May Freighter's Blog, page 6
May 16, 2018
Free Falling Preview by Ana Simons
Hi everyone, Today, I'd like to introduce FREE FALLING by Ana Simons to you. She's a wonderful Romance writer and be sure to check out her work! BLURB Does a man ever forget the first girl he truly loved? Brian Anderson can't get past the anger corroding him inside. Finding out the woman he believed … Continue reading Free Falling Preview by Ana Simons
April 2, 2018
YASH Spring 2018
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Hi there,
I’m May Freighter, your current hostess for the YASH Scavenger Hunt! I hope so far you are having tonnes of fun getting to know many fantastic authors on TEAM PINK.
A BIT ABOUT ME:
My favourite animal is a cat.
I love writing Urban Fantasy and testing out new genres.
There is never enough cake.
I’m a bit of a nerd.
And my favourite fictional couple is Kat & Bones from Night Huntress series.
You are currently hunting on:
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Looking for my exclusive bonus content? You’ll have to keep searching.
Somewhere on this hunt, I’ve hidden a cover reveal for DARK AFFILIATIONS (book five of HELENA HAWTHORN SERIES) and its preview! Well then, before you move on, check out the amazing author I’m hosting.
But, first, a few rules.
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE RULES
DIRECTIONS: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my favourite number. Collect the favourite numbers of all the authors on TEAM PINK, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!)
HINT: THE SECRET NUMBER IS HIGHLIGHTED IN PINK !
ENTRY FORM: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
RULES: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by MONDAY, APRIL 9th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
On this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each participating YA author, you also get a secret number. Add up the numbers, and enter it for a chance to win a major prize–one lucky winner will receive at least one book from each author on my team in the hunt! But play fast. This contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) won’t be online forever!
There are SIX contests going on simultaneously as well as a bonus contest and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the PINK TEAM but there is also a RED TEAM, BLUE TEAM, ORANGE TEAM, PURPLE TEAM, GOLD TEAM & GREEN TEAM! Check out each team for a chance to win nine different sets of signed books!
If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.
Now that all the serious stuff is out of the way, moving on to the author I’m hosting today and its… *drum roll*
Dr. Kristin Helvig
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About Kristi
Kristi Helvig is a Ph.D. clinical psychologist turned sci-fi/fantasy author. Her debut sci-fi BURN OUT, (Egmont USA/Lerner Publishing), called “a scorching series opener not to be missed” by Kirkus Reviews, follows one of Earth’s last survivors when our sun unexpectedly burns out early. Kristi resides in sunny Colorado with her hubby, two kiddos, and their behaviorally-challenged dogs.
The book Kristi is featuring on the hunt is her recently-released urban fantasy novel, THE WING COLLECTOR.
The book Kristi is showcasing:
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About The Wing Collector
Hide…or be hunted.
When a pair of faerie wings fetch big bucks online, 17-yo Lila Kincade realizes her kind aren’t just oppressed; they’re hunted.
Due to prejudice and hostility by humans, half-human/half-faerie Lila lives in a world where faeries are required to register with the government and bind their wings in order to look like everyone else.
Lila is haunted by repetitive dreams involving a shack in the woods, and when photos of dismembered wings appear in her school locker, she soon realizes that she is the serial killer’s prime target. As faerie corpses pile up around her, Lila embarks on a mission to save her race from extinction. She must figure out who she can trust and stop the killer before she—and all faeries— are obliterated forever.
***
Did you know? I have counted the feathers on the cover and found that there are exactly:
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Bonus Content from The Wing Collector
MUSIC PLAYLIST for The Wing Collector:
Music is a huge part of my writing process and always has been. I’ve written before about how the idea for my first novel BURN OUT occurred in a dream I had after hearing a song for the first time (Center of the Sun by Conjure One). When I write books, songs often pop into my head for certain scenes as if I’m watching a movie with the soundtrack playing in my head. Here is a playlist that went along with the process of writing THE WING COLLECTOR, with some notes about each. And yes, you will notice a range from Vivaldi to Rage Against the Machine because that’s how my brain works!
Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. Slight spoiler alert: there is a death at the very beginning of the book but hey, it is about a serial killer after all! As the girl walks through the woods in the opening scene of The Wing Collector, the original version of this song popped into my head—almost like a dirge as she unknowingly walked to her death.
Shadow of the Sun by Audioslave. I think Chris Cornell’s voice is amazing and pictured my main character, Lila, playing this song in her room while she stares out the window feeling trapped and alone. Random fact: several weeks after Chris Cornell’s death, I had a dream where I was watching a scene from The Wing Collector in which multiple people would die, and a booming bass sound started playing and then Chris Cornell’s voice emerged around me with this amazing song called “No Good,” which was basically an apology from the killer to his victims as he killed them in the dream, admitting that he was “no good.” I woke up the next day and looked up the song, but it didn’t exist, so I gave the lyrics and beat to my husband (who is a musician), and he agreed it was awesome and is working on the song now.
Killing in the Name of by Rage Against the Machine. It’s an oldie but goodie that I imagined during a hiking scene where a group of hikers meets the serial killer in the woods, and one of the hikers is listening to this song through his earbuds.
The Four Seasons by Vivaldi I’m not going to say why I have an Italian composer from the 1700’s included in this playlist. If you read the book, and want to guess why, email me and I swear I’ll tell you.
March 22, 2018
Get Limited Edition Almanac
Pre-order Dark Affiliations before April 22, 2018 and send an e-mail to the author through the contact form with a copy of your receipt as an attachment. All copies of the Limited Edition Almanac will be sent out on April 23, 2018.
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February 14, 2018
Dark Affiliations Sneak Peek
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CHAPTER 1
HELENA
Helena’s new home was beautiful. The Royal vampires—mostly Ealdraed and Laclia—paid through the roof to gift this enormous castle to the new European Council, and she was lucky to be among the few who were permitted to stay there. Her luck didn’t end there. Perri, too, was allowed to remain there by Hans who seemed reluctant to admit his true feelings for the girl. Too bad for him, most of the vampires in the building and Helena had long since figured out that he was smitten with Perri.
Tonight was a night of celebration. Everyone had finally settled into their new home and new life. Why wouldn’t I be happy?
She looked at her beaded gold and green maxi dress in the full-length mirror that hung on the wall. Next to her, Perri was trying on a knee-length strapless purple dress that hugged her curves.
“Do you think this is too revealing?” Perri asked, placing her hands on her hips and giving another twirl.
Helena smiled. “Are you worried Hans will make you put on a baggy sweater for indecent exposure?”
Her friend pouted. “I wish! He may look at me now and then but never long enough to give me any clue whether he likes me or not.”
“Don’t think too hard about it. He’s probably shy around women.”
“He’s not shy around you,” Perri pointed out.
Helena shrugged. “I’m not the one he’s dating.”
“I don’t think we’re dating, either. I mean, these rings symbolise marriage, but we never actually got married. At the time, he didn’t seem to want to go through with it. If the spirits didn’t force us into a relationship, I think we would remain as strangers even now.”
Grasping her friend’s shoulders, Helena made Perri look at her. “Breathe. If he didn’t like you or didn’t want you here, you’d be in Scotland, cleaning the floors or dusting the furnishings.”
“You have a point.”
“Good. Now relax and let’s have fun. Alexander is bringing his girlfriend with him, and I am dying to meet the woman who has managed to melt his iceberg of a heart.”
“I haven’t met Alexander before. Is he a good person?”
Helena snorted. Alexander and good were definitely not the words she would ever use in the same sentence. He was arrogant, self-centered, stingy with money, and complained about her day and night. It was probably the gift from above that he found someone else to focus his attention on.
“Ladies, are you finished?” Lucious called, leaning his side against the door.
“Yes.” Helena looped her arm through Perri’s. She winked at her friend. “Shall we?”
Perri giggled. “We shall.”
They left the room, and Lucious, who wore a black tuxedo better than a GQ model, led them through the castle halls in the direction of the east wing where the Council’s offices, kitchen, dining room, two ballrooms, one of which was later converted into a training room, and the library were located. The living quarters of the Council members and their counterparts were in the west wing. The vampire hounds who worked for the Council had their own quarters located on the first floor of the castle. When Helena was exploring this monstrosity of a building, she had lost count of the bedrooms sometime after twenty-five. The bathrooms weren’t far behind in numbers, even though her vampire neighbours didn’t seem to use them for more than a shower after a hunt or to make sure they didn’t look like the dead first thing in the morning.
The few hounds who passed them by bowed their heads to Lucious. When her boyfriend wasn’t looking in their direction, she noticed their glares directed at her. Vampires didn’t like the fact that humans were involved in their politics. Not that Helena and Perri had the opportunity to sit at the big boys’ table and discuss the problems in Europe. But the distrust of the vampires around her kept her on her toes. She wasn’t welcome in their world as much as she no longer fit in with the normal humans. Her life had become tainted by darkness to the point where she lost track of what the word ‘normal’ meant. One of her best friends was a demon, for God’s sake! As far as Helena knew, that wasn’t the best conversation starter in the human circles unless she wanted to get splashed with a bucket of holy water.
Lucious stopped at the French doors that led to the main dining room and asked over his shoulder, “Are you girls ready to meet the guests?”
Helena smirked. “You’re more excited than we are. Is it because you and Alexander made up?”
He gave her a lopsided smile. “All thanks to you, my dear.”
“Then let’s go in and meet his better half.”
The three of them entered the grand dining room. Golden chandeliers decorated the ceiling and the light reflected off the tiny crystals made them twinkle like the stars in the night’s sky. To match the generous amount of light in the room, the furniture was an ensemble of whites and golds. The large table at the centre, that seated twenty, already had Hans, Alexander, and a beautiful redhead sitting there.
Helena’s eyes were drawn to the woman. She was young, probably in her mid to late twenties. Her skin was smooth and her gem-like amber eyes were glistening with happiness every time she looked at Alexander. She definitely liked the guy and looked stunning in a one-shoulder black dress.
Lucious took Helena’s hand, making her separate from Perri who quickly made her way to Hans’ side. He guided her to a seat and pulled out a chair for her.
“Thanks,” she mumbled, slipping into the offered seat and smiling at Alexander and his plus one. The girl was much more beautiful from up close. “Hi, I’m Helena. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She extended her hand across the table, and the girl shook it, returning her smile.
“I’m Abigail. I have heard a lot about you and Lucious from Alexander.”
“I hope it was all good things,” Helena commented, noticing Abigail’s Irish accent.
“He made it seem like you two went through a lot to get together,” Abigail replied.
Alexander cleared his throat. “Shouldn’t you introduce yourself to the others?”
Abigail glanced at Hans and Perri who offered up their names in turn.
They spent the next twenty minutes talking about Abigail and her dream to become a serious journalist. When she was describing how she and Alexander had first met, she animatedly used her hands to accommodate the story. “I had to wear the dullest clothes I could find. You know, a skirt to my ankles, granny socks, a blouse that’s two sizes too big, and glasses that covered most of my face. After the interview, I stumbled on Alexander’s Wednesday entertainment for his vampire clientele and ended up handcuffed to a chair in his office.”
Everyone burst out laughing, and Helena asked, “What did you do next?”
“I escaped, of course! My dad was a locksmith. There is no way a simple lock can keep me contained.” Abigail chuckled.
Lucious winked at Abigail. “If the Council ever decides to participate in a bank robbery, we will know whom to contact.”
Helena playfully shoved his shoulder. “You can’t be serious.”
At that, Alexander folded his arms. “She will not be participating in any Council business. It is too dangerous.”
Lucious lifted his glass of bourbon to his lips. “Do not fret. I would not dream of putting your woman in danger.”
“What about grand theft auto?” Abigail suggested. “I can boost a car or two if needed.”
Hans cleared his throat. “That certainly is an interesting skillset you have.”
Perri nodded. “Can you teach me? Is it hard?”
“It’s easier with the old cars, but with the right tools you can pretty much do anything these days,” Abigail said.
Helena’s brows rose. “Me too. I want to learn!” She hadn’t expected Alexander’s girlfriend to be someone so interesting and full of life. On the contrary, she thought his woman would be one of the world’s top models or an erotic actress. Abigail was a breath of fresh air, and Alexander seemed protective of her to a fault.
“We’ll be staying at a hotel in London for a week. You girls should come out with me sometime to explore the sights and the nightclubs. I can’t wait to see what this place has to offer.”
“I’m in,” Helena agreed.
Perri twisted her hands in her lap and nibbled on her lower lip. “If you’ll have me, I would love to join.”
Lucious caught Helena’s hand under the table. “You cannot go without an escort. It is too dangerous.”
Hans gave a nod of his head. “Indeed. There are a lot of people who cannot wait for a chance to harm us.”
Abigail’s smile crumbled. “Did I ask for too much?”
Shaking his head, Alexander interjected, “That is the reason why I didn’t want to take a seat on the Council that Lucious has offered me. I would be confined to these walls and Europe’s territory. Living a life like this is the same as being in a cage of your own making.”
Lucious’ expression sobered. “You may be right. It is not a life any of us chose without much thought.” He lifted Helena’s hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “That is why I cannot thank this woman enough for staying by my side despite the limitations placed on her.”
Helena saw genuine warmth and love reflected in his eyes. Her heart fluttered, and she smiled unknowingly. Then, an idea struck her. “What if we disguised ourselves?”
Lucious shook his head. “It is still too—”
“Dangerous, I know,” Helena finished for him. “But we won’t go to a weird place. Alexander has a nightclub in the city. It will be a safe environment and no one will recognise us.” Helena fired a pleading look to Abigail.
“Absolutely,” Abigail said. “I will stake my reputation on making these girls the most unattractive, unpolished, cougar look-alikes. You won’t even recognise them, you have my word.”
Perri clapped her hands. “Oh, I used to love dressing up when I was a little girl.”
“See?” Helena said to Lucious. “We will be completely fine.”
Lucious faced Alexander. “Can I trust you to double the security and keep an eye on them during and after they are finished with their night out? I would prefer it if they had a couple of personal bodyguards.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Hans mumbled.
Helena crossed her arms and reclined in her seat. “You guys really should learn to trust us more.”
“My dear, it is not you I don’t trust, it is everyone else. If anything were to happen to you, I would turn this world inside out and upside down to find you until you were safely back by my side.”
“That would sound romantic if it didn’t also sound like a prerequisite for Taken,” Helena commented.
Abigail and Perri laughed while the men didn’t seem to get the joke.
Alexander rested his elbows on the table. “I will triple the security and assign a personal driver to the ladies. They will be safe as long as they don’t deviate from the plan.”
The women looked at each other and nodded.
Abigail clasped her hands together. “Looks like the fun is on!”
Helena raised a glass of her champagne. “Let’s have a toast.”
The others nodded and lifted their drinks of choice into the air.
“To new beginnings,” Abigail said.
“To new beginnings,” the others echoed.
*****
LUCIOUS
Four in the morning arrived faster than Lucious had anticipated. Alexander and his woman declined his offer to stay the night. They were more inclined to spend their time in the hotel room that was a thirty-minute drive away. Lucious couldn’t blame them. Being in this castle was daunting. And, as he looked down at Helena’s sleeping form in his arms, he sighed. She appeared to be at peace, almost happy judging by the small smile that curved her lips.
He made his way to their quarters, careful not to shake her awake. During the dinner tonight, he meant what he said. He would take the world apart, brick by brick if she was gone from his life. That thought thrilled and terrified him. She had become an integral part of him. Without her presence in his daily life, he knew not what to expect.
Holding her up with one arm, he opened the door and walked in. He laid her on the bed, and she moaned as she rolled onto her side, away from him.
“I am pleased you had fun,” he whispered.
There was a light tap on the door, drawing his attention to Grim who had a sense of urgency about his posture.
Lucious covered Helena with the quilt and waved for Grim to follow him to the living area adjacent to the bedroom. Once they were behind a closed set of doors, Lucious studied the hound. “What do you have to report?”
“This came in just now, Master Lucious.” Grim produced a black envelope with a crimson wax seal on it.
Lucious took the envelope from the hound and turned it over in his hands. “Do you know what it is?”
“A challenge card, sir.”
His eyes widened. “You cannot be serious. Already?”
“It would appear so.”
There was no escaping a challenge for the seat of power if one was a Councilman. Lucious knew that he had no choice but to take the challenger on in the fight to the death or be executed for not complying with the laws. Had Helena not been with him, he would have chosen to end his journey. But to keep her safe and from harm’s way, he would fight with everything in him.
Lucious tore the letter open and read the information on the card. “The challenger will arrive in two days.” He met Grim’s fearful eyes. “Do not worry for my safety. I will defeat them, whoever they may be.” He slipped the letter into his pocket and added, “I want you to keep an eye on Helena. Keep her safe. Should anything happen, I want you to report to me immediately.”
“I will do as you ask,” Grim responded and bowed at the middle. “Should I get Jack or Andrea to spar with you in the training room?”
“Ask whoever isn’t out on the hunt. I will be there shortly.”
“Understood, sir.”
The hound left his quarters, and Lucious made his way back to the bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed and gazed at Helena’s sleeping face. Their lives were forever bound with a soul-bond. He could not lose to this challenger. For that, he needed to become stronger and force the other vampires to fear him. Eliza’s rule lasted for two thousand years for a reason. She was ruthless in her judgements and never showed a weakness to anyone, even those closest to her. It would be foolish of him not to take a page from her book and learn everything he could. If he wished to survive long enough to experience any happiness with Helena, he needed to win every fight that came his way.
He closed the door to his room behind him and scanned the hallway. The Council’s grounds were typically teaming with life when night came. Tonight, the silence was tangible. Lucious shoved his hands into his pockets and strode to the other side of the building where the training room was located. He would have asked Hans for a sparring match but knew that that vampire was busy taking a stroll with his lover in the gardens. It would be inappropriate for him to intrude on their time together. Hans was a good man and dedicated to his job as a stand-in Councilman. In Lucious’ eyes, Hans had the capacity to become a great man in years to come. He only had to believe in himself and step out of the shadow that Vincent had created. Such feats did not happen overnight, Lucious knew that. It would take years, decades even, to see Hans come into his true potential.
At the door to the training room, he paused and listened for the sounds coming from the inside. He picked up on someone using the targets for knife-throwing practice. Taking his tuxedo jacket off, he draped it over his arm and entered the room with a smile on his face.
“Andrea, it is good to see you keeping your skills sharp,” he commented when he identified the hound.
She stopped what she was doing, moving her arms to her sides like a soldier. Her soot-coloured hair fell around her shoulders, matching the black attire she wore from head to toe. “I heard from Grim you wished to spar with me. Do you want to do it now?”
Lucious nodded and tossed his jacket on the floor. He undid the buttons of his shirt’s sleeves and rolled them back until they reached his elbows.
In the meantime, Andrea stretched her arms and legs. “Would you like to work on your abilities or fighting?”
“I want to practice my fire ability, so I suggest you tie your hair to keep it from getting caught in in the flames.”
She rearranged her hair into a tight bun and rolled her shoulders. “Begin whenever you are ready, sir.”
Lucious closed his eyes and released the hold on his mental shields. The energy he had kept hidden spilt out like seawater breaking a dam. He heard Andrea muffling a groan. She was almost the same age as him in vampire years, but she hadn’t developed any ability. He had toyed with an idea of allowing the few hounds he trusted to drink his blood to strengthen them. But such an action could send them into a descent, and he could not spare any of them as the events were unfolding.
His irises were burning bright red when he opened them. The power of fire warmed his veins and spread from his centre to his fingertips. He raised his hand, palm towards her, and fired a fireball in her direction which she dodged with ease. It was becoming easier to control this power unlike the ability to see the future or his sire’s ability of speed. They were never stable enough for him to tap into them.
“This kind of attack is easy to avoid if you expect it.” Andrea threw a knife that brushed past his ear. “A counterattack could kill you if you’re not careful.”
“You are right. I should use it when the opponent’s attention is elsewhere.” He allowed for the fire to engulf his hand all the way to his wrist. Charging at her, he started fighting with his fists while keeping the flames alive.
Andrea dodged and countered his attacks. She managed to land a punch on his stomach when he was changing stances for better balance. The pain shattered his concentration and the fire extinguished.
She jumped back and planted her hands on her hips. “Your ability is unstable. If all it takes is one good hit, then you cannot rely on it in battle.”
“I know. It is hard to maintain the same level of concentration and focus on the fight at the same time.”
“Master Lucious, may I suggest you try meditation?”
He burst into laughter. “Do you want me to become the next Buddha?”
She rolled her eyes. “It allows you to get in touch with your inner self. If you think about it, you already do a brief meditation before you summon the flame. So, why not try to explore more options?”
“I have two days before my challenger arrives. I do not believe it would be a good idea for me to waste the days on daydreaming.” He conjured the flames again and turned his hand as he watched them dancing along his skin. His fingers curled into a clenched fist. “Let’s continue.”
Without further ado, he attacked her again.
*****
NOTE: this is a draft.
January 22, 2018
Dark Affiliations (Helena Hawthorn Series Book 5)
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Today’s the day when Dark Affiliations becomes available for pre-order!
Lucious and Helena are both entrapped by the Council but for different reasons. Where he shares an unstable reign with Hans, she is bound to the castle’s grounds for her own safety. Tough decisions, secrets, and endless arguments push them apart. What they don’t realise is that they could be played by someone more sinister than they’ve anticipated.
News that Demon Queen Baal will step down from the throne shake the Demon Realm. As an outsider, Maya is once again stuck between being a High Councillor and doing what’s right. The only chance to keep the realm stable is to find the princess in time with the help of her soul collector fiancé, hopefully before all demons are eaten by The Destroyer.
January 8, 2018
Helena Hawthorn Series
Russian Roulette
Helena Hawthorn Series Book 1
by May Freighter
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Who could guess that one brush of a fingertip over a shimmering
soul-string could flip your world upside down and inside out?
Nineteen-year-old Helena’s life changes when her spirit enters the Angel Realm in
search of her father. But, things don’t go as planned. Against her
guardian angel’s warnings, she binds her soul to a vampire—a
creature she thought only existed in horror movies.
Lucious has spent his immortality looking for the monsters who killed his
sire. The last thing he needs is to be vulnerable because of a bond
with a reckless girl. Yet, he sees how he can turn this to his
advantage. Believing that Helena possesses great power, he plans to
use her against the Council as a bargaining chip.
When Helena meets the gorgeous and also terrifying vampire with whom she’s
View original post 1,419 more words
January 1, 2018
Happy 2018
For today only, Demon Gates and Crumbling Control are FREE on Amazon.
DG: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MG6D6SE/
CC: https://www.amazon.com/Crumbling-Control-Fantasy-Helena-Hawthorn-ebook/dp/B01NBJJHPF
Happy New Year!
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November 30, 2017
Win 14 Fantasy Paperbacks this December!
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Want to participate in this awesome giveaway and get a free book for your trouble?
Instructions:
Join the giveaway at: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/bbe6ea395/?
Share as much as possible!
The winner will be announced on Jan 1, 2018.
Participating authors:
Angel Leya, Ripley Patton, Trish Beninato, Chrissy Lessey, May Freighter, Stephany Wallace, C. D. Gorri, Erica Laurie, K. C. Tansley, Yolanda Ramos, H. L. Burke, Heather Hayden, and Chrys Cymri.
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November 28, 2017
Interview with Chrys Cymri
CHRYS: I like the freedom fantasy gives to me. In my ‘Penny White’ series, I enjoy taking some of the traditions associated with fantasy creatures (unicorns can heal with their horns, dragons love gold and are ruthless) and use these to build up distinct cultures for each. And, unlike when you write about human cultures, no dragon has popped in to say that I’ve got something wrong. Sadly.
2 What places have you visited before and have they ever inspired you to write something?
CHRYS: I visited North Korea in 2016, spending two weeks there as a tourist. What I saw made me think about leadership and monuments, and how many nations (socialist or democratic) try to instil national pride into their citizens. This informed my fourth Penny White novel, ‘The Vengeance of Snails.’ You can read about my trip to North Korea here.
3 Roses or violets?
CHRYS: Dandelions. You can make wine from dandelions.
4 You have a fantastic bird with you in your V-blogs and social media posts. Can you tell us how you two found each other?
CHRYS: I’m a third generation bird owner. My maternal grandfather had budgies, my mother has had a succession of parrots, and so it was only natural that I’d want a bird of my own. My first small parrot lived with me for fifteen years, until I had to have her put down after a tragic accident. Tilly came to live with me three months later. I am her second owner, and there was an adjustment period for both of us! I’ve written a blog entry about this.
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5 Imagine you are a captain of a pirate ship, sailing the deep seas. What would be the first destination for you?
CHRYS: Is Narnia on the map? If not, then New Zealand, but before any other humans arrived there. I’d love to see the bird life which, sadly, predator species introduced by humans (cats, dogs, stoats) have wiped out.
6 Can you walk us through your writing process?
CHRYS: I carry a notebook with me at all times, because I never know when an idea will come to me. And if I don’t write it down, I do forget it later! I usually know the major scenes (action or emotional), and it’s the build up in between that I plan out in my notebook. Annoyingly, I usually get ideas for the next novel while I’m still working on the current one. I don’t sit down and do a full plot outline. However, now that I’m onto the fifth book of a (at least) nine book series, I’m finding it essential to keep character notes.
7 Do you have any advice for aspiring fantasy authors?
CHRYS: Write because you must, not because you hope to get rich from it. Very few writers make enough to give up the day job. But if you create compelling characters and interesting plots, you’ll be contacted by people who love your work. I receive at least one email a day from someone telling me that my books have made them laugh and given them joy. That’s worth a lot to me. There’s so much sadness in people’s lives. I hope that my books can provide a bit of a counter-balance.
8 What was the first book you have ever written and what was it about?
CHRYS: The first book was laboriously typed out on a manual typewriter when I was a teenager. It was about a girl who was adopted by a dragon. It ran to around 1000 pages. I have since written an updated version, which hasn’t yet been published. I’m working up the courage to do so, because the tale feels so personal to me.
9 Cats or dogs?
CHRYS: Parrots, my dear. Parrots. They have the independence of a cat and the loyalty of a dog.
10 Please tell us a bit about your upcoming projects.
CHRYS: I’m working on the fifth ‘Penny White’ novel, ‘The Vexation of Vampires.’ I also have a book which I wrote many years ago, ‘The Monster under the Bed’ which I might release into the world. The latter book is a rather dark fantasy, which is why I’ve always hesitated. But perhaps its time has come.
*****
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Penny White and the Temptation of Dragons
Bishop Nigel smiled at me. ‘Holy water doesn’t harm vampires. Which is just as well, as it would make it impossible to baptise them.’
When I was asked by a dragon to give him the last rites, I never dreamed it would lead to negotiating with his cannibalistic family or running from snail sharks. Life as the priest of a small English village is quite tame in comparison. At least I have Morey, a gryphon with sarcasm management issues, to help me. And if all else fails, there’s always red wine and single malt whisky.
As if my life weren’t complicated enough, a darkly beautiful dragon named Raven keeps appearing where I least expect him, I’ve met a handsome police inspector who loves science fiction as much as I do, and my younger brother is getting into trouble for trying to pick up vampires.
That’s what happens when you’re dealing with an incredible and dangerous parallel world full of mythical creatures. And I have to learn to navigate it all without losing myself, or my brother…
*****
Website: http://www.chryscymri.com
Amazon Author Page: Author.to/ChrysCymri
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November 27, 2017
Interview with Reza Ali
[image error]Why did you become an author?
REZA: I really didn’t have a defining moment as such, just a gradual inclination to write. I have an entrepreneurial background so writing was not something I had great aspirations toward until I lost everything around four years ago. At that moment, I felt my whole world had come crashing down on me. I subsequently realized that although I was correct in feeling that way, I had also been purged of things that held me back from pursuing what my heart really desired. I developed this insatiable desire to write and I have never stopped since.
MAY: I’m sorry to hear about your business. It’s never easy when our plans or lifestyles come undone, and we are stuck trying to pick up the pieces. My journey to becoming an author was also a bit strange. I kept changing from one thing to the other, fell sick, and then fell into writing. Since then, I don’t regret choosing this path. It is something I am grateful for.
On your publishing journey, what were the good and the bad things?
REZA: I never realized how the path to getting published was fraught with dangers (both to your sanity and your budget). I initially sought to query agents, an extremely succinct query letter to as many agents (genre specific) as you could find, should eventually get you published. Numerous individuals gladly offered their advice for free but promised with a bit more of your cash, they would provide names and email addresses of literary agents who are practically waiting to sign you up. ‘Expect many rejections but keep querying’, a universal caveat that eventually did for me. I could not handle being rejected by every Tom, Dick and his dog.
So, after much deliberation, I decided to self-publish. Assuming that I had been emancipated from predators because all the self-publishers had a vested interest in selling my book as they only paid me a commission (so it would be in their interests to sell). Well, it turned out quite the contrary. Self-publishing businesses, there are some exceptions here, are money hungry, bloodsuckers who have little or no desire to sell any books they publish on behalf of their authors. Luckily, I researched them before contemplating investing and had I been suitably unimpressed by the wave of complaints their own authors posted on various sites.
Eventually, I did it all by myself and found that I accomplished all that I needed and without relying on empty promises (and pockets).
MAY: It can be challenging to find a good publisher, especially when you are new to the industry. I know some authors who like their publishers and loathe the idea of having to market their books and some who consider going indie the second their contract ends. There are also many authors who are going hybrid (being traditionally and self-published). It takes a lot of work to get it right, whichever path you choose.
In under five words, describe your personality.
REZA: Respectful, curious, trusting, creative, engaging.
Gold or Silver?
REZA: Gold (of course, was there even consideration?)
MAY: So, no silver to deter vampires?
You are teleported into your favourite TV show to help the main characters reach their goal. What TV show would you join and what goal would you be striving for?
REZA: Game of Thrones, I would love to have a conversation with Tyrion Lannister. The character reflects the genius of George R Martin. His is flawed to the hilt, grotesquely disfigured, physically impaired (a dwarf with one leg shorter than the other), yet he still manages to remain the most popular character of the show. He is a manifestation of our fears and insecurities but his constant ability to defeat the odds with pure intellectual deftness is inspiring to anyone.
MAY: If I got to pick, I’d go with Dr Who and trying to save Earth from imminent danger. One can never have too much fun with the Doctor.
If you could change one thing about the world, what do you think you’d change?
REZA: I wish people would trust love for their fellow mankind and for the animals that co-exist with us. People have become increasingly inclined to revert to their worst impulses when faced with humanitarian issues. This is completely the wrong attitude and reverses the golden strides humanity has made in progressing toward global conscience, which calls out those who are oppressive and abusive. This is being undermined and threatened by nefarious individuals who aim to undo the good that exists in the world.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
REZA: Listen to the voice within, it will guide you through your journey. As a writer, I absolutely love to write. I feel the emotion of within the story, I physically shed tears that characters would have when they face the challenges that present themselves, I vicariously live in the world that I create, and I have come to realize that there is no better place for me to be at than the one that I created. I always say, “The imagination is the playground of the soul.” Many writers have felt exactly this way. When you write, live the story, love the journey. That is what I find most rewarding. I have no expectation of creating the next great bestseller, just a desire for as many people as possible to love my work.
MAY: You’ve given great advice, Reza! Since I published my first book, I’ve come to accept that there will be people who love our work and those who will hate it. Accepting this is important when bad reviews pop up on our work. Some authors I know avoid looking at their reviews just to stay sane.
What does your writing process entail?
REZA: Firstly, I get overwhelmed by a grand idea. This idea evolves in my mind for some time until I find a coherent form and structure to create an engaging story. There will always be a premise, an idea that holds all the branching threads together. Then I create each character, understanding them as individuals, defining their likes, preferences, motives, demeanours, personalities, manner of speaking, etc. I then create the story, like a detailed synopsis of the various chapters. Thereafter, I begin writing, one chapter at a time, with a specific objective on exactly what the story arch should be.
MAY: I used to be a plotter, too. I have notebooks filled with handwritten outlines for the first three books of Helena Hawthorn series. No matter how hard I tried to stick to the plot I’ve planned, my characters just dismissed it and went on to say or do whatever they pleased. It makes for an interesting adventure, but it is also frustrating when I don’t know what will happen two chapters from now.
Upcoming releases and projects?
REZA: I am currently completing the process described above for a lovely new story I created. I intend writing within the next month or two (or three), I am in no hurry and that allowed the story to evolve perfectly. I will let you in on my grand idea on this story.
Six years ago, a tragedy struck a team of scientists working on a project to create interstellar travel. The team leaders, Kelly Hunter and John Carter, were adorable and inseparable, having been together since sixth grade and finding themselves hopelessly in love. John has a photographic memory and was considered a genius at school. Kelly was exceptionally intelligent and used John’s gifts as an accessory whilst they worked together. Everything seemed perfect until something went wrong and the spaceship, The Andromeda, they created mysteriously launched into a dimensional gateway and disappeared with a team member, Edward (Eddie) Grant, on board. John took the blame for everything (ironically to protect Kelly), leading to him being criminally charged and separated from Kelly.
Now, the mysterious detection of gravity waves leads NASA and the government to appoint a team of specialists to investigate. Kelly is the head scientist for interstellar travel at NASA, a seemingly high flying career woman, but she is broken on the inside. She has been estranged from John since the event and they both long for each other, even if their pride had prevented either of them from attempting any form of reconciliation. Now John is summoned to join Kelly and a team to investigate the strange phenomenon. Soon, they realize the waves are actually the prelude to the return of The Andromeda that travelled through a dimensional gateway further than anyone could have imagined. It travelled beyond the reaches of the universe, into a world of creation and another of complete darkness and destruction. Worst still, The Andromeda returned with four seemingly deranged beings that are brutally killing anyone they come into contact with. One of these beings could be Eddie.
So, join John and Kelly as they fight sinister forces that threaten our very existence and simultaneously learn how important they are to each other, how their worlds are co-dependent and how much they willing sacrifice for their love.
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Here’s a blurb for Reza’s book, Blood of your blood.
Fifteenth Century England, the knights of King Henry face a brutal war. By day – they fight a violent rebellion, by night – they fight a surreptitious war with a clan of vampires that infiltrated their society.
In this dark and savage world, there lives a brave knight. He is the most skillful fighter and the most courageous knight in all the land. But then his world turns on its head when he meets a beautiful princess that is hunted by an evil adversary. He vows to protect her, but she has a dark secret. Within her secret, lies a mysterious world, a world that holds the answers to his past, a world that foretells of his extraordinary destiny.
Escape into the dark world of Blood Of Your Blood. It will captivate, mesmerize and enchant you.
*****
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/RezaAliAuthor
Website: http://rezaaliauthor.com/
Amazon page: https://goo.gl/TCT6iE
