Thursday 20 April 2017

A-Z Challenge 2017 - Q is for Quirnum

Welcome to Day 17 of the A-Z Challenge 2017. This month I'm sharing my "Black & White Snippets" - snapshots of some of the characters, places and concepts that populate my forthcoming YA dystopian trilogy, Black & White. There won't be a lot of details or spoilers - just short scenes and vignettes that give you a hint of the world I've created. Today, it's Q for Quirnum.


Mr Quirnum didn’t like this new lot much. A pair of young upstarts in the middle of things who didn’t know the first thing about running a country. Say what you like about the old guard, at least they got things done. He couldn’t get this new-fangled heating panel to work – it was freezing during the day and too hot at night – and he didn’t feel comfortable with all these outsiders coming into the country. People should stay where they belonged. His wife adopted a “put up and shut up” approach and got annoyed with his constant grumbling, so he’d decided; he was going to go to this “Meeting of Minds” tomorrow and have it out with the people running the show.

20 comments:

moon said...

The reactionary versus the "radicals" . Does Quirnum's way have a chance of survival ?
such intriguing snippets!
Best wishes,
Moon
https://aslifehappens60.wordpress.com

Deniz Bevan said...

Thanks for sharing these snippets, Nick! I really like your names for all your characters.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nick - oooh Mr Quirnum is going to have his comeuppance me-thinks! He can't be popular ... though maybe his wife eases things for them .. cheers Hilary

http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/q-is-for-quirky-quizzy-facts-and-quaggas.html

Deepa said...

Why does this someone sounds like that recent orange leader???
*Maybe I am thinking too much*

A Peice Of My Life

Nilanjana Bose said...

What kind of hairdo does Mr Quirnum favour? Just wondering... :)


Nilanjana.
Madly-in-Verse

Keith's Ramblings said...

The heating panel is clearly trying to tell him something!

Another day in Amble Bay!

Sue Bursztynski said...

Hi, Nick, just arrived on the scene, so I've missed all the character descriptions. I wish you well with your novel!

Darla M Sands said...

Very poignant in today's climate! Well done.

http://darlamsands.blogspot.com/

Jean Davis said...

Uh oh. Sounds like he's either going to start trouble or get caught up in it. I'm sure his wife won't be happy about that either way.
Discarded Darlings - Jean Davis, Speculative Fiction Writer, A to Z: Editing Fiction

The Cynical Sailor said...

Some people just don't like change, do they? I wonder how it went when he had it out at the Meeting of the Minds.

C.D. Gallant-King said...

Quirnum is a great name, but I have to ask. Was it always there or did you just add it knowing you'd have to come up with a "Q" for the A-to-Z blog hop? ;-)

Donna B. McNicol said...

What a great name and a good way to satisfy the letter Q.

DB McNicol | Oh, the places we will go! | Quartzsite & ???

Liz A. said...

A bit of the "these kids today", eh?

Darla M Sands said...

Oh, I just had to pop back and thank you for mentioning Queens of the Stone Age. They rock, for sure, as does Queensryche. Unfortunately, WNKU doesn't play music that heavy. I may be silly, but that's been my criteria this year. If I didn't learn about a group from the local college station, I at least want them to play the songs. ~grin~ Happy writing!

Josie Two Shoes said...

Great snippet! Mr. Q doesn't sound very adaptable, he likes life the way it used to be and doesn't brook change. I'm not sure his confrontation at the meeting will meet with success or favor but I have to give him credit for intending to speak his mind. It becomes all too easy to be like Mrs. Q and just accept everything as it is. We need to know when to speak out and when to adapt and that isn't always easy.

Michelle Wallace said...

Great name for the difficult letter Q... and I suspect that Mr.Q is gonna get what's coming to him.

Laurel Garver said...

I can totally picture this old grumbler. Harumph! Well done.

http://laurelgarver.blogspot.com/2017/04/q-questioning.html

Click said...

I can picture this old guy so clearly. I wonder how he got on at the 'Meeting of Minds'.

Cait @ Click's Clan

Barbara In Caneyhead said...

Yeah, well, Mr. Q, that's how you end up unemployed.
Perspectives at Life & Faith in Caneyhead

Carrie-Anne said...

I think many people have experienced a heating system that doesn't work like it's supposed to! I had one my junior year of university, where it was boiling hot even in the middle of winter.