There is no immediate response, as tea is being set. I watch as Grandmother arranges plates, cups, spoons on the old dining table.
She has left the window ajar; through it drift scents of rest, of nature preparing to slumber. Drops of dew from occasional rain. Pinecones gathering along the sidewalk. A whiff of smoke from neighbors’ chimneys.
Grandmother does not answer until the biscuits and sugar cubes are in place. “We should let go, too,” she says.
I pour water into my cup, wondering what I would release if I allowed myself to be bold as the trees outside. What would I be comfortable with forgetting, tossing aside, never to pick up again? Which burden, once released, would make me free to rest for months and months?
“So should I,” adds Grandmother, sitting. “Alas, humans do not think that way. When we choose lives of worry and fuss, it is difficult to go another way.”
Art by Bruce Crane (1857-1937)
“Do you know what you would let go of?” I ask, fascinated for a glimpse into her mind. Her perspective has more years behind it than I can fathom.
Grandmother offers a vague smile. “What to release after seventy years? There were bad events, yes—but all served to teach me about life.”
I am puzzled. “Should we not let go at all, then?”
She is stirring her tea now, a slow, patient movement, allowing the sugar to dissolve at its own pace.
“Perhaps trees do not release their leaves,” she muses. “Perhaps the leaves release the trees—so the tree has no choice in the matter. What will go, will go, dear. You won’t ruminate later, because it is gone.”
I look outside and see a leaf drop from a bough—breaking free, escaping, its work done.
Grandmother might be right.
Thoughts and memories might do the same thing for us, and we will never need to know.
Sometimes, on a cool autumn’s evening, what we need is light-hearted romance with a happy ending!
The book title, THE DUKE’S WRITER, is what first hooked me.
All of those years ago, writing was an activity shared by all. Letter-writing was an art, and most people kept some form of diary. We don’t see these things as much anymore, which is a shame.
THE DUKE’S WRITER is a tale of two writers. Our female protagonist, Lady Maeve Felton, comes from a family that is struggling financially. They count on her to marry well, hoping she can make a match that will settle their debts.
Maeve wants nothing but to write. Her favorite place is the writing bureau; she fills pages with stories from her heart. She wishes to see her work in print, but the publishing industry at that time was not a place for women.
Maeve is sent to London in hopes of finding a suitable match. She brings along her friend Chloe, a daring young lady who takes risks for herself and Maeve.
Chloe knows of Maeve’s dream to be a writer; she will push for that dream when Maeve is afraid to.
In London, Marquess Benjamin Lestenmeer is a bachelor, though he has no shortage of ladies at his tail. None of them strike him as worth a thought; he knows that they care for little but climbing up in society.
Benjamin’s interests are literary. In his library, he finds refuge from the chaos of the outside world. He also attends meetings with a literary society, where writers of different backgrounds gather to share work and ideas.
A humorous first encounter make Maeve and Benjamin acquaintances. Being friends with Maeve’s brother, with whom she is staying, there are many opportunities for Benjamin to drop in for conversation.
During one of these chats, he mentions the literary society—and regrets it. This society is for gentlemen only; he cannot bring Maeve, no matter how he wishes to.
Maeve’s interest is piqued. A literary society! What writer does not dream of such a thing? With Chloe, she concocts a plan to attend these meetings without the others suspecting she’s a woman.
Posing as a shy male writer, she dons a suit sewn by Chloe to one of their meetings. She brings her notebook. When her work is read aloud, it’s so well received that she’s soon in popular demand.
Maeve, in her male writer form, has entered higher circles.
It is a precarious plan. How long can she maintain this charade—especially when Lord Lestermeer begins to take interest in her? Can she fool him forever?
Will Maeve have to choose between writing and love?
This book is for lovers of happy endings. It features a female MC who wants more from life than is offered to her, a best friend who is supportive to a fault, and a transformation of almost Cinderella proportions.
If you need a quick read to bide chillier days, or want a Happily Ever After, try THE DUKE’S WRITER.
September is here! The hot weather is retreating; pumpkin spice has returned.
As I wait eagerly for leaves to fall from the trees, I am looking for spooky and Halloween-themed books to read.
Ghost stories have always been among my favorites. I enjoy learning about old houses and historical figures; knowing that some people claim them to be haunted adds to the excitement!
I don’t love ghost stories for the scare of it, though. Ghosts are fascinating because they provide a link between the past and future. A ghost is a time traveler, albeit often unwillingly. A ghost would see our world so differently, appreciating things that we take for granted, like touch or a chat about the weather.
I have no opinion about whether ghosts are actually real, but they’re definitely fun to read about.
Originally published in Vella format, The Court Under the Sea is a tale of suspense and magic.
Protagonist Karina Starheart lives a quiet life with her parents and sister. Theirs is a happy family, united and strong. It isn’t the sort of family that would expect a large change or challenge.
Perhaps Karina’s life has been arranged that way on purpose. She does not know the truth about her past, the king and queen who, in times of peril, sent their baby daughter away to safety. She hasn’t a clue about the magic in her past.
What she does know is that she’s always wanted to visit the ocean, but her parents won’t allow it. They offer no satisfying explanation as to why. It simply is not an option.
Karina’s life loses the stability she has known when a the current king issues a decree. Prince Zarek, also known as the Dark Prince, is of age to find a wife—but he cannot marry just anyone.
The decree states that several eligible ladies will visit the Court Under the Sea and pass a series of tests so that Zarek can meet a woman worthy of one day being his queen. Being of minor noble descent, Karina is one of these ladies—and none too excited about it, as the rumors about Zarek do not paint a wonderful portrait.
However, she has no choice. From her parents’ savings, a modest wardrobe is purchased, and Karina finally has the opportunity to see the ocean.
Her dream does not come true peacefully, though. When a handful of ladies are vying for the Prince’s hand, there is bound to be chaos—those who do not like him are still very fond of his title. Ambition makes a person careless; several of the competing ladies are willing to do what’s necessary to eliminate competition.
That turns out to be the least of Karina’s troubles. Something more sinister is happening at the Palace, something too dark for any of the ladies to achieve. A series of attacks and a death interrupt the competition; all of a sudden, nothing matters to Karina or Zarek more than keeping the guests safe.
Karina faces something intangible—her own past, a history she does not know yet. How can you deflect attacks if you do not know their nature? How do you know your enemy if you can’t even see the shape of their shadow?
Will Karina find love in the Court Under the Sea? Will she be forced to run for her life?
Powerful characters and description verging on magic make this a gripping read. We are eager to follow Karina into the sequel. She is very much a character to root for, because she fights for the defenseless and puts others before herself.
Fans of romantic reads, strong female characters, and a healthy dose of suspense will enjoy The Court Under the Sea.
If you wish to read the sequel, it is currently being published on Kindle Vella, where episodes are being released periodically.
I do not typically enjoy high fantasy novels, but SISTERSONG was different.
A tale about the bond of three siblings during a time of war, SISTERSONG has everything.
The reader is given epic scenes, romantic conflict, and a character who struggles for acceptance. I found it immersive. What was more, there wasn’t a character I did not like.
This is a novel that portrays its antagonists in such a way that readers can sympathize with them. Their actions can be abhorrent, but when motives are presented, a reader realizes that the despicable character is human.
The sisters in question are Riva, Sinna, and Keyne. They are princesses, but the times in which they live make life difficult. Magic is fading, their religion being replaced by missionaries, and there is no peace between kingdoms.
As the eldest, Riva faces pressure to represent her kingdom. Sinna struggles with envy of her older sister; though Sinna is the beauty, though she has an urge to live and sing about life, she is not the firstborn.
This hierarchy prevents the sisters from forming a meaningful bond, which will result in tragedy.
Keyne is, of the three, most interesting. When battles break out, Keyne is comfortable taking the role of a warrior. When Riva and Sinna have petty arguments, Keyne is objective. Mistrustful those who court her sisters, Keyne has the instinct to protect.
It is Keyne who one day inherits then kingdom, earning respect after many acts of bravery. There is a poignant sentence near the end—I paraphrase: The king finally acknowledged Keyne as the son he always had.
It was a sentence that made me happy.
SISTERSONG is haunting. It acknowledges that all actions have consequences; forgiveness is possible, but the results might be long lasting.
There is not always a happily ever after.
Some characters, through perseverance and effort, earn the respect they crave.
There can be love in midst of evil.
A deceased person can sing of truth.
An honored individual can take the name they always knew was theirs.
The complexity of this novel, as well as its readability (unlike many fantasies, I did not find it wordy and difficult) make it one of my favorites.
You will enjoy SISTERSONG. It is a hymn about humans who make mistakes. It’s a story of envy and hurt dealt with in a realistic manner. It’s about the struggle many people face in order to be accepted for what they are.
You might find a bit of yourself in each of these siblings. In my opinion, this is the mark of a good book.
I’m somewhat of a picky reader. Few novels can hook me on the first paragraph.
I’m not looking for cliffhangers or prophecies. What I hope for in a book’s opening is beauty—beautiful words, imagery, the taste of a delicious story.
THE MERMAID by Christina Henry — initially I saw the beautiful cover, I admit.
Many books have pretty covers; I lifted it to see what was underneath.
THE MERMAID has a sort of opening that I adore! Its words weave a tale perhaps not uncommon, though this is not a bad thing.
The first page promises a love story, a love-that-transcends-worlds story. Many such tales exist; it is by the storyteller’s skill that they stand out.
Our mermaid, Amelia, has wanted more from life since she was young.
She wasn’t satisfied to live under the sea. She wanted to know about ships and the men who traveled on them. During one of her ventures, she found love in the form of freedom—perhaps one of the most powerful loves.
Even above ground, mermaids live longer than humans. On the death of her husband, Amelia wore well the role a widow. With time she was accepted by neighbors as a solitary woman. She was called a witch; many rumors came to light.
Why did she not age? Why were there no children? Years passed in this manner.
One day, her routine was broken by a man named Levi. Sent on behalf of a showman and owner of a museum, Levi has heard rumors of a mermaid. Their show would benefit from a mermaid; he has come in the hopes that she might work for them.
Initially, Amelia resisted—but after Levi’s departure, the truth sank in: Her husband was dead. He was not coming back. Why should she spend more time alone in a house full of memories?
She wished to see the world. Was that not the reason why she left the ocean?
It’s a treat to see Amelia’s personality develop. She proves herself a strong woman and mermaid when dealing with the museum owner, grappling with cultural differences, and learning to continue life without her husband.
She might perhaps find love again. First she must meet a man with a heart good enough to merit a chance.
Amelia is a remarkable mermaid, a character I grew to like. She is bold in my memory as one of my favorites.
The book’s ending seemed a bit rushed for my taste, but I was enchanted enough by the opening that it did not disrupt the reading much.
THE MERMAID is a novel for those who enjoy love stories, complex characters, and tales of courage. It is a quick read, ideal for a rainy day or chilly autumn evening.
I’m glad that I opened the book to be enchanted by that first paragraph.
Hello everyone! A good friend and fellow Vella author is putting her amazing Vella out in novel format! I’ve read it and been fascinated by the prose; you will really become lost in this story. Here is the information to pre-order! – Mariella
Aurelie Kendrick hasn’t spoken a word since she was a young girl. Lucky for her, vampires, known in her world simply as “pyres” like Alexander don’t speak either. But in a dark world where pyres are enslaved, forced to drink the blood of their masters, can the speechless find a voice?
From the episode entitled, “A Cross Pyre And An Impatient Young Woman.”
I confessed to myself that I had paid very little attention to the countless governesses who attempted to explain the general rules of romantic engagement for Femmes of my stature and upbringing. But despite my lack of knowledge of general rules, I had a general sense that I was breaking them, whatever they were. Generally speaking, of course.
Closer should have made me nervous. I was not nervous, however, and so closer I went until there was no separation between his hips and mine. This was a relief to me—one difficult to explain. For I did not think there could ever be such closeness between another living thing and myself. Truly, I did not think, though they claimed to desire it, that any other living thing wanted to be so close to me.
“You withhold”, Alexander meant to me, pulling my bottom lip between his before pressing his mouth fully to mine. I felt only the slightest prick of his fangs, for he had not lengthened them. With my head nearly swimming, I wondered if he would sink those fangs into me as he once did. But no. Instead, he intended. “I will be patient”.
I detested patience. It was a monster that society told its victims was required, but really, it only convinced us all to work longer hours while they fattened us up for the slaughter. What is the point of patience? Who does it serve but the impatient ones?
I wrapped my arms around his waist and held firmly, but he released my grip rather easily.
“Patience”. With a last touch of his thumb to my lip and a final probe of his considerate eyes, he stepped away. “I will find who hurt you”.
The Underglow An Elegant And Haunting Tale Of Romance, Intrigue, And Adventure From the Mind Of Teshelle Combs
I discovered this year that shifting focus clarifies a story.
I’ve been toying for a while with the idea of putting THE AUTUMN PRINCE on Vella; I even dreamed of it once (too much?) but didn’t trust in my ability to do so without crossing from editing to rewriting.
I must learn control, because all of the rewrites won’t make perfection. It doesn’t exist.
And when I rediscovered the characters in TAP, sharing time with them, I began to understand the characters in GROUNDWATER—because I had someone to compare them with.
Peter is not Caspar; Theo is not Winston. They’re different, and seeing them side-by-side helps me notice their strengths & weaknesses.
–
Autumn is approaching, and with it a season of productivity.
I suddenly have the motivation to work on multiple stories and edit them (without rewriting).
It’s not new; I tend to focus more when leaves begin to fall. I can hear nature preparing to yawn.
More specifically, this story has taken over my life. I’ve never been very good at writing endings to novels. I’ve always wanted to tell a story in serial form like Dickens; I never imagined how addicting it can be.
34 chapters have passed since I announced that The Sea Rose was going on Vella. I have gotten 9 reviews that are absolutely heartwarming. My characters, after being given the chance to come alive, are showing aspects of themselves I was clueless about when brainstorming…and I’ve got so much to thank them for!
I’ve also read so many good stories on Vella! It is a place of awesome creativity and authors who are friendly & supportive to one another. Some Vella authors publish their stories in eBook format. Others love the serial format and continue adding for readers to keep coming back. There is no wrong way to do it.
In my opinion, the point is to have your story told.
Technically The Sea Rose ended at chapter 31 and we are now in the second book. For the moment, the title of book 2 is Groundwater. Subplots are spreading out like a plant’s roots and creating an intricate story that even I am becoming lost in. While I have no self control and will continue to update the story as the weeks pass, I hope to edit The Sea Rose into an eBook by the end of the year.
How has your summer been? Have you read The Sea Rose yet? What’s stopping you?
There’s a new and unique way for you to read eBooks.
It’s called Kindle Vella.
And it’s vastly different from the common methods you’re likely familiar with – standard eBooks and physical books – because of how it allows you to read books one chapter/episode at a time simply by searching on Amazon in Kindle Vella, then clicking on the story that interests you. Best part of all, it doesn’t require you to buy the book all at once or pay for a book that you may not like after the first chapter/episode or two, and you can read the first three chapters/episodes for free regardless of whether you continue reading the story or not. If you choose to continue the story on chapter/episode 4, Amazon will instruct you to purchase tokens in order to unlock that chapter/episode. The tokens are available in several price packets for you to choose from and are stored on Amazon for you to use so you don’t have to keep track of them yourself. It’s that easy!
So, if you like what I’ve shared so far and would like to start reading your first Kindle Vella, then you’ll want to pay close attention to what I’m about to share with you.
Hi, my name is Sheila Sellinger, and I am the author of 4 different Kindle Vella stories, though there will be more in the future. Let me introduce you to them and the inspiration behind each one.
The first one that I published is a military fiction titled Letters In The Wind. It’s the make-believe journal that belongs to a fictional American soldier stationed in Iraq during the conflict in 2003. In it, he writes about his experiences and the special op mission that he was given which means that he will be considered MIA by the military and all communications are cut off – all except for a laptop that gives him his instructions. You also get to read his inner thoughts and how he feels about this new path in his life, and how it effects his relationship with God.
Letters In The Windstarted out as a dream in which I lived the first few chapters as the main character. When I woke up, I knew for a fact that I needed to write it. So, I began and soon realized that I knew virtually nothing about being a soldier. It was time to solicit help from professionals. I knew some ex-military personnel and asked for interviews as well as edits of the story to make sure the details were correct. That proved to be immensely helpful, but I still needed to do my research on Iraq – topography, culture, landscape, etc. I even got advice from several online veterans who helped me with some details that had been missed. After all of that, it was completed a couple of months ago with 42 chapters.
Then came Desperate Passions, my western adventure/romance. It has four main characters who start out with their separate lives but slowly merge together as the story progresses. In the beginning, the town sheriff, James Riley is romantically pursuing the local schoolteacher, Sarah Hanson, but with no luck, when she is kidnapped by a drifter named Dillan Davis who is accompanied by his younger sister Jenny. The chase is on as James hunts them down to rescue Sarah but finds that she may not need rescuing after all. There is also a lunatic mountain man and a band of Indians mixed in to make things more interesting.
Many of the traits that I used for James were borrowed from an old boss of mine back in 2007 when the manuscript was originally written. The other characters are figments of my imagination, and I did extensive research on the era, various locations mentioned in the story, and the Sioux Indian nation’s history during the time and how they lived. It has sat on the shelf until now when I decided it was time to share it with the world.
After Desperate Passions came The Mystic Lady which is a pirate adventure/romance starring the mysterious Captain DeLaroache – a pirate renowned for being harsh and brutal but has an unknown soft spot. The only ones who truly know the captain are the loyal pirate crew and they guard the captain’s secrets carefully. But all will be unraveled when The Mystic Lady takes possession of a storm wrecked smuggling ship and its small crew of proud Scotsmen. Ian McKenna is the captain of the captured vessel and proves to be much more than Captain DeLaroache bargained for, but not all is lost for, even though the two captains clash, they soon form a bond that will last a lifetime.
The Mystic Lady is the story that holds a special place in my heart because it was conceived in the minds of two 14-year-old girls one day while eating lunch at school. One of those girls was me, and I will never forget that conversation. We were imagining what it would be like to be pirates and how we would manage our ships. It was a wonderful discussion, but I will say no more since I don’t want to give anything else away.
My most recent addition to my Kindle Vella lineup is The Crimson Cross. This story begins with Amanda Cain fleeing an untenable situation, heading for London to start a new life. After gaining passage on a ship to England, she meets the aristocratic Lord Halsey (Adam Weston) when he boards said ship. They are on their way to England when pirates attack the ship and Adam saves the day. Years later, Amanda meets Adam again after she’s been fired from her job, and he offers her employment. However, Adam hasn’t been feeling well and his doctor tells him to take some time in the country to recover, but he soon discovers that someone is out to kill him. Events quickly unfold that make it imperative that Adam and Amanda must take to the seas once more, only for Amanda to find out through Adam’s first mate that the captain (Adam) has a dangerous secret.
I wrote The Crimson Crossback in 2008 and had a silent co-author at the time who contributed half of the dialogue and a fair amount of research on the time period, weaponry, and the historical figures mentioned of which I double checked myself before including in the manuscript. None of his contributed material was used raw but was restructured to match my voice and the story as a whole.
I hope you will give Kindle Vella a look in general and, specifically, my stories. And remember to hit the thumb at the bottom of each chapter/episode and follow each story that speaks to you because the authors get paid for everything you do on their story(ies); each chapter read, each time you unlock a chapter, every thumb that is clicked, and every follower. It matters and makes a difference. With that said – Happy reading!
Having joined Kindle Vella a week ago with my own novel, The Sea Rose,I quickly discovered that there are stories being published on this platform which are very impressive indeed. Vella authors share a feeling of companionship, and the platform also offers monetary gain if you advertise correctly. It’s a fun place to meet new writers and explore works which are not in bookstores yet.
I believe that the Kindle Vella authors deserve acknowledgment. Don’t think it’s the easy way to publish; from editing, to keeping schedule, to even making sure the chapter actually publishes on time, Vella is a challenge we happily accept. I hope the literary world will pay more attention to these authors.
I will be interviewing a Vella author every week to try and spread the word about this fantastic writing platform. My first interview is with May Leonardo whose storyTime Travel and Cupcakes had just the right hook to get me reading; I’m sure it would hook you, too!
My name is May. I have a background in marketing and procrastination. I live in sunny Southern California with my two preteen boys and a very patient husband. When I’m not spending quality time with my guys, you can find me hiding with a book, camping in my vintage trailer, or sitting in my pjs writing. I am a Potter Head, Fred Head (google Fred Harvey), professional Netflixer and have this unnatural obsession with aesthetics from the past. I have recently published my first story on Kindle Vella and am loving the writer life.
Which books inspired you to become a writer?
I blame romance novels.
My love of romance novels goes back…way back…1990s back. I grew up when YA wasn’t really a thing, so I jumped into the world of romance novels at a very young age, maybe too young. Nevertheless, I was hooked. The romance, the passion, the happily ever after….I never wanted that rush of endorphins that dash through the brain once the last page is turned to ever go away. So, I became a writer.
What do you love most in a story?
There are so many things I love about a great story, but my favorite is the free travel. A story can sweep you off to far-away lands, a different time period, and other worlds. No Dramamine needed!
Tell us about your plot!
My genre is Time Travel Romance. My story is about finding love and having the courage to embrace it. As the story progresses, my main character learns about friendships, self-esteem and true love. I sprinkle humor, sass, banter and happily ever afters through out the plot. Natalia can tell you more about her adventure in her own words below:
Time travel is real…and complicated.
Armed with a broken heart, an unused bridesmaid dress, and sky-high anxiety, I find myself in 1880 California. The no WiFi, no penicillin, no tampons 1800s. The culprit? An enchanted necklace.
Thanks to a case of mistaken identity, I have a place to sleep and employment. However, oblivious of what life is like in the old west, I’m winging it. My top priorities, blend in and find a way back home. My possible undoing—Gavin McCallum.
Gavin is tall, dark, and delicious. Also on the list: charming, brilliant, successful, and sometimes full of himself. As his new bright shiny object, he is determined to woo me. I am determined to stay away. Resistance may be futile.
I try to keep my focus on my priorities…but he has abs.
Will I ever find a way home? Do I still want to go home? Like I said, time travel is complicated.
Is there a message that you want readers to walk away from your story with?
You have always been enough.
Why did you choose to publish with Kindle Vella?
Kindle Vella is new and I suffer from Bright Shiny Object Syndrome. Also, I became intrigued by how the platform works. Kindle Vella readers can provide feedback through reviews instantly, potentially becoming participants in the story’s creation. The platform also reminds me of how we watched TV in the 90s, but better, we don’t have to wait for the commercials to go to the bathroom.
Mariella Hunt 