Author Spotlight: Excerpt from Evacuation

Thanks so much for supporting Jennifer during her spotlight week. Jennifer's giving away a copy of Book 1 of the Future Savior Series, "Conception." Leave a comment for Jennifer today, tomorrow, and Sunday on the excerpt blog and a winner will be chosen on Monday, 12 MAR. Please leave your email so we can get ahold of you. Thanks again,
Smiles
Moderator Steph

**********


We readied ourselves for the ensuing battle. The odds were horribly stacked against us, but I felt confident in my powers and in the abilities of my brave friends. Using the fallen rubble from the wall as a bridge across the newly created ravine, the enemy charged us. I stepped in front of my friends. I had no clue if the plan slowly forming in my mind would work, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to try.

Forcing all the power I could muster into my telekinesis, I wrenched dozens of the huge grey rocks and boulders previously a part of the wall out of the ground and into the air. Even though my powers had grown immensely, trying to move this large amount of weight certainly zapped my strength. I concentrated as hard as I could and threw the humongous rocks at the front lines charging toward us. The rocks wiped out the first wave of advancing troops and our enemies behind them looked utterly stunned at my display of power.

"That was incredible!" Markella exclaimed.

"Too bad I don't think I can do it again. It was way too heavy." I dropped to one knee to try and recollect my strength. Shaw knelt down beside me and placed a strong arm around my shoulder.

"Are you all right?"

"I'll be fine. Let's just get ready." I smiled at him. Then I looked up as the stunned humans and Leviathans recommenced their charge.

"Well, let's giddy up and go!" Drexton hollered, gripping his whip and readying himself for the battle.

Within seconds we were all enveloped in combat. Sword clangs and spear clashes rang out through the plains around us like thunder. Looking at the vast numbers continually flowing from the city, I was immediately concerned for my friends. Sure they were all trained fighters, but our numbers were so lacking. That's when my mind landed on Charis. Through everything I had endured here in Meric, I had never seen her in a battle. As far as I knew she didn't even have a sword. All she ever carried was a white staff.

I used my powers to throw a particularly large Leviathan back into his comrades. He knocked them down like bowling pins. During the slight hiatus after my Leviathan toss, I looked around for Charis. Worry instantly overtook me when I couldn't find her anywhere. I edged my way over to Shaw who was fighting right beside me. He was doing exceptionally well, as usual.

"Where's Charis," I asked him. I wrenched my slender rapier sword out of the belly of an exceptionally tall man. It was really difficult for me not to focus on the fact that during this battle I would be killing humans. The only way I could possibly fight them without excessive amounts of guilt was by realizing they were trying to kill me and my friends. A feeble attempt at easing my conscience, but it was all I could do to keep my mind focused on the battle.

"I have no idea," he replied and he looked around the fighting to see if he could see our silver haired friend, but she was gone.
Just past Shaw I saw Markella cutting a line through the human fighters. I always loved Markella's fighting style. She used two lightweight swords with such elegance and grace her fighting looked more like a dance than the deadly onslaught it actually was.

The sun would be setting soon. We had maybe an hour of full daylight left. As soon as darkness fell, the Nitehawks would join the fray. Not only would that increase the number of our enemies, but they would be attacking us from the air. The last time I encountered the Nitehawks I still was unaware of my levitation abilities. Should I try to fight these monsters in the air?


Pick up your copy of Future Savior Book Three: Evacuation at the following locations:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007F422AU/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_ask_urHID.1M1VA2B

Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/future-savior-book-three-jennifer-hartz/1109161021?ean=2940013890671&itm=1&usri=jennifer+hartz

Desert Breeze Publishing:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-268/Future-Savior-Book-Three/Detail.bok

Also, please feel free to harass me on the web at the following places:

Website: http://jenniferhartz.com
Twitter: @JenniferLHartz
Facebook: : http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000624983529

And don't forget my exciting contest:
BECOME PART OF THE STORY! Ever wish you could be a character in a fantasy novel? Now's your chance! Stop by my website to learn more – http://jenniferhartz.com

Author Spotlight - Jennifer Hartz talks about her favorite authors

Today I'm supposed to talk about my favorite author and how they influenced me… Yikes! How do I pick just one? I guess the best way to answer this is to look at the author's who directly influenced Future Savior. I have always been an avid reader. Back in my pre-teen years it was The Babysitter's Club by Ann M. Martin. I have always enjoyed reading books in a series. I like following the lives the characters I've grown to love and watching them, and the story, grow and evolve over a long period of time. I think this early exposure to series helped to lead to my own stories falling into series form.

Another major contributor to Future Savior would be The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien is truly the father of all fantasy stories and all fantasy writers need to tip their hat to this genius. Right alongside Tolkien, C.S. Lewis was a major influence of Future Savior. The Chronicles of Narnia is an amazing example of a Christian fantasy series which helped spur many of the ideas in Future Savior.



I would be remiss if I didn't pay homage to J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter is arguably the best speculative series ever written. Rowling created a fantasy world so intricate, elaborate, and amazing that it will capture hearts for generations to come. However, this is not what I took from Rowling, what I loved was how Harry was a seemingly normal boy thrust into not so normal circumstances only to find out that he was anything but normal. Christina Vaughn from Future Savior takes a similar journey.

Taking a look back at my favorites, one thing is abundantly clear, I should change my name from Jennifer Hartz to J.L. Hartz!

Pick up your copy of Future Savior Book Three: Evacuation at the following locations:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007F422AU/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_ask_urHID.1M1VA2B

Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/future-savior-book-three-jennifer-hartz/1109161021?ean=2940013890671&itm=1&usri=jennifer+hartz

Desert Breeze Publishing:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-268/Future-Savior-Book-Three/Detail.bok

Also, please feel free to harass me on the web at the following places:

Website: http://jenniferhartz.com
Twitter: @JenniferLHartz
Facebook: : http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000624983529

And don't forget my exciting contest:
BECOME PART OF THE STORY! Ever wish you could be a character in a fantasy novel? Now's your chance! Stop by my website to learn more – http://jenniferhartz.com

Author Spotlight - Character Interview with Christina & Shaw from "Evacuation"

Hey Readers! Today we've got a real treat for you. I was able to sit down with Christina and Shaw from The Future Savior Series. They've allowed me to ask them a few questions. I hope you enjoy!

***Spoilers!***
If you haven't read Future Savior Book 1: Conception or Book 2: Resurrection, be warned, there are spoilers afoot!

Good morning, Christina, Shaw. I’m so glad you two could be here with us today! Would you like to introduce yourselves to the readers?


Christina: I'm Christina Vaughn, originally from Pittsburgh until Charis, the prophet, somehow transported me to Meric. Apparently Meric needs me to save them from the evil tyrant Leticia. She has the ability to control people's thoughts. I've discovered that I can move things with my mind and I have visions of the past, present, and future. Leticia also has a very powerful son, Rayliex. Basically, I'm just trying not to get myself killed!

Shaw: Hello. I am Christina's Watcher. It's my job to keep her safe. I also have shape shifting abilities.

How are things between the two of you since I last heard from you in Jenn’s accounts of your adventure in Future Savior Book 2: Resurrection?

Christina: Actually, not very good at all. I just left Shaw at the altar because I found out he killed my father. The love of my life killed my father. How would you feel?

Shaw: I just hope Christina can somehow forgive me. I'm the reason she had to grow up away from Meric and never knew her father.


If you could describe yourselves in 4 words or less, what would they be?

Christina: Ugh! I hate this question! Okay… let me think… sarcastic, brave, kindhearted and adventurous.

Shaw: I would have to say: honorable, dutiful, strong, devoted.

Christina, what do you miss the most about home?

Christina: Indoor plumbing, hands down! Meric would be way better if I could take a hot shower!



Shaw, were you ever homesick for Meric during the time you were keeping watch over Christina?

Shaw: Although I grew up in Meric and it is my home, I never really belonged. I had to live with the Elves since I was a small boy. I was the only human with the Elves and, yes, they were very accepting of me, but I was still an outcast. I did miss King Davis and Queen Lorna, but Davis was dead by my hand… honestly, I think I liked being away so I didn't have to deal with killing my friend and king.


Christina, what is your fondest memory of Shaw? And Shaw, what is your fondest memory of Christina?

Christina: Fondest memory? Well, I will never forget the first time I set eyes on Shaw. He had just transformed right before my very eyes into the most handsome man I had ever seen! It was amazing!

Shaw: The first time Christina and I kissed. It was right after she came back from the dead. It seemed like I had waited a hundred years to kiss her. I'll wait a hundred more if that's what it takes for her to forgive me.

So it seems like Shaw and Christina have some issues to work out… I can give you a hint that things will come to a head in Future Savior Book 3: Evacuation. Pick up your copy at the following locations:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007F422AU/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_ask_urHID.1M1VA2B
Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/future-savior-book-three-jennifer-hartz/1109161021?ean=2940013890671&itm=1&usri=jennifer+hartz
Desert Breeze Publishing:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-268/Future-Savior-Book-Three/Detail.bok

Also, please feel free to harass me on the web at the following places:
Website: http://jenniferhartz.com
Twitter: @JenniferLHartz
Facebook: : http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000624983529

And don't forget my exciting contest:
BECOME PART OF THE STORY! Ever wish you could be a character in a fantasy novel? Now's your chance! Stop by my website to learn more – http://jenniferhartz.com

Author Spotlight - Casting the Future Savior Series w/Jennifer Hartz

Before I really get to the heart of this blog, I'd like to tell everyone about an awesome contest I'm having:

BECOME A PART OF THE STORY!!! Have you ever wished you could be a character in a fantasy novel? Well, now's your chance! Swing by my website to learn more: http://jenniferhartz.com

Okay, for today's blog I thought it might be fun to cast the book! People like to ask me who I would cast as the characters in Future Savior if it ever became a movie (dream big!) so I thought it would be fun to share my picks with all of you.

Christina:

Ugh! She's the hardest one to cast! I think since Future Savior Book One: Conception, I've picked about five or six different actresses for Christina. Here are some of them: Alyssa Milano, Serena Gilroy, Kate Beckinsale. Right now? I like Sarah Bolger from The Spiderwick Chronicles. She might be a little bit young for Christina, but I think she would do well. What do you guys think?





Shaw:

Excuse me while I drool for a second…. Okay, I'm back. I don't think I would let people make a movie of Future Savior unless they cast Kellan Lutz as Shaw! If they wanted to do it without him I wouldn't sell the rights to it! He IS Shaw.





Jonus:


Zac Efron would make a fantastic Prince Jonus.








Rayliex:


Hayden Christensen is another actor who I had picked a long time ago. Rayliex is the tortured bad guy… who better to play that then Darth Vader! Plus he really looks the part.










Drexton:


Ryan Reynolds has the perfect amount of cheeky charisma to pull off Drexton. He's hysterical, but can also show a serious side when need be… plus he's easy on the eyes which helps too!












Beliza:



Not only is Mandy Moore so beautiful, but she also has the singing chops that Beliza needs.








Charis:

I've always liked Carla Gugino for Charis. I'm not sure what it is about Carla that fits, but every time I see her in a move I say, "Hey, it's Charis!"





I hope you've enjoyed casting the book with me. Sure there are many other characters in Future Savior that would be fun to cast like Markella, Leticia, Brezkin and Trayd. Maybe we'll hit those characters up next time.

But now it's your turn to BECOME PART OF THE STORY! Don't forget to go to my website http://jenniferhartz.com to learn more about this exciting contest. You could be a character in Future Savior Book Four: Desecration. And who knows, maybe someday we'll be casting you in the book ☺

Here's the blurb from Future Savior Book One: Conception… just to wet your appetite!

"I do not think it is a question of where, but when." were the words that Charis left my mother with thirty years ago when I disappeared from Meric…before I was born.

Shortly after being sent back I've been attacked by man-eating Vaipes. I've learned that my father was a power wielding Guardian. I've discovered that the silvery-blue eyes intriguing me my entire life belong to my Watcher, Shaw who is without a doubt the most handsome man I have ever seen. And somehow I need to stop a war mongering tyrant who can manipulate people's thoughts.

So my question isn't where or when. It is how? How can I help the people of Meric when I can't stop myself from falling in love?
Please feel free to harass me on the web at the following places:

Website: http://jenniferhartz.com
Twitter: @JenniferLHartz
Facebook: : http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000624983529

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Jennifer Hartz

STEPH: I don't know much about Evacuation. What's it about?

JENNIFER: Evacuation is the third book in The Future Savior Series. This series is a Speculative Christian Fantasy. The main character, Christina, is mysteriously sent from our world to the land of Meric… at least she thinks Meric is a different land. Christina soon learns of a prophesy claiming that she will be the savior of Meric and that she has amazing powers.

STEPH: Evacuation is book three in the future savior series. What's the underlying theme that ties the books together?

JENNIFER: Future Savior is a true hero's journey, combined with intricate Biblical allegory. Future Savior is one very long story broken into five parts. They cannot stand alone. Christina's hero journey takes place over the course of all five books.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write the novel?

JENNIFER:It took me about five months to writer Evacuation.

STEPH: What was the inspiration behind Evacuation's plot?

JENNIFER: The inspiration for the entire Future Savior Series comes from several places. First and foremost, the Bible. Someone familiar with the Bible will catch all of the Bible stories being played out in Future Savior. Even someone with limited Bible knowledge will be cognizant of at least of few of the more obvious ones, but there are some more subtle Bible stories in there too. Another big contributor to Future Savior was some of my favorite fiction stories like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia.

STEPH: Christina is a main character. What are her strengths? Weaknesses?

JENNIFER: Christina likes to joke that she has the super power of sarcasm, but in actuality she is quite powerful. She has supernatural abilities like telekinesis and levitation she also has visions of the past, present and future. As far as weaknesses, she has a tendency to be self-sacrificial which is a detrimental since she is always willing to sacrifice herself for her friends and for Shaw, the love of her life. If she dies for them, she won't be around to save Meric.

STEPH: What do you want readers to take with them after reading the story?

JENNIFER: Hopefully a desire to read Book 4! Besides that, I hope they become interested in their Bible. By reading The Future Savior Series they'll catch the Bible stories that I talked about before. I hope Future Savior makes them scratch their head and say, "Hey! That story is familiar!" So they pick up their Bible and investigate.

STEPH: The cover has a castle by a lake at nighttime. What aspect of the story does it represent?




JENNIFER: castle on the cover represents Bristol Fortress which is the home of King Malcolm and Queen Aladonna. They were two of the four original Guardians who died almost one-hundred years ago. There is only one Guardian still alive, Leticia, and she is the evil tyrant that Christina must save Meric from. Christina's father, King Davis, was the fourth Guardian, but he died before Christina was born.

STEPH: What's your writing space like?

JENNIFER: Anywhere I can find! Sometimes I write in the library during my off-bell at work. (I work as a teacher) Sometimes I write with my laptop on my couch. Sometimes my husband will watch our young son so I can spend some time in a coffee shop. I've even been known to write in the car.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

JENNIFER: I have an Amazon Kindle and I absolutely LOVE it! It's so convenient for holding a ton of books and easy to hold in my hand. Plus it's really nice since I live almost an hour from the nearest Barnes and Noble. I like being able to get books so easily and instantly.

STEPH: Fun Question: How do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

JENNIFER: Even though I'm part Irish and I love all things from the emerald isle (I even gave my son a Gaelic name!) I don't really celebrate St. Patty's Day. I might wear some green and try to get my hands on a Shamrock Shake! But my biggest dream (besides having a book made into a movie *dream big*) is to have a long, fantastic vacation to Ireland someday.

But before I take my Irish trip (LOL!) let me leave you with a small snippet from Future Savior Book Three: Evacuation.
Excerpt:

We readied ourselves for the ensuing battle. The odds were horribly stacked against us, but I felt confident in my powers and in the abilities of my brave friends. Using the fallen rubble from the wall as a bridge across the newly created ravine, the enemy charged us. I stepped in front of my friends. I had no clue if the plan slowly forming in my mind would work, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to try.

Forcing all the power I could muster into my telekinesis, I wrenched dozens of the huge grey rocks and boulders previously a part of the wall out of the ground and into the air. Even though my powers had grown immensely, trying to move this large amount of weight certainly zapped my strength. I concentrated as hard as I could and threw the humongous rocks at the front lines charging toward us. The rocks wiped out the first wave of advancing troops and our enemies behind them looked utterly stunned at my display of power.

"That was incredible!" Markella exclaimed.

"Too bad I don't think I can do it again. It was way too heavy." I dropped to one knee to try and recollect my strength. Shaw knelt down beside me and placed a strong arm around my shoulder.

"Are you all right?"

"I'll be fine. Let's just get ready." I smiled at him. Then I looked up as the stunned humans and Leviathans recommenced their charge.

"Well, let's giddy up and go!" Drexton hollered, gripping his whip and readying himself for the battle.

Within seconds we were all enveloped in combat. Sword clangs and spear clashes rang out through the plains around us like thunder. Looking at the vast numbers continually flowing from the city, I was immediately concerned for my friends. Sure they were all trained fighters, but our numbers were so lacking. That's when my mind landed on Charis. Through everything I had endured here in Meric, I had never seen her in a battle. As far as I knew she didn't even have a sword. All she ever carried was a white staff.

I used my powers to throw a particularly large Leviathan back into his comrades. He knocked them down like bowling pins. During the slight hiatus after my Leviathan toss, I looked around for Charis. Worry instantly overtook me when I couldn't find her anywhere. I edged my way over to Shaw who was fighting right beside me. He was doing exceptionally well, as usual.

"Where's Charis," I asked him. I wrenched my slender rapier sword out of the belly of an exceptionally tall man. It was really difficult for me not to focus on the fact that during this battle I would be killing humans. The only way I could possibly fight them without excessive amounts of guilt was by realizing they were trying to kill me and my friends. A feeble attempt at easing my conscience, but it was all I could do to keep my mind focused on the battle.

"I have no idea," he replied and he looked around the fighting to see if he could see our silver haired friend, but she was gone.
Just past Shaw I saw Markella cutting a line through the human fighters. I always loved Markella's fighting style. She used two lightweight swords with such elegance and grace her fighting looked more like a dance than the deadly onslaught it actually was.

The sun would be setting soon. We had maybe an hour of full daylight left. As soon as darkness fell, the Nitehawks would join the fray. Not only would that increase the number of our enemies, but they would be attacking us from the air. The last time I encountered the Nitehawks I still was unaware of my levitation abilities. Should I try to fight these monsters in the air?

Here's where you can find me on the web.
Website: http://jenniferhartz.com
Twitter: @JenniferLHartz
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000624983529

Plus some buy links for Future Savior: Evacuation:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007F422AU/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_ask_urHID.1M1VA2B
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/future-savior-book-three-jennifer-hartz/1109161021?ean=2940013890671&itm=1&usri=jennifer+hartz
Desert Breeze Publishing: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-268/Future-Savior-Book-Three/Detail.bok

Author Spotlight - Excerpt from Washed Under the Waves

I hope you've enjoyed Gloria's week on the blog. Gloria's giving away a copy of "Washed Under the Waves." All you have to do is read the excerpt and leave a comment for Gloria today, Sat, & Sun on the blog. On Monday, a name will be pulled out of a hat as the lucky winner. Be sure to leave your email addy so we can get in contact with you.

Smiles
Moderator Steph
*************
Athan grasped her elbow. "Come, Lady. I will escort you to your chamber."

How formal. How unlike the day they had shared. Tayte felt a quick sting of tears.

Alone with him in the hall, she gulped and asked before she lost her nerve. "I know everything is so mixed up that it must seem we’ll never be ready for the prince, and I cannot see how he would want me if he were here, anyway, but must you stay so distant and—"

"Enough!"

Though he snapped the word softly it held enough force to clamp her jaws. Stupidly, more tears slipped onto her cheeks.
"Tayte ... Lady ... please."

His warm palm traveled from her elbow to her shoulder, across to the bare curve of her neck, and he stepped closer into her space.

Tayte swallowed.

His thumb delved into the hollow of her throat.

More tears crashed onto her cheeks. Why was she crying? Could he feel her confusion?

"Oh, Tayte." His hand slid higher, under her hair. His thumb caught her jaw and drew her face upward.

She stared into his sweet, angular features. She could feel his eyes, hidden in the darkness of the hall, scanning her face, searching.

With his other hand, he traced her eyebrow with the tips of his fingers. She could feel his tremors even though he barely brushed across her cheekbone. Quivers unsteadied her as well, and she swayed on her feet.

His hold at her neck tightened.

"Athan." She didn’t recognize her voice, soft, aching, needing him in ways she couldn’t put into words.

"Don’t, please." He cupped her cheeks in the warm curve of his fingers and lifted her onto her toes and into his chest.

Her palms connected and the heat beneath his soft velte shirt surged up her arms and into her heart. Wide-eyed, she stared up at his face now digiti from her own.

He swallowed hard.

She licked her lower lip.

His gaze dropped and his fingers flexed, digging into her skin.

She gathered the velte, seeking a touch of stability, drawing herself closer. "Make it all better, Athan." She hadn’t realized the cry of her heart until it hung in the air between them.

"I cannot." He released her abruptly and turned, nearly ramming his head into the wall of the hallway. "I cannot at this time, Princess."

Rejection stabbed through her. Then pain, brilliant and sapping. Her knees buckled and she dropped to the floor. Who were they kidding? She wasn’t a princess. There wasn’t one royal thing about her. She couldn’t protect her cousins. She couldn’t teach her island. And she couldn’t attract a tutor, let alone a prince.

The thought seared through her mind, and she gasped. Really? Had she just attempted to get Athan to kiss her? After the debacle with Crystal and Decus? After meeting the King!

Horrified, Tayte couldn’t catch her breath. She needed air, but she couldn’t find it, couldn’t draw it in. Drowning. She was drowning without water. Where was the King?

She struggled to find her medallion.

Author Spotlight - Gloria Clover shares her favorite authors

I don't know if it defeats my promotional purposes to toot some other authors' horns during my spotlight, but the truth is I like to read just as much as I like to write, and other authors put together a good story too. So I'll tell you a little about some of my favorite speculative romances, though I don't know if the authors even call them that.

The most recent I've read is Jill Williamson's series that starts with From Darkness Hid. It has great characters, moving plot, and some of my all time favorite plot devices. Particularly character in disguise. (Yes, I used that in Washed Under the Waves.) In a later book in the series, Jill uses some amnesia (which I've used in two different contemporary romances I've written). In fact, I think the only plot device that I adore that Jill didn't put in her series was identical twins. :-)

Another favorite is Sharon Hinck's The Restorer, also the first in a three book series. This one starts in our world and moves into a speculative dimension. This series also has great characters and a plot that keeps thickening rather than melting as the stories progress. Sharon shows how putting your theme/God truths in a different world helps distance it from your readers so they can grasp them more easily. For example, I remember being convicted of the importance of praise even in tough times while reading this book. (I tried that with the theme of entertainment in Washed Under the Waves -- the approach, not the importance of praise.)

Another good speculative romance, if you are in the mood, is Linda Wichman's Legend of the Emerald Rose. The hero and heroine are descendants of King Arthur and Merlin. And I don't really know what more needs to be said because that in itself is pretty cool.

I suspect speculative romance in the Christian market will become more popular as the secular market tires of vampires, werewolves, demons, and immortals, because I truly believe that there is something in every human God created that hungers for Him and hungers for Truth and isn't satisfied with lesser tastes. That's one of the reasons that I chose to put my speculative fiction into this world. We aren't speculating on the Truth.

What's one truth you've learned or been reminded of that came from a novel you read recently?

Author Spotlight - Gloria Clover shares her favorite movie

Let's talk about The Princess Bride. Though not as well know as Star Wars, Star Trek, or even Lord of the Rings, it turns out that the Princess Bride has its own cult following. I first saw this movie in college where I thought it was cute, but a little goofy. I've watched it numerous times since, and I think I love it more and more each time I watch it.

A few years ago I watched it with a group of teenagers from my church, many of which had never seen it before. What a pleasure when some of my favorite lines slid into their ears for the first time and they grabbed the magic of timeless film.

Because it's one of my family's favorite movies, we can all quote it in various situations. When heading off to do something: "Have fun storming the castle." After a particularly rough day: "You just shook your head. Doesn't that make you happy?" If my husband forgets his strength: "Gently!" And, of course, if we happen to stumble across a really poor movie or book, "([Skipping, the Lord's name,] Grandpa, what'd you read me this thing for?"

Which, I hope, none of you will be saying after you've finished Washed Under the Waves. But if you do, then I just suggest you read it again, and see if it doesn't get better with each reading, just like the Princess Bride.

What is your favorite quote from the Princess Bride?
　

Author Spotlight - Gloria Clover talks about her passion for speculative fiction

All fiction that I've written over the years has always had a romance genre feel to it. I've written 20,000 word novellas and 50,000 word category, and 65,000 word cozy mystery with major romantic elements, and an 80,000 word stand alone contemporary romance. Washed Under the Waves is the longest, (95,000 words) and first speculative I've written. Like I mentioned yesterday, I'm not much on research, but nor do I want to get the facts wrong, so I've just steered clear of attempting to write historical romance. But with this set up of futuristic ... that opens all kinds of creative doors.

Washed Under the Waves, though set in the unknown future at least centuries beyond our current time, takes place on an island that has only been touched by the modern world two times in its history. So the island's setting is simple, non-technological, and often reads like a medieval society. With a few modern touches -- language, harnessing natural gas, and their literature.

The founders of Undae were Roman citizens from the first century B.C. so a lot of the setting centers around that society. They have a Roman bathhouse, amphitheater, and a spattering of Latin words. But because of the two touches with the outside world, they also read in English and use post-electrovian phrases in their dialogue as well.

Then, there are some speculative elements. Probably the biggest one is the medallion that takes the King's children right into the throne room. But there is other speculation on my part, particularly of how society will develop in the next couple hundred years -- which leads us to the pirates with lasers part of the novel.

All that is, of course, to keep the reader grounded in a simple society that is really in the future. With the biggest thing to remember that this world I created is in our world, on earth. The King is our King.

What do you like about speculative fiction? And if you've never tried it, what would entice you to read one?

Author Spotlight - Q&A wth Gloria Clover

STEPH: I don't much about Washed Under The Waves. What's it about?

GLORIA: My pitch line is: The Princess Bride meets the King of kings.

Washed Under the Waves is a speculative romance, set in the unknown future at such a time when the King sends out his children to reclaim his lost lands. The idea of the series is that each story will be set on a different island in the Archipelago of Solomnus. These islands are somewhere in our world that we just don't know about/see now (for whatever reason.) Each story will focus on a different prince or princess sent from the King and a responding heroine/hero that already resides on the island, dealing with a different deception that holds the people of that island captive.

In Washed Under the Waves, Prince Geoffrey Athan D'Ambrose is sent out first. He has some pride issues, so I gave him a sweet, guileless heroine in Lady Tayte Bashan. She knows she's a poor ruler and even wonders if she should be ruling at all.

But the King is always about bigger issues than the obvious ones, so he tells Athan to disguise himself as a tutor instead of the prophesied prince ... and the romance develops from there.

STEPH: Where did you find the inspiration for it?

GLORIA: This seems silly, but I decided I wanted to write a speculative novel in an unknown place because I wanted to work on writing better scene descriptions, and I hate to be told I got the facts wrong. So I thought: It's my made-up place. If I want loquats and plums growing on the same island, I'll make it that way.



Yep, that was the original spark for going speculative.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

GLORIA: Rough draft, probably about 10 months. I'm not a speedy writer and I only write a few hours a day, maybe on average 4 days a week.

STEPH: How important is setting to the novel?

GLORIA: I don't like writing description. I know it's important to have the reader grounded. Particularly in Fantasy and Sci Fi. But I'm not a big fan of details for the sake of details. I'm practicing and trying to be more setting oriented. But I'm not there yet.
5. Did you have to do a lot of research for the novel?

I am a Seat of the Pants researcher. I don't research until I hit a place in my novel and I need to know __________. Then I Google. And may I just say, the "I'm feeling lucky" button is my friend.

STEPH: Hollywood just told you they want to make a movie of your novel. Cast the leads!

GLORIA: Ah. This is the only novel where I ever picked a movie star before I wrote the book. I actually googled Orlando Bloom pictures and took notes on specific characteristics of his face. Then I closed out those pictures and wrote my descriptions of Athan from those notes.

Tayte's character actress needs to be young and innocent and able to do "simple." I'm not up on the up-and-coming young actresses. When I made the book trailer, I used Catherine Zeta Jones because I knew she had long, black hair, the most telling of Tayte's physical characteristics.

STEPH: What do you want people to take away from the novel?

GLORIA: That the King writes the best story for each of us. Life may be or seem like a pain, but God always has purpose. And though we think if we had the power, we would rule the world a better way, we're wrong. We'd just make it worse. (Look what we do with the limited power we have.) :-)

STEPH: Are you a plotter or a panster?

GLORIA: I plot gently. Loosely. Like I try to live. Willing to embrace whatever comes my way. I know some back story. I know some internal conflicts. I try to have a few external plot points to be working toward.

When I start writing Washed Under the Waves, I knew Undae's (the island's) history, so I knew Tayte's and her people's history. I didn't have much on Athan. He was from the King. He was going to be the best guy I could write (with pride issues.) At the end of the first chapter, when he sees Tayte's black hair for the first time, I wrote:

"It took him a moment to realize he had just ogled her like a slave trader preparing to purchase. It took him another moment to realize her hair was as black as the dungeon he’d been born in. Black as a storm night. Black as the hair of Undae royalty. She was the princess?"

Well, I knew all that except ... what's this about Athan being born in a dungeon? Where did that come from? He's a child of the King. But, suddenly, Athan had some back story, too.

And that's how I write.

STEPH: What's your writing space like?



GLORIA: The spare bedroom in our little white box. It's about 10' by 12' with two short, high windows. I can see nothing but clouds out the one my desk faces, except that they recently built a cell tower that sneaks into view i

STEPH: Tell us a little about the state you live in.

GLORIA: I'll make the distinction to say that I'm from western Pennsylvania, or PA as we say in PA. We have four seasons -- Pre-winter, Winter, Post-winter, and Road construction. Actually, we do have very distinct, all four seasons here. This year we had a wet spring and a quite warm summer for this area. Usually we have only one week where the temperatures reach 90 degrees. This year we had nearly a month. I've heard that we are the third most overcast area in the USA. That's easy to believe it is true.

I still live in a rural area, small farms, helpful neighbors. Don't be afraid to drive if you want to go anywhere, but Pittsburgh, Erie, and Youngstown, OH are all within an hour's drive. We call the carbonated drinks, "pop." We often pronounce the small river (creek) as what most people get in their necks (crick), and wash often comes out like "warsh." And if you hear someone use the phrase "yins," yeah, well, that's western PA for the plural you. Here's my last colloquialism:

Back in the day, when I was writing my first full novel and had set it in western PA (write what you know), I had my heroine straightening her home before the hero arrived. In western PA we call that "redding up" the house. I didn't have any clue how to spell the word. I'd never seen it in print. Befuddled, I asked my mother. She calmly explained that was just a word used around here and that I should probably choose another. I couldn't think of another word. I still remember her face when she suggested, "Clean."

Author Spotlight week -Excerpt from Final Deceit

"Payce?"

Somewhere in the blackness she recognized the voice, but couldn't identify who it belonged to. She ignored it.

"Payce, are you okay? Payce? It's me. Logan. Can you hear me?"

She responded in spite of herself.

"Logan?"

"My God, this place was ripped apart. Can you get up?"

"Um. I think so," she said, not moving.

"Can you get up here to me?"

"No. I can't leave." Payce closed her eyes again.

"What? Why the hell not?"

"Gavin. He's hanging down there--" There! She'd said it and now it was terribly irreversibly real. "Look."

Logan remained silent for a long time leaning as far as possible to see Gavin's body still dangling repulsively. He studied it as carefully and thoroughly as he could to make sure he wasn't mistaken about Gavin's condition.

"Payce, listen to me. We have to get out of here now. I don't know how long these stairs will hold."

"I don't care. I can't leave him."

"Payce, there's nothing you can do. You don't have a choice. We have to get out. Now, come on, give me your hand and I'll pull you back up." Logan crouched above her, reaching down an open palm.

"No. If you want to leave, go ahead."

Logan closed his eyes, wishing for a full intravenous canister of sedative. It would make things infinitely easier than trying to reason with her.

"Payce, I'm telling you one last time. You need to get up and help me get us both out of here. Do you hear me?" Logan heard her sob and waited a few more seconds. He could taste the anger and impatience in his throat, and let out a twisted sigh. Then he pulled a small gun out of his side pocket.

"I really didn't want to have to do this," Logan told her. "But you give me no choice. I hope you can forgive me." He pointed the gun at her forehead, cocked it and pulled the trigger.


Enjoy this excerpt from P.I. Barrington's latest work. P.I. will be in the Desert Breeze Yahoo Connections chat today from 8-11:30 am PST chatting away. Pop on in and join us!

Smiles
Steph

Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with P.I. Barrington

STEPH: I don't know much about Final Deceit, can you tell us a little about it?

P.I.: Final Deceit is the third and last book in the Future Imperfect series. The romance of Payce and Gavin is seriously threatened in this book as the characters struggle to get to safety. It addresses some of the mysteries of the first two novels, Crucifying Angel and Miraculous Deception while it also brings in a few new aspects and hopefully a couple of surprises!

STEPH: What's the setting of the novel? Why did you choose it?

P.I.: I love Las Vegas! I always have from the first moment I put a nickel in a slot machine and won a handful of them back, lol! Seriously though, the city lends itself to a dystopian future in that it's reminiscent of Blade Runner but with more sunshine. Sin City is fascinating in and of itself because of its extremes: Incredible heat during the day and cooler temperatures at night; the drabness of the casinos during the daytime and the literal transformation of the Strip into a living breathing thing, like a snake writhing through the black desert night. When you get close up to it, driving down the Strip, there's music blasting, cars humming and honking, people are walking in droves on either side of the street and the lights are flashing in time. There's a beat, a rhythm to it all, like a heartbeat in the night. In the morning, that same Strip is dull and almost monochrome dun colored and has a completely different feel and atmosphere.

Plus, it's pretty much out there in the middle of nothing, just this odd kind of adult circus rising out of the dry, barren desert. That also lends itself to the sense of a rogue society where things are desperate enough for its rules and regulations to be tossed away just so the city can function. It's ripe for anyone with a strong enough personality to move in and commandeer the city either overtly or covertly as in Future Imperfect.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

P.I.: Final Deceit is different in that it took less time that the first two books but the editing and revision took longer. I knew where the story should go in terms of plot and ending but a couple of new characters ran away with it and I actually had to go back in and rein them in to save the story. For the Future Imperfect series, I averaged about two or three months to write each book.

STEPH: Do you cast your characters? If so, who are the leads?

P.I.: Yes, always. Poor Jared Leto, he's my template. I used him, aged, for Gavin McAllister though Gavin is still uncast so to speak. Jared Leto was kind of close and I also used him for Logan McKaye whom I think Jared actually looks like in my head. (Plus I think the older he gets, the better he looks but that's just me.) Payce Halligan actually came from a shot of another character shooting target practice—it was just a head shot of her, aiming the gun, wearing headphones and in a jumpsuit uniform. That was Payce in a nutshell. It spoke of her assuaging her guilt by obsessive target practice and withdrawal from personal relationships. I think that's what draws her to Gavin and Gavin to her—they connect in visceral way through guilt over causing death to their closest loved ones. They're trying to reach out to each other through the veil of pain each one hides behind. Nick Kincaid is from a shot of Alain DeLon, one particular headshot that just screams Nick, even down to the cigarette! Amy Strand, whom I've grown to love, is Ali Larder: Blonde, gorgeous, smart assed. And last, Charlie Bowman is still uncast like Gavin.


STEPH: Are you a plotter or a panster?

P.I.: I'm a little of both I think. Once I get the opening line and the last line of the novel, I let the story work itself from one to the other for the most part. I'll control it when I need to but like almost all pantsers, it writes itself. Whenever I try to control things too much or outline, I fail completely. There are specific points I have to hit however.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

P.I.: No, but I am lobbying my family to get me one for Christmas or my birthday at the latest!


STEPH: How long have you been writing?

P.I.: Oh God, forever. Most writers will tell you that. It's a love that begins early in life and just never goes away. For me, it's a controlled urge now. Sometimes I'll just have to get words out any way, anywhere by any means: pen, pencil, paper, arms, napkin; whatever I can find. I've just got to satisfy that urge to get the words down. The difference is now I have speed via computer and I always carry writing utensils with me everywhere and also I can contain and control it until I'm at the computer where I can properly format it and let it flow. I still do have that love for pen and paper. There's nothing like that for most writers.

STEPH: Do you listen to music while you write?

P.I.: I can't. I have to concentrate on one or the other. And, music being my all time first love, it always wins out over writing. I do however have the television on in the background because my mom's always watching it. I don't really like TV that much so it's not too much of a problem to ignore it for the most part.

STEPH: Tell us a little about where you live.

P.I.: I have lived in the same house for 37 years! It's very rural my back yard is literally the open hills. I have incredible privacy since most of the homes are at least an acre. Last year we had two pair of Road Runners around the neighborhood and on our property! They're really impressive and these were almost two feet tall—simply amazing! I'm about sixty miles east of Los Angeles and at the edge of where the desert proper begins. The real desert, Palm Springs and the High Desert is east and north of my house. I have a gorgeous view of the city lights at night and of course living in Southern California, I overlook a freeway LOL!


STEPH: Pick: Renior, Monet or Picassso.

P.I.: Though I love Renoir and Picasso is incomparable, I gotta go with Claude Monet. His work, for me, is the definition of French Impressionism. Monet's works just kind of shimmer with movement and color. They literally come alive that way. One is reminded of a summer day with only the flower pollen as haze; you can almost smell the flowers and grass and warmth when gazing at his Gardens, Giverny and Vetheuil series. Probably his best known work or at least one of the most instantly recognizable: "Japanese Bridge over Water Lily Pond" for me just explodes with light, color and emotion. Okay. Lesson over. Class dismissed.

An Interview with PI Barrington's muse, Jinx!

Hi everyone - today we have PI Barrington's muse, Jinx, visiting at the Desert Breeze blog. Patti's book, "Crucifying Angel," has gotten fantastic reviews. I just started reading it now, and I love how it moves, fast, effortlessly, and the characters are intriguing. The crime? Death by crucification - at least that's how it appears. It takes place in the not so distant future in Las Vegas, NV, sin city capital of the world. Kudos to Patti & Jinx on a great story! Now, onto the questions....

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STEPH; Jinx, tell me what you look like - are you a pixie muse? A blonde bombshell? Curly brown hair?

JINX: I'm definitely the mini-blonde bombshell pixie type. Not like Patti at all! But definitely not Tinker Bell either.

STEPH: How long have you worked with Patti?

JINX: Her entire life; she just didn't know it. She just now is giving me the recognition I deserve! I've always been hovering around, whispering in her ear (well, okay screaming at times), pointing out ideas or causing her to look up at just the right moment to see or hear or smell something that leads to an idea. Scents can do it too.

STEPH: Is Patti an easy or hard writer to inspire - or somewhere in between?

JINX: Easy, way easy! She can be walking around a store and I can find something to trigger an idea; a paisley design will bring back a memory to build upon; something visual will trigger it: a poster, a skyline, someone dressed unusually or very chic or in a uniform; a nature vista can do it too.


STEPH: What tricks of the trade did you use to help Patti with Crucifying Angel?

I dredged up a few old tricks I've used in the distant past that fit nicely into this novel. For instance I reminded her to pay attention to something tiny but pivotal about a person or a place or a thing that could create the concept of the story. Tiny things about people or places or things that might go unnoticed by everyone else can be an unbelievable ignition for characterization, setting, even plot. For Crucifying Angel, Las Vegas became the setting for several reasons: the first being that the desert landscape appears already strangely and seemingly destroyed although there is a huge living eco structure there; also she and I know that area fairly well and it was easily described as a setting; and last the visuals of the city, the casino lights on the Strip at night and the oddly drab of the casinos in the daylight were familiar too. I also forced her to actually do a little research on the ecology of the place, things that in reality are threatening the environment of the area which happened to be from extreme mining. It all kind of tied the story details and location together coherently and gave Crucifying Angel the correct atmosphere for the novel.



STEPH: Where do you go on vacation?

JINX: Las Vegas of course, lol! It's a four hour drive away, you don’t stay forever, and I love the moonscape look of the desert in the day. It's easy to picture an alien planetscape there. Also the beach, anywhere with nature, though I have been known to traipse through big cities on occasion! There's also a secret place that Patti and I share and we've sworn a pact never to reveal it!


STEPH: Do you plan on reading the Desert Breeze Anthology, Be Mused, about muses?

JINX: Planning? I'm so excited I'm hopping up and down! It's about time we got some recognition and appreciation! Muses are people too!


STEPH: Tell us about the latest project you and Patti have been working on.

JINX: Miraculous Deception, Book Two of the Future Imperfect series, in fact was just completed and will be released in June! I gave Patti several of the ideas and twists for that one, but its part of a series that we both love, so working on Future Imperfect is and has been a joy for us! Upcoming next is the Borealis novelette for a DBP anthology our Editor Gail R. Delaney conceived and is assembling right now. That's the current WIP. The concept is great and writing it is fun as well!

STEPH: Tell us a little known fact about Patti.

JINX: Deep down she's a pathetically incurable romantic. If a man gave her a hand-picked bouquet of flowers, she'd swoon. No joke. Oh, yeah today's her birthday hence the name Patti!

STEPH: What were the most satisfying projects you've worked on? Why?

JINX: So far, Future Imperfect. Each book is more fun to write and a little more intricate than the one before it. I've given her the opening for Book Three, untitled as of now as well as the ending scene I developed during Crucifying Angel! Hopefully people will enjoy it!

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Thanks for popping in today, Jinx! Good luck on books 2 & 3 of the Future Imperfect series.

Smiles
Steph