Marian L Thorpe: writer & birder

Without you asking it to? The AI summary feature's been there a while, but I've never had it create one unless I requested it to.

The August edition of A Muse Bouche Review is out with stories from @reneegendron.bsky.social @marianlthorpe.bsky.social @jpgarlandauthor.bsky.social Arlene Davies-Fuhr and Wendy Nuttall

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#shortstories
#muse
#readingcommunity

"Hidden" - a modified #vignette from Empire's Passing. #shortstory

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This Writer's Diary July 28 - Aug 2, 2025

‘…the drama played out in the same way. To have seen it once was a moment to remember; twice was never to be expected.’

Summer Reruns: The Patch of Grass "I’ll miss his cooking."

“She’s so looking forward to a proper garden,” Fred told me.

#fiction #shortstory

“Fifty years ago, when Göran of Varsland declared war on the Casillard, Ésparias and Linrathe and Vilkmë supported us,” Wilnoth said. “Ésparias and Linrathe provided money, not soldiers. Funds with which to pay mercenaries, and the loan of ships of Ésparias’s navy to transport them. Neither country made a declaration of war against Varsland.” Guthlaf spoke authoritatively. “But,” Cenric said, “if the threat is real, and we had this warning and did nothing, surely that violates the precepts of the Casillard? We are pledged to aid other cities of the Confederacy.”

July 26th #WIPSnips 'bail' -- or in this case, one of its many synonyms: 'pledge'
#WIP #AnUnwisePrince

July 25th #WIPSnipes 'thrive' - or in this case, a synonym, 'prosper'. MC Cenric discussing an investment.#WIP #AnUnwisePrince

Unlocking the door to the warehouse, Cenric beckoned him inside. The furs lay on a long table, piled and tied with bands of cloth. Kirt was no real judge of fur, but he knew what trimmed his own cloaks and gloves and winter tunics, and it wasn’t fur like this, thin, brittle, shedding. These should be thick, lustrous, soft, the pelts taken at the height of winter. “I see your concern.”

July 24 #WIPSnips 'inside'

#WIP #AnUnwisePrince

The inn wasn't busy. If ships had arrived on today’s tide, Casille’s merchants had more pressing things to do; if not, they were occupied with the shipments from yesterday or the day before. Once the contents of barrels and bales had been assessed and deals made in the warehouses and offices and houses of the traders, Ferrand’s tables would be full. Only minor or routine business was conducted in public.

July 23 #WIPSnips: 'minor'. A bit of worldbuilding from #AnUnwisePrince #WIP

Truth mirroring (my) fiction: a headline from my local paper today, and a snippet from Empire’s Exile.

Luce stood, placing her wine glass on the low table, looking down at her uncle in the flickering light. His face was drawn. “Are you all right, Magister?” “A headache, nothing more. They are becoming more frequent.” “And will, if you continue to refuse to have those cataracts removed.” An old dispute. The surgery was new. Luce had learned it in Agade; had performed it a few times. Her uncle would not countenance it. The thought of a needle inserted into his eye made him ill, he said.

July 22 #WIPSnips: needle.
MC Luce, a physician, being concerned and frustrated by her uncle's reluctance to consider cataract surgery. (In the equivalent of the 13th C, so I might be on his side in this.) #WIP #AnUnwisePrince

It turns out picking up odd jobs in other dimensions is a bit easier if you happen to have forklift certification. Who knew?

From Tennyson's arc of The Atlas Brothers Break the Multiverse

#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting

July 21 #WIPSnips. A synonym today; 'guarantee'

MC Cenric at work. #WIP #AnUnwisePrince

Andric’s ability to see in the dark saved them. Rothgar saw the upward lunge of the man who’d lain hidden, half covered with the tatters of last year’s leaves, but it was Andric who launched himself forward, his knife on a downward arc, to knock the assailant away from his captain. The clouds cleared the moon. The man stared up at his attacker, choking out, “Andric?” “Wulf?” The knife’s descent stopped.

Jly 20 #WIPSnips 'moon'. An unexpected - and almost fatal - meeting of comrades after a battle. #WIP #AnUnwisePrince

a black and white soccer ball with a blue rim ALT: a black and white soccer ball with a blue rim

Sat down for a ten minute break. Husband was watching the Women's UEFA Euros, France-Germany. 2 hours later, I was still watching. What a game! Persistence, determination, & team work (& a touch of luck) led Germany to the victory, even after a 13th minute🟥which took them down to 10 players.

Summer colours.

An hour, perhaps two or three, to inform everyone, to deal with questions and concerns and words of sympathy; to give comfort where she could. Only then could she go back to her uncle’s rooms, to begin a search, one that she must disguise as simply familiarizing herself with the administration of the Taèchsel. Somewhere in his papers there should be – must be – a list, no doubt in code, of the men and women who had reported to Rainard. Reported not to the Magister of Berncastre, but to the spymaster for the Prince of Ésparias.

'Search' for #WIPSnips. Luce is dealing with the responsibilities that fall to her after her uncle's stroke. #WIP #AnUnwisePrince.

Summer Reruns: Chronology Another story from my first weeks on Substack.

'How much time do you need?'

An antique store owner is more than he first appears to be.

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Not your usual Little Free Library

Audun sighed and put down his pen. Through the open shutters of his bedroom window, he gazed out over the interlaced tidal creeks where curlews and seapies fed. In a few hours, water would lap within a few paces of his mother’s house. He’d been writing a poem about this changing, ephemeral land, attempting an allegory. Lives changed with tides too: tides of opportunity or disaster, chances taken, choices made. But he couldn’t make it work. However he put the words together, the subtlety he sought wasn’t there.

July 18 #WIPSnips 'together'. MC Audun, a few weeks short of eighteen, is an aspiring poet, aware he's got a lot to learn. #WIP #AnUnwisePrince

#WIPSnips One day late, here’s a memory Heimdall doesn’t have – that of Freya turning herself into the most alluring horrible crone that ever walked through the Nine Worlds.

#WIP: #WhyOdinDrinks book II
www.whyodindrinks.com

“I have been, this afternoon, the object of many a glance, or even some stares, and the subject, I believe, of many whispered conversations.” Kirt did not seem upset by the attention; the words were spoken with a sardonic amusement, softened by a smile. They were waiting for their meal, at the same table as before. A jug of Cyrennisi wine and a bowl of olives had been brought; the main course was being prepared.

July 17 #WIPSnips The only synonym/vibe this week: 'sardonic' in place of 'jaded'. MC Kirt is used to (and a bit fed up with) being the centre of covert attention. #WIP #AnUnwisePrince

FATEful Moments: Enjoy an Excerpt from Saints Alive by Debbie Young - Elizabeth St.John Sina The thing about me is, I know stuff. Not just the sort of thing your mum tells you, or what you learn at the village school. One reason I know more stuff than most kids my age is that my big brot...

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Rossiter’s gaze didn’t waver. “His Lordship’s on a secret errand for the Crown. I’m a hired blade, just. Warwick’s convicts are a separate matther—‍” “Ráiméis! Did ye not hear?” Conall’s voice smacked against something refusing to yield. “They’re no convicts. He kidnapped ’em, I tell ye! What’s the understanding atwixt ye?” Rossiter’s eyes sparked at the challenge. “None I can’t handle meself. Warwick’s a man of a different kidney, onced a privateer himself. Made his name in the Caribbean. Took a prize and forced himself on one o’ the passengers—a Spanish admiral’s young daughther. Their frigates overtook him afore he reached Nassau. Near bate him dead. Took three things: the Tempest’s Mark—a fine brig—and his nutmegs.” Rossiter smirked. “Let him keep his life.” “And no doubt a painful memory.” “No doubt.”

#WIPSnips "memory"

Looking out the men and women gathered before her, Luce said, more quietly, “He was my uncle, my teacher, my mentor,” She stopped then to blink, rapidly. Not for effect, Cenric thought. She had loved their uncle; there was no feigned emotion here. “That he chose me to be his successor is an honour and responsibility. His teachings and his memory will be my guide in all I do as Magister of Berncastre. I give you my promise, in Rainard en Berncastre’s name.”

Jul 16 #WIPSnips 'memory' - Luce giving the eulogy for her uncle Rainard. #WIP #AnUnwisePrince

Today's theme was orange.

Had he been too eager to become that respectable merchant, first to take his place beside his father and then in his own right in the guild hall and eventually in the Casillard? While his twin sister had travelled the length of the Nivéan Sea, studied medicine under the best physicians to be found, east or west, was privy to secrets of the men and women of courts from Beria to Varsland, Cenric had gone on buying journeys within Ésparias and Linrathe, trusted with nothing more than baskets and smoked fish to go in them, at first.

July 15 #WIPSnips: sister. MC Cenric wondering about his life choices. #AnUnwisePrince #WIP

A #tricolorheron #heron bird stands on one leg with one wing outstretched. The sun is setting and is filtering through the leaves, which can be seen in blurs in the background. This artwork is drawn in #colorpencil on #draftingfilm, and is approximately 11x17inches

Finally finished my #tricolor #heron! The vivid sunset was so delightful to capture, I feel like I used every yellow pencil I own on it.

I will have prints available and the original will be for sale @ Arrowhead Gallery in Old Fort, NC.

#art #sciart #birds #nature #illustration