T. Rae Mitchell's Blog, page 23
July 10, 2013
I’m so excited! Another FIVE star review for Fate’s Fables!
A big thank you to Gayle from Books, Reviews, Etc. for starting my day off with a happy dance for a wonderfully written FIVE star review of Fate’s Fables. Here’s a little glimpse of what Gayle wrote, but be sure to visit Books, Reviews, Etc. to read the whole review. It’s well worth it.
“What a page turner! Once you start you can’t put this book down. If you love faeries, trolls and such you will want this novel in your library collection. It is the first volume in the Fate’s Journey series. The author, Ms. Mitchell writes in a way that you can visualize each and every thing. She tells the story with an imagination that is almost unreal. This is another world and suddenly you are part of it. You must use your wit to survive. The author has created another world that is exciting.”
July 6, 2013
Only THREE days left to enter to WIN an eBook of Fate’s Fables!
Seems like yesterday when I first posted the international giveaway hosted by Brianna at A Book and a Latte blogspot! In three days I’ll be drawing for four lucky winners and I hope one of them will be you. So hurry over to A Book and a Latte and get your entries in now.
July 5, 2013
Super hero creator Stan Lee is one of my heroes.
I love Stan Lee’s enthusiasm for all things make-believe. No matter how much of a legend he is, he’s still just a big kid. Here’s what he said to Media Bistro as advice to aspiring children’s book illustrators and writers, “Stay true to your imagination and do everything in your power to keep the child inside you alive. I still live by these rules today, I am still a child at heart … Find your own personal style; your own voice, and explore it, refine it, perfect it. Then perfect it again. And most importantly, never give up. Remember that your artwork is a gift. Your pictures have the power to ignite dreams and inspire countless people.” Now that’s advice we can all benefit from.
His latest project is Stan Lee’s Kid’s Universe, which is launching a whole new series of books, comics and games for kids. They’re sure to put smiles on a lot of kids’ faces, and not just the little ones.
July 4, 2013
Scholastic’s latest cover reveal – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
You’d think that with all the different Harry Potter covers already created for fans all around the world that there’d be no need to design new ones. But Scholastic has engaged Amulet series author and illustrator, Kazu Kibuishi to design all the covers for the complete series of the new boxed set, available on August 27, 2013, in honor of the 15 year anniversary of the U.S. publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the original book in J.K. Rowling’s best-selling Harry Potter series. The Wall Street Journal reports, “Fifteen years after the first U.S. publication of J.K. Rowling’s first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in September 1998, there are more than 150 million Harry Potter books in print in the United States alone and the series still hits bestseller lists regularly. The seven Harry Potter books are published in over 200 territories in 74 languages and have sold more than 450 million copies worldwide.
450 MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE! Wow, those are crazy numbers! Here’s to hoping Fate’s Fables will be loved that much. :D
Here’s some old Harry Potter covers just for old time’s sake. I really quite like the Swedish and German ones on the last two rows.
July 3, 2013
Who is this blue-haired ninja, parkour-jumping badass?
Azureus, that’s who. “Azureus is the story of a young man who after escaping death and enduring a life changing journey – matures into a heroic freedom fighter. Azureus Rising is an epic tale of self discovery, obligation and love against all odds.” Best of all, Black Sun Entertainment is in production to take Azureus Rising all the way to a feature film trilogy.
This animated short, created by David Weinstein is five solid minutes of epic action and adventure with enough sci fi eye candy to satisfy the hungriest of fans. I’m REALLY looking forward to seeing more of Azureus…and curious to see who’s behind the mask.
June 29, 2013
Hate being put on hold?
I got a good laugh from this animated short by Anzovin Studio. These guys are Pixar quality in story, execution and humor.
June 24, 2013
The leaves rustled as a gruesome face emerged, its mouth a gaping grin of curved fangs.
The leaves rustled as a gruesome face emerged, its mouth a gaping grin of curved fangs. There was no nose or eyes to speak of, only a snarl of yellowed flesh wrinkled into an evil scowl. A web of veins throbbed beneath skin stretched thin over a bulbous skull. Four long, sinewy arms pulled it further out onto the limb, revealing an emaciated torso. Its membranous hide clung to a deformed ribcage and spikes protruding along its back. From its waist extended a tangle of long, writhing tentacles, which lashed round the branches, enabling the monster to slowly lower itself down over its victim. ~ Excerpt from Fate’s Fables, ’A Dark Faery’s Love’
Art by Brent Hollowell. It’s uncanny how closely this disturbing image matches what I imagine the Dark Faery in the second fable of Fate’s Fables looks like––an abhorrent, otherworldly creature of nature.
June 21, 2013
What a surprise! The Pilot featured my favorite duo, Here By Tomorrow
If you’ve watched my book trailer for Fate’s Fables, you’re familiar with the alluring background music, ‘Ballad Of The Night’ by Here By Tomorrow. Well much to my great pleasure, the book trailer’s gotten them a bit of attention, because The Pilot interviewed them about two videos they’re in, one of which is mine. Yay!
I’m so happy for them and really grateful to my good friend Dion Tilley, the Founder and Creative Director of the music publishing company Standard Rich & Famous, and fantastic musician as well, for connecting my project with Sara Dorey and Stephen Brace.
June 19, 2013
Fate Floyd before and after
I was doing a little surfing today, looking for some fantasy art to pair with excerpts for one of my fables, The Lightning Sword. This took awhile, since I get super distracted by all the amazing artwork out there, but then I discovered Lightning Farron and her little sister Serah from Final Fantasy. These two characters fit Fate’s before and after transformation to a T. Lightning Farron personifies not only the tough knight Fate becomes in the Lightning Sword but also the strength and confidence she gains, while Serah Farron’s helpless innocence reflects Fate’s clueless wonder when she’s first tossed into the Book of Fables. Right down to the plaid mini skirt.
Four dark-winged Goth pixies spread out in front of Fate’s table, blocking her view of the crowd behind them. Lately more people had been showing up dressed like her book’s characters. They were the really hardcore fans. And the coolest. It was like her own personal Halloween. A guy dressed as a Punk elf pushed past the pixies. When Fate saw his eyes sweep over her, she blushed, rethinking the wool tartan mini and snug blouse she’d chosen to wear. He seemed emboldened by her discomfort, because he tilted in the other direction––in a not too subtle way––and followed the line of her bare legs from her Doc Martens to the short hem of her skirt. ~ Excerpt from Fate’s Fables, Chapter 3
Glaring at the mage through the slats of her helmet’s visor, Fate charged at him, sword drawn and shield lifted, its surface vibrating with wind. The power surging through her poured into her sword, igniting the blade with a tangle of lightning bolts. The second she was within striking distance, she targeted his chest and plunged her sword. ~ Excerpt from Fate’s Fables, Chapter 31
June 18, 2013
A robot tortured by terrifying visions of the future. How cool is that?
I just watched this award winning animated short called Natalis, “the story of a robot named Ea, who’s threatened by visions and fear of a devastating future. To avoid this, she has to decide about the life or death of the newborn baby creature, Enki.” The visuals are truly gorgeous. This is a must see.
