Z is for Zen World

The Paisley series is something I am very passionate about and it many times is my little Zen World. There is nothing better in this world than escaping to some place where everything is calm, good and right, The Eternals is that place for me.

I started thinking her life back in 2009 after I wrote that first short story about her purple flames. Somewhere along the way, I was sidetracked. I had to back pedal awhile until I got back on solid footing. Well, hopefully I am on solid footing these days with her, but only time will tell.

To me, my Paisley series represents many things, but above all, it represents the love of family and close friends. Many family members and close friends are mentioned with Paisley’s World, they bring me comfort in this world and my fantasy world.  

I do share some of my Paisley short stories with my oldest grand daughter who is almost nine. I plan to write each of the Paisley novels so people of all ages can read them and enjoy them as well. 

Y is for Yearning

The yearning for the man in the mirror is something that Paisley cannot deny. Sure, it might take her awhile to admit it to herself, but it is unmistakable.  To her Joe, the man in the mirror represents much more than a casual observer might see. He represents freedom in many forms; they are things that Paisley wishes for herself.

The crush that began with the boy in the mirror quickly goes full blown once she meets the mortal boy. The yearning for him goes unquenched for decades in the mortal world until she realizes that fate is ready to deliver a fatal blow. What she years for the most does take place, they share a night of unbridled passion that goes beyond her wildest dreams.

W is for Wise

Until she has had enough of Milano’s crap and her fury is unleashed, she is docile about life.

Directly after her birth, our little princess is meek and when she falls gently into Milano’s arms, she accepts this new woman, even though she smells different from the others. Even when a new woman holds her close to the breast for nourishment, Paisley accepts it, even though the first woman’s milk is sweeter.

Within those first years, she learns not to be so submissive and she becomes wise beyond her years. Her anger is not only directed at Milano, who is her aunt, it is unleashed to all who do wrong. 

V is for Victory

Victory is hard-earned prize no matter the realm in which the battle is fought. Though the battles of Paisley are fought hard on either side of the portal, each teaches her lessons she will never forget. These are lessons everyone can learn from, no matter if they are immortal or mortal.

Victory is the success of any battle that one undertakes. One of the biggest battles she undertakes is her freedom from the Eternals. While she understands her father’s rules and tries to be the good princess, she silently plots  to win his approval for her portal jumps. When she finally succeeds, she remains solid and true to her heritage even though for the most part it is the hardest thing she will ever have to do. 

P is for Paisley’s Portal

Paisley discovers the portal to the mortal world when she is quite young. At first, it frightens the young princess, but when she catches her grandma coming for a visit she is eager to go on a visit herself. The men that guard the portal in the great room will not let her pass. No matter how much she tries to bribe them. As a teenager, she passes though the portal with permission.

Somewhere in her fifteenth year of life, she discovers yet another talent she was born with. She can make a portal in the royal garden simply by saying the magic words. Hot Dang now she is a portal jumping princess who can cross at will. 

A is for Assembling of Paisley Short Stories

I have created a series of short stories about Paisley from the Eternals who is happy go lucky princess. She is the seventh born of the seventh born which brings many things according to the legend.

When she is born life changes within the realm she is born, as well as the world where the humans live. Chaos ensues for some but for others their lives in the realm settles down finally.

Some inhabitants of the realm get magic skills that change the realm in unexpected ways. When those inhabitants of Paisley’s realm cross through the newly opened portals into the human worlds everything changes for everyone.

The first Paisley story I wrote was for a contest in a writer’s group I belonged to back in 2009. It was titled ‘Paisley’s Purple Flames’, and was about an old white witch who made a bit of magic in the human world. Little did I know when I began that short story that it would spur a whole bunch of short stories that I consider glimpses into her life.

When I began writing with the Circle 8 Writer’s group, my Paisley Stories became a staple with the third book published in December 2010. Paisley finally seen the light of day and she began amassing fans and she continues to gather fans with each passing story.  

Paisley's Purple Flames became The Sacrifice

The first Paisley Story I wrote was “Paisley’s Purple Flames’. It was written back in the summer of 2009 as a contest entry. It told the story of an old white witch and the mortal man she loved. It was my first attempt at a contest and I was crushed when it did not even place. It was the grammar and other technical issues rather not the plot that pushed my story into the void.

It was changed and edited before it was accepted as a short story in the “Roses and Thorns’ short story anthology for the Circle 8 writers Group. It was actually the second short story of the Paisley series to be published.

In 2012 I self published it as the middle part of a 3-story series about Paisley over on Smashwords. All three of these are setting in a period when she is elderly. 

They are among my favorite parts of the series as they show the real Princess Paisley of the Eternals. The love between her and the mortal man is clearly visible, yet she knows it is taboo to act upon that love. Such as dilemma for sure, it is like having a piece of a rich chocolate cake in front of you and not being able to touch it.