cloud disappeared, but it was too late to get anything going again. The Meteorologists were puzzled. the cloud came from nowhere, stayed until the fete was ruined, then disappeared.
English weather is known for it's idiosyncrasies, but this appearance of a single, dark, rain cloud that stayed in one place while the sun shone all around, hovering over what should have been a happy celebration--simply inexplicable.
Who, or what, caused the phenomenon? And why? Did it have anything to do with Aunt Emma's "gentleman friend"--or his friend?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday, October 26, 2015
Strange Goings-on
Sarah's aunt tells of strange happenings--spooky events over the previous year. Were these events meant as punishment? Who caused them? One story told of a local teenage boy, Billy, a boy who had become troublesome and who liked to disappear with his ne'er do well friends. were they into drugs? Or were they simply aggravating, annoying, teen boys?
Off to meet up with his no-good friends one evening, he is attacked by a pack of, what he said were wild dogs. His clothes are ripped, his arms and legs a quite badly bitten. Scratched and bleeding, he is forced to admit the dogs were mere local runaways, domestic pets--none of them were large, and most were even miniature versions.
Where did they come from? And what made them attack? They showed up, did their dastardly deeds, and disappeared into the woods.
But Billy didn't meet up with his friends--and he stayed home every night after that. So, what force of nature caused that deterrent? Good? Or evil---hmmm.
Off to meet up with his no-good friends one evening, he is attacked by a pack of, what he said were wild dogs. His clothes are ripped, his arms and legs a quite badly bitten. Scratched and bleeding, he is forced to admit the dogs were mere local runaways, domestic pets--none of them were large, and most were even miniature versions.
Where did they come from? And what made them attack? They showed up, did their dastardly deeds, and disappeared into the woods.
But Billy didn't meet up with his friends--and he stayed home every night after that. So, what force of nature caused that deterrent? Good? Or evil---hmmm.
Monday, October 19, 2015
In the beginning there were four
When Sarah first arrives at Ravenwood Hall, she is given a small carved wooden box. It is locked, but she is given the key. It contains a notebook, old manuscript pages, and a worn leather pouch containing two tarnished, gold-colored medallions. They are attached to a thin leather thong which is threaded through crude holes. They are embellished with what appear to be intricate letters.
Are they coins? Buttons? Or simply roundels used as ornamentation--adornment for a lady's cape (or a gentleman's)? Sarah reads the ancient manuscript--well, she reads the transcription contained in the notebook. And there is a letter of explanation written to her by her father (who has realized his illness is taking his life quickly.)
The manuscript, written by her paternal ancestor, sets forth a story which is almost word-for-word, action-for-action, a description of the dream that has haunted her for the last ten years while in Texas.
One thing is puzzling. The story tells of a leather pouch, but describes the contents as being four golden medallions. The pouch in the wooden box contains only two. What has happened to the missing two? And is the decorative design on the medallions merely a beautiful pattern--or is it indeed, fancy lettering? It is difficult to tell, the objects are tarnished
Does Sarah find what happened to the missing two? What is their importance? If the fancy design is lettering, what does it say? And why have they come to her?
Are they coins? Buttons? Or simply roundels used as ornamentation--adornment for a lady's cape (or a gentleman's)? Sarah reads the ancient manuscript--well, she reads the transcription contained in the notebook. And there is a letter of explanation written to her by her father (who has realized his illness is taking his life quickly.)
The manuscript, written by her paternal ancestor, sets forth a story which is almost word-for-word, action-for-action, a description of the dream that has haunted her for the last ten years while in Texas.
One thing is puzzling. The story tells of a leather pouch, but describes the contents as being four golden medallions. The pouch in the wooden box contains only two. What has happened to the missing two? And is the decorative design on the medallions merely a beautiful pattern--or is it indeed, fancy lettering? It is difficult to tell, the objects are tarnished
Does Sarah find what happened to the missing two? What is their importance? If the fancy design is lettering, what does it say? And why have they come to her?
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
The Folly of Man
Everyone has quirks, the wealthy no less than mere men-in-the-street. One quirk of wealthy landowners over the last several hundred years--the building of ornate towers aptly called Follies. No purpose, except to show off what their money can do.
Ravenwood Hall has such a Folly--or did have. Sarah notices the tower when she first arrives at the Hall, late in the day . She glimpses the top of it along with the mellow roofs of Ravenwood. The setting sun lights up the lichen-covered slates with a rosy glow, and a haze softens the silhouetted chimneys and surrounding woods.
By the time the car stops outside the front door, the haze has thickened into a mist, Aunt Emma is there to greet Sarah, and the vision of the tower is forgotten.
The next day, when Sarah explores, she remembers the tower--but where is it? Aunt Emma doesn't know of any tower; did a tower ever exist? If it did, when? Evidently, if it did exist at one time, it must have fallen into ruins. But why did Sarah notice it last night? Imagination, brought on by jet-lag? Maybe her witch-ancestors are trying to tell her something?
Sarah's curiosity is seeded; she is determined to find out more about the mysterious monument. What does she discover? And what happens when the mist that greeted her on that day of arrival turns blue?
Ravenwood Hall has such a Folly--or did have. Sarah notices the tower when she first arrives at the Hall, late in the day . She glimpses the top of it along with the mellow roofs of Ravenwood. The setting sun lights up the lichen-covered slates with a rosy glow, and a haze softens the silhouetted chimneys and surrounding woods.
By the time the car stops outside the front door, the haze has thickened into a mist, Aunt Emma is there to greet Sarah, and the vision of the tower is forgotten.
The next day, when Sarah explores, she remembers the tower--but where is it? Aunt Emma doesn't know of any tower; did a tower ever exist? If it did, when? Evidently, if it did exist at one time, it must have fallen into ruins. But why did Sarah notice it last night? Imagination, brought on by jet-lag? Maybe her witch-ancestors are trying to tell her something?
Sarah's curiosity is seeded; she is determined to find out more about the mysterious monument. What does she discover? And what happens when the mist that greeted her on that day of arrival turns blue?
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