The cover for my science fantasy, THE WOLVES OF PORT NOVO, the Novel Formerly Known As Eel’s Reverence, continues apace. I’m working on the back-cover blurb.

In the words of the immortal Fly,

hellllllp meeeeee

Elderly priest of Holy Sweet Micah, Aunt Libby, leaves her parish in a huff and walks into danger. Not from the young tough who robs her, not from the pragmatic waterfront restaurateur who gives her the briefest possible shelter, but from fellow priests.


“Reiver” priests, mercenary and cynical, have driven all true priests out of Port Novo and plan to expand their power as far as possible. One old woman isn’t going to stand in their way.


Or so they think.

Whatchoo think? Would you be intrigued by that blurb? Or would you go, “Whaaaa?”

Now, here’s an excerpt. Aunt Libby is the narrator. She has been chivvied out of town, but has been found in the woods by Uncle Phineas, one of the reivers, who has also collected the two people who’ve come in contact with Aunt Libby in her brief stay in Port Novo.

A mermayd is what makes this science fantasy, not just fantasy: mermayds are just like mermaids, except they’re not fantastic creatures, they’re another sentient species, non-mammalian and with no fixed gender.

True Priest Meets Reiver

excerpt from THE WOLVES OF PORT NOVO
by Marian Allen

“What happened?” I asked Uncle Phineas. “To her and to him? That sexton did something, didn’t he?”

“You seem to have a flair for judging character,” said Uncle Phineas. “Reynold knows his duties, but he has lately begun to overstep his authority. He should have reported your presence to me, along with his belief that you had been brought into Port Novo in secret and were being kept in secret. Instead, he evicted you, and cried his accusations broadcast. The sternest measures – you would agree, in my position – needed to be taken.”

“I don’t understand. Who did this to these people?”

“I did,” said Uncle Phineas blandly. “By proxy, of course. My churchwardens, under my orders. The mermayd was…let’s call it ‘chastised’… and the woman was… call it ‘relieved of the burden of property.’ Now they’re taking a little trip, and you are… call it ‘invited’… to join them.”

~*~

A WRITING PROMPT FROM ME TO YOU: Have you ever been asked to leave a place?

MA