In my fantasy world, the Reaper’s Moon signals the arrival of autumn. The heat of summer blows west with curling seawinds, and morning fog rolls on the inland sea like living smoke. On shore, milkweed bursts with silken wings and thistles shed their white beards. The land is softened by fields of grain in hues of copper and carnelian, apples bow the branches, and winter’s wood is stacked.
The Reaper’s Moon is a time of harvest, ripening roots, and gardens of green bolting with seeds. It’s the promise of neighbors and picnics, percussion and strings, the close of summer visible in calloused hands and sun-browned shoulders, wool evenings and fresh baked pie.
The full Reaper’s Moon glides across the night sky on September 16.
Excerpt from Eye of Fire, the Dragon Soul Quartet
The noise of revelers faded as the sounds of the sea sang in the night. His head thick with drink, Morgen excused himself for a stroll back to the cove in the dark. “I’ll ride the longboat out to the Eadwynn and find a comfortable berth in the captain’s cabin.”
Neve winked at him, sharing the man’s preference for a ship’s gentle rock over the stillness of her floor where Captain Cradog snored. “I told you he’s a fool,” she’d said, observing the sleeping man. “But he’s a fine seaman with a good heart.”
After Morgen left, she lay a blanket over Cradog. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she watched him sleep, his mouth hanging open, face serene. She reached down and held his nose, only enough to silence his snoring. At times, she felt like his mother, not his lover, as if he were a lad in a man’s body, still growing into himself, unaware of his potential, the possibilities she saw and loved. She didn’t try to guide him or change him. His choices were his own and his life his to haul.
In truth, Neve simply remained true to herself and didn’t tolerate any foul from him or anyone else for that matter. She didn’t give a piss about what others thought or did with their lives and didn’t care if they liked her choices either. Cradog could take it or leave it, and he tried awfully hard to take it.
Oh, but, she was fond of watching him grow. The man was like her garden, full of gifts, things coming up she never expected, little seeds sprouting that she’d planted long ago and forgotten. He grew fresh and wild and weedy and delicious and abundant when she tended him and made sure he got plenty of sunlight.
Slipping from her clothes, Neve slid under her blankets. She peered over the edge of the bed and almost woke him up.
Myths of the Mirror 
Your world sounds full of amazing seasonal details and activities. I particularly like picnics!
Oh, this ended in a rather possible passionate pass at her man, Diana. 😉
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Thanks so much, Robin. Yes, a rather passionate couple, but very grounded too. A favorite of mine 🙂 ❤
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Beautiful excerpt, Diana. “The man was like her garden” – I wish every relationship would make the place for growth, and provided enough sunshine 🙂
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It’s one of my favorite relationships in the book – a mutually supportive pair of human beings. Thanks for the visit and reading! ❤
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It is why I love your books – I find so much hope in them 🙂
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Thanks for the sweet comment. I’m glad that comes through 😀
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What a beautiful picture you painted with words of the Reaper’s Moon. I am also visualizing those bountiful fields, apple pies, and just the cooler respite that autumn brings on the heels of a long, hot summer. I enjoyed this immensely.
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Thanks for stoppy by, Lana 🙂 I imagine after this long hot summer, autumn will bring welcome relief! Happy writing, my friend.
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I’m ready for it 🙂 I love stopping by and reading your magical prose. Happy writing to you also, my friend.
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A very enjoyable read with wonderful descriptions of the premise and characters. 🙂
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Thank you, Sebnem. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I hope you catch the full moon tomorrow. Happy Writing. 🙂
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Wow I can actually visualize it when I read your narrative.
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Thank you. That’s good news 🙂 When I write, I’m usually just writing down the movie that playing in my head. Have a lovely week, Daniel.
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You too Peach
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What a beautiful read.
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Thanks, Tric. I so appreciate the visit. I hope your autumn is crisp, warm, and smells of cinnamon 🙂
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Thanks for this Diana. You gave us their relationship in such depth, yet only used a few words. Mega hugs.
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Thank YOU! I’m glad you enjoyed the little snippet. Their relationship is a nice one that works both ways. Happy Writing!
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Absolutely captivating. Always think of you with each full moon. Hope you are having a good week. xo
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Thanks Kelly. I’ve been doing these moon posts for almost a year. 🙂 A busy week getting ready for a break – all good. Happy autumn, my friend.
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That’s hard to believe! I just can’t keep track of time anymore it seems. I hope you have a great break – it is certainly well-deserved. Happy Autumn to you as well!
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Gorgeous imagery and description in the Reaper’s Moon. Also, love how Neve compared her lover to the surprises growing in her garden! 😍💕
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Thanks for reading, Ali. Glad you enjoyed my intro to autumn and the snippet. Neve and Cradog have a rather wonderful relationship and the deep caring goes both ways 🙂 Happy Writing!
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Wonderful excerpt! Your imagination is awesome ♥
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Thanks for the visit, Christy. Autumn is one of my 4 favorite seasons 🙂 And the characters have a rather wonderful love – so a fun snippet to share all around.
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Reblogged this on firefly465.
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Thanks for the reblog, Adele. Hope you enjoy the full moon 🙂 Happy Autumn.
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I loved the descriptive work, Diana. It really was sublime. 🙂
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Thanks for reading, Richard. 🙂 I’m always flattered when you enjoy my writing. Makes my day. ❤
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I always do. 🙂
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This was a warm read, Diana 🙂
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Thank you, Lenora. Hope you autumn is beautiful and full of happiness. 🙂 ❤
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Hope yours is too! 🙂
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I much enjoyed the excerpt…. great reading… also how interesting to learn about Reaper’s Moon … being associated to Harvest I will definitely relate it to Persephone. Happy Fall to you from the southern hemisphere (soon entering spring down here!)… Best wishes. Aquileana 🙂
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Thank you, Aquileana. Yes, spring is coming in your part of the world 🙂 My current WIP takes place in a southern hemisphere and it’s been fun getting my head around the climate. Thanks for the visit and enjoy the full moon this week!
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Your reaper’s moon is our spring moon in Australia; just three more nights. I love your writing, Diane and am almost at the end of The Bone Wall – loving it! 🙂
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Yes, Spring is starting in your part of the world. I alwasy forget that. And thanks for the note on The Bone Wall. A gritty one that I always worry will offend readers. I’m so glad you’re enjoying it 🙂 Phew!
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Beautifully vibrant, Diana… rich with description and poignancy. And I love the garden analogy. 🙂
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Thank you, Steven. One of my favorite relationships in the books 🙂 Hope you have a gorgeous full moon this week and Happy Autumn.
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Lovely excerpt, Diane.Jx
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Thanks, Judith 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it. Happy Writing.
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All your words and depictions are so vibrant, Diana. I am swept up into your world and enthralled by it. Your word artistry always paints a delightful picture. ❤
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Thanks for reading, MW. I love this time of year. I say that every time of year, of course 🙂 Hope you enjoy the coming full moon. ❤
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I say the same every year too. 😊 I will for sure enjoy the full moon. Best of everything to you. ❤️
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I am certainly not liking the early freeze we are having this summer (even though fall is just around the corner) since we had a late start to the summer. We had to cover our tomato and chile pepper plants just now. I think I will buy a “grow light” (easily available with our new marijuana laws!) so that I can finish off my peppers in the garage. My tomatoes are almost fully harvested so won’t bother with those. OOPS about your post, lol! I do always enjoy your excerpts and do appreciate them a lot Diana. xo
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Ha ha ha. I have to cover my tomatoes, Kathryn, and see if I can force them to redden. I probably have 400 green tomatoes! Thanks for reading and don’t mention frost again 😀 ❤
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Mums the word! lol
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Your ability to paint deep, rich pictures with words is magical, Diana. in this post, your narrative has evoked my memories of the sights, sounds, sensations and scents of autumn with such tangible clarity. And it goes beyond to bring to mind the relationships and traditions that give our autumn lives meaning.
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Thank you for the lovely comment, Carol. I’m so glad it brought back so many memories. It’s a favorite time of year over here. Enjoy the full moon and the beauty of autumn.
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The images bring your world to life. My favorite part is where Neve views Cradog as if he were a man in a lad’s body. ❤ 🙂
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Thanks for reading, Mary. She takes care of him and he takes good care of her heart too. I’m not surprised that you picked up on the romantic elements 🙂 Happy Writing, my friend.
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🙂
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I really like the description of their relationship ….
“She didn’t give a piss about what others thought or did with their lives and didn’t care if they liked her choices either. Cradog could take it or leave it, and he tried awfully hard to take it”.
If only we were all that wise!!
Happy Reaper’s Moon!
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We get there, Joanne, don’t we? As we get older? Thanks for reading, and yes, Neve and Cradog have a grounded and loyal love. I like them 🙂
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The way you weave your words, as well as your imagination make for an enchanting read 🙂
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Thank you 🙂 I hope you get a chance to enjoy the Reaper’s full moon. Happy autumn ❤
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Thank you! And you 🙂
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I love reading your writing, it gives me inspiration and makes me feel motivated to try new things and to get to my writing! lovely as always
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Thanks, Lynn. I’m glad you feel motivated. That’s a compliment. Enjoy your week, my friend. 🙂
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Thanks you too xx
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Your world of fantasy is very alluring Diana. No wonder writers lend a special charm to mundane jobs like harvesting with their beautiful words. I love both those pictures of ever-inspiring Mother Nature with her varied cadences. I could hear those ‘sounds of sea singing’…thanks for sharing this excerpt. Have a wonderful week! 🙂
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Thanks for visiting, Balroop. I’m glad you enjoyed my journey into the coming autumn. Happy Writing, my friend. 🙂
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This is absolutely exquisite: “The heat of summer blows west with curling seawinds, and morning fog rolls on the inland sea like living smoke. On shore, milkweed bursts with silken wings and thistles shed their white beards. The land is softened by fields of grain in hues of copper and carnelian, apples bow the branches, and winter’s wood is stacked.
The Reaper’s Moon is a time of harvest, ripening roots, and gardens of green bolting with seeds. It’s the promise of neighbors and picnics, percussion and strings, the close of summer visible in calloused hands and sun-browned shoulders, wool evenings and fresh baked pie.”
I felt like I was there. Thank you, Diana, for sharing.
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Thanks for reading, Julie. I’m delighted that joined me in my little fantasy world. I’m sure some of these sights are happening in your neck of the woods. 🙂 Enjoy the coming Reaper’s Moon.
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There r no words I can describe just awesome and what names. Loved the relationship and so beautifully u have written 👌
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Thank you for the kind comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed my little foray into autumn and the snippet from my story. 🙂 Have a lovely day.
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You too have a great day.
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This is enthralling D. I love your words so much…”a time of harvest, ripening roots, and gardens of green bolting with seeds. It’s the promise of neighbors and picnics, percussion and strings, the close of summer visible in calloused hands and sun-browned shoulders, wool evenings and fresh baked pie. ”
You paint the loveliest scenes and most captivating tales! ❤
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Thanks, Holly. A wonderful comment. I’m glad you enjoyed my little reflection on the coming moon. Happy autumn ❤
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Beautiful, you can really set the stage D. I am longing for the Reaper Moon! ❤
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Beautifu excerpt from your book, Diana. Fascinating multi-layered relationship and I feel Neve is the one full of wisdom. I’ll look out for the moon heralding Autumn. A magical season and so far making its presence known in the cooler evenings whilst summer warmth reigns during the days. Warmest wishes
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A favorite time of year, Annika. I love the crisp weather and brilliant sunshine. Thanks for reading. Cradog has a lot of wisdom too – just not at this moment! Ha ha. Have a great week 🙂
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This was so beautifully crafted.Loved reading it.
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Thanks so much for reading. I’m glad you enjoyed my glimpse of autumn. Enjoy the coming full moon 🙂
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I’ll be waiting.
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Great excerpt, Diana! This is one of my favorite times of year, just as autumn is starting, though I could do with fewer weeds racing to set seeds 😉
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I like it too, Julie. The weather is perfect and the colors are glorious. I’ve been drying herbs all week and need to start freezing some of my greens. Still waiting for those darn 300 tomatoes to turn red!
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And I learnt a new word. Carnelian
Thanks
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A semi-precious gem that’s sort of an amber color. I like it because it’s not that complex a word to pronounce so it can fall into the flow of the prose. Enjoy using it!
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I will. I can already imagine so many things to use it in. Ty
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Beautiful!
I was transported to your world
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Thank you! I’m glad I took you on a little trip 🙂 Happy Writing!
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I love how you weave words and imagery together. Lovely!
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Thank you. Sometimes it works better than others 🙂 Neve’s garden is central to her life, so it’s natural that she thinks in those terms. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week!
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You are welcome!
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Cradog was sown with her seeds. Quite a beautiful contradiction, along with weedy and delicious. Terms usually at odds with one another, they’ve shown that she sees things that are not obvious to many.
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Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Rob. Cradog is all those things. These two characters never fall out of love and kindness toward each other despite all that happens to them. Thanks for the visit, my friend 🙂
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Loved reading this Diana, and discovering one of your characters is named Morgen 😉 Nice! lol 🙂 I have a feeling your series is going to end up on my TBRList 😉
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I chose the name because it means “of the sea.” I love that 🙂 Thanks for reading and happy writing!
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Delightful excerpt. The man was like her garden, full of gifts… beautiful imagery.
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Thanks, Bernadette. Their relationship is probably the most poignant love in the series. A favorite of mine. Have a lovely week, my friend.
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Your words transport me into your world.
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Thank you for the lovely comment. I’m glad you enjoyed my little fantastical foray 🙂 Have a wonderful autumnal week ❤
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You also Diana, I love Fall.
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