Frances Pauli's Blog, page 13
January 22, 2013
Get This S**t Started
I am a huge fan of ZeFrank. His show makes me smile when I'm not in the mood to smile, and that is no easy feat. I became a huge fan after watching the video below, and so, I'm going to shamelessly share it here in hopes that he makes you smile too. Feel the love here, folks. :)
And just skip the lil ad at the beginning. Remember when all entertainment had commercials? No? Damn. When did I get all old and shit....
Oh yeah, there's cussing and shit. My bad.
And just skip the lil ad at the beginning. Remember when all entertainment had commercials? No? Damn. When did I get all old and shit....
Oh yeah, there's cussing and shit. My bad.
January 9, 2013
Can you Hear me Now?
It's an audio thing, you see, and I have audio on the brain today. Not simply because my seven year old insisted on listening to the Green Children song Dragons during his P.E. session today (he has good taste, and I take full credit for that) but also because I'm hip deep in making audio books these days.
Space Slugs is, as of this week, officially in audio book production, and the anthology, A Little Short for an Alien, is right behind. I'm getting auditions from some amazing, really brilliantly amazing folks, and I am so excited I could burst.
Coming soon to an audio device of your choice.
So, audio and music and stuff got me thinking about soundtracks. Always loved them. Some of my favorite albums are, in fact, feature length movie soundtracks. I know a lot of authors have "playlists" for their novels, things they listened to or recommend listening to while reading their books. I don't. At least, so far I don't. It's not that I don't love the idea though. It's just that usually if I want writing time at all, I have to do it with some form of children's television playing in the background.
But, I feel sort of left out about it, and I realized the other day that there ARE in fact a few songs, individual songs, that I associate with some of my books. Sort of an "our song" kind of thing. :) Sappy, I get it, but true.And if I ever imagined a movie made from my novels (okay, I ALWAYS imagine that) I do have some picks for perfect theme songs.
And of course, I'm going to share them now. :D Lucky y'all.
First up, A Moth in Darkness is a perfect fit (and I listened obsessively to it) for Flinch by Alanis Morissette. It's the fourth track on the Under Rug Swept album, and you know, it's like all about Liz and Lockland. (in my head.)
I listened to a lot of Tricky Pixie during the spawning of the Kingdoms Gone series (coming soon) and the song Taglio in particular inspired my tinkers and Gentry races. Great music. Super wild and feral fairy-ish.
Then came Dogs of War and a very melancholy mood in which I obsessed a lot over Gotye's Somebody that I Used to Know. I'm sure he didn't mean the song to refer to a past life obsession, but it works. It really does.
And my latest urban fantasy adventure, Kundalis, (still very much in the roughing it stage) features dragons...and brings us back to the Green Children. I'll leave you there. Despite the fact that the books are about dragons, I like Skies on Fire for the theme. Though Dragons would work. Considering I wrote the book in Eastern Washington in August, so would Burning Down the House... but that is a story for much later. Another time. :)
Let the music play,
~ Frances
Space Slugs is, as of this week, officially in audio book production, and the anthology, A Little Short for an Alien, is right behind. I'm getting auditions from some amazing, really brilliantly amazing folks, and I am so excited I could burst.
Coming soon to an audio device of your choice.
So, audio and music and stuff got me thinking about soundtracks. Always loved them. Some of my favorite albums are, in fact, feature length movie soundtracks. I know a lot of authors have "playlists" for their novels, things they listened to or recommend listening to while reading their books. I don't. At least, so far I don't. It's not that I don't love the idea though. It's just that usually if I want writing time at all, I have to do it with some form of children's television playing in the background.
But, I feel sort of left out about it, and I realized the other day that there ARE in fact a few songs, individual songs, that I associate with some of my books. Sort of an "our song" kind of thing. :) Sappy, I get it, but true.And if I ever imagined a movie made from my novels (okay, I ALWAYS imagine that) I do have some picks for perfect theme songs.
And of course, I'm going to share them now. :D Lucky y'all.
First up, A Moth in Darkness is a perfect fit (and I listened obsessively to it) for Flinch by Alanis Morissette. It's the fourth track on the Under Rug Swept album, and you know, it's like all about Liz and Lockland. (in my head.)
I listened to a lot of Tricky Pixie during the spawning of the Kingdoms Gone series (coming soon) and the song Taglio in particular inspired my tinkers and Gentry races. Great music. Super wild and feral fairy-ish.
Then came Dogs of War and a very melancholy mood in which I obsessed a lot over Gotye's Somebody that I Used to Know. I'm sure he didn't mean the song to refer to a past life obsession, but it works. It really does.
And my latest urban fantasy adventure, Kundalis, (still very much in the roughing it stage) features dragons...and brings us back to the Green Children. I'll leave you there. Despite the fact that the books are about dragons, I like Skies on Fire for the theme. Though Dragons would work. Considering I wrote the book in Eastern Washington in August, so would Burning Down the House... but that is a story for much later. Another time. :)
Let the music play,
~ Frances
January 3, 2013
Guest Author, Voss Foster
Today I have the honor of hosting a spot in a blog tour featuring my good friend and fellow author, Voss Foster. His debut novel, Tartaros, is just releasing and he's hanging with us today to discuss the book. Give him a round of virtual applause. y'all.
Voss has also arranged a free copy of Tartaros for one lucky tour visitor. Make sure you leave a valid email in the comments to enter! Good luck. :-)
Thank you so very much for having me here, Frances.
Personally, I love finding out things that the writer didn’t put in the book. It pleases me. So I thought: why not?
Ten Secrets of Tartaros
Archer and Rosalita were both taken from an entirely separate story…although, now that I think about it, my main character was named Daniel in that one too…*cue Twilight Zone theme song.*In the very first draft, Isaiah and Daniel had a small fling. Mind you, this was back before I’d established the current plot.I never once established boundaries to what kind of magic demon hunters could do. Never. I made it all up as I went along, just using my knowledge of folklore and such.Each of the Four Horsemen can summon servants, but I only show three (Lilith’s hellhounds, Tartaros’ wasps, and Syrobon’s tigers). Meteris could summon what are essentially Stymphalian birds: poisonous birds made of metal that can shoot their feathers.Though it never featured in, the silver stake is only the weapon of choice among hunters in Western Europe, Canada, and the US. In China, they use silver bo staffs. In Eastern Europe and the Middle East, heavy, curved swords take dominance. You’re more likely to find arrows, spears, darts—anything long range—in both South America and Africa.Rosalita’s pocket pistol is actually an Elliot four-barrel, for those of you interested in guns.The book is actually set in my hometown, and the tavern over the compound actually exists. An old family friend actually just sold it a few months ago. When I talk about the multicolored rubble, it’s from the huge mural on the side of the tattoo parlor next door to the tavern.Rathbone never actually went to China. Technically, Daniel’s promotion was never approved.Shauna went through a whole bunch of name changes. At first, she was Lillian, but that was far too similar to Lilith. Then she turned into Jillian, but she has red hair. A reckless redhead named Jillian was far too Practical Magic for me. So, she ended up as Shauna.Less than a week before Tartaros got picked up by Prizm Books, I was complaining to a friend about the hideous, stilted dialogue, the weak plot, and the general lack of anything good in the book. When I then told her it got picked up, she found that very amusing.~~~~~~~Blurb:A demon hunter, Daniel Tartaros is sworn to slay the denizens of Hell and, for over a decade, he has. He’s kept the world, and his girlfriend, safe. But, one night, the demons cross the threshold to his home. His girlfriend is taken, possessed by a powerful demon. Too powerful for him.
But the horror increases when he finds out the truth: it’s not just a demon. Lilith, the Queen of Hell, bound herself into a human body to be with him. But, broken free and without the restraint of a human life, she still needs him, and plans to use all of her power to keep him. She’ll do what it takes to keep him, even if it means the end of life.
They should pull apart, should, by all means, abandon their relationship. But something powerful pushes them together, something so subtle neither notices until it’s too late to turn back. With Earth hanging by spider’s silk, the tiniest ripple from either Daniel or Lilith could send it swinging into the fires of destruction.~~~~~~~Pick Up Your Copy Of Tartaros HERE :)
Voss Foster lives in the middle of the Eastern Washington desert, where he writes speculative fiction from inside a single-wide trailer. When he can be torn away from his keyboard, he can be found cooking, practicing photography, singing, playing trombone, and belly dancing, though rarely all at once. His first full length work, Tartaros, is out now through Prizm Books.
Blog: http://vossfoster.blogspot.comTwitter: @VossFosterFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/VossFosterGoogle +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103419943... Available Here (I’ll provide a link when I have one)
BLOG TOUR STOPS
January 2nd: Voss Foster :: Demon Hunting and Tenth Dimensional Physics (http://vossfoster.blogspot.com)January 3rd: Frances Pauli :: Speculative Friction (http://francespauli.blogspot.com)January 4th: M. Pax :: Wistful Nebula (http://mpaxauthor.com/blog/)January 5th: B.B. Hartwich :: B.B. Hartwich Author Blog (http://b-b-hartwich.webnode.com/blog/)January 6th: Adriane Ceallaigh :: Adriane Ceallaigh (http://www.adrianeceallaigh.com/)January 7th: Jaleta Clegg :: The Far Edge of Normal (http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com)January 8th: S. Evan Townsend :: Writer's Thoughts (sevantownsend.blogspot.com)
Voss has also arranged a free copy of Tartaros for one lucky tour visitor. Make sure you leave a valid email in the comments to enter! Good luck. :-)
Thank you so very much for having me here, Frances.
Personally, I love finding out things that the writer didn’t put in the book. It pleases me. So I thought: why not?
Ten Secrets of Tartaros
Archer and Rosalita were both taken from an entirely separate story…although, now that I think about it, my main character was named Daniel in that one too…*cue Twilight Zone theme song.*In the very first draft, Isaiah and Daniel had a small fling. Mind you, this was back before I’d established the current plot.I never once established boundaries to what kind of magic demon hunters could do. Never. I made it all up as I went along, just using my knowledge of folklore and such.Each of the Four Horsemen can summon servants, but I only show three (Lilith’s hellhounds, Tartaros’ wasps, and Syrobon’s tigers). Meteris could summon what are essentially Stymphalian birds: poisonous birds made of metal that can shoot their feathers.Though it never featured in, the silver stake is only the weapon of choice among hunters in Western Europe, Canada, and the US. In China, they use silver bo staffs. In Eastern Europe and the Middle East, heavy, curved swords take dominance. You’re more likely to find arrows, spears, darts—anything long range—in both South America and Africa.Rosalita’s pocket pistol is actually an Elliot four-barrel, for those of you interested in guns.The book is actually set in my hometown, and the tavern over the compound actually exists. An old family friend actually just sold it a few months ago. When I talk about the multicolored rubble, it’s from the huge mural on the side of the tattoo parlor next door to the tavern.Rathbone never actually went to China. Technically, Daniel’s promotion was never approved.Shauna went through a whole bunch of name changes. At first, she was Lillian, but that was far too similar to Lilith. Then she turned into Jillian, but she has red hair. A reckless redhead named Jillian was far too Practical Magic for me. So, she ended up as Shauna.Less than a week before Tartaros got picked up by Prizm Books, I was complaining to a friend about the hideous, stilted dialogue, the weak plot, and the general lack of anything good in the book. When I then told her it got picked up, she found that very amusing.~~~~~~~Blurb:A demon hunter, Daniel Tartaros is sworn to slay the denizens of Hell and, for over a decade, he has. He’s kept the world, and his girlfriend, safe. But, one night, the demons cross the threshold to his home. His girlfriend is taken, possessed by a powerful demon. Too powerful for him.
But the horror increases when he finds out the truth: it’s not just a demon. Lilith, the Queen of Hell, bound herself into a human body to be with him. But, broken free and without the restraint of a human life, she still needs him, and plans to use all of her power to keep him. She’ll do what it takes to keep him, even if it means the end of life.
They should pull apart, should, by all means, abandon their relationship. But something powerful pushes them together, something so subtle neither notices until it’s too late to turn back. With Earth hanging by spider’s silk, the tiniest ripple from either Daniel or Lilith could send it swinging into the fires of destruction.~~~~~~~Pick Up Your Copy Of Tartaros HERE :)
Voss Foster lives in the middle of the Eastern Washington desert, where he writes speculative fiction from inside a single-wide trailer. When he can be torn away from his keyboard, he can be found cooking, practicing photography, singing, playing trombone, and belly dancing, though rarely all at once. His first full length work, Tartaros, is out now through Prizm Books.
Blog: http://vossfoster.blogspot.comTwitter: @VossFosterFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/VossFosterGoogle +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103419943... Available Here (I’ll provide a link when I have one)
BLOG TOUR STOPS
January 2nd: Voss Foster :: Demon Hunting and Tenth Dimensional Physics (http://vossfoster.blogspot.com)January 3rd: Frances Pauli :: Speculative Friction (http://francespauli.blogspot.com)January 4th: M. Pax :: Wistful Nebula (http://mpaxauthor.com/blog/)January 5th: B.B. Hartwich :: B.B. Hartwich Author Blog (http://b-b-hartwich.webnode.com/blog/)January 6th: Adriane Ceallaigh :: Adriane Ceallaigh (http://www.adrianeceallaigh.com/)January 7th: Jaleta Clegg :: The Far Edge of Normal (http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com)January 8th: S. Evan Townsend :: Writer's Thoughts (sevantownsend.blogspot.com)
December 14, 2012
HobbitFest! Blog Hop
Today I am playing in the Shire along with fellow author (amazing author) M. Pax and friends. All of us have answered four hobbity questions and, while you can find my answers below, the rest can be hopped to via the lovely linky list. SO tuck in for some second breakfast...or elevensies...or supper, and have a hairy-toed day!
~ Frances
What is your favorite hobbit characteristic/or the one that you think closely resembles you . . .?I, like many a hobbit, prefer underground homes and staying put at home. Since I live above ground, I have to settle for the latter. I'm not likely to be out and about unless absolutely necessary.
If you could choose between a scrumptious second breakfast and a perilous unexpected journey – which would you prefer?Second breakfast. In my younger years perhaps....no, it probably would have been breakfast then too.
Have you ever left behind something on a journey (expected or unexpected) and wished you could have it over and over again? (a pocket handkerchief?)Oddly enough, a ring. I once left a white gold and ruby ring behind during a move. It was far too lovely not to think about from time to time and sniffle.
What is your Favorite part or quote from the book that you hope will be in the movie?
Dragon. Lots and lots of dragon. Dragon dragon dragon. So long as they get Smaug right and often, I'll be happy....though, after seeing some of the pre-release PR, I have to say, lots of Balin works for me too. Like, wow. Who ever would have suspected a yummy dwarf?
Okay, that's me in a hobbit nutshell. Now, off to the others, and don't forget to poke around here a little as well, or even better, sign up for the newsletter in the sidebar for new release info and cover reveals.
~ Frances
What is your favorite hobbit characteristic/or the one that you think closely resembles you . . .?I, like many a hobbit, prefer underground homes and staying put at home. Since I live above ground, I have to settle for the latter. I'm not likely to be out and about unless absolutely necessary.
If you could choose between a scrumptious second breakfast and a perilous unexpected journey – which would you prefer?Second breakfast. In my younger years perhaps....no, it probably would have been breakfast then too.
Have you ever left behind something on a journey (expected or unexpected) and wished you could have it over and over again? (a pocket handkerchief?)Oddly enough, a ring. I once left a white gold and ruby ring behind during a move. It was far too lovely not to think about from time to time and sniffle.
What is your Favorite part or quote from the book that you hope will be in the movie?
Dragon. Lots and lots of dragon. Dragon dragon dragon. So long as they get Smaug right and often, I'll be happy....though, after seeing some of the pre-release PR, I have to say, lots of Balin works for me too. Like, wow. Who ever would have suspected a yummy dwarf?
Okay, that's me in a hobbit nutshell. Now, off to the others, and don't forget to poke around here a little as well, or even better, sign up for the newsletter in the sidebar for new release info and cover reveals.
December 7, 2012
Rolling Along...
My science fiction short story, Souls of the Wicked, appeared in the Wandering Weeds anthology this week. The book is a collection of "tumbleweed themed" short stories, and a fantastic cross-section of genre fiction with some amazingly talented authors inside. I am happy and proud to be included among them, and to have had the pleasure of serving as co-editor on the book.
I hope you enjoy it, and the excerpt from Souls of the Wicked below.
While you're in blog land, follow the hop links for more inside scoop, stories and sneak peeks into Wandering Weeds: tales of rabid vegetation.
The Souls of the Wicked
"You been here long?" The cabby flicked a glance in the rear-view mirror and blinked several bulbous eyes. "No." He ran a finger over the leather contraption in his lap and frowned. "I thought the atmosphere was breathable." He examined the respirator. It looked like an antique, not something he felt inclined to trust with his life. "The planetary record lists this as a safe zone for humanoids." "Atmosphere's fine," the cabby croaked. "It's the dust." He jerked his huge head toward the side window. "The dust cakes in your lungs, gills, whatever. Kills you slowly." "Right." Good to remember. He fumbled with the breather's straps and felt for thin spots. Not that he planned to stay here long enough to be killed slowly. "Thanks." "Where you from?" the cabby continued, moved by the tradition of his occupation to fill the silence with meaningless chatter. Cabbies, it seemed, were the same everywhere. "Here and there." He liked the answer, used it more often than not. "Eh?" "I move around a lot." He liked that answer less. It told too much, but might keep the toad thinking long enough to provide a moment's silence. Or maybe not. "What do you do?" The question came too fast, the bastard wasn't even listening to his responses. "This and that." He might have said anything, confessed to anything. "Jack of all trades." The cab lurched to one side, listing on its magnetic cushion and nearly colliding with the ground. The maneuver shoved him down the bench seat and slammed his shoulder against the rubbery interior. The cabbie's voice cursed from the front, gibberish in the creature's own language, as he fought to wrench the vehicle back under control. "What the hell was that?" "Tumbler." The cabbie heaved on the stick and the seat leveled out again. Outside the window, a dark shape rolled past. Soft colors glowed from inside its tangled branches, cutting through the dust enough to offer a view of the obstacle. "A bush?" "Tumbler," the cabbie insisted. "They're on the move with this wind." "Why not just, you know." He motioned forward with one palm. "Plow through them?" "Listen." The hover car slowed to a crawl, and the wide head swiveled to regard him over one thick shoulder. "You don't 'plow through' the Souls of the Wicked. You don't mess with them. You just get out of their way, got it?" "Sure, yeah. I got it." He held his breath and waited for the nut job to turn back toward the road. Eventually, the eyes blinked and swung forward again. The car returned to cruising speed, and he had a moment free from incessant questions. Outside the glass, the storm spun, constant and thick in the dusky atmosphere. Here and there a dark blot bounced by. He smiled. He'd been enough places to recognize an errant bush. They had similar species on a dozen worlds. But local customs mattered too, at least for as long as he intended to remain friendly and in residence. He could play along. His smile faded when the driver started in again. "What's your name, then?" "Jack." He laughed to himself. It worked, Jack. He could certainly live with it for a little while. "It's Jack."
Wandering Weeds:
They roll in from unknown places, mysterious and unexplained. They take root, take over, spread to all corners and refuse to be eradicated. no one can say why they came, but there's no arguing that they're up to no good. These plants are out for blood, and getting rid of them will take a certain kind of hero - the best kind.
Twenty-five tales of evil weeds to entertain, enthrall and change the way you look at the unwelcome invaders in your lawn. From feral tumbleweeds to ravenous seaweed, from alien life forms to migrating asteroid fields, in these pages you will find fairy tales and weird westerns, space romps and chilling horror stories.
Scary or silly, wicked or wily, these plants are here to stay.
LINKS:Print in Createspace store: https://www.createspace.com/4081868Amazon print version: http://www.amazon.com/Wandering-Weeds-Tales-Rabid-Vegetation/dp/1481158767/Amazon Kindle ebook version: http://www.amazon.com/Wandering-Weeds-Tales-Vegetation-ebook/dp/B00AHGKUUM/
BLOG TOUR STOPS:http://francespauli.blogspot.com http://katiemjohn.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/wandering-weeds-anthology.htmlhttp://katiemjohn.blogspot.co.ukhttp://mpaxauthor.com/blog/http://lmaskill.wordpress.com/my-blog-writing-editing-and-other-stuff/http://www.adrianeceallaigh.com/http://vossfoster.blogspot.com/ http://ericjguignard.blogspot.com http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com/2012/12/free-short-story.htmlhttp://wanderingweeds.blogspot.com/ rebeccalbrownupdates.wordpress.com
I hope you enjoy it, and the excerpt from Souls of the Wicked below.
While you're in blog land, follow the hop links for more inside scoop, stories and sneak peeks into Wandering Weeds: tales of rabid vegetation.
The Souls of the Wicked
"You been here long?" The cabby flicked a glance in the rear-view mirror and blinked several bulbous eyes. "No." He ran a finger over the leather contraption in his lap and frowned. "I thought the atmosphere was breathable." He examined the respirator. It looked like an antique, not something he felt inclined to trust with his life. "The planetary record lists this as a safe zone for humanoids." "Atmosphere's fine," the cabby croaked. "It's the dust." He jerked his huge head toward the side window. "The dust cakes in your lungs, gills, whatever. Kills you slowly." "Right." Good to remember. He fumbled with the breather's straps and felt for thin spots. Not that he planned to stay here long enough to be killed slowly. "Thanks." "Where you from?" the cabby continued, moved by the tradition of his occupation to fill the silence with meaningless chatter. Cabbies, it seemed, were the same everywhere. "Here and there." He liked the answer, used it more often than not. "Eh?" "I move around a lot." He liked that answer less. It told too much, but might keep the toad thinking long enough to provide a moment's silence. Or maybe not. "What do you do?" The question came too fast, the bastard wasn't even listening to his responses. "This and that." He might have said anything, confessed to anything. "Jack of all trades." The cab lurched to one side, listing on its magnetic cushion and nearly colliding with the ground. The maneuver shoved him down the bench seat and slammed his shoulder against the rubbery interior. The cabbie's voice cursed from the front, gibberish in the creature's own language, as he fought to wrench the vehicle back under control. "What the hell was that?" "Tumbler." The cabbie heaved on the stick and the seat leveled out again. Outside the window, a dark shape rolled past. Soft colors glowed from inside its tangled branches, cutting through the dust enough to offer a view of the obstacle. "A bush?" "Tumbler," the cabbie insisted. "They're on the move with this wind." "Why not just, you know." He motioned forward with one palm. "Plow through them?" "Listen." The hover car slowed to a crawl, and the wide head swiveled to regard him over one thick shoulder. "You don't 'plow through' the Souls of the Wicked. You don't mess with them. You just get out of their way, got it?" "Sure, yeah. I got it." He held his breath and waited for the nut job to turn back toward the road. Eventually, the eyes blinked and swung forward again. The car returned to cruising speed, and he had a moment free from incessant questions. Outside the glass, the storm spun, constant and thick in the dusky atmosphere. Here and there a dark blot bounced by. He smiled. He'd been enough places to recognize an errant bush. They had similar species on a dozen worlds. But local customs mattered too, at least for as long as he intended to remain friendly and in residence. He could play along. His smile faded when the driver started in again. "What's your name, then?" "Jack." He laughed to himself. It worked, Jack. He could certainly live with it for a little while. "It's Jack."
Wandering Weeds:
They roll in from unknown places, mysterious and unexplained. They take root, take over, spread to all corners and refuse to be eradicated. no one can say why they came, but there's no arguing that they're up to no good. These plants are out for blood, and getting rid of them will take a certain kind of hero - the best kind.
Twenty-five tales of evil weeds to entertain, enthrall and change the way you look at the unwelcome invaders in your lawn. From feral tumbleweeds to ravenous seaweed, from alien life forms to migrating asteroid fields, in these pages you will find fairy tales and weird westerns, space romps and chilling horror stories.
Scary or silly, wicked or wily, these plants are here to stay.
LINKS:Print in Createspace store: https://www.createspace.com/4081868Amazon print version: http://www.amazon.com/Wandering-Weeds-Tales-Rabid-Vegetation/dp/1481158767/Amazon Kindle ebook version: http://www.amazon.com/Wandering-Weeds-Tales-Vegetation-ebook/dp/B00AHGKUUM/
BLOG TOUR STOPS:http://francespauli.blogspot.com http://katiemjohn.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/wandering-weeds-anthology.htmlhttp://katiemjohn.blogspot.co.ukhttp://mpaxauthor.com/blog/http://lmaskill.wordpress.com/my-blog-writing-editing-and-other-stuff/http://www.adrianeceallaigh.com/http://vossfoster.blogspot.com/ http://ericjguignard.blogspot.com http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com/2012/12/free-short-story.htmlhttp://wanderingweeds.blogspot.com/ rebeccalbrownupdates.wordpress.com
December 3, 2012
Nutcracker Holiday Love
Well, I've been in a very holiday-centric mood lately, and instead of working, or doing anything serious...I worked up a trailer for last year's holiday romance, Twelve Dances. Have a looksie!
Now I'm actually glad that my son and I spilled coffee on my laptop. :) You see, I had to wipe and redo my whole system and that included downloading a NEW version of movie maker.
This is the xmas trailer I did with the old one:
Okay, it's not the worst one I've ever seen, but oh! the new sparklies.
holly jolly,
~Frances
Now I'm actually glad that my son and I spilled coffee on my laptop. :) You see, I had to wipe and redo my whole system and that included downloading a NEW version of movie maker.
This is the xmas trailer I did with the old one:
Okay, it's not the worst one I've ever seen, but oh! the new sparklies.
holly jolly,
~Frances
November 25, 2012
The Next Big Thing
The next big thing...words that can make any author twitch with excitement. Not a bad title for a blog hop, and not a bad way to find some great new authors who come highly recommended. :)
I was invited to participate in this hop by author, Lynn Crain. Her post is here: http://lynncrain.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-next-big-thing.html and you can find more about her current work in progress and her five recommended authors as well there.
She's asked me to answer a few questions about my current work in progress, and since I'm up to my neck in nanowrimo, I was very ready to snatch an opportunity both to yammer on about it and also, to procrastinate a little.
So here goes:
What is the working title of your book:
This one has gone through a few changes, I'm writing about goblins and they are fickle little monkeys. It started out as The Gentry Heart, then Gobelin Heart, then simply Gobelins, but today it has settled on Horded.
Where did the idea come from for this book:
I dreamed it. Okay, not the goblins part, but the basic plot. The goblins were added later when I worked out that the story could fit into my new series, Kingdoms Gone. Everything dovetailed nicely from there.
What genres does the book fall under:
Fantasy. There's a little bit of romance in there, but it's seriously light, even for me. In fact, only this morning we had a mighty battle. I'm not going to lie. It got gory. Not your average kissing book.
What actors would you choose to play in the movie rendition:
Well, whoever they were, they'd need to spend some long hours in makeup. Andy Serkis for Tal maybe? My human heroine could be Ann Hathaway or someone similar, but there are lots, lots of gobelins.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book:
A human looking for redemption teams up with a gobelin who's lost his confidence to fulfill an ancient prophecy and bring back the glory of the Old Kingdoms.
Self published or represented:
This is book two in my new indie series, Kingdoms Gone.
Who or what inspired you to write this particular book:
The dream originally, but then the world of Kingdoms Gone, which is an aftermath sort of universe where the glory and magic of high fantasy or the fairy tale has crumbled into something less than noble. The world destroyed by the war of the lofty has been inherited by the lowly, and I wanted to see what they'd do with it. Gobelins seemed like the lowliest I could imagine and I very much wanted to try to raise them up to heroic status.
Anything else that might pique our interest:
Did I mention the gory battle? Curses, true love, a magical castle and a gargoyle...gotta love a gargoyle.
The first book in the Kingdoms Gone series, Unlikely, is due out next month. If you're interested in a shout out when it launches, or in the cover reveal for Horded, which should follow a few months after, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter in the right sidebar. :)
Now to pass the torch to the next five authors. Take a look at their answers over the week by following the links below.
~ Frances
Adriane Ceallaigh writes gritty urban fantasy. Her first book Unbound is out now, and her blog is at: http://www.adrianeceallaigh.com/
Voss Foster has his first release coming any day now! You can see the trailer on his blog at:
http://vossfoster.blogspot.com/
Jaleta Clegg writes edge of your seat scifi action. I've reviewed her books here before, but have a look for yourself at her blog: http://jaletacleggauthor.blogspot.com/
Catrina Barton has two books featuring Tiger-shifters. Her blog is at: KittyB78.wordpress.com/
Lynette Endicott has some wonderful love stories over at: http://www.lynetteendicott.com/
I was invited to participate in this hop by author, Lynn Crain. Her post is here: http://lynncrain.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-next-big-thing.html and you can find more about her current work in progress and her five recommended authors as well there.
She's asked me to answer a few questions about my current work in progress, and since I'm up to my neck in nanowrimo, I was very ready to snatch an opportunity both to yammer on about it and also, to procrastinate a little.
So here goes:
What is the working title of your book:
This one has gone through a few changes, I'm writing about goblins and they are fickle little monkeys. It started out as The Gentry Heart, then Gobelin Heart, then simply Gobelins, but today it has settled on Horded.
Where did the idea come from for this book:
I dreamed it. Okay, not the goblins part, but the basic plot. The goblins were added later when I worked out that the story could fit into my new series, Kingdoms Gone. Everything dovetailed nicely from there.
What genres does the book fall under:
Fantasy. There's a little bit of romance in there, but it's seriously light, even for me. In fact, only this morning we had a mighty battle. I'm not going to lie. It got gory. Not your average kissing book.
What actors would you choose to play in the movie rendition:
Well, whoever they were, they'd need to spend some long hours in makeup. Andy Serkis for Tal maybe? My human heroine could be Ann Hathaway or someone similar, but there are lots, lots of gobelins.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book:
A human looking for redemption teams up with a gobelin who's lost his confidence to fulfill an ancient prophecy and bring back the glory of the Old Kingdoms.
Self published or represented:
This is book two in my new indie series, Kingdoms Gone.
Who or what inspired you to write this particular book:
The dream originally, but then the world of Kingdoms Gone, which is an aftermath sort of universe where the glory and magic of high fantasy or the fairy tale has crumbled into something less than noble. The world destroyed by the war of the lofty has been inherited by the lowly, and I wanted to see what they'd do with it. Gobelins seemed like the lowliest I could imagine and I very much wanted to try to raise them up to heroic status.
Anything else that might pique our interest:
Did I mention the gory battle? Curses, true love, a magical castle and a gargoyle...gotta love a gargoyle.
The first book in the Kingdoms Gone series, Unlikely, is due out next month. If you're interested in a shout out when it launches, or in the cover reveal for Horded, which should follow a few months after, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter in the right sidebar. :)
Now to pass the torch to the next five authors. Take a look at their answers over the week by following the links below.
~ Frances
Adriane Ceallaigh writes gritty urban fantasy. Her first book Unbound is out now, and her blog is at: http://www.adrianeceallaigh.com/
Voss Foster has his first release coming any day now! You can see the trailer on his blog at:
http://vossfoster.blogspot.com/
Jaleta Clegg writes edge of your seat scifi action. I've reviewed her books here before, but have a look for yourself at her blog: http://jaletacleggauthor.blogspot.com/
Catrina Barton has two books featuring Tiger-shifters. Her blog is at: KittyB78.wordpress.com/
Lynette Endicott has some wonderful love stories over at: http://www.lynetteendicott.com/
November 24, 2012
Holiday Special Events
Hey all, this weekend there are a couple of great book events I want to share. If you're out in the shopping crazy, be strong, stay upright and if all else fails, try ebay.
The amazing authors over at the Genre Underground are holding a #BlackFridayEvent here:
http://69.195.124.69/~mtoddgal/events/event-blackfridayreads/
A list of books, sample excerpts and author links all for the great sale price of .99 If you look hard enough, you'll find Space Slugs with its shiny new cover on sale there as well.
You've seen the cover, right?
:)
Also, over at Mundania Press, you'll find a super secret coupon code, BLACKFRIDAY gets you 50% off your entire order. Not bad in my book, and speaking of my books. The Changeling Race trilogy and the Shift Happens series are over there too.
http://mundania.com/author.php?author=Frances+Pauli
The BLACKFRIDAY code is good through Monday. After that, you can still get a 25% holiday discount for using the code, HOLIDAY.
Happy reading and shopping....and dodging...and napping
~ Frances
The amazing authors over at the Genre Underground are holding a #BlackFridayEvent here:
http://69.195.124.69/~mtoddgal/events/event-blackfridayreads/
A list of books, sample excerpts and author links all for the great sale price of .99 If you look hard enough, you'll find Space Slugs with its shiny new cover on sale there as well.
You've seen the cover, right?
:)
Also, over at Mundania Press, you'll find a super secret coupon code, BLACKFRIDAY gets you 50% off your entire order. Not bad in my book, and speaking of my books. The Changeling Race trilogy and the Shift Happens series are over there too.
http://mundania.com/author.php?author=Frances+Pauli
The BLACKFRIDAY code is good through Monday. After that, you can still get a 25% holiday discount for using the code, HOLIDAY.
Happy reading and shopping....and dodging...and napping
~ Frances
November 10, 2012
Guest Author Chasity Bowlin
Please welcome another wonderful guest author today. Chasity Bowlin is here to discuss her books and newest release with us.
Creating the Paranormal World...
One of the hardest things as an author is self editing. I don’t mean editing your story, I mean editing your thought process. For me, the story begins in my head months, if not years, before it begins on paper. Thoughts and ideas, snippets of scenes and bits of dialogue, all roll around my head until they come together as a semi-cohesive storyline.
That means that I spend a lot of my time, as Tim Gunn would say, making it work. The problem isn’t finding good ideas, the problem is in not behaving like an adolescent girl with an accessory addiction and piling everything into one story.
It’s sort of like those rambling and possibly chemically enhanced conversations from college that meandered into the wee hours of the morning. Those conversations normally began with phrases like, “And wouldn’t it be cool if...”, or “What if the Justice League and the X-men..”. It’s trickier with paranormal stories than with others. When you start blurring the lines of what is real and what isn’t, how far do you go? Do you create an entirely separate reality or universe, or do you bring the paranormal into the existing world? And if you choose the later, do the mere mortals in your story get to be in on the joke?
In writing “The Haunting of a Duke”, I chose to stick with a traditional Regency setting, bringing in the spiritualism that was just becoming popular at the time. Using this setting allowed me to create this wonderful conflict between the characters who were believers and those who were skeptics. It also allowed for growth and change within these characters. Creating the character of Emme was a wonderful challenge. On the one hand, she was an innocent young woman, sheltered from so many things, but in other ways she was very jaded and world weary. Her experiences with ghosts and spirits had introduced her to some of the most horrific things that one human being could do to another. She was burdened by her gift, and isolated by it. Rhys had also seen horrible things in his life, both as a soldier and then as the husband of a mad and self destructive woman. His life had been filled with tragedy and it had left him jaded to the idea that there was anything beyond that existed beyond death.
In writing a paranormal story, there have to be rules. You set them and you follow them. As an author, it’s your world and you determine what can and cannot exist within it.
Title: The Haunting of a Duke
Author: Chasity Bowlin
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Length: 290 pages
Sub-Genres: Paranormal, Regency
BLURB:
Facing danger from both sides of the grave, will two souls merge to find a love
that conquers all? Communing with spirits has been both gift and curse to
Emme Walters. Now it's made her a killer's target. Emme knows why the
Dowager Duchess of Briarleigh invited her to a house party--to investigate
whether the duke, Rhys Brammel, murdered his wife years ago. But Emme
never imagined she would fall in love with the brooding duke. Branded by
society as a possible killer, Rhys is suspicious of Emme and her
alleged "gift." Then a late night encounter creates awareness of her
other, more attractive, aspects. When Emme's life is threatened, Rhys becomes
her protector. Emme and Rhys find passion and peril as they join forces to
solve the mysteries at Briarleigh. She made him believe in spirits, but can she
make him believe in love?
BUY LINKS:
The Wild Rose Press
Amazon - Paperback
Amazon - Kindle
Barnes & Nobles Nook
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chasity, a former ghost hunter and professional student, lives in Kentucky where she works for a nonprofit agency providing family counseling. In her spare time she reads romance voraciously, rescues stray animals and occasionally stalks her favorite bands.
Twitter is @ChasityBowlin
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/ChasityBowlin/237872039570846
Creating the Paranormal World...One of the hardest things as an author is self editing. I don’t mean editing your story, I mean editing your thought process. For me, the story begins in my head months, if not years, before it begins on paper. Thoughts and ideas, snippets of scenes and bits of dialogue, all roll around my head until they come together as a semi-cohesive storyline.
That means that I spend a lot of my time, as Tim Gunn would say, making it work. The problem isn’t finding good ideas, the problem is in not behaving like an adolescent girl with an accessory addiction and piling everything into one story.
It’s sort of like those rambling and possibly chemically enhanced conversations from college that meandered into the wee hours of the morning. Those conversations normally began with phrases like, “And wouldn’t it be cool if...”, or “What if the Justice League and the X-men..”. It’s trickier with paranormal stories than with others. When you start blurring the lines of what is real and what isn’t, how far do you go? Do you create an entirely separate reality or universe, or do you bring the paranormal into the existing world? And if you choose the later, do the mere mortals in your story get to be in on the joke?
In writing “The Haunting of a Duke”, I chose to stick with a traditional Regency setting, bringing in the spiritualism that was just becoming popular at the time. Using this setting allowed me to create this wonderful conflict between the characters who were believers and those who were skeptics. It also allowed for growth and change within these characters. Creating the character of Emme was a wonderful challenge. On the one hand, she was an innocent young woman, sheltered from so many things, but in other ways she was very jaded and world weary. Her experiences with ghosts and spirits had introduced her to some of the most horrific things that one human being could do to another. She was burdened by her gift, and isolated by it. Rhys had also seen horrible things in his life, both as a soldier and then as the husband of a mad and self destructive woman. His life had been filled with tragedy and it had left him jaded to the idea that there was anything beyond that existed beyond death.
In writing a paranormal story, there have to be rules. You set them and you follow them. As an author, it’s your world and you determine what can and cannot exist within it.
Title: The Haunting of a Duke
Author: Chasity Bowlin
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Length: 290 pages
Sub-Genres: Paranormal, Regency
BLURB:
Facing danger from both sides of the grave, will two souls merge to find a love
that conquers all? Communing with spirits has been both gift and curse to
Emme Walters. Now it's made her a killer's target. Emme knows why the
Dowager Duchess of Briarleigh invited her to a house party--to investigate
whether the duke, Rhys Brammel, murdered his wife years ago. But Emme
never imagined she would fall in love with the brooding duke. Branded by
society as a possible killer, Rhys is suspicious of Emme and her
alleged "gift." Then a late night encounter creates awareness of her
other, more attractive, aspects. When Emme's life is threatened, Rhys becomes
her protector. Emme and Rhys find passion and peril as they join forces to
solve the mysteries at Briarleigh. She made him believe in spirits, but can she
make him believe in love?
BUY LINKS:
The Wild Rose Press
Amazon - Paperback
Amazon - Kindle
Barnes & Nobles Nook
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chasity, a former ghost hunter and professional student, lives in Kentucky where she works for a nonprofit agency providing family counseling. In her spare time she reads romance voraciously, rescues stray animals and occasionally stalks her favorite bands.
Twitter is @ChasityBowlin
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/ChasityBowlin/237872039570846
November 6, 2012
Name the Three-armed Alien Baby
The name the alien baby contest is up and running over at the Space Slugs blog.
Hop over and enter to win a couple copies of the book. Maybe your alien baby name will make it into the story!
In honor of Zora's 99.97333% love child, I am also unveiling the new cover for book one, which has a lovely new look thanks to the talented, Paul Milligan.
Check it out. :)
Best of Baby Naming Luck to ya,the Space Slugs
Hop over and enter to win a couple copies of the book. Maybe your alien baby name will make it into the story!
In honor of Zora's 99.97333% love child, I am also unveiling the new cover for book one, which has a lovely new look thanks to the talented, Paul Milligan.
Check it out. :)
Best of Baby Naming Luck to ya,the Space Slugs
