http://slow.writerscafe.org/DavidMPitchford The original writings of author David M Pitchford en-us Copyright 2026 WritersCafe.org 1776196606 WritersCafe.org RSS Generator 15  Mexico: Chapter 18“Welcome to the Xcaptualla site,” Dr. Kuzer offered his hand.“Skinner—Robert Dean Skinner,” he shook his host’s hand.“I trust your trip was comfortable?” Dr. Kuzer was affable. His pale blue eyes seemed to glimmer consta.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309581/  Dismissal: Chapter 17“It’s no use, Skinner!” Danalaka laughed triumphantly. “We have you now!”“You have us?” Skinner shot back. “It seems you once again misunderstand your position, my old Mentor.”“Six-hundred to—what? T.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309579/  Sgian Gorm: Chapter 16“Skinner,” his first mentor faced him across a circle drawn in sand. “Skinner. Listen to me. There is nothing here for you but destruction. I know your powers. I know your strength. I know your weakness. I know how to defeat you.”“It ha.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309577/  To Determine Destiny: Chapter 15“We’re surrounded,” Skinner said quietly, casually to Orexmor.“I know,” Orexmor smiled tightly as though appreciating a personal joke.“Where to from here?” Skinner glanced sideways, wiping sweat from his forehead.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309575/  The Army of Vurkhatan: Chapter 14“Excuse me,” Skinner approached the ranking Diahlarite officer at the Vurkhatan docks.“What?” The man stared down at Skinner. He was a head taller and looked twenty years younger. Skinner guessed him at six-four, around two-twenty... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309571/  Daughter of the Sunset: Chapter 13Who are you?Skinner awoke with a start, the voice ringing in his mind with colors like sea mist sprayed from white capped waves. He could actually hear the tide slapping against rock. He rolled over and looked up at the dawn-kissed sky—and the eagl.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309567/  Kreátha of the Vurhk: Chapter 12“You are Skinner?” The thin voice brought Skinner’s head up from the parchment on which he was writing.“I am Erasmus of Voutan,” Skinner replied. He studied his visitor, one eyebrow cocked as though to help him focus. H.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309565/  High Druid: Chapter 11Skinner stayed with Kurtney for fifty-nine years. They lived in a cave Kurtney created by druidry from the rock beneath the plain itself. One day he awoke to find Kurtney gone and realized that the old druid had finally learned to ‘become one with the wind&rsquo.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309562/ Skinner is summoned back to the Vale to answer for slaying Tang Jan Dun. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309162/ After a momentous battle of sorcery with the dragon Tang Jan Dun, Robert Dean Skinner finds himself waking again in his native world - in Springfield, Illinois . . . http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309161/ Driven away from Diahl by the political climate, Skinner leads a band of refugees to the Isle of Anandamere. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309159/ Skinner accompanies his dinner guest to a city called Diahlar, City of the Sun. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309157/ Convinced as he's been that some sort of civilization has existed in his strange new world, Skinner finally has proof when a stranger comes to call . . . and invite him elsewhere. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309154/ Having assured his physical survival, for the most part, Skinner turns his mind to matters of higher learning. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309153/ Skinner is certain he can teach himself to read the writing on the wall. He just needs the key . . . http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309150/ Skinner finds more to his mountain . . . http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309149/ Skinner makes his first ally. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309147/ Ripped from his Illinois life, Skinner finds himself in a mountain wilderness and must learn to survive. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309145/ Back story and world-building for Kumari Vale series. "The Unsummoned" begins the story of Skinner and his exploits in the magical world of Kumari Vale, where he learns that he is a sorcerer and takes destiny into his own hands. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/309143/  Chapter 21: Hooded Mother“I have to fetch an army,” Damar said. Belkynn tried to swim from her darkness to answer or question him, but the darkness persisted. She knew he spoke to Kreathania, but could find no reason to his words.“She is enough,” Kreathania was sa.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307763/ "Watch for their fangs. Their blades can only cut you to pieces; their venom is more vile . . ." http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307762/  Chapter 19: Work With What You Have“What in the name of She-Who-Dreams!” Belkynn lurched from her sleep, nostrils filled with a barely familiar stench.Damar squatted nearby, his luminorbs close over the corpse of a large naxhtok. The naxhtok was motionless. As her eyes came i.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307760/  Chapter 18: ReunitedShe awoke to the smell of cooking meat. It tugged at her empty stomach, which tugged her from the comfort of sleep. Belkynn moaned as she rolled toward the smell, unsurprised to find Damar attending a spit on which roasted a lean rabbit.“Welcome to tomorrow,&rdq.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307467/  Chapter 17: The Telling DreamThe mists parted before her, and Belkynn realized that she had fallen into dreams. Within the dream, she closed her eyes and sensed for danger. It was all around her. But only indirect threat. Nothing focused enough to worry over.“You were magnificent,&.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307466/  Chapter 16: Against the NaxhtokAt the edge of the mists, she recalled the bundle Kreathania had given her. She knew it was important, so she pulled it from her pack and opened it. Within the bundle was a vial filled with amber liquid and a strange mask. She drank the liquid and covered her.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307464/  Chapter 15: One Last Thing“Storm coming,” Belkynn said, glancing at the dark banks of cloud overhead.“We just made it past one,” Damar said softly. He kissed her deeply again, and they parted to rise and dress. He did not don the armor this time, putting his ragge.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307463/  Chapter 14: Sacrifice“I believe we’re as ready as we’re going to get,” Belkynn announced at sunrise three weeks later. She had spent the past two hours moving through a routine Damar had taught her with the spear, her tsudavai, Kariastra. Damar had moved through a s.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307461/ The things we do for love . . . http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307460/  Chapter 12: KreathaniaShe awoke some time later. The stars seemed unnaturally bright. She realized that the moon had set, that sunrise was less than an hour away. This was that time of night called darktide, when the stars are brightest.Propping herself up on an elbow, she gazed around. .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307459/  Chapter 11: That Troll AgainFour days later, dusk approached as Belkynn finally picked up Damar’s trail again. She crowed her triumph, finding the trail far newer than she had yet encountered. He was a wily one. He tested her to the limit of her skills. She thought that only the urge.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307458/ Damar seems to have a streak of ODD in him . . . http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307457/ getting hot . . . http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307455/ Oh! That explains a lot . . . http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307453/  Chapter 7: Sparring“What’s wrong with you?” Damar frowned markedly three weeks later.“Something I ate,” Belkynn shrugged, wiping sick from her mouth.“Nonsense,” he growled. “I fixed dinner last night.”They were just beginning thei.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307452/ Drinking and dicing leads to a rather dicey situation. Anyone for stew and wine? http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307450/  Chapter 5: Battle with the Maggons“Now we go,” Damar told her as they finished their morning meal two weeks later.Their first week together, he put her through an exhausting regimen of exercise. They began with a long march through his network of caves, a route familiar enoug.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307449/  Chapter 4: Lucid DreamsSleep enveloped her in its raven softness.Deep into the night, her father appeared in her dreams.“You have a mission, daughter,” he said, voice iron.“Damar has brought me into his lair,” she replied.“Beware his wiles, daughter,&r.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307447/  Chapter 3: Damar’s Lair“Troll!” She lurched awake, eyes wide and searching.“Don’t bother calling,” Damar murmured. “He can’t hear you.”She gaped at him for a moment. He sat with his legs crossed, back straight as a sword blade, eyes.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307446/  Chapter 2: Finding DamarShe woke after the moon had set. Something stirred her senses, though she could not name it. She concentrated first on smell. Nothing. Then sound. Still nothing. Finally, she opened her eyes and rose, silent as a ghost.The man was all but indiscernible to her sens.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307444/ Belkynn Kallon has a run-in with a troll while seeking out the legendary sorcerer Damar. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307443/ Revision-in-progress of Beyond the Western Worldteeth. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/307441/ Two poems from our new book, After the Vows: Poems Between Lovers. This book is a collection of 136 sonnets written between my wife and me over about a six year period. It has wonderful range, covering topics from the banal to the sublime. We continue to http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/305758/ WINE SEASIDE AND LOVE AND YOU Perhaps a honeymoon, you and me, two flutes and a bottle of wine. Beachfront, we dance through this rented bungalow, the sea swooshing, tide thrumming, moon smiling on true love as we dance and kiss and toast our true m http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/283146/ A failed sonnet about writing a failed sonnet about writing a sonnet about love. Sort of . . . http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/283084/ Damar reveals more of his past . . . http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/278549/ WARNING: Explicit content. What, precisely, is the meaning of loyalty? http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/278548/ "I have MORE to learn?" http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/278547/ Belkynn tracks Damar only to find herself on the trail of a troll . . . http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/278546/ Damar rebels against the council of the Tribes. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/278541/ WARNING: this gets a little explicit! Sexy! Sensual? Steamy? Belkynn takes the upper hand . . . http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/DavidMPitchford/278537/