Deby Fredericks's Blog, page 15

Figuring It Out

By now I’m well into the second draft of Cleodora. The last major decision I have to make is whether this should be one book or two. This might be something I’ve talked about before. The manuscript right now is 81K words. If I want it for middle grades (grades 3-5), that is much too long. There’s a natural breaking point that could divide it into two 40K-word books. This would have a lot of advantages.

Kids at this age adore fantasies. They can’t get enough. The cozy approach is highly in demand as well. Youth librarians I talk to say that having things like an alternative economy and no warrior class are not the obstacle I thought. Exotic wardrobe would not be an issue.

Having two books would allow me to do it as a duology. I could prepare the first book for November, as originally planned, and the second for next May. I like to do two publications a year, so that fits my desired schedule. The second part also needs more work than the first, and I would have time to do that.

It would give me more flexibility on the title, as a “Cleodora and” would make more sense.

This is all pretty convincing, so why am I still dithering? At the YA level I can get more deeply into some of the motivations and reactions. In MG you keep it straightforward. I also can include some of the content in YA that I wouldn’t in MG. Specifically, there is a pregnancy and childbirth. That kind of thing can raise eyebrows, not in a good way.

Oh, who am I kidding? The story will flow without that subplot. Thanks, everyone, for helping me figure this out.

Middle grade it is!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

And the Title is…

Yes, the second draft revision is officially under way. Among the things I had to name and define was the title itself. Titles are crucial. A great title will make readers pick up my book and maybe read the description.

Creating the title is a bit like writing a synopsis. How can I distill the essence of this weird little book? It’s about a bright young girl who was abandoned, along with her mother, at their hereditary spirit shrine. The rest of the family claims the shrine is cursed. The fallout of their jealousy is a drought that grips the entire land of Tenebira. Cleodora is determined to carry out the spirits’ will and bring back the rain. But she’s just a kid.

I went through so many ideas and variations. Combing bookstore and library shelves to see what kind of titles they used at the younger end of YA. There are single word titles, titles that are place names, the ever-popular “thing of this and that” title. I wanted to use my main character’s name, but not in the typical “Cleodora and the Whatever” because that made it sound like the start of a series.

For now, I’m just calling it Cleodora. I’m not totally happy with that, but it’s enough to go on with. Yes, I know, I’m putting down another temporary name that I’ll have to fix later! Perhaps as I go through the revision, I’ll find a turn of phrase that sparks something for me.

Also, don’t forget! I’m taking part in the Smashwords summer sale. All my e-books are 50% off through the month of July. That’s the whole Minstrels of Skaythe series, among others. Wolfsinger also has some of their anthologies for 25% off. Help a lady out!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Nibbling

New publication! I have a short story in the latest issue of The Lorelei Signal! It’s a cool one that was also in Aunt Anne’s Archive. Not only that, I’m taking part in the Smashwords summer sale. All my e-books are 50% off through the month of July.

That’s the good news. Back in mid-June, I had a medical procedure that knocked me for a loop. The results were good, no reason for concern about future medical issues. However, I haven’t felt like myself since. It’s been slow going to keep myself on task.

Despite the obstacles, I did manage to write one of the short stories I was planning to. I just did it in smaller bites. Now I need to check when that anthology opens, so I can put it on my calendar.

With that done, I’m nibbling at the edges of revisions on The Spirit Binder. We’ll start with easy bits first. In order to keep the plot going, I just slapped temporary names on some things. Now is when I try to find or create the final names.

I also had my characters dressed in kurta and pants, but I’ve realized those garments have an ethnic connection that isn’t reflected in the rest of the story. So pants are pretty universal, but I need to think of a different name for the kurta. “Shirt” doesn’t quite cover it.

Even though I’m not feeling great, now is the time for me to mull over those things and choose some alternatives. That’s about right for my energy level, honestly.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Woman at Work, July 2024

What’s Happening? I just finished Queen Titania’s Court at my blog, Wyrmflight. It’s always fun to see what other authors have cooked up. Also, I’m participating in the Smashwords Summer Sale. The entire Minstrels of Skaythe series, plus all my other ebooks, will be 50% during the month of July! My catalog with them is right here.

What I’m Working On. I did finish the first draft of The Spirit Binder. Now I’m working on a short story for an anthology call about wolves. A wolf god is going to help a girl be brave enough to advocate for herself.

What’s Next? I sold a short story to Lorelei Signal electronic magazine. Go, me! That will come out in October. Revisions on The Spirit Binder will start soon, as well.

Where I’ll be. No in-person appearances are on my calendar at the moment. But I’m always open to invitations.

Fun and Games. Bioware has announced their next Dragon Age game for this fall! I’m so excited, and I’m doing a playthrough of Inquisition to prepare. For times when I need to chill, I do Animal Crossing or Railway Islands, a puzzle game where you make a train track through complicated terrain.

I hope your summer is going well!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Grand Finale (Queen Titania’s Court)

The night has been wonderful. Dazzling costumes, sublime music, dancing that feels like flying! So many fantastic people and creatures. They speak of things you have never heard before. When you tell your own tale, they listen graciously.

And the incredible array of food and drink! There is always one more tidbit to try. You can eat without becoming bloated, and drink without getting drunk. It is paradise!

But now a new odor snares you. Or is it an old one, so familiar it is bound into your soul? You smell wet pavement, or sweet meadow grass. You scent the sea air, or the breath of a dank cavern.

It is the fragrance of home. After this magical evening, you are called to return. From her high throne, Queen Titania bids you safe travels. The grand doors are open, and the assembled slowly drift through. Yet you leave forever changed…

A Fond Farewell

I want to thank everyone who was part of Queen Titania’s Court. This was our fifth year! How did that happen? Whether you shared your fantastic book, brought along a new author you know, or took the time to comment — thank you so much! Indy authors can have a tough time drawing attention to our books. I appreciate everyone who took the time.

May you all reap the rewards of your effort, whatever that means to you. Perhaps a few books sold, or new followers for your own blog, or just a chance to show off your latest project.

Farewell for this year. I hope to see you all again in June of 2025!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Smashwords Summer Sale

Ebook 50% off until July 21st.

Silver trumpets trill a fanfare. The assembled throng turns toward a fairy herald who hovers amid a blur of glittering wings. “Oyez, oyez! Smashwords is having their summer sale!” A host of fantastic creatures swarm toward a nearby cart loaded with books.

That’s right, my ebooks are 50% off throughout the month of July! This includes the entire Minstrels of Skaythe series and several others. This is the link to my personal catalog. In addition, my titles through Wolfsinger Publications are 25% off. That’s The Seven Exalted Orders and several anthologies.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

“Blood Token” (Queen Titania’s Court)

Borne in the Blood

This is the last of my own characters. Secori is a goblin potion maker who appears in “Blood Token,” one of the stories in the anthology, Borne in the Blood.

Secori gazed around in disbelief. A small blackbird with ruby red eyes lit on her shoulder. He twittered in her ear, “What is this place?”

“Good question.” Secori had been on a trek between high beach dunes. She was headed for a glow ahead, thinking it was from a goblin refugee camp where she could rest for the night.

Instead, she saw a magnificent hall, glittering with color and light. A vast throng danced to ethereal music, or gathered in conversation. Some seemed human until you saw their wings or tails. Others appeared to be purely animal, yet they stood upright. Secori’s grubby travel clothes might be out of place, yet it was the first time her gray-green skin, jutting fangs, and bright red eyes would not stand out. Criya chirped a warning just before a large white cat in extravagant boots approached. It waved a plumed hat as it bowed in greeting.

It purred to her, “Welcome to the Midsummer Ball. Whom shall I say is arriving?”

Whatever this place was, Secori would not refuse any welcome. “I am Secori, master potioner, lately of Toberlyn City, and I welcome the respite from my travels.”

Character Questions

Are you on the run from the law? …Probably. Goblinkind are abused and oppressed by the human overlords, and one of them forced me to brew a sleeping potion when I knew the victim would never wake up again. This was against my will, so I created a draught that would also cause mass nightmares. Once the royal apothecaries figure out what happened, I’m sure they’ll be looking for me.

Do you have any pets, and if so, what are they? My familiar is a blackbird named Criya. We escaped from a terrifying situation together and that formed our bond. Criya is intelligent and can speak, but we don’t usually show that off in front of other people. He often acts as a lookout for me.

Author Questions

Do you write according to an outline, or just let the ideas flow? I use something of a hybrid approach, with brainstorming and compare/contrasting ideas before I begin. However, I don’t have a specific outline. Once I sit down to work, I’m letting things flow.

What do you think is important for a writer to succeed? Persistence and belief in yourself. This art is full of gatekeepers and people who will tell you you’re doing it wrong. Even well-meant advice can throw you off. Especially for Indy authors, we have to define success for ourselves (not just “have you sold a million copies?”) and choose projects that bring us satisfaction.

Borne in the Blood

Delve into the mysterious and powerful world of blood in “Borne in the Blood.”

This collection of enthralling stories explores the multifaceted essence of blood – as a symbol of life, a medium of magic, and a bond of kinship. From the chilling tale of a minstrel haunted by a spectral king to the whimsical account of a vampire ice cream vendor, each story weaves a unique narrative around the theme of blood. Encounter a woman whose body bizarrely intertwines with metallic elements, and follow a girl’s journey as she confronts her isolation due to her heritage. Feel chills as those who were wronged reach across the years to have their final revenge on the blood descendants of those who oppressed them.

Shifters, Vampires, Witches, and other ordinary and extraordinary folk – all bound together by that which they carry in their blood.

These tales will transport you through a spectrum of emotions, from the depths of fear to the heights of fantasy, as you unravel the mysteries and power that lie within the blood. Proceeds from sales of Borne in the Blood will be donated to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation – themmrf.org/

Purchase directly from Wolfsinger Publications.

Photo courtesy of Fall Folk Fest.Deby Fredericks

Deby Fredericks has been a writer all her life, but thought of it as just a fun hobby until the late Nineties. Since then she has published twenty fantasy novels, novellas and novelettes, either with small presses or independently. Her short fiction has appeared in Andromeda Spaceways, selected anthologies, and small magazines.

Since 2018, her significant work has been the Minstrels of Skaythe series, about a group of pacifist mages who seek hope in a world ruled by darkness.

In addition, Fredericks writes for children as Lucy D. Ford. Her children’s stories and poems have appeared in magazines such as Boys’ Life, Babybug, Ladybug, and Spider. In the past, she served as Regional Advisor for the Inland Northwest Region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, International (SCBWI).

But wait, there’s more! Fredericks has been involved with science fiction fandom in Eastern Washington since the early Eighties. She worked on the convention committees of Spokon, InCon, WesterCon 49 and SpoCon. In addition to her leadership of Telgar Weyr (Pern fandom), she was involved with Star Trek and Elfquest fan groups, and a few independent comic projects. Fredericks was the Fan Guest of Honor at RadCon 1, RustyCon 21, Author Guest of Honor at RadCon 9, and has been a frequent panelists at Inland Northwest conventions. Learn more from her web site, www.debyfredericks.com

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

The Elf Guardian (Queen Titania’s Court)

Max is an elf and prominent character in Lyndi Alexander’s contemporary fantasy series, Clan Elves of the Bitterroot.

Albino elf Max peers around the frame of the massive, gold-trimmed doors at the huge celebration going on inside. Beautiful music and pretty people dancing—it looks like such fun! I can’t believe I was the one invited to attend this ball at the Faerie Court. Maybe the invitation was a mistake. He surveys his new suit of clothing, a jacket and pants in forest green, woven by Djana herself. Hesitating, he is gently urged inside by those entering behind him. He comes down the stairs, holding the magical vase with a rare golden trillium inside that he has brought all the way from the Montana forests to present to Queen Titania. I sure hope she likes it.

Character Questions

Are you a prodigy or an ordinary person? I’m an elf, so I guess I’m not an ordinary person. Most of the elves in our Clan, living in the Bitterroot Mountains in Montana, have some special gift or power. I’m the only albino elf, and I was born with small, narrow bones, so I can move easily and faster than many of my brothers and sisters. The queen, Jelani, even chose me to watch over her son, the elf price Elliun! So I mut be something special.

Would you rather sneak through a dragon’s den, or swim over a mermaid’s grotto? Yes, please! And giants and trolls and superheroes and even centipedes!! I want to have all the magical adventures that are out there. So far, I haven’t been outside the clan lands, and I cannot wait until I am fully grown so I can travel to the far ends of the big world.

Author Questions

Do you have a group of writer friends? How are they organized? I have a devoted critique group I have been with since the mid-1990s, the Fellowship of the Quill, a subdivision of Pennwriters located in Erie, PA. Meeting weekly, we exchanged chapters and short stories and poems for feedback. When I moved to North Carolina in 2016, I thought I’d lost them forever, but then the pandemic hit. They switched to ZOOM meetings, and suddenly I was able to join them again. Since 2020, they have helped me polish three short stories and half a dozen books for publication!

What is your purpose in writing? Wow. I would sure like to say it’s to become rich and famous—I could use the cash! But when I make sometimes eight cents per sale, it will be quite awhile before I become a millionaire. But it doesn’t discourage me from putting stories on paper and submitting them to publishers, so I must be doing it for the love of sharing tales from my imaginative brain. Also, to keep me off the streets at night—considering the subject matter of some stories, I might be dangerous!

The Elf Guardian

The Earth energies that support the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot have gone awry for unknown reasons. A paranormal investigator, looking for a story to save her career, is told a fantastic tale by the disobedient young elf prince Elliun. Max, the prince’s albino elf bodyguard, must find a way to fix the mess. Can Max get humans, mages, and elves working together in time to save the land before the energies spin out of control? Or is this the end of the elven world in the Bitterroot Mountains?

Available from Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and more!

Lyndi Alexander

Lyndi Alexander always dreamed of faraway worlds and interesting alien contacts. She lives as a post-modern hippie in Asheville, North Carolina, a single mother of her last child of seven, a daughter on the autism spectrum, finding that every day feels a lot like first contact with a new species.

Find her online at her website, Amazon, Bookbub, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, Smashwords, and others.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Ordeal of the Scarlet Order (Queen Titania’s Court)

Vampire astronomer Daniel is trying out a new ability and inadvertently visits Queen Titania’s Court! Daniel’s other adventures take place in David Lee Summers’ series, Vampires of the Scarlet Order.

The vampire Daniel had learned to unlock a latent vampire gift. He could fold space around himself and travel anyplace he could visualize. He’d been testing his abilities and found himself wandering the corridors of Scotland’s National Gallery in Edinburgh late at night. A beam of moonlight shone in through a window high on the wall and illuminated a painting. It showed a small woman with wings and a gossamer skirt holding onto a man draped in a white cloth. They were surrounded by a crowd of even smaller people. He realized the small people must be the fae. A sleeping human couple lay at the feet of the man and the woman. The plate below the painting read “The Reconciliation of Oberon and Titania” and said it had been painted by Sir Joseph Noel Paton.

“I wonder…” Daniel thought to himself. In a moment of whimsy, he held his arms out to his side. He drew the currents of space and time around himself like a familiar blanket and imagined traveling to the fairy court. A moment later, he found himself on a grassy field, under a tall tree at twilight. The woman with wings looked at Daniel and then up at the man she stood beside. She gave the man a playful smile, then stepped toward Daniel. “My, my, who do we have here?”

Daniel swallowed, then blinked and took an involuntary step backward. Had he really transported himself inside a painting? A titter and a giggle sounded around him and he realized the fae surrounded them. He nodded. “My name is Daniel. I’m an astronomer.”

The woman with wings lifted her eyebrows. “And a vampire by the looks of your teeth. I am Queen Titania.” She inclined her head to her companion. “This is Oberon. Welcome to my court.”

Character Questions

Are you on the run from the law? I am trying to save humanity from itself, Your Majesty. Certain humans want to find a way to turn their own kind into vampires and use them as soldiers against their enemies. However, those humans are also bound to unlock secrets that would be dangerous to possess, such as the ability to create the kind of portal that brought me to your world. Those humans are also funded by the government and yes, they have sent their law enforcement agents after me and my companions.

What is your dream job? I learned astronomy from Percival Lowell in 1898 and I have worked as an astronomer in most of the years since then. Now that I have learned the power of teleportation, my dream job would be to work at an observatory on some remote and dry mountaintop, maybe in Chile, where the skies are crisp and clear. I could seal myself away during the daylight hours and sleep. When I needed blood, I could transport myself into a populated area and seek out the criminals and lowlifes that I feed upon.

Author Questions

What is your POV on so-called “artificial intelligence” in the arts? My older daughter did her college capstone project in the field of machine learning and it’s a field that has great potential. However, it needs to be used with care. As an artist, I read other people’s work and synthesize those ideas into new works. Machine learning can do that. However, I have also purchased those works and I have brought my human experience to the table. I’m not sure that everyone who is training machines to do art has paid for the work for their machines, nor can those machines bring their own experience to the table yet. I see great potential for AI to become a very useful tool, but I also see great potential for it to harm artists. We’re at a crossroads and we need to tread carefully.

How do you choose your next project? I don’t have one easy answer. Ordeal of the Scarlet Order came about the previous novel in the series, Vampires of the Scarlet Order, had been featured at a high-profile book club in New Orleans. I realized I’d missed those characters and wanted to discover the next chapter in their story. Fans keep asking for a sequel to The Astronomer’s Crypt, so I now think it’s about time that I finally deliver one. In the past, some books have come about at an editor’s suggestion. Others have happened because I had an idea that grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go until I wrote it down.

Ordeal of the Scarlet Order

The Scarlet Order vampires are on the run. Rudolfo de Cordoba has led most of the Scarlet Order vampires to a new home in Colorado where they can regroup and unlock new vampire powers. Alexandra and Drake have gone to New Orleans to continue their quest for lost Biblical writings when they learn the government’s project to create super soldiers from vampires continues. Marcella and Roquelaure have traveled to the South of France to avoid trouble only to stumble upon a terrorist plot and an even more frightening means of quashing extremism.

Meanwhile, Special Agent John Lassiter is on the trail of the Scarlet Order vampires. Will the vampires unlock their new gifts and save humanity from itself before Agent Lassiter catches up and ends the vampires’ immortal existence? The only thing certain is that they’ll learn truths about themselves and the universe we live in—and those truths will not leave them unscathed.

Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and directly from the publisher.

David Lee Summers

David Lee Summers is an author, editor and astronomer living somewhere between the western and final frontiers in Southern New Mexico. He is the author of a dozen novels including Owl Dance, Vampires of the Scarlet Order, and The Astronomer’s Crypt. His short fiction has appeared in such magazines and anthologies as Realms of Fantasy, Cemetery Dance and Straight Outta Tombstone. He has edited the anthologies A Kepler’s Dozen, Kepler’s Cowboys, and Maximum Velocity: The Best of the Full-Throttle Space Tales. In addition to his work in the written word, David has also worked at numerous observatories around the southwestern United States. Currently he works for Kitt Peak National Observatory, outside of Tucson, Arizona.

Learn more at his website, blog, Facebook or Instagram.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

David and the Drainosaurs (Queen Titania’s Court)

A dinosaur princess visits today, from the magical land of Drainovia. She appears in Janyce Brawn’s middle grade fantasy, David and the Drainosaurs.

Princess Doris Drainosaurus gathers her sparkling purple gown as she treads lightly in her gold slippers across the threshold. Her lemon fragrance wafts through the air, alerting people to her presence. The lost crown of Drainovia has been found and she proudly wears it, recalling all the trouble her new friend, David Gonzales from the Above Lands, has gone through to find it. She blinks in the bright lights and smiles. Her long dinosaur-like tail smacks a servant as she turns and rescues a glass of champagne from his falling tray. Ah, let’s see what new allies I can make tonight. She sails into the gathering.

Character Questions

What is the rarest and most precious thing in your land? The most precious thing in my world is definitely our crown. Why, with its magical abilities, our land prospers. We know firsthand what happens when it is gone. After the Plumberian War, the crown was stolen and crops failed, businesses closed, and some people were starving. The Ferrets revolted and we had to give them Kitchen Privileges. If it weren’t for my friend David, I shudder to think that Drainovia would be bankrupt, everyone would be starving and who knows what else. The crown’s magic restored everything back into balance. David did us a great favor and we were very happy to help him in his time of need.

In your world, do people trust magic or think it is evil? Ah, magic is very important especially since it relates to our crown. The citizens of Drainovia- the drainosaurs, ferrets etc., all believe we must use our magic wisely and for the good of our country and to help our allies. There exists magic in the Fairy Kingdom of Faire Haven and in Rabbitosha where the magic crystals grow. I believe it is a crime to misuse magic. We’ve dealt with some nasty issues about the crown, the fairies, and oh yes, the unicorns and rabbits that my dear friend David has helped solve.

Author Questions

Do you write according to an outline, or just let the ideas flow? I am a pantser. I have a simple outline or idea of where the story starts and where it ends. The journey between those points is where I have fun and can let my imagination take over. My three critique groups help to rein me in or help me brainstorm when I feel stuck. Some people in the group are developmental editors and some are line editors. Others we offer good points and suggestions for each person’s work. We don’t have to change our stories, but it is often prudent to weigh their suggestions and put them in our own words.

What is your purpose in writing? My purpose in writing is to engage, excite and entertain young readers. I want them to broaden their world and imagine possibilities. I also want to teach principles like being kind, following the Golden Rule”, don’t bully etc. With this in mind, my next 2 projects are a rhyming coloring book about bullying by exclusion, and a MG fantasy novel that emphasizes working together to achieve results rather than by selfish means.

David and the Drainosaurs

During an argument with his younger brother, twelve-year-old David Gonzales accidentally drops his mother’s diamond ring down the kitchen sink drain. As he reaches for the ring, he sees a tiny dinosaur creature who calls herself Princess Doris Drainosaurus and claims the ring is her kingdom’s missing crown. In his tussle with Doris over the ring, David is pulled into the magical kingdom of Drainovia. There he must find the missing Drainovian crown in order to exchange it for his mother’s ring. David has just three days to accomplish his task, or he will be stuck forever where Drainosaurs rule, doors fly, hats teleport, and treachery abounds. 

Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Janyce Brawn

Janyce Brawn is an award-winning author of 5 middle grade books, poems, and stories. She is a retired K-12 English as a Second Language, and Spanish teacher. Janyce has used her Art degree to illustrate magazines and books for over 20 years. She enjoys reading, drawing, boating, and camping with her family and friends. Her Boston Terrier, Porter, likes to stick his nose in her work, thinking he is helping to create magical characters and lands.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.