Cynthia A. Morgan's Blog, page 172

W. Bradford Swift – #Author #Healer #Visonary #GuestBlogger

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Today I am pleased to share a guest post from fellow Author  W. Bradford Smith, who is sharing a few of his insights on writing.  Thank You Ever So Much for your generous gift of time and talent, Brad; BnV is honoured!

From Pantser to Hybrid Plotter

Over the past twenty-five plus years as a writer of visionary fiction (stories that entertain and also inspire), I’ve moved from being a pantser (writing by the seat of my pants) to a hybrid plotter. Nowadays one of the most enjoyable parts of the writing process is planning what it is I want to write; ie, the plotting part. Then, once I feel confident I have a story worth telling and one that will both entertain and inspire the reader, I start writing. Often, along the way, my characters take over and some or all of the planning may go out of the window. That’s the hybrid part of my process.

Visionary Fiction that’s Character Driven

Since the kinds of stories I most enjoy reading are those that are character driven, I endeavor to write the same way. This means I need to get to know my characters as well as possible even before I start relating their stories. That’s where my visual character boards come into play.

Once I have a fairly complete list of the characters that will play significant roles in the story, I go to the Internet to meet them. Here’s how I do this. In my browser, I’ll enter something like “middle-aged strong housewife and mother,” then click on the “Images” button to pull up whatever Master Google wants to show me. 99.9% of the images don’t make the cut, but eventually, I find the perfect image of that character. I then download it, print it out and add it to the cork board for that story. Easy peasy, right?

Most of the time but not always. Sometimes, even after looking at hundreds of images, I’m still not satisfied I’ve found the right character. When that happens, I dig a little deeper by changing the description and try again.

Some Recent Examples

Babble is one of the first books where I used this method. It was well received when I entered it into Kindle Scout (though it didn’t win). Since its publication, it has maintained a 4.7-star rating on Amazon in part, I feel, because of the strength of the characters.

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Babble: Book 1 of the Cosmic Conspiracy Series

Stars Beckon Call

Another of my SF books due out later this year where I created a fairly involved character board is Stars Beckon Call.

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Here’s some of the praise it received when I entered it in the Inkitt.com publishing contest (alas, it didn’t win either):

“This is an awesome story that is more than it seems.The twist and turns made for an interesting read.I liked the characters and due to the ending I hope this is multi book series.”
“Wow! What a great story. I thought the plot was very unique. The beginning captured my attention, but it just keeps getting better and better. The writing style is very easy and pleasant to read. I thought the characters were interesting and well developed.”
“Human spirit at its best

I loved this book! It showed that people can persevere and survive. It had endearing moments, excitement and sadness. It also had some twists and turns that weren’t expected!”

Obviously, I’m thrilled when readers leave such comments, but my point here is that I truly believe these character boards are a key part that makes such comments possible.

Last Two Examples

FreeForm: Mission Resumed, book 3 of the FreeForm series, and a future, yet to be started series, Tess Barkley, are two other stories where I’ve used character boards:

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So, where do these boards go once I’ve created them? Well, in my office, of course, where I can see them as I write. (Yeah, that’s a pink door but don’t judge me. My lair was my daughter’s room first.)

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Would you like a more in depth tour of my creative lair? Become one of my Patreon patrons where I’ll be sharing a video tour later in August. In the meantime, let me know what you think of this character board idea.

P. S. You can grab a free copy of my technothriller, Seeds of a New Birth, where you’ll meet such characters as Flip MacDougal, Dr. Lionel Adams, and the twins, Alphenius and Melaenis (Alp and Mel for short) along with the rest of the genetically altered Kindred. Just go to: http://www.wbradfordswift.com

Filed under: Guest Bloggers on BnV Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, creative writing, Free Form Writing, Guest Blogger, Guest Writer, Insights into Characters, Writing, Writing Process, ~Morgan~

Summer’s Smiles – #DailyHaikuChallenge

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Summer’s golden tones

Infusing Autumn’s ambers

Delicate Sighs smile

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To take part in the Daily Haiku Challenge see  The Original Post from Day One

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Day 291 / 365

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Image by Lydian Brunsting 

Thank You~

Filed under: Daily Haiku Challenge Tagged: Beautiful Photographs, Beauty, BnV, BooknVolume, Changing Seasons, Haiku Challenge, Nature, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, ~Morgan~

In the Lime Light – #AuthorInterview – Joseph Mulak

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Please allow me to introduce fellow author Joseph Mulak, author of Haunted Whispers, Burnt Ashes, and Little Angels. He has had stories published in Death Be Not Proud, Dangers Untold, and Dark Things II, among other anthologies. He lives in North Bay, Ontario with his wife, Alicia, and five children. He is currently at work on several new writing projects.

Please Introduce us to your Blog.  What is it all about?   What sorts of posts do you lean towards?   My blog is mostly about topics concerning the genres I tend to write in. Mostly horror. Anything relevant to the genre is fair game. One thing I really enjoy doing is promoting other authors’ work. So I post reviews of books I like in the hopes of garnering the authors a few more readers.

What Inspires and stirs your creativity?  Just about everything. I get ideas from every aspect of my life whether it be work, family, friends, or even conversations I overhear in public. That and reading good fiction. Reading someone else’s work eggs me on to do better and finish whatever I happen to be working on.

Conversely, what do you find difficult to write about?  If there’s something too difficult to write about, I haven’t found it yet. Over the years I’ve had several blogs covering various topics. I’ve written about politics, religion, social issues, anything is fair game. Although I’ve toned down more recently. Now that my work seems to be garnering more of a readership, I tend to stay away from the more controversial topics so as to not alienate my readers. As consumers of art, we often have a tendency to not separate the artist from the art. We can’t support someone that we disagree with. So I’ve put my opinions on religion and politics aside and focus on more general topics.

What Message, if any, do you hope to Share through your blog/posts?  I don’t try to put messages in my work. Usually there’s a theme I deal with such as addiction, poverty, family, etc. But I don’t want to be preachy. As a genre writer, my job is to entertain, so I try to keep that in mind whether I’m writing fiction, a blog post, an interview, or a grocery list.

How has your blog helped you as a writer/Indie Author? What things have you learned along the way that you never anticipated?   I’m not sure if it’s helped me. I hope some people have found my books through my blog, which is its main purpose. As for what I’ve learned along the way? My job, first and foremost, is to entertain. I always try to keep that in mind, which is why I keep certain opinions to myself.

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Tell us about your book(s):  I currently have four books in print. Flushed, which is about love and poker; Haunted Whispers, my short story collection; Burnt Ashes (soon to be renamed to Ashes to Ashes, brand new cover and everything) is a zombie novel; and I just recently put out a 10,000 word novella called Little Angels, which is more or less a ghost story.

What Inspired you to write your book?  Depends on which book, I guess. Flushed came out of two failed relationships I’ve had and the fact that I stayed an irresponsible and immature person until my late 20s.

Burnt Ashes started out being about drug addiction and by the end of the first chapter (while keeping the drug addiction theme) turned into a book about my somewhat strained relationship with my older brother.

Haunted Whispers is a collection of short stories and it covers a broad range of themes and styles. It would take a long time to go through all the various influences.

Little Angels was influenced by a family trip to Nova Scotia when I was 12 or 14. My father and I found an old graveyard and everyone buried there was 12 years old or younger. It was also influenced by my lifelong battle with depression.

From what Point of View do you prefer to write? Is there a reason?  My favourite depends on which best suits the story. I’ve written in both and there are pros and cons to each one. I tend to write in third person most of the time, because it’s less restrictive, though I do turn to first person every once in a while since I do like the reader only having the same information as the POV character. Makes the story that much more mysterious.

How would you describe your “Voice” or Style of writing?  I’m told my voice is relaxed and conversational, which is great. People seem to enjoy it.

What genre do you prefer to write or are you truly eclectic?   Horror. I only have one work outside of the genre and I’m pretty sure it was one-time thing. My mind just tends to go in that direction when I’m thinking up stories. But, within the horror genre, I’m all over the place. I’ve written zombie stories, horror-comedies, I’ve had one or two of my stories described as “torture-porn,” I’ve written creepy ghost stories. Readers never really know what they’re getting with my stuff. I love most of the horror sub-genres, so I tend to write in a lot of them.

Do you painstakingly plot out your story; are you a discovery writer or a bit of both? Why?  I typically start with an idea, whether it’s a character I find intriguing or an opening scene, and go from there. I don’t usually know where the story is headed until I’m about halfway through. I like to think of it this way: When you get into a situation where your life is in danger, you have no idea what you’re going to do until you learn more about the situation, the antagonist, etc. That’s how I like to write. I like to learn more about the characters and the situation I’ve tossed them in before I figure out how they’re going to respond to it and ultimately win. Or lose, depending. I know a lot of authors recommend not doing this. I just read an article by John Grisham recently where he states that even authors who say they don’t outline really do. This isn’t true and I’m not sure where he gets this idea. But doing it this way seems to be working for me so far.

Do you have a favourite or least favourite character? And Why?  Probably Todd Wright, one of the two brothers who are the main protagonists in Burnt Ashes. Todd is a musician, suffers from depression, is a recovering addict, is divorced, has a poor relationship with his brother, feels like a failure most of the time, and has a sarcastic sense of humour. These are traits Todd and I both share, so I relate to him more than most of my other characters.

Share an insight or secret about your book(s). Readers can’t put them down because I lace the covers with superglue.

HA HA HA Thats Great

Rest – #DailyHaikuChallenge

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Verdant into Gold

Sweet Mother changing her robes

Glimmerings of rest

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To take part in the Daily Haiku Challenge see  The Original Post from Day One

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Day 290 / 365

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Image found on Pinterest.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the original artist/photographer.  Thank You~

Filed under: Daily Haiku Challenge Tagged: Autumn, Beautiful Photographs, BnV, BooknVolume, Changing Seasons, Haiku Writing, Harmony, life, Nature, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, spirituality, ~Morgan~

In The Lime Light – #AuthorInterview – Debbie Pierce/Caleigh O’Shea

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Today I have the honour of sharing with you fellow blogger Debbie Pierce from Musings by an ND Domer’s Mom blog and author of her first book Unplayable Lie.

Hi Debbie!! Thanks for Sharing your story with BnV today.  Please tell us all about yourself!

About my blog 

My blog, Musings by an ND Domer’s Mom, started for two reasons: to capture my son’s college experience and to follow recommendations I’d received at a writer’s conference to build a platform for my writing.

To say it’s evolved would be an understatement!

I post once a week (more often when I can). Once a month, I share information gleaned from research into healing gemstones. That’s an extension of one of my hobbies, jewelry making. A few years ago, I challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone and try writing poetry. The result is an eclectic mix of haiku, limericks, free verse, ballads, and more catalogued on my Poet’s Page. The bulk of my posts are “slices of life” revolving around seasonal nature photos, travels, parenting, or humorous incidents (some narrated by my Sheltie). And lately, I’ve been including updates from my writer’s journey.

I strive for a conversational tone, like I’m writing a newsy letter to a dear friend. The thing that surprised me most about blogging was how supportive and encouraging this community is. I was a shy child and still tend toward introversion; it required a BIG leap of faith to put my poetry online for others to read. Imagine my delight when they said they enjoyed it!

I’ve written since I could hold a pencil. When I was a kid, I’d check out immense stacks of library books, then tuck myself away visiting new worlds until I was called to chores. I remember starting (but never finishing) novels over most summers. To me, inspiration is all around! Whether it’s a news story in the paper or an overheard conversation or a snippet of research into something interesting, I find ideas plentiful.

On my blog, I avoid contentious discussions about politics, and I keep things family-friendly. I’ve found it next to impossible to write sex scenes in my novels, too. There’s enough of that sort of thing out there without me. Being true to oneself, I’ve found, is the best policy.

My book

My book, Unplayable Lie, is a fiction/thriller about a journalist who faces danger when he allows himself to become emotionally drawn into a story he’s following.

Here’s the premise:

Texas journalist Josh Griffin lives for scoops, but he’s never faced real danger to get one. Nor has he ever been emotionally drawn into his stories. Then he gets an anonymous tip that teenaged golf superstar Lexi Carlisle has been kidnapped, and Josh embarks on an investigation destined to change his life forever.

Lexi Carlisle is the daughter of Josh’s college sweetheart; watching Amanda agonize over her missing daughter while refuting police insinuations that she had something to do with the crime is more than Josh can handle. And when he unravels the web of lies spun by Lexi’s crazed kidnapper — who has killed once and isn’t afraid to do so again — Josh realizes the story takes second place to the girl’s rescue.

The book is being published by Waldorf Publishing and is scheduled for release on Oct. 15, 2017. For now, it’s available for pre-order online at Amazon and Target. (Shameless marketing plug!!)

https://www.amazon.com/Unplayable-Lie-Josh-Griffin-Mystery/dp/1684192633/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502750215&sr=1-7&keywords=unplayable+lie

https://www.target.com/p/unplayable-life-paperback-caleigh-o-shea/-/A-52028159#lnk=sametab

The spark for my story came one day as I was golfing with my son. One of the holes lay parallel to a tangled overgrown area, and the idea of a kidnapping took root, refusing to let go.

I gravitate toward third person Point of View. Like Mary Higgins Clark or Mary Jane Clark, I prefer to pick out a set number of characters to tell the story, and I rotate POV among them based on what they’re seeing and experiencing. I tend to write short chapters that end on a cliffhanger, and I love throwing in a variety of twists and turns.

I’ve tried to outline, but I don’t like to because I’m not good at it. I think that’s because as a kid, we had to outline everything. So even though I don’t do a formal outline, I’d be lost without making notes about plot points, scenes, characters, and so forth. I’ve never done NANOWRIMO (the write-a-book-in-30-days challenge) because I’m not a writer who tosses together a rough draft, then edits to tidy things up. Nope, I tend to edit as I go along, making for a slow go initially (but when I get to the end, it pretty much is!)

A secret about my book – I changed the hero’s name three times before I was happy with it! The first name I selected was actually the name of a living athlete, and I knew that wasn’t going to work. It took a while for me to get comfortable with the final choice, but I think this one fits him.

Have I written characters I don’t particularly like? Sure, but I hope I’ve concealed that and treated them kindly!

Best advice for other writers? Butt in chair, hands on keys, and start putting your ideas down. Writing a novel is lots harder than some would have you believe, especially for those of us trained in journalism. Sure, you’re telling a story, but the author is a puppet-master while the journalist is quoting facts, documents, and other sources. While I was writing Unplayable Lie, I often felt like I was living in two worlds, my reality and the novel’s fiction. It got to where someone in real life would ask me a question and I’d mentally weigh my response based on which character I was thinking about at the time!

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About me

I write under a pen name, something my mom is still having a hard time with!

For years I was a working journalist, so I got used to seeing my real name in print. And it worked for factual stories. However, this novel is fiction, so it just made sense to write under a “fictitious” name. I gave my pseudonym a great deal of thought and I’m pleased with the decision. It honors my Irish heritage and solves the quandary of being christened with a common name.

I guess I’ve always been a creative person. My hobbies and interests have evolved, just like my writing. As a child, I played piano, picked up clarinet and a bit of sax in school, and now am learning the flute. I love most sports, though golf and tennis hold a special place in my heart. I’ve done needlepoint, embroidery, and crochet. I taught myself to bead one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, including Rosaries. I zone out with mindless coloring of mandalas and such while talking on the phone, I’m an avid reader, and I write.

Because I’m the sole caregiver for my aging mom, I constantly struggle with time (or, rather, a lack of it!). I’ve found that having interests all over the board keeps me sane and helps me cope with the stress. While hobbies add to my enjoyment of life, sometimes pursuing them makes it hard to find the time I need to write. Having a deadline (one that’s self-imposed or from my publisher) helps immensely.

My day job is designing Web pages. It fulfils a need to express my creativity through color and design, as well as to work for myself. I also make time to take long walks or enjoy a bit of retail therapy. I don’t need crowds of people around me; rather, I gravitate to solitary activities. Because I can always find something to do, I’m rarely bored.

While I’ve been from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico, I don’t really consider myself well-traveled. My favorite place for a getaway is close to water. I find the rhythm of waves very soothing, and there’s something about a salty climate that makes me sleep better. My ideal destination is Ireland, a place I briefly visited a few years back.

People who don’t know me don’t know how independent I am. I need plenty of time alone to regroup, daydream, and create. I don’t like lots of drama (except on the page or stage), and I avoid people who can’t accept boundaries. I have lots of acquaintances but few in my inner circle. There’s a BIG difference between being lonely and being alone. The former can happen in a crowd; the latter is a necessity for creatives (writing isn’t a spectator sport!)

Please do stop by and visit Debbie through one of her social Links:

Blog (https://domermom.com/)

Twitter (https://twitter.com/CaleighOShea)

Author website (https://www.caleighoshea.com/)

LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-pierce-36943b49/)

I’m also on Goodreads, Pinterest, Google+, and have an author’s page on Amazon.

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Thank You so Much Debbie for sharing so many insights and giving us a peak into your first book.

~Morgan~

Filed under: Authors Books Reviews & Interviews Tagged: Author Intervies, Author spotlight, BnV, BooknVolume, Fiction Writers, Indie Authors, Supporting Indie Authors, ~Morgan~

Transcend – #DailyHaikuChallenge

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Silence in the Hush

Sweet and heavy, Soft and Lush

Singing O’er the rush

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To take part in the Daily Haiku Challenge see  The Original Post from Day One

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Day 289 / 365

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Image found on Pinterest.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the original artist/photographer.  Thank You~

Filed under: Daily Haiku Challenge Tagged: Beautiful Photographs, BnV, BooknVolume, Nature, Night, Peace, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, Silence, ~Morgan~

In the Lime Light – #CharacterInterviews – Michelle Lowe’s Legacy

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Today I am welcoming Author Michelle Lowe, Author of The Legacy.  A Story of A thief, a lover, and a toymaker; drawn together by fate, unlikely champions against a powerful and remorseless enemy. When not fighting each other, they must defeat the powerful Lord Norwich, and end his plan to unleash global violence and crown himself emperor of the world.

No problem.

But behind the scenes, the Trickster god is manipulating men like puppets, changing history to his own ends and for his own amusement. As an ancient plan is set into motion, the trio is faced with events they do not understand and may not survive.

She is going to introduce us to one of her characters through an interview with him.  So without further ado:…….

After all my years reporting and writing articles at Iron Words Newsfeed, I wanted to interview some of Britain’s outcasts. Who I found was none other than Pierce Landcross, famous thief. So popular, in fact, even Queen Victoria wants him arrested and hanged! Pierce is the protagonist of the Legacy series, including the standalone story, Boom Time, and will be in the upcoming series, The Age of the Machine. And now, here is my interview with Pierce Landcross. Please enjoy!

Today I’m here with my guest at . . . at . . . well, to tell the truth, I’m not sure where we are. I was blindfolded at the meeting spot and brought here in these woods.

Aye. It’s the safest location I could think of for the likes of me. Given my reputation, that is.

I understand. Just allow me to replace the record on my phonautograph and we’ll get started. There. Done. Just speak into the cone and the vibrations of your voice will cause the stylus to etch a recording on the lampblack paper.

I’m familiar with how phonautographs work. My old mate, Indigo Peachtree, has an older one. His isn’t as fancy as this new 1843 model, but it works just the same.

Indigo Peachtree? He’s the famous toymaker, right? The one who creates automatons toys here in England?

One and the same, darling.

We’ll come back to him in a moment. First, tell us about yourself. Where are you from?

Erm. S’pose I ought to start with my name, eh? My name is Pierce Landcross. I’m twenty-seven and a bit mischievous. My life is pretty much a nonstop adventure, meaning I can’t seem to stay out of trouble. But I’ve met some interesting people on my journeys, as well as made a handful of dangerous enemies.

You’re also an outlaw. You’ve even been dubbed the most infamous thief in Great Britain.

Aye. I’ve heard that myself. I’ve also been a smuggler and a hustler during my younger days. Hence the secret location, eh? To answer your other question, I know I was born in England, but I’m not sure where exactly. You see, my folks were gypsies who wandered about constantly. I never had the chance to ask where my birthplace is. As youngsters, my older brother, Joaquin, and me got separated from the troupe when the gypsies were run out of Abney Park in London while Joaquin and me were exploring the cemetery. When we returned, there was a strange woman there with violet eyes who told officers that we stole from her. Which we didn’t, mind you, but regardless, we were hauled away to an orphanage and put to work in a cotton mill factory.

That’s awful. Where is your brother now?

Dunno, love. Him and I had a falling out some years back.

Oh? What happened?

He tried to kill me.

Oh.

Not to sound rude, but could we move this along? I have a bad feeling all of a sudden.

Of course. You’re in the middle of your own story, Legacy (Vol.1), it appears, but some who have read it has called you the highlight of this book with your debonair wit and glittering cleverness. A fabulous character. Flawed yet a compassionate thief. And one critic even said, quote, “Landcross I always adored. And with each chapter, I loved him more and more. He was just charming as hell. My heart was all a flutter.” It looks like you’re the protagonist for a reason, wouldn’t you say?

*Nervously clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck.*  I s’pose.

 

Going back to Indigo Peachtree, I heard he’s gone missing!

I wouldn’t say gone missing, more like he went into hiding. Right now there’s this cocker, Tarquin Norwich, who’s after the Toymaker for some reason.

How do you know this?

’Cause I’ve been roped into finding him. After a major failed heist, I tried fleeing the country. I made it all the way to Le Havre, France, aiming to board a ship and escape the royal guards that are on my tail as we speak. And just as I was about to find a bloody vessel, I was snared by Tarquin’s son, Archie, and his little sister, Clover. They tried bringing me back across the Channel and hand me over to Tarquin. The bloke wants me to tell him where Indigo’s journal is, you see. We never made it, though, ’cause I was rescued by my good mate, Chief Sea Wind, captain of his ship, the Ekta.

Captain Sea Wind? He and his crew are Apache sailors who call themselves Sea Warriors, right?

Aye. That’s them. And believe me when I say it wasn’t the first time they’ve saved my skin, but that’s a story for another day. While that halfwit, Archie was taking me back to England, Clover informed me about how her father is hunting for Indigo. *Snorts.* Clover is a clever little lass, dunno how she and Arch are related. After the Sea Warriors saved me, I made a bargain with Archie that if he helps me find Indigo before his dear ol’ dad does, I’ll get him the journal. And that’s where I am at the present, searching for the Toymaker.

That’s all really exciting. If you succeed, where do you think your story will lead to next?

My grandmother used to be a fortuneteller of sorts. She once told me each life has many paths that lead in different directions. No one can truly see into the future because the future is always changing. I dunno my whole story yet, but I can tell you it involves me traveling through the Netherlands and following clues to a family inheritance, dealing with the Hellfire Club in Scotland, sailing to Sonora, Mexico with the Sea Warriors where I’ll be hunting for fugitives, breaking Chief Sea Wind and his crew out of jail in New Orleans, and returning to England to face my most feared enemy.

That sounds incredible! What else can you tell us? What’s in Peachtree’s journal? Will anyone travel with you on your quest to find the family inheritance? What’s the reason for going to Scotland? Who are these fugitives you’ll be tracking? Why will the Sea Warriors get arrested, and who is this enemy you will face?

(Unknown voice)

Over there! I see him!

Bugger me! It’s the bloody guards! Listen, love, it was nice chattin’ with you. *Kisses my hand.* Perhaps we can continue this another day? *Dashes off to his horse.*

Wait! How do I get out of the forest? Oh, well. I suppose I can find my way. That was the charismatic Pierce Landcross, ladies, and gentlemen. I must say he’s most certainly an interesting character. I truly hope to meet him again someday.  

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Author Bio

A Georgia born native, I’ve spent most my life near the Atlanta area before pulling up stakes and moving clear across the country with husband, Ben, and our two daughters. History piques my interests, especially European history. I’m a big nerd at heart. I read science-fiction and fantasy stories, and I love old B horror films. I also get a kick out of playing classic Atari video games and I do oil painting as a hobby.

I’m a daydreamer and animal lover. I have a very old kitty named October, and one very demanding guinea pig. I took up writing as a serious career choice twenty years ago, learning a lot and sharpening my skills along the way.

My works include several published novels such as The Warning,Cherished Thief, Atlantic Pyramid and Children’s books, Poe’s Haunted House Tour, and The Hex Hunt series. My latest published escapade is a steampunk/fantasy novel, titled Legacy, the first of a six book series.

Please be sure to look Michelle up through one of her social Links!

Website: www.michellelowe.net

Twitter: @michellelowe_7

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2fWq6BV 

Amazon:http://amzn.to/2bNh8WQ

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Thank You so much Michelle for sharing your character with us.  Its been fun getting to know Pierce

In the Lime Light – #AuthorSpotlight – Assaph Mehr

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Today’s Author Spotlight is on Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia.

Book Blurb

A young man is found dead in his bed, with a look of extreme agony on his face and strange tattoos all over his body. His distraught senator father suspects foul play, and knows who to call on.

Enter Felix the Fox, a professional investigator. In the business of ferreting out dark information for his clients, Felix is neither a traditional detective nor a traditional magician – but something in between. Drawing on his experience of dealing with the shady elements of society and his aborted education in the magical arts, Felix dons his toga and sets out to discover the young man’s killers.

Murder in absentia is set in a fantasy world. The city of Egretia borrows elements from a thousand years of ancient Roman culture, from the founding of Rome to the late empire, mixed with a judicious amount of magic. This is a story of a cynical, hardboiled detective dealing with anything from daily life to the old forces roaming the world.

This is a story of Togas, Daggers and Magic – for lovers of Murder Mysteries, Ancient Rome and Urban Fantasy.

Assaph has receive many awards for his writing, including:

Virtual FantasyCon 2016

1st place – Favourite Dark Fantasy Book
1st place – Favourite Dark Fantasy Author
2nd place – Favourite Urban Fantasy Book
2nd place – Favourite Urban Fantasy Author
3rd place – Favourite Fantasy Series

AND Goodreads

1st place – Indie Books Worth The Read (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/37072.Self_Pub_or_Indie_Books_Worth_the_Read)

Hi Assaph

Officially Out of the Office

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Beginning tomorrow, Aug 15th,  I will be officially on Holiday!

It being my b-day, I’ll be celebrating with family and then, My Dear One is taking me away, to the mountains of Colorado, for some MUCH Needed R&R as well as a delicious dose of TLC

Chasm – #DailyHaikuChallenge

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Chasm Whispering

Cosmos connection Singing

Into the dark void

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To take part in the Daily Haiku Challenge see  The Original Post from Day One

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Day 288 / 365

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~Morgan~

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Amazing image by Melissa Vincent

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Filed under: Daily Haiku Challenge Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, Cosmos, eternity, Nature, Night, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, spirituality, Universal Connection, ~Morgan~