I mentioned in my last post that I had been writing short stories along with the new novels in the Morgenfeld Patrons of Art Trilogy, and the first of those stories, “The Quiet Hours” is available now from all your favorite retailers, including directly from the website where you can get the ebook for 100% off the $2.99 cover price (as in free) just by using the code “quiet25”.

The Quiet Hours

Conducting what he imagines as a small investigation, Jason Trone finds himself in the quaint and rustic Debble Teahouse. Hidden away in the dank gloom of Morgenfeld’s endless corridors.

Sweet smells and dark corners and a more than slightly odd proprietor.

Searching for a slippery character known only as Murchison, Jason hopes to find answers. Before Jason himself becomes caught up in the murder investigation.

In the vast, chaotic, fantastical city of Morgenfeld, “The Quiet Hours” focuses down on a single moment that might change Jason’s life forever.

While all of my series stories and novels can be read in any order, “The Quiet Hours” does take place some time after the events in the novel, The Wintermas Paintings. Don’t worry, there’s aren’t any spoilers in the story.

The Wintermas Paintings and The Bergeron Sculptures are both available for preorder directly from the website now, for June 10th and August 10th (ten days ahead of the regular retailers, in case you see them on Amazon with June 20th/August 20th).

We’re working hard right now to get the last elements of copyediting and formatting completed for the final volume the trilogy,The Ingersal Ballet, which will be available from October 10th.

I had fun writing this “The Quiet Hours” and it actually came out of a challenge to write a story about tea. Challenges are always good, since they get me thinking in different ways about my stories and my approach to writing. Working within certain limitations really does help with creativity. There’s a common refrain along the lines of “The constraints will set you free”, which I like. Stravinsky said it well with “The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees one’s self of the chains that shackle the spirit.”

I do write a lot with prompts, whether that be for themed anthologies, or magazines, or just from my own little book of possible titles, and they all form the kinds of constraints that make me a little more creative.

Remember, use the discount code quiet25 to get the story for free from the website.