Deby Fredericks's Blog, page 38

The Secretary and the Ghost (Queen Titania’s Court)

Our guest today is Pip Leighton, from The Secrentary and the Ghost. Gillian St. Kevern is another New Zealand author who offers this gothic romance for your reading pleasure.

A man of average height, chestnut brown hair, and an air of avid interest enters the ballroom, gazing around him with rapt attention. He is so distracted that he immediately collides with another guest. He is profuse in his apologies, and retreats to a corner where he can gaze at the gathering, his delight plain on his cheerful face. He pats the front of his suit, feeling for a notebook, only to collect himself — taking notes at a ball would be unmannerly in the extreme.

Character Questions

What does the law think of your activities? The law generally takes a dim view of anything that cannot be pinned down with facts — indeed, my investigations of the preternatural elements of our world are usually dismissed as fancy! Still, as I am careful not to overstep the bounds of good manners when conducting my investigation, I have yet to suffer any effects more bruising that spurious reviews of my published work.

Who is your best friend? Thomas Cross, Lord of Foxwood. He is much more than my employer, but a dear, dear friend — indeed, I should say he is my life’s companion. I came to Foxwood hoping only to find a tolerable employer. I never expected to find my other half.

Author Questions

Is the landscape important in telling your stories? How do you use it? Setting is basically another character! Gothic vibes demand a remote, isolated environment, preferably with lots of mist and forest. But big cities can be isolating too. I love world building, and researching locations for stories is a lot of fun.

When did you know you were a writer? I knew I was a writer when I started getting frustrated when the characters in the books I read at the time weren’t doing what I wanted them to do. I’d put a book down halfway through, and come up with an ending that I liked better, spending weeks building it in my head. Then one day I realized I could write them down!

The Secretary and the Ghost

Pip Leighton is in a fix. His sister’s marriage hinges on him staving off the family’s impending financial ruin by taking the job of secretary to Lord Cross, a reclusive man with a temper befitting his name. Developing a passion for his employer was not on the cards. Neither was getting caught up in the deep mystery surrounding Foxwood Court and its resident ghost, but Pip has never been one to shirk a duty.

As Pip delves deeper into the past, he discovers that his only hope for a future with Cross may depend on a man long dead — a man with a curious resemblance to himself.

To purchase

About Gillian St. Kevern

Gillian St. Kevern (she/they) is dismantling capitalism one novel at a time. They blend their lived experience as a member of the LGBTQ community with worlds of magic and mystery, creating characters that linger long after the final page has been turned. For a free sampler of Gillian’s work, visit http://www.gillianstkevern.com

When not immersed in fantastical worlds, Gillian house-sits everything from elderly beagles to Machiavellian donkeys. Gillian is the co-founder of the New Zealand Rainbow Romance Writers, and, with co-host Jamie Sands, runs writing streams on YouTube, focused on empowering writers and other creatives.

social media links:

Website: https://www.gillianstkevern.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/963988794102755

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8337607.Gillian_St_Kevern

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Gillian-St-Kevern/e/B00GJICO4M

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gillian-st-kevern

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, Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.

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Onesies and Ouijaboards (Queen Titania’s Court)

Here today is Arrow, a non-binary youth from Onesies and Ouijaboards. New Zealand author Jamie Sands offers this YA spinoff from the popular novella series, Mt. Eden Witches.

Arrow stands with eyes wide and staring. A skinny teenager of indeterminate gender, they wear torn black jeans and an oversized black hoodie with thumbholes in the cuffs and purple lined cat ears on the hood. Their hair is dyed black with bright red highlights on their floppy fringe. They wrap their arms around themself as they look all around at the finery and strange things on display.

Character Questions

How does magic work for you? Are your spells different than the usual? Honestly I’m only just starting out, the whole magic thing is really new to me. From what I can tell from talking to the witch librarian mine seems to be pretty similar to his, so I guess that’s your answer.

What kinds of things do your people like to eat? People eat all kinds of things, we have a really great Japanese restaurant my best friend’s family runs, but I guess usual food is like sandwiches, sushi, burgers, that kind of thing. My favourite thing is bubble tea, especially with pearls.

Author Questions

Do you enjoy co-writing with anyone, and how do you make it work? I co-run writing/productivity sprints with fellow kiwi author Gillian St Kevern and at the moment we’re writing separate books in a shared universe (a magical Victorian England). It’s led to very funny messages at random times, asking things about the rules of magic, or when it’s appropriate to wear a cape with one’s suit. We’re fans of each other’s work and communicate quickly and honestly and I think that’s the real key to co-writing successfully!

What social media do you like, both personally and for promotion? I have recently embraced the world of Tiktok and it’s such a wonderful community on there. Booktok people are so warm and friendly, and I’ve been able to reach wider audiences than before through my videos.

Onesies and Ouijaboards

Be careful what you wish for… Arrow is fifteen, non-binary, and bored. It’s one thing to read about magic, or watch ghost hunting shows. But Arrow yearns for something more. When they try out a prosperity spell from a magical library book, things start to go very very right. Until they don’t.

Arrow’s good luck seems to be affecting a lot of the people around them. From A students suddenly failing quizzes to freak accidents, their good luck seems to be double-sided to say the least. Arrow’s best friend Ren knows not to mess with the unknown, but Arrow’s spell might just affect him all the same.

Arrow’s got to learn about how to wield their magic fast when the power they’ve drawn down proves to be beautiful, but dangerous as well. 

To purchase

About Jamie Sands

Jamie is a non-binary, pansexual kiwi who’s always been wondering ‘what if?’ They write stories about ghosts, monsters, magic, love and how the world could be. Jamie grew up in Wellington but now lives in Auckland with their wonderful spouse and a round cat.

My website and socials:
https://jamiesandsblog.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jamiesandsauthor/
https://www.instagram.com/jamiesandsauthor/

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, Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.

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Story Share

I goofed and published Lyndi Alexander’s visit to Queen Titania’s Court early, so you get a bonus today. It’s another story share from Daily Science Fiction, which I’m constantly recommending as a source for genre short stories.

The story is Kelly M. Sandoval’s fairy-taleish piece, “Four Pieces of Advice on the Selection of a Familiar.” This one is perfect for graduation season, as everyone thinks they know what the heroine should do with her life. I hope you’ll take a look.

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, Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.

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The Lost Chord (Queen Titania’s Court)

Author Lyndi Alexander is up! Her character, Bee Warrick, comes from the YA fantasy, The Lost Chord.

Clutching her crystal ball-music box, Bee Warrick steps cautiously into the ballroom. She winces at the volume of the music and takes a moment to calm herself. “It looks like fairyland,” she whispers to herself. She watches the patterns develop as dancers in pairs swirl around the floor, and finally catches the rhythm of the music. Its joy makes her smile, and she continues inside to join the party.

Character Questions

Who are the most dangerous people in your world? I think fathers are. They hurt people. My father always takes my brother to visit and never me.

Tell us about the greatest mystery in your world. People are. They say they don’t understand autism. I don’t know what is autism — I am not a thing that starts with A. I am a girl. I don’t know how I cross dimensions. It is just the music. One minute I am at home, and then I am in some other world. Maybe some people think that is magic. But I travel with six friends from different dimensions, and we are good people.

Author Questions

How do you handle multiple points of view in a story? I grew up on TV shows with large ensemble casts, and I love to tell a story the same way. I separate narration by chapters, because I feel that’s less confusing for the reader. It adds depth to the story, trying to keep track of who knows what, and what the consequences will be.

When did you know you are a writer? When I was 8 years old and wrote my first story, about how my cat caught and killed a rabbit. Fortunately, most of my current stories are less tragic.

The Lost Chord

A poisonous wave is spreading disease and discord across the eleven known universes. Seven special people, known as Keys, must strike the Lost Chord in order to restore the balance. Among those Keys is Bee Warrick, an autistic teenager from Earth who has traveled between the realms for years without realizing it. Can Bee help the Conductor find the other Keys before a bitter enemy strikes the wrong chord and shatters the universes?

To purchase

About Lyndi Alexander

Lyndi Alexander dreamed for many years of being a spaceship captain, but settled instead for inspired excursions into fictional places with fascinating companions from her imagination that she likes to share with others. She has been a published writer for over thirty years, including seven years as a reporter and editor at a newspaper in Homestead, Florida. Her list of publications is eclectic, from science fiction to romance to horror, from tech reporting to television reviews.

She’s a single mother of seven with two children on the autism spectrum, a quilter, a gardener, and woman of all trades. When she has time, she blogs on a variety of subjects, including autism, science fiction and life at http://awalkabout.wordpress.com

Even the loneliest heart can’t withstand the power of magic.
http://lyndialexander.wordpress.com

Where love and danger intersect….

http://alana-lorens.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, Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.

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Breaking the Code (Queen Titania’s Court)

Please welcome Sheriff Chuck Davis of Gallup, New Mexico. This character is from David Lee Summers’ historical paranormal novella, Breaking the Code.

Sheriff Chuck Davis blinked as he entered a room full of dancers in bright gowns. Did some of them have wings? He realized he held his revolver and holstered it. The last thing he knew, he’d been standing in the desert when a skinwalker appeared from behind a mesquite bush. He fired at the creature which looked like a human-sized snarling coyote that stood on two legs. There had been a bright flash of light and then he was here … wherever this was. A majestic figure at the front of the room stood. “I am Queen Titania. Welcome to our realm, Sheriff Davis.”

Character Questions

Who are the most dangerous people in your world? By far, the most dangerous people in my world are the Nazis who are trying to take over Europe. We have some good people in town who want to enlist and stop them, but there’s a shape-changing monster called a skinwalker scaring people and it may have even killed a young man. I’m not sure yet, but I wonder if there’s some connection between this monster and the Nazis.

What is the weather like where you live? It’s winter where I live in Northern New Mexico. We’ve just had some bad snow storms which are making it hard for me to track down the skinwalker, but you can be sure I’ll find it.

Author Questions

What’s your process for deciding where to submit your work? In the case of Breaking the Code, the editor came to me and asked for a story pitch. I sent her two ideas that she rejected, but the third time was the charm and she asked me to develop the story that became Breaking the Code. Of course, most of the time we aren’t lucky enough to have an editor soliciting stories from us. Once I’m satisfied enough with a story to send it out, I look at the genre, characters, and tone and think about markets where the story might be a good fit. I also think about editors who would enjoy the story I created. All of this has been helped over the years by networking with authors and editors at conventions.

How do you handle multiple points of view in a story? I like telling stories from multiple points of view. The challenge is not to have too many point-of-view characters. I try to identify the main characters who drive the narrative and let them tell the story. Most of the time, I write my stories from a limited, third-person point of view. Effectively, I follow one of my primary characters for a scene or a chapter and tell the story as though I’m watching the action over their shoulder.

Breaking the Code

1942. Gallup, New Mexico. Marine recruiters have come to town looking to fill their ranks with a secret weapon against the Axis powers — what would become Navajo Code Talkers — but not everyone supports the prospect of young native men going off to war.

When one new recruit is found dead, and a rancher’s cattle are mutilated, whispers of witchcraft and skinwalker filter through the town, and interest in enlisting wanes. Is there evil afoot, or is that just what opponents to the cause want everyone to think? Whether guided by magic, mischief, or malevolence, without a doubt, nothing is as it seems…

Get it from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RW4CMR8/

Get it from Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-the-code-david-lee-summers/1138551544?ean=9781949691627

About David Lee Summers

David Lee Summers lives in Southern New Mexico at the cusp of the western and final frontiers. He’s written novels about space pirates, vampire mercenaries, mad scientists in the old west, and astronomer ghosts. He’s edited thrilling anthologies of space adventure that imagine what worlds discovered by NASA’s Kepler mission might be like. When he’s not writing or editing, David explores the universe for real at Kitt Peak National Observatory.

David’s website:
http://www.davidleesummers.com

David’s blog:
https://davidleesummers.wordpress.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, Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.

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A Drop of Magic (Queen Titania’s Court)

Today’s visit is by Janna Ruth, whose character, Samantha Kollmer, appears in the YA adventure, A Drop of Magic. It’s the first in her Ashuan Greed series.

Samantha’s eyes are wide with wonder as she steps into the Fairie Court. Never in her entire life would she have expected an invitation. Even now, she felt slightly out of place in her rather simple green dress. Lucille said it would make her eye colour pop, but with some guests having eyes that glow in the dark, it seems a little understated. Usually, parties would be the last place to find Samantha, but throw in magic, and she couldn’t resist to see it for herself.

Character Questions

Who is your best friend? Oh, that’s easy. While I’m lucky enough to have five close friends to hunt monsters with, my best friend is the one I’ve known longest. Fabian and I have known each other since we were babies. Our dads were best friends and we’re something like second generation friends. laughs He’s a bit dorky, but one of the kindest people I know. The only problem is, he’s so scared of magic! For me, it’s this wonderful power of nature, and he would cut his own arms off if that would take his ability to control water away. Well, semi-control, it’s still quite random, which I’m sure could be improved if he tried, but… exasperated sigh Sorry, he is quite infuriating sometimes, but he’s practically my brother, so I guess, I’ll just have to roll with it.

How does magic work for you? Is it different than the usual? I’ve only recently started to discover my magic. It’s not with spells, runes, or sigils. Instead, I tap into the rivers of magic that flow around the earth, giving life to all of us. When I close my eyes, I can see it swirl around me, like water, but green and utterly undisturbed by gravity. To craft a spell is a bit tricky. There needs to be intent and intuition. I dip my finger into the magic and separate it into threads that can then be woven into spells. The patterns are pretty complicated, but that’s where intuition comes into play. I’m really still practicing, but anything is possible.

I’ve only recently started to discover my magic. It’s not with spells, runes, or sigils. Instead, I tap into the rivers of magic that flow around the earth, giving life to all of us. When I close my eyes, I can see it swirl around me, like water, but green and utterly undisturbed by gravity. To craft a spell is a bit tricky. There needs to be intent and intuition. I dip my finger into the magic and separate it into threads that can then be woven into spells. The patterns are pretty complicated, but that’s where intuition comes into play. I’m really still practicing, but anything is possible.

Author Questions

How do you handle multiple points of view in a story? In Ashuan, I have six main characters, who all get their own point of view. The series originated as a drama (think TV script), so I never had to worry about POV until I started turning them into a novel. I try to give each of the POVs a certain flavour. Though they’re all third person narrated, I still want to give them a unique voice. With some characters it’s easier, because they have a very distinct way of talking and also taking in new information and thinking about it. Others are more “normal” and thus harder to differentiate by voice alone, so I focus more on what is important to these characters and how they prioritise their thoughts.

What social media do you like most, both personally and for promotion? I’m surprised to say, it would be TikTok. Now, I do love working on Facebook, and lately, the algorithms have improved (in my opinion), and it’s still the place where I connect with most of my readers, but TikTok has surprised me. I was so not a video person, but what I like about TikTok is that it promotes more natural short snippets. It doesn’t have to be polished like pictures on Instagram, for example. And they’re so short, it’s really just a snapshot of my life. And you can be so creative. Right now, 90% of my ARC readers are from TikTok and that’s really awesome because I get to react to and interact with their posts about my book on top of the reviews on other sides.

A Drop of Magic

Magic, Demons & High School Drama! All Lucille ever wanted was a perfectly normal high school experience, but her town doesn’t do normal. Not when a few Latin words set her hand on fire, the entire town gets possessed by evil spirits, and the cute guy she’s got her eyes on brings a freaking sword to the battle. Now Lucille has to make a decision: return to her cushy, and safe, life-style at the boarding school, or face the monsters that hunt her and the magic that lurks inside of her.

Purchase here

About Janna Ruth

Once upon a time, Janna Ruth studied the plate boundaries of this world. Now, she’s creating her own worlds. Born in Berlin, Germany, Janna currently lives in Wellington, New Zealand. Her writing career kicked off when she won a writing competition for German publisher Ueberreuter, resulting in her debut novel “Tanz der Feuerblüten”, a Japan-inspired novella.

Almost simultaneously, her first self-published novel “Im Bann der zertanzten Schuhe” hit the shelves and went on to win the 2018 SERAPH for “Best Independent Title”. Janna likes to tell tales of mental health and environmental issues with a pinch of the speculative.

If she’s not writing, Janna has a plethora of hobbies, such as aerial acrobatics, cake decorating, drawing, reading, and anything crafty you throw her way.

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, Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.

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The Rogue and the Peasant (Queen Titania’s Court)

We’re starting things off with Amberley Martin, whose character Rory is visiting from the fairy tale inspired fantasy, The Rogue and the Peasant.

Rory perched on the window sill, staring down on the growing crowd. Maybe he should have come in through the door — maybe he should have worn something nicer than the black leather trousers and vest he always travelled in — but he hadn’t been able to shake the feeling that this was merely another one of the fairy godmother’s tricks. But it really did look like a ball, and he certainly didn’t want to offend Queen Titania. He jumped down from the sill, straightened his vest, and strode across the room to present himself to the queen.

Character Questions

Who are the most dangerous people in your world? In the Seven Realms, the person you shouldn’t cross is the fairy godmother. She has so much magic that no one can rival her, she knows more than she should, and she plays with people like they’re pieces on a chess board. How do I know all this? I’ve been working for her for the past five years.

Who is your best friend? Oh, um, I didn’t have friends growing up, only cousins, and they didn’t really like me. But I have Aldermane, my horse. She has been acting rather strangely lately. More self aware than a horse has a right to be. And she’s not reserved about communicating her opinions. Especially when she thinks I’m in the wrong. Which is often.

Author Questions

Is the landscape important in telling your stories? How do you use it? Because my stories are fairytale fantasies, the landscape is very important to set the mood. Dark, dangerous forests. Pastoral settings. Cozy cottages, grand palaces, and enchanted castles all help to reflect the journey the characters go through.

When did you know you were a writer? I started writing when I was about 10, but back then, I didn’t think little girls like me could be authors. But I had so many ideas in my head that I had to keep writing them down, and as I got older and started to meet other writers, I knew I would always be one whether I ever got published or not.

The Rogue and the Peasant

Everyone knows a girl locked in a tower is supposed to wait for a prince — but that isn’t the destiny this girl has in mind. Esme’s life has been filled with secrets. Her mother says she’s destined to be a queen, but she won’t say when. Or how. Or who Esme’s father is. When Esme’s imprisoned by the evil fairy godmother, she only has more questions. Who is the young man guarding her? Why is he so interested in her father’s identity? And can she convince him to help her escape before she’s forced to marry whichever self-absorbed prince with a hero complex turns up to rescue her?

Since his father’s murder, Rory’s life has depended on keeping his identity secret. Working for the fairy godmother seems like a fair trade for his safety, until he’s sent to kidnap a girl who wears his family ring, a girl his father’s ghost is suspiciously quiet about. Unraveling their connection might do more than save them both from the fairy godmother. It might save the fate of an entire queendom.

But can Esme achieve her destiny when Rory’s trying to avoid his own?

Purchase link: https://books2read.com/rogue-peasant
Website: https://www.amberleymartin.com/

About Amberley Martin

Amberley Martin is an author from Aotearoa New Zealand. She enjoys baking cookies and drinking tea and can often be found escaping to fantasy worlds.

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, Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.

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Queen Titania’s Court: Introduction

You were at work, the midnight shift, when the overhead radio crackled. Canned music faded away. A silvery voice called your name…

You were at school, searching the library for a certain book. Deep among the shelves, a pair of jeweled eyes peered out. A clawed hand beckoned…

You were on vacation, camping among old growth forest. As darkness fell, fireflies lit the sky. Their flickering gleam spelled out a message…

You were in your garden, rooting out weeds, when your spade clanged against a buried object. You worked to dig it out. Instead of a stone, you uncovered a trapdoor…

The call has gone out, and the path has opened. You are invited to join a fantastic gathering of magical people and creatures. Denizens of all realms, whether Elfin, Angelic or Demonic, are summoned to Queen Titania’s court for her Midsummer Night Ball!

Scheduled Books

June 1:      Amberley Martin, The Rogue and the Peasant

June 4:      Janna Ruth, A Drop of Magic

June 8:      David Lee Summers, Breaking the Code

June 11:    Lyndi Alexander, The Lost Chord

June 14:    Jamie Sands, Onesies and Ouijaboards

June 16:    Jillian St. Kevern, The Secretary and the Ghost

June 18:    Sheryl Hayes, Chaos Hunt

June 21:    Ash Banks, Margin Street Zeroes

June 23:    M. H. Bonham, That Dragon Was In No Way My Fault

June 25:    Sam Schenk, Running Interference

June 28:    Deby Fredericks, Prisoners of the Wailing Tower

July 1:       Grand Finale

It’s going to be a super fun month of books and fantasy. I hope you’ll all enjoy and share!

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 web site, Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.

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Dithering

This week I’ve been going on with The Tale of the Drakanox. Duessa’s POV sections and Ar-Lizelle’s POV sections are racing toward a collision. This is one of the things I like best about having more than one POV, and having those characters be on opposite sides. Both characters know trouble is coming, but as a reader, you can really see them going opposite directions in the same lane of traffic.

Ar-Lizelle is pretty intent on recapturing Duessa’s team. Duessa’s team is practicing new strategies as they prepare for trouble. Potentially a lot of characters are involved here. I need to choose who gets featured. I also need to choose whether everyone will make it out of the confrontation. I’m still getting my head around all that.

This is nothing new to me. I always dither a bit at this point in a story. I know I’ll find my way through it. Onward!

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 web site, Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.

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The Twitter Thing, Part 2

Okay, it’s been a couple of weeks since Elon Musk announced he was going to buy Twitter. Now he has announced that Twitter may be unworthy of his buying. Why? There are too many bots (fake accounts).

Really? A man who sends spacecraft into orbit with remote control, and wants us to buy electric vehicles with bots driving them, thinks there is something wrong with bots?

I’m spotting something fake here, but it isn’t the bots. Tesla’s stock fell sharply upon the purchase announcement. Rumor has it that Musk discovered he couldn’t actually afford to buy Twitter. His limitless wealth found a limit.

Since I was wary about the change of ownership, this doesn’t displease me. Based on Musk’s increasingly odious public statements, I’m relieved. It has been interesting to watch this public drama unfold, and wonder what’s happening behind the scenes.

This is the kind of strange-but-true stuff we writers can plumb for plot twists and characterization!

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 web site, Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.

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