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Is This What You’re Looking For?  [Part 19]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Mr. Clockwind, is hunched over a device consisting of an assorted size of gears. He’s so focused on the tiny bolt he’s unscrewing, that he almost doesn’t hear, the uneven steps coming up the stairs.  He sets down the device, and takes off his magnifying visors.  Reaching behind, to his work desk, he grabs a spring coil tied with wire, and a pair of pliers.  He shoves them into his pants pockets.

As the footsteps reach the doorway of his workroom, he picks up the device once again. 

“My understanding is, that my automaton, will be brought to you, on the morrow,” a wispy voice says behind him.  “I also learned, that part of him might already be here.”

Inspectors Harper and Campbell did bring him the device he’s currently holding.  A safety precaution, they had told him, since the automaton’s hourglass had been flipped.  He turns to the stranger and asks, “Is this what you’re looking for?”

                                                                           ***       

Bob Godglick (Mr. Clockwind) does repair vintage clocks.

He and his wife Dianne, and Lexi, the furry one of the family, are also fantastic neighbours and friends.

If you want to learn more about, Considerate Done:  Vintage Clock Repairs, below is an interview we did a few years ago:

Video and Audio Interview with Bob Godglick of Considerate Done: Vintage Clock Repairs

Bob can be reached at:

Bgdm201@gmail.com

519-897-0419

Honourable Mentions (people I enjoy listening to and/or want to work with):

Galya Sky is a Lithuanian musician, who plays what is becoming my favourite instrument, the cello.  She also has a voice that will draw you into ethereal planes.

https://www.instagram.com/galya.sky.official/

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I’ve Got My Monocle, On You!  [Part 18]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Mr. TLC observes the humans talking in the kitchen.  He knows, when speaking cat to his human mom, he needs to repeat instructions over and over again.  Unfortunately, as with most humans, she doesn’t have the cognitive ability to understand the superior language, right away.  Worse, if she doesn’t have her hearing horn in, he has to gently swat her, to get her attention.

He hears Chief Shabuni talking on his steam cell to Mr. Clockwinder.  Tobey can’t wait for the clockmaker to arrive, so they can discuss the man with the brass face.  He listens more intently, as the Chief’s voice becomes frustrated.  The Chief just said that, since the clockmaker can’t get here today, they’ll transport the automaton to his shop tomorrow.

Tobey turns his attention to the hourglass on the brass faced man’s top hat.  As the grains trickle down, the needle of the pressure gauge hanging around his neck, show an increase in pressure.

                                                                           ***       

Although my artwork is rushed and conceptual, Jo Wermter creates amazing Steampunk Art. To see it go to:  gizmoroxon or Jo Wermter http://www.jowermter.com

Featured

High Heels Were Invented For Cats

High Heels Were Invented For Cats

You’re sitting at the desk

Trying to write a paper

When a lean, furry form

Jumps on your lap

Expecting to be stroked along the back

Quite ready to take a nap

To level out the thighs

You have to raise up your heels

And stay that way

While a certain kitten stretches out

And purrs

High heels were invented for cats

To keep the thighs level

While they groom themselves

While lounging

On your lap

Featured

The Hourglass [Part 17]

The Hourglass  [Part 17]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Lady Evelyn Oolong

He glances down at Lady Oolong as they walk towards Mrs. Claws and Mr. TLC’s house.  “Really, he’s your father?”

Lady Oolong stares up at him and smirks.  “Chief Shabuni, you are so inquisitive.  I’ve heard about a person like you.  It’s whispered, that in one of the books by authors who never existed, a certain, very real, detective exists.  Do your eyes always move side-to-side like that?”

He halts.  “It’s called nystagmus.”

“Must mean you are magical.  You might want to wear special glasses.” Lady Oolong rubs her thumb along the drake handle of her cane.

“Your father wore special glasses.  Did he have any eye disorders?”  Two could play the game of distraction.

“I don’t know who my real father is,” she says, walking towards the front door.  “But Mr. Intrepid was as close as I got.”

He waited for her to say more but gave up as Mrs. Claws let them into her house.

“I brought tea, dear,” Lady Oolong says to Mrs. Claws. 

“Oh, that’s thoughtful,” Mrs. claws says, rubbing her hands together.  “Chamomile?”

“Much better,” Lady Oolong replies with a toothy smile.  “A mixture of chamomile, licorice root, tulsi and more.”

“That would be wonderful.  I’ll boil some water.”

As Mrs. Claws departs for the kitchen, he sees Mr. TLC bound down the stairs and leap onto the Salinas desk.

“This must be Mr. TLC,” Lady Oolong says.

“Protector of the house,” he replies with fondness.

“Well, you two talk, while I go into the kitchen to help Mrs. Claws.”

He steps closer to the now sitting Mr. TLC, and whispers, “Keep an on that one.”

Mr. TLC leaps off the desk.

He ducks under the lintel of the doorway to the kitchen. 

Inspectors Harper and Campbell are sitting at the kitchen table, eating sandwiches, Mrs. Claws must have made them.  Once she catches sight of him, Inspector Campbell wipes her mouth with her sleeve.  “Mr. Clockwind got caught in an emergency but should be here soon.”

“Well, that smells ready,” he hears Lady Oolong say from behind him.

“It does, and what a wonderful aroma,” Mrs. Claws replies.

“I must be going then,” Lady Oolong says.

He turns around, and sees the two ladies standing side by side in front of an ornate Chinese teapot. 

Lady Oolong smiles up at him with hooded eyes.  “I’ll let myself out.”

After many repeated goodbyes and thankyous for the tea, he sees Lady Oolong saunter up the walkway.

He turns to Mr. TLC.

“She—flipped—the—hourglass—on—the—brass—man,” Mr. TLC tells him.

***

Taylor Norris, RMT (Lady Evelyn Oolong): taynorris@gmail.com

My Jolly Sailor Bold—Mermaid performed by @_melegie

Perched Drake Cane by FireandSteel.ca

I just saw a fantastic steampunk post by @Hannah_redfoxcloset with art by @creadoresasueldo

One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk.  Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more.  I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future.  Meanwhile, you can see his work at:  ben_lanzenstein

Unwoman.com

Joanne Gosling (as Lady Marina Steamsail):  Jgosling@calclosets.com

Fireandsteel.ca Dragonrider Folding Knife

GRACEART Unisex Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles

Alivila.Y Fashion: Women’s Faux Leather Steampunk Corset Victorian Bustier Top

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Book Review of: Songs Of Bittersweet Memories

Book Review of Nandita Khandelwal’s poetry and picture book:

Songs Of Bittersweet Memories

Poetry is universally known as the language of the Soul.  There are many styles: prose, haiku, limerick, ballad, and more.  Each, creating a moment, an observation, a realization, or a connection with others who have wondered or experienced the same.  In Songs Of Bittersweet Memories, Nandita reflects, encourages, and puts words to what many of us have seen or felt. 

In her book Climate Change—Health Connection, Nandita writes as a master geologist.  In Songs Of Bittersweet Memories, she is a dancer, writing swirling verses, that make up a dance of stanzas.      

Available on Amazon

Contact details 

Instagram and YouTube  – @Nandita Khandelwal

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Did You Know, Mr. Intrepid?  [Part 16]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Did You Know, Mr. Intrepid?  [Part 16]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

As they step onto Nigel Street, he glances at the cane with the dragon handgrip.  A time, from many years ago, replays in his mind. 

Mr. Claws, and Ulysses, had brought back, mysterious gravity crystals. from one of their far north adventures.  Mr. Claws had allowed the Museum of Physics to put some of the crystals on display.  However, on a cloudy night, someone, or something, had broken into the museum, and stolen the crystals.  Chief Shabuni was called in by the Yard, to help investigate.  The Yard believed the thief had arrived by steam train from Londonera.

It was twilight, in late spring, in Scotlandterra, when the Chief saw a person with a top hat and wearing a gray Londonera Fog, trench coat talking to someone else.  The collars of the Londonera Fog were up, so he couldn’t see the person’s face.  Another individual, with the curves of a woman, was holding a pink crystal, the size of a small scrying ball, in her hands.  She wore a tight, black bodysuit, black corset, and midnight blue calve high army boots.  A black cape covered her shoulders.  With the collar up, he couldn’t see much of her face, only the tinted, brass goggles she wore under her bowler hat.

When he saw that the crystal hovered above the woman’s hand, he charged towards the two.  The person in the trench coat blew on the crystal as he pulled out a double barrel gun.  After the crystal landed on the woman’s hand, she shoved it between her bosom, while drawing a black straw from a pocket in her corset.

After that, everything became hazy.  He remembers touching his neck.  Feeling the feather of a dart.  He fell sideways onto the ground, staring along a street full of terra cotta, coloured buildings.  His eyesight cleared but he couldn’t move.  He heard the rapid steps, before he saw a determined man, with a cane, walking by.  The man was wearing a top hat with a ring of copper wire that held up miniature gears, and a silver music note charm, with a skull at the top.  The man turned in his direction, and he immediately recognized him. 

“Here, take this, before they catch me,” the man said gruffly, to someone he couldn’t see.  That’s when he noticed the skeleton key, without a gemstone, at the front of the man’s top hat.  The voice, and tiny, tinted glasses told him, exactly who this was.

“Did you ever meet a man named Mr. Intrepid?” he dared to ask.

“Of course,” Lady Oolong replied.  “He was my father.”

***

Taylor Norris, RMT (Lady Evelyn Oolong): taynorris@gmail.com

My Jolly Sailor Bold—Mermaid performed by @_melegie

Perched Drake Cane by FireandSteel.ca

I just saw a fantastic steampunk post by @Hannah_redfoxcloset with art by @creadoresasueldo

One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk.  Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more.  I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future.  Meanwhile, you can see his work at:  ben_lanzenstein

Unwoman.com

Joanne Gosling (as Lady Marina Steamsail):  Jgosling@calclosets.com

Fireandsteel.ca Dragonrider Folding Knife

GRACEART Unisex Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles

Alivila.Y Fashion: Women’s Faux Leather Steampunk Corset Victorian Bustier Top

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Book Review of The New Age Herbalist

Along with writing fiction (currently Books By Authors That Never Existed: Steampunk hybrid), and fitness articles and videos, I will be talking about eco friendly technology and other matters that have to do with positive eco living.

In this video I discuss the advantages of getting a book such as, The New Age Herbalist by Richard Mabey.

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Have Some Valerian Tea [Part 14]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Lady Evelyn Oolong

Chief Shabuni hesitates at the hexagon glass store front with the double oak doors.  Engraved on the lintel in cursive gold lettering is, Lady Evelyn’s Oolong’s Tea Shop.  He climbs up the seven steps to the doors and bangs on the right door’s brass doorknob.  That the doorknob is in the shape of a wyvern, does not escape him.

The door opens, and Lady Oolong smiles graciously up at him.  She has her brunette hair done up in a twirling bun.  Pressing her lips against an old pipe she lifts her goggles onto her forehead.  Her grey shawl covers her shoulders and arms so that only her bronze-coloured corset and dress are visible.  She’s conveniently hiding, what he believes, is a very fit body.  The knee-high military combat boots she’s wearing, are a reminder, of how dangerous she likely is.  He can smell cherry coming from her pipe but sees no smoke.

“Come in, Chief Shabuni,” she says with a sweep of her arm.

As with Lady Steamsail, he feels unnerved by, what is for him, a tiny figure. 

She leads him past an assortment of tea drinking accessories to an ancient China cabinet.  “Let me boil some water.”

The perched drake cane, leaning against the China cabinet, is something that awakens his memories in a bad way.

Lady Oolong returns with a porcelain tea pot in the shape of an elephant.  “We’ll let it steep she says.”

He takes off his stovepipe hat and holds it against his belly.  Sweat starts to pour down his face.  Of all the people he didn’t want to deal with, it this group of merchants.  He knows they deal in magic; he can feel it.

“Chief Shabuni, you look a little stressed,” she says as she pores the tea into a China cup sitting on a saucer.  “Have some valerian tea.”  She pushes the teacup towards him.

From her tone, he knows the offer of the tea, isn’t just a suggestion.

***

Perched Drake Cane by FireandSteel.ca

I just saw a fantasic steampunk post by @Hannah_redfoxcloset with art by @creadoresasueldo

One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk.  Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more.  I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future.  Meanwhile, you can see his work at:  ben_lanzenstein

Unwoman.com

Joanne Gosling (as Lady Marina Steamsail):  Jgosling@calclosets.com

Fireandsteel.ca Dragonrider Folding Knife

GRACEART Unisex Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles

Alivila.Y Fashion: Women’s Faux Leather Steampunk Corset Victorian Bustier Top

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What Would I Know About, The Other Place? [Part 13]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

What Would I Know About, The Other Place? [Part 13]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Lady Marina Steamsail wielding the Dragonrider folding knife fireandsteel.ca

Lady Steamsail tilts her head and stares up at him.  “A slab of ice that doesn’t melt?” she asks.

“One in which someone could see another place?”  Chief Shabuni has to shock her into giving away something in her expression or voice.

“You mean like a steam TV?” she asks, then gives a quiet laugh.

“Better quality,” he replies.

Her eyes turn away for a moment, as she purses her lips.  “I have heard rumours that Mr. Claws and Ulysses brought something else back, other than just the books by authors who never existed.”  She glances up into his face.  “But there’s all sorts of rumours floating around in this town.”

He nods his head.  Siku Claws and the giant Newfoundlandtir, Ulysses, always brought a great deal of excitement to Londonera.  Rumour was that Mr. TLC protected his human father, and dog brother’s findings, from everyone but Mrs. Claws.  “What do you think the interest would be in this slab of ice?” he asks.

“Well, if it can see into the Other Place, could it also be a portal?” Lady Steamsail replies, with an unconvincing shrug.

“Who would want it?” he asks, while watching her intently.

“What would I know about The Other Place,” she replies with a fake laugh.  She nonchalantly whips out the necromantic dragon knife.  “Sure you don’t want to take this away from me?  Could be dangerous,” she says with a menacing voice that does not match her beaming smile.

“No, you might need it.  There seems to be ninjas out stealing slabs of ice that won’t melt, and automatons trying to steal books by authors that never existed.  Thank you, and stay safe, Lady Steamsail,” he finishes with a warm grin.  “I’ll see myself out.”

As he walks towards Lady Evelyn Oolong’s Tea Shop on Tannic Street, he ponders Lady Steamsail’s comment on The Other Place.  The way she said it, sounded very much like it wasn’t the other place, but an actual place, called The Other Place.

***

One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk.  Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more.  I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future.  Meanwhile, you can see his work at:  ben_lanzenstein

Unwoman.com

Joanne Gosling (as Lady Marina Steamsail):  Jgosling@calclosets.com

Fireandsteel.ca Dragonrider Folding Knife

GRACEART Unisex Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles

Alivila.Y Fashion: Women’s Faux Leather Steampunk Corset Victorian Bustier Top

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What Is It You Want To Know, Chief Shabuni? [Part 12]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

“Come with me Chief Shabuni,” he hears Lady Steamsail call, in a motherly tone.  Which he finds unnerving, since he’s sure he has ten or more years on her.

Lady Steamsail leads him up a staircase to its landing.  He glances from a shelf full of trinkets up to the wall itself.  Paintings of great sailing ships take up most of the space.  However, there is also a panoramic picture of soldiers from the Great War.

“I don’t recognize the ships, nor the uniforms the soldiers are wearing,” he says quizzically.

“Perhaps you haven’t come across them in any books, yet,” she says in a taunting lisp. 

He nods his head, and stares easily over her head at the picture and the paintings again.  Putting his symbolic detective hat back on, he asks, “Do you think the books Mrs. Claws has, would have any pictures such as these?”

Lady Steamsail scrunches up her face into a thoughtful expression.  “Could be.  Is that what you came to ask me about?”

“More so,” he says, staring down at her, “whether you’ve heard any rumours about a slab of ice that doesn’t melt.” 

***

One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk.  Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more.  I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future.  Meanwhile, you can see his work at:  ben_lanzenstein

Unwoman.com

Joanne Gosling (as Lady Marina Steamsail):  Jgosling@calclosets.com

Fireandsteel.ca Dragonrider Folding Knife

GRACEART Unisex Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles

Alivila.Y Fashion: Women’s Faux Leather Steampunk Corset Victorian Bustier Top

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Questioning Lady Marina Steamsail [Part 10]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Lady Marina Steamsail

Chief Shabuni excuses himself from Mrs. Claws house.  The Clockmaker will be arriving soon, and Inspecter Harper and Campbell, along with Mr. TLC, will keep watch over Mrs. Claws, and on The Book Stealer.  He needs to do something else in the meantime.

He keeps thinking about the four thieves dressed as ninjas.  There wasn’t time to process what he saw before but now he realizes they all had womanly figures.  Lady Iris comes to mind but he won’t go near her.  Some call her a witch, while others, a sorceress.  Whatever, she is, she sees him as a source of magic, and that terrifies him.  Where he came from, albino children were often captured.  A limb or their entire bodies amputated.  Their bones dried and ground into dust to make tonics believed to contain powerful magic.  That leaves three others to visit.  Lady Elsewhere, the owner of the Krystal Jewellery store; Lady Evelyn Oolong, the Vintage Tea store owner; and Lady Marina Steamsail, the boat supplier.

He walks down Main Street, nodding down at passersby’s, as he turns left onto Cauldron Street.  A short time later he sees the river Thamesmar and a large steepled building made of cedar wood.  He steps up the marble stairs to an arched alcove.  Two oak doors greet him.  He takes a bronze handle in the shape of a dragon’s head, and knocks.

The door opens and he sees Lady Steamsail standing by a grandfather clock.  “Come in Chief,” she says with a charming smile full of venom.

As he enters the spacious hallway, he notices shark teeth, and helms wheels, decorating the walls between large, oil paintings of famous sailing ships.  He takes off his stovepipe hat, and asks in a weary voice, “I need to ask you where you were the other night?”

“Don’t you want to disarm me before questioning?” Lady Steamsail asks, proffering her very ornate knife.”

He immediately notices the knife’s handle is in the shape of a necrotic motorcycle, with the twisted body of a dragon.  He gazes up her pink skin to her charming, yet deadly smirk, to her engulfing, blue eyes.  Then he stares for a long moment, at the skeleton key earring, that hangs from left ear.  A tiny, tanzanite crystal glimmers from the centre of the earring’s head.  “That won’t be necessary,” he answers.

***

One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk.  Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more.  I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future.  Meanwhile, you can see his work at:  ben_lanzenstein

Unwoman.com

Joanne Gosling (as Lady Marina Steamsail):  Jgosling@calclosets.com

Fireandsteel.ca Dragonrider Folding Knife

GRACEART Unisex Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles

Alivila.Y Fashion: Women’s Faux Leather Steampunk Corset Victorian Bustier Top

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“Owner of the Gemstone” poem/song

Video with music of the author reading “Owner of the Gemstone” from the epic, deep, and dark fantasy novel, BARD: Owner Of The Gemstone.

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The Gravity Crystal [Part 9]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Lady Iris opens one of the glass doors of her China cabinet and steps back.  A large, teardrop crystal hovers inside.  The crystal is about as large as an egg holder.  She blinks against its constant prism of light and places her hand, palm up, below it.  She blows on the crystal.  As she pulls her hand out, the crystal follows.

As she brings it closer to her face, her own tiny crystal, that hangs from her gold necklace, shines blue.  A gift from The Inventor.  A gravity crystal, or more often called, an antigravity stone.  This is one of the many particularities to Eartherra, that does not exist in The Other Place.  Now that she has the panel of ice that does not melt, she can prepare the next step, in her grand scheme.

It’s too bad the Bookstealer didn’t succeed, already.  She closers her eyes and sighs.  She wants Mr. Toklo Claws and Avonlea Claws to succeed in finding a portal to The Other Place.  Perhaps, they’ll find their father without getting captured.  However, she doesn’t want anything from The Other Place to enter Eartherra.  She is a temptress, and one that likes to control.  She does not want a chasm of chaos to be opened.

She stares at the gravity crystal and tries to brush it with her index finger.  A smile crosses her face as it moves away.  She blows on it and this time the crystal lets her caress it.

*** One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk.  Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more.  I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future.  Meanwhile, you can see his work at:  ben_lanzenstein

Unwoman.com

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I’ll See What I Can Do [Part 8]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

The Inventor wears an inconspicuous midnight blue cardigan poncho cape cloak with the hood pulled up.  It’s twilight and the Krystal Jewellery Store is about to close.  A song by Unwoman is playing within.  The Inventor watches as the last customer departs, before slipping inside.

The store is full of glass shelves with a variety of jewellery set quaintly on silk cloths of different colours.  Throughout the store shine kaleidoscopic prisms.

“I wouldn’t have recognized you,” a lively, young woman, with dark brown hair, and sparkling blue eyes, says to The Inventor, “other than your left hand is where your right should be.  You are the only person I know of who has two left hands.”

The Inventor hisses.  It’s the only other part, other than the heart, of The Inventor’s twin that The Inventor still has.  “Lady Raven Elsewhere, I need to speak with the witch,” The Inventor says in a raspy voice.  Someday, someday The Inventor will make a better voice box.

Lady Raven Elsewhere continues to lock up the glass counters as she glances back at The Inventor.  “She prefers, sorceress.”

“Vampiress, witch, sorceress, elder….”  The Inventor lingers on the last word.

“She definitely does not like to be called elder,” Lady Elsewhere says, correctively.

The Inventor sees a darkness flicker across the enchanting eyes of Lady Elsewhere.  They’re all witches, succubus’s, sorceresses, perhaps elders, or something else, not to be trifled with.  “The vile Maine Coon, Mr. TLC, hindered my Bookstealer.  Now the police have it.”

“Lucky you told Lady Iris of what you intended to do.”  With a sweet smile, Lady Elsewhere combs back her hair.

The Inventor sees a skeleton earring with an amethyst stone hanging from her left earlobe.

“You invented the Bookstealer?” she asks.

“Yes,” The Inventor replies, wondering what the cost will be this time.

“Just a piece of skin and a tiny vial of blood,” she tells him.

*** One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk.  Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more.  I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future.  Meanwhile, you can see his work at:  ben_lanzenstein

Unwoman.com

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BARD: Owner Of The Gemstone (an epic, deep, and dark fantasy novel)

BARD: Owner Of The Gemstone, is now available from Amazon as both an ebook and paperback book.

BARD: Owner Of The Gemstone
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The Inventor (Part 7) (Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

The Inventor leans over the next generation in automatons.  In a fowl mood, The Inventor is determined to get a hold of the books Mr. Claws left to his wife.  Books with knowledge The Inventor desperately wants.  To learn how to become invisible!  How to build a vehicle that can not only travel under the waves but stay below the surface indefinitely!  But that cat, that darn Maine Coon, Mr. TLC caused the Book Stealer to run out of steam!  The Inventor never liked that undersized tiger.  Neither did The Inventor’s twin.  Shame about the automaton.  Maybe the witch will help get the automaton back.  The image of her standing close, completely enthralled in his plans, while shaking her long, silken, raven hair, and staring with utter interest with those large, almond shaped eyes.  The Inventor jolts out of the reverie.

The Inventor and The Inventor’s twin used to torment that stupid Newfoundland dog, Ulysses, when they visited Mrs. Claws.  That nasty, miserable, vicious Mr. TLC was just a kitten then.  Yet, that malicious, horrible, evil kitten swatted The Inventor’s twin for bullying the slobbering, giant dog.  And Mrs. Claws defended that irascible, untamed—kitten. 

The Inventor’s beautiful, loving, understanding mother was horrified when Mrs. Claws accused her children of being untrustworthy, spoiled, and needing discipline.  Mrs. Claws even accused The Inventor’s twin of trying to steal one of the “precious” books her husband gave her.  What rotten people the Claws are!  The Inventor’s twin actually took two books.  Only one was returned.

The Inventor adjust the brass masks on The Inventor’s face.  During the Great War, The Inventor and The Inventor’s twin joined as Royal Engineers to learn more about explosives.  They were both, a little too enthusiastic, about adding mixing TNT, RDX, and ammonium nitrate together to make a bigger bang.  Afterwards, only one of the twins survived, that the world knows.  A genius doctor not only rebuilt the Inventor’s face but also added The Inventor’s sibling heart beside the one nearly destroyed.  Now endurance is never a problem.  But after studying The Steam Man of the Prairies by an author no one has ever heard of.  An Edward S. Ellis of Ohio, Maine, a place that exists on no known maps.  Perhaps that’s where that wretched Maine Coon came from.  The book is a marvel!  And now, The Inventor is more interested in becoming superior by melding machinery, with flesh.

*** One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk.  Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more.  I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future.  Meanwhile, you can see his work at:  ben_lanzenstein

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A Loud Noise and Chief D. Shabuni [Part 4]

A Loud Noise and Chief D. Shabani [Part 4]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Chief Dimoso Shabani

Tobey presses his face against the glass pane of the attic’s window.  He watches with interest, as a very tall man, wearing tinted goggles, and a dark violet stovepipe hat with a badge, walks towards his house.  

The man dwarves everyone he passes.  Few reach the shoulders of his storm blue overcoat.  The man’s pale, albino face is accentuated by the stiff uniform collar that hides his neck.

Chief Dimoso Shabuni is one of Tobey’s favourite people.  Huge, like himself, Chief Shabuni is also contemplative, and has the ability to pounce at any moment; just like him.

As he watches out the attack window the entire house shakes.  Tobey has to claw onto the frame not to fall off the windowsill.  Once the shaking subsides, he dashes downstairs.  The bronze faced man is still standing with his clamp hand reaching for one of the special books.  Mom is holding onto a chair gasping, but seems fine. He glances around.  A few vases are knocked over, and pictures hang at a slight angle but nothing seems to be missing.  He dashes around the rest of the house until he gets to the basement.  Where the slab of ice used to be, is now only a small, ornate box.  Tobey hisses.

***

Chief Shabuni blinks behind his goggles.  The Claw’s house just shook before his eyes.  He sees four figures wearing black body suits and green tinted goggles race towards a running steam engine truck.  He also notices that each one has a katana belted to their waists, and another along their backs.  On their shoulders they carry a rectangular object with two, two-by-six planks. 

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Mr. TLC and the Book Stealer [Part 3]

Mr. TLC and the Book Stealer [Part 2]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Mr. TLC and the Book Stealer [Part 2] (Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story) By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Tobey scurries over to his adopted mother.  All four feet of him leaps onto her lap so that he’s staring eye-to-eye with her.  He swats her sewing needle towards the inanimate, brass man.

“Oh, Mr. TLC,” she chastises him with a mixture of her Mexicoterra and Irishterra accent.  Then she goes completely still.

Tobey sees her mouth open in shock as she notices the man with the clamp hand.  For a moment nothing happens.  Then his mom shoos him off her lap and fists her sewing needle.  He follows her as she cautiously walks towards the strange man. 

With her free hand she pokes the shoulder of the brass man.  Nothing happens. 

Tobey swipes the man’s left calve.  Still, there’s no reaction.  He jumps on the Silas desk in front of the man and sits there staring.  Out of the corner of his eye, he sees mom grab her ear horn, and head towards the brass and lacquer candlestick phone. 

He whacks the brass man again and waits.  Nothing happens.  He can hear mom talking to Chief Dimoso Shabani.  The Chief’s tiny voice says he will be over shortly. 

Tobey leaps off the desk and rushes up the stairs to the attic window to watch for the Chief.  His ears twitch constantly, so he can hear what mom is doing on the main floor; and if the brass man starts to move.

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Mr. TLC and the Book Stealer [Part 2]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

Mr. TLC and the Book Stealer [Part 2]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Tobey dashes down the rest of the stairs and jumps onto the Salinas desk with the bookcase of special books that mother keeps as a reminder of father.  Through the arched entranceway to the living room, he sees mother reclining with a knitting needle and yarn.  She seems very complacent.  He yells at her in human but her brass ear horn is inconveniently lying on top of a night table.  One of the doorknobs of the front door creaks open.  There’s no time to physically warn her.  He hisses at the door.

The door opens and the man walks with determined and heavy steps directly towards the books.  Tobey waits atop the Silas desk because it’s directly across from the front doors.  He notices an hourglass attached to the belt on the man’s top hat.  The grains in the upper section are almost all gone.  The man’s clamp hand reaches towards one of the books.  Tobey swats it away.

Again, the man raises the clamp hand, and again, Tobey swats at it.  The steam coming out of a pipe in the man’s top hat is wispier now.  The clamp hand shakes as it tries to raise as the last grains of sand settle on the bottom of the hour glass.  The mechanical arm of the clamp hand drops to the man’s side.

Tobey swats the man’s face as a reminder of his supremacy.

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Books by Authors Who Never Existed–Steampunk Hybrid Story Blog 2

Mr. TLC and the Book Stealer     Part 1

Concept artwork

As he scans the steeple roofed houses across the street, a long vehicle with a steam tank engine, dark windows, and copper green roof, pulls onto the curb in front of his house.  He peers closer as a man steps out the rear left door.  His shoulder muscles bunch up as the vehicle takes off.

The man’s black top hat has a spout that spews out steam.  As the man gets closer, Tobey leaps towards the stairs.  He dashes down to the landing so he can see through the lower windows of the front door.  The man has a gasmask on a brass face with bolts.  The top hat has a large clock, and the belt an hour glass that slowly trickles.  The collar of a brown overcoat hides most of the man’s face.  A little lower, a necklace made of thin coils holds a pressure gauge against the man’s white shirt.  The man keeps his hands in his pocket until he steps up to the door.

Tobey peers closer.  The man removes one of his hands from a deep pocket.  Tobey recoils.  The hand is a brass clamp with a metal swivel wrist.

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Books by Authors Who Never Existed

Books by Authors Who Never Existed

A Steampunk Hybrid Story

By Dan Watt: author of BARD

Tobey Lawrence Claws

Mr. TLC

Tobey, or as most humans prefer to call him, Mr. T.L.C., stares out the half radio window in the attic of his townhouse.  The monocular goggle over his left eye allows him to see clearly the townhouses across Nigel Street.  Like his own home, in the front of the other townhouses have about ten leaps of lawn and sidewalks.  However, his backyard is significantly longer.  Enough space for a workshop to build a model blimp.  That brings a moment of sadness.

When he thinks of Siku, his adopted human father, he feels a slight ache.  Moreso, he misses Ulysses, the father of Avonlea.  Ulysses and his slobbering joyful demeanor.  Tobey was just a kitten when Ulysses also adopted her.  His huge Newfoundland head and long thick nose; always sniffing for food.  That both Ulysses and Siku may be lost or worse, dead, bothers him endlessly.

With the monocular goggle, his human brother Toklo made him for his nearsighted left eye, Tobey can see interesting things.  He often gazes into the vertical slab of ice in the basement.  Strange ice.  He licked it once.  The surface is wet but no moisture ever stays on his tongue.

Occasionally, he would see movement within the ice.  Toklo believes that their father found a portal near the slab.  However, Toklo couldn’t explore any longer because of the harsh weather.  Now Toklo, and Avonlea are on an airship to rediscover the place.  Tobey isn’t keen on this adventure.  That’s where Tolko found the books, and the note left by their father.

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An Interview with Laura Suen, CEO of Fire and Steel

An Interview with Laura Suen, CEO of Fire and Steel

By Dan Watt

  • Laura Suen of FireandSteel.ca and FireandSteel.com

I met Laura Suen, CEO of Fire and Steel, at the 2018 Kitchener Comic Con.  She was extremely busy but gracious enough to let me take a few pictures.  I’ve wanted to interview her ever since…

Where did the creative idea to start Fire and Steel come from?

Well firstly, I always loved geeky things! My family didn’t have that much money growing up, so I remember taking so long to save up to go to Fan Expo – a comic convention — as soon as I could afford it.

My older sister is a huge geek and I really looked up to her as a kid. We would spend so much time gaming, reading fantasy novels, and watching sci fi TV shows. I of course was the generation that was raised on Saturday morning cartoons too, which included a lot of Japanese anime. Personally I also loved martial arts and do kung fu on the side, so Fire and Steel was just the perfect way to combine my love of martial arts with geeky things.

For legal reasons I can only use weapons designed or created by Fire and Steel on covers, such as the one for the weekly blogged story A Motley Sisterhood Of Pirates! However, Fire and Steel has a large assortment of weapons from a variety of styles and sources. Could you tell us about Fire and Steel’s own weapons?

So I use to work as a physicist and from that, I learned how to 3D model. It’s funny how programs that would be used to design laser ion traps can be used to design swords too. Not everything we carry is modelled by myself of course, but there are a few things that we’ve designed in house! I feel so honoured you’ve featured several of them on your book covers.

  • Dragon Claw katana, exclusive FireandSteel.ca
  • Medieval Rapier, exclusive FireandSteel.ca
  • Beginners Ninjato and throwing knives exclusive FireandSteel.ca weapon
  • “Night” katana exclusive FireandSteel.ca (Ship Builder’s weapon)
  • Two-Pronged Dragon Dagger, exclusive FireandSteel.ca weapon (Witch’s dagger)

Fire and Steel has all sorts of weapons including ones we see in cosplay, magna, comics, TV shows, movies, and traditional. Could you talk about the Japanese katana?

We sell Japanese katanas of all types and quality levels, so we hope you will be able to find something that suits your needs! We sell wooden training swords called bokken and bamboo practice swords called shinai. These are traditionally used to train with and you’ll see those items showing up in anime all the time. From there, we have carbon steel katanas, which can take some light impact but are more made for display purposes because it is a softer blade. Beyond that, we also carry high carbon steel katanas, which are typically sharp (battle ready) in several different grades. The higher the number, the harder the blade. These blades can typically take a lot of impact and are what you see in a lot of our “Will It Cut” YouTube videos.

YouTube channel

I was watching some of the video clips on Instagram and Facebook and saw something very intriguing.

You have the exact same weapons in different grades from metal to foam. This would be perfect for making a movie or TV show. Have any of your weapons been used in movies or TV shows?

Yes! Actually I’m so honoured to say you can see some of our stuff in the background of shows like American Vandals, In the Dark, The 100 and Power Rangers just to name a few.

Your foam weapons look like they’re made of metal. Great for cosplay, LARP, or if a young person wants one of the weapons. Could you tell us more about the foam weapons and their uses?

Foam weapons are great as safer alternatives for people who want to train with swords but don’t want to hurt themselves. In addition, they’re great for cosplay since many conventions and festivals, for safety reasons, do not allow steel swords to be carried around as a part of a costume, even if they’re blunted. For this reason, many people see foam as a great alternative and it saves people a lot of time since you don’t have to make your own sword anymore for your outfit!

Foam Replicas

Fire and Steel can also design specific weapons for customers. How would a customer go about ordering one of these weapons?

We do take custom requests normally, but COVID has thrown a bit of wrench in schedules and timelines. Please feel free to send us an email at support@fireandsteel.ca for a quote if you want something made – but who knows? We might already have it made and you don’t even realize it!

Fire and Steel is on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Are there are any other links you want to mention?

Our social media handle is @RealFireNSteel for TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. We also are active on TikTok as @RealFireandSteel too! Find us there. Also of course, check out our website for updates:

www.fireandsteel.ca

Fire and Steel will be at the

Ottawa Comic Con

November 19-21  2021

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A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Fifteen: Blog Seventy-One):  The End, For A While…

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Fifteen: Blog Seventy-One):  The End, For A While…

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

  • Laura Suen of FireandSteel.ca and FireandSteel.com

Helmswomen “Wheel Turner” Sadie goes below deck on the Nagua,possibly for the last time.  

Walking past the half-shut cannon ports, she sees extra light from hanging lanterns near the centre of the Hull.  She reaches up and touches Canneta’s shoulder first, then Areso’s.  The surgeons are looking over two of the girls, badly maimed in the battle for “One Eye’s” Freya. 

Imani lies in a hammock, her left forearm bandaged over the stump, where her hand used to be.  Her hair is pleated and covered in beads and seashells. 

Sadie can’t fathom how Imani loops her hair over her forehead without it untangling.  “I’ll be missing you,” she says to Imani with unabashed tears.  The girl’s normally lustrous dark skin, now has a sickly grey tinge.

“Don’t cry for me,” Imani says with her Angolan accent.  “The “Ship Builder” promised to make me something special.  “Lose a hand, gain a hook,” she quips, causing Sadie to smile through her tears.

In the hammock beside Imani’s, she sees Niamh.  Niamh’s strawberry blonde hair sticks to her glistening skin.  Normally her skin is light but now it’s almost translucent.  Her right, bottom leg, is missing. 

She hears Imani shift over and sees her staring at Niamh.  “I and the “Ship Builder” will take care of her, sir,” Imani assures her.  “I reckon she’ll be a right, proper pirate, once she has a peg.”

The ship rocks hard.  She realizes the wind is getting rough up above.

Sadie bites down on her lower lip and nods.  She daren’t try to speak right now.  

“That she will,” she finally manages to rasp out.

She’s furious.  Storming up to the main deck she feels she has a singular purpose now.  Putting on a fake smile, she nods at the crew of the Nagua and crosses a boarding ladder to the Freya.  She heads directly to the Helm.

Getting the feel of the new helms wheel, she shouts, “Ready Captain,” to Olanis.

“Remember crew,” she hears Olanis say, as the boarding plank is pulled onto the Nagua, “It is a woman’s obligation to scorn.  We sail now to prepare.  But our memories are long.  We will have our vengeance, for all our fallen sisters!”

Sadie turns the helms wheel so the Freya moves away from the Nagua.  “Aye, Captain,” she says with the others, into the strengthening wind.  “Vengeance, we will have!”

The Nagua and Freya will be traveling towards their next destination for awhile now.  While they do, I will soon be introducing an as yet unnamed, Steampunk hybrid story…

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

El Cid Rapier held by Helmswoman “Wheel Turner” Sadie:  http://www.Blades-UK.com

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Fourteen: Blog Seventy)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Fourteen: Blog Seventy)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

A science fiction, action adventure, story-time, tale about mostly female pirates on the Nagua galleon helping others fight the Monstrous Captain Barthadrow and his vile crew.

  • Laura Suen of FireandSteel.ca and FireandSteel.com
  • Ship Builder

Captain Olanis sits across from Admiral Alejandra in the Nagua’s Admiral’s room.  Lifting up a pewter mug half full of very limited Macieira Royal Spirit, she takes a sip as the Admiral talks.

“”Ship Builder” is distraught,” the Admiral says take a sips from her own pewter mug. 

Olanis will miss Alejandra’s sing-song accent. 

“He was searching for,” Alejandra says as she takes a gulp of brandy, “The Witch.”

“No luck?” Olanis asks, but she believes she already knows the answer.

“No, and he mentioned the bilge gives off a horrible reek.”

“Men,” Olanis says, and she and Alejandra laugh.

“It will be at least three weeks to get to the Deathly Shallows,” Alejandra tells her.  “We’ll need to careen both ships before we travel to Barthadrow’s Island.”  The Admiral makes a spitting sound and so does Olanis.

“Not the Pregnancy Ship?”  Olanis is aching to be with her man again, even if it was only a short while.  “Oh, well,” she says with a shrug, “what’s a while longer before the loins roar again?”  She’s a captain now, and responsibilities come before desires.  “I’ll make sure the girls keep up their weapons practice. and when we get to shallower water, they can collect reeds for bows and arrows.”  Captain Olanis smiles wanly at the Admiral.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

A Thank You to Everyone Involved in A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!

Soon the crew of the Nague and Freya from A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates! will be sailing towards a new adventure. When that happens I’ll be starting a new blog story. This time it will be a Steampunk Adaption/Hybrid weekly blog.

A Thank You to everyone who helped out with A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates! Letting everyone know I’ll be working on a Steampunk adaption/hybrid weekly blog story soon.

steampunk #pirates #fireandsteel #blog #writing

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A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Fourteen: Blog Sixty-Nine)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Fourteen: Blog Sixty-Nine)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

  • Laura Suen of FireandSteel.ca and FireandSteel.com

Captain Olanis listens as First Mate Zala calls out to all the girls.

“Our new sister ship, Freya, will be sailing near to the Nagua,” Zala shouts out.  “And thus, Captain Olanis has named Captain Alejandra, Admiral.  All those in agreement to naming our Captain, Admiral, say yea!”

Olanis peers at all those gathered and hears “Yea!” shouted out.

“All those not in favour yell nay,” Zala shouts.

Olanis sees Alejandra stand proudly on the fo’c’sle as the ship goes quiet.  She steadies her feet as the wind begins to pick up.

The Admiral steps up to the fo’c’sle railing.  Olanis watches as the Admiral gazes around the gathering.  “We are all sister,” the Admiral says in her strong, Dominican accent.  “And the wind is strengthening so we must sail.  Be fearless and wise, our sisters who leave for the Freya now.  For we follow in the path of Cannibals,” Olanis sees the Admiral glance at Melinda, “the Sames, the Real Talls, and our brothers in the Unbroken.  May the Surprise catch up to us, at the Deathly Shallows.”

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Thirteen: Blog Sixty-Eight)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Thirteen: Blog Sixty-Eight)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

  • Laura Suen of FireandSteel.ca and FireandSteel.com
  • Medieval Rapier, exclusive FireandSteel.ca

Amelie scowls as she is lowered down the side of the ship and into the sea.  The water is clear under the waves and she can see to the keel of the Nagua.  There is normally a large space between the stern and the rudder of the ship.  And sure enough, the Dixopus has made that it’s home.  She wonders if it is male or female but has no idea how to find out.  Well, I can only hold my breath so long, she thinks angrily.  She swims to the rudder and pokes the Dixopus.

Tentacles move away from the body so two giant eyes stare out from a long, oblong head at her.  The tip of one of the Dixopus’s tentacles taps her on the chest.

Amelie nods her head and swims back to the rope.  She yanks on the rope twice and feels herself being pulled up.  When her head breaks surface she gulps in air.  “I have to go back down,” she shouts up to Captain Olanis, “She-him-it won’t—” she starts to say when a tentacle wraps around her leg.  She kicks the tentacle off her leg.

“Pull her all the way up,” she hears Captain Olanis says with a chuckle.

Once she’s over the gunwale of the Poop Deck, Amelie bends over with her hands on her thighs and focuses on catching her breath before saying, “I’ll have to go back.”  When no one replies she stares up.  Captain Olanis, “Wheel Turner” and “Storm Caller” are looking beyond her.

With an amused stare Captain Olanis looks down at her.  “Now you can breathe while explaining to the Dixopus what you want.”

“Quelle!  What!”  Amelie exclaims as she stands and jerks her head around.

“Where were you!” she shouts out at the dixopus.  “Nous avons cinq soeurs!  Five sisters!” she says spreading the fingers of her left hand at the dixopus.

In reply the dixopus rears back, its head turning dark blue.  In one tentacle it raises a rusty sword, and in another a wooden sword.  It points its wooden sword at Amelie.

“Non,” she says wearily.  She slips on her shirt and other clothes, and points at the Freya.  “Domicile,” she says buckling in and sheathing her weapons.   “Home,” she repeats in case the dixopus doesn’t understand the better language.  Without waiting she starts to walk cautiously across the boarding ladder between the two ships.  An added weight to the ladder nearly sends her over the side.  Snarling she glances back.  The dixopus is behind her, standing on all ten of its tentacles.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Seven)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Seven)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

  • Laura Suen of FireandSteel.ca and FireandSteel.com

The rain doesn’t last and the sun shines through wisps of clouds.  Olanis rocks back and forth as Admiral Alejandra tells all the girls that Zala is now her First Mate.  Zala in turn calls for all the girls to line up.

“You have first choice, Captain Olanis,” Admiral Alejandra says with her feet apart and hands clasped behind her back. 

“After being asked, stand forward, only if you are willing,” Zala says.

Olanis gazes along the line of female pirates.  The two components she desperately needs are surgeons and cooks.  She stops before a tall girl with auburn hair that blows freely across a brown, lean face with freckles.  Her large, sharp green eyes are dazzling.  “Daktari,” she says.  She has seen Daktari often assisting Canneta and Areso.

Daktari steps forward and so does the girl beside her.    Raphaela is also tall.  Her determined blue eyes stare straight ahead as her own blonde hair whips about.  Her long, pale face is determined.

Olanis purses her lips and smiles.  She had wondered if Daktari and Raphaela were together the same way Canneta and Areso are.  “Raphaela,” she says with a nod.

She stops before Mesi and Arsema, who are standing beside each other.  It amuses her that two sworn enemies could function so well together.  Both girls often helped “Unibrow” and Janice in the Galley.  Surprising they excelled at cooking.  “Mesi,” she calls first.  Mesi steps forward.  This should be interesting she thinks as she says, “Arsema.”  Arsema steps forward.

“Pourquoi?” she hears Amelie complain behind her causing her to chuckle as she moves down the line.

“She picked me first,” she hears Mesi whisper.

“Because you’re needy,” she hears Arsema reply.

At the end of the line, she turns to Admiral Alejandra.  “Only one more Admiral,” she shouts out with mirth in her voice.

Admiral Alejandra nods her head with a smile and says, “Master-at-arms of Freya, Amelie, please strip down.”

“Aye, aye Capt…Admiral,” Amelie corrects herself.  Olanis hears her shoot off numerous curse words as she strips.  “Zut Dixopus,” she says as she’s lowered near the stern of the Nagua.

“Make sure your Dixopus doesn’t hurt my new ship,” Olanis shouts down at Amelie as her Master-at-arms sinks under the waves with a scowl on her face.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Seven)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Seven)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

  • Ship Builder
  • Laura Suen of FireandSteel.ca and FireandSteel.com
  • Medieval Rapier, exclusive FireandSteel.ca

The rain doesn’t last and the sun shines through wisps of clouds.  Olanis rocks back and forth as Admiral Alejandra tells all the girls that Zala is now her First Mate.  Zala in turn calls for all the girls to line up.

“You have first choice, Captain Olanis,” Admiral Alejandra says with her feet apart and hands clasped behind her back. 

“After being asked, stand forward, only if you are willing, lasses,” Zala says.

Olanis gazes along the line of female pirates.  The two components she desperately needs are surgeons and cooks.  She stops before a tall girl with auburn hair that blows freely across a brown, lean face with freckles.  Her large, sharp green eyes are dazzling.  “Daktari,” she says.  She has seen Daktari often assisting Canneta and Areso.

Daktari steps forward and so does the girl beside her.    Raphaela is also tall.  Her determined blue eyes stare straight ahead as her own blonde hair whips about.  Her long, pale face is emotionless.

Olanis purses her lips and smiles.  She had wondered if Daktari and Raphaela were together the same way Canneta and Areso are.  “Raphaela,” she says with a nod.

She stops before Mesi and Arsema, who are standing beside each other.  It amuses her that two sworn enemies could function so well together.  Both girls often helped “Unibrow” and Janice in the Galley.  Surprising they excelled at cooking.  “Mesi,” she calls first.  Mesi steps forward.  This should be interesting she thinks as she says, “Arsema.”  Arsema steps forward.

“Pourquoi?” she hears Amelie complain behind her causing her to chuckle as she moves down the line.

“She picked me first,” she hears Mesi whisper.

“Because you’re needy,” she hears Arsema reply.

At the end of the line, she turns to Admiral Alejandra.  “Only one more Admiral,” she shouts out with mirth in her voice.

Admiral Alejandra nods her head with a smile and says, “Master-at-arms Amelie, please strip down.”

“Aye, aye Capt…Admiral,” Amelie replies.  Olanis hears her shoot off numerous curse words as she strips.  “Zut Dixopus,” she says as she’s lowered near the stern of the Nagua.

“Make sure your Dixopus doesn’t hurt my new ship,” Olanis shouts down at Amelie as her Master-at-arms sinks under the waves.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Six)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Six)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

“Captain Olanis, if you would,” she hears Admiral Alejandra call out.  The first body is lowered to inside a hammock by three ropes.  Two ropes at either end and one through a grommet on the edge in the centre.

Olanis swipes her hand down the strings of her mandolin and sings:

Femi of Egypt, fallen but not forgotten

The wind is blowing harder now forcing her to sing louder.  As the first hammock touches the water the centre rope is pulled causing the hammock to flip.

Guilia of Italy, fallen but not forgotten

She continues as the next body is lowered.  There’s wetness in the wind now and the sky is darkening with angry clouds.

Toma of the Cheyenne, fallen but not forgotten

Lightning flashes through the sky and the air goes still.

Panambi of Guarani, fallen but not forgotten

The last body is pounded by the strengthening rain as its lowered and tipped into the ocean.

Belinda of Spain, killed by her own countrymen, fallen but not forgotten

She stops strumming her mandolin and closes her eyes as she lifts her face to the rain to wash away the pain.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Five)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Five)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

  • Ship Builder
  • Laura Suen of FireandSteel.ca and FireandSteel.com

Captain Olanis waits silently by the Mizzen mast.  She glances back at the Helms Wheel where “Wheel Turner” stands beside Aarini, quietly giving the new Helmswoman of the Nagua instructions on when to ring the bell. 

“Ship Builder” is on her ship, Freya, checking it for leaks and making any other necessary repairs.  She’s glad for him.  For Alejandra the other girls are like sisters.  But for “Ship Builder” they are his daughters and she knows the saying, a parent should never have to outlive their children.

The wind is getting stronger and her hair blows in strands where her new-used tricorn captain hat rests loosely on her head.  When and if they get “Flag Weaver” Thelma back, she’ll ask her to make a proper fitting tricorn hat.  Currently she’s wearing the hat of the former captain of the enemy ship, now the Freya, over a durag full of stuffing.  

Through her brimming tears she gazes down at the five bodies wrapped and tied in old sail.  However, she’s less a weeper and more an avenger.  She gently caresses her mandolin as Admiral Alejandra recites the burial rights of the Sisterhood of Pirates.

Farewell ye, sisters of the sea

Ye fought well, and ye fought true!

Now the life is out of yer eyes

But your memories live on…

Along with all the other girls, Olanis makes a fist and beats it against her chest.

Farewell ye, sisters of the sea

If your life was short or long

You lived it fully!

Wherever death takes you

Live like you did with us

Full of vengeance for the wrong doers

And full of honour and glory for your sisters!

Olanis thunks her chest with her fist again and shouts with the others, “And full of honour and glory for your sisters!”

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Four)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Four)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

  • Ship Builder
  • Laura Suen of FireandSteel.ca and FireandSteel.com

“A word, Captain Olanis,” Captain Alejandra says after Olanis hugs each of the others.

Once they are gone Captain Alejandra waves her over to a map on the table.  “You don’t have enough stores on the Freya to make it to the Pregnancy Ship, and there’s not enough on the Nagua to compensate.  We need to get here,” Captain Alejandra stabs her index finger at an island with an inlet called Deathly Shallows.

“We’d have to anchor the ships in the mouth,” Olanis says as she squeezes her chin thoughtfully.

“Rumours are, lobster people roam there.”

“I thought that was a Peg Leg tale.” Olanis says in disbelief.

“Crazy Bumbee also spoke of it,” Captain Alejandra says with a shallow smirk, “before he tried to touch me without permission.”

Olanis nods her head.  “He might have been inappropriate but he did always tell the truth.”

“We lost five girls this battle, Olanis,” Captain Alejandra says, and Olanis can see the Captain struggling not to break.  “The Nagua and Freya must stay close enough so we can support each other.”

“Aye, aye, Admiral,” Olanis says with complete support in her tone.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

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International Women’s Day

  • Laura Suen of FireandSteel.ca and FireandSteel.com
  • Cover of Bard: Model: Nichameleon; Cloak: Creaturre; Gemstone: Kait McCord; Dress: Armstreet; Background: Alex Watt; Font: Ian Greener
  • Oya portrayed by Gloria Antwi
  • 3rd book of the Children of the Myth Machine
    3rd book in the Children of the Myth Machine series
  • Sandra Dunn of Two Smiths demonstrating blacksmithing
  • Rae portrayed by Nicki Henry photo by Darren Henry nixxxdesigns@gmail.com
  • Aella portrayed by Victoria Givlin https://artals.com/ Makeup and Hair:  Tiffany Meatherall https://www.facebook.com/meatherallmakeup/ Photography:  Shannon Fitzgerald https://www.shannon-fitz.com/
  • Gunnhildur as Rán for Rita Walker November 9 2019 3 by Freyr Holldorsson
  • Airmid portrayed by Brenda Gabet
  • Taylor Norris, RMT as Rita office@unionwellness.ca      Dr. Arla Kasaj as Zsofia akwellness@gmail.com
  • Kating Waring as Ember picture by Kaitlyn Lindemann

Thank You to all the women I have worked. Those on the slideshow and those who are not.

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Three)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Three)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

Inside the Captain’s quarters on the Nagua, Olanis sits across from the Captain, who is leaning to one side because of her wounds.  “Wheel Turner” sits beside her, sitting up anxiously.  On her other side is “Storm Caller” rolling a scrying ball in her hands.  Around the rest of the table are “Dizzying Blade” dancing a throwing knife between her fingers; “Ship Protector” sipping sake from a bottle found from the other ship; and “Ship Builder” sitting mutely staring at the interior of the room.

“What name have you chosen for your ship Captain Olanis?” the Captain asks with a wan smile.

“Ulfhild,” she replies feeling her heart beating rapidly with excitement.

The Captain smirks and leans forward with a grimace.  “Before the burials we need to divide the crew.”  “There has been some agreed upon changes.  Zala will stay with me as First Mate.  So will Navigator Jo Anne, “Ship Protector” Umi, “Ship Builder”, Master-at-Arms Sadie, and….”   She sees the Captain glance at “Storm Caller”.  “Aarini will stay on as Helmswoman.”

Oanis is shocked.  She turns to “Wheel Turner”.

“We’ve argued, and laughed together since we were wee bits,” “Wheel Turner” tells her with moisture wetting her eyes.  “You’re my best mate.”

Olanis’ lips tremble as she nods.

“Nippi,” the Captain continues, “Janice, and the “Cannibal” will stay.  So will Canneta and Areso.  You’ll need to pick cooks and surgeons from the older girls.  However, Arsema and Amelie will be joining you.”  Olanis hears the Captain murmur with gritted teeth, “and hopefully Amelie’s ever growing ten legged friend.”

Olanis bursts into laughter.

“I recommend Arsema’s as your First Mate to replace Aarini and Amelie as your Master-at-Arms.”

“Worthy choices,” Olanis says.

“Now we need to bury our dead at sea,” the Captain says.

Olanis peers around the table.  There are no smiling faces now.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Two)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Two)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

  • Laura Suen of FireandSteel.ca and FireandSteel.com
  • Ship Builder

With Zala, Amelie, and Ship Protector in toll, First Mate “One Eye” Olanis goes through each room and section of the enemy’s ship–her ship.

On the deck Canneta and Areso with the help of Janice and “Unibrow” are bandaging and stitching the wounds of the injured, including the Captain.  “Dizzying Blade” and “Storm Caller” are asleep against the Main Mast from exhaustion.  “Ship Protector” is swimming around the Nagua to see if there is any damage.  Arsema will do the same to the new ship as soon as it’s confirmed no enemy remain alive.  The Cannibal Melinda looks deathly pale but not from wounds.

The outlay of the ship is nearly identical to the Nagua’s.  As they enter the Galley, Olanis notices the enemy cook is bleeding out by the stove.  He has a beautifully crafted espada ropera laying beside him.  She picks up the rapier.  “ “Dizzying Blade” will appreciate this she says with a grin.  Next, she undoes the sheath and grimaces as the cook’s blood drips off it.  At least she doesn’t need to kill him—he’s already expired.

With a grunt Ship Builder pulls the heavyset body towards the doorway to the deck.  “Let’s check out the rest of the ship she says, deftly stepping over the bloody streak left by the dragged body.

They open the hatch to the Hold.  “Ready?” she asks Amelie who is holding a short cross-bow found on one of the enemy sailor’s corpses.

“Oui—yes,” Amelie answers tiredly.

Olanis steps down the stairs.  There’s enough light coming through the open cannon windows to see.  “Dizzying Blade” had been down here.  The corpses of male sailors are everywhere.  She sees a few female pirates.  Belinda, a Spanish girl lies still near Karidia, a girl from the Ivory Coast.  She has to keep her composure.  As the captain of this ship, she must high her true feelings in front of the crew.  She gently brushes away the damp bangs that cover Belinda’s eyes.  The eyes stare lifelessly back.  “Rest love,” Olanis whispers as she pulls the girl’s eyelids down.  She goes over to Karidia.  The girl is still breathing. 

Olanis waves for Zala and Amelie to come down.  She carefully feels around Karidia until she her fingers touch sticky dampness.  “A belly wound just above her navel,” she whispers. 

Amelie passes her crossbow to Zala.  “I will get the Ship Builder,” she says quietly.

Zala stands by the stairs. 

“You’re going to make it,” Olanis assures Karidia as she cuts the sleeve off one of the dead enemy sailors.  She makes sure it is fairly clean before she wraps it around Karidia’s waist.

“Belinda?” Karidia asks in her Ivory Coast accent.

“No, but the two of you helped win the day,” Olanis says with as much enthusiasm as she can muster.  Belinda’s death and that Karidia may survive have brought her closer to the feeling of motherhood then she ever thought possible.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

Book Review of King Of Battle And Blood by Scarlett St. Clair

Book Review of King Of Battle And Blood by Scarlett St. Clair

By Dan Watt

Scarlett St. Clair’s
“King Of Battle And Blood”

My brother Andrew gave me The Witcher: The Last Wish by Andrzei Sapkowski book because he wanted to discuss it.  He also gave me King Of Battle And Blood: Adrain & Isolde by Scarlett St. Clair.  When I first saw the cover of King Of Battle And Blood, romance novel came to mind.  I wondered why my brother would give me a romance novel.  Years ago, I was looking for something different to read so one of my clients recommended Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles.  As I was looking through a Chapters Indigo store a girl I knew from the gym I was working at, asked me what I was looking for.  I told her An Interview with a Vampire.  She gave me a quizzical stare and asked, “In the romance section?”  I realized than that the Horror and Romance section flowed into one another. 

King Of Battle And Blood is a Romance novel, it’s also a Horror novel.  St. Clair writes in first person and we see and learn through the main character Isolde a medieval world where vampires and other “monsters” exist.

While I was reading King Of Battle And Blood.  I kept envisioning Renée Elise Goldsberry, who plays Quellcrist Falconer in the series, as Isolde.  But there is a significant age difference.  Isolde is a young woman, while Renée Elise Goldsberry is ageless.  Who would play the mysterious Adrian?  Back to The Witcher, perhaps Henry Cavill could pull it off.  Eric Bana, Chris Hemsworth might also work.  But we’ll leave Adrian as a mystery.

What I really enjoyed about the book is the honesty.  Isolde acts upon her emotions, which reminds me of the main character in Nnedi Okorafor’s Who Fears Death, Onyesonwu.  Both are strong and determined characters who express what they think.  Isolde is a princess and a warrior, and behaves as such.

St. Clair fills the story with exotic scenery and erotic description.  She tells the reader the truth, how Isolde really feels.  She has written a gripping Romance Horror story that will intrigue and scare you one moment while arousing you the next.

To learn more about Scarlett St. Clair:

Scarlettstclair.com

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A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-One)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-One)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

Olanis is surprised to see The Cannibal in combat.  Melinda is using one of “Dizzying Blade’s” halberds.  Swinging the shaft to strike with the axe head one moment and thrusting with the spear tip the next.  There’s an arrow jutting out of her left thigh.  A short distance away she sees “Dizzying Blade”, nearly a blur as she fights two or more of the much larger foes.  Near the main mast of the ship “Storm Caller” is in combat with a very large sailor.  Olanis jumps back as the axe head of a much larger halberd swings at her neck.

She cocks her head as she looks up into the massive head of a bear sized enemy. He’s wearing boiled leather on most of his body and his gloves are covered in chain link.  In his hands he holds a much bigger version of the Cannibal’s halberd.

“Te partiré en dos con mi polla gigante,” the giants says down at her with a toothy grin.

She knows Spanish and French much better than she lets on but purposely mistranslates.  “Te partiré en dos con mi polla gigante?”

The giant roars with rage and stabs at her chest with the spear end of his halberd.

As she deeks away from the shaft of the halberd she recalls the wonderful fighting lessons she’s learned.  “Dizzying Blade” would tap her unkindly on different parts of her anatomy whenever she attacked and halted.  ‘Attack, attack, attack!’ “Dizzying Blade would admonish her.  ‘You hesitate you die, or worse, are captured.  Remember what they did to Janice.’

She spins along the shaft of the giant’s halberd, making it impossible for him to fight back.  The second spin allows her to stab into his elbow.  It’s not a good wound because the cloth he’s wearing there gives some protection.  On her third spin she’s behind him stabbing into the backs of his knees.  ‘Always the softest parts, the most tender areas.’  “Dizzying Blade” had repeated so many times it became a mantra she’s never forgotten.  She wanted to stab the giant under the armpit but he’s just too tall. 

His one hand reaches back to grab her.  He’s not wearing a helmet so she leaps out of the way and slices into the side of his neck.  He grabs the wound but the chainmail on his gloves won’t hinder the blood flow.  She stabs and stabs into his lower back and the back of his knees until he falls to his knees.  Without stopping she slices at his neck until he falls forward.

Gasping she throws up and smells the distinct sweet and strong odour of laudanum.  So that’s how they put her and the other girls out.  Well, now she feels much better.  A short distance away, near the capstan of the ship, she sees the Captain fending off two of the enemy sailors.  There’s a slash across the Captain’s right forearm.  Gritting her teeth she sheaths her daggers and grasps the thick shaft of the giant’s halberd.  “Time to even the odds,” she says to herself with a grin, and charges.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

  • Night Katana by Fire and Steel, Background by Daiana Duca, photo by Andrew Watt
  • Medieval Rapier, exclusive FireandSteel.ca

First Mate “One Eye” Olanis hears the faint ringing of a bell.  As her head clears from whatever “Unibrow” and Janice mixed into their rum, the dinging of the bell sounds more desperate.

She’s squints at her surroundings.  She’s in the Hold of the ship and not in her room.  Down the rows of hammocks she sees Amelie sit up.  “Get ye up lasses!” she shouts out groggily.  “The Captain and the rest need our assistance.  Now!”

“À présent! Il est temps de tuer ou de mourir avec la joie d’essayer ! ” she hears Amelie shout out.  “Ah,” Amelie says slapping her own forehead.  “English Amelie, they do not understand the most beautiful language of all.  Kill or die with joy,” she translates, much to Olanis’s amusement.

Up on deck she hears “Storm Caller” hollering from the helm’s wheel, “Get your Anne Bonnies across them ladders!  We’ll not be Princess Selas this day!”  Olanis notices a clay jug of rum tied around “Storm Caller’s” waste.

“Have to, lasses,” Olanis shouts out with mirth as she draws out two daggers.  She notices Amelie is already crossing a ladder.  A worrying sight catches her attention.  Mesi and Althea are at the section of gunwale closest to Amelie’s ladder with knocked arrows.

“When should we shoot?” Mesi asks.

“Remember what I taught you,” she hears Amelie call back.  “If you want to hit something aim at whatever’s beside it.

“Because of our superior eyesight, especially mine?” Althea asks.

“Oui–yes,” Amelie replies.  “Don’t shoot that stupid dixopus if it shows up.”

“Sister,” Olanis hears Arsema call to Amelie from the enemy’s ship.  “Come and let’s dance as a duet.”

Olanis grins as she scampers across her own ladder.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Eleven: Blog Fifty-Nine)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Eleven: Blog Fifty-Nine)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

  • Model Joanne Gosling, Medieval Story by fireandsteel.ca, Background by Alex Watt

Master Jo Anne sees the glint of a telescope from the enemy ship.  The holder of the telescope shouts out and points in the direction of the Cannibal.  “Caníbal!  Caníbal!” a number of enemy sailors cry out.

Arrows fly towards Melinda.  The Cannibal shows that she’s more than percieved, when she dances away from the onslaught.

“Ready!” Master Jo Anne hears Alejandra shout out.

The girls with bows fire as the stronger girls toss grappling hooks.  Other girls get ready the boarding ladders.

Holding a knife in her right hand Master Jo Anne hands her bow to the nearest girl.  As the girls with bows continue to fire, she climbs across the ladder and leaps onto the deck of the enemy ship.

“Dizzying Blade” is already there.  Master Jo Anne sees her erupt into a blur of movement.  As “Dizzying Blade” twirls, stabs, and slashes, with a katana in one hand and a dagger in the other, Master Jo Anne decides to stay out of her way.  Unfortunately, that sends her into the path of a much larger opponent.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

Book Review of Chris Hadfield’s:  The Apollo Murders

Book Review of Chris Hadfield’s:  The Apollo Murders

By Dan Watt

The Apollo Murders is fiction, sort of.  As with writer’s such as Tom Clancy (Red October), Clive Cussler (numerous books with his recurring hero Dirk Pitt) and other writers of non-fiction and fiction, Hadfield’s new book is full of real information. 

As the crew of the Apollo 18 are preparing to visit the moon during the Cold War era, an additional task is added onto their already complex mission. In order to complete their new task the crew must be ready within a given time. Then a terrible accident occurs that creates even more stress. 

Hadfield, a Canadian was a fighter pilot in the United States before becoming an astronaut. He also trained in Russia where he went into space with cosmonauts. So he has real insight into how both space programs work.  He also has an interesting perspective on both countries politics during the late 1960s and early 1970s when Nixon was president and Brezhnev was First Secretary. 

Many of the characters in his book are real people.  Those he created are likely based on people he has known or a conglomeration of their characteristics.  Each character has their own nuances that make them feel real.  Whether the characters are American or Russian we get their personal view of why they behave the way the do.  Who’s right or wrong, good or bad is a matter of perspective.

This is a great read for anyone who likes the turns and twists of a murder mystery while learning about the life of an astronaut and how space ships worked in the Cold War Era.

There are leaps of faith in places but that’s what we expect in fiction.  Most of us want to be engrossed in the story while learning interesting facts.  Hadfield has successfully filled both needs.

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A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Eleven: Blog Fifty-Eight)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Eleven: Blog Fifty-Eight)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

  • Model Joanne Gosling, Medieval Story by fireandsteel.ca, Background by Alex Watt
  • Night Katana by Fire and Steel, Background by Daiana Duca, photo by Andrew Watt

Master Jo Anne moves beside the Captain. 

From somewhere hidden on the enemy’s ship she hears a voice boom in Spanish.  “Te capturaremos cosas dulces,” the Deep voice shouts out in a sarcastic tone.  “A las guapas las mantendremos descalzas y embarazadas. A las feas les cortamos las pechugas para que no puedan aparearse. Y a los muy jóvenes les pondremos el túmulo de Barthadrow.”

“What’s he saying?” she hears Alejandra ask the girl beside her.

“He’s saying,” the girl replies with a Spanish accent, “that they’ll keep the beautiful in bare feet and pregnant.  The ugly ones they’ll cut the breasts off so they can’t feed their babies.”  The girl hesitates in her translation.

“Go on and say it loud so everyone can hear,” she hears Alejandra say patting the girl on the shoulder while keeping an eye on the enemy ship. 

As the girl continues talking, more enemy arrows fly.

“The youngest,” the girl says with trembling lips, “they’ll put in Barthadrow’s barrel.”

“Repeat this back, and loud,” Alejandra says with a hiss in her voice.  “Spanish is the most romantic language but your voice makes it ugly.  We’re all ugly and beautiful, we’re female pirates!”

Master Jo Anne keeps an arrow knocked as the Nagua sails almost close enough to use the grappling hooks.  To the Nagua’s advantage the enemy ship is lower.  She sees Alejandra signal to “Ship Builder”.  “Ship Builder” relinquishes his long bow to her.  She sees Alejandra draw the string back and listen.

“Te inclinaremos sobre la borda y sonreiremos mientras te hacemos gritar,” the voice booms again.  “Te cojearemos los pies para que no puedas escapar….”  The voice starts to say when she sees Alejandra let loose an arrow.

Panicked shouting erupts out of the enemy ship.  Arrows start to fly erratically towards the Captain and others.  One of the girls near the gunwale cries out as enemy sailors appear along the gunwale of the other ship.

From behind her she hears, “What is going on?” from Melinda the Cannibal with a groggy voice.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

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Review of Enola Holmes

Review of Enola Holmes

By Dan Watt

Enola Holmes has a great deal to offer: smart writing, excellent cast, and wonderful visuals and presentations of Victorian life.

Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) is the sister of Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft Holmes (Sam Claflin).  The story begins with the disappearance of the sibling’s mother Eudoria Holmes (Helena Bonham Carter).

By searching for her mother Enola takes on a journey of understanding.  We, as viewers, will see through her perspective, what Victorian England’s attitude was towards women, and learn about class distinction.  To lighten things up Enola often breaks the fourth wall to talk to us conversely in a tongue-in-cheek, wink-of-the-eye manner.

As the story progresses we see Enola evolve into a female version that is more akin to her older brother Sherlock, and less like her eldest brother Mycroft.

I would say the whole family can watch this movie, though some eye covering might be needed for the really young during one scene of violence.

An interesting side note:  Not only does Millie Bobby Brown demonstrate her acting chops here but she and her sister Paige are also producers. #EnolaHolmes #Moviereview #MillieBobbyBrown #HelenaBonhamCarter #Familyviewing

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A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Eleven: Blog Fifty-Seven)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Eleven: Blog Fifty-Seven)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

Model:  Joanne Gosling: Joannegosling22@gmail.com ;  Medieval Rapier:  fireandsteel.ca; Background:  Daiana Duca

Three of the enemy’s cannon windows open.  Cannons don’t pop out of the windows.  Instead she sees miniature ballistas.  The “Ship Builder” dips his arrow in the flaming bowl the “Ship Protector” is holding, and shoots it through one of the open windows.  In the blink of an eye he’s dipped another arrow into the fiery bowl.     “Unibrow’s” arrow strikes true.  She hears men cursing from out of one of the windows.  There’s a shout from the deck of the enemy ship.  She sees enemy sailors stand all along the starboard gunwale of their ship with bows and crossbows.

She knocks her bow and waits.  The only range weapons she hears are the twang from the two ships.  “Ship Builder” and “Unibrow’s” on the Nagua, and a few of the enemy sailors with their own long bows.  It irks her but she knows that the male enemy has the physical advantage for range.  Originally she thought the same for melee attacks but “Dizzying Blade” taught her differently. 

‘It’s a dance’ “Dizzying Blade” had explained to her wearing a deadly smirk.  ‘Stab or slash at the soft points.  Retreat.  Duck, twirl, avoid attack.  Stab or slash at the soft points.  Dance to the movement of the enemy’s attack.  It’s a dance of giving and taking.  Use the power of attack to spin and counter-attack.  Eyes, arteries, wrists, and privates are wonderful places to jab.  Don’t hit the back, hit the spine.

She snarls and shoots at an enemy sailor wearing a blue skullcap, a frayed blue hip-length jacket, and matching pants in the groin.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Andrew Watt for “Ship Builder” pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

(All uncredited pictures by Dan Watt)

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Eleven: Blog Fifty-Six)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Eleven: Blog Fifty-Six)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

  • Navigator “Storm Caller” Master Jo Anne portrayed by Joanne Gosling: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com; Medieval Rapier by Fireandsteel.ca; background by Daiana Duca.
  • Night Katana by Fire and Steel, Background by Daiana Duca, photo by Andrew Watt

Navigator “Storm Caller” Master Jo Anne puts away the scrying sphere.  The Nagua is so close enough to the other ship now there are waves pushing back and forth between them.  She glances back at “Unibrow”.   Janet is beside Nippi holding a lit bowl of oil.  Standing up she can see “Ship Builder” with “Ship Protector” holding another bowl with burning oil.  Even further back “Wheel Turner” is straining to keep the Helm’s wheel steady.  Beside her is one of the girls who will remain on deck during the fighting.  In the girl’s hand is a large cowbell.

“Dizzying Blade” is standing against the starboard gunwale with a grappling hook.  Other crew also have grappling hooks.  Intermittently between them are some of the stronger girls with short bows at the ready. 

Alejandra is also at the gunwale with a telescope, searching the enemy ship for any crew with ranged weapons.

Master Jo Anne readies her own bow, a medium range one, and watches the enemy ship’s cannon windows.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  Book 2  (Part Ten: Blog Fifty-Five)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Ten: Blog Fifty-FIve)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

“This is one of the English Longbows we worked on,” Sadie tells him as she shoves it, two strings, and a quiver at him.  “And a leather wrist wrap in case you forgot.”

“Thank you,” the Ship Builder says glancing her way.  “Dizzying Blade” as the others call her has menacing eyes.  Her body is always taut and her voice towards him always curt.  He’s never sure if she hates him or not.

“There are twelve arrows,” Sadie continues while squinting at him.  “And here,” she passes him a jar.  “That’s got the flammable goo “Unibrow” and Janice extracted from a plant.”

He notices she has a katana hanging from her left hip.  She also has a dagger sheathed on either side.  The sheaths are tilted back with a loop around one side of the crossguards.  If an enemy tries to take the dagger the string loop will hinder them.  It also means she must draw the daggers with the same side hand.  He allows himself a sad smirk.  There’s a reason Alejandra picked her to be Master-at-arms.

For a moment Sadie just glares at him.  “Very well,” she says, “don’t miss.”  He watches wearily as she heads towards Nippi with the only other longbow they have.

Alejandra wants the other ship damaged as little as possible but if the cannon windows open he and Nippi will shoot flaming arrows into the opening.  He grabs a hold of the longbow and strings it.  His missing finger will affect his range and aim so he needs to make adjustments now.  He wraps the leather around his left wrist while keeping an eye on the cannon windows of the nearing enemy ship.  Once the leather is tight he steps forward with his left foot and practices drawing the string back.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Ten: Blog Fifty-Four)

A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Ten: Blog Fifty-Four)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

  • Night Katana by Fire and Steel, Background by Daiana Duca, photo by Andrew Watt

He stands on the fo’c’sle’s starboard side.  Very close now is the Spanish galleon Alejandra intends to capture for Olanis.  He glances back and towards the bowsprit where Master Jo Anne is shouting directions back to Umi who in turn shouts to Synthia.  For him Alejandra and Master Jo Anne are his daughters.  They were with him at the beginning of this adventure when the whirlpools sucked them into this other planet.  He sees Master Jo Anne grasping the scrying ball she says the Lanira gave her.  He smiles wanly as he observers the presently closed cannon windows of the enemy ship.  Lanira never gave them her real name.  She just let them call her Witch.  He blinks away spray and perhaps something else.  He mistakenly glances down at his missing finger.  Alejandra was so brave that day.  The last day he saw his love; the last day he felt whole.

They were sailing on a small sloop with fourteen others aboard.  A mix of all the nationalities pulled in by the giant whirlpools.  Desperate for fresh water they had entered an inlet under the protection of heavy mist.  His job was to do the sounding while Lanira steered with little Master Jo Anne beside her. 

He had shifted the satchel full of his tools that he always wore to the side and grabbed a hold of a spool of rope.   Next he lowered an ancient cow bell attached to the rope with marked lengths, over the port side.  Alejandra, who was standing beside him, whispered out the number of marks that went into the water.   The inlet was so deep he didn’t have enough rope to find the bottom.  That meant a larger galleon could have traveled this way.

   Some of the crew became afraid of the mist and coming night.  Their silence became whispers that got louder and more frantic with every passing moment.  He heard Alejandra hush them and tell them to be quiet.  But she was maybe fourteen by then.  A short distance away he heard the familiar splash of a pinnace dropping into the water.  Distorted glows from a lantern or torch appeared.  The light got larger as the pinnace drew closer.  There was no choice but to go forward—without refilling they’re water supply they wouldn’t last more than a few days.

The crew was made up of mostly non-sailors; something he and Lanira lamented after they boarded.   Although they quickly took control and the girls showed their adeptness at tying knots and raising sails, most of the crew felt entitled, doing little more than bickering.  Exactly what he heard them doing now as they leaned against the starboard gunwale, shouting and pointing out the oncoming lights.

“Is it from one of the Queen of Pirates’ ships?” a woman asked with much hope in her voice.

“Never mind the sounding,” he told Alejandra.  “Let’s get to the helm’s wheel and collect mother and little Master Jo Anne.”

“They’re going to get us killed,” Alejandra had said with an adult’s wisdom.

“Yes,” he replied.  “We’ll drop the rowboat and flee.”

That’s when he heard the screaming and the near inaudible sound of cross-bows mixed with the loud bang of a cannon.

He had dashed to the helm’s wheel.  A cannon ball had destroyed it and it lay across Lanira’s legs.  Dumbfounded, it was only his sense of survival that told him the enemy were throwing grappling hooks over the starboard gunwale’s railing.

As he and Alejandra heaved at the wheel to move it he saw Lanira pass something to little Master Jo Anne.  “Go she whispered.”  Her eyes met his and she cried out, “You promised me your heart!”

He shoved harder at the wheel but the casing it turned in kept it down.

“It’s no use my whole heart,” she whispered towards him.  “Take them.  You know what they’ll do to them if you don’t,” she said with knowing horror on her face.

Helplessness filled him and he fell to his knees.

“Give me your heart,” she said once again.

With a growing hollow spot in his chest he pulled out a chisel and mallet.  He stared at Alejandra hopelessly.  She nodded her head and took the mallet. 

“Hurry!” his love cried out.

Just as he held the chisel blade below the silver ring of his finger,
Alejandra slammed the mallet down.  In excruciating pain, he gasped, “Again.”

This time the finger came off.  Alejandra gave him a handkerchief to hold to the wound.

“Poke one of the fishing hooks you keep through it,” he barely heard Lanira say to Alejandra.  “And tie a string through and place it over my head.”  Finally Lanira said, “Your love will protect me,” or he believes she did. 

He was so dizzy with pain and disbelief that he remembers lowering the sloop’s rowboat and nothing more of that night.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Featured

Book Review of BARD by Darren Joy

BARD: Owner of the Gemstone is an Epic, Dark Fantasy Novel

REVIEW:
Four stars.
BARD is a dark fantasy tale of a young man’s quest to return a gemstone
to a girl he saved from ghouls. Along the way, as Bran studies to become
a bard, he encounters terrible dangers as he enters the land of the
immortal emperor. With war looming, Bran attempts to return the
gemstone, while trying to become a Bard Master.
Along the way, he both discovers and loses friends, encounters all
manner of odd creatures, dark magics, and is forced to confront both his
own bias and fears. All the while, he never gives up on his search for
the girl who has stolen his heart.
Dan Watt’s novel is a fantasy tale with a raw dark fairy-tale feel to
it, which I very much enjoyed, and it contains some beautiful lyrical
interludes. After all, it is the story of a bard. It is told in the
present tense, which gives the story a sense of imminence, and which I
found captivating. I was reading David Gemmell, but set it aside once
BARD got hold of me. This is a unique world filled with a plethora of
fantastical and wonderful characters from demons to elves, dwarves,
goblins and orcs, warlocks, and dark experiments gone very wrong.
Throughout it all, is the ever-looming presence of an immortal and
insane emperor, and perhaps some secrets, which are best left
undiscovered.
A very enjoyable read, which I highly recommend.

By Darren Joy, author of A Viral Imperium and A Malignant Fetch from his Plagueborn series

Ways Of The Soul

She always writes from the observance of her inner being.

The Amateur's Quill

I understand now,
why hearts shatter in the middle of the night,
in the shade of darkness
where there is no hope
of spectators
coming to intrude on the truth
of a telling sadness.

I understand why
it’s impossible to talk
with that lump in the throat,
wading in a sea of individuals
who also feel unseen.

I can hear it now,
the cry for help we all wish was attended to
before it was too late.
And I can see us silencing it
as we vibrate with our implied,
‘Why can’t you be stronger?‘s
And our dismissive,
‘It will get better.’s
And the innocence of our oh so sickeningly convenient
yet so very genuine ignorance.
And our vast, deafening ocean of good intentions
that scream so loud,
they overtake any action that could have been taken.

I understand now,
in a myriad ways travelled by…

View original post 18 more words

Wait, I’ll Go With You [Part 15]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Lady Oolong tilts back her head, and blows out the invisible smoke from her pipe.  “And what tea are you interested in Chief Shabuni?” she asks.

He stares down at her, and gulps.  “What do you know about a block of ice that doesn’t melt?” 

Her reaction is cool, and quizzical.  “That sounds interesting.  Is it used to keep a cold room cool, or drinking water refreshing?”  She smirks.

“It may be a portal,” he replies.  “Or part of one.”

“A portal,” she says while chewing on the end of her pipe.  “To where?”

He gives her a shallow smile, hoping it will come across as confidence.  He takes a chance by telling her a slight lie.  “Lady Steamsail believes, it’s a portal to somewhere called, The Other Place.”

For a moment Lady Oolong’s eyes widen.

When she doesn’t reply, he asks, “Can you think of anyone, who would be interested in Mrs. Claws’, books by authors who never existed?”

At that, she shrugs.  “Makes more sense than stealing a block of ice that doesn’t melt.”  She lets out a long breath.  “Anything unique, or that might contain secrets, is always of interest, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes,” he says with a nod.  He places his stovepipe back on his head.  “I must be getting back to Mrs. Claws.  There was a break in the other night.”

“Wait, and I’ll go with you,” she says.  “One moment.”

He watches as she pours some of the kettle water into a siphon connected to a cabinet.  Next, she takes a record out of the cabinet, and places it on the spinning table of a gramophone.  A needle automatically lifts onto the record.  As the sonorous voice of Melegie, and enchanting chords of a harp, play through the clamshell shaped speaker, Lady Oolong places her top hat on.  Next, to his surprise, she unwinds the dragon handle of her cane, to reveal a narrow sword blade.

“All ready,” she says.

***

Taylor Norris, RMT (Lady Evelyn Oolong): taynorris@gmail.com

My Jolly Sailor Bold—Mermaid performed by @_melegie

Perched Drake Cane by FireandSteel.ca

I just saw a fantasic steampunk post by @Hannah_redfoxcloset with art by @creadoresasueldo

One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk.  Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more.  I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future.  Meanwhile, you can see his work at:  ben_lanzenstein

Unwoman.com

Joanne Gosling (as Lady Marina Steamsail):  Jgosling@calclosets.com

Fireandsteel.ca Dragonrider Folding Knife

GRACEART Unisex Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles

Alivila.Y Fashion: Women’s Faux Leather Steampunk Corset Victorian Bustier Top

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