Susan Pevensie Snippets

In celebration of a rather exciting milestone in its writing, I wanted to share some snippets of my Susan Pevensie story.  If snippets aren't your thing, don't give it a second thought, but if they are . . . read on, Lizzie. ;)

(Pictures from my Pinterest inspiration board.)


____________________________________________________

  

          Susan dropped her head again, recalled to the present.


         Surely they deserve better, Aslan. Why can I not be as faithful as my siblings?

          “Child.”

          Susan looked up, and her spirit caught. He was there. Large and gentle and golden and radiant, standing a few yards away with eyes only for her. And those eyes. Oh, those eyes.



____________________________________________________



____________________________________________________


          Round and round the carousel of her thoughts whirled ⎼ a foggy mixture of anxiety, confusion, grief, and fatigue ⎼ until exhaustion prevailed.

          Yet even in slumber she was not free of her childhood, though in sleep this was a blessing and not a curse. Dreams wove a dance throughout her unguarded mind: memories of crystalline streams and vibrant forests; of an earthy wardrobe with wood that seemed almost to hum with otherworldly secrets; of music that seemed to sound like silver itself; of her three siblings; of happiness; of a time when fear seemed very far away; and, pulsing and leaping and making Himself known through it all, of a great and glorious Lion.


____________________________________________________


____________________________________________________


          “It is my opinion, then, that if there is one thing the last two decades have taught us, it is that our traditional religious beliefs are gradually being exposed as philosophically and rationally unreliable.”

          The speaker’s voice, resonant with intellectual inquiry yet tempered with sincere sympathy, billowed out across the auditorium on the old microphone’s crackly, rheumatic projection.


____________________________________________________



____________________________________________________


          Susan chuckled softly and cradled the phone against her cheek. “I should let you go. I’ll talk to you soon, alright?”

          “And . . . ?”

          She rolled her eyes, but smiled a little. “And I’ll let you know if I ever need anything.”

         “Honour bright?”

         “Honour bright.”

          “All right. I love you.”

          “I know. I love you, too.”



____________________________________________________



____________________________________________________


          May.

          It ought to have been a month of beauty and peace, and instead it only meant the ever-present ache in Susan’s heart throbbed a little more intensely. And one day out of the year ⎼ the only time she could bear to do it ⎼ she dressed in a soft gray suit, steeled herself, and drove two hours out of the city, back through her hometown, to a small chapel graveyard clouded in apple blossoms and ringed by a low stonework wall.



____________________________________________________



____________________________________________________


          Somehow, Susan felt deep inside herself that if she disregarded this opportunity, something important inside her might close up forever. Perhaps, just perhaps, something lay amongst the wreckage of her past--something that she needed to find and dust off and hold and look at squarely and honestly. Something with which she needed to come to grips; something, perhaps, that could give her a measure of soul-deep peace.
          Peace. What a concept that was.


____________________________________________________


Susan by Leatho-Shellhound -  From the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
I've said it before and I'll say it again: fan art.  Y'all are amazing. 

✾ ✾ ✾ ✾ ✾

Hope you all enjoyed those snippets! I also found a new song that I think of in connection with this story: Ben Platt's "In Case You Don't Live Forever." So I've left it below in case you'd care to give it a listen. :-P
  

Comments

  1. Wow, why does this want me to cry... I think perhaps it was the combination of your beautiful writing and Ben Platt's heart-searching song. So many feels. *silent tears*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh my gosh how did I not get the Hamilton quote! 😮

      Delete
    2. NAWWW THANK YOU!! *hugs* *hands you tissues*

      Delete
  2. Oh, these are all so, so beautiful, Olivia!!! Every time I read a new snippet, I am amazed all over again at how perfectly you tell her story! Your writing style are choice of words are so RIGHT. I am so very excited for it to be finished so that I can read the WHOLE thing!

    Just yesterday I thought of this story many times, and was so curious to know how it was coming along, and then this morning I find that you just posted about it! Perfect timing! Oh, and the song fits in with the themes of this story story so well! (It's also a recent favorite of mine.)

    I would love to know what your word count is for this story so far, but if you're not comfortable sharing, that is *totally* ok!

    Catie ��

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. *writing style AND choice of words

      Delete
    2. This is completely unrelated, but Olivia, you should go look at all these first pictures from the new LITTLE WOMEN!!!

      www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/06/exclusive-first-look-greta-gerwig-and-saoirse-ronan-little-women

      Delete
    3. Thank you, Catie!! I was hoping you'd like it. ;D

      I'm so thrilled you like the writing and are excited for it! It makes me happy that you had just been thinking about it before I posted this. :D As to word count . . . I actually left you a comment recently back on that "Joey" post we were discussing Little Women on. That might have some more information in it. ;)

      Ooh, thanks for the link! I enjoyed looking at the pictures. :D I don't know how I feel about the majority of the cast, but I'm easily won over, so we'll see. ;D I do think Saoirse Ronan could be a good Jo, as we've discussed. What are your thoughts now, given more final details?

      Delete
    4. Oh, thank you for telling me about your other comment!!! I'll read it asap and respond over there! (I'll put my current thoughts on LW in that comment too!) <3

      Delete
  3. AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! These are sssssssooooooo amazing!!! Thank you so much for sharing, Olivia!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Olivia!!!! THIS IS SO GOOD. Well, you know, if you ever need beta readers...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awwwwww!! Thank you, Evangeline!! 'Preciate it. <3

      Delete
  5. I'M DROWNING IN A PUDDLE OF FEELZ NOW SO THANKS

    but really, in all seriousness--thank you. I cannot express what a wonderful feeling of peace & hope reading these snippets has given me. I just can't wait for the finished story now!!! <333

    Also: that Hamilton quote, tho. YOU ARE CRUEL, OLIVIA. *SOBBING*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aaaaahhhh. :D That's basically exactly what I want people to feel through this book -- a depth of peace and hope and understanding. So the fact that a little of that translated through these snippets makes me so happy. <3 <3 <3

      WELL, DON'T BLAME ME; BLAME THE EDIT-MAKER. *cries with you*

      Delete
  6. ACK.

    I need this book in my life so badly. Your writing is gorgeous and poignant.

    ReplyDelete
  7. well now i'm emotional thanks for that ;A;
    no but really this is great! I can't wait to read more! :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. AAAAAHHHH!!!!! I cannot wait for this. These snippets are so beautiful and poetic. I just love it. You're breaking our hearts though. The Hamilton quote just about did me in. It matches PERFECTLY. *sobs*

    So, do you have a release date yet??? ;) <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Sarah!! I so appreciate everyone's encouragement. <33

      Haha, I wish. ;-P It'll probably be a while, but I hope very much that it will come. :) <3

      Delete
  9. *gropes for words* *fails*

    OLIVIA!! I WANT TO CRY!! You are an amazing writer girl!!

    Seriously, these snippets are amazing! They made me emotional, and your writing style is amazing and just all the thumbs up!! I want to read the whole thing soooo badly!!

    Also, your pictures killed me. THAT SECOND TO LAST ONE *sobs a little*

    I'm seriously jealous of your writing skills! I can't wait until it's finished!! :D <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gaaaahhhh, thank you!!! *beams*

      Seriously, your comment is so kind and encouraging and I really appreciate it. :D

      I KNOW. *sobs a little, too*

      Awww!! Shucks. ;) Thank you!! <3

      Delete
  10. Ahhh, Olivia! I honestly squeaked when I saw that you had posted this!

    And I was not disappointed! 'Tis so good, m'dear! I love your writing. It's defintely your own, and it's not too flowery, but enough embellishment that it's beautiful. And the plot...well, that just hits it out of the ballpark.

    I can't wait to read the rest of it. *rubs hands together in glee, because somehow you will be convinced* :) 'Twas marvelous!

    ~Vanessa :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahhhhh, that makes me so happy, Vanessa!! I hoped you'd like it. ;)

      Thank you so much!! I really appreciate it. <3

      Haha, I certainly hope you can read it someday!!

      Delete
  11. Hey, I just discovered your blog recently and I'm reading all your old posts. (Don't mind me.) xD

    Just wondering if you are still working on this story? I'm very interested it in and would love to read it someday...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahhh, hi! Welcome! I love it when people like my blog enough to comb through its annals, haha. xD

      And thank you for your kind inquiry! I am still working on this story, yes; I actually finished the first draft last year (or the year before? wow I REALLY CANNOT REMEMBER that is scary xD). At the moment it's sort of "on hold" while I figure out how to fix some plot and structure problems, but I'm hoping to return to it soon. It's very close to my heart. <3

      Thank you so much for saying you'd like to read it! That means a lot. :D <3

      Delete
  12. This is so good! I cannot wait for more. When will it come out?
    It’s amazing, so poignant, and you do an excellent job, from what I can tell, remaining true to the characters and what Lewis had in mind. And the art is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Comments make my day. Seriously. I'd be so happy if you commented. :)

I've gotten really bad about replying in a timely manner, but it's always my intention to do so eventually. (Even though it doesn't always happen. ;))

Popular posts from this blog

Movies: Month in Review {February 2018}

Ivanhoe (1997) movie review

BBC Robin Hood TV Series, Season 1 Review