Clare C. Marshall's Blog, page 16

The “Jealous Girl”–is she really so bad?

In most of my works, there’s a shadow character. She’s the “other” girl. The one who is completely jealous of the main character, who strives to be better than her, who is somehow friends with the protagonist–and probably even likes her to an extent–but in reality really just wants her out of the way, permanently. In Within, this lady is Ellie. She’s the best friend to Trinity (the girl who has brain damage). Ellie has a major crush on Trinity’s boyfriend, Zack and her crush only gets stronger after the accident that gives Trinity permanent brain damage.

It’s totally possible that Ellie exists your life. Or maybe, you’re someone else’s Ellie.

I wanted to write from this girl’s perspective, to see what she was feeling. I think we’ve all been in a situation where we’ve had unreciprocated feelings (hello HIGH SCHOOL!). I took those feelings and ran with them for Ellie. Because when you’re infatuated with someone to the point of obsession, you’ll do anything for them, just for them to notice you. And with Ellie, her feelings for Zack were simmering below the surface and only got worse as more opportunities to be alone with Zack came up.

It’s pretty clear from a majority of people who have reviewed the book: Ellie is not a favourite. She tries to steal Zack from Trinity, and Trinity can’t do anything about it, and Zack is all over the place, emotionally.

But you know what? I understand your hatred of her, and I’d hate her if I were Trinity and if I knew what she was feeling/doing too, but we have to look deeper at her motivations here and the actual power of infatuation.

I think it’s easy to be unsympathetic to her unless you’re feeling exactly the same way she is at the moment of reading. Looking back, I’m sure we’ve all done embarrassing things to impress our crushes. We all like to forget those moments, so it makes Ellie even more unbearable to read. We also dislike her because we want desperately for Zack and Trinity’s relationship to work–they are meant to be, says all the rules of romance! Ellie is taking advantage of the only opportunity she has–Trinity’s brain damage–so she can be closer to Zack. Is this wrong? In a lot of ways, yes. But she’s not wrong in her astute observation that Trinity is not able to have the relationship that Zack wants. She has waited a long time for Zack to be available; everyone is just so caught up in the events of the novel that Ellie chooses the wrong time to pursue Zack in that way. Had she waited a few years until Zack could come to terms with Trinity’s changed behaviour–had they known for sure if her condition was permanent–then maybe Ellie would have had more of a chance. But since when is infatuation patient?

Yes, Ellie makes a lot of mistakes. Does she want to hurt Trinity? No, not purposefully. Ellie’s just a girl who is trying to find her way. Just like the rest of us girls.

***

Check out my YA/NA Supernatural Thriller Within, for sale in a lot of places, including here at Faery Ink Press. Also, enter the giveaway, you could win a physical copy! Giveaway open internationally.

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Within Alternate Ending

Once upon a time, the original title for Within was Buried. This title makes a lot more sense with this ending. I changed it because there was a movie of the same name released a few months before I published this book, and I didn’t want there to be any confusion (although hey, any publicity is good publicity, right?). Anyway, as the manuscript went through editing, my editor suggested that the ending be re-written for the purposes of tone. The ending below is (POTENTIAL SPOILER!)a lot happier than the ending in the book. (/END SPOILER!)

I suggest you read Within before you read this alternate ending. Unless you’re one of those people who likes to read the end of the book first. This won’t tell you much about the book as a whole I suppose, but the ending in the book is pretty much the opposite of what transpires below.

Okay, you’re on your own.

Enter the giveaway to win a physical copy of Within! And check out Within’s book page, here.

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COMMENCE SPOILERS!!

***

Epilogue

Zack fiddled with the rose pinned to his suit jacket. It wouldn’t stay up straight. Sweat started to bead at the base of his forehead as the rock music played in the Citadel High gymnasium. He stood in the hallway near the entrance to the school. He drew a handkerchief from his pants pocket and dabbed away the sweat on his forehead.

“Why are you so nervous?” Ellie asked.

She looked radiant in her purple strapless dress. The cuts and bruises from last week’s experiences had almost faded and were unnoticeable under her facial makeup. She adorned long white gloves that went up to her elbows, and her chin-length bangs were pinned back to show more of her face.

“I…I hope she’ll make it,” Zack said.

Ellie smiled. “She’ll come.”

He gazed at her. “You look beautiful.”

She blushed. “Thank you.”

“I think I have room on my dance card. I’ll save one for you, if you want it.”

“I think only girls had dance cards back in the day,” Ellie corrected him.

“Darn, and I forgot my dress.”

“Look, here she comes.”

Trinity walked slowly around the corner of the hallway, holding Stephanie’s hand tightly. Her dress was just like Ellie had described: gold, with flakes of gems dotting the chest. It poofed out at the waist, like Belle’s dress from Beauty and the Beast. Her hair was done in a gorgeous up-do with a tiara nestled in the front, gleaming in the lighting as if she were wearing real diamonds.

Zack grinned and kissed Trinity on the cheek. “You look like a princess.”

Stephanie awed and Trinity gave him a small smile. “Prince.”

He dug into his pocket and pulled out a black box. “I got you a little something. I didn’t know if you’d like it, but…”

Trinity accepted the box and spent a few seconds figuring it out. After finding out that the opposite side of the hinge was the one that opened, she found the treasure inside.

“Wow, look at that bracelet,” Stephanie commented.

Trinity lifted it out, allowing the box to drop to the floor. The bracelet was a series of small, sapphire hearts. She slipped it on her wrist and admired it.

“You know what you say when someone gives you a gift?” Stephanie prompted.

“Pretty,” she said. She looked up at Zack. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied.

Ellie turned to Stephanie. “Were the votes tallied yet?”

“The polls just closed an hour ago. We should know the tally soon,” Stephanie replied. Her cell phone rang, and she reached into her pocket to answer it. “Excuse me.”

While Stephanie took the call, Ellie imparted her exciting news. “They used the names mentioned in Trinity’s manuscript and from our statements to find some of the guys who were in the Order,” Ellie said. “Apparently a few of them confessed to everything.”

“Great,” Zack said. “And Edmund?”

“I read this morning that he was recovering, but he’s totally blind for life.” Ellie winked at Trinity. “I guess I know not to make you angry.”

Stephanie rejoined them, stuffing her cell phone back into her pants pocket. “I just got off the phone with the senior editor from Nimbus Publishing,” Stephanie said excitedly. “They want to take a look at Trinity’s manuscript!”

“Wow Trin. Look at you. A published writer!” Zack beamed.

“Because of the sensitive timeline”-Stephanie wrapped one of Trinity’s stray hairs around her ear-“they are willing to move production up. We do have a finished manuscript, don’t we?”

“All done,” Trinity confirmed.

“But no title,” Ellie added.

Trinity shook her head. “Buried.”

“That’s the title?” Zack asked.

She nodded. “Like buried treasure.”

Zack gazed at her, and saw Trinity flicker beneath her eyes.

Deleted Scene from Within

I hope you are all enjoying the Within Anniversary Tour so far! Don’t forget to enter the GIVEAWAY, where you can win a physical copy of Within (open internationally!) and Faery Ink Press swag!!

Today, I bring you a never-before-published deleted scene from Within. I deleted this scene for a couple of reasons. First, I felt it made Trinity, the protagonist, seem too young. Second–and maybe most important–it didn’t serve any purpose in the narrative other than being a little shocking, and sad. It originally went before the dinner party at Trinity’s house with Wiley Dalton.

***

Each morning, Stephanie woke at six AM. She kissed her husband, got out of bed, showered, and dressed herself. Then she went into Trinity’s room, and picked up the papers on the floor and stacked them on the desk. Usually Trinity would be awake at this point, her blankets tucked under her chin and her big blue eyes staring up at the mother, as if knowing that now was the time to wake up.

“Need to go to the bathroom?” Stephanie asked.

Trinity nodded.

She climbed out of bed and tiptoed to the bathroom, and shut the door before Stephanie could get in there with her.

“Do you need any help?” she asked.

“Nope,” Trinity replied.

“Okay.”

She finished tidying Trinity’s room and then went downstairs. The coffee maker had been set the night before (thank goodness for coffee) and seeing the dark liquid fill her mug and then bringing it to her lips—it was like a little bit of heaven. Those few precious moments were hers. No campaign, no Trinity to care for, no story about hobos getting murdered. Just sweet, delicious coffee.

Stephanie stood alone in the kitchen, listening to the birds chirping outside and a lawn mower roaring down the street. She downed half the mug before realizing that she hadn’t heard Trinity come out of the bathroom yet.

Placing the mug on the counter, she headed cautiously for the stairs. “Trinity?”

The stairs creaked beneath her brown flats as she climbed. The bathroom door was at the top, and the light and the fan were on. She had better not be trying to take a bath by herself, Stephanie thought. But there was no water running.

“You okay in there, Trinity?” she called out.

She knocked on the door. When she listened closely, she heard a slight peeling noise.

“Ow,” Trinity muttered.

“Honey?” Stephanie opened the door.

Trinity sat on the toilet with only a t-shirt and no underwear, and her legs spread wide. A box of Band-Aids lay on its side on the counter, with unopened bandages spilling out. Bits of unpeeled Band-Aids were scattered on the floor. Trinity had one stuck to her forefinger, and she placed it carefully over her vagina. There were drops of dark red blood on the floor, on the Band-Aid box, and on Trinity’s fingers.

She looked up at Stephanie, tears streaming down her face. “It won’t stop bleeding.”

***

Intrigued? Check out more samples & learn more about the book itself.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY TO WIN!

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99 cent eBooks from Faery Ink Press

This weekend only, until Monday November 26, 2012, you can buy Faery Ink Press books for only 0.99 cents at the major retailers!

And the great thing is, they’re already selling! In fact I would consider leaving them at that price if only I got the whole 0.99 cents from Amazon. (I get 0.35 cents per sale on Amazon if the retail price is 0.99 cents). Oh well, publishing is a bit of an experiment sometimes, isn’t it?

You can also buy the 0.99 cent eBooks from Faery Ink Press or on Smashwords with the following coupons…

The Violet Fox: AU88H

Within: PJ79E

So, if they’ve been on your list for a while, now’s the time to get them for cheap!!

Amazon Links: The Violet Fox and Within

Within Anniversary Tour Sign-Up

Within just had its book birthday on November 13, so that means it’s time to host an anniversary blog tour! I’m doing it in January because Within actually had its official blog tour in January of this year, so might as well make that the official time. That, and, I was going to organize something for this week but was busy with The Violet Fox stuff. Oh well!

I’m looking for blogs to host reviews, interviews and guest posts. I’d really like to focus on the reviews and/or interviews (or any other fun type of post we can think of) because I’m planning something guest post related in the New Year, and I don’t want them to overlap too much. Also, I’d really prefer to have bloggers that didn’t participate in Within’s last tour–gotta share the book love with new peeps! However, if you participated in the last tour and you still want to participate in this tour, we can do an interview or something not a review.

Just like before, at this time, I can only give out eBook copies for review. However, bloggers are free to enter the giveaway to win a physical copy (see below)!

An important note to reviewers:

This book isn’t for everyone. It’s the kind of book that builds story scene-by-scene, more on the slow side at first, but gets more intense as the book goes on. It has alternating view points. It’s a tragedy. It’s set in a real Canadian city, uses real places and landmarks. It doesn’t have your typical love triangle, and the supernatural bit is subtle (but grows over time). It really could fall in the contemporary fiction category. There are quite a few “it wasn’t what I was expecting” reviews on Goodreads for a good reason–I think last time I had a bit of trouble conveying what the book was really about, what it was really like. So, if you like suspense, seeing through the villain’s eyes, if you enjoy a bit of mystery, some spiritual overtones, and/or if you’ve ever been in love with someone who couldn’t–or wouldn’t–love you back, then you may enjoy this book.

Will there be a giveaway?

Yes, I will be giving away a physical copy of Within, and some Faery Ink Press SWAG! Open internationally, as always.

About the book…

More info! | Sample | Flash Sample | Goodreads |
Amazon Kindle Store | Smashwords | Kobo | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | McNally Robinson

***

Trinity Hartell’s life changed after the accident. Left with irreversible brain damage, she becomes a burden to her mother, a cause for heartbreak for her boyfriend Zack, and a flattened obstacle for her jealous best friend, Ellie.

But then she starts writing. Perhaps it’s a coincidence that the psychotic, murderous protagonist of her novel bears a striking similarity to the charming Wiley Dalton, a mayoral candidate in the upcoming election.

Or, perhaps not…

***

You can see what past book bloggers have said by visiting the media page or by viewing it on Goodreads.

Please fill out the form if you’d like to participate and I will get back to you shortly! That, or hit me up on Twitter, or in the comments section below. Or email me if we’ve already been in touch!

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The Tour

January 11:

January 12:

January 13:

January 14:

January 15:

January 16:

January 17:

January 18:

January 19:

January 20:

January 21:

January 22:

January 23:

January 24:

January 25:

January 26:

January 27:

January 28:

Thanks everyone for your interest!!

The Violet Fox Blog Tour Wrap-Up

The Violet Fox Blog Tour was a HUGE success! Thank you to all the bloggers who participated and helped to make it awesome! You can see a summary of the quotes, as well as access all the interviews & guest posts on the media page.

I’m sure you’re all anxious to know the winner of the giveaway. It’s NATASHA MAY, from Slovenia. Guess what? She’s an artist, and a cool one too. You can check out her art on her website. Thanks to all who completed the Scavenger Hunt (there were almost 10 people who did it!) and who caught The Violet Fox! I’m still going through the entries because some of you deserve SWAG for all your efforts. I’m also getting a new batch of buttons and stickers hopefully soon, and bookmarks are coming this weekend, so I’ll be all stocked up and ready to give it all away.

Stay tuned to MORE blog tours (Within‘s book birthday was two days ago, going to organize an anniversary tour!) and more information about the new upcoming young adult science fiction series, SPARKSTONE.

One Way to Get Rid of Writer’s Block

I sat in front of my computer screen, staring at the open Word document. The Silver Spear. The sequel to The Violet Fox. A book that I love dearly and that other people love too.

And yet, I had no idea what to write.

I was over 12,000 words in–and I had one or two key scenes mostly finished, and some snippets of others–but there were a lot of blanks in my mind. Like: how was I going to get Kiera’s mission to find the Silver Spear to be believable? Was it going to have a cliffhanger ending? Do I even have enough material for a third book? A fourth book? I was at 12,000 words for a long time. Nothing was moving. I had no new thoughts or ideas.

Book bloggers were raving about The Violet Fox, and I couldn’t let my readers down. I never had this much trouble with a sequel before. If it wasn’t better or at least as good as the first book, I would feel like I’ve failed my characters.

So what did I do?

I left it alone for a few weeks, and tried not to think about it.

Then as I was musing over what to publish next, and re-discovered my Sparkstone series, it was like a light switched on in my brain. Another project. Something that I would work on, not just to distract me, but something that could get my mind going. I had an outline for Sparkstone—the characters, the setting, an overview of the plot—but I didn’t have many specifics. I had 500 words in a word document, half a prologue. Within a week, I expanded this to 10,000 words, not quite half of my 35,000 word target.

So how was I able to write thousands of words on this once-abandoned project, and almost nothing on the project that my readers are excited for?

Regardless of whether you’re a writer, working on a project where you feel like you’re under a lot of pressure–whether this pressure is something you’re putting on yourself, or not–can reduce your desire to complete the work. Writing teen fiction isn’t always fun, and it’s easy to get frustrated if you feel like you’re working on a project that’s going nowhere. Taking a step back, working on something else that captures your imagination–that’s the key. This second project can be like your rock, where you go to play and have fun while your mind rests.

Not long after I hit 10,000 words on the Sparkstone project did suddenly the ideas start to come for The Silver Spear. Plot points are starting to connect. I’m even getting ideas for the third book, something I wasn’t even sure was going to happen. I’m confident now that I’ll be able to finish a draft of this book within the next few months, in time for a fall publication next year.

Sometimes you just need to do something else to get those wheels turning. Don’t be afraid to get up and walk away from things that don’t work.

I Forgot About Sparkstone

After writing my post yesterday about what novellas I’d like to publish next, I sat down to write on Two-Spirit. I sifted through what I’d already wrote. I had some ideas on how to improve some things. But when it actually came to writing, I was stumped. Okay, not really stumped…just…uninspired. As much as I like the story, and some of the characters, I just couldn’t bring myself to spruce it up.

I realized…I don’t really want to publish Two-Spirit. Not right now, anyway. And if I’m not feeling it with a story, there’s no point in me hustling just to get it done, because I’m not going to publish something that a) I feel is sub-par or b) that I’m not 100% in love with.

So I moped around for a while, thinking, how can this be, I don’t want to publish Two-Spirit, Darkest Fae needs more development…when it finally hit me.

Sparkstone. I totally forgot about Sparkstone.

(ignore the unfinished, unpolished look of this graphic. It’s really a placeholder for something that Dave & I will design. The cover will be amazingly pretty.)

Sparkstone had many, many forms. First, I was going to write it as TV episodes. Actually I got three of them done. Then, I decided earlier this year I’d make it into a serial fiction. But that never happened, too busy publishing books. This is a story I’ve got mapped out, that I am really excited about. I can totally work on this and publish these as novellas, for the people who don’t want to wait until the autumn of each year to get the latest Faery Ink Press book.

Teaser copy:

A girl who burns both hot and cold;

A girl who can fade into the background without a trace;

A guy who knows exactly what you are thinking, before you think it;

A girl who dreams of her own death.

Welcome to Sparkstone, where some students are more gifted than others.

When Ingrid receives word that she has been accepted at the hyper-secretive Sparkstone University, she is sceptical. It’s an honour to attend, apparently, and yet no one has ever heard of the place.

And everyone seems a little too happy that she’s there. As if she was expected. Expected to save Earth from an imminent alien invasion. Like she has superpowers or something.

As if magic and mutations exist. As if aliens are really planning to attack.

That just sounds ridiculous. There’s no such thing.

…right?

Wrong.

I’d already had some written on it, but not as much as I’ve written on Two-Spirit or Darkest Fae. Sparkstone is a young adult science fiction series that takes place in north-western Canada. The community of Sparkstone has a very prestigious university, known only to the students who have been chosen to attend. Ingrid is lucky enough to receive an acceptance letter…except she doesn’t even remember applying. Upon arrival, she meets a group of students who have extraordinary gifts…and claim that she’s one of them. It’s too unreal to be true, until strange extraterrestrial happenings convince her otherwise. The school seems to be run by people who aren’t human, and everything that Ingrid does is monitored. She and the Sparks must discover what the true intentions of these otherworldly visitors are, because whatever it is, it isn’t good.

Oh, and yes, there’s romance.

I’m going to get as much of this done in the next month or so, and then see where I can take it from there.

What to Publish Next? Some Forthcoming YA Fantasy.

So with the release of The Violet Fox next month, and the marketing/publicity ongoing, it’s time to focus on what I’m going to put out next.

Besides The Silver Spear—which will probably be published Fall 2013—I’d like to release a series of YA fantasy novellas. I have two ideas for a novella series. One is quite developed and is in the re-writing stage. The second needs some more development but I’m also quite fond of the characters.

Two-Spirit

This is a series I’ve been working on for a while, since the third year of university. It evolved from one character, an XXY male/female with striking red hair. I thought, what would happen if a hermaphrodite were placed in a fantasy land? Eventually an entire world with several cultures rose before me, and Two-Spirit was born.

I actually have a lot of this written because for several months, I wrote 500-1,000 word installments online. Each month featured a new plot-line focus, depending on the events of the previous months, but brought together with an overarching storyline. Now, I’m in the process of expanding each month’s “adventure” and turning them into novellas. There will be at least eight novellas in the Two-Spirit series, and I’m thinking of offering the first one for free. The first novella, entitled Sapphire, is finished, but needs a re-write. It will be 35,000+ words.

The Plot:

Xya has always been different from the other women in the village. While the others meekly agree to follow the laws made by the Kikmongwi Momuso and his band of warriors, Xya longs to be free and see the world beyond the towering wall. She’s also got a secret that her family struggles to hide: she’s not exactly a woman. Xya is a Two-Spirit, the first of her kind for over a century, with the power to change from woman to man. When she’s told that she has to marry Momuso, Xya makes a daring escape…but not before stealing a magical sapphire amulet that belongs to the village wise woman, who had refused her cry for help.

But the world is much more dangerous than Xya is prepared for. The amulet draws the attention of a powerful thieves guild, and Xya herself becomes a prize that the guild master, Zopyros, must have. With the help of her brother, Xya must protect the amulet, free her village from tyranny, and discover her true origins.

Darkest Fae

It’s only appropriate that Faery Ink Press publish a story about faeries! This story is less developed than Two-Spirit, but what I’ve written on it so far I really like, and I feel like I’ve got a unique set of well-developed characters developing. I’ve got maybe 6,000 words on this, but I really am in love with the Celtic-inspired world.

The Plot:

Connor MacDonnagh lives a quite life with his parents in the small town of Ashdown, one of many villages still feeling the effects of a human-fae war that ended twenty years ago. In the middle of the night, a stranger knocks on his family’s door, bringing an even stranger girl…with small, purple wings. Why is she here? His parents won’t say, and there’s something about the girl that both attracts and disturbs him. No one must know I’m here, she says.

Secrets cannot be kept for long, and someone…something…is after the half-faery girl. After a terrible disaster that tears his family apart, Connor finds himself on the run with the girl. From winged monstrosities to master assassins hot on their trail, Connor and the girl must find a way to stop a powerful, vengeful queen from rekindling a war that would destroy their world.

***

I’ve revised that description many times, and while it seems like the narrative is mostly from Connor’s point of view, it’s split between him and the girl. The problem is that I named the girl Ciara…which is another way to spell Kiera…who is the protagonist of The Violet Fox!

Both Two-Spirit and Darkest Fae will be in eBook and POD formats only, unless of course they sell well and then I may combine a few of them for an offset print run.

After writing all this out, I feel more clear on what I have to do. Publish Two-Spirit #1 & possibly #2 in the coming months, and work on Darkest Fae in the mean time to see how large it grows. All the while, keeping The Silver Spear on track for publication in Fall 2013.

No pressure, Clare. No pressure.

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Enter the Scavenger Hunt to win The Violet Fox!

Greetings, ladies & lords around the realm.

Prince Keegan only socializes with the most elite of the nobles, and being his Advisor, I must put your skills to the test to see if you are worthy of his majesty’s presence.

Answer these questions and post them to me. Those with the most correct answers shall win a special token of appreciation from Prince Keegan himself.

Sincerely,

Advisor Ivor Ferguson

You heard the man. Because it’s the Gathering Week here at Faery Ink Press, meaning, fun and games for all, I thought it fitting to do a little scavenger hunt.

All answers can be found on the Faeryinkpress.com website. Email answers to: aurora@faeryinkpress.com, or use the contact form on the website. As a prize, you will receive an extra 25 entries into the grand giveaway, in which you could win a print copy of The Violet Fox, eBook copies, a handmade journal, and some SWAG!

1. On what date was The Violet Fox released?

2. There are two types of people in the land of Marlenia. What are the names of the two groups?

3. What is the first word of The Violet Fox?

4. True or False: The Violet Fox takes place in the western province of Marlenia.

5. The author of The Violet Fox is: a) Canadian b) American c) British d) Marlenian

6. What is the name of the Faery Ink Press newsletter?

7. What is the name of the occasionally updating science fiction serial at Faery Ink Press?

8. Who created the cover for both The Violet Fox and Within? Hint: http://www.faeryinkpress.com/about/faq

9. Kiera Driscoll is The Violet Fox. But what’s her brother’s name? (Hint: http://www.faeryinkpress.com/books/the-violet-fox/the-violet-fox-sample-chapter-1)

BONUS: What is Clare’s favourite number? (Take a look at the release dates for the books, her facebook url, and if you can find it, her birthday. You should fairly quickly see a pattern!)

Good luck! Don’t forget to enter on the Rafflecopter so you can get the entries!