BONE FIRE, The Journey, 9-29-14
I have been remiss about blogging these past few months while my husband and I moved from our log home to a smaller place, easier for us to maintain and yet still close enough to our parents to continue our roles as caregivers. Although I cut back on blogging, I did my very best to continue writing on my current manuscript according to a regular schedule.
Our move required a lot of painting, hauling, and ladder climbing!
When my mother-in-law who had Alzheimer’s passed away in 2007, I had more time to write, but the marketplace was not at all excited about my favorite genre – novels set in prehistoric times. I wrote three suspense novels, a middle reader novel, and a historical novel (several versions!), but none were picked up by publishers. My husband and I hope to self-publish these novels at some time in the future.
In 2012, I signed a contract with Open Road Integrated Media to republish my six Alaska novels as ebooks. That has been an uplifting and exciting experience. Open Road is now interested in the research I did years and years ago about Neolithic Europe. So I am currently writing a novel set in Eastern Europe circa 5800 B.C. Like my novel, Mother Earth Father Sky, my current novel, tentatively entitled BONE FIRE, is about a young woman who is battling for her life as cultures and peoples clash. At this point I have about 1/4 of the novel written, and I hope that I’ll be able to carve out enough time to complete it in the next year to 18 months.
I thought you might be interested in “coming along with me” on this writing journey. As I have on Facebook and Twitter during the past few years, I’ll post questions for your input about plot ideas, and I’ll also keep you up-to-date on what I’m currently doing on/for the manuscript, including research information and photos of a trip we hope to take to the location in Eastern Europe.
Today, by way of introduction, I thought you might like to read the first couple paragraphs (this is 3rd draft material) of the first chapter, although I know some of you have already read this as a Facebook post.
BONE FIRE
(The Northern Bank of the Danube River, Forty Kilometers East of the Danube’s Iron Gates, 5812 B.C.)
Chapter One:
The morning the giant walked into Cob’s village, Rose stood tending a bag of stew at the outside hearth. The giant was so laden with packs that he wore a tumpline across his forehead to help balance the weight, and the line had cut into his skin, sending runnels of blood to dry and cake in his eyebrows. He made enough noise for three men, pounding his wide leather-shod feet against the earth, scaring birds into flight, shaking the ground until Rose’s bones caught its tremors.
The giant was nearly twice her height, but Rose raised the stirring stick against him as if he were a dog come begging. He laughed at her, and, in the sting of his ridicule, Rose forgot what every woman knows. Giants carry curses. (Copyright, Sue Harrison, 2014)
Of course, the “elephant in the room” question here is does this small excerpt make you want to read more. If not, how can I improve it?
Thank you!
Sue
My sincere thank you’s to all of you who commented on this post. You give me courage and enthusiasm to continue! We have been on vacation, so I received most of the comment on my mini-ipad and commented back, but I’m not seeing all of them coming through. This week my father had hip replacement surgery, so I’ve been on the road a lot, back and forth between my mother in her care facility, my dad in the hospital and his house, which I’m trying to give an in depth cleaning. The drive back and forth is about 100 miles a day, so I’m just a bit exhausted. Anyway, my dad is doing well, and I believe my mother understands why he isn’t with her each day. One day at a time and lots of prayers are getting us all through. Thank goodness for friends and siblings!!!
Hi Sue, yes, it is fun:) I think ancient cultures, wether matriarchal or patriarchal, were much more complex than they would appear. Relationships, customs, are often a complex system; “domination” by either males or females can lead to very unpleasant situations, I think. I’m very curious how you will portray various peoples:)
I agree Roy. I am currently reading the first Mackey book and enjoying it very much, but I am taking a very different approach because, although I agree that the pre IndoEuropean peoples were matriarchal, I am not convinced they were dominated by their women It’s fun to think about isn’t it!
Your welcome, Sue!:) I am confident that your story will develop originally; but you know, stories are likely to be compared to one another:) Mary Mackey’s work is influenced by anthropologist Marija Gimbutas, about female-centered Earth-goddess society versus male horse-warrior-people; Morgan Llywelyn has a similar view, but more focused on Celtic mythology (Celtic people versus horse-warriors from the eastern steppes). What I have already read about Rose seems very different and authentic, so I believe you will be able set the story apart (plus, those other novels are relatively old, so you can use newer info). But all those books are fun to read, and it’s always nice to have an excuse to read other works…:)
I’ve not read the Llywelyn, but am familiar with her work. I’m not familiar with the Mackey Trilogy. I’ll have to get it. Thank you! I’m not worried about these since my editor is on board for me with this, but it’s fun to know what’s out there! Thank you, Roy.
I’m really intrigued by your information! However, I would like to refer to a number of novels that deal with similar topics, set in the neolithic era: most notably the “Earthsong Trilogy” by Mary Mackey (“The Year The Horses Came”, “The Horses At The Gate” and “The Fires Of Spring”), and “The Horse Goddess” by Morgan Llywelyn (also clash between cultures, close to the Danube river). I don’t know if you know any of these authors/novels, I think they were released in the early 1990’s, same time as your “Alaska”-books. Perhaps you could look into them, to see how your new story can set itself apart, offer a new insight/twist, etc. But no doubt Rose’s personal adventure will be unique and entertaining:) I, for one, am looking forward to another good neolithic adventure.
YAY, Kim, thank you!!
Thank you for bringing up the Bone Fire problem, Kim. I need to look into that and discuss it with my editor!
Wow, Debra! Thank you!
I love to hear this, Diane! Thank you!
I love that this has made you think, Roy. Yes you are right, in Europe in those days an epic struggle was just beginning between the original settlers of Europe (think small, tan-skinned people, probably with black curly hair) and the “new” Indo-Europeans who were much taller, fair and had “recently” experienced a mutation that gave them blue eyes (about 500 years before). (Think Vikings). If you or one of your direct ancestors has blue or hazel eyes, then you descended from these giants. That includes a whole lot of people on this planet and they all came from one little area probably between the Caspian and Black Seas about 6000 years ago. They were one of the first populations on earth to tame the horse.
Erin, That is HUGE, thank you so much. You will be hearing from me!
You have my interest and I am ready to read more. Last week we were camping at the falls and a woman from down below heard I was from Pickford. She said “oh my, do you know Sue Harrison? I love her books.” Looking forward to reading more for sure.
Is the “giant” perhaps some kind of trader?; from a different, larger kind of people/tribe, so that he would seem a “giant” to Rose and her people?; perhaps the “curses” are related to artefacts from far away, carying disease or sickness? (even “bone fire” could refer to some kind of sickness) – the more I read this little preview… the more I would want to know!:)
Oh, Sue, I am THRILLED to hear you are writing this and making progress!! I love the excerpt. You know I’ve been a big fan since I was a girl. I am really looking forward to it. I am always here if you need me, too. So glad you are moved all in and busy writing.
Great start, generates instant identification and sympathy to the reader.
Yes! I must know who this giant is. 🙂
I loved your Alaskan novels….. But this one has got me wondering what this giant is .
It’s not like your others which i was hooked on. But i would read it just because you wrote it.
I’m looking forward to the rest of the story!
I am SO ready for more Sue Harrison!!! You make me feel like I am “there” in your books. Now I’m worried about poor Rose, all the while rooting for her inner warrior to emerge! 😉
Can’t wait to read this!! As with the Ivory Carver and Storyteller series wherein I could hear the snow crunch when they walked and I could smell the salmon drying on the racks and the cooking fires in their homes. You are my very favorite writer, EVER! Sue Harrison…take me away!! 😉
ps…
I am a little worried about the title ‘Bone Fire’
due to fact Kathy Reichs is based on ‘Bone’ titles….
you are good enough to set yourself apart!
Sue,
As I read it, I began to think that Rose was just a little girl… and to her, a grown man would seem like a giant.
I felt like he laughed at her ‘shaking her stick’ … as if he thought it funny she would be so bold for such a little girl.
it is very interesting for sure….
I appreciate any work you do due to the fact you research so thoroughly and trach us through your writing about times long ago… while pulling us into an incredible journey for some character you so thoughtfully create!!
very excited!!!
cheers,
kim
More, please!!!:) Want to get to know “Rose”, she seems a worthy successor to Chagak and Kiin. Hope we will read a lot about the customs of the people, the environment of Europe some 6000 years B.C., and of course a good adventure story!
Will the characters all have “natural” names such as “Rose” and “Cob”? Perhaps you could look into ancient “root”-languages (Indo-European, proto-Celtic, proto-Germanic), or languages of the area in which the story is set, to see how they would/could spell names such as “Rose”. I remember that in the “Ivory Carver”-trilogy, all names had meanings in Aleutian. But “Rose” is a beautiful, strong name as well!:)
You got me hooked!
As soon as Rose raised her stirring stick against the giant, you had me hooked!
You go girl :o)
More! More! More!
Yes!!!! I love it, but now I have to wait years to read the rest. You are such a tease. 😉
As always, I’m hooked from the beginning.
Love it…. it drew me in and I was immediately ready to continue..
Love it!
Was very intrigued by your 6 books re: Alaska – could not put them down. You made the people, their villages and situations so very real!! Looking forward to reading more and this sounds like a good one. You keep us, your readers, “tuned in” to what’s happening in the story. 🙂
I’m in already and wanting more. It is awesome!
Great start! I want to get to know Rose, as well as the giant!
I’m always ready to read anything you write, Sue. Good luck with this story. I can’t imagine writing about such long ago times. I just finished the first book of your Storyteller series, Song of the River. (I think that was the title. It’s on my Nook so I keep getting the titles mixed up as to which comes first.) I know I read it a long time ago, but I enjoyed it all over again. I’m so impressed with your knowledge of prehistoric times and how you make your characters so real.
Love this, keeps me on the edge of my seat- can’t wait to read more!