M.O. Kenyan's Blog, page 33
November 1, 2012
BRED FOR DUTY
What do you do when your father tells you, you are to me married to a woman you have never met. Why? because she is a princess and you are the heir to your father’s throne. Why? because it is good for both kingdoms and therefore your duty.
Archer’s father has always reminded him of one fact that he was ‘Bred for Duty’.
The princess, Archer thought. He still had to please her, amuse her but from what he had heard about her no precious embroidered cloth would do, not even the most precious stones from his mother’s, the queens, own collection would satisfy her. He thought of what he held precious to him, his bow and arrow what if he forged a weapon for her himself. That would please her.
“Marriage? What marriage?” Novia interrupted.
Archer chocked on the shock he always felt when they spoke of his marriage. Of course he wouldn’t leave the palace but bringing someone new in his little private bubble disturbed him. Although he wanted what Ilana and Lionell had, the companion and support from a loved one he wasn’t sure if he would love her as much as his parents loved each other.
Adalia on the other hand is a rebel. She would much rather fight in her father’s army than wear a dress and do what is expected from a princess.
Adalia raised her sword to block the one coming down at her fast. The clang of metal announced the beginning of the fight. Adalia liked training with the guards it was her way of sharpening her skills, ever since her father refused to train her. King Gabrielle wanted his daughter to be a delicate princess, a butterfly, but she wasn’t. Adalia was as good as any of the guards and better than most. More times than her father liked it she went out on patrol with Conan. She was well versed with the land and could easily lead her father’s army to a victorious ambush. “Adalia!” Liora’s stern voice rang through the air as the guards dropped on one knee with their heads bowed. “My queen.” Adalia gave her mother a slight bow and dropped the sword at her feet.
The two are confused at how to approach their marriage.
“What about?” he stood behind her.
“You, me, our families.” The word our hang in the midnight air, lurking around them waiting for them to take their vows of marriage. She exhaled wishing that she could let go of her insecurities just as easily.
“Our families.” He repeated an exasperated sigh escaping from his lips. He realized that there was one thing he was yet to ask, “Do you want to marry?”
“Will you force me to lay down my sword?
Their sibling Novia and Randi seem to find a love connection and are married. But that is not enough for the two kingdoms. A marriage between the two heirs has to take place.
“Your brother wants to marry.”
Adalia finally noticed the loving way in which Novia hooked her arm into Randi’s. It was like she was floating, and if it wasn’t for the fact Adalia knew otherwise she would have been convinced that under the grand ball gown Novia’s feet weren’t touching the ground.
“Brother?”
“Novia, what is this?” Archer went to his little sister’s side and for the first time that night feeling a sense of animosity for a man other than Xander.
“I want to marry him Archer.” She chirped.
He gently took her arm and dragged her to the side. He lifted his head and saw Gabrielle and his father in a corner whispering to each other. A chill ran through his veins, the two premiers were actually considering it.
“You are only seventeen Novia.” He stroked her rosy cheeks and tucked a stray strand of platinum blonde hair behind her ear, “You are still a baby.”
“I am not.” She blew air into her cheeks and pouted her lip confirming her brother’s view of her.
Archer pressed his index fingers into her cheeks and deflated them, “You are too young.”
“But you are getting married.” She fussed, “Adalia is only two years older than I am.”
“She’s the same age as I am. We are both old enough to marry. Besides, our marriage is for the kingdom.”
“Our marriage is for love.”
Adalia faces a dilemma, she has a fiance on one hand and a childhood crush on the to her. Alexander is everything a girl could wish for, but what he’s not is Royalty.
“What is it?” just by the touch of their skin, Adalia could feel the need inside him. Alexander’s eyes roamed around her face, as if he was looking for the perfect spot. “What is it” she asked once more.
“I’m looking for the right words,” he whispered, “but I realize there aren’t any right words for what I feel.” He dropped to his knee.
“What are you doing?” Adalia felt a shiver ran up her spine. Her eyes darted around, looking if anyone could see them but there was no one.
“I love you,” he began. He drew out his sword from his scabbard, “My sword will always fight for you.” He pressed her hand into the steel plate on his chest, “My armor will always protect you,”
Adalia gasped when she realized what he was doing. He was making vows to her. She had the immediate instinct to pull her hands away; to tell him to stop but the sweet melody in his voice cemented her in place. She wanted to hear more, to feel something other than the great doubt and fear she was already feeling.
Xander put a kiss in her palms, “I will always love you, listen to you, be faithful to you and I will always be beside you. Please will you marry me?”
“Yes!” the word escaped her lips before she could even think about it.
SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
BRED FOR DUTY
Hey guys read a piece of my book Bred for Duty. Tell me what you think.
Adalia froze when his hearty laugh bounced off the castle stony walls and landed straight in her heart. He made her feel…things. “I don’t think I have ever heard you laugh like that.”
“I had a happy thought.” He smiled at her. The irony of her two different persona was a source of amusement to him, “How you can be like a man in one instance then a girl in the next amuses me.”
Adalia looked at the silver lightning in his eyes but this time it shone through with a different kind of emotion. There was no anger in his eyes anymore, instead they smiled and-at her.
“You are pretty odd yourself.” She was still gazing into his eyes as she spoke.
“How is that?”
“This morning you looked at me like you were ready to drive your dagger into my heart. But now-,” she was still looking into his eyes so she noticed the change in them. A cloud of thunder loomed behind the lightning. She had said the wrong thing and now she had to salvage the moment, “But you are very beautiful both times.”
“What?” his anger was replaced with confusion. Then amusement, Archer was laughing once more, “Do you want to come to the mock battle field with me?”
It took her a couple of seconds to respond. Usually she was being chased out of the mock battle field and here someone was inviting her to one.
“Are you serious or are you just playing around with me?” her eyes were slit in suspicion.
“I’m not teasing you. Novia will be down there too.”
“You let your sister fight?” this was another startling piece of information to her. Randi was terrified of mother and so was Gabrielle, so they wouldn’t willingly let her fight just because she was a girl. It seemed unfair to her, that Novia, a girl younger than she was, was allowed to battle and she wasn’t.
“Yes, while taking extreme caution.”
“I usually have to disguise myself or sneak onto the grounds to get a fight.” She huffed.
Archer could imagine that. She seemed like a girl who went to all and any length to get what she wanted. “I need all my siblings able to defend themselves in the event that I cannot.” He mumbled as if it was a thought he had always harbored and feared. “Meet me here in half an hour.” He instructed before walking away.
Adalia rushed to the room that had been assigned to her. She was glad that her mother had insisted on her taking a full chest of clothes. Especially since three quarters of what she had packed were trousers and shirts. She had her armor from her fight the previous day and her faithful sword lay under her pillows. Soon she was ready and very excited about the mock battle.
At first Adalia watched then helped the younger ones learn their individual weapons. Archer had a passion for bows and arrows and he had passed that to the third youngest child, the others favored knives just as much as she did. Novia was excellent with a blade. Adalia wondered whether her brother knew what his future bride was capable of. She had to admit that beyond the perfectly braided hair and made up face, Novia was lethal with a sword.
Archer stepped into the centre of the ring, in the battle field, with Novia. He was teaching her how not to loose her footing in a close combat. He charged at her, tried to knock her off her feet but it looked like Novia could read every movement he made. She jumped, blocked and charged. Not once did her foot step out of the ring. Adalia awed at the way Archer looked at his sister. It was a look of pride and accomplishment.
Once the younger ones were done, it was Archer and Adalia’s turn in the ring.
“You are very kind with your siblings.” She watched his hands as they spoke.
“They are big part of me.” He smiled.
“What are you training them for? I don’t see why the little ones should be here.” She and Randi were the only ones who were allowed on a mock battle ground. The younger ones were taught with wooden blades and cushions to make their landings on the ground smoother.
“They need to learn. Now more than ever.” He said the last part in an almost whisper.
Adalia felt a pang of guilt surge into her heart. But she wasn’t going to allow herself or Archer to think about the idiotic sacrifice he had made on her behalf. Once she had gotten Archer’s rhythm pegged down, Adalia charged him and in ten seconds she had him flat on his back. But he was back on his feet in a fraction of a second. They fenced into the bushes and into the garden, calling a large audience to gather around them. They didn’t notice until Archer had Adalia flat on her back and him on top.
There was a roar of applauds, then Lionel’s voice pierced through, “Very good, I hope that by the time the week ends Archer would have changed his mind about leading the scouts and marriage. You are an asset and would make a perfect daughter in law and queen.” He winked at his son then walked back into the stone palace.
Archer got to his feet and pulled Adalia up with him, “Sorry I didn’t mean to-,”
“Hurt me?” Adalia cut in a scornful look on her face, “Are you apologizing because I’m a girl.”
“No, I was going to say, I’m sorry for getting you dirty.” He winked at her, “I know you are more than capable of handling any bodily harm I may have caused you.”
She was happy that he didn’t treat her like a porcelain doll, but miffed that he didn’t care if she was injured.
“That’s not a nice thing to say.” She frowned.
“What do you mean?” Archer was confused. He was treating her exactly how he thought she wanted to be treated, like a man. He thought he should irritate her a bit more. With his fist he brushed against Adalia’s jaw, making her groan out in pain.
“What do you think you are doing?” her hand went up to her face and cupped where his fist had left a dull red spot.
“What are going to do about it?” he giggled then turned around and began walking away.
October 31, 2012
Christina Ow - Author
Reblogged from Robynn Gabel's Common Sense Experience:
I asked Christina to please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases. The following is some of the projects she is currently working on.
Fatal Jealousy- three women, two of them twins, interested in one man and it all gets deadly and bloody fast.
Love Forever After- it’s a love story that is very out of the norm.
Blog Blizzard - M.O. Kenyan - Author Interview
Reblogged from Robynn Gabel's Common Sense Experience:
What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
I love the fact that I can create different worlds, characters and be a direct influence to a character’s life.
What genre(s) do you write?
I write Romance and Fantasy. It’s easier to make two people from different worlds and with different personalities fall in love. And creating a beautiful guy who suddenly turns green is awesome too.
The Forever Girl, by Rebecca Hamilton – Treasure Hunt Tour Nov 1 – Nov 30
Welcome to the treasure hunt tour for The Forever Girl!
Here’s how it’s done:
Each stop on the tour will have a small excerpt with a code hidden it. Visit all the stops to gather the letters, unscramble the phrase, and email it to :
sandra.ashton-holtzman@bookandblogservices.com
The stops list can be found here: http://www.bookandblogservices.com/book-tour-for-the-forever-girl-by-rebecca-hamilton
The winner will receive a goody bag including:
October 27, 2012
FREE E-BOOK; THE MARA SONG
HEY GUYS!!!
The Mara Song is free on smashwords.
I loved writing this book because it is set in one of Kenya’s pride and glory.
Please check it out. If you have suggestions and comments please let me know. Hit me up on facebook, twitter or goodreads. check the sidebars for the links.
holla back people.
Love you all.
October 26, 2012
THE MARA SONG
POETRY INCLUDED IN THE BOOK BY MARITA LIDONDE;
THE MOON AT NIGHT
I look up in the dark sky and I see a light
A beacon of hope in the likeness of a knight
A small silvery ball of fire shinning so bright
As his friends gather around him and give him might
Strength and courage to protect him in the blanket of the night
As the light pierces through the darkness
He grabs all the hearts and souls of loneliness
In the darkness of my sorrow
I look for your light
An offer of peace and happiness
A chance to be me
THE BEAT
There is a beat being played in the plains, the beat of life,
The beat of passion and the beat of everlasting love,
As the world taps into the earth,
As life grows out of the soil the beat sounds off,
Ushering in a new second that there is life in the universe,
The beat of the African drum,
The beat of the people’s and the animal’s hearts,
The existence of life in the trees and the earth beneath our feet,
The beat of the Mara Song
VALENTINE NOVELLA; THE MARA SONG
Hey guys below is an excerpt of my valentine Novella;
Wakio an events coordinator at the Maasai Mara lodge falls in love with a guest. She plans a destination wedding meant to take place at the lodge not knowing that her prince charming is the groom;
“Wakio, this is Mr. Roberts.” Koinei introduced the both of us.
Mr. Roberts held onto his bag as Koinei tried to relieve him of it. But his puny hands were no match to his strong big hands. Yes I noticed the hands.
“Hallo, I’m Chris.” he pulled his shades off and stretched his hand towards me.
Immediately his face drew my attention. He didn’t look as hard as he did behind his shades. He was visually stunning there was no doubt about that, but what drew me to him even more were his soft brown eyes. I was memorizing the planes of his face and almost forgot to shake his hand. But Koinei’s squeaking voice pulled me out of my fantasy. I glanced at Koinei and realized that his height wasn’t his biggest let down with the women, it was his squeaky voice. It was like having a squeaking match with your little sister’s pet mouse.
“Hi,” I chocked out. “Welcome to the Maasai Royal Mara, bush elegance at its best. That’s what the brochure says at least.”
Chris laughed and the sound of it caressed my heart.
The nerves were kicking in and I knew the rumbling would start soon. I shook his hand and immediately a buzz seared through my body turning me into a heap of jelly. “You are the groom’s brother or cousin?” I was fishing. I cast my hopefully net into a sea filled with fish and hoped that I didn’t catch the groom.
Chris grinned then gave me a slight nod, a reluctant nod. I felt like he trying to be graceful, like I was overstepping the boundaries and he didn’t want to offend me. Immediately I tried to clear the misunderstanding. “The card says Jonathan.”
“Yes, you could say that he is part of me in a way.” He put his shades back on and his shoulders slumped, I could feel him pull away. I didn’t know him for more than a second but already I felt like he was hiding from the world, or just me.
“Maybe you should show him to his room. We can talk about the wedding in the morning. But you don’t have to worry everything is pretty much done.” I reassured.
“She will show you all the venues.” Koinei put in, “I’ll show you to your room.” The eager to please, beaver that he was started off only to be called back.
“Can she do it?” An embarrassed soft pink glow claimed his cheeks. Chris wanted to get away from the pigmy and I didn’t blame him.
“I would love to.” I grabbed the key out of Koinei’s hand and we left him still agape. “I’m surprised your ears are still whole.”
“He is quite chatty.” Chris said.
“You are too kind.” Koinei wasn’t chatty. He talked obsessively. His voice mirrored that of a fly or a mosquito buzzing around your ear chewing on every nerve you had.
“What do you think of the place? Disregarding everything you read on the brochure and were told to say during your orientation on your first day here?” Chris pushed his glasses over his head, pulling the stray hair away from his face. That was when I realized how kind he looked, a bit lost but still kind.
“That’s quiet easy.” I was back in my trance, “It’s beautiful. Every day I wake up, I feel like I walked into a dream. The trees, the animals and just the nothingness, it’s awesome.”
October 20, 2012
BIRTHRIGHT BESTOWED BY ERICA M SZABO
Press Release Launch Kit
For
Birthright Bestowed
Ilona the Hun Trilogy
By
Erika M Szabo
Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com books@5princebooks.com
Genre: Fiction/Alternative History
Release Date: October 18, 2012
Digital ISBN 13: 978-1-939217-09-7, ISBN 10: 1939217091
Print ISBN 13: 978-1-939217-10-3, ISBN 10: 1939217105
Purchase link: www.5princebooks.com/buy.htm
Birthright Bestowed
Ilona the Hun trilogy, book one
Ilona is an emergency room doctor, born into an ancient Hun tribe which still exists hidden amongst us with its strict and fiercely enforced rules. She doesn’t know much about her Hun heritage besides legends, customs and rituals that she continues out of respect for her parents whose sudden death ten years before devastated her. She plays her tune on her birthday given to her by her grandmother. Elza – Ilona’s housekeeper – explains, the purpose of the tune is to let the elders know she had come to age. Her mother didn’t have a chance to explain her inherited powers, but after her 29th birthday when she is considered as an adult by Hun standards, she begins to remember the forgotten instructions concealed as rhymes her mother was teaching her since she was a small child. Ilona discovers she can heal with her bare hands; she can rearrange the human body to its healthy state. This ability is exciting as well as frightening. She is conflicted between having confidence in her intelligence and inherited abilities while having no confidence as a woman. Her insecurity created barriers which keep others out, and I also keep her caged in. She’s been in love with her unsuspecting best friend Bela, when a dashing stranger explodes into her life. The sudden magnetic feeling frightens her and discovering evil in him doesn’t help either. A sinister dark man appears, Ilona connects his presence with the series of mysterious deaths around her. Zoltan saves her life by jeopardizing his, which prompts Ilona to start fitting the puzzle pieces together and discovering the ancient tribal secrets that not only can change her future but the future existence of the Huns as well.
Bio for Erika M Szabo:
Erika M Szabo is a Hungarian born American; she lives in the beautiful Catskill Mountains. She has a PhD in Alternative Medicine; she published a few books in this subject. Erika loves the art of healing; however, writing about dry medical facts doesn’t satisfy her thirst for storytelling. The ancient history of the Huns always fascinated her, it is full of holes, mysteries and speculations; there are only a few written facts about them besides their legends. Erika used her fertile imagination to fill the historical voids in the story of Ilona. She raises questions such as – What if healing by touch could be possible? – What if we could find a soul mate no matter the obstacles? – What if we could visit our ancestors on a whim? – What if our destiny is not written in stone and we can create our future?
Author Contact Info:
http://www.amazon.com/author/erikamszabo
http://www.erikamszabo.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/Erika.M.Szabo.ND.Author
http://twitter.com/ErikaMSzabo
Excerpt from Birthright Bestowed:
I was holding Teddy deep in thoughts, absentmindedly stroking his soft artificial fur. He was my favorite childhood toy, stuffed to perfect softness. Suddenly I felt something piercing the side of my neck. The sharp pain made me jump, and I let out a muted cry. I touched the skin over my carotid artery and I felt warm wetness. A drop of blood glistened on my fingertips when I looked at my hand. I almost dropped Teddy feeling alarmed when I noticed that my fingers begun to glow as if a bright red light was turned on from the inside. At the same time I felt something scurrying from the side of my neck toward my chest. I reached up and swept my neck and chest jumping up in disgust. Crap! It must have been a bug or a spider. The damned thing bit me! I looked down on my chest and kept sweeping my clothes frantically looking for the bug.
A sudden swirling sensation took me by surprise and I grabbed the side of the ottoman to steady myself while everything began to fade around me. I tried to find a focus point to decrease the sudden vertigo, and then brought my eyes down to Teddy. I noticed with climbing alarm that his eyes took on a strange red glow. His eyes seemed alive; they bore into my insides and the intense glow kept me frozen. I’m hallucinating ran through my mind. I tried to turn away, yet I couldn’t move a muscle. I couldn’t even blink. I was scared, never having felt such primal fear before. I felt my heart racing and my breath came in little puffs as I felt cold beads of sweat on my forehead. I knew it was adrenaline flooding my body triggered by the sudden fright, but I was afraid it might have been some poison from the bite as well.
The strange sensation and hallucination stopped as quickly as it started. My hands felt and looked normal and I became rational in an instant and sat there, feeling obtuse, wondering what had just happened. The whole sensation lasted only for seconds, yet it frightened me a great deal not knowing what caused it.
I came in here hoping to find answers, and I found more questions. I didn’t find out anything! I thought angrily.
The only insight I got was being scared out of my mind.I couldn’t sit there anymore. I felt suffocated; I had to get out in the open. I left Teddy on the ottoman and opened the door carefully, peering out. Something seemed to pull me back, a vague feeling, as if I was missing something. I fingered the Turul bird medallion absentmindedly, feeling its smoothness and warmth. I realized I had searched everywhere but inside the ottoman. I grabbed the seat and tried to pull it up. There was a soft metallic click and then the top opened abruptly.
October 19, 2012
ILONA THE HUN TRIOLOGY By Erika M Szabo
Erika M Szabo is a Hungarian born American; she lives in the beautiful Catskill Mountains. She has a PhD in Alternative Medicine; she published a few books in this subject. Erika loves the art of healing; however, writing about dry medical facts doesn’t satisfy her thirst for storytelling. The ancient history of the Huns always fascinated her, it is full of holes, mysteries and speculations; there are only a few written facts about them besides their legends.
