Ch 43: Story maker

The next Day. . .

I woke up way later than normal. Which was a miracle considering that the babies were still asleep even.

I took it for the win and made a simple yet fulfilling breakfast and then put them to play with their toys as I went to do chores. Some of those chores included sending the letters I made for my kids and the principal.

After all that I went to collect the rent of the apartment complex.

Fortunately, this time, everyone was ready to pay on time, so there was no complaining or remarks from any of them. Must have been a hard lesson last time. Hehe.

I also went to inspector the new laundry room and found it almost done. It took more time than it was expected due to the cold, but the handymen were capable to manage it.

Primerose must have felt it was okay enough to be able to start doing laundry business because I caught her washing and tender it a lot of clothes which were definetely not from her, as most of the residents were quite bigger and taller than her.

'Good morning Primrose!' I called out to her.

Primrose turnes to see me and smiled. 'Hi Miss Baker!' She waved at me for a few seconds before she going back to her things. 'I went on to offer laundry services and some people offer from four to six coppers per laundry load.' She let me know. 'It's not much, but at least it's something I can do since I already payed two months in advance.' She smiled at the thought.

I nodded along. 'Although I do hope you can still find another employment. Since you have a donkey, it might be easier for you to come and go as you please.' I recalled for her.

'Yeah, but I haven't got luck.' Primrose told me. 'I'm new in town, so it makes sense that I don't know where I can go to work.' She sighed. 'Words case escenario, I might become an adventurer just to pay my child's and my my meals.'

'Ha! Nonono, that is the best escenario for you, Prim.' I told her sitting down beside her. 'You know why? Because, worst case escenario, will be living outside in the cold with no roof over your head.' I declared.

I swear, I could hear the handymen murmuring in agreement with me from the other side of the room.

'Also, becoming an adventurer has a huge amount of perks that at one point I even considered it.' I admitted. 'But then I told myself, "if I'm not capable of keeping my business afloat for more than five years, then I will go to the adventurer program." Sure, it was not my first choice but is the choice I've chosed in case my restaurant and complex goes south instead of ahead.' I explained it to her. 'My worse case escenario would becoming a whore.' I admitted.

Primrose gulped down at the last part.

'As you can see, there are worse things to become than an adventurer.' I told standing up. 'The question is, what do you want to become?' I aske her.

Primrose looked down at the clothes she stopped washing for a moment. 'I. . . I don't know.' She shook her head.

I nodded in understanding. 'And that is okay. You still have months and even years to figure that out. But once you decide, you need to see your options and decide how do you want to reach your goal.' I clarified. 'One day at a time, okay?' I hugged her and then walk away. 'Think about it Primrose.' I told her before leaving the laundry room.

. . .

A few hours later. . .

I went to see the old librarian at the apartment complex and gave him my books to read.

'It's nothing special, but I would like some feedback.' I asked.

'Oh, sure.' The librarian took the books. 'It's been a while since I got to read something new.' He smiled sweetly at me.

'Thank you.' I nodded. 'Although, I want to clarify that both books are pure. . . Fiction.' I clarified.

The old librarian raised an eyebrow. 'Fiction?' He asked.

'It's a. . . Type of story which contains characters, backgrounds and even life that does not exist.' I answered a bit nerviously,

'Oh. I see, I give it a try and then I'll let you know my critique.' The old librarian nodded to me before shuing me out of his apartment. Not before saying goodbye of course.

It is just me or he seemed excited? I asked myself but then shrugged it off and then left.

As I walked through the halls of the apartments in one single complex, I made a mental note to make more posters about the apartment complex, for I recalled that after a while, the posters are taken down and I might as well keep advertising my apartments.

. . .

A few days later. . .

I was in my little office checking out the Numbers of the inventory and how much it may cost me to advertise my restaurant, bakery, and apartment complex in the newspaper of this and other two towns, when I received a Knicks on the door. 'Come in!' I let them enter while being concentrated on the business.

The old librarian entered quietly. 'Good afternoon Miss Baker.' He greeted me as he took off his top hat and sat down in a chair in front of my desk. 'How are you this afternoon?'

'Really stressful.' I admitted. 'It seems that I've been asking too little money for my products and I have to raise prices, which I don't want to do because the common folks are my main source of income.' I sighed at a loss sulking in my chair. 'I might have to move this restaurant to the city sooner rather than later.' I added.

'Oh my.' The old librarian looked surprised.

'Yeah, but don't worry.' I reassured him as I putted my work away. 'But anyway, let's talk about you coming here, since you don't usually come out of your apartment unless it is for more food, books or new blankets and clothes.' I recalled and remarked such detail.

The old librarian nodded agreeingly. 'That is correct. However, I came out because I couldn't wait to return these to you.' He gave me the books back.

'Oh wow! You have actually finished both of them?!' I asked him surprised.

'Very much so.' The old librarian chuckled at my reaction as I took the books back. 'And I got to say, the short stories for kids are quite creative and adorable. They will probably sell very well if you are quick enough, as for the novel on the other hand, as interesting as it is, it might be harder for it to sell out.' He concluded. 'Don't get me wrong, it is an excellent book. In fact, it made me think about all the issues we are having now and the issues we might have in the future, but you might want to give a sypnosis of the books directed at young adults such as you or even those going through the transition between childhood and adulthood.' He explained.

I nodded. 'Yes, I'll take note of that.'

'Very well. By the way, How do you plan to publish them?' The old librarian inquired.

'Well, that is the thing, I don't know how.' I admitted putting my hands in my cheeks. 'I had made some sort of friendship with a noble, but she and her husband told me that only rich people were capable of publishing books.' I told him a bit sad.

'Hmmm. . .' The old librarian thought about what I just told him for a few brief moments. 'Do you know anyone else?' He asked.

'I sent a letter about it to the Principal of my twins' Academy, but I haven't received an answer due to the slow mail service.' I shrugged.

'I see.' The old librarian thought about it. 'You know, I know of someone, an ol' friend of mine is about to get retired after editing and publishing for about fifty years.' He told me. 'He's old and grumpy, and quite strict, but he recently sent me a letter telling me about wanting to edit and publish one or two more stories before retiring, but he wrote something along he lines of "today, rich people have zero imagination and storytelling grammar, I want something new!"' The old librarian smiled at me. 'Would you like to try your luck with him?'

I saw a light of hope with that. 'Really?! Yes! Yes! It would be great!' I applauded relieved and happy.

The old librarian smiled brightly at that. 'I can not guarantee that he will like it or even be interested. But I will give you the address to where to send it and with my letter attached to it, he might give both books a try.' He let me know. 'If you are able to impress them or even captivate his interest, you both might come to an agreement,' he assured me.

'That sounds beautiful.' I exhaled more relieved than before. 'Let's do it.' I declared excited.

The old librarian and I prepared the books and his letter to send it to his friends for about their y minutes. Once that was done, we sent it through mail and we returned to the apartment complex.

'Thank you so much.' I thanked the old librarian.

The old librarian nodded as he reaccomodated his scarf to cover his scarf from the cold. 'I will let you know when he sends a response.' He said goodbye and we parted ways.

. . .

After closing. . .

My kids and were snuggling close to the fire as we welcome the night sky and our beutiful moons.

'Amelia?' Liam called me as he looked up at me.

I looked at him back. 'Yes?'

'Can I call you mom?' He asked.

My heart skipped a bit. 'Of course sweety, if you want to you can.' I allowed him.

Liam looked like he was about to tear up, and hugged me while sobbing.

He took his time in opening up, but it looks like he is ready to move on with his life. I smiled and hugged him back with baby girl in my other side.

'Ma.' Baby girl called for me. 'M-Ma-ma.' She smiled.

I started to tear now. 'Yes baby girl, I'm mama.' I kissed her forehead and Liam's head. 'I love you both.'

'I l-l-love yo-you too.' Liam said while sobbing

'I. . . Ove uo.' Baby girl tried to say "I love you" back.

As we snuggled again against the fire without eating much more anymore.

At one point hugh, I started to see a small green light through the window. Green light? I asked myself and then I turned to check. 'Oh wow! Kids, look!' I nudge them to see. 'The. . . Sky is awake!'

Liam frowned confused for a moment. 'Awake?' He asked and then turned to the window. 'Ohhhh!! It's magic!'

'Haha! No no, it's not magic.' I assured him. 'It's an aurora.' I took baby girl and Liam in my arms and walked to the window to show them. 'It's been a while since I saw one actually.' I told them. 'What about you, Liam?' I asked him as he started at the aurora.

'I. . . I Have never seen anything like this.' I Liam cleaned up his tears. 'There is green. There is blue. . . Is that red?' He asked pointing as the tiniest bit of red.

'Why yes.' I nodded. 'It is.' I smiled. 'Oh look!' I pointed with my head to the aurora.

The shapes and lines of the aurora started to move and dissapear to then reappear in ways that it made the aurora look like it was dancing and playing in the sky.

'Wow! Aurora is dancing!' Liam pointed to the aurora.

'Yes, the aurora is dancing.' I nodded along while trying to keep my trip on baby girl who was trying to reach the aurora in front of her. 'Hehe, come on now, let's go to sleep.' I declared turning away from the window with the infants.

'Awww.' Liam pouted.

I smiled and chuckled. 'Don't worry, the aurora will come back.' I told them as I put them down briefly and put pout the fire in the second floor.

'Tomorrow night?' Liam asked with hope in his eyes while baby girl crawled back to the window to watch the aurora borealis.

'Ehem, maybe not tomorrow, but one day it will come back.' I answered as I out the fire out completely. 'The aurora is a misterious phenomenon that has brought many legends upon the beginning of time. It has appeared today, it may appear tomorrow, or maybe next week. We don't know when.' I shrugged my shoulders looking at Liam. 'But for the most part, the aurora borealis tends to appear in winter time.' I pat his head. 'But even then is an uncommon phenomenon.' I told him.

Liam pouted as he raised his hands as to say "carry me."

'What do you want again?' I asked as if to tell him "you have to ask orally."

'Can you carry me? Please?' Liam asked with puppy eyes.

I smiled. 'Sure.' I carried him once more and then turned to see my baby girl. 'Hey, when did you got there?' I asked as I walked towards her and picked up her up with my free arm. 'Come now, time to sleep.' I took them and myself upstairs.

I put them in my bed, and then I colocated my baby's crib close to the window. Then, I colocated their pijamas and colocated them in the crib and kissed their foreheads. 'Here you go, good night.' I went to another side of the room to understanding and out my nightgown and out myself on the bed. 'See you tomorrow kids.' I yawned as I closed my eyes looking at the crib and smiled.

I could only wonder what is going through my babies' heads as they also fell asleep while looking at the aurora.

. . .

A few days later. . .

The old librarian came back to my office, but not alone. He came with a gentleman of a firm yet elegant demeanor and seemed almost the same age appearance as the old librarian.

'Oh! Well, good afternoon gentleman.' I smiled at both of them as I sat up from my office.

They nodded along and took seat in the two chairs in front of my desk. 'Good afternoon to you too, Miss Baker.' The old librarian greeted me as he took off his top hat and put it in his lap as he sat in his chairs. 'This is the ol' friend that I talked to you about a few days ago.' He presents his friend who nodded in a small bow. 'He came by wanting to ask some questions.'

'Oh, sure, please hold on a moment.' I nodded as I sat down and cleaned my desk so it looked more clean. 'Here we go. Now, what would be your questions, sir?'

'Well, my lady, before that I would like to present myself as George Kingstone. I have read both your child and adult novel and I must say that those two are of the very few books that have actually impressed in a long while.' The old librarian's friend, Mr. Kingstone. 'The small stories for the children seem to be both educational and fun for them to learn and understand values such as generosity, good selfishness, good manners and much more. As for the novel, well, if my friend here,' pointed to the old librarian with his head, 'if he hadn't explained to me what "Fiction" was, I would have believed you had written a very descriptive visión of the future. I must say though, while it was complicated to read as the language seemed a bit too, odd, it was a magnificent plot, perfect description of surrounded, not too much skipping here and there like a LOT of so-called "writers" do, and the ending. . .' He took a deep breath and exhaled. 'Angered me.' He declared.

I gulped down. 'What part of the ending had you angered, sir?' I asked with carefulness.

'The biased part of the ending.' Mr Kingstone told me. 'The poor woman's injury was the definition of "never see the sun again," and yet, she acepts her fate so easily.' The sulked in the chair. 'Yet what it angers me the most, is the last few words: "as a million dreams kept me awake, I closed my eyes with the moon by my side and sleep in peace."' He exhaled deeply. 'What it angers me, is that it ended there, it never says whether the young woman survived or lived to see the sun.' He looked at me. 'Do you plan to write another book letting us know how it ends?' He asked.

I blinked and thought about it. The young woman was me. The story is basically a memoir of my past life in my old world. The young woman going to sleep is actually dying, so it is nonsense to make another book. I sighed for a bit. Yet, for these people, it's an interesting story. But it feels wrong somehow. I pursed my lip thinking hard about it. Wait. . . I know! I thought of an idea. 'Well, I'll be honest here. I don't know.' I told them the truth.

Both gentleman raised their eyebrows in surprise.

'Before you ask, there are a few reasons behind this.' I assured them as I when on to explain myself. 'First, women are rejected when it comes to reading and writing, it was already hard for me to be a woman capable of these things and more when this society rejects me constantly.' I sighed deeply. 'Second, there's the fact that, as a commoner, I have less chances of being successful. Not just as a writer but as a business woman. Yes, I'm being successful, but the question is, for how long?' I tap my fingersoftly on the table. 'Third and no less important, depending in how sucessful is the novel, it would encourage me to keep writing. If there are less than ten thousand sales in a year, then I don't think I would bother to write the second part.' I shrugged. 'If there's more than ten thousand on the other hand, I could consider writing a second part.' I declared.

Mr. Kingstone thought about my words deeply and bécame thoughful about it. 'May I ask, why that number of sales? Is it a goal of yours?' He asked.

'Well, yes you can say that.' I nodded along. Actually it's because in my old world, if that number of sales is reached, then it can be considered as a best seller. But I don't know if in this world the same rules apply here as well. I tried to look cool about it. 'How many books you need to sell for the book to become famous though?' I asked with genuine curiosity.

Mr. Kingstone thought about it briefly. 'It depends on the kingdom and how many people with reading and money capability are capable of reading it and buying it.' He told me. 'In this kingdom however, for a book to become famous, it would be about. . . Ten thousand in two years by minimum.' He answered a it nerviously.

I sighed deeply. 'I see, well, ten thousand in two years sound good to me.' I declared. 'But if that goal is not reached in the next two years after publishing it, there won't be a second part.' I added.

Mr. Kingstone smiled brightly. 'I like your way of thinking.' He nodded to me. 'In that case.' He took out some papers from a portfolio that he had since he walked in. 'Shall we discuss the terms of both books?' He asked me raising the papers.

I gasped excitedly. 'Very well.' I smiled determined.

'Let's start with a proper and specific title for each books.' Mr. Kingstone directed me how to make up a title for both books.

. . .

Over the next forty minutes. . .

The Kids' book was titled "Values and manners: Short stories for children," and the novel was title "A Day in the Future."

We then went through how would the books look. I then decided to show some images about how I would the books to look like.

I decided that for the childrens' book to be a bit broader but short in size, and the front cover would some characters from some short stories while the back cover would have characters from other short stories. As for the novel, the book would have flowers drawings in the side of the cover as well as a huge moon in the front cover while it would have a "strange-looking city" on the back cover.

We then looked over the prices for the edition and the first thirty copies of each book. Mr. Kingstone explain that the first thirty copies are created to test how many people would buy them in the first sale and make a rough estimate from there.

Another thing to look over was the price. After some brief calculations, we decided that we would sell the novel for fifty copper for the first thirty books, and depending how many are sold, we would decide whether to sell them higher or cheaper. As for the childens' book, it was a collection of about twenty short stories in one book, so we decided to sell the books one hundred and twenty copper for the whole book for the first thirty sales.

A last thing that I decided to do was for the editor to put the sypnosis in the back cover of both books. Mr. Kingstone was skeptical, we then decided that we would do so only for one copy of each book so the people could read it and judge for themselves before buying one without the description.

We signed a fair contract of two years, and we shook hands ending that meeting.

'It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Baker.' Mr. Kingstone said as we shook hands.

'The pleasure is mine, please let me know when you have my copies.' I asked.

'Very well, Miss Baker.' Mr. Kingstone and the old librarian left with a smile in each face. 'I will see you when we have the first official books of each story.' He nodded with a small bow.

'Thank very much sir. Have a good trip.' I bowed as we said goodbye and they finally left.

I was left alone once more in my small office. I went back to my desk and sat on my chair and went ack to managing my business, but not before I sent a few letters to my twins and the principal, letting them know that my books were soon to be published.