Tales by Eressë

My book is now in edits and everything is going smoothly. And as icing on the cake, my editor complimented me on my very clean manuscript. I do try to submit well-proofed and edited manuscripts always. The last thing I want is to come across as unprofessional about what is after all a profession. Anyway, I've also been given a release date. Book Four: Heartstrings will come out on July 2. To celebrate, here's the latest installment of Prior Claim. As always, I hope it pleases.

Title: Princeling
Author: Eressë
Fandom: JRR Tolkien - The Sons of Elrond (fanfic100)
Characters: Elladan & Elrohir, Arathorn, Gilraen, Ivorwen
Prompt: 029. Birth
Word Count: 1391
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: The characters belong to the wizard of storytelling himself, JRR Tolkien and/or his estate. No offense is intended or profit made in my use of them.
Summary: The twins are as much healers as they are warriors and they are reminded of this when instead of ending lives they usher one precious life into the world. Part 42 of Prior Claim.

( Princeling )

Table of Prompts & Story Links

My apologies for failing to respond to those who commented in the previous post. I was out of town and as soon as I got back I started on this chapter. The mood to write isn't always strong enough or even there so I try to strike while the figurative iron is hot. I hope this update is enough to make up for my lapse in manners.

Title: Remedy
Author: Eressë
Fandom: JRR Tolkien – The Sons of Elrond (fanfic100 )
Characters: Glorfindel/Elladan, Elrohir
Prompt: 069. Thunder
Word Count: 3243
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: The characters belong to the wizard of storytelling himself, JRR Tolkien and/or his estate. No offense is intended or profit made in my use of them.
Summary: Elladan and Elrohir have always deemed children a blessing but learn the hard way that they can also be most inconvenient. Part 41 of Prior Claim.
Author’s Note: I have no idea if Arador the grandfather of Aragorn had brothers or close-degree cousins and therefore nephews. It’s not implausible, however, if one goes by the fact that Halbarad, one of Aragorn’s Rangers, was a trusted kinsman.

( Remedy )

Table of Prompts & Story Links 

Wow! I can't believe I last posted in January. That's much too long a gap. Is there anyone still out there reading my posts? I certainly hope so!

The reason for my absence? Finishing Book Four of Chronicles of Ylandre before the end of the first quarter of 2012. It appears I'm really a book-a-year writer. No matter how hard I try, I simply can't write more than one book in under twelve months and I haven't the faintest idea how other authors manage to churn out two or more a year. Just thinking about the prospect gives me a migraine and a serious case of panic-induced writer's block. 

In any case, I accomplished what I set out to do and Heartstrings has been accepted for publication. I've submitted my cover art request and hope I'll get Anne Cain to do my cover again. *crosses fingers* And now, I'm just waiting for the editing process to get underway. With that out of the way and a rest for a month or so from professional writing, I can return to Prior Claim which I would dearly like to finish this year. Whether I can complete the whole fanfic100 challenge as well is a big question mark at this point however. It will probably take me another year to do that—I never imagined it would take me so long to finish the challenge when I signed up for it! But then I never expected I'd be published either and how so much of my time would be taken up writing books. 

One thing I'm thinking of doing in addition to continuing my fanfic (a glutton for punishment, aren't I?) is writing side stories for Chronicles of Ylandre and posting them here and on my website—maybe make them available for download, too. And not just original pieces, but also "out-takes" as I like to call them. There's stuff that doesn't make it past the editing process that I'm just loathe to discard. I feel that expanding these and making them available to readers of the series is preferable to consigning them to oblivion. Now maybe I'm biting off more than I can chew, but I'd like to give it a shot rather than give up before I've even got out the starting gate. 

So here's hoping I can get out another chapter or three of Prior Claim soonest and also a couple of Ylandre side stories or more before the next book is released. Wish me luck! 

Ever written a story that happens almost concurrently with another and suddenly realize you'd inserted events/facts/whatever that shouldn't be there because they happened much earlier/later in the canon timeline?

I just did that while writing the fourth book in the Chronicles of Ylandre series. According to the timeline I established in the first three books, I wrote in events in Book 4 chapter two that took place five years before the ones in chapter one. And the way the chapters are structured, I can't take the easy way out and turn chapter two into a flashback. It's become a tedious exercise in going back and forth checking for continuity. Furthermore, I can't bear to discard the parts that would make these chapters less time-specific. Not only do I love those parts too much not to use them, they also help establish this book's links to the first three. So I have to work them in somehow or work around them.

Aargh! Fixing the errors is giving me a migraine!

Pardon the rant. I don't enjoy venting online. But by golly, it feels good to let this one out.

It's been a pretty eventful past year for me especially with the family moving house again and so soon. But the joy and wonder of celebrating our first Christmas and turn of the year in our new home hasn't waned yet. I did think a little of the luster would rub off when I started clearing away all the post-holiday litter. *chuckle* Happily, even all the cleaning up hasn't made a dent in my contentment. And now the family's looking forward to experiencing our first full year in this house.

  A PROMISING & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!

May 2012 bring about the fulfillment of your dearest hopes and sweetest dreams.    

This is not a continuation of my current WIP but an “out-take” from An Ounce of Kindness. The idea came to me out of the blue while I was in the middle of a baking spree.

Every Christmas we gift relations and friends with homemade foodstuff like smoked fish pâtés and specialty cakes or cookies. This year I decided on holiday cupcakes—carrot ginger nut, chocolate chip banana, marbled cream cheese chocolate, etc.

But I digress. To get back to the point, this piece just seemed more suited to my present mood than the ongoing storyline of Prior Claim. So here’s the result of that sudden inspiration. I do hope it pleases.

    A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!
Title: Wakeful
Author: Eressë
Fandom: JRR Tolkien – The Sons of Elrond (fanfic100)
Characters: Elivorn & Nimaras (OCs)
Prompt: 057: Lunch
Word Count: 767
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: The characters belong to the wizard of storytelling himself, JRR Tolkien and/or his estate. No offense is intended or profit made in my use of them.
Summary: Two princes of Mirkwood discuss their recent streak of near sleepless nights. An “out-take” from An Ounce of Kindness.
    
( Wakeful )

Table of Prompts & Story Links

Greetings to one and all,

Presenting By Chance Met, the third book in the Chronicles of Ylandre series. For a while there, I thought it wouldn't get a 2011 release date so I'm delighted and relieved it's finally out. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who informed me they would be buying the book. I do hope it lives up to your expectations. And if the book moves you enough to want to recommend it to others, oh yes, please go ahead and do so!  

Warmest regards,
Eressë
  

I originally intended for this chapter to be a light-hearted romp. But my muses insisted otherwise and this has turned into a rather angst-ridden piece instead. I wonder how the succeeding chapters will turn out. Interesting where inspiration can lead (or waylay) us, isn’t it? Anyway, as always, I hope this pleases.
 
Title: Conflicted
Author: Eressë
Fandom: JRR Tolkien - The Sons of Elrond (fanfic100)
Characters: Elrohir/Legolas, Elladan
Prompt: 004. Insides
Word Count: 2696
Rating: R
Disclaimer: The characters belong to the wizard of storytelling himself, JRR Tolkien and/or his estate. No offense is intended or profit made in my use of them.
Summary: Besieged by doubt and discontent, Elrohir struggles to maintain his footing while treading the fine line between keeping back too much and revealing just enough. Part 40 of Prior Claim.
 
         ( Conflicted )
 
Table of Prompts & Story Links

Chronicles of Ylandre Book Three: By Chance Met has a release date! And I was very lucky to have the cover art done by the incredibly talented Anne Cain once more. I do hope those of you who read Book One: Sacred Fate and Book Two: Hallowed Bond enjoyed them enough to want to continue following the series. Coming next is Book Four: Heartstrings which will feature two characters who play pivotal roles in By Chance Met.




Soon to be released (November 28, 2011) - Liquid Silver Books
ISBN: 978-1-50758-867-2

Blurb:
A chance meeting heralds the convergence of two heretofore wildly divergent fates.

From the moment he laid eyes on the handsome Lord of Ilmaren, Naeth Orosse fell head over heels in infatuation with him. And after that first meeting in the middle of a tavern brawl in the dual-gendered realm of Ylandre, Reijir Arthanna did not forget the orphaned youth who came to his aid unasked. When fate brings them together anew, Reijir becomes Naeth’s guardian, which proves both blessing and bane when their mutual attraction is guilelessly nursed by one and distrustfully downplayed by the other. 

Between attempting to ignore Naeth’s artless overtures and suppressing feelings he had long disavowed, Reijir has his hands full. But more than a title and duty were forced on this enigmatic cousin of Ylandre’s king. A less than benevolent past has left its imprint on Reijir who is as known for his cynical outlook on life as he is for his exotic features and proficiency between the sheets. Convincing him to risk his heart in love is a battle more experienced Deira than Naeth have waged and invariably lost.

Note: Contains hermaphrodism and explicit homoerotic sexual encounters. 

Read an excerpt

Finally, an update for Prior Claim. I actually wrote it in under an hour! Then spent the rest of the day re-reading it for errors, or worse, the need to scrap it and re-write the whole thing. Anyway, I hope it pleases.

Side note: The cover art for By Chance Met is just about done. We’re now in the process of refining it. With luck (prayers won’t hurt either), the book should be ready for release within the month or next at the latest. *crosses fingers*

Title: Faraway
Author: Eressë
Fandom: JRR Tolkien - The Sons of Elrond (fanfic100)
Characters: Elladan/Glorfindel, Elrohir
Prompt: 090. Home
Word Count: 2011
Rating: R
Disclaimer: The characters belong to the wizard of storytelling himself, JRR Tolkien and/or his estate. No offense is intended or profit made in my use of them.
Summary: After years on the hunt, the allure of hearth and home grows compelling. At least for one of the twins. Part 39 of Prior Claim.

( Faraway )

Table of Prompts & Story Links