What a great holiday I have had. Two weeks off in June. Cold but not wet or not too wet anyway. It has been a wonderful time spent with my beautiful wife and my three gorgeous kids. There have been more school and kindy runs than I am used to doing and I have an even greater respect for Heidi (I don't know how you do it all darling girl...)
I loved celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary, escaping from the children for a night to enjoy some together time (many thanks to our wonderful friends Larissa and Ben and Maria for making this possible). Dinner and a movie and so much bubbles... what an amazing night.
I finally got out to the front and back yard... weeding... mowing... all the fun jobs. With help from Heidi's mum and dad I was able to cram so many odd jobs that were well overdue into my second week. I must say the house is looking pretty good.
Finally I even managed to get a short story written and submitted... It is a 1,000 word thriller based on James Pattersons' character Alex Cross (Kiss the Girls, Along Came a Spider, etc.) When I know how the voting works I will send out a link and give you a chance to have a read.
Back at work now (hit the ground running) but looking forward to September... But first my main bread and butter the school holiday activities.
Stay tuned...
Sunday, 22 June 2014
Saturday, 21 June 2014
From the diary of Stephan, Knowledge Keeper of the city of Andrapaal
From the diary of Stephan, Knowledge Keeper of the city of Andrapaal
Year 496, Season Spring, Edward Bear-Heart is Chief Sage, Fredrick the Red is King
I Stephan from the Northern Road to Nowhere, Knowledge Keeper of our famed capital, the city of Andrapaal do so record these words as truth. The year is 496 since the sylvi released us from the vorsurk dogs. I am honoured to be one who has benefited from their gift of the holy knowledge of literacy.
Today it rained, a fine sun shower that wet my blue robes as they hung drenched from washing, seeking the sun's rays. The pit pat of the light droplets upon my slate roof humoured me. The tune brought to my mind a bard's performance I had attended as a student sage.
This was my sole moment of pleasure this day. As the sun shower passed I left my home and strode towards the palace. I was waylaid by a foreign merchant from the south, could not the man see I had no time to view his patterned clay pots? Three visitors to the city I reminded to visit the hall and record their business. Surely in a kingdom where tradition and communication are equally key the word should have passed from citizen to citizen that each and every visitor needs to record their business?
Then my lessons began. Half a day of young giggling boys in yellow robes, not interested in fact, in fact only interested in themselves and where the power that comes with being a sage can take them in this kingdom. Being a Knowledge Keeper is a great responsibility, we record every moment of our people's lives. Life influences kingdom which in turn improves life.
One yellow robed boy concerns me most though. A young one named Morthos seems to be focused upon our laws, how they are made and how they can be changed. Some of what I have overheard this youngster discuss with his peers can almost be considered manipulation! I have every mind to discuss this boy with Bear-Heart, though I fear the man who is our senior will see no err in what the child says. Troubling, for it is not what the children say, but perhaps how they say it.
Thus ends this entry.
Year 496, Season Spring, Edward Bear-Heart is Chief Sage, Fredrick the Red is King
I Stephan from the Northern Road to Nowhere, Knowledge Keeper of our famed capital, the city of Andrapaal do so record these words as truth. The year is 496 since the sylvi released us from the vorsurk dogs. I am honoured to be one who has benefited from their gift of the holy knowledge of literacy.
Today it rained, a fine sun shower that wet my blue robes as they hung drenched from washing, seeking the sun's rays. The pit pat of the light droplets upon my slate roof humoured me. The tune brought to my mind a bard's performance I had attended as a student sage.
This was my sole moment of pleasure this day. As the sun shower passed I left my home and strode towards the palace. I was waylaid by a foreign merchant from the south, could not the man see I had no time to view his patterned clay pots? Three visitors to the city I reminded to visit the hall and record their business. Surely in a kingdom where tradition and communication are equally key the word should have passed from citizen to citizen that each and every visitor needs to record their business?
Then my lessons began. Half a day of young giggling boys in yellow robes, not interested in fact, in fact only interested in themselves and where the power that comes with being a sage can take them in this kingdom. Being a Knowledge Keeper is a great responsibility, we record every moment of our people's lives. Life influences kingdom which in turn improves life.
One yellow robed boy concerns me most though. A young one named Morthos seems to be focused upon our laws, how they are made and how they can be changed. Some of what I have overheard this youngster discuss with his peers can almost be considered manipulation! I have every mind to discuss this boy with Bear-Heart, though I fear the man who is our senior will see no err in what the child says. Troubling, for it is not what the children say, but perhaps how they say it.
Thus ends this entry.
Monday, 2 June 2014
Welcome to Thaerun
To all... This is my first attempt at writing a blog post (diary entry) from the point of view of one of the characters from my novel The Eleventh Tome. It has definitely been a challenge but hopefully I have done a good job. Please tell me what you think.
From the diary of Sebastian, Knowledge Keeper of the city of Merchant's Castle:
Year 495, Season Summer, Edward Bear-Heart is Chief Sage, Fredrick the Red is King
I Sebastian Greyhawke, Knowledge Keeper of the city Merchant's Castle do so record these words as truth. The year is 495 since we have been released as a people by the sylvi and given the written word to record our lives. The season is summer and the day was warm. The perfect weather for such a special day.
The highlight of this day has been the arrival of an envoy from Andrapaal. I was lucky enough to meet them at the gates to our fine city. Our great Chief Sage Bear-Heart has come to speak with me on matters associated with the sylvi border. It is not often that the chief of sages will leave the heart of the kingdom, the fine and fair city of Andrapaal and take the Path of Truth beyond the Vale of History. To traverse to the very western border, an eleven day journey is quite a feat for a man of Edward's age. He is a rare one though, strong in stature from his time as a holy warrior, a celebrated Truth Keeper, but then a wise and studious one who undertook a challenging task to become a student sage. Still we are all amazed at how Bear-Heart now wears the blue robes of Knowledge Keeper, the head of our kind.The Chief Sage had naught but kind words to say about our relationship with the strange forest dwelling sylvi. I look forward to escorting the old man beyond our kingdom to meet with our allies and the people who are our peaceful neighbours.
Thus ends this entry.
From the diary of Sebastian, Knowledge Keeper of the city of Merchant's Castle:
Year 495, Season Summer, Edward Bear-Heart is Chief Sage, Fredrick the Red is King
I Sebastian Greyhawke, Knowledge Keeper of the city Merchant's Castle do so record these words as truth. The year is 495 since we have been released as a people by the sylvi and given the written word to record our lives. The season is summer and the day was warm. The perfect weather for such a special day.
The highlight of this day has been the arrival of an envoy from Andrapaal. I was lucky enough to meet them at the gates to our fine city. Our great Chief Sage Bear-Heart has come to speak with me on matters associated with the sylvi border. It is not often that the chief of sages will leave the heart of the kingdom, the fine and fair city of Andrapaal and take the Path of Truth beyond the Vale of History. To traverse to the very western border, an eleven day journey is quite a feat for a man of Edward's age. He is a rare one though, strong in stature from his time as a holy warrior, a celebrated Truth Keeper, but then a wise and studious one who undertook a challenging task to become a student sage. Still we are all amazed at how Bear-Heart now wears the blue robes of Knowledge Keeper, the head of our kind.The Chief Sage had naught but kind words to say about our relationship with the strange forest dwelling sylvi. I look forward to escorting the old man beyond our kingdom to meet with our allies and the people who are our peaceful neighbours.
Thus ends this entry.
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