She wrote this review for a wonderful little literacy movement called <3Write #Connect. I hadn’t heard about this movement before this review, but I am thoroughly intrigued!
Basically it’s a challenge. This literacy movement challenges writers to write something out of their comfort zone and for readers to read something that they wouldn’t normally read. Then, using the hashtag #writeconnect on Twitter, talk about the books you’ve read or that poem you’ve just written. Post drafts on your blog and spread it around. Review books, like Adrienne has done, that you wouldn’t normally have read.
Brilliant movement, really.
I’m actually in the middle of two books at the moment, both what I do: fantasy. Specifically vampire fantasy. But Ethan, who is also working on two books, might just take on that challenge and write a short story out of his fantasy comfort zone.
Perhaps I will, too, on a day that the magic just isn’t flowing through me (or if I run out of chocolate again).
Tomorrow, I’ll be starting to write a new non-Rowan YA Steampunk series. I need a name for my female (17-yr-old) vampire-hunting protagonist. Let me know your thoughts on the following.
In the comments, feel free to suggest others and TITLES… need a good title.
That’s for sure!
Please share this poll with your reader friends on FB, Twitter, and everywhere else! I’m staring to write it tomorrow!
This month on my Book Addict post, I interviewed Paranormal Romance author Jo Lynne Valerie about her new book Phoenix Rising.
Here is a taste:
Phoenix Rising is a love story, at it’s core. It’s also a story about how the unseen paranormal world can touch our lives in unexpected and beautiful ways.
My heroine Holly is a successful artist in her forties, resigned to her life as the forever single, eccentric auntie. She’s given up on love, a decision made long ago after suffering a horrific trauma involving a child. As a result, Holly experiences recurring nightmares about that trauma. And that’s how readers meet Holly at the open of the story, on the cuff of one of her bad dreams.
However, Holly’s life is about to take a drastic turn, one that puts her on a crash course with destiny. A one Mary Sinclair, best-selling celebrity novelist, hires Holly to paint illustrations for a forthcoming book. It’s an incredible boon for Holly; the job offers high exposure and a fabulous compensation package! Talented as she is, Holly proceeds to paint all the character portraits requested, but hits a snag when it comes to painting the hero. After taking a break to alleviate artists’ block, Holly’s muse returns and she paints all day and night, producing a stunning vision of a handsome man.
Holly has completed her job for Mary Sinclair, and she assumes it’s over. In reality, things are just beginning! Two days later, Holly attends an art gallery show where she is introduced to her niece’s boyfriend and his father. Imagine Holly’s incredible shock when she discovers the boy’s father is the spitting image of the hero/man she painted!
His name is David… he is a single father and wolf biologist. What’s more, David connects to Holly immediately… and passionately. They find themselves having dinner the very next night, and that’s just the beginning of a whirlwind romance that takes them on vacation to experience the Winter Solstice in New Mexico, land of ancient shamanic spirituality. Behind the scenes, supernatural energies are converging to put Holly in the right place, with the right people, so she can solve the mystery of her recurring nightmare, along with the question of exactly why she painted David before ever meeting him.
Readers have written in reviews and in feedback to me personally, that the ending is something they never saw coming. That makes me happy – a surprise ending is a good thing!
Okay. So every now and again I get a whirlwind of inspiration to try something new. Such happened about a week ago when, thanks to the example of Marc Gunn, I decided I’d like to plan a trip to Scotland focusing on the history and mythology in our fantasy series Rowan of the Wood.
Before I spend a great deal of time, energy, and money, I’d like to see if there is a general interest among our fans, friends, and followers to accompany us on this journey.
I’ve put together a *very* preliminary itinerary… this is so very subject to change, as I haven’t gathered any prices for the hotels/areas or even seen if they have availability.
Day 1: Edinburgh
Day trip down to Rosslyn Chapel. Filled with Green Men. Also featured in The Davinci Code.
Evening in Edinburgh
Day 2: Isle of Mull
Drive to the Isle of Mull (approx. 4 hours + ferry ride)
(here we might also look into stopping in Argyll on the way…LOADS of pictish sites there)
Check into Hotel (either on Mull or at the Argyll Hotel on Iona)
Free Afternoon/Evening
Day 3: Isle of Mill/Iona
Visit the Loch Buie Stone Cirle, Mull Where Rowan and Fiana were wed/tragically separated.
Visit Iona Abbey. Built in honor of St. Columba, the converter of the picts and mentioned in the books.
Day 4: Loch Ness & Aviemore
Visit the infamous Loch Ness (about 3.5 hrs from Mull) and try to see Nessie!
Continue onto Aviemore to the Rowan Tree Hotel, where we will stay for two nights (if we can get in). It’s near The Cairngorm National Park in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland. Perhaps there is even a Rowan tree there!
Day 5: Aberdeen & Stonehaven
Day trip to Stonehaven (2 hr one way) – optional. Here we see the remains of Stonehaven Castle. Part of Zefferelli’s Hamlet was shot there.
See the Picardy Stone, one of the oldest Pictish stones. Carved in the 7th c… 100 years after Rowan.
Visit an Ogham stone in Brandsbut, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. One of the very few left in Scotland.
** Here is where there is a choice. Would you rather pack up and leave to a new hotel each night for Day 4/5 (staying in Inverness one day and Aberdeen the second) or stay at a centrally located hotel. It’s about the same amount of driving, maybe more to stay centrally located.**
Day 6-8: Edinburgh
After a 2.5 hr drive from the Highlands (perhaps with a stop in Perth for more history stuff), spend the rest of your vacation in Edinburgh. Lots of free time to do what you want with optional group events.
National Scottish Museum (their Early People section would cover the Celts & Picts)
Edinburgh Castle
The Edinburgh Dungeon
So much more!
Again, this is just a very preliminary sketch. The final tour might not resemble this one at all. It all depends on the feedback I get from those interested!
Other options: include some Macbeth & Harry Potter stops… other literary interest?
This is staying at the Rowan Tree Hotel or something similar in the middle with day trips to Loch Ness, Inverness, Stonehaven, and Perth… The other option is driving that route and staying in Inverness & Aberdeen at different hotels.
Preliminary quotes using a UK tour guide came back at around $2500 per person based on double occupancy, land price only. This did include meals, however.
The exchange rate from $$USD to £GBP is astronomical at nearly two USD to one GBP. Makes for an expensive trip.
I, however, am determined to get a better rate than that. The more information I have regarding what interested guests might want, the better chance I have of planning a trip that would work for all. Just while composing this blog, I found this: Edinburgh 5 Day Excursion to Mull, etc. This is already less.
CONTACT ME if you are interested and answer the following questions:
1. How much are you willing to pay (land price only) for a Rowan of the Wood themed vacation to Scotland?
2. Would you prefer a program of 5, 7, or 9 days?
3. Do you want it to include meals if possible? (Breakfast & Dinner)
4. Would you rather travel more, moving to 4 or more hotels over the 8-9 days (for example) or travel less, staying in 3 or less hotels over those days? Like perhaps staying only in the Isle of Mull and Edinburgh and taking day trips from there.
5. Would you rather see actual historical sites, even if it means more time on the road? Or would you rather see most of the historical sites in museums & go to places with gift shops and such, staying mostly in Edinburgh and either Mull/Iona or in the Highlands.
6. Do you prefer hotels or B&Bs?
7. Would you prefer April, May, or June for travel?
Please, please, please CONTACT ME if you are interested. I’ll give it until August to get emails from at least 20 interested parties (based on double occupancy) because we need at least 8 (4 couples) to come in order to make this work.
With radiant, snow white skin and hair, Percy Parker was a beacon for Fate. True love had found her, in the tempestuous form of Professor Alexi Rychman. But her mythic destiny was not complete. Accompanying the ghosts with which she alone could converse, new and terrifying omens loomed. A war was coming, a desperate ploy of a spectral host. Victorian London would be overrun. Yet, Percy kept faith. Within the mighty bastion of Athens Academy, alongside The Guard whose magic shielded mortals from the agents of the Underworld, she counted herself among friends. Wreathed in hallowed fire, they would stand together, no matter what dreams or nightmares—may come.
Although Ms. Hieber set the bar quite high with her first book, she certainly doesn’t disappoint her readers with its sequel. Slower paced than the first, the reader gets to luxuriously bask in its Gothic romanticism. Ms. Hieber’s eloquent writing style weaves another beautiful, romantic tale along the dark streets of London.
The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker is the immediate continuation of the story from the first book. It begins with the final showdown in Strangely Beautiful seen from the perspective of a new character: the shade Beatrice, the leader of the last generation’s Guard come forth from the Whisper World to assist the current guard in a daunting task. From there, the author takes the reader on a delightful holiday through the horror of the underworld and the wonders of new love. Along the journey, we learn more about the other members of The Guard as well…
As many of you know, I sent out a brief survey asking readers about the book covers for the first two books with last month’s newsletter. The responses pretty much confirmed what we’d already seen on the road.
62% said that the book cover for Rowan of the Wood and Witch on the Water were too young for the content or that you almost didn’t pick up the book because of the cover.
67% said to go in a new, older direction for the forthcoming Fire of the Fey novel, but only 43% said we should change the covers of the first two and re-release them. So, for now, we’ll leave the first two as they are.
I was very disappointed to see that a mere 17% told someone else about the Rowan of the Wood series.
Our livelihood depends on readers recommending our books to someone else if they’ve enjoyed them. Independent authors & small presses live on word-of-mouth.
So, if you haven’t yet recommended our series to a friend, family member, or co-worker. Please do so.
Give them the card or bookmark you got at an event.
Send them a link to the website.
Loan them your copy…
Basically it’s a challenge. This literacy movement challenges writers to write something out of their comfort zone and for readers to read something that they wouldn’t normally read. Then, using the hashtag 
Today over at 
