Today I’m featuring one of my own characters. Lurveska appears in “Hag,” one of the short stories in my recently released collection, Aunt Anne’s Archive.
“Well, this is a surprise.” The hag Lurveska stood poised on a hummock above the Dolarus Swamp. Muddy water dripped from her loose skirt of water weeds. Just before her was a ruined arch, part of a wall half sunk in the mire. Shifting currents and swamp creatures had spread the alarm of an incursion. Lurveska rushed to the scene, expecting to confront human invaders.
Instead, she peered into a palace filled with an array of fantastic creatures. Some were beautiful, in dazzling robes. Others were twisted spirits, like Lurveska herself. Yet none were so vile as the demons she kept watch over in the drowning Dolarus Swamp. Magic rippled and flowed here. There was music and dancing, and across from her a fairy woman sat on a glittering throne.
This was no invasion. It was an invitation for Lurveska. A respite from her desolate home and the grim watch she kept there. The magnificent fairy queen smiled in welcome as Lurveska strode out to take her place among the throng.
Character Questions
Are you a prodigy or an ordinary person? I was born as a human, but I had physical deformities. My family abandoned me in the Dolarus Swamp. A Hag found me, and through a series of rituals I was transformed into one of them. With our shape-shifting and other powers, you could say I am now a prodigy compared to humans.
Where do you live — city, country, somewhere else? If you could leave, would you? I am a hag of the Dolarus Swamp. Beneath its enchanted waters, hideous demons are imprisoned. I guard the swamp’s borders against foolish people who are seduced by rumors of buried wealth. So, it would not be possible for me to leave — unless I decide that the world deserves to be plundered by the evil Dolari.
Author Questions
How do you choose your next project? I keep my eyes and ears open. Things happen in the world that I want to respond to, or people are talking about something interesting. When I spot a likely idea, I hunt it down and take it hostage until it gives up a story!
How do you publicize your work? Like a lot of writers, I’m not my own best advocate. I’m active in a few places online, and I try to be visible locally, but it often seems futile. My best assets have been to keep my blog going on a regular basis, and keep writing great stories.
Aunt Anne’s Archive
Behind the velvet curtain, beyond the secret door, lies a lost archive of literary enchantments. From the creepy to the cozy, the mysterious and the magical, the witty and the wondrous, each tale casts its own rare spell. Welcome to Aunt Anne’s Archive.
This is a collection of fantasy short stories by Deby Fredericks. They have a variety of styles. Many are cozy and humorous, but others are swords and sorcery with darker subject matter.
Buy it from Amazon or Books2Read.
Deby Fredericks
Deby Fredericks has been a writer all her life, but thought of it as just a fun hobby until the late Nineties. Since then she has published twenty fantasy novels, novellas and novelettes, either with small presses or independently. Her short fiction has appeared in Andromeda Spaceways, selected anthologies, and small magazines.
Since 2018, her significant work has been the Minstrels of Skaythe series, about a group of pacifist mages who seek hope in a world ruled by darkness.
In addition, Fredericks writes for children as Lucy D. Ford. Her children’s stories and poems have appeared in magazines such as Boys’ Life, Babybug, Ladybug, and Spider. In the past, she served as Regional Advisor for the Inland Northwest Region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, International (SCBWI).
But wait, there’s more! Fredericks has been involved with science fiction fandom in Eastern Washington since the early Eighties. She worked on the convention committees of Spokon, InCon, WesterCon 49 and SpoCon. In addition to her leadership of Telgar Weyr (Pern fandom), she was involved with Star Trek and Elfquest fan groups, and a few independent comic projects. Fredericks was the Fan Guest of Honor at RadCon 1, RustyCon 21, Author Guest of Honor at RadCon 9, and has been a frequent panelists at Inland Northwest conventions. Learn more from her web site, www.debyfredericks.com
Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.
I’m interested to note that the biggest job your Hag has is to protect humans from their own greed… at least, from their greed for swamp-demon gold.
Seems like a good solid villain, greed!
This actually was a funny story. Someone on Twitter asked what fantasy trope you would want to write in a way that hasn’t been done to death. And I said “a witch who everyone knows is evil, but actually she’s protecting them from something terrible.” It took a few months, but I did end up writing something a lot like that in “hag.”
Heh. I love doing stuff they say you shouldn’t do <g>
Sort of like Malificent
It’s a great idea to run one of your own during a month like this. Sounds like a great character.
I bought Aunt Anne’s Archive and I really look forward to reading it! I intend to start looking it over soon. But I’ve been busy dealing with a book proposal, finishing a highly researched article, and setting up an event this weekend that I’m supposed to be helping with now. So gotta go!
Glad to know have a new book on the way, too.
[…] going! You should visit! Yesterday’s installment even featured one of my stories, “Hag” from the collection Aunt Anne’s Archive. It’s a different look at my character, so I […]