Ruth Ellen Parlour's Blog, page 8

Friday Snippets – God Slayer

I thought I’d share a short snippet of rather gruesome description from God Slayer (working title) Poor Catrin come face to face with this creature…

 ~*~

The demon’s one eye fixed on me as it took a cautious step forward. The pungent stench stung my nostrils as it infected the back of my throat and prickled my eyes. I backed away, holding my sword in front of me. The forest was just behind, but just too far. The monster growled like it was gargling blood. Its nose had rotted away but the creature still sniffed, the air whistled through the bones in its snout. The heather around it withered, shrank and turned black with a soft crumbling sound.

~*~

Thanks for reading!

Why I’m Re-branding my Book

Earth Angel had always been the perfect title for my book. I couldn’t think of a better title that summed up the book in such few words. At the time I was happy with it. In hindsight I should have done some more research, I was aware there was other books with the same title but I didn’t realise the extent that that ran to. When I search “Earth Angel” on Amazon, a hoard of Mind Body and Spirit, and religious books pop up, burying my book in the depths of the catalogue. I was concerned that the title created the wrong impression and would never be noticed by the title.

I know now that more thought needs to go into the title. More thought than just, are there other books with the same title? I had to consider if the new title was too general. A name with a more specific tag would be easier to spot and easier to search for. What other genres have titles similar to yours? Will your title create the wrong impression because of other people’s books?

I spent a long time designing and tinkering with the original book cover, and at the time I was really happy with the result. I still think it looks awesome, but later I wanted something that gives a better impression of the genre, and what reader’s might expect to find within the book. I wanted something more specific.

Earth Angel is like a long running experiment in my self publishing experience. Whatever happens to it, I’ll learn from and improve over the course of my writing career. Obviously I want the experiment to be a success, but at the moment it stands as a massive learning curve.

The beauty of self publishing means I can change things like titles and covers no problem. I hope you like the title and cover I’ve settled on. I’d love to know what you think! Do you like this title and cover or prefer the old one?

Friday Snippet – Faith

I’ve just realised it’s Friday! Sorry for the late post, I normally forget until I see someone else’s snippet. I’ve just been too wrapped up in life. Better late than never!

This snippet carries on from last week at the dance where Saffron and Faith have been asked to dance by a couple of hansom young men! I hope you enjoy, please remember that this is first draft material. Comments are welcome!

~*~

They joined Saffron at the edge of the square, taking a break from the dancing with a cup of wine. Saffron clutched Faith’s arm.

‘Your Da has been scowling at you this whole time,’ she whispered. Faith’s smile disappeared like a sheet in the wind as it blew cold in her stomach.

‘Oh no,’ she gasped as she caught the hooded stare of her father. He lifted a hand and signalled for her to go to him.

‘That’s your father?’ Draego gasped. Faith turned to him and smiled, although it did nothing to dispel the sheer fright on the poor boy’s face.

‘I’ll see what he wants,’ she said, walking from the dance square towards her father.

‘For the sake of appearances…’ Corin began as she stood before him. ‘I have to scare the living daylights out of those boys every day, and I have to protect my daughters at the same time. Not all the boys in Wolfpack are as nice as those two,’ he said, keeping his voice low and his face scowling. ‘I’m not going to tell you to be careful because I know you always are, I just wanted to see Draego piss his pants,’ he said.

‘Daddy!’ Faith hissed, shooting him a cold glare.

‘I know, but if he upsets you at all, you let me know,’ he said.

‘I’ve only just met him Da,’ she replied.

‘I loved your mother from the first moment I looked into her eyes. Sometimes love strikes when you never expect it to,’ a smile caught the edge of his thin lips.

‘So I have your blessing?’ she asked, not because she was interested in Draego, but because she wanted her father to stop talking and let her dance.

‘Yes but don’t tell Draego that, now walk back over there like I cursed his family name,’ he said. Heat rose to her cheeks as she walked back to Saffron, staring at the floor and avoiding Draego’s stare.

‘What did he say?’ Saffron asked, taking Faith’s arm.

‘Um…’ she glanced at Draego now who gazed into her eyes with a crease between his brows. Damn my eyes, she thought. ‘I think I’ll have more wine.’

~*~

Thanks for reading!

Friday Snippets – Faith

This snippet continues from last week with Faith and Saffron at the village dance. Saffron has been asked to dance by a hansom stranger and now it’s Faith’s turn…

I hope you enjoy this snippet from the first draft of my short story. Comments are always welcome.

~*~

Faith looked up at the boy who stood before her. He was slim and developing the musculature of the adult he would soon grow into. His straw coloured hair stuck up in places where it refused to lie flat, and his nose had a kink along the bridge from an old break. The brightness of his green eyes and his strong features made him pleasant to behold.

The boy was staring at her, his mouth slightly open. Faith’s peacock coloured eyes sometimes had that effect; people never expected to see the dazzling colours. Faith clutched her hands together and smiled shyly.

‘Um…’ the boy stuttered, trying to draw himself back to his senses.

‘I’m Faith.’

The boy flashed a nervous smile, colour rising to his face.

‘I’m Draego Aerdin Evelenta , a new recruit from Wolfpack. I’m from Lesoura originally.’

Faith’s gaze flashed through the crowd of people, quickly settling on her father. He was busy dancing and hadn’t noticed the boy.

‘Have some wine, it will loosen you up.’ Faith passed him a cup. He took a sip as if to test the taste, then knocked back the whole cup and placed it back on the barrel.

Faith raised her eyebrows.

‘Could you… show me the steps to your dance? I’m not familiar with it,’ he said. That was a tired way of asking her to dance. She might have said no, that she should be looking after her younger siblings, but something about his demeanour set him apart from the other young men.

‘Come, I’ll show you,’ she said, placing her wine cup on the nearby barrel.

Faith showed him the basic steps of the line dance. Draego’s eyes stared intently at her feet as he jerkily tried to follow, nearly tripping on his own shoes. Faith pressed her lips together to stop herself from laughing. He genuinely didn’t know the dance.

Faith caught a flash of long blond curls as the tall boy twirled Saffron around. He danced with as nimble elegance as one might fence with.

‘I’m sorry, I’m not very good at dancing,’ said Draego, noticing her distraction. As he scratched his head, more strands stuck up. Faith wondered, how many times had he been outshone by his more dynamic friend.

~*~

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the 3 part snippet

Friday Snippets – Faith

Happy Friday!

Last week, Saffron and Faith were attending their village dance and Saffron was on the prowl for boys. Enjoy this snippet from the first draft of my short story! Comments are always welcome.

~*~

‘Have some more wine, it will loosen you up,’ Saffron passed her another wooden cup and guided it to Faith’s lips, eagerly tilting the cup a fraction more than Faith would have wanted. She still hadn’t become accustomed to the sharp taste, but enjoyed the fruity ghost that lingered on her tongue.

Her bell bracelet tinkled as she drank. The bells were to symbolise a lady’s availability when they came of age. Faith hated wearing it, but the tradition, and her mother’s expectations, were of greater importance.

Saffron was still grinning and when Faith glanced again at the group of boys, she noticed more of them were looking over. Faith hid her wrists behind her back, not feeling like dancing with any of them, whereas Saffron made sure they knew she was available.

Faith searched the crowd for any of her siblings. If Saffron went off to dance, Faith could dash away to find other company. She caught a glimpse of Jenna and Timo chasing each other and giggling.

‘He’s coming over,’ Saffron said as Faith drew her toe across a crack in the stones.

‘Then you’ll go off to dance and leave me on my own.’ Faith tried to hide the disappointment in her tone, thinking she’d spend another evening child minding.

‘Not at all. He’s bringing a friend with him.’

Faith felt heat rise into her cheeks as her stomach knotted. Oh Gods.

The tall boy took Saffron’s hand, his eyes never leaving hers, he kissed the back of her hand with the confidence and grace of a knight.

‘Care for a dance my lady?’ He asked. Saffron curtsied meekly.

‘Most certainly.’ She grinned at Faith before the boy led her onto the square.

~*~

If you enjoyed this snippet and want to know what happens next, this snippet will continue next week! Thanks for reading

Friday Snippets – Faith

Yes I’m back! Sorry I haven’t been around for a while, life had overtaken me but I’m clawing my way back. I even managed to do some editing. I’ve mainly been reading and enjoying some artwork when I haven’t been work working but I’m going to try and spend some more time on my writing.

Last you heard from me about this story I had lost sight of it, since then I managed to finish it and on a read through I love most of it. Some parts I thought ‘did I really write that?’ So I’m very happy with how it’s turning out.

Enjoy this snippet, it’s still only in first draft form so will be somewhat rough. Comments are always welcome!

~*~

Villagers skipped across the flagstones to the beat of a drum and the tune of the fiddlers. Paper lanterns had been hung around the square, reflecting their orange glow onto the dancers. Symbols of the Gods painted each lantern.

As Faith glanced at Saffron, she noticed the girl’s narrowed eyes scanning the crowd.

‘Who are you looking for?’ Faith asked. Saffron gave her a smile and a wink, then sipped on her wine.

‘I think I’ve found him,’ she said, leaning her head close to Faith’s. ‘See that boy over there?’ Faith followed her line of sight to where a group of young Wolfpack recruits were standing in plain clothes, chatting and drinking. Faith knew which one had caught Saffron’s attention – the tallest and softest featured. His soft brown hair hung at the nape of his neck, and his wide smile seemed infectious as the others gathered around him. The young man glanced over and grinned. Saffron smiled back, subtly displaying her bell bracelet.

‘He’ll ask me to dance,’ she said, beaming from ear to ear.

‘How do you know?’ Faith asked.

‘I can tell,’ she looked away from the boys and took another drink.

The sun falling behind the hills, cast the sky in a vibrant orange, lengthening the shadows of the trees. A slight breeze tickled the ankles of the dancers. Faith self-consciously held a hand to her hair. Saffron had tied daisies into the curls. She wore, with Saffron’s advise, her green dancing dress. ‘It brings out the colours in your eyes,’ Saffron had said. The knee length skirt splayed out when she spun.

‘Have some more wine, it will loosen you up.’

~*~

Thanks for reading, if you want to know what happens, this snippet will continue next week!

Stars In Her Eyes by Clare Marshall – Cover Reveal

I want to say a big thanks to Clare Marshall for stopping by and sharing her awesome new book cover with us. Stars In Her Eyes is a Science Fiction Adventure for young adults and will be released on May 13th 2013.

Burn hot and cold.

Read minds.

Disappear at will.

Dream your own death.

Welcome to Sparkstone University, where some students are more gifted than others.

When Ingrid learns she’s been accepted at the hyper-secretive Sparkstone University, she is sceptical. It’s an honour to attend, apparently, and yet barely anyone has ever heard of the place.

And everyone seems a little too happy that she’s there: especially when she meets Sunni and her group of friends. They seem to already know Ingrid. As if she was expected. Expected to save Earth from an imminent alien invasion. Like she has superpowers or something.

As if magic and mutations exist. As if aliens are really planning to attack.

That just sounds ridiculous. There’s no such thing.

…right?

Wrong.

To win an eARC of this book, please enter the Rafflecopter give away!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This sounds like a great read. The cover looks awesome, I love the artwork, the bright colours and dramatic font. Here it is!

If you can’t wait until the release of Stars In Her Eyes, you can check out Clare’s other books, " target="_blank">The Violet Fox, and " target="_blank">Within, which are both available to download from Amazon. Clare is offering a 2 for 1 pre-order sale at The Fairy Ink Press. If you order Stars In Her Eyes between now and May 12th 2013 you will receive a free ebook from The Fairy Ink Press! For more information please visit The Fairy Ink Press. You can stalk Clare on these formats:

Facebook

Twitter

Website

Goodreads

Author Goodreads

Don’t forget to enter the give away! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Bio

Clare C. Marshall grew up in rural Nova Scotia with very little television and dial up internet, and yet, she turned out okay. She has a combined honours degree in journalism and psychology from the University of King’s College, and is a graduate from Humber College’s Creative Book Publishing Program. She is a full time freelance editor, book designer, web manager, and publishing consultant. She enjoys publishing books through her imprint, Faery Ink Press. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing the fiddle and making silly noises at cats.

Thanks again to Clare for stopping by!

~*~

If you would like me to host a cover reveal for your book, please email me at ruthellenwrites@live.co.uk

Guest Interview – Elisa Nuckle

I want to give a warm welcome to Elisa Nuckle and thank her for stopping by. Elisa is one of the independent authors taking part in our great giveaway organised by Clare Davidson. You can win 11 ebooks, 3 signed paperbacks and a $20 Amazon voucher (open internationally) Just click here to see the great books and to enter.

Elisa has kindly answered some interview questions for us. Her book – Dominant Race, is available in our giveaway.

Where did the idea for the book come from?

While I’m not too well versed in science terminology yet, I realized I have a huge interest in scientific concepts. Genetics was one of the bigger ones. One day my husband and I were talking and I just kind of was like “what if humans were enhanced with animal DNA?”  I reference the newest Spider-Man movie all the time because that’s basically it in a nutshell (only in a futuristic dystopian reality instead of superhero-land).

What genre would your book fall under?

Science fiction/dystopian

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Oh gosh, that’s going to take some thought. Let’s see. The main characters, fondly referred to as Lilia and Co. a lot of the time in my head, would probably go something like this:

Olivia Wilde for Lilia, the main character of Dominant Race. It just works out so perfectly.

Young Eric Bana for Avari, Lilia’s love interest. He just has that somber, smoldering awesome that is Avari in a nutshell. Also can you imagine him with golden, wolfish eyes (Avari is a wolf modified with wolf-y abilities) and a dystopian reality? Yes, please. (Haha, my fangirl is showing, sorry).

Maybe Garrett Hedlund for Damon, a more reclusive but flirtatious snow leopard modified in the rebel modified defense force called the Battalion. He has these gorgeous blue eyes, so Hedlund would be perfect.

Thinking of someone for Carm, the tiger modified — commonly called the tigress by everyone — is just so tough. Lilia and Co. is fairly young, with all of them in their 20′s. I’d have to go with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who plays John McClane’s daughter Lucy in Live Free or Die Hard. She just has that strong attitude you know? Only she’d have to wear green contacts and dye her hair a burnt orange color.

Wow I put a lot of thought into that. Hope it wasn’t too tedious!

Not at all! What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Lilia, a genetically altered human called a modified, and her allies must choose: help a tyrannical government in the business of killing their kind, or defend someone in the business of killing everyone else?

Are there any characters that you love and found easy to write?

Owen. He’s part of Lilia and Co., but he’s such a minor character in that regard that I left him out earlier. But he’s a really relaxed guy. He’s Lilia’s uncle, a wolf modified, and just snarky. I’m all for snark, so his dialogue came really easily.

Are there any characters in your book that you hate?

Yes, but I don’t want to say which ones because it’ll give away spoilers.

What other books within your genre would you compare it to?

Um, let’s see. My friend basically called it Hunger Games for adults, complete with badass abilities. I guess that works? It’s not YA, but it has a coming-of-age story because Lilia was so sheltered from the chaotic reality that is modified life. It mirrors a lot of dystopian in that it deals with totalitarian government systems, going against them, that sort of goodness.

Tell us anything else that might pique our interest in your book. 

It has a lot of social aspects to it. The science fiction part is mainly the backdrop because I wanted to deal with what enhancing a person and making them above average would do to society on the whole. Prejudice is a big part of it, the characters are really put in tough positions, and selfish ambitions are still a thing in the future (it is dystopian after all, haha).

Elisa is available to stalk on these formats:

Blog

Twitter

Goodreads

Thanks again to Elisa for stopping by! Her book – Dominant Race, is part of our giveaway but also available on Dominant Race (Modified Trilogy)" target="_blank">Amazon

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway!

Friday Snippets – Hologram Dolphins

Hey guys!

Unfortunately Pear Dust didn’t get accepted into the competition I entered it. But that’s okay as I’ve now got a short story I’m proud of which I’m going to self-publish myself!

This week I’ve been working on a short sci-fi romance called Hologram Dolphins. Enjoy the snippet! Comments are always welcome

~*~

‘Welcome to Future World,’ a holographic supermodel spoke with a fake smile plastered across her opaque face. I scowled at her tuneful tone while her glittering eyes gazed forward. ‘In the interactive exhibitions you’ll find amazing advances in technology…’

Children’s shrieks echoed around the large hall. Bright colours and flashing lights of the exhibitions surrounded me. Dad peered through his glasses at an information board while Mum punched buttons on a flashing display with no idea what it did.

I strolled through the hall, dragging the heels of my studded boots across the coloured lino. I wore my leather jacket and dark eye makeup, my long dark curls tumbled over my shoulders.

‘I’m going to see the gaming exhibition,’ I said to Mum, already leaving them behind.

As I walked through the toys exhibition, museum staff in luminous orange uniforms and permanent smiles entertained the kids with toys that flew through the air, whizzed and flashed.

I slowed and gawped as a group of children were hustled through a hidden door.

Plastic objects decorated the lino; the only evidence of the children’s existence.

An orange clad young man appeared at the door. His ice blue eyes fell on me and he grinned. He didn’t look like a child snatcher. Slim and taller, his brown hair was thick around his face like a halo. Something about his smile caught my attention. It was infectious. A glowing name badge on his lapel boasted the name Benny.

‘Want to see something cool?’

~*~

Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to enter our indie giveaway for your chance to win 11 ebooks, 3 digned paperbacks and a $20 Amazon voucher!

Guest Interview – Jason Graves

I want to give a warm welcome to Jason Graves and thank him for stopping by. Jason is one of the independent authors taking part in our great giveaway organised by Clare Davidson. You can win 11 ebooks, 3 signed paperbacks and a $20 Amazon voucher (open internationally) Just click here to see the great books and to enter.

Jason has kindly answered some interview questions for us. His book – Blood Roses, is available in our giveaway.

Where did the idea for Blood Roses come from?

I wrote the story for my daughter, with the idea that the protagonists were identical twin girls not much older than herself.  The girls discover that they’re vampires, but the twist is that their condition is plausible, biologically, unlike in some other vampire stories—that was a lot of my inspiration, to write something different than what is popular at the moment.  My girls find it challenging to suddenly be vampires, and find it especially disruptive when an old enemy of vampires–Corelis, who is supposed to be dead—reappears and threatens the girls’ lives.  They have to rely on each other even more than usual—it’s a buddy story in some ways, instead of a fatalistic romance.

 What genre would your book fall under?

It is contemporary paranormal fantasy.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Kevin Grevioux would be a great Maelcom.  He was a most persuasive character in the movie Underworld and didn’t get nearly enough screen time.

In the book, I describe Wilhelm as looking like a short Max von Sydow (who is over six-feet tall), so if there are any five-foot-four actors out there who look like Max, you’re a shoo in.

The rest of the characters I’m less certain about, but I’d love to sit with a casting director and watch actors and actresses read for a movie based on my book!

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Madeline and Marissa Owen are identical twins who, with their paper-white skin, look a lot like vampires… well, sometimes, looks can be not at all deceiving.

Are there any characters that you love and found easy to write?

Maelcom Greene, because he is a strong, mysterious character who tries not to take life too seriously and he is a genuinely good friend to those around him; However, he speaks with an accent, so writing his dialogue can be challenging.  Also, Adrian Hofbauer, because he is a complex individual, but is very purpose driven, so his complexity isn’t immediately obvious.  Madeline is very much like me (were I a teenage girl), and was easy to write, but I had more fun with her sister Marissa, because of her devil-may-care attitude; she becomes a kick-ass person by the end of the book.

 Are there any characters in your book that you hate?

Well, Corelis, but that’s complicated and he’s the bad guy, so you’re supposed to hate him.  The person who I had the most difficulty with—and who readers have told me they despise—is Marlena. I did not understand her for a long time; she’s not an easy person to have living in my head.

 What other books within your genre would you compare it to?

I have a hard time comparing my work to other writers’ stuff, but I apparently tell stories in the vein of Stephen King, in that I place relatively ordinary people into extraordinary circumstances and it is not a foregone conclusion that they will survive.  Readers have told me that my work reminds them of Cassandra Clare’s books, the work of Eoin Colfer and Laurell K. Hamilton, and one reader told me that my stories reminded her of Jo Rowling’s work in that I hide things in plain sight.  This is all reader feedback, I don’t claim to write in the same league as these authors.

Tell us anything else that might pique our interest in your book.

There is an undercurrent of functional insanity running through the narrative; crazy people are always interesting if not always likable.

What other books have you written?

I have a novella called On the Bridge about a young woman named Gretchen Thyrd, who gets inadvertently involved in a fairy political power struggle and ends up running for her life from some fairy assassins intent on killing her to get the soul she is giving refuge to.  It’s a great story and will be expanded into a novel soon.

Author bio:

I live in North Carolina with my family and a managerie of small animals.  When not spousing, parenting, and teaching, I listen to the voices in my head and write down what they say.  I think that cheese is one of the top ten things ever created by humans.

You can Stalk Jason on these formats:

Website

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Thanks again to Jason for stopping by! his book – Blood Roses, is part of our giveaway but also available on Blood Roses (The Noctivagas Chronicle)" target="_blank">Amazon 

His other book, On The Bridge, is also available on On The Bridge: The Complete Gretchen Thyrd Novella" target="_blank">Amazon

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway!