Farrago: A confused group; a medley, mixture, hotchpotch. The OED dates common usage about 1637. Old enough for me to include in my Avelynn novels, which are a farrago of different story elements. An author takes a farrago of plot, characterization, setting, and theme, mixes them all together, waves a magic wand, and viola, they …
The Latest Word is: Embrangle: To entangle, confuse, perplex. The Oxford English Dictionary has embrangle coming into common usage in the 1600s but its etymology dates back to the early 1500s with brangle, which, I’ve decided, is a cool word all on its own and may have to write a post on it, too—when we …
In my debut historical fiction, AVELYNN, we learn about a terrible Viking attack on East Anglia and the vicious killing of king Edmund. Here’s an excerpt: Aelfgar cleared his throat and spoke louder. “Our king was seized from his hall and dragged behind the pagan’s horse to the forest’s edge. He was tied to a …
Bole – the stem or trunk of a tree, or something cylindrical resembling a tree’s trunk, like a pillar or roll. The first usage of this word according to the OED was around 1314—e.g., ‘His neck is thicker than a bole.’ ‘The gnarled boles of pollard oaks and beeches.’ When writing historical fiction it’s always …
Brand new teaser for Avelynn! Hope you guys like it. 😀 In gratitude, Marissa
Ready for a little taste, a wee tease? Here’s a sneak peek at Avelynn!