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Beloved Enemy joined Starquest and Children of the Mist to continue the Destiny Trilogy and I'm thrilled to announce was shortlisted for the R.N.A. RoNA Awards 2017, awarded 2nd Runner up in the RONE Awards 2017 and was the winner in the SF/Fantasy category of the 'Best Banter Contest'.

Saturday 24 March 2018

Snippet Sunday - 'Dancing With Fate' "Terpsichore...a word."

Writers share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet on Sunday each week. Be sure to visit the amazing writers in this group and leave them a comment if you can - they're listed below:


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Hi   fellow  Snippeteers and readers.  Thank you to everyone who's been following and commenting on my 'Destiny Trilogy' series of books. A change from my beloved Science Fiction romances today - I'm featuring another one from my back list - a romantic fantasy novella, set in 5th Century Wales and Ancient Greece. (A wierd combination, huh?) This book was orginally part of the 'Songs of the Muses' anthology published by the Wild Rose Press, but I re-published it myself having got my rights back.

I don't consider myself in any way a poet - but somehow this particular story seemed to call for one - so this is the very start of the first chapter, set on Mount Olypus in the distant past, although the poem itself refers to Cymru (Kuhm-ree) the Principality of Wales. The Teifi (Tie-vee) is one of the major Welsh rivers.
(This is included in my ten sentences)


DANCING WITH FATE
(Cover by Miss Mae)

In the valley so green, in the sunlight of morn, 

The muse of the dance strays thoughtful and slow: 


The flowers of spring her bright hair adorn


But the wind through the trees sighs, laden with woe. 

She looks o'er the mountains, heart filled with emotion, 


And watches the Teifi to the great ocean flow. 


"Cymru, poor Cymru," are the words softly spoken. 


"Your music's forgotten, you live by the bow." 

CHAPTER 1
The last notes of the choir died away and on ceasing their song, the nine beautiful sisters made the slightest of curtsies to their leader. Apollo smiled in approval and the marble hall, with its gleaming pillars of white and gold, glowed in his radiance. When they turned to leave, he called to the one who played the lyre.

"Terpsichore—I would have a word with you."

BLURB
When Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance, is assigned to revisit the land of Wales, her task seems simple enough. She is unaware there is a hidden agenda. Before she can return to Olympus her path crosses that of the mysterious Myrddin, and her heart is lost. But Myrddin is promised to another. His mind is set on the dangerous task that lies before him, and the woman he has sworn to save. Nevertheless, he cannot deny the growing attraction between him and the beautiful stranger he meets along the way. Terpsichore and Myrddin face a deadly force that threatens to part them forever. Is she destined to lose the only man she has ever truly loved? Is there nothing she can do to save him? Finally, when all seems lost, in desperation she finds herself DANCING WITH FATE. 









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34 comments:

  1. Love the sound of this, great snippet!

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  2. That's a beautiful opening, Hywela. Well done!

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  3. Beautiful! And this sounds like a really interesting, fun premise for a story!

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    1. Thanks Christina, it was great fun to write.

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  4. Lovely opening. And I adore stories inspired by mythology.

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    1. Thanks Alexis, yes mythology is fascinating and relly do feed the imagination!

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  5. That seems a sorrowful verse. Give me a great sense of foreboding for whatever word Apollo wants.

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    1. It is sad, The land of Cymru has forgotten its music in the wake of endles wars and conflicts.

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  6. That was a lovely snippet. I always enjoy anything that touches on the Greek myths!

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  7. Great snippet! 5th century Wales sounds really interesting - I know nothing about that time period/place. How did you do your research?

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    1. Thanks Karysa. I was born and bred in rural Wales and brought up on Welsh myths and legends, so it was in my blood, so to speak, I did a lot of on-line research into Greek mythology though, which was fascinating, especially since many of the legends seem to contradict each other!

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  8. Uh oh. Sounds like he's about to assign her some task. Good snippet, Hywela. :)

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  9. Your poem is far better than I could ever do. Thanks for the pronunciation guide. Welsh, along with Irish and Polish, is hard to pronounce based on spelling.
    Of course, I should talk, with my last name. When I say the name for people (horn art), I also apologize with "Belgians don't know how to spell.)

    BTW, my link didn't make it to the list (though Teresa is retroactively adding it). My post is up, though.

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    1. Thanks so much Ed - as I said, I've never considered myself a poet but it's encouraging you like it - and yes, pronounciation can be a challenge in many languages. (You should hear some of the ways my first name is pronounced, which is why I've always been called 'Lyn'! :)

      Found your post and commented, by the way.

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  10. I am intrigued. Wonder what Apollo has to say...

    Your poetry is beautiful! :-)

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  11. Thanks Teresa, I'm so glad you like the poem, poetry doesn't come naturally to me! :)

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  12. Lovely poem. Really sets the scene for the first chapter. Looking forward to reading more.

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    1. Thanks Diane - I'm so glad the poem went down well, as prose comes far more naturally to me.

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  13. Wondering what Apollo wants.
    Tweeted.

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    1. Thanks so much for the retweet, Daryl. Whatever it is, no-one refuses a command from Apollo!

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  14. Love the poem! Wish I could have heard it sung! And I hope Terpsichore isn't in trouble.

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    1. Thanks Jenna. I imagine the poem being sung to a simple lyre accompaniment - or a harp. I'm no musician though, so sadly, I couldn't write a tune to fit it.

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  15. Sounds like lovely music. :)

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  16. Thanks Caitlin, I imagine the muses would have the most beautiful voices!

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