Interview Diane Scott Lewis Author of Beyond the Fall
Have I got a treat for you today. Beyond the Fall by Diane Scott Lewis is on sale for 99 cents! WOW! Give a warm welcome to Diane. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Diane and Beyond the Fall!
Why should we read this book/series and what sets you apart from the rest and makes your book/series unique?
I write historical fiction, but I try to make my stories non-fluffy, more serious, but still with humor when necessary, of course. I research carefully to get the details right. Obviously, for BEYOND THE FALL I couldn’t research time-travel, I wish I could, but I tried to make it as realistic as possible in my heroine’s reaction to being thrown back two-hundred years. Such as, how would I react to such an unbelievable event and how would I cope. How would the people treat me when I’d be so different, much more outspoken and bold?
You’ve got a time machine, a cloak of invisibility, and one hour. Where would you go, and what eavesdropping would you do?
Since I usually write about the eighteenth century, I’d like to zip back to that era, in England, and live for a few days with the common people. What are their speech patterns, swear words, etc.? It’s fine to research but to really be there, dress like them, prepare food, shop, would be a boon. I’d listen to how they felt about their lot, the government, life in general. Then I’d want to come home, because as a modern person I love my clean, hot water, and electricity.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
Yes, my female characters are usually smart-mouthed and dry-witted, stubborn and bold, no matter what era they’re in. I do try to work within the limitations that women had in the eighteenth century. And contrary to popular belief, there were many strong women with feminist ideals in the past.
How long have you been writing?
I started telling stories at age five. I’d illustrate them and tell my mother what to write for a caption. I wrote my first novel at age ten, an historical novel set in ancient Egypt. It wasn’t until 1995 that I seriously began my first full-length novel set in eighteenth-century Cornwall, England. In those pre-internet days, I researched at the Library of Congress; a fantastic resource.
SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN:
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: Jane Eyre (1944)
Favorite book: All the Light We Cannot See
Last book read: The Handmaid’s Tale
Favorite color: burgundy
Stilettos or flipflops: flipflops
Coffee or tea: both
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: paperback
Pencil or pen: pen
Favorite song: Take on Me
Streak or not: not
Favorite dessert: ice cream
Favorite junk food: snickerdoodle
Favorite thing to do to relax: read
Champagne or gin: Champagne
Paranormal or Historical: historical
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Wonder Woman
Favorite TV show: Midsummer Murders
Hot or cold: hot
POV: third-person
I’d die if I don’t have: books
Review or Not: review
Click on cover to read more or purchase!
Tell us a little about Beyond the Fall!
In 2018, Tamara is dumped by her arrogant husband, travels to Cornwall, England and researches her ancestors. In a neglected cemetery, she scrapes two fallen headstones together trying to read the one beneath, faints, and wakes up in 1789, the year of The French Revolution, and grain riots in England. Young Farmer Colum Polwhele comes to her aid. Can a sassy San Francisco gal survive in this primitive time and fall for Colum, a man active in underhanded dealings or will she struggle to return to her own time?
A peek between the page of Beyond the Fall:
Had she fainted in the churchyard? Tamara strained to sit upright. Rolling her shoulders, she glanced around in embarrassment, relieved to see no one. She’d never fainted before.
The headstones beside her were no longer lying on the ground but standing straight up, the inscriptions clear. They both said Trembeth with death dates in the late-middle eighteenth century. The stones appeared in remarkably good condition. How was that possible? Maybe she’d crawled elsewhere in her daze, around a corner in the cemetery and these were replacements for other Trembeth headstones.
“Very, very weird.” Tamara groaned and staggered to her feet, then brushed off grass and leaves. Her head ached worse, but she wanted to write down the names and dates of what could be her ancestors. She fumbled in her coat pocket for the pencil and notepad. After scribbling the info, she weaved toward a low stone wall she didn’t recall from before and tried to blink away her fugue. She must have hit her head when she fainted.
As she glanced up, she nearly jumped. The church behind the man was no longer crumbling, or fallen in on one side, but looked neat and all in one piece. The now intact windows winked in the sunlight, the ivy not so abundant. She couldn’t have crawled in a funk all the way to another church.
Buy links: Beyond the Fall: Amazon
About the Author:
Diane Parkinson (Diane Scott Lewis) grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, joined the Navy at nineteen, married in Greece and raised two sons all over the world, including Puerto Rico and Guam. A member of the Historical Novel Society, she wrote book reviews for the Historical Novels Review. Diane worked from 2007 to 2010 as an on-line historical editor. She had her debut novel published in 2010, and has had several historical and historical-romance novels published between 2010 and 2018.
Diane lives with her husband in western Pennsylvania.
Diane’s website: http://www.dianescottlewis.org
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Beyond the Fall!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged 99 cent sale, Beyond the Fall, Diane Scott Lewis, Historical Romance by Tena Stetler with 6 comments.
A Chat with Karilyn Bentley Author of Devil Forget Me
Give a warm welcome to my sister author, Karilyn Bentley author of Devil Forget Me, Book Five of the Demon Huntress Series released today! Happy Book BIrthday! Not an April Fool’s joke. I can’t wait to get my hands on this one. I’ve read and loved all the previous books in the Demon Huntress Series!
Now, pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Karilyn and Devil Forget Me.
Hi Tena! Thank you for having me back on Author’s Secrets! It’s always fun to chat with you and your followers. Today I’m excited to talk about my newest release, Devil Forget Me, the 5th and final book in the Demon Huntress series. This time Gin Crawford must discover the identity of the demon haunting her esteemed employer, The Agency, before all hell breaks loose. Which is a little hard to do since the demon cast a forget-me spell. Although, if you’re the demon, that’s a pretty nifty trick to hide from those annoying humans. Pick up your copy and find out how Gin solves the mystery!
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: Star Wars
Favorite book: Harry Potter
Last book read: Dead as a Door Knocker by Diane Kelly
Favorite color: Green
Stilettos or flipflops: Stilettos
Coffee or tea: tea
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: ebook
Pencil or pen: pen
Favorite song: Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
Streak or not: NOT!
Favorite dessert: almost anything chocolate
Favorite junk food: Hot Tamales candy
Favorite thing to do to relax: read
Champagne or gin: champagne
Paranormal or Historical: paranormal
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Wonder Woman
Favorite TV show: God Friended Me
Hot or cold: Cold
POV: first
I’d die if I don’t have: my toothbrush
Review or Not: review
See I told you, impossible for an author to give one word answers. LOL But this is one way to see into the soul and inter-workings of an author.
Second Speed Round <Only two words allowed> I Love these!
1.What is your favorite book of all time? Harry Potter
- Where do you relax to read? On the couch
- What sound drives you right up a wall? Fingernails on a chalkboard
- What sound relaxes you? Buddhist chants
- Favorite drink? tea
- Walking in the sand, shoes or barefoot? barefoot
- Favorite pet: Dogs
- Snow? Love or hate? Love!
- Doing ________ is like nailing jello to the wall. Dusting (it always comes back)
- Rock and Roll, Country, Jazz or Classical? Rock
- What can’t you leave the house without? My phone
- Calender or not; Paper or electronic? Yes, both paper and electronic
- Favorite place to write: kitchen
- What is your decadent indulgent? Cornbread and maple syrup
- You’ve just won $1,000.00, you have only 24 hours to spend it, so what will you buy? Clothes, books, and one of those Shark mops (my floors are really dirty)!
- Plotter or panster? pantser
- Introvert or extrovert? introvert
- Flight or fight? flight
- Favorite Monster? Mike Wazowski
- Magic or Not? magic
Tell us a little about your new release Devil Forget Me.
What appears to be a simple crime, unmasks a chilling deception…
Gin Crawford, the world’s newest demon huntress, kills two minions who are breaking into a financial adviser’s office. But what she thinks of as another night in the life of a demon huntress leads to a cover-up of epic proportions. A demon haunts her employer, the Agency, and only she can stop it.
Aidan Smythe, her guardian mage and lover, along with her brother T, and the healer Eloise, join her search in discovering the demon’s identity. A search thwarted by a powerful spell.
Breaking the spell requires her to join forces with Zagan, the demon of deceit, the demon who marked her as his. But working together comes with a price. One Gin is not sure she can pay.
Excerpt: (Insert an except other that the official one – if possible – readers like something different.)
Local weather report for today: sunny with a chance of scattered minion parts.
I spin, my sword slicing off the minion’s arm. His eyes flare, round saucers in a shocked face. What did he expect? Me to roll over and stop fighting?
Fat chance, buster. Shouldn’t have hosted the demon’s essence.
Minions might be super-charged on a demon’s essence, but they still feel pain. And whacking off an arm causes pain.
While the minion grabs his bleeding stump and whimpers like a kicked dog, I pull back my sword for a fatal blow. One I should have administered instead of one-arming the minion.
A swing later and the whimpering stops, courtesy of the minion’s head rolling across the ground. Score!
“Good job.” Aidan Smythe, my guardian mage, mentor extraordinaire, and current lover, nods at the dead minion.
I draw in a deep breath, standing a little straighter. When I first became the world’s newest Justitian—or demon huntress as I like to call me and my twelve fellow sword-sisters—I sucked at killing demons. Now, I’m Gin Crawford, super-awesome demon huntress. A feat continuing to impress me.
If only my demon-killing employer was as impressed. Then again, in my book the Agency isn’t exactly known for its intelligence.
You can pickup or download your copy at: Amazon Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo:
About the author:
Currently working on a secret project, Karilyn Bentley blends magic, dark fantasy and romance mixed with a touch of funny that her readers expect and love. When she’s not busy writing, Karilyn enjoys reading and recently learned she loves sledding down hills into snowbanks. Stop by her website at www.karilynbentley.com and discover your next paranormal read!
Where to find Karilyn:
Website: www.karilynbentley.com
Newsletter: https://eepurl.com/ba_0Rf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarilynBentleyAuthor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/karilynbentley1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4051943.Karilyn_Bentley
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karilynbentley
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karilyn-bentley
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Demon Forget Me!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Dark Fantasy, Demon Forget Me, Demon Huntress Series, Karilyn Bentley, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 16 comments.
Interview Nikki Lee Taylor Author of The Descendants
Give a warm welcome to Nikki Lee Taylor author of The Descendants – Rise of the Reaper Army.
What inspired the Heart Collector?
As a reader, I love urban fantasy. Vampires, werewolves, demons all living among us – it’s my favourite. So, when I set out to write my first novel, I knew it had to have paranormal elements to it.
I think the paranormal gives our imagination the opportunity to expand and open up, to see in our minds-eye the things we dream of but don’t necessarily believe in. I also knew I wanted my book to convey an important message, something I do believe in – which is ensuring the future of our planet and all the species of life it harbours.
So that’s how the theme and overall plot of The Descendants – Rise of the Reaper Army was created. Its genesis, so to speak.
By linking the Reaper Army to the rising rate of carbon dioxide in our planet’s atmosphere, and as a result making it a liveable environment for the demon army, my goal was to convey the inevitable global crisis we all face if we do not take drastic measures to protect our world.
Likewise, I wanted to include factual aspects like The Giaour, the first poem ever printed in the English language about a vampire and written by Lord Byron in 1813, and the battle between the Serbian and the Turkish armies as part of my main character Aurora’s back story.
I felt it was important to include factual elements so that you, as a reader, would really engage with the message that despite the story being fiction, how we got to this point is very, very real.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
I think all authors give a little of themselves to their character, they are born inside our minds after all. I’d like to think I try and live my life with the same strength and determination as my main character Aurora, but at times when I find myself at a loose end or not keeping up my end of the bargain in life, I think about what she might do and try to be more like her.
What do you do when you aren’t writing?
I love all forms of storytelling and when I’m not writing I watch a lot of movies and Netflix series. Aside from that I also love photography, live music and spending time with my two golden retrievers at the beach.
What advice would you give new writers?
Don’t give up. It’s tough out there and unless you are very lucky, or crazy talented, you are going to get rejections. It’s just a fact. Don’t take it personally and don’t think you’re a bad writer. Timing is everything and always consider going it alone as an indie author. There are so many opportunities now to get your work out there and just because you self-publish to start with, doesn’t mean a traditional publishing house will not represent you later in your career.
Tell us something most people don’t know about you
I actually started writing The Descendants as a Mills & Boon book after a friend of mine started publishing with them. But about half way through I decided I wanted the book to have multi-layers and include themes about climate change, conservation and other non-romantic elements. I thought that perhaps my overall vision for the book had grown so much that it would no longer fit into the traditional romantic format for M & B, so I decided to take a different path.
Aurora and the Council as possible, but his head was spinning. It was too much
information, too much deceit and too much betrayal. His body ached and his
brain hurt. Unable to continue, he found an old log and threw himself down with
his head in his hands. How could she have done this? How could she have been
the thread that caused his entire life to unravel?
kill him, Gabriel had given himself to her. He had followed her and believed in
her. How could she have betrayed him this way? Everything had changed.
Everything was different. He wished he had never met her. He wished it could
take it all back. He wished he could just go home, but it was a long trip and
storming off into the forest half-cocked was a recipe for disaster. He had
learned that lesson a long time ago. No, he needed to calm his mind. He needed
to find a way to look at things differently. He needed a way to breathe.
was she just a victim of the Council’s plan like he was? After all, she wasn’t
the one who approached him. He was the one who had gone to the farmhouse and
killed her brother. But he never would have been there if he hadn’t been
attacked in the first place.
this was their destiny, but what if she hadn’t been so obsessed with those
things? He wondered, could their destiny have been different? He dared to
imagine how it might have played out. What if he had never been changed and
instead, they met out walking in the forest? What if he could have been himself
with her? What if…?
voice. He hated her. Worse than that he loved her. He was completely screwed.
pressed into the earth like a question mark. How would she make it all the way
home without him? But how could he wait for her knowing this was her fault?
Damn it. He was in his own personal hell. He wandered at a snail’s pace and it
wasn’t long before he heard her calling his name.
was calling out. “I know about the Reapers.”
down he knew she would catch up and he hated himself for wanting her to.
not follow me!”
Gabriel…”
still be a part of his family’s lives. He would still be an Army Captain. Hell,
he would still be alive. Had it not been for her, he would never have fallen in
love.
listen.”
a damn thing.”
killed her brother and the guilt in turn was killing him.
but to stop.
can’t let these things destroy our world. You can’t just walk away!”
anyway Aurora, not like this. I’ve had enough.”
talk like that, do you hear me? Not ever Gabriel, you’re too important!”
do but anger was crippling him. It twisted inside, wrapping around his ribs and
squeezing accusations up into his throat. He wanted his life back. He also
wanted her.
with you I thought you understood?”
and it was a life that I loved. It was a life that I made, that I worked for.
Damn it, don’t you see? I had a family. I followed in my father’s footsteps and
my grandfather’s before him. Did I love fighting? No, but I was proud to serve
my country. I had respect and I had honour. Now I have nothing.”
step closer. “Nothing you could have done as an Army Captain would ever come
close to what we need to do now. Gabriel, everyone will die. Not a town, not a
city, not a country… Everyone, including your family.”
thousands of mothers and fathers. Every animal and plant will be decimated.
Rivers and oceans will dry up. Forests will disappear. If the Reapers are
allowed to rise and stay here, nothing will be left but a barren wasteland.
I’ve seen it. You want to know what happened here in the forest on the way to
the Council? That’s what I was shown. I saw the end. Is that really the legacy
you want to leave behind?”
knew of the Reapers were some paintings on a wall and a vision shown to him by
a vampire, probably the same one that ended his life. How could he trust that?
How could he just believe? His heart ached and sorrow descended like nightfall.
He shivered and wrapped his arms around himself, suddenly so cold that he
wondered if he was coming down with something. But strigoi couldn’t get sick,
could they?
doing this?”
He nodded and looked away, hating that she could read him so well.
the darkness that lives inside them. Try to imagine a world without sunshine,
without love, without hope. If they rise nothing will survive.”
soul.” She stepped away and opened her arms. “For everything that exists there
needs to be balance. That is the essence of the universe. Think about it. Black
and white, light and dark, hot and cold, male and female, even Heaven and Hell.
God created humans and Satan created demons. That is the balance, but their
darkness is beginning to seep into our world. That is what you’re feeling.”
wind blew in off the mountains and moisture hung heavy in the air. Despite his
dizziness he could smell the scent of rain coming in, fresh and clean.
them?”
“No, but he told me that you are the only one capable of destroying the army.”
and laughed out loud. “Well that will do me Aurora. You have got to be joking!
No one can defeat an army alone, demonic or any other kind. It just can’t be
done.”
“Not alone Gabriel, with me.”
yourself Aurora. I don’t know who your mother was, but you are no match for an
army of demons. Like I said, you couldn’t even take me down.”
carry the strongest bloodline of the entire strigoi race. You are the closest
thing on Earth to a demon. And besides, I wasn’t really trying to kill you,
obviously.”
Did Lucius tell you that?”
meant to hurt him, it had just come out somehow. “I’m sorry Gabriel. I didn’t
mean to – ”
When she didn’t reply, he stormed over and grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Answer me damn it! Am I a demon? Is that what he said?”
like that. Gabriel…”
determined to get as far away from her and everyone else as he could. As he
ran, he told himself that Aurora would be fine, that the forest would keep her
safe. That she didn’t need him. Undeterred by the storm, he pushed forward not
caring as wet tree branches slapped against his face and wind whipped through
his hair. If what Aurora said was true, then he had no reason to be careful. If
he was a demon, then he didn’t want to exist anyway.
most, frustration itched and bit at his skin. He loved her but he hated
himself. She wanted everything and he had nothing. How could he save anything
when he couldn’t even stand to be inside his own skin?
Aurora crying out for him. His heart leapt. He ached to turn back, but
quickly shook it off. He couldn’t go back, she was better off without him.
across the sky. Beneath his feet the ground shook and just for a moment he
hesitated. The lightning cast an eerie glow across the wet cliff face and
he peered through the darkness. Was he imagining it, or was somebody there? He
drew in closer and saw camping gear littered across the rock face. A backpack
and a sleeping bag, a broken tent, its framework poking out through the canvas
like pieces of broken bone.
and looked over.
both terrified.
across her face and tears had made her eyes as red as Aurora’s. The man was
trying to hold it together but one look at his face told Gabriel just how
scared he really was.
so he closed his eyes and said a prayer that he could disappear before they
asked any questions. “Just hold tight. I’ll help you.”
pull them up. All around him the wind howled, an ominous sound that chilled him
to the bone.
his arms in frustration. There was nothing he could use that would bear the
weight of an adult man and out of options, he threw his head back and cursed at
the sky. He was damned. No matter what he tried nothing worked. Everything was
falling apart. And then she appeared, wet and weather beaten and yet somehow
still beautiful.
longer caring about their fight. “We need something to pull them up.”
campers, he thought. His life might be over but perhaps theirs didn’t have to
be.
haul the people up from the ledge. Finding one, she walked over and closed her
eyes. She whispered to the tree and it responded, quickly offering up metres of
vine.
both to be out here Aurora.”
need me again.”
ledge needed him more than she did. Turning away from her, he ducked his head
over the ledge and peered down at them. “When I pass this vine down, I want you
to take hold of it. But only one of you at a time, okay?”
“Take my wife first,” the man shouted. “I need to make sure my wife is safe.”
someone so much that you would immediately put their life ahead of your own? It
was an emotion he would probably never feel and yet he ached to love another
with such devotion. He thought he had fallen in love with Aurora, but at the
first sign of trouble he had abandoned her. He wondered if that meant he wasn’t
capable of loving another, if perhaps the world really would be better off
without him.
forehead and wrapped her hands around it tightly. “Don’t you let go Laura.
Promise me you won’t let go no matter what.”
Gabriel towing her to safety was easy, but when she reached the top, he noticed
the palms of her hands were bleeding. Before he could move away, she threw her
arms around his neck and pulled him close. “You saved my life. How can I ever
thank you?”
need you to stay over there,” he ordered the woman. “As far back as you can get
so I have room to pull up your husband. In fact, see that tree over there? I
need you to go and stand by it and do not come over here again. Not under any
circumstances. Do you understand me?”
wind and the scent of her blood would be carried away by the storm. When
she moved away, he sighed with relief. Aurora had taught him well.
hold of the vine and do not let go. That ledge will not bare the weight of your
body falling onto it from a height. Do you understand me?”
weight on the end, Gabriel began to pull. He was a lot heavier than his wife
but within minutes Gabriel managed to lever him up and over the edge. When it
was safe to let go the man immediately ran into the arms of his waiting wife.
team.”
I don’t want you in my life. Nothing is going to change that.”
drops were tears.
was changed because of your fixation with these Reapers or whatever the hell
they are. I’m not – ”
struck a tree just metres away.
going to try and find higher ground. Come with us, please.”
cut through the dark. It struck the earth between their feet sending sparks
flying high enough to sting their legs. Before they had time to react, the
ground moaned like a waking giant.
slipped in the loose rubble.
toward me, you can still make it!”
side. He made it across the growing divide but landed hard, his fingers clawing
in the loose rock on the other side. His eyes met Aurora’s and for a moment
they simply stared at each other. Her lips whispered his name and then he fell.
he landed with a heavy thud on the rock ledge below. Unable to take the weight
of his fall, it quickly gave way and he fell further and further until the
sound of Aurora’s screams were swallowed up by the wind. His body smashed
against rock and earth. Protruding branches cut his face and then his body hit
the ground and everything went black.
their words were muffled by the storm. She stared down into the darkness
calling Gabriel’s name over and over until eventually the man edged closer and
took her arm.
down there. The fall was too great.”
trying.”
understand. We have to try.”
saved your life. Are you really going to turn your back on him?”
with the woman I love. He’s gone. Now please, come with us.”
hurt. “I can’t. He needs me.”
help.” The man turned and ran up the hill to where his wife was waiting. “We’ll
send help,” he shouted back. “You have my word.”
at the sky. “Gabriel will fulfil his legacy. He will sacrifice himself to give
the people a second chance. It has already begun.”
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with The Descendants!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Nikki Lee Taylor, Paranormal Romance, The Descendants, Urban Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
Interview Rebecca Henry Author of The Lady Raven
Give a warm welcome to Rebecca Henry author of The Lady Raven, A Dark Cinderella Tale.
Rebecca what inspired this particular story?
I was inspired to write The Lady Raven: A Dark Cinderella Tale after researching the origin of the story The Glass Slipper. (which was written in the 1600s) Unlike the Disney version, it is a dreadfully dark folk lore. I wanted to write my own take on the fairy tale emphasizing on the true horror The Glass Slipper depicted. Cinderella wasn’t just a victim of verbal abuse, but physical as well, which Lady Tremaine took to horrific proportions on her own daughters. I knew I could tap into that darkness and create a new and unique take on the story.
Do you find it easier to write from a male or female point of view? Why?
I absolutely love this question! I traditionally write from a female point of view although, I have written a book called Hybrid, where the male was the lead and it was told in his perspective. However, I do gravitate towards writing from my own gender. The reason I do this is because, I write stories I want to read. I write for me not for anyone else, and right now the stories I want to write are told in the female gender.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
No, with The Lady Raven I did not write the story with myself in mind as being apart of my main character or any of the characters. The character’s I create are more like familiars or companions I have fashioned for my own pleasure and amusement. They’re not birthed from my own personality, so I never see myself in them. This is such a great question because I almost always identify with other characters in books, seeing myself in them, but traditionally I do not see myself in my own stories.
A peek between the pages of The Lady Raven;
Zezolla entered the forest, twig in one hand, shattered glass in the other. She moved effortlessly through the night as if she herself had wings which carried her. She came to a clearing, a streak of moonlight shining on the frozen ground. “This is the spot, my love.” The raven flew into the sky circling Zezolla as she dug into the ground. “Remember the order, my princess. Plant the twig and then the glass.”
“I call upon the spirit of my mother. I command you to leave the grave in which my mother’s body rests. Awaken now and bring forth the tree of life!” Zezolla held her hands up to the moon invoking its powers. “I am the daughter of the witch Avelina. I invoke the powers of the night. Come to me, my mother’s spirit. I welcome you!” A silver mist traveled above. The raven flew down to his princess. “She is coming, princess.” Zezolla watched as a tiny branch came forth from the dirt. Slowly it grew, taller and taller. More branches came. Zezolla thought she saw the figure of a woman in the tree. Shards of glass formed together creating glass leaves, dangerous to anyone who touched it – anyone but Zezolla. The princess stood up amazed by the beautiful sight before her. “It is complete, my love. My mother is here and her spirit resides inside the tree.” A remarkable hazel tree stood before her, 15 feet tall with a small opening at the base big enough for Zezolla to fit through. She examined the leaves running her long fingers over the glass. “It cannot cut me my love.” She held out her arm for the raven to perch. “But it will be dangerous to anyone else who tries to touch it.”
The two men made it to the barrier, gasping in horror. “What entrance is this!?” cried out Jack. “This was never here. There has never been an entrance to the forest.” Jack backed away, terrified that Zezolla awakened a spirit inside the forest. “It’s just a narrow passage. It must have been caused by the cold ice.” concluded Edward logically.
Jack shook his head. “No, Hexe did this. She has opened the forest. Who knows what evil lurks inside? These grounds are now cursed.”
“If that is true then I will not venture in.” Edward turned to leave but Jack stopped him. “This might be valuable to me Edward. If Hexe possesses some magical entity inside the forest then I want it.”
Jack grabbed Edward by the collar and moved him through the opening. Edward clung to his knife, jumping at the sounds around them. “There is a light coming from beyond the trees. Could be lightening. Let’s go see what Hexe is up to.” Edward tried to turn back, but Jack had a strong hold on him. “Courage man! You’re no better than a scared boy.” snarled Jack.
Zezolla, unaware of the servants approaching, entered the hazel tree. Edward ducked down behind a bush as he saw Zezolla disappear.
“We must leave now! I told you this would be our death! She is a witch! Did you just see how she entered that glass tree?!”
Jack was too fascinated to leave. He had never witnessed true magic before. “I want to take a closer look.”
“What? Are you mad! If you go near that tree that will be the end of you!”
Jack did not listen to Edward and walked over to the magical tree which was shimmering in the moonlight. “I just want to see it. Stay where you are if you are afraid,” Jack snorted.
“To hell with curiosity. I don’t want to end up without my head like Princess Guinevere. Go on then, you fool! Go see your magical tree.”
The tree seemed to call to Jack, beckoning him forward. “It’s so beautiful. Look at the sparkling leaves.” He reached out to touch one. The branch moved slicing his finger off his hand. Jack screamed in pain, clenching his finger to his chest. He tried to run away, but the tree caught him in her branches.
Edward stayed hidden, watching in horror as Jack cried out for help. “Edward, help me!”
“Stupid fool. I told him not to get closer.” muttered Edward
The tree tightened its grip around Jack, cutting him as it squeezed. “Please! I am sorry! Please let me go!” The tree would not accept Jack’s pleas and brought down another branch lined with razor sharp leaves. “No! No! Please, I will do anything! I will protect the princess from her stepmother. I swear to protect her as long as I live! Please, spare me!” The branch came down, slicing Jack’s throat with a row of deadly leaves.
“She needs no protection. I am with her now.” said the tree.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Fairy Tale Retold, fantasy, Rebecca Henry, The Lady Raven by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
