May 16
Solar Lullaby trailer
Short story by T.W. Fendley-– Featured in Dreamspell Sci Fi Vol 1 ebook anthology
Dr. Flare Haich offers the only hope for diverting a solar flare that will dwarf the 2012 Mayan Event, which killed her parents and a half-billion others. She must overcome the betrayal of one she trusted and launch Empress III to keep the Sun’s fiery message from scorching the Earth as One Imix—the time of new beginnings—arrives.
Suggested retail $2.99
Download free ereader apps:
Permanent link to this article: https://twfendley.com/thinking-about-solar-flares-me-too/
May 16
Reprinted from http://spaceweather.com:
Solar activity is high. During a 24-hour period straddling May 13th and 14th, the sun unleashed three X-class solar flares. These are the strongest flares of the year so far, and they signal a significant increase in solar activity. The source of the flares, a large sunspot on the sun’s eastern limb, appears poised to erupt again as it turns toward Earth.
Check http://spaceweather.com for updates and more information.
Permanent link to this article: https://twfendley.com/strong-solar-activity-continues/
May 02
Welcome to Lisa Gail Green, this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest. She writes paranormal and fantasy. Look for the first novel in her DJINN series, THE BINDING STONE, available this Spring! She would most definitely have a werewolf for a pet if she weren’t allergic. To find out more about Lisa, check out her website, Paranormal Point of View.
Don’t miss the rest of Lisa’s BRoP interview:
Part 1 @ Sandra Ulbrich Almazan – Monday, April 29
Part 2 @ Dean C. Rich – Tuesday, April 30
Part 3 @ Terri Bruce – Wednesday, May 1
Part 5 @ Emily LaBonte – Friday, May 3
PART 4: ABOUT YOUR CURRENT WORK
Tell us about your new book and when it is out? Where can people purchase it? I’m so excited! SQUEEEEEEE! Sorry if I hurt your ears. My first novel, THE BINDING STONE is the first in a trilogy and it’s out this spring. You can find it on Amazon and select Indie bookstores.
Is there anything new, unusual, or interesting about your book? How is it different from other books on the same subject? I certainly hope so! LOL. Aside from being from the point of view of a genie (Djinni), it’s got two stories that blend throughout the book. Leela’s past and present. There are tons of action, magic, romance, and twists.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in this book? No. I don’t think so, but that’s why I had a wonderful and extremely stringent editor! I’m sure I could find something if I went through again, but at some point you have to let go.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? Yes. That no matter what’s done to you, you can find the strength inside to persevere.
Tell us about your book’s cover – where did the design come from and what was the design process like? Oooh, I LOVE MY COVER! It was designed by the incredible Lisa Amowitz. One of the awesome things about working with a small press is the amount of say I have. I wanted Lisa to do the design and it was amazing to go through the process with her. She totally captured the essence of my book and Leela. Plus it’s gorgeous. He he.
Is your book in print, ebook or both? Both
Contact Information:
THE BINDING STONE: Tricked into slavery by the man she loved, the Djinni Leela has an eternity to regret her choices. Awakened in the prison of her adolescent body, she finds a new master in possession of the opal that binds her. But seventeen-year-old Jered is unlike any she’s seen. His kindness makes Leela yearn to trust again, to allow herself a glimmer of hope.
Could Jered be strong enough to free her from the curse of the Binding Stone?
Permanent link to this article: https://twfendley.com/brop-interview-lisa-gail-green/
Apr 27
FREE April 27-28!In conjunction with the Missouri Writers Guild conference, I’m offering JAGUAR HOPE free this weekend.
Two black jaguars become the symbol of hope for a race facing extinction when they accompany a dying traveler back to her home planet.
JAGUAR HOPE, a novelette, tells of the ill-fated journey to Earth’s Age of Crystal in this action-packed prequel to my historical fantasy novel, ZERO TIME.
If you don’t have a Kindle, you can download the app onto your computer: Kindle Kindle Cloud Reader
Permanent link to this article: https://twfendley.com/3389/
Apr 25
Welcome Sandra Ulbrich Almazan, my friend and fellow blogger in the Blog Ring of Power. Sandra started reading at the age of three and only stops when absolutely required to. Although she hasn’t been writing quite that long, she did compose a very simple play in German during middle school. Her science fiction novella Move Over Ms. L. (an early version of Lyon’s Legacy) earned an Honorable Mention in the 2001 UPC Science Fiction Awards, and her short story “A Reptile at the Reunion” was published in the anthology Firestorm of Dragons.
She is a founding member of BroadUniverse and a long-time member of the Online Writing Workshop for Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror. Her undergraduate degree is in molecular biology/English, and she has a Master of Technical and Scientific Communication degree. Her current day job is in the laboratory of an enzyme company; she’s also been a technical writer and a part-time copyeditor for a local newspaper. Some of her other accomplishments are losing on Jeopardy! and taking a stuffed orca to three continents. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband, Eugene; and son, Alex. In her rare moments of free time, she enjoys crocheting, listening to classic rock (particularly the Beatles), and watching improv comedy.
Sandra can be found online at her website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook.
Don’t miss the rest of her interview:
Part 1 @ Dean – Tuesday, April 23
Part 2 @ Terri – Wednesday, April 24
Part 4 @ Emily – Friday, April 26
PART 3: THE CREATIVE PROCESS
Where do you get your story ideas? Everywhere. I get ideas from everyday situations, from things I read, from things I’m interested in, and even writing challenges. I need lots of ideas because I find the best stories come about when I mash two or more unrelated ideas together.
Do you have a specific writing style? I use too many semicolons for fiction, at least according to my editor. On a serious note, I like writing in first person so that I can give the narrator a strong voice—sometimes with an attitude.
How do you deal with writer’s block? It depends on the cause. When I first started writing, I sometimes got stuck when I wasn’t deep enough inside the characters’ heads. I’m better at that now, but sometimes I don’t know what should happen next in the story. Then I may write out in the manuscript ideas about what could happen and the implications of those events. Writing the ideas down helps me focus instead of frittering away time on Internet games. And sometimes I’m just physically/mentally exhausted and need to recharge. Of course, I tend to get a spurt of writing energy right at bed time.
Are you a “plotter” or a “pantser” (do you plan/outline the story ahead of time or write “by the seat of your pants”)? Although I have tried outlining, I invariably wind up ignoring the outline and pantsing the plot.
Do you use critique partners or beta readers? Why or why not? I use the Online Writing Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror as a place to find crit partners. Crit partners are essential for catching things you can’t notice because you’re too close to the story.
How much time do you spend on research? What type of research do you do? On one level, life is research; I mine everyday experiences, sensations, and emotions for tidbits for my stories. Since I write science fiction, I read a lot of science news stories, looking for ideas I might want to use to extrapolate a future world. I also read a lot of non-fiction to learn about other cultures and settings. The Internet can be handy for looking up specific facts I need on the spot.
Tell us about your route to success – how/when did you decide to self-publish? Did you query an agent first? How did you handle the editing, proofreading, cover design, etc.—I did pursue traditional publishing for this project, but it really wasn’t a good fit for a traditional publisher. The first book in this series, Lyon’s Legacy, is a novella, which is a hard length to sell. I considered combining the two books into one volume, but that would have been too long. Self-publishing provides me with the control I need to tell this story the way I feel it should be told. I found a freelance editor and cover artist, but I did all of the formatting myself.
Is your book in print, ebook or both? Both
Please let us know where can your readers stalk you:
Website: www.sandraulbrich.com
Blog: www.ulbrichalmazan.blogspot.com
Twitter: @ulbrichalmazan
Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/SandraUlbrichAlmazanSffAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.facebook.com/SandraUlbrichAlmazanSffAuthor
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sandra-Ulbrich-Almazan/e/B006GQR4KQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/smua
Paul Harrison always wanted to play Hamlet, but he never expected he’d live the role first.
TWINNED UNIVERSES: In the aftermath of a family tragedy on 21st century Earth, Paul discovers he’s the clone of Sean Lyon, his great-great-grandfather and a famous TwenCen musician. Suspecting his mother’s death was no accident, Paul comes up with a plan to trick the answers out of the great-uncle who had him cloned. But in order to make his plan work, Paul needs help from Sean himself—and Sean’s time is running out in the TwenCen universe next door. Although Paul’s family lives on the spaceship that travels between the universes, he’s never been allowed on TwenCen Earth. Now, with the help of his friends, his disguise-creating holoprojectors, and a quantum quirk, Paul must make his way to Sean while evading other time travelers who fear he’ll change the history of the TwenCen universe. If Paul is to achieve justice, he must not only risk his own life, but the wormhole connecting the universes. “To be or not to be” was a simple question in comparison….
You can buy TWINNED UNIVERSES at:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Twinned-Universes-Catalyst-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00BO9GIHU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362520915&sr=8-1&keywords=twinned+universes
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/twinned-universes-sandra-ulbrich-almazan/1114756241?ean=2940016176840
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/291642
Permanent link to this article: https://twfendley.com/brop-interview-sandra-ulbrich-almazan/
Apr 11
Welcome to this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest, A.W. Exley. Books and writing have always been an enormous part of Anita’s life. She survived school by hiding out in the library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At university, she overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing in Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics.
Today, Anita writes steampunk novels with a sexy edge and an Egyptian twist. She lives in rural New Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful equines, felines, canine and homicidal chickens.
Part 1 @ Terri Bruce – http://www.terribruce.net Wednesday, April 10
Part 2 @ T.W. Fendley – https://twfendley.com/ Thursday, April 11
Part 3 @Emily LaBonte – http://emlabonte.blogspot.com/ Friday, April 12
Part 4 @ Sandra Ulbrich Almazon – http://ulbrichalmazan.blogspot.com/ Monday, April 15
Part 5 @ Dean C. Rich – http://deanswritingtime.blogspot.com/ Tuesday, April 16
PART 2: THE WRITING LIFE
What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine? Do you use pen and paper or computer? Work at home or at the library/Starbucks, etc. I’m a bit OCD and really need routine. I also have kids and horses to throw into the equation. So the routine is: get kids to bus stop. Ride horse & muck out paddocks. Then I sit down and write between late morning & doing the afternoon school run. I also use a notebook and pen, for those times when I am forever waiting around on the kids & at their activities. I can churn out 1,000 words long hand, during swimming lessons!
How do you balance writing with other aspects of your life? It’s tough with several jobs to juggle, but a set routine really helps. Notebooks are fantastic, I can scribble ideas, plot or write whole scenes wherever I am.
When do you write? Mid morning to late afternoon. I need some semblance of peace, and kids tend to generate chaos, so I try to write when they are absent.
How much time per day do you spend on your writing?I try and grab at least one hour, on a good day I might get three or four hours of laptop time. I would probably write a lot more if I disabled my internet connection.
What is the strongest criticism you’ve ever received as an author? The best compliment?The query trenches are tough, I preferred to get form rejects over those that said my writing was “flat and unengaging” or even worse, the comment from an agent that “your idea just isn’t interesting.”
The best compliments come from readers who have enjoyed my book. I have a *squee* moment every time I am asked “when is the next book coming out?”
How do you deal with rejection and/or negative reviews? Rejection during querying sucks and it hurts, there’s simply no way around it. But, it builds up a thicker skin, which you really need to survive once published. There is no possible way to avoid negative reviews. If I can, I try and find a constructive element to them, something that I can improve. Otherwise I ignore them, and then go read the 1-star reviews of Harry Potter on Goodreads, which confirms you will never satisfy every single reader out there.
What format is your book(s) available in (print, e-book, audio book, etc.)? e-book and paperback.
NEFERTITI’S HEART: Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.
London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her father – sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to immortality.
Her Majesty’s Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere in London her father hid Nefertiti’s Heart, a fist sized diamond with strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life, notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she could figure out his motive.
Self-preservation fuels Cara’s search for the gem. In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.
Please let us know where your readers can stalk you:
Website: http://www.awexley.com
Blog: http://mutteringsfromtheoubliette.blogspot.co.nz/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AWExley
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6585392.A_W_Exley
Twitter: @AWExley
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BFTMRBA
Permanent link to this article: https://twfendley.com/brop-interview-a-w-exley/
Apr 07
Following is information provided by Jennifer L. Jacoby:
Walking the Weave: An Introduction to Shamanism
The tapestry of your soul spirals through eternity. Come rediscover your silver chord and the threads that lead to your inner weave.
Shamanism is a mystical, earth-centered tradition that honors the spiraling rhythms of nature, the soul and direct experience of the Divine. Recognizing the interplay of worlds both seen and unseen, our shamanic ancestors walked the Otherworld, in search of wisdom, guidance and healing.
They walked the weave of the tapestries of soul.
Today that wisdom still calls to us, inviting us to remember.
Walking the Weave is a one-day, experiential introduction to shamanism.Together we will explore core and Celtic shamanic concepts, discuss cosmology and learn to move in and out of the
Otherworld. Practicing basic shamanic journey techniques, we will connect with animal allies and teachers in the non-physical world.
Designed for those new to shamanism, Walking the Weave requires no previous journey experience or training. Attendance for the full day and some work in pairs is required.
Saturday, 8 June, 2013
9:30 am to 6:00 pm
Delmar Chiropractic, University City, Missouri
Cost: $95
For more information or to enroll, contact Jennifer at:
Jacobyjl@CircleofHealingArts.net (314) 702-3770
Jennifer L. Jacoby is a soul midwife and shamanic practitioner specializing in Celtic mystical techniques and practices. Her training in Celtic mysticism and shamanism includes extensive study with the Invisible Druid Order, the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids, the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, as well as with Celtic practitioners internatonally.
Jennifer is a Minister of the Circle of the Sacred Earth, a church of animism fostering shamanic principles and practices. For more information about Jennifer, please visit www.CircleofHealingArts.net.
Follow your silver chord and rediscover the pathway of your soul
Permanent link to this article: https://twfendley.com/intro-to-shamanism-june-8/
Apr 04
Following is info provided by Deborah Terra Weltman:
Become aware of your true desires.
Lose your fear.
Gain courage.
Know your true value.
Be supported, inspired, and fully alive!
This is what Big Dreamers do!
The next session of Big Dreams starts this Saturday, April 6th!
Call today to register: 314-544-2555
Big Dreams meets for 8 classes every other week for a total 16 weeks.
When: Saturday, April 6, 2013 meeting every 2nd week through July 13, 2013
Time: 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM NOON
Location: Deb’s home
6714 Bonnie Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63123
COST: $100.00
Read more about Big Dreams CLICK HERE
To register or to ask questions, call Deb at: 314-544-2555, or email her at: terraartframe@sbcglobal.net
You may pay on PayPal (click here), by check, or cash. Call Deb for details.
Scholarships may be available. Feel free to ask.
When you register you will be sent the supply list and other information.
Permanent link to this article: https://twfendley.com/big-dreams-workshop-begins-saturday/
Apr 04
Welcome to E.B. Black, this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest. She lives in southern California with her family and two dogs. She spends her time daydreaming about the worlds she will throw her characters into next and what it would be like to dress up as a necromancer for Halloween.
Part 1 @ Terri Bruce – Wednesday, April 3
Part 3 @ Emily LaBonte – Friday, April 5
Part 4 @ Sandra Ulbrich Almazon – Monday, April 8
Part 5 @ Dean C. Rich – Tuesday, April 9
PART 2: THE WRITING LIFE
What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine? Do you use pen and paper or computer? Work at home or at the library/Starbucks, etc. I sit on my bed and type on my laptop. Sometimes my dogs are laying around me.
How do you balance writing with other aspects of your life? I’m still learning how to balance my life. There’s so much I always want to do in a day that it’s next to impossible to squeeze it all in.
When do you write? I try to set aside a time daily to work on writing, but I’ve learned lately that some days, it’s okay to take a break because too much is happening. It varies what time of the day I write, but it’s usually in the early afternoon.
How much time per day do you spend on your writing? I try to spend at least an hour. Because I am a self-published author, I have to spend a lot of my time working on various aspects of writing, including critiquing other people’s stories, networking and promotion, creating covers, working on my web-sites, formatting my manuscripts, and more.
What has been the most surprising reaction to something you’ve written? I’m shocked when strangers read my book and love it. One reviewer once said that they cried three times while reading my novel and had strong emotional reactions to it. It surprised me, but made my day.
What is the strongest criticism you’ve ever received as an author? The best compliment? The hardest criticisms for me to receive are those from my peers. You expect the bad reviews from readers and for some of the people in your life not to understand why you write the things you do, but when a fellow author gets angry with you, someone who is in the same position you are, it’s very difficult to handle. The best compliment I think I ever received was when my best friend read my entire novel in three days and told me she loved it. She didn’t do it just because we were friends. I told her she didn’t have to read anything I’ve written. She chose to do so on her own.
Other than your family, what has been your greatest source of support? My fiance-he even gave me money to help pay for my editors, book covers, and web-site.
How do you deal with rejection and/or negative reviews? If an author is very upset about a negative review or a rejection, it can help to talk to supportive people offline about your feelings towards it. Negative reviews don’t bother me anymore though. In fact, I created a story in my mind that I hope to one day write based on one negative review that complained about one of my characters not being developed enough.
What format is your book(s) available in (print, e-book, audio book, etc.)? E-book
Please let us know where your readers can stalk you:
Website: http://www.ebblack.com/
Blog: http://deathauthor.blogspot.com/
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ebblackauthor
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6586070.E_B_Black
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/writerblack
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/E.B.-Black/e/B00ABPR6L0/
Permanent link to this article: https://twfendley.com/brop-interview-e-b-black/
Mar 28
Savanna LaSalle, fellow former zookeeper, left. S.J. Drum / J.T. Fairfield, right.
Welcome to this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest, former zookeeper turned author S.J. Drum. S.J. writes Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance Novels, each with a bit of Steampunk flair. She writes an erotic series with tattooed heroes–first-in-series is SINFUL SOUTHERN INK (Ellora’s Cave 7-6-12).
She also writes LGBT Upper YA Dark Urban Fantasy under the pen name J.T. Fairfield. The first book in the Bayou Zoo series was released on 10/22/12, CAGED IN MYTH.
When she’s not changing diapers or writing, she enjoys scuba diving and has been known to make an elephant do a headstand.
You can find S.J. Drum on:
Don’t miss the rest of SJ’s interview:
Part 1 @ Terri Bruce – Wednesday, March 27
Part 3 @ Emily LaBonte – Friday, March 29
Part 4 @ Sandra Ulbrich Almazon – Monday, April 1
Part 5 @ Dean C. Rich – Tuesday, April 2
PART 2: THE WRITING LIFE
What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine? Do you use pen and paper or computer? Work at home or at the library/Starbucks, etc. I use Scrivener on my laptop. Honestly, Scrivener is the best tool in my writing arsenal. I write mostly from home but sometimes escape to Starbucks or the local coffee shop.
How do you balance writing with other aspects of your life? I have a spouse in the military who has been on assignment in another state for the last six months, two toddlers, a dog, two cats and one fish. To say my life is over-run by distractions is an understatement. I’m an insomniac and only sleep 4-5 hrs each night. It’s the only thing that allows me to read and write as much as I do.
How much time per day do you spend on your writing? Hmmm… Not as much time as I spend reading, but don’t tell my publishers! Ha!
Other than your family, what has been your greatest source of support? My critique partner, Cornelia Amiri.
How do you deal with rejection and/or negative reviews? First, I never respond. Responding to a query letter rejection or negative review is a major no-no. Getting into a battle with readers on Amazon or Goodreads is equal to having “Amateur” tattooed on your forehead. Negative reviews happen to everyone, even the incredibly successful. Know this, I still feel a bit like vomiting for the first twenty-four hours after reading a bad review for one of my books.
Caged in Myth by J.T. Fairfield
$0.99 on Amazon
*5 STAR REVIEW*
“I loved everything about this story, except that it had to end. Caged in Myth is a coming out story like no other. I would recommend you pick up this book, you won’t be disappointed!” -Squibley’s Fiction Addiction
*5 STAR REVIEW*
“I felt for Jay and his friends. The character development was sincere and intriguing.” -Linda Hays-Gibbs, Author of My Angel, My Light as Darkness Falls and Review for The Romance Reviews
CAGED IN MYTH: The Bayou Zoo, where magic is real, the beasts are deadly, and a bad day at work can literally mean the end of the world.
Octavian Julius McKellter— “Jay” to everyone who doesn’t want a punch in the face— struggles with keeping the secrets of his supernatural community and his own secret…he’s gay. Throw in a dose of danger, deceit, and Louisiana heat, and you’ll find yourself CAGED IN MYTH.
Permanent link to this article: https://twfendley.com/brop-interview-s-j-drum/