Realm Lovejoy's Blog, page 4
December 7, 2017
SPEAR - First Chapter Excerpt Preview
I selected a portion of the first chapter of SPEAR (Le Fay series 4) to share with you all. I hope you enjoy it and that you'll read the rest when the book comes out 12/12 Tuesday on Amazon!
Now for the first time, I feel centered and ready to live the life I’m meant to—and that’s using magic for what I believe in.I walk to the café car. I’m wearing sunglasses to hide my identity, the collar of my coat pulled up to shield me further. Yet passengers are glancing at me and whispering, eyes wide with wonder.Approaching the counter, I search my pockets for coins to buy a cup of coffee. An elderly woman steps forward and puts a few pounds down onto the counter. “I will buy your drink, dearie,” she says.I blink with surprise. “Thank you.”“I should thank you. You’re the savior of King Arthur.”She pats my arm as she walks away. I marvel at her words, still not used to being considered a hero. I’ve spent a long time being a villain, after all.Above the counter, the TV plays news of Camelot, posting photos of Merlin and Arthur. My heart quickens its number of beats at the sight of Merlin. I turn and walk back to my seat on the train.The intercom chimes with an announcement: “There’s been an accident on the tracks of Camelot Station. We apologize for the inconvenience but ask passengers headed for Camelot to disembark at Logres Station instead.”I scowl at the news. I’ll have to grab a taxi to get into Camelot, and I don’t have enough cash to make it there. All I have is twenty pounds, and it could easily cost double that. I’ll need someone from Camelot to pick me up—someone who owns a car. Merlin has one, but I definitely don’t want to call him. Our friendship is still in a questionable state, and at this point I’m not sure that we’ll ever repair it.I pull my cell phone out of my coat pocket and search my contact list for the first number that comes up that’s not Merlin’s.
+++
The train stops in front of Logres Station. I get out and stand for a moment on the platform. Through the crowd of coats, I look around awkwardly, feeling like a lost child. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a place that was so bustling with people. I feel small and out of place. The rain begins to fall, and drops slip through the collar of my coat. I shiver as I pull my luggage and walk past newsstands, hoping to catch sight of a knight in uniform—surely that’d be easy to spot. Maybe it’s because of the cold or being lost, but I begin to think that returning to Camelot was a mistake.“Hey, you looked right past me,” a voice says from behind.I whirl around.Lancelot stands there, holding an umbrella over me.
Hope you liked the sample! I'll share artwork and music on Monday!
--Realm
Now for the first time, I feel centered and ready to live the life I’m meant to—and that’s using magic for what I believe in.I walk to the café car. I’m wearing sunglasses to hide my identity, the collar of my coat pulled up to shield me further. Yet passengers are glancing at me and whispering, eyes wide with wonder.Approaching the counter, I search my pockets for coins to buy a cup of coffee. An elderly woman steps forward and puts a few pounds down onto the counter. “I will buy your drink, dearie,” she says.I blink with surprise. “Thank you.”“I should thank you. You’re the savior of King Arthur.”She pats my arm as she walks away. I marvel at her words, still not used to being considered a hero. I’ve spent a long time being a villain, after all.Above the counter, the TV plays news of Camelot, posting photos of Merlin and Arthur. My heart quickens its number of beats at the sight of Merlin. I turn and walk back to my seat on the train.The intercom chimes with an announcement: “There’s been an accident on the tracks of Camelot Station. We apologize for the inconvenience but ask passengers headed for Camelot to disembark at Logres Station instead.”I scowl at the news. I’ll have to grab a taxi to get into Camelot, and I don’t have enough cash to make it there. All I have is twenty pounds, and it could easily cost double that. I’ll need someone from Camelot to pick me up—someone who owns a car. Merlin has one, but I definitely don’t want to call him. Our friendship is still in a questionable state, and at this point I’m not sure that we’ll ever repair it.I pull my cell phone out of my coat pocket and search my contact list for the first number that comes up that’s not Merlin’s.
+++
The train stops in front of Logres Station. I get out and stand for a moment on the platform. Through the crowd of coats, I look around awkwardly, feeling like a lost child. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a place that was so bustling with people. I feel small and out of place. The rain begins to fall, and drops slip through the collar of my coat. I shiver as I pull my luggage and walk past newsstands, hoping to catch sight of a knight in uniform—surely that’d be easy to spot. Maybe it’s because of the cold or being lost, but I begin to think that returning to Camelot was a mistake.“Hey, you looked right past me,” a voice says from behind.I whirl around.Lancelot stands there, holding an umbrella over me.
Hope you liked the sample! I'll share artwork and music on Monday!
--Realm
December 5, 2017
SPEAR - Cover Reveal
Here it is! The cover for SPEAR (Le Fay Series 4)! The ebook is scheduled to release next week on 12/12.
The tides of change are crashing down. Can Morgan le Fay save Camelot once and for all?
Summoned back to Camelot after a year away, Morgan le Fay wonders if she is ready to face her past and serve King Arthur.
When the search for the missing Grail leads to another relic only spoken of in legend—the even more powerful Spear of Destiny—Morgan knows she must find it before it gets into the wrong hands. The ever-elusive Luminaries are on the hunt too, and they will stop at nothing to rule in Arthur’s place.
If Morgan cannot find the Spear before the Luminaries do, Camelot’s fragile peace will come hurtling down. And with it, King Arthur. Little does Morgan know that to succeed, she must face the darkest power that lurks within her.
In this riveting conclusion to the Le Fay series, Morgan is at her most powerful—and
Now the quartet covers are complete:
Hope you like the final cover for the series! I will post an excerpt on Thursday!
--Realm
The tides of change are crashing down. Can Morgan le Fay save Camelot once and for all?
Summoned back to Camelot after a year away, Morgan le Fay wonders if she is ready to face her past and serve King Arthur.
When the search for the missing Grail leads to another relic only spoken of in legend—the even more powerful Spear of Destiny—Morgan knows she must find it before it gets into the wrong hands. The ever-elusive Luminaries are on the hunt too, and they will stop at nothing to rule in Arthur’s place.
If Morgan cannot find the Spear before the Luminaries do, Camelot’s fragile peace will come hurtling down. And with it, King Arthur. Little does Morgan know that to succeed, she must face the darkest power that lurks within her.
In this riveting conclusion to the Le Fay series, Morgan is at her most powerful—and
Now the quartet covers are complete:
Hope you like the final cover for the series! I will post an excerpt on Thursday!
--Realm
December 4, 2017
SPEAR - Back Cover Copy
Below is the official description for SPEAR (Le Fay series 4) developed by my team of editors. If you aren't caught up on the series, it may be spoilery so you might not want to read it until you are finished with GRAIL.
If you've finished reading GRAIL, the description for SPEAR is below:
The tides of change are crashing down. Can Morgan le Fay save Camelot once and for all?
Summoned back to Camelot after a year away, Morgan le Fay wonders if she is ready to face her past and serve King Arthur.
When the search for the missing Grail leads to another relic only spoken of in legend—the even more powerful Spear of Destiny—Morgan knows she must find it before it gets into the wrong hands. The ever-elusive Luminaries are on the hunt too, and they will stop at nothing to rule in Arthur’s place.
If Morgan cannot find the Spear before the Luminaries do, Camelot’s fragile peace will come hurtling down. And with it, King Arthur. Little does Morgan know that to succeed, she must face the darkest power that lurks within her.
In this riveting conclusion to the Le Fay series, Morgan is at her most powerful—and
Hope you're excited for the book! Stay tuned for the cover reveal this week and also for the first chapter preview!
--Realm
If you've finished reading GRAIL, the description for SPEAR is below:
The tides of change are crashing down. Can Morgan le Fay save Camelot once and for all?
Summoned back to Camelot after a year away, Morgan le Fay wonders if she is ready to face her past and serve King Arthur.
When the search for the missing Grail leads to another relic only spoken of in legend—the even more powerful Spear of Destiny—Morgan knows she must find it before it gets into the wrong hands. The ever-elusive Luminaries are on the hunt too, and they will stop at nothing to rule in Arthur’s place.
If Morgan cannot find the Spear before the Luminaries do, Camelot’s fragile peace will come hurtling down. And with it, King Arthur. Little does Morgan know that to succeed, she must face the darkest power that lurks within her.
In this riveting conclusion to the Le Fay series, Morgan is at her most powerful—and
Hope you're excited for the book! Stay tuned for the cover reveal this week and also for the first chapter preview!
--Realm
December 1, 2017
Le Fay Series - Fan Art Showcase: Morgan and Arthur - SWORD
Happy Friday, everyone! I thought I'd share this beautiful piece of work inspired by the Le Fay series created by palespring:
It truly reminds me of SWORD!
Palespring also wrote a nice review of HENGE here.
"Henge promises lots of mysteries and action. The most interesting thing is that the story goes deeper in every page and you realize that Lovejoy’s world is more complex and full of history than you thought it would be. The book surprised me in a good way!" --palespring
Huge thanks to all readers who share their thoughts on the series with me! It's very encouraging.
Yours,
--Realm
It truly reminds me of SWORD!
Palespring also wrote a nice review of HENGE here.
"Henge promises lots of mysteries and action. The most interesting thing is that the story goes deeper in every page and you realize that Lovejoy’s world is more complex and full of history than you thought it would be. The book surprised me in a good way!" --palespring
Huge thanks to all readers who share their thoughts on the series with me! It's very encouraging.
Yours,
--Realm
November 30, 2017
SPEAR - Winter 2017
Get ready for more ice magic this winter! SPEAR (Le Fay series, book 4) ebook version is schedule to be released this December before the holidays!
I will keep you informed on the paperback's release date, which will occur this winter, though it may not necessarily be ready for the holidays due to the amount of time it takes to review the proof. ETA is January at the latest.
Hints:
-New mystical location!
-New Royal Relic!
-Watch out for the villain!
-More characters get spotlight time: Merlin, Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Elaine, Tristan, Isolde.
-Epic battle!
-More magic than all previous books!
-Characters are a bit older for the last book so you will get to see how they've grown.
-Will Morgan and Merlin speak to each other again?
-IT WILL CONCLUDE MORGAN'S JOURNEY!
Hope you'll see Morgan finish her journey this winter!
--Realm
I will keep you informed on the paperback's release date, which will occur this winter, though it may not necessarily be ready for the holidays due to the amount of time it takes to review the proof. ETA is January at the latest.
Hints:
-New mystical location!
-New Royal Relic!
-Watch out for the villain!
-More characters get spotlight time: Merlin, Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Elaine, Tristan, Isolde.
-Epic battle!
-More magic than all previous books!
-Characters are a bit older for the last book so you will get to see how they've grown.
-Will Morgan and Merlin speak to each other again?
-IT WILL CONCLUDE MORGAN'S JOURNEY!
Hope you'll see Morgan finish her journey this winter!
--Realm
November 28, 2017
News Week - 11/28/17
This November has been a busy month! I went to Kauai before the week of Thanksgiving for a short trip. I almost made it to my fifth travel destination (within the past couple months) but succumbed to a cold.
Other than travel, there's a lot of projects going on!
--Update on SWORD audiobook -- I've decided to release this in Jan/Feb to accommodate SPEAR's release schedule.
--All book sales from Thanksgiving week and weekend went to Holiday Stockings for Homeless Children. Thanks to everyone who purchased a book!
--I just got done filming my first short film on Sunday with a great crew! Post to follow.
--More posts for SPEAR this week and all of December. Stay tuned!
Thank you,
--Realm
November 2, 2017
Le Fay Series - Book Four Title Reveal!
Did you guys guess the fourth book's title right? I've been naming each book after an Arthurian relic with a five-letter word and that trend continues for the finale!
As it so happens, there's another Arthurian relic that is very powerful and not as famous as the Grail and Excalibur. When I designed all four main Royal Relics, I knew one would be the most powerful and that I would save it for the last book.
Here's the title of the final book in the Le Fay series!
Spear -- Inspired by the mystical lance used in Arthurian tales that's been associated with the Spear of Destiny.
I'm looking forward to sharing the release date for winter plus cover reveal!
--Realm
As it so happens, there's another Arthurian relic that is very powerful and not as famous as the Grail and Excalibur. When I designed all four main Royal Relics, I knew one would be the most powerful and that I would save it for the last book.
Here's the title of the final book in the Le Fay series!
Spear -- Inspired by the mystical lance used in Arthurian tales that's been associated with the Spear of Destiny.
I'm looking forward to sharing the release date for winter plus cover reveal!
--Realm
November 1, 2017
Le Fay Series - Book 4 Promo Starting
Starting tomorrow, I'll be talking about the last book in the Le Fay series! I can hardly believe this time has come. I hope you're all caught up with the last three books!
As a reminder, GRAIL is now available as paperback:
The first book HENGE is available as an audiobook as well, with the second book SWORD coming out this November! Isla has done an amazing job with the narration yet again.
Tomorrow I'm revealing the title of Book 4. Can you guess what it is? It's five letters and it's another relic.
When I finished writing the last book in the series it was like...
Stay tuned!
--Realm
As a reminder, GRAIL is now available as paperback:
The first book HENGE is available as an audiobook as well, with the second book SWORD coming out this November! Isla has done an amazing job with the narration yet again.
Tomorrow I'm revealing the title of Book 4. Can you guess what it is? It's five letters and it's another relic.
When I finished writing the last book in the series it was like...
Stay tuned!
--Realm
October 31, 2017
Le Fay Series - Happy Halloween 2017!
Happy Halloween! Halloween snuck up on me this year. We celebrated the Halloween weekend by going to see The Barber of Seville at the Seattle Opera. It's a fun, lively opera and the singer for Figaro, Will Liverman, was truly talented!
I also carved a pumpkin, made pumpkin pie, and dinner of brined bone-in pork chops with a side of apple cider jam, and pumpkin macaroni. It was a success!
I made you a Halloween card using an illustration from GRAIL, which contains plenty of spooky scenes:
I have doodled the Le Fay characters in Halloween costumes each year and this will probably be the last ones for Halloween since the series will be wrapped up by next October. So this time, you'll get two doodles!
Lancelot dressed as a knight:
Guinevere dressed as a medieval queen:
More news on the 4th book coming your way Thursday!
--Realm
I also carved a pumpkin, made pumpkin pie, and dinner of brined bone-in pork chops with a side of apple cider jam, and pumpkin macaroni. It was a success!
I made you a Halloween card using an illustration from GRAIL, which contains plenty of spooky scenes:
I have doodled the Le Fay characters in Halloween costumes each year and this will probably be the last ones for Halloween since the series will be wrapped up by next October. So this time, you'll get two doodles!
Lancelot dressed as a knight:
Guinevere dressed as a medieval queen:
More news on the 4th book coming your way Thursday!
--Realm
October 24, 2017
News Week - 10/24/17
It's been a busy autumn of traveling so far. After getting back from Japan, I went to Whistler, and then the next week, I was off to the east coast for my cousin's wedding. My husband and I stopped by New York to see the opera Turandot at the MET. I've been wanting to see it forever and it was truly the most spectacular set I've ever seen. I loved every minute of it.
Photo of outside the MET. This fountain always reminds me of the movie, Moonstruck:
One of my new novels is set in NY for part of it, so it was also great to take setting notes:
The following day, we flew into Boston:
From Boston, we drove to New Hampshire, near White Mountain, for the wedding. It was a gorgeous fall wedding by the lakeside forest! I'm so happy for my cousin!
Me and my brother at our cousin's wedding:
Next month, I also have a couple more travels coming up. Phew!
What's going on with books?
--The fourth Le Fay book is due this winter. It's currently going through a line edit and will soon go to copy edit. I will be announcing the title next week. Can you guess what it'll be? Henge, Sword, Grail, and... (?) Hint: It's another five-letter word title. If you guess right, I'll send you a present. (Offer ends after someones guesses right and/or title is announced obviously.)
--The audiobook version of SWORD will be out soon.
--I am putting a new novel on submission this winter!
Stay tuned for a lot of updates this autumn and winter!
--Realm
Photo of outside the MET. This fountain always reminds me of the movie, Moonstruck:
One of my new novels is set in NY for part of it, so it was also great to take setting notes:
The following day, we flew into Boston:
From Boston, we drove to New Hampshire, near White Mountain, for the wedding. It was a gorgeous fall wedding by the lakeside forest! I'm so happy for my cousin!
Me and my brother at our cousin's wedding:
Next month, I also have a couple more travels coming up. Phew!
What's going on with books?
--The fourth Le Fay book is due this winter. It's currently going through a line edit and will soon go to copy edit. I will be announcing the title next week. Can you guess what it'll be? Henge, Sword, Grail, and... (?) Hint: It's another five-letter word title. If you guess right, I'll send you a present. (Offer ends after someones guesses right and/or title is announced obviously.)
--The audiobook version of SWORD will be out soon.
--I am putting a new novel on submission this winter!
Stay tuned for a lot of updates this autumn and winter!
--Realm
