MacCorp News August 2023

August 19, 2023 | Leave A Comment

What’s Behind the Door in the Cave?

I loved all the 42 suggestions you made last month. Here’s a sampling:

An explanation about the origin/history/powers of the brooches.
A travel portal.
Information about the ancestry of those tied to the brooches.
A treasure.
A door to the past will open where just one or two can go back and learn more about the original Keeper and maybe even help to get the whole thing started.
The rest of the brooches.
A doorway to an alternate universe.
A time tunnel that can take you where you are needed.
A different adventure for the younger members of the clan.
They will be transported to the beginning again to undo their mistakes.
The future and medical advancement.
The secret will be found as to why this family was chosen to be time travelers and the next test will be revealed.
A time travel door that allows you to go to a very specific time and place.
Another riddle.
A book with the ancestry of all the clans.
Viking treasure.
The treasure from the Knights Templar.
Unexpected answers to all their questions
An Indiana Jones style tunnel with lots of quizzes, tricks, and pitfalls before it reaches a round room with a portal to reach where in time and location you request to go.
A time travel worm hole.

I’ve known for a few years that I had to find the answer, and while my muse has revealed a portion of it, it hasn’t revealed all. And it’s possible that it will take the Clan years to understand what they find. So while we know what’s behind the door in The Moonstone Brooch we might not understand its significance – yet!

Character Profile and Interview: Elliott Fraser

First Appearance: The Ruby Brooch

Birth Family: Married to Meredith (Montgomery) Fraser with two sons James Cullen “JC” Fraser and Kevin Allen Fraser (with Nancy Allen). His parents were Elliott Blane Fraser and Aileen (McGregor) Fraser and grandparents “Auld” Buchanan & Hazel (Burns) Fraser. His goddaughter is Kit (MacKlenna) Montgomery.

Description: Elliott has thick perfectly styled grey hair and deep brown eyes with long thick lashes. He is tall with a runners body and broad muscular shoulders, but favor his right leg (criss-crossed with scars). He speaks with a Scottish accent, and while he is known for his temper he acts with honor and integrity. Although he is now in his late 70’s, he has the body of a 40-year old (according to Meredith).

Current occupation/location: Keeper and Chairman of the Board of MacKlenna Corporation. He splits his time between MacKlenna Farm, Mallory Plantation, and the castle in Scotland.

Last Appearance: The Bloodstone Brooch

Q: If you could travel to the future, how many years would you go and who would you take with you?
A: A hundred years would be my limit. After that the world would have changed too much and I wouldn’t want to know what the future held for the Clan. I wouldn’t take anyone with me. It would be too much responsibility to keep the future secret.

Q: Why are you so controlling and why do you not like it when family members stand up to you.
A: It’s a holdover from my father. He was the most controlling man I’ve ever met. When people challenge my authority, I’m reminded of his reaction when I challenged his. But I don’t think I’m as terrifying as he was!

Q: I love how you and Meredith have welcomed everyone into the clan with love and open arms, but can you and will you be able to keep doing that indefinitely?

A: Good question. I’ll continue doing it until I can’t. And Katherine has promised that I will never die!

Q: Given the choice would you want to be the Keeper?

A: No. I wouldn’t want the responsibility.

Q: If you had a chance to go back and talk to your grandfather when he was younger what would you ask him?

A: When did you first learn about the brooches and why didn’t you tell me about them.

Q: What are his plans when he opens the cave door?

A: It depends on what we find.

Q: What thought immediately went through your head when you were attacked and seriously injured.

A: Saving Kit was all that mattered.

Q: How do you and Erik envision the new 21st century council?

A: It will evolve over time, and it depends on what we find in the cave.

Q: Now that you are older and with all the brooches, do you get strange feelings when you get closer to the door in the castle and the light in the cave?

A: I stay away from both!

Next Month’s Character Profile: Kitherina “Kit” (MacKlenna) Montgomery

Excerpt from Chapter 9 of The Moonstone Brooch

The flight to Buffalo was rough, and the landing even more so. Flying never bothered Patrick, but this flight had his stomach roiling. He watched both David and Elliott. If the flight concerned them, it wasn’t obvious. As for Tavis, he was always so damn cool. Nothing bothered him. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. His mother could piss him off, but he usually managed that situation now, thanks to Aislinn.

Patrick breathed a relieved sigh when the plane slid to a stop. They were crazy to be flying today. He voted to use the beam-me-up-Scotty method of travel. But Elliott and Erik made a joint decision that the brooches wouldn’t be used for lateral travel unless it was an emergency. When asked why, they didn’t explain, which made the rest of them wonder what the two men were hiding.

Cam was waiting in Northbridge Worldwide’s truck on steroids near the hangar where the plane parked. David exited first, carrying his gear, and the rest of them followed, also loaded down with duffle bags.

“What’s with all the gear? It looks like you’ve got enough to dismantle the house.”

“Might have to,” Tavis said.

Cam grabbed duffles and stacked them on the flat platform behind the front seats. “Never mind. I don’t want to know. You guys get into some crazy shit.”

Tavis shoved in two more bags. “Anytime you’re ready to give up the company, you’re welcome to join MacCorp. It’s like the Navy. We joined the Navy to see the world…”

“And what did we see?” Cam responded, and then together they sang:

We saw the sea / We saw the Pacific and the Atlantic / But the Atlantic isn’t romantic / And the Pacific isn’t what it’s cracked up to be / We joined the Navy to do or die / But we didn’t do and we didn’t die / We were much too busy / Looking at the ocean and the sky.”

“If ye two are through goofing off, let’s roll,” David said.

Elliott climbed into the passenger seat, David and Patrick sat on the leather sofa in the rear of the camper, and Tavis held onto the ladder to the bunk over the cab.

“What’s yer full name, Cam?” Elliott asked.

Cam buckled up and started the vehicle, which roared to life. “Camden Lennox.”

“Hmmm.” Elliott scratched his chin. “I know a Lennox family in Inverness. Is yer grandfather Braden Lennox?”

Cam glanced at Elliott with a surprised look. “Yeah. I’m surprised you know him. I don’t see my family as much as I’d like, but my parents visit Scotland every year.”

“Yer grandfather’s a fine lawyer. I believe the law firm of Martin, Lennox, and Davidson has been practicing in Inverness since the mid-1800s. Do you know any of the Martins or Davidsons?”

Cam pulled the car out onto the expressway, and no other vehicles were on the road. “The Martins have a son about my age. We’ve gone out for beers several times when I was in Scotland, but I don’t know any Davidsons. My parents might, but I don’t.”

“The Martins and the Davidsons can trace their lines back to James MacKlenna’s granddaughters,” Elliott said. “One married a Martin, and another married a Davidson.”

“Was Solicitor Digby ever part of that firm,” David said.

“No. The Digbys and MacIntyres formed the other law firm in town,” Elliott said.

Patrick leaned forward and rested his forearms on his legs. “I wonder if Clay still has family in Scotland? He’s never mentioned it.”

“Extended family he’s probably never met,” Elliott said. “As soon as we find him, ye can ask.”

Patrick had a hunch that he was about to learn much more about his college roommate than he’d ever imagined.

Please do not copy and paste this copyrighted excerpt and post it elsewhere or use it without my express permission. The information in this newsletter appears on my blog and you can share the link to that webpage instead. Thank you.

Family News

Access to the Celtic Brooch family genealogy map is ready! To request access, you will need to update your email communications preferences through the update your preferences link and check the box requesting access. You’ll then receive an email with instructions on what application you need to download, how to sign-up and access the tree, and a document with tips and tricks on navigating the tree (because there are a LOT of people on it!). You’ll receive a reminder email as well.

Giveaway Results

Congratulations to the July Challenge winner: Ashley Jackler! Ashley won an ebook of her choice and chose to receive The Moonstone Brooch on the day it releases, hopefully by the end of the year!