Book Feature: WIngs by Pete Abela - Author Interview

Hey guys! So today, I'll be featuring an author and his book on my blog! Wings was published on 21st May as an ebook by Really Blue Books. This is his debut book.

Wings by Pete Abela

Wings tells the story of Walt and his grandson Scott, who both have a fierce longing to fly albeit in vastly different circumstances.

Walt - who grew up in the depression - found out first hand that becoming a pilot takes sacrifice and tenacity. When World War II broke out he pestered the RAF for eighteen months before they finally accepted him. At that point he was given forty eight hours leave to marry his sweetheart and then sent overseas for twelve months of training before returning for operational flying.

Scott spent his childhood listening to tales of his Grandfather's aerial exploits and developed an intense craving to be a pilot. He gave up education, financial security and a possible career to follow his dream. However, the number of people wanting to be a pilot vastly outweighs the limited opportunities on offer.

Wings weaves together two tales: one set in war-torn northern England, and the other set in the modern-day Illawarra region of New South Wales. As Scott learns about the sacrifices and difficulties Walt overcame to take to the sky, he battles his own challenges in order to follow his dream. As Scott progresses, his grandfather declines - Walt loses his wife, his sight and his hearing - but throughout these difficulties is still there to offer support and encouragement. In following Scott's progress towards his dream, Walt also keeps alive the wonder of his own youth. With insights into the modern day aviation scene and life in the Royal Air Force of World War II, this is a must for anyone who has an interest in history, aviation or simply an old fashioned love story.

Buy it from Amazon | Really Blue Books(Cheapest) | Paperback Copy from Createspace

Pete Abela

My home is in the state of NSW, Australia. I am married and I have four children. When time permits I try to keep fit by running slowly, playing bad golf, bad tennis or worse soccer (I used to play half decent cricket, but had to give it away because it took too much of my time). I don't watch much television.

In addition to my writing, I have a career as an IT Manager and also completed a Master of Arts (Theology) degree whilst I was going through my journaling phase.

Website | Blog | Facebook

And now, let's welcome Pete as he joins us for an author interview!

Hey! It’s lovely to have you on the blog today! So, shall we begin? J

I’m ready to go!

For starters, why not tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?

I’m an author from the city of Wollongong, just south of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. I work as an IT Manager and am fortunate to have a wonderful wife and four great children.

Something not many people know about me is that in addition to my degree in Computer Science, I also have a degree in theology. I also have a desire to get a hole-in-one at golf, although to date, I have not come very close to achieving this!

What made you want to become a writer?

My writing journey began when I commenced a journal around ten years ago. I found it a useful and therapeutic practice which helped me make sense of day to day life and get a sense of perspective. I found it amazing when I read over my journal to see the things I’d been worried about six months ago. In most instances these “problems” had simply vanished.

I found that I enjoyed the process of writing, so I progressed from journaling to an autobiographical account of my late teens and early twenties. It hasn’t been published, and it’s unlikely that it ever will be.

When I finished that, I started thinking about what else I could write. Wings is the result.

Do you have any hidden talents? *wink*

It used to be writing, but now that Wings has been published, that talent is no longer hidden. My wife would say that my ability to walk over or around a mess on the floor without noticing it is a special talent.

What gives you inspiration for your book(s)?

Although Wings is a novel, I did draw inspiration from two men I greatly admire. The first is my grandfather who was a fighter pilot during World War II; the other is my younger brother who is a commercial pilot with a major Australian airline.

Are your characters based off real people, or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

As mentioned earlier, Wings does draw some elements from my brother and grandfather, who I consider them both to have lived through fascinating, unusual and difficult circumstances. However, a large chunk of the book comes entirely from my imagination.

Could you tell us a bit about your book and why it is a must-read?

Wings tells the story of Walt and his grandson Scott, who both have a fierce longing to fly albeit in vastly different circumstances. Walt - who grew up in the depression - found out first hand that becoming a pilot takes sacrifice and tenacity. When World War II broke out he pestered the RAF for eighteen months before they finally accepted him. Scott spent his childhood listening to tales of his Grandfather's aerial exploits and developed an intense craving to be a pilot. However, the number of people wanting to be a pilot vastly outweighs the limited opportunities on offer.

Wings weaves together two tales: one set in war-torn northern England, and the other set in the modern-day Illawarra region of New South Wales. As Scott progresses, his grandfather declines – Walt loses his wife, his sight and his hearing – but throughout these difficulties is still there to offer support and encouragement. With insights into the modern aviation scene and life in the Royal Air Force of World War II, this is a must for anyone who has an interest in history, aviation or simply an old fashioned love story.

What do you love most about the writing process?

The best thing about writing is when I get in the zone … when I don’t have to consciously think and the words just flow out.

The thing I like least is that I get in the zone so rarely. J

I think the last time it happened was 21st October, 2010. In between times there’s a lot of persistence required in order to churn out a decent work.

And of course, do you have a particular favorite character? I know an author will love most if not all of the characters he/she creates, but I’m sure there must be a favorite of yours! So who is it, and why?

My favorite character is Walt. A big part of my enjoyment of creating his character was trying to put myself into his shoes seventy or eighty years ago. To bring to life someone engaging and believable from such a different time and place was a fun challenge. I enjoyed recreating the dancehalls, workplaces and general village atmosphere of 1930s England and placing Walt at the centre of it all.

Will you tell us a little about your plans for the future, and maybe other books that are in the works? (Ideas thought out, perhaps even a rough draft?)

I’m working on a book about a single, twenty-eight year old, dysfunctional IT geek still living at home with his parents. He gets roped into being a regular babysitter for his two year old niece. He grudgingly accepts this role. After some initial difficulties, he grows to enjoy it and she serves as the inspiration for him to sort his life out – although not without a few catastrophes along the way.

And now, just some little random questions!

Favorite colour?

Blue

Favorite place?

I may be biased, but I think NSW, Australia is the best place in the world to live.

Favorite book?

Impossible question! My favourite book so far this year has been Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. Is that answer good enough?

Favorite genre? (and why, if you like)

Probably military history. I like the action combined with the opportunity to learn about another time and place.

To end off, is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

I’d love to hear any feedback and can be contacted via numerous methods:

·         My website: http://www.peteabela.com.

·         My blog: http://blog.peteabela.com provides weekly thoughts about reading, writing and goals, as well as some bad jokes.

·         I’d be ecstatic to have people like http://www.facebook.com/PeteAbela

·         On Twitter: @PeteAbela

Hmm, I think that should be about it for today! It was a pleasure to have you on the blog today! Wishing you all the best in your career! :D

So yep, that's about it for today! I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for visiting:)

Blog Tour: The Queen and the Courtesan by Freda Lightfoot - Guest Post

Hey guys! Sorry this is so late, has been a really hectic day for me. Really need to get back to sleep (it's 5am), so I won't bother with a long intro! Sit back and enjoy the post today!

The Queen and the Courtesan by Freda Lightfoot

Henriette d’Entragues isn’t satisfied with simply being the mistress of Henry IV of France she wants a crown too. Despite his promises to marry her the King is obliged by political necessity to ally himself with Marie de Medician Italian princess who will bring riches to the treasury. But Henriette isn’t for giving up easily. She has a written promise of marriage which she intends to use to declare the royal marriage illegal. All she has to do to achieve her ambition is to give Henry a son then whatever it takes through intrigue and conspiracy to set him on the throne.

Buy it from Amazon UK | Amazon US | The Book Depository | Waterstones and all other good book retailers.

Freda Lightfoot

Born in Lancashire, Freda has been a teacher, bookseller and, in a mad moment, a smallholder on the freezing fells of the English Lake District where she attempted to live the ‘good life’. She has now given up her thermals to live in an olive grove in Spain, where she produces her own olive oil and sits in the sun. She began her writing career by publishing over 50 short stories and articles, and has published 39 novels including many bestselling family sagas and historical novels.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

And now, let's welcome Freda to the blog!

Inspiration and Research

Writers are always on the look out for ideas. I find inspiration from many sources: family memories, history of the places I’ve lived in such as the beautiful English Lake District and Cornwall. I pick up ideas from day time TV, snippets in newspapers and magazines, dinner parties, and even ear-wigging the next table in a restaurant, as all writers do. I’ve dipped into the more interesting parts of my own life, such as when we had a smallholding and tried the ‘good life’. And having fully exploited those, moved on to interviewing people for more fascinating stories.

However, with the current historicals I’m writing, there are no people alive to interview as they take place in sixteenth century France. For these I’ve needed to delve into the archives. I’m one of those oddballs who find such research fascinating, and have hundreds of books and magazines, memoirs and documents of all kinds that I squirrel away in case they come in handy one day.

It was finding an old book on my shelf that set me on the quest of writing about Marguerite de Valois in the first place. It was a biography of her called ‘The Queen of Hearts’. I’d bought it second hand years ago in Hay-on-Wye at the book festival. I was looking for an interesting subject and happened to spot it on my shelves so picked it up to read one night on my way to bed. I discovered Margot, as she was known, was the daughter of Catherine de Medici and was instantly intrigued by the fascinating life she led, the scandal and intrigue that surrounded her, and the dangers she faced. All grist to the mill for a romantic novelist. It set me on the trail of finding out more about her, about Catherine, and the French court at that time, collecting or downloading many books. I started reading and researching for what turned out to be a trilogy, starting with ‘Hostage Queen’, then ‘Reluctant Queen’, and now ‘The Queen and the Courtesan’.

It was easy to feel overwhelmed at times by all the information I found, so I learned to constantly ask myself if it was relevant to my heroine. It was how her actions affected history that mattered most, I decided. More, perhaps, than how history affected her. But as we all know history is written by the victors, I needed to read widely to gain other viewpoints too, and to decide what was true and what political propaganda.

In this last of the trilogy, the story is that of Henriette d’Entragues, who wasn’t satisfied with simply being the mistress of Henry IV of France, she wanted a crown too. Before agreeing to surrender her maidenhead, which she artfully claimed was still intact, she insisted upon a written promise. Ever weak where women were concerned, Henry agreed that if she provided him with a son, he would make her his queen. His advisers and ministers, not surprisingly, were very much against the idea, as they had  an Italian princess, Marie de Medici, in mind, so consequently began their own plotting to seal the match. France was in sore need of the money she could bring to the marriage. Henriette rather unkindly called her the ‘fat banker’.

Henriette was a fascinating character to write as her greed and ambition didn’t make her particularly likeable, so she was in a way an anti-heroine, if there is such a thing. I wanted the reader to disapprove of her, but not so badly that they switched off and closed the book. She also had to be true to her time and yet appeal to the modern reader. Quite a challenge. Marie de Medici, was not an easy women either, but then she did have a mistress and an ex-wife to deal with. In this kind of historical you can’t just make your characters or the story up, but I found it fascinating searching for details on what these people were like, how they related to each other, and discovering how Henriette set about her quest for a crown.

The Queen and the Courtesan, published 29 June, can be found as a paperback or ebook here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Queen-Courtesan-Freda-Lightfoot/dp/1847513972/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1338886284&sr=1-1

Most of my titles are now available as ebooks on Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords etc. Links to them can be found on my website:

http://www.fredalightfoot.co.uk
http://www.fredalightfoot.blogspot.com
Follow me on Twitter:  @fredalightfoot

Facebook:  http://en-gb.facebook.com/fredalightfoot

Short Biography:

Born in Lancashire, Freda has been a teacher, bookseller and, in a mad moment, a smallholder on the freezing fells of the English Lake District where she attempted to live the ‘good life’. She has now given up her thermals to live in an olive grove in Spain, where she produces her own olive oil and sits in the sun. She began her writing career by publishing over 50 short stories and articles, and has published 39 novels including many bestselling family sagas and historical novels. 

So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Blog Tour: Reckless by Cheryl Douglas - Promo + Interview

Reckless by Cheryl Douglas

As a publicist, Avery Collins knows that mixing business with pleasure is a recipe for disaster so she has one rule. Her bedroom is off limits to clients, no matter how enticing and persistent they may be.

Ty McCall is country music’s newest rising star, but he needs the best team in the business to help him make it to the top. That team includes Avery, the woman who gave him the most unforgettable night of his life only to disappear the next morning.

Avery agrees to work with him, but Ty isn’t willing to settle for a professional relationship with the woman of his dreams. Can this sexy cowboy convince her that rules were made to be broken?

Buy it from Amazon!

Cheryl Douglas

It took me thirty-seven years to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. I thought I'd found my calling. In fact, I worked as a nutritionist for twelve years before I finally admitted to myself that while I enjoyed my work, I couldn't imagine doing it for the next thirty years.

My sub-conscious knew that I wanted to be a writer long before the conscious part of my mind decided to get with the program. While my sub-conscious was hard at work creating character profiles, plots and storylines, my conscious mind was telling me it was crazy to give up a successful business on the off-chance one of my manuscripts might rise to the top of someone's never-ending slush pile. After years of listening to that negative voice, I was finally ready to stop making excuses, face the fear and follow my dream of becoming a full-time writer, no matter the outcome. I'm so thankful I did.

I love bringing my characters to life and I am so grateful to have readers who love those characters as much as I do.

When I take a break from writing it's to spend time with my husband (a.k.a. my real life hero), my son, and my writing partner, Tia, a spirited Havanese who enjoys tapping her paw on my keyboard whenever I need a little comic relief.

Website

And now, let's welcome Cheryl and her character Ty to have a little talk with us!

First up, Ty McCall!

Did you always know that you wanted to be a singer?
Singing and playing guitar has always been the only things that mattered to me, aside from my family and a few close friends. I think I got my first acoustic guitar when I was six, and I’ve been driving my family crazy making noise ever since.


Did you consider an alternative career, if you weren’t able to make it in the music business?
It would have taken a lot for me to give up on that dream. Even if meant playing in dive bars and honky tonks every night, it wouldn’t have mattered to me. I just wanted to play my music. 


Why do you suppose you’re gaining a strong fan following when so many artists fail in this highly competitive industry?
I think fans have to believe a musician is a real person before they can connect with his or her music. I’ve always been willing to put myself out there in every song I write, interview I give, and show I put on. I think my fans appreciate that. 


Was there someone who inspired you to follow your dream?
My family’s always been supportive, and my parents taught me the meaning of hard work at an early age. They’d work the land they loved from sun-up ‘til sun-down, seven days a week, ‘cause that was their dream. Their work ethic taught me that I could have anything I wanted in life as long as I wasn’t afraid to work hard and get my hands dirty along the way.

You have three brothers, correct?
Yeah, I have two older, and one younger brother. (Laughs) Let me tell you, there was never a dull moment around our house growing up. My younger brother, J.T., is a professional bull rider, and my two older brothers, Derek and Dave, are in the military and law enforcement. I have a lot of respect for what they do, and whenever possible, I try to pay tribute to them in my music. I don’t think I’d be the man I am today had they not taught me to face my fears and go for what I want, no matter the cost.


Your career is just beginning. Where do you see yourself in five or ten years?
I’ll still be doing what I’m doing right now, I hope. As long as I’m able to keep making music, I’ll be happy. The venues may be bigger, and the demands on my time may be more pressing, but at the end of the day, it’s all about the music. 


What do you like or dislike about being in the public eye?
I don’t have the right to gripe about being having my life dissected by fans and the press. This is what I signed up for; it’s what I’ve wanted all my life. I’m not about to start complaining now that I’ve finally got what I want.

Luc Spencer recently signed you to his record label. How has that changed things for you?

When Luc decided to take a chance on me, it changed everything. He told me that he believed in me, and he was willing to put his reputation on the line ‘cause he saw something in me. I’d never want to let him down, so I’m willing to do whatever it takes to prove him right.

Tell us one thing your fans may not know about you.

I love kids and dogs. (Laughs). Seriously, my golden retriever, Ike, rides shotgun in my truck damn near everywhere I go.

You’ve been romantically linked to your publicist, Avery. Would you care to comment on your relationship with her?

She’s the best at what she does, and I’m damn lucky to have her on my team. As for our personal relationship, it’s just that, personal.

What would you say to people who advise against mixing business and pleasure?

I’d tell them you never know where you’re gonna find love, so you have to be open to the possibility of finding it anywhere. I want to find the woman who’ll make me a better man, and if I start setting boundaries, I’m reducing my chances of finding that one special person who’ll make my life complete.

You mentioned the need to find a partner to make your life complete. Does that mean even with your music career finally taking off, there’s still a void in your life without a partner?

I love my music, but it doesn’t keep me warm at night. It can’t listen and offer advice when I have a problem, or make me laugh at the end of a gruelling day. Only my soul mate can do that.

You sound like a romantic guy. Is that a fair statement?

(Laughs). I’m not likely to run out and buy my lady flowers and chocolates every day, if that’s what you mean. But if we got into an argument, I might sit down and write her a song, to convince her to forgive me for acting like a jerk.

If you had to name one fault, what would it be?

Just one? That’s a tough one. I guess it would have to be that I’m stubborn. When I want something, I don’t give up, no matter what.

Does that apply to women as well?

I’d never forgive myself if I let the right woman get away, so if I have to dig my heels in and fight for us, you’d better believe that’s what I’m gonna do.

Next, we have Cheryl herself!

Q: Can you tell us a bit about the Nashville Nights series?

Nashville Nights is an eight-book contemporary romance series involving some major players in country music. Four of the main characters are singers, one is a manager, who started his own record label, and another is a publicist.

Q: What inspired you to write this series?

I started out with the idea to write a story about Trey and Sierra, the hero and heroine in book one, Shameless. But when the secondary characters became more prominent, I realized I had to dig a little deeper to learn more about them. I never expected it to evolve into an eight book series, but I’ve learned to listen to my muse and follow it wherever it might lead. 

 Q: Who was your favorite character in this series and why?

I can’t pick just one. I loved Trey from book one, Luc from book three, and J.T. from book five. I think these were the most complicated characters to write because there were so many facets to their personality. Just when I thought I had a handle on them, the story would take a surprising turn and I would realize there was yet another layer to their characters. All three men have made their fair share of mistakes, and are trying to work through them to find redemption.

Q: How will the books in this series be released?

With the exception of book six, all of the books are finished and at various stages of editing and proofreading. Book five, Relentless, will be released July 1, book six, Heartless, will be released October 1, and the remaining two books in the series, Hopeless and Careless, will be released the first of each month thereafter.

Q: What surprised you the most about this series?

It would have to be the fact that this series took on a life of its own, literally. As I said, Shameless was supposed to be a stand-alone book. I never expected this to be such a long and rewarding journey. At first, it was a six book series, but when I began to receive daily email from readers telling me they weren’t ready for the series to end, I decided it was time to follow Jay and Mike’s journey. Fans of the series will remember the twins as Josh’s teenage sons in book two, Fearless. In book six, they are grown men who are ready to find love.

Q: What was the most difficult scene or character to write?

Up to this point, I think Luc in book three, Ruthless, was the most complex character to write. I continued to be surprised by the depth of his character and the secrets that were revealed as we progressed through the book. With him, my outline went out the window!

There were a lot of difficult, heart-wrenching scenes in this series. Some even made me cry. I would say the most difficult scene to write took place in the latter part of book five with J.T.’s family. I won’t spoil it for readers, but I will say that it was a tear-jerker.

I am currently working on book six, and it deals with the topic that was introduced at the end of book five, so it’s been very emotionally draining for me. I’m getting ready to tackle some very sensitive topics in the remaining books, so I’m sure that it will only get more difficult as time goes on. 

Q: Which character do you think readers will best be able to relate to and why?

The heroes in books two and four, Josh and Ty, are genuinely good guys. I think readers will want to root for them. They may even get a little upset with the heroines who trample their hearts along the way.

Q: Why did you choose country music as the common thread that ties these books together?

Country music is the backdrop, but I wouldn’t say it’s a strong focus in the series. I hope this is a series that readers will enjoy regardless of the genre of music they prefer. Having said that, country music tells a story. It’s often about heartbreak, trials, lost love, patriotism, and triumph. This series also encompasses all of those elements, so for me, it made sense to weave the music I love into this series. I hope readers share my opinion.  

So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting!

Book Feature: Raising Wild Ginger by Tara Woolpy - Guest Post

Hey guys! Welcome to my blog! Today, I'll be featuring an author, Tara Woolpy on my blog. Today, she will be sharing with you her new release, Raising Wild Ginger.

Raising Wild Ginger was published on the 1st of July this year by Bats in the Boathouse Press. It is about 217 pages long and is currently only available in paperback, but will be available in ebook soon! So yes, without further ado, let's begin! Tara will be on hand today to answer your questions and reply your comments so don't miss this opportunity to speak with her personally!

Raising Wild Ginger by Tara Woolpy

Parenting is hard. That's what Edward Rosenberg has always assumed, although his only experience with children has been as the drunken uncle. Now the love of his life, Sam DaCosta, is yearning for fatherhood. Edward's been sober for years. He and Sam are in a good place. Why rock the boat? On the other hand, how can he deny Sam his dream of a family?

Then they meet Ginger. At twelve she's been through more than either Edward or Sam can imagine. She's seductive, secretive and dishonest. But somewhere between stealing his cash and alienating Sam, Ginger manages to wind herself into Edward's heart. Can the three of them create a family? Or will Ginger blow them all apart?

"Raising Wild Ginger is a captivating tale of a newly created family - a family that is not your usual mother-father-child family, but one that still matters to all involved and is at the very heart of the word a family. Of course, this family is not without it's ups and downs, and there are many instances that are heartwarming as well as heart wrenching. It is an emotional, tender story, and it reminds us just how powerful the love of a family can be. "

~Kristin Thorvaldsen, Always with a Book

"Woolpy has penned a sensational sequel to her outstanding debut novel Releasing Gillian’s Wolves. Raising Wild Ginger brings 12 year old foster child Ginger into Edward and Sam’s lives after she has endured countless acts of horrendous trauma for much of her young life. She arrives broken and alone, it is her last chance for a normal life with a family. Edward and Sam vow to not make the same mistakes their parents did and accept and love Ginger for who she is and what she can become, leaving the past behind to create a loving family all three of them desperately need.
This story will tug hard on your heartstrings and not let them go.  An Absolute Must Read!!*****5 Stars"

~Lori Caswell, Dorcas's Thoughts

Buy it from Amazon!

Tara Woolpy

Tara Woolpy is the author of Releasing Gilllian's Wolves. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Whitworth College after which she spent a year at the Women Writers Center in Cazenovia, New York. Her work has appeared in Focus, Corymb, Kalliope, Alligator Juniper and the anthology The Things that Divide Us from Seal Press. Raising Wild Ginger is the next installment in a series of loosely linked novels set in the fictional town of Lacland.

And now, let's welcome Tara to the blog to talk with us a little about family.

Photo by Tiffany Terry

Families can bring great joy or incredible
pain. This week I've been blessed to be surrounded by a crowd of loving relatives enjoying 4th of July festivities here in Wisconsin. Not all families are this loving and even the best families have their hard moments.

My new book, Raising Wild Ginger, explores family relationships, both those we're born into and those we choose. The narrator, Edward Rosenberg, struggled for years to overcome the damage done to his psyche by his hyper-critical, controlling mother. His partner of four years, Sam DeCosta remembers a happy childhood which ended abruptly when his father disowned him for
being gay. Now Sam wants them to adopt a child and create a real family together. But Edward is afraid of the lessons in parenting he learned in his own childhood. And Ginger, the girl they take in for a summer? She's experienced family trauma on a nightmarish scale.

One of the interesting things to me about having written this book is that it seems to inspire long discussions with readers about the damage and joy that families produce and the healing journey we all embark on after childhood. No one's life
has been perfect and yet few of us grew up in unmitigated horror.

Edward says at one point that nothing is more cruel than families. But when he takes a photo of a large, loving family he declares that it looks like the American dream. What do you think? I'd love to hear your stories of families that worked and those that didn't and how growing up in your particular family influenced the rest of you life.

Raising Wild Ginger is available in paper now. The ebook is coming soon.

Buy Raising Wild Ginger on Amazon .

If you'd like to know more about me or about the book, come visit www.batsintheboathouse.com or my author page on Goodreads

I love to hear from readers. You can find me on Twitter (@TaraWoolpy)
and email (tlwoolpy@gmail.com)

So yep, that's about it for today! Hope you enjoyed the post, and do respond to Tara's questions in her guest post! Thanks for visiting:)

Blog Tour: Medusa A Love Story by Sasha Summers - Promo +

Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! Medusa A Love Story seems like an amazing read. I am in the process of reading it and I must say, its great so far! I foresee a great love story that will be told through the pages of this book. I wanted to read this book the very first time I saw the blurb. Read it, if you love Greek mythology as much as I do, I think you'll get why! Besides, the cover's simply beautiful, don't you think? What's not to love?

So yep, sit back and enjoy:)

Medusa A Love Story by Sasha Summers

It's said love can change a person. Medusa wasn't always a monster...

Medusa is ruled by duty, to her Titan father and the Goddess Athena. She's no room for the tenderness her warrior guard, Ariston, stirs. When Olympus frees her from service, her heart leads her into the arms of the guard she loves... and curses her as the creature with serpent locks.

Ariston goes to war with a full heart... and dreadful foreboding. He learns too late of the danger Medusa faces, alone, and a Persian blade sends him into the Underworld. But death, curses, nor the wrath of the Gods will keep him from returning to her.

Poseidon will use Greece's war to get what he wants: Medusa. He does not care that she belongs to another. He does not care that she will be damned. He is a God, an Olympian, and she will be his.

"This tragic and beautiful retelling of one of the world's oldest stories tackles the eternal battle between duty and happiness. Medusa, A Love Story broke my heart then filled in the cracks with joy. Sasha Summers is simply a mesmerizing new talent." ~Stephanie Dray, Author of the critically acclaimed Song of the Nile

Watch the book trailer!

Sasha Summers

Sasha Summers is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, history, and travel. It's no surprise that her books visit times past, set in places rich with legends and myth. Her first play, 'Greek Gods and Goddesses' (original title, right?), was written for her Girl Scout troupe.

She's been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she's doing so.

Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.

Sasha is an active member of RWA and several Texas Chapters. A self-proclaimed movie-addict, she is full of all sorts of useless movie tidbits and trivia.

Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Time for a short excerpt!

“You asked for an audience, you have it. Now tell me, where do you belong?” Hades’ voice was deep, emotionless.
Ariston swallowed. “Athens.” He met Hades’ gaze, but the God revealed nothing to him.
“Why? You died with honor and glory. Is that not what every soldier wants?”
“My wife…” His voice wavered.
Hades brow lifted slightly. “Lives. You do not.”
“She is in danger.”
“Earthly danger. She is no longer your concern, Ariston.”
“The danger she faces is not earthly, but far from it…” Ariston’s voice was hoarse, his desperation mounting. He took a wavering breath before he began again. “She is everything to me. I am proud of my death, but it means nothing if she is in peril. I must know.” Ariston kneeled. “I beg you. I beg you to return me to Athens.”
Ariston waited, willing himself to be strong.
“Who is this wife?” Hades asked.
“Medusa of Athens.” He paused. “Now of Rhodes.”
Hades was silent, his dark blue eyes regarding him steadily.
“When I die—” Ariston began.
“You are dead,” Hades assured him.
“When I return…die again, I would serve as guardian to Tartarus. I am a skilled warrior, a skill I might offer you.” He spoke with confidence.
“You vex me,” Hades muttered, the slightest crease appearing between his eyes. “You offer this to me for a woman?”
Ariston nodded. “She is worthy.”
Hades was silent again, his eyes shifting to the blue-white flames in the massive
fireplace.
“My words do not…adequately express the love I have for this woman. But I cannot leave her. She is at risk. I must return.” The words came without thought. How could he justify such emotion to a God who reviled affection or companionship? “As Olympus has my arm and sword, she has my heart – a mortal, and perhaps weak, heart.”
The room was silent for too long. He would have to fight his way out…
“It is a weakness not reserved for mortals alone, Ariston of Rhodes.” Hades’ words were so soft Ariston feared they’d not been spoken. But Hades continued, strong and clear. “I will return you to your ship so that you may lead your men to victory. Too many have fallen from this war and I would see it end. When that is done, you may go to your wife.” He paused then added, “When you return to my realm, I will have your fealty.”
The God of the Underworld, Lord of Death, gave him mercy? Mayhap there was one God he might serve with honor.
Ariston vowed, “You have it.”

So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting! :)

Blog Barrage: Blind Lust by Annie Seaton - Review + Giveaway + Excerpt

Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! :) Today's blog barrage features Blind Lust by Annie Seaton. Blind Lust is a paranormal romance, published by Musa Publishing. It is about 21,000 words long. After reading the book, I did rather enjoy it. Read on for my review, a short excerpt and a giveaway! :)

Blind Lust by Annie Seaton

A wager between the gods can change your life. Even if you are a witch…

When Venus has a wager with Cupid, that prudish librarian, Lizzy Sweet cannot be enticed to love, she neglects to tell her son that Lizzy is a three hundred year old witch. The first man Lizzy sees after Cupid shoots his arrow is Josh Deegan, a famous country and western singer who has come to town to rediscover his muse, in an old farmhouse haunted by a culinary ghost. Local warlock, Wesley Gordon, who has been hitting on Lizzy to no avail for over one hundred years, is not impressed. The quirky old folk of Silver Valley watch fondly as the battle between love and lust plays out. Leaden and golden arrows zing around, spells are magicked, potions stirred, and ghosts hunted. Who will fall in love and who will let the other go forever?

Buy it from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Musa Publishing

Annie Seaton

Annie Seaton lives on the beautiful east coast of Australia, where she loves sitting in her writing chair, gazing at the ocean and writing stories. She has always been fascinated by all things historical and has found her niche writing contemporary romance and steampunk, where strong heroines and brooding heroes fight together to make their alternative world a better place.

Her debut novel, Holiday Affair, a contemporary romance set in the South Pacific was released as part of Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence line in March. The sequel Italian Affair is currently underway Watch out for the story of Tom and Brianna the sex therapist who spices up his life!

Winter of the Passion Flower was released through Lyrical Press at the same time. Currently immersed in the creation of Book Two, a full length novel, the adventures of Sofia and her Scottish laird, Annie is already looking forward to the rest of the series, particularly the adventures of Indigo’s four boys: Jago and Jory, Ruan and Kit. Strong sassy heroines and rebellious heroes have a rollicking good time as they work to make the world a better place--albeit their own steampunk world.

Blind Lust, a paranormal novella will be released by Musa Publishing on 15th June.

Annie lives with her husband, and ‘Bob’ the dog and two white cats, in a house next to the beach in a small coastal town of New South Wales. Their two children are grown and married and she loves spending time gardening, walking on the beach and spoiling her two grandchildren.

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Time for a short excerpt!

“Do you believe in ghosts, Josh?” she asked quietly.

He laughed uneasily, shaking his head. “If you had asked me that a couple of days ago I would have said you were crazy, but honestly now I don’t know.”

“What about witches?” She paused. “Magic spells and potions?”

“Give me a break,” he said, running his fingers through his shaggy hair. She was silent as she gathered her thoughts.

“You’ve been here for a week, haven’t you Josh?” she asked softly.

He nodded.

“Have you felt your Aunt Helen’s presence?”

He looked at her without answering and a strong gust of wind rattled the kitchen windows. The storm clouds scurried across the moon, the sky cleared and a shaft of moonlight shone through the kitchen window. Lizzy stood bathed in moonlight, the lace of the curtains fracturing the beam, and the power of the moon goddess entered her strengthening her will.

“Thank you, mother,” she breathed, her eyes closing as she let the power do its work. She stood motionless for a full minute.

“Lizzy, are you all right?” Josh sounded wary.

She stood tall and straight, holding her hand out to him. “It’s all right Josh, I’m sorry I upset you.”

He hesitated before crossing the kitchen and taking her hand. The look of adoration in his eyes sent sparks running along her nerve endings, all she needed was his touch. Closing her eyes, Lizzy focused on the power of the mother within, to resist succumbing to temptation once again.

Here's my review of the book. The direct link to the review on my blog is here.

My Rating

My Review

Blind Lust seemed like a very interesting read. Though it didn’t disappoint, I cannot say that this is a new favorite of mine.

Let’s start with the good things first shall we? So, Blind Lust was a fun read. It was light-hearted, easy and a very good novella to pass the time. The storyline was interesting too and the premise for it really intrigued me. The moment I saw the blurb, I knew I wanted to read it. I mean, Cupid plus a witch plus a lot of other things (ok, I can’t really remember) just makes for a very interesting plot. To be sure, the plot was interesting. It was pretty humorous at parts too. I liked seeing how they were both affected by the spell and even how she tried to overcome it.

Now for the bad/not so good. There wasn’t much character development, but seeing as this was a novella, its understandable and acceptable and thus isn’t one of my considering factors.

I guess what I really didn’t like was the abruptness of the book. I’m not going to give any spoilers, but let’s just say the book took an unexpected turn. I’m fine with that actually, thought it was quite a good twist. However, it happened way too late in the book! If it had happened a bit earlier so that the plot could be a little more fleshed out, it would have been good. As it is, it was too abrupt for my tastes. When I read the last chapter and the epilogue, I was honestly just confused. I thought I had read something wrong because there was not really any clues that could have led to that conclusion. It was just a little bit weird.

Overall though, the novella was pretty good and I did enjoy myself reading it. I was rooting for a certain couple though. They didn’t make it:( I was hoping that somehow they would fall in love. Alright, if you haven’t read this book, you probably don’t know what I’m talking about. :P

In any case, I did enjoy myself reading this book. A solid 3 stars. If not for the ending, it could have been 4, which would be very good for a novella. Generally, I don’t enjoy novellas as much due to the lack of space for character development. Still, this was a good novella! :)

P.S. I have no idea why I can only review novellas recently. But don't worry, I'm working on my other reviews! One is a full-length long novel, the other, a little shorter!

Note: This book was provided free in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was received for this review other than the book.

Time for a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D Do leave a comment! :)

Blind Lust by Annie Seaton

First Published: 15 June 2012
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Words: 21,000
Format: Ebook
Finished Date: 2 July 2012
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Synopsis

A wager between the gods can change your life. Even if you are a witch…

When Venus has a wager with Cupid, that prudish librarian, Lizzy Sweet cannot be enticed to love, she neglects to tell her son that Lizzy is a three hundred year old witch. The first man Lizzy sees after Cupid shoots his arrow is Josh Deegan, a famous country and western singer who has come to town to rediscover his muse, in an old farmhouse haunted by a culinary ghost. Local warlock, Wesley Gordon, who has been hitting on Lizzy to no avail for over one hundred years, is not impressed. The quirky old folk of Silver Valley watch fondly as the battle between love and lust plays out. Leaden and golden arrows zing around, spells are magicked, potions stirred, and ghosts hunted. Who will fall in love and who will let the other go forever?

My Rating

My Review

Blind Lust seemed like a very interesting read. Though it didn’t disappoint, I cannot say that this is a new favorite of mine.

Let’s start with the good things first shall we? So, Blind Lust was a fun read. It was light-hearted, easy and a very good novella to pass the time. The storyline was interesting too and the premise for it really intrigued me. The moment I saw the blurb, I knew I wanted to read it. I mean, Cupid plus a witch plus a lot of other things (ok, I can’t really remember) just makes for a very interesting plot. To be sure, the plot was interesting. It was pretty humorous at parts too. I liked seeing how they were both affected by the spell and even how she tried to overcome it.

Now for the bad/not so good. There wasn’t much character development, but seeing as this was a novella, its understandable and acceptable and thus isn’t one of my considering factors.

I guess what I really didn’t like was the abruptness of the book. I’m not going to give any spoilers, but let’s just say the book took an unexpected turn. I’m fine with that actually, thought it was quite a good twist. However, it happened way too late in the book! If it had happened a bit earlier so that the plot could be a little more fleshed out, it would have been good. As it is, it was too abrupt for my tastes. When I read the last chapter and the epilogue, I was honestly just confused. I thought I had read something wrong because there was not really any clues that could have led to that conclusion. It was just a little bit weird.

Overall though, the novella was pretty good and I did enjoy myself reading it. I was rooting for a certain couple though. They didn’t make it:( I was hoping that somehow they would fall in love. Alright, if you haven’t read this book, you probably don’t know what I’m talking about. :P

In any case, I did enjoy myself reading this book. A solid 3 stars. If not for the ending, it could have been 4, which would be very good for a novella. Generally, I don’t enjoy novellas as much due to the lack of space for character development. Still, this was a good novella! :)

P.S. I have no idea why I can only review novellas recently. But don't worry, I'm working on my other reviews! One is a full-length long novel, the other, a little shorter!

Note: This book was provided free in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was received for this review other than the book.

Blog Tour: The Miracle Chip by Stanley Grainger- Promo

The Miracle Chip by Stanley Grainger

Yes, there are F.E.M.A. prison camps, but they were purposely constructed to distract us from the TRUE PRISON CAMPS; the prison camps that will detain those citizens that refuse to be implanted with the coming biochips….

Did you know, the Military has built its own prison system right here in the United States, and these prisons are not for housing military prisoners? In fact, military prisoners (soldiers who have been court martial-ed and transferred into the BOP system) are banned from being housed in these prisons located on military bases!

Everyone has heard about the F.E.M.A. prison camps. If it was such a secret, why does everyone know about them? They are small, insignificant pieces of property enclosed with razor-wire topped fences and a few guard towers. Have you seen the pictures? I mean, how many prisoners do you think these few F.E.M.A. camps could hold?

Of course, right now, most of these prisons located on military property are housing federal inmates for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). A few of these prisons are already empty, waiting! For what?

However, like in the book The Miracle Chip, when the BOP starts administering the biochips to the prisoners, under the New Prison Reform Act, and the federal prison population is reduced tremendously, all of these prisoners housed on military property will be transferred back into the BOP institutions. This will leave the military with a complete prison system in place; vacant… ready to be filled with detainees.

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012 contains controversial provisions that allow the military to detain suspects (citizens) without due process or habeas corpus.

Now, you know where these citizens will be detained! Unlike these F.E.M.A. camps this prison system will be able to hold a mass number of the population without a problem.

Buy it from Amazon.

Stanley Grainger

Stanley Grainger was born in Alabama, but grew up in central Florida. After graduating high school, he joined the military. He also writes inspirational poetry as well as songs. This is his second novel, but first to be published. He resides with his father in central Florida.

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And now, let's welcome the author Stanley to join us for a short interview!

What inspired you to write this book?
The world news! And the bible.

The Government in books? What kind of research did you have to do?

Suffering the internet for the history and facts about the governments and of course the bible.

If you could talk with your character what do you think they would say?

That we had better wake up! And we had get prepared, because it’s coming!

Chips in people? If this ever happened do you think everyone would opt in or out?
Well, there will be the few who love idea. I mean if you’re not doing anything wrong, what do you have to hide. It is this attitude that will cause us to lose freedoms.

Would you get chipped if this happened?
No way!

So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Blog Tour: Solstice by Donna Burgess - Promo

Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour. First up, I like to apologise for the late post. I got home rather late then before I could post this I fell asleep:( Its about 5.30am now, can't wait to go back to sleep heh! Anyway, Solstice is a Zombie Apocalypse Book. Read the excerpt, its absolutely amazing! So, yep, without any further ado, I bring you, Solstice by Donna Burgess! :)

Solstice by Donna Burgess

On the eve of winter Solstice, a massive flash envelopes the Earth and then there is nothing. The sun no longer shines and civilization is plunged into unending darkness. Those exposed to the mysterious flash have changed—they have become bloodthirsty, cunning, and determined to devour anyone who is not infected. They are Ragers.

In Sweden, a group of uneasy travelers hears a broken broadcast. There is hope. Something called Sanctuary waits, but it is thousands of miles away, somewhere on the shores of the British Isles.

Meanwhile, in a London supermarket, a high school English teacher from the States finds himself stranded along with a handful of students on a senior trip. Outside, hoards of hungry Ragers await, ready to tear them limb from limb. Their only hope is to find Sanctuary.

Solstice is a tale of hope, terror, survival, and finding love at the end of the World.

Buy it from Amazon! | Watch the book trailer here!

Donna Burgess

Donna Burgess lives with her husband, daughter, son, many cats and one goofy Golden Retriever in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. When she is not writing, she can be found on her longboard, behind a good book or on the soccer field. She is the president of E-Volve Books. She holds a B.A. in English and a B.A. in Journalism and is currently pursuing her M.F.A. in Creative

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Time for a short excerpt!

Tana was disoriented by the complete darkness. It was impossible to decide what time it was—what time it reallywas. She loved the sunrise, so where the hell was it? She was a true sun worshipper, often dragging her boys out into the rays despite their protests about leaving their precious video games. At times, she found even heavy cloud cover jarring. She found the current darkness went well beyond jarring and right into bloody creepy. With no clouds in the sky, stars twinkled like fairy dust.

The similarities to any kind of fairy tale ended there. The world had become mad, and there she was, a single woman alone with two kids, trudging down the street in the freezing cold. She had deadlines to meet. The lack¬ of sun and an ill child would not get her out of meeting those deadlines. How would she pay the lease? How would she put food on the table?

The lack of light was an annoyance, at most. It was an eclipse, perhaps. She never paid attention to the news networks. In a while, things would settle back into their normal routine. Aiden had a touch of flu and would have to stay home from school. He was given to serious bouts of flu a couple of times a year.

She would buy a few extra days. Self-employed web designers often begged for time. Well, the poor ones did, anyway. She wasn’t quite poor, at least not yet.

What she wasn’t used to was the inability to get through on her cell phone. She’d tried the pediatrician several times, but each call was answered with the dull beep beep of a dead signal. She wanted to sit down and rest, but the few people who were out acted funny, running back and forth, huffing and grunting. Stopping might draw attention from one of those crazies.

Aidan was small for a six-year-old, but at the moment, he was as heavy as lead. Her bedroom-slippered feet padded along the litter-strewn sidewalks, robe billowing behind her like a cape. Three steps behind, ten-year-old Davis trotted along, dressed in his Chuckie-T sneakers, Spider Man pajamas, and heavy coat.

The lack of electricity was a bigger issue than the lack of sunrise. The apartment would be freezing when they returned. Luckily, the stove was gas, so they could eat, and she could have her coffee. Even the streetlamps were out. The sidewalks were gloomy, and it was beginning to sleet. She wished for some traffic. Headlights to cut the heavy darkness would be a small comfort.

She wasn’t sure what had happened. She’d dozed on the sofa in front of a recorded episode of Being Human and was happily dreaming of becoming Mitchell’s next victim when Davis awakened her. He stood over her with his Luke Skywalker light saber. The pale blue light brightened his small face like an Avatar alien.

“Aiden’s sick, Mummy.”

She sprang to a sitting position. “Sick? Is he throwing up?”

“No. He’s breathing weird. It woke me up. When I looked at him, he looked… scary.”

“Scary?” Tana’s mouth felt dry. “Were you holding that thing? The blue light makes everything look scary.”

“Just come on, Mum.” Davis took her hand and pulled her from the sofa, down the hallway and toward their bedroom, the light saber a beacon in the shadowy apartment.

Aidan looked worse than scary. A weird burn-like rash ran along the side of his face. Fat, shiny blisters were already forming on his check. Tana touched his forehead and found it alarmingly chilled. He wouldn’t respond when she tried to rouse him. Increasingly panicked, she dialed the family doctor. Nothing. Next, she tried emergency. More nothing.

Her Fiat was in the shop, where it stayed more often than not. There was nothing else to do but take to the street and hope to catch a cab or a bus.

She considered a blackout of the city. How terrible would it be? The looting. The crime. It would be chaos. They’d be safer locked away inside the apartment, but with a sick kid, waiting was not an option.

Outside wasn’t what she expected. There was no chaos, no looting, no raping. There was just… nothing. The feeling of complete aloneness was more chilling than the sleet and the gloom. The crunch of the ice beneath their steps and the clicking of sleet hitting the unmoving cars and the sidewalk were the only sounds aside from the wind and their increasingly labored breathing. Tana’s lips and cheeks became numb, and her teeth chattered.

“Are you okay, Davis?” she asked.

“I’m cold.”

“Me, too, baby. Just keep going. We’ll be there soon.”

Someone screamed, and she flinched, nearly dropping Aiden. A teenaged boy dashed past, sobbing. He wove between a pair of stalled cars, then glanced back at Tana, his eyes wide with horror.

“Hide,” he hissed. Then he was gone.

Tana grabbed Davis’s shoulder and pressed him back against a wall, attempting to vanish into the shadows.

Next, a burly man lumbered into view, wearing a wife beater shirt and dirty, ill-fitting undershorts. No shoes. His big stomach swayed, peeking from beneath the shirt. Drool hung from his parted lips, frozen in mid-drip.

Once the man passed their hiding place, Tana stepped from the shadows and removed the blanket from Aiden’s face. Her stomach tightened. She wanted to cry or to call out for help, but what the hell good would it do?

“Aiden?” She kissed his icy forehead. “Hang in there. Mummy’s going to get help.”

She thought she heard a soft groan. Thank the angels above! He’s wasn’t gone, at least not yet.

“Mummy?” he whispered.

“Yes. Mummy has you.”

Aiden’s eyes slid open, but something was very wrong. His irises were nearly white, the same color as his pallid face. The hollows beneath his eyes were so dark they appeared like deep bruises on his smooth, baby-round face.

Then Aiden, her sweet baby, dropped his head back until his chin pointed to the sky, and he howled. He writhed in her arms until her hold on him loosened, and he slithered to the sidewalk. Davis stepped forward, took her hand, and pressed against her side, trembling. Together, they watched as the boy struggled to free himself from the tangles of the woolen blanket.

Once loose, he stood and glowered at her. He screamed again, and Davis screamed with him.

“Hush, babies. Shh,” Tana cried.

Aiden lunged, spittle spraying from his lips. He bared his teeth and screeched again, shrill and horrifying. Tana stepped backward, pulling her oldest child with her. “Aiden. Calm down, baby!”

Behind the mad child, a slumping figure approached. As the spindly shape drew nearer, Tana realized it was only an elderly man. Dressed in what would have normally been a smart gray suit and tie, he was covered in splattered blood.

“Run, woman! They’re monsters, now!”

Aiden spun, and in a flash, he sprang and was on the stranger. Blood flew, inky in the darkness as Aiden ripped out the man’s throat.

Tana watched for a moment, frozen with shock. Then, she came to her senses, realizing she had to get her other child to safety.

“C’mon. Quickly!” She gripped Davis’s small, cold hand and fled down the street. She didn’t dare look back. The gruesome sounds told her more than she would ever have wanted to know.

So yep, that's about it for today! Once again, my apologies for the late post!

Blog Tour: Protector by Vanna Smythe - Promo

Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! I know I was supposed to post yesterday but my computer was annoying me because it refused to load. In any case, I will not be running the giveaway as I do not have the time to manage it. Apologies! Do check out this book though, it certainly looks interesting.

Protector by Vanna Smythe

Kiyarran just wanted to become a Protector of the Realm, a member of an elite order of fighters. Strange and powerful magical abilities awaken inside him once his wish comes true. The Priesthood that secretly controls the realm see his skill as a threat, and Kiyarran begins to learn that little about life as a Protector is what he thought it would be. To top it off, Kiyarran is falling in love with Princess Issiyanna, his friend of many years.

Issiyanna faces and arranged marriage, but she has been dreaming of another man, her one true love. Now her long gone mother is calling to her, promising she will return and take Issiyanna to meet the man from her dreams.
The world is split in half by a barrier called the Veil. A terrible sacrifice was made to put it in place and now, as the 1000th Anniversary of the Veil draws near, a second sacrifice is called for to keep it in place.
Both Kiyarran and Issiyanna are needed for the Anniversary. Even though they only just learned of the Veil and neither know the role they must play …

Buy it from Amazon!

Vanna Smythe

Vanna Smythe is the author of Protector, the first book in the Anniversary of the Veil fantasy series. She has been writing creatively since her early teens, though one could say her creative writing efforts started long before that. While still in kindergarten, she once tore up a library book to make alphabet soup, and has been fascinated with what words can do, the pictures and worlds they can create, ever since. Book two of the Anniversary of the Veil series, Decision Maker, is due out in Autumn, 2012.

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Time for a short excerpt!

Chapter Three - Cold Protectors

“I’m so happy, Grisella.” Issa threw her arms around the old serving maid as she entered her chambers. “Father has managed to postpone my marriage.”

Grisella returned the hug, patting Issa on the back. “That’s wonderful news child. But I still say marriage to Thomma won’t be as horrid as you imagine. We were all in your place once. Such are things and such is the way.”

“I will sooner stay alone than be married to someone I don’t love.” Issa released her maid. She sat down by the mirror, untied the knot in her hair and started brushing it out. “But I will not stay alone much longer. My love is coming.”

The gorgeous young lord from across the sea would be in Cer’Ine any day now. Last night Issa dreamt of him standing near the shore. He was turned away from her, gazing across the sea with a traveling trunk by his feet.

Grisella looked up from where she was turning down Issa’s bed. “Who might this be, girl?”

“The handsome man I dream of most every night now. In the dreams we hold hands and stare into each other’s eyes for hours and days, and I can see all his secrets as he can see all of mine. And at other times we sit side by side and he has his arm around my shoulders and I lay my head against his chest and listen to his heartbeat, and I know all will be well until the end of days, just as soon as we are together.”

Grisella walked over and took the brush from Issiyanna. Her maid’s light brown eyes, for the moment not obscured by the folds of her face, were fixed on Issa’s reflection in the mirror in front of them. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, before finally saying, “Issiyanna, child, you are experiencing the Dreams of the Other Half. It is no more than that.”

“What are Dreams of the Other Half?”

Pity filled Grisella’s eyes as she looked away and started brushing Issa’s hair.
“Your hair truly is lovely in the winter. The moisture in the air weighs it down and gives such magnificent shape to your curls. I almost do not want to brush them out.”
“The dream, Grisella?”

Her maid stopped brushing and looked at Issa again. “All right…I will tell you…I’d hoped your father had already done so by now…your mother never had the time…”

Issa waved her hand impatiently at the maid’s reflection. “Just tell me, Grisella.”

“We all have such dreams, Issa, in our youth and before we are wed. I too dreamt such dreams when I was your age. The boy I dreamt of had dark brown hair and beautiful green eyes, the color of the river after a hard rain and once the sun shines on it again. He looked much like Kae, really. He stood over two heads taller than me and his arms were strong and steady as he held me in the dreams. I always believed he must be from the north, from some village at the foot of the Mountains of Giants, where neither men nor women fear the twilight.” Grisella’s eyes were unfocused, as though she was seeing all the way back into her youth. “But after the priests wed me to dear, sweet Bern, the dreams stopped, and the longing vanished.”

It didn’t seem so to Issa. She could still hear the longing in the old woman’s voice and see it in her eyes.

Grisella resumed brushing her hair. “It’s said that the person who appears to you in these dreams is only a mirror reflection of your own self, but of the opposite gender. Once they start, it means that you are fit to be wed. You will see, when you are wed you will no longer dream of this young lord.”

Her love’s eyes were the color of the summer sea at dawn and his hair the color of wheat fields just before harvest. Issa’s own hair was the color of honey, her eyes the color of the sunlit summer sky. He was coming to her. When he did, a ray of the strong love they shared in the dreams would pass from one to the other, and back again. Then both would know that they were the one they seek, the one they long for and wish to wed and lie beside until the end of days.

Issa would be wearing her pale green silk dress when he came, the bodice of which was cut in a precise arrowhead shape. It accentuated her bosom, yet did not reveal too much and was lined with tiny pink pearls only found in the shells that lined the most dangerous parts of the cliffs. All Issa had to do was wait. Now that her wedding had been postponed, she had more time.

Grisella put down the brush and handed Issa her nightgown, “Here, child, it is getting late. Things will look brighter once twilight gives way to dawn.”

“Yes, yes, and such are things. Truly Grisella, there is good and light even at night. Why should we fear it?” Issa knew the answer before the maid gave it. What the priests taught, the lower folk believed.

So yep, that's it for today!