strong heroines, adorable heroes
Way back in January, I offered to write Lively St. Lemeston stories for folks who donated to organizations that protested the Muslim ban, and Korey took me up on it. Sorry it took me so long to get to this, Korey.
Continue reading “"Sweet Disorder" mini-story: a new story quilt”
Final story index:
#1: “Sukey and Toogood doing something super-domestic, and they get in a fight about how to do it, but then they have to make up”
#2: “Sukey and Toogood at the end of a long day.”
#3: Ash and Rafe celebrating Purim
#4: “In for a Penny costume party” (mostly about Percy and Louisa)
#5: Mrs. Khaleel’s job interview at the vicarage
Hi all! It’s Purim, maybe the best holiday ever? The story of Purim was one of my favorite stories as a kid, I made my mom tell it to me all the time. Vashti and Esther are bosses and hamantaschen are delicious. So to celebrate, I’m writing mini-stories!
Give me a prompt, related to any of the characters or to the world of any of my books, and I will write you at least 100 words of fiction in response.
I will do as many as I can tomorrow and Saturday…after that all bets are off.
Go!
Below the cut (click the links to go directly to a story):
1. Ash and Lydia get mysteriously transported to the present day.
2. Mrs. Khaleel’s day off.
3. Jamie tries to explain to Rafe where the town’s name comes from.
4. Mr. Moon goes on a reality TV baking show.
5. Dot Wrenn and Abby Gower go to IKEA.
Elijah fans—I’ve written a ministory about young Elijah reading queer fiction for Queer Romance Month! (I’ve also recorded myself reading a scene from the book and doing a probably pretty lousy French accent if that sounds like your thing.)
Final story index
#1: Solomon and Serena go on holiday, and Solomon cooks dinner.
#2: Jamie (from True Pretenses) and Serena have a playdate. Lydia babysits and [SPOILER] makes an appearance.
#3: Solomon’s school friends have an embarrassing mishap.
#4: Antoine on his day off.
#5: People are betting on how long Solomon and Serena will stay together. Solomon has an idea.
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Today is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. (My critique partner Susanna Fraser is in Belgium right now for the reenactments and I am so jealous!) Now you may remember that A Lily Among Thorns ends with news of the battle of Waterloo reaching England (which of course didn’t happen until days later). So in honor of the holiday:
Give me a prompt, related to any of the characters or to the world of A Lily Among Thorns, and I will write you at least 100 words of fiction in response.
When I did this for Ash Wednesday, I was asked what kind of prompts I like. I was imagining something like, “I want to see Sophy and Antoine playing cards,” etc., but if there’s another way you like to give prompts, I am open to whatever!
This is open until I get around to writing them, which will be probably be in early July once I’ve turned in the next Lively St. Lemeston book. I’m only promising to write the first 10 prompts but if I get more and I’m still enjoying myself after 10, I’ll do more.
Final story index:
#1: Toogood as a child at Tassell Hall.
#2: Rafe offscreen during True Pretenses.
#3: Jamie and Rafe and sheep-shearing.
#4: Imogen Makepeace buys a new dress.
#5: Little Rafe and Ash celebrate Passover.
#6: Ash tries to explain the scheduling of Ash Wednesday.
#7: Ash goes missing on Ash Wednesday.
#8: Little Ash and Rafe, SPOILERZZZZZZ.
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This is one of Ash’s favorite days of the year (Ash: “Rafe, it’s my day again!” Rafe: [groans] “That isn’t any funnier this year than it was last year, Ash.” Ash: [laughs and laughs]) and I wanted to do something to celebrate.
So give me a prompt, related to either of the Lively St. Lemeston books (Sweet Disorder and True Pretenses), and I will write you at least 100 words of fiction in response.
Open until midnight 2/18 (in your own time zone).
ETA: I’ve been asked what kind of prompts I’m looking for. I think what I was imagining was like, “I want to see tiny Rafe steal something,” etc., but if there’s another way you like to give prompts, I am open to whatever!
ETA2: I’m not sure I’ll get to any more of these today (Wednesday). They’re coming out a bit longer than I was expecting and I need to do some research for a few of them! This is so much fun, guys, thanks for loving these characters. All your prompts are awesome. Keep ’em coming, and I will work on them over the next few days. <3
Warning: here be spoilers.
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ETA: I wrote more about these guys after all! The newest version of Lily, the one with this cover:
has a brand-new epilogue set in Paris, in which René and Elijah prepare for a visit from Solomon and Serena.
A lot of people have asked me whether I’ll ever write a story about what happens in a certain gay secondary romance after the end of A Lily Among Thorns. The truth is, I probably won’t, because to me, their story is over. Their conflict is resolved. In fact, there’s no doubt in my mind that their next meeting will go something like this…
Continue reading “EXT. PARIS – SUNSET”