My Muse Attack

All in a day’s work

by Claire Plaisted

“Claire what on earth are you doing to Fabia, who’s attacking her?” demanding Zoe, flying through the door, Jagan (thank the lord) a small drag on her hand blowing fire.

“Slow down Zoe, and please tell Jagan to stop his fire, I don’t want the fire alarms or sprinklers being set off again,” I told her sternly.

“Jagan,” she scolded.

“Sorry, it’s such fun,” he sighed, curling up to go to sleep.

“Fabia will be fine, she’s allowed to have an adventure too.”

“I don’t want her getting hurt.”

“I won’t get hurt, Zoe,” said a smiling voice from the door.

“Fabia,” she squealed, shoving Jagan in her pocket.

They ran to each other hugging, both talking at once.

“Girls, will you either calm down or get out of my office.

“Sorry Claire,” they grinned.

They sat on the sofa, clasped together giggling when Tristian from Fred the Evil Incarnate, walked in. They gawped, eyes wide.

“Yes Tristian?”

“What did you do with my son?”

“He went exploring.”

“Please find him.”

“Da da, I’m going to have an awesome adventure.”

Tristian’s youngest boy rushed through the door, his dark hair and grey eyes alight with excitement.

“Where too young man,” he said crouching down.

“Into the other worlds beyond the edge,” he replied.

I cringed, waiting for the explosion of temper, before he could Abraham from GIB walked in, his hands in his pockets. He looked tired and on edge.

“Abraham,” I murmured standing up and approaching him. “What’s wrong?”

“The world is going to go to hell!” he said looking down at me.

“What do you mean?”

“I met…oh never mind, just get ready to die, the world—” sighing he walked out again.

“What was that?” said Zoe?”

“That was Abraham, he works with Garrett Investigation Bureau,” I replied frowning as I sat back at my desk.

“What was he on about – the world going to hell stuff?” said Fabia. “Our world went to hell and is on the brink of returning to near normal again.”

“Tristian, meet Zoe and Fabia, best friends from a book called “The Princess of the Earth.”

“Hi,” he smiled down at them kindly. His son tugged on his dad’s hand. “Yes son?”

“Who’s that in the doorway?”

“Hey Cera, solved anymore riddles lately,” I grinned.

“No,” she scowled. I can’t find—”

“You can find anyone.”

“Those dratted faeries took her, I lost her track,” she snapped.

“Well get the heck out of here then and find her and hurry up. I want your novel on sale by this coming Christmas at the latest.”

“Charming, has to be my fault.”

“Well, you’re the one with the magic powers Cera, Black Cat.”

“Whatever,” she said as she changed into her cat form and padded out of my office, the others watched, their jaws dropping open.

“Get outta here you lot and go do your thinking, I need to get some of these draft stories finished.

There was a knock on my window. I looked out and nearly screamed, when I realised it was Paul the Moa with David his best friend. Quickly I jumped up and flung the windows open.

“Oh my, it’s two years since I last saw you too, how you have both grown.”

“Yeah Paul is quite scary now he’s twelve foot tall,” laughed David, with a cheerful grin.

“You must tell me your adventures, last time I was writing about you, Paul was only a baby and fast asleep.”

“We’ll stop by soon when you’re not so busy,” he replied.

Pulling on the bridle, Paul pecked me, making me laugh then lifted his head away and off the ran over my back garden, I looked now at the rather large footprints Paul left behind and winced, my gardener was not going to be pleased.

“What the hell was that thing, it looked like an overly large Ostrich,” gasped Eilish Garrett, who had entered my office while I was chatting with David.

“That was a Moa, a native New Zealand bird which was thought to be extinct.”

“It’s huge.”

“Maybe I’ll introduce you one day. Meanwhile, everyone out, I need my office back so I can finish at least one novel.

“Grumbling they left, though I knew I would be disturbed again soon. It was always the same with my muses. God help me when the Gothixies finally put in an appearance.

The door crashed open.

“When are you publishing my story?” demanded Jones.

“Another few weeks, now get out,” I was getting aggravated with them all.

“Touchy aren’t you,” he grinned and slammed out again.

“Just one more interruption and I’ll scream,” I muttered as I began to type once more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

Claire Plaisted lives in Palmerston North, New Zealand with her husband and son. At present, her daughters are in the UK. Palmerston North is a University City with plenty to do from walking tracks, an observatory, the Esplanade – Victoria Gardens and a huge shopping complex.

Claire is a Multi-genre Author, with side-lines in Genealogy where she researches and formats family history books for clients. Since this time, she has also developed a business to help Independent Authors with Independent Publishing.

Claire has published many books under several pen names. Four short stories, a series which is called ‘Garrett Investigation Bureau.’ One young adult fantasy, a mythical children’s story. Claire also has six contemporary romance novellas under her pen name ‘Beth Bayley.’ Claire also has a children’s book series called Girlie Adventures. The first three are now available. ‘Girlie and the War of the Wasps,’ ‘Girlie and the Quest for Pedi’s Family and ‘Girlie’s Circus Adventure.’ They are adventure stories for children from four years upwards. The first book is, in essence, about healthy eating. The second is about kicking and biting, and the third is about rescuing an animal from distinction.

Enjoy your lives and read a book.

Claire

Visit Claire at:  https://www.claireplaisted.wordpress.com