Scott Rochester
LightNews LightNews
banner
scottrochester.bsky.social
Scott Rochester
@scottrochester.bsky.social
150 followers 140 following 85 posts
London author and eccentric

Retired teacher

Dominated by horses and ships, 400 years in the future looks a lot like 200 years in the past. No oil, no cars and no internet. And pirates!

Available on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1068550910
Posts Replies Media Videos
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 15 Dec 'blanket'

In Book2, AngryBard not only has a girlfriend (finally) but he has wangled a few days together.

#scifi #SlenderWolf #romance #writingCommunity #bookSky #LoveStory #SillyNames #Lancaster #Manx
Book 2 extract SlenderWolf In With the In Crowd Chapter 21 Examination Technique Bard , Bard, what’s happening? what time is it? AngryBard steps into the front room from the kitchen “It’s nearly 08:00,” he says, “I’ve got the stove alight and I’m getting some hot water ready. I was about to start doing breakfast, so I’m glad you’re awake. I wasn’t sure what time Grandad would be up? What time did I fall asleep? I don’t know, I was still awake when the clock struck one, but you were already asleep by then. Half on top of me! What? Really? I shouldn’t be caught sleeping on the sofa!” She picks the blanket up off the floor and asks him, “did you sleep OK?” I’m fine. I had enough sleep, what about you? I’m OK now. Are you OK with the kitchen? Do you know where the tea is? “Yes, and the eggs, and the bread! I have it all under control,” says AngryBard, “ you go and find out what grandad wants and I’ll have it ready soon. Fried, poached or boiled? A watercolour painting of a 13 year old boy- he has neat dark brown hair, trimmed nicely at the sides and plentiful on top with a faint wave. His eyes are a beautiful blue. His face has an almost neutral expression with the merest hint of a smile. He is wearing a white T shirt against a plain grey background. The image is labelled AngryBard. He’s never angry unless you interfere with his book reading habit. copyright © Scott Rochester 2026
December 15, 2025 at 3:36 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 14 Dec 'line'

17 year old friends Kristal and Conning are chatting about the Pyjama Party which leads to discussions of masculinity and femininity, and what their boyfriends are like.

#scifi #SlenderWolf #romance #writingCommunity #EternalRebel #survival #LoveStory #Lancaster #booksky
Book 2 extract SlenderWolf In With the In Crowd Chapter 13 Pyjama Party At least you’re both mature, and you’re talking about it. Peanut can be quite childish sometimes. He explains how he’s been measuring the size of his manhood, and he want’s my opinion. I said how would I know? He’s my first boyfriend. Immature boys all seem to think that girls equipped with clipboards and tape measures choose their boyfriends from a line up like naked beauty contest, I told him it doesn’t work like that. There are a lot more important things than the size of your manhood. “Don’t some men think breast size is important?” asks KristalClear, “he was always starting at your breasts since forever.” “Yes, he likes my breasts,” says Conning, “but I have to guide him and explain how to play gently, so that gives me an excuse to touch him and demonstrate what I mean.” Dash is gentle, and I’m gentle with him, neither of us even talk about size, maybe it’s something only the younger boys obsess about? A watercolour painting of an attractive young girl aged 16. She has beautiful long straight deep brown hair and her eyes are chestnut coloured. Her face has a gentle expression with a hint of a smile. She is wearing a plain white T shirt (and blue jeans out of shot). The image is labelled KristalClear (she is demi-psychic but cannot read human minds, only animals). A watercolour painting of an attractive young girl aged 16. She has gorgeous long medium ash brown hair and her eyes are dark chestnut brown. Her face has a picture perfect smile revealing lovely white teeth. She is wearing a plain white T shirt (and blue jeans out of shot). The image is labelled Conning (Manx, pronounced KonYing, meaning bunny). copyright © Scott Rochester 2026
December 14, 2025 at 7:42 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 12 Dec 'smash'

Beans on toast please, better than this fancy modernist smashed avocado, according to The Colonel

#scifi #SlenderWolf #food #avocado #BeansOnToast #writingCommunity #EternalRebel #ClimateChange #sustainability #Lancaster
Book 2 extract SlenderWolf In With the In Crowd Chapter 1 A Long Overdue Explanation “If somebody uninvented beans on toast, I would simply die,” says The Colonel, “I’m 75 years old now, and I’m convinced that beans on toast has played a significant role in keeping me alive!” Betty smiles, “sometimes the simple things in life are best, we get lots of sailors asking for it, but not so many of the townsfolk.” “What do they like?” “Smashed avocado on toast!” says Betty. “Avocados are cheaper now than they ever have been! That’s global warming for you! At this time of year you can sometimes pick them up for free. Right now the farms around Halton are simply overflowing with them. They can’t give them away fast enough!” “Mushrooms!” says Miss Gibson. “Yes?” says Betty inquisitively. “You couldn’t get year round avocados when I was young. You could always get mushrooms! Mushrooms on toast with a nice poached egg on top. That’s best! A watercolour painting of a 70 something man. He has short neat fair hair, and proud chestnut coloured eyes. His forehead and face have no wrinkles, but his jaw and his chin, and the mild folds of skin on his neck reveal that he’s quite old. He has a neutral expression as if posing for a regimental portrait. He is wearing a pale blue dress shirt and his cricket club tie, which has bold stripes of Royal blue, dark blue and silver. The image is labelled “The Colonel”. copyright © Scott Rochester 2026
December 12, 2025 at 12:31 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 11 Dec 'full'

NightmareSkippy and FullyCharged are fixing up a play date!

#scifi #SlenderWolf #DangerZone #writingCommunity #IndieAuthor #bookSky #SillyNames #Lancaster
CBook 2 extract SlenderWolf In With the In Crowd Chapter 5 Nightmare on Willowdene Road “You’ve invited NightmareSkippy over to play with FullyCharged? Do you have a full suit of body armour ready?” asks Mme. Troyes, “I never let them sit together in class!” A watercolour painting of Aunt Sylvie, the Governess of the Noble Coliseum, smiling without parting her lips. Aged about 30, she has beautiful, long, hazel brown hair and light chestnut brown eyes. She is wearing a simple pale yellow blouse, light cosmetics, no jewellery not even earrings, allowing her natural beauty to stand out. The images is labelled AuntSylvie. A watercolour painting of a lady in her late thirties. She has dark brown wavy hair which stops just short of her collar. Her deep brown eyes are looking at something (a school pupil) out of shot on her left. Her expression is neutral, although she looks as if she might be about to frown. She has tiny gold stud earrings and modest cosmetics. She is wearing an open neck, medium blue blouse. The image is labelled “Bubbles” which is the name Madame Troyes prefers. Except when she’s working as a primary school teacher, when she is always “Madame Troyes”. copyright © Scott Rochester 2026
December 11, 2025 at 7:34 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 8 Dec 'fourth'

It's 2450AD

The farm in #Ulverston has acquired a fourth wolf.

The big surprise early in book 2 is that the unlikeliest of romances is developing between a singer and a watchmaker.

#scifi #SlenderWolf #watchmaker #writing #IndieAuthor #bookSky #LoveStory #Lancaster
Book 2 extract SlenderWolf In With the In Crowd Chapter 3 A Long Overdue Explanation “It was quite normal,” says KristalClear, “all the school leavers had a meet up in the café afterwards, we had a great time, I was happiest work wise, I knew what to expect, although I can see that I have a lot to learn about my new duties. Kayt is not working. She’s involved in the support team for Custodum.” “Conning, had the most normal day, the workload at Lancastrian Lines is very similar to what she did before at InfiniDash. “The biggest shock of the day, was that there’s a fourth wolf, everybody knew before I did, and the other incredible news is that HayWire is now living in the Coliseum. He's been injured somehow, I don't know what happened and then suddenly Conning became very concerned about HayWire’s welfare. She’s going around there tonight, to find out the back story. I'm seeing NutJob tonight.” “No surprise there,” says CandiCrush. A watercolour painting of an attractive young girl aged 16. She has gorgeous long medium ash brown hair and her eyes are dark chestnut brown. Her face has a picture perfect smile revealing lovely white teeth. She is wearing a plain white T shirt (and blue jeans out of shot). The image is labelled Conning (Manx, pronounced KonYing, meaning bunny). A watercolour painting of an 18 year old young man - he has fly away blonde hair and blue eyes - in this relaxed pose he has a thoughtful and neutral expression - he is wearing a white T shirt - the image is labelled HayWire copyright © Scott Rochester 2026
December 8, 2025 at 8:13 AM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 7 Dec 'empty'

It's 2450AD

The Frumious Bandersnatch (a pirate ship) is making a mistake, raiding the port of Fflint

The Alliance forces have been forewarned

#scifi #SlenderWolf #Wales #Fflint #Flint #pirates #writingCommunity #battles #BookSky #ships #survival #Lancaster
Book 2 extract SlenderWolf In With the In Crowd Chapter 18 The Battle of Puffin Island Clamber netting has been lowered from The Frumious Bandersnatch and two dozen raiders start chuntering and descend. That can mean that only two or three are still on board. BlackDog can now be seen standing amidships, watching the raiders scatter across the yard, heading in all directions. Quietly, each alliance team leader says “de-bus”. With little noise the wagons empty. DustyOldFossil nudges MaxChaos who whacks two large copper cooking pots together - twice. The signal! This time it’s the alliance who sound like screaming, wild banshees, racing forward, half of them brandishing clubs and swords, and the other half picking up the fishing nets from the ground. Shocked, the raiders begin to panic and flee. BlackDog doesn’t believe it! “So many alliance combatants! How could they have known?” Rounding the corner in the river, An Colgán Cróga lines up on The Frumious Bandersnatch . “Fire!” “KABOOM.” Artwork. A three quarter rear view of a fully rigged man o war on a rainy night. The sails have been hoisted, the stern and the cabins and brightly lit, the remainder of the ship is dark, there are three gun decks, the lower two of which have the hatches open. The image is labelled An Colgán Cróga - The Gallant Swordfish. copyright © Scott Rochester 2026
December 7, 2025 at 10:21 AM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 6 Dec 'hook'

It's 2450AD

The Frumious Bandersnatch (a pirate ship) is in Pursuit of The Frabjous Joy (a small commercial freighter).

BlackCloud and BlackDog are in charge.

#scifi #SlenderWolf #Wales #PuffinIsland #pirates #writingCommunity #battles #IndieAuthor #ships #Lancaster
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 18 The Battle of Puffin Island There are a few inconsequential cumulus clouds dotted about the sky on this pleasant Tuesday afternoon. A light breeze means that the swell is calm and mellow. The crew of The Frabjous Joy are relaxed, cruising at a gentle pace, and they’re enjoying a well earned rest at this mid point between Amlwch and Conwy. Frenzied activity ensues aboard the larger and faster Frumious Bandersnatch as the pirates’ adrenalin starts pumping. The raiding party readies the grappling hooks and ropes, the clamber netting and the long gisarmes. In silence, BlackCloud watches from his vantage point on the poop deck. BlackDog, one hand holding the starboard caprail amidships, leans seaward, and frantically waves his free hand urging the helmsman to bring the ship closer to the line of The Frabjous Joy. When the right moment comes the deckhands are ready to hoist the sails, lowering the speed. When the two ships come along side, the raiding party will have a few seconds to board, before the momentum takes the pirate ship ahead. A watercolour painting of a pirate Captain. A 40 year old man with short dark hair and dark hazel coloured eyes. He is a short, slim, smartly dressed man with a moustache, and a calm expression on his face. A tactician not a warrior. He has a blue jacket with gold buttons, over a plain white shirt and he’s wearing a black tricorn hat with gold edging. Out of shot, his weapon of choice is a narrow rapier. The image is labelled BlackCloud. A watercolour painting of a pirate, he's the first mate (the second in command). A 45 year old man with straggly unkempt dark hair, an untidy full beard, and dark chestnut coloured eyes. He is frowning. He's a big, fat man, and he's wearing shabby clothes. A black bicorn hat with gold edging, a beige sackcloth shirt and a grey heavy jacket with gold buttons. the image is labelled BlackDog. copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
December 6, 2025 at 5:12 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 5 Dec 'screen'

It’s 2450AD

BarmyWaffle and the youngsters are discussing what plastic used to be

#scifi #SlenderWolf #education #wolves #horses #writingCommunity #IndieAuthor #ClimateChange #sustainability #ships #survival #Lancaster #engineering
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 40 Well Disciplined NutJob and HayWire listen carefully. TomTom and JerryMac have heard all of this before, so they’re tidying up their benches now, and they’re going. “We’re heading home early today,” says Jerry, “before he starts waffling on about The Shorb again!” As his colleagues leave, BarmyWaffle takes the calculator from its case and places it flat in the palm of his hand. The white plastic case is badly faded and the LCD screen is cracked and opaque. However, the faint numbers can still be seen on the keys. The entire device looks like a sepia photograph from the Victorian era. Except that this is the real thing, a sepia coloured, 3D, historical artefact, the provenance of which cannot be disputed. “Apparently,” he says, “these things were everywhere! You know, students, teachers, office workers. Everybody had them.” “At first, when The Decimation hit, nobody realised that ‘no more oil’ would mean ‘no more plastic’ and, when you couldn’t get batteries for these things any more, they were just chucked away. Nobody thought to keep them. This is one of only twelve that remain. It came from the University of Waterloo.” 3 watercolour paintings BarmyWaffle - a 60 year old man with receding grey hair and frameless glasses. He is wearing a white lab coat over a light blue shirt, and has a dark navy tie. He looks like the archetypal scientist. He has a serious look on his face NutJob - a charming young man aged 16. He has neat well groomed brown hair, his eyes are bright blue, and his face has an almost neutral expression although it looks as if he's concentrating. He's wearing a plain white T shirt against a light grey background. HayWire - an 18 year old young man - he has fly away blonde hair and blue eyes - in this relaxed pose he has a thoughtful and neutral expression - he is wearing a white T shirt copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
December 5, 2025 at 9:47 AM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 4 Dec 'city'

2450AD The old charm of the city of Lancaster returned

#scifi #SlenderWolf #LaekDistict #horses #writingCommunity #IndieAuthor #ships #survival #Lancaster
SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 1 Connectedness Soon after the cars vanished from Lancaster, everyday life changed. New homes and businesses replaced the superfluous roads, and a new vitality established itself across the city. The ugliness of the street furniture and the road signs gave way to beautiful tree lined boulevards. No more tarmac and no more yellow lines. Just more people, more social interaction, and a greater sense of community. The old charm of the city of Lancaster returned. copyright © Scott Rochester 2025 A simple diagrammatic map of the city of Lancaster, UK, in the year 2450AD. The true names and locations are the River Lune, Skerton (north of the river) and Williamson Park. Brown shading highlights the new docks, the new Garrison and the authentic Williamson Park. The city centre has some buildings with no explanation due to the scale of this map. The other names and places are fictitious. In different shades of green, the whole city is formed of four districts, Broadlands, Willowdene, Fairfield Downs and Burton Hill. Some major roads are shown and are largely a faithful representation of the current layout. Other prominent features from the novel are numbered and explained in a Key top left (which has the character of a medieval scroll). It appears that The Noble Coliseum is on the site of Lancaster Castle. copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
December 4, 2025 at 11:38 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 4 Dec 'dominant'

Colston Hill beyond Penny Bridge beyond #Ulverston is a special place for KristalClear and NutJob

The lone Scots Pine

It’s fiction, when I went there it was all #eldeberry,#hawthorn #Elm and #Ash trees

#scifi #SlenderWolf #flora #LakeDistict#IndieAuthor
Book 2 extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 34 On the Wolf Wavelength They pause to admire the small, odd, final tree, for its endurance if little else. Presumably stunted and sculpted by years of relentless wind. Defiantly surviving in the thin soil, a Scots Pine with a peculiar twisted trunk stands alone. The stark, skeletal arrangements of a few gnarly, sinuous branches present a layer of shallow, flattened crowns. The paucity of malachite pine needles contrasts with the dominant mix of terracotta colours. It’s the unbending tufts of green that give this solitary tree an intriguing, resilient beauty. a photo of a Scots Pine tree which inspired that narrative copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
December 4, 2025 at 6:54 AM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 3 Dec 'Percent'

As well as explaining to the two demi-psychics why they have been chosen

Merlin goes on to explain that he is 100% Welsh

#scifi #SlenderWolf #Beaumaris #education #writingCommunity #booksky #Welsh
Book 2 extract SlenderWolf In With the In Crowd Chapter 16 Merlin’s Miasma Monologue They say I was born from a virgin and a demon in 1116AD. I told Geoffrey of Monmouth to say that I’m older. I’m Welsh. My name is Emrys, but everybody calls me Merlin. Some things never change, eh? NutJob and BarmyWaffle will know what it feels like to have multiple names! I told Gildas that I was born in Amesbury, at the height of the Roman Empire in 117AD, just as Hadrian was becoming emperor. By 450AD I was in, what you would call, my teenage years. Gildas called me "Ambrosius Aurelianus” and made me into an early Briton with Roman heritage. But I’m a Celt, I’m 100% Welsh! I was born in Beaumaris long before that, back in the eight century BC. And I’m an old man now, I might only live another one thousand years. In your years, you might think of me as being about 75 and I might live to be 100. I’ve travelled far and wide. I’ve chatted with Socrates and Plato, with Hadrian and Aurelius, with King Arthur and King Solomon, with Da Vinci and Copernicus. With Gandalf and Dumbledore. Enigmas are an interesting species! We like humans and we often appear in human form. But I like having wings, so mainly I choose to be a goldfinch. It’s a common misconception - I’m not a wizard - I am an Enigma - I blame Monmouth, less so Gildas As an enigma, you should take care - I could be a horse, or a wolf, if I choose, or a human. Treat all animals with respect, you don’t know who they really are. A colour drawing of a European Goldfinch perched on a twig. Red and black plumage on its face, bold black wings with flashes of bright yellow and a variety of white and tawny feathers across its breast and back. copyright © Scott Rochester 2026
December 3, 2025 at 7:21 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 2 Dec 'belong'

a WorringFolk #Pirate ship has been disabled by a Leinster Capitan, in the coastal Waters of Meirionydd with a Manx major on the scene,

Who does the captured warship belong to?

#scifi #SlenderWolf #pirates #battles #ships #bookSky #Lancaster #Welsh #Manx #Irish
Book 2 extract SlenderWolf In With the In Crowd Chapter 19 The Second Battle of Fflint “This is the Major’s old ship, The Magnus Barefoot, registered in Douglas. And I think she might be going back there. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the Major capture her and all her crew?” DustyOldFossil swallows hard. SandyBeech is being overly generous, and he knows it. And at the same time he knows that he’s serving with the Byddin and is on Meirionydd soil. “If that were true, then that would make this a Cedyrn vessel now?” There’s something else in the back of his mind, but he’s not ready to say anything yet. He’d rather not be the one who captured, a ship, because that would mean taking him back home. And he doesn’t what to leave Fflint. How can sidestep this issue? “If it doesn’t now belong to the Láigen, than it surely belongs to the Cedyrn?” Cerddwr looks at them both. SandyBeech does a French gallic shrug, she doesn’t need an old damaged cargo ship which a bunch of pirates have messed up. Cerddwr spots the opportunity to resolve the question here and now. “As I’m the only duly appointed legal officer of Meirionydd, present here right now, I have to ask you to show me your ID card Major. Please!” The Major complies. “This is a Manx Sidooryn ID. I think that means that the Sidooryn has seized this vessel? Does anybody disagree with me?” Of course, nobody disagrees, and Cerddwr smiles broadly. A silhouette of a 3 masted sailing ship, set against an amber sky and amber sea copyright © Scott Rochester 2026
December 2, 2025 at 8:15 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 27 Nov 'impede'

OpenMike asks AuntSylvie to help him do some clothes shopping

stop me from buying anything that looks absolutely ridiculous!

#scifi #SlenderWolf #booksky #writingCommunity #IndieAuthor #Lancaster
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 42 Suited and Booted “I wasn’t planning on spending a lot of money!” he says. “Or buying anything outrageous! I just thought I might buy a nice new tie.” AuntSylvie looks at him with her side eyes. He’s not known for wearing ties. “OK, I was thinking about a loud, brightly coloured tie. One that would be nice for the graduation ceremony. Tops Ties are famous you know. All I want you to do is stop me from buying anything that looks absolutely ridiculous!” A watercolour painting of the school teacher Michael Rafone. In his late twenties, he has a pleasant smile and looks like a decent bloke, well groomed, dark brown hair and deep chestnut eyes. He's wearing a black suit jacket and a white shirt, but no tie. In his late twenties, he has a pleasant smile and looks like a decent bloke. The image is labelled OpenMike which is the name he uses every week at the Noble Coliseum when he hosts Saturday Night Fun Night. A watercolour painting of Aunt Sylvie, the Governess of the Noble Coliseum, smiling without parting her lips. Aged about 30, she has beautiful, long, hazel brown hair and light chestnut brown eyes. She is wearing a simple pale yellow blouse, light cosmetics, no jewellery not even earrings, allowing her natural beauty to stand out. The images is labelled AuntSylvie. copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
November 27, 2025 at 8:15 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 26 Nov 'system'

The Romantics take turns paying for their meals out

it's his turn to pay, and she points out later in the chapter, it’s actually her turn (but she was just trying to minimise friction)

#scifi #SlenderWolf #horses#writingCommunity #IndieAuthor #Lancaster
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 39 Sympathy and Patience “Mum, look!” says AngryBard, “that’s NutJob, and there’s KristalClear .” AngryBard gets their attention. And without really asking them, nor asking his mum, he manages to guide them to his table on the terrace. Well aware that AngryBard’s real name is Andy Barr NutJob says “Mrs Barr, how do you do? I’m Dave, and this is Kristal.” “Please join us,” she says, “are you having lunch?” Unsure if that was an invitation to have lunch on them, KristalClear quickly says, “we have a system, it’s my turn to pay, we’ll place an order for us, if that’s OK?” “This place is always popular on Wednesdays,” says NutJob, “what brings you here today?” We’re going to the library,” says AngryBard. “He loves reading,” says Mrs Barr, “he gets it from his dad. Billy’s one of the librarians. Andy has always loved story time. Ever since he was little, his dad would read to him every night.” “Do you work at the library too?” asks KristalClear. “No, I work at Thrifty.” “Thrifty?” responds NutJob, “the Noble Coliseum’s charity shop on Penny Street?” “It’s a thrift shop rather than a charity shop”, says Mrs Barr, “it benefits everybody.” Watercolour paintings of a 3 youngsters. A watercolour painting of a 13 year old boy- he has neat dark brown hair, trimmed nicely at the sides and plentiful on top with a faint wave. His eyes are a beautiful blue. His face has an almost neutral expression with the merest hint of a smile. He is wearing a white T shirt against a plain grey background. The image is labelled AngryBard. He’s never angry unless you interfere with his book reading habit. She has dark brown wavy hair which stops just short of her collar. Her deep brown eyes are looking at something (a school pupil) out of shot on her left. Her expression is neutral, although she looks as if she might be about to frown. She has tiny gold stud earrings and modest cosmetics. She is wearing an open neck, mediu…
November 26, 2025 at 10:07 AM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#NovemberWorldbuilders 24 Nov 'an ancestor and an event'

The girlfriend has brought home the new boyfriend for the first time.

Monsieur and Madame Troyes are not the only ones in for a surprise.

The French Pirate

#scifi #SlenderWolf #horses #pirates #writingCommunity #IndieAuthor #Lancaster
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 16 The French Pirate “So you’re 1% French?” “It doesn’t feel like that! I’m just the same as everybody else here. In our case, you have to go back 300 years to trace the original Monsieur Troyes.” “Why did he leave France?” “The Great Famine!” At that precise moment a minor crashing noise is heard from the kitchen. As if somebody has dropped a plate on the floor, breaking it into four or five pieces. “The Great Famine? In 2162?” “2162 was the year of The Decimation. The famine came a little bit later. Anyway, he was trying to find a better life, away from Paris, and he ended up in the Navy. He was captured in the Second Battle of Hastings, imprisoned in Woolwich, and on his release he chose to go into London rather than go back to France.” “Why did he join the Navy, why didn’t he stay in Paris?” KristalClear knows the story well, but has never had to lead a discussion like this before. “Originally, he had a good job, with a good family, working as a groom in their stables. Dad says they had lots of horses, and Monsieur Troyes was part of a big team. He was really happy there. Then it all went wrong. No petrol for cars. Trucks couldn’t deliver goods to the shops. People couldn’t buy food. The black market took over … and … and …” KristalClear’s eyes are beginning to well up with tears. Not because of what happened to M. Troyes, but because of what happened to the family’s horses. copyright © Scott Rochester 2025 Watercolour paintings of a couple in their late thirties. She has dark brown wavy hair which stops just short of her collar. Her deep brown eyes are looking at something (a school pupil) out of shot on her left. Her expression is neutral, although she looks as if she might be about to frown. She has tiny gold stud earrings and modest cosmetics. She is wearing an open neck, medium blue blouse. The image is labelled “Bubbles”. He has short, well groomed, dark brown hair and deep brown eyes. His expression is neutral, yet pleasant. He looks like a man who likes to be focussed (on his work probably). He is wearing an open neck, blue denim shirt. The image is labelled HenriTroyes. Call him Henri or Henry, it's OK by him. Watercolour paintings of a two 16 year olds. A charming young man with neat well groomed brown hair, his eyes are bright blue, and his face has an almost neutral expression although it looks as if he's concentrating. He's wearing a plain white T shirt against a light grey background. The image is labelled NutJob. An attractive young girl aged 16. She has long straight, deep brown hair and her eyes are chestnut coloured. Her face has a gentle expression with a hint of a smile. Her plain T shirt is white. The image has a pale grey backdrop, and is labelled KristalClear. copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
November 24, 2025 at 1:02 AM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 23 Nov 'global'

Due to #GlobalWarming sea levels have risen. Everywhere experiences #floods and #famine.

www.scottrochester.com/scott_roches...

#scifi #SlenderWolf #writingCommunity #IndieAuthor #ClimateChange #sustainability #engineering
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 9 Floods and Famine The Provost begins. “More than 200 years ago, the exhaustion of fossil fuels changed industry and agriculture dramatically. The Great Famine reduced the population of the world almost by half. Rising sea levels wrought havoc on coasts and low lying areas. Some powerful nations declined, and some smaller places rose in importance dramatically.” “What was once London became a chaotic place, sparsely populated by the Chalkies and beyond that, the Swampies. The North Sea reclaimed much of East Anglia, Essex and Kent. The posh houses in Kensington and Chelsea were under water. The parts of the City and the West End which hadn’t been flooded were now landscapes of detritus where once there had been thriving businesses and commerce.” “Drinking water became scarce, forcing widespread migration. Inland! text - copyright © Scott Rochester 2025 A stock photo of some refugees walking along a dirt track between two fields of maize.
November 23, 2025 at 3:14 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 22 Nov 'crystal'

Just before the graduation ceremony, NutJob's parents have shared a snippet of his school report with KristalClear's parents.

Now he wants them to reciprocate.

#scifi #SlenderWolf #IndieAuthor #literacy #survival #bookSky #Lancaster
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 43 The CounterPlexity Ball NutJob whispers to KristalClear, “do you think your mum could be persuaded to tell me what’s in your report?” KristalClear says nothing. NutJob is not demi-psychic, but the non verbal response is crystal clear. Image: A watercolour painting of an attractive young girl aged 16. She has long straight, deep brown hair and her eyes are chestnut coloured. Her face has a gentle expression with a hint of a smile. Her plain T shirt is white. The image has a pale grey backdrop, and is labelled KristalClear. A watercolour picture of a charming young man aged 16. He has neat well groomed brown hair, his eyes are bright blue, and his face has an almost neutral expression although it looks as if he's concentrating. He's wearing a plain white T shirt against a light grey background. The image is labelled NutJob. copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
November 22, 2025 at 1:37 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 20 Nov 'direction'

KristalClear is listening as CandiCrush and BarmyWaffle explain the mass migration of approx 2200AD

#scifi #SlenderWolf #Wallasey #RefugeeCrisis #MerseySide #migration #writingCommunity #bookSky
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 7 Missing “That’s a tough one!” says CandiCrush, “Barmy is older than me, so he might know more, but basically the history is a bit of fact and a bit of guesswork. For hundreds of years we’ve relied on defectors, and prisoners of war, to help us piece together a picture of what’s happening inside Worringfolk.” Earnestly, BarmyWaffle says, “this is all a generalisation you understand, the communities along the River Mersey had some charming people and some tedious people. The ones who originally came from Mannin and Leinster went back home. The charming ones in the remaining population basically upped sticks and moved out. In all directions. Many of them came north to what is now Wolfland. When the vineyards first started to appear many people chose to go to Meirionydd. That left an imbalance in Worringfolk, with lots of tedious people remaining.” “But they still had a police force, and law and order, didn’t they?” asks KristalClear, “and a Garrison or whatever it was called back then?” 3 watercolour paintings KristalClear - an attractive young girl aged 16. She has beautiful long straight deep brown hair and her eyes are chestnut coloured. Her face has a gentle expression with a hint of a smile. She is wearing a plain white T shirt CandiCrush - a smart, attractive 33 year old female military officer with chestnut coloured eyes, and medium ash brown hair. Her hair is brushed back into a tight bun behind her head. There's a look of concentration on her face and she has a hint of a smile. She's wearing MTPs (Multi Terrain Pattern, AKA camouflage). BarmyWaffle - a 60 year old man with receding grey hair and frameless glasses. He is wearing a white lab coat over a light blue shirt, and has a dark navy tie. He looks like the archetypal scientist. He has a serious look on his face copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
November 21, 2025 at 7:50 AM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 20 Nov 'special'

SugarPeg has a special recipe for shortbread

She invented phony margarine, but nobody liked the name!

#scifi #SlenderWolf #Wallasey #TheWirral #pirates #writingCommunity #bookSky
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 4 The ChessClub A small, brown paper packet of homemade biscuits is placed on the table. Crony shortbread is a local speciality, made with Crony margarine. It’s not proper margarine. SugarPeg invented phony margarine, but nobody liked the name, so she had to change it. Crony margarine is close enough to the truth. A watercolour painting of a 55 year old lady with grey hair, which is styled in a tidy bob. She has chestnut coloured eyes, but no cosmetics and no jewellery. She is wearing a simple navy blue top. With an obvious look of disapproval, but not a fully fledged frown, she is looking towards something out of shot on her left. The image is labelled SugarPeg. copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
November 20, 2025 at 10:08 AM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 19 Nov 'third'

KristalClear and NutJob have a #wolf to deal with.

Constable Burgess and CrankyHandle are playing the good Samaritans.

#scifi #SlenderWolf #Ulverston #ColstonHill #PennyBridge #pirates #writingCommunity #IndieAuthor #survival #bookSky #Lancaster
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 34 On the Wolf Wavelength Bringing his hand to his forehead for a third time now, CrankyHandle says, “I don’t know what to make of young people these days, in my day you just went to school, then you went to work, and you stayed away from wolves!” “So, NutJob,” says Burgess, “any bright ideas about what we need?” A water colour painting of a canal lock keeper aged about 55 years old. He has a gentle smile. He’s wearing old fashioned clothes, a russet coloured flat cap (typical of Yorkshire), a brown suede waistcoat, and a collarless, button up shirt in beige. The image is labelled CrankyHandle. A water colour painting of a British police officer aged about 35 years old and looking smart and authoritative. He is wearing a peaked cap with a chequered band, and a silver badge depicting a wolf's head. White shirt, black tie, and a black tunic with silver buttons. The image is labelled Constable Burgess. copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
November 19, 2025 at 1:44 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
if it's powered by the wind, say so @theguardian.com

it is not powered by sails!

#sustainability #stupidjournalism #writingcommunity

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
screen shot saying Two semi-rigid sails made of carbon and fibreglass power the Neoliner Origin
November 19, 2025 at 6:38 AM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 18 Nov 'retrograde' (OK. let’s try ‘backward’)

SpudGunn is not particularly bright.

As a result, he's not having a good day.

And it's about to get worse

#scifi #SlenderWolf #Merseyside #pirates #writingCommunity #ships #bookSky
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 12 Bronze Silver and Gold BlackDog continues his uninspiring motivational speech as SpudGunn jams his hands into his pockets. His chin begins to quiver and he’s on the verge of blubbering when he notices the Captain’s lieutenant. “It’s a girl!” he exclaims loudly, and steps backwards. “Mr Buffoon,” howls BlackCloud in his high pitched falsetto voice, “this is not a maternity ward!” SpudGunn stumbles backwards and falls over. Unable to break his fall because his hands are still in his pockets, he lands awkwardly, striking the back of his head on the concrete. But not badly enough to become unconscious, just semi conscious, which after all is the normal frame of mind for SpudGunn. Image: A watercolour painting of a pirate Captain. A 40 year old man with short dark hair and dark hazel coloured eyes. He is a short, slim, smartly dressed man with a moustache, and a calm expression on his face. A tactician not a warrior. He has a blue jacket with gold buttons, over a plain white shirt and he’s wearing a black tricorn hat with gold edging. Out of shot, his weapon of choice is a narrow rapier. The image is labelled BlackCloud. A watercolour picture of a 30 year old fat man with dark brown, wind-tousled hair, which is receding a little. He is wearing a beige shirt and a khaki jacket. He has sad brown eyes, and an anxious look on his face. He hasn't shaved for a week and generally looks clueless. The image is labelled SpudGunn copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
November 18, 2025 at 6:16 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 17 Nov 'spend'

KristalClear and CandiCrush are talking about men. And gold. And #army life.

Chapter 10

As Good as Gold

#scifi #SlenderWolf #horses #wales #gold #romance
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 10 As Good as Gold As they walk down to the stables they start chatting about their earrings. They’re made with Meirionydd gold from the mine in Dolgellau. “Married personnel can also wear a plain gold wedding ring if they want to.” KristalClear looks at CandiCrush’s left hand. “You don’t.” “I’m not married!” “No, neither am I!” “You’re young! Plenty of time. I spend half my life at sea. I just haven’t met the right man yet.” “How old are you? If you don’t mind me asking?” “Thirty three. I’m not going to make Captain, that’s for sure. Too few positions to be filled.” CandiCrush takes a slow deep breath, “I could try to find a permanent position on shore, or I could leave the Garrison now if I wanted to.” She turns to look KristalClear directly in the eye, and she summons up a weak smile, “I’m not sure if I’d fit into civvy street, the Garrison has been my life.” A watercolour painting of an attractive young girl aged 16. She has beautiful long straight deep brown hair and her eyes are chestnut coloured. Her face has a gentle expression with a hint of a smile. She is wearing a plain white T shirt (and blue jeans out of shot). The image is labelled KristalClear (she is demi-psychic but cannot read human minds, only animals). A watercolour painting of a smart, attractive 33 year old female military officer with chestnut coloured eyes, and medium ash brown hair. Her hair is brushed back into a tight bun behind her head. There's a look of concentration on her face and she has a hint of a smile. She's wearing gold stud earrings, dark eye shadow, and pale pink lipstick. Over a dark olive T shirt Commander Crush is wearing MTPs (Multi Terrain Pattern, AKA camouflage). The image is labelled CandiCrush. copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
November 17, 2025 at 10:52 AM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#WIPsnips 14 Nov 'Week'

Mrs Moore is away on Mannin (Isle of Man)

And MaxChaos is bugging her daughter Conning.

#scifi #SlenderWolf #horses #UKeduChat #writingCommunity #battles #ships #Lancaster #Manx #ShowTime
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 26 Fate Rewards the Brave he sees Conning working the desk alone. Normally Mrs Moore works the desk. This looks like a perfect chance. MaxChaos is trying to play it cool. A clumsy sort of cool. A chaotic cool. The sort of thing that led to his nickname. He steps up to the desk. “Where’s your mum, I thought she’d be here?” “She’s got a week off.” “A weak cough? Will she be here tomorrow?” “No, not a weak cough, a week off, she’s spending a week on Mannin.” “She’s on a man hunt? She wants a man?” “Max, stop winding me up. You know what I mean, you’ve been to Mannin haven’t you?” A watercolour painting of a bearded young man aged about twenty posing for a headshot - he has long hair down to the top of his shoulders with a colour that varies from brown to light brown - the beard is well groomed and his hair is neat if a bit long - his eyes are blue - his face has a neutral expression and it looks as if he has the merest hint of a frown - he is wearing a white T shirt - the image is labelled MaxChaos A watercolour painting of an attractive young girl aged 16. She has gorgeous long medium ash brown hair and her eyes are dark chestnut brown. Her face has a picture perfect smile revealing lovely white teeth. She is wearing a plain white T shirt (and blue jeans out of shot). The image is labelled Conning (Manx, pronounced KonYing, meaning bunny). copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
November 14, 2025 at 5:10 PM
scottrochester.bsky.social
#Wordweavers 14 Nov 'Does your SC have any insecurities?'

We are both SCs, and I can tell you for a fact that FullyCharged feels very insecure if he cannot get a daily dose of Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Signed: Hayley

#scifi #SlenderWolf #horses #UKeduChat #writingCommunity #battles #ShowTime
Book extract SlenderWolf Conflicts and Alliances Chapter 31 Behind the Scenes However, before OpenMike has a chance to say “and please be back in your seats in thirty minutes,” FullyCharged is off like a shot. Across the wall at the back of the hall, the catering staff have laid out four tables of drinks and treats. The volunteers RoughDi and ClaireVoyant are running the cake stall, next to Franklin and Faraday who are doing the teas and coffees. Fully provisioned with a chocolate chip cookie in each hand FullyCharged is hanging around at the back looking for SkippyNightmare, whilst he’s at the front looking for FullyCharged. As the teenagers amass at the back there’s always a blend of chaos and fun, hazard and triumph. Hayley succeeds in guiding all of her eight year old classmates together. Unfortunately, that also means that FullyCharged and SkippyNightmare are now at peak mischief. Madame Troyes never lets them sit together in her classroom! A watercolour painting of orphan Hayley, a sweet 8 year old girl, she has long brown hair and stunning hazel eyes - in this relaxed pose she has a calm neutral expression with a hint of a smile - she is wearing a white T shirt against a grey background - the image is labelled Hayley A watercolour painting of orphan FullyCharged, a hyperactive 8 year old boy, he has plenty of golden brown hair on top, which at the sides is neatly under control. His eyes are a deep chestnut colour - uncharacteristically calm in this pose he has a neutral expression with a hint of a smile - he is wearing a white T shirt - the image is labelled FullyCharged copyright © Scott Rochester 2025
November 14, 2025 at 4:58 PM