Mara Valderran's Blog, page 34

Review: Gateway to Reality by Becca J Campbell

Gateway to Reality by Becca J. Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a fascinating concept, and so brilliantly told. Becca J Campbell is more than an author, she is an artist. She painted the worlds so clearly, the images so vivid and real. I didn't quite connect with Wes or Emily, but I think that just boils down to personalities. The characters were still very well written and their story was still very engaging.

Spoilers ahead!

I love how Wes is spending the entire story discovering so much about himself and truly growing. You can see the evolution of his character clearly and consistently. Being faced with the choice to live in the LV and pursue things with the Emily he has a history with (in a world full of personal connections, where his family actually exists), and the choice of accepting this illogical world to pursue a life--and Emily--there was very well played out. He didn't spend too much time being angsty over the decision or too much time in denial, which I definitely appreciate in an alternate universe story. I kept waiting for him to wake up and discover the Existence was the dream and to have all his problems figured out through this crazy dream, and it was really refreshing that this didn't happen.

Sometimes the most illogical part about us can be our hearts, and I was glad to see Wes follow his.

View all my reviews

Author Interview: Robert Poulin, Author of Wail of the Banshees

Reading Robert Poulin's biography is just as interesting as reading the blurb for his new book, Wail of the Banshees. Which is why I am happy to say I had the chance to interview him for his blog tour.  Don't forget to check out his debut novel, Wail of the Banshees , available Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. You can follow Robert on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter, or you can check out his website here. It was an absolute honor to interview Robert. Read on as we talk about his first novel, what's coming up, what it is like to be a legally blind writer, and his work with North Country Center for Independence, a non-profit group dedicated to enhancing independent lifestyles for people with disabilities.

Mara Valderran: You've said that you are a big fan of science fiction and fantasy, having been won over by The Hobbit as a child. When did you first start writing for the genre?Robert Poulin: I dabbled with writing throughout my teenage years but eventually life happened and the dream of authorship slipped into the background. My love of telling stories didn't disappear though and I found an outlet in tabletop RPG games. I have a large group of professional adult friends who still roll the dice on the weekends and I've been a GM for almost two decades now. The desire to start writing again resurfaced with my discovery of urban fantasy. Jim Butcher's Dresden Files in particular have been a big inspiration and I've really enjoyed the many Youtube videos in which Jim. Butcher also has some great articles and blog posts about the writing craft. Urban fantasy inspires me because it's a genre where the familiar world collides with the fantastic and all kinds of cool and crazy mayhem can ensue. MV: Every writer has a different process. What can you tell us about yours? Do you have a set time to write? Do you plot first, or are you more of a pantser? RP: I am both a planner and a discover writer. The first thing I do is to think of my story in terms of a movie, I visualize and then write down the various action scenes that I picture. Every good action scene needs a cool environment/location. This is where my research begins, finding cool locations and reading all about them. After I've picked out the location, studied, and built them up in my mind, I let the monsters go crazy on them. Once all these cool sets and action scenes are built, it's time to decide what characters go into them and why the event is taking place. Once the characters are assigned their scene and a reason for the scene is established, I try to outline it all into the three act play format. After all this, I start writing. I am in no way constrained by my advanced notes and outlines; I have no problem straying from them and often do. In the end, my story might be quite a bit different from the outline, but all of the action sequences will be there as envisioned. The characters themselves are the most likely to change during the course of a story and I in fact do very little pre planning for characters, I let them evolve as they will.MV: What are some of your influences as a writer?RP: As stated earlier, I read and listen to almost everyting posted by Jim Butcher. I also listen to the Writing Excuses podcast done by Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. I've also been learning a lot about writing from Alexandria Stokoloff's blog and books about screenwriting tips for authors. I've learned the most however from just reading. I am a big epic fantasy fan; I love George R.R. Martin and Robert Jordan. Aside from Jim Butcher, I love Illona Andrews's Kate Daniels series, The Hollows by Kim Harrison, and Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson series. Oh, and I shouldn't forget Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series. There are so many good stories and authors out there, it's really a great time to be a reader, and I feel like I learn something new after each book that I finish reading.MV: You've been working for the North Country Center for Independence for thirteen years now. What can you tell us about the work you do there to enhance the independent lifestyles of people with disabilities?RP: Independent Living Centers exist all across the US. They are non profit agencies that are consumer run (meaning that over 50% of Board members must be disabled) and heavily staffed by people with disabilities. The idea is that no one is in a better position to help other disabled people achieve independence than someone who's already been through the fire themselves. The ultimate goal is to empower people, to let them make the decision that affect their lives. For most of my tenure at NCCI, I was a disability rights advocate and essentially the communications specialist. I mobilized the grassroots in my area of NYS to move legislation in a direction that was beneficial to people with disabilities. Now I'm the Executive Director, which means I manage the staff, write reports, and make decisions for the organization. I've really been blessed to be part of such a movement of inspiring advocates and civil rights leaders.MV: How do you balance your career as Executive Director for NCCI, your family, and your career as a writer now?RP: It's not easy, but being personally disciplined helps a lot. I set Sunday's aside as my writing day and that's pretty much it. That doesn't mean that I don't do book related work at other times, but Sunday is the time specifically set aside for actual chapter writing. I leave things like research and outlining for weekday evenings. Saturday is a day of relaxing, aside from house chores that is. My work for NCCI does come ahead of my writing career but so far there really hasn't been an issue. MV: What are some of the challenges you've faced both in life and as a writer who is legally blind? What advice would you give to others who might be in your shoes? RP: I really appreciate that you asked this question. My blindness makes me a slow reader, this is particularly challenging during the revision process. I don't worry about reading what I write during the first draft, the goal is to finish the story. That all changes during revision, now I have to read the entire manuscript multiple times and make many adjustments. This means my revision process is slow and methodical. I am extremely lucky to have an amazing editor working with me. Patience is a virtue that you must master as a blind person, not only am I slower at everything I do but I am constantly waiting for rides or for help with certain activities. Being flexible, creative, and persistent are important characteristics that all people should develop and master if they can; these traits are an absolute must for a person with a disability if they want to succeed in life. Also you have to have a thick skin, don't let people's meanness hurt or deter you. You have to be trusting of others and not be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Accepting your limitations does not equal inability to do anything, having lofty dreams and working to achieve them is healthy for all people, disabled people should do no less. In a weird way, Wail of the Banshees is almost a metaphor for this; Veronika dies at the beginning of the book and soon discovers that death isn't a career ending injury, it's the beginning of her story. Having a disability isn't the end of the story, it's the beginning of a life of challenges, hopes, dreams, disappointments, hard work, and adventure, it's pretty much like anyone else's life.MV: Wail of the Banshees is your first novel. What has the process of getting published been like for you? RP: It's been very interesting and a lot of work. I went through a grueling eight month process in which I developed a business plan for Ghost Watch Publishing. The end result of that work was that I was able to secure a self employment grant from the New York State Commission for the Blind. The grant enabled me to pay for an editor, an artist, and interior layout and eBook formatting conversion. I've had a website built at www.ghostwatchpublishing.com and I've done some blogging and a lot of social media networking. Marketing is the trickiest part of this whole process, I've found that what works for some doesn't necessarily work for others. I read guides like How To Make A Killing on Amazon, which has a pretty straight forward set of marketing directions, but do they work for everyone that reads the book and follows the recipe? I know there's always a disclaimer about how a book has to be good, but my guess is that even a lot of good books get missed in the avalanche of novels coming out each day. I've learned that perseverance and patience are also needed ingredients in any plan. MV: What sort of teases can you give us for your second novel, Death Toll?

RP: First off, if you buy Wail of the Banshees in either paperback format or eBook format, there is a full, action packed chapter from Death Toll in the back of the novel. Secondly, if you keep an eye on my book tour with Bewitching Book Tours, you will likely get a chance to read the prologue to Death Toll. I can also tell you that if you are a fan of H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos, you should be highly interested in Death Toll. There will be two new mainline supporting characters joining protagonist Veronika Kane in the second novel. The wizard of Philadelphia, Nathaniel Carter, mentioned once in Wail of the Banshees, will be making Veronika's unlife very interesting. Also joining the team is former CIA agent, Brianna Martin, were-ferret extraordinaire. And everyone's favorite crusading, foul mouthed detective, Frank Cooper will be returning in Death Toll. Lastly, I'll hint that there might be a scene in which a troll uses the Liberty Bell as a melee weapon against the forces of chaos...really, it could happen.
I want to thank Mara for giving me this opportunity to tell you a little about myself and about Wail of the Banshees. I really appreciated the fact that Mara didn't shy away from asking me questions about my disability and how it affects my work. I want to thank you, the readers, for reading through my rambles and I hope you'll give Wail of the Banshees a read. I won't promise you a masterpiece of literature, it's not. What I can promise is a big budget, summer, soda and popcorn kind of read.

Guest Post: Rachel O'Laughlin Talks POVs

Today is an awesome day because I have one of the best critique partners and one of the best writers of fantasy here to talk about POVs (a topic you all know is very close to my heart!). Let's hear what she has to say, and then find out below how you can win an ecopy of her book Coldness of Marek.

Hi, readers and writers! I’m thrilled to be guest blogging on Mara’s blog today, talking about multiple points-of-view in fiction, and particularly fantasy. This is especially a cool topic for both Mara and I, as we’ve swapped ideas back and forth over manuscripts and golly, is it FUN.
I’m a bit of a point-of-view addict. If I could come at a story from EVERYBODY’S point of view, I would. Some writers of literary masterpieces did just that — slipped in and out of many heads seamlessly, without the need to break for breath or chapter heading. Nowadays, most writers are expected to be a little more uniform in the way we write. I confess, I hate these types of confines sometimes. But in the realm of point-of-view, it’s a pretty good idea to have some boundaries. I think this is one of those things where it’s really up to the writer to make those boundaries themselves, or with some critique-partners who know their style.Some epic fantasy writers have one character from each major race, or family, or continent. Some have a hero, a villain, and a love interest. Some want to have all their points-of-view be protagonists in their own right. I’ve seen all kinds work. Even an exclusive four female points-of-view (or four male, of course) can be compelling when done well. When it comes down to it, the most important part for me is the characters’ relation to each other. That’s where the main story is happening.For you readers out there, I thought I’d give a breakdown of who these people typically are for me. Just for fun.The Protagonist - He/she doesn’t have to be a hero. This is just the person I’m following through the story. Everything revolves around them. Even if secondary heroes/multiple protagonists exist and I’m following them, too, there needs to be a main anchor. This is also the person we can assume doesn’t die…unless I’m mean, like George R.R. Martin. Let’s not even talk about that. *runs over to the corner to cry over Eddard one more time*The Antagonist - Yup, I like coming from this person’s perspective as well. Why? Because I want to see inside their twisted little head. One of my favorite things an artist ever said in an interview was when Eliza Dushku was asked who she would be imprinted with if she could be someone else for a day (in the context of her starring role in the show, Dollhouse). Her answer was, “I would be Quentin Terrentino. I just wonder what’s going on in that man’s brain.” And that sums up why I like to be in this head. Who thinks these things? I’m curious.The Counterpoint - This is definitely different than the antagonist, in that this character does NOT play the role of ruining the life of my main character. But every book I’ve penned has always had someone who fills this role. The opposite side. The mirror, the other way of looking at things. In Coldness of Marek, Mikel is the obvious counterpoint, but I didn’t come from his point-of-view at all. There are a lot of counterpoints in Trzl’s life. In the first part, it’s Dremir. In the second, Gernan.The Darling - Wheee! Happies! This can be the comic relief, the love interest, the best friend, the kid brother, the bossy aunt that also bakes cupcakes. I tend to skip this character if I can help it, because I just like writing dark stories, but Coldness of Marek actually has one, and I did use his point-of-view. Yay Colstadt!The Mentor/Apprentice - Obi-Wan is my perfect example here. In Star Wars 1-3, he’s the apprentice. In 4-6, he’s the mentor. But this can be either/or, or two different characters altogether. In Coldness, I only have the apprentice, Malcom. In the second book, Knights of Rilch, I have an older Knight who is definitely the mentor. The reason this character is often so real for us, I think, is because we all have these people in our lives. We have mentors we look up to, whether they be parents or teachers or employers, and we all have those who are relying on us for mentoring in one thing or another.And that’s most of them, I do believe. If you’re a writer, which points-of-view do you tend to utilize? If you’re a reader, what are your favorite uses of point-of-view in novels?
Amazon UK:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coldness-Marek-Serengard-Rachel-OLaughlin/dp/0984919414/Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Coldness-Marek-Serengard-Volume-1/dp/0984919414/Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/coldness-of-marek-rachel-olaughlin/1107918434?ean=2940148509899
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jumping the Shark

In honor of Shark Week 2013 coming to a close and to celebrate another year gone by where I didn't watch a single minute of it (FYI: Sharks terrify me almost as much as spiders.), I thought I would do a shark themed post here. And what better way to bridge the gap between Shark Week and the writerly world than to talk about "Jumping the shark"?

First, let's talk about what this phrase means. According to Wikipedia:
Jumping the shark  is an idiom created by Jon Hein that was used to describe the moment in the evolution of television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery, which is usually a particular scene, episode, or aspect of a show in which the writers use some type of "gimmick" in a desperate attempt to keep viewers' interest.In its initial usage, it referred to the point in a television program's history when the program had outlived its freshness and viewers had begun to feel that the show's writers were out of new ideas, often after great effort was made to revive interest in the show by the writers, producers, or network.[1][2][3]The usage of "jump the shark" has subsequently broadened beyond television, indicating the moment when a brand, design, or creative effort's evolution loses the essential qualities that initially defined its success and declines, ultimately, into irrelevance.The origins of this phrase comes from the hit television show Happy Days as it entered its fifth season. So what happened? Fonzie jumped a shark. Literally. This moment was viewed as the beginning of a decline for the show. And we still use this term today to define moments of "Are you serious?" in television and literature.

I've experienced those moments in literature. Recently, for me, it was The Mortal Instruments. I was okay until the big reveal at the end concerning Clary and Jace. And I couldn't move past it. I know a lot of people love those books, so keep in mind we have our own opinions as I express mine here. To me, it felt like a contrived plot point. A gimmick. And as a reader, there's nothing I can't stand more. I see small ones here and there, but when they go big--when they jump the shark--I can't move forward. If you're looking for another example of jumping the shark in literature, think of a certain hybrid baby with skin that sparkles in the sun.

I've experienced it with television recently as well. I started watching Roswell since injuring my hand, and I loved the first season. It was a great mix of teen angst, suspense, action, and sci-fi, all with a really compelling love story. Season two felt a bit off balance and was harder to watch. If I'm honest, the second set of the Four was probably the first time the show jumped the shark. But the opening scenario with Liz and Max for season three jumped about four other sharks for me. It felt like a ploy to keep the "will they/won't they" suspense they had in season one--something else to keep our young lovers apart. Because we all know getting a couple together on a show spells doom (that rant is for another post). So I stopped watching.

My point in all of this is that we need to treat our readers like intelligent people. Don't dumb things down for them, and don't throw obvious sharks their way. Sometimes, as writers, it is very easy to get carried away with the mustache-twirling plotting and imagining what readers' reactions will be when they come across our nefarious plans for their beloved characters. But we need to stop, take a breath, and make sure we are making decisions based on the story and the characters, not by what will get a reaction out of readers. Because if you write that way, you might not like the reactions readers have.

Cover Reveal: Revenge in Rio by Samantha Darling

Calculated revenge, unexpected passion…Business magnate Luca Venancio is returning to Rio to pay his respects to his late brother, and to seduce his once fiancée, Daniella, back into his bed. Five years ago she left him without so much as a word, shunning him and the rich life he could offer in exchange for his younger, reckless brother. Now Luca wants revenge—seduce her and dump her, that's all he intends to do.Blackmailed into a violent farce of a marriage, Daniella had no choice but to comply to protect Luca's life, even though it meant never being able to see him again. Years later, a twist of fate reunites them, throwing her plans of fleeing Rio out of the window and the love of her life straight back in.Luca's flawless plan soon becomes complicated when he discovers Daniella is expecting his brother's child. It becomes even more complicated when old passions return. Can he actually go through with seducing her, bedding her, and then discarding her?https://www.facebook.com/samantha.darling.9828https://twitter.com/samanthav1986http://www.samanthadarlingromance.com/index.html












Author InfoI live in Essex, not too far from London, with my very understanding husband, our identical twin boys, and two Bedlington Terriers. We're crammed into our rather cozy two-up two-down terrace and we can barely swing a cat, but hey, we love it. I work part-time as a nurse, but when I'm off duty, you will find me either chasing the toddlers around like a headless chicken, head buried in a book, or tapping away at my stories.I have always loved to read and romance is by far my favourite genre! You can easily escape into such promising worlds, where sexy Alpha males lead the way and strong heroine's often can't help but fall head over heels in love. I adore a Happy Ever After - as I'm sure we all do if we're honest, right?! 

Reading and writing go hand in hand and from the day I could read, I enjoyed writing. To put pen to paper and conjure up weird and wonderful little stories was what I thrived on! English was my favourite class at school right throughout to secondary - and I will always be thankful for the teachers who gave me the opportunities to develop and be creative! If I remember rightly, one of my first stories was called 'The Turkey Who Could Talk'...but I'll tell you more about that some other day :-)  

Excerpt of Coldness of Marek by Rachel O'Laughlin

If you haven't read this book by now, you really need to. No, I don't care that it just came out and your To-Read list is a mile high. Yes, I know it is totally unfair that I got an ARC and was thus made aware of the awesomeness of this book before it even came out. But you know what? Take a second to put yourself in my shoes, guys. Geesh. I'm the one who has been sitting here since August 3rd, just chomping at the bit until I can urge you to rush out and buy this book. My review doesn't even cover how amazing it is. But this first chapter might give you an idea.

So I guess I will quit gushing and get to it. Then you can go buy the book, read it in one day (because trust: you will not be able to put it down), and we can gush over it together! Oh, and Rachel O'Laughlin herself will be stopping by on August 12th to talk about writing multiple points of view.  Here's the blurb so you have a reminder of what the book is about:

COLDNESS OF MAREKEpic Fantasy
The First in the Serengard Series
Release Date: August 6, 2013Serengard has been under Orion rule for centuries—centuries of insufferable adherence to laws and traditions that its people no longer believe in. Raised by her scholarly grandfather in the fiery southern city of Neroi, Trzl is dedicated to turning the monarchy into a free society where knowledge is king and no one has to be subject to the whims of an Orion.As the rebellion escalates, her choices have an eerie impact on the revolution at large, elevating her to a position of influence she has only dreamed of attaining. But there are downsides to her new power that entangle her in a dangerous web of emotions, appearances and alliances. Even as she plays to the attractions of Hodran, a rich nobleman who wants to aid her cause, she is drawn to Mikel, a loyalist farmer who hates the rebellion but just might be winning her heart.By the time Trzl realizes she is in too deep, she has an infant son and a dark mess of betrayal and lies. She runs to the furthest corner of the kingdom in hopes that she will be left alone with her child, but she has created too many demons. A figure she once trusted will take her captive in the chilling Cliffs of Marek, throw her back into the political upheaval she helped create, and leave her at the mercy of a man she never wanted for an enemy.



COLDNESS OF MAREKFIRST CHAPTER

To the east of Dragon Country.In the 10th year of The Four Cities.

THE HILL COUNTRY WAS SUPPOSED to be safer. Trzl would have put boards over her doors and windows like the rest of the settlers, but she did not believe in signs like the stirred fog and other nonsense.“The fog is not lying still,” her neighbor told her, shaking his head. “Something is churning it, far away, up in the mountains.”Rem was ancient and believed in the old sayings. Sayings that had kept people enslaved, kept them bound to nature. And it was too late in the year for cold dragons or fanged cats. Even Trzl knew that, and she was from the city.But Malcom—Malcom looked worried, too. The last time Trzl had seen him afraid was two years ago, when a snake came into their pantry in broad daylight. Even then, he had been brave enough to kill the reptile. Her son was no weakling. His very name meant simply, in the Seren tongue, ground. A certain type of ground. Firm, high, far from the storms of the sea or the quicksand of the desert or the lowlands that flooded. His soul was older than most boys of his years, and she knew it.Now he stared out the window, shivering.Then again, her house was cold. It always was on mornings like this.They all heard the hoofbeats at the same time. More than one horse. At least a dozen, moving at a smooth canter.They swooped into the village common, the mist parting to reveal their bulky figures. Their heads and shoulders were covered with animal furs, broadswords heavy and well-fired. Nothing like any raiders she’d seen. These were more like the legends Rem spoke of around the village campfires as the children listened, wild-eyed and dreaming—Swamp people? Cliffmen? Tribes from the plateaus? She hoped not.Malcom let out one little screech, then stood stock-still, huddled against the windowsill, watching. Trzl fingered the small, insignificant dagger she kept on the inside of her waistband. She caught her son by his arms and tried to drag him to the cellar. “Come. We must hide. Malcom, listen to me. We must!”But there wasn’t time. The door was broken in and five of the raiders fit their large shoulders through it. They caught at Malcom’s hand, yanking and dragging him clear across the room. Trzl screamed. One of the men glanced at her as he threw the boy over his shoulder. Another walked toward her and she did not back away. Malcom was out there, and she wanted to go to him. The man grasped her roughly, tossing her onto his shoulder. She was a slight woman and felt like a child in this huge man’s arms.Then they were outside in the heavy morning mist. She heard the calls of the renegades as they stamped their horses about in a circle. Someone was yelling at them from across the common.“This is no slave raid,” one of the renegades bellowed back. His accent was strange. “We come for these two.” —He gestured to Trzl and her son.If he said more, she didn’t hear. She kept her eyes locked with Malcom’s. His dark brown hair was rumpled, his face already scratched by the rough material the renegades wore. Trzl wanted to tell him not to fear, but that was probably a lie. Just keep your eyes on me, little man.These men were probably going to kill her. Hang her in the nearest town, wherever they could find an audience, find a way to put a face to their hatred of the Empire. She closed her eyes, whispering a prayer to Allel. She doubted He would do anything for her—if indeed He did exist—but perhaps he could be persuaded to do something for her son.Trzl and Malcom were thrown onto separate horses, ordered to remain quiet. Men mounted in front of them, clutched the reins and urged their strong mounts out of the village and into the fog.Now it did scare her. The stirred fog. There was something horrible and surreal about it, as if this should all be a nightmare. She tried to see Malcom, a few horses away and quiet as a bat. She hoped he could not sense how afraid she was.They rode north, far up into the hills, and beyond them. Soon there were rocks, as large as chariots or draft carts, slowing their climb, forcing the horses to work up a lather. Trzl could hear Malcom’s teeth chattering, whether from cold or from fear—it worried her. They both knew what lived in this land. Huge cats, mammoth beasts. Most villagers had never seen them, and Trzl always pretended that she thought their stories were just legends. But when she felt this chill in her bones and heard those horrible, echoing coos and caws from the caverns of these rugged, strange rocks—Malcom’s horse tripped and he screamed. The man who held the reins almost slid off and took Malcom with him. After he righted himself, he laughed at Malcom. Trzl shot the man a dark look, rejoicing when he swallowed and looked away. She had some power over him, and thus there was a chance for escape, albeit slim. Maybe tonight while they slept.But night came, and no camp was made. She grew more and more suspicious that they were being led in a circle. To confuse them? Were they to be slaves after all? She knew the way of the cliff folk. They took people from the valleys whenever they pleased.There was a slim canyon with a smooth floor, likely a dry riverbed, that they took by the bright moonlight. The air was bitter and cold up here. Trzl found herself leaning against her rider, trying to draw warmth from his heavy coat of…well, whatever animal skin this was. She did not recognize the texture of it. After a moment, he removed his coat and wrapped it around her. It was huge, enough to fit back around the rider after enveloping Trzl.“Malcom,” she whispered, then regretted it. If they had any doubts, which it seemed they did not, they were now assured of her son’s identity.“You want something for the boy?” her rider asked gruffly.Might as well ask. “A drink of water and something warm around him.”Her rider must have been their leader, because he grunted toward Malcom’s captor and the man did her bidding. She let some air out through her teeth. She would not thank him. He could not expect that surely.Trzl must have slept because she woke a few times, her eyes snapping open at horrible sounds in the night. She made an effort to stay awake, to stay alert. Wherever they were going, it could not be for a public execution. Perhaps Malcom’s father had finally decided to get rid of her quietly? He had always hated Malcom. He would not wish to use his own guard for such a thing, and he would hire renegades to keep it from being traced to him. But she didn’t think he cared a whit about her anymore.Wide awake now, the possibilities circled wildly. Escape plans that all failed in the first few steps of theory. Would the sun never rise? This riverbed was far too long.Then it ended and she wished it had not. Above them were the sheer cliffs of ghost stories. A shrill cry woke Malcom, startling Trzl into looking around her. It cried again, an inhuman shriek, and she saw it. A huge, dark bird. It swooped about in the air above them. What kind of bird soared at night like that?They rode forward again, straight toward the cliff. There was an opening, much like a hallway, much like stairs, a little of both. The horses climbed it, tired, soaked, but jumping with an energy made possible only by the best of feeds and exercise. Trzl pressed her legs against their mount and tried to feel his muscles through her frozen limbs, distracting herself from the pitch blackness of the cave.Malcom had either fallen asleep again or he was silent with fear. She wanted to call back to him, to tell him not to be afraid. Mem was here. She would think of something. Only she knew there was nothing that could get them out of a fortress such as this in terrible country. Nothing.The climb was not as long as anticipated—or perhaps Trzl lost track of time—because they broke out into a large cavern lit by torches. The horses stopped without being told. Her head started to thrum as her captor swung her down from the horse and tossed her toward two waiting men. They caught her arms and pulled on her roughly. She whined Malcom’s name—then saw he was right behind her, wide awake and staring.“Malcom, it will be all right…”Malcom did not pay her any mind. He looked around the room at the tall walls; the torches; the women running in to take the horses’ bridles, lead them about in circles, cool them down.“Mal—”They were shoved down on their knees, and Trzl stared at a hard floor made of some kind of marble. A strange, pigmented color she had seen once before but could not remember where. Then came a voice she did remember. It was not husky and accented like the men who had taken her. It was clear, almost cultured. Disguised behind a deepness that was not its own.“You are certain these are the two requested by Anaqi?”“That’s them. The house was marked and they are the right age, aren’t they? Truthsome, they speak as if they were from the city.”“Do they?”He knelt down, using the handle of a knife to shove her face upward. Trzl knew she should not do it, but her eyes shot up from the floor and into his. Just as quickly, a glove came down from one of the guards and slapped her across the face.“How dare you look Lord Marek in the eyes?”It stung madly, and she dropped her gaze. Lord Marek. The Lord of the Cliffs. Are we that far north?Lord Marek said nothing. He turned her face from side to side, examining her features as one did with a new falcon.“Strange sort of fair, isn’t she, my lord?” a voice said from the dark, somewhere behind him.Still Lord Marek kept his peace. Trzl wanted him to speak again, wanted to hear his voice. But perhaps not. Perhaps hearing it appraise her so coldly would make her fear worse.Finally he said, “It isn’t beauty I’m concerned with, Tev.” It was him. And then he spoke directly to her. “You are from the Third City, or from another?”Trzl searched her brain for a suitable answer, frozen by confusion. You are supposed to be dead.Again the slap of the glove against her face. “Answer your lord.”“I…am from many places. I’ve not lived in a city for many years.”“That is not an answer.”Oh now she wanted him to stop talking. To never speak again. I have not thought of you since a lifetime ago. It was supposed to stay that way.She did not look up, but she could hear his insincere smile. “Put them in separate dungeons. I will question the boy after you have fed him.”Lord Marek turned to leave, heavy leather shoes with steel soles clacking on the marble. Then—a turn, an afterthought.“Feed the woman nothing.”


Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Coldness-Marek-Serengard-Volume-1/dp/0984919414/Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17968606-coldness-of-marekWebsite: http://rachelolaughlin.wordpress.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/rachelolaughlinFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/r.k.olaughlin

Obsessed with all things history, Rachel O’Laughlin grew up writing adventure stories and only recently fell in love with fantasy as a genre. She lives in New England with her husband and children, grows roses and tweets often. She adores lattes, The Fray, long drives in the country, and any dark story with a good twist. Coldness of Marek is her first novel.

My Thoughts on the New Doctor (Doctor Who)

I just got back from watching the big reveal of the new Doctor. I wasn't planning on watching it since I don't have TV beyond Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, but I happened to find myself at my cousin's house (a new Whovian convert--she's on season 2) talking about the big 2pm reveal, well, at 2pm. So we decided to turn it on. I'm not sure who most of those people were talking about Doctor Who, but after much impatience on my part, the reveal was made. Moffat's comments about how it would change things had me worried they were going to choose a woman, so I let out a huge relieved sigh when Peter Capaldi was announced.

I haven't seen him beyond the episode of Doctor Who he was in, but I can say so far that I like the look of him. I don't mind the thought of an older Doctor. In fact, I quite like it.

Like it, I say? But...but...how will he run? How can there be running with a 55 year old man as the Doctor??

Image courtesy of...well, everywhere on Tumblr.
I'm not a classic Who fan, so I can't be like other people and remind the internet of the older Doctors from days past who got around just fine. But I can say that I don't think 55 is too old to be able to run around and have adventures. I don't think that's going to change. Mark Harmon is 62, but I happen to think Leroy Jethro Gibbs is one of the biggest badasses on TV right now.



But how can he flirt with Clara when he is old enough to be her grandfather??


Image courtesy of...Tumblr. Seriously, how do you figure out where it originates on there? I'm a big fan of the whole Clara story. I really am. And yes, I am one of those who thinks there were romantic undertones to the Clara and Eleven relationship. But...I don't want those undertones to become overtones. One of the compelling things about the Doctor is that he is an alien who has lived for over 1000 years, but living, in some ways, as though he were human. He's above us but trying to stay with us at the same time. Most of the time that is through his companions. He has a big heart, but because he is different from us and might live for 1000 years more, he can't exactly give it away. He can't act on his feelings. He never did with Rose. He barely did with River, and she was probably the closest to an equal he's had in his life in quite some time. So I don't think Clara should be the exception to this rule, but I don't want the dynamic of their relationship to change just because he's got an older face now.

So let me get this straight, internet...You think I'm old enough to have a 26 year old granddaughter?
(Image courtesy of leedsstudent.org)Do I think that is going to be any different with an older Doctor? No. There was an obvious age gap between Rose and Nine, but she still flirted with him just fine. And she was nineteen. Clara's supposed to be, what, twenty six? Ish? Hardly young enough for it to be in pedophile territory. Hell, not even young enough to be his granddaughter. And more over, Clara has a better understanding of what it means to be the Doctor than any other companion. She hasn't just been with him through her lifetime, she's seen him throughout his own too. So I doubt she's going to see him regenerate and go "Zermahgod, you are like, so old. Eew." With everything she's been through with the Doctor, I think she's going to still look at him and see him, just with another face.

So, in summary, I'm sure it will be fine. I've seen lots of posts on the internet at large saying he's too old, he's not cute enough, Doctor Who is going to loose the American demographic (really?), Doctor Who is going to loose the younger demographic (again, really?), etc.

This comes as no shocker, but I think people are jumping to conclusions. The internet gives us a voice to gripe about anything, and by golly we are determined to create things to gripe about because of it. But in reality, real fans will keep watching. I didn't think I'd keep watching beyond David Tennant, but Matt Smith ended up winning me over. Clearly, he won most fans over or the show would be in a lot of trouble instead of as huge as it is throughout the world. I think Peter Capaldi will do the same.

So to all the fuss on the internet about the casting choice of the new Doctor, I say:

Image courtesy of morwenvaidt on DeviantArt

Knowing When to Throw in the Writerly Towel

No, I'm not talking about giving up on a story you are writing. I don't give up easily on story ideas. But I am talking about goals today, and knowing when they might be too much.

I set a goal for myself to finish Altar of Reality by the end of the month and to win CampNaNoWriMo in the process. Today is the last day of the month, and though my bar looks really close, it is too far away for me to manage.

I've been plugging away for the past week with an average of 5k a day. And if I had continued my 5k a day average, I would have finished on time. But a lot of things got in the way, as they usually do with life. The same thing happened to me during the last CampNaNo as well.

So how do we know when to throw in the towel? Easy. When you are sacrificing your own health in order to meet your goals. Which is exactly what I was doing.

As some of you may know, I recently landed myself in the mother of all braces--the thumb spica splint. I have carpal tunnel and tendonitis in my left wrist, which is pretty painful. It wouldn't be so painful if not for the fact that it keeps popping, so I essentially keep injuring myself. Part of that has to do with work as well. Needless to say, it has slowed me down quite a bit. I risked writing without the splint on after I spent about an hour convincing myself the splint was causing me more pain than good, but was quickly proved wrong on that.

And pretty soon, I had to admit to myself that pushing myself to write 5k a day was not helping matters at all. I had to leave work early last night because it was hurting so bad. On the way home, I started thinking about how I would have extra time to write from leaving early. But by the time I got home and sat in front of my laptop, I realized it wasn't worth it.

Sure, I love winning NaNo. I've only done it twice in the times I've attempted it, and I really wanted to claim a third victory with my new WIP. But I have to start taking care of myself. My hands are such an asset for both career paths I plan on attempting (writing and physical therapy), which means they are invaluable and I need them to work right.

I'm supposed to get my brace off next week, but my hopes aren't high for that happening since I'm still in pain and things keep popping. But I do know that I will be making sure I actually rest my arm this time. No more 5k days. And I might take some time off work, at least for a week or so. Working at a grocery store requires both hands more than you would think, and my tendency to be stubbornly independent and not ask for help carrying things or stop bagging isn't helping the healing process.

So, in conclusion, I might not be the one-armed wonder after all. But if that means I get to keep writing with both hands for years and years, I am good with that. My well-being has to come before my words. 

Book Blitz: Replacing Gentry by Julie N Ford (Free!)

Who doesn't like free books? PixelPr is out there spreading the word about this new freebie: Replacing Gentry by Julie N. Ford. The ebook will be free on Amazon, but only until tomorrow. So be sure to act now! You can also purchase the paperback through Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Stay tuned after the blurb for more information on Julie N. Ford and where you can find her.

When Marlie agrees to attend a cadaver ball at Vanderbilt Medical School, she did not expect to actually see any cadavers. Or, that a strange apparition would issue her a chilling message.
Despite the cadaver's warning, Marlie is married a year later to Tennessee State Senator, Daniel Cannon, and living in a plantation-style mansion with two step-sons. Add to the mix her growing suspicion that something is amiss with the death of Daniel’s first wife, Gentry, and newlywed Marlie is definitely in over her pretty Yankee head.
What begins as an innocent inquiry into her new husband’s clouded past ends with Marlie in the midst of a dangerous conspiracy.
A modern twist on the classic Gothic romance novels of Rebecca and Jane Eyre, Replacing Gentry follows Marlie’s precarious journey as she learns the truth about the man she married.

Julie N. Ford graduated from San Diego State University with a BA in Political Science and a minor in English Literature. In addition, she has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama. Professionally, she has worked in teaching and as a Marriage & Family Counselor. In addition to Replacing Gentry, she is the author of two women’s fiction novels, The Woman He Married and No Holly for Christmas, published in 2011. She also wrote a romance/chick-lit novel, Count Down to Love, published in 2011. Count Down to Love was a 2011 Whitney Award finalist. Currently, she lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, two daughters and one baby hedgehog. For more information or see what Julie is working on now, you can visit her at JulieNFord.com.Find Julie on FacebookFollow Julie on TwitterCheckout Julie's Website

An Amazing Day in the Writerly Life of Mara

Today is definitely one of those days. It's one of those days where everything just lines up perfectly in my writerly world. Heirs of War is with my editor. I overcame the roadblock I was banging my head against for Altar of Reality and wrote around 5k today (there's hope, CampNaNo!). That puts me at around 25k for the book (15k for CampNaNo).

And best of all? I started planning my blog tour today. Thanks to the wonderful folks at The Blog Tour Exchange, I had about two dozen different contacts to email for my tour. Couple that with the already amazing writerly friends I have, and now my blog tour is halfway booked on the first day.

Even better yet? I already have five reviewers lined up. I am totally over the moon.

Why? Because here's the secret truth about a lot of writers: We might love our characters and the stories we are telling, but we aren't confident that you will. I am terrible at blurb/query writing, and I am iffy about my first page. I'm still contemplating rewriting that cursed first page one last time in the hopes of setting up the story better.

So what was my worry? That the tour wouldn't garner a lot of interest because people would read my blurb and say "Meh.". But instead I have people offering to read it. Maybe that shouldn't be such a big deal, but I see people begging for reviews online all the time (FYI: Asking once or twice is not begging, but asking every day is. IMO), so I figured I'd have a hard time getting reviews for the tour.

This day has taught me that the writing community really is one of the best communities out there. Without their support, I think I would be absolutely crazy. Instead, I am floating on cloud nine and looking forward to what is bound to be one of the most stressful times in my writerly life: the debut of my first book.

(Be sure to check back next month for a complete tour schedule, and for the cover reveal on August 30th.)