Tag Archives: Authors

In The Lime Light – Richard Ankers – The Writings

04 Saturday Aug 2018

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Welcome my Friends 🙂 Happy Saturday and, once again, thank you for stopping by to see just who is In The Lime Light this weekend 🙂 I confess, I am Delighted to share a poet and writer with you who has inspired me since the first time I posted on BnV; a friend who has been around since the beginning and whose writing pushes the boundaries and makes me smile, laugh, gasp, tremble and sigh! You will agree, I am sure, when I tell you that Richard Ankers (whose wonderful blog you can find here: http://richardankers.com ) made a rare appearance in the Interview arena JUST for Booknvolume…well and for all of YOU as well…so my blathering is pointless. Lets Jump Right In shall we? 🙂

IN HIS WORDS: Richard was a Company Director in retail until finally plucking up the courage to show people the writing he had spent years shyly stashing away. Joining HarperCollins’ Authonomy site was the jolt he needed to realise people liked what he wrote. Winning a gold medal there for his book The Snow Lily, was a great boost. Since then, he has spent a long time writing and preparing a trilogy of SciFi/ DarkFantasy books which he hopes to have traditionally published. Richard stopped by for a natter, so lets put the kettle on and get right to it!

Please Introduce us to your Blog. What is it all about? What sorts of posts do you lean towards?
RICHARD: Hello, my name’s Richard. My blog is a place where I post writing and poetry that is on my mind and needs to come out, (there’s far too much in there.) I use my blog as a way of honing my skills for the longer writings that I love. I believe the more you write the better you write and I try to practice what I preach.

What Inspires and stirs your creativity?
RICHARD: Everything inspires me. I can hear a word, or see an image, or even hear something, and it sets off the creative juices. I have written a whole trilogy of books based on one simple image that I saw and was taken by. I never struggle for something to write about because I will never have enough time on this earth to write everything that’s in my mind.

What Message, if any, do you hope to Share through your blog/posts?
RICHARD: I don’t really share any message other than insisting on writing what I want. I would always encourage others to do the same. Don’t pamper to people because the most heartfelt words are those that are most honest, regardless of the length or style they are presented in.
How has your blog helped you as a writer/Indie Author? What things have you learned along the way that you never anticipated?

RICHARD: I wouldn’t say my blog has helped other than not having to worry about wasting what I’ve written. It’s given me a home for all the words.

Tell us about your book(s):
RICHARD: My first book was called The Snow Lily, a story about two abandoned children in Victorian times. I was lucky enough to win a gold medal on the HarperCollins Authonomy site through my efforts. This gave me great confidence (as I have none) and a major boost to my resume. I never had any intention to publish it but one day I might.

I am currently writing a Sci-Fi / Dark Fantasy trilogy. I have made the unusual decision to write all three books in one go and then return to them one by one in order for publishing. I want each book and the trilogy as a whole to be perfect before it goes out there. Believe me when I say, they are unlike any Dark Fantasy book you will have read. The Trilogy was going to be called Decadent Gothic but I have recently altered it to The Eternals Saga, as it’s just a touch more appropriate.
PS. Shhh! They’re almost done.

What Inspired you to write your book?
RICHARD: The whole Eternals Saga was based on a single, spectacular image that I saw. I can’t say what though, as it would give the game away.

From what Point of View do you prefer to write? Is there a reason?
RICHARD: I prefer first person but aren’t particularly bothered. I just find it easier to be in the protagonist’s shoes if I am writing as though it is me. I like to look through my main character’s eyes, so to speak.

How would you describe your “Voice” or Style of writing?
RICHARD: People have said I have a Literary style, but I would leave that to others to decide.
What genre do you prefer to write or are you truly eclectic?

RICHARD: I love every genre. I hate to be pigeonholed. But, dark fantasy and the speculative genres that abut it are my real passion. Basically, things with a fantastical element.

Do you painstakingly plot out your story; are you a discovery writer or a bit of both? Why?
RICHARD: I’m neither. I’m very lucky that the moment I have the idea the whole thing unravels in my head. I have no need to write a word of plot unless I wish to. I know exactly how it will start, finish and everything in-between within moments.

Share an insight or secret about your book(s).
RICHARD: They always have a twist near the end.

What do you feel is your best advice to share with other aspiring authors?
RICHARD: Write what you want how you want. And NEVER, NEVER EVER let anyone tell you that you aren’t good enough. Practise and you will be.

And now, the part most people hate…lets talk About YOU:

richard

If you had to describe yourself to someone who has never met you, what might you say?
RICHARD: I wouldn’t, as I’m too shy in person. I always know what to write but never know what to say. Plus, I’ve never had a very high opinion of myself.

If you could meet one person from the past, who might it be and why?
RICHARD: Nobody in particular.

When you are NOT writing, what is your favourite pastime?
RICHARD: I love to run and do so everyday. I also love nature and all it encompasses.

Describe Your Dream Getaway Destination. Have you ever been there? What makes this place Irresistible to you?
RICHARD: My dream destination is Wengen in Switzerland and I have been there. The place has spectacular scenery, mountains to die for, and once out of the town itself is wonderfully quiet. I also love the British Lake District for similar reasons. I would love to live near mountains and am a very quiet person.

Do you have a Mantra?
RICHARD: Above all else be happy. Life is too short not to be. (Lots of people say that but don’t really mean it. I mean every word of it.)

I am honoured, Richard, that you agreed to share a bit about yourself and your writing with me/us. Thank You Ever So!

You can Follow Richard via Twitter @richardankers

~Morgan~

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The Crown of Amiriel by Shade Rachea – #Books Worth #Reading

26 Thursday Jul 2018

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Despite her unstable powers, Warrior Princess Raynin is the most powerful fighter in the Guardian Realm. She’s also the most loyal.

After Raynin is named heir to the coveted Crown of Amiriel, the most powerful object in all the realms, she and her best friend Riley are forced to flee the kingdom and seek refuge in another realm to avoid death.

Soon, that realm is thrust into an unexpected war against a merciless king, forcing Raynin and Riley to make new alliances and learn to trust and rely on others. With the help of their friends, Raynin and Riley must fight to stay alive while trying to get a grasp on their powers and find the Crown before anyone else gets to it.

But the king has sent more than one assassin after them and the Crown, making staying alive that much harder.

Amazon 5 star review by Joshua Griffith who called it “An Action Packed Story”

“I love this one, it’s like Merlin meets Firefly! From the first few pages, the story snares you and never lets go. There’s plenty of action, drama, royal backstabbing, sword fighting and magic that will have you greedily turning the pages just to see what happens next and just in the first two chapters! The story seems like a typical fantasy in the beginning, royalty, peasants, medieval times, but then *dum dum dum* there’s actually technology like airships, cars, guns and computer training simulators. It a great story revolving around two teenage royalty that embark on a quest to find the seven missing pieces of the crown of Amiriel, which sets war into motion to prevent this from happening. I don’t want spoil it with details but I do suggest reading this one, you won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend it!”

Purchase Links:
Kindle: http://mybook.to/Amiriel
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Crown-Amiriel-Shade-Rachea/dp/1980240280/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/shaderachea
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shaderacheabooks
Website: https://www.shaderacheabooks.com

Author Bio:

Shade Rachea is an American Young Adult Fantasy author and Creative Writing instructor. Her debut novel, The Crown of Amiriel, was released earlier this year and is the first of the series. Currently, she lives in California with her family and dog, Auro, and enjoys reading romance and fantasy books as well as shopping for books and shoes. When not writing, she can be found traveling and attending concerts and music festivals with friends.

#GuestBloggers – How to #Edit #Fiction by Kathryn Wells

06 Sunday May 2018

Posted by in Guest Bloggers on BnV

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Knowing what to do after you’ve *finally* finished the first draft of your manuscript and have mopped up all the blood, sweat and tears that went into it can be a bit of a mystery if you’re new to the game. You know editing comes into it, and you may have heard about beta readers, but what comes first, and more importantly, how do you go get started?

To help with the cacophony of questions littering your head, I’ve made a general guide to help you get going. This is very much based off my own experience, and is not an exhaustive list:

  1. After you’ve written that last word on your manuscript, put the whole thing away somewhere and leave it for a good amount of time (I personally leave it for about three months, but others leave it for longer) and get on with other things. Start a new project; finish any others lurking around; if you’re thinking about publication, research which avenue might be best for you and what that entails; basically, anything to keep your mind stimulated but doesn’t involve that first draft. This is to make sure that when you do eventually go back to it, you can view it with fresh eyes – meaning that plot holes, weak characters or lack of world building will jump out at you and therefore be easier to fix.
  1. Don’t focus on spelling or wording on this initial edit. Look at the big picture instead. Are there any holes in your plot? Do your characters feel flat or serve no purpose? Does the story start in the right place, or are the first few chapters unnecessary? What scenes work, and what don’t? If you’re finding it hard to tell if certain points of the story are unnecessary, try removing them and see if it affects the overall plot. If the plot still flows, then those scenes (however beautifully written they are/despite how much you personally love them) have to go. Nothing ruins a good book more that scenes that jar the pacing by adding nothing.
  1. Once you’ve fixed the big issues with your manuscript, you can either put it away again, or continue on to the next stage. Again, I personally leave it for a bit because I know I get far too close to my work.
  1. Now it’s time to really focus on your characters and world building. Your characters need to feel like real people – give goals and dreams, flaws and bad habits, and don’t hole them up into stereotypes. If they’re from very different backgrounds/circumstances to you, make sure you do your research – not only to make them realistic, but to avoid being insensitive to readers. (If you’re worried about your representation of people from different walks of life to you, you can always hire a sensitivity reader at a later stage.) When working on world building, think about the social structure of each place, use all five senses to describe things and make sure you don’t fall into the pit of info dumping. Also, in dialogues scenes, look out for ‘white room syndrome’, when no description about where or when the scene takes place is included.
  1. Next, we get in to the more technical aspects of writing. Tense, point of view and grammar. (If you feel your manuscript is shaping up nicely, you can start looking at spelling, over-use of words and continuity, but I would leave that until last.) It doesn’t matter what point of view you use, or what tense, as long as you keep them consistent throughout the manuscript – unless you have a very good reason not to, like an intentional stylistic change to illustrate a certain point. If you struggle with grammar, there are a lot of helpful books and forums, as well as YouTube guides. (I have a book on grammar that’s actually written for kids, but the language and examples are so clear that it’s the one I go to most.)
  1. The stages of editing can get a bit murky here – some writers have to repeat steps until they’re happy and end up with a good number of drafts, others breeze right through and end up with relatively few. However, whether you’ve done a lot of back and forth on your work or not, this part is important. Read your work aloud. I’ll say it again: READ YOUR WORK ALOUD. From start to finish, until you’re sick of the sound of your own voice. This is so you can clearly see problems with sentence structure, missing words, typos, continuity, repetitive description and all that jazz (as readers we’re always pleased to spot others’ mistakes, but are far less pleased as writers if someone kindly points them out in our own work).
  1. Finally, when you are happy with your manuscript and can’t find anything else to work on, it’s time to send your work to beta readers. These can be other writers, friends, family or simply people you know love to read. What is important to note, however, is that it’s far more helpful to send your work to readers who readily consume books in that genre than ones who have never read/rarely read within your genre, as the feedback you receive will be more relevant. When you do receive feedback, look for trends in what people are saying. If eight people say a scene isn’t working, then it’s probably wise to take another look and see if it truly does need revising. If one beta reader hates a character but the others love them/make no comment, then perhaps that’s just their personal taste. Consider all feedback, but remember that it is still your work, so you have the final decision on what to change.

So there you have it. Where you take your work from there is completely up to you. Whether you opt for traditional publishing, self-publishing or somewhere in-between (be absolutely sure you don’t head down the path of vanity publishing – an old but good rule on how to tell a vanity publisher from a real one is that money should always flow to the author, not away) make sure you do your research.

Kathryn is a children’s and YA author, and currently has her fantasy trilogy, Half-Wizard Thordric, published with Creativia Publishing. Her YA speculative fiction novel, The Origin Stone, will be published in March 2019 by Nuff Said Publishing.

An avid reader, she also writes poetry, book reviews and short stories. She loves animals and is a slave to a parrot and budgie, and currently lives on the Isle of Wight with her husband, a curious and eccentric being who never fails to provide her with inspiration. You can find her on twitter @KaptainKat90, or go directly to her website www.kathrynwells.co.uk.

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~Kathryn Wells~

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#GuestBloggers – Post-Grad Depression
Wait, that’s a Thing?

30 Monday Apr 2018

Posted by in Guest Bloggers on BnV

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Hi! I am really excited to be guest writing for Morgan’s blog! I am nowhere near as talented as she is but I thought I would share a piece that is already currently on my blog and something that I have been dealing with recently.

A little about me, my name is Amberlyn and my blog is called Lovely Dysfunction. I cover a little bit of everything over there. From hikes, to mental health, to makeup; I cover it all! I’m not the best writer but I feel like I get a little better with each post. I just moved from Georgia to Colorado for a new career in Marketing and that transition has definitely thrown me through a loop. The short essay below is about what I have been going through recently. If it resonates with you at all, please let me know. Thanks!

Post-Grad Depression
wait, that’s a thing?

A modernly renovated and beautifully decorated 2 bedroom apartment. It’s not the penthouse but spacious and affordable. It’s in the perfect location where I can walk to my favorite cafe and I’m only a block away from the subway stop. My job is so much fun, I am pretty damn good at it, and I get paid more than the average fresh graduate. I have loads of open-minded new friends and even an attractive and friendly stranger who I encountered at a bookstore one weekend that may be interested. I have started working out more and getting healthy. Life is beautiful and I am happy.

That is how I envisioned post-grad life for the entirety of my senior year. It’s probably one of the sole things that kept me motivated and marching toward that cap and gown. Don’t get me wrong, post-grad life is wonderful for many reasons but my vision was also terribly misleading.

At first, I was too busy to notice it. My parents were helping me unpack, I was meeting my coworkers, starting my initial work training, decorating my apartment, and so on. Then my Dad left and I felt a twinge of something, but I sucked it up and moved on. I am an adult now, right? My mom stayed a little longer. We are both control freaks so we butted heads quite a bit in that time period. To the point, that I found myself counting down the days until her departure. Then she left. I was fine for about a week. Drunk with new-found freedom that was literally like nothing I had ever experienced. I was self-sufficient, in a state hundreds of miles away from home, in my OWN apartment with an amazing job.

However, I had a ton of time by myself. I have my dog, who I am incredibly thankful for, but I had no one to talk to when I got home. This was especially damaging after a bad day. Yes, I could have called someone and I did some days but I slowly stopped this practice. It was easier to direct my energy to self-loathing and hiding in my bed than calling my mom. I was beating myself up over the smallest mistakes and overanalyzing every critique my manager gave me. I was miserable.

On top of this, all my closest friends were still in college, living happily in the comfortable bubble that I had left behind. They would send photos to me of them hanging out together and it would hurt because I knew I had no one like that in my new home
and because I missed them, obviously.

I went from being an extremely motivated individual to one who didn’t even want to get out of bed in the morning to go to work. I went from being so excited to hike every inch of Colorado to deciding to stay in and watch YouTube videos.

I feel bad even writing about this because I am incredibly blessed. I was blessed with the opportunity to go to and graduate college, I am blessed with a well-paid job with what I consider to be a very caring company. I have an apartment that fits my needs, and I have a family and friends that keep in touch despite our distance. However, I still feel sad. Some days are better than others and some days are really, really bad. Leaving the bubble of school and the world you create there is difficult. I’m sure some struggle with it more than I do and I am sure some people don’t struggle at all. I thought it would be a breeze. I thought I had it all figured out.

There are several reasons I think post-grad depression is a thing:

  • Leaving your comfort zone

Most of us have been in school for 17 years (+-). School is what we are good at; it’s what we know how to do. Leaving that comfort zone filled with friends, a routine, and a purpose is hard. 

  • College is about personal development, the real world often isn’t

In school, we have a definite purpose. No matter how miserable that one professor is you know it’s temporary and you are doing it to ultimately make yourself a better human. After college, most of what you do is to better your employer. You may be inadvertently bettering yourself but that’s often not your main purpose in your day-to-day life unless you make time for it.

  • Dealing with adult things

Let me tell you, electing my benefits was one of the most stressful things I have done. I understand how incredibly blessed I am to be offered benefits but the amount of money that leaves my paycheck every other week should be criminal. In addition to benefits, I have had to deal with taxes, apartment hunting, driving a U-Haul 1600 miles, appliances breaking, emergency vet trips, credit bureau security breaches, and bills on bills on BILLS.

  • Life not aligned with passions

College was a pain in my butt at times but a lot of it was focused on learning about topics I enjoyed. In fact, college is really about what you want. While my job is in marketing, my major, I can admit it isn’t the type of marketing I ever really wanted to do. There are other positions in the company that align better with my passions but I’m not there yet. I am here. It’s hard waking up to do something every day that you may not necessarily love but I am smart enough to understand that not everyone gets their dream job straight out of the gate and I am willing to work hard to get there one day.

I still deal with this ‘depression’ every day. A lot of this post was written in past tense but it’s still very much an issue. This post wasn’t meant to discourage any current college students. I love being independent and not having to worry about finals or buying books. However, I do wish someone had warned me. I don’t know if there is really a way to prepare but take it as reassurance.

Post-grad life may not be everything you dreamed it to be, but life is about adjusting and overcoming and you will.

I will.

Thanks for reading!

Link to my blog: https://lovelydysfunction.wordpress.com

Link to my ‘About me’ page: https://lovelydysfunction.wordpress.com/about/

Link to this post: https://lovelydysfunction.wordpress.com/2017/10/20/post-grad-depression-wait-thats-a-thing/

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~Amberlyn ~

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#ThankfulThursdayReblogs – Richard Ankers — Dragonscale Clippings

26 Thursday Apr 2018

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews, Poetry

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Welcome back to my Escape Pod Interview series. If you’re not familiar with this kind of post, please read the back story at Escape Pod Emulation! So, let’s open the Escape Pod door and find who’s managed to escape today
 Hello there! It’s Richard Ankers! What 5 items have you brought with you? The first [
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via EPod Interview with Richard Ankers — Dragonscale Clippings

Definitely Thankful for this guy! A Great Writer…and a marvelous Friend.  If you’ve not experienced his particular brand of prose or fantasy/steampunk/sci-fi writing, you will LOVE visiting his blog.  Even if you have 😉   Pop by and tell him I sentcha 🙂

#GuestBlogger #Author Mary Deal Shares some #WritingTips!

22 Sunday Apr 2018

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Explanatory articles covering myriad intrinsic details such as these related to writing are included in my self-help volume, Write It Right – Tips For Authors – The Big Book. The Amazon URL: https://tinyurl.com/yanfjdeh

The Letter S

Drop the letter s. If you believe that one letter couldn’t possibly cause you to receive a rejection, I encourage you to think again, especially if the same mistake recurs throughout your manuscript.

Incorrect usage comes from the lax attitude about our English language. Most people speak in jargon or a brogue that comes from a certain locale. I call it family hand-me-down language.  Truth is, no matter from where you hail, your written grammar must be correct for the broader reading audience.

I’m speaking of the letter s. Check out these sentences:

She ran towards the garage.

The ball rolled backwards.

Look upwards.

These sentences are all incorrect. That is, the use of the letter s is incorrect.

The letter s denotes something plural. In the first sentence, moving toward something means you can only go in one direction. Toward.

If the ball rolled backward, it can only go in one direction. Backward.

To look upward, you can only look in one direction. Upward.

Not surprising, an example of an exception is:

She leaned sideways.

The rule here is that when leaning, you can lean sideways in more than one direction, therefore the use of the letter s.

You’ll find many other words that are incorrectly used with s endings. When you find these, make note of them, maybe a running list. You’ll have the list to refer back to when you question your own writing.

This is but one of the finite idiosyncrasies of producing better grammar when writing stories and books that you hope to sell. Study your own language and speech.

Watch how the s is used or omitted in books that you love to read.

Get into the habit of listening to the speech patterns of others. Think critically of what you hear, but never criticize of a person who speaks that way. Instead, mentally analyze what you have heard. Learn the right from the wrong of speech and your writing will reflect your knowledge.

Those S and ES Endings

These endings have always troubled me until I finally decided to get it right. Compare the versions and pick out the correct usages in this name ending with the letter s.

The Joneses came for dinner.

The Jones’s came for dinner.

The Jones came for dinner.

 

John Joneses car stalled.

John Jones car stalled.

John Jones’s car stalled.

 

That Jones’s girl.

That Joneses girl.

That Jones girl.

 

The correct sentences are:

 

The Joneses came for dinner.

John Jones’s car stalled.

That Jones girl.

Some tips:

When a name ends with an s, and when speaking of the family as a group, add es, as in Joneses.

When speaking about something John Jones owned, it is his property and, therefore, an apostrophe and s shows ownership, as in Jones’s.

When speaking about a person in the singular, use only the name Jones.

However, when speaking about a group of girls all named Jones, you would write that sentence: The Jones girls. Notice that the name stays the same but the s is added to the word girl, stating more than one exists with that name.

MY BIO

Mary Deal is an award-winning author of suspense/thrillers, a short story collection, writers’ references, and self-help. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, Artist and Photographer, and former newspaper columnist and magazine editor. She is currently writing the third story in her Sara Mason Mystery Series, and a romance novel is now being published, which is a new genre for her. Other books coming soon will include her first poetry book and a second collection of more of her short stories.

She has traveled a great deal and has a lifetime of diverse experiences, all of which remain in memory as fodder for her fiction. A native of California’s Sacramento River Delta, where some of her stories are set, she has also lived in England, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is also an oil painter and photographer. Her art is used to create gorgeous personal and household products from her online galleries.

Find Her Online

Her Website: https://www.marydeal.com

Amazon Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/3z8pm31

Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/o7keqf7

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/mdeal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mary_Deal

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marydeal

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/105175192934570097998

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MaryDeal

Her Art Galleries

Mary Deal Fine Art: https://www.marydealfineart.com

Island Image Gallery: https://www.islandimagegallery.com

Mary Deal Fine Art and Photography: https://www.facebook.com/MDealArt

LocalMe: https://www.redbubble.com/people/localme

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/1deal

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~Mary Deal~

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Penniless Hearts – #GuestBlogger Eve Gaal

21 Saturday Apr 2018

Posted by in Guest Bloggers on BnV

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April 18-2018- Thanks Cynthia for having me on your blog.

The unique thing about Penniless Hearts is that it’s hard to categorize my book’s genre as a typical romance, adventure or mystery. I’ve been told it’s humorous. Though funny in parts, it’s not slapstick funny all the way through. Some reviews call it screw-ball comedy. Some call it a beach read. I think of it as a fictional tapestry of good versus evil. Short vignettes interspersed with mild doses of pain, coming together with an emotional climax. I honestly planned the plot holes because I wanted the reader to infer my meaning, without bogging them down with too many boring details. No one ever told me the book was dull. Of course, I think it’s unique, but will you? Our publisher knows how to keep our group interesting and diverse. I’ve read several books by Creativia authors and find them fascinating. So many interesting characters!

Twists

Like everything truly enjoyable, there must be a twist. Like chocolate-twisted brioche, the more twists the better. Penniless Hearts is filled with short, seemingly unconnected chapters. Nowadays some readers have OCD or fashionably diminutive attention spans. Not you, of course. There’s also the rampant problem called limited time. Both conditions are spreading like wildfire.

One of my favorite humor writers says:

The greatest sin for a writer is to be boring- Carl Hiaasen

Even reading the book reviews can be entertaining—well they are to me anyway. The main theme is about a journey. Penny, my main character is going to Hawaii. That’s when trouble begins. In our modern, interconnected, wireless world, if you don’t charge your cell phone and lose your ATM card, strange things can keep you separated from those you love. Do you enjoy adventures that take you on a vacation somewhere?

Love

But Penny’s not sure about love. In fact, in the beginning of the book she’s pretty much relegated love to her fantasies. And like many cynical, would be lovers, true love is a make-believe creation that rides around on a white stallion and looks impossible to find.

Fortunately, in my personal life, I met a Prince from my imagination in the early nineties. No white stallion–just a beat up old, red truck and some pre-teen kids. We were married in Hawaii and it was dreamy enough to call us back to the islands for our first anniversary where the luster of our honeymoon looked different. Those cracks in the veneer of hospitality gave me a glimpse into what would someday help with the setting of Penniless Hearts. And though our love blossomed, and my daily newspaper position kept me busy, there were dramatic issues involving our stepchildren. Horrific issues. That kept me awake at night, while also providing fodder for my novel.

A Real Heroine

Finally, I left the paper and moved from Murrieta to the desert town of La Quinta, where I had time to write. Maybe I could inspire others to find true love? I had four reasons to write Penniless Hearts: First, I wanted my siblings to find spouses and thought that perhaps a sister’s words could prove there is hope at the end of the dating tunnel. Second, I wanted to indirectly thank the graphic artists who had worked hard to please me in the newspaper business. I also wanted to bring awareness to the endangered sea turtles of Hawaii. Lastly, I needed a main female character who could overcome, overachieve and triumph when facing the unthinkable. A true heroine.

Bestselling author Marilyn Collier said this about my character Penny:

“This is a wild escape fiction for someone that wants to laugh, root for or want to shake the heroine.”

Research

Those two trips to the islands, the internet, used books, old maps and travel articles rounded out my research. After watching hours of videotaped volcanic eruptions and online helicopter flights, all I needed was the tranquility of the desert to write Penniless Hearts. The added benefit is that after watching all those videos I can fly a helicopter and dodge flowing lava at a moments notice. Yeah sure, I’m kidding.

If you read Penniless Hearts and enjoy it, please write me a note or post a review to tell me all about it.

Bestselling author Norma Beishir wrote:

“Penniless Hearts is one of the best novels I’ve read in a very long time.”

New & Fresh

We have returned to the area we lived in before we moved to the arid desert. I live in a semi-rural place called Wildomar. It’s interesting to find out historic Wildomar has been around for a very long time. While I live in a commuter-styled, suburban home, there are bucolic ranch homes with horses nearby. Unlike the desert where we had to drive five miles for a loaf of bread, we can walk less than a mile for everything. We can even drive a short distance to a dairy for fresh milk! Plus, the climate is perfect.

Anyway, I have almost finished writing the romantic sequel to Penniless Hearts. It’s called Penniless Souls and I’m still polishing it up. It’s a tad darker, and though I can’t say the subject is light and lively, Penny gets caught up in all sorts of adventure and heartache, but this time in Vegas, instead of Hawaii. The only thing keeping her sane, is the thought that life is a game of chance. But is it?

Watch for Penniless Souls soon.

~Eve Gaal~

I really enjoyed visiting. Thanks again for this opportunity. Please stop by my blog if you have a chance at http://evegaal.blogspot.com

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If you’d like to be a Guest Blogger on Booknvolume

#AuthorsAMABlog #AskMeAnything Today!

01 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by in About Me (since you Insist), Dark Fey

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Ok so, a don’t typically do shameless self promotion….But Im SO Excited I couldn’t help myself!!

Today I am hosting an #AMA Event starting at 11 AM EST!

So? you quizzically wonder….What is an AMA Event?

It’s an opportunity for you/readers/other authors/poets/creative spirits to literally ASK ME ANYTHING…..well…LOL…. anything about my books, Writing, Creativity, Being an Indie, Published and Freelance Author.  Want to Talk about Marketing Ideas, How to Build Networking Opportunities, Creating a Brand/ Social Presence, staying true to your writing ideals?  Me too!  So do please pop on over to the AMA Website and lets have a natter 🙂

I look forward to talking with YOU!

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~Morgan~

Ask Me Anything – No Really! #AMAAuthors

20 Monday Nov 2017

Posted by in About Me (since you Insist)

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Ok so, a don’t typically do shameless self promotion….But Im SO Excited I couldn’t help myself!!

I will be hosting an #AMA (Ask Me Anything!) Event  December 1st starting at 11 AM EST!

What is this?

It’s an opportunity for you to literally ASK ME ANYTHING about Writing, Creativity, Being an Indie, Published and Freelance Author. Talk about Marketing Ideas, How to Build Networking Opportunities, Creating a Brand/ Social Presence, staying true to your writing ideals and more.

The journey from hobbyist writing to Indie Author; Published by a well-respected company, and/or landing Freelance writing opportunities can be daunting.  Even more challenging is learning to navigate Social Media, Networking with fellow writers, and creating a social presence or brand.  How do you build opportunities for yourself and expand your social media Reach?

Pleas stop by HERE to RSVP.   I look forward to talking with YOU!

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~Morgan~

#VirtualFantasyCon #FreeBook #FantasyEvent!

02 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by in Dark Fey

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Do you love Fantasy? Freebies? Giveaways? Contest and Games?

Want to know more about Dark Fey? Want to put me on the Hot seat?? Love reading teasers and meeting Authors?

Plan to visit my Virtual Fantasy Con Facebook Event on Oct 15–21, 2017 for all of the above AND daily chances to Win over 20 Free Books!!!!

Which Books?  These Books!

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Each day until the event opens, I’ll be sharing a brief post about a fellow writer. It will be one of the very generous Authors whose book is part of the Grand Prize Pack I will be giving away on October 21st!

One way to add an entry into your chances to win is to share the post on your page 🙂 Look for the tag #ShareTheLoveandWin!!

Heres my event page link:  https://www.facebook.com/events/176153119618721

Hope to see you there 🙂

~Morgan~

2017 #VirtualFantasyCon – Where Magic Rules!

15 Friday Sep 2017

Posted by in Friday FeyDay / Fantasy

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I am so excited to share the news with you !!  October 15-21, 2017 I will be participating in this years #VirtualFantasyCon, along with MANY other talented Fantasy Authors.  It gives us all an opportunity to share our books with readers around the world and to learn more about each other as well.  
I will soon be sharing a Facebook Event Page link to a page where you will be able to find information about my Epic YAFantasy (if you don’t already know as much as I do!) I will also be running a few fun games and contests throughout the week, as well as a Stellar Giveaway with FREE BOOKS  🙂  (No Really!!)
So my question right now is: What would you like to know about #DarkFey that you don’t know now?
Be sure to keep watching….More to come as the time draws closer!
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Thank you for sharing my excitement…and sharing the word round with any Fantasy readers you may know.
~Morgan~

#FridayFeyDay – Friendly Fairy Tales Blog #Spotlight

17 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews, Friday FeyDay / Fantasy

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Friendly Fairy Tales Blog

Please permit me the privilege of presenting the pleasing and positively pleasant Brenda Davis Harsham of Friendly Fairy Tales Blog found here: http://friendlyfairytales.com . Its the fairy magic that brings out the alliterations in me, but its Brenda that brings the smiles! Her glorious gardens for gazing, her prolific pleasing prose, the fanciful friendly fairies fluttering freely, and the sprinkling of softly spoken sagacity that brings me back to her beauteous blog again and again (and again and again!). When Brenda agreed to share her smiles and some secrets in this weeks In The Lime Light, I knew I would Love hearing what she had to share and I was in no way disappointed by her answers. Read on and enjoy her vim and verm, her wit and wisdom for yourselves 😉

About Your Blog:

Tell us about your Blog.
Friendly Fairy Tales is a place of magic where stories are born from the broth of words, stirred by imagination, stripped down to the bones. Poetry, photography and fairy tales celebrate nature and all the possibilities it sparks in our minds.

What Inspires you and Sparks your Imagination?
Nature, literature, song and people give me constant inspiration. Translating that inspiration into stories is the work of a lifetime.

Your blog boasts Poetry as well as Photography, do you have a favourite?
I’m not sure if you mean do I prefer poetry above photography or the converse OR if you mean do I have a favorite poem or photograph. I prefer the magic that happens when poetry springs from a photograph, bringing with it the memories of that moment in my life. I can’t pick a favorite poem or photograph. That would be like picking a favorite child, and I would never try to do that. They are all memories and songs of my heart.

Do you have any upcoming events or projects, books, promotions, giveaways?
I am sadly lacking any of those. What a slacker I am!! I am entertaining my children to the summer of their dreams (I hope), and burnishing story ideas whenever I have the chance. And I can’t help taking new pictures and writing new poems, because that is like breathing to me.

Brenda H

About YOU:

I was a sad little girl for so many reasons, but I had an epiphany in my early twenties that the secret of being happy was to declare that it was so. And so I have endeavored to do that, with more assurance and authority ever since, and dang if it hasn’t worked!

Brenda’s Bio:
A lifetime of nature observation collided with my love of fairy tales, giving birth to my blog. I do extensive research and use true stories about animal behavior in my writing. I’ve been published, and my writing has won hundreds of awards. I’m hard at work on a multitude of children’s book manuscripts. I hope to have one traditionally published soon. In addition, I’m a wife, a mom of three imaginative kids and a survivor.

Describe yourself in Five Words.
Phoenix reborn reclaiming happiness deliberately.

Tell us about something from your childhood that sparked the creativity bug inside you.
I’ve always had my own inner world, with a wise voice that helped me keep my balance in a rocky world. That inner voice taught me that telling myself stories was more fun than replaying disappointments and mistakes in a hyper critical way. Being a perfectionist is no picnic. Get off that train if you suffer from the same impossible expectations that I did. Unless you’re writing, in which case, edit, edit, edit. LOL

If you could go anywhere, do anything, regardless of expense, describe your Perfect Day.
I would have a tea party with my kids and all our friends in the Musee d’Orsay, right in full view of the Van Gogh collection, and not a drop of food would cling to my frock and not a bit of damage would happen to the art. We would then go paint plein air in Monet’s garden. Then we would take a helicopter to Provence, where we would lie on lounge chairs in a field of lavender, the fragrance surrounding us as we gaze at the milky way, in all its glory. Not a single bug would impinge on our moments of perfection. Then we would all teleport home to sleep in our own beds. (Oh I want to go along with you! Sounds Absolutely Magical!)

If you could invite Five People (from the past or present) to a dinner party, who would you invite and why?
Oh, my, such scope for the imagination. I’m quite overwhelmed. Frida Kahlo, Robert Frost, Henry David Thoreau, Ogden Nash, Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain. Oh, I can’t choose, I can’t!

What makes Life Worth Living?
Art, Family, Love, imagination, Faith, joy, Dreams, Nature. I want it all!

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SEE I told you it would be an Entirely Enjoyable Experience 🙂

Thank You Brenda for Sharing your insights with us. Im so Glad you agreed to be In The Lime Light!

~Morgan~

In The Lime Light – Mary Anne Yarde -#Author #Interview

11 Saturday Feb 2017

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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I recently read and reviewed two fantastic books by Author Mary Anne Yarde, and I was fortunate enough to entice her to stop by for a natter!

Mary Anne Yarde is the Award Winning author of the International Best Selling Series — The Du Lac Chronicles. Set a generation after the fall of King Arthur, The Du Lac Chronicles takes you on a journey through Dark Age Briton and Brittany, where you will meet new friends and terrifying foes. Based on legends and historical fact, The Du Lac Chronicles is a series not to be missed.

Born in Bath, England, Mary Anne Yarde grew up in the southwest of England, surrounded and influenced by centuries of history and mythology. Glastonbury–the fabled Isle of Avalon–was a mere fifteen-minute drive from her home, and tales of King Arthur and his knights were part of her childhood.

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Hello Mary Anne, So glad you could visit with BooknVolume today.  Please Introduce us to your Blog.  What is it all about?   What sorts of posts do you lean towards?

My blog is called Myths, Legends, Books and Coffee Pots.

Oh. My. Days! I so love my blog. My posts are focused on the mythological and historical wonders of this world. I like this mix because sometimes the two overlap, particularly in my chosen field of — I am not going to call it expertise, because I hate the word expert — let’s call it knowledge, yeah, that works. My chosen Field Of Knowledge is Arthurian folklore and history, so there is a fair amount of that on my blog. I also love to have authors in the same genre as the blog, come on and share their stories and their inspirations about their books.  My to-read list has gone through the roof thanks to my blog!

What Inspires and stirs your creativity?

That is a difficult question to answer. I don’t know. I don’t look at a view, or a picture, or hear some music and suddenly feel inspired and quickly dash for my computer. This is going to sound a little daft, but I think writing, in general, inspires me. The more I write, the more I want to write. It is like a drug for me. I really hope they never find a cure!

I often hope the same thing!  Well, in that case, what do you find difficult to write about?

What do I find difficult? Umm
 There are some things I wouldn’t write about, full stop. Just the same as there are some things I don’t want to read about or watch on the television. I am not going to write blog posts that I don’t feel comfortable sharing with my readers. So to answer your question, I don’t find writing blog posts particularly challenging because I am writing about, and sharing the things, that I enjoy.

What Message, if any, do you hope to Share through your blog/posts?

I hope my posts are fun and informative and I want my readers to enjoy them, and if they come away having learnt something — bonus!

That’s always a pleasant surprise, I know 🙂  How has your blog helped you as a writer/Indie Author? What things have you learned along the way that you never anticipated?

I think blogs are a great way for authors to connect with readers and it has given me a tremendous amount of confidence in putting myself out there, so to speak. All authors should have one!

Although I’ve already reviewed both of them previously, can you tell us about your book(s):

My books are part of a series called The Du Lac Chronicles. They are set a generation after the fall of King Arthur and they tell the story of what happened next, through the eyes of Lancelot du Lac’s sons.

Read Review on BnV of Book One
Read Review on BnV of Book Two

du Lac Chronicles

What Inspired you to write your book?

I grew up very near Glastonbury, The Ancient Isle of Avalon, and stories of King Arthur were as much a part of my childhood as say, Santa Claus was.
I have always loved the stories of Arthur and his Knights, but I also felt a little deflated with how the story ended. If you are not familiar with the end of the tale, I will explain it very quickly…
Arthur is betrayed by his nephew — Mordred —  and their two armies meet at the Battle of Camlann. Mordred is killed, and Arthur is gravely wounded. Arthur is taken to Avalon, and that is the last we hear of him. His Knights, if they were not already dead, end their days as hermits. The end.

Yeah, you heard me. The famous Knights of The Round Table became hermits. Seriously? Is that the best the great poets could come up with? I don’t know about you, but I think that ending kinda sucks! I was never happy with it. I wanted to write about what came after Arthur’s death. In particular, I wanted to focus on the next generation of Knights who find themselves in an ever-changing Saxon world.

Im so glad you did, because it’s a wonderfully fresh perspective!  
From what Point of View do you prefer to write? Is there a reason?

I write in the third person because I like to juggle multiple Points of View. I like to get under the skin of my characters and see what makes them tick. They are all very different, which keeps me engaged with my writing.

What genre do you prefer to write or are you truly eclectic?

I currently write in the Historical Fantasy genre. The thought of writing in a different genre sends a nervous sensation down my back. Maybe I will become a little courageous further into my career and experiment with a different genre. But for now, I am stuck with Historical Fantasy, which is fine by me!

Do you painstakingly plot out your story; are you a discovery writer or a bit of both? Why?

I spent ages writing a plan once, and then I completely dismissed it when I started to write. So since then, I don’t bother planning. I know where I want my story to end — it is just a case of getting my characters there!

I know precisely what you mean.  They often throw a few curves at you before you get where you want to go!  Do you have a favourite or least favourite character? And Why?

Yes, I have both!  My favourite character has always been Merton du Lac. He is such a complicated little soul. He is a bit like an onion — lots of layers, and he is always making me cry.
I have two characters that I loath. Merton’s brother, Budic, and his childhood friend, Josephine. They are both very unlikeable people, but they fascinate me no end. I really like writing about them.

Share an insight or secret about your book(s). 

Sshh! One of the du Lac brothers might not make it to the end of the series.

GASP!!  Oh dear!  Ok…no spoilers here, I’ll try to keep moving….um…What do you feel is your best advice to share with other aspiring authors?

Stop doubting yourself. Seriously. Don’t do that. Just write your book.

OH I love that!!!  Would you like to share an excerpt from the book or a poem or two to give readers an idea what you offer?

Oh, yes please! This is from my latest release — The Du Lac Devil (Book 2 of The Du Lac Chronicles).

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Book Excerpt ~ The Du Lac Devil (Book 2 of The Du Lac Chronicles)

“What are you doing here?” Lady Amandine asked mere moments later. She glanced anxiously up and down the hallway. Thankfully, it was empty, for everyone else had already made their way down to the Hall to break their fast.

Merton was leaning against the opposite wall. In truth, he did not know why he was here, he had promised himself that he would keep his distance, but his feet had led him to her chamber nonetheless.

“I came to ravish you. Why else? Can I come in? Unless you want me to ravish you in the hallway of course,” he said, trying to shock.

“You are not coming in,” Amandine whispered, fearful that someone would hear them in the empty corridor.

“The hallway it is then.” He took a step forward as if he was going to make a grab for her. She immediately took a step back into her room and closed the door just enough so she could peek around and still see him.

Merton laughed. The sound was joyous to Amandine’s ears. She wasn’t used to being teased. Merton made a welcomed change to the tedium that was her life. Not to mention he was also very pleasing to the eye, compared to her ancient husband that was.

“Are you going to let me in, or are you going to cling to the door all morning?” Merton asked, raising one eyebrow as he did so.

He was looking at her in that indulgent way of his. No one, apart from maybe Garren, had looked at her the way Merton did now. It was very persuasive.

“What if my husband returns?”

“While I was ravishing you?” Merton looked shocked. “Well,” he breathed out slowly and crept closer to the door. He raised his hand and rested it on the doorframe. “He would be in for a sight, although I have been told that my body is rather fine to behold,” he smiled charmingly at her.

“You are not funny,” Amandine said. She tried to glance down the hallway again, but he was blocking her view.

“There is no one there, and your husband has drunk himself into unconsciousness. I saw him this morning, fast asleep with his head resting on his plate. I do not think he will be coming back here anytime soon.”

“Oh no, not again,” she sighed and leant her head against the edge of the door. “I should have gone and looked for him last night, I suppose.” But instead, she had been glad for his absence, especially when she woke herself up in the dead of night, calling Merton’s name out loud. She felt her face heat as she recalled her dream. “Thank you for telling me, I had better go and rescue him.”

Her voice sounded thoroughly fed-up, but also resigned and Merton found himself hating her husband for humiliating her so.

“He seemed quite content with his lot. I don’t think he needs rescuing. Are you ever going to let me in or are we going to spend the day conversing in the hall?”

“I can’t let you in,” Amandine said in horror. “What would people say?”

“What people?” He made much of looking down the corridor. When he looked back at her, she had narrowed her eyes and was frowning at him. He smiled as she opened the door wider.

“This isn’t a good idea,” she whispered as she led him further into the chamber she shared with her husband.

Merton shut the door with a resounding bang and turned the key, for he did not want them to be disturbed.

“Now, where would you like to be ravished?” He took a moment to look around the room as if contemplating the best place. “Nice bed.”

****** OH want to read more!!!!

OK so now on to the harder bit….talking about yourself!   If you had to describe yourself to someone who has never met you, what might you say?

Mary Anne Yarde skips to a drumbeat that no one else can hear! And if it looks like she isn’t listening, it is because her mind is somewhere in the Dark Ages, but I believe chocolate is really good at bringing her attention back to the present!

If you could meet one person from the past, who might it be and why?

This is always a tough question because there have been so many people that I would like to sit down and have a chat with over a sticky bun and a coffee. But hey, wouldn’t it be kind of cool if I could go back in time and find out if King Arthur really did exist? And if he did, I wonder if he would teach me how to use a sword?

When you are NOT writing, what is your favourite pastime?

Reading, Zumba — which, for the record, I am very bad at! And playing the piano — which I am quite good at. Lastly, anything equestrian, as long as the horse’s front legs don’t leave the ground. As a child I was fearless, but with age, I have become a bit of a coward, isn’t that tragic?! I leave the more adventurous stuff to my teen!

Describe Your Dream Getaway Destination.  Have you ever been there?  What makes this place Irresistible to you?

Scotland. I adore the place. I wouldn’t mind living there, but my husband isn’t so keen. Spoilsport! We came back recently from another trip there, and I am already planning the next one, however my daughter is determined that we holiday in Cornwall this year — she has just discovered Poldark!

I’d love to go there as well, just another place on the list of MANY in Great Britain!  So delighted you stopped in Mary Anne to share so much with us 🙂   Now, where can readers find you and your books?

Links For Purchase
Amazon US

Amazon UK

Links for Mary Anne

Website and Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

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I hope you enjoyed learning about Mary Anne today and might take a moment to visit her blog, website or check out her books.  Trust me, if you enjoy historical fiction, tales about King Arthur or knights you will love her series!

Thanks ever so much Mary Anne 🙂   May the Inspiration and Intoxication of words never fade!

~Morgan~

 

Invitation for Guest Bloggers on BnV

17 Thursday Nov 2016

Posted by in About Me (since you Insist)

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Life is a Beautiful, Beguiling thing.  It lies quiet, waiting for us to open ourselves to our calling; then it fills our world.  Often, it fills to overflowing, which is a Blessing to Ever be Thankful for; yet in the world of writing it also often creates a conundrum. That being, I love to write, but now I have so many other things going on, I don’t have time to write and I really need to write!

Oh Dear….what to do, what to do?  Well, in my mind the solution is to Invite YOU to Share your gift(s) of writing and creativity through Booknvolume.  Simple, right? (Well, potentially.)

So here it is, my very first Official Invitation to YOU my fellow authors, writers, bloggers, photographers (Yes you too!) and artists, to Share your Talent through the pages of BnV via Guest Blogging.  Interested?  Intrigued? (even morbidly curious?) Then do please read on, Oh Intrepid One, and we shall lay some preliminary ground work.

First and most importantly to me is that Booknvolume is a PG-13 Blog, so any posts, poems, photographs, etc., must pass that guideline, Please.  You are free to choose whatever topic you find appealing and you may share anything from poetry to flash fiction, short stories, artwork, photography, recipes, Inspirational Quotes, Spirituality, Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Character Sketches….in other words, I’m not going to restrict you as long as you follow the PG-13 Golden Rule.  🙂

Secondly, Guest Writer dates will mainly be weekends and holidays (until I’ve caught up with writing ..Dark Fey, Breaking Into The Light dontcha know!).

Thirdly, dates will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis.  If you are interested, please contact me via the form below and we can iron out the relative details.

Finally, (though it really probably doesn’t need to be said), Guest Writers/Bloggers are on a voluntary basis.  No compensation other than my Gratitude and the Appreciation of my/our followers will be provided.

Still here?  Still fascinated?  Great (Mr Spock), here’s the contact form:
(IF you have a pop-up blocker running, the form may not appear)

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Thank You so much for all your support and for your interest in adding YOUR Voice to Booknvolume.   I look forward to sharing your talent with my readers and Very Much Appreciate your willingness to Help a fellow writer in need.

~Blessings~

~Morgan~

In The Lime Light – Roari Benjamin – #AuthorSpotlight

12 Saturday Nov 2016

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Is it Saturday already? OH How time flies, but no matter, because Saturdays mean Lime Lights and that is fine with me 🙂 Time to shine the spotlight on another well-deserving Writer/Creater/Poet/Author who I recently met via Twitter (great place, Really, you ought to visit sometime if you don’t usually). But who you can also visit at her blog: http://roaribenjamin.blogspot.com So, go ahead, grab a steaming cup of something soothing, sit back, relax and allow me to present Roari Benjamin, writer of sci-fi and fantasy laced with romance and adventure. She lives in Southern California’s High Desert with the love of her life, their son and daughter, three cats, two dogs, and a turtle. Roari LOVES being in the water, in spite of the fact that she lives in a desert. Continue reading →