Month: August 2014

Richard Parker, the Spider: A Miniature Life of Pi

Erin4 Comments

Earlier this summer, while kayaking on Michigan’s Sturgeon River, a burly black spider scurried up my leg. I tried to swat it out of the boat but it retreated down to my feet, finding its way to the bow, where it lurked for the rest of the paddle. It reminded me of a miniature version of the Life of Pi: the black spider as the tiger, Richard Parker, and the kayak, my lifeboat.

Life of Pi had been on my mind. Shortly before the trip, I watched a portion of the movie on TV. I was struck by how much was lost during the transition from book to film–gorgeous language, internal thoughts, and the endless depths of imagination.

The movie was turned off–I rarely enjoy films made from favorite books–but later my husband Keith and I discussed the ending, the question of what really happened on the lifeboat.

It piqued my curiosity so I explored the myriad opinions one can find online about the meaning of the story: the lifeboat symbolized faith; the struggle between Richard Parker and Pi was the struggle between the many facets of one’s personality. The analysis went quite deep. One writer said the symbolism was so intricate the story might be impossible to completely fathom, kind of like the number pi with its endless decimal places.

But in the end, I think it’s the simple question of faith: do you choose to believe or not?

As I paddled along, I forgot about my spider passenger. The river pulled me past cottages and deep woods. Sun sparkled on the water and a black-and-yellow dragonfly flitted over my kayak. Later, on the drive home, we passed a field turned almost completely white by wild daisies. Black cows, munching on grasses, milled around. The sky slipped into dusky blue, that moment in the day when light caresses the landscape in soft shadows, giving everything an ethereal glow, a sense of completeness and hope. Back at Lake Emma, the sunset burned orange.

The answer was simple: yes.

SunsetKayak

CWTR*: Elemental Magic Series Enchants with Vivid Prose

Erin1 Comment

Just in time for weekend reading comes a sneak peek of Brynna Curry’s Elemental Magic Series with an excerpt from Book One: Earth Enchanted. I’m thrilled to finally share the following snippet… I’ve been looking forward to reading it for quite some time.

And be sure to enter Brynna’s Rafflecopter giveaway: $10 Amazon or B&N gift card to be given away on 10/1 during the kickoff of 31 Days of Halloween, 1 digital copy of series, or 3 digital copies of Earth Enchanted.

Earth Enchanted

Writer Liv Corrigan has the worst luck with men — her telepathy tends to make them run for the hills. When she meets widower and ex-cop Jack Roarke, she decides to keep her talent hidden. Things are looking up until their third date crashes and burns as the man who murdered Jack’s wife turns out to be after him too.

Injured, Jack retreats with Liv to his house under armed guard. But with Liv’s mysteries rapidly coming unraveled, a diamond-thief killer to stop and passion in the air, the safe house is anything but safe for their hearts!

Excerpt

Jack scanned the bookstore as he sat in the hard metal folding chair, at the small table, and wrote. He thought his hand would fall off. Whoever said writing wasn’t real work had to have been crazy. He knew things about two hours’ worth of people their mothers probably didn’t know. Mandy Lou something or other had a granny who thought he was grade A and she was his number one fan. She didn’t look old enough to be allowed to read his brand of horror, but she had two copies of each of his books.

Jack had politely—he hoped—shrugged off the forty invitations to dinner, fourteen offers for coffee, and two very indecent proposals for ‘wild, hanging from the chandelier sex’ to quote one lovely fan. All in all, a long day barely described it, but he’d seen people and observed, that was for sure. If it helped with the new book, it might have been worth it, and then again maybe not.

Ellie dropped by to see how things were going, and then promptly ran away when he tried to beg out. He didn’t like being maneuvered, and Ellie was a champion at it. Entertaining the notion of strangling her got him through the second hour, but considering he needed a good editor, he changed his mind.

The line grew shorter. While he juggled the newest Hastings baby on his knee, which the boy’s proud papa had insisted on, Jack inscribed a message in the front cover to Mrs. Hastings, another number one fan and the mother of six children all under ten. How does she have the time to read at all? His message to her read, “Mrs. Hastings, I’m your number one fan. You rule. Jack.” Mentally saluting her efforts, he passed back junior, and sent them on their way. He automatically reached for the book a slim hand offered. Eyes down on the cover of what he’d created, he said the same thing he’d told countless others. “Hi, who should I make this out to?”

“Just sign it to Olivia Corrigan, fellow mystery writer.”

Her voice alone lifted his eyes to meet hers, a musical lilt that teased of mist and bogs, faeries and leprechauns. She was dressed professionally, but he could easily imagine her calling up a wild wind or casting spells. She was only about 5’4” and slim, claimed black Irish coloring. He saw a flash of what might have been a premonition, but after blocking the gift so long he couldn’t hold on to it. Did he smell rain? Candles or lightning? But the sun was shining. For a moment he just stared, couldn’t speak , and was certain he knew her but couldn’t remember where from.

“Is something the matter?”

He quickly signed her book, before he forgot that was the reason for their meeting in the first place. She was the last in line, and he was free. Thank God! Sorry, muse, position filled.

“Jack Roarke, it’s a pleasure, Miss Corrigan.”

Buy the series (Now only $.99 each):

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo│Kensington

About the Author

Brynna Curry was born south of the Mason-Dixon Line. After living all over the southern states, she finally landed in North Alabama where she lives with her husband and their three children. Growing up, books fueled her dreams and imagination, ultimately becoming her salvation during the hardest times in her life.Writing is her passion, but she enjoys the fun of sharing those stories with others by reviewing books and working in publicity.

When she isn’t writing or promoting, she’s often found haunting the library for new books to read or just spending an quiet evening at home with Jackie watching old westerns on TV. Although her wizards, shifters and vampires are as real to her as anyone, she insists love is the truest magic and with it every day is another wonderful adventure.

Find Brynna on the Web

Website│Twitter│Facebook│Street Team│Goodreads

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*CWTR: No, it’s not an acronym for an arcane operating system or a clandestine bureaucracy; rather, it’s my shorthand for new books I Can’t-Wait-To-Read (CWTR).

CWTR: What happens when monsters turn out to be real?

Erin3 Comments

SWC Cover Today’s CWTR* will keep you up late on steamy summer nights, reading until the sun stretches tentatively into the starry sky. It’s the perfect mix of romance and suspense, a combination that will have you looking forward to the saga’s next installment.

Silver Wolf Clan By Tera Shanley

What happens when monsters turn out to be real?

One summer night while camping in the woods, Morgan Carter finds out in a big way. A tall mysterious stranger, Greyson Crawford, risks his life to try and save her sister from the vicious wolf attacking their camp. When he’s bitten and disappears into the night, Morgan can only assume the worst.

Greyson shows up a year later, and he’s a different animal altogether. His eye color shifts constantly and the rumble in his throat sounds more animal than human. She hasn’t any idea where he’s been all this time, but a good guess as to what he’s become.

blog tour author pic
Tera Shanley

Grey is determined not to let the darkness of his new existence affect Morgan and the little girl in her care. He hasn’t been able to stop thinking about Morgan but knows he should stay away and let her live a normal life. That’s easier said than done, though. A new danger pulls him from the shadows to keep her safe, and he’s no wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Can she accept what lurks just below his surface? More importantly, can she survive him?

See the book trailer here.

Excerpt

Grey’s arms and legs were on fire, burning from his very veins, blistering every nerve ending on the way out. Why was the pain tearing through his chest? He tried to hail the woman but nothing came out except a quiet groan. Was he dying? He arched his neck toward her sister. Her body was so mangled it was all but unrecognizable as human. The girl’s eyes were open, fixed, staring back at him. She was dead. Would he die, too? What was that thing? That monster?

Maybe this was all a dream. Maybe he still slept, back in his campsite a quarter of a mile away. He’d been sleeping there only a few minutes ago. Maybe he was just having a vivid night terror and he’d wake at any moment to the relief that this wasn’t real. The girl slid over to him, but he was already panting in pain. Fire in his blood burned him up.

Her mouth moved, but he couldn’t hear anything over the roaring in his ears. Like helicopter blades, the sound drowned out everything. Her lips were full, and when his vision blurred, he tried to focus on her face. She was beautiful. Tiny. Delicate like a hummingbird. Even through spilling tears, the moss green color of her eyes was clear and compelling.
Her voice overcame the screeching in his ears. “What’s your name?”

“Greyson,” he rasped. “Greyson Crawford.” Someone should know who he was. Notify Dad what had happened there in the woods of Enchanted Rock.

“What’s yours?” It was getting so hard to breathe. He had to know. He’d leave the world on her name.

“Morgan. My name’s Morgan.”

About the author

Tera Shanley writes in sub-genres that stretch from Paranormal Romance, to Historic Western Romance, to Apocalyptic (zombie) Romance. The common theme? She loves love. A self-proclaimed bookworm, she was raised in small town Texas and could often be found decorating a table at the local library. She currently lives in Dallas with her husband and two young children and when she isn’t busy running around after her family, she’s writing a new story or devouring a good book. Any spare time is dedicated to chocolate licking, rifle slinging, friend hugging, and the great outdoors.

 

*CWTR: No, it’s not an acronym for an arcane operating system or a clandestine bureaucracy; rather, it’s my shorthand for new books I Can’t-Wait-To-Read (CWTR).

 

 

CWTR: When demons threaten London, Lady Belinda answers the call

Erin1 Comment

Ascension 2Summer 2014 is proving to be a season for page-turners and cliffhangers, and, once again, this week brings two days of CWTR*. First up is an edge-of-the-seat paranormal romance that travels back in time to London where a demon-fighting noblewoman tries to save the city. The only problem… you’ll have to wait until October 6 to read this one but the anticipation will make it all the better.

Ascension Book One: The Demon Hunters By A.S. Fenichel

When demons threaten London, Lady Belinda answers the call.

Lord Gabriel Thurston returns home from war to find his fiancée is not the sweet young girl he left behind. She’s grown into a mysterious woman who guards her dark secrets well. When he sees her sneaking away from a ball, he’s convinced it’s for a lover’s rendezvous. Following her to London’s slums, Gabriel watches in horror as his fiancée ruthlessly slays a man.

Lady Belinda Carlisle’s only concern was her dress for the next ball—until demons nearly killed her and changed everything. A lady by day, and a demon hunter by night, she knows where her duty lies. Ending her betrothal is the best way to protect Gabriel from death by a demon’s hand.

Gabriel soon realizes, like him, Belinda has been fighting for her country. He joins in the fight, determined to show her that their love can endure, stronger than ever.

About the AuthorA.S.

A.S. Fenichel gave up a successful career in New York City to follow her husband to Texas and pursue her lifelong dream of being a professional writer. She’s never looked back.

A.S. adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story.

Multi-published in erotic paranormal, contemporary and historical romance, A.S. is the author of the Mayan Destiny series, Christmas Bliss and many more. With several books currently contracted to multiple publishers, A.S. will be bringing you her brand of romance for many years to come.

Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey, and now lives in the East Texas with her real life hero, her wonderful husband. When not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history, and puttering in her garden.

 

*CWTR: No, it’s not an acronym for an arcane operating system or a clandestine bureaucracy; rather, it’s my shorthand for new books I Can’t-Wait-To-Read (CWTR).