Friday, March 29, 2013

Friday Favorites, Fantasy Art & A Funny...

It's Friday! And not just any Friday, my friends. The Friday before April 1st!

That's right, April 1st will be upon us before we know it and then we're off like a shot to do the April A-Z Blog Challenge.

I've participated before. It was very fun! I even managed to post a favorite movie and a musical group that coincided with the letter du jour. I think that is where I got the idea to do these Friday Favorite posts.

Now that I have wound my way through all my favorite books, movies and music groups, I find I need new favorites. So now I post some 'new to me' favorite authors I stumble upon.

However, today's favorite is going to be food: My old favorite food used to be pizza, but now it is a yummy salad with lots of greens and other veggies. I've started juicing at the beginning of the year and Hubby and I have lost some decent weight. We even got a juicer for our anniversary! Sadly, it's that time of year where work is slow and it's cold outside so we have to choose between fresh veggies to juice or heat. I pick heat.

Reason #532 why I can't wait to move to Washington.

Okay, so enough about that, let's get on with the rest of this post! Here is your Fantasy Art for the week:

This is called "Flight Path" by Daren Horley:


And the funnies:




There, I gave you three for missing last week. Have a good weekend!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Looking Forward To April...

My mind has been buzzing with stories lately. So much so, that I am dreaming them half the time. I have lots of ideas and very little time. I'm thinking I will be writing up a couple of short stories, to sort of get the thoughts flowing, the ideas out there and then go back to other stuff.

Again, I have lots and lots to do. And I'm gearing up for the A-Z Blog Challenge! I'll be posting and hope to get around to everyone else who is a part of it.

My theme for the challenge is going to be "World Building From A-Z". It'll be interesting to see if I can pull it off. Wish me luck!

I can't wait to see what you all will post about.

So tell me, do you have a theme or you just going to wing it? What is your theme if you have one? Have you done the A-Z blog challenge before or are you new?

Have a great rest of the week! I'll see you Friday with some funnies.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Not Fun...

Wow, I was totally unprepared for anything last week. Had maybe two posts go up and then I got sick. I thought I'd be able to post a couple little bits, but sadly that didn't happen.

I'm feeling much better, but now trying to play "Catch Up" on everything!

My desk still looks like a bomb went off on it. That is one of the things I didn't get to.

I did a lot of reading... well, more like "trying-to-get-past-these-first-few-pages-oh-please-let-this-book-get-better", rather than reading. I think I dumped six books off of my Kindle in one night before I found something I could actually get into.

Here's the thing. I love reading indie authors. I really do! I just don't like how when I choose the books, I have to filter through twenty of them before I find the gem.

Here is why I dumped those six books:

1 - There was one book where the author told me everything. I was sitting through a six page narrative and being shown very, very little. I didn't connect with anything in that book at all. And before I got too invested in it, I skipped ahead and was still being told. So I dropped it.

2 - One book started off great and hooked me, then flopped because it wasn't getting to the point. It more or less was beginning to be all about the teenage girl ogling the "strange, mysterious" boy beside her. I suffered through several chapters with no more information than I had when I started.

3 - Flat, flatter and flattest! No substance to the characters, the story and even the world they were presented in.

They wrote such great blurbs for the books! But once I started reading, it all fell apart very quickly. Typos, grammar errors, lots and lots of mistakes. One dimensional characters and lifeless dialogue.

Maybe being sick made me a bit more grouchy and snarky than usual, but I really had to look at these books, and the authors, and wonder... what the heck?

I know my writing isn't perfect and that I tend to repeat phrases a bit too much. (I'm not the only one!) But I care about what my story is going to look like once it is out in the real world. I'm even ashamed when I come across a typo. (I surely should have caught that before it went to print!!!) But it does happen. I can't fault anyone for being human. But I can sigh and be exasperated at people who do seem to have a talent for writing, but are in such a rush to get their work out there that it is riddled with mistakes.

Sad thing is, that could have been me at one point last year.

I was in such a rush to get my story out there, to put it in the hands of everyone I knew would love it, that I didn't want to take the time to fix it. But I had to. I didn't feel comfortable self publishing my book because I was afraid it, too, would have so, so many errors that people would get through the first paragraph and then just remove it from their e-reader.

Again, I say this: If you are going to self publish your book, polish that baby up! Be proud of what you have created and take the time to dust off the mistakes and clean around the edges to make it shine and be something you can be proud of, not something you want to shun later on down the line.

What turns you off about a book? What advice do you want to give to authors in a rush?

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Please Help...

I know it is Sunday. Not a day when people are usually hanging out on the blog-o-sphere, but this is kind of important. I'll be putting up a button on my page and redirecting people to it for awhile.

This is a call for help for my best friend's mom. She's like a mom to me as well. Tonya has been my best friend for over 20 years now. We met in high school and we've been through thick and thin together. We've stuck by each other's side through lots of things from break-ups, divorces, abuse and the loss of a child.

I'm not there to help much, so I am doing what I can.

If you go to this page, you'll read about what happened to Tonya's mom this year. She lost a leg and insurance will only pay for so much. She needs a prosthetic and well, that's one of the things insurance doesn't cover.

If you can help, fantastic. If not, all I ask is that you share this link, pass it around, invite people to help out. These are hard-working people who bend over backwards to help anyone out in their time of need. Well, now it is Tonya's mom who needs the help. They don't like asking for charity, but they are at the end of the road. This is the only option they have left. So please, take some time and help out. It's greatly appreciated!

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Author Interview: Michael Brookes...

1.Please tell us a little known fact about you.

I once managed a heavy metal band called 'Big Jesus Trashcan'. We were terrible :-)

2.What was your favorite genre to read growing up? Is this the genre you currently write in?

I enjoyed fantasy and horror a lot when I was younger. I write mostly horror at the moment.

3.What inspires you to write?

The stories in my head. I seem to be full of ideas and writing is the best way to set them free.

4.What sort of atmosphere do you need to write?

I'm quite lucky in that I can write in most conditions. I do like a bit of music to help the mood.

5.What is your all time favorite book?

Excession by Ian M Banks. I re-read it every year and enjoy it every time. Banks does a great job with the AI characters.

6.Who is your all time favorite character that is not your own.

A tricky question, probably Lucifer from Paradise Lost. He acts like a petulant child sometimes, but you have to admire his courage.

7.Who is your favorite character of your own creation?

Friar Francis from The Cult  of Me and Conversations in the Abyss. He's wise and quick witted. He's also not afraid to take on some very dangerous enemies.

8.When did you decide to become a writer?

I've written short stories for most of my life, however it's only in the last 2 years that I've started making my work available to the public.

9.Where are you from?

I'm currently living in the eastern part of the UK. There are hardly any hills around here, it's a lovely part of the country.
 
10.Why do you write?

For the love of it. I enjoy telling stories and creating worlds.

11.What’s the best piece of writing advice you have ever been given?

Keep writing. Keep working on your skill, you will get better.

12.What’s the worst thing someone has ever said about your work?

I've been fortunate that I haven't had any bad reviews as yet. I think the worst I've had was from  an editor that said my writing was 'competent'. I'm sure I'll receive worse at some stage.

13.Has your writing ever been compared to another, famous author? If so, who?

Not yet, but when they do I hope it's somebody good

 14.And last, but not least, something really random:~ What is your favorite meal?

Roast dinner with all the trimmings and nice rich gravy.

Conversations in the Abyss

‘Conversations in the Abyss’ is the sequel to the 5 star rated supernatural thriller ‘The Cult of Me’

Stealing Lazarus’s miracle gifted him immortality. Combined with his natural ability of invading and
controlling people’s minds this made him one of the most dangerous people on Earth.

But the miracle came with a price. His punishment was to be imprisoned within the walls of an
ancient monastery and tormented by an invisible fire that burned his body perpetually. To escape the
pain he retreated deep into his own mind.

There he discovers the truth of the universe and that only he can stop the coming Apocalypse.

Buy now from Amazon:

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BCP08JU/

US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BCP08JU/

About Michael Brookes

Michael Brookes is an Executive Producer with a leading UK games developer. Working in games and
writing are two of his life passions and considers himself fortunate to be able to indulge them both.
He lives in the east of England, enjoying starry skies in the flattest part of the country. When not
working or writing he can sometimes be found sleeping. Which is good as that is where many good
ideas come from.

Other Books by Michael Brookes

The Cult of Me

For too long he dwelt apart, watched those who passed him by. With his unique abilities he entered
their minds and inflicted terrible suffering upon them. They didn't even know who he was. The game
has lasted for years, but now the game has become stale. On an impulse he decides to make a final
and very public last stand. After surrendering himself to the police he enacts his plan to seize the
prison for his final bloody act.

There he discovers that he's not as unique as he once thought.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Cult-Third-Path-ebook/dp/B008O7ZVXW/

An Odd Quartet

A quartet of dark short stories (10,000 words) to thrill and chill.

The Yellow Lady
Grave robbing is a dirty business, in more ways than one. When he disturbs the grave from a
childhood scary story he discovers it's not always treasure to be found.

This Empty Place
At the heat death of the universe, Death contemplates his existence.

Forced Entry
Terrorists seize an average suburban house. A Special Forces hostage rescue team is sent in and
encounter more than they were trained for.

The Reluctant Demon
A young demon prepares to take his possession exam.

http://www.amazon.com/An-Odd-Quartet-ebook/dp/B009QJMMPC/

Friday, March 22, 2013

Not Well...

Hey all, been fighting with being sick this week and so posts didn't get up like they were supposed to. However, tomorrow I have had an author interview scheduled for some time.

Make sure to drop by tomorrow and meet Michael Brookes! I'll be snuggled on the couch with some hot tea, tissues and 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' series on Netflix.

Have a great weekend!

Monday, March 18, 2013

Monday, Monday...

It's Monday! Hope this means you all had a good weekend and had a safe St. Patty's day. Hopefully you aren't too hung over from drinking green beer and dancing with the Leprechauns.

Not much to post today. Nothing new and exciting. I feel in a bit of a rut. My week off for Spring Break seemed to just fly on by. Did I get anything accomplished?

Pssh. No.

Oh, wait... I got my fridge cleaned out. I got my laundry done. Um. That's about it.

I am sitting here staring at my desk and keep having a sensation wash over me. I am overwhelmed. Maybe stressed is a better word for it. I told you all about the issues I had with my laptop and then having to set up a whole station for it and the monitor and keyboard.  Well, just before Spring Break, a couple of my friends in Washington sent me their 'old' computer. They got a new one and the one they sent me is better than my laptop. My other friend put in a new graphics card. Only problem was, the monitor I was using for my laptop wasn't good enough for this new to me computer so my husband gave me his. He was real heartbroken at the fact that the big screen TV would now be his monitor.

::Snorts::

But everything on my desk is a complete disaster and my laptop still contains some writing stuff that has to be transferred over to the new computer. Plus, I need to set up my laptop somewhere to access a couple of other programs easily. So I'm stuck. I have this huge mess on my desk, cords and wires to tidy up and very little motivation to do much about it. Hubby said he'd help, but this weekend flew by as well.

Bah.

Someone send me some good energy to get this done! I think I need some Leprechauns and fairies...

Have a good week, all! And hopefully, I will have gotten something about this mess done.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Enter To Win A $40 Gift Card...

Hey everyone! You all got a chance to meet Dave Ferraro, author of "Dark Genesis", a YA paranormal fantasy, in my interview on Wednesday. Now here is Dave again. His book is now available on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble as well as Smashwords. He's having a contest over at his blog where you can receive a coupon code for a free copy of his book as well as enter into a drawing to win a $40 gift card from either Amazon or B&N, your choice.

So here is some more about Dave and his book:

Author bio:

Dave Ferraro grew up in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where he was warped by a steady diet of
comic books, horror movies and young adult novels. He is the author of the paranormal fantasy
series "Hunters of the Dark," as well as the gay teen paranormal romance "Twice Bitten." He graduated
with a B.A. in English and creative writing from Saint Cloud State University, and currently resides in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Book synopsis:

Alyssa opened her eyes to darkness. And in the first flash of light provided by a gathering storm, she
could make out a ring of bodies surrounding her.

With no memory of who she is, Alyssa stumbles into a dark world populated by witches. The witches
are powerful, and demonstrate frightening powers, but even more terrifying are the monsters who rule
over the land. Vampires, werewolves and other awful creatures of the night have taken over, forcing
the witches behind stone walls, afraid to venture outdoors. But Alyssa finds that as she kills certain
monsters, memories return to her, memories of a life on Earth, and the boy she left behind.

The quest to collect her memories and piece together the puzzle of what has happened to her is a
daunting one, with betrayals and sacrifices every step of the way. But Alyssa is determined to fight for
a world that is not her own, destroying powerful monsters along the way, so that she can return home to
the boy she is coming to love through the memories she recollects.

Excerpt:

The rest of the coven had gathered around the courtyard. Just minutes earlier, they had chanted

and used spells to make their limbs faster, improve their endurance, enhance their might, and hasten

their reflexes. Alyssa, of course, felt none of this. The others, however, seemed flushed and ready for

battle, newly painted runes exposed on their arms to guide them safely back home.

“Good luck to you, brave souls,” Octavius said, bowing to them as the gate opened.

Alyssa licked her lips and prayed to god that she was right about the silver. She shifted her two

long knives in her hands, nine inches long and deadly sharp, marveling at how natural they felt in her

hands, like they belonged there. They made her feel more confident, even though, for all she knew,

she’d never lifted a knife in all her life.

She led the troop out of the gate, walking cautiously, her eyes darting left and right, watching

for any sign of the wolves. And while she knew that they were out there, they didn’t present

themselves.

The gate closed behind them with finality and Alyssa looked back into the scared faces of the

men and women who had followed her. “They are likely waiting for us in the forest,” she said. “They

think to ambush us and destroy us with one mighty swoop, but they have yet to taste their poison.”

She lifted one of her knives high into the air and everyone looked at it, as if it were holy. She smiled

confidently at them and turned back toward the forest, and began to march them toward a battle for

their lives.

“Very inspiring,” Parker sidled up to her.

Alyssa smirked. “I’m glad you think so.”

“Mmm. Very much so. I’ll have to add brazen confidence to your list of uncanny qualities.”

“You do that,” Alyssa said, unable to keep a smile off of her face.

“You feel responsible for this,” Parker said in a low voice, glancing back to ensure that a good

distance was between them and the others. “Is that why you lead them like this?”

“Why should I feel responsible?” Alyssa asked. “Someone needed to step up, and nobody else

seemed likely to do it.”

“Really?” Parker frowned. “Because both you and I know that one of the girls is the spy.”

Alyssa flinched at the word, earning a grin from Parker.

“And you let them walk past that barrier unscathed,” Parker continued.

Scoffing, Alyssa turned to him with a sneer. “Why would I do that? I’m putting my life on the

line here too, you know.”

“Oh, I know,” he assured her. “It wasn’t intentional, I’m sure. But we both know what you

can do. Negate magic. When you passed over that barrier of salt, you sucked the magic right of it,

allowing for your comrades to step over it, whatever intentions they had for Haven.”

Alyssa’s eyes widened, and she nearly came to a stop, but Parker nudged her forward. “Don’t

fret over it. What’s done is done. And you’re about to rectify your foolishness.”

“I didn’t mean…” She let her voice trail off as she turned his words over in her head. He was

probably right. It probably had been her doing that had allowed for the traitor to strike. She had given

them the opportunity they’d needed to bring down the entire village. She’d been so careless. How

could she not have thought about the consequences? How could her very presence put so many people

in danger?

“Hey, come on,” Parker elbowed her gently. “We need your head in the game here. You’re

going to lead us to victory here.”

Alyssa nodded and turned to look back at the people following them, so trusting, like lambs to

the slaughter. She glanced over at Parker, who read the horror on her face.

“You can do this,” he told her.

She looked into his eyes, deep brown wells of warmth, and suddenly felt a calm come over her.

He was right. What had happened had happened. But she could do this. And she would see it through,

one way or another.

**

Awesome! Now don't forget to head on over to his blog and enter to win!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Author Interview: Dave Ferraro...

1. Please tell us a little known fact about you.

My favorite Disney movie is “Hercules,” and I love Megara, the leading lady. I’m always
on the look-out for Megara merchandise, but she gets the shaft in favor of the popular
Disney princesses. A friend actually found and bought me a really pretty Megara
ornament from Hallmark this Christmas, of her riding Pegasus, that I absolutely love.


2. What was your favorite genre to read growing up? Is this the genre you currently write in?

I was a voracious YA reader growing up. YA didn’t look like it does now back when I
was reading it. They consisted of mostly “teen thrillers,” which were basically slasher
books. But I loved them. And I’ve continued to read them as they’ve evolved into the
diverse category that they’ve become today. I am writing YA now, although my books
look more like what’s on the shelf currently, and not what first got me hooked on them.


3. What sort of atmosphere do you need to write?

I like writing at night. Anytime I try to write during the day, I have to constantly take
breaks and do other things and keep coming back to it. At night, I feel like I can just get
in a groove. I play music softly in the background and sometimes I put a scented candle
that I love, that smells like fresh-cut grass.


4. What is your all time favorite book?

My all-time favorite book is Ann Radcliffe’s “The Mysteries of Udolpho.” It’s a classic,
a sort of pioneer of Gothic literature, and it’s just oozing atmosphere. Plus it’s got
forbidden romance, great action scenes, and intriguing mysteries. It just sort of left me
breathless, and made my imagination run wild, although anyone looking to read it is in for
a commitment – it’s a huge, epic novel.


5. Who is your all time favorite character that is not your own.

Buffy Summers. Joss Whedon’s slayer is a kick-ass, capable girl who’s relatable, funny
and flawed. She feels like a real person, and I love that she has a dark side, and some
really messed-up things going on in her psyche.


6. Who is your favorite character of your own creation?

Shanna Hunt is my personal favorite of my characters. She’s the star of the “Hunters
of the Dark” series, and I put a lot of myself in her, which is why I think she is so three-
dimensional. She has a messed-up past, but is overcoming it, despite the challenges she
faces. She gets depressed and gets insecure, but she’s a sweetheart, and can fight like a
pro, and banters playfully with her friends, which lightens things up a bit.

7When did you decide to become a writer?

I started to make up my own stories, based on the covers of books I would buy, and the
synopsis on the back, before I would start reading them. Sometimes my stories were
better than the ones I was reading, so I started writing them myself. I still have my first
book in a box in the closet, written in a notebook, from about twenty years ago.


8. Where are you from?

I grew up in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, until my sophomore
year of high school. Then I moved to Big Lake, Minnesota in the middle of the semester,
where it was a little tough to make friends. It was a much smaller community than I was
used to, in central Minnesota, and I never really found my place there.


9. Why do you write?

Writing is definitely therapeutic for me. I think I get things off my chest by funneling
my feelings and thoughts into these characters I’ve created. But I also just have so many
stories that I want to tell. I’m constantly thinking about my characters, and where they’re
headed, and I can’t not tell their stories.


10. What’s the best piece of writing advice you have ever been given?

To read classics. I went to college specifically for English, so I have definitely read my
share of classics, but I try to keep up on them because I really do believe that the more
good, polished writing that you take in, the better writing that you’re going to produce.
You just kind of pick it up through osmosis.


11. What’s the worst thing someone has ever said about your work?

As a self-published author, I’m really paranoid about affirming the stereotype that
self-published books are full of grammatical mistakes and punctuation errors. Since I
graduated with a B.A. in English, and have always been pretty good with grammar, I
feel like I have it down really well, and have people proofread for errors before I publish
them, just in case. So I’m more embarrassed than anything when an error is pointed out.
Some things I see after the fact, and I’m just horrified that it slipped through, but I have
to remind myself that mistakes happen in published books too. But while I cringe about
that sort of thing, a blogger made fun of one of my early covers, and that really hurt my
feelings because it was so cruel and unnecessary.


12. Has your writing ever been compared to another, famous author? If so, who?

One reviewer compared the psychological horror of my novel “The Tomb” to Henry
James’ “The Turn of the Screw,” which is completely flattering, because I’m actually a
really big fan of Henry James, but he’s one of the big guys, so I can hardly agree with the
comparison, even if it does make me ridiculously happy to hear.


13. And last, but not least, something really random: (Please choose one question)
~ Real books or eReader?

eReader. My books are only available digitally, but’s that’s only part of the reason. I think it’s
just more convenient to have books on a device. I still have books I purchased before I got my
nook that I don’t read because when I go to bed (where I do most of my reading), I can turn
on my nook in the dark room and not bother my boyfriend. Plus, I can buy a book on a whim,
whenever I want to. The only downside for me is graphic novels. I’m a huge fan of comics, and I
think eReaders don’t do them justice, so it’s real books all the way where they’re concerned.


Here are the links I have for social media:

Website: http://www.ferrarofiction.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @Dave_Ferraro
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dave-Ferraro-Author/126155667463299?ref=hl

Monday, March 11, 2013

Spring Break...

I love my job. It's almost like being a teacher. Whatever school days the kids get off, so do we. So I am now soaking up the sun and relaxing by the pool on Spring Break...

Yeah.

Right.

I'm sort of soaking up whatever sun decides to shine down. Today isn't half bad, but it's been snowing. And I'm certainly not by a pool! I'd freeze my bits off and I'm sort of attached to my bits.

However, since it is Spring Break and I actually do have some revising to do, I may not be out and about much on the internet. I'm going to try to do a little bit of promotion for 'Adversarius', but I'm mostly going to try and get 'Veritas' ready for the Betas.

So I'll take this time to give you all a heads up. I've got an author interview coming up on Wednesday with Dave Ferraro. He's the author of 'Dark Genesis' and there will be more about him on Friday's post where you can actually head on over to his blog and enter to win a $40 gift card from either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. (You could enter now, even and check out the other blogs hosting his tour.) Every entrant is going to receive a coupon code for the ebook and then one lucky person will win that gift card. The drawing will be held on the 18th.

How cool is that! Here's the even more awesome part.... If you enter and say that you were referred by my posts to enter the contest, I can win a gift card as well.

So keep a weather eye on the horizon and watch for the two posts from Dave this week. Have an awesome week and I'll try to keep you all updated on revisions!

Friday, March 8, 2013

Friday Favorites, Fantasy Art & A Funny...

It's Friday! It's also the beginning of my Spring Break and so of course this post is a little late. I slept in!

I wish I could say I have an awesome "Favorite" all planned out for you today, but I don't. I'll have to get back on track with that next week. I do have a cool fantasy pic for you though, that I stumbled across on FaceBook. I always share the cool pics I find.

And the funny ones. I can't help it.

So here is my fantasy art pic for the week:


And of course, it wouldn't be Friday without my funnies. I'll give you a couple this time because I was slacking off:







Hehe! Have a great weekend everyone!

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Book Review: Gown of Shadow and Flame by A. E. Marling...

Title: Gown of Shadow and Flame

Author: A. E. Marling

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Pages: 327 (Print), File size: 1648 kb

ASIN: B00AFHSQHW

Purchase: Amazon



Summary from Amazon:

Her brother throws the first stone. Her family tries to kill her, but Celaise chooses to live, even if it means leaving humanity behind.

She weaves a gown from strands of night and despair. The forbidden magic protects her. It isolates her, and it binds her to a three-headed overlord.

Her lord commands Celaise to save lives, on pain of death. She rescues Jerani, a warrior adorned by a sunburst of scars from a tribal ritual. Jerani fights to defend his family and their sacred cows from crystal-eyed monsters roaming the savanna. He learns to rely on Celaise's magic, she on his strength.

Jerani thinks her divine, a volcano goddess. Celaise dares not confide in him. Engulfing the throngs of beasts in the inferno of her dress will loose her magic's hunger. Then the greatest threat to Jerani and everyone else she has come to care for will be herself.

My thoughts:

A. E. Marling does it yet again. This is the third book I have read of his and it is the third time I have been blown away! A. E. Marling writes with such elegance and clarity, I find myself fully enveloped in the worlds he creates.

His first two books brought me into the world of Hiresha, his Enchantress, and her magic. Along with the sort of chaos that usually surrounds her. This time, I was brought into the world of Feasters.

The Lord of the Feast has given Celaise a very special task. At first she finds it almost impossible to fulfill, what with the myriad of delicacies assaulting her senses. However, where there is a will, there is a way. Hunger and threats eventually lead her to the solution.

Jerani is a very pure young man, with innocent thoughts of this beautiful girl he mistakes for a Handmaiden of Angry Mother, the volcano. He is confused, but grateful that this wonderful girl with the magical dress has chosen him to aide her. How could he, a simple mortal boy, assist a powerful, beautiful goddess?

Together, they fight to protect Jerani's family and the Greatheart tribe from an invasion of destructive creatures. But to tell you any more would mean I would start to give a lot of this book away. There is pain and loss for Jerani, who has been charged with protecting his siblings, Wedan and Anza. But there is also courage and triumph.

I could go on and on about this book as much as the other two I have read, but you really have to read them for yourself. The imagery woven into the intrinsic tapestry of Marling's writing is amazing!

Once again:

5 out of 5 skull and crossbones.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Insecure Writers Support Group...


IWSG is the brainchild of our awesome Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh. If you want to become a part of this group or read posts by other participants, you can find the list here.

It's already time for IWSG? Again? Wow, I don't think I have anything to be insecure about this time.

Who am I kidding, I always have something to be insecure about.

I have to say, I'm stuck in the middle of revisions. My little button hasn't moved much because I'm still trying to hammer out the details with a lot of what I have already written. I had a bit of a continuity/time line/ flow issue a friend of mine pointed out in Book One, so I am trying to make sure I keep tabs.

This will be a lot easier to do for a couple of different reasons:

One, I have converted to being an outliner with my writing instead of a pantser, these days. Where I used to just sit down and write by the seat of my pants, I can no longer maintain that sort of writing style. There is far too much going on. My characters are well developed and are a bit demanding when it comes to their scenes. I can't just gloss over them and focus on one at a time. So the outlining has become an integral part of my writing process. I have to admit, it makes things go a lot more smoothly than before. But once in awhile, I will still hit a snag.

The other thing that has made this easier?

Well, awhile back I had decided to finally lift up my laptop keyboard and clean it out. I had a couple of sticky keys. Not a big deal, right? Wrong. This is me we're talking about, people. Where have you been these last couple years??

Anyway.

So in lifting up my keyboard and cleaning out the disgusting mess beneath, I did something. Now none of my keys work. Go figure, right? But it has become a blessing in disguise. When I got a regular, wireless keyboard and hooked it up to my computer, it put my laptop too far away for me to really see what I was doing. Even with the dreaded bi-focals. So I hooked up a regular monitor to my laptop.

I now have two screens! Which means I open up my rough draft in one and my revisions in my other and voila!

I have revision awesomeness.

Because that's how I have to revise. I catch a lot more of my typos and errors in time flow continuity this way. Believe me... I have caught A LOT of mistakes.

I'll be dropping by to see your posts and hopefully offer up some support. Have a great rest of the week!

So how do you edit and revise? Got any methods that are a bit out of the ordinary?

Monday, March 4, 2013

Author Interview: Lyn Croft...

1. Please tell us a little known fact about you:

I am scared to death of Hannibal Lector. I literally get goose bumps and freak out when
people imitate his voice. Don’t ask me why I can handle all the horror I watch, but not
Anthony Hopkins. It baffles even me…


2. What was your favorite genre to read growing up? Is this the genre you currently write in?

My favorite genre growing up was horror, and still is. When all the other little girls were
reading “The Babysitters Club”, I was reading Stephen King. My current book, “Blood and
Lilies ~ Bloodlines is Sci-Fi Fantasy, but I do write some horror here and there.


3. What inspires you to write?

My muse smacking me upside the back of my head. Honestly, authors and their books
inspire me. I love reading the journeys they take us on. There is just something magical
about being able to create a whole other world, and then share it with others so that they can
experience it as well.


4. What sort of atmosphere do you need to write?

It depends on my mood, and the weather. During spring and summer, you’ll find me on the
patio, hacking away on my laptop. When it’s cold, I’m hiding in my home office with the
space heater and a cup of hot tea.


5. What is your all time favorite book?

I have to say this one goes to “Book of the Damned”, by D.A. Fowler. That book had me
scared to read it and I loved it! It’s about these people that are cursed to die horrible deaths
when they read the book – Book of the Damned. It gets you feeling like you’ll be cursed
and damned just for reading about reading it. And what happens to the characters in the
book…Great stuff!


6. Who is your all time favorite character that is not your own.

Buffy Summers, AKA, the Vampire Slayer. I know, I’m queen nerd in my town, and I’m
proud of it. Yes, I have the DVD collection, the comic’s, video games, and have around 30
books based off the TV series. Joss Whedon created a brilliant character with her, as well as
many others. She is my all time fave though.


7. Who is your favorite character of your own creation?

Oh goodness. If I tell you, the rest of my characters might start yelling at me. They’re
already giving me dirty looks; waiting for me to choose which one. Maybe I shouldn’t make
the twin Vamps jealous right now. Celeste and Estelle aren’t very happy with me after what
I did to them in the book.


8. When did you decide to become a writer?

In high school. I always had friends and teachers reading my work. They all said I had a
gift, and that I needed to keep writing. I stuck with poetry mostly, and a few short stories
here and there. It was only about five years ago that I decided to try my hand at novels.


9. Where are you from?

Born and raised in Southern California.

10. Why do you write?

I can’t really explain it, I just need to. I get a rush when I create a story and my characters
come to life. The need to sit and fill pages with stories is overwhelming at times. I couldn’t
function otherwise.


11. What’s the best piece of writing advice you have ever been given?

To just write. No rules, no guidelines, and no fears. Just let the words and creativity flow. It
gives me freedom to worry about the fine tuning of everything later, and lets my characters
tell me where they want to go.


12. Has your writing ever been compared to another, famous author? If so, who?

Actually, yes! I had a friend just tell me I’m the next Christine Feehan. I was so flattered. I
can only hope to be as well recognized as well as her someday.


13. And last, but not least, something really random:
~ Real books or eReader?

It will always be real books. I own a kindle, and enjoy it, but there is something about holding a
book in my hand, or walking into a book store to browse the isles for hours. Those can never be
replaced with an eReader. I’m just old school that way.


Links:
http://www.hellfirepublishing.com/
https://www.facebook.com/lyn.croft.3
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blood-and-Lilies-Bloodlines/147848071955494?ref=hl
Twitter: @lyncroft27

Friday, March 1, 2013

Guest Post, New Release By Lyn Croft & Can't Forget The Funnies...

Hey everyone! It's Friday and it's March 1st...

What does the first of March have to do with anything? Well, it certainly means I am a busy girl today.

First of all, I'm guest posting over at my friend Carol's blog. Carol and Tom Phipps are the co-authors for "Elf Killers" and the "Heart of the Staff" series, which includes "Good Sister, Bad Sister", "The Collector Witch", "Stone Heart" and "The Burgeoning". So drop by and check out my post here or here.

Today is also RELEASE DAY for my friend and fellow Demon at Hellfire Publishing, Lyn Croft! How exciting release day can be! Her book, "Blood and Lilies" is currently available in eBook format at Amazon and at Smashwords.

Come by on Monday when I will be interviewing Lyn!


In the meantime, have a good weekend and enjoy some funnies. Because I can't ever forget the funnies...