Ash Krafton's Blog, page 16
February 3, 2014
Differences Between Professional & Amateur Writers: On Inspiration #writerstip
I recently read an article an author had written on the five differences between professional authors and amateurs. Good article, but I kept coming back to this line:
I don’t know why, but this kinda rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe I took it the wrong way. I do that a lot, because as a published novelist (ergo professional writer), I always immediately reject the most obvious meaning and delve on through to the fourth or fifth possibility. That keeps things exciting and unexpected. (#writerstip)
But seriously. Why is asking about inspiration the mark of an amateur? I ask other writers all the time, and I’m not an amateur. I know where I get my inspiration from, and I’ve written extensively about it. It’s my innate curiosity that drives me to ask other writers what makes them tick. If I wasn’t curious about almost everything, I probably would be a very boring fiction writer. (bonus #writerstip)
Even beginning writers know where their own inspirations come from. If they weren’t inspired, they never would have made the switch from Advanced Reader to Beginning Writer. Writers at every level of experience are sensitive to inspirational things, which seed the creative subconscious and stimulate the growth of ideas. Asking another writer what inspires them isn’t the same as asking for a lesson on How To Become Inspired. It’s an inquiry to see if someone as big as a “professional” writer shares the same idea processes as they do.
Kind of like when Kid President asks his interview guests if they toot.
We all toot. We’re all human.
Professional authors are human, too, just like the wee amateurs. And, whether pro or amateur, we’re all part of a community of artists. Asking that question may be a way for a beginning author to validate his belief in himself, to remind him that his idea process is just as valid as that of the multi-published professional. Every one of us needs a big up now and then. I’m sure even the most seasoned professionals have heroes, and wouldn’t mind knowing if they share the same ilk.
I think a better mark of the professional author would be the ability to serve as a mentor to the beginners. Experts teach the innocent. Professionals should teach with a certain sensibility that fosters the less-experienced within our ranks.
Don’t forget: the word “professional” means many things.
Definition of professional (adj)(Courtesy of Bing Dictionary)
pro•fes•sion•al [ prō féshən'l ]
of profession: relating to or belonging to a professionfollowing occupation as paid job: engaged in an occupation as a paid job rather than as a hobbybusinesslike: conforming to the standards of skill, competence, or character normally expected of a properly qualified and experienced person in a work environmentI tend to focus on the third definition, with emphasis on character. Answering an emerging writer’s earnest question with disdain or a non-answer or the attitude that the simple act of asking a question will forever condemn them to the amateur team is, in a word, unprofessional.
Especially when you consider definition number two. The moment you are paid to do something, you are a professional. That means the same for all occupations, from ice skaters to freelance writers. The day I received a token payment from an ezine for a poem was the day I made pro. Money’s a bit different when you compare it to novel sales by a Big 5 publisher, but the distinction is the same.
Professionals don’t talk down to other professionals. That’s not just unprofessional--that’s jackassy.
And I’m sure that the point he was trying to make was certainly not that professionals no longer get inspired, that the trick of writing your eighth or ninth book isn’t the result of an uninspired plug-and-play formula. (That suspicion was maybe seventh down on my list of possible interpretations—see first #writerstip)
Professionals are subject to inspiration, just as amateurs are. The difference is that professionals look for inspiration and set to work crafting a product out of it, whereas an amateur often is struck by an inspiration, which jars them so thoroughly out of their everyday life that they are driven to write about it. In short: professionals use inspiration as a tool, the same one that amateurs must learn to wield.
What I did find helpful, though is the reference to Pottery Barn. I adore the photos on that website and I think that any author who needs to add a little setting to their characters’ internal environments should stop by. Whether your heroine lives at the sea side or deep in the rustic northwest, you can catch glimpses of inspirational home furnishings and room shots that will immerse you in your scenes and feed your muses. (best #writerstip in the bunch)
So, thanks are in order, after all, Mr. Author. All of us writers—from the amateur to the professional—appreciate a pointer now and then. We are never so far at the top of our craft that we won’t benefit from a lesson from one of the pros.
When beginning writers approach me, they often want to know where I get my ideas (Pottery Barn, I tell them) or my inspiration. By contrast, I think published novelists understand that you can’t really get help with inspiration.
I don’t know why, but this kinda rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe I took it the wrong way. I do that a lot, because as a published novelist (ergo professional writer), I always immediately reject the most obvious meaning and delve on through to the fourth or fifth possibility. That keeps things exciting and unexpected. (#writerstip)
But seriously. Why is asking about inspiration the mark of an amateur? I ask other writers all the time, and I’m not an amateur. I know where I get my inspiration from, and I’ve written extensively about it. It’s my innate curiosity that drives me to ask other writers what makes them tick. If I wasn’t curious about almost everything, I probably would be a very boring fiction writer. (bonus #writerstip)
Even beginning writers know where their own inspirations come from. If they weren’t inspired, they never would have made the switch from Advanced Reader to Beginning Writer. Writers at every level of experience are sensitive to inspirational things, which seed the creative subconscious and stimulate the growth of ideas. Asking another writer what inspires them isn’t the same as asking for a lesson on How To Become Inspired. It’s an inquiry to see if someone as big as a “professional” writer shares the same idea processes as they do.
Kind of like when Kid President asks his interview guests if they toot.
We all toot. We’re all human.
Professional authors are human, too, just like the wee amateurs. And, whether pro or amateur, we’re all part of a community of artists. Asking that question may be a way for a beginning author to validate his belief in himself, to remind him that his idea process is just as valid as that of the multi-published professional. Every one of us needs a big up now and then. I’m sure even the most seasoned professionals have heroes, and wouldn’t mind knowing if they share the same ilk.
I think a better mark of the professional author would be the ability to serve as a mentor to the beginners. Experts teach the innocent. Professionals should teach with a certain sensibility that fosters the less-experienced within our ranks.
Don’t forget: the word “professional” means many things.
Definition of professional (adj)(Courtesy of Bing Dictionary)
pro•fes•sion•al [ prō féshən'l ]
of profession: relating to or belonging to a professionfollowing occupation as paid job: engaged in an occupation as a paid job rather than as a hobbybusinesslike: conforming to the standards of skill, competence, or character normally expected of a properly qualified and experienced person in a work environmentI tend to focus on the third definition, with emphasis on character. Answering an emerging writer’s earnest question with disdain or a non-answer or the attitude that the simple act of asking a question will forever condemn them to the amateur team is, in a word, unprofessional.
Especially when you consider definition number two. The moment you are paid to do something, you are a professional. That means the same for all occupations, from ice skaters to freelance writers. The day I received a token payment from an ezine for a poem was the day I made pro. Money’s a bit different when you compare it to novel sales by a Big 5 publisher, but the distinction is the same.
Professionals don’t talk down to other professionals. That’s not just unprofessional--that’s jackassy.
And I’m sure that the point he was trying to make was certainly not that professionals no longer get inspired, that the trick of writing your eighth or ninth book isn’t the result of an uninspired plug-and-play formula. (That suspicion was maybe seventh down on my list of possible interpretations—see first #writerstip)
Professionals are subject to inspiration, just as amateurs are. The difference is that professionals look for inspiration and set to work crafting a product out of it, whereas an amateur often is struck by an inspiration, which jars them so thoroughly out of their everyday life that they are driven to write about it. In short: professionals use inspiration as a tool, the same one that amateurs must learn to wield.
What I did find helpful, though is the reference to Pottery Barn. I adore the photos on that website and I think that any author who needs to add a little setting to their characters’ internal environments should stop by. Whether your heroine lives at the sea side or deep in the rustic northwest, you can catch glimpses of inspirational home furnishings and room shots that will immerse you in your scenes and feed your muses. (best #writerstip in the bunch)
So, thanks are in order, after all, Mr. Author. All of us writers—from the amateur to the professional—appreciate a pointer now and then. We are never so far at the top of our craft that we won’t benefit from a lesson from one of the pros.
January 27, 2014
Book Tour: The Wind Whisperer by Krista Holle
The Wind WhispererAt fifteen, Anaii is the most important member of her tribe—and the most mysterious. Ever since Anaii can remember, the spirits of the wind have whispered of fertile hunting grounds and imminent enemy attacks. But when her people are ambushed by a brother clan without any apparent cause, the spirits remain eerily silent. As the village prepares to retaliate, Anaii is pressured by her best friend, Elan, to marry him. It’s an old plea—Elan has spent a lifetime loving her, but Anaii only sees a childhood playmate out of an imposing warrior. Stifled by Elan’s insistence, Anaii escapes into the forest where she meets Jayttin, the beautiful son of the enemy chief. Enamored by Jayttin’s carefree spirit and hope for peace, she repeatedly sneaks away to be with him, but when her deception is discovered, Elan is devastated. Pledging his lifelong affection, Elan gives her a passionate kiss, and Anaii begins to see her friend in a new light. While Anaii is tormented over which man she must choose, the wind whispers of a new threat that could destroy both tribes. Only a union will afford a chance at survival, but the reality of that union is based on one thing—which man Anaii chooses to die.Add The Wind Whisperer to your Goodreads list!
Krista HolleKrista Holle is an award winning author who stepped up her writing after reading Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series. It occurred to Krista that there is an insatiable audience of women and girls who want to read books filled with stories about true love—not just vampires. When Krista is not writing, she loves to collect seashells, watch movies, and eat obscene amounts of pizza. Krista currently resides in Montpelier, Virginia with her husband, four daughters and an eccentric cat with a weird attachment to the family’s socks.Website/Blog – Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads – Amazon Excerpt:
I looked around cautiously before freezing at the sketchy outline of a muscular man partially hidden in the grass. A man! He was sprawled on his back and golden pink from too many hours in the sun. My heart pounded to see the unfamiliar pattern of a deer on his breechcloth. I had marched myself directly into the reach of a Zennite warrior!
I gingerly took a step backwards, but to my horror, the man’s black eyes fluttered open. I turned and hurled myself back across the meadow, just as the man shot up and flew after me like a predatory bird. My muscles burned and strained to lengthen the space between us, but getting away was hopeless. I was not a challenge to even the young boys in the foot races.
After a few powerful strides, the warrior tackled me to the ground, painfully grazing the skin on my cheek. I wheezed a few times before my lungs filled with air.
“A Chippoke?” he asked between breaths.
I feverishly punched and kicked to free myself. “Get—off—me!”
“Stop! I’m not going to hurt you,” the warrior chuckled as he struggled to pin my arms and legs. His voice was calm and pleasant, but lying was no different than breathing to a Zennite.
“I cannot promise the same,” I wheezed as I fought.
“You’re a bobcat,” he said with a laugh. “A bobcat with no teeth or claws.”
“Let me go!”
“I will when you’re calm.”
Strong hands held my wrists while his full weight pinned my torso against the earth. Fighting him was as useless as running. “You are not a boy,” I spat angrily, fully taking in my attacker. It was little comfort that he didn’t look like a bloodthirsty killer. He was admittedly handsome with an angular face and sleek black hair that hung well past his shoulders. He was not as tall as Elan, but his muscles were narrow and built for speed. There was something different about his eyes too. They were as black as soot—very unlike the brown woodsy colors from our tribe.
The warrior smirked down at me. “My mother will be very surprised to hear that. All this time she’s assumed…”
My face heated, but I fiercely met his gaze. The Zenni were like wild dogs and pumas—they could smell emotions. “What I meant was, you are a man, not a boy.”
“Oh, I see, but you must understand, I’m not a man yet.”
“You must understand I’m a squirrel! Get off! You’re hurting me!” I ordered with a useless heave.
“No,” he said with a smirk.
It was then I realized I might die—right after I was lulled into a false sense of security. My chest pounded as I searched for the killer’s weapon. “Are you going to kill me?”
“I do not feel like killing you just yet,” he said as his long hair swirled in my face. Were we to play a game before he killed me?
“I am glad the mood doesn’t strike you,” I snarled. The warrior studied me with a drawn brow. Was he guessing that I was the forest witch? I didn’t think I looked like a witch, but I wasn’t certain what one should look like—evil at least.
“I don’t understand something,” the warrior said. “Your eyes are blue—the blue of an angry sky. Are you the daughter of a god?”
“Yes,” I said, heaving against his weight again. “Now get off me, or my father Achak will strike you dead with lightening.”
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The Wind Whisperer by Krista Holle is now on tour!
Check out every stop and join the special, HUGE International giveawayrunning here and on each tour stop! The Wind Whisperer Tour schedule:January 13th | E.M. Havens (Review)
January 14th | Reader Girls (Excerpt)
January 15th | Sapphyria’s Book Reviews (Guest Post)
January 16th | Darkest Sins (Guest Post)
January 17th | Gracen Miller (Excerpt)
January 20th | Happy Tails and Tales (Guest Post, Excerpt)January 21st | The Ferryman’s Wife (Review)
January 22nd | Jody’s Book Reviews, Giveaways & Tours (Excerpt)
January 23rd | Justified Lunacy (Review)
January 24th | Mind Reader (Excerpt)January 27th | Vaempires (Guest Post)January 28th | Ash Krafton’s Demimonde (Excerpt)January 29th | Lusty Penguin Reviews (Guest Post, Excerpt)January 30th | Nomi’s Paranormal Palace (Guest Post)January 31st | JennReneeRead (Excerpt)February 3rd | Happy Tails and Tales (Review, Author Interview)February 4th | What the Cat Read (Author Interview, Excerpt)February 5th | Fuonlyknew (Excerpt)February 6th | Kindred Dreamheart (Excerpt)February 7th | Cameo Renae YA Paranormal Author (Guest Post)February 10th | Tana Rae Reads (Review, Guest Post)February 11th | Urban Girl Reader (Excerpt)February 12th | Mind Reader (Character Interview)February 13th | The Avid Reader (Author Interview, Excerpt)February 14th | My Seryniti (Review, Excerpt)February 17th | Mythical Books (Review)February 18th | Proserpine Craving Books (Excerpt)February 19th | What’s Beyond Forks? (Review, Guest Post, Excerpt)February 20th | Bittersweet Enchantment (Guest Post, Excerpt)February 21st | E.M. Havens (Author Interview)February 24th | Emma’s Ramblings on Supernatural Fiction (Guest Post)February 25th | Justified Lunacy (Author Interview)February 26th | Seeing Night Reviews (Excerpt)February 27th | Vaempires (Character Interview)February 28th | Tower of Babel (Author Interview)
Valentine's Day Ebook Giveaway 2014
Thrilled to be a part of the Valentine's Day Ebook Giveaway hosted by Moonrise Book Blog!
Enter to win a bundle of ebooks--there's ELEVEN different prize packs, full of fantasy and romance. You're sure to find new authors and new books to love in this contest...
I'll be giving away a copy of Bleeding Hearts (Demimonde #1). Bleeding Hearts was reviewed on Moonies Book Blog recently. You can see the review in this post.
For the complete list of what goodies are in the giveaway bag, visit the Moonies Book Blog HERE.
Enter below...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 9, 2014
Here There Be Dragons: Marsha A. Moore & Quintessence
Welcome Marsha A. Moore, author of the Enchanted Bookstore Legends. She stopped by to share the fifth title in the series with us, along with an opportunity for Demimonde readers to win a copy of their own! Read on to learn about this captivating series as well as a lush post from Marsha herself...
Quintessence: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Five
by Marsha A. Moore
Barbaric Dark Realm warfare threatens to overtake all Dragonspeir lands, including the Alliance. Lyra McCauley, the fifth Scribe of the Alliance, finds herself in a desperate competition to gather four missing keystones. Those amulets of the four natural elements guarantee victory for the side possessing them. The Dark Realm’s alchemist, Eburscon, beats her to finding the water gem, the Pearl of Pendola. Three more keystones remain: the fluorite containing earth energy, the moonstone of the sky, and the fiery, dangerous Emtori Ruby.
The powerful gems, stolen centuries ago, channel astral energies and can restore much-needed Alliance power—the last hope. The wizard, Cullen, who is Lyra’s beloved, relies on Alliance magic for his immortality and will perish if the land falls to the Dark Realm.
Lyra uses her rare magical energies of quintessence and the Staurolite, governor of the four natural elements, to guide her to the hidden keystones. However, greed and power drive opponents, who challenge her in close pursuit, planning to destroy the Alliance, or to claim the power of quintessence for themselves.
The Dark Realm captures the ten-year-old Alliance seer, Kessa. Her abilities can give them information about the locations of the keystones, complicating Lyra’s plans. Will her love, allegiance, and quintessence allow her to save Cullen, Kessa, and the Alliance before the Dark Realm claims all of Dragonspeir?
Purchase Links for series:
Seeking a Scribe: Enchanted Bookstore Legend One
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JVYSSI
Heritage Avenged: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Two
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0086OO07G
Lost Volumes: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Three
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YNY18Q
Staurolite: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Four
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CCW98P2
Quintessence: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Five
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H6LSFX0
The Ruling Dragons from Marsha A. Moore’s Enchanted Bookstore Legends
Dragon lovers will not be disappointed with the
Enchanted Bookstore Legends
, an epic fantasy romance. I love dragons and have included many types, ages, and sizes. The rule of the fantasy world of Dragonspeir is divided between the good Alliance, governed by the Imperial Dragon, a magnificent golden type, and the opposing Dark Realm, led by the Black Dragon. When Lyra McCauley, opens an enchanted book, she confronts a series of quests where she is expected to save Dragonspeir from destruction by the evil Black Dragon. In my latest release,
Quintessence
, barbaric Dark Realm warfare threatens to overtake all Dragonspeir lands, including the Alliance. Thousands of innocent lives are in danger. The wizard, Cullen, who is Lyra’s beloved, relies on Alliance magic for his immortality and will perish if the land falls to the Dark Realm. Astral connections, stolen centuries ago, are desperately needed to restore magical strength to the Alliance. Its Guardians, including the Imperial Dragon, and residents now look to Lyra and her new powers of quintessence as their last hope. The Ruling Dragons of Dragonspeir
Golden dragons are born leaders, being lawful, just and good. Their intelligence exceeds the other types, and their wisdom is sought after. Being good-natured, they help those who are kind and fair. The Imperial Leader helps train and guide Lyra along her quest. Golds are the most powerful and largest in size. The breath weapon of gold dragons is a cone of fire. Although they are cautious about entering a fight and dislike killing, once engaged, they will pour their entire being into the battle.
Physically, gold dragons are spectacular. Two prominent horns point backwards along their heads. The most obvious feature is probably the tentacle whiskers that sprout from the bottom of the gold dragon's jaw, giving the appearance of a sort of beard in both males and females.
Like his father before him, the present Imperial Dragon will serve the Alliance until either he dies or steps down. Similar to most golds, he keeps his Alliance headquarters in a grand network of caves set in the rock plateau. His overlooks the Steppe of Ora, the wide plain which divides good and evil in Dragonspeir. His lair includes an elaborate gathering hall, a vast library, guest quarters, and his own personal chambers with cases of magical instruments and a glass-walled observatory to consult the stars. As one of the four Alliance Guardians, his area of expertise is magic powered by the air element, including mystical astronomy studies of the skies.
Black dragons, like the leader of the Dark Realm, always seek to lair in deep dark caves. Although small, they are vile, evil-tempered, and abusive. Their hearts are as dark as their slimy scales. They are obsessed with death and take comfort in the sickening-sweet aroma of drowned, rotting carcasses. During her bloodswear quest, Lyra held her stomach with the stench when she was required to sneak into the chambers of the heir to the Black Dragon and perform fascination on him. The current Black Dragon leader prefers his drake servants leave the prey they bring him in pools within his personal cave. The victims float for days or weeks before he eats them. The dark leader, like all black dragons, is grim and skeletal. His eyes lie deep in their sockets between two great horns that curve forward and down. The flesh of his face is partially deteriorated or burnt from his acidic drool. His method of attack is spitting caustic acid. Lyra and Cullen, learned too well what that felt like.
As the final book of the series opens, Lyra has just found the staurolite stone in an enchanted tide pool. The function of the gem is to control the four magical keystones—corresponding to air, water, fire, and earth—that together channel astral energies. Once Lyra learns how to use the staurolite to guide her new power of quintessence, gathering the keystones and saving the Alliance from the Dark Realm should be easy. Not quite.Upon realizing Lyra has gained control of her quintessence, the Black Dragon and his evil alchemist, Eburscon, scheme and plot to steal that power. As one of the most learned men in the land, Eburscon is a formidable adversary. If he succeeds in taking Lyra’s quintessence for his own use, the Dark Realm will rule supreme. Its residents will be killed or enslaved, Lyra will be left comatose without her aura, and her beloved Cullen will perish without the Alliance magic he relies upon to maintain his immortality. The risks are huge. Find out if Lyra can master her new power in time to block attacks against her, Cullen, and the Alliance—in
Quintessence: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Five
.
Author Bio:
Marsha A. Moore is an author of fantasy romance. Much of her life feeds the creative flow she uses to weave highly imaginative tales.
The magic of art and nature often spark life into her writing, as well as watercolor painting and drawing. After a move from Toledo to Tampa in 2008, she’s happily transformed into a Floridian, in love with the outdoors. Marsha is crazy about cycling. She lives with her husband on a large saltwater lagoon, where taking her kayak out for an hour or more is a real treat. She never has enough days spent at the beach, usually scribbling away at stories with toes wiggling in the sand. Every day at the beach is magical! She’s been a yoga enthusiast for over a decade and recently completed a year-long Kripalu-affiliated yoga teacher training program. The spiritual quest of her yoga studies helps her explore the mystical side of fantasy.
Social Media Links
Website: http://MarshaAMoore.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marshaamooreauthorpage
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MarshaAMoore
Google +: http://google.com/+MarshaAMoore
Thank you, Ash, for inviting me to be your guest today!
The second Enchanted Bookstore Legend, Heritage Avenged, will be on sale January 9th - 12th for 99 cents on Amazon. Tour-wide Giveaway Contest: 1 ebook set of Enchanted Bookstore Legends, a 5-part epic fantasy romance series 5 ebook copies of Quintessence: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Five a Rafflecopter giveaway
Quintessence: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Five
by Marsha A. Moore
Barbaric Dark Realm warfare threatens to overtake all Dragonspeir lands, including the Alliance. Lyra McCauley, the fifth Scribe of the Alliance, finds herself in a desperate competition to gather four missing keystones. Those amulets of the four natural elements guarantee victory for the side possessing them. The Dark Realm’s alchemist, Eburscon, beats her to finding the water gem, the Pearl of Pendola. Three more keystones remain: the fluorite containing earth energy, the moonstone of the sky, and the fiery, dangerous Emtori Ruby.The powerful gems, stolen centuries ago, channel astral energies and can restore much-needed Alliance power—the last hope. The wizard, Cullen, who is Lyra’s beloved, relies on Alliance magic for his immortality and will perish if the land falls to the Dark Realm.
Lyra uses her rare magical energies of quintessence and the Staurolite, governor of the four natural elements, to guide her to the hidden keystones. However, greed and power drive opponents, who challenge her in close pursuit, planning to destroy the Alliance, or to claim the power of quintessence for themselves.
The Dark Realm captures the ten-year-old Alliance seer, Kessa. Her abilities can give them information about the locations of the keystones, complicating Lyra’s plans. Will her love, allegiance, and quintessence allow her to save Cullen, Kessa, and the Alliance before the Dark Realm claims all of Dragonspeir?
Purchase Links for series:
Seeking a Scribe: Enchanted Bookstore Legend One
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JVYSSI
Heritage Avenged: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Two
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0086OO07G
Lost Volumes: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Three
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YNY18Q
Staurolite: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Four
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CCW98P2
Quintessence: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Five
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H6LSFX0
The Ruling Dragons from Marsha A. Moore’s Enchanted Bookstore Legends
Dragon lovers will not be disappointed with the
Enchanted Bookstore Legends
, an epic fantasy romance. I love dragons and have included many types, ages, and sizes. The rule of the fantasy world of Dragonspeir is divided between the good Alliance, governed by the Imperial Dragon, a magnificent golden type, and the opposing Dark Realm, led by the Black Dragon. When Lyra McCauley, opens an enchanted book, she confronts a series of quests where she is expected to save Dragonspeir from destruction by the evil Black Dragon. In my latest release,
Quintessence
, barbaric Dark Realm warfare threatens to overtake all Dragonspeir lands, including the Alliance. Thousands of innocent lives are in danger. The wizard, Cullen, who is Lyra’s beloved, relies on Alliance magic for his immortality and will perish if the land falls to the Dark Realm. Astral connections, stolen centuries ago, are desperately needed to restore magical strength to the Alliance. Its Guardians, including the Imperial Dragon, and residents now look to Lyra and her new powers of quintessence as their last hope. The Ruling Dragons of Dragonspeir
Golden dragons are born leaders, being lawful, just and good. Their intelligence exceeds the other types, and their wisdom is sought after. Being good-natured, they help those who are kind and fair. The Imperial Leader helps train and guide Lyra along her quest. Golds are the most powerful and largest in size. The breath weapon of gold dragons is a cone of fire. Although they are cautious about entering a fight and dislike killing, once engaged, they will pour their entire being into the battle. Physically, gold dragons are spectacular. Two prominent horns point backwards along their heads. The most obvious feature is probably the tentacle whiskers that sprout from the bottom of the gold dragon's jaw, giving the appearance of a sort of beard in both males and females.
Like his father before him, the present Imperial Dragon will serve the Alliance until either he dies or steps down. Similar to most golds, he keeps his Alliance headquarters in a grand network of caves set in the rock plateau. His overlooks the Steppe of Ora, the wide plain which divides good and evil in Dragonspeir. His lair includes an elaborate gathering hall, a vast library, guest quarters, and his own personal chambers with cases of magical instruments and a glass-walled observatory to consult the stars. As one of the four Alliance Guardians, his area of expertise is magic powered by the air element, including mystical astronomy studies of the skies.Black dragons, like the leader of the Dark Realm, always seek to lair in deep dark caves. Although small, they are vile, evil-tempered, and abusive. Their hearts are as dark as their slimy scales. They are obsessed with death and take comfort in the sickening-sweet aroma of drowned, rotting carcasses. During her bloodswear quest, Lyra held her stomach with the stench when she was required to sneak into the chambers of the heir to the Black Dragon and perform fascination on him. The current Black Dragon leader prefers his drake servants leave the prey they bring him in pools within his personal cave. The victims float for days or weeks before he eats them. The dark leader, like all black dragons, is grim and skeletal. His eyes lie deep in their sockets between two great horns that curve forward and down. The flesh of his face is partially deteriorated or burnt from his acidic drool. His method of attack is spitting caustic acid. Lyra and Cullen, learned too well what that felt like.
As the final book of the series opens, Lyra has just found the staurolite stone in an enchanted tide pool. The function of the gem is to control the four magical keystones—corresponding to air, water, fire, and earth—that together channel astral energies. Once Lyra learns how to use the staurolite to guide her new power of quintessence, gathering the keystones and saving the Alliance from the Dark Realm should be easy. Not quite.Upon realizing Lyra has gained control of her quintessence, the Black Dragon and his evil alchemist, Eburscon, scheme and plot to steal that power. As one of the most learned men in the land, Eburscon is a formidable adversary. If he succeeds in taking Lyra’s quintessence for his own use, the Dark Realm will rule supreme. Its residents will be killed or enslaved, Lyra will be left comatose without her aura, and her beloved Cullen will perish without the Alliance magic he relies upon to maintain his immortality. The risks are huge. Find out if Lyra can master her new power in time to block attacks against her, Cullen, and the Alliance—in
Quintessence: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Five
.
Author Bio:Marsha A. Moore is an author of fantasy romance. Much of her life feeds the creative flow she uses to weave highly imaginative tales.
The magic of art and nature often spark life into her writing, as well as watercolor painting and drawing. After a move from Toledo to Tampa in 2008, she’s happily transformed into a Floridian, in love with the outdoors. Marsha is crazy about cycling. She lives with her husband on a large saltwater lagoon, where taking her kayak out for an hour or more is a real treat. She never has enough days spent at the beach, usually scribbling away at stories with toes wiggling in the sand. Every day at the beach is magical! She’s been a yoga enthusiast for over a decade and recently completed a year-long Kripalu-affiliated yoga teacher training program. The spiritual quest of her yoga studies helps her explore the mystical side of fantasy.
Social Media Links
Website: http://MarshaAMoore.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marshaamooreauthorpage
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MarshaAMoore
Google +: http://google.com/+MarshaAMoore
Thank you, Ash, for inviting me to be your guest today!
The second Enchanted Bookstore Legend, Heritage Avenged, will be on sale January 9th - 12th for 99 cents on Amazon. Tour-wide Giveaway Contest: 1 ebook set of Enchanted Bookstore Legends, a 5-part epic fantasy romance series 5 ebook copies of Quintessence: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Five a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 5, 2014
Fae Books Giveaway: Enter now thru Feb 14
Hi everyone! Sarah Fae here from FaeBooks.co.uk. I've been working behind the scenes, gathering together some of the best Bloggers, Authors, Crafters & Businesses to bring you a fantabulous cash giveaway!This giveaway is organized and hosted by Fae Books and sponsored by a bunch of totally spendiferous people!Sponsors:1. Fae Books2. Scrummie Crafts3. Shereadsalot.com4. Nessarox5. Anna Kyss6. OhNoItsBex7. Ashlynne Laynne8. Nancy Pennick9. The Cougar Diaries Ireland Blog10. YA Nocturnal Reader11. Benjamin J. Snider12. Andrea R. Cooper 13. Carlie Sexton 14. A.R. Von 15. Jessica Loves Books 16. Laura N. Anile 17. T Hammond*~~**~~**~~*Want to become a sponsor? You can sponsor the next cash giveaway! Just join my mailing list to find out first when I'm taking prize donations for the next one... http://bit.ly/19z1seT *~~**~~**~~* Blogger? Fancy winning $10 just for putting up a blog post? Read on... Bloggers can enter into a seperate Blogger Incentive Giveaway as a thank you for putting up blog posts about this PayPal Cash Giveaway! You can put up as many posts as often as you wish, about the PayPal Cash Giveaway, BUT, you MUST fill in THIS FORM to gain your entries into the Blogger Only Giveaway.
Fill in the form for each blog post you put up, to gain extra entries.
The Blogger prize is $10 in PayPal Cash. You can grab all of the info you need to create a post from this link: http://www.faebooks.co.uk/2013/12/CashGiveawayHTML.html *~~**~~**~~* The Giveaway: Start/End Times:Start: 10th Dec 2013 End: 14th Feb 2014 a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 29, 2013
Call for #Submissions: #Fantasy #Anthology, Roane Publishing
Hey, authors! I'm sharing a writing opportunity on behalf of my author friend, Terri Rochenski, who works with an indie press. They are looking for submissions based on a picture prompt--one so lovely it deserves an entire book of stories dedicated to it. Roane Publishing, a small press for fantasy, romance, and erotica, issued an open call for submissions to its upcoming anthology PORTALS.
Submission Deadline: March 15, 2014
Some paths aren't meant to be tread. Theme: This is a FANTASY anthology with a picture prompt. The picture prompt is shown above. Fantasy tales with romantic elements will be accepted, but the submitted stories DO NOT require a romantic element to be considered.
The full submission requirements for this anthology are as follows:The picture prompt must be present in the story in some fashion. How, is up to you, the author.Stories must be at least 5K but should not exceed 10K in length.All sub-genres of Fantasy will be considered, including, but not limited to: Dystopian, Steampunk, Epic, Sword and Sorcery, and Urban Fantasy. For this anthology, Science Fiction elements are completely acceptable.
Please email a brief query letter along with your completed and polished manuscript to submissions@roanepublishing.com and put the anthology name PORTALS in the SUBJECT LINE of your email.
Completed stories should be attached in TXT, RTF, DOC, or DOCX format ONLY and attached to your query email. All other attachment file types will be deleted unopened.
Visit Roane Publishing for more information. Good luck and happy writing!
Submission Deadline: March 15, 2014Some paths aren't meant to be tread. Theme: This is a FANTASY anthology with a picture prompt. The picture prompt is shown above. Fantasy tales with romantic elements will be accepted, but the submitted stories DO NOT require a romantic element to be considered.
The full submission requirements for this anthology are as follows:The picture prompt must be present in the story in some fashion. How, is up to you, the author.Stories must be at least 5K but should not exceed 10K in length.All sub-genres of Fantasy will be considered, including, but not limited to: Dystopian, Steampunk, Epic, Sword and Sorcery, and Urban Fantasy. For this anthology, Science Fiction elements are completely acceptable.
Please email a brief query letter along with your completed and polished manuscript to submissions@roanepublishing.com and put the anthology name PORTALS in the SUBJECT LINE of your email.
Completed stories should be attached in TXT, RTF, DOC, or DOCX format ONLY and attached to your query email. All other attachment file types will be deleted unopened.
Visit Roane Publishing for more information. Good luck and happy writing!
December 20, 2013
Cover Reveal! WOLF'S BANE (Demimonde #3)
IT'S FINALLY HERE! The cover to the third book in the Demimonde series..
WOLF'S BANE (Demimonde #3) by Ash KraftonSometimes, when life gives you lemons, all you can do is try to avoid paper cuts.
Since becoming oracle to the demivampire two years ago, advice columnist Sophie has battled werewolves and survived a vampire attack (or two). However, not only was she powerless to save her lover Marek when he slipped to the brink of evolution, she also witnessed his transformation into a falcon, the symbol of Horus United.
Sophie’s quest to save Marek is further complicated when rock star Dierk Adeluf – who also happens to be the king of the Werekind – invites her backstage after a concert. Just when it seems she will find respite from heartache, Sophie is bitten by a werewolf and Dierk decides she is destined to be his Sophie is caught between the demivamps she loves and the Were who commands her to love him. Throw in his jealous wanna-be girlfriend—a true bitch if ever there was one—and an ambush by witches, and there you have the big mess that Sophie calls her life. And, hello? Her soul mate is still a bird.
She’s supposed to be the girl with all the answers, but Sophie needs more than a little advice--she needs divine intervention. Forthcoming Spring 2014 via Pink Narcissus Press
Find the other books of the Demimonde series on AMAZON~~~BARNES & NOBLE~~~ GOODREADS ~~~ PINK NARCISSUS PRESS Thank you to every one who is sharing my cover reveal today! Dark World Books Reveal Hosts' list:Darkest Sins | E.M. Havens | Emma’s Ramblings | Mind Reader
Mythical Books | Nomi’s Paranormal Palace | Sapphyria’s Book Reviews | Tana Rae Reads
The Avid Reader | Unputdownable Books | Urban Girl Reader | Vaempires Special Hosts' List:All In One Place | Gothic Mom's Book Reviews | Place of Reads | Rabid ReadsRed Tash | SK Falls | Moonrise Book BlogCesya MaRae Cuono | Rosemary DiBattista | Shadows of Romance
WOLF'S BANE (Demimonde #3) by Ash KraftonSometimes, when life gives you lemons, all you can do is try to avoid paper cuts. Since becoming oracle to the demivampire two years ago, advice columnist Sophie has battled werewolves and survived a vampire attack (or two). However, not only was she powerless to save her lover Marek when he slipped to the brink of evolution, she also witnessed his transformation into a falcon, the symbol of Horus United.
Sophie’s quest to save Marek is further complicated when rock star Dierk Adeluf – who also happens to be the king of the Werekind – invites her backstage after a concert. Just when it seems she will find respite from heartache, Sophie is bitten by a werewolf and Dierk decides she is destined to be his Sophie is caught between the demivamps she loves and the Were who commands her to love him. Throw in his jealous wanna-be girlfriend—a true bitch if ever there was one—and an ambush by witches, and there you have the big mess that Sophie calls her life. And, hello? Her soul mate is still a bird.
She’s supposed to be the girl with all the answers, but Sophie needs more than a little advice--she needs divine intervention. Forthcoming Spring 2014 via Pink Narcissus Press
Find the other books of the Demimonde series on AMAZON~~~BARNES & NOBLE~~~ GOODREADS ~~~ PINK NARCISSUS PRESS Thank you to every one who is sharing my cover reveal today! Dark World Books Reveal Hosts' list:Darkest Sins | E.M. Havens | Emma’s Ramblings | Mind Reader
Mythical Books | Nomi’s Paranormal Palace | Sapphyria’s Book Reviews | Tana Rae Reads
The Avid Reader | Unputdownable Books | Urban Girl Reader | Vaempires Special Hosts' List:All In One Place | Gothic Mom's Book Reviews | Place of Reads | Rabid ReadsRed Tash | SK Falls | Moonrise Book BlogCesya MaRae Cuono | Rosemary DiBattista | Shadows of Romance
Book Tour: "The Corvids: Winter" by Lisa Ann Brown
The Corvids: Winter(The Corvids #2)Francesca de Lorimar, the beautiful Gypsy necromancer from Ravenswood Glen, is called to investigate a murder at Talus Hall and exorcise the unruly poltergeists which nightly ravage the mansion. During her quest to unravel the truth, Francesca discovers scorching secrets about herself, her parentage, and of power, as she stumbles headlong into first love and battles the ancient evil which stalks The Corvids.
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The Corvids: Autumn (The Corvids #1)The Corvids is a four-part paranormal romantic suspense series. Delve into the depths of darkness, magic and love in this murder mystery/coming of age quartet! Arabel Spade, a young girl living in the strange and mystical land of The Corvids, determines to solve a brutal series of murders using her unique paranormal abilities. Through her perilous journey, Arabel learns about herself, the dark secrets which stain her family history and the passions and rigors of first love.Amazon – Smashwords
Lisa Ann BrownLisa Ann has been involved with storytelling and entertainment, in one form or another, her entire life. Beginning her creative journey as both a writer and an actor, Lisa Ann spent many years immersing herself in innumerable books, countless theatre productions and earning a degree in Musical Theatre. Shortly after college, she attended the Vancouver Film School to learn the finer points of screenwriting. This study culminated in the writing of a few feature length scripts and an overwhelmingly potent desire to move from Canada to Hollywood. Once ensconced in East Hollywood however, creative inspiration lured Lisa Ann away from screenwriting and returned her to her original writing intentions: to be a novelist. In three months, Lisa Ann had completed her first novel, I Raid, and there has been no cessation of her novel writing ever since. Moving back to Canada, she spent many years working as a talent agent in Vancouver before retiring from the film industry to focus on writing full-time. Lisa Ann derives great personal satisfaction by delivering her characters through the twisting arcs and unexpected tribulations of their imaginary lives. She strives to keep her readers on edge while enjoying the suspense and surprise of their literary journey. She resides in picturesque Vancouver, BC, Canada where she is happily nestled in between the Pacific Ocean and the Coastal Mountain range.Blog – Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads – Amazon
Re-visit the past stops on The Corvids: Winter TourDecember 2nd | Mind Reader (Author Interview)December 3rd | Emma’s Ramblings on Supernatural Fiction (Excerpt)December 4th | Proserpine Craving Books (Author Interview)December 5th | Vaempires (Excerpt)December 6th | Darkest Sins (Excerpt)December 9th | Justified Lunacy (Author Interview, Excerpt)December 10th | The Ferryman’s Wife (Excerpt)December 11th | Sapphyria’s Book Reviews (Excerpt)December 12th | Lusty Penguin Reviews (Author Interview, Excerpt)December 13th | Jody’s Book Reviews, Giveaways & Tours (Excerpt)December 16th | Unputdownable Books (Excerpt)December 17th | Happy Tails and Tales (Review, Excerpt)December 18th | The Avid Reader (Excerpt)December 19th | Mythical Books (Author Interview, Excerpt)December 20th | Ash Krafton’s Demimonde (Excerpt)a Rafflecopter giveaway
EXCERPT From The Corvids: Winter Francesca saw the body before she smelt the decay of death. She knelt down beside the cold flesh and closed her eyes. Flashing images assaulted her senses immediately. She watched in dull horror as the spectacle of the poor girl’s death played out in glorious color, all of the abysmal details glaringly vivid. Horror closed over Francesca; a great fist of unrelenting enmity clasped her tightly. The dead girl was young. Too young to die leaving a life unlived in her wake. Hovering above the corpse, Francesca utilized her preternatural vision to discern several small intersecting red and grey lines - denoting possession - and she glanced around immediately to seek out the corresponding Dorojenja wheel of death. Francesca could feel the pull of the wheel’s malicious intent as it greedily trolled energetically for further souls to ensnare. Xavier immediately pulled his mount to a stop in front of the gruesome display. He jumped from his horse and knelt in the snow beside Francesca and the dead girl. His eyes closed, Xavier efficiently created a sacred circle of Gypsy magic and performed a counter-spell ritual to immobilize the curse, utilizing his athame. Zander quickly joined in with the work. The throat of the girl had been slashed viciously. Multiple jagged lines had been cut gleefully across the expanse of her now cold, lifeless skin. Her innocent blood soaked the snow, glistening deep ruby red and dark, inky black. A sacrificial victim, the young woman had been dressed in a long, heavy, brown hooded robe and she wore nothing underneath. The large cowled hood had been thrown back to reveal the torn throat of the victim and the harsh, angry slashes against her pale skin. The dead girl did not appear to be much more of an age than Francesca and Francesca keenly felt a terrible sense of loss at her untimely demise. The sorrow permeated the most profound depths of Francesca’s gentle heart. To have one’s physical life ended in such a vicious manner! And then to further suffer the cruelty of eternal possession to the forces of darkness and evil was a fate Francesca was certain no one deserved. She despised the forces who had stolen the girl’s life-force. No one deserved to die like this and most certainly not this young, innocent girl. Francesca telepathically followed the trail of red and grey lines to the pulsating source. The wheel of death beat out a sharp series of harsh, staccato notes of displeasure, soiling the environment. Peering intently, Francesca determined that the Dorojenja wheel was indeed placed next to the roaring bonfire, and was hexed properly to ensnare the sacrificial victims to its torturous call. The wheel had been coated with invisibility rendering its presence impossible to detect through regular vision. Francesca, with her advanced training and preternatural vision could barely see the shield. But she could feel it, and she knew what sordid stains decorated its face. The intersecting lines and numbers. The headless dove. The blood. Francesca attempted to block the noise from inside of her head as best as she could. The screams of the possessed filled her with their sobs, their unrelenting terror. The dead girl had joined a large number of souls, many more than Francesca had ever known to have been collected within a Dorojenja wheel of death. She felt the trapped energies pulling at her, desperately seeking a last audience, desperately seeking release from the torment. Francesca sent the image of the wheel and its location to Xavier. He frowned as he addressed the group. “We shall disperse the Sending & Seeking Spell immediately to source out Arabel’s presence. We’ll soon see if she is being held against her will by these Dorojenja members. Advancing upon their meeting under the cover of our current energy void - assisted by a severe Blocking Spell – we shall disperse in two’s to encircle the members of their party. Once we have ensnared them within our boundaries, Zander will unleash a hostile energy void, regressing the ages of the members to that of toddlers. We shall easily capture their party with an Immobilization Spell. ” Xavier released the potion Daphne and Francesca had created. The potion filled the air with a colorless, spinning vortex as the herbs swirled and danced excitedly in the frigid air. A line of magic assembled itself into a seeking circle of energy as the herbs took hold of the destination Xavier programmed them with. The herbs would thoroughly track and trace the Dorojenja and search out Arabel’s presence among them, if she was indeed held captive. Francesca shivered involuntarily. The screams inside of her head from the dead girl had increased, both in intensity and volume. Inundated with misery, Francesca felt all of the victims – so many other young girls - pressing now, against her very temples, screaming and wailing and screeching. Francesca clasped her small hands to her ears, fighting once more to control the harsh, disturbed track of her inner audio. She sent golden waves of solace toward the ravaged and violated girl. The screams continued, moaning from the depths of eternal torture. Stella butted her head lovingly up against Francesca’s arm, letting her know telepathically that she was going to fly up to the top of the nearby forest branches where she could observe the Dorojenja without being noticed. Zander was busy creating the hostile energy void filled with regressive properties while Xavier monitored the Sending and Seeking Spell fragments for clues. Francesca wrapped the psychic edges of the protective energy void Xavier had called into being closer around herself, much as she would enclose herself in a warm blanket. The wrath and pain of the wheel of death became suddenly muted and Francesca felt the energy void extending its reach farther out as the group broke down into pairs. Without discussion, Francesca found herself coupled up with Simon. Xavier and Zander had moved to the right of the bonfire and Bertrand and Lorenzo were circling around to the left. Which left herself and Simon. Francesca ventured a quick look at the golden curled young man and was comforted at once by the calm assurance she spied within his compassionate hazel eyes. Simon took hold of Francesca’s hand briefly. She watched as colors of green and gold encircled her upon the contact. Francesca’s eyes closed of their own volition for a brief moment as the energy created between the two of them warmed her instantly. They moved in unison toward the roaring red flames of the bonfire and the amassed group clustered in celebration of dark lust and black magic. Francesca set her jaw firmly. Saul Porchetto would pay for this latest desecration, she vowed to herself.
December 16, 2013
The Music That Moves The Pen: Author Tricia Schneider (Free Kindle Days)
Readers of this blog may be familiar with paranormal romance author Tricia Schneider because she's cool enough to visit whenever she has good news to share. (She's also one of the hosts of the Very Paranormal Holidays blog hop, which you can enter here). Today starts free Kindle days for Tricia Schneider's newest release, The Witches Thief (Wild Rose Press). To celebrate her newest story, she's brought us an extra special treat: a guest post about her musical muses! I rather commend her on her choice of music; she's got suburb taste. (*grin*) And it explains one of the reasons why we get along so well... Songs, Sirens, and Story-Telling
Tricia SchneiderA guest post by Tricia Schneider I have three children ages 3, 6, and 7. Needless to say, I have a very noisy household. My writing time has had to become flexible over the years as I became a mother and my babies grew. Each stage brings new challenges and rewards. But one thing has stayed the same throughout. They are always noisy! Especially my boys. They wrestle, they chase each other, they fight, they laugh. They don't even play hide and seek quietly. I can hear them giggling as they try to hide. As much as it makes me crazy and happy at the same time, the noise doesn't help my writing. It's just a distraction. One more among many distractions for a writer to overcome.I used to write after my noise-makers would go to bed at night, but I didn't last long myself by that time. After a full day, I'm usually exhausted by nightfall. I might be able to stay up and watch a favorite TV show or two with my husband but most times I'm asleep before the end (except with The Walking Dead, there's no way I can fall asleep during that show!). So, writing at night rarely works for me anymore.
Now, I write in the mornings. In fact, I wrote The Witch's Thief during the early morning hours. My kids will either play or watch morning cartoons while I sit in the kitchen and write. But, the noise still bothers me. So I wear earphones and listen to music while I write. The music drowns out the yelling and laughter of my children when they play, and it muffles the sound of the TV on those days they choose to watch something with obnoxiously catchy tunes that I find myself singing for no reason later on in the day.
I listen to a variety of music, sometimes depending on my mood or at times depending on the scene that I'm about to write.
Here's a list of what I keep close by for my writing days:
Peter Steele of TONType O Negative, A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails, Audioslave, David Bowie, Annie Lennox and Enya. Even though most of these have lyrics, their voices often lull me into a kind of hypnosis that helps me get into that writing zone that I crave each day. And the music is usually dark and moody, very emotional stuff that spurs my creativity since I write mainly paranormal romance with a touch of gothic mood throughout.Movie Soundtracks and Scores are another favorite for those days when I'm just not in the mood to listen to lyrics:
The Lord of the Rings, The Pirates of the Caribbean, Sherlock Holmes, The Last of the Mohicans, Underworld, Resident Evil, and Bram Stoker's Dracula. More dark and moody themes that spark emotion within me. Just listening to these songs makes me want to write!
And then I have a collection of classical music that I enjoy listening to. Mostly it's Mozart and Bach, but I do have several others that I sometimes find useful.
I can tell you while I wrote The Witch's Thief, I always started out listening to Type O Negative'sBloody Kisses album. Black No.1 and Summer Breeze are my favorite songs on that one and were guaranteed to pull me deep into my writing. There's something very hypnotic about the singer Peter Steele's voice. It's like he used some sort of spell to sing like a siren luring listeners into a dark and dreamy world. Sadly, our world is darker without him. He passed away in 2010. I have all of Type O's albums and thankfully I never get tired of listening to them.
My husband is a bass player and vocalist in a local band (in Pennsylvania) called Mystagen. He has a deep sexy singing voice that I find equally hypnotic. On the album they released a few years ago, the song Soul Steal is my absolute favorite. Lots of emotion in that song, too. Of course, in most cases, I used to write while listening to them practice. No need for headphones then!
The Witch's Thief is being offered FREE on Kindle from December 17-21. Hurry over and grab your copy!
Blurb:To save her sister’s life, Julia Grey seeks a spell hidden somewhere within Merriweather Manor. Her position as a lady's companion affords her the freedom to search the house. But time is running out. The necromancer she's bargained with is growing impatient. And an unexpected appearance of a man from her past makes matters worse in an already complicated situation.Basil Merriweather returns to England after ten years abroad to discover his childhood sweetheart living in his home. But, he's no longer the carefree man of his youth and she's hiding something--deadly secrets Basil vows to uncover even as he hides a dark secret of his own.While neither Basil nor Julia will trust in the other, their hearts speak a truer language. In a grand attempt to save Julia's sister and Basil's life, the two must finally confess sinister truths. Will their admissions help or hinder any future they may have together? Or will the necromancer destroy all in a vile attempt at revenge.Excerpt:"What are you doing?"
He ignored her frantic questioning. Instead, he blocked out the sound of her voice and raised his arms into the air at his sides, his fingers splayed out as he extended his senses to scan the area. His power eased out, like extensions of his fingertips, stretching into the corners of the room, seeking, searching for the source of the magic he sensed.
It was here...somewhere.
He had sensed it earlier on his arrival, but being that his aunt and siblings practiced magic on a regular basis he'd never given it a second thought.
This room, however, stank with it. He smelled the odor, something strangely like sulfur...
"A spell has been cast in this room," he muttered. A strange spell. Odd. A spell he'd never sensed before, something new. It felt off is some way he couldn't explain. Who would be working new magic of this kind in his home? And, in this room in particular. Aunt Petunia worked her spells in the privacy of her rooms upstairs, or sometimes in the gardens, but never in this room. And his siblings each, practiced in their own private settings, places where they could concentrate without the threat of being disturbed. A fairly difficult task with the number of people normally in residence at Merriweather Manor.
He took a step closer to the center of the room where he sensed a surge of power. He shivered as coldness seeped into his skin. It wrapped around his arm, sinking into his flesh, right down to the bone. This was not right.
The magic in his house was always full of warmth and gentleness. Goodness and love. This magic chilled him to the bone. His heart skipped a beat. There was fear, terror, pain. This spell was full of darkness.
About the author:
Tricia Schneider is a paranormal and gothic romance author. She worked as an Assistant Manager at a bookstore for several years. Now she writes full-time while raising her 3 young children in the coal region of Pennsylvania. For more information about her books visit:
Website: http://www.triciaschneider.com
Blog: http://www.shadowsofromance.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authortriciaschneider
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/triciaschneider
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/triciaschneider
To buy her books:
The Wild Rose Press:
Amazon:
Gravetells Readers Choice Awards! #vote #paranormal #romance
Time to vote in the 2013 Gravetells Readers Choice awards! Fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, get ready to show the love for your favorite authors, books, characters, and publishers! A few quick notes before you get started…In many categories, you can vote for more than one nominee!You’ll only be able to submit your vote(s) for each category once during the entire event, so be sure you’ve made your choices carefully!Voting ends at 8pm Pacific time on Thursday, December 19th.Winners will be announced on Sunday, December 22nd And, in case you needed a tip *grin* BLODD RUSH was nominated for Hottest Couple!
I hope you'll stop by to cast your vote and show your support for Sophie once more. Competition is deliciously vicious and every vote will count! My publisher, Pink narcissus Press, is nominated for favorite publisher, as well. Spread the word! You can vote HERE Thanks, Demimonde! #muchlove#verysupport#suchwonderful
