Seal upon thine Heart

[lindahoyland]

I recently wrote a sequel to "Stranger at the Gates" for my friend, Julia's birthday.

Much to my delight I have been given permission by Rachel to use her beautiful artwork to illustrate the story.

You can read it here and see the illustrations.

It is a dream come true to have artwork for a story!

http://lindahoyland.yolasite.com/seal-upon-thine-heart.php

Wishing all my friends here a very Happy Easter.

Comments

[mrowe.livejournal.com]

I must admit I briefly lost concentration at His shoulders were broad and well muscled, his belly flat without an ounce of surplus flesh, while his limbs were long and graceful. A few fading bruises marred the beauty of his form. Only a dusting of hair across the broad chest proclaimed him as Man rather than Elf, so Elven-fair was Aragorn. and She wanted to trace her fingers across his chest and feel his muscles ripple against her fingertips, but this is a lovely retelling of the meeting on Cerin Amroth:) especially with including Galadriel's thoughts on it all, which we get to see all too rarely.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I must admit I had fun describing my dream Aragorn from Arwen's point of view! I'm delighted you enjoyed the story.

[juliaaurelia.livejournal.com]

The illustrations are beautiful and go perfectly with the story!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Thank you. aren't I so lucky to get them?

[someplacetobe.livejournal.com]

I'm going to comment later on the actual story but, right now, I"m making chocolate brownies! This, though, caught my eye:
It is a dream come true to have artwork for a story!

Yes, it is a dream come true and a tremendous thrill when someone likes your story so much that they're willing to illustrate for you! I speak from experience as someone once offered to illustrate a story that I'd written, years ago, and I was very excited as they were willing to do it simply from the first draft!

Unfortunately, they never got the chance to actually do the illustrations (at least to my knowledge) due to that 'dreaded' thing called a life butting in and other opportunities took the artist's attention to other things.

What this all means is that I'm veryveryveryvery thrilled that someone did that for you! I'm looking forward to reading the story for which this happened and seeing the illustrations themselves.

Congratulations!

[someplacetobe.livejournal.com]

What comes to mind at first is sweet. This was very well-written. Very sweet.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I'm so pleased you enjoyed the story as I don't often try writing romance.

[someplacetobe.livejournal.com]

Does writing romance make you a little nervous as you don't try it often?

It was a very lovely story - it was very sweet and you could tell how much Arwen and Aragorn were in love with each other. I also liked that you got to see Galadriel's grief as well when that happened; it made her actions regarding the romance between Aragorn and Arwen that much more ... poignant, I think.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

What a shame you never got your illustrations!

Rachel had actually been inspired by the relevant passages in Tolkien and reading my story encouraged her to share her artwork, which she then kindly allowed me to use. I am very fortunate!

[someplacetobe.livejournal.com]

What a shame you never got your illustrations!
It is but one day, I hope, I’ll have that chance again!

Rachel had actually been inspired by the relevant passages in Tolkien and reading my story encouraged her to share her artwork, which she then kindly allowed me to use. I am very fortunate!
I saw the artwork and it was absolutely gorgeous and very well-placed and fitting for the story. You were very fortunate to know such a lovely person (and a great artist! My breath was stolen by how well done that art was!).