Amber Stokes's Blog, page 53

Facing the Dragon ~ Interview & Giveaways with Anne Elisabeth Stengl!

I'm excited to see the epic and beautifully written “Tales of Goldstone Wood” series continue with the release of Dragonwitch! Anne is here to share a little more about the book with us today...

***

Amber: Welcome, Anne! First off, what are your thoughts on the cover? It’s quite different from the other covers in the series, especially since the villain is featured vs. the heroines on the other covers. Like/dislike? Does it set the tone well?

Anne: I was surprised when I received the cover for, as you say, it is very different from the others. I liked it right away, but was also concerned. Combined with the title, Dragonwitch, I feared it might be off-putting to some of my target audience. But when I questioned my editor, he said that he believed it provided a necessary contrast to the “sweet” cover used on Starflower. My one complaint with Starflower’s gorgeous cover was that it lacked any hint of the menace to be found in the story. That is certainly not an issue for Dragonwitch!

And ultimately, Dragonwitch has appealed much more to the male audience, which is also nice. I don’t think of my stories as “girly,” but with a steady stream of lovely ladies on the covers, most boys aren’t likely to pick them up. But Dragonwitch looks epic!

Also, for all there are a number of wonderful characters peopling this tale, it is ultimately the Dragonwitch’s story. She had to be on the cover.

Amber: It is indeed epic, and I am intrigued by the fact that this is her story!

What “dragons” did you have to face in writing this particular story? Was it more difficult to write than previous stories?

Anne: I wrote five different beginnings of 40,000 words each, none of which worked with the story I was trying to tell. Each time, I would try a completely different approach to the same basic story, and each time, I failed. And, with a deadline looming, that did not make for a happy writer! I have never had so much difficulty with a story before or since.

I think the problem stemmed from a stubborn insistence on holding onto storylines and ideas I had conceived years before, back when Dragonwitch was just a few notes in a spiral notebook. But many of those ideas simply did not work anymore, or weren’t as good as the ideas I was having later. But it’s hard to let go!

When I did finally stop insisting the story had to be any one thing and let it tell itself the way it wanted to be told, it started coming together. The final draft that became the book it is now really wrote itself in just three months! But I never forget the thousands of unprinted words that form the foundation of the story as it is now.

Amber: Wow, Anne! Your dedication and effort are incredible! You set such a great example for other writers - appreciate you sharing that!

Now, a little lighter of a question... If your cats could read, which of them would most love Dragonwitch and why? For some reason I’m guessing Minerva Louise… *wink* (Picture from Minerva's blog.)

Anne: I think Minerva would like it best, though she would definitely view the Dragonwitch as a sympathetic, misunderstood heroine, and all the other characters as Minions Who Should Be Crushed. Thank heaven Minerva doesn’t care to read!

Amber: Hehehe...

Back to another serious question: What is your “weapon” of choice for slaying the dragon of writer’s block? 

Anne: I’ll call it the 500 Word Knife. I faced the worst writer’s block of my life while working on Dragonwitch, but with a nearing deadline, I dared not step away from the manuscript. So I would sit down and tell myself, “You only have to write 500 words.” They didn’t even have to be 500 good words. Just 500 words that generally moved the story forward. After those 500 words were written, I would take a break, do something else, clean the kitchen, etc. Then I would sit down and write 500 more. It was a slog, but I could usually get 1,500 or 2,000 words written a day this way. (My normal is between 3,000 and 4,000.)

When the writer’s block was at its absolute worst, I ignored the deadline, took a few weeks off, and threw myself into intense research. Not even research for Dragonwitch necessarily. Just research in general, to see if ideas would come. I read books of theology, studied the history of the Norman Invasion of England, pulled out a book on British dragons, and more, taking copious notes while I read. Eventually, while pursuing these studies, I began to feel new ideas forming. Then it was back to the 500 word stints for a little while. And finally, I was able to start writing freely, and the book took shape.

Amber: Again, what can I say but "wow"?! 

So, can new readers pick up Dragonwitch and understand it on a basic level as a stand-alone? Or do you recommend readers start with Heartless and work their way up to Dragonwitch?

Anne: I wrote Dragonwitch to serve as a standalone novel, but I do think readers will enjoy it best in the context of the entire series. Only Veiled Rose and Moonblood need to be read back-to-back, but all of the stories are intricately connected.

Amber: So enjoy having you visit, and appreciate your thoughtful responses! Congrats on the release of Book 5!!

***

Are you intrigued now, my friends?? Read on for a chance to win Anne's books and catch up with Anne on other blogs during this tour! (And stay tuned for my review of Draongwitch, coming soon-ish!)

Giveaway!

Not only is Anne hosting a giveaway across all blogs in the tour for all five of her books, but she's also offering a copy of Dragonwitch for one of my readers! Here are the rules:

~ Leave a comment - whatever sort of comment you'd like to share. *smile* Suggestions: If you're a writer, what's your weapon of choice for facing the dragon of writer's block? If you're a reader, what are your thoughts on Anne's latest cover? What sort of covers attract you the most?

~ You must have a U.S. mailing address, and you must leave your e-mail address in a comment below so I can contact you if you win!

~ Giveaway is open through Saturday, July 20, with the winner announced on Sunday, July 21. Winner will be chosen randomly from qualifying comments via Random.org.

And if you'd like a chance to win all 5 of Anne's books (not Shadow Hand, as that releases next spring)...


 ...just enter via the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Schedule

Check out all the other cool spots on the tour! Visit with Anne and her loyal fans:


Tour ScheduleJuly 14 - Day 1Rebecca's Book Blog - InterviewJennette Mbewe - Sneak PeekBluerose's Heart - Top Tens ListThe Wordsmith's Shelf - Sneak PeekThe Wonderings of One Person - Guest PostSeasons of Humility - Interview  ← You are here!Worthy 2 Read - Guest PostThe Endless Road - InterviewTea and Bree - Interview/Sneak PeekJoJo's Corner - Interview
July 15 - Day 2Letters to the Cosmos - Guest PostThe Writer of Dream Things - Character InterviewThe Sassy Sister - Sneak PeekMakai Queen - InterviewJoJo's Corner - Sneak PeekCrafty Booksheeps - Interview
Young Adult Books - Sneak Peek
Darling Diaries - Interview
Blooming with Books - Interview/Sneak Peek

July 16 - Day 3The Writer's Window - Character InterviewPenning Praises - Guest PostCrimilia - InterviewRachel Herriman – Guest PostRina's Reading – Top Tens ListJoJo's Corner - Guest PostLiving On Literary Lane - InterviewOnto Her Bookshelf - InterviewAn Ink-Made Maiden - Interview
July 17Blog Tour Finale and Prize Awarded back at the Tales of Goldstone Wood!

My Review of Mistaken

Here's a description of the book from the author's website:

"Since booze and prohibition have made criminals out of every man in her world, Laurie Burke resolves to find at least one honorable man to fill her life. Convinced that handsome newcomer Daniel Shepherd is connected with her brother’s rum-running gang, Laurie quickly scratches his name off her list.

Daniel has mixed feelings about returning to the dirty mill town of his youth, but grudgingly agrees to manage his grandfather’s drug store until a replacement can be found. The moment he meets Laurie on the windswept bluff overlooking the beach, he knows that if he can earn her love, he might have a reason to stay. But when Laurie pushes him away--for none other than Federal Agent Samuel Brown--Daniel wonders if Laurie really is the upstanding woman he thought her to be.

The Strait of Juan de Fuca, just off the beaches of Port Angeles, Washington, was treacherous water for reckless rumrunners—and the agents who tried to catch them. So when she realizes her brother is in danger, romance is the last thing on Laurie's mind. Yet the people she believes she can trust, may not be so honorable after all."

My Rating

Spring/Summer

My Review

The first chapter impressed me, and then what followed proceeded to sweep me away into another era full of time-specific tension and yet universal relational drama. Karen Barnett writes the kind of romantic suspense I enjoy - historical! And historical done well, with interesting details that don't bog down the plot, and descriptions that make the setting come alive. Despite the difficult situations the main characters find themselves in, I loved being immersed in their story for a time, really feeling their dilemmas and remaining hopeful for their revelations.

Mistaken is a story about jumping to wrong conclusions - for both the characters and the reader. That first night when Daniel and Laurie meet and Laurie's brother is introduced gives everyone wrong impressions, and it's neat to see the following complexities of some characters that could have become too typical. The danger might not be overly intense throughout the entire plot (although it's still there in terms of poor choices and hurting hearts), but there's enough to carry the plot along while allowing the setting/time period to shine and the relationships to take center stage. And even though the ending has its moments that might feel a bit cliché for the genre, it ended up surprising me in parts and leaving me satisfied when all was said and done.

Loved the authentic emotions and attitudes, loved the little twists and suspense, and loved the intriguing look into America's past. This is a well-written historical romantic suspense that has me excited to know more is in the works from Barnett!

*With thanks to Abingdon Press and NetGalley for providing me with a temporary e-ARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Now available on Amazon.com!

My Review of Five Days in Skye

Here's a description of the book from David C Cook:

"Hospitality consultant Andrea Sullivan has one last chance to snag a high-profile client or she'll have to kiss her dreams of promotion good-bye. When she's sent to meet Scottish celebrity chef James MacDonald on the Isle of Skye, she just wants to finish her work as efficiently as possible. Yet her client is not the opportunistic womanizer he portrays himself to be, and her attraction to him soon dredges up memories she'd rather leave buried. For James, renovating the family hotel is a fulfillment of his late father's dreams. When his hired consultant turns out to be beautiful, intelligent, and completely unimpressed by his public persona, he makes it his mission to win her over. He just never expects to fall under her spell.

Soon, both Andrea and James must face the reality that God may have a far different purpose for their lives—and that five days in Skye will forever change their outlook on life and love."

My Rating

Spring

My Review

This story about a vacation that never happened that led to the vacation Andrea never wanted is a wonderful vacation read! *wink* Andrea Sullivan's hopes of taking a trip to Tahiti vanish in the mist when a client pushes her too far and causes her to push (or punch) him right back. So she's stuck trying to win over a new client on a trip to Skye. Trouble is, both the client (James MacDonald) and Skye are not what she expects them to be.

I really enjoyed experiencing five days in Skye with Andrea and James. The descriptions of the island - from the landscape to the architecture of the buildings to the weather - all make for a delightful escape read. The plot is unhurried, meandering along jogging trails and through old ruins and along the notes of classical piano music. But there is enough drama in the emerging back stories and interpersonal tensions to keep the story slightly suspenseful and engaging.

James' understanding and the romance that blossoms between him and Andrea are very sweet. The ending felt a little rushed and a little too neat in some ways compared to the rest of the story, but this book is overall a lovely, satisfying read just right for the summer months. Love that a short trip can sometimes help you find long-term perspective!

*With thanks to David C Cook and NetGalley for providing me with a temporary e-ARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Now available on Amazon.com!

Another Waterfall...

I couldn't resist sharing some more pictures to go along with the lovely waterfall on the cover of Five Days in Skye. My mom and I went to see Multnomah Falls in Oregon last week, and while the traffic getting there was horrendous (Portland, *sigh*), the site itself was lovely.  Want to see?





Hope you all are having a beautiful start to the new month!
Happy July!

Coming Up For Air - To Share!

Hello, all! I've still got a bit of editing left to do on Bleeding Heart before I send it to my proofreader. (Dare I hope I can send it this evening? Still aiming for that goal!) So I've been keeping busy with that and with my freelance editing business - updating my website, preparing a newsletter, sending out blog tour invitations, completing a proofreading project, keeping up with e-mails, etc. Unfortunately, I haven't had much reading time, so no new reviews to share with you yet...but I'm hoping to squeeze in some reading during a trip this week, so we shall see!

In the meantime, I had to come back to the blog to share some cool links with you!

One of my clients, Sandra Leesmith, posted an interview today on the "Seekerville" blog with Lena Goldfinch, my cover designer (and hers)! If you'd like to learn more from a designer's perspective, click on the link below:

The Exciting Process of Developing a Book Cover
AND! Lena now has a name for her business: STONE LILY Publishing & Design Services! I highly recommend her services for both formatting and cover design. She is talented and absolutely delightful to work with. Not only did she give me a beautiful book cover that fits the tone of my book perfectly, but she will also be doing the print formatting and print cover for Bleeding Heart! Exciting stuff!!

Do check out Lena's prices and portfolios:

STONE LILY Publishing & Design Services
Hope you all are having a marvelous week so far! I've been overwhelmed a bit (!) lately, but everyone has been so patient and encouraging (shout out to my Twitter friends - you all rock!), and after the stress of Sunday I was blessed with a super sweet Monday. So grateful for God's tender mercies!

Gone Editing

I've got two editing projects I need to get done by early next week ( Bleeding Heart , and proofreading a manuscript for a client), along with some publicity projects for clients/friends. So...if I seem scarce, now you know that I'm just immersed in cool projects. ;)

Hopefully I'll have some more book reviews for you soon! And July should be a really exciting month - review e-copies of BH to send out (!!!), and several super fun blog tours (a couple of which I'm setting up)!

If you'd like to be on the blog tour for...
my upcoming historical romance release Bleeding Heart,an amazing YA (young adult) fantasy romance,or two sweet and fun MG (middle grade) dog stories...then please e-mail me at amberstokes@corban.edu. I'd love to have your help with any of these projects!

Talk to you all in a bit!

Contentment Reading Challenge 2013: May/June

Well, I apologize that I never posted a May update for the Contentment Reading Challenge 2013! I guess there wasn't much to update on my end, seeing as how I didn't re-read anything in May, LOL. However, I did re-read a book this month (bringing my total up to 4)!

I found Recalled by Cambria Hebert on Amazon.com back at the beginning of March when the Kindle version was $.99. The price was right and the cover intrigued me, so I decided to give it a go...

1) The cover has purple on it! 
2) Isn't the mist so fascinating? 
3) He looks like he's about to disappear, and the girl is holding tight to his hand, looking up at him. Color me intrigued!

So, I dove in and devoured the story. It brought me to tears near the end the first time I read it...and the second time, too! I don't imagine there are a lot of stories that are super fun to read again after only a few months, seeing as how the plot would still be rather fresh in one's mind. Yet, I still found this story engaging, enjoyable to re-visit, and - once again - touching.
I think what made this a great re-read was seeing the beginning, the clever lines (including the definitions given at the start of each chapter), and the character growth while knowing the end result. It was fun re-discovering gems and noting ones I hadn't highlighted before. I really enjoyed re-living the falling-in-love experience, and I think I loved Hobson the butler even more this time around. ♥ There are a few grammatical errors that slipped through the cracks and a handful of swear words, but my absolute love of the story kept those from being an issue for me. The characters don't always make the wisest decisions or say the right things, but I admire the authenticity and how dear the characters became to me.
Recalled is one of my favorite reads of 2013 so far, and I couldn't resist choosing it as a re-read, especially since book 2 in the "Death Escorts" series (Charmed) is releasing soon! In fact, I signed up for the cover reveal towards the end of June, so I'm looking forward to sharing that with you all!
So tell me, fellow CRC-ers, what have you been re-reading lately? Feel free to link up below!

My Review of A Heart Deceived

Here's a description of the book from David C Cook:

"Miri Brayden teeters on a razor's edge between placating and enraging her brother, whom she depends upon for support. Yet if his anger is unleashed, so is his madness. Miri must keep his descent into lunacy a secret, or he'll be committed to an asylum—and she'll be sent to the poorhouse.

Ethan Goodwin has been on the run all of his life—from family, from the law ... from God. After a heart-changing encounter with the gritty Reverand John Newton, Ethan would like nothing more than to become a man of integrity—an impossible feat for an opium addict charged with murder.

When Ethan shows up on Miri's doorstep, her balancing act falls to pieces. Both Ethan and Miri are caught in a web of lies and deceit—fallacies that land Ethan in prison and Miri in the asylum with her brother. Only the truth will set them free."

My Rating

Spring

My Review

Michelle Griep's books are gritty, suspenseful, and romantic. I fell in love with her time travel stories (Gallimore and Undercurrent ), so I was eager to get my hands on whatever she wrote next! A Heart Deceived brings the reader completely into the past (no time traveling here!), but it doesn't lessen the stakes or lower the tension. With confused hearts and blurred lines between lunacy and normality, this is a story that is both gripping and challenging.

I appreciate how Griep causes the reader to look deeper at situations, along with the characters. There are some horrible facades and some more pleasant ones, but no matter the first impression, things are more complicated than they seem. Griep doesn't shy away from torturing her characters or having them experience the darker side of life, and that makes the hope all the brighter and the love all the stronger.

I really enjoyed getting to know both Ethan and Miri, although I confess I would have liked a little more time with the two of them together. (The romantic in me always begs for more!) I also confess to being a little uncertain regarding how I really feel about certain outcomes and the portraits of certain characters. It's an intriguing story involving some harsh and terrible situations that make the reader think.

I remain a huge fan of Griep's and can't wait to see what she writes next, whatever the genre! Although, if she has any other time travel books up her sleeves, I really wouldn't mind reading some more of those. ;)

*With thanks to David C Cook and NetGalley for providing me with a temporary e-ARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Note ~ This book will be released in e-book format on June 20, 2013.

Winner and Much Gratitude!

I was so blown away last week by the amazing and super sweet responses to the cover reveal for Bleeding Heart (and my birthday)!! The posts, the comments, the entries in the giveaway, the new friends and followers - I was so blessed by it all! Thank you so much to all of those who participated in the cover reveal and who expressed interest in this story. ♥

If you missed my post last week (or if you'd like to check back in), you can click HERE to read it. You'll find a list of blogs that participated in the cover reveal toward the bottom of the post, along with an excerpt from Chapter 1, my thoughts on the cover, and more!

Also, if you asked a question for my FAQs page as part of the giveaway, my responses are now posted!

And now, the winner of the bleeding heart note cards by Cindy Lindgren and the teardrop earrings by Belle on a Budget is...

Heidi Robbins!
Congratulations, Heidi! I've sent you an e-mail!
I hope you all have a fabulous start to your week! And if you're interested in reading a review of a new YA book from Playlist Young Adult Fiction, be sure to visit The Borrowed Book today!

Another Adventure in Goldstone Wood!

There are several reasons this is an exciting time for fans of Anne Elisabeth Stengl's work:
Dragonwitch is coming! In case you haven't seen the blog button in my sidebar announcing this fact, the fifth book in the "Tales of Goldstone Wood" series is releasing in July! From the cover art and the description of the book, it sounds like this will be a very different and unique addition to the series, as it appears to include a lot of characters I have yet to "meet." Looking forward to reviewing it in about a month!The sixth book in the series, Shadow Hand, has a cover - and it is beautiful!! The description of the sixth book includes Daylily and Foxbrush, and it sounds great! Can't wait to find out what's in store for these characters who didn't gain the spotlight in a previous story or two...Care to see that beautiful new cover??


Oh my goodness - I believe the cover for Shadow Hand is my favorite of the series so far!! And it has some tough competition, as the covers are all very enchanting and intriguing (and Starflower is especially lovely). But the colors on this one are absolutely stunning. The browns and reds speak of fire and danger; the blues speak of a depth permeating the story and a calm waiting to be found; and the green speaks of growth awaiting the characters in this wild land.

The symbolism and tie-ins with previous covers and stories are incredible. The round frame of the rock brings to mind the cover of Heartless, as well as some familiar characters' stories coming full circle. The thorns are subtle - almost overlooked because the background is so bright - but still reaching out and perhaps causing the heroine to have that sense of foreboding hovering in her expression. Yes, the thorns are reaching up, but the trees and the bird (oh, that faithful bird - perhaps the same one depicted on the cover of Heartless?) are reaching higher. The heroine's dress is so ethereal - gorgeous but ghostly, like she just might prove elusive. And her hair suggests a fiery spirit that could both burn and ignite. The colors blend seamlessly together, giving the sense of a story that is full of imagery and meaning and life, as I'm sure it will be.

About the Book

"'She Will Take Your Own Two Hands 
To Save Your Ancient, Sorrowing Lands.'

By her father's wish, Lady Daylily is betrothed to the Prince of Southlands. Not the prince she loves, handsome and dispossessed Lionheart, but his cousin, the awkward and foolish Prince Foxbrush. Unable to bear the future she sees as her wedding day dawns, Daylily flees into the dangerous Wilderlands, her only desire to vanish from living memory.

But Foxbrush, determined to rescue his betrothed, pursues Daylily into a new world of magic and peril, a world where vicious Faerie beasts hold sway, a world invaded by a lethal fey parasite...

A world that is hauntingly familiar."

Learn more about the book at www.shadowhandnovel.blogspot.com.

Giveaway!

Anne is giving away a "Tales of Goldstone Wood" coffee mug to celebrate the cover reveal! It has a banner depicting all the lovely covers on it:

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below!
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Another Adventure on the White Island!

Krissi Dallas is back!!! I'm so thrilled to be a part of the cover reveal for her fourth book in the "Phantom Island" series, Watermark - releasing sometime this fall. Absolutely cannot wait to read the next installment, which promises to be worth the wait!

It's quite possible you've heard me gush about this series either on this blog or on "The Borrowed Book" (with my reviews of Windchaser , Windfall , and Watercrossing ). If you haven't, let me tell you right now: this is an awesome YA series, full of adventure, drama, romance, and a plot that pulls at the heartstrings while satisfying the imagination.

Before I share the striking cover of Watermark, take a look at the covers for the first three books:


I absolutely love the colors, and I'm so grateful to have paperback copies of each - they're beautiful!

You can probably guess how Watermark looks, but knowing the pattern doesn't take away from the bright and epic feel of it. Check it out!


Isn't it striking?? I love the color combinations here - intense turquoise and shimmery gold. The swirls give a hint at the complexities and turmoil within the pages, but the direction of the fish (in a more upward slant vs. the downward slant of the one on Watercrossing) suggests that, perhaps, this ending might be more final and positive than the cliffhanger at the end of the third book. We're moving in a new direction, folks, and I am quite eager to see how this story plays out!
Now, to skim the surface...
About the Book

"Relationships on the White Island are volatile and Whitnee, Morgan, and Caleb aren’t sure who they can trust—even each other. Politicians are lying, history is being rewritten, and motives are questionable. Whitnee sets out with Gabriel and a band of rebel spies to take back the enemy's biggest weapon—Whitnee's father. However, a shocking turn of events proves once again that the Island's secrets have the power to destroy more than just the truth. Separated from her friends, Whitnee battles her own fears in order to survive and protect the ones she loves. But when Morgan's illness finally comes to light, Whitnee faces a decision that could alter her future—and Morgan’s—forever. And whether she ultimately stays on the Island or leaves might not be her choice, after all."

About the Author

"Krissi Dallas loves pop music, mismatched socks, and fried chicken. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas with her youth minister husband, Sam, and their two wicked Yorkies, Elphie and Luna. Krissi enjoys hanging out with her quirky middle school students and building the dramatic, magical, and mysterious world that makes up the Phantom Island series. Be sure to check out Windchaser , Windfall , and Watercrossing . Krissi loves connecting with teens, as well as readers and writers of all ages! You can stalk her online at www.KrissiDallas.com."

Giveaway!

Krissi is generously offering a whole slew of prizes to go along with her cover reveal, including "an autographed Phantom Island trilogy pack, an autographed copy of Watermark when it releases, a tribal t-shirt, or an autographed copy of The Collector by debut author Victoria Scott!"

Please note: Enter using the Rafflecopter form below! The giveaway will be open for entries until Friday, June 14th. You must have a U.S. mailing address in order to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
For one of the entries (and/or just for fun!), click the image below to take the Phantom Island quiz and discover your tribe!