John H. Carroll's Blog, page 10
October 16, 2012
Divina Diva Designs sale
Hello all,
My wife is offering a sale on her crafts through Etsy. She truly is an amazing artist. I have a sense of awe when I watch her create these items, her hands manipulating wire and beads. It gives me inspiration for some of the jewelry and decorations that people might have in my books. Below, you will find links to her store and some of the items as well as information on the sale.
Divina Diva Designs
[image error] Divina Diva Designs
Divina Diva Designs is all about creating beauty, beauty in spirit, mind, and body. The Divina Diva is a divine woman who creates divine designs using a delightful assortment of beads. As a spider weaves a web of beauty, the Divina Diva beads a web of intricate designs made to soothe the soul. Divina Diva Designs is having a sale from October 15th to the 29th enjoy 20% off your entire purchase. Just enter code: Divina20 The sale does not include custom item orders.
Here are a few of the items in the sale. There are many more once you visit the store. Remember, on checkout, enter code:
Divina20 Tree of Life
Every Tree of Life is a unique piece of art made by loving hands in the Rocky Mountains. I let each piece lead and guide me into the final work of art that it becomes. No two pieces will ever be the same.
The Tree of Life represents many different religions and beliefs and helps to intertwine all of us into its branches. Whether you are Christian or Jewish, Taoist or Pagan this tree is for you.
[image error] Image Copyright 2012 Tracy Carroll
This beautiful handcrafted tree of life is a sun or dream catcher. It is crafted with tarnish resistant copper wire in natural brass, Red Agate and Citrine chips on a 4 inch ring. It does come strung with clear wire for immediate hanging.
Pendant
Each pendant is a unique piece of art made by loving hands in the Rocky Mountains. I let each piece lead and guide me into the final piece of art that it becomes. No 2 pieces will ever be the same.
[image error] Image Copyright 2012 Tracy CarrollMy pieces are my art. I love the look of raw pieces, the difference between hard and soft, sharp and dull. It intrigues me as I hope it will intrigue you. This piece is made with pink dyed and striped mother of pearl shell and tarnish resistant copper wire in black. It is ready to be put on a chain and accessorize any outfit.
Earrings
[image error] Image Copyright 2012 Tracy Carroll 22 Gauge Copper wire delicately Twisted, looped and attached to a hook earwire. It dangles nicely from the ear. A fun and funky addition to any wardrobe. I did try and make them as identical as possible but they are after all handmade so there are just very slight differences.
Witches Ladder
These enchanting beads are lovingly crafted with positive and calm energy. Each strand, whether it is a 9, 13 or 40 strand, is blessed by the Goddess as they are created. My hands are guided by the piece as it leads me through the process into the wondrous creation that it becomes. Every Witch’s Ladder is unique and handmade in the Rocky Mountains. No two will ever be the same.
Considering this strand for you, or possibly as a gift for someone else? I truly believe that each piece comes into existence for a certain person. It is my hope that the energies of the universe will guide that piece to its rightful home. If you are strongly drawn to this strand then it is likely the one for you or perhaps the right gift for someone in your life.
[image error] Image Copyright 2012 Tracy Carroll This particular strand is a 40 bead strand. It is 18 inches long. It is made with Aventurine, Silver cat eyes and peacock beads with Silver accents. You have a Hamsa on one end and a sun on the other. This piece can also be worn as a wraparound bracelet with the addition of a clasp.
About the Artist:
I am a mix media artist whose favorite media's are jewelry design and photography. But you never know what you will find as I love trying new medias.I live high in the Rocky Mountains where I find constant inspiration with my husband, two children and a houseful of animal companions. I hope you enjoy my creations as much as I enjoy making them.
Love, Light and Creative Blessings,
Tracy
My wife is offering a sale on her crafts through Etsy. She truly is an amazing artist. I have a sense of awe when I watch her create these items, her hands manipulating wire and beads. It gives me inspiration for some of the jewelry and decorations that people might have in my books. Below, you will find links to her store and some of the items as well as information on the sale.
Divina Diva Designs
[image error] Divina Diva Designs
Divina Diva Designs is all about creating beauty, beauty in spirit, mind, and body. The Divina Diva is a divine woman who creates divine designs using a delightful assortment of beads. As a spider weaves a web of beauty, the Divina Diva beads a web of intricate designs made to soothe the soul. Divina Diva Designs is having a sale from October 15th to the 29th enjoy 20% off your entire purchase. Just enter code: Divina20 The sale does not include custom item orders.
Here are a few of the items in the sale. There are many more once you visit the store. Remember, on checkout, enter code:
Divina20 Tree of Life
Every Tree of Life is a unique piece of art made by loving hands in the Rocky Mountains. I let each piece lead and guide me into the final work of art that it becomes. No two pieces will ever be the same.
The Tree of Life represents many different religions and beliefs and helps to intertwine all of us into its branches. Whether you are Christian or Jewish, Taoist or Pagan this tree is for you.
[image error] Image Copyright 2012 Tracy Carroll
This beautiful handcrafted tree of life is a sun or dream catcher. It is crafted with tarnish resistant copper wire in natural brass, Red Agate and Citrine chips on a 4 inch ring. It does come strung with clear wire for immediate hanging.
Pendant
Each pendant is a unique piece of art made by loving hands in the Rocky Mountains. I let each piece lead and guide me into the final piece of art that it becomes. No 2 pieces will ever be the same.
[image error] Image Copyright 2012 Tracy CarrollMy pieces are my art. I love the look of raw pieces, the difference between hard and soft, sharp and dull. It intrigues me as I hope it will intrigue you. This piece is made with pink dyed and striped mother of pearl shell and tarnish resistant copper wire in black. It is ready to be put on a chain and accessorize any outfit.
Earrings
[image error] Image Copyright 2012 Tracy Carroll 22 Gauge Copper wire delicately Twisted, looped and attached to a hook earwire. It dangles nicely from the ear. A fun and funky addition to any wardrobe. I did try and make them as identical as possible but they are after all handmade so there are just very slight differences.
Witches Ladder
These enchanting beads are lovingly crafted with positive and calm energy. Each strand, whether it is a 9, 13 or 40 strand, is blessed by the Goddess as they are created. My hands are guided by the piece as it leads me through the process into the wondrous creation that it becomes. Every Witch’s Ladder is unique and handmade in the Rocky Mountains. No two will ever be the same.
Considering this strand for you, or possibly as a gift for someone else? I truly believe that each piece comes into existence for a certain person. It is my hope that the energies of the universe will guide that piece to its rightful home. If you are strongly drawn to this strand then it is likely the one for you or perhaps the right gift for someone in your life.
[image error] Image Copyright 2012 Tracy Carroll This particular strand is a 40 bead strand. It is 18 inches long. It is made with Aventurine, Silver cat eyes and peacock beads with Silver accents. You have a Hamsa on one end and a sun on the other. This piece can also be worn as a wraparound bracelet with the addition of a clasp.
About the Artist:
I am a mix media artist whose favorite media's are jewelry design and photography. But you never know what you will find as I love trying new medias.I live high in the Rocky Mountains where I find constant inspiration with my husband, two children and a houseful of animal companions. I hope you enjoy my creations as much as I enjoy making them.
Love, Light and Creative Blessings,
Tracy
September 30, 2012
Pelya - Chapter 1
This is the first chapter of my upcoming book, "Pelya". It will be released in late November.
Chapter 1
“This is the first chapter of my upcomingSornin, I’m beginning to think that everyone has decided to become honest lately,” Pelya said with a grin as she rested against a lamppost. A breeze lazily carried the sounds of the city through the air.
Sornin responded with a snort. “You shouldn’t ask for trouble, Pelya, especially not at the beginning of our shift. There’ll be plenty to go around at some point or another.” He straightened the collar of his chain shirt underneath his tunic, a nervous habit. They wore the brown and black uniforms of the Dralin City Guard. “And thinking that everyone stopped committing crimes is pure fantasy.”
Pelya stood straight and tugged on her braided black hair, an unconscious habit she had. “Come now Sornin, the weather is pleasant with the heat of summer gone. Fall colors cover the trees and the threat of winter is still far away. We’re in for a long, boring night, so it wouldn’t hurt to let a smile crack those lips of yours.”
He gave her a slight smile, more than most people received. Brown hair framed his narrow face and he always wore a severe expression. Pelya trusted him implicitly though, especially since he had protected her back more than once, as she had his.
They were patrolling the Orange Sash District, named after perfume-laden prostitutes that wore orange sashes to mark their profession. Garishly painted bordellos lined the street and women called out from windows to potential clients below.
Pelya’s unit was in the center of the district where the clientele tended towards middle class workers. Rich, ornate buildings housed a higher class of prostitute in the northern section of the district while run-down parlor houses were in the south.
Pelya checked everyone’s positions, her sapphire-blue eyes sparkling in the late afternoon sun. There were six people in her unit, loosely organized, ready for battle if needed. The fact that they walked without a specific formation made them less predictable.
She had become unit leader on her nineteenth birthday last month and immediately established herself as a charismatic leader. Sornin was her unit-buddy and second in charge. They were one of four units in the squad. The other three units were within hearing distance of the whistle around her neck, which made a piercing signal that carried over the sounds of the busy streets.
Scantily clad men and women on the streets encouraged potential customers to enter the bordellos. Most were respectful to the Guardmembers who watched over them and kept them safe, or as safe as it was possible to keep anyone in the most dangerous city on the world of Ryallon.
“Does your father know that Captain Fallamer has you stationed in the Orange Sash?” Yobi, a veteran Guardsman, asked. He looked up at the puffy clouds in the sky and stretched.
Pelya gave her long braid another yank. “Yes. He’s mad about it too. But he needs to understand that he can’t protect me from doing my job.” She remembered the yelling match they had about it the week before.
Yobi shook his head in amazement. “I wouldn’t want to cross Sergeant Frath Jornin even if I was a captain. I like working for Captain Fallamer, but she’s crazy for giving you this assignment.”
Joll, his unit-buddy, smacked Yobi on the shoulder with the back of her hand. “Watch what you say.” She glanced up at Pelya nervously. Joll was a short, young woman who was intimidated by Pelya’s six-foot frame.
Pelya waved off the concern. “Daddy unnerves most people, and it is a bad idea to cross him.” She winked, more than happy to protect her father’s reputation. They both gulped.
They heard a muffled scream. Joll pointed down the street a side street. “A woman, taken down the alley by a group of thugs!” Before she was done with the sentence, they all had their swords drawn and ready.
Pelya immediately shouted orders. “Watch for surprises and protect each other!” She gave her whistle two sharp tweets and a long one to let the other units in the squad know that they were investigating trouble.
Her unit dashed toward the alley while curious bystanders scurried out of the way. The speed with which the well-trained fighters moved was remarkable. The Dralin City Guard had a system for pursuit that made it difficult to escape. Each Guardmember studied maps of every alley and sewer intensively before they were let lose in a District.
A sharp turn into the murky alley and they could see the kidnappers dragging the struggling woman through the back door of a smog-blackened building, slamming it shut behind them.
The members of the unit dashed forward, stepped to either side of the door and prepared for entrance. Sornin tossed a runeball that would detect any spells or traps on the door. It would even disarm most generic spells. It floated in front of the doorway for a moment, shining with a greenish light as it spun and did its magic. All was clear. Sornin retrieved the ball just as Pelya blew two long tweets followed by a short one to indicate to the rest of the squad that her unit was entering a building. She kicked the old, wooden door, shattering it with one blow.
Pelya moved inside carefully, letting her eyes grow accustomed to the dim light. Sornin was right behind her, sword at the ready. Two lanterns revealed chipped paint on the wooden walls and threadbare runners on the floor. Pelya’s instincts told her the woman would have been taken further than the first rooms on either side of the hallway, so she headed toward a door at the very end. Sornin signaled for the others to be ready for battle. They advanced in staggered formation.
At the end of the hall, Sornin tossed the runeball past his leader. It flashed with red light, disarming a ward on the door. The ball sucked in magical energy causing it to disintegrate, its enchantment used up.
Sornin and Pelya exchanged worried glances. Red light indicated an alarm ward. Even though it was disarmed, anyone inside would know someone was standing outside the door. Pelya felt a little uneasy about walking into a certain ambush, but the circumstances required instant action. If they didn’t engage immediately, the woman would be lost.
With another well-placed kick, she took down the door. Sornin rushed in first while Pelya followed right behind. They moved to either side of the door, clearing a safe path for the rest.
Ten fighters stood back in the surprisingly large and crowded room instead of coming forth to attack. The sight of expensive furnishings, shoved aside for a fight, made it clear to Pelya that this was a place for criminal operations. In contrast to the hallway outside, the walls had fresh paint, wall hangings and expensive carpets.
Sornin yelled in loud, clear tones, “Dralin City Guard! Put down your weapons!”
The fighters lifted their swords higher and crouched, ready for battle. Pelya realized they would face a fight, something she didn’t want. “No one needs to get hurt! We just have questions.” Joll and Yobi came through the door and moved forward, making space for the last two.
A blonde man glared at the intruders from behind a desk at the far end of the room as though they were flies landing on his dinner. He wore a fancy purple shirt, black pants and a fine sword at the hip. Two men next to the desk held the kidnapped woman. A woman in yellow robes was gesturing with her hands and a supernatural wind blew hair about her face.
Pelya and Sornin realized at the same time why the fighters were holding back. “Magic!” they shouted together. In unison, Pelya’s unit cast fast protective spells, taught as standard training in the Guard. It would complement protections already built into their uniforms. They were just in time, saving them from the effects of the spell.
Pelya’s knife flew through the air, its target the spellcaster. The knife was special issue to all unit leaders, made to pierce magical defenses and kill wizards. The wizard had already begun another spell and wasn’t able to dodge the flying blade that pierced his throat and dropped him to the ground.
Five, Pelya thought to herself. It was how many people she had killed in her life, a number she hated. She blew her whistle in two short bursts, the signal that they were engaging in battle. Hopefully, it would be heard through the open doors to outside.
The true battle began. Their foes were not amateurs, but few were good enough to match a member of Dralin’s Guard. Pelya had two men to deal with immediately. Her sword darted through the air faster than her opponents could parry. One fell quickly. Six. A number she hated more than five.
She stalled the other man with rapid parries in order to check on her unit. Joll was down and would never get up again. The rest of the unit was hard pressed. Then two more foes engaged Pelya. She finished off the one she had stalled, seven, and went to the next. A quick move here and another there, the two were wounded. She reevaluated the unit’s situation and realized another of her unit was down. As she killed another attacker, eight, Albin, a third member of her unit also fell. Sornin and Yobi stood with her against three hardened fighters, four others lying dead on the floor.
The man that had been behind the desk was now closer with Albin’s blood on his blade. His brown eyes were cold and ruthless, taking measure of them. His nostrils flared and his brows lowered as he closed the distance. The remaining foes backed off.
Pelya knew that they all stood a chance of dying if they stood their ground. It was against the policy of the Dralin City Guard for every member of a unit to die. At least one of them must return to the squad and report the incident. “Report Yobi! Now!” Pelya yelled.
He took the order and went through the doorway only to find three more fighters blocking the way. Sornin turned and helped to clear the escape route while Pelya stood in the doorway and guarded their retreat.
The stranger with the hard eyes was in front of her. Pelya’s sword clashed against his blade. Sparks of light and color came from their swords showing that both contained magic. He was a swordmaster and his enchanted blade met every stroke of hers effortlessly. Even though she was also a swordmaster, her thrusts and parries became more desperate with each blow. She tumbled around him for better position.
Pelya sensed one of the fighters attacking her from behind. An exaggerated move and a fast dodge put her behind the man. She pushed him forward. Without blinking, the swordmaster killed his own man.
The swordmaster’s blade met hers again with a supernatural speed. Closer and closer it came, as though the blade itself wished to drink of her blood. She could see the man’s nostrils flaring even more as he came on. There was power and experience in his arm. He had spent more time wielding a sword than she. It was not just the enchantment in the steel.
Pelya sensed movement behind her. She made a quick roll backward and to the side. Another fighter behind her missed with a wicked thrust at her back. Every ounce of Pelya’s training, in addition to her natural talent, came into play. She jumped up from the roll just in time to see the mysterious swordmaster kill the man for interfering in his battle.
There is a moment after a person kills someone when they pause to take in the shock of it. The hardest killer may have it down to an almost nonexistent moment, but it is there.
Pelya struck in that moment, a quick thrust, tight and deadly. It missed. Anyone else would have died. The man moved even faster than Gilron Coodmur, the Guard’s weaponmaster.
Pain stung Pelya’s cheek as she jerked her head back and tumbled to the side. The swordmaster’s blade was sharp. Pelya ignored the blood flowing down her chin and the swordmaster’s cruel smile as she parried another of his blows.
The next cut her thigh. Another cut the back of her hand as she tumbled and failed to take out his hamstring with a spinning swing.
He was too fast and his blade bit into her forehead as her sword moved too slowly to counter. Blood flowed past her eyes, impairing her vision.
Pelya’s back grew warm. Time slowed.
Her blade met the man’s sword in slow motion and then darted forward to slash his chin.
The swordmaster was surprised as he parried her next blow. He was more surprised when another cut through his shirt to the skin of his chest.
Time slowed even more as their blades clashed again and again, neither gaining the advantage. The warmth on Pelya’s back increased, spreading into her bones. Shadows watched intently.
They separated. The swordmaster rolled toward the desk while Pelya rolled toward the door. For an instant, the opponents stared at each other with the intensity of suns, memorizing every detail about the other.
The swordmaster dashed through a secret door held open by one of his fighters. It closed behind them.
Pelya took a step forward before realizing that the room was filled with Guardmembers and that the remaining fighters had been subdued. The kidnapped woman was crying into the shoulder of a Guard.
“Pelya!” Sornin said. “Pelya!”
Everything was surreal as she turned to face him. Normalcy came rushing in, causing her to stagger backwards. The heat on her back and in her bones lessened. The shadows slid back into themselves.
Squad Sergeant Herman Melvor came and took her arm in concern. “Pelya. Are you alright? You’re bleed . . . By the Gods . . . Your cuts are disappearing! What healing magic is that?”
Pelya’s mouth clenched shut. The dragon mark on her back prevented her from speaking. It had slowed time and improved her reflexes during the battle. Now it healed her wounds, but it also prevented her from ever talking about it. Most of the time she didn’t even remember it was there, so insidious was the geas that prevented her from revealing it.
Squad Corporal Jecks put his hand on Pelya’s sword hand in a calming motion. “I’ve never seen anyone move so fast, you or him.” Concern lit his grey eyes and filled his thick voice.
Pelya wiped and sheathed her sword at the corporal’s gesture. She still couldn’t respond. Sornin put a supportive hand on her shoulder while Yobi stood behind with his arms crossed. Once of the squad wizards was trying to figure out the secret door while the other helped the squad healer look after the fallen Guardmembers. Pelya realized that Sornin and Yobi were the only ones who survived.
“Report, Unit Leader,” Sergeant Melvor said. Pelya normally called him Uncle Herman. He had helped Pelya’s father raise her since she was a baby. His brown eyes showed that he wanted to protect her, but he was being professional.
It helped. Pelya’s jaw unlocked and she relayed the details of the incident. “The unit heard a woman scream and began pursuit of two men who were dragging that woman into an alley.” Pelya pointed at the woman who was still sobbing into the shoulder of a Guardsman. The Guardsman looked at Sergeant Melvor with pleading eyes.
The sergeant ignored the look, leaving the man to suffer the woman’s tears. “Go on, Pelya. What happened next?”
Pelya was still gulping in air from exertion. “We saw them enter this building. After Sornin checked the door for wards, I broke it down and led my unit into the building. I whistled . . .”
Sergeant Melvor nodded. “We heard your whistles.”
“We went through the hallways to this door and discovered an alarm ward on it. It was deactivated and I kicked in the door.”
“Did you check any of the side doors in the hallway?” Corporal Jecks asked.
“I did not,” Pelya said with a sinking feeling in her stomach. She remembered the fighters who had come behind them. “My instincts told me the woman was in this room at the end of the hall and that we needed to get to her as fast as possible.”
Corporal Jecks nodded. Pelya couldn’t tell if he approved or disapproved. He was hard to read.
“There were about ten armed fighters in the room, a wizard, the kidnappers, the kidnapped woman and the man I was fighting.” Pelya stopped and stared at the secret doorway that the squad wizard still hadn’t figured out.
One of the guardsmen who was examining the bodies of the fighters stood and came over. “A few of these fighters were once soldiers from the Kingdom of Deller. I recognize tattoos on the base of the neck given to everyone who joins their army. Theirs have additional marks to indicate that they were discharged dishonorably.”
“Good work, Private Wibben.” Sergeant Melvor frowned. “Do you have any idea why ex-soldiers from Deller would be here, Pelya?”
“No, Sergeant. We called for them to put away their weapons and said that we just wanted to ask questions, but the wizard cast a spell at us.” Pelya pointed at the dead mage. Her knife was still sticking from his neck.
“Nice shot,” Corporal Jecks said. “That’s your knife, right?” He pointed at Pelya’s empty sheath.
“Yes, Corporal. The odds were against us and the wizard immediately began casting another spell. I truly believed it the only real option.” Pelya didn’t tell him that the wizard was the fifth person she had killed in her life. That was a private number. “We cast our warding spells upon seeing the wizard, which protected us from the first casting. I didn’t know if they would hold up against another.”
Corporal Jecks gave a sharp nod of approval. “Good decision.” Pelya was astonished. It was the highest praise she had heard him give anyone.
“What happened then, Pelya?” Sergeant Melvor asked.
“The fighters attacked us and there was no time to do anything but fight back. They were skilled.” She looked at Joll’s body. It was surreal to Pelya that Guardmembers could be defeated.
Private Wibben stared at the bodies. “They were very skilled to take out three Guardspeople.”
Pelya worked on leveling her breathing. “I ordered Yobi to run for help. He was blocked by three fighters and Sornin went to help him while I watched their backs.”
Sornin spoke to her defense. “Pelya’s the best of us. I thought she would be able to hold off the rest in spite of their skill.”
“You made a good decision,” Sergeant Melvor said. “Getting word to the squad was priority. And I trust Pelya to guard my back any day.” He smiled at Pelya and squeezed her shoulder.
Pelya had a sudden urge to burst into tears, but she resisted it. “That swordmaster attacked me next and all my time was spent defending against him. He killed two of his own men, one to get to me, the other because the fighter tried to kill me.”
“He carried himself like a duelist,” Private Wibben said. “I’ve seen the type. They’re everywhere in Deller. Although he was better than any I’ve seen.”
“Are you from Deller?” Jecks asked.
Wibben shook his head. “No. I’m from Obda to the north of Deller. Their soldiers make a nuisance of themselves and occasionally come to border towns for drinking and wenching.” He looked at Pelya. “I’ve never seen anyone move as fast as either of you. There was magic involved.”
Pelya’s jaw clenched shut again. She couldn’t talk about the mark. With a deft switch of thought, she remembered the swordmaster’s weapon. Her jaw unlocked. “He had a magical blade, superior to the standard guard issue.” She patted the sword at her side. It wasn’t standard, having been a gift from the Guard’s weaponmaster, but it looked like one and few knew otherwise.
“If it makes him move faster, it’s a powerful enchantment.” Jecks looked suspiciously at Pelya. “How did you move so fast, Pelya?”
Her jaw didn’t lock, almost as though the mark trusted her not to reveal its presence. She rewarded its faith by deflecting the corporal’s question. “I don’t think his sword was just magical. I could feel it studying me, testing me. I think it may have had a name.”
The statement drew gasps. Magical weapons and other items were common, especially in Dralin, but a named item meant it had a soul. It could think and influence the person that owned it. They were incredibly powerful, priceless and dangerous.
“We need to know who he is and why he wanted this woman kidnapped.” Sergeant Melvor gestured at the woman who had finally stopped crying and was wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her extravagant dress.
She held her head high. “Because I’m the daughter of Chancellor Divathia.”
“Chancellor Divathia of the High Council?” Sergeant Melvor asked in surprise. He thumped a fist to his chest in salute. “Milady.”
She gathered loose strands of her auburn hair and put them in a makeshift ponytail. “I did my best to fight them off, but they were too strong. They killed my personal guards.” She looked at a rip in the sleeve of her dress. “Mother’s going to kill me for ruining this dress.”
None of the men knew how to respond and just stood there stupidly. Pelya winked. “Blame it on the kidnappers and tell your mother they ripped it just to spite her.”
The woman’s face lit up. “Brilliant idea. That way it’s her fault.” She came over and wrapped Pelya in a hug, nearly suffocating her with the heavy scent of jasmine perfume. “Thank you for saving my life. I saw your unit just before they dragged me into the alley. It took every ounce of my strength to get the hand away from my mouth long enough to scream.” She stood back and looked up at Pelya. “I will see to it that you are rewarded. Mother will want to meet you.”
Pelya gulped. The High Council was the ruling body of Dralin and outranked even the Grand Assembly responsible for running the country of Altordan. The twelve chancellors of the High Council were the most powerful people in the kingdom and it wasn’t wise to attract their attention, good or bad.
The woman sighed and shook her head. “Of course you don’t want to meet her. Nobody wants anything to do with her or me.” She crossed her arms and turned to look at the rest of the room. “Eww. Why am I still in a room with dead bodies? This is disgusting.” She turned back to Herman and held her arms out in an expression of incredulity. “Why am I still here, Sergeant whatever your name is?”
“His name is Sergeant Melvor,” Pelya said. “My name is Pelya Jornin.”
The woman looked at Pelya in shock and then a smile lit her face. “I’m Yancy. Please get me out of this room. These dead bodies are starting to unnerve me.”
Pelya looked to Sergeant Melvor, who nodded. She led her to the alley outside. Sornin and Yobi followed.
“Finish gathering evidence,” Sergeant Melvor ordered Corporal Jecks. “The messengers I sent should have reached Captain Fallamer and she’ll be here soon. I want everything ready to present to her.” He then followed Pelya and the others into the alley. “The captain will want to speak to you Lady Divathia. We’ll arrange to get you home just as soon as possible.”
“Fine, but I want Pelya to escort me. I saw how good she is with a sword, better than any of my guards.” Yancy studied Pelya.
Sergeant Melvor looked distinctly uncomfortable with the suggestion. “I don’t have that authority, milady, but I’m sure Captain Fallamer will allow her to join the escort before returning to finish her report.”
Just then, an officer with short red hair jogged up along with a full squad. Her thin, red eyebrows furrowed in a frown at seeing Pelya, but she turned to Melvor. “Report, Sergeant.”
Yancy ignored the sergeant who began to report the details to Captain Fallamer. She grabbed Pelya’s arm, dragging her next to a nearby wall. “You’re Pelya Jornin, the guard brat, aren’t you?”
Pelya suppressed the urge to punch the woman in the face.
Yancy gasped and covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean it that way . . .” She grabbed Pelya’s arms. “Please don’t be mad at me. It’s just that . . . everyone calls you that . . . I mean . . . that’s not what I mean . . .” She turned around and threw her hands up in frustration. “I’ve gone and messed up again. I’ll never learn. Everyone hates me. I’m so stupid!”
Pelya crossed her arms and set aside her personal feelings. “I have no idea whether or not you’re stupid, but I won’t hold it against you if you are.” She grinned at the look of shock on Yancy’s face as the woman spun back around.
“Oh . . . you . . .” And then Yancy laughed. “I like you, and I’m sorry I called you a guard brat.” She paused and put a hand on her chin. “Mother doesn’t approve of you though. That’s a problem.”
“Yes, well I’m used to people not approving of me,” Pelya said in disgust. “I don’t care, even if your mother is a member of the High Council. I don’t care what anyone thinks of me or of my father for raising me in the Guard.” She became angrier with each word. It was a sore spot with her and to know that she was discussed even within the High Council was offensive.
Yancy folded her hands in front of her and hung her head. “I’m sorry.”
Pelya wiped her face with a tired hand. She was drained now that all the energy pumped into her blood during battle was leaving.
“You’re shaking,” Yancy said while grabbing Pelya’s arms again. “Are you hurt?”
“No. I’m just tired and I killed . . .” Pelya stared back at the doorway, remembering the bodies of the men and the death of her unit mates. She wouldn’t cry though, not until she was safely alone with her father, or Ebudae.
“I’m trying to forget that! Please don’t talk about it. I’m trying to be brave, but I . . . I’ve never seen anyone die until now.” Yancy was pale as a ghost and looked about ready to faint.”
“Lady Yancy Divathia?” Captain Fallamer came up beside Pelya. “I’m giving you an escort to take you home along with a carriage that will be here momentarily. It’s my understanding that you wish Unit Leader Jornin to be in that escort?”
“Yes, Captain,” Yancy said with a slight curtsey. It was a proper gesture and a measure of respect.
“Very well, but she must return as soon as you are safely home. She has a report to make.”
“Yes, Captain. I’ll see to it. Thank you.” Yancy curtsied again.
Captain Fallamer gave Pelya’s shoulder a squeeze. “Come talk to me first thing when you get back to the Guard District, Unit Leader.” She smiled reassuringly.
“Yes, Captain.” Pelya didn’t feel reassured.
If you are interested in the first two books:
Chapter 1
“This is the first chapter of my upcomingSornin, I’m beginning to think that everyone has decided to become honest lately,” Pelya said with a grin as she rested against a lamppost. A breeze lazily carried the sounds of the city through the air.
Sornin responded with a snort. “You shouldn’t ask for trouble, Pelya, especially not at the beginning of our shift. There’ll be plenty to go around at some point or another.” He straightened the collar of his chain shirt underneath his tunic, a nervous habit. They wore the brown and black uniforms of the Dralin City Guard. “And thinking that everyone stopped committing crimes is pure fantasy.”
Pelya stood straight and tugged on her braided black hair, an unconscious habit she had. “Come now Sornin, the weather is pleasant with the heat of summer gone. Fall colors cover the trees and the threat of winter is still far away. We’re in for a long, boring night, so it wouldn’t hurt to let a smile crack those lips of yours.”
He gave her a slight smile, more than most people received. Brown hair framed his narrow face and he always wore a severe expression. Pelya trusted him implicitly though, especially since he had protected her back more than once, as she had his.
They were patrolling the Orange Sash District, named after perfume-laden prostitutes that wore orange sashes to mark their profession. Garishly painted bordellos lined the street and women called out from windows to potential clients below.
Pelya’s unit was in the center of the district where the clientele tended towards middle class workers. Rich, ornate buildings housed a higher class of prostitute in the northern section of the district while run-down parlor houses were in the south.
Pelya checked everyone’s positions, her sapphire-blue eyes sparkling in the late afternoon sun. There were six people in her unit, loosely organized, ready for battle if needed. The fact that they walked without a specific formation made them less predictable.
She had become unit leader on her nineteenth birthday last month and immediately established herself as a charismatic leader. Sornin was her unit-buddy and second in charge. They were one of four units in the squad. The other three units were within hearing distance of the whistle around her neck, which made a piercing signal that carried over the sounds of the busy streets.
Scantily clad men and women on the streets encouraged potential customers to enter the bordellos. Most were respectful to the Guardmembers who watched over them and kept them safe, or as safe as it was possible to keep anyone in the most dangerous city on the world of Ryallon.
“Does your father know that Captain Fallamer has you stationed in the Orange Sash?” Yobi, a veteran Guardsman, asked. He looked up at the puffy clouds in the sky and stretched.
Pelya gave her long braid another yank. “Yes. He’s mad about it too. But he needs to understand that he can’t protect me from doing my job.” She remembered the yelling match they had about it the week before.
Yobi shook his head in amazement. “I wouldn’t want to cross Sergeant Frath Jornin even if I was a captain. I like working for Captain Fallamer, but she’s crazy for giving you this assignment.”
Joll, his unit-buddy, smacked Yobi on the shoulder with the back of her hand. “Watch what you say.” She glanced up at Pelya nervously. Joll was a short, young woman who was intimidated by Pelya’s six-foot frame.
Pelya waved off the concern. “Daddy unnerves most people, and it is a bad idea to cross him.” She winked, more than happy to protect her father’s reputation. They both gulped.
They heard a muffled scream. Joll pointed down the street a side street. “A woman, taken down the alley by a group of thugs!” Before she was done with the sentence, they all had their swords drawn and ready.
Pelya immediately shouted orders. “Watch for surprises and protect each other!” She gave her whistle two sharp tweets and a long one to let the other units in the squad know that they were investigating trouble.
Her unit dashed toward the alley while curious bystanders scurried out of the way. The speed with which the well-trained fighters moved was remarkable. The Dralin City Guard had a system for pursuit that made it difficult to escape. Each Guardmember studied maps of every alley and sewer intensively before they were let lose in a District.
A sharp turn into the murky alley and they could see the kidnappers dragging the struggling woman through the back door of a smog-blackened building, slamming it shut behind them.
The members of the unit dashed forward, stepped to either side of the door and prepared for entrance. Sornin tossed a runeball that would detect any spells or traps on the door. It would even disarm most generic spells. It floated in front of the doorway for a moment, shining with a greenish light as it spun and did its magic. All was clear. Sornin retrieved the ball just as Pelya blew two long tweets followed by a short one to indicate to the rest of the squad that her unit was entering a building. She kicked the old, wooden door, shattering it with one blow.
Pelya moved inside carefully, letting her eyes grow accustomed to the dim light. Sornin was right behind her, sword at the ready. Two lanterns revealed chipped paint on the wooden walls and threadbare runners on the floor. Pelya’s instincts told her the woman would have been taken further than the first rooms on either side of the hallway, so she headed toward a door at the very end. Sornin signaled for the others to be ready for battle. They advanced in staggered formation.
At the end of the hall, Sornin tossed the runeball past his leader. It flashed with red light, disarming a ward on the door. The ball sucked in magical energy causing it to disintegrate, its enchantment used up.
Sornin and Pelya exchanged worried glances. Red light indicated an alarm ward. Even though it was disarmed, anyone inside would know someone was standing outside the door. Pelya felt a little uneasy about walking into a certain ambush, but the circumstances required instant action. If they didn’t engage immediately, the woman would be lost.
With another well-placed kick, she took down the door. Sornin rushed in first while Pelya followed right behind. They moved to either side of the door, clearing a safe path for the rest.
Ten fighters stood back in the surprisingly large and crowded room instead of coming forth to attack. The sight of expensive furnishings, shoved aside for a fight, made it clear to Pelya that this was a place for criminal operations. In contrast to the hallway outside, the walls had fresh paint, wall hangings and expensive carpets.
Sornin yelled in loud, clear tones, “Dralin City Guard! Put down your weapons!”
The fighters lifted their swords higher and crouched, ready for battle. Pelya realized they would face a fight, something she didn’t want. “No one needs to get hurt! We just have questions.” Joll and Yobi came through the door and moved forward, making space for the last two.
A blonde man glared at the intruders from behind a desk at the far end of the room as though they were flies landing on his dinner. He wore a fancy purple shirt, black pants and a fine sword at the hip. Two men next to the desk held the kidnapped woman. A woman in yellow robes was gesturing with her hands and a supernatural wind blew hair about her face.
Pelya and Sornin realized at the same time why the fighters were holding back. “Magic!” they shouted together. In unison, Pelya’s unit cast fast protective spells, taught as standard training in the Guard. It would complement protections already built into their uniforms. They were just in time, saving them from the effects of the spell.
Pelya’s knife flew through the air, its target the spellcaster. The knife was special issue to all unit leaders, made to pierce magical defenses and kill wizards. The wizard had already begun another spell and wasn’t able to dodge the flying blade that pierced his throat and dropped him to the ground.
Five, Pelya thought to herself. It was how many people she had killed in her life, a number she hated. She blew her whistle in two short bursts, the signal that they were engaging in battle. Hopefully, it would be heard through the open doors to outside.
The true battle began. Their foes were not amateurs, but few were good enough to match a member of Dralin’s Guard. Pelya had two men to deal with immediately. Her sword darted through the air faster than her opponents could parry. One fell quickly. Six. A number she hated more than five.
She stalled the other man with rapid parries in order to check on her unit. Joll was down and would never get up again. The rest of the unit was hard pressed. Then two more foes engaged Pelya. She finished off the one she had stalled, seven, and went to the next. A quick move here and another there, the two were wounded. She reevaluated the unit’s situation and realized another of her unit was down. As she killed another attacker, eight, Albin, a third member of her unit also fell. Sornin and Yobi stood with her against three hardened fighters, four others lying dead on the floor.
The man that had been behind the desk was now closer with Albin’s blood on his blade. His brown eyes were cold and ruthless, taking measure of them. His nostrils flared and his brows lowered as he closed the distance. The remaining foes backed off.
Pelya knew that they all stood a chance of dying if they stood their ground. It was against the policy of the Dralin City Guard for every member of a unit to die. At least one of them must return to the squad and report the incident. “Report Yobi! Now!” Pelya yelled.
He took the order and went through the doorway only to find three more fighters blocking the way. Sornin turned and helped to clear the escape route while Pelya stood in the doorway and guarded their retreat.
The stranger with the hard eyes was in front of her. Pelya’s sword clashed against his blade. Sparks of light and color came from their swords showing that both contained magic. He was a swordmaster and his enchanted blade met every stroke of hers effortlessly. Even though she was also a swordmaster, her thrusts and parries became more desperate with each blow. She tumbled around him for better position.
Pelya sensed one of the fighters attacking her from behind. An exaggerated move and a fast dodge put her behind the man. She pushed him forward. Without blinking, the swordmaster killed his own man.
The swordmaster’s blade met hers again with a supernatural speed. Closer and closer it came, as though the blade itself wished to drink of her blood. She could see the man’s nostrils flaring even more as he came on. There was power and experience in his arm. He had spent more time wielding a sword than she. It was not just the enchantment in the steel.
Pelya sensed movement behind her. She made a quick roll backward and to the side. Another fighter behind her missed with a wicked thrust at her back. Every ounce of Pelya’s training, in addition to her natural talent, came into play. She jumped up from the roll just in time to see the mysterious swordmaster kill the man for interfering in his battle.
There is a moment after a person kills someone when they pause to take in the shock of it. The hardest killer may have it down to an almost nonexistent moment, but it is there.
Pelya struck in that moment, a quick thrust, tight and deadly. It missed. Anyone else would have died. The man moved even faster than Gilron Coodmur, the Guard’s weaponmaster.
Pain stung Pelya’s cheek as she jerked her head back and tumbled to the side. The swordmaster’s blade was sharp. Pelya ignored the blood flowing down her chin and the swordmaster’s cruel smile as she parried another of his blows.
The next cut her thigh. Another cut the back of her hand as she tumbled and failed to take out his hamstring with a spinning swing.
He was too fast and his blade bit into her forehead as her sword moved too slowly to counter. Blood flowed past her eyes, impairing her vision.
Pelya’s back grew warm. Time slowed.
Her blade met the man’s sword in slow motion and then darted forward to slash his chin.
The swordmaster was surprised as he parried her next blow. He was more surprised when another cut through his shirt to the skin of his chest.
Time slowed even more as their blades clashed again and again, neither gaining the advantage. The warmth on Pelya’s back increased, spreading into her bones. Shadows watched intently.
They separated. The swordmaster rolled toward the desk while Pelya rolled toward the door. For an instant, the opponents stared at each other with the intensity of suns, memorizing every detail about the other.
The swordmaster dashed through a secret door held open by one of his fighters. It closed behind them.
Pelya took a step forward before realizing that the room was filled with Guardmembers and that the remaining fighters had been subdued. The kidnapped woman was crying into the shoulder of a Guard.
“Pelya!” Sornin said. “Pelya!”
Everything was surreal as she turned to face him. Normalcy came rushing in, causing her to stagger backwards. The heat on her back and in her bones lessened. The shadows slid back into themselves.
Squad Sergeant Herman Melvor came and took her arm in concern. “Pelya. Are you alright? You’re bleed . . . By the Gods . . . Your cuts are disappearing! What healing magic is that?”
Pelya’s mouth clenched shut. The dragon mark on her back prevented her from speaking. It had slowed time and improved her reflexes during the battle. Now it healed her wounds, but it also prevented her from ever talking about it. Most of the time she didn’t even remember it was there, so insidious was the geas that prevented her from revealing it.
Squad Corporal Jecks put his hand on Pelya’s sword hand in a calming motion. “I’ve never seen anyone move so fast, you or him.” Concern lit his grey eyes and filled his thick voice.
Pelya wiped and sheathed her sword at the corporal’s gesture. She still couldn’t respond. Sornin put a supportive hand on her shoulder while Yobi stood behind with his arms crossed. Once of the squad wizards was trying to figure out the secret door while the other helped the squad healer look after the fallen Guardmembers. Pelya realized that Sornin and Yobi were the only ones who survived.
“Report, Unit Leader,” Sergeant Melvor said. Pelya normally called him Uncle Herman. He had helped Pelya’s father raise her since she was a baby. His brown eyes showed that he wanted to protect her, but he was being professional.
It helped. Pelya’s jaw unlocked and she relayed the details of the incident. “The unit heard a woman scream and began pursuit of two men who were dragging that woman into an alley.” Pelya pointed at the woman who was still sobbing into the shoulder of a Guardsman. The Guardsman looked at Sergeant Melvor with pleading eyes.
The sergeant ignored the look, leaving the man to suffer the woman’s tears. “Go on, Pelya. What happened next?”
Pelya was still gulping in air from exertion. “We saw them enter this building. After Sornin checked the door for wards, I broke it down and led my unit into the building. I whistled . . .”
Sergeant Melvor nodded. “We heard your whistles.”
“We went through the hallways to this door and discovered an alarm ward on it. It was deactivated and I kicked in the door.”
“Did you check any of the side doors in the hallway?” Corporal Jecks asked.
“I did not,” Pelya said with a sinking feeling in her stomach. She remembered the fighters who had come behind them. “My instincts told me the woman was in this room at the end of the hall and that we needed to get to her as fast as possible.”
Corporal Jecks nodded. Pelya couldn’t tell if he approved or disapproved. He was hard to read.
“There were about ten armed fighters in the room, a wizard, the kidnappers, the kidnapped woman and the man I was fighting.” Pelya stopped and stared at the secret doorway that the squad wizard still hadn’t figured out.
One of the guardsmen who was examining the bodies of the fighters stood and came over. “A few of these fighters were once soldiers from the Kingdom of Deller. I recognize tattoos on the base of the neck given to everyone who joins their army. Theirs have additional marks to indicate that they were discharged dishonorably.”
“Good work, Private Wibben.” Sergeant Melvor frowned. “Do you have any idea why ex-soldiers from Deller would be here, Pelya?”
“No, Sergeant. We called for them to put away their weapons and said that we just wanted to ask questions, but the wizard cast a spell at us.” Pelya pointed at the dead mage. Her knife was still sticking from his neck.
“Nice shot,” Corporal Jecks said. “That’s your knife, right?” He pointed at Pelya’s empty sheath.
“Yes, Corporal. The odds were against us and the wizard immediately began casting another spell. I truly believed it the only real option.” Pelya didn’t tell him that the wizard was the fifth person she had killed in her life. That was a private number. “We cast our warding spells upon seeing the wizard, which protected us from the first casting. I didn’t know if they would hold up against another.”
Corporal Jecks gave a sharp nod of approval. “Good decision.” Pelya was astonished. It was the highest praise she had heard him give anyone.
“What happened then, Pelya?” Sergeant Melvor asked.
“The fighters attacked us and there was no time to do anything but fight back. They were skilled.” She looked at Joll’s body. It was surreal to Pelya that Guardmembers could be defeated.
Private Wibben stared at the bodies. “They were very skilled to take out three Guardspeople.”
Pelya worked on leveling her breathing. “I ordered Yobi to run for help. He was blocked by three fighters and Sornin went to help him while I watched their backs.”
Sornin spoke to her defense. “Pelya’s the best of us. I thought she would be able to hold off the rest in spite of their skill.”
“You made a good decision,” Sergeant Melvor said. “Getting word to the squad was priority. And I trust Pelya to guard my back any day.” He smiled at Pelya and squeezed her shoulder.
Pelya had a sudden urge to burst into tears, but she resisted it. “That swordmaster attacked me next and all my time was spent defending against him. He killed two of his own men, one to get to me, the other because the fighter tried to kill me.”
“He carried himself like a duelist,” Private Wibben said. “I’ve seen the type. They’re everywhere in Deller. Although he was better than any I’ve seen.”
“Are you from Deller?” Jecks asked.
Wibben shook his head. “No. I’m from Obda to the north of Deller. Their soldiers make a nuisance of themselves and occasionally come to border towns for drinking and wenching.” He looked at Pelya. “I’ve never seen anyone move as fast as either of you. There was magic involved.”
Pelya’s jaw clenched shut again. She couldn’t talk about the mark. With a deft switch of thought, she remembered the swordmaster’s weapon. Her jaw unlocked. “He had a magical blade, superior to the standard guard issue.” She patted the sword at her side. It wasn’t standard, having been a gift from the Guard’s weaponmaster, but it looked like one and few knew otherwise.
“If it makes him move faster, it’s a powerful enchantment.” Jecks looked suspiciously at Pelya. “How did you move so fast, Pelya?”
Her jaw didn’t lock, almost as though the mark trusted her not to reveal its presence. She rewarded its faith by deflecting the corporal’s question. “I don’t think his sword was just magical. I could feel it studying me, testing me. I think it may have had a name.”
The statement drew gasps. Magical weapons and other items were common, especially in Dralin, but a named item meant it had a soul. It could think and influence the person that owned it. They were incredibly powerful, priceless and dangerous.
“We need to know who he is and why he wanted this woman kidnapped.” Sergeant Melvor gestured at the woman who had finally stopped crying and was wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her extravagant dress.
She held her head high. “Because I’m the daughter of Chancellor Divathia.”
“Chancellor Divathia of the High Council?” Sergeant Melvor asked in surprise. He thumped a fist to his chest in salute. “Milady.”
She gathered loose strands of her auburn hair and put them in a makeshift ponytail. “I did my best to fight them off, but they were too strong. They killed my personal guards.” She looked at a rip in the sleeve of her dress. “Mother’s going to kill me for ruining this dress.”
None of the men knew how to respond and just stood there stupidly. Pelya winked. “Blame it on the kidnappers and tell your mother they ripped it just to spite her.”
The woman’s face lit up. “Brilliant idea. That way it’s her fault.” She came over and wrapped Pelya in a hug, nearly suffocating her with the heavy scent of jasmine perfume. “Thank you for saving my life. I saw your unit just before they dragged me into the alley. It took every ounce of my strength to get the hand away from my mouth long enough to scream.” She stood back and looked up at Pelya. “I will see to it that you are rewarded. Mother will want to meet you.”
Pelya gulped. The High Council was the ruling body of Dralin and outranked even the Grand Assembly responsible for running the country of Altordan. The twelve chancellors of the High Council were the most powerful people in the kingdom and it wasn’t wise to attract their attention, good or bad.
The woman sighed and shook her head. “Of course you don’t want to meet her. Nobody wants anything to do with her or me.” She crossed her arms and turned to look at the rest of the room. “Eww. Why am I still in a room with dead bodies? This is disgusting.” She turned back to Herman and held her arms out in an expression of incredulity. “Why am I still here, Sergeant whatever your name is?”
“His name is Sergeant Melvor,” Pelya said. “My name is Pelya Jornin.”
The woman looked at Pelya in shock and then a smile lit her face. “I’m Yancy. Please get me out of this room. These dead bodies are starting to unnerve me.”
Pelya looked to Sergeant Melvor, who nodded. She led her to the alley outside. Sornin and Yobi followed.
“Finish gathering evidence,” Sergeant Melvor ordered Corporal Jecks. “The messengers I sent should have reached Captain Fallamer and she’ll be here soon. I want everything ready to present to her.” He then followed Pelya and the others into the alley. “The captain will want to speak to you Lady Divathia. We’ll arrange to get you home just as soon as possible.”
“Fine, but I want Pelya to escort me. I saw how good she is with a sword, better than any of my guards.” Yancy studied Pelya.
Sergeant Melvor looked distinctly uncomfortable with the suggestion. “I don’t have that authority, milady, but I’m sure Captain Fallamer will allow her to join the escort before returning to finish her report.”
Just then, an officer with short red hair jogged up along with a full squad. Her thin, red eyebrows furrowed in a frown at seeing Pelya, but she turned to Melvor. “Report, Sergeant.”
Yancy ignored the sergeant who began to report the details to Captain Fallamer. She grabbed Pelya’s arm, dragging her next to a nearby wall. “You’re Pelya Jornin, the guard brat, aren’t you?”
Pelya suppressed the urge to punch the woman in the face.
Yancy gasped and covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean it that way . . .” She grabbed Pelya’s arms. “Please don’t be mad at me. It’s just that . . . everyone calls you that . . . I mean . . . that’s not what I mean . . .” She turned around and threw her hands up in frustration. “I’ve gone and messed up again. I’ll never learn. Everyone hates me. I’m so stupid!”
Pelya crossed her arms and set aside her personal feelings. “I have no idea whether or not you’re stupid, but I won’t hold it against you if you are.” She grinned at the look of shock on Yancy’s face as the woman spun back around.
“Oh . . . you . . .” And then Yancy laughed. “I like you, and I’m sorry I called you a guard brat.” She paused and put a hand on her chin. “Mother doesn’t approve of you though. That’s a problem.”
“Yes, well I’m used to people not approving of me,” Pelya said in disgust. “I don’t care, even if your mother is a member of the High Council. I don’t care what anyone thinks of me or of my father for raising me in the Guard.” She became angrier with each word. It was a sore spot with her and to know that she was discussed even within the High Council was offensive.
Yancy folded her hands in front of her and hung her head. “I’m sorry.”
Pelya wiped her face with a tired hand. She was drained now that all the energy pumped into her blood during battle was leaving.
“You’re shaking,” Yancy said while grabbing Pelya’s arms again. “Are you hurt?”
“No. I’m just tired and I killed . . .” Pelya stared back at the doorway, remembering the bodies of the men and the death of her unit mates. She wouldn’t cry though, not until she was safely alone with her father, or Ebudae.
“I’m trying to forget that! Please don’t talk about it. I’m trying to be brave, but I . . . I’ve never seen anyone die until now.” Yancy was pale as a ghost and looked about ready to faint.”
“Lady Yancy Divathia?” Captain Fallamer came up beside Pelya. “I’m giving you an escort to take you home along with a carriage that will be here momentarily. It’s my understanding that you wish Unit Leader Jornin to be in that escort?”
“Yes, Captain,” Yancy said with a slight curtsey. It was a proper gesture and a measure of respect.
“Very well, but she must return as soon as you are safely home. She has a report to make.”
“Yes, Captain. I’ll see to it. Thank you.” Yancy curtsied again.
Captain Fallamer gave Pelya’s shoulder a squeeze. “Come talk to me first thing when you get back to the Guard District, Unit Leader.” She smiled reassuringly.
“Yes, Captain.” Pelya didn’t feel reassured.
If you are interested in the first two books:
September 28, 2012
Time of day in writing
Time of day
As I write this, it's 2:02pm
What does that have to do with writing?
Absolutely nothing.
Well then, what is this post about?
It's about how the time of day affects the mood of scenes throughout the book.
This is going to be another one of those blog posts where you talk to yourself, isn't it?
Yes, yes it is.
*sigh* Tell the readers about the time of day in writing.
Bossy aren't you? Very well. Here goes.
The time of day can have an important effect on the mood of a scene. This is an invaluable tool for any writer. As you write, think about what time of day it is in the story and how that might help convey a message of hope, despair, or even normalcy. Certain times of the day are associated with different feelings.
The most obvious of these are day and night. It's harder to be scared when the sun is out and there are people around. On the other hand, nighttime hides danger. People shrink in on themselves. You can amplify these feelings by adding details on the time of day or night too.
How will dawn affect the scene?
I'm glad you asked.
Dawn is generally associated with rising and hope. It's a new day and all the bad stuff hasn't happened yet. If you wish a scene to be filled with possibility, start at dawn. This even works in horror. It makes the fall into whatever bad stuff you wish to torture your character with even more terrible.
It's a great way to start a book too. Have the person get up from bed, stretch and smell coffee, or someone cooking breakfast. No matter how the story goes, you start out with a clean slate.
Dawn is also a great way to end despair and hopelessness. If the previous chapters have been at night and things are going badly, you can bring dawn about to erase that despair.
On the rare occasion, dawn can actually bring an even greater hopelessness. If things aren't better when dawn breaks, then you make the negative mood even more powerful.
"Rain Glade" begins at dawn. You don't have to buy it. If you want to see a sample, you can just look at the preview of the first page or two to see how I set the mood.
How will morning affect the scene?
Boy, you're good at asking these questions.
Morning is a great way to set the tone of the rest of the book. The person has had time to drink a pot or three of coffee, they've gone to work, school, or sent the kids off for the day. This is the perfect time to give the reader details about what's going to happen in the rest of the story.
Let me guess, you're going to tell us about noon next?
Good call!
This is when the gunfight happens. The sun is beating down, it's hot, people are hiding inside. Noon is almost always sunny. Thinking about it, I can't ever remember a book where it was raining at noon, although I'm sure there's a few. I have one that has steady rain for five days . . . so I guess I can think of a book, but we'll pretend I can't. Noon is a good time for lunch scenes, obviously.
Anyway, noon is a great time for heat and hiding. It's excellent for showing how characters are suffering under the whip of a slave master. It's good to show oppression and tiredness.
What about midnight?
What?!!! Midnight? . . . Ohhhh, I see what you're doing. You're trying to trip me up. It's not going to work. Ask me about afternoon instead.
If I must. What about afternoon?
I'm glad you asked.
Afternoon is very versatile. You can do just about anything with it. It's a great time for action. Something always seems to be happening in the afternoon. It can be good, bad, or indifferent. You don't really have to talk about what time it is either.
People have usually been at their routine for a while in the afternoon. It's a good time to throw a wrench in their plans. Maybe they don't get to go home. Maybe there's a fight that's going to happen in the parking lot.
Let me guess, evening is good for dinner scenes, right?
Of course!
In addition to dinner scenes, evening brings the promise of night. You can use it to create a sense of trepidation in the reader. This is a great place to start a thriller book. Something is going to happen, but you still have enough light to describe the characters and set the scene. Build suspense by telling ghost stories around the campfire.
It's also when people get ready for parties or a night out. Evening is a great time for discussions and dialogue.
Sunset.
Just one word? That's it? You're not even going to phrase it in a question?
Sunset?
*sigh* Jerk.
Sunset is another excellent setting . . . (pun might have been intended, not sure) Just as dawn is a great way to start a story, sunset is a great way to end a story. We've all heard of riding into the sunset. It works. It's very romantic.
It's also a good way to add color to a scene. Sunset has lots of reds, violets, golds and blues in it. The bottoms of clouds can be pink or lined with silver. This is a great romantic setting for a kiss.
Oddly enough, it's often as filled with hope as dawn is.
It's also a great time to turn off the lights and begin the scenes of fear in a horror story.
Night is when horror stories occur, right?
Well, Dracula certainly doesn't come out during the day. He wouldn't want to sparkle . . .
Night is also a time of passion. People can sneak away in the dark for a tryst. If you want your characters to go to bed and get it on, this is a good time to do so. I'll leave the details to you.
But yes, night is when the terror is easiest to write. Monsters hide under the bed, or in the bushes at night. You can't see them coming, and when they do, it's always behind you. Empty parking garages are scarier at night with only the sound of high heels echoing through against the concrete.
It's good for campgrounds too. The sound of crickets or wildlife can add to the affect. Jason does his best work in campgrounds at night. Teens also drink and do drugs, making them act stupid while being chased.
Does it matter if it's midnight?
Most definitely!!!
Midnight is a powerful time historically. This is when rituals have historically occurred in many cultures. It's great for moonlight ceremonies or sacrifices. Any story about New Years must include midnight in it.
What about early morning?
I'm glad you asked.
A common saying is, "It's always darkest before the dawn". People are often tired during this time if they're awake at all. This is when you sneak past the guards because they're not alert. This is when the horror victim breaks down and cries because they don't think they're going to make it til morning. It's when red-eye flights arrive if you want an empty airport scene.
It's also one of the least used times in books because most characters are sensibly sleeping during this time.
Would you like to recap?
Yes I would. That's very considerate of you.
So if a scene just isn't clicking for you, think about what time you have it set in. Perhaps you can make it stronger by changing the time. It's always good to add how the light, or lack thereof, colors the scene at that time of day too. You can add emotion that way.
Anyway, that's all for now. I hope you've had a good time. ;)
John H. Carroll
As I write this, it's 2:02pm
What does that have to do with writing?
Absolutely nothing.
Well then, what is this post about?
It's about how the time of day affects the mood of scenes throughout the book.
This is going to be another one of those blog posts where you talk to yourself, isn't it?
Yes, yes it is.
*sigh* Tell the readers about the time of day in writing.
Bossy aren't you? Very well. Here goes.
The time of day can have an important effect on the mood of a scene. This is an invaluable tool for any writer. As you write, think about what time of day it is in the story and how that might help convey a message of hope, despair, or even normalcy. Certain times of the day are associated with different feelings.
The most obvious of these are day and night. It's harder to be scared when the sun is out and there are people around. On the other hand, nighttime hides danger. People shrink in on themselves. You can amplify these feelings by adding details on the time of day or night too.
How will dawn affect the scene?
I'm glad you asked.
Dawn is generally associated with rising and hope. It's a new day and all the bad stuff hasn't happened yet. If you wish a scene to be filled with possibility, start at dawn. This even works in horror. It makes the fall into whatever bad stuff you wish to torture your character with even more terrible.
It's a great way to start a book too. Have the person get up from bed, stretch and smell coffee, or someone cooking breakfast. No matter how the story goes, you start out with a clean slate.
Dawn is also a great way to end despair and hopelessness. If the previous chapters have been at night and things are going badly, you can bring dawn about to erase that despair.
On the rare occasion, dawn can actually bring an even greater hopelessness. If things aren't better when dawn breaks, then you make the negative mood even more powerful.
"Rain Glade" begins at dawn. You don't have to buy it. If you want to see a sample, you can just look at the preview of the first page or two to see how I set the mood.
How will morning affect the scene?
Boy, you're good at asking these questions.
Morning is a great way to set the tone of the rest of the book. The person has had time to drink a pot or three of coffee, they've gone to work, school, or sent the kids off for the day. This is the perfect time to give the reader details about what's going to happen in the rest of the story.
Let me guess, you're going to tell us about noon next?
Good call!
This is when the gunfight happens. The sun is beating down, it's hot, people are hiding inside. Noon is almost always sunny. Thinking about it, I can't ever remember a book where it was raining at noon, although I'm sure there's a few. I have one that has steady rain for five days . . . so I guess I can think of a book, but we'll pretend I can't. Noon is a good time for lunch scenes, obviously.
Anyway, noon is a great time for heat and hiding. It's excellent for showing how characters are suffering under the whip of a slave master. It's good to show oppression and tiredness.
What about midnight?
What?!!! Midnight? . . . Ohhhh, I see what you're doing. You're trying to trip me up. It's not going to work. Ask me about afternoon instead.
If I must. What about afternoon?
I'm glad you asked.
Afternoon is very versatile. You can do just about anything with it. It's a great time for action. Something always seems to be happening in the afternoon. It can be good, bad, or indifferent. You don't really have to talk about what time it is either.
People have usually been at their routine for a while in the afternoon. It's a good time to throw a wrench in their plans. Maybe they don't get to go home. Maybe there's a fight that's going to happen in the parking lot.
Let me guess, evening is good for dinner scenes, right?
Of course!
In addition to dinner scenes, evening brings the promise of night. You can use it to create a sense of trepidation in the reader. This is a great place to start a thriller book. Something is going to happen, but you still have enough light to describe the characters and set the scene. Build suspense by telling ghost stories around the campfire.
It's also when people get ready for parties or a night out. Evening is a great time for discussions and dialogue.
Sunset.
Just one word? That's it? You're not even going to phrase it in a question?
Sunset?
*sigh* Jerk.
Sunset is another excellent setting . . . (pun might have been intended, not sure) Just as dawn is a great way to start a story, sunset is a great way to end a story. We've all heard of riding into the sunset. It works. It's very romantic.
It's also a good way to add color to a scene. Sunset has lots of reds, violets, golds and blues in it. The bottoms of clouds can be pink or lined with silver. This is a great romantic setting for a kiss.
Oddly enough, it's often as filled with hope as dawn is.
It's also a great time to turn off the lights and begin the scenes of fear in a horror story.
Night is when horror stories occur, right?
Well, Dracula certainly doesn't come out during the day. He wouldn't want to sparkle . . .
Night is also a time of passion. People can sneak away in the dark for a tryst. If you want your characters to go to bed and get it on, this is a good time to do so. I'll leave the details to you.
But yes, night is when the terror is easiest to write. Monsters hide under the bed, or in the bushes at night. You can't see them coming, and when they do, it's always behind you. Empty parking garages are scarier at night with only the sound of high heels echoing through against the concrete.
It's good for campgrounds too. The sound of crickets or wildlife can add to the affect. Jason does his best work in campgrounds at night. Teens also drink and do drugs, making them act stupid while being chased.
Does it matter if it's midnight?
Most definitely!!!
Midnight is a powerful time historically. This is when rituals have historically occurred in many cultures. It's great for moonlight ceremonies or sacrifices. Any story about New Years must include midnight in it.
What about early morning?
I'm glad you asked.
A common saying is, "It's always darkest before the dawn". People are often tired during this time if they're awake at all. This is when you sneak past the guards because they're not alert. This is when the horror victim breaks down and cries because they don't think they're going to make it til morning. It's when red-eye flights arrive if you want an empty airport scene.
It's also one of the least used times in books because most characters are sensibly sleeping during this time.
Would you like to recap?
Yes I would. That's very considerate of you.
So if a scene just isn't clicking for you, think about what time you have it set in. Perhaps you can make it stronger by changing the time. It's always good to add how the light, or lack thereof, colors the scene at that time of day too. You can add emotion that way.
Anyway, that's all for now. I hope you've had a good time. ;)
John H. Carroll
September 19, 2012
Thinking about life
Life
I spend a great deal of time thinking about life. Only a little of that is spent on mine. The thing that makes me wonder the most is what the lives of other people are like.
There are about 7 billion people in the world. Many of them are impoverished, with little food and inadequate shelter. Their governments suppress education and freedom. Life-expectancy is short to the point where I, at 42, would be an old man. Even food and water, a basic right of all life, are scarce in many cases.
Others live well, but their cultures and upbringing are vastly different. How is the daily struggle different? What does family mean to them? What does country mean?
An even bigger picture
What about all the people that have gone before? How did people feel hundreds, or thousands of years ago? What was it like with no technology? What was was it like when there was little education beyond family life or a rare opportunity for apprenticeship in a trade?
I'm also curious about those eras that we don't have history on. There have been civilizations with little to no written language, such as Ireland in the age of the Druids. In some places, hundreds of years have passed without an event of historical magnitude. What were the lives of those people like? Were they at peace during that time? Did they prosper?
And all of that is just on one ball of dirt in the universe. What about the countless other civilizations out there. What are lives like on planets in other galaxies? What is important to alien races? How big are some of the civilizations? Do they have great intergalactic alliances and travel from planet to planet somehow?
The universe has been around for billions of years. What's happened in that time? How much longer will it be around? What will life be like in that time? Should I be watching Doctor Who to find out?
Suppression and war
One of the things that constantly remains at the forefront of my mind is a horrified curiosity about how terribly people are suppressed around the world. It seems as though there is always a war happening somewhere in the world.
While writing that last sentence, I decided to google: "What is the last recorded year without war?". After wasting a half hour, I don't believe there is a recorded year without a war somewhere on Planet Earth.
We know that war is terrible. We see it on the TV and in pictures now. Most have seen the sight of dead bodies before clicking away from a web page as fast as possible. History was one of my favorite subjects in school. I always found the people and the lives they lived to be fascinating. I couldn't tell you much about specific dates, but I remember a lot of the details and every single one of those periods in history seemed littered with groups of men forcing others to do their bidding or die. Even those that lived suffered the terrors of war and their long-lasting effects.
Even when there hasn't been war, there's been terrible suppression. The rich live a life of luxury garnered from the backs of decent men and women who work to survive at the most basic levels. The rich may be kings and emperors, they may be businessmen and bank CEOs as in today's world, or they may be religious leaders sitting in gilded churches while speaking to the masses for whatever deity they choose to worship in that millennium.
So what is life like?
What was it like to be a person in one of those places, times, civilizations, or even other worlds? What were their dreams like? What adventures did they want to have?
How did they FEEL? I want to know how people felt. What did the air smell like? What did food taste like? (In many cases I really don't want to know that) What made them laugh? Were they happy in spite of their conditions?
I want to know what their lives are like. I think about it a lot. I dream about it. I stare into the starry sky at night and sigh. What does the future of the universe hold for us? Will we continue to exist? Is it possible not to exist? Perhaps we are trying to discover that by committing all of these terrible actions.
My writing
This all affects my writing. When I'm writing about the characters in my stories, I try very hard to think about how they feel. I think about what their world is like around them, even though it's a fictional world. A number of my characters are very unhappy because they see the same suffering in their world that I see in the history of humanity.
I don't know why I've rambled on about this, or even if you'll care. But I've been thinking about life my whole life. I'm going to continue to think about it. The characters in my stories will think about it too, because it helps me to think about it. Most of my characters are very thoughtful anyway.
The emo bunnies stopped paying attention a while ago. I think I made their heads hurt.
Anyway . . . have a mostly wonderful life. I do hope it goes well for you.
John H. Carroll
I spend a great deal of time thinking about life. Only a little of that is spent on mine. The thing that makes me wonder the most is what the lives of other people are like.
There are about 7 billion people in the world. Many of them are impoverished, with little food and inadequate shelter. Their governments suppress education and freedom. Life-expectancy is short to the point where I, at 42, would be an old man. Even food and water, a basic right of all life, are scarce in many cases.
Others live well, but their cultures and upbringing are vastly different. How is the daily struggle different? What does family mean to them? What does country mean?
An even bigger picture
What about all the people that have gone before? How did people feel hundreds, or thousands of years ago? What was it like with no technology? What was was it like when there was little education beyond family life or a rare opportunity for apprenticeship in a trade?
I'm also curious about those eras that we don't have history on. There have been civilizations with little to no written language, such as Ireland in the age of the Druids. In some places, hundreds of years have passed without an event of historical magnitude. What were the lives of those people like? Were they at peace during that time? Did they prosper?
And all of that is just on one ball of dirt in the universe. What about the countless other civilizations out there. What are lives like on planets in other galaxies? What is important to alien races? How big are some of the civilizations? Do they have great intergalactic alliances and travel from planet to planet somehow?
The universe has been around for billions of years. What's happened in that time? How much longer will it be around? What will life be like in that time? Should I be watching Doctor Who to find out?
Suppression and war
One of the things that constantly remains at the forefront of my mind is a horrified curiosity about how terribly people are suppressed around the world. It seems as though there is always a war happening somewhere in the world.
While writing that last sentence, I decided to google: "What is the last recorded year without war?". After wasting a half hour, I don't believe there is a recorded year without a war somewhere on Planet Earth.
We know that war is terrible. We see it on the TV and in pictures now. Most have seen the sight of dead bodies before clicking away from a web page as fast as possible. History was one of my favorite subjects in school. I always found the people and the lives they lived to be fascinating. I couldn't tell you much about specific dates, but I remember a lot of the details and every single one of those periods in history seemed littered with groups of men forcing others to do their bidding or die. Even those that lived suffered the terrors of war and their long-lasting effects.
Even when there hasn't been war, there's been terrible suppression. The rich live a life of luxury garnered from the backs of decent men and women who work to survive at the most basic levels. The rich may be kings and emperors, they may be businessmen and bank CEOs as in today's world, or they may be religious leaders sitting in gilded churches while speaking to the masses for whatever deity they choose to worship in that millennium.
So what is life like?
What was it like to be a person in one of those places, times, civilizations, or even other worlds? What were their dreams like? What adventures did they want to have?
How did they FEEL? I want to know how people felt. What did the air smell like? What did food taste like? (In many cases I really don't want to know that) What made them laugh? Were they happy in spite of their conditions?
I want to know what their lives are like. I think about it a lot. I dream about it. I stare into the starry sky at night and sigh. What does the future of the universe hold for us? Will we continue to exist? Is it possible not to exist? Perhaps we are trying to discover that by committing all of these terrible actions.
My writing
This all affects my writing. When I'm writing about the characters in my stories, I try very hard to think about how they feel. I think about what their world is like around them, even though it's a fictional world. A number of my characters are very unhappy because they see the same suffering in their world that I see in the history of humanity.
I don't know why I've rambled on about this, or even if you'll care. But I've been thinking about life my whole life. I'm going to continue to think about it. The characters in my stories will think about it too, because it helps me to think about it. Most of my characters are very thoughtful anyway.
The emo bunnies stopped paying attention a while ago. I think I made their heads hurt.
Anyway . . . have a mostly wonderful life. I do hope it goes well for you.
John H. Carroll
September 2, 2012
The Eternal War of Beauty - A poem
Standard disclaimer
I have been writing (mostly bad) poetry since I was 21. This is very odd considering I absolutely hate poetry. Poetry drives me up a wall. As a form of writing, it tends to be overly impressed with itself. If someone wishes to say something, it's best just to come out and say it instead of tying it up in uselessly colorful words that confuse the entire situation.
So . . . now that I've gone on a rant about how much I dislike poetry . . . Let's get back to the fact that I write it. *sigh* The fact of the matter is, poetry is a very useful tool for writers. It's a way to get concepts, images and ideas onto paper and experiment with words. It's also awesome for saying lovey-dovey-gushy stuff.
Please understand that this was written before I was writing consistently. The technical merits of the writing are . . . non-existent. It could be written much better, but I'm not going to edit it. I figure this will keep me from becoming too impressed with myself if I hit it big. ;)
Sunrise/sunset? Either way, we're ready for war.
Explanation of this poem.
This is the second poem I wrote. I was debating with myself (before I had emo bunnies to debate with) whether I should write a poem about a sunset or a sunrise. Both are amazingly beautiful at times. I couldn't decide and I didn't have emo bunnies to help me choose at the time, so I wrote a poem trying to figure out whether a sunset was more beautiful than a sunrise or vice versa. I totally rode the fence on the subject.
And the emo bunnies have just told me that they like both. Pretty things make them sad.
This is a sunrise (probably)
The poem (cue coffee shop atmosphere where everyone wears black turtlenecks and snaps their fingers when it's done)
The Eternal War of Beauty
There is an eternal war occurringA war to see which is more beautifulThis is the war of sunrise against sunsetWhich is more beautiful?
The sunrise heralds the start of a new dayIt lives in a place called the eastAbolishing the fearful night, the sunrise brings new hopeIs it the most beautiful?
The sunset brings the wonderful nightIt exists in the land of the westeliminating the cruel day, the sunset shows us peaceIs this the most beautiful?
A golden light appears in a fresh and new landShooting rays of wondrous radiance thread through a light blue skyAwakening the world with love and vitalityIt is the sunrise that is most beautiful.
Deep red and purple illuminates clouds and mountainsA fire of solid excitement burning a darkening skyShowing the Earth peace and powerThe sunset is definitely the most beautiful
This is not actually a warIt is a continuing cycle of harmonyOne would not exist without the otherTogether they are the most beautiful thing on this planet
Copyright 8 August 1991 John H. Carroll
This is a sunset (probably)
I have been writing (mostly bad) poetry since I was 21. This is very odd considering I absolutely hate poetry. Poetry drives me up a wall. As a form of writing, it tends to be overly impressed with itself. If someone wishes to say something, it's best just to come out and say it instead of tying it up in uselessly colorful words that confuse the entire situation.
So . . . now that I've gone on a rant about how much I dislike poetry . . . Let's get back to the fact that I write it. *sigh* The fact of the matter is, poetry is a very useful tool for writers. It's a way to get concepts, images and ideas onto paper and experiment with words. It's also awesome for saying lovey-dovey-gushy stuff.
Please understand that this was written before I was writing consistently. The technical merits of the writing are . . . non-existent. It could be written much better, but I'm not going to edit it. I figure this will keep me from becoming too impressed with myself if I hit it big. ;)
Sunrise/sunset? Either way, we're ready for war. Explanation of this poem.
This is the second poem I wrote. I was debating with myself (before I had emo bunnies to debate with) whether I should write a poem about a sunset or a sunrise. Both are amazingly beautiful at times. I couldn't decide and I didn't have emo bunnies to help me choose at the time, so I wrote a poem trying to figure out whether a sunset was more beautiful than a sunrise or vice versa. I totally rode the fence on the subject.
And the emo bunnies have just told me that they like both. Pretty things make them sad.
This is a sunrise (probably) The poem (cue coffee shop atmosphere where everyone wears black turtlenecks and snaps their fingers when it's done)
The Eternal War of Beauty
There is an eternal war occurringA war to see which is more beautifulThis is the war of sunrise against sunsetWhich is more beautiful?
The sunrise heralds the start of a new dayIt lives in a place called the eastAbolishing the fearful night, the sunrise brings new hopeIs it the most beautiful?
The sunset brings the wonderful nightIt exists in the land of the westeliminating the cruel day, the sunset shows us peaceIs this the most beautiful?
A golden light appears in a fresh and new landShooting rays of wondrous radiance thread through a light blue skyAwakening the world with love and vitalityIt is the sunrise that is most beautiful.
Deep red and purple illuminates clouds and mountainsA fire of solid excitement burning a darkening skyShowing the Earth peace and powerThe sunset is definitely the most beautiful
This is not actually a warIt is a continuing cycle of harmonyOne would not exist without the otherTogether they are the most beautiful thing on this planet
Copyright 8 August 1991 John H. Carroll
This is a sunset (probably)
August 27, 2012
8 award winning books
Readers! Eight award winners in the 2012 eFestival of Words "Best of the Independent eBook Awards" have grouped together to offer you an amazing opportunity. They've reduced the prices of their award-winning novels to 99 cents for August 27 and 28th!
Whether you like to read mysteries, romance, horror, young adult, women's fiction, or fantasy, this group has it. Are you a writer yourself? Do you want to learn all about digitally publishing your next masterpiece? They've got you covered there too.
Get all eight award-winning ebooks for the price of one single paperback!
Award Winners
Best Mystery/Suspense: Dead is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-Rice
Best Non-Fiction: DIY/Self-Help: Let's Get Digital by David Gaughran
Best Horror: 61 A.D. by David McAfee
Best Romance: Deadly Obsession by Kristine Cayne
Best Young Adult: The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto
Best Fantasy/Urban Fantasy and Best Novel: The Black God's War by Moses Siregar III
Best Chick Lit/Women's Lit: Carpe Bead'em by Tonya Kappes
Award for Best Twist ("I've Been Shyamalaned"): The Survival of Thomas Ford by John A.A. Logan
Here's a one-stop shopping link for your convenience: http://amzn.to/MO7qBY
Book Blurbs
Dead is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-RiceLaura Carnegie gave up on the man of her dreams a long time ago. He's fashion designer Jeremy St. James, and not only is he her boss, everyone knows he's gay.
When the woman who holds the company purse strings is found dead in the office, and Jeremy's arrested for the murder, everything changes. If Laura can just solve this crime, keep the cops off her tail, break up a counterfeiting ring, and get the show on the runway by Friday, she might stop being Seventh Avenue's perpetual loser.
If you love Project Runway, or enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada, try Dead Is the New Black.
Let's Get Digital by David GaughranThis guide contains over 60,000 words of essays, articles, and how-to guides, as well as contributions from 33 bestselling indie authors including J Carson Black, Bob Mayer, Victorine Lieske, Mark Edwards, and many more.
It covers everything from how the disruptive power of the internet has changed the publishing business forever to the opportunities this has created for writers. It gives you practical advice on editing, cover design, formatting, and pricing. And it reveals marketing tips from blogging and social networking right through to competitions, discounts, reviews, and giveaways.
If you are considering self-publishing, if you need to breathe life into your flagging sales, or if you want to understand why it's a great time to be a writer, Let's Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should will explain it all.
61 A.D. by David McAfee61 A.D. For ten years, Taras has lived in the young city of Londinium, feeding off the city’s underbelly. But now Theron, his old enemy, has come looking for revenge, and Taras’ nights of living in relative peace are about to end.
Yet not even Theron can slip into town unnoticed, and the Council of Thirteen sends Ramah to deal with the two renegades once and for all. But unknown to the Council, a much older enemy is also in Londinium, and this time even the great Ramah might not be safe.
Set against the backdrop of the Iceni uprising in Roman-era Britannia, 61 A.D. continues the story of Taras, Theron, and Ramah, as they fight their way through history.
Deadly Obsession by Kristine CayneNic Lamoureux's perfect movie star life is shattered by a stalker who threatens any woman close to him. When he meets photographer Lauren James, the attraction is instant--and mutual. She's exactly the sort of woman he craves, but the stalker makes deadly clear Lauren is the competition.
And the competition must be eliminated.
"Stock up on ice cubes because this is definitely one sizzling debut. Readers will be hooked from the first sentence- on the book and on Nic! As rich as a white chocolate cheesecake, Cayne's entrance into the suspense genre is invigorating, explosive and simply intoxicating." ~ RT Book Reviews Top Pick
The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle MutoWhen teen witch Ivy MacTavish changes a lizard into her date for a Halloween dance, everything turns to chaos. And when no one is powerful enough to transform him back except Ivy, it sparks the rumor: Like father, like daughter. Worse, someone has used an evil spell book to bring back two of history's most nefarious killers.
Ivy's got a simple plan to set things right: find the real dark spell caster, steal the book, and reverse the spell. No problem! But first, she’ll have to deal with something more dangerous than murderous spirits: the school’s hotter-than-brimstone demon bad boy, Nick Marcelli. Demons are about as hard to handle as black magic, and Ivy soon discovers it’s going to take more than a lot of luck and a little charm if she wants to clear her status as a dark witch, get a warm-blooded boyfriend, and have her former date back to eating meal worms before the week’s end
The Black God's War by Moses Siregar IIIAgainst the backdrop of epic warfare and the powers of ten mysterious gods, Lucia struggles to understand The Black One.
Her father-king wants war.
Her messianic brother wants peace.
The black god wants his due.
She suffers all the consequences.
"Moses is a fine writer deserving of success, and I think that it will follow ... I really enjoyed Moses's work." - David Farland, NYT Bestselling Author of The Runelords
Carpe Bead'em by Tonya KappesHallie Mediate was raised by her (slightly) crazy Great Aunt Grace on the wrong side of the tracks in Cincinnati. Hallie escapes her hometown and never looks back.
That is, until she’s transferred back to the hometown. Not wanting her past to cross paths with her future, Hallie puts her life on hold.
Aunt Grace is still up to her old tricks, but Hallie finds some sanity at a local jewelry-making class where she uncovers a hidden talent for beading.
Will she keep searching for the happiness she may already have found?
The Survival of Thomas Ford by John A.A. Logan
Thomas Ford is the only survivor of the car crash which killed his wife. He is also the only witness who would be willing to identify the young, reckless driver who caused the crash. But the driver would sooner see Thomas Ford dead than ever let that happen.
Happy Reading!
August 20, 2012
Book review: Aielund Saga, books 1 & 2
The Aielund Saga
The Aielund Saga is a series of books written by author and artist Stephen Nowland. I first learned of him through a computer game called Neverwinter Nights. It has a toolset that allows us to tell our stories through game modules using their game engine. The Aielund Saga is a high-rated, award winning series of modules made by Stephen. He's turned them into books that are even better.
One of my favorite things about these books is that the author paints his covers. Beautiful artistry. :)
Book 1, Nature Abhors a Vacuum
Description:
For Aiden Wainwright, a short trip to the nearby town of Bracksfordshire was supposed to be an opportunity for continuing his research into the arcane. But unfortunate circumstances see the town gates closed for weeks, and with supplies running low, Aiden finds himself thrust into the role of town saviour. Together with an old friend of dubious character, a drunken ranger on the edge, and a church acolyte out of her depth, he sets out to fill the vacuum of power left by the absent King’s army, and deal with a rapidly escalating situation that threatens the security of the entire land, while uncovering the mysteries behind his own past.
You can get it at Amazon
Or Smashwords
NWN module
Review
Have you ever read one of those books where you're instantly interested in the main character? Yeah. This is it. It starts with a prologue of an incident in the Aiden Wainwright's youth. Chapter 1 begins with him as an adult who has been defined by that incident. The city they're in has been shut down and someone has to get through for supplies.
A number of characters join him along the way. Each one of these people have their own personality and are given the time to develop to the point where the reader is invested in what happens to each and every one. My favorite is the cleric, Nellise. (I have a thing for beautiful clerics, but . . . ) Actually, my biggest complaint about these books is that Nellise's life is going to suck. I'm certain it will end badly. *sigh*
The dialogue has humor scattered throughout, the battle scenes are vivid and intense, and the characters make you like or hate them. For the first time in a long while, I found myself staying up late, not wanting to put the book down.
I truly recommend this to anyone who likes high fantasy. At over 200,000 words, it's a tale of epic proportions that reads fast.
Book 2, In Defense of the Crown
Description:
From the peril of the high seas to the urban landscape of Fairloch, capital of Aielund, Aiden Wainwright and his companions are charged with protecting the only heir to the throne whilst seeking out the conspirators that plot her capture, and who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
Out of his depth in the largest city in the land, Aiden recruits the aid of the few allies he can find and trust; a sailor with a criminal past, an old knight close to retirement, a savage exiled from her home and a druid banished from her lands, her order falling toward darkness.
Combining their forces, they spearhead the investigation to track down the enemies of the crown and the powerful interests that support them, but while investigating the real reason behind the war in the west, Aiden discovers an enemy far more sinister than the petty villains who seek to seize power.
You can get it at Amazon
or Smashwords
NWN Module
Review
"In Defense of the Crown" is even faster paced than the first novel. The strengths of these books are the action, the banter in the dialogue, the suspense of the plot and the variety of characters. Like the first, it's hard to put this book down.
A couple of characters that were in the first book are no longer with the party, but new ones come in to fill the void. Each character is introduced to the reader and given time to develop. They have their own distinct personalities that either blend or clash, making the relationships very dynamic.
My favorite character is Nellise . . . at the moment anyway. Nellise is the type of character that led me to write my own books. She goes through moral dilemmas. People are mean to her. Others try to sway her opinion for their own needs. Nellise suffers and will continue to do so. I don't know what's going to happen in the next books, but I know for certain that whatever happens to Nellise is going to piss me off. The women in my books tend to be anti-Nellises. By now, she would have killed Pacian. At the very least, she would have distanced herself from him. Just sayin'.
I like the princess too, except that she started out as tough, but then became a bit useless. I'd like her to find some gumption along with keeping her flair.
Speaking of moral dilemmas, the author has great fun with them. The characters constantly argue about right and wrong, each making good points about their position. The reader tends to side with certain characters, or at least I did. Random banter between the characters leads to laugh out loud moments.
Every step of the adventure is perilous and exciting, from on board the ship, through the city and into the castle. I highly recommend these books and am looking forward to the rest . . . even if I'm going to get pissed off at the fate of Nellise.
About the Author
I am often astonished by the sheer amount of ideas that go through my head. I have tasked myself to grab hold of as many as I can, weave them into stories, shaping them to my will, and like, writing them down, because people can't read thoughts.
I spent over fifteen years dealing with poor health, including chronic fatigue syndrome (a symptom of other stuff, but annoying nonetheless) which gave me ample time for thinking, but slowed me down in the way of actually writing.
My first novel was actually done back in aught three, but I didn't care for that sort of thing at the time, so I scrapped it and started writing a new story for Neverwinter Nights, that RPG video game thing you may or may not have heard of.
The story was so successful (filled with rich, creamy character development) that I lamented that only people playing the game would ever see it. In 2009, with my health improving, I resolved to novelize the stories I'd written, in addition to developing the world in which they exist, for fun and profit.
Thus was my first novel conceived, and lo, it was published online, for the enjoyment of all! The saga will be five books in total, with another 4-5 books after that as a second saga that's in the pipeline.
Oh, I also paint. Expect to see more cover art with each title, probably becoming more technically sophisticated each time.
Disclaimer
I have decided to review books that I enjoy. I am an avid reader of fantasy, so most of them will be in that genre. I'm not taking any requests, just reading what catches my eyes. You'll find that most of these are from Indie Authors. The way I figure it, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Alan Dean Foster and Piers Anthony (my favorite authors) already have enough reviews, but Indies could always use a few more.
It is important to note here that while I am a writer, I am doing these reviews as a reader . I also know a number of the authors I will be reviewing. This is not an exchange of reviews, nor have I been solicited by those authors to write the review. At no time will I ever accept any form of payment for a review. When I say that I'm am doing this as a reader, I mean it. I get nothing in exchange.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
The Aielund Saga is a series of books written by author and artist Stephen Nowland. I first learned of him through a computer game called Neverwinter Nights. It has a toolset that allows us to tell our stories through game modules using their game engine. The Aielund Saga is a high-rated, award winning series of modules made by Stephen. He's turned them into books that are even better.
One of my favorite things about these books is that the author paints his covers. Beautiful artistry. :)
Book 1, Nature Abhors a Vacuum
Description:
For Aiden Wainwright, a short trip to the nearby town of Bracksfordshire was supposed to be an opportunity for continuing his research into the arcane. But unfortunate circumstances see the town gates closed for weeks, and with supplies running low, Aiden finds himself thrust into the role of town saviour. Together with an old friend of dubious character, a drunken ranger on the edge, and a church acolyte out of her depth, he sets out to fill the vacuum of power left by the absent King’s army, and deal with a rapidly escalating situation that threatens the security of the entire land, while uncovering the mysteries behind his own past.
You can get it at Amazon
Or Smashwords
NWN module
Review
Have you ever read one of those books where you're instantly interested in the main character? Yeah. This is it. It starts with a prologue of an incident in the Aiden Wainwright's youth. Chapter 1 begins with him as an adult who has been defined by that incident. The city they're in has been shut down and someone has to get through for supplies.
A number of characters join him along the way. Each one of these people have their own personality and are given the time to develop to the point where the reader is invested in what happens to each and every one. My favorite is the cleric, Nellise. (I have a thing for beautiful clerics, but . . . ) Actually, my biggest complaint about these books is that Nellise's life is going to suck. I'm certain it will end badly. *sigh*
The dialogue has humor scattered throughout, the battle scenes are vivid and intense, and the characters make you like or hate them. For the first time in a long while, I found myself staying up late, not wanting to put the book down.
I truly recommend this to anyone who likes high fantasy. At over 200,000 words, it's a tale of epic proportions that reads fast.
Book 2, In Defense of the Crown
Description:
From the peril of the high seas to the urban landscape of Fairloch, capital of Aielund, Aiden Wainwright and his companions are charged with protecting the only heir to the throne whilst seeking out the conspirators that plot her capture, and who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
Out of his depth in the largest city in the land, Aiden recruits the aid of the few allies he can find and trust; a sailor with a criminal past, an old knight close to retirement, a savage exiled from her home and a druid banished from her lands, her order falling toward darkness.
Combining their forces, they spearhead the investigation to track down the enemies of the crown and the powerful interests that support them, but while investigating the real reason behind the war in the west, Aiden discovers an enemy far more sinister than the petty villains who seek to seize power.
You can get it at Amazon
or Smashwords
NWN Module
Review
"In Defense of the Crown" is even faster paced than the first novel. The strengths of these books are the action, the banter in the dialogue, the suspense of the plot and the variety of characters. Like the first, it's hard to put this book down.
A couple of characters that were in the first book are no longer with the party, but new ones come in to fill the void. Each character is introduced to the reader and given time to develop. They have their own distinct personalities that either blend or clash, making the relationships very dynamic.
My favorite character is Nellise . . . at the moment anyway. Nellise is the type of character that led me to write my own books. She goes through moral dilemmas. People are mean to her. Others try to sway her opinion for their own needs. Nellise suffers and will continue to do so. I don't know what's going to happen in the next books, but I know for certain that whatever happens to Nellise is going to piss me off. The women in my books tend to be anti-Nellises. By now, she would have killed Pacian. At the very least, she would have distanced herself from him. Just sayin'.
I like the princess too, except that she started out as tough, but then became a bit useless. I'd like her to find some gumption along with keeping her flair.
Speaking of moral dilemmas, the author has great fun with them. The characters constantly argue about right and wrong, each making good points about their position. The reader tends to side with certain characters, or at least I did. Random banter between the characters leads to laugh out loud moments.
Every step of the adventure is perilous and exciting, from on board the ship, through the city and into the castle. I highly recommend these books and am looking forward to the rest . . . even if I'm going to get pissed off at the fate of Nellise.
About the Author
I am often astonished by the sheer amount of ideas that go through my head. I have tasked myself to grab hold of as many as I can, weave them into stories, shaping them to my will, and like, writing them down, because people can't read thoughts.
I spent over fifteen years dealing with poor health, including chronic fatigue syndrome (a symptom of other stuff, but annoying nonetheless) which gave me ample time for thinking, but slowed me down in the way of actually writing.
My first novel was actually done back in aught three, but I didn't care for that sort of thing at the time, so I scrapped it and started writing a new story for Neverwinter Nights, that RPG video game thing you may or may not have heard of.
The story was so successful (filled with rich, creamy character development) that I lamented that only people playing the game would ever see it. In 2009, with my health improving, I resolved to novelize the stories I'd written, in addition to developing the world in which they exist, for fun and profit.
Thus was my first novel conceived, and lo, it was published online, for the enjoyment of all! The saga will be five books in total, with another 4-5 books after that as a second saga that's in the pipeline.
Oh, I also paint. Expect to see more cover art with each title, probably becoming more technically sophisticated each time.
Disclaimer
I have decided to review books that I enjoy. I am an avid reader of fantasy, so most of them will be in that genre. I'm not taking any requests, just reading what catches my eyes. You'll find that most of these are from Indie Authors. The way I figure it, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Alan Dean Foster and Piers Anthony (my favorite authors) already have enough reviews, but Indies could always use a few more.
It is important to note here that while I am a writer, I am doing these reviews as a reader . I also know a number of the authors I will be reviewing. This is not an exchange of reviews, nor have I been solicited by those authors to write the review. At no time will I ever accept any form of payment for a review. When I say that I'm am doing this as a reader, I mean it. I get nothing in exchange.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
August 16, 2012
Should you publish an omnibus?
What in the world is an omnibus? One of those funny looking road vehicles designed to carry passengers that has rounded corners and a eee,eee sounding horn?
That's not the sort of thing I'm talking about. I'm talking about a book comprising of related works often called an omnibus edition, or simply an omnibus For instance, with my Willden Trilogy, the omnibus consists of three books wrapped into one.
May or may not be an omnibus
What is the plural of omnibus?
I don't know! omnibi? omnibuses? omni . . . oh, quit distracting me. Sheesh.
Well, should I publish one? Get to the point.
Maybe yes, maybe no. It's complicated.
That's not an answer.
Quit interrupting me! Egads.
An omnibus can be an effective tool to revive interest in a series after sales have begun to decrease. I would not recommend creating one right away. My opinion in this comes from experimenting.
Reeeeaaaalllyyyy . . .
No! Not that kind of experimenting! Egads! I mean that I published my first trilogy in omnibus form about a month after publishing the third book in the trilogy. I've come to the conclusion that it was a grave mistake that may have cost me in the long run.
Here's the key: It splits up your rankings. I've sold about a thousand copies of my omnibus. I've sold about six hundred pairs of Anilyia and Kethril. Every time I get a sale, my ranking goes up. If it goes high enough, I get onto bestseller lists and my books become more visible, resulting in more sales.
By publishing an omnibus, I've prevented my books from achieving high enough rankings to get me noticed.
Why are you telling us this?
I've decided to unpublish "The Complete Willden Trilogy", which is the omnibus of the Willden Trilogy. I apologize to my fans for removing this option, but it's necessary if I want to grow a large enough readership to be able to make a living with the writing. It's my intention to bring the omnibus back in a few years.
The secondary reason is because I want other authors to understand the biggest consequence of publishing an omnibus right away.
People are going to think something's wrong with you if you keep talking to yourself like this.
Whatever. Here are the books of the Willden Trilogy. Rojuun is free. :) (click on the picture for Smashwords)
Amazon editions:Rojuun
Anilyia
Kethril
All my best,
John H. Carroll
That's not the sort of thing I'm talking about. I'm talking about a book comprising of related works often called an omnibus edition, or simply an omnibus For instance, with my Willden Trilogy, the omnibus consists of three books wrapped into one.
May or may not be an omnibusWhat is the plural of omnibus?
I don't know! omnibi? omnibuses? omni . . . oh, quit distracting me. Sheesh.
Well, should I publish one? Get to the point.
Maybe yes, maybe no. It's complicated.
That's not an answer.
Quit interrupting me! Egads.
An omnibus can be an effective tool to revive interest in a series after sales have begun to decrease. I would not recommend creating one right away. My opinion in this comes from experimenting.
Reeeeaaaalllyyyy . . .
No! Not that kind of experimenting! Egads! I mean that I published my first trilogy in omnibus form about a month after publishing the third book in the trilogy. I've come to the conclusion that it was a grave mistake that may have cost me in the long run.
Here's the key: It splits up your rankings. I've sold about a thousand copies of my omnibus. I've sold about six hundred pairs of Anilyia and Kethril. Every time I get a sale, my ranking goes up. If it goes high enough, I get onto bestseller lists and my books become more visible, resulting in more sales.
By publishing an omnibus, I've prevented my books from achieving high enough rankings to get me noticed.
Why are you telling us this?
I've decided to unpublish "The Complete Willden Trilogy", which is the omnibus of the Willden Trilogy. I apologize to my fans for removing this option, but it's necessary if I want to grow a large enough readership to be able to make a living with the writing. It's my intention to bring the omnibus back in a few years.
The secondary reason is because I want other authors to understand the biggest consequence of publishing an omnibus right away.
People are going to think something's wrong with you if you keep talking to yourself like this.
Whatever. Here are the books of the Willden Trilogy. Rojuun is free. :) (click on the picture for Smashwords)
Amazon editions:Rojuun
Anilyia
Kethril
All my best,
John H. Carroll
July 24, 2012
Book review: "Amulet" by Nancy Lee Parish
"Amulet" by Nancy Lee Parish
Description:
A different kind of fantasy adventure.
When Tristan finds an amulet, he has no idea how much his life is about to change. When his amulet awakens the evil of another amulet, long thought lost, it is all of Ranaria that hangs on the brink. The black crystal has stirred.
There are those who seek its power and there are those who seek its destruction. There are also those who know its secrets.
Even with dragons on his side, is there enough time for Tristan and his companions to stop that which has been unleashed?
With many twists and turns, a story unfolds that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Expect the unexpected.
Review
First let me say that I got this book because I loved the cover. It's simple but powerful and elegant. The gold over blue catches the eye and the artwork of the dragon amulet is perfect. :)
Amulet is a fast-paced book. This story captures interest from the very beginning. From there, the story unfolds with interesting characters and settings. It took me a little while to get used to the shifting viewpoints where one paragraph would be from inside one character's head and the next from another's. The chapters are very short based largely upon switching locations, but I enjoyed this aspect.
The story is based around a young man named Tristan, but every character in the book is a vital part. I like that it's not a one person save the world story. An unusual character named Bub is one of the highlights of the story.
The best part is the dragons. They each have their own unique personalities and strengths. The first appearance is filled with mystery and then you get to know them well. My favorite is the big dragon at the end that's afraid of flying.
The humor and wordplay is a strength in the book with well written dialogue. I enjoyed the characters, even the bad guys who were much more complex than just good vs. evil.
I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy, especially with dragons.
About the Author
Nancy Lee Parish, former matriarch of a tenting community, was appointed "Supreme Ruler" of all Canada Geese. Fiercely protected by her loyal followers, she was often heard asking the perplexing question, "Are we out of bread again?"
Now her endeavors include granting life or death at whim to the likes of dragons, bossy dachshunds and the occasional annoying bad guy.
Although the geese play a lesser role these days, they remain in the wings, so to speak, ready to protect their Supreme Ruler if need be.
Disclaimer
I have decided to review books that I enjoy. I am an avid reader of fantasy, so most of them will be in that genre. I'm not taking any requests, just reading what catches my eyes. You'll find that most of these are from Indie Authors. The way I figure it, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Alan Dean Foster and Piers Anthony (my favorite authors) already have enough reviews, but Indies could always use a few more.
It is important to note here that while I am a writer, I am doing these reviews as a reader . I also know a number of the authors I will be reviewing. This is not an exchange of reviews, nor have I been solicited by those authors to write the review. At no time will I ever accept any form of payment for a review. When I say that I'm am doing this as a reader, I mean it. I get nothing in exchange.
Description:
A different kind of fantasy adventure.
When Tristan finds an amulet, he has no idea how much his life is about to change. When his amulet awakens the evil of another amulet, long thought lost, it is all of Ranaria that hangs on the brink. The black crystal has stirred.
There are those who seek its power and there are those who seek its destruction. There are also those who know its secrets.
Even with dragons on his side, is there enough time for Tristan and his companions to stop that which has been unleashed?
With many twists and turns, a story unfolds that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Expect the unexpected.
Review
First let me say that I got this book because I loved the cover. It's simple but powerful and elegant. The gold over blue catches the eye and the artwork of the dragon amulet is perfect. :)
Amulet is a fast-paced book. This story captures interest from the very beginning. From there, the story unfolds with interesting characters and settings. It took me a little while to get used to the shifting viewpoints where one paragraph would be from inside one character's head and the next from another's. The chapters are very short based largely upon switching locations, but I enjoyed this aspect.
The story is based around a young man named Tristan, but every character in the book is a vital part. I like that it's not a one person save the world story. An unusual character named Bub is one of the highlights of the story.
The best part is the dragons. They each have their own unique personalities and strengths. The first appearance is filled with mystery and then you get to know them well. My favorite is the big dragon at the end that's afraid of flying.
The humor and wordplay is a strength in the book with well written dialogue. I enjoyed the characters, even the bad guys who were much more complex than just good vs. evil.
I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy, especially with dragons.
About the Author
Nancy Lee Parish, former matriarch of a tenting community, was appointed "Supreme Ruler" of all Canada Geese. Fiercely protected by her loyal followers, she was often heard asking the perplexing question, "Are we out of bread again?"
Now her endeavors include granting life or death at whim to the likes of dragons, bossy dachshunds and the occasional annoying bad guy.
Although the geese play a lesser role these days, they remain in the wings, so to speak, ready to protect their Supreme Ruler if need be.
Disclaimer
I have decided to review books that I enjoy. I am an avid reader of fantasy, so most of them will be in that genre. I'm not taking any requests, just reading what catches my eyes. You'll find that most of these are from Indie Authors. The way I figure it, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Alan Dean Foster and Piers Anthony (my favorite authors) already have enough reviews, but Indies could always use a few more.
It is important to note here that while I am a writer, I am doing these reviews as a reader . I also know a number of the authors I will be reviewing. This is not an exchange of reviews, nor have I been solicited by those authors to write the review. At no time will I ever accept any form of payment for a review. When I say that I'm am doing this as a reader, I mean it. I get nothing in exchange.
July 20, 2012
Converting a book cover for Createspace from jpeg to pdf
Introduction
This is a step by step instruction of how to take a jpeg and convert it to a pdf file using Open Office. I'm writing it for you, but I'm also writing it for me because I forgot how last time and there is a terrible lack of tutorials out there on how to do this.
First, I'd like to say that it's absolutely silly that Createspace won't just take jpegs *sigh*
I use GIMP to make my book covers. The easiest way would be to use Adobe Photoshop, but that's assuming you can afford it. (I can't) Adobe can save as pdf since they own the format or something like that. For some reason, GIMP can't save as pdf. Createspace provided a template based on the size of my book. I then made the cover, which was another insanely involved process that I'm not doing a walkthrough for.
I also want to make it clear that I am a complete amateur at this. The steps I'm taking are the best I was able to figure out by . . . guessing. That's right. I guessed. However, the cover was accepted by Createspace, so it works. There may be an easier way to do it. I just don't know.
Note: If you have a problem seeing the images, hold down 'crtl' and zoom in with your mouse wheel. It'll make the page larger. :)
Tutorial
So, this tutorial starts once the cover is completely done in GIMP. You can get GIMP here: http://www.gimp.org/
1. Save it as a jpeg.
2. If you don't have Open Office (freeware), download it. I use Microsoft Office for all my normal files, so I was careful not to let Open Office take over all the files it wanted to. Basically uncheck all the boxes that ask if you want to make it the default program for documents, worksheets, etc.
You can get Open Office here: http://www.openoffice.org/download/
3. Open Open Office. (No, I'm not stuttering. :p)
4. Click on the folder image that says "open"
5. Right click on the picture and select original size.
6. Right click on the picture again. Choose 'Alignment'. Choose 'Top'. That will put your image in the top left corner.
7. Go to 'Format' at the top of Open Office. It will bring down a box. In that, choose 'Page'.
8. Switch the orientation to 'Landscape'. Then adjust all of the margins to 0. (Mine default to .39. I don't know why) Open Office will complain about this being outside print range, but ignore it. You don't want margins on your book cover.
9. Next, you'll want to change your width and height. At the bottom of the next picture, you can see the dimensions of your picture. In this case, 12.83x9.27. So change the width and height to those numbers. When you're done with that, your cover should be exactly the right size. Double check to make sure the alignment is top and left again (step 6) For some reason it shifted my image once.
10. Next, you're ready to export it to pdf. This step is super simple. Just click the pdf icon at the top. Then make sure it's named as you like and click 'save'.
Finish
You're done!!!! You now have a file that can be uploaded to Createspace. :) Congratulations. Hope it went well.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
This is a step by step instruction of how to take a jpeg and convert it to a pdf file using Open Office. I'm writing it for you, but I'm also writing it for me because I forgot how last time and there is a terrible lack of tutorials out there on how to do this.
First, I'd like to say that it's absolutely silly that Createspace won't just take jpegs *sigh*
I use GIMP to make my book covers. The easiest way would be to use Adobe Photoshop, but that's assuming you can afford it. (I can't) Adobe can save as pdf since they own the format or something like that. For some reason, GIMP can't save as pdf. Createspace provided a template based on the size of my book. I then made the cover, which was another insanely involved process that I'm not doing a walkthrough for.
I also want to make it clear that I am a complete amateur at this. The steps I'm taking are the best I was able to figure out by . . . guessing. That's right. I guessed. However, the cover was accepted by Createspace, so it works. There may be an easier way to do it. I just don't know.
Note: If you have a problem seeing the images, hold down 'crtl' and zoom in with your mouse wheel. It'll make the page larger. :)
Tutorial
So, this tutorial starts once the cover is completely done in GIMP. You can get GIMP here: http://www.gimp.org/
1. Save it as a jpeg.
2. If you don't have Open Office (freeware), download it. I use Microsoft Office for all my normal files, so I was careful not to let Open Office take over all the files it wanted to. Basically uncheck all the boxes that ask if you want to make it the default program for documents, worksheets, etc.
You can get Open Office here: http://www.openoffice.org/download/
3. Open Open Office. (No, I'm not stuttering. :p)4. Click on the folder image that says "open"
5. Right click on the picture and select original size.
6. Right click on the picture again. Choose 'Alignment'. Choose 'Top'. That will put your image in the top left corner.
7. Go to 'Format' at the top of Open Office. It will bring down a box. In that, choose 'Page'.
8. Switch the orientation to 'Landscape'. Then adjust all of the margins to 0. (Mine default to .39. I don't know why) Open Office will complain about this being outside print range, but ignore it. You don't want margins on your book cover.
9. Next, you'll want to change your width and height. At the bottom of the next picture, you can see the dimensions of your picture. In this case, 12.83x9.27. So change the width and height to those numbers. When you're done with that, your cover should be exactly the right size. Double check to make sure the alignment is top and left again (step 6) For some reason it shifted my image once.
10. Next, you're ready to export it to pdf. This step is super simple. Just click the pdf icon at the top. Then make sure it's named as you like and click 'save'.
Finish
You're done!!!! You now have a file that can be uploaded to Createspace. :) Congratulations. Hope it went well.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
