tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89047371164618415652024-02-07T21:17:16.334-08:00Catching Up With KayeKaye P. Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00300628601690238082noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904737116461841565.post-38737571875418752312020-05-07T15:18:00.001-07:002020-05-07T15:18:15.566-07:00The Dungeon<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Caryn Pinkston and I got together on zoom this morning to talk about our writing. We used a prompt and wrote for fifteen minutes. It was fun! Mine is a sketch, not a complete scene. It could be a hook on the first page of a novel, and it’s historical fiction, a genre I don’t usually write. </b></span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-699cbc9e-7fff-add1-c7a4-a6ffd48ce698"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The prompt: He insisted on taking us on a tour of the establishment.</b></span></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hesitated before descending the stone stairway. It was dark, lit only by the guard’s torch. The air became rank with the smell of death and feces. At the bottom of the stairs, I lifted my tunic to cover my nose. The odor was stifling. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The guard smirked. “You get used to the stench down here.” </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I doubt it.” I’d already forgotten the man’s name. Was it Geoff or Hal? He was a heavy-set man with a braided, gray beard.“Take me to the prince,” I said.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> “He’s at a lower level. The princesses are here.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“The girls? You have them kept here? Show me.” </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The guard walked ahead, lifting his torch high. The passageway seemed to close in. The ceiling had been carved from solid rock and dripped water. I lowered my tunic from my face, resigned to the odor. We passed several solid oak doors before we came to the one Hal was looking for. “They’re in here.” He pounded on the door. “You have a visitor.” </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sounds of cries came from inside the cell. “Eleanor,” I called. “Isabelle. Are you in there?” More muted cries. “Open the door,” I demanded. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hal laughed. “Not so fast. I charge a fee.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Name it, cur.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Ten gold pieces.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You expect me to carry that much coin on me?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“They’re royal princesses. The price is high.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I can promise the coins after we return to the castle.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hal inserted a large key in the iron lock and pulled open the door. I peered inside.</span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Uncle Rodrick!” Isabelle cried. The little girl's hair was a tangled mess. She ran into my arms, crying hysterically. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By the light of a single candle, I saw her older sister laying on a straw mat. She looked ill. “Where’s Momma?” Eleanor asked in a weak voice. </span></span></div>
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Kaye P. Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00300628601690238082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904737116461841565.post-80548962239319266972014-08-11T18:33:00.001-07:002014-08-11T18:33:24.511-07:00Let's Take a Ride!<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;">I love to write on my alphasmart
(small word processor) while on a road trip. Last month I brainstormed
ideas for two new books--bouncing ideas off my daughter who was driving. We had
so much fun naming characters, plotting conflicts and playing Cupid with their
love lives. I've begun one of the books. It's
good to be writing NEW words after spending so much time editing my Quest
series. Professional writers work on several projects at the same time. It's a
challenge, but stimulating as well. How about you? Does your muse enjoy a road trip?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Kaye P. Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00300628601690238082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904737116461841565.post-50829826048693529682014-08-10T19:29:00.001-07:002014-08-10T19:32:09.097-07:00My muse loves to travel!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I love to write on my alphasmart (small word processor) while on </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">a road trip. Last month I brainstormed ideas for two new books--bouncing ideas off my daughter who was driving. We had so much fun naming characters, plotting conflicts and playing Cupid with their love lives. I've started writing the first chapter of one of the books. It's good to be writing NEW words after spending so much time editing my Quest series. Professional writers work on several projects at the same time. It's a challenge, but stimulating as well. </b><br />
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<br />Kaye P. Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00300628601690238082noreply@blogger.com0