Once upon a time, I was part of a study of the book of Revelation. Revelation is not at the top of my list of favorite books of scripture, but I do find it’s fantastical imagery evocative. I will never fully understand all of what Revelation is trying to communicate, as there are many images, references and analogies whose meanings have been lost through the centuries. One in particular has always captured me and continues to remain a mystery:
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives.”
Revelation 2:17
Why a white stone? Why give anyone a new name? Why keep the name secret? I don’t know what was in the prophet’s mind when he wrote these words, but the words lived inside me, stirring up ideas.
I began writing The White Stone with nothing more in mind than the last sentence of the verse from Revelation. I knew I wanted to write about women who hold secrets, and I allowed the story to take shape around that idea. In a setting that blends ancient and future, it tells the story of a selective cult, a desperate society, and a mystery that lives among them, while asking us to consider what we think about belief, doubt, knowledge and power.
The second story in the series is The Tree of Life. I am working on other stories in this setting that will be published in one volume summer 2024.
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The White Stone: Chapter 1
(Find a description of the project here.) Edda opened her eyes as the morning light streamed through the split in the curtains. She felt Hrothgar’s breathing on the back of her neck. He was pressed against her, clutching her around the ribs. She hadn’t intended to let him fall asleep here. Sitting up, she threw
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The White Stone: Chapter 2
(Find the previous chapter and a description of the project here.) Edda returned to her house, pulsing with power. Hrothgar was not waiting for her, and disappointment settled in her chest as she shrugged off her cloak, hanging it on the peg near the door. Her eyes were drawn to the table, on which
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The White Stone: Chapter 3
(Find previous chapters and description of the project here.) Back in her house, Edda knew the tame magic wasn’t working as soon as she picked up the brick. Fix it…Fix the power…To the Waters…Go! Fix it. The spirits’ instructions churned inside her mind. She laid the brick on the small table, tuning out the
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The White Stone: Chapter 4
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) Freya drove the ram for most of the day, moving slowly through the accumulating snow along the decrepit roadway. Out the window of the ram, Edda watched the river gliding, and the trees swaying. The spirits talked over one another. She tuned them out.
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The White Stone: Chapter 5
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) The forest was dark, but it didn’t hinder her. Edda knew the way. She was impervious to the cold. The warmth of the wild magic swirled in her limbs, propelled her onward through the darkness. She crashed through the woods, snapping twigs and rustling
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The White Stone: Chapter 6
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) Edda sat at her table, looking at the stone with her true name. It held power, but it was a power she no longer wanted. Yet, power was a tricky thing. The thought of giving it up gave her pause. She plotted how to
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The White Stone: Chapter 7
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) When Hrothgar was gone, Edda donned her cloak and followed the pull of Freya’s anger, unable to resist how it called her. She met Helga on the way, and the two walked in solemn silence. On the outskirts of the woods, they found Ama.
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The White Stone On Kickstarter
The White Stone, a short story I published on The Quick and the Dead in 2022 has been lengthened into a novel, and is now live on Kickstarter. The campaign runs until October 31 at 6 pm EDT. If you enjoyed reading The White Stone and the companion stories published on this blog, I encourage
The Quick and the Dead 