MERNACIAN INTERVIEW

by Julie

Sometimes, I think I lead the most adventurous life of anyone in all of Mernac. That’s not me bragging, that’s simple fact. How many others can say they’ve interviewed royalty of nearly every race, Light or Dark, though I must admit there are some gaps in the Races of the Dark interviews. Anyone who tracks down an Undead willing to be interviewed and who promises not to suck my soul down into the underworld, I’d love to hear about it and would pay a handsome referral fee. Anyway, my latest and perhaps most unique interview to-date is with one magnificent Merfolkian queen; I mean Ka~Tel: Alutia Amethyst.

First off, I’m truly sorry to hear about your mother’s recent passing. I’d heard such wonderful things about her and looked forward to interviewing her. You have my eternal gratitude for doing the interview in her stead. Secondly, you have such a lovely name. Is there some history behind your name? Does it have special meaning for your people?

Well, my given name of Alutia, was chosen in honor of my beloved mother.  Upon my birth all our nation rejoiced and celebrated for seven straight days and seven straight evenings.  All who laid eyes upon me as infant, proclaimed my beauty to be equaled only by my mother’s, and thusly, I was named Alutia, or Little Zalutia.  My family name of Amethyst, is an age-old name handed down generation upon generation.  We are a royal bloodline, rumored to have been personally named and blessed by Kala herself.

I’ve noticed that lovely design you have around your eyes; are those real amethysts? Wherever did you find such lovely specimens? Did you come up with the design yourself and if so how? Do you ever change the design? I’m sorry, I’ll wait for your answer now, it’s just everything about you and your people, fascinates me. I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting a Gemstone Merfolk before.

Why thank you so much, your much too kind.  And, yes, they are real amethysts.  My Kazon changes the design for me, to suite my preferences and mood each day.  These particular gems were given to my mother many, many seasons ago during a Jewel Bequest Ceremony during one Matriculation Festival.  She cherished them greatly, so it is with great honor that I adorn myself with these.  But, we gather our gems just about everywhere. We have many Explorer Guards patrolling the seas, whenever they stumble upon a shipwreck, they thoroughly investigate and collect any pretties that might be used back in the city.  Often times, our captured foe are in possession of such beauties too, which also are used within our city.  Besides, adorning our bodies with gems, shells, trinkets and all varieties of pretties, we do the same with our weapons, pets, work beasts, servants, buildings, just about everything!

How long were you in school, Majesty? The number of seasons I keep hearing just seems, well, like a very long time.

Well, I just recently ended my formal education.  First I think I should advise, that our people are gifted with a rather long life span.  A Gemstone Merfolk, should live at least 150-200 seasons, but many often live until 300 seasons!  Our people are well known as well, for the importance they place on education.  Formally, we begin at the age of three seasons, and continue for approximately forty seasons.  This seems like an unnecessary long duration to some, however, there is so much to be learned, our studies include such courses as astrology, meteorology, gemology, oceanography, geology, apothecary, Ga, Merfolk history, Mernac history, Kala and Siberlee, just to name a few.

Your general, Bull – err – the head guard was saying something about recapturing 13 Dark beings. And someone else even mentioned a Waterdragon! I thought those were creatures for legends meant to scare naughty children. Can you tell me anything more about these Dark beings and how you re-captured them? Why you? No offense, your Majesty, but where I come from people hardly let the royalty take on the Fathers’ fiercest creatures.

I regret to confess, that yes, this is true.  Unfortunately, these beasts do exist.  The Royal Kalatans have always strived keep Man save from such dastardly beings.  All the released Dark beings were originally captured many seasons ago, some long before my mother’s reign.  And yes, there was a Waterdragon included in the escapees.  We haven’t yet re-captured all the escapees, but please know, we won’t rest until we do.  Thank you for your concern about my safety, but, it was my mother and grandmothers before her, who originally captured these beasts, and I have been highly trained to follow in their footsteps, it is my duty and calling to lead my people in the protection of Siberlee’s cherished Man.

So I understand you’ve recently discovered a half sister. Do you have a statement about that?

Oh yes!  Jira!  What a wonderful discovery!  Imagine my surprise to find her.  As you know, I just recently lost my dear mother, and had no more living relatives.  When I needed her the most, Kala sent my sister to me.  It was my first quest to re-capture the beasts that I discovered Jira, and now I can rejoice in the comfort of knowing, I’ll always have her in my heart and that I can call to her, and she to me, whenever we need the other.

What is your next step, if I may ask?

Well, right now, I am on my way back to the city.  We have a couple of re-captured beasts to take back to Rainbow Reef, and I must again visit the Star Crystal for more information.  Then, again, my I will continue my quest for the remaining escapees.

Thank you for answering my questions. It’s always the highest honor to hear the thoughts of those who truly matter to Mernac.

Oh no, it has been my pleasure!  It has been a true honor to meet with you.  I can see in your aura that you are truly one of Mernac’s most valued Goodwill Ambassadors.  Please, take this amethyst amulet as a token of my appreciation.  May it always find you in good health and with a dancing spirit.

BREAKING NEWS

by LindaC

Three Orcs were attacked by a pack of rabid Krickers when they were out hunting and trapping in the Halon Forest of Kezia this week. The threesome apparently stumbled upon the sleeping Krickers hidden under a recent light dusting of snow, completely hidden from view. The Krickers must have been protecting their newly born brood under their warm fur, for it is reported that they sprang forth suddenly, shredding the Orcs to pieces. Only one of them escaped the razor-like teeth of the Krickers and survived to tell the account. Muklar Blooddripper is resting comfortably at a nearby Menk House recovering from his harrowing ordeal.

In other news, an 8-season-old Elvin boy was rescued from the talons of a Griffin by a Pegasus yesterday in Brangin. He’d been out collecting Griffin feathers with his uncle when the female unexpectedly returned to her nest and found the pair in amongst her newly laid eggs. The perturbed mother Griffin immediately set upon the child and meant to throw him off the cliff when, his uncle says, a magnificent white Pegasus swooped in from nowhere and saved the boy. “She just came out of the clouds, whinnying and kicking her hooves at the Griffin until it dropped him to the ground.” Griffin feathers are much prized flights for archers, but they are also a much sought after secret ingredient in many magical spells and potions. Many fortune seekers have lost their lives trying to get these feathers, so this boy and his uncle are indeed lucky to be alive, thanks to the Pegasus.

Meanwhile closer to home, representatives of the Summoner’s Guild have reported an encounter with a strange entity from a distant planet in another solar system they believe to be planet “Dirt”. This being is Elvin in nature but quite portly, unlike our Elves here on Mernac. He has a long white beard and is oddly fond of wearing bright red clothing. They say the jolly entity has just completed a wondrous time on his planet they call “Christmas” where he delivers gifts to all the good children of his world with the aid of flying reindeer. Guild members are still debating the credibility of the being they call “Santa Claus”. Says one senior member, “it was all quite believable until the flying reindeer comment. I mean, can you imagine flying reindeer? C’mon!” Arch Summoner, Sorendil Skypeerer, has been assigned the Santa case and will report more findings to the Guild and to interested Mernacians, as there may be some value in this Christmas story for Mernac.

And on a lighter note, our own Dark Fae witch Moroova has uncharacteristically offered the use of Traddlebow Castle’s Grand Hall as the staging area for Gilmore’s holiday food drive. Moroova will generously oversee the collection and distribution of food, clothing and essential items to the land’s less fortunate members of society. Moroova normally has such folks rounded up and locked in the dungeon at this time of season to prevent them from ruining the picture perfect atmosphere of the festivities, but has had a tremendous change of heart this season. All she is saying is that 3 spirits helped her to see more clearly.

Seasons Greetings to all Mernacians far and wide!

RW Celebrity Symposium

by LindaC

I recently had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing ebook author Sahara Kelly for Mernac, whose latest work, Game Over, is due out in March 2007 from e-publisher Ellora’s Cave. Ms. Kelly shares her views on writing and fantasy with us.

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

Bit on the mundane side, I'm afraid! LOL. I was born and raised in England and I'm told I still have a bit of the accent left. I'm an ordinary sort of person - (wife, and mom to a college junior) with a rather over-active imagination and a passion for storytelling. I've been writing for over twenty years, but it's really only been in the last five or six years that I've had adequate time to devote to my novels (and learn the delights of digital art). I stumbled into the whole thing by coincidence and now have over forty titles available through Ellora's Cave. A serendipitous combination of chance and timing, I suppose, that still stuns me now and again. I'm a character-driven writer, so I'm told, not a world-builder. I envy world-builders - that's a skill that requires intense focus and a LOT of notes. I'm bad at making notes. LOL

Do you have a favourite Fantasy Author?

Oh yes. I'm married to a self-confessed 'hard sci-fi' fan (who also has the complete Robert Jordan Wheels of Time series) and we both enjoy a good solid fantasy, so I have quite a library of books in the non-romance category, running from Asimov or Heinlein and including Poul Anderson, Philip K Dick, Terry Brooks, Neil Gaiman, Anne McCaffrey and Ursula K. LeGuin, most of which I've read and enjoyed. But I come back, time and time again, to Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. Their wicked blend of satire, humor and fantasy never fails to entrance me! I'm organizing my Discworld novels this winter and re-reading them in chronological order. Spending an hour or two in Ankh-Morpork is just SOOOO much fun!!!

What draws you to write in the fantasy genre?

The freedom! In my fantasy worlds, there are no limits, no social conventions that must be adhered to. My two "fairy" themed fantasies - Persephone's Wings and Wingin' It - let me flitter around and ignore things like gravity and common sense while cribbing shamelessly from Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream"! My video-game-based fantasies were equally liberating. And my fable, Georgie and her Dragon...well, it was more of an hommage to my favorite authors than anything else. LOL I could be as outrageous as I wanted without any restrictions. I absolutely adore a good laugh along with a great story.

What inspires you?

Lots of things. My family - now and again. The world around me, songs, odd little things I hear on the news - I have a writing partner and close friend who is a constant source of inspiration and encouragement - he gives me an intermittent kick up the rear when I need one. We write together and also individually. But mostly it's the characters themselves. Someone will start to appear in the back of my head and just "buzz" there, refusing to go away until I've written his/her story. That's the character-driven thing showing up, I guess.

How do you stay creative and defeat writer's block?

After so many books, I constantly worry that I won't be as creative or as fresh, but it's a worry I get between books, not during them. Once that story idea takes shape then I'm good to go. Writer's block for me is more something that turns into "Chapter block"...what I'd originally planned to do isn't going to work now that the characters have taken shape and become their own people with their own distinct personalities. So I have to do some re-thinking. That's where talking to my writing partner really helps, and occasionally a chunk of dark chocolate. Between the two, I manage to overcome the problem, whatever it is! LOL

Tell us about your latest book.

My newest fantasy is titled "Game Over" (releasing in March of 2007, Ellora's Cave). There is one game that I adored playing with my son when he was young, and we spent many happy months cramping our thumbs, doing our very best to rescue a certain kidnapped princess from the clutches of an evil villain. We visited fairies for bottles of red potion, switched between the light and dark worlds, trying to avoid killing chickens, and generally had endless fun! Those memories still make me smile, so at some point I knew I was going to have to write a tale in honor of that game. Hence this rather tongue-in-cheek look at Princess Zara and her hero, Sir Lincoln of Green as their game unfolds and takes them through some rather...interesting...adventures. It's sort of a companion to a piece I wrote a while ago called "Beating Level Nine" - a short story about a vampire who has everything he wants...except the ability to defeat the final villain in the online game he's addicted to. NOT your usual vampire story - but it's always been one of my favorites. Did I mention I sort of like a heavy dash of humor with many of my books? I have some serious and intense full-length novels too, but...well...I like to make people smile!

Do you have any advice for our aspiring writers?

Gosh...that's hard. So many folks more qualified have wonderful articles that can inspire and instruct. But...I guess I'd say keep it simple. If you want to be a writer - then WRITE.

Too many people I talk to seem to worry about the "mechanics" of writing - the grammar, the spelling, even the format!! That's all details, stuff an editor can take care of. If you have a story burning in your brain, WRITE IT!! Doesn't matter if it's perfectly formatted in Microsoft Word, scrawled on a yellow lined legal pad or etched into buffalo hide with a sharp thorn!!! Don't tell yourself you don't have the time or the technique. That's not what writing is about. If you can write an email, you can write a novel, practically speaking. If the STORY is there, everything else is incidental and can be tidied up.

Write what you like to read, and read as much as you can, since the more you read the better writer you will be. They go hand-in-hand. Most writers either are or were voracious readers at some point in their lives - it's often the genesis of their passion for the written word.

Sometimes it also helps to set yourself a little schedule - an hour or so every day when you know you can focus on your writing and nothing else. Find what works for you and just do it. Thinking about it doesn't count since we're always thinking about stories. Doing it is what counts, putting those words on paper (or disk), shaping those characters, creating those adventures. Bypassing all the minor stuff and getting to the point which is telling your story.

There. That kept it simple, right? LOL!  There are few rules, if any, when it comes to the creative arts. Doing what you love doing is bliss - I've learned that over the last few years. I don't "work" any more. I write, which is my joy and my passion in life. I spend long hours every day immersed in my private worlds, physically draining myself but delighting my soul. Yes, I love my "job". I'm blessed to be a writer. I hope others will experience that same blessing - just don't give up on it for reasons that don't matter, stay with it for reasons that DO!

Thank you for sharing your time and your thoughts with us Mernacians Ms. Kelly. We look forward to more of your great books

CLASSIFIEDS

For Sale
Magic potions for sale. Need to turn your toad of a husband into a prince? Take away your mother-in-law’s power of speech? Contact Thulie for great specials.

Job Offer
Arac Wrangler needed for prosperous silk farm on Arden. Must be comfortable navigating web systems and immune to spider bites. Sectis preferred. Call Droozer for more details.

Service
Apprentice summoner will contact deceased loved ones for minimal fee. Help me achieve guild status while I help you connect with the shadow world. Contact Samjasen Spiritblower to talk to the dead.

Rides
Several passages left on the Rickety ship from WaveJumper shipping lines. The Rickety leaves harbour in Brangin bound for the Tian Islands at the end of this moon. Act quickly before we set sail. Contact your local WaveJumper office for details and to secure your place on board.