Be Our Guest Post: Superhero Rom Coms.

02 Nov 2022 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Be our Guest Post Tags: , , ,

Back again already? Yes, I know I just posted yesterday but I have more content for you. Today I have a guest post from author H.L. Burke, the author of the entertaining and ever expanding SVR universe.

She is here today to explain why Romantic comedies would be better with superpowers. So without future ado…

So, I do like a good romantic comedy … but I also like superheroes and the two things just aren’t combined nearly enough.

Because of this, I have created a list of five romantic comedies that could be improved with the addition of superpowers, along with handy notes on how for studios to act upon.

My List of Romantic Comedies That Could Be Improved With The Addition Of Superpowers.

While You Were Sleeping

Imagine if instead of sort of wimpily pushing Peter Gallagher’s character off the train tracks, a super strong Sandra Bullock had LIFTED HIM off then leaped over the train, landing on the roof, surfed it for several blocks, and THEN gently lowered him to safety—before getting mistaken for his fiance and falling in love with his much more likable brother.

Sleepless in Seattle

First off, this whole thing is about falling in love with a guy while not knowing who he is other than being an anonymous voice on the radio. Secret identities, anyone?

What if instead of a normie, Tom Hank’s character was a superhero and THAT is why he’s having a hard time getting back into dating. Also, instead of taking a plane flight last minute, he could totally FLY across the country to meet her at the top of the Empire States Building. She could even maybe slip and fall off the observation deck and he could catch her mid-fall. Much more exciting.

Romancing the Stone

This is already an epic adventure with over-the-top villains and a quest to find a legendary artifact. You could so easily add in some superpowers. It’s basically a done deal.

You’ve Got Mail

Instead of competing business owners, what if these internet penpals were actually competing supers. Usually Tom Hank’s big business guy would be the villain, but I’d say make him the corporate hero who has all the power whiles she’s a scrappy, underdog anti-hero type who doesn’t have the backing of the government agencies or the respect of the people, just the power of READING.

Groundhog’s Day

As a twist, Bill Murray’s character isn’t caught in a time loop. He’s being held in place by a supervillain, the titular groundhog, who can manipulate time and wants to hold the whole town hostage. Only Murray has the ability to see past the illusion because of his own latent superpowers, which he will use to save Andie McDowell when she’s inevitably strapped to a clock tower at some point in the climactic sequence.

While we’re waiting for Hollywood to get on these rewrites, I would suggest you should probably read a Superhero for Christmas. It will give you that romantic comedy “daww” and “awww” fix while not depriving you of the superpowered goodness you need.

About the Author:
H. L. Burke has written more books than she can count—because she’s written a lot of books,
not just because she can’t count very high.
Easily distracted by shinies, she has published in many subgenres including fantasy romance,
Steampunk, and superhero, and always creates story worlds with snark, feels, and wonder.
Married to her high school crush, she spends her time writing, spoiling her cat, and supervising
her two supervillains in training (aka her precocious daughters).
An Oregon native, she wilts without trees and doesn’t mind the rain. She is a fan of delicious
flavor, a follower of the Light, and a believer in happily ever after.

I want to thank H.L. Burke for that informative guest post. I know I’d like to see each of those movies again with an added superhero or two. If you agree and would like to read a real super hero Rom Com then check out Her newest book A Superhero for Christmas. I got to read an early reader copy, and I absolutely loved it.

My review of A Superhero for Christmas

A Superhero for Christmas is a standalone installment in the SVR universe of novels. As a longtime reader of this series I adored the references and nods, but overall this book is very self contained. It really would make a great Hallmark Christmas movie.

I loved Glint in this story. In previous novels Glint is a very minor character but he really shines in his first solo outing. He is a big adorable floor and he will steal your heart like he stole mine.

Christmas is little more than the time of year the story takes place in making A superhero for Christmas a cozy romance that can be enjoyed all year long.

Marvel hero action collides with Hallmark Holiday goodness in this new superhero romantic
comedy by Award-Winning author H.L Burke. Launches November 5th, 2022!
A Superhero for Christmas
When superhero, Glint’s, aka Henry Nichols’s, powers go on the fritz after a supervillain attack,
he finds himself rethinking his priorities. Years of devotion to public service have left him with
little for himself, and with forty swiftly approaching, he finds himself longing for his youth on his
grandfather’s farm. An incognito vacation is just what he needs.
Former reporter Lara Landis lost her career and her only long-term relationship all in one
Humiliating blow. Broke and rudderless, she retreats to her parents’ small town grocery store to
try and make one last career rally, but how is she going to get a big scoop living in the middle of
nowhere? When a poorly disguised superhero lands in her neighborhood, insisting that he’s just
a normal guy, she can’t help but smell a story.
As their chance encounters turn into a begrudging friendship, Lara is surprised to find a caring,
sincere human beneath Henry’s press-conference-ready exterior. When the truth comes out,
though, her big story could turn into his worst nightmare.
What are readers saying about A Superhero For Christmas:
Hallmark and Marvel got together to have a baby, Superhero for Christmas. An adorable
heart-warming cozy read for the reader looking for some superhero charm with their
rom-com.~Ticia
Christmas, romance, and superheroes…this story lifted my heart up, up, and away!~Ernie
Laurence, Jr, author of the Islands of Loar series.
A cozy Christmas rom-com with superheroes… it doesn’t get better than this! ~ Brianna
This story has all of the feels with, thankfully, not a thing that was sappy. This is how I have
always wished Hallmark holiday stories were written. ~ Veronica Lynn AKA Mrs. Spellsmith


Links:
Amazon Pre-Order*:
https://amzn.to/3flTGnb
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62611074-a-superhero-for-christmas
Website:
https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/supervillain-rehabilitation-projec

In addition to writing amazing stories H.L. Burke is also great at hosting giveaways. Click the link to enter this giveaway for a superhero themed cozy winter gift basket (US Only) or a 12 ebook superhero library (International) Giveaway | Rafflecopter 🙂

And if you want more superhero, Rom Com goodness make sure you check out H.L. Burke’s Blind Date with a Supervillain. and On the Run with a Supervillain.

Blind Date Amazon link*: https://amzn.to/3WkO0ug

On the Run Amazon link*: https://amzn.to/3NoJ0AF

*This website uses affiliate links through the Amazon Associates program. Every time you buy a book using one of these links the blogger gets pennies from Amazon at no cost to you. Those pennies will add up into nickels and eventually dimes.

What do you think, would more rom coms be better with superpowers?

Who wants to see Hallmark make A Superhero for Christmas into a movie?

Be Our Guest Post: H.L. Burke and Why-A

28 Sep 2021 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Be our Guest Post, book tours Tags: , , , , ,

We are taking a break from the Frosted Roses tour to bring you a guest post from author H.L. Burke. This is part of her blog tour for the release of Power On her new superhero YA novel.

Why-A: Guest post from H.L. Burke

Why-A?

Why YA would make more sense but WHY-A was too good a pun to resist.

Where was I?

I am usually very easily distracted. It is unusual for me to stick with a story world beyond a handful of books. Normally I get to the end of a trilogy or a quadrology and maybe I’ve got a couple of short stories left to fill in some gaps, but not much else. I’m ready to move on, find something new. Something shinier. 

For whatever reason, my superheroes won’t let me go. My original four book series plan turned into five plus a short story prequel then a two novella spin off series. That was a lot of books for me. It was time to move on, so I’d decided to retire my main couple but what would they do. Well, they had a baby  now. Maybe they’d quit superheroing for her … but I couldn’t see them quitting the game altogether and I kind of wanted to see how Fade and Prism were as parents … what if they decided to continue rehabilitating supervillains but with a focus on at risk teens instead of adult supervillains? 

Dang it. 

I have to write this now, don’t I?

And here’s where I’ll admit … the main reason I took the series in a YA direction is I really really really like writing Fade as a Dad. 

I’m nearly fifteen years into my marriage, and for almost fourteen of that, my husband has been a dad (we had our first daughter a month after our first anniversary and of course there were nine months of pregnancy preceding that). I love being a mom, but I super love being married to a dad. I like the aura of protection. I like the way it makes a tough guy show his gentle side. I even like the jokes.

So while the focus of the story is on the teens, watching Fade and Prism grow as parents, both with their own infant children and the teens they take in and come to care for was my favorite part. Plus Fade’s dad joke game is strong:

“What’s the prize?” Marco asked.

“It’s a sir,” Fade said from where he stood behind his wife, holding Ruby.

“A what?” Marco scrunched up his face in confusion.

“A sir-prize.” Fade winked. 

All three of the teens groaned.

Plus the main character of this series, Jake, is in desperate need of a strong but loving role model … if only he can bring himself to trust Fade and the rest of the folks at camp long enough to let him fill that gap. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Also check out Kandy Wyatts blog to read an interview with Jake the main character in Power On: https://kandijwyatt.com/2021/09/new-supervillain-rehabilitation-project/

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reformed, book one in the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project. Is freeree for the moment so don’t miss your chance to grab an awesome book and save on the super cinematic audiobook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085X8N8FL

Power On: Book One in the Supervillain Rescue Project, a new YA Superhero Series from the world of the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project

Add Power On to your Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59003059-power-on

Power on releases October 9th but until then you can pre-order on Amazon. Only ninety-nine cents until October first then the price goes up: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GBQF5PG

Jake’s family ties have turned to cuffs.

Born with the ability to fragment his body at a molecular level, Jake Lucas has devoted his life to his uncle’s supervillain gang. When he’s captured by superheroes, he’s certain his life is over at only sixteen.

To Jake’s surprise, he doesn’t end up in prison but at Camp Sable: an intervention project for at-risk super powered teens. Jake’s not interested in rehabilitation. As far as he’s concerned, the camp mentors are just a barrier between him and his true family, the Sand Fox gang.

Forced to work alongside the likewise screwed up duo of fire-powered Marco and electricity manipulator Laleh, Jake waits for the perfect escape opportunity. Having friends and the chance at a real family is more appealing than Jake originally thought, but going soft can cost a supervillain his life. Jake soon finds the forces fighting to control his life threatening to tear him apart.

Will Jake choose to remain the villain his uncle made him, or become the hero his new friends think he can be?

A Young Adult Superhero series featuring found family, friendship, and one superpowered ferret.

Author Bio:

H. L. Burke has written more books than she can count—because she’s written a lot of books, not just because she can’t count very high.

Easily distracted by shinies, she has published in many subgenres including fantasy romance, Steampunk, and superhero, and always creates story worlds with snark, feels, and wonder.

Married to her high school crush, she spends her time writing, spoiling her cat, and supervising her two supervillains in training (aka her precocious daughters).

An Oregon native, she wilts without trees and doesn’t mind the rain. She is a fan of delicious flavor, a follower of the Light, and a believer in happily ever after.

Author Links:

www.twitter.com/hlburkewriter

www.facebook.com/hlburkewriter

www.hlburkeauthor.com

www.instagram.com/burkesdragons

www.facebook.com/groups/hlburkereaders/

https://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Burke/e/B00EYQ1HLW

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7230868.H_L_Burke

Be Our Guest Post: Michele Israel Harper

16 Aug 2021 4 Comments

by C.O. Bonham in Be our Guest Post, book tours Tags: , , , ,

Today I have the honor of kicking off the blog tour for Michele Israel Harper’s latest book, Silence the Siren.

A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of dropping a sneak peek of the third book Quell the Nightingale. Silence the Siren is the second book. So I guess we’re going out of order a bit.

Silence the Siren follows the adventures of Ro, the beast hunter, as she travels to the Caribbean to deal with the deadly sirens that have been sinking ships.

Author Michele Israel Harper is joining us today to share about her inspirations for this exciting fairytale reimagining.

But first, here’s what the book is about:

Huntress Ro LeFèvre is hired to hunt the sirens who have been sinking the king of
Angleterre’s ships, and in turn, vast amounts of his wealth. All who have gone before her
have failed.


Fleeing heartbreak, Ro gladly accepts, but there’s just one problem. The king will credit the
Marquis de la Valère, and no other women are allowed on the voyage.


Ro will just see about that. Hiring an all-female pirate crew without the king’s knowledge,
Ro hopes they will follow her to the Caribbean, not take the gold and flee.


But when Ro is plunged deep into the ocean by the siren she’s being paid to kill, presented
the sirens’ side of the story at knife point, and pressed to join them or die, Ro must decide
whether to complete her mission, join the sirens, or something in between.


Before the sirens sink the ship full of men above.

The Official release date is tomorrow. You can order/preorder at the following Link: https://www.love2readlove2writepublishing.com/books/silence-the-siren/

Be Our Guest Post:

Inspirations for Silence the Siren

By Michele Israel Harper

Thank you so much, Cathrine, for hosting me on your blog today! I am so thrilled to be featured for this first stop of my blog tour.

Three things specifically inspired my latest book in the Beast Hunters series, Silence the Siren.

One, Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid.

You see, I had been raised with Disney’s versions of fairy tales, not so much Brothers Grimm. So the first time I read Andersen’s Little Mermaid, I threw the book across the room.

(Okay, so I threw my Kindle, so I immediately had to cradle it and apologize.)

The mermaid didn’t get her prince? She died? And turned to sea foam?

Oh, heck no.

So I had to right certain injustices in Silence the Siren, though my characters totally took over and changed a few things from what I had originally planned.

Two, “The Ballad of Mulan.”

So I thought this would totally be my Mulan story! (Hint: it’s not.)

Mulan is easily in my top-five Disney animated princesses (Belle, Ariel, Moana, Mulan, and Tiana, in that order. Gah! Love Jasmine too. Anyway.), and although I try to pull story elements from the original fairy tale, there isn’t much to Mulan’s ballad.

(Read a lovely version of it here: https://mulanbook.com/pages/northern-wei/ballad-of-mulan)

(Also, can you tell I’m totally obsessed with parentheses right now? I will do my best to refrain for the rest of this post. We shall see if I succeed . . .)

Anyway (can you tell I also get easily distracted?), the main elements I could retell from the ballad are that Mulan dresses as a male soldier to take her father’s place, the men have no idea, and she travels with them for twelve years before she returns home and reveals who she is to her soldiers.

They’re all like, “Wow! We had no idea!”

And that’s it.

(Disney did a smashing job retelling this, if I do say so myself.)

So in Silence the Siren, someone dresses as a boy, sneaks aboard the ship the huntress is on—and none of that plus the many other things happen to her are Mulan-esque.

BUT. Mulan seamlessly moved into my next book, Quell the Nightingale, as herself, and it is glorious. I mean, I’m retelling Andersen’s Nightingale in that one, so it’s even more perfect!

(She is such a cool warrior chick, you guys.)

And three, the story of Snow White and Rose Red.

I have to tread delicately here, because this story thread contains some major spoilers, and these sisters’ full story is revealed in book four, Slay the Wolf.

(Yes, I have the full series outlined and mostly drafted—we’re just in the revising and revising and revising phase.)

Once Quell the Nightingale goes to my editor (next month, I hope?), I shall begin revising what I’ve written for Slay the Wolf. And then I can tell you all you want to know about my Rose Red and Snow White and more!

Whew! This series has taken on a life of its own! And it’s somewhat difficult to focus on Silence the Siren once again when I’m so close to finishing Quell.

But I hope you will love following French huntress Ro LeFèvre on this latest adventure, where she faces off with the English king, travels across the Seven Seas, and faces the Sirens of the Caribbean.

Thank you so much for having me today, Cathrine! I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

Michele

Giveaway, photo challenge, and party oh my!

Author Michele Israel Harper is hosting a giveaway through Kingsumo. There will be extra entries for joining in the Instagram challenge on the 15th-21st.

Silence the Siren Newsletter Giveaway: https://kingsumo.com/g/2owetc/silence-the-siren-newsletter-giveaway

Want more giveaways?

The Facebook release parties from L2L2 publishing are always a tone of fun and chock full of giveaways.

Online Silence the Siren Release Party, Thursday, August 19th, 8–10 PM EST.

RSVP at this Party Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/l2l2bookreleaseparties

About the Author:

Michele Israel Harper spends her days as an acquisitions editor for L2L2 Publishing and
her nights spinning her own tales. Sleep? Sometimes . . . She has her Bachelor of Arts in
history, is slightly obsessed with all things French—including Jeanne d’Arc and La Belle et
la Bête—and loves curling up with a good book more than just about anything else.

Author of nine published novels as well as an award-winning freelance editor in her spare
time, Michele prays her involvement in writing, editing, and publishing creates many
enjoyable books in the years to come. Visit http://www.micheleisraelharper.com to keep in touch
or sign up for her newsletter.


Social Media Links:
Website: www.micheleisraelharper.com
Amazon Author: www.amazon.com/Michele-Israel-Harper/e/B016YW4Q6Q
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/14554353.Michele_Israel_Harper
BookBub: www.bookbub.com/profile/michele-israel-harper
Instagram: www.instagram.com/michele_israel_harper
Twitter: www.twitter.com/micheleiharper
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MicheleIsraelHarper
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/micheleisraelharper

More Blog Tour Links:

• Tuesday, August 17th, “Random Interview with Author Michele Israel Harper” H.L. Burke,
https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/blog
• Wednesday, August 18th, “Review of Silence the Siren” Kelly Bridgewater, https://kellybridgewater.blogspot.com
• Thursday, August 19th, “Guest Post: Andersen’s The Little Mermaid and Silence the Siren” Jaye L. Knight,
https://www.blog.jayelknight.com
• Friday, August 20th, “A Visual Sneak Peek of the Characters in Silence the Siren” Laura A. Grace,
https://www.lauraagrace.com/blog

Be Our Guest Post: Tammy Lash Author

16 Nov 2020 1 Comment

by C.O. Bonham in Be our Guest Post, book tours Tags: , , , , , ,

Today I’m not featuring an audiobook. Today is a guest post from author Tammy Lash. I love having Tammy on the blog because her guests posts are always so insightful and inspirational. If you missed the first time I had Tammy on the blog you can find that here: https://cobonham.com/2017/08/07/white-wolf-and-the-ash-princess-blog-tour/

White Wolf Also got an awesome new cover, check out those gears! And the sequel is finally here too. And make sure you read all the way to the bottom for a giveaway from Tammy.

Books one and two in the White Wolf series, Now available.

The Gales of November

(Is God There? Why Can’t I Hear Him?)

One of my favorite things about living in Munising is being so close to Lake Superior. Our house is five minutes away from the “Gitchi-Gami”. The Native Americans named her this because she behaves more like a “Great Sea” than the inland lake that she is. Her mood can change from day to day, so anytime is the best time to visit her, but my favorite month to see her is in November. The winds of fall provoke her into a raging beauty. Her power is luring, and one is tempted to get close. Resist her. Her waves will knock you off your feet and her currents will force you to her depths. Sailors respect her and poets and songwriters are captivated by her. All share words of warning. Gordon Lightfoot wrote about the gales of November in his haunting song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”

Our favorite place to watch Lake Superior throw her November fit is from Miner’s Beach. The forest at our back offers a safe place to retreat from her reaching waves and the racing wind that feds her frenzy. The lake’s roars are so deafening they can be heard beyond the trees and into the parking lot.

Photo is of Lake Erie not lake Superior. Taken by me in June not November.
–Cathrine

Many times, life is as loud and violent as the gales of November. We can hear nothing but the noise of worry and trouble. When this wind direction is aimed at us, we must run to safety (Psalms 17:6) and seek shelter from the painful gusts. Our safe place can be found by spending time in His word and talking with Him. No shelter outside of Him will provide the protection we need no matter how capable we may think we are in handling bad weather (Psalms 9: 9-10). No ship, no matter how sturdy, can survive the furious waters of the Gitchi-Gami.

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid (Psalm 27:1)? A stronghold is a place of security and survival. To keep safe during life’s gales, we mustn’t stray beyond the gates even if the waters outside seem still. We must never let up on our quiet time with Him. We Christians never come to a point in our walk where we “make it.” Satan hunts in the calm waters just as he does in the violent waves.

Many verses in Psalms offer promises to us that He will be the safety we need, but what if we can’t hear Him? Feel Him? In Psalm 4:1, David’s thoughts are the same as ours in times of trouble. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness…

Above image is still lake Erie — Cathrine

Life is so much like Michigan’s moody Lake Superior. The roar from our hearts can fill our ears and drown out His voice. Fear not, dear friend. He is there. He can hear your cries against the wind. David experienced salvation from his storm and he shares it with us in Psalm 116:1-3. I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call Him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

If the winds of November are whipping at you, turn to Him even if you can’t hear Him. He is there waiting to shelter you. David felt safe when he called out to Him.

…You have given me relief when I was in distress (Psalm 4:1).

Trust that His words are true. He made the might of Lake Superior. He can calm the storm in you.

https://youtu.be/hgI8bta-7aw (Video from Soundings/June 16, 2017)

About the author:

Tammy lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula near the shores of Lake Superior with her husband and three teen/adult children. Currently, they are working together on their “new” home just outside the Hiawatha National Forest she writes about in her stories. 

Tammy enjoys hiking, kayaking, beach wandering,”hunting” for birch bark, and spotting migizis.

She is the author of White Wolf and the Ash Princess, Letters from the Dragon’s Son, and the short story Eagle Eyes from the Descendants of White Wolf series. 

Facebook- https://m.facebook.com/tammylashauthor/

Instagram- http://instagram.com/tamlash5

Blog- http://tammylash.wordpress.com

Cover of Letter From the Dragon’s Son

Letters from the Dragon’s Son Book

A father…

A son…

and the dragon they became.

One head: Malevolent, attired in barbs and spines, took pleasure in decimating the forested village.

Avery, formerly White Boar, wanders the forests seeking forgiveness from the people he sold into slavery, but is repentance payment enough? 

Righteous, with two horns on each side, tried to calm the evil one’s violent ambition.

More servant than son, Jonathan Gudwyne, had been powerless to stop his father from taking the Men of the Forest into captivity. As a man, White Wolf reverses the damage he and his father caused by returning the Natives home. Jonathan gains honor and worship, but what does he do with the remains of his past? Justice has yet to be served to the dragon. Should Jonathan be the one who administers the sentence to his wandering father? To himself? 

The two heads formed Brinsop, whose iron talons wrought chaos…. 

Can a man change? Can a broken family be made whole again? If one head is destroyed can the other survive?

From author Tammy Lash, the anticipated sequel to White Wolf and the Ash Princess. Letters from the Dragon’s Son is here!

Letters is an emotionally driven story of love, loss, and forgiveness. Jonathan’s journey to his father is raw, heartbreaking, and honest. Avery’s transformation from dragon to father is beautiful and inspiring. Letters is the loyalty of family, of blood or friendship, and the One who ordained it all. Letters from the Dragon’s Son is a compelling read that offers hope and healing to the wounded soul. 

Amazon-

Goodreads-

Letters From the Dragon’s Son: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55836769-letters-from-the-dragon-s-son

White Wolf and the Ash Princess: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37880370-white-wolf-and-the-ash-princess

Eagle Eyes: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42436944-eagle-eyes

Giveaway

Tammy is also generously offering a Giveaway to celebrate the release of her new novel. Everything pictured below.

Giveaway LINK:

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

If the embedded widget is not working for you please click here to go to the rafflecopter page: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a44877ea18/?

Audiobook Review: King’s Warrior

09 Nov 2020 3 Comments

by C.O. Bonham in Audiobooks, Be our Guest Post, book tours, Dive In Review Tags: , , , , ,

Today I bring you another audiobook in my November Audiobook reviews. Today’s post also corresponds with a blog tour for the fantasy novel, King’s Warrior by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt.

King’s Warrior is now an audio book!

An exciting adventure, now available in audio format!

Note from the author:

Enter the realm of Aom-igh, embark on an adventure with Princess Kamarie to save her kingdom. Battle dragons alongside the young squire, Oraeyn and the mysterious warrior, Brant. And experience the adventure in the way it was always meant to be experienced: out loud.

As many of my dear readers already know, when I wrote King’s Warrior, it was intended as a story that my dad could read out loud to my siblings each night. I always dreamed of getting it turned into an audio book, and now I am pleased to announce that this dream has come true.

Many readers have told me that they feel this is a story that “reads aloud” well. And that is no surprise to me, since I wrote it expressly for that purpose. So I am excited for the opportunity for more people to get the chance to have this story read out loud to them by a master at his craft, Benjamin Fife. It was a true pleasure to work with someone who was even more excited about this project than I was (if that were possible!) Not only that, but Benjamin truly “gets” the heart of this story, and he does ALL the voices.

-Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

About the story

The hope of their world rests on the steel at his side….

Threat of invasion looms. Oraeyn dreams of glory on the battlefield. Instead, he must engage in a battle of wills with a headstrong princess while ushering her to safety (and boredom) in a small village. But they must put aside their differences to save their homeland and complete the second part of their mission: seek out the legendary King’s Warrior to persuade him to take up arms once more. 

When their journey leads them to the lost realm of the dragons they get more adventure than either of them bargained for!

Sound like something you might enjoy? Listen to a sample:

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Warrior-Minstrels-Song-Book/dp/B08KTYTZ25/

Audible:
https://www.audible.com/pd/Kings-Warrior-Audiobook/B08KTYGNYR

My Dive in Review:


*Review of Audiobook Edition*

King’s Warrior begins as most fantasies do, with a threat and a quest. The dark country is going to invade and only one man can stop it. Sounds familiar right.

Well it’s not, because for every hackneyed trope, Schmidt adds a twist. The ending is not what you expect and everyone ends up where they are needed most. Wait a minute, ending up where you are needed most is a hackneyed fantasy trope. I guess not all tropes can be subverted.

I really enjoyed the group dynamic of their questing party, the girl who would be a knight, the boy would would not be king, the innocent child who is more then he knows, the man who has lost everything, and the enchantress who is supremely unhelpful.

The character work in this novel is where is shines the most. Not just the characters as individuals but how they interact with one another and how they work together.

You have noticed that this is a five book series and are worried about getting into anything too big. I want to assure you that the ending of this book is complete, no cliff hangers or set ups. continuing on with the series is entirely optional and up to you. But I for one will.

This audiobook is narrated by Benjamin Fife. He always does a fantastic job with voice work. But did you know he can sing? This is the first time I’ve heard him sing and he did a great job on that too.

*I was given an code to redeem for a review copy of this book, All opinions are my own and are provided honestly.*

About the Narrator:

Benjamin Fife has always had a passion for learning. With a mind that remembers all sorts of numbers and useless trivia, he regularly wins local radio shows and enjoys confusing people with sci-fi quotes. Fife grew up in Southeast Idaho. He attended college at Idaho State University, where he met his future wife in their music theory class. They have been married nearly 20 years and now have six children and a whole menagerie of animals.

When his oldest daughter was three or four years old they started reading aloud from novels every night at bedtime, and have continued the tradition ever since. The family loves exploring various worlds and topics through Fife’s wonderful reading skills, which get better every year. They all have his Christmas Carol voices memorized (and the older kids are known to quote along with portions), since he has read it to them every December. 

Benny enjoys all kinds of sci-fi and fantasy – both books and shows, is an extreme eclectic music lover, and prefers his chocolate to be of the 90% cocoa variety. Above all, he loves to be with his family. He loves recording audio books, and is delighted to tell people, “I’ve finally found what I want to be when I grow up!”

WEBSITE

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE OF KING’S WARRIOR

About the Author

Jenelle first fell in love with stories through her father’s voice reading books aloud each night. A relentless opener-of-doors in hopes of someday finding a passage to Narnia, it was only natural that she soon began making up fantastical realms of her own. Jenelle currently resides in the wintry tundra of Wisconsin —which she maintains is almost as good as Narnia — with her knight-in-shining armor and their four hobbits. When she is not writing, she homeschools said hobbits and helps them along on their daily adventures… which she says makes her a wizard.

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Drop back in mid week, Wednesday or Thursday. when I’ll have another audio review up for you.

Tattered Slippers: The Midnight Show.

29 Aug 2020 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Be our Guest Post, book tours Tags: , , , , ,

Two posts in one week, That’s weird for me. The reason is that I’m still participating in the Tattered Slippers blog tour. To day is the Release day for: The Midnight Show.

For the Midnight show I’m hosting a guest post by Author Sarah Pennington. Well It’s actually by her character Dayo Temitrope.

A Day in the Life of Dayo Temitrope

Hello, Cathrine and readers of Cobonham! Thanks for having me here! I’m excited to share a little something about The Midnight Show with you, but I wanted to do something a little different from the usual guest post. So, instead of me talking, I’m handing the mic over to Dayo Temitrope, swing singer and one of the stars of the novel, so she can share a little about her life. Take it away, Dayo!

A day in my life? Well, there’s not much to tell — the life of a singer isn’t half as glamorous as some people think. Not at my level, anyway. Now, if you talked to someone like one of the Kariukus —

Oh. What’s that? You want me to include the odd bits? That’s a bit more personal than these news pieces usually go, isn’t it? But you said this won’t be distributed in Innsjøby, so . . . I suppose it’s all right. But the last thing I need on my hands right now is a scandal.

So, then. My days lately — for the last six months, actually — usually start out with me waking up with sore feet and worn-out dancing shoes and no explanation for either. It’s gone on so long that it’s moved past concerning and into tiresome. And expensive. Not that I mind an excuse to go shoe-shopping more often, but when you have to do it every week for months, it loses its charm, you know?

Anyway. Wake-up, then the usual morning routine: make-up, outfit, breakfast. Most days, that’s just fruit and toast. I like to keep things quiet in the mornings; it helps balance out my evenings. That’s when everything exciting really happens. More exciting things than even I really know about, you could say.

Photo by Gustavo Fring on Pexels.com

After breakfast, I’ll either work on writing my next song or I’ll go out and do my shopping for the next day or two. Oh, what, you didn’t think one of the best up-and-coming stars of the swing stage would do her own shopping? Well, some might not, but I don’t need more people hanging about my life when I’m off-stage, you know? Besides, there are some lovely little shops just a few blocks away from my house, within walking distance even on a bad day. There’s even a little market there that’s just the berries — I’ve gotten strawberries and mangos in midwinter from some of the stalls, and not the horrible hothouse ones. Well, of course, that means they’re grown by fair-born folk. But they’re safe as anything grown by humans, whatever people say, and it’s hardly those people’s fault they had a fae for a parent.

Where was I? Oh. Yes. After shopping or songwriting and then lunch, I’m off again to practice with my band for the evening’s performance. I have a rotation of three clubs I play: the Carousel Club, the Ologba Po, and the Nordstjernen. The Ologba Po’s my favorite, even if the Carousel Club is swankier. Everyone’s friendly there, and on good nights, the audience sings along. It really makes a girl feel appreciated.

Anyway, practice runs right up to performance time more days than not, with just enough time for the band and me to get a bit of a rest and change into stage clothes. Sure, that’s tiring, especially on bad days — sometimes, by the time my show starts, my feet hurt so much it’s a struggle to keep the stage smile up. But I manage. And I don’t have time to dwell on how tired I am until after my first set ends. And I always stipulate free drinks and snacks in my contracts, so then I have a delicious distraction. That’s another reason I love the Ologba — their cordials are to die for. If you’re ever in town, you ought to go by and try them.

I do two or three sets most nights, depending on the club and the day and what my employers want. By the end of the night, I’m usually too tired to do much more than fall into bed. After that — well, I don’t know what happens. I must have some sort of blowout, or something, to wear out my shoes and my feet by morning. But I sure as anything don’t know what it is. I suppose I’ll find out soon; that’s why I told my manager to find a P.I. to look into things. I just hope he can figure out what’s really happening.

This mystery is the case of his dreams — and her nightmares.

By day, Dayo Temitrope is a swinging singer, an up-and-coming star with a shining career ahead of her. By night, she’s . . . well, she’s not sure, but whatever she does leaves her every morning with sore feet and worn-out shoes. And after six months, she’s had enough.

Enter Bastian Dennell, a private investigator just trying to get by. When Dayo hires him to find out where she goes at night, he’s sure it’s his big break: his chance to establish himself and get the funds to pay off his family’s debt. Plus, he gets to work with his favorite singer, even if she isn’t exactly what he expected. What could be better?

But first he has to solve the case — which means navigating a tangled web of strange dreams, fair folk schemes, and show business. It will take all Bastian’s wits, along with the shining talents of Dayo herself, to figure out the truth before the curtains close for good on Dayo’s career.

A jazz-age-inspired twist on the Twelve Dancing Princesses from the author of Blood in the Snow.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Show-Sarah-Pennington-ebook/dp/B08B1RV653/

Add Book on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/b…/show/53954978-the-midnight-show

About the Author:

Sarah Pennington has been writing stories since before she actually knew how to write, and she has no intention of stopping anytime soon. She is perpetually in the middle of writing at least one or two novels, most of which are in the fantasy and fairy tale retelling genres. Sarah’s first published work, Blood in the Snow, received a perfect score and Special Unicorn status in Rooglewood Press’s Five Poisoned Apples contest. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys knitting, photography, and trying to conquer her massive to-be-read list.
Find her online at: Website || Blog || Second Blog || Goodreads || Facebook || Amazon 

Today’s is the last day for the # challenge so don’t forget to share those awesome hats.

A Storm Grows: Poem Feature

09 Dec 2019 2 Comments

by C.O. Bonham in Be our Guest Post, book tours Tags: , , ,

Today on the blog I have a special feature. Author Janeen Ippolito writes exciting fantasy novels, but today I’m talking about her newest poetry anthology. She is letting me share one of her poems with you, I’ll tell you how it makes me feel and then Janeen will share background about it in her own words.

Once upon a time

the great clock

broke

and there was no one

to fix it

(so the stories were ever

untold)

What I get out of this poem:

I love this poem for the imagery that it invokes.  I really relate to the concept of feeling broken and not having the energy for writing or anything really. Yes many stories have gone untold.

The not having anyone to fix it, is what I feel like when people tell me to push through or suck it up. It’s not that easy.

clock poem

Image by prettysleepy1 from Pixabay

From the author:

For me, the inspiration for that poem came from trying to deal with emotions. Sometimes when I’m dealing with emotions that are difficult to place, it feels like I’m a broken machine, trying to examine my own innards while being unable to repair them—or voice them. I’m intellectually aware that something isn’t right, but it doesn’t feel like me. It’s frustrating because I’m often attuned to emotions around me, which tend to shove aside my own feelings. I’m still working through acknowledging and figuring out my feelings (therapy is helping).

Janeen-016Janeen Ippolitos beleives you should own your unique words! She writes steampunk fantasy, urban fantasy, and poetry, plus she creates writing resources, including the World Building Made Easy series. She’s an experienced teacher, editor, author coach, marketer, and is the leader of Uncommon Universes Press, a small traditional science fiction and fantasy publishing house. She’s also the cohost of the podcast Indie Book Magic. In her spare time, Janeen enjoys sword-fighting, reading, pyrography, and eating brownie batter. Two of her goals are eating fried tarantulas and traveling to Antarctica.
Social media links:

Website: https://janeenippolito.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janeenippolitounique/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneenIppolito 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janeen_ippolito/  

Email Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/facebookpagesignup

72119582_2403848079830605_9036844940084117504_o

 

From the back cover:

it is not
an evil
to thunder
shriek
scream lightning
across the sky

A poetry anthology of those who have remained unspoken for too long.

Who have silenced their hearts and souls.
Who want to break free and be heard.

There is healing in the storm and growth in rain-tears.
And always, always a way forward.

No matter what.

Inspiration from Janeen Ippolito’s stories, life experiences, and artistic intake (books/movies/music/art). Includes a link at the end to exclusive, behind-the-scenes inspiration and commentary on various poems.

 

Available on Amazon

Add it on Goodreads

Heart of the Curiosity Blog-tour

24 Jun 2019 7 Comments

by C.O. Bonham in Be our Guest Post, book tours, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , ,

I am so excited for this amazing book that’s releasing soon, It’s steampunk goodness with a theater of wonder and magic sisters, snails and so much good stuff. Check out theses early reviews:

62244055_10157896918626002_5136207520766885888_o

The release date for The Heart of the Curiosity is swiftly approaching. So I invited Author H. L. Burke over to tell you a bit about the amazing magic system she created for her novel.

—————————————————————————————-

You’ve Got a Knack for That.

Have you ever known someone who had an unusual small talent? Or who seemed eerily good at their job, however mundane? Maybe they were super snappy at letter opening. Maybe the espresso machine at the coffee shop which was finicky for everyone else operated perfectly for them. Maybe they can always get pickle jars open even when their Marine husband screws them on ridiculously tight to the point where no human ever could get them open, no matter how many tricks she tries like banging on them with a butter knife or running them under warm water or … sorry, flashbacks. Much trauma.

Anyway, pickle jar woes aside, in the world of Heart of the Curiosity, these abilities have 64784056_10157933783166002_8334785011739787264_oreached a point that defies scientific explanation. They’ve crossed that ever so wobbly line between talent and magic. They are “knacks,” little day-to-day magical gifts that help people improve their lives in small ways … for the most part. Not everyone has the knack they would choose.

Knacks tend to fall into two major categories, professional and personal.

The first, professional, help people with their work. As people are born with knacks (though they sometimes don’t manifest until later in childhood), there’s a sense of “fate” as to what profession they end up in, and as knacks tend to run in families, you might have generation after generation of accountants with a knack that makes them able to add up long lines of figures at a glance. Some professional knacks (which you may find within the pages of Heart of the Curiosity) are a librarian who can mend ripped pages at a touch, a dancer with a levitation knack that makes her literally light on her feet, or a mechanic who can see how things are broken at a glance.

Personal knacks can be less obvious in their intended use. They can range from a person who can see if you are keeping secrets to the ability to detect the emotions of others and finally, the knack that Leo, the heroine of Heart of the Curiosity has and despises, the ability to manipulate the emotions of others.

62351511_10157896887816002_7910744780391317504_nMost of the time, knacks are a gift, something that helps a person find their place in the world and aids them in their day-to-day life. Other times knacks can be a source of turmoil as the knack leads a person towards a life they might not want or if a person who feels they should have their family’s knack ends up with a different knack that makes them feel like an outsider.

Finding (and accepting) your place in the world is hard enough without a big flashing neon sign saying, “Go there and do this whether you want to or not!” over your head. At the same time, the idea of having a small, individualized magic that helps me through the day to day really appeals to me as a lover of small wonders.

What sort of knack would you like to have? Someone in my book might actually have it. Find out in Heart of the Curiosity.

Heidi Lyn Burke

———————————————————————————————

heidi-107Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and was always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.

An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.

Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.

Social Media Links:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/hlburkewriter/

Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hlburkereaders/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hlburkewriter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burkesdragons/

Website: http://www.hlburkeauthor.com/

———————————————————————————-

The secret lies with the Heart.

HoC CoverBorn with a magical knack for manipulating emotions, Leodora’s only dream is to ensure her talented little sister dances on the biggest, brightest stage in the Republic: The Curiosity, a grand old theater of tradition and innovation. After escaping a cruel carnival, Leo secures her sister a place in the Curiosity’s chorus line, and herself a job as a professional audience member, swaying the crowd’s mood with her magic. The girls have a home for the first time in their lives.

Then a tragic accident darkens the theater. A greedy businessman begins blackmailing Leo, and financial woes threaten to close the show forever. The Curiosity’s sole hope lies in a mythical power source hidden beneath the maze-like passages and trapdoors of the theater—the Heart. And Leo’s only friend Paxton, nephew of the theater’s stagemistress, is the key to finding it.

While Leo and Paxton hunt for the Heart, the blackmailer’s threats loom larger. Mysterious figures, cryptic clues, and deadly traps hinder the search at every turn. If the friends cannot recover the Heart in time, Leo and her sister will be cast out of the only home they’ve ever known, and the final curtain will fall on The Curiosity.

Enter a world reminiscent of The Greatest Showman, with a puzzle worthy of Sherlock Holmes and National Treasure, in this new Steampunk Fantasy from H. L. Burke.

Pre-Order links:

The release date is June 27th so take advantage of the pre-order deals before they’re gone.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Curiosity-H-L-Burke-ebook/dp/B07S58N3P5/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heart-of-the-curiosity-h-l-burke/1131668257

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1464838020

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/heart-of-the-curiosity

Autographed paperback: https://uncommonuniverses.com/product/heart-of-the-curiosity-autographed-paperback-pre-order/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45944020-heart-of-the-curiosity

Here’s one more quote graphic to get you excited:

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Be Our Guest Post: C.W. Briar

17 Feb 2019 2 Comments

by C.O. Bonham in Be our Guest Post, book tours Tags: , , , ,

Whispers-Blog-Tour

It’s time for another blog tour. This time it’s for author C.W. Briar’s debut novel. Whispers from the Depth.

About the book:

Whispers from the Depths Cover.jpgJoyful and blessed are Voice-bearers, for the Heavens have set them apart.

 As Whisperers gifted with the Voice, Betka and her people are enslaved. Only they can control the dangerous spirits that haunt the waters, but they are forced to serve under cruel taskmasters. Betka has little hope of freedom from her service or her own bitterness.

 They toil for the goodness of others. 

 A powerful water spirit terrorizes the castle where Betka’s sister is serving. Betka is assigned to the crew sailing to face the foe, and she fears for the only family she has left.

 Rage is found nowhere in them.

 In the beleaguered, flooded castle, a new threat awaits—a magic more powerful and horrifying than anything they have ever seen. Loyalties will be tested, and enemies will become desperate allies.

 Betka is their only hope of escape—if she can subdue the wrath that endangers them all.

She who wields the waters for revenge drowns herself tenfold.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40800052-whispers-from-the-depths

Be Our Guest Post with C.W. Briar:

Thanks for having me. Can I start off by saying how surreal it is to be doing my first blog tour? It’s like arriving at the Academy Awards, except my ritzy gift bag looks more like a paper plate with Oreos from my own cupboard.

They’re delicious, by the way.

For those who don’t know me: Hello. I’m C.W. Briar, I write books, and I have cute dogs. That’s all the important bits about me. Those of you who already know me (sorry) have probably gleaned two other facts: I like creepy stories, and I joke around online. That might seem contradictory, but it’s because serious me is long-winded, and writing a dark fantasy novel lets me be super long-winded.

In addition to suspense, action, and humor, Whispers From The Depths is an exploration of questions I’d been contemplating. We’re all familiar with the phrase “love conquers all,” but how, exactly, does it conquer? How does love win against a foe that’s content with being violent and cruel? What does it look like to interrupt the downward spiral of grudges and vengeance?

As much as anything, it’s the immersion into those questions that pushes Whispers into dark fantasy territory. I threw the two main characters, Betka and Asi, to the wolves. They have immense power as Whisperers with water magic, but none to protect themselves. The limitation to their ability is that it can’t be used to harm others. The Whisperers are desperate for an escape or way to fight back against a kingdom that has turned against them.

Betka’s life is a nightmare, and that’s before she gets news that her sister’s village has been attacked by a dangerous spirit.

That was the heartbeat of the story, the lifeblood flowing through every chapter. The old Whisperer dictates about love feel oppressive in that situation. Betka wrestles with them, just as I wrestled with them. The great thing about fiction is that we can let characters explore difficult questions while we have fun as readers.

And the book is meant to be fun, not just moral ruminations. Readers will have form their own opinions, but I think the spirit Ylvalas creates an interesting conflict. In this world, spirits inhabit the waters and can manifest in various forms. I took rather morbid delight in creating ways for water to be used as a weapon, then pitting the characters against those threats.

That’s the situation Betka finds herself in, trapped between a murderous spirit and cruel oppressors, fighting to rescue herself and her sister. It’s Betka’s story, and I loved her honesty and resolve through it all. I loved the strength of Asi’s tender heart and the courage in Kuros’s humor. Now I get to find out if readers also love the characters and their diverse responses to the horrors.

Author Nancy Holzner wrote one of the novel’s blurbs. She said it “entertains on every page and leaves the reader thinking long after the last word.” Honestly, that’s everything I hoped for from the book.

Author Bio

CW Briar - Author Photo.jpgC.W. Briar writes fantasy that’s dark but hopeful, filled with wonder and humor along with the suspense and creepiness. His favorite stories are the ones that make him both smile and perch on the edge of his seat. By day, he works as a systems engineer, testing or even riding on trains, airplanes, and helicopters. At night, when not writing, he prepares fancy dinners and shows off his awesome corgis. He’s a graduate of Binghamton University and lives in Upstate NY with his wife, three kids, and secret stashes of chocolate.

 

Sign up for newsletter exclusives through his website: http://www.cwbriar.com

 Social Media Links:

https://www.facebook.com/CWBriar

https://twitter.com/CW_Briar

https://www.instagram.com/cw_briar/

Whispers from the Depth releases February 19th in both Ebook and print.

3D Graphic, no background.png

 UUP website (Rumor says these are autographed!): https://uncommonuniverses.com/books/whispers-from-the-depths/

 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Depths-C-W-Briar-ebook/dp/B07LC2VTLM/

 Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whispers-from-the-depths-c-w-briar/1130009932

 Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1446792349

 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/whispers-from-the-depths-1

If Wishes Were Curses Blog Tour

09 Feb 2019 3 Comments

by C.O. Bonham in Be our Guest Post, book tours Tags: , , , , ,

You’ve seen the cover reveal, now experience the tour!

IWWC Blog Tour Graphic

The urban fantasy about a half Jinn is back on the blog with the official blog tour.

As part of the blog tour am hosting a guest post from author Janeen Ippolito about one of the meaty themes explored in her story.

But first for those who may have forgotten, a refresher on what the book is about.

iwwc_ji[final2]So I accidentally killed a shifter. On purpose.

With genie powers I shouldn’t be able to use, thanks to my curse-mark.

In my defense, the damn grizzly was threatening civilians and might have been a vampire as well. Pittsburgh is safer without him. Only the Fae court doesn’t believe my story, and the shifters are out for blood.

Now I’ve lost my job as a romantic investigator, and I’m on death row. My only hope is an oddly outgoing vegetarian vampire lawyer who seems strangely familiar. Too familiar. 

Almost like we’ve met before, and this whole thing was a set-up to take us both down.

Wishing won’t get us out of this mess.
But my forbidden wish magic just might.

A snarky urban fantasy with a heart, some romance with heat (nothing graphic), and gleeful send ups of many tropes, all wrapped up with an otter-shifter in the bargain.

The book releases February 12, you can preorder it now for just 99 cents:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Wishes-Were-Curses-Steel-Genie-ebook/dp/B07M743SN8

Add it to your Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43502789-if-wishes-were-curses

Now it’s time for our Be our Guest post from author Janeen Ippolito:

Trusting When You’ve Been Cursed: Abandonment in If Wishes Were Curses

 When I first started writing If Wishes Were Curses, I knew main character Allis Evanenko had some issues relating to people deeply. But I wasn’t exactly sure why. Yes, her mother died from illness, but I knew Allis had grieved deeply and made peace with that. And Allis was always close to her half-brother Gideon. Their sibling bond is so tight that Gideon left his father’s otter-shifter family to stick with his sister. So why did Allis feel so haunted by this deep sense of loss? As a matchmaker she worked so hard for people to make meaningful connections with each other. Why was she unable to open up and trust others would be there for her?

Then I realized that Allis had been abandoned before she was born. Her Jinn father had abandoned her mostly-human mother as soon as he learned she was pregnant. Allis’s mother never learned the reason why. She just woke up, alone and at the mercy of the Fae court who were very concerned about the possibility of a half-Jinn child. Some of them even strongly urged Allis’s mother to abort the child for the Fae peace of mind. She refused and chose to raise Allis on her own, with much Fae oversight, but little actual support. Moreover, the Fae insisted that Allis receive a curse-mark upon birth, blocking the majority of her magic and disabling her from any meaningful interaction in Fae society.

Quotefancy-5090231-3840x2160

No matter how much Allis’s mother and brother assured her that she was wanted and loved, Allis grew up knowing that she was abandoned by not only her father, but also Fae culture in general. And while she fought for meaning in the church and clung to her brother, she still believed that the only way to survive was to remember that ultimately, she’d be alone. And that it was all her fault, just for existing. Since she could never fix her own problems, she could at least prove herself by fixing relational issues for others. Helping others find true love that works and stopping people from getting into bad relationships—or helping them flee bad relationships—brings her comfort in a way nothing else can. Even if people around her often scoff at her little mission as being “light” and “fluffy” as opposed to people who do “real, serious cop or investigative work.” She takes her work seriously, has a college degree in interpersonal studies, and has devoted herself to figuring out how people work. All while making sure no one knows how alone she feels inside.

Of course, I’m quite terrible to Allis, because in the story she’s arrested, and even her handful of friends appear to desert her. Enter Cendric Atelier, a vampire with a story of abandonment of his own. You’ll have to read the book to learn more about that but sufficed to say that they connect over a deep understanding of what it’s like to be left behind. And that shared experience can turn them into a powerful team—if they can overcome their own insecurities.

Maybe it’s my own extroverted side, but I love writing stories where people must join with others to defeat evil. Ensemble casts rule! And in Allis’s case, one key part of her personal journey is accepting that Cendric is there to stay—and so are her Fae friends.

One major song with this is Piece by Piece by Kelly Clarkson, 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwTMz6Nfhjg

 

Janeen-016Janeen Ippolito writes steampunk fantasy and urban fantasy, and creates writing resources, including the reference book World Building From the Inside Out and the creative writing guide Irresistible World Building For Unforgettable Stories. She’s an experienced teacher, editor, author coach, marketer, and is the leader of Uncommon Universes Press, a small traditional science fiction and fantasy publishing house. She’s also the cohost of the podcast Indie Book Magic. In her spare time, Janeen enjoys sword-fighting, reading, pyrography, and eating brownie batter. Two of her goals are eating fried tarantulas and traveling to Antarctica.

Website: https://janeenippolito.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janeenippolitounique/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneenIppolito
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janeen_ippolito/  

 

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