Rachel R. Smith's Blog, page 20
September 21, 2015
Release Date Announcement!
September 29!
I’m so excited to finally announce that the second book of the Records of the Ohanzee series, Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix will be released on September 29!
To celebrate the release, Book 1, Reflection: The Stranger in the Mirror will be on sale through Amazon’s countdown deals* for 7 days starting on September 29. The starting price will be $1.99, so if you haven’t had a chance to read Book 1–this would be a great opportunity to pick it up!
Also, my short story, Shattered Sugar Dreams, will be available for free (FREE) for 5 days starting on September 29.
Leading up to the 29th, I will be posting quotes from Harbinger here on the blog. I hope that you’ll enjoy the story and help me spread the word!
September 29!
*If you’re not familiar with Amazon’s countdown deals, here’s a brief explanation of how they work. The lowest discounted price is available at the beginning of the promotion. As days pass, the sale price will step back up to the original price in $1 increments. So, in this case, the price will be $1.99 for a few days, then $2.99 for two days, $3.99 for the next two days, and finally back to $4.99.
September 16, 2015
Feedback needed! Your opinions on the synopsis for Harbinger of the Phoenix
Hello readers and blog followers! I got a ton of fantastic feedback from you regarding the cover images and now I’m hoping I can get your input on the synopsis for Records of the Ohanzee Book 2, Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix as well.
My first draft of the blurb is below. I think that it covers all of the essential points without spoilers, but I’m sure it isn’t quite as catchy as it could be. At this point, I keep going around in circles and I just can’t quite put my finger what to change. Any thoughts/impressions/criticism/compliments are appreciated!
Synopsis:
King Casimer of Marise has assassinated the Royal Family of Chiyo and usurped the throne. He is unaware that Nerissa, the presumed-dead Heiress, was actually rescued by the Ohanzee, a group of guardians who have secretly protected the country for generations. Disguised as a young man named Caeneus, Nerissa returns to the capital city, hot on the trail of the mysterious prophetess Shae.
Shae and her daughter Desta have discovered that a precious family heirloom is actually one of six books that contain an ancient prophecy. And the events it describes have already begun to happen. The key to preventing the forewarned tragedy is finding the One that the prophecy describes. Shae and Desta travel to the capital city where an uncanny stroke of luck leads to the identity of the One being revealed.
The discovery sends Nerissa and her six Ohanzee companions on a journey across Chiyo and Marise in search of the remaining books. The fate of not only Chiyo, but all of Renatus, hinges on their success.
September 15, 2015
Sumo Introduces Harbinger of the Phoenix, Chapter 1
Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix is almost ready for release! Sumo was so excited to share Chapter 1 with you today that he could barely contain himself! Fortunately, I was able to capture his excitement on video.
Please note that “go outside” is Sumo’s code word for “share chapter 1” (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). Sorry for the vertical orientation on the video. In my excitement I forgot to turn the phone sideways. ^_^;
If you haven’t yet read Book 1, Reflection: The Stranger in the Mirror, you can view sample chapters here: Sample Chapters or on Amazon: Item page
So, without any further ado, I present the sneak peak:
Records of the Ohanzee Book 2
Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix
Chapter 1–Handkerchief
The scene out the window was the kind of gray gloom that threatens rain all day but fails to produce even a single drop. The leaves on the trees were a mix of vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges dappled with just a splash of lingering green, but even those hues were dimmed by the overcast sky. Charis laid her open book over her thigh and reached down to tuck the blanket tighter around her cold feet. This was perfect book reading weather. From her perch in the cushioned window nook high atop the stacks, she could see the entire Special Collection room. It was a beautiful view. Ornately carved wood in the shapes of vines and leaves laced from the floor up the walls and across the ceiling. Bookcases lined the walls, some open to the room and some protecting their contents behind glass doors. Rolling ladders were positioned along each wall to allow access to the topmost shelves as well as to the reading nooks interspersed along the windows above them.
Unfortunately, this beautiful view was marred by the presence of Amon, hard at work on his research at one of the large tables in the center of the room. This was Charis’ favorite reading spot, but she liked it even more when she didn’t share the room with him. Amon happened to glance up as she looked down at him, raising his eyebrows and giving her a small smile. Charis turned away and picked up her book again, pretending that she hadn’t seen him. The Special Collection room was the Library’s repository for rare or particularly valuable books. Not a single one stored here was less than a hundred years old, except for the novel Charis had brought in with her. The room was away from the main part of the University Library, so the bustle of preparations for the Arts Festival taking place in the Library and adjacent theater that evening was nothing more than a distant echo.
She tried to resume reading, but her eyes just skimmed the page without actually taking in any of the words. Charis reached into the pocket of her oversized cardigan and ran her thumb across the folded cloth inside. She still hadn’t returned the handkerchief Amon had lent to her the night she had gone to the ruins of the Manor. He had helped her out of a tight spot then and she was grateful. If she had been caught, Charis was certain she would have been forced to hand over Nerissa’s spirit chimes to Casimer’s lackeys. Then they would have become just another spoil of Casimer’s conquest. Even if he was only one step up from the lackeys in Charis’ mind, it was Amon’s intervention that allowed her to get away unnoticed that night. It was thanks to him that the precious memento of her friend now hung in front of her bedroom window.
Charis had intended to return the handkerchief to Amon months ago, but each time the opportunity had presented itself there had always been an excuse to keep it a bit longer. Enough time had passed that it seemed awkward to return it to him now. It was frustrating. She didn’t really want to keep it, but she also didn’t want to throw it away or give it back. If Nerissa were still here, she could have helped Charis sort out her feelings. She curled her hand into a fist, squeezing the handkerchief tight as she felt her eyes begin to burn. This was the first Arts Festival that she would be attending without Nerissa. It was yet another event in a seemingly endless list of days and events that passed without her friend. Charis let her head loll to the side and she sighed, staring out the window at the rainless clouds.
The sound of a chair scraping across the floor, the rustling of papers, and the soft thump of books being closed echoed through the room. Amon was finally leaving. Charis listened to his footsteps and felt mildly annoyed that he didn’t at least say goodbye before he left. Not that she really cared. Then his footsteps stopped, but Charis stubbornly continued to stare out the window, refusing to look to see if he glanced back before walking through the gate.
Suddenly, the rolling ladder beside her rattled and her head whipped around in surprise. A moment later, Amon appeared at the opening to the nook. There was only enough room for one person at a time in the window seat so he remained on the ladder. He leaned his elbows on the cushions and rested his head against the end post of the small railing that edged the nook.
The usual lock of black hair had strayed from his neatly combed part. It had flopped onto his forehead and covered the bridge of his nose. Charis instinctively wanted to reach out and brush it back into place. Instead she said, “I’m surprised you can see well enough to climb the ladder with your hair in your face like that.”
Amon ran his fingers through his hair, pushing the lock temporarily back into place. His brows furrowed for a moment and then he grinned.
“What are you grinning at?” Charis asked impatiently.
“Seduced at the Edge of the Ocean,” he read aloud. “I didn’t know you were a fan of romance novels,” he teased with a mischievous look in his deep blue eyes.
Charis snapped the book shut and flipped it so that the cover was facing down. “I read a little bit of everything,” she replied haughtily. “It’s called being well-rounded.”
One corner of Amon’s mouth turned upward in a lop-sided grin, revealing the dimple in his cheek that always appeared when he smiled. “It would be nice to read something for fun, but that will have to wait until my research is finished.”
“And when will that be, exactly?” Charis asked.
“Don’t worry. It will be quite some time before I am finished,” he replied. “I still have a lot of work to do.”
Charis folded her arms across her chest. “Why do you assume I’m worried about that? Maybe I’m looking forward to it.”
Amon’s expression turned serious. “Have you considered that, perhaps, I hope you don’t want me to leave anytime soon?”
Charis bit her bottom lip. She didn’t know how to respond to that. Was he really sincere? She decided it was safer to change the subject. “I doubt that you came up here just to chat. What do you want?”
“It’s getting late. We should head back to get dressed for the Festival,” he said. “Would you like to walk with me?”
“You’re right, it is getting late, but I’d like to finish this chapter first,” Charis replied coolly. There was no way he could know she hadn’t really been reading in the first place.
“I don’t mind waiting for you,” he offered. “We’re going to the same place anyway.”
Most of the University students from out of town lived in dormitory units on campus or in nearby apartments. Much to Charis’ dismay, Amon stayed with Charis and her father in the President’s campus residence instead. As Casimer’s nephew, he could certainly afford his own apartment, but Amon had been concerned that his presence could attract unwanted attention and would be disruptive to the other residents. So, Charis’ father had offered one of their spare rooms. Their home had privacy and the convenience of being on campus.
“I don’t want to make you wait. I’ll be along shortly,” she replied. His persistence was growing annoying.
Amon glanced out the window at the darkening sky. He rubbed his forehead and brushed away the errant lock of hair again. “It’s getting dark earlier now, especially in this kind of weather. It would be safer if we walked together.”
“I’m not convinced I’m any safer with you than I am alone,” Charis said sharply.
Amon froze, staring out at her from between his fingers. His expression was a mixture of anger and hurt. “I’ll be on my way then. It’s not like it’s a long walk anyway,” he said flatly. “Be sure to lock the gates before you leave.”
The ladder rattled as he climbed down and then shuddered on its track as he shoved it roughly to the side. Charis watched as he stomped out of the room and listened as his footsteps echoed away, gradually blending in with the dull hum of the Festival preparations. Crawling to the edge of the nook, she grasped the railing with one hand as she leaned over the side. She reached towards the ladder, stretching as far as she could, but it was just beyond the tips of her fingers.
No matter, Charis thought as she sat back on her heels. He will feel sorry and come back for me soon. She crawled back to where she had been sitting and settled herself into the pillows. Opening the book again, she stared absently at the pages and waited. Outside, the sky grew increasingly darker. After a while, it became apparent that Amon wasn’t going to return. She hadn’t really been that rude to him, had she?
Charis chewed her bottom lip and crawled back to the railing. When she looked down, her stomach dropped. The ceilings in the Special Collections room were nearly two stories high. If she tried to jump, it would be almost four meters to the floor. Her grip on the railing tightened reflexively at the thought.
“Hello?” she yelled out. “Is anyone around?” She waited for a response. Maybe Amon was waiting in the hallway just outside the door. Charis cried out again and again, but there was no answer. No one was near enough to hear her.
She considered climbing down using the shelves to support her. They should be strong enough, but if they weren’t, then the books they contained would be damaged. Never mind the thought of how far she would fall as a result. She swallowed and adjusted her sweaty grip on the railing. Could she tie the blanket to the rail and climb down that way? No, the blanket was far too short. Charis cursed Amon under her breath and looked over at the ladder again. If only there were some way to reach it from here.
Again, she stretched out as far as she could, straining to reach any part of the ladder but it still remained just beyond her fingertips. With shaking hands and sweaty palms, Charis turned around and gingerly stepped down onto the topmost shelf. She clung to the railing posts as tightly as she could and swung her left leg out to try to hook the ladder with her foot. Relief flooded through her when she caught it on the first try. She awkwardly dragged it towards her until it was close enough that she could climb on.
Reaching the bottom, she paused momentarily to collect herself. Her knees felt like they were made of jelly. How dare Amon leave her stranded! Charis was about to storm out the door when the sight of Amon’s workspace in the middle of the room caught her eye. An evil grin spread across her face as she approached the table. All of the books here were related to rare and antique paintings—Amon’s area of study. Most were collections that documented various works: the history, artist, style, symbolism, interpretation, types of paint used, and other relevant information. Some of the books dated back to King Gared’s time and, as such, were written in one of the ancient languages. They were dead languages now, having nearly disappeared over the years since King Gared had instituted one national language for all of Renatus.
There was one book left directly in front of the chair, so it seemed most likely that this was the one Amon had been using just before he left. Several markers jutted out from the pages in the same place so Charis opened the book at that spot. Loose papers, covered in Amon’s tight, precise handwriting were wedged inside. She was tempted to tear them up but hesitated as she skimmed over them. She wasn’t well-versed in this language, but she could translate well enough to see that Amon’s notes weren’t quite an accurate interpretation of the text on the accompanying pages. That was odd. Amon was a meticulous researcher and fluent in multiple languages. It wasn’t like him to make such a fundamental mistake. She would have to point out the discrepancy to him later.
Charis’ thoughts immediately flew back to her escapade with the ladder. Then again, why should she do anything to help him after that? She sifted through the stacks of books, gleefully pulling random bookmarks from their pages and placing them back into other books in random locations.
Satisfied with her mischief, she then turned away from the table and hurried from the room, cursing Amon under her breath with every step. The hinges of the open gate squeaked softly when she passed by. As soon as she got home, she was going to burn his handkerchief.
****************
Check back for the release of Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix in E-book and paperback formats at the end of this month!
© 2015 Rachel R. Smith
September 13, 2015
Look out imaginary people!
I learned today that I’m surprisingly good at killing fictional people. So, if you’re a figment of my imagination, don’t cross me. You’ve been warned.
That’s right. You’ve been warned.
How to Gain Free Exposure for Your Blog: Reblogging
Thanks to Dream Big, Dream Often for hosting this awesome meet and greet weekend event! ^_^
Originally posted on Dream Big, Dream Often:
Today as is my usual routine on Meet and Greet weekends, I will be reblogging posts. Please leave the link to your post in the comments and I will review for family-friendly content and then reblog.
If you leave a link please reblog this post as a “thank you” to Dream Big. It is appreciated!
Hope everyone has a great Friday.
1 Tactic That Will Help You Grow Your Following: Meet and Greet
Looking to grow your blog? (Who isn’t?) Join in on the meet and greet!
Originally posted on Dream Big, Dream Often:
What day is it??!! Meet and Greet Day!
Ok so here are the rules:
Leave a link to your page or post in the comments of this post.
Reblog this post. It helps you, it helps me, it helps everyone! So don’t be selfish, hit the reblog button.
Edit your reblog post and add tags (i.e. reblogging, reblog, meet n greet, link party, etc.), it helps, trust me on this one.
Share this post on social media. Many of my non-blogger friends love that I put the Meet n Greet on Facebook and Twitter because they find new bloggers to follow. This helps also, trust me.
And if you leave a link and don’t follow me, how about ya show ole Danny some love ?
Now that all the rules have been clearly explained get out there and meet n greet your butts off!
The Reblog post will publish at…
View original 16 more words
September 10, 2015
We Interrupt this Author Blog for Laundry Day! Or, a Sumo in a Blanket
I’m sure that I’ve mentioned Sumo’s affinity for blankets on this blog before. If there’s a blanket within his reach, Sumo is rolling in it or on it. What I’ve not mentioned before is his affection for laundry. Like most people, I sort my laundry into piles before washing. After one particular incident, which involved pulling a clean shirt from the washer to discover Blue Dog inside the sleeve, I learned Sumo likes to bury his toys in the sorted piles. I suspect that he considers clothing and blankets to be interchangeable. After all, from the perspective of a tiny dog, what difference is there between a shirt or a towel or a blanket–other than the size of the cloth? Ever since then, I’ve kept a watchful eye and several times have discovered toys nestled within the dirty laundry. Maybe it’s a not-so-subtle hint that Sumo wants his toys to be Snuggle fresh. ^_-
Needless to say, laundry day around our house is like Christmas for my furry little buddy. Yesterday, I heard the characteristic snorteling (think snorkeling but with a “t”) that goes hand in hand with a Sumo actively playing in blankets. Sure enough, there he was burying Blue Bear in the sheets that were piled up to be washed. I submit for your viewing pleasure, the video evidence of Sumo’s dirty little laundry secret:
He was even so kind as to pose for a picture afterward. Because Sumo has no shame.
He’s so cute that he gets away with anything. And he *knows* it.Meanwhile, I’m hard at work preparing Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix for release. Check back next week for a sneak peek of Chapter 1 – Handkerchief starring Charis and Amon!
September 8, 2015
Review of Reflection: The Stranger in the Mirror
Thanks to Alex McGilvery at CelticFrogReviews for his review of Reflection: The Stranger in the Mirror (Records of the Ohanzee Book 1)!
“Nerissa is heir to the Kingdom of Chiyo. Chiyo is the more mystical of two divided kingdoms. The Kingdom of Marine followed a more technological path. They have been unquiet neighbours since a thwarted assassination attempt on the rulers of Chiyo twenty years earlier.
Nerissa is a strong minded young women who finds the strictures of being the heir suffocating. She decides to create double masquerade on the night of the ball celebrating the failure of the attack twenty years before. It will be one last night of anonymity, and a choice which will change the course of Chiyo’s history.
The world created in Reflections is fascinating with hints of magic and technology. It is the beginning of a series so I expect we will learn more in the next book. This novel does a good job of setting the stage, introducing the characters and setting, and creating the essential conflict for the series. Nerissa is a strong and engaging character with good back up cast.
I heartily recommend the book to fantasy readers.”
September 4, 2015
That song reminds me of…
Today, as I was driving to the grocery store, the song “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift came on the radio. It was the first time I had heard the song, but as soon as I heard the chorus it immediately brought to mind this scene from my book (which I’ve posted here before).
I got on iTunes and bought the song as soon as I got home! It’s not the first time that I’ve come across a song that reminded me of scenes or themes from my story, but it never ceases to give me a little thrill when it happens. I’m sure that I’m not the only person that this happens to–whether your a writer like me, or a reader that gets reminded of their favorite characters/books/scenes.
It also reminded me that I’ve been meaning to make a post about songs that bring to mind characters or scenes from my story. I’ve been working on the series for a long time (read: 10 years), so I’ve accumulated quite a long list over the years. But I can’t share all of those songs with you because many of them would end up being spoilers of events yet to come. For now, here are a few songs that reminded me of the main characters:
Nerissa:
“Shatter Me” by Lindsey Sterling
“Once upon a December” by Liz Callaway, from the soundtrack Anastasia
“Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato
“Fight Song” by Rachel Platten
Raysel:
“Pretty Girl” by Chris Mann
“Straight to You” by Josh Groban
Rian:
“DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” by Usher
“So She Dances” by Josh Groban
“Monster” by Imagine Dragons
There are many, many more, but those will have to wait for another time! ^_- What songs remind you of your favorite scenes or characters?
