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Excerpt:
Pascal was late. Again. He stepped quickly over fallen logs and ducked low beneath swooping evergreen branches. Though the wilderness was dense in this part of the forest, he navigated it with remarkable ease. His footsteps as light as a whisper over treacherous mossy rocks. With each exhale, misty clouds formed in the shake of his breath, the biting cold of winter creeping all the way through the thickness of his coat. He pulled his collar tighter to forbid the chill from entering even more.
Yet, as he walked, his mind strayed from his course, far from the natural beauty surrounding him.
He muttered under his breath as he walked over the gnarled roots, every step a cautious dance. He slipped and slid in his frequent eff orts to stoop under even more pointy twigs of evergreen that sought to block his path, to grab him as he passed. Pascal had taken this route countless times before, and today, that thought was a frustrating one.
After spending the majority of his life at the orphanage, he wanted nothing more than to leave, to see the world, to taste all that lay unseen and undiscovered. He would soon have that opportunity. Yet, knowing that he’d soon be graduating also left him uneasy.
Can I even handle surviving on my own? He wondered. I´ve always had the comfort of Mistress Alma and the orphanage to look after me.
The bittersweet longing left him conflicted and a little in secure, truth be told. How would he know when he was ready? What threshold would he finally cross?
The forest, usually a great source of comfort and solace, felt somehow different on this day. It seemed to be echoing his inner turmoil, causing him to lose all sense of time.
The sun stretched over the tree line of the Quiet Wilds, reminding him that his walk should have ended about fifteen minutes ago. He picked up his pace.
Great. The last thing I wanted to do was disappoint Mistress Alma. And miss dinner.
The final approach was quick, as he nearly ran the remaining half-mile. Once he spotted the entrance, he slipped in with stealth. The mess hall was already full. He’d have to wait for the perfect moment to sneak inside.
“Have you seen Pascal?”
Whispers spread through the orphanage’s mess hall like wildfire as the children ate their typical meal for a Wednesday night: potatoes and vegetable stew. A classic, one that Pascal didn’t want to miss.
When he peered around the corner, he spotted his friends Clarion and Danton exchanging a knowing glance. Surely, they were assuming he’d been caught up in his exploration outside the orphanage grounds. Which he had. In fact, that was exactly what he had done.
His eyes wandered down the table to Tania, one of the older girls at the orphanage, just as she was motioning for Mistress Alma. Damn. Of course, Tania would notice his absence. She never knew how to keep quiet about these sorts of things.
Removing her pince-nez glasses, Mistress Alma scanned over the mess hall. She rubbed at her eyes, which seemed to be sore at the day´s end, a fact that proved fortunate for Pascal. In her scan, she’d somehow managed to Miss Tania’s raised hand. She circled the room slowly and met children along the wall, all beaming in her presence.
Then, she turned on her heel to stride toward the kitchen, her simple brown dress and jacket flowing behind her.
Poor Tania was stretching her arm ever-higher, looking fit to burst from her efforts, but still, Mistress Alma did not see. That was a relief. Though, the win was short-lived; it was just a matter of time before she realized Pascal wasn´t present and that he was late again.
Once she disappeared into the kitchen, Pascal exhaled, his eyes glinting. This was the perfect opportunity. Yet, when he glanced around the mess hall at the tame expressions the children wore, he couldn’t suppress the urge to liven up their evening a bit more. After all, he’d been working on a few tricks that he could hardly wait to show them. Why not come in with a bang? He’d probably get in some amount of trouble anyway…
He walked around to the main mess hall entrance and burst through the doors with as much dramatic flair as he could muster. He flipped into a handstand, pressing his palms against the floor, and then strutted through the mess hall on his hands.
The room erupted in laughter. Pascal could never do things quietly.
Meet Andrés Rosas Hott, a fresh voice in the literary scene whose debut novel is a vibrant tapestry woven from diverse experiences. With a master's degree in Graphic Design and Illustration from Konstfack - University of Arts, Crafts and Design, and a background as a commercial director focused on creating animated and live-action commercials, Andrés emerges not only as an author but as a passionate storyteller devoted to whisking readers away on captivating journeys.
In his much-anticipated first book, "The Harlequin's Legacy," Andrés draws inspiration from his favorite character, The Harlequin, spinning a unique mythology around this mysterious figure. The tagline, "Dare to dream, Dare to believe, Dare to embrace your Legacy," sets the stage for a transformative adventure with his characters.
Beyond the fantastical realm, Andrés skillfully weaves conceptual storytelling
with a deep understanding of personal growth, relationships, and emotions.
Themes of courage, identity, and embracing one's true potential resonate with
readers on a profound level, making his work more than just an escape into fantasy.
Andrés, grounded in diverse creative experiences, values his role as a family
man. In the heart of Stockholm, Sweden, he adeptly juggles the realms of
fantasy and family life, carving out precious moments with his wife and two
sons. His story reflects the simple truth that creativity thrives not only in
the world of imagination but also within the embrace of family.
As readers embark on a remarkable journey into fantasy YA literature with
Andrés, they can expect not only an adventure filled with imagination and
wonder but also a tale of self-discovery. "The Harlequin's Legacy"
marks the beginning of an exciting series, and Andrés extends a warm invitation
for readers to join him on this extraordinary literary expedition
Website: https://www.redmoonpublishing.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redmoonpublishing/
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218594098
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565516144086
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