Surviving Easter with YA authors HL Carpenter...

Stumped at what to do with those leftover Easter Eggs? Fear not! YA authors HL Carpenter suggests you try their easy spicy recipe for deviled eggs. BTW - Do you know why they’re called deviled eggs? You get to eat two if you know the answer.*

Deviled Eggs with Curry

Eggs (week-old or just-ready-to-expire eggs peel more easily)
1 tsp. salad dressing for each egg
Dash of curry powder
Dash of paprika

Hard-boil eggs using an egg cooker or a pot of cold water (cover eggs with water, bring to a boil, remove from heat, cover, and let stand 10-12 minutes). Drain; then place eggs in ice water until cool. Peel cooled eggs and cut in half lengthwise.

Slide egg yolks onto a plate and mash with a fork.

Stir in salad dressing until mixture is smooth and creamy.

Spoon yolk mixture back into egg whites, or use a disposable plastic baggie and an icing tip if you want ooh-la-la fancy deviled eggs.

Sprinkle with curry powder to taste. Dust with paprika for more color.

Arrange on a platter and serve warm or cold.

If you’re traveling to the potluck, carry this dish in an insulated cooler with ice.

*According to the Oxford Companion to Food, by Alan Davidson (1999), pp. 247-248, “devil” is a culinary term which first appeared as a noun in the 18th century, and then in the early 19th century as a verb meaning to cook something with fiery hot spices or condiments. The term was presumably adopted because of the connection between the devil and the excessive heat where the devil dwells.

***

A brief into for the top selling fantasy book by HL Carpenter.

Fourteen year old Tovi thinks finding a flying horse is fabulous luck—until a mysterious stranger says finders aren’t always keepers.

When fourteen year old Tovi Taggert moves to Honeysuckle Hollow to take care of her grandmother, she has a hard time fitting in. For one thing, she’s been tagged with the hated nickname Too-Tall Tovi. For another, everyone at Honeysuckle Hollow High believes Tovi played the Choking Game with someone else’s boyfriend and made out with him besides.

As if she doesn’t have enough problems, after the latest stand-off in the school hallway, Tovi finds a gorgeous speckled egg nestled in a feather lined nest.

She takes the egg home. Mysterious visitors begin appearing almost immediately. Even more worrisome, whatever is inside the egg starts chipping its way out.

When the egg hatches, revealing a winged horse, Tovi’s troubles multiply.

As she struggles to return the horse to the magical land where he belongs, Tovi must make a courageous decision—and accept what that decision will cost her.

To read more of The SkyHorse, please click a vendor's name Amazon - Amazon UK - Smashwords


HL Carpenter writes sweet, clean fiction suitable for your entire family. Visit their website for gift reads and the latest Carpenter Country news. 

Stay connected on Pinterest, Linkedin, Google+, and their Amazon Author Page.

Winners and Victors…

Jennifer's destination

Congratulations go to Jennifer Loiske as my winner on the Inspiring Teens Blog Hop! She commented that if she could time travel, she’d head for Scotland in the 1700s. All kilt-wearing Highlanders beware! Jennifer scores an ecopy of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, and Legend of the Timekeepers!  Kudos, Jennifer, and don’t forget to time travel responsibly!

Also a big hug and pat on the back goes to Debra Jameson Smith for hosting me on her blog and facebook page. It was touch and go for awhile, but Debra preserved and got my post up and running on the day I was featured. Cheers, Debra!

The winners of Jennifer Loiske’s ebook entitled TALES OF AN OLD WIZARD—which is a collection of short stories for 9+ readers—goes to Maria Savva, Wendy Siefken, and Sonya Faugno! Congrats gals, and enjoy your new read! BTW—if you’re looking for good stories about dragons, warriors, and sorcery, all the profits from this book go to charity.

Tales of an Old Wizard Buy Links: AMAZON US ׀ AMAZON UK

On a personal note, I’d like to introduce you to another kind of victor who applied perseverance, hardwork, and effort to get him to where he wanted to be—my son, Brandon. Over this past weekend Brandon graduated from the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. His father and I couldn’t be more proud, and it felt like we were graduating right up on the stage with him! So that’s what success feels like…

Cheers everyone, and don’t forget to DREAM BIG!  

 

 

Authors in the Limelight Interview: C. W. Trisef

I want to thank and welcome author, C. W. Trisef for sharing his personal writing journey with us on my blog today. His books, Oracle: Sunken Earth and Oracle: Fire Island, can be purchased from Amazon, and other on-line bookstores.

How long have you been writing, C. W.?

I have been writing all my life, but I am a debut author.  “Oracle – Sunken Earth” (book 1 in the series) is my first novel, released June 2011.  “Oracle – Fire Island” (book 2) is my second, released March 2012.  The 7-book series is about a teenage boy named Ret Cooper who cautiously undertakes the daunting task of “healing the world” with a spherical ball of curious design called the Oracle.  The Oracle has six unique markings on it.  Ret has the same six markings on the palms of his hands, which individually lead him to our planet’s most ancient secrets.  These world mysteries guard Mother Nature’s six pure, original elements, which Ret must collect and place inside the Oracle.  Ret’s knowledge grows and his powers increase with each element collected.  The series is good, wholesome adventure, packed with humor, intrigue, science, and even a little innocent romance.

Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write the Oracle series?

I have always been fascinated by our planet’s ancient secrets, so that was certainly the genesis for the series.  The world mysteries in book 1 are the Bermuda Triangle, the Lost City of Atlantis, and the Bimini Road.  The world mysteries in book 2 are the Nazca Lines, Machu Picchu, and Easter Island.  My website (www.trisefbook.com) explains each world mystery in greater detail.  I like to think that the Oracle series is an impressive blend of fact and fiction, based on real places and substantiated theories.  I believe that a great story not only entertains but also educates, thus the unique writing style.

An author after my own heart! What sets the Oracle series apart from other books in the same genre?

The Oracle series was written to entertain and educate through wholesome literature.  I have a passion for creative literature, especially fictional adventure.  Every word is placed to educate, every theme to build social awareness, and every detail to promote creativity.  The Oracle series is clean and wholesome, but also intriguing, adventurous, and fun.  With an underlying goal to educate readers, it was necessary to put a little more effort into word placement and literary technique.  Although the writing style may be referred to as uncustomary, it might also be described as refreshingly unique (at least that's my hope).

As an author, C. W., what is your writing process?

Outline, brainstorm, research, outline some more, set aside hours to get into the writing groove, consult the outline, let go and just write, and then go back to the outline again.  It is really important to me to know the end game before I start writing, and to adjust quickly, if needed.  I think a great story weaves subtle nuance (hints) into the storyline, and the only way to do that is to know exactly where the adventure will be going.  I would also love to see the Oracle series on the big screen, so the books are written with that hope in mind.

Hey, I’d go to those movies! I know you’re planning seven books for this series. How long did it take for you to start and finish your first two adventures, Oracle: Sunken Earth and Oracle: Fire Island?

Writing book 1 was a much longer process than writing book 2, but that was mostly because (as I stated above) it is important to me to know the end game before I start writing, so I spent a great deal of time upfront lying out (outlining) the entire 7-book series before finishing book 1.  Book 2 took less than one year, and book 3 will likely have the same result.

Sounds like you have a solid foundation for future success. Do you have any advice for other writers doing a series, C. W.?

Yes, don’t get discouraged, keep going!  It is a great feeling to see hard work in book form.  Check out my website (www.trisefbook.com) and/or shoot me an email (trisefbook@gmail.com) if I can help in any way.

What’s next for C. W. Trisef the author?

Book 3 in the Oracle series is already underway.  I hope to release a book a year until all seven are done and the series is complete, so that should keep me busy until 2017 or so.  The ending of the Oracle series is epic (very exciting), so getting to book 7 and the series completion will remain my primary focus for the foreseeable future.  Beyond the Oracle series, I do have another project in mind (another series, probably shorter than 7 books), but that will have to wait.

Knowing that patience is a virtue, I’ll be waiting! Okay, here’s one for me, since I’m writing a time travel series—If you could time travel anywhere into Earth’s past, where would you go and why?

Staying true to the Oracle series, I would love to go back in time and visit the world mysteries that I write about (like the Lost City of Atlantis, Machu Picchu, Easter Island) and discover what really happened to these places.  Who knows, maybe these mysteries really are hiding Mother Nature’s six pure elements for Ret Cooper to collect and place in the Oracle … J

Stay Connected with C. W. Trisef:

http://www.trisefbook.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cw.trisef

https://twitter.com/CWTrisef

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Oracle-Sunken-Earth-C-W-Trisef/dp/1463559216/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1#_

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/oracle-sunken-earth-cw-trisef/1103996217?ean=9781618422637&itm=2&usri=trisef

http://www.amazon.com/Oracle-Fire-Island-ebook/dp/B007FKLVF6/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1330624404&sr=1-2#tags

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/oracle-fire-island-cw-trisef/1109211238?ean=9781620952269

Cover Reveal for Rita Monette’s The Legend of Ghost Dog Island

I love helping out my fellow authors. Whether it’s an interview, or a share or tweet on the social media networks, I get a blast from sharing their good news. I interviewed YA author Rita Monette back in July for my ‘Authors in the Limelight’ segment. Please click here to read our interview. I had asked Rita if I could also do a cover reveal when the artwork was completed for her book. Guess what? Her book cover is ready! The following is Rita’s personal announcement about her new cover for her upcoming book with Musa Publishing’s YA imprint Euterpe, and boy, she’s seems pretty excited about it! Take it away, Rita…

It's finally here! The cover art for The Legend of Ghost Dog Island.

The talented Kelly Shorten, from Musa Publishing, has done it again. She captured the essence of Ghost Dog Island perfectly. And here it is!!! What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments...

 

About Ghost Dog Island

Moving is nothing new for ten-year-old Nikki Landry. Her fisherman father relocates their raggedy old houseboat several times a year in search of better crab fishing spots. However, their latest move has brought her to a mysterious bayou, where she feels like something is watching her from a nearby island. But when Papa tells her about a local legend that something sinister might be living nearby and stealing the souls of dogs, she fears for her beloved beagle’s life. Join Nikki as she seeks to discover the truth behind the legend…before it’s too late.

Book is due out November 16! Will post links on my blog http://ritamonette.blogspot.com/ when available.

Wenches of Words Wednesday: S.G. Rogers

I’m excited to feature fellow Wench of Words, S.G. Rogers, an author of speculative fiction, as well as a young adult author, on my blog today! Take it away, S.G…

 

What’s In a Name?

 

Is naming your characters a joy or a chore?

 

Charles Dickens had a way with names.  Many of his characters had odd, but memorable monikers, such as Wopsie, Winkle, and Spottletoe.  Some were more descriptive, like the bombastic Mr. Bumble or the festive Mr. Fezziwig.  Author JK Rowling has fun with her character names, too.  Gossip columnist Rita Skeeter connotes an annoying mosquito and the cruel Dolores Umbridge isn’t that far a stretch from the word umbrage.

 

Strangely enough, I find it easier to name secondary or tertiary characters than the main ones.  Perhaps it’s because I feel some sort of pressure to make my main characters somewhat dignified, approachable, or attractive. Since that impression is subjective, it always takes me longer to decide which way to go.

 

Is it just me?

 

Even though naming my main characters is always a bit of a challenge, picking names for the remaining residents of my stories is a delight.  My creativity is unfettered and my humor comes to the forefront.   

 

In my latest fantasy release, Tournament of Chance, my protagonists’ names are the relatively straightforward Heather, Dane, and Joe.  Some of the minor characters, however, have more amusing names like Gumm the troll, Towcheez the fairy, and the one-eyed chef, Piers. Fun details won’t save a weak storyline, but a strong plot can be further enhanced with a little imagination. 

 

As a reader, do you feel memorable names increase your enjoyment of a novel, or are they a distraction?  As an author, do you agonize over your cast of characters? 

 

After all, a rose by any other name might just be fantastic.

 

~ S.G. Rogers

In Tournament of Chance, a hunter’s daughter becomes the spark that ignites a revolution—in time.

 

When a beautiful commoner enters the Tournament of Chance archery competition, her thwarted victory sparks a revolution in the oppressive kingdom of Destiny. Although Heather never believed the legends about the restoration of Ormaria, after three shape-shifting Ormarian wizards awaken from a long magical slumber, she joins their perilous quest to regain the throne. Heather battles vicious predators and angry trolls to free the wizards’ magic, but at a horrendous cost. She is unexpectedly torn from the arms of the man she loves and hurled back in time to fulfill a prophecy not yet written. The ensuing maelstrom tests Heather’s survival skills, wits, and endurance. Will she become an unwritten footnote in history, or can she trust the magic to lead her back to her one true love?

 

Now available at Musa Publishing: http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=396

Author Links:

 

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SuzanneGRogers

Blog - http://childofyden.wordpress.com/

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4216062.S_G_Rogers

 

 

Authors in the Limelight: Ralph Hartman

I want to thank and welcome author, Ralph Hartman for sharing his personal writing journey with us on my blog today. His book, Rat Rod, can be purchased from Musa Publishing, Amazon, and other on-line bookstores.

How long have you been writing, Ralph?
I started many years ago, then pushed it aside as things like building a career and a home shouldered to the forefront. Pushed aside but never pushed away. About ten years ago I got to looking through all the bits and scraps and manuscripts and thought…maybe? Write, polish, query, submit…manage the rejection…learn…repeat. Eventually my third novel was accepted by a small Canadian publisher. Oh joy! Now, I’m hooked – I have a plausible reason to do something I love. I now have two novels on current lists and three soon to be released.

Sounds like you’re living the dream! Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write Rat Rod?

Rat Rod is purely a response to an inquiry I received from an editor on another piece I submitted. She wondered if I'd be interested in doing a story specifically for one of their imprints; something edgy and on the raw side of real. Something about drugs, or bullying, or poverty, or gender bending. Hard to imagine, but this is how Rat Rod was born, it was to be a story about a fatherless young man and the alternate male influences in his life. Couldn't do it. The whole desperate character in a desperate situation was just too damn depressing. Well, I kept some of that, but the story and the characters demanded more. Ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstance. Yeah, this I can do. Soon enough, what was supposed to be, faded into what was meant to be.

What sets Rat Rod apart from other books in the same genre?

I think young readers want to see reality and possibility merged. I believe a story can be both enlightening and entertaining. That it can be real, and surreal, with heroes and villains and imaginings and secrets. That ghosts flit figuratively within our minds and fugitively upon our world. In Rat Rod these elements are not assumed or assured, simply presented as the story unfolds for the readers to interpret as they will.

As an author, Ralph, what is your writing process?

First the story has to lurk in my mind, nothing big, just an idea building until it’s large enough I can see it. Then write it down, print and save, and put it away for a few weeks or months and let it steep. When it’s ready, pull it out and read it. At this point it goes back in the trunk or becomes something possible. Rewrite, edit, revise, edit, proof, and off to the beta readers. Revise, edit, and submit. And wait.

Patience is truly a virtue! How long did it take for you to start and finish Rat Rod?

First draft took about three months, if remember correctly. Revisions were about nine months, and another six months to find a publisher.

Do you have any advice for other writers, Ralph?

Learn the craft; an education is invaluable. Learn the industry. You are one of a million-plus, do not be discouraged or disillusioned. Set goals and know the difference between your goals, and your dreams.

Wise advice! What’s next for Ralph Hartman the author?

Shaw’s Consequence; a mainstream mystery / thriller with Musa Publishing, will be released later this year. I’ve also written a MG urban fantasy, book one in the forthcoming series False Ridge: Creatures will be released in spring 2013 with MuseItUp Publishing. I’m working on the next False Ridge book, hammering out a dark psychological horror, and experimenting with some shorts.

Whew, sounds like your days will be filled from here on end! Okay, here’s one for me, since I’m writing a time travel series – If you could time travel anywhere into Earth’s past, where would you go and why?

Wow. This is a tough question. I don’t know. There would have to be music, and I’d need philosophy. Peace would be nice, and freedom essential. The sun would need to be warm and the earth fertile, no want for food or shelter. I’d want free thought and free speech, and government by representation. Guess there are really only two places that come to mind: Ancient Mesopotamia in the time before the Sumerians, or that place John Lennon imagined in a song. Yeah—take me there.

Rat Rod will be released September 28^th. Here is the pre-release link to Musa's site:

http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=394

Connect with Ralph Hartman:

http://ralphhartman.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ralph-Hartman/109000729226817

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/RalphHartman/e/B008TUU83C/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Authors in the Limelight: Anne Marie

I want to thank and welcome author, Anne Marie for sharing her personal writing journey with us on my blog today. Her book, La Dame à La Licorne, can be purchased from Musa Publishing, Amazon, and other on-line bookstores.

How long have you been writing, Anne?

If I said birth, I’d be lying, but as long back as I can remember I’ve been telling stories. I remember the first story I wrote in second grade by myself about Tom the Turkey who was saved from Thanksgiving dinner. I’ve been writing with publication in mind since 2010 when I attended my first writing conference.

Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write La Dame à La Licorne?

In 2004, my friend and I went to Paris, France. While there we visited the Musée de Cluny where I saw the famous “The Lady and the Unicorn” tapestries. Being close enough to touch them put that “What if” question in my mind immediately. However, it wasn’t until 2010 that I actually wrote the first draft of this story.

What sets La Dame à La Licorne apart from other stories in the same genre?

Most YA stories have a heavy romantic element. This story’s focus isn’t romance. It’s about a daughter and her father, a daughter and a stranger, and her internal struggles. The novel version would explore more of the historical fantasy genre elements, but the short format gave me a chance to play with another kind of relationship. It still has action, drama, comedy, and danger.

As an author, Anne, what is your writing process?

I get tiny seeds of ideas everywhere, but seeds don’t make a story. I sit on these seeds until characters form in my mind. Then I write a first draft. What follows next mirrors the Five Stages of Grief. There’s Denial when I realize this isn’t the best thing ever. Anger when I can’t find the right words and turns of phrase. Bargaining to keep things I love that really need to be cut. Depression because I’m the worst writer ever. And finally, Acceptance. It’s as good as it’s going to get, and I have to send it on and work on the next project.

I never thought of the writing process like that! Genius! How long did it take for you to start and finish La Dame à La Licorne?

The first draft took about thirty minutes. Good thing first drafts aren’t published. I wrote that in 2010, sent it out to get feedback. Rewrote some parts. Sent it out again. Rewrote some more. Submitted the final draft in 2011 for a contest. Then it went through a few more revisions. Musa published it this summer. So that’s two years from first draft to publication. But I worked on a dozen or more different things in the interim too. I’m getting better at juggling my projects. 

Juggling projects is a tough gig! Do you have any advice for other writers, Anne?

There are no new ideas, but there are new ways of presenting those ideas. Find your voice and put a spin on an old idea. Like the Barenaked Ladies say, “Everything old is new again.”

Great. Now that song is gonna be stuck in my head! What’s next for Anne Marie the author?

More conferences and workshops. I’ll continue to hone my craft. There’s so much I still have to learn and practice. I want to finish a novel I’ve been working on for a long time. And, of course, I’ll continue to write short stories. They’ve taught me so much.

Okay, here’s one for me, since I’m writing a time travel series – If you could time travel anywhere into Earth’s past, where would you go and why?

This is really hard to answer! I absolutely love cultures, languages, and history. If I could ensure my safety and that of the animals, I would totally go back 78 million years and see dinosaurs. I’d love to see how Stonehenge was built. I’d love to see the Seven Wonders of the World that are no longer in existence. I want to go back to the night that Versailles was stormed. I want to be on a Phoenician ship. I want to do a ghost dance with the Sioux. I want to see it all and try everything.

Thanks for the interview questions, Sharon!

Bio:

Anne Marie attended the University of Colorado for a BA in English Literature, where she fell in love with folklore and myths from around the world. She adores languages, great white sharks, and the impossible. Her work usually includes one of those three things. She currently lives in Aurora, Colorado with her beagle Brody. Anne posts a themed story once a week at Cimmerian Tales (http://cimmeriantales.wordpress.com).

You can follow Anne on Twitter @annemariewrites.

Blurb:

Always obey your father. That’s what Katherine’s done her entire life. She studies dead languages and practices knife-throwing. Now Pappa’s listening to a virtual stranger, and she’s convinced the stranger cares more about killing monsters than her own safety. Pappa won’t even tell her what they’re going after. He says it’s because if she knows too much, then she’s tainted by that knowledge and it will spoil the hunt.

Can she trust Pappa’s judgment or leave her future in the hands of the stranger? With only her wits to protect her, she joins them in the most terrifying night of the year.

You can purchase La Dame à La Licorne for only $0.99 on Amazon.com, BN.com, and MusaPublishing.com (you can read an excerpt here).

Photograph © Copyright, Mica Studios 2012. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

 

Meet Some Awesome YA Authors...

If you’re wondering what book you’d like to read next, hold that thought, and surf by Mera’s YA Booklist starting today, August 13^th! Dubbed the Euterpe YA event, you’ll meet two to three awesome YA authors from Musa Publishing’s Euterpe imprint each day until Friday, August 17^th.  There will be lots of genres to choose from including dystopian, paranormal, fantasy, time travel, mythology, and contemporary. BTW – you may even have a chance to score a giveaway!

Here’s a sneak peak at each author and the blog schedule:

August 13th

Author interview: Linda Benson

Character interview: H.L. Carpenter

Blog Post: Kaitlin Bevis

August 14th

Author interview: Liz DeJesus

Character interview: Dusty Crabtree

Blog Post: Arley Cole

August 15th

Author interview: Cordelia Dinsmore

Character interview: Mindy Hardwick

August 16th

Author interview:  Alyssa Liljequist

Character interview: Sage Collins

Blog Post: Jack Hillman

August 17th

Author interview: Samantha Combs

Character interview: Sharon Ledwith

Blog Post: Terie Garrison

So there you have it. A great cast of 14 YA authors assembled for one week to flaunt their raw talents and books. Hope to see you there throughout the week! Cheers and happy reading!