Thursday, April 2, 2026

B is for Briar

Long ago, our scribbler wrote a fragment of ff fairy tale; mingling Snow White and Sleeping Beauty with a dash of Cinderella; the blithe warning of Revolutionary Girl Utena in all its ritualized sexism ringing in her head: “Princesses not rescued by princes are doomed to become witches.”

What if Cinderella was a witch, Snow White’s beautiful and wicked stepmother, and my witch? What if Snow White, once Fairest of Them All was doomed to stalk Sleeping Beauty, becoming her witch?

This idea became a story and a submission which was rejected. This story bloomed into a novella called Fairest. Fairest was accepted, published, and the scribbler never saw a penny for it. She was forced to ask for the rights back.

Revised and expanded, Fairest found a new home in Once Upon a Rainbow, but that publication was of a limited time.

Revised and expanded into a novel, my Rose was able to save others besides me in the new version of Fairest, which is available now.

And me? I was a witch in every version, once upon a time a wronged and cursed princess, until I found my found. Briar was able to bloom from my former self’s ghost, offering me rebirth.

What do I mean by that? Read my story and find out…

Nine Star Press: https://ninestarpress.com/product/fairest/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fairest-K-S-Trenten-ebook/dp/B0CNSL28YR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=26Q4LNG7UIVW2&keywords=Fairest+by+K.S.Trenten&qid=1701720288&s=books&sprefix=fairest+by+k.s.trenten,stripbooks,143&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fairest-ks-trenten/1123806892?ean=2940179155874

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/fairest-19

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1483368

Apple Book: https://books.apple.com/us/book/fairest/id6472735190

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

A is for Amberwyne

Once upon a time, I was a completely different character in a Fantasy Hero roleplaying campaign, way back in the 1990s. I started becoming more me in a Changeling: The Dreaming campaign in the late 1990s as a mad sidhe childing, haunted by memories of past leanhaun ravaging. The leanhaun followed me into The Keep, an interactive writing/roleplaying project in the early 21st century; where my beloved Rhane joined me in surviving Fidessa’s depradations, along with other perils waiting in the walled city. Rhane and I got our own story, a work in progress called The Players Are the Thing. I became a character in a roleplaying game, developing self-awareness of Rhane as my player, as well as the danger all of the players were from Fidessa, villain of the roleplaying campaign. She developed self-awareness and was not amused. Casting a curse upon the Game Master’s dice, ‘Dessa was about to take her revenge, if I and the other characters didn’t save our players. Does this sound interesting? Do let the scribbler know. I’d really like for her to return to our story, please!

Monday, March 16, 2026

N is for Nevalyn

I am the serpent that devours the world. I become the world, yet I still hunger for my earthy flesh. I am a woman who dared to devour the serpent and befriend monsters. I tear down corrupt civilizations ruled by corrupt monarchs daring to call themselves good and me evil. I am the voice that whispers to all of my children, the voice they cannot resist. I am more than A Suitor’s Challenge or Trouble at Caerac Keep. I am the beating heart of Ouroborous; eternal and insatiable. I am Nevalyn. Seek me out and face me, if you dare.

M is for Melyssa

I was a repressed sister of an obsolete order, worshipping a God of Balance. I was a seductive enchantress, drinking deep of my lovers’s creative energy.

Aspects of me remain of those previous incarnations, but I am neither. I became the daughter of Duessa Ashelocke, a deviant arachnocrat, whose passions had no place in my mother’s Gardens. I hungered for more than its blossoms. My hunger led me to Seraphix.

What do I mean? See what tales bubble up at inspirationcauldron.wordpress.com and find out.

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Hello, Formerly Forbidden Cauldron

Hello, Formerly Forbidden Cauldron. It’s been a year since I stopped by.

Why so long? The print is smaller here and formatting is a lot more work. It’s much easier to blog over at the Cauldron of Eternal Inspiration at inspirationcauldron.wordpress.com.

I’m back, for the same reason I returned last year; Blogging From AZ April Project. The theme this year is Character Origins. Yes, I’ve done this theme before. I need to remind myself of what I’ve accomplished, what I have yet to accomplish by blogging here as well as at the Cauldron of Eternal Inspiration at inspirationcauldron.wordpress.com.

I’m getting old. I’m moving out of my early 50s to my mid-50s. I’m appalled at how little I’ve done, yet I’ve accomplished a lot.

Time to remind myself of all that. Time to spring forward.

See you in April.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Z is for Zenobia

Serena Jasior may be Imperatrix, but we provided the chains for her empire, along with the ones she used to bind the Serpent. We are the Empress of Kalanthia. If Kalanthia hadn’t taught Serena how to tame her Serpent-Born pets, she wouldn’t have them. She should have been more willing to share. We offered her an alliance. There’s only so long she can ignore our offers. Otherwise we shall take what rightfully belongs to Kalanthia. We are the cradle of civilization, on which all other civilizations in Ouroborous are based. Serena and her fragile empire will learn to respect that and bend knee to us, or we’ll show her what we can do.

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Y is for Ylynessa

Trapped in darkness for so long, darkness became my home and mother. Monsters became my family. I learned to hide this, to adopt a simpering human mask. Other humans see and judge the mask, underestimating me. All the while, I watch and learn, how to manipulate other’s fears, aiming them at flashy targets, distracting them from my family. For I do protect my own. I will deal with all and any threats to them, no matter how little my loved ones appreciate it.