C.M. Brown's Blog, page 22

DISCIPLE PART III BLOG TOUR

  DISCIPLE PART IIIBY L. BLANKENSHIP 
Book Blog: Disciple of the Fount
Writing Blog: Notes from the Jovian Frontier
Twitter: LBlankenship_sf

 Excerpt:
(Kate and her teacher, Elect Parselev, are readying the infirmary near the city gates. The enemy army is just outside, preparing its first attack.)
“The king! The king!” I heard the shouts only a few moments before the company of banners and black-garbed Guardsmen arrived at a canter. Many banners, and I spotted the prince’s among them. The warhorses kicked up dust in braking, and shunted to either side of the gate to work their way to a stop. All the riders wore full gear, helms included. The king’s bore a simple gold crown around its brow.
Atop the tower, a yell and the catapults thrummed, sending loose shot over the wall. The crews were at them in a heartbeat to winch the long arms back down. I looked back to the royal company at the foot of the towers and saw half the horses standing with riders, half without.
“I must…” I began, looking about at the rows of cots, the stacks of bandage rolls waiting. The nurses and orderlies stood waiting, too, watching the wall as I did. Waiting for someone to bleed. “Should the orderlies be in the gate towers?”
“When the rhythm’s set,” Parselev answered, though that only puzzled me.
“Is Saint Woden here?”
“His concern, not ours.” Through his hand on my shoulder, I felt kir pulse into me and my next breath came easier, deeper. “Take a little more.”
“But you —”
“Drew all I could hold from the Pool this morning. Don’t worry.”
The catapults, once reloaded, shot again. The tower’s trumpet announced something new and behind me, on River Road, orders were shouted.
From the tower came a scream: “Cover! Cover!”
A black cloud rose over the city wall, peaked and began to fall. My feet froze as the arrows plunged toward me, hissing, striking the kir shield and shivering from the effort. They thudded everyplace else, on wood and earth. Then men scrambled up from under their shields, on the wall, and resumed their work. I realized the enemy had largely missed; our archers were further up River Road.
From there came an order: “Loose!” Our smaller flock of arrows answered, cresting lower over the parapet above the gate itself and vanishing. 
And again: “Cover! Cover!”



 And now, I would like to welcome L. to my site and below are her answers to some interview questions I put to her about her writing and the background to the Disciple series.
Thanks for dropping by L. and good luck with the new release.


Carolyn

When did you start writing the series?I started Disciple, Part I, back in August of 2011 -- so it's been a little more than two years. The ideas had been simmering in my head for much longer, of course.
Did you have a reason for writing the series?I write because I need to. There are always personal questions buried in my stories, and part of why I write is to answer those questions.
How has it evolved?Disciplegrew into a grander, more romantic story than I expected. But I managed to keep a gritty edge on it, I think, which was something I very much wanted. Realism is very much a part of this story; I didn't want to fall into the usual fantasy tropes of overlooking the gut-level impact that wars and upheavals have on ordinary people.
Where do you think the story is going?Well, I know exactly where the story is going, actually… see the next question.
Are you intending to write a 4th book in this series?The fourth book is finished. Disciple is a six part series, which I know because I have written all six parts. I'm not that kind of writer who leaves readers hanging for years and years while pondering the next volume… :)
As for where it's going -- Kate has to shoulder increasingly large duties in helping her saints defend the kingdom, and also keep the two men she loves from killing each other.
What do you see will be next for you?Disciple, Part IV! That will be next year, though. More immediately, I am publishing the "prologue" to Disciple -- a little novella called Fire's First Kiss which is only available when I am running Kickstarter campaigns. There are other irons in the fire, too, in accordance with the first law of writing: keep writing!

INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP

   IT IS TIME FOR 
INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUPTo find out more about this group,visit:Alex J. Cavanaugh (The Ninja Captain)
at http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com.au
 THIS MONTH IT IS THE TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP!
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY 
TO CONGRATULATE
ALEX, 
FOR HIS ONGOING 
COMMITMENT TO KEEP THIS GROUP GOING,
AS I BELIEVE IT IS ONE OF THE BEST
MONTHLY MEMES TO BE PART OF.

September’s co-hosts are:Chemist Ken http://hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com/SL Hennessey http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/Michelle Wallace http://www.writer-in-transit.co.za/Joylene Nowell Butler http://cluculzwriter.blogspot.com/
YOU CAN JOIN THIS GROUP BY ADDING YOUR NAME USING THIS LINK - http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html   I have received some sad news tonight - My great aunt has passed away at the ripe old age of 100+ and I am feeling a little sad. She was the last of that generation of my family tree and will be sadly missed. God bless you Aunt Aggie.  This month my life has been so busy, that I must admit that I have spent little time with my writing and have also been hard pressed to be completely involved in visiting my blogging friends. I have neglected both these areas to allow time for life commitments. 
I hope to rectify this, during the coming month and look forward to dropping by and catching up with most of you.

Cover Reveal - Disciple Part lll

Today, I am helping L. Blankenship with the cover release of the third book in her series, Disciple 
Blurb:



Kate fought for her place as a healer in the war’s front lines. Serving her homeland has been her goal since her magical gifts earned her a coveted apprenticeship with the kingdom’s greatest healer. She believes she’s prepared. 
But nothing’s simple when defending a besieged capital city — or her heart.She loves the prince, who means to protect her even though his duties as a knight keep him on the battlements, fighting the enemy’s monstrous army.
Kate’s husband is the one who checks on her, lingers over dinner, and slowly but surely charms her. She’s all too aware that her beloved prince threatened to kill him if he touches her. 
As the enemy thunders against the city walls, the kingdom needs more from Kate than just her healing magic. All disciples must put aside their tangled feelings and stand in the homeland’s defence.
Kate believed she's ready for a war. She isn't.

TEASER TUESDAY - THE LURE OF FOOLS BY JASON KING

Today, for my Teaser Tuesday I am hosting Jason King and his new release - The Lure of Fools
A New Adult Fantasy
Release Date - 8/10/2013
Below my Teaser from The Lure of Fools, Jason has put together a piece on his ruminations on the emergence 
of the dark fantasy genre. 
I hope you join me and welcome Jason to my site 
and I hope you also enjoy his article.
Welcome Jason and good luck with your new release! Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along!Just do the followingGrab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE ANY SPOILERS!
Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away!


You don't want to ruin the book for others!


The Lure of FoolsbyJason Kingwww.authorjasonking.com
Blurb: “Adventure is the lure of fools, and excitement glamour to the gullible. The siren song of the world is as music to the wanderer’s feet, but that dance leads only to the soul-less grave.”

So Jekaran’s uncle has warned him. But that doesn’t stop him from leaping at the exhilarating chance to single-handedly rescue a beautiful woman from a gang of lecherous thieves.

But the bored farm boy quickly finds that he is no match for the group of angry street thugs, and only escapes death by bonding a magical sword that grants him the strength and skill of a master swordsman. Unfortunately, a peasant wielding such magic is forbidden and punishable by death.

Thus Jekaran finds himself a fugitive with his fate tied to that of the exotic and mysterious, Kairah; a fey woman who must deliver a dire warning to the king that, if heeded, could prevent the very extinction of humanity.
MY TEASER:That’s when Jove saw something that gave him pause; a perfect trail of dead grass behind him, running all the way back from where he left the road. He looked down to his feet and found the grass upon which he stood dried and brown, while all around him it remained healthy and green. He took an experimental step forward and drew in a sharp breath as the patch of meadow withered before his eyes. I’ve changed, he concluded. The power that came over me in Almott changed me.
King, Jason. The Lure of Fools (Kindle Locations 68-71). Curiosity Quills Press. Kindle Edition.


                


Fantasy Comes of Age

What does your mind conjure when someone says “fantasy” in relation to books? Is it a wizard in a grey robe with a pointy hat? Or is it a knight in shiny, silver armor hiding behind his shield while a gigantic red dragon tries to roast him with a cone of fire? Both seem to be a common idea of the definition of fantasy fiction, and that was how the genre began, but it’s expanded to include a lot more as those who regularly read fantasy know. Now it is not uncommon for fantasy fiction to deal with themes of deep philosophical questions, complex moral dilemmas, exploration of  gritty true crime elements, or commentaries on real-world politics. 
Gone are the days of the valiant knight saving the virtuous princess from the malevolent red dragon. Now our fantasy-fiction is not so simple. Take George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series for instance. This is a very dark story full of political intrigue, brutal violence, and lots of sex.—FULL DISCLOSURE: I am not a fan of this series. My Mormon sensitivities prevented me from even finishing the first book, but I have read other novels like it.—Of course, this has led to the coining of a sub-genre called “Dark Fantasy,” which has become increasingly popular in the last few years. Even young adult novels have become darker.
Now please don’t misunderstand. My writing also contains some of these dark elements—the prime protagonist in my new novel, The Lure of Fools, is a serial killer who gains magical powers. But something definitely has changed over the years. What happened? Well, I could launch into a theoretical commentary on society and world view, but I think the answer is simpler. Fantasy is a wonderful medium for analyzing real-life issues. I know that sounds strange, but if you think about it, it makes sense.
We live in a day and age in which we receive a steady media diet of bad news; graphic reports of the most horrendous crimes, political scandals, wars, and large scale natural disasters. I often feel powerless to change these things, which is where my imagination kicks in. What if someone could stop that child murder by seeing the future? What if the rebellion in Egypt was instigated by the machinations of a dark wizard? What if elemental magic let someone challenge the might of an oncoming hurricane? Take just about any real-world theme and you can find a place for it in fantasy fiction. For me it’s become a kind of therapy, a creative way for dealing with the real darkness in our world. Which in the end is what I think is really at the heart of what it means to express one’s self through writing.     

RED WHITE AND BLUE BLOGFEST

Hosted by Melanie Schulz @ http://melanieschulz.blogspot.com.au/
On September 2, 2013, the Red, White and Blue Blogfest is happening!Post a short story of 500 words or less on your site on September 2, 2013, with a military theme to be part of the Blogfest!   All the stories entered will be complied into an anthology ebook that will be available on Kindle- All proceeds to go to Operation Purple, a great organization that sends children of our military to summer camp, free of charge.  And if that's not incentive enough, this is also a contest. One randomly chosen entry will win a $50.00 amazon gift card, as well as a signed copy of, The Newstead Project by Melanie Schulz.
 A tally system is to be used to pick the winners. The more tallies you get, the more chances you have to win. 
HERE IS MY ENTRY:
Contemplation, Elation and Dreams  By Carolyn Brown (500 words) The young man sat waiting, contemplating his dreams and aspirations, oblivious to the noisy, busy atmosphere surrounding him. Soon the truck would be here to transport his battalion to the airport to board the plane headed to Afghanistan, relieving the duties of men who had completed their tour of duty.
He had always wanted to walk in his father's footsteps and proudly took up enlistment as soon as he come of age, hoping to fulfill his dreams and live up to the memory of his dad. 
In the quietness of his mind, he hoped he would achieve greatness during this combat mission and be able to live up to his father's image. A great man. A hero, who never made it home alive, but was dearly loved and respected by his friends and family.
A tear slips from his eye, as he thinks back to the day his mother received the visit from the military official, pulling up to their run down house in the shiny, black Hummer, outstretched hand holding the official letter from the Secretary of State, which changed their lives forever. Wiping the spilt emotion from his face with the back of his hand, he stands and joins his buddies, pushing back his hurt and emptiness, he puts on his brave face and heads to the truck, climbing in with his platoon to head off to the other side of the world to do battle and fight for peace and justice, just as his father did many years ago.
“Hey, Joe!  I saved a seat for you.” A second young male gestures towards him, beckoning his presence. He sits in the seat provided and bumps shoulders with his buddy as he plants his rear end into the seat. “It won’t be long now, and all our hard training will be fulfilled.”
“Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing.”
“Are you excited? I know I’m pumped!” the tall, blond haired guy next to him interjects.
“Suppose so.” Joe replies, “I was just thinking, you know about what happened to my dad and how I felt the time he didn’t come back.”
“Mmmm, yeah it’s tough man, but hey, he did end up a hero!”
“Yeah, but I miss him, you know.”
“Well I think the best thing to do, is to make him proud of ya!” blond guy replies.
“I’ll try, thanks man.” Joe, forces a brilliant smile, but his fears are still sitting just below his conscious thoughts and he tries hard to quell them to fit in with the emotional high his mates surrounding him are portraying.
There is an excitement inside the truck, he does not understand. His long term grief has overshadowed any feelings of elation and anticipation, which seems to be enveloping his fellow platoon members. Joe just feels empty and alone and secretly wishes that this was over and that he was headed home. He forgets the reasons why he had enlisted in the first place and questions his own judgement.

SEPTEMBER IS FOR SEQUELS GIVEAWAY HOP

 
September is for Sequels Giveaway Hop
September 2nd to 9th
Hosted by Lisa Loves Literature & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer


For this hop, I am giving away 5 e-book copies of the second book in The Protector Series, titled - He Came For Mine. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!!!
I have included the Linky List of this Blog Hop at the end of this post for your convenience!
He Came for Mine  (The Protector #2) byCarolyn Brown Desperate to save the life of a child he never knew he had, Sebastian returns to Earth to find Jazz in the arms of another man. A man he knows all too well. One who cannot be trusted! Sebastian worries if Jazz’s feelings for him have fleeted in his absence and he vows to win her back.

Jazz struggles to find ground between Sebastian and her new life, unsure who to trust and still holding resentment for Seb’s abandonment. She seeks solace through someone who was there for her when she needed to pick up the pieces.

After coming to terms with her new life, Jazz is struck down with confusion and longing when Sebastian suddenly returns. However, a dark battle is forthcoming, one that can only bring bloodshed.

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Heirs of War - Book Tour / The Disciple Blog Tour

 Today, I have two new releases which I am helping promote. The first is Heirs of War, by Mara Valderran. When scheduling this post, Mara promised to send a piece to be included in the post about how music influenced her writing, which I would have loved to share with you, but unfortunately, I have not received it. She most likely has been too busy with her tour and forgot, or it has gone astray, which is a shame, but these things happen. Anyway, I wish her great success with the rest of the tour.

Heirs of War
By Mara Valderran
Seventeen-year-old Zelene doesn't believe in magic or prophecies. When she's told she is part of the prophecy foretelling five powerful girls bringing peace to the war-torn worlds, she scoffs. The idea of other dimensions layered on top of the world she lives in is almost as ludicrous as the idea that she might be able to save them. When a strange man attacks her using magic, she finds she can't argue with reality.

As their enemies strike, the girls are taken back to their world and discover the ties binding them together. Rhaya has always had an uncanny knack for reading people, but can’t seem to unravel the mystery tying her to her new friend Isauria. For years, Isauria has been dreaming of Terrena, a girl living her life on the run in a magical world ripped apart by the tragedies of war, completely unaware that she is psychically linked to the world she was born in.

Zelene views them all with a distrustful eye, familial bonds or no, and can think of a place or two she’d like to shove the crown she supposedly inherited. When she learns that her long-lost twin Ariana has been captured by the rebels, Zelene’s attitude changes. She finds herself torn between her need to save the sister she has never known and her longing to run away from the responsibilities thrust on her young shoulders. She doesn’t know how she is supposed to go against an army of magic-wielding rebels when her own ability to manipulate the elements is still locked within her, but she doesn’t think she can trust the elders to rescue Ariana when it seems their medieval politics are what brought about the war in the first place. With all that is at stake, the answer becomes clear to Zelene.

Screw the worlds. She’s getting her sister back.

Author Bio
Mara Valderran has been coming up with stories pretty almost since she could talk, often commandeering her brother's G.I. Joes to play out her fictional tales alongside her Barbies. Once she hit adolescence and realized playing with dolls wasn't cool anymore, she started putting her ideas to paper. And she hasn’t stopped since.

Mara is more than just a madwoman with a writing box. She lives in the south with her husband and demanding cat. She hopes to one day meet Daniel Jackson from SG1, or at least the actor who played him. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, playing video games, or spending time at her favorite local coffee shop. 

www.maravalderran.com
https://www.facebook.com/authormaravalderran
https://twitter.com/MaraValderran

Mara Valderran
The Writerly Exploits of Mara Valderran
Heirs of War on Goodreads

  The second author I am hosting today is Michelle Browne! This is the second half of her Blog Tour package, celebrating the release of The Underlighters!



Art by Kit Foster, © 2013. used with permission of the artist. http://www.kitfosterdesign.com/


The Underlighters By Michelle Browne


Nightmares are bleeding into her waking world. Children are going missing. To save them, she must overcome her wreck of a personal life and a closet full of skeletons. She doesn’t know if the horrors in the shadows are real...or if she is going mad. 
18-year-old Janelle Cohen is an electrician in an underground city. The world above has been swal-lowed by mind-destroying Dust. Her small life changes forever when a dragon attacks her on the way home from work. 
Her friends worry that she has the Fever, Dust-induced insanity. As more monsters strike down citizens, they change their minds. A terrifying trip to the surface of the world, the ancient and abandoned Up, deepens the nightmare. With no world left above, she and the other Crows cannot afford to fail… 
Reviews: 5 stars: “…You will be rewarded with a dive into the depths of imagination that may leave you questioning, breathless and inspired.” –www.TracingTheStars.com
5 stars: “… Engaging, ground breaking prose that is not afraid to test the reader’s boundaries. “—Sara Celi
5 stars: “…A wonderful read that is full of life, nightmares, fear, and dreams.” –Casey Peeler
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for an exclusive chance to win a very exclusive prize pack! Three winners will be selected…don’t miss out!


a Rafflecopter giveaway
*****
Find Michelle on Twitter, Facebook, and on Tumblr. More interviews and witty commentaries are coming. Keep checking back to see those surprise posts, too. This is your darling SciFiMagpie, over and out! 
Read a sample of Part I, Chapter 1 • Read a sample of  Part II Cover and blurb for  Part I  or  Part II

TEASER TUESDAY

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along!Just do the followingGrab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE ANY SPOILERS!
Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away!


You don't want to ruin the book for others!

Angelfire   (Dark Angel #1) byHanna Peach 
Blurb:

An army of angels walks among us. They have kept us safe and ignorant − so far.

Earthbound for centuries and ruled by the Elders, they have established hidden cities, a society and the Code: obey your Elders, kill all demons, eliminate Rogue-angels, protect the mortals, remain hidden. Their warriors are the ungifted Earthborn angels armed with blades and the “borrowed magic."



 Teaser:

 Alyx is in a daze as she drifts through the city the next morning on her way to class. Groups of other Seraphim laugh and jostle around her on their way about the city. She feels separate from them like a ghost moving through them. Storekeepers are flinging open their doors and fixing up their displays. Alyx feels separate from them too. Only the wind seems to understand her as it shakes the bones of the trees making uneasy shushing noises.
Peach, Hanna (2012-11-22). Angelfire: an epic/urban fantasy series (Dark Angel #1) (Dark Angel series) (Kindle Locations 1247-1250). Gypsy Publishing. Kindle Edition.

TEASER TUESDAY - WELCOME TO ADELHEID BLOG TOUR (MIA DARIEN) HOSTED BY MASQUERADE TOURS

 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along!Just do the followingGrab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE ANY SPOILERS!
Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away!


You don't want to ruin the book for others!
This week I am hosting Mia Darien as part of her Blog Tour for her new release"Cameron's Law"and have decided to include this book in my Teaser Tuesday post.I must make an apology to Mia, as I promised to review Cameron's Law for this post but with work and family commitments I haven't had the time to read, so I make a promise to post a review soon. Cameron's Law  (Adelheid #1) byMia Darien
Blurb:

Cameron's Law has made all supernatural creatures legal citizens, and the boy next door has suddenly become the werewolf next door. With Sadie Stanton, vampire and one of the public faces of the legislation, calling the little town of Adelheid, Connecticut home, it can't help but be a focal point for these once mythical beings.

But when vampires start attacking werewolves without provocation, Adelheid draws the attention of those that would seek to have Cameron's Law repealed and would send the preternaturals back into the shadows they used to hide in, but without the safety of their anonymity and their law.

Can Sadie keep the city's two biggest species from descending into chaos and war before it brings all of them to harm? And can she do it when she herself gets thrust into the spotlight?

Teasers: 

Her pale lips smiled slightly. "During the time when the legality hearings were taking place, you managed to find a way to bridge the gaps between the various preternatural species, and even with the humans." She was talking and I knew she never talked without saying something, but I still wondered where this was going. "There have been some occurrences that have me concerned."

Mia Darien. Cameron's Law (Kindle Locations 318-321). Mia Darien.

His eyes lingered on my thigh for a while longer and I realized that I could hear his heart beat again, and it was speeding up. Suddenly I missed having a pulse. I missed feeling the way the heart races over something exciting, over that instant when you realized the way someone was looking at you, or drawing near to someone, like the way he was suddenly leaning in towards me.

Mia Darien. Cameron's Law (Kindle Locations 1268-1271). Mia Darien.

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Mia Darien
 Biography: Mia Darien is an indie author of speculative fiction, and a New England Yankee transplanted into Alabama clay. No matter her geography, she continues to stubbornly and rebelliously live the life of her choosing along with her family and pets. She doesn’t miss the snow. Website: http://www.miadarien.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.miadarienTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/MiaDarienGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/mia_darien  
                                                             Other books by Mia Darien


 

THE UNDERLIGHTERS BY MICHELLE BROWNE - SOON TO BE RELEASED!

The Underlighters


Nightmares are bleeding into her waking world. Children are going missing. To save them, she must overcome her wreck of a personal life and a closet full of skeletons. She doesn’t know if the horrors in the shadows are real...or if she is going mad. 
18-year-old Janelle Cohen is an electrician in an underground city. The world above has been swal-lowed by mind-destroying Dust. Her small life changes forever when a dragon attacks her on the way home from work. 
Her friends worry that she has the Fever, Dust-induced insanity. As more monsters strike down citizens, they change their minds. A terrifying trip to the surface of the world, the ancient and abandoned Up, deepens the nightmare. With no world left above, she and the other Crows cannot afford to fail… 
5 stars: “…You will be rewarded with a dive into the depths of imagination that may leave you questioning, breathless and inspired.” –www.TracingTheStars.com
5 stars: “… Engaging, ground breaking prose that is not afraid to test the reader’s boundaries. “—Sara Celi
5 stars: “…A wonderful read that is full of life, nightmares, fear, and dreams.” –Casey Peeler
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/shar...



Janelle’s world is about to get very, very dark. Are you ready? On August 30th, nightmares are going to become a little too real for comfort.


Art by Bonnie Patton, © 2013. used with permission of the artist. http://bpwordeater.com/
*****Thanks for dropping by the nest once again. Don't miss any of the phuquerie. Find Michelle on Twitter, Facebook, and on Tumblr. More interviews and witty commentaries are coming. Keep checking back to see those surprise posts, too. This is your darling SciFiMagpie, over and out!