Authorpreneur Dashboard – M G Nelson
The Telling Mirror
Teens
Life has been hard on Sig and she isn’t taking it any longer. Stuck on her uncle’s farm in South Dakota, it’s time for her to make a break. With her mom locked away in a treatment center, she’s running away to find her long absent father. But she’ll need the money she’s swiped and hidden in the haymow of the farm’s old barn. As she digs her way through the hay bales to retrieve her money, the unstable stack collapses, pinning her to the back of the barn. Crushed and running out of breath she’s sure she’s a goner. Then the wall’s boards break from the hay’s weight creating a hole which Sig tumbles through. Her landing is hard, made even harder by discovering she’s landed in a different world, dark with evil and danger. Even stranger is the barn cat who jumps through the portal with her helping her navigate through this strange world, and a difficult journey of discovery.
Book Bubbles from The Telling Mirror
Safe Haven
This excerpt took its lead from the forest huts at the Kolarbyn Ecolodge smack dab in the middle of Sweden. These primitive huts are a perfect fit for, as one reviewer called them, "The Snow People" who shelter and protect Sig and Reggie after their wild escape from the mountaintop prison of Lord Reficul. They are peaceful forest dwellers who live in harmony with nature they work with nature to form a lively community. A perfect place to recenter the kids after their trying ordeal.
The Yule Lads
In this scene our two heroes, Sig and Reggie, have broken out of the mountain top prison of the evil Prince Reficul along with Snorri, a wizened old prisoner/trustee from the country of Scandia, after a revolt initiated by Sig. Snorri has been tasked (unbeknownst to them) of keeping Reggie and Sig safe while soldiers freed from the prison join in a revolt against Prince Reficul. They escape through a long forgotten back door tunnel and travel down the backside of the snow covered mountain. I used a bit of Icelandic folklore to craft this part of the chapter. The three have taken shelter in a cave to wait out a blizzard. The excerpt gives the tale so I won't belabor it in this insight; I'll let you read it yourself. Snorri is named for Snorri Sturluson, an Icelandic historian, politician and poet responsible for narrative of Norse mythology and a history of Norwegian kings. He lived from 1179-1241.
The Adventure Begins
The concept for The Telling Mirror begin on a hike I took in Tucson in the Coronado National Forest. The vast variety of terrain--and the warning signs that smugglers used this area--give me, a solo hiker, a thrilling journey with a dash of danger. I loved it and used my experience to create the scene for this part of The Telling Mirror. Throughout the story as the scenery Reggie and Sig travel through changes it reflects my various hiking spots I've been lucky to enjoy both near and far. Anyone who has traveled to the SW deserts in the US will recognize the descriptions of the various cacti but did you know in western MN in the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge there are cactus? On the granite outcroppings are tiny ball cactus. As Sig described these little devils are sharp and painful--something I can attest to from encounters along the trails. Life sure is an adventure and I'm glad to share mine through my writings. I hope you enjoy the world through my eyes!
Chicken Tale
I have a handful of birds in our old dairy barn: chickens, ducks and some particularly bossy geese. The chickens, all hens, are my favorites. Each has their own personality. They are a bit more sociable than the other birds. Sitting on my front deck watching their antics never fails to bring a smile to my face. And they do keep my fridge full of eggs. This excerpt of The Telling Mirror was loosely based on the Slavic folklore tale of Baba Yaga. Titka Freya was modeled on Baba Yaga, and as this part of the story unfolds the reader will recognize the hut as being based upon Baba Yaga's hut standing on its chicken legs. While my chickens probably wouldn't do a lick to help me capture anyone -- no doubt they'd turn their chicken tails and run away in the face of any danger -- their daily egg offerings guarantee them a home in my barn.
Running Away
We have all fantasized about running away from our problems. Kids or adults we all think about leaving our problems behind us by taking off. Despite what we wish we might change the setting but not the problem or behaviors that led to the problem in the first place. This excerpt from the first chapter of The Telling Mirror lets us follow Sig, the young teen who is carrying out a running away from her problem plan. The ultimate fantasy being fulfilled which will solve everything, right? As poor Sig will quickly learn it only changed the setting not her problem. In fact, it leads her to ever mounting danger and perils that try her at every turn.
Inedible
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Life forces hard choices upon people. Sometimes they have minor consequences. Sometimes they have harsh consequences. Which outcome prevails can be difficult to predict. Like many people, Jessica Bergstrom has job pressures—deadlines, a cranky boss, a meth-addled co-worker out to kill her. As a public health veterinarian at a meat packing plant, she knew the place would be rough and dirty. What she didn’t know was the depth of the corruption between the industry and government agency regulating it. When Jessica uncovers the truth she faces difficult choices—keep quiet and keep her job or fight and lose the job: and possibly her life. At once a dramatic glimpse at the modern American food industry and the the blinders a regulatory agency wears to keep an uneasy truce with a powerful business, Inedible is a story of courage and honor in the face of danger, and, ultimately, making the right choices
Book Bubbles from Inedible
Blowing The Whistle
In a review of Inedible a reviewer commented on how "the story reminded me so much of...stories about strong women in the workplace...Norma Rae and Silkwood," As Jessica is in the midst of finding evidence to blow the whistle on the management of the slaughter house and food inspecting agency she literally runs into trouble on an evening drive. Will she survived? Read the excerpt and find out!
That's What Friends Are For
This excerpt isn't anything earth shattering in the sense that murder or mayhem is happening; rather it gives an insight into the value of good friends. At the start of this excerpt Jessica is completely tuckered out from the stress of being called up on charges by the agency she works for and battling to clear her name. Compounded with the troubles with the drugged out plant foreman she's near the end of her rope and needs a break. She finds it at her BFF Shana's house. Shana is the town odd ball: single mother taking care of her disabled father while working as a taxidermist AND dating a man of a different race. Imagine the rumor mongering going on in town. Shana is a fierce friend-the very something Jessica needs. As an added bonus I've included the scene at the end. While most of the book is fiction this is one incident that actually occurred that still sends me into a fit of giggles when I remember it!
Country Churches
The country church…ah, the sweet memories of potlucks in the church basement. As I depicted in this excerpt the church ladies—we called their groups circles—could put on a feast. Man, as a sweet food foodie my mouth watered at sight of the deserts. My smell memory of the great food—and egg coffee although I don’t like coffee—brings a smile to my face. Sadly the little country church that served as the model for the church in Inedible is being torn down. Eidskog church—so named by the Scandinavian immigrants that founded the church in the late 1800’s—fell victim to the times. Sparse rural populations and farm consolidation led to a too small church membership to keep the congregation viable and church properly maintained. My understanding is that the large stained glass window that served as the model for the one described in this excerpt will live on though in the local communities new—and badly needed—senior living complex’s chapel. A small chapel will be built in the cemetery associated with Eidskog church using a few of the building materials from the church. This thoughtful building for families (mine included) with loved ones buried there will be a nice spot to gather although the church itself will be sorely missed.
True Story
This was a true--well, let's use that word lightly--story in the National Enquirer. Perfect lead in for a novel about a young female veterinarian in a tough job.
