Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Blog, page 17

Doings at Rooglewood at Last

Yes, this is a rather belated edition of the monthly Doings at Rooglewood blog post, but I do have a good excuse for my tardiness. Namely, I've been writing. Lots and lots of writing, which is bound to turn into lots and lots more.

"Of course," you'll say, "you are a novelist, so writing happens all the time, right?"

One would think. But looking back over this year's Doings at Rooglewood, how many months do you see me saying that I am doing almost nothing but writing? A few years ago, that would be the case, but life is just busier since starting Rooglewood Press.

Still, I have finally completed the major drafting what has turned into a much larger writing project than I first anticipated. And it's super secret still, so I can't talk about it much. But I will say I am thrilled with how it's coming together. It still needs a tweaking revision (as opposed to a full revision), and a copy edit (oh my! does it ever need a copy edit), but the book is pretty much itself now (if that makes sense to you).

It's a secret though. So I can't say much. Sorry! As soon as I can say more, I will. For now, however, all you need to know is that this has been my major doing.


This week, however, I am shifting gears had heading back into Golden Daughter work for a little while. It's galleys week (possibly two weeks). Which means I am reading over the typeset manuscript several times, searching for glitches, pet words, dropped words, typos, inconsistencies, and anything else potentially problematic that might catch my eye. Galleys are always a wee bit intimidating, but I must admit, this is probably the most intimidating one I have ever tackled . . . based entirely on sheer SIZE. This book is just so dragon-eaten big compared to my previous publications! Which means the potential for problems is increased by that much as well.

So I am reading the galleys backwards and forwards. Seriously, I am! I am reading it out loud to Rohan (with a pencil in hand to mark mistakes), and I am reading it silently and backwards to myself (also with a pencil). When I say backwards, I do mean I'm reading it last-chapter-first, second-to-last-chapter-second, etc. I'm not reading it literally backwards.

Thank the Lights Above, I also have two awesome proof readers and my copy editor checking for errors, so it's not as though the entire burden falls on my shoulders. Still, I'll be very glad when this stage is over!



 I'm getting excited for the Fan Fiction Contest these days! The first several submissions have already arrived in my inbox, and let me tell you, they are epic, dramatic, and tremendously fun. This year's contest may not be the biggest (though that remains to be seen!), but it will certainly contain the most fantastic submissions yet. I've had some fun designing the Title Banners to go along with each story as well. This year's banners are, I think, much prettier than last year's, and should compliment each story very well. Looking forward to showing you in September!

If you are interested in participating in this year's fan fiction contest, the rules (and prizes!) are detailed here. It is a totally fun and friendly contest, so don't feel shy! If you have a story to share, we are eager to read it.



The Five Enchanted Roses contest is definitely a subject of interest around Rooglewood these days. Submission forms are starting to arrive, containing intriguing titles which leave me eagerly guessing as to what the stories themselves might be about. I don't anticipate the stories themselves will start showing up until next month or the month after (authors do have to find the time to actually write, after all), but in the meanwhile, I sometimes will catch a snippet, excerpt, or hint on Facebook or the various blogs I (sporadically) read.

Are YOU planning on participating? Want to share your working title and a one-or-two sentence plot notion? We would all be delighted to hear!


Draven's Light, my 2015 novella, is also moving along in its various stages of development. Well, actually, no . . . It's kind of just sitting at the moment, waiting for me to have a chance to look it over again, poor story. But Rohan read it over this last week! Actually, he painted two bathrooms and part of our living room over this last week, but during the evenings, he read Draven's Light, staying up until 2 morning three nights running because he wanted to see how it would turn out--which, while not a smart move health-wise, was completely flattering!


 Over this weekend, I received a couple of exciting concept sketches from animator M. J. Morgan, who is creating a musical animatic based on Heartless and this song from the Goldstone Wood music contest. And Iubdan's Beard, are these sketches ever darling! I absolutely love all of them, particularly her character sketch for Princess Una, which is, in my opinion, completely perfect. I look forward to sharing this wonderful project with all of you . . . 


And the last doing of note . . . I am gearing up to start writing my next major novel in another few weeks. This will be my official 2015 novel, the book that follows chronologically after Golden Daughter. I am both very eager and tremendously nervous about this one. Technically, this is a story I've been planning to write for a good six years or more. But really, so many of the ideas (and my own writing abilities) have changed since its conception, I don't quite know what to expect from it. Also, conception is not the same as plot, and the plot itself is still a bit hazy in my head, I won't lie. So we'll see what happens! Once I get it well and truly started, I'll let you imps know the title, but for now, I'm keeping it all pretty hush-hush.

Here's some fluffiness to delight your heart:
Herein you see pictured Minerva, Marmaduke, Monster, Magrat, and Mutti. The only one of our kitty kindle not pictured is Makoose, who was grooming my elbow at the moment I knelt to take this picture, and therefore was unable to model himself. And isn't Mutti looking so relaxed these days? Every day, I see her making greater strides toward honest-to-goodness housecat-dom. She used to hide behind the piano most of the day and evening, but now she spends most of her day on the ottoman, and most of her evenings (after Rohan comes home . . . everyone loves Rohan) out in the living room with us. She even kept Rohan company while he painted!

It was just a year ago that I started seriously working with this feral kitty, wondering if I'd ever get her to let me touch her. How far she's come along!


All right, I can procrastinate no longer. The Golden Daughter galleys are waiting . . .

Tell me, what are your doings these days? Any great projects you're particularly excited about? Or summer trips, perhaps?

A Random Post About Chocolate

So my husband has quite a number of random little habits and quirks--as most people do, to be sure. But one of his randomest habits and quirks is (I kid you not) buying me chocolate.

He really loves to buy me chocolate. And not just any chocolate. I'm talking fancy gourmet chocolates from all over the world, all different flavors. Last week, we had some sort of Aztec chili-chocolate in the cupboard, along with a big bar of 70% cocoa Belgian chocolate, an almond-something from I don't remember where, an assortment of Ghiardelli sampler chocolates, and some great big bars from Trader Joes. And usually there are French truffles of some kind, which he keeps in the refrigerator because, according to him, cold French truffles make the best palate prep before . . . pizza. And curry too, I believe.

And let me clarify--while the French truffles are for all of us (everyone needs a proper palate prep before pizza and curry, right?), the rest of the chocolates are, by and large, for me. Oh, he'll snack on them a little here and there (and the bacon chocolate he bought a few months back were definitely his, though he kindly kept offering me bites). But most of them are mine.

Is he not every woman's dream?

But here comes the tragic part of this tale. You see . . . I'm not much a chocolate fiend. I mean, I like a little chocolate now and then (and some of you will remember a year ago when I went on a craze for Lindt's sea salt and caramel chocolate bars). But I really don't tend to crave chocolate that much or that often. Certainly not enough to keep up with his desire to buy it for me!

So we end up with stacks of chocolates in the cupboard. And my poor sweet husband will find a great deal or an awesome-looking flavor, purchase it, and come home only to find the last three bars he bought for me still stacked up and waiting. Which is always a little crushing to his kind and nurturing heart, I think.

Anyway, the point of this post is simply this: I adore that man. And this week was a rough writing week. And I found myself, in the midst of creative brainstorming and stress craving one thing . . .

You guessed it.

And we just happened to have PLENTY of it on hand, in all different flavors! As I am typing this post, I am happily munching on the last half of the 70% cocoa Belgian chocolate bar. I have successfully made it through a tough week, by the grace of God and the loving generosity of my handsome chocolatier in shining armor.

Life is lovely. And rather tasty right now.

(And I think we're having homemade pizza tonight--courtesy of Rohan, of course. I hope there are some French truffles still in the refrigerator so our palates will be properly prepped!)

Interview Feature: Shannon McDermott

Dear imps, I know you are all, like me, enthusiastic readers of fantasy and always on the hunt for another fantasy world to invest your heart in. Well today, I have the pleasure introducing you to a exciting author and her epic new fantasy release, The Valley of Decision. And I rather expect you will be eager to jump on the giveaway opportunity, for this generous author is offering TWO print copies of her novel!

First of all let me introduce you to the author herself:


 SHANNON MCDERMOTT is the author of the fantasy novel The Valley of Decision , as well as the futuristic The Last Heir . She has written the Adventures of Christian Holmes, a series of humorous detective novellas, and Beauty of the Lilies and Summer Leaves (Sons of Tryas, I and II).

Shannon lives in the Midwest and enjoys coffee, novels, and history.


Here's a little about the novel itself:



Where the Black Mountains pierce the sky, they divide the south from the north, Alamir from the kingdom of Belenus. Belenus, the undying master of the north, commanded Keiran - the Captain of the Hosts - to conquer Alamir. But the Captain is deep in conspiracy, and he has his own plans.

The Valley of Decision is a fantasy novel, a saga of slavery, freedom, and choices.




INTERVIEW
Welcome to the Tales of Goldstone Wood blog! First of all, would you mind telling us a little about yourself? Hobbies, personality . . . tea or coffee? 
Shannon: Coffee. I like tea, especially on cold winter nights, but coffee is my pleasure drink.
My hobby (yes, hobby) is reading: novels, history, political and cultural articles online. And my personality … these self-assessments are hard, but here goes: I’m quiet, and somewhat introverted; my ideal evening is good coffee and good music, while I devote time to writing and reading. On the other hand, I have definite opinions and I’ve been known to argue them. People who meet me may not see it, but my family knows that I didn’t receive a fiery Irish heritage for nothing. 
What led you into the writing life? Were you always a storyteller? How did you get into publishing?
Shannon: I have been writing since I was little. It’s been an inseparable part of my life for so long, and I can’t imagine giving it up. 
I got into publishing through my parents, who own a small press. They used to put out a publication for homeschoolers, and I ended up working in that: copyediting, researching, even some writing. (My YA detective fiction, the Adventures of Christian Holmes, began as a series for this publication.)  
Tell us a little about your work! The Valley of Decision is not your first novel, right? What are some of your earlier publications?  
Shannon: My first novel was The Last Heir , published five years ago, and a very different sort of thing from The Valley of Decision. It’s soft-core science fiction, a political thriller set in space.
I’ve also published a number of novellas as e-books. Beauty of the Lilies and Summer Leaves (I and II of the Sons of Tryas series) tell the story of the painting emperor and his wild younger brother. These are the most character-driven stories I’ve ever written. I also have two humorous detective stories out: Inspection and Sweet Green Paper. 
Now tell us about The Valley of Decision ! Where did the story idea come from? Is it part of a series?  
Shannon: The Valley of Decision began with a kernel of an idea that I gleaned, I admit, from the Lord of the Rings. I had noticed that in those books, the Dark Lord’s slaves were always enemies. Occasionally pitied by the heroes, often deceived by the Dark Lord, yes, but always enemies. Instead of heroes coming only from the free nations that fought Sauron, I liked the idea of heroes coming from the enslaved nations oppressed by him. A slave revolt against the Dark Lord would have been tremendous.
But, of course, it didn’t happen.
Eventually I wondered if I could write the story where it did. I began reading folk tales, researching the legends that have been told and even believed in our world long before modern fantasy came into existence. The Fays and the hobgoblins and the Trow in my story are inspired by the old fairy tales. When I wrote the human characters’ interaction with the Fays, I always had the folk tales in the back of my mind. Everybody knew in those old stories that Faerie was not safe.  I wrote a prequel novella called The Sunrise Windows , and I’ve kicked around the idea of writing a sequel, but The Valley of Decision is very much a stand-alone novel.
 Can you pick a favorite character from this new novel? 
Shannon: In a close contest between Keiran, the Captain of the Hosts of Belenus, and Caél the right hand over the Hosts … I’m going to go with Caél. Keiran is the protagonist, and he was always fun to write, partially because of his rough edges. But with my villains on the one hand, and my rough-edged protagonist on the other, I needed a nice-guy character. I gave that role to Caél.
But he also had to be strong. He didn’t get to be second-in-command over the entire army without being a skilled warrior, and moreover a warrior who has actually, you know, killed people. Nor could he be timid and stand up to Keiran. So Caél ended up a blend of gentleness and considerable strength, both inward and physical. 
What inspires your work? Where do you turn when you need a renewal of inspiration? 
Shannon: Just about anything can provide inspiration. An excellent book or movie leaves me wanting to reach such heights. Sometimes things in my own life leave me thinking, and then wanting to write about them. Everywhere you turn there is something to provoke a thought, an emotion, an image or an idea.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any place to turn when I need new inspiration. I mostly work through those dry spells. Sometimes that means pounding through a scene I’m not particularly interested in. Other times it means writing notes on the story, sometimes doubt-filled notes about what I need to change and what I’m doing wrong.
What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the writing process? 
Shannon: My least favorite part of writing is when I need to bridge the gap from point A to point B, while doing set-up work for points C and D, and I don’t know how. It’s worst, of course, when I descend into doubt-filled notes about what I need to change and what I’m doing wrong.
My favorite part of the writing process is finishing the polished draft of a scene in my computer. I write everything by longhand first, and it’s a longish process for me: First, make my notes; then, write the scene in a notebook; then, transcribe it into the computer, polishing and revising as I go. So when I finally finish, I have a satisfying sense of completion. 
If you were forced to pick a single favorite author, who would it be? 
Shannon: I’d choose G.K. Chesterton, reluctantly edging out the great C.S. Lewis. Chesterton is the most versatile author I admire, writing everything from poetry to novels to apologetics to cultural and political essays. He’s fascinating, even when he’s wrong. He is also the only poet whose work I really love, and the author I find myself most often stealing fr— I mean emulating. 
What are you actively writing right now? 
Shannon: I am writing a sci-fi novel called The Shameful Years. (Title taken from a Chesterton poem, by the way.)

There’s an old sci-fi trope about colonies being abandoned by the mother planet, for some reason or another. There’s also an old sci-fi obsession with Mars. I decided to revive both of these old ideas, but with a modern twist. The people on Mars are abandoned because Earth, in the wake of the Great Collapse, decides it simply can’t afford to provide food for them. 
I also decided to give full attention to both sides of the abandonment – not, as is often done in such stories, only to the forsaken colony. So I have two storylines running alongside each other, Earth and Mars. I think it will be unique. I’m trying hard to keep it from being unique-bad.  

Would you share a short snippet from The Valley of Decision?
 Shannon: With pleasure:
Excerpt fromTHE VALLEY OF DECISION
The Trow kindled a flame in the fire-pot and then shared the fire with three torches. Then he turned back to Keiran. “I told you that Belenus does not come here. He does not deal with us as he deals with your kind. He does not take us from our mountain, or rule our homes, or try to possess us. But he demands our labor. He demands our skill. He sends orders to give him what he wants—tools and ornaments and weapons. We are smiths, tall man. Artists. His trinkets—they do not please the artist in us.”
            Keiran was still confused by the Trow’s behavior, but this amused him. “He has such bad taste, Kobuld?”            “No. The Fays, they know what beauty is. But you cannot please the artist while you insult the Trow.”            Keiran had always known of the use Belenus made of the Trow, but not until now did he really care. “Does he pay you?”            “He protects us.”            Kobuld’s tone was heavy with irony, and Keiran understood. He wondered if anything existed that Belenus would not exploit.             “It has been thus for centuries. The Trow are weary of Belenus’ yoke. But I think that even we do not hate it as you do. You have suffered much more.”            Keiran studied the Trow’s ugly face—and trusted him. “We are slaves, every one of us. Even I am. Our land, our work, our bodies, our children—all belong to Belenus. It’s a yoke of iron that we bear. Who would not hate it?”            “No one. But who would do something about it? That, tall man, is a much more discriminating question.”            “Are you saying I would rebel against Belenus?”            The little Trow looked him in the eye and slowly nodded his old head. “I think you would. That is why I brought you here.”
     ______________________
Thank you for visiting today, Shannon. It was great to learn more about your work, your inspirations . . . and to glimpse that intriguing snippet of your novel!

There you have it imps . . . folklore, slave uprising, Fays, hobgoblins, and Trows. What more could you ask for in a fantasy? Be sure to enter your name in the giveaway and let your friends know about this story and fun opportunity! And feel free to pepper Shannon with questions about her work and writing and favorite coffees . . . and promises to go pick up the next G.K. Chesterton work you can get your hands on. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fan Fiction Contest Announcement!

The time has come for the third annual Tales of Goldstone Wood Fan Fiction Contest! This contest is my favorite event of the blogging year, a fun opportunity for all of you to create your own stories, making Goldstone Wood even more your own. The talent displayed these last two years has been incredible and tremendously fun, and I anticipate this year will be the best one yet.

Here are the rules for the contest for those of you interested in participating:

1. Your story or stories must be set in the world of Goldstone Wood with recognizable Goldstone Wood themes and elements. You may feel free to invent your own new characters and Faerie demesnes, just be certain that there are enough Goldstone Woodish aspects to make it recognizably part of this world. You may also explore aspects of the novels or characters you are curious about . . . Seriously, the sky's the limit!

2. Your story may be any length you like. Poetry is also welcome and encouraged!

3. You may submit as many stories as you like!

4. To submit your story, email it to me (aestengl@gmail.com) no later than August 25, 2014.

5. The stories will be posted on September 1, and voting will run through September 14. The winners will be announced on September 15.

6. The first, second, and third place winners will be selected via fan voting. (Note: If you are not a fan of the Goldstone Wood series, please don't vote on this contest. This is for fans only.) To place your vote, you will be asked to email me your top three picks in order of preference. The votes will be weighted and tallied (more info on that when the time comes).

Now . . . the prizes!

The First Place Winner will receive an ARC (advanced reader copy) of Golden Daughter two months before the official release date.



The Second Place Winner will receive an autographed print copy of either Starflower, Dragonwitch, or Shadow Hand.

The Third Place Winner will receive an assortment of Goldstone Wood paraphernalia, including a collection of bookmarks for each book in the series (including the pretty new Golden Daughter bookmark).

So what do you think? Are you excited to try your hand at a Goldstone Wood adventure all your own? And don't forget to visit Dame Imraldera's Library to read stories from the previous two contests! There is so much good reading to be had over there, and I'm sure you will be inspired.

Interview Feature: CJ Darlington!

Today I have a fun feature for all of you . . . bringing a slice of Dystopian to the Tales of Goldstone Wood blog, I give you C.J. Darlington, author of the exciting new YA novel, Jupiter Winds. She is offering a giveaway copy of this awesome novel to one lucky winner, so be certain to enter your name in the giveaway. And I hope you will enjoy getting to know C.J. via her interview!

First, here is a little about the book:

In 2160, a teenager becomes the bait to capture her missing revolutionary parents she thinks are long dead.

Grey Alexander has one goal—to keep herself and her younger sister Orinda alive. Not an easy feat living unconnected in the North American Wildlife Preserve, where they survive by smuggling contraband into the Mazdaar government's city zones. If the invisible electric border fence doesn't kill them, a human-like patrol drone could.

When her worst fear comes true, Grey questions everything she thought she knew about life, her missing parents, and God. Could another planet, whose sky swirls with orange vapors and where extinct-on-Earth creatures roam free, hold the key to reuniting her family?

A fast-paced, character-driven space adventure that's reminiscent of science fiction's golden age.
--KATHY TYERS, author of the Firebird series

 About the Author: C. J. is the award-winning author of Thicker than Blood, Bound by Guilt, and Ties that Bind. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over fifteen years, scouting for stores similar to the ones described in her novels before cofounding her own online bookstore.
In 2006 C. J. started the Christian entertainment Web site TitleTrakk.com with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction ever since. She is a regular contributor to Family Fiction Digital Magazine and NovelCrossing.com. A homeschool graduate, she makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs, a cat, and a Paint horse named Sky. For the latest info on C. J., visit her website: http://www.cjdarlington.com.


INTERVIEW

Welcome to the Tales of Goldstone Wood blog! First of all, would you mind telling us a little about yourself? Hobbies, personality . . . tea or coffee?

C.J. - Thank you so much for having me, Anne Elisabeth! It’s an honor. Well, let’s see . . . I’ve taken those personality tests online, and I always seem to end up with a different result each time. Ha! I do tend to be introverted, analytical, and too serious at times. But I do love to have fun! If I’m not home working on my own writing or the writing of others with our new publishing company, I am probably at the barn with our horse, Sky! When I’m at the barn, all of life’s concerns and worries fade away, and it’s so easy to lose track of time. I love nature and being outdoors and enjoying my critters. They are what make me smile the most! 

If I had to pick, tea would be my drink of choice. I love a good cup of English Breakfast with a little milk or cream. Irish Breakfast is also delicious. Here’s an interesting story--in my first novel I have a character drinking Bigelow English Breakfast tea. Months after its release, a big package came to my door. I opened it up and saw this gorgeous gift basket of tea assortments, honey sticks, and a mug. They were from Bigelow Tea! The company is family run, and Cindi Bigelow, the President and CEO wrote me a lovely note saying she appreciated that I included their family’s tea company in my book! I have no idea how she got the book, but that was awesome! Thank you, Cindi, if you’re reading this. 

What led you into the writing life? Were you always a storyteller? How did you get into publishing?

C.J. - There’s something about stories. I have always loved them, first as a reader, but quite early on in my life, as a writer. When I was young I had great fun writing out silly stories about my dogs on my dad’s old word processor. Get this--I once said I would never write stories about humans, but only write about animals! God instilled the love of writing stories in my heart as a kid, and that carries me through the tougher days when the words don’t flow as easily as I’d like. I can rest assured that it’s His plan as he placed the dream in my heart. 
I dreamt about my words being read by others early too, but it wasn’t until I was in my late twenties that the dream became a reality. I had been writing and submitting my work for publication for many years with only an occasional short story accepted. My big dream was to publish a novel. I took every tidbit of insight from editors who rejected my first novel Thicker than Blood and kept revising it until eventually I entered it into the 2004 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest. I was a semi-finalist that year, but I didn’t win. I kept submitting and entered the contest again in 2008. That year I was shocked to find out I had won. Tyndale House published the novel and my next book Bound by Guilt.
Tell us a little about your work! Jupiter Winds is your first spec fiction novel, right? What other genres have you written in the past?
C.J. - All three of my previous novels are contemporary stories that take place in Colorado. Each features a different rare book and fun book collecting tidbits. When Thicker than Blood and Bound by Guilt went out of print with Tyndale, I re-released them with my family’s publishing company, Mountainview Books, LLC. I also released a third book called Ties that Bind.
Jupiter Winds is indeed my first speculative novel. 
Now tell us a little about Jupiter Winds specifically. When did you begin to come up with the idea? What led to this switch in genres? 
C. J. - When it came time to write my fourth book, I was burned out. I was focusing so much on what I thought my readers would want that I forgot to ask myself what I wanted. That sounds selfish, but if an author doesn’t first write for herself, then it can show on the pages. I prayed and asked the Lord to show me what to write, and it wasn’t long before a little germ of an idea planted in my brain. What if . . . 
I’ve always enjoyed a good speculative tale, and it was a story along these lines that called to me. I gave myself permission to write an “out there” novel just for me, something I knew I would enjoy reading. Admittedly, I am newer to the spec genre than some. But I’ve been a fan of some of the secular dystopian novels of late too. However, one thing that usually disappoints me is their lack of hope. With Jupiter Winds I wanted to include that elusive and much-needed hope that so many YA stories lack. 
Since I am a relative newcomer to the genre, after I finished Jupiter Winds, I was so scared I was breaking unknown rules and readers would bombard by inbox with screams and laments. But thankfully my beta readers assured me that wasn’t the case, and Kathy Tyers actually gave me an endorsement. 
That said, I do realize I am sort of breaking modern science fiction’s rules about Jupiter. I know it isn’t a habitable planet due to scientific fact, but what if everything we thought we knew was a lie? 
Can you pick a favorite character from this new novel?
C.J. - I am usually most attached to my main characters, this time a seventeen-year-old girl named Grey Alexander. But Mrs. March, a spry eighty something woman, stole the show for me. She is so much more than first meets the eye.
 What inspires your work? Where do you turn when you need a renewal of inspiration?
C. J. - Sometimes watching a good movie will inspire me. I love going to the movie theater and sitting back and immersing myself in another world. I’ve been watching a lot of the super-hero Marvel movies of late, and I think they rubbed off on me as I wrote Jupiter Winds. Spending time outside away from the computer can be rejuvenating as well.
 If I really get in a funk, I find myself reaching out to the authors who have become my mentors for advice. They usually have just the right word—because they’ve been there—to inspire and encourage. Or they might recommend the perfect book to pick up for encouragement. That happened to me just the other day.
What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the writing process? 
C.J. - I am not a big fan of brainstorming, but that comes from finding it difficult to turn off my inner editor. It’s something I need to work on for sure. I love the first moments of discovery as I’m just beginning to write a story, but I also find joy in the revision because I know that’s where I can sculpt the story.
Research is probably my least favorite part of the process. I’d prefer to make everything up! 
 If you were forced to pick a single favorite author, who would it be?
C.J. - I could read Sibella Giorello’s books every day. Her Raleigh Harmon mystery series has become a favorite of mine. But I also love James Scott Bell, M.K. Gilroy, Frank Peretti, Kathy Tyers . . . oh, the list goes on! How could you possibly expect me to pick just one? 
What are you actively writing right now? 
C.J. - I just started a new contemporary novel with some elements I’ve been wanting to write for awhile now. I also have the first scene of a second Jupiter novel written. So ask me this in a few months and I’ll be able to give a better answer. 
Can you share a short snippet from Jupiter Winds? 
C. J. - Since you can read the first three chapters or so on Amazon, I’ll pick something from further in the book. This is from Chapter 21 and shows Grey’s first glimpse of the planet’s surface:
 Excerpt fromJUPITER WINDS
Grey tensed as the ship decelerated, her face still throbbing. “Prepare to move!”The soldiers gripped their stocky blueflares. They looked like they were capable of burning through walls. Or through a person. She didn’t realize she was barely breathing until the outline of the cargo door appeared in front of them. Grey exhaled, trying to calm herself. Touchdown came seconds later, a jolt to her feet. The drone assigned to her tightened its vice-like hold.“Do not resist,” it spoke matter-of-factly. The door slipped upward on a silent track, and Grey gawked at her first look at Jupiter. A rush of warm, dusty air swirled around them, and for a moment all the humans froze in awe, glancing from the sky to the ground and back. The drones stared straight ahead.  The soil looked like colored marble—shades of yellow, red, and blue swirled together in a kaleidoscope of dust. Strange, twisted trees with iridescent leaves hulked in the distance. Beyond them were mountains unlike any she’d ever seen. With pointed, vertical rock formations, they looked like a row of massive medieval castles all stretching toward the heavens. “Move out!”As one, the Mazdaar army poured from the cosmoship. She labored to keep up while craning to see the sky. Far above the mountains, where on Earth you would expect to see blue, a roiling sea of red and orange clouds writhed and twisted. “Holy cow,” someone muttered.The skies proclaim the work of His hands.Grey heard the words in her mother’s calm voice, and she could almost see Mom’s face and the way she’d stare at a desert sunset with a young Grey at her side. Mom had always loved sunsets.The drone shoved Grey in the back, shaking away the memory. She focused on keeping her feet moving. Before them stood a massive domed building, very much like something they’d see on Earth. The soldiers rushed toward it, forcing Grey along with them.
  ________________
Wow, thank you for that thrilling glimpse of your world, C.J.!

I hope all of you readers are ready to pick up a copy of Jupiter Winds and try a dose of space-adventure and Dystopian drama. Be certain to congratulate C.J. on this awesome release and feel free to ask her questions about her work as well. I'm sure she has plenty of tips and words of encouragement to aspiring novelists out there! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Storyboarding Contest Winner!

Dear imps, I have a fun announcement from animator Melanie J. Morgan concerning her pick for the winner of the alternate prize for the Goldstone Wood Musical Contest! Here is what Melanie has to say:

"All right, I have deliberated and prayed all week and listened to every song dozens of times, and I believe I've come to a decision.  
My decision is based not simply on quality, but on what vocal piece has the best storytelling dynamic. The entry I chose had a beautiful dynamic, fantastic storyboarding potential, and a simply amazing potential for a reprise.  It will also give those who see it a fantastic introduction to the world of Goldstone Wood.  My decision is Prince of Dreams by Brittney
 Also, they all have absolutely shocked me with their talent. If they would like to work with me at some point in the future for other storyboarding/ musical projects I may come up with, they can feel free to email me if they're interested.  I can't even begin to imagine the masterpieces we could all create by working together!
I congratulate all of them and I want them to know I listen to their music over and over in my free time (I've also found that it really helps me write, so I'll be listening to the songs quite often).
I also have my tickets and flights booked for SIGGRAPH, an animation industry convention in Vancouver, Canada in August, so I'm going to be taking my portfolio with me, including the animatic to Brittney's "Prince of Dreams," so it's finalized!  The eyeballs of the likes of Disney and Dreamworks are finally going to get a glimpse of Goldstone Wood!
Congratulations Brittney!  Your music is fantastic and I can't wait to work with you!
Anne Elisabeth, thank you so much for letting me be a part of this!  This was so much fun and I'd love to do it again sometime if that's a feasible possibility!"I hope to do it again too, Melanie! This was such an exciting extra, and I'm sure everyone will be eager to pursue more fun ideas like this in the future. Seriously, imps, don't be shy if you have a collaboration project you'd like to tackle with Melanie. Be sure to let her know!
And BIG congratulations to Brittney for this wonderful win. I can hardly wait to see the animatic when it is complete!

EDITION: I just realized some of you might not be familiar with Melanie's work . . . so I thought I'd share some of the gorgeous Goldstone Wood-themed pieces she has rendered.

ALWAYS COME BACK FOR YOU




I love these soooooo much! Eanrin's expressions are perfection.

Five Glass Slippers Blog Tour: Featuring Clara Diane Thompson!

What a fantastic event this blog tour has been! Each of our lovely ballroom belles has answered a variety of interesting and amusing questions, not to mention given us a glimpse of their dream ball gowns and favorite dance tunes. If you want to be sure to catch all the fun, visit tour hostess Amber Stokes' blog, Seasons of Humility. And don't miss out on this great deal for the Kindle edition of Five Glass Slippers! Just 0.99 until the end of the week!



Today, on the last day of the tour, I am featuring our fifth "Cinderella," Clara Diane Thompson, author of The Moon Master's Ball, a magical retelling of the classic fairy tale that spins new lore all its own! Curious about this mysteriously spooky story of hers, I asked Clara this question: 

"Where and when did the idea for The Moon Master’s Ball begin? Did you wake up one morning with the whole thing clear in your head, or did you have to work with it to make it come together?"

Here is Clara's answer: I had a very vivid dream one night about a traveling circus, and when I woke up, I had fantastic Beauty and the Beast idea where the circus was basically the Beast’s “castle”. Cinderella didn’t even come to mind. Who thinks about Cinderella? Beauty and the Beast is the way to go as far as retellings! (Or so I thought.) I scribbled the idea down in my journal and promptly forgot about it.

Then you announced the Five Glass Slippers contest, and I started brainstorming, not even thinking about the circus idea I had written down only months ago! The Moon Master’s Ball actually started out very, very, different from the way it ended up. When I started writing, the story was about a small town on the edge of an eerie forest where an “evil” prince lives. That idea didn't work out, obviously, but I still loved the title. So, I referred back to my journal and came across the circus idea . . .

That’s when the true plot of Moon Master’s began to unfold itself to me slowly, but surely. Then I put the Cinderella spin on it. Parts of the story I planned as I went, others I planned out before starting the writing process.  I never knew I would love writing a Cinderella story so much.

 So that is how my short story came to be! Winged some of it, and planned most of it. 

Thanks for the question, Anne Elisabeth! 

I am so glad you rediscovered that old idea, Clara. The Moon Master's Ball is a delicious story, like hot cider on a cold day.

Here is a little more about the story itself for those of you curious! 
 

THE MOON MASTER'S BALL
After her terrifying experience there several years ago, the one place young housemaid Tilly longs to avoid is Bromley’s Circus. But when kindly Lord Hollingberry begs her to deliver a message to the mysterious Moon Master hidden away among the circus dwellers, Tilly can’t refuse . . . and finds herself ensnared in a web of enchantment cast by the loathsome Mrs. Carlisle and her beautiful goddaughter.

   
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 
 Clara Diane Thompson lives in the swamps of Louisiana with her loving family, dashing dog, and a very confused frog that resides in the birdhouse outside her window. Aside from writing she enjoys playing guitar, singing, Broadway plays (particularly The Phantom of the Opera), ballet, tea with friends, and long BBC movies. An enchanted circus may or may not appear occasionally in her back yard.


You can find out more about Clara and her writing on her blog: www.ClaraDianeThompson.blogspot.com.

Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, June 23rd | Cinderella of the Day: Elisabeth Brown·         Blooming with Books·         Books, Cats, and Whimsy·         Fictionally·         Historical Heartbeats·         i blog 4 books·         J.L. Mbewe·         Not All By My Lonesome·         Rina’s Reading·         The Splendor Falls on Castle Walls+ Review·         To Be A Person + Review

Tuesday, June 24th | Cinderella of the Day: Emma Clifton·         A Curious Thrill·         A Writer’s Heart·         Fictionally·         Flowers of Quiet Happiness·         Jaye L. Knight·         Jenelle Schmidt·         Not All By My Lonesome·         Tales of Goldstone Wood·         The Wonderings of One Person·         The Writer’s Window+ Review
Wednesday, June 25th | Cinderella of the Day: Rachel Heffington·         A Writer’s Heart·         Blooming with Books·         Flowers of Quiet Happiness·         i blog 4 books·         Jaye L. Knight·         Jenelle Schmidt·         Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima·         Rina’s Reading·         The Splendor Falls on Castle Walls·         Tialla’s Tellings·         Vonnie’s Reading Corner + Review
Thursday, June 26th | Cinderella of the Day: Stephanie Ricker·         Books, Cats, and Whimsy+ Review·         Home of the Shabby Elf·         Rina’s Reading·         Scribbles of Catholic Sisters·         The Lore-Mistress·         The Wonderings of One Person·         The Writer’s Window·         Tialla’s Tellings·         Vonnie’s Reading Corner·         Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections
Friday, June 27th | Cinderella of the Day: Clara Diane Thompson·         A Curious Thrill·         Blooming with Books·         Fictionally·         Flowers of Quiet Happiness + Review·         Jenelle Schmidt·         Kathryn Elizabeth Jones·         Tales of Goldstone Wood·         The Splendor Falls on Castle Walls·         The Wonderings of One Person·         Vonnie’s Reading Corner
Saturday, June 28th | Giveaway Winner Announced at Seasons of Humility
*Blog Tour Home: http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/p/five-glass-slippers-blog-tour.html  This is where you can keep up-to-date on the blog tour happenings, view the schedule with links, grab the tour button, etc.
Don't miss out on this great giveaway! One lucky winner will receive all of these fantastic Cinderella-themed prizes, including gifts from three of the five authoresses themselves!
 
 
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Five Glass Slippers Blog Tour: Featuring Emma Clifton!

Dear imps, today I have the great pleasure of taking part in the Five Glass Slippers blog tour, hosted by Amber Stokes from Seasons of Humility. She has done a wonderful job with this tour, including a "Cinderella for the Day" feature of each of these authors over on her blog page--one special feature for each day of the week. You definitely don't want to miss it, or any of these fun posts!

Today's Cinderella is Emma Clifton, author of the second story in this wonderful collection, Broken Glass. I got to ask Emma one question about her story, which was:

"If you could spend the day with one of the characters from your story, who would you pick, why, and what would you do? (Or, you can flip that, and answer who you would NOT pick, why, and what you would do if forced? Either or both is fun!"

Here is Emma's answer: I think I'd choose Marius, because he's rather funny (and a very handsome crown prince, too), though I'm having a hard time choosing between him and Henry and Darcy.  We'd play badminton, because that is a very princely thing to do.  And since neither Marius nor I are very athletic, we'd end up laughing at each other's lack of skill.  I can take teasing pretty well, so I don't think he'd annoy me as much as he annoys Rosalind. 

I would not want to spend the day with Lady Sevray; she's nasty, stuck-up, and the evil stepmother.  Maybe I'd suggest going shopping with her and then hide in one of the shops until the day was over.

 
 Thank you, Emma! I think Marius is a great choice. Particularly since he's a got a softer side if you just know how to find it . . .

I hope all of you readers will grab Emma's wonderful story so you can learn about Marius and the vile Lady Sevray for yourselves! You can grab the Kindle version for just 0.99 this week, so why not? Here's a little more about Broken Glass if you're still not convinced:
  

BROKEN GLASS

The slipper fits . . . but on the wrong girl! Rosalind never once danced with Prince Marius at the ball, for she is in love with his brother Henry. If only Rosalind and Marius would stop bickering long enough to invent a scheme, perhaps the three of them can find the real mystery lady. But they must work quickly, for dark deeds are afoot, and the kingdom is poised on the brink of disaster.




ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emma Clifton has been thinking up stories since before she knew how to type them out.  Reading books such as the Chronicles of Narnia, The Door Within Trilogy, and Redwall inspired her to take her writing more seriously.  Though her rigorous homeschool education keeps her busy, she also enjoys sewing, reading, and spending time with her family in beautiful Northern Virginia. 
Emma blogs at www.peppermintandprose.wordpress.com.
 Be sure to visit all the other stops on this awesome tour! And don't miss the wonderful giveaway as well (US and Canada only).



Blog Tour Schedule


Monday, June 23rd | Cinderella of the Day: Elisabeth Brown·         Blooming with Books·         Books, Cats, and Whimsy·         Fictionally·         Historical Heartbeats·         i blog 4 books·         J.L. Mbewe·         Not All By My Lonesome·         Rina’s Reading·         The Splendor Falls on Castle Walls+ Review·         To Be A Person + Review
Tuesday, June 24th | Cinderella of the Day: Emma Clifton·         A Curious Thrill·         A Writer’s Heart·         Fictionally·         Flowers of Quiet Happiness·         Jaye L. Knight·         Jenelle Schmidt·         Not All By My Lonesome·         Tales of Goldstone Wood·         The Wonderings of One Person
Wednesday, June 25th | Cinderella of the Day: Rachel Heffington·         The Writer’s Window+ Review·         A Writer’s Heart·         Blooming with Books·         Flowers of Quiet Happiness·         i blog 4 books·         Jaye L. Knight·         Jenelle Schmidt·         Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima·         Rina’s Reading·         The Splendor Falls on Castle Walls·         Tialla’s Tellings
Thursday, June 26th | Cinderella of the Day: Stephanie Ricker·         Vonnie’s Reading Corner + Review·         Books, Cats, and Whimsy+ Review·         Home of the Shabby Elf·         Rina’s Reading·         Scribbles of Catholic Sisters·         The Lore-Mistress·         The Wonderings of One Person·         The Writer’s Window·         Tialla’s Tellings·         Vonnie’s Reading Corner·         Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections


Friday, June 27th | Cinderella of the Day: Clara Diane Thompson·         A Curious Thrill·         Blooming with Books·         Fictionally·         Flowers of Quiet Happiness + Review·         Jenelle Schmidt·         Kathryn Elizabeth Jones·         Tales of Goldstone Wood·         The Splendor Falls on Castle Walls·         The Wonderings of One Person·         Vonnie’s Reading CornerSaturday, June 28th | Giveaway Winner Announced at Seasons of Humility
*Blog Tour Home: http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/p/five-glass-slippers-blog-tour.html  This is where you can keep up-to-date on the blog tour happenings, view the schedule with links, grab the tour button, etc. 
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Featuring: Ashlee Willis

Dear imps, I am delighted to have the opportunity to feature Ashlee Willis today! Ashlee is a fellow Books & Such novelist, one of my agent, Rachel Kent's clients. Considering Rachel's interest in fantasy and fairy tale, Ashlee is a perfect fit!

I have had the opportunity to read some of Ashlee's work, and I was immediately impressed by her beautiful combination of elegant writing with fascinating storytelling. Seriously, if you are fairy tale lovers, you are going to enjoy her work. (And I know quite a number of you have already discovered her, so I'm not telling you anything you don't already know!)

In honor of her debut novel's release date, Ashlee is here today to talk about her work. She is also offering a great giveaway, so be certain to enter your names down below! And now, a little about the authoress herself:

 
 ASHLEE WILLIS is the author of fantasy for young adults. She lives in the heart of Missouri with her husband and young son. While most of her days are balanced between writing, reading, and homeschooling, she also finds time to enjoy tea with friends, forest walks, photography, and piano playing.

Ashlee's Debut novel, The Word Changers, is available now in eBook from Barnes and Noble and Amazon. The paperback is due to release June 23, 2014.


INTERVIEW 
Welcome to the Tales of Goldstone Wood blog! First of all, would you mind telling us a little about yourself? Hobbies, personality . . . tea or coffee?
Ashlee: Tea, most definitely! Lavender green tea in winter, sweet iced tea in summer! The days I’m not writing you’ll find me outside getting my hands dirty in the garden, walking through the woods near our house with my son, or sitting in my oversized chair crocheting while watching a British miniseries. :) 
What led you into the writing life? Were you always a storyteller? How did you get into publishing?
Ashlee: I always had the urge to tell stories, definitely. I remember nights when I was young, lying in bed telling my little sister stories, or rounding up our friends and directing plays I had written to perform for our parents. For such an extreme introvert, I was rather bossy, really! 
The dream of publishing was always there in the back of my head, even when I was much too young for it to be a reality yet. With time, as I wrote more and grew more confident about what I was writing, I decided it was something I had to pursue seriously. Thankfully, I found both a publisher and an agent who had enough faith in my story to take a chance on it. 
Tell us a little about your work! The Word Changers is your debut novel, right? How did this story begin?
Ashlee: Yes, The Word Changers is my first published book. The idea for it came as more of a process than in a single moment of inspiration. I grew up with such a strong desire to climb straight into some of the books that I read, fantasies and fairy tales mainly. So how could I not want to write just such a story? I began writing it and asking myself questions about it, and it grew into something more than I had planned. Something that, I hope, is not only entertaining, but also glorifies God. 
Is The Word Changers part of a series? Will readers get to meet Posy and Prince Kyran again in future books? Or are you moving on to new worlds and new characters?
Ashlee: I don’t have any plans to write a sequel to it. But leaving my characters behind was much more difficult than I would ever have believed. So I did end their story with a tiny spark of hope … both for my own sake and for my readers. I can’t say that I know at this point whether that spark will ever turn into something more or not one day … we’ll see! 
Can you pick a favorite character from this new novel?
Ashlee: Main characters aside, I did love Alvar, who is one of my secondary characters. Within the Plot that King Melanthius has seized control of, Alvar’s role is not a big one. But he has the desire to find his True Story – the one the Author wrote him for – and help return the book he lives within to what it was meant to be. He has the bravery to pursue that story, even risk his life for it. I’d like to think I would have the courage to do that in those circumstances … 
What inspires your work? Where do you turn when you need a renewal of inspiration?
Ashlee: Nothing is off limits when it comes to inspiration, I’ve found. The most unlikely things can send a story stumbling through my head. A word, a scent, a view or even a feeling can conjure a magic of its own, and the beginnings of a story fall into place. When I need a renewal of my creativity, I head to the Creator Himself … His creation, His gifts to me, and His Word. What could possibly give me more peace and renewed energy than that?
 What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the writing process? 
Ashlee: I really don’t mind my first drafts, although I realize they are torture for many writers. There is something freeing about knowing I can say anything at all, since I will be revising it later anyway … and with that feeling of freedom often comes an angle or a sce Revisions, on the other hand, feel like such work! I’m rather impatient … and when I type “the end” at the end of a book, I truly wish it were the end … although, as you know, it’s really only the beginning!
If you were forced to pick a single favorite author, who would it be?
 Ashlee: C.S. Lewis. I’m not sure I’d be the person I am today if I hadn’t visited Narnia as a child. Part of my heart is still there, in fact, and probably always will be.
What are you actively writing right now?
Ashlee: I’m working on the second book in a fantasy duology for young adults. They are both pre-revision, pre-title, pre-everything! But I’m quite excited about them, and getting more so with each chapter I write.  
Can you share a short snippet from The Word Changers?
Ashlee: I certainly can!
Excerpt fromTHE WORD CHANGERS
Posy had no idea how to respond to this large man as he towered over her, appraising her with intense charcoal eyes. Her heart beat faster as she bowed her head slightly and lowered herself into what she hoped was a proper curtsy.
"Your Majesty," she murmured, barely daring to look back up into his face. She didn't know whether she was in awe or whether she wanted to burst out laughing at the absurdity of the situation."Oh, yes, quite proper!" he beamed on her. "How well you have recovered, my Evanthe.""Evanthe?" began Posy."We will have to begin the Plot again now. This time a bit more carefully, wouldn't you say? We don't want anymore riding accidents, anymore straying from the lines. What would the Kingdom come to, eh?""Riding accidents?" Posy asked. "But I thought I was supposed to have had a fever ...""Ah.” The king gave her a conspiratorial grin. "Yes, yes, a fever, of course."How could he have forgotten what happened to his own daughter in such a short time? But then, Posy reasoned, I'm not his daughter, am I? Was it possible she looked so familiar to the princess Evanthe that she was truly being mistaken for her?"But my name is Posy," she finally said cautiously. "Thank you for helping me recover - I'm still not quite sure what has happened, it's all so confusing. But I am sure I'm not who you seem to think I am ... Your Majesty," she added as an afterthought.The king looked down on her for several moments which seemed to stretch on, then finally he took a step toward her. He took her arm gently in one of his large bejeweled hands and leaned toward her, closer and closer until his mouth was almost against her ear."Now, we can't have that sort of talk, my dear." His smooth voice was deadly as a knife wrapped in satin. Posy's heart began to pound as his grip tightened, his voice hissing just above a whisper. "People will begin to think your injury did you a lasting harm. We follow the Plot here, my daughter, and if you stray from it, you will greatly regret it. You are my daughter, Princess Evanthe. I am your father, King Melanthius. Your mother is Queen Valanor. You would do well to remember everything I tell you ... sweeting." The king's voice brightened abruptly on the last word as he released her arm from his grip.Posy took one stumbling step backward. The king reached to brush back a strand of her hair in a fatherly gesture, making a tsking noise. "Such a shame, your memory loss! It seems you have forgotten a great deal indeed." He turned on his heeled shoes and walked away down the corridor without another word.Posy released a shaky sigh, realizing she had not been breathing. Had the king just threatened her? He, and indeed the entire Kingdom, saw her as the princess Evanthe. She wondered how she could have let the farce go on so long. This was her second day in the book. If she had known it would come to this, she would never have done it. Then she remembered the king's voice, his breath on her face and his steely hand on her arm, and she knew it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Coldness seeped into her fingers and toes as she realized she was trapped. This was becoming more of a nightmare than the pleasant dream she had believed it to be. 



 Thank you for a fun feature, Ashlee. What an intriguing excerpt! It was great to get to know you a little better. And I'm sure all of us are that much more eager to pick up your books.

Readers, you can connect with Ashlee via all the social media options and keep tabs on her newest projects very easily! Here are the links for you.

Blog: http://ashleewillisauthor.wordpress.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshleeWillisAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/BookishAshleeGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/115684775911263905767/posts

And, of course, don't forget to add The Word Changers to your Goodreads shelves!

Be certain to ask Ashlee any and all questions you might have about her writing, stories, process, etc. And don't forget to enter your names in the giveaway below. a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Winner!

Dear imps, the time has come to announce the winner for the Tales of Goldstone Wood Musical Contest! The contest was brimming with wonderful pieces by talented musicians, and the voting was really close right at the end. But ultimately, the piece that won the most votes was . . .

STARFLOWER AND THE WOLF LORDComposed and performed by Camryn
Congratulations, Camryn! This win is well deserved. I was personally blown away by this submission, which moved me to tears by the end. An unusual idea, wonderfully performed!
Email me (aestengl@gmail.com) with your choice of any one of the six published Goldstone novels for your prize. You will also receive a lovely Goldstone Wood mug, bookmarks, notepads, magnets . . . a bunch of fun paraphernalia.
For the rest of you--Melanie J. Morgan has not yet had an opportunity to pick her favorite for the story-boarding prize (she tells me she's on a deadline for paper, and needs to finish that up first!). But she will be selecting a winner soon, and I'll announce that on this blog when she does. So we still have the animatic to look forward to! I know I can hardly wait to see it.
This was such a wonderful contest! It turned out much bigger and more exciting than I could have anticipated. The submissions were so varied and entertaining! I have been wandering around this week with a different tune stuck in my head each day. (Yesterday, it was Rebekah's "The Maiden I Adore." Definitely an ear-worm piece.) You imps are all amazing. If there's enough interest next year, we might go ahead and add this to the annual events here on the Tales of Goldstone Wood blog.
In the meanwhile, be watching for lots more fun events coming up on this blog! I'll be giving the official announcement for the Fan Fiction contest quite soon . . . .