Constance Burris's Blog, page 11

My List of Sexiness and Inspiration

+Madhuri Blaylock  tagged me a long ass time ago to post something about something.  I couldn't find the original post.  I think it had something to do with my favorite sexy people.... Maybe. But I drafted a post after she tagged me, I just never posted it... Well here it goes. I ended up just waxing poetic about some of my favorite characters and people. Enjoy.



Akasha and AaliyahEvery time I create a protagonist/antagonist I name her Akasha. That means Crazy Jade from Black Beauty was originally named Akasha. I love "Queen of the Damned" by Anne Rice and I love Aaliyah so you can imagine the complete happiness I was in when Aaliyah was cast as the baddest, oldest bitch in all of vampireville.



Drizzt Once I read +R.A. Salvore +R.A. Salvatore  The Dark Elf Trilogy I was hooked. A dark skinned elf and a hero.  There were so few dark skinned anyting in fantasy so again, I fell in love with Drizzt and pretty much I was hooked on elves, dwarves, and dragons after that. I yearned to have my own black boy immersed in a land of elves and dwarves so he was one of the inspirations behind Coal.
Octavia ButlerI heart her because she wrote Wild Seed and opened my mind to gender bending, race bending, shape bending. Did I mention my daughter's middle name is Octavia?

Angela Basset  as Mace in Strange DaysIt was the first movie I saw that had a black female in a lead role in a sci fi movie. She kicked serious ass, she looked fine as hell, and she got her guy at the end.  Ralph Fiennes became an instant heart throb for me after that.  I even think he's sexy as Voldemort

Nnedi Okorafor +Nnedi Okorafor  I love her writing. After reading Zahrah the Windseeker, I decided to drop my super complicated sci-fi novel and do a fantasy YA instead.  I met her at a conference. And Ohemgee. She has a beautiful spirit. I've met a few writers from my con-going days, but this woman was just awe inspiring.


Maya Angelou Cause she wrote the poem that taught me that I was a Phenomenal Woman and that  I am the Hope and the Dream of the Slave so I better act accordingly. Did I tell you my daughter was named after her, too.  Well I just did.  Maya Octavia Burris. A physical representation of my hopes and dreams.

Saturday Scenes: COAL Chapter One, Scene One

Chapter One, Scene One Coal held the recently finished sword at arm’s length. The sentient weapon vibrated in his grasp, urging him to attack, but he tightened his sweaty hands around the leather hilt and ignored the foreign impulses. He’d been forging swords and practicing with the completed weapons long enough to know when to attack and when to bide his time and let the fight come to him. Finally, Grigory, the master swordsmith, advanced. Coal parried, stepping aside and swinging his sword with all of the skill he’d gained from the two years of working the forge. Grigory fell to the ground, effortlessly rolling beneath the sword before he bounced back to his feet.“Is she overwhelming you?” Grigory asked as they faced each other. They had been dueling for the past hour. Sweat dripped from Coal’s forehead, his back, and his arms, but just like all the other times they’d dueled, the swordsmith showed no sign of exertion. “She’s restless.” Coal wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “But I’m in contr—” Grigory rushed forward with an arcing swipe. Coal raised his sword to meet the strike. For a moment, their strengths were equal. His sword vibrated in enjoyment as Coal threatened to overcome Grigory.Forcing the sword’s excitement to the back of his mind, Coal focused all of his strength into his upper body and pushed outward.Overwhelmed, Grigory leaped back.During the two years of forging swords and sparring with Grigory, Coal had never had the strength or skill to complete such a move. For an instant, he let himself—and the sword—enjoy their accomplishment. He was so distracted by his small victory that he almost didn’t notice one of Grigory’s legs heading towards his knees. Coal jumped just in time and landed to find a sword pointed at his neck. Grigory lowered his blade. “You were distracted.” “I almost had you,” Coal said with an intense rush of pride and confidence.“You did not. You’ve been slow and lazy all morning.”“But I finally completed the block.”“Not with any speed. You’re gaining strength and height, but that’s nothing to be proud of. What is the point of having strength if you are beheaded because it slows you down?”Coal let Grigory’s words sink in while his breathing slowed. “You’re right. I’ve been a little distracted. I’m supposed to meet Princess Chalcedony soon.” He glanced outside, trying to gauge the time. The sun was low in the morning sky, but the springtime rays were much stronger than they were when he’d arrived. Time for him to go.Grigory lifted the eyebrow above his remaining eye. The other had been gouged out 200 years ago when he served as a soldier instead of a swordsmith. “How long has it been since you’ve seen her?”Coal bit his lip while he pretended to think about the answer he already knew. “Two months.” Grigory took the sword from Coal’s hands. It would be presented to Chalcedony on her coronation as queen. Magic reinforced the silver shaft, and its black leather hilt emanated heat and welcomed touch. By far, it was the best sword Coal had helped Grigory forge. “Before you go, I have something to ask you.” Grigory kept his black hair short and his beard trimmed. Both elven and dwarf blood coursed through his veins. As the only known half-breed of his kind, he had the height of an elf and the thick, muscular build of a dwarf.“What is it?” Coal asked. The way Grigory spoke made Coal wonder if he’d done something wrong besides being too distracted during the fight.“I’m getting older,” Grigory said. “I need to choose a full-time apprentice, and it needs to be soon. Do you want the position?” Coal’s breath caught in his throat. Had he heard right? “I thought I was just helping out until you found a full-time apprentice?”“Well you’ve passed the two-year audition and now I’m offering you the job.”“But humans can’t do magic.” It was one of the first things Coal had learned when he’d arrived in the fey realm eleven years ago. Powerful swords were impossible to make without magic. Magic made the swords stronger, lighter, and prevented someone else from using it.“I’m half dwarf and half elf,” Grigory said. “For years, my master refused to teach me because he didn’t think a half-breed could make a great sword. Now I am the best sword maker in Everleaf. It’s what’s inside that makes a good swordsmith. I believe you could be one of the greats.”Coal had been coming to the forge almost every day for two years, but he was allowed to come and go as he pleased. With a full apprenticeship, he’d eat, breathe, and sleep smithing. He’d have to move out of his home. “I don’t know, Grigory. I need time to think about it.” Coal enjoyed forging swords. He especially loved practicing with them, ensuring that they would endure battle, but he didn’t know if he wanted to make it his life’s work.“Your childhood friend is soon to be queen. There will not be room or tolerance for a lovesick human.”Coal was hurt but not surprised by Grigory’s words. No one said anything to his face, but he heard the servants and soldiers gossiping about him and Princess Chalcedony when they thought he wasn’t listening. “You’re right, but give me time. It’s not easy choosing one life over another.”Grigory’s eye softened. “You and the future queen still have much growing to do. Decide soon. I won’t wait long.”Coal glanced back towards the rising sun. “It’s time for me to go.”Grigory waved his hand as if to swat a fly.

Book Review: THE PARK by Voss Foster

Amazon Excerpt:

12 Contestants 20,000,000 Dollars 1 Survivor 

The Park: Evenstad Media's newest reality show. There are no laws. There are no rules. The only goal is to stay alive. But in Evenstad's arena, things are far from simple. Outfitted with strange new weapons, trapped in the dark, afraid for their lives, it's only a matter of time before somebody takes the first shot. 
And all the while, the world watches. Some in disgust, some rapt, but all feeding Evenstad, and all oblivious to the horrors they're helping fund. By the time anyone notices, will there be time to put an end to it? Or will it be too late?

Sunday mornings I force myself to clean my home. It is not fun.  But I listen to my Kindle and it gives me a reason to listen to good books. The Park (Evenstad Media Presents Book 1) by Voss Foster is not the optimum book to listen to. It was hard to tie down names because there were 12 characters and it was written through chracter journal entries and emails and each section or journal entry were less than two pages.
With that said, the book was still an awesome thrill ride.  I laughed out loud and felt genuine sadness for a few of the characters.  ::sniffles:: I still get sad thinking about it, which is a testimony to the author. ::sniffle::
It had a very big Hunger Games feel except the main characters were teenagers we had adult players inside of a pitch black trailer park. Each player was given medallions with special powers. So it was almost like humans with special abilities forced to fight to the death.  There is much more I can say about this book, but I don’t want to spoil anything.
I definitely recommend The Park. And its on Kindle Unlimited for 99 cents!
Diversity: 5 it was Impressively diverse. There is a prominent lesbian couple for anyone looking for books with LGTBQ characters. There is one black guy named Justice, and maybe two more People of Color but race was never really stressed in the story.  It kinda kept you guessing, which I liked.   Story: 5Characterization:4

Coming Soon: Cover Reveal

Remember that post where I posted all of my Coal covers Well I decided to do one more. I'm planning on having a cover reveal in June but if you join my email list, you will get to see it much sooner. I know you want to...  

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That Writer Life

Although, I've been spending more time writing, I've been spending less time blogging. So I'm going to experiment with more journal like posts. I'm hoping that I'll get me to just plain post more. and I also need to schedule blogging into my writing times AND STICK WITH IT.I've been suffering with bouts of depression due to some changes I've made in my life (It's no big deal and you don't have to worry about me). There isn't much I can do about this besides, be aware of my negative thought patterns and ride this out. If it gets any worse, I'll have to make more changes. But I'm hoping I can ride out these bouts of self-consciousness and depression because I know there is a rainbow on the other side. I'm thinking writing positive posts first thing in the morning on Instagram might help. I want a pretty author website like Katie Trattner and Gina Drayer. So I was playing around trying to do it myself, but no. I just ended up blowing up my blog.  I just need to scrape up some money and pay someone. Reading has been helping with depression. Who knew?       I've always read for pleasure, but it's great medication.  Great books I've read so far and I'll plan on a doing a book review soon: Modern Girl's Guide To Vacation Flings by +Gina Drayer  The Park (Evenstad Media Presents Book 1) by +Voss Foster  and None of the Above  My editor got back to me. He said nice things.  Really nice things. He made my depressing week much better. I should have Coal back tomorrow.I was supposed to spend two weeks doing a launch/marketing plan while Coal was with the editor. Yeah..between work and just not knowing what I should do, I didn't do much planning. I did read Book Marketing is Dead: Book Promotion Secrets You MUST Know BEFORE You Publish by Derek Murphy. I thought it was a great read and full of good advice.  Again, I need to sit down and develop a plan on how I will implement the suggestions.I want to do a post waxing poetically about +Rayne Hall  and her writerly books including Writer's Craft Power Pack 1: 5-Book Bundle.  She just bumped Sean Platt and his book  Write. Publish. Repeat out of the top of my favorite writer books.I've been spending way too much time at Panera Bread writing.  I wonder if they are getting tired of me.

Diverse Book Tours: The Beast of Callaire by Saruuh Kelsey (Part I)

Welcome to the The Beast of Callaire Blog Tour! Word of Caution:
This book contains PoC protagonists, Queer themes and all types of awesomeness. Don't say we didn't warn you when you can't put it down!
The Beast of CallaireSaruuh Kelsey


ISBN: 978-1291790603/1291790608Publisher: SmashwordsPages: 190Genre: YA Fantasy/LGBTQIA





Synopsis:Yasmin is a descendant of the Manticore. A creature of Persian mythology.

A Legendary.

But she doesn't want to be. Unlike the Legendaries in The Red, Yasmin wants nothing more than an ordinary life. She tries to fool herself into believing that she doesn't change into a beast every full moon and savagely kill innocent people.

But when Yasmin starts hearing a voice in her head and is drawn into dreams that aren't her own, she is led to Fray-a girl who once saved Yasmin from hunters, who has shadowy memories that hint at her having Legendary magic-and Yasmin is catapulted into a life of Majick and malevolence.
Despite the danger around her and Fray, Yasmin might finally have a chance at being a normal girl with a normal girlfriend. But with Legendaries being killed, a war between the Gods brewing, and the beast inside Yasmin becoming stronger each moon, her mundane life is little more than a dream.

Spark your interest? Click below for the available purchase links!
For those of you who adore AmazonOr Maybe you're more of a Barnes and Nobles girl...Outside of the USA?We got you covered with Book Depository!Free delivery to most countries!Don't forget to add The Beast of Callaire to your TBR list
About SarahSaruuh Kelsey is the author of several novels for young adults, including the free Lux Guardians series and The Legend Mirror series. Her latest releases include THE BEAST OF CALLAIRE, the first novel of a new YA fantasy series, and a collection of diverse fairy tales in LOVE IN THE GILDED AGE. Find her online at saruuhkelsey.co.uk.Author LinksKeep updated with all of Saruuh's updates and new releases! Looking for some stellar Diverse Fiction recs? Saruuh's got you covered! Check out her awesome review site!Tweet with Saruuh @LuxguardiansBecome Saruuh's fan and friend on Goodreads!

Diverse Book Tours: The Beast of Callaire by Saruuh Kelsey (Part II)

In addition to the awesome excerpt and author intro by Saruuh Kelsey, I get to share....

10 Random Things About The Beast of Callaire
1 – The Beast of Callaire was originally called The Red of Callaire, after the group of Legendary descendants Yasmin is a part of2 – In another book, Fray might have been the main character. She grew up thinking she was human, only to find out she can do extraordinary things when she meets an inhuman love interest who opens Fray’s eyes to the Legendary world.3 – One of the characters isn’t who they claim to be4 – The characters in The Beast of Callaire who are descended from mythical creatures are shape shifters, and change forms at every full moon5 – I’m terrible for matchmaking, and I want all my characters to find love and be happy. I’m learning that not every character needs romantic love to be happy6 – Fray and Yasmin find each other by accidental telepathy. It’s exactly as awkward and frightening as it sounds7 – The main character, Yasmin, has three surnames—one human, one from her God ancestor, one from her Creature ancestor8 – Each Legend Mirror book cover will feature a different character that is pivotal to the book9 – Yasmin has a hamster named Currer Bell10 – The Beast of Callaire will have a new cover in the summer, and it will be green!
Just in case you missed it, here are the buy links: 

For those of you who adore AmazonOr Maybe you're more of a Barnes and Nobles girl...Outside of the USA?We got you covered with Book Depository!Free delivery to most countries!
Don't forget to add The Beast of Callaire to your TBR list

10 Random Facts About Maybe Baby & Maybe Tonight

Title: Maybe Baby & Maybe Tonight
Author Name: Kim Golden
ISBN: 9789198174601/9789198174618
Publisher: Echo Books-Stockholm
Formats Available: Ebook & Paperback/ebook only for Maybe TonightGenre:IR/MC Women's Fiction Release Date: March 2014


As many of my readers know, I heart traveling.  Up until a year ago, it was my hobby, but after traveling to every place on my bucket list (except Australia), I decided to make a living debt free the next priority. Now all I do is dream.  I dream about living overseas, so I'm super excited to host Kim Golden. She's living my dream by living in another country and she's writing characters that are doing the same.  Like the protag in the Like Maybe Baby....


10 Random Facts About Maybe Baby & Maybe Tonight
1.      Laney & Mads’s affair commences in the Hotel Kong Arthur, which is my hotel of choice when I visit Copenhagen. Great location, insanely comfortable beds, and my husband swears they serve the world’s best gin and tonic.2.      Mads has a tattoo on his arm of the date he met Laney. When Laney sees it, she realizes just how serious he is about the possibility of a future with her.3.      In Maybe Tonight, Mads often meets at Nørrebro Brygghus or Mikkeller & Friends for beers. Both places actually exist and are great places to sample Danish craft beer and people-watch.4.      Mads’s workshop is based on a furniture making workshop I visited while in Copenhagen. Olle, the man who owned the workshop I visited, was previously a freelance set designer for the Royal Danish Ballet.5.      Both Laney and Mads are only children, and they both lost their mothers when they were teenagers. Laney lost her mother to breast cancer. Mads lost his mother to severe head injuries suffered in a traffic accident.6.      Laney always told people she never wanted children. In a way, this was true. She was afraid that her own fractured childhood would prevent her from ever being able to be a good mother. 7.      Jeg elsker digmeans I love you in Danish.8.      Niklas’s summerhouse in Skåne really exists. A dear friend owns it, and I go there every summer for a few days to enjoy good company, tranquillity and the full moon.9.      Arijana Karcic of Cover It! Designs designed the beautiful covers for Maybe Baby and Maybe Tonight.10.  In Maybe Tonight, Mads proposes to Laney but they don’t get chance to actually get married. Have no fear—in Maybe Tomorrow, you’ll get a glimpse of their wedding.

Seven Things About Writing

Philip Overby challenged me tell seven things about my writing life that you may not know (or care) about. Here ya go:
1.      Last year, I promised myself to publish one book a year for five years. I have it in my head that after five books I'll become a magical success and a millionaire. I know that's naïve, but the point is to finish. 2.      Last year I published two short stories. I'm not counting them as novels, so I'm publishing two novels this year. Coal and Black Beauty.  Next year I'm releasing be COAL Book 2. I'm not sure what the other two books will be yet. 3.      COAL was partly inspired by a super sad movie I saw when I as kid named I Know My Name Is Steven. 
4.      Recently, I read that all novels are some form of fan fiction. Translation, there is nothing original under the sun. So most of my writing has been formed by reading1.      R.A. Salvatore's the Legend of Drizzt, 2.      Holly Black's Modern Fairy Tale series,  3.      Wild Seed by Octavia Butler4.      City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare 
5.       This year I've averaged 20 hours per week of writing. I was lucky if I got five hours previous last year. I'm learning time makes all the difference. 6.      I didn't know there was a such a thing as a creative writing major while I was in college. 
7.      I didn't know receiving fan mail would feel so good. Send me all the fan mail. 

Just Between Friends: A Shopping Review

I am a minimalist and I am on a mission to pay off my mortgage and student loans in the next five years. So I avoid shopping if possible. But when I do shop, I like to buy nice expensive things that I know will last for a while. Instead of cheaper items that may not stand up to the test of time. So when a few Oklahoma Woman Bloggers were given $20 to shop at Just Between Friends to see exactly how much we could buy. I was curious to see how minimalism would work with what I thought would be a store full of used clothes.
I was excited because I didn't think there would be anything there for bigger kids. I had this idea in  my head of a thrift store, but I was very, very wrong. There was a large inventory full of nicely used and new clothes.  When I ran into school uniform heaven, I ended up spending an extra 10 dollars. It would have been more if I had bought in a credit card. My ten year old has to wear uniforms to school and there were an entire section ripe for the taking.
I ended up with 3 pair of uniform shorts and a t-shirt for 30 dollars  I regret this now; I should have bought more pants. The day I went shopping it was a beautiful 70 degrees outside. Now it's like 18 degrees. But as soon as it warms up again my son will have lots of shorts to wear. 
Anyways, I would totally return to a JBF sale. The selection was off the hook.