Clare Davidson

Clare Davidson is a delightful British author I had the pleasure to meet on the tweetverse. She introduced me to the wonderful world of Friday Snippets, and so I find it rather fitting her interview is out today. She is also the mind behind this great Indie Giveaway I’m proud to be part of. Her fantasy novel, Trinity, is filled with mystery, creativity, great characters, setting, and suspense. It could be yours by entering the Indie Giveaway.

Clare PicWhen you were a kid you wanted to be…?
A teacher. A show jumper. A teacher. A yard manager. A teacher… can you see a theme here? Now I’m an adult and I AM a teacher, all I want to be is a writer 😉

The first book you read was…?
I honestly can’t remember. Probably one of the Peter and Jane primary school reading books. My Mum frequently tells me that I’d struggle through Peter and Jane and then sit and read comics fluently. The first book that I remember reading and having a strong impact on me is The Book of Three, by Lloyd Alexander. Although come to think of it, Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat probably came first! Both lovely books for very different reasons.

You discovered you were quite good at writing when…?
When I got high marks in creative writing during my GCSEs. Although in hindsight, I’m not sure how much of that depends on true creative flair, rather than jumping through curriculum hoops.

As a reader, your favorite genre is…?
I should say fantasy, as that’s mainly what I write, but my reading tastes are actually very eclectic. I’ll happily read most things, as long as the blurb catches my interest, I enjoy the writing style and get on with the main character.

No, really, what’s that title you’re hiding in your kindle…?
I don’t think I’m hiding any dubious titles in my kindle! I have quite a bit of YA fiction in there, including Rick Riordan and Anthony Horrowitz. I’d have been embarrassed to admit to either of those in the staff room in my old job, where all the English teachers used to read quite high brow stuff or popular literary fiction.

You write…?
Fantasy, mainly, although I’m dabbling in some science fiction as well. I’ll broaden that Trinityout–I write speculative fiction 🙂

The praise about your writing you like the most is…?
That people enjoyed it at all. Maybe that’s a little trite! I love it when people specifically say that they enjoyed the world and characters I created. I’m especially pleased to hear/read praise about the magic in Trinity. I spent a lot of time agonising over how it was all going to work.

What’s next…?
An urban fantasy novel, titled Reaper’s Rhythm. I’m not sure when it will be out, as it’s in my editor’s hands at the moment, but stand by for more information when I have it! Reaper’s Rhythm is the first of a series and I’m already working on the second book. It’s quite different to Trinity and also darker in tone, but still aimed at a young adult audience, albeit the older end of the range.

Thanks for having me over, Monica 🙂

My pleasure, Clare!

About Clare:

Clare Davidson is a character driven fantasy writer, teacher and mother, from the UK. Clare was born in Northampton and lived in Malaysia for four and a half years as a child, before returning to the UK to settle in Leeds with her family. Whilst attending Lancaster University, Clare met her future husband and never left. They now share their lives with their young daughter and a cranky grey cat and an insane white kitten. Clare juggles family life with writing, teaching and a variety of fiber craft hobbies.

Where to find Clare:

https://www.facebook.com/ClareMDavidson

https://twitter.com/ClareMDavidson

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6445758.Clare_Davidson

Clare Davidson

Ruth Ellen Parlour

    I’m pleased Ruth stopped by to answer my 8 questions. She is one of my Friday Snippet’s partners in crime and the author of the fantasy novel Earth Angel. Epic, entertaining, and fast-paced read, Earth Angel could be yours. Just enter the Indie Giveaway.

    RuthEParlour

    When you were a kid you wanted to be…?

A few different things. I wanted to live on a farm so I could have lots of animals. But I’ve also always wanted to be a writer.

  1. The first book you read was…?

No idea what the very first book was. Possibly the very hungry caterpillar. I was very fond of a book called My Zoo and The Big Blue Balloon.

  1. You discovered you were quite good at writing when…?

I used to write stories about horses going on adventures with a typewriter when I was about 8 years old and make my own illustrations. I’ve always loved to write whether I was good at it or not!

  1. As a reader, your favorite genre is…?

I love fantasy and always have. I don’t mind reading other genres if the story is good. I’m a fan of strong characters

  1. No, really, what’s that title you’re hiding in your kindle…?

I have my own book on my Kindle. Nothing unsavoury though.

  1. You write…?

I write fantasy mainly but recently I’ve written two sci-fi short stories. I love writing about flawed heroes and strong women. I like my characters to change and develop through the story.

  1. The praise about your writing you like the most is…?

I love when people ‘get’ my characters and when they say how much they loved them, and want to know more about them. Mostly I just love it when people enjoy my stories.

  1. What’s next…?

Well, I’ve just now entered one of my shorts in a competition. I’m going to try and enter another competition but need to chop 1,000 words of my story to fit into the parameters of the competition! I’m writing some short stories based in the world of Earth Angel and eventually, I’ll get back to work on my new novel waiting in the wings.

Thanks again for having me!

About Earth Angel

EA ThumbnailEardesha is protected by the twelve Gods and their Earth Angels. Fighting against her destiny as an Earth Angel, Faith is returning to the temple for her lover who she had to leave behind. Gabrielle, a criminal, escapes from prison only to be guided back by the God’s to help Faith stop a war. Threatened by invasion from the Krieger, Eardesha’s military trains convicted criminals into a brutal and disposable army. Gabrielle and Faith discover a power the Gods have kept secret for thousands of years, a secret that would change the future of Eardesha, and use it to stop the war.

About Ruth

Ruth is an independent author of young adult fantasy. She is in training to be a crazy bunny lady, currently owning one chubby lop called Bandit.

Blog

www.ruthellenparlour.com  

Twitter
https://twitter.com/RuthEParlour  

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ruthellenwrites  

Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6466109.Ruth_Ellen_Parlour  

Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Earth-Angel-Series-ebook/dp/B008PHPGKE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362047643&sr=8-1  

Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/208830

Ruth Ellen Parlour

Angela Roquet

Urban fantasy author Angela Roquet has stopped by my blog to answer a few questions. Her Graveyard Shift is a darkly comic and imaginative read. Enter the Indie Giveaway to win a copy.

  1. When you were a kid you wanted to be…?

I wanted to be an animation artist for Disney or Cartoon Network. I doodled little picture stories all the time.

  1. The first book you read was…?

The first book I remember reading was “The Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree.” It was one of my favorites as a child. I still have it, although the spine is duct-taped together now.

  1. You discovered you were quite good at writing when…?

When I was in grade school, a lot of my friends enjoyed my illustrated stories. In high school, an English teacher saw a script I was writing for an animated show and suggested that I write it as a novel instead. So I did, and I’ve never looked back.

  1. As a reader, your favorite genre is…?

I really enjoy a lot of different flavors of literature, but my favorite is Urban Fantasy. I can’t get enough of MaryJanice Davidson, Jim Butcher, Kim Harrison, Laurell K. Hamilton, and those like them.

  1. No, really, what’s that title you’re hiding in your kindle…?

Umm, I intentionally read books that raise eyebrows, so I can’t say that any of my books are hiding. I’d say that the book in my library that freaks people out the most is “The History of Hell.” My “Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc.” series is set in the afterlife, so that was a good research book.

  1. You write…?

GSnewcoverUrban Fantasy. I have an overactive imagination and a scientific nature about me that enjoys making fiction as believable as possible.

  1. The praise about your writing you like the most is…?

Well, I did receive a great cover blurb from MaryJanice Davidson, my favorite best-seller. I’m pretty sure I will squee about that until my dying day. Other than that, I once received a constructive critique from a competition judge that was full of praise, which thrilled me to no end, especially considering the judge was anonymous. One of the things the judge suggested that really made me smile was that I should omit my disclosure page. The page insisted my writing was not meant to offend, that it was merely entertainment. The judge said that I should never apologize for my work. That really stuck with me, and I did omit it from later versions of the book.

  1. What’s next…?

Oh boy, so much! I’m working on book three of my Lana series, due out in April, and I hope to complete the fourth by the end of the year as well. I’m also working on a standalone YA novel, and I have another adult series in the works too. I can hardly keep up will my imagination, but I try.

About Angela

Urban Fantasy Author Angela Roquet is a great big weirdo. She collects Danger Girl comic books, owls, skulls, and random craft supplies. She no longer collects paperback books, because she can’t fit any more in her office, however she does collect ebooks. She has an unhealthy obsession with television shows created by Joss Whedon and fantasizes about him directing television or film versions of her novels. Angela’s favorite book/movie is The Wizard of Oz. She likes a little coffee in her cream, and her favorite food is sushi, even though it’s takes her FOREVER to make. Angela is a peace loving, tree hugging hippy who tries to buy organic and local as often as possible. She’s a fan of renewable energy sources, marriage equality, and religious tolerance. As long as whatever you’re doing isn’t hurting anyone, she’s a fan of you, too. Angela lives in Sedalia, Missouri with her husband and son. When she’s not swearing at the keyboard, she enjoys painting, goofing off with her family and friends, and reading books that raise eyebrows. You can find Angela online at http://www.angelaroquet.com

Angela’s first two novels GRAVEYARD SHIFT & POCKET FULL OF POSIES are now available in select stores and on Amazon.com in print and for the Kindle!

http://www.angelaroquet.com
http://www.facebook.com/adroquet
http://www.twitter.com/angelaroquet
http://www.amazon.com/Angela-Roquet/e/B0030CVZ72
http://www.goodreads.com/AngelaRoquet
www.youtube.com/angelaroquet

Angela Roquet

Jason T. Graves

Jason T. Graves

Today, I’m pleased to have on my blog author Jason T. Graves who playfully accepted to answer my eight questions. His Blood Roses is an original and intriguing take on vampire and biblical mythologies with multiple twists and turns. Enter the great Indie Giveaway for a chance to win a copy.

Jason Pic

1.     When you were a kid you wanted to be…?

Honestly?  I wanted to be an astronaut… I always was a bit of a space case.

2.     The first book you read was…?

I have no clear memory of this, but it was probably Go, Dog, Go by P.D. Eastman.  I still love that book, although my kids keep stealing it from me.  The first novel that I read was Melor, King Arthur’s Page by Catherine Owens Peare.

3.     You discovered you were quite good at writing when…?

I have written fiction for 35 years, but never finished anything beyond a few thousand words.  Writing my Master’s Degree thesis in 2011 taught me the discipline to sit down and write a large body of work, and rewrite, and rewrite.  It was shortly after graduation that I started working in earnest on my first novel, which I finished in 25 weeks and published in 2012.  I am uncertain if I am “good” at writing, but it makes me happy and people enjoy reading what I scribble.

4.     As a reader, your favorite genre is…?

I don’t have a favorite, although I favor science fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction.  I read pretty broadly—as time permits—in both fiction and non-fiction.  A writer friend inadvertently introduced me to urban paranormal erotic romance, which was an eye-opening experience.

5.     No, really, what’s that title you’re hiding in your kindle…?

The Daemon Whisperer by Candice Bundy.  It’s a great read, so long as you’re not squeamish about blood and sex.

6.     You write…?

Jason CoverWhenever I can, on whatever topic seizes me at the moment.  I am a disordered writer in many ways.  I’m quite certain I’d be a greater success at this endeavor if I could be more disciplined about writing a certain number of hours every day (and recognize that social media doesn’t count).

7.     The praise about your writing you like the most is…?

“When is the sequel coming out?” is always a good one.  It’s a nice vote of confidence that someone likes your stuff enough to spend more money on it.  Also, having my work compared to well-known authors is thrilling, but it is a lot to live up to. 

8.     What’s next…?

The sequel to Blood Roses is Morning Stars, and it is scheduled for release in late summer 2013.  If people like the first book, they’ll like Morning Stars even more.  The plot is tighter, there are new people and places, and things just get weirder and more beautiful.

Jason Cover 2I am also working on a paranormal thriller/horror novel set in the forested mountains of North Carolina, a dark and gritty near future urban thriller/romance, and a children’s novelette.  That should keep me busy this year, although I have fans clamoring for more about Gretchen Thyrd, the heroine of my On the Bridge novella.  Having too many ideas is a tough problem to live with 😉

About Jason

I live in North Carolina with my family and a menagerie of small animals.  When not spousing, parenting, and teaching, I listen to the voices in my head and write down what they say.  I think that cheese is one of the top ten things ever created by humans.

Where to find Jason and his novels

http://jasontgraves.com     Website  

https://cleverfoilhat.blogspot.com   Blog

https://www.facebook.com/Gravesbooks

https://twitter.com/JasonTGraves

https://goodreads.com/cleverfoilhat

Blood Roses on Amazon:  http://goo.gl/YwkKA

On the Bridge on Amazon:  http://goo.gl/Ww7jq

Jason T. Graves

Elisa Nuckle

The sun shines over Seattle and its suburbia, birds sing on trees, and I’m pleased to start the week by interviewing Elisa Nuckle, the author of Dominant Race. For a chance to win her scifi novella about genetically altered humans, enter the Indie Giveaway. Elisa Pic authorID

1. When you were a kid you wanted to be…?

A musician or a pro volleyball player. Then I started reading like crazy and started writing at around 11 and knew I didn’t want anything but that. Been actively pursuing a career as a fiction writer ever since.

2.     The first book you read was…?

Oh gosh, that’s a tough one. The one I remember that had the most impact was Julie’s Wolf Pack by Jean Craighead-George. From there I started gobbling up chapter books really quickly.

3.     You discovered you were quite good at writing when…?

I liked writing journal entries. When I was 11 I figured, hey, why not make a fanfic of this one anime I like? A year later I hand wrote, in bright pink gel-pen, 50 pages of a fantasy story involving shapeshifting lion-wolf-ish creatures from another world. Haha.

4.     As a reader, your favorite genre is…?

Fantasy. As a writer, I’ve found myself leaning more towards science fiction, which surprised me at first. I still do both, but right now more scifi than fantasy.

5.     No, really, what’s that title you’re hiding in your kindle…?

I admit I read some romance books I wouldn’t want to name because, well, the people I know would embarrass me about it to no end. Haha.

6.     You write…?

Science fiction and fantasy. Sometimes they have heavy romance subplots, other times it’s pretty bleak.

7.     The praise about your writing you like the most is…?

I think the fact that a reader once told me I could make them care while still making it an easy read was a good compliment.

8.     What’s next…?

Dominant Race is the book available in this giveaway. Its sequel, New Fate, is almost Elisa Coverfinished. Then I plan on tacking the third and final book in the Modified Trilogy. Afterward, on to my fantasy series!

About Elisa

Elisa Nuckle is a twenty-something aspiring fantasy and science fiction novelist. It’s always been her dream to chase ideas down and put them into concrete words. Currently, she’s undergoing enlightenment at a community college in Houston, Texas, and plans on getting an English major in the hopefully-not-too-distant future.

Facebook Twitter Blog

Elisa Nuckle

Sharon Sant

I am pleased to have Sharon Sant on my blog today. Her debut novel, Sky Song, is one of the great books in the Indie Giveaway and it could be yours! The second book in the series, The Young Moon, is soon to be released, so hurry up to read the first. But now, have a little taste of it and read what inspired Sharon to write the Sky Song Trilogy

Sky Song

An unknown past. An unwanted destiny. A fight for survival.
A strange-eyed boy with no memory of his true identity or real parents, Jacob could have no idea of the mortal danger he has been in every day of his fifteen years. Now that danger has found him and suddenly he doesn’t know who he can trust and what is real anymore. All he knows is that his new identity is almost as terrifying as the peril unleashing it has brought. Caught in the universal power struggle of an ancient race of beings and a destiny demanded of him that he does not want, he must fight to protect his own life and everyone he holds dear. But when the time comes, will he be strong enough to make the sacrifices that saving them will demand?

Sky Song – How a tiny idea can grow into a complete trilogy.

Sharon Sant Author PicSky Song started off as a younger children’s tale about a girl whose dad watched the skies every night for something. I don’t even remember now what sparked off the initial idea. Sometimes it can be a throwaway comment, a song lyric, a seemingly innocuous thing. Only the other day an idea came to me from a random comment made on Twitter!

The little girl in my story didn’t know what her father watched for, but it soon became clear to her that whatever it was, it didn’t belong to the world she was familiar with. As I thought about it, though, the idea seemed to morph independently, into something completely different. I started to think about what could come from the starry heavens. My first answer was aliens, but, for me, that was too obvious. Then I got to thinking about all the various belief systems that have stuck with humanity over the years of its evolution, and the one recurring theme was that the stars are linked with our destinies. But what sort of destiny could come from the sky? Cue aliens again! And what would you do if your destiny called but you didn’t want it? That’s the story at the heart of Sky Song.

Sharon Sant CoverAs I worked the story out in my head, the little girl became a fifteen-year-old boy named Jacob. Then came his friends and family. They had to be awesome, ties so strong that there would have to be a really compelling reason for him to accept his new life. So I built him a near-idyllic childhood and a perfect school record with amazing friends and devoted family. Then I made him fall in love before I dropped the bombshell. When you see a story begin to show its shape like this, it’s so exciting, and the story of Sky Song from there almost told itself. It’s at times like these when being an author rocks!

The tale became more and more complex and epic as writing progressed and pretty soon I knew there would have to be more than one book to tell it. So The Young Moon (release date March 8th 2013) followed, then Not of Our Sky shortly afterwards (release date TBC). I plan for the entire trilogy to be available by summer 2013.

To find out more you can catch up with me on my website: www.sharonsant.com or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sharonjsant?ref=hl

Friend me on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6888220.Sharon_Sant

Tweet me on Twitter: @sharonsant

Or you can find out more about the books themselves on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sky-Song-The-trilogy-ebook/dp/B00B0CQWV8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1362222379&sr=1-1

Sharon Sant

Friday Snippet #34

In the middle of an awesome blog giveaway, while writing guest posts, and studying how to market my books, my father called and asked me why I didn’t post a snippet last Friday. I forgot. So, in his honor, here is a piece from a novel set between Rome, Seattle, and Pantelleria. I’ve been rewriting this manuscript for the last four years, and hopefully soon I’ll decide it’s finally ready to be sent to my editor.

Mare, Mare...

From Her Book:

One day, after lunch, I noticed that Giulia had left pencils and papers by the stone bench facing the sunflowers’ row.

“Do you still paint?” I asked. We were drinking espresso under the pergola.

“I come here mostly to paint. I’ll show you my latest drawings.” Giulia went inside only to reappear a moment later with a thick stack of papers. “Here, take a look.”

I leafed through the drawings, mostly black and white representation of the view from the house, a few of them architectonic details of the dammuso itself. A column, the archway, terracotta vases. “They’re beautiful.”

“Pantelleria is beautiful.”

“Do you still paint?” she repeated the question for me.

“Not like I used to.” My eyes went to the capers flowers cascading from the trellis, their alien shapes begging to be sketched.

“Let’s do it.” As if reading my mind, Giulia passed me colored pencils and paper.

We spent the rest of the day walking around, looking for objects to immortalize. The night came and I had filled several sketch pads with prickly pears cacti and bright yellow broom fields.

The morning after, Giulia found me in the kitchen, still drawing. The first light of dawn had woken me up and I had gone downstairs for a cup of espresso. The sea framed by the wooden window was picture perfect. “I had to draw this.” I smiled at her.

“What do you think about touring the island on my Vespa? There’s plenty of interesting spots.” Giulia went to the moka to fill her cup.

“At one condition.”

“Which is?” She turned to look at me.

“Only if you let me drive.”

“All yours.” Giulia tilted her head toward the dusty-pink Vespa anchored to the wall just outside the kitchen door.

I removed the chain and the rusty lock and straddled the seat. “Are you coming?”

Giulia got a bite out of a succulent persimmon, wiped her mouth on a napkin, and followed me outside. “Let’s get off of the beaten path.” She sat behind me and we left. “I’ll show you a place where tourists never venture.”

“Cool.” I followed her direction and drove the Vespa unhurriedly, toward a winding road that looked more suited for goats than wheels. “Are you sure?”

“Park here and we’ll go down by foot,” Giulia instructed me.

I stopped the Vespa under a tree and I secured it to its trunk.

“Be careful where you walk, the gravel on the road is treacherous.”

She hadn’t finished saying it that my flat-soled espadrilles slid on the gravel and I fell on my butt. Giulia looked at me and started laughing. “Care to help me?” I couldn’t help to laugh all along. It felt good.

Friday Snippet #34

Storm Dancer by Rayne Hall

I’m pleased to have on my blog author Rayne Hall, the creator of the polarizing character of Dahoud. Read the following post to understand why I can’t wait to read Storm Dancer or simply be mesmerized by the great cover*. Then, enter the Indie Giveaway. Storm Dancer is one of the books you could win.

Dahoud Potrait Horizontal

WOULD YOU TRUST THIS MAN?

Dahoud is a troubled hero with a dark past. As a siege commander, he once razed, raped and killed… and he enjoyed it. Now he needs to atone.

He has sacrificed everything to build a new identity and a life of peace, and he devotes himself to protecting women from harm.

But Dahoud is not alone. Inside him lives a devious demon, a djinn that demands he subdue women with force. It torments him with pains and tempts him with forbidden desires.

When the women in Dahoud’s life repay his kindness with betrayal, his hard-won control over the djinn breaks.

Would you dare an alliance with this man? Could you forgive his evil past? Could you trust him with your freedom, with your life, with your love?

STORM DANCER cover published  11Jan13Storm Dancer is a dark-epic fantasy novel. It deals with dark issues and may not be suitable for young readers.

Don’t forget to enter the Indie Giveaway for a chance to win this book! a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

*Dahoud, art by Paul Davies and Erica Syverson. Copyright, Rayne Hall.

Storm Dancer by Rayne Hall

Indie Giveaway

Blog Hop Banner 1Welcome to the Indie Giveaway! Eleven talented indie authors have banded together to offer you the chance to win two great prizes. The first haul is 11 ebooks. The second is three signed paperbacks and a $20 Amazon gift voucher. Fantastic prizes? I think so! The giveaway is open from midnight GMT on the 25th February until 11:59pm GMT on the 11th March and there’s loads of ways to gain entries.

First, check out the authors and their books below:

 blog hop version 300 pixelsSky Song, by Sharon Sant: An unknown past. An unwanted destiny. A fight for survival.

DR cover 300x225pxDominant Race, by Elisa Nuckle: Lilia, a genetically altered human called a modified, and her allies must choose: help a tyrannical government in the business of killing their kind, or defend someone in the business of killing everyone else?

EA ThumbnailEarth Angel, by Ruth Ellen Parlour: Earth Angels of Eardecia, fighting against their chosen destiny, discover a secret the God’s never told and use it against their sworn enemy.

GraveyardShiftCover4HopGraveyard Shift, by Angela Roquet: Lana Harvey is a reaper, and a lousy one at that, but when Grim promotes her to a high risk assignment, all hell breaks loose…

Blood Roses FULL cover_Rev B_300dpi (198x300)Blood Roses, by Jason Graves: Madeline and Marissa Owen are identical twins who, with their paper-white skin, look a lot like vampires… well, sometimes, looks can be not at all deceiving.

scironsmallSciron, by David Rashleigh: History, mystery, ghosts and a touch of romance in a Lancashire town.

STORM DANCER cover reduced 300 pixelsStorm Dancer, by Rayne Hall: Dahoud fights to save the woman he loves from the evil inside him.

thepriest_200pxThe Priest, by Monica La Porta: Love doesn’t look at skin color/social status/gender. Society can’t restrain our hearts.

tvf200The Violet Fox, by Clare Marshall: The Violet Fox is Cinderella meets Robin Hood with a dash of The Little Mermaid.

Torched_300Torched, by Andrea Lynn Colt: When cheerleader Rose Whitfield is framed for arson, she sets out to clear her name and take prime suspect Paxton down hard—not necessarily in that order.

TrinityTrinity, by Clare Davidson: Three unlikely companions set out to restore a trinity of gods, which was destroyed a millennium ago.

And now for the giveaways! Both are open internationally.

Giveaway one: A fantastic haul of 11 ebooks! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway two: 3 signed paperbacks and a $20 Amazon gift voucher a Rafflecopter giveaway Good luck!

Indie Giveaway

Friday Snippet #33

Gaia OcchioToday, the sun is shining and I went for a 2 hours walk with Nero. More of a slow procession than a real stroll, but he was in the mood for sniffing at the same leaf for more than it was appropriate and I had my kindle with me. All in all, it was a success. As I feel it was the rest of this eventful week.

For this Friday’s snippet, I have decided to post a small excerpt from the original version of Linda of the Night.  As I said in a previous post, Linda’s tale was written as a bedtime story a father narrated to his daughter in my fantasy, Magical Glasses. Erratic at best, Magical Glasses was my first Nanowrimo project. I finished it at 56k words and never looked back at it. Until I remembered the story of the ugly girl who lived isolated from the rest of the world because of her hideousness. This is how Linda’s tale was introduced:

“Today, I was walking through a dusty street crowded with stalls selling all sorts of things, when I saw an old, older than old, ancient lady with a face full of wrinkles, so many of them that it looked like she had a spider web on her face. She looked at me and asked if I wanted to hear a story.” Dad paused to let Luce make her usual comments.

“And you said yes.” Luce laughed.

“And I said no!” Dad laughed too and then waited for her reply.

“Why?” Luce seized one rosette without noticing. Mom caressed her hand to relax her fingers.

“Because you should never say yes the first time a bruja offers you something. They always, always, want something back from you.”

“So, what did you do?”

“I asked her directly what she wanted for the story, and then I said yes.” Dad loved the dramatic pauses and sometimes Mom complained out loud he overused them, but Luce could never have enough.

“What did she ask that you said yes?” Luce mangled another rosette. This time Mom let her be.

“The ancient bruja asked me to tell her a story in exchange for her tale.”

“What story?”

“I told her the story of when I saw you for the first time. I described the joy I felt when you held my finger with your little hand. I told her that I’d travel to the end of the world for you.”

“What did she say?”

“She said that a love so big deserved a gift.”

“What gift?”

“She told me the most beautiful story…”

Friday Snippet #33