Stop by for #TakeoverTuesday with Katherine Barger. You can learn about the story, read an excerpt, and enter to win a copy. Click here.
Showing posts with label #fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #fantasy. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Friday, June 21, 2019
"Romanov" by Nadine Brandes ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Nadine's publisher has agreed to give away one print copy of this book (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends June 28, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
Summary...
Summary...
The history books say I died.
They don't know the half of it.
Anastasia "Nastya" Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family's only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them ... and he's hunted Romanov before.
Nastya's only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn't act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya's never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn't frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her...
That is, until she's on the one side of a firing squad ... and he's on the other.
My review...
Romanov was one of my most-anticipated reads for 2019, and it didn't disappoint!
This is a reimagining of the final Czar of Russia and his family, with a focus on the youngest daughter Nastya (Anastasia). I didn't know a lot about the Romanov's (short of the movie Anastasia), so I wasn't totally sure what to expect. I loved the fantasy mixed with history mixed with a few facts. The book is well-researched, and Brandes points out in her notes just what is real and what information is stretched. This story shows the hardships the Romanov family endured. There was far more of a family focus to the story that I'd expected going into the book. Mystery and tragedy, and a bit of romance, combine to make this a truly engaging tale. I kept telling myself, "One more chapter," and I was sad to see it end.
A couple of my favorite quotes:
"Once you learn that it's all one life and each day is a new page, it gets a bit easier to let your story take an unexpected path." (Babushka)
"Because I have a story I was meant to live. And not even you can rewrite it." (Nastya)
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
About Nadine...
Nadine once spent four days as a sea cook in the name of book research. She's the author of Fawkes and of the award-winning The Out of Time series. Her inner fangirl perks up at the mention of soul-talk, Quidditch, bookstagram, and Oreos. When she's not writing novels about bold living, she's adventuring through Middle Earth or taste-testing a new chai. Nadine and her Auror husband are building a Tiny House on wheels. Current mission: paint the world in shalom.
Where you can find her online...
website: nadinebrandes.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadinebrandes/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NadineBrandes
Thursday, June 6, 2019
"The Fay's Apprentice" by Amy C. Blake ... and a GIVEAWAY!
I’m celebrating my newest release, The Fay’s Apprentice, the third novel in my four-book Levi Prince
YA Christian fantasy series. This series features scrawny, redheaded,
homeschooled pastor’s son Levi Prince during his summers at Camp Classic, a
camp for classically educated kids that’s actually a haven for mythical
creatures.
Years ago, when I first dreamed up Levi and Terracaelum, it was only natural that Levi be a redheaded, homeschooled pastor's kid like my own children. Camp Classic came into being because we follow a Classical Christian educational system for homeschool, and I thought it be intriguing to include stories from Classical mythology into my plot lines. The Trojan Horse Traitor plays off of the Greek Trojan horse incident. The Fall of Thor's Hammer incorporates the funny Norse myth about Thor in a wedding dress. The Fay's Apprentice integrates the Ancient British legend of Morgan le Fay's apprenticeship to Merlin.
My Levi Prince series is set in Terracaelum, a realm populated by mythical creatures yet ruled by a human man and a human woman. The name Terracaelum comes from the Latin words terra (earth) and caelum (sky or heaven). Camp Classic is on Classic Island, a tiny island in the middle of Lake Superior. Unknown to most of the campers, the far northern cliff of Castle Island is the connecting point with Terracaelum, which is invisible except when the drawbridge is lowered. Besides the director and his wife, Camp Classic's F is not human; it is comprised of elves, dwarves, and pixies who pass for humans to the campers who are unaware that they left Castle Island and entered Terracaelum. Beyond the castle live many other mythical creatures — dragons, mormos, basilisks, dvergar, harpies, griffins, rocs, unicorns, merweavers, lake monsters, and a shape-shifting demon sorcerer named Deceptor.
While my flawed but lovable main character Levi is a homeschooler, making him appealing to home-educated kids, he is also relatable to traditional-schoolers and even adults. While especially geared toward ten to sixteen year olds, readers of any age will enjoy watching Levi tackle archery, fencing, canoeing, Dragon jousting, Latin verbs, history dates, and, of course, Deceptor and his evil cronies in their bids to take over Terracaelum.
If you're interested in reading Levi's stories, you can buy my books on Amazon in either paperback or Kindle formats. I've included the buy links and blurbs for each book below.
Left on Castle Island to attend Camp Classic, Levi Prince finds himself at the center of an enchanted world of amazing abilities, cloudy motives, and wicked beings that will challenge his very spirit. He begins to form friendships, but life at camp becomes more confusing as questionable activities and uncertain agendas bring about conflict that tests his character in ways you never expected. Finally, faced with a friend's betrayal, Levi is forced to confront true evil. Will he find the courage to stand his ground and to become the hero he was always meant to be?
Stay out of the cellar! One of Camp Classic's firmest rules puts Levi in a dilemma when he hears banging on the cellar door. Could it be a Lake Superior sailor driven into Terracaelum's underbelly by a storm? Or is it one of the Dvergar trying to lure a foolish camper to certain death? It's only the first night back in the castle and already Levi must make a potentially disastrous decision: Should he disobey Mr. Dominic at the risk of his own life? Or do as he's told, possibly leaving some poor sailor to wander in darkness until he starves?
On Levi's third summer at Camp Classic, he is torn between two responsibilities. On the one hand, his parents expect him to watch over his little sister Abby, who has no clue their summer camp is a haven for mythical creatures. On the other hand, Mr. Dominic wants him to train at For Terra, a full day's hike away from his sister, because of Levi's previous encounters with the demon sorcerer Deceptor. Although he enjoys training with his friends, Levi finds life at Fort Terra difficult thanks to the ongoing tension between him and Hunter and the stress of having his former kidnapper Regin as a chaperone. When the woman Regin claims to be the evil sorceress Anna appears, Levi faces a whole new challenge.
About Amy...
Award-winning author Amy C. Blake is a pastor's wife and homeschooling mother of four. She has an M.A. in English from Mississippi College and has written articles, devotionals, and short stories for a number of publications. She's also writing two series for the Christian market, her Levi Prince YA fantasy series and her On the Brink Christian suspense trilogy. Whitewashed, Colorblind, and Tie-Dyed, featuring three homeschooled girls on the brink of adulthood ... and danger, are available in paperback and Kindle. The Trojan Horse Traitor, The Fall of Thor’s Hammer, and The Fay’s Apprentice, about homeschooled pastor’s kid Levi Prince and his adventures in Terracaelum, are also available in paperback and Kindle.
Where you can find her online...
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Takeover Thursday with J.M. Hackman
J.M. is here to share a bit about herself and her latest release. She's offered to give away a copy of the first book in the series, Spark (print copy - US ONLY or electronic copy - US or international). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends March 14, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
Q: What message do you hope your readers take away from your story?
A: Both Spark and Flare are about Brenna's adventures in an alternate reality. She has ADHD and because of this often feels like she doesn't fit in. That's her constant struggle— am I good enough? What do I do right? What makes me valuable?
I'd love for each reader to come away from The Firebrand Chronicles with the knowledge that they are valuable, that whatever they're most passionate about makes them special and irreplaceable, no matter what mistakes they make.
Q: What can you tell us about your next project?
A: There's one last book in The Firebrand Chronicles. It's written but needs revising. So I'll be working on that. But I have another project coming out. I'm part of a group called the Ever Afters. Sometime in April, the Ever Afters plan to release Encircled, an anthology of fairy tale retellings. My short story is titled "The Songbird's Citadel," and it's a sci-fi/fantasy twist on the tale "The Nightingale."
Q: What book do you wish you'd written?
A: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. It's magical realism. I love the plot, and the quirky characters, and the way the author can turn a beautiful phrase into pure poetry. It's fantastic.
Q: What's your favorite writing-related book?
A: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Although there are other books out there that talk more about the craft of writing, her hilarious stories helped me realize all authors deal with doubt and hubris in equal measures, but it's perfectly, reassuringly normal.
Q: Now, a few fun questions. What famous person would you like to meet and why?
A: Do they have to be alive? LOL! Because I think it would be fascinating to talk to Jesus or Madeline L'Engle. Hmm ... maybe Julie Andrews, mostly because I've loved her work and she seems like a lovely person.
Q: Oh, I love Julie Andrews! What's one things about you that would surprise your readers?
A: Despite my love of the speculative genre, before my children were born I wrote Christian romance. I currently have two finished romantic comedies buried in my filing cabinets. I keep waffling on whether to polish them up or leave them where they are.
Q: Ooh, that's interesting! Perhaps we'll see them one day. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you need to have with you?
A: I'd need Coke Zero, dark chocolate (preferably dark chocolate M&Ms), and my tablet since it's loaded with tons of e-books. (I can't have my family with me because someone needs to eventually miss me and call 911!)
Ha! I like that! I agree with the dark chocolate and e-books/tablet. Thanks for stopping by. I'm sure my readers will enjoy getting to know you bit better.
Back cover copy for Flare (Book #2):
Brenna travels to Linneah via portal to visit her boyfriend Baldwin, only to find heartbreak. Betrayal. A serious case of never, ever wanting to see him again. Worst summer vacation ever.
So when her best friend Tiny invites her on a road trip to meet Tiny’s fiancé, Brenna jumps at the chance. Even if her mother disapproves. Even if it’s through a dangerous travel portal. Even if Tiny has never met this fiancé handpicked by her dad. Anything’s better than staying in Linneah.
But the trip disintegrates into disaster. The two friends are separated, Brenna is kidnapped, and not only are Brenna’s Firebrand skills tested to the limit, she must participate in the dangerous event, Starfall . . . or go home. Broke. Alone. With a shattered heart. So not fun.
And then as if that’s not bad enough? Brenna discovers a plot that could spell disaster for everyone she holds dear. And no one believes her.
Can she prevent a bloody government takeover? And what will become of Brenna’s broken heart?
J. M. Hackman loves thunderstorms, bookstores, and happy endings. She's never met a reading nook she didn't like and prefers soul talk to small talk. When she's not writing, she spends time with her two munchkins and her handsome husband who supports her in this crazy profession. Her days are filled with writing stories, consuming massive quantities of dark chocolate, and looking for portals to other worlds. You can find her at www.jmhackman.com
Where you can find her online...
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jm_hackman
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jmhackman
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jm_hackman
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Takeover Thursday with Lara Lee ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Lara has offered to give away an electronic copy of the book. You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends February 7, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
Excerpt
from The Gryphon's Handmaiden
Once they were in the middle of the garden, Lord Ansil
quickly turned and shot a red fireball at Timothy. Timothy was surprised but
dodged it rolling in the grass. Then Lord Ansil created a wall of yellow fire
around Timothy as he came to his feet.
What is he doing? thought Timothy as he noticed Lord
Ansil’s glittering black eyes.
Timothy pushed the fire down and jumped out of the closing
circle. Lord Ansel shot yellow fireballs that Timothy deflected to the side
with his hands. Then came a red blaze. Timothy dropped down under and rolled.
He tried to shift the blaze in a curve back to Lord Ansil. Timothy was breaking
a sweat.
He shouldn't be doing this without sleep or much in his
stomach, but his adrenaline was starting to kick in. He grimaced at the effort.
Lord Ansil's mouth curved into a slight smile before shooting blue fireballs at
Timothy.
These were not practice lobs, but shots that could kill.
Timothy rolled out of the way of one and nearly got singed with another. He
jumped to his feet to run around to Lord Ansil's side.
If he wants to play tough, then here we go, thought
Timothy as he matched Lord Ansil’s intense expression.
Timothy gritted his teeth. He shot a series of red
fireballs. Lord Ansil caught them and shot them back at him. Timothy dodged
each one, but his clothes got singed again. Lord Ansil smiled as he again
surrounded Timothy with the blue flame. Timothy struggled to fight the flames
as it got closer to his legs. He was able to force an opening enough to jump
through. He bared his teeth, turned, and threw a big blue fireball. Lord Ansil
immediately burst into flame and walked right into Timothy's fireball. Timothy
gawked and panted in tiredness.
“Enough then,” said Lord Ansil
putting his fire out. “You did well, but there are definite gaps in your
knowledge.”
“Right,” said Timothy still
breathing hard.
He looked at his clothes covered in singed holes. This was a
nice outfit too.
Lord Ansil tilted his head.
“Are you injured?” he asked
Timothy.
Timothy couldn't tell if he was mocking him. He stood up
tall calming his breathing.
“No.”
Lord Ansil bared his teeth in the feral way that only Huldra
can. He crouched down with his hands in front of him ready to cast a spell.
“Good. Now again.”
Q: How did you come up with the concept for your novel?
A: My first novel, Gryphendale, came from a desire to write a
Christian fairy tale. At the time I wrote that book, I had lost my mother to
brain cancer and my son was born extremely premature (23 weeks). The young
adult fairy tale ended up being a wrestling with God about why do bad things
happen to good people. The book offers no answers, but the characters find
resolution in trusting that the creator God, the blue Gryphon, has a reason and
plan. The story came out of a dark time for me, but the feel of the novel is
light and optimistic. I write about hope.
Gryphendale was a stand-alone novel, but I missed the faerie
world I had created. I then decided to write this trilogy 30 years after the
events of Gryphendale. I didn't realize how much I still had to learn.
The Shadow of the Gryphon started with an old retired
Brownie, Arthur, who helps twin princes, Timothy and Nathaniel, travel to the
underside of their coin-shaped world to break the curse that turned Nathaniel's
fiance to stone. Timothy and Nathaniel are named after my sons who died from
being born too prematurely after my first son. The land they travel in is a
swamp with many of the features of Florida. If my first novel had a lot of
focus on mothers, this one focused a bit on fathers and father figures. I found
myself wrestling with my past as each of the main characters do throughout the
story. Each character has a different past crisis that they had to overcome to
become who the Gryphon had created them to be. I too had to let go of my past
pains and hurts. Again, this is a book about hope.
This newest book, The Gryphon's Handmaiden, was finally
going to be an easy one to write, but it didn't turn out that way. Timothy and
Arthur set out into the Nomad Desert to find the Gryphon's Codex. They meet a
mute runaway slave girl, Tabatha, with extraordinary power who has all the
answers.
Tabatha's significant disability, mutism, is caused by
trauma. I had debated in making her autistic, but it made the story too
complicated. I wanted to encourage my son that no disability can keep you from
pursuing your dream. This is part of my message as an author. I've been very
involved in the special needs community and have often seen children told what they
can't do. A person may have to work harder because of a disability, but there
is always a way to find your path in life. I too have had to work through my
dyslexia to be a writer. God uses everyone, not in spite of their disability,
but with it.
Q: That's so true! Your level of creativity makes me wonder about your
childhood. Would you say you were very creative when it came to getting
yourself out of trouble?
A: I had to laugh at this because I was a very creative child.
My mother always said I was sneaky. I wasn't a liar, but I was a great
negotiator. I did tend to find more trouble than most children as well: getting
stuck on top of a fence, standing in ant piles without meaning to, almost
drowning, getting a tour group lost in Paris, tripping over a pew in a church
in Austria, just to name a few. I have been told I was like Anne of Green Gable
once, which may give you a clearer picture of my personality.
Q: Ha! When you say that your book is a young adult fantasy
fiction, who is your target audience? How does the age of the audience
determine what you write?
A: In many writing guides, you will get conflicting advice.
Some say you need to consider your audience first and others say to just focus
on the story first. I write what I like to read. Perhaps it is a little
narcissistic, but I still enjoy reading my books after working on a zillion
drafts. I think I write good stories. At first, I marketed Gryphendale as
straight fantasy fiction because my main characters are not teenagers. Then I
found that teens enjoyed them and that some adults liked young adult books
because they were cleaner. I changed my marketing and haven't looked back. It
really comes down to finding your audience. My books interest people twelve
years old and older. Some of my best compliments came from women in their
forties. I really haven't had to adjust my writing style at all.
Q: Tell me a little about your writing journey, thus far.
A: My writing journey has been a bit like a drunk squirrel
searching for its used up hoard of nuts. I've been making up fairy tales and stories
as long as I can remember, but I was discouraged from writing for a living
because of dyslexia and the fact that authors don't earn much. Since eating was
a priority in my life, I got a real job until I was forced to quit to follow my
husband on a crazy half-baked adventure to Scotland and then around Europe with
a baby in tow. It wasn't until my thirties that I self-published my first book
with fear and trembling. Since then I have had short stories and articles
published as well as other books. My third book comes out this week. I'm now
pursuing writing full time since I let my husband pay the bills while I play
mom.
Q: How many books of the Gryphendale series have you written
so far and how many more do you have planned out, or at least you have ideas
for them?
A: I have two published books, one coming out January 29th, an anthology of short stories written, and five novels planned out. This
isn't going to be a linear series, but an anthology series, an exploration of
Gryphendale following the example of L.E. Modisett's Recluse series or Terry
Brooks's Shannara series. I plan on continuing to write in the world of
Gryphendale until I run out of ideas.
Q: What challenges did you face when writing this book?
A: I struggle with dyslexia, so the editing process of my books
takes a great deal of time. I mostly struggle with spelling which computer
spelling checkers help. I often have to run a grammar checker to check for
missing articles since I read in chunks and struggle to see those mistakes.
Grammarly is a great help, but it isn't perfect. I have learned some tricks to
help my eyes to isolate what I want to proof, but it is very slow. I really
have to thank my beta readers and editors for helping with those issues.
Along with the practical side of dealing with dyslexia,
there is an emotional struggle. I wasn't encouraged to write when I was young
and failed every spelling test I took. Many people would wonder why I still
choose to write. It's because I have to. I am a natural storyteller and have
been telling my own made-up fairy tales since I was a small child. I remember
even forcing my younger brother and cousins to act out the adventures I
invented for them.
It is hard to publish a book when you know that your
greatest struggle is being exposed to the world. Can God use me even as I am?
YES! This is the message of The Gryphon's Handmaiden, and it is a struggle that
is very real every day to me. God often chooses the weak to teach the strong.
"I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the
nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the
dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness."
- Isaiah 42:6-7
That's so true! Thanks so much for sharing a bit about you and your story with my readers.
About Lara...
Where you can find her online...
Website: www.laraswanderings.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Gryphendale/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Gryphendale
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/laralee
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thursday, November 29, 2018
"Mark of the Raven" (The Ravenwood Saga #1) by Morgan L. Busse ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Morgan's publisher has offered to give away a hard copy of the book (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends December 6, 2018. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.) Here's Morgan...
The story behind the story...
All of my stories begin with a scene, usually while I'm doing dishes or folding laundry. I see a situation in my mind and immediately I start asking who are these people? How did they get there? And what's going to happen next? This is how Mark of the Raven began. I saw this scene in my mind where a young woman is standing over the bed of a man. Her mission is to kill him, but she hesitates. So I asked who is she? Why is she here? And what's going to happen next?
If you want to find out the answers to my questions, you'll have to read the book :)
Q&A with Morgan...
Q: What message do all readers take away from your story?
A: That no matter your background, your family circumstances, your current situation, you can always change. You are not chained to your past. There is always hope. And that hope is in God. But the journey is not always an easy one.
Q: What character in the book do you relate to the most and why?
A: I relate to Selene in the fact that for many years, I hid behind a façade. I was afraid of people knowing who I really was (this geeky, intellectual tomboy). I was especially afraid if Christians knew, they would judge me since I am married to a pastor and there always seems to be certain expectations of a pastor's wife, which I hardly seem to fit. I love that Selene is exploring who she is, and ultimately who God made her to be. That is my journey as well. Learning to love the person God made me to be, no matter what others may think.
Q: What advice do you have for new authors?
A: The biggest advice I would give is to not let your writing eclipse your life. Take time for your family. Your kids are going to grow up and move out. But your writing will always be there to come back to. And spend time with your spouse. They can become your biggest cheerleader. And don't forget to live life. Take those walks, enjoy those quiet moments, laugh, and play games. It is life we are trying to write, but if we don't live ourselves, we won't have anything to write about.
Q: What can you tell us about your next project?
A: Right now, book two, Flight of the Raven, is done and in edits (and coming out next spring!). In the meantime, I'm currently working on book three. After that, I have a few ideas, but those are between me, agent, and publishers. :)
Q: What's your favorite writing-related book?
A: My Emotional Thesaurus. I use it almost every day. I recommend it for every writer!
Q: Now for a few fun questions. What would you be doing if you weren't an author?
A: I was on a path to become a scientist and wanted to do research in the medical field. Instead, God had a different path for me.
Q: What's one thing about you that would surprise your readers?
A: I'm not really into chocolate. My husband is the chocolate lover and our family.
Q: Do you have any writing rituals?
A: I always listen to music, usually a soundtrack or something soothing on YouTube.
Thanks so much, Morgan! I'm sure my readers will enjoy the chance to know a bit more about you.
My review...
Lady Selene just learned of her gift. She is heir to her
family’s gift of dreamwalking, which comes with many abilities and
responsibilities, including killing. Will she be able to take her mother’s
place one day as head of the House of Ravenwood?
I’ve heard about Busse’s books in the past, but I have never
read them. Boy, will that change in the future! This book is very different
from my typical reads, but it immediately pulled me in, despite being a bit
dark at times. The characters and scenes are so vivid. I could easily envision
everything. I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter series, and parts of this book
reminded me of that book (in relation to the various Houses). The characters’
struggles are relatable, even though this is a fantasy/fiction story, as most
people struggle with doing what is right and making wise choices at some point.
The story does involve a dual POV, from the perspective of Celine and Damien,
the head of the House of Maris. The overall story is a good illustration of our
lives, and the part God plays in it when we choose to follow Him. The pace
stays active, making this quite the page turner. Sadly, it will be some time
before the sequel is released, which is unfortunate, as the book ends on quite
the cliffhanger :-(
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the
publisher, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
I recently had the privilege of meeting Morgan and having my books autographed. What an exciting day!
About Morgan...
Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the Follower of the Wood series, the Carol-Award winning steampunk series, Soul Chronicles, and the Ravenwood Saga, a new fantasy series from Bethany House. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.
Where you can find Morgan online...
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Takeover Thursday with Laurie Lucking ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Laurie is here to share a bit about her latest release, Common. She has offered to give away a hard copy (US ONLY) or electronic copy (US or International). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends November 22, 2018. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.) Here's Laurie...
When I first felt inspired to write a book, I wanted to
write something serious and meaningful. Something that would make people think
and provoke discussion, maybe even win an important national award. But every
story idea that came to mind involved teenage girls falling in love while trying
to find purpose and establish their place in the world. These stories brought
me back to my own days as a middle schooler and high schooler, when I often
felt more at home in the fantasy worlds I explored in books than among my
peers. Those books formed and changed me, and once one became a favorite, I
read it over and over again to revisit those beloved characters. Eventually, I
decided maybe that’s how I would make my impact instead. By touching the hearts
and minds of pre-teens and teenagers (and hopefully even adults!) with stories
that inspire as they entertain.
The specific idea for Common
arose from the central relationship between the main characters, because I am
first and foremost a romantic at heart :) I began with an idea for a friends-first
romance, but then my love of fantasy and fairy tales sparked the central
conflict and a broader plot. What if he was a prince and she a maid? What if
his parents wanted him to marry a foreign princess? What if the maid discovered
a plot against the kingdom and had to save the day? From there, my story was
off and running!
As my ideas
progressed, I found my maid would need some help saving the kingdom. I wanted
to create characters who could perform extraordinary feats not from our typical
understanding of magic, but from a deep, tangible connection with their
Creator. I ended up with a group of nuns full of power, personality, and
incredible devotion, who have since become many readers’ favorite characters.
Above all, Common
is the story of an ordinary girl trying to help her friend and do the right
thing, even though she’s scared and feels completely unequipped for the task in
front of her. I hope readers will be inspired by what God can accomplish
through seemingly “common” people and have as much fun reading this romantic
fairy tale adventure as I had writing it!
Blurb...
Only one person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it — the servant girl they banished.
Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and meekly curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair.
And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia.
But Leah's safe, ordinary world begins to splinter. Rafe's parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess, and she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. When she reports it without proof, her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason.
Harbored by an unusual group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe's safety before it's too late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than an ambitious nobleman with his eye on the throne.
Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend?
Purchase links...
About Laurie...
An avid reader practically since birth, Laurie Lucking
discovered her passion for writing after leaving her career as an attorney to
become a stay-at-home mom. When she gets a break from playing superheroes and
driving windup cars, she writes young adult fantasy with a strong thread of fairy
tale romance. Her debut novel, Common,
released in February from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing, and her short story,
“Threshold,” was published in a Fellowship of Fantasy anthology titled Mythical Doorways. Laurie is the
Secretary of her local ACFW chapter and a co-founder of Lands Uncharted, a blog for fans of clean young adult speculative
fiction. A Midwestern girl through and through, she currently lives in
Minnesota with her husband and two young sons. Find out more by visiting www.laurielucking.com.
Where you can find Laurie online...
Website:
www.laurielucking.com
Blog:
www.landsuncharted.com
Readers’
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1191276077665496/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/LaurieLucking
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/laurielucking/
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/luckinglaurie/
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thursday, November 8, 2018
"The Kingdom of Nereth" by TJ Amberson ... and a GIVEAWAY! (SLB tours)
About the Book
Genre: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Historical, Medieval
Publisher: Indie
Publication date: March 1, 2016
Blurb: Dark times are upon the land of Nereth. Centuries have passed since the rightful heir to the throne was banished. The people are losing hope in ancient legend, which foretells of one who will rise up, overthrow the evil king and queen, and restore peace. Like all others in Nereth, Edlyn has suffered greatly. Orphaned as a child, Edlyn grew up as the serf of a drunken lord. Now a spirited seventeen-year-old, Edlyn works to buy her freedom while fighting off the unwanted advances of Sheriff Hurst. One morning, Edlyn discovers a young man hiding in the stable. He is fleeing from Sheriff Hurst and inflicted with a sword wound that will surely be fatal without her help. In a split-second decision, Edlyn conceals the young man from Sheriff Hurst and begins nursing him back to health. As the young man's strength returns, Edlyn learns that his name is Maddock, and she is stunned to find that he has come from the mysterious land to the north. Maddock soon comes to Edlyn's aid, rescuing her from Sheriff Hurst. Suddenly declared outlaws, both Edlyn and Maddock must escape for their lives to enchanted Ravenshire Forest and then the desolate mountains beyond. As their adventure unfolds, Edlyn and Maddock discover that their meeting may have been more than chance, for their lives prove bound by a fate that neither of them could possibly have imagined.
About the Author
Author Interview
A: I'm glad that you asked for "some" favorite authors, because I have too many to list, and they're of quite different genres and time periods! So, in no particular order, here are a few: L.M. Montgomery introduced me to Anne and the world of Avonlea when I was a young girl, for which she remains a favorite author of mine. Shakespeare, Shakespeare, Shakespeare. Victor Hugo wrote my favorite novel, LES MISERABLES. Jane Austen because, well, Jane Austen. Charles Dickens. Sophie Kinsella. Alexandre Dumas, especially for THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. Dan Brown. Beverly Cleary. I could go on and on!
Q: What does a day in the life of TJ Amberson look like?
A: It varies! On the days when I'm not at work, I am typically doing immensely glamorous things like laundry, grocery shopping, or other errands. From spring through early fall, I spend time in the garden. If it's not raining, I'll go on a bike ride; on rainy days, I'll exercise on the elliptical while watching re-runs of GILMORE GIRLS. Most days, I make time for author-related activities - it may be early in the morning, mid-day, or the last thing that I do before heading for bed.
Q: What inspired the idea for The Kingdom of Nereth?
A: The concept for THE KINGDOM OF NERETH started when, out of nowhere, the opening scene began playing through my mind. I saw a medieval farm. It was sunrise. A young woman—strong and intelligent—was carrying water toward the barn. The visual impact of that scene struck me so much that I immediately began writing a story around it.
Q: What did you as an author take away from writing The Kingdom of Nereth?
A: Awesome question. Some years ago, I made the decision to write and publish professionally because I wanted to provide tween and teen readers with new, well-written, original novels that were also age-appropriate. I believed (hoped!) that there were young readers out there looking for novels that didn't contain swearing, sex, drug use, extensive violence, or other more adult-type content. What I have taken away from writing THE KINGDOM OF NERETH is that there are young readers out there looking for this type of novel. I can't articulate how gratifying to hear from a reader - or a parent - that they loved THE KINGDOM OF NERETH and appreciated that the story was age-appropriate. Giving young readers wonderful stories like the ones I grew up with is the reason that I write.
Q: What is your current WIP? What can you tell us about the project?
A: I'm thrilled to announce that THE COUNCIL OF NERETH - the sequel to THE KINGDOM OF NERETH - is coming out in December of 2018! I'm also in the middle of tidying up another young adult novel, BETWEEN, which I intend to release in 2019. It's an exciting, paranormal story of a young woman who winds up in limbo between heaven and earth. On the adult side, I am also working on my next romance novel, THE BEST MAN, which I also hope to release in 2019. Wish me luck!
Snippet
Giveaway
Enter the giveaway HERE.
Giveaway is subject to policies HERE.
Tour Schedule
November 5-Wishful Endings | Why Not Because I Said So
November 6- Emily Yager | Paulettes Papers
November 7- cherylbbookblog
November 8-Edits & Reviews by Leslie
November 9- Tell Tale Book Reviews
November 10- Blooming with Books
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Takeover Thursday with M.R. Anglin ... and a GIVEAWAY!
M. R. Anglin has graciously offered to give away a pdf copy of this new release. You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends September 13, 2018. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you and pass on your information.)
The story behind the story...
In many ways, Prince of the Sun, Princess of the Moon
was written for my niece and eldest nephew. The story first came into being
when my niece was an infant. I noticed that she tended to sleep during the day
and stay up at night while her brother (like the rest of us) went to sleep at
night and stayed up during the day. That was the seed of inspiration for the
two types of people in my book day people and night people. Day people get
energy from the sun while the moon puts them to sleep. Night people get energy
from the moon and the sun puts them to sleep.
A secondary inspiration came from my love of the moon. I've always loved astronomy and space, but especially the moon. Sometimes I still stand outside and stare at it for a while. This love may also be behind my fascination with the Bible verse that gave me additional inspiration for the story:
Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
(Joshua 10:12-13 KJV)
Some important names in
the story are taken from that verse. In addition, the part in my story where
the sun and moon shine in the sky together took inspiration from these verses.
So it was my love
for my family, my love of astronomy, and my love of my faith that came together
to drive the creation of this book.
Book Blurb...
For years the Moon Palace
in the Valley of Aijalon and the Sun Tower in the Plains of Jashar has stood as
testaments to the power of the sun and the graciousness of the moon.
Helio and Lumina, Guardians of the sun and moon, kept watch over them and the
Prince and the Princess who ruled them. But the Prince and Princess are
missing, and the sun is exhibiting strange behavior.
Now Joshua and his younger sister, Deborah, must untangle a web of lies and deceit to uncover the secret of who they really are and save their world from an imminent disaster brewing in the heavens. And they must hurry. Between the earthquakes, the sun and moon standing still in the sky, and the planet Jants hovering closer than it’s ever been, the planet could be torn apart before they have a chance to do something about it.
Now Joshua and his younger sister, Deborah, must untangle a web of lies and deceit to uncover the secret of who they really are and save their world from an imminent disaster brewing in the heavens. And they must hurry. Between the earthquakes, the sun and moon standing still in the sky, and the planet Jants hovering closer than it’s ever been, the planet could be torn apart before they have a chance to do something about it.
Excerpt...
“Mr. Delango.” Mrs. Blaine’s
voice sliced through the air, jarring Joshua out of his thoughts.
He jumped to his feet. “Yes, ma’am.” All
around him snickers erupted as each of his classmates stared at him. Joshua
stifled a groan. Judging by their reaction, he had missed something important.
“Perhaps you would like to elaborate on our
topic?” Mrs. Blaine motioned to the blackboard.
Joshua winced. He had been staring out of the
window and had no idea what she had been talking about.
His best friend, Neil, shrugged. With his skin
the complexion of milk and Joshua’s the complexion of chocolate, Neil always
said together they were two halves of the best drink ever to have been
invented.
But now he shook his head at Joshua. “I tried
to warn you,” he mouthed.
Joshua cleared his throat. “You are doing such
a fantastic job at explaining this, Mrs. Blaine, I can’t elaborate.” He
punctuated the remark with a smile meant to charm her.
“I think you can.” Mrs. Blaine pointed to the
board. “Why don’t you come up and fill out this diagram?”
Joshua bit back a comment and made his way to
the front of the classroom. The walls were white, and though Mrs. Blaine had
set a plastic, potted tree in the corner, there were no posters or papers on
the walls . . . just a blackboard where Mrs. Blaine wrote her lessons . . . not
at all like the other teachers’ classes with their motivational posters and
charts plastered all over the walls.
“No distractions for wayward thinking
children,” Mrs. Blaine had said the first time someone remarked on the lack of
decoration.
Joshua took the chalk from her and approached
the blackboard. Empty spaces in the diagram she had written mocked him, but the
words, “Planet/Celestial Body” and “Guardian” were written in separate columns
at the top. At least Joshua knew what she was talking about now—the solar
system and its Guardians.
“Fill it out.” Mrs. Blaine smirked. “Unless
you aren’t smart enough to goof off in class and still retain the information.”
Again his classmates snickered.
Joshua took a deep breath and studied the
diagram. Then he raised his chalk and wrote:
Planet/Celestial
Body
|
Guardian
|
Sun
|
Helio
|
Chern
|
Maro
|
Marte
|
Cero
|
MelÃne
|
Alandri
|
Geon
|
N/A
|
Geon’s moon
|
Lumina
|
Arion
|
Lucin
|
Jants
|
Junen
|
Rindt
|
Rin
|
Nuardt
|
Urin
|
Plútz
|
Plandte
|
Once finished, he faced Mrs. Blaine. “Is that
correct?” He held out the chalk to her.
No one snickered now . . . well, except Neil.
His face had surged red with the effort of stifling his laughter. To date, no
one had bested Mrs. Blaine at her game to humiliate students who weren’t paying
attention. In fact, Mrs. Blaine herself stared at the diagram Joshua had
written with her mouth set.
Her eyes narrowed. “Go sit down.”
Joshua shot a smile at her as he went.
“See me after class,” Mrs. Blaine said.
Joshua winced. One smart gesture too far.
“The rest of you, commit this chart to
memory.” Mrs. Blaine tapped the blackboard. “It will be on the test next week.”
“Dude, are you crazy?” Neil leaned over to him
as Joshua sat. Joshua had to bite back a smile. His friend acted like he had been the one called in after
class. “She’s going to hate you now.”
Joshua shrugged. “I’ve got more important
things to worry about.”
“Like what?” Neil whispered, copying the
diagram.
“Like . . .” Joshua stared full into the sun.
“I think the sun is off by two minutes.”
Neil paused in his writing. “What?”
“The sun.” Joshua glanced at Mrs. Blaine to
make sure she wasn’t watching. “It should be a little to the right. It’s in the
wrong place.”
“Have you been moon-bathing or something?
You’re as batty as a night-person.”
Joshua scowled at his friend. “Don’t say
that.”
But Neil went on, ignoring Joshua’s annoyance,
or . . . more likely . . . not noticing it at all. “The sun can’t be in the
wrong place. It’s impossible.”
“Maybe.” Joshua could overlook his friend’s
oversight. After all, he didn’t know how offensive the saying was. “But I’ve
done the calculations over and over—”
“Done the calculations?” Neil snickered. “What
do you know about calculations like those? There are smart people in the
capital whose job it is to watch the sun. Don’t you think they would have said
something if the sun was in the wrong place?”
“I guess . . .” Joshua faced the front of the
class where Mrs. Blaine continued her lesson. He wrote the diagram down, more
to get his mind off of the nagging feeling in the back of his mind than because
he needed to remember it. Neil was right; Joshua had to be wrong. After all,
Helio, the Guardian of the sun, was the epitome of precision. The sun would
never drift out of position on his watch.
Still . . . a feeling, like a stone sitting in
his stomach, told Joshua something was amiss. He had seen the sun doing strange
things before. The other day he thought he saw it flickering, and the day
before he was certain its rays were less intense than they should have been.
Joshua swallowed the knot rising in his throat
and resisted the urge to fiddle with the gold necklace he wore hidden under his
shirt. If something was wrong with the sun, he had more than filling out
diagrams and studying for tests to worry about.
They all did.
About M.R. Anglin...
M.R. Anglin has always
had a fascination with space—particularly the moon and stars. She also has
three amazing nephews, two adorable “near-nephews,” and one brilliant niece, so
it’s no wonder she eventually wrote a story that combines these loves into one.
You can often find her gazing up at the Florida sky at night or hunching over
her notebook/computer by day.
She is the author of the
Middle Grade novel, Lucas, Guardian of Truth (LampPost
2012), the self-published Silver Foxes series. She has also
been included in the Coyotl Award winning anthology, Gods With Fur (FurPlanet 2016) and Extinct?
(Wolfsinger 2017).
Where you can find her online...
Facebook: http://facebook.com/authoranglin
Twitter:
@authoranglin
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mranglin
Instagram: http://instagram.com/authoranglin
Deviantart: http://michelay.deviantart.com
Website: http://lyeland.com
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