Novels:
The Willow Knot (fairytale fantasy) is at 105,000 words in final draft. That's down from 129,000 words in the second draft. The Willow Knot is a retelling of Grimm tale 11, Brother and Sister. Retelling means filling in a lot that a fairytale can leave blank, like why the wicked people do wicked things, and how the characters fall in love, or just giving the characters names. I've set the story about the time the Grimms were collecting folktales, in the late 1700s, but the country it takes place in isn't Germany, or France, or Hessia.
Myl and Tyl are the children of a disgraced and executed official, who run away from the unloving home of their aunt, only to be ensnared by magic in the Maerchenwald. Tyl is transformed into a deer, and he and Myl must survive the dangers and wonders of the forest. When a handsome young king finds Myl, are their troubles over, or doubled?
The Cost of Silver (historical dark fantasy) is coming up to 25,000 and outlined. I put the opening chapters up on my LiveJournal and had a positive comment on the first from TNH, which made me very happy.
Part One, The Astrologer's Death, is set in 1600s England, when witchcraft was feared and even a king's head was not safe. Runaway apprentice Tom flees the master who wants not only his magic but his blood, and takes refuge with herbwife Nan Moray.
The Fate of the Dead (historical fantasy) is at 15,000 words and outlined. Set in mid-1800s East Anglia, it's an episodic story of ghost-laying based on local legends. Molly the wise woman, Griffin the cunning man, his apprentice Jem, and the mountebank Rainey are called on to deal with an epidemic of ghosts. That's trouble enough, but can they stand against the Black Shuck's return, or will England become a land of the dead?
The Frary Luck (juvenile historical fantasy) is fully outlined with the opening chapter written. I put it together for a contest by Fidra Books, who reprint classic children's books, though it wasn't finished in time to enter. Twins Jon and Kate seek the Frary Glass that held the Luck their family so desperately needs. The search takes cautious Jon through the Sideways Land where the Tattercoated Man gives riddling answers, and traps impatient Kate in a house besieged by vengeful Fairy Folk.
Bookwyrms (modern comic fantasy) is in rough outline with a few scenes written. It's based on the situation invented for the short story "Spellcheck", where Magic has returned to our world, but no one can control or exploit it. Deposits of Magic rest in ancient trees and hills, the old books and talismans that sheltered it before. An unscrupulous foundation plans to destroy the books in order to harvest the magic, and only two library assistants stand in the way. Oh, and dragons.
Sack of Lies (urban fantasy) began as a NaNoWriMo novel based on a dream, and stands at 20,000 words, no outline. A harried grad student's life is interrupted by the appearance (exploding through her wall) of a dubiously-angelic young woman carrying a stunted devil in her backpack, and claiming to be on the trail of an 'old and hungry thing' that means to destroy all the storytellers of humankind.
Children of Mercury (historical mystery) is outlined and the first chapter written. I put it together for the Debut Dagger contest, over two weeks (travelling both weekends), because my husband dared me. Much research still to go. In 1300s Florence, master painter Agnolo is called to help his old friend Gaudenzio with the massive decorations for his patron's tournament. Before the tournament is over, the patron lies near death and Gaudenzio is accused of poisoning.
The Lousing Woman (historical mystery) is a glint in my eye at most. It's set in 11th century Montaillou, where the lousing woman Raymonde must solve the murder of a Cathar elder. Much research to be done yet.
Short Stories:
Spellcheck continues to make the rounds.
The King of Elfland's Stepdaughter is online at Coyote Wild.
Fluke has run out of possible markets because of its length. The solution may be to pull it as a novelet and revise it into a novel...
Foretold (workshopped at VCon) continues to make the rounds.
Bride of the Vampire continues to make the rounds.
Chimps on a Blimp has started off on the rounds.
Climbing Boys (workshopped at Potlatch) has started off on the rounds.
Elementary Magic is unfinished, waiting for a new title and more research.
Refuge is unfinished, and may be retitled Gods' Meat.
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