Laura Prior and her Wolves/Angels

Welcome Laura and thank you for visiting with us. I am so excited to read your Best Shot!!

Beware the Wolf by Laura Prior

Sequel to Falling for an Angel.

Jasmine is a Nephilim -- half Angel and half Human. After being tortured in a Hell Dimension by an army of Fallen Angels, she escaped only to be betrayed by her Guardian Angel. After falling through a portal into a mystical realm, she finds herself hunted by Demons and befriended by Werewolves.

Feathers

This is a taste test - A sample of what I have been working on over the past few days. Coming up with the initial idea for a story is not that difficult.
I try to always put an original spin on my Fantasy writing - and allow a story to develop that allows me to give it a twist. You can say 'Hasn't Fantasy been done to death. Isn't it about Vampires and Werewolves, Zombies and things that jump out of cupboards with an axe to slash to you death.

I say 'Not at all.'

Fantasy is only limited to the writers imagination. It should be dark and gritty, fast paced and unique in every creation. I may use the initial form of a fairy for instance, but in no way will I call my character a fairy. I instead, find a new name for the creature. A new reason for it being placed in the story and if possible, a very new talent that I hope entices the reader to continue on with the story.

It is hard to leave an audience wanting, but it is a must with a good writer.

Feathers

“Do you think I care if they cut your head off? It makes no mind to me Mister; after all, it’s your fault we’re in this mess. Call yourself a bloody thief - you’re an embarrassment.”

This was the umpteenth time Bing had erupted into a raging telling off and his partner in crime shifted noisily in his shackles. The iron cuffs around his legs bit cruelly into his pale skin. Mumbling and low curses wasn’t the answer, but it was the next best thing and Grain was just as angry. At himself and at the smart arse Officer, who had without any reason, tossed them like a bad salad into the Hole.

Above, hung a circle of blue, every now and then, it was permeated with white floating clouds and Grain let slide a tear at what he knew was his last day. They didn’t have the money to pay the fine and that meant only one thing - the Slavers Block. He wouldn’t last a day if that happened, chained to the belly of a gallery, rowing with a bunch of bastards and murderers.

He couldn’t see past a fleas fart in the darkness and jumped when he felt the tickle on his ear. Hesitantly, Grain raised a hand thinking to brush away the offending insect and was surprised to feel the flutter of wings on his cheek. Grain let out a yell as a set of tiny feet landed on his finger.

“What is it Grain, need a lullaby to help you stop the black jitters. Afraid that tomorrow will come and find you wanting.” There was enough scorn in Bing’s voce to light a fire up his sore backside, but he said not a word. “No … no answer. Well I guess it’s for the best bud, soon the sun will set and that is when the real waiting begins.”

Grain was afraid to move and for a short time, he kept his finger stiff and straight, feeling the weight of those tiny feet balancing lightly and with what seemed practiced ease on his hand. But, the time dragged and the blue circle above their heads, began to darken. Night was falling and the long wait as Bing had boasted an hour ago was upon them.

T.C. Harrelson and Jean Booth, together make a wonderful set of guests to interview

I would like to welcome Cris to The Unseen Promise for a chat! What a wonderful writer and interesting man to talk to. Please read his interview and the share it with every else.

Bio

T. 
 C. 
 Harrelson 
 is 
 fascinated, 
 by 
 the 
 strange 
 and 
 otherworldly, and loves to write about it. 
 He 
 lives 
 in 
 the 
 Wilmington, 
 NC 
 area 
 with 
 his 
 wife 
 (Randie) 
 and 
 son 
(Stephen), and two spoiled dachshunds.

Jean Booth is here today to talk about her book – Choice. Please welcome her to The Unseen Promise. What a wonderful interview.

Bio:

Jean Booth was born in the sweltering Vegas desert. She moved about during her childhood until somewhat returning to her roots in Northern Nevada. She’s happily married with 9 cats as her children. For the entirety of her adult life, she’s worked in healthcare, battling insurances and poor staffing to provide great care to those who need it. Her greatest escapes are the stories found in books and in her head that she’s finally decided to share.

Jane Risdon and Ms. Birdsong Investigates

Hi Carol and thanks for giving me the opportunity to tell you about myself and my writing. I am so pleased you asked me.

I’ve always wanted to write but I’ve had such a demanding career in the Music Business where I’ve been concentrating on artists and their careers and ambitions, I just never managed to find the time or a quiet period when I could write. Being on tour or in the recording studio endlessly doesn’t leave much time for anything other than sleep, and there was never much of that. Having holidays was never an option.

Jane Godman and Shirley Denton - Wonderful women and writers the pair!

Jane Godman is up for a chat! Fantastic                 

romantic writer who is here to talk about 

her wonderful book ‘The Rebel’s Promise.’  

Settle in and have a read, then please share 

her work with many, many others.

Shirley Denton is a remarkable woman and I am very proud to call her a friend. She is a survivor in the true sense and a talented writer. Welcome her and share this interview with as many people as you can, and experience the journey of loss with through her eyes.

Give it up for Julieanne Lynch's Best Shot

Within the Shadows

Walking behind Atarah and Angelika as they led me through corridors that looked like something out of a gothic fairy tale, I felt like a lamb being led to slaughter. The walls were a strange shade of pomegranate, its boldness illuminated by softly lit candles. The wooden floors were temporarily covered with a bluish-red runner that ran the whole length of the hall. Amaranthine drapes hung over the grand bay windows. The air had a distinct aroma, and although I could not quite place the smell I was sure it was incense. Its strong, fragrant smoke brushed the back of my nostrils, resulting in a few disapproving sneezes.

Escaping Shadows

The bright light hurt my eyes as we walked past the plumage of the orange grove. The

sweet fragrance of the orange blossoms was almost overwhelming, but my senses welcomed the sweetness. We walked further and further into what seemed like a dense forest, passing a waterfall with bridges hovering over streams and Koi ponds. My eyes tried to take in as much as they could, but the beauty of what met my eyes was not only astonishing, but also breathtaking.

From Self-published to Published

From Self-published to Published


Thank you to Carol for kindly allowing me to hijack a space in her blog to share something with you.

My name is Sam Kates and I have been writing fiction for nigh on fifteen years. I had some short stories published in small press magazines and accumulated a pile of rejections for my novels from agents and publishers. There are probably many other writers who have trodden a similar path.

Then the e-publishing revolution came along. I didn’t even notice until I received a Kindle for Christmas in 2011. It still took me until August last year to appreciate the opportunities now open to writers with a bunch of scribblings accumulating cyberdust on their hard drive. So I bundled together ten short stories and published them on Amazon under the title Pond Life.


Going against accepted wisdom (‘Never publish the first novel you write’), I rewrote my first novel and published it in December as The Village of Lost Souls.


Life then took over (in particular, I faced the threat of losing my job, now thankfully averted) and I haven’t found time to rewrite my second novel and publish it. But in the meantime something remarkable has happened.


Around two weeks ago, completely out of the blue, I received a message from somebody representing an independent publisher, Smithcraft Press, saying that they felt my books should be selling more than they are and that they would be interested in publishing and marketing them.

My initial jaw-dropping astonishment was tempered by a certain wariness. We’ve all heard the horror stories: authors paying through the nose for marketing and editing services from their publisher, e-books being offered at ridiculously high prices so nobody buys them, authors being invited to buy-out their publishing contracts for more exorbitant fees. I waited to receive the contract with a knot in my stomach, dreading that it would contain all those things and that I’d be compelled to reject it.

Much to my relief, the contract did not contain any unconscionable terms. With one slight amendment that the publisher was happy to agree, I felt that the contract was fair for a complete unknown like me.

So I signed.


I’m still coming to terms with being able to drop ‘self’ from self-published author. I had no idea that my work was even under consideration until the publisher contacted me. Of course, I hoped to one day attract the attentions of a publisher, but never dreamed it would happen so quickly.

So is there some sort of moral to this tale? I don’t know, except perhaps for this: if you too are a self-published author, hang in there; good fortune can strike when you least expect it. It may happen to you.

 Best of luck!

http://www.amazon.com/Sam-Kates/e/B0094X0XTW/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1366544884&sr=1-2-ent (Sam Kates’s author page)