Before they were children's stories and princesses, mermaids were an omen, spelling doom for the crew of the ship. It's a long time since these sailors saw the sea; committed to a life of space piracy, their ports are whatever planets they pass close enough by to visit. But bad luck applies among the stars as much as...
In the song "The Fair Flower of Northumberland", a girl releases a prisoner who says he'll marry her, only for him to turn around and tell her to go home. She's heartbroken, and her father's angry, but her mother -- her mother understands. Because the same thing happened to her. I decided to explore the mother's persp...
When Scott comes home covered in blood, Katie hopes there's an innocent explanation, but the police turning up soon afterwards suggests there isn't. This is one of the stories I wrote for NaNoWriMo 2015. It's posted here in its unedited state and I have to say, this one got away from me and went in a totally unexpecte...
A night-time visitation from your lover is something that most would welcome, but William's premature return from war suggests all is not well... This story is based on the Child ballad "Sweet William's Ghost", specifically the version by Cara on the album "Long Distance Love". This is one of my NaNoWriMo 2015 storie...
“I wish I had you in a public square The whole town gathered around me With my broad sword and a pistol too I’d fight you for the life of my Geordie” I love Anais Mitchell's version of Child #209, 'Geordie', but I always felt it ended too soon. That last stanza ends on such a cliffhanger -- and here are my thoughts on...
Samain. The barriers between this world and the next are at their weakest and, as she does every year, Aisling strays from the safety of the town to the woods, where her sister waits for her. Taken by the fair folk six years earlier, this is Morag's only opportunity to talk to the family she left behind -- and her onl...
