syrena_of_the_lake

This was my first year participating in Yuletide, and I received not one but TWO marvelous stories -- both Enchanted Forest Chronicles! Please go read them both at once, because they are fabulous! I will be re-reading and enjoying these for a long time to come.

Before Happily Ever After by Laurea (3088 words): Alianora learns that facing down dragons and wizards is nowhere near as hard as standing up to an overbearing aunt.

This is a wonderful story that picks up the arc of Alianora and her Stone Prince, who finally receives a name of his own! I have always loved these two, and it was an absolute delight to see their story brought to a fitting continuation -- not conclusion, because this is just the next step in their journey, and fittingly so! Alianora returns home to confront her family with the stalwart support that only someone who was once stone could provide. Alianora really shines here, bolstering her own courage with her recent experiences. The characterization and all the little worldbuilding touches are just spot on, start to finish.

In the Air by Wolfraven80 (9996 words): Cimorene and Mendanbar are making preparations for their fast-approaching wedding, but when a love potion goes awry Cimorene finds herself with an unwanted suitor. Set during the last chapter of book 2. Cimorene/Mendanbar with hints of Morwen/Telemain.

A multi-chapter fic of multifacted fabulousness, this is Cimorene at her finest -- competent, snarky, driving off unsuitable and unwanted suitors, and rescuing would-be rescuers. Dastardly wizard plots, mistaken identities, miscast spells and practical quests take place against the backdrop of the Enchanted Forest. Starring Cimorene, Mendabar, Morewen, Telemain (and some truly awful poetry written by the latter), cats, the wooden gargoyle, and a nereid who momentarily steals the show. Hilarity and intrigue abound, and again everything is pitch-perfect!

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In other news, I wrote one story (sadly, I had no time for Madness this year). The story is my first fandom love: Star Wars. It is a mix of Original Trilogy and characters from the X-Wing novels, which are near and dear to my heart. I had a lot of fun with it, and am even contemplating future fics with the same cast of characters... it is just so fun to write Star Wars for the first time since I was a kid, really. And I still have all the reference books, so I may as well put them to use, right?

Howlrunner (7912 words) for shihadchick: 4 months after the victory at Yavin, the Rebel Alliance desperately needs a new base of operations. The fledgling Rogue Squadron is on the job, but someone else is on their trail.

Features Wedge Antilles, Wes Janson and Hobbie Klivian, with cameos by Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, along with an OC female Shistavanen who I'm rather fond of.

I did figure out, much belatedly, that I had my Howlrunners mixed up with my Headhunters, and the I-7 Howlrunner might not have actually been in production at the time this story is set, but I was kind of locked into it by that point anyway, so... oops and oh well!

So, I have been woefully lax on posting since NFE reveals! I've been traveling a lot and away from my computer even more, so this is probably old news. Nevertheless, here is my NFE recap:

I wrote 3 stories, and I have been stunned and overwhelmed at the incredibly positive response - especially to my main story (a crossover with a little-known fandom, no less). I am thrilled to have participated in such a wonderful exchange, and so thankful for all the support!

Overdue but without further ado, here they are! "Behind the scenes" stuff is behind the cuts.

What I wrote

My main story: The Rule of Threes Raid for Rthstewart: the Rat Patrol's mission is "to attack, harass and wreak havoc on Field Marshal Rommel's vaunted Afrika Korps." Susan's mission is a bit more complicated, as is her relationship with the desert. A story of daring and deception and of loyalties built on shifting sands.

"Raid" is a war story and a tale of espionage, and takes place following Rthstewart's "The Queen Susan in Tashbaan" but before "Rat and Sword Go to War." It is also a crossover with Rat Patrol, a 1960s show I discovered a year or so ago about a group of American and British soldiers operating behind enemy lines in North Africa. Every new episode I see, I find more little details that just fit with Susan-as-spy. The rule of threes itself pops up in an episode, as do bows and arrows (which I saw for the first time just this morning). For months I had been idly pondering a Narnia/Rat Patrol crossover starring Susan; when I drew Rth for NFE, I decided to go for it. I didn't quite know what I was getting myself into, as it turns out, but it all came together in the end! Truth be told, I'm quite proud of the result - but more than anything, I'm so happy that so many people have enjoyed it even without knowing the crossover fandom.

( My labyrinthine writing process - for those who want to know how the sausage is made. )

Madness #1: Fit to be tied for Rthstewart: Susan does not like surprises. Tebbitt does not like spiders. Anansi does not care.

This was sheer fun. It was idea I'd had poking around since the 3-Sentence Ficathon, and frankly it was just too good an opportunity to pass up. I admit there was a moment when I thought I couldn't pull off Raid and would wind up expanding this into my main fic - but it all worked out. And in the end, Fit to be Tied is a bit of madness, so that fits! The biggest problem I had was not wanting to stop. There are so many more adventures that could be told! If anyone wants to write Susan and Tebbitt gallivanting around with a trickster spider, please be my guest - I'd love to read more!

Madness #2: Starboard for Starbrow: A storm, a star, and another page in Coriakin's Book of Incantations.

I fell in love with Starbrow's prompt for Voyage of the Dawn Treader fic reflecting "Lewis's love of the sea and the longing for adventure it inspires". I too love the strange adventures, the wild and magical islands, and the wondrous seas of VDT just as I have always loved the sea and atmospheric sea-faring tales, so this was a treat to write for me as well. Before writing this story, I revisited the Anglo-Saxon poem "The Seafarer" as well as "Rime of the Ancient Mariner."

What I received

I received a beautiful, light-filled NFE fic and a rollicking, swashbuckling Madness fic - I wrote about them in a previous post, but if you haven't read them yet, please go do so immediately! They are both awesome, in different senses of the word, and I love them each so much.

chain of pearls (anklets of light) by tungsten_illusionist

The Blue Door Cottage by Rthstewart

What's next

I am working on several projects right now: a much-belated crossover treat, a longer Narnia fic with original characters tentatively called "Song of the Stone Wolf and the Bumble Bear", a Forever/HP crossover for another ficathon, and an original historical fiction novel I've been working on for years. And, of course, the next chapter in my mad, mad Thin Man/Narnia/Jeeves & Wooster crossover "A Good Stiff Drink." It's not dead - just hungover.

So that's what's been keeping me busy! Hope all is well in your worlds.