Contest Alert!

Hey everyone, I'm going to step away from Jahrra's Journal a moment to let you know about a new contest. I'm seeking artists to illustrate a character or characters, or a scene from either The Finding or The Beginning. All rules and info can be found on my site: http://oescienne.com/contests. Please spread the word! Grand prize is a signed copy of BOTH The Finding and The Beginning. Good luck and I hope to receive a lot of entries!

Keeping Busy . . .

So, once again I've neglected this blog. Let me catch you up on what's been going on that has kept me so distracted . . . The most demanding distraction has been the completion and publication of the second book in the Oescienne series, 'The Legend of Oescienne - Beginning'. It is now available from amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle format, and the prologue can be viewed at www.oescienne.com. I've also recently updated my other blog, Hello Kruel, Kruel World! where I'll be posting my 'Drive-Thru Interview' of other authors. If you are interested in how a writer thinks, or where they come up with their ideas, be sure to check it out. I've kept it short and simple; only seven questions. Well, that is all for now. I'll try and get another entry from Jahrra's Journal up as soon as I grab a few minutes. Happy reading! -J.E. Johnson

Ellysian's Cache

Dear Journal - It has been so long since I've written to you and the spring is nearly here! Now, what was it I was telling you before? Oh yes! Ellysian's hiding place! Gieaun, Scede and I were all crowded below the cleft in the rock, trying to decide what Ellysian might have stowed away in there. "It can't be too big." Gieaun whispered (though I don't know why she did; we were the only ones left in the schoolyard!) "Let me try something . . ." Scede said, reaching up and barely grasping the small chunk of rock to the left of the gap. "Don't break it off Scede! Ellyisan will know we were here!" I told him. "I won't!" he hissed, "It's loose, look!" The piece of rock came free and behind it was a good-sized hollow. I gave Gieaun and Scede a knowing look, then stepped up on the closest bolder and reached into the hole. "Jahrra! There could be spiders!" Gieaun insisted. I felt around and my hand brushed something that felt like a box. I grabbed it and pulled it out. "That's it, it has to be!" Scede said with wide eyes. We all sat down on the big rock as I carefully pried the box open. Inside was a great combination of treasures: polished rocks and crystals, small trinkets, bits of paper with drawings and writing on them, a mother-of-pearl comb, some earings, a few pencils, several small things that looked suspiciously like they'd come from Mr. Cohrbin's treasure chest, and lastly, a small ring that Gieaun had lost over a month ago. "Hey!" she said, "That's mine!" she grabbed the wring and put it on her finger. I closed the box and stood up. "You're not putting it back, are you?" Scede asked, his voice betraying a trace of anger. "We have to, for now." I told him, "Or Ellysian will know we found it. Giean," I added, "maybe you should keep your ring at home from now on." Gieaun nodded and covered her hand. Scede still looked angry, so I told him, "We'll get this all back eventually, but right now we have to think about how to go about doing it." He sighed and nodded. "C'mon then," he said, "we'd better get out front, Dharedth is probably waiting for us." I climbed back onto the bolder and pushed the box back into the hollow, and then Scede shoved the rock into place. We would find a way to return all of the things Ellysian had stolen, just not today.

It's been far too long . . . .

Greetings readers and writers alike, I've spent far too much time away from this blog, and it is about time I return! The past several months have been spent adding the finishing touches to The Legend of Oescienne - The Beginning, the second book in the Oescienne series. As I await for the suggested changes and edits to come in, I shall undertake the challenge of writing the third book as well as making more additions to 'Jahrra's Journal'. Until then, happy reading! -J.E. Johnson p.s. A preview of The Beginning can be viewed on the website. Just scroll down until you see the cover for the second book: http://oescienne.com/books

Discovery At Last!

Dear Journal, Do I have some news for you! Gieaun, Scede and I finally found Ellysian's hiding place! I can't believe it, but I'll have to write it all down so I'll always remember. A few weeks ago, just before the start of Solsticetide break, Master Hroombra said he'd be picking us up after school and that we'd have to wait a little longer than usual before he got there. Scede mentioned that it'd be a good time for us to try and discover Ellysian's secret hiding place since she and her brother would leave before us. Gieaun was a little nervous, but I could tell she thought the same thing. As soon as the twins left that afternoon, we ran towards the gap in the bushes that led to the trail up the small canyon. We ran the whole way, so we were out of breath when we got there. "So," Scede gasped, "what exactly are we looking for?" "A small catch in the rock, a little above our heads, somewhere on the rock wall." I pointed to where I thought it might be, recalling my dream from so long ago. "How do you know that?" Gieaun asked. I froze. I couldn't tell them about my dream, I never told anyone about my dreams. "Um," I thought hard about what to say, "I, I remember hearing Ellysian whispering something to her brother about a chunk of rock missing from somewhere," I lied. Gieaun eyed me suspiciously, but I just turned away. "When?" she asked. "It was when we were coming in from recess the other day, I think you and Scede were already inside." Gieaun looked like she was going to ask another question, but before she could, Scede shouted, "There! Look, it looks like a crack in the rock. Could that be it?" We were all suddenly distracted by Scede's discovery, so all further questions were left unasked, and unanswered. But I must stop there for now, Journal, I can hear Nida coming up the stairs to bring me down to dinner. She has already called for me twice, and if I don't go now I could be in big trouble. -Jahrra

Waiting for an Opening

Dear Journal, It's raining again, and although I love the rain, it means staying in all day for class. Which means Gieaun, Scede and I won't have a chance to find Ellysian's hiding place, again. We've been trying for weeks, but something always gets in our way! Either the twins are guarding the trail entrance, or we follow the trail and never have enough time to do a proper search, or we get distracted by something else and forget to look altogether. Gieaun thinks we should give up, but Ellysian is always whispering to her friends and giggling, and I just know she's making fun of us. Ohhhh, I can't wait until I find out what's hidden up that tiny canyon! As soon as it stops raining, I'll have a chance. Until then, I must distract myself with other things. Mr. Cohrbin promises us a new riddle soon, so maybe that will keep my mind busy! -Jahrra

A Plan to Catch a Thief

Dear Journal, What a wonderful weekend! Gieaun and Scede came over and we helped Nida make apple pies. After lunch, she let us each have a slice and she told Gieaun and Scede they could take one home with them. We spent most of the day playing hide-and-go-seek in the orchard, but as soon as I remembered what I'd seen last weekend during the rain storm, I asked Gieaun and Scede if they wanted to go inside for awhile. Thank goodness they did; I didn't want to tell them why I was so nervous about playing near the edge of the Wreing Florenn. We went upstairs to my room and finished a puzzle, then we played with my Capebird feather. I let it drift down onto the completed puzzle and watched in awe as it blended in with the scene of fairies dancing on a frozen pond. After that, we took turns hiding it in my room. I had a hard time finding it until Scede gave me a few clues. Gieaun found it right away when it was my turn to do the hiding. "What else was in the box?" Scede asked after we grew bored of our game. I thought about it for a bit, but couldn't remember everything, "A glowing crystal, some glass marbles, not nearly as much as when Master Cohrbin first showed us." I sighed. We all knew that his original treasure box was still missing. "Did you notice that Ellysian was gone most of our lunch break the day you answered the riddles?" Scede asked quietly, as if he expected Nida or Pada to barge in on us at any moment. I shook my head and Gieaun shrugged. "Do you think she went to the end of the trail behind the schoolhouse again?" Gieaun asked. Scede nodded somberly, "I bet she has the box hidden there somewhere." he insisted. I blinked and swallowed. Suddenly the dream with the hooded stranger returned to me, but I couldn't tell them about that. I had never told anyone about my strange dreams with the man in the green cloak. "I think we should try looking again." I offered, "When she isn't expecting it." Scede agreed, and although Gieaun thought it a bad idea, as usual, she eventually conceded. This week, we are going to find out what that girl is really up to. -Jahrra

Early Rain

Dear Journal, Today it rained, the first storm of the season. It's a bit early for rain, but I don't care; I don't go to school on stormy days, it's too far to travel. Instead I helped Pada collect apples during breaks in the weather and I helped Nida hang herbs in the kitchen. After lunch, I sat up on the counter and watched the rain drops run down the window glass. This is my favorite game on rainy days. The drops race each other down the face of the window, changing the colors of the dreary world outside. I imagined I saw fairies in the orchard, darting around and avoiding the blustery gusts of wind. I laughed when one got blown right in to another, causing quite an argument afterwards. But something soon frightened them away, something that appeared on the edge of the apple trees nearest the Wreing Florenn. I sat up immediately and squinted (oh, how I wish the rain drops didn't blur the view!). Whatever had frightened away my imaginary nymphs felt as real as the chill wind clawing at the back door. I shivered and felt the hairs stand up on my neck when the dark shape shifted and disappeared behind the distorted shape of a eucalyptus tree. I told myself it was all in my imagination: the trees of the Wreing Florenn were several yards away and it was certain I was seeing things. But the strange tingly feeling that prickled my skin refused to go away. I spent the rest of the day next to the fireplace with Nida and Pada close by. -Jahrra

The Capebird Feather

Dear Journal, Master Cohrbin had become so accustomed to us not having an answer to his riddles that he had stopped asking us for answers weeks ago. That is why I had to raise my hand at the beginning of class yesterday. He called on me, looking slightly puzzled because he hadn't even started the lesson yet. I told him I thought I had the answer to his riddles (I was a little nervous) and he brightened up a little (I think he had lost hope in us). "Wonderful, let's here it then." he said cheerily. I swallowed hard and said as loudly as I could, "The four seasons. That is, the four sisters in your riddles are the four seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter." I couldn't look up, and the class remained quiet and still. When I finally found the courage to lift my eyes, Master Cohrbin was grinning down at me and nodding, "Yes indeed," he said, "and like the true seasons, they visit us throughout the year. Very good Jahrra, you can come choose your prize." I gaped at him, but got up and slowly approached his desk where he had pulled out the box he had shown us once before. I blocked out the rest of the class (all the students had finally started to murmur and talk) and focussed only on the contents of the box. I peeked in and saw a variety of items: perfectly round orbs of colored glass, a glittery scale, a crystal that glowed red in the center, strange coins, a pouch of strong-smelling herbs, and of course, the vial containing the ponyfly cocoon. I passed that up (it had only caused me trouble in the past) and reached for the crystal. As my hand moved over it, however, I brushed something nearly invisible with my thumb. I paused and what looked like a feather slowly shimmered and appeared before my eyes. I couldn't believe it! It hadn't been there before, I swear it! But there it lay, a shimmery green and blue feather as long as my middle finger. As I admired it, it shimmered again and slowly took on the colors of the spice pouch and scale it now rested upon. I gasped and looked up at Master Cohrbin. He was smiling, "That, Jahrra, is a Capebird feather. The Capebird is a magical animal found in Felldreim and its feathers can take on the color of its surroundings. It is one of the few truly magical animals found outside of that mystical province and elves are said to sew the feathers into their cloaks and clothing. It would be a fine choice indeed, were you to choose it." That decided it. I gently picked the feather up, only the faintest outline showing to give away its presence, and placed it in my palm. It had turned its natural colors again, but after sitting in my palm for a while, it became nearly invisible once again, its colors matching my own. I took it back to my desk and placed it far in the back of my drawer. I made a note to bring it home after school today, for I did not want Eydeth or Ellysian to get there hands on my prize. -Jahrra

Riddles Solved!

Dear Journal, I finally figured out what the riddles mean! I know I haven't written in a while, but I've been so busy with school and helping Nida and Pada with the harvest that I've been too tired to write to you. But I couldn't ignore you any longer, for I've such exciting news! Last weekend I went to see Master Hroombra, as usual, and I sat in front of the great fireplace reading the four riddles over and over again. I got frustrated and slammed you shut. I gazed up at the wall in frustration and let my mind wander. I allowed the creatures and beings carved around the frame of the fireplace distract me. Mystical creatures and girls in dresses dancing around with garlands and streamers. There were four girls, I noticed, and each of them carried a different garland. I looked more closely and then it hit me like the mighty beat of dragon's wings. How did I not figure it out before! One girl had a wreath of holly, one of flowers. One carried wheat and corn, the other fruit and berries. The seasons! The four Sisters were the four seasons! And it had been in front of me all along! I must have made a noise, because Master Hroombra looked up from his reading in surprise. I told him what I thought the answer was, and he simply smiled in his slow, comforting way. For once in my life, I can't wait to go to school tomorrow . . . -Jahrra