I took a last-minute break to finish the 5th draft of my trilogy: Unraveling the Veil. Phew. Done. Now I can celebrate start my next draft. Yay! Ugh!
This project has been in the works for 2 years, and I plan to start publishing in May August if all goes well.
I thought I’d share a slightly-condensed intro to my WIP’s main characters, starting with Naj’ar, a goblin. I hope you enjoy the read.
Bats squeaked in the blackness, and an enduring cold leached from the walls. Neither troubled Naj’ar. His kind were accustomed to the leather-winged company, and his muscled frame, though half-elven, tolerated the chill almost as well as the purebloods. A shaggy fur draped his shoulders as he navigated the tunnelways beneath the mountain.
Ragged veins of quartz glimmered in the rock’s wet crevices, their latent power spiraling as if they’d captured wisps of cloud. Their faint glow cast angular shadows. Yet, the reflective surfaces of his eyes granted him the vision to lope through the crude passageways with sure feet.
The ground shook, and he paused, a hand reaching into the void for balance. Curved fingernails scraped a wall. Grains of igneous rock sifted from the ceiling. The tunnels to the peaks meandered in a labyrinth of forks, crumbling stairways, and long sloped passages, familiar to him though he’d never labored in the upper mines. His interest lay in the Veil and the hidden world that lay beyond.
Na’jar, a goblin
A pragmatic people, goblins rarely indulged in fantasy. But legends hinted of a hallowed land, the birthplace of the First where only the brave and just found welcome. Others speculated that behind the shimmering wall lay the answers to the secrets of eternity. Its allure tugged at his curiosity, a barbed thorn hooked in his mind, impossible to pry loose.
His feet slid, and his fingernails dug into the ice varnishing the slanted floor. Ice within the mountain? He frowned, gray skin prickling. The air froze on the walls in a glassy rime. The crust of frost thickened. Clouds formed with each breath, and for the first time, the frigid chill seeped into his bones. He sniffed the downy scents of snow and earth mingled with something new—the electric tang of power.
Bent in a crouch, he pressed forward. At the end of a winding incline, beyond the frame of winter’s brambles, a sinister light forced his yellow eyes to narrow. The snow-laced peaks sawed at the sky. And behind them, the Veil beckoned.
He toiled uphill. Bare feet crunched through frozen drifts. A white wind howled from the heights, and the curtain shimmered through gaps in the storm-bourn snow, a sheet of silver light, shuddering and bulging. Lightning crackled and ribboned through a lace of arteries and veins as if it were a monstrous creature hovering at the edge of the world.
Ears swept back, hands and feet numb, Naj bent against the blow. He trudged upward, determined to reach the ridge. Ice caked his face, sparkled on his lashes. The air hissed with electricity. The distinctive odor of ozone, both clean and burned, wrinkled his nose.
The Veil splintered. A blast of power flung him backward.
He tumbled down the steep slope, hurled into a black and white slide of rock and snow, past the tunnelway’s entrance. With a breathless gasp, he clambered to his feet and climbed for the mountain’s shelter. A second explosion slammed him to his back. Colossal shards of light shot outward, streaking through the storm. He covered his face with an arm. The snow and stone lost its grip on the mountainside, burying him alive. He clawed and kicked free of his icy tomb and scrambled over the sliding terrain.
Then the wind died. Snow and rock rumbled to stillness. The Veil began to weave itself together, threads swiftly stitching across the ether, reconnecting and patching the jagged wounds. The blizzard transformed into rain, slackened to a lazy drizzle, then evaporated before it mottled the ground. Sunshine lanced through gashes in a rapidly mutating sky. Snow vanished in a hot fog and then the fog too burned away.
The Veil thinned and solidified, releasing the energetic mass that had fortified it against the storm. Naj hastened for the tunnel entrance, his soles pained by the hot stones. Tufts of grass, moments before buried in ice, began to smolder. He dove into the warming passageway, rolled to his feet, and dashed into the blackness.
***
Thanks for reading!
Myths of the Mirror 
It becomes more intriguing with each character. I wonder how the three of them will interact and what kind of world you are building.
LikeLike
Wow. Your goblin rocks! What a great character! And the cover art is gorgeous. Fascinating story. Prayers to your father. (((Hugs))) MW
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, MW. It was really fun creating a goblin as one of three main characters. I got to play around with the stereotypes, and ended up really liking him. And I’m glad you liked the cover! Have a lovely, creative, peaceful day and be well. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that you are messing with stereotypes. I can’t wait to read this book! All things good to you! MW 💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤
LikeLike
Oh Diana, this is worth waiting for as long as it takes 🙂 Love from the first read 🙂
Hope your father is doing better. Hang in there, and stay safe ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just finished my last draft before sending it off to beta readers, Inese. It finally feels like its getting close. Thanks so much for reading and for the lovely comment. Have a wonderful day, my friend, and be well. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Best of luck, Diana, I am looking forward ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh, this sounds good, Diana! Suspense, spooky, and interest-nabbing. Good luck with the next draft!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by, Julie. I’m getting closer and closer, but it’s such slow work. 40 pages to go, then on to a read-aloud draft, and final touch-ups before going off to betas while I work on blurbs. I’m so ready to be done. I’m glad you enjoyed meeting my goblin. He was really fun to write. Hope you’re doing well and making good progress! Be well, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The cover art for your book is fantastic. Loved the blurb. I have learned a lot from following your process. Introducing the characters and getting readers to become intrigued by them was one thing I picked up. I hope your launch goes well. No matter what happens, I’m sure readers will have your back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. This is a gripping read, Diana. A great introduction to Na’jar. The setting is fantastic too. I was mesmerized by the vivid imagery. The cover is beautiful. All the best and happy writing! ❤ xo
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for reading, Vashti. A bit long for a post, so I appreciate it! Naj is a favorite for mine. It was fun to mess with the stereotype of goblins. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend, my friend. Be well. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the fact that he’s a goblin. They’re always portrayed the same way. This is a breath of fresh air.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
A character study from D. Wallace Peach’s latest book “Liars and Thieves”.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much for sharing, Suzanne. I’m glad you enjoyed this character intro. I’m working away on the draft to get it ready for August. 🙂 I hope you’re doing well and staying safe. Have a lovely week, my friend. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Diana. We’re all doing fine. I hope you and yours are also. My daughter has taken to sewing a new wardrobe for herself. She didn’t sew before the pandemic but bought a sewing machine and is doing well. My son is working from home as is Sayjal’s husband. Jay’s wife is keeping track of what’s happening in the community by computer. His stepdaughter graduated from high school but now is stalled in her plans for her gap year. It’s hard for kids that age these days. ❤ — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great idea to take up sewing! Much better than sitting around watching television. It is hard on teenagers, but they will recover. My daughter is struggling financially and can’t work with schools closed. Ugh. What a mess. Stay safe, my friend. This will eventually end. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Diana. I hope your daughter finds something soon. ❤ — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great introduction to an intriguing character. Good luck with having it published this summer. Many are delaying publication due to the world situation, but I say keep producing books! The world needs them even more right now. xo
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for the encouragement, Darlene. I’ve been working on his series for a couple of years at least, with a year off to take care of my parents, so I’m eager to get it done. I understand the ambivalence though; it’s such a disorienting time. But I think we can be creative and sensitive and kind at the same time. This virus is going to continue for a long time. I’m glad you enjoyed the characters. Keep creating, be safe, and have a peaceful week. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Continue reading at Myths of the Mirror […]
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much for sharing, Sue! What a treat to see this morning. You got me smiling. This was a fun character to write since goblins tend to be stereotyped and I was having none of that. Lol. Have a wonderful week ahead. Be well. ❤
LikeLike
Cannot wait for more of this… Loving the portrayal of such a unique character and the portrait. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much for reading, Kevin. I wanted to play around with the stereotypical goblin and create something new. Naj has ended up being a favorite. I’m busily editing with a goal of August. 🙂 Have a lovely week ahead and be well, my friend. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did enjoy the read. Naj’ar i quite a character. Fun to meet this goblin. The writing caught me completely.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much for taking the time to read – a longer post than usual. 🙂 This was a fun character to create because I could turn the stereotype of goblins on its head. I’m glad it hooked you. Happy Sunday. Be well. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your goblin is a different kind, Diana, a brave and just one? I’m on his side already and was glad he dashed to the entrance and got himself out without being buried. I’m sure his soles could adjust from snow to the hot stones.
The cover is artistic.. I liked all the details of the background and fonts.
Congratulations for heading toward to publishing date. August is just around the corner!
I remember you took a year off to care for your parents and helped them moved close to you.
Have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks so much for the lovely comment, Miriam. Yes, Naj is a different kind of goblin – one of the fun aspects of creating his character was ignoring the stereotypes. 🙂 And I’m so glad you like the cover. It’s just about done. Have a wonderful day, my friend, and be safe. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly, Diana. I was going to talk about the goblin that give me nightmare but I didn’t want to sidetrack my comment. 🙂
Yes, the cover has the look of classic literature. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
OH NO. Well, this goblin is actually very noble. He might scare you, but only by accident. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the warning, my friend. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohhhh, YES! A goblin. I’ve always thought they’ve gotten a “bum rap.” I know you will fill out the empty spaces of what really makes a goblin tick. You’ll show us what makes a goblin a, you know, GOBLIN, warts and all. 🙂 This is a wonderful passage, and the cover is intense and verdant with possibility. So, we hafta wait until August, huh?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yep, August. And that’s ambitious! But I should be able to get the first one out by then. 😀 My goblin doesn’t have any warts. Uh oh. But he does file his teeth into points! And he’s working on developing a sense of humor. It was fun creating this character, Pam, because the options were so wide open. Thanks for the visit, my friend. I hope you’re doing well. ❤ Take care and have a peaceful, creative day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Verrrry good. The lyrical prose takes me there. I can see and feel the goblin, the weather and more.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks you, John. I’m glad you were transported there despite getting stuck in an explosion and avalanche and other weird stuff. Lol. And thanks for the kind comment on the prose. Yay. Have a lovely, peaceful day and be well. 😀
LikeLike
LOL. Be happy and safe yourself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I’m hooked! The cover looks great, Diana!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha! Thanks for the great comment, Mark. I still have a ton of work to do on this series, but I’m really trying to be disciplined and get a bunch of hours in every day. I’m glad you were hooked! And thanks for the comment on the cover. It’s just about there. Take care and Happy Writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m interested to see how a goblin main character can turn out! A very creative premise!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for stopping by, H. My main characters are a goblin, elf, and changeling, tossed together to save the world, of course. It was fun developing a goblin as a main character because the options were wide open. He’s my favorite character, I think. Have a great day, my friend. Be safe and Happy Writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You stay safe too!
LikeLiked by 1 person