A lot has been happening here since I published the World of Tiaera coloring book. I'm still crafting and drawing. The pandemic hurt my book events last year, but I'm hopeful that this year will be much better. I'm optimistic and I trust God will see us through the rough times we face. I'm still writing also. I've just completed and published my lastest novel: No Ordinary Wrangler - A steampunk fantasy western novel. This story is NOT based on Tiaera so I guess I will have to make a new webpage for it. Until I do, it's available right now at Amazon.com. Here is the book cover.

Back Cover Blurb: Juniper Crossland traveled from England to start a new life in Arizona disguised as a young woman interested in mining. Though she was determined to succeed, she discovered mining proved to be too hard, dirty, and dangerous. She had to find another job before her funds ran out, but who would hire a half-fae with pointed ears and wings? Keeping her disguise, she asked J.P. McCormac of the Dutch Flat Valley Station for a job. J.P. was a shrewd Station Master when managing his home station. His brave ranch hands were able to fend off Indians, deal with outlaws, and assist with stagecoaches. Nonetheless, he dreaded the change coming with the expansion of the transcontinental railroad that could impact the ranch's future. So, the last thing he needed was a skinny English female who wore goggles and wanted training to become a wrangler. Against his better judgment, Juniper was given a chance, and life at the ranch was about to change even more than expected.

 

Buy now at Amazon: No Ordinary Wrangler

ISBN-13: 9798469023791         ASIN: B09FS74M9G

Watch the Book Trailer

The Menagerie - Short Story

Lord Maethyn and Lady Solita stood atop of the highest tower of their home, Castle Feralson. The radiant sun was setting on the horizon as they watched, holding each other in silent contemplation when Lord Maethyn pointed to a distant clearing a few miles away. “Behold that parcel of land, my dear. I plan to build the finest menagerie ever seen. It shall be extraordinary. Animals, both natural and mythical, shall abide thither for all to see.” 

Mathyn leaned closer to his lady wife. He sighed deeply then smiled. Even the twilight breeze was no match for her fragrance.

“I know of the wolves, bears, owls both hither and thither, but prithee tell me of these mythical beasts, beloved.” Solita grinned at her husband, her hand gently pulled aside a loose lock of hair from his imposing face. “Where have you found such that can be captured for thy menagerie?”

Maethyn mused, “Leave that to me. Have you ever seen a lion, or mayhap, a tiger?”

Solita pondered. “Nay, but I did hear of such beasts. Those are not mythical.”

“Verily, they would astound our visitors nonetheless. Such a venture shall take time and coin. We can start small at first, a few animals and birds, and build as we see fit. As for the mythical beasts, methinks a unicorn and gryphon shall do nicely. Think you can use the portal to go to Tiaera and bring us back a few specimens? Caged, of course.”

Solita pulled herself away in disbelief. “Have you gone mad, Maethyn?!”

He laughed and feigned disappointment, “Nay?”

“Nay!” she insisted.

Maethyn burst into a hearty laugh that made Solita realise he wasn't serious about Tiaera. “Scoundrel! You are toying with me! And I am foolish to stand hither and listen to you!”

She tried her best to look angry, but it was no use. Maethyn pulled her back into his arms and kissed her passionately. Her small hands swatted at his back several times, but he wouldn't let go. Submitting to the power of his love, Solita returned his kisses with the same passion that won his heart long ago.

When their lips parted once again, Solita spoke of her concern in earnest. “I pray you understand, Husband. I dare not venture through that portal for such a task, lest I..”

Maethyn shook his head, dismissing her worry. “Nay. Fret not, beloved. I would lose you never again.” He took his wife's hand and gently led the way down the stairwell. With a big grin and a wink he added, “Ah well, ’twas worth it just to ask.”

~Short Story by EV Medina 

Archaic Words and Phrases

Hello all!

Summer is so ending and I eagerly await cooler temperatures as days begin to grow shorter. I find I have more time to be at my laptop and it's been a while since I did some archaic words and phrases, so let's see what I have here. As in the past, I chose words that are archaic and originated before the 16th century. The English language is ever changing but as a writer, I am still interested in these old terms from long ago. I hope you can use some of these in your writing!

Askance - Origin Unknown - First Known Use: 1530
adverb

: in a way that shows a lack of trust or approval

:  with a side-glance :  obliquely

:  with disapproval or distrust :  scornfully <they eyed the stranger askance>

Troth - Middle English - First Known Use: 12th century
noun

Loyal or pledged faithfulness :  fidelity <pledged my troth>

One's pledged word <I don't remember the details or, by my troth, even the gist — Stanley Elkin>; also :  betrothal

Dingle - Middle English, deep hollow - First Known Use: 13th century
noun

A small wooded valley :  dell
A deep hollow, usually shaded with trees

 

Fraught - Middle English - First Known Use: 14th century

archaic

a :  laden

b :  well supplied or provided

Full of or accompanied by something specified —used with with <a situation fraught with danger>

Causing or characterized by emotional distress or tension :  uneasy <a fraught relationship>

Damsel - Middle English - First Known Use: 13th century
noun

A girl or young woman who is not married

archaic :  a young unmarried woman of noble birth

Wist - alteration of wis - First Known Use: 1500
verb

transitive verb

archaic : to know

  

"Wist you not that I be about my father's business?"

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There is not overmuch to do here.  (too much)

She showed pluck in getting up on stage.   (courage & determination)

Crossbones and Tiaera

http://www.nbc.com/crossbones

I'm looking forward to the next episode of "Crossbones." I'm eager to enjoy and learn what I can about the pirates as they brawl, pillage and cavort, and to relish the way they speak in this weekly series. The writers have won my heart for their colorful terminology as a means to depict a bygone era where words such as succeedingly generous, bastard thwarting, supplicate, recount, transpires and my favorite so far: discommoding are used. As a writer, I am impressed with the way they did not do as "Black Sails" did on Starz, mixing old English with vulgar profanity by both men and women. I suppose that pirates curse and use such words and so the actors use them, but for viewers like me, I find it very offensive and distracting. Yes, of course, I don't have to listen to them as they portray uneducated criminals who can only express themselves with four letter words and the like. Yes, many a pirate may not have been fortunate to learn how to read and write, but "Crossbones" doesn't feature only pirate characters. Some of the characters are well-educated and high ranking. And John Malkovich? Well, I better check my history book about how educated and eloquent the real Blackbeard was. John does a wonderful job so far. I was so impressed and eager to learn some of these words I sought and found a place online with scripts for TV shows. Here is the link should you wish to study the scripts for your own studies.

Crossbones - Episode Scripts

What does this pirate series have to do with Tiaera? Simple. Anyone who has read my stories here, as well as Realmwalkers and The Priestess and the Ravenknight, will know I have an affinity for using archaic words. They will also know I have pirates in my medieval fantasy world. Thus I am inspired by the dialogs in "Crossbones" as I am in many historical dramas on BBC America and PBS.  I've sat with pen and notebook while watching "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "Sense and Sensibility," jotting down phrases and words that are clearly archaic or seldom used these days. I still take the trouble to look up words I'm not familiar with and check when they were first used so that I may incorporate them in my future stories about Tiaera. My aim is to make the language used in Tiaera somewhere between the 15th - 17th centuries and still try to make the stories understandable by modern readers whenever possible.

"The Musketeers" have just premiered on BBC America and I didn't get the chance to see the pilot yet, but I did record it so I can see it later today. I hope the script there is also entertaining and enlightening for this medieval fantasy writer.  No, I don't have musketeers on Tiaera, but pirates are often known as swashbucklers as are the knights, rogues, guards, etc... Tiaera has them all. If they carry a sword, let it be so. Better get my pen and notebook ready!

Medieval Manor Terms

It's time again to bone up on our medieval vocabulary with a terms that might come in handy with your next medieval/historical/fiction/fantasy story. I love to use archaic terms such as these for my medieval fiction and you might find other glossaries there useful. I have only chosen a several simple terms for this post but if you want to see more, I have included the link to this glossary by T. J. Ray: The Eclectic Eccentric.  

Manorial Terms

Amercement - Fine.

Bondman - Serf, q.v., villein.

Charter - Official document, usually deed or grant of privilege.

Cotter - Tenant of a cottage, usually holding little or no land. 

Croft - Garden plot of a village house. 

Distraint - Summons or arrest. 

Fair - A market held at regular intervals, usually once or twice a year. Fairs tend to offer a wider range of goods than normal markets. They are generally licensed by either the king, the local lord, or a chartered town. 

Hallmote - Manorial court.

Quarter - Unit of volume, eight bushels.

Ring - Unit of volume, four bushels.   

Tithe - Payment to church, consisting of a tenth of produce. 

Villein - The wealthiest class of peasant. Villeins usually cultivated 20-40 acres of land, often in isolated strips. 

Woodward - Manorial official in charge of the lord's woodland. 

I must caution the writers of medieval stories (fiction and non) to be careful when using the terms found in any of these glossaries. It will make readers tired or bored quickly if they have to look such terms up in a dictionary, and you don't want that! Provide a glossary of any terms you use at the back of the book as an appendix or at the bottom of the page where you used the term. 

And if you have any other suggestions on how to use these medieval terms without putting off the reader, please comment below. I am sure there are other clever ways to make the book enjoyable without confusing the reader by such words.

Here is the link where I got the terms above. Manorial Language  Enjoy and feel free to comment!
 

More Archaic Words and Phrases

Good morning, friends!

Its been a busy week so far. I am putting the final changes to The Priestess and the Ravenknight and while I was doing this I jotted down a few new words to share with you this fine cool October day. Again, I have looked these up using www.merriam-webster.com or www.collinsdictionary.com. I try to avoid any words that weren't invented until after the 17th century. The earlier, the better! For those readers who are new here, I have a fondness for archaic/old terminology in my writing. Those of you who write historical or medieval fiction may find these helpful and interesting.

Shrewed - Middle English - First Known Use: 13th century

1. archaic :  mischievous     2. obsolete :  abusive, shrewish   

3. obsolete :  ominous, dangerous

It now also means severe, stubborn, hard and savvy.

Bode - Middle English - First Known Use: before 12th century

1. archaic :  to announce beforehand :  foretell

2. to indicate by signs :  presage 

Evermore - First Known Use: 13th century
1. Forever, always, in the future, eternally, everlastingly

Knave -  Middle English - First Known Use: before 12th century
This word has changed a lot from it's archaic use. 
1. archaic : a boy or male servant. A man of humble birth.
2. A playing card also known as a jack.
3. A deceitful fellow.

Tidings - Middle English - First Known Use: before 12th century

1.  a piece of news —usually used in plural <good tidings>
  
Villein/Villain -  Middle English - First Known Use: before 14th century

1. (in medieval Europe) a peasant personally bound to his lord, to whom he paid dues and services, sometimes commuted to rents, in return for his land

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We will be undone = We will be ruined or destroyed.

I bear no malice = I feel no anger towards someone/something. I feel no desire to harm.

Do not vex me. = Don't confuse or annoy me. 

I have a score of tasks to accomplish. = I have a great number (or lots) of things to do.

You have pluck! = You have courage!

 

 

More Archaic Terms & Expressions

I haven't done much of these lately so I will give you a few extra for today's lesson in archaic terms and expressions. These may prove useful for your writing and renaissance fair/SCA events. I got these terms from various books and Internet glossaries.

Boggart - A goblin, hairy and short

Buckler - Small round shield

Liege-man - A loyal follower usual bound by feudal alligiance.

Panter or Pantler - In charge of the pantry where food and eating utensils are kept

Reeve - An overseer or steward of a manor

Hobnob - To converse in a friendly or casual way

League - A measure of distance, about three miles.

Excellent well! - Very good!

Pray tell - Tell me

Fie ! or Alack! or Out upon it! or Fie upon you! - All basically mean "Darn it!" or "Curse you!"

Excuse me or Pray pardon me or I cry your mercy - All mean "I beg your pardon"

I hope you find these helpful. Contact me if you have any questions and I will try to help. Have a great weekend!

More Archaic Words

Greetings! It's been awhile since I shared a few more of my favorite archaic words I try to use in my writing. Tonight I would like to cover some archaic samples of greeting others. As usual, I used the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary and an (online) glossary book written by Shakespeare. Enjoy!
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Good morrow = Good morning 
(13th cent. noun)

Good day = Good day (said before noon)
(12th cent noun)

Hail or Greetings = Hello or Salutations
(13th cent noun)

God ye good den or Good den =  Good evening or good day (said after noon)
(according to The Works of William Shakespeare it means "God give you good e'en")

Good e'entide = Good evening or good night 
e'en = evening + tide = A time or season. Often used in combination: eventide; Christmastide; Shrovetide. (13th cent. noun)
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Next post will be samples of saying good-bye.

Free Download of The Priestess and the Ravenknight eBook

www.amazon.com/The-Priestess-Ravenknight

      A mysterious deity takes over the dark elven city of Espion, bringing mass executions and unholy sacrifices. In the face of the new god’s reign of terror, rebels still loyal to the Mother Goddess of Tiaera remain in the once peaceful medieval city, determined to help those captured by or hiding from the usurper’s Host of Wrath. Serving in Espion's army, Ravenknight Krymson Larolin is torn between his sworn duty and the seemingly absent goddess, until he finds himself protecting the High Priestess of Espion — a revered follower of the new god. The Priestess and the Ravenknight is a tale of courage, love and loyalty that is now available at Amazon KDP. 

Everyone is invited to download this Free Ebook at Amazon.com today and tomorrow till midnight (April 20-21st).  

If you have previously bought or borrowed this ebook before it is worth checking it again as I have made some changes to it. Click on the link above to get to the Amazon webpage for this ebook.