The musings of fluttering hummingbirds inspired Deschian flutterlings, and the reverence with which they are observed.

It has oft come to mind what these rapid blurs of seemingly intentive motion have in mind for their day.

Are they pursuing some dynastic aims of asserting for themselves a territory to pass down to their children?

Seeking sustenance from flowers and the strange, sweet contraptions hung by their human neighbors by windows and balconies?

Are they truly such simple creatures to merely consider food, rest, and a bit of whimsy?

Or do they offer us a microcosmic glimpse into what this place was, and will continue to be without our interference?

I find persistently a sense of meaning within these little creatures, and have allowed their potentiality for deeper purpose to be represented openly within Mournful Tides.

A shield can be come to known by the tales its surface plainly displays.

Dents, rends, battle damage – borne by wood and iron, but carried by blood and the pain of them that wield it.

A warrior’s life is saved often by, and writ boldly across, that which they carry to battle.

To a Vardyn, the shape of a shield bears no semblance of sentimentality, and scars across it carry no vainglorious pride. Shields are formed to survive whatever comes, with others alongside it, and serve the hold – just the same as the Winter warriors that carry them.

I dream often of fire.

Not of the destructive force through forests and man-made constructions we so easily fear, but of the history we hold alongside it.

What would we be, without the warmth of kindling and its gifts to offer us safe shelter, and safe sustenance?

Fire gave life to humanity, and still yet continues to – in seemingly more elegant ways, oft now lacking an indefinable sense of belonging.

Those that bore fire from place to place, to keep their people warm and guided in the Neolithic age are a marvel to me, and are worthy of all reverence.

Listen closely to the whispers of a low-blaze. There you will find ancient kinship, and perhaps ancient wisdoms.

Botanical fascination plays a major role in offering symbolism and functionality both to many aspects of my writing.

All included blooms – all pertinent to characters, cultures, and hidden meanings for the discerning reader – are based in arduously researched real-world analogues, and the many cultural interpretations of each, across many periods of our history as a species.

Following a fourteen-year career as a digital artist and marketing professional, I opened Boughaiven and began my journey as an author. I have leant on the skillsets of my earlier career toward ensuring Hushed Gods™ – Mournful Tides can be as beautiful a novel as I could manage.

All works within the book, and used to promote it, are wrought by my own hand. The level of effort toward this purity of form feels to me to be more than worth it, so that readers can experience this world unfiltered, as near to how wonderful it is in my mind as limitations of my own artistic ability could perform.

I am thankful toward many masters of storytelling and artful craftsperson-ship both, as their teachings have allowed this series to exist as it does today. My proudest achievement.


All my love,
Logan R Payne