Cornelius slipped between the folds of the tent, and Watt’s hand fell to his side. Cornelius was fully dressed, sweat dampening his brow and gear upon his back. He gripped his cane in one hand and adjusted his glasses with the other. They stared at each other, steady gazes barely illuminated by the dim lantern beside Watt’s cot.

“I’m coming with you,” Cornelius whispered, barely there but firm all the same.

“You don’t have to,” Watt said, and tried very hard to mean it. “They’re doing good work here, real work. I can go on alone.”

Cornelius closed the distance between them, slow enough to give Watt time to back away. He did not.

✍️🏳️‍⚧️🧭

This week’s WIP Wednesday harkens back to the Tumblr post, and subsequently the book, that started it all. I was forwarded this post by a friend who thought it was right up my alley, and she was right.

It inspired thoughts of an adventure story with queer characters falling in love, and the story was originally set in a fantasy world. But as time went on, I realized I wanted it to be historical fiction, and eventually historical fabulism. And now the book is closer to done than not, and the cover is finished. In a little over six months, The Voice of Wild Places will be ready for the world.

Are you ready for it?

The book referenced by the Tumblr post is The Rivers Ran East by Leonard Clark.