Something shifted in her eyes, as if it was no longer Sulaire speaking, but someone beyond her, distant as stars on a winter night. Her words came slowly, cool as wind and scorching as fire. ‘You ran… like… a red deer. Your totem… Red Deer.’

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No Maccas in the stone age. My people have to kill their own elks:

'Two spear-throws away, the elk stood motionless. Bhòid could see the tufty patches on his hide, the sharp hip-bones and hollow flanks––a tough, old beast. Then slowly the elk lumbered away through the reeds, limping.'

'Local' isn't part of my stone-age vocabulary, but place is important, especially the Island of Bute, where I lived as a child, and most of Water-stone is set. My characters call it 'Eilean' (island in Gaelic) and have just claimed it as their 'Belonging'.

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Success on the estuary

Last summer, the Australian Pied Oystercatchers who live on an island in our estuary, brought their two adolescents to visit us during a king tide. I'd seen them as babies when out kayaking. This morning I saw this year's babies from my kayak. Too far away to photograph.

My WIP is Water-stone, set on the Island of Bute in Stone-Age Scotland. Sulaire, a gifted healer, has just stood up to the High Priestess Sagart, and become wise woman of the Gannet Clan. But at what cost? Will the Gannets have to retreat to their Dun at the south of Eileen?
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Choosing the right stone to sling: a metaphor for writing a scene in fiction.

charlotteclutterbuck.com/3-ways-to-us...

Brahminy Kite, Mangroves, Davistown

Seen from my kayak recently. They are only just moving this far south. Last time I saw one, my bird app wanted me to prove the sighting. This time it just accepted it.

Little Pied Cormorant, morning mist.

Where's Granny?

One of the more challenging items found in our estuary and brought home on my kayak.

Measuring with coffee spoons

The language of measurement can help writers generate new metaphors . Not the metric system ('he centimetred himself carefully away from the cliff's edge'), but good old body measurements: hands, fathoms, feet, cubits.
charlotteclutterbuck.com/measurement-...

Young sea eagle seen from my kayak, early morning.A