Obsidian... and Mummies... and Gypsies

If you've been to the "coming soon" page you know that Obsidian is almost finished up, entering into the editing process and will be out for sale 12.18.12; this year! So... I thought I'd post some sneak peaks for it. NOT actual chapters or anything; too soon for that. :) But playlist, pics, a few videos. Me and my sister have an argument going on about what Jaden looks like (he's the male lead for Ember/Obsidian in case you didn't know), so if you've read the books, have a look, and let me know which team you're on. He always comes in the form of a youtube vid, yay for music! So without further ado...

The PLAYLIST...

Who Knew - Pink
Bright Lights - Matchbox Twenty
Come In Closer - Blue October
Look After You - The Fray
Miserable At Best - Mayday Parade
Heartless - The Fray
Please Don't Leave Me - Pink
Evelyn - Hurts
Already In - Jon McLaughlin


Most of the first book's playlist songs belong to Evelyn (i.e., they're from her point of view), so I decided this "sneak-peak " playlist for Obsidian, would be a few of Jaden's songs. "Who Knew" starts from the end of Ember (book 1) to the start of Obsidian. It's sort of a "between the books" song. "Come in Closer" by Blue October, encompasses a lot of the feel of Obsidian.  "Please Don't Leave Me" by Pink & "Heartless" by The Fray (yes, it's a Kanye West cover, if you were wondering) are both the main songs for Jaden in Obsidian. Where I'd say he's most "at" if that makes sense. Yeah, doesn't sound good, does it? He'll be okay.

As far as the "Evelyn" song by Hurts. I'm not usually into the name, actual-name, song thing. But this one just fits so perfect. Here, listen:

And so...

On to the Jaden's appearance issue.

This is what my sister believes he looks like:

Yes, the main boy of course. No doubt you've seen this video? I told her that maybe if I were drawing Jaden or something I could possibly use him as a model (not really), but to me, he doesn't have enough... er... depth or something. I don't know. Jaden-ness.

On that note, here are my picks:

A mix between that, and...

...that. She's even less crazy about the second, than the first. And no, Jaden would probably never be caught dead in that hat that Enrique is wearing, and yet: it's something about his movements -- and Jon McLaughlin's (who's an awesome artist by the way--listen to all his songs!). They're deliberate movements; passionate, but controlled. That's all Jaden to me. It's more about what's going on inside them then their looks. Though the looks fit too! Especially if you could mix them together.

I picture Jaden darker skinned, and somewhat foreign. My sister suggested "gypsy" and I'd say that's the right term. Gypsy is actual just another name for Romani people who live in parts of Europe, and they're actually traceable back to India, or close to it, in southern Asia. Insteresting hunh? yeah, I just found that out. Of course most people know about Gypsies for themselves. Think of Jaden like that!

And if you've read Ember, please leave a comment mentioning which one you'd say fits best! Or do you have your own suggestions? Sadly, I still haven't found an Evelyn.

Here's the closest:



Haha. Yeah, sure, it's Evelyn from "The Mummy". Now you're really not going to believe me that I don't have a name thing. Still...

And that's about it. I'ma get back to work editing, so you can look forward to reading. Thanks for stopping by!

P.S.

I wonder...

Does that mean...

Jaden????

Er...

No. :)

Though he is cute!

Go watch The Mummy!

Every day.

Ocean Inspiration

Hey, so I just got back from a trip to the ocean. It was really great. I went just by myself and got a BUNCH of writing done on OBSIDIAN, the sequel to EMBER. I always read about aspiring authors wishing they could get off alone somewhere, without responsibilites, then they could definately write. I know it's important to make yourself write during the busy times, as well, but I feel really blessed to have this free time at the beach. I have awesome friends (sort of more like family) that let me stay at their condo at Carolina Beach, near Wilmington, NC. The area around there is SO cool. I thought I'd list out some of the things I did. So without further ado...

One of my favorites things to do is walk from the condo to one of the nearby cafes. The walk goes through town which is really cool, (there are a lot of fun, little shops). This time I was there, they had this famer's market going, as shown in the picture. It kinda of wraps around the lake, as you can see. They had live music, and food (really cool looking pastires, yummy! plus taste-testers), and jewelry. Oh, and it was really cool they had a local author doing a book-signing. They do this every Saturday morning. But when I walk throuh town, I just put my headphones on and totally imagine/plan out what I'm going to write once I get to the coffee place. It totally works! Try it if you're a writer!

So then...




These were really cool, I found at one of the shops. I took pictures because my sister loves sea-turtles. We're going to try to make the blue one, maybe, because I didn't by them (I only had my bike, so no way of getting them home). But I DID buy two excellent hoodies for really cheap. They say Carolina Beach on them. Yup, they're cool.

Okay, and cool thing number 3, and probably the COOLEST out of all of them. This little guy right here:



His name is "Jashan" and he's a White Bengal Tiger (once called "Royal Bengal Tigers"). He's at the local zoo, Tregembo Animal Park. It's a really cool zoo, because the animals are so close, also you can feed them peanuts or corn. There's this crazy animal there, called a Zedonk. Yeah, you read that right. Ze-Donk. Half zebra, half donkey. He looks like this:


And he's uber-cute. He munches corn out of your hand, and it's totally precious. You can pet him (if you distract him with food) and he also has a goat buddy. But anyways, back to Jashan. He's a great White Tiger, and very active. Between my two last trips, I saw him eat chicken, lay up on a table (rolling back and forth on his back mind you, sort of like this:

...only with his eyes closed). And he took a bath in his little pool, and he played in a hose fountain, and he even got up on his back legs and roared at one of the zoo-keepers. (like playfully). But it was cool.

I love (me and my mom) white tigers because of Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck. Hopefully you've read it. If you haven't, DO SO! Ren's the best. Anyways, I like to pretend Jashan is Ren. Now lastly...



That's my mode of transportation. I know, I know. I should have taken an actual picture of me on my bike, but I was alone! So... sort of impossible. This was my first time taking my bike to the beach, and I've gotta say, for anyone who rides, it's the best place. Fast roads and not a lot of lights. Plus the ocean air, and perfect weather. On the way there I had a collosal full back-pack on my shoulders (which sounds harder to manage then it is), on the way back, I had that plus a bag, so there was sort of a leaning tower of luggage behind me. Also I lost a glove somewhere along the highway. Such is life.

So, that's about all for my trip. If you thought the place looks cool, and you live near North Carlina, please check out: BlueSeasProperties or facebook. For my friends awesome condo. It's right on the beach!

Now, for a good ocean song...

Review In!

A super-awesome reader/reviewer on Goodreads, Shauna of Ireland, has written a review for Fallen Kingdom! Read it below, and after that make sure to check out her other reviews. She reads lots of books. She's also just recently gone off to Spain for a few months to teach english, so show her some support by leaving a comment on her goodreads page, or just keep her in your prayers.

Alright, without further ado, here's the review... (haha, that rhymes) (I'm so witty) (not really) (oh, just ignore me, it's not like I'm a writer or anything... o_O...)

(oh, and p.s., there is one uber-minor spoiler, but you'll be forwarned)
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I felt the knife shake in my grip and I steadied it.
I gathered together all the deaths and pain that I knew to call on.
I drew upon Kraehe, and I drew upon Luffie, and I drew upon Tobias.

This is a murderer, I chanted to myself.

This is a murderer and I do not know him.

Oh, my traitorous heart.

Damn you, Tess Williams. Why couldn't you have just killed off Cyric before Ellia had the chance to infect me with all the feelings?!

What a roller coaster of emotions…I actually cried. Tears. For Cyric!! Not something I could have ever imagined myself doing after finishing book one.

Fallen Kingdom opens on a battle field, jumping right back into the thick of things. Ellia and Cyric each remain on opposing sides of the war, both doing their damnedest not to let their thoughts stray to the other.

Of course, this separation couldn't go on forever, because then where would our story be?
So when Ellia sacrifices herself by sending a wounded fellow warrior off on her chimera (spoiler)[and let me just say, I love that more time is being given to the granted animals throughout this book (un-spoiler)] she is taken captive (yes, again. that's gotta smart) and transported back to Akadia, and back to Cyric.

I loved Ellia's bravado, her fighting spirit. She's really come into her own this installment.

I did not love listening to stupid Cyric's stupid rationalizations for all the stupid stupid stupid things he does. Idiot. (No, that's a lie, I really love to hate that boy.)

It's all right though, because Ellia has a plan to regain her freedom. After all, she is a Ciralli warrior. Able to easily out-skill any of their best fighters, even kill them, to free herself.
Except Cyric's her designated keeper, and there's a big difference in turning your mind away from someone who was once your friend, and galvanizing yourself to kill them.

I felt my fists coiling with rage. I would have killed them--I would have killed anyone that Lox had left me with, I’d already determined to. I’d been in battles. I knew how to kill evil men. But why had it been Cyric?

With book one fresh in my mind, I had no such compunction. What matter that it's Cyric, Elia? Kill him, kill or at the very least maim him!!

She doesn't, of course. And as time went on I would, more often than not, find myself smiling stupidly at their exchanges. Though in my defense, much of this was for all the moxy our heroine was displaying.

Weren’t battles still waging? Weren’t people still dying? And wasn’t I on the opposite side of Cyric? Yet at the same time, I had never felt more sure of who I was and what I was doing.

...I’d seen who he was; now everything he did, every way he responded made me more sure that he was not evil. That he had only convinced himself to be, that he was confused, and scared. This was Cyric Dracla. He was my best friend. I knew him. He’d been mine from the moment I’d seen him, I’d decided this.
I’d let him go because deaths and wars and betrayal made all of that not matter. And here I was with the same dilemma, yet I felt certain that it was not right to abandon him anymore.

Somehow, someway, (I still don't know when or how she did it) Ellia won me over to her way of thinking. That is one loyal and determined friend.

At the end of the first book I scoffed, 'There is no way that boy could ever redeem himself in my eyes', but now I say 'Redeem yourself, Cyric! Redeem yourself!! You can do it!!!'

Tess Williams has managed that rare feat of creating a sequel even better than the first, so if you haven't read Fallen Prince yet- I am officially giving you the all clear.

Bring on book three!

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
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AND... that's all folks. Have a great week!

Fallen Kingdom is HERE!

Da-da-da-dah! (hoping that reads like a resounding chime of success) Fallen Kingdom is official available to buy. Check out the links in the panel of my website to get your copy. It's available on smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon for 99 cents. If you read it, please review, or let me know what you thought in an e-mail. You can find the address on the "contact" page of my website.

If you're into book playlists, here are most of the theme songs for Fallen Kingdom.

Hopefully I'll do a post in the future explaining which songs are whose and what they mean, etc. Please note that there are sadly two major theme songs missing from this playlist. They are:



and



Unfortunately, they don't have these two available on playlist.com, but I'm attempting to learn how to put songs up there, so it's likely that they soon will. :) If you happen to know how to do it, please let me know in a comment or something.

Lastly, a lot readers seem to want a better picture of what the chimera from the Fallen Trilogy look like. I thought I'd put up a few of the pics I used as inspiration to give you an idea.

First there's this peice by *sandara on deviantart. This is definately the closest to how I picture the chimera, especially Luffie (Ellia's chimera).

All of the chimera, even the boy ones, have heads that resemble a female lion's. Luffie specifically has flecks of turquoise in her hair and turquoise eyes--just the same as this one! The differences would be in torso, since the chimera of the Fallen Trilogy have "feathered wings like those of an eagle, and serpent tails like those of a dragon."


These next two aren't technically very acurate to the Fallen Trilogy chimera, but there are some similarites, particularly in the coloring of the three-headed chimera as well as it's tail. And then in the wing-to-body ratio of the second one.

This second drawing is done by njoo on deviantart by the way. It's titled, Dark and Day: Chimera.

So, that's about all for now. Please enjoy Fallen Kingdom and thank you for stopping by!

Fallen Kingdom Release

Hey, so it's almost time for Fallen Kingdom (sequel to Fallen Prince and second in the Fallen Trilogy) to be released! April 11th is the scheduled date, and I can happily say that we are on schedule. Yay! Here's a pic of the cover to let you know what you're in for...

Pretty nifty, huh? It's sort of a secret what the colored circle and "animal" inside of it represent, but... read the first and second book and you might be able to guess. If not, by the time you read book three, you'll definately have it.

While you're here, please check out the trailer for Fallen Kingdom, if only to hear the cool song...

Another big theme song for the second book would be... Skip the Charades by Cold War Kids, but I'll make you go look that up yourself. I'll have the whole playlist for Fallen Kingdom up on my site in time for the release. To tide you over, here's somewhat how I invision Cyric (one of the main characters of the Fallen Trilogy) to appear...

I know, I know, you're wondering: why is he playing a guitar? Why is he singing? Does he play a guitar in the book? Does he sing? I thought it was a high fantasy (aka, no electric guitars/microphones). Why couldn't you just find a normal picture of this dude?

The answers to these questions are simple. First off, no, Cyric, ahem, does not and never would sing. He just... doesn't do that. He's Cyric Dracla; he doesn't sing. Second, yes it is a high fantasy*, so no, there are no electric guitars in the book.

And even if there were, Cyric would not know how to play them.

The reason these pictures are of a singing Gavin Rossdale (that's the lead singer for Bush, for anyone who doesn't know) is because Cyric only looks like Gavin Rossdale, when Gavin Rossdale is singing... this one specific time he sang... in 1999... at woodstock... Otherwise, he doesn't really resemble him. Hence: a singing Cyric. But the hair's perfect, so yay!

If you'd like to get an idea of what Ellia Solidor looks like (the other main character from the Fallen Trilogy) please watch this youtube video.

Ellia definately only resembles this girl (Catherine Pierce of The Pierces) when she's singing, but hey, this is one of Cyric and Ellia's theme songs, so it works. :)

I hope you've enjoyed a taste of Fallen Kingdom. It will be available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords 4.11.12 for 99 cents. Make sure to pick up a copy and let me know what you thought.

* high fantasy means sword and sorcery/alternate world sort of fantasy. Think "Lord of the Rings" or "Narnia"