Cindy Lyle's Blog, page 2
September 27, 2013
I Need some Blogger Help!!!
September 17, 2013
New Author
This experience has been a lot of fun but as many of you know is bloody hard work! I hope someday to have at least three books in The Creation Chronicles series and I encourage every budding author out there to never give up! Your dreams are attainable and so very worth the journey to get there.
Cheers!
Why I write Fantasy
Someone once asked me why I choose to write fantasy. At the time I thought it was a very odd question. Why do any authors write what they write? Why is Fantasy any different?
I think for a long time people associated Fantasy with "geeks, or weirdo's". You know the people that hung out in their mothers basement and played D&D, or the people that would dress up as their favorite characters and act out a scene. I think what you have to look at is why do these people choose to do these things? It's an easy answer, its an escape. Haven't you ever dreamed you could just pick up and leave your life just for a little while? To go somewhere no one would ask you "When is that report done? Hurry up we have a deadline. Mom, can you drive me to the mall?" That is what Fantasy is for me. I can sit down in my little quiet corner and open my book and be whisked away to another world. So you might be thinking, "Yeah, but I can do that with any book, and don't have to deal with all the magic, monsters and gore." I agree with you, you can do that with any well written book, but there is always that level ground of the places you know and the people you could imagine to be real. The illusion is very thin.
Fantasy is different but the same in many ways. A lot of people think that all fantasy is, is magic, epic battles, and fantastical creatures, with no relatable characters, but that is not true. Of course Fantasy novels are filled with all of those things, but there is also a story. Everything that a person goes through in their lives can be found in a Fantasy novel. Just because our characters may not look quite human, that doesn't mean they don't act like it, after all a human created them. The characters fight for whats right, make mistakes, fall in love, and yes sometimes do unspeakable evil. When you were children didn't you ever imagine you could fly, or that you could be a knight and defeat a dragon, or maybe if you were lucky catch a glimpse of a unicorn? I know I did, and I guess maybe as we get older that part of our imagination dies along with our childhood innocence, but that doesn't mean we can't remember it and secretly enjoy the feelings we had when we thought monsters were real.
Writing Fantasy for me was an easy choice. I wanted to create my own world, that no one else could touch. I wanted to control what happens and not worry about messing up facts or history. Everything I write comes from my heart and I bleed that into my characters. To me they are very real and go through very real emotions and trials.
I want you to know that I didn't write this to convert anyone into reading Fantasy, I just wanted to try to answer that long ago question I was asked. I hope I did. So next time you see a book cover and see a dragon, or vampire, or wizard on the front, don't automatically pass it by. Pick it up, read the back, and listen to that child inside your heart. You never know you might be pleasantly surprised.
May 8, 2013
Progress
Hey everyone! I hope your spring is going wonderfully so far. the weather has been fantastic lately and it has put me in such a great mood.
I just wanted to give you a quick update. The Dragon Within is on its way for its final copy edit. As you know I made the decision to republish with another company and I couldn’t be happier. I have fixed all the mistakes (fingers crossed) and have changed a few minor things. I’m so happy that my readers love my story but now it will published properly and have the recognition it deserves. I’ll let you all now my new release date as soon as I know.
The second installment, The Dragon Calls is coming along nicely too. I’m hoping to have it finished by the fall. If anyone would like a sneak peak let me know! 
Happy reading and writing!!
March 19, 2013
Why I write Fantasy
Someone once asked me why I choose to write fantasy. At the time I thought it was a very odd question. Why do any authors write what they write? Why is Fantasy any different?
I think for a long time people associated Fantasy with “geeks, or weirdo’s”. You know the people that hung out in their mothers basement and played D&D, or the people that would dress up as their favorite characters and act out a scene. I think what you have to look at is why do these people choose to do these things? It’s an easy answer, its an escape. Haven’t you ever dreamed you could just pick up and leave your life just for a little while? To go somewhere no one would ask you “When is that report done? Hurry up we have a deadline. Mom, can you drive me to the mall?” That is what Fantasy is for me. I can sit down in my little quiet corner and open my book and be whisked away to another world. So you might be thinking, “Yeah, but I can do that with any book, and don’t have to deal with all the magic, monsters and gore.” I agree with you, you can do that with any well written book, but there is always that level ground of the places you know and the people you could imagine to be real. The illusion is very thin.
Fantasy is different but the same in many ways. A lot of people think that all fantasy is, is magic, epic battles, and fantastical creatures, with no relatable characters, but that is not true. Of course Fantasy novels are filled with all of those things, but there is also a story. Everything that a person goes through in their lives can be found in a Fantasy novel. Just because our characters may not look quite human, that doesn’t mean they don’t act like it, after all a human created them. The characters fight for whats right, make mistakes, fall in love, and yes sometimes do unspeakable evil. When you were children didn’t you ever imagine you could fly, or that you could be a knight and defeat a dragon, or maybe if you were lucky catch a glimpse of a unicorn? I know I did, and I guess maybe as we get older that part of our imagination dies along with our childhood innocence, but that doesn’t mean we can’t remember it and secretly enjoy the feelings we had when we thought monsters were real.
Writing Fantasy for me was an easy choice. I wanted to create my own world, that no one else could touch. I wanted to control what happens and not worry about messing up facts or history. Everything I write comes from my heart and I bleed that into my characters. To me they are very real and go through very real emotions and trials.
I want you to know that I didn’t write this to convert anyone into reading Fantasy, I just wanted to try to answer that long ago question I was asked. I hope I did. So next time you see a book cover and see a dragon, or vampire, or wizard on the front, don’t automatically pass it by. Pick it up, read the back, and listen to that child inside your heart. You never know you might be pleasantly surprised.
February 22, 2013
February – Come and Almost Gone
This month goes by way to quickly for me. I know that as you get older time seems to go by faster, but holy crap, please slow the heck down! I do like February though. I like Valentines Day and it is my mom’s, brother’s and my b-day month, so there is always a lot of love going around! I’m also glad it’s almost March…spring time is coming!!! I love spring! I love the way the air smells and how everyone seems to have a little extra bounce in their step. It also means I get to start riding my horses again! We don’t have an indoor facility, so riding in the winter is not my thing.
My second book is going… well its going. I’m hoping to be finished by the end of the summer which is longer that I would like, but it is unavoidable. It is coming though, I promise! So all of you you are patiently waiting for the second book, don’t give up and thank you so much for sticking with me!
if you haven’t noticed I’ve started posting some reviews I’ve done for my fellow authors on Goodreads. I hope you take the time to read them and go check out their books. I have two more that I’m working on (Thorn and Deception Peak) which I will post soon. I’m also working on a special post about why I write fantasy and what it means to me, so I look out for that too!
Well I guess that’s it. Until next time, happy reading and writing!!
House of Shadows – By Walter Spence
House of Shadows – By Walter Spence
I purchased a copy of House of shadows as part of a group read through Goodreads and I’m glad I did.
Being a vampire fan, I was happy to read a new and believable take on the species. In
this story his vampires are called the Breed, and they make it quite clear that
they don’t even consider themselves in the same league as traditional vampires.
There are some similarities, but I think Walter was successful in trying
something new.
The main plot follows the story of a young man named Eugene who is saved from his
destitute life by a beautiful woman. However unknowingly he becomes an intricate
part in her plan to become not only a member of the Breed but to also save her
household. All goes according to her plan, until Eugene awakens as a member of
the breed, only to discover that the woman who turned him has disappeared and
he has been left alone. Eugene must discover how to cope with his new life and
discover what has happened to his sire, but being a newly born vampire has
enough problems on its own. He is attacked on all fronts, not only from members
of his own kind, but also from the predator that now lives inside him.
House of shadows is a fast paced well written adventure, which kept me turning pages. It is a wonderful addition to the vampire genre and its hidden mystery left me
wanting more. My only regret was that it was short. I wish I could have learned
more about what Eugene would have to face in the future but I guess I will have
to wait for the next one. I recommend this to anyone who loves vampires and a
good supernatural mystery.
4 out of 5 Stars
The Psalter – By Galen Watson
Hi, so I’ve decided to start a page to display some reviews for my fellow Indie authors. This is very new for me. I have read many books but I’ve never written any reviews. I hope it works out! I’m going to try and read one indie author per month and post my review here. These posts will coincide with my group that I help moderate on Goodreads.
My first post and first review ever goes to “The Psalter” By Galen Watson.
Jan. 14/2013
I was given a copy of this novel, for an honest review, thank you.
Let me start off by saying that I really enjoyed this novel, but it does require an open
mind. There are many religious and political views covered throughout this
story that not everyone will agree with. However with that said, this is a work
of fiction and the author did an excellent job incorporating all these
different views respectfully and for me it was very educational and
entertaining.
The main focus of the story centers around an ancient prayer book called a Psalter. It
is discovered in modern day, in the library of the Vatican. The discovery of
this book sets off a chain of events which leads the reader down a path of
murder, betrayal, and revelation. Not only do we see how this Psalter affects
the characters in the present, the reader is also taken back through time to
where the Psalter first appeared and the many sacrifices these people went
through to preserve the secrets the Psalter holds.
For me I enjoyed the historical part of this story more than the present, but that is
because I’m a history buff and I really don’t know much about religious history
so this was something new for me. The author did a fantastic job making these
characters come to life and I could tell that he did his research. I was pulled
into their world filled with turmoil and their quest to discover the truth. Not
just the truth behind ancient scrolls and writings but the truth in their own
hearts and their beliefs.
My only complaint would be that I wanted to learn more about Father Mike. I feel there
were some unresolved issues with him that I would have liked to have answers
too. Maybe there is a sequel??
The Psalter was a solid read and I would recommend this book to anyone with an open mind and a thirst for a good mystery. The characters are wonderful and the story is
daring and intriguing. I hope to see more from this author in the future.
4 out of 5 stars
January 18, 2013
Happy 2013!!
I know I’m a little late, but here it is anyway…Happy 2013 everyone!
Not much as been going on in my little corner of the world lately, which I think would explain my mood. I’ve been feeling stuck and I’m not quite sure how to fix that. Don’t get me wrong, I love staying at home and taking care of my daughter and all the other things I do, but sometimes I feel like that is all that defines me. I thought that writing my book would give me a purpose, and it did for a little while, but now that I’m trying to write the sequel I’m feeling very uninspired and not very motivated. I hope I’m just going through a slump, and I hope I figure out a way to kick it’s ass, and fast!
Anyway I have decided to play with my website a bit. Once a month I’m going to post reviews of Indie authors that I’ve read. I’m going to try and repay the favour and give some other great authors some recognition. I’m also adding a page where you can check out some chapters of my next book, The Dragon Calls. I would love some feedback so please don’t be shy and come check out all my posts.
OK, that’s it for now. Take care of yourselves and happy reading and writing!
December 12, 2012
Updates
Wow, I really need to practice my blogging skills! I’m sorry I haven’t talked in a few months but things have been pretty hectic. I guess one of the major things that happened was the loss of my wonderful companion Max. He was a miniature Schnauzer and his attitude was anything but “mini”! He was one of the funniest dogs I have ever met and I miss him a lot. He had cancer and we just couldn’t see him suffer anymore. He was only ten but he had such a wonderful happy life! 
OK, now that I said that and my eyes have stop watering, I can talk about other things! I’ve finished the corrections in The Dragon Within, which I’m a little embarrassed about! But whats done is done and I have learned from the experience. My only problem now is I have to wait until the spring to release a revised copy, due to personal reasons. So I’m thinking I might wait until I’m done The Dragon Calls and release both at the same time.
Other than being a mom(busy, busy, lol) I have been working on The Dragon Calls the next installment in Karah’s adventures. I’m on chapter five and I’m hoping I get out of my creativity block and get some serious writing done! I’ve also been thinking about the cover and I think i might ask one of my new friends who is a great artist to help me with it. I haven’t asked her yet so I’m not going to tell you her name.
Anyways thanks for all your support and I promise I will try and be more frequent with my posts! Have a wonderful Christmas and I wish everyone a safe and healthy New Year!!
Cheers!
