Below is my response to this week’s 100 word story challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. For her Friday Fictioneers, each Wednesday she encourages writers to reflect on a picture prompt.
Amethyst
by Denarii Peters
Admire me: the purest, scintillating purple. Silicon oxide, traces of iron, born in a river of flowing flame, a million years old or more. No wonder I am the stone of wisdom.
Though strange to belong to February, a month of cold.
Some say I open the inner eye. The Greeks thought I cured drunkenness.
Legend has it I was created by Dionysus, who in a rage, attempted to murder Amethyst the maiden. His animals would have torn her flesh, but Diana intervened, the girl transformed to a pure white stone, bathed in the wine-soaked tears of her repentant attacker.
All Right, Here's the Truth
Tomorrow is 31st July 2025, and my first novel goes live. THE RELUCTANT REAPER will hit the bookstands then vanish without a trace, making as much impact as one raindrop in a monsoon. A handful of people will read it, most of whom have already done so: the ones who had advance copies and provided wonderful reviews.
The novel took a Hell of a long time to write. Even longer to re-write with the help of the amazing Sue, the editor who is a partner in the traditional small press, Crystal Clear Books, which took on the project of publishing Reaper, and before that, my short story collection WILL YOU WALK INTO MY PARLOUR?
Like so many others (maybe even you), I thought landing a publishing contract was the ‘be all and end all’. But I am here to tell you it is not.
This is not a criticism of my publisher: far from it. Sue worked tirelessly re-reading, spotting the missing comas, the typo’s and asking the right questions: ‘Is there enough emotion in this scene?’, ‘Come on, Denarii, he’s being threatened by a daemon who’s going to rip his head off. Are you sure Ross isn’t a lot more scared?’ She deserves better for all her hard work.
But out in the real world, the obstacles are more impressive, harder to overcome than an angry daemon or two. With no budget for publicity, unless you are already famous, even the largest publishing house will not help you.
I do not know the solution.
I believe in my novel, my characters, my plot. These are my strengths: creating a world, populating it. And in all my extensive reading, I have met no other tale quite like this one. I am proud of the story. All I want is to share it.
Yes, I could put it out on line for free, could self-publish, but the problem remains the same: how do you place your story in the hands of readers?
Will I write another book? Of course I will. I’m an author, there are characters shouting in my ears, plots taking up the limited space in my head. Writing is never a choice, always a compulsion.
So, there it is: the truth. if you must write, understand you are practising a craft which is less likely to be financially viable than the chances of your becoming an astronaut. Go into this with your eyes open, and the disappointments will be less intense.
Meanwhile, I’m off to the pub to drink a toast to myself and the unlucky characters who should have picked a more famous author or at least found themselves a celeb.
Please feel free to comment below. And I do so love a like!
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Fab short story, Denarii, as ever; you have such interesting ideas. And thank you too, RR was a fabulous book to work on. Now let's show these lovely readers what happens next... They will never guess!
Great story.
So so so old and yet, still here and glittering. There is a message in that!
And congratulations on your book release!