Heidi Angell's Blog, page 8
August 25, 2017
Poetry Corner-Emptiness
I take another look at myself
in the mirrorto fix myself. Either prepare to melt in or stand out. In my own eyes I'm a foolbut my peers admire me.I'm extremely smartand outgoing, vivacious. Sparkling eyes of a happy woman.Only I know how miserable I am.Nothing about me seems real.Nobody knows about memy self-destruction.Someday I may explodethe way a star doeswhen its existenceis spent.Until next time, Keep Reading.
in the mirrorto fix myself. Either prepare to melt in or stand out. In my own eyes I'm a foolbut my peers admire me.I'm extremely smartand outgoing, vivacious. Sparkling eyes of a happy woman.Only I know how miserable I am.Nothing about me seems real.Nobody knows about memy self-destruction.Someday I may explodethe way a star doeswhen its existenceis spent.Until next time, Keep Reading.
August 23, 2017
Book Review- Ambrosia, A Poetry Anthology
Hello Lovelies, I am sharing this review as part of the Ambrosia Anthology Tour to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. 
To see the rest of the tour stops, visit OWS INK's website.Now, on to the review!
Genre: PoetrySynopsis:Delight in the nectar of the gods. Feed your mind with AmbrosiaWhispers to the gods are like honey from a poet's lips. When several poets raise their voices together, it's a sacred feast of memories and dreams. Poetry is divine food for the soul, full of emotional and celestial feeling. Join us in our longing, our pain and passion, heartache, logic and insanity, fear, faith, confusion, hope, unity, solitude, daily life, political strife, and more.From the creative minds of Eric Keizer, A.L. Mabry, Sam DeLoach, Alyssa Trivett, Mello Sakia, Stacy Overby, Phillip Matthew Roberts, Veronica Falletta and Stephanie Ayers.My Take: Ok, full disclosure before I even start. I am heavily involved in this project and have been assisting with compiling the works and setting up the tour and arranging things with the charity with A.L. Mabry. (I didn't write any of the poetry, though, so I feel comfortable in doing an honest review.) The poetry in this anthology is an eclectic mix from 9 very distinctive poets. There is a bit of love, a bit of pain, and a lot of tears. Oh, wait, that was my reaction reading it! But seriously, it was such an emotional roller coaster! Eric Keizer's real, yet esoteric, poems dug into my soul. Alyssa Trivett brought to life the mundane world through a poet's eyes. A.L. Mabry haunted my inner Angell with Broken Angel. Mello Sakia broke my heart with the loneliness echoed in those words. Phillip Mathew Roberts shocks with his raw words demonstrating the darker side of life and the struggle of the LGBTQ community. Sam DeLoach perfects the art of brevity while painting pictures so clear in my mind punching right to the pain. Stacy Overby really struck me with her deep and moving collection ranging from beautiful to haunting (Inner Demons and Exorcism, oh my gosh!) Stephanie Ayers captured me with I am Woman, and delighted me with Adran's song and the mimicry of Jabberwocky. Veronica Falletta crushed me with The Falling (a memory of The Twin Towers) and His Smile Does Not Help. After reading through this collection in a day, the emotional roller coaster was BRUTAL (I highly do not recommend doing this!) I can completely understand why these amazing people chose to donate all of the royalties from this work to AFSP. They all have such deep raw feelings and so eloquently bring them out in the reader. If you love raw, deep, emotional poetry, then you definitely want to grab the pre-order copy of Ambrosia today, share some amazing poets and support a great cause! Then read S-L-O-W-L-Y. Savor the emotions, but don't let them overwhelm you. 
Don't forget to join the tour. There are some amazing stops planned including poet interviews, more reviews, a Poetry Panel, a Facebook Party and more. Check it out! Until next time,Keep Reading!
To see the rest of the tour stops, visit OWS INK's website.Now, on to the review!Genre: PoetrySynopsis:Delight in the nectar of the gods. Feed your mind with AmbrosiaWhispers to the gods are like honey from a poet's lips. When several poets raise their voices together, it's a sacred feast of memories and dreams. Poetry is divine food for the soul, full of emotional and celestial feeling. Join us in our longing, our pain and passion, heartache, logic and insanity, fear, faith, confusion, hope, unity, solitude, daily life, political strife, and more.From the creative minds of Eric Keizer, A.L. Mabry, Sam DeLoach, Alyssa Trivett, Mello Sakia, Stacy Overby, Phillip Matthew Roberts, Veronica Falletta and Stephanie Ayers.My Take: Ok, full disclosure before I even start. I am heavily involved in this project and have been assisting with compiling the works and setting up the tour and arranging things with the charity with A.L. Mabry. (I didn't write any of the poetry, though, so I feel comfortable in doing an honest review.) The poetry in this anthology is an eclectic mix from 9 very distinctive poets. There is a bit of love, a bit of pain, and a lot of tears. Oh, wait, that was my reaction reading it! But seriously, it was such an emotional roller coaster! Eric Keizer's real, yet esoteric, poems dug into my soul. Alyssa Trivett brought to life the mundane world through a poet's eyes. A.L. Mabry haunted my inner Angell with Broken Angel. Mello Sakia broke my heart with the loneliness echoed in those words. Phillip Mathew Roberts shocks with his raw words demonstrating the darker side of life and the struggle of the LGBTQ community. Sam DeLoach perfects the art of brevity while painting pictures so clear in my mind punching right to the pain. Stacy Overby really struck me with her deep and moving collection ranging from beautiful to haunting (Inner Demons and Exorcism, oh my gosh!) Stephanie Ayers captured me with I am Woman, and delighted me with Adran's song and the mimicry of Jabberwocky. Veronica Falletta crushed me with The Falling (a memory of The Twin Towers) and His Smile Does Not Help. After reading through this collection in a day, the emotional roller coaster was BRUTAL (I highly do not recommend doing this!) I can completely understand why these amazing people chose to donate all of the royalties from this work to AFSP. They all have such deep raw feelings and so eloquently bring them out in the reader. If you love raw, deep, emotional poetry, then you definitely want to grab the pre-order copy of Ambrosia today, share some amazing poets and support a great cause! Then read S-L-O-W-L-Y. Savor the emotions, but don't let them overwhelm you. Don't forget to join the tour. There are some amazing stops planned including poet interviews, more reviews, a Poetry Panel, a Facebook Party and more. Check it out! Until next time,Keep Reading!
August 22, 2017
Teaser Tuesday: Character Spotlights from Enchantments by Claire Plaisted
Hello Lovelies, I am so excited today! Claire Plasted is releasing Enchantments on the 29th and today we have some AWESOME characters to meet! She's sharing most of the cast. Ready? Let's start with the first one who caught my eye: 
I mean, besides that gorgeous hair, I do so love a warrior! And up next: 
Those eyes, am I right? They just pull you right in! 
Who doesn't love a confident heroine who seems unflappable? And with a name like Briar, I am sold!But there's more: 
It's like a sassy Pumba! 
Yep, surfer dudes, this book seems to have it all in spades. One final sneak peak: 
Could this be the villain of the piece? I can't wait to find out! You can pre-order Enchantments for only 99 cents. Grab it today!Until next time, Keep Reading!
I mean, besides that gorgeous hair, I do so love a warrior! And up next: Those eyes, am I right? They just pull you right in! Who doesn't love a confident heroine who seems unflappable? And with a name like Briar, I am sold!But there's more: It's like a sassy Pumba! Yep, surfer dudes, this book seems to have it all in spades. One final sneak peak: Could this be the villain of the piece? I can't wait to find out! You can pre-order Enchantments for only 99 cents. Grab it today!Until next time, Keep Reading!
August 21, 2017
Meet the author with Katrina Shawver
Hello Lovelies, I am off to watch the solar eclipse, but before I go, I wanted to share this wonderful author with you.
Katrina Shawver wrote hundreds of newspaper columns over eleven years for The Arizona Republic, holds a B.A. from the University of Arizona in English/Political Science and has excelled at the School of Trial and Error. In addition to variety of previous careers in software support, the paralegal profession, tax preparation, and answering phones for a forensic psychiatrist, she has presented at the community college level on Poland Under Hitler and Stalin. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and still wishes sweet potato fries counted as a vegetable. Don't we all?Welcome to An Angell's Life, Katrina!What is the current book you are promoting? My debut nonfiction biography Henry: A Polish Swimmer’s True Story of Friendship from Auschwitz to America is the true story of a Polish swimmer who survived three years in Auschwitz and Buchenwald, and then lived the American dream. The book has been thoroughly researched and includes more than 75 original photos and documents not seen elsewhere. The official release date is November 1, 2017 and it is available now worldwide for preorder.What inspired this book? When I met Henry Zguda in November 2002 I wrote for the Arizona Republic, the daily newspaper in Phoenix, Arizona which I’ve called home for more than forty years. The only reason our paths even crossed was a random phone call for a possible lead on a new column. From the beginning, he possessed an exceptional memory, a surprising cache of original documents and photos, and a knack for meeting the right people at the right time. I still can’t explain why, after a single 600-word column, I impulsively and naively called him and suggested we collaborate on his story. I knew nothing of Poland and had never written a book before. But we “clicked”, he trusted me, and he had no one else to leave his story and documents to. One of the powerful messages contained in this book is a reminder that no single class of
people was safe from Hitler’s reach or imprisonment, and no country suffered more under Hitler and Stalin than Poland. Especially in today’s world, it’s a dangerous thing to hate any group of people simply for who they are or the label society places on them. For many reasons, his story touched me, has stayed with me, and for whatever reason fate led me to him, I believe it was entrusted to me for a reason. I did not seek this story, the story chose me unexpectedly, providentially, and I believe, as the right person to carry it forward. The entire path to completion has been filled with the right doors opening at the right time to to help propel the story forward, I’m know I’m following a higher power in finishing this book.Wow, and there couldn't be a better time for it, for sure, with everything happening here and now. What inspires your writing? I have always been drawn to nonfiction since I was a young girl, especially those stories that combine biographies and history. After writing for the newspaper, I respect solid journalism. People fascinate me, and for me, are far more intriguing than characters I might invent. Just look at today’s news. From the newspaper I became passionate about the power of the written word, not only to transport us to imaginary worlds, but to influence opinion, provoke discussion and inform the community about interesting people and organizations who deserve credit. I like books that make me think. As to history, I found a quote by A Whitney Brown that I included in the front of my book: :”The past actually happened, but history is only what someone wrote down.” If my writing influences how we think about history, that’s the power of the written word.Such a good point. We need to preserve as many stories as possible, not just history. Otherwise all we will learn about is the people who "won" which isn't always the best story. Who is your favorite author? While I follow certain authors, I’m drawn more to individual works. Books that come to mind include Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. I also like to try different genres. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was fun. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and George Orwell’s 1984 are in my growing TBR stack. I also keep both volumes of This I Believe, Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women in a prominent place on my bookshelf. It’s an incredible challenge to write out your personal beliefs in 300 words or less, and everyone has a different angle. We can learn so much if we first stop and listen to each other’s wisdom.Yes! We should always be forever students! What is your next project? Currently my full energy is on launching Henry to as many readers as possible. I would love to write a similar story of someone unknown but who is worthy of being remembered. I do have someone in mind who I met a year ago, but until I reach out again, and she would agree, I don’t know if that will happen.What is one place you would like to visit and why? I keep adding places to my bucket list. I traveled Poland and Germany in 2013 to research this story, retrace Henry’s footsteps, and visit Auschwitz and Buchenwald. There are many other beautiful places in Poland I would love to experience. For my husband it’s a tie between Machu Pichu in Peru and the pyramids in Egypt. This past spring I visited Ethiopia on a sponsor tour with Compassion International, a fabulous organization through which I sponsor two young women. Meeting them was a chance in a lifetime. So now my dreams are even bigger. I want to say I’ve visited all seven continents in my lifetime. I have four more to go. My husband has assured me he has no interest in Antartica.Ha, ha, a wandering spirit, much like myself! Though, I might be with your husband. The penguins would be cool to see, though! Henry looks amazing and you canpre-order it on Amazon for only $13.73 for the paperback. Want to learn more about Katrina and her work? check out here website katrinashawver.comWant to follow her adventures? Follow her on Facebook, twitter @KatrinaShawver, or LinkedinUntil next time, Keep Reading!
Katrina Shawver wrote hundreds of newspaper columns over eleven years for The Arizona Republic, holds a B.A. from the University of Arizona in English/Political Science and has excelled at the School of Trial and Error. In addition to variety of previous careers in software support, the paralegal profession, tax preparation, and answering phones for a forensic psychiatrist, she has presented at the community college level on Poland Under Hitler and Stalin. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and still wishes sweet potato fries counted as a vegetable. Don't we all?Welcome to An Angell's Life, Katrina!What is the current book you are promoting? My debut nonfiction biography Henry: A Polish Swimmer’s True Story of Friendship from Auschwitz to America is the true story of a Polish swimmer who survived three years in Auschwitz and Buchenwald, and then lived the American dream. The book has been thoroughly researched and includes more than 75 original photos and documents not seen elsewhere. The official release date is November 1, 2017 and it is available now worldwide for preorder.What inspired this book? When I met Henry Zguda in November 2002 I wrote for the Arizona Republic, the daily newspaper in Phoenix, Arizona which I’ve called home for more than forty years. The only reason our paths even crossed was a random phone call for a possible lead on a new column. From the beginning, he possessed an exceptional memory, a surprising cache of original documents and photos, and a knack for meeting the right people at the right time. I still can’t explain why, after a single 600-word column, I impulsively and naively called him and suggested we collaborate on his story. I knew nothing of Poland and had never written a book before. But we “clicked”, he trusted me, and he had no one else to leave his story and documents to. One of the powerful messages contained in this book is a reminder that no single class ofpeople was safe from Hitler’s reach or imprisonment, and no country suffered more under Hitler and Stalin than Poland. Especially in today’s world, it’s a dangerous thing to hate any group of people simply for who they are or the label society places on them. For many reasons, his story touched me, has stayed with me, and for whatever reason fate led me to him, I believe it was entrusted to me for a reason. I did not seek this story, the story chose me unexpectedly, providentially, and I believe, as the right person to carry it forward. The entire path to completion has been filled with the right doors opening at the right time to to help propel the story forward, I’m know I’m following a higher power in finishing this book.Wow, and there couldn't be a better time for it, for sure, with everything happening here and now. What inspires your writing? I have always been drawn to nonfiction since I was a young girl, especially those stories that combine biographies and history. After writing for the newspaper, I respect solid journalism. People fascinate me, and for me, are far more intriguing than characters I might invent. Just look at today’s news. From the newspaper I became passionate about the power of the written word, not only to transport us to imaginary worlds, but to influence opinion, provoke discussion and inform the community about interesting people and organizations who deserve credit. I like books that make me think. As to history, I found a quote by A Whitney Brown that I included in the front of my book: :”The past actually happened, but history is only what someone wrote down.” If my writing influences how we think about history, that’s the power of the written word.Such a good point. We need to preserve as many stories as possible, not just history. Otherwise all we will learn about is the people who "won" which isn't always the best story. Who is your favorite author? While I follow certain authors, I’m drawn more to individual works. Books that come to mind include Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. I also like to try different genres. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was fun. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and George Orwell’s 1984 are in my growing TBR stack. I also keep both volumes of This I Believe, Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women in a prominent place on my bookshelf. It’s an incredible challenge to write out your personal beliefs in 300 words or less, and everyone has a different angle. We can learn so much if we first stop and listen to each other’s wisdom.Yes! We should always be forever students! What is your next project? Currently my full energy is on launching Henry to as many readers as possible. I would love to write a similar story of someone unknown but who is worthy of being remembered. I do have someone in mind who I met a year ago, but until I reach out again, and she would agree, I don’t know if that will happen.What is one place you would like to visit and why? I keep adding places to my bucket list. I traveled Poland and Germany in 2013 to research this story, retrace Henry’s footsteps, and visit Auschwitz and Buchenwald. There are many other beautiful places in Poland I would love to experience. For my husband it’s a tie between Machu Pichu in Peru and the pyramids in Egypt. This past spring I visited Ethiopia on a sponsor tour with Compassion International, a fabulous organization through which I sponsor two young women. Meeting them was a chance in a lifetime. So now my dreams are even bigger. I want to say I’ve visited all seven continents in my lifetime. I have four more to go. My husband has assured me he has no interest in Antartica.Ha, ha, a wandering spirit, much like myself! Though, I might be with your husband. The penguins would be cool to see, though! Henry looks amazing and you canpre-order it on Amazon for only $13.73 for the paperback. Want to learn more about Katrina and her work? check out here website katrinashawver.comWant to follow her adventures? Follow her on Facebook, twitter @KatrinaShawver, or LinkedinUntil next time, Keep Reading!
August 18, 2017
Poetry Corner- Depression 2
Someone pull me out of this depression. 
Someone give me a pill to help lessenthis pain that's filling me to overflowing. Someone hear my tears at night. Someone help me in my plight.For I fear my life is slowly ebbing away. Can't you see the pain I'm feeling? Can't you help me stop from reeling? This cynical child that begs a belie.Yet they keep on walking faster. Leaving me to turn to alabastera stone carving of a mournful cry. They think my life should all be happyThey think my love is always sappy. No one sees the true me. No one sees the true me.They try to ignore my realityand leave me to suffer alone. Someone take this pillow from my facebefore I die and am found in a placethat we think of as worse, butcould only be better. Until next time, Keep Reading!
Someone give me a pill to help lessenthis pain that's filling me to overflowing. Someone hear my tears at night. Someone help me in my plight.For I fear my life is slowly ebbing away. Can't you see the pain I'm feeling? Can't you help me stop from reeling? This cynical child that begs a belie.Yet they keep on walking faster. Leaving me to turn to alabastera stone carving of a mournful cry. They think my life should all be happyThey think my love is always sappy. No one sees the true me. No one sees the true me.They try to ignore my realityand leave me to suffer alone. Someone take this pillow from my facebefore I die and am found in a placethat we think of as worse, butcould only be better. Until next time, Keep Reading!
August 16, 2017
Book Review: Quality of Mercy by G.L. McDorman
Genre: Hard-boiled detective meets Noir, meets magic.Synopsis: When a ruthless gangster threatens his old military friend, hardboiled detective Paul Henslowe intervenes… only to find himself working for a client on the wrong side of the law. When a series of cryptic blackmail letters plunges Henslowe into a decades-old murder, he follows a trail that leads him from a mysterious cult leader in the South Seas to a decaying lunatic asylum nestled among the City's most powerful banks. Henslowe knows that if he doesn’t solve the case, his friend will die… but if he does, many others will die in his place. The Quality of Mercy is an eldritch tale of madness and betrayal that asks whether kindness and mercy can survive in a world so corrupted by greed and violence.My take: This was a fun, nostalgic read. I loved Dick Tracy books as a kid and there was a certain element of that, but then the author weaves in this fascinating tale of a curse from a foreign land. Now the detective has to figure out who's murdering people, why, and if it is really related to an event that occurred decades before. I was a little disappointed that we never truly found out why things happened the way that they did, but at the same time it wrapped up quite realistically. Sometimes we might know who the bad guy is without ever knowing why they did it. I am definitely a fan of Henslowe and hope to see him on another adventure soon. Sound interesting? Grab your copy fromAmazon Until next time, Keep Reading!
August 11, 2017
Poetry Corner- Cold
It's so cold outside
and I'm all alonewith no one here to hold me. I see people every dayand they see medrowning, suffocating.They smile as they push me away. Why can't anyone seethe pain that I suffer?I, the one who never cries,cry every daybut I don't know why. No one hears my pain. No one sees my sorrow. Though I paint the canvas, no one can seethat the horrible thingthey're seeing is me. Until next time, Keep Reading!
and I'm all alonewith no one here to hold me. I see people every dayand they see medrowning, suffocating.They smile as they push me away. Why can't anyone seethe pain that I suffer?I, the one who never cries,cry every daybut I don't know why. No one hears my pain. No one sees my sorrow. Though I paint the canvas, no one can seethat the horrible thingthey're seeing is me. Until next time, Keep Reading!
August 9, 2017
Book Review- War and Pieces Frayed Fairytales season 1 episode 1 by Jo Michaels et al
Genre: Fairy Tale Re-tellingSynopsis: Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there were zombies…That’s how it all started. Authors have created a major problem with stories like Cinder, The Dark Queen, and Asleep, and it’s wreaking havoc here in Ever After. Our queens are fighting for their lives. Rather like Mother Nature, keeper of the fine balance that’s life in your world, tales that begin with “Once upon a time” were never meant to be messed with. Now, Ariel is underwater with all the defenses she’s been launching, Aurora hasn’t slept in weeks, and Rapunzel is tangled in… Well, I can’t even begin to tell you. Rather than try, I’ll let you see for yourself. You and I will talk again afterward—if I survive long enough. So, as our fateful story begins :Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…My take: I was more than a little surprised to read this story in less than an hour. I don't know what I was expecting. Well, I do. I realized it was a serial, but I really was counting on at least some of the above description to be in the first serial. Instead, I got the start of a Snow White and Aurora mash up story, which left on an unexpected cliff hanger that never even introduced the other story lines. In this world Snow and Aurora are sisters, which wasn't too difficult a leap for me, as it fits with older versions of the story in which Snow White and Rose Red were sisters (The story for which Sleeping Beauty is based.) and I liked how it pulled from the old version in which Rose Red's future husband was a prince cursed by a witch and turned into an animal. But it didn't start with that part of the story, and those who only grew up with the Disney version would be hopelessly lost where this serial picks up. On top of that, they took one of my favorite princesses and kind of turned her into a dabbler-in-the-dark-arts who ends up letting her own greed destroy her happily ever after... or at least, that's where I suspect the story is going. I really don't know. There were a few anachronisms that really pulled me out of the story. I had a hard time picturing the world in my head. On one hand it has the fantasy elements: Capes, princesses, princes, castles, villages, magic and more; on the other it has parks, coffee, and sewing machines. It doesn't really feel like urban fantasy, but like the opposite of UF. In UF, the goal is to take the modern and boring, and introduce the fantastical to pull us out of the modern and boring. But to me, it felt like they did the opposite. They took what made fantasy awesome and injected it with the most boring parts of modernity. I hate reading women's lit where the female lead is lamenting how it's not fair that she can't get pregnant/ have kids, and she turns her world upside down driving those she loves away with her sole quest of what comes so easily to others. That's what they did to Aurora. Women's lit meets fantasy might be the perfect mash up for some of you, and if it is, go ahead and give War and Pieces a try. This first one is free. I will go find another one of Jo Michael's books to read. Until next time, Keep Reading!
August 8, 2017
Teaser Tuesday- Meet Cal of the Last Gatekeeper by Katy Haye
Hello Lovelies, Do I have a treat for you. Remember when we interviewed Katy Haye? Well, she had so much fun that she wanted to introduce us to Cal of The Last Gatekeeper. Let's turn the time over!
I’ve pinned down the elusive, often taciturn Cal, Queen’s-guard-turned-rebel, as seen in Katy Haye’s The Last Gatekeeper and The Last Dreamseer. Cal has – rather surprisingly – agreed to answer a few questions about himself.In case you haven’t met him yet, the young man opposite me is well-muscled for his age (he’s young for the close-to-immortal Fane: just eighteen). His light hair is tousled as though he hasn’t bothered to brush it since he got up, and his eyes sparkle in a way I’m finding a little unsettling. He doesn’t look terribly happy to be sitting still, so I’ll be quick!Describe yourself in three words.Powerful, determined, unstoppable.Why should your enemies fear you?See the above. I don’t think fear is a useful emotion, though. Fear stops you thinking when you most need to think. I’d prefer respect. My enemies should respect me and I’ll respect them in return – so long as they deserve it.What’s your biggest secret?If I told you that it wouldn’t be a secret, would it?I guess not. Er, next question. You were one of the Queen’s most trusted soldiers, a Captain of her personal guard, and now you’ve been exiled to Earth. What happened?Have you been asleep lately? The war happened.Yes, I know that. But – what happened for you? Why did you refuse to support your Queen and join the rebels?See, here’s the thing. In a battle situation, yes, the obedience of the soldier must be immediate and absolute. But the rest of the time … no leader should refuse to answer the doubts of their followers. Fane’s leadership grew arrogant and corrupt. I couldn’t support a Queen I knew was wrong in so many ways. So I joined the rebels. We hoped to win, but when I was captured I knew my past with the Queen would count for nothing. I guess I’m lucky to be alive and banished rather than dead.What are you most proud of in your life?Choosing the right side.What makes you happy?Bounding. I love the sensation of being one with the world and using my elemental powers like they’re meant to be used. There’s nothing else like it.What in your past would you like to forget?Everything about the war: all the divisions leading up to it; all the betrayals that happened during it. I have to hope that life will improve for everyone on Fane.Do you really believe that?Not while Queen Issaenaptra is ruler, no.So what do you plan to do about it?What can I do? I’ve been banished. To return to Fane would be a death sentence.So you’re just going to give up?I never said that.What of rumours of a Gatekeeper being here on Earth? Couldn’t they turn the tide of war?Rumours are the worst possible use for air.You don’t believe it’s possible that a Gatekeeper is here?Anything’s possible. And if there is a Gatekeeper … well, Issaenaptra should look out.As should we all! Thank you for joining me, Cal, we –So I can go now?Yes. Thank – Ah, well, I guess Cal is a Fane of action rather than conversation. I hope you enjoyed meeting him!Want to learn more about Cal and the Fane? Grab your copy of The Last Gate Keeper today! Until next time, Keep Reading!
I’ve pinned down the elusive, often taciturn Cal, Queen’s-guard-turned-rebel, as seen in Katy Haye’s The Last Gatekeeper and The Last Dreamseer. Cal has – rather surprisingly – agreed to answer a few questions about himself.In case you haven’t met him yet, the young man opposite me is well-muscled for his age (he’s young for the close-to-immortal Fane: just eighteen). His light hair is tousled as though he hasn’t bothered to brush it since he got up, and his eyes sparkle in a way I’m finding a little unsettling. He doesn’t look terribly happy to be sitting still, so I’ll be quick!Describe yourself in three words.Powerful, determined, unstoppable.Why should your enemies fear you?See the above. I don’t think fear is a useful emotion, though. Fear stops you thinking when you most need to think. I’d prefer respect. My enemies should respect me and I’ll respect them in return – so long as they deserve it.What’s your biggest secret?If I told you that it wouldn’t be a secret, would it?I guess not. Er, next question. You were one of the Queen’s most trusted soldiers, a Captain of her personal guard, and now you’ve been exiled to Earth. What happened?Have you been asleep lately? The war happened.Yes, I know that. But – what happened for you? Why did you refuse to support your Queen and join the rebels?See, here’s the thing. In a battle situation, yes, the obedience of the soldier must be immediate and absolute. But the rest of the time … no leader should refuse to answer the doubts of their followers. Fane’s leadership grew arrogant and corrupt. I couldn’t support a Queen I knew was wrong in so many ways. So I joined the rebels. We hoped to win, but when I was captured I knew my past with the Queen would count for nothing. I guess I’m lucky to be alive and banished rather than dead.What are you most proud of in your life?Choosing the right side.What makes you happy?Bounding. I love the sensation of being one with the world and using my elemental powers like they’re meant to be used. There’s nothing else like it.What in your past would you like to forget?Everything about the war: all the divisions leading up to it; all the betrayals that happened during it. I have to hope that life will improve for everyone on Fane.Do you really believe that?Not while Queen Issaenaptra is ruler, no.So what do you plan to do about it?What can I do? I’ve been banished. To return to Fane would be a death sentence.So you’re just going to give up?I never said that.What of rumours of a Gatekeeper being here on Earth? Couldn’t they turn the tide of war?Rumours are the worst possible use for air.You don’t believe it’s possible that a Gatekeeper is here?Anything’s possible. And if there is a Gatekeeper … well, Issaenaptra should look out.As should we all! Thank you for joining me, Cal, we –So I can go now?Yes. Thank – Ah, well, I guess Cal is a Fane of action rather than conversation. I hope you enjoyed meeting him!Want to learn more about Cal and the Fane? Grab your copy of The Last Gate Keeper today! Until next time, Keep Reading!
August 4, 2017
Poetry Corner- Stopping by the Mansion on a Cold and Lonely Evening
(Note: This is a twist on Robert Frost's "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening")Who's house is this? I suppose I know. 
I hear he's in the Bahama's, though. He will not know I'm standing here. Watching his warm empty house as I freeze in the snow. My little child must think it queer.To stop without any shelter near.Her cold pink digits and make poke from her clothes and I shed a tear. She gives my frozen hands a shakeTo ask if there is some mistakeOr is there warmth for us to sleep?I steel my resolve and her hand do take. The mansion's lovely, warm, and deep. But I have frozen feet to keepAnd miles to go before I sleepAnd miles to go before I sleep.
I hear he's in the Bahama's, though. He will not know I'm standing here. Watching his warm empty house as I freeze in the snow. My little child must think it queer.To stop without any shelter near.Her cold pink digits and make poke from her clothes and I shed a tear. She gives my frozen hands a shakeTo ask if there is some mistakeOr is there warmth for us to sleep?I steel my resolve and her hand do take. The mansion's lovely, warm, and deep. But I have frozen feet to keepAnd miles to go before I sleepAnd miles to go before I sleep.
