Shymeyric Press - Jon Dixon HOME BOOKS ABOUT CONTACT EXTRAS

Welcome to Meriva's world! I'll be uploading extra content here occasionally like unpublished short stories, snippets of work-in-progress, artwork of the characters or that illustrates some of the stories, maps and some facts and figures about Draffe, and the wider world of Shymeyria. This section is only small at the moment, but will grow over the next few weeks and months. I hope you enjoy!

A head-and shoulders portrait of a middle-aged man with long, greying hair, weathered yet dignified features with a scar above his left eyebrow, sea-green eyes and a full beard, looking directly at the viewer with a slight smile. He wears a dark brown tunic with intricate gold embroidery and lacing.

Custos Mulier

A head-and shoulders portrait of a woman with short dark hair. Her right eye is a striking pale grey and she wears a black eyepatch over the other. She has no arms at all, and is wearing a dark leather tunic tailored close around her upper torso. Attached to the chest of the tunic with small metal rings, within reach of her mouth, are a small money-pouch and a short wooden stick with a hook at its end. She has a subtle, confident smile.

Meriva Secaret

A head-and shoulders portrait of an elderly man with long, white hair and a matching beard, wearing round wire-rimmed glasses. He has a weathered, thoughtful face, and is dressed in a dark brown, textured robe or cloak fastened with a small, ornate gold clasp.

Sathe 'Steeltooth' Zaidar

A head-and shoulders portrait of a weathered man with a shaved head. He has a weary, knowing expression, and is wearing a dark blue tweed coat with ornate gold buttons and a thick, patterned scarf.

Dravard Nibb

A head-and shoulders portrait of an elderly, scholarly-looking man with a balding head, voluminous white hair, a moustache, and round spectacles, gazing intently forward with a worried expression. He wears a dark, textured vest with a cream-colored quilted collar over a laced shirt.

Professor Harland Greven

A head-and shoulders portrait of a severe-looking woman in ornate clothing including a green hat adorned with white feathers and lace, a green velvet cape trimmed with dark fur, elaborate jewelled earrings and a necklace. Her hands are adorned with rings. She holds a small pug dog with its tongue out.

Lady Agentide Stren & Bossy

A head-and shoulders portrait of a balding older man with a combover, rosy cheeks and a wide, toothy grin, wearing ornate, patterned clothing with a prominent white lace collar. He looks cheerful but there is also something cruel about his expression.

Lemuel Cairns

A head-and shoulders portrait of a middle-aged woman of colour with short, dark hair and dark, enigmatic eyes. She wears a textured, deep blue hooded garment that covers her head and shoulders. A white-painted thumbprint is visible on her forehead.

Sister Norvinda

A head-and shoulders portrait of a young girl with messy, spiky blonde hair and freckles, looking directly at the viewer with a mischievous smile. She is dressed in a brown leather coat with ornate stitching and brass buttons, over a brown tunic.

'Fizz'

A head-and shoulders portrait of a plump, middle-aged woman with deeply tanned skin. She has a kind expression and a warm, gentle smile, and her white hair is intricately braided and pulled back. She wears an apron over a simple, textured top with patterned sleeves.

Florina Avonwith

A head-and shoulders portrait of a young man with short, messy dark brown hair and deeply tanned skin glancing downwards with a gentle expression. He wears a simple, patterned tunic with a V-neck decorated with red embroidery

Purl Avonwith

A head-and shoulders portrait of a woman with freckled skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair pulled back, wearing a dark green striped sleeveless top. She has a crooked, broken nose, a scar on her forehead and another on her right shoulder, and a pair of silver scissors and a wooden comb are tucked into a pocket on the chest of her tunic. She is smiling.

Nerris Thorven

Recipe!

Florina's 'Bluebird' spicecakes, as featured in 'Spicecakes and Sabotage'.

Try Meriva's favourite sticky, sweet treats for yourself!

There are two methods given, using different amounts of yeast. Using less yeast will increase the time needed for the first proving of the dough.

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1. To make the dough

You'll need:

  • 11 fl oz / 1½ cups whole milk
  • 4 tablespoons / ¼ cup melted butter
  • 1½ teaspoons of salt
  • 1¼ teaspoons of dried yeast (¼ teaspoon if using longer proving time)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons /slightly less than ¼ cup white sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 600g / 4¾ cups cups bread flour (+ extra for dusting)

Warm the milk and melted butter (1½ mins on high in a microwave).
Add the salt, yeast, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract, and mix to combine.
Add the flour and stir until the mixture forms a shaggy ball. Combine the dry flour on the sides of the bowl with the moist flour.
Place the bowl in a warm, draft-free location, cover with a towel, and prove for at least 2½ hours (12-24 hours if using the longer proving time)

2½ (or 12-24) hours later…

Pull and stretch the dough by hand or with a wooden spoon until the dough forms a sticky ball.
Sprinkle the dough with dry flour to make it easier to handle and shape.
Dust the work surface with flour, and roll the dough out of the bowl onto the work surface.

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2. To make the spicecakes

You’ll need:

  • 65g / ⅓ cup white sugar
  • 1½ rounded teaspoon of cinnamon
  • ½ rounded teaspoon of nutmeg
  • ½ rounded teaspoon of ginger
  • ¼ rounded teaspoon of cardamon
  • Handful of raisins (optional)
  • Handful of candied orange and/or lemon peel (optional)

Mix the sugar, cinnamon and other spices together in a bowl and set aside.
Dust the work surface with flour and flatten the dough ball into a strip. Dust it with flour, turn it over, and roll it into a strip about 8”-12” wide and as long as possible (the longer the strip the more of a ‘spiral’ there’ll be in the cakes).
Sprinkle the dough with the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg mixture and spread it all over the surface with your hand. If you’re using them, sprinkle the raisins and/or candied peel thinly over the surface.
Roll the dough up tightly lengthwise.
Cut the roll into 8 sections and place them cut face down into a round 9” cake pan. (If you’re using a rectangular 9”x12” pan, make 2 rows of 4 and reduce the baking time to 30 minutes).
Place in a warm, draught-free location, cover with a towel, and prove for at least 30 minutes.

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3. To cook

Pre-heat an oven to 180 degrees Celsius/350 degrees Farenheit (160 degrees Celsius/320 degrees Farenheit for a fan oven).
Bake the proved cakes for 35 minutes. They should be cooked through and golden on the outside, but still soft and ‘squidgy’ in the middle.

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4. To glaze

You’ll need:

  • 400g / 3⅓ cups icing sugar
  • 3-4 tablespoons of whole milk

After 35 minutes remove the cakes from the oven and set aside to cool (still in the pan) for about 10 minutes.
Put the sugar into a small bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of the milk and mix to combine. When thoroughly mixed add the rest of the milk slowly until the glaze is thin enough to spread, but not too runny.
If the glaze starts to thicken before you’re ready to spread it add a little more milk and stir to thin.
Spread half the glaze over the cakes while they’re still warm.

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5. To serve the finished cakes

To serve, remove the part-cooled cakes from the pan, tear them apart at the edges, and place on a plate. Drizzle them with a little more glaze, and serve them with spiced tea or bittersyrup while still warm. (If you don’t have any brewed bittersyrup available, coffee is a perfectly good substitute!)

More pictures and other content to come soon!

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