Teaser time!

That's right, folks. It's time for the Indi-Licious teaser blog hop!


This week we are going back to Kaldalangra, but we will be visiting Soul of Asimina, due to be released winter 2013.

~ * ~ * ~

Sabina stood in the orchard, still as a rabbit caught in the sight of one of her father’s hunting hounds, and quickly ticked off her options.

Too close for me to run, she calculated. The strange man was over a foot taller than her, and looked to be athletic enough to overtake her before she escaped the orchard. Her friends had turned and were coming back, but too slowly, not realizing the danger. She could yell, but there was no assurance that help would come quickly enough.

She looked into the blue eyes and saw a feverish hope there, a longing so intense that it frightened her. He was covered in dust, covered in mud, and his shaggy hair was tangled with twigs and thorns.

“Hello. Are you lost?” She said, carefully backing up as she spoke, observant that he stepped closer with every step.

“I’m here. Don’t you recognize me? I’m here.” The man stretched out a hand towards her face, the movement smooth and unthreatening.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t. Are you from the court? Are you from the other world?” Sabina glanced to her right, saw her friends approaching, and saw the shift from carefree friends to young warriors as the men approached.

“It’s me. I came back to save you. I came back to help you. Now we can find our way back again, together.” His eyes were shiny with unshed tears of relief that he had finally found her.

“Why don’t you come back to the village with me? We can get you some food, some clean clothes, and then we can talk.” Sabina slowly reached out a hand for the man, heart pounding in her chest, eyes subtly tracking her friend, Nastasio, as he moved behind the stranger.

“We should leave now, before they trap you again.” He stepped forward to grab her hand, preparing to flee with her into the woods.

Nastasio moved as soon as the stranger’s hand touched his friend, and a quick elbow to the temple sent the man crumpling to the floor.

~*~*~

Be sure to also check out these other tantalizing teasers from the incredible authors in this weeks Indie-licious blog-hop

Why I love Indie - Guest Christie Rich!

Today is our first guest author, Christie Rich, talking about why she goes the Indie route for her fantastic books. With her stunning covers and creative story-lines, she is a great inspiration for anyone who loves to write.

Just who is Christie Rich? Here is a glimpse into the person behind the Elemental Enmity series.


I grew up daydreaming about fairytales, and my love for discovering new worlds has never died. I am not one of those writers who always knew I would write. I thought that was what other people did until one day a few years ago, I took a challenge from a friend and typed my first words. My journey has been wonderful, and I cannot imagine a day where I would ever give up writing. My love for reading is what fueled my imagination in the first place and still does. When I am not writing or reading, I am enjoying family time with my husband and two children. I also dabble in painting but writing has taken over my creative time right now. I hope to get back to it at some point in my life, but I'm not sure when I'll have time for it. My family and I live in a quiet community in Northern Utah, and I am so thankful for the rich life I have been blessed with.

Where you can find Christie:

Website l Blog l Goodreads l Pinterest l Twitter l Facebook

Now, here we go!

1) When did you first begin to write as an Indie-author/self-published author? 

I published my first novel, Five (Elemental Enmity Book I) in August 2011. I just released the final book in the series in January.


2) Why did you decide to go the Indie-author/self-publishing route?

I'd shopped around for agents for a while with my manuscript with a bit of interest and more rejections. For me, my decision came when I found Dean Wesley Smith's blog and started reading "Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing". Mr. Smith opened my eyes to the world of Indie publishing. I had no idea that I could do this all myself, and maybe a few years ago, it would have been harder, but things are opening up for writers. We have more choices than ever before, and I love the control of the product. I love being able to change something from the blurb to the cover if something is not working.


3) What are some advantages to being an Indie-Author/Self-published author? 

As above, control. When I hire an editor, I get to decide if I agree with suggestions for change. When I hire a cover artist, I get to decide when the cover is complete. I've worked with some amazingly talented people who love their work and do a great job. They are just as interested in making the product great as I am. My cover artist, Amber McNemar, of eThink Graphic Solutions has gone above and beyond to make my covers great. She takes pride in her work and it shows. I give her a guideline of what I want and she always blows me away with the finished product.


4) What are some of the disadvantages to being an Indie-Author/Self-Published author?

Control. Everything is my responsibility. If I don't keep things straight, it's my fault. That's the only down side I can think of. There are just so many great things about being an indie writer.


5) What is your best advice to someone who wants to break into the Indie world? 

Do your research. Don't take anyone's advice without checking into things. Make sure you know the difference between a copy editor and a developmental editor and a proofreader before you hire anyone. Realize this is a long process, whether you decide to go indie or traditional. Even if you signed a contract with a trad publisher tomorrow, it would most likely be a year or more before you would ever see your book in print. Realize you can beat this time frame on your own, and produce a product that rivals any trad publisher. Realize you are starting a business and learn all you can about it. It's okay to hire people to help you, but make sure you know what the going rate is and what to expect when you hire someone. At that point they are your employee for services. You are in charge.

~    ~    ~    ~

Thank you for for participating in the Why I Love Indie blog series, Christie! (Now...off to buy some of these books....)

Why I write Indie

Welcome to my first installment in the “Why I write Indie” series. I will be featuring a weekly interview and/or guest blogs with some Indie writers I know, who have some amazing novels.



I am an Indie writer, and self-published, for several reasons. First and foremost, because while writing is my passion, it is not enough (yet?) to pay my bills. Most days I cannot devote more than one hour to my novel creations, due to my lovely 2 hour work commute, 8 hour work day, and then my other full-time job as a toddler wrangler (aka, mom to an almost 2 year old). You can imagine that this schedule would not fly with the traditional publishing needs for quick edits and solid deadlines.

My writing is also very personal to me, and I like having very little hands in the pot, if you will. Over the year that it takes me to write/publish a novel, the characters become like my children, and I cannot imagine handing over control of their lives (aka plot-lines) to someone who doesn’t know the plot for the next book in the series, or the ideas banging around in my head for a 4th book.

Self-publishing allows me to do what I can, when I can. Yes, in some ways it is much more difficult since I have no marketing team other than myself, but I can deal with that. I am able to schedule events for when it fits my family’s schedule, and go past a self-imposed deadline without huge fall-backs. I am able to meet an incredible array of people who help me to create covers, bookmarks, web banners, and all the things I don’t have the talent to achieve. Until I started researching the Indie world, I had no idea about the incredibly talented men and women who work in the Indie world.

It’s not laziness, but simply accepting the reality of my life, and being able to merge my life as an author with my life as a computer tech, wife, and mom.

Teaser Time - Heart of Kylassame

It's teaser time! This is another little tidbit from the second book in the Kaldalangran series, Heart of Kylassame, soon to be released!

~ * ~ * ~

A taller figure dressed in black approached the house carefully, moving slowly down the center of the pathway. He stepped onto the first step of the porch and tripped, then gave a short scream of shock as icy cold water splashed down from the bucket that had been tipped by a trip-wire strung over the step.

He retreated, the whites of his eyes gleaming in the darkness as he looked for the defenders of the house. When he moved back five steps, three other youths joined him, and they moved towards the house in a military V formation.

~ * ~ * ~

It certainly seems like things are not looking well for the people of the realm, but looks can often be deceiving. You will have to be sure to read the entire story to find out the details.

Need something to tide you over while waiting at the bus stop? Maybe you are looking for your next good read. Be sure to check out the teasers found in the Teaser Blog Hop! You might find your next best read.

Character Spotlight - Gormellyn

Character Spotlight – Gormellyn 

     The Gormellyn is a harbinger of justice, deliverer of destiny, and a creature with no mercy.

     With a body the size of a large bird, but with a feline form, the Gormellyn is a small, but lethal creature. A body and legs of obsidian-black fur led to paws with razor-sharp talons. The long, thin muzzle of the Gormellyn was deceptively passive, until it opened and revealed needle-sharp fangs that glistened against black fur. The red, sibilant tongue can smell fear on the air, and the pointed, black ears can hear the words of deception spoken across the entire realm.

     Usually content to reside within its rocky lair in the region known as Steinbrekka, the Gormellyn will only leave in order to see justice done within the realm of Kaldalangra. Rarely has he been woken from his decade long slumber, but when the imposter to the throne answered the Gormellyn’s call for power, he arose angry and vengeful.

     The Gormellyn has no patience for human struggles, pain, or relationships. This creature knows only one thing, and that is justice. He has no room in his heart for those who seek to deceive those around him, and no mercy for those who cause harm to the people he claims as his own.

Teaser Time!

Do you know what time it is? Time for the   teaser blog hop!

This week's teaser takes us back to the beginning of The Lady of Steinbrekka, the first in the Kaldalangra series. The Lady of Steinbrekka is available for purchase from Barnes&Noble and Amazon.

   “It is not worth it to struggle, little one. You have no chance of winning.”

   Rhea caught a finger between her teeth and bit down hard, wildly kicking her feet out to try to contact any body part of her assailant. She growled, “it’s always worth trying,” and then cried out in pain as he grabbed her by the back of her neck like a kitten. He forced her on her knees into a stillness born of agony as the second man approached.

   “I thought she was going to be an easy one eh, so much for a painless job.”

   The man holding her laughed, “I suspect it will be well worth it, my brother. They do not come this feisty all the time!” His grip hardened on her neck as he dragged her onto her feet. “Now are you going to come quietly girl, or will you be taking the hard way out?”

   Rhea spat at him and tried to twist out of his grip. She felt a quick, hard blow to her head and the world began to move like slow molasses around her. She fought a quick wave of nausea and tried to coerce her feet to move, to will the stars to stop creating a tunnel in front of her face. She saw the mirror in front of her slide to the side, and felt herself being forced into the space it once occupied. She had the momentary thought of, that’s crazy, the mirror doesn’t do that, as the darkness consumed her.

 How will Rhea get out of this? While you wait for your copy of The Lady of Steinbrekka to arrive to your Nook, Kindle, or front step, check out these other great teasers from the 

teaser blog hop!

The Never

Alright Readers, get your comfy chairs ready because this is a book you are not going to want to step away from. Kristina Circelli gives us an incredible adventure once again with her latest release, The Never. My words could not do this book justice, so check out the prologue below (my heart aches for the little girl) and make sure that you pick up a copy today.

 The Never can be purchased for at B&N or Amazon


                                                        

 “Out of nothing, we create something.”

Arianna has spent her entire life being called a dreamer, an artist who created a world no one else can see. And for her entire life, she has taken the medication that keeps that world – and the one who brought her there – at bay.

Now an adult, Arianna reawakens that part of herself kept locked away in the darkest corners of her mind. When she hides her medicine from her fiancé’s ever-watchful eye, he returns – the shadow in the night who collects her for an adventure known only in her fantasies.

But something is different about this world called The Never. It is no longer the cheerful place filled with light and laughter that she knew as a child. Now, the sea creatures drag their visitors into the depths of murky waters. The natives battle to the death against the tribe of children. And the pirates, led by the feared captain called The Hunter, seek out Arianna for their own sinister plans.

As Arianna goes deeper into The Never, she discovers just what her connection to the land means – and must choose between her life rooted in reality, and the world where anything is possible.

Prologue - A Child Dreams

            The child sat with her arms crossed, green eyes staring vacantly at the woman before her, mind and imagination in a world not of this realm. The woman, frustrated and bored, watched the girl carefully, tired of this game.

            A clock ticked in the background, a steady tick, tick, tick of time that did not exist for the child, but drove the adult to her last frayed nerve. Not even the tranquility of her office, purposely decorated to best set every heart at ease with soft colors and peaceful seascapes, could ease the tension in her shoulders.

            “Arianna, we have been through this,” the woman said, speaking the first words of the day. Her voice sounded too high-pitched and nervous, betraying the stern expression her face had settled into. “You cannot keep lying to people. People don’t like lies.”

            Those green eyes shifted ever so slightly, latching on to her in an eerie, unsettling way. The woman’s breath caught in her throat, making her next question sound almost frightened. “Can you tell me why you make up these stories?”

            The girl hardly moved when she answered. “I don’t tell stories. I tell memories.”

            The answer only annoyed the woman more. “Memories of what?”

            “Of the land I dream of.”

            “And where is this land?” At that, the girl unfolded her arms and slowly raised a hand, curling her fingers until just one was pointing toward the ceiling. “Up? Where is up? Heaven?” The girl only lowered her arm and narrowed her eyes in a way that told the woman exactly what she thought of her. “And who showed you this place?”

            “A friend.”

            “Does this friend have a name?” The child didn’t answer. “Is he nice to you? Or does he tell you to do bad things?” Another blank stare. “Are you afraid of him?”

            “I’m not afraid of my friends.”

            “If he is a friend, why does no one else know him?”

            “No one else can see him.”

            The woman smiled softly, gently touching the girl’s arm. “Because he does not exist.”

            “Because they have forgotten how to see,” the child retorted, bitterness in her voice. “He only comes to those who still believe in magic.”

            “I see. And who told you to say that?”

            “I think for myself.”

            The woman sighed, rising to her feet and gesturing to the girl to do the same. “Magic is for children who cannot think for themselves, Arianna. It is time to grow up, and forget these stories. Then you won’t have to see me anymore.” The green eyes locked on her once again, sending a chill down the woman’s back.

            “I see you always. But you never see me.”

            The girl allowed her mother to tuck her in that night, obeying the soft commands to brush her teeth, put on her pajamas, and slip beneath the sheet. Bedtime was the best time for her, the time when dreams came, when she was visited by memories.

            Her mother, a beautiful lady in every sense of the word, pulled up the comforter, smiling down at her daughter. “Tomorrow is a new day, sweetheart,” she said, kissing her on the cheek. She held out her hand. “Here, take this.”

            The child looked down at the small blue pill, taking it in her slender fingers. “What is it?”

            “To help you sleep,” her mother replied, handing her a glass of water. Not a trace of anger or deception filled her words, as she was a good mother, one who knew what was best for her only child and refused to show distress. “So you won’t have to visit your doctor anymore.” As expected, the oath had her daughter eagerly swallowing the pill, never knowing what truths would come of the broken promises.

            “Will I sleep better now?” the girl asked, settling down against her pillows.

            “You will sleep like an angel, my beautiful little Arianna, with silk wings and a long, flowing white dress.”

            “Will I dream?”

            “Of all the most wonderful things in this world.” Her mother leaned over and kissed her daughter on the forehead. “Sweet dreams, my love.”

            But on that night, the little girl didn’t dream at all.

~ * ~ * ~

 What is that you say? You must have more? Then be sure to follow Kristina on Twitter @KCircelli  , on Facebook , or through her blog An Awfully Big Adventure