Thunderbird!
Since today is Mother’s Day I thought I’d give you a gift of sorts 
Instead of a normal post (whatever that is *lol*), let me introduce you to Janine and Justin Prentiss, the Native American twins who must protect and defend a thunderbird hatchling from the demigod of chaos while lost in Montana’s Absaroka wilderness. Their story makes up my middle grade fantasy novel, Thunderbird.
Thunderbird
by
Deb Logan
ONE
The Prentiss Twins
Janine
Life is so not fair. I mean, Dad tells me all the time how lucky I am. How he knows lots of kids who dream about dinosaurs and would give anything to go to a real live paleontology field camp. Yeah. Whatever. Those kids don’t have a paleontologist for a father and a full-blood Crow shaman for a grandfather.
I’ve spent my entire life around fossils — the rock kind and the legendary kind — and I’m tired of messing around with dead dinosaurs and nonexistent thunderbirds. I don’t care if the Museum of the Rockies is world famous for its dinosaur finds, or if our clan of the Crow tribe thinks it holds the special blessing of the thunderbird. I want to be a normal girl and play with live things for a change. I want to go to cheerleading camp.
Unfortunately, Dad doesn’t think cheerleading qualifies as a legitimate use of my time or his resources. A stance my shaman grandfather supports completely.
“Please, Dad?” I pleaded, resisting the urge to bat my eyelashes. I settled for twirling a lock of straight black hair around my index finger. “Think how good this camp will look on my application when it’s time for college. I mean, cheerleading is an actual sport these days.”
“Invalid argument,” he countered without looking up from his packing. Dad is so organized he could give lessons to a neat freak. “Paleontology Field Camp is a far more impressive credential.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve already been to a million field camps,” I said, sifting through my brain for a new angle. “I need to…diversify. My app will look better if I do more things, show them I’m not just a fossil geek. Besides, cheerleading is a team building experience.”
Dad stopped rolling socks into tight little knots, straightened, and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He scowled at me. “I am not paying an arm and a leg for you to run off with a bunch of hyperactive preteens for the summer. I have no idea how well supervised that camp is, but the whole idea gives me a headache.”
“Come on, Dad,” I tried not to wheedle, but my voice cracked under the strain. “Sandra’s letting Haeley go.”
“And that’s another thing; I don’t like you calling your friends’ mothers by their given names. It’s disrespectful.”
“Mrs. Jessup asked me to call her Sandra,” I countered. Haeley’s mom was the coolest. She stayed home, cooked delicious meals, braided Haeley’s hair, made sure everyone in the family had everything they needed, and she liked me. Let me call her Sandra. If Mom had lived, she would’ve been just like Sandra. They would’ve been best friends, just like me and Haels.
“And don’t change the subject. You know Mrs. Jessup wouldn’t let Haeley go if it wasn’t safe. Really, Dad, cheerleading will show what a well-rounded person I am.”
Good one, I thought, folding my arms across my chest and swallowing the smile that threatened to creep across my face. Too soon to celebrate.
“No daughter of mine is going to prance around in a skimpy outfit just so she can show off how well-rounded she is!”
“Dad!” I squealed, shocked out of my shoes. I mean, hello! I’m twelve years old, flat as a board, and just as straight up and down. My cheeks flamed and tears blurred my vision. I turned and ran for the door. “That is so unfair,” I yelled over my shoulder. “I wish Mom were alive. She’d understand about being a girl.”
* * *
Justin
Who in their right mind would want to play around with pom-poms all summer when they could be tromping through the mountains with almost no adult supervision?
Justin shook his head in amazement at his twin sister’s idiocy and then flattened himself against the wall outside Dad’s door as she raced past, tears streaming down her face. Girls — especially sisters, just didn’t recognize a good thing when they had it in their hands.
Personally, Justin lived for summers at the paleontology field camps. Lots of dirt and rocks, the excited buzz of the community when an important fossil was discovered, no chores, food he didn’t have to help cook. Fresh air, sunshine, and adults too busy with their own pursuits to care what he was doing as long as he showed up for meals and bedtime. Yep, field camp was a twelve-year-old boy’s dream vacation. He just hoped Janine hadn’t ruined everything by arguing with Dad.
He rolled his eyes at her stupidity and peeked around the door jamb at Dad. The paleontology professor stared out the second story window, hands on hips, jaw muscles twitching. Before Justin could decide whether or not to go in, Dad whirled to the bed, grabbed a pile of tee-shirts and slammed them into his duffle bag.
Justin swallowed hard and crept away from the door. He’d ask Dad about that air rifle later. Getting one was a long shot, but with Dad pissed “no” would be automatic. Besides, if he played his cards right — and Dad was in a good mood, he might convert a refusal into a new super soaker. He grinned. Yeah. A super soaker would be cool.
He bolted down the stairs in search of Janny. He’d need his sister calm if he was to have any chance at finding Dad in a good mood before they left for the mountains. How to pacify Janny? He sure couldn’t get her a trip to cheerleading camp — Gag! Who’d want to? — but there had to be something he could do to cheer her up.
Skidding to a halt in the middle of the kitchen, a brain wave hit him. Oh yeah. Was he brilliant, or what?
“Hey, Janny,” he called, scouting the kitchen and breakfast nook. Not there. He moved on to the great room. “Janine! You in here?”
When only silence answered him, Justin trotted over to the sliding patio door and stared into the backyard. Empty cedar deck, no movement in the garden plot, but he couldn’t tell about the treehouse, not with the oak in full leaf. Scanning the great room one more time, he opened the slider and jogged to the foot of the oak.
“You up there, sis?”
Floorboards creaked and Janine’s tear-stained face appeared above the window sill. “What do you want?”
Justin shaded his eyes and peered up at her. “I heard you and Dad yelling. Want some company?”
“Not really.”
“Okay. You stay there and sulk and I’ll keep my idea to myself.”
She cocked her head, eyebrow raised. “What idea?”
“I’m not talking to a tree. You want me to come up, or are you coming down?”
The rope ladder unrolled to hang in front of him. Justin grinned and grabbed hold. “Thanks, Janny.” He scrambled up the rungs and pulled himself onto the smooth sanded floor.
Janine sat cross-legged against the far side of the treehouse. She wiped her face on the hem of her tee-shirt and then folded her hands in her lap.
“Sorry about cheerleading camp,” he said, working hard to keep a straight face. Girls!
“You heard, huh?”
He allowed a tiny smile to slip past and tug at his lips. “Kind of hard not to. You and Dad weren’t exactly being quiet.”
She shrugged. “So what’s your idea?”
“Well, I know I can’t change Dad’s mind, but what if you could spend the next couple of days with Haeley? I mean, I’m sure she’d invite you over, and if I volunteer to do all your chores and make sure you’re packed, Dad wouldn’t have any reason to say no, now would he?”
Janine’s eyes lit and she sat up a little straighter, but then she narrowed her eyes and studied him. “Why would you agree to do all my chores? What’s in it for you?”
“Busted,” he said with a sigh, but smiled inwardly. They weren’t twins for nothing. Janine knew him, just not quite as well as she thought she did. “Look. I want to ask Dad for an air rifle and there’s no way I’ve got even a glimmer of a chance if he’s not in a good mood. What do you think the odds are of him feeling chipper if you’re moping and whining at him all day?”
“I don’t mope and I don’t whine.”
“Do too.”
“Do not.”
“All right. Fine. I’ve still got a better chance if you’re out of my way.”
“Dad’s not going to buy you an air rifle,” she said, the whisper of a smile in her voice.
“Yeah, well, that’s my problem, not yours. Do we have a deal?”
She considered a moment and then stuck out her hand. “Deal.”
“Great. You go call Haeley and get yourself invited. I’ll deal with Dad.”
To continue reading, buy Thunderbird now.
Amadi, the Phoenix, the Sphinx, and the Djinn
It’s finally there (after telling so much about it on Twitter already). “Amadi, the Phoenix, the Sphinx, and the Djinn” by Katharina Gerlach
Genre: YA fantasy
About: Thief-in-training Amadi has to steal the phoenix, befriend a sphinx, and rescue a djinn to fight a power-hungry sorcerer before she learns that women are not inferior to men.
Amadi realizes how much she hates being a girl when her half-sister is unwillingly engaged to an elderly gold-smith. She manages to become apprenticed to a thief where she lives as a boy more often than not. But when her Helping Hand is murdered, her oath of revenge lands her smack dab in the path of an assassin hired to kill her and a jackal-headed god with the same purpose. Now, her only defense is the threadbare tunic of a young man and her training as a thief.
The story is available in one volume or in three separate volumes. It is also available in German.
Publisher: Independent Bookworm
published: October 2011
Price for the full trilogy: $6.99
prices for singe volumes: $2.99 (Vol 1), $3.99 (Vol. 2&3)
eBook available at: Amazon, Smashwords
Contact the author at: http://www.katharinagerlach.com
P.S.: isn’t the cover simply amazing?
A Salute to Sekinder: or, How Much Does a Golden Skeleton Weigh?
This could be amusing to you, or perhaps it will serve as a dark warning about the dangers of writing epic fantasy to the modern world. I’m aiming for both!
I ran into a conundrum when taking notes on the most recent chapter of my WiP, “The Plane of Dreams”. I had first witnessed the events in this tale more than twenty-five years ago; before Hussein had invaded Kuwait, almost before Al Gore had invented the internet. I’m not a scientist, I studied history. But enough excuses. I saw something back then, in the Lands of Hope, and now was starting to doubt the truth of it.
{Brief aside, for anyone tempted to conclude that I made this whole thing up. I repeat, I am not a writer, but a Chronicler, and the event I refer to was witnessed by over a half-dozen others.}
To the matter at hand: 26 years ago (real world calendar), a group of heroes and I were observing the fabled underworld city of Jengesalamur in the year 2001 ADR. The Tributarians, after surviving several weeks on the perilous Shimmering Mindsea, had discovered the ancient city of Despair and come across notes from the journal of Sekinder, the mad alchemist who had been the city’s ruler millenia ago. In his diary, Sekinder made obsessive references to his quest to find the Eternal Reagent, a chemical solution that would turn any substance to gold. After much searching through the city, and fighting against undead guardians there, the heroes came across the alchemist’s laboratory. There, to their horror and astonishment they viewed all that was left of Sekinder: a perfect golden skeleton holding a bubbling alembic over his head in short-lived triumph.
After much rejoicing, a few unkind jokes and some more deadly encounters, the Tributarians hauled the skeletal treasure back to civilization, thus ensuring the fame and fortune with which they began the tale known as “The Plane of Dreams”. Now that I was tasked with writing up that story, a sudden thought gave me a chill- was this even possible? Not the bone-to-gold thing; that we accept as a matter of course. But what would readers say about a golden skeleton?
Could they have moved it? And what would it be worth?
As I said, I am a historian, not a mathematician (or a doctor, to echo James “Bones” McCoy!). My early calculations, containing several important errors, indicated a weight that was beyond credit. I almost panicked- what had I missed? Was gravity in the Lands of Hope as low as that on Barsoom? Was Spitz, the party’s largest warrior, five or six times as strong as my notes indicated? But I knew what I saw, so I plunged back in and eventually straightened out my calculus. You might say I boned up on the subject. But I wouldn’t.
Sekinder was, for all his evil and arrogance, a normal-sized human, a bit thin and tall like others of his era. We can safely assign him a weight of 150 pounds and height around 6 feet. The weight of a human skeleton (using Bing to find all my mathematical/scientific data points) ranges from 12-20% of the total, and I used the suggested average of 15%. At this point I converted to metric (because of the later calculations needed) so I concluded that Sekinder had 10.13 kg of bones under his skin. Who’d have thought the old man to have so much calcium in him…
If all that mass of bone converted to gold, the total weight (gold being 10.17 times as dense as human bone) would be 102.96 kg (around 225 pounds) of golden treasure on the hoof. Literally.
But just a moment, what about calculating via volume? What is the volume of a human skeleton, and what would that weigh converted to gold? This route yielded a more interesting, and somewhat more alarming figure.
The only solution I could find was to draw an imaginary cylinder around Sekinder. The formula you’re looking for is
V=πR2h
And assuming Sekinder’s diameter is 2 feet and height 6 feet, you arrive at 32,556 cubic inches. How much of this was comprised of skeleton? I could only guess that it was a small percentage, since the cylinder contained a lot of not-Sekinder within it. I used a figure of 5%, yielding 1,628 cubic inches. Converting to cubic feet and then to cubic meters gave me just 0.03 cubic meters of bone. Seemed small, but that gave me a startlingly-high 50.69 kg of human bone in the alchemist’s body- in gold, a whopping 515 kg (over half a ton in English pounds)!!
Even so, I realized, Spitz could do the job of moving it.
This is where it gets tricky, because while we observed these heroes of the Lands closely over the years, we couldn’t actually pull them into our world and give them a nice NFL tryout or other means to gauge their strength. But I used some guidelines I had developed in my notes. Please understand that Spitz, at six and a half feet of ripped muscle, is enormously strong. Spitz can use his foot to batter open locked doors, and if he drops his two-handed sword he can snatch up tables and chairs to swing as weapons. He’s also a true shield-brother with a sexy deep voice, charming smile, not a jot of fear and a snazzy dancer. OK, exaggerating about that last bit. But he’s STRONG.
Spitz can lift and carry 90 kg for a long period. So by my first method, he could almost tuck Sekinder-in-gold under his arm and walk away. If he sets his mind to lifting, Spitz can certainly bench-press 125 kg (about as much as he weighs) and dead-lift nearly 180 kg; more than needed by the mass-method, but still short by the volume-method. However, he doesn’t need to lift the statue, he only needs to SHIFT it. With no mechanical assistance, he can push 324 kg, and with maximum exertion Spitz can shift up to 450 kg, which is pretty close. Spitz and the heroes rigged up a travois, like a cot with two wheels on one end, and carted Sekinder off with his arm in the air and that look of astonishment still stamped on his skull-face. Spitz split time with the others in the party (who worked in pairs) hauling it over sand (admittedly, not an ideal surface).
So they WERE able to move Sekinder- affectionately known to the heroes as Golden Boy- though not fast enough to outrun the nine-foot tall iron demon-golem who guarded the city. But that’s another story!
How much was this treasure worth when they got it home? As you will see in the tale, Sekinder was never melted down and cut up into coins; the statue was sold intact as a work of art. So once again I had to estimate. Depending on which method you fancy, the Golden Boy weighed in at either 3,300 or 16,500 Troy ounces (the unit of measure whereby gold is valued in the real world). I didn’t bat an eye at purity- nothing but 24-carat gold, I was sure, would do for an evil alchemist willing to spend that long and work that hard for success. At a current price of $1,657.45 (goldprice.org, noon on Thursday April 26th), that yields a market price (before Imperial taxation of course) of between $US 5.4 and 27.4 million. The Tributarians probably got ripped off on the price, and still were outfitted with new enchantments, the finest equipment, nothing but the best… until the robbery…
So then- how much of all that went into my story? Not one jot.
But yes- evil does not pay (though it can occasionally generate a lot of loot for the good guys). Sekinder did die in the moment of his victory, the Tributarians did haul him back to town, Spitz was bushed (yet still manly), and the heroes were definitely rich as well as famous. It’s a relief to know that my eyes did not deceive me.
Here’s hoping that the internet age won’t rise up to haunt you in your writing.
Like this:
How My Stand-Alone Novel Became a Three-Book Series
The idea for my fantasy book, A Singular Gift, came to me many years ago. I asked myself “What if?” What if magic could be inherited? What if a young magician inherited a gift of magic, but she had no teacher? How would she learn to use the magic in a responsible way? I wrote the first three chapters about a young teenager, Jean Ryan, with the working title, The Gift. I started the story from a third person point of view, then changed to first person, because it just felt right for Jean to be telling her story. Then the manuscript was laid away for a long time.
When I pulled it out again, I again asked myself “What if?” questions. What if someone else wanted her gift, wanted it badly enough to cause my heroine much trouble? Why did they want it? To what lengths would they go to try to get her gift? What challenges would my main character have to face? Would she have any help at all?
I wrote the book, thinking that was it. I had an ending and the story was finished. I revised it using Holly Lisle’s novel revision course, and published it with Amazon and Smashwords. Then a reader asked, “What happens next?” And another reader said, “I’d like to read more about Jean and Wayne.”
Hmmmm. I had written the story and thought it was the end. After thinking about it, I said to myself, “Maybe not.” So, I began to “What if?” again and came up with a story featuring Jean’s sidekick, Wayne, in a more important role. In this story, A Singular Chance, I decided to have both Jean and Wayne telling the story, in first person. Each chapter has a subheading with the name of the character that is telling the story in that chapter. As I drew to an end in this sequel, even though it had an ending, another book was necessary to finish the fantasy adventures of Jean and Wayne. I am currently working on completing the outline of the third book. The current title is A Singular World.
So, what started out as one single book has accidentally morphed into a three-book series. I get annoyed when I read series books that end with a cliffhanger, then I have to wait a year to find out what happens only to find that yet another book is needed for the continuing story. My books can each be read by itself and have a complete story, but like most series, it’s more fun to start with the first book, then read the second, then the third.
Do you write series on purpose? Or are your books all stand-alone? How do you decide?
Like this:
Author Spotlight: Thomma Lyn Grindstaff
I’m very excited to have the opportunity to introduce you to my good friend and fellow indie published writer, Thomma Lyn Grindstaff. TL and I have never met in the real world, but we encourage each other on a weekly basis in a private goals group. She’s a great person and writes wonderful tales of love and redemption, but enough from me…let’s hear from Thomma Lyn!
*~*~*
Heart’s Chalice
by
Thomma Lyn Grindstaff
Destiny rarely gives a woman a second chance at love, especially not with a man who died twenty years ago.
As a young woman, Laurel misinterpreted a psychic vision, causing the death of her first and only love. She has lived with guilt ever since. Two decades later, struggling to free herself from a toxic marriage, she’s pulled to an alternate reality where her beloved still lives. There, she’s the dead one, and he and their children are grieving for her. When she tries to contact them, they think she’s a ghost or a product of their wishful thinking.
She desperately wants to remain in her family’s reality and connect with them. By enjoying a long, happy life with the man she loves, she can rectify her mistake and free herself from her guilt. But she’s running out of time. Every shift between realities damages her body further. And her soon-to-be-ex will stop at nothing to shackle her to a life she despises.
*~*~*
Welcome, TL! I’m thrilled you could join us. Now, something I’ve been curious about for a while, how did you get started writing fiction? Was it a childhood dream?
I started writing fiction when I was a little girl, and yes, it was a childhood dream. I started reading at a very young age. The wonderful stories I read delighted me and swept me away. I longed to write stories that would sweep other people away.
Do you classify your writing as fantasy, paranormal, or magical realism? Why did you choose that genre?
It depends on the book. Heart’s Chalice is dark, edgy women’s fiction / magical realism. Mirror Blue, my debut novel, is classified by its publisher, Black Lyon, as a literary love story. Patchwork Stained Glass, another of my novels, is mainstream fiction with romantic elements. As a writer, I tend toward genre-bending. My #1 consideration is telling a good story; genre/classification comes second.
Are you comfortable being categorized as a women’s fiction / magical realism writer?
Sure. 
I’m comfortable being called a writer of women’s fiction, magical realism, romance, literary love stories, mainstream fiction, literary fiction… however readers experience my fiction is A-OK by me. One recent reader of Heart’s Chalice classified it as a hybrid of fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery! Um, did I mention I tend to be a genre-bender? 
Where do you get your inspiration?
All sorts of places. In a word: life. One of my biggies is what I think of as the Magic Mountain. I live near a network of gorgeous mountain trails, and I hike every opportunity I get. The mountain, with its forest and waterfalls, directly inspired Heart’s Chalice: characters, story, and setting. Another tremendous source of inspiration is music, another of my lifelong passions. I’m a classically-trained pianist and I compose songs and instrumental pieces.
What’s your greatest obstacle to writing? What gets your through it?
I’d have to say my greatest obstacle to writing is getting in my own way. When I let the story flow, unimpeded by anxiety, that’s when I’m at my best. When I feel blocked, I spend time at my piano, go for a hike on the mountain, or enjoy a peaceful meditation. One of my mantras is “Let go and let be.” In the context of my writing, “Let go and let be” means to strive for excellence, but to let go of outcomes and write joyfully, in the moment.
Who are your favorite authors?
Here are just a few: Haruki Murakami, Isak Dinesen, Madeleine L’Engle, William Styron, Amy Tan, Khaled Hosseini, Carl Sagan, Dorothy Parker, Charles Frazier, Alan Watts, Pema Chodron, Sherman Alexie, Cormac McCarthy, Jodi Picoult, the Bronte sisters, Joyce Carol Oates, Flannery O’Connor, Carson McCullers, A.S. Byatt, Dōgen… oh, I could go on and on.
What can readers look forward to next?
My next novel will be a time-travel love story called Maestro. Like Heart’s Chalice, it’s a wild ride. And my hero, a hunky concert pianist (for whom the novel is titled), is quite a hottie, even if I do say so myself.
I, for one, can’t wait to read Maestro! Bring on the hunkie concert pianists *lol*
If you’d like to know more about Thomma Lyn, be sure to friend her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, or check out her website!
I Remember Robin (Hood, That is)
Nerd confession, incoming.
I’m the kind of guy who re-reads the same book- and the longer, the better. Tolkein, maybe six times; even the Silmarillion a couple of times (which really isn’t fair, he didn’t mean for it to get published in that form! But I loved it anyway.). Count of Monte Cristo and Cyrano de Bergerac every three or four years, which at my age… a lot, OK, let’s just drop it. So these tales, many of them stretch back into my childhood. And this time around I’m beginning to realize, in my chronicling, how much they influenced my thinking from as early as I could remember.
I know you’ve seen the movie (one of them, anyway). Have you read Robin Hood? I mean the Pyle version with the fabulous illustrations. I had them read to me by my father around age five, and the illustrations might as well be branded on my forehead.
It’s been a revelation to me how much of my own efforts are really aiming to revisit the feelings I got from this version of Robin Hood (and if you’ve seen the movies, believe me, they’re trying to reach this same sentiment). I re-read it this time in the Kindle version.
- Good news- it’s free!
- Bad news- no illustrations.
- Good news- double-click on any olde-Englishe word and get the definition!!
Since I recall the illustrations anyway, that’s a win-win for me. Think about it- is your experience of heroic fantasy the same as mine?
- Robin almost never kills anyone. One arrogant forester in the beginning (which makes him an outlaw), but he’s defending himself. Then Guy of Gisbourne near the end (who the tales make very clear is a monster). In the Lands of Hope they slay monsters without mercy- but other people are considered off limits until they prove their evil intent. And that reminds me…
- Hardly anyone is that bad, and neither is their punishment. Pyle pulled his punches to make his tales safe for kids. So the worst that happens to the greedy sheriff or bishop? A little well-deserved humiliation, and he loses maybe two-thirds of his purse (one-third to Robin’s band, one third to the poor). Sometimes the bad guys stay for feasting and hunting and end up having a great time. Which leads me to…
- The outlaws are called the Merry Men for reason. They’re having a blast- time and again, even people who have every reason to be furious can’t help but laugh. Check out the scene with Midge the Miller’s son, see how the four doughtiest warriors in the Midlands are defeated by a man with a sack of flour, and tell me you don’t chuckle. The stories just drip with good will- they tease each other and banter incessantly. Lord, how I love that, all my heroes banter like maniacs. And there’s an obvious contrast between living the high free life of the forest and obeying the laws of corrupt lords and selfish men of the cloth. Friar Tuck is, not to put too fine a point on it, a roaring, belligerent drunkard. But he’s miles closer to a proper priest than the establishment orders. Speaking of which…
- Filed away under “I Don’t Know and I Don’t Want to Know“… there are many instances in Robin Hood where one of them declares another to be a fine fellow, which is great, but then follows up with a kiss. And plenty of embraces, and more than a few declarations of “I love you well” and sometimes tears. I’m thinking “wow, Victorian era book, are you sure?” I can only say that as a child I didn’t pay it the slightest mind. Even now, it’s only a cause for more smiles, in between the adventures. And that brings me to…
- Robin and his crew only get into scrapes because they can’t stand the lack of adventure in the forest. Once the Sheriff stops coming after him, Robin has to go into disguises, sneak back into the city, try the archery tournament with a patch on one eye, etc. for some excitement. That one trait, the desire to seek adventure when wealth and fame are already assured, is at the heart of the lives of the heroes in the Lands of Hope. Now that I see it in Pyle’s book, I’m struck with wonder. How did I not see that before?
So Pyle’s Robin Hood is right at the heart of me, right at the start of me. His tales, and others I could name, continue to inspire my work. {P.S.: One of the best computer games I’ve ever played? Legend of Sherwood- it’s thrilling and hilarious!}
Which books have driven you onward? Do you consciously write in another author’s style, or go for the same kind of characters? Is there a sense of right and wrong you believe someone else got perfectly? What’s there at the heart of you?
Author Spotlight: Vanna Smythe
Ever since the eBook revolution started, reviewers complained about the lack of quality of self-published stories. They claim that too many of the available eBooks are badly edited, have confusing stories, or are plain boring. They are partly correct, but there are also wonderful new authors that deserve to be noticed (like my colleagues here on the Independent Bookworm). Therefore, I will present a new Indie author once a month; one that is worth being read.
Through the Magic Appreciation Tour, I got to know author Vanna Smythe. She has been writing creatively since her early teens, though one could say her creative writing efforts started long before that. While still in kindergarten, she once tore up a library book to make alphabet soup, and has been fascinated with what words can do, the pictures and worlds they can create, ever since. She is the author of “Protector”, the first book in the “Anniversary of the Veil” fantasy series. Book two, “Decision Maker”, is due out this autumn.
Kiyarran always wanted to be a Protector of the Realm. Untold magic and forbidden love for Princess Issiyanna awaken inside him once his wish comes true. Now the Priesthood that rules the realm from the shadows see Kiyarran’s extraordinary skill as a threat. Issiyanna is needed for a reaction on the other side of the Veil—a man-forged barrier separating the world in half. A Beacon and Answer gave up their lives to Don the Veil 1,000 years ago. Issiyanna is a Beacon needed to renew the Veil. When Issiyanna is abducted by a group of Keepers from across the Veil Kiyarran follows to save her. Will he choose to bring her back, or run from all he knows to follow her across the Veil? Will Kiyarran fulfill his duty as a Protector, or allow his love for Issiyanna to guide his future path? Magic, loyalty, childhood friendship, greed, and love all clash as Kiyarran is forced to make his decision.
I love Vanna’s cover. It’s so clear and uncluttered (although the delicate white swirls get lost in the thumbnail a bit). I’m looking forward to read more of her work. Now, enjoy her answers to my questions.
How did you get started? Was it a childhood dream?
I always liked to write, though I only started to get more serious about it in High School. But, yes, publishing a book is a childhood dream come true for me.
Why are you focusing on fantasy fiction?
As a reader, fantasy is probably my favorite genre. What attracts me to it is learning about whole new worlds, cultures, places, and people. The story I started with Protector (Anniversary of the Veil, Book 1) can only be told as a fantasy novel.
I am also ecstatic to be making my own contribution to this great and entertaining genre. Reading fantasy is a little bit like being a kid again, immersing yourself in a fairytale. I hope I’ve made a worthwhile contribution to the world of fantasy fiction with my novel, Protector.
Are you comfortable being categorized as a fantasy author?
Yes, yes I am.
Is there a kind of character, or an activity-like description, or dialog, which always seems alien to you?
Can’t think of anything off hand. Though I am not a very descriptive writer. I prefer to simply give only enough details to set the scene, and not go over the top with descriptions of settings, dresses, rooms, and so on.
What formats do you offer your readers?
Protector (Anniversary of the Veil, Book 1) is currently available as an Amazon Kindle eBook. I plan to release a print version next month. Other eBook formats will be available this summer.
What experiences have you had promoting your work. How about a highlight, an uplifting moment?
I have been promoting mainly through social media (Twitter, Facebook). One of the greatest things about it is people personally telling me that they liked the description and sample of my book, and are buying and reading it. That’s the true power of social media, it allows you to connect with your readers on a very personal level.
What’s your greatest obstacle in writing?
That would have to be sitting down and writing on a daily basis. But I have gotten a lot better at this since I started writing Protector.
Who are your favorite authors?
My favorite fantasy and sci/fi authors are Tolkien, of course, and George RR Martin, Ursula Le Guin, Octavia Butler, and Patrick Rothfuss. But that list is growing everyday.
Tips for other Indies?
There has never been a better time to go Indie, so don’t worry too much about the stigma of self-published vs. traditionally published authors. All that is going away, and if you focus your efforts into producing a professional final version of your manuscript you can find success.
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Author Spotlight: Roger Eschbacher
Ever since the eBook revolution started, reviewers complained about the lack of quality of self-published stories. They claim that too many of the available eBooks are badly edited, have confusing stories, or are plain boring. They are partly correct, but there are also wonderful new authors that deserve to be noticed (like my colleagues here on the Independent Bookworm). Therefore, I will present a new Indie author once a month; one that is worth being read.
I’ve had the pleasure to get to know Indie author Roger Eschbacher. Currently, he is a professional television animation writer who’s worked for Warner Brothers, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network. He’s been traditionally published (with the picture books “Road Trip”, and “Nonsense! He Yelled” both for Dial Books) but decided to go Indie with his MG novel DRAGONFRIEND
If you think it was all good deeds and fancy ideals back in the days of Camelot, think again. Most people don’t know this, but for a time things went seriously bad; Arthur was imprisoned, Merlin had vanished, and a vile demon had taken over the throne. Young Leonard, page to a poor but kind knight, finds himself in the middle of this mess and now must do whatever it takes to set things right – even if that means doing battle with dangerous monsters, trying to outwit Camelot’s dark overlord, or taking a bath!
I found Roger to be a fascinating person, so I had him answer a couple of questions for you. I hope you find his answers just as interesting as I did.
How did you get started? Was it a childhood dream?
I think I always knew, at least on a subconscious level, that I would write books someday. I’ve been an avid reader all of my life and absolutely love books. After college, I moved out to Hollywood and eventually worked my way into writing jobs for television, mostly animation. I was working on a cartoon where a number of the artists were aspiring children’s book illustrators. This inspired me to try my hand at writing a picture book. I sent my first manuscript out to a bunch of publishers and, to my delight, an editor at Penguin bought it. I did another picture book after that. I’m very proud of the books, but let’s just say the sales on both were modest, so publishing and I parted ways for a while. Then in 2007, I ran across NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), a wonderful event where you’re challenged to write fifty thousand words in the month of November. I signed up and a month later had the nearly completed first draft of DRAGONFRIEND, my middle-grade fantasy adventure novel.
Why are you focusing on speculative fiction?
To be honest, I only read fantasy and science fiction. They’ve been my go-to genres for pleasure reading from the very start and I have a depth of knowledge of each category from reading so many books over the years. Naturally, my first novel had to be spec fic.
Are you comfortable being categorized as a fantasy author?
Yes, I’m quite proud of the label, as a matter of fact.
Is there a kind of character, or an activity-like description, or dialog, which always seems alien to you?
Adverbs seem alien to me. I avoid them unless absolutely necessary as, to my eye, they’re a writing crutch. I’m also not a big fan of over description when it comes to character and location. I tend to write lean and think my best writing is when I can fully describe someone or something using as few words as possible. Not big on the flowery stuff.
What formats do you offer your readers?
DRAGONFRIEND is available in paperback and as an eBook (Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords).
What experiences have you had promoting your work. How about a highlight, an uplifting moment?
When my first picture book came out, I learned quickly that, aside from sending out review copies, publishers don’t really do a lot of promotion for unproven children’s authors. This was the case on my second book, too (although they did spring for some nice promotional postcards). What that meant was that I had to scramble to get any kind of attention for the books at all. I learned how to write a press release, how to set up an author website, who to talk to at bookstores to set up a signing, and which of the local newspapers were willing to do a story on me and my book. I’m a somewhat reserved individual so much of this took me out of my comfort zone. The uplifting part about all of that is that I found I really liked doing it! It was actually fun getting out the word about my books and easier than I thought because I was “selling” something I was very proud of. As you can imagine, those early experiences with promotions and marketing are really paying off as I move into self-publishing (and as publisher, I made the executive decision to print postcards and bookmarks).
What’s your greatest obstacle in writing?
Getting started. Once I type that first word, I’m golden. But there always seems to be something that needs to be done beforehand, doesn’t there?
Who is your favorite Indie author?
There are so many talented Indie authors out there these days. It’s truly an embarrassment of riches. One of my favorites is an author named Keith Robinson. He has an excellent YA fantasy series called Island of Fog about a group of “modern” shape shifter kids who travel into a dangerous world of magic and mythological creatures. A great read.
Who is your favorite traditionally published author?
Living: J.K. Rowling. Dead: J.R.R. Tolkien. Apparently, I’m fond of initialed authors as I’m also a big fan of C.S. Lewis and P.D. Eastman.
Tips for other Indies?
Make yourself and your book available for potential readers. I’m always surprised at the number of Indie authors I run across who don’t make the effort (whether through shyness, laziness, or lack of knowledge) to connect. Don’t be afraid to market your book. It’s all about getting your story, the story you worked so hard on, into the hands of a reader, right? That won’t happen unless you, the Indie author, make it happen.
Author Spotlight: Mysti Parker
As part of this month’s Magic Appreciation Tour, I’ve had the pleasure of an introduction to Mysti Parker, author of fantasy and romance who has the admirable honesty to title her blog “Unwritten” (an accurate description for most of my stuff). Mysti has graciously agreed to be interrogated about her latest work and the craft in general. Picture the scene with a single bare bulb swaying in a dungeon draft, the lone chair, the strappado on a table to one side… enter the Inquisitor.
Q: OK, straight to business. Confess- your mom and dad didn’t really spell your name “Mysti” did they?
MP: No, sadly. I was actually named Misty after the Ray Stevens song, “I Get Misty Over You”. I chose Mysti to match the fantasy romance genre I enjoy writing. ‘Misty’ sounds more like a weather condition.
Q: I’m a firm believer in choice during interviews. Choice One- should the picture next to this article show you, an avatar of you, or the cover of your book? Once you reach world-fame level, who will play you in the biopic, and will it be for what’s skin-deep or another reason?
MP: I love the profile pic my husband took of me. He won 2nd place with 
that photo. It’s much more mysterious and sexy than I really am. So, I’d have to go with that one. As for the biopic, I’ve been told I resemble Nicole Kidman (I think that person had severe near-sightedness), so we’ll have to go with her. She’d have to either slouch or have very tall costars though, since she’s nearly a full foot taller than I am!
- (Aye-chihuahua. That photo can’t fly on planes because there’s no smoking!)
Q: Do you clearly recall the moment you became a writer? I’d love to know whether one fateful day you squared your shoulders, took a deep breath and started, or if you sort of looked back and realized it had already begun.
MP: I think it’s really only now that I’m feeling like a full-fledged writer as opposed to a madwoman who transcribes what her characters are saying. So far this year, I’ve got a second book coming out with Melange Books, plus I’m attending two book fairs (The Southern KY Book Fest & Horse Cave BookFest 2012) and Lori Foster’s reader/author get-together in Cincinnati. I’ve also got a gig as a bi-monthly book reviewer for SQ Magazine (an online spec-fic mag) and I run a busy writing blog (Unwritten) that was voted the #3 Top Writing Blog by eCollegeFinder.com. Not to mention I do a lot of reading, writing, reviewing, and critiquing. Add all that to my full time job as a wife and mother of three young children. Phew!
Q: Choice Two- are you comfortable being categorized as an author? Do you describe yourself as a fantasy, or romance writer, or does it change with each query letter? What’s the one driving force behind most or all of what you’ve penned so far?
MP: I’m getting more comfortable with the term “author”, though I still feel very green and have a lot of growing to do. As far as genre, I see myself as a romance writer with a penchant for fantasy, but I like to write outside of the box and toss conventional romance ploys aside. I’m not sure there is ONE driving force, but if I had to choose, I’d say it’s to write in such a way that people see the story, not the author. I want them remembering those characters long after they lay the book back on the nightstand.
Q: I wonder if you have moments in writing where you get truly stuck. Is there a kind of character, or an activity like description, or dialogue, that always seems alien to you? What’s your reaction if the pace of your writing slows down and you start to feel unproductive?
MP: Oh, yes, the dreaded writer’s block. I do suffer from it from time to time. Action and combat are the worst for me. And sometimes love scenes. I have to rewrite those over and over to get them flowing right. It can be frustrating, but when it’s finally readable, that’s a very satisfying feeling. When I get stuck, it helps to walk away for a while, do something manual, read for a bit, or even write a short story or flash fiction. That’ll often resurrect the writing bug!
Q: I haven’t had the privilege of reading A Ranger’s Tale yet, but no one is better at jumping to conclusions without evidence than me, so here’s my gut reaction. It’s a pirate romance! Object all you like, but here comes Choice Three. Is it more like a) Johnny Depp’s Pirates of the Caribbean, b) Errol Flynn’s Captain Blood, or c) Jim Henson’s Muppet Treasure Island? (Oh yeah, and tell us about the story.)
MP: Since I am a huge Orlando Bloom fan, I’d have to choose choice a). I can totally imagine Galadin looking like Will in Pirates. Of course, most of my inspiration came from Mr. Bloom’s portrayal of Legolas in Lord of the Rings. To be fair to the other choices, Galadin is a bit of an Errol Flynn, doing good deeds along the way. And you know, if I close my eyes, I can picture the trolls on the dock of Yggrich in Muppet form.
But, since you asked…A Ranger’s Tale is the story of a high-elf noblewoman who was expected to take her father’s place as the head of Leogard’s Mage Academy. Caliphany is a century old, she’s beautiful, rich, and one would think she has it all. Yet, she’s been kept on a short leash since her older brother died on the battlefield. She isn’t confident of her wizardry skills at all and longs to see the world.
Everything changes during a kidnapping attempt on the docks, when half-elf ranger and sea merchant, Galadin Trudeaux, intervenes and saves her life. Caliphany decides the only way she’ll ever get out of Leogard on her own is to ask Galadin to train her in the ways of a ranger. He’s reluctant at first, but a hefty sack of gold helps to seal the deal. From there, the two of them embark on the journey of a lifetime, filled with more ups and downs than they ever thought possible.
Q: Sorry, still geeking about Muppet-trolls… I would love to hear something about the experiences you’ve had promoting your work. How about a highlight, an uplifting moment? Is there an anecdote about dealing with agents and publishers, or crafting your website and blog, perhaps the feedback you get that really stands out?
MP: Anytime I get feedback from a reader, it makes my day. I’ve gotten about 45 written Goodreads reviews for A Ranger’s Tale, and I’m so thrilled that people have taken the time to read and review my work. Many readers, including men, have loved it. One of the BEST reviews ever occurred just recently. The reader included pictures of Orlando Bloom!! Can you believe it? The very guy that helped inspire this tale in the first place. I’ve shared the link since it still makes me giddy.
Q: I perused the covers of your tales and of course the artwork in romantic stories really stands out. Do you have a deal with a specific artist, or how did you seek out the ones you’ve used so far? Follow-up question: music, with Ranger’s Tale by chapter? Really? Tell us about that.
MP: I credit Mae Powers from Melange Books for her fantastic cover work. She’s great about working with me to get things just right, including making stock image ears pointy for my elves! And music—absolutely! So far I’ve got a playlist for both A Ranger’s Tale and Serenya’s Song. I’m currently collecting songs for my third book, Hearts in Exile. Music is essential for me when I’m in the early drafting stages. The lyrics really inspire the right emotional setting. For instance, in A Ranger’s Tale, the song “Over My Head” by The Fray very accurately portrays a scene when Galadin has second thoughts about leaving Caliphany alone in Faewood after she stowed away on his ship, forcing him to outrun her uncle’s (King Leopold’s) navy. His crew knows he’s gotten in “over his head” with Caliphany, but his first mate convinces him that she’s not really better off on her own, so Galadin literally jumps right in the water and…well you’ll have to read it to find out what happens next!
Q: Don’t think I won’t! Though I hate swimming… Thanks so much for giving us a peek into your craft, Mysti. Be sure to fill us in with the dope on where to find your works, and when to look out for the next piece you have on tap.
MP: Alrighty, then!
You can find A Ranger’s Tale at Melange Books, Amazon.com, Smashwords, or B&N.
Check out my Goodreads page to see the fantastic reviews!!
There’s always something going on at my blog, Unwritten. I love visitors, so skip on over to: http://mystiparker.blogspot.com/
I’ve even got a fan page over at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mysti-Parker/103786449704221
And I do the occasional Tweet: @MystiParker
Thanks so much for having me here!! ~Mysti Parker
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Magic Appreciation Tour
Where readers find books
and authors find friends.
Several of our members are taking part in the Magic Appreciation Tour including me. I was amazed at the interesting stories presented there and already ordered a few to read during my Easter holiday. During the tour, authors will exchange blogposts and help each other find readers. The common factor of all stories is the use of magic. Regardless of the sub-genre, if a story has magic in it, it’s eligible. I think this is a great idea.
OK, this time, hardly more than a dozen authors have found the site so far (sign up is still possible) but what I’ve seen is encouraging. I know readers (and I’m a reader too in my spare time) are on the lookout for good books, and so far I haven’t been disappointed. I’m eager to see what else will happen during the tour. I promise, I’ll keep you posted (pun intended).
