S.C. Parris's Blog: News and Information, page 13

Editing is OVER!

And believe me, I have been celebrating in my own way (drowning in Netflix shows counts as celebrating, hush), and I’m overjoyed at the story I have now. And as for what has been done with the story – well you’ll have to keep reading future blog posts to find out.

Moving on, The Dark World is the novel I’m talking about in case you’re a newcomer to this blog, and you can read more about it by clicking the link up there on the navigation bar.

And with the completion of The Dark World, (for the millionth time), I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the kinds of stories I want to write and where I want to take my career – ’cause I’ve decided this is what I’m doing for the rest of my life – and it’s fantasy…with a lean toward horror, and darkness, which you’d know if you read my most recent work, my short story, A Night of Frivolity.

I don’t know, it’s something about these kinds of stories that pull to me, motivate me, captivate me, and my characters’ processes are more psychological than anything despite the physical changes to themselves and their world. It’s how I’ve…processed my own life – very much in my own head – and I didn’t know there was another way to do this until I started actually living my life, and I’m sure many of my characters will walk away from their stories with similar revelations, though it won’t be my goal in life to make every story the same, but naturally I do think many writers have a certain theme, and for now at least, I believe this one is mine.

I’m open to change, and to growing as a person and a writer, and I welcome all the change that living life brings – and I can only hope that this shines through in my writing.

Oh, and I’m definitely not shying away from the gritty, the real, the dark, the death…it’s all some of us have, after all.

‘Till next time, keep your bite.

-S.C. Parris

Filed under: General Life, Inspiration, Patricia L. Bordeaux, Short Stories, The Dark World: A Delacroix Novel, The Delacroix Series, Writing Process Tagged: creative writing, editing, fantasy, horror, series, the dark world, vampire, vampires, writing

COVER REVEAL for Shadows and Embers

Shadows & Embers Release Date is July 26, 2013.

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  S&E Front Cover

 

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S & E Full Jacket

Summary: It’s 1569 in Transylvania; Léal Irvine has committed to a powerful man all for the sake of revenge. Handsome, young Irvine is a high-ranking magician working for Esmour’s organization, Destin, which is composed of Dark magicians from around the local areas. However, one by one magicians vanish or die, and suddenly the world of magic is not as safe as it once was. One of the members and Léal’s best friend, Nicia, betrays the organization before the downfall. Unfortunately no one realizes the act of treason might have saved her life.

A year later Destin has fallen, and Léal sees the world through icy blue eyes. With only five Dark magicians alive his survival is constantly threatened, and he has no great leader or trusted allies to turn to. After infiltrating Belsgar and killing a member of the Magic Council, the war between darkness and light is no longer something anyone can walk away from. A new villain rises with a secret that could be deadly; meanwhile Nicia works to prove her loyalty to Léal while trying to revive their friendship.

 Sides will be chosen, relationships will be at stake, and in the end the balance of the magical world will depend on the outcome of the war. When you’re walking on a thin line between revenge and forgiveness how do you choose the right path without stepping too far over the crack?

My friend, author Lindsey Sablowski is releasing her 2nd book in the Magicians series: Shadows and Embers July 26th of this year, and you can purchase the first book in the series, Cursed With Power, here.

Cursed With Power

Pick it up when it hits stores online and don’t forget to review it!

Keep your bite!

-S.C. Parris

Filed under: Cover Reveals, Facebook, General Life, Inspiration, Writing Process Tagged: book, books, cursed with power, fantasy, goodreads, Lindsey Sablowski, magic, novel, shadows and embers, the magicians series

I’m Still Here

Just living my life. Having laser eye surgery a few weeks ago has definitely changed some things. My vision is wonderful and my life has been busy busy busy.

I haven’t had time to write much but I’m slowly changing that here and there.

How have you guys been?

Keep your bite!

S.C. Parris

Filed under: General Life Tagged: laser eye surgery, LASIK, life, personal

E3 and the PS4

So you guys know I write and enjoy tv and movies, but I do greatly enjoy video games.

Which is why I watched E3 yesterday with my boyfriend and I plan to do so again today – and what I saw for the Playstation 4 at least got me very excited.

First off, they came right out and said that they wouldn’t impose YOUR right to buy and lend off used games. Right in Microsoft’s face! Now, I have an Xbox 360 and I do have a PS3 and I do play on both – but my preference, honestly, is for Playstation. Simple story of being raised on it.

Now, the price for the PS4 is fantastic. A clear $100 less than XboxOne. At $399, it’s a fantastic price for a brand new console, especially with all the cool games coming out for it.

My eyes are on Outlast, Watch Dogs, and Final Fantasy XV – oh, and of course Grand Theft Auto V.

Now aside from all that, I am still editing the Dark World, I have queried agents and am waiting to hear back from them, but other than that, I’m great. How are you?

Keep your bite,

-S.C. Parris

Filed under: Writing Process Tagged: e3, final fantasy xv, grand theft auto v, outlast, ps3, ps4, video games, watch dogs, writing, xboxone

New 5-Star Review for A Night of Frivolity

From Pally on Amazon!

I was so happy when I got the eBook the moment I finish ordering. As I started to read the narration got to me, I felt like I was there watch everything from the begin to the end. The suspense was in each page as I read from the moment she enter the Gentleman’s club to the panic in the room. Great short story for those rainy days or just went to feel at the edge of your seat.

Get your copy today and cozy up to a ‘suspenseful’ read!

And don’t forget to Keep Your Bite!

-S.C. Parris

Filed under: General Life, Inspiration, Patricia L. Bordeaux, Reviews, Short Stories Tagged: 5 stars, a night of frivolity, amazon, Before sunrise press, creative writing, horror, review, short story, suspense, writing

Mornings And The Animals That Inhabit Them

A groggy pressure poured over my brain as I opened my eyes to a dismal, rain-soaked morning. My neck ached with the pangs of wrongful sleep, and somewhere in my head, the horrible dream replayed. I could barely relive it before blue-eyed and hungry, Xavier removed himself from the ‘down’ position,

and rose up on four white legs, his black nose pressing repeatedly against my body, sometimes hitting the side of the mattress.

The message was clear.

Either I get up right now and see him outside to his business or he’d pee and/or poop all over my bedroom floor.

I sighed, giving him the motion to lay back down, and STAY – a firm palm facing him.

 

He acquiesced regrettably, I assume; I know not – I merely retreated back into a fitful slumber, my boyfriend’s large shoulder pressed firmly into cheek. Oh, he would not rise, no matter how many pressings and poundings of hands I splayed into his hairy back, he would not budge.

Somewhere near my head, preferably on the windowsill, I heard the cat let out an amused meow.

She had not slept since yesterday morning and was no longer looking to get her catnap – she was awake, and with a glance toward her green eyes, I saw that she was watching my morning tussle intently, just waiting for a moment my hands were free so she could slip next to them and get her intentional involuntary petting.

Somewhere on the floor I could hear the dog biting his insanely loud squeaky toy, ensuring my sleep would definitely be something of a dream.

I sat up, relenting to the fur-clad gods that I would heed their howls and meows, that I was up, that we could start our day.

As I stood from the bed and stretched my aching limbs, I looked over my shoulder and stared at the boyfriend:

The perfect model of sleep in action – he was curled up toward me, and as I’d moved, he’d expertly taken my pillow, leaving me but a second to clear my hair from it before he’d done so. An arm wound its way over it, a hand under it, and atop his arm he’d placed his head, all the while never opening his eyes.

A faint smile of satisfaction played on his lips.

I blinked in moderate disbelief, but could only touch the stubble on his cheek in affection – I loved him, no matter how difficult he made sleeping at times. The smile grew more prominent with my touch.

Now fully awake, I stared at my seven month old Siberian Husky, the look he only returned with bated excitement, blue eyes wide.

I nodded, rising to my feet, leaving my bed behind, the child-like boyfriend that slept upon it, the cat now taking her place beside him, curled up next to him in an open spot next to his stomach, and motioned for Xavier to follow me out the room toward the dismal day.

My plans to go job searching had been thwarted by the rain, and as I plotted what to do now, heading toward the bathroom, I realized the grog had dissipated, the aches slowly melting away. My body was waking up and a new energy filled the cracks left behind by my dream-state:

Momentum

Yes, I knew I could get anything done, and though I’d envied the boyfriend for sleeping so soundlessly for a few more hours than I every morning, I knew I had an advantage he did not:

I could get more stuff done.

So I’ve fed the dog, applied to some places via Monster, and am now about to see to the horrible kitchen, the cat’s nourishment, and myself.

How are your mornings? Less hairy, I hope.

Keep your bite,

-S.C. Parris

Filed under: General Life, Inspiration, Writing Process Tagged: aches, bed, bedroom, cat, creative writing, dog, food, job, job openings, jobs, life, monster, mornings, personal, pressure, siberian husky, tuxedo cat, writing

Preorder Ronald Moore’s Debut Novel, NOCTURN TODAY!

You get to pick from two fancy new covers made from artist Joel Amat Güell, who also designed my cover for A Night of Frivolity:

  ANoF

In fact, Joel has designed covers for all of the Before Sunrise Press works, all of which can be seen here, at their store:

All of the covers are beautifully created, but none so much as the artwork for NOCTURN, which, to be truly admired, must be seen up close:

NOCTURN artwork by Joel

 

  Hardcover Edition of NOCTURN; artwork by Joel, of course.

Isn’t that incredible? Yes, you can pre-order it now, and yes, you may want to do so soon because you can get author-signed copies of this beautiful piece, and I think it’s only for a limited time, so do it now!

I, myself, am planning on snagging me a copy as soon as I can. Besides Mr. Moore being a fantastic writer, he’s also been a good friend to me on my writing journey and was the one who sent me to BSP, telling me they were accepting short stories for their anthology.

Amazing how things happen, isn’t it?

So support this entrepreneur and get this book today!

Oh! I haven’t even told you what it’s about! Peep the synopsis here:

When Michael, an amnesiac vampire, wakes up on the edges of Breton, a strange Virginia mining town in the midst of Civil War, he puts the townsfolk on a trajectory for disaster with an ancient coven of vampires and their mysterious handlers, “The Alliance”, uncovering an international conspiracy.

The government officials of Breton await the arrival of a lantern containing the heart of a powerful vampire, a telepathic device used to control the masses. As war rages outside the town, an unlikely team of misfit orphans and spies takes on the local government and the vampires who control them. When the lantern is released and Lord Ruthven, the vampire trapped within it, descends on the town only an amnesiac Michael can stop him from destroying everyone in Breton. As the battle rages into the night, Michael must question himself over whether he should join the vampires or fight them in order to save the people of the town.

Sound like something you’d like?

Of course it does!

Snag a copy and don’t forget to Keep your Bite!

Ronald Andrés Moore has kept his in this page-turning gothic novel that is sure to please vampire enthusiasts and steampunk aficionados alike !

-S.C. Parris

Filed under: Facebook, General Life, Inspiration, Reviews, Writing Process Tagged: a night of frivolity, art, artwork, Before sunrise press, book covers, books, creative writing, dark writing, debut, debut novel, goth, gothic, gothic writing, hard cover, Joel Amat Güell, nocturn, pre-order, Ronald Andrés Moore, short story, special edition, special editions, steam punk, vampires

My Oomph – Where Did It Go?

Wahey.

I’ve no idea how to successfully start this new novel – I know, I know, I said I was writing again, and getting somewhere, but that was then – this is now, and holy cow is it difficult to get the ball rolling on The Two Swords.

I don’t know if it’s because of the long day I’ve had at work, or if it’s the fact that I’m physically tired – I just dunno.

The scene I’m working on now is fairly complacent – it’s not so much action-heavy as it is emotional-heavy, and I guess I just want action right now.

I’ll see what works best.

What works best for you when starting a new novel? Do you prefer action scenes that throw the reader straight into the fray, or are you more a laid back, build-up kind of writer?

Let me know in a comment or tweet!

Keep your bite,

S.C. Parris

Filed under: General Life, Inspiration, The Two Swords: A Third Delacroix Novel, Writing Process Tagged: creativity, new novel, personal, the two swords, two swords, writing

Still Alive

Still here, and still writing. Things have turned around since my latest posts, and I’ve rekindled my love for my characters in The Delacroix Series, as well as my newer characters in my short story, soon to be full-length novel,

A Night of Frivolity, available now for Kindle for $4.99 – free if you’re a Kindle Prime member.

I may just keep this short, but I wanted to seriously thank everyone that’s bought their copies of my novels and short stories, and have interviewed me, shared my work, and spread the word. It means a lot. And it goes a long way.

I’m currently watching Burn Notice with my family so I’m gonna head back to that, but I just wanted to share this with you all.

Things are moving a long! And you should head over to

Before Sunrise Press‘s website for all the latest updates on their latest novels, short stories, and all the things going on, and do check out Emily Guido‘s website for her romance series,

The Light Bearer, and be sure to check out Nostrovia! Poetry‘s website for all of their interviews, poetry postings, and contests!

Keep your bite!

And I hope you like the new design!

-S.C. Parris

Filed under: General Life, Inspiration, Short Stories, The Delacroix Series, TV Shows, Writing Process Tagged: a night of frivolity, amazon, Before sunrise press, burn notice, emily guido, fantasy, kindle, kindle prime, novels, romance, series, the light bearers, vampires, writing

Interview with Nostrovia! Poetry!

You can read the interview on their website here, but for those of you not too keen on clicking links, here’s the interview in its entirety below:

Tell us a little bit about your writing career.

I’ve self-published two stories, entitled, The Dark World, and The Immortal’s Guide respectively. They are a part of a series, that is to have two more books to complete the series in the coming years. I’ve also had a short story published in my college’s newspaper, The Vignette, and have had a poem published upon winning a contest whilst in middle school.

And of course there is the short story recently published with Before Sunrise Press, A Night of Frivolity.

What writers have had an influence on how you write?

Edgar Allan Poe absolutely had an influence on how I write. I first read his stories, The Raven, and the Tell-Tale Heart and was absolutely hooked. All things dark, bloody, and psychologically troubling that I write (mostly the poems I have written), I attribute subconsciously to Mr. Poe. J.K. Rowling was an author I grew up on, and how to tell a story was further expanded with reading the Harry Potter series, naturally.

There are many more authors that have influenced in some way how I write, but those are the two that have stayed with me and have had lasting impacts on my writing style.

How early did you begin writing?

I’ve been writing since I learned how.

My earliest memories of writing include being told to write a story (I forget about what) whilst in elementary school, but I remember writing a fairly mysterious, border-line horror story that included my little brother. It became poems from there whilst in middle school (to the acclaim of the English teachers in the school), and finally full-grown novels at the tail-end of my middle school career where I started writing The Dark World.

What’s your writing process like?

Hmm. I don’t believe I have a process. Well, that is until recently at least.

Before I would only write what came to mind, and I still do to some affect, but now I make it a point to outline my bigger works, expounding on the story as I go. I find, no matter how I try to prepare for the writing journey, that I usually end up writing what comes to mind regardless of the outline sketched out.

What are some specific troubles you have with writing? How do you over come them?

Besides getting stuck in a story, wanting to get somewhere (usually more interesting) than where I am, I do get bogged down with wanting to jump over the hurdle and just write the intense action scene, or the ‘big-reveal’ scene and leave the fairly mundane stuff to someone else (but there never is anyone else, is there). I overcome these nonsensical problems by gritting my teeth and writing through the mundane scenes to get to where I’m going, or sometimes (and rarely), I’ll write the action scene I want to write, realize (usually) that it has no place in the story, and go back and write the mundane scenes anyway.

I’ve been asked a number of times about writing articles on overcoming writer’s block. For our fellow writers looking to “arouse their Muse”, how do you overcome writer’s block?

As I mentioned above, I do get stuck in my writing. I used to get seriously sad about experiencing writer’s block, but recently with my having to write the sequel to The Dark World, The Immortal’s Guide (my fans would not take no for an answer), I learned, the fairly hard way, that there was no such thing as a “Muse,” and that if I was to get paid for writing, it was a job like anything else.

In 2012, I hunkered down and threw away any fancies I had about my “Muse,” and wrote The Immortal’s Guide until I couldn’t take it anymore. I followed the outline I had penned, and within a very stressful year, completed it to meet my deadline. That was when I realized I could write without relying on a “Muse,” to motivate me. But of course there are moments where you can’t get anything out at all. These moments I allow myself to have (if I can spare them). I often go to family and friends for advice on any works as I’m writing them for inspiration as well.

When it comes to writing, do you keep a particular ritualistic schedule, or do you loosely write when the moment strikes?

Now that I’m editing The Dark World, I do make myself try to get at least a few hours of editing in every day if I can. With finals and a puppy to watch over, it is often hard to find time as of now. But I know in the summer I’ll be back to writing every day (or every other day) to get it done.

As for my other projects, I do write when the moment strikes, but as I’ve said, I’ve tried to stop that and write at least every day, and if I don’t, I don’t beat myself up about it – there’s a time and place for everything after all.

Before Sun Rise Press is a quality publisher. Can you give a brief synopsis of the work you had published with them?

When the daring Miss Clarke enters a gentlemen’s club in London on one cold day in January, the year 1714, she is met with a most cunning vampire who would only see her his before the night is through. With several onlookers, unwanted solicitations, and the watching dark eyes of the mysterious Alexander upon her, Miss Patricia Clarke is forced before long to decide whether her desired night of frowned-upon fun is worth the trouble…and the blood in A NIGHT OF FRIVOLITY.

Finish this statement; I think writing should … drive you mad, and inspire you, in-turn, inspiring others to create what they want to create without fear of disapproval or denial.

___

Keep your bite!

-S.C. Parris

Filed under: General Life, Inspiration, Interviews, Poetry, Short Stories, The Dark World: A Delacroix Novel, The Delacroix Series, The Immortal's Guide: A Delacroix Novel, Writing Process