Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 298

Interview with Markee Anderson

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Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?

I published ‘Kiss of Fashion’ in March.  Because I write as four pen names, I
try to get books out for each of the names as soon as I can.  In Kiss
of Fashion, a woman who thinks she’s always dying of something is a
secretary in ‘the pool,’ a secretarial pool in a fashion company.  Her boss is fired in the first scene,
so she has to break in the new guy…but he has a few plans of his own to break
her in as well.




Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e.
querying agents/publishers?

Yes, I did…but fired my
agent and went indie.  I prefer
controlling my own destiny, instead of just being lucky in being in the right
place at the right time for a NY publisher.  I enjoy being given the freedom to write the book like I
want to, instead of being told how to plot and describe my characters.  I also have three children, so running
off to book signings and conferences wasn’t logistically possible, with my
husband’s job.  So I stay home and
love my job now.




How are your story ideas born?

Many of my ideas are formed
right before I go to sleep.  I let
my mind go wild, no one’s yelling at anyone else (did I mention two of my kids
are teenagers and one just turned 20?) and I can actually think.  I think in scenes, so I try to remember
the scenes when I get up the next day. 
I also have an amazing friend who can turn just a teeny incident into a
full-blown plot and usually gives them to me because she has too many plot
bunnies running around in her head. 
For example, I told her about one little incident with a guy coming to
my front door to sell me something…within a minute, she had an entire plot
based around that guy at my front door. 
(That book is by my pen name, Andie Alexander, and is called ‘Dead Men
Don’t Dust’).  That friend just
cracks me up.  So if I’m ever
hunting for a plot, I just email her and tell her my day.




What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

Believe it or not, I love to
write.  I’m a pantzer, and don’t
plot out much of the book in advance, so it’s a surprise to me, as well as the
reader, as to what happens next.  I
don’t enjoy editing, but it’s a necessary evil.  Marketing and I just don’t get along, so that’s my
worst.  But writing is just fun.




What is your writing process?

I write whenever I can
(sometimes 16 hours a day if I get lucky), edit whenever I have to, and market
when I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do, including washing dishes,
cleaning the kitchen floor, etc.  I
personally just love Mondays during the school year.  That’s my day to write and it’s quiet in my house.




How long did it take to write your latest release?

I can write a book in about
two weeks, including editing, if I really want to (I swear, I have no other
life).  For Kiss of Fashion, I think it took about a month to write and edit,
and then it sat on my computer, along with about forty other books, for a few
years.  I was waiting for my big
break with NY publishers and agents. 
When I got my agent, she didn’t want my contemporary romances, because
they were sweet.  Instead, she
wanted me to write a line of Christian romances and then young adult
paranormals.  So Kiss of Fashion was pushed even farther
down in the queue, until I dismissed the agent and went indie.  Then many of my books were indie
published, and I still have quite a few to go.




Do you have a favorite line or scene from your latest
release?

This book was just hilarious
to write.  Meg (the heroine) has a
NY attitude problem, while Brendan (the new boss) is a little arrogant.  Here’s a scene from the beginning, when
Meg has to be in a meeting with Brendan and a client who loves Meg.  She has to be nice, but at the same
time, can slam him when she wants to:




Meg
got up from her seat, took her pad of paper and pen, and headed to the other
side of the table so she could see the office doors.  She didn’t like this new boss one bit.  He might be eye candy, but good-looking
men were usually the worst kind of boss. 
As soon as she had a break, she was calling the temp agency to see if
another job had come available.




She
sat down beside Brendan, shook back her hair, and faced him.  “Is this better, or would you like me
moving an inch to the right, or maybe a tad to the left?”




Brendan
raised his eyebrows. 
“Insubordination gets you nowhere.”




She
narrowed her eyes, opened her pad of paper, and clicked her pen more than once,
checking the tip.




“Problem?”
Brendan asked.




“No,
but this company pen’s been giving me problems…”  She shot him a dirty look and raked her eyes over him, timed
perfectly so he’d get the message. 
“…and doesn’t measure up.”







Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript
before publishing?

I used to have a peer edit
and even paid a few people, but with all the books I’m putting out, it’s been
too tough on them.  So I do a lot
of it myself, reviewing a book over and over and over again.




What have you learned during your self-publishing
journey?

If you have a book inside
you just waiting to be shared, write it. 
Don’t wait for any agent or publisher to fit you into their schedule,
but do it yourself.  It’s not hard
and costs almost nothing (I pay for cover pictures and that’s it), so why
not?  No one’s holding you back but
yourself.




Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your
books are for sale?

Yes.  I put my books for sale on Barnes and
Noble, All Romance e-Books, and Smashwords.  I just started putting them on Kobo by myself, too.




What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog,
forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

I’m on Facebook, Twitter, I
blog, and I’m trying out a few more marketing ideas in the near future.  Marketing is really tough.




Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between
marketing your current book and writing your next book?

Not really.  I write and edit and fit marketing in
when I can think of something that might work.  There are so many indie authors out there, to stick out in
the crowd means I have to get creative in marketing.  That’s not easy.




What advice would you give a new author just entering
into the self-publishing arena?

Keep working at it.  You won’t be a huge success overnight,
and many times, one book on the market won’t be enough.  The more books you publish, the more
books you’ll sell for each of your titles.  Also, it takes six months to a year to really get a book
ramped up for sales, and even then, it’s not a guarantee.  But if you love to write, just keep
writing.  You never know when the
next book you publish will skyrocket you to the top.




What’s next for you?

I’m editing a few books,
writing a few books (three, to be exact), and trying my hand at a few marketing
ideas that I hope will work.  It’s
a full-time job for me, and with kids home during the summer, it’s really tough
to multitask.  Come on, September…I
need some time to write.  LOL!

Blog tour: CURSED HEROES by William D Ollivierre

Cursed Heroes, The Beginnings
Cursed by God himself theses poor souls must forever wonder the universe in bodies that are
forever aging. However, they have turned their curse into their strength, as they fight against
every power in this universe to protect those that cannot protect themselves.
Fighting with everything they have, single handedly taking on vast armies, even if it means they will be beaten to a bloody wreck they will still stand and fight. They shake planets to their very cores, darken the stars, and moving
entire star systems, all for the protection of the universe, they are The Brothers Will, and they never back down. Now come join the fight as you learn how it all began.



Purchase on Kindle / Paperback



Get the first in the series Cursed Heroes, The Ones Called Hackers (Volume 1)



Follow William D. Ollivierre Twitter / Facebook

The author is giving away a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Giftcard and all of the books in the series Autographed!





 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Is Summer Really Over?

I
am always a bit mystified by the notion that summer officially ends on
Labor Day weekend. Seems everything closes down after the weekend.
 Really? Summer doesn't end until Sept. 21. We get some of our best
weather in September and it can also be some of the hottest days of the
season. In any event, in case you were wondering why we have a Labor Day
holiday in the first place, I found this information from the
Department of Labor website http://www.dol.gov/.

 










Founder of Labor Day

More
than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still
some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some
records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American
Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who
from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But
Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged.
Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire,
founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention
that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the
International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the
holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in
New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor
Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and
picnic.

The First Labor Day

The
first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882,
in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor
Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a
year later, on September 5, 1883.

In
1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as
originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar
organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and
celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with
the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated
in many industrial centers of the country.



Founder of Labor Day

More
than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still
some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some
records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American
Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who
from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But
Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged.
Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire,
founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention
that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the
International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the
holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in
New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor
Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and
picnic.

The First Labor Day

The
first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882,
in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor
Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a
year later, on September 5, 1883.

In
1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as
originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar
organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and
celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with
the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated
in many industrial centers of the country.

Review: LIGHTBRINGER by Frankie Robertson

4 of 5 stars




I picked up this book during a free promotion. I've always loved books that deal with angels, demons and good vs. evil. This book seemed to promise all that and more from its description and I have to say it didn't disappoint.




Cassie Lewis is a psychic who sometimes gets visions from touching others, but they are not always good visions. When she accidentally bumps into Dave in a local restaurant, she is overwhelmed with a horrific vision of torture and murder. This sets into motion a series of events that will be deadly to Cassie if her "protector" Jared Price, can't save her. Cassie has a hard time believing Jared's story that he has been sent to "protect" her so she may fulfill some unknown destiny, but she has no problem getting intimate with the hunky guy. Turns out Jared is a celestial being sent to vanquish the evil that is stalking Cassie, but even he may not be enough to save her.




The characters are nicely flesh-out especially Cassie and Jared. The sizzle between those two is palpable and I would classify this story as more of an erotic romance or at the very least a very spicy one. Some of the scenes are more graphic than in a typical romance, but certainly nothing over the top.  The story moves along at a good pace between the action and the romance. It all happens in only 4 days, but what 4 days they are! I would have liked to have read more about Jared and his exile on Earth although there are snippets as to why that happened. Fans of sexy romances will certainly enjoy this book.

Review: BONES ARE FOREVER by Kathy Reichs

3 of 5 stars



I'm a big fan of the TV show BONES, but this is the first book I've read by the creator of the Temperance Brennan character, Kathy Reichs. This is the fifteenth book in the series featuring the forensic anthropologist and though I didn't find it necessary to read previous volumes, it would certainly have helped to understand the complicated relationships--her daughter, her ex-husband and ex-lover--discussed in the book.




In this book, Dr. Brennan and the police try to track down a woman whom they believe has killed four of her newborns. The story takes place from Montreal to the wild country of Yellowknife and is full of twists and turns. BONES ARE FOREVER was a quick read, but I am not a fan of the minimalist writing style of the author. The staccato beat of the prose like "calm," "aggravated" left me wanting much more in the way of descriptions. I prefer authors let the readers figure out what the characters are feeling by their body language or actions, "furrowed brow" or "dragging a hand through her hair," and not be told with one word descriptors beside the dialogue.



Fans of Temperance Brennan will have another story to delve into and enjoy, but I won't be reading any more books by this author. 

Spotlight: MEWSINGS by Greta Beigel

Book blurb:

In the
playful/educational "Mewsings," a much-loved calico cat called Ketzel
pontificates, in rhyme, on what it takes to be a good Jew in modern
times, especially during the High Holy Days. Each fall, Ketzel teaches
about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, a time of prayer for peace and
goodwill. And she remains in awe of the pending Day of Atonement.  But
comes December, Ketzela begins to dream--and salivate-- about potato
latkes and the like, illuminating in "Hanukkah Nights/Lights" how over
eight nights we kindle candles as sacred rite. Whether on travels to
Iceland, New Zealand and the lovely Hawaii--or merely at home reclining
and idle, Ketzel in her musings accords her own Yiddishe Mamma a
five-meow rating for goodness, mercy, and above all, fancy feasts.



Mewsings can also be heard on an audio CD at ://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mewsings-my....



Buy links:

Amazon: See book icon below

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mewsings-greta-beigel/1112023847

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/35687

Interview with Lisa Rayns

Can you
give us a brief overview of your latest book?


A Destined Death is a light-hearted paranormal romance about
soul mates. Draven & Elizabeth share a bond that reaches beyond death but
she doesn’t remember it. She’s been reincarnated into a new life. Draven waits,
hoping she’ll remember on her own but if he waits too long, it could cost her
her life…again! 




Did you
try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

My journey in the publishing world has been an interesting
one. I’ve put in my time sending off manuscripts and waiting for publishers to
respond since I began writing.




My first novel, Wanted:
Vampire - Free Blood, was contracted by a publisher, but it wasn’t
scheduled to release for an entire year afterward. During that time, I
self-published a novella, Curse of the
Egyptian Goddess, to get my name out there sooner and hopefully gain notice
with readers. It’s a short but steamy and humorous read.




Since A Destined Death
is a full-length novel, I planned to go through a publisher again. I sent it
off and waited months to hear back. Unfortunately, it didn’t fall into their
category of a typical romance. At the same time, six beta readers claimed to
love it and one said it was the most romantic story they’d ever read.




That left me conflicted. Would it be better to change my
story to meet publisher specifications or stick with my vision? I had a
decision to make.




I did make a few changes but ultimately, I decided to keep
my story as it was intended because I love it, and I am proud to say, it is how
it was meant to be. And yes, I am hoping to get many more 5 star reviews and sell
a million copies just to prove I made the right decision.




How are
your story ideas born?

My story ideas are born in my dreams mostly. When I have a
dream that affects me strong enough to write it down, I hang onto the thoughts
and play with them in my head, bouncing around the what-if’s. I find things
that inspire the tone of story, like music or maybe an object. Those are always
present when I start writing.




Do you
belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

Not a critique group, but I do belong to some writers
groups, and I have a few critique partners. Having another set of eyes viewing
your material always helps.




What’s
your favorite part of the writing process?

Being creative & having the ah-ha moments that make each
manuscript great.




What is
your writing process?

I consider myself
a plotter. Once I get an idea in my head, I jot it down and create a general
outline. I try to work out the ending in advance so I have a clear idea of
where I’m headed.




That’s the nice
and neat picture but during the writing process, the outline changes many times
as the characters lead me through each scene. They demand flexibility so I
adjust and follow.




How long
did it take to write your latest release?

A Destined
Death came out at 80,000 words and took about six months.




What have
you learned during your self-publishing journey?

Marketing is hard and time-consuming but when someone comes
back and says they love your book, it makes it all worth while.




What kinds
of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for
promoting your book(s)?

I do as much as I can. I believe the best way to spread the
word is to interact with others. I try to post comments on blog posts I enjoy
and help out other authors when I can. Good karma and professional courtesy go
a long way. 

Website: http://www.lisarayns.com

Blog: http://lisarayns.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lisarayns.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisaRayns




What’s
next for you?

 My very first book, Wanted:
Vampire - Free Blood, was just released by The Wild Rose Press on August
24th. I’m very excited and am currently working on the 2nd book in that series.




Check out the blurb & book trailer
here: 
http://www.lisarayns.com/wvfb.html














Thanks for having me on your blog today!



A DESTINED DEATH Book Description:

Elizabeth Tarkson has it all figured out. She has a plan. She knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. At least she does until the day she turns eighteen, and a gorgeous stranger crashes her birthday party.



But this stranger knows things about her that he shouldn’t know, and as he slowly reveals his secrets, she discovers the world she thought she understood is much larger than she'd ever imagined. She is swept into a whirlwind of secrets, death, and attraction all involving him. Will she uncover the truth about her tragic past in time? Or will she be forever bound to…A Destined Death



Buy links:

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-destined-death-lisa-rayns/1110602989

Amazon:

Review: THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN by Sandra Edwards

5 of 5 stars























I've read quite a few stories by Sandra Edwards and have enjoyed
them all. She has a wonderful way with romance creating tension, heartache and
attractions that sizzle. 








In "The Marriage
Bargain" she crafts a story with her own unique flair that keep you
turning the pages. I could feel Camille's angst as she refuses to compromise
her morals when her boss wants her to accept a marriage proposal and write a
tell-all expose on millionaire Julian de Laurent. Her boss does not agree with
Camille's moral high road when she refuses the assignment and fires the
journalist. She also threatens to blackmail her name throughout the industry
leaving Camille financially destitute. With no job prospects in sight, she is
forced to accept Julian's proposal to pose as his wife for six months. She'll
get paid for her acting and Julian will get his father off his back about
marrying.






While this is a
story that has been done before, it has not had the "Sandra Edwards"
treatment. She has livened up the story with a cast of memorable characters
that make the story work especially Camille's best friend. If you're looking
for a romance that will leave you with a smile on your face, be sure to pick up
"The Marriage Bargain."




 

    
    

Interview with Cara Marsi

Can you give us a brief overview of
your latest book?

My
latest is a sexy romance novella, “Storm of Desire.” Here’s the blurb:

Corporate attorney
Samantha Greco needs some peace and quiet to come to a decision about her
career. Instead, while an icy nor’easter rages outside, she finds herself
trapped in a cottage on Fenwick Island with Aiden Rourke, a man she used five
years ago when she ran from the heartbreak of her fiancé’s betrayal.





Aiden Rourke has loved Sam
for years. For one glorious night she was his. But then she fled, wounding his
ego and his heart. Thrown together again, they soon discover time hasn’t
diminished their fiery passion for each other. Only Aiden has ever been able to
melt Sam with just a look or a touch. But the fear that she’s like her mother,
who used men mercilessly, scares Sam to death.





The storm outside is
nothing compared to the storm of desire, fear, and guilt raging inside Sam. But
during their wild weekend together, Sam and Aiden draw closer and realize their
all-consuming passion for each other masks deeper needs and desires. When the
storm ends, will they go their separate ways? Or will they find the courage to
face the future together as one?




Did you try the traditional route to
publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers? I’ve published several books with traditional publishers. I’ve got two
books now with publishers: “Murder, Mi Amore,” with The Wild Rose Press and “Cursed
Mates,” with Noble Romance Publishing. My first book, “A Catered Affair,” was
published in hardback in 2003 by Avalon Books. I have the digital rights and
published it under a new title “A Catered Romance.” I also added back the love
scene I had to take out for Avalon.




What factors influenced your decision
to self-publish to Amazon?

A
friend was having success with indie publishing and urged me to try it. But I
was reluctant. I got the rights back to my romantic suspense, “Logan’s
Redemption,” with The Wild Rose Press and submitted it to another epub that
took previously published works. When they passed on it, I decided to
self-publish. One of my best decisions ever. “Logan’s Redemption” has been my
bestselling book. It’s a previous Amazon bestseller and has been in the top 100
suspense books on Apple. Once I indie published I was hooked and I’ve never
looked back.




What is your writing process?

First
I get the idea. It could be from a snippet of something that happened to me or
someone I know. Or it could be something I saw in a movie or on TV. I like to
write the type books I want to read. I mull over my idea for a while in what I
call “pre-writing.” I develop the characters and plot in my head. Then I write
out my character sketches in longhand in a spiral tablet and do a loose
outline, also in longhand. I follow the outline at first, but then my
characters take me on a different journey. As they’re usually right, I follow
their lead.




Did you hire an editor to review your
manuscript before publishing? Yes, I
won’t put up any book that hasn’t been professionally edited. My terrific
editor is Laura Kelly. She edited “Murder, Mi Amore,” which has finaled in two
prestigious contests. I thought she did such a terrific job that I now hire her
to edit all my indie books. One of my indie books that she edited, “Loving Or
Nothing,” has also finaled in two prestigious contests.




What have you learned during your self-publishing
journey?

I
like having the control over my work. I like writing the books I love without
worrying if the marketing department of a publisher will think the book is
saleable. Readers are our consumers and they know what they want. I try to give
the readers entertaining, heartwarming, sexy books with feisty, independent
heroines and the hunky guys who love them.




Besides Amazon, are there any other
sites where your books are for sale?


My
books are available on BN, Smashwords and iTunes. “Storm of Desire” is
available only at Amazon at this time. At a later date, it will be available on
all other venues. My two books with publishers are available at Amazon, BN, and
All Romance eBooks.




What kinds of marketing [twitter,
facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

I’m
on Facebook and Twitter, but I try not to constantly promote on those sites. I
like to engage readers and friends and talk about things other than my books. I
belong to several Yahoo loops. I also guest blog whenever possible. I plan to
start my own blog soon.




What advice would you give a new author
just entering into the self-publishing arena?

It’s
a marathon, not a sprint. Get your name out there. Participate in Yahoo loops
for readers and writers, but don’t constantly promote. Let readers get to know
you. It’s all about discoverability. The most important thing is: write the
best books you can, and keep writing.




What’s next for you?

I’m
writing a sequel to “Logan’s Redemption.” The sequel is titled, “Franco’s
Fortune.” The hero is my heroine’s reformed playboy brother from “Logan’s
Redemption.” A reader wanted Franco’s story so I’ve decided to write it. I’m
having fun revisiting my characters from the earlier book.




Thank
you for having me today.




Visit
my website for excerpts from all my books and stories: www.caramarsi.com

Prologue or NO Prologue--What do you prefer?

The use of prologues have sparked many opinions—some authors swear
by them, some say never use them.




What is the purpose of a prologue?

It’s a writing technique that allows authors to outline a
complicated back-story that would otherwise bog down a chapter with flashbacks. It is
also used as a tease introduction to hook the reader. You’ll find prologues
used more in the fantasy and science fiction genre than any other genre.






This prologue serves to let the reader know up front that
there are ancient ties between the planets of Otharia and Earth. It also gives
hints about the origin of the Arthurian legends, the Lady of the Lake and the
magician Merlin., at least, according to Dave and I. Here’s an example of the prologue used in QUEST FOR
NOBILITY:




Prologue – Earth, 5th
Century AD




With bloody sword in
hand, Reaver looked over the scene of the massacre.  It did not sit well with him, what he had done, but he was
loyal to his commander.  The orders
had been simple: kill them all, and so he had done his best.  Now, with most of the killing done, he
had time to reflect.

May the gods have
mercy on our souls.

***

The Telkur duty
telekinetic looked up as the unauthorized portal started to form. He checked
the coordinates and was shocked to see that the incoming portal was from the
planet Earth. That off-world expedition was not due to check in for another
month.

“What the...”

Before he could finish
his sentence, two bloodied men staggered through the opening.

“We’ve been attacked,”
the first man said. “All is lost.”

More men and women
stumbled through the portal with varying degrees of battle wounds. The duty
telekinetic was stunned. Earth was a primitive planet, but from all the
previous indications, its people were peaceful.

Snapping out of his
shock, he opened a comm link directly to the Duke of Telkur.

“Sire, we have trouble
at the portal station. Some of the expedition members are back and are badly
wounded.  Please come immediately
and bring the healers.”

***

The gavel banged and the
Master Clerk read the declaration.

“Let it be known that,
from this day forward, off-world travel to the planet Earth is prohibited.”

Duke Rael Telkur sat
unmoving in the Grand Council chamber room. The decree was final. There would
be no more travel to Earth. He had lost a fortune financing the ill-fated expedition.  It had required four 10K crystals
powering the portals to transport the hundred-plus explorers and their
supplies.  Normally, a 10K crystal
would provide a duchy with more than three years of local planetary
travel.  But more importantly than
the crystal expense, he had lost fifty loyal men and women to brutality.  Only five of his expedition team had
made it back to Otharia, but they all subsequently died of their wounds.  The Vogdo team members had fared only
slightly better; a mere ten of their men returned. 

Rael glanced down the
table to where his partner in this venture, Duke Jaks Vogdo, sat stone-faced.
There was nothing more to be done.

Jaks looked at Rael and
nodded.  You naive fool, Rael.  If only you knew the truth.

Jak’s duchy was
rich in crystal mines located within the Sharellian Mountains.  Everyone believed the crystal veins
were bottomless, and the Vogdo family thought the same until the veins started
to dry up.

Fate and fortune
had shone favorably upon Jaks Vogdo when mineral-rich Earth was discovered. He
eagerly agreed to form an alliance with Rael to explore this strange new world.
They would share expenses for the exorbitant cost of off-world exploration and
divide any potential riches evenly. 


At least that was
the plan, but greed has a way of eliminating alliances even among friends.
Blinded by unimaginable wealth, Jaks had no compunction about turning on his
partner and ordering the massacre of the Telkur team members.

“The crystals must
be shipped back here without a trace,” Jaks told his man on Earth.  “I’ll open the portal from Earth
directly into my mines and transfer the foreign crystals unseen.  No one will ever know the truth.”

***

“I told you this would work,” Merlinius Telkur said.

His partner Vivienne shook her head at his boasting.  She hated this planet Earth.  They had been running for days from the
Vogdo hunting party and she was at the end of her patience.  Their 10K traveling crystal was gone
and they had no way to return to Otharia or even contact them to let them know
what had transpired here.  There
were so few of the Telkur expedition that had escaped the initial attack, and
now they were stuck on this primitive planet. 

“Save your breath, Merlinius,” Vivienne shot back.  “Just concentrate on holding your shield
until those bastards out there leave and we can get out of here.”

 “I know that,”
Merlinis replied, exasperated at Vivienne’s curt command.  “You make sure your own shield
holds.  If they detect our life
signs, this ruse will be for nothing and we’ll have to run again.”

Vivienne sighed heavily. 
At the moment, she didn’t know which was worse: Merlinius’ bravado, or
being stranded on Earth with a band of Vogdo killers outside the cave hunting
them.







When we began writing QUEST, we struggled with how to convey
these hints without bogging down the story of royal twins, Darius and Dyla
Telkur, and their struggle to hold onto their duchy when they are accused of murder. There had to be a reason that the twins would flee to Earth and this served that purpose because in less than 900 words, it put the link between Earth and Otharia in the reader's minds from the beginning of the story. 



We ended up using two options to convey information to the reader and
keeping the story moving. We opted for a prologue and also at the beginning of
each chapter, set down the rules from the Chronicles
of Otharia. This informed the reader about the history of Otharia
rule without slowing down the story. Here’s an example:




Excerpt from the Chronicles of Otharia during the reign of the First
Vacancy:

Division I – The Rule of Otharia

Subsection I – The Kingdom




The planet of Otharia has
two major landmasses and multiple island chains.  The larger of the two continents is referred to as the
Kingdom of Otharia, though there hasn’t been a reigning king in over a thousand
years.  The kingdom is subdivided
into a number of duchies, each ruled by a royal family and a seated duke or
duchess.  The duchies vary in size,
but their wealth is dependant on the natural resources of the region and the
ingenuity of the reigning duke. 
The smaller continent is ruled by multiple clans of gypsies, who broke
from the Kingdom at the death of the last King.




So
what about you? Have you used prologues in your books? Do you like them or do
you think they are unnecessary?