A conversation about the writing journey of Penna and Silbrith.
Current projects: Penna is writing a Caffrey Conversation story.
Silbrith is writing a Six-Crossed Knot story.

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Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Six-Crossed Knot: Backdrop to Unpathed Waters

Unpathed Waters is the fifth story in Six-Crossed Knot, a series based on the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. The story is set in the early summer of 1591. Diana and Matthew will soon return to the 21st century, leaving their Elizabethan friends behind. During my previous fic, Shadow's Dream, Diana and Matthew alluded to their upcoming departure. Now it's only a week away.

The title of this story is taken from Shakespeare. In The Winter's Tale, Camillo advises Florizel to follow his plan rather than dedicate himself to unpathed waters and undreamed shores. Diana may have thought of the quote during her attempts to ensure Jack's future.

Making their first appearance in Six-Crossed Knot are several new characters. Corra, a firedrake, is Diana's familiar. Only witches who are weavers possess familiars. A weaver in the world of All Souls is a special type of witch who can see the fabric of magic that underlies the world. Only weavers are able to create new spells. Diana's father Stephen was also a weaver. His familiar was a heron. Corra resembles a dragon but has two legs. She has a lively personality and plays an important role in the third novel, A Book of Life.

Susanna Norman and Goody Alsop of the St. James Garlickhythe gathering also are featured in this story. In Elizabethan England, covens were called gatherings. This gathering takes its name from the parish of St. James Garlickhythe where Susanna and Goody live. Goody Alsop is a weaver like Diana. The octogenarian is physically frail but her magic is formidable. She's been teaching Diana how to create spells. Susanna Norman is a skilled midwife in addition to being a witch. She has two sons, Jeffrey (age 12) and John (age 8), both of whom are also witches.

In Unpathed Waters, Andrew Hubbard steps onto the Six-Crossed Knot stage for the first time. He is a vampire who was reborn in the 1300s and now rules over a square mile of inner London. Readers of All Souls Trilogy know that he has a key role to play.




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