Helen B. Henderson's Blog, page 15

Hooked on Imprisoned in Stone, Vengeance #MFRWHooks

For the next several weeks, the posts will showcase magic of a darker kind. Imprisoned in Stone.

For the crime of healing without payment, the Brethren imprisoned Dylan’s soul in stone. Every full moon, they awakened him and renewed the bonds. When the blood dried on the stone, his awareness faded, but during those few brief moments, he had one thought--revenge. He embraces the pain of an awakening to reach out into the world beyond his stone prison. When a mind touches his and hope for escape from his eternal prison soars. However, his possible savior is unaware of her latent magic, the power needed to free him.

To set the stage, Colwynn arrives at the site of the bound mage.

Excerpt:

The arrival of another dozen heavily-armed, brown-robed monks provided the needed opportunity to escape from the intense focus of the leaders of the Brethren. While his father was occupied with reports from the newcomers, Colwynn pulled on the reins. Kai slowed in response to the silent command and horse and man fell back through the column of men until Colwynn rode alone.

The normal sound of insects shaking off the winter died. Even the soft breeze ruffling the leaves stilled as if cut by a blade. Every man stopped, their breaths held. Standing in the stirrups, Colwynn saw Nemor gesture. Instead of a narrow animal trail curving towards the distant mountain peak, a torch-lit path now led straight through the thick clump of trees. Pressed from behind by the two horses of the rear guard, Colwynn followed the rest of the Brethren into a small clearing.

A solitary beam of sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of overhead branches and sparkled on a small black pillar. 

His already stressed nerves tingled. Within the mark, a soul cried out for release. And vengeance?

**  END OF EXCERPT *** 

Buy Links:  ebook sellers  

 

~till next time, Helen

 

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Competition, Dragon Destiny, #wewriwa #SundaySnippit

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Today's excerpt is from the romance-fantasy Dragon Destiny. In celebration of the summer and outdoor activities, a little light-hearted competition.
 

Excerpt:

Seeing she had the attention of the others, Anastasia explained the rest of her plan. “Twelve arrows or bolts to each archer. Five points for the first to empty his quiver. Standard points for hits in the rings. The one with the most points wins.”

“Wins what?” Uaine said. Although his tone was innocent, his smile gave Anastasia an inclination of where his thoughts were going. “A kiss from the fair Lady Anastasia?”

“I do not care to be treated as chattel to be won,” Anastasia retorted. “So I will man the short bow. Uaine, you use your longbow. Fenit is the best archer in the caravan with the crossbow. He even modified his weapon to store multiple quarrels for faster shooting.”

“Make it four targets,” Oran added. “I may only be a ceoltier, but I’ve fired a bolt or two.”

“And the prize?” Uaine persisted.

Destiny cannot beavoided --
especially when love controls the journey. 
Dragon Destiny, Book one of the Dragshi Chronicles. 

Click this link to Purchase Dragon Destiny 

Thanks for visiting. I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt and want more. For more sneak peeks, continue to the next stop in the Weekend Writing Warriors blog.

Hooked on Imprisoned in Stone, Hide #MFRWHooks #Bookqw

An excerpt from Imprisoned in Stone using the #Bookqw "Hide." To set the stage, Maerva is caught in the library by Colwynn's father.

Excerpt:

Colwynn bowed his head to take his father’s censure. At least Maerva was safe. Now he had to figure out how to handle his father’s rage at Maerva’s presence in the library—a place by the Brethren’s decree that allowed no woman. The pain of a blood-letting burned again on his skin and in his brain. He could not allow Maerva to suffer the ritual.

Cuhlwch stalked back and forth between the shelves and the work table. “You nicely explained that female’s presence here, but not yours,” the head of the Brethren growled.

Knowing his father’s mood, Colwynn decided instead of the usual stance of subservience, his best defense was to stand his ground. After summoning a block behind which to hide his true emotions, he raised his gaze to meet his father’s. “I was following your orders regarding control and geas. Some of the notes I found at Tralin’s were missing pieces. I’m trying to find them. To master the ritual, you need to understand it. I’m hoping to find answers to complete the spell.”

A piercing stare ripped through Colwynn. Unlike the earlier occasions when he took a submissive stance, this time he stood with his feet braced shoulder-width apart, his back straight, and his head held high.

* *   END OF EXCERPT   * * 

Buy Links: all sellers / Amazon 

~till next time, Helen

Time Lost, Imprisoned in Stone #wewriwa #SnippitSunday

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Today's excerpt is from the dark fantasy Imprisoned in Stone. This scene follows the post, Did You Do It? After Maerva answers the wizard Tralin asks a question of her own of Maerva's parents. 

And now the Sunday Snippet.
 

Excerpt:

Maerva gulped when Tralin spun and pointed a finger at the village leader and headmistress. “You knew.” 

“No, I did not,” Suliceen objected. “My daughter never said anything to me. Tralin, I always thought your spell was the reason we had so few accidents in the village, and I believed your blessing protected our boats.”

Ruadhan rose to his feet. His cheeks turned ruddier. “My wife did not know about Maerva. I only suspected the last few years.”

The cold fear that had gripped Maerva’s heart melted in a flare of anger. She could have been a mage. Her parents kept it a secret from her.

* * * *

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​I hope you like the snippet I shared from Imprisoned in Stone. Be sure to read the other Weekend Writing Warriors blogs and the #SnippetSunday authors for more great reads. 

~till next time, Helen

Thursday Thirteen - Reminisces

 

 

This Thursday Thirteen is a departure from the books I've authored or visits with the characters. The post is a reminisce of some of the people and places I've visited came about as an organization of a disk drive. There is still a trunk full of photographs that needs to be scanned and organized.

As a result of working as a correspondent, I am always aware of people's privacy issues. Especially in these days of facial recognition software, data mining, and social media. An image that was used as part of a news story, more often than not I won't use for things like a blog post. As such you won't find very many pictures of people in this list. At least easily identifiable people. Which limits the images that I will allow to be released into the world.

When dressed in period garb,
sometimes you can get close
enough for a good shot. Or at least a lucky one.
Monmouth Battlefield,
Revolutionary War Reenactment

Racked and stacked for the night.
The evening became the inspiration for
Echoes From the Valley.


Will the storm pass or not?

Springtime. A quick snap of a picture during
the short time when the cherry blossoms smiled.

A tired kitty cat.

Another tired kitty. My reading buddy who
always had an attitude.

 

We didn't go there for a honeymoon.
Just a side visit during a
camping trip north of the border.

One of the most photographed
places near my childhood farm

 

 

My favorite writing spot. Much better
than doctor's offices and hospital rooms.

 

Same spot, different time of year.


Had to sneak in something about my books.
Meet my table partner She enjoyed helping man
the table at book signings. She even got to sign
one of my books when I was doing
a walk-about at the craft show at a winery.

 

She was so happy that birthday with all
the family gathered for the day.
My caregiving duties might be done,
but the memories linger.

 

One of my favorite pictures. It still needs
a little photo shopping to clear the background.

If any of my published titles intrigue you, for blurbs, excerpts, a free read of the first chapter, and of course, buy links, click on the cover in the banner or for the series, the pull-down menu. And of course, be sure to visit the  http://newthursday13.blogspot.com to see other thirteens.

~till next time, Helen

Chatting About Merging Characters at the BWL Blog

 

Over on the BooksWeLove Blog, I'm sharing some thoughts on the problem of meshing characters when a stand-alone book becomes a series.

~till next time, Helen

Hooked on Imprisoned in Stone, Gloom #mfrwhooks

For the next several weeks, the posts will showcase magic of a darker kind. Imprisoned in Stone

For the crime of healing without payment, the Brethren imprisoned Dylan’s soul in stone. Every full moon, they awakened him and renewed the bonds. When the blood dried on the stone, his awareness faded, but during those few brief moments, he had one thought--revenge. He embraces the pain of an awakening to reach out into the world beyond his stone prison. When a mind touches his and hope for escape from his eternal prison soars. However, his possible savior is unaware of her latent magic, the power needed to free him.

An excerpt using the #Bookqw "Gloom."  To set the stage, Maerva, Gareth, and Colwynn will be leaving in the morning to go to the stronghold of the Brethren.

Excerpt:

The opening of the door shifted her gaze in time to see Tralin enter the room and gesture toward the bed. Maerva remained awake, but her muscles refused to obey commands. Anger flared, how could Tralin put a spell of rest on her. Whatever magic Tralin used sapped Maerva’s will. She could not move or cry out.

Tralin crossed the floor with silent steps. After a long consideration of the leather pouch she clutched in her hand, she slipped it into Maerva’s pack.

The effort to stay awake proved too hard and Maerva’s eyes closed. She sensed Tralin standing over her. After a moment, the older mage ran a light finger down Maerva’s cheek. “I’m sorry, Maerva. I can no longer be of service to you. My greatest treasure is now yours. It will be there when you need it. Until then, it will be with you, unseen.” A single tear dropped onto Maerva’s hand. “Be safe my child.”

The door closed creating a darkness unbroken by either candle or star. In the gloom, tears dampened Maerva’s pillow.

 

**  END OF EXCERPT  **

Buy Links: One click to ebook sellers
Paperback at Amazon

~till next time., Helen

A Wizard's Rage, Imprisoned in Stone #wewriwa #SnippitSunday

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Today's excerpt is from the dark fantasy Imprisoned in Stone. This scene takes place a few mornings after the post, A Question Asked? After Maerva answers the wizard, Tralin asks a question of her own of Maerva's parents. 

A sidenote on the scene. Although I am more of a plotter than pantser, especially when first starting on a work, I didn't even realize how much foreshadowing was put in last week's post and today's. 

And now the Sunday Snippet.
 

Excerpt:

Tralin’s gesture had Maerva moving into the office before her mind could override her muscle and hold her in place. A soft rustle of her robe brought the wizard to Maerva’s side, glaring at her parents. Tralin’s voice rang with authority. “Maerva sees the runes of protection I placed on the main door. They should have faded, but the spell is stronger now than when I cast it.” 

Her mother’s skin paled to an icy translucence. Maerva hung her head awaiting the beating that would be her punishment when the meeting ended.

“There is only one way the spell’s power could change,” Tralin growled. “Someone with gifts has re-spelled the doors.”

Maerva glanced at her father without lifting her head. Ruadhan did not look afraid. He looked angry that someone would challenge the authority he held over his kin and village.

A light hand on her shoulder shifted Maerva’s gaze to the wizard at her side. “Child, did you touch the marks?”

Suddenly afraid, Maerva wanted to run away and hide.

* * * *

Buy Links: 1-Click to all Sale Sites
​I hope you like the snippet I shared from Imprisoned in Stone. Be sure to read the other Weekend Writing Warriors blogs and the #SnippetSunday authors for more great reads. 

~till next time, Helen

Hints of the Future, Imprisoned in Stone #mfrwhooks

Writers are often asked what they were thinking off when a scene written. To tell a secret, sometimes we don't know. When the Year's End dance of Imprisoned in Stone was being written, the muse and the characters controlled the pen.  I was totally surprised when the sprites appeared and danced with Rascal and Kai, magical equines called the seisag.

Winged flecks of gold appeared, first one then another, until a dazzling curtain of light soared over the meadow. “The sprites,” Tralin whispered. “It has been many years since they appeared.”

The thunder of hooves shattered the silence of the meadow. In a flash of white, Rascal galloped out into the center of the sprites. Kai moved like a dark shadow at the stallion’s side. Instead of a solid glowing sphere, the sprites broke apart into four balls that each mirrored the full moon. Clusters of the golden creatures settled on Rascal and Kai, limning them with a ghostly radiance. The remainder formed ethereal versions of the horse and seisag. Real and sprite-created horses cavorted around the meadow to an ancient tune that floated through the night.

However, that is not the end of the confession. The other day I was scanning the story, looking for posts to include in the MFRWAuthor Book Hooks.  Whether it was the passage of years since the book's release or viewing it with a different eye, but I uncovered a foreshadowing I had been unaware of when writing the book.

Neither man, seisag, or horse moved until a solitary moonbeam penetrated the darkness to pin Tralin in a pool of white.

Now that I've revealed a spoiler as to Tralin's fate, I hope you're intrigued enough to check out Imprisoned in Stone. Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and elsewhere. Excerpts, a free read of the first chapter, and buy links available here.

~till next time, Helen

Did You Do It? Imprisoned in Stone #wewriwa #SnippitSunday

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Today's excerpt is from the dark fantasy Imprisoned in Stone. This scene takes place a few mornings after the post, A Female Wizard? The wizard Tralin asks a question. 

A sidenote on the scene. Although I am more of a plotter than pantser, especially when first starting on a work, I didn't even realize how much foreshadowing was put in last week's post and today's. 

And now the Sunday Snippet.
 

Excerpt:

The wizard’s low tones blended so perfectly with the sounds of the sea, they failed to startle the sea birds pecking at the sand. “Your aunt is resting well.” For several minutes she watched the gentle waves, then returned her attention to Maerva’s face. “I have to ask you something, my dear. And I need you to answer me truthfully. Do you see the blue marks on the lintel and frame of the hall door?”

Maerva shrunk into herself, but she could not resist the command in the mage’s tone and answered with a simple, “Yes.” Encouraged by the older woman’s expression, Maerva blurted out the question that had haunted her from her first sight of the glittering symbols. “What do the ciphers mean?”

An unrestrained anger flickered from Tralin. “It means Ruadhan has much to answer for.”

* * * *

Buy Links: 1-Click to all Sale Sites
​I hope you like the snippet I shared from Imprisoned in Stone. Be sure to read the other Weekend Writing Warriors blogs and the #SnippetSunday authors for more great reads. 

~till next time, Helen