It’s Time to Share My Title!
The Runes She Sang. It’s an incredible feeling and such a relief to finally be able to reveal this title and say it out loud. I’ve kept this project a secret since 2018 when the very first seeds of ideas have been sown. It’s been years in the making and Project “Runes” finally can be given the respect it truly deserves—to be called by its true name.
Funny thing is, this was not the first title I gave for this story. Honestly, I had at least ten other options, but none really fitted. It almost felt like the title and the story was going their separate ways, parallel to each other, never really meeting. So, while I was still drafting the story, I kept on calling it ‘Forest novel’.
Why forest, you might ask. Well, for me it was clear from the very beginning that the forest in this story is going to play a major role. It is one of those settings that become alive, almost like a character on its own. It is dark, mysterious, dangerous, seeped with magic and secrets, but also genuine and giving for those who are worthy. Even the first scene which came to me in my mind was this young woman, running through this dark oppressive forest as if she was being chased for something that she did. But in the end – the runes took over the title. The runes are more important, because they are the magic my protagonist is learning to use in this story. They are the knowledge and the catalyst for transformation she endures.
I played around with words like ‘trials’, ‘calls’, ‘darkness’ and ‘shadows’, but they all seemed too generic, too broad. I was not only looking for a good title in general – it needed to translate right. Not many know that the first version of this story I actually wrote in Lithuanian, my mother tongue. I even entered a contest and sent the manuscript to publishing houses. And as I expected, I got rejected. I was already preparing for that, simply translating the story to English while I waited for rejections. But one thing remained unchanged. The title. When ‘The Runes She Sang’ popped up in my mind, it felt like something finally clicked. Everything fell into place. The story had a name, and it was no longer just some generic ‘forest novel’.
A Sneak Peek Into The Runes She Sang
Runes in my world are more than just symbols—they are power, knowledge, and the voice of magic itself. To wield them is to shape reality with sound and meaning. When my protagonist, Thorun, learns to use them, she doesn’t just carve them into wood or paint them onto surfaces. She must chant them. Sing them. The magic responds to her voice, her intent, her very breath. And as the runes answer her call, they change the world around her.
Here’s a glimpse of one such moment, when Thorun uses runic magic for the first time:
“A strange thought crossed my mind—did nature sense my intentions? Was it mirroring me? Or was everything I noticed a manifestation of my spell?
Denna Valraven
The air felt sharper, colder. I dipped my fingers into the thick red liquid once more, and as I closed my eyes, the vision returned—the same magnificent lake, but now frost crept across its surface. Ice spread like veins of crystal, forming a frozen bridge between the mountain shores. A lone figure stepped onto it, staff in hand, slow and careful.
We call ice a broad bridge; a blind person must be led, whispered the rune poem from the manuscript. The blind must be led. This rune could reveal, trap, or freeze enemies in place.
I inhaled deeply, preparing to chant the rune’s formula. The moment I did, my lungs filled with cold air, sharp and real. The warmth in my stomach extinguished, and a strange calm settled over me. With steady breath, I began to shape the rune’s name into sound.
“Isa, isa, isa. Iiiiiii ssssssss…”
As the red paint filled the engraved lines of my staff, a wind rose around me, unnatural and sudden. It coiled through the trees, whipping my loose hair across my face, scattering leaves in a wild spiral. My eyes snapped open. The air had turned frigid, as if sent by the winter itself. Goosebumps pricked my skin.
But this couldn’t be.
It was midsummer. So why had it suddenly grown so cold?”
What’s Next?
Now that the title is out in the world, this story no longer belongs only to me. It’s taking its first steps beyond the pages, beyond my desk, and into the hands of readers who will soon discover the magic within.
There is so much more I want to share with you—the characters, the lore, the dangers lurking in the dark. But for now, let’s savor this moment. The moment when The Runes She Sang finally steps into the light.
Are you as excited as I am? Tell me what you think of the title in the comments! And if you love dark fantasy, make sure to follow me (on Threads, Instagram or Facebook) or sign up for my newsletter for more updates.
In darkness and wonder,
Denna Valraven