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Dear Folks,

All excerpts of my DRAFTS of my staying at home stories have been deleted due to Amazon's rules.

Celta Cut from Heart Sight, Vinni and Avellana on religion and emotional blackmail, so you are warned!: Vinni-Religion
Avellana said, "I will not give up my faith. Not if you or your whole Family, the whole city or planet demands that!"

"I would never ask that of you," Vinni stated calmly. "Your spirituality is your own and essential to you as it is to each of us. No one in my Family will penalize you for your faith."

"They do."

"Who?" His brows rose. "Tell me and they will be disinherited from our Family. Like the High Priest and Priestess of Celta, I will not allow such pernicious beliefs that will divide our Family, in our Family. We respect others. Always. I will have a Hopeful Chapel built for you. I will attend certain rituals important to you with you, in respect. If you will do the same."

"I don't want to be a divisive force in your Family."

"It's not you, it is that particular warped member of the Family. Family stands for certain qualities, our Family, my Family is inclusive not divisive. If one is divisive one should find a different Family."

She stared at the arrogance of that statement. "That sounds good, but it feels like what I've been threatened with all my life. Be a Hazel, the right kind of Hazel, not the Hazel you are. If you are the person you are, you don't belong in the Family."

He stared right back at her. "You can't think your parents would ever disinherit you. They love you."

"But you said you would disinherit someone who doesn't think like the Family and you love them. Don't you love them even though they are flawed?"

"Don't ever call yourself flawed. I will not have it!" Sudden anger flushed his skin.

"We're not talking about me, but about hypothetical Vine members."

"They aren't hypothetical if you are worried about alienating them if you come into the Family. And I want those names. Respect for all is important. Disrespect for you translates to disrespect for every other member of the Family, if another member of the Family crosses this person. That's emotional blackmail, Avellana, and you – I – no one can give into emotional blackmail, because like all blackmail, it never goes away."

Heart Choice cover. First, for more notes and pics regarding Straif, Drina, T'Blackthorn Residence, see here: https://www.pinterest.com/robindowens/heart-choice/.

And I found in my ancient files: what might be the inspiration for the cover (MY DEEPEST APOLOGIES TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND ARTISAN OF THIS BRACELET, I DID NOT SAVE YOUR INFORMATION).

Belated Celta Thursday: Heart Duel Cover story: Below is the Heart Duel cover I have in my files. I never got the revised version that ended up on the book. When I wrote Heart Duel, I left a spot in my manuscript that read [describe sword on cover art here] which apparently flummoxed the copy editor and made my editor laugh when she told me about it. I think I got cover flats so I could change the description from a round diamond to a ruby in the final page proofs.

All the online stores and ebooks have the cover below, only the mass market paperbook copies have the ruby cover. The description in the book is: Holm summoned the ceremonial HollyHeir sword from his suite. The intricate hand guard and central ruby gleamed. “I see you are collecting swords today,” Holm said.

Celta Thursday: Cut, last performance of Firewalker: That night his play ended to furious applause, an outrageous number of curtain calls, and even a couple of “Bravos” from theater critics. He’d given this last show his all, as had the rest of the cast, and they partied on their own, with friends and family including Giniana and Thrisca and Melis and other Fams…but without the producer and his lover. Like others in the cast and the business, Johns would think a long time before signing on to work with that guy again, and he’d make sure the contract held a cancellation penalty if the play was making gilt and the man closed it down. Most people didn’t close down a profitable run to jump to another, iffy, one.

Celta Thursday, Cut from Script of the Heart: As you know, I write out of sequence so I have scenes that I think might make it into the book that don't. This scene was right after the climax at the summerhouse. Johns (hero) originally was contacted by Thrisca FamCat since (heroine) Giniana was so distressed: Laughter from the FamCat Thrisca rolled down their more open bond, along with, **Come, here!** She sent him a black and white visual of Giniana’s back garden.

He didn’t think he’d trust that FamCat.

But he did teleport to the outer gate of T’Spindles. “Greetyou SpindleGuard Radican,” he addressed the man in the guardhouse.

The older, heavily boned man pursed his lips. “Greetyou MasterLevel Actor St. Johnswort.” His body language showed Johns all too clearly that the guard believed he’d hurt Giniana.

Translocating some tickets from his cache at the theater, Johns bowed, offered a crooked smile along with the tickets in his hand. “Here’s a pair of tickets to Firewalker. It’s closing at the end of the month.” He cleared his throat. “I’m here to visit FamCat Thrisca.”

“Ha.” A bark of a laugh, but the guy stepped out of the elegant small guardhouse box to take the tickets. “Thanks, St. Johnswort.”

“You’re welcome.”

At the sound of a long cough, they both turned to see Thrisca FamCat behind the curliques of the greeniron gate. Radican Spindle waved his hand and the tall gates swung silently open.

**Thank you for allowing My guest to visit Me,** Thrisca stated politely on a communal telepathic channel. **Giniana and I will be leaving shortly by glider.**

**What?** Johns demanded of the FamCat privately. **Where?**

She simply turned her skinny body and walked down the path toward Giniana’s cottage.

Celta Thursday, cut from Heart Sight (Vinni & Avellana's story): "Life is a journey, and one you – I – learn from," she said.

"Life is a storm, one you survive," he replied flatly.

She looked at him, really looked at him for the first time in a long time. And if she narrowed her eyes, blurred her vision, stared at him with that other sight she used for subjects of her holo paintings, she saw chaos.

He moved in chaos – through chaos, as if the air around him eddied in storm and lightning, ready to strike at any moment.
How strong he was.

Warning: Not sure where I was going with this, so it may lead to unanswerable questions. I do know that it takes place after Johns visited the Daisy's Summerhouse and "argued" with Giniana.


Laughter from the FamCat Thrisca rolled down their more open bond, along with, **Come, here!** She sent him a black and white visual of Giniana’s back garden.

He didn’t think he’d trust that FamCat.

But he did teleport to the outer gate of T’Spindles. “Greetyou SpindleGuard**,” he addressed the man in the guardhouse.

The older, heavily boned man pursed his lips. “Greetyou MasterLevel Actor St. Johnswort.” His body language showed Johns all too clearly that the guard believed he’d hurt Giniana.

Translocating some tickets from his cache at the theater, Johns bowed, offered a crooked smile along with the tickets in his hand. “Here’s a pair of tickets to Firewalker. It’s closing at the end of the month.” He cleared his throat. “I’m here to visit FamCat Thrisca.”

“Ha.” A bark of a laugh, but the guy stepped out of the elegant small guardhouse box to take the tickets. “Thanks, St. Johnswort.”

“You’re welcome.”

At the sound of a long cough, they both turned to see Thrisca FamCat behind the curliques of the greeniron gate. The guard waved his hand and the tall gates swung silently open.

**Thank you for allowing My guest to visit Me,** Thrisca stated politely on a communal telepathic channel. **Giniana and I will be leaving shortly by glider.**

**What?** Johns demanded of the FamCat privately. **Whose glider? Where?**

She simply turned her skinny body and walked down the path toward Giniana’s cottage.

Script of the Heart Cut:
This is a rough draft of a scene I’d planned between Johns and Del D’Elecampane (heroine of Heart Journey), some of this passage DID make it into the book, but I ended up not writing a scene at the Garden Party that I’d originally contemplated.
Date: 27th-32 of Vine
His perscry rang…his standard tune for unknown callers. He picked it up (from where?) and rubbed his thumb on it. Del Elecampane’s narrow face sprang into holographic view, her blond hair springing in cheerful contrast to her serious expression and a line between her brows.

“Greetyou, Johns. I’d like to meet with you.”

Absolutely no flirting on either of their parts. Seeing her and Raz Cherry together yesterday at breakfast at the Thespian Club had clued him in that the pair were lovers. Even more, though Raz hadn’t seemed to know this, they were HeartMates.

But he liked her, a solid, honest woman, so he gifted her with his best smile.

She didn’t seem to notice, which made him grin. “What can I do for you?”

“You’re interested in this play by Amberose.”

“That’s right,” he said cautiously.

“New, important play that can make careers?” she asked, then murmured. “I like her work as long as she doesn’t do deep drama and angst.”

“I’ve heard the script described as a romantic suspense,” he paused, then added. “With the villains caught and happy endings all around.”

“Two romantic couples. And the leading lady someone like Lily Fescue,” Del repeated what Johns had told her the morning before.

“Yeah, but as I said, Amberose is demanding artistic control at the moment and no standard producer will do the show with such strings attached.”

Spacing her words, Del asked, “Do you know where I might find Amberose’s agent?”

A spark of hope firerocketed through Johns. “Formal or informal setting?”

Her head tilted. “I think, informal?” Another question as if she asked his advice on a meeting.

“Sounds good.” Johns culled through all the gossip he’d heard in the last day. “Pretty sure Amberose’s new agent will be at a garden party this afternoon.” He pulled up his calendarsphere, he’d been invited, and reeled off the information to Del.

“Many thanks, later” she signed off.

He’d heard the gossip about the mapmaker, friends of one of the FirstFamilies, connected to them by Family somehow. And very, very wealthy in her own right. And she was Raz’s HeartMate…
Johns didn’t know much about HeartMates. He didn’t have one, though he couldn’t imagine loving any woman more than he did Giniana, of bonding with anyone closer.
***
He met with Del that evening?** [one of the mornings after she and Raz had returned from Gael City]. Always confident, wearing her manner of knowledge that she was the best mapmaker on Celta, she still moved differently. She glowed with an inner fire

She’d be changing her life on the road to compromise with Raz. She wanted to give him what he wanted,
SPOILER CUT

Since this is a cut from Heart Journy, it is in Raz's point of view, and I thought to include a secondary romance between Johns and the Healer, then figured I had enough subplots, so it became the basis of Script of the Heart:
"Want to quiet that glider alarm down?" rumbled Cratag Marigold as he strode over, hand on his blazer hilt as he scanned the trees.

"Alarm stop, Cherry," Raz said, then looked to Cratag. "The thieves got away."

There was a quiet woman's sob – not from his glider. "Oh, my poor baby, I didn't shield you and look what happened, your jeweled timer, stolen!"

"This is a bad thing." T'Spindle, their hose, a short, rotund man, said. People cleared the way for him. "Healer needed here!" he shouted, making both Raz and Johns wince.

"Getting my bag!" answered a voice from the direction of the Residence. Obviously the Spindles had a Healer on staff.

"This is a very bad thing," GrandLord Spindle repeated, eyes hard, reminding Raz that the man was of the FirstFamilies and used to playing dangerous politics. Raz's anger eased at the thought that the thieves would truly regret this night. Spindle was easygoing, but he was stubborn and no doubt would make sure the guards on this case were equally stubborn about solving it. Of course Spindle would look at his enemies first.

A large hand curved under Raz's elbow. "Let me help you up," Cratag said quietly, lifted Raz to his feet with ease. The warrior narrowed his eyes. "Looks to me like you need more than stage fighting instruction."

That stung as much as Raz's wounds. He opened his mouth to say something and his lip split. He swore under his breath. "Maybe you're right." He nodded to Cratag as the man stepped away. "I'll think about it."

A lovely young woman rushed close, a Healer's bag in her hand. Johns groaned. She went to him, her hands swept over his chest. She frowned. "I don't sense anything wrong with your lungs."
Johns sat up, smiled crookedly at her. "Just bruises." He tilted his head toward Raz. "You should see to Raz. The three of them got the worse of him."

"Three!" she exclaimed. Her hands continued to stroke Johns, easing his bruises, as he rose to his feet.

"Thanks, Johns," Raz muttered, wincing as his mouth stung again.

"Anything I can do." Johns bowed as the Healer looked on admiringly. Then he glanced at Raz's glider, Cherry, grimaced and shook his head. "That was a real pretty glider, Raz."

The Healer had finally reached Raz. "Broken cheekbone, bad bruise on the temple..." she pressed on his ribs and he yelped. "I think you should come inside where I can treat you." Her voice held the faintest hint of glee, as if her job with the Spindles was pretty boring.

"I'll help him along." Johns was there, crowding a raised-eyebrow Cratag aside and wrapping his equally brawny arm around Raz's shoulders. They hurt, too. Everything hurt.
"That's so kind of you." The Healer smiled approval.

"Let's get you going, friend." Johns tightened his grip.

Raz hissed out a breath, but followed along, fairly steady on his feet, though he felt a little light-headed. He limped. He might have broken some toes. His hands weren't feeling good, either.
Johns actually shortened his stride and slowed his steps. "Thanks, Johns," Raz said. This time he meant it.

"'Welcome. Sorry about you and your glider."

Raz knew that was true. Johns had been open in his envy at Cherry.

"Tell you what," Raz said as they took the steps slowly. "Why don't I ask my father to get another sportcoupe at cost, sell it to you for the same price."

Johns eyes gleamed. "In blue?"

"The same color as your eyes," Raz agreed as they angled through a door to a sitting room that was furnished in a masculine fashion where blood and grime wouldn't show – much.

"Done," Johns said.

But Raz had a nasty feeling that things had just begun....

The Healer bustled in, ordering others to provide hot water, softleaves...She was small and voluptuous with bright red hair and a smattering of freckles. Johns watched her every move. Raz closed his eyes and wished Del was there.

Avellana Story part 5: Then Avellana and Muin proceeded through the cathedral until they both stepped out into the large area of the intersection of the cross arms. Their gazes met and they watched each other until they reached the center altar. Muin moved with muscular grace, and was *hers.*

Her hands rose to clasp with his at the same instant as his reached for hers.

She met his eyes and noticed a line had sketched above his nose. She had to banish it, so she let what she felt flow through her— more carefree than ever in her life— and she grinned, sending effervescent joy down their bond, urged him to accept that and let it cycle through him so he could return it to her.
Keeping her gaze locked on his, she said, “No worries. Our future together is brilliant.”

He hesitated, his lips curving slightly, then repeated, “Our future together is brilliant.”

Pulling her hands from his, she threw herself into his arms. “We’ll meet the future together.”

“Yes.” He kissed her and as their mouths merged, she sensed the dazzle of visions swirling through her brain, and, for her, they all sparkled. She laughed into his mouth and he broke the kiss to look into her eyes and laugh with her.

He shook his head. “Sparkling visions. I haven’t had such.”

She hugged him tightly. “Stick with me.”

“I always have and always will.”

She tried to shake him, but he didn’t move much, strong and solid Muin. “I love you, HeartMate.”

“My love and my HeartMate.” He closed his eyes but his lashes dampened. “Finally. I love you, Avellana.”

He hadn’t opened his eyes. She sank against him, yet felt the colorful swirl of Flair and visions through him. Something tickled…

Simply stepping into the sacred space of the cathedral of the Interection of Hope, the Hopefulls, *her* faith,soothed her . . . and finally dried up the tears that had lodged uncomfortably at the bottom of her throat since the violent events of the morning.

Like at the labyrinth, she stood a moment to settle her thoughts before reciting the opening prayer and moving in meditation.

All through the years she had only been herself.

Some people, and some Vines, could not accept who she was, her innate psi powers, Flair. They could not reconcile her with what they believed their religion to be.

She was as she had been created, and what accident and luck had formed her into. But she loved her Fams and her Families — the Hazels and the Vines — and her dearest Muin.

She would proceed as a whole person, and thank the Guardian Spirit for all the protection the entity had blessed her with lately, and think on how to be a guardian of the Vine Family herself.

So when Avellana heard Muin’s first steps, she murmured the opening prayer, then walked through the silence empty of voices but pulsing with emotions and layered with serene reverence.

And her pace matched her HeartMate’s.

They walked toward the center — him from the arm of the innocent child, her as Guardian Spirit, at right angles to each other. Not seeing the beloved, but knowing they moved toward each other as they always had.

“I think I am most in need of energy from Custos, the Guardian Spirit today.” She turned in Muin’s arms and hugged him. “We were very blessed today, to have survived.” Her throat tightened with tears and she cleared it. “So I wish to thank the Guardian Spirit and renew my faith in it.”

“I understand.” Muin let her go, then ran a hand down her head, a tender smile on his lips. “I think I have been a responsible adult for...a very long time, lately. I will take the path of the Innocent Child and meet you in the center of the cathedral.”

Avellana nodded. She glanced around. “No gliders or public carriers are here, so there are no tourists, and the daily services took place two septhours ago. I believe only one Chief Minister is inside, probably working in an office.”

He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers, and that tender smile turned into one he saved only for her, and she could return it, feeling the love for him showing in her eyes, perhaps radiating from her whole being.

With an inclination of his body, GreatLord to GreatLady, he withdrew his hand, then turned and strode to the southwest entrance to the cathedral, as she walked to the southeast.

The large wooden double doors swung open as she neared, since she belonged to the faith. Muin would have to use spell or muscle to open his doors.
Though less than two years old, the cathedral already held an enveloping peace and spirituality that resonated wtih her.

New Celta partial-story posting here, starting today....I'd planned on doing this every day I was away but the trip (and afterwards) turned out to be challenging. I cut the last couple of scenes of Heart Sight. When I rework the story I'm posting now, I'll work on WHEN I want to set it. (And I know the first line set-up is clunky, but I want to get this going): Avellana S(....): After the Loyalty Ceremony as D’Vine and T’Vine, as soon as she had acknowledged each and every Vine, hopefully committed their name and vocation to her memory, Muin whisked her away without another word to his public round tower, through that to his tall and completely personal rectangular tower.

And once she reached there, she put her hands over her face. “I . . . I can not.”

He set his arms around her loosely, supporting, not constraining. “Can’t stay here?”

“No.”

“Where do you want to go? Multiplicity?”

Before she could answer, the sonorous voice of T’Vine Residence, the huge castle, rolled through the chamber where they stood. “I can reopen the Hopeful Chapel.”

Muin gasped, a surprised squeal escaped Avellana. Her hand shot toward Muin’s so they could twine fingers. They did and they squeezed and hung on tightly to each other.

“I had no idea we had a Hopeful Chapel,” Muin said.

“Our founders constructed a total of four chapels reflecting the religions at that time, including one dedicated to the Intersection of Hope.” A pause. “But it has never been used. It is in the wing to the north, on the second floor, adjacent to the north round tower.”

“I am humbled and grateful,” Avellana said, let those feelings flow from her through the bonds to the Vine Family and the Residence. “But I would prefer the consecration of the chapel to be renewed by my current Chief Ministers.” She inhaled, let her breath wisp out. “I . . . yearn . . . to visit the cathedral.”

“Now?” Muin asked..

“Now.”

Celta Thursday, quick post. Map of Chinju Continent, the far west land mass is Cambria (where Druida City is). And today Johns (Klay St. Johnswort) scried Chinju...

Heart Thief’s cover was my first “single element” cover with no person/people on the front. I think this was supposed to indicate a classier book or something. I first heard about it when on a trip in England and I got the news from my new agent. I’d met Jayne Castle/Jayne Ann Krentz the year before at the Berkley publisher party and graciously gave me the cover quote (which you may or may not be able to read).

Since the cover is metallic, it was extremely hard to photograph or draw or whatever…so I have the bright green heart (which I don’t care for) and the toned down green.

The book is about outlaw/thief/Null Ruis Elder and SupremeJudge Ailim D’SilverFir, both of whom have problems. I rewrote the beginning of this book several times since first it was a fantasy with romance, then when HeartMate didn’t sell fast, I joined a fantasy critique group and rewrote it, then when HeartMate sold, I rewrote it to up the romance.

I also had a “Captain’s Log” at the beginning of each chapter, of the story of Nuada’s Sword’s Captain, Kelse Bountry and the last days in space of that starship. I never mastered this technique because I wanted the Log to rather reflect Ruis’ story in some fashion and then I’d change the chapter…I still cringe at the amount of work I did on that. I think I have 3-4 versions of all of the “Captain’s Logs”…somewhere. The story eventually became Heart and Sword, the first story of that collection (Hearts and Swords).

Back to the cover, loved the metallic, but I had to rewrite the scene where I had a gyroscope with an emerald into an emerald heart. 😀

Early in my career I had very little input into covers, so I didn't see the reissue cover until I actually got my author copies. I like the colors but it was a surprise...and I got that awful "but I didn't mention a tattoo in the book" feeling (as you can tell, I am over that). So I thought about it and when a "vengeance stalk" tattoo might occur. When looked at the text, I saw that Danith would have been the one to see the tatt since it was in T'Ash's point of view. As one of the first things I did for my original website was to interview T'Ash (which I've posted here more than once). I decided to interview T'Ash again, and here it is:

Robin: Hey, T'Ash, I didn't know you had a tattoo.
T'Ash: (smirking) You thought you knew everything about me. Ha!
Robin: (in a small voice) ha ha. (clearing her throat) Tell me about your tattoo.
T'Ash: (raising an eyebrow): You've never heard how the vengeance stalk marks one?
Robin: Uh, no.
T'Ash: It does.
Robin: Do tell.
T'Ash: (staring off into the distance at the starship Nuada's Sword): The tattoo is a matter of Flair, of psi power. I believe it first developed on the generation ships. (He shrugs). You can research that better than I, you are more interested in it than I.
Robin: I 'spose. It was sorta sprung on me.
T'Ash: Now you know what it feels like.
Robin: Tell me more about the tattoo.
T'Ash: When a person formally dedicates themself to the vengeance stalk, the tattoo appears, stinging, on the body. Mine is black and red. It is an aspect of the god Arawn, god of vengeance. He holds a heart, which means he holds the heart of the one who has sworn revenge. The heart is not then available to give to a mate until the stalk is done.
Robin: Huh.
T'Ash: Is that all?
Robin: Um, so, uh, you had it on the vengeance stalk.
T'Ash: Didn't I just say so?
Robin: Yes.
T'Ash: (scowling and looking away, mutters) It also showed up when I went berserk, during the fights with the gangs in HeartMate. No one saw it, but it burned on my arm. I think. I did not look. I was fighting.
Robin: Of course.
T'Ash: I have never felt it since. Never gone berserk since. I will not do so again. (glaring at Robin) Right?
Robin (too heartily): Of course you won't. You got a happily ever after ending and will continue to have one.
T'Ash (narrowing his eyes): I think I see that you have something bad in my future. (putting his hand on his blazer sheathed at his hip). You'd better not hurt my Family.
Robin (licking her lips): Uh, well, you wouldn't want things TOO perfect, would you?
T'Ash: Yes:
Robin: Oh. Well, I may have, uh, an idea, but you will all survive. I promise.
After a dirty look, T'Ash stalks away.

Celta Thursday. It's 105 in Denver and I have a 2nd floor office in a house with no a/c. I am pleased with my (continuing) progress on Script of the Heart, but I wanted to post a Celta Thursday...and I love talking about covers, and each one of my covers has a story. Here's the ORIGINAL HeartMate cover, SO DATED...but it had the cat. That was the first thing my editor emailed me about, "Send pictures of Zanth." 🙂 As you can see, it was in a line Jove called "Magical Love." The "magical" object had to be in the center of the cover, thus T'Ash is wearing his own HeartGift, the necklace. What else I can give you: the pics I sent of Zanth (Maddox), the general look of T'Ash Residence, a photo of Princess/Pansy. 🙂 Next week, the HeartMate cover reissue.

This is MY favorite map of the Celta HeartMate series. 🙂 This is the map featured in Heart Journey (spoiler deleted, I hope).

I continue to write on Script of the Heart, and I'm sewing my scenes together. I was asked by a friend how I keep my story ideas, and, truly I keep most of them as projects in Scrivener (plot/character notes), and images on Pinterest here: https://www.pinterest.com/robindowens/boards/ I've been working on my pinterest pages with images of future stories. Need some addition and clean up, and putting a "Multiplicity" page in Settings that needs to be populated a bit...anyway, YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S COMING UP (in current order)
, at the above link.

Celta Thursday, I've learned to add events to the series timeline as I think of them. Newest tweaks: (Note this goes up to 407, the current year I'm working in): Celta Timeline:
On the Ship and the Discovery of Celta:
On the Starship Nuada’s Sword, 275 Years After Leaving Earth
Heart And Sword IN THE COLLECTION OF HEARTS AND SWORDS:
Peaches Arrives On Celta IN THE COLLECTION OF CELTA CATS

363 Rand T’Ash Born
369 Zanth Gets His Boy: Druida City, Celta, 369 Years After Colonization, Spring

380 T’Ash and Holm Holly meet

390 Rand T’Ash raises his new Residence

394 Muin (Vinni) T’Vine Born

400 HeartMate: Druida City, Celta, 400 years after Colonization, Summer, July (Hazel), Discovery Day (T’Ash is 37)
400 The Turquoise House becomes aware/is born.
400 Draeg Betony Blackthorn born
400 Avellana Hazel born

400 Heart Thief: Druida City, Celta, 400 Years after Colonization, Autumn
400 Old D’Vine dies, Vinni T’Vine inherits at 6 years old

403 Heart Duel: Druida City, Celta, 403 years after Colonization, Summer, Month of Holly/Hazel

404 Heart Choice: Druida City, Celta, 404 Years After Colonization, Spring
404 Pinky Becomes a Fam

404 Nuin Ash is born late 404
404 The Betony Blackthorns move to a southern estate
404 Vinni T’Vine is 10
Bifrona Vine becomes Vine Housekeeper through political maneuvering.

405 Heart Quest: Druida City, Celta, 405 Years After Colonization, Late Autumn BLACK MAGIC CULT deaths

405 Heart Dance: Druida City, Celta, 405 Years After Colonization, Early Winter (two months after Heart Quest, i.e. January/)

406 Heart Story IN THE COLLECTION OF HEARTS AND SWORDS: Druida City, Celta 406 Years After Earth Colonization, Spring

406 Heart Fate: Druida City, Celta, 406 Years After Colonization, Mid Winter (one year after the end of Heart Dance) SAMHAIN = NEW YEAR, SO JUST A MONTH AND A HALF AFTER THE NEW YEAR

406:
Holm and Lark's child born, a boy.
Loridana Itha Valerian Yew born the day before Discovery Day
Ruis and Ailim's 2nd child born.
HEATHERS AND HAZELS SUFFER A LOSS.

Heart & Soul IN THE COLLECTION OF HEARTS AND SWORDS, Gael City, Celta 406 Years After Colonization, Autumn (Elder/October) the last days of 406

407 Heart Change: Druida City, Celta, 407 Years After Colonization, Spring (March)

407
Glyssa, Camellia, Tiana are 12
Ash twins born, Jasmine and Abutilon-Gwydion
Tinne Holly's girl born (Aurea)

407 Zanth and the Treasure, free short/short story

407 Heart Journey: Druida City, Celta, 407 Years After Colonization, Late Summer
407 Script of the Heart: Druida City, Celta 407 Years After Colonization, Late Summer

This one should look familiar. 🙂

Yes, I did this. I've made up imaginary worlds and stories since I was a child. This DID come after part (not sure how much) of HeartMate was written.

Celta Thursday: Heart Search original opening (and my original title was Heart Hope): Druida City, Celta, 422 Years After Colonization, Late Spring

"We've located your heirloom amethyst and diamond cuff bracelets," the private investigator said. His craggy face was expressionless on the scry screen hanging on the dark paneled wall near Laev Hawthorn's desk.

Laev Hawthorn, GreatLord T'Hawthorn, kept his own face as impassive as ever but let optimistic hope trickle through him. As far as he knew, those were the last of the Family treasures his late wife Nivea had sold before his HeartGift. "Thank you. How much will it cost to recover them?"

The investigator named a figure and Laev winced. It wasn't at the amount, like most FirstFamilies he had generational wealth that wasn't easily dissipated – though Nivea had done her best. But it was an expense he wouldn't have had if he hadn't made a a poor choice in choosing his wife.

"Residence?" he addressed the intelligent castle that he lived in.

"Here, T'Hawthorn," the Residence answered at it's haughtiest. It didn't approve of the investigator, hadn't approved of Nivea, and Laev was unsure of it's feelings for himself.

"Transfer funds to cover the retrieval of the jewels and Prime Investigation's bill," Laev said.

"Thank you," the investigator said. His eyes narrowed and he continued softly, "Now, GreatLord, why don't you tell me what you really want me to find?"

Heat edged Laev's cheeks. The man was more observant than Laev had expected. He was a master of his craft and several years older than Laev's thirty-two, and though a commoner, there was something about the man that disquieted Laev. Probably the aura that whatever mistakes the guy had made, he'd fixed them immediately...and they weren't as disastrous as marrying the wrong woman in a culture that condemned divorce.