Rachel M. Humphrey-D'aigle's Blog: DigitalSPF Book Blog, page 5

Thank you! Ray Bradbury

From my first CNN iReport:  http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-799780


Just 30 minutes before I learned of your death, I named you as a personal hero, as pertaining to writers that influenced my own writing career. It was a poll on facebook which was shortly followed by another friend posting, R.I.P. Ray Bradbury. My heart sank as I read it and I'm not ashamed to admit I shed a few tears. As an aspiring fantasy writer, I always hoped I might be lucky enough to meet you one day.
You influenced me, not only toward my own writing career, but to open my mind to a larger world. You see, my youth was stolen from me, from people very much like your characters in Fahrenheit 451. People who want to control your world, how you see it and how you live it. I spent my youth growing up in a religious cult, sheltered from many aspects of the real world. I felt as though I was living in the world created by Ray. My life was lived for me.
I picked up a copy of Fahrenheit 451 after falling in love with The Ray Bradbury Theater. I had no idea what I was getting myself into at the time, but realized upon finishing, that this book was not on my approved reading list! It was a life changing mishap! And although still stuck in my bubble-world for years after, it opened my eyes to a larger picture, allowing me to see beyond my daily existence.
I then went on, of course, to read anything Ray! Along with many other books just as eye opening, and mostly all under my bed sheets, with a flash light, before I went to sleep each night.
Now, thanks to authors like you, I write. And my first series is loosely based on the life I lived as a child. And though of work of fantasy, so much of it is also real. So many of the scenes pulled from truly tragic and terrifying experiences. And although many of my fans, young and old, love the fantasy side, it is nice to know as well, through messages sent to me, that they can see something of their own lives in the story, too. I hope that it makes young people question what they know as truth. That truth to one person doesn't make it an absolute. It is okay to question!
Though I am sad that you have passed, I am thankful to have read your work and encourage all readers that have not to pick up one of your titles and give it a read. It was a life-changer for me, and might well be for you as well.
Forever Grateful!
Most Sincerely, Author, Rachel Humphrey - D'aigle

Here's a few of my Ray Fav's:

RIP Ray Bradbury

Thank you Ray!

Just 30 minutes before I learned of your death, I named you as a personal hero of mine, as pertaining to writers that influenced my own writing career. So sad that you have passed, but thankful that I got to read your books! As a youngster I lived a sheltered life while growing up in a religious cult. Your book, Fahrenheit 451 changed my vision of the world by allowing me to see beyond my daily existence.

A vital turning point in my life! One that also began my own path as a fantasy writer.

Forever grateful!

Fated Saga Book Five Update!

Excited! Book five in the Fated Saga is nearly there! I finally have a completed draft that I am happy with!

Now, it goes into a couple rounds of editing, so I don't dare set any dates yet, but, sooooo much closer :)

While you're waiting, check out my new pinterest board, its slowly coming together as well :)

http://pinterest.com/livinginfantasy/...

Be my friend on Facebook

New: You can now be my friend on facebook! YAY! I have finally finished my facebook pages and profiles transitions and such .... they sure do not make it easy! :) 


http://www.facebook.com/rachelhumphreydaigle

Free eBooks for Holiday Weekend and Summer Reading!

Hi everyone! It is hard to believe summer is nearly here. And just in time for weekend reading, you can now read ALL of my published books, for FREE, via Free-eBooks. 


You must be a member, but its EASY & FREE to join! 
And FREE to read!


All I ask is this: 

If you read the free versions, please consider leaving a review, especially on AMAZON.com or Barnes and Noble.com, as I really need reviews posted (especially Book one on AMAZON!)


Plus, the reason I can post onto the Free-eBooks site, is because we get a percentage from the google ads that appear on our book pages! So click on an ad :) Just once will do :)

This will help me in 2 ways: Keep me in business and therefore, writing more often! As well as help keep the books available to read for free! 

Check it out, share it with all your friends and have a fantastic weekend!

http://www.free-ebooks.net/profile/705/rachel-daigle

New Funky Way to Read Online!

Check out this new widget ... you can read books one and two in the Fated Saga :) Just click on the cover and it loads a book with flipping pages and everything ... if the letters are too small, check out the lower left hand corner and enlarge to full screen :)

Waiting for book 5? Try out The Deamon Isle Witches

Hey everyone, while you're waiting for book 5, why not try out my other series, The Deamon Isle Witches. There are now three volumes available on Nook, PDF and on Amazon Kindle.

check out the website www.deamonislewitches.com 

Fated Saga, Book 5 Preview!

Hello! I am excited to offer you guys a short preview into book 5 in the Fated Saga! Title, still to be determined!Thanks for your patience, the rest of the book is coming along and hopefully will be completed soon. This one took a little longer to write than I expected because first, it will be longer than the previous books, plus second, I had to make some important decisions about one particular character, and what that characters fate would be. From the beginning of the series I had always planned this specific character's story to go one certain direction, and then, with the ending of the last book and the plotting of the rest of the series, I started to question that path... these things happen :)
And third, life gets busy, making time and stamina to write frustratingly impossible!  Please excuse any bobbles you might find, as this has not yet been to the editor!
Anyway, enjoy!
Rachel

Fated Saga, Book Five, Title yet to be settled on! By Rachel Humphrey – D'aigle


Kay Jendaya stepped down a flight of stairs and into her kitchen, where her husband, Milo, was sitting near an open window. The aroma of coffee from his mug was mixing with a twinge of maple wafting in from the trees outside. She set down a handful of laundry that still needed folding onto the counter. “I just found the oddest thing in Sebastien's room.” “What did you find?” Milo asked, setting down his cup. “I think its a letter. To us. I've been in his room a few times, I guess somehow I missed it.” Milo squished his face as if to say really? “There's only space for a bed and dresser...”“Yes, I know how small the rooms are in this house...” she noted. They were still living in a hollowed out tree in the northern Maine woods.“Did you read it?” Milo asked her. “No. Not yet,” she replied, handing it to him. Her hand shook a little, as if nervous to open it. It clearly worried her that the letter had suddenly appeared, weeks after Sebastien's last visit. “Why would he leave this?”Milo mumbled, while grabbing a knife, then slicing open the envelope. Once open, a maple leaf shook its way out, floating in the air, activating a message. Sebastien's voice spoke to them, sounding as though he were standing in the room. “Mom. Dad. I'm sorry to tell you like this, but its the only safe way. First... I love you both and hope that one day, you'll forgive me.” His voice paused for a moment as he seemed to be struggling to recite the rest of his message. But then he continued, his tone sure. “I'm really sorry. But I can't do it. I just don't agree... Not with Amelia. Not with you...” Sebastien's voice trailed off. Milo's heart broke with every word his son spoke, but he held the emotion in, so as not to panic his wife. “Is that it?” Kay asked evenly, as if her son could hear her. Milo glanced her direction, worried she was not understanding what Sebastien was telling them. She started folding her laundry, putting away a few towels in a drawer on the other side of the kitchen, turning her back on Milo. He was about to step toward her when she spun around, tears forming in her eyes. Sebastien's voice echoed through the room again. “I fully realize what this means, so I guess I won't be seeing you for awhile... I'm fine. Please don't worry about me, and please don't be mad...” The message ended, the leaf which had been floating in the air started to drop to the floor. Kay just stared blankly into nothing, her son's words still winding their way towards comprehension. Milo reached out and grasped the leaf, calmly walking over to the wood stove, opening a burner and throwing the leaf into the fire. He watched it burn and then walked over to Kay, laying his hand on her shoulder. His touch brought her back into reality. “He's our son,” she whispered, her eyes swimming in stunned tears. “Which is why I destroyed it.” “Someone will find out … And then Amelia will find out … and then we'll never ...”Milo put his hand gently over her mouth, not allowing to her speak the words he was also thinking and fearing. “We will see our son again,” he spoke in a strong whisper. “We go about our business. We act like we don't know...” He waited until she had nodded in agreement before dropping his hand. “Maybe he'll change his mind?” she said, her voice pleading for that moment to happen. “Maybe he will,” Milo agreed. “Until then, we do everything just as we always have. Our goals haven’t changed because of this...”“No. No, of course not. I still want magic returned... I don't want to live in hiding anymore... Sebastien will understand one day that we did this for him, so he could have a better life...” She swallowed hard, nervously handing him his coffee mug, at the same time, putting on a restrained smile. Kay grabbed the rest of her towels and shoved them into the drawer, then turned back to Milo. “I'll be helping out at the school today. You'd better drink up yourself. You wouldn't want to be late for work.” They just stared into each others eyes, wondering how long they could pretend that everything was normal, or, how much time they had until it was discovered that their son had defected …####
“Colin,” whispered Meghan Jacoby, while staring deep into the flames of the candle sitting in front of her. The candle was in the shape of her brother, but peering into the flames did not bring her to him. It did not give her the comfort she sought. Since his retreat weeks prior alongside Catrina Flummer, suspected Projector, which was forced upon them after Meghan herself had turned Colin in for harboring the girl, there had been no contact. Their mind connection was still in place, but Colin's remained firmly locked. She had no idea if he heard her calls and was choosing to ignore them, or just wasn't listening to her at all. She hoped he was at least listening, and whenever possible, she repeated apologies through her thoughts, hoping he would eventually forgive her, or at the very least, let her know he was okay. The flame on his candle had shown her other things. Scenes from his past, mostly things she already knew, but nothing about his present or future. She refused to give up though. “Colin,” she spoke a little more forcefully, trying to focus completely on him. A vision came. Not the one she wanted, but she watched anyway as it was unfamiliar to her memory. Someone dressed in a thick, hooded cloak peered into a cradle, which rocked gently, three babies sleeping inside. It was crowded, but the infants seemed not to mind. “There there. You'll be home with me soon, I promise,” a woman spoke in a soothing voice. It was hard to tell which infant she spoke to, but then she reached down, as if adjusting something, and when she pulled back, Meghan gasped, disbelieving what she was seeing.Her locket... it was pinned to one of the infants blankets, holding it snugly closed. At first, Meghan thought it could not be the same locket. But she examined it closely and every detail matched the one she wore around her neck. She'd never come across another one like it. Two roses, one white and one black, entwining around each other with thorns nestled into the vines that were sharp enough to actually pierce her skin. Meghan's thoughts swirled with the possibilities. Could this be their mother? Was that Meghan and Colin in the cradle? Where were they exactly? And where was Uncle Arnon? The woman stood up, looking across the room. There were rows of cradles, cribs and beds. Orphanage...Meghan realized. Then, as if the vision could not get any stranger, Meghan also realized that she recognized of the boys sleeping in a bed nearby. “Timothy?” she asked, as if he could somehow hear her. “This must have been why he stayed behind in Grimble,” she whispered. “And why he moved on with Uncle Eddy. Wehad to be his unfinished business, too.” She shook her head, still disbelieving. “Timothy died in a fire here,” she recalled. And then she remembered the rest of Tim's story. There had been a woman, searching for someone lost in the fire... “Was that us? Was she searching for me and Colin?” Meghan wished she could speak with her brother and tell him what she was seeing. If what she thought was happening, was actually correct, then the woman Timothy had told them about... “Was our mother...” she whispered aloud. She kept her eyes open, taking in everything she could before the vision ended. But inevitable questions filled her mind. Why were they in an orphanage? Was the woman hiding them from someone? This made sense, seeing as their Uncle Arnon had kept them on the move, fearing someone would discover who they were. But whodid they need protection from? And what had happened to their mother? Did she really die in an accident, like they were told? And where was their father? The cloaked woman knelt over the cradle, again hiding the infants from view. She sniffled, as if trying to hold back tears. “I will return soon...” She stood, slipping the hood off her head, revealing her face. “I love you so much...” she whispered, her voice pained. Meghan eyes widened and her throat felt thick and hard. “No...” she let out in a raspy breath, feeling as though she might faint. “Its … its not possible...” It was something she had dreamed of. Something she had thought of often. Something she had hoped, deep down in her soul to be true... but it could not actually be! The woman, that Meghan Jacoby believed to be the twin's mother, was younger than the woman she knew now. But her identity was unmistakable... Juliska Nandalia Blackwell … The vision ended. Meghan did not speak but simply sat on the floor, watching the flame on her brother's candle fizzle and die. Nona, sitting by her feet, had seen everything Meghan had seen, through their shared thoughts. Neither spoke. There were no words that seemed fitting. Meghan's journal sat open on the floor a few feet away. She leaned forward dragging it onto her lap, with pen in hand, but she couldn't even write the words she was thinking. “Is it possible?” Meghan eventually asked no one, shaking her head, no, as if to answer her own question. “From what you saw,” Nona spoke cautiously, “I... I think that yes, it is possible, however unbelievable it may be.” “No one has ever mentioned that Juliska ever had any children...” Meghan said, finding her voice. “I don't imagine that would be a topic one would often speak of,” the catawitch spoke wisely. “Especially if those children were believed dead.” “Yeah, you're probably right, Nona. But if that was really us, how did we get out of the fire? How is it that Timothy died, but we didn't? And why would we have been there in the first place?” Nona had no reply. Meghan's thoughts strayed now to whom she could ask. Jae? Ivan? The Kalila sisters? Juliska herself? But how did you walk up to someone and broach such a difficult subject? She would have to give it some serious thought. There was a knock on the door to her bedroom. “Come in,” she answered absentmindedly. It was Jae. “Hi. You ready?” he asked. Meghan had nearly forgotten. It was the first day of school. They had been back on the Svoda's island for nearly a month now, and it had been decided a week in that school would reopen. “Sorry, I lost track of the time,” she replied. “Give me just a second, I'll be right there.” “K, I''ll be downstairs... actually, I'll just wait outside...” an inflection in his tone said he'd rather not be inside this house. But this was Meghan's home now. Her bedroom was just down the corridor from Firemancer and Banon of the Svoda Gypsies, Juliska Blackwell … did she now need to add mother to this list? Meghan shoved the thought into the back of her mind, until she could spend more time on how to find out if Juliska had ever had any children. She grabbed her Colin shaped candle and tucked it into a nearby trunk, alongside two other candle's she had not yet finished creating; one in the shape of her Uncle Arnon and the other in the shape of Sebastien Jendaya. She dropped her journal into her bag, also filled with school books, and grabbed a sweater. The weather in Bedgewood Harbor could change in an instance. A beautiful, sunny day could give way to storm clouds and fog in mere minutes. Meghan raced down the stairs, Nona at her heals as usual. Meghan caught her breath as she reached the bottom. “Good morning,” said Juliska, eying Meghan questionably. “You feeling well?” she asked, her voice firm but kind. “Um. Yeah. Fine... just nervous about the first day of school I guess,” she lied. “Oh, I know that's not all this is about...” Juliska spoke, as if knowing Meghan was keeping some secret from her. Had she had a vision? She hadn't had one in years... but what was stopping them from starting again?“No, really,” insisted Meghan. “I didn't sleep well last night, either...” which was actually true, as she had not slept well since coming here. Juliska frowned. “You must hate me,” she mumbled, shaking her head. Melinda gulped, unable to answer her. “I am sorry, Meghan. I really am. I know how frustrated you are with me right now. With this place...”Meghan breathed in slight relief. It wasn't her vision Juliska was questioning. “I do feel just terrible about it. But we cannot allow anyone to leave the island. Its not safe, for any of us. I know how desperately you want to find your uncle...” “No. Its … okay. I do understand,” Meghan spoke, heading toward the front door. “I have to go. Don't want to be late.” “Have a good first day,” Juliska shouted after her. She stalked past Jae and down the stairs. He followed, neither of them speaking. Nona took off to be on her own for the day, wondering on Meghan's behalf, how she might find out of Juliska had indeed mothered any children... “Not a good morning, I take it,” Jae guessed after a minute. Meghan stopped, letting out a mouthful of held in air. “I'm sorry, Jae. Didn't mean to be so rude. But yeah, not such a great morning.”He just shook it off and they continued through the town. The real Bedgewood Harbor was nearly identical to the replica they had stayed in while in Grimble. The biggest difference: everything had a brighter, bigger more open feel... having never seen the real thing before, she did not realize how dulled the Grimble version was. “It's just so frustrating,” Meghan told him. “Being stuck on this island!” She tried to keep her mind off the vision she'd had just a short while ago, and keep it on their normal topic of conversation. “You want to find your uncle, I get it...” he said. “You're so close and yet ...”“Feel like I am a world away...” she smiled at Jae. “Thanks for coming by this morning. I don't know why, I just didn't want to show up on the first day by myself...” “You lost your appendage...” he said with indifference, catching his tongue. “Sorry, that came out wrong... and its no bother...” he added, hoping he hadn't offended her. “Lost my appendage... that's one way to look at it I guess.” She blew off Jae's callous remark, as it wasn't the first time it had happened. She assumed it had to do with whatever was going on with him, and just felt glad that he was still willing to be her friend, and that he was slowly opening up to her. “It does sometimes feel a bit like I'm in a dream,” she added. “One of those dreams where you wake up and your walking down the street naked, in front of tons of people...” “I'm sure Colin's fine, wherever he is,” Jae reassured. “If I could make some kind of contact with him... I know he's still mad, but if I could just hear his voice, I'd know he's okay.” Jae stopped at the schools entrance and patted her shoulder. He said nothing else. What more could he say? She had betrayed her brother and Colin had fled. A shiver rained down her back, giving her the feeling that someone was watching her. She glanced around but saw no one... for once, nobody is staring at me... suppose it could just be those things … She shuddered again, slipping through the doors of the school quickly, but unable to ignore the life-like statues of the scratchers that flanked each side. Inside, the students were abuzz. Another group of traveling Svoda had been tracked down and told it was time to come home. They were due to arrive in a weeks time, when the right door back to the island would open. The students wondered which group it would be and if they would they know anyone. Would it be friends or family they had not seen in almost fourteen years? Most of the students were too young to even remember those traveling in other groups, but were excited just the same. Grownups and older teens worried about who would notbe returning. They wondered just who had survived the previous year's journeys and who had not. Inevitably, there would be deaths they did not know about. And inevitably, over the coming months as the groups received their messages that it was time to return home, people would discover they had lost both friends and family. Meghan did not care. Not that she wasn't happy for those that would once again be reunited with friends and family they had not seen in as nearly many years as she had been alive, but she had bigger concerns. ####
Across the road from the school, the bird-human sat perched on a tree limb. His dark beady eyes looked down to Ivan Crane, hiding behind the trunk of the tree. Ivan looked up, at Bird, and then back down, as if talking to the tree trunk. “I'm sorry, but for now you're stuck here,” he told Bird. “Security is tighter than I've ever seen it. Nothing can get onto or off the island without the Balaton knowing. Be careful. If you get caught...” Bird chirped to reply that yes, that would be very bad. “Plus, with you being stuck here, I've lost my connection to the outside world...” Ivan added, rolling his eyes at Bird, who chirped a haughty reply. “I know its not your fault,” Ivan conceded, “It's just bad timing. I could have really used someone on the outside right now...” Bird looked at Ivan questioningly.“Because,” Ivan explained decidedly, “I've thought over what you suggested, and...” he sighed, resigning to his choice. “I have decided that you're right.” Bird nodded politely as if to say thanks and your welcome all at the same time. “I only agree because you know my secret and I now know yours! Just the same, its going to take some getting used to. I've always worked alone, taking on a partner is going to be... very strange. But you're right... its only logical, based on what we both know, to work together. That said and agreed to, bringing Meghan into all of this is going to have to be done delicately. I can't believe you talked me into working with her!” Ivan whispered harshly. “I only stayed close to her because she's clearly Juliska's favorite and that got me closer to Juliska too. But I understand why you you've been protecting the Jacoby's now, so I know why we have to tell her. Everything.” Ivan sounded determined, but his voice wavered, unsure. “I think she's ready, but regardless, we're running out of time. She's getting very comfortable around Juliska. I need to end that relationship before its too late.” Bird nodded again, this time as if to say yes, he agreed, but even in bird form, he looked worried about how Meghan would react as well. “Things are moving very fast right now,” Ivan continued. “And once I explain everything to Meghan and she accepts it as truth... its just a matter of time then. We'll need to be ready to flee at any given moment. Of course, I have no idea how we'll safely get off the island... yet.” A sense of relief came over Ivan. At leastif I fail, someone else knows and believes the truth... the truth will not die with me... “Be careful,” Ivan warned Bird again. He then walked away, their conversation over. Bird remained perched in the tree, satisfied with the outcome of his meeting with Ivan Crane. Things could finally move forward, and although he was currently stuck on the island, and unable to locate, protect and help Colin Jacoby, at least he was still able to watch over Meghan. He stayed in the tree, keeping a watchful eye as he waited for school to end.
####
Inside the school, Jae led them into a classroom. It was similar to the one they'd had lessons in while in Grimble. There was a circle of pillows, with one pillow for the teacher in the middle, floating and rotating a couple of feet in the air. Jae motioned for Meghan to follow and he sat down on a pillow, motioning for her to sit next to him. On the opposite side pf the pillow circle was Daveena Troast. Apparently, somehow, she had been moved forward from beginners class to intermediate. Although still a frightening looking girl, there was something different about her. But Meghan could not place what that difference was. The classroom door rushed open, two girls entering, loudly. “Oh, great,” moaned Meghan. It was Darcy Scraggs and Dulcy Hadrian. What surprised Meghan most, however, was that they did not take seats next to Daveena. And just as odd was that Daveena didn't seem to expect it either. Had she left Darcy's little trio? Were the Three D's now just two? Meghan's gaze followed Darcy and Dulcy as they rounded the room, scoffing at each student they passed by... until she came to Jae. Darcy stopped then, making an extra noisy scene as she took the pillow next to his, and Dulcy the one next to hers. What really confused Meghan was that she swore she saw Darcy give a slight wink in Jae's direction, and in reply, his mouth turned in the slightest of smiles. Meghan tried to catch Jae's eye but he refused her gaze. What didn't she know? What had happened to make Jae Mochrie and Darcy Scraggs, two people known to hate each other, act like they were now friends? Even Daveena seemed confused by Darcy's choice and threw Meghan a look that asked huh? She really needed to have a conversation with Ivan... preferably, sooner than later.
####
Thanks for your patience and for reading! Please be sure to share the Fated Saga with all your friends!

Book 5 updates!

I just wanted to touch base quickly to let everyone know that book 5 in the Fated Saga is making progress! Did a lot of writing this last weekend. There's still more to write and then of course, editing! But its now much closer, although I don't dare project a date.

Last Day! Free Kindle Book of Deamon Isle Witches!

Just a reminder that today, FRI the 13th, is the final day to download a free KINDLE copy of VOL 1, Bloodsucker Bay, from the Deamon Isle Witches Supernatural Novella Series ... get it before midnight! Thanks and please share!