Cynthia A. Morgan's Blog, page 101

God’s Hammer- A #HistoricalFiction #MustRead & the #Author who created it.

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Eric Schumacher is an American historical novelist who currently resides in Santa Barbara, California, with his wife and two children. He was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended college at the University of San Diego.

At a very early age, Schumacher discovered his love for writing and medieval European history, as well as authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Those discoveries continue to fuel his imagination and influence the stories he tells. His first novel, God’s Hammer, was published in 2005. He has since published two additional novels, Raven’s Feast and War King. All three tell the story of Hakon Haraldsson, the first Christian king of Viking Norway.

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His historical fiction novel God’s Hammer is a true must read!

History and legend combine in the gripping tale of Hakon Haraldsson, a Christian boy who once fought for the High Seat of a Viking realm.

It is 935 A.D. and the North is in turmoil. King Harald Fairhair has died, leaving the High Seat of the realm to his murderous son, Erik Bloodaxe. To solidify his claim, Erik ruthlessly disposes of all claimants to his throne, save one: his youngest brother Hakon.

Erik’s surviving enemies send a ship to Wessex, where the Christian King Athelstan is raising Hakon. Unable to avoid his fate, he returns to the Viking North to face his brother and claim his birthright, only to discover that victory will demand sacrifices beyond his wildest nightmares.

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Eric, What do you love most about Writing?

What I love most about writing is disappearing into my imagination. I will start writing and hours can pass in what feels like minutes. Nothing else I do has that same affect on me.

Do your characters dictate what or how your write in any way?

Absolutely. My characters often throw a monkey wrench into my writing. I’ll be in the midst of writing dialogue or an action scene and suddenly my characters will do something unexpected. I pursue that new angle or direction because it usually feels appropriate for that character. The challenge, though, is that it can take the story in a new direction that may veer too far from historical facts, so I’ve learned to be cautious. Still, it is always a nice surprise when my characters come alive like that.

What’s exciting you about your next project?

A few things have really got me jazzed. While I’m sticking with Viking historical fiction, I am venturing into a new story with all new historical and fictitious characters. Developing those characters has been a ton of fun. I am also experimenting with a different POV, which is daunting and exciting all at once. It’ll be a few more months, but I can’t wait to share the project with the world!

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For more information, visit Eric’s website

Find God’s Hammer on Amazon

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Thanks so much Eric for sharing your valuable time and talent with BooknVolume.  I wish you all the best success and happiness!

Are you an author interested in sharing your story?  Stop by my recent Author Interviews post to learn more.

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~Morgan~

#Epic #Fantasy #DarkFey #Trilogy- #MustHave #books

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Praise from readers:

★★★★★ – “A richly visual, poignant story of love, forgiveness, and acceptance.”

★★★★★ – “This series is a must have for anyone into the sci-fi / fantasy genre.”

The Reviled are the enemy.

Merciless and untrustworthy, they embody brutality and devastation. The Fey of the Light have lived with these truths for millennia; daring to think otherwise invites tragedy.

Gairynzvl was a Reviled Fey and lived the riotous life of all Dark Ones, yet now he is rescuing younglings from the darkness. The actions taken by him and his band of Liberators are fulfilling ancient prophecies, and proving long-accepted beliefs inaccurate.

Those who have lived in the Light all their lives are suddenly faced with unavoidable questions. How is peace achieved? Can Light unite with Darkness?

And in the end, will the Fey of the Light sacrifice everything to achieve that which seems impossible, or turn their heads and ignore the growing shadow around them?

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Find Dark Fey Breaking into the Light on Amazon

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~Morgan ~

#SciFi #Author Sean Robins- The Crimson Deathbringer

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I’d like to introduce you to fellow author and SciFi writer Sean Robins.  He’s stopped by to share a few quick words about himself and his first book, The Crimson Deathbringer, that is releasing early this May!

Hi Sean…Tell us about yourself:

“Who am I? I am Spiderman.”

Well, not really, but this should tell you all you need to know about me and my writing style.

I’m a huge Marvel (plus Game of Thrones, Star Trek AND Star Wars) fan, which shows since my novel is loaded with pop culture references. If you are a sci-fi fan you will enjoy them tremendously. I even went full Deadpool in my first draft and broke the fourth wall multiple times, until my editor told it was distracting and kept taking her out of the moment. Shame. Those fourth-wall breaks were hilarious. Still, I can guarantee a few laugh-out-loud moments. Case in point: The “good” aliens in my novel are a race of pranksters, whose main goal in life is pulling other people’s legs (They have four legs, hence the slight change in the idiom).

LOL with an imagination that vibrant, I bet your book is amazing. What’s it about?

The Akakies, a peaceful, technologically advanced alien species known as “the galaxy’s pranksters,” are under attack by the Xortaags, a vicious military race bent on conquering the universe. The Xortaags are deadly, but Tarq, the Akakies’ chief strategist and legendary shadow master, has a plan.

Meanwhile on Earth, Jim, a wise-cracking, movie-quoting, OCD-suffering fighter pilot, is about to propose to his girlfriend Liz when his childhood friend Kurt shows up at his house, injured and covered in blood. Kurt is a freedom fighter/super- assassin hunted by a brutal military dictatorship’s security forces.

Soon after, Jim, Liz and Kurt’s lives are set to crash with a galactic war that threatens the very existence of the human race. Can our heroes save humanity from the wrath of an overwhelming enemy?

The Crimson Deathbringer seamlessly blends breathtaking action sequences with mischievous humor. If you are a science fiction/space opera fan, this book, with its memorable characters, formidable antagonist and Game of Thrones style shocking moments, is written especially for you.

How did you get started writing?

I have got purely obsessional OCD. What this means is a thought enters my mind—usually something negative—and doesn’t leave. I end up having to think about it 5000 times a day, and once this starts, my life is ruined for a week, two weeks, a month, or six months. I’d tried a lot of different ways to get rid of this problem: therapy, medication, meditation… Nothing ever worked, until I read an article that said the people who had this problem had an overly active imagination, and it would help if they channeled it into something productive, like writing.

I’d always wanted to be a writer. This is literally a childhood dream, one of those you give up when you grow up. I had the story of The Crimson Deathbringer in my mind for years (even started writing it and stopped a few times). When I read that article, I was going through a tough time in my marriage (fighting with your wife is no fun, even for sane people), and my mind had gone into its life-destroying over-drive, so I told myself, “Well, you’ve tried everything else, let’s give this a shot.”

And then a miracle happened.

My mind put the same energy it used to put into producing BS and making my life miserable into coming up with stories. Ideas would come to me fast and furious, and I had to stop whatever I was doing several times a day to write them down. I’ve been OCD-free since then (I know, I sound like a recovering alcoholic). When TCD (cool, eh?) was finished, it took my out-of-control brain half a day to plan my second novel, which is about a nerdy scientist and a sexy female mercenary who use a time machine to defeat an alien invasion. 

Is there an Author you consider your inspiration?

Yes. My favorite author is Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files), which is probably how I ended up writing in a first-person POV with the same light-hearted, funny tone as he does. The fact that my MC’s name is Jim is purely coincidental though.

Can you sum up your life story in ten words or less?  

I have survived three (!) revolutions and an eight-year-long war. Mr. Survivor here

Gentle and Sublime- #poetry of #spirituality and the #naturalworld

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As the Silence of echoes Peal

As the Whispers of Compassion feel

While the angels stoop to Pray

Fragility strikes the chords that Play

Refrain of Memory sadly Sings

Verses that Eternity brings

Lullaby of ancient Rhyme

Lilting Gentle and Sublime

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~Morgan

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Beautiful original photograph found on Pinterest. Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the original photographer. Thank you ~

Timeless – #poetry of the #naturalworld

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Timeless breath of Memory

Whisper of hushed Serenity

Reaching to Entrance the soul

Lilting peal of Eternity’s toll

Stillness waiting for us to see

How small

How precious

Each moment can be

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~Morgan~

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Breathtaking original photography by Ted Gore

Devotion- #love #poetry

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Devotion:

A Feeling.

An Experience.

A Shudder.

A Breath.

One touch.

One kiss.

One heart unleashed

by all of this.

Devotion:

A change.

A response.

An exclamation.

A whisper.

One Word.

One Promise.

One life altered

Through all of this.

Devotion:

A beginning.

A lifetime.

A sensation.

One truth.

One soul

One heart waiting

You the only goal.

And Devotion.

~Morgan~

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Beautiful Original Artwork by: Mark Spain

Creative Content Quick! – #Author #Interviews #Revision 2.0

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I’ve done some research lately to learn more about SEO and how to maximize what Im writing to gain readership.  Ive learned that in today’s fast-paced world the reality is that long posts get bypassed.  Research indicates readers want to devour topics in 5 to 7-minutes and move on, so, as painful as that may be to those of us who can proliferate words at a rate that could rival Charles Dickens, it’s up to us to provide creative content, quick! We need to come up with catchy tag-lines, use keywords in repetitive groupings to increase search engine results; and use meta-data/descriptions to help those search engines guide readers to us. HUH?Yeah thats what I said.  Heres a great article if you really want to dig deeper and learn “What is SEO Content?”

I’m starting by redefining the author interviews I offer.  No longer the customary 20 questions and 1500 words, but 3 key points, a pic and a link!  Sound tough? You bet, because when it takes between 50K and 150K to tell our story, it can be brutal to try to sum it up in less than 500 words- I know; I’ve tried!  Nevertheless, this is what readers want, so this is what they’ll get!  If you’re interested in an Author Interview with SEO punch, or you want to share a Character Spotlight with pizazz, read on!

What these posts will need:

You’ll select THREE questions (from the list I will provide) to answer and, remember, ‘Brevity is the soul of wit!” Write your answers creatively. Your entire post needs to be 500 words or less.
Create a brief Bio. Think of this in terms of an introduction- how would you like to be introduced at an awards ceremony?
Write a book blurb for your book. Here’s an article that tells you just how “Most fiction book blurbs start with a situation (a), introduce a problem (b) and promise a twist (c). They usually end with a sentence that emphasizes the mood (d) of the story.” (What would your ad sound like if it were a movie trailer?)
Provide an author link (one social media link or your author page)
Provide your book link (ONE Please)
Select a pic that sells what you are promoting, hopefully your books covers or a marketing image you use.

What’s next?

Email your post back to me to booknvolume@gmail.com in a word.doc format only (thank you!)
Include your images as separate .jpgs please
Make sure your links work! (No oopsies please)
Interviews are published on my blog on weekends in the order they are received and I will email back the link to the post once I’ve scheduled it. ****Posts cannot be viewed until they go live***(sorry)
If you’ve got a specific date in mind that you would like to promote, such as the release of a new book, a signing tour or any other publicity event, please let me know and I will be happy to work on scheduling a specific date that will maximize exposure.
MOST Importantly of all- Have Fun. If you don’t enjoy reading your post, who will?

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I hope you will take me up on the offer

Alone – #love #poetry

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Alas, My Love, how Empty is

This bed without you.

How I strain to hear the

Soft and subtle rhythm of

Your Sweetest breath.

How I long to Feel the

Gentle Warmth of Your arms

Embracing me.

How I yearn to lean close,

A soft and tender Kiss to bestow.

Alas, My Love, this bed lies empty,

You are not here, not yet,

And in reverence of its Lonely state

I do shun its comfort

To lie in distracted vigilance

Upon the floor

Alone.

~Morgan~

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Beautiful Original Artwork by:  Moonchild-Ljilja

#WorkInProgress – Angel of Mercy – A #PostApocalyptic #Psychological #Romantic #Fantasy #Mystery?

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Two brief excerpts from my current – well, one of two current – Works In Progress. Not entirely sure how to categorize it yet, maybe you can tell me…Its set in the future, AFTER the beginning of the Biblical Apocalypse. It’s about mortals and Immortals, Hate and Love, Fear and Romance. Yes it will have STEAM, Violence, Spirituality and a hint of Dsytopian flair. It tells the story of life after the first 3 Horsemen, Pestilence, War and Famine, have ridden.  In the 4 Era after the Great Cataclysm, the final horseman, Death is accompanied by the Archangel of Mercy, who is sent to find at least one person among those who remain who is merciful.  He has been searching for almost 100 years….

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Year 96 of the 4th Era after the Great Cataclysm: Le Bastion de la Résolution, – Marçais, Olde France

She was only a scullery maid. Nothing. No one. She was as unimportant as the scraps she cleaned up and just as forgettable. She had been her entire life and nothing would ever change that. She knew it and she expected nothing. Ever since she was five years old she understood that those around her were far better than she. Her life was trivial and meaningless; she accepted it.

Those she served were as far above her as she was above the barn rats. Her betters were interesting, beautiful, wealthy, and above all, powerful. When they spoke, others rushed to serve; where they wished to go, others made way. They were inaccessible and inescapable. Officers of the Eminent Protectorate and their families, they outranked even the nobles of the land and none questioned them. The Eminent Protectorate were the elite of society and to serve them was a privilege most could only dream of in a world where poverty was common-place, where being healthy was a rare distinction among the masses of Mortal Plague, and where Time had stopped……..

Every night she could hear the screams. Harrowing, they kept her awake many long nights while she leaned from her small window in the servant’s tower desperately trying to locate their source, but the stone walls of the bastion sent echoes pealing in all directions. They broke her heart, at first, but after many weeks of hearing them she’d grown accustomed to the noise. It wasn’t so much that they didn’t affect her anymore, but she accepted them, just as she accepted her own plight. The Eminent Protectorate could not and would not be questioned about them, or about anything they did, so whoever the poor soul was, they were doomed to bear whatever was happening without any more hope of rescue than she might wish for. Less. ……

Year 86 of the 4th Era after the Great Cataclysm: The Coast of Calais, Olde France

He stood on the vast ocean shore, his back to what was left of a once vibrant land as his brilliant, violet gaze searched the empty miles of gray ocean. His essence listened for any sign of life, a heartbeat remaining among the silence of the deeps, but not a single pulse broke the deathly hush. Pestilence had done his job too well. Nothing remained. All that was once beautiful, colorful and diverse was gone.

The thought pained him and he closed his eyes, bowing his head to mourn what had been sacrificed and all that had been lost. No terns cried upon the ocean breeze; no laughing gulls sang praise to the skies, there was only the sound of the waves rushing and breaking upon the rocky shore and the hollow moan of the wind. Without wings to dance upon it, the air itself seemed barren and grief-stricken. Without the song of the lark to cheer the entrance of the day or the carol of the robin to serenade the evening, the entire earth grieved in heavy silence. The ruddy glimmer of the late day sun, slowly fading into a crimson haze, played through the lengths of his blonde hair and sparkled across the perfection of his features. Standing there at the beginning of such a vast emptiness, he was the most beautiful sight for countless miles.

Behind him, a thunder of hooves pounded across the beach and the curses of men accosted the quietness.  He did not turn to face them as they formed a perimeter around him, barricading him against the sea, nor did he immediately answer when they demanded to know who he was; instead, he closed his violet eyes and sighed wearily.  Nothing had changed, even after three horrifying cataclysms had shaken the foundations of the world; hate, suspicion and fear still ruled those who remained.

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I welcome your thoughts and feedback

Green Shadow, Secret Tower, Luminous Shade- #Poetry and #Photography

IMAG0010, a photo by regency728 on Flickr.

The Broad Crown of the forest giant stretched into the sky,

Mingling with Sunlight, Cerulean and diffuse Emerald shadow,

Inviting, Enchanting, Calling….

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IMAG0009, a photo by regency728 on Flickr.

The tower stood guard,

watching,

waiting,

seeking the face of enemy and friend alike,

the first line of defense and the final battleground,

but the ancient stones had also seen secret loves shared,

heard the echoes of children’s laughter,

and tolled the hours of the day for centuries.

Secret now,

sinking behind the growth of bordering wood,

the tower reminisced and was silent.

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IMAG0003, a photo by regency728 on Flickr.

Silver and bronze,

United in a quiet cote,

Listen in breathless silence

To lyrical birdsong,

Cicadal droning,

And the whispers of travelers

Stooping in its luminous shade.

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~Morgan~

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(Images taken by me at Longwood Garden’s, Pennsylvania)