Ellie Potts's Blog, page 28

Stone Guardians: Obsidian Blitz #bookboost #bookblitz #vampires

Genre: Paranormal Romance





Blurb:

This is a different take on the vampire mythos.

Long before man there were Stone Guardians, a race of immortal warriors who sat beside Goddess. Isobel is different, she is an illegal bound servant. Not human or Guardian, she is vampire. Last of her kind, kept hidden by her Guardian master Vilem of the Obsidian Clan. Youngest son to Ivy who is responsible for the uprising that tore the Stone Guardians into two factions. One who still worship the Goddess, and the other who defies her.

Isobel has seen a lot throughout her many years with Vilem. She has learned with great minds, taught by teachers who live in history books. But she is truly happy when she sings. Now she is the head singer of the local rock band À La Mode. Her band consist of her closest friends, who are fourth generation Guardians. As uninvited visitors show up and threaten Isobel’s life. She has to play the good little Guardian while her world unwinds.

Ellie Potts is a self-published multi-genre writer. She loves everything nerdy like dressing for pirate and renaissance faires, Steampunk, playing video games, planning to survive a zombie apocalypse, being a Whovian, Browncoat, Star Wars addict, and collector of arcane knowledge. She grew up in Merced County where most of her stories and books take place. She now lives in Tulare County with her husband, an attack Bugg, Darth Turtle, two spoiled goats, and a bunch of creepy chickens.  



https://authorelliepotts.wordpress.com/

https://twitter.com/fangirlellie/

https://www.pinterest.com/fangirlellie/





Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Se07zT

































































































































a Rafflecopter giveaway

https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop Winner!

Thank you all for sharing your lovely lucky stories. Right now when there is ugly in the world we overlook the good stuff. I loved them all. My lucky moments were finding my husband, him surviving heart surgery, moving to Visalia, getting a job that is not retail… That’s just some. Thank you all again! ❤❤

The winner of the hop is Brenda Callahan! An email has been sent. As a reminder the April newsletter will go out soon with more info on the next giveaway.

World Building… #writingwends

Blog hop winner will be announced later after I get off work.

Let’s talk about World Building. The beauty of fantasy is the writer has full control over their creative world. They can make it as similar or foreign to the reality we know. Still, things have to make sense within this world. It has to have rules. Here are some things to think about when world-building.

1. Does it take place on Earth? The entire universe is at a writer’s disposal, but there’s nothing as comfortable as good old Earth. If Earth is your starting ground, then you have to consider: What time period (future, past, present)? What, if anything, is fundamentally different? What else changes because of this fundamental difference? Does it take place on a planet at all? What other objects might hold life (spaceships, asteroids, etc)? Is life on the new world carbon-based? Are there oceans? Only land with water underneath? No water at all? When considering toying with any of these, it’s helpful to do some research on ecology to see how life has depended on certain characteristics, and then think how that life might have adapted without it.

2. What are the physics? Leaving Earth opens many doors to tweak essential characteristics humans have come to take for granted. Think about what fundamental differences a foreign planet might have, and how it might affect life. For example, the planet could be like the moon and not rotate, only showing one face to the sun at all times. There would be a permanent light side and dark side of the world, with drastically different climates. How would this affect civilizations on each side, or other life? Circadian rhythms and sleep? Maybe the entire planet has the same climate, or storms the size of oceans instead of small cities. Think about some of the fundamental things that make life (for us) livable (orbiting the sun, tides with the moon, ozone layer, atmosphere, ocean currents, rainfall, etc) and ask what might have to be different if each is changed. There are tons of factors here.

3. And what about the animals and the plants? Look at Earth dynamics. In animals, top predators tend to be bigger, breed less frequently, and have smaller litters, whereas heavily preyed upon animals are smaller, faster, and can produce a lot more offspring in a much shorter time to replace themselves. The types of animals present can affect a civilized society. It has been shown that humans in areas with easily domesticated animals have progressed in technology faster than those without. What are the migration patterns? How does this affect where civilization is located?

When coming up with specific plants or animals to populate your world, look to already existing examples on Earth. What’s its life cycle look like? What specific adaptations does it have for its environment? Consider modeling after extinct animals from natural history as a starting point. Also, look to unique/interesting characteristics on our own planet. For example, lions will often kill the offspring of a lioness to put her in heat and to ensure the purity of the bloodline. Where can such a trait lead when you put your imagination to work? If magic is part of your world, how do animals play into it? Are wizards more abundant on certain parts of the glove due to the flora and fauna found there?

4. Abra Kadabrah? Whether or not to incorporate magic is a big decision. Is society built around the magical system or does it only affect a small subset of individuals? Does it divide social groups, like in Harry Potter? Is it subtle, like in Song of Ice and Fire? Who is able to use magic? Are there laws which govern magic? Does the magic system have a base in science? If so, does the explanation make sense? Are there magical creatures besides humans? Has magic progressed or retarded technological advances at all? Why and how so?

5. How is society structured? Are there universities? Is magic studied there? Are people designated different ranks in society based on bloodline, hard work, military involvement? What is considered valuable (think more than just material: types of jobs, characteristics of beauty, art, etc, etc)? What’s the form of government? Feudal, aristocratic, oligarchic, absolute ruler, democratic? Look to examples of how your own country and other countries do government and consider the major differences stemming from it. Does the structure you choose make sense with other elements (magic, Earth/not Earth, flora/fauna)?

6. What makes a man a man, and a woman a woman? Consider the seahorse, where the female produces the eggs but the male carries around the babies in its pouch to eventually give birth. What fundamental assumptions about gender roles might you want to turn on its head? Do women go to war? Are people assigned gender by life-path rather than genetics? Or maybe they are assigned by what society needs at the time? What are the expectations, how might they be violated, and what are the consequences?

Of course, there are TONS of things to consider when world-building, and an author can turn any little characteristic into a significant one with the right emphasis and crafting around it.

Lucky Leprechaun Give Away Hop is still going… #giveaway

Just a reminder the Lucky Leprechaun Hop is still going. https://authorelliepotts.wordpress.com/2016/03/15/lucky-leprechaun-giveaway-hop-bloghop-giveaway/ For those who already stopped in thank you for sharing your wonderful stories. :) Winner will be announced tomorrow around 12 PM Pacific time.

Sunday snippet Island of the Zombie King… #snippet #zombie #bookboost

They were leaving the store when they heard screams from the area where the soldiers where. “What’s.—” Joseph didn’t finish as gunshots echoed through the mall, and people came running past them.

Kiley grabbed a man’s arm. He looked at her, frightened. “Let go of me,” he said, his voice full of panic.

“What’s happening?”

“We are all fucking dead!” he started shouting. “They’re in.”

She let him go. Her eyes darted around. “Come on, guys,” she said, running over to the burger joint. She jumped the counter, landing hard on her feet. The guys followed her. Tony and Carlos, both the shortest of the group, took longer. They huddled at the back of the restaurant in the dark.

“What’s the plan?” Donner asked.

Kiley had dropped her stuff on the ground and went over to the broiler. She pulled it forward, disappearing behind it. Joseph peeked around at her. “What are you doing?”

“Remember when you had to teach me to close?”

He nodded. “Terrible times,” he said.

She gave him an angry look before she started to take the pieces off. “Good for me, I remembered some things. I also remember, as I took these parts off, how dangerous they could be. I want the long piece.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Because you can never have too many weapons.”

“We have guns.”

“Yes, but I have other plans. Here,” she handed him a big piece. As he left to find a place to put it, she grabbed the long sharp piece of metal off the broiler. She came back around with the metal stick in her hands. She turned at the screams out in the food court.

“If you have a plan, I say we go now,” Shane said.

She watched. The hurt soldiers had become zombies. The undead were too busy with all of the screaming people to notice the dark figures in the store. Tomb, she thought, running back behind the broiler and turning on the gas.

She went over to Shane. “I need your lighter.”

He didn’t ask why but fished around in his pocket and handed it to her. She grabbed the pickle bucket they used for a small trash can by the hand sink and dumped it into the big garbage can. They always forgot to dump it, so it was full of paper towels. She went over and grabbed some of the boxes on the back shelves and dumped the contents on the floor.

Understanding what she was doing, Joseph grabbed a few of the boxes by him, doing the same. He put them next to the garbage can. He grabbed her stuff for her … they were going to have to run once she lit it.

“Tony, the door,” he said.

“What if they are out there?” he asked in a panicky tone.

“They can’t be,” Joseph said. “The fire door was blocked in.” He then smelled the gas. “Kiley, what are you doing?”

“And where else does the door lead?” she asked him as she put a few more boxes on the heap.

He and Carlos looked at her, and then at each other. “The trash compacter,” Carlos said. “And it shouldn’t be blocked in.”

“Tony, the door,” Donner said. “Come on, Kiley. It’s sounding ugly out front.”

She spun the roll on the lighter and watched a flame spring to life then held it against the closest box for a few seconds until it caught. She then lit the paper in the big garbage can. More screams echoed through the store; louder, closer. Her eyes went to the front counter just as a zombie tore a chunk out of some man’s throat. Blood sprayed the yellow counter as it chomped away. It turned slightly, looking for more. The zombie caught sight of the fire and of her still holding the lighter. Its mouth opened, and blood coated its teeth and chin as it let out a moan and walked into the counter.

“Fuck,” she said as her hand started to burn. She dropped the lighter and turned. It was definitely time to leave. They raced out into the hall.

“My lighter,” Shane said sadly.

“I’ll get you a new one,” she said.

They got to the maintenance room which led right into the trash compacter room. “Hey, I’m parked here,” Joseph said.

“Your car can only hold four of us, pushing five. Not six,” Carlos said.

Kiley nodded. “Like the boss says,” she said, “We will make it fit.”

“Guys, we have a problem,” Tony said, looking down at the floor.

They all looked at the trail of blood leading out of the hall and into the room holding the compacter. “The room ain’t that big,” Carlos said.

“We can’t go back,” Donner insisted.

“We have to do it. The place is going to explode any second,” Kiley said. She had her metal stick in one hand and the other on the door. “Back me up, guys.” She turned the knob and pushed open the door.

She looked into the dark room and held her breath, reaching inside with her free hand, feeling for the light switch. Finding it, she flipped it on. The room already stunk of garbage, but there was another smell in there. The smell of death. Her eyes darted around, seeing nothing. She then looked down at the blood trail on the floor. She followed it slowly, one foot at a time. The guys had their guns pointed in different directions around the room.

The trail ended toward the back of the room. What she saw made her almost drop the metal stick, and her stomach heaved. Dark blood and gore ran down the walls, ending in a large puddle on the ground. In the middle of the puddle lay the torn torso of one of the new janitors. His head had been ripped from his body and lay on its side looking up at her, its mouth wide open in a silent scream.

She turned, disappearing behind the metal compartment they and other stores dumped their grease in, and threw up. Donner didn’t follow, but stayed beside the side of the grease pit. “We have to go,” he said, his voice gentle. He didn’t dare look at the mess at the back of the room.

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Okay,” she said. “I’m okay.” She came around to meet him.

Carlos was standing by the door, far away from whatever was back there. He didn’t want to even know what it could be. He only wanted to get the hell out of there. He didn’t notice the blood soaked hands until they grabbed his chubby neck. He released a deafening scream, and it echoed against the metal walls of the room. The corpse had him good. He struggled, but its hold on him didn’t budge. He had no real fighting ground. He screamed again as he felt the human teeth sink into the flesh of his shoulder, and then he felt numbness.

The others were trying to get him away from the zombie. No one dared to shoot because he was too close. Kiley remembered her metal stick. She pushed herself in close, knowing how dangerous it was. She swung the stick hard, hitting the zombie in the head. It turned, looking at her. Shane yelled for her to watch out just as she jammed the stick into the zombie’s eye. She shoved as hard as she could. The zombie fell backward.  She stepped on its chest, and using both hands, she moved the stick around as if stirring its brains. The zombie lay unmoving.

She left the stick where it was in the zombie’s head and went over to check on Carlos. “He’s hurt pretty bad,” Joseph said. Just then the gas caught, and the room quaked around them.

Read it now! http://www.amazon.com/Island-Zombie-King-World-Book-ebook/dp/B016AGLCAY

Book blind date?

I am gifting a few blind book dates via Kindle. Here’s the rules.

1. Reply with genre.

2. Add your email or you can email it to me @ eclecticellie@gmail.com

3. If you enjoyed your date please leave a review.

As a reminder the Luck Leprechaun Hop is still going check it out!

FanGirl Friday: Lucifer… #lucifer #newshowyoushouldbewatching #fangirlfriday

So out of the new shows that have came out there is one that I really love. Lucifer on FOX. Biggest fear, since I love it, FOX might cancel it. This is another comic book series turned into a show.

Based on characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg as a supporting character in the comic book series The Sandman, which later got it’s own comic book series Lucifer written by Mike Carey, both published by DC Comics’ Vertigo line.

This series follows Lucifer, the original fallen angel, who has become dissatisfied with his life in hell. After abandoning his throne and taking a vacation in Los Angeles, Lucifer indulges in his favorite things (women, wine and song) — until a murder takes place outside of his upscale nightclub. For the first time in billions of years, the murder awakens something unfamiliar in Lucifier’s soul that is eerily similar to compassion and sympathy. Lucifer is faced with another surprise when he meets an intriguing homicide detective named Chloe, who appears to possess an inherent goodness — unlike the worst of humanity, to which he is accustomed. Suddenly, Lucifer starts to wonder if there is hope for his soul.




The show is a mix of comedy and crime show. The actor who they got to play Lucifer, Tom Ellis, makes the show. We all know the story of Lucifer and his fall from grace. But seeing this from his side, how his job has put so much weight on his shoulders. Why should he be in charge of this darkness, why should sinners say they are doing it in his name. He didn’t ask for this. I recommend this for people who like crime/mystery shows who are not afraid of a supernatural add.

As a Reminder my giveaway is still going!

The real St. Patrick’s Day #thosewerentsnakes #paganlife #themoreyouknow

The St. Patrick mythology includes the claim that he banished snakes from Ireland.

It’s true no snakes exist on the island today. But they never did. Ireland, after all, is surrounded by icy ocean waters—much too cold to allow snakes to migrate from Britain or anywhere else. But since snakes often represent evil in literature, when Patrick drives the snakes out of Ireland, it is symbolically saying he drove the old, evil, pagan ways out of Ireland.

The snakes myth and others—such as Patrick using three-leafed shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost)—were likely spread by well-meaning monks centuries after St. Patrick’s death.

Saint Patrick Day was placed on the 17th of March because the festival was designed to coincide, and, it was hoped, to replace the Pagan holiday known as Ostara; the second spring festival which occurs each year, which celebrates the rebirth of nature, the balance of the universe when the day and night are equal in length, and which takes place at the Spring Equinox (March 22nd this year). In other words, Saint Patrick’s Day is yet another Christian replacement for a much older, ancient Pagan holiday; although generally speaking Ostara was most prominently replaced by the Christian celebration of Easter (the eggs and the bunny come from Ostara traditions, and the name “Easter” comes from the Pagan goddess Eostre).

But now I think of it more as a day to celebrate the Irish in you, have some yummy corned beef and cabbage, and get shitfaced.

As a reminder there is still a giveaway going for the Lucky Leprechaun Hop!

Unicorn and the Serpent… #bookboost #fightlikeagirl #warriorprincess

In the Unicorn and the Serpent the Morgan’s pagan society still has touches of magic. I wanted a fantasy, but not to heavy with the elements. Yes there is a glimpse of a unicorn. Morgan meets a dragon briefly, she also encounters little people. One who happens to be a blood relative. The story can be chalked up as a fantasy story. But it is also a romance and mystery.

It is a story of a young woman who has to believe in herself to save her people. This story started off as 12 pages and turned into this great tale. Morgan has become of favorite to me in so many ways. As we grapple with our own lives, what we have to overcome to be what we need to become.

I thought this book fit in well with the Lucky Leprechaun Hop. Check out my original post.

Blurb:

The appearance of a unicorn means a great change is coming.

Princess Morgan, wild and fiery, heir to her father’s throne, can best any man with a sword. Now grown she is fearful of being Queen. But when visitors from a different kingdom show up Morgan is faced with great changes as their easy life is turned upside down.

If scared away there is a Serpent nearby. The serpent means a great sadness.

One other change occurs as mysteries unravel themselves to her. Morgan’s own feelings towards one of her guards. Faced with loss, love and some touches of magic Morgan has to become the Queen she is meant to be or succumb to a life worse than death-servitude.

Excerpt:

“I think we are lost Wind Dancer,” Morgan said as she petted her horse’s nose. “I am sorry. I was not thinking. Father is going to be angry.”

Her horse snorted. “See even you agree.”

She looked around the snow-covered forest. She saw a road leading out towards the mountains. The winter landscape made everything look foreign to her. She stopped, listening, hoping she was close to the river, but heard nothing.

“We can go to the mountains and find the main path to the castle. There must be a few.” She looked at Wind Dancer uncertainly. “It is the only idea I have. We can turn around, but we could be riding farther into the forest since I am off on my direction.”

Her horse snorted. “I know. It is cold just standing about waiting for something big and nasty to find us.” She got back onto Wind Dancer and started to guide her towards the mountains. Something in the back of her head said it might be the safest way to get back home.

Just as she thought of that, the sky opened. Slush poured on her, coating her and the horse, freezing her to the bone. She needed to get them out of the bad weather. The closer to the mountains they got, the darker the forest became. Thunder flashed above them, upsetting Wind Dancer.

She stopped the shivering horse to calm her, and noticed a light some yards away. She hoped for a forester’s house as they rode towards the light. As they got close, she knew it was not a forester’s house, but it might have been one once before. She slid off Wind Dancer and pulled her knife out.

She went to the empty hole that was once the door. “Hello,” she called in.

No reply came, so she led Wind Dancer inside. The main room was bare, but the stone floor was covered in hay. Wind Dancer went over to it and started eating. She felt bad; she had forgotten to see if she had eaten before she took her from the stable. Watching her horse eat made her own stomach grumble. She had not eaten since earlier that morning, and she too was hungry. But she doubted she would enjoy the hay as her horse did.

She noticed the glow she had seen came from one of the other rooms. She went to the doorway, knife in hand and looked into the room. She dropped the knife and stared into the room. A fire burned in the middle and a group of little people were either sitting or dancing around the glow.

A little man turned familiar emerald green eyes on her and smiled as he removed his small pipe. “She is here,” he said with a gruff voice.

All the others stopped and turned to look at her. “Come in, dear,” the man said, getting to his feet. He walked over to her. “Some of you take care of her horse and dry her. No need for the animal to be sick.”

He led her to the fire; the warmth felt so good. He pulled her down onto the log to sit. As soon as she did, small hands took her soaked cloak off and placed a dry, thick fur around her. The smell of roasted meat made her stomach growl. The small man must have heard, for he clapped his hands and another little person brought her a plate of food.

She ate hungrily as a cup of the sweetest barley was passed to her. After she had her fill, she felt better and finally looked around at all the little eyes staring at her. Their green color a little darker than hers and her fathers, but not by much.

“Who are you?” she finally asked.

“You know who we are. Agnes has many tales about us,” the man said. His bald little head shone in the firelight. Most of them either had grey hair or no hair at all. They wore brown frocks over darker brown breeches. Their feet wrapped in hides or leather.

“But they were tales.”

They laughed normal, human laughter. “Agnes told old tales,” the man said. “She has kept us here on the human plain, even though our time has passed many years ago. Some of us still believe the time will return when we lived peacefully with your kind, but I fear it is too late for us.”

“You forgot to introduce yourself to her,” a man sitting across from them said.

He jumped to his feet. “How rude of me. I am Patty, my human name anyway.” He bowed to her. “We know who you are.  Your birth had been a huge celebration,” he said as a sad look passed over his face.

“You know me?”

“Of course. We make it a habit to look after kin.”

“Kin,” she said, shocked again. “You mean we are related?”

Patty stared at her with those eyes. “You find that unusual?”

She thought about it and shook her head. “I guess not.”

“You are a child of our own queen. She fell for a human. How unlikely it had been. She gave up her immortality for this love and the child she bore.”

“She was our cousin,” the other man said.

“So we are cousins?” she asked.

“We are blood. No matter what,” Patty said. “We have been watching over you. We were told that your life could change a great many things. A change is about to happen; she has mentioned it.”

“She who?”

“The unicorn. She has told us. She told us that the dragon is stirring. He has not stirred for many years. She said our time has passed, and we shall watch to see what is to happen before we leave.”

“Where do you go?”

He smiled at her. “We go where everyone else goes when they die.”

A tear slid down her cheek as she thought of Agnes. “But you are immortal, at least Agnes said so.”

“We choose to go to the other realm. Where the ancestors and gods walk and live happily. We are only sad that it had to come at this time. Men do not want to believe in us and our kind anymore; even the stories are getting mixed up. Minds are clouded.”

“But mine is not. We believe in the stories. We hold festivals.”

He patted her hand. “It is not enough. We grow old and tired here. We must hide, before, we had great villages like yours and others. But now, time has changed.”

“I hate changes,” she said grumpily. “Why must change occur?”

He shrugged. “The world is always changing, and we must change and adapt to it. It has always been this way, and will continue to go on. If you fight it, you lose. The best way is to except change and use it.”

“Agnes said something like that to me once,” she said, staring into the fire.

“Your grandmother was very wise, and in time, you too will be as wise.”

“Go on, give it to her, the night is falling,” the other man said.

Patty reached into his pocket and pulled out a green stone. “This is the Laim Nair, but to make it easy, it is a wishing stone. It will help you only once and when you are in great need.”

She took it from his hand and held it up, looking at it in the firelight. “It is very beautiful.” Weariness fell over her, and suddenly she felt very tired.

“It was the barley. You shall be safe here. Nothing should harm you. In the morning, you must go to the mountains. Keep a good eye out for wolves; they can be pesky buggers.”

She could not keep her eyes open. Sliding from the log, she rolled into a ball beside the fire and fell fast asleep. The little men covered her and all sat around watching her sleep.

“She looks like your sister,” the man said on the other side of the fire.

Patty looked down at Morgan. “That she does. Our ancestors be blessed.” He stroked her auburn hair. “At least when we are gone, a little of us will always be alive.”

“And what of the boy?”

Patty stared at his cousin. “She will know the truth soon enough. Not from us, though. That is not for us to tell her.”

Read it now: http://www.amazon.com/Unicorn-Serpent-Ellie-Potts-ebook/dp/B00DMQ8NH6 

 

 

 

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop… #bloghop #giveaway

Luck

noun

1.

success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one’s own actions.

“it was just luck that the first kick went in”

synonyms: success, prosperity, good fortune, good luck

“I wish you luck”

verb informal

1.

chance to find or acquire.

“he lucked into a disc-jockey job”

Luck is believing you’re lucky. Tennessee Williams

The word luck itself is Middle Dutch in origin. The word comes from ‘luc,’ a shortening of ‘gheluc,’ meaning “happiness,good fortune.”

The word was probably introduced into the English language in the 15th century as a gambling term.

Top Ten list of good luck charms.

3: a lucky number that signifies strength because of the Trinity

7: a lucky number

A bride should be carried through the door of their new home for good luck.

a buckeye in your pocket is good luck

A cricket in your house is good luck

A horseshoe hung in the bedroom will keep nightmares away.

A lock of hair from a baby’s first haircut should be kept for good luck

A rabbit’s foot brings good luck

A ring around the moon means that rain will come in three days.

A sailor wearing an earring cannot drown

So now do you feel lucky? I hope you do.

The giveaway is pretty easy. I just want to hear about your luckiest moment in your life by leaving a reply to this post. One random lucky winner will win a $10 amazon gift card. So please leave your email on your post.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0e6394be32/?

I hope you are having fun hopping. Here is the link to continue on.

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to continue on the hop…