I’m running a bit behind this week due to… I dunno. There’s this thing happening worldwide that’s complicating stuff.

Welcome to my 137th #Rainbowsnippets*. This one, as always, is uniquely mine, but there are lots of other great snippets to read so after you finish here click the FB link at the bottom of the post to discover other great LGBTQIA authors and their works.

Striking Balance: The Peculiar Making of Beatrice Benjamin Sophia Scott Schnell Gow is a queer Historical Paranormal Fantasy set in, you guessed it, Appalachia. This Appalachia, however, is the frontier, and the story takes place during the Revolutionary War era and the time after, meaning the late 18th century. This explains the narrator’s voice. If you’ve read the letters and journals of the period, you’ll recognize it as reflective of those.

This week we’re beginning Chapter Two.

“Good evening to you, Madam Alcott. Miss Charity. Miss Emeline.” I remove my hat, nod politely, and turn in the kitchen’s direction, but Conall catches my shoulder, nudging me toward the table.

     “‘Tis an unexpected pleasure to join ye this evenin’.” He tells me to sit on the bench beside Emeline. This is by no means elegant dining, but Widow Alcott tries hard to make it look thusly, so I must sit properly in my place. ‘Tis uncomfortable, and the bench’s rough boards readily dig into my backside, but Conall frowns at me when I squirm. Charity, however, giggles.

Tiny History Lesson: Yes, they’re back. So what did the average frontier cabin look like in the late 18^th century? They certainly weren’t much to see, perhaps one or at most two apartments (rooms) of around 100 sq feet (10×10). Ben and Conall have two apartments, their main space and Conall’s apartment, which is a lean-to type space added to the back of the cabin. Ben has a small loft so the cabin has an unusually high roof pitch for the time period (there are reasons, believe me). The Alcotts? They live in luxury with a two-story cabin containing four fireplaces for the four apartments including the kitchen.

So when Ben says that Charity is spoiled, he’s speaking the truth.

*RainbowSnippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in.