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Kimberly Warner's avatar

More more more! Emily this is STUNNING. I want to read it again, pausing on all your delicious phrasing that pulls me somehow deeper into my own body. “Some children grew like saplings; I grew like stone. Slow, silent, and certain.” Forgive me if I’ve missed this, but do you have more fiction out there in the world? And if not, look out world!

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

You are so kind Kimberly 😊 I had so much fun with this and got quite addicted! I very excited to write more - I have only written a couple of short pieces of fiction - one a children’s story about a fairy who was afraid of the dark, and one about an old woman finding love and happiness (they are buried in my Substack archives). I have another story that I have been longing to start for over a year, but too afraid that I wouldn’t be able to bring the idea to life (also too busy with so many other things.) This felt like a little tester to see if I might be able to pull it off. Your kindness is so encouraging and appreciated 💛✨ much love x

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Mary Hill Stone's avatar

This is food for the earth-child’s soul! I have but once visited the UK in my life so far. My father grew up in Edinburgh, but emigrated to the US as a teenager. He renounced his Scottish brogue on the boat trip to his newfound home of opportunity. Your rhythmic voice and soothing cantor brings me back to his occasional return to native tongue. Our family has always been drawn to the ocean and wilder coastlines. I loved the opening description of the spontaneous birth defining a passion for the rocky landscape of nature along the seashore. I look forward to reading/listening to more. Thank you.

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

You are very kind Mary, thank you. I have not visited Edinburgh, but I have heard that it is beautiful, with both wild and urban coastline, is that where you visited or was it somewhere else? How lovely to learn that your family are drawn to the ocean and wild coasts - I hope that you will enjoy the second part of Mira's story (I have added the link into the post) and I will share the third and final part, hopefully in June. Thank you for reading ✨🙏

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Mary Hill Stone's avatar

We traveled all around the west coast touring the National Trust Parks where my cousin had rehabilitated the stone walls. That’s funny, my first born child, Heather’s middle name is Mira.

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

The world is small and vast! How completely lovely to learn that your daughter’s middle name is Mira. I chose it because it means ocean in Sanskrit. My grandmother’s name was Heather 🥰 I lived in the midlands as a child and we visited the Peak District often and the Yorkshire Dales. I simply adore the landscape there. So beautiful 💛✨

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Danielle Uhl's avatar

This is beautiful! Please tell me you’re writing books I can read!!!

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Thank you Danielle, that’s so kind. I sort of am!! I wrote a short children’s story about a fairy who was afraid of the dark and I have the plot for a children’s hidden world fantasy novel in my mind. This was my first time experimenting with fiction but I found it so addictive, I think I might well be hooked!! 💛✨

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Danielle Uhl's avatar

This part one just felt so naturally like it was part of a longer fiction book! You should! <3

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Susan Earlam's avatar

That's what I said too 👏🏻

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Susie Mawhinney's avatar

Emily, you have so many strings.... I am speechless, I don't know where to begin... what an extraordinarily beautiful magic filled debut into fiction writing. I don't know whether my tears are because you've written like an angel or because I wish I had written it... either way, I think you are uncontrollably brilliant and I love this so so much!

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Susie, your words make me smile so much. The voices in my head kept asking me what I thought I was doing trying to write fiction and asking me, didn’t I already have enough going on, but I found myself addicted. The response has been overwhelming, I’m so grateful to you, beautiful soul, and all the beautiful souls who are so generous and kind with their comments. Much love xx

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Susie Mawhinney's avatar

I am not surprised this has received such a response Emily - it is more than worthy! I am slowly reading through the other stories in this project, the standard of writing and imagination is outstanding… you have found your place in the stars lovely - much love and praise. 💛✨xx

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Nick Buchheit's avatar

Reading this is like reading a poem. Love your use of language. The POV of Earth as a living breathing being works so well because you've painted it so clearly with your words. Bravo!

I look forward to the second part.

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Thank you Nick - I wasn't sure I could make it work so it's lovely to read your kind comments. I had not planned to write something that needed multiple parts, but it's just ended up like that!

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Nick Buchheit's avatar

You just gave yourself more work. At least it is of the good variety.

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Yep! Quite addictive!

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Janie's avatar

Loved this! Impatiently waiting for Part 2!

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Thank you Janie, that means so much 💛 I’d meant to write something much shorter and simpler for this project, but I fell down a rabbit hole!! I’m so pleased you enjoyed it x

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Susan Earlam's avatar

I loved the scope of this 😍😍👏🏻👏🏻 Felt very much like a larger body of work could come from it.

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

You’re very kind Susan, thank you. My plan to keep it simple and write something much shorter completely failed!

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

This is a very rich story. I like the second bit the most, love this-- "They say I was born in a scree of limestone and wild geranium, my lungs full of night wind and thyme." So many great images in that section, and the word play is wonderful.

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Rebecca, thank you so much for reading and for your kind words. I loved writing Mira’s story very much and I’m so pleased you’ve enjoy reading xx

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Eden Ariel's avatar

This is so stunningly written, so alive and deeply true! Beautiful tribute to our ancestors, origins, and the cycles of life that lie deeply embedded yet dormant within each of us, ready to be awakened 💚

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

You are very kind Eden, thank you so much for reading and for your lovely comments 💛🙏

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Eden Ariel's avatar

of course - thank you so much for writing!

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rebecca hooper's avatar

WHAT!!! I need more. This is incredible and I am hooked. What a gorgeous way you have with words 💚💚💚

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Andrea Fisher's avatar

...it's beautiful!

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Thank you Andrea ✨🙏

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Audhdpainter's avatar

Beautiful piece of writing 💖

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Thank you 💛✨

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KHM's avatar

I don’t always take time to listen to the recordings of writings but I was instantly captivated by the tone and rich language of this piece! Thank you for sharing this. The words and phrases truly are so beautiful!!

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

You are so very kind K, thank you for reading and listening, and taking the time to share your words. I appreciate this so much 💛

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Melissa Lee's avatar

This is beautiful writing, I was totally spellbound 😍

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Thank you for reading Melissa, I’m glad you enjoyed it 💛

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David Kirkby's avatar

Mmmm.... this drew me in, in part because the interleaved layers and history of geology and life fascinate me (my Post "Splash Zone" from 22 January).

Emily - is this part of a longer fiction work?

Best Wishes - Dave :)

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Again thank you David. It is part of a longer fiction work, I am planning on sharing part 2 soon! I will have look at your slash zone post 💛

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David Kirkby's avatar

Hi Emily. I look forward to it! In fact I just subscribed. (My apologies - only the free sub at this point. I have a number of paid subscriptions but there is a limit to how many I can afford).

If you ever care to look at Splash Zone, the link is here: https://davidkirkby.substack.com/p/splash-zone?r=471m47

Very best Wishes - Dave :)

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

So lovely to have you join me on this exploration David - thank you 💛

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Joseph Young's avatar

Nice work, Emily. Now I'm going to wiki the water bears. I didn't know about their tremendous resilience.

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Thanks Joseph, me neither, until the research for this post took me there!

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Sarah Moorcroft's avatar

Wow, I feel as though this was written on my heart, so deeply does it resonate. What wonderful, inspiring words, where fiction and reality live together in a liminal space.

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Oh my goodness Sarah, thank you for reading and for your kind words. I’m so sorry for missing your comment - I try very hard to read and reply to every one and I am so glad to have you join me to read the first part of Mira’s story. The second part is now published too - where Mira discovers a cave and her link to the memory in the stone. I’d be so honoured for your to read it if you have time 💛✨

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