Countdown: 8 Weeks. In two months, I’ll release Book #1 in my new children’s series. Since I’m more than a little excited to share, I’ll be counting down with Thursday posts that focus on the Byways books. Each week, there’ll be sketches, excerpts, and explanations. But today, I bring an introduction. The youngest of Ian’s three sons volunteered to go first, so please meet Ganix! Continue reading FOLKS: Ganix the Scamp
He was mostly made of brownstone, just like the griffin upstairs, and Tupper couldn’t resist reaching up to touch the statue’s broad chest. Richly hued stone the color of bark suited the man quite well, for there was no mistaking his claws and long, wild hair. “He’s Pred!” Tupper exclaimed.
“Aye. His name is Haimish.”
Circling the brown statue, Tupper paid attention to every detail. Haimish was as tall as Freydolf, but not as broad in the shoulder. In a way, he looked like a younger version of his master, but not quite. A different nose, downcast eyes, and fancier clothes.
—excerpted from Galleries of Stone, Book 2: Harrow
Half a Lifetime Ago. In the second book of the Galleries of Stone trilogy, readers meet one of Freydolf’s early statues, a brownstone Pred named Haimish. This stone guardian wasn’t sculpted by a master, so he has his share of faults. As Frey tells Tupper, “He’s shy, awkward, lonely, and he meant well in spite of all the trouble he caused.” Continue reading FOLKS: Haimish
“So you haven’t seen him?” Aurelius prodded.
“Maybe he’s hiding from you.” Giving the other man a stern look, he added, “You could have been more polite at breakfast.”
“I was!” he insisted. “For me.”
Freydolf snorted and said, “If you don’t bridle your tongue, you’ll never win the lad over.”
“I’ll bridle my tongue when you collar your pet,” Aurelius muttered. “He’d be easier to find if you kept him on a leash.”
“Have you tried behind the rimbles in the upper loggia?”
The other Pred blinked. “The what in the where?”
—excerpted from Galleries of Stone, Book 1: Meadowsweet
What the deuce is a rimbles? Since much of the Galleries of Stone trilogy is set in the Statuary, there should be little surprise that many of the characters are statues. Those who bear a master’s mark can “come to life” under the right conditions. Young Tupper Meadowsweet has two such stone guardians—one for day, one for night. He names his daytime guardian Rimbles. Continue reading FOLKS: Rimbles
“Do you know what that is?” inquired the big man, pointing towards something in the foothills.
For several moments, Tupper simply stared at Freydolf’s finger, wondering how sharp its claw was, but when the man repeated his question, the boy looked down. Far below, there were rows of what looked like drab stacks of hay. “No,” he answered honestly.
“That’s Hayward, your home town,” Freydolf explained. With a searching look, he added, “You won’t be able to see it once we go around this bend, so make your last look a good one.”
Was this really the last time he would see his home? Carden and Ewert had jobs, too, but they had home days. Tupper wouldn’t. As the Keeper’s servant, he would live on top of the mountain … maybe forever. Addy had said he’d be lucky to earn the Keeper’s gold, but Aggie had cried.
—excerpted from Galleries of Stone, Book 1: Meadowsweet
The Meadowsweets of Hayward. Like most Flox children, Tupper’s one of many. Big families are the norm in the rural communities that fill Morven’s foothills. Throughout the story, Tupper will refer to this brother and that sister, and it’s nearly impossible for outsiders to keep track of who’s who. But they’re his, and he’s theirs. And I made a list. ; ) Continue reading FOLKS: The Meadowsweet Family
C. J. Milbrandt 