Annie Douglass Lima's Blog, page 53
September 7, 2015
Realm Explorers Part LXIII: Visit To Nowhere with C.E. Wilson
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.
(This one is temporarily on sale. Get it at 99 cents for three days only!)
Author’s name: C.E. Wilson
Title of book and/or series: To Nowhere/Standalone
Brief summary of the story:
From the moment Lyris is treated to coffee by a beautiful stranger, she has no idea that her life is about to change forever. In her enthusiasm to start at a new school with a new boyfriend, Lyris is almost able to look past his oddities. Almost. The way he eyes up her striking red hair. The way he loves that she’s seventeen. “The perfect age.” And the way he’s gone from all but begging to show her a specific room in a specific house to making her swear never to even think about it again.
When Lyris doesn't take his strange warnings seriously, she finds that nothing could have prepared her for what lay behind that door.
Suddenly, Lyris finds herself in a world no one would believe. A world where she’s only a few inches tall and giants aren’t creatures from fairy tales. Where humans are no longer the dominant race, but pets auctioned off to the highest bidder. Lyris understands the true danger of such a place, but there seems to be one person on her side. Her kind and surprised captor. And while Brindt appears to be sweet and trustworthy, he also straddles the line between seeing her as an equal and a cute animal.
Lyris has to get home… before the one person she can turn to becomes the one person who can’t let her go.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
The world that Lyris finds herself in is a place that I don’t think too many humans would want to visit. It’s very similar to our own world in many respects, but it has one pretty large difference (pun intended!) – it is a land where humans are no longer the dominant race, and rather are pets kept by sixty-foot giants. Very Brobingnagian. ;-) Only in this world, unlike Jonathan Swift’s, pet humans are pretty commonplace thanks to other humans called Targeters. These are the ones who pick and choose certain humans and sneak them through the portals to bring them back into the world of giants.
If we were to visit To Nowhere as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there? I would strongly recommend not visiting if you enjoy having your independence or being seen as a person. Giants in this world are always looking for a cute new pet and if you're not careful, you may end up thrown in a cage and played with by giant children... just like your pet hamster as a kid. If you do find yourself there, be sure to try the bluemelon.
What dangers should we avoid in To Nowhere? I would avoid the giants if at all possible. Not that you could. Once you're trapped in this world, odds are the best you can hope for is a kind owner who might see you as an entertaining pet. Good luck.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in To Nowhere? There are a lot of blue foods in this world. Bluemelon and starfruit especially. Plus, humans might find it odd that the giants in this world do not eat meat. In fact, they find it disgusting and primitive that humans do.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in To Nowhere that we don’t see on Earth? Haha, I'm pretty sure people don't see sixty foot giants roaming around on Earth. Ahh! But that would be so cool if we could!
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in To Nowhere? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples. Collars for pet humans play a very special role in this world. By wearing a collar, humans are able to actually communicate with giants, if the giant is interested that is. The issue is that they’re expensive and it's easier for giants to treat humans as pets if they aren't able to understand what these cute little living dolls are actually saying, so few humans are allowed the privilege of wearing one. They are a neat little device used to manipulate the throat muscles so when a human speaks a sentence, a giant can clearly understand them through an earpiece. But like I said, few humans are allowed such an honor as to speak with their giant owner.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit To Nowhere? Redheads are considered the most valuable type of human. Red hair is extremely rare among giants in To Nowhere, so any redheads who come along are much sought after by wealthy giants. There used to be interest in brightly colored haired humans, but once they found out the color was fake, they lost interest.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book? It’s not so much a controversial topic – most people would agree that slavery or ownership of one sentient being by another is wrong. What is dealt with here is more the idea of dehumanization – if you are able to see another creature as being less than human it opens the door for a lot of things that are normally considered monstrous. In this book, since human beings are so much smaller than the giants and are rarely able to communicate with their captors, it makes sense for the giants to keep humans as pets. Crazy huh? And kind of scary. I touch on this issue a lot in my books including my older book “The Promise” and my upcoming release “The Boy with Words.” I love to talk about overcoming differences in a world where some crazy physical or social factor creates a schism. Usually, I tackle size, but there's nothing I love more than when two characters overcome their differences to trust and care for one another.
Author Autobiography: C.E. Wilson is currently living in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband, daughter, two dogs and two cats. She loves horror movies and shoujo manga. She is at peace when it rains and enjoys the fall because of football and all things pumpkin. Her favorite subject to write about is size difference, but enjoys trying her hand at all things fantastical.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?
Amazon Kindle ebook (on sale for just 99 cents from September 6-8): http://www.amazon.com/To-Nowhere-C-E-Wilson-ebook/dp/B010WC51UY/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0TSNEVE1VY903W2TKXEB
Smashwords ebook Formats: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/563861
Paperbacks coming Fall 2015!!!!!!!!!
Where can readers connect with you online?
Writing on the side: http://cewilson5.deviantart.com/
Reading on the side: http://www.goodreads.com/CEWilson
And general shenanigans: http://www.facebook.com/people/Ce-Wilson/100003313330557
http://twitter.com/cewilson1
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to To Nowhere. 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 LXIV!-Annie Douglass Lima
(This one is temporarily on sale. Get it at 99 cents for three days only!)
Author’s name: C.E. WilsonTitle of book and/or series: To Nowhere/Standalone
Brief summary of the story:
From the moment Lyris is treated to coffee by a beautiful stranger, she has no idea that her life is about to change forever. In her enthusiasm to start at a new school with a new boyfriend, Lyris is almost able to look past his oddities. Almost. The way he eyes up her striking red hair. The way he loves that she’s seventeen. “The perfect age.” And the way he’s gone from all but begging to show her a specific room in a specific house to making her swear never to even think about it again.
When Lyris doesn't take his strange warnings seriously, she finds that nothing could have prepared her for what lay behind that door.
Suddenly, Lyris finds herself in a world no one would believe. A world where she’s only a few inches tall and giants aren’t creatures from fairy tales. Where humans are no longer the dominant race, but pets auctioned off to the highest bidder. Lyris understands the true danger of such a place, but there seems to be one person on her side. Her kind and surprised captor. And while Brindt appears to be sweet and trustworthy, he also straddles the line between seeing her as an equal and a cute animal.
Lyris has to get home… before the one person she can turn to becomes the one person who can’t let her go.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
The world that Lyris finds herself in is a place that I don’t think too many humans would want to visit. It’s very similar to our own world in many respects, but it has one pretty large difference (pun intended!) – it is a land where humans are no longer the dominant race, and rather are pets kept by sixty-foot giants. Very Brobingnagian. ;-) Only in this world, unlike Jonathan Swift’s, pet humans are pretty commonplace thanks to other humans called Targeters. These are the ones who pick and choose certain humans and sneak them through the portals to bring them back into the world of giants.
If we were to visit To Nowhere as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there? I would strongly recommend not visiting if you enjoy having your independence or being seen as a person. Giants in this world are always looking for a cute new pet and if you're not careful, you may end up thrown in a cage and played with by giant children... just like your pet hamster as a kid. If you do find yourself there, be sure to try the bluemelon.
What dangers should we avoid in To Nowhere? I would avoid the giants if at all possible. Not that you could. Once you're trapped in this world, odds are the best you can hope for is a kind owner who might see you as an entertaining pet. Good luck.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in To Nowhere? There are a lot of blue foods in this world. Bluemelon and starfruit especially. Plus, humans might find it odd that the giants in this world do not eat meat. In fact, they find it disgusting and primitive that humans do.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in To Nowhere that we don’t see on Earth? Haha, I'm pretty sure people don't see sixty foot giants roaming around on Earth. Ahh! But that would be so cool if we could!
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in To Nowhere? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples. Collars for pet humans play a very special role in this world. By wearing a collar, humans are able to actually communicate with giants, if the giant is interested that is. The issue is that they’re expensive and it's easier for giants to treat humans as pets if they aren't able to understand what these cute little living dolls are actually saying, so few humans are allowed the privilege of wearing one. They are a neat little device used to manipulate the throat muscles so when a human speaks a sentence, a giant can clearly understand them through an earpiece. But like I said, few humans are allowed such an honor as to speak with their giant owner.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit To Nowhere? Redheads are considered the most valuable type of human. Red hair is extremely rare among giants in To Nowhere, so any redheads who come along are much sought after by wealthy giants. There used to be interest in brightly colored haired humans, but once they found out the color was fake, they lost interest.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book? It’s not so much a controversial topic – most people would agree that slavery or ownership of one sentient being by another is wrong. What is dealt with here is more the idea of dehumanization – if you are able to see another creature as being less than human it opens the door for a lot of things that are normally considered monstrous. In this book, since human beings are so much smaller than the giants and are rarely able to communicate with their captors, it makes sense for the giants to keep humans as pets. Crazy huh? And kind of scary. I touch on this issue a lot in my books including my older book “The Promise” and my upcoming release “The Boy with Words.” I love to talk about overcoming differences in a world where some crazy physical or social factor creates a schism. Usually, I tackle size, but there's nothing I love more than when two characters overcome their differences to trust and care for one another.
Author Autobiography: C.E. Wilson is currently living in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband, daughter, two dogs and two cats. She loves horror movies and shoujo manga. She is at peace when it rains and enjoys the fall because of football and all things pumpkin. Her favorite subject to write about is size difference, but enjoys trying her hand at all things fantastical.Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?
Amazon Kindle ebook (on sale for just 99 cents from September 6-8): http://www.amazon.com/To-Nowhere-C-E-Wilson-ebook/dp/B010WC51UY/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0TSNEVE1VY903W2TKXEB
Smashwords ebook Formats: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/563861
Paperbacks coming Fall 2015!!!!!!!!!
Where can readers connect with you online?
Writing on the side: http://cewilson5.deviantart.com/
Reading on the side: http://www.goodreads.com/CEWilson
And general shenanigans: http://www.facebook.com/people/Ce-Wilson/100003313330557
http://twitter.com/cewilson1
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to To Nowhere. 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 LXIV!-Annie Douglass Lima
September 2, 2015
Sweet Mountain Rancher: a Contemporary Romance with a Giveaway
On Tour with Prism Book Tours.
Sweet Mountain Rancher
(Those Marshal Boys, #2)by Loree Lough
Adult Contemporary RomancePaperback & ebook, 385 pages (large print)
September 1st 2015 by Harlequin Heartwarming
HE CAN SAY NO TO EVERYONE BUT HER...
Nate Marshall used to be a yes-man... until being so agreeable cost him dearly. But Eden Quinn has a way of getting him to reconsider his "just say no" policy. Which is how a bunch of troubled teens end up at his ranch for the weekend. Nate can't help but be attracted to the woman who keeps them in line.
This cowboy knows Eden's no damsel in distress, yet hers isn't a one-woman job. If she must do everything on her own, how can he help her... let alone get her to fall for him?
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Harlequin
The First Book in the Series
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Harlequin
Yes, it's true: Once upon a time, best-selling author Loree Lough (literally) sang for her supper, performing before packed audiences throughout the U.S. Now and then, she blows the dust from her 6-string to croon a tune or two for the "grandorables," but mostly, she just writes. (And writes.) Over the years, her stories have earned nearly 100 industry and "Readers' Choice" awards, 7 movie options, and over 80 4- and 5-star reviews.There are more than 5,000,000 (yes, that's FIVE MILLION) copies of Loree's books in circulation, and in September of 2015, she'll have 108 books (fiction and non-fiction for kids and adults) 72 short stories, 2,500+ articles in print. To date, she has received 50,000+ letters from fans (a carton of books goes to Meredith P. in Joliet, IL -- which she has elected to donate to her local library --for writing the 50,000th letter)!
Loree loves sharing learned-the-hard-way lessons about the craft and the industry, and her comedic approach makes her a favorite (and frequent) guest of writers' organizations, book clubs, private and government institutions, college and high school writing programs both here and abroad.
A writer who believes in "giving back," Loree dedicates a portion of her income to Soldiers' Angels, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, and other worthwhile organizations.
She splits her time between her home in the Baltimore suburbs and a cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, and shares both with her real-life hero Larry, who rarely complains, even when she adds yet another item to her vast collection of lighthouses, wind chimes, and "wolf stuff."
Have you ever wondered how freelance writers make a living? By writing to-the-point articles, turning them in on time…and learning how to resell what they’ve submitted, that’s how. Below, a peek at the method I used to rack up more than 2,500 articles under my byline:How to Sell and Resell (by Loree Lough)Be informed……by learning as much about the publications you'll contact before you query them.…by reading masthead so you're sure to direct your query to the appropriate editor. (NOTE: Don't count on Writer’s Market!)…to make sure you know who reads the publications.…to make sure the publications' audiences are different.Be specific……and never write a query that's longer than one page.…by providing a clear overview of what you'll write about.…and let the editor know you understand the publication's rules by mentioning the proposed article length.…and name the department(s) your article best fits.Be persuasive… …by including writing samples and/or credentials that highlight your skills and the reason you're qualified to write the proposed article.…by providing a short list of other publications where your work has appeared.…by listing potential sources you'll interview.Be prompt……when an editor shows interest in your article, reply as quickly as possible.…nail down the deadline, amount you'll be paid, and approximate print date.…submit the article on time with a cover letter (see below).Sample Query…Date
Your NameHome addressPhone/cellemail
Publication NameEditor's namePublication Address
Re: Proposed article "Vet Turns Dreams into Reality"
Dear Editor's Name (Do not precede with Mr./Ms.)
Young Blaize McCrandall's life changed forever one summer day, when he found a barely-alive rabbit on the side of the road. Gently swaddling the wounded creature in his t-shirt, Blaize carried it home, where his dad explained why the animal would have been better off right where Blaize had found it. The teary-eyed eight year old convinced his dad to let him at least try to save it. Convinced the local vet to donate tiny splints and antibiotics…and how-to-use them advice, too. And after a month of tedious, round-the-clock care that cost Blaize baseball games, movies with his pals, and field trips to the zoo, the time came to turn Whiskers loose. "Would you believe," he recalls with a grin, "the ungrateful thing bit me before he hopped away, never to be seen again?"
I'd like to propose a 1,000 word story for your "Right Here In Town" about how Blaize McCrandall—son of a disabled Vietnam vet and an alcoholic Avon lady—turned his dream of becoming a veterinarian into reality….
By dint of drive and determination, Blaize worked construction, waited tables, dog-sat, and performed janitorial duties (and more) to earn his degree, then put hard-earned skill to use, building the clinic where he still practices veterinary medicine.
Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest
Tour Schedule
8/30: Launch8/31: I Am A Reader & Zerina Blossom's Books 9/1: Babs Book Bistro & Colorimetry 9/2: Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima, Rockin' Book Reviews, & Getting Your Read On 9/3: Reading Is My Super Power & beck valley books 9/4: Kindle and Me, underneath the covers, & Dixie n Dottie 9/6 - Grand Finale
Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card
Print copy of Sweet Mountain Rancher
Kindle copy of Sweet Mountain Rancher (to be gifted through Amazon)
Open internationally
Ends September 12th
a Rafflecopter giveaway
August 31, 2015
Realm Explorers Part LXII: Visit Shatterworld with Lelia Rose Foreman
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:Lelia Rose Foreman
Title of book and/or series:Shatterworld
Brief summary of the story:Amish Wannabes take a ship to another world to set up a peaceful, agrarian society. Once they are self-sufficient, they intend to throw away most of their technology. But twelve-year-old Rejoice does not want to grow up to become a farmer. She wants to be an astronomer. She struggles to understand what God wants her to be as she discovers intelligent aliens in the sea and then discovers an asteroid that is going to destroy the colony’s new world.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:New Earth, or Shatterworld, as Rejoice prefers to call the world, had been hit by large asteroids five hundred years prior to the coming of the humans. Most life on land and sea had been obliterated. Ninety percent of the world is covered by ocean.
If we were to visit Shatterworld as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?Sailing in the shallow waters would be fun, as would playing with baby hexacrabs. The occasional fair or feast is fun, but for the most part, the colonists engage in work as a godly discipline. They are not thinking about tourists.
What dangers should we avoid in Shatterworld?Sailing in deep waters would expose you to a variety of sea monsters. Hurricanes can be severe.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Shatterworld?The colonists work hard and they do like to eat what we would consider comfort foods.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Shatterworld?They’re pacifists! No fighting. They don’t even like contact sports.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Shatterworld?The colonists use VTOLs, space shuttles, boats, rollers, and camels to travel. And walking. Walking is good for the soul.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Shatterworld that we don’t see on Earth?The most important are the hexacrabs: sentient, undersea aliens with six armored legs, six tentacles, and three eyes on stalks. The hexacrabs are trying to rebuild their shattered civilization and are looking for their lost libraries, all while fighting off sea monsters and these new creatures, the humans.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Shatterworld? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.These Christians love God and have banded together in a discipline that they believe will draw them closer to God. They don’t ever think about magic.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Shatterworld? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.If you are at all familiar with science-fiction tropes, you will recognize all the technology in the book.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Shatterworld.How entertaining do you think sermons are? Soil creation? Feeding chickens? Oh, discovering and being attacked by aliens?
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Shatterworld as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?The colonists follow the Christian calendar, but divergence is coming.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Shatterworld? Please describe what it involves.Although none of the colonists started out as Amish, the practices they cobbled together most closely resemble the Christian Amish.
What is the political or government structure in Shatterworld? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?The colonists start out with a form of socialism, sharing all things in common, until they can separate onto individual farms. The man with the biggest voice is Brother Smith, the financier and organizer of the colony. The next most influential is the pastor. Everyone likes to think things are run by consensus.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Shatterworld?Please respect their pacifism, their modest dress, and their sexual mores.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?When we were stationed in Japan at Yokota AFB, my husband explored the concept of pacifism, because if that was God’s will for us, we wanted to engage in the practice. There would have been repercussions for adopting pacifism, as the US Air Force had paid for his dental school, but if that’s what God calls you to, that’s what you do. We did a lot of study and reading. My husband retired a colonel, so you can guess which way we went. I like writing about people who aren’t me, so I wanted to write about a people the way they see themselves. What would happen if they met aliens who wanted to fight them?
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?Pacifism. Some people consider monogamy and/or Christianity controversial. Is having some main characters with mild Asperger’s controversial?
Author Autobiography:I’ve raised and released five children, one of them a Wookie. The Air Force gave us the privilege of living in Japan and a number of states, including Texas, Alaska, and Oregon. I have some minor engagement with ministry in Rwanda, and have begun libraries in eleven primary schools there. I also introduced Golden Grain amaranth to farmers there, which was a big hit, and purslane, which was not. They introduced me to the concept of loving and working under murderers.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?Shatterworld can be ordered as an ebook or paperback from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, or from any bookstore.
Where can readers connect with you online? www.leliaroseforeman.blogspot.com, on Facebook as Lelia Rose Foreman, on Twitter as @LeliaForeman
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Shatterworld. 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 dystopian/fantasy world of To Nowhere, in Realm Explorers Part LXIII!-Annie Douglass Lima
Author’s name:Lelia Rose Foreman
Title of book and/or series:Shatterworld
Brief summary of the story:Amish Wannabes take a ship to another world to set up a peaceful, agrarian society. Once they are self-sufficient, they intend to throw away most of their technology. But twelve-year-old Rejoice does not want to grow up to become a farmer. She wants to be an astronomer. She struggles to understand what God wants her to be as she discovers intelligent aliens in the sea and then discovers an asteroid that is going to destroy the colony’s new world.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:New Earth, or Shatterworld, as Rejoice prefers to call the world, had been hit by large asteroids five hundred years prior to the coming of the humans. Most life on land and sea had been obliterated. Ninety percent of the world is covered by ocean.
If we were to visit Shatterworld as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?Sailing in the shallow waters would be fun, as would playing with baby hexacrabs. The occasional fair or feast is fun, but for the most part, the colonists engage in work as a godly discipline. They are not thinking about tourists.
What dangers should we avoid in Shatterworld?Sailing in deep waters would expose you to a variety of sea monsters. Hurricanes can be severe.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Shatterworld?The colonists work hard and they do like to eat what we would consider comfort foods.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Shatterworld?They’re pacifists! No fighting. They don’t even like contact sports.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Shatterworld?The colonists use VTOLs, space shuttles, boats, rollers, and camels to travel. And walking. Walking is good for the soul.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Shatterworld that we don’t see on Earth?The most important are the hexacrabs: sentient, undersea aliens with six armored legs, six tentacles, and three eyes on stalks. The hexacrabs are trying to rebuild their shattered civilization and are looking for their lost libraries, all while fighting off sea monsters and these new creatures, the humans.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Shatterworld? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.These Christians love God and have banded together in a discipline that they believe will draw them closer to God. They don’t ever think about magic.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Shatterworld? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.If you are at all familiar with science-fiction tropes, you will recognize all the technology in the book.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Shatterworld.How entertaining do you think sermons are? Soil creation? Feeding chickens? Oh, discovering and being attacked by aliens?
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Shatterworld as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?The colonists follow the Christian calendar, but divergence is coming.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Shatterworld? Please describe what it involves.Although none of the colonists started out as Amish, the practices they cobbled together most closely resemble the Christian Amish.
What is the political or government structure in Shatterworld? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?The colonists start out with a form of socialism, sharing all things in common, until they can separate onto individual farms. The man with the biggest voice is Brother Smith, the financier and organizer of the colony. The next most influential is the pastor. Everyone likes to think things are run by consensus.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Shatterworld?Please respect their pacifism, their modest dress, and their sexual mores.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?When we were stationed in Japan at Yokota AFB, my husband explored the concept of pacifism, because if that was God’s will for us, we wanted to engage in the practice. There would have been repercussions for adopting pacifism, as the US Air Force had paid for his dental school, but if that’s what God calls you to, that’s what you do. We did a lot of study and reading. My husband retired a colonel, so you can guess which way we went. I like writing about people who aren’t me, so I wanted to write about a people the way they see themselves. What would happen if they met aliens who wanted to fight them?
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?Pacifism. Some people consider monogamy and/or Christianity controversial. Is having some main characters with mild Asperger’s controversial?
Author Autobiography:I’ve raised and released five children, one of them a Wookie. The Air Force gave us the privilege of living in Japan and a number of states, including Texas, Alaska, and Oregon. I have some minor engagement with ministry in Rwanda, and have begun libraries in eleven primary schools there. I also introduced Golden Grain amaranth to farmers there, which was a big hit, and purslane, which was not. They introduced me to the concept of loving and working under murderers.Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?Shatterworld can be ordered as an ebook or paperback from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, or from any bookstore.
Where can readers connect with you online? www.leliaroseforeman.blogspot.com, on Facebook as Lelia Rose Foreman, on Twitter as @LeliaForeman
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Shatterworld. 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 dystopian/fantasy world of To Nowhere, in Realm Explorers Part LXIII!-Annie Douglass Lima
August 27, 2015
Guardians of the Heart: a Historical Romance with a Giveaway!
On Tour with Prism Book Tours. We're sharing the Grand Finale for Guardians of the Heart By Loree Lough
Nell and Asa have guarded their hearts, but to let love in, they'll have to let go.We hope you enjoyed finding out more about their story.
If you didn't get a chance to get to each stop, you can go back and check them out now...
Launch - Author Interview
And how do you develop your deep POV?
I love living in the heads of my characters, and accomplish it (and avoid ‘head hopping’) by writing each scene from a specific character’s point of view. It’s almost as though I take up residence in their brains (like a parasite! LOL). When I’m thinking their thoughts, reacting to what other characters do and say, deep POV is a lot easier.
Bookworm Lisa - Review
"Loree Lough has written this story in an easy to read voice. The pacing is excellent. She kept my attention and I really came to like the characters."
Worthy2Read - Nonna's Authentic Spaghetti Sauce
As any ‘on a deadline’ author can tell you, we’re really, really good at procrastinating. We tidy drawers, organize closets, poke around in our flower beds. And we cook. One of my favorite recipes was handed down by my Italian grandmother’s family. I hope you’ll enjoy it, too!
Zerina Blossom's Books - They Called Her Shoog Guest Post
The summer I turned ten, a pretty little redheaded girl moved into the house on the corner. Her parents and older siblings called her Shoog…and it was Shoog who introduced the kids on our block to a whole new way to spend our summer days...
Reading Is My SuperPower - Review
"A sweet heartfelt romance that reminds us of the importance of forgiveness – of other people and especially of ourselves. With true, likable characters and a plot brimming with all the great elements of a story, Guardians of the Heart will gently refresh your soul."
Christy's Cozy Corners - A Promise to Jake, Part 1
When a mysterious package arrives shortly before Christmas, a wealthy author is forced to remember what’s truly important about the holy day…and about life.
Writing Pearls - Review
"This was a surprising out of bounds romance. It was clean, well-written, with strong characters that become a part of your reality."
underneath the covers - Excerpt
Regrettably, no one was hiring. Few things scared her more than the prospect of being homeless and destitute. Nell sat on the steps of the bank, held her head in her hands and tried to pray. She’d said countless prayers for others—in church, others on her knees before bed—but couldn’t remember the last time she’d prayed for herself. Did she remember how?
Mel's Shelves - Review
"I loved Asa and Nell! Asa puts on a rough front but does care about others while trying not to. He feels guilt for some things he did in the past and needs to learn to forgive himself. Nell was sweet from the beginning! What I loved about this book is that the author didn't just tell me; she showed me."
Tell Tale Book Reviews - Excerpt
Oh, what he wouldn’t give to go back in time to the little house on the outskirts of Denver that always smelled of fresh-baked bread, where he’d never gone hungry and never felt cold, thanks to his ma’s talent for turning scraps of cloth into warm quilts.
Babs Book Bistro - Review
"I could not put this book down it was wonderful. . . . A nice relaxing read that brings out the love and coziness."
Mommabears Book Blog - A Promise to Jake, Part 2
He stared at the blinking cursor. "I've let you down big time, Jake," he said, eyes on the blank white screen. Maybe telling his friend’s story would ease his conscience. Squaring his shoulders, Homer pulled out the keyboard drawer and gave his knuckles one last crack, and began to type:
Wishful Endings - A Promise to Jake, Part 3
FIVE YEARS LATER:
"Homer, schweetheart," Bobby said, "so what's up with your answering machine? I've been trying to get hold of you for days."
"Don't have one up here." Don't want one, don't need one.
Reading Is My SuperPower - Special Author Interview
Me: You are such a prolific writer! (5,000,000 copies in circulation – 108 books, 72 short stories, and over 2500 articles in print) Where do you get your inspiration for so many new plots and characters?
Loree: Inspiration is everywhere. Literally. I’ve come up with story ideas while reading a dog-eared old magazine in the doctor’s waiting room. At the grocery store. In the movie theater. Here at home, watching the TV news or reading the Sunday paper. Sitting on a bench at the soft ice cream parlor, listening to the conversation of patrons on the next bench. Talking to a neighbor over the back fence. While on hold to make corrections to a DirecTV statement. I could go on (and on!), but I think you get the idea!
Singing Librarian Books - Review (Author Interview here)
"Throughout the novel Loree has brought her characters to life in a true and heartwarming way. I would recommend this novel to Christian, historical fiction, romance readers."
Colorimetry - Excerpt
They carried their bowls to a nearby bench and sat down to enjoy the treat, and Asa realized immediately that they were facing the wrong direction. Fifty yards due north, he had a direct line of sight to where Gus and Nell sat, munching fried chicken, corn bread, and apple slices. Oughta be you sitting there, he thought.
Guardians of the Heart
(Secrets on Sterling Street, #2)
by Loree Lough
Historical RomancePaperback & ebook, 272 pages
August 3rd 2015 by Whitaker House
Nell Holstrom wanted no part of her grandfather's barren gold mine that had taken the lives of her mother, father, and younger brother; even if there may still be hidden wealth inside. Instead, she went to Denver and took a job as housekeeper at the old Stone Hill Inn.
Asa Stone was barely more than a boy when his father dragged him and his brothers to fight with Colonel John Chivington. But Asa refused to participate in the raid on the peaceful Cheyenne and Arapahoe; and when the smoke cleared, his father and brother lay among the slaughtered. Besieged by guilt, Asa wandered the West for years before returning to Denver to rebuild the old inn he'd inherited.
Together, Nell and Asa work hard to restore Stone Hill. But when disaster hits the inn, Asa retreats into despair and Nell is forced to return to her family's mine. Asa faces the hard fact: He'll never be the man Nell deserves. Can he overcome the dark secrets of his past? And will Nell still love him when she learns the truth?
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository
The First Book in the Series
Currency of the Heart
(Secrets on Sterling Street, #1)
by Loree Lough
Historical RomancePaperback & ebook, 256 pages
January 1st 2015 by Whitaker House
Young widow Shaina Sterling hates living a lie. Desperate to keep bill collectors from the door, she secretly sells valuable possessions piece by piece, and hopes Denver’s elite never discover that his lavish lifestyle left her a near pauper.
She’s unaware that as her husband lay dying, successful rancher Sloan Remington made him a promise. And Sloan guards her secrets
as carefully as he looks after her safety.
When fire devours Sterling Hall, leaving her homeless and penniless, he brings her to Remington Ranch to manage his household. His kindness makes Shaina beholden to him … and threatens to expose the secret that could destroy him.
Will trials and tragedies bring Sloan and Shaina together?
Or will secrets—and the cost of exposing them—drive them apart forever?
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository
Yes, it's true: Once upon a time, best-selling author Loree Lough (literally) sang for her supper, performing before packed audiences throughout the U.S. Now and then, she blows the dust from her 6-string to croon a tune or two for the "grandorables," but mostly, she just writes. (And writes.) Over the years, her stories have earned nearly 100 industry and "Readers' Choice" awards, 7 movie options, and over 80 4- and 5-star reviews.There are more than 5,000,000 (yes, that's FIVE MILLION) copies of Loree's books in circulation, and in September of 2015, she'll have 108 books (fiction and non-fiction for kids and adults) 72 short stories, 2,500+ articles in print. To date, she has received 50,000+ letters from fans (a carton of books goes to Meredith P. in Joliet, IL -- which she has elected to donate to her local library --for writing the 50,000th letter)!
Loree loves sharing learned-the-hard-way lessons about the craft and the industry, and her comedic approach makes her a favorite (and frequent) guest of writers' organizations, book clubs, private and government institutions, college and high school writing programs both here and abroad.
A writer who believes in "giving back," Loree dedicates a portion of her income to Soldiers' Angels, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, and other worthwhile organizations.
She splits her time between her home in the Baltimore suburbs and a cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, and shares both with her real-life hero Larry, who rarely complains, even when she adds yet another item to her vast collection of lighthouses, wind chimes, and "wolf stuff."
Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest
Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card
Print copy of Guardians of the Heart
Kindle copy of Guardians of the Heart (to be gifted through Amazon)
Open internationally
Ends August 29th
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August 24, 2015
Realm Explorers Part LXI: Visit Sanalbereth with Jessica L. Elliott
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:Jessica L. Elliott
Title of book and/or series:Charming Academy series
Brief summary of the story:The Charming Academy series begins with Charming Academy, the story that tells what happened before, “Once upon a time...” Each following story is a retelling of a classic fairy tale with a few new twists and turns, particularly in giving more details about what the prince was doing. My goal was to create fairy tales that both girls and boys would love.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:The series takes place in Sanalbereth, a fairy-ruled empire that is meant to be a past version of Earth. As the princes go on their quests, they run into the same kind of places you might find at home, only a little wilder and more dangerous.
If we were to visit Sanalbereth as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?Well, you should certainly stop in Biberseth, the capitol city, to see Charming Academy for Boys and Fair Damsels Academy for Young Ladies. Then you can see where all the excitement beings as you watch princes and princesses train for the dangers of being on a quest. But if you really want to know where to go and what to do, you'll have to talk to Uncle Sebastian. He knows every nook and cranny of the place and is a great storyteller to boot. I believe he lives in Rendorlin, but he travels a lot so you could find him just about anywhere.
What dangers should we avoid in Sanalbereth?Be careful when traveling to stay clear of the highwaymen and bands of thieves in the mountains. There are also dragons, sea serpents and other beasts that would gladly see you as a main course. Most dangerous, however, are the witches. I'm not talking about the Sisters who work at the schools. We're talking wicked witches. They may look sweet and charming, but watch out!
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Sanalbereth?Most people ride horses or take carriages. If you're lucky enough to encounter a kind-hearted dragon, she might let you ride on her back. But don't count on it. Your best bet would be to visit Phillip in Maltisten and buy a horse from him. He's got the best horses in Sanalbereth.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Sanalbereth that we don’t see on Earth?There are many wild creatures in Sanalbereth. There are dragons and sea serpents and occasionally you'll find enchanted princes as frogs, beasts or other things. If you're very quiet in the woods, you might be lucky enough to come across a unicorn. You can also find fairies, imps, mermaids and other enchanting peoples.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Sanalbereth? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.The fairies have a kind of magic that gives peace and abundance to the peoples of Sanalbereth. They can also use it to send messages and teleport themselves and others at the end of a quest. There are also witches. Some are good, like the Sisters who live at the schools. They use their magic mainly for disciplinary purposes (don't ever stick your tongue out!) but also to protect the schools and students. Some witches are evil and they are often a source of trouble to questing princes. One prince very nearly became a dog biscuit! The magic in Sanalbereth is often very subtle and might be overlooked by the casual observer, but it is there.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Sanalbereth.Depending on where you are, you can find jousting tournaments and dressage competitions throughout Sanalbereth. The people here love their horses. There also art competitions, dances and festivals to meet all you entertaining needs.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Sanalbereth as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?The calendar is the same. The fairies celebrate the changing of the seasons and each province has its own festivals and celebrations. For example, the farming provinces always have a splendid Harvest Festival.
What is the political or government structure in Sanalbereth? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?Sanalbereth is an empire divided up into provinces ruled by human kings and queens, most often Prince Charmings who have completed their quests. The empire is ruled by the fairy king and queen who oversee the governance of Sanalbereth. The king is good-hearted and kind. He and the queen regularly travel to the different provinces, especially at times of weddings and coronations within the royal families.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?Real life often inspires my writing. Uncle Sebastian's love for travel and adventure stems from my own wanderlust, though I haven't been able to act on it as often as he has. My characters often have bits and pieces of people I know. But the best example of this is in the second book, Finding Prince Charming. Allegra is terrified of frogs because I am terrified of frogs, and really all amphibians. Can't stand slimy things! *shudder
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?I can't think of any super controversial topics in my books, but each of them deals with different challenges. In Prince Charming's Search, a character is suddenly faced with abuse and manipulation. Becoming Prince Charming takes a look at split personalities and The Ultimate Prince Charming follows two characters overcoming grief. So I guess depending on who you ask, these could be considered controversial. However, I've tried to handle each one delicately and show a positive outcome.
Author Autobiography:If you ask my mother, she'll tell you I've been writing since I could hold a pencil and telling stories even before that! I went to Emporia State University where I graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Never quite found a teaching job and after getting married, I started looking at writing again. The Charming Academy series is based on bedtime stories I told my youngest brother when I visited home on weekends during my college years. I have three adorable children who keep my life busy and crazy! My husband is a teacher and moved us to southwest Kansas where we have fallen in love with our community and this beautiful area of the state.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.All of my books are available in print at Amazon. You can also order signed copies directly from me at my website. I'm still working on getting everything in ebook, but for now Charming Academy and The Ultimate Prince Charming are available on Smashwords.
Where can readers connect with you online?
I have a website which is a good source of information for finding my books and keeping up with me. You can also follow me on Amazon, Goodreads, and Twitter, like me on Facebook, and favorite me on Smashwords.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Sanalbereth. 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 planet of Shatterworld, in Realm Explorers Part LXII!-Annie Douglass Lima
Author’s name:Jessica L. ElliottTitle of book and/or series:Charming Academy series
Brief summary of the story:The Charming Academy series begins with Charming Academy, the story that tells what happened before, “Once upon a time...” Each following story is a retelling of a classic fairy tale with a few new twists and turns, particularly in giving more details about what the prince was doing. My goal was to create fairy tales that both girls and boys would love.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:The series takes place in Sanalbereth, a fairy-ruled empire that is meant to be a past version of Earth. As the princes go on their quests, they run into the same kind of places you might find at home, only a little wilder and more dangerous.
If we were to visit Sanalbereth as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?Well, you should certainly stop in Biberseth, the capitol city, to see Charming Academy for Boys and Fair Damsels Academy for Young Ladies. Then you can see where all the excitement beings as you watch princes and princesses train for the dangers of being on a quest. But if you really want to know where to go and what to do, you'll have to talk to Uncle Sebastian. He knows every nook and cranny of the place and is a great storyteller to boot. I believe he lives in Rendorlin, but he travels a lot so you could find him just about anywhere.
What dangers should we avoid in Sanalbereth?Be careful when traveling to stay clear of the highwaymen and bands of thieves in the mountains. There are also dragons, sea serpents and other beasts that would gladly see you as a main course. Most dangerous, however, are the witches. I'm not talking about the Sisters who work at the schools. We're talking wicked witches. They may look sweet and charming, but watch out!
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Sanalbereth?Most people ride horses or take carriages. If you're lucky enough to encounter a kind-hearted dragon, she might let you ride on her back. But don't count on it. Your best bet would be to visit Phillip in Maltisten and buy a horse from him. He's got the best horses in Sanalbereth.What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Sanalbereth that we don’t see on Earth?There are many wild creatures in Sanalbereth. There are dragons and sea serpents and occasionally you'll find enchanted princes as frogs, beasts or other things. If you're very quiet in the woods, you might be lucky enough to come across a unicorn. You can also find fairies, imps, mermaids and other enchanting peoples.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Sanalbereth? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.The fairies have a kind of magic that gives peace and abundance to the peoples of Sanalbereth. They can also use it to send messages and teleport themselves and others at the end of a quest. There are also witches. Some are good, like the Sisters who live at the schools. They use their magic mainly for disciplinary purposes (don't ever stick your tongue out!) but also to protect the schools and students. Some witches are evil and they are often a source of trouble to questing princes. One prince very nearly became a dog biscuit! The magic in Sanalbereth is often very subtle and might be overlooked by the casual observer, but it is there.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Sanalbereth.Depending on where you are, you can find jousting tournaments and dressage competitions throughout Sanalbereth. The people here love their horses. There also art competitions, dances and festivals to meet all you entertaining needs.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Sanalbereth as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?The calendar is the same. The fairies celebrate the changing of the seasons and each province has its own festivals and celebrations. For example, the farming provinces always have a splendid Harvest Festival.
What is the political or government structure in Sanalbereth? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?Sanalbereth is an empire divided up into provinces ruled by human kings and queens, most often Prince Charmings who have completed their quests. The empire is ruled by the fairy king and queen who oversee the governance of Sanalbereth. The king is good-hearted and kind. He and the queen regularly travel to the different provinces, especially at times of weddings and coronations within the royal families.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?Real life often inspires my writing. Uncle Sebastian's love for travel and adventure stems from my own wanderlust, though I haven't been able to act on it as often as he has. My characters often have bits and pieces of people I know. But the best example of this is in the second book, Finding Prince Charming. Allegra is terrified of frogs because I am terrified of frogs, and really all amphibians. Can't stand slimy things! *shudderWhat, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?I can't think of any super controversial topics in my books, but each of them deals with different challenges. In Prince Charming's Search, a character is suddenly faced with abuse and manipulation. Becoming Prince Charming takes a look at split personalities and The Ultimate Prince Charming follows two characters overcoming grief. So I guess depending on who you ask, these could be considered controversial. However, I've tried to handle each one delicately and show a positive outcome.
Author Autobiography:If you ask my mother, she'll tell you I've been writing since I could hold a pencil and telling stories even before that! I went to Emporia State University where I graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Never quite found a teaching job and after getting married, I started looking at writing again. The Charming Academy series is based on bedtime stories I told my youngest brother when I visited home on weekends during my college years. I have three adorable children who keep my life busy and crazy! My husband is a teacher and moved us to southwest Kansas where we have fallen in love with our community and this beautiful area of the state.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.All of my books are available in print at Amazon. You can also order signed copies directly from me at my website. I'm still working on getting everything in ebook, but for now Charming Academy and The Ultimate Prince Charming are available on Smashwords.
Where can readers connect with you online?
I have a website which is a good source of information for finding my books and keeping up with me. You can also follow me on Amazon, Goodreads, and Twitter, like me on Facebook, and favorite me on Smashwords.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Sanalbereth. 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 planet of Shatterworld, in Realm Explorers Part LXII!-Annie Douglass Lima
August 21, 2015
Cover Reveal for Alora: The Portal
Cover Reveal for Alora: The PortalThe compelling story of the young soulmates, Alora and Kaevin, continues...The adventure begins with Alora: The Wander-Jewel.
Fifteen-year-old Alora has visions.Only while in the shower. And only of one stranger: a handsome boy with long brown hair, intense green eyes, and the oddest clothes. A boy who vanishes whenever she opens her eyes.And then one day, he doesn't…Alora's safe world is soon turned upside-down as she's thrust into another realm where her soulmate waits, magic abounds, and unfathomable evil seeks to claim her.The epic fantasy continues in
Alora: The Portal
.
Cover design by StunningBookCovers.comIf one of them dies, they both die.Bound together as soulmates, something compels Alora and Kaevin to abandon the safety of their refuge for the dangers of Kaevin’s realm. The soulmates arrive in the midst of a raging battle as Stone Clan warriors defend their capital, an attack made more deadly by the pervasive evil of her father. Alora and Kaevin face mortal danger as they fight against man and magick to preserve Kaevin's home and heritage. For Alora's father will have her allegiance. Or her death.
Praise for Alora"...I have to admit - I wish the book had not ended! ...The romance is sweet rather than steamy making this a clean read for young adults, but the action and adventure is thrilling enough to keep any age reader turning pages..." Today's Visions "I found Alora to be a breath of fresh air in the YA fantasy genre! ... A YA fantasy with characters you will adore and cheer for, Alora is a book I would recommend to any of my friends!" Books Are Sanity Alora: The Portal is available on Amazon for the special pre-order price of 99¢ through the August 31 release date! As a bonus, Alora: The Wander-Jewel will be FREE on August 30 through August 31! Find Tamie Dearen on her website, Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter.
Excerpt from Alora: The Wander-JewelAlora fought the urge to beat on the tile wall. He’d disappeared again. Who was this boy she kept seeing? Why did he only appear when she was in the shower? He seemed so real, and she could have sworn he looked as confused as she felt. As if he was trying to figure out who she was, as well. Was he a figment of her imagination? His eyes were so unusual. They were green. Not an ordinary green, but a deep, intense jade, the color of her aunt’s emerald ring. He was really cute, although he wore his wavy brown hair a little long for her taste. Yet she could only see his head—never his clothes or the background. Today he’d tied his hair back in a ponytail. Surely the fact he’d changed his hair was significant. Wouldn’t a figment of her imagination have his hair the same every time? She peeked around the shower curtain at the clock on the bathroom counter. It was five a.m. on a Saturday, and she had chores to do, feeding the horses and letting the chickens out. But it was winter, so she had plenty of time to spare before the rising sun tolled the beginning of her responsibilities. Living on a ranch in the backcountry of Montana meant cold winters, lots of work, and little time for leisure. It was the only life she’d ever known, and she usually enjoyed it, despite the heavy work involved. But right now, she wanted another stab at seeing that boy. The image was always so fuzzy. If only he wouldn’t disappear when she opened her eyes. She couldn’t summon his visage at will. He didn’t come every time she closed her eyes in the shower; it seemed to happen when she was relaxing and letting the water beat down on her head and shoulders. Maybe, if she were soaking in the tub, she might see his image again. She pushed the curtain back, put in the stopper, and turned the faucet on full blast. As an afterthought, she added bubble bath, filling the tub with fragrant suds. Soon the bath was full, with aromatic bubbles foaming on top. She eased into the soothing water, closing her eyes at the blissful caress of the heat on her tight muscles. And she waited. Anticipating. Would he come? She tried to stay alert, but the relaxing warmth seeped into her skin, lulling her to sleep. Awakening with a start in the cold water, disappointment formed a knot in her stomach—he’d never appeared. She released some water down the drain and added hot water, swirling it around until the temperature was comfortable again. She had five more minutes before she had to abandon her bath to start her workday. She lay back down, sinking below the water with her eyes closed, swishing the fresh water over her skin to remove the bubble bath film, her face floating above the surface to breathe. He appeared. She held her breath, clamping her eyes shut tight, trying to hold the image as long as possible. Though the apparition was still slightly blurry, she could see all of him, head to toe. She took advantage of her increased perception, thoroughly studying his image. She almost clapped her hands when her mental measurement estimated his height at over six feet. At five feet ten, she was taller than most boys her age. But she scolded herself for examining him as if he were a potential boyfriend. He wasn’t even real. His clothes were made of supple-looking brown leather. The attire was odd—held together with ties and toggles rather than buttons or zippers. The fit was close enough that his well-formed muscles were evident. She noted his long hair was tied back, as it had been earlier. She could only see the front of him as he stood frozen, stock-still, with his mouth agape, his jewel-green eyes wide and... moving. His eyes were moving, up and down, as if he were scanning her body as she had done. And it occurred to her if she could see all of him, he might be able to see all of her. She gasped, opening her eyes to dispense with the specter. But his image remained, now sharp and clear. And he seemed to be standing in her bathroom. She cowered under the water, attempting to hide under the few remaining bubbles. His eyes dropped down to her navel, and as they widened, he whispered, “Wendelle?” Lunging for her towel on the floor, she screamed at the top of her lungs. Hastily covering herself and preparing to leap from the tub, she looked up, only to discover the vision was gone—if indeed it had been a vision.
Read the first two chapters of Alora: The Wander-Jewel here.
Fifteen-year-old Alora has visions.Only while in the shower. And only of one stranger: a handsome boy with long brown hair, intense green eyes, and the oddest clothes. A boy who vanishes whenever she opens her eyes.And then one day, he doesn't…Alora's safe world is soon turned upside-down as she's thrust into another realm where her soulmate waits, magic abounds, and unfathomable evil seeks to claim her.The epic fantasy continues in
Alora: The Portal
.
Cover design by StunningBookCovers.comIf one of them dies, they both die.Bound together as soulmates, something compels Alora and Kaevin to abandon the safety of their refuge for the dangers of Kaevin’s realm. The soulmates arrive in the midst of a raging battle as Stone Clan warriors defend their capital, an attack made more deadly by the pervasive evil of her father. Alora and Kaevin face mortal danger as they fight against man and magick to preserve Kaevin's home and heritage. For Alora's father will have her allegiance. Or her death. Praise for Alora"...I have to admit - I wish the book had not ended! ...The romance is sweet rather than steamy making this a clean read for young adults, but the action and adventure is thrilling enough to keep any age reader turning pages..." Today's Visions "I found Alora to be a breath of fresh air in the YA fantasy genre! ... A YA fantasy with characters you will adore and cheer for, Alora is a book I would recommend to any of my friends!" Books Are Sanity Alora: The Portal is available on Amazon for the special pre-order price of 99¢ through the August 31 release date! As a bonus, Alora: The Wander-Jewel will be FREE on August 30 through August 31! Find Tamie Dearen on her website, Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter.
Excerpt from Alora: The Wander-JewelAlora fought the urge to beat on the tile wall. He’d disappeared again. Who was this boy she kept seeing? Why did he only appear when she was in the shower? He seemed so real, and she could have sworn he looked as confused as she felt. As if he was trying to figure out who she was, as well. Was he a figment of her imagination? His eyes were so unusual. They were green. Not an ordinary green, but a deep, intense jade, the color of her aunt’s emerald ring. He was really cute, although he wore his wavy brown hair a little long for her taste. Yet she could only see his head—never his clothes or the background. Today he’d tied his hair back in a ponytail. Surely the fact he’d changed his hair was significant. Wouldn’t a figment of her imagination have his hair the same every time? She peeked around the shower curtain at the clock on the bathroom counter. It was five a.m. on a Saturday, and she had chores to do, feeding the horses and letting the chickens out. But it was winter, so she had plenty of time to spare before the rising sun tolled the beginning of her responsibilities. Living on a ranch in the backcountry of Montana meant cold winters, lots of work, and little time for leisure. It was the only life she’d ever known, and she usually enjoyed it, despite the heavy work involved. But right now, she wanted another stab at seeing that boy. The image was always so fuzzy. If only he wouldn’t disappear when she opened her eyes. She couldn’t summon his visage at will. He didn’t come every time she closed her eyes in the shower; it seemed to happen when she was relaxing and letting the water beat down on her head and shoulders. Maybe, if she were soaking in the tub, she might see his image again. She pushed the curtain back, put in the stopper, and turned the faucet on full blast. As an afterthought, she added bubble bath, filling the tub with fragrant suds. Soon the bath was full, with aromatic bubbles foaming on top. She eased into the soothing water, closing her eyes at the blissful caress of the heat on her tight muscles. And she waited. Anticipating. Would he come? She tried to stay alert, but the relaxing warmth seeped into her skin, lulling her to sleep. Awakening with a start in the cold water, disappointment formed a knot in her stomach—he’d never appeared. She released some water down the drain and added hot water, swirling it around until the temperature was comfortable again. She had five more minutes before she had to abandon her bath to start her workday. She lay back down, sinking below the water with her eyes closed, swishing the fresh water over her skin to remove the bubble bath film, her face floating above the surface to breathe. He appeared. She held her breath, clamping her eyes shut tight, trying to hold the image as long as possible. Though the apparition was still slightly blurry, she could see all of him, head to toe. She took advantage of her increased perception, thoroughly studying his image. She almost clapped her hands when her mental measurement estimated his height at over six feet. At five feet ten, she was taller than most boys her age. But she scolded herself for examining him as if he were a potential boyfriend. He wasn’t even real. His clothes were made of supple-looking brown leather. The attire was odd—held together with ties and toggles rather than buttons or zippers. The fit was close enough that his well-formed muscles were evident. She noted his long hair was tied back, as it had been earlier. She could only see the front of him as he stood frozen, stock-still, with his mouth agape, his jewel-green eyes wide and... moving. His eyes were moving, up and down, as if he were scanning her body as she had done. And it occurred to her if she could see all of him, he might be able to see all of her. She gasped, opening her eyes to dispense with the specter. But his image remained, now sharp and clear. And he seemed to be standing in her bathroom. She cowered under the water, attempting to hide under the few remaining bubbles. His eyes dropped down to her navel, and as they widened, he whispered, “Wendelle?” Lunging for her towel on the floor, she screamed at the top of her lungs. Hastily covering herself and preparing to leap from the tub, she looked up, only to discover the vision was gone—if indeed it had been a vision.
Read the first two chapters of Alora: The Wander-Jewel here.
August 17, 2015
Realm Explorers Part LX: Visit Victory Valley with Laurie Penner
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: Laurie Penner
Title of book and/or series: Secrets of Gwenla
Brief summary of the story: Trapped inside a towering fortress, young Julyiah seeks to understand Gwenla’s ancient riddles. As truth is revealed, Julyiah’s heart takes her to both breathtaking and terrifying places. Evil forces try to stop her, for she has discovered how to free the enclosed community from some old and deadly deceptions.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story: Victory Valley is a lot like a peaceful secluded valley on Earth, except that it is completely enclosed within fortress walls, and has been for 400 years. No one is allowed outside the walls, so no one knows what is out there. A spring rises from the upper end of the valley and runs through the lower end, providing water for farms. The ranchers raise cows, sheep, and goats. Only a few horses and dogs were permitted inside before the walls were sealed. Tall trees are rare, because the Agricultural Authority only allows edible or useful plants to grow in the limited space.
Underneath the ground level, the city of Durnee lies in a huge cavern, where the wicked master of the Underground enslaves the poor, and profits from his evil deeds. Valley leaders teach that people who live down there have been deceived by the Lying Wind, but some valley dwellers still travel there by night to gamble, drink, or visit the infamous Durnee Hotel.
If we were to visit Victory Valley as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there? Be sure to see the towering North Wall, where the wealthy leaders live. It has some spectacular stones and other rich ornamentation. The Listening Hall is available for hearing the Music, but you have to get past the guards, who check you for unwanted air movement when you enter. Near the Listening Hall are rooms where you can read the sacred books and listen to safe music anytime, for a price.
What dangers should we avoid in the Valley? Stay out of the Underground and be wary of any breeze, because it might be the Lying Wind.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in the Valley? Yes, be sure to try the napcot fruit, good fresh or dried. Several of the women make excellent breads, plus you’ll want some leaky root for dessert. Nutritious chakia roots are abundant in the Underground, but they don’t have much flavor.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in the Valley? Weapons have not been needed much yet, though a time is coming when they will be. The Valley Law maintains order by carrying swords, though they have rarely been needed (yet).
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in Victory Valley? Horses, wagons, and carriages.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Victory Valley that we don’t see on Earth? Teka bushes provide valley dwellers with dinner-plate sized leaves for paper, and they grow prolifically both above and below ground. One can write on a Teka leaf with a piece of charcoal, erase it and reuse it several times. When it grows limp, it makes a sturdy cleaning cloth, never wearing out completely.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in the Valley? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used. All of the adults in Victory Valley have an unusual ability to live both in the real world and in their hearts, at the same time. A child reaches this ability after he or she passes through the Understanding, which might be a good or bad experience. Whenever an adult hears true Music, his or her heart takes off to breathtaking places, and at that moment, amazing things might happen in the physical world as well as in the heart.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in the Valley? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples. Light rocks come in various sizes and qualities, but any light rock will glow after being charged in the sun. One can carry a small one to light a pathway. Larger, clearer ones light a house or entire area. Warming rocks are used both to heat and to cool, depending on how they’ve been temperature-charged. Sound rocks can record music. Many songs were recorded back in Gwenla’s time on these rocks and put into boxes. When someone opens the box, the song plays back. The music cells and Listening Hall have plenty of music boxes for the people to listen to while studying the sacred books.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Victory Valley? Please describe what it involves. Music is a major part of a valley dweller’s life in worship of the One, and the leaders expect the people to attend the Listening Hall every week to hear teaching from the sacred books and listen to songs from the music boxes. Listening to the Music or the Voice outside of this format is considered wayward, even though the books themselves talk about this phenomenon. The kind of music people hear in the valley is a matter of great importance and plays a key part in the outcome of the story.
What is the political or government structure in the Valley? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she? Normally there are five male leaders in charge of the community and the religion, although when Gwenla was alive, her word was dominant. If a leader gains distinction or seniority, he might be included as one of the three high leaders.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit the Valley? When you greet someone, be sure to ask, “Where are you?” rather than, “How are you?” Since you can’t see into someone’s heart, the person could be falling off a cliff or in the middle of a fire and you wouldn’t know it, other than by studying their emotional state or asking them.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book? What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book? In my own life, as in many others, there is often a question of how much we should be controlled by government or religious leaders. This theme is represented in the book.
Author Autobiography: Laurie has been writing for over forty-five years, starting when she was fourteen years old on her first inspirational mystery/romance novel. Whether it’s non-fiction or a novel, Laurie’s goal is to encourage people with personal issues to build character in the midst of their trials.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book? On Amazon: Secrets of Gwenla e-book Secrets of Gwenla paperback
Where can readers connect with you online? Secrets of Gwenla Facebook Page Laurie Penner, Author/Editor Page Laurie Penner Website
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Victory Valley. 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 fantasy world of Sanalbereth, in Realm Explorers Part LXI!-Annie Douglass Lima
Author’s name: Laurie Penner
Title of book and/or series: Secrets of Gwenla
Brief summary of the story: Trapped inside a towering fortress, young Julyiah seeks to understand Gwenla’s ancient riddles. As truth is revealed, Julyiah’s heart takes her to both breathtaking and terrifying places. Evil forces try to stop her, for she has discovered how to free the enclosed community from some old and deadly deceptions.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story: Victory Valley is a lot like a peaceful secluded valley on Earth, except that it is completely enclosed within fortress walls, and has been for 400 years. No one is allowed outside the walls, so no one knows what is out there. A spring rises from the upper end of the valley and runs through the lower end, providing water for farms. The ranchers raise cows, sheep, and goats. Only a few horses and dogs were permitted inside before the walls were sealed. Tall trees are rare, because the Agricultural Authority only allows edible or useful plants to grow in the limited space. Underneath the ground level, the city of Durnee lies in a huge cavern, where the wicked master of the Underground enslaves the poor, and profits from his evil deeds. Valley leaders teach that people who live down there have been deceived by the Lying Wind, but some valley dwellers still travel there by night to gamble, drink, or visit the infamous Durnee Hotel.
If we were to visit Victory Valley as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there? Be sure to see the towering North Wall, where the wealthy leaders live. It has some spectacular stones and other rich ornamentation. The Listening Hall is available for hearing the Music, but you have to get past the guards, who check you for unwanted air movement when you enter. Near the Listening Hall are rooms where you can read the sacred books and listen to safe music anytime, for a price.
What dangers should we avoid in the Valley? Stay out of the Underground and be wary of any breeze, because it might be the Lying Wind.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in the Valley? Yes, be sure to try the napcot fruit, good fresh or dried. Several of the women make excellent breads, plus you’ll want some leaky root for dessert. Nutritious chakia roots are abundant in the Underground, but they don’t have much flavor.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in the Valley? Weapons have not been needed much yet, though a time is coming when they will be. The Valley Law maintains order by carrying swords, though they have rarely been needed (yet).
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in Victory Valley? Horses, wagons, and carriages.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Victory Valley that we don’t see on Earth? Teka bushes provide valley dwellers with dinner-plate sized leaves for paper, and they grow prolifically both above and below ground. One can write on a Teka leaf with a piece of charcoal, erase it and reuse it several times. When it grows limp, it makes a sturdy cleaning cloth, never wearing out completely.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in the Valley? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used. All of the adults in Victory Valley have an unusual ability to live both in the real world and in their hearts, at the same time. A child reaches this ability after he or she passes through the Understanding, which might be a good or bad experience. Whenever an adult hears true Music, his or her heart takes off to breathtaking places, and at that moment, amazing things might happen in the physical world as well as in the heart.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in the Valley? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples. Light rocks come in various sizes and qualities, but any light rock will glow after being charged in the sun. One can carry a small one to light a pathway. Larger, clearer ones light a house or entire area. Warming rocks are used both to heat and to cool, depending on how they’ve been temperature-charged. Sound rocks can record music. Many songs were recorded back in Gwenla’s time on these rocks and put into boxes. When someone opens the box, the song plays back. The music cells and Listening Hall have plenty of music boxes for the people to listen to while studying the sacred books.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Victory Valley? Please describe what it involves. Music is a major part of a valley dweller’s life in worship of the One, and the leaders expect the people to attend the Listening Hall every week to hear teaching from the sacred books and listen to songs from the music boxes. Listening to the Music or the Voice outside of this format is considered wayward, even though the books themselves talk about this phenomenon. The kind of music people hear in the valley is a matter of great importance and plays a key part in the outcome of the story.
What is the political or government structure in the Valley? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she? Normally there are five male leaders in charge of the community and the religion, although when Gwenla was alive, her word was dominant. If a leader gains distinction or seniority, he might be included as one of the three high leaders.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit the Valley? When you greet someone, be sure to ask, “Where are you?” rather than, “How are you?” Since you can’t see into someone’s heart, the person could be falling off a cliff or in the middle of a fire and you wouldn’t know it, other than by studying their emotional state or asking them.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book? What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book? In my own life, as in many others, there is often a question of how much we should be controlled by government or religious leaders. This theme is represented in the book.
Author Autobiography: Laurie has been writing for over forty-five years, starting when she was fourteen years old on her first inspirational mystery/romance novel. Whether it’s non-fiction or a novel, Laurie’s goal is to encourage people with personal issues to build character in the midst of their trials.Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book? On Amazon: Secrets of Gwenla e-book Secrets of Gwenla paperback
Where can readers connect with you online? Secrets of Gwenla Facebook Page Laurie Penner, Author/Editor Page Laurie Penner Website
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Victory Valley. 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 fantasy world of Sanalbereth, in Realm Explorers Part LXI!-Annie Douglass Lima
August 15, 2015
Dark Horse: a Science Fiction Novel with a Giveaway!
On Tour with Prism Book Tours.Welcome to the Book Blitz for
Dark Horse
By Michelle Diener
Stepping into the Unknown
Intro to Dark Horse
I'm a writer, but I've also always been a reader. I've read voraciously my whole life in almost every genre. I've always written, even as a child, and when I finally started to write seriously, with the intent of publication, it was honestly a struggle to decide what kind of stories to write. I had so many ideas.
I wrote fantasy, I wrote a time travel, and I wrote historical fiction. The book that got me my agent and a publishing contract with Simon & Schuster's Gallery Books was a historical, and given how much I love history and reading historicals, that was a very happy place for me.
But part of my love of story has always been fairy tales, myth and legend. The original blueprints for all stories. There is something so fundamental and archetypal about fairy tales, and I found myself writing fantasies based on fairy tales between my historicals, which helped to keep me fresh in both genres.
And then, I found the stories that were coming to me, and speaking to me the most, were science fiction story ideas.
I have always loved Star Wars and Star Trek. I loved Battlestar Gallactica (both the old and the new) and movies like Serenity and the new Star Trek movies. I was very selective with the science fiction I read, but I loved Iain M. Banks and Linnea Sinclair.
I got the idea for Dark Horse while I was writing a new historical, and it came to me so strongly, I decided to write a few chapters of it, and then put it aside.
That never happened.
I found I couldn't put it aside, but at the same time, it wasn't an easy process. This wasn't a book that wrote itself. (I don't think I've ever experienced that phenomenon, sometimes referred to by other writers, although I wait patiently with hope in my heart for the day I do!) I wrote, and re-wrote. I second guessed myself. I tore at my hair.
The problem was I had such a clear idea of what I wanted to come across, and I refused to compromise on making that happen.
When it was done, I was happy that I had stayed true to my original idea of the book, but I assumed, because science fiction is a world away from historical fiction, that Dark Horse would find a happy place among readers but not be any kind of record breaker. That I'd be very lucky if a few of my historical readers gave it a try, although I had some hopes my fantasy readers would be more willing to take a chance on it.
I told myself I was stepping into a new genre and that I just shouldn't expect that much.
I'm really happy to have been so wrong :).
The reception Dark Horse has gotten has really been overwhelming. It is already my most successful book and certainly the best received by readers. I am so thrilled they love the world I created in Dark Horse as much as I do. And I'm happy to say that I am writing another book set in that world right now.
Stepping into the unknown can be scary, but it can be exhilarating, too.
— Michelle Diener
Dark Horse
by Michelle Diener
Adult Sci-Fi
Paperback & ebook, 381 Pages
June 15th 2015
Some secrets carry the weight of the world.
Rose McKenzie may be far from Earth with no way back, but she's made a powerful ally--a fellow prisoner with whom she's formed a strong bond. Sazo's an artificial intelligence. He's saved her from captivity and torture, but he's also put her in the middle of a conflict, leaving Rose with her loyalties divided.
Captain Dav Jallan doesn't know why he and his crew have stumbled across an almost legendary Class 5 battleship, but he's not going to complain. The only problem is, all its crew are dead, all except for one strange, new alien being.
She calls herself Rose. She seems small and harmless, but less and less about her story is adding up, and Dav has a bad feeling his crew, and maybe even the four planets, are in jeopardy. The Class 5's owners, the Tecran, look set to start a war to get it back and Dav suspects Rose isn't the only alien being who survived what happened on the Class 5. And whatever else is out there is playing its own games.
In this race for the truth, he's going to have to go against his leaders and trust the dark horse.
Amazon
Michelle Diener writes historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction. Having worked in publishing and IT, she’s now very happy crafting new worlds and interesting characters and wondering which part of the world she can travel to next.
Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.
When she’s not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her blogging at Magical Musings. or online at Twitter, at Google+ and Facebook.
Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter
Blitz Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card (open internationally)
2 print copies of Dark Horse (US only)
Ends August 18th
a Rafflecopter giveaway
August 10, 2015
Realm Explorers Part LIX: Visit The Underworld with H. A. Titus
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:H. A. Titus
Title of book and/or series:Forged Steel, Book 1 of the Crucible Series
Brief summary of the story:Downtown. Coffee shop. 2 AM. One minute, Josh is firing off sarcastic remarks at his best friend Marc – the next, they’re running from shape-shifters. Apparently, even best friends don’t share all their secrets. Now Josh is in danger. He can see the monsters among the humans. When Marc is kidnapped, Josh finds himself pulled into the schemes of the fae courts, and throws in his lot with Marc’s allies: the lovely Larae, a human named David, and the fighter, Eliaster. But what began as a rescue mission becomes something much more involved… And all Josh wants to do is get out before it’s too late.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:Much of the story takes place in our world, as it is urban fantasy. However, the fae have in many locations established underground cities collectively known as the Underworld. An Underworld city is usually established underneath an existing human city, in a cavern hidden by fae glamour to human eyes and instruments. There are hidden Overworld entrances in various locations--in Forged Steel, those locations would be a breakwall on Lake Michigan (for the Chicago Underworld), and the lowest level of a parking garage (in Springfield, Missouri). Each Underworld city is comprised of residential areas ringing a central business area known as the Market. At the outskirts of the cavern, there are usually several mansions or nicer homes where the elite rich fae live.
If we were to visit The Underworld as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?The Market would be a must-see. Weapons shops with swords and daggers, booths where you can get traditional Celtic food, weird little shops that are a mix of restaurant, bar, and personal goods store, fae glamour potions--it's all there. It's kind of a mix of a human carnival and a medieval festival.
What dangers should we avoid in The Underworld?Don't go down any streets that look deserted, or where there are only a few people. Stick to crowds and don't wander off. Also, if you see any fae with any sort of raven tattoo, run. They're most likely a member of the Lucht Leanuna, who want to bring their evil king Fear Doricht into our world, and they do not like humans in the least.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in The Underworld?Irish Boxties are griddle cakes made of ptotatoes, milk, flour, and seasonings. Cranachan is an oatmeal pudding with raspberries and cream--it's traditionally washed down with really strong whiskey, but there are a few places that also serve it with homemade cream soda. Another popular dessert are sandbakkels, which are Norwegian cookies with lots of butter and sugar.Fae are also, strangely, really fond of hot curry. You can find it everywhere, with any sort of meat you want. Basically, don't expect to find any diet food. Fae really don't understand that human obsession.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in The Underworld?Swords are preferred, though most fae carry a gun or two as backup. A popular type of sword is called a glamour sword, which is any kind of sword infused with fae glamour to keep humans from noticing the weapons quite as much. Since fae have short tempers and are volatile, a lot of them also know at least some hand to hand combat, and a lot of the fae warriors are basically glorified street brawlers.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to The Underworld?As it's underground, there aren't a ton of vehicles in the Underworld. Mostly mopeds and dirtbikes/motorcycles. A few fae who do a lot of things aboveground have regular vehicles, and you'll see a lot of the richer fae with muscle cars, supercars, and flashy, high end vehicles. Fae like to show off.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in The Underworld that we don’t see on Earth?There are all sorts of sidhé (which is pronounced shee) other than fae. Trolls are common, as well as goblins and cat-sidhé (goblins with mangy fur, claws, and pointed ears). Other monsters include the bean sidhé (what Americans know as the banshee), the sluagh, (pronounced sloo-ah, rumored to suck out people's souls), the faoladh (benevolent werewolves who are known as protectors, especially of the elderly and of children), and the droch fhola (pronounced drok-o-la [yes, as in Dracula], which is theorized to be the actual basis for the Irish Bram Stoker's novel, rather than the legends of Vlad the Impaler.) That's a sampling. There are many creepy, deadly monsters in the lives of the fae, though thankfully they seem to be pretty scarce in modern day.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in The Underworld? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.Fae, and most other types of sidhé, have a natural "magic" called glamour. They use it to alter their appearance, most often to appear human, though they can also use it to appear younger, older, or disappear altogether. Some glamour also gives fae other abilities, though this is rare. All fae posses glamour, as well as very few half-fae.Another type of magic, blood magic, is employed by Fear Doirich's followers. This is regarded solely as evil and unnatural, as the practitioners use it to harm others, and occasionally, bind demons and monsters.Some fae follow Druidic practices, though they're pretty secretive about their beliefs and rituals.Many fae believe in God, whom they call "the Almighty", and they certainly believe in angels and demons, though stories of supernatural involvement come from long ago and most believe they've been embellished in the telling.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in The Underworld? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.Fae generally aren't very good with technology, so that tends to be pretty limited. Some fae have basic cell phones and computers, but other than that, they tend to steer clear of it.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in The Underworld.Well, there's always hand-to-hand combat events, and sword matches. Some fae treat these with the same enthusiasm that wrestling meets in the Overworld. Fae also enjoy darts, rounders (similar to cricket), and soccer.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in The Underworld as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?The four mid-season holidays are important to fae, as it was then that their original world Tir Ni-all was said to be the most easily accessed by those on earth. Rather than Halloween, fae celebrate All Souls Day on November 2, when they remember and honor their ancestors, especially those who fell in battle. They also celebrate Yule (Christmas).
Is there a particular religion practiced in the Underworld? Please describe what it involves.Typically, religious fae fall under three categories--Christian, Druidic, and the Lucht, who follow Doiricht as if he is a god.
What is the political or government structure in The Underworld? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?Fae politics are pretty fragmented. Fae are typically split into two courts, Seelie and Unseelie, and each Underworld city has a Highlord from each court. Underneath him, there might be various counselors and lords who have separate tasks (such as acting as a liaison between the Highlord and the local faoladh pack), but it depends on the size of the city.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit The Underworld?Fae are extremely respectful of their dead and cremate the remains rather than allowing them to rot in the earth. They also tend to look down on humans, especially humans who do not adapt to the culture.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?I grew up in Springfield, Missouri, where the first book partially takes place. Eventually, in The Crucible series, the characters move up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where I currently live. I have plans to use a lot of places up here, because it's such a unique area that has a lot of potential for fae wars and intrigue…not to mention a few abandoned open-pit copper ore mines that will make perfect dumping grounds for bodies. *evil grin*
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?I didn't deliberately set out to write about anything controversial. I just wanted to tell a good story. But some folks have found it controversial with how my characters never really rise above their 'flawed hero' status. At the end of Forged Steel, I leave the two MCs with some unresolved issues that I plan on bringing up in the rest of the series. Certainly things will get better for them, a lot better in some certain cases, but I don't ever really plan on them becoming "perfect" or fully putting their problems to rest, because I don't see that as something that's realistic. In my own personal life, I may be able to put some of my issues to rest for a time, but inevitably, they will rear their ugly heads again, and I think that's normal, because we're flawed human beings.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.It's available here on Amazon,On Barnes and Noble,And on Kobo! J
Where can readers connect with you online?
My wesbite is hatitus.com, and I'm active on Instagram and Twitter, with occasional forays into Facebook.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to The Underworld. 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 enclosed fortress of Victory Valley, in Realm Explorers Part LX!-Annie Douglass Lima
Author’s name:H. A. Titus
Title of book and/or series:Forged Steel, Book 1 of the Crucible Series
Brief summary of the story:Downtown. Coffee shop. 2 AM. One minute, Josh is firing off sarcastic remarks at his best friend Marc – the next, they’re running from shape-shifters. Apparently, even best friends don’t share all their secrets. Now Josh is in danger. He can see the monsters among the humans. When Marc is kidnapped, Josh finds himself pulled into the schemes of the fae courts, and throws in his lot with Marc’s allies: the lovely Larae, a human named David, and the fighter, Eliaster. But what began as a rescue mission becomes something much more involved… And all Josh wants to do is get out before it’s too late.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:Much of the story takes place in our world, as it is urban fantasy. However, the fae have in many locations established underground cities collectively known as the Underworld. An Underworld city is usually established underneath an existing human city, in a cavern hidden by fae glamour to human eyes and instruments. There are hidden Overworld entrances in various locations--in Forged Steel, those locations would be a breakwall on Lake Michigan (for the Chicago Underworld), and the lowest level of a parking garage (in Springfield, Missouri). Each Underworld city is comprised of residential areas ringing a central business area known as the Market. At the outskirts of the cavern, there are usually several mansions or nicer homes where the elite rich fae live.
If we were to visit The Underworld as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?The Market would be a must-see. Weapons shops with swords and daggers, booths where you can get traditional Celtic food, weird little shops that are a mix of restaurant, bar, and personal goods store, fae glamour potions--it's all there. It's kind of a mix of a human carnival and a medieval festival.
What dangers should we avoid in The Underworld?Don't go down any streets that look deserted, or where there are only a few people. Stick to crowds and don't wander off. Also, if you see any fae with any sort of raven tattoo, run. They're most likely a member of the Lucht Leanuna, who want to bring their evil king Fear Doricht into our world, and they do not like humans in the least.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in The Underworld?Irish Boxties are griddle cakes made of ptotatoes, milk, flour, and seasonings. Cranachan is an oatmeal pudding with raspberries and cream--it's traditionally washed down with really strong whiskey, but there are a few places that also serve it with homemade cream soda. Another popular dessert are sandbakkels, which are Norwegian cookies with lots of butter and sugar.Fae are also, strangely, really fond of hot curry. You can find it everywhere, with any sort of meat you want. Basically, don't expect to find any diet food. Fae really don't understand that human obsession.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in The Underworld?Swords are preferred, though most fae carry a gun or two as backup. A popular type of sword is called a glamour sword, which is any kind of sword infused with fae glamour to keep humans from noticing the weapons quite as much. Since fae have short tempers and are volatile, a lot of them also know at least some hand to hand combat, and a lot of the fae warriors are basically glorified street brawlers.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to The Underworld?As it's underground, there aren't a ton of vehicles in the Underworld. Mostly mopeds and dirtbikes/motorcycles. A few fae who do a lot of things aboveground have regular vehicles, and you'll see a lot of the richer fae with muscle cars, supercars, and flashy, high end vehicles. Fae like to show off.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in The Underworld that we don’t see on Earth?There are all sorts of sidhé (which is pronounced shee) other than fae. Trolls are common, as well as goblins and cat-sidhé (goblins with mangy fur, claws, and pointed ears). Other monsters include the bean sidhé (what Americans know as the banshee), the sluagh, (pronounced sloo-ah, rumored to suck out people's souls), the faoladh (benevolent werewolves who are known as protectors, especially of the elderly and of children), and the droch fhola (pronounced drok-o-la [yes, as in Dracula], which is theorized to be the actual basis for the Irish Bram Stoker's novel, rather than the legends of Vlad the Impaler.) That's a sampling. There are many creepy, deadly monsters in the lives of the fae, though thankfully they seem to be pretty scarce in modern day.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in The Underworld? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.Fae, and most other types of sidhé, have a natural "magic" called glamour. They use it to alter their appearance, most often to appear human, though they can also use it to appear younger, older, or disappear altogether. Some glamour also gives fae other abilities, though this is rare. All fae posses glamour, as well as very few half-fae.Another type of magic, blood magic, is employed by Fear Doirich's followers. This is regarded solely as evil and unnatural, as the practitioners use it to harm others, and occasionally, bind demons and monsters.Some fae follow Druidic practices, though they're pretty secretive about their beliefs and rituals.Many fae believe in God, whom they call "the Almighty", and they certainly believe in angels and demons, though stories of supernatural involvement come from long ago and most believe they've been embellished in the telling.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in The Underworld? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.Fae generally aren't very good with technology, so that tends to be pretty limited. Some fae have basic cell phones and computers, but other than that, they tend to steer clear of it.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in The Underworld.Well, there's always hand-to-hand combat events, and sword matches. Some fae treat these with the same enthusiasm that wrestling meets in the Overworld. Fae also enjoy darts, rounders (similar to cricket), and soccer.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in The Underworld as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?The four mid-season holidays are important to fae, as it was then that their original world Tir Ni-all was said to be the most easily accessed by those on earth. Rather than Halloween, fae celebrate All Souls Day on November 2, when they remember and honor their ancestors, especially those who fell in battle. They also celebrate Yule (Christmas).
Is there a particular religion practiced in the Underworld? Please describe what it involves.Typically, religious fae fall under three categories--Christian, Druidic, and the Lucht, who follow Doiricht as if he is a god.
What is the political or government structure in The Underworld? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?Fae politics are pretty fragmented. Fae are typically split into two courts, Seelie and Unseelie, and each Underworld city has a Highlord from each court. Underneath him, there might be various counselors and lords who have separate tasks (such as acting as a liaison between the Highlord and the local faoladh pack), but it depends on the size of the city.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit The Underworld?Fae are extremely respectful of their dead and cremate the remains rather than allowing them to rot in the earth. They also tend to look down on humans, especially humans who do not adapt to the culture.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?I grew up in Springfield, Missouri, where the first book partially takes place. Eventually, in The Crucible series, the characters move up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where I currently live. I have plans to use a lot of places up here, because it's such a unique area that has a lot of potential for fae wars and intrigue…not to mention a few abandoned open-pit copper ore mines that will make perfect dumping grounds for bodies. *evil grin* What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?I didn't deliberately set out to write about anything controversial. I just wanted to tell a good story. But some folks have found it controversial with how my characters never really rise above their 'flawed hero' status. At the end of Forged Steel, I leave the two MCs with some unresolved issues that I plan on bringing up in the rest of the series. Certainly things will get better for them, a lot better in some certain cases, but I don't ever really plan on them becoming "perfect" or fully putting their problems to rest, because I don't see that as something that's realistic. In my own personal life, I may be able to put some of my issues to rest for a time, but inevitably, they will rear their ugly heads again, and I think that's normal, because we're flawed human beings.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.It's available here on Amazon,On Barnes and Noble,And on Kobo! J
Where can readers connect with you online?
My wesbite is hatitus.com, and I'm active on Instagram and Twitter, with occasional forays into Facebook.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to The Underworld. 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 enclosed fortress of Victory Valley, in Realm Explorers Part LX!-Annie Douglass Lima
August 2, 2015
Realm Explorers Part LVIII: Visit Sylpha with RJ Conte
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. This one is available for FREE! There's also a giveaway at the bottom to win a fun little prize!
Author’s name:RJ Conte
Title of book and/or series:Lucent Sylph: A Short Story
Brief summary of the story:Lucas Thissel has something he fears: an alien species of palm-sized glass fairies called Lucent Sylphs. They came through a portal from a metaphysical dimension, and they indenture themselves as slaves to human beings. Too much neglect or unkindness, and they will cloud over and disintegrate. Too much love and their hearts are overcome and burst.
And one has attached herself to Lucas.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:Unlike our universe, which is physical and scientifically measured by our five senses – the dimension of Sylpha is completely metaphysical, meaning that everything is boiled down into single energy/emotion forces. Sylpha has a “sun” type of inner core blasting an umbrella of love and positive emotion. Lucent Sylphs don’t have bodies in Sylpha. They are love/energy forces. However, the umbrella of their “sun’s” core only extends so far. Outside of its reach, Lucent Sylphs die.
How are Lucent Sylphs born?Lucent Sylphs are born from moments of extreme joy. They are asexual and genderless creatures, taking on a gentle female appearance in our world. When they are extremely overwhelmed by moments and feelings of love and happiness, they spontaneously produce an infant version of themselves which are encased in self-sustaining energy cocoons. Lucent Sylphs live for just under one of our human years in these cocoons, maturing. When they are born, they feed off of the “sun’s” positive energy force and go on existing in Sylpha. They have homes and living spaces of sorts, which would be indiscernible to a human’s five senses.
Lucent Sylphs cannot give love-energy to each other on Sylpha or on earth. On Sylpha, they get it from their “umbrella-sun.” On earth, they can only get it from humans, who are conduits of emotion. They can feel attachment to others – and they feel strongly – but it translates into nothing that they can ingest. Therefore, on earth, Lucent Sylphs don’t seek out each other, because they would starve and die. They are only equipped to take in affection, not give it out – unless it is in birthing other Lucent Sylphs, something that could never happen on earth due to the inability to sustain great joy in a stable, positive environment.
How do they die on Sylpha?When a Lucent Sylph dies of old age, and they are inside of the Love-Sun bubble’s umbrella, they are sucked back into the sun’s life force, and continue the circle of life. They live much longer than we do.
What made them seek contact with earth?Too many years of peace and success on Sylpha has led to an overpopulation problem. Not only are too many Lucent Sylphs being born, but too few are dying, which causes the Love-Sun to shrink. The Lucent Sylphs end up crowded and unable to bear their numbers, which leads to poverty and positive-emotion-starvation. After hundreds of years, this will lead to unrest and unhappiness, which will reset the problem of overpopulation and help them build, but, in the meantime, it’s hard to watch your own kind get pushed out into the negative atmosphere and disintegrate, as well as poverty and starvation slowly killing off your family members you birthed back when you were happy.
Since this is not a three-dimensional world, things we’d find physically impossible, like traveling to the nearest star, is easy for them. Channeling a sufficient amount of positive energy, they opened up a portal to a parallel point in a physical realm (earth) where they can barter for an element that can be turned into more Love for their sun’s umbrella: our gold. The element Au, when passing through a dimension-sorting, metaphysical portal, turns into positive energy on their planet.
Therefore, when new Lucent Sylphs are born, many are marked for “death on earth” right away and sent in their cocoons – with a certain emotional wavelength (that turns into a pod) included to send the gold back – to earth.
Here on earth, we are a people of sinful, negative, selfish emotions. Love is small, corrupted, and we are stingy with it. Our physical bodies are weak compared to love-energy forces. We have no driving “sun of love” to keep emotions stable. Living on our planet, for them, is like living with too little oxygen that occasionally just turns off for the fun of it.
Why does a Lucent Sylph look like a glass fairy on earth?The translation of one alien creature into another is incomplete. Due to the suffocating lack of love on earth, a Lucent Sylph – a powerful, strong, long-living creature on her planet – ends up translating into a fragile, tiny, see-through being on earth. There just isn’t enough positive emotion present on earth, as the conditions aren’t perfect, to give her size, flesh, or many internal organs. She has a “heart” and veins that hunger after love and search out positive energy sources, but not much else of them translates well into a 3D physical universe.
My book cover was designed by me, and I chose the images, leaving it to a graphic designer to put the images together. However, due to not being able to communicate the circulatory system well, I went back in and drew all of her veins in by hand on the cover. :-P
I’ve also included a sketch I drew myself of Nissa – the main Lucent Sylph in the story. It’s light, since I only did it in pencil, but I hope to someday paint it in watercolor.
Lastly, here’s an anime picture I inverted. It is also a good, glassy representation of what Nissa might look like. :-)
What language do they speak on Sylpha?“Lucent” means “transparent,” and “sylph” means “fairy.” Humans named them. Even “Sylpha,” the land, was named by a human. There are no such thing as names or language on Sylpha. People recognize and communicate with each other on specialized emotional wavelengths. Languages on earth are easy for Lucent Sylphs to translate and mimic, since they are tangible and auditory. They don’t require controlled emotion and are simplistic in nature compared to how Lucent Sylphs communicate on Sylpha, which requires all of their heart and soul. A Lucent Sylph can speak in any language required of it on earth.
What dangers do Lucent Sylphs encounter on earth?Our atmosphere, weather, heat, cold, etc. doesn’t harm them in the slightest. You could take a jackhammer to a Lucent Sylph and you wouldn’t crack their thin, fragile-looking bodies in the slightest. Drop them in boiling water, throw them off a cliff, pitch them into outer space, etc. It wouldn’t harm them. They are not made of physical elements, even though you can touch and feel them. They don’t need our air, water, and sunlight to stay alive. They have wings because gravity works so much less on them, and, on Sylpha, they, more or less, “swim” through their atmosphere like a sound or light wave. The flying or swimming translates into wings on earth.
However, ignore them or feel hatred for them in your heart? They’re dead in a flash. Obsess over them and adore them? They explode. They’re vulnerable in a very unique way.
Why bother paying the gold? Why not just cheat them and enslave them fully?Dishonesty, deceit, and cheating a Lucent Sylph fails every time. Even if you don’t say it out loud, your selfish negative emotions will kill them. The first Americans that tried to get away without paying their dues back to Sylpha for their Lucent Sylph pet, saw their fairies disintegrate in seconds. They come over willingly to keep the overpopulation problem lower and to beg for gold to be sent back and be converted into love-like energy. They promise servitude in exchange. They expect to be treated fairly. No Lucent Sylph is going to leave the portal area without making sure the gold goes through. There’s no way you can cheat them. You emanate a non-physical emotion that can’t be measured by science. But it is food, water, and oxygen to a Lucent Sylph. They will see through you in an instant and die on you. Do what they say if you want to enjoy their unique company.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Sylpha? Lucent Sylphs worship God, our Father, and the Maker of their world – the giver of Love. He is the creator of their love-sun, that set their planet in emotion. Unlike human beings, they need no words to be spoken or written down to teach them about God. Instead He speaks straight to their hearts about His tangible love, righteous holiness, and power. J
What is the political or government structure in Sylpha? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?Elders are respected, on the whole, and everything is peaceful, devoid of negativity and ill-will, due to living under a love-umbrella, and being creatures of love. No one is elevated above anyone else. Decisions are made, typically unanimously, as a group. They aren’t quite a Borg group out of Star Trek or anything – they have their own will – but it is very much muted compared to humans’ individualistic thoughts and ideas. Lucent Sylphs are focused on the greater good, organization, and peace. However, they are not angered by humanity and its blatant negativity and sinfulness. Instead, they are compassionate, and consider themselves mere observers and servants. They are incredibly humble creatures, who would do whatever their master told them to do.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?I have gone through some very, very difficult circumstances this year. I have lost people in every way imaginable: I moved away from where I had been living for a decade, I lost people spiritually and emotionally, and I lost a little sister to death. The balance of loving others and being willing to be hurt was weighing very heavily on my mind when I wrote this story. I wrote it in 24 hours, in a fit of emotion, and then took the next four months to edit it.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?Alcoholism, neglective parents, and the brevity of life.
Author Autobiography:RJ Conte, formerly Rachael Lynn Thomas, has kissed only one boy in her entire life. And she married him, inspiring her to write about sweet or powerful love stories ever since.
RJ Conte writes realistic, issue-driven fiction that explores human nature and the depths of the soul, while pointing readers to their Creator. She has four other novels and novellas (all featuring a unique love story) here on Amazon.com
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.All for free!iTunesBarnes and NobleSmashwordsKobo
I want to make Lucent Sylph available everywhere for free, but I am currently trying to convince Amazon.com to do so for me! If you’d like to support me and pay the 99 cents, it’s available on Amazon.com in ebook form here.
And, in paperback, on Lulu.com
Where can readers connect with you online? I write a blog on parenting, publishing, painting, and perorating at http://blonderj.wordpress.com/I also have an author Facebook account and am on Twitter.
I am currently running a giveaway for only today. Win your own glass fairy (pictured at left)! Simply share a link to Lucent Sylph on your blog, wall, or any social media TODAY, and comment on this post or my blog telling me you did so. Winners will be announced tomorrow, the 4th. :-)
If you’d like to test your heart, and see if you would be able to keep a Lucent Sylph alive, there’s a fun quiz on Playbuzz that will tell you your result! :-)
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Sylpha. 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 Underworld, in Realm Explorers Part LIX!-Annie Douglass Lima
Author’s name:RJ ConteTitle of book and/or series:Lucent Sylph: A Short Story
Brief summary of the story:Lucas Thissel has something he fears: an alien species of palm-sized glass fairies called Lucent Sylphs. They came through a portal from a metaphysical dimension, and they indenture themselves as slaves to human beings. Too much neglect or unkindness, and they will cloud over and disintegrate. Too much love and their hearts are overcome and burst.
And one has attached herself to Lucas.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:Unlike our universe, which is physical and scientifically measured by our five senses – the dimension of Sylpha is completely metaphysical, meaning that everything is boiled down into single energy/emotion forces. Sylpha has a “sun” type of inner core blasting an umbrella of love and positive emotion. Lucent Sylphs don’t have bodies in Sylpha. They are love/energy forces. However, the umbrella of their “sun’s” core only extends so far. Outside of its reach, Lucent Sylphs die.
How are Lucent Sylphs born?Lucent Sylphs are born from moments of extreme joy. They are asexual and genderless creatures, taking on a gentle female appearance in our world. When they are extremely overwhelmed by moments and feelings of love and happiness, they spontaneously produce an infant version of themselves which are encased in self-sustaining energy cocoons. Lucent Sylphs live for just under one of our human years in these cocoons, maturing. When they are born, they feed off of the “sun’s” positive energy force and go on existing in Sylpha. They have homes and living spaces of sorts, which would be indiscernible to a human’s five senses.
Lucent Sylphs cannot give love-energy to each other on Sylpha or on earth. On Sylpha, they get it from their “umbrella-sun.” On earth, they can only get it from humans, who are conduits of emotion. They can feel attachment to others – and they feel strongly – but it translates into nothing that they can ingest. Therefore, on earth, Lucent Sylphs don’t seek out each other, because they would starve and die. They are only equipped to take in affection, not give it out – unless it is in birthing other Lucent Sylphs, something that could never happen on earth due to the inability to sustain great joy in a stable, positive environment.
How do they die on Sylpha?When a Lucent Sylph dies of old age, and they are inside of the Love-Sun bubble’s umbrella, they are sucked back into the sun’s life force, and continue the circle of life. They live much longer than we do.
What made them seek contact with earth?Too many years of peace and success on Sylpha has led to an overpopulation problem. Not only are too many Lucent Sylphs being born, but too few are dying, which causes the Love-Sun to shrink. The Lucent Sylphs end up crowded and unable to bear their numbers, which leads to poverty and positive-emotion-starvation. After hundreds of years, this will lead to unrest and unhappiness, which will reset the problem of overpopulation and help them build, but, in the meantime, it’s hard to watch your own kind get pushed out into the negative atmosphere and disintegrate, as well as poverty and starvation slowly killing off your family members you birthed back when you were happy.
Since this is not a three-dimensional world, things we’d find physically impossible, like traveling to the nearest star, is easy for them. Channeling a sufficient amount of positive energy, they opened up a portal to a parallel point in a physical realm (earth) where they can barter for an element that can be turned into more Love for their sun’s umbrella: our gold. The element Au, when passing through a dimension-sorting, metaphysical portal, turns into positive energy on their planet.
Therefore, when new Lucent Sylphs are born, many are marked for “death on earth” right away and sent in their cocoons – with a certain emotional wavelength (that turns into a pod) included to send the gold back – to earth.
Here on earth, we are a people of sinful, negative, selfish emotions. Love is small, corrupted, and we are stingy with it. Our physical bodies are weak compared to love-energy forces. We have no driving “sun of love” to keep emotions stable. Living on our planet, for them, is like living with too little oxygen that occasionally just turns off for the fun of it.
Why does a Lucent Sylph look like a glass fairy on earth?The translation of one alien creature into another is incomplete. Due to the suffocating lack of love on earth, a Lucent Sylph – a powerful, strong, long-living creature on her planet – ends up translating into a fragile, tiny, see-through being on earth. There just isn’t enough positive emotion present on earth, as the conditions aren’t perfect, to give her size, flesh, or many internal organs. She has a “heart” and veins that hunger after love and search out positive energy sources, but not much else of them translates well into a 3D physical universe. My book cover was designed by me, and I chose the images, leaving it to a graphic designer to put the images together. However, due to not being able to communicate the circulatory system well, I went back in and drew all of her veins in by hand on the cover. :-P
I’ve also included a sketch I drew myself of Nissa – the main Lucent Sylph in the story. It’s light, since I only did it in pencil, but I hope to someday paint it in watercolor.
Lastly, here’s an anime picture I inverted. It is also a good, glassy representation of what Nissa might look like. :-)What language do they speak on Sylpha?“Lucent” means “transparent,” and “sylph” means “fairy.” Humans named them. Even “Sylpha,” the land, was named by a human. There are no such thing as names or language on Sylpha. People recognize and communicate with each other on specialized emotional wavelengths. Languages on earth are easy for Lucent Sylphs to translate and mimic, since they are tangible and auditory. They don’t require controlled emotion and are simplistic in nature compared to how Lucent Sylphs communicate on Sylpha, which requires all of their heart and soul. A Lucent Sylph can speak in any language required of it on earth.
What dangers do Lucent Sylphs encounter on earth?Our atmosphere, weather, heat, cold, etc. doesn’t harm them in the slightest. You could take a jackhammer to a Lucent Sylph and you wouldn’t crack their thin, fragile-looking bodies in the slightest. Drop them in boiling water, throw them off a cliff, pitch them into outer space, etc. It wouldn’t harm them. They are not made of physical elements, even though you can touch and feel them. They don’t need our air, water, and sunlight to stay alive. They have wings because gravity works so much less on them, and, on Sylpha, they, more or less, “swim” through their atmosphere like a sound or light wave. The flying or swimming translates into wings on earth.
However, ignore them or feel hatred for them in your heart? They’re dead in a flash. Obsess over them and adore them? They explode. They’re vulnerable in a very unique way.
Why bother paying the gold? Why not just cheat them and enslave them fully?Dishonesty, deceit, and cheating a Lucent Sylph fails every time. Even if you don’t say it out loud, your selfish negative emotions will kill them. The first Americans that tried to get away without paying their dues back to Sylpha for their Lucent Sylph pet, saw their fairies disintegrate in seconds. They come over willingly to keep the overpopulation problem lower and to beg for gold to be sent back and be converted into love-like energy. They promise servitude in exchange. They expect to be treated fairly. No Lucent Sylph is going to leave the portal area without making sure the gold goes through. There’s no way you can cheat them. You emanate a non-physical emotion that can’t be measured by science. But it is food, water, and oxygen to a Lucent Sylph. They will see through you in an instant and die on you. Do what they say if you want to enjoy their unique company.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Sylpha? Lucent Sylphs worship God, our Father, and the Maker of their world – the giver of Love. He is the creator of their love-sun, that set their planet in emotion. Unlike human beings, they need no words to be spoken or written down to teach them about God. Instead He speaks straight to their hearts about His tangible love, righteous holiness, and power. J
What is the political or government structure in Sylpha? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?Elders are respected, on the whole, and everything is peaceful, devoid of negativity and ill-will, due to living under a love-umbrella, and being creatures of love. No one is elevated above anyone else. Decisions are made, typically unanimously, as a group. They aren’t quite a Borg group out of Star Trek or anything – they have their own will – but it is very much muted compared to humans’ individualistic thoughts and ideas. Lucent Sylphs are focused on the greater good, organization, and peace. However, they are not angered by humanity and its blatant negativity and sinfulness. Instead, they are compassionate, and consider themselves mere observers and servants. They are incredibly humble creatures, who would do whatever their master told them to do.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?I have gone through some very, very difficult circumstances this year. I have lost people in every way imaginable: I moved away from where I had been living for a decade, I lost people spiritually and emotionally, and I lost a little sister to death. The balance of loving others and being willing to be hurt was weighing very heavily on my mind when I wrote this story. I wrote it in 24 hours, in a fit of emotion, and then took the next four months to edit it.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?Alcoholism, neglective parents, and the brevity of life.
Author Autobiography:RJ Conte, formerly Rachael Lynn Thomas, has kissed only one boy in her entire life. And she married him, inspiring her to write about sweet or powerful love stories ever since.RJ Conte writes realistic, issue-driven fiction that explores human nature and the depths of the soul, while pointing readers to their Creator. She has four other novels and novellas (all featuring a unique love story) here on Amazon.com
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.All for free!iTunesBarnes and NobleSmashwordsKobo
I want to make Lucent Sylph available everywhere for free, but I am currently trying to convince Amazon.com to do so for me! If you’d like to support me and pay the 99 cents, it’s available on Amazon.com in ebook form here.
And, in paperback, on Lulu.com
Where can readers connect with you online? I write a blog on parenting, publishing, painting, and perorating at http://blonderj.wordpress.com/I also have an author Facebook account and am on Twitter.
I am currently running a giveaway for only today. Win your own glass fairy (pictured at left)! Simply share a link to Lucent Sylph on your blog, wall, or any social media TODAY, and comment on this post or my blog telling me you did so. Winners will be announced tomorrow, the 4th. :-)
If you’d like to test your heart, and see if you would be able to keep a Lucent Sylph alive, there’s a fun quiz on Playbuzz that will tell you your result! :-)
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Sylpha. 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 Underworld, in Realm Explorers Part LIX!-Annie Douglass Lima
