{"id":29288,"date":"2026-06-03T09:14:41","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T07:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/?p=29288"},"modified":"2026-06-03T09:14:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T07:14:43","slug":"i-trust-scars-more-than-smiles-bookquote-when-secrets-bloom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/i-trust-scars-more-than-smiles-bookquote-when-secrets-bloom\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI trust scars more than smiles.” #BookQuote When Secrets Bloom"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cI trust scars more than smiles.\u201d At first, it sounds like the kind of sentence one should not agree with: \u201cI trust scars more than smiles. Yours told me more than any oath ever could.\u201d (When Secrets Bloom<\/em><\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Scars Tell the Truth Lies Never Can<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is a strange kind of education. There are things we are taught to believe about people. Faces. Voices. The ease of a gesture held too long or too carefully. We are trained to read them as if they are stable texts, written in a language that never changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But people are not stable texts. They are disputed ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History is full of this failure of reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vlad \u021aepe\u0219, a ruler once rooted in the complicated soil of Wallachia, did not remain a simple man for long, not in the public imagination. Through pamphlets and printed woodcuts that spread across 15th century Europe Vlad the Impaler was gradually revised<\/a>. His personality edited into something simpler, something easier to fear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDracula\u201d was not a discovery of truth but an accumulation of repetition. Ink did what armies often do: it redrew borders, this time drawing them around a reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What survived such rewriting was not always the truth, but the most printable version of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet the body refuses to be printed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI trust scars more than smiles. Yours told me more than any oath ever could.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A scar does not translate easily into rumor. It does not survive the when the language is twisted in press, not in the same way a name does. It does not grow cleaner or darker depending on who repeats it. It simply remains; fixed, anchored to the place where something once broke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smiles can <\/em>be performed. So can innocence. So can cruelty, at least in the telling of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A man can be called cruel in a pamphlet and have that cruelty outlive him by centuries. A woman can be described as cold, proud, unkind, a witch<\/a> and the words may travel further than anything she ever actually did. Name-calling has always been efficient that way because it requires no proof, only repetition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But a scar is resistant to repetition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It does not grow louder when retold. It does not change shape to suit the listener. It remains fixed in the body of the person who carries it, a private record untouched by public opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why trust shifts away from what is said and toward what survived. Not because speech is always false, but because it is always vulnerable to distortion. Whereas the body (marked, changed, altered by experience) cannot easily be rewritten to suit someone else\u2019s agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A scar does not travel without its owner. It cannot be detached, copied, or improved upon. It simply is. A scar, then, becomes something more than damage. It is testimony that cannot be bribed, reshaped, or printed into myth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in a world where reputations can be built from paper and destroyed the same way, in its refusal to be falsified a scar becomes the only form of truth that refuses to travel without the person who lived it. As simple as that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"book<\/a>
Book quote: \u201cI trust scars more than smiles. Yours told me more than any oath ever could.\u201d When Secrets Bloom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Scars Tell the Truth Lies Never Can<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29289,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1342,6697,1808,2030,4198,6538],"tags":[2496,6775,6774,6478],"class_list":["post-29288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-authors","category-book-quotes","category-history","category-symbolism","category-vlad-the-impaler-vlad-tepes-vlad-iii","category-writing-how-to-historical-fiction","tag-book-quote","tag-distorting-speech","tag-scars-never-lie","tag-when-secrets-bloom"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/book-quote-I-trust-scars-more-than-smiles.-When-Secrets-Bloom.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":27908,"url":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/what-would-you-do-if-vlad-dracula-wrote-to-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":29288,"position":0},"title":"What Would You Do if Vlad Dracula Wrote to You?","author":"Patricia Furstenberg","date":"25\/06\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"What would you do if Vlad Dracula wrote to you? Would you read it? Burn it? Answer? Kate made her choice in \"When Secrets Bloom.\" Now the story is yours. Read on.","rel":"","context":"In "Authors and books"","block_context":{"text":"Authors and books","link":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/category\/authors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"When Secrets Bloom by Patricia Furstenberg, historical fiction set in Transylvania","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/When-Secrets-Bloom-Patricia-Furstenberg-historical-fiction-Transylvania2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/When-Secrets-Bloom-Patricia-Furstenberg-historical-fiction-Transylvania2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/When-Secrets-Bloom-Patricia-Furstenberg-historical-fiction-Transylvania2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/When-Secrets-Bloom-Patricia-Furstenberg-historical-fiction-Transylvania2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28087,"url":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/truth-in-historical-fiction-why-readers-ask-and-why-it-matters\/","url_meta":{"origin":29288,"position":1},"title":"Truth in Historical Fiction, Why Readers Ask and Why It Matters","author":"Patricia Furstenberg","date":"12\/08\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Does When Secrets Bloom holds truth in its historical fiction setting, story line, secrets? Does it stay true to history? Ask my readers. Here's why these questions matter.","rel":"","context":"In "Authors and books"","block_context":{"text":"Authors and books","link":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/category\/authors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Black Gate Kronstadt Brasov as seen in When Secrets Bloom","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Poarta_Neagra_Brasov_vazuta-din-cetate-e1756801335615.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Poarta_Neagra_Brasov_vazuta-din-cetate-e1756801335615.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Poarta_Neagra_Brasov_vazuta-din-cetate-e1756801335615.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27884,"url":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/cover-reveal-when-secrets-bloom-historical-fiction\/","url_meta":{"origin":29288,"position":2},"title":"Cover Reveal: When Secrets Bloom, Historical Fiction","author":"Patricia Furstenberg","date":"23\/06\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Between oath and silence, two outcasts carry a kingdom\u2019s oldest secret. I'm thrilled to share that my newest historical fiction novel, Where Secrets Bloom, is now available for pre-order from Amazon worldwide for 0.99c \/ 0.99p!","rel":"","context":"In "Authors and books"","block_context":{"text":"Authors and books","link":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/category\/authors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"cover reveal When Secrets Bloom Patricia Furstenberg historical fiction Transylvania","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cover-reveal-When-Secrets-Bloom-Patricia-Furstenberg-historical-fiction-Transylvania.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cover-reveal-When-Secrets-Bloom-Patricia-Furstenberg-historical-fiction-Transylvania.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cover-reveal-When-Secrets-Bloom-Patricia-Furstenberg-historical-fiction-Transylvania.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cover-reveal-When-Secrets-Bloom-Patricia-Furstenberg-historical-fiction-Transylvania.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cover-reveal-When-Secrets-Bloom-Patricia-Furstenberg-historical-fiction-Transylvania.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14273,"url":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/vlad-tepes-bucharest-medieval-curse-out-of-context\/","url_meta":{"origin":29288,"position":3},"title":"Vlad Tepes, Bucharest, and a Medieval Curse out of Context #Im4Ro","author":"Patricia Furstenberg","date":"25\/03\/2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Vlad \u0162epe\u015f built a fortress in 1458 Bucharest, his defense strategy against Ottomans, and invoking divine wrath, curse, was common practice in Medieval documents.","rel":"","context":"In "Architecture & Art"","block_context":{"text":"Architecture & Art","link":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/category\/architecture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Vlad Tepes Bucharest curse","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Vlad-Tepes-Bucharest-curse.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Vlad-Tepes-Bucharest-curse.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Vlad-Tepes-Bucharest-curse.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Vlad-Tepes-Bucharest-curse.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5404,"url":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/medieval-sighisoara-house-vlad-impaler-born\/","url_meta":{"origin":29288,"position":4},"title":"Medieval Sighisoara and the House where Vlad the Impaler was Born #Im4Ro","author":"Patricia Furstenberg","date":"11\/02\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Medieval Sighisoara had many secrets to unravel, one being the house where Vlad the Impaler, Vlad Tepes, was born and lived for five years. Truth or myth? Well worth a visit. We see a round vault, discover the Order of the Dragon, a secret entrance and some gaudy details.","rel":"","context":"In "Architecture & Art"","block_context":{"text":"Architecture & Art","link":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/category\/architecture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"medieval Sighisoara, House where Vlas the Impaler was born","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/MedievalSighisoaraBlog.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/MedievalSighisoaraBlog.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/MedievalSighisoaraBlog.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6934,"url":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/mircea-elder-vlad-impaler-family-historical-ties\/","url_meta":{"origin":29288,"position":5},"title":"Mircea the Elder and Vlad the Impaler, Family and Historical Ties #Im4Ro","author":"Patricia Furstenberg","date":"07\/03\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Without the courage & patriotism of Mircea the Elder, grandfather to Vlad the Impaler, Vlad Tepes, the nickname Dracula may not have existed. #medieval #history #medieval #VladTepes #VladImpaler #Dracula #Romania","rel":"","context":"In "Brasov"","block_context":{"text":"Brasov","link":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/category\/brasov\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mircea the Elder, Vlad the Imaler, Vlad Tepes, history, family, Dracula nickname","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mircea-Elder-Vlad-Impaler-Dracula.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mircea-Elder-Vlad-Impaler-Dracula.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mircea-Elder-Vlad-Impaler-Dracula.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mircea-Elder-Vlad-Impaler-Dracula.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Kh37-7Co","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29288"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29288\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29299,"href":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29288\/revisions\/29299"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}