Katy Huth Jones's Blog, page 11

Jumping back into the submission pond!

Since the first of the year, I've set as my goal to submit at least one new piece each month. So far I've submitted nine pieces, and THREE have been accepted (so far). The first one is a haiku for a new journal.
Here's the link to the journal on Bonsai's site so you can read the other poems. They're all really short, so it won't take you long!
The next is a requested article that was difficult to write, but it looks like it's already helping those currently battling the Beast! Here's the link to Issues I Face.
Finally, here's a story I wrote years ago about a fictional cousin of Ursula de Veramendi, the noble Mexican wife of Jim Bowie, whom he met in San Antonio de Bejar in the early 19th century. I forgive the editor for using a photo of a modern girl wearing a Queen Elsa dress, since he was so nice to publish the story on his site! Here's the link to Beneath the Rainbow.

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: Imaginative fantasy for children of all ages

The Book Dragon has finished Tails by W. J. Scott and gives it five claws!
My review: "4.5 stars for a fast-paced, imaginative fantasy! Although the cover and interior illustrations make it seem a children's book, this story will appeal to fantasy readers ages 10-100. I loved the Silvertails, especially the main character Kywah. Their culture had a wonderful Native American feel to it. The details are realistic and sometimes very gritty, so I wouldn't recommend this for a younger child. The pace is almost flawless. A couple of flashbacks slow it down a bit, but it's fascinating information so won't take the reader out of the story. Although there is an ending, several loose threads will compel the reader to continue with the series."

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: Fun Irish-themed fantasy with cool unicorns!

The Book Dragon has read Jessica L. Elliott's Into the Rainbow and gives it 5 claws!
My review: "4.5 stars for this fun story! I loved the relationship between the three sisters and the way they went into the rainbow! Normally I would be distracted by the amount of backstory woven into the dialogue, but in this story it doesn't slow down the action because the Irish legends are so interesting to me. I especially like how the author handled the unicorns. I've never been a unicorn person before, but this book has changed my mind! If you like fantasy adventure with a strong Irish/Celtic feel, you've got to read this story! I'm excited to see there will be more of this story and look forward to reading it."

Here's a better picture of the beautiful cover:

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: Well-written historical fiction set in the 1920's

The Book Dragon has finished Cynthia T. Toney's The Other Side of Freedom and gives it a resounding five claws!
My 5 star review: "Though this historical fiction was written for young teens, it would appeal to anyone interested in reading about the trials of Italian immigrants during the era of Prohibition. I'd heard of Al Capone and nefarious activities going on during the 1920's but never thought about the effects of that criminal activity upon the average family. The details are so richly drawn, I felt as if I'd been transported back in time. The main character, 13 year old Salvatore (Sal) lives on a strawberry farm with his parents and young uncle, and his dilemma twisted my heart. This is a must-read for lovers of historical fiction. (And for a story in which the Mob plays a big role, it's squeaky-clean.)"

This book is also listed on the Catholic Teen Books site, along with Toney's other works.

Clean Christian Fantasy Bargains

Through April 2, Mercy's King is free as part of a group effort to get out the word about clean Christian fantasy reads. Check it out at Emily Martha Sorensen's site!

Although it is book 4 in a series of 5, it can be read without reading the first three. Be sure and keep tissue handy! It does end with hope, but you'll want to read the fifth book, Mercy's Joy, to get the happy ending.

Mythical Doorways Author Spotlight: Bokerah Brumley

This is an exciting week! Today marks the release day of Mythical Doorways, the third anthology of fantasy shorts by the Fellowship of Fantasy, a group of authors who write clean fantasy in many subgenres. I'm honored for my story to appear beside that of my friend and fellow Texan, Bokerah Brumley.

Bokerah is a speculative fiction writer making stuff up on a trampoline in West Texas. When she's not playing with the quirky characters in her head, she's addicted to Twitter pitch events, writing contests, and social media in general. She lives on ten permaculture acres with five home-educated children and one husband. In her spare time, she also serves as the blue-haired President of the Cisco Writers Club.

In 2016, she was awarded first place in the FenCon Short Story Contest, third place in the Southern Writers Magazine Short Story Contest, fifth place in the Children's/Young Adult category for the 85th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition, and selected as a 2016 Pitch Slam! finalist. More recently, she accepted a contract with Clean Reads Press and moonlights as an acquisitions editor for The Crossover Alliance.

Learn more about Bokerah at her website or on Facebook.

Having spent the night at her farm when I came to speak to the Cisco Writers Club last year, I can add that she is a gracious hostess, has a fun family, and is surrounded by a menagerie of farm animals, including peacocks!
Meeting Bokerah May 4, 2017About Mythical DoorwaysEleven Tales of Magical, Mysterious, Mythical Doorways! Step through portals and into adventure as the authors of the Fellowship of Fantasy take you on another journey into fantastic worlds. Travel through time, space, and realities to encounter monsters, mechanical foxes, and the Fates themselves. You'll fly with dragons, save implausible beasts, and perhaps find your true home. Choose your path wisely, for dangers lurk in the lands beyond.

In the third anthology from the Fellowship of Fantasy, eleven authors promise you journeys into fairy lands hidden within the modern world, futuristic universities, and lands of ancient myth. So what are you waiting for? Cross through our Doorways for the adventure of a lifetime!

Download the ebook free at your favorite digital store: https://www.books2read.com/u/bxq70e

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39286425-mythical-doorways

Note: Bokerah's story is "Door Number Four." It's testing day for cadet Rase Flannigan and only one magic task stands between him and the chance to join the C.C.C.

The Fellowship of Fantasy and Deep Magic E-Zine have joined forces for an awesome paperback giveaway!

About Mythical Doorways:

Welcome to Mythical Doorways, the third anthology from the Fellowship of Fantasy. We present to you our tales of gateways to marvelous places. These doorways open into adventure, wonder, and even danger.
Within, you will accompany heroes on their way to fairy worlds. Brave the dangers of the past through a portal in time. Eavesdrop at the door of a forbidden workshop. Follow a girl on a search for a better life in her choice between three tempting magical doors. Help a sorcerer close a gateway before an unspeakable horror escapes, and slip through a portal on a quest for delicious chocolate! There are many perilous journeys ahead of you, but no graphic content. All the stories here fall below a PG-13 rating. The Fellowship of Fantasy is an online group of writers dedicated to presenting the best in clean fantasy stories of any stripe. Some tackle epic quests to save the world, while others prefer more urban settings. Whether you enjoy contemporary tales, romantic re-tellings, or something else entirely, you're sure to find stories that speak to you. Thank you for joining us on our trip through these doorways, and may you find adventure and entertainment on the other side!
Click here for your ebook (free to download starting March 27th): https://www.books2read.com/u/bxq70e

About Deep Magic E-Zine
The name Deep Magic pays homage to C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. Deep Magic is a quarterly e-zine dedicated to creating a safe place for minds to wander in the worlds and universe of SFF. We want all who visit to feel welcome and confident that they will encounter professionally written fiction of the highest quality that is safe for all to read.
Click here for more information: https://deepmagic.co/
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Deep Magic and Fellowship of Fantasy: a winning combination!

About Deep Magic E-zineThe name Deep Magic pays homage to C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. Deep Magic is a quarterly e-zine dedicated to creating a safe place for minds to wander in the worlds and universe of SFF. We want all who visit to feel welcome and confident that they will encounter professionally written fiction of the highest quality that is safe for all to read.

Deep Magic is hosting a giveaway for the Fellowship of Fantasy's third anthology, to be released on March 27. I'm pleased my story "Dragon's Oath" is included in this collection.

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Monday Review by the Book Dragon: Clever but complicated dystopian fantasy

The Book Dragon has read Shades of Grey (no, not THAT one) by Jasper Fforde and gives it four claws!
My review from Goodreads: "A friend loaned me this book, and it took me awhile to get into it. It's clever but sensory overload at first. I'm not a fan of dystopian fiction, but this one is quite different and worth a read. The last third of the book moves quickly and is un-put-down-able. The end is not the end, and I'm not sure I'll continue, but if I do, I'll have to rest my brain a bit first. Though full of witty satire and poignant sadness, this book is NOT escapist fiction; it makes one THINK."

NOTE: If you're curious about this book, know that there is one F-bomb and one S-bomb for effect, since in this society cursing is a crime punishable by a heavy fine. There is also some crude talk about premarital sex (called "youknow") and one instance when a young woman seduces the young man she plans to marry, but in a "fade to black" kind of way. Also, the sequels have not been published, so if you don't like to be left hanging at the end, you might want to wait and see if Mr. Fforde ever writes the rest of the story!

Love is in the Air! Giveaway from the Fellowship of Fantasy!

Valentine's Day is this week, and the Fellowship of Fantasy, a group of authors who write clean fantasy, have a fun giveaway for readers of fantasy with at least a dash of romance.
For a chance to win these ten great books plus a special prize fantasy lovers will appreciate, enter the rafflecopter!

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