REMEMBER? IT'S EPISODE 50!

Welcome to episode 50 of The Trowbridge Chronicles.

To commemorate this special episode, I'm giving away the sketch that Mrs. Trowbridge created for the painting below, Emperor Nang's palace at Shomu. It's signed by Mrs. T herself. All you have to do is leave a comment, and one of you will be chosen at random to win the preliminary sketch for this painting.

I found it difficult to leave poor Keno recuperating in the the palace infirmary, but I figured that he could use a few extra days of bed rest, after all that he's been through. We'll resume our story with the next episode. Of course, only one comment per person...no multiple entries. Contest ends at midnight, next Thursday night, May 3. Good luck...I hope YOU win!

AM I DEAD YET?

For episode 50, coming up next week, I decided that I would do something to mark that little milestone. By random selection, I'll choose someone who comments on that episode and give away one of Mrs. Trowbridge's original drawings from her journal. It will be a page that has appeared in The Trowbridge Chronicles. The selection won't relate to how nice the comment is. It will be selected purely at random. I will notify the winner through your email. Good luck!

Though it has been mentioned once or twice in the story text, many are not aware that Emperor Nang and Shrew Khan are brothers. Their bond is very close...Emperor Nang has said that he would give away his vast fortune for his brother, Khan. Hopefully it won't come to that, though things are looking desperate for Khan at the Giloh outpost. And things aren't looking too good for Keno either. Did he die from drinking the poison? Our story resumes...

THE DEATH GOBLET

For those of you who are keeping track, episode 50 of the Trowbridge Chronicles is coming up soon. Stay tuned.

If you're an observer of details, you might like to know that you can identify a Trowbridge shrew from a mouse by their tail. Notice how Keno's tail is white on the bottom. That's an identifying marker of a Trowbridge shrew. They average four inches long.

Once again Keno finds himself on the horns of a dilemma. Can you think of a person or creature, with the possible exception of Jack Bauer or the Baudelaire orphans in Lemony Snicket's books, who lives life at such a heart stopping pace as does Keno? Neither can I. Let's hope that he gets a chance to recover from all his misfortunes soon...that is, if he lives long enough to recover. Our story resumes...

THE WALLS HAVE EYES

Many of you are beginning to wonder how long Shrew Khan can "hold the fort" at Giloh. After all, Keno's rescue mission has stretched out over several long weeks. But let's put things in perspective. Think of the Khan Chronicles as "24", with shrews. Because the episodes are so short, only a few hours of "real time" can span several weeks of episodes.

On the other hand, I don't blame you you starting to worry about Shrew Khan and his regiment, while Keno is sitting in Emperor Nang's dungeon. And this episodes brings with it even more to be concerned about, as you will soon see. But don't snap just yet. Hang on a little while longer, and things will somehow resolve themselves...I hope. The saga continues...



I enjoy looking at Mrs. Trowbridge's preliminary sketches. She always did very careful charcoal sketches before beginning her paintings. I wish you could see the originals. I thought I would share with you the sketch that she did of Emperor Nang's guard. Note some of the changes betweeen the sketch and the final art. She added straps to the sandals, and a few other details.