L. Blankenship's Blog, page 9

Mid-May Update

What's next? 

[image error] Disciple, Part III -- I have gotten in touch with the cover artist from Part I and we'll see about working on the cover for Part III in June. Stay tuned for an official release date. It will be before the end of 2013. I'd like it to be October or earlier, but we'll see.

Fire's First Kiss -- I will be revising this 27k-word prologue to Disciple (available only to my Kickstarter backers) during June. Then I'll need to put together a cover and I hope my editor will agree to look at it along with Part III.

Hawks & Rams -- this is my Work-In-Progress, as some of you have heard. It's set in the same universe as Disciple, but a different place and time. It's also a M/M romance, the same way that Disciple is a fantasy romance... well, it's not finished yet so I won't say too much about it.

What about the science fiction? -- a certain character has been agitating, in the back of my head. It's next up after Hawks & Rams.


Disciple, Part II on sale nowalong with Disciple, Part Iat all major online retailers
Goodreads links:Disciple, Part I • Disciple, Part II

This post will self-destruct tomorrow morning

I am hosting over at Unicorn Bell this week, and I'm offering critiques of difficult scenes -- sex, violence, drugs, taboos. For solidarity's sake, I have posted a background-building scene from my M/M fantasy romance work-in-progress, Hawks & Rams.

Get a way-in-advance taste of a new story set in Disciple's world -- IF YOU ARE OVER 18. Scene contains gay sex. You have been warned.

Upon request, I've set up and posted the scene at a whole new blog: Shadow of the Unicorn. Since it's labeled for adult content, maybe the UB ladies and I will be cutting loose over there... we'll see. Feel free to join in, tell us what you'd be interested in seeing there!

Magic and dragons: the Enchanted Bookstore tour

The fourth volume of Marsha A. Moore's Enchanted Bookstore Legends series, Staurolite, is on sale at Amazon. I had some questions about magic and dragons for Marsha -- I love dragons too --

What's the most dangerous thing about magic in this world?
The greatest danger involving magic in my Enchanted Bookstore Legends is an ongoing problem that drives the series forward.

The hero, Cullen Drake, is the Imperial Sorcerer of the Alliance. Initially, he was human more than 200 years ago. As he worked to develop his magic in the fantasy world of Dragonspeir, he became immortal…a status that requires him to remain in that world. Cullen, like a select few of the highest magicals, is permitted to travel into other worlds, including the human world. He does and even leads a double life there working as the owner of Drake’s Bookstore, in order to meet Lyra and bring her to the fantasy world as the next Scribe. However, his time outside of Dragonspeir is limited. With light magic use, he may be away up to a week, and fewer days if he engages in complex techniques.

Oppositely, Lyra, the heroine and Cullen’s beloved, is a mortal. As a newly appointed Scribe, she’s working toward her immortality. Until she reaches that status, Lyra must remain a temporary guest in Dragonspeir. The Imperial Dragon permits her presence only when she performs training or missions for his Alliance. This presents a tremendous problem for the couple. They have difficulty living the life together that they truly desire. Throughout the series, they actively seek ways for Lyra to gain more immortality through her service to the Alliance. This drives them forward to face many dangers.

What's the best thing about magic? 
Lyra finds many wonders as she learns about Dragonspeir magic. There is great beauty with talking, responsive trees and flowers. Spectacular solstice festivals are held in regions of the Alliance and the misty forest of Silva Caliga. But, perhaps, the best thing about magic in Dragonspeir are the amazing sensations she and Cullen experience through the bond of their love. When touching, their auras comingle with a pleasant warmth around their hearts. This enhances their intimacy. Also, during battles, contact allows them to partially utilize each other’s powers. The fact that love has an element of magic is certainly incredible.

Tell us a little about the dragons.
Like all fantasies, the battle between good and evil is a key theme that must be addressed. The dragons in my fantasy world of Dragonspeir are either members of the good Alliance, governed by the golden Imperial Dragon and his High Council, or the Dark Realm, led by the Black Dragon.

[image error] Alliance Dragons:
Gold dragons are born leaders, being lawful, just and good. Their intelligence exceeds the other types, and their wisdom is sought after. Being good-natured, they help those who are kind and fair. The Imperial Leader helps train and guide my heroine, Lyra, along her quest. Golds are the most powerful and largest in size. The breath weapon of gold dragons is a cone of fire. Although they are cautious about entering a fight and dislike killing, once engaged, they will pour their entire being into the battle.

Physically, gold dragons are spectacular. Two prominent horns point backwards along their heads. The most obvious feature is probably the tentacle whiskers that sprout from the bottom of the gold dragon's jaw, giving the appearance of a sort of beard in both males and females.

Like his father before him, the present Imperial Dragon will serve the Alliance until either he dies or steps down.  Similar to most golds, he keeps his Alliance headquarters in a grand network of caves set in the rock plateau. His overlooks the Steppe of Ora, the wide plain which divides good and evil in Dragonspeir. His lair includes an elaborate gathering hall, a vast library, guest quarters, and his own personal chambers with cases of magical instruments and a glass-walled observatory to consult the stars. As one of the four Alliance Guardians, his area of expertise is magic powered by the air element, including mystical astronomy studies of the skies.

Blue dragons are the sentries to the Imperial Dragon. They love spending hours soaring and are excellent trackers. Squadrons of them patrol the Alliance. They are lawful and obedient, with strong moral character. They are a brilliant cobalt blue, bearing a single horn. Their eyes are smooth and glossy, without pupils, which makes for an hypnotic appearance. Although slightly smaller than golds, they are quicker to strike in battles with their lightning bolt breath.

Pseudodragons, wizard’s assistants, play big roles in the series although they aren’t true dragons. The most visible pseudodragon is Noba. His kind is much smaller, being only three feet long, including their tails. Noba has a heart of gold that melts people. However, he surprises everyone when Cullen and Lyra travel into the mysterious underground world of Terza. There, the lovable and naïve little dragon becomes a real star. Pseudodragons originated in that strange land, and Noba discovers the incredible strength of his heritage. He isn’t just a sweet pseudodragon wizard’s familiar, but also a powerful Matan, capable of altering the use of all magic in his presence.

Dark Realm Dragons:
Black dragons, like the leader of the Dark Realm, always seek to lair in deep dark caves. Although small, they are vile, evil-tempered, and abusive. Their hearts are as dark as their slimy scales. They are obsessed with death and take comfort in the sickening-sweet aroma of drowned, rotting carcasses. The Black Dragon leader prefers his drake servants leave the prey they bring him in pools within his personal cave. The victims float for days or weeks before he eats them.

The dark leader, like all black dragons, is grim and skeletal. His eyes lie deep in their sockets between two great horns that curve forward and down. The flesh of his face is partially deteriorated or burnt from his acidic drool.  His method of attack is spitting caustic acid. My heroine and hero, Lyra and Cullen, learn too well what that feels like!

As allies to the Black Dragon, green dragons live alone in dense forests. Although short dragons, they have nasty, belligerent tempers. They delight in torturing their captives. The head of a green is covered in hornlets. They reek of chlorine since their chosen breath weapon is hurling clouds of toxic chlorine gas.

Numerous types of drakes are the soldiers and scouts of the Dark Realm. Fire and magma drakes attack with burning flames, while the evil ice drakes freeze victims with contact.

This was only a quick summary of many of the good and evil dragons in my Enchanted Bookstore Legends. Obviously, I could go on and on—I love dragons!

What's the most unusual thing you had to research for this story?
I don’t often do hard research. Writing fantasy, my research is often using life experiences to inspire creation of settings and characters. However, for Staurolite, I did do some online research to learn about vocabulary, speech, and clothing for the ancestral Scribes. Those ladies, like Lyra, began their lives as mortals in the real human world. The first Scribe, Elisabeth, lived in 1200 A.D., the second in 1400, the third in 1600, and the fourth in 1800. I was so pleased when my beta readers volunteered their thoughts, matching the specific dialects to the correct time periods and locales. I was a little concerned since historical fiction isn’t my calling.

What's up next for you?
I’m presently writing the fifth and final book of my Enchanted Bookstore Legends, entitled Quintessence. In that book, there will be the ultimate showdown between good and evil in the culmination of the epic high fantasy. I’m expecting a fall release for Quintessence.

After that, I’ll begin a new series that has more subtle magical elements, where reality and magic blur in the magical realism genre.

Where can we find you online?
Website:  MarshaAMoore.com
Twitter: MarshaAMoore
Facebook: Author page
Fantasy Faction staff page
Goodreads author page
Google +

[image error] Staurolite: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Four by Marsha A. Moore
Genre: Epic Fantasy Romance
Description:
Lyra McCauley, current Scribe of the Alliance, is the only one who can decode magic hidden in the recently retrieved ancient texts written by her ancestors, the first four Scribes. Information in those writings can help Lyra locate the four missing keystones, which will restore power to the Alliance and allow overthrow of the Dark Realm. With peace restored, she and her beloved, Cullen, could finally marry.

Time is short with the Black Dragon’s Dark Realm increasing attacks to avenge the death of his heir. Many innocent lives are lost. Alliance residents are forced into hiding. Magicals and blue dragons follow leadership of the Imperial Dragon and the other three Guardians into battle to defend the Alliance.

While Lyra unlocks the ancient magic, she opens herself up to scribal powers from her ancestors. She alone can fight the deadliest of the Dark Realm’s forces—the cimafa stealth dragons—but at a cost. The energy flux threatens her health and ability to learn where to find the missing keystones. Can Lyra overcome this shrewd tactic of the Black Dragon to decimate the Alliance?

Available at Amazon • More about the series, and where to find it, at Marsha's webpage

Recapping Part II's blog tour

[image error] I've been touring all month -- you might've seen some of my posts around the blogosphere. This is an index of tour posts that might be interesting to readers.

Interviews:
@Peasants Revolt with Fel Wetzig
@Language of Once Upon a Time
Character interview with Kate
Podcast! I did a podcast interview, still waiting for it to be released.

The posts below are more world-building-oriented. If you're interested in writing, I indexed the tour posts more relevant to technique over on my writing blog.
Hair Symbolism
Pop culture vs. historical medieval culture
Primitive first aid kits
What is kir?

Up Next
Deciding when I can publish Disciple, Part III by (need to email my cover artist), finishing Fire's First Kiss for my Kickstarter supporters, and an anthology called The Battle of Ebulon...

Have you read it yet?
Life's busy, I know, but if you've had a chance to read Disciple, Part II, a star rating and a review would help get the word out.  Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, every little bit helps.

Goodreads giveaway!

I'm giving away a paperback copy of both Disciple, Part I and Part IIEnds April 21st -- one week to enter!

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Goodreads Book Giveaway Disciple, Part II by L. Blankenship Giveaway ends April 22, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

Disciple, Part II now on sale

The Official Announcement

[image error] Disciple, Part II, is now available at major e-retailers.
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
Kobo

Paperbacks available at
Amazon
Createspace

Back cover copy:
The prince first kissed Kate Carpenter for fear of missing the chance if they didn’t survive the journey home through the monster-prowled mountains.

Now that kiss seems like a fever dream. It’s back to work for her, back to the fellow physicians jealous of her talents and the sneers of an infirmary director who wants her shipped off to some tiny village. Kate means to be on the front lines to save lives. She’s worked too hard to overcome her past to let them deny her the chance to serve her homeland when the enemy’s army reaches their kingdom.

The grand jousting tournament is a chance to prove she can manage combat wounded, and at the royal Solstice banquet Kate means to prove she isn’t an ignorant peasant girl anymore.

But the prince’s kiss still haunts her. Their paths keep crossing, and the easy familiarity they earned on the journey home is a welcome escape from their duties. It’s a small slip from chatting to kisses.

This is no time to be distracted by romance -- a vast and powerful empire is coming to slaughter anyone standing between them and the kingdom’s magical fount.

Kate ought to break both their hearts, for duty’s sake.

Praise for Disciple, Part I:
"In this book, Ms. Blankenship establishes her presence on the same shelves as those epic fantasy reads belonging to Martin, to Tolkien, and to Jordan. Hers, however, is uniquely female, and in that, it's refreshing. You find tremendous voice which I imagine in my mind as a Scottish brogue that sets the flavor of the entire piece. And when the author pulls monsters out of her hat, they're so real and visceral I feel like I'm actually there battling for my life."
- Michael Offutt, author of Slipstream and Oculus
(link)

[image error] Blog tour begins April 1st
Watch for world-building extras, A-Z Blogfest entries, amd the Goodreads give-away!

Revised: one of my world-building posts is already up: on symbolism.

Next up...
...why, Disciple, Part III of course. And now that I've finished all six parts of Disciple, other ideas are competing for attention. Which will I write first...

Diviner's Prophecy

I have taken over Ms. Blankenship's blog today and have the distinct pleasure of introducing you to Dowager Duchess Damara of House Florett who is here to instruct us in Court Etiquette.

[image error] Nicolette: Lady Florett, thank you for joining me today and teaching Ms. Blankenship's readers how to behave in proper company.

Duchess Damara: Lady Andrews, I am honored to have the opportunity to instruct you in the ways of court life. If you do not mind I would like to start our lesson right away.

N: By all means, go ahead.

DD: Well I must advise you that your address to me was incorrect. Though my husband has departed this world, I do still hold the title of Dowager Duchess. For someone, like yourself, to address me you should start by calling me, ‘your grace’. Similarly if I were to address you I call you by ‘my lady’, though you do not hold a title it is a form of respect.

N: Oh, I think I understand now and how would you, say talk to someone who is higher up than you?

DD: Well, there are few who are higher placed than I, but if I were to meet the Queen at a social gathering, I would address her as ‘your majesty’ but if I were to say, run into her nephew the Prince Heir, I would address him as ‘your highness’, do you see?

N: I think I get it now. Kings and Queens are ‘your majesty’ and Prince or Princess ‘your highness’?

DD: you are a quick study.

N: Why thank you. Now that we’ve established greetings, what does one do all day at court?

DD: For each individual it is different, women are expected to know how to sew and do fine mending and embroidery. There is entertainment to be found in the Hall of Entertainment or walking in the garden as well.

N: Sounds like you live the life of leisure to me.

DD: Well there’s always politicking, if you get bored with the more mundane aspects of court life.

N: care to elaborate on what politicking might involve?

DD: Let’s just say, if you don’t like who is in power, there are ways of convincing people to join your way of thinking.

N: That was a rather obtuse answer.

DD: Naturally.

N: Well, any parting words of wisdom for someone who wishes to visit a royal court soon?

DD: Remember to keep your eyes open and if in doubt, give someone more respect than they’ve earned, flattery gets you everywhere.

Thank you, your grace, for taking time to talk with us today and thank you, Ms. Blankenship (curtsies and murmurs "You're very welcome, m'lady") for letting me take over your blog. You can learn more about Damara and court life in my novel, Diviner’s Prophecy now on sale at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords and many other retailers.

You can also find Nicolette Andrews at her website, on Facebook, or Twitter.

Tolkien Reading Day

[image error] It crossed my mind that I ought to say something about Tolkien, as he is the father of the fantasy genre as we know it today and I have devoted much time and writing to fantasy.

Then it crossed my mind that I couldn't possibly say anything that hasn't already been said, more eloquently, by someone else. For anyone born after the mid-1960s, it's just about impossible to write fantasy outside Tolkien's influence -- and it's been analyzed in minute detail for decades.

So I will have to make this a very personal post about what Tolkien taught me.

I read The Hobbit young, of course, and Lord of the Rings before I graduated from high school. And of course they were an influence on me. But the subtler lesson that Tolkien gave me came from The Silmarillion, which I read in college.

That book told me not to be afraid of diving into deep world-building. Tolkien poured much of his life into developing The Silmarillion, and the four novels were an outgrowth of that work -- rather than having written the story and then backfilled the structure necessary to support it. My belief that story, characters, and world-building are inextricable is rooted in this. Change one, and the other two must adjust to accomodate.

I believe that world-building is like an iceberg, in that 90 percent of it is invisible to the reader but still necessary. You don't have to read The Silmarillion to enjoy The Hobbit, but it's ballasting the story nonetheless.

I'm familiar with about the first 20 feet below water, of Disciple's iceberg, which gives me a good idea what the rest is like. I keep diving and learning more; and I'm grateful to the master world-builder for leading the way.


Disciple, Part I is on sale for 99 cents in honor of Tolkien Reading Day. Find it marked down at Amazon • B&N • Smashwords • Kobo

The Tolkien Reading Day home page lists all the books on sale!Also visit the events at: Goodreads • Facebook

Spring Equinox Sale

[image error] [image error] [image error]

March 20 - 25Disciple, Part I (ebook)
is only 99 centsat Amazon • B&N
Smashwords • Kobo
Enter to win Disciple, Part I and Part IIBEFORE PART II 
GOES ON SALEat the Spring Fantasy Sale
Check out the Spring Fantasy Sale at the Magic Appreciation Tour site for more fantasy ebooks 
ALL UNDER $5 
and 35 give-aways!

Disciple, Part I will be 
99 cents through 
J.R.R. Tolkien 
Reading Day,
March 25th

Look for Disciple, Part II
on sale April 1st

Is it on your to-read list at Goodreads?

Blog tour begins April 1st, too, if I haven't gone insane by then...
ebook's done, paperback's laid out, time to tackle the Smashwords file...

Quick update

Yes, Disciple, Part II is still on schedule for April 1st! My proofreader has the final draft. Meantime, I have been working on revisions to Disciple, Part III. All six parts have been written plus the first draft of the Prologue, Fire's First Kiss, so technically Disciple is "done."

Technically. There will be revising to do, of course. And yet, I'm getting a certain "empty nest" feeling...

Coming up soon: the SPRING EQUINOX SALE over at the Magic Appreciation Tour site! Fantasy books on sale below $5 -- I'll be marking down Disciple, Part I to 99 cents and giving away pre-release copies of Part II. Starts on the 20th!