Best Buddies Blogging Award

So I've been tagged by ladies Trista Vaporblade and Rayne Speryll for the Best Buddies Blogging Award.

 The rules: 

You must post to show the award on your main blog.

You must tag the person who nominated you, in your post.

You must tag all of your best buddies, and those whom you want to become best buddies with, who, to your knowledge, have not been nominated, for this award.

You must ask your buddies at least fifteen questions on your post.

You must answer all of the questions your buddies ask you. On your post.

Okay, here's to the answering of the questions from Trista:

1) Do you write better on a deadline by yourself or with others on the same deadline as yourself?

By myself, defintely.

2) What was your first story? Not like first book or novel, but first story ever? 

My first story... That would be the Storm Chronicles, which I wrote when I was just a toddler. I can't remember how old I was then, but I was just a little tyke. It was very much influenced by The Pendragon Cycle series by Stephen Lawhead which I was a huge fan of then. The story was about roughly five or six pages, of which I then wrote a sequel to.

3) What's your favorite kind of posts to see on the blogs you follow? 

Either updates on superhero films/comics, or reviews on fantasy books.

4) How many blogs do you have?

Two. I alternate between them, so sometimes one will get posted on more than the other until I get back to it.

5) How many blogs do you follow? (Yes...I can't think of questions. XD) 

Hmmmm....I can't give an exact number, but it's probably close to twenty.

6) In this past year (2014) how /about/ how many words did you write? 

Hard to say, but I think roughly over one hundred and fifty thousand.

7)  can you suggest one blog you think readers should follow?

Yes. I think mine is a great one to follow. XD, just kidding. Seriously, I'd suggest my friend Trista's blog:
  http://tristavaporblade.blogspot.com  She's got lots of neat stuff on there.

8) Have you/will you self-publish? Why/when?

Yes, I'm a self-published author. My main reasons were because I didn't want to go through the hassle and time of finding an agent, and then go through the whole process of hoping and waiting for a publisher to take a chance on me. Work is really the biggest thing you have to go through when you self-publish, and let's face it, life itself is work, so why fuss? I figure if I got God to help me, then I'm all set.

9) Have you ever traced your ancestry? 

No. I already know enough, and some things are best to just forget and move on.

10) Have you ever reasearched something for a novel? What and why?

Many times, although I probably did more for the book I'm working on now than my first one. Igloos were something I did a little research on, because a section of the story dealt with people living in a cold wasteland, so I needed a little knowledge on how the igloos were designed for living purposes. Frostbite was another thing, as I had very little knowledge of it, and since one of the characters gets it, I wanted to make sure it was as accurate as possible.

11)  Do you tend to write in random spurts or on a more scheduled time frame? 

My time schedule is so erractic, I have to write randomly. 

12) What was your favorite book you read this year (2014) ? 

I'd say that would be Moonblood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. Yes, I admit it, I'm a Goldstone fan. ;)

13) What are your goals for next year's (2015) writing?

My goal is a very ambitious one: finish The Heart of Light Trilogy. I got one final book to finish and then I will have completed my first series. Any further writing gets put on hold until that is done. 

14) In all, how many writing documents do you have on your computer, finished as well as unfinished? 

Not a lot, actually. I'm a guy who likes to focus on one project at a time and finish it before tackling another. I got perhaps six or seven, most of which are just random stories to post online.

15) If one book you've read or written could become a movie, which stayed true to the book, which one would you choose?

I'd have to choose the first book I wrote, The Dark Wolf. It's an awesome story I would love to see made into a big budget, live action film. That would be the icing on the cake for me.

(And now for Rayne's questions!)

1.  What is your favorite part about blogging?

I think it's posting random thoughts and watching people's reactions to them.

2.  What is your favorite genre of music?

I don't know if it fits a genre, but I prefer movie soundtracks. Most of the music of today, Christian included, is like flushing your toilet, to put it bluntly. Leastways that's how I see it. With some movie soundtracks, I can actually get a piece that's great to listen to.

3.  If you had to choose another time period to live in, which era would you choose?

Oh, if only that was a wish that came true. I'd pick the '70s in a heartbeat. I love the disco era and when things were a whole lot classier than they are now. If I could, I'd travel back in time and never come back.

4.  If you could go back in time to meet any historical figure, who would you want to meet?

Personally, there's no one in history I would bother wasting energy on to meet except Jesus. He's only one I'd want to meet, and then I could finally give Him that big hug I've been saving for Him. :)

5.  If I said the word "faerie", what would be the first thing to come to your mind?

Goldstone Wood. XD

6.  Are mermaids charming, friendly creatures who rescue you from shipwrecks and fall in love with the prince-  Or are they dangerous predators who cause the shipwrecks? What is your opinion?

Personally, I've never thought of mermaids as deadly creatures. It's just an image I can't fit with them.

7.  If you were a color, what would you be?

How about green like the Hulk? :D

8.  What are your thoughts on foreshadowing in fiction?  Do you like it, or does it just distract you?

Never really thought about it, so I'd say it was no problem.

9.  If you discovered you had superpowers, what would you do?  

*wicked laugh* Let's just say there would be a lot fewer bad guys cluttering up this world's sphere.

10.  Moving on from that question, if you found out there were others like you, what would you do then?

I suppose I would have to find out if they were a threat or not, and then I'd inquire as to how we all got these powers.

11.  If you were given the opportunity to travel into space for one week, would you do it? You're allowed to take two people with you. (All-expense-paid trip, of course!)

The adventurous part would like to say yes, but I think I'd pass. Besides, I know of nobody else I could take with me XD.

12.  Picture this: You're lost in a magical wood, when you are suddenly attacked by a band of shadowy creatures.  You flee, but you cannot run fast enough and they soon overtake you.  Just as you think you are finished, two figures come to your rescue out of nowhere.  One is an elf ranger with white-blond hair and forest-colored garb.  The other is tall and imposing, wearing long black robes.  His hair is wild and dark, his face is horribly scarred, and his eyes glow red.  After dispensing with the shadow-creatures, the elf urges you to come with him, saying that you are in great danger and they've been waiting for you for a long time.  The red-eyed man warns you that the elf is a liar who is trying to kill you. Red Eyes tell you that you should go with him instead, because he's your only way out of the forest alive.  Elf Ranger places himself protectively between you and Red Eyes.  They're ready to fight each other- probably to the death.  It's clear that you'll have to be the one to make the choice.  Who do you trust?

That's a tough one. The natural thing would be to go with the elf ranger, but one should never go by looks. I suppose I'd just pray to God for wisdom and make both the elf and red-eyed man accompany me until I knew who was on the up and up.

13.  Wow, that last one was a long question.  Sorry about that!  Here's an easy one.  What is your favorite day of the week?

Any day is my favorite day so long as God is in it. 

14.  If you could be in one of the new Star Wars movies, who would you want to be?

None, since I'm not a Star Wars' fan. 

15.  If you could go inside any book/movie and save one character, who would you want to save?  (This doesn't necessarily mean their life.  It could mean their loyalty, their innocence, freedom, or even soul!)

Karen from The Dragons in our Midst and Oracles of Fire series by Bryan Davis.

Thanks to both Trista and Rayne for tagging me. I can't really think of anyone I know who has not been tagged by now, except one:

Katie Stone

1. If it was in your power to visit any fairy tale realm, which would you choose?

2. In writing, which emotions do you most connect with and why?

3. Say you are granted god-like abilities, as well as immortality, but you are given the choice to either reside in a bleak realm of nothingness where you can see and affect life on Earth, or live as a wraith among man. Which would you choose?

4. A matter arises in which a person has been seriously injured and is handicapped for life, and  he now has to live for the rest of his life in unbearable agony. You know who it is who hurt him and are given the power to either end the suffering of the man or slay the one who hurt him. What choice would you make, and why do you think it is right?  

5.  If you could have one wish that would last forever, what would you wish for?

6. Given the choice between either living alone in space or as a slave among an alien race that mistrusts you, which would you pick?

7. What is your favorite fantasy creature and why?

8. Of all the books you've read in life, which has had the most impact on your life and writing?

9. What person inspires you the most in life?

10. If you could enter the story of LOTR and affect one event in there that would change things completely, which one would you pick?

11. If you could become any character you wanted, who would you want to be and why?

12. Given the choice of either becoming a member of the Avengers or the Justice League, which one would you make?

13. Which genre do you favor writing in the most?

14. Which holiday is favorite?

15. Which do you like more, tagging or answering tags?

Special interview feature: Trista Vaporblade

Great news, folks! I am pleased to host my second author interview on here and introduce to all of you another firend of mine and talented author, Trista Vaporblade! She is an avid reader, writer, actress, and Follower of the Way. She has been writing stories since she was in 1st grade and has finally gotten around to publishing her first finished work, Quest for the Swords of Healing. It is said that she can be found in a land far from here, a place not many people discover and even fewer understand; the land of her own imagination. Trista can also be seen roaming the halls of the Underground , blogging about her world of wonder A blog of writing and music, or simply dancing in the bright summer sun outside in her backyard. When you pick up a book of Trista's you pick up a book of epic adventures and heroic character in which the good triumphs over evil, but sometimes the cost is far greater then you could ever imagine...

Trista has just released her second major novel, Ranger. For all you fantasy fans like me out there, you'll be pleased to know that the author is giving away a copy of each of her books in a giveaway she is hosting, the link to which will be at the bottom of the post. Here is the summary of her latest release, Ranger:

“ Kimberly Ranger is daughter to the wealthy governor of a small, dry western town. Disaster befalls her and her family one night as they ride through the shadow cloaked forest paths and all of them are thought to be dead. Several years later a young stranger appears in the town’s saloon, asking questions about that night. But as time ticks on, respected members of the town disappear without a trace, animals are slaughtered in herds, and a tale as old as time is brought to light. The greatest adventures are not always the ones that are passed down in fables, sometimes the ones that really mean something are the ones that never get told…” - Ranger

Trista has agreed to an interview with me, so let us begin.

Interview

Trista, welcome to A Dark Wolf’s Haunt and thank you for joining us here! So to start things off, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself? What are your favorite hobbies and how would you describe your personality? 

Trista: Thank you, Dark Wolf! I’m excited to be here and thank you so much for the invite! 

More or less about me: Okay well, most importantly I’m a Bible believing Christian and as an author that mind-set and perspective flows into my works. I’m a high school graduate whose dream is to go out into the world and minister Christ’s love through music.  A few of my random hobbies are reading, writing (of course), acting, drawing on occasion, and anything that has to do with being outside.  And my personality? Bleh, I’m not good at describing myself. Some of the things other people have called me: Random, Adventurous, Strange, Hard-working, Willing to listen, Unpredictable, Godly, Weird, Tenacious, Loyal, and other such things...Sorry, I’m bad at that =P 

What inspired you to get into writing? How did you start your journey to getting published?

Trista: Hmm, what inspired me to get into it indeed. I really can’t recall exactly how it all began, for I was writing “stories” since I could make a sloppy sentence. Its just something I’ve always done. I remember I had pages of notebooks filled with prospective book “titles” and I had many pieces of other paper with drawings for the said books. Though none of those ever made it into much more than ideas and a few random sentences here and there.

What really kick-started me into the process of self publication was NaNoWriMo. The young writer’s program, which I did my first year of NaNo, teams with Createspace so that if you finish the 50k (or less or more) words of your novel, you get five free copies of your novel from Createspace. I did finish my novel’s 50k, but the book wasn’t finished yet. So I decided to edit through my other book that was finished (Quest for the Swords of Healing) and go ahead and self-publish that. And that’s how I started the journey, with writing 50k in one month in a crazy challenge I never thought I’d end up doing.

What provides the inspiration for your stories, and what source would you say is the biggest influence on your writing?

Trista: I get inspiration everywhere almost all the time. Sometimes I laugh at myself for it, but in the end it’s helpful. It used to come mostly from reading, but since I began seriously writing I’ve bordered my scope of inspiration, as it were. Pictures inspire characters a lot for me, or some plot pieces. What family and friends say sparks my imagination at times, places I visit, songs and music do a lot to inspire me as well. I think, though, my biggest inspiration is the places I’ve been or will go. The new and amazing world that ignites my curiosity and the old wonderful trails I still find pleasure in walking. I love being outdoors and everything about it inspires me to write. I wish that when I go out for a trip to the woods or walk in the corn field I could just talk my thoughts and when I come back to my room, a novel will be waiting for me with the words I said. X) 

Which author’s work do you admire the most and why?

Trista: Hmm, I have many author’s whose works I admire. But I have to say that Christopher Hopper’s The White Lion Chronicles are still my favorite books. At first they were rather slow and I got a little disenchanted with all the description. But as I got into them and read more, I loved them! They speak a deeper truth and have those little hidden stories in there that you can read between the lines if you look close enough, I like that in books; especially Christian books.  I liked all the characters, the setting, the plot, and how it ended. So I appreciate these three novels and their author greatly.

Of the entire writing process, what are your favorite and least favorite parts?

Trista: Hmm, there’s so much I enjoy. I love it when you get on a roll and you can write like 10k in less than an hour, that’s a great part. I enjoy working with plot  development off of my computer, that can be an adventure in and of itself. I also like going back through things I’ve already written and reading here and there. Sometimes I surprise myself when I do that. X) And, ask almost any author, the least favorite part is the editing process of the second -or more - draft. Arg. =P  

Could you tell us about some of your earlier works?

Trista: Well, like I was saying earlier on, I’ve been working on writing for a while. But I never really finished a story until just five or six years ago. Before that I had been working on a story called Storm; it was about a horse and her journeys to find her herd after she was separated from them. That one hung on for a while but never made it very far. Then I wrote Battle of the Dragons, my first (and last...so far) short story inspired by Redwall and a dream I had.  That was the first book I actually finished.

So, what we all have been eagerly wanting to know, tell us about Ranger. How long did it take you to develop the story, and did you encounter any challenges with writing it?

Trista:  Oh yes, Ranger. *grin* Okay, well this story was inspired by my older brother to begin with and sorta took off on its own. My brother and I were talking about the new Lone Ranger movie they had just made(even thought we hadn’t seen it nor care to now) and he mentioned a few things that set my mind cogs to whirling. 

I wrote Ranger for NaNoWriMo last year, and as I went on with it the basic idea I had took off in a completely new direction. I do like the way the story came out, though. And I even tried something I thought I’d never do; I wrote in first person. 

I did struggle a little bit here and there when it came to writer’s block, but because it was NaNo and I needed to press on, I did. This novel wrote pretty well and easily all things considered. However, when I came to the editing process I do have to admit it took me longer than it should have to finish it.   

Of all the characters in Ranger, which one, if any, do you think best matches your own personality? 

Trista: Oh my, characters are so interesting, you know? Because there’s something about you in each one of them: a personality trait, a nervous habit, their appearance, something large or super small. In some ways it’s pretty cool, in other ways it can be kinda scary. Cause your villains also, in some way, have something of yours. That’s what makes all characters unique, because no one else has the same traits as you to put into them. That was a rabbit trail a bit there, but I think the character that is most like me in the book, putting all of them aside, would be Tonto.    

What story are you actively working on now?

Trista: I have so many projects I want to see to completion, but right now I’m working on The Guardian Elf Scrolls Book 2, The Nameless. The sequel to Quest for the Swords of Healing. 

For our enjoyment, would you mind sharing a piece from Ranger with us? 

Trista: Oh sure, why not? Alrighty, a small except from the (almost) end of Chapter 2:

From Ranger

Kimberly sat in silence as the last words faded away, curling upward with the hazy air. She distrusted this boy. Why would he bother to weave such a tale? Was it to cause her confusion so that in this fragile state they could impose their savage ways on her? Something stirred deep within, and Kim knew his story was not meant for illusion. Her hand waveringly rose to her bandage again. She cringed. ‘How have I changed?’ Her heart picked up speed. Eyes darting she saw sorrow pictured on the lad’s face. “What has happened to me? What have you done?” Kim lurched backward and stood as swiftly as possible. “What has changed?” Her feet felt unusual, clumsy and awkward.

  Tonto looked on with grief lacing his features. “Nothing that can be altered now.” He spoke steadily, trying to ease her panic. “The people of this village, my kin, see you only as you are, not as you have been. They will accept you for what you are, which I cannot say for the people who used to know you.”

Kimberly stepped away from the fire stones, her heels knocking into an iron kettle. “And what am I? What is wrong with me?” she breathed, scarcely above a whisper. 

Tonto rose from his place near the coals, a solitary hand stretched out in a gesture for her to follow. “Come, I will show you.” 

***

Thank you very much, Trista, for that exciting piece of work. All of us are definitely looking forward to future works from you. And if any of you folks wish to snag Trista's amazing reads for free, just click on the link below.

Ranger

Special interview feature: Kate Elizabeth Stoneacre

So after procrastinating for months, I finally got around to interviewing my very first author! It is my pleasure to introduce all of you to a friend of mine, Kate Elizabeth Stoneacre, author of the fantasy novel, The Lost Princess. And if you love fantasy, you'll be excited to know that you can grab Kate's book in a giveaway being hosted, the link to which will be at the bottom of the post. Here is the summary of the book:

“Laurel is a fourteen year old homeschooler with a seemingly perfect life. However, when her grandmother goes delusional and starts speaking utter nonsense, Laurel’s world flip-flops. Questions are raised, and she finds herself thrown into Tranquility, to the kingdom of Calma where she must confront a tyrannical king. Samuel is the twelve year old prince of Calma. His father is the king, and tries to make Samuel into the same kind of prince as he is a king. However, Samuel’s mother Elizabeth taught him in the ways of Elohim, and to do the right thing. Can Laurel set right the kingdom of Calma? Can Samuel find the courage of Elohim to stand up to his father? Can a young elf named Soddriel find in his heart to forgive his enemies? With courage in their hearts, and the words of Elohim on their tongues, goodness is sure to triumph. Revolution is at hand.” - The Lost Princess

 Kate has graciously agreed to my request to interview her, so without any further ado, here we go. :)

Interview

Kate, welcome to A Dark Wolf’s Haunt and thank you for joining us here! So to start things off, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself? What are your favorite hobbies and how would you describe your personality?

Kate: Hi, JM, and thank you for having me! My favorite hobbies, aside from writing, are reading, singing, acting in musicals, and dancing! I love to have a good time, and I love being around people.

What inspired you to get into writing? How did you start your journey to getting published?

Kate: The first person who inspired me to write was Mr. Dewalt. Over the summer one year, he taught a short class to all the kids about writing, and it piqued my interest. However, I didn’t finish my first novel until NaNoWriMo 2013. After I finished The Lost Princess, I contacted a friend of mine who helped edit my novel, and I self-published through Createspace. 

What provides the inspiration for your stories, and what source would you say is the biggest influence on your writing?

Kate: I get a lot of my inspiration from my own crazy dreams, and other novels I’ve read. I guess listening to soundtracks really influences my writing, as well as suggestions from my friends and family. :)

Which author’s work do you admire the most and why?

Kate: I really admire the works of C.S. Lewis. All of his books are well written. And have theological truths in them without sounding ridiculous and preachy. 

Of the entire writing process, what are your favorite and least favorite parts?

Kate: My favorite part is coming up with fun characters, and an interesting plot. My least favorite part is midway through the story because I’m way past point A, but I don’t know quite how to make it to point B.

So, what we all have been eagerly wanting to know, tell us about The Lost Princess. How long did it take you to develop the story, and did you encounter any challenges with writing it?

Kate: I actually started developing the main story idea for The Lost Princess May of 2013. It was the third novel I had started writing, but this time I was determined to see it through till the end. I searched writing templates, and write the first two chapters. In August, I tossed everything but the Prologue, and the main character and started over, with help from a few of my best friends. Once the story idea was developed, and characters outlined, I decided to stop working on The Lost Princess, and save it for my first eve NaNoWriMo.  It wasn’t always easy, and often you would find me up at 3am, racking my brain for a good subplot, or asking my mother “What lies beyond the Glas sea” but after a lot of hard work, supportive friends and family, and way more coffee than any human being should consume in their lifetime, The Lost Princess was finished… Until editing began, which I will not go into now.

Of all the characters in The Lost Princess, which one, if any, do you think best matches your own personality?

Kate: I fashioned most of Laurel’s personality after my own, although I’m not sure I’d have the courage to do all the things she did. However, I also find that I am a lot like Aidan, who actually happens to be my favorite character in my novel.

What story are you actively working on now?

Kate: I am currently writing Forgotten Dream, which is my second ever novel. However, I have already begun planning for my NaNo14 novel, False Light, both under the pseudonym Katie Kessler.

For our enjoyment, would you mind sharing a piece from The Lost Princess with us? 

Kate: Absolutely! Here is one of my favorite parts of the novel.

From The Lost Princess

“Laurel, get up. I need you to free me.” Aidan said urgently. I stood up and pulled my knife, cutting the ropes that bound Aidan. As soon as he was freed, I fell to my knees again. 

“Laurel, we have to go.” Aidan said. 

“What about the others?” There is nothing we can do about them now,” He said, his voice choking up. “They’re dead.” He lifted me to my feet. “Come, we have to go quickly, they’ll be back soon.” 

“Who?” I asked, walking quickly with Aidan. 

“The men who did this.” 

“Why did they leave me?” I asked. 

“We were the bait. They wanted you, but first they wanted to break your heart. They left me alive knowing I would call to you.” I stopped

“Then why did you call?” 

“Simple. I knew you couldn’t escape without my help. Much less find the cure for your brother.” 

“How do you know?” Aidan looked me in the eyes. 

“Laurel. Do you trust me?” He asked. 

“Yes,” I replied. 

“Then trust me to know that you couldn’t have done it alone.” We heard shout behind us, and we started to run. “Get back here you scum!” a voice yelled behind us. I tripped and fell, hitting my head. I began to pass out, “Laurel, you can’t pass out.” Aidan said. “Laurel, Laurel, LAUREL!”

***

Thank you so much, Kate, for sharing that exciting piece with us! Definitely we are looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future.

So folks, if you are looking for some exciting fantasy, head on over to the link below to enter the giveaway for the chance to win this amazing story. 

The Lost Princess

Super Fantasy Giveaway!!!

Great news, folks! If you're a fantasy lover or simply looking for a new read to add to your bookshelf, then this is for you. A friend of mine is having a book giveaway to promote her newest release, and due to her gracious invitation, I also will be participating in it (the first giveaway I've ever taken part in :) ) and my book, The Dark Wolf, is one of the prizes. For the giveaway, my friend is giving not one, not two, but four books of amazing epicness! Add in mine plus another book by another author (also another friend of mine), and that makes a grand total of six beauties being given away for FREE. So if you are looking for some great reading material of adventures, epicness, and a stirring story, click the link below to head on over to my friend's blog! The giveaway starts today and ends at 12:00AM on September 1st. (EST)

GIVEAWAY!!!

The Saga Continues....

And the writing process begins once more. Or finishes up, actually. With a lot less stress and definitely more enthusiasm, God and I have put out what I think to be the next best chapter in The Heart of Light saga. Currently the book is in the process of being edited, two thirds of which is already done, and I have not only gotten the artwork and cover design done for it, but also revamped the design of The Dark Wolf and created new art for it as well. 

As for the story of Crown of Ravens, I don’t want to give away spoilers (hard though it is) so I’ll just say that everything in it is darker, deeper, and more emotional than the previous installment. Redemption, hope, and learning to trust even when it looks darkest are elements that are explored in depth in the story.

New characters will be introduced, and mysteries left unsolved in The Dark Wolf are revealed in Crown of Ravens while a few more are introduced. 

I’m really excited about the characters and the direction of the story, and I can’t wait until all of you can share in it. If you want detailed stats on the book’s progress towards publication as well as art clippings I post (some of which are experiments that may or may not make you wince), feel free to drop by and visit my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JM-Christian/1413797125535009?ref=hl

GIMP Cosmic II

And here are a couple other pictures I made that I was not able to get up with the first post. The first pic, I'll let you all try to guess what it is. So far, only two have been able to guess correctly. ;) 

GIMP Cosmic I

After seeing Man of Steel, I had a hankering to create some kind of space art, so I went to GIMP to experiment. This pic came out so good, I thought I would post it on here. I would have posted another one I created, but I'm running into problems trying to upload it. I'll see if I can put it up in another post.

(Image is property of J.M. Christian and may not be reproduced or used without permission.)

Chapter One Preview: Part Three

And here is the last part of the first chapter I'll be posting. To read the full chapter, you access it here: The Dark Wolf

***

Through a spell he kept on Darvir's mind, Ruval created a painful sensation throughout his body. It was not strong enough to incapacitate him, but it would certainly remind Darvir of his power and the additional punishment Ruval could give him if he chose to rebel.

For a few seconds, Darvir held his ground before breaking eye contact and turning away. “One day you will no longer be able to hold me with that, and when that day comes, you will have no choice but to face me.” Darvir stalked away, slamming the door behind him.

Ruval swore and tightened his fist on the goblet, crushing it in his grasp before tossing it into the fire. He had withdrawn his presence from Darvir's mind, but it was an effort not to inflict him with more than just a simple ache for his little show of defiance. He still required Darvir to complete this mission, but something needed to be done with him after this was over. Darvir was starting to become a bother and not worth the effort to control. It might just be time to get rid of him. Permanently.

Chapter One Preview: Part Two

And here is a second part. Third and last part I will be posting later. Enjoy. :)

***

Ruval turned his gaze towards the hearth and did not look as the door opened quietly and soft footsteps came towards him. “What took you so long?” Ruval demanded. “Almost fifteen minutes passed before you showed.”

“I apologize for the delay,” a deep voice answered. “I was outside when I got your summons and came as quickly as I could.”
“So you say,” Ruval said wryly. “I‟m sure you spared no time in getting here, assuming you made the effort.”

There was no answer from the speaker. Ruval sighed and waved him forward. “Stop lurking in the background, Darvir, and get over here. I have a task that needs immediate attention.”

A tall brooding man dressed in the same black attire from head to toe came into view. Thick dark hair fell around a face as hard and unreadable as flint, and eyes as blue as the ocean stared at Ruval with a cold light. “What is it?” he asked evenly.

Ruval ignored the undercurrent of irritation he sensed in Darvir‟s voice and leaned back in his chair. “I need you to leave for the Farrand Hills today. You know where that is, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Good. You have maybe two days to get there before a band of riders pass through and join a larger force. I want the smaller band eliminated—every single one of them before they reach the other group. When you are finished, check the saddlebags of a white horse with brown patches on its front legs. You should find a small wooden chest with silver engraved on it. Take nothing else but that, and bring it to me.”

“I see,” Darvir said coldly, his blue eyes flashing with barely suppressed anger. “Another trinket to add to your collection. Why can't I just steal it when they stop to camp for the night?”

Ruval clenched his fist tighter around the goblet. The boy was definitely growing bolder to question his orders. Ordinarily, he would have given Darvir a sharp reprimand to remind him of whom he was dealing with, but Ruval did not care to waste precious time waiting for Darvir to recover when he had such an important task waiting for him to take care of.
Ruval held his temper in check and took another sip of his wine. “I have been monitoring their pace, and seeing as they have not stopped for more than a couple of hours at the most when night comes, I sincerely doubt they will change now, especially when they are so close to their destination. It will be easier to obtain the chest once they arrive at the Farrand Hills.”

“And after I deliver this chest to you, then what?”

“Then you do what you have always done. Wait until I have something else to use you for.”

“What if I don't want to be used anymore?”
Ruval glanced up sharply at Darvir. “That is hardly my concern. Now stop wasting time and get moving.”

“No.”

Ruval froze, unsure if he had heard him correctly. “What did you say?”

“I said, no,” Darvir repeated grimly. His face was set determinedly, and Ruval could see the open defiance in his gaze.

“I don't care about your schemes,” Darvir continued, “and I'm tired of being your personal hound that you set loose on whomever you feel like.”

Ruval was on his feet in an instant, the sudden movement spilling his wine and knocking the chair to the floor. “I don't care what you want, nor am I interested in your feelings,” he snarled. He glared at Darvir with disgust. “Look at you. The power and skill you possess is beyond what any man or even an elf could attain, yet you not only do not care, you would not even use it if I didn't make you.”

“It is something I never wanted.”

“Yes,” Ruval sneered. “I know what it is that you desire. A family, friends—things that only weak, sentimental fools crave.”

“Then I am one of those fools,” Darvir said harshly. “They certainly possess more and live a better life than I do. At least they are free to choose their destiny instead of being bound to serve one man's will.”

Ruval felt his face beginning to grow hot from the rage seething inside him, and he struggled to control himself from physically lashing out at Darvir. “You have wasted enough of my time for today. Now get going and bring me the chest.”

“And if I refuse?” Darvir‟s hands were clenched into tight fists, and he stood there boldly, almost as if daring Ruval to make a move against him. Even though he would not have minded thrashing the boy for his insolence, Ruval could not let anger dictate his actions when so much was at stake.

“If you wish to try rebelling again, I will have to give you another lesson in obedience,” Ruval growled. “I am your master and whether you like it or not, you are mine to command, and you will obey me.”

Chapter One Preview: Part One

I was determined to not miss posting this month, and I succeeded. In this one, I'm giving all of you a look at the first chapter of my book, The Dark Wolf, to read and enjoy. Feel free to leave your opinions and views below. I will post a second part of the chapter later on.

***

Shadows danced around in a room lit only by dying flames that sputtered weakly in the hearth of a massive fireplace. For several moments, they struggled to keep aflame, but slowly they began to fade until only smoldering embers glinted faintly in the ashes, leaving the room in darkness.

A small red light bloomed to life a few paces away from the hearth, chasing away some of the darkness. It flickered twice before its glow steadied and grew stronger.

The darkness before it parted as a shadow detached itself, gradually morphing into a tall man-shaped figure. It approached the source of the red light—a dark red orb as large as a child‟s toy and set in a niche atop a stone hewn stand—and watched multi-colored pinpricks of light dance across the orb's glassy surface, gradually coalescing into the forms of mounted soldiers.

There were seven of them, each wearing black armor and a dark red cloak with the insignia of a black eagle on their shoulder. They were coated with grime and appeared exhausted, but they rode without pause through a curtain of rain.

The orb continued to show their progress for several minutes more before the scene faded and the light in the orb slowly dimmed, leaving the room in pitch darkness once more.

It fled as drapes along the wall were pulled back, allowing the fading afternoon light to stream in through the beveled window panes and upon the man called Ruval.

He was clothed in a plain black tunic and pants. Thick blond hair edged with grey at the temples was brushed back, revealing a broad face etched with deep, cruel lines. Cold blue eyes watched the dark clouds in the sky that were growing larger.

Ruval eyed the clouds with a frown and turned away, not perturbed by the sight. It would be a little while yet before the storm arrived, but it mattered not. The weather would not hinder his plans from going forward.

At last, it will be mine, he thought eagerly. It had taken many years of waiting and searching, but now everything was coming together exactly as he had planned.

Ruval stepped towards a heavy table, darkened with age, on which stood a tall pitcher and a plain bronze goblet. He poured some wine into the goblet before striding over to the fireplace to grab a chunk of wood and toss it into the hearth.

Ruval stirred the ashes with a poker, sending a torrent of sparks flying upward in a lazy spiral almost hypnotizing in their ascent as they glowed brightly for a brief second before winking out. Eventually a small flame flickered weakly and soon grew in strength as it hungrily devoured the wood.

Ruval set the poker back in its place at the hearth‟s side before sitting down in a large black chair. He glanced impatiently at the doors to his left. What was taking the boy so long? He had mind-called him before leaving his study, which would have given him plenty of time to arrive about now if he hurried.

Ruval sipped his wine and drummed the fingers of his right hand irritably on the chair's armrest. Of all the times to dawdle, the boy had to choose today. He used to be more punctual when he had first arrived, fear keeping him from doing anything that might displease him, but over the years, Ruval had watched that fear slowly abate. It was something he was not pleased to see.

After several minutes had passed, a firm knock echoed outside the chamber‟s door, causing Ruval to glance at it crossly. Finally, it had taken him long enough. “Enter,” he commanded.

Sunflower Blogger Award

Yeesh, has it been long. Sorry, for that, folks. I know I promised to post an article on here on how to format your e-book, but due to the fact that I had this tag from Kya Lightwing waiting for me, I posted the article on my other blog which you can read here : http://55darkwolf.wordpress.com/2014/04/12/formatting-tip…book-on-kindle/ ‎
(And sorry for the long delay in answering this, Kya.)

So on to the tag. Here are the rules:

Share 11 facts about yourself.
Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
Nominate 11 bloggers
Make 11 questions for the nominated bloggers.

{Is it just me, or are there a lot of elevens in here? ;)}

And now here are eleven facts about me:

1. I was born in the US.
2. I only have one sibling, a sister.
3. I don’t wear jeans.
4. My main style of writing tends to lean on the dark and gritty side.
5. I’m a collector of Christian fantasy.
6. I do not like e-books.
7. The Underground Holy Worlds forums are my favorite places to hang out.
8. I’m the author of my first published work of fantasy (of which I hope you’ll take a look at ;)).
9. The Dark Knight Rises soundtrack is one of my favorite pieces of music to listen to while writing.
10. GIMP is my favorite tool for making artwork.
11. I’m currently working on the sequel to The Dark Wolf and working on the artwork for it (which I might post the results of on here;) ).

And now for the questions I must answer:



1. What is your favorite food?

That’s hard since I love all of my mom’s cooking. I guess it’s a toss between pizza and rice and beans with chicken.

2. What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done while writing?

Can’t really think of anything strange I do except maybe pound the keys of my laptop occasionally in tune to the music. ;)

3. Favorite type of computer?

Laptop.

4. Favorite sport?

Does fencing count?

5. Horses or dogs?

Probably horses. Aside from wolves, I don’t care for many dogs.

6. Did you watch at least some of the Sochi Olympics?

Nope. I was watching the late ‘80s live action Beauty and the Beast at that time.

7. Salt or sugar?

I suppose I would have to pick salt, but I’m really more of a pepper fan.

8. Snow?

Oh, yes. I love snow.

9. Hot or cold?

Cold.

10. Favorite genre to write in?

Fantasy, of course. :)

11. Favorite horse? (by name)

I’m not an expert on horses, but I think it’s a toss between an Arabian and those Belgian ones.

As for tagging, whoever reads this, just consider yourself tagged. :)
And now for my questions:




What is your favorite fictional superhero?
If you could have one wish in the whole world granted to you, what would you wish for?
What’s your favorite movie for 2013?
Dragons or elves?
Paperback or e-book?
Assuming you’ve watched the film called The Avengers, which is your favorite Avenger?
What kind of music do you like to listen to while writing? (assuming you listen to any)
What’s your favorite animal?
How would you describe your personality?
A vacation in Ireland, or one in Florida?
Lord of the Rings or The Berinfell Prophecies?

Ready to rock once more

As those of you who have been following my blog know, I was forced to take down the e-book of my book, The Dark Wolf, due to multiple formatting errors. After a few days of tinkering with it, I got it back up and running a couple days ago, this time error free. I will admit, this whole thing has been a huge learning process and MORE than a good bit of work. But the pain in my eyeballs from staring at the screen too long, and the general frustration when I saw another snag that needed to be corrected was worth it to finally have this DONE. Now, due to the formatting I used, when you go to Amazon and press the 'Click to View Inside' it won't show any page breaks. This is not due to any formatting errors on my part. I recently learned that this feature Amazon has carries a few bugs, so unless you have really complex formatting, the page breaks won't show. Seeing as how I'm not into making things harder than they need to, I opted to go with the simpler formatting that still delivers great results.
Those page breaks are there and will show with the e-book itself when you purchase it, so don't worry. I checked with several authors to be sure of this, and each one verified it. If you wish to be sure, just download the free sample Amazon provides which is located to the right of the page.
So anyway, here's the link, (again) and when you buy the book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HSTAVIM


And on a sidenote, for my next post, I will leave a few helpful tips on how to format your own e-book. God knows, after what I went through, I want to make sure you guys have enough info so you can avoid the pitfalls. 

The Dark Wolf's first review and e-book update

I am happy to announce that my book, The Dark Wolf, has received its first review, courtesy of a friend of mine who promised to write an honest opinion on it! You can read the review on her blog::   http://kyanalightwing.blogspot.com/2014/01/review-dark-wolf.html

And an update on the e-book version of my book. I am sorry to say, that I have temporarily removed it due to Amazon messing up the formatting. Apparently, their online previewer has some bugs in it which threw me off from noticing any errors, and I wasn't aware of it until I went to Amazon itself to look inside the e-book. Fortunately, I know what to do and will have the e-book up and running again shortly, this time error free. I do apologize for this, and like I said, I should have the e-book available again very soon. 

Epic Fantasy--enter Quest for the Swords of Healing!!!

Recently, I purchased a book from a friend of mine, and decided to post a review of it on here. The book, Quest for the Swords of Healing, is Trista Vaporblade’s first book in The Guardian Elf Scrolls.

The story begins with eight teenage actors who are suddenly faced with a whole new level of reality when their studio is blown up, and they are attacked by an army sent by the Dark Lord, Vorn. Faced with danger at every turn, these eight teenagers must not only learn how to wield the powers at their disposal, but also find eight magical blades—a quest that could either save the earth or utterly doom it.
I loved the story. Yes, it’s fantasy, so of course I’m going to enjoy it more, but on the whole, it was an engaging story with enough humor and suspense to even satisfy those who aren’t fans of the fantasy genre. And the ending of the story is priceless, a simple reminder of the power of God even when all looks lost and hopeless.
Trista Vaporblade is an amazing writer, and I can’t wait for the sequel to come out (hint, hint to the author). I highly encourage those who enjoy fantasy and even those who don’t to give it a try. This is an adventure you DON’T want to miss out on.

You can purchase her book from Amazon: Quest for the Swords of Healing

E-book available.

Great news, everyone. I finally have my book up and available as an e-book. It took a little longer than I thought, mostly because I didn't have the time to get to it. But at last, it is done, and now I can relax and rest my brains from fretting over it. :)  For a limited time, I am currently selling the book for only a $1.99. And for those of you gracious enough to purchase the book, please consider taking a couple minutes to leave an honest review of it on Amazon. It is something I would greatly appreciate. :)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HSTAVIM

Inspiring Poetry

I recently finished reading two books of poetry by author Ophelia-Marie Flowers, and as they were so good, I decided to write up a review of them on here.
The two books from the author are Sixteen So in Love with You, and Zeal Aspiring. Now I’ve never been a fan of poetry. I rarely read any, and as for writing them, I think there is only one I can say that I ever wrote. When I started reading these books, however, I was immediately captivated by what lay on each page. There are several poems that deal with life’s questions, the pain many of us go through and hide from others, and our struggle to be different from the rest of the world. And in every one, God’s power is always present. Each poem is a heartfelt reminder of God’s goodness and mercy, and reminds us that no matter what, no matter how many times we think we know it all and fail, God is always there to take our hand and pick us up. Sixteen So in Love with You, and Zeal Aspiring are both uplifting and inspiring. They are books that not only glorify God, but also His unfailing love towards us, His children. Whether or not you’re a fan of poetry, if you’re looking for a word of encouragement, or a simple reminder of God’s love, I highly recommend buying these books by Ophelia-Marie Flowers. You won’t be disappointed.

Happy 2014!

Happy New Year, everyone. I hope all of you are enjoying the beginning of the New Year with your friends and loved ones. :)
Well, even though 2013 is now gone, it’s nice to look back and reflect on some of the memorable times from then. For me, the most memorable was probably all those many months of writing, editing, and rewriting my book. Then there was the joy of getting it published, of which I still get a thrill about when I think of it, and of course, there was winning that book giveaway. That was really awesome. And there was the ice storm that hit my area, which was the second ice storm I’ve gone through since the one in 1998. My yard is still covered with a strong coat of ice and looks like one big skating ring.
Anyway, Happy 2014, and may this year truly be a most blessed and happy year for all of you. If any of you have any memorable times from 2013 you'd like to tell, feel free to share them. :)