
I haven’t written in over a month, except for social posts and my blog. I took a much needed break, but the weird thing was that the longer the break stretched out, the more getting back in the writing saddle seemed too exhausting. This in a life where simply taking care of myself tires me out.
But yet that voice… it speaks again. Last night I wrote the opening to my second fairy tale, The Wildest Rose, my retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I‘m not sure if I will ever finish or publish this one—the way my health is going—but here’s hoping.
EXCERPT
1473 Evermoor
Rhea
In my dreams I see him, his hand held out, palm up with a rose thorn protruding from his index finger like a freakish fingernail. Though I want to, I cannot resist moving towards him. He is the moon, and I am the tides. My dark wavy hair flutters behind me in the air, as graceful as fish fins in water, and tickles my neck with each step forward.
His eyes, the color of walnut dye, are not unkind but bore into mine until I look away and fix them on the thorn again—the foretold means of my death. Sweat beads on my lip as my hand reaches towards his extended one, my fingertip only inches away from the thorn. I try to pull back, but my arm is immovable. Fated, like me.
It was foretold that I’d die today, on my twenty-first birthday. I’ve heard whisperings of it from the lips of my three aunts when they hadn’t thought I was listening, but never was there a man in this fortelling. Where has he come from? And where will he take me? Into the light or into the shadow?
He speaks, and my ears strain to hear his words, “Do not be afraid.”
But I am petrified.
My eyes shift to the thorn again. Where has it come from? All the rose bushes in Evermoor have been burned. Cut asunder. Forbidden and utterly outlawed. I have never even seen a rose other than depicted in works of art, carvings, or an illuminated text. I have imagined them, of course, and Aunt Tansy has spun me a story or two about them, despite Aunt Bella and Aunt Iris’s protests.
I sense the prick of the tip of the thorn is imminent. A cry of protest rises in my throat, but it does not come forth. My voice is trapped. Caged. Suddenly, pain bursts through my finger, and with it I succeed in screaming. Then my eyes flash open, and it takes me some seconds before I realize I am in my bed in the loft room of the cabin in the woods I share with my aunts and am still alive, for the present, at least.
Thank The Light!
The hammering of my heart becomes slower, and I roll on my side, taking in the red blush of dawn through the leaded glass windowpane.
Does the color of the sky signal my death as much as the dream I’ve just had? I hope not. I am not ready to die, but then I suppose no one is…
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading the start to my next story. Please pray for me as I continue.
Blessings, J
This is exciting and intriguing! So happy for and with you!
Thank you!
What an intriguing start to an old fairytale! 🧚♂️. I LOVE it 🥰 even if you have to dictate to someone, or if it takes 10 years to pace yourself to write, OR, even if it gets put away and the Lord leads you in another direction, Jenny, we will always love you 🥰💖♥️🙏🙏🙏
Aww, thanks, Lana! Your sweet words are an encouragement.
So beautifully written, Jenny. I hope you will be able to complete this story, I would love to read it. God bless.
Thank you, Carolyn! I certainly hope I can.
Good morning, wow, your new book sounds like a very good read, I love the start of it! Thank you for sharing it with us. I will keep you in my prayers my beautiful friend. God Bless you and your family.
Thanks so much, Alicia! I appreciate your encouragement and support. ❤️
The excerpt pulled me in and made me want to know would happen next. I could visualize it all in my mind. Nicely done!
I am glad it did. ❤️ It’s essential to engage a reader in those first few paragraphs.
“I took a much needed break, but the weird thing was that the longer the break stretched out, the more getting back in the writing saddle seemed too exhausting.” Ah, this is so relatable! In the past, I’ve felt the same way when it comes to my schoolwork and sometimes to editing. I hope you work through that feeling by God’s grace.
Also, the preview was BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for sharing, and I’m definitely excited to see more!
Hi Lily, It feels good to hear another writer say that too. Thank you. I hope to continue to be able to write, by God’s grace.
Thanks so much! I’m glad the start of my second fairy tale drew you in and made you want to hear more. 😊