The Poetry of Ravens and Roses by Laura Briggs

Author:Laura Briggs
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: british romance, cornish romance, cornwall romance, cornish series
Publisher: Laura Briggs

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I cut the tape on the box and opened its flaps, knowing what was inside beforehand. New, shiny soft covers, with an artist's rendered raven, and my title. There, at the bottom, was my name.

Even though I had seen the cover proof before, it was different to hold it in my hands. The collected pieces of all my hard work since college and since Cornwall's transformation of me. It was so different from what I had pictured in my fantasies — ones on trains and buses, or brushing my teeth in front of the mirror some mornings — but that didn't make it any less beautiful.

I stroked the glossy cover with one finger, feeling how smooth it was. One by one, I unpacked them onto the shelf of my little London room, leaving one on the bed. I had a little packing paper and a waterproof package for it, since it was destined for America.

"Guess what I sent you today?" I asked my mom, as I stepped out of the corner shop with my bag of essentials. "Three guesses. And don't start with food."

Today the skies of London were full of summer sunshine, with the morning shower only a damp patch on shady pavement, and flowers and silky summer fabrics brightening windows of modern shops. My summer straw hat, the friendly breeze gusting bolder with passing city buses and cars, all triggers for my good mood.

"I can't imagine," she answered. I could hear a crunch on the other end, probably from a nighttime bowl of cereal, one of my mother's guilty indulgences. "Spoil it for me, daughter dearest."

"It's a little something from Sunshadow publishing," I answered.

A second of silence on the other end. "Your book?"

"See? You're a better guesser than you think." I paused to look in the window of a store advertising a sale on summer fashion.

"Oh, my goodness! I can't believe it. Maisie, baby, you must be so excited! Oh, darling girl, you've waited for so long. I hope you're having a wonderful time now that it's finally happening."

"I'm in London. That's exciting in itself, right?" Weekends in a vibrant city full of history and eclectic corners was the kind of situation that could inspire any young writer's imagination. Different from the inspiration of a lovely Cornish village, even if it wasn't better by the same comparison. "I bought a couple of pictures to decorate the room where I'm staying, so it looks a little less empty."

"Are you settling in?" she asked.

"Temporarily, yes," I said. "Arnold is doing everything he can for the book's debut — he has me signing up for every opportunity that crosses his path. I've already agreed to interviews. How weird is that?"

"Not on television?"

"Podcast," I said. "That's modern TV." I looked both ways down the lane as I waited for the crosswalk's light to signal.

"Everything's good, I take it," she said. "I'm glad. I had my doubts at first when you told me about this new arrangement. Even if you sounded so blase about the whole idea, I wasn't so sure you were ready to be back in that city.

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