The Inception Story of Hiraeth (& More)

my new monthly serial that began at Stardust Press

When

Keyon Hejazi

asked me if I would consider joining Stardust Press, my first thought was if I could handle it with my current playload (because it’s not work, geddit?). I was up to my eyeballs in getting book two, A River Trembles, transcribed and organised. While deciding, I noodled about for ideas that could be completely episodic, whereby you drop in on any story and don’t feel like you’ve really “missed” anything.

I thought, of course, dreigiau môr (sea dragons if you’re new here). There’s a few references in the upcoming book two, A River Trembles, about a past Chosen Court that were called to seek out a second homeland for the sea dragons. (We may or may not get into the whys about how this came about. I’d rather avoid those “as you know, Bob” moments.) Thus the idea of a kind of odyssey.

Still on the fence, the series title dropped into my mind. Hiraeth (heer-eye-th) is a Welsh word that, well, here’s how the Oxford English Dictionary defines it:

Originally and chiefly in the context of Wales and Welsh culture: deep longing for a person or thing which is absent or lost; yearning; nostalgia; spec. homesickness

Hey, the sea dragons were Welsh once, before their goddess Morgaine transformed them into who they are today.

This idea of being lost, of longing for home, is something I’ve experienced a lot in my life (26.5 years living overseas and now finally home). Knowing the theme of the series, I was more than halfway committed already (but still in denial). I held off until I came up with some characters and episode ideas, because we all know that some ideas flash and fade.

Then I was happy to confirm my place as a monthly serial writer at Stardust Press.

I came up with a playlist too. Music helps me write. Vivaldi is amazing when I need to type many many words very very quickly but and also to evoke a mood. So if you’re feeling homesick, give this a listen.

Here’s what I think of as the opening credits theme song for Hiraeth.

And here’s the whole playlist!

Yes, I included the heartbreaking theme song from “Goblin”/”Guardian: The Great and Lonely God”. This playlist is melancholic, with a few hopeful songs thrown in. Song titles or lyrics will definitely be making their way into the episode titles!

You’ll be meeting this past Chosen Court after disaster has already struck. The way forward is (currently) lost, and the way back ditto ditto. If you’ve read A Grail for Eidothea or The Prophet and the Cupbearer, you know that a Chosen Court is formed around a prophet who has visions of the future, and these visions guide the path the Court must take. Our story opens with this Chosen Court’s prophet in a comatose state. They have lost their guiding star.

They are lost in a strange, strange sea, populated above and below with strange and magical creatures. (Please note that dreigiau môr are also strange, magical creatures, so it’s a bit like calling the kettle black but we humans are so good at Othering.)

Will they discover a new homeland? Will they find their way back home? Will these new challenges fracture or strengthen this Chosen Court? Are you ready to read it?

There will be an opportunity for you to pick what happens next to our fearless band of dreigiau môr.

The first instalment will be released at Stardust Press on August 26th (US timezones). Subscribe over there if you cannot wait.

I’ll share it again here on The Môrdreigiau Chronicles on September 18th, a few days before the second instalment goes live at Stardust Press on September 23rd, giving you plenty of time to hop over and subscribe there if you find you can’t wait after having read the first one! I’m also adding bonus material — the song that’s the theme for that episode as well as some author/research rabbit hole notes!

Any questions about the new serial? Drop them in the comments below? Stardust Press will also have a dedicated thread to Hiraeth so you can join in the fun over there.