Quilt and novel excerpts

Between the row of low volume scraps and the center block will be more brightly hued prints. I am SO HAPPY with how this is progressing!

The relative end of my Kawandi Red Sky at Night quilt is looming, epp! The further inward I go, the less stitching remains, which isn't quite akin to manuscript revisions, but the sense of completion is kind of similar. If nothing else, by the time I publish Far Away From Home: The Enran Chronicles Book Three, my version of RSAN will be DONE.

While I'm not sure what story or Kawandi-inspired quilt will next be inaugurated, I am eager for both to commence. Probably the quilt will emerge first, but one never knows. Assuming anything at this point is a dubious undertaking.

Not sure how I'll work around the bird, but I don't want it to get lost in the shuffle.

Yet I can't help but ponder a different colour scheme, a new installment of a book series. I have more ideas for the fiction, but I've been pondering it longer than Kawandi, lol. Give me another year and how might the quilt list be increased!

What I have realized is if this quilt washes well and maintains its integrity, machine sewing a quilt will be far down on my list of go-to activities. I have ADORED making a quilt in this manner, embracing it with deep fondness for many reasons: 1) Fashioning the back first instead of last. 2) No binding strip required! 3) All those rows of close-set stitches proffer the super-crinkly look I never get with hand-quilting. 4) It's a new shiny, you know.

Upper right corner; I'm thrilled for how the hourglass blocks denote the perimeter.

Does #4 mean that after time I'll tire of making quilts this way? I HOPE NOT! I hope instead I'm inspired to make placemats, mug rugs, or whatever else is a quilty-creation. I love being untethered from my sewing machine, although this does eat into the EPP time. So far these hand-sewing treats have lived in harmony, so I'll just keep going as I've been, trading off here and there so every quilt receives my attention.

If only it was that easy with writing a book....

However in drawing near to publishing another story, I free up space for.... Well, for another book's release next month, LOL. Book Two of The Hawk is calling my name, thank goodness that series is WRITTEN, requiring only that I deal with book covers, blurbs, etc. I honestly didn't consider how trying to release two different series at once would crowd the crafting of new fiction. DOH! But I'll figure out something, because Kawandi quilting hit me like a soft feather pillow up my head, gentle and kind and like a brick but not bruising. It's so soothing, so JOYFUL. And right now I need JOY by the truckload.

Upper left corner; one block is upside down (hearts). That frees me up to not worry about mistakes that occur in what's left to design, lol.

Below is an excerpt from Far Away From Home, far more action/adventure prose than I usually craft. This novel is set in the twenty-ninth century in a cosmos indeed far from Earth, yet Humans dwell there. It was a distinct stretch, but I'm happy with it, and very excited to share it in full in a little over a week. Enjoy a smattering of where I've been lately, and have a marvelous and peaceful weekend!

From Chapter 10 of Far Away From Home: The Enran Chronicles Book Three

 

A huge crowd had gathered where Squee, Olmos, and Starn still sat in the dining commons. Most of those hovering were Gonquils, a few Donsarets among them. An Ahlem that Noth recognized from the tailor’s shop stood on the table, waving away what wasn’t merely a throng of onlookers. Weapons were displayed, but Squee laughed as though nothing was amiss.

“Squee,” Sooz hollered. “Time’s wasting!”

Noth cleared his throat, then Sooz muttered, “Go to your quarters now, capisce?”

“What, no way. Hey, how’d you know that word?”

“I mean it Noth. Get lost.”

“Fuck that!” Shaking off her grip, he ran toward the now bustling mob. Squee joined the tailor on the table, gesturing for Noth to leave. “No,” Noth shouted. “Fucking administrators won’t do jack, so let’s get it on!”

“Shit!” Sooz yelled loudly enough for Noth to hear her. Yet he continued toward those now turning his way. Rifles of various styles were pointed at him, other weapons brandished.

He smiled, holding out his hands, then raising his arms over his head. “You think I’m afraid of you? One of you fucking lowlifes poisoned a friend of mine, then several of you untaz beat the shit outta him. Now I’m here, so just kill me too, then that fucking chicken-shit chief will either round allʽa you up or I won’t have to deal with your sorry asses another minute longer.”

Noth shoved fists into his sides, glaring at every person. Several walked away, but enough remained that Noth couldn’t see Starn or Olmos. Squee smirked at him, yet its eye twitched. Noth nodded, then smiled. “Go ahead and kill me, I fucking dare one of you to….”

The blast emanated from a tall Gonquil directly behind Squee, making the Donsaret flinch and Sooz scream. All Noth felt was someone having bumped into him. He glanced at his unharmed right shoulder, which had taken the brunt of the pressure, then laughed wickedly, stepping forward as others now scattered from the commons. The Gonquil fired again, then was attacked by Squee, who jumped from the table, landing right onto the would-be assassin. Starn and Olmos grappled with three other Gonquils as a security force finally joined the melee. None of those fighting approached Noth, although Sooz now stood beside him, grasping his shoulders from behind. “You should be dead,” she murmured.

“Maybe,” Noth muttered, feeling nothing but a cold wave of hatred that Sooz’s touch didn’t alleviate.

“Why aren’t you dead?” she whispered.

“Tyrah weapons,” he said flatly.

“What?” Sooz turned Noth toward her. “What are you saying?”

“It’s not really a Gonquil.” Noth gestured to the being now on its feet, guards at its sides.

Sooz gasped, then led Noth to where Olmos and Starn were hoisting Squee from the floor. Three other Gonquils were being slapped with what to Noth looked like handcuffs. The one who had fired at him screamed manically, the sound reminding Noth of when one so deranged was apprehended. Dorvuun, he considered, yet this Tyrah hybrid wasn’t as sophisticated as the one Jeannie and Caroline feared.

The shrieking creature contorted wildly. Flinging a limb outward, it knocked away one guard, then grabbed a nearby rifle, shooting another. It spoke in a language Noth didn’t recognize, but the tenor was vile, then threatening. With a wicked smile, it raised the weapon, pointing it directly at Squee.

“NO!” Noth raced toward the creature, knocking it down, then throttling it. Noth screamed at the being, yet it no longer resisted. Then Noth inhaled sharply, dropping the body from his hands. He stared at the figure, its tiny eyes, miniscule nose, and O-shaped mouth distinctively Tyrah. Noth trembled, scooting away from who he had just killed. “Jesus Christ,” he murmured, pulling his legs to his chest, pressing his face against his knees.

Sooz squatted beside him, stroking his shoulders as guards inspected the body. Squee, Olmos, and Starn knelt between Noth and the corpse. “I owe you one,” Squee said softly.

“Ryder owes us all,” Olmos smirked.

“What was that thing?” Sooz asked.

“It’s dead now,” Starn grunted.

“It’s a Tyrah….”

“Get off the floor, all of you,” Renavier ordered, interrupting Noth. “I’m going to question you here so no one can bitch. Take those three to the brig,” Renavier shouted to the guards. “Contact the Gonquil home world and tell them if they don’t collect them soon, I’ll eject them onto the landing pad.”

“I think The Other will take care of them if need be,” Squee muttered, brushing away debris.

“The lack of air will be enough of a threat,” Ryder said, offering a hand to Noth.

Noth glared at the chief, instead grasping Sooz’s outstretched hand. He also brushed dust from his trousers, then closed his eyes, trying to recall exactly how he had…. “I killed him, so what happens to me now?”

“It wasn’t a him,” Squee interjected. “Most certainly an it.”

“Whatever it was, it was trying to harm Squee, and you prevented that,” Renavier said. “No charges will be filed, let me assure you of that.”

“Oh that’s rich,” Sooz barked. “You can’t assure anyone here of anything resembling safety with whatever that thing is or was running around. Was that what kidnapped Melor or….”

“This has nothing to do with Melor,” Renavier said, looking straight at Noth.

Noth glared at the chief, then studied its eyes; now they were purple and beady, but larger than the Tyrah’s eyes. “If you’re not charging me with anything, what about investigating why that thing killed Andah?”

Renavier sighed. “I’ll tell you right now why. Andah knew what that thing was. Andah was working for me. There’s been an infiltration on this station. Now whatever is left of that subversion knows everyone here and elsewhere is mindful. It won’t be an issue much longer.”

“Oh yeah?” Noth sneered. “How many others are gonna die because you’re too lame to get things under control?”

“Don’t lecture me kid,” Renavier growled. “Now get your ass outta here before I do charge you with something.”

Olmos and Squee flanked Noth. “He makes a very good point,” Squee said. “Are things under control?”

“Of course they are.” Renavier huffed, then approached Starn. “You can tell them now, and anyone else interested.”

“Thank you,” Starn said.

“You knew about this?” Squee clucked.

Starn nodded.

Sooz grasped Noth’s hand. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine. I need a masca though.”

“Masca is the last thing you need,” Sooz said.

“Agreed.” Squee patted Noth’s shoulder. “A margarita and nachos instead, in the alcove. Come Noth, we all will imbibe. Sooz, please join us.”

Sooz shook her head, then approached the chief. She thrust a finger into its chest, then slapped its face. Then she slowly walked in the direction of the infirmary, swearing in English under her breath.