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: Jennifer Silverwood

Title of book and/or series: 
Scarred Beauty, Volume 2 of the Wylder Tales Series

Brief summary of the story:
The classic fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast is retold in a Gothic setting where nothing is exactly as it seems and the heroine must be her own hero. In this sequel to Craving Beauty, Vynasha has become prisoner with the other wyld beasts of the castle, but she is not alone. As she discovers the true nature of the other beasts, she learns she must embrace madness to free them all. Vynasha is willing to do anything to end the curse, even if that means transforming into a monster.
Scarred Beauty

Vynasha has become prisoner with the other wyld beasts of the castle, but she is not alone. In the howling darkness her majikal bond with the Dungeon Master, Grendall grows, awakening the dormant power in her blood.

Yet as she discovers the true nature of the other beasts, she learns she must embrace madness in order to free them all. Vynasha is willing to do anything to end the curse, even if that means transforming into a monster.

 Burried secrets come to light in this seductive sequel to Craving Beauty, the Gothic retelling of the classic fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast, where nothing is exactly as it seems and the heroine must be her own hero.


Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Smashwords

Other Books in the Series

 Craving Beauty


 Vynasha has spent the last four years tending her mother’s roses and looking after her nephew. The fire that killed their family has left her scarred and put Wyll on the brink of death. Soon the first frost will come down from the mountains and she knows this winter will be his last.

 Until a strange beggar appears on the road, telling her of the majikal Source that can heal her Wyll. With nothing left to lose, Vynasha braves the forbidden Wylder Mountains to seek out a cure and her fate.

 A lost kingdom is uncovered by an equally lost girl, but the castle is not abandoned as she believes. Shadows cloaking unseen eyes watch. Tapestries whisper from the hidden corners, wondering if the one to break their curse has come. And a hungry beast waits, ready to devour her soul.


Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Book Depository

 Wolfsbane’s Daughter

Wolfsbane and his daughter Resha are on a never ending quest in the Wylder Mountains, to wipe out the wolves who destroyed their village. Before their enemies stole everything she loved, Resha cared for little beyond learning how to be a hunter. After, she learned a hunter must be prepared to fight as well as flee. Now she cares for nothing but revenge.

 Until she discovers two majikal humans half frozen in the forest. Resha has a choice, to follow her instincts and leave the strangers to the wolves, or save them. Yet the enemy is on the prowl and there is little time for Wolfsbane’s daughter to find safe haven before they are discovered.


Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Smashwords

Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Vynasha and her family lived in a mountain village called Whistleande, all that remains of a tiny and forgotten kingdom bordering the Wylderlands. Vynasha’s world is almost a reflection of our own, possibly a glimpse into a not too distant past. Her journey takes her into the forbidden Wylder Mountains, a place where nothing but danger and legends roam, they say. What Vynasha finds is a lost realm of cursed beasts and kingdoms.

Book Trailer for Scarred Beauty


[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFJ5YYHlHxc]

If we were to visit the Wylderlands as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
The Wylderlands is not a destination for the faint of heart. Only the bravest should dare venture here, perhaps with a healthy touch of madness. However, with the right tour guide, there are sights unparalleled to be found. From the enchanted Silver Wood you can follow the river north to the Lost Diamond Caves. Travelers beware, these waters tend to have nasty side effects. Or perhaps you prefer a more leisurely route, take the old road through the pass and to the Lost City, where a beastly Prince dwells.
What dangers should we avoid in the Wylderlands?
A pack of hungry wolves prowl these mountains, though rumor has it these ancient protectors are not ordinary beasts. As fearsome as they are, even stranger creatures roam the darkest parts of the forest. Best not to travel alone, or at night, unless you happen to already be a nocturnal beasty.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served?
Enchantments in the forest lure in unwary travelers, pulling you closer to the lost city and the Beast that rules there. Should you find yourself in his company, he may offer you such strange foods as gooseberry juice served with powkre roast and other sinfully delicious dishes. Best to sample the charla too, and don’t worry about pronunciation. These delicacies are not to be found outside Wylderland.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common there?
Daggers are a favorite weapon, though swords and other steel of the hack and slash variety is welcome. However, the preferred weapon of choice in Wylderland is tooth and claw.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to the Wylderlands?
Travel is made almost entirely by foot, or paw. No beasts of burden have survived so far north, not with so many apex predators on the prowl. Once upon a time, the people used horse drawn carts. Now the only carts drawn are by what people remain. As most humans have fled their homes, their love for invention and things that tick have also dimmed. Surviving the harsh winters and harsher neighbors has become paramount. Centuries trapped under a curse that likes to lure in maidens and turn them into monsters does put a damper on progress.
What is the political or government structure?  Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The wolves who protect the valley and land bordering the Lost City keep their own rules. They watch over the forgotten folk in their village. Once, the Prince’s father ruled the land from the Lost City. His increasing fear of majik drove him to madness and a purge of the majikal people under his rule. The protectors fought him, but they were losing the war until the Prince’s mother, a Fayere enchantress cursed the land. Her curse would drive all simple folk into beasts, or twisted versions of themselves. The Prince now rules over his crumbling castle, as much a prisoner as the fading spirits within. So now it is the curse which truly rules the people of Wylderland, until the prophesied one comes to free them.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit?
Depending on your choice host, (and truly there are only three options here) you may be required to either hunt for your food while running for your life, read forbidden spell books while avoiding the wolves in your village or dining while dressed in velvets and fine jewels with a courtly Prince.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
I spent some time in Romania, particularly Transylvania and the beauty of this country left its stamp on me. Some places seem more magical than others, they leave a mark. The Carpathian Mountains slope and tower overhead and are covered by a forest of gorgeous trees. On the roads winding through, you came across villages and passed by horse and carts piled with hay. The land captivated me, especially the old tales about wolves coming down from the mountains in winter to steal sheep, like something out of a fairy tale. Much of the atmosphere and mystery I felt in that place is in the Wylder Tales Series.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?

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This is not your average Beauty meets and falls in love with her Beast. Sometimes the heroine must be her own hero. In our heroine, Vynasha’s case, she was already scarred before she was lured to the Beast’s clutches. And while she may indeed love him, she has chosen to take matters into her own hands. No “hot-button” topics here in todays’ modern era. Just a tale old as time about a scarred girl who learns ugliness is a matter of perspective, and that it’s okay to embrace her inner monster to rescue the ones she loves. 
Author Biography:

Jennifer Silverwood was raised deep in the heart of Texas and has been spinning yarns a mile high since childhood. In her spare time she reads and writes and tries to sustain her wanderlust, whether it’s the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, the highlands of Ecuador or a road trip to the next town. Always on the lookout for her next adventure, in print or reality, she dreams of one day proving to the masses that everything really is better in Texas. She is the author of the Heaven’s Edge series, Stay and Silver Hollow.


Website│Blog│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Tumblr

 Other Books by the Author


Do you create fanart? 

Jennifer is offering extra entries on her tour giveaway and a special giveaway

during the Twitter Chat to one lucky artist! Post your fanart and share with

Jennifer on social media (@JennSilverwood on Twitter and Tumblr and

silverwoodj on Facebook). Look for inspiration and see her posts on Tumblr.

Tour Schedule



December 1st: Launch



December 2nd: Magic & Machines & Nicole’s Book Musings



December 4th: Wishful Endings & Falling Leaves



December 5th: Letters from Annie Douglass Lima & fuonlyknew



December 6th: The Silver Dagger Scriptorium & Bloggin’ & Writing



December 7th: Mel’s Shelves & Book Butterfly in Dreamland



December 8th: Grand Finale



December 9th: Twitter Chat 8-9 PM ET #ScarredBeauty

Tour Giveaway

 3 winners to receive ebooks of all three books in A Wylder Tales: Craving Beauty, Wolfsbane’s Daughter, and Scarred Beauty (extra swag to US winners)
Open internationally
Ends December 12th

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the Wylderlands.  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 world!
-Annie Douglass Lima
It isn’t easy to create a really good book cover, and if you aren’t the artistic type, it’s probably not worth trying to design your own. But here are some resources that may help, whether you’re making your own or simply giving instructions to the artist you’ve chosen.

Should you even try to make your own book cover? This post by June Stevens Westerfield may help you decide.

 Next, you may want to take a look at Amazon’s criteria for Kindle book covers and paperback book covers to make sure that yours will meet the requirements.

 Author Tamie Dearen has compiled a list of sites where you can find free images to use in book covers or other designs.

 My Book Cave has a two-part series on book cover design. Part 1 is about picking the right image, and part 2 deals with setting up your file and image.

 Author Bruce Fotler has a great article about his “book cover blunders“, with mistakes for newbie cover designers to avoid. He includes links to other helpful cover-related sites.

 YouTuber Derek Murphy has a video about 7 must-have qualities for a book cover that sells. Make sure to check out his link under the video if you want more video options about cover creation.

 The same Derek Murphy also has a useful list of specific fonts that work well on book covers, organized by genre.

 Perry Elisabeth has a great blog post about those fonts and how to use (and not overuse) them on covers.

 And, Derek Murphy has an article listing cover design “secrets” that can be used to “manipulate” people into buying books.

 Starla Huchton, herself a cover designer, has a great article with some quick tips for cover design.

 She’s also written an article about the costs of a good cover, and how to end up with an affordable one.

 Canva is a great site on which you can create your own cover for free.

 These people give instructions for how to create a cover using Microsoft Word or Photoshop.

 Want to get elaborate? Here is Derk Muphy’s explanation of how to create an animated (gif) cover for your ebook!

 Want to put several books together into a boxed set, but unsure how to make your existing cover work for that? Lisa Shea explains how in this article. Indies Unlimited has another explanation of how to do it using Gimp.

 Have you made a cover, but you’re wondering if it’s any good? The Rate My Kindle Cover site will let you upload it and get feedback (for free!) before you publish your book.

 Have you made two or more variations on a cover, and you want opinions from your friends, family, or the fellow authors in your writing group on which one is better? Stephen Oram explains how to use a survey to choose.

 This article, and the accompanying infographic, covers the topic of book cover design thoroughly (including what to do if you decide to work with a cover designer).

 Finally, here are some book cover artists you can contact if you’re looking for someone to design the perfect cover for your own book. Note that some of them have specific styles or focus on specific genres, so you’ll want to choose carefully as you consider what will work best for your book – and of course your budget.

 Affordable Book Covers and More

 Blue Valley Author Services

 Book Cover Bakery

 C.K. Volnek

 Cover Shot Creations

 Damonza

 Deranged Doctor Design

 The Design in Your Mind

 DogEared Design

 E Kaiser Writes

 Fury Cover Design

GoOnWrite

 Indie Book Cover Sales and Design

 Indie Cover Design

 Indigo Forest Designs

 Jennifer White

 The July Group

 Karmada Arts

 Littera Designs

Magpie Designs

 McCorkle Creations

 Mythspinner Studios

 Paper & Sage

 Perry Elisabeth Design

 Psalm 40 Publishing Services

 Seedlings 

 Time Keeper Art

 Tugboat Design

And if you’re planning to work with a cover artist, don’t miss Joel Friedlander’s tips, or Starla Huchton’s blog post on that topic.

I hope these tips are helpful! If you have any other cover artists to recommend, or if you know of any other useful articles on the topic of cover creation, please feel free to mention them in the comments! You’re welcome to share tips of your own, too.