Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Book Release: A is for Apple


Click here to preorder!


I'm part of an anthology!!!!
Belwood Publishing was started by a CampNano buddy, and she let me know that she was putting this together so I got to be a part of it! Yay!
(I wanted to save the cover for later in the post, cuz cover reveal! But there were no sale graphics that didn't include the cover, so...)
Be sure to pick up a copy when it's on sale for only $0.99! It'll be going up in price after July 5th.

Summary


Snow White - fair or foul?

What if Snow White wasn't a princess? What if her step-mother wasn't evil? What if the conflict wasn't propelled by magic, but by popularity?

Explore these questions and more in this collection of six Snow White retellings. 

The Poet's Missing Daughter by Phoenix Xiao tells the tale of a missing girl and her step mother who has something supernatural to hide. 
An elven sorceress faces an impossible choice between saving one life or many in Julian Barr's Kingdom of the Mirror
A young girl fights monsters in the dark world of sleep in J. W. Atkinson's Snow White and the Silent Death
A young beauty influencer finally reveals all regarding the machinations of her step mother in Mark Hood's Skin Deep
In Marlene Simonette's The Many Failures of Evil, a halfling child must relive the painful memories of her past and fight for a family; 
A mysterious message prompts a young woman to cross the line of right and wrong in Robyn Sarty's The Fruitful Heist


Cover

Check out the website!


About the Authors

Phoenix Xiao is the pen name of a young writer from the ever-green Pacific Northwest. Phoenix, as one might deduce from her chosen name, is a fan of both folklore and birds. There is no limit to the amount of love she carries in her heart of hearts for her avian friends. In fact, she loves birds so much that she is attending college for the purpose of learning how to look at birds for a living. A lot of her writing draws from folklore, particularly Chinese folklore, as long as her parents are willing to indulge her weirdly specific and occasionally inane questioning. She has no pets (not by choice) but does have a possibly unhealthy quantity of stuffed animals and a spider plant named Charlotte. When not writing, she can be found looking at birds, or tempting the carpal tunnel gods in other ways like drawing and crocheting.
Julian Barr is the author of the Ashes of Olympus and Tooth and Blade trilogies. He first fell in love with all things ancient and magical in childhood, when he staged the epic tale of the Emperor Claudius using sock puppets. After his PhD in Classics, he did a brief stint as a schoolteacher, hated being called ‘sir,’ and dived into storytelling. Although he remains open to the possibilities of sock puppet theatre, fantasy is his passion. He has published scholarly research on Roman medicine and the gastronomic habits of Centaurs but prefers to think of himself as an itinerant bard. Currently he is working to expand Kingdom of the Mirror into a series of novels for launch in 2021.
Find him online at:

J.W. Atkinson finds the time to write between teaching and living in a house with his wife and four children. He entertains fans with weekly fiction on Patreon.
Find him online at: 

Mark Hood is an author living and working in the English county of Shropshire which allows him plenty of opportunity to stare out of the window at gorgeous scenery when he should be writing.
Despite a background in science and technology, and his typically skeptical outlook on anything supernatural, he brings a life-long fascination with mythical creatures and ancient legends to his work.
Find him online at:
Website
Instagram
Facebook

Marlene Simonette is an absent-minded bookwyrm who favors the Fantasy genre. Good food, board games and character-wrangling are a few of her favorite things. Her love of roleplaying threads and webcomics often distract her from her WIPs, as does obsessing over precise word choice.
(And you're here on my site, so no need to include links on where to find me online, is there?)

Robyn Sarty is an avid fan of all things Disney, and loves stories with happy endings, where good triumphs over evil. She tries to incorporate these elements into all of her writing, but is easily distracted by sparkly things and glitter. She lives in rural Nova Scotia with her very own Prince Charming. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found baking cakes and trying to convince Charming that they need to adopt a puppy.
Find her online at:

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Reblog- SpecFaith: Free Original Storyworld Ideas

Free Original Storyworld Ideas

A series of 10 articles from Speculative Faith, covering ideas for Christian storytellers to use in their fiction. Topics are mostly Sci-Fi oriented, but there are plenty of Fantasy and Sci-Fi/Fantasy blends that are addressed.
I found several things that I'd like to incorporate into my own story worlds!

Monday, June 22, 2020

Reblog- Jolley Comics

The Property of Hate

The Princess and the Jester

Just a plug for some comics that I thoroughly enjoy. I would buy The Princess and the Jester if it came in print; in addition to being a wholesome, nail-biting, fairytale-esque story, the art is gorgeous and perfect for a children's book.
And The Property of Hate is the first story I've read that I love despite not having a very clear plot (kind of like Alice in Wonderland, but a bit more coherent imo). It explores esoteric concepts (several aspects of being, thought, and lots of cool stuff), has great art, Hero, and RGB (both of whom are flat out awesome.)

Monday, May 25, 2020

Reblog- Guardian Wolf: Memorial Day Tribute

If Only Words- If only words could match. If only gratitude could be expressed. Worthy of the sacrifice they made, for all of the rest.
We may not all agree on the why and where’s, but we must agree that without them we wouldn’t be here.
To enjoy the freedom that we have; a price so high has been paid.
...

 A sweet Memorial Day tribute poem by KimGuardianWolf.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Blog Tour: Moonscript!!!!!


 

For a guaranteed spoiler-free review, see my Goodreads review.

Ah, a content warning: Errance is tortured for around...70 years, and so he's pretty messed up. In later chapters, there is a paragraph per chapter that sums up where he's at mentally/spiritually (man did those paragraphs add to the atmosphere of the chapter.) Nothing is ever shown in too much detail since the POV charrie can't stand looking at them for too long, but there are points where some wounds and/or the smell of blood are mentioned, psychological tension is very much present, and he lashes out violently a few times.

Also, I am composing a majority of this post last-minute, and am on a device that doesn’t allow for linking. The links/images shall be updated/added/gifs properly formatted at most a few hours from this being posted (hopefully).

Summary

"It is said that Darkness is empty and whatever vanishes into its depths is lost forever. I know this better than anyone. For I have suffered here in the shadows, and there are none who might find me."

Seventy years. Seventy years the elven prince has been lost to the darkness, assumed dead by his people and endlessly broken for a book that connects to the hidden realm of his ancestors, a land untouched by evil.

And now a light in the shadows. A chance for freedom. But those willing to help him come from the unlikeliest of worlds.

The orphan girl, yearning for a loving family, and the boy who won't leave her side. A healer maiden given an unexpected chance for a life beyond narrowed expectations. A grieving creature flown far from home.

They all search for something and now their fates are tied to his. If their quest for life can pull him from the dark mire in which his soul drowns, then perhaps he can be saved.

Or else he will drag them all down to a fate worse than death.
The beginning of an epic saga, MOONSCRIPT is a journey of innocence, despair, and redemption.

Seven illustrations by the author exclusively included in the paperback edition! 

Purchase links:

Cover

Moonscript Front Cover.jpg
Aaaaaa I can't wait for my physical copy!

Review

SPOILERS AHEAD!


--------

5 out of 5 stars!

Let’s stick with the characters for this particular review, shall we? I hate to skim over the wonderful description, tidbits that added to the atmosphere, the inclusion of very relatable emotions/feelings that are often neglected in fantasy adventures, and how organically we’re introduced to the world of Orim (THERE WEREN’T A TON OF NAME DROPS RIGHT OFF THE BAT AND I WAS NEVER CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT WHY WHEN OR WHERE.), but I’m writing this on around 5 hours of sleep, a full day, and a very short while until my assigned day of the blog tour (technically just a few hours away), SO let’s get to it.
(Idk if this actually contains spoilers or not, since I didn’t have time to share all the snippets that made me cry/lol. I’ll have to look it over when I’m rested and see what on earth I wrote. :P)

Characters

Rendar, the wonderfully quiet, regal, mysterious, and Earth-shattering character. I loved him right off the bat, such a graceful paradigm of power and meekness...with a glimmer of bad-*$$ attitude (oh my gosh I can feel him half-smiling at me, wondering what he ever did to deserve such an odd description well here you are sir you can’t tell me that you’re not deserving of it because speaking the truth in the darkness is definitely bad-*$$).

“... There are no coincidences in the craft of this world.”

Calmly ignoring the fact that he’d shocked his entire retinue [several times, might I add], the king held out the necklace.
Tellie stared. She couldn’t speak. Finally, she squeaked, “You can’t be serious!”

“Do not doubt, child.” ... “There is much you will not understand. But you’ve been called to this for a reason.” ... “Even when your path seems to lose all light, know that darkness cannot endure forever.”

Also, since I don’t have time to cover a couple wonderful side characters (in this specific case I’m thinking about Leoren, but there are many others I wish to mention—maybe I’ll update this later to include them), I shall instead share a quote of Rendar’s that I was echoing almost the entire time:

“Poor Leoren,” Rendar said, patting his arm. “Always troubled about so many things.”

Errance. *sobs*
I can’t call him a cinnamon roll; I feel like that would be too demeaning/familiar. (Am I the only one who sometimes feels like I’m intruding on a character’s life like a creeper?). I can, I think, call him a diamond.

The prince stared, the sight of death beginning to stain his heart just as the blood stained the elvish livery.

“Listen, human, I might be a plaything for demons, but I will not be toyed with by mere mortal scraps.”

For being so wounded, he was remarkably insolent.

And then he laughed.

The snippets don’t make much sense out of context, but...Idk, they make me happy seeing them in that order.
It’s also weird how much I related to him...I mean, I haven’t been tormented by demons for 70 years, but his brokenness...it’s something that, I think, we’ve all felt at one point or another, in differing amounts of severity.
I CRIED A LOT. There are many many blue highlights regarding his state of mind and the tension of his decisions.

Tellie, the wonderful heroine. Sweet, wounded, and determined to help heal the brokenness in the world around her—starting with Errance. She’s not ready to take on the world by any means, but she—well, she grows. She also doesn’t have to take on anything on her own. (I’m sorry I wanted to say more but I’m tired and my words are beginning to fail.)
I cried with her, I laughed with her, I laughed at her a couple of times (I’m horrid I know), and there were many times her thoughts echoed my own.

She never dreamed anything like this would happen to her—did such things really happen outside of stories?

She wouldn’t cry, she told herself. Crying never helped anything, it just gave headaches.

She’d always imagined having a dramatic speech in a storm, but it really wasn’t so wonderful after all. It was in fact, wet.

Kelm. Is. Adorable. Adventurous. And despite being flustered at a few things, he takes things very much in stride, is inventive, loves stories (I think I got most of the references the author slipped in there XD), and has a realistic/long-term view of things.

“Well, this is all splendid,” Kelm said. “But I have a question of my own now. Is this the privy bucket?”

“Is there a way to retract my wonderful idea?” Kelm asked in a squeak.

He also has a side-goal, which added to his adorableness determination and courage.

“Golly no!” ... “I don’t want Tellie to think of me as a brother!”




(See? I’m a creeper.)

The Daisha (prepositions are important: “Make sure the ‘The’ is attached, I won’t respond otherwise.”). Majestic, furry, and fierce, and, uh, very, very hungry (“That’s a surprise,” Kelm muttered. ... “He means you’ve gotten fat,” Errance said.)
She’s Protective of Errance, to the point that she seems to be the embodiment of Errance’s fanbase. As a reader, who had already cried over the characters several times, I was exceedingly glad and for once didn’t feel like I wanted/had to crawl into the book in a futile effort to protect my darlings, because someone much more capable than myself was already there expressing all of my protectiveness.
She’s amazing.

“If any danger comes near my elf, why I’ll...curses! Curses! The most abysmal of curses on all who have hurt him! May their teeth fall out and may their wings wither! I shall tear them all to shreds!”

“Try to talk some sense into this obstinate creature! If he doesn’t get reasonable soon, I’m picking him up and carrying him back to camp—upside-down! See if I don’t!”

She doles out wisdom with as much force as her blunt advice/observations and blistering threats. This is the main bit of one such nugget of wisdom, because otherwise I’d be posting an entire scene that made me tear up:

“Freedom is terrifying.”

In conclusion:
Realistic characters, wonderful world, plot that has plenty of grip and foreshadowing (and oh my goodness I didn’t even get to the villainous characters, but I have quotes and thoughts on them as well)...
So prepare to have your heart stomped on (in a good way of course).
Also, I couldn’t help but imagine that the author might have hummed this to herself while her characters were being emotionally tried (because it sure felt like it :P):


Author Bio

From the beginning, H. S. J. Williams has loved stories and all the forms they take. Whether with word, art, or costume, she has always been fascinated with the magic of imagination. She lives in a real fantastical kingdom, the beautiful Pacific Northwest, with her very own array of animal friends and royally loving family. Williams taught Fantasy Illustration at MSOA. She may also be a part-time elf. 
You can check out and follow William's art page over here: https://hsjwilliams.wordpress.com/


BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

May 7th
H.S.J. Williams—Tour Launch

May 8th
Light and Shadow—Book Spotlight
E. E. Rawls—Book Spotlight

May 9th
Elizabeth’s Universe—Book Review
Grace M. Morris—Book Spotlight

May 10th
Allison’s Well—Book Spotlight
Amelia Nicole—Book Spotlight

May 11th
Ester S. (Instagram)—Book Spotlight
Imperial Scribis—Book Review

May 12th
The Labyrinth—Book Review

May 13th
Dreams & Dragons—Book Spotlight
Bookish Musings—Book Review

May 14th 
Unicorn Quester—Author Interview
Embers Reviews—Book Review

May 15th
Unicorn Quester— “3 Reasons Why” Video Review
Writing in Rivendell—Book Spotlight
Sarah, Plain & Average—Book Review

May 16th
Jane Maree—Book Review

May 17th
The Bookish Raven—Book Review

May 18th
Words of Hannah Kay—Book Review

May 19th
Functionally Fictional—Book Spotlight
Jenelle Schmidt—Book Spotlight

May 20th 
Beka Gremikova—Book Spotlight
Seven Billion Smiles—Book Review

May 21st
Today by Bryn—Tour Conclusion & Art Gallery

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Reblog- Ink and Sage Podcast

Episode 006: The Fruitful Heist and Renewal of Spirit As ever, I’m not an expert, my intention is to be positive and helpful, and my opinions do not reflect the authors’ worth as people or as writers. Please ensure adequate sodium intake with this podcast.

I (and one of my Nano friends!) got featured on a podcast! This lovely lady, Sage Gordon Davis, is accepting first paragraphs, sentences, or the first line of stories from anyone willing to submit. She dissects them with a reader’s eye, telling what caught her fancy or what wasn’t her cup of tea.
Her podcast is great, take a look!

Friday, April 24, 2020

Book Spotlight: The Emperor's New Concerto




Today, we have a book spotlight: The New Emperor's Concerto!

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Summary

The year is 2228 and the world is on the cusp of World War Four. London is rife with anarchists and secret plots. It looks like dark days are coming for the British Empire. Darker than any that have been seen for decades.
But luckily England has some help.
Sir Lysander is the King's Righteous Man-and all that entails. He's the king's right hand, and a red one at that, the man who stands in the shadows and does what needs to be done for the protection of his country. 
Eidolon is a phantom, the anarchist group Apophis's top retrieval expert. They need something, he gets it, no matter the consequence. Even though he'd secretly prefer to be in his flat with his cat and a good book.
They've been butting heads for a while but in times like these, loyalties are known to change and right now, any help is good help. They just didn't count on being the only thing standing between England and the start of the next world war.

Cover

 

Author Bio



My Photo I'm an Indie writer, book lover, coffee connoisseur and history buff and folklorist. On a normal day you'll either find me reading, writing or on Goodreads talking to other writers. Author of On a Foreign Field, The Modern Tales of Na Fianna series and others.
Find her online at: