Sarah Cass's Blog: Sarah's StoryLines, page 17

Bonds of Loyalty by Jennifer K Clark

To post this Cover Reveal (html) and add your Social Media to the Rafflecopter, email us at prismbooktours(at)gmail.com with “Bonds of Loyalty” in the subject line! On Tour with Prism Book Tours Welcome to the Cover Reveal for: Bonds of Loyalty By Jennifer K. Clark, Stephonie K. Williams YA/Adult Historical Romance August 2014 by Covenant Communications, Inc. “It shall be the son, the firstborn in the new monarchy, who shall quiet the fears and unite the nation again.” The infamous prophecy declaring that the firstborn would be a boy is the last thing Sarah wants to deal with. As if being newly engaged isn’t difficult enough, she’s still coming to terms with the fact that the first eighteen years of her life were a farce. The prophecy—the reason she had been secreted away from her family and her royal heritage to begin with—wasn’t supposed to disrupt her life any more than it previously had. But when unexpected events force her to leave her fiancé, Prince Alexander, Sarah must return to her home country of Kyrnidan to face her destiny. Reunited with her royal family, Sarah is thrust into the political turmoil that surrounds her ancestral home. To make things worse, her arrival has upturned the long-held prophecy. As the voices of distension mount against her, Sarah turns to her bodyguard, Luther, for protection. But Luther’s protection comes with a price. Propelled into a plot that threatens her life and the welfare of the entire kingdom, Sarah must determine where her love and loyalty truly lie. Torn between two men, she will now have to face her fears and undertake a journey of self-discovery that will change the fate of a nation…. Mark of Royalty is the book previous to this. Although Bonds of Loyalty is the continuation of Sarah’s story it is a stand alone book. Mark of Royalty by Jennifer K. Clark, Stephonie K. Williams YA/Adult Historical Romance January 1st 2011 by Covenant Communications At a time when royal infants are marked at birth, a royal advisor makes a terrible misstep — and an infant princess must be secreted away to save her life. Named Sarah by Miranda, the woman who agrees to raise the child as her own, the girl is unaware of her royal heritage — even though Miranda has done all she can to pair Sarah with the king’s nephew, Lord Chad. But unexpected events prevent the expected betrothal. Determined to fulfill her devoted mother’s wishes, Sarah reserves her heart for Chad despite her growing affections for another man. But as plots against the crown unfold, someone accidentally discovers Sarah’s mark of royalty — setting the stage for discoveries that will shake the kingdom to its core. You can find a music video for Mark of Royalty here and a book trailer here. Amazon – Barnes and Noble Jennifer K. Clark and Stephonie K. Williams are sisters by chance but became friends by choice when a year of rooming together at college taught them how to get along. Now “play”-at-home moms, separated and living in different parts of the country, they stay in touch and support each other in their individual projects. Jennifer K. Clark lives in the small rural town of Wellington Utah, as much as her husband wishes it was Wellington New Zealand. After years of entertaining her three children with infamous made-up stories, she decided to put her imagination to good use and became an author. She likes to add a touch of romance to her novels along with a healthy dose of adventure. Fueled by Lindt Chocolate Truffles and Sour Patch Kids, she now spends a copious amount of time with the characters in her head. In her spare time she likes to create science experiments with the ingredients in her potions cupboard, debate which Doctor is her favorite (currently the 10th…or maybe the 11th), and—when she has time—watches the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice. Website – Goodreads Stephonie K. Williams makes her home in a quaint farming town in eastern Iowa with her husband, three cats, and a budding ninja. Two of her favorite things in Iowa are the fireflies (aka lightning bugs) and cows, especially the calves. Despite having lived there for 15 years she still misses the majesty and tranquility of the mountains of Utah where she grew up. She has a vast collection of fortune cookie fortunes because she has yet to determine if it is unlucky to throw them away. She also loves to quill, the art of rolled paper, not to be confused with quilting. Stephonie is passionate about education and enjoys visiting schools to teach classes on creative writing. She has written poetry, short stories, and dissertations, although Mark of Royalty was the first of her work that she was brave enough to submit for publication. Website – Goodreads – Facebook – Twitter Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card Open internationally. Ends July 16th. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

/> We’re spreading the word about the fabulous ebook price of Tortured Souls by Amazon Bestselling Author, Kimber Leigh Wheaton. Only $0.99 through July 20th!!! Tortured Souls (The Orion Circle #1) Kimber Leigh Wheaton YA Paranormal Romance June 29th 2014 by Sea Dragon Press Kindle Edition, 227 pages Sometimes Rest in Peace isn’t an option Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it’s ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can’t keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity. When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie’s longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim. But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he’s never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul. Kacie can’t ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster. Purchase from: Amazon Excerpt from Chapter One ~ Something Wicked Deafening music shakes the walls, vibrates the floor, and pounds a rhythmic beat in my skull. Gyrating bodies turn every bit of space into a dance floor. Sweat breaks out on my forehead, and my heart races. Strobe lights flash, teens dance with wild abandon. Shrieking laughter bubbles around me. “Gotta take a leak!” my dance partner shouts over the music. He races off, weaving through the thick wall of bodies. Mike or Mick or something—I didn’t catch the name he yelled when he asked me to dance. Doesn’t matter, he wasn’t my type at all. I mean, the guy guzzled beer while dancing. After grabbing a diet soda from a nearby cooler, I’m about to search for my friends when a dark feeling washes over me. My feet refuse to move, and I stand rooted in place. The once loud music is now hollow in my ears. I gasp for breath, choking on the lack of air around me. Tiny hairs on the nape of my neck rise to attention. Something wicked is behind me. I know I’m the only one here who feels a difference in air pressure. An oppressive weight presses against my skin, making me feel as though I’m underwater. I blink a few times, watching the people around me continue their manic dancing—oblivious to the bogeyman that just entered the room. Afraid to turn around, I stand my ground, sipping my soda. I pretend I’m unaware of the shuffling noises behind me, sounds I shouldn’t be able to hear over the blaring music. Swaying my hips, I hum along with the music, trying to ignore the ominous presence crushing me. Whatever it is, I can’t let it know I sense it. Evil pours off it in waves, blanketing the entire room. I close my eyes, willing the creature to go away, return to whatever mausoleum or grave it calls home. Malevolent spirits feed on fear. I must control mine at all costs. When I open my eyes, I’m gazing into the face of an angel. Not literally, but he may as well be in my book. Logan glances behind me, and I know he sees the spirit. He doesn’t gasp or scream or faint dead away. His golden eyes narrow as though he’s in a staring contest with the specter. “You’re not welcome here,” Logan says to the presence behind me. He meets my gaze again. “You know it’s there.” It’s not a question but a statement. I nod, a weak bob of my head, unsure whether this intimate moment with my dream guy is a good thing or not. Meeting over a nasty phantom is not my idea of romantic. And yet I can’t stop staring at the way his blue t-shirt hugs his broad shoulders and chest—how his light brown hair curls around his earlobes. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. For six weeks I’ve wanted out of the friendship box with Logan, but I was hoping for girlfriend, not crazy girl. “Kassandra,” a voice rasps behind me. Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and lots of dragons. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) She currently lives in San Antonio, TX but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities and states. Website * Blog * Goodreads * Facebook * One Upon a YA Book FB * Twitter * Pinterest Blitz Giveaway - $25 Amazon GC - 5 ebook copies of Tortured Souls - Open internationally - Ends July 17th a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Texas Sweetheart by Pauliena Acheson

| Amazon | Goodreads | SYNOPSIS Maggie Summers, is in her final year of high school. On the first day she meets a new Guy after she helps his sisters. Maggie thinks he is gorgeous but there’s something about him that screams man-whore! Her twin brother Adam becomes friends with him and Maggie finds out she is right. Throw the first few months she becomes friends with Jase, as she watches him get with every girl possible!! Jase Jacks, Moved to the small town in Texas, Called bumble bee and he hated it….wanted nothing more than to move back to New York. On his first day of school he meets Maggie and her twin Brother Adam, Jase thinks she is beautiful and way too good for the likes of him. Besides she isn’t a one night stand kind of girl, so he decides to just be friends with her. After a few months Maggie meets her friend Jenny’s Cousin Christian and theystart dating. Jase hates it but there’s nothing he can do or is there….. What will Maggie do when the worst possible thing happens to her? What will Jase do when he realizes he’s in love with Maggie? What other life changing Events happen? Will they be broken or will they be able to move forward? That day SHATTERED all of their lives!!! They will never be the same… 18 and over readers only! BOOK TRAILER AUTHOR Hello, everyone! I hope you all enjoyed my very first book!!!! I love Maggie and Jase like they are my own kids. I am married to a wonderful man that believes in me. There will be more books with the rest of the Summers family telling their stories. I am a stay-at-home mom with two kids. I love reading and thought that, one day, I would put my thoughts into a book and hope for the best. I live in Ontario, Canada, and have a huge family…three biological sisters, three step-sisters, and three step-brothers But I don’t think of them that way. They are my sisters and brothers. https://www.facebook.com/pauliena21 http://twitter.com/pauliena21 http://pauliejimmy.wix.com/auther-pac... a Rafflecopter giveaway Hosted by:

2014 Goals – July Update

I’m trying to be good and keep up on my 2014 forecast. June was a terrible month for me all around. For some reason when school let out, the world blew up.  Still, I managed to accomplish a couple of goals and get a pretty good word count. That being said, one of my goals last month was to revamp my goals since I’ve managed to finish quite a few in the first six months of the year. So first, the overall goals. Not specific books, but all around goals.. I’ve challenged myself to write 600,000 words in 2014. ( 323,517 WC as of 7/7/14 11:29PM) I will build my audience and work harder at promotion. I am not doing enough with this. Need to get out more. I will find focus (see below), and figure out how to USE it. I am working on this. Some days I do great, others not so much. Call me a work in progress. Plan 2015 Holidays in Lake Point series books. I have ideas jotted down, but nothing set in stone. I’ll also need to write the first 2015 book before I can submit anything. Plan 2015 book schedule. What I didn’t finish this year, plus others. Again, I have some ideas, but nothing solid. Some half-started ideas lingering in waiting for me to have time to write them. And for my list of projects. This I’m not removing the completed items, because I like seeing how many are done, however I did remove a couple I had to backburner for pressing deadlines. Items in RED are complete. Items in ORANGE are in progress (or progress notes). Items in BLUE are new. Some of the new items are in blue with the progress I’ve made in orange. Runaway Train (Dominion Falls 5) – 113k Stalled Independence (Lake Point #3) – 35k Katherine’s Story (Dominion Falls Prequel) - 48k – Named finally. Independent Brake Into a Mirror Darkly (Morgana Chronicles 1) – 100k (~10k done) Witch Way (Lake Point #4) – 30k (10k done) A Thorough Thanksgiving (Lake Point #5) – 30k The Tribe (The Tribe #1) – 85k The Wolf (The Tribe #2) – 85k The Dead Past (Dominion Falls 6-temporary name) – 100k The Chief (The Tribe #3) – 85k The Raven (The Tribe #4) – 85k The Child (The Tribe #5) – 85k Escaping Humanity (Co-authoring w/ Mary Terrani) – 100k (22k done) Right now my main focus is in my three series. Lake Point, Dominion Falls, and The Tribe. For Lake Point I have two more books to write and one to edit for release this year. Dominion Falls still has another to edit. Books 1 & 2 of The Tribe series are ready to be sent to my editor when they’re due, The Chief requires rewriting and The Raven needs to be written (although The Raven is not yet on our editing schedule).  I’d love to get another Dominion Falls book or two out next year, but It’s at the bottom of the “do it now” list. I’ve still got Escaping Humanity near the top, which I’m coauthoring. I love the book, but contracted deadlines are looming. Hoping to get some more written soon as Witch Way is done so I can hand it back to Mary for her next scenes. Beyond that I’ve been dabbling in a few things for Tuesday Tales and here and there. I have too many deadlines looming to think past the immediate future. Still, 2014 has been good for meeting goals so far. I hope the second half of the year is as successful.

Afraid to Hope by MJ Nightingale

Afraid to Hope MJ Nightingale Louisa Sears is ready to start over. Escaping her small town where prejudice, long memories, and old fashioned values haunt her, Louisa embarks on her dream of finding love, and a man who can warm up her bed at night. Pregnant at sixteen, divorced from an abusive husband at twenty, and raising a daughter alone, Louisa is now ready to live. She wants what every woman wants. A rock hard man, who knows how to love. Will Florida be the place where her dreams come true? Jay Russell is battle scarred. A past filled with horrors from childhood, the war in Iraq, and the most devastating event of his life that occurred when he returned home, he is definitely not looking for love. When he first meets Louisa Sears, the bombshell with the fantastic body, he wants one thing, and one thing only, her body underneath him. The hot little ticket that walks by his t-shirt shop, meets all his requirements for a night of passion. The scars in them run deep though, and they both have secrets. Can two people so deeply wounded by the past learn to trust each other enough to share those secrets? And if they do, will they be able to get past them and learn to hope again? Amazon | B&N a Rafflecopter giveaway MJ Nightingale has spent over two decades teaching students how to write, and now she is doing it herself. Originally from Canada, she graduated from University with her Bachelor of Arts and then went on to get her Bachelor of Education Degree in Secondary Education. Reading has been a part of her life since she was a child. She has been an avid lover of classical English and American literature, but romance has always held a special place in her heart. She devours historical romance novels all summer long, and any type of fiction; thrillers, crime, suspense, and drama. This is her second published book, and she has one more book, Afraid to Hope, coming out in in the summer of 2014. All three, Fire In His Eyes, Afraid to Love and Afraid to Hope, are erotic romance standalone novels and are part of her Secrets & Seduction Series. She is also working on a new series The Bounty Hunters for 2015. She currently lives in Florida, where she continues to teach, with her wonderful husband of nine years, and her sons. She plans on pursuing her writing career full time very soon. **MJ Nightingale would love to hear from her readers. She can be reached at authormjnightingale@gmail.com And you can also visit her author page on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MJ-Nig... to see what is coming next by MJ Nightingale. Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MJ-Nig... Email: authormjnightingale@gmail.com

Tuesday Tales – Summer – Witch Way

Welcome back to Tuesday Tales!  This weeks prompt is to be inspired by the word Summer. Well, The Wolf is done, and while I must work on Witch Way, this weeks word prompt just didn’t fit. It also didn’t fit into Natural Selection. So this week I’m starting a new story. I believe it’ll be fantasy, but I haven’t figured it out completely yet. This week’s prompt fell into my current WIP for the Holidays in Lake Point series, Witch Way. Felicity and Craig have been having a hot and heavy few meet and greets. Felicity is in it for a fling with a hot fireman, but she gets some advice from a trusted source: Felicity dropped her bag in the mud room and kicked off her shoes. Before she even made it to the door she stripped out of her jacket and skirt. The moment her shirt hit the floor, a dress flew her way. She caught it on and slipped the simple black dress over her head. “Thanks, Patty. One more minute in that suit and I was going to burst.” “You’re home late.” Near the window, Patty rearranged the plants for better light. The woman could have been Felicity’s mother, they looked so similar, with the exception of the grey streak at the front of her black locks, which were cut short in a cute bob as opposed to Felicity’s own long locks. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with that McAlister boy, would it?” “Has the all-knowing Patty been peeking into her crystal ball again?” Felicity couldn’t quite keep the sardonic tone from her voice, but Patty only chuckled in response. “Don’t be silly. I saw you on the square today. I told you that boy would grow up into a handsome young man.” “Yes, he did. However, it’s just a fling, like all the others.” “Oh, I doubt that.” Felicity tensed a few feet behind Patty. She’d been about to give her aunt a hello kiss, but Patty’s knowing tone gave her pause. “Why do you say that?” “I pulled the cards soon as I got home.” “You promise you wouldn’t do that to me.” Felicity sighed and bypassed her aunt to perch on the counter. She popped a couple of grapes off the stem in the nearby fruit bowl. “You’re too close to do an accurate reading. Your feelings on the matter influence the cards.” “No, not always. In this situation I wasn’t sure how to feel. After all, he wasn’t exactly the nicest boy when you were younger. I was worried for you, the cards eased my mind.” “Because you wanted them to.” Felicity would never dismiss a good tarot reading, and Patty was the best, but Patty had also been the one that taught her how your own feelings could influence a reading. “Would it make a difference if I told you I called Celeste as well?” “Unfortunately, it would.” “She got the exact same reading as I did. Card for card. Craig is a good man, and he’s meant to be around for a while.” “Once the fling is flung he’ll be gone as the summer.” “The summer does not depart until tomorrow, and Craig won’t pass with it.” Felicity groaned and dropped her head into her hands. “I wanted a fling, Patty.” “You’re getting a little old to be flinging yourself around.” “No woman in our family has ever maintained a relationship with a man. Ever.” “No woman has ever been like you, my darling girl.” Patty smoothed her hands over Felicity’s hair, pulling the ends over her shoulders. “Look at me.” “I’m just like you, and you’ve said I’m just like my mother. My father left her soon as he heard about me and she up and died during childbirth.” “And you, Felicity. You are more than either of us either were. You have managed to find the balance we never could. I am all crazy witch lady, your mother went straight normal, even faking church-going to soothe your father’s mind. When he found out the truth, thanks to Samhain, that’s when he left. It wasn’t about you.” “And yet, it was.” “He didn’t know. He never knew. I tried to contact him, but he refused to listen to me. Your mother blamed herself. None of that matters now. What matters now is who you are. I think you are the one that can keep a man, and keep your balance.” “I don’t want to.” Felicity clasped her aunt’s hands in her own. “All of this feels like a curse. A hex on our family.” “There is no such thing, we just suck at relationships.” Patty smiled. “You should give this a good chance before you dismiss it.” “I just don’t know.” Truthfully, relationships scared her. Probably because no one ever stook around all that long. Plus, Craig hadn’t been too far off. Old teasing and taunts had followed her through childhood into her adult years. “Have you told him the truth?” “No. He can’t even say the word witch in my presence. He couldn’t handle it.” “I think you should try.” *~* Hope you enjoyed it!  Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!! *~*

Sunday Snippets 38 – Masked Hearts

Welcome back to the Weekend Writing Warriors! Last week got away from me and I totally missed seeing you all. However, I’m back with my travelling wild west show story, Masked Hearts. For those that were wondering from my post two weeks back…the horse was moving at a VERY slow walk…I’m not about to have my heroine leap off a trotting horse, that’s just silly. Now, back to this week. Roy’s persistence has paid off, and he has managed to make Minni speak to him, although she still carries a lot of anger. He begs her to tell him what tribe she is from. She finally relents, but names the tribe in her language: “Newe,” she kept stitching. “Newe; the people,” he whispered. A small yelp escaped as a drop of blood appeared on her thumb before she shoved it in her mouth. With wide eyes, she stared at him. With a gentle touch he pulled out her thumb, “What?” “How did you know that?” “I don’t know. I think…I think I remembered it.” *Creative editing used this week to fit in the 8. *~* If you want more of these wonderful two…pick up a copy! | Amazon | SCP | BN | ARe |  Minnie Woodward lives a lie. After barely surviving the Bear River Massacre she’s lived in the white world of her guardian Mister Rawlins, her life debt keeping her tied there. The last thing she needs is Roy’s attempts to gain her favor. Her fate’s sealed. She’s never believed in hope, and not even Roy can make her start. Roy Ornum saves Minnie every night in the traveling Wild West show. The job he took to break his gambling habit brought him a new addiction – her. He knows she doesn’t want to be rescued, but maybe he does. She’s the key to a past he lost, one he wants to find again. As the two grow closer old wounds are reopened and their burgeoning trust is shattered. When lives hang in the balance of their choices they’ll need to work together. Otherwise everything will be lost before hope can be found. *~* Head back on over to the Weekend Writing Warriors to read many more wonderful offerings!

Review: How to Date Dead Guys by Ann M. Noser

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.* Four and a Half Stars Publication Date: July 15, 2014 – Buy Links Coming Soon *~* Truth be told, when I first started reading, I didn’t think I would like the book. In the first few chapters, my attention wandered. Then, BAM. I was hooked and couldn’t put the story down until I’d finished. Emma is your average college student, a sort of awkward wallflower who started pretending she didn’t hear or see ghosts at a young age. The separation she felt from the rest of society because of a childhood event carried into her young adulthood.  She’s shy and withdrawn and feels out of place with the friends her roommate hangs out with. She’s dragged along to a frat party where she meets and gets a crush on a hot guy on campus, Matt. After a few more meetings disaster strikes, and Matt drowns in the river. Emma is blamed for his death by many on campus, including herself. Overcome with guilt, Emma tries a spell, but fails to fulfill her end of it, and that’s when things get interesting. We meet several new characters from that point on, and I fell in love with every single one of them. Sam was great, and Jake? Well, I fell in love with Jake right along with Emma as he proved to be more than he seemed at first. I was SO sad to see him go. The arrival of three men after that, took the take. Added in the mix was a nosy cop that seemed to know too much…but Officer Walker became one of my favorite characters and I’m glad he’ll definitely be back in book 2. I truly enjoyed watching Emma come into her own, grow a spine, and eventually figure out the answers she’d sought. The peace she, and the spirits she brought back, found was a welcome relief. Overall, this was a great setup for a series, and I’m looking forward to book 2. I have a feeling Emma and Officer Walker are going to get into a whole new mess of trouble that’ll be fun to see resolved once again.  

The Valley of Decision by Shannon McDermott

To post this Grand Finale and add your Social Media to the Rafflecopter, email us at PrismBookTours(at)gmail.com with “Valley of Decision” in the subject line. A themed book tour through Prism Book Tours. It’s the Grand Finale for The Valley of Decision by Shannon McDermott “A solid fantasy that wears its spirituality lightly yet effectively.” ~Kirkus Reviews (read the entire review here) We hope you enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about the characters and the story-book world of The Valley of Decision. Did you miss any of the stops? You can check them out below: Colorimetry – The Mountains, the Moors, and the Hills If you ever travel north beyond the Black Mountains, into the kingdom of Belenus, you will find yourself in a vast and varied land, a country of laws unwritten, unspoken, and scrupulously obeyed… Katie’s Clean Book Collection – The Trow Deep in the mountain Anuin, the smithies of the Trow house mighty fires. Those crimson flames imbue the stony heart of the mountain with heat, fill it with a pulsing red glow like living rubies. Bookworm Lisa – The Fays Belenus, the master of the North, does not often leave his glittering palace or his green hills. You are not likely, even if you roam his kingdom, to ever see him… Distractions of Grandeur – Review “The best story element involved the Fay, an elvish race who for once felt truly alien. She went beyond current stereotypes and really brought out the danger of these beings, even those one might count as allies. There were echoes of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, elevating the stakes and the narrative itself.” Finding the True Fairy Tale – Interview Which of the characters from The Valley of Decision was your favorite to write? The main character, Keiran the Captain of the Hosts. To even attempt what he did, a person would have to be either very desperate or very confident of his own abilities. Keiran is the second, and he has an extreme self-assurance, and sometimes conceit, that I enjoyed using. He’s also bold, another fun characteristic for a writer to work with. And because he is a very able man, and has reason to be confident, his occasional conceit adds texture to his character and makes him more interesting. I Love to Read and Review Books – Ten Fun Things to Know About Shannon (1) I was born in California but grew up on the East Coast. (2) I have seven little sisters. (3) I like sweet potatoes baked or boiled, with butter or with sugar, made into fries and made into pies. But I cannot stand them canned. Wishful Endings – Dokrait and the Black Mountains The Black Mountains are high and treacherous – so many sheer, soaring cliffs, so many monstrous boulders dangerously perched. Wolves teem on the mountains, spilling into the lowlands when the winters are long. Bears and the great cats prowl those hazardous slopes, too. Kelly P’s Blog – Interview Have you always wanted to be a writer? Pretty much. I was eight when I first decided (and declared) my ambition to write a book. Of course, it was years later when this desire to write took on the adult dimension of “This is what I want to do with my life, this is how I want to earn my living”. Mythical Books – The Dochraitay The Dochraitay possess the unhappy distinction of being the foremost servants of Belenus. They fight his campaigns against Alamir and the Islemen, they grow the crops and hunt the animals eaten by the Fays, they give up their children for the mines and the army and the palace of Muireach. Brooke Blogs – Interview 2) What is your favorite part of the writing process? When I take my scenes, written longhand in my notebook, and transcribe them into the computer, revising and polishing as I go. It’s easier than the initial writing, and I finish with a feeling of satisfaction. The scene is done! Until my editor gets her hands on it, anyway. Coffee Books & Art – Interview How did you come up with the title? Names? The title comes from a Bible verse found in the Book of Joel: “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!” For the names, I established this pattern: of Gaelic origin, unusual enough that the names would not be common in our own world, but not too unusual. I avoided names like Ruairidh because it just looks too foreign. Who would care to guess how to pronounce it? So I ended with names like Torradan and Artek and Belenus – different, but easy enough. Mel’s Shelves – Review “There are lots of moving parts that came together in the end for a satisfying conclusion. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read this, and I look forward to reading more from this author!” The Wonderings of One Person – The Alamiri Long ago, the Alamiri tribes came from the distant sunrise lands – climbing nameless mountains, fording forgotten rivers. Their wanderings ended here, among the forests south of the Black Mountains. The Written Adventure – Interview 3) What gave you the idea for The Valley of Decision? The Lord of the Rings, much as it pains me to admit it. In those books, Sauron had legions of human slaves whose only purpose in the story was to fight the good guys (and get beaten). It’s not that Tolkien was heartless in his use of these characters – remember Sam witnessing one of them being killed and sadly wondering what his name was and if he even wanted to fight – but I came to think how good it would have been if Sauron’s slaves had staged a revolt. Why should all the heroes come from the free nations fighting Sauron? Why not from the enslaved nations oppressed by him? Mommynificent – Review “The characters were definitely my favorite part of the book. I really enjoyed coming to understand the complexities of the three main characters, who interestingly are all male. I also really enjoyed the unfolding mystery of who the Fay are and why they are a part of this world.” Deal Sharing Aunt – Interview Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? If there is one message in The Valley of Decision, it’s that we all have choices to make, and we can’t escape it. Not making the choice is itself a choice. My principal character, Keiran, faces the ultimate choice: Rebellion or obedience, God’s way or his? But all the characters have to choose, and their choices mean risk and sacrifice and (sometimes) reward – just as our choices do. Platypire Reviews – Review “Keiran, the Captain of the Hosts, was an interesting character. From the beginning of the book, I wasn’t quite sure what direction the story was going to go in, and I didn’t know what to think of him at first. As things were revealed and I got further in the story, I found myself rooting for him as a reader and enjoyed his character development.” Letters from Annie Douglass Lima – The Northmen In the uttermost north, beyond even the kingdom of Belenus, icy mountain peaks look down on the Coldlands. The Coldlands are not on our maps, not even the borders. The Alamiri do not venture even to Belenus’ home, let alone past it. But rumors come to us – from foreigners, adventurers, and far-travelers, brave, reckless, wild men. My Devotional Thoughts – The Hobgoblins One more tale? All right, my love; just one. Long ago, the great father Athair led the first Alamiri up into the Rhugarch Pass. They were men of his clan, relatives loyal and strong. When they scaled the mountain to the Rhugarch Gap, they stopped for the night. The men settled down to their rest; the fire sank into embers; the watchman grew drowsy. And a soft, soft pattering murmured into the camp. Christy’s Cozy Corners – Interview What do you hope people take away from your books? I hope that whenever someone finishes one of my books, they feel like they’ve been on a journey and it has ended well. Every story is about a character’s struggle for something, and I hope my readers will be able to feel that in my stories and be encouraged. The Bookish Fairy – This or That Chocolaty or fruity candy? Chocolaty. Hands-down, 100%, all the time. Get out of the house or stay at home? Stay at home. Winter or summer? Can I pick spring or fall? I’ll go with summer. The Valley of Decision by Shannon McDermott Adult Fantasy Paperback, 416 pages May 31st 2014 by SALT Christian Press Where the Black Mountains pierce the sky, they divide the south from the north, Alamir from the kingdom of Belenus. Belenus, the undying master of the north, commanded Keiran – the Captain of the Hosts – to conquer Alamir. But the Captain is deep in conspiracy, and he has his own plans. The Valley of Decision is a fantasy novel, a saga of slavery, freedom, and choices. Amazon – SALT Christian Press Shannon McDermott is a Christian author of speculative fiction, as well as a humorous detective series called “The Adventures of Christian Holmes”. She has written both fantasy and science fiction, and has yet to decide on which one to like better. She was born to Wisconsin, expatriates in California, grew up on the East Coast, and now lives in the Midwest. Her principal hobbies are politics, history, novels, and coffee. Website – Blog – Goodreads – Facebook Tour-Wide Giveaway - Grand Prize: $25 Amazon gift card and ebooks of The Valley of Decision and The Sunrise Windows (open INT) - 2 print copies of The Valley of Decision (US only) a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday Tales – Sea – Untitled

Welcome back to Tuesday Tales!  This weeks prompt is to be inspired by the word Sea. Well, The Wolf is done, and while I must work on Witch Way, this weeks word prompt just didn’t fit. It also didn’t fit into Natural Selection. So this week I’m starting a new story. I believe it’ll be fantasy, but I haven’t figured it out completely yet. I was inspired in part by our word this week, Sea…but also by this image on Pinterest, which I could not use b/c I don’t have permission to do so…but please go check out what Aingael looks like HERE. So here is the start of a new, as yet unnamed, story. Queen Aingael Fluerette Taverna was born and raised the Princess of Lyach. At the proper age she wed Gunnar, the prince of a neighboring country, and became Queen. It is not a match made in heaven…and two years ago she learned of a plot: Clamoring tones of bells across the kingdom coalesced into a jilting melody of parting. From her position on the parapet overlooking the sea Aingael ran her fingers along the string of bells lining the stone’s edge. Against the rising sun the entire fleet of the kingdom of Lyach moved further away. The chiming of bells were to wish the men luck on their journey, but Aingael knew the truth, their departure meant the end of her kingdom as it was. A pact made in secret she was never meant to be privy to, but being Queen did have its privileges, as did being raised in the castle. She knew every hidden nook and cranny, even those her husband, King Gunnar, thought only he knew. He’d made a pact in blood two years prior, one she’d taken steps to ensure would not succeed. Gunnar thought he left her undefended, only old men and boys to protect their inlet kingdom from the oncoming attack. Aingael turned to her lady in waiting as the sun rose too high for her to safely stare into. “Cherette. Help me remove these garish clothes. We haven’t much time.” As soon as Aingael sat on a stool, Cherette set to work. Her handmaiden pulled her blond locks free of their bindings and carefully removed the gold and jewel headdress. Once it was set aside they carefully removed the garish diamond adorned gown Gunnar insisted she wear to display wealth the kingdom did not have. In its place Aingael donned a simple black blouse and pants over which she could place her armor without problem. She handed off the gown and headdress to Cherette. Cherette placed them in an iron trunk they’d had made for this purpose. She carefully placed the dress on top of the rest of the jeweled gowns and headdresses. “I will have Shane put these on the carts, miss.” “It’s Aingael now, Cherette. As my husband sold all of our heads to the highest bidder, we are now all in this together.” Aingael set her hands on Cherette’s shoulders. “I am no longer Queen. I am with my people.” “Aye, but you always have been, Miss.” Cherette bowed. Aingael kissed her on the forehead. “Now go. Get Shane and go out with him to the warded sector. I wish you as safe as these jewels. Remember where I asked you to hide them.” “In the recesses of Croche valley, under the village square. I shall guard them with my life.” “You’ll guard yourself. If the past two years have been worth it, hopefully you’ll not have any need to guard a thing.” “Are the woman prepared for the sort of battle you are expecting? It will be a battle against men, savage men.” “Aye. Savage and unfeeling.  The Cairn are raised for war, but they are not defending their home.” Aingael glanced toward the sea. “And I must pray to the Goddess that they are not prepared for the way a woman fights. They are under the impression that we aren’t prepared for their attack, that they will be able to come in and destroy.” “By Her grace your preparations will not be for naught, my lady.” “By Her grace, Cherette, we will survive.” *~* Hope you enjoyed it!  Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!! *~*