Saturday, December 29, 2012

Guest Post: E. B. Black

Hey everyone! I'd like you all to give a very warm welcome to E. B. Black, author of 'Medusa's Desire'. Rather, give a great big welcome to Stheno, Medusa's sister. She's got some interesting stuff to share:

I know a lot of people hate their siblings, but I have the worst sister in existence.

My name is Stheno and you've probably never heard of me, even though you've heard of my sister,
Medusa. I'm a gorgon, too, and unlike her, I'm immortal.

No one cares though because it's always been about Medusa all the time. Back when we were human,
she was so pretty that Poseidon was even attracted to her. While me and my other sister, Euryale, went
unnoticed and unmarried.

It's her fault our family was turned into monsters! She blasphemed Athena, but no one cares about us
and what we are going through. The minstrels all sing tales of the gorgon, Medusa, without mentioning
us sometimes.

It's really hard to get a date when you turn every creature you look at into stone. Finally, I thought we
were even with our sister, but she found a boyfriend anyway! She's flying around the world with him.

Did you know that I created vampires? I live in the underworld and my blood has the power to give any
creature life. Some of my blood landed on spirits and they grew skin! It was so flaky and thin, though,
that they burst into flames when they went out in the sun. I've kept them alive by feeding them more
blood and now they crave it! I know humans enjoy tales of vampires, so why aren't there thousands of
them here to thank me?

Instead, there are stories being written about Medusa and statues being built of her. It makes me gag!

Not only that, but this author named E.B. Black wrote a romance novel about Medusa called Medusa's
Desire. I'm obviously the more interesting character, but whatever.

In her story, Medusa is the heroine instead of the villain. When Perseus comes to chop off her head, he
falls in love instead. They struggle to have a relationship because they can never gaze into each other's
eyes. Not to mention that the gods are after the two of them since Perseus specifically disobeyed
something they asked him to do.

How ridiculous is that? This author feels sorry for my sister and says that's why she wrote this story.
Pardon me while I roll my eyes.




If you'd like to learn more about E. B. Black and 'Medusa's Desire', please check out the links below. Thanks, Stheno, for sharing this bit of mythological history!

E. B. Black's website: http://www.ebblack.com/

Where to buy 'Medusa's Desire': http://www.amazon.com/Medusas-Desire-Death-Series-ebook/dp/B00ABMAW5K/

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Book Review: The Goddess's Choice by Jamie Marchant...

 Title: The Goddess's Choice

Author: Jamie Marchant

Publisher: Reliquary Press

Pages: 385 (Print), File size: 902 kb

ASIN: B007VPA9R6

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble



Overview (from Amazon):

Samantha’s ability enables her to discern a person’s character through their multi-colored aura, and Robrek’s makes him the strongest healer the kingdom has seen in centuries. But their gifts also endanger their lives. Royals scheme to usurp the throne by marrying or killing Samantha, and priests plot to burn Robrek at the stake. Robrek escapes the priests only to be captured by Samantha’s arch-enemy, Duke Argblutal; Argblutal intends to force the princess to marry him by exploiting Robrek’s powers. To save their own lives and stop the realm from sinking into civil war, Robrek and Samantha must consolidate their powers and unite the people behind them.

My thoughts:

This was an awesome read! Now, I first have to warn you that this is absolutely an 18+ read. There is some sexual bits and language.

With that out of the way, let me just say I was sucked into this story from the moment I began. The story moves along at a very good pace, not too fast but not slow, either. The world is well developed as are the characters. It kept me up long into the night, reading. I didn't want to put it down until I was finished.

Samantha is a strong female character and Robrek is her equal. Neither of them make the other feel inferior. The other characters are just as developed and hold their own in the story. There were two instances I wanted closure from, but feel I didn't get, but that's okay. It leaves room for me and my imagination to hope that it did come about.

The only other issue I have with this book is it could have had another proofread. But the typos weren't so overwhelming as to affect the flow of the story. I did also contact the author about the formatting of the ebook for Kindle, but again, I didn't let that stop me from reading. This. Book!

If you like epic fantasy, sword and sorcery, you'll like this book. Jamie Marchant is an author to keep an eye out for. I'll absolutely be picking up other books!

I give it 4 out of 5 skull and crossbones.

Is It Over Yet?...

Well, we avoided the Alpacalypse! You know, where the Alpacas take over the world?

And the Apocalypse. Sorry, but I never believed the world was going to end and I feel bad for people who did. We even had to discuss it at work. (Boys and Girls Club) because some of the kids were a bit freaked about it all. But everyone was fine after.

I'm reflecting a bit on this year and wondering if I managed to meet my goals, if I made any. I think the main goal of getting my book into the hands of readers has definitely been accomplished.

January 7, 2013 will be the start of my blog tour. I've got lots of wonderful people lined up and there is always room for more.

I'm looking for people willing to do reviews of my book. You all know it's Fantasy. How could you not know if you read this blog, people! Really.

I've also reached my cap on people I can follow on Twitter until I get  more followers. So I'd love if you would spread the word. I have lots of interesting people to follow!

Tomorrow's post will still be some funnies and not  much of anything else, yet. I'm still trying to figure out how to format the new Friday posts. I'm also enjoying my vacation very much. Have a great rest of the week everyone!

So how was your Christmas? Did Santa bring you everything you asked for? Did you spend time with family?

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

And A Festive Lasting Winter To You...

Hey everyone! Just wanted to post a short little holiday story for you all. Hope you had a good Christmas! (Merry Kalimas, to my gamer friends. You know what it means, lol!) So here is my gift to all of you:

Snow fell, more silent than one of Nikkolani's best assassins. Very few people walked along the streets of Moordigan, yet lights burned, warm and inviting, in many a window. Raucous noise boomed into the street every time the door to the Moon Water Inn opened.

A large man trundled through the deep snow, making a path for a smaller man who trailed behind him. The door to the inn opened, noise and laughter spilled into the street.

"Hurry up," the large man called over his shoulder.

"I'm comin', don't get pushy," the other man replied.

Once inside, out of the cold, the two men stood in the entry way and stamped snow from their feet. The shorter of the two looked around the room and unwrapped the long scarf that covered half his face.

"Two gold Dracts says you get drunk before I do," Vendras said, grinning up at his large, half-ogre friend.

"Vendras, dere is no way yer gonna out drink me," Farrehn said, shaking his head. "I'm three times yer size!"

"The bigger they are, my friend," Vendras grinned and pushed his way through the merry crowd.

Stuffed into the corner of the common room, a bard strummed his instrument and sang a slow, high melody. A woman stood next to him, hands on her hips and a frown on her face.

"Play somethin' a little more lively or ye'll be out on the street. I didn't hire ye to play at a Burnin', for Ioweth's sake!" She turned and stormed off to the kitchen and the music picked up in pace.

"Over here," Vendras called across the room to Farrehn. "I found Laria. I think she has a bit of a head start on us!"

Farrehn moved easily through the crowd, his bulk forcing people out of the way whether they wanted to move or not. He removed his heavy wool cloak with the fur collar and draped it out of the way on the back of Vendras' seat.

"Hello, sugar," Laria grinned at Farrehn and lifted her tankard by way of greeting. "Try the stew, if you're hungry. I gave the cook a few of my spices."

"I've had your spices before," Vendras said, wrinkling his nose. "I hope they have something other than stew."

"Are you trying to say I'm a bad cook?" Laria raised a delicate eyebrow as she stared at Vendras.

"You're an Elf."

"What's that got to do with anything?"

"Never mind, Laria. Drink your ale. Oh, Miss!" Vendras raised his hand and beamed a smile at the serving wench. When she arrived at the table, she looked haggard and impatient.

"What?" she barked.

"Two pints of your best ale and keep them coming 'til the ogre hits the floor," Vendras grinned and dropped several coins onto her dirty tray. She shook her head and turned away as Farrehn rolled his eyes.

"Ye tink ye kin out drink me, den let's make dis wager a bit more interestin'," Farrehn said loudly over the noise of the room.

"I can't afford to lose more than two gold Dracts to you, my large friend," Vendras said.

"Well if the two of you would quit betting on everything the twin suns shine on, you'd have more coin, sugar," Laria said. She tipped her tankard to drain it and almost fell over. Vendras grabbed her shoulder and pulled her upright.

"Easy, girl. How much have you had to drink, anyway? Doesn't it take a lot for an Elf to get drunk?"

"I've been here since last night," Laria said loudly, but acted like she was trying to whisper in Vendras' ear. He cringed away from her and waved a hand in front of his face.

"Explains a lot," he said.

The serving wench had made her way back to their table and plopped down two tankards, sloshing ale onto the table. She dropped down four more.

"I'm too busy to keep comin' back. Jest yell iffn' ye need more," she turned and left.

"All right, let's get this done," Vendras said, grinning. He raised his tankard and clanged it against Farrehn's.

"We haven't talked about da wager yet," Farrehn said.

"I'll do whatever you want me to, big guy, as long as it doesn't involve nudity and animals."

"Ye sure about dis?"

"Absolutely! Now drink. I need the coin."

*****

The next morning, the twin suns crept over the horizon casting a pink glow over the fresh snow. The streets were quiet after such a long holiday celebration. As merchants began to arrive to open up their shops, they paused in their usual routine at the odd sight before them.

In the center of town where a large, decorated tree had been placed for the holiday, was a most unusual sight. The usual jeweled star had been pulled down and was now nestled in the branches. In its place hung a man tied up with rope, arms and legs spread out like the points of the star. He was dressed all in white and draped in gold garlands. His snores could be heard from the doorway of the Moon Water Inn where Farrehn stood. He leaned against the door frame, large, steaming mug in hand and chuckled at the sight.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Book Review: Spooky Showcase by Alan Draven...

Title: Spooky Showcase

Author: Alan Draven

Publisher: Pixie Dust Press

Pages: 344 (Print), File size: 530 kb

ISBN 10: 0981021336 (ISBN 13: 978-0981021331)
ASIN: B00A6TFQ4U

Purchase: Amazon and Barnes & Noble



Description (From Amazon.com):

A collection of spooky tales featuring three short stories and two novellas--including a brand new novella and an unpublished short story: • The Paradigm • Beyond the Doomed Cave • The Rattling Man • A Madman's Atonement • Vengeance is Mine

My thoughts:

Lots of chilling tales from 'The Rattling Man' to 'Beyond the Doomed Cave'. The book gave me some goosebumps and soothed my nerves with some light humor. Alan Draven's take on Jack the Ripper in 'Vengeance is Mine' is pretty twisted. I never would have pegged the serial killer as... well, I can't tell you!
Well written, lots of different stories all set in Bitternest, Louisiana (except for 'Vengeance').

I give it 4 skull and crossbones.

Friday, December 21, 2012

The Dr. Saved Us!...

Ha! The world didn't end. In your face, apocalypse!

Hm... maybe not such a good idea to tick off the Mayan gods...

Anyway, we're all here and we're all going to be here awhile so might as well work together and strive towards world peace.

Or not.

You've always got the oddballs who want to cause chaos.

Why you looking at me?

So my Friday format is going to change on my blog posts. I've been blogging for awhile now and I'm running out of Favorites as far as books, movies and music goes. So I'll be focusing on at least 3 authors every Friday. I'll share their books, links and the like. I'm pretty good about promoting other authors. Half the time, they are books I have yet to read. Now that the world is saved, (Thanks, Dr. Who!) I have more time to read.

But I'll still give you the funnies. So on that note:

The Funny:


Or two:

Or three:

Haha! Have a great weekend everyone. Happy holidays and have a great New Year!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

One Of Those Weeks...

Hey all! Things have been crazy hectic here and I haven't had a chance to post much this week. Then, internet issues cropped up and won't be fixed til either today or tomorrow (Friday).

So how is it you are seeing this post? Well, I am actually at work and using their computer for the moment. I got here early, before my shift, to post this tidbit to you!

I did not have a Friday post scheduled, as I am going to change some of my Favorite Friday format. No worries, you will still get me in all my snarky glory and funnies!

Psh, like you were worried.

I just wanted to post as it has been kind of quiet around here since my giveaway. Like I just dropped off books and ran! I've also been spending some time on Twitter these days. I'm starting to have some fun with it. So if you are on Twitter, follow me!

@MLChesley

You'll get twice the snark and even more fun than what you get on the blog. Think you can handle that? Of course you can. You guys are super fun!

All right, with that being said, I'm going to make like a shepherd and get the flock out of here.

Have a great rest of the week and maybe I will get a post up in time for tomorrow! Wish me luck.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

'Holly and Ivy' by Selah Janel...

Looking for a holiday read? Try this:


Blurb
After losing her job and her boyfriend, Holly returns to her parents’ farm. Embarrassed and hopeless, she doesn’t expect to bump into a forgotten childhood friend that wasn’t supposed to exist. Ivy is not only a dryad, but she lives in the pine trees Holly’s family grows to sell at Christmas. As the old friends reconnect,Ivy not only shares her strong opinions, but gives Holly a charm that will change both their lives. As days melt into weeks and the seasons change, Holly’s life magically turns around. Christmas not only brings surprises, but a choice for the human woman. What’s more important: stability, success, and love, or keeping a promise to an old friend?

Excerpt:
What do I do with it?” I asked. I told myself I was just playing along, suspending reality to make Ivy feel better. Although if that was the case then perhaps I should have really examined the fact that Ivy was real and not me suspending reality to make myself feel better.
You hold it now until it gets to know you. You keep it safe in your possession and it shall bring you ease and grace,” the tree sprite giggled.
And that really works?” No matter how I tried I couldn’t hide my skepticism.
She turned up her pointed nose. “How else would I have survived so well with murderers on the loose? It’s worked for a good long while.” I raised an eyebrow as a sly grin spread just a little too far across her face to make the smile look human. “Do you remember when I snuck to school with that sapling you took for show and tell?”
The next smile didn’t hurt quite as much as I traced the delicate edge of the tiny plant with the pad of a finger. The petaled head shivered and softly brushed against my calluses. “I thought everyone was going to have a heart attack when you burst out of the thing and started singing to everyone! Mrs. Robinson finally played it off as the whole class playing a trick on her. We had to go without milk time for a week.” I’d gotten in so much trouble with my parents for lying in school and saying that I had a magic plant. Given that I was adamant that I’d been telling the truth, it was a hell of an ordeal for a six-year-old.
“’Twas so much fun!” Ivy paused mid-pirouette. It was downright disgusting that she could hold the arabesque for so long and not even wobble or suffer a leg cramp. “Though I would not want to live in such cold halls all the time.” She paused and took a long breath, much longer than I or any other human could possibly inhale. Before my eyes her skin became greener, infused by the crisp clean air. “You need to be in the trees, Holly. Mortals refuse to understand that they must live where things grow. Now that you’re home, let’s play!” She leapt over my head and landed effortlessly beside her home tree, staring at me expectantly.
Maybe it was being back home or maybe it was just being back in the good fresh air, but her suggestion made me giddy. It suddenly sounded like the exact prescription I needed, the one thing I’d been missing through all those frustrating years. My fragile mind and heart demanded an escape. They couldn’t take any more disappointment, any more expectations or responsibility, and they especially couldn’t take any more reality. I nodded and tucked the strange clover deep in my pocket. The breeze had dried my tears and the heavenly scent of grass and pine put the sudden urge to run in my feet. Suddenly the heavy air and the blazing sun didn’t matter so much and my anxieties were willing to take a momentary backseat to the chance to goof off for an afternoon. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?” I hesitated, hand still at my pocket.
Ivy flashed a bold grin and stretched up on her toes; her fingers wiggled over her head, making her resemble an odd, scrawny plant. “With you here? Of course! Just remember to come look after my tree when the murderers come around the winter harvest time. You can even help me choose which tree will be my final home so you’ll know where I’ll be.” The words were no sooner out of her mouth when she tore off, dodging branches and bark as quick and swift as a deer. I groaned as I pulled myself to my feet and tumbled after her, muscles screaming at the sudden exercise. Still, I found myself laughing the entire time.

Holly and Ivy available at:

Author Bio:
Selah Janel has been blessed with a giant imagination since she was little and convinced that fairies lived in the nearby state park or vampires hid in the abandoned barns outside of town. Her appreciation for a good story was enhanced by a love of reading, the many talented storytellers that surrounded her, and a healthy curiosity for everything. A talent for warping everything she learned didn’t hurt, either. She gravitates to writing fantasy and horror, but can be convinced to pursue any genre if the idea is good enough. Often her stories feature the unknown creeping into the “real” world and she loves to find the magical in the mundane.
She has four e-books with No Boundaries Press, including the historical vampire story ‘Mooner’ and the contemporary short ‘The Other Man’. Her work has also been included in ‘The MacGuffin’, ‘The Realm Beyond’, ‘Stories for Children Magazine’, and the upcoming Wicked East Press anthology ‘Bedtime Stories for Girls’. She likes her music to rock, her vampires lethal, her fairies to play mind games, and her princesses to hold their own.
Catch up with Selah and all her ongoing projects at the following places:
Blog – http://www.selahjanel.wordpress.com
Fandom Scene Column – http://www.fandomfestblog.com/blogs/selah-janel
Facebook Author Page – http://www.facebook.com/authorSJ
Facebook Book Page – http://www.facebook.com/intherednovel
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5622096.Selah_Janel
Amazon Author Page - http://www.amazon.com/Selah-Janel/e/B0074DKC9K/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1346815995&sr=1-2-ent
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/SelahJanel




Monday, December 17, 2012

The Winners...

Hey everyone! Sorry I didn't post this sooner, I got all sorts of caught up in cleaning and re-arranging my house yesterday.

I know you are dying to know who won, so we shall get on with it!

1st Place, which gets a copy of my book, 'Adversarius' and 3 other books of their choice goes to:

Donna Simmonds!

2nd place and 3rd place which gets a copy of 'Adversarius' and their choice of 2 other books goes to:

Colleen Powers and BN100!



Congratulations all around! I have sent off emails and notified the winners. They'll be making their choices and letting me know.

What a great way to start the week. Thanks to everyone who entered the drawing. Keep stopping by, I'll be doing more giveaways after the holiday season!

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Monday Is Coming...

I know, I'm such a weekend buzz kill. But Monday will be here before you know it and that will be the last time you can enter my contest to win these awesome books.

Now, I know what you are all thinking... or at least some of you... that I don't have a gift card, I don't have swag, I just have books. You know, that's okay. With funds as tight as they have been and me and hubby recuperating from some financial woes, I have to leave that stuff for later.

I'm a pirate! Don't you think I would love to give you swag???? Seriously.

Okay so enough with the whining. Right now I'm just trying to focus on spreading the word about my book. I'm also looking for some reviewers. So what say you? Even if you don't want to enter to win my book, won't you help a girl out? You know you want to.

So here's the link to the contest. Tweet it, share it, heck, got to my like page and share that as well.

Now you may continue with your weekend festivities, whatever they may be! And really, thanks for all your support! It means a lot to me.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Friday Favorites, Fantasy Art & A Funny...

It's Friday!! I have one  more week to go until Christmas break. Woohoo! Think you're tired of hearing about my book now? Just wait...

Okay on with the favorites!

Favorite books/authors:

Hmm... this is starting to get difficult, I had so many but I've been doing this post for some time now. Oh yeah, how could I forget?? R. A. Salvatore. The creator of the most awesome Drow character ever: Drizzt! I've only ever read a couple of the books with this totally awesome, heroic character. I've sort of forgotten about them as I built up my 'To Be Read' pile over the years. I read like two of the books and then suddenly got involved in something else. There was also a period of time where I didn't read for a couple years. Yes... years. But we won't go there. So I should add more of those books to my list. I really, really liked them!

Favorite movies:

I absolutely love action films, especially martial arts films. One of my absolute favorites is 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. WITH subtitles, thanks. I'd rather they speak their native language instead of the English dubbing. Gah. Anyway, beautiful story from ancient Chinese mythology.

Favorite music:

In line with the favorite movie there, I will have to say I love the soundtrack to it. Yo Yo Ma is an extremely talented cellist. I have the soundtrack on my writing playlist on my iPod. It's very inspiring when writing!

Fantasy art:

With my love of Dungeons and Dragons, I found this wallpaper and just had to have it. It's classic.


And the funny:


Ha! I've used this one before, for the holidays. But it's still hilarious. Have a great weekend everyone! What are your plans for the weekend?

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Writing Wednesday...

Happy 12/12/12!! This won't be happening again until the year 2112, so enjoy it now!

Well, lots of the world building stuff is basically done. I can go back and discuss more things in detail should the need arise.

Today, though, I've gotta put out to the webiverse a huge thank you. Not just to all the people who support me and have supported me since I began this writing journey, but also back to high school English teachers who saw my potential then. Where ever you may be now, I hope you know what's in my heart.

I'm sorry I didn't listen! I was a dumb, self absorbed teenager. What can I say?

While I failed English repeatedly in high school, I obviously passed at some point. Even though it was with a low grade. I understand the English language, but some of it just doesn't make sense and I was born and raised in the U.S. Warped as the language is, I still get it. Some of it still eludes me, but for the most part I listen to my  instincts. That's what an editor is for, right? Throw erasers later!

But I had a couple of teachers who saw the potential and eventually knew what to expect from writing assignments. Boy, did they wear out their red correction pens! They pushed me to be better, just like my beta readers and friends do now.

So at the risk of blabbing on about my book all freakin' week long (OMG!) I just want to get that out there. And don't forget, the giveaway will be ending on the 17th. Click here to get your entries in to win some of these awesome books! Not just mine. Hehe!

All right then! I'm taking suggestions for my Writing Wednesday blogs. I prefer to stick to fantasy and world building topics but I will talk about anything. Obviously.

Have a good rest of the week everyone!

Monday, December 10, 2012

Spread The Word & Win!...

I am blessed to have lots and lots of author friends. I'm especially thankful that every book donated to my giveaway is from a fellow Word Weaver! So many, many thanks to Jenna Miller, Anita Dawn Stewart, Mary McDonald, Walki Tinkanesh and Hydra Star! Let's kick off this awesome week, shall we?

Spreading the word about a book is one of THE BEST advertisements. Reviews rank right up there and I've gotten a couple of good ones so far! So what now? Well, I'm glad you asked... three lucky people will win a free ebook copy of my book, Adversarius! But that's not all! You'll also get to choose from these fabulous books as well from some amazing authors. Check out the list, then we'll get to to the rules.



Ceremony of Chaos by Jennifer L. Miller ~ Ceremony of Chaos features 12 Short Stories from the twisted mind of Jennifer L. Miller. Within the pages you will find supernatural and real world horrors sure to keep you up at night. With one new tale of terror, Black Widow, Ceremony of Chaos also contains short stories penned for Darkened Horizons Magazine, such as The Shewolf and Slither, as well as Black Water City from the Horror Anthology Concrete Blood: Dark Tales of the City. Short Stories that appeared in several Word Weavers Anthologies also are included in this collection.


Outsider by W. Freedreamer Tinkanesh ~
Rooted in the music scene of London, UK, and inspired by a life-long passion for music and a peculiar interest in private dark sides, 'Outsider' is a study of human emotions, disturbed by vampires and punctuated with rock music. Sid is a medicated musician who has lost her rhythm, but strangely is finding her voice as a writer.For Joy, the bored blood-drinker, it might have started when a powerful vampire turned her into a creature of the night at the dawn of the 20th century. Is everything as it seems? Is everyone as they appear? With offbeat sense of humour and twisted realism, the author guides you down a trail of bodies (alive, dead and undead) until the final showdown.

 
 No One Makes It Out Alive by Hydra M. Star ~
"No One Makes It out Alive: and end of the world anthology" is in short a collection of writings about the end of the world. The genres and subject matter of these stories stretches from zombies to nuclear war and from comedy to erotica, with mostly everything else covered in-between. This anthology was edited by writer, columnist, book reviewer, and magazine owner Hydra M. Star. Cover art provided by Dave Lipscomb. Foreword by Garth von Buchholz. Includes stories from; Andrea Dean van Scoyoc, Joseph DeRepentigny, Josephine Seven, Ken Knight, Larry Lefkowitz, Magan Rodriguez, Tibbie X, and W. Freedreamer Tinkanesh.


Black Pyramid by Anita Dawn Stewart ~
A beautiful land enriched with a history of mythical Gods and power hungry pharaohs. There is ONE who walks among us. He knows the truth of the Ancient Egyptians....   Siaak hides the reality of an era long erased from the temples and obelisks in order to keep the world safe. For there lurks an evil waiting to regain control of Egypt and rule the entire world!   Archeologist, Melissa Ambers, can't resist the offer to excavate a newly discovered pyramid. Only this one isn’t just any pyramid. It’s the mysterious, Black Pyramid! She finds out there's more to the stone monument than meets the eye. And within hours of stepping inside the dark tomb, Melissa's on the war path with Siaak. An ancient being who will stop at nothing to keep the leader of the BloodSeekers imprisoned. Even if it means killing Melissa and all who seek the knowledge of, the Ancient Breeds!

No Good Deed by M. P. McDonald ~ Mark Taylor discovers first hand that no good deed goes unpunished when the old camera he found during a freelance job in an Afghanistan bazaar gives him more than great photos. It triggers dreams of disasters. Tragedies that happen exactly as he envisions them. He learns that not only can he see the future, he can change it. Then the unthinkable happened and everyone ignored his frantic warnings. Thousands die. Suddenly, the Feds are pounding on his door and the name they have for Taylor isn't urban hero. It's enemy combatant. And, it means they can do anything they want to him. Anything at all.


On December 17th, I will choose three winners.

First place will win: A copy of Adversarius PLUS three other books of your choice from the books shown here.

Second and Third place will win: A copy of Adversarius PLUS two other books, again, your choice.

Now here is how you can win. Since this is all about Spreading the Word, take a look at the list of how to gain entries: 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Tyrant King Blog Tour...

It's Sunday! Got your paper? Coffee? Omelet? Awesome! Now head on over to this link and read another review of 'The Tyrant King' by Cheri Chesley written by the lovely Hydra M. Star.

It's a good day for a good review! Like it, share it, spread the word.

You know the routine. So I'll just stop typing now.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

A Little Unusual...

I've skipped some blog posts this week. I missed the IWSG post, which I hardly ever miss. I also didn't post my Friday Favorites post.

People might think I was sick or something.

Oh yeah, I was! Yeah sorry about that, everyone. I had a horrible week and the only thing that made it better was my book being released. I'm still in a bit of shock over that!

I'm feeling better now, don't feel so far behind on things that I am desperately trying to catch up. It has been a hell of a week!

But since I am feeling better, I will be getting back to posting my regular things. On Monday, there will be a giveaway for my book by helping me to spread the word that it is out! I'll be starting my blog tour in January, once the holidays are over and everyone is back to somewhat normal. You know, crawling out of their 'End of the World' bunkers and what not. Finding room for all of those Apocalypse supplies they bought. Clearing a path to their front door again, moving barricades to keep out the Zombies or whatever.

Oh and yeah, Christmas. Can't forget cleaning up after Christmas and New Year's!

So even though I didn't post yesterday, I'll still leave you with a couple of funnies:



Okay, technically we're down to thirteen days...

And that's it for me today! Have a great weekend everyone.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

The Tyrant King Tour Continues...

Hey everyone! If you feel so inclined, hop on over to Laura B.'s blog today. She's got my sister in law, Cheri Chesley's review up for 'The Tyrant King'.

Looks like this second book in the series has fans of 'The Peasant Queen' gobbling it up and asking for more!

Even if you've seen the review, share the link! Thanks everyone and have an awesome day!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Exciting Things To Come...

Hey everyone! I'm sure some of you have heard by now, since I plastered it all over the webiverse. My book, 'Adversarius, Shadow of the Rose: Book One' will be available December 7, 2012!

Super excited over here. Doing the happy dance and everything!

I'll be hosting a virtual book tour starting in January. In the meantime, I'd like to offer up the chance for three lucky people to win a copy of my book. Right now, it is only going to be available as an e-book, print will come later.

However, since I don't have a lot of extra cash, especially around the holidays, I'll just be giving away books this time around. I'll do a bigger giveaway when I am able to. Right now, I'd like to spread the word about Adversarius!

So on that note, you'll see a new little page tab at the top of this blog. It says, 'Giveaway Donations'. Like I state on that page, I'm not asking for money, especially this time of year! I am asking for books, swag, bookmarks, etc. I'll use these as giveaway prizes if you see fit to send me something OR hold onto the item and ship it off to the winner if you prefer that instead.

December 10th will be my first Book Giveaway, so make sure to stop on by and read the rules! Yes, there are rules, there are ALWAYS rules. So help me spread the word about Adversarius!

And thank you, ALL of you, for the wonderful help and support you have given me to get this far. Some of you more than others, and you all know who you are. I appreciate absolutely everything you have all done for me on this journey.

Monday, December 3, 2012

'The Next Big Thing' Blog Meme...

Hey everyone! It's Monday. I can hear the groans from here... lol! Well, I was tagged in "The Next Big Thing" blog hop and tried to get five authors to tag to no avail. I'll still participate, since I'm linked on the lovely Jennifer Brown's blog here. So here we go, hope you enjoy!


What is your working title of your book? 
Veritas, Shadow of the Rose: Book Two. This is currently in revision status and I should be done with it soon. It begins where 'Adversarius' leaves off.

Where did the idea come from for the book?
 

I read a lot of fantasy, and have always wanted to write a book, which ended up being a trilogy. Not exactly sure where the idea came from, it just sort of crept up on me out of the blue.

What genre does your book fall under? 

Fantasy, but in all actuality, High Fantasy due to the nature of the work, characters, creatures, etc.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Ha! I have thought about this long and hard. I would absolutely choose Kate Beckinsale (Alex, you'll love this!) for Kayta, Adrian Paul for Black Rose, um, I'm torn between Rose McGowen for Nightshadow or I'd pick Keri Byron (from Mythbusters). I originally chose Heath Ledger for Vendras, but now can't picture him as anyone else. Farrehn would be Dwayne Johnson and I really have no clue for the others right now. That's about as far as I got.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? 

'Truth is a bitter pill for Hedric to swallow and only he can decide if it will set him free or destroy him.'

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? 

Since this is the second in the series, I have no idea just yet.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Oh wow, um... it took me a couple years for the first two parts, then I ended up running into issues, put it away and came back to it several years later.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I have no idea. I'd like to say any of the 'Forgotten Realms' or 'DragonLance' books, but I doubt they even come close.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

What inspired me were all of my favorite fantasy authors growing up. My husband, Larry, came into my life much later and inspired me to finish what I had started.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

There is something in it for everyone. A little romance, intrigue, pirates, all sorts of fantasy creatures; old and new. Battles, jealousy, hatred and most of all, friendship and loyalty.


I wish I had been able to tag some authors in this post. I looked, I asked but in the end, people are super busy this time of year. So here is my part, as promised! I hope you liked it.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Friday Favorites, Fantasy Art & A Funny...

Well today you get two posts from me. This one and the one telling you of my sister in law's book launch blog tour for The Tyrant King. While there are four in one day, that can't be helped with the holidays looming. If you can make all four stops, share the links. If not, do what you can.

Okay so on to the favorites!

Favorite Books/Authors:

I remember reading lots of books when I was a kid and I recently came across one of my favorites. 'The Island of the Blue Dolphins' by Scott O'Dell. I read that book a couple of times as a kid and I'm half tempted to read it again. Those are the kinds of books I liked reading as a kid. I would pick up just about anything that looked interesting, regardless of the genre, even back then.

Favorite Movies:

I just saw Brave the other night and have to add this to my list of favorites. And it has nothing to do with me being half Scottish. Okay, sort of. Heh! No, it was a really good movie. I enjoyed it and am glad I got to see it.

Favorite Music:

This may shock some of you, considering my favorite list in the past and all the bands I listed at one time for the A-Z Blog Challenge, but I'm going to list The Statler Brothers today. I was raised on Country music and while I don't care much for it these days, there are some artists I still enjoy. And look, I'm mentioning it for the whole world to see! I saw the Statler Brothers in concert once when I was a kid. It was at a fairgrounds and it was rainy. My mom and I had on our el cheapo rain slickers that they handed to everyone before the concert. It was fun.

Fantasy Art:



And the funny:


Okay, that's it for this chick. Have a great weekend and see you all on Monday!

The Tyrant King Blog Tour...

Hey all! So my sister in law, Cheri Chesley, has her newest book in her young adult fantasy series out. It is called 'The Tyrant King'. She's been a hoppin' about the blogosphere these days and I bet she's getting kinda tired. That's a lot of hoppin'!

Her latest stop today has her on not one, but THREE blogs. Can you imagine? Well, technically four... Mindy and Sheila are blogging separately and together on their combined blog. You'll find the links below.

Here they are:

Angela Brown
Mindy Holt
Sheila Staley
LDS Women's Book Review 

So stop on by and share the links to all of these wonderful blogs. Help Cheri get the exposure she deserves. We are all authors supporting authors, right? And readers. We're ALL readers!  Thanks everyone!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

The Wait Is Over...

That's right. And what have we all been waiting for, you ask?

The release date of my book, Adversarius, of course!

After all this time, after a lengthy wait, (Which felt like decades to me because I am Instant Gratification Girl) I have a release date!

Allow me to pause here for a just a moment and say,

OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


*Ahem*

Okay, I'm done. I'll do my happy dance later because I KNOW you all don't wanna see that. Eek!

Have I drawn it out long enough? Too long?

Yeah, you're right, I better get to this before you leave. :(

OKAY So the release date is...

*drumroll*

(Someone's gonna kick me, I can feel it...)

DECEMBER 7, 2012!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Virtual book tour will ensue with anyone willing to allow me to hijack their blog for a day being put into a drawing for some super fun swag. Contact me and we'll work out the kinks. For those of you already on board, I'll be sending out an email as soon as possible. I'm also looking for reviewers, so hit me up and I may have a copy of the book to give you soon.

Sweeeeet!

Have a great day, everyone. I know I will!

Monday, November 26, 2012

The Monday After...

Hey everyone! I hope those of you who celebrated the Thanksgiving weekend had a safe and happy one. Too much turkey for me, but I also made the best turkey ever. Even though I bought the darn thing FROZEN the NIGHT before turkey day.

One of my Irish friends (bless her heart) patted my turkey in the store and said, "Love, how the eff are ye goin' tae cook dis ting?"

I told her I was going home to give it a bath. And sure enough, that's just what I did.

So today is another tour stop for my sister in law, Cheri Chesley and her NEWEST book, The Tyrant King!

For the latest stop on the tour, click here and head on over to Jamie Gibbs' page, Mithril Wisdom.

But wait! Don't go just yet!

I'll also be participating in 'The Next Big Thing' blog hop and I'm looking for 5 authors to tag. I'll be posting next Monday, so you will post the Monday after.

Okay, now you can go! Have a great week everyone.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Friday Favorites, Fantasy Art & A Funny...

Ruh roh, it's Black Friday. Don't know how many of you are camping out at home and avoiding leaving the house. If you are, cool! You can read this post.

Favorite Books/Authors:

Okay, as usual I am late to the party, but I have finally ... FINALLY ... picked up the first of George R. R. Martin's books, 'Game of Thrones'. I'm halfway through and it is already a favorite!!!  I can't seem to put the damn thing down but I have to. I need to sleep and be able to function the next day. I'm really, truly loving this book, but I am sad I can't pick up the rest in the series just yet. Maybe if someone buys a book trailer from me...

Ha!

Favorite Movie:

Last Holiday with Queen Latifah is such a cute movie. I figured since the holidays are on the horizon, why not pick something like this. It's a good, clean movie without a lot of gratuitous crap. And I like Queen Latifah. I've liked just about every movie I've seen with her in it. She's one talented lady.

Favorite Music:

Black Eyed Peas. I have to state I like this group. I like all sorts of music, especially music that moves me. There are some groups I don't like, trust me, but you'll be hard pressed to find one.

Fantasy Art:

This is by John Howe just because Michael Offutt got me looking at artwork from LotR, lol!


And the funny, obviously due to it being Black Friday:


Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving! Have a great rest of your four day weekend!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

I'm Thankful...

Instead of my usual World Building  post, I thought I would post a positive note just before the holiday.

I want to make a list of things I'm thankful for. My Thanksgiving Top Ten, if you like. So here goes!


10) My skills as a writer and the ability to weave a tale.

9) That even after injuries and surgeries, I still have the use of my hands to do all the things I do, not just writing.

8) I'm thankful for all of you, my faithful, fun, witty, smart, supportive friends. I don't know how far I would have gone without you!

7) My health. After having dodged the C bullet and all the surgeries I've gone through, I'm still alive. I still have fluid on my brain but I am thankful that it doesn't affect me like it used to.

6) My pets. When I need some comforting or unconditional love and no one else is around, they are there. And they help me keep my sanity.

5) My family. The love and support they've shown me since I began this writing journey was surprising and overwhelming. I love them all!

4) My husband. I love that he helps me write these books. I can always bounce ideas off of him and he offers up his point of view and opinions freely.

3) My kids. I'm so thankful for them being in my life. Even though sometimes they don't always make the best decisions, I stand behind their choices and help pick them up when they fall. I wouldn't have it any other way.

2) I'm thankful to be alive, to live in America even with all of the hardships we as a country are enduring. I have a home, a job and food. There are places worse off than we are and we can't grow as a country without some difficulties.

1) All of the above! I can't think of anything else, this covers it all. I can't state it enough just how thankful I am for all of you and everyone else in my life that helps me walk this path. Thank you all and have a blessed holiday.

What are you thankful for?

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Book Launch Blog Tour: Cheri Chesley...


It's a bit late for this post, but I will post again next week.

My sister in law, Cheri Chesley, has released her latest book 'The Tyrant King'! I'm so very excited for her. She kicked it off with a contest and now you can see the first stop on the tour over here, with J. A. Bennett.

Next on the tour will be in a few days after our holiday with Jamie Gibbs.

Gotta have time to digest the turkey, you know. I'll add the rest of the tour dates later. Have a great day everyone! And, if you'd like to see a bit of my book trailer work, click to watch Cheri's book trailer.


Monday, November 19, 2012

Review: House of cards by Juli D. Revezzo...

 Title: House of Cards

Author: Juli D. Revezzo

Publisher: Raven Queen Publications

Pages: 28 (Print), File size: 119 kb

ASIN: B009LAH1Q6

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords



 Summary from Amazon:

You can't escape Fate....

A young nobleman escapes the Reign of Terror in 18th century France to find himself dragged into an even worse fate--a hellish underworld wherein he is cajoled and put on trial by a demon tribunal for crimes he never committed. Can he answer thwart his fate, one worse than the guillotine?


My thoughts:

This short story was a great read. It packed a solid punch and moved rapidly, but not so much you got lost in the rush. It was just right. It reminded me of Dante's Inferno in the fact it was different levels of hell but were riddles instead. Imagine having to move through the afterlife with just your wits about you. If you went mad, you'd be screwed.
However this story also had some special meaning hidden within, in the form of Tarot cards. How you read the Tarot depends entirely on you and your knowledge of the craft. Not everyone listens to their instincts when it comes to reading Tarot. You simply cannot just glance at the image and judge the card by that image. Deeper meanings abound. So while you read this twisted tale, learn the lesson it tries to teach. And not just the one about avoiding graveyards after dark.

I give it a solid five out of five skull and crossbones.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Friday Favorites, Fantasy Art & A Funny...

It's Friday! These days, I've never been so happy to see a Friday in my life. And sorry for the past couple of goofs. While trying to post and schedule some of these blogs, my fingers got ahead of my brain yet again and jumped the gun. Sorry 'bout that.

On with it!

Favorite Books/Authors:

I have to say, ever since reading 'Build A Man' by Talli Roland, I've been hooked on her books. I have now read 'Construct A Couple' and have the rest of her books sitting in my Kindle, waiting for me to turn the virtual pages. Sometimes, my personal reading list takes a hit when I do reviews, but I don't mind! So Talli, you are now on my favorites list! Woohoo!

Favorite Movies:

One movie I saw with my daughter right about when it came out on DVD is quickly becoming one of our 'chick flick' faves. 'Whip It'. Roller Derby at its finest. I've always thought that I could do roller derby, it'd be fun, but now I'm worried about how it would affect my hands should I fall. I know, I'm a wuss. But I love this movie and really enjoy watching it with my daughter. During one of my mom's summer visits, all three of us watched it together and we all liked it. So there, three generations give it a thumb's up.

Favorite Music:

I'm going with the B-52's today. Rock Lobster! And don't forget about that Chrysler that's as big as a whale. It's about to set sail. (WoooOOOooo!) I have my juke box money. I just need the damn juke box!

Fantasy Art:

I will never tire of watching Lord of the Rings. I watched it again recently because my son had never seen the extended versions. Gah! But I have had this wallpaper on my computer before and thought, what the hell, so here it is!


And the Funny:

Can't recall if I have showed this before, but it is worth repeating anyway!


May the Walnut Force be with you! Have a great weekend! What are your plans?

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Kicking Off A Blog Tour...

So I finally convinced my sister in law to stop waiting for me and my book. She is going to be having her book launch/blog tour soon. However, to kick it off, she's holding a contest.

"Spread the Word" contest and details are here. So drop on by, read the rules and enter to win. And, oh yeah, spread the word! She needs to feel some book-ly love.

There is still time to be added on to the tour schedule. If you'd like to be a part of it, email me. It's under my contact tab. I'll send you all the info you need. I figured I made her wait this long, the least I can do is manage her tour!

Thanks everyone!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

World Building Wednesday...

There is no end in sight, when you are a fantasy author and building your own world. There are many things to consider and sometimes, you are constantly changing things. You will find, while you are writing, that some things just don't work.

I lost count on how many times I have had to change something. It happens. And maps are no exception.

I've talked about maps before, yes, but now it is time to talk about map makers. I have my world map drawn out by hand on numerous squares of graph paper all taped together. I roll it up when I have to transport it or move. I hate doing that, though, because it tears and crinkles. I get all OCD over it. But I like to have that huge map up on my wall near my desk for quick, easy reference when writing. I don't want to have to keep swapping windows on my computer. Just a quick glance up and sometimes I spend several moments tracking the movement of my characters.

Not only that, each square on my graph represents a certain distance and so configuring how long it takes them to move about is fairly simple. Because math and I are not on speaking terms, I need simple!

But what do you do when you need that map shrunk down and print ready, for say, the inside cover of your book or for your website? Crap! I can't take that huge thing and scan it. I'd be here for days...

I have my own methods and means of getting my map onto my computer, but it's long and drawn out. Not simple at all. But I did take a pic with my cell phone and now my friend Jennifer is working on it by taking those images and going to this site to take it to that next stage.

Here are some results:

This shows the dashed lines of my kingdom borders. Originally, she made them solid lines, but this looked better.

Next came rivers and lakes placement. Right now, this is only on one continent as we work out details for the others.

    
This shows some of the icons that can be used as well as mountain range placement.

I think it is coming along nicely. I can't wait until it is done with city names and the rest of the terrain. This has been a huge worry of mine, how I was going to get this map book worthy or even ready for the internet. I'm thankful Jennifer is willing to play around with this. I don't mind being a guinea pig, because when she is done with my map, she will know what to do for hers. It's a win win! There are other map making programs out there and a lot of them are time consuming. However, if you want a map for your books or website, you're going to have to take the time. There is no fast map making program unless you choose to use a pre-made map. And even then, you'll have to worry about copyrights. So choose wisely and make it your own. It will be so worth it in the end, trust me.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Tips & Tricks...

I've been looking into ways people promote their books these days. I'm gearing up and making notes for myself when the time comes. There are lots of good ideas out there.

Some of the things I notice, though, are lots of authors don't really know or understand how to use Twitter. I never really got into Twitter until recently and I find it fun. I'm learning as I go all the time.

For instance, I'm learning a bit of the lingo. Things like #FF, SO, #Amwriting and the like.

#FF = Follow Friday. This is where you list people you follow and feel like mentioning to help them get followers. I've been mentioned dozens of times and I'm close to reaching the 1,000 followers mark.

SO = Shout Out. I do this when I go under Connections to see who my new followers are. If I am already following them or choose to follow them at that point, I tweet a couple of shout out's to them, listing their user name. It helps a lot, especially when trying to build a follower base.

#Amwriting = just that. You're telling people you are currently writing. Share your word count. With the hashtag there, you're connecting with other people in this thread and more than just your followers can see this. There is also #amreading, #Amediting and similar things.

I've got lots of publishers, reviewers, editors and authors in my list of people who follow me and I follow back. I am just now finding people to follow who play Lord of the Rings Online. Even World of Warcraft. I've been trying to tweet every blog post I read, but sometimes forget. But I am trying to make it part of my routine. Oh, and if you don't know what a hashtag means on Twitter, Google it! I have found lists of definitions.

Other promotions I've seen are banners and book trailers. Two things I am currently gearing up to do. I have a couple of book trailers I've done for people (for free) simply because I'm learning and trying to get a feel of just how much to charge. Sorry, I don't have special equipment to make super spectacular, mini movie book trailers and so I feel $450 is just far too much. Yes, I know about the licensing needed, but again, I'm learning a LOT about this and still think that's too much money for some of the trailers I have watched. Seriously.

I also hear about bookmarks and postcards. I wonder, is this really something that is still a good promotional tool? Bookmarks, maybe. Postcards? Dunno. I would think, not so much. But I am going to do bookmarks and I already have my new author trading card from Word Weavers.




My Word Weavers Author Trading Card


At this stage, finding reviewers for my book is definitely not a problem. But what if you don't know reviewers? There are reviewers everywhere. There are review groups everywhere as well. If you are a reviewer, list where you are willing to post the reviews. When I review a book, I post it everywhere the author needs or wants me to post. The more exposure the better.

So what do you do? What do you think of Twitter? Do you do something out of the ordinary to promote your books?