Kai McCarthy's Blog
October 1, 2015
Fall 2015 YASH
Great books are in the hunt this time around, I can feel it! With so many authors and so many new books, who wouldn't be excited? I know of at least 23 I already want to read. But, first things first, let me explain what the hunt is. In the lovely Mrs. Houck's words:
"Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are EIGHT contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the PINK TEAM--but there is also a blue team, a gold team, a green team, an orange team, a red team, a teal team, and a purple for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!
If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the pink team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by October 4, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered."
SCAVENGER HUNT POST
GILLIAN BRONTE ADAMS is a sword-wielding, horse-riding, coffee-loving speculative fiction author from the great state of Texas. During the day, she manages the equestrian program at a youth camp. But at night, she kicks off her boots and spurs, pulls out her trusty laptop, and transforms into a novelist. She is the author of Orphan’s Song, book one of the Songkeeper Chronicles, and Out of Darkness Rising.You can find more information on Gillian and her books here:~ Her website
~ Facebook~ Buy her book
THE BOOK
Who Will Keep the Song Alive?
Every generation has a Songkeeper – one chosen to keep the memory of the Song alive. And in every generation, there are those who seek to destroy the chosen one. When Birdie's song draws the attention of a dangerous Khelari soldier, she is kidnapped and thrust into a world of ancient secrets and betrayals. Rescued by her old friend, traveling peddler Amos McElhenny, Birdie flees the clutches of her enemies in pursuit of the truth behind the Song’s power.
Ky is a street–wise thief and a member of the Underground—a group of orphans banded together to survive . . . and to fight the Khelari. Haunted by a tragic raid, Ky joins Birdie and Amos in hopes of a new life beyond the reach of the soldiers. But the enemy is closing in, and when Amos’ shadowed past threatens to undo them all, Birdie is forced to face the destiny that awaits her as the Songkeeper of Leira. Book one of the Songkeeper Chronicles.
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
Gillian has provided us with a behind-the-scenes with Amos McElhenny. *swoon* If you've read her book, she offers tips.
Folks who have read my novel Orphan’s Song tend to settle on Amos McElhenny as their favorite character. He is a travelling peddler, formerly from the Westmark, a boggy moorland on the coast of Leira, so he has a bit of a salty tongue, if you catch my drift. He can be a bit brusque, and he’s not the man to back down from a fight, but when it comes down to it, there’s little he cares for more than seeing that his wee lass, Birdie, is kept safe … and how can you find fault with that? As part of a joke in a recent blog post—a joke, mind you—I made a comment about how Amos might meet his doom in the course of a story, and the response quite literally blew me out of the water! Quite honestly, I feared for my life. Because Amos is also one of my favorites, I couldn’t resist the change to give you all a bit of an insider’s look into his character. You see, Amos has a bit of a penchant for inventing curious insults and phrases. Some are taken from the seafaring culture that he grew up in, but even those Amos generally manages to tweak just enough to make them wholly his own. So ladies and gents, you are about to get a crash course in How to Talk Like Amos McElhenny!
Boggswoggle
This is a word that any aspiring young Amos McElhenny imitator must learn to master, as it is one of his favorites. By definition, boggswoggle is something that exists only in the realm of the fantastic, i.e. something so impossible that it could not, by any stretch of the ordinary imagination, be assumed to be true. Or it is something that is deceptive. A mirage. False.
In this context, it is often used by the Waveryders of the Westmark to describe the hazy shapes seen rising from the water during the late watches of the night. In fact, popular stories place the origin of this expression in sailors’ superstitions about the mysterious boggles and boogies that haunt the open waves. Example: “Of course not,” he blustered, but she saw the truth in his downcast eyes. “It’s sheer boggswoggle. Foolish twiddle twaddle and drivelin’ poppycock. Ye’re imagining things.”
Bloodwuthering blodknockers:
Generally assumed to be an expression of extreme dismay or disgust. Blodknockers are a form of enormous leech that infest the marshy grasses surrounding the bogs of the Westmark. When full grown, blodknockers are the length of an index finger and have a pale, grubby white appearance. Blodknockers differ from ordinary leeches in that blodknocker venom contains a powerful sedative, and although the bite of oneblodknocker will rarely bring down a man, a dog or smaller animal may well succumb to it.
Blodknockers, however, are rarely solitary creatures. Many an unwary traveler has stumbled into a nest and later been found drained of blood. Needless to say, those of the Westmark regard blodknockers as the worst type of pest and frequently burn the edges of the bogs known to be infested. The origin of the phrase bloodwuthering blodknockers is commonly attributed to Amos McElhenny after the loss of a pack beast to a blodknocker nest. Example: He swept his cap from his head, bowed to the tavern and its inmates, and stalked out into the night, thoroughly disgusted with himself and the whole evening. “Bloodwuthering blodknockers!”
Charbottle
Common Waveryder name for peat that has been dredged from the bogs and dried for fuel. When burned, it gives off a distinct aroma that permeates any food or drink cooked or warmed over the fire. Generally associated with warmth and home and comfort, though one could also associate it with ash and mud and decay. Scholars debate whether Amos’s use of the phrase in reference to his donkey Balaam was intended as an insult or a term of endearment, but that is another discussion for another day.
Example: He kicked at Balaam with his free foot. “C’mon! Get up, ye earth-shatterin’ lump of charbottle.”
Bilgewater
Another Amos McElhenny favorite, bilgewater is generally an expression of frustration. For those with any seafaring knowledge, little explanation is needed to understand the origin of this phrase. The water that fills the bilges of a Waveryder ship is generally the foulest and dankest water imaginable. Those unlucky sailors who happen to land “bilge” duty can expect miserable, wet, back-breaking and often futile seeming hours at the buckets or pump for the duration of their watch. Example: He looked up into the incredulous glares of tavern-goers gathered in a semicircle around his table. Bilgewater! That didn’t look good.
Congratulations, my friends! Once you master these four expressions, you will be well on your way to being able to talk like the self-proclaimed master of insult, Amos McElhenny. You may not, however, be well on your way to winning friends and influencing people. The cost of being a rough but loveable character, eh?*Note: All examples taken from Orphan’s Song, book one of the Songkeeper Chronicles.
And don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Gillian Bronte Adams, and more! Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the pink team and you'll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!
CONTINUE THE HUNTTo keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, Kate Karyus Quinn!
August 25, 2015
Second Chapter of FORMAL SECRETS
So, I promised all my lovely followers after every 100, I would post one chapter of my WIP, Formal Secrets (fka The Magpie's Daughter). I am so excited to share this entire story with you all, and it's nearly complete, but for now, feel free to read the first two chapters! (Again, this is unedited, raw material. If there are issues, feel free to inform me. I also appreciate feedback.)
Haven't read the first chapter? Read it HERE
Chapter Two
"Initially, it started twenty years ago as a bitter argument between rulers," Mathilda started, her voice making the story ominous. "The messenger came first, traveling back and forth two or three times a day. One day, after a few months, he came with a five guard escort. Some threats had been exchanged and the Garbonian leader, Malaki Fitzger, thought it best he was protected."But your father, Richard, believed killing the messenger sent its own message. So he waited until the messenger came alone, nearly a year later. The soldiers came then." She choked on her next words. “That's when Raelyn got attacked. We fought off those guards easily enough, though it was too late for my Rae. There were only twenty-five. All was calm then, the calm before the storm. A month later, the army surged the city."Your mother, Elizabeth, had been speaking with me for a few months. You had had infections repeatedly and she asked me for ailments, which I offered. I was surprised when she came to me that day, your brother in tow. I don't know—""Wait," Emmalyn interrupted. "My brother?""Charles, yes. As I was saying: I don't know why I accepted to care for you. Your father was the reason my daughter was dead, after all. I guess I thought it was a second chance at being a mother, which, in a way, it was. In other ways, it was torture. Little things you did would remind me of Raelyn." She smiled now. "Your spirits are so alike it scared me. It still does."The room was silent aside from the crackling fire. Then, "Where is my family now?" Emmalyn asked quietly.Mathilda shook her head. "I do not know. But knowing your mother's nature, I assume they went east.""East?""It's the way most people went. Garbonia is to the west so it's most fitting. Elizabeth wouldn't travel into colder climate with a young child. I know because you're the reason I went south."Emmalyn's head swam from all the new information. She had a family—a father, a mother, and a brother. All this time, she had thought Mathilda was her mother, never knowing her father, which explained why she was an only child. The news was like a blow to the gut and she found herself gasping for breath. "Why...?""Why didn't I tell you sooner?" Mathilda finished for her. "Because I told Elizabeth you couldn't know for your own safety, but I believed my own lie. You're old enough now, you have the right to know, and there's been no threats since the day Garbonia invaded."A feeling she couldn't describe slammed into her and Emmalyn knew what she had to do. "I need to find them. My family." The word was foreign to her but it sounded right. She had a brother. A sibling. She wondered if they looked alike, if people would know they were related, like Ceylon and Madeliene.Mathilda fingered the book she had set down. "I knew you would say that. I've been dreaming you'd leave for a while now, dreams of being alone. I hoped it would be on happier terms."Emmalyn remained silent, unsure what to say. She felt deep in her gut she needed to find her family, and Mathilda had been training her on survival skills since before she could walk, but she hated seeing her mother sad. No, she thought. Not my mother. Just the woman who raised me as her own for my mother.After an extended moment of silence, she stood and rubbed her sweaty palms on her skirt. "I should go pack a bag if I wish to travel at dawn."Mathilda was shocked. "So soon? Why not stay a week to finish your training. I will teach you other things, like evasion.""I know how to fight," she insisted."What if there are too many of them?""I will run.""They're faster than you."The woman scowled at her elder. "Then I will die.""You will evade," Mathilda corrected smugly.Emmalyn crossed her arms. "You're just trying to keep me here longer so I might forget.""I promise you, you will not. I am insuring your safety by finishing your education. You can strike, block, shoot, and run, but sometimes all of it isn't enough. Evasion could be the difference between life and death."She thought a while. "Very well. I will stay a week. It will allow me to gather extra provisions I may need as well."Mathilda smiled at her even though she wasn't sure a week would be enough. She hoped it would.
Emmalyn awoke in her bed a week later. Her packed bag lay against the wall, her traveling clothes folded on the chair next to it. Nervousness flooded through her, the excitement getting muted. A week ago she had been beyond ready to see faces that resembled hers. While growing up, she had remarked to her mother how they didn't look alike, and her response had always been, "That is because you take after your father."Now, her curiosity spiked more than ever. She was going to meet him to see for herself. She wondered if she looked equally like both of her parents. She could only imagine what her brother looked like. Only one thought was powerful enough to keep her tucked in her bed: What if they don't recognize me?Mathilda, too, lay in her bed, loneliness already setting in. She hadn't slept at all that night, her uneasy thoughts having kept her awake. A traveling child is better than a deceased child, she kept repeating.But if she died, you'd never know, the voice in her head argued, not for the first time.Dawn broke through the covered window when she heard Emmalyn rouse from her bed. She continued to lay there and listen to her daughter shuffle around. Emmalyn was nearly done making breakfast by the time Mathilda padded into the tiny room. Her brown curls bounced against her back as she glided around, picking things up and putting them away. Watching her made Mathilda's heart ache and she recalled a memory of Raelyn smiling as she served morning tea.The young woman gasped, nearly dropping the plate in her hands. "Mother! Why must you always be so silent?"Mathilda's smile was sad. "On the contrary, I was quite loud. You were so engrossed you took no notice."She set the plate down. "Still, it was enough to make my heart pause its beating for a short while."The bag by the door slumped over, making both women look over. Some of the contents spilled out and Emmalyn rushed to secure them again."So you're all set then," Mathilda stated. The ache deepened in her heart and her eyes began to sting but she refused to cry. "When do you expect to be leaving?""Just as soon as I finish breakfast.""And would you have woken me, if I had been sleeping, to say goodbye?"The young woman bowed her head in shame. "No, I would not have. Best to make the goodbye as easy as possible." She returned to the table and began to eat. "Don't look so sad. Even birds leave their mother's nests.""When did you get so wise?" Mathilda wondered aloud. "Why couldn't you just stay the young child forever looking up to her mother?" But, she reminded herself, losing a child to travel is better than losing a child to death.Emmalyn swallowed the bread in her mouth before replying. "It is past time I make my own way. You've said countless times I should be getting married already. Instead, I am off to find my family."They fell silent as Emmalyn ate, neither knowing what else to say. Time seemed to move faster to Mathilda, who was dreading the separation. Emmalyn tried not to be too hasty but her excitement of the upcoming journey spurred her on. When she finished, she set her plate in the basin and went to sling her bag over her shoulder. Mathilda followed her and hesitated, suddenly not sure what to do.Emmalyn opened the door before turning back to the woman she had called mother for so long. "Goodbye, Mother. I shall miss you fiercely. I will send a letter when I arrive to assure you I am safe."Mathilda's smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Come here." She opened her arms and Emmalyn walked to her, welcoming the embrace. Tears pricked her eyes and she pulled away before they fell. Emmalyn grabbed her bow and strung it across her chest. She exclaimed and rushed to her room, grabbing her dagger and sheathing it in her boot. She snatched her sword off the bed and belted it around her waist. Finally, she grabbed her cloak and pinned it together around her neck. As she walked out the door, she paused a moment to press a kiss on Mathilda's cheek. "I love you."Promptly, she left, her cloak dragging slightly on the ground behind her. Mathilda watched her go, the tears returning. She walked down the gravel path, her bag bouncing against her hip as her curls surrounded her shoulders. When she got to the end, she turned around. Upon seeing her mother in the doorway, she smiled and waved.Emmalyn had felt her mother's eyes on her the whole time she was walking, which had made her turn around. Sure enough, there she stood. After Mathilda had waved back, she returned inside. Emmalyn shook her head but she couldn't deny the ache in her chest and nervousness in her gut. All she needed to do was head north until she came to a vacant town, then head east. Mathilda had said the way was easy enough, and she had taught her how to decipher direction based on tree moss and the sun."I can do this," she told herself. "It's just walking." She heaved a breath and continued walking. As she approached the town she grew up going to, it settled in she may never see this place again. She took in the brown buildings, the animal skins hanging against the butcher's wall, for sale, and the flowers in full bloom even though winter was nearly upon them. They were beautiful but she knew better than to pick one. Once, she had and then she had witnessed just how angry Ms. Wickers could be, threatening to flay her alive if she caught her again.She smiled at the memory and briefly wondered if she should test her luck for old-time's sake. She wisely chose to walk on without disturbing the blooms. When she passed the store, she glanced inside to see Sarah, the woman she had grown up playing with. When she had turned ten, Mathilda had told her no more friends, to focus on training alone. Emmalyn had rebelled, of course, but it turned out Sarah, too, had to prepare for taking over the store one day. She had been running it for two years now, although she married Clark Lewis, who was by no means poor, and had two children with him already. But she loved it, she had told Emmalyn one day upon questioning. She couldn't see herself doing anything but running her mother's store, which had been her grandmother's before. Emmalyn could respect that.When she reached the outer gate, she stopped. If she took the next step, she would be taking her first step into a world she had never been introduced to. She could turn around and return home as if nothing was amiss. She started to turn around——And froze.What are you doing? her inner voice demanded. Your family is out there! You've been obsessing this whole week about what your brother looks like and how your birth mother is. You really want to go back and train? And for what? Test your training and venture out into the world. Use your bow, your sword, your dagger, and find what you've known all along was missing. Emmalyn glanced around, wondering if anyone had noticed her long pause. No one was there, however, and she stepped through the gate and into the world.
If you want more, follow me on Twitter (@kaimcca93), like my Facebook page, and don't forget to tell your friends! You all are awesome!
Haven't read the first chapter? Read it HERE
Chapter Two
"Initially, it started twenty years ago as a bitter argument between rulers," Mathilda started, her voice making the story ominous. "The messenger came first, traveling back and forth two or three times a day. One day, after a few months, he came with a five guard escort. Some threats had been exchanged and the Garbonian leader, Malaki Fitzger, thought it best he was protected."But your father, Richard, believed killing the messenger sent its own message. So he waited until the messenger came alone, nearly a year later. The soldiers came then." She choked on her next words. “That's when Raelyn got attacked. We fought off those guards easily enough, though it was too late for my Rae. There were only twenty-five. All was calm then, the calm before the storm. A month later, the army surged the city."Your mother, Elizabeth, had been speaking with me for a few months. You had had infections repeatedly and she asked me for ailments, which I offered. I was surprised when she came to me that day, your brother in tow. I don't know—""Wait," Emmalyn interrupted. "My brother?""Charles, yes. As I was saying: I don't know why I accepted to care for you. Your father was the reason my daughter was dead, after all. I guess I thought it was a second chance at being a mother, which, in a way, it was. In other ways, it was torture. Little things you did would remind me of Raelyn." She smiled now. "Your spirits are so alike it scared me. It still does."The room was silent aside from the crackling fire. Then, "Where is my family now?" Emmalyn asked quietly.Mathilda shook her head. "I do not know. But knowing your mother's nature, I assume they went east.""East?""It's the way most people went. Garbonia is to the west so it's most fitting. Elizabeth wouldn't travel into colder climate with a young child. I know because you're the reason I went south."Emmalyn's head swam from all the new information. She had a family—a father, a mother, and a brother. All this time, she had thought Mathilda was her mother, never knowing her father, which explained why she was an only child. The news was like a blow to the gut and she found herself gasping for breath. "Why...?""Why didn't I tell you sooner?" Mathilda finished for her. "Because I told Elizabeth you couldn't know for your own safety, but I believed my own lie. You're old enough now, you have the right to know, and there's been no threats since the day Garbonia invaded."A feeling she couldn't describe slammed into her and Emmalyn knew what she had to do. "I need to find them. My family." The word was foreign to her but it sounded right. She had a brother. A sibling. She wondered if they looked alike, if people would know they were related, like Ceylon and Madeliene.Mathilda fingered the book she had set down. "I knew you would say that. I've been dreaming you'd leave for a while now, dreams of being alone. I hoped it would be on happier terms."Emmalyn remained silent, unsure what to say. She felt deep in her gut she needed to find her family, and Mathilda had been training her on survival skills since before she could walk, but she hated seeing her mother sad. No, she thought. Not my mother. Just the woman who raised me as her own for my mother.After an extended moment of silence, she stood and rubbed her sweaty palms on her skirt. "I should go pack a bag if I wish to travel at dawn."Mathilda was shocked. "So soon? Why not stay a week to finish your training. I will teach you other things, like evasion.""I know how to fight," she insisted."What if there are too many of them?""I will run.""They're faster than you."The woman scowled at her elder. "Then I will die.""You will evade," Mathilda corrected smugly.Emmalyn crossed her arms. "You're just trying to keep me here longer so I might forget.""I promise you, you will not. I am insuring your safety by finishing your education. You can strike, block, shoot, and run, but sometimes all of it isn't enough. Evasion could be the difference between life and death."She thought a while. "Very well. I will stay a week. It will allow me to gather extra provisions I may need as well."Mathilda smiled at her even though she wasn't sure a week would be enough. She hoped it would.
Emmalyn awoke in her bed a week later. Her packed bag lay against the wall, her traveling clothes folded on the chair next to it. Nervousness flooded through her, the excitement getting muted. A week ago she had been beyond ready to see faces that resembled hers. While growing up, she had remarked to her mother how they didn't look alike, and her response had always been, "That is because you take after your father."Now, her curiosity spiked more than ever. She was going to meet him to see for herself. She wondered if she looked equally like both of her parents. She could only imagine what her brother looked like. Only one thought was powerful enough to keep her tucked in her bed: What if they don't recognize me?Mathilda, too, lay in her bed, loneliness already setting in. She hadn't slept at all that night, her uneasy thoughts having kept her awake. A traveling child is better than a deceased child, she kept repeating.But if she died, you'd never know, the voice in her head argued, not for the first time.Dawn broke through the covered window when she heard Emmalyn rouse from her bed. She continued to lay there and listen to her daughter shuffle around. Emmalyn was nearly done making breakfast by the time Mathilda padded into the tiny room. Her brown curls bounced against her back as she glided around, picking things up and putting them away. Watching her made Mathilda's heart ache and she recalled a memory of Raelyn smiling as she served morning tea.The young woman gasped, nearly dropping the plate in her hands. "Mother! Why must you always be so silent?"Mathilda's smile was sad. "On the contrary, I was quite loud. You were so engrossed you took no notice."She set the plate down. "Still, it was enough to make my heart pause its beating for a short while."The bag by the door slumped over, making both women look over. Some of the contents spilled out and Emmalyn rushed to secure them again."So you're all set then," Mathilda stated. The ache deepened in her heart and her eyes began to sting but she refused to cry. "When do you expect to be leaving?""Just as soon as I finish breakfast.""And would you have woken me, if I had been sleeping, to say goodbye?"The young woman bowed her head in shame. "No, I would not have. Best to make the goodbye as easy as possible." She returned to the table and began to eat. "Don't look so sad. Even birds leave their mother's nests.""When did you get so wise?" Mathilda wondered aloud. "Why couldn't you just stay the young child forever looking up to her mother?" But, she reminded herself, losing a child to travel is better than losing a child to death.Emmalyn swallowed the bread in her mouth before replying. "It is past time I make my own way. You've said countless times I should be getting married already. Instead, I am off to find my family."They fell silent as Emmalyn ate, neither knowing what else to say. Time seemed to move faster to Mathilda, who was dreading the separation. Emmalyn tried not to be too hasty but her excitement of the upcoming journey spurred her on. When she finished, she set her plate in the basin and went to sling her bag over her shoulder. Mathilda followed her and hesitated, suddenly not sure what to do.Emmalyn opened the door before turning back to the woman she had called mother for so long. "Goodbye, Mother. I shall miss you fiercely. I will send a letter when I arrive to assure you I am safe."Mathilda's smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Come here." She opened her arms and Emmalyn walked to her, welcoming the embrace. Tears pricked her eyes and she pulled away before they fell. Emmalyn grabbed her bow and strung it across her chest. She exclaimed and rushed to her room, grabbing her dagger and sheathing it in her boot. She snatched her sword off the bed and belted it around her waist. Finally, she grabbed her cloak and pinned it together around her neck. As she walked out the door, she paused a moment to press a kiss on Mathilda's cheek. "I love you."Promptly, she left, her cloak dragging slightly on the ground behind her. Mathilda watched her go, the tears returning. She walked down the gravel path, her bag bouncing against her hip as her curls surrounded her shoulders. When she got to the end, she turned around. Upon seeing her mother in the doorway, she smiled and waved.Emmalyn had felt her mother's eyes on her the whole time she was walking, which had made her turn around. Sure enough, there she stood. After Mathilda had waved back, she returned inside. Emmalyn shook her head but she couldn't deny the ache in her chest and nervousness in her gut. All she needed to do was head north until she came to a vacant town, then head east. Mathilda had said the way was easy enough, and she had taught her how to decipher direction based on tree moss and the sun."I can do this," she told herself. "It's just walking." She heaved a breath and continued walking. As she approached the town she grew up going to, it settled in she may never see this place again. She took in the brown buildings, the animal skins hanging against the butcher's wall, for sale, and the flowers in full bloom even though winter was nearly upon them. They were beautiful but she knew better than to pick one. Once, she had and then she had witnessed just how angry Ms. Wickers could be, threatening to flay her alive if she caught her again.She smiled at the memory and briefly wondered if she should test her luck for old-time's sake. She wisely chose to walk on without disturbing the blooms. When she passed the store, she glanced inside to see Sarah, the woman she had grown up playing with. When she had turned ten, Mathilda had told her no more friends, to focus on training alone. Emmalyn had rebelled, of course, but it turned out Sarah, too, had to prepare for taking over the store one day. She had been running it for two years now, although she married Clark Lewis, who was by no means poor, and had two children with him already. But she loved it, she had told Emmalyn one day upon questioning. She couldn't see herself doing anything but running her mother's store, which had been her grandmother's before. Emmalyn could respect that.When she reached the outer gate, she stopped. If she took the next step, she would be taking her first step into a world she had never been introduced to. She could turn around and return home as if nothing was amiss. She started to turn around——And froze.What are you doing? her inner voice demanded. Your family is out there! You've been obsessing this whole week about what your brother looks like and how your birth mother is. You really want to go back and train? And for what? Test your training and venture out into the world. Use your bow, your sword, your dagger, and find what you've known all along was missing. Emmalyn glanced around, wondering if anyone had noticed her long pause. No one was there, however, and she stepped through the gate and into the world.
If you want more, follow me on Twitter (@kaimcca93), like my Facebook page, and don't forget to tell your friends! You all are awesome!
August 22, 2015
|Cover Reveal| "Formal Secrets"
Okay, so I finally renamed my Fontanei WIP, formerly known as THE MAGPIE'S DAUGHTER, and I have the gorgeous cover set up, too! Ta-da!
Synopsis:
Emmalyn LeFae, an independent woman with no interest in getting married, is forced to go to a betrothal ball when her mother decides it's time she's wed. She meets a man, Ceylon, with the same views as her own, and they become fast friends. When her mother presses her to marry Ceylon, the truth comes out.
On a mission to find her real parents, she heads across the country to look for clues, Ceylon and his sister Madeliene with her the whole way. They soon get enough information for Emmalyn to end her search, but will being a part of a family be as good as she hopes?
With unsolved mysteries and a shocking turn of events, will Emmalyn finally be able to have the family she has dreamed of her whole life?
Synopsis:
Emmalyn LeFae, an independent woman with no interest in getting married, is forced to go to a betrothal ball when her mother decides it's time she's wed. She meets a man, Ceylon, with the same views as her own, and they become fast friends. When her mother presses her to marry Ceylon, the truth comes out.
On a mission to find her real parents, she heads across the country to look for clues, Ceylon and his sister Madeliene with her the whole way. They soon get enough information for Emmalyn to end her search, but will being a part of a family be as good as she hopes?
With unsolved mysteries and a shocking turn of events, will Emmalyn finally be able to have the family she has dreamed of her whole life?
July 29, 2015
First Chapter of current WIP
Okay, so I reached 100 followers on Twitter and I promised them a sneak peek at my current work-in-progress, The Magpie's Daughter (title subject to change), so without further ado... Sorry, but I'm still new at this and my blog was the only way I knew how to share it with y'all.
Potential cover idea
Prologue
People surged through the streets as arrows whizzed over their heads. Panicked crowds rushed in groups to the nearby forest. Men on horses galloped over citizens, slashing their swords at anyone in their way. One woman weaseled her way against the crowd, a screaming child in her arm as another, her son, clung to her hand."Mommy," the boy whined, barely heard over the shouting and screaming, "where are we going? I'm scared.""Shh, Charles, I know. Mommy's scared too." She glanced at all the terrified faces, a sickness settling her gut. Her children came first but she couldn't take the youngest. She knew only one people well enough to entrust with the baby's care. Pushing against the walls, the woman clung tight to Charles' hand as more and more people rushed to the gates."Mommy, why aren't we going with them?" Charles cried, pointing to the crowds. Tears were streaming down his face as he saw children his own age being carried by their parents, heading to somewhere safe. Where was his mother taking him?"Charles, in here," his mother ordered, ushering him into a building. It was dark and smelled of mold, but he listened. Once his eyes adjusted, he noticed a woman standing next to a curtain, her dark hair stringy and messy. Her eyes were wild, a bright green seeming to shine through them, as if it wasn't their natural color. She looked crazy and Charles was petrified."Mathilda, I beg you for your help." The woman with the baby approached the other, kneeling and bowing her head as she offered the bundle of cloth. "This child will only be a burden and I fear she will cost all our lives if I keep her. Charles is old enough to understand and Richard already knows my plan."Mathilda shook her head sadly. "How do you expect me to care for her?""Please. Do whatever you must. I'll be back for her when I can. Just keep her safe. Richard was so happy when she was born, I fear it will break his heart if she died at the hands of the Garbonians."Charles stepped up to his mother and clutched her skirts. "Mother--""Hush, boy," Mathilda scolded. "Heavens, Elizabeth, did you teach him nothing yet? Where are his manners?" She grabbed the baby and coddled her, pushing back the cloth enough to see her sleeping face. "Fine. I will watch over your daughter as if she is my own. She will know nothing of you, Richard, or Charles. Is that what you want?"Elizabeth's heart broke. Her daughter wouldn't know anything about her? "Is this the only way?""If you wish to keep her safe, yes."The mother hung her head. "So be it." She stood, grabbed Charles by the hand once again, and turned away. Tears ran down her face but she knew Mathilda would take care of the baby. "Come along, Charles." She opened the door and joined the crowd, never once looking back. Charles, however, looked just in time to see Mathilda slip through the curtain, his baby sister still in her arms.
Chapter One
"Hiyah!" The blade sunk into the tree, cutting it through two solid inches. Emmalyn panted with exertion, her body drenched in sweat. Even her hair, usually tied neatly in a bun at the nape of her neck, hung loose, the dark strands clinging to her face.Clapping sounded from behind her. "Quite impressive, Emmalyn. Perhaps next time you can hack it down with your mind instead."Emmalyn turned to see her mother, Mathilda, standing in the doorway to the cottage. She wore black, as usual, the robes hanging to the ground as if wanting to trip her. Her hair, too, was its normal craziness, sticking out at random places and looking as coarse as straw. Emmalyn bowed to her."Thank you, Mother. My training has improved much.""Indeed. It's a shame you don't pay as much attention to your studies. You have a brilliant mind, if only you would choose to utilize it."Yanking the sword from the tree, Emmalyn ignored the jibe. She was smart, yes, but schooling would get her nowhere, not while she was a woman. That, and the ‘studies’ she spoke of didn’t interest her at all. She had no need for magic. Mathilda watched her as she wiped the blade down, her keen eyes noticing when Emmalyn sucked in a sharp breath and massaged a part of the sharp metal."Is your blade chipped?" she asked the younger woman.Emmalyn looked up in shock. "Yes, Mother," she replied after taking a moment to control herself. "I'll need to repair it later tonight.""You will do no such thing," Mathilda clipped. "There's a ball this evening and you must look your best. Every eligible young man will be there looking for a suitable woman to make his bride. You must keep to traditions. Your sixteenth birthday has come and passed. It's time you find a husband.""I wish for no husband," Emmalyn snarled, sheathing the weapon into its case on her hip. "I have no interest in conversing with men who will leave me with child for a war we cannot win."Mathilda sighed. "Emmalyn, it is your duty as a woman to attend. You must. Now, you will come into the cottage, bathe the grime from today's training off your body, and dress in the elegant gown I made for you. No argument." She turned back into the cottage, the door closing quieter than Emmalyn would have thought possible.Heaving a sigh to match her mother's, Emmalyn crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the cottage. She hated getting prettied up for men who only seemed to pretend to be interested in her. With her childbearing hips, every man's mother was commanding him to introduce himself to Emmalyn at these kinds of events, even before she was of age. She doubted tonight would be any different.
Young adults stood around the large, open room, each of them looking nervous. Emmalyn, too, was as anxious as them. Dressed in an elegant dark green ball gown with gold threaded into an intricate design running up the length of her skirt, she looked absolutely gorgeous. Which she ought, as Mathilda had spent a lot of time making sure the dress was perfect. Several young men gaped at Emmalyn as they passed, whispering to their companion, who agreed with what they said. Other young ladies were dressed in light colors such as pale blue, pink, yellow, and white. No one else wore something dark.Emmalyn, who noticed this, heaved a sigh. Of course Mother would make me stand out by stuffing me in a completely different shade than the others. Dutifully, she snapped out her fan and put it up to her face, blocking everything but her green eyes. She scored the room, looking for anyone equally awkward as her. Finding no one, she remained where she was, watching as men bowed before women and asked for a dance. Emmalyn took no interest in dancing, refusing any man who asked, though none have.Ceylon, a man with twenty years’ experience to the thing called life, stood against a wall, his arms crossed over his broad chest. Young ladies glanced at him and giggled, no doubt finding his unkept hair amusing. Other than that, he was quite a handsome man. He stood at nearly six feet, lean muscle coursing even inch of his body, the skin deeply tanned from exposure to the sun. His face, too, was chiseled but for a rounded nose. His sharp blue eyes stopped when they landed on a woman, also against a wall, in a deep green gown. His brows furrowed, never having seen such a dark color at a betrothal ball before.The fan snapped shut when Emmalyn noticed a man staring at her. It wasn't a love-struck stare, more like an intent stare. It unnerved her and she turned away, willingly walking into a group of young ladies, younger than herself. She tried to join the conversation but there was no way she'd let herself get that giggly over a cute boy. The boys the girls were gesturing to weren't even good looking, in Emmalyn's opinion. Too young for her taste. The man staring at her, however…Hoping to be inconspicuous, Emmalyn sneaked a glance at the man against the wall with the messy hair. He flashed her a grin and winked when their eyes met. Outraged, her face heated and she began fanning herself again.One of the younger girls noticed. "Why not go talk to him?" she whispered to Emmalyn.The older woman scanned the younger one, taking in the pale yellow dress and styled blonde curls. Her green eyes glowed with excitement and hope. Emmalyn couldn't remember ever being that excited at the prospect of finding a man to marry. In answer, she replied, "It is not my wish to speak with him. He may come speak with me if he chooses."The girl smiled and nodded. "Pardon me a moment."Ceylon watched Madeliene detach from the group and frowned. What was his little sister doing now? He tried to see if there was any man she was eyeing but found none. Then she turned and looked straight at him, inclining her head to the group she just left. Sighing, he moved toward her, the corner of his eye revealing the woman in green watching his movement. He briefly wondered if she felt jealous but soon dismissed it. Simple looks meant nothing."I have a proposition for you," Madeliene told her brother when he was within earshot. "The woman in the dark green dress has been gawking at you for a while. And I know you're doing the same because I watched her face turn red. You should go talk to her."He glanced at the woman of whom they were speaking, making her look away, and smiled. "What should I say?""Well, you can start with an introduction."Ceylon laughed and rested his palm on Madeliene's cheek, looking at her fondly. "What ever would I do without you, sister?""Stand on a wall and glare at everyone who's going to be happy. Now get on with it."
"Excuse me, miss, but I might have the next dance?"Emmalyn jumped when the voice sounded right next to her ear. Turning, she noticed dark hair and equally dark eyes. Her face fell. The girls fell silent next to her, all of their eyes bugged. None of them had seen a man so handsome before, let alone heard one speak."My apologies, sir, but I cannot dance nor am I inclined to attempt." She turned back into the group, ignoring their gaping mouths."Could I offer you some refreshments? A drink, perhaps," the man insisted, stepping closer to her. "I would like to get to know you."Emmalyn glanced around, unsure of what to do. Most men didn't press the issue, just assuming she was too conceited to give them their time of day. So why was he different?Madeliene, having watched the whole thing, stepped in then. It was clear to her the woman in dark green had no idea how to handle men and their ways of wooing. She stepped into the crowd and grasped the woman's arm hard. "Heavens, Maeve, I've been looking for you everywhere! Mother says it's time to leave and return home."Emmalyn resisted the urge to punch the girl in the face. Upon inspection, she realized it was the same one who recommended she go talk to the man with messy hair, only to talk to him herself. Anger surged through her, but so did relief; relief because she had just been saved from a predicament she hadn't anticipated.Across the room, leaning against a wall again, Ceylon smiled as he watched his sister interfere and drag the woman away. A triumphant smile spread across his lips when he saw the man's baffled expression. Pushing off the wall, he followed his sister outside."I appreciate what you did just now," Emmalyn said when they were outside, "but it wasn't necessary."The younger woman laughed. "That's not how it appeared to me. I'm Madeliene, by the way.""Emmalyn LeFae, at your service.""Madeliene!" Emmalyn turned to see the boy she had spoken to rushing up to them. When he caught up, he grinned. "Dear sister, would you mind introducing me to your new acquaintance?"As Emmalyn's frustration ebbed, she noticed the similarities between the two. With their delicate noses and strong jawlines, she wondered how she didn't notice it earlier. They were like twins, except for Madeliene's lighter hair. That, and how much more striking he was up close, almost a perfect specimen of masculinity. His only flaw: a scar on his right cheek, shaped like a jagged, upside down v. Madeliene smirked. "My brother, Ceylon. Ceylon, this is Emmalyn."Ceylon grasped her hand lightly and brushed his lips across her knuckles. "It is a true pleasure to make your acquaintance, fair Emmalyn. I should like to see you again, if that is what you wish as well.""I mean no disrespect," she replied slowly, gently pulling her hand away, "but I'm not interested in courting anyone."Ceylon quickly recovered from his shock, grinning and saying, "Who said anything about courting? Certainly we can be friends, if nothing else."Emmalyn looked at him again, wondering if he had any muscle hidden under those fancy clothes. If he was a warrior he could give her some tips on brandishing a sword properly. Books weren't the best teachers when it came to required movements. She found herself smiling. "Perhaps. It couldn't hurt to be friends, I suppose." Ceylon grinned but she had already turned to his sister. "Why did you assist me?"The younger woman's grin matched her brother's. "The party was boring. It was a good excuse."A feeling of respect made Emmalyn's heart swell. "Thank you."Ceylon grumbled, "Only a blind or stupid man wouldn't pursue a dance with you.""What was that?" Madeliene asked him. He waved her off. "Either way, I was expecting it to be a bit more exciting. Instead, it was a lot of talking and a little dancing.""It's a betrothal ball, not a dance party," Ceylon said sourly. "You're supposed to be finding your lifelong love, then dance the night away with them. Those who were dancing will most likely start courting and get married within the year. It's a stupid ritual.""We're too young," Emmalyn agreed, shocked someone else thought as she did.He laughed. "I didn't know there was a girl alive who actually believed that. Don't all of you want to get married and have babies as soon as possible?"They had been walking at a comfortable pace but Emmalyn stopped at his words. "Are you serious?"Madeliene touched the other woman's shoulder lightly. "He's a simple minded man. But it's getting late. Should we meet again tomorrow? You could come by for noon tea, if you would like.""I would like that very much," she replied, meaning it, though she hoped she could get out of drinking the tea. She had never liked the stuff."Until tomorrow then. It was a pleasure meeting you."
Upon returning home, Emmalyn dashed for her room. Mathilda's voice stopped her. "So did you meet anyone? Did you dance?"She turned to see her mother reading a book by candlelight. She tried reading the title but the letters were symbols she hadn't been taught to decipher. "Yes, I met a young woman by the name of Madeliene, and her brother Ceylon. They invited me to noon tea tomorrow."Mathilda smiled and closed her book. "Oh? Did you dance?"Her daughter shook her head, looking disgusted. "You know how I hate dancing, Mother. I had several men ask me to, but I refused," she added, anticipating the question. "Madeliene actually saved me from a pressing situation. As we left, her brother caught up to us.""Well, is he handsome?" she pressed, wondering how she got the girl with no interest in men.Emmalyn shrugged. "I suppose so. Though I asked if he would be willing to train with me someday and he obliged." She saw her mother deflate. Then, she lurched up suddenly, the book flying close to Emmalyn, making her flinch.The fire in the hearth flared with Mathilda's fury. "Damn it, Raelyn, it's time you find a suitable husband. You're nearly seventeen. You should be getting ready for a ceremony already, not inviting men to train with you! They are mates, not sparring partners!""You know my views on marriage!" Emmalyn shouted back, and then paused. "Who's Raelyn?"Mathilda paled. "Who?""You called me Raelyn just now. I'm Emmalyn, so who's Raelyn?"Her anger diffused immediately and she sagged into the chair. "Raelyn is—was my daughter." A memory flashed of her having the same argument nineteen years ago. Emmalyn reminded her so much of her daughter it hurt sometimes. "She…she was raped and beaten to death in town one night. The man had been a soldier. He was never convicted, but he did pay the price. That's why I taught you to fight. I wouldn't survive if it happened again. You're so beautiful, Emmalyn. I'm afraid your mother would have me killed if anything happened to you."Now Emmalyn was really confused. "But you're my mother…"Mathilda's answering smile was apologetic and full of regret. "In truth, I am not. Take a seat. It's a long story."
Comments/suggestions are appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read it! :)
Continuing to the second chapter? Click
Potential cover idea Prologue
People surged through the streets as arrows whizzed over their heads. Panicked crowds rushed in groups to the nearby forest. Men on horses galloped over citizens, slashing their swords at anyone in their way. One woman weaseled her way against the crowd, a screaming child in her arm as another, her son, clung to her hand."Mommy," the boy whined, barely heard over the shouting and screaming, "where are we going? I'm scared.""Shh, Charles, I know. Mommy's scared too." She glanced at all the terrified faces, a sickness settling her gut. Her children came first but she couldn't take the youngest. She knew only one people well enough to entrust with the baby's care. Pushing against the walls, the woman clung tight to Charles' hand as more and more people rushed to the gates."Mommy, why aren't we going with them?" Charles cried, pointing to the crowds. Tears were streaming down his face as he saw children his own age being carried by their parents, heading to somewhere safe. Where was his mother taking him?"Charles, in here," his mother ordered, ushering him into a building. It was dark and smelled of mold, but he listened. Once his eyes adjusted, he noticed a woman standing next to a curtain, her dark hair stringy and messy. Her eyes were wild, a bright green seeming to shine through them, as if it wasn't their natural color. She looked crazy and Charles was petrified."Mathilda, I beg you for your help." The woman with the baby approached the other, kneeling and bowing her head as she offered the bundle of cloth. "This child will only be a burden and I fear she will cost all our lives if I keep her. Charles is old enough to understand and Richard already knows my plan."Mathilda shook her head sadly. "How do you expect me to care for her?""Please. Do whatever you must. I'll be back for her when I can. Just keep her safe. Richard was so happy when she was born, I fear it will break his heart if she died at the hands of the Garbonians."Charles stepped up to his mother and clutched her skirts. "Mother--""Hush, boy," Mathilda scolded. "Heavens, Elizabeth, did you teach him nothing yet? Where are his manners?" She grabbed the baby and coddled her, pushing back the cloth enough to see her sleeping face. "Fine. I will watch over your daughter as if she is my own. She will know nothing of you, Richard, or Charles. Is that what you want?"Elizabeth's heart broke. Her daughter wouldn't know anything about her? "Is this the only way?""If you wish to keep her safe, yes."The mother hung her head. "So be it." She stood, grabbed Charles by the hand once again, and turned away. Tears ran down her face but she knew Mathilda would take care of the baby. "Come along, Charles." She opened the door and joined the crowd, never once looking back. Charles, however, looked just in time to see Mathilda slip through the curtain, his baby sister still in her arms.
Chapter One
"Hiyah!" The blade sunk into the tree, cutting it through two solid inches. Emmalyn panted with exertion, her body drenched in sweat. Even her hair, usually tied neatly in a bun at the nape of her neck, hung loose, the dark strands clinging to her face.Clapping sounded from behind her. "Quite impressive, Emmalyn. Perhaps next time you can hack it down with your mind instead."Emmalyn turned to see her mother, Mathilda, standing in the doorway to the cottage. She wore black, as usual, the robes hanging to the ground as if wanting to trip her. Her hair, too, was its normal craziness, sticking out at random places and looking as coarse as straw. Emmalyn bowed to her."Thank you, Mother. My training has improved much.""Indeed. It's a shame you don't pay as much attention to your studies. You have a brilliant mind, if only you would choose to utilize it."Yanking the sword from the tree, Emmalyn ignored the jibe. She was smart, yes, but schooling would get her nowhere, not while she was a woman. That, and the ‘studies’ she spoke of didn’t interest her at all. She had no need for magic. Mathilda watched her as she wiped the blade down, her keen eyes noticing when Emmalyn sucked in a sharp breath and massaged a part of the sharp metal."Is your blade chipped?" she asked the younger woman.Emmalyn looked up in shock. "Yes, Mother," she replied after taking a moment to control herself. "I'll need to repair it later tonight.""You will do no such thing," Mathilda clipped. "There's a ball this evening and you must look your best. Every eligible young man will be there looking for a suitable woman to make his bride. You must keep to traditions. Your sixteenth birthday has come and passed. It's time you find a husband.""I wish for no husband," Emmalyn snarled, sheathing the weapon into its case on her hip. "I have no interest in conversing with men who will leave me with child for a war we cannot win."Mathilda sighed. "Emmalyn, it is your duty as a woman to attend. You must. Now, you will come into the cottage, bathe the grime from today's training off your body, and dress in the elegant gown I made for you. No argument." She turned back into the cottage, the door closing quieter than Emmalyn would have thought possible.Heaving a sigh to match her mother's, Emmalyn crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the cottage. She hated getting prettied up for men who only seemed to pretend to be interested in her. With her childbearing hips, every man's mother was commanding him to introduce himself to Emmalyn at these kinds of events, even before she was of age. She doubted tonight would be any different.
Young adults stood around the large, open room, each of them looking nervous. Emmalyn, too, was as anxious as them. Dressed in an elegant dark green ball gown with gold threaded into an intricate design running up the length of her skirt, she looked absolutely gorgeous. Which she ought, as Mathilda had spent a lot of time making sure the dress was perfect. Several young men gaped at Emmalyn as they passed, whispering to their companion, who agreed with what they said. Other young ladies were dressed in light colors such as pale blue, pink, yellow, and white. No one else wore something dark.Emmalyn, who noticed this, heaved a sigh. Of course Mother would make me stand out by stuffing me in a completely different shade than the others. Dutifully, she snapped out her fan and put it up to her face, blocking everything but her green eyes. She scored the room, looking for anyone equally awkward as her. Finding no one, she remained where she was, watching as men bowed before women and asked for a dance. Emmalyn took no interest in dancing, refusing any man who asked, though none have.Ceylon, a man with twenty years’ experience to the thing called life, stood against a wall, his arms crossed over his broad chest. Young ladies glanced at him and giggled, no doubt finding his unkept hair amusing. Other than that, he was quite a handsome man. He stood at nearly six feet, lean muscle coursing even inch of his body, the skin deeply tanned from exposure to the sun. His face, too, was chiseled but for a rounded nose. His sharp blue eyes stopped when they landed on a woman, also against a wall, in a deep green gown. His brows furrowed, never having seen such a dark color at a betrothal ball before.The fan snapped shut when Emmalyn noticed a man staring at her. It wasn't a love-struck stare, more like an intent stare. It unnerved her and she turned away, willingly walking into a group of young ladies, younger than herself. She tried to join the conversation but there was no way she'd let herself get that giggly over a cute boy. The boys the girls were gesturing to weren't even good looking, in Emmalyn's opinion. Too young for her taste. The man staring at her, however…Hoping to be inconspicuous, Emmalyn sneaked a glance at the man against the wall with the messy hair. He flashed her a grin and winked when their eyes met. Outraged, her face heated and she began fanning herself again.One of the younger girls noticed. "Why not go talk to him?" she whispered to Emmalyn.The older woman scanned the younger one, taking in the pale yellow dress and styled blonde curls. Her green eyes glowed with excitement and hope. Emmalyn couldn't remember ever being that excited at the prospect of finding a man to marry. In answer, she replied, "It is not my wish to speak with him. He may come speak with me if he chooses."The girl smiled and nodded. "Pardon me a moment."Ceylon watched Madeliene detach from the group and frowned. What was his little sister doing now? He tried to see if there was any man she was eyeing but found none. Then she turned and looked straight at him, inclining her head to the group she just left. Sighing, he moved toward her, the corner of his eye revealing the woman in green watching his movement. He briefly wondered if she felt jealous but soon dismissed it. Simple looks meant nothing."I have a proposition for you," Madeliene told her brother when he was within earshot. "The woman in the dark green dress has been gawking at you for a while. And I know you're doing the same because I watched her face turn red. You should go talk to her."He glanced at the woman of whom they were speaking, making her look away, and smiled. "What should I say?""Well, you can start with an introduction."Ceylon laughed and rested his palm on Madeliene's cheek, looking at her fondly. "What ever would I do without you, sister?""Stand on a wall and glare at everyone who's going to be happy. Now get on with it."
"Excuse me, miss, but I might have the next dance?"Emmalyn jumped when the voice sounded right next to her ear. Turning, she noticed dark hair and equally dark eyes. Her face fell. The girls fell silent next to her, all of their eyes bugged. None of them had seen a man so handsome before, let alone heard one speak."My apologies, sir, but I cannot dance nor am I inclined to attempt." She turned back into the group, ignoring their gaping mouths."Could I offer you some refreshments? A drink, perhaps," the man insisted, stepping closer to her. "I would like to get to know you."Emmalyn glanced around, unsure of what to do. Most men didn't press the issue, just assuming she was too conceited to give them their time of day. So why was he different?Madeliene, having watched the whole thing, stepped in then. It was clear to her the woman in dark green had no idea how to handle men and their ways of wooing. She stepped into the crowd and grasped the woman's arm hard. "Heavens, Maeve, I've been looking for you everywhere! Mother says it's time to leave and return home."Emmalyn resisted the urge to punch the girl in the face. Upon inspection, she realized it was the same one who recommended she go talk to the man with messy hair, only to talk to him herself. Anger surged through her, but so did relief; relief because she had just been saved from a predicament she hadn't anticipated.Across the room, leaning against a wall again, Ceylon smiled as he watched his sister interfere and drag the woman away. A triumphant smile spread across his lips when he saw the man's baffled expression. Pushing off the wall, he followed his sister outside."I appreciate what you did just now," Emmalyn said when they were outside, "but it wasn't necessary."The younger woman laughed. "That's not how it appeared to me. I'm Madeliene, by the way.""Emmalyn LeFae, at your service.""Madeliene!" Emmalyn turned to see the boy she had spoken to rushing up to them. When he caught up, he grinned. "Dear sister, would you mind introducing me to your new acquaintance?"As Emmalyn's frustration ebbed, she noticed the similarities between the two. With their delicate noses and strong jawlines, she wondered how she didn't notice it earlier. They were like twins, except for Madeliene's lighter hair. That, and how much more striking he was up close, almost a perfect specimen of masculinity. His only flaw: a scar on his right cheek, shaped like a jagged, upside down v. Madeliene smirked. "My brother, Ceylon. Ceylon, this is Emmalyn."Ceylon grasped her hand lightly and brushed his lips across her knuckles. "It is a true pleasure to make your acquaintance, fair Emmalyn. I should like to see you again, if that is what you wish as well.""I mean no disrespect," she replied slowly, gently pulling her hand away, "but I'm not interested in courting anyone."Ceylon quickly recovered from his shock, grinning and saying, "Who said anything about courting? Certainly we can be friends, if nothing else."Emmalyn looked at him again, wondering if he had any muscle hidden under those fancy clothes. If he was a warrior he could give her some tips on brandishing a sword properly. Books weren't the best teachers when it came to required movements. She found herself smiling. "Perhaps. It couldn't hurt to be friends, I suppose." Ceylon grinned but she had already turned to his sister. "Why did you assist me?"The younger woman's grin matched her brother's. "The party was boring. It was a good excuse."A feeling of respect made Emmalyn's heart swell. "Thank you."Ceylon grumbled, "Only a blind or stupid man wouldn't pursue a dance with you.""What was that?" Madeliene asked him. He waved her off. "Either way, I was expecting it to be a bit more exciting. Instead, it was a lot of talking and a little dancing.""It's a betrothal ball, not a dance party," Ceylon said sourly. "You're supposed to be finding your lifelong love, then dance the night away with them. Those who were dancing will most likely start courting and get married within the year. It's a stupid ritual.""We're too young," Emmalyn agreed, shocked someone else thought as she did.He laughed. "I didn't know there was a girl alive who actually believed that. Don't all of you want to get married and have babies as soon as possible?"They had been walking at a comfortable pace but Emmalyn stopped at his words. "Are you serious?"Madeliene touched the other woman's shoulder lightly. "He's a simple minded man. But it's getting late. Should we meet again tomorrow? You could come by for noon tea, if you would like.""I would like that very much," she replied, meaning it, though she hoped she could get out of drinking the tea. She had never liked the stuff."Until tomorrow then. It was a pleasure meeting you."
Upon returning home, Emmalyn dashed for her room. Mathilda's voice stopped her. "So did you meet anyone? Did you dance?"She turned to see her mother reading a book by candlelight. She tried reading the title but the letters were symbols she hadn't been taught to decipher. "Yes, I met a young woman by the name of Madeliene, and her brother Ceylon. They invited me to noon tea tomorrow."Mathilda smiled and closed her book. "Oh? Did you dance?"Her daughter shook her head, looking disgusted. "You know how I hate dancing, Mother. I had several men ask me to, but I refused," she added, anticipating the question. "Madeliene actually saved me from a pressing situation. As we left, her brother caught up to us.""Well, is he handsome?" she pressed, wondering how she got the girl with no interest in men.Emmalyn shrugged. "I suppose so. Though I asked if he would be willing to train with me someday and he obliged." She saw her mother deflate. Then, she lurched up suddenly, the book flying close to Emmalyn, making her flinch.The fire in the hearth flared with Mathilda's fury. "Damn it, Raelyn, it's time you find a suitable husband. You're nearly seventeen. You should be getting ready for a ceremony already, not inviting men to train with you! They are mates, not sparring partners!""You know my views on marriage!" Emmalyn shouted back, and then paused. "Who's Raelyn?"Mathilda paled. "Who?""You called me Raelyn just now. I'm Emmalyn, so who's Raelyn?"Her anger diffused immediately and she sagged into the chair. "Raelyn is—was my daughter." A memory flashed of her having the same argument nineteen years ago. Emmalyn reminded her so much of her daughter it hurt sometimes. "She…she was raped and beaten to death in town one night. The man had been a soldier. He was never convicted, but he did pay the price. That's why I taught you to fight. I wouldn't survive if it happened again. You're so beautiful, Emmalyn. I'm afraid your mother would have me killed if anything happened to you."Now Emmalyn was really confused. "But you're my mother…"Mathilda's answering smile was apologetic and full of regret. "In truth, I am not. Take a seat. It's a long story."
Comments/suggestions are appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read it! :)
Continuing to the second chapter? Click
April 2, 2015
YA Scavenger Hunt -- Spring 2015
Welcome, one and all, to the Spring 2015 Young Adult Scavenger Hunt!
All of us here are pretty excited about meeting you all, and we would love your feedback.
YASH is a bi-annual event organized by Colleen Houck as a way for readers to gain exclusive content from their favorite authors...and a chance to win awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each other, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up all the clues and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on my team! But play fast--this contest will only be available for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to learn all about the hunt. There are EIGHT contests going on at once. You can enter one--or all!--and learn about awesome books and earn exclusive prizes.
I am on TEAM PURPLE but there is also Red, Blue, Gold, Pink, Orange, Green, and Teal. Each team has 20 authors. Yes, you read that right--twenty!
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors (Hint: Usually can find out but what number sticks out the most) of the PURPLE team and add them all up at the end.
Entry Form: Once you've got all your numbers added, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for for the grand prize. Only entries with the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally. All under the age of 18 should have the consent of parent or guardian to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must sign up before APRIL 5th, at noon Pacific time. Entries sent without the correct number or contact information will no be accepted.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
It is with my greatest pride and deepest pleasure to introduce to you, Aria Michaels! She told me she once sat at her computer for 23 hours writing. Talk about dedication!
Isn't she lovely, folks? I asked her to describe herself for me and this is what I got in response:
Want to know what it is about? Oh... well.... I suppose.
Sound interesting, right? Quick! Go to Amazon and take a look for yourself. It's also available in Kindle. Curious to know where the rest of the series is going? Feel free to drop by her blog and get all the scrumptious details. Thinking you might want more? Stop by her website and check out her other book (and the deal she's offering!).
Oh, silly me! I got so wrapped up in introducing her I nearly forgot the exclusive content she's offering. (What? NO!) Yes, it's true. But don't worry, here is for you. I got to interview the one, the only, Zander! And--can I say?--the things he says are delicious! Without further ado, Zander James, ladies and gentlemen!
To continue the search, click [here] and see what Jennifer has to say! Happy hunting!
All of us here are pretty excited about meeting you all, and we would love your feedback.
YASH is a bi-annual event organized by Colleen Houck as a way for readers to gain exclusive content from their favorite authors...and a chance to win awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each other, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up all the clues and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on my team! But play fast--this contest will only be available for 72 hours!Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to learn all about the hunt. There are EIGHT contests going on at once. You can enter one--or all!--and learn about awesome books and earn exclusive prizes.
I am on TEAM PURPLE but there is also Red, Blue, Gold, Pink, Orange, Green, and Teal. Each team has 20 authors. Yes, you read that right--twenty!
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLEDirections: Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors (Hint: Usually can find out but what number sticks out the most) of the PURPLE team and add them all up at the end.
Entry Form: Once you've got all your numbers added, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for for the grand prize. Only entries with the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally. All under the age of 18 should have the consent of parent or guardian to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must sign up before APRIL 5th, at noon Pacific time. Entries sent without the correct number or contact information will no be accepted.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
It is with my greatest pride and deepest pleasure to introduce to you, Aria Michaels! She told me she once sat at her computer for 23 hours writing. Talk about dedication!
Isn't she lovely, folks? I asked her to describe herself for me and this is what I got in response:
I am author Aria Michaels and I live a double life. In addition to being a wife and mother of six boys, I am also a creator of worlds, instigator of literary mayhem, and stealth assassin of fictional characters. Less than a year ago, I walked away from a "comfortable" job in higher education to finally pursue my dream of being an author. As terrifying as that was, the thought of never sharing the epic adventures in my imagination was just unfathomable. So, I plugged my nose, crossed my fingers, and dove in head-first. Six months later, I independently published my first novel, Killshot (Icarus Series, Book One), followed shortly by a novella to the same series, Before the Sky Fell. This is just the beginning for me, and for the Icarus Series and I am hard at work on the next installment, as we speak. In addition to my Young Adult titles, I also have projects planned for another paranormal series, and a few romance novels in the mix. When I am not glued to my computer, I can be found playing in the dirt (or snow) with my kids, curled up to a good zombie flick with my husband, or sipping wine by the fire with friends.Talk about busy lady! And her book definitely doesn't let you down, either! (Although I haven't read it, I certainly would love to!) Such a sweet woman, and I am so excited for her! Just look at the cover:
Want to know what it is about? Oh... well.... I suppose.
After months of solitude and anti-social behavior, Liv Larson’s best friend Riley drags her to a Rooftop Party to view Icarus, a once in a lifetime solar flare event. Despite her initial resistance, that night Liv finds herself inexplicably drawn to Zander James, a mysterious boy with a crooked smile. For a few hours, Liv’s troubles feel a bit less overwhelming—that is until what should have been a small flare erupts into a massive solar storm, forcing them into the school’s basement. Cut off from the rest of the world and with no signs of rescue, the group must embark on a perilous journey to save one of their own and find their families…But, something sinister awaits them in the dark and it’s undeniably connected to Liv. What are she and her new friends willing to do to survive? Will their bravery and determination be enough to save them all from a rogue government, a terrifying virus, and the things that go bump in the night…Or was Icarus, indeed, the killshot?
Sound interesting, right? Quick! Go to Amazon and take a look for yourself. It's also available in Kindle. Curious to know where the rest of the series is going? Feel free to drop by her blog and get all the scrumptious details. Thinking you might want more? Stop by her website and check out her other book (and the deal she's offering!).
Oh, silly me! I got so wrapped up in introducing her I nearly forgot the exclusive content she's offering. (What? NO!) Yes, it's true. But don't worry, here is for you. I got to interview the one, the only, Zander! And--can I say?--the things he says are delicious! Without further ado, Zander James, ladies and gentlemen!
Me: I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to sit down with me today, Zander. I must admit, in light of all you are going through right now, I was quite surprised when Aria told me that you had agreed to this interview. At any rate, I know you don’t have a lot of time, so let’s get right down to the fan questions, shall we?
Zander: Sure, fire away, ma’am. (…and there’s that crooked smile)
Me: One fan would like to know, what is your most treasured possession?
Zander: You know, if you had asked me that question a few days ago I would have said my bike—well, my dad’s bike, hands-down, but after everything that’s happened? It all just seems so trivial now, you know? (He laughs, but it sounds deflated and his smile doesn’t quite reach those copper eyes)
Me: How do you mean?
Zander: Thing is, when all you have left in this world is the clothes on your back and your memories, possessions don’t really mean a whole lot anymore. The only thing I have that means anything to me is little more than a useless scrap of metal. Still, it’s all I have left of my dad and Liv damn near got herself killed trying to get it for me. I can never repay her for that.
Me: Speaking of Liv, that brings me to our next fan question. The two of you seem like you have a real connection. Do you feel as though Icarus is responsible for that or is there more to it?
Zander: Wow, you don’t shy away from the hard ones do you? (laughs and runs his fingers through his hair) Yeah, we definitely have a connection but it’s kind of hard to explain. I mean, she’s probably the most stubborn and strong-willed girl I have ever met in my life, but…Liv is special and I don’t just mean her abilities, you know? She has this sort of reluctant strength, if that makes sense. And by the way, my faith in her and our connection, as you put it, has absolutely nothing to do with Icarus. Liv has always been a survivor—even before all this. I wish she could see what the rest of us see, you know?
Me: No, I totally get it. (swoon). Where was I…Oh, right. Next question. What is your biggest regret?
Zander: I…you know what? I don’t think there is room for regret in this world anymore. Life is just too short, and there are no guarantees that there will even be a tomorrow. I think that rather than looking back with regret, I am choosing to look forward with hope. Salvation is out there and we are going to find it.
Me: Wow! I have to say, that’s insanely optimistic given what you’ve been through since Solar Storm Icarus hit. How do you stay so positive when the world is quite literally crashing down around you…when everything feels so dark?
Zander: (laughs and shakes his head, his dark hair falling into his eyes as they meet mine) The dark is nothing to be afraid of, ma’am. Even the brightest star needs a little darkness to shine.
Check out this exclusive teaser from Book Two in the Icarus Series, due out this fall! For more information on Aria Michaels and the Icarus Series, visit: www.ariamichaels.com
To continue the search, click [here] and see what Jennifer has to say! Happy hunting!
March 21, 2015
Fast Approaching! - YA Scavenger Hunt
For those of you who don't know, the Young Adult Scavenger Hunt (YASH) is coming up, April 2nd. It'll go until the 5th. I'm offering the winner a copy of both UNPREDICTABLE PROPHECIES and UNIMAGINABLE PROSPECTS. I regret I don't have any cool "swag" to give away, though I wish I did. But I am on Team Purple, and I will be posting the prologue to my upcoming novel, swirling in the world of Fontanei. (I'm not sure if we're supposed to reveal the authors yet either, so apologies.)
This is just an informing post, for those who are interested in participating. Good luck, and happy hunting!
This is just an informing post, for those who are interested in participating. Good luck, and happy hunting!
March 5, 2015
|Book Review| 'A Beautiful Wedding' by Jamie McGuire
Summary:You know that Abby Abernathy unexpectedly became Mrs. Maddox. But do you really know?
Why did Abby pop the question?What secrets were shared before the ceremony? Where did they spend their wedding night?Who else knew about it...and didn't tell?
Everything about Abby and Travis's elopement was top-secret...until now. Fans of Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster will get all of their questions answered in this whirlwind tale of the wedding day (and night!)--and as with all good stories, this one will definitely have been worth the wait.
My review:Let me start out by saying I haven't read either Disaster book in a while, so I didn't remember much of the characters on Abby's side, but as I read, I remembered. I got ten pages into the book, shut it, looked at my boyfriend, and said, "I can't read anymore. It's too sweet." To which he said, "Whatever, babe. Read the damn thing." And I did. I read and clung to every little and big word in this story, completely compelled.
The characters are rich, raw, and oh-so-real. The dilemma Abby faces throughout the novella is justified and just breathed life into her character so well I felt with, and for, her. I love Travis's POV as well, how he decides to finally man up and be the guy a girl as strong as Abby needs. He's not a longer hot-tempered, testosterone-fueled boy. He's now a level-headed, wife-respecting, sweet man. And he's become more luscious. I just adore his love for Abby.
Speaking of Abby...how is that girl so cunning? Travis was completely oblivious to the real purpose of the trip. Kudos to her. I guess it pays to be his pigeon and have him trust you. Know what? Never mind the secret, what she does at the end is just as endearing as Travis proclaiming his undying love every day and calling her Mrs. Maddox as often as he can.
Even though it was so short, I absolutely cherished it. It was worth the wait. Because when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever. A girl can only hope to be loved that much.
|Book Review| 'A Beautiful Wedding' by Jamie McGuire
Summary:You know that Abby Abernathy unexpectedly became Mrs. Maddox. But do you really know?
Why did Abby pop the question?What secrets were shared before the ceremony? Where did they spend their wedding night?Who else knew about it...and didn't tell?
Everything about Abby and Travis's elopement was top-secret...until now. Fans of Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster will get all of their questions answered in this whirlwind tale of the wedding day (and night!)--and as with all good stories, this one will definitely have been worth the wait.
My review:Let me start out by saying I haven't read either Disaster book in a while, so I didn't remember much of the characters on Abby's side, but as I read, I remembered. I got ten pages into the book, shut it, looked at my boyfriend, and said, "I can't read anymore. It's too sweet." To which he said, "Whatever, babe. Read the damn thing." And I did. I read and clung to every little and big word in this story, completely compelled.
The characters are rich, raw, and oh-so-real. The dilemma Abby faces throughout the novella is justified and just breathed life into her character so well I felt with, and for, her. I love Travis's POV as well, how he decides to finally man up and be the guy a girl as strong as Abby needs. He's not a longer hot-tempered, testosterone-fueled boy. He's now a level-headed, wife-respecting, sweet man. And he's become more luscious. I just adore his love for Abby.
Speaking of Abby...how is that girl so cunning? Travis was completely oblivious to the real purpose of the trip. Kudos to her. I guess it pays to be his pigeon and have him trust you. Know what? Never mind the secret, what she does at the end is just as endearing as Travis proclaiming his undying love every day and calling her Mrs. Maddox as often as he can.
Even though it was so short, I absolutely cherished it. It was worth the wait. Because when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever. A girl can only hope to be loved that much.
February 5, 2015
|Book Review| 'Mortal Heart' by Robin LaFevers
Summary:
Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.
She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has...
My review:
Ode to the Nine, I don't even know where to begin! The changes that occur in Annith between the first book (GRAVE MERCY) and this one are amazing. I didn't much like her in the beginning, but once I got her story, I was hooked. Her character is so easy to sink into and absorb as if she were you, it is remarkable. Her tale of woe was so unexpected, I was literally shocked. Most of the girls come to the Convent with horrible stories to tell but never did I suspect Annith's. But what's most endearing is when Balthazaar helps her through it all.
Balthazaar. The hellequin who first abducts her with tricks and then falls for her. When she runs from the hunt, he follows her to Rennes and meets her again on the battlements. The symmetry between these two is absolutely beautiful and I found myself falling for the tortured hellequin as well. (There's just something about the bad boys, you know?) But when she asks for his help with Isabeau, the duchess' sister, she learns the truth: she has fallen in love with Death. Mortain himself. Her father.
But, He isn't her father. She learns the truth about her birth and it shocks her to the very core (it shocked me!). The amount of lies surrounding her nearly become too much for her, and she seeks the help of Father Effram, the respectable priest who serves in the church of the Nine. His advice offers her great solace as she takes it all to heart, and then she asks his advice on matters of the heart.
It isn't long before the French have the city of Rennes surrounded. With mercenaries leaving at the flash of coin, they need every man they can get. Desperate, Annith turns to Balthazaar (Mortain), who ends up attending one of the council meetings and claiming He and His hellequin will aid the duchess. Annith has an idea on how to stop the war before it is started but she needs to be within the French encampment. The hellequin aid her, a few finding the redemption they've been seeking.
But Balthazaar doesn't fair too well, His sole thought trained on protecting Annith and getting her out. The amount of gallantry He shows is admirable and it made my heart break to hear of His downfall. He is taken to the Convent of Brigantia in the hopes of healing, and Father Effram is discovered as Salonius, the former god of tricks. Hope is renewed in Annith's breast (and mine, honestly) as she realizes the first death makes a god mortal, but the second one kills Him.
And so, with everything wrapped up to the perfect ending, even finding justice for the woman who crafted the lies surrounding Annith's life, Annith and Mortain return to the Convent to oversee His daughters and craft the Convent into what it was originally meant for: Life and Death, honor and choice. Because, really, Love is stronger than Death.
January 20, 2015
Ah... To Forget
I find myself constantly forgetting to log onto my computer so I can write a post. But then. when I am on the computer, I only do a few things, particularly adding my handwritten things to the typed manuscript of my newest novel-in-progress, The Magpie's Daughter. I haven't been writing any blog posts because, honestly, there's no one following me adamantly anyway. I have viewers, sure, and my thanks to all of you, of course, but I guess it's just hard to keep up with something when I know no one's actually excitedly waiting for my next post.
Anyway, I feel like I should explain myself a little better. My books come first, above all else, on the computer. When I'm not in reach of the computer, I happily type my stories into my Werdsmith app on my phone or write it down by hand in a notebook. Sometimes, I upload a piece into Figment, online, so I can get reviews or suggestions on what I should change to make the story better. In fact, I recently had my own idea on how to better remember my story and my characters: Draw a map. So, I did. And truthfully, I felt like I was transported back into middle school geography class, but it got done what it needed.
Observe:
The small country of Fontanei (fawn-ta-neigh)! Separated into eight sects, but centralizing in Maldivia and Pigona, with additions of Garbonia and Bridgeland characters. I hope to one day have a few books in the same world, different characters. Not exactly sure how that's going to pan out right now, but a girl can dream. I don't have a synopsis for the book yet, and honestly I have no idea how even to describe it. "A girl on a mission to find her family" sounds boring, but that's the basis of the story. But it isn't just told through Emmalyn's POV. Ceylon, Madeliene, Mathilda, and even Henry will have their thoughts brought to life. Sometimes I wonder if I should do like George R.R. Martin and have each character have their own chapter, but then the chapters would be rather small, as Emmalyn, Ceylon, and Madeliene are the main quest trio.
But now I have no idea what to say. If you have any further questions, feel free to comment. I'd be happy to oblige your curiosity.
Until I feel the need to blog again.
