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Pic: Passage of the Spirits by A. A Ruben – De Young Museum, San Francisco.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve written a fantasy novel called Dry Land<\/i><\/b>. \u00a0The novel is set in the most beautiful part of the U.K – Lindesfarne, Northumberland. \u00a0The island of Lindesfarne is connected to the mainland by a causeway twice a day during low-tide, where you can walk across the North Sea from Berwick upon Tweed.<\/p>\n
This novel means a lot to me. \u00a0I would love\u00a0for it to be published. \u00a0I\u2019ve tried quite a few publishers and agents already, so now I\u2019m sending it out on the web in the hopes that someone will give it a better chance. \u00a0I\u2019ve had over 50 short stories published from 2007 – 2014, and my work has been translated into German and Italian. \u00a0Dry Land<\/b><\/i>\u00a0is 72,000 words long. \u00a0If you want to contact me about it, email me at billieprime@gmail.com.<\/p>\n
One-line synopsis<\/b>:\u00a0There are creatures in the rain who want you to come home. \u00a0But is your home on the land or in the depths of the sea?<\/p>\n
Excerpt<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n New Dad hurried to the front door when we heard knocking. \u00a0He returned with a woman I recognised, but whose name I couldn\u2019t remember for a moment. \u00a0It came to me as she staggered into the room: her name was Sylvie-Anna, but everyone called her Essay. \u00a0I had heard that her mum had been famous back in the day; she had appeared on television and everything. \u00a0I\u2019d thought of Essay as being an odd woman on an island full of particularly unique people. \u00a0But then as the last few hours had proved, my family were pretty odd themselves. \u00a0Maybe being a failed lesbian, wannabe Goth would be my marker of oddness in the village. Pic: Passage of the Spirits by A. A Ruben – De Young Museum, San Francisco.<\/p>\n I’ve written a fantasy novel called Dry Land<\/i><\/b>. The novel is set in the most beautiful part of the U.K – Lindesfarne, Northumberland. The island of Lindesfarne is connected to the mainland by a causeway twice a day during low-tide, where you can walk across the North Sea from Berwick upon Tweed.<\/p>\n This novel means a lot to me. I would love for it to be published. I’ve tried quite a few publishers and agents already, so now I’m sending it out on the web in the hopes that someone will give it a better chance. I’ve had over 50 short stories published from 2007 – 2014, and my work has been translated into German and Italian. Dry Land<\/b><\/i> is 72,000 words long. If you want to contact me about it, email me at billieprime@gmail.com.<\/p>\n One-line synopsis<\/b>: There are creatures in the rain who want you to come home. But is your home on the land or in the depths of the sea?<\/p>\n Excerpt<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n New Dad hurried to the front door when we heard knocking. He returned with a woman I recognised, but whose name I couldn’t remember for a moment. It came to me as she staggered into the room: her name was Sylvie-Anna, but everyone called her Essay. I had heard that her mum had been famous back in the day; she had appeared on television and everything. I’d thought of Essay as being an odd woman on an island full of particularly unique people. But then as the last few hours had proved, my family were pretty odd themselves. Maybe being a failed lesbian, wannabe Goth would be my marker of oddness in the village.
Essay sat at the table, landing heavily on a chair. \u00a0Her untidy brown hair flopped this way and that. \u201cYou all have to get out of here.\u201d \u00a0
New Dad passed the woman a brandy. \u00a0\u201cNow calm down.\u201d \u00a0He crouched beside her. \u00a0What\u2019s the matter?\u201d \u00a0His voice was gentle and reassuring.
Essay knocked back the drink in a few quick gulps. \u00a0\u201cA storm. \u00a0A storm is coming this way. \u00a0We have to get my Ma. \u00a0We have to get out of here.\u201d \u00a0The woman ran a hand through her hair; she was visibly shaking.
I checked out of the window once more. \u00a0I couldn\u2019t see much, but at least it was dry. \u00a0\u201cIt rained on the way up, but it was over pretty quick. \u00a0I don\u2019t think anything\u2019s coming our way now.\u201d
Essay reached into her coat pocket. \u00a0She held up a piece of folded newspaper, and waved it at me. \u00a0\u201cFive across. \u00a0Seven letters for Shakespeare at sea.\u201d \u00a0Essay looked right at me. \u00a0\u201cThe Tempest. \u00a0The storm.\u201d
I looked from the paper to her. \u00a0\u201cA crossword?\u201d \u00a0This was mad, even for Essay.
Essay snarled at me. \u00a0\u201cYou think it\u2019s just silly letters. \u00a0You think Essay\u2019s just a daft woman.\u201d \u00a0She turned to Jake. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m telling you. \u00a0We don\u2019t get out of here, we\u2019re all finished. \u00a0I saw it.\u201d \u00a0She grabbed hold of him, pulling at his jumper. \u00a0\u201cI saw it in the paper, and then I saw it with my own eyes.\u201d
\u201cGeez, girl. \u00a0How much have you had to drink?\u201d
Essay snapped her head around to stare at Nina. \u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t believe me then.\u201d \u00a0She stood, rising a good head taller than New Dad. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m going to the care home. \u00a0I\u2019m taking my ma, and we\u2019re getting gone.\u201d \u00a0New Dad made a move to hold her arm, but Essay flinched away from him. \u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t try to stop me. \u00a0We got less than an hour. \u00a0Causeway won\u2019t stay dry forever. \u00a0We don\u2019t get out now; we don\u2019t get out at all.\u201d \u00a0
I swallowed with a burst of fear at the very mention of the approaching tide.
New Dad gave Essay a strange look. \u00a0\u201cLet me come with you, yes?\u201d
Essay crossed her arms, looking particularly embarrassed. \u00a0\u201cMe truck gave out bottom of the road. \u00a0Seem to recall that you don\u2019t drive.\u201d
\u201cCan\u2019t you just siphon off a bit of Kim\u2019s petrol?\u201d \u00a0Nina suggested. \u00a0I tried not to glare at her. \u00a0I needed that fuel for myself. \u00a0There was nowhere else to get it on the island during the holidays.
\u201cTruck\u2019s diesel. \u00a0I wouldn\u2019t ask for a lift if I weren\u2019t desperate.\u201d
I\u2019d rather not leave my home seeing as I\u2019d just got here, but I didn\u2019t want Essay hanging around either. \u00a0However it seemed that the crazy old bird was in a state. \u00a0I sat back at the table and ate some more of my pie.
New Dad looked at me with his big brown eyes. \u00a0\u201cWould you give Essay a lift to the care home?\u201d
\u201cWhat?\u201d \u00a0I looked over at Essay as she paced across the room, checking her pocket watch.
New Dad gave me a stern look. \u00a0\u201cKimberly Rebecca Bowen, please don\u2019t make me beg you to help our poor friend. \u00a0I\u2019ll get on my knees if I have to, but your mother already made me do that once today.\u201d
Nina looked horrified as Jake\u2019s words sunk in, but I just sighed to myself. \u00a0New Dad was far beyond inappropriate. \u00a0He didn\u2019t even have the grace to look embarrassed. \u00a0
\u201cOkay, but I want that cheesecake when I get back.\u201d \u00a0I ran upstairs, fetched my jacket and my keys. \u00a0My bags lay strewn on the bed and floor. \u00a0I hadn\u2019t even managed to unpack properly before I had to be off and out again.
Nina was waiting at the bottom of the stairs pulling on her thin jacket. \u00a0\u201cNo way am I staying here on my own.\u201d \u00a0She put her sunglasses on, and opened the door. \u00a0\u201cI don\u2019t wanna sit with your newbie dad.\u201d \u00a0She hurried to the front car door, scooting in front of Essay as she was just about to open it. \u00a0The older woman scowled at her, but said nothing.
Everyone got in. \u00a0I reversed the car, and then noticed that Mum was standing at the entrance to the Tide House, looking mightily pissed off beneath the fairy lights.
\u201cI can only think that this panic you\u2019re all in made you forget about me. \u00a0That must be what happened.\u201d Mum wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, and hurried to the car. \u00a0New Dad squeezed over, and sat my mum beside him. \u00a0
\u201cSomeone will have to stay behind,\u201d I said. \u00a0\u201cThere isn\u2019t room enough for another. \u00a0How\u2019s Essay\u2019s mum going to fit in the car?\u201d
\u201cWell we\u2019re not all going to the mainland with you,\u201d Mum stated. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019ve got errands to run first thing tomorrow. \u00a0We\u2019re almost out of vodka and brown rice. \u00a0Where the hell am I going to get that?\u201d
\u201cI need the rice for a grain loaf I\u2019m making,\u201d Jake piped up.
\u201cKim can pop over to Greens in Berwick. \u00a0Just make sure it\u2019s organic.\u201d
\u201cMum!\u201d
\u201cDon\u2019t cause a fuss, love. \u00a0You\u2019ll just have to come back as soon as you take Essay and her mother across, won\u2019t you?\u201d \u00a0Mum adjusted her shawl.
\u201cBloody hell.\u201d
\u201cStop complaining and let\u2019s get a move on. \u00a0Sooner we start, sooner we\u2019ll be done.\u201d \u00a0Mum settled herself back against New Dad.
\u201cLet\u2019s be off.\u201d \u00a0Essay prodded me on the shoulder, which I didn\u2019t appreciate. \u00a0\u201cLess chatting, more driving.\u201d
I didn\u2019t know when I\u2019d become the taxi service for the whole damn village, but I was outnumbered. \u00a0I bit my tongue and started the car. \u00a0\u201cSo what makes you think the storm is going to be so bad, Essay?\u201d I asked.
\u201cI seen it.\u201d
Nina looked at me sideways. \u00a0\u201cRight.\u201d \u00a0She twirled her finger against the side of her head, but made it look as if she was fiddling with her hair. \u00a0I stifled a laugh as I drove slowly over the very bumpy ground.
\u201cGot a special friend on Farne. \u00a0He calls me every Thursday lunchtime. \u00a0He never rang. \u00a0I phoned him, but nobody picked up. \u00a0So I says to myself, call Barney what takes his boat out with the biologists. \u00a0I got nothing from him. \u00a0Everyone I tried, no response. \u00a0Took me own tub to the water, though it were in no fit state. \u00a0I see something I never seen before. \u00a0Five across.\u201d \u00a0Her voice cracked on the last words. \u00a0I tried to keep my concentration for the road, but I could see Essay\u2019s wide eyes in the rear view mirror. \u00a0I found myself unable to look away from her ashen face. \u00a0\u201cA pillar of water. \u00a0It weren\u2019t like any spout I seen. \u00a0It didn\u2019t move forward or back. \u00a0It went up to heaven, just stood there, black like it were made of stone.\u201d
\u201cAre you serious?\u201d \u00a0New Dad\u2019s voice was a whisper.
\u201cThere\u2019s something else,\u201d she said slowly. \u00a0\u201cI felt like someone was watching Essay. \u00a0It were just me and the sea.\u201d \u00a0She wiped her face with trembling hands. \u00a0\u201cI don\u2019t need no crossword to tell me to get gone.\u201d
The atmosphere in the car went cold and still. \u00a0
Mum eventually cleared her throat. \u00a0\u201cThat doesn\u2019t sound very likely, dearest.\u201d \u00a0Mum\u2019s words were kind, but I still noticed her shrink back a little from Essay. \u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re all under stress, what with the time of year. \u00a0Maybe we could all go back to the house. \u00a0You\u2019re welcome to stay for dinner. \u00a0We have plenty of room. \u00a0Stay the night, love.\u201d \u00a0Mum patted Jake\u2019s hand. \u00a0\u201cShe could have the Hibiscus room. \u00a0You fixed the lights, didn\u2019t you?\u201d
\u201cThat\u2019s right. \u00a0It\u2019s lovely and warm. \u00a0Kim why don\u2019t you turn us around and we can head back?\u201d
\u201cDon\u2019t believe me,\u201d Essay snapped. \u00a0\u201cI don\u2019t care no more. \u00a0I just wants me ma.\u201d \u00a0Essay crossed her arms, stared out of the window. \u00a0\u201cKeep your dinner. \u00a0Dead don\u2019t need to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![](\"http:\/\/68.media.tumblr.com\/2a139084a403f6142824d9ed066305ad\/tumblr_otwiiu7k4s1qd3j1wo1_500.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Essay sat at the table, landing heavily on a chair. Her untidy brown hair flopped this way and that. “You all have to get out of here.”
New Dad passed the woman a brandy. “Now calm down.” He crouched beside her. What’s the matter?” His voice was gentle and reassuring.
Essay knocked back the drink in a few quick gulps. “A storm. A storm is coming this way. We have to get my Ma. We have to get out of here.” The woman ran a hand through her hair; she was visibly shaking.
I checked out of the window once more. I couldn’t see much, but at least it was dry. “It rained on the way up, but it was over pretty quick. I don’t think anything’s coming our way now.”
Essay reached into her coat pocket. She held up a piece of folded newspaper, and waved it at me. “Five across. Seven letters for Shakespeare at sea.” Essay looked right at me. “The Tempest. The storm.”
I looked from the paper to her. “A crossword?” This was mad, even for Essay.
Essay snarled at me. “You think it’s just silly letters. You think Essay’s just a daft woman.” She turned to Jake. “I’m telling you. We don’t get out of here, we’re all finished. I saw it.” She grabbed hold of him, pulling at his jumper. “I saw it in the paper, and then I saw it with my own eyes.”
“Geez, girl. How much have you had to drink?”
Essay snapped her head around to stare at Nina. “Don’t believe me then.” She stood, rising a good head taller than New Dad. “I’m going to the care home. I’m taking my ma, and we’re getting gone.” New Dad made a move to hold her arm, but Essay flinched away from him. “Don’t try to stop me. We got less than an hour. Causeway won’t stay dry forever. We don’t get out now; we don’t get out at all.”
I swallowed with a burst of fear at the very mention of the approaching tide.
New Dad gave Essay a strange look. “Let me come with you, yes?”
Essay crossed her arms, looking particularly embarrassed. “Me truck gave out bottom of the road. Seem to recall that you don’t drive.”
“Can’t you just siphon off a bit of Kim’s petrol?” Nina suggested. I tried not to glare at her. I needed that fuel for myself. There was nowhere else to get it on the island during the holidays.
“Truck’s diesel. I wouldn’t ask for a lift if I weren’t desperate.”
I’d rather not leave my home seeing as I’d just got here, but I didn’t want Essay hanging around either. However it seemed that the crazy old bird was in a state. I sat back at the table and ate some more of my pie.
New Dad looked at me with his big brown eyes. “Would you give Essay a lift to the care home?”
“What?” I looked over at Essay as she paced across the room, checking her pocket watch.
New Dad gave me a stern look. “Kimberly Rebecca Bowen, please don’t make me beg you to help our poor friend. I’ll get on my knees if I have to, but your mother already made me do that once today.”
Nina looked horrified as Jake’s words sunk in, but I just sighed to myself. New Dad was far beyond inappropriate. He didn’t even have the grace to look embarrassed.
“Okay, but I want that cheesecake when I get back.” I ran upstairs, fetched my jacket and my keys. My bags lay strewn on the bed and floor. I hadn’t even managed to unpack properly before I had to be off and out again.
Nina was waiting at the bottom of the stairs pulling on her thin jacket. “No way am I staying here on my own.” She put her sunglasses on, and opened the door. “I don’t wanna sit with your newbie dad.” She hurried to the front car door, scooting in front of Essay as she was just about to open it. The older woman scowled at her, but said nothing.
Everyone got in. I reversed the car, and then noticed that Mum was standing at the entrance to the Tide House, looking mightily pissed off beneath the fairy lights.
“I can only think that this panic you’re all in made you forget about me. That must be what happened.” Mum wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, and hurried to the car. New Dad squeezed over, and sat my mum beside him.
“Someone will have to stay behind,” I said. “There isn’t room enough for another. How’s Essay’s mum going to fit in the car?”
“Well we’re not all going to the mainland with you,” Mum stated. “I’ve got errands to run first thing tomorrow. We’re almost out of vodka and brown rice. Where the hell am I going to get that?”
“I need the rice for a grain loaf I’m making,” Jake piped up.
“Kim can pop over to Greens in Berwick. Just make sure it’s organic.”
“Mum!”
“Don’t cause a fuss, love. You’ll just have to come back as soon as you take Essay and her mother across, won’t you?” Mum adjusted her shawl.
“Bloody hell.”
“Stop complaining and let’s get a move on. Sooner we start, sooner we’ll be done.” Mum settled herself back against New Dad.
“Let’s be off.” Essay prodded me on the shoulder, which I didn’t appreciate. “Less chatting, more driving.”
I didn’t know when I’d become the taxi service for the whole damn village, but I was outnumbered. I bit my tongue and started the car. “So what makes you think the storm is going to be so bad, Essay?” I asked.
“I seen it.”
Nina looked at me sideways. “Right.” She twirled her finger against the side of her head, but made it look as if she was fiddling with her hair. I stifled a laugh as I drove slowly over the very bumpy ground.
“Got a special friend on Farne. He calls me every Thursday lunchtime. He never rang. I phoned him, but nobody picked up. So I says to myself, call Barney what takes his boat out with the biologists. I got nothing from him. Everyone I tried, no response. Took me own tub to the water, though it were in no fit state. I see something I never seen before. Five across.” Her voice cracked on the last words. I tried to keep my concentration for the road, but I could see Essay’s wide eyes in the rear view mirror. I found myself unable to look away from her ashen face. “A pillar of water. It weren’t like any spout I seen. It didn’t move forward or back. It went up to heaven, just stood there, black like it were made of stone.”
“Are you serious?” New Dad’s voice was a whisper.
“There’s something else,” she said slowly. “I felt like someone was watching Essay. It were just me and the sea.” She wiped her face with trembling hands. “I don’t need no crossword to tell me to get gone.”
The atmosphere in the car went cold and still.
Mum eventually cleared her throat. “That doesn’t sound very likely, dearest.” Mum’s words were kind, but I still noticed her shrink back a little from Essay. “We’re all under stress, what with the time of year. Maybe we could all go back to the house. You’re welcome to stay for dinner. We have plenty of room. Stay the night, love.” Mum patted Jake’s hand. “She could have the Hibiscus room. You fixed the lights, didn’t you?”
“That’s right. It’s lovely and warm. Kim why don’t you turn us around and we can head back?”
“Don’t believe me,” Essay snapped. “I don’t care no more. I just wants me ma.” Essay crossed her arms, stared out of the window. “Keep your dinner. Dead don’t need to eat.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":1211,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[120,63,580,578,581,489,579],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fiction","category-lgbt","category-lindesfarne","category-prose","category-publishing","category-sci-fi-fantasy","category-sff"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bimedia.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bimedia.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bimedia.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bimedia.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bimedia.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5284"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/bimedia.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5284\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6029,"href":"https:\/\/bimedia.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5284\/revisions\/6029"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bimedia.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bimedia.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bimedia.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bimedia.org\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}