The Key
Secret Defenders, Book 1
How should I begin? The Key is a novel with multiple layers. Everything from the names to the descriptions, to the umm, creatures, have double meanings. Some are easy to catch, some are not. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I should probably start at the beginning.
The Key is a Young Adult paranormal romance that was conceived of at my kitchen table over a span of two weeks. Like most novels it started with one thought — a girl who refused to date a guy with an ugly truck. The thought has little to do with the actual plot of the novel, but we all need a spring board, right?
Maddie Clevenger is alone. Her parents have died and she doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. Coal Creek High is no different. Two months into school and she still doesn’t have a locker. She is basically invisible, at least until two new kids show up. Dougal and Chase. They are as different as night and day. They are like two sides of the same coin. One dark, handsome, and mysterious and the other light, handsome, and well, mysterious.
But you have to understand, Maddie Clevenger isn’t just some random girl without a purpose. She isn’t the class dork as she believes. No, she has a purpose. A purpose that has been passed down. A burden she must bear. Question is, how will she handle it?
Excerpt:
“What’s wrong with you?” asked Stephanie.
Marley lifted her shaky finger. “Th-that ain’t natural.”
Maddie gritted her teeth. It wasn’t natural that someone would want to walk with her? Oh, one of these days Stephanie and her crew would go too far. Stephanie stared at Chase and Maddie as they passed by. “What’s happening this week? Is it the coming of the apocalypse or something?”
“That’s him,” whispered Marley, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.
“Him, who?”
“The other new guy.” Stephanie groaned.
Maddie would’ve smiled if she hadn’t been distracted, but Dougal sat in her seat again. She stiffened as she prepared to approach.
Maybe Chase sensed her discomfort, because he leaned down and whispered in her ear, his cool breath tickling her neck and sending shivers along her spine. “Is that your seat?” She nodded. “Do you want me to say something?”
Grateful, she shook her head.
****
The Key, Secret Defenders, is a contemporary YA paranormal romance.
Buy links:
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/578255
Felicia Rogers is an author of multiple novels and novellas. When she’s not writing, Felicia volunteers with the Girl Scouts of America, teaches at a local homeschooling group, hikes, and spends time with her family.
To find out more information about Felicia Rogers visit the sites below. She loves hearing from her readers.
Email: [email protected]
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/feliciarogers
Every once in a while, something comes along that changes things for the better.
And in the world of writers, this is especially welcoming, because we all know just how much sweat, courage and persistence it takes to write a book and then release it into the world. Today I’m pointing you toward a new website which I hope will help writers brainstorm stronger characters, craft deeper, more compelling plots, and teach us how to be more effective with our description so we draw readers in. One Stop For Writers is a collaboration between Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman, authors of The Emotion Thesaurus, and Lee Powell, creator of Scrivener for Windows. This powerhouse online library is filled with one-of-a-kind descriptive thesaurus collections, tools, tutorials and much more, all geared to provide the resources you need to strengthen your prose and write more efficiently.
Want to check One Stop For Writers out?
Hop on over to Writers Helping Writers for their Launch Week festivities (October 7-14th)! If you know Angela, Lee and Becca already, you probably can guess there will be some great prizes, and probably a bit of paying-it-forward too.
Take the biblical tale of Creation. And then ask… what if Eve… had said no? Would evil have given up all attempt? Or would it instead have carried on, scheming, waiting to pounce? And what then? From that joy-filled world where the lion lies down with the lamb, where we are in perfect relationship with Glory and where there is neither death nor sadness nor dissonance… how would that Unfallen family, mirroring God’s heart, react to the Fallen – and the other way around?
By imagining a universe in which the Fall is deferred by a generation, the book allows us to go behind the scenes to live and experience the events and characters of Genesis 1-4 from the inside, rather than reading about them from the outside. From first temptation to eventual fall, and the unravelling of relationship leading to that first, most shocking, conclusion, and the grace which follows, we smile, laugh, wince, mourn and rejoice with those inhabiting those days. What might it really have been like before the Fall? In practical terms. And after?
The novel is in two halves. Part I is set in Eden, and traces the tale from first moments of consciousness to cataclysmic Fall. Part II follows Cain and his family as they build their lives outside Eden’s boundaries, and the relationships which are destroyed and rebuilt.
Two great Trees. Of Life, and of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Only one forbidden. What happens when the fruit of the forbidden one is eaten? And why?
By imagining a universe in which the Fall is deferred by a generation, the book allows us to go behind the scenes to live and experience the events and characters of Genesis 1-4 from the inside, rather than reading about them from the outside. From first temptation to eventual fall, and the unravelling of relationship leading to that first, most shocking, conclusion, and the grace which follows, we smile, laugh, wince, mourn and rejoice with those inhabiting those days. What might it really have been like before the Fall? In practical terms. And after?
The novel is in two halves. Part I is set in Eden, and traces the tale from first moments of consciousness to cataclysmic Fall. Part II follows Cain and his family as they build their lives outside Eden’s boundaries, and the relationships which are destroyed and rebuilt.
Two great Trees. Of Life, and of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Only one forbidden. What happens when the fruit of the forbidden one is eaten? And why?
This ‘what if’ scenario is one that, surprisingly, does not appear to have been explored before. It is a story that Anna couldn’t believe had not already been written. ‘Hence,’ she says, ‘since no one else had yet written it, I needed to.’
By placing the story in the realm of ‘what if’, Anna continues, ‘it permits a meditation on fundamental biblical truths in a way which is simultaneously gentle and unthreatening, yet perhaps all the more thought-provoking precisely because they have been transposed to a safe environment. Readers find themselves mourning the relationship with God, Creation and each other, thrown away by the Fall; atheists have absorbed the message without antagonism, while Christians have come away with a new and refreshing reminder of His joy and grace.’
Eden Undone is a story of grace and joy, loss and sin, hope and redemption. It is accessible to all – from the age of 9 to 95 – and is enjoyed equally by Christians and non-Christians. It is funny and tragic, gentle and powerful, original and thought-provoking.
It turns out that publishers and distributors have zero budget for promotion of their books. The distributors haven’t even mentioned Eden Undone in their catalogues. So this novel desperately needs YOUR help to make it through – please consider supporting generously at http://igg.me/at/Eden-Undone
(You can get a free copy of the book, among other incentives, in exchange for your support!)
It turns out that publishers and distributors have zero budget for promotion of their books. The distributors haven’t even mentioned Eden Undone in their catalogues. So this novel desperately needs YOUR help to make it through – please consider supporting generously at http://igg.me/at/Eden-Undone
(You can get a free copy of the book, among other incentives, in exchange for your support!)
Sample chapters from Eden Undone:
NB. Throughout this book, names for God are used interchangeably, depending on which facet of His character is to the fore.
Glory, Majesty, Love… all these are wholly Him yet none by themselves encompass Him.
CHAPTER ONE
24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
(The Book of the Beginning 1:24-27)
Memories of memories, without shape or form. He was floating up, rising, surfacing through inchoate shadows. Fragments of impressions, feelings. Light and dark. Palms to rough bark. Knuckles on soft soil. Dust. Wordless sounds. And then – explosion of lucidity, consciousness. Opened eyes meeting the face of Love, radiating joy.
“Your name is Adam,” He said. “Welcome, my beloved!”
And: “Come. Come with me.”
8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground —trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
[…] 15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
(The Book of the Beginning 2:8-15)
“I’ve got something to show you. Close your eyes,” He said.
The world moved.
“Look,” He said.
It was a garden. The man knew it was a garden, knew the word, knew the name. Garden. Eden.
There were trees. Trees of every kind, shape, and size, as far as the eye could see. And flowers. Riots of colour, exuberant cascades, shy petals in tiny nooks. A gentle breeze filled Adam’s lungs with the subtle afternoon perfume: nothing cloying, nothing clashing. A bird chirruped. Curious eyes turned to them, drew towards them. In the distance, some animal let out an ecstatic bugle of welcome.
And a moment of stillness, breathless, expectant.
“I planted it,” He said. “For you. Do you like it?”
There were no words. Words aren’t sufficient for first glimpse of beauty, first breath of awe. Only the heart that fills until it feels as if it could explode from joy.
Only a nod, and the heart that leapt.
God rejoiced.
And a thundering of hooves, pounding of paws, as noses nuzzled and soft fur touched. “Welcome,” they said. “Welcome. We have been waiting for you. Come and see! Come and see! Come and stay!”
“Will you?” He asked.
“Yes,” said Adam. “Oh, yes!”
CHAPTER TWO
13 …every precious stone adorned you:
ruby, topaz and emerald,
[…]
14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub,
for so I ordained you.
You were on the holy mount of God;
you walked among the fiery stones.
15 You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created
till wickedness was found in you.
16 Through your widespread trade
you were filled with violence,
and you sinned.
So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,
and I expelled you, O guardian cherub,
from among the fiery stones.
17 Your heart became proud
on account of your beauty,
and you corrupted your wisdom
because of your splendour.
So I threw you to the earth;
(Fragment: The Lord’s Lament)
He had kept most of the gems. Smuggled them out with him when he was cast out from Heaven. Idiot …One…, not to have realised that the gems were being sneaked out. Or worse, to have realised, and not cared. He couldn’t quite bring himself – not even now, when he was entitled to his fury! – to curse God. Not that it would be blasphemy, of course; how could it be, when that …One… had shown Himself to be so weak? It was simply that, well… and so what of it? It could not, would not, could not be interpreted as weakness on his own account. If anything, Lucifer thought, it was, well, proof that he had been maligned. And it certainly could not be taken as proof that deep inside he was aware of who (a pause. Even in his own thoughts he could scarcely bring himself to think of …that Being…) …the One… was. He was no mere throne bearer, worship leader, guardian of the holy places, cherub he! He, Lucifer, who by rights should be on the throne, not merely bearing it. He, Lucifer, the most beautiful in all the hosts of heaven: he who had been adulated by all, and called the bright morning star, son of the dawn. Even without the living jewels whose fire had reflected his beauty before and still showered him with their lustre now.
And power. For the umpteenth time, Lucifer nursed his bile against his Creator. What did that …One… know about power!? Power was for using. Power was for creating more power, bartering for what you could get, and simply grabbing what wasn’t up for exchange. Power was created by those strong enough to lust for it, strong enough to foment dissension, to weaken everyone else and to make oneself look bigger. Power went to the strongest. The strongest deservedpower.
He could not have been created himself. Could not. Particularly not by that… that… …One… who had failed to surrender His throne to him. Granted, he had no specific recollection of what he’d been doing when light was separated from dark, and dark from light, but … but that did not mean that he was created. Or, even if he had been created, then certainly not by that… that weaklingwho occupied the throne and wielded the power he craved, the throne and power which should by rights be his…
Take the Earth. The Earth was supposed to be his. To use as he saw fit. To take the things he wanted. Such as more gems. He was certain that with gold and jewels one could accomplish all sorts of things. Precious stones reflected his beauty, dazzled and awed those around him. Especially the living jewels, the stones of fire, which adorned Heaven and in which he had clothed himself too. Granted, those he had smuggled out were losing their life and becoming …hard… but they were still precious. And still reflected his beauty. And still instilled awe. And where you could instil awe, you had power. And power… power was everything.
What use was power if you didn’t use it to exploit those around you, if you didn’t use it for yourself, if you chose instead to use it for others? Sign of a weakling, that was, and by the end, he’d even managed to convince others of the angelic host the same thing. Managed to convince them that he would run a far tighter ship if he were in power rather than the present incumbent. With, of course, the right incentives to those loyal to him…
Didn’t that count for something, that he’d succeeded in convincing some of the lesser angels that the power should be his?
And where were those beings now? Scattered. Weaklings.
He was surrounded by weaklings, that was the problem. Above and below… Why, even the fact that he’d been exiled from Heaven was proof of that impotent …One’s… weakness and stupidity. Now if he’d been on the throne, he’d have known the right way to treat a menace as powerful, beautiful, and, and, and powerful as himself. If the roles had been reversed, hah! then Heaven would have seen what Power truly meant. And he wouldn’t have been so idiotic as to leave his enemy running loose…
There, he’d said it. The… One… was… the enemy. All that faff that the… One… had said about grieving for Lucifer, all that mourning his so-called corruption, all that pleading with him to throw away his pride and come back to be forgiven. Forgiven?! How dare He? How dare He suggest that Lucifer was wrong? Or patronise him by mourning for him? Just signs of weakness, hypocritical cant to cover up a Lord too weak to do what needed to be done. Lucifer wasn’t going to fall for it. Would not be taken in by that pretence of love. Love? Even the word now tasted disgusting to him. Slimy. Lucifer spat. The horrid taste remained, and the churning of his insides. Love? Pah!
Well, He’d regret it, Lucifer vowed. Power was his by rights, and since the …One… had been so stupid to let him loose…
Nursing the dimming gems and his enkindling grievance, Lucifer beat his great wings and continued to roam the world of his exile.
CHAPTER THREE
19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.
20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
(The Book of the Beginning 2:19-20)
They danced there with him, leading the way, showing him, welcoming him. “Welcome,” they cried, the merriest confusion of sizes and shapes and colours, ‘til he could scarcely begin to take it all in.
The colours alone – just glancing around him, why, if he’d been the one to create green, and it had occurred to him, then, well, perhaps a single shade? But here – just the greens alone, in too many shades to even begin counting. And that was just the greens. Every colour was a celebration of variety on its own: put together and the infinite colours sang of their Maker’s joy and unbounded exuberance. And then there were the textures. And the shapes! And the interplay of them all…! And then the animals! Fur and feathers and scales, rough and smooth, big and small!
He hardly even knew where to start. There was so much to do, so much to learn! It was so gloriously new, so endlessly challenging, so full of awesome wonder.
He put up his hand toward one of the leaves caressing his face. It was delicate, a fresh green, unfurled from a branch with smooth silvery bark. Birch.
But even as he was touching it, he became aware of a chorus of voices, getting louder by the instant. “We’re coming! We’re coming! Wait for us! Here, let us through! We’re here! We’re here!”
With a rush and a rustle of undergrowth, a parting of surrounding hoofs and paws, whiskered faces and feathered wings, two new somethings careened out of one of the bushes, through the throng, and hurtled against his legs in a flurry of silky fur, wet noses, wagging tails, and furred paws, bowling him over.
With a thump, Adam landed on the soft grass, laughing.
“Welcome! Welcome! Oh, welcome!”
It took a few seconds, but finally the two somethings succeeded in untangling themselves from Adam’s legs and each other, and Adam found himself looking at two pairs of excited eyes.
“Hello,” he said. “Er, I’m Adam. What about you?”
“We’re… we’re…”
They almost floundered for an instant, until He said gently to Adam:
“Actually, I thought you might like to Name them all. Who do you feel they are, Beloved?”
It was his first Naming. He could feel their Name shaping itself in his heart and mind. It was the right Name, he could feel it, the Name that belonged to them. “Dog,” he said.
The two bounded up. “We’re dogs! Yes! Dog! We’re dogs! Here, did you hear? Did you hear? He’s named us, he has! We’re dogs, we are!”
They chased each other ecstatically round and round the clearing, weaving in and out of the surrounding forest of legs and hoofs and paws, while Adam picked himself back up off the soft sward. One of them was so excited that he tumbled head over heels before continuing the romp, and then they both landed, panting, pink tongues lolling, back at Adam’s feet.
“We’re coming with you,” they said. “We’re here! We’re here!”
Adam laughed, rubbed their ears, and looked up into the next pair of great brown eyes, set in a long face with a velvet nose and a black mane. A happy whoosh of warm sweet breath fanned his face. “Lord Adam!”
“Horse,” he said, and with a joyful nicker, Horse made way for the next somethings.
They were all there, big and small, welcoming him, receiving their Names, while God beamed with delight.
Lion. Swallow. Elephant. Sheep. Mouse. Bear. Bee. Cat. Eagle. Rabbit. Giraffe. Beaver. Owl.
Glorious Tiger with her stripey hide.
Tall Serpent with his proud carriage and jewelled colours.
Cow and Bull with their glorious horns.
The pair of Squirrels with their pitterpatter of tiny paws, scampering and skittering along the branches, leaping featherweights from twig to twig, bushy red tails held high.
“We’re here too! We heard! We heard! Welcome, Lord Adam!”
Adam’s heart danced a jig of pure joy, and the soaring paeans of praise rising unprompted to his lips harmonised with the hushed choirs of angels above.
CHAPTER FOUR
You were […] perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden,
the garden of God;
every precious stone adorned you:
(Fragment: The Lord’s Lament 28:12)
And Eden. Eden should have been his. Was his by rights. He’d been there when the …One… was creating it.
The …One… had even asked whether he liked it! Of course Eden had been meant for him – why else would the …One… have shown it to him and to the other angels, if not because He’d secretly been intending to give it to him all along? And then… then to discover that it had actually been meant for that… that … creature! That weak, fragile little two-legged monstrosity that He’d created out of dust, raised from the mere fabric of the world itself, given life and consciousness by His breath! How dare He pass Lucifer over in favour of that…. that mud-man? He didn’t have the power that Lucifer had. Nor his perfect beauty. Nor his wings. Nor his position. He hadn’t been a throne-bearer to the Almighty. What right did that interloper have to… to usurp his rightful prize?
And to add insult to injury, now that he’d been banished from Heaven, he wasn’t even allowed back into Eden either! When anyone else could have plainly seen that Eden was his by rights, and that in mere deference to his former position, he should at the very least be given Eden to set up his residence. As… as an apology for the way he’d been shamefully passed over andthen banished. Banished! When by rights his ambition should surely have led to his promotion! So Eden was, after all, his by rights – he’d set foot in it long before the …One… had created that thing. He’d been there first. How dare He then snatch it away again to give to that creature?
Well, if he couldn’t have Eden, then it was up to him to see that that creature wouldn’t have it either. Or the …One…. Lucifer would show Him. He’d see. He’d pay. No-one was going to mess with him.
And then, who knows, once he’d evicted that… squatter, then he’d have shown that idiot …One… just who had more power, he or the squatter, and then the …One… would see sense and give Eden back to him.
After all, Eden should have been his in the first place.
And if he couldn’t have it, then no-one could.
CHAPTER FIVE
9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground – trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
(The Book of the Beginning 2:9)
Joy upon joy, awe upon awe, wonder upon wonder. Each step they took together, each corner they turned, each dell he explored in God’s company, it seemed to Adam that they came upon something new and more beautiful than the one before. Sometimes, he’d almost have walked past it had Glory not drawn his attention to it and opened his eyes to see it properly and share God’s passion for it.
It wasn’t just the animals who had different names and personalities, likes and dislikes. The plants did too, and during their walks together, Adam got to know each of them.
“This one,” He’d say, “likes your help keeping it trimmed,” and the vine put its pretty blush into its grapes.
Or:
“This is the Avocado. See how her fruit covers itself? Try it!” and so Adam peeled the glossy, nobbly black coat and tasted the perfect nutty richness within, buttery-soft and satisfying. They shared merry laughter when the fruit – so ripe that the coat came away in easy strips – skittered out of his hands and left a trail of green cream along his arms and down his leg where the fruit had slid. Adam rinsed himself in the nearby brook, cool and sparkling as it burbled along its bed, and flicked some of the water towards Dog, who had been bounding along beside them. Dog responded by plunging in and spluttering with delight, and the two of them enjoyed a brief splash-fest before emerging again, dripping, onto the bank, water diamonds glistening before the warmth of the sunshine dried them again deliciously. Dog decided that shaking himself vigorously and making the water droplets fly up in great arcs was almost the best bit about getting wet.
Cherries – huge, rich, black, bursting with flavour – became an instant favourite. And the flowers on the tree (for all the trees in the Garden had both flowers and fruit on them at the same time) also took his breath away with their beauty. Beauty down to the smallest detail.
“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden,” He said. “But you mustn’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die”.
“What does “die” mean, Lord?” he asked then.
A great sadness crossed His face. “It’s when someone is cut off from my presence, Adam.”
A chill ran down Adam’s spine. Cut off from Love’s true light? That… that would be like drawing breath and finding no air, opening his eyes and seeing nothing. Conceivable only in the dimmest fashion, but gut-wrenching even at that remoteness. No, dying was not something to which he felt drawn…
But then “Come, dearheart!” and the moment of the shadow of fear melted in the light of His Love, tucked away from experience and stored only in knowledge.
They bent down to speak to Mole, who had swum his way up through the rich soil to greet them and had now emerged, sneezing and blinking in the sudden sunlight, with his great shovel paws resting atop his little mound. Crumbs of soil still covered his velvet fur, and his nose twitched. “Welcome my Lords, welcome,” he snuffled. “My burrow is yours, if you’d like to visit? It’s cool and restfully dark,” he added, squinting in the unaccustomed light, and plainly convinced that any sensible being would be equally uncomfortable in so much blinding brightness. “If you give me a few minutes, that is, to make the hallways a little wider?”
Adam gravely thanked him, touched by the invitation, but reassured him that they were quite happy up here in the fresh air, and might find soil quite difficult to breathe.
“But there’s lots of air here!” defended Mole. “In between the soil. And the roots. I like roots,” he added. “The roots here are lovely. Ask the Lord. HE knows.”
Glory smiled, and assured him that indeed He knew; and Mole, finally convinced that the Lord Adam would not be joining him and Mrs Mole for tea, disappeared again in a flurry of earth as he burrowed back down again into the welcoming blackness, full of the clean scents of soil and roots.
And the Lord showed Adam how the loam crumbled, and spoke of the different types of soil and how this one was loved by such a tree, and that one was loved by that. Adam ran his fingers through the soil, feeling its beautiful texture, and marvelled anew at the vastness of God’s conception, that knew and loved every atom of this world He had created, from the depths of the earth, and the crumbs of the soil, to the trees that fed on it and the creatures that lived on – and in – it.
And Dog enthusiastically got his muzzle covered by the loose dirt where Mole had been, before deciding that perhaps he too was too large to breathe the air in between the soil and had perhaps better stay up top instead of taking up Mole’s invitation.
Click here to buy the paperback on Amazon UK.
Click here to buy the ebook on Amazon US.
Click here to buy the paperback on Amazon UK.
Click here to buy the ebook on Amazon US.
Anna Lindsay graduated from St.John’s College (Cambridge University) and has worked everywhere from Hong Kong (as a volunteer working with Jackie Pullinger to help drug addicts) to temping in Switzerland and as a teacher in the UK. Health challenges forced retirement, since when she has served her community in a volunteer capacity including 16 years as a Trustee of a tiny local Registered Charity in the centre of Cambridge.
Anna Lindsay is available for book signings and interviews, and can be contacted via [email protected].
I adore audiobooks, so naturally I want other audiobook lovers to be able to listen to my stories. This summer I teamed up with veteran television reporter and co-anchor Terry Murphy to bring my short story Ino’s Love to life. Terry is best known for her nine years (1990–1998) anchoring the tabloid show Hard Copy and, since 2003, reporting for the entertainment show Extra. She has done a fantastic job with Ino’s Love and I can’t wait to hear what readers have to say. (Read on for my interview with Terry.)
Why turn a short story into a 28-minute audiobook?
Short stories are enjoying a resurgence these days as more and more people have instant access to books, including audiobooks, on their smart phones. Shorter reads are easier to digest; a reader can finish a story and experience a sense of resolution in a matter of minutes. And audiobooks make this even more convenient because they’re hands-free. I love listening to a great audiobook while I’m driving, cooking, and cleaning house, even when I’m lounging in the pool. Others do too. So making all of my books and stories into audiobooks is part of my marketing plan.
Of all of the stories I’ve written, Ino’s Love is one of my favorites. I absolutely loved writing it. I don’t remember what inspired me to create the characters of Ino and Ruby, but it must have been work-related because I was working as a hospital case manager at the time. My days were filled with helping patients (and their families) find ways to remain comfortable and cared for at home when faced with long-term illness or disability.
I also did a short spell as a home health nurse myself, and had a lot of experience as a nursing assistant caring for the elderly in nursing homes and as an LPN and RN in the hospital. I have a soft spot for patients like Ino. I respect those who care for them with integrity and help them to maintain their dignity.
This story displays the love that can exist between caregiver and client. There may be a few questionable actions on the part of Ino and Ruby (no spoilers!), but it’s the love between them that stays with the reader.
Ino’s Love was originally published in Kaleidoscope magazine, 2009.
Synopsis
Ino prepares a Christmas feast for her successful CEO son, but when he’s too busy to spend the holiday with his mother, she shares her dinner and gifts with her home health aide. Sometimes, the people who love us best are not family.
Interview with narrator/producer Terry MurphyWhat is it about Ino’s Love that motivated you to audition for the role of producer/narrator?
“Ino’s Love really touched my heart. Sadly today, so many adults either ignore or forget about their parents. And as I’ve gotten older, I realize it’s the little things from my sons that make me the happiest now. Ino also beautifully illustrates how simple gestures from a stranger can bring such joy to a senior citizen’s life.”
Were there any challenges to preparing for or performing this role?
“The biggest challenge for me was trying to capture Ino’s personality in my voice. And it was equally difficult alternating between Ruby and Ino’s ages. Ino’s Love was my first fiction recording, and I am very proud of my collaboration with you.”
Please tell us about your background in television and news.
“My career in television news began at WKRC in Cincinnati, first as a reporter and then as one of the first anchor women in Ohio. After anchor positions in Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles, I was selected to in 1989 to co-anchor Hard Copy, Paramount Studio’s nationally syndicated and very successful tabloid show. Before my retirement last year, I worked as Senior Producer on Warner Brothers nationally syndicated entertainment show, EXTRA, starring Mario Lopez. I was blessed with a national daytime Emmy Award for my work in 2014.”
How did you get started in audiobook production/narration?
“When I retired from the entertainment business and moved back from Los Angeles to my hometown of Columbus Ohio, I realized I still had something to offer, namely my voice! So my husband built me an audio booth in our basement, I invested in some high end equipment, and began working with a voice coach to add more variety to my tone. He suggested auditioning for audiobooks, and the rest is history.”
What other books have you narrated?
“All of the other books I’ve narrated are non-fiction works, including one on how to control mood swings, and another on the burgeoning marijuana dispensary business across the country.”
How has the market for audiobooks changed over the course of your media career?
“The market for audiobooks is growing by leaps and bounds. More people are traveling further distances to and from work, and desire to listen to something more engaging than a top forty or all-news radio station.”
If you could produce/narrate any book in or out of print which would it be?
“The Magnificent Ambersons is one of my all-time favorite books, and is at the top of my list.”
What advice do you have for authors who would like to market their books in audio?
“My advice to authors is, if you don’t have a broadcast quality voice, put your ego aside and hire a professional.”
What would you tell those who are embarking or wish to embark on a career as a producer/narrator for audiobooks?
“To all aspiring narrators I would remind them to be prepared to spend many long hours recording and editing, but the end result is a very rewarding career. Also, begin listening to voice actors on television and radio, spend money for the best equipment, and invest in a professional coach. And most importantly, don’t take rejection personally. You may not be right for one project, but perfect for another!”
What was the best job you ever had?
“Definitely Hard Copy was my favorite job. It thrust me into the national spotlight, and we covered several major stories, including the trials of Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson.”
Reviews
Since its publication as an ebook on Kindle in December 2013, Ino’s Love has been steadily gaining great reviews and is rated 4.9 stars on Amazon. Here’s what a few readers had to say:“The author packs so much into so little space. This is what a short story should be.”
“Such a tender story of love…giving love, receiving love; reminding us again that it’s not the “things” in our lives that are important, but the relationships.”
“A great writer can make you fall in love with a character quickly. Ms. Sciucco proves to be such a writer with this short story.”
“All I had left when the tale ended was the question: ‘Why isn’t this included in the full disclosure for new home health aides?’ Because it is such a delightful short read, and yet it depicts just how important these people are to the patients they serve.”
Purchase Ino’s Love
Ino’s Love in audiobook is available on Amazon for $3.46, on Audible and iTunes for $3.95. It’s also available as a Kindle book for $.99, and is free on Kindle Unlimited.
Connect with Marianne Sciucco
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: C.N. Pinckard
Title of book and/or series: Arising from Darkness
Brief summary of the story:
Meranda decides she has had enough of the way Gavid treats her and feels away from him. She runs into the King of Yevin and is immediately put to death by Gavid. King Ledric heals her and discovers she is a Riftrider with a strange birthmark on her shoulder. Treidon discovers his true love in Meranda and is his a Riftrider as well. She talks about a lord name Siebrien who plans on over taking the realm. They all rush to Elmwick and give Meranda the trials, but she is plagued by Nightmares and demons who wish her dead. No one knows the real reason, but they find a way to make the trials and hopefully stop Siebrien.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
I created this world with the thoughts of the different regions of the world, artic (snow region), the flat lands (the grasslands region) the desert (desert region), and the forest (the forest region.). each has it’s own dangers and troubles, just like here on Earth.
If we were to visit Seilla as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Going to Elmwick to see the monstrous tall trees.
What dangers should we avoid in Seilla?
There are kinds of dangers, from plants that could eat a man whole to goblins, trolls, orcs, ogres and even Lizardmen.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Seilla?
No, mostly mutton, veal, and the like.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Seilla?
Combat consists of swords, daggers, axes, typical, but there are some not so typical. Such as the hair cat o’nine tales, and the spiked chains
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Seilla?
Mostly animals are used to travel. Although there is a special race that use their abilities to travel and help others travel through the shadows.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Seilla that we don’t see on Earth?
For one, the sentient races are Goblins, orcs, gnomes (not the cute garden variety either.), lizardmen, trolls, barbarians, elves, kobalds, dwarves and dragons. Animals are typical, but some not so typical the ankheg which is a flesh eating large bug. Or the cockatrice. There are monsters everywhere in the Realm of Seilla.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Seilla? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
There are always magic and supernatural at play in the Realm of Seilla. There are demons that constantly are plotting against the entire realm, and magical abilities are either studied or come natural.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Seilla? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Yes, there is an ore named Ultrim that holds a magic that is cast on it. For example if you cast cold on the metal, it will constantly keep cold, thus helping the elves of the realm keeping their meats cold, if you cast lightening on it, it will keep that electricty and provide power to the realm. There is also running water in the realm as well, it is powered by the spells of filtration and constant flow.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Seilla.
There is jousting, skilled events for each of the classes (ranger, riftrider, knight, fighter, etc)
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Seilla as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
No, weeks are 10 days a week, month is 40 days, years are 400 days. On the land of Yevidin there are fall festivals, spring festivals, summer celebrations and a winter celebration. Barbarians, Dwarves and Kobalds have their own.
What is the political or government structure in Seilla? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The typical Medieval ruling, monarch, lords, ladies, dukes and dutchesses, etc.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Seilla?
There are a few, to become a shadow elf you must face several trials.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
My book 1 has been influenced by the military and other events of pop culture.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
Demons, we all have them, we all fight them. They are always out to get us and will try and destroy us. We have to use our strength, faith and courage to fight them.
Author Autobiography:
C.N. Pinckard is from Bossier City, Louisiana where she lives with her husband of twenty years (seven time cancer surviver) and two autistic boys. Her own autism spurred her love of reading fantasy. When she graduated from the small rural school she attended, she soon married and began her family, all the while dreaming of the day when she would begin her journey writing. In the present day, C. N. Pinckard enjoys every minute of working on her Riftrider’s Return series as well as making jewelry, bookmarks, and handmade textures to use with photography or cover art.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your books?
http://amzn.com/1494468794 Paper back
http://www.inktera.com/store/title/169cc1ff-3544-4955-b01f-a986cc480a0a Inktera
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/arising-from-darkness Kobo
https://www.oysterbooks.com/book/w3eP8SNXtjWrqPLikDfTL7/arising-from-darkness-riftriders-return-1 Oyster
https://www.scribd.com/book/253203908/Arising-From-Darkness-RiftRider-s-Return-1 Scribd
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arising-from-darkness-christina-pinckard/1121098306?ean=2940151711883 Barnes and Noble
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id959980605 Itunes
http://www.inktera.com/store/title/169cc1ff-3544-4955-b01f-a986cc480a0a Inktera
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/arising-from-darkness Kobo
https://www.oysterbooks.com/book/w3eP8SNXtjWrqPLikDfTL7/arising-from-darkness-riftriders-return-1 Oyster
https://www.scribd.com/book/253203908/Arising-From-Darkness-RiftRider-s-Return-1 Scribd
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arising-from-darkness-christina-pinckard/1121098306?ean=2940151711883 Barnes and Noble
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id959980605 Itunes
Where can readers connect with you online?
Twitter: @CNPinckard
Website: http://kelinrose.wix.com/cnpinckard
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Seilla. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the fantasy land of Pippington, in Realm Explorers Part LXVIII!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the fantasy land of Pippington, in Realm Explorers Part LXVIII!
-Annie Douglass Lima
On tour with Prism Book Tours.
Release Day Blitz for
Once Upon a Marriage
By Tara Taylor Quinn
Intro to Once Upon a Marriage
This is what happens when three college friends decide to buy an old apartment building…
Welcome to the Historic Arapahoe! (If you’ve been here before, welcome back!) Though most of the residents here are elderly, they’re still getting up at five-thirty in the morning to work, they’re still going on romantic dates, changing the insides of their toilets, and protecting those around them. Including the three thirty-one-year-old friends who recently purchased the building so that the elderly, fixed income residents wouldn’t be forced into nursing homes or be put out on the street.
Who’s really taking care of whom remains to be seen. Or maybe, this is life, everyone doing what they can to take care of each other. Marie, one of the three owners, has been taking care of others most of her life. She owns the coffee shop on the first floor of the building and spends her days trying to make life a little easier, a little more pleasant for everyone around her.
There’s a stalker hanging around. And her father, a womanizer who broke up their family but also managed to be a good dad, is struggling. Marie tends to it all. And she’s still lonely. Because, ultimately, she can’t trust.
I think, in today’s world, many of us struggle with trust issues. I also believe that happiness depends on our ability to trust, and that trust is still rewarded. I’m just not sure I can convince Marie of that fact…
Once Upon A Marriage is her story.
— Tara Taylor Quinn
Once Upon a Marriage(The Historic Arapahoe #2)
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages
October 1st 2015 by Harlequin Heartwarming
Anyone could be hiding a secret…
Marie Bustamante does not trust or love easily. Growing up with a philandering father and an overprotective mother, she comes by her reservations honestly. So after only three months, how can she be falling for her best friend’s bodyguard? This isn’t like her at all. But Elliott Tanner is strong, gorgeous and…trustworthy. Honest. At least he seems to be. Of course, some things about him remain a mystery. Protecting the privacy of his clients is Elliott’s job. That doesn’t mean he’s hiding anything from her. Does it?
Also in the Series
Once Upon a Friendship
(The Historic Arapahoe #1)
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
July 1st 2015 by Harlequin Heartwarming
They’re a team…not a couple!
Falling for Liam was unthinkable. He and Gabi had been best friends since college, nothing more. And crucially, now Liam was her client and needed her to be focused on his case. Gabi could never risk their friendship — or Liam’s freedom — over these feelings. They could never be a couple, anyway. He was Liam Connelly, the handsome and privileged son of a billionaire. She was Gabrielle Miller, the girl who’d fought her way out of poverty and put herself through law school. They were unlikely friends to begin with. Anything more was impossible. Unless…he felt it, too.
The author of more than 70 original novels, in twenty languages, Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA Today bestseller with over six million copies sold. She is known for delivering deeply emotional and psychologically astute novels of suspense and romance. Tara is a recipient of the Reader’s Choice Award, a five time finalist for the RWA Rita Award, the Reviewer’s Choice Award, the Bookseller’s Best Award and appears frequently on bestseller lists, including #1 placement on Amazon lists. Tara is the past-president of Romance Writers of America and served eight years on that board of directors. She has appeared on national and local TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning and is a frequent guest speaker. In her spare time Tara likes to travel, climb Arizona mountains, and inline skate.Tara is a supporter of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know might be a victim of domestic violence in the United States, please contact 1-800-799-7233.
Blitz Giveaway
$10 VISA Gift Card & print copy of Once Upon a Friendship (US only)
2 ebooks of Once Upon a Friendship (INT)
Ends October 7th
