Thanks to all the people interested in this novel. With your help I will bring this story to print. Many, but certainly not all, of those liking this concept are First Nations from Canada, the US, and Central and South America. There have also been Chinese, Japanese, and Middle Eastern people. This tells me that there is a broad based hunger for the ideas that Whispers 1031 AD explores, and that people around the world are finding their voices amid all the chaos that the "powers that be" have allowed, no, encouraged to exist in our world. "Alliance" has always been seen as a solution to chaos. May it be so again.

Whispers 1031 AD is now on Twitter!

I just linked the Facebook page to Twitter, so hopefully you will be hearing a lot more about the novel!

In the year 1031 AD, Zahn, an adventurous Song Chinese trader, keeps going north after trading with Japan and Korea, following the currents North and West into new lands. There he finds new civilizations, with valuable trade goods. He builds relationships with the native peoples as he travels down the West coast of what is now North America. Those bonds are cemented when he accidentally introduces smallpox in bolts of Japanese silk, and a village is effectively wiped out.

            Zahn has found a better world than the one he came from. He desperately wants to protect it from the greedy and brutal worlds across the waters, where life has no value, and death is a currency. If he cannot equip his new people to stand against the old worlds, their lands will be devoured, and their people enslaved, for that is the way the old civilizations stay alive and the powerful thrive.

Zahn, speaking to his children:

            "When I was young, I worked with my body. I grew strong and healthy. I also fed my mind: I read everything I could get my hands on. Orders, reciepts, signs for stores, and eventually books I devoured with my eyes and my spirit. I discovered science, art, philosophy, religion, and the power of imagination. At that time, I found little use for my knowledge, as there were always those who knew more, had experienced more.

            In my middle years, I achieved responsibilities. I had earned enough for my own ship, and was experienced in the ways of trade. My mind was ascendant, but my body remained strong.

            This, I realized, was my time of opportunity. I determined to seek the unknown, not just following the well worn paths that others walked. There are very many of those people. I think they find comfort in the well worn paths.

            That is why I followed the known currents past the boundaries others set for themselves. I had not conciously planned it, that voyage. I traded north, as I often had, but then I thought about the currents that continued north, past that place. I had a good ship, provisions and cargo. My crew was one of the best.

            I called them together, and told them of my plan. A few looked concerned, but they trusted me and the ship. I let them talk among themselves. I have seen crews become terrified when they don't understand what is happening, and ignorance is feritle ground for fear.

            They finally stood together, and agreed to seek the unknown. That decision is why we are here, and why the Alliance came to be."

Why I write what I do:

This is why I wrote Whispers:

https://www.facebook.com/92ndstreetY/videos/10154402971973884/

Synopsis: WHISPERS 1031 AD

In the summer of 1031 AD, a trading ship from the Chinese Song Dynasty follows the currents north, past Japan, then east and south, down the coast of western British Columbia. The captain, ZAHN, a hardboiled Chinese trader seeking new markets, trades first with the Nisga'a and Haida, then on a later voyage travels further south to the Musqueam (Rivergrass) lands around what is now Vancouver.

There Zahn meets with KIAPELANEH, the Rivergrass Chief, and a delegation from the River People (Sto:lo) from up the Fraser River, which includes Chief FISHEAGLE, MIDNIGHT and HAWK. Zahn offers a trade of technology for furs and copper. Song technology at this time includes gunpowder, metallurgy, tools, and medicine—far more advanced than the local culture. When an agreement is reached, the Song leave four advisors with the locals, to help them produce the trade goods that the Song desire, and introduce the new technologies.

            After Zahn’s visit, and a war with a predatory band from the interior, the River People and the Rivergrass tribe, form an Alliance that will eventually develop into a new civilization encompassing the West Coast of North America.

 The experience of the Song with smallpox, which arrives in bolts of cloth with Zahn's second visit, allows the people to mitigate the effects of the disease. They spread their knowledge to all members of the alliance, and further. But Zahn is devastated when he realizes that he is responsible for bringing smallpox to the Haida, almost wiping out an entire village. He commits to guiding the initially naive natives in shaping their Alliance, and dealing with the older cultures that they come in contact with.

            The Alliance grows throughout North America, finding allies in the Arabs and at a Norse settlement on the East Coast, which briefly becomes a refuge for desperate Norse and Rus, including the Varangian Guard, who flee the corrupt influence of the European Church that is going to destroy their culture.

            Zahn, now the Alliance Fleetmaster, is still a trader at heart. He sends BUWEI, a senior captain, to expand trade south along the coast, in search of tobacco, which has become a new trade item for the Alliance. Contacting new civilizations as they go, they spread their influence south into Central and South America where they find fascinating new cultures, and face desperate conflict with unbelievable barbarism from the collapsing Mayan and Toltec cultures.

            The Song Empire finally sends EMISSARY LIU, backed by heavily armed warships, to find out first hand what this Alliance is all about. Are they a threat, or vulnerable to expansion of the Empire? The envoy realizes that they are a unique culture, valuable as an ally, and dangerous as an enemy. With Zahn and the council negotiating for the Alliance, they strike a deal for a joint venture, where the Empire will provide metallurgists and skilled workers to build the infrastructure for a metalworking industry, for a share in the profits.

            In the south, the Norse refugees begin to arrive, and the Mayans become an immediate threat. The first battle is a slaughter, and has a devastating effect on Buwei, his men, and the Norse.

            The Tairuna, a trade league in what is now northern Columbia, and Jocay, a large trading center in modern Ecuador, are vulnerable to an influx of Mayans and Toltecs fleeing the collapse of their civilizations. Both join the Alliance, as the Norse refugees settle in to a toehold in their new home in southern Central America, and prepare for all out war with the Maya and Toltec cultures to the north.

            Zahn, content that he has guided the Alliance well on their path and established strong trade ties that will support their expansion, retires to spend time with his wife and children in Rivergrass, leaving Buwei in charge of Alliance trade.

A Special Reward!

Everyone who 'Likes' Whispers 1031 AD Facebook page will receive a PM containing the new text from chapter 26 of Evolution! This is the bit that I agonized over because it was a romantic scene where Hawk is comforting Midnight after the dual deaths of Chief Fisheagle and Nosey, the raccoon that was her constant companion for years.

Google whispersbookseries to go directly to the page.

ENJOY!

Working away at the edit of Evolution. I seem to have a previously unknown comma fettish. All in all, not too bad. It's just a bit of a slog. It's nice to re-read after a period of time: fresh eyes.

As I get further in though, I know there are a few scenes that I want to re-work. It's up to 97,000 words with the new Midnight material, and there will be more of that! :)

Well, I faced a conundrum with Midnight. I wrote her a grieving scene after Nosey (her Raccoon friend and sidekick) died, the same day as Chief Fisheagle, who had been a guide and mentor to her. She was grieving, and Hawk was comforting her. Before the rewrite to expand the scene, that was the end of the chapter. Then the beta readers arose in frustration, and demanded  "MORE MIDNIGHT!" in Evolution.

In an effort to placate the mob, I decided to expand on that scene. I was writing along, and suddenly felt that I was writing a ROMANCE! I quickly tied the scene off and moved on to another scene where Midnight was asking Shin, the spymaster, to explain organized religion, as it manifested in the Song Empire and other places in the world, to her.

Meanwhile, Nanc had gotten her hands on the first rewrite. She was not impressed. She wanted MORE romance! Not being a stupid man, I went back and drew out the comforting, etc, and went back to the other rewrite. Not good. It took at least five revisions and additions of (gasp) Romance!

I finally got the Nanc seal of approval! I hope that my hopelessly romantic readers appreciate the toll it took on my psyche.

Anyone that wants to read the new text can just leave a message, either here as a comment, or on the Whispers 1031 AD Facebook page. I will send you the new version.

Edits on Evolution

Thanks to beta reader Pam, who did a proof read as she read, I have gone through Metamorphosis with a fine toothed comb. I am very comfortable that we have a good edit!