Blog Tour: Ten Questions

Blog Tour: Ten Questions

This writers' blog hop simply asks ten questions about your
current story, and then you tag five other writer-blogger
friends to participate next week. Katelyn Shear over at
The Life of a Teenage Writer  tagged me. Thanks Katelyn! 

It took me a little while to decide which story I wanted to
post about today. But I finally decided on A Light From
The Shadows. It's my latest fantasy story that I'm

 working on editing right now. It's also the second book
 in my fantasy series.


1: What is the working title of your book?
A Light From The Shadows


2: Where did the idea come from for the book?
Well, I already knew the MC for this book was going to
 be a minor character from the previous book, Darcy Vatain.
So I was thinking about her character and what she's like,
and this story just came up. I know the idea of someone
being physically injured in anger, especially by their father is
something that would tear her up. So I decided that an old
enemy would come back with plans to kill those who 

thwarted him, and some seriously personal problems as well.


3: What genre does your book come under?
It's fantasy with a nice twist of romance in it.

4: Which actors would you choose to play your 
characters in a movie rendition?
I've thought about this, and searched. I finally found
Jenna Bryant for my MC, Darcy. Her eyes are 

the tiniest bit too dark, but otherwise she's just about
 perfect. :)

I actually already had figured out who the hero would be.

 A battleworn hero named Randon. Definitely best played 

by Richard Armitage. 

 For the young girl who is abused by her father, I chose

 Emilia Clarke. She has the perfect delicate look that Rayish 

needs.

These are all the characters I've found so far. I haven't
really thought about finding actors for the rest of them yet. 

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? 

I don't really have a good one, but this is what I've come
up with:

A lonely innkeeper and a heartbroken man of war must
form an alliance to protect those closest to them from the
man who would take their lives.

6: Is your book self-published, published by an 
independent publisher, or represented by an agency?

It's not published yet, but it will be self published. 

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of 
your manuscript?

It took me all of the month of February to write it. And that's
 the fastest I've ever written a book. 

8: What other books would you compare this story to 
within your genre?

I would compare it to The Dragonriders of Pern, and maybe
C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. It's basically a tale of
good versus evil, where evil has the best chance of winning. 

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?

 In the past few years I've been shown how girls who were
 raised in Christian homes can be so easily led astray.
Seeing these girls, who have so much potential in their lives,
throw it away in destructive ways really hurts. So I wanted to
 write a story to show them a better way.

10: What else about your book might pique the 
reader’s interest?

It's got dragons in it. If that doesn't pique your interest, I'm not
 sure what will. It's a story of a girl who has spent the last while
 of her life blaming herself for her father's death, and how she
learns that it was no one's fault, and she has to let it go, and
allow herself to love other people again.

Now I need to tag five more people. First, Sheila Hollinghead
with Rise, Write, Shine!, Kathryn C. Lang with
 Successful Freelance Writer, Cara Bedford with
Hope to inspire..., Emily Smith with My Random Life,
and Tommie Lyn with
Mountains in My Heart...Sand in My Shoes.

People

The other day my sister and I were on town, and we noticed that to either side of the sun, stretching wide across the sky were two fire clouds. They looked like rainbows in everything but shape. They're kind of rare, so we took our time looking at them, and I had to marvel over God's creation.
Especially when I looked around. No one else seemed to even notice them. Everyone was bent on getting where they needed to be, and no one looked around for the supernatural that filled the air above us.
It kind of made me sad. These people are missing out on so much they could be seeing. I wish I could somehow help them all see how God can be a part of every minute of every day.

Rainbows

Rainbows? They mean different things to different people. I really like rainbows. They're like a promise of new hope, and maybe just a preview of Heaven.

Today we got a good rain, and just as Hannah and I started out to Worship Practice, the rainbow came out. It was a double rainbow. On the way to church, we saw its end. It was right in the middle of a field just south-east of our house. Shimmering, and glistening. Of course it moved as we got closer, but it was fun to see the end of the rainbow for just a few seconds. Does a rainbow have any special meanings for you?

Book Review: The Shadowed Valley. By Y. I. Lee

After a fire takes her mother and assumed father, Celia finds herself traveling to a dreary place called Greyache House. When she arrives, only a cold reception is waiting. The lady of the house and the butler are both dark, fearsome characters, and the only comfort to be found is in Mary, a maid.

Before long, Mary sends Celia on a quest. With a talking horse as a companion, Celia sets off on a life changing journey through The Shadowed Valley. Along the way, she will make friends, face dangers, and ultimately, choose between faith and doubt. Can Celia live through the hazards of a journey that tests her to the limits of her strength? And can she trust the companions who come to her along the way?

Find out in The Shadowed Valley, an adventure-filled book for young teens and those who still are at heart.

I was enamored with this story because of the depth of imagination used in the writing of it. A rocking horse coming to life, true villains who fill your heart with horror at times, and people who though lovable, fail at times. Like real life, people fail but the book promises a hope beyond failure.

Y. I. Lee is a talented author with more books on the way. I can hardly wait to read more of her work.

A story altogether too long

So, as a few of you know, I've been having trouble with my blog. I couldn't get into it, couldn't change it. Google had locked me out! O_o That's right. Was I upset? No. I just really wanted to kill whoever made that executive decision! ;) Anyway, last night I got up my nerve, and got it figured out. I nearly drove myself distracted on the way, but now I have it figured out. And I know how to figure it out if they do it to me again. Man, I am way to cool to hang out with myself. :D So, thought I'd let anyone who is interested know. I'm ready to blog again!

Little Miracles. Or are they?

The other day God really brought me up short. I was having a normal day. Talking to Mom about Avon, and just staying busy generally. And then Nathan came running inside shouting

"Look outside!!!!"

When we did, we saw one of the rarest sights that I know of. I've only heard of this happening once or maybe twice before.

It was a fire cloud. It looked exactly like a rainbow, only there was no bow. Just part of a cloud that was colored beautifully.

I'm so glad God let me see that. Too often I find my attention being drawn away from God by the little things that get on my nerves, or by noise, or by just about anything that I really don't like, or that I really do.

But God doesn't want attention from me that is divided with other things. He wants me to focus on Him. And He let me see a phenomenon that really touched my heart.

The pictures don't do it justice. lol.

Book Review: Tugger's Down, by Tommie Lyn

When Tiffany and Olivia play with a Ouija board,

they have no idea what they're messing with.

But they soon find out, when Olivia is killed by the

demon that inhabits the board, who has been

waiting for victims. Olivia's unborn son, Tucker, is

attacked by the demon, and resists.

Now, three years later, Tucker is quickly becoming

too weak to fight the continual onslaughts of

the enemy. Especially in the emotionally starved environment he's been raised in. The only

person who loves little "Tugger" is Miss Lambert, his nanny. In an effort to save his life, he's

sent to Florida. The doctor hopes the change of weather will help his frail hold on life to gain

strength.

Lacey Cochran is a struggling college student. But her main irritation in the day-to-day is Porter

O'Brien. He not only is cocky and arrogant, but he also took the last seat in an important class,

and keeps causing accidents. But there is something about him that makes Lacey take a second

glance. And, obeying the Christian principles she has accepted for her own, she forgives him.

When Tucker meets Lacey he realizes that he's safe with her. Something about her keeps the

demon, who Tucker calls Nudger, away. And when he visits her church with her, he realizes that

he needs what she has.

But back home trouble is brewing as Tiffany and her sister, Heather look again at the cause of all

the pain. The Ouija board that belonged to their grandmother. Nudger takes over Heathers

body, killing Tiffany, and begins the quest to hunt Tugger down.

Can Lacey, Porter, and Miss Lambert keep Tugger safe? Or will he be taken by the spirit who

has been searching to take him since before he was born?

Tommie Lyn brings a small child to life in a way that will make you love him, and empathize

with his struggles. If you like supernatural thrillers, this is a book that will cause chills to race up your spine. And I have to say, it's another great book by Tommie Lyn.