Heather Lyons's Blog, page 8
January 18, 2014
Happy Book Birthday to Amy Maurer Jones' A ZEBRA LIKE ME!
Today is A Zebra Like Me's Book Birthday!
Maybelle Dawson longs for normalcy and belonging. Often misunderstood, she struggles with a rare disorder, labeling her a Medical Zebra.
Maybelle’s happiness and well-being threaten to slip through her fingers as she battles to take control of her life. She faces a never-ending battle on her journey to find love, courage and friendship in a world lacking acceptance.
With the guidance of her guardian angel, Maybelle finds her way out of emotional and physical isolation to discover lasting love and amazing friendships.
A Zebra Like Me is the story of one teenager’s battle with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a disorder affecting one in five thousand people.
About the Author
Amy Maurer Jones has been happily married to her own version of Edward Cullen for sixteen years. She lives in the small town of Tabor City, North Carolina (close to the North and South Carolina shore) with her husband Kelly and their two beautiful children, Olivia and Keaton.
Amy loves reading and writing Young Adult because she finds young people inspiring. She appreciates how teens are able to look at the world with a fresh perspective and willingly open their minds to the endless possibilities that life has to offer. She particularly enjoys writing strong heroines who face problems head on, learn, grow and mature into the type of people who do the right thing.
When Amy isn't reading and writing, she teaches high school theater arts and dance. To say that Amy has a flare for all things creative would be an understatement, just don't ask her to assemble anything that requires instructions or sadly, you will be out of luck!
Favorite quote:
"You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled, then something has been lost." ~ Martha Graham
Links:
Website
Facebook
Amazon
Twitter
Buy A ZEBRA LIKE ME at the following places:
Zebra Like Me Buy Links
Barnes & Noble
Amazon
Smashwords
The Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway
Author's NoteA Zebra Like Me is a work of fiction but Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and the message in this story are very real. I have EDS and I’ve learned to live with this disease. Sadly, much of my battle has been seeking compassion and finding acceptance from those who don’t understand it. My mission in publishing this book is two-fold.1 – Awareness – I aim to educate people about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. I’m a teacher and through my teaching I’ve learned the best lessons are learned in unexpected ways. I hope my readers will gain a better understanding of this disease through the fictional world I created for Maybelle. There are people like her all over the world. Some EDS patients’ symptoms are less severe than Maybelle’s, some are worse. You may know someone with EDS and not even realize it. 2 – Self Empowerment – I want other people with EDS to know they are not alone. There are support groups and resources online that can help you learn how to cope with this disease. Don’t give up on a normal life. Learn how to avoid injuries and the external hazards that trigger your issues. Find hobbies that are safe, fun, and relieve stress. Surround yourself with positive people and avoid or tune out the people who can’t or won’t support you. Take care of yourself, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Need Help? The Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation is just a click away. www.ednf.org
Maybelle Dawson longs for normalcy and belonging. Often misunderstood, she struggles with a rare disorder, labeling her a Medical Zebra.
Maybelle’s happiness and well-being threaten to slip through her fingers as she battles to take control of her life. She faces a never-ending battle on her journey to find love, courage and friendship in a world lacking acceptance.
With the guidance of her guardian angel, Maybelle finds her way out of emotional and physical isolation to discover lasting love and amazing friendships.
A Zebra Like Me is the story of one teenager’s battle with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a disorder affecting one in five thousand people.
About the Author
Amy Maurer Jones has been happily married to her own version of Edward Cullen for sixteen years. She lives in the small town of Tabor City, North Carolina (close to the North and South Carolina shore) with her husband Kelly and their two beautiful children, Olivia and Keaton.
Amy loves reading and writing Young Adult because she finds young people inspiring. She appreciates how teens are able to look at the world with a fresh perspective and willingly open their minds to the endless possibilities that life has to offer. She particularly enjoys writing strong heroines who face problems head on, learn, grow and mature into the type of people who do the right thing.
When Amy isn't reading and writing, she teaches high school theater arts and dance. To say that Amy has a flare for all things creative would be an understatement, just don't ask her to assemble anything that requires instructions or sadly, you will be out of luck!
Favorite quote:
"You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled, then something has been lost." ~ Martha Graham
Links:
Website
Amazon
Buy A ZEBRA LIKE ME at the following places:
Zebra Like Me Buy Links
Barnes & Noble
Amazon
Smashwords
The Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway
Author's NoteA Zebra Like Me is a work of fiction but Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and the message in this story are very real. I have EDS and I’ve learned to live with this disease. Sadly, much of my battle has been seeking compassion and finding acceptance from those who don’t understand it. My mission in publishing this book is two-fold.1 – Awareness – I aim to educate people about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. I’m a teacher and through my teaching I’ve learned the best lessons are learned in unexpected ways. I hope my readers will gain a better understanding of this disease through the fictional world I created for Maybelle. There are people like her all over the world. Some EDS patients’ symptoms are less severe than Maybelle’s, some are worse. You may know someone with EDS and not even realize it. 2 – Self Empowerment – I want other people with EDS to know they are not alone. There are support groups and resources online that can help you learn how to cope with this disease. Don’t give up on a normal life. Learn how to avoid injuries and the external hazards that trigger your issues. Find hobbies that are safe, fun, and relieve stress. Surround yourself with positive people and avoid or tune out the people who can’t or won’t support you. Take care of yourself, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Need Help? The Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation is just a click away. www.ednf.org
January 10, 2014
Happy Book Birthday to Erin Danzer's INTO THE SPIRAL!
INTO THE SPIRAL by Erin DanzerSeventeen-year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Lambert wants to get out from under her older brother’s shadow. When Ronnie gets a tattoo and then is struck by lightning, she suddenly finds herself able to see and hear things in shadows that don’t appear to others. Then Ronnie meets Gavin Clearwater, the hot new guy in all of her classes and finds out he can see and hear the same things she can.
Gavin tells her about the Spiral Defenders, a group of warriors that travels through space and time to defend the planets of the Spiral. After meeting the Commander of the Spiral Defenders and realizing his intentions might not be pure, Ronnie struggles between following her destiny to become a Spiral Defender and trying to regain the life she had before being struck by lightning.
Excerpt:
She looked and gave a little wave before turning to walk into her room only to find her way blocked by yet another guy. This school seemed to be crawling with hotties! This one was only a few inches taller than her, kind of short for a guy, with straight black hair and dark slightly slanted eyes. He wore black cargo pants, a black t-shirt that did nothing to hide his six-pack abs, and black combat boots. He looked her up and down and arched an eyebrow as he stepped aside.
“After you, Princess,” he said, making a sweeping gesture with his arm as he slightly bowed. Ronnie didn’t know whether to be appalled or to laugh at him and didn’t have time to make up her mind as their Homeroom teacher asked if they would be joining them today. Cheeks flushed, Ronnie walked into the room and sat in the first available seat. The guy in the doorway sat at the desk behind her and gave a small smirk that she pretended to ignore. Who the hell did this guy think he was? She looked across the room and smiled when she saw Shawn sitting in the back corner. He smiled and nodded when he saw her and her heart fluttered.
“Boyfriend, or someone you wish was?” the boy behind her whispered. Ronnie rolled her eyes. Her shoulders tightened as she tried to ignore him but he wasn’t going to be dissuaded so easily.
“Huh, well, if you’re not going to answer, then I’m going to have to guess,” he continued. “My guess would be that he’s not your boyfriend but you want him to be. Since you didn’t walk in with him, it makes me wonder if he’s even interested in you. What is he, an oblivious friend? Or does he not even know you exist? Is that what this outfit is for; so he will finally see you?”
Ronnie’s ears reddened and it took the last of her willpower to keep from turning around and telling him to shut up. She clenched her hands together on top of her desk, praying the teacher would call on either one of them just so he would stop talking. A million comebacks flashed through her mind, but she ground her teeth, knowing she would never say any of them. Despite her promise to herself to become her own person, she really didn’t know how to go about doing that. She thought it would be easy once she got the tattoo, but she knew she was failing. Even showing it off this morning, the little bit that she was able to, had taken more courage than she normally possessed—and she hadn't even had the satisfaction of Shawn seeing it.
Thinking about Shawn took her mind off the jerk behind her and she managed to tune into what the teacher was saying. Unfortunately, it wasn’t that interesting (all about locker assignments and hall passing times) so she tuned out as quickly as she’d tuned in, her mind wandering back to Shawn. She snuck another peek at him and was thrilled to find him watching her—or at least that’s what it looked like at first. He was actually looking at something behind her. She moved her head to get a better look and felt a tug on her hair.
“Stop moving; I’m almost done,” the guy behind her muttered. Ronnie spun around.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she shrieked, unable to pretend ignorance anymore. She ran a hand over her hair and found a thin lock he had apparently been braiding. Her eyes narrowed as the rest of the class waited for his reaction. Even the teacher had stopped talking.
“I was bored,” he muttered. “And your hair is really pretty.”
Buy Into the Spiral at the following places:
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Into-Spiral-Def...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Into-Spiral-D...
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/into-...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About Erin Danzer:
Erin Danzer wrote her first book at 10-years-old for a Young Authors competition, where she was awarded an Honorable Mention and discovered a passion for the written word. She’s written several novels and short stories since that spark ignited. Into the Spiral is the first of a four book series. In addition to her novels, Erin writes a monthly short story serial, The Cassandra Serafin Chronicles, posting alternately on her blog and in Literary Lunes bi-monthly online magazine. Erin resides in Racine, Wisconsin, with her husband, two children, and their cat.Contact links:
Website - http://erindanzer.com/
Facebook Fan Page - http://www.facebook.com/ErinDanzerYAA...
Twitter - https://twitter.com/erindanzer
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
January 8, 2014
Update on the fourth Fate book!
So, I wanted to touch bases with you guys today about the fourth and final book of Chloe's journey in the Fate series, as I've been getting a lot of questions about it lately. Yes, it's been delayed a little. Life got really hectic for me at the end of 2013. But I am so excited right now to introduce you guys to Medusa and THE DEEP END OF THE SEA, a book I wrote earlier last year that holds a very special place in my heart. I am thrilled to hear so many of you guys are excited to hear her story; that means the world to me. So expect a lot of great teasers coming up soon to lead you into the release on February 13--just in time for Valentine's Day! Because, honestly, friends--I consider this a very romantic book. I hope you feel that way, too! Here's a little itty bitty teaser for you, made for me by my fabulous editor:
Okay, back to Chloe and company . . .
As soon as THE DEEP END OF THE SEA's book tour is over, I'll have some news about the cover reveal date and release date for the final book in Chloe's arc (which I'm currently hard at work on right now). Now, many of you know that I've long said there are five books in the series. Yes, there are. The fifth book is a companion book and does not feature Chloe or the twins as main characters. It also takes place in the future, and you've already met one of the stars. Ahem. So do what you will with that info.
But to tide you guys over, I want to share with you the title. The fourth book in the Fate series is called . . .
A MATTER OF FOREVER
Eek!
If you're on Goodreads, you can add A MATTER OF FOREVER to your TBR pile!
Okay, back to Chloe and company . . .
As soon as THE DEEP END OF THE SEA's book tour is over, I'll have some news about the cover reveal date and release date for the final book in Chloe's arc (which I'm currently hard at work on right now). Now, many of you know that I've long said there are five books in the series. Yes, there are. The fifth book is a companion book and does not feature Chloe or the twins as main characters. It also takes place in the future, and you've already met one of the stars. Ahem. So do what you will with that info.
But to tide you guys over, I want to share with you the title. The fourth book in the Fate series is called . . .
A MATTER OF FOREVER
Eek!
If you're on Goodreads, you can add A MATTER OF FOREVER to your TBR pile!
January 7, 2014
Release Day: SHAKEN NOT STIRRED by Alyssa Rose Ivy!
Happy Book Birthday to SHAKEN NOT STIRRED (Mixology Series, Book 1) by Alyssa Rose Ivy!
I just love Alyssa's books, don't you? And this one looks delightfully fun!
Finding the perfect guy is like mixing the perfect drink. It's all about the taste and presentation. Maddy's gone off the deep end, at least that's what her family thinks when she handles her med school rejections by moving to the Outer Banks. It doesn't help that she's paying her bills by bartending and is sharing walls with two guys, even if one of them is her childhood best friend. Her choice of men seems more balanced on the surface—Colin is driven, sexy, and gainfully employed, but she can't help spending her Thursday nights searching for the perfect drink for Lyle, whose music captivates her with its haunting lyrics. Maddy believes everyone has a perfect drink—and finding Lyle's isn't a challenge she's willing to lose.
Here are some tasty teasers and an excerpt for you to enjoy!
“I think I need to build up those expectations.” He leaned over the center console and crushed his lips against mine. I responded immediately, loving the way his lips felt and wanting more. He pushed his way into my mouth, and I eagerly welcomed him. Cinnamon and desire mixed as he intensified the kiss. I needed to be closer, and I pressed my body against his. It wasn’t close enough, and he lifted me over onto his lap. My arms wrapped around his neck as his hands slid down my back. I wanted him. Right there in the parking lot with the top down on his convertible. It was like I was sixteen again with hormones controlling everything. God knows what would have happened if I hadn’t leaned back into the horn. “Whoa…” I started to move off his lap. He braced his hands on my hips, stilling me. “I think we set expectations too high. I don’t want to wait until tomorrow.”I broke free, moving to my side of the car. “Remember what I said. I’m going to leave you wanting more.” I got out of the car, pausing to glance back at him. He groaned. “You’re mean, but I deserve it. Sleep well, Maddy. Tomorrow night can’t come soon enough.” He sat there while I walked inside. I mustered every ounce of resistance to stop myself from running back to invite him up.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.
find out more about Alyssa and her books in the following places:
TwitterAuthor GoodreadsPinterestWebsiteShaken Not Stirred GoodreadsFacebook
Blogs Taking Part in the Release Day Launch
http://alessandrasplace.blogspot.com http://alifeboundbybooks.blogspot.com/ http://andreaheltsley.blogspot.com http://burningximpossiblyxbright.blog... http://dirtyhoesbkblog.blogspot.com http://fallinginfall.blogspot.com http://gagaoverbooks.blogspot.com http://haveyoumetheather.blogspot.com http://heffroberts.blogspot.com http://iheartyabooks.blogspot.com/ http://keepcalmandreadromance.blogspo... http://livinginabookworld.blogspot.gr http://missriki.com http://moviesshowsnbooks.blogspot.com/ http://nervidetoamna.blogspot.ro/ http://nicelyphrasedbookblog.com/ http://noteveryonesmama.com http://ourfictionalboyfriends.blogspo... http://paulettespapers.com/ http://readingandthings.blogspot.com http://rumpledsheetsblog.wordpress.com/ http://skizzles22hu.blogspot.com/ http://smutbookjunkie.com http://somelikeitparanormall.blogspot... http://stormydayreadingbooks.blogspot... http://takemeaway02.blogspot.com/ http://thegeekerybookreview.blogspot.com http://thewhisperingpagesbookblog.blo... http://tiffanytalksbooks.com http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/ http://www.allbookedout.com http://www.fabulouslygirly.com http://www.herjuicyreads.com http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook... http://www.treatiseandtea.blogspot.com http://www.whirlwindbooksandreviews.com/ http://ycervera.blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/WorththeReadBlog
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I just love Alyssa's books, don't you? And this one looks delightfully fun!
Finding the perfect guy is like mixing the perfect drink. It's all about the taste and presentation. Maddy's gone off the deep end, at least that's what her family thinks when she handles her med school rejections by moving to the Outer Banks. It doesn't help that she's paying her bills by bartending and is sharing walls with two guys, even if one of them is her childhood best friend. Her choice of men seems more balanced on the surface—Colin is driven, sexy, and gainfully employed, but she can't help spending her Thursday nights searching for the perfect drink for Lyle, whose music captivates her with its haunting lyrics. Maddy believes everyone has a perfect drink—and finding Lyle's isn't a challenge she's willing to lose.
Here are some tasty teasers and an excerpt for you to enjoy!
“I think I need to build up those expectations.” He leaned over the center console and crushed his lips against mine. I responded immediately, loving the way his lips felt and wanting more. He pushed his way into my mouth, and I eagerly welcomed him. Cinnamon and desire mixed as he intensified the kiss. I needed to be closer, and I pressed my body against his. It wasn’t close enough, and he lifted me over onto his lap. My arms wrapped around his neck as his hands slid down my back. I wanted him. Right there in the parking lot with the top down on his convertible. It was like I was sixteen again with hormones controlling everything. God knows what would have happened if I hadn’t leaned back into the horn. “Whoa…” I started to move off his lap. He braced his hands on my hips, stilling me. “I think we set expectations too high. I don’t want to wait until tomorrow.”I broke free, moving to my side of the car. “Remember what I said. I’m going to leave you wanting more.” I got out of the car, pausing to glance back at him. He groaned. “You’re mean, but I deserve it. Sleep well, Maddy. Tomorrow night can’t come soon enough.” He sat there while I walked inside. I mustered every ounce of resistance to stop myself from running back to invite him up.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.
find out more about Alyssa and her books in the following places:
TwitterAuthor GoodreadsPinterestWebsiteShaken Not Stirred GoodreadsFacebook
Blogs Taking Part in the Release Day Launch
http://alessandrasplace.blogspot.com http://alifeboundbybooks.blogspot.com/ http://andreaheltsley.blogspot.com http://burningximpossiblyxbright.blog... http://dirtyhoesbkblog.blogspot.com http://fallinginfall.blogspot.com http://gagaoverbooks.blogspot.com http://haveyoumetheather.blogspot.com http://heffroberts.blogspot.com http://iheartyabooks.blogspot.com/ http://keepcalmandreadromance.blogspo... http://livinginabookworld.blogspot.gr http://missriki.com http://moviesshowsnbooks.blogspot.com/ http://nervidetoamna.blogspot.ro/ http://nicelyphrasedbookblog.com/ http://noteveryonesmama.com http://ourfictionalboyfriends.blogspo... http://paulettespapers.com/ http://readingandthings.blogspot.com http://rumpledsheetsblog.wordpress.com/ http://skizzles22hu.blogspot.com/ http://smutbookjunkie.com http://somelikeitparanormall.blogspot... http://stormydayreadingbooks.blogspot... http://takemeaway02.blogspot.com/ http://thegeekerybookreview.blogspot.com http://thewhisperingpagesbookblog.blo... http://tiffanytalksbooks.com http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/ http://www.allbookedout.com http://www.fabulouslygirly.com http://www.herjuicyreads.com http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook... http://www.treatiseandtea.blogspot.com http://www.whirlwindbooksandreviews.com/ http://ycervera.blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/WorththeReadBlog
a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 6, 2014
Updated cover for THE DEEP END OF THE SEA!
I am thrilled to share with you all the updated cover for my upcoming NA Mythological Romance THE DEEP END OF THE SEA today, complete with two new blurbs from Cora Carmack and Kelly Hashway! When I heard that these two incredibly talented authors were blurbing my book, I kind of squealed. Loudly, even. What an honor!
Here's what they had to say:
"Fascinating mythology + Imaginative plot + Sexy Greek god = YES PLEASE." --Cora Carmack, New York Times Bestselling Author
"A unique twist on Greek mythology that will have you rooting for Medusa from the very start." --Kelly Hashway, author of Touch of Death series
Here's the cover:
And here's the complete wrap:
Don't forget, THE DEEP END OF THE SEA is out on February 13, 2014! And the blog tour will be starting on February 12th and run through the 25th. I'll be posting a schedule for that closer to release time so you can follow along the stops.
Oh! And here's a new teaser, featuring one of the blurbs!
Here's what they had to say:
"Fascinating mythology + Imaginative plot + Sexy Greek god = YES PLEASE." --Cora Carmack, New York Times Bestselling Author
"A unique twist on Greek mythology that will have you rooting for Medusa from the very start." --Kelly Hashway, author of Touch of Death series
Here's the cover:
And here's the complete wrap:
Don't forget, THE DEEP END OF THE SEA is out on February 13, 2014! And the blog tour will be starting on February 12th and run through the 25th. I'll be posting a schedule for that closer to release time so you can follow along the stops.
Oh! And here's a new teaser, featuring one of the blurbs!
December 27, 2013
Teaser for THE DEEP END OF THE SEA!
So, by now, you might have heard that I have a new book coming out on February 13th, 2014--just in time for Valentine's Day, featuring one of the most fearsome monsters in all of Greek mythology? And that it's a love story?
Seriously, friends. I can hardly wait to share Medusa's story with you. I hope you'll come to love her just as much as I have.
Today I have a lil teaser for you, featuring the lady herself, musing on a simple thing that we all take for granted:
Seriously, friends. I can hardly wait to share Medusa's story with you. I hope you'll come to love her just as much as I have.
Today I have a lil teaser for you, featuring the lady herself, musing on a simple thing that we all take for granted:
December 20, 2013
Winter Sale!
This weekend marks the beginning of winter, what better way to jump start the season than with a hot read at an amazing price?
Curl up in your favorite comfy reading place and one-click away on these fantastic novels for only 99 cents!
AMAZON LINK
AMAZON LINK
AMAZON LINK
AMAZON LINK
AMAZON LINK
Have a great weekend everyone! Happy Reading!
December 19, 2013
THE DEEP END OF THE SEA's cover reveal!
I am pleased as punch to reveal the brand spankin' new cover for my upcoming NA Mythological Romance THE DEEP END OF THE SEA, designed by Carly Stevens and featuring artwork by Kelsey Patton.
A bit of background on how this cover came to be . . .
Early on in my writing process, my fabulous editor made me a teaser picture to help announce my book. When I saw it . . . well, I was stunned, because the picture she found to use was perfect for Medusa's story. I mean, PERFECT. So, we tracked down the artist, and discovered it wasn't a photograph but a drawing and it was made by the insanely talented Kelsey Patton, who is just now in her first year of college studying (you guessed it) art. I am thrilled that she agreed to let her beautiful Fear of Drowning (a highly apt and symbolic title toward my story) to be featured on my cover, because I could never imagine any other picture doing so.
THE DEEP END OF THE SEA by Heather LyonsFebruary 13, 2014
Here's the full wrap:
What if all the legends you’ve learned were wrong?
Brutally attacked by one god and unfairly cursed by another she faithfully served, Medusa has spent the last two thousand years living out her punishment on an enchanted isle in the Aegean Sea. A far cry from the monster legends depict, she’s spent her time educating herself, gardening, and desperately trying to frighten away adventure seekers who occasionally end up, much to her dismay, as statues when they manage to catch her off guard. As time marches on without her, Medusa wishes for nothing more than to be given a second chance at a life stolen away at far too young an age.
But then comes a day when Hermes, one of the few friends she still has and the only deity she trusts, petitions the rest of the gods and goddesses to reverse the curse. Thus begins a journey toward healing and redemption, of reclaiming a life after tragedy, and of just how powerful friendship and love can be—because sometimes, you have to sink in the deep end of the sea before you can rise back up again.
And now for a song that I wrote some of TDEotS to, one that could be considered one of Dusa's theme songs: This is Mine by the sublime singer-songwriter Lucy Kaplansky .
I can bend back
and reach the days
when everything was new;
when witches were birds that lived in trees,
when dreams were movies God made for me.
I talked to dogs,
I knew why trees and kids cried,
why snow was white, why people died.
In show and tell,
I talked about the shapes of clouds
and all the schoolyard angels who protected me.
I am here and this is mine.
I'm everywhere, flying in line.
Always looking for a place to rest,
I hid in trees and built my nest.
I made my nest of buried things
and the roots ran like secrets
through six year rings.
I found that secret places were better places,
nicer places that villains could not find.
I do not lie:
these places are mine.
Now I lean and bend
to where I begin and end.
I am here, and this is mine.
I'm everywhere, flying in line.
I am here, and this is mine.
I'm everywhere, flying in line.
Buy This is Mine and other songs by Lucy Kaplansky HERE.
A bit of background on how this cover came to be . . .
Early on in my writing process, my fabulous editor made me a teaser picture to help announce my book. When I saw it . . . well, I was stunned, because the picture she found to use was perfect for Medusa's story. I mean, PERFECT. So, we tracked down the artist, and discovered it wasn't a photograph but a drawing and it was made by the insanely talented Kelsey Patton, who is just now in her first year of college studying (you guessed it) art. I am thrilled that she agreed to let her beautiful Fear of Drowning (a highly apt and symbolic title toward my story) to be featured on my cover, because I could never imagine any other picture doing so.
THE DEEP END OF THE SEA by Heather LyonsFebruary 13, 2014
Here's the full wrap:
What if all the legends you’ve learned were wrong?
Brutally attacked by one god and unfairly cursed by another she faithfully served, Medusa has spent the last two thousand years living out her punishment on an enchanted isle in the Aegean Sea. A far cry from the monster legends depict, she’s spent her time educating herself, gardening, and desperately trying to frighten away adventure seekers who occasionally end up, much to her dismay, as statues when they manage to catch her off guard. As time marches on without her, Medusa wishes for nothing more than to be given a second chance at a life stolen away at far too young an age.
But then comes a day when Hermes, one of the few friends she still has and the only deity she trusts, petitions the rest of the gods and goddesses to reverse the curse. Thus begins a journey toward healing and redemption, of reclaiming a life after tragedy, and of just how powerful friendship and love can be—because sometimes, you have to sink in the deep end of the sea before you can rise back up again.
And now for a song that I wrote some of TDEotS to, one that could be considered one of Dusa's theme songs: This is Mine by the sublime singer-songwriter Lucy Kaplansky .
I can bend back
and reach the days
when everything was new;
when witches were birds that lived in trees,
when dreams were movies God made for me.
I talked to dogs,
I knew why trees and kids cried,
why snow was white, why people died.
In show and tell,
I talked about the shapes of clouds
and all the schoolyard angels who protected me.
I am here and this is mine.
I'm everywhere, flying in line.
Always looking for a place to rest,
I hid in trees and built my nest.
I made my nest of buried things
and the roots ran like secrets
through six year rings.
I found that secret places were better places,
nicer places that villains could not find.
I do not lie:
these places are mine.
Now I lean and bend
to where I begin and end.
I am here, and this is mine.
I'm everywhere, flying in line.
I am here, and this is mine.
I'm everywhere, flying in line.
Buy This is Mine and other songs by Lucy Kaplansky HERE.
November 19, 2013
(*drum roll*) Announcing my next book: THE DEEP END OF THE SEA
AHHHH!!! I am so excited today to share with you some details about my latest book! But first, a bit of background . . .
A lot of people ask me where the inspiration for the Fate series comes from. My answer is always the same: my fascination with various global mythologies, especially Greek, Roman, and Norse. I adore mythology. Absolutely adore it. And there are some stories that I love better than others, and one of those has lasted with me for a long time simply because it always sat wrong with me.
I remember going to see Clash of the Titans when it first came out at this small theatre within walking distance of my house. No, not the one out just a few years, but the original one back in the (oh, snap--I'm dating myself here) 80s. The total cheese-fest one, the one where you watch it today and alternately cringe and laugh at the horrible effects as well as feel solidly nostalgic that they just don't make movies like this anymore, whether or not that's a good thing. Anyway, I remember the scene where Perseus goes into Medusa's lair to lop of her head (so he can take it back and slay the Krakken, in order for him and Andromeda to get it going), when she first slithered into the scene, I covered my face with my hands, fearing if I saw her, too, there was the very real possibility of turning to stone myself. (Hey, at least if I'm dating myself here, I'll letting you know just how young as I was then, too.) Anyway, my dad didn't cover his face; this stressed me out the whole time. I kept sneaking peeks at him as I listened to this monster's tail rattle around on screen, making sure that when it came time to leave, my dad was going to make it out alive with me.
Girl just wants to be left alone, right?
Obviously, we did. And thus my fascination with Medusa was solidified.
(And, ahem, that movie, which I will still watch every time it comes on)
The older I got, and the more versions of the Medusa myths I read, the more I came to feel sorry for the poor girl. The majority of the legends have her being raped; as a punishment for, oh--I don't know, having the audacity to be raped, she's cursed to be a monster. It was a classic bit of crappy patriarchial victim blaming that had me thinking more than once that if she became a vindictive monster afterwards, could you really blame her? There was always a kernel in the back of my mind, story-wise, about what kind of person would she be, having gone through such trauma. Story lines came and went over the years, but then I heard John Mayer's album "Born and Raised" last year and all of a sudden . . .
I knew I had to tell her story.
(Yeah, I know. You're all, "John Mayer, Heather? What does he have to do with Medusa?" But THIS is a story for another blog post down the road.)
So I'm pleased as punch to let you know that my next book will star Medusa--and it's a love story, because love stories are my favorite.
THE DEEP END OF THE SEA by Heather Lyons
coming February 13, 2014
What if all the legends you’ve learned were wrong?
Brutally attacked by one god and unfairly cursed by another she faithfully served, Medusa has spent the last two thousand years living out her punishment on an enchanted isle in the Aegean Sea. A far cry from the monster legends depict, she’s spent her time educating herself, gardening, and desperately trying to frighten away adventure seekers who occasionally end up, much to her dismay, as statues when they manage to catch her off guard. As time marches on without her, Medusa wishes for nothing more than to be given a second chance at a life stolen away at far too young an age.
But then comes a day when Hermes, one of the few friends she still has and the only deity she trusts, petitions the rest of the gods and goddesses to reverse the curse. Thus begins a journey toward healing and redemption, of reclaiming a life after tragedy, and of just how powerful friendship and love can be—because sometimes, you have to sink in the deep end of the sea before you can rise back up again.
The cover will be revealed on December 19--I am so, so excited to share it with you guys, because it's absolutely gorgeous. If you are a blogger and want to take part of the reveal, you can sign up HERE.
A lot of people ask me where the inspiration for the Fate series comes from. My answer is always the same: my fascination with various global mythologies, especially Greek, Roman, and Norse. I adore mythology. Absolutely adore it. And there are some stories that I love better than others, and one of those has lasted with me for a long time simply because it always sat wrong with me.
I remember going to see Clash of the Titans when it first came out at this small theatre within walking distance of my house. No, not the one out just a few years, but the original one back in the (oh, snap--I'm dating myself here) 80s. The total cheese-fest one, the one where you watch it today and alternately cringe and laugh at the horrible effects as well as feel solidly nostalgic that they just don't make movies like this anymore, whether or not that's a good thing. Anyway, I remember the scene where Perseus goes into Medusa's lair to lop of her head (so he can take it back and slay the Krakken, in order for him and Andromeda to get it going), when she first slithered into the scene, I covered my face with my hands, fearing if I saw her, too, there was the very real possibility of turning to stone myself. (Hey, at least if I'm dating myself here, I'll letting you know just how young as I was then, too.) Anyway, my dad didn't cover his face; this stressed me out the whole time. I kept sneaking peeks at him as I listened to this monster's tail rattle around on screen, making sure that when it came time to leave, my dad was going to make it out alive with me.
Girl just wants to be left alone, right?Obviously, we did. And thus my fascination with Medusa was solidified.
(And, ahem, that movie, which I will still watch every time it comes on)
The older I got, and the more versions of the Medusa myths I read, the more I came to feel sorry for the poor girl. The majority of the legends have her being raped; as a punishment for, oh--I don't know, having the audacity to be raped, she's cursed to be a monster. It was a classic bit of crappy patriarchial victim blaming that had me thinking more than once that if she became a vindictive monster afterwards, could you really blame her? There was always a kernel in the back of my mind, story-wise, about what kind of person would she be, having gone through such trauma. Story lines came and went over the years, but then I heard John Mayer's album "Born and Raised" last year and all of a sudden . . .
I knew I had to tell her story.
(Yeah, I know. You're all, "John Mayer, Heather? What does he have to do with Medusa?" But THIS is a story for another blog post down the road.)
So I'm pleased as punch to let you know that my next book will star Medusa--and it's a love story, because love stories are my favorite.
THE DEEP END OF THE SEA by Heather Lyons
coming February 13, 2014
What if all the legends you’ve learned were wrong?
Brutally attacked by one god and unfairly cursed by another she faithfully served, Medusa has spent the last two thousand years living out her punishment on an enchanted isle in the Aegean Sea. A far cry from the monster legends depict, she’s spent her time educating herself, gardening, and desperately trying to frighten away adventure seekers who occasionally end up, much to her dismay, as statues when they manage to catch her off guard. As time marches on without her, Medusa wishes for nothing more than to be given a second chance at a life stolen away at far too young an age.
But then comes a day when Hermes, one of the few friends she still has and the only deity she trusts, petitions the rest of the gods and goddesses to reverse the curse. Thus begins a journey toward healing and redemption, of reclaiming a life after tragedy, and of just how powerful friendship and love can be—because sometimes, you have to sink in the deep end of the sea before you can rise back up again.
The cover will be revealed on December 19--I am so, so excited to share it with you guys, because it's absolutely gorgeous. If you are a blogger and want to take part of the reveal, you can sign up HERE.
November 13, 2013
Inspirations: Pale Blue Dot
Confession time . . .
Something a lot of readers don't know about me--or, heck, even friends--is that I am an astronomy/astrophysics geek. I absolutely ADORE learning about space. It sometimes boggles my mind, leaving me at times grasping towards the boundaries of understanding and yet reveling in the sheer beauty of wondrous possibilities that our universe offers.
I blame my grandmother for this.
When I was younger, she and I would go outside at night and talk. Talk about the constellations and the legends associated with them. Talk about the stars, and how they were more than just pinpoints of light above us, how they were massive entities in which other celestial objects were trapped in orbits around. We talked about supernovas and black holes and comets and time and light and I used to always feel so small and so large all at once, hearing about these things. How I felt . . . almost spiritual about it, if that makes sense, because in the vast void of the universe, there I was, a piece of stardust.
When I went to college, I couldn't imagine myself taking any other science requirements than astronomy. Not because there's an urban legend that claims it's easy, but because I was genuinely interested in the subject matter. But . . . here's another confession: I am not mathematically minded whatsoever, much to my everlasting shame. So I struggled when my professors asked me to calculate masses and distances and expansion rates, and there were times I wondered if such torture upon my ego would drive a lifelong love away from me. It nearly did. But, resolute, I refused to let even math take away something so very profound and beautiful from me, so I dug my heels in, found myself some friends who were astronomers, and pushed through.
I discovered Carl Sagan at this time, and Stephen Hawking, and others whose books and ideas challenged me to step outside of my comfort boundaries and really think about what life is really all about. Even now, even today, I will listen to lectures and read works by people like Neil deGrasse Tyson often, because they speak to me. I was an archaeologist, a historian, and now I am a storyteller, but so much of me looks up and out and wonders about the future.
So, today, friends . . . if you'll indulge me, I want to share something with you that has stuck with me for years. Something that I pull out every so often and either read or listen to, because I think my soul needs it. Maybe you already know what I'm talking about. Maybe this piece is in your canon, too. Maybe this will be your first time hearing the gorgeousness of Carl Sagan's voice, and of his thoughts. Maybe what he says will resonate deep within you, too. Maybe you'll hit repeat and subsequently feel the need to dig out more of his work. Maybe you'll sit back and scratch your head and think, "That sh*t is boring." Maybe it'll inspire you to look into the night sky and begin the beautiful yet elusive quest to understand our place in the universe. Maybe you'll look at the world around us differently.
Maybe you won't even press play.
But maybe, just maybe, you will.
I really hope you will.
And now, here's Carl Sagan's beautiful musings on the Pale Blue Dot .
"From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. But for us, it's different. Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us."
Earth, as seen by Voyager 1 in 1990.
"Oh it, everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering. Thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter or forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization. Every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every superstar, every supreme leader, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there. On the mote of dust, suspended in a sunbeam. The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors, so that in glory and in triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel, on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner. How frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity--in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit? Yes. Settle? Not yet. Like it or not, for the moment, the Earth is where we make our stand. It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
For more of Sagan's thought-provoking musings, check out his book Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space . You can also check out The Carl Sagan Portal.
Carrying on Sagan's work is Neil deGrasse Tyson. I cannot recommend reading/listening to him enough. Go HERE to learn more about him and his work.
Something a lot of readers don't know about me--or, heck, even friends--is that I am an astronomy/astrophysics geek. I absolutely ADORE learning about space. It sometimes boggles my mind, leaving me at times grasping towards the boundaries of understanding and yet reveling in the sheer beauty of wondrous possibilities that our universe offers.
I blame my grandmother for this.
When I was younger, she and I would go outside at night and talk. Talk about the constellations and the legends associated with them. Talk about the stars, and how they were more than just pinpoints of light above us, how they were massive entities in which other celestial objects were trapped in orbits around. We talked about supernovas and black holes and comets and time and light and I used to always feel so small and so large all at once, hearing about these things. How I felt . . . almost spiritual about it, if that makes sense, because in the vast void of the universe, there I was, a piece of stardust.
When I went to college, I couldn't imagine myself taking any other science requirements than astronomy. Not because there's an urban legend that claims it's easy, but because I was genuinely interested in the subject matter. But . . . here's another confession: I am not mathematically minded whatsoever, much to my everlasting shame. So I struggled when my professors asked me to calculate masses and distances and expansion rates, and there were times I wondered if such torture upon my ego would drive a lifelong love away from me. It nearly did. But, resolute, I refused to let even math take away something so very profound and beautiful from me, so I dug my heels in, found myself some friends who were astronomers, and pushed through.
I discovered Carl Sagan at this time, and Stephen Hawking, and others whose books and ideas challenged me to step outside of my comfort boundaries and really think about what life is really all about. Even now, even today, I will listen to lectures and read works by people like Neil deGrasse Tyson often, because they speak to me. I was an archaeologist, a historian, and now I am a storyteller, but so much of me looks up and out and wonders about the future.
So, today, friends . . . if you'll indulge me, I want to share something with you that has stuck with me for years. Something that I pull out every so often and either read or listen to, because I think my soul needs it. Maybe you already know what I'm talking about. Maybe this piece is in your canon, too. Maybe this will be your first time hearing the gorgeousness of Carl Sagan's voice, and of his thoughts. Maybe what he says will resonate deep within you, too. Maybe you'll hit repeat and subsequently feel the need to dig out more of his work. Maybe you'll sit back and scratch your head and think, "That sh*t is boring." Maybe it'll inspire you to look into the night sky and begin the beautiful yet elusive quest to understand our place in the universe. Maybe you'll look at the world around us differently.
Maybe you won't even press play.
But maybe, just maybe, you will.
I really hope you will.
And now, here's Carl Sagan's beautiful musings on the Pale Blue Dot .
"From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. But for us, it's different. Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us."
Earth, as seen by Voyager 1 in 1990."Oh it, everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering. Thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter or forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization. Every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every superstar, every supreme leader, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there. On the mote of dust, suspended in a sunbeam. The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors, so that in glory and in triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel, on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner. How frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity--in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit? Yes. Settle? Not yet. Like it or not, for the moment, the Earth is where we make our stand. It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
For more of Sagan's thought-provoking musings, check out his book Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space . You can also check out The Carl Sagan Portal.
Carrying on Sagan's work is Neil deGrasse Tyson. I cannot recommend reading/listening to him enough. Go HERE to learn more about him and his work.
