Wednesday Writing — Settings and Terms

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Journey 6, The Fluting Fell Characters
Journey 6, The Fluting Fell Characters

Hello, all.  I have two seemingly unrelated words for today: fell and symmetry.

Fell

Since I’ve always lived in the USA, some things that sound unusual or unique to me, might seem ordinary to people living in the United Kingdom or Europe.  However, I’m talking about my own process.  Years ago, I was intrigued by some terms used by fantasy author Tad Williams.  At first I thought they were a made up part of his fantasy world, but I quickly learned otherwise. (Yep, ever the research geek.)  Regardless, for me the reader, his use of unexpected terms added mental paragraphs to his one-word description.

In Dead of Winter, I used some unfamiliar real-world words, like “llyn” (in Wales, a lake or a pool). I could have used a modernized name for the witch elm tree, but I liked “wych” elm.  My choice of “fell” is similar.  Journey 6, the Fluting Fell, a fell is a high and barren landscape feature, such as a mountain or moor covered hill.  The background I chose for the book cover of this Journey is a view of Kersal Moor in Salford, UK in the early 1800s.  In the promotional image I made above, you can see a fuller view of the “fell.”

Dead of Winter: Journey 6, The Fluting Fell b cover and book y Teagan Riordain Geneviene
Dead of Winter: Journey 6, The Fluting Fell

Symmetry

I tend to like photos and paintings, even jewelry that are asymmetrical in design. Yes, Emlyn stands in the foreground, off to one side for the cover Journey 6.  However, the thing that first stands out to me is the tree.  When I put that tree right smack in the center, it felt symbolic to me.  It’s a dividing line between Emlyn in the living world, and the flute music that leads her into the ghostly realm.  It’s also a line of demarcation in her coming of age story, and a barrier between the travelers and the unknown.

Many of us are experiencing very hot temperatures.  Stay safe.  Maybe stay inside and read.  Wishing you an easy coast down the other side of this midweek hump.  I love to hear from you, so friendly comments are encouraged. Hugs on the wing!

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Dead of Winter — The Other Journeys

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

Universal Purchase Links

Journey 6, The Fluting Fell

Kindle:  relinks.me/B096CPJNSX

Paperback: relinks.me/B096CPJNSX

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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55 thoughts on “Wednesday Writing — Settings and Terms”

  2. Yay! journey 6 is on my Kindle. I happen to like/enjoy the “different’ terms you have in your book. Really puts me into the setting and the journey. I always read the list of terms that you have in your stories, but honestly, your writing is so clear that I know what you’re “talking” about even if the word is one I’ve never seen.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Pam, that is such wonderful feedback. I really needed to hear that. I hope you love the June issue. It’s hard to believe I’m into the sixth month of doing these. Dead of Winter would probably have stayed on the shelf forever if I hadn’t decided to try it this way. Stay safe and well. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. I really like your book covers, your art is extraordinary, really! ! Thank you for taking some of your valuable time to write your thoughts about the things you design. I really appreciate! !

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. It’s wonderful to see you, Ms. Frances. You always brighten my day. Thanks so much for your words. To be honest, I wasn’t feeling great about this particular cover — until all the the symbolism registered with me. I hope you’re having a lovely week. Stay happy and sassy! Hugs on the wing.

      Liked by 1 person

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  6. Teagan,
    Your eye for graphic design is only trumped by your writing.
    The book covers are proof.

    I know I’m falling behind, but…… 😀
    Okay, see you on the Delta Pearl! {{hugs}}

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. There are so many wonderful words that we have to hunt down if we want something a little different. And it amazes me how many beautiful words drift away from lack of use over time. That seems sad to me. I love it that you did the research and included less familiar words. It adds to the fantastical aura of your stories. Happy Writing!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks, Pat. Emlyn’s world was in my head for nearly three years, when I was writing this epic. It’s nice to revisit it as I edit it for these serialized novelettes. Plus I love working with images, so I have an excuse to go all out at least once a month making the covers and promos. Hugs winging back to you.

      Liked by 1 person

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  11. I like the different words and phrases that you use that aren’t in our regular speech. It makes the story richer and really takes me to the time and place you’re writing about. Plus I learn new words in different languages.

    Stay cool, and have a lovely rest of the week!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Deborah. I appreciate your feedback. Creating Emlyn’s multi-culture world was huge fun in that regard. Wishing you a beautiful week too. Yes, it’s hot down here. But that’s the price I pay for not having to shovel snow! LOL. So, as long as the air conditioner is working, I’m fine with it. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

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  12. I love your way using uncommon words and asymmetric images/ photos. Thats what also makes your writing unique, and adorable, Teagan! Honestly, it have to look up so many words, so i have fun learning this too. 😉 Enjoy some heat. With a good cap and a cold drink, nothing could be better. :-)) Have a nice rest of the week, Teagan! Big hugsx, Michael

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Michael. I admire people who speak more than one language. You are very patient to look up so many words. Yes, that is the way to learn.
      Did you know that there was a long lasting cooperative effort with the Air Force base here (near White Sands) with Germany air force, for about 30 years?
      https://www.holloman.af.mil/About/Units/German-Air-Force/
      Yes, it will be at least 100 degrees F today. Hugs winging back to you.

      Liked by 1 person

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  14. Great post, Teagan. Having read the 6th Journey as well (review coming to my blog soon) and reading your explanation, the cover is perfect, and it adds to the symbology. I know you love your research, and I love the way you seamlessly incorporate it into the story. Thanks for a wonderful post and for the story. It’s getting hotter here as well, so everybody stay safe.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Hi Olga. Thanks about the cover. With my preference for asymmetrical designs, it caused a little self-analysis when I realized what I was doing.
      I’m very happy that you enjoyed Journey 6. That means a lot to me. Yes, stay safe! I realize that “refrigerated air” air conditioning might not be the norm there. Hugs on the wing.

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  16. I enjoy the language you choose in your stories, Teagan. It gives them a sense of authenticity and it adds to the magic as I’m reading. Whether it’s words like the ones you shared here, or Flapper-speak, or the Cajun words and accent that Jaspe (I forget if it has an e) slips in in The Delta Pearl. They all help move me into the scene you build for me.

    Your cover art is amazing. The time and effort that you put into the artwork shows how much you care about the world you have created. I also really like the images at the start of each chapter. I get the feeling that I am being guided through these stories by someone who truly knows the landscape and the characters. I know that’s true of all authors, but it doesn’t always seem that way.

    We had thunderstorms last night that knocked out our Internet for almost two hours. Fortunately my copy of The Fluting Fell arrived on Monday 😊

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you kindly, Dan. What you said about the language and the covers means a lot to me. I appreciate the feedback about the chapter images. They started as a tool to make it easy for the reader to know (without thinking about it) which character held the point of view. I debated whether or not I should do that with Journey 6, since it’s all Emlyn’s PoV. I finally decided that it was best to be consistent about using images, period. But to avoid repeatedly using her portrait, I opted for images that had to do with the chapter.
      I remember very well how oppressive the combination of heat and high humidity is. So stay safe and well. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  17. I’m always intrigued by language variables. Fr’instance in the UK we use pavements while you use sidewalks. Turns out that sidewalk is the British term which we dropped and you guys kept post independence so it is the older expression with its roots here. I have my brother, a geek after your own heart for that piece of ephemera. Lovely thought jogging post as per…

    Liked by 1 person

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  18. Great post, Teagan! I love seeing words that might be unexpected; great line by you when you wrote “his use of unexpected terms added mental paragraphs to his one-word description.” And masterful use of symmetry amid the asymmetry on your cover!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. It’s good to see you, Dave. Thank you kindly. Williams writes beautiful, detailed descriptions. (Sometimes very long, but still beautiful to read.) However, sometimes he threw in a single unfamiliar word that would add volumes for me. For instance he used the holiday Candlemas, which was new to me.
      In Dead of Winter, I used some pagan holiday names, and chose to have Emlyn’s home country celebrate New Year closer to our Halloween. That has little to do with the plot, but it was a way of building out the world. Hugs to you and Misty.
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candlemas#:~:text=In%20France%2C%20Belgium%2C%20and%20Swiss%20Romandy%2C%20Candlemas%20%28,It%20is%20also%20considered%20the%20day%20of%20cr%C3%AApes.

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks, Robbie. I don’t remember what I was reading when I first encountered “fell” used to describe an area of land. I liked the sound of it, so it stuck with me. Wishing you an easy coast down the other side of this midweek hump. Hugs on the wing.

      Liked by 1 person

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