Sneak Peak of Chapter 1 of my debut novel

Okay, so clearly I’ve been dreadfully missing in action the last couple of months.

After a blissfully productive end to 2021 on the writing front, both in terms of pushing forth with my novel and also launching Tedsie’s, I’ve since been faced with an impossibly impenetrable wall of demotivation following my return to work after an extended Christmas break. I desperately need to find a way to maintain stimuli for my writing in the face of a complete lack of enthusiasm in my professional work. I’m currently left otherwise drained of every ounce of creativity by the time evening arrives. I’ll figure it out. I need to figure it out.

But anyway, in pursuit of my burning desire to get a new post up on Tedsie’s, and also in the hope that sharing something work-in-progress from my novel will in-turn launch me back onto the writing train that I was riding so fancifully before, I’ve decided to share a small snippet from my current draft of Chapter 1. Key word here is draft. Draft, draft, draft!

It should be noted that the novel begins with a prologue, with Chapter 1 then focused on the character of The Governess. I wrote a introductory post about her a few months ago, so I would strongly advise you to check that out first before reading this. That post will provide you a bit of background as to what the novel is actually about, along with the general backstory of the wonderfully complex woman that is Monika Olsson a.k.a The Governess.

Just to also give you an understanding of where I am in the general book writing process, at this precise moment in time I have the first 15 chapters fully drafted with a first round of edits complete. The remaining 20 or so chapters are all planned out to varying extents, each with their own skeleton, although I haven’t actually began writing them out yet.

Anyway, that's enough said. The following snippet is taken midway through the chapter, where you’ll find Monika just leaving the Royal Council Chamber after another long and turbulent day’s work managing her Council in the face of a by now almost inevitable war on the continent, and relentlessly raging in-fighting amongst her Council’s members. She is joined by her closest confidant, and Lord Councillor of the Archive, Sven.

Snippet from Chapter 1 of my as yet untitled debut novel (a work in progress!)

“Walk with me, Sven,” Monika issued. She took leave from the Royal Chamber, her confidant at her side.

“Lady Governess, I hesitate to speak out of place here, but I fear another Councillor’s resignation would surely further reinforce the by now rife rumours that this Court has fallen into utter chaos. Monika… please, we surely must go on the attack?”

“My Lord Sven, you of all people should know that I have never held the belief that a war is the preferable way to solve a conflict. I did not win us the Great War by…”

“You fear for Lukas, don’t you?” He interrupted, a nervousness about him.

Monika’s smile dropped at the mention of her son. 

“My Governess, I love the boy, but he went willingly, he…”

Monika’s hand went up. “Thank you… for your counsel, Lord Sven. But I regret I must now retire to my chamber.”

“But m’lady, today is Tuesday. Astrid and Fredrik… they await you for dinner.”

“Ah,” Monika sighed. She had forgotten. “Please, tell them that I am sorry to have to miss them again tonight. I have a private meeting. It is one I truly cannot cancel.”

“Now Monika, we both know that I no longer function as your secretary these days,” he joked, “I am now an esteemed member of the Council. But… if it means I get to pay a visit to dear Fredrik and sweet Astrid, then how can I refuse?”

The two friends bid farewell, and Monika climbed the stairs to her private quarters. In truth, she had not forgotten of her dinner plans, for she rarely forgot a thing, but she had found her family suppers of late a dreadful struggle in the absence of her son, Lukas. It had been three months since he had so dramatically departed the Capital. An abrupt leave of absence following a terrible argument he had suffered with her earlier that same night. 

On this occasion though, it was not just her wish to avoid the company of her daughter and nephew that had led to her cancellation. No, she really did have an important meeting to attend tonight.

Monika’s eyes readjusted to the light within her sitting room as the fire roared into action. A  small flick of her wrist in the direction of the fireplace had seen to that. The freedom to at last release some of the magic she had suppressed all day long never grew old. Why vote for a mage when you abhor her magic? It was an irony she never failed to marvel.

Monika perched down at her desk and pulled out two pieces of parchment alongside her quill. She decided there was still time enough to complete her correspondences, and so hastily she took to scribing the first of her two letters.

My love,

Things continue to grow more difficult here. I fear my current path of action has run its course. It may be time to adhere to the will of my court and to the people of Engholm. 

I continue to worry that I am failing those under my guardianship. Astrid needs me more than ever as she grows into a young woman, yet never have we been so distant. And Fredrik; well, he has grown so admirably, but now more than ever he needs a father figure.

I wish you were here to counsel me. You know my own mind better than I. 

I love you, forever.

M

Monika briefly scanned her eyes over the letter she had hurriedly scribbled, and swiftly rolled it up. Eyes flitting between the two seals on the desk before her, she selected that with a large Oak tree encrusted upon it. The one she used when she did not wish the trail of a letter to come back to her, were it so happen to end up in the wrong hands. All too aware of the sun setting through the window before her, she got to writing the second note.

Lukas,

Please, if this arrives to you, let me know you are okay. Are you hurt? Please, return to me soon. You are needed back home.

I can no longer hold off the Council for long. We’ll be coming for Hamasaki soon.

I stay awake at night, worrying for you. Astrid too.

All my love, sweet boy.

Your Mother.

A tear fell onto the parchment as she completed the last scratch of her quill. She worried so much for him, alone in the city of Hamasaki. What was he doing there? Was he really staying there of his own will? She shifted backwards on her chair, and let out a soft whistle. 

CLANG. 

“Alsa! Loghan! Careful, please!” Obedient as ever, yet they were forever boisterous in their sibling rivalry. Any task at hand presented to them an opportunity to one up the other. “Not to worry my sweets, I have jobs for both of you this time,” Monika soothed, tickling the feathers upon their necks. The two great eagles now perched patiently on the floor immediately before her.

They terrified every one of her colleagues, even Astrid kept her distance, but in the eyes of Monika they were but her loyal children. There was a third too, Chestah. Monika had already sent a letter with him to Lukas more than a month ago, but he had yet to return. She could not pretend this had but only fuelled the wrecking of her tattered nerves.

“This one’s for you Loghan. Please, get it to Lukas. And when you return to me, bring your brother back with you also.” She strapped the parchment to his foot, the same Oak tree seal also cast upon it, and she gently caressed the feathers upon the bird’s face. Next, she turned to Alsa, “Sweet girl, I do not need to tell you where to take this one. Be swift in your delivery, and be safe.” She attached the second letter to her, and then motioned them towards the window.

CLANG.

It was a race between them even in reaching the window. The commotion had left a trail of destruction behind them, the quills and ink propelled from the table onto the carpeted floor below. She laughed quietly to herself, though her smile soon morphed back into a frown as her apprehension returned to her. She hoped her pets would return soon.

With time no longer on her side, Monika pulled on one of the cloaks hanging on the wall. This one an emerald green, the colour of her former Woodland people of whom she still desperately missed. She tied her hair back into a ponytail, the long strands of her blonde hairs now outnumbered by the greys, and set forward to the door. Pausing, she turned and picked up the two short swords set nonchalantly against the wall. Whilst she had spent much of her day dismissing any reports of trouble brought to her in Court, if life in the Capital had taught her nothing else, it was always to err on the side of caution.

———

Well, that’s it! Again, bear in mind that is just a very short snippet taken from the middle of Chapter 1. And it’s what? Yes - just in draft! I’d of course be very interested to hear any thoughts or comments you may have though. I’m also hoping to share some more work-in-progress bits shortly. Thanks for reading!

- Tom