Knee Deep in Meaning

I apologize for not posting the last few weeks. I'm knee deep in NaNo and personal matters including the holiday planning. Life seems to be crashing in but I'm pushing forward for the dream. Below is a clip from Viktor E. Frankl who talked about searching for meaning. I hope it sparks deep feelings for everyone who wishes to find meaning in life.

FaerieCon—East and West

This is faerie week at the Speculative Salon. I’m fascinated by all types of magical lore. Admittedly, I’m much more knowledgeable about witches, wizards, and dragons, but am eager to learn more about faerie legends. Many books on my TBR list include fae worlds. Venturing into those lands, I feel a bit overwhelmed at the huge numbers of different types of sprites, changelings, brownies, kelpies, goblins, gnomes, elves, and pixies…not to mention habetrots, gwyillions, hobmen, henkies, and shellycoats.

I have a stack of references on faeries, along with most every other magical being, but seem to need more. In my internet search, I was pleased to discover two FaerieCons, East and West, that look fascinating.Several authors I want to explore are featured.

This year’s FaerieCon East just took place, November 9-11 in Baltimore. The sixth annual event provided the largest gathering of faerie artists and authors in the world. The FaerieCon universe includes fantasy, steampunk, goth, and metaphysics genres.

The author list included (some may have had travel issues due to hurricane Sandy):
Amal El-Mohtar
Annette Curtis Klause
Aprilynne Pike
Carolyn Turgeon
Christopher Penczak
DC Grace
Delia Sherman
Ellen Kushner
Julie Kagawa
Melissa Marr
Raven Grimassi
Stephanie Taylor-Grimassi
Terri Windling
Tiffany Trent

Reference: http://faeriecon.com/

Although that Con has just passed, there is FaerieCon West happening February 22-24th in Seattle. The artist and author list:
Amy Brown
Brom
Charles de Lint
Julie Kagawa
Raven Grimassi
Sibelle Stone (Deborah Schneider)
Stephanie Taylor-Grimassi

Reference: http://faeriecon.com/west/

I’m wondering if any of our readers have been to either of these Cons. If so, what were your experiences?
~ ~ ~ Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Read her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous epic fantasy romance: Book One, SEEKING A SCRIBE, Book Two, HERITAGE AVENGED, and Book Three, LOST VOLUMES. She has also authored the Ciel's Legacy series, with fast action mermaid/pirate storylines: TEARS ON A TRANQUIL LAKE and TORTUGA TREASURE.  For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Travels in Faerie: An Interview with Allison Pang

With the release of the third book in her Abby Sinclair urban fantasy series last month, Allison Pang has delivered another wonderfully fun and Faerie-centric story. I was able to snag some of her time and ask some burning questions about her books and craft. Follow the links at the end of the post to find her books on the web, and be sure to enter the drawing below to get your own copy of A Trace of Moonlight.

Welcome Allison!

What attracted you to the urban fantasy genre? 

Well, I actually started writing more of a Paranormal Romance, but when I sold Brush of Darkness, I was asked to turn it into more of a UF. In a lot of ways that’s been much better for me – UF can be a little more flexible as far as writing rules goes, and that’s always a good thing. J Plus, I do like the kick-ass chick trope.

A Trace of Moonlight begins fairly soon after the end of A Sliver of Shadow, and Abby has lost her memories from drinking the lethe water. What was it like to write in her perspective when she didn't even know who she was?

I wanted to be very careful with this – I wanted to make sure the sacrifice she made did have an impact on the story (which is why I ended Sliver where I did – anything else would have sorta lessened that impact.) On the other hand, I didn’t want to spend half the next book with an amnesiac as a protag – that would be extremely frustrating for readers who are familiar with the other books and the world.

I love that a large chunk of the new book takes place in Faerie and we get to see more of that world. How much was inspired by actual lore, and how much have you invented?

I build off of what I already knew lore-wise, but for the most part, I’m just making it up as I go. There are some familiar faerie tropes involved - i.e. the seelie/unseelie courts, for example, but they’re a bit different than some of the traditional concepts.

How has Abby's relationship and attitude toward the Fae changed since she's become more involved with their world?

Of course. She’s not as wary of it as she was, particularly because so much of her duties appear to be entwined with it…plus her family is heavily connected as well. Doesn’t mean she wants to live there, though.

Things are getting more complicated between Abby and her suitors Brystion and Talivar as well. Do you think most fans have a favorite by now, and can you give us any hints about what's in store for these lovebirds?

Yeah – I’ve seen some rumblings about Team Ion or Team Talivar, and that hadn’t really been my goal with the triangle. Yes, a choice is made by the end of ToM, though readers may need to read between the lines a bit, but it is there. I’m not particularly fond of writing triangles, so I really did my best to make sure both men were potentially good matches for her. Plus, even though her relationship with both guys is fairly important to the story overall, I didn’t want it to *become* the story. The current storyline crisis requires everyone to work together, regardless of what their emotional drama is.

What kinds of stories and characters do you enjoy reading and writing the most?

Anything fantasy based , really. I’m not overly fond of contemporary stories and I’m miserable at writing them. Everything else is fine!

What advice do you have for anyone who wants to write a novel series?

I think it really depends on the type of writer. Obviously, if you’re a hard-core plotter, it makes sense to have everything outlined out. I’m a panster so I don’t always know where I’m going or how I’m going to get there…although usually I *do* know how a story arc is going to end, so as long as I have that goal in mind, I just wander my way through until I get there.

I think the key to a series is making sure each book needs to be told. (Sometimes we see series that appear to drag, book after book – it’s hard to keep an audience that way).

Can you tell us what you're working on now, and if you have any plans for other series in the works? 
Sure! There’s a short story dealing with Melanie coming out in an upcoming anthology in August 2013, and I’ve got a 6 page comic book story coming out early next year in Womanthology: Space #5. I also have a free online graphic novel you can find at http://www.sadsausagedogs.com (The story is about a runaway princess and her cursed kitsune companion, but each chapter is loosely based on a contemporary fairy tale.) Otherwise I’m writing more of a straightforward fantasy (with a few steampunk elements) that I’m pretty excited about.

Sounds wonderful! Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions.

Thanks for having me!

A Trace of Moonlight

Book Three Abby  Sinclair series

Allison Pang

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Pocket Books
Date of Publication: October 30, 2012
ISBN: 1439198365
Number of pages: 400

Book Description:

Drinking from the waters of lethe and offering herself up as Faerie’s sacrificial Tithe …these just might be the least of Abby Sinclair’s problems. 

Abby’s pact with a demon—whether or not she remembers making it—is binding, so she’d better count herself lucky that (in the words of a daemon who knows better) there’s nearly always a loophole. But her friends’ reckless attempts to free her, well intentioned though they may be, set off a disastrous chain of events. In no time at all, Abby turns her incubus lover mortal and gets herself killed, cursed, and married to an elven prince whose mother wants her dead. She might have even been able to recover from all that had she not lost the Key to the CrossRoads to her mortal enemy, who promptly uses his restored power to wreak havoc on the OtherWorld and put its very existence in jeopardy.

Only one person can make things right again, but to find her, Abby must place her trust in allies of mixed loyalties, and conquer her nightmares once and for all.

Amazon          Kindle          Nook      Barnes & Noble

iTunes      Chapters           Google          Powell’s    Indiebound

Author Bio:

A marine biologist in a former life, Allison Pang turned to a life of crime to finance her wild spending habits and need to collect Faberge eggs. A cat thief of notable repute, she spends her days sleeping and nights scaling walls and wooing dancing boys….Well, at least the marine biology part is true. But she was taloned by a hawk once.  She also loves Hello Kitty, sparkly shoes, and gorgeous violinists.

She spends her days in Northern Virginia working as a cube grunt and her nights waiting on her kids and cats, punctuated by the occasional husbandly serenade. Sometimes she even manages to write. Mostly she just makes it up as she goes.

http://www.heartofthedreaming.com

http://www.facebook.com/apang

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Allison-Pang/154530877925333

http://www.twitter.com/allison_pang

http://ionsfolly.tumblr.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3965895.Allison_Pang

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Definitely not Tinker Bell

A quick post then back to figuring out how to get the Weaver's story woven in...

My introduction to something definitely not Disney-fied fairy was Charles De Lint's Hard Men, the Gentry.  In Forests of the Heart, they come out of the dark and go back into it, wreaking havoc, of course.  But they are cool.  Think Aragorn and definitely a lot less pretty, and nowhere near as noble.  Not thugs though.  That's the cool  part. They are just dark.  I can imagine a bunch of Jason Stathams (maybe taller, though).

In the Old Country, they called them the Gentry: ancient spirits of the land, magical, amoral, and dangerous. When the Irish emigrated to North America, some of the Gentry followed...only to find that the New World already had spirits of its own, the manitou.

Now generations have passed, and the Irish have made homes in the new land, but the Gentry still wander homeless on the city streets. Gathering in the shadows, they bide their time and dream of power. As their dreams grow harder, darker, fiercer, so do the Gentry themselves—appearing, to those with the sight to see them, as hard and dangerous men, invariably dressed in black.

My next introduction to fairy came a few years later.  But you'll have to wait until I get more wordcount done.  It is Nanowrimo month after all :-).  Meanwhile. if you are not writing, how many de Lint's have you read?  He seems to have written a lot of them.
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Karen Azinger Guest Post: Advice to Indie Authors

We are very pleased to welcome our guest Karen Azinger back to the Salon. Karen is the author of The Silk & Steel Saga Books: The Steel Queen, The Flame Priest, The Skeleton King, and (to be published in Nov 2012) The Poison Priestess.

Advice to Indie Authors

Ten years ago I embarked on the dream of becoming a published author. In February of 2009, I landed a contract with a major international publisher offering a five figure deal for my epic fantasy saga. Sound the trumpets and send up the fireworks, I’d beaten the odds and won the lotto! I was over the moon with joy, but after three short months the dream devolved into a complete nightmare. After two torturous years, I reclaimed the full rights to my saga, escaped from the major publisher, and formed my own company. To date I’ve published the first three books of The Silk & Steel Saga, (The Steel Queen, The Flame Priest, The Skeleton King, and soon to be published, The Poison Priestess) as well as a collection of short stories entitled The Assassin’s Tear. My books are getting great reviews, I have awesome fans around the world, and I can honestly say I’m thrilled to be in control of my own destiny.

Having experienced both sides of the publishing business, I thought I’d pass on some hard-won tips to other indie authors.

First and foremost, you need to write the very best book you can. An essential element of good writing is getting feedback from critique groups, from alpha and beta readers, and from professional editors. The more ‘eyeballs’ you get on your work, the better. Search for alpha readers in your neighborhood, at parties, at coffee shops, at bookstores, or even on-line. I had fifteen alpha/beta readers for my first book and they gave me invaluable feedback. Some of them became my biggest fans.

Secondly, the sooner you start promoting your book, the better. Authors need to build an audience before their book is published. This might sound like putting the cart before the horse, but major publishers promote their authors for over a year in advance. If it’s important for the majors then it’s absolutely critical for indie publishers. For The Steel Queen, I started two years in advance with Facebook and then progressed to a website and other forms of social media. Be creative, be entertaining, and use the social network to spread the word.

A picture is still worth a thousand words…that’s why covers are crucial. Eye-catching artwork, even when reduced to a postage-stamp size, is the very best marketing tool an indie author has. A cover is your calling card on Amazon, on Facebook, on your website, so make sure it’s a great one. Covers should look professional and they should reflect your genre with a single glance. Commission your cover as soon as possible so you have it for advance marketing. Get the most out of your covers by branding their designs, so all your books are easily recognizable.

Word-of-mouth is still king when it comes to selling books, so encourage your readers to write and post reviews. The best gift a reader can give an author is a review, but indie publishers also need professional reviews. Search for book reviewers on-line and offer them a complimentary copy for an honest review. Unfortunately major publishers are also chasing reviews, so they flood established reviewers with their own books (my publisher was going to send 50 advance copies just to Amazon US reviewers!). Since most reviewers are swamped, indie publishers often need to discover new emerging reviewers. Once a review is posted, multiply its value by spreading links through the web.

Most likely ninety percent of your sales will be e-books, but spend the extra time and money to publish your books in a print format. Don’t miss out on the thrill of actually hold your book in your hands, and you’ll need paperback copies for many professional reviewers and for Goodreads giveaways.

And last, but not least, keep writing. The more good books you publish, the greater your chance of success. Write a saga or a series and publish new books at regular intervals. Keep writing good books and your audience will multiply. Best of luck to you!

         

Here is the blurb for The Poison Priestess, the fourth book in The Silk & Steel Saga, to be published in late Nov 2012:

While Kath and her companions chase the Mordant into the far north, the southern kingdoms erupt in Flames. The Lord Raven marches south, unleashing a holy war against Lanverness. Vastly outnumbered by a ruthless enemy, Queen Liandra spins desperate gambits in a dire struggle to save her kingdom.

New alliances and new awakenings hatch deeper levels of intrigue. The Oracle Priestess and the Lord Raven form a tenuous alliance, while deep in the Southern Mountains the Kiralynn monks stir, revealing more than prophecy.

Armies clash, battles rage, and cities fall, as lives, loves and crowns hang in the balance, but swords are not the only way to wage war. Treachery, deceit, assassins, and the power of seduction will face-off against steadfast courage, forgotten magic, and the power of truth. The Poison Priestess is the fourth book in this epic tale of Light versus Dark.

Karen L Azinger has always loved fantasy fiction, and always hoped that someday she could give back to the genre a little of the joy that reading has always given her. Ten years ago on a hike in the Columbia River Gorge she realized she had enough original ideas to finally write an epic fantasy. She started writing and never stopped. The Steel Queen is her first book, born from that hike in the gorge. Before writing, Karen spent over twenty years as an international business strategist, eventually becoming a vice-president for one of the world's largest natural resource companies. She's worked on developing the first gem-quality diamond mine in Canada 's arctic, on coal seam gas power projects in Australia , and on petroleum projects around the world. Having lived in Australia for eight years she considers it to be her second home. She's also lived in Canada and spent a lot of time in the Canadian arctic. She lives with her husband in Portland Oregon , in a house perched on the edge of the forest. The first four books of The Silk & Steel Saga have already been written and she is hard at work on the fifth and final book.

Pick up the entire series:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=karen+azinger

Fantastic Fantasy Trailers

As NaNoWriMo hits its grueling stride, one thing that always keeps my spirits up is thinking of all the great movies I'm going to go see after it's over. And there are some pretty amazing ones coming out this winter, including the new James Bond flick, Skyfall, the iresistably quirky vampire comedy, Vamps, and of course, the long-awaited first Hobbit installment. Here are a few of my favorite trailers for your viewing pleasure. I threw in the Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters preview for good measure, although I'm not sure when that one is coming out.




Keep rocking those words, WriMos!

Cheers!
Ella

Making the Cover Art for Lost Volumes: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Three

In earlier posts on the Speculative Salon, I’ve showed the progression of how I created Books One and Two, and now I’ll continue and reveal the steps I took in this new cover for Lost Volumes: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Three.

My process began the same as before, with limited watercolors of the two figures. They are a tiger owl named Kenzo and a pseudodragon named Noba. Both are helpers to Sire Cullen Drake, the Imperial Wizard of the Alliance. After two books, these little guys received so much attention from readers, they deserved a cover spotlight. And they do play big roles in the adventures of this book.

Then I removed each image from the scanned paper and placed it on the background.

Next came hours of painting and shading. After I added font, I had fun playing with several light effects to produce the final cover. I’m pleased with the result, and it’s one of my favorite covers I’ve done.

Lost Volumes: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Three by Marsha A. Moore

Genre: Fantasy romance

Description:

When Lyra McCauley learns residents of Dragonspeir’s Alliance are suffering with a deadly plague, she doesn’t heed the warnings of her fiancé, wizard Cullen Drake, to remain safe in her human world. After all, she’s the present Scribe—one of five strong women in her ancestry who possessed unique magic, each destined to protect the Alliance against the evil Black Dragon of the Dark Realm. With Cullen dependent upon Alliance power to maintain his immortality, the stakes are doubled for Lyra.

She leaves her college teaching and puts herself at risk for the community afflicted by black magic. To find a cure, she and Cullen travel into the vile, lawless underworld of Terza to strike a bargain with an expert. Their efforts further enrage the Black Dragon, vowing to decimate the Alliance and avenge the murder of his heir.

Lyra must secure the three lost volumes of the Book of Dragonspeir. Written by the three earliest Scribes, each book contains energy. Possession of the entire set will enable overthrow of the Dark Realm. Following clues into dangerous lands, Lyra and Cullen seek those volumes. His assistants, Kenzo the tiger owl and Noba the pseudodragon, prove invaluable aids. Only if they succeed, will the Alliance be safe and Lyra reach closer to the immortality she needs to live a life with Cullen.

Purchase at Amazon

Series Blurb: Enchanted Bookstore Legends

The Enchanted Bookstore Legends are about Lyra McCauley, a woman destined to become one of five strong women in her family who possess unique magical abilities and serve as Scribes in Dragonspeir. The Scribes span a long history, dating from 1200 to present day. Each Scribe is expected to journey through Dragonspeir, both the good and evil factions, then draft a written account. Each book contains magic with vast implications.

Lyra was first introduced to Dragonspeir as a young girl, when she met the high sorcerer, Cullen Drake, through a gift of one of those enchanted books. Using its magic, he escorted her into the parallel world of Dragonspeir. Years later, she lost that volume and forgot the world and Cullen. These legends begin where he finds her again—she is thirty-five, standing in his enchanted bookstore, and Dragonspeir needs her. 

When Lyra reopens that enchanted book, she confronts a series of quests where she is expected to save the good Alliance from destruction by the evil Black Dragon. While learning about her role, Lyra and Cullen fall in love. He is 220 years old and kept alive by Dragonspeir magic. Cullen will die if Dragonspeir is taken over by the evil faction…Lyra becomes the Scribe.

~ ~ ~ Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Read her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous epic fantasy romance: Book One, SEEKING A SCRIBE, Book Two, HERITAGE AVENGED, and Book Three, LOST VOLUMES. She has also authored the Ciel's Legacy series, with fast action mermaid/pirate storylines: TEARS ON A TRANQUIL LAKE and TORTUGA TREASURE.  For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.