First off, I am pleased to announce the giveaway winner! Thanks to everyone who entered. Rest assured, even if y’all didn’t win this time, there will be more giveaways coming up in the future. And the winner is: Jaime Heller! Congratulations, Jaime! Thank you for following my blog and facebook page. Please email me in the next 48 hours at thesongkeeper@gmail.com with your mailing address to claim your prize! Be sure to let me know which of the books you would like to receive! * * * * Every so often, in the middle of juggling writing projects, I am struck with an attack of the artist’s bug. It causes the sort of itch that won’t let me rest until I pull out a pad and pencil and start sketching. As I shared in a previous post a few months ago titled “I am an artist,” I used to have secret aspirations of being able to dash out gorgeous works that rivaled those of Alan Lee. And still, if there was one practical talent I could magically gain (other than superhero abilities, of course), I would hope it was the ability to create truly beautiful artwork. Unfortunately, my fairy godmother hasn’t shown up yet to gift me with the ability to artfully dash paint on the canvas while twirling and singing with forest animals. Disappointing, right? But I do enjoy pretending that I am an artist every now and then. Especially with characters from fantasy novels—including my own. Some of y’all may have already seen this on my facebook page, but if not, please meet the main characters from Orphan’s Song. Do you ever get struck with an artwork itch? Ever sketch your own characters or a favorite character from a novel? If so and you’ve posted it online, comment with the link—I’d love to see!
A Gifting For All of You
“Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them. And it’s much cheaper to buy somebody a book than it is to buy them the whole world!”
– Neil Gaiman I’ve been thrilled to see that there’s been a recent influx of followers lately, both here on my blog and on my facebook page. So, as a thank you for all of my followers, both old and new, I decided to host a giveaway! And what better gift to giveaway than a book? Due to the recent trouble the postal service has been experiencing with sea dragons devouring their carrier pigeons, this particular giveaway is restricted to the US only. Apologies. I love gifting books that I’ve personally enjoyed. Nothing makes me more excited than getting to share some of my favorites with readers. So, the winner of this giveaway will get to select one of the following:
- One book from the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson (book 4 is now available!)
- Song of the Summer King by Jess E. Owen (because it has gryphons!)
- The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
- One book from the River of Time series by Lisa T. Bergren
- Remnants: Season of Wonder by Lisa T. Bergren
- The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
To enter, you must be a follower of this blog and my facebook page. Simply sign up by clicking on the Rafflecopter link below. You will have the chance to gain additional entries as well. I wish I could give a gift to every single one of my readers! But as it is, I want to thank all of you and wish you all the best of luck with the giveaway! Rafflecopter Giveaway – click here to enter!
Out of Darkness Rising New Cover Reveal
First off, for all of you who were eagerly anticipating the next installment of Alexander’s story, never fear, it is coming and will be posted online tomorrow! (So you can set down the tar and feathers and cancel the lynch mob, please and thank you.) I plan to make a Saturday Special of it this week, just for you. This post simply couldn’t wait. It never rains, but it pours … This statement has never seemed truer to me than it has this summer. There have been so many things that have happened over the past few months. Some good. Some bad. Some highly exciting! The following news falls in the latter category. Out of Darkness Rising, a novella I wrote several years ago, is gearing up for an upcoming release! It has a new cover and will be releasing in February of 2015! (Which means, I’m currently wrapping up edits for Orphan’s Song, diving into edits for Out of Darkness Rising, planning and prepping for book releases, and writing book two of the Songkeeper Chronicles. Whew! See what I mean about the pouring?) It’s been a long journey with this novella. More of a circuitous route than a path, really. Some of you have been around since the beginning. This was my first true book ever written and completed. It was originally contracted back in 2011 with one publishing company, but that ended up not working out. So in November of 2012, Magpie Eclectic Press picked it up. Only there were a few unforeseen delays last year … but now, we’re moving forward! I can hardly believe it. And I’m incredibly excited to get to share the incredible new cover below! We used a contest where a number of fabulous designers submitted an overwhelming number of awesome cover concepts—which, I have on good authority, made selecting a winner quite a difficult task But against insurmountable odds, a winner did at last emerge with one spectacular cover! I’m slightly in love with it. This is the full cover—both front and back—gorgeous, isn’t it?
DARKNESS REIGNS UNCHALLENGED. For the villagers on the accursed Island, life has only one meaning—death. Bound to the Island by the curse, the villagers suffer beneath the iron claw of the serpent, daily breathing the poison of his breath and dying to appease his insatiable appetite. When Marya’s parents are slain by the serpent for their belief in a legendary king, she becomes an Outcast. Struggling to survive and avoid the vengeance of the Tribunal, Marya is torn between legend and the harsh reality of the Island. Yet when a forgotten promise springs to life, she cannot help wondering if the old stories might in fact be true. And if they are, will the promise prove stronger than the curse?
If you’re excited about the upcoming release of Out of Darkness Rising or Orphan’s Song, consider posting the book covers on Pinterest, or sharing the news with your friends online! In other news—I feel so newscaster-ish when I say that!—I now hang out on twitter and Google+ in addition to my facebook page, so feel free to look me up there! And don’t forget, the next installment of Alexander Mitus Scot Beauford III’s story will be live on the blog tomorrow, and—pray excuse me a devious chuckle—but it’s going to be good. You won’t want to miss it, take my word for it! Kirk out!
Behold the Dawn
It’s been a while since I’ve “reviewed” any books on here, mainly because I’ve been so busy that I’m lucky when I have a chance to read … let alone write a review. But this was one book I enjoyed too much not to mention, so I wanted to share it with y’all, my dear readers. It’s a step outside my usual genre, veering off-road onto the historical fiction trail. (Though, I did once have secret dreams of writing epic historical fiction, generally something involving the Old West, cowboys, outlaws, good old fashioned shoot-outs, and six shooters.) Anyway, rabbit trail aside, I’m so thrilled to get to tell you about Behold the Dawn, by K.M. Weiland.
Marcus Annan, a tourneyer famed for his prowess on the battlefield, thought he could keep the secrets of his past buried forever. But when a mysterious crippled monk demands Annan help him find justice for the transgressions of sixteen years ago, Annan is forced to leave the tourneys and join the Third Crusade. Wounded in battle and hunted by enemies on every side, he rescues an English noblewoman from an infidel prison camp and flees to Constantinople. But, try as he might, he cannot elude the past. Amidst the pain and grief of a war he doesn’t even believe in, he is forced at last to face long-hidden secrets and sins and to bare his soul to the mercy of a God he thought he had abandoned years ago.
I don’t entirely know why, but the movie Kingdom of Heaven about the Second Crusade is one of my all time favorites—actually I do know why: epic music, tremendous battle scenes, and one of the best cavalry charges ever filmed! (Please Note: I am not recommending this movie for everyone to watch as it earned its high rating for violence.) Anyway, regardless, because of that as soon as I saw Behold the Dawn and learned the time period and premise, I knew I had to read it! And read it, I did, for hours on end. There may have been a few nights (er, early mornings) where I didn’t set it down until the light on my clock reminded me that t’was already 3:00 AM. K.M. Weiland weaves a memorable tale in a writing style that is exquisite, but not pretentious. The tone and cadence of both narration and dialogue fits the time period without being so archaic as to be unintelligible to the uninitiated. Characters such as Marcus Annan, Lady Mairead, Merak (loveable Merak!), and Gethin were all so unique and interesting that I probably would have read the book had they all been simply vacationing together on the beach. Probably. Thankfully, Weiland didn’t put that to the test. :) Instead, she provided a story full of plot twists, secrets, and enough battles to sate my hunger for adventure. Not only that, but the fighting in the battles was refreshingly realistic – instead of the usual stylized action you find in most fantasy or medieval novels – with believable consequences and injuries that don’t simply disappear on the next page, as well as horses and riding that felt true to life. All in all, Behold the Dawn is an incredible, epic, medieval adventure that I highly recommend for an older audience. It’s one of those books I wish I could read again for the first time, just to enjoy the full experience all over again.
When Destiny Comes Calling Returns
I’m sure you’ve all been sitting on pins and needles, biting your fingernails down to the bone, anxiously awaiting the next installment of Alexander Mitus Scott Beauford III’s story. What … you say you haven’t been? I don’t quite understand. You see, we left poor Alexander Mitus Scott Beauford III in rather an uncomfortable position last time, nearly a month ago! I’ve been concerned for his welfare, and I’m a pitiless author who tosses her characters into all sorts of desperate situations. If you have any heart in you at all, you must have been worried about him! Allow me to refresh your memory:
Something crashed in the woods to his left, and Alexander instinctively reached for his pistols. But even as his hand settled on the muddied grip, he knew it was useless. Damp gunpowder was about as helpful as Miss Destiny’s instructions. And a simple dueling pistol didn’t use nearly a large enough caliber bullet to make a dent in an ogre, let alone kill one. Pity he couldn’t have brought his cannon along on this little misadventure. So he simply lay there, flat on his back in the mud, as the thing crashed nearer and nearer, hoping whatever-it-was would go away, and hoping he wouldn’t scream, and hoping he wouldn’t die before he discovered the history behind his family’s curse.
Remember? Peril. Danger. Foul smelling ogres! Which brings up our next installment! There was slightly more division in the votes this time with the winning option taking the lead with nearly double the number of votes. Need to refresh your memory? Read the previous installments: One, Two, Three, and Four. * * * * * * * A high pitched scream brought Alexander reeling to his feet, pistols drawn. “Hullo? Miss Destiny, is that you?” He turned in a circle, scanning the dripping woods for any sign of the exasperating woman. He found it hard to believe that such a high pitched scream could have come from her throat. She just didn’t seem the type. A second cry rang out, and this time Alexander dove into action. He darted off through the swamp in the direction of the cry, wet pistols held at the ready, wet cloak flapping about his legs, wet sword rattling in its sheath. He could only hope he wouldn’t be too late. “I’m coming!” * * * * Alexander’s eyes flickered open to a world of dim lights, white sheets, and a constant, throbbing pain in his jaw. He slowly lifted his head from the pillow. The slightest movement felt like he was wading against a strong tide. “Tsk, tsk. Really, Alexander.” A familiar voice spoke beside him. Miss Destiny. Of course. He should have known he couldn’t escape the family curse so easily. “What … happened?” Somehow he couldn’t talk quite right. The words were muffled and slurred together, but she must have understood him, because she responded without hesitation. “You dashed at that ogre like a complete ninnyhammer, tripped over your own scabbard, and smashed headfirst into a tree, that’s what.” She appeared in his line of vision, all prim and stern faced, gray eyes flashing disapproval. “A broken jaw, Alexander? Honestly, I’m disappointed. Heroes don’t break their jaws! They suffer inconsequential wounds like dislocated shoulders, or flesh wounds to the arms or thighs, or the ever popular gash along the hairline! Wounds they can shrug off with a heroic grimace as they dash back into the battle. Nothing that will send them to the sidelines for a month and certainly never a broken jaw!” * * * * * * * All right, all right. Before you rise up in arms clamoring for my head, I’ll admit the truth. You’ve probably already guessed it, but this is a fake. That’s right. It’s not really the next installment of When Destiny Comes Calling. I simply couldn’t resist a little fun. Do please forgive me … and get rid of the tar and feathers. There’s simply no call for that! The fifth installment is coming! Tune in Friday, August 8th to enjoy the true fifth installment of poor Alexander Mitus Scott Beauford III’s brush with Destiny. Watch your vote shape the course of Alexander’s fate!
Orphan’s Song Cover Highlight
I’ve been looking forward to sharing this with y’all all summer … and then wound up trapped in the hospital when the cover was officially released during Enclave’s Kickstarter Campaign. Still, for those of you who haven’t spotted it yet, I am beyond excited to finally be able to show you the cover for Orphan’s Song, my fantasy novel releasing from Enclave Publishing this Fall! Orphan’s Song is the story of a world woven through melody and shattered by discord, where a girl discovers that her Song contains far greater power than she ever could have imagined. A power that a ruthless soldier and his evil master seek to possess. A power that her guardian wants silenced. Read the full blurb on the Songkeeper Chronicles page. So, what do you think of the cover? Gorgeous, isn’t it? The artist responsible for this beautiful cover is one Benjamin Lucas Powell. Personally, I think he did a splendid job. From an author’s point of view, the book cover designing stage of the process can be a tad frightening. To be honest, once I received the first email broaching the dreaded (yet exciting?) topic, I was terrified! What if I didn’t like it? What if it didn’t turn out as I imagined? What if it was one of those covers you see on Amazon every day, the ones that make you wince and grimace and wonder what in the world the designer was thinking? I shouldn’t have worried so much. As soon as we started talking design, Steve Laube at Enclave Publishing sent me a form to fill out listing elements I liked/disliked/absolutely loathed in book covers. He graciously kept me updated and informed throughout the entire process, and I was able to give feedback at all stages. Until finally, we wound up with a gorgeous cover that I can’t wait to see in published form. In my humble opinion, this cover captures the overall feel of the novel with just the right touches of the whimsical, hints of the danger, and glimpses of the magical that fill the world of Leira. Not to mention a girl who looks exactly as I imagined my main character Birdie, orphaned drudge of the Sylvan Swan. You can practically see the sorrow and desperate longing and indomitable hope in her eyes! What do you think? Would you pick this book off the shelf? Share your thoughts in the comments! Interested in staying updated on the release news for Orphan’s Song? “Like” my facebook page for updates, fantasy “fandoming,” sneak peaks and more!
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