Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Wickflicker...You'll Want to Keep the Light On

They were two college freshmen, simply searching for that higher high along life's journey. They found it in the devil's den. Best friends since childhood, college freshmen Gat O'Malley and Caleb Jackson stumble into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity:  Finding themselves the life of the party at semester's end, it's up to them to keep the crowd pumped, the ladies intrigued, and the liquor freely flowing. To keep spirits flying high, Gat and Cay venture into their friend's cellar to retrieve a fresh keg. 
They soon hit rock bottom when failing to locate any source of light, becoming lost in the endless labyrinth below. Lurking about the shadows, they encounter their friend's eccentric Uncle and begin to realize they're getting more than they bargained for. 
By showing them the mystic ways of an ancient, arcane society- the Olde Order- Nicklaus Scratch entices the freshmen with all the power, prestige, and prominence they would dare to dream up at the onslaught of the new age. The world is theirs for the taking.  All can be possessed through the Olde Order- the way of the Wickflicker. Would you gain the whole world in exchange for your soul?

Wickflicker is a thriller with unexpected twists and turns. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and you will probably
have to strap yourself in. Author,Teric Darken, has joined us
to give us insight into Wickflicker and how it all came about.
Teric, thanks so much for joining us here at Chicks In Lit.

How long have you been writing? 
Hi Kim, thanks for having me!  As far as writing, I remember writing the lyrics to my first song in second grade in 1976.  I've been writing poems in earnest since the 10th grade in high school, and my first book was printed in 2000.

How was Wickflicker born?
Wickflicker was born when I found out that Linda Boulanger was interested in adding me as an author to the TreasureLine Publishing roster. I currently have around twenty story treatments in my arsenal, but I wanted to start from scratch with TreasureLine- dream up something new.  The whole book was based off of a character my dad used to tell me about named Ol' Scratch.  My dad was a master at making up stories, and he once told me a story about this spooky moth named Ol' Scratch.  You have to remember I was five when he was telling me these stories, so a moth with that name seemed spooky to a five year old.  Come to find out: Old Scratch, or Mr. Scratch, was a term used for the Devil in New England and pre-civil war America, so it really is spooky.  I simply took a part of my childhood- small tidbits from my dad's story- and comprised a manuscript around a character and theme: a cryptic, arcane secret society known as the Olde Order: Wickflicker.  Nicklaus Scratch is the founder of that secret society.  Incidentally, I chose Scratch's first name, Nicklaus, because Old Nick is also an old term used for the devil.

How long did it take for you to write Wickflicker?
Writing Wickflicker took me a couple months. The writing process actually went by quicker than any other story I've written.  I simply sat down, started typing away, and the story unfurled.  It's the proofing that always takes me the longest, but I am fortunate to have one friend in particular who is kind enough to help me with that: THANK YOU, KRISI KELEY! 

Where did the idea of Wickflicker come from?
The name Wickflicker evolved from this fictional secret society I created.  I was thinking: To join this secret society of the Olde Order- to become a Wickflicker- what must one do to gain the whole world- to receive all the power, prestige, and prominence this society promises?  The answer to that can be found in the Wickflicker rite of passage as follows:
Is your palm freely passed twixt the wick and the flame?
Do you smoke the briar's fire fueled by faces and names?
On the bridge of your lust, will you pay the small toll?
Would you gain the whole world in exchange for your soul?
 -Olde Order: Wickflicker
So what is happening here is that one runs the palm of their hand between the candlewick and its flame.  Then the candidate smokes a briar pipe filled with the miniscule souls of the damned.  Following that, the person agrees to pay the "small toll" in exchange for acquiring all earthly possessions his heart lusts after.  And all that it costs the candidate is something that no one has ever even seen- as Ol' Scratch likes to put it- their soul!
The term "Olde Order" I actually snagged from a Bible passage from Revelation 21:4: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  

What other works have you done and
what else do you have coming up?
My first book was a collection of my favorite poems I had written up to a     certain point.  It is entitled A Conversation with Isolation.  My first thriller was a novella released in 2010 entitled KILL FM 100.  U-TURN KiLLuR is part thriller, part horror, and was released January 2011.  I mentioned KILL FM 100 being a novella.  That little book has actually received a few kudos, and I am thankful for that.  It was nominated and was a top three finalist in thrillers for the 2010 Grace Awards.  I have since taken that novella and turned it into a full length novel, entitled KILL FM 100 (Nightshift Edition).  What began as a ninety page story is now a fully realized, two-hundred-plus page novel.  TreasureLine has expressed interest in releasing it, and I hope to see the day.  I have also revamped my second novel, U-TURN KiLLuR.  There has been talk of re-releasing that, too, as U-TURN KiLLuR (Death Row Edition).  And believe it or not, I actually have a children's book in the works that I know kids from five to eight years of age will absolutely love!

 
What words of encouragement can you give other authors who have WIPs and are trying to get published?
Keep honing your craft.  We're all works in progress, just as our stories are.  Keep plugging away and sending your manuscript in.  Don't give up; keep asking... seeking... knocking on those publication doors.  And when/if you get depressed, remember: what a difference a day makes. Tomorrow's a brand new day.mMany of our favorite authors have been rejected many times before being accepted, so don't give in!
 
Teric, thanks so much for letting us into your world and we look forward to reading more from you!!!

Monday, August 29, 2011

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart



“Are You A Gifted Child Looking For A Special Opportunities?”

When this particular ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you can test your wits right alongside them.)But in the end only four very special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.

As or heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their new found friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?

Welcome To The Mysterious Benedict Society.


This is a book that I think is under-hyped. You know the type...the hidden jewels that you can’t believe you have never heard of before. This book was recommended to me earlier this summer and boy am I glad I read it! This book was a fantastic read, it was full of action, trust, friendship, and mysteries. This is a book that should be on every child to-read list. I would recommend ages 10 and up.

Here's the whole series in order.



Sci-Fi Chick~chick










Thursday, August 25, 2011

Award Winning Author ~ Jody Hedlund ~

Jody Hedlund's debut novel "The Preacher's Bride" caught my attention last year when I was looking for a sample of Historical Fiction to learn of the genre. I was unsure whether my own novel in progress would fall into that category. I began reading and soon forgot that I was doing research for my own work and totally fell into the era and the land that Jody wrote about. Her story completely wrapped me up in this depiction of life in the 1600's in Bedford, England. If you love Historical Romance, you will be blown away by "The Preacher's Bride". This book has won the following awards:

1st place in the Award of Excellence
1st place in Inspirational Reader's Choice Award
Finalist in the Carol Awards




Jody has been busy with another novel of the same genre. "The Doctor's Lady" will be released in September 1, 2011. And I can't wait to snuggle up with another of her books. This story takes place in New York in the 1800's.


"They vowed to keep their marriage in name only.
But when the unexpected happens on the grueling journey west . . .
Their carefully constructed partnership will be put to the ultimate test."

To check out the provocative trailer and to learn more about Jody Hedlund go to her official author website at  http://jodyhedlund.com/books/

Happy reading!

~The Ethereal Chick~



Monday, August 22, 2011

Sleeper Reads


When I started writing this blog I wasn't exactly sure what a sleeper read was so I decided to do a little search on the internet but all I found were vague answers. Some books that qualify as sleeper hits for me are The Cloud Prophet Trilogy by Megg Jensen, Power of the Moon by Tina Carriero, In the Shadows by Julieanne Lynch, and Pulse of Heroes by A. Jacob Sweeny. There are many other books that for myself qualify as sleeper reads but those four are the ones that really stuck out in my mind among all of the books I've read lately. For me they qualify as sleeper reads because they all had engaging characters and a storyline that sucked me in from the very beginning. Each of the books I just listed I found out about via social media websites such as Facebook. I think that social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter are a great help when it comes to authors developing a fan base for their books. What are your favorite sleeper reads of 2011 and why?

Tanya

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Here's to the Books Our Ears Have Read


While on the return trip to Texas from our family vacation to Utah, our busy car load listened to audio books. They were mostly for my benefit as I was doing the driving and tend to get sleepy at the wheel.

My favorite audio book we listened to was "Savvy" by Ingrid Law. The narrator was good but I found my mind quickly engaged and stimulated by the whimsical wordsmithing. Humor tickling descriptions and delightfully inventive words had me smiling and even sometimes tearing up through eight CDs. This is some good writing!


Now, Ingrid Law is an accomplished author and Newbery winner so she may not fit the bill for our search as Chicks to find green authors, however she is clean. This book has strong emphasis on the importance of family unity and love. I really appreciated the tasteful and appropriate way she dealt with the teenage romance in this story. Witch makes this book very suitable for youth and the young at heart. So for these reasons I decided to high light this book for those of you, who like me, hadn't heard of it yet.






For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a “savvy” – a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. Grandpa Bomba moves mountains, her older brothers create hurricanes and spark electricity…and now it’s the eve of Mib’s big day. As if waiting weren’t hard enough, the family gets scary news two days before Mibs’s birthday: Poppa has been in a terrible accident. Mibs develops the singular mission to get to the hospital and prove that her new power can save her dad. So she sneaks onto a salesman’s bus…only to find the bus heading in the opposite direction. Suddenly Mibs finds herself on an unforgettable odyssey that will force her to make sense of growing up – and of other people, who might also have a few secrets hidden just beneath the skin.

2009 Newbery honor winner INGRID LAW is the New York Times Bestselling author of Savvy, and its new companion novel, Scumble. Ingrid is a fan of words and stories, small towns and big ideas. Born in New York, Ingrid's family moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was six years old. Now the mother of a teenage daughter, Ingrid still lives in Colorado, where she is working on new projects and trying her hardest to keep at least one plant alive.

You can learn more about Ingrid Law and her books by visiting her official website at http://www.ingridlaw.com/

I hope you all give it a chance; you won't regret it
~The Mythical chick~





Monday, August 15, 2011

Zombies, Werewolfs and Amy Lunderman


I found Amy while strolling along bloggy world and I was struck by her talent and imagination.  I am happy to have her here today so the rest of you can meet her.  Amy, tell us about yourself.  

I’m a stay at home mom, with a passion to write paranormal romantic thriller's whether they be adult or young adult. I live in Rhode Island with my fiancĂ© and our beautiful daughter. I enjoy writing, reading, being a mom, watching movies and television, having dance party, youtube, and status updates on facebook. I’ve recently self-published one complete young adult Trilogy and am working on another young adult series.

 What are you working on right now?

I’ve completed my first self-published novels in the They Walk Trilogy with They Walk, They Stumble, and They Fall. They are a young adult paranormal romantic thriller, which focuses on a zombie outbreak in the middle of Maine. Here is the synopsis for They Walk:

“Maggie Cooper was your average seventeen year old girl, living the quiet life in a small town, in Maine. That is until she goes to a party that will change her life forever.

With an undecided love triangle, the rising dead, power outages, and no sign of hope, she and her friends are faced with a horror they never saw coming. Will they react in time to save their lives and the lives of those they care for?

Maggie is going to have to dig deep to find an inner strength she didn't know she even had, if she wants to survive. Some will be lost and some will be found, but will everyone make it?

How will you survive if the dead walked in all directions and you had nowhere to turn?”

Okay! That sounds cool!

I’ve also recently released Persona and Unbroken from my new Staying Alive Series. This is a young adult dystopian paranormal romance, which has a new twist on the werewolf lore. Book three is currently in the early stages of its first draft, while the fourth and fifth books are slowly being outlined. Here is the synopsis for Persona:

“Moira Warner never had an easy life, of course yours wouldn’t be either if you grew up in a lab. It’s the year 2028, and an experiment that went wrong seventeen years ago sent a once thriving Country into lock down. Half of the populous in the world are genetic mutations now, while the other half lives in fear of them. Immersed together, the rules of life changes and for some not for the better.

Moira is one of the lucky few who are in hiding now, but moving back to the town she fled from makes that hard. Now she has to blend in while starting at a new school and try not to draw any attention to herself. But can you really blend in if your hair, eyes, and among other things change when you lose control? Or being what Moira calls ‘A mood ring on steroids.’

Being the new girl is never easy and making friends is even worse, but then something happens that makes her change everything she once believed in. With the help from someone she would have never thought, she must come face to face with her past. A past she would rather forget.”

I am also currently working on a young adult fantasy series that takes a new spin on Greek mythology and folklore. The first book in the series is already outlined and is in the very early stages of the first draft. Hoping to have this one out sometime in August. Here is the synopsis that I just released on my blog with a cover reveal:

“Meet Aurora Grey, big city girl with everything going her way. That is until she gets a call stating that her estranged father has passed away and left her his South Carolina plantation. Packing up and heading for the Deep South, Aurora discovers that her father had more secrets than just being a nonexistent dad.

From the moment she steps foot into her new house, Aurora knows something is off, but she can't figure out what. It doesn't help that the strange young caretakers eyes follower her everywhere she goes. When her mother has to leave suddenly, Aurora finds herself with the feeling that the very walls are closing in on her. A raging storm and a startling nightmare, sends her on a mission in the middle of the night towards something that will change her life forever.

Some things are better left forgotten, and Aurora is about to find that out the hard way. One thing that keeps her on her feet and partly sane, are the new and unexpected people she meets along the way. Most of them will mean more to her in the days to come, but for now she takes what she can.With hidden rooms, new love, magic, destiny, fear, legend, crazed serial killers, and psycho pep squad cheerleader types; Aurora is in for the summer of her life.”


How do you balance your home and family life and your work or hobby?  

I am a stay at home mom, so my two year old daughter, Madilyn, occupies pretty much all of my time. She is young enough however, that she still gets at least one good nap a day. This is usually when I do most of my writing. Lately, I’ve been setting goals for myself, so that I can approach writing in a way that it won’t consume me. I can usually finish the first draft of a novel in about two weeks, so I try to at least write four or more chapters a day. This varies, as day to day life intervenes, but so far so good.

I’ve sat down one night a couple months ago and outlined all of my works in progress and mapped out what my release and writing schedule will be like for the next year or so. Luckily, I have a ton of budding ideas, so I should be pretty busy for a while. This is the way I like it! As time goes on and life gets in the way, I’m sure I’ll post pone certain works. For now though, it’s a nice feeling to have all these goals to work forward to.

Why did you choose to go indie and are all your books in e-book format?

With the demand of ebooks, this is the most used and professional form of self-publishing - it definitely makes it easier for a first time writer to give it a try! For now, I like the freedom I have with doing everything at my own pace. It's grilling sure, having to do all the ins and outs myself, but it's also rewarding. Just recently I joined CreateSpace, and all of my books are now available in print!


What is your advice to people who are in the middle of their WIPs?  

Don’t give up. The hardest part is writing your book in the first place, and all the rest is just fun. So enjoy yourself, and don’t be afraid to take the leap.

Some of Amy's books are currently $.99 , so this is your chance to go over there and check her work out! 
They Walk Trilogy

Staying Alive Series

Follow Amy on:
Find Amy’s Book at:

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Not Just an Ordinary Rabbit

o       Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider is riveting and Soul Shaking...Not just another vampire story. This one will make you think and keep you on the edge of your seat.
    
     Whoever thought writing a bestseller could be so dangerous?

 Author Beth Rider's second vampire novel has hit number one and she is flying high on her new-found fame, but at a fated book signing that runs late into the night, Beth is confronted by an evil she'd only experienced in nightmares. Jack Dawn, a supernatural monster belonging to an ancient race of bloodthirsty immortals known as the Rakum, vows to track down and kill the young writer because of the vile redemptive message her book is bringing his people. The Rakum have spread evil among mankind since the Beginning, growing in strength and influence with every passing century.

Jack's proselyte Michael Stone was brought up from his youth to be strong, sensible and oftentimes, brutal. But when he stumbles upon the beautiful and apparently innocent Beth Rider, he is instantly smitten, despite the fact that a few seconds later he realizes that she is the target of his Elder's fury. Puzzled by Jack's unreasonable condemnation, Michael takes it upon himself to protect the lovely author from the limitless lust of his brethren.

Facing the most terrifying trial of her life against creatures known only in fables, one simple woman will unintentionally threaten the very existence of a powerful and accursed people. In the climactic mêlée, it is a race to the death, or if Beth has her way, a race to the life-of every Rakum who makes the choice.
      How about a minute with the author, Ellen C Maze.
         http://www.ellencmaze.com/

 

How was Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider born?

Rabbit was born in 2008 after I had completed the majority of the work on the four novels in The Corescu Chronicles. I had begun querying agents and editors for Book One, The Judging, and felt I needed to write something that I could self-publish while I waited to get picked up by an agent. (Link:http://www.thejudgingnovel.com). 

o      How did you get the idea for it?
I actually had the basic idea originally when I was 16 years old: What would happen if –just for fun—you wrote that someone you knew was a vampire, and then they turned out to really be one? (link: http://www.rabbitnovel.com/baby-rabbits.php ) That idea is the tiny seed that blossomed into the giant mustard tree that The Rabbit Trilogy has become.

  Did life experience have any part in your book?
The first novel I ever read was Dracula by Bram Stoker, so yeah, I was hooked from Day One on the vampire genre. Soon, I was reading any vampire book I could get my hands on, and back in the 80’s they were all adult books—full of things my little eyes never should have read, things I couldn’t begin to understand, yet they planted seeds in my mind that remain today. I don’t read vampire fiction anymore—I write it. And I have so many novels in my head that I could release one a year for the rest of my life and maybe not get through!
o        How long did it take you to write it?
Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider was written in about ten months. I wrote the majority of it “on the fly,” meaning I sat at the computer and wrote whatever came to me. I had no outline and I had no idea what was to happen when. The only time I slowed down was when I reached the last third of the book. I had to take two weeks off from writing to “get the end” or the climax. Once I had that in my head, I finished the book and entered the editing phase. Looking back at my other novels, I can fairly say that it takes me 8-10 months to write a full-length vampire/paranormal novel. Some authors write faster, but to be honest…they’re not writing what I write. My tales are different and unique and I take my time in getting them down correctly. I love sharing my imagination with the reader and I absolutely LOVE to write!
o      What other works you've done?
As aforementioned, my first completed novel was The Judging. It was published one year after Rabbit by TreasureLine Publishing. Then immediately following came Rabbit Legacy (Book Two in the trilogy) and Loose Rabbits of the Rabbit Trilogy (sort of a Book 1 ½ filled with back story and juicy info on the characters). I also released a collection of odd tales with 8 other authors entitled, Feckless Tales of Supernatural, Paranormal, and Downright Presumptuous Ilk. It’s a long and funny title, and you should see the cover—downright amazing! In fact, all of my covers are amazing—created by my artist daughter Elizabeth E. Little of Hyliian Graphic Design. In May 2011, TreasureLine released Book Two of The Corescu Chronicles, Damascus Road. This is my most recent baby and I love it. The readers say it’s my best yet. I hope you guys will go to my website at www.ellencmaze.com and learn more about my 5-star, bestselling novels. I would love to hear what you think!
o      Any words of encouragement to those who are still working on their    WIP's or are hoping to get published?
Yes! Don’t give up! And if you get stuck, help is out there. Connect with aspiring AND established writers online. Both have something to share and you need their special kind of support to succeed. Get on Facebook and meet these guys. If any of you are aspiring writers and would like advice, or if you’ve written a novel and wonder what to do next, join me on Facebook under “The Author’s Mentor—TAM.” I have started a new business to aid new writers and help them recognize their dream of being published. Come see me and let’s help each other!
I’m sending all of you a great big Southern Belle HUG,
Until next time,
Ellen C. Maze

We are hugging you back...thanks so much!!! The book is awesome and looking forward to more!!!

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Touch Blue

http://nicolepoliti.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/touch-blue-by-cynthia-lord-book-cover.jpeg


Okay, when I put some books on hold at the library, this was the first one that came in, so here's another book written by Cynthia Lord!

"Why take chances?" says eleven-year-old Tess Brooks. "Especially when it's so easy to let the universe know what you want by touching blue or turning around three times or crossing your fingers."
But Tess is coming to know that it's not always that simple. The state of Maine plans to shut down her island's schoolhouse, which would force Tess's family to move to the mainland - and Tess to leave the only home she has ever known. Fortunately, the islanders have a plan, too: increase the number of studets by having several families take in foster children. So now Tess and her family are taking a chance on Aaron, a thirteen-year-old trumpet player who has been bounced from home to home. And Tess needs a plan of her own - and all the luck she can muster. Will Tess's wish come true or will her luck run out?

This was a super cute book. It took you into the view point of having a foster brother and how it would feel to live with different families all the time. I would recommend this book to anyone who was looking for a good quick read.

Visit Cynthia at www.cynthialord.com

~Sci-Fi Chick-chick~

Monday, August 1, 2011

The Moonquest: A True Fantasy

The book I decided to showcase today, I have had on my bookshelf for a while....ok, probably a year or two (blushes). As intriguing as the cover is and exciting the story, somehow, the right moment to read it never came. I wanted to wait until I had a whole weekend to do nothing but read, because I had a feeling, I would not want to put this one down.

Well, why I waited so long is beyond me.....this was  truly a gift!              
The Moonquest: A True Fantasy by Mark David Gerson is the first book of this fascinating and entertaining fantasy. Imagine a land where storytelling is outlawed and punishable by death.


“In a land where fear rules and storytelling spells death, only one bard’s  imagination can end this tyranny.”


This is not just a book; this is whole new phenomenon, a whole new world. When I read this book to my granddaughters, their eyes opened wide, the look on their precious faces were…..well, awe inspiring. They enjoyed it so much the first time, they asked that I read it again, which I enjoyed immensely, because it’s not just for children. Adults will enjoy reading the words of this creative and talented wordsmith. He writes this story as no one else ever could.

 Mark David Gerson is the creator of the Q’ntana Trilogy of fantasy books and films. He is an award winning author, a screenwriter, a script analyst and more……

The Moonquest: A True Fantasy ~ the movie ~ coming in 2012!!!

And coming soon after, will be The Starquest and The Sunquest to take us deeper into the land of Q’ntana.




Mark David is also a mentor and coach, a consultant, an inspirational and motivational speaker.  


 If you are an aspiring writer, Mark David’s rules will help to put things into perspective. He is also the author of The Voice of the Muse.

 Visit his website at www.markdavidgerson.com and his online bookstore. 

~ Enjoy ~ 
Your Ethereal Chick                                 
          
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