And the Winners Are...

Congratulations to the lucky winners from the Book Launch Party.

To Pat McDermott






goes Book Two, Exiled: Winter's Curse
by Rosalie Skinner







To Karen Cote

goes Book One, The Bowdancer
by Janie Franz

 

Yay! It's Party Time! Book Launch!

Come and have fun with the MuseItUp authors,

Rosalie Skinner,  Rosemary Morris, and Janie Franz.

 Plenty of weird and wonderful quests and cyber food laid on. Bring a plate if you like, and your fictional characters are most welcome.  These parties usually go on for days!! So come,  go, come again, as you please.

This is fancy dress, so wear something fitting from these three new books.
From fantasy dragons and pirates, sorcerers and witches to Regency nobility and sea captains, to feisty Medieval healers, wedding guests and horsemen, the range is vast.

You could be one of the winners of these amazing books!
 

And the books are --

  7th book in The Chronicles of Caleath series

 

Adrift - In Search of Memory

 

Cover Designer  Delilah Stephens

by

Rosalie Skinner

 



Genre: Science Fiction - Fantasy Novel

Back of Book Blurb

Tag Seawell’s strange turns are frightening his shipmates. Each time his eyes turn black unexpected things happen. He can’t explain why.

When strangers come to town searching for a man of his description, the locals fail to mention his existence. The stranger’s arrival and departure before Tag returns from sea, give him his first hope of learning about his past and perhaps curing him of the unexplained fits he falls into. Leaving his woman behind Tag follows the strangers and embarks on a perilous and confusing voyage of discovery.
 

Nothing prepares Tag for the revelations his journey brings. From pirates, to warring dragons, whales, starships and an alien god, new experiences jog old memories. Discovery comes with a price. Why does Death want his unborn child? Why does a race of sorcerers want his help? How is he supposed to influence dragons and how does he know and do things he should not know?

Now available from MuseItUp Bookstore, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the other online bookstores.

Learn more about Rosalie at her Website

*****

 

 The Captain and the Countess



Cover Designer  Charlotte Volnek

by

 

 

Rosemary Morris

 

 Genre  Historical Romance Novel

Back of Book Blurb

Why does heart-rending pain lurk in the back of the wealthy Countess of Sinclair’s eyes?
Captain Howard’s life changes forever from the moment he meets Kate, the intriguing Countess, and resolves to banish her pain.

Although the air sizzles when widowed Kate, victim of an abusive marriage, meets Edward Howard, a captain in Queen Anne’s navy, she has no intention of ever marrying again.
However, when Kate becomes better acquainted with the Captain she realises he is the only man who understands her grief and can help her to untangle her past.


Now Available from MuseItUp Bookstore, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the other online bookstores.

Learn more about Rosemary at her Website

*****

     

The 1st Book in the Bowdancer Saga

 

The Bowdancer

Cover designer: Cora Graphics

 by

  

Janie Franz

 Genre Fantasy Romance novella.

Back of Book Blurb

Jan-nell, a young healer and keeper of village lore, despairs of ever finding the child who will be the next bowdancer or a man worthy enough to love.

When a village wedding is interrupted by four strangers, Jan-nell treats the injuries of one of them. The leader of these men, Bastin, is an arrogant, intelligent rogue who also is searching for an equal. His presence questions the bowdancer's life choice and stirs more than her mind.

 

Now Available from MuseItUp Bookstore, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the other online bookstores.

Learn more about Janie at her Website  and her new website which is being updated

*****

 

The gates to the secret garden are now open. Welcome one and all.

Oh, I should mention . . . don't drink the water . . . hehehe

 

 

Santa's Letter

Baby's First Christmas

Santa Claus,

Toyland,
The Icy Pole

Christmas 2013

                                                                      
Dear Riley,

 On this your first Christmas, I just want to say            

How happy I am to be coming your way
I fill children’s stockings, with toys and good cheer
And something real special for Riley’s first year.

 

The rustle of paper, the lights on the tree

Music and laughter, my reindeers and me
So much confusion, exciting and new
This is for Riley, your Christmas debut.

                                                                  

You light up the room with your smile and big eyes

Great joy you bring with you, for someone your size
You’ll soon fill with wonder as family mill round       
Feasting on love on this Merry-go-round

 

 

 

Merry Christmas, young Riley. Ho Ho Ho Ho

Know that you’re loved from your head to your toe
Your mother and father are so happy, it’s true
For the Spirit of Christmas fills them, through
You!

 

  

With Love and big hugs
From    Santa.

Writing Process Blog Tour.

 This blog tour is where writers and authors answer questions about their writing process. My friend, Historical Romance author, Anita Davison, posted hers last week. You can check out Anita's writing process here

Today is my Blog Tour Day and I don't even have to leave the comfort of my own favourite place in the sun.

Oh, you thought all writers were people. You'd be surprised. Here, I am Spitzli, the mini Schnauzer, named after Spitz, the St Bernard, in The Unhewn Stone. We can be whomever we please, as long as we are entertaining you. And let me tell you, this can lead to mental fatigue, especially when we pretend to be something we are not.


What am I working on now?

As you can see, very little at the moment. Generally speaking, however, I usually write medieval fiction, but my current work in progress is contemporary and is purely self indulgent. I am rewriting an old NaNoWriMo project (write a novel during the month of November) in the 1st person. It's called Cover Story and in it's original state contains 53,000+  very confused words. 

In this story, set at the turn of the 21st century,  the female protagonist reluctantly agrees to return to her hometown to attend her High School's 50th anniversary and her class's 40th reunion - class of 1959. During a week of celebrations the town gets into the swing with the '50's culture, clothes hire, movies and music...lots of music. Behind the fun, however, sinister forces have corrupted the town.  

I'm halfway through the rewrite. The protag has been to a screening of the 50's movie, Carousel, which has awakened past secrets long suppressed. She dare not reveal what she remembers  for fear of incriminating herself and becoming the cover story of the local gossip magazine. I'm up to the Reunion Ball. This was a great success, until, at the end of the night, a prominent figure is murdered. At this stage I'm considering changing the original  villain.


How does my work differ from others of its genre?

When I write in the historical genre, as in my award winning novel, The Unhewn Stone, I take the opposite point of view than is usually accepted. In this story, redefining the William Tell Legend, my hero, Stefan, belongs to the Gessler family rather than William Tell's. He bears the stigma of the tyrant's name, the one who forces Tell to shoot the apple off his son's head; the one Tell finally ambushed and killed. My Stefan travels back from the present to 1307AD to prevent the legend from happening and tries to restore his family honour.

My three short stories are also different from others in their genre due to their many layers:

In Happiness Guaranteed, not only does this story show my main character's experience of happiness, but this science fiction 'birthday present' also challenges the idea of 'happiness' itself and asks what would you sacrifice for it?

 A Summer Squall, written primarily for the writer/reader, shows a writer struggling with writer's block and how she overcomes it. Written in the 1st person, this is a fictional adventure but at the same time a true story about 'imagination'.

My middle grade story, Billy the Bonsai Bull, is another true story, but told from the calf's point of view even though it's only the humans who speak. It deals with the struggle for Billy's survival as well as loneliness and bullying, and presents the reader with false friends and true as they experience life on this real Australian farm.

In my contemporary crime novel Fisherman's Row (a work in progress) the reader knows who the killer is from the beginning and this knowledge is used to rev up the suspense.

 Every writer brings his or her idiosyncrasies, sense of humour, pet aversions etc to the page. We all see life differently and we all want different things. We read to experience life from another's perspective. In this respect all writers' work differs from others in their genre. I enjoy reversing the norm for the sake of variety.

Why do I write what I do?

Modern and ancient history obsess me now, probably because I failed History in High School, so I majored in both History and English Lit. at university. I like to discover how people lived and how they coped in times less advanced than ours. To me, the craftsmanship, innovation  and brainpower seems superior to ours, in spite of our education, so I look back to learn. 

How does your writing process work?

My writing process proceeds as it will. I can't write simply for the sake of writing or because 'I can't not write' as some fortunate writers claim. I need something serious to explore, something worth researching so I can learn as I go. 

Mostly, I sweat blood over what I'm writing, clutching at outside stimuli and encouragement to keep me motivated, but when I'm on a roll, when the writing is flowing smoothly, then I'm as contented as I can be. That's a wonderful feeling of fulfilment.

Strangely, though, for me, it's the blood sweating that produces my best writing, not the joy. You might say it's a dog's life, but someone has to do it. 


NEXT WEEK - 16th December  more writers let you see into their alter egos on their blogs:


Edith Parzefall 

Thriller writer, Edith Parzefall studied literature and linguistics in Germany and the United States. She worked as an editor, technical writer, team leader and project manager. Now a full-time writer, she strives to combine her two passions: writing and traveling.

She supports a street kids project in Recife, Brazil. When she visited Grupo Ruas e Pracas, she took part in a music and crafts workshop with the children. During her stay in Rio de Janeiro, Strays of Rio, a thriller set in this city of contrasts, took shape.

In 2008 she traveled through Chile, supposedly the safest country in South America. Stopped at a red light in their rented SUV, she and her partner were sandwiched between two trucks on the Pan-American highway. An unplanned excursion to the local hos­pital and the Carabineros de Chile allowed her insights she never meant to gain but wouldn’t want to miss. A new story idea sparked: Crumple Zone.

Together with British author Francene Stanley, she co-wrote the Higher Ground Series of four post-apocalyptic fantasy adventures.

Currently she’s completing the Adventure Treks Trilogy, humorous action adventures with depth—and dizzying heights. The first book, Snow White’s Slide, has just been released.

 Stacy Green 

Mystery/Thriller writer Stacy Green was born in Indiana and raised in Iowa. Stacy Green earned degrees in journalism and sociology from Drake University. After a successful advertising career, Stacy became a proud stay-at-home mom to her miracle child. Now a full-time author, Stacy juggles her time between her demanding characters and supportive family. She loves reading, cooking, and the occasional gardening excursion. Stacy lives in Marion, Iowa with her husband Rob, their daughter Grace, and the family’s three obnoxious but lovable canine children.

COVER REVEAL + E-Launch of The Consequences Collection by Melanie Robertson-King

"If you could see the consequences - would you?"

 

Special thank you to Madliz Coles whose kind permission made it possible to use her evocative photograph as the cover image for my anthology.

 

Blurb: 

The Consequences Collection is an eclectic compilation of twelve stories ranging from non-fiction through creative non-fiction to pure fiction, in prose and poetry.

The story of a Scottish Home Child is based on fact and told from the child's point of view; The Mystery Woman of Kinettles is a non-fiction article on the appearance and subsequent disappearance of a woman's body near the Wellington County House of Industry (Poor House) in 1879 Southwestern Ontario.

Some of these stories are lighter than others, and some might even beg you to leave the lights on.

Excerpt from the cover story Consequences:

Splat! The mail landed on the ceramic tile floor of the foyer. Usually, the noise was followed by the snap of the mail slot door closing. Today it wasn’t.

Something must have stuck in it. Sylvia put her coffee down on the counter and walked to the front door. A large white envelope remained suspended in the door. She pulled it the rest of the way through. The flap snapped shut and even though she was used to hearing the metallic sound, it startled her.

She’d expected a letter from her solicitor regarding her divorce from Bill but it wasn’t there. However, that one in particular had piqued her curiosity. Emblazoned on the top left corner was an official-looking crest. The addressee’s name and address were correct. It was her. Why would this person or agency be sending her a letter? She’d never heard of them before.

Sylvia turned the envelope over and worked her thumb under the flap. Those self-sticking envelopes are a bugger, she thought as she tried to rip it open. Finally, she gave up and tore down the side and yanked the contents out.

She skimmed over the letter but it didn’t make any sense so placed it on the small table by the door. It could be dealt with later. In the meantime, she looked at the rest of her mail. Nothing else untoward – just the electric bill, gas bill, and the usual assortment of junk – mail. She dropped them on top of the letter and returned to the kitchen.

The coffee she’d poured earlier had gone cold. She dumped it down the sink and turned the water on to rinse it away before getting a fresh one.

Drawn by some inexplicable force, Sylvia went back to the foyer and collected the letter and the mangled envelope. She returned to the kitchen, flipped on the radio and sat down at her small table. Why had she opened it in the first place? She should have just binned it. That’s what she usually did with unsolicited mail. But there was something strangely familiar about it. The addressee information was on a computer printed label so there was no clue there. The sororities from University had crests or emblems to differentiate one from another. She wracked her brain trying to remember what they looked like. It had been over thirty years since she’d attended. Sylvia never belonged to a sorority because she thought the girls who did were snooty and stuck-up.

She’d call her friend, Laurie and tell her about the letter. They’d been friends since childhood, attended the same elementary and secondary schools and even the same University. She could tell her anything, couldn’t she?

About the author:

 

Melanie Robertson-King has always been a fan of the written word. Growing up as an only child, her face was almost always buried in a book from the time she could read. Her father was one of the thousands of Home Children sent to Canada through the auspices of The Orphan Homes of Scotland, and she has been fortunate to be able to visit her father’s homeland many times and even met the Princess Royal at the orphanage where he was raised.

 

She lives in Brockville, Ontario, Canada a few short city blocks north of the St Lawrence River with her husband of thirty-eight years and is 'housekeeping staff' to a big, goofy, but loveable, dog (cross between lab, shepherd and black and tan hound).

 

A Shadow in the Past, published in 2012 by 4RV Publishing, was Melanie's debut novel.

 

Where to buy The Consequences Collection:

Paperback:

Lulu.com

Epub:

Lulu.com

Kindle:

amazon.com

amazon.ca

amazon.co.uk

Coming soon to amazon in paperback and to Barnes and Noble for the nook and the iBookstore.

 

Melanie's links:

Website:  www.melanierobertson-king.com

Blog:  Celtic Connexions

Facebook Author Page

Goodreads author page

Amazon author page

Loveahappyending Lifestyle magazine author page

Twitter:  @RobertsoKing

 

 

Book Review of Invaded: The Darkest Day

My review of Rosalie Skinner's Book 5 in her Chronicles of Caleath

YYYYY

This is a fast paced novel trapping the reader in a full-on experience of the power and intensity that dark magic has, especially on the immortal Caleath as he battles with forces of evil.

In his mission to rescue the  Kentorian princess, Corrine, and to save the planet Allorn from invaders, Caleath is thrust back into the deadly game. Caleath becomes Tag in order to hide his identity. When exposed, he suffers great physical pain from his enemies, but his impossible struggle to contain the vengeful warrior, Wrath, within himself, ignites a bloodlust he abhors and threatens to destroy his last feeble grip on innocence and compassion.

 Ms Skinner’s beautiful writing and vivid imagination delivers an amazing other world filled with such memorable characters as Merkatt, the dragon Queen;  Tallowbrand, the ghost archmarge; and the dreaded dark lord, Cassius, who wears a cloak that absorbs light and power. We also welcome back Caleath’s loyal friends, among them Penwryt the wizard; Gwilt; Raul; Etham; Jenna, the young witch bethrothed to Spider with the mismatched eyes; and Joel a young wizard. Ms Skinner skilfully uses violent Nature as the atmospheric backdrop to the violence in this story, so that Nature is almost a character in itself.

 Strap yourself in for another exhilarating, fabulous adventure in a fantasy world like no other, teeming with vibrant life. You’ll keep coming back for more of this series The Chronicles of Caleath.

 

FINALIST IN 2013 IDA CONTEST

 

The Unhewn Stone
placed 3rd in the Young Adult category of the International Digital Awards Contest for 2013.

 Available from    Amazon,     Barnes & Noble,    MuseItUp

This novel for older teens  reinvents the legend of Wilhelm Tell through the eyes of a Swiss time traveller who belongs to the tyrant Governor Gessler's family.

On a mission to prevent the legend from happening and restore his family honour, Stefan Gessler enters the 14th century as a stubborn, proud, arrogant, pacifist unaware of the dangers he will face and the difficult lessons he will learn.

Tour modern and medieval Switzerland. Experience life in the Middle Ages, first hand. Encounter fascinating characters while you live by your wits and maybe, like Stefan, reinvent yourself. Does Stefan make the right choices?  You be the judge

Excerpt from a review of The Unhewn Stone by Great Historicals:

This novel is suspenseful, yet humorous at times. It is a coming of age story. From its likeable protagonist to its detestable antagonist, and the plentiful adventures and suspense in between, this is a wonderful novel to savor. Luscious prose that is simple and uncomplicated, allows the reader to slip easily into the story. Can the hero alter the past to improve the future for others? That is one of the main premises in this fascinating tale.