Month: November 2014

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Winner of the Scavenger Hunt

The winner of the scavenger hunt – for the best answer submitted – is Nicole N. from Melbourne. Congratulations Nicole on winning a $50 US book voucher from Amazons.

Nicole has suggested that  ‘A story about either Naetok, Haka, Rokkan or Martal Kapok would be very good. They are the crux of the kingdom and the power.’

That gives me plenty of scope – so keep an eye out for a new story about one of these characters.

As for what items were stolen, the identity of the thief and the motivation behind the theft – all is revealed in Part Two of The Missing Necklace.

Read Part One here.

Part Two: The Missing Necklace

Anna stood as still as a statue, a crimson cushion in her hands. Surely the Kupanna’s precious lapis luzuli necklace couldn’t have be stolen. There were guards at almost every door.

The Kupanna shook her head. ‘The necklace must be mislaid.’

‘Maybe a maid took it, Mama, like Anna or Rianda.’

Young prince’s Naetok’s piping voice jarred Anna. A shiver ran down her spine. What would happen to her if she was blamed? Dismissal, a whipping or worse. How like Natok to shift blame.

Prince Rokkan stared at his younger brother. ‘Really? Anna doesn’t have a reputation for sneaking off with things or getting up to mischief.’

Naetok squirmed and scowled. ‘I didn’t take it. Maybe you did, Rokku.’

‘Come let’s not squabble. Surely no one in this room would take my necklace.’ Kupanna Suraya tucked her distraught daughter on her shoulder and patted her back to soothe her. Another gust of wind blustered its way into the room, swaying the tapestries against the lime-washed wall and rustling the leaves of the pot plants. ‘Please, could someone please close the doors to the balcony?’

Rokkan’s golden eyes narrowed. ‘You know, mother, my blue stone ring went missing the other day.’

Anna put down the cushion she had picked up looking for the necklace and closed the balcony doors. Now that the Prince mentioned it, it wasn’t the only thing that had gone missing. She turned around. ‘Yes, your Highness, and Princess Lakwi’s rattle went missing on the day of the picnic.’

Rianda brought her fingertips to her mouth. ‘And my wool.’

The Kupanna shook her head. ‘Why would anyone be interested in stealing wool? And what thief could get past the guards to sneak into our chambers.’

Prince Rokkan’s eyes brightened. ‘I think I know, mother, where to find the thief and your necklace.’

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Scavenger Hunt

The Necklace Thief

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Over several days items of value – and some not so valuable – have been disappearing from the palace. Have they been stolen and if so by whom? The clues are hidden in the following stories

To participate in the Scavenger Hunt you need to:

1)      Name all four items that go missing from the palace.

2)      Identify what these items have in common.

3)      Identify the thief.

4)      State in 25 words or less who you would like to feature in the next short story and why.

The best answer to the above questions submitted either as a comment to this blog post or as comments on my Facebook Fan Page will win a $US 50 Amazon Voucher.  (The winner will need to notify me of his/her email to receive the prize within 10 days of notification of the winning. The decision on the winner is final with no correspondence will be entered into concerning the winning entry.)

Entry to the contest is free.

The contest will be open from 9 am Monday 10 November to 5 pm Wednesday 19 November 2014 (Brisbane time). The winner will be announced on Wednesday 26 November 2014 along with publication of Part Two of the Missing Necklace.

Please read Terms and conditions

If you enjoyed reading about the adventures of Anna, Rokkan and Naetok, their adventures continue in The Herbalist’s Daughter to be published in Tied in Pink anthology (due to released 14 December 2014) and in the Akrad Legacy series (as yet unpublished). Profits of Tied in Pink go towards Breast Cancer research.

 

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A Prince’s Prerogative

by Jeanette O’Hagan c 2014

Another Tamrin Tale

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The horn blasted from the front gates of the palace, shattering the stillness of the morning. The dogs in the royal kennels erupted into a flurry of barking and a flock of mountain doves went wheeling into the eggshell blue of sky. Rokkan’s stomach clenched. He leant against the blue roan’s withers, counting the blasts under his breath. As the second long note faded away, he let his breath out and rubbed Eclipse’s velvet nose. His stallion nickered and blew into his ear. ‘Not Father then, Eclipse.’

Not that he had really expected his father to rush back from his impromptu hunting trip once he got the news of Lakwi’s illness. Despite a couple of anxious nights, Rokkan’s little sister was recovering well under Anna’s ministrations. Gripping the brush, he pulled it in long strokes through Eclipse’s coat. The horse’s flank quivered as the burs amassed on the morning ride snagged the bristles. His dogs, Tracer, Rivet and Grip, lying under the railings, thumped their tails in a slow rhythm. Two blasts meant a Markan, but which one? Ah well, never mind. Bitjanan could deal with it. This was the first moment he had had to relax since little Lakwi fell ill.

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Rokkan turned his head at the clatter of hooves on the pathway. A handful of warriors trotted around the corner of the tack room…

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Fever: Part One

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Part One: In The Herbal Shop

Anna slammed the stone pestle into the mortar, her eyes blinded by tears. The afternoon sun beamed through the open servery hatch and lay in patches of light across the counter and work benches. Outside, the woman standing at the shop counter shifted the weight of the listless toddler in her arms and sighed. Behind her ramshackle shops and adobe houses squatted in a jumbled heap on the ridge across the empty street.

Dipping her head, Anna swiped the unshed tears from her eyes and continued to ground the dried bitterroot into a fine powder. Why was she the one to be sent away and not Nerra? Her pretty older sister was far more interested in boys and pretty furbelows than she was in the family’s herbal business. However nimble Nerra’s fingers were with the needle and the loom, it was Anna who, even at sixteen, could recognise the different plants almost as well as Ma and knew how to prepare and mix them.  She should be the one to stay.

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October Happenings

BirdandSunx400A quick catch-up with recent events:

  • I’ve written a few short stories set in the world of Nardva, one of which I’m hoping will appear in the Tied in Pink Anthology. The profits of this romance anthology will go to Breast Cancer research. I’ll keep you posted on details. If you want to help towards this project you can purchase some beautiful T-Shirts and other merchandise here.
  • Flight (a short story I wrote) placed second in the Intermediate category of FaithWriters. You can read it here.
  • I have a fabulous time attending a Writers Conference in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria (Australia) last weekend, attending workshops and catching up with old and new friends.
  • I’m signing up for NaNoWriMo again this November – to work on Jared’s Choice.
  • I’ve now started a related Instagram site
  • And finally, I’m publishing on Jeanette O’Hagan Writes (and a new Tumblr site By the Light of Two Moons) some Tamrin Tales – stories that fill in some background of the characters of my books in the Akrad’s Legacy series. The installment of the first story Fever is due tonight.
  • Clues for a Scavenger Hunt will be scattered through out the stories. Details, including prizes, will be announced by Monday 10th November.

Jeanette O’Hagan

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With Adele Jones (author of YA thriller Integrate) and Jo Wanmer (author of Though the Bud Be Bruised), Bachus Marsh 2014

With Nola (from the Write Flourish editing services) and Pamela, with Adele in background

With Nola Passmore (from the Write Flourish editing services) and Pamela (with Adele in background) Bacchus Marsh, 2014