Mikey Brooks's Blog, page 14

Blog Tour Day 3

Blog Tour day 3: Today on the blog tour we have 3 stops. First up is a fantastic review of both THE DREAM KEEPER and THE DREAMSTONE on Tammy’s Tea Time: http://goo.gl/WyKAhB. 

Then we’ll be heading over for a book feature and excerpt at Book Lovers Life: http://goo.gl/EXDEuR. 

Last on the list is the blog of author Stacy Lynn Carroll for another book feature: http://goo.gl/Aahk7a. 

Don't forget yu can purchase the eBooks of THE DREAM KEEPER and THE DREAMSTONE  for just 99 cents during the blog tour. Just follow the links. 
Kindle eBooks:The Dream Keeper: http://goo.gl/FPa2vT The Dreamstone: http://goo.gl/yBBub5
Kobo eBooks:The Dream Keeper: http://goo.gl/3R4d1WThe Dream Stone: http://goo.gl/M3iXYQ
Nook eBooks: http://goo.gl/tGKJOP

Blog Tour Day 2

Blog Tour day 2: We have some terrific stops today. First up I share a little about how I found inspiration in writing the Dream Keeper books on Lisa Cole Orchard’s blog: http://goo.gl/eMR0KA. 
Then we go over to Robyn Steele’s blog for a book feature: http://goo.gl/lfxEJj.
Our last stop for today is Crazy Beautiful Reviews: http://goo.gl/7Nzzrp.
Don't forget yu can purchase the eBooks of THE DREAM KEEPER and THE DREAMSTONE  for just 99 cents during the blog tour. Just follow the links. 
Kindle eBooks:The Dream Keeper: http://goo.gl/FPa2vT The Dreamstone: http://goo.gl/yBBub5
Kobo eBooks:The Dream Keeper: http://goo.gl/3R4d1WThe Dream Stone: http://goo.gl/M3iXYQ
Nook eBooks: http://goo.gl/tGKJOP

Blog Tour Day 1

Blog Tour day 1:  am excited for all the stops on the blog tour. Check in everyday and I will post the links to where you will find fun fresh content. Dont forget to enter the giveaways. We have over 35 prizes to hand out. 
First stop today is Lindzee Armstrong's author blog where she'll be sharing a book feature: http://goo.gl/sBL2II.
Next we head over to Cu's eBook Giveaways: http://goo.gl/KTd97S. 
Our last stop for the day is Victoria Simcox's blog where she'll be sharing a book feature: http://goo.gl/7mXV0Y.
Don't forget yu can purchase the eBooks of THE DREAM KEEPER and THE DREAMSTONE  for just 99 cents during the blog tour. Just follow the links. 
Kindle eBooks:The Dream Keeper: http://goo.gl/FPa2vT The Dreamstone: http://goo.gl/yBBub5
Kobo eBooks:The Dream Keeper: http://goo.gl/3R4d1WThe Dream Stone: http://goo.gl/M3iXYQ
Nook eBooks: http://goo.gl/tGKJOP

Black Friday Kindle Sale

Black Friday Event! THE DREAM KEEPERandTHE DREAMSTONEare 99 cents each in the kindle store! Now is the time to SAVE!! http://ASIN.cc/aZzmF0 and http://ASIN.cc/mjRiK0

Giving Thanks

I love fall—the colors, the bite in the air, the smell of baking pies. There is something about fall that brings people together. It’s a time to snuggle up with a blanket and good book. Fall is also the season of thanks. The time we take to share with others what we are most grateful for. I want to express my thanks to a very special person who helped me as a kid.
I want to thank L. Frank Baum. Although he is long passed away, his presence is still strong in my home. I grew to love his books when I was a tween. Life was hard for me during those early years. I lived on my grandparent’s farm, miles away from friends or family. It was lonely and most of the time I wished I were far, far away.

One day I took my copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with me to the woods. I had created a fortress in a clearing next to a pond. As I read, characters would come to life and fill the empty spaces of those woods. Fairies would dance in the trees and munchkins would sing as they fished. Callidas would haunt the dark corners between evergreens. Magic existed. I had found my escape.

Every day I would sneak out to those woods and bury myself in another adventure. I was with Dorothy when she narrowly escaped the Wicked Witch. I was with her when she returned to Oz. I fought alongside Glinda as she rescued Ozma and Dorothy from the Skeezers. Tick-Tok, Scarecrow, and Jack Pumpkin Head became my imaginary confidants. They helped me deal with not living with my mom and the bullies at school. Baum created a world with his books that transcended the pages of reality and helped me in my time of need.

Today, I still have my collection of Oz books. When my wife and I became pregnant with our first child, I read The Wizard of Oz to my daughter every night before she was born. Since, we have read it numerous times. I am glad she has latched onto the love I have for Baum and his books. I hope as she grows up she can find lessons hidden in the pages. I hope she can find the magic and bring it to life.

L. Frank Baum is the first American middle-grade author. He struggled at first to get his books known, but once he did, he found they were loved by the old and young alike. Thank you, Mr. Baum for being one of the caretakers of children. You have truly written your words on my heart and I will forever be grateful.

Please take a moment this month to honor those authors whose books have helped you in some way. Take a moment to say, “Thank you.” Books can touch our hearts in more ways than one. I am certainly grateful for those that have touched mine. (Originally posted on Emblazoners.com)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Guest Post: Stacy Lynn Carroll

I am very pleased to welcome the talented Stacy Lynn Carroll to my blog today. She is celebrating the release of her second book, Frogs and Toads. She has agreed to write a guest post on how she came up with her fabulous idea for her book. Check that below:



The Idea behind My Book  First I’d like to thank Mikey for having me on his blog today! It’s an honor to be here! Let me introduce myself. I’m Stacy Lynn Carroll. I write Young Adult Contemporary Fiction. I like to add a little romance into my books as well, but not the over-the-top mushy stuff. By day, I am a Mommy to three little munchkins who keep me very busy. Once they’re all safely in dreamland, I slip on my fuzzy slippers, grab some chocolate covered almonds, and the occasional coke (real, not diet, that’s yucky) and I turn into Night Writer! (Insert cool theme music here.) I love movies, dancing shows, and I’m strangely obsessed with the color pink.
My debut novel: The Princess Sisterscame out three years ago.  I was pregnant with my first child and we had just found out we were having a little girl. Yay! Someone to pour my pink obsession upon. As new parents do, my husband and I were discussing names one night. We started talking about when we were younger and what names we were sure we’d name our kids when we grew up. Thank goodness we weren’t having a boy or his name would have been Thadeus, according to my husband. Being a typical, young girl, I was in love with the Disney princesses and knew someday I would have a daughter and name her after my favorite princess, Aurora. Then as I got a little older, I also loved the name Belle. But after marrying a man named Carroll, Belle just didn’t sound very good anymore.
As I told him this, the wheels began turning. I started to wonder what would happen if a mom really named all of her daughters after fairy tale princesses? How would that affect those girls in their everyday life?  How would they be treated at school?  And how would they relate to their names? That night, after we got home, I sat down and wrote the prologue. It quickly shifted from one mom with several daughters, to sisters naming all the girl cousins after princesses. Once I started writing the prologue I realized I needed a reason for the sisters to all give their daughters princess names. So that is when I decided that the moms had all struck out with men. And when women are pregnant, extra hormonal, emotional over something, and together in a group, they probably don’t make the best of decisions. The moms decide the only way their daughters will ever meet real life, charming “princes” is if they have names suited for real princesses. And…ta da! A new book was born. 
Once I got further into the book and the ideas started flowing, I realized everything wasn’t going to fit into one novel, unless I wanted it to be like 700 pages. So that is when I knew that Frogs & Toads also needed to be written. The sequel focuses on the girls’ pasts and discovering where they came from. They get to learn about the fathers they’ve never known and some pretty big secrets are revealed. Then the final book in the trilogy: Forever After will be out next year. (Crossing fingers, knocking on wood, and rubbing my lucky rabbits foot that everything goes according to plan and it doesn’t take another three years.)

Blurb: One kiss can change the future...for better or for worse.Belle and her cousins have conquered their fears. Now as they navigate their way through the dating world, they start to see a "happily ever after" on the horizon. But when an unexpected school assignment forces them to examine their past, the Princess sisters realize they have a lot of questions about the fathers they've never met. Secrets are revealed, long lost family members are discovered, and now the girls must decide who belongs in their future and who should be kept in the past.
Author Bio:Stacy Lynn Carroll has always loved telling stories.  She started out at Utah State University where she pursued a degree in English, learned how to western swing, and watched as many of her fellow students became ‘True Aggies’.  She then finished her BA at the University of Utah where she got an emphasis in creative writing.  After college she worked as an administrative assistant, where she continued to write stories for the amusement of her co-workers.  When her first daughter was born, and with the encouragement of a fortune cookie, she quit her job and became a full-time mommy and writer.  She and her husband have three children, two Corgis, and a fish named Don.
Links:Frogs & Toads: http://www.amazon.com/Frogs-Toads-Princess-Sisters-ebook/dp/B00G47G83Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383109118&sr=8-1&keywords=Frogs+%26+Toads+carroll
The Princess Sisters free promotion: http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Sisters-ebook/dp/B005D5J3I2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383109260&sr=8-1&keywords=the+princess+sisters

Author Interview: Jackson Paul Baer

Today I am happy top welcome Jackson Paul Baer, author of THE EARTH BLEEDS READ, a literary suspense novel. I love to read mysteries that have me turning page after page. So this is great! Jackson has agreed to an interview. I’ve asked him some questions about his new book as well as tips he can give in writing a great mystery. So you’re not kept in suspense, let’s get on with the interview.
Can you share a little about yourself and your book?
Jackson Paul Baer:  I'm married with four kids and "The Earth Bleeds Red" is my first novel. It's a literary suspense that looks at why bad things happen to good people, while a serial killer steals from the perfect family. This book will appeal to people who enjoy reading literary fiction and suspense/mystery novels. Think Joyce Carol Oates meets Junot Diaz, while they are both reading Sherman Alexie. 
What inspired you to write this book?
Jackson Paul Baer:  I decided after taking a short story writing class at Oregon State that I was finally going to write a novel. I've always wanted to, but I had never committed myself. The title came to me first and then the book just poured out. 
When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
Jackson Paul Baer:  Ever since I was a little kid. I used to write poems, then titles for books, and then songs as a young adult. My writing kind of evolved and grew into my true love: novels. 
What types of books did you read when you were a teen?
Jackson Paul Baer:  I read next to nothing as a teen. My favorite book from high school was "Men of Kent." It's an historical fiction set in England. I didn't start reading until around age 20.
Let’s talk about the writing process. Did you have a writing routine? Did you do any research, and if so, what did that involve?
Jackson Paul Baer:  I had to do a lot of research when it came to locations, setting, and distances. I wrote this novel while living in Oregon and tried to be as descriptive as possible. I want the reader to feel like they are in the Pacific Northwest as they read it. 
What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?
Jackson Paul Baer:  I hope they will look at what's really important in their life. This book has a way of making you think about your own family and the decisions you make in life. It does for me anyway. 
 Who is your favorite character in your book and why?

Jackson Paul Baer:  The main character, Scott, is my favorite. His sense of humor is similar to mine as well as his questions about faith and life in general. I see my own struggles in him and can only imagine the loss he's dealing with in this suspenseful novel. 
What tips can you give to writers wanting to attempt writing in the suspense genre?
Jackson Paul Baer:  Read across genres, read real crime stories, and write every chance you get. 
What makes a good mystery? Do you have a favorite mystery novel as an example?
Jackson Paul Baer:  "Indian Killer," by Sherman Alexie, is probably my favorite mystery. A good mystery always keeps you on the edge... wanting to know what will happen next. Then, just when you think you have it figured out, the story throws you for a twist.
 Where can we go to buy your book?
Jackson Paul Baer: You can visit my website at www.JacksonPaulBaer.comwhere I have links to pick up the book.
Any other links or info you'd like to share?
www.facebook.com/JacksonPaulBaerwww.twitter.com/JacksonPaulBaerhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18524194-the-earth-bleeds-red
Excerpt from book:
Ashley made us whole. The three of us were more complete than any other family that ever resided in the Northwest. We had unforgettable times together. I love the way she read and the face she made after I told an embarrassing joke. She liked to tell stories herself, stories that always left me thinking. I often think about our times together and all the moments yet to be had in our two-story house on Hollow Drive. The light brown country style home that sat on a half-acre lot has been our loving home for the past five years. Lined with off-white trim, the double-paned windows sit above the winding stone walkway in the front yard.
I’d been planting a few cherry trees in the back yard. I put the shovel in the garage and took my dark-tan, steel-toed boots off by the door before going into the kitchen. The point of my second-generation shovel was so sharp that I just barely had to place my foot on the edge of the metal for the end to pierce the soaked dirt. The ground was soft from all the rain, as January and February proved to be even more dreary than usual. I’m not sure how much more of the gray skies and wet earth I could take. I like the rain, but it has poured for the last seven days… a soaking and miserable rain. 

Tween the Weekends: Halloween

I love October…the changing leaves, the crisp cool air, but mostly it’s because of Halloween. There is nothing quite like putting spooky decoration up around the house, picking out ghoulish costumes to wear, and planning out how much candy a human being can possibly consume. Above it all though are the Halloween stories.

Ever since I was a kid I loved the frightening tales only shared at Halloween time. They would creep, seep, and chill me to the bone. I remember my first time when I was a tween listening to an audiotape of The Legend of Sleepy Hallow, by Washington Irving. I can recall the goose bumps that prickled my arms and back as I wondered if the headless horseman would get Ichabod Crane. Stories like that never leave a kid not wanting more. 
Because it is Halloween time and because it is also Tween the Weekends I’d like to share some fantastic Halloween stories that tween readers would like to read. To quote a favorite series of ghostly books, “BEWARE…You’re in for a scare!” –Goosebumps, by R.L. Stein. 

Curse at Zala Manor, by BBHMcChiller
Synopsis: It's almost Halloween, and twelve-year-old AJ Zantony's world is threatened by an ancient curse that releases wicked pirates who had been trapped for centuries in his Aunt Zsofia's creepy mansion, Zala Manor. The pirates--a vampire count, a pegleg skeleton, and a zombie--have three goals: to find a lost treasure, unleash the restless dead from their graves, and to settle a very old score by destroying the Zantony bloodline. AJ has to stop them before midnight during Aunt Zsofia's annual Halloween party. Except he has a big problem--monster phobia! He's scared to death of monsters. But if he doesn't act fast, the streets of Craggy Cove will be crawling with zombies. Will AJ overcome his fear and stop the monsters or bail out? Will Craggy Cove become Zombie Central? Who will be alive when midnight tolls?

Case File 13: Zombie Kid, by J. Scott Savage
Synopsis: You hold in your hands a very dangerous record. I have collected every side of the story and every piece of evidence on case number 13. Now, in this file, you will find all you need to follow the dark adventures of Nick, Carter, and Angelo, three boys who possess an unhealthy obsession with monsters, in a town so grisly, so horrific—
Whoa, whoa, whoa. You're telling it all wrong, dude. You make it sound like it's a scary story.
Ahem. Well, Nick, it is a scary story. In this volume alone, there are voodoo queens, graveyards—even the dreaded Zombie King himself.
Yeah, but there's also the part where Angie gets mashed potatoes all in her face, and the part where I use my cool zombie powers to—
All right, point taken. Now, if you don't mind . . .
You hold in your hands a very dangerous, very funny record, detailing the hilarious adventures of three boys who have an awesome obsession with monsters. This is the first volume. Read on if you dare. . . .


The Spook's Apprentice, by Joseph Delaney
Synopsis: 'Someone has to stand against the dark. And you're the only one who can.'
For years, the local Spook has been keeping the County safe from evil. Now his time is coming to an end, but who will take over? 
Many apprentices have tried . . . Some floundered, some fled, some failed to stay alive. Just one boy is left. Thomas Ward. He is the last hope. But does he stand a chance against Mother Malkin, the most dangerous witch in the County?

Other great Halloween books for Tweens:The Graveyard Book, by Neil GaimanWait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story, by Mary Downing HahnThe Witches, by Roald DahlA Tale Dark and Grimm, by Adam GidwitzSplendors and Glooms, by Laura Amy SchlitzMay Bird and the Ever After, by Jodi Lynn Anderson
What are your favorite Halloween books? 

You can check out the other Emblazoners 
Posts by clicking this link: http://emblazoners.com/tween-the-weekends

Author Interview: R.L. Drembic

Today I am happy to introduce you to R.L. Drembic, author of the epic fantasy THE KNIGHTS OF THE CAERS. I was delighted to interview him because I love epic fantasy. Since my childhood I have always had a fondness for fantasy books. It started with The Lord of the Rings and has continued throughout my adult life. Currently I am reading the book three in the Artesan of Albia series by Cas Peace and  it’s phenomenal…speaking of phenomenal let’s get to the interview with R.L. Drembic.    
Can you share a little about yourself and your book, THE KNIGHTS OF THE CAERS?
R.L. Drembic: I am a recent college graduate and worked on The Knights of the Caers throughout my college career.  I have always enjoyed reading from a young age.  By the time I finished high school, I calculated that I had read over a thousand books.  I’ve always loved reading and I want to give someone else that same joy.  The Knights of the Caers is a coming of age story about a young man who chases his dreams while struggling with a haunting past.  The plot is filled with intriguing characters, unforeseeable plot twists, scheming villains, and intense action scenes.  A more comprehensive synopsis is available on both of the links below.
I have to say over a thousand books before finishing high school is an amazing feat! What types of books did you read when you were a teen? How does effect what you write now?
R.L. Drembic: I read all types of books as a teen.  My favorites were fantasy novels either set in mystical lands with magic and demons or in space with aliens.  I never did really enjoy reading a book set in modern times about somebody’s everyday life.  The way I think about it, we all live in this world, and a book should be a means to escape it for a while, not just to live in a different part of it.
What inspired you to write this book? / When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
R.L. Drembic: I first got the idea to write my own story when playing a story game with a friend, the kind where you text back and forth, each adding the next bit of the story.  I never did write that story down, but when I had an idea for another story a few months later, I took it more serious.  I didn’t start writing though, until several months later when I learned that a friend was writing a novel and trying to get it published.  It was her courage that gave me the inspiration to try it myself.
Let’s talk about your writing process. Did you have a writing routine? Did you do any research, and if so, what did that involve?
R.L. Drembic: The writing process for this was simple; I thought about the book for months, planning out every section and even writing different scenes in my head.  By the time I started writing, I had most of it planned out.  The rest was planned as I wrote; my mind was always racing ahead of my hand.  I don’t have a routine; I just sit and write when creativity strikes.  For this novel, I chose to create my own world to avoid research.  I wanted to focus on creativity, not facts.  I did do some minimal research on different types of old sailing ships, but that just consisted of Googling.  The biggest piece of research I did was on Google translate, figuring out names for different characters and places.  I got the idea from the Harry Potter novels to give some of the names a deeper meaning.  However, I took it to another level.  Some of the names are from Latin, but there are also names from a dozen other languages.  And not all of the meanings are easy to discern; I wanted to make it a puzzle, so the meanings are hidden.  I am curious to see whether or not readers will be able to figure them out (I’m thinking of making a contest of it).
You should make a contest of it. That would be a fun feature! What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?
R.L. Drembic:  My main goal is to give the readers a grand adventure.  The book does have some serious themes meant to also inspire the reader: The story focuses on a main character who is struggling with a mysterious past.  Another of the main characters also has a haunting past.  I hope that any readers with skeletons in their closet or ghosts in their past will realize that it doesn’t mean the end of the world.  There is always hope no matter what someone has done.
THE KNIGHTS OF THE CAERS is an epic fantasy, what tips can you give to writers wanting to attempt writing something in this genre?
R.L. Drembic: The biggest tip I can give is this: if you don’t enjoy writing your story, then no one will enjoy reading it.  A great novel is every bit as enthralling to write as it is to read.  I can’t tell you the number of times I was completely enraptured by my own story to the point where I could not put it down to eat, sleep, or go to class.
Where can we go to buy your book?
R.L. Drembic: The best, and cheapest, place to purchase The Knights of the Caers is on the publisher’s website at http://www.friesenpress.com/bookstore/title/119734000002441596/R.L.-Drembic-The-Knights-of-the-Caers
Any other links or info you'd like to share?
R.L. Drembic: This is my facebook page, where I will have updated information on the book and any contests that I hold. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Knights-of-the-Caers/151638944908817
http://www.friesenpress.com/bookstore/title/119734000002441596/R.L.-Drembic-The-Knights-of-the-Caers
http://drembic.weebly.com/the-knights-of-the-caers.html
Excerpt from book:
Stephen stood on the platform and watched in dismay as their forces dwindled. They’d nearly been cut in half, but they were holding their own.Edric and Cal were almost single handedly holding the left end of the line. They fought side by side and would not be pushed back.  Quint and Jost Hok were fighting on the right side, though not side by side, and Madiba and her crew held the center of the line. Klis stood on the platform and fired arrows into the guards. The shkafs had charged into the center of the guards and fought with deadly efficiency. While the battle was going reasonably well, their line could fall apart any moment under the sheer weight of the guards’ numbers.Stephen looked up at what was left of the stars, probably for the last time. If we take enough guards with us, then the slaves will be able to escape on their own. He thought grimly. Stephen raised his sword and started chanting “Freemen!” as he pushed his way to the front.Edric, Cal, and Quint heard his chant and joined in, making their way to the middle. Madiba ordered her crew to split up to hold the ends of the line, letting the Knights of the Caers take the center. Soon the entire Freeman army was chanting the battle cry. It infused everyone with new strength, courage, hope, and determination.Edric felt new strength surge through him. This is what his life had been building to: battling injustice no matter what it took, fighting to the very end to make the world a better place. The Knights joined together at the head of the Freemen and fought to hold the line. The guards came at them again and again, but they would not be moved.“This is for you,” Edric whispered to his dead brother. Even though Erst had never been a slave, he had always dreamed of having an adventure. Erst and Edric had daydreamed of noble quests to rid the world of some terrible evil, like stopping a Fulk invasion or defeating the Pirate Brothers. Edric felt sure that taking down the great slave market counted.Edric glanced up at the stars once more before charging forward.  Cal was a step behind him, with Stephen and Quint another second behind them. The Knights of the Caers smashed into the guards’ line…
Blog Tour List:
Monday, Oct 21 - http://moniquebucheger.blogspot.com/Tuesday, Oct 22 - http://writtenbymikey.blogspot.com/Wednesday, Oct 23 - http://www.carlhackman.comThursday, Oct 24 - http://www.writermike.com/Friday, Oct 25 - http://nosurf.blogspot.com/Saturday, Oct 26 - http://wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com/
The Launch party will be held on Thursday, Oct 24th at this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/545144652231471/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Blog Tour: The Last Enchanter

Welcome to the official blog tour for  THE LAST ENCHANTER, 
Book II of The Celestine Chronicles, a fun-filled fantasy adventure series for middle grade readers!  
_______________________________________________________________ 

Don't forget to check out the GIVEAWAY 
contest at the bottom of this post. 
You could win a 16 G NOOK!! 
In Book I, THE ROCK OF IVANORE , enchanter's apprentice Marcus Frye and five other boys set out on a dangerous journey to locate the Rock of Ivanore and bring it back to their village.
In THE LAST ENCHANTER , months have passed since they succeeded in their quest. One of the boys, Kelvin, is living as royalty in Dokur, and Marcus is studying magic with Zyll. When Lord Fredric is murdered and Kelvin becomes king, the Enchanter Zyll and Marcus head for Dokur in hopes of protecting Kelvin from meeting the same fate, though it quickly becomes apparent that none of them are safe, and Marcus has had disturbing visions of Zyll's death. With the help of his old friends Clovis and Bryn, joined by new friend Lael, a feisty girl in search of her mother, Marcus uncovers a powerful secret that will change the course of his life forever.
In addition to THE LAST ENCHANTER being released on OCTOBER 15th in hardback, THE ROCK OF IVANORE is also now available in hardback! Both titles can be purchased at bookstores nationwide and online at Barnes & Noble , Amazon , and Indiebound . They are available as E-books, too.
To celebrate the release of her newest book, author Laurisa White Reyes is giving away a brand new 16 GB NOOK HD!!!  Details on how to enter the giveaway can be found at the end of this post. In the meantime, please enjoy this following excerpt from THE LAST ENCHANTER followed by an interview with the author, Laurisa White Reyes.
Laurisa's Website Laurisa's Blog Facebook Twitter 
EXCERPT from THE LAST ENCHANTER
Marcus waited until he heard Zyll turn the lock in his door before heading back down the corridor. Zyll had told him to do what he thought was best, and that’s exactly what he would do.
He passed several armed sentries, one at every door, as he made his way through the lower level of the Fortress. Kelvin was determined not to let the Agoran rebels get inside again. Maybe Marcus shouldn’t worry about his brother. With all these guards around, Kelvin was far safer than Fredric must have been. Still, he deserved to know how their grandfather died. Secrets had nearly destroyed Marcus and Kelvin’s relationship during their quest eight months ago. There would be no secrets between them ever again.
Marcus didn’t want to go back to the dining room. Kelvin and Jayson were probably still arguing over dinner, and what Marcus had to say was private anyway. He would go instead to Kelvin’s council chambers and wait for him there.
Other than the sentries, the interior of the Fortress was quiet. Most of the servants had already retired to their rooms for the night. Marcus hurried across the vast entry hall toward the east alcove where the offices were located. He had made it halfway when he suddenly had the feeling that he was not alone.  He turned and looked behind him, but there was no one beside the guard standing at the Fortress’s main door. The light from several oil lamps left the corners of the room hidden in darkness. Someone could easily conceal himself in one.
This is silly, Marcus thought. I’m letting my mind play tricks on me. Still, he walked the rest of the way as fast as he could without actually running.
The door to Kelvin’s council chambers stood just inside a narrow alcove. To Marcus’s surprise, the sconces on the wall were not lit. The alcove was dark except for a weak glow from the lanterns in the great hall.  He had expected to find a guard here, too, but the alcove was empty—or was it?
Near the door to Kelvin’s chambers Marcus saw a large, dark clump of something on the floor. He approached cautiously and touched it with his foot.  An arm fell forward, hitting the floor with a dull thump. Marcus stepped back, his breath quickening. The dark clump was a sentry. In the dim light, Marcus couldn’t tell if he was unconscious or dead.
Behind him, Marcus heard the sound of footsteps which stopped abruptly.
“Hello?” Marcus called out hoping it was one of the other guards. “There’s a man here,” he said. “I think he’s hurt!”
When no one replied, Marcus realized once again that his imagination was running away with him. But he did need to find help for the sentry. He was about to leave when he heard a new sound coming from inside the chambers: an unmistakable rattle as if something had fallen and rolled across the floor.
Marcus stepped over the guard’s body and took hold of the door handle. Slowly he turned it, pushing open the door just an inch. Candlelight spilled through the narrow crack into the alcove. Marcus saw now that the sentry’s eyes were open, staring dully up at nothing. He was most certainly dead. And Marcus suspected that whoever was inside the room had done it.
Pushing the door open a little further, Marcus stepped inside. Large tapestries hung floor to ceiling against the walls. Three stories above, the stained glass ceiling looked like a patchwork of black and gray. Charred remains of a log stood cold in the fireplace, though six candles burned in an ornate candelabra beside Kelvin’s desk. On the floor lay an ink bottle, dark liquid trailing from it like a tail. This must be what had made the noise. Marcus bent to pick it up. The glass bottle felt warm to the touch.
The air in the room was chill. So why would the bottle be so warm? Someone must have been holding it, Marcus thought, but who?
As he set the bottle back on the desk, he noticed movement from the corner of his eye. A tapestry fluttered ever so slightly. Marcus’s heart raced. He reached for his knife, but then remembered he had left it in his room for he had thought he was just going to talk to Kelvin. What would he have needed it for? He reached for the tapestry with trembling fingers and jerked it aside, but the only thing behind it was a bare wall.
All of sudden, something heavy hit him from behind. Sharp pain exploded across his shoulders, and Marcus’s face smashed into the wall. He felt drops of hot blood trickle onto his lips. Licking them, he tasted copper, and he wondered if the loud crack he’d heard had been his back breaking or something else. He turned and saw Kelvin’s chair in pieces behind him on the floor. Someone had thrown it at him! He had only a second to think before something else came flying at him, but this time it was a man.
The man yelled. Marcus caught the glint of a blade in his hand just before it came down on him. Marcus twisted away just in time, the blade grating instead against the stone wall. But the man did not stop. He sliced his dagger wildly in every direction. Marcus jumped and slid his way across the room, doing his best avoid the attacks. The man was slender, almost frail-looking, and yet was surprisingly fast and strong. He lunged at Marcus, not with the dagger, but with a set of blood-stained claws extended for the kill. It wasn’t a man at all, Marcus realized. It was an Agoran.
Marcus grabbed the candelabrum. As he swung it in an arc, the candles flew off. Two went out as they hit the floor, but the other four stilled burned, casting long, unnatural shadows onto the tapestries. One lit the corner of a tapestry on fire, the flames soon licking the woven patterns like a hungry snake. The candelabrum hit the attacker with a force that would have knocked most men to their knees, but this one didn’t even flinch. When the Agoran took hold of it, Marcus expected him to yank it out of his hands. Instead he thrust it forward, pushing Marcus off balance. He fell onto his back, sending a fresh tremor of pain through him. A second later, the attacker was on top of Marcus, holding the point of a blade to his throat. Damp tendrils of long, shaggy hair clung to his face. His pupils, narrow like a cat’s, peered at Marcus, recognition slowly dawning.  The Agoran and Marcus stared at each other, both remembering the day months earlier when they had first met.
Just then the door to the chamber flew open. A guard rushed in, his sword raised. Behind him came Kelvin and Jayson. The Agoran leapt off of Marcus and crossed the room in half a breath’s time. The guard ran after him, but the Agoran tore the burning tapestry free from the wall and flung it at him. The guard screamed in pain as fire engulfed his uniform. The tapestry dropped to the floor, the flames trapping the Agoran at the back of the room. Marcus managed to roll clear of it, though he felt his skin blistering with the heat and smelled the guard’s scorched flesh.
Jayson ripped the burning fabric from the guard’s body as Kelvin picked up his fallen sword. Kelvin slashed at the tapestry, trying to make a path through the fire. As he broke through, Marcus looked up to see what would happen next, but to his and everyone’s surprise, the Agoran was gone.
 INTERVIEW w/ LAURISA WHITE REYES
What books influenced you most when you were growing up?My favorite series for years was the TRIXIE BELDEN MYSTERIES. I still have the entire set of books in a box in my garage. Some of my other favorites included ROBINSON CRUSOE, OF MICE AND MEN, GONE WITH THE WIND, WUTHERING HEIGHTS and ROOTS.  Heavy duty stuff for a kid, I know, but I loved them. Still do. As an adult I learned more about writing from Dan Brown (THE DAVINCI CODE, ANGELS & DEMONS) than anyone else. He is a master of suspense, every chapter a cliffhanger so that you just can’t put his books down. Period. And I love how he weaves multiple points of view together until they all collide at the end. I wish I could write like that.
What gave you the idea for your book series The Celestine Chronicles?I’ve always enjoyed reading to my kids at night before they go to bed. When my oldest son was about 8 years old, he asked me to make up a story instead of read one. So I told him about an enchanter’s apprentice who botched his spells. Each night my son would tell me what he wanted to hear that night, whether it was dragons, or magic, or sword fighting, and I’d weave it into the story. Eventually I started writing it down. A year later I had a completed manuscript of THE ROCK OF IVANORE. I wrote THE LAST ENCHANTER two years later.
What is your writing day like?I don't have a typical writing day. As a mom of five kids, I actually have very little time to write. Years ago I used to stay up late at night to write, but I now I try to wake up an hour before the kids do and get a little work done then. On a good day I might write 1,000 words -- the equivalent of about 5 printed pages.
Who are your favorite characters in THE LAST ENCHANTER?That's a tough question. While I like all the characters (I wouldn't write a character I couldn't like) Lael is new to this book. She wasn't in Book I. Lael is Marcus's age but wasn't included in the original quest because she is a girl. She really proves herself, though. While the boys use swords and bows and arrows, Lael is adept with the sling. Also, Bryn (the Groc who parades around in the form of a little boy) is particularly fond of her. And any friend of Bryn is a friend of mine.
Will there be a book III in The Celestine Chronicles?Yes. The Seer of the Guilde is tentatively slated for 2015. However, in the meantime, I am working on the parallel series called The Crystal Keeper, which chronicles Jayson's years in exile in Hestoria. Anyone interested in the story of Jayson and Ivanore will want to read it. In the meantime, I hope everyone will enjoy THE LAST ENCHANTER.
 


GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Laurisa White Reyes, author of THE LAST ENCHANTER, 
is giving away a brand new 16 GB NOOK HD!!!  
There are many ways to win:

1) Take a pic of you and your copy of THE LAST ENCHANTER - post it on the web (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, a website, etc.) and email the link to:  laurisawhitereyes(at)yahoo(dot)com

2)  Follow Laurisa's blog and/or Facebook page

3) Tweet about this giveaway

4) Leave a comment below

The winner will be chosen at random via Rafflecopter. To enter the giveaway, fill out the form below. U.S. residents only, please.  This giveaway will end on November 8th.    a Rafflecopter giveaway