Stay Tuned

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, May 8, 2021

DoW 5 Waterfall Wolf promo
Dead of Winter promotional image by Teagan Geneviene

Hello, my chuckaboos.  Thanks for coming to the river.  It’s good to see you, but I just didn’t have the energy to make a Delta Pearl post for today.  Everything is fine, but the past seven days have been overflowing with… stuff.  One good thing was that I was able to publish the fifth “Journey” in the Dead of Winter novelettes. 

The steampunk riverboat will return next weekend.   

Announcing the May Issue

Dead of Winter: Journey 5, Llyn Pistyll Falls

The Blurb

The titular dead of Winter begin this Journey in a collection of vignettes, before we move into the main story.  The Veil separating the world of the living and the Realm of the Dead has indeed become thin.  As feared the dead begin to enter the Realm of the Living.  Small outbreaks of chaos are scattered across the world as spirits try to resume their old lives.

Also in those shorts, two characters are introduced who will come back into the story in future Journeys — Gregorios, and Mairead who recalls the circumstance that brought Zasha and Tajín together.  The spirits also visit some characters from past Journeys.

Then Emlyn and company continue their travels.  Emlyn and Boabhan uncover a clue about the ancient staff, and that leads them to a new location.  They encounter the King of Hell, and this time, Arawn is not in a dream-like netherworld.

DoW Journey-5 Llyn Pistyll Falls
Dead of Winter: Journey-5 Llyn Pistyll Falls, by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

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There’s More!

I haven’t shared many snippets from the Journeys of “Dead of Winter.”  That’s partly because the volumes are short, but I don’t want to give spoilers either.  However, today I have an excerpt that doesn’t give away any of the story.  It’s one of the vignettes I mentioned in the blurb above.  These illustrate the effect it has on Emlyn’s world, when the Veil separating the living from the dead becomes compromised. These vignettes also expand on the customs of the various countries in the story as well as the characters. Those of you who are already part of the Journeys, will enjoy this particular character’s misadventure more than those who do not know him.

A Dead of Winter Short

Horses pair tan pulling carriage dreamstime
Dreamstime

The buggy rocked and bounced as Elder Pwyll drove leisurely along the road.  The ponies didn’t seem to have much fire, but he was in no hurry.  As he held the reigns, the noonday sun caught the facets of his ruby ring.  He gazed at the brightly glittering stone in admiration.  He wasn’t paying attention to the road until one of the other clerics nudged him.

A funeral procession blocked the way ahead.  There weren’t many mourners.  It looked more like a burial detail, grave diggers and the like.  A flat bed wagon bore the body, which was covered by a funeral sheet.  A strange symbol was painted on the shroud.

Elder Pwyll had never seen such, but his oldest companion remarked that in days long past, such symbols were used for murderers.  The symbol was meant to bind their evil.  It was buried with them, and the symbol marked their graves as well.

“Now we know that such a practice is an affront to Un’Naf.  Only He can bind the dead,” the old cleric commented with growing anger.

“How can this be?  I’m not aware of any deaths in the area,” Pwyll remarked, looking askance at the elders of Penllyn and Llyn Crag.

The clerics climbed down from the buggy as members of the procession approached.  Elder Pwyll buttoned his coat.  He suddenly felt cold.  A strangely dressed man walked up to the buggy and addressed Elder Pwyll.

“You should come,” the strange man told him.  “I don’t know you, but the family is not from these parts.  Besides, it’s clear that you are their kin.  You have their features.  You should come with us.”

The Swinford Funeral, Jack B Yeats 1918. Wikipedia
The Swinford Funeral, Jack B Yeats 1918. Wikipedia

At those words, Elder Pwyll’s companions stepped away from him.  Their faces were painted with contempt.  The oldest cleric drew a sharp breath.  He eyed Pwyll the way he might stare at a dung beetle.

Elder Pwyll looked again at the odd symbol covering the corpse.  He resembled a murderer?  Pwyll was offended.  Although he knew his family history was not without blemish, he would never admit as much.  Could the diseased be a distant relative?  If so, then how did he come to be in Llyn Crag — and dead?

The ponies nickered nervously.  The elder patted one of the animals absently.  A commotion began around the wagon that carried the body.  Had the corpse moved?  Elder Pwyll squinted and looked again.  Men and women in the group began to scream and run away.

“You should come with us,” the man repeated.  “It’s proper that the family attend the burial, even for one such as he,” the man said and firmly gripped Elder Pwyll’s arm.  “You should come.”

The man’s hand was so cold the elder could feel it through his coat sleeve.  Roughly, he pulled away.

The other clerics didn’t understand what was wrong, but none the less they hurriedly got back onto the buggy.  Before the men were well seated, the ponies bolted, making directly for the funeral wagon.

The elegant buggy sideswiped the wagon, overturning both conveyances.  The elders fell from their rig as it overturned.

The wrapped corpse tumbled from the flat bed wagon, struggling as it fell.  Elder Pwyll watched in horrified fascination as the corpse shrugged out of the burial shroud.

The other two clerics cried out and ran away as fast as their feet would carry them.  The corpse stood and leered at him.  The dead murderer’s face looked just like his own.

“Yes,” repeated the corpse, “by all means, come with us.”

Elder Pwyll screamed.  The pealing laughter of the dead man and the phrase “Come with us” rang in his ears.  He ran, and did not stop screaming until after he overtook his companions and left them behind.

***

Remember, leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for a free e-book of  Dead of Winter: Journey 5, Llyn Pistyll Falls.  Also, click the link below to see an exquisite review of the previous issue, Journey 4. 

Dead of Winter — The Other Journeys

The First Five Journeys of Dead of Winter
The First Five Journeys

If you haven’t already joined the journey, you’re just in time to curl up with a comfortably sized amount of reading.  

Journey 4, The Old Road has a new review from author and translator Olga Núñez Miret,  You can learn more about Olga here.

Journey 5, Llyn Pistyll Falls

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09431TD6G

Paperback:  relinks.me/B0942KC471

Journey 4, The Old Road

Kindle:  relinks.me/B092G5LB7R

Paperback:  relinks.me/B092M51Y88

Journey 3, the Fever Field

Kindle: elinks.me/B08XTNZ9M8 

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08XXY3JXF

Kobo:  Dead of Winter: Journey 3, the Fever Field eBook by Teagan Riordain Geneviene – 1230004609599 | Rakuten Kobo United States

Journey 2, Penllyn

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08VMNSF97

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08VLMR2KD

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dead-of-winter-journey-2-penllyn

Journey 1, Forlorn Peak

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08RBBVRGX

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08R7RH4F5

Kobo:  Dead of Winter: Journey 1, Forlorn Peak eBook by Teagan Geneviene – 1230004446033 | Rakuten Kobo United States

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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 © 2010 and 2021 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.

 

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52 thoughts on “Stay Tuned”

  1. “The elder patted one of the animals absently,” gives a surprising hint that maybe he’s not 100% bad. Maybe just 99%. Perhaps there’s hope for Elder Pwyll to become enlightened. Still, I would not trust him.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. I am in starting Journey 2 (sorry i am not very fast in reading), and enjoy it, Teagan! Enjoy a wonderful weekend, try to walk the cat. Lol (I never had read about walking a cat, only walking dogs. 😉 Hugsx Michael

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Michael, I am not a fast reader either. I admire that you are also “translating in your head” while you read. I wish I knew more than one language.
      Haha! Crystal would be very upset if I tried to walk her. She’s afraid of everything. The original “Scardey cat.” Heartfelt thanks for your encouragement, my friend. Hugs on the wing.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. Ahhh! Book No. 5, I am sure this will be a excellent at the ones I have already read, am looking for Number 4 and Number 5. I have finished the first three. I love your art, as well, some new, I see.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. You are such an inspiration, Ms. Frances. Journey 5 brings out more of the “ghost” aspect of Dead of Winter, at least in chapters 1 and 2. But that lets me bring in things that are happening around Emlyn’s very large world. The rest of the story goes back to normal… with a huge cliffhanger at the end.
      Thank you for spending part of your weekend here. Hugs on the wing!

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      Reply

    1. Serendipity, Rebecca! 😀 Journey 5 begins an a different way than any of the past, or future, installments. Serializing this massive novel actually seemed to make that part work better — I keep seeing reasons why I’m glad I did it this way. I hope you love “Llyn Pistyll Falls.” Thanks for taking a moment to comment. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks, Dan. Challenges await, but hopefully they are not as big as they might be. I know you have some Murphy’s Law related work coming up too. Fingers crossed that it goes easily.
      I’m delighted that you’re enjoying the May issue of Dead of Winter. 🙂 Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    1. Welcome, Srikanth. Each of these “Journeys” are from 40 to 120 pages (approximately), so quick reads. I call them Journeys, because the characters travel to different parts of their world. I hope you love them. Stay safe and well. Hugs on the wing!

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