Here I am in the gym wondering how I missed this and then you make me almost cry.
Gym bros are thinking it's the weight, or the latest craze in bushy moustaches, and all i can say is
"Moll did this"
And all they hear is
"Mould in this"
But I drift dearest Moll.
Frankly awesome.
What I admire most is the restraint.
You tell a violent, unjust story without letting violence become the spectacle.
Pernel isn’t bound by rage or unfinished revenge, but by witness. Centuries of watching life continue, lovingly and painfully, without her.
The Christmas setting does real work too. Warmth and ritual pressed up against frost and memory, without either cancelling the other out. The haunting feels ethical, not gothic for effect.
And that ending lands beautifully.
Not redemption, not reunion, but recognition. The possibility that waiting itself had meaning. A ghost story that trusts stillness rather than drama.
Hauntingly beautiful. 💛 ❤️ 💛
PS. We love Jack and Elizabeth, however we need some more tasks for you to let this other side come though too 😊
Thank you so much for expressing the tenderness I was trying to evoke here - as usually you go straight to the heart of what I could only flounder around half-aware.
But I am hoping that you can see how I take your lessons to heart, O Sensei!
okay but listen, Moll darling! This story absolutely winked at me and then stole my scarf 😌
Pernel is the quietest little menace to my feelings. Just standing there, centuries deep, handing out invisible blessings like “oop—joy for you, careful now” while pretending she’s fine?? Ma’am. Illegal. And the way she side-eyes happiness from the shadows like, yes yes enjoy your skating, I’ll just be over here being eternal—rude.
Also that ending?? EXCUSE. A hand on the arm. A very casual hello. Sir just shows up like, “oh hey, are you dead too?” and suddenly the whole afterlife goes oh. OH. That wasn’t closure, that was a sneaky little cosmic prank and I adored it.
This felt like a ghost story that knows exactly how to behave in public and then absolutely does not. Soft, snowy, sad, and then—bam—hope taps you on the shoulder when you least expect it. I’m smiling and slightly feral about it.
Thank you for seeing all the pieces of this one! I don’t think I’ll ever really be able to make my stories behave - but do either of us really want to?
Thanks Anna 😉💕 It’s a bit of an odd one out but maybe Pernel will have sisters at some point in the future! The graveyard is full of possibilities (and boy did that sound darker than I meant it to!)
Hey, great read as always. The narative structure you employ to build such a vivid, immersive scene is truly remarkable. It's a testament to your craft how effectivly you establish both setting and character perspective so early in the prose.
Thank you so much Roxy, that’s really kind of you! Setting was important to this one because I thought it was going to be the opener for the Christmas market, but it turned out to be a bit too complicated to work.
And I take real pride in knowing I am in your select company as someone whose story wouldn’t quite behave enough to have a stall in the market, because it had other agendas Xx
The stories emerging from the Market are terrifyingly brilliant! I so admire the authors laying down their piece of the patchwork, creating the Market community and the mythos where even the the apparently most innocent of objects become witnesses and agents of a larger whole.
I love how you captured the nature of medieval life and the turning of the seasons as time passed. It was nice to see church seasons portrayed correctly to. Absolutely perfect for the period where the church would define the turning of the seasons. Clergy refusing to marry people in Advent was a brilliant little vignette into life at the time.
"The sound of the river surged to silence in her ears."
Unfortunately, you should never trust a... Dick?
This tale is beautifully structured and carefully woven: a ghost's-eye view of a village continuing without its formerly most beautiful maiden. Even the birds, with their fabled vantage point, should be envious of Pernel's vision. Some of the lines hit me right in the feels. Thank you for this! More than worthy of a *sub back*.
A somewhat-sick voice in my head was hoping this would end with Richard returning to violate her one more time, in the afterlife. Is this wrong?
Damn Moll.
Here I am in the gym wondering how I missed this and then you make me almost cry.
Gym bros are thinking it's the weight, or the latest craze in bushy moustaches, and all i can say is
"Moll did this"
And all they hear is
"Mould in this"
But I drift dearest Moll.
Frankly awesome.
What I admire most is the restraint.
You tell a violent, unjust story without letting violence become the spectacle.
Pernel isn’t bound by rage or unfinished revenge, but by witness. Centuries of watching life continue, lovingly and painfully, without her.
The Christmas setting does real work too. Warmth and ritual pressed up against frost and memory, without either cancelling the other out. The haunting feels ethical, not gothic for effect.
And that ending lands beautifully.
Not redemption, not reunion, but recognition. The possibility that waiting itself had meaning. A ghost story that trusts stillness rather than drama.
Hauntingly beautiful. 💛 ❤️ 💛
PS. We love Jack and Elizabeth, however we need some more tasks for you to let this other side come though too 😊
Thank you so much for expressing the tenderness I was trying to evoke here - as usually you go straight to the heart of what I could only flounder around half-aware.
But I am hoping that you can see how I take your lessons to heart, O Sensei!
@Mark Crutchfield you put that so well!
@Moll Moonlight what he said! Especially to exploring that voice!
You are both a pair of unconventionally witty and slightly rebellious guardian angels. With creative talent celestial 😉🥰
😊 😃 😊
👼🪶✨
okay but listen, Moll darling! This story absolutely winked at me and then stole my scarf 😌
Pernel is the quietest little menace to my feelings. Just standing there, centuries deep, handing out invisible blessings like “oop—joy for you, careful now” while pretending she’s fine?? Ma’am. Illegal. And the way she side-eyes happiness from the shadows like, yes yes enjoy your skating, I’ll just be over here being eternal—rude.
Also that ending?? EXCUSE. A hand on the arm. A very casual hello. Sir just shows up like, “oh hey, are you dead too?” and suddenly the whole afterlife goes oh. OH. That wasn’t closure, that was a sneaky little cosmic prank and I adored it.
This felt like a ghost story that knows exactly how to behave in public and then absolutely does not. Soft, snowy, sad, and then—bam—hope taps you on the shoulder when you least expect it. I’m smiling and slightly feral about it.
Thank you for seeing all the pieces of this one! I don’t think I’ll ever really be able to make my stories behave - but do either of us really want to?
Oh my goodness, here she iss!! I definitely developed maternal instincts for this story!!
Thanks Anna 😉💕 It’s a bit of an odd one out but maybe Pernel will have sisters at some point in the future! The graveyard is full of possibilities (and boy did that sound darker than I meant it to!)
Oh dear! I finally go to this and it forced me to sit down on an outdoor bench and take it all in! Pernel is a time traveler goddess!
Hey, great read as always. The narative structure you employ to build such a vivid, immersive scene is truly remarkable. It's a testament to your craft how effectivly you establish both setting and character perspective so early in the prose.
Thank you so much Roxy, that’s really kind of you! Setting was important to this one because I thought it was going to be the opener for the Christmas market, but it turned out to be a bit too complicated to work.
This is the second time in a month I’ve recommended this book - “A Fine and Private Place” by Peter S Beagle
Ooh I just looked this up on Wiki and it looks amazing! Another one to add to my Christmas Wishlist! Thanks for the recommendation!
(Also, love that the title’s from Marvell)
(He’s the author of The Last Unicorn, another wonderful book)
That does sound like my kind of thing!
Marvellous! So vivid!
Thank you so much Giles!
And I take real pride in knowing I am in your select company as someone whose story wouldn’t quite behave enough to have a stall in the market, because it had other agendas Xx
You’re good company and very kind!
The stories emerging from the Market are terrifyingly brilliant! I so admire the authors laying down their piece of the patchwork, creating the Market community and the mythos where even the the apparently most innocent of objects become witnesses and agents of a larger whole.
There such huge writing talents involved!
It’s been amazing to see! I can’t wait to read what is still in store! Xx
(And also, back at you!)
I love how you captured the nature of medieval life and the turning of the seasons as time passed. It was nice to see church seasons portrayed correctly to. Absolutely perfect for the period where the church would define the turning of the seasons. Clergy refusing to marry people in Advent was a brilliant little vignette into life at the time.
Thank you for noticing that one! I was pleased I included it. Xx
Good to see you stay true to your deal. Wonderful story! 😁
Thank you my lovey! Miss you, by the way - is term nearly done?
Term is done! Have you seen the newest episode?
I JUST went and found it! Can’t read it now - well I could, but I’d have to skim - so I’m going to come back and savour it this evening! Xx
Ooh! Lovely.
Thank you Leanne! Hoping to get some quality reading time to look at your latest this evening - Sea Stories is a new book baby, right?
Above Sea Stories is a container to hold my non-seadragon related works.
Aha!
"The sound of the river surged to silence in her ears."
Unfortunately, you should never trust a... Dick?
This tale is beautifully structured and carefully woven: a ghost's-eye view of a village continuing without its formerly most beautiful maiden. Even the birds, with their fabled vantage point, should be envious of Pernel's vision. Some of the lines hit me right in the feels. Thank you for this! More than worthy of a *sub back*.
A somewhat-sick voice in my head was hoping this would end with Richard returning to violate her one more time, in the afterlife. Is this wrong?