To read Part One, scroll down past this post. Otherwise, soldier on.
Update: Content removed so I can sell it to you in the form of a published book at some future date. Sorry.
Much more to come. In fact, you can read Part Three by just clicking in this tender spot.
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Published by Graham Milne
My name is Graham, and I am a man of many opinions and talents. On any given day the opinions will exceed the talents by at least a 10:1 ratio. This is my chance to share these observations and thoughts with you. I promise never to be cruel for cruelty's sake and that all snark will be directed only towards richly deserving targets. Because a belly laugh is always more powerful than a hateful scream.
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Graham's Crackers 
Oh! Brilliant! The ending where the cat is seized as I presume, being the witch’s perceived familiar? Very well done!
Again loved it and I want to read the next part. This really is my bag as far as stories go. Your grasp of French is tres bien too!
I did expect this part (“You’ve lost your stammer, Bernaud,” Etienne noted, “if not your capacity for interruption. Valnier?” The corporal stood. “If our benevolent host speaks again before I give him leave, kindly break his face.”) to read alternatively, “kindly cut out/slice out/remove his tongue.” I was expecting it to come as I read the sentence and I just felt the “break his face” a little too modern for the piece. I hope you don’t mind me saying that as it was the only thing which jumped out at me as not fitting. But perhaps it would not be in Valnier’s character to do that and he would break someone’s face!
Anyway this is great stuff. History, wine and witchcraft. I mean what more could anyone want?! 🙂
Thank you so much Joanne! I’m really glad you’re enjoying this. I debated a great deal over whether to start down the path of this story; bruised, perhaps, by a spate of “didn’t grab me” rejections of my novel, but then I realized that letting myself be intimidated into silence on that front was learning the wrong lesson.
So much of fantasy is written in the faux-old British idiom, I thought it might be fun to try it from a French perspective instead, not that where they are should be presumed to be France. And I do appreciate your helpful criticism! I chose that phrase for its jarring quality as Etienne has established himself as erudite and cultured up to this point and it’s a revelation that that part of his personality is something of a mask. Hopefully we’ll get into more of that as this goes on – I’m not sure how many parts it will be, depends how long I enjoy writing it I guess!
Oh at first I didn’t assume they were in France. They could easily have been in medieval England after the Norman conquest. 😉 But then you have wine vineyards which of course we have only had in England recently due to a warmer climate..but still, I like the idea of it being in France.
Ah, yes well then I see what you were trying to do with Etienne. The phrase did jar and so you achieved what you wanted to. It certainly didn’t fit with his erudite and cultured persona.
As for getting back in the saddle with fiction writing…yes! Do it! Ignore the critics and write what’s in your heart. It’s the only way. Just because one thing doesn’t grab someone doesn’t mean everything we ever write won’t or indeed that particular piece which has been rejected won’t grab someone else.
Literature is as subjective as any art.
My 14 year old nephew was given a suggested list of “classics” to read by the English dept. at his school: To choose 16 books to read by the time he’s 16. The list was much of what you’d expect but, as I pointed out, most of the suggestions were books written for adults. For example Captain Corelli’s Mandolin was on there. I tried that and never got on with it. I gave up. There’s no way he’d enjoy it. Same with Pride and Prejudice! What a snooze fest! Wuthering Heights was on there, and whereas it is one of my favourite books, he’d hate it, even if he could access the language at his age. I tried it at 13 but had to leave it and go back to it at 18 which made all the difference.
Anyway, ramble, ramble. I’ll go now!
Look forward to the next installment 🙂
I was waiting for this second part! Wow, I’m again completely riveted and the ending to this part keeps me curious for more ! Your writing is so descriptive.,, it feels as if I were sitting at the same dinner table, drinking musty wine…
Bravo yet again !!
Thank you – I’m really glad you’re enjoying it! I promise it won’t be as long a wait for Part Three.
Great! I’ll look forward to reading! It’s such a pleasure to read your blog and you take us on a time-travel journey into the past! Through your writing, you allow me to picture all the characters and the scenery, down to the very last drop in the wine goblet…
Bravissimo!
Wow! Love it Graham – can’t wait for the next installment. I could ‘see’ it all!
Thanks so much Anjali – Part Three is in progress!
I can’t believe I have come so late to this. First off, fantastic vocabulary, Graham. It’s been a while since I’ve read a piece where I should have used a dictionary a few times, and that’s not for the French parts. It took me a while to step into your world, partly because it’s been a while since I’ve read any historical fiction but also because you have a very original voice. I loved the build up of tension in this chapter, and the ending is just brilliant. I can tell reading this that it was fun to write. Can’t wait to read the next instalments tomorrow, but first, bedtime. Night x
And apologies myself for being so late in responding to your kind comment! Thank you very much – coming from someone with a notably original writer’s voice herself, that means a great deal. I hope you enjoy the other chapters!