Newsletter Archive | Feb 1st 2024

Welcome!

Thank you for joining my first newsletter email. It's been a dream come true to finally be able to share my stories with everyone out there, whether through my novels or this newsletter. I hope y'all will enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed creating them.

But First/ News

It has been confirmed that my first book The Doppelganger Queen will be released this year through 4 Horsemen Publications! I started this book in October 2016 and to finally reach this moment had been mind-boggling. It's exciting to finally get things swinging into action and showcase the world the Silver Fox lives in. As the editing team and I work together on this amazing story, I'll be able to have a set date. Be sure to tune in here or follow me on social media (down below) when that happens!

The Goods

As we turn our calendars to February we're reminded once again that love is a force of nature. It could take us by a pleasant surprise and be life-changing. The characters in The Doppelganger Queen are no different, having different levels of love, as friends, lovers, fighters-in-arms, and as a community. One such love I want to share is the one that comes at first sight, through the eyes of Dawn.

Dawn is a rising star in the Jessentars, a rebel faction that fights to overthrow the oppressive Djinnasi lords. Here in the moment of an investigative dead end, she comes to find someone who took her breath away:

Dawn threw her hands up towards the cloudy sky before she brought them back behind her head. Puffing up her cheeks as she walked back towards the Pit. The fishermen were impossible. All of them were surprised to learn Mudhi’s alibi had been fishing with them this whole time.

It wasn’t because of her name—it was her gender. They never suspected a woman was working among these sticks–in–the–mud this whole time. Worse, they were aghast to discover that Dawn herself is a Jessentar, fighting for their freedom no less.

Is that really that hard to imagine? The lieutenant punted a stone the size of a coconut. It flew over the stone wall, not caring if it squashed someone’s innocent eggplant.

They all sounded like all the old geezers back in her tribe:

‘Fishing and war are dangerous for delicate flowers such as yourself.’

‘Warfare is a man’s duty and burden.’

‘Why would you throw your life away when you could settle down with a good man?’

It took everything she had to restrain herself from popping them into the sun. That is until the last guy jested, ‘I could be your man’. He got the shock of his life when Dawn decked him clear off the pier.

That felt good.

But it also left her at a dead end. They haven’t seen her for two moons. Dawn figured she couldn’t have run out of town before Mudhi’s arrest. Somehow, somewhere, this woman was getting by without them. The lieutenant doesn’t blame her, not one bit.

So, it’s back to the Pit for Dawn, once again, to request an audience with Mudhi. Getting anything out of him would be like pulling a stick out of tar. Promise or no promise, things are looking grim for the fool.

A warble of a melody tantalizes her ear, echoing from a winding walkway to her right. A few blocks away from the center of the Pit. Half-hoping to get a lucky break, Dawn strolled down, still keeping her hands behind her head. Weaving among the potted herbs and wash buckets by the colorfully painted doors.

Then she saw the source. High up on the wooden balcony a lithe woman in a white gossamer robe. Washing her long, onyx black hair. It shone like a polished stone. She sang a foreign melodic phrase, then paused. The word reverb all around Dawn and the petite beauty continues with another verse. A duet of sorts all by herself.

The young lieutenant, staying in the shadows, leaned against the brick. Forgetting all of the worries she experienced. Drinking in the beauty of the moment.

When the maiden reached for a glass vial, it escaped her soapy grasp. Rolling off of the wooden edge. Without hesitation, Dawn caught it with ease. She lifted it high in triumph. But that feeling diminished when the foreigner ran back inside.

“Wait. Don’t go. I’m not going to hurt you,” cried out Dawn.

She spotted a small stack of barrels and decided to climb up. As Dawn clamored up, taking care not to damage the perfume, she could see the maiden peeking from the doorway with her crescent-shaped eyes.

Her skin is as pale as the moon.

She cleared her throat and continued her ascent. Despite her best efforts, Dawn came up short. The top barrel was too unstable for her to stand. Thus, she leaned forward, presenting the prized perfume.

“Here, don’t be afraid.”

Perhaps she noticed that Dawn, too, was a woman, for the maiden came forward, her lengthy hair dragging on the floor like a cape. Her warm brown eyes glanced away, and a faint warmth came to her cheeks. The sight took Dawn’s breath away. Then, leaning over the balcony, the maiden reached for the bottle. Daring to stand on the wobbling barrel, the young lieutenant gave her the fragile glass. She even guided the maiden’s hand to cup the crystal before letting go. The foreign maiden stepped back on the balcony and bowed with a smile on her face. Dawn couldn’t help but smile back at her and let out a sigh, leaning toward the wall.

Which was to her error.

The barrel rolled out from her feet, and the young lieutenant toppled to the ground. The empty drams proved challenging to overcome for Dawn; when she removed one, another would roll in to replace it.

A lilted laughter echoed about her, despite the maiden covering her mouth with her hand. “Aw, you poor thing,” she said before ducking out of view.

She knew the prophet’s tongue? Dawn slapped her palm against her forehead. I must have sounded like an idiot to her.

Then she saw a pomegranate fall from the sky, hurtling towards her. Catching with one hand, Dawn strained her neck to see the maiden waving her goodbye. Then she disappeared inside, leaving Dawn breathless once again.

Perhaps, not every dead end is a dead end.

Thank you for reading. I'll see you next time at the beginning of March.

Shine on,

K.N.Fitzwater