Mari Lwyd 1927

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Mari Lwyd 1927: A black and white illustration of the Mari Lwyd (a figure with a skeletal horse head draped in strips of cloth) looking up at the crescent moon in delight. She is surrounded by a frame of moonflowers, and the fabric draped from her skull has panels of delicate leaf and growing plants, as well as rhythmic patterns.
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A series of vignettes of 12,000 words.

These seven scenes follow the Mari Lwyd on her procession through Trellech in December 1927. Along the way she stops and visits with people from a number of different books. (If you're not familiar with this Welsh tradition, it's explained in the first visit.)

This was an extremely collaborative effort! Kelda Sproston's art is on the cover. Kelda focuses on the Mari Lwyd in her many forms. You can find her art on Bluesky, Instagram, Etsy, and Patreon. The poetry is thanks to Elise Matthesen, a long-time friend of mine. Her most common form of art is making jewellery, which you can find on Elise's Etsy shop.

There are no particular content notes.

Genres:
Extra

Begins: 1927-12
Period: 1920s
Romance: Not a romance
Content notes: Click here to reveal

As The Ground Shifts

2 months ago
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As The Ground Shifts - extras for Illusion of the Boar and Three Graces by Celia Lake
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"As The Ground Shifts" is an extra of 33,000 words.

It takes place during and after Illusion of a Boar and Three Graces between April 1944 and August 1945.

Content note details
Content notes for the end of World War II (though no graphic details). Contains discussion of Claudio's difficult relationship with his mother and Orion's hand injury (and the impact that's had).

Gabe and Isembard Talk: April 11th, 1944 at Schola
Gabe turns up unexpectedly at Schola to talk with Isembard about an upcoming conversation.

Thesan and Isembard get correspondence: May 10th, 1944 at Schola
Thesan talks to Isembard about two letters he's just received.

Solstice evening: June 21st, 1944 at Fairlight
Orion talks to his mother after the summer solstice Council rites.

A duel at Veritas: April 12th, 1945 at Veritas.
Orion duels Gabe at Veritas, as Gabe gathers information for an upcoming project. Also contains Claudio, Hypatia, Cammie, and Magni Torham with a brief appearance by Gil Oxley.

End of the War Approaches: April 15th, 1945 at Schola
Claudio, Orion, Thesan, and Isembard talk about the approaching end of the war in Europe and plans for the aftermath.

A Guest House in Munich: August 9th and 10th, 1945 in Munich
Gabe and Claudio have an epic all-night conversation while working in Munich. The next day, Orion demands to know more of the details.

Genres:
Extra

Begins: 1944-04
Period: Second World War
Romance: M/F
Content notes: Click here to reveal

The Changing Door

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The Changing Door - extras for Old As The Hills and Upon A Summer's Day by Celia Lake
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"The Changing Door" is an extra of 45,000 words.

It takes place in 1940 and into early 1941, during and following the events of Old As The Hills and Upon A Summer's Day.

Content note details
Deals with the Blitz and other events of World War Two taking place, a key event in Gabe's life, and a fair amount of exhaustion.

June 14th, 1940: The first section, "Livia's Death" follows Isembard Fortier once he hears from Thesan about Livia's death. He goes immediately to Dinas Emrys to help his brother, Garin

Gabe's request:  Gabriel Edgarton makes a request of the Council, for something that really ought to happen on the solstice.

A ritual discussion:  Alexander Landry hosts a conversation about a particularly bad ritual idea that brings Geoffrey Carillon and Cyrus Smythe-Clive into more agreeable conversation.

A reaction to Gabe's requirement: Garin throws a fit about one of Gabe's requirements.

The question of Gabe: Several Penelopes discuss the current state of Gabe (including Witt, Mason, Isobel).

Preparing for a fight and After the fight: Two conversations around Geoffrey Carillon testing Gabe's level of skill. (One between Geoffrey and Benton, one between Geoffrey and Alexander).

Before the Challenge: Gabe's uncles, Gil and Magni, want to see how he's doing.

Historical cases: Mason, Witt and Lucy Doyle share their accumulated knowledge of notable deaths and related cases associated with the Council.

The uncles have questions: Gil and Magni have a chance to catch up with Gabe in the aftermath of recent events.

Alexander's turn: Alexander takes his turn talking about the experience of his Challenge.

The question of names: Avigail Edgarton wonders what name or title she should use for Alexander Landry (with help from her father).

Interviewing for a secretary: Gabe (finally) hires a secretary, much to the relief of everyone who knows him well.

Genres:
Extra

Begins: 1940-06
Period: Second World War
Romance: M/F, Established relationship
Content notes: Click here to reveal

Interstitial Moments

2 months ago
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Interstitial Moments : an extra for Best Foot Forward by Celia Lake
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"Interstitial Moments" is a collection of three extras, with a total of 25K words

It covers the year following the events of Best Foot Forward. The dates on some episodes overlap.

Content note details
Contains references to longstanding grief (Alexander), difficult family events (Geoffrey and Alexander). It also contains how Alexander becomes part of the Carillon family.

Debriefing
May 28th, 1935: Geoffrey Carillon debriefs with his intelligence handler, Lapidoth Manse, about his adventures in Berlin.

Annotation
May 21st, 1935: Benton talks with Geoffrey the afternoon he returns home. There are a number of changes in the offing. Benton arranges things, of course.

Later, Lizzie checks with Benton, whether he has questions about the situation, and there is an interesting conversation over supper.

May 28th, 1935: Geoffrey consults Benton about his opinions, specifically about Alexander.

Late July: Benton adds the final touches before a gathering.

Precession
May 8th, 1935: Lizzie consults with Thesan about some of Alexander's preferences.

August 6th: Alexander finds Isembard in the duelling salle for a conversation with several unexpected twists and turns.

August 10th: Thesan and Isembard deepen some connections and meet some new ones in a visit to Ytene.

August 12th: Isembard and Gabe get to know each other, doing a thing they both enjoy a great deal. Duelling.

August 15th: Thesan presses Alexander to answer a few minor points, about how things are changing.

August 17th: Isembard and Alexander visit Perry Judson's grave together.

May 10th, 1936: Thesan talks to Alexander about the changes of the past year, and what she understands about it.

Genres:
Extra

Begins: 1935-05
Period: 1930s
Romance: M/M/F, Asexual, Polyamorous
Content notes: Click here to reveal

12 Seconds in 1927

2 months ago
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12 Seconds in 1927 - an extra for Eclipse - Celia Lake
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"12 Seconds in 1927" is an extra of 5,000 words.

It takes place during the total solar eclipse over Schola in 1927 and follows on from Eclipse.

No specific content notes.

The story behind this one is rather simple. In April 2024, I went with friends (including Kiya, one of my best friends, editor, and other half my brain) up from Boston to just inside Quebec for the total solar eclipse. It was an incredible experience - totality really is like nothing else in the world. I knew I had to make the attempt to put it into words.

When I wrote Eclipse, I knew that there'd be a total eclipse over Schola two years after that book, in June of 1927. Seeing one of my own was the perfect reason to write this extra.

For people who love Thesan and Isembard, it's also at a particular moment in their lives together. (Their older daughter, Ursula Fortier, will be born that November). Getting a little bit of how Ursula got her name into this delights me.

Genres:
Extra

Begins: 1927-06
Period: 1920s
Romance: M/F
Content notes: Click here to reveal

With All Due Speed

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With All Due Speed - an extra for Eclipse by Celia Lake.
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"With All Due Speed" is an extra of about 20k words, covering the period from when Thesan Wain and Isembard Fortier begin discussing an actual engagement through to their wedding (the summer of 1925 through late December 1925), following the events of Eclipse.

Content note details
The episodes here include challenging family (Isembard's), ongoing grief and war trauma (also Isembard) and brief mentions of miscarriage (Gavin and Livia).

July 7th, 1925: Isembard realises he would like to move toward marriage sooner rather than later.

August 6th: Thesan talks with Seth and Golshan about Isembard's visit to her parents and their plans.

August 10th: Isembard talks to his brother Garin about what he intends to do (and finds out more about Garin and Livia's marriage.)

August 17th: Isembard proposes and Thesan joyfully accepts.

August 21st: Discussions about rooms at Schola, and the implications of space and resources.

November 11th: Isembard returns from the Armistice Day memorials, having had an unexpected encounter with Seth and Golshan (their meeting is part of Tea and Meetings.)

December 1st: Isembard visits Thesan's parents, and her father offers advice on a marriage.

December 2nd: Thesan and Isembard get a chance to discuss that visit and the (vast) differences in their families.

December 12th: Thesan and Isembard have dinner at Arundel with Livia, Garin, and Alexander.

December 23rd: The wedding (one section from each of their points of view). Includes a couple of particular wedding customs from Thesan's family.

December 28th: Sorting out how they mean to go forward with certain obligations.

Genres:
Extra

Begins: 1925-07
Period: 1920s
Romance: M/F
Content notes: Click here to reveal

Tea and Meetings

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Tea and Meetings : an extra for Eclipse by Celia Lake
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Tea and Meetings is an extra of 15,000 words.

It involves events from Isembard and Thesan's life before and after the events of Eclipse. I recommend reading the book first, though there are no direct spoilers for the plot other than references to the success of the romantic aspects of that book in the last two scenes.

The episodes run from the summer of 1904 through to May of 1926.

Content note details
Isembard is dealing with his grief and depression in the Summer 1923 and November 1925 episodes, with references to his challenging family.

Summer 1904: In which Izzy is confused
Isembard Fortier and Alexander Landry have a conversation about learning and goals.

January 1908: In which Professor Baldwin takes an interest
Thesan Wain 's first real conversation as a first year with Professor Mizar Baldwin , Astronomy professor during her own years at Schola .

Summer 1915: In which men go to war
Izzy, Perry Judson, Alexander Landry and two others meet to begin to make plans for doing their part in the war effort.

September 1917: In which Thesan begins teaching
It's the first week of Thesan Wain 's first year teaching, and she is perhaps a tad overwhelmed.

Summer 1923: In which Izzy takes on responsibility
Isembard Fortier agrees to become a teacher at Schola and bodyguard to two children of Council Members , and reflects on his life so far.

July 1925: In which Mabyn gathers information
Thesan Wain visits Mabyn Teague in the aftermath of the events of Eclipse to talk about what a truly excellent education should involve.

November 1925: In which it is Armistice Day
Isembard Fortier thinks he will spend Armistice Day alone again, and mourning a great many things. Seth Wain and Golshan Soltani offer a different option. (There is a followup to this scene when Isembard returns to Schola that is part of With All Due Speed.)

May 1926: In which Master Ward is interviewed
Schola needs a new Materia professor, and Ibis Ward is their last interview. Features a number of the Schola staff.

Genres:
Extra

Begins: 1904-06
Period: 1920s
Romance: M/F
Content notes: Click here to reveal

Necessary Conversations

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Necessary Conversations: An extra for Perfect Accord by Celia Lake
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An extra short story of 4,000 words.

This extra shares two necessary conversations between Charlotte  and Victor in the aftermath of the events of Perfect Accord. The first takes place between chapters 42 and 43. The second is the week after chapter 43.

Content note details
The first conversation goes rather badly. The second touches on issues of manipulation (including through use of potions and charms) and the consequences of that.

Genres:
Extra

Begins: 1923-05
Period: 1920s
Romance: M/F
Content notes: Click here to reveal

Three Tales of Gabe & Rathna

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Three Tales of Gabe and Rathna - an extra for The Fossil Door : Celia Lake
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27,000 word extra with three sets of scenes.

"Three Tales of Gabe and Rathna" contains three sets of scenes following Gabriel Edgarton and Rathna Stone through some of their education and younger years, as well as three conversations after the end of The Fossil Door.

Content note details
"A Gentle Touch" follows Rathna into her apprenticeship, after a difficult period of her childhood and young adulthood. (Including her being made welcome in a Jewish home and learning about those customs).

"The Light of Knowledge" is about Gabe's education. It includes a series of scenes in the aftermath of his significant injury in 1918, including his feelings about pain potions and medications, with references to other people with suicidal thoughts in similar situations.

"Three Times Told" involves Gabe (with Rathna's support) telling his family more about the circumstances of his injury, with references to premonitions of death and the choices Gabe made because of it. Contains some challenging moments.

"A Gentle Touch" is from the point of view of Avigail Levy, as she considers and then takes on Rathna as an apprentice.

"The Light of Knowledge" follows Gabe through his young adulthood, with a particular focus around the time of his injury in 1918.

"Three Times Told" takes place after The Fossil Door, when Gabe finally tells his family more about that time

Genres:
Extra

Begins: 1907-11
Period: Edwardian
Romance: M/F
Content notes: Click here to reveal

Unexpected Territory

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Unexpected Territory: An extra for On the Bias and Goblin Fruit : Celia Lake
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An extra of 12,000 words.

"Unexplored Territory" begins just before Lizzie Penhallow  and Geoffrey Carillon  become engaged in May 1925 (the epilogue of Goblin Fruit ) and ends just after the epilogue of On The Bias in October 1925.

No specific content notes, though there are references to difficult moments in On The Bias.

Genres:
Extra

Begins: 1925-05
Period: 1920s
Romance: M/F
Content notes: Click here to reveal
By Celia 2 months ago

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