#TS Story Time 2021 Submission

[the-panmixxia]

A Family Album - Chapter 4: Sickly Snake (Dad Down!)

As Janus slowly woke up, he could already guess that he was ill. If the pounding tension headache or the fact he was awake before sunrise didn't give it away, the fact that he felt cold all over while Logan - who he'd coiled around to sleep - had wet sweat patches on his shirt consistent with where Janus had been holding him certainly did.

As per his usual odd ability to wake up whenever Janus did, Logan stirred awake with a few blinks and minimal half-asleep mumbles.

"Love? Why're we up?" the man asked, so Janus sighed and nuzzled the back of his neck.

"I'm awake because I've caught a bit of a cold, you're awake because you can't handle being the only sleeping person in a room."

Logan gasped suddenly and wriggled around, so Janus released his coil to allow him to turn easily. His love looked awfully concerned, cupping his face gently.

"You're ill?"

"A little under the weather, that's all." he responded, batting the hand from his face so he could hold them "Nothing concerning."

"I - wait, you've got a fever? I was under the assumption that you were cold blooded…"

Janus laughed and butted heads with the human, effectively shutting off his curious musings.

"You can research my anatomy all you wish at a later time, but for now, I'd really rather go back to sleep before the children wake up."

With the matter settled, going by Logan's single nod, Janus cuddled back up - muscles aching too deeply to justify coiling back around his love.

Logan also didn't bother moving around, face to face instead of their usual spooning. Instead he took his hands back and returned them to Janus' face, running the gentlest of fingers across his scales. Janus closed his eyes in contentment and was fast asleep rather soon.

…

The sun had risen and Janus was still dead to the word. Logan hadn't been able to go back to sleep, half concerned, half boiling alive from Janus' secondary heat. He was still curious as to how Janus had a fever, but for now he was adamant on helping his love.

Thankfully, Janus hadn't coiled around him like he usually would - it was comforting, sure, but incredibly hard to slide out of without poking Janus awake. He managed to roll out of bed as gently as possible, straightening up and finding his glasses on the side cabinet.

As he left the room, intent on pacifying the children from charging into their room to say good morning - which they both usually adored - and to begin some home remedies for sickness, he stopped for a moment to flip on the large overhead heat lamp, smiling as Janus relaxed ever so slightly.

"I love you" he whispered, before shutting the bedroom door.

The hallway was rather peaceful, no children awake just yet, aside from the little one currently curled up in the corner of the ceiling. Logan stood below him, smiling kindly and holding out his arms.

"Good morning, Virgil. Do you have cuddles for papa?"

The small spider trilled at him, pedipalps tapping together in a cute little applause scuttling down the wall for a hug. Logan gathered him up in a tight embrace, pressing a gentle kiss on his head.

"Sweet baby. Let's go wake your brothers up, yeah? Then I'll start some breakfast. How does that sound?"

Virgil blinked for a moment, processing, before wriggling and trying to crawl over Logan's shoulder with a single, sad whine. Logan figured it out rather quickly, crooning gently.

"Papa is having a sleep right now, little one, it's okay."

The little one whined softly and borrowed into Logan's collar bone, so he held strong and gave him a little shake the way Janus did. Virgil nuzzled against him somewhat somber, but stayed still, so Logan counted it as a win.

Making his way to the staircase, he noticed the twins' room (even though they really didn't need to share) was wide open, and glancing in showed the small, wooden bunk bed to be completely empty. Mildly concerning, though he continued downstairs nonetheless. Virgil noticed the lack of brothers in that room and whined high and sad - everything was wrong about today. Logan gently shushed him and focused on finding the two before anything serious was broken. He hoped the two of them, or at least Roman, had the sense to not leave the house, but any chaos within the house was free game.

It was unusual to not hear any rambunctious giggling or crashes, only faint music in the living room. Virgil scratched at his collar bone, restless, so he peppered the little one in kisses until he was making the deep, throaty sound that meant laughter.

Logan was completely expecting carnage, so it was a little confusing to see the spacious room completely void of any ruin. In fact, both Roman and Remus were fast asleep, curled up on the couch with Remy. Roman was tucked into his side, head resting on his chest and fast asleep. Remus was sprawled across the rest of the couch, head on the teens lap, snoring up a ruckus and drooling on his Starbucks-themed pyjama pants.

Remy himself was absent carting fingers through Remus' hair, using the arm that was wrapped around Roman to scroll through his phone - all of the lights were turned off, and his phone as dim as possible, which likely the only reason he was lacking his usual sunglasses. After a moment of Logan somewhat-eerily staring at the trio in stunned silence, the bundle in his arms squeezed a little baby noise, pedipalps up cheerfully at finding his brothers. Remy glanced behind himself, only mildly startled, as spending more than a week in this house tended to accustom one to jumpscares.

Logan shuffled in front of the couch, taking in the endearing sight, wishing he'd brought his phone down to capture the precious moment.

"Take a picture, girl, it'll last longer" Remy grumbled, sending Logan a frown that he would forever deny was really a pout.

"I was planning to, though I doubt you'd sit long enough for me to go and retrieve my phone."

Remy simply rolled his eyes, something about Logan being 'typical' before stopping still as Roman stirred. Once the movement had stopped, Logan sat on the couch next to them, asking quietly.

"Why are you all down here?"

Remy locked his phone, glancing down at the children.

"The both of them ran down here at twenty-to-five convinced they were gonna go fight 'The Dragon Witch'"

"A…dragon…witch?"

"Yeah, Logan, a dragon witch" Remy responded in a clear 'don't question it please' sort of tone.

"Ah, I see, so then what happened?"

"Well it was waaay too early to watch these little turds destroy the house, so I made em both warm milk, put it in one of my travel cups, added cinnamon and a splash of almond milk…" he trailed off, glancing at Logan, smiling at the man's wholehearted attention "...told them it's coffee since they always wanna try mine. Little shits drank it up."

Logan gasped, rather impressed at Remy's evil genius. "You tricked them into drinking warm milk so you could get them sleepy?"

"Damn right. Then I challenged them to make the couch as comfy as possible, cause kids, they'll do anything if it's a challenge. Then we sat down with the drinks and I put Sleeping Beauty on, cause I figured 'Hey, there's a dragon and a witch in this' so it'd probably satiate them." he gestured vaguely at the two "And it did. So like, yay for me, I outsmarted two five year olds."

Logan sent him a smile, side eyeing the clock. It was nearly nine am, the boys were normally awake at half eight with breakfast at nine. He should get on that.

"Why were you awake at four am?"

Remy sank back slightly, as though hiding behind the children, which probably meant he'd stayed up all night.

"Just couldn't sleep, babes. Simple as."

Logan sighed and stood up, intent on making breakfast. Remy gave him a longing glance, pulling his reusable cup out and wiggling it meaningfully. Logan really shouldn't enable Remy's caffeine addiction, but still, he took the cup with a look that hopefully conveyed 'I disapprove of your coffee intake even if I'm supplying it'

Remy just stuck his tongue out.

After that little diversion, Logan had almost forgotten Janus was still in bed, expecting his love to come stand beside him as they quietly deliberate what to make the children. Instead, he glanced down at Virgil, who seemed rather bored as he racked his brain.

'Oatmeal sprinkled with bugs and topped with banana' was a safe bet for little Virgil, though it was getting increasingly difficult to make it for Remus and Roman, as they both seemed to think that because Virgil eats it, it must be for babies.

Pancakes were always a favourite, and a good opportunity to sneak in a lot of fruit. He checked the fridge for ingredients and decided that some added protein with sausage on the side couldn't hurt.

"Shall we make your oatmeal first, little one? Or would you like to eat with your brothers?"

Virgil merely clicked along, not really processing the question at all. Logan squeezed him tenderly, deciding he'd be much more content with a small snack now and eating at the table with the rest of them.

"A snack it is, baby. What would you like?"

The little spider whirred slightly before wiggling his backend towards a wrapped tray. Logan sighed and tugged the wrap back slightly, no doubt Patton's cooking from last night. As predicted, twelve heart-shaped cookies with a crofters-filled center sat all neat in a row.

Without considering it, Logan grabbed a cookie and munched it down with two big bites. He then grabbed a second, half way in he realised that Virgil was watching him with rapt attention, and he really couldn't deny the baby a cookie now. It would be inhumane.

"Alright, Virgil, you can have a cookie. Shall we sit in your chair?"

The 'chair' was really a crate attached to a stand, pulled up to sit at the table with the rest of them. A traditional highchair is ineffective with Virgil, for obvious reasons, and so he was sat inside a wooden box with bars, though plenty of gaps for feeding and pats. Logan had first thought of it as strange, but over time he saw clearly that Virgil did not mind, and sometimes even asked to go in it. Plus, neither dad wanted the little one crawling around the kitchen unattended, amongst the hot and sharp equipment hanging around.

First, Logan began a coffee pot, then after a moment of thought also began boiling some of Janus' fancy tea in an extremely old kettle. Then, Logan began the oatmeal, using the large bag of oats in the pantry to scoop a cup out before measuring half water, half cream. Set it to simmer on a low heat, stir every ten or so seconds and add the dried bugs slowly.

Next was the pancakes, a simple enough venture, sifting the wholemeal flour and weighing his other ingredients out. It was a soothing task, though slightly lonely, as he was used to Janus' presence throughout.

"Daddy!" two little voices cheered, as he was busy spraying the frying pan down. Both his legs were tackled, and Logan stayed standing by pure luck.

"Hello, boys" he smiled, placing the pan down to ruffle both their hair. "Good morning. How did fighting the Dragon Witch go?"

Roman pouted at being told on, huffing slightly before trying to get revenge. "Remy gave us both coffee!"

"Oh did he?" Logan faked sternness as Remy walked in, completely unashamed and likely seeking his coffee. "I'll have to tell him off later for being so naughty."

"Oooohhhh Remy is in trouble~" Roman teased, skipping off to go taunt the teen. Remus stayed put, staring into Logan's soul from his pant leg.

"Are you alright, Remus?"

"Why's papa not here?"

Ah. He was hoping he'd have time to at least give Janus his tea before the twins figured out what was happening.

"Well, papa is still in bed right now. What toppings would you like on your pancakes?"

"Is papa okay?" Remus asked, all wide eyes and vulnerable. Logan's heart ached, so he knelt to press a kiss on his forehead before Remus leapt up for a hug. He squeezed the boy tight for a moment before responding.

"Papa is a little poorly, but he's very much alright. You can see him after breakfast, okay?"

Remus nodded silently, and Logan watched his expression try and deduce how he felt about that piece of information before leaning back eagerly.

"Can I have pickles and mayonnaise?"

Logan laughed softly, knowing that the boy had a very strange pallet. "Alright, but can you manage having some fruit on it too?"

"Okay. I'll have an orange, please."

"Such nice manners, Remus, I'll sit you here next to Roman."

He sat the little horror on his stool, between Roman and Virgil. Next to Roman sat an exhausted Remy nibbling on a cookie, with Roman eating his own cookie unabashedly - despite not usually being allowed treats before breakfast. Clearly Remy had passed him one.

"Are you assisting Roman in his mischief, Remy?"

Completely enthralled by his phone, Remy barely looked up as he chewed his biscuit and mumbled, "Kid doesn't need my help to be a little shit."

Logan scowled slightly with a sharp exhale, going by Remy's widened eyes he'd also sensed the error. Remus giggled softly, so Logan turned to his three youngest.

"Remy shouldn't have used that word, and I certainly won't allow any of you to be using it either, okay?"

Remus simply giggled mischievously, while Virgil didn't seem at all bothered. Roman sat up straighter and nodded, determined.

"It's okay, daddy, I already promised Remy that I won't say naughty words cause you'll whine about it!"

Remy choked on his coffee, thoroughly snitched on, smiling sheepishly at Logan.

"Uh…your tea is ready?"

Rather good timing for Remy as the tea was finished, so with a slight grumble he turned to set up the teapot and mug the way Janus preferred. He allowed the childish chit-chat to wash over him as he made the pancakes, chopping fruit and setting out the confectionery for the four of them to pick from.

After all was set up, and he'd filled two plastic cups with juice for the boys, he'd given them both a kiss on the head before scratching Virgil for a long moment. He asked Remy to watch over the three as he went to Janus, smiling as he went with the tea-pot and a variety of biscuits.

Up the stairs and back to his room, he gently pushed the door open to reveal his love still sleeping, though rather rosy. He idly wondered if it was the heat lamp causing the healthier complexion.

"Janus. Janus, dear, it's time to wake up."

The snake grumbled endearingly, tail moving around as the man stirred. Logan placed the tea tray on the side and patiently waited for his eyes to open.

Brown and yellow eyes peered up at him, so he leant down to peck his cheek lovingly.

"Good morning, Janus. I have some tea ready for you."

He fussed over the pillows for a moment, helping Janus sit up before handing the tray over. Janus took a long sip of tea before asking, "Where are the boys?"

"Downstairs having breakfast, I left Remy in charge. Though I suspect they'll want to see you soon."

"Good," Janus agreed easily. "I'd like to see them. Cuteness is the best cure."

"In that case, you should be better by the evening"

"Yeah, cause I got a cutie playing nurse-maid for me" he chuckled, holding Logan's hand in one of his less sweaty palms.

Logan blushed at being caught out like that, shaking his head in denial. "No, I meant the children being cute, dear. Not me."

"Well, you're very cute, dear, thank you for bringing my tea up."

Janus shifted slightly to allow Logan to perch on the bed, until an arm snaked around to pull the human close for a snuggle. Logan accepted it easily, though he couldn't resist trying to examine him for any more illness symptoms.

"Not the time to be feeling me up, dear"

Logan flushed once more and withdrew his hands, looking away. "I-Uh, no, I wasn't I was just-"

"Oh, hush, I know."

The two sat comfortably as Janus drank, before Logan spotted the scales of Janus' tail looking rather different - dull grey and flaking instead of the usual, gorgeous black shade.

"Your tail, it's-"

"It's the beginning of a shed, dear, that's all. That would've happened if I was sick or not. Please, try not to be so nervous, you'll transfer it to the kids."

"I know, I know," Logan whined into Janus' shoulder "I'm just nervous that somehow the illness will take a turn and leave you incredibly ill."

"Aww, please Logan, you're being silly"

"I know, but let me be illogical in my worries just for a moment." Logan pressed a kiss to his snake-side face, watching Janus smile fondly at the contact. It was quite endearing.

Instead of continuing the chatter, Janus focused on his tea, and tried to will his throat into being less rough. He mused about how he missed his boys, even if the extra time with his love was pleasant. Just as Logan had moved his empty tea tray, Janus heard a small commotion and smiled.

The door was pushed open with a blur of red and green. Janus spread his arms to accommodate, as two sets of small arms grabbed at him. Seconds later, little Virgil scaled the side of the bed, scuttling forward with a small whine until Janus pulled him close for a squeeze.

"Papa! You're okay." Remus cheered, his expression - and the way his arms and legs spawned eyeballs to stare at him - showing the underlying nervousness he had. Janus held them all a little tighter.

"I'm perfectly fine, you little horror. None of you need to worry, though I certainly appreciate the cuddles."

"Is it helping?" Roman asked, big doe eyes blinking up at him. Janus melted a little and played with the little prince's hair.

"Very much. Thank you."

///

The three children stayed rather still throughout the morning, seemingly intent on snuggling their papa back to health. Incredibly, it seemed to actually be working, the way Janus perked up and seemed much less lethargic - though he could've been masking the symptoms in front of them.

At quarter to twelve, Logan realised rather belatedly that he hadn't provided any snacks, too focused on a sick partner and adorable children. He patted Janus' tail gently, drawing his attention.

"I'm going to begin making lunch, is there anything you'd prefer?"

Janus swallowed, wincing despite himself

"Something that won't be rough on my throat, please"

Logan smiled at him with a nod, leaving quickly before the children could fuss at his absence. As he entered the kitchen, he saw Patton was already there, a basket full of root vegetables beside him as he washed each one carefully in the sink.

"Logan! Good morning."

"Good morning, Patton."

Before Logan could even figure out what he was planning to make, he noticed a large cooking pot on top of the aga. When he removed the lid to peer in, he was hit with a heavenly smell.

"Are you cooking soup, Patton?"

"Oh, yeah, I think it's technically a broth but it's a Janus favourite for when he's a little sickly snake. And I made enough for everyone, cause it's nice even if you don't feel icky, you know?"

Logan nodded along, replacing the lid to leave the simmering pot. "How did you know Janus was feeling unwell?"

"Well, he'd normally be up by now, helping in the garden and playing with the kids, so I knew something was off. I asked Remy a while ago and he confirmed that Janny wasn't feeling the best right now"

"Well, Patton, that's incredibly kind of you. Suppose I'll put some more tea on for him, would you like anything?"

"Oh, no thank you, I'm okay. I've got snacks and such outside."

Logan nodded at that, settling the kettle on the stove. "Well, I'll cover dinner later on, and hopefully Janus will feel better and able to join us."

"Sounds good!" Patton agreed with a thumbs up, petting some strange feathered creature that had crawled out his pocket. The creature made an odd growling noise before biting onto the green fingers, jaw locked like a ferret. Patton made no indication of being bothered by the treatment, simply cooing that the 'little guy must be hungry!' before rushing out the back door.

While he waited, Logan cleaned the rest of the vegetables for Patton, placing them back in the basket. Once the tea was finished, he tediously arranged the bowls of broth and tea pot on a much larger tray before returning upstairs.

In their shared bedroom, the sight was rather endearing, all four fast asleep on the bed together, though Roman looked rather sweaty under the heat lamp. Logan placed the tray down and for the second time today found himself completely enamored by his adorable sons.

"Please, continue to stare, my stomach isn't at all aching at that disgusting smell" Janus didn't even have his eyes open, seemingly content to bask in the affection.

"Oh, sorry, love. Here, you should eat up."

Janus gently shook the children awake as Logan brought the tray closer, smiling at the tender way Janus spoke, urging them all to sit up for some food.

"Roman, Remus, make sure you've got a pillow on your lap, the bowls are rather warm."

"Is the Tangled one mine?" Roman asked with an excited bounce, pulling a throw pillow onto his lap.

"It's the exact same broth in each, Roman, but you can have that bowl if you wish. Remus, are you okay with the Brave one?"

"Yeah yeah yeah! Does it have the big scary bear on it?"

"Oh, um" Logan checked the bowl with a hum of consideration. "It has three young bears on it?"

"That'll do!" Remus beamed, so Logan smiled and placed the bowl on his lap.

Lastly was Virgil, who had a small portion in a baby bowl. The little spider creeped close to Logan, settling on his thigh to be fed. While Logan began scooping up broth on a small plastic spoon, he leant over to grab Janus' portion.

"Try not to spill it, boys. Here you go, love, for you."

Janus accepted the food and smiled, examining the broth. "Patton made this, didn't he?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

"He always carves little cats into the carrots." Janus smiled, rather fond. He tilted the bowl to show Logan, and yes, the carrot pieces had been cut to have little cat ears on them.

"That seems rather tedious, but I admit it's rather endearing."

"Well, if it makes someone smile when they see it, then it's worth the effort. At least, that's what Patton believes."

"Not an absurd philosophy, I suppose."

"Well, I think that tonight, once the kids are asleep we should have a…philosophical debate."

Logan pressed a kiss to his lips, smiling. "You're still unwell, focus on recovering first. Speaking of, how are you feeling? In truth."

Janus blinked, before glancing around to gesture at the scene. Enjoying a meal and a rest with his family.

"In truth, my love, I am feeling so much better."

"That is extremely promising, dear. I'll start you a bath for afterwards, and add some lavender."

"Careful, dear, if you continue to pamper me I'll decide to stay sick forever."

Logan sent him a warm smile at the teasing, making his way to the bathroom.

"And I'd continue to pamper you, my love."

Well, Janus couldn't argue with that, sinking into his pillows to hide the blush. Thankfully the children didn't seem to be paying much attention to the adults.

"I love you too," Janus mumbled once Logan had left.

"Wait, Remus, tell me you haven't just swallowed your spoon -"

[missfay49]

Here are my submissions for Re's incredible story for the 2021 TS Storytime Big Bang event! Please go read their story (link here) for a very spooky time :)

[Image description: The first image is a water color framed in dark blues and blacks. Logan is in the center, looking left and touching a strange spiraling stone column with runes and carvings inscribed on the surface. He's holding a small notebook in his right hand, and there is a pouch slung over his right shoulder, crossing his chest. He's wearing a dirty blue shirt and yellow vest with a brown belt and pants. Behind him the purple, blue, and black shadows are strangely shaped and looming.

The second image is a hand-drawn digital rendering of a statue of a monstrous tentacled creature. Nine transparent eyes rim it's sharp open mouth. It is facing the viewer and two tendril-like tongues reach out. Three layers of eight tentacles spread out in all directions, with those at the bottom supporting the stonework. The details of the limbs fade into black shapes at the back and an unknown source of light beams down from above. Particles sparkle in the rays.]

(click for better quality)

@ts-storytime

@haunting-kind-of-high

[seekfirstme]

The following reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager © 2020. Don's website is located at Dailyscripture.net

Meditation: What kind of yoke does the Lord Jesus have in mind for each one of us? And how can it be good for us? The Jewish people used the image of a yoke to express their submission to God. They spoke of the yoke of the law, the yoke of the commandments, the yoke of the kingdom, the yoke of God. Jesus says his yoke is "easy". The Greek word for "easy" can also mean "well-fitting". Yokes were tailor-made to fit the oxen well for labor. We are commanded to put on the "sweet yoke of Jesus" and to live the "heavenly way of life and happiness". Oxen were yoked two by two. Jesus invites each one of us to be yoked with him, to unite our life with him, our will with his will, our heart with his heart.

Jesus carries our burdens with us

Jesus also says his "burden is light". There's a story of a man who once met a boy carrying a smaller crippled lad on his back. "That's a heavy load you are carrying there," exclaimed the man. "He ain't heavy; he's my brother!" responded the boy. No burden is too heavy when it's given in love and carried in love. When we yoke our lives with Jesus, he also carries our burdens with us and gives us his strength to follow in his way of love. Do you know the joy of resting in Jesus' presence and walking daily with him along the path he has for you?

In the Advent season we celebrate the coming of the Messiah King who ushers in the reign of God. The prophets foretold that the Messiah would establish God's kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. Those who put their trust in God and in the coming of his kingdom receive the blessings of that kingdom - peace with God and strength for living his way of love, truth, and holiness (Isaiah 40). Jesus fulfills all the Messianic hopes and promises of God's kingdom. That is why he taught his disciples to pray, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). In his kingdom sins are not only forgiven but removed, and eternal life is poured out for all its citizens. This is not a political kingdom, but a spiritual one.

Freed from the burden of sin and guilt

The yoke of Christ's kingdom, his kingly rule and way of life, liberates us from the burden of guilt and disobedience. Only the Lord Jesus can lift the burden of sin and the weight of hopelessness from us. Jesus used the analogy of a yoke to explain how we can exchange the burden of sin and despair for a yoke of glory, freedom, and joy with him. The yoke which the Lord Jesus invites us to embrace is his way of power and freedom to live in love, peace, and joy as God's sons and daughters. Do you trust in God's love and truth and submit to his will for your life?

"Lord Jesus, inflame my heart with love for you and for your ways and help me to exchange the yoke of rebellion for the sweet yoke of submission to your holy and loving word. Set me free from the folly of my own sinful ignorance and rebellious pride that I may wholly desire what is good and in accord with your will."

The following reflection is from One Bread, One Body courtesy of Presentation Ministries © 2020.

‘WAIT’ LIFTING

“They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.” —Isaiah 40:31, RSV-CE

Advent is a time of waiting. We wait through the longest nights of the year for the light of dawn. Children wait to open their presents on Christmas day. Christians wait for their family and friends to accept Jesus and celebrate their first real Christmas.

There are two kinds of waiting: waiting that makes us nervous and emotionally drained, or waiting that renews our strength. If we wait against our will as victims of circumstances, we become frustrated. If we choose to wait on God and refuse to control our own lives, we become energized by this act of faith. When we wait on God, we are really waiting on ourselves and/or other people who are keeping God waiting. We are choosing to accept God’s way of forgiveness, patience, and mercy. When we wait on God, we’re either admitting we’ve partly caused the delay or we’re forgiving seventy times seven those who refuse to cooperate with the Lord.

Waiting on the Lord implies repentance and/or forgiveness. This waiting and soul-searching will energize us for Christmas. “Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord” (Ps 27:14).

Prayer:  Father, thank You for waiting for me when I deserved to be left behind.

Promise:  “Come to Me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you.” —Mt 11:28

Praise:  St. Juan Diego’s name is forever intertwined with Our Lady of Guadalupe. In a private revelation, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him on Mexico’s Tepeyac Hill in 1531.

Reference:  

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for One Bread, One Body covering the period from December 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 14, 2020"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements

[limejuicer1862]

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

I am honoured and privileged that the following poets, local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger. The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

Claire Dyer

Claire Dyer is a novelist and poet who likes love stories and cheese.

Her latest novel, ‘The Last Day’ is published by The Dome Press. Her previous novels, ‘The Moment’ and ‘The Perfect Affair’ and her FREE short story is ‘Falling for Gatsby’ are published by Quercus. Her poetry collections, ‘Interference Effects’ and ‘Eleven Rooms’ are published by Two Rivers Press.

Claire has an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway, University of London which means she now has Three Degrees so all she needs is to be able to sing in tune and wear sequins without looking foolish!

Her website is: http://www.clairedyer.com

The Interview

1. What inspired you to write poetry?

I’m not sure. It just kind of happened. I wrote some poems when I was a girl that my family seemed to like and so poetry became my go-to place to express myself. There were, naturally, some awful poems in my teenage and student years but the more I read of others’ work, the more I learned!

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

My English teacher at school. I remember we were studying a poem and the whole class thought it was about falling asleep. The teacher told us it was about dying and I got quite cross because I believed poetry should be allowed to have multiple meanings and resonate on different levels to different people. I therefore now think poetry is a gift, ie. something a poet gifts to a reader and says, ‘This is what I want to say about this subject, but it’s up to you how to interpret it.’

3. How aware were you of the dominating presence of older poets?

Very. I was extremely taken with the Romantic poets at school, particularly Keats, but then I found a copy of ‘The Mersey Sound’ in the school library and realised that poetry came in many different shapes and sizes. It was a revelation!

4. What is your daily writing routine?

I don’t have one! Every day is different depending on what my diary commitments look like. I teach creative writing, run an editorial and critiquing business, curate a monthly poetry event in Reading and write novels as well as poetry. I do try to plan my week to give myself some blocks of writing time but poems tend to come when you’re not looking and so I normally find myself at my keyboard when I should be cooking dinner!

5. What motivates you to write?

Feelings, experiences, being set homework by my poetry class or being commissioned to write a poem for certain occasion/campaign.

6. What is your work ethic?

Ooh, that’s a tricky one! In my novel-writing life the motivation is to get published. I have an amazing agent and together we will work on a manuscript until it’s honed and ready for submission to a publisher. In my poetry-writing life it’s a bit different. The poems come, I work on them for weeks or maybe months and then I may submit them to a competition or a magazine or I may just keep them close and not let them out of the door!

7. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?

Greatly. I think everything we read gets stored away somewhere and makes us the writers and readers we are today, seeping through into our phrasing, word choice, sense of rhythm, etc.

8. Who of today’s writers do you admire the most and why?

Another tricky question! There are so many, probably too many to mention. I keep up to date with the shortlists for The Forward and the TS Eliot prizes and am interested in how they may be seen to be pushing boundaries, saying something different or adhering to traditional forms and material. But, just as importantly, are the poems that get produced in workshops or that I hear at readings and book launches, ones by poets who say, ‘This is me. I am here.’

9. Why do you write?

Because I have to. It’s how I make sense of the world. If it doesn’t sound too pretentious I ‘see’ in poems and use them to marshal my thoughts and reactions. They are also like a puzzle, getting the right pieces in the right order to make some sort of sense. When I write novels, it’s my characters who drive the stories forward, they stamp their feet inside my head! When I write poems, it’s often a phrase or a line or just an image flashing across my mind that I want to try to pin down.

10. What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

Practice. I liken writing to throwing pots. You don’t expect to sit at a potter’s wheel and throw the perfect pot the first time. So it is with writing, you need to practise, hone your craft, learn from others, seek advice, take risks, keep believing.

11. Tell me about the writing projects you have on at the moment.

I currently have a novel out on submission and another with my agent for review and I’m working on a collection of poems I hope may be published in 2021.

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews: Claire Dyer Wombwell Rainbow Interviews I am honoured and privileged that the following poets, local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me.