Tide Sneak Peek: Meet Aven
Updated: Mar 12, 2020
Good afternoon (or whatever time of day it may be for you, for me I'm typing this at a nice, comfortable 2:15pm), lovelies!
In my last post I mentioned a new project of mine, Tide, a high fantasy adventure I'm hoping to release early next year. With Tide going into its third draft and a good idea now of my schedule for getting it ready for publishing, I thought it'd be fun to give you guys a few peeks into what's in store. And, because I feel like it, we're starting with a post about Aven.
You'll meet Aven as one of the major players of Tide and I sincerely hope you all love him as much as I do. A selkie* imprisoned by humans, Aven is in search of his sealskin in order to return his magic and go home, and in his efforts strikes a deal with human Hania that drags him on an unexpected adventure.
Once a warrior and known troublemaker in his homeland, Aven's more than happy to travel halfway across the world fighting monsters and villains with his ragtag group of friends. After all, he's fierce, endlessly brave, and willing to put himself on the line for anyone and anything he believes in. But when this new adventure clashes with his longing to return home--and with a bloody past and long-standing hatred of humans to contend with--things get tricky fast.
I honestly love working with Aven's character, everything from his sarcasm to his temper to his fun-loving, adventurous side. He has a way of approaching everything with a sense of determination and optimism without ever playing down any seriousness or danger of the situation. What I call the "yes we may die but if we don't it'll be a hell of a story" attitude. He has his scars, and they run deep, but he can't help but be drawn to some of the very same people he wants to hate. And above all he's a protector. He'll fight to the death for anybody who can't fight for themselves, and even if his sense of who that is can be skewed by the tangled history between his people and others he tries with all his heart to do good. He's made of hurricanes and steel and summer wind in the leaves, and I cannot wait to see what you all make of him.
*For those unfamiliar with the lore, selkies are Irish/Celtic mythological beings most famous for appearing as seals but having the ability to shed their sealskin (alternatively referred to in some cases as their pelt or coat) and walk as humans. Though most commonly mentioned in the context of marrying selkie women, it's known in lore that by taking a selkie's sealskin after it's shed one can strip the selkie of their magic and in some cases their memory of being a selkie. Selkies are sometimes also given the ability to control storms.
Check out some of my favorite songs that remind me of Aven!
Meet Aven in a preview of Tide below!
"Aven." He just looked up, waiting. "What about you? Why did you come here?" He'd said he liked adventure, but attempting to slaughter a village seemed like more than just looking for adventure.
He paused and shrugged one shoulder, that sorrowful, pensive darkness in his eyes gone. "There was a wager I couldn't win against a human army. I half expected to end up cutting down some human prince and all his forces, I'll admit, but maybe I should be more careful about what challenges I take next time."
"They really just beat you?"
"They really did. Believe me, I would give anything to go back and spend that time at home. Being a world apart, trapped, beaten...nobody deserves it. So on the slim chance your brother is alive, I understand how he must feel. And I can't in good conscience leave you to wander around hopelessly trying to save him yourself."
"I thought you said you're only responsible for me until your debt is paid."
He looked away before he answered quietly, "Well, I'd feel a little guilty if you got torn apart after I left you. Like you said, you're brave and stupid. It's a recipe for disaster."
I knew there was meaning behind those words he didn't say, and some part of the cold in me, frozen through with fear and shock and exhaustion, warmed at it. "You're growing on me, too."
"I said nothing of the sort."
"Of course not."