She's the One Who Doesn't Say Much

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Do you know what your problem is?

 

Olivine knows hers. This quiet thirteenth-century artist has been hiding a secret as she travels to K'ba to meet her friends. Others assume she's fallen in love with another artist, but it's much worse than that. For on the way to K'ba is the dirt poor nichna of Scrud, a place scorned by other Ilarians. And in Scrud is the one man who understands her.

 

However, Bohdan recognizes the dangers posed by an impending Mongol invasion. When he learns of Olivine's unusual visual powers, he convinces her to pick up her bow and start practicing.

 

She does, though she's more concerned with moving to K'ba where she can paint all day and see Bohdan whenever she wants. If only her sister hadn't decided Olivine and her fellow long eyes held one
key to defending the realm.

 

Then, as if life wasn't complicated enough, Olivine learns the artist community she yearns to be part of has developed a different take on the invasion. They're sure the only way to survive is to capitulate completely to the Mongols’ demands. Artists who feel otherwise are no longer welcome.

 

Where does her future lie? The invasion is coming soon and Olivine doesn't have much time to decide.

read an excerpt...

I waited until the ceremony ended, Celestine sang, and the dinner was eaten. Then I waited longer while the bride and groom observed the little traditions. I didn’t want to take away from anything that mattered to Mom. By the time it all ended, she looked exhausted, but I charged ahead. I followed her when she wandered off to the outhouse.

“Why are you following me, dear? I’m fine. I can find my way in the dark.”

“Of course you can, Mom.” Enough lanterns hung everywhere that it hadn’t occurred to me she’d need help. “But let me walk with you anyway.”

“Well, you’re unusually caring tonight.” She gave me that hopeful smile. “So, any young men here who interest you? I do think Davor’s younger brother is nearly your age, and he is unattached.”

“He’s not a prince,” I pointed out. “His older brother is a Royal by decree.” I don’t know why I said it. I guess she irritated me by suggesting the young brat.

“In your case, dear, I’ve rather given up on the idea of a prince. Your father and I would be happy if you merely found a suitable man.”

That annoyed me more.

“Well, Davor’s little brother is hardly suitable. He’s still a child, and spoiled and full of himself.”

She gave me a pleading look but said nothing.

“How about if I found a genuinely caring man, instead? One I loved?”

“As long as he’s an appropriate choice, love would be nice. I’d wish that for you.”

“And what if he isn’t? What if he’s an inappropriate choice? Not proper, or seemly or fitting? Just a wonderful man, one I’m in love with?”

“Don’t be childish. You’re my least starry-eyed daughter, and that’s saying something. You’d never go for some ne'er-do-well out of a misplaced sense of romanticism.”

“And what if I did, Mom? What if I did?”

She stopped and stared at me, as if she were seeing something she’d never noticed before and, now that she’d seen it, she did not like it.

about S.R. Cronin...

Sherrie Cronin is the author of a collection of six speculative fiction novels known as 46. Ascending and is now in the process of publishing a historical fantasy series called The War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters. A quick look at the synopses of her books makes it obvious she is fascinated by people achieving the astonishing by developing abilities they barely knew they had.

She’s made a lot of stops along the way to writing these novels.  She’s lived in seven cities, visited forty-six countries, and worked as a waitress, technical writer, and geophysicist. Now she answers a hot-line. Along the way, she’s lost several cats but acquired a husband who still loves her and three kids who’ve grown up just fine, both despite how odd she is.

All her life she has wanted to either tell these kinds of stories or be Chief Science Officer on the Starship Enterprise. She now lives and writes in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where she admits to occasionally checking her phone for a message from Captain Picard, just in case.

 

Author Social Media Links:

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cinnabar01

Facebook: www.facebook.com/46Ascending

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.r.cronin/

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/5805814.Sherrie_Cronin

Amazon: www.amazon.com/Sherrie-Cronin/e/B007FRMO9Q

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/s-r-cronin

Author Blog: https://sherriecronin.xyz/

Book Series Blog: https://troublesome7sisters.xyz/

 

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Doesnt-Stories-Seven-Troublesome-Sisters-ebook/dp/B09128H2YJ

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shes-the-one-who-doesnt-say-much-s-r-cronin/1139107112

 

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