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The Winter Witch
and the magic of stories
Hello friends,
I hope you are well.
This time of year—whether it is winter or summer where you are—is filled with stories. Stories told around hearth fires or camp fires. Stories that fly on the airwaves through film and song. Stories that we share, heart to heart, page to page.
Iceland has a tradition called Jolabokaflod. It began just after WWII, when goods were hard to come by. Except paper goods… And paper goods meant books! So the celebration of Yule became a celebration of stories and the written word. Books were gifted to be read while drinking chocolate around the fire, cozy and warm. Even during times of plenty, when Icelanders can get whatever goods they need to their tiny northern island, the gifting of books as a Yuletide tradition remains.
Isn’t that marvelous?
So, my gift to you this week comes from the generosity of my Patreon supporters. It is a short story that returns to a newish character of mine, a Faery Wish Parent named Elvenia. She’s having a bit of a personal crisis when she encounters the Winter Witch…
Here’s a snippet from the middle:
“Who are you?” Elvenia blurted.
“The one you called for,” the woman replied, stepping forward once again.
“I… I did?”
“Your heart did,” the woman replied, bright eyes turning serious. “Your doubts did.”
Another step.
Elvenia stood her ground, trembling slightly, though she didn’t know why.
“My doubts?”
“Despite your great successes, and that wand in your pocket, you still doubt the power of your magic.”
Elvenia sank to the ledge surrounding the basin. “My magic…my magic is fine.”
“Ah,” said the woman, stepping beneath the overhang. “But that is not enough for you, is it?”
Please read the rest at my website, and enjoy! I hope this story fills your heart with a sense of hope for yourself and for this beautiful world.
May you and your loved ones have warmth, security, safety, and love. And a bit of magic.
best wishes — Thorn
Speaking of books, there are a few days left to get the pay-what-you-can Winter Holiday StoryBundle! My solstice collection, A Flame for Yuletide, is included.
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