Author Archives: charitybradford/riverford
Chris Reardon Talks About Obstacles
Sorry there hasn’t been much blogging this week. Thanksgiving week is crazy busy as it, but I’ve been cramming as much writing as I can into my spare time. I know I’ll hit 50K for Nanowrimo, but my new goal is 60-65K by Dec 15th and to reach THE END of the draft. I’m making good progress and dread the end of November and my “free pass” for writing instead of participating in family time.
Tomorrow will be a no writing day though and that’s just fine. I hope all of you are looking forward to a day of gluttony and family. I am.
Today I’m happy to bring you another author interview.
Please welcome Chris Reardon.
Can you talk a little about what the book is about?
It’s all about people trying to bring back the dead, or save someone from dying. There’s these extremely tough challenges, called the Obstacles, that let you do that. One challenge is fighting a great white shark. The story follows a cowardly doctor competing in them to save a sick child’s life.
What message do you want readers to get from reading the book?
Well, the story follows a very cowardly doctor, that’s really afraid of everything, having nightmares almost every night. Throughout the book, his darkest fears come to life, and he has no choice but to face them. A message I want to get across is that, things are never set in stone. Perspectives and experience can change everything in a second.
What books and authors have influenced your writing?
The Maze Runner, The Hunger Games, and the Eragon series are definitely my favorites so far. I really liked how they made you feel involved, or even part of the story. They get you attached to the characters, and you need to find out what happens.
What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
If you have an idea, go for it! So many people just give up on stuff half way, and miss out on great things they could have done. I really hope you stick with it.
Can you talk about your writing process, and did you ever experience writer’s block?
My writing process was never set in stone. I only wrote something if I felt it was worth writing about. If I had no ideas, I would just wait. There was at least a 2 week hiatus at one point. I didn’t want to write anything then that I could make better later.
I had a lot of outlines and it got very confusing, especially when I changed a lot as I went. Eventually, everything worked out.
I always liked imagining stories and thinking about different adventures I could create. But, I never thought I could actually do anything with it. One day, I just decided to write a chapter and see what’d it be like. I was very surprised to find out that I loved writing it! It felt awesome to be able to make anything I wanted happen with the story, and control what the characters would do. So, I kept going and thought, hey! maybe I can actually make this a book! I was just afraid I would get bored or quit halfway through, so I had to tell myself that if I keep going I have to stick with it.
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Alpha Wolf Publishing
October 1, 2013
ISBN-10: 0615897789
ISBN-13: 978-0615897783
Blurb:
A child will die. You’re afraid to live. Would you go to all lengths to save him? Darkness knows no bounds, as Alcott, an African American doctor sees all too well. The man is petrified by death. His fragile existence rests at the mercy of the universe. This fact is far too much for him to handle. From unyielding nightmares to elevator terrors, he’s lost in paranoia.
Assigned to look after an ill child, Alcott’s horrors only heighten. Gari is a nine-year-old boy with a fatal disease. He will surely pass on within the year. Alcott bonds with him more and more each day. Part of him knows this grim fate just isn’t right.
Alcott befriends a hospital patient. This lunatic forces him to lug home an ancient text on bringing back the dead. Despite the man’s obvious dementia, Alcott attempts the scheme. Charging up a cliff, he recites the chant over ocean gusts.
A god woman glides in from the horizon. She instructs Alcott on the trials to save Gari’s life. These fearsome Obstacles require true strength. From battling sharks to wielding a flail, he must prove fortitude against genuine danger. Alcott decides his fate at this moment.
Death’s claws shall not grasp Gari’s soul.
About the Author:
Christopher Michael Reardon is a writing fellow at a Michigan College where he’s currently a student. He says you always learn something new about writing when tutoring other students. Reardon is always searching for exciting books to read, especially new authors.
Reardon graduated with Honors from Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, Michigan. He’s also an avid tennis player, being on the varsity tennis team for four years. He received the honor of most valuable player his senior year at number one and two singles.
Obstacles is Reardon’s first novel. He says fantasy adventure books have always been an interest, because they challenge the mind and send you on an epic journey.
Flirty Arguments and Physical Training
Think you can handle some more rough draft? I’m trying not to pay too close attention to these as I post them, but…It seems my characters can’t stay mad at each other. They just fall into natural joking and teasing. I’ll have to work on that because I know arguments don’t pass this easily in my house. Granted I’m not a newlywed anymore either.
The only other thing you need to know is that space travel taught Talia and Landry something about their magic early on. Turns out magic is tied to the suns, not necessarily their planet, and when they left their solar system the magic disappeared.
“Talia?” Landry stood in the doorway to their room where she had been hiding for the last hour.
“Are we finally going to talk this out?” She patted the bed beside her.
“We probably should.” Landry stepped in and the door slid closed behind him, “You’re getting paler and thinner every day.”
“What?” Her eyes widened.
“Your health is deteriorating fast. We need to do something about it.”
Talia slid her legs out from under the sheet and to the floor. They were skinnier than ever before, her knees like swollen knot holes on saplings. She shook her head and walked to the food replicator they had installed in their room. As she ordered a protein drink she sent a thought wave in her husband’s direction. That’s not what I thought we were going to discuss.
When he didn’t answer she turned back to him. “That’s not what I wanted to talk about.”
Landry sighed, “I know, but let’s tackle one thing at a time. Your health is the most important right now.”
“Okay then, what do you propose we do?”
“We start training your body the old fashioned way.”
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it. The loss of magic hasn’t affected me physically in the same way it did you.”
“It’s just more noticeable in me because I siphoned energy constantly. I’m not even sure if I did it consciously most of the time.”
“Exactly. I trained my body to work without the aid of magical energy flowing through me. That’s what we need to do for you.” He reached for her hand. “All you need is to challenge yourself physically. Lucky for you, troop training is one of my many talents.”
“Let’s get started then. I’m tired of feeling so drained.” Talia squeezed his hand for a moment and then took her agonizingly slow steps to the door.
Gibbs nodded at them from a weight machine in the fitness room. He stood on a metal plate, knees slightly bent and arms raised above his head. His palms rested lightly on another plate.
“I’ve got another set and I’ll be out of your way.” He took a deep breath and then pushed through his legs and arms. The plates reacted to his strength and pushed back with matching force, providing a balanced isometric exercise for his upper and lower body.
Talia watched for a moment and dreaded whatever Landry had planned for her. “This is going to fix me?”
“I’ll whip you into shape before we reach Orek.”
“I thought you liked my shape.” She whispered in his direction.
Landry chuckled but didn’t answer.
Gibbs relaxed, grabbed his towel and headed for the door. “Don’t be too hard on her, Sutton.”
Landry waited for the door to slide closed before stepping closer to Talia, “Seduction attempts will only earn you an extra mile, Mrs. Sutton. At least until seventeen hundred hours. After that, it’ll get you anything you want.”
“Yes Sir, Colonel, Sir.” She spit out in perfect private speak.
“I’ve missed this you know.”
“Getting to torture trainees?” Talia followed him to a terrain simulator.
“No, joking with you. Feeling relaxed around you.”
Talia reached up and touched his face. “Me too. Do you think it’s just because we don’t know how to talk to each other without telepathy?”
“Maybe. Let’s promise to try and talk about things.”
“That I can do. Why don’t we start now?” Talia smiled up at him.
“Oh no you don’t. You’re not getting off that easy.” He turned and started the machine.
A smooth surface appeared beneath Talia’s feet. The simulation was a city street, and Landry set a slow speed for her. She smirked when her body settled into the easy rhythm.
“Is this all you’ve got Colonel, because I can think of a more strenuous work out.”
Landry punched in a new sequence and the ground changed to a sandy beach. Talia reached out to grip the safety bar as her gait altered to accommodate the new situation. Her legs flexed with each push against the surface and sweat broke out on her forehead.
“Not till you’ve finished today’s training session.” Landry leaned against the bulkhead and settled in to enjoy the view.
Stefan and Landry Say Goodbye
As promised, here is a first draft excerpt from Search for Knowledge. The concept for this novel is centered around Talia and Landry leaving Sendek to visit Jaron’s home world of Orek. And yes, their names are similar for a reason. Anyway, this quest to gather information on magic, technology and most importantly–how Jaron’s world managed to combine a scientific world with a magical one so successfully, has consequences.
Einstein’s theory of Special Relativity
Space and time are interwoven into a single continuum known as space-time. Events that occur at the same time for one observer could occur at different times for another. What does that mean? Lots of things, but the part I’m using for SFK deals with the fact that time passes slower the faster one goes. So our heroes are going away in a speeding spaceship to some distant planet and then comes back (in book 3), they will be younger than everyone who stayed on Sendek.
Yeah, this is cool stuff that I’ll dedicate an entire science post too sometime in the future, but if you want a great site that explains it in simple terms, look HERE.
Stefan stared at the ground as they walked out into the sunslight. “I still think this is a huge risk. How can you be sure you’ll get there and back safely?”
“Jaron’s ship is fully equipped with everything we need, and with Gibbs and Cooley all our bases are covered. We’ll be fine.” Landry left the real issue unsaid.
“Can’t you learn what you need from Jaron’s records?”
“We’ve been searching them for two months. His computer doesn’t have the historical records we would like, and we need records that will help us train the mage.”
Stefan paced along the edge of a low stone wall. “What am I supposed to do with these mages while you’re gone?”
Landry nodded to the hanger. “They’ll follow her. Even if she’s not here. For a while, anyway. Right now they have something to look forward to and they’ll follow our journey and wait for news of our return.”
“That won’t keep them under control for long.” Stefan shook his head. “And there’s the general population to watch as well.”
“Use the Mage Council. They can enforce the guidelines within the mage group. You just have to keep the Council on your side.”
Stefan harrumphed, but turned to Landry. “I can see many benefits from both the technological and the magical side of this journey, but I feel like everything is happening too fast. You’re the only family I have left, you know.”
“Stefan, you’re going to be fine. The people are going to follow you as well as they did your father. Maybe it’s time you started looking for a queen?” Landry teased.
“You always said you would be the last one to tie yourself down to a woman. Now that you’ve slipped up, you want to tie me down too?” Stefan smiled and Landry knew he was working his way to goodbye. “Just wish you had picked a woman that didn’t want to take you halfway across the universe.”
“I know. If we’re lucky—” Landry looked over the mountain views, anywhere but at his cousin.
“I’ll still be alive when you return.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll just be old as dirt and you’ll only be a year or two older. Doesn’t seem fair somehow.”
“Look at the bright side. You’ll have kids and grandkids and a full life of memories to brag about.”
“Ha! And you’ll just have a new world to talk about.”
“But you’ll still be a part of this one.”
Dragging Talia Along as Part of My NaNoWriMo Update
Goodness the month is moving by WAY too quickly. We are past the half way mark and thank goodness I’m at least halfway in my word count. Currently I’m at–22,730. A bit behind where I should be, but I’m just happy to be moving forward.
I have to admit that I haven’t written with complete abandon this month. Whether that is good or bad is still yet to be seen, but words are getting written. There have been several epiphanies this month.
- I think way too much about my readers while I’m writing. Although this is good on one level, I really need to block you guys out while I’m drafting. All month I’ve been sick with worry. This story is by necessity slower paced than The Magic Wakes and I’m scared that the readers who found TMW a slow start will not enjoy SFK. This one is more about the journey, the learning, the trial and error of problem solving. A touch more on the science side, but still a good dose of fantasy elements. Less romantic tension since SPOILER ALERT Talia and Landry married at the end of TMW, but they married quickly and now have the problem of learning how to live together while all this other crap is going on around them. The conflicts are more internal than OMGosh someone is trying to kill us! Although there are a few moments of that too. 🙂
- Search for Knowledge is not really about Talia. She’s there, but Landry is filling the spotlight a bit more this go around. This is fine, and originally (when I was still writing in first person) this book was going to be from his point of view. The surprise is how much more this book is about the two worlds–Sendek and Orek. Their parallels, their differences, their ultimate destinies on the line.
- This means more attention to world building and details. Which means in turn I can’t count on my dialogue filling the word count. It takes more time to really think things through–why would they do that instead of just…? I’m trying really hard to make sure I’m not just taking the easy route or having my characters do something because that’s what I need them to do. The trick is making sure my reasoning filters through to the reader somehow. I had solid reasons for everything in The Magic Wakes, but it didn’t come through and leaving many readers questioning. And not in a good way.
- Adding enough well developed characters to make the story work without overwhelming the reader with too many characters is hard! Complex stories need lots of players. I’ve already combined two of my new characters into one.
- Dreaming up scenes before I sit to write is still my best method. Once I can see it all played out in my mind I can at least get the “scripting” details on the page. Then I can go back and fill in the good stuff.
Waking Up Dead by Margo Bond Collins
Looking for a good paranormal story to read? Check out this one from Margo Collins and World Weaver Press.
Excerpt of Waking Up Dead:
When I died, I expected to go to heaven.
Okay. Maybe hell. It’s not like I was perfect or anything. But I was sort of hoping for heaven.
Instead, I went to Alabama.
Yeah. I know. It’s weird.
I died in Dallas, my hometown. I was killed, actually. Murdered. I’ll spare you the gruesome details. I don’t like to remember them myself. Some jerk with a knife–and probably a Bad-Mommy complex. Believe me, if I knew where he was, I’d go haunt his ass.
At any rate, by the time death came, I was ready for it–ready to stop hurting, ready to let go. I didn’t even fight it.
And then I woke up dead in Alabama. Talk about pissed off.
You know, even reincarnation would have been fine with me–I could have started over, clean slate and all that. Human, cow, bug. Whatever. But no. I ended up haunting someplace I’d never even been.
That’s not the way it’s supposed to work, right? Ghosts are supposed to be the tortured spirits of those who cannot let go of their earthly existence. If they could be convinced to follow the light, they’d leave behind said earthly existence and quit scaring the bejesus out of the poor folks who run across them. That’s what all those “ghost hunter” shows on television tell us.
Let me tell you something. The living don’t know jack about the dead.
Not this dead chick, anyway.
About the Author:
Margo Bond Collins lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, several spoiled cats, and a ridiculous turtle. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters.
Buy Waking Up Dead
Connect with Margo
Amazon Author Page
Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com
Website
Twitter: @MargoBondCollin
Google+
Goodreads Author Page
Facebook Author Page
Facebook Novel Page
Tumblr
Pinterest
Be sure to add Waking Up Dead to your Goodreads bookshelves:
Book Trailers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j_TmvpxxBw
http://youtu.be/KUBg83s4BOU
Introducing "Of Stardust" by February Grace
Blurb:
“Dreams are sacred…”
At the age of twenty-six, single, geeky bookseller Till Nesbitt inherits the shock of a lifetime: a huge Victorian farmhouse filled with unique tenants, and the knowledge that there is a reason she’s always been different. She’s destined to become a Fairy Godmother, because the skills are written into her DNA.
Till embarks on her fairy education at Dreams Come True University with much trepidation, guided on her journey by a unique mentor: a Celtic hybrid with a secret by the name of Gus.
When Till falls head over heels for Gus, will she break the most serious law in the Fairy Code, or will the truth of what really happened to Gus’s parents keep them from repeating history?
Buy links for the book:
Kindle
Nook
Paperback: Amazon
Paperback: Barnes and Noble
Where to find her online:
Twitter: @FebruaryGrace
Facebook
Website
Q: How did you come up with the title?
A: The title “Of Stardust” comes from dialog spoken by my main male character, Gus. In a particular scene he and female lead, Till, are watching the Lyrid meteor shower together, and he is recalling things his mother used to tell him when he was a boy. Believe it or not, it turns into a very sweet, romantic moment for Gus and Till. It may well be, I believe, my favorite scene in the entire book.
Q: What genre do you consider your book(s)?
A: My first published novel GODSPEED was something of a hybrid: sci-fi, literary romance, and steampunk, combined. This novel is totally different. It’s a modern fantasy/romance.
If I had to classify myself as an author, I would fly the ‘sci-fi/fantasy’ banner, most proudly, though all of my work has romance in it. I can’t write a story without romance, it is just not how my brain works. Or my heart!
Me too!
Q: Have you ever hated something you wrote?
A: Absolutely! I think every writer, if they have any sense at all, has hated something they’ve written.
In fact at some point I usually hate everything I’ve written/am writing. It’s a phase I go through while I’m still trying to get something closer to the way I envision it. It’s usually only later (much later) that I can go back and read any of my work and not cringe.
I tend to forget what I’ve written pretty quickly, and sometimes I’ll go back and read something think ‘that’s not the worst thing I’ve ever seen.’ That’s about as good as it gets for me when it comes to accepting my work LOL.
Q: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
A: Fighting my myriad health issues, which are constantly interrupting my writing. It’s so frustrating, sometimes I will have the ideas right there but be too unwell to get them down on paper/type them out. Other times I feel okay physically but I couldn’t think up a line of coherent dialog to save my life. So I have to seize those opportunities, rare though they are, when I can think and manage to get the words down at the same time and really run with them. That’s how the books I’ve written have come into being, by stringing enough of those moments together to make it work somehow. It’s a continual struggle for me to write these days, I miss the time when it all came so easily. I keep fighting for the characters. Someone has to tell their story.
You are such an inspiration! If you can battle health issues and still keep the books coming than the rest of us have no excuse for being lazy. 🙂 I hope the health concerns get better for you.
Q: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
A: Yes, I want to say THANK YOU!!! I appreciate each and every person who spends some of their time living in one of the worlds I’ve created. It is an honor to have someone take precious time out of their life to spend with your characters, and I only hope that when you’ve read one of my stories, that the characters and the feeling of the story will stay with you, long after you close the book. I hope that you will think it was worth the time you spent, and maybe even want to go back and visit with those characters again. The only thing better than hearing a reader say they loved your story is hearing them say that they can’t wait to read it again.
Amen to that!
Thank you so much, Charity, for hosting me today!
Author Bio: February Grace is a writer, artist, and poet who lives in Southeastern Michigan. She sings on key, plays by ear, and is more than mildly obsessed with colors, clocks, and meteor showers.
Zak Whittington’s Designs
This post is a shout out to my amazing cover artist for STELLAR CLOUD, Zak Whittington. Here’s a reminder of what he did for me. I added the “A Short Story Collection”, and that’s why the font is different.
Here’s what you need to know about Zak from his own words.
I am a freelance Graphic Designer from Nashville Tennessee. Most of my major influences are from Photography and Illustration. I am an avid film fanatic, and total comic and gaming nerd. Hobbies include sketching like crazy, taking photographs of anything and everything, and adding to my ever expanding comic and toy collections.
I am currently a freelance designer working locally at the moment, but willing to expand my client list to a nation wide basis. I graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with BFA in Graphic Design, and a Minor in Illustration. There I also studied Painting, Photography, and Book Arts and consider myself well versed in all. Illustration is where my heart truly lies, but I really enjoy Design and Photography as well.
And I know from personal experience that he’s a Bears and Batman fan. How? Well, here’s what he wanted for a Groom’s cake at his wedding. (He married on Holloween, thus the orange, and the shapes are Chicago Bear’s Blue even though they look black in the photo.)
Now, here’s the info you want and need if you’re self-publishing or just want to offer an artist suggestion for your publisher.
You can check out his portfolio HERE and on his Deviant Art page.
Really, go check out the variety of his skills. He can probably match almost any look you’re going for between his photography, digital designs and illustrations.
His rates are $45/hour plus the cost of artwork if he has to buy stock photos.
An Excerpt from The Light in the Gloaming by J.B. Simmons
As promised on Monday, today I am posting an excerpt from J.B. Simmons’ novel, Light in the Gloaming. This scene comes at the end of the book’s seventh chapter. Here you will meet two critical supporting characters, Ravien and Wren. Ravien is the older sister of the betrayer, the prince, Tryst. Wren hates Tryst and supports his enemy. Despite their different alliances, you will begin to see the sparks between them, and how those sparks threaten to flame up and consume everything. Now, Ravien has been leading Wren, he has been pursuing, and they end up here:
Wren stepped lightly through the door and surveyed his surroundings. He was on a small and flat roof, with no railing between it and the sixty-foot fall to the ground below. There was no sign of Ravien here, and Wren thought that perhaps she had vanished.
Then to his right, where there had been nothing a second before, he saw a silhouette standing on a high arched roof a couple buildings away. Without pause, Wren sprinted towards the figure. Adrenalin propelled his jump from the first building to the second, covering six feet with nothing below. He did not look down and charged on.
The second jump, to the arched roof, was even longer. It also dropped further, and Wren landed hard against the slate tiles. Looking across the gap he had just leapt, he was feeling good about himself. But when he turned an instant later, the silhouette was gone. He ran up to the peak of the roof and tensed at the quiet solitude. Not again, Wren thought. She has to be—
“Silence.” The voice was a seductive whisper, unlike the dagger pressed to his throat. All Wren could think was that it was impossible. She had slipped him from behind, and now she had him pinned.
“As I said, Wren, you feel a little slow.” Her right hand moved down against his stomach; she patted the small extra layer of fat. “You used to be rock solid and so sharp. It is a shame what your wealthy merchant’s life has done to you. You will have no chance taking down my brother in that shape.” She breathed the words into his ear.
Wren fought hard to stay calm, torn between fear and something like desire. “I wouldn’t dare try such a thing, Ravien. Tryst is the prince and he has my loyalty.”
“Don’t waste my time with lies.” She jerked him closer and drew blood with the dagger. “I saw you and Jon in the square tonight. I also know who is in your shop right now.” There was not an inch of space between their bodies.
Her words sent Wren’s mind spinning. Maybe she was going to kill him. How could she possibly know about Andor? Feeling desperate, he kept silent and considered his chances of fighting back. As long as she was alive with that knowledge, everything was in jeopardy.
“Do not think of killing me, Wren. It wouldn’t do any good, because I planted the secret with someone who will survive me. Besides, my dear little bird, you would not want to hurt me.” She pressed even closer, her lips grazing his cheek. “I can help you, and you have always wanted me.” She shifted to the left and bit down lightly on his ear.
Wren felt the change in position and the subtle relaxing of Ravien’s grip. In one flash of movement, he leaned his head away from the blade, grabbed her tight forearm and slung her forward over his shoulder. She slammed onto the roof, landing on her back, still clutching onto Wren and the dagger. The momentum of the throw knocked Wren down to a knee, and the two struggled on the slanted roof for position and control.
Ravien was strong and lightning fast, but Wren overpowered her. Her legs were locked around his waist, but he was on top and had her shoulders and arms pinned down.
Wren gloated for a moment at the position, smiling down at his captive princess. They were at the edge of the arched roof, and her head was hanging off the end, long black hair flowing towards the ground six stories below. Her eyes raged up at him, dark embers threatening to consume him.
“Ravien my dear,” his voice was half serious, half mocking, “you have always been a dangerous woman. Maybe I do want you, but you know too much. What do you propose I do with you?”
She responded with a grin, as if she were the one in control. “I propose that you question everything you know about me. Question my loyalties and my desires. I am a sister to the prince but also to Lorien. If you displease me in the slightest, there is no doubt that Tryst will learn of your plans. We both know what that would mean. But if you please me,” she rocked her legs, swaying both of them precariously over the ledge, “and that’s a big if, then your plot might have a chance.”
Wren shrugged innocently and thought of distracting her. “What kind of plot are you talking about? Everything I want is right here.” With that he plunged and kissed her deeply. For a moment it felt like she was returning the passion, but a sharp pain forced him to pull back. She had bitten his lower lip and drawn blood. Again.
“I can believe that,” Ravien breathed out, failing to hide her grin. She lowered her voice to the quietest of whispers that Wren could barely hear, “but it is not so much you, as Andor, who concerns me.”
“Now!” Her yell pierced the intimate moment. He froze as a sharp point pressed into the back of his neck.
Apparently he could not hear anything coming this night. He looked into Ravien’s eyes, trying to make out the reflection of who was behind him.
She returned his deep gaze and spoke delicately. “Wren, be silent and stay completely still.” He loved the sound of his name as it rolled off her lips. “I know you and Jon are planning something with him.” She let that hang in the air; Wren fought to keep his face blank. “I will stay close to my brother. If you try to harm him, it will not end well. But some of our interests may be aligned.”
Wren could no longer suppress his look of surprise, and Ravien seized on it. “Remember, question everything you assume about me. Now you know that I am not alone.” The unknown blade pressed harder into the back of Wren’s neck, driving his face closer to Ravien’s. “We will communicate with you, and you must obey our requests. If you do not, you have no chance. You might succeed, although not in the way you expect, if you please me.”
She leaned closer and gave him a light kiss. “If you please me.”
Suddenly everything went dark, as the person behind him tied a cloth over his eyes. He felt a blade at his throat again, forcing him to stand blindly. He felt Ravien escape from below him. An instant later, her voice was beside his right ear. “Stay blind and count to fifty. Then you may return home and get what little sleep you can. It would not please me if you count too quickly. Dawn is coming.”
Wren obeyed the command to the letter. He thought through Ravien’s words, looking for hidden meanings. How did she know? Who was she working with? No matter how he approached it, they were in trouble. She had the position and the information to ruin everything.
At the count of fifty he pulled off the blindfold, which smelled of lavender. There was no one to be seen.
The view over the city was amazing in the early pre-dawn. He could make out the spires of the prince’s palace to his left, and the walls of Valemidas wrapped around the sleeping city. It was peaceful now, but the effects of Tryst’s reign, and Ramzi’s oppressive rules, were rippling through the city. Wren shuddered at what would happen to the peace under a lifetime of Tryst.
Andor’s plot had to succeed. As Wren made his way back to his shop, he prepared to tell Andor and Jon what he had learned. It would not be easy, because he would have to explain how he ended up on a rooftop with Tryst’s sister. He climbed into bed for an hour of sleep and found himself dreaming of a dark and beautiful woman.
November IWSG, Nanowrimo and Shoveling Sand
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time. I’m currently #162.
Also, in case you’ve missed the new website, or the Facebook page…just click the links. 🙂
I had visions of sharing more notes from the writer’s conference I attended in September, but Nanowrimo is in full swing and that’s occupying all my brain space.
The first five days have come and gone quickly. All I can say is, “Thank goodness for write-ins!” Thanks to a great run on Saturday I’m actually on track. I was only 100 words short of the goal when I called it quits last night.
However, going into day six, my insecurities are rearing their ugly head. I’ve got 8,000 words of sludge. Let me explain…My first drafts are full of telling, scarce on descriptions, gaping plot holes, etc. But I want it to be this awesome story that’s playing out in my head.
This disease has dogged me all year. I’ve jumped from story to story, not finishing any of them. It’s time to kick it, and finish something. That’s my goal for November and Nano. Finish a draft of Search for Knowledge. Get a sludgy story down on paper so I can start revisions.
How am I going to push through?
By repeating this quote over and over. Every day, every hour of November.
“I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.” ~Shannon Hale
So, the next time you feel like you shouldn’t keep working on a story because it’s so much junk, think, “shoveling sand” and keep going.
That’s what I’m going to do. Hopefully I’ll end up with this.
Agent Week on Unicorn Bell
I mentioned this yesterday, but wanted to do so again. This is my week over at Unicorn Bell and I’m interviewing agents! Yep, in an effort to see that they are real people with real emotions, likes, dislikes, etc., I’ve asked a few questions of four ladies. I actually “queried” about 15 agents in the hopes of getting five of them to respond to my interview request. These ladies not only agreed to be interviewed, but they responded rather quickly. This is one of the reasons they are on my “to be queried” list for future novels.
Here is a quick run down of who I’m talking to this week and what they are looking for in manuscripts.
Monday
Tamar Rydzinski–Anything (fiction) well written for YA and up that has great characters, including graphic novels.
Tuesday
Katie Reed–A bit of everything! Commercial YA with real life teen issues, science fiction (soft) in adult and YA, fantasy (adult and YA), suspense-thriller, book club women’s fiction, romance, memoirs, self-help, how-to’s, inspirational, parenting.
Wednesday
Suzie Townsend–More romantic suspense in the New Adult genre and more magical realism in YA and middle grade. She tries to update her wishlist periodically here. She’s open to fiction from middle grade through adult. Anything with great characters can really hook her.
Thursday
Natialie Lakosil— more adult (contemporary romance and NA, magical realism general fiction) and darker YA. Her specialties are children’s literature (from picture book through teen and New Adult), romance (contemporary and historical), cozy mystery/crime, upmarket women’s/general fiction and select children’s nonfiction. Her interests include historical, multi-cultural, magical realism, sci-fi/fantasy, gritty, thrilling and darker contemporary novels, middle grade with heart, and short, quirky or character-driven picture books. She is always drawn to an open and positive attitude in an author, professionalism, good grammar, and fantastical, beautifully written, engaging and sexy plots.
Make sure you stop in and ask your own questions. It’s been quiet over there and I’d really like to make a good impression on these ladies who were gracious enough to respond.
Thanks!
Charity Bradford 