Linnea Tanner's Blog, page 43
May 15, 2019
Author Interview TH Leatherman
TH Leatherman, Author, Science Fiction
Introduction
It is my pleasure to introduce TH Leatherman, author of the Burning Son series. I met TH at the 2018 Comic Con in Denver. He described the characters in his science fiction series as space pirates, which immediately drew my attention. He also showed me a picture of his cat that had vampire-like fangs. Intrigued, I read and reviewed his first book, The Burning Son, in his series which reminded me of the author—lots of kinetic energy and engaging.
Below is TH Leatherman’s biography, author interview, and contact information. Click on the book covers below for a direct purchase link to Amazon.
Biography
TH Leatherman is an author from Firestone, Colorado. He enjoys science fiction, fantasy, winemaking, and the Rocky Mountain lifestyle. When not busy writing his next book, he can be found hiking with his wife and two sons or walking his rescued dogs. He worked as a stock broker for twenty years before he started writing full time. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Regis University with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Psychology. He has released four books, The Burning Son, Marque of the Son, Son Rise, and The Son Set (an omnibus edition of the first three books).
For more information, visit his website
Author Interview
Would you provide an overview of the books you’ve published in The Burning Son series?
The Burning Son – is about Mark losing everything, and has to leave his father behind. Mark is forced to start life over as part of a smuggler’s crew. A lot of the book has to do with him trying to find his place in that crew.
The Burning Son Book Cover
Marque of the Son – is about Mark building his new life. He starts the book on a foreign world with no ship and half a crew. His driving goal continues to be finding his father. That goal seems a long way off.
Marque of the Son Book Cover
Son Rise – Mark has a ship and crew, but his one safety net, the pirate port, is taken away from him. Worse, everyone that should be allies are fighting with each other. Mark must pull it all together and get all his allies moving in the same direction.
Son Rise Book Cover
Son Set – is an omnibus edition. Books 1-3 under one cover.
Son Set Books 1-3 Under One Cover
What inspired you to write the space pirate odyssey, The Burning Son?
I had been working and reworking the same novel for ten years: Cat’s Tale. I couldn’t get it quite right. It continues to be a work in progress. Frustrated, I pushed it aside and began a new project. I wanted something that felt like the action adventures of Clive Cussler married with a Star Wars like space opera. That grew into The Burning Son.
Are there any characters or sub-plots in The Burning Son that have modern-day parallels? Explain how.
Like many sci-fi authors before me, I use fiction to address social problems we face today. I touch on a wide variety of issues important to me, but the biggest one in The Burning Son is religious extremism. The Erethizon are on a mission to unite the galaxy under their Theocracy. Most of the galaxy views them as religious fanatics, which the Erethizon encourage. If everyone focuses on the maniac in the middle of the room, no one will see the manipulation going on in the behind the scenes. Some of my readers mistakenly think that I’m anti-religion, but that isn’t the case. I only have a problem with people forcing their beliefs on others. Another big issue is artificial intelligence. What will it look like when it becomes a reality? Will it be a tool we control, or will it control us? What if it could rationalize or moralize?
Is there any sub-character in The Burning Son who is your favorite? Explain why.
Um, that’s like asking me to pick my favorite kid. Do I have characters I enjoy writing more than others, again I love them all. I love Racy’s big heart, War ‘n Pace’s mischievousness, Nephie’s awe and wonder as she explores who she is becoming, and Sophie’s sarcastic wit. There was one surprise, however. As I was writing The Burning Son, I decided I wanted more than just science to exist in this universe. I wanted some mysticism. So, I wrote in Pythia. OMG. What started out as an add-on character just took off. I think more than any other secondary character, she is the one that has grown the most throughout the series. My readers know that sometimes characters die. It’s war, and in war, bad things happen to good people. I receive more “you absolutely can’t kill Pithy!” emails than for any other character.
How often do your characters surprise you by doing or saying something totally unexpected?
Every day! I never know what insult is going to fly out of Sophie’s mouth, what creative cussing Ike will come up with, or what crazy stunt Racy is about to pull. That’s part of the fun of writing these characters. To me, they are the imaginary friends that live in my home office with me. They make me laugh, they make me cry, and I want my readers to live in their world, if only for a brief while.
Have you received reactions/feedback to your work that has surprised you? In what way?
As a writer, you come to expect a bad review from time to time. You develop a thick skin. You hope everyone who reads your work falls in love with the story as much as you have, but that’s just not the case. The longer you write, you learn what your strengths are and what you can improve upon. Every once in a while, you’ll run across haters who will say mean things, just to be mean. One time a reader berated the alien races I had created for The Burning Son. I put a lot into each race’s ideals, goals, mannerisms, language, societal norms, politics, food, and how each race’s biology and homeworld environment, plays into that. That one left me scratching my head.
Then there are the awesome surprises. Having been part of the writing community for the past twelve years, I’ve made several friends who are also writers. Whenever one of them writes a review for one of my books, I get butterflies. These are the people I most admire and respect. For them to tell me, in a public forum, how much they enjoyed reading my story, there’s nothing else like it.
If you could have one skill that you don’t currently have, what would it be?
Marketing. Like most writers, I struggle to reach new readers. You know that there are hundreds of thousands of people out there that would fall in love with your work, if only you can get in front of them. I know that if I can get most sci-fi readers to read the first three pages of my book, they’ll continue reading. It’s just getting in front of people and getting them to invest that first five minutes, that’s the struggle.
What might we be surprised to learn about you?
I’m a wine snob. I love fine wines. I make wine and mead for fun. There was a time before I became a published author that I thought I would open a winery. I went so far as to start an LLC and still have two winery business plans on file.
What simple pleasure makes you smile?
Having breakfast or dinner on the porch with my wife Stephanie. She’s the most awesome person I ever met, and I’m the luckiest man alive because she’s my best friend and I’m married to her.
You can contact TH Leatherman and learn more about his books at:
Patreon with exclusive stories
May 12, 2019
Book Review The Burning Son by TH Leatherman
The Burning Son by T.H. Leatherman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fasten your seatbelts for the action-packed space odyssey, “The Burning Sun,” by T. H. Leatherman. The story starts in breakneck speed over Yale’s night sky where navigator Mark Martin witnesses the Erethizon forces (known as the “procu-bears”) ambushing his home settlement. Mark helps his sister, Sophie escape, but he can’t save his senatorial father who’s been captured by the enemy. To flee their desperate situation, the brother-sister team hooks up with a female captain in need of a medic and navigator on her pirate spaceship called the Leonard Fox. And with an “aye, arrr,” they burst through the enemy blockade. Escaping danger, at least for the moment, Sarah and Mark become acquainted with the motley crew, including the foxlike Muscats who oversee the engineering bay. To his dismay, Mark learns his homeland’s republic has been transformed into a monarchy under the control of the Erethizons. He is determined to find a way to free his father and his home planet, but he faces threats from unknown forces lurking among the crew. The twists are unexpected in this riveting odyssey, and the ending will make you hunger for the next adventure in the series.
Author Leatherman’s space odyssey is told from first person point of view of Mark Martin. The story effectively captures the humor in his voice to make this a fun read. The story is fast-pace and the dialogue is snappy. The narrative is lean but adequately describes the characters and the interstellar worlds. The competing races of the humans (the Terran Confederation), the engineering-minded Muscat, and the amphibian, psychic Dru are unique and intriguing. They must join forces to defeat the Erethizon, whose crusade is to seize control over every world and to spread their fanatical religious beliefs. Action dominates the beginning of the story. It is not until later that I feel grounded in the interstellar worlds and can fully understand the stakes.
“The Burning Sun” is recommended for science fictions readers who love their tales fast-paced and full of action. The additional bonus of a spaceship full of quirky characters makes this book a fun and entertaining read.
May 8, 2019
Author Interview Eric Schumacher
Eric Schumacher, Author, Hakon’s Saga
Introduction
It is my pleasure to introduce Eric Schumacher, author of the Hakon’s Saga. I became acquainted with Eric’s work when I voluntarily reviewed War King, Hakon’s Saga Book 3 for the Historical Novel Society.What makes Eric’s tale rise above others in this genre is his skill in vividly capturing the Viking culture, engaging the reader with the characterization of King Hakon Haroldsson, and showing the battle scenes and tactics with clarity.
Below is Eric Schumacher’s biography, author interview, and contact information. Click on the book covers below for a direct link to Amazon. Also check out his website and learn more about him as an author and his passion for Viking lore.
Biography
Eric Schumacher (1968 – ) is an American historical novelist who currently resides in Santa Barbara, California, with his wife and two children. He was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended college at the University of San Diego.
At a very early age, Schumacher discovered his love for writing and medieval European history, as well as authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Those discoveries continue to fuel his imagination and influence the stories he tells. His first novel, God’s Hammer, was published in 2005. His latest, War King, released in October of 2018.
For more information, visit his website: www.ericschumacher.net
Author Interview
Would you provide an overview of the books you’ve published about the Vikings in the Hakon’s Saga?
All of the books tell the story of Hakon Haraldsson, who is also known in the Norse sagas as Hakon the Good. He is the youngest son and bastard child of one of Viking Age Norway’s greatest kings, Harald Fairhair. Hakon eventually wins the throne of Norway for himself and rules the kingdom for decades. I have taken what little we know about this fascinating figure and woven it into what I hope is a rousing story of warfare, religious strife, and tested friendships.
Book 1: God’s Hammer
What inspired you to write about the legendary King Hakon Haraldsson in the series?
Actually, Hakon is far from legendary in modern times, and is often overshadowed by many of his contemporaries, such as Gorm the Old, Harald Fairhair, and Erik Bloodaxe. Yet his deeds are no less heroic than those others. He is, in many ways, an unsung hero, which is part of my fascination with him.
While we don’t know all of the facts of Hakon’s life, we do know that even if marginally true, Hakon’s story is not only incredible, but it takes many of the norms of Viking literature and turns them on their head. In many ways, Hakon is the anti-Viking. Rather than the Beowulf-like champion we think of when we think of a challenger to the throne of Norway, Hakon is young, inexperienced and reliant on his counselors, at least at first. He’s also a Christian in a “heathen” land. I wanted to understand how he could have risen to the High Seat of the North with so many cards stacked against him, which is why I chose to write about him in this trilogy.
Book 2: Raven’s Feast
One of the most interesting aspects in Book 3: War King is Hakon Haraldsson is a Christian, but he leads Viking warriors who still hold pagan beliefs? Is there historical evidence that Hakon was a Christian and how did religious differences impact the history of the Vikings?
The specifics of Hakon’s story are clouded by time and a lack of contemporary written sources. We know only from the sagas that Hakon was raised as a Christian in the Wessex court of Athelstan, and that when he returned to Norway, he continued to practice Christianity and shun Norse religious practices, such as sacrifices. We also know from the sagas that he invited Christian clergy to erect churches and preach in his realm, though many of the churches were burned and many of the clergy murdered. Hakon’s staunch beliefs led to strife with the men who helped him win the throne, most notably Sigurd, the earl (or jarl) of Lade. We have no reason to believe that these things were untrue, since similar missions and conversions were happening elsewhere in the Scandinavian realms in roughly the same time period. What is unclear is whether Hakon converted back to the Norse religion later in life or whether he died a Christian.
The second part of your question is difficult to answer. Some say that the Viking’s initial attack on Lindisfarne was religiously motivated, and that this is what began the Viking Age. Which would mean that the Viking Age might never have occurred if we hadn’t seen the clash of two religions. I have not seen any hard evidence to support that theory. There is stronger evidence, however, to suggest that the spread of a new religion into Scandinavia caused strife. Hakon’s religious convictions led to turmoil with his jarls, and, if the sources are accurate, almost led to warfare. In Denmark, Harald Bluetooth’s conversion helped broker peace between his realm and the Christian Saxons to his south. Had he not converted, we might have seen a more protracted war between the Danes and Saxons, and possibly a different border emerge. I could point to other instances, too, but that might get too lengthy for this answer. I would put forth, though, that the spread of Christianity and eventual conversion of the Scandinavian people did not bring about peace during the Viking Age. Converted Scandinavian kings still went a-viking or attacked other kingdoms, just as Christians fought Christians in other parts of Europe. It was a violent time.
Book 3: War King
How much research was involved in writing your books? How did you go ABOUT researching the history, myths, language, and culture of the Vikings in the 10th Century?
The short answer is, a lot! With my first book, God’s Hammer, I spent five years researching. I read older works, such as the sagas, the Poetic Edda, Gesta Danorum, and Beowulf, but also many contemporary books about the Vikings. These were invaluable resources for piecing together things like possible events, chronologies, agricultural methods, living conditions, etc. Where many of them fell short, though, was in capturing the mindset of men and women who lived at that time because we simply don’t know. What did Scandinavians know about the events in others lands? What did they truly feel about other religions and people? Those are the subjects I continue to research in order to get into the minds and thoughts of my characters.
Is there any sub-character in the Hakon’s Saga series who is your favorite? Explain why.
I love several, but two are my favorite to write, both of them mentors in their own unique way to Hakon. Sigurd, the jarl of Lade, is larger than life, loud, a tad unruly and uncouth, yet shrewd, capable, and not afraid to go against his king if he thinks he can profit from it. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Egil Woolsark, a man of war and honor and duty who knows battle and lives for the fight. He is dedicated to his king yet not afraid to knock him upset the head if he thinks it’s deserved. They are both fun characters to bring to life.
How often do your characters surprise you by doing or saying something totally unexpected?
While writing the first book, God’s Hammer, it happened more often, probably because I was still developing my characters and learning about them. I welcomed it, in truth, because it was such a fun surprise. The exercise of letting them do that taught me more about them and helped me hone them so that in subsequent scenes, it happened less often.
Have you received reactions/feedback to your work that has surprised you? In what way?
It takes courage to put your creative work out into the wild for others to read and hopefully enjoy, but also to pick apart. You think you have written something worth reading, but it still surprises me to get praises from other writers I respect. I did receive one review that said, “author didn’t do adequate research into the era.” That one made me laugh! 
May 5, 2019
Book Review War King by Eric Schumacher
War King by Eric Schumacher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hakon’s Saga Book 3, War King, is a riveting Norse historical action adventure set in 957 AD. The saga continues for King Hakon Haroldsson, who wrested Norway’s throne from his murderous brother, Erik Bloodaxe, but mercifully spared Erik’s family. This is a mistake Hakon regrets later when he must face the sons of Erik, who are bent on avenging the wrong done to their father and family. Erik’s sons ally with the Danish king, Harold Bluetooth, and wreak havoc on the region with their brutal raids and plunder. The book is divided into three parts in which Hakon must defend his realm against all odds in three major military campaigns. He uses sound strategy and battle tactics to overcome his enemies. But, as a Christian king, he begins to question if the bloodlust to defend his realm has only resulted in fear and sorrow for his people and those he loves.
Author Eric Schumacher masterfully tells the story from the point of view of King Hakon, an engaging character who demonstrates strength, loyalty, and self-reflection. What makes this tale rise above others in this genre is the author’s skill in vividly capturing the Viking culture. Through graphic detail, readers are immersed in the chaos of fighting, but the battle scenes and tactics are presented with clarity. The saga not only captures the excitement of battle but is also character-driven. Extra bonuses in the book include regional maps and a glossary of Viking terms which are used in the narrative.
War King immediately draws and keeps readers immersed in the legendary tale of King Hakon through rich details of the Viking culture, landscape, and clashes. Highly recommended for those seeking Viking adventure.
I voluntarily reviewed this book for the Historical Novel Society, and the review is also posted in the Historical Newsletter HNR Issue 88 (May 2019).
April 13, 2019
Pythia at Delphi
Below is the link and reblog of the post, Pythia at Delphi, from one of my favorite websites, Coven Life. It provides the background of the Oracle at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi and the importance of prophetic advice on which major decisions were often based.
Ancient peoples from all across the land came to consult this High Priestess called the Pythia. Thousands of people congregated on the foot of the temple waiting their turn. The Pythia dates back to 600 BC, that is nearly 2,620 years ago.
Temple of Apollo in Delphi
Pythia at Delphi
Written by Hypatia
For Coven Life
13/01/2019
Whenever I make a trip to my parent’s homeland I always endeavor to visit as many sacred Temple sites as I can.
One of the Temple sites that I will be revisiting sometime this year is located at Delphi, in upper central Greece on Mt Parnassus.
This is the site of the Oracle and the sanctuary of the Great God Apollo. It truly must have been a sight to behold in its days of glory.
Ancient peoples from all across the land came to consult this High Priestess called the Pythia. Thousands of people congregated on the foot of the temple waiting their turn.
The Pythia dates back to 600 BC, that is nearly 2,620 years ago.
Specific Oracular Timing
You see, the Pythia was active for only 9 months of the year as the winter made it impossible to travel to this location. At these times she gave prophecies on the seventh day after each new moon, so you could imagine the great queue’s outside the Temple site to see the oracle for only 9 times of the year. It was considered inauspicious to give out prophecies on days that were not designated by law.
Was the Pythia Really on a High?
In short, absolutely yes, she was high on fumes and trance.
The Temple would have as many as three Pythia’s working on shift to accommodate and serve the masses, each one taking their turn. With a limited schedule of consultation the Pythia would trance through the God Apollo. With the assistance of the active fissures that exuded noxious fumes the Pythia would reach her mantic state of trance advising some of the most important heads of state by theomancy. Yes the Pythia was high on a fumes that caused a psychedelic chemical reaction inducing visions. Wars were started and ended on her advice.
At the sessions during trance there would be Priests next to the Pythia frantically translating what the Priestess would be spitting out. At times the fumes would be so intoxicating emesis would be experienced by the Priestess. Clearly the path of the Priestess was not for the fainthearted.
Spake in Rhyme
It is said that the first Pythia was called Phemonoe. She was the ‘Thinker of Oracular Speech”, very similar when we ‘Rhyme our Spake’ during spell work.
Positioning was Everything
The temple was carefully positioned above the geological formation that created the fumes arising from the fissures where the inner sanctum was located. There the Pythia sat on a tripod next to the Omphalos that translates as belly button. It was said to be the center of the Universe.
Prophecies from Pythia that Changed the World
April 10, 2019
AUTHOR INTERVIEW KAREN INGALLS
Karen Ingalls, Award-winning Author
Introduction
It my pleasure to introduce Karen Ingalls, an award-winning author. I became interested in her as an author when her book, Davida, won the the 2017 New Apple Summer E-Book Awards: HISTORICAL FICTION. I was particularly intrigued with the image of Davida on the book cover and wanted to find out who she was. I further became acquainted with Karen when I was invited to join RWISA: Rave Writers – International Society of Authors, of which she is a distinguished member.
Below is Karen Ingalls’ biography, author interview, and contact information. Be sure to check out her website and learn more about her as an author and her passion for health issues.
Biography
Karen Ingalls is an award-winning author of three published books, author of numerous articles on health, cancer, and wellness, and a public speaker. She is a retired RN, human behavior, and cancer survivor who writes about social issues, health topics, and historical topics. Her philosophy is to outshine any challenge; to grow and learn from it.
Author Interview
Would you provide an overview of books you have published?
My first published book, Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir is about my journey with ovarian cancer. It emphasizes how anyone can adopt healthy ways to deal with any serious health challenge with such things as good nutrition, relaxation/imagery, and meditation/deep prayer, positive thinking, humor to name just a few.
Novy’s Son: The Selfish Genius is a novel about my father who was very intelligent, but lacked the ability to socialize except with women he was attracted to. He challenged social mores, all religious beliefs, and most educational rules and regulations. He did not know how to be a good and faithful husband, nor father, or grandfather.
My second novel is titled Davida: Model & Mistress of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. He was America’s premier sculptor in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s and though married, he fell in love with his model, Davida. This is the story of their 25-year love affair, birth of one child, their unconditional love, and his art.
What inspired you to write the biography, Davida, of your great-grandmother, Albertina Hultgren, who was the mistress of the American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
I was inspired to write Davida for the following reasons: one, they are my great-grandparents; two, no one ever talked about my grandfather’s heritage because of his shame of being a bastard; and three, after my grandfather died, I wanted to erase the bastard label and bring dignity and honor to his parent’s love affair.
Davida Book Cover
How much research was involved in writing Davida? How did you go ABOUT researching the background for Davida?
There are many published books about Augustus Saint-Gaudens so it was relatively easy to do research about his art and who he was as a person. I have been to the Augustus Saint-Gaudens Historical Site two times in Cornish, New Hampshire. At one visit my father, sister, and I met with then the curator, John Dryfought. I have kept in correspondence with the current curator, Dr. Henry Duffy. We were also interviewed by Kathryn Greenthal, who was the curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Unfortunately, there is very little known about my great-grandmother, who changed her name to Davida Johnson Clark. She was born in Sweden and came to the U.S. as a young girl with her mother. Her birth name was either Albertina Hultgren or Hallgren. A cousin by marriage who lives in Sweden researched churches and official government sites in hopes of substantiating her birth name, date, and place. However, nothing definitive was found. Therefore, I created Davida’s childhood, her parents, beliefs, personality, and how she lived and died. I know she talked to me at times while I was asleep or deep in thought while writing. It was a spiritual experience.
Is there any sub-character in Davida that is your favorite? Explain why.
The sub-character is Uncle Louis Saint-Gaudens, who was an artist in his own right but struggled with depression and alcoholism. He was grateful for the financial, career, and health-wise help Augustus gave him. He loved my grandfather, who was named for him and he was more of a father to him than Augustus was. He had a sense of humor and a favorite story is him sitting on the top of the water tower causing quite a scandal.
How often do your characters surprise you by doing or saying something totally unexpected?
I was surprised, embarrassed, or shocked by some behaviors of the main character in Novy’s Son. I loved and knew my father about as well as anyone, but he said and did some outlandish things. He was a unique person I never understood until I read Robert Bly’s book Iron John. That is when I decided to write Novy’s Son knowing that there are many men who did not learn how to be fathers from their fathers, so the cycle continued. Perhaps all of these men have searched for happiness and self-worth through unhealthy and immoral actions.
Have you received reactions/feedback to your work that has surprised you? In what way?
I have received wonderful reviews on all three books, and I have been honored with several awards. Those people who have received support, reassurance, information, and hope from Outshine is the most meaningful award or recognition I could ever wish for.
Many women didn’t like the main character in Novy’s Son which is a normal reaction and means I accomplished what I intended. I was surprised by one review by an author who stated in a private message that he refused to finish this same book because the Kindle version was completely messed up. I offered to send a paperback copy, which he refused so his 3-star review remains though he wrote in his review: “Since my preferred genre is usually thrillers or suspense, the nature of this character portrait didn’t really grab me. However, the book is well written, and if this style of book is your cup of tea, you may find it to be a satisfying read.”
I have read many books that are not my preferred genre, but I gave a review based on how well it was written, edited, flowed, and the strength of the characters and plot.
What are the most important traits you look for in a friend?
I consider someone a friend who is honest, has a sense of humor, and is a good listener. I am blessed to have many friends who are always there for me.
What simple pleasure makes you smile?
One of my simple pleasures is playing games. I sometimes joke that I was born with a deck of cards in my hands. I find board and card games are great ways to socialize, keep your mind alert, and just have good old-fashioned fun.
What makes you laugh?
I love to laugh! When I am recovering from cancer surgeries or treatments, I surround myself with positive people and funny shows or movies. My favorite comedians are Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball, Laurel & Hardy, Ray Romano, Bill Murray, and Chevy Chase. Laughter lifts the most sorrowful mood, erases or eases fear, builds the immune system, and lowers blood pressure. Laughter is the best medicine. When I was a kid and went to the circus, the clowns were my favorite. My husband and sister make me laugh with their jokes or funny sayings.
You can contact Karen Ingalls and learn more about her books at:
April 7, 2019
Book Review Davida by Karen Ingalls
Davida: Model & Mistress of Augustus Saint-Gaudens by Karen Ingalls
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Davida by Karen Ingalls is a beautifully written love story based on the real-life model and mistress of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a 19th century sculptor. As a young girl, Albertina Hultgren immigrates to the United States after the tragic death of her father, a woodsman. She misses her father’s fanciful stories about visiting the forests to gain insight from mystical creatures.
After adjusting to her new life in Hoboken, New Jersey, Albertina makes life-long friends and learns to speak English. At a Christmas party, where her mother and aunt have prepared the meal, she captures the attention of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. He impetuously lifts her chin and exclaims she has exquisite beauty and would like to do a sketch of her someday. Her mother reluctantly allows Albertina to pose in his studio after he convinces her that his intentions are honorable. As he creates his art, using Albertina as a model who is publicly known as Davida, they fall deeply in love and she becomes his mistress. She accepts the terms of their relationship, knowing the liaison could create a scandal that could jeopardize his career in a Victorian society. This is ultimately a love story about a woman who gives her unconditional devotion to an acclaimed sculptor and shares his passion for his artwork, regardless of her hardships and the stigma of giving birth to their son out of wedlock.
Author Ingalls’ prose is as eloquent as the artistry she projects in the story. Davida is depicted as the epitome of the Greek goddess, Diana, who finds solace and strength from nature to reach into her inner soul and to find her true self. The love story comes across as almost mythical because Davida sacrifices almost everything to make sure Augustus achieves the pinnacle of his true passion to create masterpieces. Davida is a heartfelt story that fills you with both joy and tears. The paperback is beautifully formatted and reflects the artistry in the story.
For those who believe in true love, Davida is a must read by Karen Ingalls, the only surviving great-grandchild from the union of Davida and Augustus. She fills in the minimal facts about their union with her own imagination of how a Swedish immigrant becomes the true love and mistress of an acclaimed artist.
March 20, 2019
SFF Bonanza 99 Cent Deal and Cover Reveal Amulet’s Rapture
For those who love to read science fiction and fantasy, check out the SFF Bonanza 99c Promo this week (18 – 24 March) in which you have close to 40 books to select from. As part of this promotion, Apollo’s Raven has been reduced to 99 cents at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, and Google Play. Click on the image to check out the wide assortment of books offered at 99 cents for a limited time.
SFF Bonanza Promo March 18-24
Cover Reveal Amulet’s Rapture
I am thrilled to reveal the book cover for Amulet’s Destiny (Book 3: Curse of Clansmen and Kings) that is anticipated to be released in late fall of this year. This book will focus on the relationship of Marcellus and Catrin as they continue their epic journey together in Gaul and Rome. As the book gets closer to release, more information will be provided on how to pre-order. Subscribers to my newsletter will have a chance to win an advance copy of the book before its release.
Please share your comments on what you think of the book cover.
Amulet’s Rapture Book Cover
Synopsis Amulet’s Rapture
Blood stains her Celtic home and kingdom.
The warrior Druid Princess will do anything to retake her kingdom.
Although Catrin is the rightful heir to the Celtic throne in Britannia, she is lucky to be alive. After witnessing the slaughter of her family at the hands of her half-brother, who was aided by the Romans, she is enslaved by a Roman commander. He disguises her as a boy in the Roman Legion with the belief that she is an oracle of Apollo and can foretell his future. The sole bright spot in her miserable new life is her forbidden lover Marcellus, the great-grandson of the famed Roman General Mark Antony.
But Marcellus has been wounded and his memories of Catrin and their secret marriage were erased by a dark Druidess. Though Marcellus reunites with Catrin in Gaul and becomes her ally as she struggles to survive the brutality of her Roman master, he questions the legitimacy of their marriage and hesitates to help her escape and retake her throne. If their forbidden love and alliance are discovered, her dream of returning to her Celtic home with Marcellus will be shattered.
InD’tale Book Review
I’m honored to share the review of Dagger’s Destiny that was recently posted in the InD’Tale Magazine. Dagger’s Destiny received 5 of 5 stars and was recognized as a “Crowned Heart” book for excellence. An excerpt from the review is as follows: “Dagger’s Destiny is historical fantasy at its finest, and a must read for anyone who enjoys history involving Ancient Rome.”
Click on the book cover below to see the full review and to take a look at this great magazine.
Thank you for your continued support.
Best wishes,
Linnea Tanner
Linnea Tanner, Author, Curse of Clansmen and King Series
March 17, 2019
Book Review The Triplets by Nicole M. Davis
The Triplets by Nicole M. Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Triplets by Nicole M. Davis is the debut young adult fantasy in the Six Sorcerers series. The story is about three teenage boys and three teenage girls who are whisked away from their safe, modern day world of Denver, Colorado into the realm of magic-filled Sarenia. They are typical of most teenagers who are struggling with self-doubts and must find the courage to overcome dangers in the fantastical world of sword and sorcery. The story begins when each of the boys receives a letter from Mr. Lee that warns something is about to happen to him. Each boy disappears through a portal into a fantastical world where the three girls have already been transported from Colorado. Each girl has already assumed a role, including: a captain of a pirate, a knight in the king’s guard, or a dragon rider. The girls also receive letters telling them that they must find each other and the boys. The story is primarily a quest for the young people to find each other and to discover their sorcery powers.
Author Davis captures the unique voices of the teenagers in the story. The tale alternates between the perspective of each of the primary six characters. The reader is challenged to track the complex plot for each of the main protagonists. Each of them has a unique personality and handles challenges differently, adding fun to the story. The tale is primarily an introduction to each of the characters and their journeys of self-discovery of what their unique powers entail. Although the writing is smooth for the most part, dashes should have been used when action interrupts dialogue instead of commas to avoid confusion. An example of incorrect punctuation is: “… Don’t forget, Kaylor, that if your actions start to stray,” he brings his fingers up and snaps them in front of her face, and Kaylor flinches despite herself, “It will burst …”
The coming of age fantasy is recommended for young adults who will readily relate to the characters. I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see how these young people use their powers in this fantastical world with mythic creatures.
March 14, 2019
Author Interview Nicole Davis
Nicole Davis, Author
Introduction
It is my pleasure to introduce Nicole M. Davis, an exciting Colorado author of YA fantasy. I met Nicole at a Christmas party that was sponsored by the Boulder County Independent Authors (BCIA). There, I learned about her debut book of teen sorcerers, The Triplets (Book 1 Six Sorcerers), and was quite intrigued with her volunteer job at a museum.
Below you will find Nicole’s biography, author interview, and contact information. Be sure to check out Nicole’s website and learn more about her. She’s a lot of fun to get to know, as you will see in her interview.
Biography
Nicole Davis was born in Sunnyvale, California (one letter away from the vampire capital of the world), but she grew up in Boulder County in Colorado. She has a bachelor’s degree in Zoology with a minor in Creative Writing. At the moment she’s back in Boulder County living with her family and a small army of scaly pets. She probably started writing when she was about five years old, and hasn’t been able to stop since.
Author Interview:
Would you provide an overview of your debut book, The Triplets (Book 1: Six Sorcerers)?
The Triplets is the first book of the Six Sorcerers series, a young adult epic fantasy series about six teenagers who get sucked into a world full of sorcerers and dangerous mythical creatures and must find each other in order to find out who they are and why they were brought there. It’s also about a rebellion against a sorcerer-hating tyrant that’s on its last legs, a sinister and supernatural plot that involves the gods themselves, and a country that’s on the brink of starting a world war.
Cover The Triplets
What inspired you to write the YA Fantasy, The Triplets, about three teenage boys and three teenage girl who are transported from modern-day Denver, Colorado to the fantastical world of Sarenia?
When I was around 16 or 17 years old, the main characters from The Triplets just kind of showed up in my head demanding to be written about. So I had these characters running around in my head, but I didn’t really have a place to put them.
I’ve always loved fantasy, and I think world-building is loads of fun, so I decided to make up a giant, complicated fantasy world (with an equally complicated plotline) just for these characters. I wanted to have them start out here on Earth though, because the original image I had of them was as high school students like myself. I also thought it would be cool to write about this new world from the perspective of outsiders, so that my readers could discover this fantastical place alongside my characters.
How do you balance your busy schedule work schedule with writing?
I have a full-time job in an Amazon warehouse and I volunteer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on a weekly basis in addition to writing, so yeah, I’m a very busy person right now. I don’t have nearly as much time as I used to, though, and it’s taking me much longer to write book 2 than I’d anticipated. I’ve also had some issues trying to keep up with my blog and marketing lately because I just don’t have the time or mental energy for it.
But writing is still my priority and I make time for it whenever I can. I set aside at least a few hours every weekend to write, and I try to do a full day if I can.
Is there any character in The Triplets who is your favorite? Explain why.
That’s like asking a parent to choose their favorite child. I refuse. I can’t do it.
But seriously, it varies from moment to moment. Sometimes Kaylor’s my favorite because she’s so fair and kind and kick-ass, but then sometimes I like Sarah better because of how complex her personality is and how much she grows as a leader. Then sometimes I think Tyler’s attitude and inner monologue make him the most interesting. But Anna’s so perceptive and delightfully mischievous, Alex is so kind and brave and resilient, Darn’s funny and sarcastic and so much fun to write.
They’re all interesting people with different flaws and strengths and character arcs, and I’m happy with how each and every one of them is changing and growing throughout the story.
How often do your characters surprise you by doing or saying something totally unexpected?
So I am definitely a plotter. My outlines have outlines, etc. And most of this is plot-based. But my characters do not like to listen to me, so I have to change and adjust things a lot. Mostly they decide to make a bigger deal out of things or integrate themselves further into the main story line than I’d originally planned. It’s kind of hard to talk about in detail without giving away any spoilers, but here are a few examples:
I did not expect Sarah to be so ambitious. She was originally supposed to be sort of a “reluctant leader” archetype, but by the end of the book she’d decided she wanted to take charge and do it now.
Mr. Lee was originally a throw-away character who only existed to fill out part of Tyler’s backstory, but he forced his way into the main plotline, developed his own complex backstory, and now he’s getting his own spin-off.
Also, Anna almost never reacts to people the way I expect her to: she decided she really did not like Darn at all as soon as she met him (I thought she’d be sort of aloof and indifferent towards him), took an instant and intense liking to Alex (who she wasn’t supposed to bond with until around the middle of book two), and decided she was going to push down and hide her hurt and jealousy over Kaylor choosing the Prince’s side over hers (I thought she’d be more outspoken and argumentative about this).
What advice would you give young writers whose goals are to publish their short stories or novels?
If you’ve just started writing, your writing is not going to be good. You are going to get rejections and criticism, and it’s not going to feel great. Just power through it all and keep writing. Listen to the advice that you get. And be patient with yourself. You might not be there yet, but you will get there. Keep writing, keep reading, and keep submitting stuff.
If you want to get good at editing your own work, start looking for flaws in everyone else’s work (especially your favorite books). BUT keep in mind that literally nothing is perfect, these books you’re finding flaws in are still good books even though they’re flawed. Everything you write is going to be the same way.
Are there any other books on the horizon that you anticipate to publish?
Yep. First there’s book two, then book three, and then I have plans for Mr. Lee’s spin-off book. I’m also working on a book of short stories set in this world that’s going to be called People of Sarenia. I also have plans for writing a Traveler’s Guide to arenia. Most of this is going to take me a while to get to.
What are three things you think we can all do to make the world a better place?
Be kind and respectful to everyone: every single person alive has a life and a story, and you’re never going to know everything about what they’re going through.
Be more considerate of the environment. There’s only one Earth, and if we don’t work to keep the air and water clean it’s going to become an inhospitable place pretty fast.
Try to be more objective and open to learning new things. There’s a reason for every perspective anyone has, whether their opinions are right or wrong.
What are the most important traits you look for in a friend?
I usually like people who are just as weird as I am. This guarantees that they can’t judge me. Tying into that, I tend to like people who can handle my slightly off-kilter, dark sense of humor, because neither of us will have fun around each other if I’m cracking strange jokes that only freak them out.
But they also have to be patient and kind, because I can’t stand people who are mean to anyone for no good reason. And people I can trust, and who I know I can count on if I’m ever in trouble or need help or advice.
If you could have one skill that you don’t currently have, what would it be?
Time-travel, hands down. I want to go back and see the dinosaurs. I also wouldn’t mind having some extra time to write, ha.
But if we’re being boring and talking about real-life skills, I think I’d want to be a better salesperson. If I were, I’d probably be able to make more money selling my books, and then I wouldn’t have to have a full-time job too.
What might we be surprised to learn about you?
I’m an amateur taxidermist and I collect animal bones. This started because of my zoology degree, during which I decided to volunteer at my university’s Museum of Vertebrates. There, I helped prepare skeletons and alcohol specimens, and it was great. Museums keep specimens like these to aide researchers with conservation or other projects: it can be incredibly helpful to have morphological data on a species spanning years or decades.
I have a meager collection of my own, including the skeleton of one of my deceased pet geckos that my best friend prepared for me and a couple bird skulls from invasive species (killed by my cat before I could intervene and save them).
You can contact and learn more about Nicole Davis and her book:
