Hi to anyone who is reading my blog...

Just wanted to share a little information. My mind never seems to stop and after I completed my degree for writing, I'd lost the motivation for actually writing (I hope I get it back someday). Doesn't seem to be a problem since I can't get a job in the writing field...

Anyway, I found a site online to continue taking courses. All kinds of courses - education, hobby, personal growth, etc. If you need CEU's, you can get those too. The site is Universal Classes. There is also a site I have taken a course on, but these courses are a little more out there, but just as interesting and it's Udemy. 

Just wanted to share in case some of you have minds like mine and it keep's going and going and going (Energizer Bunny style). 🐇

I'm posting the last excerpt of "Whispers in the Woods" this evening. Tonight is the last night of my vacation and I wanted to get the final post of my short story in as I don't know when I'll be back on my blog again...it should be within a week, but I can't guarantee that, so here's the last page (or so). Thanks to those few I know are following and supporting. 

           They sat together in silence at the table to eat – not uncomfortably, but not yet companionably either.

            Stew and cornbread done, Emma found blankets and a pillow for Aura who snuggled down on the couch to watch a movie. Emma went to her room with the envelope. She slowly unfolded the one-page note and instantly teared up at the small and delicate writing – her mother. Her parents had gone abroad to see about family property in Ireland when she was six months old. They had expected to return by her first birthday. Some unknown even kept them from her and now she needed to know what, as well as discover a legacy she never knew she had. Maybe if the pieces could come together it

would explain why she’d always felt a pull to Ireland, to animals, to mystical places and things. The fact that the women in the picture were perfect matches to herself and Aura had to mean something, didn’t it? And Aura had given her the picture and note. How she came to be in the woods behind her house still needed an answer but that would come.

 Emma had mysteries to unravel about her own past and her parents, and now she had an aunt – Aura.

              Emma returned to the living room and smiled wanly at Aura, “I guess its time to find out about my heritage. I need to know everything I can. Can you help me?”

             Aura opened her arms to Emma and said “I’d love to. I’ll tell you everything I know about your parents and about being a witch. And you can fill me in on your life. We’ll learn together.”

            Emma and Aura hugged, sealing a fate of family and friends.

                                                                 👭💚📖

 

 

The next excerpt of my short story, "Whispers in the Woods".... 

Together, the foursome head to Emma’s where she fed her barn menagerie then joined the animal companions and Aura in the house. As she walked in, Aura slid cornbread into the oven. The homey aroma of stew beckoned from the stove.

          Counting fur-children as Emma reached into the refrigerator, “Mmmm, that smells good”. She poured two glasses of wine, handing one to Aura.

         “Ok. Now please, tell me how you happen to be in the woods behind my house and why this is the time? I mean, I grew up basically alone, never knowing if I had any family or who my parents were and now, almost 10 years into my adult life, you show up. I’m not trying to be rude but I would appreciate an explanation”.

          Aura nodded sympathetically, “Yes, I’m sure you have many questions, or will. And I completely understand your feelings.” She took a sip of wine and after stirring the stew, came to sit with Emma at the table.

         “After you were born, your parents went on an extended trip and left you with me. They never returned  and to this day, I still don’t know why. After several months, I didn’t have the means to provide for you and social services questioned if I was fit to raise you. You have to understand, they thought I was a witch”.

          Emma almost choked on her wine! “A witch?!”

         “Yes. And they were right – I was – or am. As were – or are – your parents.”

          Emma simply sat and stared at this stranger. A witch. This woman, her aunt, had just claimed to be a witch. And announced her parents – who’d simply disappeared, were

 

witches as well. Wouldn’t that make her a witch? OH! Wait a minute! More wine… “Am I? Uhm, a – a – witch too?”

          With one quick nod , Aura stated “Of course”, as if Emma should have realized.

          Emma began to think back – maybe this was why she’d been shuttled from home to home so quickly as a child. Maybe this was why she felt closer to animals than people. She looked around the room: three dogs, two cats, and a talking raven snoozed together in apparent perfect harmony.

         She shook her head, feeling a headache coming on and thought to herself ‘its not just the wine’. To Aura she said, “Can we just eat and talk more later?”

         Aura jumped up from the table, “Of course dear” and went to the stove to ladle up stew and cut cornbread. Emma poured more wine.

                                                              🌿🍷🍞

 If anyone has any ideas, suggestions or comments, please let me know. Don't be shy but do be polite...thanks! 

Next excerpt of "Whispers in the Woods":     💨👀🌠

            “How do I know you are who you say you are?” Emma questioned Aura. Silently Aura reached into a pack at her side and pulled out an envelope. “The picture was taken the day you were born – your family: you and your parents and myself”.

             Emma pulled the contents from the envelope. The mentioned picture showed a small baby, held by a woman who could have been Emma’s twin! A handsome man sat next to her and a young Aura stood behind the couple. The date on the picture was October 31, 1993…and the name was Emma Sidney Hallowmas. She’d never known her full name or her actual birthdate. Celebrating in October had just always been her tradition, but now she knew for sure. And she definitely needed more than coffee!

           Tearful and hands shaking, she looked at the woman, her aunt. “Why now? How did you know where to find me? And why are you here, in the woods behind my house?!”

           Banjo left Aura and came to comfort Emma, licking her face and pawing her shaking hands.

           Aura hesitated before responding, “It’s time. Once we’re able to talk openly, I think things will become, uhm, a little more clear”. 

    A strong breeze blew through the woods and heavy clouds darkened the sky overhead, threatening another stormy night.

          Aura continued in a low voice, “This really isn’t the time or place”.

           Not knowing what she might discover, but remembering the picture she held tightly in her still shaking hands, Emma took a chance and invited Aura, and the talking raven, back with her and Banjo.

         “You’re welcome to spend the night out of the weather”.                                                                                                                                    

Aura accepted calmly, “That would be appreciated”.

                                                             🌃☔☇☇☇ 

 

The next posting of another excerpt of "Whispers in the Woods"...

                                                                        🐕🏕🔥

         Emma joined the small group at the fire and wondered if she’d just walked through a time-warp: she felt all tingly, inside and out. Curious but not wanting to stare, Emma tried to notice as much about this stranger as possible. Something seemed natural, relaxed about this woman. The way she looked, held herself, smiled and spoke with a clear soft voice. The stranger was small, about Emma’s height with long hair the color of pearls. Her eyes seemed to dance in the light of the fire, green with flecks of brown behind solid glasses.

         The woman, seemed to sense Emma’s scrutiny of her, offered Emma a cup from a pot on the fire and then took a sip from her own cup she’d just poured. Emma smelled it tentatively – coffee. She needed more than coffee right now, but this would have to do. She took a sip and sighed…hot, strong and sweet.

          “Who are you?!” Emma asked the woman.

           “Aura.” Quiet for a moment as if contemplating her next words, she spoke softly, gently. “I’m your aunt, your mother’s sister”. Only the woodland sounds could be heard around the fire as both women sat, taking in the momentous event: the meeting of long-lost family, never known to Emma. In a wooden box in her closet at home was stashed her birthparents information, where it had been for years. Emma had tried to read it a few times but only placed it back in the box – unable to come to terms with certain issues from her past. But now, a strange woman who kept company with a talking raven sat in front of a campfire in the woods behind her house, claiming to be her aunt. 

           Was she supposed to believe this?! Banjo her dog of the last four years and trusted companion, retired search and rescue canine seemed to have no problems accepting this stranger -her aunt? He sat next to Aura, allowing her to stroke his brown and white fur-coat, happily wagged his tail soaking up the affection as if heat from the fire. Banjo had always been a good judge of character and loyal to no end. 

                                                                        🌁 💥🌄

The second excerpt of my fiction story, "Whispers in the Woods" - I was going to wait a day or two but figured time didn't matter in this case. So, here it is: 

                                                                         🌄🔥

          The day had began to clear nicely but once in the woods, the 20- to 30-foot trees cut out the mid-day sun quickly. Emma was surprised by how dark it seemed so early in the day but attributed it to last nights story and the wetness of the pine-needle covered ground and canopy. Walking deeper into the forest, Banjo slowed his pace and came to walk beside her. Continuing on, she looked for tracks and listened for anything like what she had heard yesterday.

          Suddenly, she heard the ghostly call! It sounded like a creepy toad flying overhead- ROARK ROARK! Then she heard “hello”. Banjo barked and ran ahead. Emma called out to him but he kept going. She followed her dog, deeper into the woods, shivers now danced along her spine.

         All at once, she found herself in a small clearing. Emma could smell smoke and thought she saw a small fire through the next stand of trees. She slowly walked forward, wondering where Banjo had disappeared to.

         Jumping at  the sound of “hello” next to her, she glanced to her left and saw a raven perched on the branch of a very near pine tree.

          Well, that explained the strange sound! Ravens can make all kinds of interesting sounds. Emma had just never been around any. This one was beautiful: iridescent colors to its wings, eyes so black the shine reflected her image. Wings nearly brushed her face as the bird took off from the pine branch and flew toward the small fire. “Come on”, it said. Shaken and feeling more than a little out of her element, Emma followed slowly, still wondering where her dog was and why he’d left her.

           As she walked through the next stand of trees, Emma came to a campfire. There sat Banjo, with an older woman and the raven, wagging his tail and looking quite pleased with himself, as if he’d led Emma to this delightful place.                                                                                                         

       “Come and sit Emma”, the older woman invited and motioned to a log near the fire.

         Emma was shocked! How did this woman know who she is?! The look on her face must have said everything she was thinking as the woman smiled, not unpleasantly. “I’ll try to explain everything”. 

                                                              🌕🌟🐦

 

 Since I started this blog to share some of my writing, I thought I'd post the story I wrote for my fiction writing workshop course. It's a total of almost 7 pages, so I'm going to post it in excerpts...first excerpt tonight will be the first page. 

    My story is called "Whispers in the Woods"; I used the authorial name of AD Hazelett instead of April - trying out pen names if I write fiction. This story was written in January and February of 2021. Hope you enjoy - and don't forget to check back for another excerpt in a couple of days!       

                                                                        🐾☆✨                  

       Even as the coastal winds moaned through the trembling tall trees, Emma heard the ghostly call. She’d heard it several times as the afternoon slid into evening. Now twilight was deepening into darkness and investigating would have to wait until morning. 

As she finished feeding her furred-menagerie and headed in to start her own supper, she told her furry companions “If I hear that sound again tomorrow, we’re going on an adventure”.

      Emma quickly threw together sauteed vegetables with pasta and sausage, poured a glass of wine and sat down to unwind with a movie and her two cats and three dogs.

As the movie ended, the storm let loose- winds howled and sheets of rain pummeled against the house. “Well, I hope whatever we heard has shelter”.

Emma expected sleep to come easily, but something in the night kept gnawing at her. Just on the edge of sleep all night, she heard the thunder roar and the rain as drops mingled with sheets against the house.

      After a fitful night, Emma woke late to a drizzly morning with the promise of sun behind leaden gray coastal clouds. Dressing warmly in sturdy but comfortable jeans, t-shirt and hoody combination and hiking boots, she had already decided to go hunt for the source of the sound from yesterday. A quick feed and check of her menagerie, Emma also prepared her daypack. Shortly after arriving in the northwest four years earlier, she’d figured out never to go anywhere without the barest of necessities.

       After a quick and simple meal of coffee and oatmeal, Emma turned to the woods with Banjo her retired search and rescue dog and they started what was believed to be a rescue mission.