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: Lynnette Roman
Title of book and/or series: Ruby Eyed Devil: Book #1 in the R.E.D. series
Brief summary of the story:
The First of the Seven Desolations of the Tatum Scrolls has come to pass through the decimation of the Salt Sea. The golden webs of destiny have responded in kind by entangling the lives of the most unlikely candidates for its work. Individuals from Earth, the Skylands, and the Waterworld will be brought together through a barrage of tragedies, to bring about the unfolding of a prophecy whose events will spread to the four pillars of the Earth.
The resurrection of an ancient evil is underway and with it the Second of the Seven Desolations will be revealed. The LORD has opened his armory and called forth a name, centuries old. A name to be risen from the ashes, restored, and branded upon His chosen. A title birthed out of war and scarlet flames for such a time as this.
His chosen shall be called—The Ruby Eyed Devil.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story: Earth, Sea and sky have been linked together through feuds, and prophecy. Each having their own hierarchy.
If we were to visit as tourists, what would you recommend that we do there? Get close to God.
What dangers should we avoid? Avoid the whip of the Silver Tail at the Fountain of the Two Calves. Its tip slices through both body and soul.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served? Caribou stew in the Arctic.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common? Weapons of the Skylands are the bolts of the heavens, while those of the Waterworld use fire.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel? Polar bears are used as companions. Transportation is an innate gift used by those of the supernatural.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter that we don’t see on Earth? The Meviathum are the legendary creatures of the sea.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of the people? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used. There is no such thing as magic. Only skill and innate gifts. Of the Meviathum, they possess the ability, at the time of their deaths, to “gift” the next generation with a skill they do not already possess in order to enhance their lineage with greater powers.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment there. Hunting.
Is there a particular religion practiced? Please describe what it involves. Jehovah is the one true God. Though many others are mentioned, such as Chemosh, Molech, Nergal, Diana, Ashteroth, and others, there is none like unto Jehovah.
What is the political or government structure there? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she? In the Waterworld, the Queen Meviathum is the strongest among her kind and bears the most weight of enhancing and continuing her line by any means necessary. While in the Skylands, Duliars reign. Duliars are born, not elected. Because they are so few they are not permitted to die, only sleep, until it is their turn to reign again.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book? Bible study.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book? Jehovah is God and not another.
Author Autobiography: I was born in Royal Oak, MI and raised in Detroit, MI. I am 34 years old. I’ve taught Sunday School and Bible Study for years at the church where I reside in New Haven, MI. Mostly, the Old Testament Stories of the Bible give inspire my writing. I love the ‘thrust” into leadership roles, the fights, and the “Callings” of God.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?
Ruby Eyed Devil is in ebook format for now on both Amazon and Smashwords. The ebook will also be available next month, October 2015, at Apple, Barnes and Noble, Sony Books, etc. Also the hardcover will be available at that time as well.
Where can readers connect with you online? I’d love to be friends on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lynnette.roman.79and feel free to follow me at https://twitter.com/RomanLynnette!
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Mysia. 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 sci-fi worlds of the Jackverse, in Realm Explorers Part LXXX!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the sci-fi worlds of the Jackverse, in Realm Explorers Part LXXX!
-Annie Douglass Lima
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: Sherry Rossman
Title of book and/or series: Wake/City of Light Series, Book 1.
Brief summary of the story: Monet is a teen surviving on anxiety pills and memories of her beloved mother. Her city keeps her safe and cared for, but under tight control. She and her best friend, Luke, find an old book that shows the history of mankind—a past that’s been hidden from them and all the citizens of Titus. As their curiosity takes them down a dangerous path, supernatural events begin to occur, showing a different story from what they’ve been told. Monet and Luke find themselves at a crossroads: live within the safe, logical confines of Titus, or embrace the wild truth and risk death.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Earth, one hundred years in the future. Titus is a self-sustaining city, perhaps the only city as far as its citizens are aware of. Religion and expressive art have been banned so the world won’t destroy itself again…at least that’s what everyone has been told.
If we were to visit Titus as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
I would recommend visiting The Seed, the city farm. Boasting numerous orchards and enough food to support the entire city, the building supplies the basic needs for every citizen. It’s also the place to socialize for this humanistic society—the meeting place for community celebrations and breathtaking blue and gold lights adorn this jewel of Titus.
What dangers should we avoid in Titus?
Titus sustains itself in every area. Doubting this idea by exploring religion, traveling beyond the boundaries, or expressing any emotional need through art will get you taken. Some are rehabilitated and returned home—some are never seen again.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Titus?
All citizens are vegetarian—there will be a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables for you to enjoy.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Titus?
Violence of any kind is illegal. The only citizens permitted to learn about weaponry or self-defense are the watchdogs—the guards. Their main job is to make sure all are loyal to Titus and the leaders’ cultural ideals.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Titus?Only service vehicles are permitted, in order to prevent unnecessary accidents and erosion within the city. A shuttle transports students to school, and employees to their jobs.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Titus that we don’t see on Earth?
You may eventually encounter paranormal beings, although some would argue that we live among them today. I can’t go into detail for fear of giving too much away, but it will give readers something to think about. =)
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Titus? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
Oh, magic, that controversial word! Despite the logical structure of Titus, magic does infiltrate the city, and it’s unlike anything the citizens expect. Is it magic of the deceptive kind, or magic of the most extraordinary kind? Monet will have to find out.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Titus? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Healthcare is somewhat advanced, as well as technology geared toward safety such as the highly revered whisper glass (designed so that none will ever get trapped in a burning building). The Seed is the most advanced in how they’ve figured out how to amass all of their required food sources inside a single farm.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Titus.
Most spare time is spent in serving others. The only community-wide entertainment would be the festivals held in honor of their most valued volunteers. There is music and dancing, but because expressive art is banned, it’s very formulated and mundane.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Titus? Please describe what it involves.
The citizens of Titus have been taught that religion is dangerous, and are banned from any kind of spiritual practice or even the search for it. But they rely so heavily on the works of their hands, you could say they almost deify themselves…until things beyond their control start to happen.
What is the political or government structure in Titus? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
Titus is led by three people: Paul Orca, Barry Newt and Martha Tinman. They are called The Triad. Each of The Triad leads a sector of Titus, and the citizens share the last name of their sector leader.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
The direction of our current culture inspired my book. In Luke 19:40, Jesus responded to the Pharisees in a fascinating way when they told Him to silence His disciples: “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” I thought, “What would it look like if religion and our ability to search for the unseen were banned? Humans are limited, but God is not. What would He do?
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
I tend to gravitate toward hot-buttons, heh. Like I mentioned earlier, I use the word magic. It’s a word. Words should neither be feared nor sacrificed to evil realms. In fact, I think that leads to superstition.
Also, science and faith are intermixed in Wake, which, for some people, is a hot-button. God made the world, He made science. There’s no threat there.
Author Autobiography:
I wrote children’s books before digging into genres for older audiences. The Relevant Christian Magazine and Wordsmith Journal Magazine have published my recent short stories. I’ve been a guest writer on numerous websites, including Christian eBooks Today. Recently, I became the author of the YA bestseller Faith Seekers. I am bold when I feel there has been too much silence, and quiet when there’s too much noise. I live in Northern Arizona with my husband and children.Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.
Right now, Wake is available in ebook format on Amazon(release date of Feb. 1, 16). The paperback is soon to come.
Where can readers connect with you online? Come visit me atsherryrossman.com
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Titus. 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 another fantasy world, in Realm Explorers Part LXXIX!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another fantasy world, in Realm Explorers Part LXXIX!
-Annie Douglass Lima
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: Dianne Astle
Title of book and/or series: The Six Worlds: Book 1. Ben the Dragonborn; Book 2. Ben and the Watcher of Zargon
Brief summary of the story:
There are six worlds under the care of one known as the Guardian. Each of the six worlds has a Watcher with a mystical connection to the Guardian and the world they serve. The Watcher guards the portals and is the Principal of a school where those chosen by the Guardian are trained. The Chosen of the Guardian are sent through the portals to other worlds so that they might protect and serve the cause of justice and peace.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story: On Earth the school is on a mist shrouded island off Canada’s west coast. To get to the school requires a boat, a float place or use of special portals that connect the school to the far corners of the world. My main character goes through a portal to a world named Lushaka in the first book. It is a world covered in water, which is a problem, because Ben is afraid of being in water over his head. When Ben arrives in Lushaka, he finds that humans are about to go to war with the merfolk.
If we were to visit Lushaka as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
The Guardian’s school is only for those with a special invitation so I would recommend visiting the human community. However, think twice if they are on the verge of a war, because they become very suspicious of strangers.
What dangers should we avoid in Lushaka?
It is best to avoid any of the larger islands on Lushaka. The land tends to have very dangerous creatures on it. Of course this is the very place where Ben needs to go. He needs to travel to the top of one of the bigger islands.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Lushaka?
Ben was served raw fish, eggs, pickled sea slugs, sea cucumbers, and a seaweed and snail salad.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Lushaka?
Those who travelled with Ben carried a spear and a knife, both of which they used to fight off spiders.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Lushaka?
The portals that link one spot to another within the world are normally used for travel by the Chosen who go to Lushaka. Ben could not use the portals because he was not given the gift of being able to breathe under water. Ben travelled on the back of an orca-like whale and in a boat. At the end of the book some of the characters travelled on the back of a dragon.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Lushaka that we don’t see on Earth?The two sentient groups are merfolk and human. The humans live in huge trees that grow up from the bottom of the ocean. In and around the trees are cork lily pads. On these lily pads the humans keep some animals. The land is dangerous. The island Ben went to had piranha like sand creatures, large spiders and huge birds that sometimes carry away children and small adults.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Lushaka? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
There are supernatural abilities given by the Guardian of the Six Worlds to those who are going through a portal to do the Guardian’s work on a world not their own. These gifts are returned to the Guardian when the quest is over. Ben receives the gift of becoming invisible and the gift of octopus hands and feet. When he is sent to Lushaka no one understands why he is only given two gifts. That mystery is revealed near the end of the book.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Lushaka and the other five schools.
Every school teaches a wide assortment of sports related skills. Hang gliding, parasailing, horseback riding, archery, sword play, tracking and outdoor survival, rope climbing, martial arts and much more. The Guardian’s school want to equip the Chosen for whatever challenges they face on a new world.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Lushaka as on Earth? There is a special medallion that reveals the day, month and year when the Chosen will go from one world to another which necessitates that the calendars be the same, although the special holidays will not be the same.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Lushaka?
The Six Worlds are similar to the Narnia series in that they are not explicitly Christian, but there are spiritual themes, particularly in the second book, Ben and the Watcher of Zargon. My characters do offer up prayers and blessings.
What is the political or government structure in Lushaka? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The merfolk have a king who is behaving unreasonably. He is insisting that the humans get his crown back if they want to continue to harvest food from the ocean. Getting the crown back involves travelling to the top of a very dangerous island. The humans have a council which has a hard time making decisions.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?I spent a few days on a float home moored near a small island off of Canada’s wild and wet west coast. I loved the area. It is my favorite place. An ancient castle makes little sense off the west coast where everything is relatively new, but I couldn’t imagine the school anywhere else. However, the place I spent a few days is a very lonely place. Very few people live in the vicinity or stay overnight in the area, so it is possible to imagine an ancient castle hidden away on a mist-shrouded island.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
In my mind there are no controversial topics. One of the themes in the book is finding friends where you expect to find enemies. The other is that we are more than we think we are and we need to find the treasure of our own true selves.
Author Autobiography:
Dianne Astle has worked at a variety of jobs in her life. She has been a draftsperson, a news correspondent for a radio station, a teacher’s aide, and most recently had the opportunity to practice servant leadership in a faith community. Dianne loves fishing, riding horses, and walking with her dog. She lives with her husband Doug, his three cats and her beloved dog Thomas
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.At the moment my books are only available through Amazon.
Ben the Dragonborn at Amazon
Ben the Dragonborn at Createspace https://www.createspace.com/5713690
Ben and the Watcher of Zargon at Amazon
Ben and the Watcher of Zargon at Createspace https://www.createspace.com/5598284
Where can readers connect with you online?
Twitter @bendragonborn
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Lushaka. 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 _____ world of ______, in Realm Explorers Part LXXVIII!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the _____ world of ______, in Realm Explorers Part LXXVIII!
-Annie Douglass Lima
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: Cameron Glenn
Title of book and/or series: Delano in Hollyhook
Brief summary of the story: Delano Farnsworth is one of the few ‘lucky unfortunates’ chosen to receive an invitation to the magical Camp Hollyhook. After he arrives, however, he quickly discovers that not is all as it seems. With his new camp friends the ‘quirky’ Jackie, the ‘dour’ Lenore and the ‘lonely’ Wheeze, Delano seeks to uncover the sinister true purpose of the camp, as well as learn about his missing parents who abandoned him when he was three, his kidnapped uncle as well as his own self and destiny.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story: Camp Hollyhook is a magical summer camp within the larger fantasy kingdom of Hollybrook. Within the camp are playing fields, Gold Lake, Butterfly Island, Fire Island, Friendship Pier, Creepy Castle, Monster Mountain, Counselor Castle, the main stage, The Bubble Cave, and a cafeteria and cabins.
If we were to visit Camp Hollyhook as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there? So much! First, you’d have to get a special invitation in order to go. The head camp mother, Madam Siren, has a soft spot for misfits, the misunderstood and outcasts and wishes to reward them with fun. There are camp games on the playing fields, swimming with friendly lake serpents in Gold Lake, riding the roller coaster and other amusement rides on fire island, participating in the scavenger hunt, riding the Ferris Wheel on Friendship Pier, checking out the ghost band in Creepy Castle, eating the delicious and addictive candy bark from the candy bark trees, the dance party in The Bubble Cave and really, whatever you want! The only limit is your imagination. You might like it so much you’ll never want to leave! In fact, you can choose to stay forever if you wish.
What dangers should we avoid in Camp Hollyhook? It is forbidden to go to Butterfly Island and Monster Mountain. Butterfly Island, where the Butterfly Children live, is guarded by unfriendly sea serpents who will kill you if you get too close to them. And Monster Mountain probably has monsters on it. Also, be wary of the ‘Angries’ group. They can be pretty mean sometimes. Fortunately the camp security led by the Bat Demon are around to protect the campers.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Camp Hollyhook? Yes! I already mentioned the candy bark. Delicious! The camp also has its own cook who will make you whatever you want. Want chocolate ice-cream for breakfast? You can have it! And you won’t even get sick from it. That’s a camp promise. The air in the camp doesn’t allow for any sicknesses.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Camp Hollyhook? Wands that shoot paint are provided during the popular capture the flag contests. Each camp group have their own fighting styles. The Angries like to pound, the Dours don’t really put up much of a fight, The Quirks zip around pretending to be bees, and so on.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Camp Hollyhook? A magical zeppelin piloted by a robot chauffer will escort you to the Camp. That’s the only way to get there.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Camp Hollyhook that we don’t see on Earth? There are friendly monkeys in the trees who hand out the candy bark when you first enter through the gates. There’s Bim-Bot the robot who is a guide and who runs the Share Shack, where you can get anything you want. The Counselor to the Quirks is a Mermaid and the Counselor to the Lonelies is a goat man. Butterfly Children fly overhead and playfully interact with you. Sea serpents act as speed boats pulling you behind them as you water-ski in Gold Lake. There’s so much more to discover.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Camp Hollyhook? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used. There’s a lot of whimsy but magic is more muted and not so obvious at the camp. The head mechanic makes wonderful inventions and robots. No camper is a witch or wizard or anything; just normal kids.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Camp Hollyhook? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples. There is! The Mechanic can make wonderful robots that want nothing more than to please the campers. He has a hobby of making special robot birds, his favorite one named Max, but he rarely gives these out to campers. There has to be a good reason for him to.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Camp Hollyhook. The Play Fields has whatever you want on them. Just press a button and a basketball court will appear. During the capture the flag contest the whole field becomes like a giant trampoline, which is so fun! There’s a popular scavenger hunt contest campers can participate in. There’s a talent show. The Counselors job is to make sure the campers are active and never bored.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Camp Hollyhook as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there? Time is strange there. It’s hard to decipher. Also, memories of events from earth are weakened while in Camp Hollyhook. The more time spent there, the harder it is to remember the events which happened on earth.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Camp Hollyhook? Please describe what it involves. Campers are free to continue believing whatever they wish to believe.
What is the political or government structure in Camp Hollyhook? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she? Madam Siren runs the camp. She is beautiful and seems like a nice lady. She has three daughters with beautiful voices.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Camp Hollyhook? Through the opening welcoming ceremony you will be placed where you are most comfortable, with other people like yourself, whether you’re a Dour, a Quirk, an Angry, an Orphan, a Lonely, or a Sick.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book? My nieces, ages nine and twelve, helped me to brainstorm up some ideas.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book? It’s an all ages above eight or so appropriate book, so nothing too controversial, although there are some complex ideas and messages about fantasy, escape, destiny and sacrifice, if a reader chooses to seek them.
Author Autobiography:
Cameron Glenn grew up the third of seven children in Oregon. As a child he dedicated hours to the pursuits of basketball and cartooning, as well as waking up way too early for his paper route in order to earn money to buy toys, candy and comic books. He also loved to read and write, which he continues to do voraciously. He currently lives in Salt Lake City after having earned a BA in literature from Boise State.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?
On Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks
Where can readers connect with you online? My email is [email protected]
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Camp Hollyhook. 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 sci-fi world of Lushaka, in Realm Explorers Part LXXVII!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the sci-fi world of Lushaka, in Realm Explorers Part LXXVII!
-Annie Douglass Lima
On tour with Prism Book Tours.
Book Blitz for
Sophie’s Quest
By Sonja Anderson
Sophie’s Quest is currently only 99¢ for Kindle!
Interview with Author Sonja Anderson
1. What is your motivation behind Sophie’s Quest? Why did you want to write it?
The character of Sophie Topfeather popped into my head many years ago when I was teaching a multi-faith class at St. Mary’s International School in Tokyo, Japan. According to many stories, owls are supposed to be wise, and it felt like we could use a wise owl in our class to help me answer all the kids’ great questions about God. Then, about fifteen years ago, my five-year-old daughter got into heated discussion about God on the playground with two other students from different religious backgrounds, and my wise owl popped back into my head again. I wanted to write a story that would help her understand others better in our diverse community, and for her friends to also understand her.
2. What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?
I hope that first of all, they take away the feeling that they have made some special friends on the journey, and want to know what happens next! I also hope and pray that readers will have developed compassion for others who believe differently than they do, and an increased desire to know the true Sky Painter–Jesus, Immanuel, God with us.
3. Do you have a favorite scene?
I love all the scenes with Sophie and Timley, but some of my favorite scenes are between the Great Wise Horned Owl and Timley’s very frightened mother. Their love for their missing children helps them forge a strong bond that is very special.
4. What is something about you that is unique?
I write from home with a view of Puget Sound. While writing Sophie’s Quest, I would watch container ships go by and imagine Sophie and Timley on board.
— Sonja
Sophie’s Questby Sonja Anderson
Middle Grade Adventure
Paperbook & ebook, 2260 Pages
Middle Grade Adventure
Paperbook & ebook, 2260 Pages
June 7th 2015 by Sunberry Books
Sophie Topfeather loves to collect people-things with which to decorate her life and home. When she finds a golden necklace, she is intrigued by its shape and shows it to her grandfather, the Great Wise Horned Owl of the Park. His reaction only stirs her interest even more; he calls it a holy symbol, and then a ‘t’ for ‘trouble’! All of which sets our young owl off on a Quest to learn its true meaning. Little does she know that a day-dreaming, over-protected, adventure-seeking Pirate – er, mouse – named Timley has leapt into the brim of her hat as Sophie flies off on her Quest! And suddenly, their adventure takes its own turn as they find themselves on board a ship bound for the Holy Land. Thorns and thistles! Has the trouble started already? Can Timley convince Sophie she should not—I repeat, NOT—eat him?
This is also the story of the mysterious Sky Painter, who seems to be with them—no, leading them—on their Quest. So, why is he always leading them straight into trouble? Was the Great Wise Horned Owl right all along? Come along on the Quest to find out! Cross oceans with Sophie and Timley to a land of mosques and synagogues, markets and Bedouin tents, and, like our unlikely friends, you may never be the same again!
Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Amazon UK
Author Sonja Anderson has a Master’s degree in Education and a Bachelor’s degree in History, has worked as an elementary school teacher, a resident counsellor in a children’s home, taught Sunday School, and has served for 12 years as the Christian Formation Coordinator for the North Pacific Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the NW Christian Writers Association. Married with two daughters, she has called Seattle home for over 20 years.
Blitz Giveaway
$10 Amazon eGift Card
Open internationally
Ends December 5th
Open internationally
Ends December 5th
He can’t stand her. She thinks he’s crazy. Will their feelings stay etched in permanent ink? Cruz Hunter has always stuck out in his small hometown. Now that he’s covered in tattoos, the residents peg him as even more of an outcast. It seems like the whole world is against his dream of opening a local tattoo parlor. When he finally finds the perfect place for his new business, Cruz discovers a pastor and his daughter have already bought it. The only thing more irritating than the change in his plan is Talia, a beautiful and feisty argument in a dress. Cruz would like nothing more than to have her out of his life and his mind, but for some reason, she’s the only thing he can think about. If Cruz and Talia can stop arguing long enough, opposites may do much more than attract.
Meet the Hunter brothers of Kittle Falls…
The Seaside Hunters novels are a series of contemporary sweet romances. They’re set in the beach town of Kittle Falls, following the Hunter brothers as they make their way back to their hometown and find the loves they couldn’t elsewhere. Each book is a standalone.
Author Stacy Claflin I don’t stick to a single genre in my writing, reading, or viewing. My favorite shows include Supernatural, The Walking Dead, Pretty Little Liars, Lost Girl, Vampire Diaries, and Once Upon a Time. I’ve been writing and telling stories for as long as I can remember. As a kid, my story telling would get me into trouble because I would try to convince others that my stories were real. When I’m not busy writing, I like spending time with my family and friends. I also educate my kids from home.
$50 Book Blast Giveaway
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Ends 12/20/15
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My third National Novel Writing Month has finally ended, and it’s been an exciting experience! I’ve braved the 4:30 alarm clock almost every weekday morning, gained motivation and focus from word wars and sprints with other authors online, and squeezed writing into almost every spare moment I’ve had in the month of November. And now that it’s over, I have just over 97,000 words under my belt, plus a completed rough draft of my new young adult science fiction novel, Heartsong. I’ve enjoyed every step of this journey with my characters, especially when new characters not in the original outline decided to jump in and join the adventure.
I can hardly wait to dive back into the story from the beginning and start editing and touching things up, but alas, that will have to wait. The Gladiator and the Guard (the novel I drafted for last year’s NaNoWriMo and the sequel to The Collar and the Cavvarach) is next in line, since I’m hoping to publish it in the spring. The fourth book of my Annals of Alasia series, tentatively titled King of Malorn, is next.
But in the meantime, for anyone who’s curious, below is the first chapter of Heartsong. (Please bear in mind that it’s still a pretty rough draft – just a sneak preview for those who are interested, and not the final polished version.) Many thanks to my many Facebook friends who have already contributed with helpful hints about the science involved – I’m sure I’ll have lots more questions in a few months when I get back to working on it, since this is my first foray into science fiction!
I can hardly wait to dive back into the story from the beginning and start editing and touching things up, but alas, that will have to wait. The Gladiator and the Guard (the novel I drafted for last year’s NaNoWriMo and the sequel to The Collar and the Cavvarach) is next in line, since I’m hoping to publish it in the spring. The fourth book of my Annals of Alasia series, tentatively titled King of Malorn, is next.
But in the meantime, for anyone who’s curious, below is the first chapter of Heartsong. (Please bear in mind that it’s still a pretty rough draft – just a sneak preview for those who are interested, and not the final polished version.) Many thanks to my many Facebook friends who have already contributed with helpful hints about the science involved – I’m sure I’ll have lots more questions in a few months when I get back to working on it, since this is my first foray into science fiction!
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| Screenshot of my Word Count Page on the NaNoWriMo Site |
Heartsong
Chapter 1
My love of reading started the whole thing.
The best place to read on the Laika was on the lifeboats. I had discovered that on the first part of the trip, during the flight from Earth to the jump point by Phoebe. I mean, what else is there to do when you’re not close enough to any planet or moon to see much through the viewports? The view is exciting when there is one, but when you’re far away from anything, space all looks the same.
The hyperspace jump had been quick, of course, so no time to get bored there. And after we came out of it at the jump point by Somav, the flight toward Soma I was pretty exciting, too. I couldn’t stop staring as we passed Somavia, the blue and gray and white planet none of us would probably ever see that close again. It was awesome to think of the aliens who lived there and wonder what they were really like. The few decent pictures taken by the Forerunner left everyone asking more questions than they answered. And what about the planet itself? Of course we knew it was cold, being further from Somav than Earth is from our Sun. But it did have a thin but breathable atmosphere. If it hadn’t been for the alien race who already lived there — and the tirtellium that we were going to mine on Soma I — The Corporation might have decide to set up the Colony on Somavia instead of on its moon.
But we had passed Somavia three days ago, and we had been in orbit around Soma I ever since. Which was also exciting at first. I couldn’t wait to get to my new home — my permanent home. A home I would never have to leave again, never be taken away from just when I was starting to settle in. A home that I would get to help put together, along with the scientists and the miners and the rest of the Young Colonists.
The moon was prettier to look at than the planet, though not by an awful lot. It was brown and gray, with little splotches of green and blue here and there where the lakes were. There wasn’t much water, no actual oceans, but enough to support a little plant and animal life. Nothing too dangerous, at least as far as we could tell from the Forerunner’s pictures. Some fish and crustaceans that might or might not turn out to be edible to humans. Some amphibian or maybe reptilian creatures that lived in and around the lakes. Insects and a handful of different mammals, all tiny, that lived on the plains. Nothing likely to bother two hundred human colonists setting up a new home on their world.
Of course, there were the Somavian miners. We knew the Somavians had developed a limited form of space travel; we knew they had mines on Soma I too. But whatever they were mining for, it wasn’t tirtellium, and it was only in a few little spots relatively close together. We planned to set up our colony hundreds of miles away, where with any luck, they wouldn’t even know we were around. Forerunner’s sensors had not detected any other artificial satellites in orbit around either Somavia or Soma I, and as far as we knew, they had no way of knowing Forerunner was there or that we were coming.
The adults all said that hopefully we would never even have to see any Somavians, but every kid in the group hoped we would. I mean, why would anyone not want to see aliens? Anyway, from the Forerunner’s pictures, they sure seemed to be a peaceful culture, with no evidence of any wars going on down on their home world. If they did find out about us being on their moon, hopefully they wouldn’t get mad. We wouldn’t bother them, and hopefully they wouldn’t bother us. If they did get mad, well, the Laika did have some weapons. Not a lot, but enough to defend ourselves if we absolutely had to.
Of course the two hundred of us on board could hardly wait to get down there and get started with our new life. But here we were stuck in orbit, as we had been for the last three days. Three painfully long and boring days. Earth days, that is; it had been nearly five Soman days.
Atmospheric storms and solar flares. No one had anticipated that they would go on this long. At first, I was glad of the opportunity to orbit the moon and see what it was like. I had an aisle seat, though, and it was a pain to lean past three people just to see out the window. And after a while, when everyone’s excitement faded, most of them turned grouchy as they got more and more bored and impatient. The movies and games preloaded on our tablets just weren’t good enough to keep everyone happy for that long when the adventure we’d waited over a year to start was being put on hold, and I’d never been a big fan of video games and movies anyway.
So I did what I usually do when real people get too annoying. I pulled out my Kindle and turned to my true friends, the ones who would always be there for me, who I never had to say goodbye to. And I went to the one place I had found on board where nobody would bother me or interrupt my adventures to ask what I was reading or exclaim over their new high score in who-cares-what-virtual-adventure.
The Laika was designed to be taken apart when we arrived. Its decking and bulkheads would be used to help create the buildings in the colony until we could create more permanent buildings from local rock, and that was one of the reasons it was so large. But big though it was, it had no extra empty space. Every compartment was full of freeze-dried food items, mining equipment, packages of seeds for genetically modified crops designed to grow well in the moon’s dry soil, or educational resources for the youth, because even on an interstellar adventure, there was no escaping school in some form.
So I had discovered in between Earth and Phoebe that the lifeboats were the best place to read. I’m not sure if I was really supposed to be in them, but there was no lock, because after all, what would be the point of locking a place that people would have to get to in a hurry in an emergency?
And so I sat curled up on a seat in one of the lifeboats, alternating reading and looking out the viewport to see if there was anything interesting to see down below. But the lifeboat’s position was such that the window mostly looked out on space, with just a tiny sliver of Soma I visible from one edge. I could have turned on the screen, but that might trigger some sort of alert, and I didn’t want anyone coming to tell me I wasn’t supposed to be in here.
So I traveled with Caz and her friends across the Granbo system, caught up in an imaginary space adventure, since my own real space adventure had been put on hold. It would be at least another two hours until they served lunch, so I might as well get comfy and enjoy myself.
And I did — until the ship vibrated and the fasten seat belts sign flicked on.
For a moment I wondered if I should return to my seat. But what would be the point? I would be just as safe here in the lifeboat, and if the turbulence got bad, it would be a better idea not to walk around the ship with it lurching under me.
I fastened my seatbelt and kept reading. We had encountered turbulence lots of times in the last few days, thanks to the solar flares. It was no big deal.
But the vibrations got stronger, and in a moment the ship really was lurching under me. I set down my Kindle and looked around, not that there was anything to see in the little lifeboat. No clues as to what was going on. But the stars were jumping and jerking outside the window, and if it hadn’t been for my seatbelt, I knew I would have been thrown around and probably injured already. Now I wished I had returned to my seat while I could. Whatever was happening, I would rather face it with the others in the main cabin, where I could hear any announcements from Captain Tyler over the intercom and know what was going on.
Without warning, the lights in the lifeboat flickered and then went out. At the same moment a blaring alarm started screeching on and off. Now that was a first. I gasped, really worried for the first time since we had left Earth. The stars swirled and zigzagged outside the window, sending faint but frightening shadows thrashing through the escape pod around me like alien spirits trying to take over the ship. For a second I wondered if that could actually be what was happening. Maybe the Somavians had powers we didn’t know about. Maybe they were trying to drive us out of their system.
But then the emergency lights embedded in the deck by my feet glowed to life, and I let out my breath in relief. The navigational computer two rows ahead of me came on automatically, its screen lighting up green.
My relief was short-lived, though. The alarm was still blaring its warning: Screech! Silence. Screech! Silence. Screech! The turbulence was worse than ever, and now it felt like the Laika was a wild horse, bucking and leaping and trying to throw its rider off. The rider being me, gripping the edge of my seat all alone there in the lifeboat, wondering what in the universe was happening.
Suddenly the stars were gone and Soma I swung into view, filling the viewport ahead of me, a blur of gray-brown-blue-green-brown-gray. I barely had time to stare before it was gone, and the streaking stars were back. Then there was the moon again. My stomach was spinning as fast as the ship. Thank goodness I had inherited the Smith Stomach of Steel, or my breakfast probably would have ended up all around me. I could only imagine what a nasty experience that would be with the ship thrashing all around like this.
A new noise caught my attention. A mechanical noise, a series of clicks and clinks and the sliding of metal against metal. I had only ever heard it before in simulations, but I knew right away what it was. My heart caught in my throat. “No!” Not that there was anyone around to hear me yell.
Words flashed across the computer screen, big enough to read from where I sat. Lifeboat launching.
My heart hammered in terror. “No! I yelled again. I fumbled for the seatbelt clasp and flung myself across the tiny cabin the moment I was free, lunging for the manual override button beside the door. Not a smart move, I have to admit, considering how wildly everything was moving around me, but I was panicking. None of our training, none of the simulations, had dealt with what to do if the lifeboat you were sitting in alone accidentally detached from the ship.
I knew what to do if a lifeboat didn’t detach when it was supposed to. I knew which lifeboat everyone in my seating section was supposed to board in an emergency. It wasn’t this one, though they were all the same. I knew who my lifeboat buddies would be — a fairly even cross-section of the ship’s crew in terms of age and skills, so everyone would have the best possible chance of survival on the surface in case not every lifeboat made it. I knew how to steer the lifeboat and bring it down for a controlled landing, even though I wasn’t the assigned helmsperson in my group. We had all learned all those things, just in case.
But what I didn’t know was how to survive on the surface on my own, if the rest of the ship didn’t land close by or shortly after I did. There were emergency rations and survival gear stashed in every lifeboat, of course, but not enough to live off of indefinitely. Of course the lifeboat would emit a signal that the ship’s sensors would pick up — it was picking it up already, I knew, as of the moment the lifeboat had started to detach — but what if they couldn’t come and get me right away? What if they weren’t able to land for days or even weeks? What if I ended up on the opposite side of the moon from where our colony was supposed to be? Our little 4-wheel-drive trucks were designed for carrying tirtellium back from the mining site, and harvested crops from the fields to the settlement. Not for making cross-country trips across rough terrain to the opposite side of the moon to rescue a stranded kid who shouldn’t have been reading in an escape pod in the first place.
And what if the Somavians found me before my own people did?
All that went swirling through my brain in a moment as I slammed my fist into the manual override button again and again. But nothing happened. That is, the hatch didn’t open to let me out into the ship’s corridor. But a second later, the incessant alarm went silent, and the frantic jerking and thrashing stopped, replaced by a slow, gentle twirl. As my feet drifted up off the floor, the dizzy feeling in my tummy told me that the ship’s artificial gravity had stopped working.
No, that wasn’t it. The lifeboat was no longer connected to the ship.
Too horrified even to yell again, I watched the Laika drift across the viewport like a big white bird against the blackness of space, still spinning and dancing as the solar flares played havoc with its electrical systems. And then I saw only stars again, and then the gray-brown of the moon, then more stars. And then there was the Laika once more, further away this time.
I pushed off from the bulkhead, thankful for the zero-gravity training. I had to get to the controls. I had to steer myself back to the ship. But as I grabbed the back of the helmsman’s chair and maneuvered my body into it, I realized I had no idea how to reattach the lifeboat to its port on the side of the ship. They had never taught us that. Were lifeboats even designed to reattach once they were separated?
I grabbed the seatbelt, twisting my ankles around the legs of the chair so I wouldn’t float off it before I could strap myself in. The controls in front of me looked just like the ones in the simulator. I could do this. It would be just the same as I had practiced.
Except this was no game, where I struggled to beat my classmates, to be the first to land my virtual lifeboat safely. This was a real emergency.
This was my life at stake.