Lisa Rector's Blog: Writing and Beyond, page 8

Must-read Romantic Fairy Tale!

“You know that great feeling when you read the first few pages of a book, and you know you’re already hooked? The Firethorn Crown is that kind of book.” —Tamie D. E.

Yep. I experienced the same feeling. Amazon’s Look Inside was so compelling that I picked myself up a copy. I can’t wait to dive into this engaging tale.
Have a look at the blurb of this fantastic retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and then jump over to the Look Inside. I guarantee you’ll pick up a copy too.

TheFirethorn Crown (Firethorn Chronicles Book 1)

Princess Lily, the eldest of twelve sisters and heir to a mighty kingdom, desperately seeks a break from her mother’s matchmaking. Tradition forbids marriage with the man Lily loves, so she would rather rule alone than marry someone who only wants the crown.
Fleeing an overzealous suitor, Lily stumbles into a secret underground kingdom where she and her sisters encounter a mysterious sorcerer-prince and become entangled in a curse that threatens the safety of her family and her people. Lily can free them, but the price for freedom may be more than she’s willing to pay.
The Firethorn Crown, a re-imagining of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” is the first in the Firethorn Chronicles, a series of stand-alone novels inspired by fairy tales and other stories. Follow the sisters on their adventures in a land where sorcery is feared, women can rule, and dragons fly.


About the Author

A native of south Georgia, Lea Doué currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada with her husband, their two boys, a rescue greyhound, and a cat. But, sadly, no dragons. Homeschooling and writing take up most of her time, but she also enjoys directing a small puppet team at her church.

Vocal Crush Blog Tour!

Vocal Crush is a prestigious RONE nominee! 
It has already passed the 1st round of nomination by receiving a 4 star review from InD’Tale Magazine.

Now, I need your help to get it through the 2nd round, the Fan Vote, May 16-May 22. (You don’t need to have read the book to vote.)

You can vote in 4 easy steps.

1.      Go here to vote: http://www.indtale.com/2016-rone-awards-week-five 2.      You must be a subscriber to vote. It’s free and quick, only a minute of your time and you can always unsubscribe later. It’s in a box on the right side of the page. 3.      Vote for Vocal Crush by Lisa Swinton under the Contemporary Sweet category half way down the page. 

4.      Enter the Rafflecopter to win a signed-by-the-author printed copy via my blog or FB Author page. Links:http://lisaswinton.blogspot.com/https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaSwinton/

That’s it you’re done!

Haven’t read Vocal Crush but want to? During voting week it’s on sale for $0.99 on Amazon! Be sure to leave an honest review after.J Get it here: https://www.amazon.com/Vocal-Crush-Lisa-Swinton-ebook/dp/B015EM7506 

With any luck, Vocal Crush will make it to the 3rd round, the professional judging. 

Thanks so much for your support!

Lisa Swinton


a Rafflecopter giveaway

For Mother’s Day

While walking down the winding path through her garden one morning, a gardener stopped in excitement when she noticed a tiny blooming flower—a purple iris on a short stem.
Earlier that spring, the gardener had moved the flower out of a cluster of other plants, where it was sadly being choked out and hidden. She chose a spot along the path were the little iris would stand out to everyone who passed.
The iris was in full splendor, so the gardener bent down and breathed in the flower’s delicate beauty and the majesty of her lone blossom.
Then the gardener gazed around the flowerbed. A taller, equally majestic flower of another kind—in the same shade of purple—dotted her entire garden, causing this little iris to blend in, be lost, and seem insignificant. 
The gardener had failed at allowing the little iris to shine; her full potential would not be recognized. No one else walking this path would ever see this little flower, and all the wonder that it is, amongst the beauty of the entire garden.
But as the gardener looked down at the little, proud iris, she thought—I did.
I did because I know my garden, and I know ALL my precious flowers.
The story is the same for mothers. So many times you’ll feel as though you’ve failed, as if you go unnoticed for all the many menial tasks you do every day, that you’ll never reach your full potential.
You feel insignificant.
You are justa mom.
Your family takes you for granted.
Your children couldn’t possibly know all you sacrifice.
Rest assured, knowing that in the eyes, heart, and mind of your child, you are a super mom.
If you think they don’t notice or care about all the things you do, you’re wrong. And never forget that we have the grace of Him who DOES notice us and sees all that we, as mothers, do.
He knows that we CAN stand tall as he brings us to the edge of the path and lifts us toward the sun.

We can fulfill our potential.

We are mothers.
We have mothers.
And our daughters will be mothers.
We are that tiny, fragile flower in the Master Gardener’s hands.


“I see my mother kneeling with our family each day. I hear the words she whispers as she bows her head to pray. Her plea to the Father quiets all my fears, and I am thankful love is spoken here.”
I know that a mother is a special person with unique and divine gifts.
I know that a mother prays for her children and gives her life for her children. I know that there is no greater calling.
I am a MOTHER.

Spur of the Moment Cover Reveal

Even the purest can fall.
In a peaceful world of seemingly perfect people, Niawen defends the dragons’ paradise from the evils outside their realm. Throughout her life, she was taught that humans would corrupt her inner light and that entering the mortal world means exile.
Mortified when her chosen life mate doesn’t return her feelings, she flees to the mortal realms, despite all the warnings. Her growing affections for the humans are crushed by a new enemy—death, and Niawen willingly defiles her pure light in battle to avenge her friends.
As she fights to overcome her corruption, she faces a sobering truth—the humans she loves will die. Niawen must find the one emrys who came into the mortal world thousands of years ago, or risk facing eternity alone.

Fallen Emrys, a paranormal romantic fantasy, is the prequel to the Chronicles of the Half-Emrys series.

Help Jill Overcome SMA Book Release Fundraiser!

I’m so excited to announce the upcoming release of my novel Master of Time (Chronicles of the Half-Emrys #3). 
The BIG NEWS is I am donating all of March's pre-order profits and the entire month of April’s royalties to Help Jill Overcome SMA! This includes all my novels on Amazon, Createspace, and Kindle. Book 3 officially releases on March 31st!


For online shoppers: Books one and two are currently available on Amazon. Order during April so the royalties go to the fundraiser. Book 3 is available for pre-order. Order now to get yours on March 31st and support Jill!
You might not be sold on paranormal romantic fantasy. But surely a young lady in your life is. This is a new adult paranormal romantic fantasy. New adult means the main characters are ages 18–25. In my case, the immortals in my novel act these ages.
Book 1 is Reader Rated (RR) 14+ for clean language, mild fantasy violence, on-page tender moments. Book 2 is RR-15+ for clean language, mild fantasy violence and torture, off page sexual intimacy, but on-page tender moments. Book 3 is RR-16+ for mild fantasy swearing, mild fantasy violence and torture, off page sexual intimacy, but on-page tender moments.


Enough about my novels. I am busting at the seams over this opportunity to make a difference in a lovely little girl’s life. 

Let’s meet Jill!
A few years ago, Jillian MacKay was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type III. SMA is a genetic condition that slowly causes her muscles to fail. Her parents were shocked—at 18 months her only symptom was that she walked around their Victorian farmhouse bowlegged, but the doctors soon found the root cause was SMA. SMA is degenerative, which means that over time Jill will gradually rely on her wheelchair and lose the ability to walk altogether.
Jill craves independence. She wants to be able to take her wheelchair to her doctors’ appointments, to shop, and to visit with friends and family. She wants to shower on her own. To do this she needs the right equipment, such as an accessible shower and bathroom, and a van capable of transporting her heavy wheelchair.
Her mom stays home with Jill, takes her to doctors’, physical, and occupational therapy appointments, and also looks after Jill’s little sister. Jill used to love ballet and gymnastics but is having trouble participating. Luckily she also loves reading, coloring, and painting at home, as well as cheering on her little sister’s accomplishments.
Jill is a brilliant girl. She’s smart and motivated. All she wants are very basic things that we all take for granted—the ability to shower on her own, get around her school, hang out with friends on the playground, and be dropped off and picked up by her mom in the van.
The family needs funds to purchase a gently used wheelchair-accessible van.
The house also needs updates to accommodate Jill’s wheelchair. The family was able to move into a one level house that is much more wheelchair friendly, but it still needs upgrades to the bathrooms and other places. Please help make this childhood one of fun, friendship, and joy—as childhood should be!
Now to the novels!


Master of Lies
Lost to the lies. Consumed by revenge.
Unaware of her immortal heritage, Ahnalyn learns she’s a child of two worlds—a half-Emrys with the ability to wield the light and the dark power. As Ahnalyn is thrown on a journey beyond her control, she must sift through the lies to uncover her true self and true potential, before the darkness consumes her. Master of Lies is the first book in the Chronicles of the Half-Emrys, a paranormal romantic fantasy.






The Two MastersChoose the light or choose the darkness, but you cannot have both.

Einion is fearful of the dark power inside that could lead to his corruption. Rhianu, a ruthless Dark Emrys, stumbles into his life, challenging everything that was once always so black and white. As despairs over Einion’s heart increase his uncertainty, he is thrust on a path where he must face his worst fears to save who he truly loves. Meanwhile Rhianu is torn between power and love, between the past and the future. Knowing betrayal, she must follow her master’s plan—no matter what her heart tells her.
The Two Masters is the second book in the Chronicles of the Half-Emrys, a paranormal romantic fantasy.



Master of Time
Time is only one enemy.



A malicious shadow trails Catrin and Meuric after they find themselves thrown back in time. Only Meuric knows the enormity of this evil that wants to claim Catrin. Meuric’s light could save her, but using it will diminish his dark power, hindering his ability to pass through the ether to their own time. Discovering the way home has just become the least of his problems . . . if there’s a way home at all.

Master of Time is the third book in the Chronicles of the Half-Emrys, a paranormal romantic fantasy.

Book Review

Cornerstone (The Cornerstone Series Book 1)by Misty Provencher

Nalena Maxwell is The Waste. At least, that’s what she’s been tagged as at school, due to her mother’s obsession with hoarding truckloads of paper, each one scrawled with lines of what appears to be single-sentence stories. The insane volume of paper has forced them out of their house and now threatens to push them out of their apartment, but Nalena’s mother, Evangeline, refuses to part with a single sheet. Evangeline’s papers are so much more than just a hoarder’s obsession. They are the reason behind the Maxwell’s tumultuous family past. And they are the reason why the future is calling upon Nalena as its champion. Kept in the dark, in order to protect her from the past and future that no mother wants her child to endure, the life she’s presently living is illegible to Nalena. She believes her fate is to be only The Waste, until one night, when Garrett Reese--possibly the school’s most handsome and popular Senior--seeks her out in the back corner of the library with answers and questions that reveal the true ink on Nalena’s destiny.

This novel just had me gushing!
4.5 stars. I really wanted to give the novel 5 stars because I’m SCREAMING over how much I enjoyed this novel, but there were a few lagging parts and this new community that the main character finds out about is never really explained. I was all excited about the Addo giving the main character, Nalena, options on her future path, because I thought he was going to explain stuff to Nalena but then that never really happens. If I were the main character, I wouldn’t have jumped into anything without explanation, but she kind of does. Nalena just doesn’t ask a lot of questions. When she’s upset, she kind of just clams up.
Okay, Okay. Why am I screaming?I was absorbed into the way the author described everything. She used every day comparisons to describe the most complex emotions in a way that completely related to me. I think some readers might be turned off by the number of metaphors and similes, but I enjoyed them, especially when they described how Nalena was affected emotionally by Garrett. Eep! I loved it.
And the Reese family just made the whole novel feel real. They were a normal family with crazy powers, but the dynamic was just so comforting. I was instantly glad when Nalena became involved in their lives.
OH, and on to Garrett. I think I am in love with every little thing he does. My most favorite scenes are when he and Nalena walk into the office supply store, and later when he is carrying her into his house because she has a spiritual experience that zaps her strength. Both times, what he said, MELTED me.
You’d enjoy this novel if you are a reader who loves the developing tension between the main chick and her squeeze. Seriously. The plot is weak, but I just can’t get over how this novel’s descriptions really spoke to me.
This novel has strong and realistic characters. The author has developed her own voice that you will either instantly love or hate. (In case you haven’t guessed, I loved it.) And she has painted a picture with such understandable imagery that grounds you in the moment.
This is a perfectly clean read. Perfectly sweet read.
One final drawback. The formatting. Every single paragraph indent was different. But I was able to overlook this because the novel made up for it.

Thanksgiving Sale!

All this week, The Two Masters in on sale for 99 cents. If you haven't picked up book two in the Chronicles of the Half-Emrys series, now is your chance. This is the lowest price it will be for a while.


Choose the light or choose the darkness, but you cannot have both. 
As Einion’s coronation approaches, the doubts about his worthiness overshadow him. He is a half-emrys, a child with both light and dark energy inside. In the mortal world, he can wield both powers, but having known only the light’s purity in the immortal realm, a place where the dark energy cannot be harnessed, Einion is fearful of the power that could lead to his corruption. As the despairs over his heart increase his uncertainty, Einion is thrust on a path where he must face his worst fears to save the one he truly loves. 
Rhianu is a ruthless Dark Emrys and ruler of Morvith, a land she has subdued and conquered by the grace of her evil master. When a mission goes horribly awry, Rhianu stumbles into Einion’s life only to be challenged by her versions of good and evil. Her heart is torn between power and love, between the past and the future. Betrayal is something Rhianu is familiar with, and knowing its repercussions, she must follow through with her master’s plan no matter what the consequences or what her heart tells her. 

I’m in Awe of You

After a week of being sick and nights of no sleep, I had firmly resolved not to go to church this morning despite some mild congestion, which would have been no big deal. I really wanted just to sleep. So, still wanting to keep the Sabbath day holy, I set myself up in the recliner with The Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos queued up in the DVD player. I turned on my favorite segment called I am the Bread of Life , which is taken from a section of scripture in John 6.
The Savior taught his disciples some doctrine that was difficult for them to understand. “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” The Savior’s teachings were so incomprehensible to some that “from that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
The Spirit hit me powerfully with Peter’s words. “Thou hast the words of eternal life.”
In light of the recent events and new policies and the uproar in the LDS faith, I had my answer. Even though I didn’t question the brethren’s decision, I still prayed for the confirmation of the Spirit that this was correct, that this was doctrine from our Father in Heaven.
“Thou hast the words of eternal life” Where else would I go? Nowhere. Not ever.
With this confirmation, I rolled myself out of the recliner and dressed for church. No tired exhausted body would keep me from filling my cup today.
And boy did it run over.
Every single lesson and talk and comment strengthened my testimony and imbued in me a desire to want to do better. To be better.
Sunday school’s lesson was on obedience. https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-35-obedience?lang=eng
I thought, how timely. Many of our confused brothers and sisters need to hear this so they can fortify their testimonies. The brethren have declared something that is difficult for many to understand, so this stood out to me as a great example.
The Book of Mormon tells us that Nephi and his older brothers received a very difficult assignment from the Lord (see 1 Nephi 3:1–6). Nephi’s brothers complained, saying that the Lord required a hard thing of them. But Nephi said, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Nephi 3:7). When we find it difficult to obey a commandment of the Lord, we should remember Nephi’s words.
The scriptures tell us over and over again what we must do. That’s why we should never put them down. I resolved in this moment to increase my gospel study and reading of the scriptures. How important it is to fill our minds with the truth of these words. How much confusion could slip away if we just turned to the Lord instead of complaining or outright exclaiming our vehemence! Make our matters, matters of prayer.
But my thoughts were, how great that we have a way prepared. How amazing that we have a Father in Heaven who will not leave us alone!
I must include the blessings of obedience.
The Lord counsels us, “If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7).
The Lord has described other blessings that will come to those who obey Him in righteousness and truth until the end:
“Thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
“Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
“And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.
“Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.
“And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven. …
“For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man” (D&C 76:5–10).
I’ll repeat what Peter said, “Thou hast the words of eternal life.”
Now I must comment on the Women’s Sunday School class. The topic was pride, from a famous talk by President Ezra Taft Benson.https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-ezra-taft-benson/chapter-18-beware-of-pride?lang=eng
We talked about ways to overcome pride. Humility is the antidote to pride. We can be humble by doing service, loving others as Christ loves them, and showing gratitude. They all go hand in hand. The Savior is our perfect example of these things.
Every night when I go to bed, I fall to my knees and thank my Father in Heaven for my many blessings. I do this because I love him. I do this because I recognize his hand in all things. I serve my family and others because I love them. My Savior is my foundation, my motivation. He is who I build my faith on.
If we hold to this, our testimonies will remain strong.
I praised God the whole way home. I am so thankful for my solid foundation. The words of a radio song helped me raise my voice in gratitude.
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zev5tHjCB_s
“At The Cross”
There’s a place where mercy reigns and never diesThere’s a place where streams of grace flow deep and wideWhere all the love I’ve ever foundComes like a floodComes flowing down
[Chorus:]At the crossAt the crossI surrender my lifeI’m in awe of YouI’m in awe of YouWhere Your love ran redand my sin washed whiteI owe all to YouI owe all to You Jesus
There’s a place where sin and shame are powerlessWhere my heart has peace with God and forgivenessWhere all the love I’ve ever foundComes like a floodComes flowing down
[Chorus]
Here my hope is foundHere on holy groundHere I bow downHere I bow downHere arms open wideHere You save my lifeHere I bow downHere I bow down
Truly I am in awe of my Savior. I owe all to Him.
So that’s why I go to church every Sunday. To feast upon the words of eternal life.

Regarding New Church Policies.

Okay, I can’t just say, “Follow the Prophet” and leave it at that.I am downright appalled when I hear members of the church complain about new church policies. I’m sorry, if you stand and raise your arm to the square and sustain our prophet, you agree that he is the mouthpiece of God on earth.
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are blessed to be led by living prophets—inspired men called to speak for the Lord, just as Moses, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, Nephi, Mormon, and other prophets of the scriptures. We sustain the President of the Church as our prophet, seer, and revelator—the only person on the earth who receives revelation to guide the entire Church. We also sustain the counselors in the First Presidency and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators.
Like the prophets of old, prophets today testify of Jesus Christ and teach His gospel. They make known God’s will and true character. They speak boldly and clearly, denouncing sin and warning of its consequences. At times, they may be inspired to prophesy of future events for our benefit.
You can always trust the living prophets. Their teachings reflect the will of the Lord, who declared: “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38).
Your greatest safety lies in strictly following the word of the Lord given through His prophets, particularly the current President of the Church. The Lord warns that those who ignore the words of the living prophets will fall (see D&C 1:14–16). He promises great blessings to those who follow the President of the Church:
“Thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;
“For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.
“For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory” (D&C 21:4–6).https://www.lds.org/manual/true-to-the-faith/prophets?lang=eng
“Raising our right arm to the square when we sustain people is a physical demonstration that we promise to honor, respect, and support them as they seek to magnify their callings. Following the counsel of our leaders is one way we can sustain them. Leaders have wisdom and perspective, and their instruction is meant to help us live the gospel. By being obedient to their counsel, we will increase in faith and strengthen our testimony.” https://www.lds.org/youth/article/five-ways-to-follow-the-counsel-of-priesthood-leaders?lang=eng
President Wilford Woodruff declared that we can have full confidence in the direction the prophet is leading the Church: “The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty” (Official Declaration 1, “Excerpts from Three Addresses by President Wilford Woodruff Regarding the Manifesto”; emphasis added).
President Harold B. Lee taught this same principle: “You keep your eye upon him whom the Lord called, and I say to you now, knowing that I stand in this position, you don’t need to worry about the President of the Church ever leading people astray, because the Lord would remove him out of his place before He would ever allow that to happen” (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, ed. Clyde J. Williams [1996], 533).
President Gordon B. Hinckley gave similar assurance to Church members: “The Church is true. Those who lead it have only one desire, and that is to do the will of the Lord. They seek his direction in all things. There is not a decision of significance affecting the Church and its people that is made without prayerful consideration, going to the fount of all wisdom for direction. Follow the leadership of the Church. God will not let his work be led astray” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1983, 68–69; or Ensign, Nov. 1983, 46; emphasis added).
We also do not know the mind of our Father in Heaven nor can we see with his eternal perspective.
“Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
“For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.” D&C 58:2-4
We also have this promise:
“As we rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, He can help us endure our trials, sicknesses, and pain. We can be filled with joy, peace, and consolation. All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” Preach My Gospel, 52.
God WILL make everything right in the next life. This life is meant to try us, to teach us. Remember who you are. You are a child of God. Those who have to wait to receive their blessings, will receive them. That’s why we have temples to do the work. That’s why we have a whole millennium when Christ comes again to set every jot and tittle in order.

As for me, I will not be moved by man, nor will I be shaken by those who oppose God. My testimony is sure.

Treats for Halloween!

My first book is free until Halloween! Enjoy your treat! Get Master of Lies, Chronicles of the Half-Emrys, Book 1 here.