Freedom Matthews's Blog

#FreedomFriday Inherited Quote #3

This week’s quote shows a little insight into the past that haunts Lennie:

Lennie’s past is something that has ensured she has grown quickly and has made her feel unworthy. Despite her strong and sometimes spiky outward appearance, she is still the lost girl who arrived aboard the Wilted Rose battered, bruised and covered in blood.

This night terror shakes her so much, that she has to leave her cabin and venture onto the deck…. What will she find once she gets there…?

I want to say so much more, but that could lead to ‘spoiler territory

Let me know what you think!!

#FreedomFriday Inherited Quote #2

Hello, fellow pirates and faeries, this week’s quote is a little insight into our main protagonist’s swordsman(woman)ship.  It also proves Lennie can be a bit of a show off too!  ;) We also meet Butch, the youngest member of the crew and Lennie’s closest friend aboard the Wilted Rose.

 Other exciting news happened this week too! Oftomes revealed 5 new covers and two of those were mine!

Not only did Ben (@Benjaminoftomes) reveal the newly altered cover for INHERITED, he revealed the beautiful cover for INTO THE FOREST a short story that prequels the curse we learn about in Inherited.

(Jen Wilson – Author of New World Rising created this beautiful Into the Forest edit)

Thank you to everyone who shared, commented and all that good stuff! I’d love to know what you think of this week’s quote and these amazing covers!

See you next week, when we will drop anchor with another quote!

#FreedomFriday Quote Reveal

Well happy #freedomfriday fellow pirates, from this week we shall be releasing quotes from Inherited to whet your appetite. This week we have the following quote, which epitomises the curse befalling the crew of the Wilted Rose:-

Let us know under the hashtags #freedomfriday and #inherited what you think!!!

Also, in other news Oftomes has revealed that Into The Forest – a prequel short story to Inherited- is to be released in May! Here’s a little sneak peak of the cover- the rest of which (along with some fabulous other covers from my author-siblings) will be shown in a live show on 1st March on the Oftomes youtube channel ( I am so excited to watch!). This cover, along with tall the others was created by the lovely Kim G (@dauntlesshunter on IG) who designed the Inherited cover!!

I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on all things ‘Curses of VIII’. Instagram and tweet me with your thoughts, feelings etc. I would love to hear from you!!

Instagram: @freedommwrites

Twitter: @freedommatthews

See you next #freedomfriday for another quote

Long time no type…

Well…it has been a long time since #freedomfriday has happened but there has been SO much happening aboard the Wilted Rose!

The edits have gone back in, there’s been cover tweaks and other Curses of VIII related shenanigans, and there will soon be swag to be had!

From March 1st, there will be cover reveals over on the Oftomes Youtube channel (keep an eye out for a surprise ) and I will be revving up with all kinds of things in preparation for Inherited’s summer release!

Keep up to date with all the goings-on over at my twitter (@freedommatthews) and Instagram (@freedommwrites) pages. I post all about the journey as it happens!

I shall endeavour to keep a weekly log…where I can, and post here either on a #freedomfriday or a #wiltedrosewednesday!

Let me know if you want to see, hear or encounter anything else to make this already exciting journey, even more exciting!

See you on the high seas!

F x

#FreedomFriday week #3 – INHERITED COVER REVEAL!!!

Greeting’s fellow pirates, faeries and other mythical creatures…

Today is the day we reveal the cover for Inherited, and I am just bursting with excitement!!! With each week that goes by, this whole publishing journey seems more and more real! It will be summer before any of us know it!

Over the past week or so, Oftomes has been teasing little sneak peeks of the cover; today we reveal all!

Cover Creation

When I was in the throes of writing Inherited, I never really had a clear idea of how I wanted the cover to look…I thought perhaps something classic and simple, but I never really had a plan.

Thanks to the amazingly talented treasure we call Kim, (https://www.instagram.com/dauntlesshunter/) and the wonderful Ben @Oftomes, my little sea-faring story has been captured in these beautiful images you’ll see below…

So here we go 1…2…3

TA DA!!!!

Here is the Kindle view:

This will be the view for the paperback

I am so pleased with how it looks!!!

It’s all happening in the Oftomes world, and there is still more to share before Inherited is released next summer, so stay tuned! Keep looking out each #freedomfriday for more!

Please could you give lots of love to Ben, Kim and Sara Elizabeth Santana (EPIC author-sister and creator of ‘The Awakened’ novel)-they have worked so hard to ensure you saw this cover reveal! I also want to thank all the bloggers/bookstagrammers and all other internetters for ‘street-teaming’ the cover reveal

Let us know on over on Twitter and Instagram what you think of the cover. Don’t forget to use the #freedomfriday hashtag! Do you love it as much as I do? Have you any new theories regarding the book…let us know your thoughts!

See you next week for more ‘piratey’ shenanigans!

The Wilted Rose – #freedomfriday (week #2)

The Wilted Rose of faery-tale and folklore is a ship embedded in the history of the small British seaside town of Portside. Generations of people have heard the sorry tale of the Curses of VIII and the mystery and heartbreak surrounding the almost mythical ship…

Kim (https//kimg-design.com) has created such a perfect representation of the cursed ship, which is the home of our pirates in Inherited:

Origins

In a bitter grieving state a faery Sorceress began to create a grand ship from the enchanted trees of her forest.  Once she had built the shell, she poured her broken heart into it and set it afloat… vowing that anyone who stepped foot on the ship could not love without consequence…her reasoning; she wanted no-one to go through what she herself was experiencing.

Naming the ship

The Wilted Rose was named for a child the faery Sorceress stole away-‘Rosa Del Mar.’ Beginning in her teens, Rosa captained the cursed ship until she committed the ultimate sin…falling in love.

The ship’s course

Since Rosa’s beloved fell prey to the curse, the Sorceress transformed the teenager into a wooden figurehead to prevent her from harming herself. Rosa was a kind and worthy patron of the ship, despite her depression and heartbreak she continued to captain the ship and rescue those in need.  One such couple would change the course of history for the Wilted Rose forever…this story will have to wait for another #freedomfriday however

The ship itself…

The ship is aged and worn from years upon the water.  The faery magic it was made with helps it remain afloat- not to say it cannot be damaged. Through battles and storms the ship has scars, nicks and the odd scrape. The sails are patched and worn from the talented but rough hands of its many crews. The ship has marks from every person it has held.

The deck holds a rustic table where the crew can congregate for more informal gatherings. A wheel which seems to thrum with magic in possesses and though is not essential, can be used to steer the ship.

A crow’s nest towers above the ship and gives an ample view of the surrounding water.

The living quarters are basic but homely reflecting in small ways the occupier (or in some cases occupiers) of the each cabin. There is also a galley (kitchen) which is well stocked from the odd trip to dry land.

The holding levels are home to the brig and the weapons store, it’s a good place to reflect and be quiet…when there’s not a battle raging…obviously.

The saloon

The saloon is my favourite place on board the Wilted Rose. It holds the library, the Captain desk and a large meeting table surrounded by portraits of the original cursed eight.

Many scenes take place in this room and I would love to have such a room filled with my favourite things (books, writing station and historical portraits of ancestors!) it is the hub for the crew to congregate and also a place for those who wish to lose themselves in a good book.

Big thank you to Kim from: https://www.instagram.com/dauntlesshunter/   & https://twitter.com/Who_is_Kimy for creating the wonderful image you see above and to Ben (@oftomes) for again making the magic happen!

Get ready for next week fellow pirates (or faeries) #freedomfriday has so much to share!

Keep up to date with us on all the social medias and the hashtags #freedomfriday & #inherited! Come and chat with us about the book, pirates and the visuals! Let us know your thoughts!

P.S. The cover reveal for Inherited will be on the 19.12.15 – take a look over at @oftomes twitter page for a sneak peak! Cannot wait!!!

#freedomfriday’s first reveal! – The Symbols!

Good morrow friends!

Well #freedomfriday certainly started with a bang! I am so happy to introduce two symbols from the Curses of VIII: Inherited with you.

The image below is the symbol of ‘The Wilted Rose,’ the home of our heroes in Inherited. This symbol can be see flying from the top mast upon the flag and is found on every cursed member of the crew. This mark is tattooed upon their wrists as a physical representation of the curse, it is also a handy tool in recognising lost members…

When first creating the story, each member was going to be given a ring- this  soon proved difficult as rings could be lost, stolen or destroyed…tattoos however cannot be taken so easily…

The Crew of the Wilted Rose

In the opening chapters of Inherited we meet six crew members: Valencia ‘Lennie’ Roux, Tobias ‘Butch’ Smith, Captain Brendan Rourke, Davy Johnson, Rupert Cole, Byron Davenport-Lee and Ned- the Captain’s trusty first mate.

This group are (for want of a better term), ‘Team Good’. We will reveal more about this motley band of misfits as the weeks progress…

With every hero there is a villain….

The villain of Inherited is a sea-witch named Hadnaloy. Her rough and decrepit ship is inhabited by dregs of society and lesser criminals willing to follow a conniving witch and help in her schemes…Her most prized possessions however are the two Captains of her ship- Macrucio Concienetti and Claudette Pearce – both she  abducted as infants and raised aboard her neglected vessel. These two young pirates hold the symbol you see below (as well as another very familiar one).

These two crew members are too in search of something…could they be more than just the hostages of the enemy?

Well there we go, the first little insight into Inherited, let us know what you think all over the interwebs using the hashtags: #freedomfriday and #inherited

I want to say a very big thank you to the extremely talented Kim G from https://twitter.com/Who_is_Kimy  &  https://www.instagram.com/dauntlesshu...  for taking my extremely rough sketches and turning them into these beauties and to the lovely Ben @oftomes for being his wonderful self and making all the magic happen!

#freedomfridays!

Greetings fellow Pirates!

Because I was terribly slow on the uptake with this one, you probably already seen over on Instagram and Twitter that #freedomfridays will begin next Friday -4th December!

This means, every Friday until release day, news and visuals from my  novel INHERITED will be released by Oftomes Publishing (@oftomes)! We would be over the moon to see you all joining in and telling us your thoughts!

I am so excited to share this tale with you all and as a crew we can piece together the ‘buried treasure’ that will culminate in the release of INHERITED next spring!

Check back next week, where I will have a more in depth take on the #freedomfriday reveal!

So I’m getting published…

Well it’s finally happened. Someone has taken a look at my motley band of pirates and instead of running in the opposite direction, have opened their arms and welcomed them in.

The wonderful Ben (of Youtube Benjaminoftomes fame) has a new Micro-publishing house ‘Oftomes Publishing’ and I am very fortunate and honoured to be the newest member of his ever growing family!!

The above is a short summary of Inherited which is due for release in Spring of next year! So if you like folk tales, fantasy, pirates, magic, romance and diversity then Inherited will be for you.

There is so much happening so stay tuned to learn more…

Oh and if you want to keep up with my journey please feel free to come chat with me on all the social media:-

https://www.facebook.com/freedommwrites/

https://twitter.com/FreedomMatthews

https://www.instagram.com/freedommwrites/

http://freedommatthews.tumblr.com/

Perhaps an introduction is in order…

Hello! Welcome aboard the The Wilted Rose!

Perhaps before I carry on, I should introduce myself:

Freedom

My name really is Freedom. I was named after my Grandmother and I am very proud to carry her with me. Growing up with such an unusual moniker can have its pitfalls; yet now, after many years, I feel it truly represents who I am.

Places & Spaces

I live in rainy England, Jane Austen’s house and the beauty of the countryside are not too far away. I feel very lucky to be surrounded by so many inspiring views, places and history.

My Interests & other Oddities

Stories are my life. Books, Films, TV Shows, Songs and even people are always there to inspire me. I love any type of story and read, watch and listen again and again; finding something new every time. It’s pure bliss. I live in a world of fictional characters- I have no regrets

Writing & Inspirations

The main inspirations in my life are my Granddad and my Nephews. My Grandfather was the man who introduced me to stories, he was my very first playmate and taught me to imagine. My earliest memories are of building forts in our living room using old sheets and dining chairs. His passing in 1999 was the catalyst to my writing. Though I feel I was always a storyteller, his death was the thing that pushed to me do something about it and finally write down how I felt.

My nephews are growing into wonderful young men. I am VERY proud to be their Auntie and they inspire me every day to do something special. I hope to make them proud and to perhaps teach them to persevere with dreams, even if it takes a long time to reach them. Maybe one day we all will succeed.

I learned to read very early and devoured any book, newspaper or cereal box I could find. The two most influential authors in my childhood would have to be Paul Jennings and Roald Dahl. Looking back now, I notice that both of these authors focus on quite dark and sinister elements and perhaps that is why my writing has always found a darker edge… Either way the stories still stand out in my mind, heart and on my (wonky) bookshelf.

I was always one of those kids who (along with my friends) would watch a TV show or film and elaborate on what happened after the credits rolled. I guess this would be called live action ‘fan-fiction’ today. Even now, as I watch the credits roll I think of what would happen. As well as using what we saw or heard, we made up our own dramas. Not much has changed, I just write down my stories now.

Into my teens years I dove into biography. I was intrigued by Elvis Presley, James Dean, Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe. Their lives fascinated me, amazing lives cut short. I guess it was the ‘what if’ questions and the true people behind the ‘legends’ that interested me more than anything else.

Now in my twenties I have discovered the Fantasy novel. I recall spending the first years of my this decade devouring the Harry Potter books. For some odd reason they were off my radar as a child (Of course I was a huge fan of the films). Falling head over heels for this mind blowing series opened me up to read books such as: The Ink Trilogy, The Twilight Saga, The Far-seer Trilogy, The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, The Hunger Games and too many others to list.

Books are what have always welcomed me home and they continue to do so…they are friends without even having to try. As a person who can isolate herself quite well, they are there without needing me to be anything other than myself.

I have been writing consciously since I was 14 years old, I just don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t been…it’s part of me and who I am. I am a self professed storyteller and bookworm..and bloody proud of it!

Long live the written word!

Hopes for the Future

My biggest ambition is to one day walk into a book shop and see my book on a shelf. I’m getting close as on 25th November I signed with Oftomes Publishing. My début novel INHERITED will be released in Spring of 2016! I am both ecstatic and terrified all at once- it all hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but I’m so thankful I took the chance and it paid off!

As I travel this new and exciting road, I hope to share this story with you…