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The Chamber of Curiosities is a Medieval Fantasy, set in the fictional seaport of Tressaria. It is a land where ‘Coin is King’ and citizens pawns to whims of debauched rulers. Mr. Beedro’s Carnival is a lucrative business, with games, flying shows, equestrian acts, feasts, flesh and alcohol for sale. The Freak Show lies at its heart and is a pleasant distraction for citizens, sailors, and visiting traders to gloat over those less unfortunate. It is here the giant of a man, Darné Veskka, billed as The Human Beast, lives in a cage with other ‘mistakes of nature’.‘The night of the blue moon’ is a rare event. The townspeople and visitors to Tressaria throng to the carnival, staged in an ancient fortress overlooking a vibrant seaport. But, not everyone is free to join the revelry. Darné Veskka, stands at the bars of his cage consumed by loneliness. In the late hours aerialist, Clare Dupree, breaks inside - armed with a razor and obsession. Her quest is to shave off his beard to see his face. The giant who has never felt a woman’s touch, threatens her - but ultimately succumbs. Their pact marks the dawn of a new age in Tressaria, and plants the seed of revolution.The third episode explores Clare's life before before she sets out to seduce Darné. She believes a spell has been cast on her, since she can no longer perform her aerial duties to the satisfaction of her employers. So, she sets out with a razor to free herself of her obsession. But, she is unaware that the featured flyer in her act, the seductress, Contessa Rue, schemes to have her eliminated.The Chamber of Curiosities is a novel and e-book. And, adapted to a screenplay. It can be purchased at:https://amzn.to/37shblpAmended Version, listed as Part One of the Drykonian Saga:https://amzn.to/38IZmhZAuthor and narrator, Anastasia Blackwell, is distinguished in Edinburgh Critical Guides, Gothic Literature, Second Addition, 2016, in list of influential authors of early twenty-first century gothic fiction.She is an award-winning writer, producer, actress, and trapeze artist, raised in the Pacific Northwest, with roots in San Francisco, who lives in Santa Monica, California.Connect with Author at:httsp://www.linkedin.com/anastasiablackwellhttsp://www.twitter.com/anastasiablackhttsp://www.anastasiablackwell.comhttsp://www.facebook.com/anastasia.blackwell7httsp://www.instagram.com/anastasiablackwellhttsp://www.imbd.me/anastasiablackwellHttsp://www.houseonblacklake.comSPECIAL NOTE:The Chamber of Curiosities was born of a pledge to the First Amendment Project. A fundraiser gave readers an opportunity to have their name used to create a character in a novel. The winning bidder’s moniker and character persona, aid Darne at a crucial time in his struggle for freedom.A portion of proceeds from sales will go to The First Amendment Project, to help ensure our rights to freedom of speech and the press. Your support of the novel is a pledge for these rights to remain sacred.The Chamber of Curiosities offers an epic journey that questions whether a single act of faith can change the course of destiny.

The Chamber of Curiosities is a Medieval Fantasy, set in the fictional seaport of Tressaria. It is a land where ‘Coin is King’ and citizens pawns to whims of debauched rulers. Mr. Beedro’s Carnival is a lucrative business, with games, flying shows, equestrian acts, feasts, flesh and alcohol for sale. The Freak Show lies at its heart and is a pleasant distraction for citizens, sailors, and visiting traders to gloat over those less unfortunate. It is here the giant of a man, Darné Veskka, billed as The Human Beast, lives in a cage with other ‘mistakes of nature’.‘The night of the blue moon’ is a rare event. The townspeople and visitors to Tressaria throng to the carnival, staged in an ancient fortress overlooking a vibrant seaport. But, not everyone is free to join the revelry. Darné Veskka, stands at the bars of his cage consumed by loneliness. In the late hours aerialist, Clare Dupree, breaks inside - armed with a razor and obsession. Her quest is to shave off his beard to see his face. The giant who has never felt a woman’s touch, threatens her - but ultimately succumbs. Their pact marks the dawn of a new age in Tressaria, and plants the seed of revolution.The second episode explores Darné’s life on the farm before his parents sell him to the carnival. They express heartbreak that threats by the Tressarian government to seize their farm, and his mother’s health left no other choice. The trauma of his journey from farm to carnival is revealed, and his first day of captivity, including the first sight of Clare.The Chamber of Curiosities is a novel and e-book. And, adapted to a screenplay. It can be purchased at:https://amzn.to/37shblpAmended Version, listed as Part One of the Drykonian Saga:https://amzn.to/38IZmhZAuthor and narrator, Anastasia Blackwell, is distinguished in Edinburgh Critical Guides, Gothic Literature, Second Addition, 2016, in list of influential authors of early twenty-first century gothic fiction.She is an award-winning writer, producer, actress, and trapeze artist, raised in the Pacific Northwest, with roots in San Francisco, who lives in Santa Monica, California.Connect with Author at:httsp://www.linkedin.com/anastasiablackwellhttsp://www.twitter.com/anastasiablackhttsp://www.anastasiablackwell.comhttsp://www.facebook.com/anastasia.blackwell7httsp://www.instagram.com/anastasiablackwellhttsp://www.imbd.me/anastasiablackwellHttsp://www.houseonblacklake.comSPECIAL NOTE:The Chamber of Curiosities was born of a pledge to the First Amendment Project. A fundraiser gave readers an opportunity to have their name used to create a character in a novel. The winning bidder’s moniker and character persona, aid Darne at a crucial time in his struggle for freedom.A portion of proceeds from sales will go to The First Amendment Project, to help ensure our rights to freedom of speech and the press. Your support of the novel is a pledge for these rights to remain sacred.The Chamber of Curiosities offers an epic journey that questions whether a single act of faith can change the course of destiny.

The Chamber of Curiosities is a Medieval Fantasy, set in the fictional seaport of Tressaria. It is a land where ‘Coin is King’ and citizens pawns to whims of debauched rulers. Mr. Beedro’s Carnival is a lucrative business, with games, flying shows, equestrian acts, feasts, flesh and alcohol for sale. The Freak Show lies at its heart and is a pleasant distraction for citizens, sailors, and visiting traders to gloat over those less unfortunate. It is here the giant of a man, Darné Veskka, billed as The Human Beast, lives in a cage with other ‘mistakes of nature’.‘The night of the blue moon’ is a rare event. The townspeople and visitors to Tressaria throng to the carnival, staged in an ancient fortress overlooking a vibrant seaport. But, not everyone is free to join the revelry. Darné Veskka, stands at the bars of his cage consumed by loneliness. In the late hours aerialist, Clare Dupree, breaks inside - armed with a razor and obsession. Her quest is to shave off his beard to see his face. The giant who has never felt a woman’s touch, threatens her - but ultimately succumbs. And, their pact marks the dawn of a new age in Tressaria.The Chamber of Curiosities is a novel and e-book. And, adapted to a screenplay. It can be purchased at:https://amzn.to/37shblpAmended Version, listed as Part One of the Drykonian Saga:https://amzn.to/38IZmhZAuthor and narrator, Anastasia Blackwell, is distinguished in Edinburgh Critical Guides, Gothic Literature, Second Addition, 2016, in list of influential authors of early twenty-first century gothic fiction.She is an award-winning writer, producer, actress, and trapeze artist, raised in the Pacific Northwest, with roots in San Francisco, who lives in Santa Monica, California.Connect with Author at:httsp://www.linkedin.com/anastasiablackwellhttsp://www.twitter.com/anastasiablackhttsp://www.anastasiablackwell.comhttsp://www.facebook.com/anastasia.blackwell7httsp://www.instagram.com/anastasiablackwellhttsp://www.imbd.me/anastasiablackwellHttsp://www.houseonblacklake.comSPECIAL NOTE:The Chamber of Curiosities was born of a pledge to the First Amendment Project. A fundraiser gave readers an opportunity to have their name used to create a character in a novel. The winning bidder’s moniker and character persona, aid Darne at a crucial time in his struggle for freedom.A portion of proceeds from sales will go to The First Amendment Project, to help ensure our rights to freedom of speech and the press. Your support of the novel is a pledge for these rights to remain sacred.The Chamber of Curiosities offers an epic journey that questions whether a single act of faith can change the course of destiny.