Kyra Halland's Blog, page 25

2014 Wrap-Up, 2015 Look Ahead

photo by typofi www.freeimages.com Once again in December I seriously overestimated my ability to get things done when life was busy and I was exhausted. But lots of fun was had, and lots of yummy food was made and eaten. The edits on Bad Hunting are still ongoing; I'm still really hoping for a January release but it might scootch into February. I also got another Estelend novel, The Healing Tree (bad working title) planned out; writing will commence once life settles down and gets back to normal. Tales of Azara and The Source-Fixer are complete and awaiting revision.

Looking back on 2014 as a whole: I only released two books, Sarya's Song and Beneath the Canyons . I've done some experimenting with various kinds of marketing and distribution, with mixed results. My health scare at the beginning of the year set me back, and the Daughter of the Wildings revisions ended up being a lot more work than I anticipated. But I kept going, and at least I got those two books out and also wrote Tales of Azara and The Source-Fixer.

Looking ahead to this year, I expect to have at least five books out, the rest of the Daughter of the Wildings series. I hope. It would be great to also get Tales of Azara out, and some more short fiction. The Healing Tree is next in line to get written, and I'm working on some short fiction ideas and also have plans for a sequel to Urdaisunia in the works.

In the past year, there've been a lot of shakeups in the indie author scene, and I'm mulling over some different ways to approach this crazy business of writing and self-publishing. Looking at some more distribution options, figuring out how to make Amazon exclusivity and Kindle Unlimited work for me instead of against me, becoming less dependent on Facebook, concentrating my marketing on more effective approaches instead of just random self-promotion in any old place where authors don't get chased away for mentioning their books, experimenting with pricing and packaging. I'm coming up with some interesting ideas; stay tuned!

On the reading front, I'm now at G on my A-Z challenge. It's going faster now that I'm choosing shorter books! Coming up soon I'll do a more detailed post, listing the books I've read so far and giving links to the reviews, or at least my thoughts on them.

It's late and I'm brain-fried and we've got a couple more busy days coming up, then everything should get back to normal. *knock on wood*

Book Review: The Grind

Still working up to write the look back/look ahead post (I left my brain somewhere back between Christmas and New Year's and haven't found it yet), so here's another book review, that I actually wrote in November and never posted. (As a reminder, I'm not a book review blogger, and I almost never accept review requests. The following review is a rare exception, for reasons which will become clear.)
The Grind, by Nikki M. Pill
* * * * * (5 stars)

I read and reviewed The Tease, book 1 in the Darling Killer Trilogy, last summer and enjoyed it very much, so I was thrilled and honored when the author contacted me and asked if I would review an ARC of book 2, The Grind. I'm happy to say that once again, I very much enjoyed this book.

Anna Zendel is a disgraced therapist and a burlesque dancer who is being stalked by a serial killer. At the end of The Tease, it looked like the killer had been caught - but then another character drops a line of dialogue that turns everything around and makes you realize, no, the killer wasn't caught at all. In The Grind, Anna is trying to move on from the events in book 1. She's facing an ethics hearing to determine whether or not she will be allowed to continue practicing her profession and trying to put her burlesque troupe back together. The last thing she needs is for the killer to reappear, making demands along with the killings, and for one of her new troupe members to turn out to be psycho.

The story is suspenseful and engrossing, and at times heartbreaking, balanced out with Anna's dry humor - sometimes the only thing that's keeping her sane. I enjoyed getting to know her hippie father, whose mantras bear an uncanny resemblance to Beatles songs, and chewing my nails in delicious anxiety as I watched the character who may have revealed him/herself as the killer in the last book insinuate her/himself more closely into Anna's life. The members of her burlesque troupe (hers, because she's taken over as the director), both returning from book 1 and new in this book, are a colorful and likeable bunch, and the descriptions of their acts are entertaining. The story arc is masterfully constructed; I saw the suspect character playing more of a role in Anna's life, and started to doubt my instincts about that character, then at the end, after a claustrophobic and truly scary showdown against another villain, that character drops another line that's like a punch to the gut and I realized how close to disaster Anna really is. The last part of The Grind was another one of those where I stayed up way too late to see how it all turned out.

My only problem with the book is similar to the one I had with The Tease, the somewhat heavy-handed delivery of a social message. But that part is brief and soon left behind, and we return to the engaging story of Anna's attempts to deal with rabid reporters, suspicious police, psycho troupe members, her upcoming ethics hearing, tragic losses, and her growing feelings for someone whom she's afraid to love because she doesn't want him to get hurt, all while hoping to stay alive long enough to catch the real killer. It's a breathless, entertaining, well-written ride, and I am eagerly looking forward to the next book.

Book Review: The Plains of Kallanash

Working on the monthly (and New Year's) look back/look ahead post; in the meantime, here's a book for you to check out:
The Plains of Kallanash , by Pauline M. Ross

* * * * (4 stars)

The Plains of Kallanash takes us into a world where magic once existed but was lost in a great Catastrophe. The Plains at the heart of the world are now peopled by a civilization ruled by a mysterious, powerful, and omnipresent religion, which enforces a highly stratified social order governed by strict rules and customs. Group marriage is the norm among the nobility, or Karningholders, and the men of the Plains are engaged in a never-ending but carefully-regulated war against rampaging barbarians beyond their borders. 

Quiet and gentle Mia, her sister-wife Tella, and their co-husbands Jonnor and Hurst enjoy a comfortable, stable life despite Mia's feelings of unrequited love for Jonnor, who has taken Tella as his primary wife, and Hurst's for Mia; as the junior partners in the marriage, they are forbidden to consummate their relationship without permission from the senior husband. When first one and then the other of the senior couple die under mysterious circumstances, Mia begins to ask too many questions, and finds herself banished into a world she never imagined. When Hurst undertakes to discover the truth, the lies on which their civilization is based are gradually revealed, bringing Hurst and others to the unavoidable conclusion that everything they know has to be overturned.

This is a very long book, with a lot going on. It starts out at a good pace, developing the complex relationships between the characters and the original, and cruel and chilling, society they live in (among other things, when a member of the nobility dies, his or her Companions, something between an adopted sibling and a servant, are put to death alongside them). The mystery deepens with the deaths in Mia's household until the shocking revelations that come in the wake of her own punishment. From there, the pacing and conflict sometimes sags, though we do get to see some fascinating glimpses of the Plains' ancient magical history. Hurst's discovery of the truth culminates in a cleverly-plotted rebellion, which brings in more surprising revelations about the world. The climax of the book seems incomplete, a little too easy and comfortable, and some key events are told at a distance. I would have liked to be more in the thick of things as they were worked out, and for the protagonists to experience more tension and hardship in the process. After the climax, most of the story threads are tied up nicely, with just a few left dangling for future stories set in the same world.

The romantic aspect takes an unexpected turn, as Mia finds herself torn between two lovers (cue cheesy 70s pop song, or rather, don't). The unconventional solution proves satisfactory to all involved; however, I'm somewhat more conventional and straightlaced in my romance preferences and was a little taken aback. The book contains some mildly graphic sex scenes, including some menage-y bits.

The writing style is clear, smooth, and literate. The author doesn't over-explain the strange customs and other alien aspects of her world, but does give the reader enough clues to have a comfortable grasp of what's going on.

On the whole, The Plains of Kallanash is an enjoyable epic fantasy in a highly original setting combining echoes of an ancient magical past with surprisingly advanced technology such as skyships, with a mysterious history, likeable, engaging characters, and an unconventional romance. Recommended for fantasy readers who want something a little different.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Mad January Sale!

Today, January 1, don't miss the Science Fiction and Fantasy Mad January Sale! Lots of great fantasy and sf books are on sale for only 99 cents, including Urdaisunia . If you haven't yet read this tale of war and rebellion, honor and betrayal, love against all odds, and gods behaving badly, now's your chance to get it for a special low price. You can read about some of the books featured in the sale on the sponsoring blog, Patty Jansen's Must Use Bigger Elephants.

If you're looking for some ebook bargains in other genres, the Stocking Your E-Reader Sale is still ongoing through Jan. 2. Browse the books and enter the giveaway for a new Kindle reader and an Amazon gift card!

Stocking Your E-Reader Sale! Dec. 29-Jan. 2

I'm really excited to be part of two great sales going on this week. The Stocking Your E-Reader Sale starts today, and features more than 100 books by over 60 authors, 99 cents or less, plus prizes! Urdaisunia is on sale at Amazon all week for 99 cents (also on sale at the international stores). Click the image or the name of the sale to go to the sale page, to discover tons of books 99 cents or less!

And coming up on New Year's Day, the Science Fiction and Fantasy MAD January Sale - watch for details!

Update: in addition to being on sale at Amazon, Urdaisunia is also on sale at Apple, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, OmniLit, DriveThruFiction, and Smashwords!

Happy Reading!

Author Spotlight: Daniel Casey

Introducing multi-faceted author Daniel Casey and his fantasy novel, Adversaries Together (Ascendant Realms, Book 1):

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I’ve lived in several states over the last fifteen years, but consider myself a Minnesotan, adopting the state where my wife grew up and still has family. I’ve run for US Congress, founded and edited a literary magazine, been a college English professor, published poetry and criticism in several small magazines, covered professional soccer in North America, and am currently a house spouse.

2. When did you start writing, and why?
I started taking writing seriously in college. My focus for a long time was on poetry. I eventually went on to earn my MFA in creative writing-poetry from the University of Notre Dame. Poetry, especially lyric poetry, appealed to me because it became a medium that allowed me to blend my love of language, metaphor, and philosophy.

3. What do you write, and why? What do you enjoy about what you write?
For the last few years, I’ve written mostly nonfiction and of that it has mostly been articles on North American soccer. I still write poetry but have come to keep that work rather to myself. With the novel, Adversaries Together, that I self-published late this year (2014), I am making my first foray into regularly writing fiction.

4. What is your latest book or series? Any forthcoming books?
Adversaries Together is my first book and the first book in a long series I have in mind. Right now I envision a seven book series, called Ascendant Realms. It’s an epic fantasy story—swords & sorcery—where I’ve taken away magic and imaginary beasts, sex and violence, and replaced them with politics and wrangling of would-be nations, religions, and commerce.
5. "Welcome To My Worlds": Tell us a little about the world of your latest book or series.
In the world of Syr Nebra, there is no such thing as magic, yet every human clings to their faith and country. The nation of The Seven Spires has imperial ambitions while the seat of the world's great religion, The Cathedral, plots its own crusade to control the world. The once prosperous city of Rikonen has been under siege for more than a thousand days and is crumbling. All the while, deep to the south the city of Lappala, the only source of the most precious substance in the world, is a sleeping giant.

6. Introduce us to some of your characters. What do you like about them?
In this opening book, I introduce seven heroes who will appear throughout the series: Avery Roth, a secretive wanderer; Kira Ambrose, a young priestess; Goshen Staad, a chivalric paladin; Wynne Landis and his daughter Fery, two nobles responsible for saving their city; Jena Char, a woman ranger who is as tough as nails and kinder than most; and Declan Rainway, a world weary mercenary. What I like about these characters is the chance they afford me to show how every individual truly needs others in order to become what they are.

7. A fun fact you would like your readers to know about you or your book.
This first book was written during National Novel Writing Month; I wrote every day over thirty days. The manuscript, warts and all, is the product of that event. After writing the novel, I decided to pull the trigger and self-publish. I’m now planning on completing the series over this next year.

Adversaries Together:
In the world of Syr Nebra, there is no such thing as magic, yet every human clings to their faith and country. Avery Roth is a wanderer scratching out a living in the hinterlands trying to avoid the religious zealots of The Cathedral and the imperial ambitions of The Seven Spires. But when a young woman and her paladin guardian literally run into him in the wild as they are fleeing bandits, he is entangled in a political web that tightens the more he struggles to free himself and others. Roth aids the duo on their way but in so doing is drawn into the duplicitous schemes of the elites from rival realms.

Adversaries Together is available at:
Amazon (Kindle and paperback) | CreateSpace (paperback)

Where to find Daniel Casey:
I frequently post supplemental information about the series on my personal blog, https://misanthropester.wordpress.com/
Goodreads | Twitter

Author Spotlight: Lydia Rodriguez-Clement

Today I'm happy to welcome paranormal-romance author Lydia Rodriguez-Clement to the blog:

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
Let’s see. What can I say? Well, just like my main character Sarah, I live in San Antonio, Texas. I also come from a large Hispanic family, and I have a wonderful supportive husband, five children, and a dog. Yep, I said five children. Large families run in my family.

2. When did you start writing, and why?
I started writing back in high school. My English teacher really encouraged me to write after a poetry assignment. She had liked my poetry so much that she entered a couple of them into the Pegasus Poetry Competition. Unfortunately I didn’t win. I know, I know. My heart has mended since then. But that was when I started writing my short stories, which she read aloud to the class every other Friday. From then on I was hooked. I loved the way I could express myself through the stories, give out a message, and have people really understand and like them.

3. What do you write, and why? What do you enjoy about what you write?
My primary genre is Paranormal Romance, but I would like to give Contemporary Romance a shot in the near future. I LOVE writing Paranormal Romance, because you can do absolutely anything in them. You are only hindered by your imagination.

4. What is your latest book or series? Any forthcoming books?
My book THE GUARDIAN is the first installment of what I hope to be a series. It is actually a revised version of Angelus, so DON’T read that one. My progress for the second one is slow, but I do have three chapters done already. And like I mentioned earlier, I would like to start on my Contemporary Romance somewhere in between.
5. "Welcome To My Worlds": Tell us a little about the world of your latest book or series.
This contemporary story takes place around the beautiful Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio, Texas where we have people that are born with a special gift - the ability to see Angels. They are called ‘Seers’, and they are pretty much a secret society. The dark veil between our world and the Angels’ is thick, and many events happen without us even knowing. Some events take place in dark shadows, in out of the way places, or kept hidden by Angels who stay invisible. But these Angels are no ordinary Angels that people usually think about. These Angels are soldiers…warriors. They engage in epic battles with demons and Fallen Angels. The primordial battle between good and evil in this story is one that goes back three hundred years. They fight with swords, spears and battle axes like ancient armies, but with one major difference, powers. They have been given powers beyond imagining. Teleportation, power over the elements and the ability to stop time, to name a few. All of these are shown in this story when one Angel dares to love a human woman.

6. Introduce us to some of your characters. What do you like about them?
Jacob is my hero. He is a Guardian Angel who gets abruptly reassigned to a new post. I really like him, because he is so relatable. He fights and loves with every fiber of his being. Sarah is the heroine who has lived a very sheltered life. I like her, because throughout the story you can actually see her grow as a person. Caleb is Jacob’s best friend that is also his Captain. That is a really hard relationship, but somehow they always seem to work things out. Now the bad guys are Seth and Samuel. They are Fallen Angels who focus their hatred on Jacob. Samuel wants to rule Jacob, while Seth wants to overpower him. I like Seth, because he showes that evil can come in sweet and handsome forms.

7. A fun fact you would like your readers to know about you or your book.
Hmm? A fun fact about me or my book? I’m not sure if this is fun, but I do LOVE to eat peanuts while I write. I ate while I wrote this book and I eat peanuts while I’m writing the second book. What kinds? All kinds! Chocolate covered, salted, roasted, spicy, and limon.

Where to find Lydia:
Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

The Guardian:
THE GUARDIAN is a story about how Sarah's spiritual beliefs are reaffirmed when the existence of Angels and Demons are horrifically revealed. Never had she dreamt that her mundane life would be caught in not only a struggle to stay alive in this clash of worlds, but also in a sadistic plan by the Dark Angels to lure Jacob, her own Guardian, to fall.

The Guardian is available at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author:
Lydia Rodriguez-Clement, a native Texan, grew up in the beautiful city of San Antonio where this story takes place, and where she attended a local college and university. It was in high school, however, where she was told she had a flare for writing, and decided many years later to persue this noble art. She has been married for 19 years, and has five children and two dogs. Her family life keeps her very busy, but after surviving Leukemia, with the help of God, family and friends, she followed her life long dream to write a book.

Read on for an excerpt from The Guardian:
The Frat Party was not hard to find. All the cars that were parked along the sides of the street, and the groups of students walking toward the loud music made it no secret. About two houses down, Sarah found a parking spot she could squeeze into, but she made sure she took her sweet time. It was all too obvious that she was trying to prolong the inevitable awkward introductions that come with blind dates. She leisurely got out of the car, and started her stroll to the house only to find Gen running toward her with a huge smile.

“Hey Girl! You made it!”

“I said I would. I keep my promises.”

Gen stopped to inspect Sarah’s clothes, “Jeans and a purple shirt?!”

“Hey! If I’m gonna go through with this I might as well be comfortable. Besides, it’s a new blouse not a shirt, and I even curled my hair.”

“Okay, I guess it will have to do. You could have at least worn make-up.”

“I’ve got lipstick on! Do you want me to go? Because I have no problem going back home. I could really use the sleep!”

“No, no, no. I’m sorry, you really do look good. Don’t you have like a mini skirt or something in your closet?”

“I’ll pretend I just didn’t hear that Gen.”

Gen smiled, and grabbed Sarah’s arm, wrapping it around the crook of her own arm. It had a sisterly feel walking together like that, but Sarah had a feeling that Gen was only doing it just to keep her from running back to the car.

“Gen, I’m very nervous about this.”

“Don’t be nervous, you will do just fine. Come on.”

They walked together arm in arm toward the front entrance of the house, and were met by two young men waiting for them in the front yard.

Nevertheless, leaning against the outside wall right by the front door was Jacob, and even though Sarah nor anyone else for that matter could not see or hear him, he loudly said, “Do not be troubled Sarah, I am here.”

Then, Gen began the dreaded introductions.

“Sarah, this is Dominic. Dominic, this is Sarah.” Gen nudged Sarah toward him.

The music inside the house, suddenly started blaring again, and they found themselves having to talk a bit louder just so they could hear each other.

“And this is Jeremy, my date!”

“What was his name?! Jacob?!”

Again, Jacob’s attention was on high alert.

“No, Jeremy!”

“Oh okay. Nice to meet you both!”

“Okay, me and Jeremy are gonna go inside already! You guys can get to know each other better out here! I’ll tell the host to turn the music down just a little!” Gen shouted.

Sarah forcibly grabbed Gen by the arm and pulled her close enough to whisper in her ear.

“Gen, please don’t leave me alone out here.”

“It’ll be fine. He is real cute huh? With that blonde hair and hazel eyes, just look at him!”

“Yes he is, but still.”

“He looks like a male model. I know, you’ll thank me later.”

Gen just smiled, and walked up the stairs with Jeremy fading into the crowd before the door could close behind them. Sarah glared at her with an angry face, but as soon as she turned toward Dominic, she wore a fake smile. Much to their surprise the music’s volume was indeed turned down.

“Wow. That’s better. Now we don’t have to yell.” Dominic said trying hard to start a conversation, but Sarah did not say a word. She just glanced around at people going into the house as if she was looking for a way to escape.

“I know what you’re thinking Sarah. I was thinking the same thing earlier.” Dominic paused.

“Yeah, and what is that?” Sarah asked skeptically.

“Double dates or blind dates are a nightmare.”

Sarah smiled and looked down embarrassed.

“No now, don’t be embarrassed. Like I said, I was thinking the same thing. But then, I saw you and I think we could have a good time. If you would just let me in a little?” Dominic asked.

“I’m sorry if I’m coming off like a snob… it’s just that I don’t go out much.”

“It’s alright. You kind of took me by surprise though.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you’re Gen’s friend and she is kind of wild. So, when I heard I was being set up with one of her friends… well… I was bracing myself for meeting someone like her to be honest. But you are a wonderful surprise. You see, my friend Jeremy seems to think that I work too much. So, he sets me up on blind dates. But, they’re the kind of girls he likes, the wild ones. I, on the other hand, am real tired of the wild girls. And these Fraternity Parties are no place to meet decent girls either.”

“Yeah, Gen can be pretty wild. But I’m the exact opposite of her. I think that’s why we get along so well. We kind of balance each other out. But I completely understand the whole setting up dates thing. It does get tiring. Gen thinks that I work too much too. I probably do. Oh and I also go to school, oh but not here. I go to the same university as Gen. I’m getting my degree in Pediatric Nursing. I guess it’s because I really like kids and helping people. So, what do you do?” asked Sarah nervously.

‘How embarrassing. I’m already starting to ramble. I’m such an idiot.’ thought Sarah.

“I work for the DA’s office. I’m actually the Assistant D.A.”

“Wow. Impressive. You must be like the youngest Assistant D.A. in history.”

“Something like that.”

“So what are you doing at a Frat party? Isn’t that like against the rules or something?”

“Nah, not if it’s your alma mater. I think? I’m real tight with the campus police anyway.” he said with a chuckle. “So, now you know why I get set up on blind dates a lot. My work hours can get a little crazy. I guess I got lucky to finally find you.” Dominic said with a smile.

Sarah thought to herself, ‘Maybe this won’t be a waste of time after all.’

Jacob, however, just stood there leering at Dominic with his arms crossed. “Be wary Sarah, I can smell a liar a mile away.” Jacob said as he took a closer look at this new ‘distraction’ .

“So you don’t go out much huh?” continued Dominic.

“No I don’t. It’s been getting difficult to wiggle myself out of a lot of parties. Gen can be very persistent.”

“I guess you weren’t so lucky this time.”

“It seems to have been a good thing. What do you think?” asked Sarah as she looked down at her feet.

“Oh yes. I think this is definitely a good thing.”

They both smiled and looked at each other for a couple of seconds. Sarah was genuinely starting to have a good time.

‘Maybe I could let my guard down just this time.’ she thought.

“You want something to drink?” asked Dominic.

“Sure.”

“I think we will have to go inside for that.” Dominic peered into the window to assess the crowd. “By the way it looks in that window, it’s pretty crowded in there. Here… hold my hand. That way we won’t lose each other.”

Sarah took his hand as they walked inside together where the music was much louder. They only made it a couple of feet inside when Dominic stopped.

“It’s just too crowded! Stay here while I go get us some drinks!”

“Okay!” Sarah agreed.

It was a typical frat party with groups of people clumped together talking and laughing while others danced. Even the stairs in the back of the room was lined with people that were either going up to the second floor, or passing drinks up like a relay. Sarah stood there alone enduring a few bumps and pushes from either side of her. She wished Gen would find her just so she could have someone to talk to as she waited. She detested these kinds of awkward situations, she felt very out of place.

The unfolding of the flirtatious scene had left Jacob in pieces, he could not just let her go. He agonized over the thought of leaving, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it.

“I have no other choice, I must do something. If this man is really meant to be with her, then, seeing me would be of no consequence to her. Right? Right.”

Jacob had quickly rationalized it all in his mind, and decided to materialize into flesh and blood again.

‘Man, this feels awkward just standing here all alone.’ Sarah thought. ‘Why didn’t I insist on going with him to get the drinks?’

As is her shy nature, Sarah looked down at her feet to avoid any eye to eye contact. Then suddenly, she felt a chill go down her spine.

‘Whoa, where did that come from?’ she thought. She inconspicuously glanced up, and her eyes immediately found her gorgeous mystery man across the room.

“Oh my goodness, it’s him from the shop!” she excitedly whispered to herself.

Jacob materialized unnoticed in the back of the house, and started walking through the crowd of people with ease. It was as if a path was being paved directly toward her, and they both felt the electricity building up between them. He had planned to pass by her to see her reaction, but that same force he felt before was leading him right to her.

“Oh my Lord he’s coming over here.” she said nervously under her breath.

He tried to blend in with the students by wearing a black short sleeve shirt and black jeans. The shirt laid over his strong shoulders and chest perfectly, leaving his muscular arms exposed. After all, he was not just an Angel, he was a soldier, a Guardian.

“Heaven help me he looks so good in black.”

Jacob’s mind was also racing, ‘All right, my plan of action… to pass right by her, and walk straight out the door. Then, I will observe her reaction to determine her response, if any, upon seeing me. That is my plan. Why then am I so nervous? And to make this situation more difficult, she looks even more lovely tonight.’

An odd sensation caught Jacob’s attention as he walked through the crowd; the palm of his hands felt like they were sweating, so he inconspicuously wiped them on his jeans. ‘It must be the heat in this domicile, and being among all these people that makes the skin damp, nor does it help me that she is biting her lower lip again.’

Sarah’s heart was pounding as she recalled the way he made her feel the first time they met. The electricity was so intense that she froze as he came closer, and he was smiling a most Angelic smile. When they caught each other’s gaze the loud music, and the screaming crowds all faded to the background. It was as if they were the only two people there. When he finally stood in front of her, she summoned the courage to speak one word, “Hi.”

“Hello.” Jacob replied and then thought to himself, ‘What am I doing? I was to walk pass her.’

“I remember you from the ice cream shop.” Sarah said nervously feeling the heat in her cheeks.

“Oh… yes. You were my waitress.”

“That’s right. My name is Sarah by the way.”

“It is a pleasure to finally meet you Sarah. I hope you can forgive me for abruptly walking out that day. That was very rude. I had just remembered that I had to be… somewhere else… and I was late.”

“Don’t worry about it. There is nothing to forgive.”

“Thank you. You are too kind.”

“So… what is your name?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know where my manners are, my name is Jacob. And may I say that you look really beautiful tonight.” he said as he gazed deeply into her eyes making her feel like he could see her inner most secrets.

Sarah was speechless. She thought to herself, ‘Could this be the meaning of my dream? I really think I was meant to meet him. Plus, he said I was beautiful. I didn’t imagine that, did I?’

“So, do you attend this University?”

“Oh, no. I actually go… um… somewhere else. I’m studying to be a Pediatric Nurse.” she said still wary enough not to give out any personal information.

“A Pediatric Nurse? Yes, I can see that. You can see the selflessness, the generosity, and the tenderness in those mesmerizing eyes.”

In total silence Sarah stood there, all she could do was smile.

Jacob felt her contentment, and so her silence was understood. It was at that precise moment when he lost his battle with reason and caressed her cheek once more.

Sarah as usual closed her eyes, and exhaled her long sigh. This time, it was far more intense for Jacob since he physically touched her with his own hand. In his mind, he thought it had to be nothing less than a miracle. He was simply astounded that he could actually feel her warm, soft, precious skin. It was truly amazing.

It was at that moment, she realized the familiarity of his touch, but before she could open her eyes, and utter a single word, Jacob’s face changed. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw tightened disappointingly, as he noticed Dominic coming back with the drinks.

Jacob looked down at the ground and regrettably said, “I’m sorry I have to leave so soon. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“What? Why?” a confused and lightheaded Sarah asked.

He swiftly walked away leaving Sarah shocked, and puzzled wondering why he had to leave her just standing there a second time.

“Hey, sorry I took so long!” Dominic yelled.

Suddenly, all the noise from the party came crashing back like a thunderous wave, sounding even louder than before.

Sarah realized just then why Jacob left. Everything from that evening was quickly coming back to her. She had forgotten all about Dominic.

“Let’s go back outside so we can talk!” Dominic shouted, gesturing to the front door with a tilt of his head.

Sarah turned toward the door, and walked out to the front lawn in a slight daze.

Dominic carefully handed the drink over to her and she immediately took a big gulp. She thought that the drink might help her shake off the unsteady feeling.

Now invisible again, Jacob stood by to observe Sarah’s reaction to their brief encounter.

“Are you okay Sarah? You are awfully quiet again.” Dominic asked curiously.

“Um… I think the music was too loud in there. It gave me a migraine. I’m sorry Dominic, but I think I’m going to have to call it a night.”

Winter Warm-Up Blog Hop

Hi, and welcome to this stop on the Winter Warm-Up Blog Hop, put on by Hops With Heart! I'm Kyra Halland, and I love fantasy and romance - they go together like hot cocoa and whipped cream! We're going to warm things up here with some magical kisses from a few of my books :) So snuggle up, enjoy the sneak peeks, enter the giveaways, and be sure to stop by some of the other participating sites to meet some great authors, discover some amazing romances, and enter more giveaways! Each blog is doing a different giveaway, and there's also a Grand Prize giveaway for a $75 Amazon gift card!
First, from Urdaisunia , Rashali and Prince Eruz are mortal enemies, but it looks like things might be changing:

“So you traded your own hunger for that of the Urdai, and you took all our work, all the fruits of our learning and labors, for yourselves—the dams and canals, the great temples, the palace, even these gardens. You Sazars have no skills or knowledge to make such things, so you had to steal them from us. You didn’t even have writing until you began using ours.”

He flinched slightly, his pride clearly stung by her contemptuous words. “We do have skills and knowledge of our own.”

“Making swords,” she said. “And breeding and training warhorses. Nothing like this.” She indicated the Jewel with a broad gesture of her arm. “You could never make something like this. Even now, you depend on Urdai slaves to maintain the gardens.”

“Not entirely.” Eruz stopped beside one of the low trees with thick hand-shaped leaves—a nariyi, it was called—and plucked a tightly-curled bud from it. “We have skills besides those of warfare.” He looked intently at the nariyi bud, then whispered a few words and blew lightly on the bud. Slowly, the green sepals unwound from around the five thick white petals, which unfolded into a bowl-shaped blossom. The flower’s sweet, rich scent filled the air. “Here,” Eruz said. He took Rashali’s hand and placed the flower in it. “We worship Kuz more than the Urdai do, and he has given us a number of gifts.”

If she hadn’t seen it for herself, she never would have believed it. She looked up at him, her hand still in his, at a loss for words to respond to the wonder he had shown her. “That—that was—”

He bent his head down and covered her mouth with his.

She stiffened in shock, then all her strength seemed to flee and her legs gave way beneath her. He wrapped an arm around her, holding her up against his chest. Deep inside her body, a flame she had thought extinguished months ago came to life. Her lips parted beneath his, seemingly of their own accord, and he deepened the kiss. Time lost its measure, and the kiss went on until a small voice interrupted them.

They broke apart, breathing hard. Mizalilu stood beside Eruz, tugging at the leg of his trousers. The child repeated her demand. “She wants a flower, too,” Eruz said. He picked another bud and made it bloom, then gave her the opened flower and spoke to her. Mizalilu ran back towards the palace, carrying the flower with awed delight.
Next, in Chosen of Azara , Lucie has a difficult decision to make, and Sevry isn't making it any easier:

“Lucie, you have to decide now. What will you do?” His voice was quiet but firm.

“I can’t go with you. Don’t you understand that? I’m to be married in six weeks!”

“If we traveled quickly, you could be back here by then.”

Lucie gave a despairing laugh. She was tired of trying to explain herself to him—and to herself. “And do you think Estefan would still want me then? He’s already jealous, and that was just because I was talking to you. What do you think he would do if I disappeared with you for a month and a half? A broken engagement would be the least of my problems!”

“Has he threatened you?” A dangerous edge entered his voice.

It would be too humiliating to admit that she was afraid of her own fiancé. “No, he’s just very angry. But don’t you see? If I leave with you, I would be cutting myself off from my family and friends, I would have no home to come back to, no one who cared about me. No one would want me. My life would be over.”

She tried to turn away, but Sevry caught her arm and she couldn’t pull free. “Lucie—”

“Don’t you understand what you’re asking of me? What I would have to give up? What I’d lose?”

“I know, Lucie. Believe me, I know what it’s like to lose everything.” She looked up at him, and caught her breath at the genuine sorrow and compassion on his face. “Fate, the gods, history, other people’s decisions can all leave our lives in ruins, and there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said. “I wish your family wouldn’t choose to deal so harshly with you. I wish their love and concern for you was more steadfast. If I could—” He stopped speaking and stepped closer to her. She was powerless to move away. His free hand brushed her cheek, as though he was trying to comfort her, then moved to the back of her head, tangling in her hair. He tilted her face up towards his, and his mouth pressed down on hers.

A sense of unreality mixed with absolute rightness shocked through Lucie. This was what she had longed for; this was how it was supposed to be between her and the man from her visions. Her arms went around him, and he embraced her in return. She leaned into the warmth of his body and pressed herself more eagerly into the kiss. His mouth worked hungrily against hers, his tongue brushing at her lips, tasting her, then exploring more deeply as she parted her lips for him.

And then it seemed there was only one breath, one heartbeat, one body between them. Heat bloomed deep inside her belly, and she felt herself melting against him; she was his, she would go anywhere, do anything, give up anything--

No. She pushed him away and slapped his face so hard she felt the sting all the way up her arm. “I can’t!” She turned and ran from him, fighting to hold back her tears until she was safely away.
Finally, from Sarya's Song , when Sarya returns from her self-imposed banishment from the Skola, her and Adan's complicated friendship grows more complicated:

And then the last voice she wanted to hear called out, “Sarya! Sarya dyr-Rusac!”

Panicked, she tried to push her way through the crowd towards the Masters’ offices, but Adan caught her by the arm and spun her around to face him. “Where have you been? You left without a word to me or anyone –”

“I didn’t realize I needed your permission to leave.” She tried pull away from him, but his grip on her arm tightened.

“I didn’t know where you were or what had become of you,” he said. “I didn’t even know if you were alive or dead!”

Around them, people were stopping to stare. Sarya tried to turn away from Adan, but he moved with her, giving her no choice but to keep looking at him. “I just need to speak to the Council of Masters about something,” she said, “and then I’ll be off again.”

“Don’t leave.”

“Why not? You said yourself I don’t belong –”

“Damn it, Sarya!” He pulled her against him and pressed his mouth to hers.

Sarya’s legs nearly went out from under her in shock, but he caught her behind her back with his other hand and held her securely. His mouth was warm and hungry against hers; his upper lip and chin were scratchy with late-afternoon whiskers. She told herself she should push him away instead of melting against him while he kissed her as though he were starving and she was his banquet, but she was too busy melting and couldn’t do it. Laughter and whistles came from the crowd around them. “You show her who’s in charge, Muari!” someone called out.

Adan finally let her come up for air. She stood gasping, her knees wobbly and her heart racing, torn between slapping him and dying from embarrassment and – Great Creator God, what a fool she was – wishing the kiss hadn’t ended.
Enter the Winter Warm-Up Love and Magic giveaway to win an ebook 3-pack of Urdaisunia, Chosen of Azara, and Sarya's Song!
a Rafflecopter giveaway And enter the Grand Prize giveaway for a $75 Amazon gift card!
a Rafflecopter giveaway Grand Prize giveaway not run or sponsored by Kyra Halland/Welcome To My Worlds
Be sure to check out these other stops on the Winter Warm-Up Blog Hop!

Guest Post: Derek Alan Siddoway and Medieval Westerns

Hi everyone, Derek here with a guest post for all you Kyra Halland readers. Below, I’ve painted a small picture of what you’ll find in my novel, Teutevar Saga: Out of Exile and how the genre I call “medieval western” came about. If you like what read, I’ve made Out of Exile free today [Wed. Dec. 17] on Amazon just for you guys. You can also get a free short story by signing up for my newsletter here . Thanks and enjoy!

Imagine it: wide, sweeping plains as far as the eye can see. In the distance, a herd of buffalo roams through the tall prairie grass. On the edge of a watering hole, a pack of coyotes hunker down, watching a group of mule deer as they drink. The wild mustangs surrounding the edge of the pond discourage them from attacking, for now.

It seems like a peaceful morning on the range but then, the buffalo alert. Their dark, woolly heads shoot up, their tails rise like flagpoles and the herd circles. An ominous thundering noise fills the distance. The mustangs and the deer are looking now as well, their ears pricked toward the coming thunder. It sounds as if the buffalo are stampeding, but they’re still huddled and alert.

In the calm morning air, a series of yips and whoops fill their air, but it’s not from the coyote pack. Were you on the Great Plains, you might expect a war party of Native American horsemen to crest the ridge. But you’re not in America, you’re in Peldrin.
Horsemen indeed ride over the hills and their ponies and shields are painted for war. Their hair is dark and braided. Tomahawks, bows and quivers of arrows are close at hand, but these aren’t Sioux. These are Simarru warriors from the Sube Lowlands, the northwestern edge of the Simarron Plain. In addition to tomahawks, the riders carry thick lances and sabers and wear leather and mail armor. They pull their horses to a stop and grow quiet. The valley below is empty now, the bison and other wildlife have fled.
Over the opposite rise to the north, another line of horses appear. These, however, aren’t agile Simarru ponies. These are war horses, seventeen hands tall, and on them, Skaldean knights in plate armor. Behind them ride buckaroos, lighter horsemen in the service of the Cattle Barons to the east. Before the Republic brought peace, the Cattle Barons and their buckaroos waged endless war against the nomadic Simarru — their longhorn cattle against the endless buffalo herds.

The Skaldean knights form a wedge and sound their battle horns. The Simarru horse archers ride down the ridge and ready their bows. Behind them, the lancers shout war cries into the endless skies above. For a moment, neither side moves. And then the peace is shattered by the thundering of charging horses and whirr of arrow fire.

What do you think? Snag a free copy of Out of Exile to read more.
You get a powerful thing mixing epic fantasy, medieval historical fiction, mythology, American folktales and westerns all together in a book. The result, what I’ve coined as the medieval western genre, is a compilation of everything I love in a story. It’s my debut series: Teutevar Saga.
Even as I devoured the works of Tolkien, George R. R. Martin, Lloyd Alexander, C.S. Lewis and more, part of me wanted something different, something closer to home. That part of me was fostered from countless John Wayne movies, L’Amour books and the landscape and culture of the American West where I call home. Much like Kyra, I appreciate the rich mythology we have here in the west and want to share it with the world. Why, I thought, can’t a book have all of these things: the power and awe of a traditional epic fantasy, steeped with the rugged, action-packed grit of a western?

Most authors get into writing because they’ve got a story they want to read that exists only in the realm of their imagination. I was no different. I grew up reading the greats, but when I came across books like S.M. Stirling’s Dies the Fire and Joe Abercrombie’s Red Country, I saw a glimpse of what was possible, what was brewing in my writer’s mind.

Although it took me over a decade to write, rewrite, revise and publish, Out of Exile was a realization of that dream. With each book of the Teutevar Saga, I hope I continue to build and expand the rich world of Peldrin, a world, I hope to be unlike any other. If you’re a fan of western fantasy, you’ll feel right at home in one of my medieval westerns.

Happy reading,
Derek Alan Siddoway, author of Teutevar Saga
P.S. Don’t forget, Out of Exile is free for you on Amazon. You can also get a complimentary, award-winning short story by joining my newsletter.

Out of Exile:
War is brewing. The hunt begins. Exile is over.
Revan Teutevar is the exiled heir of an extinct country fed up with a life in hiding. He’s also a boy on a manhunt with blood on his hands, tracking his mother’s kidnappers. Aided by a renegade leprechaun and a smooth-talking minstrel, the young Teutevar pursues his foes across a land on the brink of war. Faced with trials at every step, Revan learns quickly that, out of exile, the line between right and wrong is blurred in the best of times…and nonexistent in the worst.

Visit Derek at his website: http://derekalansiddoway.com/

Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Google+

Kyra sez: Thanks, Derek! It was great meeting you and finding out about your medieval westerns.
Click here to read my post on western fantasy on Derek's site.

Author Spotlight: Sue Perry

Introducing author Sue Perry and her latest novel, Nica of Los Angeles (Frames #1):

1). Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a seasoned yet new writer. I published a novel in hardcover with Bantam-Doubleday-Dell some 20 years ago, then stopped writing until recently. In that hiatus, I was a low-budget TV producer, a disaster scientist, a college professor, and more, until I finally acknowledged that writing is the only work that matters to me.

2). When did you start writing, and why?
When I was growing up, teachers always told me I was a writer, and at some point I came to believe them. However, for a long time, I had little to say. So I would start writing then stop, pick up again then set down. Nowadays, however, the "stopping" is over and I feel considerable urgency to write.

3). What do you write, and why? What do you enjoy about what you write?
I write novels, and the occasional novella, about whatever most preoccupies me at the time - I have many interests! To date I have written a psychological thriller involving split brain research, animal rights, and a love quadrangle ("Was It A Rat I Saw"); a novella about an oddball group of scientists and techies who solve crimes ("C.R.I.M.E. Science"); literary fiction about a family with secrets ("Scar Jewelry"); and a fantasy detective adventure ("Nica of Los Angeles"). Although my books span many genres and perspectives, they share key features. They all have smartass dialog, strong female characters, and stories that unfold like mysteries. There will always be a cat, and there will usually be a musician.

4). What is your latest book or series? Any forthcoming books?
"Nica of Los Angeles" is my latest novel, the first in a quartet of novels that will make up the speculative detective series FRAMES. Book 2 in the series, "Nica of XXX" (location currently embargoed), will be out in the first half of 2015.

5). "Welcome To My Worlds": Tell us a little about the world of your latest book or series.
Frames are dimensions, and there are an infinite number. No one has been to them all. Landscapes are similar from Frame to Frame, but structures and beings vary. What seem to be inanimate objects in one Frame may in fact be animate and/or sentient beings in other Frames. You just never know. For example, a lawn chair, a volcano, and a building - among other non-human characters - are all sentient in "Nica of Los Angeles".
6). Introduce us to some of your characters. What do you like about them?
Narrator Nica S.T.A.T.Ic. (Sheridan Taggart Ambrose Taggart Ickovic) has recently appointed herself as a private detective. She is an upbeat person in a very noir world. She never loses her wits, her wit, or her enthusiasm for life, and she never lets details like fear or inexperience slow her down.

Miles and Monk are siblings. In our Frame, they are known as the tallest of the Watts Towers, inanimate folk art sculptures. In other Frames they are animate as well as sentient. Monk is a quiet philosopher given to inscrutable remarks; Miles is a lively gadabout and a flirt.

7). A fun fact you would like your readers to know about you or your book.
I'm adopted and as an adult, met my birth family, who (luckily!) turn out to be awesome people with amazingly similar attitudes and senses of humor. Turns out that, after I was adopted, my parents got together and had five more kids. I wrote about some of this in my novel "Scar Jewelry" (Btw, that wasn't a spoiler - that isn't the secret the characters grapple with in SJ.)

Nica of Los Angeles (Frames #1):
When rookie private eye Nica takes on a mysterious case, she enters a world of multiple dimensions called Frames, where buildings and lawn chairs can be sentient, a stray cat has great powers, books can be killers, and clouds can be spies. At home, Nica tackles missing person cases, while in the larger reality of the Frames she is swept into an escalating battle with stakes that could not be higher.

Read a three-chapter excerpt from Nica of Los Angeles here.

Nica of Los Angeles is available at:
Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes&Noble | Kobo | Apple

Where to find Sue Perry:
Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon author page | Smashwords author page
I rarely post to my Facebook fan page, but it does exist: https://www.facebook.com/SuePerryAuthor

Music is crucial in the shaping of my novels. As user "scperryz" I have playlists on Spotify for "Scar Jewelry" and "Nica of Los Angeles".
Nica of Los Angeles: http://open.spotify.com/user/scperryz/playlist/61lXhpNJCeYEcAVwOXvnyO
Scar Jewelry: http://open.spotify.com/user/scperryz/playlist/5515fvDrOfhpwBqYye4atP