How to Publish a Book

I found this info on wiki.how, and thought that it was really helpful.

http://www.wikihow.com/Publish-a-Book

1. Know whether you should prepare a manuscript or a proposal. Fiction writers should prepare a full-length manuscript, while non-fiction writers will have to write a solid book proposal instead. Knowing what you need to have written will save you time and will make you look more professional when you send your work out into the world.
   
   
   • Many fiction writers try to publish their books before they have completed a manuscript — to no avail. If you are a seasoned writer working with a literary agent, then just a few chapters or even a proposal can get you a contract, but for most people starting out in the fiction business, the book should be 100% done before they move forward to the publication stage.
   • If you're writing non-fiction, then you need to have a completed book proposal first. If you are writing a fitness book or a cookbook, then you should focus on the proposal. If you're working on more literary non-fiction, then you should work on more sample chapters or even a completed manuscript, in some cases.
   • If you have determined that you only need a proposal for the type of nonfiction you are writing, then skip to step 6 and decide whether you want to hire a literary agent or go directly to the publishing house.
   • If you are writing an academic textbook, then skip to the last section and learn how to publish your book by contacting a publisher directly.
2. 2
   Revise your book. Revising your book can be even trickier than finishing it. Once you've written a solid draft of your book, whether it's a historical novel or a thriller, you'll need to revise it so it's in the best shape possible before you take it to an agent or publishing house. Here are some things to do as you revise your book:
   
   
   • Make sure your book is as engaging as possible. Though not every book is a spy novel or a page turner, make sure your readers are hooked from the beginning, and that they always have a reason to keep turning those pages.
   • Get rid of any wordiness or excess. Many agents say that they rarely accept a debut novelist's book if it's over 100,000 words.
   • Make sure you get your point across. Whether you're writing a romance novel or science fiction, you should have reached your objective and communicated your message by the end of the book.
   • Make sure your thoughts are as clear as possible. Your ideas may be crystal clear to you, but would they confuse your average reader? Of course, your book may be targeted toward a certain audience, but members of that audience (such as college students or nurses) should be able to clearly follow your thoughts.
3. 3
   Get feedback on your book. Once you think you're really done, it's important to get some feedback on your book to know if it's ready for publication. You may feel that it's absolutely perfect, but there is almost always room for improvement. It's better to get feedback from a fellow writer or trusted professional than to get rejected by an agent or publisher. If you ask for feedback too early in the drafting process, you may feel stifled, so make sure your book feels really ready before you ask for help. Here are some ways to get feedback on your book:
   
   
   • Ask a fellow writer. A friend who knows how to write will have some insight into what works and what does not work in a book.
   • Ask a voracious reader. Someone who reads a lot will be able to tell you if your book was a page turner, or if she was asleep after the first chapter.
   • Ask someone who knows your subject. If you're writing non-fiction about something in a field such as business, science, or cooking, ask someone who is an expert in this field to see if you really know your stuff.
   • Submit your stuff to a writing workshop. Whether you have an informal writer's workshop with friends in your area or you're attending a writing conference, submitting a chapter of your work to a workshop can give you insight into a variety of perspectives at once.
   • If you're in an M.A. or M.F.A. program in creative writing, you will have lots of resources for feedback, whether it's your classmates or faculty.
   • Find a reputable editor and ask for a manuscript evaluation. This can be very expensive, but asking the right person can help you see if your book is ready.
   • Remember to take your feedback with a grain of salt. Not everyone will fall in love with your book, and that's okay. It's important to get constructive feedback from people you trust, but recognize that you won't benefit from every opinion. Getting good feedback means knowing who to ask.
4. 4
   Revise your book further if it's necessary. Revise your book based on the feedback you received. You won't regret it. Take some time to absorb the feedback you received, and then get to work.
   
   
   • Though your revision should take you in the right direction, you should ask for more feedback to make sure you made the draft stronger.
   • When you've revised your manuscript again, put it away for a few weeks or even a month. Then take it out and read it with fresh eyes to see if it's in the best possible shape.
   • Last, copy edit your book. Once all of the larger points are taken care of, make sure your manuscript is free of grammatical and punctuation errors. These errors will make your work look unprofessional and will keep your readers from appreciating your hard work.
5. 5
   Prepare your manuscript. Once you feel that your manuscript is completely ready, you'll have to format it so it meets the requirements of the agents or publishers you are seeking. There are a few rules of thumb you can follow, but you should also check the websites of the publishers or the agents' guidelines to ensure that your manuscript meets their standards. Here are a few things you can do:
   
   
   
   • Always double-space your manuscript.
   • Have one-inch margins on the left and right-hand sides of the manuscript.
   • No fancy fonts. Times New Roman is the best font to use. Courier, or the font that looks like a typewriter, used to be more prominent, but TNR will do just fine.
   • Number your pages. Number the pages of your manuscript on the top right-hand side, along with your last name and title before the page number.
     • Ex: "Smith/WHITE SKY/1"
   • Have a cover page. The cover page should include the following:
     
     
     
     • Your name, email address, phone number, and address should appear on the left hand side of the page.
     • The title of your novel should be capitalized and centered on the page, along with your last name. Example: "WHITE SKY" on one line and "a novel by John Smith" written directly below it.
     • Your word count should be centered on the bottom of the page. You can round to the nearest 5,000 words. You can write, "about 75,000" words.
6. 6
   Decide whether you want to enlist the help of a literary agent or to go straight to the publisher. Though signing with a literary agent is incredibly challenging, contacting a publishing house directly to try to publish your book is even tougher.
   
   
   • The benefit of working directly with a publisher is that you have to use (or pay) an agent as a middle man. The drawback is that the publishing houses trust the agents to screen the submissions, so if you don't have an agent, they will be less likely to consider you.
   • You can also try literary agents first and go to the publisher if it doesn't work out. However, if your work is rejected by many literary agents, it's even more likely to be rejected by the publishers.

Method One: Publishing Your Book with the Help of a Literary Agent

1. 1
   Research the market. Once you're ready to take your book to agents, you need to research the market to find your niche. Find books in your field or genre to see where you fit in, and see how well these books are selling and who are big names in your field. If your book doesn't neatly fit in one genre, research multiple types of books that your book may be like.
   
   
   • Once you've researched the market, you should be able to find a way to neatly describe your book. Is it science fiction, literary, or historical? Is it a science fiction and a historical novel? Is it literary, or more of a young adult novel? Knowing what kind of book you have will help you contact the right agent.
2. 2
   Research literary agents. Now that you know what type of agent you're working with, it's time for you to find the perfect agent to represent you. The ideal agent will connect with your material, will be enthusiastic about your work, and will work with you to revise your book and sell it to a publisher. Make sure your agent sells books in your genre, or contacting that agent will be a waste of time. Here is how to find a good agent for you:
   
   
   • Read a reputable guide to Literary Agents.^[1]This book will tell you more about thousands of literary agents and will also say which genres they specialize in, how many new clients they take on each year, and how many recent sales they have made.
   • Check out Publisher's Marketplace. Though you'll have to pay $25 a month for full access to the site, you will gain insight into which agents made recent sales, what type of books they sold, and who is selling the most books.^[2]
   • Check out Query Tracker. This site will help you see which agents respond to queries quickly, and which rarely respond or take months to respond. The statistics on this site are reported by other writers, so the data set isn't complete, but it can give you a good indication of how receptive some agents can be. The site can also tell you which agents specialize in what genres.^[3]
   • Check out the websites of different agents. When you find an agent who sounds like a good fit, check out his or her website to get more information about submission policies and what genres and clients they represent.
   • Make sure the agent is accepting unsolicited submissions. Unless you have a connection, you'll have to submit to the agent this way.
   • Watch out for con-artists posting as agents. No reputable agent will ever ask for a reading fee to see your manuscript. The agent will only make money if he can sell your book. Check out Preditors & Editors to make sure the agent has a good rating.^[4]
3. 3
   Write a query letter. Once you've found your dream agent — or better yet, a handful of dream agents — it's time to prepare your query letter. Your query letter is your chance to introduce yourself to the agent, to get the agent hooked on your book, and to provide a very brief synopsis of the book. It can take a while to hear back from agents, so contact a few at a time (as long as they allow simultaneous submissions) and sit back and wait. The query letter should follow the following format: ^[5]
   
   
   
   • Paragraph one: an introduction of your book and your interest in the agent. Here is what should go in the first paragraph:
     • Start off with one or two sentences that gives the agent a "blurb" of what your book is about. It should be specific, original, and gripping.
     • Then, tell the agent what genre your book falls under, whether it's multi-cultural, young adult, or historical. It can fall into a number of categories. You should mention the word count in the first paragraph as well.
     • Tell the agent why you've chosen her. Does she represent a lot of books in your genre, or does she represent a few authors whose work is similar to yours? Do you have a personal connection to the agent? If so, mention it right away.
   • Paragraph two: a synopsis of your book. Here is what should go in the synopsis:
     • Describe what happens in your book and what themes are highlighted. Make the description as accurate and gripping as possible.
     • Show who the main characters are, what the stakes are, and why the book is important.
     • You can do this in one or two paragraphs at most.
   • Paragraph three: some brief information about yourself. Tell the agent if you've won any awards and how the book personally connects to your life.
   • Paragraph four: tell the agent that the full manuscript or sample chapters (if you're writing non-fiction) are available upon request and give your contact information. Thank the agent for taking the time to consider your work.
   • Follow directions carefully. If the agent also asks for an outline or sample chapters, send those along too.
4. 4
   If you get an offer with an agent, sign a contract — if it feels right. If the agent liked your query letter, he or she will ask you to send along some sample chapters or even the whole manuscript. If the agent falls in love with your work after that, you will receive what you've been dreaming about: an offer of representation! But before you sign with the agent, you have to make sure he really is the dream agent you've been seeking.
   
   
   • Talk to the agent over the phone. If you can, meet with the agent in person. If you live near Manhattan, this will be easier, since many literary agents are based in New York City. Get a sense of this person's character and how enthusiastic he is about your book.
   • Trust your gut. If something is telling you the agent sounds too busy, too eager to get off the phone, or not very excited about your work, don't sign with him. It's better to continue your agent search than to put your book in the hands of the wrong person.
   • Ask if you can talk to some of the agent's clients. A good agent will be glad to give you the names of a few of his clients, so you can chat with them and get a better sense of whether or not the agent is a good fit.
   • Double-check your research. Make sure the agent has made sales and has a solid client list before you get on board.
   • Read over your contract carefully. Once you see that the contract is pretty standard, and that the agent gets around a 15% of your domestic sales and 20% of your foreign sales, and you feel good about signing with the agent, then sign your contract, put it in the mail, and celebrate a job well done.
5. 5
   Revise with the agent. Even if your agent is bowled over by your book, you will almost always have to revise the book once, twice, or even three times before it's ready to go to the market. You'll have to do things like trim down the word count, make your narrator more likable, and address any questions your agent may have.
   
   
   • Remember that the book is still yours and that you don't have to change it completely to suit the needs of the agent. Only make changes that you're comfortable with.
6. 6
   Take your book to the market. Once your agent is happy with your manuscript, and you have prepared a package for the book, she will take it to the publishers. This is the most nerve-wracking part because your book's fate will be out of your hands. Your agent will pitch your book to a list of trusted editors at various publishers, and if you're lucky, you'll end up with a deal with an editor at a publishing house!
   
   
   • Sign the contract that includes you, your agent, and the publishing house.
7. 7
   Work with an editor. Now that your book has been sold, you'll sign with a publishing house and will continue to work to revise the book with an editor there. You'll work until the writing is exactly where it should be, and then other aspects of publishing will be decided, such as when and how the book will be released, and what the cover will look like.
   
   
   • But you can't just sit tight and wait for the publication date. There is more work to be done!
8. 8
   Market your book. Once the fact that your book will be published has sunk in, you'll need to work your butt off to market your book, whether it's through your publicist, your website, Facebook, informal readings, and word of mouth. Do what you have to do to get the word out there so your sales are high when the book does come out.
   
   
   • Don't ever stop advertising for your book — especially not after it is published. You can bask in your glory for a little while, but remember that promoting your book is just as important as writing it!

Method Two: Publishing Your Book by Contacting the Publisher Directly

1. 1
   Research publishers. Check out the websites of different publishing houses to see if they accept query letters or if they only accept solicitations from agents. Many publishing houses only accept work that has been brought to them through an agent.
   
   
   • Find publishers that not only accept unagented submissions, but which specialize in the type of book you are writing.
2. 2
   Write a query letter to the right publishers. The method for writing a query letter for a publishing house is the same as it is for contacting an agent. You'll have to introduce your book as well as yourself and to provide a brief synopsis of the work.
   
   
   • If the publishing house is impressed by your letter, you will be asked to send along part of or all of the manuscript.
3. 3
   If your book is accepted, sign with a reputable publishing house. If the publishing house is impressed by your work, you will be given an offer. Look at your contract carefully and sign it if it meets your demands.
   
   
4. 4
   Revise with an editor. Work with an editor to revise your book until it is ready for publication.
   
   
5. 5
   Market your book. While you're waiting for the book to be released, market the book to everyone you know — and people you don't know. Once your book is published, you will have to continue to advertise for your book. You can enjoy your publication, but remember that marketing should never stop.
   
   
   • Promote your book through blogging, interviewing, and reading from your book.

Fable Writing Contest

If any of you are interested in writing here is a contest that you can enter. Forty of the contesters will get their fables published as an Ebook.  

Fable Writing Contest for students. Deadline to enter10/18/13. Prizes for all ages, and winners will be published in an ebook. Proceeds from the ebook will go to purchase school supplies for students in Moore, OK. To learn how to write a fable visit injoyinc.com and like them on facebook.

Seven Years for Brothers Lost chapters 1-2

Chapter One- Of Death and Hunts 

The baby cried, newborn. The king cried, a lost man. The queen was dead. 

"Queen Diona Maureen was a loving mother, and a faithful wife to our king," the noble droned at the funeral, "Even in death, she provided the country with it's only princess, a treasured prize. Before death, she gave the kingdom six healthy sons: Crown Prince Rey, Prince Devlin, Prince Kance, Prince Scott, Prince Michael, and lastly, Prince Cedric. She supported our king, Gregoire. She will be mourned, and loved, as long as her memory remains with us."   

They buried her in a box carved with dew-flowers and suns-- for her majesty had always loved the sunshine, and the tiny, rare flowers had been her favorite.  

Turning from the grave, the king took the little princess from the arms of the nurse standing near. Lovingly, he held her close. The baby smiled, and clutched at the velvet, embroidered doublet, feeling the textures. "Maureen," King Gregoire whispered, "You'll be my little Mai." 

And thus the princess was named.  

After the funeral, her nurses took Mai to her chambers where she fell into baby dreamland. She had barely gotten there when her two-year old twin brothers burst into the room, upsetting her. As her nurses calmed her, the boys' caretakers apologized and struggled to catch the active toddlers. All the commotion drew the attention of Kance. Swinging his toy sword and dodging things with natural skill, he started running after Cedric and Michael with the other men. Scott slipped in just then, and looked with concern in his young, four-year old eyes at crying Mai.  

"Is baby okay?" he asked the nurse.  

She smiled sadly, "Of course, your highness. She's just a little nervous and tired." 

Scott nodded seriously, and pointed at the twins and Kance, "They are too noisy."  

Barely entering, Devlin heard that last comment. He went straight over to five year old Kance, and yelled, "Quiet! The baby wants to sleep!" 

"Be quiet, Devlin," Rey came in, sized up the situation in his mature, eight-year old mind, and took Mai from the nurse, bouncing her in his strong arms, and grinning. She quieted, and her brothers all gathered round, all smiling at each other.  

The nurses and male caretakers looked sadly at the motherless children. Seven-year old Devlin's world had obviously been shaken, but the younger ones seemed carefree; not understanding the gap that had entered their innocent hearts. 

As Mai got older, Rey became her confidant. She would run to him and tell him when  Kance teased her, talk to him about the new flower she'd found, laugh whenever he tickled her, and when he didn't. Mai loved the feeling of laughter, and so had her mother. 'Laughter,' her mother had said, 'was the air that could lift the heaviest things.' Her father had been the one who told Mai about that, and it made Mai smile, and lay her head on his shoulder. She loved her father, and he loved her. He never made her feel responsible for her mother's death. In fact, he would often tell her how glad he was that she was born, for she looked very much like her mother. "Especially your eyes," he'd say, gazing down at the shining blues, looking confidently up at him, "They smile at me just as hers did."  

One morning, Michael bounced into her room before the dawn light had shone in it. "C'mon, Mai," he tried to whisper, "It's your birthday!" Rubbing her eyes, Mai sat up, her five-year-old brain still in dreamland. "What?"  

"It's time to go! Father said to come wake you up, and to tell you to hurry, before your nurses wake up."   

"Oh, my birthday!" Excitedly, Mai jumped out of bed, and ran over to her wardrobe to get her dress. Michael came over, too.   

"Get that one," he pointed to her favorite-- a simple, sky-blue one, embroidered with dew-flowers and with a white band; perfect for the occasion. After Michael left to wake the others, Mai got dressed, and left, grabbing a ribbon for her hair. 

In her bare feet she walked down the stone halls, lighted by lamps and the first peeps of day. she didn't see anyone until she reached the corridor which had her brothers' rooms. She tried not to laugh as she heard them strugglingto get ready without waking the servants.  

She walked up to Rey's room, and tapped on the door. Opening it, he looked down at her and smiled.  

"Can you help me tie my bows?" she asked, holding up the item in question with her little hand. 

"Sure," he said, and turned her around to tie the back band, and then tied up her hair with the ribbon. "There you go," he turned her again, and smiled at her face. "Now you'd better go down to the side door, Father will be waiting." 

Almost skipping with happiness, Mai hurried off. She heard someone behind her, and turned. Cedric was behind her with Scott.  

"Hi, Mai," Cedric whispered happily, "Happy Birthday!"  

"Thanks," she grinned at him.  

"Cute dress, Mai," Scott said, "the flowers are ap-prop-riate." 

"App-- what?" Mai said, scrunching up her face. Even though he was only nine, Scott had read lots, and used big words.  

"They're perfect." 

"Oh, yeah," smiling, they all walked through the castle without any more words.  

Rey had been right; at the side door King Gregoire was waiting with two baskets-- one full, one empty. He put them down and scooped her up into his arms. 

"How are you, birthday girl?"  

"Happy, Father," Mai squealed. "Is lunch in the basket?" 

"Yep, and something else." 

"What! What is it?" 

He put her down, and tapped her nose, "I can't tell you, it's a surprise." 

"I  know what it is," Cedric said.  

Scott frowned, "Shhh, you can't tell." 

"I wasn't going to," an indignant Cedric responded, "I just told her I knew." 

By this time, other brothers were trickling in.  

Devlin came, well-dressed as always, and shook his father's hand. When he turned eleven last year, he'd told Gregoire that he was too old to be hugged anymore, and from then on they'd shaken hands.  

Striding in with a bounce, theyounger Kance walked up to the king and gave him a hug, reaching down at the same time and pinching Mai.  

"Ouch!" she said.  

"It's the birthday pinch, Mai," he winked, "You can't go without it, or you'll have bad luck." 

"What about the birthday tickle?" Rey had come up behind them with Michael. He started to tickled Mai.  

"Stop that!" Giggling, Mai tried to get away. 

The king picked up the baskets, and took Cedric's hand. "Hurry, before the servants catch us," he said with a smile. 

Starting out, they were soon enveloped in the forest that surrounded the castle.  

"Where are we going first, Father?" Michael asked, coming up by his twin and the king.  

"I don't know," he said, then looked at Devlin, "Where do you think we should go, Devlin?" 

Thinking for a moment, Devlin responded, "We found the most we ever had last year, lets go to the same place." 

"Yes!" Mai exclaimed, "I love the fairy bed!"  

The king laughed, "The princess has spoken. To the 'fairy bed' we go."  

Chatting, they went along through the forest. 

"I remember a time I couldn't remember a word while I was reading to Stobbs," Kance was saying. "Before he noticed, Mother leaned over and whispered it to me. When it happened again, she did it again. Stobbs never even noticed. Then at the end of my reading, he told me that it was the best I'd done." Everyone laughed at the tale. 

"She did the same thing for me, at the testing," put in Rey.  

Cedric pouted, "That's not fair. She won't be there to do it for me." 

With tears in his eyes (tears not born of laughter), the king told Cedric that he would be there. "I'll help you just as she would've." 

Brightening at the prospect, Cedric raced off laughing.  

"What else did she do?" Mai asked. The only one who couldn't remember anything about her mother, she loved hearing stories about her.  

"After we were married," choked out the king, "She insisted that we go alone to our honeymoon. No servants were allowed, it was just the two of us. She would cook, and made me fetch wood. We were very happy for that first week of marriage, and we stayed happy, right up until... until the end." the king smiled down at Mai, who was now holding his hand.  

"You kept the place a secret, didn't you, Father." Scott loved secrets. "You've never told anyone where you went."  

 Rey answered, "That's right, no one else knows." 

Just then, Michael shouted from ahead, "I found some!" 

Running forward, the whole family burst into an opening, and then stopped in their tracks. Dew-flowers were spread over the ground. Tiny blooms, hardly bigger than the head of a pin. With three delicate petals on each flower. The petals were soft colors: lavender, light blue, yellow, soft pink, orange, with a few whites among them.  

Everyone set to work, spreading out, picking ten flowers each, and placing them in the empty basket. They each bent back down, and picked another flower, which they gave to someone else with a kiss on the cheek. This was done without talk, but Mai, Cedric, and Michael would sometimes giggle.  

Then they moved on, talking happily again. They only found two other patches of flowers, but they had enough flowers.  

After they'd exchanged flowers at the second patch they sat down in the grass and got out the basket with lunch. It was a special lunch, of course; Mai's favorite cake was the main course, they had strawberries 'n' cream, and orange-flavored rolls. (This lunch was one reason they avoided the servants in the morning, they didn't want anyone altering their celebratory meal.)  

As they ate, Gregoire asked Mai about what she did each day.  

"Nurse Gerda is teaching me how to embroider," Mai said eagerly.  

The king nodded, "Oh yes, I remember her telling me about that. She says you're very talented."  

"She's teaching me how to do dew-flowers now. They're so small, she's says that they are one of the easiest things." Looking down at the threaded flowers on her dress, she chattered on, about how much she loved embroidering, how much she didn't like sewing clothes,  how Nurse Natalie sang her love songs, how she wanted to learn how to write like Cedric did, how much she loved this day. 

After everyone had eaten, they gathered together, and headed back towards the castle. This journey was silent. A few tears were shed; a few smiles were made, but they were thoughtful smiles, and never followed by a laugh. When the castle came into sight, the family turned, and angled to the back of it.  

There was a pillar, surrounded by soft earth and grass. On it was a portrait of Queen Diona, and a carving of a dew-flower. The king put forth the basket full of blossoms, and everyone came and placed ten flowers each in the soil around the queen's pillar. They each still had the three flowers that some others had given them, now they took them and as they put them in the earth whispered something to the wind. No one knew what anyone else said, whether it was a wish, a memory, or simply what was on their minds. There was no sound, but a slight breeze. Somewhere, a bird sang softly. Everyone was lost in thought, and remembrance. 

The royals were not the only thoughtful people that day. Nero, a young man working in the back rooms had been married just the day before, and was thinking about his new wife. Her beautiful blonde hair-- waving down her plain, white dress. Crowned with violets, and holding some in her hands. As Nero thought about her, he glanced out the window he was cleaning, and saw the family standing around the pillar. Devlin-- black hair neat, standing straight and proudly. In contrast, Kance's head was cocked, and his hair looked like a nest. Michael and Cedric stood side-by-side, matching white, stained tunics; matching curly brown hair. Opposite of them, and facing the castle was Scott. He was thinking deeply, his blue eyes absently examining the pillar in front of them. Rey had his arm around Scott's shoulder-- in a true, brotherly attitude. Studying Rey's face, Nero puzzled over the expression there. Since he had known the queen the longest out of the children, Rey was the most affected by her death. Tears were at the edges of his eyes, but there was also a soft smile of past joys. Finally, Nero looked to the King, as he stood with his hand on Mai's shoulder. The king's face showed his broken heart, and every once in a while he looked down at Mai, and smiled. Mai looked at the dew-flower carving on the pillar, her little eyes like sparks of innocence. The whole outside was silent.  

Quietly, Nero went back to his work. How could the king stand it? he thought. How would he himself stand it, if his Jenny were taken tomorrow? Nero shuddered at the thought, and left the room, looking over his shoulder a final time at the scene. He felt a connection just then, to the class so high above his own. Smiling, he went back to his work. 

At the pillar, the family began to move, and become aware of the real world again. They looked at each other, and smiled at each other. Michael and Cedric started to run around, chasing each other. Still holding Mai close, the king bent over and picked up the basket that still held many flowers. While he was at her height, he kissed Mai's forehead and brushed her wavy brown hair out of her face.  

"Are you going now?" she asked. 

He nodded.  

"Where are you going?" 

"It's a secret, remember?" he smiled gently at her. Then he stood up, and the boys saw that he was leaving. 

Michael ran up to him, "Can I go with you?" 

"No, you can't" Devlin bossily answered him for the king, "You know Father won't let you." 

"That's right," ruffling Michael's hair, Gregoire turned to Devlin, "Don't domineer your brothers, Devlin." 

Devlin hung his head in embarrassment, and muttered "Yes sir." 

Then he left, as he always did. The children went inside, where they were taken by their nurses and valets. In silence, they spent the rest of the day reading, playing, or sewing.  

King Gregoire was out hunting the next day, before the children were done with breakfast. That was the routine each year; one day of family, one day of hunting. His love of hunting help him in some way cope with his other lost love. 

One day, many years later, the king was out hunting again. Yesterday had been Mai's twelfth birthday, and they had had a special party for her after the flower hunt. He had missed the first part because he'd been delivering the extra flowers to their place. With this birthday, Mai would need ladies-in-waiting, no more nurses. She'd learned much about sewing and cooking from them, but now she needed to learn duties of a princess and a queen. 

The Queen. His queen. Sighing, Gregoire looked around at the four who hunted with him. At his side rode Kiers-- confident, quiet, and eager. There was a servant on a pack horse in the back, to carry the game. Conner and Farres were farther away, but still in sight.  

Just then, Conner's horn blew! Gregoire and Kiers galloped off in his direction. What did he see? As they rode, they caught glimpses of something white. "Go on, Saxon!" Kiers urged his horse. They rode into a clearing. Disappearing on the other side was a white stag.  

Gregoire almost stopped his horse in admiration as he watched the beautiful creature bound gracefully into the brush on the other side of the clearing. Instead, he drove Luna onward. Faster, and faster they flew. They soon left the other hunters behind, as they headed deeper and deeper into the forest. Noon came and went, but still Gregoire raced on Luna after the white stag. Never had this creature of legends been caught; Gregoire was driven with the desire to take it, and bring it home.  

As the sky grew darker, the stag went faster, and seemed to fade away; along with it faded the familiar landmarks and trails. Then it was gone, and there was no trace of it to be seen.  

Luna was exhausted from the chase, and as soon as Gregoire stopped kneeing her forward she stumbled into a walk. This brought Gregoire to himself, and he reigned her in and dismounted, patting her side. Slowly, cautiously, he looked around. He was deep in the woods; farther than anyplace he knew. He gave Luna a drink as he continued to examine his surroundings. There was no sign of the other hunters; there were no signs of any other human beings, for that matter, thought Gregoire. Going around Luna, he looked back at the way they'd come. Thankfully, there was a path of broken branches and trampled grass showing where he'd ridden. Turning back to Luna, he started-- she was gone! He looked as far as he could into the trees, but couldn't see a trail, he couldn’t see anything!  

He hesitated. Should he go back home, and come back for Luna later? She would probably find her way back, herself. Still uncertain, he looked at the trail they had left on the chase. He blinked. His mouth fell open. His heart pounded in a painful way.  

The trail had vanished 

Chapter 2- Of Finds and Regrets 

What was he going to do? He didn't have a horse, he didn't have a trail, he didn't even have light, for the sun had sunk behind a mountain. Resisting the urge to spin around in circles, Gregoire closed his eyes, and took several deep breaths-- trying to calm his heart. All he could think about was his children, he had  to get back to them; he just had to. He opened his eyes, and turned to where Luna had been. Putting his hands up to his crown, he threw it to the ground, and almost screamed in frustration and confusion. In front of him was a mansion; white and tall, shining in the moonlight. There were many windows, and two huge doors in front.  

Gregoire picked up his crown, put it on, and walked up to the door. Still resentful and a little tired, he examined the place for signs of what sort of witch or fairy might live there. 

"Don't bother knocking, just go in" 

Gregoire jumped, and turned his head to see who'd spoken. Suspiciously, he eyed the short, old hag that faced him.  

"There's no use just standing out here," she told him, and walked past him into the house, opening the big doors with a simple push, "You'll never find your way back until you do." 

Sighing, Gregoire followed her. The doors shut without a sound behind him. Instantly, candles flared up. Gregoire was blinded for an moment, and then looked around, still suspicious and blinking. He was in a large white room, with a ceiling that seemed higher than the roof had been. There were gorgeous pictures on the walls, and a purple carpet leading up to the fireplace at the end of the hall. The hag went up to the chairs by the fire, and seated her self on a stool. After she'd nodded towards one of the chairs, Gregoire walked down, and sat upon it. Across from him was the other chair and its occupant-- a lady. Warily watching her, he noted her calm expression, her lowered head, her luminous black hair, and her bewitching features. She glanced up at him as he stared at her, and as their eyes met, Gregoire's widened in horror. In her green gaze was malice and evil. Shuddering, Gregoire turned away and stared into the fire.  

"Are you hungry, your majesty?" the lady asked, her voice was as calm and beautiful as she was. 

"No, thank you," still not looking at her, Gregoire endeavored not to succumb to the slumber that slipped over him. 

The hag stood, and intercepted his stare, forcing him to look at her. "What do  you want?" she asked in her cackling voice. 

"I want to go home, if you please," Gregoire tried his best not to be snappy with the witch, knowing that he was in her power.  

"That can be arranged," the hag smiled, and beckoned for her daughter to stand, "Marry my daughter, and we will see you home quickly and safely." 

Revulsion almost made Gregoire crumple over, and compelled him to lean forward. "Excuse me?" 

"Marry my daughter, and we will make sure you get home to your adorable children in one piece." 

Gregoire stood, and looked to the end of the hall, where he'd entered. As he suspected, the doors were no longer there. Passing his glance over the lady, he peered distastefully at the mother. She was smiling wickedly.  

"What if I say 'no'?" he asked. 

Shrugging, the hag answered, "Absolutely nothing. You will simply be trapped here for the rest of your days, and your children will be orphans. Rey will come to the throne, ..." Gregoire jumped slightly to hear his son's name in the witch's mouth. "...Devlin will spend his days searching for you. Mai will grow into a young woman with a fear of the forest. The twins will forever be making trouble without you there to help guide them to productive paths." As she spoke, Gregoire could feel something covering him that was not of this world--something serpentine and evil. He attempted to fight it off, but his tired state was hardly fit for the task. "Kance will unwittingly insult people, and make many enemies. Scott will leave his family on news of your disappearance, and try to hide his grief with his books in the great libraries of the world."  

Gregoire did not comprehend her last words, for he was sinking to the ground gently, buoyed by the witch's magic. The lady left the room, and came back with a cup. Holding Gregoire's head on her lap, she gave him the drug. Then, lifting him in her arms, she carried him out into the carriage that appeared outside the door on the road that appeared. She waved to the driver that had materialized in the seat, and he whipped the horses which emerged out of the air. Taking a round about way, they arrived at the castle at noon the next day, with the king still unconscious.  

When the guards came out to meet the mysterious carriage, the lady was fanning Gregoire's face with her handkerchief and looking very concerned. As they took him out, she told them that she'd been riding through the forest, when she'd seen a man lying on the ground. She'd instantly had him taken to her carriage, and brought home. Naturally, after her account, she was seen as a hero, and the king's savior. The guards went home and told their families, and pretty soon the people felt that it was time for the kingdom to have a queen, and they knew who they wanted. 

Had the king been awake and himself, he would've had the lady thrown in the dungeon faster than a hummingbird's wing beat, and exposed her nature and parentage to the people. But he was not awake, and he certainly wasn't himself when he did awake.  

Seemingly steadfast and loving, the lady was careful to stay at Gregoire's side until he woke. As a result of her steadfastness, when he did awake, she was the first one he saw. An odd feeling that kept him from fully waking came over his mind, and a craving crept into his core. 

Kiers was also in the room. Gregoire beckoned him over, never taking his eyes off of the lady's face, although she never returned his gaze.  

"What is it, sir?" Kiers asked anxiously, "Are you feeling all right?" 

"Who is she?" asked the king. 

Still concerned, and eager to help, Kiers responded, "She's the one who found you and brought you home." 

That was enough for the king. Raising himself weakly from his bed, he almost lost his balance getting onto his knees. Kiers helped steady him, and then Gregoire took the lady's hand.  

"Will you marry me?" Something seemed to be trying to climb out of the sleepiness in his mind. But it was only a small thing, and the king ignored it, staring in adoration at the lady. 

Demurely, she answered as if marrying a king was something to be expected, "Of course, your majesty, I'd be delighted." 

Kiers helped the excited but still lightheaded king up. "Wonderful," Gregoire said. 

"Shall we have the wedding now?" she asked, still looking down at her hands.  

"Now?" Gregoire tried to think. There was nothing to wait for. "Very well. No need to wait. Kiers, summon the priest and the chaplain. Is there anything else?" 

"Well, there are your... children, your highness." Kiers reminded him.  

The lady stepped in, but looked at Kiers rather than Gregoire, "There's no reason to tell them. We can make it a surprise." 

"Yes," the king grinned at the lady, she was such a clever woman, and he loved her. At this thought, something screamed from the depths of his heart; but when the lady held his hand, they were stifled-- like a hand covering a mouth. Gregoire looked back to his other companion. "See to it, Kiers." 

Looking back and forth between the lady and the king, Kiers tried to think. His friend was acting strangely; since when did he just marry any woman who happened to do him a favor. And why did he cave to everything she suggested. Also, Gregoire had always treated him like an equal, but now he was dismissing him as if he were a butler. Slowly, he turned away, and did as the king requested.  

The lady left the king to prepare herself. Soon, a doctor came in and examined Gregoire as his footman helped him into his wedding clothes. The doctor pronounced him healthy, and exited. When his preparations were finished, Gregoire went out into the hall, and found the lady waiting-- resplendent in her gold-edged, white dress against her black hair and rosy lips. He took her hand, and they walked together into the ceremony room. There the hastily prepared churchmen performed the service, and bound his majesty to the lady through the bonds of marriage.  

After the brief ceremony, he faced her, and asked her for her name. "Scyllaea," she replied, and raising her eyes, she met his. As soon as she did Gregoire awoke anew from the drug. He realized what he'd done, and just barely too late.  

He fled from the marriage scene, leaving his recent queen staring after him with a strange smile. 

Running to his children, he found them all in Rey's chamber. On his knees, he wept, and hugged each of them. They had not seen him since he'd left to hunt, and were eager to return his greeting. Gregoire said nothing of his new wife, nor his strange journey through the forest. Kance, who had a special affection for horses, reported that Luna had found her way back home the morning he was brought. 

It was as if the king could not hug and kiss his children enough; he just had to be sure that they were all there, and with him, and they were safe. He still had lingerings from the awful predictions of that dark night, and wanted to make sure they wouldn't come to pass. Always affectionate, Mai especially stayed close to him-- hugging him and smiling. 

Although he seemed to be all smiles and love, the king was very troubled. He knew that Scyllaea couldn't mean well, and that she would surely despise his children. But he didn't know what to do. So he tried to keep his children laughing and lighthearted.  

Eventually, he got ready to go. Standing from his seat among them, he beckoned for Rey to follow him. At twenty years old, Rey was plenty old enough to hear the truth. As an afterthought, he also invited Devlin to join him as he walked to his rooms. Devlin was only a couple years younger than Rey, and was very dignified and discreet. Gregoire briefly considered bringing Kance (since Devlin was barely one year his senior), but quickly decided against it; Kance was too fanciful to be burdened with the knowledge that he had a witch's daughter for a step-mom.  

Bidding farewell to the rest of his children, he took Rey and Devlin out into the hall, and they started walking towards the king's rooms. The king held his peace until they got into his private-chamber, then he sunk into a chair, and let his tears travel down his tired face, like rain on a leaf (I'm not sure about this part, I think it sounds sort of weird). Embarrassed, Devlin walked to the other end of the room, and examined one of the many, hunting tapestries. But Rey came over and knelt by his father-- with a hand resting on his shoulder, and one on his knee.  

When his tears ceased, Gregoire called Devlin over, and he told them all that her remembered happening. Directly after the story, he made them pledge that they would never tell anyone the story, and keep it to themselves. With all the feelings of a tender parent, he begged them not to anger Scyllaea, and to try to keep the younger ones out of her way. They both promised themselves to everything he asked. Before leaving, they all clasped hands, and bowed their heads, gathering strength from each other. 

Rey was careful to keep Mai from going to the queen's rooms; for Mai was eager to meet her new mother, and to see her up close. But after a while she learned that Scyllaea was to be avoided, and not approached, so she worked on her embroidery. She was very good at it, and could almost make her sewing come to life. Adding more:    

When his sons left, Gregoire opened the door to his study, and found Scyllaea there.  

"Hello, your majesty," her voice was mocking-- a contrast to the humility she'd previously shown him. 

"Good day, Scyllaea," going to her, he kissed her hand out of courtesy for their new-made vows.  

"And how are you doing today?" She was gloating over him. 

Gregoire straightened, and spoke firmly to her. "Scyllaea, your marriage to me came about by trickery. I have as much right as anyone to have you thrown into the dungeon." 

As if she wasn't paying attention, she picked up a ball from his desk, "What dungeon could hold me?" 

Stunned, Gregoire said nothing. Scyllaea put down the ball, and looked at him, still smiling. "I would be careful, if I were you. Your children are so sweet. It would be a shame if you caused harm to come to them." 

She swept her dress around, and left the room, passing Kiers on her way out. He came in and bowed to the king, who was pressing his fingers to his forehead.  

"What have I done, Kiers? What have I done?" 

Scyllaea did agree to move into rooms on the opposite side of the castle from the children. The king arranged this not only to keep her away from them, but to keep them away from her.  

All day, Scyllaea would sit in her room. She came out only on grand court occasions; and was always humble, sweet, and docile. However, if the king tried to approach her privately all he met was scorn and mockery. 

Mai never got the chance to talk with her, but she knew where Scyllaea was, and wanted so much  to meet the one mother she could remember.  

One day, --about two months later-- she finished embroidering a pair of gloves with golden doves and blue flowers. She smiled at them, glittering in the sunlight. They were her present for her new mother.  

Holding them close, she left her rooms. Her ladies-in-waiting had gone to their homes for the day, and she hadn't told anyone else about her plans-- she'd planned it to be a surprise.  

It was twilight as she walked through the halls. She stepped as lightly as she could, especially past Rey's rooms. Almost past them, she rejoiced inside... until she heard his door open.  

"Mai? What are you doing?" Rey came out, "Where are you going?" 

Smiling at him, she held up the gloves, "I finished these for mother. I was going to surprise her." 

Rey looked at her seriously. Kneeling by her, he took her shoulders. "Mai, you must leave mother alone. She isn't used to children. You must  stay out of her way. Never go into her rooms; don't talk to her unless father or I am/are around. Do you understand?" 

Mai suspected there was a reason for these instructions, and nodded. "Okay, Rey." She held up the gloves again, "But who will I give these to?"  

After thinking, Rey came up with an idea, "Why don't you give them to one of your ladies-in-waiting? Isn't Ophelia's birthday soon?" 

Assenting, Mai allowed herself to be brought back to her rooms, and beginning the next week, started giving her maids gifts of embroidery on their birthdays. 

Mai's embroidery was the finest in the palace, and even in the kingdom. She loved to do it, and could come up with the perfect pictures to go with the item and the person. Her pictures seemed so real, too. She could make the birds fly in a peerless sky, make flowers bloom brightly out of a bud, make one feel the warmth of the sun or the chill of a winter scene. 

None of her ladies-in-waiting could match her in embroidery, but they taught her other things. Posture, diplomacy, etiquette, and so on.  

"That's right, your highness," they'd say, "Hold up your head nice and regal." or "Your highness, that might not be the best  way you could put that." Sometimes they'd gasp, "You majesty! Did your brothers teach you that!"  

All-in-all they got along perfectly fine, and Mai enjoyed herself; but there was something else that she loved doing. She didn't tell anyone about it, she would do it after her ladies had gone home. As soon as they were gone, and Mai was alone, she'd pick up her embroidery, and go into the library.  

If anyone else entered the library, all they saw was Mai sewing by the light of the sun through the big windows. But when No-one was in the library, he had quite the sight. Mai would sit there with a small book that her father had read to her. Staring hard at the page, she tried to figure out the sounds and the letters. Occasionally, she brought in a paper and some ink, and would copy the letters down. But it seemed no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find out what the letters meant. After all, no one had shown her what an "B" was, or told her what sound it was supposed to represent.  

Finally, she went to her brothers. They often gathered in Rey's room after their lessons. When she went in, they all came and welcomed her "into their brotherhood," as Kance put it.  

"I need help," Mai said. 

"With what?" Scott asked, looking up from his volume. 

Holding up the little book Mai told them what she'd been doing. "I'm fourteen now. I should be able to read, but none of my nurses knew, and none of my ladies-in-waiting will teach me. I tried to learn by myself, but I couldn't figure anything out. Could one of you help me?" 

They counseled together. Devlin was proclaimed too serious ("and stuffy" added Michael to Cedric), Kance wasn't serious enough, Scott wasn't patient enough, Michael wasn't steady enough, and Rey didn't have very much time; this left Cedric.  

So after her ladies-in-waiting left, Mai took her embroidery into Rey's room, and sat down with Cedric. He was very patient, and made the learning fun. Mai found it much easier to have someone helping her. 

 One day, she was bent over the little book of tales, her embroidery was sitting limp on her lap. "Ch-chi-im-mera" she stumbled over the word, and then looked up, "What's a chi-mera?" Cedric shrugged, and they both looked to Scott. Always able to answer their questions, he stayed close to them when he studied. "A chimera is a monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail, and it breathes fire," he told them.  

Coming over, Kance added with a scary voice and twinkling blue eyes, "And if you don’t finish decorating Prince Sweetheart's handkerchief, the chimera will come and EAT YOU UP!" 

"Yeah right, Kance," Cedric pushed him away, and Mai laughed. 

"Kance! I heard that!" called Rey from where he sat writing.  

Kance grinned, and winked Mai. Then he called back "What're you writing? A love poem?" 

Rey put down his pen and feigned anger, "That's it!" He strode over and grabbed Kance's head with his arm. He then proceeded to rub his knuckles against the captive noggin.  

Kance laughed, and cried "Mercy! Mercy!" Letting go, Rey laughed with him.  

"Rey, when are we  going to meet Princess Candra?" Michael didn't move from his seat, but twisted around in the chair, and sat on it backwards.  

Smiling, Rey said "You should remember. She's going to come in a few months, so that she can be here for Mai's fifteenth birthday and the flower hunt." 

"Are you going to marry her?" Mai asked excitedly.  

"I haven't asked her yet. I need her to get to know my family first." Rey went back, and started writing again. Then he stopped, and looked at Kance. "And, by the way, I am writing a letter to her, convincing her to bring her marvelously beautiful blue dress  and dancing shoes for the special ball we're having the night after Mai's birthday." 

Scott looked up from his books, "You met her at a ball, didn't you?" 

Dreamily, Rey's hand stopped writing, and stared off into space. "That's right. I was visiting King Leren on business for father a few months ago, and he held a ball to honor my coming. I walked in, and Prince Breyen (her younger brother) met me, with Candra on his arm. She was breathtaking. And as we talked, she showed how educated she was, and how kind. It was love at first sight." 

Sighing, Mai smiled. It would be nice to have a sister. She picked up the handkerchief again, and started to hum as she sewed.  

She was near the door, and the king heard her as he passed. He smiled when he recognized the song as one Diona had sung to his sons, and that they had sung to Mai.  

"When the night winds blow 

That is when you know 

Heaven is sending love to you 

Reminding you that I am true" 

Sighing as he remembered his old queen, Gregoire continued wearily on his way to the rooms of his new one. 

He made it a point to visit Scyllaea at least once every month, besides the court occasions. It was not something he did for enjoyment, naturally; he did it to give himself some comfort, some assurance, and some protection for his children. It wasn't much; but he didn't know how to do more. 

Reaching the barely lit hall outside her chambers, he listened at the door. He heard nothing. Quietly but feigning confidence (in case she was in the room), he entered. He saw nothing.  

In her study, he looked around at what she had there. She had many beautifying books, lotions, and little articles. She must be vain,  thought Gregoire, and he worried about Mai's growing grace. He also saw a stack of white shirts. Nightgowns? Searching some more, he noticed something poking out from behind the mirror. He went over, and pulled out a little green book. Slowly-- his heart beating hard, and feeling suspicion-- he opened it.  

 

Book of Death 

A guide to morbid spells and tricks 

Contents: 

The SBU (Simple, But Unpredictable) 

How to Cause Death by Fear 

by Love 

by Pain 

Spells that don't cause Death, but make a person WISH they were dead 

Animal-fying spells for short-lived animals 

Spells of Disappearance (so everyone Thinks they're Dead) 

How to trap a Person in a Mirror or a Painting, basically Killing them 

… 

Gregoire slammed the book shut, returned it to its spot, and left the room. His eyes were wide with fear, his face was pale as an aspen, his heart felt like ashes.  

Tempted to order her thrown into the pit at the bottom of the castle, Gregoire remembered Scyllaea's threat against his children that first day after their wedding. He had to protect them.  

Collecting himself, he told a passing servant to ready Luna. He went into his room, and came back out with a bulging bag. Mounting Luna in front of the forest, he left without anyone knowing where he had gone. He returned at nightfall, much to everyone's relief; but every day after that, he left in the afternoon with a bag, and stayed until the sky was dark-- returning without the bag.  

For more than a month he did this, and not once did he ever tell anyone what he was doing. He did his work in court distractedly; and every night, when he returned, he would go to his children, and spend some time with them-- mostly just listening, and hugging them.  

One night, after his visit, Gregoire heard his door open. Drawing his sword, he spun around!-- but it was just Rey.  

"Father?" 

Gregoire sighed, and sheathed his sword. Turning away, he leaned wearily on his desk.  

"Father, what's wrong?" Rey came up to him, and put his hand on his father's shoulder.  

Shaking his head, Gregoire responded, "I'm sorry, Rey, I'm so sorry. But I can't tell you yet. I'll tell you in a few days-- after Mai's birthday." 

Rey nodded, and left the room.  

The castle was bustling for the next week, with preparations for Mai's birthday, and the visit of Princess Candra. The jeweler was also busy making the finest ring he could for a certain prince to give away.  

Instead of listening eagerly, and happily to Rey's plans-- as he had done before-- the king shook his head, and refused to listen.  

As the day neared, the king would leave on longer trips with larger bags. Scyllaea watched him leave, and then turned to her sewing with a smile. Soon, she added a fifth shirt to her pile