S.R. Karfelt's Blog, page 29
May 16, 2014
Mission Accomplished!
Blue Harvest Creative MagicWhat the blank was all that online commotion yesterday? It was one wild book release day party from Twitter to Facebook to Google Plus to Pinterest, from Amazon to Goodreads, and let’s not forget TipsyLit, Obey the Muse, Life Unpublished, and Immortal Portals. Thank each and every one of you for your participation in spreading the word about BLANK A Shieldmaiden’s Voice! I felt it in my heart like Carole Blank would, and your enthusiasm thrilled me! I wish I could make enough glass tumblers for everyone to be a grand prize winner.
BLANK A Shieldmaiden's Voice by S. R. KarfeltHow about some virtual cake for starters? A thick filling of light, fluffy raspberry mousse separates chocolate layers to create an epic sugar shock that the voices in Carole Blank’s head would never approve of. As you can see I surrounded it with healthy food to pacify them, that’s got to count for something right? Pretend. Isn’t this the best book release cake ever? It is for this book!
BLANK A Shieldmaiden's Voice by S. R. KarfeltLet’s start with a bonus round of autographed copies of BLANK A Shieldmaiden’s Voice, complete with beautiful blank dog tags. They’re going out to: Natalie Pierson, LaDonna Cole, Katie Cross, Abi Hodges, Frank Lattimore, Laura Katherine, and Kelsey Keating!
BLANK A Shieldmaiden's Voice by S. R. KarfeltWinners of blank dog tags are: Rich Miklitsch, Natalie Good, Crystal Becker, Donna Kilgore, Rob Holliday, Jillian Good, Katie Cross, Joni Lynn, LaDonna Cole, Kerri Gilbert, Natalie Pierson, Hannah Nuss, Debbie Hottleman, Bob James, and Frank Lattimore.
BLANK A Shieldmaiden's Voice by S. R. KarfeltWinners of the custom-designed, one of a kind book logo emblazoned dog tags are: Katie Cross, Kelsey Keating, and LaDonna Cole.
Winner of the $50 Amazon gift card is: Kimberly Robertson.
BLANK A Shieldmaiden's Voice by S. R. KarfeltAnd the grand prize winner of the hand crafted glass tumblers and matching logo emblazoned dog tag is: Joni Lynn.
Congratulations to the winners! Please contact me privately with your mailing information. All prizes must be claimed by the end of the month.
Again, thank you all for sharing BLANK A Shieldmaiden’s Voice with your online community. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. They will. Hey! Who said that? Uh oh.
BLANK A Shieldmaiden's Voice by S. R. Karfelt
May 14, 2014
Today’s Mission: Book Release Party
Chapter SixMarshall Islands, South Pacific - March 1989
Chapter EightBase Camp, South Pacific - March 1989Situation: BLANK A Shieldmaiden’s Voice releases today. This is the second book in the Warrior of the Ages series, and it’s also a prequel. The books can be read in any order, but its extra fun if you’ve read Warrior of the Ages because you’ll know more than the main character.You’re all invited to join in the celebration with author S.R. Karfelt happening TODAY, May 15th. There will be prizes. Cool prizes. Lots of cool prizes.
Chapter SixteenSanta Fe, New Mexico - April 1990Mission:This is a chance to play not-so-secret agent. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help spread the word about BLANK A Shieldmaiden’s Voice.
This is HQ - Head Quarters - and the Execution details and Logistics of your operation are listed below. For every step you choose to take, you will earn points (name entries) towards drawings for really awesome prizes! Notice some steps can be performed more than once, so break protocol and go crazy! DO NOT FORGET to tag S.R. Karfelt in all steps of your mission. Command needs to stay informed on your progress! (And leave some type of contact info in the comments below if you want points for that too!)
Execution: (1 point=1 name entry)· 5 points if you order/download your copy of BLANK from Amazon.com and share the page on Facebook.· 5 points if you read and review BLANK on Amazon.com. · 5 points if you read and review BLANK on Goodreads.com· 4 points if you’ll go undercover for the day! Make the cover of BLANK your profile picture on Facebook. Be sure to tag S.R. Karfelt!· *3 points for every promotional post on Facebook linking to BLANK on Amazon.com· *2 points for rogue efforts (what kinda grit ya got? Surprise me!)· *1 point per Tweet using #BLANKasv + @theglitterglobe and *1 point for comments below (5 max each)
*These steps can be completed multiple times. We won’t stop you.
Chapter TenEgypt - October 1988Administration:
You MUST tag S.R. Karfelt in all Facebook posts, Google+, and Tweet @TheGlitterGlobe/#BLANKasv. We cannot guarantee the success of your mission without attention to this detail. If you post a review under a name different than your own, please notify S.R. Karfelt.
Logistics:1 Point=1 Name EntryRewards for this mission will be randomly chosen from a drawing. The more points you acquire, the more name entries you will have. Successful agents (winners) will be announced Friday, May 16th.
Command:
Check out BLANK kindle here and paperback here, or the awesome redesigned website for WOA here!
Signal: Mission set to begin at 0900 hours EST and will conclude at 2400 hours EST on May 15th, 2014.
*Photos compliments of MorgueFiles/Rajeshkrishnan/Kumarn/DuBoix/Cohdra
To Treasure Forever
Grand Prize - Glass Tumblers ~ Hand Blown by S. R. KarfeltMay 15th is the release of BLANK a Shieldmaiden’s Voice! If you’re into parties, you’ll want to check in right here at The Glitter Globe. Join in the celebration, chat with the author, and help me spread the word. There will be plenty of opportunity to score some book related goodies too, including the hand crafted glass seen above!
Have you tried coconut oil? Water? Fresh Coconut?Fanatical about eating organic, clean, healthy, and often strange foods, the main character in BLANK also has a penchant for coconut. Rather than trying to mail them (don’t think I didn’t consider it), we’ll have to settle for touting the fact that fresh coconut is delicious, and coconut oil is almost magical in its uses. You can use it as cooking oil, makeup remover, and moisturizer. It even has an SPF of four!
BLANK A Shieldmaiden's Voice by S. R. KarfeltPrize winners will be drawn at random, but you can have your name put into the drawing more than once. All the details will be available here at The Glitter Globe tomorrow. In the meantime how about I share Carole’s favorite song here? Her delicious broccoli recipecan be found right here (and if you don’t think broccoli can be good, mix this up and cook it at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes and check back). And here’s a link to the mechanics of some basic self-sufficiency, should you ever need clean water in a pinch.
$50 Amazon Gift CardOne $50 Amazon gift card will be given away. Private Carole Blank would not approve, but you might be in dire need of a fresh pile of books.
BLANK Book Cover Dog Tags & Blank Dog TagsThere will be blank dog tags in honor of Private Carole Blank, and a few will be emblazoned with the book cover! The glass tumblers were hand made by S. R. Karfelt to match the book cover. After reading the book you’ll learn that Carole shuns plastic, and blown glass helps keep clean spring water pristine. (Carole’s a bit of a fanatic about details, but don’t tell her I said that.)Good luck tomorrow! Hope to see you here!
May 13, 2014
Carole Blank's First Assignment (BLANK a shieldmaiden's tale releases 5/15/2014)
Given by Carole's First Grade Teacher
Cut pictures from a magazine and paste them here to tell the class about yourself.
First question, if you could go anywhere where would you go?
If you were an animal, what would you be?
If you could make anything, what would you make?
Show me a picture that reminds you of a happy day.
When you grow up, what will you be?
*All photos courtesy of MorgueFile
Cut pictures from a magazine and paste them here to tell the class about yourself.
First question, if you could go anywhere where would you go?
If you were an animal, what would you be?
If you could make anything, what would you make?
Show me a picture that reminds you of a happy day.
When you grow up, what will you be?
*All photos courtesy of MorgueFile
May 12, 2014
Foster Care File for Carole ______ ? (BLANK a shieldmaiden’s voice Releases on 5/15/2014)
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SDRandCoDate: September 6, 1982Name: Carole ______ (This kid needs a last name, just use BLANK)DOB: ? (Estimated birth 1972/The orphanage assigns Christmas day to most of these kids.)Sex: FemaleParents: UnknownHealth/Disposition: Good/Poor (may be slow)Address: Rio Rancho Sister’s of Mercy Albuquerque, New MexicoGrade: ? First?Status: High Risk Social Worker: Marsha TuckerPlacement: Temporary home (Thatchers?)Recommendation: ?
NOTES:This kid is at least ten years old and hasn’t been to school yet. Doesn’t/won’t talk. She’s been at RRSoM since a car wreck in 1976 – two adults were killed in the crash, bodies burned beyond recognition - assumed to be parents/guardians.I recommend legal action be taken against Rio Rancho, specifically a Sister Mary Josephine. They’ve held her illegally for six years. She needs a Birth Certificate and a Social Security Number STAT.
CAUTION: She bites.
NoboruMay 8, 2014
The Buzz on Private Carole Blank
NurtureWorksBlurbs are advance reviews included in books. These are some for my book, BLANK a shieldmaiden’s voice that will be out May 15th. Read on for reviews on my latest baby.
Photo Credit: Greyer BabyImagine a life of perpetual turmoil, with an insatiable need for heart-penetrating love. Blank will transport you through one woman's private hell to a place of purpose and peace; that is if peace can be spelled C.I.A Covert Ops! If you enjoyed S. R. Karfelt's Warrior of the Ages, you are going to be over-the-top happy that you picked up Blank, a novel that will intrigue men and women, alike. The internal dialogue of the characters throughout this story is so rich, so alive, so intense that you will never be bothered by the voices in your own head again. Tragedy and victory, love and hate, murder and the giving of life culminate in a tale that you will remember long after reluctantly setting the book down for the final time. ~ W. Franklin Lattimore, Author of Freedom Fight and Freedom War, Books 1&2 of the Otherrealm Saga Twitter: @ImpactWriter www.WFranklinLattimore.com
Brace yourselves: Carole Blank’s life is the epitome of mislaid hope and unapologetic misery. The prequel we’ve been waiting for since Warrior of the Ages chases an unprecedented assassin’s journey through every layer of personal hell, accentuated by ardently candid voices in her head offering feedback on Carole’s every thought and action. Get ready for a full-on attack of raw truth that will leave you achingly aware of the cost of loyalty, and the torture of unrequited love. Blunt, gripping, and extraordinary, Blank follows the sacrifices of one woman on a quest to simply belong. ~ Bailey Catherine, Editor, Blogger and Book Critic
Michelle BulgariaS.R. Karfelt's BLANK brings us all back to what we really want in life—a place to belong. Following Carole Blank through life wrenches the heart, fueling every emotion known to man—laugh, cry...get so angry you swear…you will want to find a character and kill them! Blank has it all, and S.R. Karfelt has guaranteed that I will never see the world the same. Buckle up, America. You're in for a wild ride—and this Shieldmaiden is riding shotgun. ~ Kelsey Keating, Writer, Blogger, Actress, and Shieldmaiden for Hire
“Kick Ass!” ~ Katie Cross, Author of Miss Mabel’s School for Girls
Blank, A shieldmaiden’s voice whisks you through the life of a super-hero-she-goddess-warrior-assassin with a healthy helping of mama bear madness. The main character, Carole Blank, draws the full range of emotions from the reader. I loved, hated, feared, adored, admired, and pitied her, sometimes on the same page. Deep characterization and tight pacing scream throughout this adventure. Fall in love with the strength and beauty of a fractured and deadly woman. ~LaDonna Cole, author of The Torn, Holding Kate Series
Some heroines are content to sit snugly inside the pages of their book, quietly and politely playing out their given roles. Carole Blank is not one of those heroines. Kicking, punching and screaming, she seized my imagination in a sleeper hold and refused to let go, making BLANK a white-knuckle read every bit as unforgettable as its main character. ~ Elle K. White, Author of Deep City @TheElusiveMuse
Are you psyched? Can’t wait to see what you think of BLANK a shieldmaiden’s voice!
May 6, 2014
Rocky Horror and The Flying Mouse
Rocky Horror Picture Show LogoDon’t judge me, it was a birthday gift. Two tickets to see Rocky Horror Picture Show playing in a local college town, and an evening in which to relive my wasted youth. What’s not to love?
My BFF (Motto: Friends Don’t Let Friends Do Stupid Things Alone) drove across a few states to be my date. She’s awesome like that. You probably know Rocky Horror Picture Show is the midnight movie du jour. It’s been around for decades and has quite a cult following.
NacuWhat’s important happened after our evening of absolute leisure. While walking dark city blocks to the parking garage, we met up with a frail-looking octogenarian couple inching their way up the sidewalk with the assistance of a walker. As we attempted to pass by in our telltale glittery be-feathered ensemble, the elderly gentlemen asked, “Did you like that loud show?” We confessed we did. The gentlemen nodded sagely, checking out BFF's feathery bling and said, “Yes? I liked it too.”
BFF and I exchanged a quick look of disbelief. These senior citizens had just been at the Rocky Horror Picture Show? What is the world coming to, and how the heck did they get to the parking garage ahead of us? The tiny, aged Mrs. shot us a serious look and piped up, “It was my first time. I’m not a virgin anymore.” Sweet Pete! She knew the lingo too!
ClaritaWe gifted the Mrs. a sparkly feather boa and our new friends proceeded to regale us with their weekend plans, which in terms of awesome, far exceeded our plans of cake and talking. They also managed to get in front of us in traffic and we ended up reading their wild assortment of revolutionary bumper stickers for a time. Where am I going in this handbasket? I’m ashamed of what I did for a Klondike Bar. Sorry for Driving So Close in Front of You. At Least the War on the Environment is Going Well. Or something like those.
After receiving the seniors have more fun smack down (so not the first time) we amped up our weekend plans. Our friends had mentioned attending an opera, so we googled operas in the state and randomly picked Die Fledermaus, which we deciphered as The Flying Mouse, but was in fact, The Bat. Same difference, right?
While waiting for the opera to begin we amused ourselves by exchanging dares, which basically sounded like, “See that nice older couple? I double dog dare you to go ask if they were at the Rocky Horror Picture Show on Friday night.” So, of course, BFF did, and as karma would have it, they HAD. How fun is that? So don’t tell Dear Hubby, but I hung out with this cute guy for awhile.
With Cute Guy at Die FledermausSometimes the wind blows you to wonderful places and people, and you even get a refresher on the laughing song. When was the last time you had a weekend worthy of an octogenarian?
April 30, 2014
May Day Giveaway!
S. R. KarfeltMy novel, Warrior of the Ages, is free today on Amazon. Just click right HERE. It seems fitting since the book's first scene is set on May Day – which is May first if you’re wondering what May Day is. For our purposes it is free book day here in the Glitter Globe!
Warrior of the Ages is the story about a man inflicted with a strange type of immortality. Kahtar’s been around forever, literally, and he thinks he’s seen it all, yet the 21stCentury is just chock full of surprises, proving that you really can teach an old dog new tricks—or at least freak him out a little.
Here’s the first scene from Warrior of the Ages, and the first reader to leave me a comment below telling me what May Day is, gets a free autographed book mark! And if you're not the first, you could try telling me a really good May Day story, if it moves me maybe I'll send you one too!
S. R. Karfelt Book SigningWarrior of the Ages by S. R. Karfelt
Immortality probably made a man patient. Part-time immortality, the kind that Kahtar had been inflicted with, didn’t. Crammed inside his squad car in what was possibly the hottest May Day in his existence reminded him of being locked inside an iron maiden. Except those weapons of torture had been wooden coffins, not metal, though if memory served they had better ventilation. Across a clearing framed by spindly trees, his rookie sat inside a second patrol car. Kahtar watched Honor Monroe gaze at himself in the rearview mirror, both hands twisting his spiky hairdo to perfection, and paying no attention to his surroundings. The kid had no idea how close he was to being shaved bald. Not that there was anything dangerous around for miles, but still. Closing his eyes to shut out the visual of Honor now picking at his teeth, Kahtar gripped the steering wheel and stilled. Military crew-cut almost flush with the ceiling, it brushed against the fabric with each breath. His mind sharpened and focused, flying outward like a stealth aircraft, scanning with a precision beyond the capability of any man-made radar. The beating wings of buzzing insects, larvae crawling through rotting wood, the clear air rife with invisible particles filled his senses. His scan moved up through the blossoming trees before plunging down, far beneath the mulch of last year’s fallen leaves. Kahtar forced his mind through the forest floor. It took years to learn to identify what was in the ground, but he’d had plenty of time to perfect the skill. Abruptly pulled from the depths of the earth by another warrior’s scan crossing into his, it felt like a shard of glass plunged deep into his brain. Pressing his fingers against his skull he tried to ease the dark shadow. The interfering scan lifted as the culprit approached.“Hoy!” His entirely too enthusiastic rookie rounded the patrol car, hair artfully arranged, teeth apparently picked. “Sorry about that! Not used to being around my own kind anymore!” A tour of duty in the Middle East might have made the man forget his manners, but it hadn’t dimmed his chipper demeanor. Honor Monroe approached police work with the same animation he gave a game of stickball. His hand smacked against the windshield, and the kid peered at him, shouting through the glass.“Chief? We’re partners today. Real cops sit in the same car with their partners.”Kahtar glared into Honor Monroe’s bright eyes. “Monroe, I doubt your own mother would sit in a car with you all day.” For emphasis Kahtar rolled the window up. Honor wisely hurried towards his own squad car. The kid had a lot to learn. It was very tempting to scan right through his head, but Kahtar resisted the impulse to make him cry on his first day playing cops.Closing his eyes to focus, Kahtar’s scan resumed, moving down the country road. Scanning asphalt felt almost poisonous, he could practically smell it, taste tar on his tongue. Simultaneously, he shoved his mind east and west, following the road in both directions at once. From one edge of his scan came movement, a vehicle from the west. It blew through his mind, instantly engulfed by his mental radar. He digested every minute detail: 3,109 pounds of metal and synthetic substances, one 140 pound human being, vehicle speed fluctuating between 65 and 70 mph. For today, barely speeding was still speeding because Honor Monroe’s scan still hovered dangerously near, and Kahtar was in no mood to have it bite into his head again. Besides, the more unpleasant he could make a trip to the village of Willowyth, the less likely people were to want to return.Turning the key, Honor’s second voice, somehow as enthusiastic as his real voice, sounded in Kahtar’s mind. “Chief? I feel it too! The car’s yellow!”Ignoring Honor, he edged the patrol car to the roadway. The speeding car appeared atop a little knoll, a bright yellow Saab convertible. Honor Monroe insisted he could scan color, and although often wrong, he did seem to have some sort of extra gift. Honor’s annoyingly enthusiastic second voice sounded very faintly as Kahtar pulled onto the highway behind the Saab. “I was right, wasn’t I?”“Just stay out of trouble. I’ll be fifteen minutes, tops.” He wondered if his second voice sounded as annoyed as he felt.
Copyright 2013, S. R. Karfelt
All Rights Reserved
Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance at a free autographed WOA bookmark. You really should get something for fighting your way through CAPTCHA, don’t you think?
April 29, 2014
Miss Mabel's School for Girls
Katie CrossNever underestimate the power of a determined witch.
Letum Wood is a forest of fog and deadfall, home to the quietly famous Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, a place where young witches learn the art of magic.
Sixteen-year-old Bianca Monroe has inherited a deadly curse.
Determined to break free before it kills her, she enrolls in the respected school to confront the cunning witch who cast the curse: Miss Mabel.
Bianca finds herself faced with dark magic she didn’t expect, with lessons more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. Will Bianca have the courage to save herself from the curse, or will Miss Mabel’s sinister plan be too powerful?
Miss Mabel’s School for Girls is the first novel in The Network Series, an exciting new fantasy collection. A gripping tale about the struggle to survive, it will take you to a new place and time, one you’ll never want to leave.
Katie Cross looking not too worried to be here.I love when an author agrees to be interviewed here in the Glitter Globe.
Today’s
Welcome to my glittery domain, Katie Cross. May the odds be ever in your favor!
S. R. KarfeltIs it true that you wrote MMSFG in seven weeks? (Please lie, WOA took me five years.) Yes. I did write the first draft in 7 weeks. The subsequent 8 million drafts took over a year after that.
In order for my readers to get to know you a bit, please describe your ideal footwear. My ideal footwear looks like a pair of flip flops, walks like a pair of flip flops, and does not flap like a pair of flip flops.
Now describe what you wish your shoes could be if they could be enchanted to be comfortable no matter what they were. Practicality is for the birds.
We both like to run, and unless you run with your arms pumping madly and your feet doing what some people condescendingly call “walking”, you probably not only write faster but run faster than me too. Please feel free to brag about your most impressive running accomplishment here. Most impressive? I dehydrated myself almost to the point of collapsing in the desert on my first marathon. I didn't see another soul from mile 13-26.2. Okay, I saw two people. And carrion birds. And vultures. And funny images in the heat waves.
Have you ever gone fishing on a hot summer day, sitting on the dock when the bank gave away, with your hands in your pockets and your pockets in your pants, watching the fishes do the hootchie-kootchie dance? Well kind of. I actually taught the fish the dance first.
Let’s say you could have a museum filled with anything, what would you fill it with? Brownies, but mostly brownie batter. I'd like to see the progression of brownies, and try a lot of different mint flavored brownies. But I'd dedicate a special room to gluten free brownies, then I'd dunk my face in the batter and forget who I was for awhile.
Judging by some of your social media comments concerning your own Dear Hubby, I’ve concluded that we’ve both married based almost entirely on If you could institute one policy to make the world a better place, what would it be? Stop judging my flip flops.
Thanks for playing today, Katie! If you’d like to get to know Katie better, and you do, she’s a blast, you can find out more about her by clicking right HERE.
April 28, 2014
BLANK - A Shieldmaiden's Voice - Available May 15, 2014!
Some people have a hard time fitting into the world.
All of her life Carole Blank has been a little faster, a little stronger, and a little uncooperative. The voices in her head want her to follow their rules, and although they’re usually right, Carole doesn’t always listen.
As a Marine, Carole’s unnatural abilities and penchant for fighting are useful. Unfortunately, her inability to follow orders over the demands of the voices gets her into trouble.
Enter Lieutenant Colonel Ted White, a man she is inexplicably drawn to. A man who sentences her to the life of an assassin while denying her the only thing she’s ever wanted—him.
Follow the journey of a woman born in the wrong world, as she fights for a place to belong and sacrifices everything for those she loves.
BLANK is a prequel and Book Two in the Warrior of the Ages series.
by S. R. KarfeltThere will be an on-line release party with excellent and awesome giveaways. You can
S. R. Karfelt/Nicole Mason Photographyparticipate right here on release day. I’m looking forward to you meeting Carole Blank. She’s a little amazing, a little scary, and not a little unique. Her story is both heart-breaking and an affirmation to the will of the human spirit.
