Twelve Golden Windows: An Update

"Its time to update my readers on my WIP." I said to myself over a cup of coffee.

But then I realized I didn't actually tell you what my story was about. Or basically anything.

So here we go:


A partial blurb:

Karin didn’t come into town with the intention of trying to win Princess Farida’s hand in marriage. Who would be dumb enough to wager their life that they could complete the challenge, regardless of how beautiful she was? Not when ninety-nine heads already hung from the palace walls.

In fact, all he wanted was to stay in a nice bed, sample the city’s legendary wine, steal as much as he could carry and leave. But then he gets caught in a lie and finds himself in the royal palace with his only options being to tell the truth and be killed, try the challenge and possibly be killed…or escape. 

Twelve Golden Windows is a retelling of the Grimm Brother’s lesser known story, The Starfish. 

SOME RANDOM FACTS:

• It is based off of a lesser known Grimm's Fairy Tale, the Starfish. Which you probably can't find online.
   
• It is a stand alone novel
   
• Set in a fantasy world based off Ancient Persia
   
• Of course I made a pinterest board
   
• My favorite character to write is Karin
   
• Actually its the animals he runs into, but still. They're in his chapters
   
• It is dual narrated between Karin and Farida, the princess
   
• Even though her title is Princess, she is basically the Queen.  But she hasn't come of age yet...
   
• The princess and her three maids make up the four Hogwarts houses...And they are amazing.
   
• Kali (which is an African name meaning Energetic) is the Gryffindor. She is always ready to try new things, especially crazy things. In fact, the crazier the better)
   
• Dalia (an Arabic name meaning Flower) is the Hufflepuff. She's the voice of reason, stops fights (and Kali from doing stupid things) but she is also extremely loyal and will do anything for her friends.
  
  She is also the person who brings tea and hangs up lavender satchels in the wardrobes
   
• Nawa is the Slytherin (her name in Egyptian meaning Storm) and she is the eyes and ears of the operation. She knows all, sees all. And she suggests that they kill people and dump their body in the dessert if they're being problematic.
   
• If we're going through all the names, Farida is Arabic and means "unique, peerless, feminine."
   
• And Karin (which is also a traditional Arabic name) means *pauses to laugh*
  
  "Comrade, companion, spouse, accomplice, soul mate"
   
• I changed the story ever so slightly to match its new setting
   
• I plan on having the first draft done by the end of February/beginning of March
   
• My current word count is 3.021. (Which even considering that I only started last week, is pretty sad.)
   
• I'm on Chapter 3. (According to my plot, I should have 25-ish chapters, but we'll see)
   

Snippet!!!

“What brings you to our city then?” The Captain asked with a mocking smile. “The princess’s challenge?”

And Karin, who never was very good at telling the truth or listening to people underestimate him and who also had never heard of the princess’s challenge before, said, “Yes. Why? What makes you think I’m not?” 

So what do you think? Have you ever heard of The Starfish? Can YOU find a copy of it somewhere?
-Mary Kate