Delia Latham's Blog, page 40

Clash of the Titles Announces Judges

Clash of the Titles is proud to announce the round three judges for the Olympia Contest!



DEBORAH RANEY,

award-winning author of over 30 books

 

AMANDA LUEDEKE,

literary Agent of Macgregor Literary




STEVE HUTSON,

literary Agent of WordWise Media



 

Three privileged Olympia finalists will have their work read by the above judges. The winner will receive recognition on our site and a beautiful plaque similar to this one:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~






~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Olympia is currently OPEN for submissions.

If you're an unpublished author, don't miss out on this opportunity to get your work before these industry specialists!


Aspiring authors can visit our submissions guidelines for more information.




Please share the below button on your blog or website to help promote Christian Fiction.

Winner of COTT's August New Release Clash!

Congratulations to Gloria Clover, winner of the August New Releases Clash, with her novel, The Fire Starter!

 

Thank you so much to our competitors. This competition was amazing!




A Sense of Mission by Ann Gaylia O'Barr

Her Good Name by Ruth Axtell

Living in Harmony by Mary Ellis

Rodeo Ashes by Shannon Taylor Vannatter















About the Book:


Three generations ago, wooded Celosia Island burned in a fire storm. Now the government keeps the island safe through limited trade and rare immigration. So it is unsettling to Princess Amaryllis Filippopoulos to learn her father has invited an off-island prince into residence to translate some ancient scrolls and to marry her, his youngest daughter and heir to the throne.


Prince Valryan Molan has been sent to present to the people of Celosia the reality of the King, even though He is not readily perceived by the five senses or logic, the Stoic beliefs of Celosia's ancestors. Valryan finds his mission hampered by his bride's reluctance to marry and the immediate need to protect the people from illegal fire weapons.


But none of that compares to the unexpected fire storm Amaryllis ignites in his heart.



Read an excerpt and find out more at Dessert Breeze Publishing.


The Fire Starter is book two in this exciting speculative fiction series entitled Children of the King. Check out Gloria Clover's other works at her website.


Thank you all for joining in and casting your vote! Here are some of the kind words you had to share. 


Gorgeous cover, Gloria, for your wonderful story.
All five books are intriguing, both covers and short blurb. Alas, I could only choose one.
When God gives the gift, it is our duty to use it wisely. Thank you all for doing so!
All the books sound very intriguing. Nice job.


Praise for The Fire Starter:




Excitement, adventure, mystery, and undiluted romance make Fire Starter another winner!





                                                 ~Karen Witemeyer, CBA Bestselling author of Short-Straw Bride





 


I'm butter in Gloria Clover's hands as this master of words doles out

another inspiring story that draws me into the life of her characters and

God's arms.                           ~Ellen List







About the Author:





Gloria Clover, Christ-follower and Truth-seeker, writes romantic fiction with the hope of showing God's love and our need in both humorous and haunting ways.  The Children of the King series is her first foray into e-book publishing and her first speculative fiction. Washed Under the Waves (book 1) and The Fire Starter (book 2) are currently available from Desert Breeze Publishing.  From the Frozen Depths (book 3) is under construction and will be available next August.



Gloria's contemporary romances, published by Barbour Books and Son-Rise Publications, include:  The Remaking of Moe McKenna in the Race to the Altar anthology, Brianna's Pardon, Tangled Truths, and ten volumes of Penned From the Heart, a compilation of 365 daily devotions.



She is a member of Emmanuel Christian Church, active in prayer ministry, women's ministries, American Heritage Girls, and various other projects.  She directs a One Day Writing Conference each April, participates in writing/book days in local schools, and enjoys giving and receiving from her various writing critique groups.  She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, participating in the ACFW book club and prayer loops.



Married, she writes from her little white box in western PA.



Visit her at http://www.gloriaclover.com where you can find both her site pages and blog topics.

TWO new releases from White Rose Publishing

DEVOTION

by Marianne Evans






Christian Music agent Kellen
Rossiter has everything he ever wanted: A-list clients from coast to coast, a
loving wife who honors and respects him, and a faith life that’s never
wavered—until now.



Juliet Rossiter has the perfect life: a rewarding schedule serving the
underprivileged, a husband who loves her as Christ loved the church, and a
blessed future as a mother—at least that's what she thinks.



For Better or Worse

But what happens when their rock-solid marriage begins to crumble under the
weight of an unexpected and powerful temptation? How does love survive when its
foundation is shaken?



'Til Death Do Us Part






When human frailty and the allure of sin
deal a harsh blow to their relationship, it will take more than love to mend
the shattered trust and heartbreak. It will take a lifetime of devotion.











Marianne Evans loves to tell a good story. In fact, she’s been
enthusiastic about writing ever since she could string sentences together.
Joining White Rose Publishing gives her the opportunity to combine two of her
greatest passions – love of the Lord and exploring the world of romance.

She’s seen a number of her books published. Kensington Publishing
purchased her first book, Friends & Lovers. Her second contemporary
romance, Right Hand Man, followed shortly thereafter. Her third release from
Kensington, Hannah’s Heart, won critical acclaim in The Oakland Press. Her
fourth book, a novella entitled With This Kiss, is her first offering at The
Wild Rose Press. Hearts Crossing, her first inspirational romance, marked her
debut at White Rose Publishing.

A resident of suburban Detroit, she’s happily married with two kids and
a family that never fails to support and encourage. An active member of Romance
Writers of America, she’s a long-time member of Greater Detroit RWA where she
served the chapter in a number of capacities, most notably as treasurer and two
terms as president.

www.marianneevans.com

http://marianneevans.blogspot.com 




Also by Marianne Evans:




              









WISDOM TREE

by Mary Manners





Sometimes
the last thing we think we need is exactly what God has planned.




After
the death of his parents, Jake Samuels has enough on his plate—including a
fledgling church to lead and a mischievous younger brother to raise. The last
thing he needs is a rambunctious woman to contend with.




Carin
O'Malley is dealing with the death of her brother and a new job as an English
teacher at East Ridge Middle School where Corey Samuels reigns as King of
Chaos. The last thing she needs is to fall in love with a man...especially a
handsome and complicated preacher like Corey’s brother Jake.




But
when Corey's antics toss Carin and Jake together, the two must draw from God’s
wisdom to find refuge in His perfect plan for them.




(Wisdom Tree includes a 30-day devotional!)










Mary Manners is an award-winning
romance writer who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee
with her husband Tim and the cherished cats they've rescued from
local animal shelters...Lucky and Gus.




Mary’s debut novel, Mended
Heart , was nominated Best
Inspirational Romance 2010, and was finalist for the Bookseller’s Best Award
and her follow-up, Tender Mercies , was awarded an outstanding 4 ½ star rating from The Romantic Times
Book Reviews and was also a finalist for the Inspirational Readers Choice
Award. Buried Treasures , her third novel, was named Book of the Year by The Wordsmith Journal.
Light the Fire , her fourth
novel, took top honors for the 2012 Inspirational Readers Choice Award while
her fifth, Wisdom Tree , continues to garner top ratings. Mary was named Author of the Year by
Book and Trailer Showcase. She writes romances of all lengths, from short
stories to novels—something for everyone.




Learn more about Mary Manners at
her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com 




and at
her author pages:

www.PelicanBookGroup.com  

www.Amazon.com







A sampling of other books by Mary Manners:




    

COTT: Vote For Favorite August Release

October is here and Clash of the Titles is ready with five more awesome releases ready to vie for top spot in our August Releases Clash!  This month's offering is a unique blend of books from several genres where you're sure to find something that peaks your interest.




We have harrowing missions and a parent's legacy, princely heroes, the dangerous love of a baron, healing for a widow's heartache, and fledgling love in Lancaster. Whew!  


Remember…vote for the book you’d most like to add to your favorite reads pile, and share the news with your friends and family! Vote today through next Tuesday when the polls close at Midnight EST; then come back on THURSDAY to find out which book received the most votes. The winner will tour with our Clash of the Titles blog alliance, so have fun being a roadie without all the heavy lifting if you want to go along. 


And now…Peruse, Ponder, Press the button of your choice.









A Sense of a Mission by Ann Gaylia O'Barr

Kaitlin is driven to succeed in the mission denied her mother. Can she redeem that mission if she discovers another calling?












The Fire Starter by Gloria Clover

Amaryllis Filippopoulos was raised to rule the island of Celosia.  Alone.  So what's she to do with an off-island prince who tempts her to surrender her life's purpose for him?












Her Good Name by Ruth Axtell

In the 1890 thriving coastal town of Holliston, Maine, the leading lumber baron's son, Warren Brentwood, fights his attraction for Esperanza Estrada, daughter of an immigrant fisherman. Espy discovers that catching Warren’s eye is a far cry from capturing his heart because when rumors circulate about her, Warren believes the worst, forcing Espy to flee









Living in Harmony by Mary Ellis

Amy King--young, engaged, and Amish--faces difficult challenges in her life when she suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire. Her fiancé, John Detweiler, persuades her and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster County and make a new beginning with him in Harmony, Maine, where the ultra-conservative district becomes more than either bargained for.









Rodeo Ashes by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Lacie Gentry, a young widow and mom, is struggling with the aftermath of her husband’s tragic death. Quinn Remington, her former classmate always had eyes for her, but will his involvement in her husband’s demise keep them apart?

Meet the Heart's Haven characters!

As I've been mentioning on this blog for awhile, I'm part of a 4-author Valentine's Day-oriented collection called Heart's Haven. White Rose Publishing, a division of Pelican Book Gropu, will premiere the collection in e-Book format, starting with my story, Jewels for the Kingdom, on October 10. The next three months afterward will see the releases of the other three wonderful romances:

 

November - Marianne Evans' Operation Breathless

December - Tanya Stowe's Leap of Faith

January - Mary Manners' Dance with Me

(MY website, should you wish to visit it for a blurb about Jewels for the Kingdom, is http://www.delialatham.net.)





So what is Heart's Haven? It's a unique apartment complex owned by an elderly gentleman (in my mind, he looks like Clint Eastwood in his most recent movies) named Andrew Hart. This old guy has the ability to see and speak with not only his own angel, but sometimes the angels assigned to other people. In addition, Heart's Haven is known for being a kind of gateway to love, ever since it opened as a boarding house over a hundred years ago. Hanging over the gate of each separate cottage is a carved wood sign reading May Love Find All Who Enter Here.

 

And it usually does...

 

Each story focuses on separate tenants, and...drumroll, please! There are plans for follow-up stories to continue the Heart's Haven books!

 

Come on over to Facebook and meet characters from these first books. We've set up a Heart's Haven page as an overall home base on FB, and each of the four heroines have their own pages as well. Please come over and visit with us - and be sure to click the "Like" button on each page.

 

Here are links:

 

Heart's Haven

Pia Peretti (from Jewels for the Kingdom)

Zoe Wyndham (from Leap of Faith)

Susanna Daniels (from Operation Breathless)

Kaci James (from Dance with Me)

 

We can't wait to meet you!

Another Great July Release for Lovers of Fiction!

*by COTT Sr. Editor, April W Gardner









THE SEEKERS is Book 2 in the Wainwright Trilogy. 

It was recently featured on Clash of the Titles, as a July New Release.











About being chosen for the clash the sister-authors,
Sadie and Sophie, said,

 “Thank you for including our book. It was wicked fun!”



Here’s what COTT’s readers had to say about
The Seekers:




Love this book, S & S!!!





Go Sadie and Sophie! Blessings! Linda C.




Love love love you guys!





Well done Sadie & Sophie








The Seekers Purchase Links:




AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE




When asked if book 1 in the series needs to be read first to make sense of the story, Sadie and Sophie, said, “No, each book is a stand-alone novel. Of course we hope you'll love the characters so much you'll want to read all three books, and to that end we'll give you a quick introduction to the Wainwright family. Widowed mother Lydia, eldest daughter Alice, and son Lawrence live on a New England farm and raise sheep for the woolen mill. Alice carries the conflict of a birth-marked face and a quick mind.”



In Book One (FAITH IN THE SHADOWS), Alice is rescued from her conniving fiancé by blinded war veteran, Hawk. She uses her warm humor and intelligence to break through Hawk's bitter pride, but will she find the courage to face the truth before Hawk regains his sight? Or has she already betrayed their fragile relationship by keeping her secret from him?

Lawrence adores his mother and sister (and his horse), but for all his easy-going charm, he's a rock solid man's man with a heart as tender as a spring leaf.



In THE SEEKERS (Book Two), a reluctant Lawrence trades places with a mentally challenged look-a-like and goes undercover as President Lincoln's spy. He's instantly tangled up in the innocent lives of those around him, and becomes their self-appointed protector. Through double-cross and betrayal, Lawrence searches for a way to get everyone safely across enemy lines. But the toughest battle he faces is fighting to protect the woman he loves without revealing his true identity, because to do so would mean a death sentence for both of them.



Book Three (THE HEART KNOWS) is due out in March 2013 and features matriarch Lydia Wainwright. At 49 (over the hill for a woman in the 1860's), Lydia refuses to be confined to social mores when her adult kids leave the nest. She travels west to begin a new life as a frontier schoolmarm, but a train wreck derails her plans and leaves her with a head injury. Before she recovers her memory, Lydia is mistaken for Minnie, a woman contracted to care for two love-starved children. By the time their father, an ex-Pinkerton man, discovers the truth, he selfishly chooses not to reveal it so Lydia will stay with them. When Lydia remembers her former life, she struggles to make the right choice. Can she respect a man she loves who allowed her to live a lie? Or must she leave him and the two children, as dear to her as life itself?








Cuffe Sisters


There aren't many successful sister writing teams out there. When asked how their collaboration works, they responded,“In terms of "success," our books haven't quite made it to the NY Times bestseller list yet (but two girls can hope!). More importantly, we do have a successful partnership, not just because we're sisters, but because we're friends. It also doesn't hurt that Sophie is a type-A detail-oriented writer and planner, and Sadie never seems to know what's going to happen her in sock drawer or in the next sentence. Put it together and you get the mostly-perfect blend of ninja name stickler/grammarian/editor (Sophie prefers the title Queen) and "what-if" creative spark (Sadie does NOT prefer the title Fillilubird!). In terms of how we actually write a book together -- we're sworn by the sisterhood not to divulge family secrets, but we can say we don't really know how it works, but it always works out for us.”





If you love historical fiction (specifically Civil War tales!), don't miss this great e-book deal. Currently only $5.99 through Amazon!






--April W Gardner is the author of the
award-winning children's historical novel, 

Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang
and the senior editor at Clash of the Titles

New Release: TREEHOUSE

Available NOW at Pelican Book Group!



TREEHOUSE is a short story - only SIX exciting chapters. Read it on your lunch break!




Be sure to tell me what you think!










Tim
Kerschner’s attachment to a solitary aspen on property he inherits goes much
deeper than aesthetics. Can he make landscape architect Ryann Dean understand
his refusal to let her chop down this single tree in a forest of them?

Ryann
loves her job in Bliss, Oregon. Junior high teacher Tim Kerschner, on the other
hand, she’d be happy to have never met. The man’s handsome face loses any
appeal in light of his arrogance and obvious inclination to violence—the latter
of which Ryann despises for reasons close to her heart.

A
visit to what lies within the branches of the controversial tree could give
them both a whole new outlook on life...and on each other.

Guest Post: Jennifer Beckstrand

Please welcome Author Jennifer Beckstrand. If you like Amish romance...you're in the right place today. You'll enjoy this author's delightfully honest guest post about how writing works for her.


And you'll love that she's giving away one copy of each of her books! Your comment on this post is your entry. Winner(s) will be announced on Saturday, Sept. 15.







Jennifer Beckstrand
Author of Kate's Song and
Rebecca's Rose












“Action is at bottom a swinging and flailing of the arms to regain one's balance and keep afloat.”  Eric Hoffer





It takes me six months to write a book. I am in awe of those writers who can crank out a novel, a good novel, in eight weeks or less. I have not yet mastered that skill.





For one thing, I am a pokey writer. I interrupt myself and go back and reread and edit and sit for long stretches of time trying to construct the perfect sentence. I know. I’ve heard it over and over. “Let the ideas flow onto the page. Going back to correct yourself only restricts the creative juices.” My problem is that I find it hard to move forward in a paragraph when there is a participle dangling three sentences above me. This is how I write. I hope to become more efficient at it, but for now, it is what I can do.




I started my first book when my fourth daughter was born and finished it long after she turned fourteen. Because I have a large family, writing was virtually impossible with small children running about the house, sabotaging my hard drive, and wanting to have their diapers changed. To avoid the frustration of not accomplishing anything on my computer screen, I mostly put my writing dreams on the back burner—okay, on the cook stove out in the garage—because I knew someday, on my deathbed, what I would regret NOT doing. A few years ago while I stared longingly out the window and waited for my kids to come home from school, I realized I had large blocks of time to kill. (Okay, this is a myth. If anyone has large blocks of time to kill, please call me. You can come clean my house.) So, the kids leave for school and the frantic writing begins until they come bursting in the door after a day of scholarship.




Some days are wildly productive, others peppered with interruptions. The most important thing for me is to just keep flailing my arms and pushing through obstacles. The balance comes as I keep moving.






About Jennifer:




Jennifer has completed three Amish romances in the Forever After in Apple Lake Series (Summerside/Guideposts). Kate’s Song and Rebecca’s Rose are now available. Miriam's Quilt is scheduled for release in spring of 2013. She is a member of RWA and ACFW. She is represented by Mary Sue Seymour of The Seymour Agency.


Jennifer lives in the foothills of the Wasatch Front in Utah with her husband and two children left at home. She has four daughters, two sons, three sons-in-law, and one adorable grandson.




About Jennifer's books:







Kate’s Song




The expected course of Kate Weaver’s life is baptism into the Amish church and strict observance of the Ordnung. But Kate is blessed with a beautiful singing voice, and when another path leads her to the academy for vocal training, she struggles to understand God’s will for her life. She returns home after a violent encounter with a fellow student, and though she is drawn to the peace and devotion of the Amish lifestyle, could her calling forever separate her from the people and the way of life she holds so dear?

Nathaniel King has never wavered in his commitment to the community and the Old Order Amish Church into which he is baptized. Secretly in love with Kate, he is devastated when she leaves the community to attend the academy. When Kate returns, will she finally make his most profound hopes a reality, or will she break his heart all over again?







Rebecca’s Rose




When his widowed mother marries an outsider, Levi Cooper's family leaves the Amish community and Levi is raised Englisch. But Levi's world is shattered when the only father he knows divorces his mother and turns his back on the family. In his anger, Levi causes an accident that alters his life forever and sets him on the path of self-destruction. Does the pretty Amish girl from his old community hold the key to his heart and his redemption?

With her mother so ill, Rebecca Miller runs her household, cares for the small farm, and watches after her younger siblings while her father, unwilling to care for his wife, is absent for days at a time working out-of-town jobs. Even though she feels trapped in her dismal life, Rebecca is determined to fulfill the promise she made to a dying friend. Englischer Levi Cooper, with uncommon good looks and a mischievous glint in his eye, might be the boy who can help her do just that. But will his secrets tear them apart or will their growing attachment lead to the loss of everything she holds dear?

COTT July Clash Winner

Congratulations to Naomi Dawn Musch, winner of the

July New Releases Clash, with her novel, The Black Rose,

third book of the Empire in Pine Series.


Thank you so much to our competitors. This competition was amazing!



LoRee Peery, Found in the Woods

Sadie and Sophie Cuff, The Seekers

Maureen Lang, Bees in the Butterfly Garden

Marcia Gruver, Hunter's Prize









About the Book:

Despite the panic of 1893, logging reaches its golden era in the growing state of Wisconsin, and twins Jesilyn and Corianne Beaumont enjoy a comfortable life with family in the bursting Great Lake city of Superior. But when jealousy incites Jesi to seduce Cori's fiance, a flight and fall from grace lands her in a boom town brothel, where a fresh start is denied her.



Camp preacher Paul Winter longs to offer hope in the logging and mining towns of northern Wisconsin, but not in the way he expects when he meets a redhead he calls Pie Girl. He's never had to battle his own longings quite this way before.



Meanwhile, stung by Jesilyn's betrayal, Corianne's bitterness might separate her from a second chance at happiness and peace. Only by Grace can both women begin new lives, and budding love can bloom in places neither of them expect.



Read an excerpt & find out more:

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-319/Empire-in-Pines-Book/Detail.bok







About the Series:









Empire in Pine Series


Historic, romantic, women's fiction -- a
multi-generational family saga of love and deception, hope and turmoil, and the
rise of a wilderness empire.




Purchase
Links:



AMAZON: http://tinyurl.com/7m5a5ah



BARNES
&NOBLE: http://tinyurl.com/3gelmzp



DESERT
BREEZE: http://tinyurl.com/43jbuvd


Thank you as always to our loyal readers. Enjoy a tiny sample of the comments:





So tough to choose one book based on a paragraph-they all sound fabulous!


I love, love all the titles.


It was hard to choose!


Tough call! I'd read them all, I think.


My choice is based on both the blurb and the cover. But, again, it was a hard choice. Great work, authors!


I have read every book by this Author and I have to say I am more and more impressed by all of it!








About the author:



Naomi Dawn Musch was born and raised in central Wisconsin and now makes her home in Wisconsin's vast northwoods where the vistas are ripe to feed the imagination of anyone interested in history. She and husband Jeff have three grown children and two under wing on their150 acre farm where they dabble at raising a menagerie of animals.



Naomi has been publishing a regional newsletter for home educators for the past thirteen years entitled Apples of Gold. See the page "Apples of Gold for Home Educators" for more information. She is also a staff writer for Living Stones News, a regional Christian newpaper; and a regular contributor to Home School Enrichment magazine. www.livingstonesnews.com www.homeschoolenrichment.com www.applesofgoldnews.com




Besides writing, Naomi enjoys homeschooling her children, gardening, taking walks in the woods, a little basketball, and fellowshipping with friends.







Your hostess for this clash was Lisa Lickel.
Visit her at http://www.lisalickel.com

Interview and Giveaway! Janalyn Voigt

I'm delighted to
welcome Janalyn Voigt to Living the Write Life. It is an honor to be one of the blog stops in her
promotional tour introducing her debut novel, DawnSinger - and a wonderful scene from that book is included in the interview below. Be sure to leave your comment for a chance to win a copy!

 



 

 

1.             
It’s a delight to have you as a guest on Living
the Write Life, Janalyn! I’m always excited to find out more about other
Christian authors. But before we delve into the subject of writing, please tell
us about yourself. Who is Janalyn
Voigt, the gal next door?





That’s a fun question,
Delia.  I was born and raised in the
‘burbs and even put in a stint working in a Seattle skyscraper as a cog in the
wheel of big business. But my heart is that of a country girl. If time allowed
me the privilege, I’d bake my bread, grow all my vegetables and sew curtains
for my windows. I’ve had to give up part of that idea because of the demands of
writing. Besides writing, I sing, draw and enjoy photography. I love to explore
new places, especially out-of-doors.


 


2.             
DawnSinger
is your debut novel—a fantasy of epic proportions, if I’m not mistaken. J Tell
us a little about the storyline.





DawnSinger is written in the epic fantasy subgenre, so your guess
would be correct. Here’s the back cover copy:





 The High Queen is
dying… At the royal summons, Shae mounts a wingabeast and soars through the air
to the high hold of Faeraven, where all is not as it seems. Visions warn her of
danger, and a dark soul touches hers in the night. When she encounters an
attractive but disturbing musician, her wayward heart awakens. But then there
is Kai, a guardian of Faeraven and of Shae. Secrets bind him to her, and her
safety lies at the center of every decision he makes. On a desperate journey
fraught with peril and the unknown, they battle warlike garns, waevens,
ferocious raptors, and the wraiths of their own regrets. Yet, they must endure
the campaign long enough to release the DawnKing—and the salvation he
offers—into a divided land. To prevail, each must learn that sometimes victory
comes only through surrender.





3.             
What was your inspiration for this book?





My Tales of Faeraven series, of which DawnSinger is
book one, began as a story to entertain my little girl during a drive. For the
main character of my story, I twisted the name of her doll, Cinda, and came up
with "Syl Marinda," a half-breed princess in a divided land.
 Long after my daughter had forgotten that first story, the world of
Elderland took shape in my mind. I could picture its trees, creatures, and
landscapes. As time passed, the characters deepened and grew, and so did the
struggles of the alliance of Faeraven, a group of kingdoms unified under a High
Queen in Elderland. Through several attempts, I tried to record the story as it
unfolded for me, but I kept backing up in time because much of the history in
the story demanded to be told.  Syl Marinda doesn't even enter the scene
until close to the end of WayFarer, book two in the series. She is
the heroine of DawnKing, book three.





4.             
What
is your favorite scene from DawnSinger?
Would you mind sharing it with us?




My
favorite scene isn’t the most dramatic. When Kai, the hero of DawnSinger, returns home to deliver the
High Queen’s deathbed summons to Shae, the heroine, he visits his mother to
tell her of events. The scene that transpires explores the relationship between
mother and son.





Kai
and Shae entered the ancient fortress through the gatehouse archway beneath the
raised iron portcullis. Following the graystone path along the sward, they
skirted the great hall, which rose to impressive heights.





As
they neared the stables, voices, thuds, and the rustlings of crisp straw
reached Kai. He dismounted and lifted his arms to Shae. Light as she was, he
had to step backward when she leaned into him. He steadied them both, and then
turned to instruct the groom. When Kai looked for her again, Shae was gone. A
smile touched his mouth as he went through an archway in the inner curtain
wall. He would keep his knowledge of Shae’s morning activities to himself.





His
mother’s voice carried past her maid, Tahera, at her parlor door. “Let us start
with soup of boar sausage and wild greenings dressed in sweetberry vinegar,
then follow with smoked whitefish in savory sauce and—“





“I
hope you have enough for one more.” Kai entered the snug room.





A
gold-edged mirror above the ornate mantle reflected his mother, Aleanor of
Whellein’s surprise and delight. She rose and pressed her slight frame into his
swift embrace.





Kai
held her at arm’s length to gaze upon her. How long had it been since he’d seen
her calm gray eyes and basked in her smile? He marked, with sadness, the
progress of time across her face. Furrows marred a brow once smooth, and lines
fanned from the corners of eyes that sparkled. His mother wore a simple woolen
tunic of blue, girt with an embroidered sash. Her silver hair coiled in braids
about her head.





She
smiled. “We have stores aplenty for a Son of Whellein. But how come you by morn
and not by eve?”





“I did not stop the night. I couldn’t contain my excitement
at nearing home.” His gaze drifted past her to the muscular Cook garbed in a
brown tunic, who smiled at their exchange.





Mother met Kai’s look.
“I think we shall continue later, Maeric,” she said without seam. “I won’t
detain you from your duties longer. Tahera, please bring cider, cheese and
bread.”





The door to the
raelein’s parlor closed with a click behind Maeric and Tahera, and they were alone.


 

Kai went to the fire,
grateful for its comfort as he steeled himself for what he would say.





“You must sit.” His
mother gestured in invitation as she resumed her seat on the bench. “Now tell
me what has brought you on such a difficult journey.”





“I’ve come for Shae.”





Mother let out her
breath in a long sigh. “And so I am to lose another child.”





“Lof Raelein Maeven
sends for her while on her deathbed.”





Her hand flew to her
throat. “The time has come, then.”





“It nears, yes.” He
ignored a frisson of uneasiness. Of course, he spoke of more than Maeven’s
death. “It’s long past time Shae learns her true identity as Raena Shaenalyn of
Rivenn. On her dying bed, Lof Raelein Maeven yearns for her daughter.”





His mother squared her shoulders as if recovering from a
blow. “I thought I had prepared myself for this, and yet…” Her voice faded to a
whisper.





“You’ve raised her well.”





She looked down at the hands clasped in her lap. “I wish I’d
done more to treat her as one of my own.”





Kai knelt at her feet. “You did your best. Ever since I brought her to you as a babe in arms, you’ve kept her
hidden from those who would destroy her.”





Aeleanor raised eyes
shiny with tears. “She’ll return to danger at Torindan.”





“You have my promise
to protect her.” Each word fell from his lips by its own weight.





“When do you leave?’





He spoke with
reluctance. “At first light.”





She arose and took the
place at the fire he had vacated, putting her arms about herself as if cold. “I
will not say goodbye to her. It is better so.”





Kai stood. For Shae’s
sake, he wished his mother would look beyond her own needs. But he cut short
the reply that rose to his lips. How could he censure her when he did not know
her pain? He hesitated, and then lowered his voice. “Have you word of Daevin?”





Mother lifted her
head, and he read in her face what he should have already known. He need not
have worried his question would quicken his mother’s pain. She carried her
missing son in her heart as surely as she had once carried him within her womb.






She shook her head and
turned toward the fire. “None.”





The word echoed
through his mind. Kai shouldered its weight, but wished again for the freedom
to search for his brother.





He crossed to one of
the tall windows overlooking the inner ward with its herb garden. New growth
burgeoned in all its beds, ready to erupt with life. His hands clenched into
fists. He wanted to rejoice in such things. He wanted to comfort his mother. He
closed his eyes, shut in by his own dark thoughts.





A touch on his arm,
feather light, called him back. He turned and read the plea in his mother’s
face. “The Lof Raelein’s death will free you to return to Whellein, as your
father wishes.”





He met her gray gaze
and told her what she already knew. “My duty at Torindan calls for my pledge of
service to Elcon when his mother dies.”





“Surely Elcon would
not rob the House of Whellein so.” She clasped her hands together so hard the
knuckles showed white.





“Mother, let us leave
this conversation.” He put his hands over hers to still them. “You know I must
decide my own course, for good or ill.”





Tahera returned,
bearing on a tray a tankard of steaming cider, a selection of cheeses, and a
fragrant loaf. Kai cleansed his hands in the laver the servant provided and
fell upon the repast.





His mother sat silent while he
ate. She would not try again to win his promise, but he knew she ceded the
battle only.






 5.             
What can we expect from you next?





My publisher and I are hard at
work on WayFarer, book two of my Tales of Faeraven trilogy. This story
focuses on Elcon, the new High King of Faeraven, who learns that saving his
people requires him to find his own redemption. Kai and Shae’s story continues
as a subplot in WayFarer and resolves
in DawnKing, book three.



6.        As a reader, do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?






My favorite author, hands down,
is Mary Stewart, author extraordinaire of romantic suspense. Some of her titles
are Airs Above the Ground, This Rough Magic, and The Moonspinners. In a sense, growing up
reading her novels taught me to write. I love that her stories blend history, suspense,
romance and whimsy. I just naturally do the same.





7.        Who (what human being) has been the greatest influence on
your life, and why?





My sixth-grade teacher noticed my
story-telling ability and influenced me at the tender age of twelve to seek a
writing career. It didn’t happen for many years, but I’ve never forgotten that
teacher’s encouragement.





8.        Do you have a favorite verse of scripture?





1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul
pants for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV).





This verse reminds me of my total
dependence on God for living water.





 9.        Where can we find your books? And do you have a website or
blog, where readers can keep up with you and your writing activities?





 

DawnSinger is available at Amazon in paperback
and for kindle,
at Barnes
and Noble, Smashwords,
and other venues.





 

Readers can find out more about
me as an author and my books at the author site for Janalyn Voigt and my Creative Worlds blog.












ABOUT JANALYN:

Janalyn Voigt's unique blend of adventure, romance,
suspense, and fantasy creates worlds of beauty and danger for readers.
Beginning with DawnSinger, her epic fantasy series, Tales of Faeraven, carries
the reader into a land only imagined in dreams.





Janalyn also writes western romance novels, and will publish
in that genre under Janalyn Irene Voigt. She is represented by Barbara Scott of
Wordserve Literary. She serves as a literary judge for several national
contests and is an active book reviewer. Her memberships include ACFW and NCWA.





When she's not writing, Janalyn loves to find adventures in
the great outdoors.