Friday, January 22, 2021
*Book Tour & Giveaway* Second Chances by Sky Lawley
*Book Tour & Giveaway* The Talented Trilogy by Rachel Rossano-GUEST POST
Favorite Side Characters
By Rachel Rossano
Oh, how can I choose? I have so many favorite side characters in this series that choosing is going to be a challenge, but I must. Here it goes.
Master Errol Silas – From his crazy red hair to his blatant pursuit of his goal, I love Zez and Hadrian’s mentor/tutor. He has no qualm about pushing his students, mainly Hadrian, into things he thinks are good for them. Mixing love and sternness, he is a great father figure to his daughters and a wonderful father substitute for Zez’s father.
Korneli – Hadrian’s adopted brother has held a special spot in my heart for a long time. From his classically handsome features to the fact he acts like they don’t exist, he has been endearing from the beginning. Loyal, blunt, and a tease, he knows how to annoy and provoke Hadrian in the right way. The fact he is the only one Hadrian can trust with the training of a spoiled seventh son says a great deal about how much Hadrian trusts him in return.
Selwyn Aleron – From the first moment Selwyn burst into Zez’s life in Seventh Born, I knew he was going to be one of those special characters that would be hard to let go. His easy manner, confidence, and humor conceal a great deal of pain and invisible scars from a dark past as a defender. He is easy to get to know for such a dangerous man. I am still delving the depths of his character, and I hope to be able to write him a happily ever after some time in the future.
Renato – Hot headed and impulsive, Zezilla’s brother grows quite a bit through the course of the series. I love how loyal he is to Hadrian and his sister, despite the fact he doesn’t share their love of the Almighty and Hadrian regularly makes befuddling decisions. Also, he has one of the best reactions in the book near the end, expressing what I think we all felt at a crucial moment. He is another one that I would like to spend more time with in the coming months.
What about you? Who are your favorites from The Talented trilogy? Why?
*Book Tour & Giveaway* Hunted by Sharon C. Cooper
*Book Tour & Giveaway* Get Off Your High Horse by Cynthia Terelst
Thursday, January 21, 2021
*Book Tour & Giveaway* The Bridge of Magic Trilogy by Robert E. Balsley Jr.-GUEST POST
What inspired you to write this book?
As I mentioned, the storyline came from a D&D game I created for my players. Two of those players, dear friends and the inspiration for the Tangus and Kristen characters in my trilogy, met and married… but apparently having a child together wasn’t in the cards. So I created the empath Emmy, as well as her background story, to give them a child in the game. When I made the decision to try my hand at writing, I knew this was the story I wanted to expand upon and tell.
What can we expect from you in the future?
The third book of my initial trilogy establishes several new storylines which will be concluded in a second trilogy. No working titles as of yet. I have decided, however, to take a different approach. Instead of marrying all the characters and their storylines, I’m going to write about each new storyline in its entirety before moving on to the next. Essentially the trilogy will consist of three or four novellas. At least that’s the plan for now. Things may change after I start actually writing the stories.
Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?
Not at the present moment. However, I have written a short story about two undead dire wolves which I plan on incorporating into the next trilogy.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in the trilogy?
One thing I can say about the characters in my trilogy there are a lot. Most of the characters of importance are introduced in the first book, The Salvation of Innocence. Father Horatio Goram, if not the main character, is certainly one of the main catalysts. Think Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, except he doesn’t mysteriously disappear and reappear when trouble comes. Then there’s Emmy, the last empath, a child who is at is the center of the entire trilogy. At first she’s just what she appears, particularly in the first book. As the trilogy progresses, she becomes more and more involved until her transcendence at the end of the third book.
Kristen and Tangus become Emmy’s adoptive parents. Kristen, a priestess who was orphaned and raised by Father Goram and his first wife, Mary McKenna, has a bond with Emmy that was in place even before Kristen was born. That bond drives Kristen to Emmy, who after over three thousand years, is in grave danger. As the last empath, any harm to her will have severe and long-lasting consequences for the entire world of Aster. Tangus, Kristen’s eventual love and husband, is an experienced ranger who spent much of his early life adventuring. There’s no one better then Tangus in rangering. His love for Kristen, Emmy, and his daughter by another, Jennifer, is the center of his being.
Autumn is another priestess whose specialty is natural healing, though she can use magic when necessary. She becomes Father Goram’s second wife. Though completely devoted to her husband, she’s a survivor… strong, level-headed, intelligent and not afraid to speak her mind.
Mordecai Lannian is the principle antagonist. He’s your typical power-hungry politician born into a wealthy family and warped by a craving for power. As part of his machinations, he manages to manipulate Vayl, Father Goram’s right hand, to turn traitor and work as Mordecai’s inside man. This becomes complicated because Vayl legitimately loves some of the people he’s betraying.
Finally, Nightshade. She’s a demon who Mordecai has summoned, thus giving him control over her, to be his assassin. She unusual for a demon in that she develops the tiniest spark of goodness in her soul. Eventually this spark matters, but not in the first book, whereas she kills for Mordecai without remorse.
There’s plenty of other important players, both good and bad, but these are the principles in book one. I have knights, a queen, Marines, a captain and crew, and Tangus’ old adventuring buddies. And dire wolves. I love the dire wolves in my books. They’re protectors, guardians, faithful companions, early warning systems, and everything else that’s good in animals.
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
*Book Tour & Giveaway* Ian's Realm Saga by D.L. Gardner-GUEST POST
**Only .99 cents!**
**Only .99 cents!**
**Only .99 cents!**
Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
I loved writing when I was younger. Writing essays for school, writing term projects, and I wrote a lot of poetry. I love to tell stories. I’m an artist also and tell stories with my artwork. I tried writing a few novels when I was younger but didn’t have the correct tools and knowledge. So one day I decided I had too many paintings, and I was going to start telling stories through the written word and then I began researching, studying, taking workshops and reading books on methods and techniques of writing. I took psychology as a minor in college and love studying people, that’s what I love about art as well, the human figure, and in literature, the human condition.
What is something unique/quirky about you?
Probably how I spent years in the desert living in a mud hut raising sheep, riding horses, and being wild!
What are some of your pet peeves?
People chewing behind me. Cats scratching my furniture.
Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born in Ohio and raised in sunny California very near Hollywood.
Who is your hero and why?
Maybe it’s corny to say, but my husband is my hero. He lets me do whatever I want I’m so spoiled. He doesn’t mind if I paint all day or write all day or forget to wash the dishes or make the bed. He loves doing laundry and does just about anything that needs to be done around the house. He pays the bills. Does the shopping. He just lets me create. And then he’s my biggest fan especially of my paintings. *he doesn’t like ALL my books, but some of them. He’s always bragging on me too. I couldn’t have a better husband.
What kind of world ruler would you be?
Not a particularly good one. I would rule with an iron fist until I saw what a mean person I was and then I’d be apologetic and let people get away with murder and then I’d feel guilty. Nah…not my thing.
What are you passionate about these days?
My characters. Oh, my goodness I am falling in love with my latest main characters. Grai’s spirit from Hoarfrost to Roses (coming out early next year) and Arell in Sword of Cho Nisi. I am having so much fun writing these books and editing them.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
Puzzles. I have a 3,000 piece puzzle in my studio. I turn the music up (Pandora) and zone out.
How to find time to write as a parent?
NA kids are grown up.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I wrote poetry when I was a teenager. I found the medium helped me dig into a deeper layer of myself and felt a camaraderie with people like Edgar Allen Poe, and Shakespeare, and J.R.R. Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis. When you can search your inner soul and form words to express what’s in there, and then turn it into a story…that’s when you’re a writer and I found myself doing that a little bit at a time. It’s a revelation. Its why people say writers can’t NOT write. It’s part of their DNA.
Do you have a favorite movie?
I have several. One that I always answer this question with is Ever After. Drew Barrymore was so wonderful in it, and I still cry when I watch it. But Lord of the Rings was phenomenal. I also love the Narnia movies. And John Adams, the series. Oh and I can’t forget the Outlander…I’m eagerly waiting for season 6.
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
All of them. We’ve already filmed a concept film for Ian’s Realm. If we had millions of dollars that movie would be a blockbuster!