Hi everyone.

I never liked English at school and wasn't much of a reader as I was too obsessed with art and music. However, I did enjoy making up stories in my head, usually when I struggled to sleep. Soon I'd collected a few ideas which I revisited from time to time, but it never occurred to write them down because the thought of me being a writer seemed a bit of a joke. How could someone with such awful handwriting and spelling, who barely understood anything about grammar be a writer?

Anyway, one day I was working through one story that had been growing in my head for years and was trying to follow the conversation my lead character was having but kept getting lost. In frustration I switched on the computer, opened a page and started to type. Yes - bad handwriting but ... touch typist! So I started this conversation, gave all the extras random names and a whole new world just opened up to me. Have you noticed how your characters just take over and start talking themselves? I would be amused, fascinated ... even shocked by some of the things they came out with, and how people I'd just casually made up so my heroes could have someone to talk to would suddenly become more interesting than the leads themselves.

So, I've been writing my own fantasy stories for a good few years now and have quite a collection in various stages of development on USB sticks. I keep wanting to share them with people but feel strangely nervous and possessive of them. Suddenly obsessed with Merlin at the start of Series 3, I started to read a few fanfics. Then a conversation on a discussion board made me suddenly think of an idea which quickly became a short story 'The Stone of Time' and ... here I am.

Anyway, thanks you for all your lovely comments, alerts and reviews - they mean a lot.

You can also keep in touch with me at TUMBLR, (and my side account for non-Merlin) TWITTER or DEVIANT ART

Keep reading and writing.

Jaq

Latest:

Update news:

The Prince Next Door another (crazy) canon era AU

Summary: During Robert's Rebellion, Rhaegar receives a warning about King Aerys' state of mind and decides to get his family out of King's Landing and to relative safety. Jon and Dany then grow up as close neighbours and best friends, only later suspecting that there's rather more going on than meets the eye.

Act 1: Playing Dragons Published.

Act 2: Ruling Dragons Published

Act 3: Fighting Dragons Published

Act 4: Sensing Dragons Being Published

Ch 23: 23/10/18

Ch 24: 4/11/18

Act 5: Being Dragons Roughly Written

Ch 25: 11/11/18

Ch 26: 18/11/18

Ch 27: 25/11/18

Ch 28: 2/12/18

Ch 29: 9/12/18

Ch 30: 16/12/18

Act 6: Forging Dragons. In Planning

Jaq xxx - Chapters listed are roughly written as of 24th October 2018

The photo manip by Wil1969 which inspired this whole latest book of 'Master of Time' can be found on my Tumblr page

List of Names for MT: Advisor of Kings

Arthur – Æthelstan (King Edward's eldest son)

Gwen – Æthelflaed (King Edward's sister)

Leon – Æthelred of Mercia

Gwaine – Edward

Elyan – Ælfthryth (Gwen's second brother)

Lancelot – Edmund

Percival - Godric

Gaius - Eadric. (Teacher/scholar in Gwen's household)

Nimueh – Ecgwynn

Morgause – Elfleda

Morgana – Edgiva

Mordred - Edwin

Ælfweard – Edward's eldest son by his first queen/second wife.

Eadgar – Arthur's friend

Click here for a map of England at this point in history.

Trying to keep my PP a bit shorter and so am taking out the list of Names for 'The Tricoloured Dragon'

If you're a new reader and would like to have a reference list you can find it under a spoiler tag HERE.

JAQ'S LINKS:

1) An Unexpected Job

Well, not directly connected but it does work a bit and I've mentioned the link in chapter 10 and so ... here's a great Mergana video by colinwheel.

2) Kilgharrah's & Merlin the 'Saucerer'

Chapter 4/2: Morgana takes Merlin's picture and is pleasantly surprised by the results. Inspired by this photo of the wonderful Colin Morgan

Chapter 5/3: Merlin tells Morgana that his surname is Wyllt. The double L in Welsh is very tricky to describe in words. See this link for an idea of the pronounciation of Ll.

Chapter 4/2 & 9: Morgana's photo of Arthur

Merlin really is a good cook! Screen shot from 4.04 (No spoilers)

3) King Arthur's Ward

Chapter 5: Merlin visits the kitchens to collect Arthur's breakfast and is confronted by the cook. Imagine my delight on watching 4.01 and seeing those very same kitchens with Cookie in all her glory. Yes, she was a little less affectionate to Merlin at this point but, give her a couple of years with his status improving a little and you just know she'll mellow a bit.

4) Sensing Magic (also 'The Invisible Servant', 'King Arthur's Chronicles' and various chapters from 'The Eyes To See' and 'The Heart To Know')

This wonderful fanart by Colinwheel works well for this fic the best, but is just a generally brilliant Mergana picture.

5) The Tricoloured Dragon artwork (By Wil1969)

The Tricoloured Dragon (by jaqtkd)

Erin the Raven (video of Tower of London raven)

6) We Loyal Traitors on The Heart of Camelot complete with artwork.

last edit - 14/2/18