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| Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash |
Happy Monday!
It's the second Monday of the month, which means (according to my new posting schedule) today's featuring a writerly post! I thought I'd share some progress on my current WIP, Noya, in the few months following November's NaNoWriMo.
Sadly, I've not made as much progress as I had planned, although that's not to say I haven't made any... TT_ TT It's just been extremely slow, and I've hit a wall in the plot & am kinda stuck at present. humph However, a dear friend of mine is helping me brainstorm all the puzzle pieces (especially the nonexistent ones) in my head & I'm hoping to be back on track soon!
For those at a loss, I'm in the process of completing the first draft to my novel, Noya, a Beauty & the Beast retelling with ELVES, mythical creatures, mages & demon-wolves, curses, plot twists, and protective older brothers. Here's a story blurb, as well as some fun concept covers I've designed, just because. :]
blurb
She sacrificed everything for a beloved brother.
Only to gain an eternal prison.
He has lived an empty life for nearly 500 years.
Could one mere girl possibly change his cursed darkness?
> > > > > > > > > > < < < < < < < < < <
Once upon a time, a girl named Noya and her family lived comfortably in the booming city of Meyrn. They have lacked for nothing her entire life, but all that changed when her father's once-fortuitous fleet of famed merchant ships find their fate in the depths of the sea after a monstrous storm. And all their great wealth disappears.
In an effort to save his family, Noya's father gathers her, her three brothers, and what belongings remain to their name, and moves to the country leagues away where they begin a humble existence in the shadow of a great Wood.
But little do they know their paths will soon cross with that of a---
BEAST.
What greater act of love is there than the sacrifice of one to save another?
And in loving the unlovable, can one lowly girl break a 500-year enchantment?
Or is it not up to her?
It all certainly needs some work [STILL], but at least you have somewhat of an idea of the story... HEH. Which cover do you like best? I'm pretty sure, if I ever get to the publishing stage, neither will be used, but it's fun designing regardless. ;D
snippets
Morning
broke over the land, the early sun highlighting the growth of the
Green Season maturing into the seasonal changes that brought on the
Summer solstice. The days had grown longer and the weather far
warmer. Just as the change in the land was taking place, he could
also feel a change in the castle. The rooms and the grounds did not
seem as bright as they once had over the centuries. Possibly, it was
due to the fulfillment of the Curse. He knew not when the day was
that would come, but he knew his days were numbered. Had always
been.
Noya
had brought a spark of hope to this House, and, dare he think, to his
heart as well. But would any of it be enough? Had he given up too
soon? Or was it simply better that way? His people would remain
[imprisoned]—and that would never sit well with him,
but once his mind was given over to the monster chained within, would
it truly matter? Who cared that the memory of his kingdom would not
live on in the generations to come?
The next thought that came hit him like a blow to the chest.
He cared.
A
soft melody carried through the rooms at this time, drawing him to
the present. It was a tune he was unfamiliar with, and not sung by
Eleniel. She had retired to her rest until evening came, and that
left Noya, for he was quite sure the little cat did not sing. He
had never heard the girl's gentle voice in song as it wafted through the empty halls.
> > > > > > > > > >
She was a lovely maiden.
That thought gave him pause. But he found it true. Her long, dark brown hair fell to her waistline in waves. Freckles covered her soft features, adding a measure of innocent and natural beauty. But her eyes were a woodland hazel, large and gentle, her emotions never too far from the surface. He discovered he rather liked that about this girl. She was real. So far from the pretenders of court and the nobles groveling for notice.
> > > > > > > > > >
The hours passed slowly and still no sign of the Beast. Noya had to
do something or she felt she would go mad. Despite her lack
of energy, she’d forced herself to walk the gardens after
breakfast, hoping perhaps he would have returned come the midday
meal. But the day wore on in boredom, bringing with it a solemn air
to the castle. Noya noticed the light sconces in the halls seemed to
delay a while longer before lighting her way in the dim corridors,
and the library was dull and dusty despite the natural light
streaming through the wall of enormous glass. She hadn’t seen any
sort of living creature all day.
Curse this Curse.
> > > > > > > > > >
“What would Brom have to say about that, I wonder?” Her thoughts
shifted slightly to the open countryside she had seen beyond the two
figures of the Beast and Baradil. “Oh
to be free,” she murmured, to no one in particular. No
sooner had her lips uttered the phrase, than a rush of magic—at
least that was the only thing she could think to call it—flashed
before her eyes, temporarily blinding her and she stumbled to her
knees. Was this what it felt like to be caught up in a whirlwind?
In a blink, her
world ceased spinning its suffocating embrace and she opened her
eyes, drawing in a deep breath.
But it wasn’t the
firm floors of the Beast’s bedchambers that she felt under her.
Nor the dusty walls with its shredded draperies, or the room's chaotic
mess of furniture and décor.
Instead, the smooth
dark trunks of giant trees surrounded her in the fading light. And
the forest noises of creatures readying for day’s end sounded
softly all around. How—
She was in the
Wood.
An intense measure
of fear immediately gripped her.
Terror seized her
throat. Her hands clutched at the underbrush and roots littering the
forest floor. Could she chance a scream? Her eyes flickered to the
border of the trees a mere handful of yards away. The late afternoon
sun caught the pasturelands and an orchard she could glimpse past the
green hills dotted with trees, and somewhere the homes of people
completely oblivious to the entire world of a race trapped in the
heart of the Wood.
She couldn’t.
Tearing her gaze
away, she scrambled to her feet. Somehow, she managed to gain
control of her voice, and she allowed herself to call for him.
Surely, he would hear—wherever she was...
“Emyr!” she all but screamed, panic lacing her tone. “Emyr!”
> > > > > > > > > >
The
crack trailed its way across the mirror’s surface, its sound
magnified in his ears alone like the reverberating roar of a dragon’s
rage.
And with it, shattered the last shard of hope he had dared rekindle.
And all for what?
His House was crumbling, bit by bit.
His people were forever doomed to their [prisons], their souls eternally trapped.
And he? It would all be over—much sooner than he had expected. He would be overcome by a mindless Beast, and his lands would fall to the tyrant, Marduk.
But what of Noya?
The Curse would—was affecting her somehow. And that, he could not allow.
He straightened suddenly.
-------------------
His gaze fell back to that of the little hand mirror's surface, the spider-like cracks nearly filling the entire space within its gilded frame.
And
another piece of his heart he did not know had existed threatened to
shatter with the rest of his falling world.
*holds breath in anticipation*
Whatcha think???
These snippets are some of the most recent---and I loves them so much cuz they're getting more & more into the nitty gritty. *mischievous smile* If you noticed, I took out the little bitty spoilers... ;D
Have a marvelous week, my friends!
AAAAAHHHH!!! THIS WAS ALL SO LOVELY!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the mock covers you made! IT'S HARD TO CHOOSE A FAVORITE. They're all so stunning. Maaaybe the second one? I like how the black and white gives it a mysterious feel, and the flower border is breathtaking!
AND THIS SNIPPETS. *squeals* Your writing is just RICH with gorgeous descriptions and emotions! *clutches heart* I love it so much! It so FITS the whole Beauty and the Beast feel. I don't even know if that makes sense... But for me B&B has that rich, lush flavor. I DON'T KNOW. But this captures everything I love about the story. My favorite was when Noya magical appeared in the Wood. Sooooo intriguing! o.o
I cannot wait to one day read this gorgeousness in full! Thank you for the delightful update! :D
*BEAMS* Awww, you are so beyond sweet, gurl. *^ - ^*
DeleteThank you! It's quite fun fiddling with them. I like that one two because it really highlights her freckles & kinda pulls you in...?
EEEE!!! Awww, thank you so much!!! You flatter me so---I'm so pleased of what you think of my writing. *blushes forever* That totally makes sense too! I know exactly what you mean! B&B stories just have their own feel to them. Heehee *grins mischievously*
Thank you thank you THANK YOU. Hopefully one day you'll get to!!! <333