Quote by Molly

I've noticed the "likes" are still not staying checked. I've reported this issue.

I've noticed it mainly when liking story comments. Is it happening elsewhere, too? I thought story Likes and forum Like were working properly.

Oh, and the cover image is done using an AI as tends to be my approach these days. I use a site called Nightcafe that offers multiple models to choose from. It's a bit of a struggle to get exactly what you want at times, but I think this one kind of got it. I did one of Jadek himself, too, but was not totally pleased with it.

Well, he's the protagonist of my new story but the name has been sticking in my head for a long time. Somehow, I finally decided he was a Conan the Barbarian-esque warrior with the title Battle Lord, so basically a mercenary general. As I started writing a description for him, somehow I hit on the idea of this hulking barbarian being challenged by a woman and the rest of the story kind of wrote itself from there.

The one thing I waffled on, and finally rejected for now, was explicitly tying this to another of my fantasy worlds. In some early drafts, the goddess Nethandra, who is the primary deity of the world where Night of the Wind and The Goddess Dances are set, got name-checked but I lost that in a later edit, deciding to keep this standalone and maybe in its own world for now.

That said, I am still thinking of another story that makes that connection but does it less casually, perhaps having one of the characters from Night of the Wind encounter Jadek in a new story. Dev, the protagonist of that story, is a war veteran so could well have crossed paths with the Battle Lord.

For now, I give you Last Challenge of Jadek Prynn.

Good morning! Happy weekend, y'all! We got sun, though it is chilly still. Frost last night and high of only 6C today.

My new story, a Flash fantasy is up. Will post a bit about the background and thinking behind it in a post later, but here's the link. Let me know what you think.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/flash-fiction/last-challenge-of-jadek-prynn

And to sip while you read, we have some Kicking Horse Grizzly Claw dark roast coffee or your choice of English Breakfast or Duke of Earl teas. Cold beverages are refreshed since I guess those in more Southern climes might still appreciate them. Hot chocolate and an urn of hot water await those who prefer that option. We got tons of mini-marshmallows thanks to Sara bribing the delivery guy with cookies. 😊 I think he gave us two more boxes than I ordered.

Hey there! It's morning and it's Friday. How's life going?

Putting some Tobermory Flowerpot Island coffee on. There's Assam and Scottish Breakfast in the teapots. Washed the pitchers to make up some fresh iced tea and lemonade. Hot water is on standby for hot chocolate and other teas.

Need to give my new piece a final reading but I am pretty sure it's good to go. Of course, then I'll read it again and end up spending two hours making minute but (to my eye) critical edits.😜

Quote by DenimAngel
Starbucks

There's your problem right there. 😁

No fears, we only serve the best hot chocolate here and no Battlestar Galactica characters were involved.😊(Was that a nerdy line or what?)

Bond being tongue in cheek depends, for me, on how it is tongue in cheek. 007 lobbing quips and verbal bombs along with bullets is one thing. As long as they are well-written and delivered, I am down with that. What put me off in the Moore years was the proliferation of dumb sight gags (remember the pigeon double take in Moonraker) and mediocre, throwaway lines.

Maybe ham. I've been feeling turkey'd out in recent years. And I'm talking Christmas since Canadian Thanksgiving is now well behind us.

Escaping Winter: Take a cruise or stay at a resort?

Quote by verbal
I have a really intense story up. Be forewarned it is not for the squeamish. I like to think there is some humor and irony in there too, but I don’t get to be the judge of that.

Apparently you are the one person on either site that I follow. Got an alert for your new story last time I came in before seeing this post. Will get to it tonight maybe. Or the weekend. We shall see. And, hey, if you tried to put humour and irony in it, then you can say that. Whether we readers find it there or not is what you have to wait with trepidation to find out. 😋

My new flash fantasy story might be close. Finally got a cover image added and the text clocks in at pretty much exactly flash length but I do want to give it another reading and already have thoughts on something I might change.

Eat. Turkeys are a lot of work.

Homemade stuffing or from a box?

Maybe it's listening to Spiritbox and Courtney's growls, but I'm back into melodic death metal again. And my favourite band of that ilk at the moment is Sweden's Arch Enemy. Though are a rather multinational band now, featuring a Canadian lead singer and an American as one of the guitarists.

Here's one from 2017 with current lead singer Alissa White-Gluz

And from 2003 featuring her predecessor, German Angela Gossow. Angela quit singing and became the band's manager in 2014 so she could have more time for other interests and her family.

Hm. Never X-country skiied so probably that. Though I have not snowshoed since my school days and I hear there's some nice snowshoes on the market now, better than the traditional ones we used back then.

Make your mark or live quietly and unnoticed?

Time for coffee and tea!

Throwing on some Deathwish Medium Roast for the coffee lovers. In the teapots are Irish Breakfast and Chai. Cold beverages are looking good. Hot chocolate is now out for those needing some warmth and a chocolate fix.

New story is probably on the way from the ape. It's only Flash length right now though I am contemplating fleshing some things out so it might up in the 1500-2000 range once I am done. Genre is fantasy, a bit mythical and a bit sword and sorcery.

Quote by AnnaMayZing

My choice would be Robbie Williams!

There was some video of his that had me going, "This is an audition to play Bond, isn't it?" Forget which one but it was quite a while ago. Another one who would really depend on whether they want a new, wet behind the ears Bond starting out or the ongoing adventures of a veteran agent. Robbie is getting up there so would work for the latter, not so much the former.

Quote by verbal
I took a walk yesterday and it was COLD - I will have to dress warmer to keep up this walking in winter thing.

Same here. Wore just a shirt and hoodie yesterday and it was a bit too chilly for that really. Was double digits Celsius but with a wind chill.

Quote by gillianleeza

So that's my problem? I live in Westeros? Because that so sums up our Fall weather here.

Tobogganing if I must do either. At least then I am sitting down and my crappy sense of balance isn't in play. Both involve going downhill at high speed which freaks me out.

Shovel or snowblower (or plough, I guess, if you have a truck that can take one)?

Good morning, folks!

Coffee du jour is Las Patronas, a special blend from Las Chicas for their 18th anniversary last year and the centennial of their family 's involvement in coffee growing (the business is owned and operated by two Nicaraguan sisters).

Teas are Yorkshire Gold and Russian Caravan.

Cold beverages are refreshed.

Trying a completely new fantasy tale. More sword & sorcery than my past stuff.

Quote by verbal
What do you guys think about the title “Christmas in Bedlam” for a book? Would it pique your interest?

I would certainly be curious to see what it exactly was about. I like it.

Good morning!

For the coffee lovers we have Fireside, a medium roast from Fire Roasted. In the teapots, there's Duke of Earl and English Breakfast. We now have the hot chocolate and mini marshmallows out since around here, at least, the weather is definitely getting there. And there's the usual cold beverages for those not in need of warming up.

It's Monday, the work week is getting underway. What's up, Inspirations?

Pumpkin with a dollop of whipped cream, though Apple pie a la mode would be a good second choice.

Dry cereal or porridge?

Brutal frost here last night. I thought we'd had light snow when I first peeked out, then realized it was just a heavy frost.

Got the yard cleaned up yesterday but there's still lots of trees left to drop so might have to take another swing at it later. Given recent surgery, I stuck to just raking and let Mrs. Mendalla handle what little bagging we did (we mostly piled them into out of the way corners as mulch/compost).

Coffee du jour is 454 Horse Powr from Kicking Horse. We've got Canadian Breakfast and Vinyl Cafe (named for a renowned Canadian radio show that, alas, died with its writer/storyteller) in the teapots. Washed the pitchers from the fridge and made fresh iced tea and lemonade.

1923 might actually be an interesting year to be alive in. And given currently reality, 2123 might no be so hot. So I might actually go back.

Rock or Jazz?

And it is the weekend! Good Saturday morning, crew!

For coffee, we've got some Dark Roast Private Reserve from Las Chicas. Teas du jour are Scottish Breakfast and Black Currant flavoured black tea. Cold beverages are, of course, also available.

Later, alligators.

So found out that Spiritbox, a metal band from BC, Canada that touches on many influences and styles, made the nominations for Best Metal Performance at the Grammy Awards. That puts them alongside popular metal luminaries Metallica, Slipknot, Ghost, and Disturbed. Not bad for a band that's only been going for six years with 1 LP and 3 EPs in that time. The nominated performance is from their EP The Fear of Fear, which dropped a week ago. I note that it is also the only female-fronted metal in the list, a nice feather in the cap of lead singer and band co-founder Courtney Laplante.

Quote by verbal
I think she's a great writer. and Red and 1989 are just phenomenal albums.

I'd say she is great within her niche, but doesn't hold a candle to someone like Kate Bush or Joni Mitchell (to stick with female singer-songwriters) in the bigger picture. And it really is not my niche, either.

Quote by verbal
We are gonna try to see the Taylor Swift concert movie.

I am so meh on her, it is not funny. And I am a big fan of female singer-songwriters. Her singing doesn't grab me and neither does her writing. But she has her fans and success and I respect that.

(Damn, that was a bitch-y post. Sorry. Deleted the bitch-y parts.)

Marcela Bovio began her career in metal and still performs metal a lot (e.g. she revived her old band Stream of Passion for an EP and concert this Fall). However, in her solo career, she has a much softer, more subdued sound, usually backed by a classical string trio. This is from her second solo album Through Your Eyes, which is one of my favourite albums right now.

Quote by AnnaMayZing

In the Trunk? 🤔

Ack, my old jokes are coming back to haunt me. 🤣

MGM and Eon seem to be no closer to casting Bond today than they were when we started this thread. I haven't even really heard any new casting rumours in a while.

Good morning and Happy Friday!!

Putting some Tobermory Grotto in the coffee machine. It's a lovely spot so I hope this dark roast is also lovely.

For teas, we got Assam and Sunday Tea.

Cold drinks are also refreshed.

Have a good one, folks!!

Interesting way to celebrate your anniversary. We usually take a trip for ours. Congrats!