Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Blog, page 20
April 16, 2014
The Very First Ever Goldstone Wood Musical Contest!
My dear imps, even though the winners have not yet been announced for the fan art contest (don't forget to vote!), I decided that I should probably get the contest and rules for this new contest announced right away, giving everyone plenty of time to work on their submissions. So here you have it: 2014 marks the first Goldstone Wood Musical contest.
1. You are invited to compose and perform music inspired by Goldstone Wood. This can be based on lyrics found in the stories themselves, your own lyrics, or simply based on themes, characters, or settings from the books.
2. Lyrics are not a necessity. You may do instrumental-only submissions as well. But there must be a clear correlation between your composition and the stories.
3. You must submit a performance of your work. Now for this aspect we will probably have to work together a little to figure out various methods. I know that video recordings work well on my computer, though not every voter will have the proper filters on their computers to allow viewing. I would recommend that each performer upload her or his performance on Youtube and submit links, which I can then share. But again, since this is the first year and we haven't done anything quite like this before, we can work together to figure out good solutions for everyone.
Also, you don't have to be visible in your performance. If you prefer to keep your face anonymous, feel free to use a screen with the lyrics or Goldstone Wood-related images. Just so long as we can hear your voice and/or instruments, that's what counts!
4. You must be able to tell voters--either in writing or in a verbal introduction--how your composition connects to Goldstone Wood. This will be either in a written introduction which I will post before the performance, or in a recorded introduction at the beginning of your performance.
5. If you are not a musician but are a good lyricist, or you're a good composer but not a good performer, feel free to collaborate with friends and family! If a collaborated work wins, I will send prizes to all the musicians involved in that particular work.
6. You may also (copyrights permitting) perform your own lyrics to a classic tune, just so long as the performance is your own (and the music itself is public domain). If you use a public domain piece, please include the name of the piece and the composer in your introduction.
7. The winner of this contest will be decided via fan voting! Let me clarify what I mean by this: the voting is only open to the fans. Family members and friends who don't actually read the series or have any familiarity with the stories or characters are asked to please withhold their votes. The winner is meant to be selected by honest-to-goodness Goldstone Wood Fans who think the winning piece is the best submission for this year.
8. If you (I'm looking at you, Clara Darling) have already written and performed works of Goldstone Wood music, those pieces are still eligible for this contest. Anything that has not been submitted to a previous contest is eligible . . . and since this is the first contest year, that means anything you've done.
9. Submissions are due by Thursday, June 12. Nothing submitted after midnight that day will be accepted into this contest.
10. The compositions themselves will go live on Monday, June 16.
11. Because this is the first year and I'm not entirely certain what to expect as far as number of submissions, I am only offering a First Place Prize. But it's a fun one:
The winner of this contest will receive one autographed print copy of the Goldstone Wood novel of her/his choice--one beautiful Goldstone Wood mug (a new style . . . none of you who have won mugs in the past have this one yet! It's super pretty)--a collection of bookmarks for all the printed books (including Goddess Tithe)--a selection of notepads, pencils, pens, magnets, and other fun Goldstone Wood paraphernalia.
So basically, a whole bundle of Goldstone Wood fun.
Exciting Alternate PrizeOh but wait! There is more.
Talented animation artist Melanie J. Morgan is looking for a vocal music/musical number to use for an animatic (a storyboard set to sound, dialogue, and music). And she intends to pick one of the musical compositions sent in to the Goldstone Wood Musical Contest!
This animatic will be included in Ms. Morgan's portfolio, which she will be sending, as she says, "everywhere." Disney . . . Dreamworks . . . Blue Sky . . . and everywhere in between. So the winner of this prize will have her/his composition heard by quite a number of great studios!
Ms. Morgan hopes to complete the animatic approximately 2-3 weeks following the contest. And we will, of course, have a grand viewing right here to celebrate!
What a fantastic wildcard prize, am I right? I am just giddy at the idea of seeing your music set to Melanie's talented artistic vision.
________
Let me know if you have any questions at all. Because this is the first time we've tried a contest like this there might be a few little glitches along the way that we'll have to work through. So we'll all be patient with each other.
And together, I think we can put on a concert performance worthy to be performed before King Iubdan and his queen in the glorious Hall of Red and Green!
April 14, 2014
Cover Reveal: THE SEAHORSE LEGACY
Dear imps, I'm sure many of you are already familiar with Serena Chase and her epic fairy tale retellings. Therefore, I know you will be excited to learn that she has a new book releasing very soon now . . . and this one looks to be the most fantastic yet! Behold:
a Piratebound by a centuries-old oath
a Knightdetermined to prove her calling
a Legacydemanding surrender
As Keeper of the Seahorse Legacy, Cazien de Pollis is a King among pirates, divinely appointed to dispense justice on the seas. Bound by the sacred oath of a long-dead ancestor, he must fulfill a contract to wed the green-eyed Oracle’s Daughter named therein—or risk losing everything he and his people hold dear. But at nineteen, with the identity of his betrothed only recently revealed, Cazien resents the contract—and the urgency within him to see it satisfied.
Erielle de Gladiel returned from the quest for the Remedy, changed. Not only are her formerly-blue eyes now a brilliant shade of green, but she must don gloves to hide inky evidence that her prophetically-bestowed title, the Oracle’s Daughter, demands more from her than the task already completed. Erielle’s dearest-held dream is realized when she is knighted by her King, but unbeknownst to her, that very honor jeopardizes the prophesied purpose to which she and Cazien have been called.
Just as Cazien summons the courage to collect his bride, dark rumors and darker deeds crawl up the coasts, calling its guardians, the Seahorse Pirates, into action—and Cazien away from Erielle. But even though the Oracle’s Daughter knows nothing of the contract to which she has been consigned, Cazien’s enemies have somehow learned of his interest in Erielle. And if they reach her before his ancestor’s weighty oath is executed, the Seahorse Legacy will be forfeited . . . and darkness will be given reign.
Subtly paying homage to several classic tales including Peter Pan, Robin Hood, The Little Mermaid, Much Ado About Nothing, and even The Three Little Bears, THE SEAHORSE LEGACY begins an epic re-imagining of the classic Grimm fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesseswhich will conclude in Eyes of E’veria, Book 4: THE SUNKEN REALM.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Serena Chase lives in Iowa with her husband, two teen daughters, and one very spoiled (but really adorable) dog, Albus. A frequent contributor to USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog, she also writes for Edgy Inspirational Romance. Serena has served as a youth leader for high school students at her church, coaches her local high school’s Color Guard, and drinks entirely too much coffee between these and her daughters’ activities. You can find Serena on Facebook, Twitter @Serena_Chase, and Pinterest. Visit her website www.serenachase.com
Serena is generously offering two giveaways today! The first one is unique to the Tales of Goldstone Wood blog, so all of you devoted imps should definitely enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Serena is also hosting a Grand Prize giveaway, and the winner of this one will receive a signed paper back of The Seahorse Legacy as soon as it is available. Thank you so much for your generosity, Serena. And for your amazing and versatile creativity!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Piratebound by a centuries-old oath
a Knightdetermined to prove her calling
a Legacydemanding surrender
As Keeper of the Seahorse Legacy, Cazien de Pollis is a King among pirates, divinely appointed to dispense justice on the seas. Bound by the sacred oath of a long-dead ancestor, he must fulfill a contract to wed the green-eyed Oracle’s Daughter named therein—or risk losing everything he and his people hold dear. But at nineteen, with the identity of his betrothed only recently revealed, Cazien resents the contract—and the urgency within him to see it satisfied.
Erielle de Gladiel returned from the quest for the Remedy, changed. Not only are her formerly-blue eyes now a brilliant shade of green, but she must don gloves to hide inky evidence that her prophetically-bestowed title, the Oracle’s Daughter, demands more from her than the task already completed. Erielle’s dearest-held dream is realized when she is knighted by her King, but unbeknownst to her, that very honor jeopardizes the prophesied purpose to which she and Cazien have been called.
Just as Cazien summons the courage to collect his bride, dark rumors and darker deeds crawl up the coasts, calling its guardians, the Seahorse Pirates, into action—and Cazien away from Erielle. But even though the Oracle’s Daughter knows nothing of the contract to which she has been consigned, Cazien’s enemies have somehow learned of his interest in Erielle. And if they reach her before his ancestor’s weighty oath is executed, the Seahorse Legacy will be forfeited . . . and darkness will be given reign.
Subtly paying homage to several classic tales including Peter Pan, Robin Hood, The Little Mermaid, Much Ado About Nothing, and even The Three Little Bears, THE SEAHORSE LEGACY begins an epic re-imagining of the classic Grimm fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesseswhich will conclude in Eyes of E’veria, Book 4: THE SUNKEN REALM.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Serena Chase lives in Iowa with her husband, two teen daughters, and one very spoiled (but really adorable) dog, Albus. A frequent contributor to USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog, she also writes for Edgy Inspirational Romance. Serena has served as a youth leader for high school students at her church, coaches her local high school’s Color Guard, and drinks entirely too much coffee between these and her daughters’ activities. You can find Serena on Facebook, Twitter @Serena_Chase, and Pinterest. Visit her website www.serenachase.com Serena is generously offering two giveaways today! The first one is unique to the Tales of Goldstone Wood blog, so all of you devoted imps should definitely enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Serena is also hosting a Grand Prize giveaway, and the winner of this one will receive a signed paper back of The Seahorse Legacy as soon as it is available. Thank you so much for your generosity, Serena. And for your amazing and versatile creativity!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 11, 2014
Goldstone Wood Fan Art Contest: 2014 - First Set
Welcome, dear imps and readers, to the Goldstone Wood Fan Art Contest of 2014. This year's contest is far and away the biggest one yet, and I know you will have a wonderful time looking through all of these works of art by so many talented artists.
Remember, the winners are chosen by fan voting . . . so your vote counts! To vote on this contest, email me (aestengl@gmail.com) with your top three picks. Label them 1st Pick, 2nd Pick, and 3rd Pick. Your 1st Pick will will receive 10 points, your 2nd Pick will receive 5 points, and your 3rd Pick will receive 3 points. So choose carefully!
The rest of the rules can be found here, if you want to see them again. The first place winner will receive her or his choice of any FOUR Goldstone Wood novels (no novellas, sorry). The second place winner will receive two novels, and third place will receive one.
Have fun and enjoy all of this creativity on display!
Contest Submissions
A WeddingBy: Gabriella SilversteinDigital ArtFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Aethelbald Proposing to UnaBy: Martha (age 9)CrayonFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Aethelbald's SwordBy: Rebekah L.Pencil DrawingFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Diarmid By: MicailahClay ModelFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Inside All AlongBy: Erin JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Princess UnaBy: Jan OmegaAcrylic on Canvas BoardFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Come Here, Mouthful - Your Heart Belongs to MeBy: Rebekah L.Colored PencilFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Fire Burning LowBy: Kaylee S.Colored PencilFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The Flowing Gold By: Jennifer M.CrochetFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Hello Una By: KailinCharcoal PencilFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Una By: MercyChalk PortraitFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The Old Bridge By: Joseph W.CrayonFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
A Neverending LoveBy: KristenePencil DrawingFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Princess UnaBy: MicailahClay ModelFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Rest In My Love By: Kat O.Pencil and Colored PencilFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Una and the Yellow-Eyed BoyBy: Rebekah L.Pencil DrawingFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The Dragon By: MicailahPencil DrawingFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Won't You Return to Me?By: RybrynnCrayon and Colored PencilFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Princess UnaBy: MicailahColored PencilFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The Claiming of Her HeartBy: KristeneWatercolor Paint and InkFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The HavenBy: Brenna JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Trust MeBy: Christa W.WatercolorFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The Old BridgeBy: Rebekah L.Colored PencilFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Una the DragonBy: Jessica (age 12)Pencil DrawingFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Una and MonsterBy: KailinPhotography and Digital EditingFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Things from HeartlessBy: Rebekah L.Colored PencilFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Lost But Not ForgottenBy: Courtney E. DusenburyPhoto ManipulationFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Una's TransformationBy: Kaylee S.Colored PencilFrom: Heartless Book 1 in the Tales of Goldstone WoodScroll down to the next post to see the second set of fan art!
Goldstone Wood Fan Art Contest: 2014 - Second Set
CONTEST SUBMISSIONS
Ashamed RosieBy: Kaylee S.Colored PencilFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
An Unlikely FriendshipBy: KristeneAcrylic PaintingFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
A Younger MousehandBy: ToriPencil DrawingFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
BeanaBy: MicailahClay ModelFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Playing on the Lake of Endless BlacknessBy: CaitlynPhotography and Stick ShipsFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Tell Me What You WantBy: Abby C.Pencil DrawingFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
LeoBy: MicailahClay ModelFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Monster HuntingBy: Christa W.WatercolorFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Rose Red in the NetherworldBy: TraceyPencil DrawingFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
NoorhitamBy: Brenna JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Rosie's Faerie FormBy: Kaylee S.Colored PencilFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Leo and Rosie, Together AgainBy: Jessica M.WatercolorFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Carrun CorgarBy: Brenna JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Eanrin and ImralderaBy: MicailahClay ModelsFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Varvare's ChoiceBy: Allysa F.Mixed Media SculptureMetal, Stone, Fire, Water, Feather, Rose VinesFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Princess VarvareBy: Christa W.WatercolorFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Queen Bebo and Lady HymluméBy: MicailahPencil DrawingFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Queen Anahid and VarvareBy: ChloeLego ArtFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Lady HymluméBy: BekaWatercolorFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
OrfhlaithBy: MicailahClay ModelFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Castle of ArpiarBy: Brenna JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Ragniprava 1By: MicailahColored PencilFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Guardians of the HavenBy: Gabriella SilversteinPhoto ManipulationFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
RebirthBy: Erin JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Princess VarvareBy: MicailahPastel PortraitFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Night of MoonbloodBy: Brenna JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Ragniprava 2By: MicailahColored PencilFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Hymlumé's Garden By: Hannah W.Acrylic and Digital PaintingFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Scroll down to the next post to see more fan art submissions!
Ashamed RosieBy: Kaylee S.Colored PencilFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
An Unlikely FriendshipBy: KristeneAcrylic PaintingFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood A Younger MousehandBy: ToriPencil DrawingFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
BeanaBy: MicailahClay ModelFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Playing on the Lake of Endless BlacknessBy: CaitlynPhotography and Stick ShipsFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Tell Me What You WantBy: Abby C.Pencil DrawingFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood LeoBy: MicailahClay ModelFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Monster HuntingBy: Christa W.WatercolorFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Rose Red in the NetherworldBy: TraceyPencil DrawingFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
NoorhitamBy: Brenna JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Rosie's Faerie FormBy: Kaylee S.Colored PencilFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Leo and Rosie, Together AgainBy: Jessica M.WatercolorFrom: Veiled RoseBook 2 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Carrun CorgarBy: Brenna JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Eanrin and ImralderaBy: MicailahClay ModelsFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Varvare's ChoiceBy: Allysa F.Mixed Media SculptureMetal, Stone, Fire, Water, Feather, Rose VinesFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Princess VarvareBy: Christa W.WatercolorFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Queen Bebo and Lady HymluméBy: MicailahPencil DrawingFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Queen Anahid and VarvareBy: ChloeLego ArtFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Lady HymluméBy: BekaWatercolorFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
OrfhlaithBy: MicailahClay ModelFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood Castle of ArpiarBy: Brenna JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Ragniprava 1By: MicailahColored PencilFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Guardians of the HavenBy: Gabriella SilversteinPhoto ManipulationFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
RebirthBy: Erin JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Princess VarvareBy: MicailahPastel PortraitFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Night of MoonbloodBy: Brenna JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Ragniprava 2By: MicailahColored PencilFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Hymlumé's Garden By: Hannah W.Acrylic and Digital PaintingFrom: MoonbloodBook 3 in the Tales of Goldstone WoodScroll down to the next post to see more fan art submissions!
Goldstone Wood Fan Art Contest: 2014 - Third Set
CONTEST SUBMISSIONS
Vista Over RudiobusBy: Allison R.WatercolorFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
A Friendly PropositionBy: Bret W.Lego and Digital ArtFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Bard Eanrin of Rudiobus By: Jessica (age 12)Pencil DrawingFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Glomar the Badger By: MicailahPencil DrawingFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Tower of EtalpalliBy: Brenna JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The LakeBy: Allison R.WatercolorFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The Hound and His KnightBy: Lynn and JasperPhotographyFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Starflower's, Panther Master's, and Fairbird's Name BeadsBy: MicailahClay BeadsFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
StarflowerBy: BekaWatercolor
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Orfhlaith and ImralderaBy: Chloe W.Colored Pencil
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Starflower's Name BeadBy: CaitlynPhotography and Painted Paper Bead
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Bracelet of RudiobusBy: MicailahClay Jewelry
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
ImralderaBy: AnnaWatercolor
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Faerie QueenBy: Bret W.Lego and Digital Art
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
King Iubdan and Queen BeboBy: MicailahClay Models
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Song for StarflowerBy: BekaColored Pencil
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Guardian of FionnghualaBy: CaitlynCeramic Model Painting
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
GlomarBy: MicailahClay Model
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Eanrin Character and Expression SheetBy: Melanie J. MorganDigital Art
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Eanrin (Cat Form) Character and Expression SheetBy: Melanie J. MorganDigital Art
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
ChuMana's DemesneBy: MicailahPencil Drawing
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
StarflowerBy: Jemma (age 11)Clay Model
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Eanrin Names ImralderaBy: Hannah W.Acrylic and Digital Animation
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Book Teaser for Dragonwitch (Click Here) By: Jenelle HovdePencil Drawings and Animation Effects
From: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Hri Sora: Bed of AshBy: Jenelle HovdePencil Drawing
From: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The Unicorn of the StarsBy: Jessica (age 12)Pencil Drawing
From: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The DragonwitchBy: Bret W.Lego and Digital Art
From: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Hri Sora: Hope LostBy: Jenelle HovdePencil Drawing
From: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Gaheris CastleBy: Brenna JonesPhoto Manipulation
From: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
I Wouldn't Ask You to Marry a DwarfBy: Tori and Kitty A.Lego Art
From: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Etanun Ashiun: VengeanceBy: Jenelle HovdePencil Drawing
From: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The Brothers AshiunBy: Hannah W.Acrylic and Digital Art
From: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Dragonwitch Book TeaserBy: Hannah W.Movie, Photography, and Recording Effects
From: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Scroll down to the next post for more fan art submissions!
Vista Over RudiobusBy: Allison R.WatercolorFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
A Friendly PropositionBy: Bret W.Lego and Digital ArtFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Bard Eanrin of Rudiobus By: Jessica (age 12)Pencil DrawingFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Glomar the Badger By: MicailahPencil DrawingFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Tower of EtalpalliBy: Brenna JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The LakeBy: Allison R.WatercolorFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The Hound and His KnightBy: Lynn and JasperPhotographyFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone WoodStarflower's, Panther Master's, and Fairbird's Name BeadsBy: MicailahClay BeadsFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
StarflowerBy: BekaWatercolorFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Orfhlaith and ImralderaBy: Chloe W.Colored PencilFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Starflower's Name BeadBy: CaitlynPhotography and Painted Paper BeadFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Bracelet of RudiobusBy: MicailahClay JewelryFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
ImralderaBy: AnnaWatercolorFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Faerie QueenBy: Bret W.Lego and Digital ArtFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
King Iubdan and Queen BeboBy: MicailahClay Models
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Song for StarflowerBy: BekaColored PencilFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Guardian of FionnghualaBy: CaitlynCeramic Model PaintingFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
GlomarBy: MicailahClay ModelFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Eanrin Character and Expression SheetBy: Melanie J. MorganDigital ArtFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Eanrin (Cat Form) Character and Expression SheetBy: Melanie J. MorganDigital ArtFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
ChuMana's DemesneBy: MicailahPencil DrawingFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
StarflowerBy: Jemma (age 11)Clay ModelFrom: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Eanrin Names ImralderaBy: Hannah W.Acrylic and Digital Animation
From: StarflowerBook 4 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Book Teaser for Dragonwitch (Click Here) By: Jenelle HovdePencil Drawings and Animation Effects
From: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Hri Sora: Bed of AshBy: Jenelle HovdePencil DrawingFrom: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The Unicorn of the StarsBy: Jessica (age 12)Pencil DrawingFrom: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The DragonwitchBy: Bret W.Lego and Digital ArtFrom: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Hri Sora: Hope LostBy: Jenelle HovdePencil DrawingFrom: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Gaheris CastleBy: Brenna JonesPhoto ManipulationFrom: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
I Wouldn't Ask You to Marry a DwarfBy: Tori and Kitty A.Lego ArtFrom: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Etanun Ashiun: VengeanceBy: Jenelle HovdePencil DrawingFrom: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The Brothers AshiunBy: Hannah W.Acrylic and Digital ArtFrom: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Dragonwitch Book TeaserBy: Hannah W.Movie, Photography, and Recording Effects
From: DragonwitchBook 5 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Scroll down to the next post for more fan art submissions!
Goldstone Wood Fan Art Contest: 2014 - Fourth Set
CONTEST SUBMISSIONS
DaylilyBy: BekaColored Pencil
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Daylily"The fire in her hair is only matched by the fire in her eyes.She is cold enough to be considered cruel, and soft enough to be loved." By: Gwen PhillipsPencil Drawing
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
DaylilyBy: Jemma (age 11)Clay and Toy Model
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Faeries of the BetweenBy: Missy S.Colored Pencil and InkFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The WellBy: Allison R.Watercolor
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Daylily and the SongbirdBy: MicailahClay Models
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Sun Eagle: WarriorBy: Jenelle HovdePencil Drawing
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Nidawi the EverbloomingBy: BekaWatercolor
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
This AloneBy: Gabriella SilversteinDigital Art
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Lionheart"He has lost his inheritance, and is quite unsure of himself,but he still has the heart (and face) of a prince."By: Gwen PhillipsPencil Drawing
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
DaylilyBy: AnnaPencil Drawing
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Nidawi the EverbloomingBy: Missy S.Pencil Drawing
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Sir Eanrin Takes a RiskBy: Jenelle HovdePencil Drawing
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Felix"This is not the young and naive Felix we know from the past.This is a dragon fighting, (but still goofy) Felix we've come to love." By: Gwen PhillipsPencil Drawing
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Woodland JoyBy: Hannah W.Acrylic and Digital Painting
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
I Shall Call Him LionBy: Gabriella SilversteinDigital Art
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Munny and the EyesBy: Allison R.Watercolor
From: Goddess TitheNovella 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Golden DaughterBy: JoniDigital Art
From: Golden DaughterBook 7 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
(coming November 2014)
And there you have it, dear imps and art enthusiasts! An impressive display of creativity this year. I am overwhelmed by the talent of all these artists and couldn't begin to guess who the winner will be.
Your vote matters, so be certain to email me (aestengl@gmail.com) with your top three picks out of all these choices. Voting will last through the 18th, and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be announced on April 19th.
Big thanks to all of you participants! You have made this year's contest the biggest and most exciting yet.
DaylilyBy: BekaColored PencilFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Daylily"The fire in her hair is only matched by the fire in her eyes.She is cold enough to be considered cruel, and soft enough to be loved." By: Gwen PhillipsPencil DrawingFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
DaylilyBy: Jemma (age 11)Clay and Toy ModelFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Faeries of the BetweenBy: Missy S.Colored Pencil and InkFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
The WellBy: Allison R.WatercolorFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Daylily and the SongbirdBy: MicailahClay ModelsFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Sun Eagle: WarriorBy: Jenelle HovdePencil DrawingFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Nidawi the EverbloomingBy: BekaWatercolorFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
This AloneBy: Gabriella SilversteinDigital ArtFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Lionheart"He has lost his inheritance, and is quite unsure of himself,but he still has the heart (and face) of a prince."By: Gwen PhillipsPencil DrawingFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
DaylilyBy: AnnaPencil DrawingFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Nidawi the EverbloomingBy: Missy S.Pencil DrawingFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Sir Eanrin Takes a RiskBy: Jenelle HovdePencil DrawingFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Felix"This is not the young and naive Felix we know from the past.This is a dragon fighting, (but still goofy) Felix we've come to love." By: Gwen PhillipsPencil DrawingFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Woodland JoyBy: Hannah W.Acrylic and Digital PaintingFrom: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
I Shall Call Him LionBy: Gabriella SilversteinDigital Art
From: Shadow HandBook 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Munny and the EyesBy: Allison R.WatercolorFrom: Goddess TitheNovella 1 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
Golden DaughterBy: JoniDigital ArtFrom: Golden DaughterBook 7 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood
(coming November 2014)
And there you have it, dear imps and art enthusiasts! An impressive display of creativity this year. I am overwhelmed by the talent of all these artists and couldn't begin to guess who the winner will be.
Your vote matters, so be certain to email me (aestengl@gmail.com) with your top three picks out of all these choices. Voting will last through the 18th, and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be announced on April 19th.
Big thanks to all of you participants! You have made this year's contest the biggest and most exciting yet.
April 9, 2014
Doings at Rooglewood: April
So we all know what the big doing of April is . . .
That's right. My mother's novel is releasing in just a little more than three weeks! Actually . . . the Kindle version should be available later today. That's right! You can go BUY a copy of this wonderful, romantic, suspenseful novel of the French Revolution.
And you totally should.
It's fun to see ratings and reviews for this wonderful novel starting to go up on Goodreads. And the blog tour is coming up on May 5th, so you'll want to be sure to catch that! I have been spending quite a lot of my time working to get this project ready to print. But now there are only a few steps left to go. Then it's off to the reading world . . . Wow. It's a bit hard to let go . . .
So the other fun event of April is:
Oh, yes! The annual fan art contest which launches this Friday. And which is by far the biggest contest we've had yet. When I sat down and started formatting the posts (yes, you read that right . . . there were too many pictures to fit into a single post!) I confess I was a tiny bit overwhelmed. There were just soooo many! Which does make for an awesome feature, but also for an awesome amount of formatting. They look great now, though, and are all set to go on Friday.
I really couldn't begin to guess at a winner this year. You'll see what I mean on Friday. So many wonderful pieces were sent in in such a variety of styles. Your vote very well may make the difference . . .
Let's see, what else. Oh, yes! The Five Glass Slippers work is coming along nicely. We are deeply involved in the formatting stage of this project, and many of you may have seen the final designs for the title pages, which I posted on Facebook the other day. For those of you not on facebook, here's a little preview:
This one is for the first story in the collection, the romantic, sweet, and beautifully written What Eyes Can See. I love how this image turned out, how well it suits the story! That subtle implication that that she's right under his nose . . .
But I don't want to give away any plot points, so I'll say no more. Emma Clifton, Rachel Heffington, Stephanie Ricker, and Clara Diane Thompson have each shared their title pages on their blogs too, so if you want to see them, do stop by and visit them! And why not leave a comment and follow their blogs while you're at it?
Do you remember how I promised a Goldstone Wood Musical Contest this year? Well, I made a poster for it . . .
Rohan says this image is too terribly cheesy for words. But I like it! (Hey, I'm from Wisconsin. We like cheese there.) So I don't know if this will be the official banner for the contest or not . . . still, it lets you know the date to aim for. I plan to write up the contest rules for all of you next week, so be watching for it. You can probably pretty much guess what they'll be anyway.
Mutti-Cat is doing so well!!!
Fluffy and in need of chin scratches . . . She is old and a bit cantankerous, but she is settling in beautifully at Rooglewood! She still doesn't like anyone but me (and sometimes Rohan), but that's okay. She loooooooves me, and I can work with that.
Oh, and look . . .
A rare shot of me with most of the beasts. Only Magrat's tail-end is showing in the corner there, Minerva had hopped down behind the arm of the couch, and Mutti-Cat wasn't willing to hang with the rest of the kitty-folk. But otherwise you get Monster in mid-yawn, Makoose in mid-groom, Marmaduke in mid-phaser blast, and Milly in mid-hide-in-terror. There's also an oppossum and a hedgehog, for those of you who like hidden-items picture puzzles . . .
And yes, I'm writing. Not as much as I would like, but I am writing. I finally decided that, despite ALL THE REST OF THE WORK piled up on my desk, I am going to carve out a few hours of writing time in the morning, no matter what. Everything else will just happen when it happens.
This means I have missed one live interview, two vet appointments, several meals, and all the phone calls ever made.
But there is Story happening, so who cares?
(And I've rescheduled the interview and the vet appointments, and Rohan made an enormous pot of rice and curry so that I would eat, and I don't even know half the numbers of those who called, so I'm not going to worry about that.)
We're also planning to repaint most of Rooglewood. Yeeeeeeeeeee.
That's right. My mother's novel is releasing in just a little more than three weeks! Actually . . . the Kindle version should be available later today. That's right! You can go BUY a copy of this wonderful, romantic, suspenseful novel of the French Revolution.
And you totally should.
It's fun to see ratings and reviews for this wonderful novel starting to go up on Goodreads. And the blog tour is coming up on May 5th, so you'll want to be sure to catch that! I have been spending quite a lot of my time working to get this project ready to print. But now there are only a few steps left to go. Then it's off to the reading world . . . Wow. It's a bit hard to let go . . .
So the other fun event of April is:
Oh, yes! The annual fan art contest which launches this Friday. And which is by far the biggest contest we've had yet. When I sat down and started formatting the posts (yes, you read that right . . . there were too many pictures to fit into a single post!) I confess I was a tiny bit overwhelmed. There were just soooo many! Which does make for an awesome feature, but also for an awesome amount of formatting. They look great now, though, and are all set to go on Friday.
I really couldn't begin to guess at a winner this year. You'll see what I mean on Friday. So many wonderful pieces were sent in in such a variety of styles. Your vote very well may make the difference . . .
Let's see, what else. Oh, yes! The Five Glass Slippers work is coming along nicely. We are deeply involved in the formatting stage of this project, and many of you may have seen the final designs for the title pages, which I posted on Facebook the other day. For those of you not on facebook, here's a little preview:
This one is for the first story in the collection, the romantic, sweet, and beautifully written What Eyes Can See. I love how this image turned out, how well it suits the story! That subtle implication that that she's right under his nose . . .
But I don't want to give away any plot points, so I'll say no more. Emma Clifton, Rachel Heffington, Stephanie Ricker, and Clara Diane Thompson have each shared their title pages on their blogs too, so if you want to see them, do stop by and visit them! And why not leave a comment and follow their blogs while you're at it?
Do you remember how I promised a Goldstone Wood Musical Contest this year? Well, I made a poster for it . . .
Rohan says this image is too terribly cheesy for words. But I like it! (Hey, I'm from Wisconsin. We like cheese there.) So I don't know if this will be the official banner for the contest or not . . . still, it lets you know the date to aim for. I plan to write up the contest rules for all of you next week, so be watching for it. You can probably pretty much guess what they'll be anyway.
Mutti-Cat is doing so well!!!
Fluffy and in need of chin scratches . . . She is old and a bit cantankerous, but she is settling in beautifully at Rooglewood! She still doesn't like anyone but me (and sometimes Rohan), but that's okay. She loooooooves me, and I can work with that.Oh, and look . . .
A rare shot of me with most of the beasts. Only Magrat's tail-end is showing in the corner there, Minerva had hopped down behind the arm of the couch, and Mutti-Cat wasn't willing to hang with the rest of the kitty-folk. But otherwise you get Monster in mid-yawn, Makoose in mid-groom, Marmaduke in mid-phaser blast, and Milly in mid-hide-in-terror. There's also an oppossum and a hedgehog, for those of you who like hidden-items picture puzzles . . .
And yes, I'm writing. Not as much as I would like, but I am writing. I finally decided that, despite ALL THE REST OF THE WORK piled up on my desk, I am going to carve out a few hours of writing time in the morning, no matter what. Everything else will just happen when it happens.
This means I have missed one live interview, two vet appointments, several meals, and all the phone calls ever made.
But there is Story happening, so who cares?
(And I've rescheduled the interview and the vet appointments, and Rohan made an enormous pot of rice and curry so that I would eat, and I don't even know half the numbers of those who called, so I'm not going to worry about that.)
We're also planning to repaint most of Rooglewood. Yeeeeeeeeeee.
April 7, 2014
The Hotel Between
It's a bit hard to follow up the excitement of a Scavenger Hunt weekend, but I did promise you dear readers a post about my exciting week in Orlando . . . so here you go!
As we were riding along in our taxicab, chatting with the cab driver about his days in the army and the fifteen foot alligator he saw down the street--you know, all things you talk to Orlando cab drivers about--I spotted a certain building on the horizon. Now I knew were going to stay in a resort hotel. Rohan was attending a work conference all week, and I was going along for company. I figured it would be nice.
I just didn't figure it would be this:
I think my jaw was down about my ankles by the time we had stepped into the lobby. The lobby which was hung with tapestries. Tapestries of peacocks.
Do you know how I feel about peacocks? I used to dream about owning a pet peacock whom I would walk about on a leash and who would live in my back garden. (You can probably guess that this wasn't a recent dream.) Now I will dream of owning a tapestry of peacocks.
Sadly I forgot to get a picture of these tapestries. But you see that image on the wall to the left? There were peacocks.
Later on when Rohan and I trotted over to check out the convention center side of things, we found an entire foyer with a, like, bazillion foot ceiling, which was also painted in peacocks. (I forgot to get a picture of that too. Sorry.) I was beginning to think peacocks would be the animal of the trip . . . but that was before the alligators.
More on that later.
So we checked in and then stepped from the lobby in to the main courtyard, which looks like this:
The chatty cab driver told us that this hotel boats more than four acres of indoor forest to be explored. Of course I didn't see it from this view right away! The first thing I saw after stepping through the pillars and tapestries of the lobby was this:
That's right. A waterfall. An indoor waterfall surrounded by blooming tulips.
We wended our way down various winding tracks, searching for our room. This is a bit more difficult than is typical in a hotel, but we were provided with a map.
And there were convenient little signs along the way.
We were almost to our room at this point!
The path was bordered with hydrangeas!
And there! Take a left down the passage next to the fountain, and there you have our room!
I will say, the actual room itself was nothing to shout about. It wasn't shabby by any means. It just wasn't special like the rest of the hotel. A good place to work without distraction, which was just as well since I'd brought a ton of work to do.
But that first evening, we had to time go explore the hotel.
Now I want you realize two things. 1) I realize that in Orlando, nothing is real. There aren't really ruined castle turrets to be found in the passageways of this hotel. It's all fake and show.
2) THERE WERE RUINED CASTLE TURRETS!!!!
There were also random, gloomy passages lit by chandeliers and filled with old wine barrels. I'm just sayin'.
And just when you thought you'd got lost in the twists and turns of rather-too-perfectly-maintained-to-believe jungle and ruined castles suddenly . . .
. . . you would emerge in a beautiful little courtyard where coffee shops and frozen yogurt abound.
Of course we stopped for frozen yogurt:
Behold our strange frozen yogurt sundae. This is what happens when two people with very different tastes decide that they should share.
Icky walnuts. Blah! But otherwise, mmmmmm. Part of our view while enjoying our frozen yogurt was of this thing.
Can we call it a gazebo? Can something so glorious be so simply labeled?Naturally we had to climb up to it just to see what it was all about. By then Rohan was tired of being made to pose for the camera:
I made him take a selfie with me then promised I would be the camera model henceforth.
Two tired but happy jungle explorers.We got to the top of the gazebo-thing. It was, of course, impressive.
Pretty roof!
Me taking over as camera model.
Here was the view looking down at the coffee shop. A winding path on this level led us to the tops of some of the turrets.
Looking out for besiegers.
Here's what the path looked like. See the rooms up all around? We didn't have one of those nifty little balconies, but I have pretty bad vertigo, so that's okay!
But the best part of all was this dark, winding, cavernous trail . . .
. . . which led at last to . . . .
. . . ALLIGATORS!
Okay, so they weren't big old fifteen-footers such as our cab driver spoke of. But still! They were alligators! In our hotel! And not in a cage either. I mean, there were fences and little waterfalls and things between us and them. But it was still all very open!
All the turtles seemed to like the alligators too. Several times when I walked by, I would see three or four turtles piled up on top of a gator. (I would say they were "snuggling," but I'm not sure if anything that scaly is capable of snuggles.)
What more can I say? We went for sushi at a restaurant called Sora. Yup. I kept thinking of Hri Sora. Do you think she likes sushi?
And on the last night, we went for dinner on this sweet little schooner. I had the best tuna tartare I've ever had, and Rohan made short work of an excellent fish-n'-chips.
I think that's about it, folks! It was a gorgeous vacation. Well, not really a vacation. Rohan was busy attending conference functions, and I was working like crazy on a variety of Rooglewood Press projects. But still, it was a gorgeous getaway. And we got to play in the pool, which looked like this, so that was awesome.
Back to the real world now. But I don't mind so much. It's nice to be back to the furry faces of Rooglewood . . .
As we were riding along in our taxicab, chatting with the cab driver about his days in the army and the fifteen foot alligator he saw down the street--you know, all things you talk to Orlando cab drivers about--I spotted a certain building on the horizon. Now I knew were going to stay in a resort hotel. Rohan was attending a work conference all week, and I was going along for company. I figured it would be nice.
I just didn't figure it would be this:
I think my jaw was down about my ankles by the time we had stepped into the lobby. The lobby which was hung with tapestries. Tapestries of peacocks.
Do you know how I feel about peacocks? I used to dream about owning a pet peacock whom I would walk about on a leash and who would live in my back garden. (You can probably guess that this wasn't a recent dream.) Now I will dream of owning a tapestry of peacocks.
Sadly I forgot to get a picture of these tapestries. But you see that image on the wall to the left? There were peacocks.Later on when Rohan and I trotted over to check out the convention center side of things, we found an entire foyer with a, like, bazillion foot ceiling, which was also painted in peacocks. (I forgot to get a picture of that too. Sorry.) I was beginning to think peacocks would be the animal of the trip . . . but that was before the alligators.
More on that later.
So we checked in and then stepped from the lobby in to the main courtyard, which looks like this:
The chatty cab driver told us that this hotel boats more than four acres of indoor forest to be explored. Of course I didn't see it from this view right away! The first thing I saw after stepping through the pillars and tapestries of the lobby was this:
That's right. A waterfall. An indoor waterfall surrounded by blooming tulips.
We wended our way down various winding tracks, searching for our room. This is a bit more difficult than is typical in a hotel, but we were provided with a map.
And there were convenient little signs along the way.
We were almost to our room at this point!
The path was bordered with hydrangeas! 
And there! Take a left down the passage next to the fountain, and there you have our room!I will say, the actual room itself was nothing to shout about. It wasn't shabby by any means. It just wasn't special like the rest of the hotel. A good place to work without distraction, which was just as well since I'd brought a ton of work to do.
But that first evening, we had to time go explore the hotel.
Now I want you realize two things. 1) I realize that in Orlando, nothing is real. There aren't really ruined castle turrets to be found in the passageways of this hotel. It's all fake and show.
2) THERE WERE RUINED CASTLE TURRETS!!!!
There were also random, gloomy passages lit by chandeliers and filled with old wine barrels. I'm just sayin'.
And just when you thought you'd got lost in the twists and turns of rather-too-perfectly-maintained-to-believe jungle and ruined castles suddenly . . .
. . . you would emerge in a beautiful little courtyard where coffee shops and frozen yogurt abound.
Of course we stopped for frozen yogurt:
Behold our strange frozen yogurt sundae. This is what happens when two people with very different tastes decide that they should share.
Icky walnuts. Blah! But otherwise, mmmmmm. Part of our view while enjoying our frozen yogurt was of this thing.
Can we call it a gazebo? Can something so glorious be so simply labeled?Naturally we had to climb up to it just to see what it was all about. By then Rohan was tired of being made to pose for the camera:
I made him take a selfie with me then promised I would be the camera model henceforth.
Two tired but happy jungle explorers.We got to the top of the gazebo-thing. It was, of course, impressive.
Pretty roof!Me taking over as camera model.
Here was the view looking down at the coffee shop. A winding path on this level led us to the tops of some of the turrets.Looking out for besiegers. Here's what the path looked like. See the rooms up all around? We didn't have one of those nifty little balconies, but I have pretty bad vertigo, so that's okay!
But the best part of all was this dark, winding, cavernous trail . . .
. . . which led at last to . . . .
. . . ALLIGATORS!Okay, so they weren't big old fifteen-footers such as our cab driver spoke of. But still! They were alligators! In our hotel! And not in a cage either. I mean, there were fences and little waterfalls and things between us and them. But it was still all very open!
All the turtles seemed to like the alligators too. Several times when I walked by, I would see three or four turtles piled up on top of a gator. (I would say they were "snuggling," but I'm not sure if anything that scaly is capable of snuggles.)
What more can I say? We went for sushi at a restaurant called Sora. Yup. I kept thinking of Hri Sora. Do you think she likes sushi?
And on the last night, we went for dinner on this sweet little schooner. I had the best tuna tartare I've ever had, and Rohan made short work of an excellent fish-n'-chips.
I think that's about it, folks! It was a gorgeous vacation. Well, not really a vacation. Rohan was busy attending conference functions, and I was working like crazy on a variety of Rooglewood Press projects. But still, it was a gorgeous getaway. And we got to play in the pool, which looked like this, so that was awesome.
Back to the real world now. But I don't mind so much. It's nice to be back to the furry faces of Rooglewood . . .
April 3, 2014
Spring Scavenger Hunt: Stop #18
Welcome, scavenger hunters, to the Spring Scavenger Hunt!The hunt begins on April 4 at noon Mountain time. If you want to start at the beginning, visit robinleehatcher.com and follow the links on through the full cycle, back to her blog, gathering your clues along the way. Or you can just start here and proceed! Remember that you will need to gather all 32 clues to finish the hunt.It ends on April 6 at midnight Mountain, so there's no race to the end! You have all weekend. Check near the end of each post to get your clue in red. Write them down as you go!
And yes, the hunt is open to international entries. And the prizes include a Kindle Fire HDX + $100 gift certificate. And the two runners-up will receive all 31 of our books!
Now that's out of the way, it's my pleasure to introduce you to an exciting author, my guest for the hunt. Lisa T. Bergren is the award-winning author of over 40 books! She is versatile and always innovative, writing everything from children's picture books, YA, historical romances, non-fiction, and more. Her most recent acclaimed work was the wildly popular River of Time series, a time-travel, romantic, YA adventure.
But today I am excited to feature her newest release. Lisa started thinking about Remnants after she finished reading the Hunger Games trilogy, and was wishing there’d been a bit more hope and healing in the ending of the trilogy, as well as some sort of spiritual aspect. From that germ of an idea, she wove the tapestry of this new, YA-dystopian-fantasy-suspense-romance series, beginning with Remnants: Season of Wonder, in which seven children are born into a world on the precipice of demise…in order to save it. Propelled by a mission from the Maker, and pursued by forces of darkness, the Remnants set out on a perilous journey to accomplish impossible tasks with world-changing consequences. You can purchase a copy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD, or your local bookstore. And don't forget to add it to your Goodreads page!Today, Lisa is sharing about:
The Inspiration Behind the Locale: The Valley
Remnants: Season of Wonder begins in the Valley, a rainy, verdant forest clinging to the mountainsides. Here, Andriana and Ronan have been raised and trained, prepared for the mission ahead of them. There are two seasons—Hoarfrost and Harvest, and little in between. Much like Colorado! Our seasons are very short and Spring and Fall, in particular, whip by.
I used Telluride, Colorado as the basis of my model for this valley, because I loved how the mountains climbed above the tree line and there was tons of water. Tim and I went to Telluride for our 20th anniversary, and rode the gondola up and over the summit, and into town each day. It was so beautiful…and romantic! I knew it was only a matter of time before I wove it into a novel. Pictured below is Bridal Veil Falls, a lovely hike at the mouth of the Valley. Near the top of the trail is an abandoned mine. In Remnants, I weave in how people scavenge metal from old mines and the like for weapons. In the Valley, there’s also the Citadel, a fortress carved from the granite mountainside. While I didn’t visit any real Citadel, the mine was what made me start thinking about it. The Remnants receive their blessing and first mission at the Citadel, and leave the Valley for the desert and beyond. But their hearts are always here. And for good reason!________Thank you for sharing with us today, Lisa! What a beautiful, inspiring photo.Now hunters, it's time to continue with your quest: THE SCAVENGER HUNT SKINNYThanks for stopping by the Tales of Goldstone Wood blog! Before you move on to Stop #19, Lisa T. Bergren's own site, to pick up your next clue, be sure to write down this Stop #18 clue: --Haruki Murakami
And there you go! Good luck with the hunt . . .
Oh, but wait. Before you go, you can also enter your name to win a copy of my newest release, Shadow Hand, book 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood.a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 31, 2014
Voting Reminder
Hi, readers! I feel like I'm doing nothing but reminders on the blog these days, and I do apologize for that. We have some awesomely fun things coming up quite soon, though, including the ENORMOUS Scavenger Hunt and the equally ENORMOUS Fan Art Contest.In the meanwhile, I wanted to let you guys know that today is the last day to cast your vote for the Clive Staples Award. For those of you who don't know, this is an award for excellence in Christian Fantasy specifically. I was totally surprised and delighted last year when you guys voted Starflower as the 2013 winner. This year, Dragonwitch is nominated, and there are also a number of other titles you will recognize! Jennette Mbewe's Secrets Kept, Morgan Busse's Son of Truth, RJ Larson's, King . . . and that's just to name a few!
You can look at the rules for voting here. The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges, but the finalists are decided by you.
Thank you, imps! And keep your eyes open for the Scavenger Hunt starting on Friday . . .
