Tuesday 29 January 2008

My Review of Mirella Patzer's Bloodstone Castle


Bloodstone Castle by Mirella Patzer

Review by Wendy Laharnar


At the moment of her birth, in Bloodstone Castle, Morena, Contessa of Portovenere, receives an ancient bloodstone pendant from her dying mother who believes the pendant will protect her from harm. No one knows the true significance of the bloodstone pendant.
Morena grows into a beautiful, strong-willed woman, fiercely loyal to her father and to her betrothed, Ernest of Savona, a man she has never met. However, unknown to her, her father plans to rescind the marriage contract in favour of Duke Amoro Dragone of Genoa, in order to heal the ancient family feud and restore peace to the region.
A reluctant suitor at first, the handsome Duke Amoro soon falls deeply in love with Morena, but she vehemently shuns his advances. Although strongly attracted to him, she flees. Her escape leads her to the unscrupulous and self-serving Ernesto who is as determined as Amoro to make her his bride and claim Bloodstone Castle and its treasure before Morena learns his dreadful secret.
When Morena is forced to face a brutal reality, she realizes her heart belongs to Amoro, but it is too late. Amoro's attempt to save her has trapped them both in the crumbling castle at Savona, and, it seems, only Morena's marriage to the repulsive Ernesto can save her true loves life.


Through Mirella Patzer's sensual language and haunting atmosphere we experience the medieval world of castles and monasteries, of hidden treasure and secret passages, of mistrust and betrayal, of passion and desire. Exciting action, at times heart-warmingly sensitive and terrifyingly brutal and the inner conflict of both Amoro and Morena, sweep us into the passion and pain of this turbulent romance. From the heart-rending opening to the breathless pursuits and the unexpected surprise in the wonderfully satisfying end, Bloodstone Castle holds the reader captive.

Sunday 27 January 2008

Favourite Writing Unblockers.

My 15 minute exercises for overcoming writers block have worked for me. If you try them, let me know if they work for you. I'll add more later.

Saturday 26 January 2008

Editing the novel

For the past few days Gabriela and I have had fun reading aloud the unedited copy of The Unhewn Stone. We discovered small errors that were easily rectified and I was pleased to hear G. chuckle and react to the characters' antics and plot incidents. It's very satisfying when your reader is drawn into the story and chooses to remain there.

Visits to local bookstores were rewarding. I found the managers are most responsive and friendly towards local authors. When I have my cover and a release date I'll be able to arrange for readings and book signing.

Friday 18 January 2008

Wonderful News

Our Precious Princess has just been accepted into the most prestigious university in the land.
What a wonderful achievement! Grandy and Pa are sooooooooo proud of her.

Congratulations, Sara! You make good things happen. You're a winner!

Wednesday 16 January 2008

Making Friends

It's fun making new writing friends and joining new sites. I've learned more about the Internet in the last few days than I would have if I'd taken a three month course.

Thanks for all the help, Mark and my fellow authors.

One thing I can't do and that's add an image. It seems to be uploading the jpg file and I have the shrink to fit box ticked, but when the green bar is full, nothing happens. Maybe there is something missing on my computer but the scanned photo came up - not shrunk though which was a disappointment.

I love adding links though. :-)

Tuesday 15 January 2008

Laurel's success


I'm thrilled that my West Australian friend, Laurel Lamperd, will have her Regency novel published in six weeks. Her beautiful cover is up on her website. http://laurel6346.tripod.com/


Substitute Bride - a Regency Romance
to be published in March 2008
available from Wings ePress http://www.wingsepress/


Congratulations Laurel!

Monday 14 January 2008

Excited to post my first blog

14th January,
Today I spent ages trying to decide on a blog site. I'm glad I found this one so I can share the progress and reviews of my novel, The Unhewn Stone, recently accepted for publication by Enspiren Press. I'm fortunate to have the lovely and talented Mirella Pazter, author of Heinrich the Fowler and Bloodstone Castle, as my editor.

The Unhewn Stone is a time travel novel set in Switzerland during the Middle Ages. Our modern-day hero, Stefan Gessler, is caught up in the violent times where the Wilhelm Tell legend originated. Unable to return to the 21st century because Tell stole half of his golden orb, the key to the Wurmloch that will take him home, Stefan is thrust into one dangerous adventure after another. With his 14th century 'cousin', Rolf, (in love withTell's wild daughter, Eva) Stefan is pursued by an evil knight and a shapeshifting sibyl and forced to face his own demons and those of medieval Switzerland.

More later.