Meet Daphne Vane. Daphne is, in her own eyes, a perfectly normal young American woman just starting out in life. She has a family that she thinks would be great contestants in a surreality game show. As actual family, they leave something to be desired. If Daphne can’t stay ahead of them, she could end up in an arranged marriage. Or become a human sacrifice. They’ll probably give her a choice.

Yes, it’s time to start up a weekly story on the blog again. So start by reading chapter 1, “Just stopped by for a visit, Mum!,” of To Ride the Lightning Bolt, a comedy with a body count! New chapters posted every Friday before noon (GMT – 5, – 6 when Daylight Savings is in effect).

The painting, by the way, is a fresco, The Sacrifice of Iphigenia, by the artist Domenichino (Domenico Zampieri, 1581 – 1641). He got the nickname because he was short. Daphne would sympathize.