Welcome to The Quill's Lair:
Gathering of the Magicae!

Myth and Magic: The Sword of Nuadu
 

The people of the goddess Danu, or Tuatha de Danann, traveled from four cities: Murias, Findias (sometimes written Finias), Gorias, and Falias. Remember, from last time, that Dagda brought the magical cauldron from Murias. We will talk about the magical gifts from Gorias and Falias soon, but the gift from Finias is really interesting. Nuadu brought a sword.

Nuadu was also known as Silver Hand and was the first King of the Tuatha de Danann, beginning seven years before they came to Ireland. They fought the existing inhabitants of Ireland, the Fir Bolg, and during the first battle, Nuadu lost his hand, costing him his kingship. (Among the Tuatha de Danann, one could not be king if he was physically blemished.) He was gifted a silver hand, some say by the gods and others say by a physician, but he was able to reclaim his kingship.

The Sword of Nuadu symbolizes... (click here to keep reading.)
 

Writing tips: Three Tips When You Are Scared to Death as an Author

Getting to the point of publishing a book has a lot of scary moments. I frequently have people say things to me like, "I don't know how you did it. I would be so scared to put myself out there." or "I am terrified to find out whether anyone would buy my book. How do you do it?"

Here are the top three things that give me courage... (Click here to read)

What has AJ been up to?

I’m thinking about building a business, and it is terrifying.  I don’t know anything about running a business. Both of my parents and one of my brothers were all self employed for at least part of their lives, but I have been in the same large organization for twenty years. I am comfortable here. I know how to do my job, and I do it well.

As most of you know, I just released my first book, Quest for the King. After looking at my investment (of time and money) in my writing, I decided to open a virtual publishing house and shoppe called The Quill’s Lair. The name was developed through a long conversation with a dear friend about this newsletter and inspired by a passage from The Sword of Ferbandey:

Fae had never been in the presence of a spirit like this, which offered such quiet but rich inspiration. It was as if the tree itself were...(Click here to continue!)

Conversation: Be Bold as You Continue Your Own Quest

Finding the Girl

There is no doubt in your mind. You have to help her. You close your eyes and concentrate, trying to imagine a glowing ball of fire in your hand. Sweat runs down your back as the girl screams a second time. You say the words, “Globus Ignis” in a quiet but insistent voice, and the ball appears in your hand. You hold it high as you head down the dark corridor.  There are several doors to your right, but you feel certain the scream came from further down the hall. There was more echo to it than these close doors would imply.

While elves are generally stealthy souls, many of them make a dull sound, acting as a dampener to the echos.

A third scream is cut short. She is close. You open a large wooden door to the right but no one is there. You open the one on the left, and there is a girl tied on the floor, now gagged. Her eyes look to your left. Not three feet away is a red bearded dwarf who stands about 5 feet. That is tall for a dwarf, but he is leaner than most, clearly not eating his fare at the dwarven clans’ feasts.

“There!” A voice calls out in the hall. Clearly the elves are approaching. They will not be your friend much more than this dwarf. What do you do?

-Do you attack the dwarf with the fire you hold?
-Pull out your wand and cast an invisibility spell?
-Attack the dwarf with an immobilization curse?
-Try to Plead your case with the elves when they arrive?
-Try to create a portal and grab the girl on the way out? This one's tricky.
 

What have Owen and Glen been up to?

Gifts from the 3 Foot Tall Dragon

“You are out of your mind, Owen!" The 14 year old shook his head with vigot. "Do you know how much trouble you'll get in, if mom or dad figures out where you went?"

"So, you’ve heard of Fedonta?” The younger wizard observed his older brother with suspicion. Glen turned away, refusing to make eye contact.

Owen pried again. “What do you know?”

” Long ago, Grandma told me there was a place in our dreams where magic was the norm.”

“Did you know you could get there during the day?”

“What do you mean?” Glen’s furrowed his brow. His face was solemn, but his bright blue eyes met his brother’s green ones.

“Not only did I visit Fedonta, but I went there while I was awake.”

“That’s not possible.”

“It is. Now be quiet, and I’ll tell you about it.”

“You are out of your mind, Owen!” The fourteen year old shook his head with vigor. “Do you know how much trouble you’ll get in, if mom or dad figures out where you went?”

“So, you’ve heard of Fedonta?” The younger wizard observed his older brother with suspicion. Glen turned away, refusing to make eye contact.

Owen pried again. “What do you know?”

” Long ago, Grandma told me there was a place in our dreams where magic was the norm.”

“Did you know you could get there during the day?”

“What do you mean?” Glen’s furrowed his brow. His face was solemn, but his bright blue eyes met his brother’s green ones.

“Not only did I visit Fedonta, but I went there while I was awake.”

“That’s not possible.”

“It is. Now be quiet, and I’ll tell you about it.”
(Click Here to continue)