Monday, December 28, 2015

Just a reminder...



With the new year right around the corner, I wanted to remind everyone of the changes to the #InkRipples posts. They have been moved to the FIRST Monday of the month and for 2016 we are blogging on these topics:


January - Travel
February - Chocolate
March - Feminism
April - Poetry
May - Memories
June - Movies
July - Inspiration
August - Guilty Pleasures
September - Banned Books
October - Masks
November - Heritage
December - Cookies


I'd really love to see you join in with your own post, comment, tweet, FB entry, etc. Just be sure to hashtag #InkRipples and link back to Katie, Kai, and I so we can share your ripple. 
(Katie-http://www.katielcarroll.com/blog/, Kai-http://kaistrand.blogspot.com/,  Mary-http://waibelworld.blogspot.com/)

So, grab an image from the #InkRipples tab up above and join in the fun. Let's see how many ripples we can make in the new year!!!


Thursday, December 17, 2015

THIS IS SARAH by Ally Malinenko

This Is Sarah banner (6)


It's hard to believe that just a little over a year ago Ally Malinenko's This is Sarah released. I fell in love with this book the first time I read it...when it was just a short story. It was amazing watching Ally take that short story and turn it into a novel so full of feels. I totally recommend keeping a tissue handy while reading this one. It's an emotional roller coaster ride while the two MC's deal with the stages of grief after the disappearance of Sarah. Here's a little teaser from Claire's POV.


They found her red Chuck Taylor sneakers five miles from where her car was, deep in the woods.

One was unlaced, as if she had undone it and slipped her foot out of it right there under that canopy of trees.

The other was still tied.

Snow filled them like little red candies covered in sugar.

In the police station, in that evidence bag, they seemed so small, as the snow slowly melted off them, staining the fabric and dripping into the bottom of the bag. I couldn’t imagine them fitting Sarah’s feet. I couldn’t imagine them fitting my own.

Sarah’s empty shoes.

I thought about how they’d never be worn again. How she would never slide her foot inside, how her fingers would never tug those laces and loop them closed.

Her room back home was filled with things that would go unused. They’d just sit there, waiting for Sarah to come home, collecting dust.

All the things Sarah left behind.

When I saw the shoes sitting in the police station, a noise escaped me. Not quite a sob, but a cry—a shock of disbelief—and my hope retreated as I realized I was now one of those things. Like her clothes, her jewelry, her records, or her shoes.

I was just another thing Sarah left behind.



Makes you want to run out and grab your own copy to see what happens, right? Well, now's the perfect time to do so, as This is Sarah is on sale at Amazon for $0.99!!! Get your copy today!!!



  
When Colin Leventhal leaned out his bedroom window on the night of May 12th and said goodbye to his girlfriend, he never expected it would be forever. But when Sarah Evans goes missing that night, Colin's world unravels as he transforms from the boyfriend next door to the police's main suspect. 

One year later, at her memorial service, Colin makes a phone call that could change everything. Is it possible that Sarah is still alive? And if so, how far will he go to bring her back?

As Colin struggles with this possibility, across the street, Sarah’s little sister, Claire learns how to navigate the strange new landscape of life without her sister. While her parents fall apart, Claire remains determined to keep going, even if it kills her. 

THIS IS SARAH serves as a meditation on loss, love, and what it means to say goodbye.


http://allymalinenko.com/

Ally Malinenko is the author of the poetry collection, The Wanting Bone (Six Gallery Press) and the children's fantasy, Lizzy Speare and the Cursed Tomb (Antenna Books).

She lives in Brooklyn with her husband.

Visit Ally on her web site


Monday, December 14, 2015

#InkRipples-Celebrations/Gifts


Can you believe it's almost the end of the year already? I'm continually amazed at how fast time passes each year.

I've really enjoyed these Ripples in the Inkwell posts and seeing how the topics we blog about ripple out through the blogosphere. That being said, I'm sad to say this is the last Ripples in the Inkwell post for the year. But don't despair, Katie Carroll, Kai Strand, and I have decided to continue the meme into 2016, with a few minor changes. We've streamlined the name to #InkRipples, and have new images to use. We've also moved our posts to the first Monday of the month. And, we've come up with a new set of topics for discussion in 2016. Check out these amazing topics!


January - Travel
February - Chocolate
March - Feminism
April - Poetry
May - Memories
June - Movies
July - Inspiration
August - Guilty Pleasures
September - Banned Books
October - Masks
November - Heritage
December - Cookies


The only thing that could make #InkRipples better is if you joined us in 2016. How do you join? I'm so glad you asked.

On the first Monday of the month, join us in blogging about the monthly topic. Did you say the first Monday doesn't work for you? That's fine, pick another day and post to spread your own ripple. Or share on your favorite social media using the hashtag #InkRipples. Or just comment on one of our posts. However you join, be sure to hashtag and link back to us so we can share your ripple.

There is no wrong way to participate in #InkRipples. It's all about taking a topic, and image, an idea and having a conversation, sharing ideas, and connecting through blog posts, tweets, shares, etcetera. So if this sounds at all interesting, please join us in whatever way you can. And feel free to use any of the meme's images included at the end of this post (or on the #InkRipples link of this blog).


And now, to the December theme of celebrations/gifts.

I'm going to take a spin on celebrations and share some of my family's traditions. 

In our house, we are very adamant about not having any holiday jumping. So, over the years, we've developed a tradition of putting up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. It will stay up, and lit when we're home, until after the new year.

We also have a tradition of opening our stocking gifts on Christmas Eve. These usually consist of favorite candies and small treats, but it's something we look forward to each year.

Another almost-annual tradition we have is going to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas tour. If you have never seen this group, I highly recommend them. Head on over to this channel on YouTube and check out some of their show. I'm sure it will help put you in the holiday spirit.

What are your holiday traditions and celebrations? Share in the comments below and don't miss Katie and Kai's posts!  Hope to see you making ripples with us now and in the next year!!







Monday, November 23, 2015

Just in Time for Thanksgiving ...


Today I'm super excited to be hosting Dave Fraser. He's half of the super talented writing duo Heather Fraser Brainerd & David Fraser. I'll leave it to you to figure out which half :-)

So Dave, I hear you have a new book coming out...or is it already out? Anyway, please tell us 
about Dragon Kitty.

Appropriately enough for this time of year, it's a story about the first Thanksgiving. I typically
write science fiction and fantasy, but I thought I'd try my hand at historical fiction.

Oh, I love a good historical fiction, but I'm not sure how a dragon cat fits in with the traditional tale. Guess I'll have to add this one to my TBR pile to find out! Where did you come up with the idea for the story?

Not long ago, I was at an antique bookstore in Boston. Hidden away among the old, dusty books
in the back was a stack of papers. I looked through them and was startled to find that they were
original journal entries from a Mayflower passenger. I'm no expert, but I believe them to be
authentic. I mean, they were printed on a dot matrix printer, and nobody's used those for three or
four hundred years, so it's at least from the right time period. The tale was so far from what we've
always been told, I knew I had to write about it.

Um, I'm pretty sure they didn't have printers...dot matrix or otherwise...on the Mayflower. They didn't even have electricity then. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding you and you meant Mayflower trucking? They might have printers on board. 

Anyway, back to the interview. Is your writing influenced by any books you've read or movies you've watched?

If I had to pick my main influence, I'd go with anything by Kate DiCamillo. This is partly
because of her ability to see the world around her and translate that into words that connect with
me on a deep level. But it's mostly because we have the same birthday.

I am ashamed to admit that I had to search out who Kate DiCamillo was, however, I have heard of The Tale of Despereaux. Interesting that you share a birthday. And it seems a love of having animals in your books, given your current title.

Speaking of your book, if Dragon Kitty were being made into a movie, who would you choose for your dream cast?

I think that this book would work best as a movie starring computer-animated animals as the
pilgrims. That's the one non-negotiable point of any movie rights negotiation. Alan Rickman
would be perfect for the part of Jeremiah, and all his kids would also be played by Alan
Rickman. Please imagine the excerpt below with cartoon animals and Alan Rickman doing all
the voices.

Yes, Alan Rickman would be an excellent choice. I can totally see...er hear?...that. Is Dragon Kitty a stand alone novel or part of a series? If it's a series, when can we expect the next
book?


I'd like this to be the first in a series of holiday origin novels. First, though, I'd have to travel to
where these holidays started and see if I can dig up previously unfound documents. Does anyone
happen to know if travelling for this sort of research is tax deductible? If so, does anyone know
of any holidays that started in Hawaii?

Interesting series idea, Dave. And I'm sure there are holidays unique to Hawaii, but I'm not sure how much of a tax write-off you'd get for the research. Let me know what you find out.

Now, is there anything else you'd like us to know about your book? 

Just that it's awesome beyond description and everyone should read it.

Great! Do you have a book trailer I can link to?

No.

How about an excerpt?



Excerpt:
Jeremiah Kardashian stood at the head of the long table. The entire village of New
Derbyduncanshire was seated and awaiting his word to begin eating this feast, which they had
decided to call The First Thanksgiving. Before that could happen, however, it was appropriate to
take a moment and reflect upon the last year.

"Yea and verily, let us now take several minutes to speak, although nobody really wants
to, and let the food get cold," he began. His children, Kelli, Kelsi, Kirsti, Kimmi, and Josiah, all
rolled their eyes. It was just like their dad, trying to hog the spotlight. Although spotlights hadn't
been invented yet, so I guess he was trying to hog the torchlight, or maybe the lamplight.
Anyway, you know what I mean. "It was not altogether long ago that we cast off the yoke of
oppression and made our way henceforth to begin anew."

"Ugh, come on," groaned Kelsi. "We've heard this story a bazillion times."

"Yeah," added Kirsti. "Can we just eat? I mean, we already sat through that lame parade
that lasted all morning."

Jeremiah was aghast. "What meanest thou, lame parade? When I was thine age (this
often-used phrase earned another group eye roll) we didst enjoy the parade, with all the balloons
of Oliver Cromwell and Henry VIII and William Shakespeare and other English people that may
or may not have lived yet. And forget not the end, when the very person of Saint Nicholas throws
sweets to any and all children."

"Ugh, carbs," groaned Kelli.
Fortuna herself had smiled upon their clan, yet Jeremiah's offspring failed to see this.

That was why he had insisted on this day, so that they might learn to appreciate the bountiful
bounty that they had been given.

"Children," he began, "are you not thankful for your work?"

"What work?" asked Kelli.

"Exactly! All the others in the colony must be productive members of society. You
merely have a scribe follow you around and document your daily endeavors. You are
handsomely rewarded for absolutely nothing."

"What do you mean, nothing?" asked Kimmi. "Don't forget about our celebrity fragrance.
Or our line of designer fashion. That buckle on the hat was totally my idea."

Throwing his hands in the air, Jeremiah cried, "Indeed! Let us not forget the buckle on
the hat. What is that all about? It makes not one lick of sense."

Kimmi ran from the table, covering her eyes as she burst into tears. "You'll never
understand me." She glanced back through her fingers to make sure the scribes were catching all
the family drama. This stuff was ratings gold.


Well, Dave, that was certainly an...interesting...excerpt. And the cover is...quite unique. You'll have to let me know how the sales go. Good luck Dave!

***

I hope you all enjoyed this interview with Dave. If you haven't read his work before, you should really check it out. The real stuff, not the fictitious novel above :-) You can find his real works (those pictured and more!) here:






Monday, November 16, 2015

#InkRipples- Remembrance/Thankfulness



I'm a week late with my #InkRipples post due to the #RealmsFaire. Before I get to my post for this month, I have a few things to wrap up from the Stockade Brigade.

Congratulations to Lady Christine, winner of T.C. McKee's book AND the grand prize winner for the week. Huzzah!!

Lady Christine, if you would e-mail me your format preference at mewaibel(at)gmail(dot)com we'll get those prizes out to you!

Lady Michelle...I still need to hear your format preference. Please e-mail me as your e-mail did not come through to me from you comment. Alas, if I don not hear from you by 8PM EST Wednesday, I will have to choose another winner.

Congratulations to all the Faire winners (here and at the other games) and thanks for making this such a fun week!

And now, onto the #InkRipples post...

This month's theme is remembrance/thankfulness.

With Veteran's Day last week, it is a fitting time to remember and thank all the men and women who have serve and continue to serve our country and fight for our freedoms. Without these brave souls, our lives could be so very different. Thank you for the sacrifices you've made so I can enjoy the freedom to write a blog, to publish a book, to speak my mind, to pursue work that I enjoy.

As I get older, the more I appreciate the simple things. I'm thankful both my parents are still alive and in relatively good health. My dad gave us a bit of a scare two weeks ago, but he is doing better now, and I'm so very thankful for that.

I'm thankful for my husband and son. Of course we aggravate each other (some days more than others) but I couldn't imagine my life without them.

I'm thankful for my brothers, even though we don't see each other often. I know you're all just a phone call/text/message away.

I'm thankful for my mother-in-law. This has been a hard year for her, with the loss of my father-in-law, but she's doing well and taking each day as it comes.

I'm thankful for my brother-in-law and his family, and for the opportunities we have to get together at games and family events.

I'm thankful for my friends. Thankful I have a job. Thankful I can find time to write, or watch television, or read when I want to. I'm thankful for running water. For heat in the cold months and air conditioning in the hot ones.

I'm thankful I'm blessed to live in a place where all these things are available to me.

What about you? What are you thankful for?

***

Ripples in the Inkwell is a themed meme hosted by Mary Waibel, Katie L. Carroll, and Kai Strand. We post on the second Monday of every month. If you would like to participate compose your own post regarding the theme of the month, include any of the images displayed on this page, and link back to our three blogs. Feel free to post whenever you want during the month, but be sure to include #inkripples when you promote so readers can find you. The idea is that we toss a word or idea into the inkwell and each post is a new ripple. There is no wrong interpretation. 

November: Remembrance /Thankfulness
December: Celebration /Gifts

Stay tuned for some changes coming in the new year!!




Friday, November 13, 2015

2015 Realms Faire Stockade Brigade Day 5



Huzzah and well met! I ask thee to join me in a round of huzzah's for our newest winner!

My lords and ladies, the competition has been fierce, however, as Sheriff of Realmsdom I declare Lady Cherie the winner of Lady Kai's book.

Hip, hip. Huzzah! Hip, hip. Huzzah! Hip, hip. Huzzah!

Lady Cherie, to retrieve your prizes, please send me a missive at mewaibel(@)gmail(dot)com with your format preference.

Tis the final day of our Faire, and the final chance for our wordsmithers to win their prize. Craft a comment with your best Olde English afore 8 of the clock in the Eastern time on the following scale:

5-Ye speak as one from the days of Queen Bess.
4-Ye could pass muster as a Ren Faire cast member
3-Ye could pass as a Ren Faire attendee
2-Ye wouldn't be foolin' yer mother
1-Ye stand out like the sun in a cloudless sky

An e-book will be given every day to the witness who scores the most points. Fear not, your daily score will be accumulated and the person with the highest score shall receive a special prize at the end of the week. So, brush off your Olde English and prepare to testify.

The wordsmither of the best Olde English shall receive an e-book of The Bone Treaty, by T. C. McKee.

Today's winner, and the grand prize winner will be announced on Monday's blog, so be sure to stop back and give a resounding Hip, hip. Huzzah!



*Sheriff Mary unrolls the scroll*  Here ye good people of Realmsdom. Before you stands Lady T.C. McKee of the shire of Virginia, presently and honored “guest” of ye olde Realmsdom Stockade Brigade, courtesy of her Majesty, Lady Mary Pax, and overseen by me, Lady Mary, the honorable Sheriff of Realms.


Lord Conal Reed charges Lady T.C. with the crime of slander. He alleges that Lady T.C., through her own words, has painted him as a stalker, and provides the following to support his claim.


A power as old as King Solomon awakens when a seventeen-year-old girl marks the brooding hot abductor ordered to seize her.


Addie Heaton’s not your average high school student. Orphaned at two, she’s spent most of her life reading the emotions of others. It’s a little trick she likes to call color-vision. But lately, a stranger has been trailing her, putting off shades of black and red—colors Addie hasn’t seen since the night her parents were killed—colors Addie never wanted to see again.


But when Addie comes face to face with Conal Reed, owner of the terrifying shades, she learns her stranger’s a little different too. He’s brooding hot, mysterious, and all too elusive. Conal loves to materialize, and then vanish at all the wrong times. Nice. Not. After years of keeping her ability a secret, Addie’s found another person with gifts, someone who may know what she really is.


But Conal’s not talking. He’s having more fun showing up uninvited, teasing her senses, and disappearing at all the wrong times. Instead of finding answers, Addie finds herself reconsidering ever being alone and naked again.

What say you to this charge, Lady T.C.?

**Silence** 'Twould seem the cat has caught Lady T.C.'s tongue. Mayhap a few more words from Lord Conal will help to convince ye lords and ladies of Lady T.C.'s guilt.

No one else can see him. To the average human, Battery Park seems abandoned, but I know he’s there, lurking just beyond the tree line, cloaked in a swirling September haze, and oozing a dark cloud of malevolence.

I should have spotted his energy sooner, but all morning the street has been abuzz with distractions―traffic backing up near Atlantic Avenue, a mother jaywalking while holding the tiny fisted hand of a disgruntled toddler, an ominous sky opening up and pebbling my windshield with a sheet of transparent polka dots.
What say you, good ladies and lords of Realmsdom? Is this not a case of slander against Lord Conal?



To learn more about T.C. McKee and her books, 
visit her Amazon author page at:








Be sure to visit the other games for 

lots of fun and prize giveaways!!!


~Riddle Me This ~ Dueling Bards ~ Phasers ~ Unicorn Hunt ~ 

~Who Roams Here? ~ Beware the Vortex ~ VelociRaffle ~

~  The Hero’s Dilemma ~ Hall of Doors ~ The Joust ~ 

~Drench-a-Wench/Soak-a-Bloke~


Thursday, November 12, 2015

2015 Realms Faire Stockade Brigade Day 4



Huzzah and well met! I ask thee to join me in a round of huzzah's for our newest winner!

The Lord Nick, with his most fine wordsmithing is hereby declared the winner of Lady S's book.

Hip, hip. Huzzah! Hip, hip. Huzzah! Hip, hip. Huzzah!

Lord Nick, to retrieve your prizes, please send me a missive at mewaibel(@)gmail(dot)com with your format preference.

For the rest of you, do not fret or envy your fellow wordsmithers. More prizes are yet to be had. As a reminder, points will be awarded for wordsmithing a comment in your best Olde English afore 8 of the clock in the Eastern time on the following scale:

5-Ye speak as one from the days of Queen Bess.
4-Ye could pass muster as a Ren Faire cast member
3-Ye could pass as a Ren Faire attendee
2-Ye wouldn't be foolin' yer mother
1-Ye stand out like the sun in a cloudless sky

An e-book will be given every day to the witness who scores the most points. Fear not, your daily score will be accumulated and the person with the highest score shall receive a special prize at the end of the week. So, brush off your Olde English and prepare to testify.

The wordsmither of the best Queen's English shall receive an e-book of King of Bad by Kai Strand.

*Sheriff Mary unrolls the scroll* Here ye good people of Realmsdom. Before you stands Lady Kai Strand of the Central Oregon region. *eyes Lady Kai suspiciously* Forsooth, but I do believe Lady Kai and our very own Lady Mary Pax have been seen in yonder tavern sharing a flagon of grog and swapping gossips about the yarns created in Realmsdom. But I digress. Lady Kai is here at the Stockade Brigade not as Lady Mary’s guest, but as her lawful prisoner. 


The Lady Pyro has levied charges against Lady Kai of imbuing an innocent boy with opposing elements. Do not take my word for it, my good people of the realm, but prithee read the words from her own hand.



“I guess I’m not comfortable being something. I’ve never aspired to do much of anything and it seems like a lot of pressure to suddenly learn I’m supposedly a super villain and that I have to learn how to do it right.”
“You don’t have to do anything, kid. You are what you are. We are just here for you if you want to learn how to do more.” Pyro leaned back in her chair and crossed her leg. “Let me start closer to the beginning. Once upon a time…”
Jeff curled his lip and grunted. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Yes, I am. This is no fairytale.”
“How many of us are there? Is this the only school or are they everywhere? What happens if I decide not to get training?”
“Whoa, boy! Rein in the questions. I’ll get to them.” Pyro’s foot bobbed as she studied Jeff. “I don’t usually recruit. I work in administration, a fundraiser. They asked me to take you on because they suspected you had fire. So let’s start there.”
Pyro explained Mr. Sims initial encounter with Jeff and how he’d reported to Tubs. “That’s when Tubs got me involved. See, Sims felt your S.V. energy when you blew to fan the flames. Since you were playing with fire, Tubs suspected you had it and he knows that fire is a dangerous new ability and best taught by someone with experience. You know, when I first saw you, kid, I thought they were making way more of it than was needed. You were hanging out with your friends. Giving your sister a hard time. Taking out the trash like a good son, but there was nothing about you that struck me as special. Or even super for that matter. But then you did something that changed my mind completely.”
Jeff sat up straight in his chair then slouched back down again. He felt very conflicted hearing that Pyro had been shadowing him for so long and he hadn’t even known it. “What? What did I do?”
“You blew out a match.”
Jeff frowned. “How could blowing fire out prove I have fire in me?”
“It didn’t. You have fire in your hands, just like I do.” Pyro raised her right hand, palm up. Her fingertips were already swollen and throbbing. A spark emitted from each finger and flowed together in the center of her palm. A marble sized ball of fire ebbed and crackled in the middle of her hand. She studied it. “When you learn control, you’ll be able to start fires whenever you want. But what is unique about you, is you will also be able to douse them.”
Pyro held the fireball in front of Jeff. “Blow.”
Jeff shrugged and blew on the fire as if extinguishing birthday candles. A thin frost doused the flame and coated Pyro’s hand. Jeff blinked, thinking he was seeing things. He scraped a finger through the frost on her palm and touched it to his tongue. Cold and wet.

Pyro wiped her hand on her pants leg. “Fire and ice. I can’t even begin to imagine how you do that. But, Jeff, I can tell you no one has ever had opposing elements. Ever.”

Have you any defense for these charges, Lady Kai?

First I defend that though I be the author of the young Jeff’s tale, I am not his creator. I was tasked with sharing his exciting story with fine readers everywhere. Jeff, perched on the step before manhood, discovers he is blessed by the ability to create fire with his hands and form ice of his breath, but he is not wicked. Nor is he possessed of demons as it may appear. His abilities, like those of super heroes and super villains everywhere, were born to him. They are naturally occurring. A gift of the maker, which I repeat twas not I! I am but a lowly scribe. And the young master just needs a stern—perhaps fireproof—guide to set him on the right path.


To learn more about Kai Strand and her books, 

visit her author page at: http://www.kaistrand.com/


Be sure to visit the other games for 
lots of fun and prize giveaways!!!


~Riddle Me This ~ Dueling Bards ~ Phasers ~ Unicorn Hunt ~ 

~Who Roams Here? ~ Beware the Vortex ~ VelociRaffle ~

~  The Hero’s Dilemma ~ Hall of Doors ~ The Joust ~ 

~Drench-a-Wench/Soak-a-Bloke~


Wednesday, November 11, 2015

2015 Realms Faire Stockade Brigade Day 3


Huzzah and well met! I ask thee to join me in a round of huzzah's for our first two winners!

The Lady Michelle, with her fine wordsmithing Monday is hereby declared the winner of Lady Meradeth's book.

And furthermore, I declare the Lady Yolanda to have performed the most excellent smithing of words yesterday and is the winner of Lord Stuart's book.

Hip, hip. Huzzah! Hip, hip. Huzzah! Hip, hip. Huzzah!

Ladies, to retrieve your prizes, please send me a missive at mewaibel(@)gmail(dot)com with your format preference.

For the rest of you, do not fret or envy your fellow wordsmithers. There are plenty more prizes to be had. As a reminder, points will be awarded for wordsmithing a comment in your best Olde English afore 8 of the clock in the Eastern time on the following scale:

5-Ye speak as one from the days of Queen Bess.
4-Ye could pass muster as a Ren Faire cast member
3-Ye could pass as a Ren Faire attendee
2-Ye wouldn't be foolin' yer mother
1-Ye stand out like the sun in a cloudless sky

An e-book will be given every day to the witness who scores the most points. Fear not, your daily score will be accumulated and the person with the highest score shall receive a special prize at the end of the week. So, brush off your Olde English and prepare to testify.

Ye best wordsmither of the day shall receive three e-books from the RAZIA series by author S. Usher Evans.




*Sheriff Mary unrolls the scroll*  Here ye good people of Realmsdom. Before you stands Lady S. Usher Evans of the shire Pensacola, presently a ‘guest’ of note in ye olde Realmsdom Stockade Brigade, courtesy of her highness, Lady Mary Pax, and overseen by me, Lady Mary, the honorable Sheriff of Realms.

Lord Heelin has levied charges of false impersonation against Lady S, alleging the good lady has allowed one of her character to cavort about under an assumed identity, as seen scribed in her own words in this accounting:

Razia's eyes snapped open and she grasped at the wall to steady herself. She had fallen asleep for a split second, but was now wide awake. Poker, she reasoned, must be Loeb's chosen vice because he'd been here playing this game for over an hour. She wondered how many times he’d have to go to Temple to ask the Great Creator for forgiveness for this break in his pure piety.

She snorted at her own joke then burped a little beer.

Yawning, she rubbed her face roughly, hoping the increased blood flow would wake her up. She wished she hadn't had that second beer (or however many she had) at Eamon's, she wished she had some coffee, and she wished Loeb would just get a move on already. She had other pirates to capture, and he was being awfully selfish of her time.

She jutted her lip out and stared at the window, and her eyes began drooping again.
Another split second nap and she was wide awake again.

Her mini-computer began buzzing at her hip and she jumped ten feet. Scowling, she answered it without thinking.

"What." She blinked at the face looking back at her and for a brief moment saw Vel. But another shake of the head and she realized it was Heelin scowling back at her. “Oh, it's you."

"Yes, it's me." Heelin looked nothing short of livid. “The brother with whom you are supposed to be working with."

She grimaced. “Oh God in Leveman's, I don't have time for this."

“Well you'd better make time, because this stupid planet was approved for membership, so Dorst wants me to accompany you on your next excavation."

Excavation, what was that again? She rubbed her eyes, trying to make sense of the word. Slowly, her brain readjusted from a month of bounty hunting back to her life as Lyssa Peate.

Wait…Heelin wanted to go on an excavation with her?

“I don't think so," Razia laughed, her eyes drifting over to the bar again and spotting Loeb.

“I think that you have to since Dorst ordered you to."

“I think that Dorst can get sucked," Razia chuckled.

"What is with you lately? You look different.”

"I…what?" she said, looking down at the mini-computer.

"And where are you anyway? Are you in some kind of dark alley? Where are your glasses?”

Razia realized with a jolt of fear that she was, in fact, Razia and not Lyssa. Her hair down, no lab coat, no glasses.

“Uh…gotta go!"

She ended the call quickly and breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't expect Heelin to recognize Razia from just a simple phone call. Unlike Lizbeth, who was sharp as a tack and made the connection almost immediately, the Peates seemed more eager to ignore that Lyssa ever existed.

Like Jukin.

She swallowed the lump in her throat, hating herself and her drunkenness for bringing up that memory. He looked at her right in the face and didn’t recognize her—once in his office as Lyssa, then again in the Presidential Palace prison as Razia.

But then again, she remembered with an even more hollow thud, her own mother didn’t recognize her either.

She belched loudly in the alleyway as if to protest her stupid mother and her stupid decorum, but now the air in front of her face smelled like beer. In some part of her mind, she perhaps wondered if it was a good idea to be out here in her current state, but then again, she was simply stalking him. He wasn’t going to surprise her and walk out…

Her eyes nearly fell out of her head as Jarvis Loeb exited the bar all by himself.

She braced herself against the wall, waiting to see if his body men were going to join them. He got almost a block before she realized that he was alone. Whether this be some great twist of fate, or maybe some gift from the Great Creator, she didn't know. But this was an opportunity.

She nearly tripped over her own two feet as she barreled after him, the beer sloshing in her stomach uncomfortably.

"OI!" she called out, standing in the middle of the deserted street.

Loeb turned to watch her with an amused look on his face. "Hello there, dear. Are you here to capture me finally?”

"Sure am!" she announced, perhaps louder than she should have.

She walked up to Loeb, who seemed awfully sober to her, and she reared back her fist to strike him. But she was moving so slow—slower than ever—and Loeb easily ducked it. She lurched forward, her center of gravity completely off, watching the pavement fly up towards her face. Loeb's hand clamped down on her wrist and she felt cold steel encircle it.

Have ye any evidence to offer in your defense, Lady S?

For my evidence, I provide this excerpt from the first book, Double Life, at such time when my good character Lyssa was first discovered to be falsely identifying herself:

“Don’t move a muscle,” the one on the right said, holding his gun steady.

"So, about that," Razia laughed nervously. "You know, I am just so low in the bounty rankings…"

"Says here that you’re an associate of Tauron Ball," the lieutenant said. “That’s interesting because I thought we killed all his associates.”

Razia’s eyes flashed, but she wasn’t distracted from trying to figure out how in Leveman’s Vortex she was going to get out of this one.

The hall was a long and narrow, and they’d have to really be bad marksmen to miss her. Judging on how little they actually did, she was sure they spent a lot of time at the firing range.

"Now, put your hands on your head and drop your weapons!" the second officer said, with much less conviction than the lieutenant.

"Seriously," Razia said, backing up slightly. “I can get you someone better—Sage Teon!"

"No." The lieutenant smiled. "I think you’ll do just fine. It’s been a while since we’ve hanged a pirate.”

Her eyes widened slightly. "Really?! I’m like…six hundred.”

“Captain Peate says that if we’re to come across any pirate, no matter how small, we’re to bring him in and he’s to die for his crimes,” the young officer on the left said, his eyes narrowing at her.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. That sounded like something Jukin would say.

"Well, then, why don’t you go find yourself a ‘him’ to bring in, and leave me be..." She smiled. “I mean, nobody actually even likes—"

“Put your hands on your head," the lieutenant said, his eyes narrowing.

Just then, the door opened and a lethargic-looking Vel came stumbling out of a room. His boils had shrunken to red marks all over, but his eyes were hooded with the after-effects of the medicine.

"Who is this?" One of the U-POL officers turned their gun towards Vel.

"That's nobody," Razia stammered. “I mean, I don't even know who he is."

"I'm Vel!" he slurred. “Vel Peate!"

"Peate?" They said, looking at each other. “Are you Jukin's brother?"

"Oh Jukin!" Vel said, eyes spinning. “Yes, Jukin Peate is my...why are you pointing a gun at my s—"

Razia, with nothing else to do, grabbed Vel before he goaded the stupid U-POL officer into shooting him—or worse.

"UNHAND HIM!" They barked, turning their guns back to her.

"Say what now?" she blinked, looking at them.

“I SAID, UNHAND HIM!"

She looked down at Vel, who was starting to sober up, and the U-POL Officers, who obviously had no idea what was really going on.

To them, a dangerous pirate had just taken ahold of the brother of Jukin Peate.

She smiled at her good fortune.

"Don't move another muscle, or the kid gets it," she growled, suddenly wrapping her arm around his neck.
Taking a poor innocent hostage and using a false name. Forsooth, I believe Lady S has condemned herself with her defense rather than proved her innocence. What say ye, my good lords and ladies of the realm?


To learn more about S.Usher Evans and her books, 
visit her author page at:


Be sure to visit the other games for lots of fun and prize giveaways!!!

~Riddle Me This ~ Dueling Bards ~ Phasers ~ Unicorn Hunt ~ 

~Who Roams Here? ~ Beware the Vortex ~ VelociRaffle ~

~  The Hero’s Dilemma ~ Hall of Doors ~ The Joust ~ 

~Drench-a-Wench/Soak-a-Bloke~