There are flames in the distance. There is a dragon in the distance. We must ride out to meet him.
It is said that the first dragon was born of hatred. And all of the things that follow hatred. Envy and greed. Bloodlust.
It is said that the first dragon was born from a person, right here in this very village. It is said that the first dragon was born of a curse. A curse that was meant to save, for some curses can save. Continue reading
This week’s story will be posted by midnight on Sunday, November 6. This is the anniversary post for Storyfeather’s third year.
Thank you to everyone who read even one of the fifty-two stories I posted during the third year. Thank you for your precious time and your interest. Thank you for supporting my dream. Thank you for being a part of Storyfeather, Year Three!
Year Three was a challenge. The overarching theme I was aiming for was the elements and the senses, in stories inspired by and often in the form of myth and legend.
In an effort to improve my drawing skills (and further serve the stories), I joined the Inktober challenge, drawing and inking one image every day for the month of October. The Sunday images were Storyfeather-related. Now that there are over 150 stories on the site, I hope to do a bit of re-organizing to help with navigation. I also hope to do release the Storyfeather podcast in the coming year, to provide an audio version of each story. As the site develops, the core challenge will remain the same, a story a week.
A lot happened in the year three stories. Stars were incubated in the hearts of humans, a tortoise raced a cheetah, someone escaped from the underworld, a potion was brewed, a divine drop of blood was guarded, and an inventor made a map that could lead to realms unknown…
Here’s to seeing what Year Four brings. Thanks again, Mighty Readers.
Long Live Stories!
Nila
Tortoise trundled to the front of the assembly, bowed before the king and queen, and spoke.
“Lightning.”
Gasps and whispers passed through the assembly of animals. Suddenly, Cheetah appeared before them all. She bowed before the king and queen.
“That cannot be,” Cheetah said. “For Lightning is my mother.” Continue reading
All the amoeba ever wanted was to be more than what she was. To be more than one. To be many. Many as one. To be multicellular. Continue reading
Storyfeather Year Two, Copyright © 2015 Sanjay Patel.
This week’s story will be posted by midnight on Sunday, November 8. This is the anniversary post for Storyfeather’s second year.
Thank you to everyone who read even one of the fifty-two stories I posted during the second year. Thank you for your precious time and your interest. Thank you for supporting my dream. Thank you for being a part of Storyfeather, Year Two!
Year Two had a theme that I decided upon after realizing the first few stories had something in common…Objects of Power. Many a week, it helped to think of that theme when I didn’t know what I should write about. I’d wander through a room looking at the objects, and I’d ask myself if I already had a story about spoons, bricks, or guitars. The theme provided focus and a challenge (especially when I forgot about it until I’d started writing). Boy did I have fun writing these stories. And boy am I proud to have completed a second year.
Another significant milestone over the past year was the opening of the online Storyfeather store on October 1. Over the next year, I will add a couple of pages that contain image-based links to all the Year One and Year Two stories, to make it easier and more fun to browse through. Eventually, I hope to do a Storyfeather podcast to provide an audio version of each story. As the site develops, the core challenge will remain the same, a story a week.
The above image is a picture I took of artwork created by Sanjay Patel to commemorate Storyfeather’s two-year anniversary. Each image block represents one of the stories from the second year in the order it was posted. A lot happened in the year two stories. A genie was unleashed, mortals wielded the power of gods, eggs randomly came out of an enchanted pocket, wonders like blood substitutes and sentient substances were invented, objects of power were encountered…
Here’s to seeing what Year Three brings. Thanks again, Mighty Readers.
Long Live Stories!
Nila
It had a name, but everyone simply called it the Company. The Company was prosperous, prestigious, and pervasive. Dominating all industries from sea to sea. Exploring and founding even beyond the sea. It was a coveted position to be a worker in the Company. Those who attained the highest ranks were envied and revered all the more. For in those ranks, one was not a mere “worker.” One was a Hand. The Company had many Hands. And these Hands reached into every corner of the known world. The Company did not tolerate weak Hands. Only strong ones.
There was no great mystery about how one could become a Hand. One had to meet and complete the Challenge of the Hand. Continue reading
My mother named me Felicia, after her favorite flower, the blue daisy.
When I was young, I would always tell people she named me after the word in that ancient language that meant “lucky” and “happy.” What good was a flower after all? Why would she name me after something that wasn’t good for much other than looking lovely? Why didn’t she name me after something strong like the wind or an animal? I’m older now. I know why.
Mother needs me. And the only thing that stands between her and the sorrows and sufferings of a painful death is a flower.
*** Continue reading
“Have any of your heard of the Song of Stars sapphire? “
The question was posed—as such questions usually were—by Cecil. We were having drinks on the back patio after dinner and admittedly the conversation had grown somewhat dull. But Cecil was no storyteller. His mention of this exotic-sounding sapphire most likely had intentions beyond livening up a chat among friends. Continue reading
Storyfeather Year One, Copyright © 2014 Sanjay Patel.
This week’s story will be posted by midnight Sunday, November 9.
In today’s post, I want to thank everyone who read even one of the fifty-two stories I have posted thus far on Storyfeather. Thank you for your time and your interest. Thank you for supporting my dream. Thank you for being part of Storyfeather, Year One!
A story a week for a year. That was the challenge I set for myself when I launched Storyfeather in November 2013. I actually did it! And I will keep going. The fun, the frustration, the sleep-deprivation, the awkwardness of explaining to others what that deadline is that I have every week, the last-minute scramble to revise and edit and to conjure an image, the victorious nod and dopey smile when I post yet another story…it is all worth it. I hope to add a few more elements to the site in the second year, such as a store. Some of that is in progress. In the meantime, I’ll stare at the above image and pat myself on the back for just a while longer.
The above image is a picture I took of artwork created by Sanjay Patel to commemorate Storyfeather’s one-year anniversary. Each image block represents one of the stories from the first year in the order it was posted. A lot happened in the year one stories. Magic beans, a portal in a boy’s stomach, a journey to the afterworld, aliens, furies, telekinesis…
Here’s to seeing what year two brings.
Long Live Stories!
Nila
In the land of his own making, the one that abided in his heart and his head, he was a bard. In truth, he was a rice man, one of the best in Trilenkary, the kingdom of his birth. And he had earned the chance to sell his wares to the royals themselves. There was to be a feast. The celebration would honor a special guest who was visiting the royal capitol, but according to rumor, the five princes would likely usurp the event and the feast would honor them instead. Continue reading
