"Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win."

- Stephen King

"Never trouble another for what you can do yourself."

- Thomas Jefferson

Happy Birthday America!

"Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere."

- Mary Schmich

"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader."

- Margaret Fuller

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."

- C.S. Lewis

Amen to that!

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies...The man who never reads lives only one."

- George R.R. Martin

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change."

- Charles Darwin

I need to get this draft finished. My husband flies to CA next week and is in need of reading material!

We'd just embarrassed him in front of the whole kingdom. The executioner had run off with the condemned prisoner and then stolen the prince on his way out. - Two reasons King Owayne wasn't going to stop looking for them anytime soon.

"Henrik has no need for such a reward. He lives in the cellar." - Aland's thoughts on Henrik attending the king's summons.

I flinched away, afraid to let her touch me, and then I closed my eyes to block out the hurt I saw in hers. - Henrik's reaction upon learning he'd killed his father.

"He that will not work shall not eat." - John Smith, Jamestown 1608

"Reading should not be presented to children as a chore...it should be offered as a gift." - Charles Scribner, Jr.

I couldn't agree more!

"What's not proper is you standing in my doorway all night watching me sleep." - Lottie's thoughts on having a nighttime guard.

Henrik's cellar smelled of overripe stables in the summertime. Only, the sweet perfume lingered year round and could not be mucked.

Juno's least favorite herb amongst the Margrave's stockpiles: Valerian root

The basket ride was not the soothing experience that Lottie so fondly remembers.

At what temperature does rope spontaneously combust? Hot. Very hot.

Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it. - Henry Ford

Lottie's evening tea:

Two fresh camomile flowers with a pinch of dried lavender buds. Steep for 10 minutes.

Recipe for Margrave's Rabbit Stew

Fry chunked rabbit, garlic, and leeks in lard. Add to water seasoned with rosemary, sage, and lemon balm. Add barley and dried vegetables...cabbage and carrots are Margrave's favorite. Simmer until you're hungry.

Today my husband helped me migrate this website to a new hosting service. I think it is looking better than ever!