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It's Official - Songs DO Affect Your Heart!

On 9^th July 2013, I heard of a news story that sent a shiver down my spine. It turned out to be one of those uncanny coincidences that have cropped up regularly while I have been involved in the writing of my Artesans of Albia fantasy series.

To set the scene, I had turned in the self-edited manuscript of King’s Artesan, the final book in my first Artesans trilogy, to Rhemalda Publishing’s brilliant editor, Diane. She had cast her eagle eye over it and recommended some changes to the way the book ends. Once I read all her suggestions and realized how perfect they were, I could also see that it was going to involve a complete rewrite – not something you really want to do with a publishing deadline looming. However, I was quite excited about the prospect because I was being asked to put back in some of the stuff I’d originally taken out after some long-ago beta readers suggested there was too much “product placement.” Trouble was, I hadn’t saved any of the deleted passages and anyway, the book had moved on since then and they wouldn’t have been up to scratch.

There was no getting away from it - I would just have to put everything else on hold and concentrate on the rewrite.

That proved difficult when I remembered the week’s vacation in Italy we had booked. Yes, slap in the middle of the time when I ought to be writing! Oh well – maybe the break would help stop my brain from overloading. I began making a list, sorting out what passages I really needed to keep, which I could safely delete, and what order the new passages needed to be in. This turned into more of a nightmare than I anticipated, and once or twice I got completely confused and had to write it all out again. My only respite came when I began writing the new scenes themselves, because they were scenes of foreboding – my favourite kind! My writing Muse came winging back and sat comfortably on my shoulder. But it seemed she didn’t like the confusion of reordering either, because once I stopped writing fresh stuff and went back to cutting-and-pasting, she threw a tantrum and locked herself in the cupboard. Oh well.



The vacation to Lake Garda in northeast Italy was a wonderful break, despite the 30 degree heat. We left Heathrow in 16 degrees and walked out of the plane in Verona airport to the searing Italian summer. It was like being slapped in the face. Picking up the rental car went fine, but the directions we had been given to the converted mill where we would be staying were rubbish. Fortunately, not only does Dave carry a map and a compass in his head (how DOES he always know what direction he’s facing??) we had also brought our Italian roadmap, courtesy of when we used to live there. After a few false turns, we arrived.

The week went very well, but thoughts of the rewrite were never far from my mind. Once we returned, I got straight back to work.

One of the scenes I needed to refresh concerned my main character, Sullyan. I’m not going to give any plot points away, so this explanation will be generic. Sullyan’s parents are dead and she never knew them, but she has one thing connecting her very strongly to them. It’s an ancient song, a melody, to which her father set a love poem he wrote to her mother. This song appears numerous times throughout my series, and it serves various functions. Being a folk singer and songwriter, I have written and recorded songs to accompany my first two books, but this one, Morgan’s Song, never actually existed in word form. I wanted to record it as the song to accompany King’s Artesan, so I had to write the words. Now, with the rewrite, I had a fabulous opportunity to include the actual words in the book they are meant to accompany!

Once I realized where and how the song could be used, the ideas just kept flowing. The song became an integral part of the passage I was writing and in fact, the scene wouldn’t have worked so well without it. I love how the song entwined itself into the plot. It seems a damned close coincidence that I was asked to do the rewrite, otherwise I could never have included the song. But that’s not the uncanniest coincidence, nor the one that connects to the news story.

This coincidence concerns what scientists have documented (I won’t say “discovered” because I have noticed this myself, and I’m sure other singers and choirs have too) about the effect of choral singing on the heartbeat. If you’d like to read the story, here is the link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23230411

What got me so excited when I heard about it was the close correlation between what the scientists found and what I had written. I finished those scenes days before the story broke, so it wasn’t something I heard subliminally. It was simply another of those slightly spooky things that used to keep me going with submitting my work when all I was getting were rejections. I am now more firmly convinced than ever that my books and Rhemalda Publishing were fated to be a partnership. And I just couldn’t be happier!

Guest Post and Giveaway by Sarah-Jane Lehoux - a stop onThe Sevy Series Blog Tour.

Greetings, friends!


This post is dedicated to the awesome author Sarah-Jane Lehoux and her Sevy Series. I first met Sarah-Jane through Facebook and was honoured to be asked to host a guest post and Giveaway by her as part of her Sevy Series Blog Tour. She's giving away an entire ebook set of The Sevy Series, which I think is stupendous - something not to be missed! See the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post for your chance to enter. 

I decided to read the first book in this series, Thief, and write a review before you get to Sarah-Jane's guest post. Don't worry though - I won't be giving away any spoilers!

 

Sarah-Jane Lehoux

Author Bio:

Sarah-Jane Lehoux has always had a passion for storytelling. From grade school tales of cannibalistic ghosts, to teenaged conversations with God, to her rebellion against adulthood with fantasy kingdoms and fairy magic, she has attempted to share her love of the quirky and unconventional with her readers.

She currently resides in Southern Ontario with her husband and her horde of Machiavellian cats. In addition to her own writing, Sarah-Jane works as an editor and freelance cover artist.

 

Thief:

Happily Ever After Doesn't Come Without a Price

In the crumbling city of Eloria, there are two indisputable facts. First, everyone has a dream. Secret, seemingly unattainable, altogether irresistible, it is the kind of dream that aches and, at times, burns. For most, it will forever remain a teasing enigma, but there are those for whom dreams grow into obsession. Which brings us to the second indisputable fact: everyone has a price. Protestations of morality have little meaning when confronted with the all-consuming passion of the soul. Better judgment is pushed aside for the chance to obtain the unobtainable. The only question remaining is just how much a person is willing to sacrifice in order to get what they want.
Sevy has always been a quick study in the wicked ways of Eloria. Since childhood, she has eked out a living for herself with the help of her sticky fingers and her indomitable spirit. She has no qualms about taking what she desires, and when the unrequited love of her life is mysteriously murdered, Sevy will stop at nothing to get him back. Elvish black magic, necromancy and demonic pacts are of little consequence if it means she can once again have her beloved at her side. But is she willing to murder her only friend to get the job done?

Is there a line that even this selfish, self-proclaimed bitch is not prepared to cross?

My Review of Thief by Sarah-Jane Lehoux
Sevy is a young girl who lives on the streets of Eloria, eking out a living by stealing, doing whatever she can to stay alive. Street-wise and cunning, Sevy knows a mark when she sees one – but she also knows a pimp. Her best and only friend Trena has taken up with a gorilla whom Sevy knows is going to exploit her – but all Trena can see are the benefits. Sevy is determined to steal enough so she can rescue Trena from the ape’s clutches, but her life takes an unexpected twist when the mark she targets turns out to be even savvier than herself. Her growing infatuation with this man, and his apparent attraction to her, throw Sevy into the deepest love, and also the deepest fury, she has ever known. Demons and black elvish magic combine in one of the most treacherous and evil-bitch antagonists I have ever encountered in a fantasy novel . It’s doubtful that even Sevy’s smarts and hard-won skills can save the lives of her lover and friend.
There is plenty of action, tension and emotion in this fast-moving fantasy novel. You won’t be able to draw your breath!

Ok - now that you've heard what I think of Thief, it's time to hear from the author herself. In this post, she talks about how she finds the right balance in her writing.
Over to you, Sarah-Jane! 

How Much Is Too Much?

Gratuitous. Sounds like it should be a good thing. I mean, free stuff is awesome, right? Wrong. When it comes to storytelling, being gratuitous will cause more harm than good.

What kind of gratuitousness am I talking about? Anything. Everything. Sex. Violence. Cursing. Eating. Sleeping. Whining. Whatever. Do a quick Google search on the definition. Go on; I’ll wait.

Back? Okay, see the third meaning? “Unnecessary or unwarranted.” That’s what I’m talking about. We’ve all read books/seen movies where there has been a scene that makes us roll our eyes and wonder why anyone thought it was a good idea to add it in. Sex for the sake of sex, violence for the sake of violence, cutesy, lovey-dovey behavior for the sake of being cutesy….all it does is turn the reader off and tarnish what was otherwise a great tale.

The universe I’ve created with The Sevy Series has been described as gritty and realistic. I don’t shy away from hard subject matter, but I like to think that I come at each scene, even the R-rated ones, with some class. After I finish the first draft, a HUGE part of the editing process is seeking out the unnecessary, the out of place, the gratuitous, and reworking until they fit into the vision I have for the story.

Sure, sometimes bucket loads of gore is called for—Taratino wouldn’t have a career without them—but for most stories and story-tellers, less will always be more. It’s all about finding the right ratio between being authentic to your universe and being respectful to your readers.
Sarah-Jane Lehoux

Great post, Sarah-Jane, thank you!



Below are the covers and blurbs for Shades of War and Masquerade, Books Two and Three in the Sevy Series:

Shades of War:

There is More Than One Road to Redemption

Sometimes the past can't be forgotten. Sometimes the truth refuses to be buried. And sometimes the dead won't stay dead.It began as a simple request: Journey to the Northern Jungles and bring a wayward son back to the safety of his farm and family before the racial tension that is building between humans and dark elves erupts into civil war. But life is never simple for Sevy, and she soon finds herself entangled in a bloody battle of good versus evil, love versus hate.Old friends and enemies reunite, familial bonds are broken, and loyalty is tested. And in the midst of the steamy, sultry jungles, the ghosts of a serial killer's victims come out to play. Sevy, as petulant and irascible as ever, must overcome her personal demons in order to expose a madman and bring peace back to the kingdom. But just how much of her sanity must she sacrifice to help her friends? And how can she save anyone when she can't even save her own soul?

 

Masquerade:

Never Trust a Liar, especially when they're telling the truth.

Starting over isn’t easy, especially when the world isn’t ready for you to change. Sevy, thief turned assassin turned mercenary, isn’t having any fun adjusting to a normal, law-abiding life. Luckily for her, an old partner in crime arrives with an irresistible proposition: a getaway to a tropical island, an adventure of a lifetime, and an amazing friendship ready to blossom into an even more amazing romance.

Things are looking up for Sevy. That is, until a pack of maniacal fairies with a taste for human flesh arrive on the scene.
Now she must unravel a web of magical intrigue hidden behind the outwardly idyllic atmosphere of the islands of Belakarta. Nothing is as it seems, and no one can be trusted. Trapped under the spell of a handsome and mysterious stranger, Sevy must fight fairies and tricksters to regain her freedom.
Or spend an eternity as a sorcerer’s plaything.

 

The books look great, don't they? I certainly think so - which is why we're doing a fantastic Giveaway of an entire ebook set! Yes, that's right  - the entire Sevy Series as an ebook set! See the Rafflecopter Giveaway widget below to enter.
And if you don't get lucky in the Giveaway, or you simply can't wait, here are the links to purchase the series on Amazon:

Thief http://www.amazon.com/Thief-The-Sevy-Series-Volume/dp/148417433X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1280675778&sr=8-1

Shades of War http://www.amazon.com/Shades-War-Sevy-Sarah-Jane-Lehoux/dp/148485716X/ref=la_B003VH11VG_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1368296808&sr=1-4

Masquerade http://www.amazon.com/Masquerade-The-Sevy-Series-ebook/dp/B00CPOWRSC/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1368317728&sr=1-2

<a id="rc-f0acc31" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f0acc31/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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I am delighted to announce that the winner of the Sevy Series eBook Set Giveaway is:

Rosalie :-)



Well done, Rosalie, Sarah-Jane will be in touch soon to send you your prize! 

The Dream Keeper - Guest Post and Giveaway!

 

Hello friends! Today I have the honour and pleasure of hosting a guest post and GIVEAWAY by my lovely friend and wonderful author MIKEY BOOKS!

For those who don't know Mikey, here's his author Bio:

Mikey Brooks is a small child masquerading as adult. On occasion you’ll find him dancing the funky chicken, singing like a banshee, and pretending to have never grown up. He is the author/illustrator of several books including BEAN’S DRAGONS, the ABC ADVENTURES series, and author of the middle-grade fantasy-adventure novel, THE DREAM KEEPER. He spends most of his time playing with his daughters and working as a freelance illustrator. Mikey has a BS degree in Creative Writing from Utah State University. He is also one of the hosts of the Authors’ Think Tank Podcast.

I had the great privilege of meeting Mikey at Rhemalda Publishing's first ever Got Stories? conference in Salt Lake City in June 2012. We got talking, and once I returned home to the UK, we carried on the friendship through email and Facebook. When he was looking for a copy-editor to help him prepare The Dream Keeper for publication, he came to me. I was honoured to work with him, especially as The Dream Keeper is such a brilliant book!

Dreams: Dorothy called it Oz, Alice called it Wonderland, but Nightmares call it HOME.
When an evil shifter takes over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, it falls to 14-year-olds Parker and Kaelyn to stop him. Their only hope lies with Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper, but can they trust a Nightmare to save their world?

SYNOPSIS:
Loser—the most frightening word to ever be uttered in junior high school. Even the coolest kids are afraid of being associated with it. 14-year-old Parker Bennett is no exception. He can’t even be himself around his friends for fear they might not accept who he really is. When circumstances force him to team up with Kaelyn Clarke, the biggest loser in the ninth grade, Parker has to decide what is more important; protecting his social status or saving the world. Nightmare named Fyren has taken over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, with the intention of controlling mortals, and it falls on Parker, Kaelyn, and Gladamyr – the Dream Keeper – to stop him. They learn being called a loser is no longer a fear, when compared to the terror of real nightmares.

In Praise of THE DREAM KEEPER:
“This really is a cracking novel. Action-packed and spellbinding!”—Cas Peace, author of the Artesans of Albia series.

So you see, I am already a fan of Mikey's work. Below you will find links to where you too can connect with Mikey, and also links to The Dream Keeper on Amazon. Oh - and don't forget the GIVEAWAY! You'll find the entry form at the bottom of the post. But now Mikey would like to share some of the thoughts that were going through his mind while he was planning and writing The Dream Keeper. Over to you, Mikey!

 

The Darker Side of Dreams

By: Mikey Brooks

 

I am excited to announce the release of my middle-grade fantasy THE DREAM KEEPER. It is an action-packed adventure with a toe in both the real world and the fantastic. When an evil shifter takes over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, it falls to 14-year-olds Parker and Kaelyn to stop him. Their only hope lies with Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper, but can they trust a Nightmare to save their world?

One of the most thrilling things that came from writing THE DREAM KEEPER was being able to delve into the nightmares of children. It was fun to explore the realms that scare kids. One thing that I’ve been asked is, how do you know when the ‘scary stuff’ is too much?

I believe kids can handle a lot more than we give them credit for. Look at the Harry Potter books; there is some scary stuff in there that kids didn’t pick up on because they think differently than adults. They don’t worry, like a parent, about losing a child to a dark wizard. Adults fear tangible things that may or may not happen, like death, an attacker, a break in, a terrorist act, and natural disasters. All these things have happened and we as adults fear they could happen to us. That is what is scary for adults. Sure kids have similar fears too, but it is the unknown that is scary for kids. Not knowing is worse than knowing. They fear the dark intangible things.

When I write to scare kids, I try to emphasize the dark hidden things. I try to look at what kids are afraid of and set that as my goal. While I was writing THE DREAM KEEPER I did a lot of research into what kids are afraid of. What I found interesting is the number one thing kids are afraid of is the dark. Kids are afraid of the unknown. They fear what might be there hiding. I built off that fear in creating the nightmares for my book. I did find myself pulling back on some of the scenes in the book, but only when I found myself questioning if that was just too freaky or not. Mostly I ignored it, knowing I’m a wimp compared to most kids.

Mikey. 
 

Thanks for sharing that, Mikey, it's always fascinating to hear the mechanics of how an author decides what to write. And now that everyone's read your guest post, and heard so much about the book, I think it's time to read an excerpt! And people, below the excerpt are all the links you'll need to buy The Dream Keeper. Please don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY to win a SIGNED COPY of The Dream Keeper!

EXCERPT FROM BOOK:

Parker was about to assassinate the general of the goblin army. It wasn’t murder, it was an assignment. He tried to justify what he was about to do as he jumped from the rooftop and landed just above the battlement wall. It was the perfect spot to scout the camp. The goblins filling the keep were everywhere, sharpening blades and axes or gathering weapons for the impending battle. Parker noticed a large troll in the right hand corner of the space below, hammering solidly on a sword large enough to split three men into six. He spotted his target.

The general of the goblin army was a large brute with golden braids hanging down his chest. He was the one who had ordered the burning of Parker’s home village. The one who had ordered the death of Parker’s family and friends. This monster, this villain, was the reason Parker had set out on his journey to seek vengeance upon the unjust. This was the creature responsible for Parker swearing allegiance to the Mightercore army, who quickly gave him the role of assassin-scout.

Parker maneuvered his way down the wall, careful not to move too fast or his invisibility cloak would lose its power. He placed his foot in one crevice, then his hand in another. After a few moments of skilled climbing, Parker found himself precariously positioned just behind the golden haired brute, leaving only a small distance between him and his foe. In a quick session tactic, Parker could ignite his blade with the magic of the Mightercore and his target would be no more. He positioned himself to strike, raising his sword and whispering the incantation that would release the blade’s power—

“Parker.”

He ignored whoever was calling his name; they did not matter. All he saw was the villain before him. The completed spell ignited Parker’s sword with a blazing haze of blue fire, and he had to act fast.

“Parker!”

The loud call startled him and he swung too late. The goblin general had already turned and he struck, forcing Parker back against the rocky battlements. Parker parried the attack and thrust forward with a low slash. The general sidestepped and lunged forward again. Parker parried and rolled away from the wall. A lightning spell was the only magic he had left. If he could find enough time to call out the incantation, he could have the general radiating electrons from every appendage.

He rolled until he was a good ten feet from his opponent, then quickly stood. Lifting his hand into the air, he called down the lightning. The sky filled with a brilliant white light, and the crack of thunder reverberated off the walls. Parker briefly closed his eyes then opened them, praying he had hit his target. As the white dust began to clear, he made out an image before him. He peered at it, his heart thumping.

The screen went black.

“Parker, I’ve called you three times. Now get off that machine and go do your homework.”

EMAIL MIKEY: insidemikeysworld@gmail.com

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: http://www.insidemikeysworld.com/

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Mikey-Brooks/e/B00B8ICZ4W

Blog: http://writtenbymikey.blogspot.com/
Podcast: http://www.foreverwriters.com/category/podcast/
Goodreads at: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17727253-the-dream-keeper  
Facebook at: http://facebook.com/writtenbymikeybrooks
Twitter as: @writtenbymikey
WattPad: http://wattpad.com/MikeyBrooks

BOOK LINKS:
Hardback: http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Keeper-Mikey-Brooks/dp/1939993016
Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1939993032
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/The-Dream-Keeper-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00CPE0PT0
Paperback Create Space: https://www.createspace.com/4260677
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17727253-the-dream-keeper
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1115262781?ean=9781939993014

TITLE: THE DREAM KEEPER
ISBN:
Hardback: 978-1-939993-01-4, Paperback: 978-1-939993-03-8, EBook: 978-1-939993-02-1
PRICE:  (US)
Hardback: $19.95, Paperback: $12.99, EBook: $4.99.
PRICE: (UK)
Paperback: £852, EBook: £3.30.

THE DREAM KEEPER GIVEAWAY!! ENTER TO WIN A SIGNED COPY!!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Alchemy of Song.

I adore being a writer. I love it for so many different reasons, but one of the strongest is being able to use something I’m good at for helping other people, or making them smile.

 

Of course, I hope that my fantasy series, Artesans of Albia, connects emotionally with my readers. I like to think I can feel them laughing, crying, getting angry, feeling sad, experiencing the first pangs of love, grieving, and all the other human emotions that keep us alive, along with me as I write. I have always written from an emotional viewpoint, and I have a hard time imagining how you could NOT write from an emotional viewpoint. I invest every bit of my heart and soul into what I write – be it fiction, non-fiction, or songs. I know from the wonderful reviews that King’s Envoy and King’s Champion have received that many readers are able to feel what my characters feel, and this is something vitally important to me. I know I have succeeded as a writer when that happens.

 

The other aspect of my creative life, however – song writing – is different. The addition of music to the words heightens or changes the listener’s responses, because there are two different connections going on. First you have the meaning conveyed by the words of the song. This, generally, is unambiguous, although some song writers do seem to delight in producing words that confuse and puzzle! With those who don’t, the listener immediately knows what the writer is trying to say.

Then there’s the more visceral, maybe even spiritual, connection formed by the music, which is a far more subjective and fluid medium than the written word.

With written words, readers can impose their own ‘voice’ or imagination over that of the writer, and this can sometimes alter the meaning of those words beyond anything the writer envisaged. Written words can be fickle, even misunderstood. Think of those texts or emails sent in haste, whose recipients took umbrage over what was meant as a joke. It is nigh-on impossible to convey tone of voice with a few bald words, and emoticons must be used instead, to provide a visual key.

With music, however, it is so much easier to convey emotions that everyone can instantly relate to. Even people who don’t like music can hear the mood the composer intended to create. And when you put both together! – well, an alchemy occurs unlike any other, instantly transporting the listener to a unique place inhabited only by that song.

 

This is what I have tried to do in my own song writing. The songs I am creating for my Artesans series are steered by each book – some exist in full within the book itself, in poem form, such as The Wheel Will Turn, from King’s Envoy, used here in the book trailer from Rhemalda Publishing. Others exist as snippets, or are only mentioned by title. Creating these is a challenge I relish.

A completely different challenge, however, comes into being when you decide to create a song for someone else. It becomes a beast with dual nature, because there is someone else to please – someone else’s feelings and desires to consider.

When I read Mikey Brooks’ soon-to-be-published MG novel, The Dream Keeper, I immediately wanted to create that alchemy by writing the lullaby that eases young sleepers into the Land of Dreams. Mikey’s prose enabled me to hear the song so clearly, and the more I thought about it, the more I found myself humming a pleasing and soothing melody. In his book, the lullaby exists only as a hummed melody – there are no words. However, my creative juices had started to run and I simply had to add some words. Once this was done, of course, I had to face the hardest part of all – I had to let Mikey hear it! What he didn’t know – and won’t know until he reads this blog post – is that I have never written a song for anyone else before. I have written songs with people, and I have worked with others on my own songs, but I have never actually created a song completely and totally for someone else – let alone without their knowledge! Plus, I had to record it on my computer, with just my voice and my rusty old guitar that I haven’t played for years!

 

Thankfully, the recording came out well enough for Mikey to imagine how the polished lullaby would sound. I was so relieved he liked it! I recorded it to a lovely sound track created by my wonderful song-writing partners: David Snell (my brother) and David Shepherd (collectively known as Nex’t’Nothin). I will be adding it to my website as a free download, and I’m sure it will feature on Mikey’s website too. Maybe even on a trailer for The Dream Keeper, so why not watch out for it? And while you’re at it, why not buy The Dream Keeper when it is published? It’s a wonderful book, well written, with lots of tension and action. It’s classed as MG, but it’s a great read for adults, too! I will be hosting a Giveaway and a guest post by Mikey on this blog on May 24^th. Hope to see you then!

Cover Reveal: A Change of Plans by Donna K Weaver

Today I am very excited to participate in the cover reveal for fellow Rhemalda author Donna K Weaver's debut novel, A Change of Plans. Donna is a lovely person and I am very much looking forward to reading and reviewing her novel. Here are the details:

Author: Donna K. Weaver (author website: http://donnakweaver.com)

Genre: Adventure Romance

Publication Date: Jun 1, 2013

Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing (publisher website: http://www.rhemalda.com)

Book Description:

When Lyn sets off on her supposedly uncomplicated and unromantic cruise, she never dreams it will include pirates. All the 25-year-old Colorado high school teacher wants to do is forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. Lyn plans a vacation diversion; fate provides Braedon, an intriguing surgeon. She finds herself drawn to him: his gentle humor, his love of music, and even his willingness to let her take him down during morning karate practices. Against the backdrop of the ship’s make-believe world and temporary friendships, her emotions come alive. 

However, fear is an emotion, too. Unaware of the sensitive waters he's navigating, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship--on the very anniversary Lyn is on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs from Braedon and what he has to offer.

Their confusing relationship is bad enough, but when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions in American Samoa, things get worse. Paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped and Lyn's fear of a fairytale turns grim. Now she must fight alongside the man she rejected, first for their freedom and then against storms, sharks, and shipwreck.

Author Bio:

Donna K. Weaver is a Navy brat who joined the Army and has lived in Asia and Europe. Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a child, she loves cruising and wishes she could accrue enough vacation time to do more of it with her husband.
At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo.

After recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing.

Donna and her husband reside in Utah, they have six children and eight grandchildren who live all over the world.

Personally, I think the book sounds awesome and I can't wait to read it. The cover looks fantastic, another winner from Rhemalda Publishing, and there's an awesome book trailer. Donna's son plays in a band called Kinslayer, and the music on the video is theirs. Even more awesome! You will find the trailer link below the cover - why not take a look and let Donna know what you think?

 

http://youtu.be/MPI1uZQG66k

Authors Tagging Authors Blog Hop - Q&A.

Hello Everyone!
Here is my contribution to the ‘Authors Tagging Authors’ blog hop. I was originally tagged/tigged by my favourite historical novelist Judith Arnopp (do check out her books, they are wonderful!) http://www.juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot.co.uk/ back in December 2012, but was tardy in posting to my own blog (apologies, Judith – better late than never?) More recently I was tagged/tigged again by Simon Andrew Stirling, author of ‘The King Arthur Conspiracy’ – a fantastic book. Here’s his blog link: http://simonandrewstirling.blogspot.co.uk/
So I thought I’d better get to it and finally answer these blog hop questions! Hope you enjoy them. And below you’ll find links and a brief intro to the authors I’ve tagged/tigged in my turn. They are all great writers with some brilliant books to share. Why not check them out?

Ok, here we go:

 What is the working title of your next book?

The title of my next book is King’s Artesan, and it is the concluding book in my first trilogy, Artesans of Albia. It goes to my editor in March and will be published in July. The first two books  in the series are King’s Envoy and King’s Champion. After that, Rhemalda will be publishing all three books in my second trilogy, Circle of Conspiracy, in 2014. Should be a fun year!

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I have to answer this for the entire first trilogy, as it was actually written as one hugely long story. And I didn’t start out to write a book, all I was trying to do when I began writing was to make a cold and boring winter go a bit quicker! But there are two main reasons why I began writing. The first stems from a children’s TV programme that I used to watch back in the 70s. Called ‘Tarot, Ace of Wands’, it was about a magician who was also a bit of a crime solver. For some reason, a small thought sparked by this programme stuck in my brain for years. When I returned to the UK in 1994, after three years of living in Italy, I had a lot of spare time on my hands. During the winter of 2001, I became increasingly bored with not having a job, and so I decided to write this small idea out. No one was more shocked than I when all these other ideas and extensions of this tiny idea began snowballing into a book. In case you are interested, the initial thought or idea that started the whole thing off was, where would someone born with a special talent or power go to find help with it if no one else around him was gifted? The initial scene that I wrote concerned Taran Elijah’s first meeting with Major Sullyan at the Manor.

What genre does your book fall under?

My Artesans series is Epic Fantasy, which is the genre I am most drawn to. The books themselves are aimed at adults, although I have had readers as young as twelve who have really enjoyed my first two books. The final trilogy in the series gets progressively darker, though, and there are times when it borders on dark fantasy or even horror, so those books are definitely not for children!

 What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

This is quite a hard question in some ways because I am not a film buff and only really know the very famous actors. I would certainly struggle to find someone to play Major Sullyan! But one of my characters, Elias, High King of Albia, was actually modelled on the English actor Sean Bean, who played Bernard Cornwell’s Richard Sharp, and also Boromir in Lord of the Rings and Eddard Stark in Game of Thrones. They’ll have to hurry up with the film version of my books though because Sean Bean is in his 50s now and King Elias is 33!

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

I am very fortunate in that my books are published by independent US publishing house Rhemalda Publishing. Like most writers, I went down the route of submitting to agents and UK publishers, and then spread my net to include those in the US as well. I received many encouraging replies from agents and publishers alike, all telling me to keep trying, and that my work was definitely publishable and would find a home. Yet no one ever offered to take me on. In that time I also wrote a non-fiction book, For the Love of Daisy, and that was published with a very small indie publisher, www.canwritewillwrite.com I gathered a wealth of publishing experience through Daisy’s book and came to the reluctant conclusion that I would have to self-publish my Artesans series. Then one day I was on Facebook and saw Rhemalda Publishing www.rhemalda.com mentioned in a post about fantasy books. I did some research and decided to submit, as a final attempt at securing a ‘traditional’ publisher. To my great amazement, they loved my book and offered me a contract! They are an awesome company and I’m very fortunate to be working with them.

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

I wrote the entire first Artesans trilogy in around seven months. It was such a wonderful experience but also a bit scary, because I couldn’t seem to stop writing, yet I had no idea where all these plotlines and characters were coming from. It was an almost physical ache when I couldn’t write, like at weekends when I had other things to do, and I used to get quite tetchy if an idea was knocking and I couldn’t get somewhere where I could write it down!

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

I’m not too good at comparing my own work to others’, but I have had reviewers compare me to Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan and George R. R. Martin (yes, really!). I suppose my tales are on an epic scale, as theirs are, so maybe that’s the similarity. As far as writing style goes, I try to write only like myself.

 Who or what inspired you to write the songs associated with this book?

My own love of singing inspired me, I guess. It seemed natural to include references to music in a tale set within a medieval-style world, because music would have been a major form of entertainment. Songs – and one in particular – also help my characters accomplish their tasks and overcome the obstacles placed in their way. This is especially relevant in the final trilogy, Master of Malice, where a very personal song enables a character to connect with dead souls. On a practical level, my husband plays guitar, and he and I met through singing. My brother and his song-writing partner also helped and inspired me with writing and recording the tracks, and we’re having great fun writing songs for the rest of the series. Having music associated with each book is also a great marketing tool and has opened the doors to several radio interviews for me.

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

My main female character is quite a charismatic and unusual person. I wanted to create a believable female fantasy lead because I so often found that the females in other books I’ve read have either been there mainly as ‘love- (or lust!) interest, or they’ve been Red Sonja types, totally over-the-top Amazonian male-hating women. I wanted to create a woman who could exist, and compete, in a male-dominated world without sacrificing her femininity and vulnerability. She had to be powerful, yet humble; beautiful, yet approachable; capable of great leadership, yet without arrogance or pig-headedness. Judging by some of my reviewers’ comments, I succeeded, and that really pleases me. There are also some very rounded male characters too, though – I didn’t neglect the men!

Thanks for reading, please don’t hesitate to contact me at cas@caspeace.com if you’d like more information. Or you can visit my website: www.caspeace.com

 Up next on this blog tour is author/illustrator Mikey Brooks. He has published several picture books including Bean’s Dragons and ABC Adventures: Magical Creatures. He’ll be discussing his middle-grade fantasy novel The Dream Keeper. Check him out at www.writtenbymikey.blogspot.com

 Then we have Steven D Jackson, a fellow Rhemalda author whose paranormal thriller Shifter is just brilliant. See his blog: http://thecerberusarmchair.blogspot.co.uk/

You might like to try author Gordon Long’s unique fantasy tale, “A Sword Called … Kitten?” and also his insightful and humorous look at the human race, “Why Are People So Stupid?” He also has a great blog, plus poems and short stories. His website is: http://airbornpress.ca/Home.php and you can find his blog here: http://airbornpress.ca/arewestupid/blogweb/index.php

And you MUST check out Tom Barczak, the author and illustrator of Kindle serial epic, Awakening Evarun, and his debut novel, Veil of the Dragon, Book One of the Prophecy of the Evarun. See his website: http://tombarczak.com/

Last but by no means least we have the hugely talented Candace C. Bowen, another member of the Rhemalda family, who formerly wrote under the name Candace Bowen Early. She has several published novels, all of which are awesome:
Titles available through Seven Realms Publishing:
A Knight of Silence - Vol. I
A Knight of Battle - Vol. II
Jack of Hearts (Available March 2013)
Voodoo Fire (Available Fall 2013)
Available through Rhemalda Publishing:
Spur of the Moment
Wicked Embers (Sequel)
Check out her website for more details: http://www.knightseries.com

Enjoy!!