Rosalie Skinner's Blog, page 10

LONG EXCERPT from UNDERGROUND: The Day of the SunNow avai...

LONG EXCERPT from UNDERGROUND: The Day of the Sun Now available for PRE ORDER... save 20 %Underground: The Day of the Sun Book Six in the Chronicles of Caleath.

The scent of death, a shrill wail of fury, and the icy caress of fetid breath hit him. The hammering of pressure building against his flesh brought him to a halt. He cried out, spinning to seek the source of impending threat. His hand dropped to grasp his sword but he no longer bore a weapon. Searching through the mines, he saw no need for extra weight and encumbrance. Now he missed the feel of steel in his hand. While the Aruven people watched him as if he had lost his mind, Caleath glanced around, seeking a weapon.The feeling of encroaching danger increased. Caleath shouted a warning to Raul before he started to sprint toward the barbarian. Two solid pieces of firewood caught his eye. When he passed the fireplace, he grabbed them. At a run, he leapt onto a large boulder and launched himself through the air, twisting when he landed, to cover Raul’s back.From the ground beneath the feet of the Aruven crowd, creatures emerged. Chitinous carapaces, armored legs, and sharp pincers flailed in a blind search until the dirt fell from smooth surfaces. Black scorpions the size of large hounds scampered across the ground and down the walls of the cave.“You expect company?” Caleath shoved one makeshift club into Raul’s hands.Raul grabbed Caleath’s offered weapon and began to swing as the strange creatures surged out of the cave floor and moved toward him. “Scorpions?”“Looks like!”“Adder’s spit. Look out!”Caleath smashed his club onto an armored claw. Above him, a poisonous appendage arched and speared toward him.He lifted his club. With a wild swing he severed the end of the scorpion’s tail. The creature wailed but offered no further danger. Caleath turned to face a dozen more emerging from the dirt. All converged upon Raul.“Sorcery?” Raul dispatched another creature with desperate strength rather than skill.“What else?” Caleath timed his answer between blows. “Where is the wizard?”The Aruven crowd scattered. Weapons appeared. Those able to wield a blade or swing a club defended themselves. Men and women joined the fray. Blades cleaved armored shells. Burning brands kept the creatures at bay. Others used heavy clubs to smash the huge insects into pulp. The numbers didn’t diminish. More of the black carapaces rose from the dirt. For every creature the Aruven fighters killed, another took its place.Caleath drew a breath. He could feel no telltale crawl of his skin, indicating the use of sorcery. Troubled by the anomaly, he hesitated between blows. Raul’s shout of warning brought him to his senses. He swung his club when one of the creatures caught his ankle between razor sharp pincers. Heavy wood glanced off the armored claw.With his leg wrenched from beneath him, Caleath lost his balance. Three scorpions surged toward him, snatching at his limbs. He flailed with his club as he fell, beating off their attack.Raul bellowed. The rattle of insect armor drowned his warning. A plethora of scorpions charged toward them. The barbarian’s curse reached Caleath through the high-pitched wail as the creatures sensed victory.Caleath needed help. Inadequate mage training meant he didn’t have the skill to conjure spells without time for concentration. Willpower to wield forces beyond his understanding could not guarantee results or damage management. The price of using sorcery also limited his enthusiasm. Within him, a nest of evil vipers writhed, waiting for a moment of weakness when they could unleash dark magic and make him their pawn. Already carrying the title of renegade he knew the lure of dire power. Caleath left his request until he held no hope of overpowering the enemy by other means.Desperate, Caleath called on the energy offered by the power of the elements, air, earth, water, and fire. He threw restraint to the wind and lashed out with fell forces.Energy surged through his body. The air cracked with sorcery. The Powers answered his plea. Caleath’s hair lifted as the cavern pulsed with the energy of a lightning bolt and shook with the rumble of thunder.Scorpions vanished, dispersed in a cloud of dust. The noxious scent of poison filled the air but dire battles ended in a puff of dust. Beneath his feet, the ground shook more than his trembling limbs. Caleath glanced toward Raul.“You?” Raul grasped Caleath’s hand and hauled him to his feet as the Aruven fighters rushed for the cave entrance. The awful groan as rock struggled to balance energy forces made men yowl. Percussion tortured eardrums as air exploded from the deeper caves.Offering support as Caleath tested his injured ankle, Raul dragged him after the panicked throng. Together they made their exit from the tortured mountain.Once clear of the entrance people slowed, turning to watch clouds of dust and rubble billow from the mouth of the cave system.“Dragon’s blood,” Caleath groaned, as the miasma settled. He collapsed to the ground and buried his head in his hands.“Did you have a choice?” Raul dropped to his haunches. Caleath appreciated Raul’s perception. The Ruak native understood his aversion to using any magic, benign, or otherwise.“Those constructs are not created by sorcery, Rami’san. I would know if they were.” Caleath took a deep breath. “Be thankful for their demise and give me time to consider what is going on. I know Nasith is here somewhere. While you enjoy a godlike status, let’s use that to our advantage. I have a dreadful feeling I destroyed our way home.”

Exciting News and A Glimpse into 'Adrift: In Search of Memory'... should release in 2013

Breath caught in his throat as he continued to sink deep into the depths of ancient timber.
If he cried out, no one would hear. He bit his tongue until blood flowed. 
The taste of salt didn’t anchor him to reality when the cool ocean invited him to leave the hulk of dead wood and travel through mysterious depths.
     Curiosity snapped the last connection with his body. Tag’s spirit drifted on the ebb and flow of each wave while he explored the harbor floor. 

     Fish swam beside him. Through light deprived depths, thudding waves didn’t cover the sound of sand grinding against coral or the clatter of crustaceans scurrying into crevices as his spirit passed.

     When a shark turned to acknowledge a stranger’s presence Tag stretched to touch the creature’s mind.
    
     With the force of a whip crack the shark flicked a tapered tail.

The predator disappeared into deep water leaving him alone in the dark.




I can't wait to begin editing Caleath's sea faring adventures. They must wait a little longer.







Today I am excited because in less than a fortnight we will celebrate the release of UNDERGROUND: The Day of the Sun.

Not long now!


After the battle of Invaded, Caleath searches for his friends whisked underground, where magic is scorned and shackled.He must rescue Raul and Nasith before the Day of the Sun. Beneath the artificial illumination of a strange red orb Caleath begins his journey plagued by relentless light.
Accepting custody of a confused young dread lord and guided by a feisty Gabrielle, Caleath struggles to unravel the conspiracy holding a  race in thrall.
His journey to rescue Nasith and save Raul from being sacrificed drives him into the hands if his enemy.




Video courtesy of Shark Views from Fish Rock Cave

Banner for UNDERGROUND from Museitup!

Love what Lea has put together for the release of book six in the Chronicles.
Working on tag line and blurb today.

New Year, new computer...

Celebrating a new start in 2013 with a new computer. No more blue screens of death, frozen pages, lost data, disc drives that disappear. Should be a wonderful incentive to write more and work harder.

Meanwhile, Exiled: Autumn's Peril is finishing the year as #1 Top Reader Rated on Omnilit and has crawled back into #4 on Best Seller there too.


Not sure why it is in a category of its own, but hey... not complaining.

Meanwhile back on Amazon you can still get Autumn for $2.99.



Hope the New Year brings you all the best things in life. Good health, happy moments and success in all you do!

Getting Ready for Christmas... Diving with Sharks?

What is on the menu for these guys?
Not divers... These sharks are happy minding their own business off Fish Rock Cave.

Water temps and visibility are perfect for a dive at South West Rocks... among the endangered grey nurse sharks.

I think I will enjoy my bbq and ham lunch and not compete with these fellows for a bite!
What are you having for Christmas dinner?

December 21st 2012... and All's Well... so far...

The sun rose this morning, as usual. So far so good. Will let you know at ten pm, if anything changes. :)

Looks like a nice day here in Sunny Australia.Hope you have a good one. 

Christmas in Australia...

At our granddaughter's preschool Christmas Celebration the children sang this version of Jingle Bells... there is a lovely explanation of the terms used here, at Australian Jingle Bells..(Where I found the words to share.)

Dashing through the bush,
in a rusty Holden Ute,
Kicking up the dust,
esky in the boot,
Kelpie by my side,
singing Christmas songs,
It's Summer time and I am in
my singlet, shorts and thongs*
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.*
Engine's getting hot;
we dodge the kangaroos,
The swaggie climbs aboard,
he is welcome too.
All the family's there,
sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Aussie way,
by the barbecue.*
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.*
Come the afternoon,
Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce,
are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes 'round to go,
we take the family snap,
Pack the car and all shoot through,
before the washing up.*
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
My wonderful grandchildren. Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.



Happy Christmas... from Downunder.

Nominee status official and now #3 on Omnilit.

EXILED: Autumn's Peril is officially a nominee for the Gobal Ebook Awards. :)












Meanwhile EXILED: Autumn's Peril has been climbing the ranks on OMNILIT.
#3  
Thanks to all who have helped spread the word on the Chronicles.

Exiled: Autumn's Peril...# 4 on OMNILIT Top Ten

Looking for a Christmas gift that lasts? Why not think about an ebook that will entertain today AND tomorrow!
It seems people have discovered the Chronicles of Caleath and Book One has reached the Top Ten list at Omnilit.


Coffeetime Romance is offering 40% off all five books... Thanks Edith for letting me know!

Tweaking... an obsession? or just striving for perfection?

Once you have penned your article, novel, poem, letter, do you keep on wanting to 'fix' things?
I am a perennial tweaker. No day goes by without wanting to re do my last sentence. Today I am writing a short spiel for a newsletter. A spiel about me... the hardest thing to talk about. Do you think I can walk away from my 'finished' piece?

Other authors I know can put aside their work once the ink is dry.
Some days I wish I could do the same.
Is it lack of confidence? Is it wanting to reach perfection? In writing, or any form of art, perfection surely does not exist. Interpretation allows for imperfection. In painting as in writing. We are a channel for experiences, both visual and written. Everyone would and should relate any scene with focus on different aspects. So why do I worry?
Bottom line. I do worry and can't see myself stopping any time soon.

This week I woke from a nightmare with a new idea on how to improve the opening scene for Book One of the Chronicles.
Does it need improving?
I had some feedback that perhaps it does. So, I worried and came up with an idea.
Each of the other books in the series, so far, have a minstrel introducing the story. Bringing the reader up to speed. One review comment suggested the lack of back-story kept a younger reader from understanding where the action began.. so perhaps a minstrel opening the first book could help there?
The back story is sprinkled through the first few chapters, but if the younger reader didn't get that far, I have a problem. So, for one reader I lie awake at night wondering how to improve things.

Here is what I have come up with.. anyone who has read EXILED: Autumn's Peril, it would be great to know if you think this start helps...
LATEST VERSION  of opening scene from EXILED: Autumn's Peril