Hey y’all! Today I decided to let you see a bit of the contrast between Echoes and WLHYL by posting a segment from each of them. That way it should be easier for you to understand why I have to totally switch gears in my brain when going from working on one of the books to the other.

The first segment is from WLHYL, which is set in modern day Ohio. The story is about Madalyn Emerson, a teenage musician who’s struggling to overcome Lyme disease.

“You know what?” Katie asked when we were standing in line at the Ice Cream Shoppe an hour later. 

“You want a chocolate sundae with marshmallows, gummy-bears, pecans and sprinkles on top?” I guessed.

“You guess the most off-the-wall things sometimes, Maddie.” 

“You want a puppy for your birthday?” 

“What?” Mom turned and looked at me. “Did you just say you wanted a puppy for your birthday, Madds?” 

“No, not me. Katie.” 

“Katie? I don’t think they allow them in college.”

“No, Mother.” Katie inclined her head toward me. “I was thinking of getting a banana split and somehow your daughter turned that into a puppy. Don’t ask me how.” 

“A banana split? That sounds good to me, too. Somehow having the word banana in there makes it feel a little bit more healthy.” Mom studied the menu hanging up on the wall.

“With extra chocolate syrup.” Katie rubbed her stomach. “I don’t think I’ve had a banana split since my tenth birthday.” 

“I think if we name your puppy ‘Banana Split’ we should shorten it to just ‘Splitty’ or ‘Banana’. It takes too long to say all of ‘Banana Split.’” We were at the front of the line by now, so neither Mom nor Katie responded to my joke. Some jokes just don’t get the laughs they deserve. 

After Mom and Katie ordered their banana splits, the guy turned to me. “I would like a chocolate sundae with marshmallows, gummy-bears, pecans, and sprinkles on top, please.” All three of them just looked at me. “It sounds good.” I offered the guy behind the counter a smile. “Thank you.” 

“I’ll get the napkins when you two find a seat,” Mom offered. 

We found a booth and carried our treats over. I heard the ping of a text coming in and glanced down. It was from Emily. I silenced my phone and slipped it into my pocket. I didn’t want to be rude and answer while with people. 

Mom came up and handed us each a couple of napkins, “Let’s say grace now so we can eat this food before it’s a puddle of sugar and syrup.” 

I took my first bite as soon as Mom said “amen.” Yum-my.

random cute picture of the day

Now this second segment is from Echoes, which is set in a Medieval-type setting, in the fictional land of Kios. The story is told in duel narration by identical twins, Princesses Nicolette and Raquel. Raquel is the one narrating this chapter.

When we arrived at our table I felt a slight pounding in my chest. Although I held little regard for the king, I didn’t relish the forthcoming fight that would doubtlessly occur once the words City of Outcasts had been uttered. Oh, I knew he would be politically flawless and wait for privacy before trying to change the mind of Princess Rylie, yet there was no way under the sun he wouldn’t use his most convincing tactics.   

The thought of silencing him with the truth of his own daughters resounded in my head, not for the first time, but I cleared it away. I couldn’t betray my own echo. 

I lifted the skirt of my gown a mere inch as we tread up the carpet covered steps to the platform. Looking up I caught a quick and subtle wink from Keagan who stood expressionlessly at the wall behind my chair. His faith in me bolstered my spirits. He knew that the announcement tonight would go far in furthering our cause, and I knew he would stand by me no matter what. Literally and figuratively. 

The king held out my chair for me and I sat down. 

“Let us begin.” The announcers voice rang out after the king had taken the seat next to me. A cymbal crashed, doors swung open on both sides of the banquet hall, and a parade of servants dressed identically in yellow uniforms with green aprons filed into the room, arms laden with steaming dishes of food. 

Along with the procession came the mouth-watering aroma of baked lamb, sautéed spring onions paired with fresh goats milk cheese, and the yeasty deliciousness of crescent rolls. I refrained from turning around and giving Keagan an apologetic look. Our lives were so equal and entwined in the Inner chamber that I never felt quite right about feasting while he stood behind me on duty. He had reassured me time and time again that it was fine and he delighted in doing his job, but still it distressed me. 

“You are quiet tonight.” The king spoke to me as the servants filled our table with food. My eyes lit up when I saw the buttered peas and peppered cod. 

“Thank you.” I smiled at the maid serving me. “Tis a feast to be sure.” Then I turned to the king. “Aye, tis so. I have much on my mind.” 

“I hope I did not upset you this morning?” The king lowered his voice a fraction even though the noise of the banquet hall had risen to a pitch that was likely to produce a headache before the evening was over. 

I sucked in a deep breath before replying. Nicolette had repeated almost verbatim the words that had been exchanged as they broke their fast and I had to fight off a feeling of despair. This man sitting beside me really was trying to do his best for his daughter. He was trying to give her the advantages and desires of her heart that he had not experienced. 

“Sire, might we hire several echoes to help with the workload at the palace?” My eyes widened as soon as I spoke the words. What was wrong with me? 

“You are as fixated on the subject as your mother, may she rest in peace, was.” The king’s eyebrows lowered. “It must be the blood from the Turglar royalty in your blood.” He leaned back against his seat, half of a roll in his hand. 

“Tis a good thing, is it not?” 

“Aye, the changes your mother, may she rest in peace, brought to our country have brought us up from the heap of barbaricness and raised the lifestyle our people dwell in. I – I – I’m not sure if we’re ready to introduce echoes to the palace staff yet, my daughter.” 

“What difference does it make? You’ve publicly proclaimed that they are as human as the rest of us.” I felt my eyes going hard. 

“Aye, aye.” The king set his food down and licked his lips. “I don’t expect you to understand, Rylie.” 

“That is good because I don’t.” I wanted to slap myself as soon as the words escaped my mouth. I sounded more like a spoiled child than a princess ready to prove herself in the Year of Proof.