Suzanne G. Rogers's Blog, page 42

Hey, Look! Children of Yden has a New Cover!

My fantasy Yden series has a new look and feel. Let me begin with Children of Yden (Book Two):

The children of Yden are coming home and it’s time to choose sides…

As Jon’s magical training begins, his budding romantic attraction to Kira jeopardizes his relationship with Brett. At the same time, the Dragon Clan is bringing the Earth-born children of Yden’s wizards back home. Unfortunately, the Fox Clan has also been recruiting these teen wizards for its own sinister plans. The mysterious Guinn of the Fox Clan is searching for a weapon known as the Portal Key and is more than willing to kill for it. Jon becomes increasingly desperate and reckless in his quest to thwart the Fox Clan, but he discovers—too late—his enemy is closer than he thinks.

Excerpt:

Quixoran juggled marshmallows without touching them. He transformed red punch into ice sculptures of fire-breathing dragons. Finally, he created a swirl of fireflies pulsing in different colors. He had Sela stand next to him while the fireflies whirled around her. As everyone applauded madly, they winked out. When the entertainment was over, Jon’s chest swelled with pride. Afterwards the kids raced inside the house for pizza, but the parents crowded around Quixoran trying to book him for their next party.

“That was spectacular,” Brett said. “I wish I could do magic.”

Jon glanced over and was struck by how lovely she was under the tiny white lights he’d strung over the patio. She’d done her hair up in a kind of complicated braid thing, with curly strands escaping here and there. Brett is Juliet or Guinevere. His eyes shifted to the dark-­haired beauty standing with Casey several yards beyond. Kira is Helen of Troy and Aphrodite rolled into one. Jon’s stomach did a peculiar somersault. Stop staring, you idiot, before someone notices. When a heavy hand clapped him on the shoulder, Jon flinched. His uncle Charles laughed at his reaction.

“What’s wrong, buddy? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you had a guilty conscience.”

What Reviewers are saying:

“I highly recommend Children of Yden as a must read but I would advise readers to get hold of The Last Wizard of Yden and read that first. A standing ovation for a five star read and a gifted author.” – Ellen Fritz, Books4Tomorrow

“ It is a solid tale good for children, young adults, and adults alike, readers will find themselves hoping Dorsit shows up at their houses with a clan ring and whisks them off to Yden to see the magical landscape and cool creatures that seem to abound.” Sarah E.B., Ind’Tale Magazine

Available for the Kindle at Amazon, for the Nook at BN.com and in all e-formats at Smashwords and Astraea Press.

The new cover for The Last Great Wizard of Yden will be revealed soon…

 

 

What I’ve Been Up To

Although I haven’t posted much on my blog in August, I didn’t take the month off. I wrote a nifty guest post for author Meg Mims’ blog about why I put so much emphasis on strong secondary characters. That post, called More Than Parsley – Writing Secondary Characters With Depth, can be found HERE.

In addition, the third book of my Yden series (Secrets of Yden) was put under contract. I believe that book will be released in January or thereabouts, and to unify the trilogy, a new batch of character-centered covers is being designed. The first cover will feature Kira Szul, the Nomad princess from Yden, the second cover will feature Brett Tanner, and the third will feature Jon Hansen. I’m not certain when these new covers will make their debut, but you can be assured I’ll announce it!

In the meantime, I’ve been writing another historical romance entitled Jessamine’s Folly, to be set in the early Edwardian era. I was so excited to see the new cover for The Last Great Wizard of Yden, however, I was inspired to put the historical romance aside for a few weeks to write an Yden prequel called (tentatively) Kira. The book will detail how Warlord Mandral came to power at the expense of the Nomads, and Kira’s attempts to stop him. I’m not certain of the finished length since I’m only 6K words into the story, but I’m having so much fun writing it I don’t want to do anything else.

After I finish Kira and Jessamine’s Folly, I’d still like to squeeze out a Christmas-themed novella of some sort, but I’ll just have to see what develops.

So, in short, I can solemnly swear I’ve been up to no good.  How about you?

~ S.G. Rogers

Amazon Promo Day August 1st – Duke of a Gilded Age

Free on Amazon HERE. One day only, August 1st, 2013 (appx. 12 a.m. to 12 p.m. PST).  Don’t miss out because on August 2nd, Duke of a Gilded Age returns to its regular price of $2.99. Spread the word. ~ S.G. Rogers

Excerpt:

Cavendish came to stand next to Wesley.

“I think it may be a good time for a nice cup of tea, Your Grace.”

Wesley laughed. “How very British.”

“Precisely.”

“In your opinion, Cavendish, is there anything not improved by a cup of tea?”

“Only that which is best addressed by a tot of gin, brandy, or rum.”

Celtic Myths and Legends – Guest Author Juli D. Revezzo

[Mythology is a fascinating and broad category which includes legends and characters from a myriad of cultures. Today, I turn my blog over to author Juli D. Revezzo, as she talks about the Celtic inspiration for her new release. Enjoy! ~ S.G. Rogers]

“We let our gods tell us Their stories, Their pasts, Their connections. I’m not dictating to them, and I am baffled by those who would…” -Jolene Dawe

I think Ms. Dawe has the right idea. What we call myths, the sacred stories of gods and heroes passed down through the ages, are but stories the interpretation of which changes with the listener. If what Ms. Dawe says is true, might we not know exactly what our sacred stories mean to the characters involved?

This is the question I asked when creating my new paranormal romance novel for The Wild Rose Press, Passion’s Sacred Dance. Particularly about the Battle of Mag Tuired. I knew the story, how the Tuatha de Danann gods lined up against the Formorians for a slight against one of their own. But what more might there be?

I knew the heroine, Stacy Macken as she walked on stage the first time, had a story with links to an important mythology. Somehow, possibly because of her genetic make-up or her interesting Celtic design tattoo (something you wouldn’t expect a business woman to have, necessarily), told me she knew something profound and mythological was about to happen.

At the same time, I was studying Celtic mythology and legends. The stories of queens, of magic cups and weapons, stories in a true romantic vein with noble warriors fighting epic battles (some of them fought strange battles too) on small scales, all these things intrigued me and filled up the bulk of my reading. So, it wasn’t hard at all to wonder what if one of these epic battles took place here and now? How would a modern woman react if one happened right under her nose?

Then my hero Aaron—a member of the army of the Tuatha dé Danann—walked in, and in a scene reminiscent of Bill Murray in Groundhog Day said “I’m a god-like thing honey, and guess what? The world’s about to suffer another battle like the second battle of Mag Tuired eons ago—and you, my dear, are right in the way.”

*g* Men. Even immortal ones are incorrigible.

But what might they mean to the men and gods walking onto that battlefield? So that’s how a myth became a war, and a war became a novel. Would you like to know a little more? Okay, here’s the blurb:

Passion’s Sacred Dance

Battling mounting debt, Stacy Macken is determined not to lose her historic art gallery. When Aaron Fielding appears and offers to help, she fights to keep the attraction sizzling between them from clouding her judgment. He may be her savior in disguise–but can she trust him?

Aaron intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what he claims, she would give up anything to help–even the gallery he claims is sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if only they can find it in time.

If the battle is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years. Stacy and Aaron’s budding love might only complicate things.

Would you like to read more? If so, Passion’s Sacred Dance is available now at Amazon and coming soon to The Wild Rose Press store and other retailers.

About the Author:

For more on these and other books visit Juli’s blog HERE, Juli’s Amazon page and author page at The Wild Rose Press.

 I’m also on Facebook, G+, Pinterest, Shelfari, and Twitter

Thanks, Suzanne, for having me here today! ~ Juli

Somewhere with Guest Author Beth Trissel

I’m delighted to welcome romance author Beth Trissel to my blog as she discusses her delicious new release! ~ S.G. Rogers

Sultry summer greetings and thanks so much for having me on your lovely blog to share my new release and Somewhere in Time series.

After untold hours of scheming, dreaming, writing and revising, time travel romance Somewhere in the Highlands is finally launched. Yes, there will be another story in this continuing saga. I don’t know when, but plotting is underway. Somewhere in the Highlands is book three in the series, following Somewhere My Love, and is the actual sequel to Somewhere My Lass. Somewhere the Bells Ring is a hauntingly beautiful Christmas romance.

The Somewhere in Time Series; where the past meets the present.

The idea behind my Somewhere in Time series is that the story opens in an old home, so far Virginia homes (I’m a Virginian with deep roots), and then transports the reader back in time either in the same wonderful old house, or another place entirely such as the Scottish Highlands. As is the case in Somewhere My Lass and Somewhere in the Highlands. Both stories convey the characters to and from 17th century Scotland via a portal in time, all of which is inspired by my fascination with the past. The unifying characteristic of the series is the paranormal/time travel element, but the stories themselves aren’t necessarily tied together, though some are, and will be. It’s the encompassing theme that matters. Doors play a big role in this series. Behind every door lies a secret, an intriguing puzzle to be solved, so these romances are also suspenseful mysteries.

Somewhere in the Highlands: Will the brilliant geek Fergus and lovely but devious Beezus thwart a power mad time traveler wielding a supernatural relic before he kills Fergus’s Highland ancestor?

The answer to that query isn’t as simple as you might think. Somewhere in the Highlands as a fast-paced Sci-Fi Fantasy Time Travel Romance. At this point, the story is available exclusively at Amazon in kindle. If someone is eager to review it and doesn’t have access to kindle please contact me and I will provide you with a .pdf copy.

Blurb: The MacDonalds are coming! When Elizabeth MacDonald (a.k.a Beezus Mac) thrusts a sealed gold box at Angus Fergus amid panicked requests for him to hide the stolen artifact, she has no idea the ancient cloth it contains bestows unearthly powers. Red MacDonald knows and he’s hell-bent on traveling 400 years into the future to claim the charmed relic, even kill for it. Protecting Beezus from his old nemesis is only one of Fergus’s problems.

Before they can stop him, Morley MacDonald, descendant of Red MacDonald, snatches the prize and leaps through the time portal to head the MacDonald clan and kill Fergus’s MacKenzie ancestor. If he succeeds, Fergus will cease to exist. Danger grows in the feud between the MacDonalds and the MacKenzies as the pair, along with an ingenious friend and high tech inventions, returns to 1604 Scotland to face these brawny Highlanders and reunite with kin. Will Fergus overcome his mistrust of Beezus and fan the growing spark between them before they battle Morley? If he waits, it may be too late.~

So far, the series has done quite well. Several titles have won awards and all have received stellar reviews (2008 Winner Preditor’s & Editor’s Readers Poll for Best Romance Novel, LASR Book of the Week, a Night Owl Top Pick…) The less than stellar reviews I must brush off, and onward ho. All authors know what I mean. ~ Beth Trissel

Amazon Link for Somewhere in the Highlands

For more on me, my blog is the happening place: http://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/

Waltzing in the Victorian Era

Click me!

My favorite historical romance movies tend to have dancing scenes in them… so when I wrote Duke of a Gilded Age, I made sure to put plenty of dancing in it.  The year is 1890, and when the old Duke of Mansbury passes away, Belle accompanies her attorney father to American to retrieve Mansbury’s heir, Brooklyn-born Wesley Parker. On the Transatlantic voyage back to England, Belle, Wesley and some of the young American “aristocracy” form a dance club to practice the waltz.

Detail from frontispiece to Thomas Wilson’s Correct Method of German and French Waltzing (1816). Image courtesy Wikipedia.

As a dance, the waltz had a somewhat scandalous reputation in early 19th century England, due to the fact it required the gentleman to put his hand around the lady’s waist. Nevertheless, as the years marched on (in 3/4 time?), the waltz became increasingly accepted–probably because ladies knew it showed them to their best advantage!

Below is a lovely video showcasing the Emperor Waltz by Johann Strauss, written in 1889, as performed on the piano. (It’s the same piece performed by Stacy Egermann during the first dance club meeting on board the SS City of New York.)  Enjoy! ~ S.G. Rogers

Chocolatier of a Gilded Age

Long before Godiva, there was Maillard’s.

While doing research for Duke of a Gilded Age (set in 1890), I discovered several shops on the ground floor of the 5th Avenue Hotel, one of which was a famous confectionary known as Maillard’s.

Maillard’s Candy Store, 116 West 25th St. (1901)

Maillard’s, Broadway at 24th St. (5th Ave. Hotel) (1902)

Mr. Maillard came to the States from France in 1848, opening his first store at 401 Broadway, NYC. A Maillard’s shop was a tenant at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, eventually evolving from a confectionary into a ladies’ restaurant. In 1908, after the Fifth Avenue Hotel was demolished, a much larger store and ladies’ luncheon restaurant opened at the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 35th Street.  The decor was Louis XVI, the ceiling was graced with lovely paintings, and the settings were completely French. Mr. Maillard, whose award-winning chocolates were exhibited around the world, furnished the inaugural banquet of President Lincoln, thereby making himself a household name. The shop was renowned for chocolates, bon-bons, cocoa, and ice cream.  Although Maillard’s has long been out of business, their advertisement and trade cards are still collectible items today.

I wish these photographs were scratch-and-sniff, because I’ll bet the fragrance inside the shop was heavenly. Have a chocolate day.

~ S.G. Rogers

Saturday Sample – Excerpt from Duke of a Gilded Age

In Duke of a Gilded Age, Belle and Wesley have had a bit of a rocky start to their relationship. In this excerpt, the two manage to have a pleasant interlude as they tour 1890 Central Park.

Excerpt:

At the center of Bow Bridge, Belle and Wesley leaned out over against the cast‐iron railing to watch the water rippling on the surface of the lake.

“I’m so glad you brought me here,” she said. “Do you suppose those men in the rowboats brought their lady friends here to propose?”

“It’s entirely possible. Let’s watch to see which boat tips over when the gentleman gets down on one knee.”

She laughed. “I admire your sense of humor. Errol is always so dignified.”

“Errol…is that your fiancé?”

“Yes. Sir Errol Blankenship. He’s a knight.”

“Does he have a white horse?”

“What? Oh, you’re joking with me again!”

“A bit. No offense meant.”

“None taken. I may seem serious on the outside, you see, but I like to laugh. I’m frequently filled with flights of fancy.”

“What marvelous alliteration! I solemnly salute your sagacious soliloquy.”

“Aha! I pay homage to the haste of your homily.”

Wesley doffed his derby hat and bowed from the waist. “I’m decidedly defeated by your deft debate.”

“You can’t be defeated until we conquer the castle together,” she said. “Lead on!”

Duke of a Gilded Age Blurb:

When American-born Wesley Parker inherits a dukedom in 1890, he must learn to be an aristocrat. Assigned to the task is his attorney’s daughter, prim Belle Oakhurst. As they travel to England together on a luxurious ocean liner, their tempestuous relationship encounters more than rough seas. Although Wesley is increasingly attracted to Belle, she is already engaged. While Belle begins to regret her hasty promise to marry, she is bound by honor and duty to keep her pledge. Furthermore, a thoughtless fabrication on her part threatens to expose her as a liar. Neither Wesley nor Belle can foresee that their voyage across the Atlantic will be fraught with peril, and will cost more than one man his life.

To return to Sweet Saturday Samples for more excerpts in all genres, go HERE

Anyone for an Onion Run? Putting Fun into High Fantasy

Not all high fantasy has to be deadly serious. The following excerpt is one of my favorite scenes in my novel Tournament of Chance. Although the interlude gave my characters a chance to interact, the entire bit of action wasn’t strictly necessary to the plot–unless you like to have a little fun. Since I do, the scene stayed in. How about you? Do you enjoy a little humor with your high fantasy or do you prefer the classical approach? ~ S.G. Rogers

Excerpt:

Heather knelt next to the bed of onions and pointed to a fat onion with a nice, full top. “What are the odds on this fellow?”

“Oh, that’s Dim Bulb. He’s even money,” the fairy replied.

“That’s a safe bet,” Icarus said. “You can’t lose.”

Dane leaned over to brush the top of a scallion. “Go with this one, Heather. He’s far leaner and can likely outrun them all.”

“Three-to-one on Toothpick,” Towcheez said.

“Toothpick it is, then,” Heather said, exchanging a mischievous glance with Dane. “I enjoy long odds.”

Neither Joe nor Wren had any money, so Manny had to cough up some gold for his sister. Wriggling with excitement, Wren bet on a leek named Puddle. Towcheez bit Manny’s gold coin before tossing it into his sack.

“Good choice, Princess,” Towcheez said to Wren. “Two-to-one odds on ole Puddle.”

After the betting had concluded, the fairies readied their runners for the race. Heather marveled when each onion shrugged its roots free from the soil. An oniony fragrance scented the nighttime air as the runners took their mark. Towcheez flew overhead with a fairy candle in his hand. He held it high.

“Onions, yer running down to the water pump and back,” he bellowed.“Fair warning…losers will be eaten. Ready, steady…yer off!”

The fairy candle punctuated his sentence with an explosion of sparks. Using their roots as legs, the onions peeled out. The runners with hairy roots moved along like millipedes, while the ones with longer roots stretched them forward like stilt-walkers. The fairies cheered with enthusiasm. Wren and Jovander jumped up and down as they rooted for their onion.

“Run, Puddle, run,” Wren screamed.

At the outset, the onions were in a bunch. Heather couldn’t begin to tell how Toothpick was faring. Halfway to the water pump, however, the race began to get choppier. Dim Bulb’s roots gave out under his weight. He fell over and proceeded to roll toward the water pump like a cannon ball. He mowed several competitors down as he went, crushing their roots so badly they didn’t get up again.

“That’s cheating,” Joe exclaimed.

“That’s an onion run,” Manny retorted.

As he neared the pump, Puddle was outdistancing his rivals. Toothpick ran a close second, and Dim Bulb rolled into third. After the runners rounded the pump, they put on the speed. The return journey quickly became brutal, as downed vegetables lay crushed and limp on the path. Dim Bulb shot forward and knocked Puddle over. Puddle retaliated by slapping at Dim Bulb with his dark green leaves. Toothpick took over the lead. Dim Bulb rolled free of Puddle and angled toward Toothpick. The last few feet, however, Dim Bulb became confused and began to roll in a circle. Heather screamed with laughter as Toothpick stumbled over the finish line and waved his leaves in victory. Puddle limped into second place, and Dim Bulb rolled into a pumpkin patch.

The race at an end, fairy children descended on the runners and began to eat them. In her excitement, Heather grabbed Dane’s arm. “We won!” she exclaimed. When she realized what she’d done, she released her grip. “Oh…excuse me, Your Highness.”

Blurb:

In the Kingdom of Destiny, King Chance decreed any female be she high or low born may earn a place at court by winning an archery competition known as the Tournament of Chance. Although no commoner has ever won before, this is Heather’s year.To prevent her from winning the tournament, however, King Chance will stop at nothing.  The king does not yet realize Heather of the Jagged Peaks will be the spark that ignites a revolution — in time.

E-book available at Amazon , at Musa Publishing HERE (all formats), BN.com , or wherever ebooks are sold.

Sweet, Sweet Scones with guest author Heather Hiestand

[I'm turning my blog over today to my guest, lovely author Heather Hiestand. Take it away, Heather! ~ S.G. Rogers]

Hi, I’m Heather Hiestand. I’m 44 and live in Washington State with my husband and four-year-old son. Both of them keep me on my toes. Technically I’m a full-time writer, which means I mostly get to work when my son is at preschool. I first sold in 2004, a mystery short story, then sold my first novel in 2006. Marquess of Cake is my 9th novel (I think).

Marquess of Cake is the first book in my new historical romance series, The Redcakes. My idea for the series came from two places. A dream I had about an austere, yet charismatic hero, who I dubbed Michael Shield, Marquess of Hatbrook, and an overindulgence in cake decorating competition shows, which led me to invent a Victorian tea shop/bakery/market called Redcake’s Tea Shop and Emporium. From there it was a matter of fleshing out the hero’s family and the people surrounding my tea shop.

Yes, I have to admit I once wanted to own my own tea shop. It was the early 1990s, and I was a frustrated computer programmer who loved fancy tea and all kinds of scones, cookies, tea breads, cakes and pastry. I was so dedicated I kept a notebook of baking notes on my experiments. I miss those days when I could bake every weekend, eat the results, and not need to diet! Possibly as a result of those years, I’ve been on a diet since 2005…While my baking notebook is long lost, I still have my sweet cookbooks from that era.

Though my heroine is a cake decorator, the first thing she ever serves my hero is a plate of scones. Here is one of my favorite recipes, from the 1988 cookbook, Simply Scones. Everyone needs an indulgence sometimes, so bake them up and enjoy! ~ Heather Hiestand

Apple and Spice Scones

Oven at 375 degrees. Oiled or buttered cookie sheet1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
¾ tsp cream of tartar
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ginger
Dash nutmeg
Dash mace
½ cup unsalted butter, chilled
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
¾ cup chopped dried apples
1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1/3 cup currants or raisins
 
Mix together all the dry ingredients. Cut the butter into small cubes and add them to the flour, then cut in the butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Then mix then wet ingredients together separately and stir to combine everything. Last, add in the fruit and nuts.
 
Divide the mixture into 10 scones and drop onto the cookie sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
 
Yum!
 

Here’s the blurb for Marquess of Cake:

Coffee. . .tea. . .or a pastry chef sweeter than any confection. . .

Scotch trifle fit for Queen Victoria, scones with clotted cream. . .Alys Redcake knows the way to a man’s heart. Yet she is unaware that with each morsel–and flash of ankle–she is seducing the handsome marquess frequenting her father’s tea shop. Unmarried at twenty-six, Alys’s first love is the family business. But thoughts of the gentleman’s touch are driving her to distraction. . .

With his weakness for sugar, the Marquess of Hatbrook can imagine no more desirable woman than one scented with cake and spice. Mistaking Alys for a mere waitress, he has no doubt she would make a most delicious mistress. And when he finds himself in need of an heir, he plans to make her his convenient bride. Yet as they satisfy their craving for one another, business and pleasure suddenly collide. Will Hatbrook’s passion for sweets–and for Alys–be his heart’s undoing?

Excerpt:

Michael forced his eyes from the avowed city girl’s generous curves, which were ornamental indeed. He couldn’t get that blasted Scotch trifle out of his head. The memory of that heather-honey flavor of the Drambuie in the sponge, reminding him of simpler times, had his mouth watering anew.

“A dish of the special holiday trifle, if you will, and coffee.”

“I’m so sorry, sir. We’re all out.” The cakie’s voice didn’t change tone as she delivered this tragic news.

“That’s ‘your lordship,’ young miss,” Theo said, mischief dancing in his eyes. “You can’t refuse trifle to the Marquess of Hatbrook.”

A woman at the next table gasped and nudged her neighbor, whispering, “A marquess, that is!”

The waitress swallowed sharply, but then her pointed chin went up. “I’m sorry, your lordship, but it’s all gone to Buckingham Palace for a celebration.”

“Buck House,” whispered the other gossip at the next table. “How fancy!”

“Very tiresome,” Michael said, enjoying the waitress’s show of spirit. An attractive girl with heat in her eyes was as welcome as Scotch trifle. He wondered if she ever put those rosy lips to use in other passionate endeavors. “Instead, I’ll have a plate of scones with honey.”

“Would you like some Drambuie with that?”

A gasp went up from the other table. “Did she just offer his lordship spirits? I thought this was a respectable place?”

The waitress flushed scarlet, but her chin stayed up. Her gaze had regained the besieged fire he saw outside.

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Yes, your lordship.”

To read about Marquess of Cake go to http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/22722 You can purchase there or find all the links to your favorite etailer. The two largest are:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Marquess-of-Cake-ebook/dp/B00BNKMFGS

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-marquess-of-cake-heather-hiestand/1114794300?ean=9781601831118

To learn more about Heather Hiestand and the stories she creates go to: http://www.heatherhiestand.com or http://blog.heatherhiestand.com or http://www.twitter.com/hahiestand

Heather is on a blog tour during the month of July. Check her blog to find out where she is. Many of the blog spots have prizes!

She also has a large contest set up on her website HERE