Wednesday Writing — Yuletide Greetings

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Composite Image by Teagan
Composite Image by Teagan

Blessings of the Yuletide to you and yours.  Whatever winter holiday you celebrate, whether it has already passed or it is yet to come, I wish you peace, health, and happiness.  

In my latest post for The Delta Pearl, I promise not to “kill off” any important characters.  Dead of Winter is, as D. Wallace Peach put it, darker and more dangerous.  It is high fantasy, written before my style evolved to all out whimsy.  There are two characters who don’t make it to the conclusion of the 840 or so pages of the full manuscript.  Although I’ll admit they are not what I call “tier one” characters.

The winter solstice arrived on December 21st, so it’s already winter, but still… Winter is coming!  I will publish the first novelette of Dead of Winter in early January.  With that in mind I’ve invited my young heroine to Teagan’s Books for a character interview.

Dead of Winter — Emlyn Eriu

Myriams Fotos at Pixabay
Myriams Fotos at Pixabay

Teagan:  Hi, Emlyn.  Thanks for visiting here at Christmastime.  That looks like Santa’s sleigh flying overhead.  Do they have Santa Clause in your homeland?

Emlyn:  Imagine that!  A flying sleigh… and that looks like some kind of deer pulling it…  No.  We have nothing like that in the Flowing Lands.  Thank you for giving me this lovely red outfit for today.  I’ve always dreamed of wearing a beautiful color.  (A mischievous smile comes to her lips.)  Elder Pwyll would have a spasm if he saw this skirt and hat!

Teagan:  I gather they are very strict.  What is life like for twelve-year-old girls like you?  Do you spend the day in school?

Emlyn:  School?  No.  Some boys can get an education, but the Brethren of Un’Naf don’t like that.  It wasn’t always like that.  But the Brethren have been making the rules for as long as I can remember.  They’d rather people were only taught about religion.  I mean, their religion.  For girls, it’s only proper for us to learn things to do with keeping house and raising children.

Teagan:  Don’t you have a teacher though?  A mentor?  (She nods, brightening.)

Emlyn:  Yes, but please don’t tell.  I think the elders have forgotten.  (She whispers.)  My father paid a big tithe so they would let me get lessons in account keeping, so I could help him with his orchard.  It’s too much for one man.  But I’m afraid that if anyone mentioned it, they would put a stop to it.  Or worse, they might hurt Osabide, my teacher.

Teagan:  You have reason to fear them for yourself too.

Emlyn:  (She nods and looks down at her hands.)  The people in this religion don’t like much of anything, including women, and they especially don’t like my particular “gift.”  Though I have to wonder if it isn’t more of a curse than a gift.  I see spirits.  It’s hard to hide the fact that I see and hear them, because they look so real to me.

Teagan:  I promise you are always safe here, in my sanctuary, Emlyn.  If ever you need a place to hide, you can come here.  Thank you for meeting my readers.  I think it’s time for your lesson with Osabide.  Do take care. 

Thank you, everyone, for spending part of this holiday week here with me. 

Happy Holidays!

Dead of Winter, promo image by Teagan R. Geneviene
Dead of Winter, promo image by Teagan R. Geneviene

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This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright ©2020 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved. 

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.

74 thoughts on “Wednesday Writing — Yuletide Greetings”

  5. Merry Christmas Teagan. I am thrilled that we connected in 2020 and look forward to the many conversations that are waiting for us in 2021. Your writings are filled with the spirit of compassion and hope. Thank you for shedding light into dark places. Hugs and love coming on the wing.

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  16. A really very revealing interview. It makes you want to read the whole story.
    Thank you, Teagan! Enjoy the days getting longer! Greetings to Crystal. 😉 In the picture, however, you have depicted her more mysteriously as she is. Lol Best wishes, Michael

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    1. LOL. The cute kitten’s expression and wide eyes rather reminded me of Crystal, about 14 years ago.
      Thanks so very much for your feedback about the interview! I was afraid that I didn’t bring out enough of Emlyn’s personality, or enough of the story to make it interesting. What you said is encouraging and valuable to me. The first novelette has a little suspense, but it mostly introduces Emlyn, and Osabide… and the area where they live. In following novelettes, they will be off to explore their wide world.
      Yes here’s to more sunshine! 😀 Stay happy and sassy, my friend. Hugs on the wing!

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      1. You did, Teagan! Really, Emlyn got to be of interest during the read of this interview. Will read to get more. Happy one! Here its only foggy, and the next days we shall get snow. But too less for skiing. However, its winter! Lol Have a nice time, Teagan! Best wishes, Michael

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  18. Merry Christmas, Teagan. This is a heck of a teaser–I think you have created a fresh format, a character interview, for authors to introduce a new book. It’s also given me some needed background for an author interview with you.
    Holiday hugs ho-hoing your way.

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    1. Thanks so much, Pat. I can’t take credit for the “character interview” idea though. The first one I ever saw was Mary J. McCoy-Dressel (a romance author who occasionally visits here). Admittedly, I don’t see them often. I’m delighted and relieved that you enjoyed it. I was afraid I didn’t bring out enough with this one. It was hard to strike a balance between not telling too much of the first novelette, and avoiding going too far ahead into the other “journeys.”
      Oh, an interview with me? I’m thrilled! May I gift you something potentially helpful at your gmail address, used inside this blog?
      Merry Christmas to you and yours too. Hugs winging back on Santa’s sleigh!

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  21. Merry Christmas Teagan. It’s nice to get to know a little bit about Emlyn. The hints about the other characters and the setting already have the gears turning in my head. I must temper my anticipation, because I know better than to guess where you’re going. I’m looking forward to the serial.

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    1. Thanks so much for this feedback, Dan. I’m relived to know I got enough information across with the interview. I hope the novelette sized “bites” will be enough to tide readers over for a month at a time. Merry Christmas to you and yours and all the furry kids. Hugs on the wing!

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