Question 1: What do you most want to achieve in life?

I think that once I’m no longer able to perform my duties as Constable Inspector, I’d like to be First Constable. I think that my experience on the streets can really help out with the younger constables, but since I don’t play politics, I think my chances of that happening are about as good as an oak’s keeping its leaves throughout the winter. Either way, I want to make a life with my wayward boyfriend, Aavril, who’s out gallivanting on a ship someplace at the moment.

Question 2: Who are the important people in your life: your friends and foes?

Aavril, obviously. Then there’s my mother, Aeollas, and my brother, Gale – well, his name is really Ghallen, but he was always such a terror when we were growing up that his nickname stuck. Since my father’s death, Mother and I have leaned on each other for support – even more so since Gale is stationed in the Smoke Highlands and rarely gets leave to visit. Cas, sorry, Castanea Rubus, was my partner for many years, though family matters forced her to leave Tenyl and take a position with the Constabulary in Narris. I miss her dearly.
I don’t know why you want to know about my foes. Trust me, being a Constable Inspector means that I have more than my fair share of them. I’d say that the biggest thorn in my side is Ailan Malvaceä, an Inquisitor with the Sucra, the King’s secret police. The Sucra are stuck-up snobs at the best of times, and are always a pain in the ass, but Malvaceä has elevated arrogance to an art form. I’d love nothing more than to catch him making a mistake and shove his nose in it.
Finally, there’s Ansee Carya, a Seeker in the Royal Tenyl Constabulary, who has apparently been assigned as my new partner. I really don’t know why the First Constable planted him on me. He certainly is not up to Cas’s standards and I have my doubts about his ability to do his job. Time will tell if he’s a friend or a foe.

Question 3: Do you have any hobbies?

Ha! Who has time for hobbies? Even on my days off from the constabulary (which are rare) I’m never really off duty. I barely have time to help Mother around her pottery shop, or to play with Gabii (my pet parrot), let alone finding the time to have an actual hobby… unless you count going to plays. Is that a hobby? I love attending plays, especially the cheesy ones that show naive adventurers trying to sack a dungeon and getting humiliated. Cas and I always made a point of going to at least one play every week, and afterwards we’d spend time at the pub talking about our favourite scenes and actors. Oh, how I miss Cas.

Inspector Reva can be found in Wrath of the Fury Blade by Geoff Habiger and Coy Kissee.

The night was like velvet against her skin as she dropped her wrap and waded into the ink-blue sea. As soon as the water reached her thighs she leaned into its cool caress and began to swim along a moonlit pathway to the rocks.

Climbing out onto a weed-covered ledge she lay down and let the moonlight have its way with her.

She was so entranced by the lure of the night that she didn’t hear the faint splash of another swimmer, and nor was she aware when something clambered onto her resting place.

Her first real awareness was the feeling of a pair of big hands, one grasping her wrists as they lay above her head and another turning her chin so she looked into a pair of completely lightless eyes. She smiled, and nodded, willing him to fulfil her dream, and lifting her body towards him in mute invitation. He stilled her movement with his calloused palms, caressing the column of her throat before turning his attention to her moon-silvered skin, licking and biting until she could no longer keep still. She moved again, lazily and slumbrously, and she could have sworn she heard a grunt of satisfaction from the male who held her in his thrall.

As he made her his she stared into the eyes of the moon, unable to do anything other than feel. It was a great sense of loss to her when he was done, and his weight lifted from between her thighs.

Then he was gone, leaving only a trail of phosphorescent bubbles to show her kelpie lover wasn’t a dream….

© jane jago 2017

 

You are old, and your winter is near
When cold winds will blow round your ears
When you’ll shiver and shake
And your old bones will quake
Why doesn’t that fill you with fear?

© jane jago 2017

Hola niños.

In a spirit of kindness and the immolation of self upon the altar of mutual aid and comfort, one has undertaken to answer literary questions posed by one’s students and their little friends.

This particular problem is one that faces many of us as we strive to draw inspiration from the people around us. I have often found myself wondering if my next door neighbour has yet realised that he has been immortalised in my pen portrait of the evil villain in Chapter Thirteen of ‘Fatswhistle and Buchtooth’.

Dear Ivy,
How do I include my annoying mother-in-law as a murder victim in my next novel without risking a divorce?
Thanking you for your kind attention.
Penny.

This is an absolutely spiffing question Pennykins. The answer is, of course, a matter of complete simplicity to a mind as great as one’s own…

Describe the lady in every irritating little detail.

Enumerate her most revolting habits. Show the reader how she speaks, snores, breaks wind, misunderstands, and annoys. Detail her physicality, how she dresses, and how her voice sounds. Because she will NEVER recognise herself, and her offspring will equally not ever connect their beloved mother with the horror depicted in your prose. You are absolutely safe. Kill her off. With impunity. Or with whatever blunt, or sharp, instrument pleases you. Those who dislike her will recognise the old beldame and applaud your perspicacity. Her loved ones will never catch the reference.

Oh, and be sure to include the statement at the front of your book that all names, characters and events in the story are are fictitious and that no identification with actual persons (living or deceased), is intended or should be inferred. Then even the law is on your side.

Win. Win.

Moonbeam Farquhar Metheringham IV

If you have a problem you may avail yourself of one's wisdom by posting your problem HERE or contacting me through my Facebook presence. Adoring Fans can join my Facebook Group.

Is it dark underground is it cold
Are there creatures a million years old
Will they steal your emotion
Latch on with devotion
Until they have eaten your soul

© Jane Jago 2017

From Transgressor Trilogy  The Fated Sky

The path he chose was only crossable in the middle of the short summer season and even though it was nearly three moons since the last rush of spring flood, the steep pass was still a treacherous mixture of loose stones and turbulent streams. At its highest point there was still snow and ice underfoot and even leading the ponies, there was danger in every step on the slippery rock. But this was the land of his youth and Durban knew it well. He had grown up in the wild vastness of the Garia mountains and had sometimes managed to escape from the pressures of his intense and unusual upbringing by vanishing alone for days at a time into the natural wilderness around his childhood home.

He contemplated making a detour to the remains of that strange place, now demolished, where he had endured an upbringing unique on Temsevar, learning of things no other child on the planet was taught. But his work was urgent and he could not afford the delay. Besides his last encounter with the imperious guardian and mentor of his youth, by the temple of the gods in Alfor had left him with little appetite for another.

The choice was taken from him. He woke to find her ancient body warming itself beside his night fire. A skeleton pressed with flesh. The woman he knew only as Alize.

“Do not trouble yourself,” she said, as he got up quickly to build the fire, the voice was a wisp of frost. “This body is almost done.”

“And then?” he asked. He had to know.

And then you will have to bring me what I need.

The words formed in his mind even as the over-bright eyes gripped his gaze.

“I will if I can,” he said.

You can and you will. This has to be. More than you can begin to imagine rests on what you have to do.

“My imagination is very good, you could try me sometime.”

There was a sensation of contempt.

You had your chance to ask me and you refused it.

“I was a child,” Durban protested. “That is beyond unfair.”

You were a child then, yes, but you have not changed. I came to remind you of what you must do. That is all.

It dawned on Durban, belatedly, that there was no way the woman he had spoken to in Alfor could be sitting here in the mountains with him. He opened his mouth to say as much, but closed it again immediately. The space where Alize had been sitting wavered as if it were a reflection in a still pool and someone had dropped a small pebble in the middle. Then he was sitting alone by the fire.

E.M. Swift-Hook

 

 

Twinkle, twinkle someone said
How many stars out there are dead
How many suns have crashed and burned
While our little lives have turned
We lift our eyes and try to find
Constellations in our minds
Where is the archer, where the goat
Where the virgin’s milk-white throat
Celestial bodies overhead
Ain’t it a shame that most are dead

© jane jago 2016

With Love, Ella  is a contemporary women's fiction novel.

“Wow El, you look stunning.”
She got down to the last step and jumped into his arms and never wanted to let go. They got into the car and drove off to the surprise location.
Daniel could sense that something was going on because Ella didn’t seem like herself. He saw right through her façade.
“Hey El, is everything okay? You seem kind of distracted.”
“Yeah everything is good. It’s just been a rough week with being sick. I guess my energy isn’t fully back to where it should be yet, but I’m all yours tonight I don’t want to think about the past week. I am so proud of you. I saw the highlights from the game. You guys are doing amazing,” Ella said.
“It has been one hell of a preseason so far. But enough about football. I want to just be in the moment with you.” Daniel leaned over to give her a kiss before getting out of the car and opening her door.
Ella looked around at the surprise location.
“The beach? I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”
Daniel laughed. “Don’t worry babe, you won’t need one. We aren’t going swimming.”
They walked from the car to beach laughing and stealing kisses the whole time. Ella had stopped in her tracks suddenly with Daniel right behind her.
“Oh Daniel, this is beautiful. I can’t believe you did this for me.”
Ella look around to see a beautifully set table with a light pink tablecloth, and pink and white rose petals scattered on the table and on the sand by their table. There were little floating candles on the table. It looked magical. Ella had tears in her eyes. Daniel was always thinking about her and going out of his way for her. She couldn’t believe how lucky she was. She was blown away, but still In the back of her mind she was nervous of his reaction to her news.
“You are truly one of a kind, Daniel Collins. This means so much to me,” Ella said through the tears.
Daniel pulled her into him and kissed her before pulling out her seat and pushing her in. He took off the tops of the food containers at their seat and poured the wine.
“This food smells and looks amazing,” Ella said.
“Well it’s your favorite meal from the club.”
“Who can resist Scott’s spaghetti and meatballs?”
“No one with taste.”
They spent the rest of dinner catching up and enjoying each other’s company. Ella noticed that Daniel was starting to get fidgety and had a nervous energy. She held his hand and smiled at him. He kissed her hand and held them tight.
“Ella, you have always been my best friend and for the past six years I have been lucky enough to call you the love of my life. We may fight at times, but I know that I could never be without you by my side. Words could never describe how much you mean to me. You are the reason I wake up in the morning and the reason I never want to go to sleep at night. When I think about my future the only thing that I know for sure is how much I need you in it. You are my everything.” He grabbed a box out of his pocket and got down on knee. He looked her right in the eyes and said, “Will you do the honor of making me the happiest guy in the world and be my wife?”
Ella was shocked. She shouldn’t have been surprised, as this had been a long time coming. But still she didn’t think it would happen now when her life had just fallen apart. Tears formed in Ella’s eyes.
“I…uh…I need a minute.” Ella said before slipping her heels off and taking off down the beach.

You can find out more about the book and its author, Alexa Randolph, on her website.

Alexa Randolph is the author of With Love, Ella  a contemporary women's fiction novel.

Question one: As a writer, what or who would you say were your biggest literary influences?

I would say my biggest literary influences are John Greene’s The Fault in Our Stars and Nicholas Sparks’s A Walk to Remember for this novel. In general I love romance novels especially pop star meets average person and royalty meets average.

Question two: Cake, candy or cheese? Which is your biggest downfall?

I would say that cake would be my biggest downfall out of the three of those 🙂 especially if it is a cookie cake.

Question three: If you could make one unbreakable law to improve the lot of humanity, what would that law be?

This was a tough one, but my law would be to keep bookstores in business because I think it is so important for children to grow up reading actual books and going to these types of places. They need to get their heads out of the computer and experience going to a bookstore and participating in the programs they would have for kids. Now a days and who knows how much worse it will be in the future kids are reading on kindles, iPhones, iPads. It also wouldn’t be too bad for authors either.

Alexa is a graduate of Michigan State University with a BA in Communications. She loves to read, write, travel, binge watch Netflix for days, make up stories about random people she sees, and drink lots of coffee. You can catch up with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Linkedin or find out more about her on her own website.

 

 

Much later, Anna turned in his arms and laid her head against his chest.

“Will it always be like this?”

“Like what?”

“Like fire and ice in my blood. Like a thunderstorm  overhead. Primal.”

“I don’t know babe. I don’t know if intensity like this is built to last. But it will always be an expression of our deepening love. And good. So good.”

 

For a while they dozed, then Anna got up to see to Bonnie for the night. Sam followed her to the kitchen to find her standing in the doorway watching her dog check the garden for feline incursions.

“Pinch me, please. I never thought I could have this kind of happiness.”

“Only if you’ll pinch me too.”

He wrapped his arms around her from behind and they stood together breathing in each other’s smell. Finally, Anna laughed a bit shakily.

“Come on doc. Bed. Or you will nod off in theatre tomorrow.’

 

The week passed quickly, and Sam almost got used to a welcome home kiss and a hot meal at the end of the day. He learned that Anna was briskly efficient in any task she set herself, while remaining a kind, sweet human being. She fascinated him; so hot under a cool exterior, so funny under a bland face, and so loving all the time.

 

Friday night, and Sam went to the gym after work. He got home and, kissing Anna hurriedly, headed for the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, he walked out of the shower to find clean clothes laid out on the bed.

“How do you do it?” he asked almost plaintively.

“Do what?”

“Sort my life out seamlessly, while remaining so calm and serene on the surface.”

“Managing a dementia patient for a lot of years. The calmer you can appear the easier they are to handle. And it seems men are much like the demented in that respect.”

“Yeah. I guess.”

He grinned.

“But you seem to have taken it to the nth degree. Or was that part of the camouflage?”

“Initially. Although I’m naturally calm, I think.”

“Serene is a better word: an ice maiden with a banked fire under the ice. So sexy…”

She blushed, then grinned and leapt across the room into his arms.

“Never mind me. Here’s you, all warm and wet and naked. What say we build up this fire you are going on about?”

He groaned and bit her neck.

“Hard and fast?”

She growled deep in her throat, and Sam took that as assent.

 

Hard and fast it was, and it left them sprawled like limp dish-rags across the bed.

“I now need another shower, and in about two hours I’ll be able to get up and do something about it.’

Anna levered herself into a sitting position, and ran her fingers through her disordered hair. She sniffed.

“I smell of sex, and your shampoo. Maybe I need a shower too. I’ll race you.”

Sam opened one eye.

“Only if you give me six hours’ start. If you remember I went to the gym. Did an hour of kick boxing, then half an hour on the running machine. Came home for a quiet evening and some insatiable woman had her wicked way with me.”

Anna tickled his ribs mercilessly until he held up his hands in defeat.

“Okay you poor tired old man. I’ll shower first, then rustle up some food.”

She headed for the bathroom and he watched her go, amazed by how comfortable she was in her own nakedness.  I am, he thought, a very lucky man. I should never forget that.

 

Later, as they sat over supper, he told her what he had been thinking and she blushed.

“Oh Sam. I’m nothing special. Just a computer geek, who got lucky for the first time in her life.”

He snorted.

“Well then. We both got lucky. Let’s swear to never take it for granted. But tell me about computer geek. I have so much respect for anybody who can do anything with computers. I can barely make my laptop work.’

“You and about ninety-five per cent of the population, love. Which makes it very easy for the bad guys. You know I worked in the fraud department of an accountancy firm, but what you don’t know is that my job involved what is called forensic examination of computers. I got sent on courses to learn how to do it, and very quickly became better at it than my teachers. There was some talk of moving me to Los Angeles, where the parent company is based, but I said no. They weren’t best pleased, but they wanted to keep me, so I was allowed to work from a little back room in the Brighton office. And I became more and more skilled, and I trapped a lot of naughty boys. But nobody ever knew it was me. I didn’t want to wind up on some gangster’s list of people to liquidate. So I worked quietly, anonymously, and safely. I let the big mouth boys swan around taking the credit. I just got the satisfaction.”

“Blimey. Real cloak and dagger stuff.”

‘I guess you could say that. Even the moron who was, nominally, my boss had no idea what I actually did.’

“And will he know now you have gone?”

“Nope. As far as anybody in Brighton will ever know. Miss Marshall was just another colourless accountant.”

“So. If you are so good at computers why don’t you have more than an iPhone and iPad?”

“I do. At Ted’s. And when I get my laptop I fully intend to sort out your system here. It looks as full of holes as a colander. And you need a new laptop. Yours was a piece of shite when you bought it, and now it’s just a liability.”

“Yes ma’am. You tell me what to buy. On the condition that you can set it up and transfer all my files.”

“Piece of piss. That’s a bargain.”

He laughed delightedly.

“Any more surprises?”

She wrinkled her forehead.

“I don’t think so.”

 

One week together grew into two, then three, then four. Sam and Anna grew closer and closer, and he woke each morning with a smile on his face. However, there was one tiny thing bothering him – Anna’s possessions stored at Ted’s house. Almost daily he expected her to announce she was going to fetch them, but she never did. He knew he should ask. Just mention it casually. But he was afraid. Afraid to know why she wouldn’t take the ultimate step of moving all her things into their home.

 

He came home one Tuesday evening to find Anna on her phone in the kitchen. She blew him a kiss and then ended the call with a casual ‘see you sometime, then’.

“What’s up Sam? You look half pleased and half pissed off. You wanna tell me?”

“I do. Pleased first. I’m not working weekends any more. I’ll still be on call one weekend in four, but I won’t be hanging around in the hospital in case I’m needed. That’s a junior doctor’s job, and I ain’t a junior doctor. I only did it for so long because I was lonely. But I’m not lonely any more.”

“Good. Me neither. And if you are not working weekends any more do you fancy a trip to Brighton to collect my stuff?’

Then the timer buzzed on the cooker and she turned to attend to it. When she looked back, Sam was standing in the same position with slow tears running down his face.

“What is it, love? What is it?”

“Relief, I think.”

“Relief?”

“You are finally fetching your stuff from Ted’s house.”

“How’s that a relief, Sam?”

“I worried. I thought you might be keeping stuff at Ted’s as a fall back for when you got fed up with me. I was so scared.”

“Oh Sam. I’m sorry. I should’ve explained. I should’ve told you. Ted’s been working in Aberdeen for the past few weeks. We couldn’t get my stuff until he returned home. I’m so sorry you worried. I didn’t even think to tell you. Comes of not having had anybody to tell things to before.”

She hugged him tightly and he buried his face in her neck. “Stoopid,” she said lovingly. “I’m going nowhere.”

He lifted his head and his eyes searched her face. Whatever he saw there seemed to reassure him as he smiled down at her.

“I am a fool, aren’t I? I should have just asked.”

“Yeah. You’d have saved yourself a lot of worry. Now. How about a nice glass of wine?”

He grinned and picked her up in his arms.

“I have a better idea. Anything need your attention here?”

“No. Not now.”

“I need your attention upstairs.”

She sighed theatrically and rolled her eyes, before spoiling the effect by sinking her teeth into his neck.

Jane Jago