It all started because I was bored. I had an odd idea of how to discuss "The Dream" in a story, and so I sat down and emailed off the first thing that came into my head--sent it to the Tavern Yard, the Meridies mailing list.
Well...it spread. I am still amazed at how many people *still* write me to say they like that story. Occasionally, I just put my SCA name (Colin of Tighan) into Google...and just sit there shaking my head.
Well...who am I to argue with my readers. So, I next wrote "The Tale of the Knight's Boots". That one got a few chuckles, and is intended as a good-natured reminder of what being a Peer in the SCA really means in the grand scheme of things. No offense meant--it was inspired by some similar comments to that effect by Peers of my acquaintance.
The next one is a sad tale. "The Baron" turned out to be prophecy, after a fashion. While he should not stand accused of some of the silly things that I had The Baron doing, Master Carlwyn George Ordragoun of Canterbury was also the first Court Baron I was ever introduced to...he gave me his chair so I could sit in the shade at my very first event, and we bumped into one another for years. He came to define, for me, what a Baron of the Court *is* and *should be*...
And sadly, not so very long after I wrote that story, he passed away. I cannot read it without thinking of him.
The last story is also a sad one. It was inspired by Hurricane Katrina. "We Have Not Lost" was the most difficult story I have ever written in both technical and emotional terms.
I want the next one to be a happy one, but my Muse handles my scheduling, I fear.
