Some books you'll cary around only for a quick escape. They may be deep and engaging, heart-wrenching and thought-provoking but (be honest), they are like a casual date with an interesting someone whenever you're able to fit them into your schedule. They fill in the spaces between home and work, or help you digest a … Continue reading Love affairs
‘Lady of the Sea’ – The Mission
(For the previous chapters, visit the Lady of the Sea's main page) Azov’s pirates had been sailing all night when their captain rounded them up to reveal the news as the sun came up. The big sea bear cleared his throat and tried his best to look cool and collected. “As you know," he began, … Continue reading ‘Lady of the Sea’ – The Mission
‘Lady of the Sea’ – Jonah
[For the previous chapters, check the Lady of the Sea's main page] What a useless little vermin, thought Isola to herself. That is the problem with the overly ambitious and under-intelligent: they act hastily and on impulse. 'Planning' is too big a word to fit in their tiny little skulls. Not that Peafowl knew any … Continue reading ‘Lady of the Sea’ – Jonah
‘Lady of the Sea’ – The Cell
After having been dragged down to the Queen's dungeons, Peafowl was thrown into an empty cell by two brutes with no obvious respect for nobility. The place was dark and damp and the air smelled of something Peafowl couldn't quite name but that he was sure someone somewhere used as a potent fertilizer. "Here you … Continue reading ‘Lady of the Sea’ – The Cell
on signs
A childhood friend made me a business proposal that involves a fair amount of writing, on the same week I decided to resume the countless unfinished stories I've left abandoned inside a gazillion unfinished notebooks. We meet up at a nice café by a park lake for the briefing and brainstorming and I tell him … Continue reading on signs
‘Lady of the Sea’ – Prelude
Most of the pirates were unable to sleep that night. Some of them had heard this old tale before, when they were young boys, but only bits and pieces and never while sailing high at sea on a full moon night. How did the baby survive when she showed no signs of being alive and … Continue reading ‘Lady of the Sea’ – Prelude
‘Lady of the Sea’ – Pardel’s Tale (Part II)
It was a full moon that night. The entire house and the entire beach were silver white. She looked for the spot where she had seen the lady in her dream and stood there. ‘Ask the sea for help,’ she remembered. So the young wife stretched her arms out to the sea and, losing herself … Continue reading ‘Lady of the Sea’ – Pardel’s Tale (Part II)
«Read like a butterfly, write like a bee»
I have always wanted to write. Even before I knew how, I was already scribbling on the blank spaces of all the books lying around the house - including the Bible. The love for writing was never just about the thoughts-to-words dynamic, it was the physical side of it as well: the paper textures, … Continue reading «Read like a butterfly, write like a bee»
Isidora & impatience
Found this jotted on a notebook from 2010 I had completely forgotten about. Four years later, I think impatience is just another excuse for lack of discipline. Yes, lack of speed is a challenge. The dyslexia that comes from thinking ahead of the words you're writing is a challenge. But isn't the ability to work … Continue reading Isidora & impatience
‘Lady of the Sea’ – Pardel’s Tale (I)
Everyone went quiet for Pardel to start. Loud as they were, all pirates enjoyed a good story. He held a silent pause for dramatic purposes before beginning: 'There was once a young couple who lived near the shore. They were happily in love but the girl was as barren as the deep desert. She grew … Continue reading ‘Lady of the Sea’ – Pardel’s Tale (I)
‘Lady of the Sea’ – The Golden Queen
Isola the Fair was the oldest and palest of seven sisters. Much to his misfortune, her father, King Malik the Good, had failed to produce a male heir, just as he had failed at everything else. History remembered him as one of the kindest, most generous kings the country had ever known – a reputation … Continue reading ‘Lady of the Sea’ – The Golden Queen
‘Lady of the Sea’ – Azov & the Pirates
It was their hundredth day of journey, with no other ship in sight. Azov, the Mighty Pirate, had been sailing the Southern Ocean, where they were supposed to attack and plunder all the ships they came across with. All except the fleet from the Golden Queen, who had secretly hired them to weaken the power … Continue reading ‘Lady of the Sea’ – Azov & the Pirates
Isidora & Characters
Paraphrasing some iconic author whose name I can’t remember speaking to the Paris Review, great characters are not photographs - they come to life from scratch. I do use sketches, drafts of portraits from the living, which I then try to mold and dress up according to their character potential. I’ll add wrinkles to their … Continue reading Isidora & Characters
Isidora & the Titles
Isidora is starting to think that post titles in the third person make her feel like a character (which she is) in a children's book (where she isn't).
Isidora Works 