Annie Douglass Lima's Blog, page 49
December 7, 2015
Realm Explorers Part LXXVI: Visit Camp Hollyhook with Cameron Glenn
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: Cameron Glenn
Title of book and/or series: Delano in Hollyhook
Brief summary of the story: Delano Farnsworth is one of the few ‘lucky unfortunates’ chosen to receive an invitation to the magical Camp Hollyhook. After he arrives, however, he quickly discovers that not is all as it seems. With his new camp friends the ‘quirky’ Jackie, the ‘dour’ Lenore and the ‘lonely’ Wheeze, Delano seeks to uncover the sinister true purpose of the camp, as well as learn about his missing parents who abandoned him when he was three, his kidnapped uncle as well as his own self and destiny.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story: Camp Hollyhook is a magical summer camp within the larger fantasy kingdom of Hollybrook. Within the camp are playing fields, Gold Lake, Butterfly Island, Fire Island, Friendship Pier, Creepy Castle, Monster Mountain, Counselor Castle, the main stage, The Bubble Cave, and a cafeteria and cabins.
If we were to visit Camp Hollyhook as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there? So much! First, you’d have to get a special invitation in order to go. The head camp mother, Madam Siren, has a soft spot for misfits, the misunderstood and outcasts and wishes to reward them with fun. There are camp games on the playing fields, swimming with friendly lake serpents in Gold Lake, riding the roller coaster and other amusement rides on fire island, participating in the scavenger hunt, riding the Ferris Wheel on Friendship Pier, checking out the ghost band in Creepy Castle, eating the delicious and addictive candy bark from the candy bark trees, the dance party in The Bubble Cave and really, whatever you want! The only limit is your imagination. You might like it so much you’ll never want to leave! In fact, you can choose to stay forever if you wish.
What dangers should we avoid in Camp Hollyhook? It is forbidden to go to Butterfly Island and Monster Mountain. Butterfly Island, where the Butterfly Children live, is guarded by unfriendly sea serpents who will kill you if you get too close to them. And Monster Mountain probably has monsters on it. Also, be wary of the ‘Angries’ group. They can be pretty mean sometimes. Fortunately the camp security led by the Bat Demon are around to protect the campers.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Camp Hollyhook? Yes! I already mentioned the candy bark. Delicious! The camp also has its own cook who will make you whatever you want. Want chocolate ice-cream for breakfast? You can have it! And you won’t even get sick from it. That’s a camp promise. The air in the camp doesn’t allow for any sicknesses.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Camp Hollyhook? Wands that shoot paint are provided during the popular capture the flag contests. Each camp group have their own fighting styles. The Angries like to pound, the Dours don’t really put up much of a fight, The Quirks zip around pretending to be bees, and so on.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Camp Hollyhook? A magical zeppelin piloted by a robot chauffer will escort you to the Camp. That’s the only way to get there.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Camp Hollyhook that we don’t see on Earth? There are friendly monkeys in the trees who hand out the candy bark when you first enter through the gates. There’s Bim-Bot the robot who is a guide and who runs the Share Shack, where you can get anything you want. The Counselor to the Quirks is a Mermaid and the Counselor to the Lonelies is a goat man. Butterfly Children fly overhead and playfully interact with you. Sea serpents act as speed boats pulling you behind them as you water-ski in Gold Lake. There’s so much more to discover.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Camp Hollyhook? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used. There’s a lot of whimsy but magic is more muted and not so obvious at the camp. The head mechanic makes wonderful inventions and robots. No camper is a witch or wizard or anything; just normal kids.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Camp Hollyhook? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples. There is! The Mechanic can make wonderful robots that want nothing more than to please the campers. He has a hobby of making special robot birds, his favorite one named Max, but he rarely gives these out to campers. There has to be a good reason for him to.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Camp Hollyhook. The Play Fields has whatever you want on them. Just press a button and a basketball court will appear. During the capture the flag contest the whole field becomes like a giant trampoline, which is so fun! There’s a popular scavenger hunt contest campers can participate in. There’s a talent show. The Counselors job is to make sure the campers are active and never bored.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Camp Hollyhook as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there? Time is strange there. It’s hard to decipher. Also, memories of events from earth are weakened while in Camp Hollyhook. The more time spent there, the harder it is to remember the events which happened on earth.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Camp Hollyhook? Please describe what it involves. Campers are free to continue believing whatever they wish to believe.
What is the political or government structure in Camp Hollyhook? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she? Madam Siren runs the camp. She is beautiful and seems like a nice lady. She has three daughters with beautiful voices.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Camp Hollyhook? Through the opening welcoming ceremony you will be placed where you are most comfortable, with other people like yourself, whether you’re a Dour, a Quirk, an Angry, an Orphan, a Lonely, or a Sick.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book? My nieces, ages nine and twelve, helped me to brainstorm up some ideas.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book? It’s an all ages above eight or so appropriate book, so nothing too controversial, although there are some complex ideas and messages about fantasy, escape, destiny and sacrifice, if a reader chooses to seek them.
Author Autobiography: Cameron Glenn grew up the third of seven children in Oregon. As a child he dedicated hours to the pursuits of basketball and cartooning, as well as waking up way too early for his paper route in order to earn money to buy toys, candy and comic books. He also loved to read and write, which he continues to do voraciously. He currently lives in Salt Lake City after having earned a BA in literature from Boise State.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book? On Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks Where can readers connect with you online? My email is cameronglenn224@gmail.com
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Camp Hollyhook. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the sci-fi world of Lushaka, in Realm Explorers Part LXXVII!-Annie Douglass Lima
Author’s name: Cameron Glenn
Title of book and/or series: Delano in Hollyhook
Brief summary of the story: Delano Farnsworth is one of the few ‘lucky unfortunates’ chosen to receive an invitation to the magical Camp Hollyhook. After he arrives, however, he quickly discovers that not is all as it seems. With his new camp friends the ‘quirky’ Jackie, the ‘dour’ Lenore and the ‘lonely’ Wheeze, Delano seeks to uncover the sinister true purpose of the camp, as well as learn about his missing parents who abandoned him when he was three, his kidnapped uncle as well as his own self and destiny.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story: Camp Hollyhook is a magical summer camp within the larger fantasy kingdom of Hollybrook. Within the camp are playing fields, Gold Lake, Butterfly Island, Fire Island, Friendship Pier, Creepy Castle, Monster Mountain, Counselor Castle, the main stage, The Bubble Cave, and a cafeteria and cabins.
If we were to visit Camp Hollyhook as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there? So much! First, you’d have to get a special invitation in order to go. The head camp mother, Madam Siren, has a soft spot for misfits, the misunderstood and outcasts and wishes to reward them with fun. There are camp games on the playing fields, swimming with friendly lake serpents in Gold Lake, riding the roller coaster and other amusement rides on fire island, participating in the scavenger hunt, riding the Ferris Wheel on Friendship Pier, checking out the ghost band in Creepy Castle, eating the delicious and addictive candy bark from the candy bark trees, the dance party in The Bubble Cave and really, whatever you want! The only limit is your imagination. You might like it so much you’ll never want to leave! In fact, you can choose to stay forever if you wish.
What dangers should we avoid in Camp Hollyhook? It is forbidden to go to Butterfly Island and Monster Mountain. Butterfly Island, where the Butterfly Children live, is guarded by unfriendly sea serpents who will kill you if you get too close to them. And Monster Mountain probably has monsters on it. Also, be wary of the ‘Angries’ group. They can be pretty mean sometimes. Fortunately the camp security led by the Bat Demon are around to protect the campers.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Camp Hollyhook? Yes! I already mentioned the candy bark. Delicious! The camp also has its own cook who will make you whatever you want. Want chocolate ice-cream for breakfast? You can have it! And you won’t even get sick from it. That’s a camp promise. The air in the camp doesn’t allow for any sicknesses.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Camp Hollyhook? Wands that shoot paint are provided during the popular capture the flag contests. Each camp group have their own fighting styles. The Angries like to pound, the Dours don’t really put up much of a fight, The Quirks zip around pretending to be bees, and so on.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Camp Hollyhook? A magical zeppelin piloted by a robot chauffer will escort you to the Camp. That’s the only way to get there.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Camp Hollyhook that we don’t see on Earth? There are friendly monkeys in the trees who hand out the candy bark when you first enter through the gates. There’s Bim-Bot the robot who is a guide and who runs the Share Shack, where you can get anything you want. The Counselor to the Quirks is a Mermaid and the Counselor to the Lonelies is a goat man. Butterfly Children fly overhead and playfully interact with you. Sea serpents act as speed boats pulling you behind them as you water-ski in Gold Lake. There’s so much more to discover.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Camp Hollyhook? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used. There’s a lot of whimsy but magic is more muted and not so obvious at the camp. The head mechanic makes wonderful inventions and robots. No camper is a witch or wizard or anything; just normal kids.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Camp Hollyhook? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples. There is! The Mechanic can make wonderful robots that want nothing more than to please the campers. He has a hobby of making special robot birds, his favorite one named Max, but he rarely gives these out to campers. There has to be a good reason for him to.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Camp Hollyhook. The Play Fields has whatever you want on them. Just press a button and a basketball court will appear. During the capture the flag contest the whole field becomes like a giant trampoline, which is so fun! There’s a popular scavenger hunt contest campers can participate in. There’s a talent show. The Counselors job is to make sure the campers are active and never bored.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Camp Hollyhook as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there? Time is strange there. It’s hard to decipher. Also, memories of events from earth are weakened while in Camp Hollyhook. The more time spent there, the harder it is to remember the events which happened on earth.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Camp Hollyhook? Please describe what it involves. Campers are free to continue believing whatever they wish to believe.
What is the political or government structure in Camp Hollyhook? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she? Madam Siren runs the camp. She is beautiful and seems like a nice lady. She has three daughters with beautiful voices.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Camp Hollyhook? Through the opening welcoming ceremony you will be placed where you are most comfortable, with other people like yourself, whether you’re a Dour, a Quirk, an Angry, an Orphan, a Lonely, or a Sick.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book? My nieces, ages nine and twelve, helped me to brainstorm up some ideas.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book? It’s an all ages above eight or so appropriate book, so nothing too controversial, although there are some complex ideas and messages about fantasy, escape, destiny and sacrifice, if a reader chooses to seek them.
Author Autobiography: Cameron Glenn grew up the third of seven children in Oregon. As a child he dedicated hours to the pursuits of basketball and cartooning, as well as waking up way too early for his paper route in order to earn money to buy toys, candy and comic books. He also loved to read and write, which he continues to do voraciously. He currently lives in Salt Lake City after having earned a BA in literature from Boise State.Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book? On Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks Where can readers connect with you online? My email is cameronglenn224@gmail.com
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Camp Hollyhook. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the sci-fi world of Lushaka, in Realm Explorers Part LXXVII!-Annie Douglass Lima
December 5, 2015
Sophie's Quest: a Middle-Grade Fantasy Adventure
On tour with Prism Book Tours.Book Blitz for Sophie's Quest By Sonja Anderson
Sophie's Quest is currently only 99¢ for Kindle!
Interview with Author Sonja Anderson
1. What is your motivation behind Sophie’s Quest? Why did you want to write it?
The character of Sophie Topfeather popped into my head many years ago when I was teaching a multi-faith class at St. Mary's International School in Tokyo, Japan. According to many stories, owls are supposed to be wise, and it felt like we could use a wise owl in our class to help me answer all the kids' great questions about God. Then, about fifteen years ago, my five-year-old daughter got into heated discussion about God on the playground with two other students from different religious backgrounds, and my wise owl popped back into my head again. I wanted to write a story that would help her understand others better in our diverse community, and for her friends to also understand her.
2. What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?
I hope that first of all, they take away the feeling that they have made some special friends on the journey, and want to know what happens next! I also hope and pray that readers will have developed compassion for others who believe differently than they do, and an increased desire to know the true Sky Painter--Jesus, Immanuel, God with us.
3. Do you have a favorite scene?
I love all the scenes with Sophie and Timley, but some of my favorite scenes are between the Great Wise Horned Owl and Timley's very frightened mother. Their love for their missing children helps them forge a strong bond that is very special.
4. What is something about you that is unique?
I write from home with a view of Puget Sound. While writing Sophie's Quest, I would watch container ships go by and imagine Sophie and Timley on board.
— Sonja
Sophie's Quest
by Sonja AndersonMiddle Grade Adventure
Paperbook & ebook, 2260 PagesJune 7th 2015 by Sunberry Books
Sophie Topfeather loves to collect people-things with which to decorate her life and home. When she finds a golden necklace, she is intrigued by its shape and shows it to her grandfather, the Great Wise Horned Owl of the Park. His reaction only stirs her interest even more; he calls it a holy symbol, and then a ‘t’ for ‘trouble’! All of which sets our young owl off on a Quest to learn its true meaning. Little does she know that a day-dreaming, over-protected, adventure-seeking Pirate – er, mouse – named Timley has leapt into the brim of her hat as Sophie flies off on her Quest! And suddenly, their adventure takes its own turn as they find themselves on board a ship bound for the Holy Land. Thorns and thistles! Has the trouble started already? Can Timley convince Sophie she should not—I repeat, NOT—eat him?
This is also the story of the mysterious Sky Painter, who seems to be with them—no, leading them—on their Quest. So, why is he always leading them straight into trouble? Was the Great Wise Horned Owl right all along? Come along on the Quest to find out! Cross oceans with Sophie and Timley to a land of mosques and synagogues, markets and Bedouin tents, and, like our unlikely friends, you may never be the same again!
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Amazon UK
Author Sonja Anderson has a Master’s degree in Education and a Bachelor’s degree in History, has worked as an elementary school teacher, a resident counsellor in a children’s home, taught Sunday School, and has served for 12 years as the Christian Formation Coordinator for the North Pacific Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the NW Christian Writers Association. Married with two daughters, she has called Seattle home for over 20 years.
Website - Facebook
Connect with the publisher, Sunpenny Publishing Group, on their website, Facebook, or Twitter.
Blitz Giveaway
$10 Amazon eGift Card
Open internationally
Ends December 5th
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sophie's Quest: a Middle-Grade Fantasy Adventure (and win an Amazon Gift Card!)
On tour with Prism Book Tours.Book Blitz for Sophie's Quest By Sonja Anderson
Sophie's Quest is currently only 99¢ for Kindle!
Interview with Author Sonja Anderson
1. What is your motivation behind Sophie’s Quest? Why did you want to write it?
The character of Sophie Topfeather popped into my head many years ago when I was teaching a multi-faith class at St. Mary's International School in Tokyo, Japan. According to many stories, owls are supposed to be wise, and it felt like we could use a wise owl in our class to help me answer all the kids' great questions about God. Then, about fifteen years ago, my five-year-old daughter got into heated discussion about God on the playground with two other students from different religious backgrounds, and my wise owl popped back into my head again. I wanted to write a story that would help her understand others better in our diverse community, and for her friends to also understand her.
2. What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?
I hope that first of all, they take away the feeling that they have made some special friends on the journey, and want to know what happens next! I also hope and pray that readers will have developed compassion for others who believe differently than they do, and an increased desire to know the true Sky Painter--Jesus, Immanuel, God with us.
3. Do you have a favorite scene?
I love all the scenes with Sophie and Timley, but some of my favorite scenes are between the Great Wise Horned Owl and Timley's very frightened mother. Their love for their missing children helps them forge a strong bond that is very special.
4. What is something about you that is unique?
I write from home with a view of Puget Sound. While writing Sophie's Quest, I would watch container ships go by and imagine Sophie and Timley on board.
— Sonja
Sophie's Quest
by Sonja AndersonMiddle Grade Adventure
Paperbook & ebook, 2260 PagesJune 7th 2015 by Sunberry Books
Sophie Topfeather loves to collect people-things with which to decorate her life and home. When she finds a golden necklace, she is intrigued by its shape and shows it to her grandfather, the Great Wise Horned Owl of the Park. His reaction only stirs her interest even more; he calls it a holy symbol, and then a ‘t’ for ‘trouble’! All of which sets our young owl off on a Quest to learn its true meaning. Little does she know that a day-dreaming, over-protected, adventure-seeking Pirate – er, mouse – named Timley has leapt into the brim of her hat as Sophie flies off on her Quest! And suddenly, their adventure takes its own turn as they find themselves on board a ship bound for the Holy Land. Thorns and thistles! Has the trouble started already? Can Timley convince Sophie she should not—I repeat, NOT—eat him?
This is also the story of the mysterious Sky Painter, who seems to be with them—no, leading them—on their Quest. So, why is he always leading them straight into trouble? Was the Great Wise Horned Owl right all along? Come along on the Quest to find out! Cross oceans with Sophie and Timley to a land of mosques and synagogues, markets and Bedouin tents, and, like our unlikely friends, you may never be the same again!
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Amazon UK
Author Sonja Anderson has a Master’s degree in Education and a Bachelor’s degree in History, has worked as an elementary school teacher, a resident counsellor in a children’s home, taught Sunday School, and has served for 12 years as the Christian Formation Coordinator for the North Pacific Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the NW Christian Writers Association. Married with two daughters, she has called Seattle home for over 20 years.
Website - Facebook
Connect with the publisher, Sunpenny Publishing Group, on their website, Facebook, or Twitter.
Blitz Giveaway
$10 Amazon eGift Card
Open internationally
Ends December 5th
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 3, 2015
Seaside Christmas: a Sweet Romance by Stacy Claflin (and a Giveaway!)
He can’t stand her. She thinks he’s crazy. Will their feelings stay etched in permanent ink? Cruz Hunter has always stuck out in his small hometown. Now that he’s covered in tattoos, the residents peg him as even more of an outcast. It seems like the whole world is against his dream of opening a local tattoo parlor. When he finally finds the perfect place for his new business, Cruz discovers a pastor and his daughter have already bought it. The only thing more irritating than the change in his plan is Talia, a beautiful and feisty argument in a dress. Cruz would like nothing more than to have her out of his life and his mind, but for some reason, she’s the only thing he can think about. If Cruz and Talia can stop arguing long enough, opposites may do much more than attract.
Meet the Hunter brothers of Kittle Falls…The Seaside Hunters novels are a series of contemporary sweet romances. They’re set in the beach town of Kittle Falls, following the Hunter brothers as they make their way back to their hometown and find the loves they couldn’t elsewhere. Each book is a standalone.
Author Stacy Claflin I don’t stick to a single genre in my writing, reading, or viewing. My favorite shows include Supernatural, The Walking Dead, Pretty Little Liars, Lost Girl, Vampire Diaries, and Once Upon a Time. I've been writing and telling stories for as long as I can remember. As a kid, my story telling would get me into trouble because I would try to convince others that my stories were real. When I'm not busy writing, I like spending time with my family and friends. I also educate my kids from home.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest
$50 Book Blast Giveaway
Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Ends 12/20/15
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com.
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December 1, 2015
My NaNoWriMo Novel: Heartsong (The First Chapter)
My third National Novel Writing Month has finally ended, and it's been an exciting experience! I've braved the 4:30 alarm clock almost every weekday morning, gained motivation and focus from word wars and sprints with other authors online, and squeezed writing into almost every spare moment I've had in the month of November. And now that it's over, I have just over 97,000 words under my belt, plus a completed rough draft of my new young adult science fiction novel, Heartsong. I've enjoyed every step of this journey with my characters, especially when new characters not in the original outline decided to jump in and join the adventure.
I can hardly wait to dive back into the story from the beginning and start editing and touching things up, but alas, that will have to wait. The Gladiator and the Guard (the novel I drafted for last year's NaNoWriMo and the sequel to The Collar and the Cavvarach ) is next in line, since I'm hoping to publish it in the spring. The fourth book of my Annals of Alasia series, tentatively titled King of Malorn, is next.
But in the meantime, for anyone who's curious, below is the first chapter of Heartsong. (Please bear in mind that it's still a pretty rough draft - just a sneak preview for those who are interested, and not the final polished version.) Many thanks to my many Facebook friends who have already contributed with helpful hints about the science involved - I'm sure I'll have lots more questions in a few months when I get back to working on it, since this is my first foray into science fiction!
Screenshot of my Word Count Page on the NaNoWriMo Site
HeartsongChapter 1
My love of reading started the whole thing.
The best place to read on the Laika was on the lifeboats. I had discovered that on the first part of the trip, during the flight from Earth to the jump point by Phoebe. I mean, what else is there to do when you’re not close enough to any planet or moon to see much through the viewports? The view is exciting when there is one, but when you’re far away from anything, space all looks the same.
The hyperspace jump had been quick, of course, so no time to get bored there. And after we came out of it at the jump point by Somav, the flight toward Soma I was pretty exciting, too. I couldn’t stop staring as we passed Somavia, the blue and gray and white planet none of us would probably ever see that close again. It was awesome to think of the aliens who lived there and wonder what they were really like. The few decent pictures taken by the Forerunner left everyone asking more questions than they answered. And what about the planet itself? Of course we knew it was cold, being further from Somav than Earth is from our Sun. But it did have a thin but breathable atmosphere. If it hadn’t been for the alien race who already lived there — and the tirtellium that we were going to mine on Soma I — The Corporation might have decide to set up the Colony on Somavia instead of on its moon.
But we had passed Somavia three days ago, and we had been in orbit around Soma I ever since. Which was also exciting at first. I couldn’t wait to get to my new home — my permanent home. A home I would never have to leave again, never be taken away from just when I was starting to settle in. A home that I would get to help put together, along with the scientists and the miners and the rest of the Young Colonists.
The moon was prettier to look at than the planet, though not by an awful lot. It was brown and gray, with little splotches of green and blue here and there where the lakes were. There wasn’t much water, no actual oceans, but enough to support a little plant and animal life. Nothing too dangerous, at least as far as we could tell from the Forerunner’s pictures. Some fish and crustaceans that might or might not turn out to be edible to humans. Some amphibian or maybe reptilian creatures that lived in and around the lakes. Insects and a handful of different mammals, all tiny, that lived on the plains. Nothing likely to bother two hundred human colonists setting up a new home on their world.
Of course, there were the Somavian miners. We knew the Somavians had developed a limited form of space travel; we knew they had mines on Soma I too. But whatever they were mining for, it wasn’t tirtellium, and it was only in a few little spots relatively close together. We planned to set up our colony hundreds of miles away, where with any luck, they wouldn’t even know we were around. Forerunner’s sensors had not detected any other artificial satellites in orbit around either Somavia or Soma I, and as far as we knew, they had no way of knowing Forerunner was there or that we were coming.
The adults all said that hopefully we would never even have to see any Somavians, but every kid in the group hoped we would. I mean, why would anyone not want to see aliens? Anyway, from the Forerunner’s pictures, they sure seemed to be a peaceful culture, with no evidence of any wars going on down on their home world. If they did find out about us being on their moon, hopefully they wouldn’t get mad. We wouldn’t bother them, and hopefully they wouldn’t bother us. If they did get mad, well, the Laika did have some weapons. Not a lot, but enough to defend ourselves if we absolutely had to.
Of course the two hundred of us on board could hardly wait to get down there and get started with our new life. But here we were stuck in orbit, as we had been for the last three days. Three painfully long and boring days. Earth days, that is; it had been nearly five Soman days.
Atmospheric storms and solar flares. No one had anticipated that they would go on this long. At first, I was glad of the opportunity to orbit the moon and see what it was like. I had an aisle seat, though, and it was a pain to lean past three people just to see out the window. And after a while, when everyone’s excitement faded, most of them turned grouchy as they got more and more bored and impatient. The movies and games preloaded on our tablets just weren’t good enough to keep everyone happy for that long when the adventure we’d waited over a year to start was being put on hold, and I’d never been a big fan of video games and movies anyway.
So I did what I usually do when real people get too annoying. I pulled out my Kindle and turned to my true friends, the ones who would always be there for me, who I never had to say goodbye to. And I went to the one place I had found on board where nobody would bother me or interrupt my adventures to ask what I was reading or exclaim over their new high score in who-cares-what-virtual-adventure.
The Laika was designed to be taken apart when we arrived. Its decking and bulkheads would be used to help create the buildings in the colony until we could create more permanent buildings from local rock, and that was one of the reasons it was so large. But big though it was, it had no extra empty space. Every compartment was full of freeze-dried food items, mining equipment, packages of seeds for genetically modified crops designed to grow well in the moon’s dry soil, or educational resources for the youth, because even on an interstellar adventure, there was no escaping school in some form.
So I had discovered in between Earth and Phoebe that the lifeboats were the best place to read. I’m not sure if I was really supposed to be in them, but there was no lock, because after all, what would be the point of locking a place that people would have to get to in a hurry in an emergency?
And so I sat curled up on a seat in one of the lifeboats, alternating reading and looking out the viewport to see if there was anything interesting to see down below. But the lifeboat’s position was such that the window mostly looked out on space, with just a tiny sliver of Soma I visible from one edge. I could have turned on the screen, but that might trigger some sort of alert, and I didn’t want anyone coming to tell me I wasn’t supposed to be in here.
So I traveled with Caz and her friends across the Granbo system, caught up in an imaginary space adventure, since my own real space adventure had been put on hold. It would be at least another two hours until they served lunch, so I might as well get comfy and enjoy myself.
And I did — until the ship vibrated and the fasten seat belts sign flicked on.
For a moment I wondered if I should return to my seat. But what would be the point? I would be just as safe here in the lifeboat, and if the turbulence got bad, it would be a better idea not to walk around the ship with it lurching under me.
I fastened my seatbelt and kept reading. We had encountered turbulence lots of times in the last few days, thanks to the solar flares. It was no big deal.
But the vibrations got stronger, and in a moment the ship really was lurching under me. I set down my Kindle and looked around, not that there was anything to see in the little lifeboat. No clues as to what was going on. But the stars were jumping and jerking outside the window, and if it hadn’t been for my seatbelt, I knew I would have been thrown around and probably injured already. Now I wished I had returned to my seat while I could. Whatever was happening, I would rather face it with the others in the main cabin, where I could hear any announcements from Captain Tyler over the intercom and know what was going on.
Without warning, the lights in the lifeboat flickered and then went out. At the same moment a blaring alarm started screeching on and off. Now that was a first. I gasped, really worried for the first time since we had left Earth. The stars swirled and zigzagged outside the window, sending faint but frightening shadows thrashing through the escape pod around me like alien spirits trying to take over the ship. For a second I wondered if that could actually be what was happening. Maybe the Somavians had powers we didn’t know about. Maybe they were trying to drive us out of their system.
But then the emergency lights embedded in the deck by my feet glowed to life, and I let out my breath in relief. The navigational computer two rows ahead of me came on automatically, its screen lighting up green.
My relief was short-lived, though. The alarm was still blaring its warning: Screech! Silence. Screech! Silence. Screech! The turbulence was worse than ever, and now it felt like the Laika was a wild horse, bucking and leaping and trying to throw its rider off. The rider being me, gripping the edge of my seat all alone there in the lifeboat, wondering what in the universe was happening.
Suddenly the stars were gone and Soma I swung into view, filling the viewport ahead of me, a blur of gray-brown-blue-green-brown-gray. I barely had time to stare before it was gone, and the streaking stars were back. Then there was the moon again. My stomach was spinning as fast as the ship. Thank goodness I had inherited the Smith Stomach of Steel, or my breakfast probably would have ended up all around me. I could only imagine what a nasty experience that would be with the ship thrashing all around like this.
A new noise caught my attention. A mechanical noise, a series of clicks and clinks and the sliding of metal against metal. I had only ever heard it before in simulations, but I knew right away what it was. My heart caught in my throat. “No!” Not that there was anyone around to hear me yell.
Words flashed across the computer screen, big enough to read from where I sat. Lifeboat launching.
My heart hammered in terror. “No! I yelled again. I fumbled for the seatbelt clasp and flung myself across the tiny cabin the moment I was free, lunging for the manual override button beside the door. Not a smart move, I have to admit, considering how wildly everything was moving around me, but I was panicking. None of our training, none of the simulations, had dealt with what to do if the lifeboat you were sitting in alone accidentally detached from the ship.
I knew what to do if a lifeboat didn’t detach when it was supposed to. I knew which lifeboat everyone in my seating section was supposed to board in an emergency. It wasn’t this one, though they were all the same. I knew who my lifeboat buddies would be — a fairly even cross-section of the ship’s crew in terms of age and skills, so everyone would have the best possible chance of survival on the surface in case not every lifeboat made it. I knew how to steer the lifeboat and bring it down for a controlled landing, even though I wasn’t the assigned helmsperson in my group. We had all learned all those things, just in case.
But what I didn’t know was how to survive on the surface on my own, if the rest of the ship didn’t land close by or shortly after I did. There were emergency rations and survival gear stashed in every lifeboat, of course, but not enough to live off of indefinitely. Of course the lifeboat would emit a signal that the ship’s sensors would pick up — it was picking it up already, I knew, as of the moment the lifeboat had started to detach — but what if they couldn’t come and get me right away? What if they weren’t able to land for days or even weeks? What if I ended up on the opposite side of the moon from where our colony was supposed to be? Our little 4-wheel-drive trucks were designed for carrying tirtellium back from the mining site, and harvested crops from the fields to the settlement. Not for making cross-country trips across rough terrain to the opposite side of the moon to rescue a stranded kid who shouldn’t have been reading in an escape pod in the first place.
And what if the Somavians found me before my own people did?
All that went swirling through my brain in a moment as I slammed my fist into the manual override button again and again. But nothing happened. That is, the hatch didn’t open to let me out into the ship’s corridor. But a second later, the incessant alarm went silent, and the frantic jerking and thrashing stopped, replaced by a slow, gentle twirl. As my feet drifted up off the floor, the dizzy feeling in my tummy told me that the ship’s artificial gravity had stopped working.
No, that wasn’t it. The lifeboat was no longer connected to the ship.
Too horrified even to yell again, I watched the Laika drift across the viewport like a big white bird against the blackness of space, still spinning and dancing as the solar flares played havoc with its electrical systems. And then I saw only stars again, and then the gray-brown of the moon, then more stars. And then there was the Laika once more, further away this time.
I pushed off from the bulkhead, thankful for the zero-gravity training. I had to get to the controls. I had to steer myself back to the ship. But as I grabbed the back of the helmsman’s chair and maneuvered my body into it, I realized I had no idea how to reattach the lifeboat to its port on the side of the ship. They had never taught us that. Were lifeboats even designed to reattach once they were separated?
I grabbed the seatbelt, twisting my ankles around the legs of the chair so I wouldn’t float off it before I could strap myself in. The controls in front of me looked just like the ones in the simulator. I could do this. It would be just the same as I had practiced.
Except this was no game, where I struggled to beat my classmates, to be the first to land my virtual lifeboat safely. This was a real emergency.
This was my life at stake.
I can hardly wait to dive back into the story from the beginning and start editing and touching things up, but alas, that will have to wait. The Gladiator and the Guard (the novel I drafted for last year's NaNoWriMo and the sequel to The Collar and the Cavvarach ) is next in line, since I'm hoping to publish it in the spring. The fourth book of my Annals of Alasia series, tentatively titled King of Malorn, is next.
But in the meantime, for anyone who's curious, below is the first chapter of Heartsong. (Please bear in mind that it's still a pretty rough draft - just a sneak preview for those who are interested, and not the final polished version.) Many thanks to my many Facebook friends who have already contributed with helpful hints about the science involved - I'm sure I'll have lots more questions in a few months when I get back to working on it, since this is my first foray into science fiction!
Screenshot of my Word Count Page on the NaNoWriMo SiteHeartsongChapter 1
My love of reading started the whole thing.
The best place to read on the Laika was on the lifeboats. I had discovered that on the first part of the trip, during the flight from Earth to the jump point by Phoebe. I mean, what else is there to do when you’re not close enough to any planet or moon to see much through the viewports? The view is exciting when there is one, but when you’re far away from anything, space all looks the same.
The hyperspace jump had been quick, of course, so no time to get bored there. And after we came out of it at the jump point by Somav, the flight toward Soma I was pretty exciting, too. I couldn’t stop staring as we passed Somavia, the blue and gray and white planet none of us would probably ever see that close again. It was awesome to think of the aliens who lived there and wonder what they were really like. The few decent pictures taken by the Forerunner left everyone asking more questions than they answered. And what about the planet itself? Of course we knew it was cold, being further from Somav than Earth is from our Sun. But it did have a thin but breathable atmosphere. If it hadn’t been for the alien race who already lived there — and the tirtellium that we were going to mine on Soma I — The Corporation might have decide to set up the Colony on Somavia instead of on its moon.
But we had passed Somavia three days ago, and we had been in orbit around Soma I ever since. Which was also exciting at first. I couldn’t wait to get to my new home — my permanent home. A home I would never have to leave again, never be taken away from just when I was starting to settle in. A home that I would get to help put together, along with the scientists and the miners and the rest of the Young Colonists.
The moon was prettier to look at than the planet, though not by an awful lot. It was brown and gray, with little splotches of green and blue here and there where the lakes were. There wasn’t much water, no actual oceans, but enough to support a little plant and animal life. Nothing too dangerous, at least as far as we could tell from the Forerunner’s pictures. Some fish and crustaceans that might or might not turn out to be edible to humans. Some amphibian or maybe reptilian creatures that lived in and around the lakes. Insects and a handful of different mammals, all tiny, that lived on the plains. Nothing likely to bother two hundred human colonists setting up a new home on their world.
Of course, there were the Somavian miners. We knew the Somavians had developed a limited form of space travel; we knew they had mines on Soma I too. But whatever they were mining for, it wasn’t tirtellium, and it was only in a few little spots relatively close together. We planned to set up our colony hundreds of miles away, where with any luck, they wouldn’t even know we were around. Forerunner’s sensors had not detected any other artificial satellites in orbit around either Somavia or Soma I, and as far as we knew, they had no way of knowing Forerunner was there or that we were coming.
The adults all said that hopefully we would never even have to see any Somavians, but every kid in the group hoped we would. I mean, why would anyone not want to see aliens? Anyway, from the Forerunner’s pictures, they sure seemed to be a peaceful culture, with no evidence of any wars going on down on their home world. If they did find out about us being on their moon, hopefully they wouldn’t get mad. We wouldn’t bother them, and hopefully they wouldn’t bother us. If they did get mad, well, the Laika did have some weapons. Not a lot, but enough to defend ourselves if we absolutely had to.
Of course the two hundred of us on board could hardly wait to get down there and get started with our new life. But here we were stuck in orbit, as we had been for the last three days. Three painfully long and boring days. Earth days, that is; it had been nearly five Soman days.
Atmospheric storms and solar flares. No one had anticipated that they would go on this long. At first, I was glad of the opportunity to orbit the moon and see what it was like. I had an aisle seat, though, and it was a pain to lean past three people just to see out the window. And after a while, when everyone’s excitement faded, most of them turned grouchy as they got more and more bored and impatient. The movies and games preloaded on our tablets just weren’t good enough to keep everyone happy for that long when the adventure we’d waited over a year to start was being put on hold, and I’d never been a big fan of video games and movies anyway.
So I did what I usually do when real people get too annoying. I pulled out my Kindle and turned to my true friends, the ones who would always be there for me, who I never had to say goodbye to. And I went to the one place I had found on board where nobody would bother me or interrupt my adventures to ask what I was reading or exclaim over their new high score in who-cares-what-virtual-adventure.
The Laika was designed to be taken apart when we arrived. Its decking and bulkheads would be used to help create the buildings in the colony until we could create more permanent buildings from local rock, and that was one of the reasons it was so large. But big though it was, it had no extra empty space. Every compartment was full of freeze-dried food items, mining equipment, packages of seeds for genetically modified crops designed to grow well in the moon’s dry soil, or educational resources for the youth, because even on an interstellar adventure, there was no escaping school in some form.
So I had discovered in between Earth and Phoebe that the lifeboats were the best place to read. I’m not sure if I was really supposed to be in them, but there was no lock, because after all, what would be the point of locking a place that people would have to get to in a hurry in an emergency?
And so I sat curled up on a seat in one of the lifeboats, alternating reading and looking out the viewport to see if there was anything interesting to see down below. But the lifeboat’s position was such that the window mostly looked out on space, with just a tiny sliver of Soma I visible from one edge. I could have turned on the screen, but that might trigger some sort of alert, and I didn’t want anyone coming to tell me I wasn’t supposed to be in here.
So I traveled with Caz and her friends across the Granbo system, caught up in an imaginary space adventure, since my own real space adventure had been put on hold. It would be at least another two hours until they served lunch, so I might as well get comfy and enjoy myself.
And I did — until the ship vibrated and the fasten seat belts sign flicked on.
For a moment I wondered if I should return to my seat. But what would be the point? I would be just as safe here in the lifeboat, and if the turbulence got bad, it would be a better idea not to walk around the ship with it lurching under me.
I fastened my seatbelt and kept reading. We had encountered turbulence lots of times in the last few days, thanks to the solar flares. It was no big deal.
But the vibrations got stronger, and in a moment the ship really was lurching under me. I set down my Kindle and looked around, not that there was anything to see in the little lifeboat. No clues as to what was going on. But the stars were jumping and jerking outside the window, and if it hadn’t been for my seatbelt, I knew I would have been thrown around and probably injured already. Now I wished I had returned to my seat while I could. Whatever was happening, I would rather face it with the others in the main cabin, where I could hear any announcements from Captain Tyler over the intercom and know what was going on.
Without warning, the lights in the lifeboat flickered and then went out. At the same moment a blaring alarm started screeching on and off. Now that was a first. I gasped, really worried for the first time since we had left Earth. The stars swirled and zigzagged outside the window, sending faint but frightening shadows thrashing through the escape pod around me like alien spirits trying to take over the ship. For a second I wondered if that could actually be what was happening. Maybe the Somavians had powers we didn’t know about. Maybe they were trying to drive us out of their system.
But then the emergency lights embedded in the deck by my feet glowed to life, and I let out my breath in relief. The navigational computer two rows ahead of me came on automatically, its screen lighting up green.
My relief was short-lived, though. The alarm was still blaring its warning: Screech! Silence. Screech! Silence. Screech! The turbulence was worse than ever, and now it felt like the Laika was a wild horse, bucking and leaping and trying to throw its rider off. The rider being me, gripping the edge of my seat all alone there in the lifeboat, wondering what in the universe was happening.
Suddenly the stars were gone and Soma I swung into view, filling the viewport ahead of me, a blur of gray-brown-blue-green-brown-gray. I barely had time to stare before it was gone, and the streaking stars were back. Then there was the moon again. My stomach was spinning as fast as the ship. Thank goodness I had inherited the Smith Stomach of Steel, or my breakfast probably would have ended up all around me. I could only imagine what a nasty experience that would be with the ship thrashing all around like this.
A new noise caught my attention. A mechanical noise, a series of clicks and clinks and the sliding of metal against metal. I had only ever heard it before in simulations, but I knew right away what it was. My heart caught in my throat. “No!” Not that there was anyone around to hear me yell.
Words flashed across the computer screen, big enough to read from where I sat. Lifeboat launching.
My heart hammered in terror. “No! I yelled again. I fumbled for the seatbelt clasp and flung myself across the tiny cabin the moment I was free, lunging for the manual override button beside the door. Not a smart move, I have to admit, considering how wildly everything was moving around me, but I was panicking. None of our training, none of the simulations, had dealt with what to do if the lifeboat you were sitting in alone accidentally detached from the ship.
I knew what to do if a lifeboat didn’t detach when it was supposed to. I knew which lifeboat everyone in my seating section was supposed to board in an emergency. It wasn’t this one, though they were all the same. I knew who my lifeboat buddies would be — a fairly even cross-section of the ship’s crew in terms of age and skills, so everyone would have the best possible chance of survival on the surface in case not every lifeboat made it. I knew how to steer the lifeboat and bring it down for a controlled landing, even though I wasn’t the assigned helmsperson in my group. We had all learned all those things, just in case.
But what I didn’t know was how to survive on the surface on my own, if the rest of the ship didn’t land close by or shortly after I did. There were emergency rations and survival gear stashed in every lifeboat, of course, but not enough to live off of indefinitely. Of course the lifeboat would emit a signal that the ship’s sensors would pick up — it was picking it up already, I knew, as of the moment the lifeboat had started to detach — but what if they couldn’t come and get me right away? What if they weren’t able to land for days or even weeks? What if I ended up on the opposite side of the moon from where our colony was supposed to be? Our little 4-wheel-drive trucks were designed for carrying tirtellium back from the mining site, and harvested crops from the fields to the settlement. Not for making cross-country trips across rough terrain to the opposite side of the moon to rescue a stranded kid who shouldn’t have been reading in an escape pod in the first place.
And what if the Somavians found me before my own people did?
All that went swirling through my brain in a moment as I slammed my fist into the manual override button again and again. But nothing happened. That is, the hatch didn’t open to let me out into the ship’s corridor. But a second later, the incessant alarm went silent, and the frantic jerking and thrashing stopped, replaced by a slow, gentle twirl. As my feet drifted up off the floor, the dizzy feeling in my tummy told me that the ship’s artificial gravity had stopped working.
No, that wasn’t it. The lifeboat was no longer connected to the ship.
Too horrified even to yell again, I watched the Laika drift across the viewport like a big white bird against the blackness of space, still spinning and dancing as the solar flares played havoc with its electrical systems. And then I saw only stars again, and then the gray-brown of the moon, then more stars. And then there was the Laika once more, further away this time.
I pushed off from the bulkhead, thankful for the zero-gravity training. I had to get to the controls. I had to steer myself back to the ship. But as I grabbed the back of the helmsman’s chair and maneuvered my body into it, I realized I had no idea how to reattach the lifeboat to its port on the side of the ship. They had never taught us that. Were lifeboats even designed to reattach once they were separated?
I grabbed the seatbelt, twisting my ankles around the legs of the chair so I wouldn’t float off it before I could strap myself in. The controls in front of me looked just like the ones in the simulator. I could do this. It would be just the same as I had practiced.
Except this was no game, where I struggled to beat my classmates, to be the first to land my virtual lifeboat safely. This was a real emergency.
This was my life at stake.
November 30, 2015
Realm Explorers Part LXXV: Visit Eden with Anna Lindsay
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Also at the bottom: a FREE downloadable coloring page that goes with this story!
Author’s name:Anna Lindsay
Title of book and/or series:Eden Undone
Brief summary of the story:What if Eve had said no?
Take the biblical tale of Creation. And then ask… what if Eve… had said no? Would evil have given up all attempt? Or would it instead have carried on, scheming, waiting to pounce? And what then? From that joy-filled world where the lion lies down with the lamb, where we are in perfect relationship with Glory and where there is neither death nor sadness nor dissonance… how would that Unfallen family, mirroring God’s heart, react to the Fallen – and the other way around?
By imagining a universe in which the Fall is deferred by a generation, the book allows us to go behind the scenes to live and experience the events and characters of Genesis 1-4 from the inside, rather than reading about them from the outside. From first temptation to eventual fall, and the unravelling of relationship leading to that first, most shocking, conclusion, and the grace which follows, we smile, laugh, wince, mourn and rejoice with those inhabiting those days. What might it really have been like before the Fall? In practical terms. And after?
The novel is in two halves. Part I is set in Eden, and traces the tale from first moments of consciousness to cataclysmic Fall. Part II follows Cain and his family as they build their lives outside Eden’s boundaries, and the relationships which are destroyed and rebuilt.
Two great Trees. Of Life, and of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Only one forbidden. What happens when the fruit of the forbidden one is eaten? And why?
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:Part I: Eden, that place where the lion lays down with the lamb, and there is perfect relationship between human and God, human and human, and human and Creation.Part II: Fallen Earth. How would you cope with the practicalities if you were suddenly stripped of your powers and exiled to a harsher land?
If we were to visit Eden as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?Join in the Great Dance!
What dangers should we avoid in Eden?Allowing that little voice to convince you that you are unloved and unloveable, or that you have rights but no responsibility, and that consequences of your actions are unfair and unjust.Also: I recommend that you avoid eating the fruit of that Great Tree.And after the Fall, on earth… well, avoiding fratricidal brothers might be sensible. And relegating Glory to distant religion…
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Eden?The fruit of the Bassar Tree. It serves the nutritional function of meat. Best roasted, unless you’re a furred or feathered carnivore.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Eden that we don’t see on Earth?Dodos and other currently extinct creatures.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Eden? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.No magic. Merely Glory’s supernatural power, that binds up the broken and heals the wounded wing, that creates a universe with His Word, and loves beyond measure. And unmarred communication – including the ability to communicate telepathically between all creatures.Until it’s all thrown away…
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Eden.Flying with eagles. Diving with dolphins. Tending the earth with all creation. Anything involving positive creativity or ingenuity.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Eden? Please describe what it involves.No religion. Merely relationship.Religion and religiosity don’t come into the picture until after they have left Eden.
What is the political or government structure in Eden? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?Glory. The best sort of leader!
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?Yes. Both real-life and fiction (e.g. CS Lewis’ Narnia series)
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?God. Sin. Abuse. Jealousy. Murder. Responsibility. The environment. The Bible. Free will. Multi-racial relationships…
Author Autobiography:I graduated from St.John’s College (Cambridge University) and have worked everywhere from Hong Kong (as a volunteer working with Jackie Pullinger to help drug addicts) to temping in Switzerland and as a teacher in the UK. Health challenges forced retirement, since when I have served the local community in a volunteer capacity including 16 years as a Trustee of a tiny local Registered Charity.I am available for book signings and interviews, and if you have been encouraged, stirred, uplifted, or generally blessed by ‘Eden Undone’, then I would love to hear from you!
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book? Please include links.As of Friday, 27 November, 2015, you can purchase Eden Undone both via Amazon.co.uk and at last [*jumping for joy!*] via Amazon.com, in both paperback and Kindle formats! Also, click here to read the first few chapters for free on this blog.
Where can readers connect with you online? Ooooh, lots of places. I’m on Twitter (my Twitter name is simply @Eden_Undone) and Facebook. And I’ve even got a website for Eden Undone, though as you’ll see, there’s still room for improvement there. But if you message me, I’ll receive it.
And now for your free coloring page! Simply right-click on the image below, save it to your computer, and print. Enjoy!
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Eden. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the magical Camp Hollyhook, in Realm Explorers Part LXXVI!-Annie Douglass Lima
Also at the bottom: a FREE downloadable coloring page that goes with this story!
Author’s name:Anna LindsayTitle of book and/or series:Eden Undone
Brief summary of the story:What if Eve had said no?
Take the biblical tale of Creation. And then ask… what if Eve… had said no? Would evil have given up all attempt? Or would it instead have carried on, scheming, waiting to pounce? And what then? From that joy-filled world where the lion lies down with the lamb, where we are in perfect relationship with Glory and where there is neither death nor sadness nor dissonance… how would that Unfallen family, mirroring God’s heart, react to the Fallen – and the other way around?
By imagining a universe in which the Fall is deferred by a generation, the book allows us to go behind the scenes to live and experience the events and characters of Genesis 1-4 from the inside, rather than reading about them from the outside. From first temptation to eventual fall, and the unravelling of relationship leading to that first, most shocking, conclusion, and the grace which follows, we smile, laugh, wince, mourn and rejoice with those inhabiting those days. What might it really have been like before the Fall? In practical terms. And after?
The novel is in two halves. Part I is set in Eden, and traces the tale from first moments of consciousness to cataclysmic Fall. Part II follows Cain and his family as they build their lives outside Eden’s boundaries, and the relationships which are destroyed and rebuilt.
Two great Trees. Of Life, and of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Only one forbidden. What happens when the fruit of the forbidden one is eaten? And why?Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:Part I: Eden, that place where the lion lays down with the lamb, and there is perfect relationship between human and God, human and human, and human and Creation.Part II: Fallen Earth. How would you cope with the practicalities if you were suddenly stripped of your powers and exiled to a harsher land?
If we were to visit Eden as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?Join in the Great Dance!
What dangers should we avoid in Eden?Allowing that little voice to convince you that you are unloved and unloveable, or that you have rights but no responsibility, and that consequences of your actions are unfair and unjust.Also: I recommend that you avoid eating the fruit of that Great Tree.And after the Fall, on earth… well, avoiding fratricidal brothers might be sensible. And relegating Glory to distant religion…
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Eden?The fruit of the Bassar Tree. It serves the nutritional function of meat. Best roasted, unless you’re a furred or feathered carnivore.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Eden that we don’t see on Earth?Dodos and other currently extinct creatures.What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Eden? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.No magic. Merely Glory’s supernatural power, that binds up the broken and heals the wounded wing, that creates a universe with His Word, and loves beyond measure. And unmarred communication – including the ability to communicate telepathically between all creatures.Until it’s all thrown away…
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Eden.Flying with eagles. Diving with dolphins. Tending the earth with all creation. Anything involving positive creativity or ingenuity.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Eden? Please describe what it involves.No religion. Merely relationship.Religion and religiosity don’t come into the picture until after they have left Eden.
What is the political or government structure in Eden? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?Glory. The best sort of leader!
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?Yes. Both real-life and fiction (e.g. CS Lewis’ Narnia series)
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?God. Sin. Abuse. Jealousy. Murder. Responsibility. The environment. The Bible. Free will. Multi-racial relationships…
Author Autobiography:I graduated from St.John’s College (Cambridge University) and have worked everywhere from Hong Kong (as a volunteer working with Jackie Pullinger to help drug addicts) to temping in Switzerland and as a teacher in the UK. Health challenges forced retirement, since when I have served the local community in a volunteer capacity including 16 years as a Trustee of a tiny local Registered Charity.I am available for book signings and interviews, and if you have been encouraged, stirred, uplifted, or generally blessed by ‘Eden Undone’, then I would love to hear from you!Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book? Please include links.As of Friday, 27 November, 2015, you can purchase Eden Undone both via Amazon.co.uk and at last [*jumping for joy!*] via Amazon.com, in both paperback and Kindle formats! Also, click here to read the first few chapters for free on this blog.
Where can readers connect with you online? Ooooh, lots of places. I’m on Twitter (my Twitter name is simply @Eden_Undone) and Facebook. And I’ve even got a website for Eden Undone, though as you’ll see, there’s still room for improvement there. But if you message me, I’ll receive it.
And now for your free coloring page! Simply right-click on the image below, save it to your computer, and print. Enjoy!
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Eden. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the magical Camp Hollyhook, in Realm Explorers Part LXXVI!-Annie Douglass Lima
November 28, 2015
November 24, 2015
Craving Beauty: a Fairy Tale Retelling with a Giveaway!
On Tour with Prism Book Tours.It's the Grand Finale for Craving Beauty By Jennifer Silverwood
Did you come along with us as the classic fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast is retold in a Gothic setting where nothing is exactly as it seems and the heroine must be her own hero? If not, go back and check out each stop...
Launch - Author InterviewWhat do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?
Sometimes there is no knight in shining armor coming to rescue the damsel. Sometimes the damsel has to be the hero. I hope readers will find their courage, along with our heroine, Vynasha, to realize they too are beautiful beyond their inner and outer scars.
Painted Words Reviews - Review
"Whatever you think you know, forget it, you are probably wrong. As I said earlier, there is so much going on within the pages of this book you won't know what to expect but that is what makes this book so utterly amazing. It was so different. It took a classic fairy tale one that I absolutely adore and made it something more. It made it something new."
Mythical Books - The Characters & an Introduction to Craving Beauty
Craving Beauty is yet another adaptation of the beloved fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast, with a darker twist. Elements of Gothic romance and high fantasy flesh out this retelling. I have always wanted to read a high fantasy retelling of my favorite fairy tale, so I decided to write one. . . .My story is different from other retelling's because it focuses less on the romance and more on the journey of Vynasha.
deal sharing aunt - Author Interview
6. What would you like my readers to know?
Craving Beauty, Vol. 1 is a gothic romance as well as a high fantasy retelling of Beauty & the Beast. While it is a clean YA Fantasy, be prepared for a lot of mayhem and magic. And don’t be too surprised by the blood and beasts, or cloak and dagger. In the end, Craving Beauty is about finding courage and your own inner beauty despite all obstacles. Hope you will join me in Vynasha’s journey!
Singing Librarian Books - Review
"Author Jennifer Silverwood will blow you away with her latest release, Craving Beauty. In this rendition of Beauty and the Beast, Jennifer has created a twist on the story that readers will fall in love with from page one. Although a little darker than I originally thought it would be, this novel is filled with a delightful story and excellently developed characters."
Rockin' Book Reviews - Review
"If you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast type of story you will love this. It is a story of a girl with a tragic life who finds herself in a castle filled with Beasts and other enchanted characters."
Cover2Cover - Review"This is a story of love and loss, sacrifice and finding the strength within oneself to beat the odds."
Colorimetry - Interview with Vynasha
The following interview was the last time anyone from the village of Whistleande had contact with her before Vynasha and her nephew, Wyll disappeared this winter. They are currently presumed dead by the local magistrate. One can only ponder what would drive these poor souls into a forest populated with danger and shrouded in myth.
Wishful Endings - Excerpt
The creature’s heavy limbs pounded upon the floor with every scrape of its claws. Roars echoed her flight over the crimson carpet. The hall was black as pitch without the light of the fire and candles. It wasn’t long before she felt the creature’s hot breath above her neck. Her heart pounded as she pushed harder and barely missed colliding with a column. She pivoted to avoid one agony, only to feel the rip of claws sinking around her waist.
Then she knew no more.
Bookworm Lisa - Not Your Average Beauty
As I mentioned before, Vynasha is not your average “Beauty”. She was beautiful once, but now is covered in scars. She has little interest in romance or personal goals but doesn’t consider herself to be selfless. From an early age, like so many women today, she learned to get by on her own. Sometimes the prince doesn’t come in time and the damsel has to rescue them both. In “Craving Beauty”, Vynasha will discover that her inner beauty, like her bravery comes in many shapes and sizes.
Writing Pearls - Promo
Zerina Blossom’s Books - What I Learned From Craving Beauty
Of all the projects I’ve worked on since I started writing professionally, Vynasha’s story has stuck with me the longest. It has been drafted and re-drafted, revised and edited and revised again. At times I wanted to throw in the towel and give up because I thought I would never see the day it would publish. Some authors in that position might have set it aside for a later date, or put it away for good to collect dust. And I might have done exactly that except for one thing, I love the story. I love gothic romances and fairy tale retellings, and “Craving Beauty” is somewhat of a conglomerate of the two. It has elements of horror and high fantasy with the necessary Byronic hero and a heroine who isn’t your average “Beauty.”
Teatime and Books - PromoJ. L. Mbewe - Interview
What are you working on now? What’s next for you?
As you might have guessed, I’m already hard at work on the sequel to Craving Beauty, as well as polishing up the companion novella, Wolfsbane’s Daughter. I’m also working on a contemporary adult romance novel called “Moonlight.” I hope to publish all three this next year, so be on the lookout for news from my website!
Reader Girls - Excerpt
The beast growled as it dragged her back into the shelter of the room. She felt a powerful arm, muscle and sinew straining against her body as it tucked her against its brown mane. She was too dazed to do anything but cling to the creature in turn as it barreled through the castle. Slowly, her muscles relaxed enough for her to almost enjoy that wild rocking sensation and the thump of the beast’s heartbeat.
alwaysjoart - Wylder Tales
Craving Beauty is the first book in a three part series. The next, Wolfsbane’s Daughter is a companion novella and in-between for volumes one and two. It follows the journey of a few side characters you’ll meet in volume one. We will get an up close and personal glimpse of Wolfsbane’s mute daughter, Resha as she looks after Wyll. Wolfsbane and Resha both have major parts to play before the story plays out in volume two. I had a lot of fun diving into a different perspective, since the other two books are told from Vynasha’s point of view. Also, because Resha was born and raised in the forbidding Wylder Mountains, she gives us a closer look at the new world Vynasha and Wyll have traveled to.
Craving Beauty
(A Wylder Tale, #1)by Jennifer Silverwood
YA Dark FantasyPaperback & ebook, 239 pages
October 31st 2015
Vynasha has spent the last four years tending her mother's roses and looking after her nephew. The fire that killed their family has left her scarred and put Wyll on the brink of death. Soon the first frost will come down from the mountains and she knows this winter will be his last.
Until a strange beggar appears on the road, telling her of the majikal Source that can heal her Wyll. With nothing left to lose, Vynasha braves the forbidden Wylder Mountains to seek out a cure and her fate.
A lost kingdom is uncovered by an equally lost girl, but the castle is not abandoned as she believes. Shadows cloaking unseen eyes watch. Tapestries whisper from the hidden corners, wondering if the one to break their curse has come. And a hungry beast waits, ready to devour her soul.
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository
Other Books by the Author
Jennifer Silverwood was raised deep in the heart of Texas and has been spinning yarns a mile high since childhood. In her spare time she reads and writes and tries to sustain her wanderlust, whether it’s the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, the highlands of Ecuador or a road trip to the next town. Always on the lookout for her next adventure, in print or reality, she dreams of one day proving to the masses that everything really is better in Texas. She is the author of the Heaven’s Edge series, Stay and Silver Hollow.Website - Blog - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter - Tumblr
Tour Giveaway
$20 Amazon eGift Card & ebook of Craving Beauty (INT)
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November 23, 2015
Realm Explorers Part LXXIV: Visit the Eskrate with Alex Steinberg
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: Alex Steinberg
Title of book and/or series: Millennium
Brief summary of the story:In 2091, four years before the Great Civil War, Humanity expanded to a multitude of planets across the galaxy, setting up colonies, officially declaring themselves to be the only sentient life in the Milky Way Galaxy. They were wrong. Nine years later, Lieutenant Commander Keane Blaze, a young, but well-respected soldier, is ordered to help evacuate the colony on Ordem, a strange desert planet. Everything goes as planned at first, until an unknown enemy initiates an ambush, destroying Keane's transport. In order to save him, the ship's artificial intelligence launches his cryo-pod to the surface of the planet, putting Keane into cryo-sleep for 1000 years.Waking after his long slumber, Keane learns the enemy that long ago destroyed his transport is back, again fighting against Humanity and its allied races. With the help of a younger alien race and a mysterious figure from his past, Keane races to end the threat that this enemy poses, once and for all.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story: Millennium is set in the Milky Way Galaxy, starting off on the Human colony of Ordem. Later into the story, the plot transfers to the Eskrate 223, a large space station on the edge of known civilization that hosts the Cajin King, The Spectre commander, and a human delegate.
If we were to visit the Eskrate as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there? Well, there's tons of things to do! You could visit the Lunar academy, which trains military officers. There is Wanata Beach, the first man made beach in space. You could visit the Cajin gardens, or go grab a bite to eat at The Bar, a Spectre owned restaurant.
What dangers should we avoid in the Eskrate? Since the Eskrate is home to a variety of important officials, there isn't much danger. You may have the occasional pirate raid or crime, but most threats are stopped by the police and military force.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served on the Eskrate? Human culture has influenced the development of the station significantly. Therefore, you can find familiar foods such as burgers, salad, and sandwiches. However, you can also find traditional Cajin foods like their famous red wine, or their styled sushi.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common on the Eskrate? The military, HCSTA, used the most advanced weaponry available. Their ammunition varies from graphine bullets to laser induced plasma. Both of these types of ammunition vary on the target, using the bullets against unarmored targets and the plasma against armored opponents. Black Hole grenades are also implemented in warfare.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel to the Eskrate?Since the Eskrate is in space, the only way to travel there is a certified ship, preferably a destroyer, carrier, or frigate equipt with a slip space engine.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter on the Eskrate that we don’t see on Earth? As stated before, the king of the Cajin race is living on the Eskrate. The Spectres are alsostationed there, as well as the Actuell and the Txuasentshai. All of these are not found on Earth,
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Millennium? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used. None. The universe of Millennium is magic free.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology on the Eskrate? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples. Yes. Magnetic cars free up space and help transportation, as well as transporting goods much more quickly. Energy shields are vital to the protection of the station, and ships help move items and people.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same on the Eskrate as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there? Yes, the dates are the same. The Eskrate follows the Earth Calendar, which makes it easier for the human government to link up dates.
Is there a particular religion practiced on the Eskrate? Please describe what it involves.Other than ancient human religions, no.
What is the political or government structure on the Eskrate? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The government is composed of a trio of three leaders: Rippa, The Specter commander, Leonidas, The Cajin king, and Ben, the human delegate. These three men serve as the presidents of the Eskrate, while a larger congregation of elected officials serves as a parliament.
Author Autobiography: I'm a young author and a senior in high school! I've got big plans for the future, and hope to write many more books!
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book? Amazon and Barnes and Noble
Where can readers connect with you online? https://www.facebook.com/Millenniumstory
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the Eskrate. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world, in Realm Explorers Part LXXV!-Annie Douglass Lima
Author’s name: Alex SteinbergTitle of book and/or series: Millennium
Brief summary of the story:In 2091, four years before the Great Civil War, Humanity expanded to a multitude of planets across the galaxy, setting up colonies, officially declaring themselves to be the only sentient life in the Milky Way Galaxy. They were wrong. Nine years later, Lieutenant Commander Keane Blaze, a young, but well-respected soldier, is ordered to help evacuate the colony on Ordem, a strange desert planet. Everything goes as planned at first, until an unknown enemy initiates an ambush, destroying Keane's transport. In order to save him, the ship's artificial intelligence launches his cryo-pod to the surface of the planet, putting Keane into cryo-sleep for 1000 years.Waking after his long slumber, Keane learns the enemy that long ago destroyed his transport is back, again fighting against Humanity and its allied races. With the help of a younger alien race and a mysterious figure from his past, Keane races to end the threat that this enemy poses, once and for all.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story: Millennium is set in the Milky Way Galaxy, starting off on the Human colony of Ordem. Later into the story, the plot transfers to the Eskrate 223, a large space station on the edge of known civilization that hosts the Cajin King, The Spectre commander, and a human delegate.
If we were to visit the Eskrate as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there? Well, there's tons of things to do! You could visit the Lunar academy, which trains military officers. There is Wanata Beach, the first man made beach in space. You could visit the Cajin gardens, or go grab a bite to eat at The Bar, a Spectre owned restaurant.
What dangers should we avoid in the Eskrate? Since the Eskrate is home to a variety of important officials, there isn't much danger. You may have the occasional pirate raid or crime, but most threats are stopped by the police and military force.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served on the Eskrate? Human culture has influenced the development of the station significantly. Therefore, you can find familiar foods such as burgers, salad, and sandwiches. However, you can also find traditional Cajin foods like their famous red wine, or their styled sushi.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common on the Eskrate? The military, HCSTA, used the most advanced weaponry available. Their ammunition varies from graphine bullets to laser induced plasma. Both of these types of ammunition vary on the target, using the bullets against unarmored targets and the plasma against armored opponents. Black Hole grenades are also implemented in warfare.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel to the Eskrate?Since the Eskrate is in space, the only way to travel there is a certified ship, preferably a destroyer, carrier, or frigate equipt with a slip space engine.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter on the Eskrate that we don’t see on Earth? As stated before, the king of the Cajin race is living on the Eskrate. The Spectres are alsostationed there, as well as the Actuell and the Txuasentshai. All of these are not found on Earth,
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Millennium? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used. None. The universe of Millennium is magic free.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology on the Eskrate? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples. Yes. Magnetic cars free up space and help transportation, as well as transporting goods much more quickly. Energy shields are vital to the protection of the station, and ships help move items and people.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same on the Eskrate as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there? Yes, the dates are the same. The Eskrate follows the Earth Calendar, which makes it easier for the human government to link up dates.
Is there a particular religion practiced on the Eskrate? Please describe what it involves.Other than ancient human religions, no.
What is the political or government structure on the Eskrate? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The government is composed of a trio of three leaders: Rippa, The Specter commander, Leonidas, The Cajin king, and Ben, the human delegate. These three men serve as the presidents of the Eskrate, while a larger congregation of elected officials serves as a parliament. Author Autobiography: I'm a young author and a senior in high school! I've got big plans for the future, and hope to write many more books!
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book? Amazon and Barnes and Noble
Where can readers connect with you online? https://www.facebook.com/Millenniumstory
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the Eskrate. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world, in Realm Explorers Part LXXV!-Annie Douglass Lima
November 16, 2015
Realm Explorers Part LXXIII: Visit Darelius with Neal James
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name:Neal James
Title of book and/or series:The Rings of Darelius
Brief summary of the story:Darelius – a planet in crisis with its civilisation facing the treat of extinction from a virus to which it has no natural defence.
The Darelian people had not been at war for many generations, but now faced not one, but two threats, as a warlike neighbour lay in the wings, awaiting its opportunity.
The only hope of salvation lay in a cure derived from the flora of a primitive planet in the Orion System – eighty light years distant.
It all began on Balan – a planet at war, and also facing its own apocalypse – hundreds of years in Darelius’ past.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:Darelius- second planet in the Arthrelian System. Mass 5.2413 x 1024Kg. Volume 1.0652098×1017km³, Circumference 3.865977×107m. Atmosphere 75% nitrogen, 22% oxygen, 3% carbon dioxide and other minor gases. Surface Pressure 100.05kPa.Its population of just under 1billion had been stabilised for many generations and was spread evenly across a planet of dramatically contrasting climatic zones. From the frozen wastes of its polar expanses to the sultry regions of its tropical paradises, much care had been taken by its inhabitants in preserving a delicate ecological balance.Culturally, it was, and had been for many millennia, diverse and tolerant. History had revealed alternatives too appalling, and its races had long since thrown off the xenophobia which had dogged earlier times. Politically it was a model of democracy, and a planet-wide federation ensured that, as well as guaranteeing individual freedoms, there was a collective mentality of co-operation and tranquillity.Magnanimous in their attitudes towards friends, the Darelian people were, nevertheless, unafraid to stand up against tyranny and injustice. They had not been at war for many generations.Orbited at its Equator by a ring system of stunning beauty, it was the jewel of the Arthrelian system. The threat of extinction had come out of the black void of space with no warning.Distance from Earth: approximately 80 light years.
If we were to visit Darelius as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?The rings – a halo of stunning beauty viewed clearly on approach with the Arthrelian solar system. Touchdown would reveal a planet of physical and sociological beauty; the Darelian people, comfortable in their democracy and unafraid of welcoming strangers, is a race at peace with itself, and the traveler is quickly absorbed into its cultural make-up.
What dangers should we avoid on Darelius?Not in Darelius itself, but it its neighbours, the Kolkats. Whilst it would be unusual for the traveler to the Arthrelian System to be molested by these barbaric and warlike creatures as a result of Darelian protection, it has not been unknown for their hostility towards Darelius to manifest itself in accosting strangers crossing their path.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served on Darelius?No – the Darelians are travelers amongst the stars and, as a result of visits to an Earth many millennia ago, much of the flora and fauna found on our own planet owes much of its genetic make-up to colonization by species from the Darelian world.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common on Darelius?The Darelian people, whilst adopting a peaceful style of existence, are not afraid to stand up for their beliefs, and as such have an arsenal of advanced weaponry at their disposal. Sonic and laser ordnance far in advance of anything on Earth is readily available. Fighting styles and martial arts, transplanted to Earth in it distant past would be very familiar to the casual traveler.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Darelius?Vehicular transport has surpassed the dirty fossil fuel technology prevalent on Earth. Power systems based on clean, renewable sources which power high capacity and low output electrical propulsion would be familiar to 21st century Terrans. As pointed out, flora and fauna are of similar genetic structure to that of Earth. Technologically, the Darelians are far in advance of anything available on Earth, and they are able to travel, many times faster than light, as a result of the discovery and harnessing of the Graviton – a particle unknown to their counterparts on our planet in any practical form.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter on Darelius that we don’t see on Earth?Flora and fauna have developed in slightly different ways on Darelius, but bearing in mind that the chemical structure of the planet, and the similarity of its Star, Arthrelia, to our own sun allows for evolution in a strikingly consistent manner, any differences are fairly cosmetic and due more to slight variations in climatic conditions across the planet.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people on Darelius? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.The Darelian people are pragmatic and realistic on their approach to life. They are a scientific race whose belief systems are based firmly in what is provable. Their culture has, apart from references to the religions of its neighbours, no place for magic, superstition or the supernatural.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment on Darelius.A race at peace, and with much time to devote to leisure and the arts, Darelian entertainment systems and facilities are very similar to those now maturing on Earth. As a consequence, their choices of relaxation activities are more widespread and varied than those which we enjoy. However, the basic rules remain the same, whilst the games etc have developed to a higher level of sophistication – there is no room for violence in any of their leisure regimes.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same on Darelius as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?The Darelian calendar works in a very similar way to that of Earth. The seasons vary with the same axial angle as that of our planet, and the Darelian day is 30 hours – very close to that of the Earth. There is the same number of days in a weekly period, but there are only ten months in a Darelian year. The holidays on Darelius are not fixed to specific events such as Bank Holidays in the UK or Labor Day and Thanksgiving in the USA – the attitude to taking time away from work is much more fluid.
Is there a particular religion practiced on Darelius? Please describe what it involves.The Darelian people evolved away from all forms of religious idolatry many millennia in their past. Their attitudes towards social integration are focused more on the needs of the peoples who inhabit the planet rather than towards any needs of a spiritual kind. This has been the main reason for their lack of internecine conflict for as long as anyone can discern.
What is the political or government structure on Darelius? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?Darelius is a federation of states which grew from a tribal system in its distant past. At its head sits a democratically elected President supported by a US-style Congress of representatives. Raymond Challis is the leader of a liberal coalition of members from a variety of political persuasions, and he runs the government of the planet supported by a second tier of continental sub-parliaments. He is a benign and understanding head of state who is, nonetheless, unafraid to confront tyranny from which ever quarter it may come.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Darelius?Since the Darelians, in their past, were visitors to a number of other galaxies including our own, it is reasonable to assume that some of their culture remained after departure. Any Earth visitor would therefore find much about Darelian society and its philosophy to compare to that ‘back home’.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?The final part of ‘The Rings of Darelius’ is set in Derby, a city in England ten miles from my home, and a place where I have worked. I am therefore familiar with the geography of the place I use for the critical phase of the plot. The cultures of the main players in the story are influenced by my reading of a number of science fiction stories, and the watching of a variety of films/TV series. Among the writers are Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert and Arthur C. Clarke. Of the visual inspirations, I relied heavily on Gene Roddenberry’s ‘Star Trek’ series in all of its formats.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?War and inter-racial conflict are two of the more violent subject dealt with, and I found it important to maintain a balance to ensure that the ‘good guys’ didn’t always win a particular battle whilst ensuring that the end of the conflict came down on the ‘correct’ side.
Author Autobiography:Neal James is a UK author of crime fiction. He is a prolific short story writer turned novelist. ‘The Rings of Darelius’ is his first venture into the world of science fiction, and his seventh book in as many years. He lives in Derbyshire with his wife and family.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? The Rings of Darelius, as with all of my books, is available in both hard copy and digital format. It can be bought direct from the publisher, Lulu.com in paperback at:http://www.lulu.com/shop/http://www.lulu.com/shop/neal-james/the-rings-of-darelius/paperback/product-22326399.html
and from Amazon on both sides of the Atlantic on paperback and on the Kindle. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rings-Darelius-Neal-James-ebook/dp/B0147MW2W0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1440251097&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Rings+of+Darelius
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0147MW2W0
It is also listed by Barnes & Noble in paperback, but should be available also on the Nook later this year.http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rings-of-darelius-neal-james/1122564366?ean=9781326299255
Where can readers connect with you online? My website: http://www.nealjames.webs.com
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Darelius. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the _____ world of ______, in Realm Explorers Part LXXVI!-Annie Douglass Lima
Author’s name:Neal James
Title of book and/or series:The Rings of Darelius
Brief summary of the story:Darelius – a planet in crisis with its civilisation facing the treat of extinction from a virus to which it has no natural defence.
The Darelian people had not been at war for many generations, but now faced not one, but two threats, as a warlike neighbour lay in the wings, awaiting its opportunity.
The only hope of salvation lay in a cure derived from the flora of a primitive planet in the Orion System – eighty light years distant.
It all began on Balan – a planet at war, and also facing its own apocalypse – hundreds of years in Darelius’ past.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:Darelius- second planet in the Arthrelian System. Mass 5.2413 x 1024Kg. Volume 1.0652098×1017km³, Circumference 3.865977×107m. Atmosphere 75% nitrogen, 22% oxygen, 3% carbon dioxide and other minor gases. Surface Pressure 100.05kPa.Its population of just under 1billion had been stabilised for many generations and was spread evenly across a planet of dramatically contrasting climatic zones. From the frozen wastes of its polar expanses to the sultry regions of its tropical paradises, much care had been taken by its inhabitants in preserving a delicate ecological balance.Culturally, it was, and had been for many millennia, diverse and tolerant. History had revealed alternatives too appalling, and its races had long since thrown off the xenophobia which had dogged earlier times. Politically it was a model of democracy, and a planet-wide federation ensured that, as well as guaranteeing individual freedoms, there was a collective mentality of co-operation and tranquillity.Magnanimous in their attitudes towards friends, the Darelian people were, nevertheless, unafraid to stand up against tyranny and injustice. They had not been at war for many generations.Orbited at its Equator by a ring system of stunning beauty, it was the jewel of the Arthrelian system. The threat of extinction had come out of the black void of space with no warning.Distance from Earth: approximately 80 light years.
If we were to visit Darelius as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?The rings – a halo of stunning beauty viewed clearly on approach with the Arthrelian solar system. Touchdown would reveal a planet of physical and sociological beauty; the Darelian people, comfortable in their democracy and unafraid of welcoming strangers, is a race at peace with itself, and the traveler is quickly absorbed into its cultural make-up.
What dangers should we avoid on Darelius?Not in Darelius itself, but it its neighbours, the Kolkats. Whilst it would be unusual for the traveler to the Arthrelian System to be molested by these barbaric and warlike creatures as a result of Darelian protection, it has not been unknown for their hostility towards Darelius to manifest itself in accosting strangers crossing their path.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served on Darelius?No – the Darelians are travelers amongst the stars and, as a result of visits to an Earth many millennia ago, much of the flora and fauna found on our own planet owes much of its genetic make-up to colonization by species from the Darelian world.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common on Darelius?The Darelian people, whilst adopting a peaceful style of existence, are not afraid to stand up for their beliefs, and as such have an arsenal of advanced weaponry at their disposal. Sonic and laser ordnance far in advance of anything on Earth is readily available. Fighting styles and martial arts, transplanted to Earth in it distant past would be very familiar to the casual traveler.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Darelius?Vehicular transport has surpassed the dirty fossil fuel technology prevalent on Earth. Power systems based on clean, renewable sources which power high capacity and low output electrical propulsion would be familiar to 21st century Terrans. As pointed out, flora and fauna are of similar genetic structure to that of Earth. Technologically, the Darelians are far in advance of anything available on Earth, and they are able to travel, many times faster than light, as a result of the discovery and harnessing of the Graviton – a particle unknown to their counterparts on our planet in any practical form.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter on Darelius that we don’t see on Earth?Flora and fauna have developed in slightly different ways on Darelius, but bearing in mind that the chemical structure of the planet, and the similarity of its Star, Arthrelia, to our own sun allows for evolution in a strikingly consistent manner, any differences are fairly cosmetic and due more to slight variations in climatic conditions across the planet.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people on Darelius? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.The Darelian people are pragmatic and realistic on their approach to life. They are a scientific race whose belief systems are based firmly in what is provable. Their culture has, apart from references to the religions of its neighbours, no place for magic, superstition or the supernatural.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment on Darelius.A race at peace, and with much time to devote to leisure and the arts, Darelian entertainment systems and facilities are very similar to those now maturing on Earth. As a consequence, their choices of relaxation activities are more widespread and varied than those which we enjoy. However, the basic rules remain the same, whilst the games etc have developed to a higher level of sophistication – there is no room for violence in any of their leisure regimes.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same on Darelius as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?The Darelian calendar works in a very similar way to that of Earth. The seasons vary with the same axial angle as that of our planet, and the Darelian day is 30 hours – very close to that of the Earth. There is the same number of days in a weekly period, but there are only ten months in a Darelian year. The holidays on Darelius are not fixed to specific events such as Bank Holidays in the UK or Labor Day and Thanksgiving in the USA – the attitude to taking time away from work is much more fluid.
Is there a particular religion practiced on Darelius? Please describe what it involves.The Darelian people evolved away from all forms of religious idolatry many millennia in their past. Their attitudes towards social integration are focused more on the needs of the peoples who inhabit the planet rather than towards any needs of a spiritual kind. This has been the main reason for their lack of internecine conflict for as long as anyone can discern.
What is the political or government structure on Darelius? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?Darelius is a federation of states which grew from a tribal system in its distant past. At its head sits a democratically elected President supported by a US-style Congress of representatives. Raymond Challis is the leader of a liberal coalition of members from a variety of political persuasions, and he runs the government of the planet supported by a second tier of continental sub-parliaments. He is a benign and understanding head of state who is, nonetheless, unafraid to confront tyranny from which ever quarter it may come.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Darelius?Since the Darelians, in their past, were visitors to a number of other galaxies including our own, it is reasonable to assume that some of their culture remained after departure. Any Earth visitor would therefore find much about Darelian society and its philosophy to compare to that ‘back home’.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?The final part of ‘The Rings of Darelius’ is set in Derby, a city in England ten miles from my home, and a place where I have worked. I am therefore familiar with the geography of the place I use for the critical phase of the plot. The cultures of the main players in the story are influenced by my reading of a number of science fiction stories, and the watching of a variety of films/TV series. Among the writers are Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert and Arthur C. Clarke. Of the visual inspirations, I relied heavily on Gene Roddenberry’s ‘Star Trek’ series in all of its formats.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?War and inter-racial conflict are two of the more violent subject dealt with, and I found it important to maintain a balance to ensure that the ‘good guys’ didn’t always win a particular battle whilst ensuring that the end of the conflict came down on the ‘correct’ side.
Author Autobiography:Neal James is a UK author of crime fiction. He is a prolific short story writer turned novelist. ‘The Rings of Darelius’ is his first venture into the world of science fiction, and his seventh book in as many years. He lives in Derbyshire with his wife and family.Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? The Rings of Darelius, as with all of my books, is available in both hard copy and digital format. It can be bought direct from the publisher, Lulu.com in paperback at:http://www.lulu.com/shop/http://www.lulu.com/shop/neal-james/the-rings-of-darelius/paperback/product-22326399.html
and from Amazon on both sides of the Atlantic on paperback and on the Kindle. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rings-Darelius-Neal-James-ebook/dp/B0147MW2W0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1440251097&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Rings+of+Darelius
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0147MW2W0
It is also listed by Barnes & Noble in paperback, but should be available also on the Nook later this year.http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rings-of-darelius-neal-james/1122564366?ean=9781326299255
Where can readers connect with you online? My website: http://www.nealjames.webs.com
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Darelius. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the _____ world of ______, in Realm Explorers Part LXXVI!-Annie Douglass Lima
