In My Own Shadow by Susan Royal

Today I'm sharing my thoughts after reading In My Own Shadow, by Susan Royal. But first, here's the book blurb:

Talk about the worst day ever! Lara lets her friend Carrie talk her into a blind date, only it turns out the handsome stranger waiting for Lara after work isn’t Carrie’s cousin after all. And, when they’re chased through a portal to another world, Lara realizes Rhys really is out of this world.

Lyra, her alternate in another dimension, has left clues to the whereabouts of the Book of Secrets that explains the mystery of time travel in Lara’s subconscious. Or so Rhys thinks. Power-hungry telepaths pursuing them will stop at nothing to get it, even if it means breaking Lara’s mind. To complicate matters, Lara gets tangled up in her feelings for Rhys while exploring her connection with Lyra.

With Rhys as her guardian, a bear of a man named Azle to guide her, and the spirit of Lyra haunting her dreams, Lara must find the Book of Secrets before it falls into the hands of those who want its power. Only then can she return to her world safely.

Sounds pretty cool, right? Just to whet your appetite more, here's a neat character study on Lara, the leading lady.

I’m Lara, and I work downtown in the Metropolitan Building. I’m not really all that good at 

talking about myself. Just ask my good friend, Carrie. She thinks I’m antisocial. Sometimes I
give in and let her drag me to some party, so she’ll get off my case for a little while. Once there,
she circulates like the social butterfly she is, while I lurk around the edges of the crowd.

Carrie and I have been BFFs for a long time, even though we are total opposites. She’s
cheerful. I’m sarcastic. She’s outgoing. I’m a loner. She’s always been there for me. I just wish
she’d quit trying to fix me up with some guy she thinks is my Mr. Right.

People tell me I should have been a model, and I always assume it’s because I’m 5 foot 10 in
flats, tall enough to intimidate some men. It’s funny. That’s one of the first things I noticed about
Rhys. My height didn’t seem to bother him a bit. His rugged good looks were another thing.

Everything happened so fast it was a blur, but after Rhys dragged me through a portal to
another world, I realized he wasn’t the blind date Carrie had set me up with. He really was out of
this world. I know you’re thinking this sounds like your typical ‘guy rescues girl from danger
and takes her to another world, where they fall in love’ scenario, but you’d be wrong. Rhys
treated me like an unwanted responsibility, nothing more. And I let it get under my skin. Why?
Because even though I refused to admit it, I had feelings for the man.

And now...my thoughts.

Susan took me on a journey through an incredible world. Her vivid descriptions really let me see and discover this strange new place with Lara. A bit of mystery and romance wound through the tale as well, although I could have used a bit more development on the romance. My final rating: 4 stars.

About the Author:

Born in west Texas and raised in south Texas, Susan makes her home in a 100-year-old farmhouse in a small east Texas town that comes complete with a ghost who has been known to harmonize with her son when he plays guitar. 

Susan is married and the mother of six (she counts her children’s spouses as her own) and five grandchildren who are all unique and very special. Her family is rich with characters, both past and present. Her grandmother shared stories of living on a farm in Oklahoma Territory with three sisters and three brothers and working as a telephone operator in the early 20th century. Her father told her about growing up in San Antonio in the depression, and she experienced being a teenager during WWII through her mother’s eyes.

Susan loves to take her readers through all kinds of adventures with liberal doses of romance. Her latest book is From Now On, a time travel adventure/romance. It’s the stand-alone sequel to Not Long Ago in her It’s About Time series. In My Own Shadow is a Fantasy adventure/romance. Look for her books at MuseItUp/Amazon/B&N. Odin’s Spear, one of her short stories is featured in a Quests, Curses, and Vengeance anthology, Martinus Publishing, available on Amazon.

Buy Links:
It’s About Time Series: From Now On (time travel, adventure, romance) http://tinyurl.com/lnypggm
In My Own Shadow (fantasy, adventure, romance) http://tinyurl.com/knda4dy
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/Wbg8Z12ojY/
It’s About Time Series: Not Long Ago (time travel, adventure, romance) http://tinyurl.com/pepshqd
Book trailer: http://youtu.be/vOIQVdWUigU/

All books available at MuseItUp, Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Find Susan online:
http://susanroyal.moonfruit.com
http://susanaroyal.wordpress.com

Congratulations!!!

Huzzah and well met, good people of Realmsdom. Alas, the 2014 Realms Faire has come to an end. I prithee enjoyed the festivities as much as I.  Congratulations to the many prize winners at the various venues. Many thanks to the lovely Lady Mary Pax for thinking of this wonderful faire, and to the many bloggers who aided in its fruition.

Let us give three cheers to the Lady HK Carlton, winner of the Stockade Brigade Grand Prize for her marvelous wordsmithing through out the week!  Hip-hip! Huzzah!! Hip-hip! Huzzah!! Hip-hip! Huzzah!!

May thou all, the good people of Realmsdom, have a blessed year. I look forward to seeing you again next year, and discovering if your Middle English has improved any!

In other news...

Congratulations to my boy for his first Bantam A goal (against a AA team!) Way to go!!! Now, go do it again :-)

Thanks for the photo Dennell Jurgensen!!!

I will be sending out a newsletter this Thursday with updates on The Mystery Prince, Faery Marked, and more! Not signed up? No problem, just head over to my author page and fill out the form on the upper right hand side. 

Stockade Brigade~2014 Realms Faire~Day Five

Welcome to the Stockade Brigade. All week, selected authors shall be put in the stockades and brought on trial for word witchery/wizardry. Witnesses shall score points by testifying for or against the author’s crimes. Points will be scored by wordsmithing with their best Olde English afore 8 o’clock in the Eastern time. An e-book from the author on trial will be given away every day to the witness who scores the most points. A pair of e-books by the Sheriff and a gift card to Amazon will be awarded at the end of the week. Warrants for their arrests have already been issued. The Sheriff of Realmsdom will catch up with them all soon.

Hear ye, hear ye, good citizens of Realmsdom. Welcome to Realms Faire 2014 and the Stockade Brigade, Word Wizards on Trial event.

To learn more about the Realms Faire, please visit the Realms Faire headquarters HERE.

~ Joust ~ Drench-a-Wench/Soak-a-Bloke ~ Stockade Brigade ~ Dueling Bards ~ Riddle Me This ~ Phasers ~ Dragon Hunt ~ Wisdom of the Creative Realms ~

To cast your eyes on the amazing and stupendous Realms Faire Giveaways, go HERE. 

Huzzah to our sponsors of this most entertaining event - thou canst locate them near the end of the scroll HERE.

Ye Olde Realms Trial Rules. 

Prithee remember the rules lest ye find thyself sent to the stockade:

1. The throwing of sticks or stones or anything resembling fecal matter, while amusing and entertaining, shall not be allowed during these trials.

2. Spitting upon our worthy guests or other citizens, while understandable in some circumstances, is strictly forbidden.

3. Ye witnesses for the accused shalt use ye best Olde English whilst crafting your comments. Said wordsmithing shall earn you high points with the wenches and blokes and with me, the Sheriff of Realmsdom and bestower of gifts.

4. Each prisoner shall offer a bribe, forgive me, I mean a token of their thanks to one eloquent wordsmithing witness per day.

5. As Sheriff of Realmsdom, I shall be offering a $25 Amazon gift card and one of my e-books (winner’s choice) as reward for the most eloquent wordsmithing witness of the week.

6. HENCE, ye must comment to win!

Let the trials begin!

*Sheriff Mary unrolls the scroll* Here ye good people of Realmsdom. Before you stands Lady Melissa Petreshock, of the shire of Kentucky, currently a guest of ye olde Realmsdom Stockade Brigade, courtesy of her highness, Lady Mary Pax, and overseen by me, Lady Mary, the honorable Sheriff of Realms.

A certain vampire who shall remain nameless *cough* King Corrin *cough* has filed accusations against the Lady Melissa that she has allowed the suitors in competition with him to collude together in an attempt to win the hand of Caitriona. He offered this conversation as his proof:

          “You told her?” Controlling my tone, I keep it even, measured, calm to a relative

          degree.


          Dante leans back in the chair opposite me at the desk, crossing his legs. “It seemed

          prudent. She’s quite confused regarding the predicament she finds herself, Theo, and

          I know there is little you can tell a ward regarding your actions pertaining to their

          destiny.”

          “And you felt it your duty to explain my involvement in your arrival.” It isn’t a question.

          I’m assessing what he has done, seeing the pieces of the chessboard, my ward’s

          paths, the endgame per se, and how this may affect her destiny, yet nothing appears

          clear.

          “She responded favorably.” He’s quiet, distant. “I believe she may choose me.”

          Attempting not to scowl, I cross my arms over my chest. “The idea displeases you?” I

          cannot say it displeases me to think he may reject her, though she would feel pained.

          I’m feeling quite selfish regarding Cait, incomparable to any other ward.

          His attention returns to the conversation at hand. “On the contrary, I find myself

          unfathomably excited by the prospect. Caitriona remarked how my pursuit of

          knowledge is quite admirable, yet … somehow, in all this time I have never pursued

          an interest in love, and have failed to learn such a simple thing.”

          “I do not believe it is so simple for some of us, Dante.”​

Have ye any evidence to offer in your defense Lady Melissa?

Indeed so, Lady Mary. The valiant dragon, Theo, and noble demigod, Dante, seek not to
collude against his highness, King Corrin, only to provide Caitriona ample opportunity to choose a husband of her own free will and on the merits of greatest affection and pleasing company, perhaps even that of love.

Should the court be so obliging, I offer this evidence of Caitriona’s own opinion of the
vampire monarch, the troublesome predicament he hath forced upon her as an unwanted suitor:

          No offense to the vampire as our monarch, but King Corrin behaves like a pompous

          womanizer, treating them as his personal playthings from everything I’ve heard. It’s

          disgusting the way he uses them, the way he uses anyone to his advantage, and I

          want no part of it, to be another conquest.

          I’m not denying he’s gorgeous, but beauty is only skin-deep. Twisted sycophant goes

          to the bone.

If ye not be swayed by that alone, I hold evidence of words King Corrin spoke to his brother, further giving reason for Theo and Dante, as honorable men, to desire any means to
protect Caitriona from his wicked ways:

          “Nothing changed. I have no desire to take anyone as my wife, no desire to marry at

          all, but Caitriona Hayden suits the position of wife to a monarch well enough. I find it

          doubtful other candidates shall present themselves so readily.”

With such clear intent to use the young lady Caitriona, dare I speaketh the words, Lady Mary, but perhaps it is King Corrin who should be in the stockade?

What say ye, good people of Realmsdom? Shall Lady Melissa be placed in the stockade, or should King Corrin take her place for lodging false claims against his mistress? Cast your ballot in the comments below.

For those needing more evidence, thou shalt surely find it betwixt the pages of FIRE OF STARS AND DRAGONS. My very blood heats at the thought of those Pendragon men, er... dragons, er... handsome devils. I advise you to read it and see for yerself!

Stockade Brigade~2014 Realms Faire~Day Four

Welcome to the Stockade Brigade. All week, selected authors shall be put in the stockades and brought on trial for word witchery/wizardry. Witnesses shall score points by testifying for or against the author’s crimes. Points will be scored by wordsmithing with their best Olde English afore 8 o’clock in the Eastern time. An e-book from the author on trial will be given away every day to the witness who scores the most points. A pair of e-books by the Sheriff and a gift card to Amazon will be awarded at the end of the week. Warrants for their arrests have already been issued. The Sheriff of Realmsdom will catch up with them all soon.

Hear ye, hear ye, good citizens of Realmsdom. Welcome to Realms Faire 2014 and the Stockade Brigade, Word Wizards on Trial event.

To learn more about the Realms Faire, please visit the Realms Faire headquarters HERE.

~ Joust ~ Drench-a-Wench/Soak-a-Bloke ~ Stockade Brigade ~ Dueling Bards ~ Riddle Me This ~ Phasers ~ Dragon Hunt ~ Wisdom of the Creative Realms ~

To cast your eyes on the amazing and stupendous Realms Faire Giveaways, go HERE. 

Huzzah to our sponsors of this most entertaining event - thou canst locate them near the end of the scroll HERE.

Ye Olde Realms Trial Rules. 

Prithee remember the rules lest ye find thyself sent to the stockade:

1. The throwing of sticks or stones or anything resembling fecal matter, while amusing and entertaining, shall not be allowed during these trials.

2. Spitting upon our worthy guests or other citizens, while understandable in some circumstances, is strictly forbidden.

3. Ye witnesses for the accused shalt use ye best Olde English whilst crafting your comments. Said wordsmithing shall earn you high points with the wenches and blokes and with me, the Sheriff of Realmsdom and bestower of gifts.

4. Each prisoner shall offer a bribe, forgive me, I mean a token of their thanks to one eloquent wordsmithing witness per day.

5. As Sheriff of Realmsdom, I shall be offering a $25 Amazon gift card and one of my e-books (winner’s choice) as reward for the most eloquent wordsmithing witness of the week.

6. HENCE, ye must comment to win!

Let the trials begin!

*Sheriff Mary unrolls the scroll* Here ye good people of Realmsdom. Before you stands Lady Heather Brainerd and her brother, Lord David Fraser, both of the shire of New York, currently guests of ye olde Realmsdom Stockade Brigade, courtesy of her highness, Lady Mary Pax, and overseen by me, Lady Mary, the honorable Sheriff of Realms.

One of my own fine officers has come forth with accusations that Lady Brainerd and Lord Fraser have been encouraging the removal of memories from one’s mind. The proof be here in their own words:

          “But you won’t hurt me?” Josh asked. “Or my brother and sister?”

          “Of course not.” Aiden looked distressed at the thought. “I have to protect you. You’re
          my pack now.”

          Josh’s parents were all about doing the latest thing before it became too popular, but
          hiring a werewolf nanny was a little extreme, even for them. “Do my parents know
          about this?”

          “Um, sort of.”

          “What do you mean, ‘sort of?”

          Aiden looked away, staring at the blank wall in front of him, like he was trying to put
          just the right words together. “Well, everything was explained to them. Like how
          werewolves make great protectors, and how we bond, making the family like our own
          pack. Legally, everything needs to be explained to them, and they need to give their
          permission to place a werewolf.”

          “So they do know?”

          “Not really. At least, not anymore. After we get their permission, we erase their
          memory.”

          Josh almost laughed at this, but a sudden thought caused it to die in his throat. “Do
          you have to do the same thing to me?”

          Aiden stared at Josh for a long moment. “I think I can trust you. I think I can forget to
          put in a call for a memory modification. But, you know, just don’t tell anyone.”

Have ye any evidence to offer in your defense Lady Heather and Lord David?

Lord David: Hello ev'ryone. 'Tis a fine day at the Realms Faire and I'm v'ry fain to be hither. With Heather. Hither with Heather.

Lady Heather: Can you just talk normal?

Lord David: Nay, fair sist'r. 'Tis how one is suppos'd to talketh hither, Heather. Thou art suppos'd to, as well.

Lady Heather: Great. Now I know how—

Lord David: I think thou meanest, "Huzzah! Anon I knoweth how."

Lady Heather: I had to goeth and leave thou in charge of our defense, didn't I?

Lord David: Aye, and 'tis a good thing that thou did. I parlez-vous Shakespeare very goodly. Sh'rrif Mary, I presenteth as our primary witness Offic'r Bernie of the Imagineth Nation's Twenty-First Precinct. He wouldst, theoretically speaking, be in chargeth of erasing and/or modifying memories, if marry such a heinous act occurred, which, of course, it didn't.

*A short man, standing about waist high, with bumpy green skin comes forward and stands between the accused. He speaks in a high pitched, squeaky Brooklyn accent.*

Officer Bernie: Hey, guys. When did you two become a Lord and Lady?

Lord David: 'Tis the longest of stories, mine cater-cousin. It involves a banana, two singing goats, and Tommy Lee Jones. I will telleth thou the whole thing lat'r.

Lady Heather: Bernie, we're on trial here. Could you testify or something? I mean, testifyeth or somethingeth?

Officer Bernie: Oh, right. Ahem. Ladies and gentlemen of the Stockade Brigade, take a look at this little beauty.

*From a pocket, Bernie withdraws a golden amulet with a bright red ruby in the center. It glows as he speaks.*

Officer Bernie: There ain't no thing like memory removal or modification or junk like that. The peoples in question just did lots of falling down and bumping their heads. You know, the whole amnesia thing. These two jokers had nothing to do with nothing.

*He puts the amulet away.*

Lady Heather: Did it work?

Lord David: Worketh.

Lady Heather: Did it worketh?

Officer Bernie: Don't know. This blog's all enchanted and stuff now, but it'll wear off as people read it. The more people read it, the farther up (censored) Creek you two are.

Lady Heather: Bernie, you're from a Middle Grade book. You can't use language like that.

Officer Bernie: Sorry.

Good people of Realmsdom, what say ye of this defense? Shall it be the stockade for the pair of them, or will you take mercy on them and forgive them for…what for be we here? State your claim in the comments.

To encounter more of this memory erasing tale, I invite you to read the entire account of their crimes in SHADOWS OF NEW YORK. A chilling looking cover if e’er I saw one.

Stockade Brigade~2014 Realms Faire~Day Three

Welcome to the Stockade Brigade. All week, selected authors shall be put in the stockades and brought on trial for word witchery/wizardry. Witnesses shall score points by testifying for or against the author’s crimes. Points will be scored by wordsmithing with their best Olde English afore 8 o’clock in the Eastern time. An e-book from the author on trial will be given away every day to the witness who scores the most points. A pair of e-books by the Sheriff and a gift card to Amazon will be awarded at the end of the week. Warrants for their arrests have already been issued. The Sheriff of Realmsdom will catch up with them all soon.

Hear ye, hear ye, good citizens of Realmsdom. Welcome to Realms Faire 2014 and the Stockade Brigade, Word Wizards on Trial event.

To learn more about the Realms Faire, please visit the Realms Faire headquarters HERE.

~ Joust ~ Drench-a-Wench/Soak-a-Bloke ~ Stockade Brigade ~ Dueling Bards ~ Riddle Me This ~ Phasers ~ Dragon Hunt ~ Wisdom of the Creative Realms ~

To cast your eyes on the amazing and stupendous Realms Faire Giveaways, go HERE. 

Huzzah to our sponsors of this most entertaining event - thou canst locate them near the end of the scroll HERE.

Ye Olde Realms Trial Rules. 

Prithee remember the rules lest ye find thyself sent to the stockade:

1. The throwing of sticks or stones or anything resembling fecal matter, while amusing and entertaining, shall not be allowed during these trials.

2. Spitting upon our worthy guests or other citizens, while understandable in some circumstances, is strictly forbidden.

3. Ye witnesses for the accused shalt use ye best Olde English whilst crafting your comments. Said wordsmithing shall earn you high points with the wenches and blokes and with me, the Sheriff of Realmsdom and bestower of gifts.

4. Each prisoner shall offer a bribe, forgive me, I mean a token of their thanks to one eloquent wordsmithing witness per day.

5. As Sheriff of Realmsdom, I shall be offering a $25 Amazon gift card and one of my e-books (winner’s choice) as reward for the most eloquent wordsmithing witness of the week.

6. HENCE, ye must comment to win!

Let the trials begin!

*Sheriff Mary unrolls the scroll* Here ye good people of Realmsdom. Before you stands Lady HK Carlton, of the shire of Canada, currently a guest of ye olde Realmsdom Stockade Brigade, courtesy of her highness, Lady Mary Pax, and overseen by me, Lady Mary, the honorable Sheriff of Realms.

It has been alleged that the Lady HK has attempted to impersonate this very court by allowing her characters to convene a hearing alike to those held in ye olde Realmsdom Stockade. See for yourself that it be true.

          “What have you to say, Lady Marschand? Have you naught to say in your own defence? Will

           you have your husband try to sway me with his influence?” King Edward said in French.

          Gard repeated the king’s words to her in English.

          Brae leaned toward Gard. “Am I ta speak in English or Gaelic?”

          “English,” he responded.

          “I be Lady MonteClaire,” she began by correcting his inaccuracy. Brae believed he could

          understand her, but Piers did the same for him as Hudson and Gard did for her, relaying her

          words.

          The king bristled at the amendment.

          “I am perhaps guilty of taking a man’s life. But it was in defence o’ mine own self. I was

          attacked wit’oot provocation. I had na choice but ta defend meself. And I believe my

          husband’s influence be more on this court than it be fer me."

          Gard turned as two royal guards escorted Callum MacCrae into the proceedings. He looked a

          little worse for wear, dirty, his hair messed but not half as bad as he would afterward when

          Gard got his hands on him. They had a score to settle from way back and this just pushed the

          limit.

          “What is this, Edward?” Piers inquired, obviously unaware.

          “Please tell the court who you are and what you know of the Lady Marschand’s activities in

           Ross-shire.”

          “Huh?”

          “Yes, MacCrae tell us who you are and what you know of the lady’s activities,” Hudson

           translated the French, adding in English, “And then prepare to meet your maker.”

          “I be Callum MacCrae. Braelynn Galbraith, the new Lady Marschand,” he sneered, “and I were

          once betrothed. During our betrothal it came ta my attention tha’ she be passin’ messages ta

          and from the rebels loyal to Scotland.”

          There was another collective gasp.

          “Be this true, Lady Marschand? I may be able to overlook the death of some deviate that

          prayed on women and committed such atrocities in my realm, and may or may not be loosely

          related to the Comyns, but I cannot in all that is good, overlook treason.”

          “’Tisna treason. Ye are no—”

          “Brae!” Gard warned her gravely, twisting her arm painfully this time.

          She pulled away from his grip and she pushed him in the chest as hard as she could, making

          him step back. “If I am ta die I will do it as I have lived, Gard, the true and proud Scot tha’ I

          be.”

          Gard wondered if that was an affront to the way he lived his own life, all but hiding his

          heritage while he sought his revenge, but he ignored it for now. “Ye willna die, I willna let it

          happen!” he growled. “Ye arna helpin’ me. But ye canna provoke him.”

          The king began to laugh. “I was sceptical at first, Marschand, when I heard that you had taken

          a wife. I wondered what kind of woman would be able to stand up to you. Then I was advised

          that you had stolen her and forced her to bed you, then wed you. I would see that you have

          found one that can hold her own.”

          “Aye, I am also truly blessed,” Gard, responded dryly.

          “You are much suited as it would seem. Murderers both.”

          Brae gasped. Gard refused to be distracted from the question at hand. “I would ask MacCrae if

          he has any evidence besides his own supposition as to my wife’s alleged treachery.”

          “I have na written proof, but I ken wha’ she was aboot. Ye can ask anaone back at Ross, e’en

          me own wife as ta Mistress Galbraith’s whereaboots ana given day. She was fore’er on the

          moors. Wha’ other dealings would she have ta be there? A gud and decent woman doesna

          wander the moors alone. Wha’ other business would she be aboot?”

Have ye any evidence to offer in your defense Lady HK?

Please forgive me, your highness, Lady Mary Pax, and Lady Mary, the honorable Sheriff of Realms, and thee good people of Realmsdom. I can only plead ignorance and throw myself on the mercy of this court. I am but a lowly baird, a wordsmith, a teller of stories. I am unfamiliar with the laws of Realmsdom. In my country we are free to report upon events of such import. The Earl of Fife, Donnghardh Marschand MonteClaire, entrusted me to record his testament as to the proceedings concerning his good wife Lady Braelynn Marschand MonteClaire. It is an honoured position to be sure and one that I would have gravely suffered for if I were to deny Lord MonteClaire's command. I must speak softly and carefully, my dear ladies and ye good fold, for Lord MonteClaire's reputation is notorious in its brutality. For in these parts, he is known as... the Devil.

The devil ye say? Methinks mayhap he should be the one to stand in the stocks. Thank the good Lord that is not my decision to make. What say ye, good people of Realmsdom? Has Lady HK earned her freedom, or mayhap you would like to see the Lord MonteClaire stand in her stead. And what fine standing that would be…*fans self*…be sure to make your wishes known in the comments.

Further wordsmithing and witchery can be found betwixt the pages of THE DEVIL TAKE YOU. If the handsome rake on the cover be the devil, he could take me. Err, I mean, I would be sure to take him into custody to keep order in this fine shire.

Stockade Brigade~2014 Realms Faire~Day Two

Welcome to the Stockade Brigade. All week, selected authors shall be put in the stockades and brought on trial for word witchery/wizardry. Witnesses shall score points by testifying for or against the author’s crimes. Points will be scored by wordsmithing with their best Olde English afore 8 o’clock in the Eastern time. An e-book from the author on trial will be given away every day to the witness who scores the most points. A pair of e-books by the Sheriff and a gift card to Amazon will be awarded at the end of the week. Warrants for their arrests have already been issued. The Sheriff of Realmsdom will catch up with them all soon.

Hear ye, hear ye, good citizens of Realmsdom. Welcome to Realms Faire 2014 and the Stockade Brigade, Word Wizards on Trial event.

To learn more about the Realms Faire, please visit the Realms Faire headquarters HERE.

~ Joust ~ Drench-a-Wench/Soak-a-Bloke ~ Stockade Brigade ~ Dueling Bards ~ Riddle Me This ~ Phasers ~ Dragon Hunt ~ Wisdom of the Creative Realms ~

To cast your eyes on the amazing and stupendous Realms Faire Giveaways, go HERE. 

Huzzah to our sponsors of this most entertaining event - thou canst locate them near the end of the scroll HERE.

Ye Olde Realms Trial Rules. 

Prithee remember the rules lest ye find thyself sent to the stockade:

1. The throwing of sticks or stones or anything resembling fecal matter, while amusing and entertaining, shall not be allowed during these trials.

2. Spitting upon our worthy guests or other citizens, while understandable in some circumstances, is strictly forbidden.

3. Ye witnesses for the accused shalt use ye best Olde English whilst crafting your comments. Said wordsmithing shall earn you high points with the wenches and blokes and with me, the Sheriff of Realmsdom and bestower of gifts.

4. Each prisoner shall offer a bribe, forgive me, I mean a token of their thanks to one eloquent wordsmithing witness per day.

5. As Sheriff of Realmsdom, I shall be offering a $25 Amazon gift card and one of my e-books (winner’s choice) as reward for the most eloquent wordsmithing witness of the week.

6. HENCE, ye must comment to win!

Let the trials begin!

*Sheriff Mary unrolls the scroll* Here ye good people of Realmsdom. Before you stands Lady Nicole Zoltack, of the shire of Pennsylvania, currently a guest of ye olde Realmsdom Stockade Brigade, courtesy of her highness, Lady Mary Pax, and overseen by me, Lady Mary, the honorable Sheriff of Realms.

It has been brought to my attention from a certain goliath...I mean a resident of Realmsdom... that the Lady Nicole Zoltack has allowed a barbarian to run amuck and attack unsuspecting villagers. As proof, I offer you these scribblings from her own hand:

          The battle turned from foolhardy to serious when her sword came within inches of

          slicing off his ear. His eyes narrowed, and his breathing changed. Had she triggered

          his Bloodlust? In the darkness of the forest, she still had not clearly glimpsed his face

          yet.

          His huge hand grabbed her wrist and crushed it. Still, she held on, refusing to be

          unarmed.

          His other hand dropped his sword and gripped her neck. He dragged her to him.

          And that's when she smelled him. Beneath the scent of the stolen tunic he wore, his

         stench rolled over her, filling her nostrils and revealing who he truly was.

          Not a barbarian after all.

          But a goliath.

Have ye any evidence to offer in your defense Lady Nicole?

Yes, barbarians tend to react first and think later, but can one argue against defending oneself? After all, Ivy was only defending her honor. The goliath posed as a barbarian and was watching her bathe. It would have been wrong on her part not to take up her sword against him.

What say ye, good people of Realmsdom? Shall the Lady Nicole be placed in the stockade for allowing her barbarian to run amok, or shall she be declared innocent of the charges before the Court? Cast your vote in the comments.

Should you need to further investigate said crime, I suggest reading her entire account of the matter entitled BLOODLUST. If the name alone does not sway your decision I do not know what will.

Stockade Brigade~2014 Realms Faire~Day One

Welcome to the Stockade Brigade. All week, selected authors shall be put in the stockades and brought on trial for word witchery/wizardry. Witnesses shall score points by testifying for or against the author’s crimes. Points will be scored by wordsmithing with their best Olde English afore 8 o’clock in the Eastern time. An e-book from the author on trial will be given away every day to the witness who scores the most points. A pair of e-books by the Sheriff and a gift card to Amazon will be awarded at the end of the week. Warrants for their arrests have already been issued. The Sheriff of Realmsdom will catch up with them all soon.

Hear ye, hear ye, good citizens of Realmsdom. Welcome to Realms Faire 2014 and the Stockade Brigade, Word Wizards on Trial event.

To learn more about the Realms Faire, please visit the Realms Faire headquarters HERE.

~ Joust ~ Drench-a-Wench/Soak-a-Bloke ~ Stockade Brigade ~ Dueling Bards ~ Riddle Me This ~ Phasers ~ Dragon Hunt ~ Wisdom of the Creative Realms ~

To cast your eyes on the amazing and stupendous Realms Faire Giveaways, go HERE. 

Huzzah to our sponsors of this most entertaining event - thou canst locate them near the end of the scroll HERE.

Ye Olde Realms Trial Rules. 

Prithee remember the rules lest ye find thyself sent to the stockade:

1. The throwing of sticks or stones or anything resembling fecal matter, while amusing and entertaining, shall not be allowed during these trials.

2. Spitting upon our worthy guests or other citizens, while understandable in some circumstances, is strictly forbidden.

3. Ye witnesses for the accused shalt use ye best Olde English whilst crafting your comments. Said wordsmithing shall earn you high points with the wenches and blokes and with me, the Sheriff of Realmsdom and bestower of gifts.

4. Each prisoner shall offer a bribe, forgive me, I mean a token of their thanks to one eloquent wordsmithing witness per day.

5. As Sheriff of Realmsdom, I shall be offering a $25 Amazon gift card and one of my e-books (winner’s choice) as reward for the most eloquent wordsmithing witness of the week.

6. HENCE, ye must comment to win!

Let the trials begin!

*Sheriff Mary unrolls the scroll* Here ye good people of Realmsdom. Before you stands Lady Kat Hawthorne of the shire of Ho-Hum, currently a guest of ye olde Realmsdom Stockade Brigade, courtesy of her highness, Lady Mary Pax, and overseen by me, Lady Mary, the honorable Sheriff of Realms.

One of the guards has brought forth charges, levied by none other than the Emperor himself, alleging that Lady Kat has consorted with witches, as seen in her own scribed words:

          During my reading, the witch spoke some utter nonsense about the way desires affect the

          future. Of course, what she said was moronic and more than likely the result of an evening

          spent with a full pipe and lack of common sense, but for someone as active-witted as I, what

          she said made a strange sense. Her claim was that, if we truly believe in a thing with complete

          conviction, without the slightest trace of doubt, unwaveringly, faithfully, it is possible to bring 

          that belief into fact.

          She had no idea, of course, what she was saying, half soused and cackling like a lunatic as is

          her usual custom, or so I understand. But still, disguised as it was in simpleminded gibberish, it

          sparked in me the desire to know more. I found I could not ignore the concept, for my mind is

          a fertile vessel forever lusting after knowledge. Simply put, I could not rest until I knew the

          truth behind the claim.

          And now, after some lengthy consideration, my philosophy is as follows: if a firm decision is

          made within a person’s mind, that decision must indeed be real in some way. We can see

          ourselves doing the decided upon thing, we can see the outcome. So how, I ask, would we be

          able to see a thing if it did not exist? Perhaps it is not as obvious as an item we can pick up

          and hold, but once a decision is made, the event does exist somewhere, even if it is within

          another realm. I intend to find the connection between absolute decisions and their affect on

          our reality.

Have ye any evidence to offer in your defense Lady Kat?

Indeed, I admit that I'd suspected there would be a trial, feebleminded time-wasters such as you are. If you care to look again at my originating statement (advice I strongly suggest you take) you will see that I said, plain as the wart on your nose, that the old toothless hag was nothing but a mindless hobo too sloppy with drink to be capable of any sort of magic (indeed, any sort of coherent thought for that matter). A witch? Absurd! That label would be a real step up for the likes of her.

The experiment I spoke of has its foundation firmly rooted in science, I assure you. I simply mean to alter a man's organic and cognitive make-up and give him powers far exceeding that of a typical mortal being―perfectly legal and nothing at all like what you've charged me with. I assure you that that crackpot of a woman who calls herself a witch had nothing to do with inventing my experiments, though I can see why she'd want to claim ownership, clever as they are. However, I don't expect someone of your subaverage calibre to understand my ideas and I'm certain that, after you've finished drooling on yourself in confusion, you will find some way to twist the truth and find me guilty. Such is the common fate of the misunderstood genius.

I say, my good people of Realmsdom, this sounds like a case where the stocks are the least of punishment deserved. However, ‘tis not up to me to determine Lady Kat’s fate this day. So what say ye? Shall she suffer a day in the stocks or shall you cut her free to tend to her experiments that she believes us too daft to comprehend? Make your wishes known in the comments.

If’n you wish to learn more of Lady Kat’s experiments and her dealings with said witch, you should peruse the pages of THE ODDITY.

Star of the Team by Beverly Stowe McClure

Today, fellow MuseIt Up author Beverly Stowe McClure and I are swapping blogs to share our thoughts on each other's work. See what Beverly has to say about Quest of the Hart here after you read my thought on her middle grade novel, Star of the Team.

Blurb:
A girl.

A dream.

An accident.

A dream shattered.

Eleven-year-old Kate Taylor dreams of being the star of her basketball team, Angels. When Kate’s tooth is knocked out at one of the games and her mother, who is also her coach, says she can’t play until the tooth the dentist replants heals, Kate’s dreams are in jeopardy. Add Emily, the new girl at school who claims she’s the best, and Kate faces a challenge to prove that she is the star.

Will Kate succeed? Or will Emily ruin Kate’s plans?

Buy Links:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this fast paced read. This is a great story about dealing with jealousy: of teammates, of siblings, and of friends. Kate's struggles are very realistic, and I found myself rooting for her to not only find a way to get to play again, but to overcome her jealousy and become friends with Emily.

A great read for a middle grade reader! My rating: 5 stars

About the Author:
Most of the time, you’ll find Beverly in front of her computer, writing the stories little voices whisper in her ear. When she’s not writing, she takes long walks and snaps pictures of clouds, wild flowers, birds and deer. To some of her friends, she is affectionately known as the “Bug Lady” because she rescues butterflies, moths, walking sticks, and praying mantis from her cats.

For twenty-two years Beverly taught children in grades two through five how to read and write. They taught her patience. Now, she teaches a women’s Sunday school class at her church. To relax she plays the piano. Her cats don’t appreciate good music and run and hide when she tickles the ivories.

http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com
http://beverlystowemcclure.wordpress.com

Indie Fall Fest, 2014 Realms Faire, and Updates!

In case you've missed it, Kristen (of Pretty Little Pages) and Kira (of Sing Me Anything) are hosting INDIE FALL FEST. Be sure to swing by their blogs for posts by some amazing authors (I'm at Kira's blog tomorrow). Don't miss a single post. Follow the event on Twitter:  #IndieFallFest

Next week starts the 2014 Realms Faire. As you can see from the images below, there are lots of games taking place during the week. Last year, I participated in the Joust and had a blast. This year I am hosting the Stockade Brigade and taking part in the Dueling Bards.  Please stop by here to cast your vote for keeping the author in the stocks (or releasing them) and then visit the other sites for more fun and chances to win some amazing prizes!

It's official! The Mystery Prince will be coming out as an audio book. Production is underway. I can't wait to share with you the entire experience.

In other news, Faery Marked is in line edits and on schedule to release December 16. Limited ARC's are available for review (e-book only), so if you are interested drop me an e-mail at mewaibel(at)gmail(dot)com and let me know!

And finally, starting tomorrow, I will be releasing The Love Talker's Daughter on WattPad-a chapter a week, until released in full. This is a WIP-proofed, but unedited. I'd love for you to become a follower and watch how this story unfolds with me. (I'll update with a link tomorrow!) This story will only be available on WattPad for a short time, so don't miss out!

UPDATE:  The Love Talker's Daughter  is live here!