A Place Called Hawthorne. Excerpt

The Spider Mushroom
It is early morning. A warm, soft. rain fell during the night. The fog hovers, in streams, over Hawthorne. The torches flicker with a low flame, having burned all night. Torch-lighters move solemnly round the gathering circle, refueling the lights. They must not burn out: for they tell the villagers Sage still breathes.

 Barccys and Sage meet over brunch to discuss plans for The Festival Of Hawthorne. Sage is the village healer. She is also training him to take her place, as the village healer, at the end of her time. Shortly after their meal, Sage stumbles, then falls to the floor.
 “Sage!” Barccys jumps out of his chair and runs to her. He kneels beside her, cradling her head in his arms.
 “Sage! Can you speak?” his voice quivering. Sage only nods, then gently, her blue eyes close.
 “Delfyn! Delfyn! Come here quickly, something terrible is happening to Sage!” Delfyn is outside the cottage gathering herbs, as instructed by Sage. He rushes in the door, arms full of yarrow, a dumbfounded look on his face. He sees Sage and Barccys are on the floor.
 “What happened?” Delfyn said, too frightened to speak further. He drops the yarrow and runs to Sage to help comfort her.
 “No, run, you must run to get Wydor and Elum, they are in the council hall! You must hurry!” Barccys spoke with an urgent, forcefulness in his voice!
 Delfyn never heard from him before. Shocked into action, Delfyn runs as fast as his short little legs will carry him.
He arrives at the Hall, terrified and breathless,
 "Come quickly, it's Sage!"
 Wydor abruptly ends his conversation with Elum. They quickly exchange a concerned glance. The two follow Delfyn to the cottage. Once there, they find Barccys still holding an unconscious Sage.
 “Come, everyone. Let us put her on the bed, I can examine her there,” instructed Wydor.
 Elum covers her with the soft blankets, as one would a small child. Noticing a drop of liquid coming from the corner of her mouth. He removes gauze from his pocket and collects the liquid.
" I will take this to my cottage and look at it more closely. She appears to be in a deep sleep, her breathing is regular."
 “Sage” he calls to her softly. Elum's voice grows louder with concern.
 “Sage, can you hear me?”
“What is it Elum? What could have done this?” Wydor asks.
 “I am not sure yet. Maybe Barccys has some answers for us” as Elum turns to Barccys accusingly.
 Barccys is frightened. He knows, it looks bad that he is there with Sage when she fell. He knows, they will suspect him of doing something to bring this lassitude on her. He’d tried to sabotage her work before, to make himself look good. It did not work. He has tried hard to prove that was a one time mistake. Barccys changed the feeding mixture and caused her medicinal garden to fail. ”Barccys replies earnestly.  Now, this! “I swear to you, I had nothing to do with this! I don't know what is happening to her! We just finished the meal and she collapsed!” Barccys pleads with Wydor and Elum. Delfyn stands tucked behind Wydor's robes, his green eyes wide with fear.
 “You can check, here on the table, I ate the same things she did. We had watercress and mushroom salad; only I drank the water. Sage finished her tea from earlier this morning.”
“Delfyn, take all the meal containers to my workshop, miss nothing! Do it now!” Elum ordered.
 Delfyn quickly and obediently does as instructed. All the while, watching Sage, her beautiful auburn hair flowing down her pillow. Crystals hold braids crowning her head. Her pink skin becoming paler. Delfyn could not imagine his life without Sage. She was his teacher, his mentor, and his protector. She had taken him under her wing when he was only twelve. Now, she was everything to him.
 Delfyn was small even by elf standards, but he made up for it with intelligence and therefore Sage first noticed him. Delfyn thought back to that day he found an injured bird in the garden. It had a broken nail, and the toe was bleeding. He picked the red herb from the garden, rubbed the leaves on the bird's toe to stop the bleeding
"You are a clever elf! Would you like to know more about healing?" she says to him.
He wants her to wake up, now.
 Delfyn gathers the last of the utensils and the cups and wobbles out of the door toward Elum's workshop.
 “Do you have everything?” Elum asks Delfyn.
 “Yes, sir”
 “What about the mortar and pestle? Did they grind spices?”
 “Oh, yes I prepared the tea leaves for hot tea. I will get it.” Delfyn says. Then he hurries toward the door.
“Delfyn you must return here to stay with Sage,” Wydor tells him.
 “I will return quickly. Delfyn replies. Elum follows him to the workshop.
 Wydor sits in a simple wooden chair next to Sage’s bed. Barccys stands next to the foot of the bed: much like a statue, except for the constant wringing of his hands.
 “This is not looking good for you Barccys” Wydor comments
 “I know that, Sir. But I am sorry and innocent of wrongdoing.”Barccys replies earnestly.
 "The crowd gathering around the fire ring will not be easy to convince," Wydor says.
 “I will do my best for you at the speaking stone.”.
 “I know you will Sir, you are always fair.”
Delfyn returns from his task for Elum.
 “We must go. Come, Barccys the village is waiting to hear news of Sage.”


New Novella coming out 2019
Sharon L. Carr (c)  all rights reserved

The Question Of Using A Pen Name

I am guessing this is a question every new author must answer. Publishing a book for the first time is a thrill and a validation. Then one realizes something quickly. Do I want to write another book in the same genre?  The answer is yes. Or do I want to try something new, yes? Do I want to use my name or a pen name for the second book? This is the question?
The positive side of having a pen name is: it gives the author an extra layer of privacy. When having a separation of personal and business life is important, having a pen name can be advantageous. Also, when choosing to write in a different genre than what you are commonly known, it may have its benefits. You can avoid sexism by using a male name if you are female. Conversely, a male can use a female name. Regrettably, it is still out there.

My decision to use my own name has come after reading several author blogs and articles on this question. Here are a couple; Should A Woman Use A Masculine Pen Name and Should You Be Using A Pen Name.

"I think I may boast myself to be, with all possible vanity, the most unlearned and uninformed female who ever dared to be an authoress.”
― Jane Austen

Austen, women-writers 

Quotes from Women, Goodreads 

Thanksgiving Morning Gratitude

After the cold weather, Thanksgiving morning has sunshine and mild temperatures. I am feeling grateful for that. It is going to be a beautiful day full of family!

What a better day to state few gratitudes? I have a few gratitudes I want to share;

• I am grateful to my family for all the sharing their lives with me. 
• I am grateful for a warm home and the food the earth provides.
• For the time to be creative.
• For the opportunity to write and publish short stories.
• For the company and comfort, my pets provide.
• The inspiration from turning of the seasons.
• My chickens, who are a daily source of humor.
• Knowing my gratitude, helps me realize my happiness.

gabrielle cole

A Place Called Hawthorne

There is a place where the rivers fall from the mountains and the clouds touch the ocean. It is a place of legends. A Place Called Hawthorne is a village of forests, tall grasses, and Swallow's dip and swoop among the open grasslands. It is a place where winter never visits. As if, Mother Earth herself had blessed it with a kiss.
But alas, even A Place Called Hawthorne can have misfortune.


This is my new novella, coming out in November 2019. I hope you will check back often for updates on how the writing is going. I will talk about characters I develop, scenes, and plot. You can follow along as the story develops.

Halloween Rhyme

Halloween Rhyme

Something wretched this way comes.
Its chains rattle,
its hollow eyes,
I should run if I were wise.

Something wretched this way comes.
My chin chatters,
as coyotes howl,
I should run, instead, I prowl.

Something wretched this way comes.
Goosebumps spread,
it's closer now,
it's breath so foul.

Something wretched this way comes.
Its hair matted,
Its jaw unhinged,
I should run, instead, I cringe.

Something wretched your way comes.
Its chains rattle,
its arms extend,
You are next, skeptic friend.

Sharon L. Carr (c) all rights reserved
From Yarns From Ozark Storytellers
Amazon.com

Yarns From Ozark Storytellers

 Yarns From Ozark Storytellers has something for every reader from the cozy, romantic mystery to scary, dramatic real-life experiences, and everything in between. Eleven authors from Missouri Author's Circle have created this anthology of short stories and poems that are sure to entertain. Some will make you smile, some will warm your heart, and others will give you goosebumps. All assure a good read!
                                                         To order go to Amazon.com


  

Death Was My Counselor. Excerpt.

Megan lies on the cold damp mud of the riverbank. The sound of running water makes her lips burn with thirst. Her eyes are swollen shut. Her legs have stabbing pains and are useless. She slips back into darkness.

The sound of footsteps brings her back. The pace is slow and mindful. Starting on the left side of her feet and making their way around her head. Then steps go the opposite way. She wants to scream. She wants to reach out and grab a foot, but she can not move. The presence stops and stands over her.
Megan can smell the blood, wet and sticky on her chest. She feels the cold like never before. Her breath becomes short and choppy.
Am I dying? Yes, I am and that person is standing there watching! What a creep!
"I can hear everything you are thinking, my dear." says the Presence.
"What! Who are you and how can you do that?" Megan exclaims. Realizing she said nothing aloud.
"Then how can this jerk hear me?"
 Now on Amazon.com
Yarns From Ozark Storytellers

Copyright 2018 All rights reserved. (c)

Your October Just Got Spookier

Are you a reader who loves a mystery, the unexplained or the supernatural? Then you are in for a treat!

Missouri Author's Circle is due to release their new book in October 2018! Yarns From Ozark Storytellers is a collection of short stories and poems. Some will warm your heart and others will give you goosebumps. All will guarantee a good read!

I hope you will check back for when, where and how you can get your copy.