Saturday 22 April 2017

A-Z Challenge 2017 - S is for Swarbrick

Welcome to Day 19 of the A-Z Challenge 2017. This month I'm sharing my "Black & White Snippets" - snapshots of some of the characters, places and concepts that populate my forthcoming YA dystopian trilogy, Black & White. There won't be a lot of details or spoilers - just short scenes and vignettes that give you a hint of the world I've created. Today, it's S for Swarbrick.


Swarbrick savoured the taste of the mead in his mouth. Perhaps the processes behind its manufacture didn’t bear thinking about, but it certainly did taste good, and he couldn’t fault the Loretanians on their hospitality. Unlike back home, where alcohol had been banned as counterproductive to efficiency. That new boy in charge should do something about that. Despite their dire situation – or, perhaps, because of it – the Loretanians really knew how to enjoy themselves.

21 comments:

Ash said...

Keep Going ...I am back at your page almost every other day to keep pace.

moon said...

Loretania sounds like a refreshing sanctuary , its hospitality a respite from the hostility elsewhere .
Wonderful work, Nick!
Best wishes,
Moon
https://aslifehappens60.wordpress.com

Liz A. said...

Sounds like they really need the alcohol.

Nilanjana Bose said...

Always good to find a place where there's a glass of vino...



Nilanjana.
Madly-in-Verse

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Nope, prohibition never works.

Darla M Sands said...

I want to know how this brew is made now. ~grin~ Another nice vignette. Happy Writing!

http://darlamsands.blogspot.com/

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nick - I could settle down with some mead right now - can you send the Loretanians over bearing some gifts?! Cheers Hilary

https://ronelthemythmaker.wordpress.com/2017/04/22/social-media-success-atozchallenge/

Shari Elder said...

No alcohol! That would be a difficult situation even harder to bare. Nothing like a drink after a draining day.

Keith's Ramblings said...

Let's party! I love a slug of locally made mead!

Amble Bay's fabulous shops!

Emily in Ecuador said...

Often it seems that it is because of dire circumstances that people learn to enjoy themselves more than those who have never been in such circumstances. My inelegant way of saying I agree.

Emily | My Life In Ecuador | Sunsets near the equator

Laurel Garver said...

Yeah, it's better to not think too hard about where mead comes from. Because you'll realize it's fermented bee vomit.

Cathy Kennedy said...

Nick,

Not being fond of alcoholic drinks I can not relate to Swarbrick liking the taste of mead. When I thnk of mead I think of Meade paper products. :) I do agree people need to find a way to enjoy life even when things look dire. We all need a stress buster. Good job!

Thanks for visiting Art Sketching Through the Alphabet “S” (Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs). Have a good weekend!

Josie Two Shoes said...

It does seem that the more inhospitable our world becomes, and the less we feel we have control over it, the more we turn to other things to escape the anxiety and sadness for awhile. It sounds like that is what is happening here in your not quite so perfect as it seems world. There are many things we drink and eat that we might not if we paused to contemplate that the process is rather gross! :-)

Read today's A to Z post at Josie Two Shoes

Anonymous said...

I love the snippet. It gives just enough to tease a reader into wanting to know more. Fun!

Thanks for visiting S for Strange Games
Shari

Anonymous said...

Interesting snippet. I agree that alcohol is a good way to not stress out over cruddy situations. (Although, I can't drink alcohol because of some medication.)

~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

One can ban a lot of things, but not alcohol... or, historically, not for long anyway :D

The Multicolored Diary: WTF - Weird Things in Folktales

Ronel Janse van Vuuren said...

Ah, prohibition - there's probably a speakeasy or two in his hometown that he doesn't know about ;-) Happy A-to-Z-ing.

Deepa said...

Sounds like a fun place to be

A Peice Of My Life

kaykuala said...

Despite their dire situation – or,
perhaps, because of it – the Loretanians
really knew how to enjoy themselves.

Swarbrick was lucky to have found people he could enjoy with, good people in fact!

Hank

Sara C. Snider said...

I wonder how closely that alcohol ban is followed. ;) A glass of mead sounds lovely!

A to Z 2017: Magical and Medicinal Herbs

Deniz Bevan said...

More please! These snippets just kind of pull you into a scene...