My favorite part of Eclipse: After the vampire battle, when the Volturi are coming through the woods, the TArdis lands right between the two groups of vampires, and Doctor Who comes out and reveals that they really aren't vampires, just a misunderstood alien race from another dimension, and then Amy Pond runs out of the Tardis and a newborn vampire bites her, and the Doctor had to find a way to cure her, but the only way to do that was for Edward to suck out the venom, but Edward was stuck in one of his awkward-pause speech loops and the Doctor realized that Edward is actually a robot, so the Doctor had to invent a machine that would do it. He saved Amy and offered to take the vampires back to their own planet, but they refused because they like ruling the world and enslaving humanity. The Cullens, being wimpy and all, decided they liked the idea, but when they tried to go inside the TARDIS, the Volturi shot lasers out of their eyes and blew them all up. They tried to shoot the Doctor and Amy, but he was able to reconfigure the sonic screwdriver to reflect back the eye-lasers and they blew themselves up.
oh...wait...that didn't really happen. I sort of blanked about about halfway through the movie and started making stuff up... LOL
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Twilight: Eclipse, or why I nearly went insane last night
My sister in law took me as a present for my birthday, which was yesterday....despite the fact that I generally avoid anything and everything Twilight related. And I still stand by that...that Cullens looked more plastic than ever--seriously, if they can do natural-looking pale makeup in OLD movies (yes, that movie is old to me LOL) like INterview with the Vampire, then you'd think Hollywood could manage it in modern times. They also did it at the end of New Moon wehn we see Bella running after Edward in the woods, post-change, in Alice's vision (although that is a kick-buttingly-cool CG filter). The thick, grainy, nonconforming 'pale' pancake makeup and horrific brassy blonde dye jobs looked horrible and uncomfortable. They looked like zombies trying to cover up the decay with cosmetics. You could see the makeup caked up at their hairlines.
The 'seduction' scene was...creepy, and the characters all kissed like they were told to make fish-lips and pulse their faces together. And there was just way too much slooooooow, head-pulsing kissing. I'm sorry, I've never kissed anybody and moved my head back and forth that much, and if anybody ever tried to kiss me like that, I told them to stop.
The 'witty' dialogue was so not witty, and I come to realize that both Pattinson and Stewart possess the acting range of potatoes. They, much like Megan Fox, cycle through the same three angst-ridden facial expressions: "Angst" "A little more angsty" and "Oh God the Emo is Killing Me Angsty". Stewart has slack-jawed expression on her face that reminds me of someone who has stewed their minds on crack for way too long. I expected her to start drooling at any moment. And the sad thing is, she acts like that in real life, if her interviews on the various tv shows are any indictation. Gollee, girl, GET OFF THE CRACK. The bloodless shattering battle...yikes. I was extremely glad I loaded up on tequila before I went into the theater. LOL
BUt, all that being said, the production values in this chapter of the 'saga' were much better than the others, and the soundtrack is just as good as the previous two. And the girl that played Bree Tanner was so, so flippin' cute.
And I learned a valuable lesson. I hate teenage girls. I'm giving my girls away when they turn 13. LOL.
The 'seduction' scene was...creepy, and the characters all kissed like they were told to make fish-lips and pulse their faces together. And there was just way too much slooooooow, head-pulsing kissing. I'm sorry, I've never kissed anybody and moved my head back and forth that much, and if anybody ever tried to kiss me like that, I told them to stop.
The 'witty' dialogue was so not witty, and I come to realize that both Pattinson and Stewart possess the acting range of potatoes. They, much like Megan Fox, cycle through the same three angst-ridden facial expressions: "Angst" "A little more angsty" and "Oh God the Emo is Killing Me Angsty". Stewart has slack-jawed expression on her face that reminds me of someone who has stewed their minds on crack for way too long. I expected her to start drooling at any moment. And the sad thing is, she acts like that in real life, if her interviews on the various tv shows are any indictation. Gollee, girl, GET OFF THE CRACK. The bloodless shattering battle...yikes. I was extremely glad I loaded up on tequila before I went into the theater. LOL
BUt, all that being said, the production values in this chapter of the 'saga' were much better than the others, and the soundtrack is just as good as the previous two. And the girl that played Bree Tanner was so, so flippin' cute.
And I learned a valuable lesson. I hate teenage girls. I'm giving my girls away when they turn 13. LOL.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Back from Romantic Times!
It was lots of fun! I think it was one of the more productive conventions I've attended. I sat next to Karen Rose at the bookfair. I love her. She's so funny and nice. I pitched to an agent and turned into a babbling fool. Didn't help that one of the Mr. Romance competitors stood behind the agent making faces at me while I tried to pitch! But the agent asked for a partial and a synopsis, so maybe I wasn't too spastic and whacked out.
Cool thing- when I got home, I got a phone call from a graphic design place I applied to! Interview tomorrow!
Cool thing- when I got home, I got a phone call from a graphic design place I applied to! Interview tomorrow!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
I did it.
I got the spray tan. I'm slightly splotchy, have a big poop-colored stain on the outside edge of my right palm, and have a very dark patch that makes the shadow between my cleavage look dirty, but I'm tan. I have a tan butt. That's very interesting to me. I have never seen my ass anything but a white to bright and pristine it was virtually pearly. Bad news is it only lasts about 7 days, so I have to keep redoing it. So they say. I'm lazy and broke most of the time, so I'm only doing this for special occasions.
Romantic Times Booklovers Con will be one of those special times. You betcha I'll be there, and be tan!
I'm going to be pitching Winterborn with a passion. I hope to get there and be able to sign up for an appointment with MElissa Ann Singer of Tor, because she's looking for horror and her schedule for Friday is open. I think I'm going to fire off a query to her ahead of time.
I'm sitting at Panera BRead watching this woman cut up her salad. She's been cutting up this same salad for about ten minutes now. She has completely shredded it. I wonder why? Another woman just walked by on wedge heels so high she wobbled when she walked. Why? You KNOW it's uncomfortable.
I'm almost done with my research paper for english class. I'm doing it on modern feminism and the nbegative influence of gynocentric or militant feminism on the movement as a whole. Yeah, lemme tell ya, it's a lot harder than it seems!
Romantic Times Booklovers Con will be one of those special times. You betcha I'll be there, and be tan!
I'm going to be pitching Winterborn with a passion. I hope to get there and be able to sign up for an appointment with MElissa Ann Singer of Tor, because she's looking for horror and her schedule for Friday is open. I think I'm going to fire off a query to her ahead of time.
I'm sitting at Panera BRead watching this woman cut up her salad. She's been cutting up this same salad for about ten minutes now. She has completely shredded it. I wonder why? Another woman just walked by on wedge heels so high she wobbled when she walked. Why? You KNOW it's uncomfortable.
I'm almost done with my research paper for english class. I'm doing it on modern feminism and the nbegative influence of gynocentric or militant feminism on the movement as a whole. Yeah, lemme tell ya, it's a lot harder than it seems!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Sunday night
Happy Easter, everybody. Did you eat as much caramel-filled candy as I did? Bet you didn't. And me supposedly trying to lose weight for Romantic Times BL Convention! (do you hear my derisive laughter?)
Nothing on TV to watch tonight except for old Futurama reruns. No big deal though. I love this show. I'd tattoo the cast on my ass, if I had the money. The Futurama cast on one side, LUR included, and the Simpson's on the other side. Yes. My ass is big enough to hold both casts.
I'm debating if I want to get a tan the old-fashioned, dangerous way (the sun) or if I want to pony up the cash for a spray tan. My laziness dictates option B, but my wallet says option A.
I read Dahlia Roddy's (Dalia Rody?) latest Medallion Press book. I can't remember the title. It took a full half of the book to fully capture my interest. It wasn't a bad story, just a little complicated, and the reason for the 'black out' was hard to really grasp. The structure of the story was very 'The Stand'-like, although I thought Roddy had a good theory about post-apocalyptic society a few years in, economically. The ending was a little anticlimactic and it almost felt rushed, like things happened just because it was time to end the book rather than when the story dictated it should end.
Will have a review up at PRetty-Scary and SwampDweller at some point this week.
I'm plotting out a couple of horror novels. I need to write something that I can submit to an agent! Winterborn is with Sandy Lu of the L. Perkins Agency, so I'm hoping to hear back from her soon. It's getting close to the 12 weeks she said it would take. I have two story options-- one Rosemary's Baby-ish, but with aliens. I want to write about aliens, for some reason. Ideas been done, but I hope to have a unique spin on it. It's been a while since I've read a book with that theme. Another idea is sort of a sci-fi horror novel, in the vein of Total Recall (and other Philip K. Dick stories), but not quite. I have that one fleshed out pretty well, and the other I'm going to work on tomorrow while I'm ignoring my math teacher (and failing the class...LOL).
Nothing on TV to watch tonight except for old Futurama reruns. No big deal though. I love this show. I'd tattoo the cast on my ass, if I had the money. The Futurama cast on one side, LUR included, and the Simpson's on the other side. Yes. My ass is big enough to hold both casts.
I'm debating if I want to get a tan the old-fashioned, dangerous way (the sun) or if I want to pony up the cash for a spray tan. My laziness dictates option B, but my wallet says option A.
I read Dahlia Roddy's (Dalia Rody?) latest Medallion Press book. I can't remember the title. It took a full half of the book to fully capture my interest. It wasn't a bad story, just a little complicated, and the reason for the 'black out' was hard to really grasp. The structure of the story was very 'The Stand'-like, although I thought Roddy had a good theory about post-apocalyptic society a few years in, economically. The ending was a little anticlimactic and it almost felt rushed, like things happened just because it was time to end the book rather than when the story dictated it should end.
Will have a review up at PRetty-Scary and SwampDweller at some point this week.
I'm plotting out a couple of horror novels. I need to write something that I can submit to an agent! Winterborn is with Sandy Lu of the L. Perkins Agency, so I'm hoping to hear back from her soon. It's getting close to the 12 weeks she said it would take. I have two story options-- one Rosemary's Baby-ish, but with aliens. I want to write about aliens, for some reason. Ideas been done, but I hope to have a unique spin on it. It's been a while since I've read a book with that theme. Another idea is sort of a sci-fi horror novel, in the vein of Total Recall (and other Philip K. Dick stories), but not quite. I have that one fleshed out pretty well, and the other I'm going to work on tomorrow while I'm ignoring my math teacher (and failing the class...LOL).
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday
Finally wrote the ishy squishy love scene in Dark Consort. I've actually written about four of them so far. It has to happen in the book, but I'm having trouble PLACING it. It's a little frustrating.
I got a new eHarmony match today. One of his 'must haves' is his partner must be considered very attractive by society. Uh...why'd he want to get matched with me? I'm the epitome of NOT considered attractive by society! *laughs* But I have really awesome boobs, so it's not an issue.
The Romantic Times Booklover's convention is coming up. IN like four weeks. I had this goal of losing 15 pounds by then, but I think I'm going to settle for fitting into my size 14's comfortable. Yeah. Must easier. I'll save the major weight loss thing for post-RT, for Josh and Renee's wedding and the CONtext and AAD this summer.
I've got some new rules for art commissions now. I got stiffed, again, so there goes my natural good nature. From now on, for commissions under $100, I get paid up front. Over $100, pay half up front. I will not send watermark-free files until the second half of payment is in my account.
I got a new eHarmony match today. One of his 'must haves' is his partner must be considered very attractive by society. Uh...why'd he want to get matched with me? I'm the epitome of NOT considered attractive by society! *laughs* But I have really awesome boobs, so it's not an issue.
The Romantic Times Booklover's convention is coming up. IN like four weeks. I had this goal of losing 15 pounds by then, but I think I'm going to settle for fitting into my size 14's comfortable. Yeah. Must easier. I'll save the major weight loss thing for post-RT, for Josh and Renee's wedding and the CONtext and AAD this summer.
I've got some new rules for art commissions now. I got stiffed, again, so there goes my natural good nature. From now on, for commissions under $100, I get paid up front. Over $100, pay half up front. I will not send watermark-free files until the second half of payment is in my account.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Wow.
I wish I wrote this book: And Falling, Fly by Skyler White
http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Fly-Skyler-White/dp/0425232344/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269751456&sr=8-1
It has got to be the single most elegant, gorgeous, amazingly written book I've ever read.
Look for an official review of the book at www.pretty-scary.net soon!
http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Fly-Skyler-White/dp/0425232344/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269751456&sr=8-1
It has got to be the single most elegant, gorgeous, amazingly written book I've ever read.
Look for an official review of the book at www.pretty-scary.net soon!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Buy one get one frreeee! Who doesn't love free ebooks??
If you buy my latest novel, Winterborn, I'll send you a free e-copy of any of the my other novels!! You can purchase Winterborn HERE.
What else have I written?
Swamp Baby
Curse, crazies, and cannibals, oh my!!
Suwannee lives in mortal fear of the swamp that borders her home. Generations of her family have been lost in the depths. Every night it calls to her, beckons her. Although her best friend Derry promises he won’t let anything ever happen to her, she wonders if she’ll ever be free of the deadly swamp’s siren song.
Michael loves the swamp with a passion, one that rivals that for his ex-wife. While she cowers in the shadow of the wetlands, he embraces it. When a vicious entity offers him an unimaginable power, he
seizes it, despite the horrible sacrifice he must make.
Before Michael can help Spirit-Mother claim Suwannee, something else from the swamp does. Derry and Michael join forces to rescue Suwannee from the horrors of Hertley’s Swamp, but will Derry be strong enough to defy his brother and save the woman he’s come to love?
Spirit-Mother: Devotion (the sequel to Swamp Baby--readable as a standalone novel!)
Five years after the horrific events in Hertley's Swamp, Derry is about to sell the Swamp Baby. Suwannee is still crazy, locked up in an institution, and Michael is still dead. Supposedly...
SPirit-Mother isn't happy that her sacrifice was stolen, and she's out to reclaim her prize. When horror returns to Hertley's Swamp and spreads beyond, Derry and a group of ragtag new friends must work together to save the entire state of Florida--if not the world! Suwannee is the key to salvation, but can Derry make the sacrifice?
Muse
Too good to be true.
After ten years, Miguel rushes to Leah’s rescue. When she truly needed him, he wasn’t there for her and she can’t forgive him. Despite their deep, psychic connection, she can’t find it in herself to forget. Even as they begin their new lives together, she can’t shake the fear he’ll disappear again.
He calls La Mariposa his Muse.
The vengeful spirit is out for blood. After several violent attacks against Leah, both she and her brother-in-law are convinced there is more to Miguel’s ‘ghost’ than anyone knows. As they struggle to uncover the truth, past resentments flare to life. An old rivalry sparks, but will their mutual love for Miguel dampen the flames before it’s too late to save the man they both love?
When terrible, bloody secrets are revealed…
Will Leah be strong enough to save Miguel? To save him, she has to face herself and what lurks inside her heart is the worst enemy of all.
A Year of You
The con was supposed to be simple. Get in, get the money, and get out. But the family that rejected Mattie has dark secrets, and someone will kill to keep her silent!
What else have I written?
Swamp Baby
Curse, crazies, and cannibals, oh my!!
Suwannee lives in mortal fear of the swamp that borders her home. Generations of her family have been lost in the depths. Every night it calls to her, beckons her. Although her best friend Derry promises he won’t let anything ever happen to her, she wonders if she’ll ever be free of the deadly swamp’s siren song.
Michael loves the swamp with a passion, one that rivals that for his ex-wife. While she cowers in the shadow of the wetlands, he embraces it. When a vicious entity offers him an unimaginable power, he
seizes it, despite the horrible sacrifice he must make.
Before Michael can help Spirit-Mother claim Suwannee, something else from the swamp does. Derry and Michael join forces to rescue Suwannee from the horrors of Hertley’s Swamp, but will Derry be strong enough to defy his brother and save the woman he’s come to love?
Spirit-Mother: Devotion (the sequel to Swamp Baby--readable as a standalone novel!)
Five years after the horrific events in Hertley's Swamp, Derry is about to sell the Swamp Baby. Suwannee is still crazy, locked up in an institution, and Michael is still dead. Supposedly...
SPirit-Mother isn't happy that her sacrifice was stolen, and she's out to reclaim her prize. When horror returns to Hertley's Swamp and spreads beyond, Derry and a group of ragtag new friends must work together to save the entire state of Florida--if not the world! Suwannee is the key to salvation, but can Derry make the sacrifice?
Muse
Too good to be true.
After ten years, Miguel rushes to Leah’s rescue. When she truly needed him, he wasn’t there for her and she can’t forgive him. Despite their deep, psychic connection, she can’t find it in herself to forget. Even as they begin their new lives together, she can’t shake the fear he’ll disappear again.
He calls La Mariposa his Muse.
The vengeful spirit is out for blood. After several violent attacks against Leah, both she and her brother-in-law are convinced there is more to Miguel’s ‘ghost’ than anyone knows. As they struggle to uncover the truth, past resentments flare to life. An old rivalry sparks, but will their mutual love for Miguel dampen the flames before it’s too late to save the man they both love?
When terrible, bloody secrets are revealed…
Will Leah be strong enough to save Miguel? To save him, she has to face herself and what lurks inside her heart is the worst enemy of all.
A Year of You
The con was supposed to be simple. Get in, get the money, and get out. But the family that rejected Mattie has dark secrets, and someone will kill to keep her silent!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Boomp ba-da-ba-da
I'm watching The Stand right now. It's the final part. I forgot how good (and corny) the movie is. And how incredibly ridiculous the floating Mother Abigail head is at the end. The montage of fallen survivors, though, I like. I LOVED Rob Lowe in this movie. I was in love with him for a long time (well, his character, more like it).
I read Shaun Jeffrey's DeadFall today. Took me all of an hour. It's amazing how easy it is to zone out while you're tramping away on a treadmill at a +10 incline. I love my ebook reader because I don't have to hold it open while trying to hang on to the top of blasted treadmill so I don't bounce off backwards at a steep incline.
Anyway, the book is awesome. It's a little heavy on the Resident Evil similarities, but it's good nonetheless. Since writing an original zombie novel is impossible, the true test of merit is in retelling the same old story, and how a writer can make it their own. Shaun definitely succeeded, even if Amber Redgrave reminded me quite a bit of Claire Redfield. I definitely recommend it. Shaun's writing voice is very engaging and you'll be captivated by the story very quickly. It's an easy, fun read. Go buy it! I don't have a buy-now link, so go to his website and check him out. http://www.shaunjeffrey.com/
I also finished Jill Marie Landis's novel, Heart of Stone. It's an inspirational historical romance. Pretty good. I enjoyed it. It's about a former prostitute who has turned her life around and made something of herself. She's content until the local preacher-man starts sniffing around. She's terrified of her past catching up with her and she's determined not to let her past tarnish his future. Landis's writing is beautiful--very flowing and smooth. She has a talent for description and characterization. I especially liked Laura's (the heroine) attitude toward Brand's (the hero) kids. She wasn't all motherly and mushy-gushy.
The book stalled for a little while in the middle. I felt like Laura just needed to suck it up and get over her hard-heartedness a little quicker. It got old after a while and I was getting antsy for some interaction between the hero and heroine that wasn't Laura completely rebuffing Brand's attentions. Other than that, it's a GREAT book and I recommend it! Her website is http://jillmarielandis.com/
If you're a fan of dark speculative fiction, horror movies, music, art, and books, check out www.pretty-scary.net. It's a place for women in horror, run by women in horror. We're there to support and encourage women in a genre that's dominated by our male counterparts. We rock, basically. YOu'll love us! Stop by and hang out on the forums for a while. You'll find some new friends, I promise! MEN are welcome--but if we get a whiff of excess testosterone, we won't hesitate to go feminist on your ass! Love us, support us, enjoy us, but RESPECT us!
I read Shaun Jeffrey's DeadFall today. Took me all of an hour. It's amazing how easy it is to zone out while you're tramping away on a treadmill at a +10 incline. I love my ebook reader because I don't have to hold it open while trying to hang on to the top of blasted treadmill so I don't bounce off backwards at a steep incline.
Anyway, the book is awesome. It's a little heavy on the Resident Evil similarities, but it's good nonetheless. Since writing an original zombie novel is impossible, the true test of merit is in retelling the same old story, and how a writer can make it their own. Shaun definitely succeeded, even if Amber Redgrave reminded me quite a bit of Claire Redfield. I definitely recommend it. Shaun's writing voice is very engaging and you'll be captivated by the story very quickly. It's an easy, fun read. Go buy it! I don't have a buy-now link, so go to his website and check him out. http://www.shaunjeffrey.com/
I also finished Jill Marie Landis's novel, Heart of Stone. It's an inspirational historical romance. Pretty good. I enjoyed it. It's about a former prostitute who has turned her life around and made something of herself. She's content until the local preacher-man starts sniffing around. She's terrified of her past catching up with her and she's determined not to let her past tarnish his future. Landis's writing is beautiful--very flowing and smooth. She has a talent for description and characterization. I especially liked Laura's (the heroine) attitude toward Brand's (the hero) kids. She wasn't all motherly and mushy-gushy.
The book stalled for a little while in the middle. I felt like Laura just needed to suck it up and get over her hard-heartedness a little quicker. It got old after a while and I was getting antsy for some interaction between the hero and heroine that wasn't Laura completely rebuffing Brand's attentions. Other than that, it's a GREAT book and I recommend it! Her website is http://jillmarielandis.com/
If you're a fan of dark speculative fiction, horror movies, music, art, and books, check out www.pretty-scary.net. It's a place for women in horror, run by women in horror. We're there to support and encourage women in a genre that's dominated by our male counterparts. We rock, basically. YOu'll love us! Stop by and hang out on the forums for a while. You'll find some new friends, I promise! MEN are welcome--but if we get a whiff of excess testosterone, we won't hesitate to go feminist on your ass! Love us, support us, enjoy us, but RESPECT us!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
WOO! Great review for Winterborn!
It's from Novel Musings Book Reviews!
With every book, you get reviews. Some are good, some are not so good. For me, personally, there's always just one that stands out above the others. So far, this one is it!
Winterborn
A.D. Roland
Winterborn is one of those novels that upon reading the first couple of pages you begin to wonder to yourself “hmm, I hope this story isn’t going to be the same as all the other horror/thriller stories I’ve read in the last few years”. Don’t worry with every passing page A.D. Roland pulls in details and elements common in other stories in the genre and creates an a verifiable nightmare that is unique in and of itself. A story that is sure to leave you spell bound well past the last turn of the page.
The story begins 18 years prior to the main story arc where a group of 4 teenage friends have decided to sneak into the old Wraithborne Estate. Local legend has the mansion being haunted and is the #1 make out spot for young lovers. Their visit starts off bad and goes down hill fast as they find that the police officer keeping on eye on the house has been brutally killed, followed by a strange creature that scares them into the mansion and comes in after them. The terror only ends when an ancient wasted woman attacks Sharla causing her to lose consciousness.
This dark tale picks up with Tamsyn, an artist her husband Sean and his bastard child Kevin having recently moved back into his family’s home which just happens to be the original house of the caretakers of the Wraithborne Estate. The family dynamics quickly turn dark as you learn that Kevin’s mother is Sharla, the young lady attacked those many years ago, and that Sean was having an affair with her for most of his marriage with Tamsyn. Tamsyn only recently learning this information has resorted to drugs to cope with her feelings and marriage issues.
What follows is a psychological nightmare of monsters, demons, and magic that at first appear to the be the hallucinations of a deranged, drug addicted mind that slowly reveals itself to be a dark and horrifying reality. This story will continue to surprise you as each twist and turn in the plot unravels leaving you doubting what you know and just what evil lerks at the Wraithborne Estate.
A.D. Roland captivates your attention by spinning realistic characters rich in emotion and history. One of the most refreshing aspect of her writing is that both Sean and Tamsyn have very complex personalities and both play a major role in the plot. Due to this there are a few events that leave you doubting who the actual lead character is making it very difficult for the reader to know what is going to happen. In some cases A.D. Roland flipped the outcome of events to be the complete opposite of my expectations making the story all the more enjoyable.
Throughout the story we are introduced to many supporting characters, however their part in the story is restricted to when they interact with the lead characters. This enables some very central characters do not make there initial appearance until the end of the novel, leaving the reader to learn the underlying plot only when the character themselves learn it.
Winterborn will drag you along a dark and haunting road through the live of a psychologically damaged mind. You will enjoy every jarring minute as the line between reality, the supernatural, and hallucinations blur leaving you lost as to what demons A.D. Roland will unleash next.
You can buy Winterborn at www.allromanceebooks.com, and you can find excerpts in older blogposts!
With every book, you get reviews. Some are good, some are not so good. For me, personally, there's always just one that stands out above the others. So far, this one is it!
Winterborn
A.D. Roland
Winterborn is one of those novels that upon reading the first couple of pages you begin to wonder to yourself “hmm, I hope this story isn’t going to be the same as all the other horror/thriller stories I’ve read in the last few years”. Don’t worry with every passing page A.D. Roland pulls in details and elements common in other stories in the genre and creates an a verifiable nightmare that is unique in and of itself. A story that is sure to leave you spell bound well past the last turn of the page.
The story begins 18 years prior to the main story arc where a group of 4 teenage friends have decided to sneak into the old Wraithborne Estate. Local legend has the mansion being haunted and is the #1 make out spot for young lovers. Their visit starts off bad and goes down hill fast as they find that the police officer keeping on eye on the house has been brutally killed, followed by a strange creature that scares them into the mansion and comes in after them. The terror only ends when an ancient wasted woman attacks Sharla causing her to lose consciousness.
This dark tale picks up with Tamsyn, an artist her husband Sean and his bastard child Kevin having recently moved back into his family’s home which just happens to be the original house of the caretakers of the Wraithborne Estate. The family dynamics quickly turn dark as you learn that Kevin’s mother is Sharla, the young lady attacked those many years ago, and that Sean was having an affair with her for most of his marriage with Tamsyn. Tamsyn only recently learning this information has resorted to drugs to cope with her feelings and marriage issues.
What follows is a psychological nightmare of monsters, demons, and magic that at first appear to the be the hallucinations of a deranged, drug addicted mind that slowly reveals itself to be a dark and horrifying reality. This story will continue to surprise you as each twist and turn in the plot unravels leaving you doubting what you know and just what evil lerks at the Wraithborne Estate.
A.D. Roland captivates your attention by spinning realistic characters rich in emotion and history. One of the most refreshing aspect of her writing is that both Sean and Tamsyn have very complex personalities and both play a major role in the plot. Due to this there are a few events that leave you doubting who the actual lead character is making it very difficult for the reader to know what is going to happen. In some cases A.D. Roland flipped the outcome of events to be the complete opposite of my expectations making the story all the more enjoyable.
Throughout the story we are introduced to many supporting characters, however their part in the story is restricted to when they interact with the lead characters. This enables some very central characters do not make there initial appearance until the end of the novel, leaving the reader to learn the underlying plot only when the character themselves learn it.
Winterborn will drag you along a dark and haunting road through the live of a psychologically damaged mind. You will enjoy every jarring minute as the line between reality, the supernatural, and hallucinations blur leaving you lost as to what demons A.D. Roland will unleash next.
You can buy Winterborn at www.allromanceebooks.com, and you can find excerpts in older blogposts!
AAAAAArrrttt
Art. Love it. Love seeing it, love making it. I have spent the last few years working on digital techniques, photoshop and all that jazz. It's fun and I love, it but somethign Billy Tackett said to me at a convention has stuck with me. "The computer is a tool."
So Over the last couple of years, I've tried to balance the digital art with traditional mediums. I am never far from a drawing pad (better texture, vs a sketch pad) and graphite or charcoal. I prefer woodless graphite. A little messier, but you can get such a variation in line and shade! When I started school again, I made sure to register for as many art classes as possible. You can see my work in my deviantart account. www.asharceneaux.deviantart.com.
I still love digital art. After spending three years working solely on book covers, I'm doing my own digital art now. I've done some horror themed stuff, and I'm about to start a gothic-cover-art-themed series. Check it out! Again, the link is www.asharceneaux.deviantart.com.
So Over the last couple of years, I've tried to balance the digital art with traditional mediums. I am never far from a drawing pad (better texture, vs a sketch pad) and graphite or charcoal. I prefer woodless graphite. A little messier, but you can get such a variation in line and shade! When I started school again, I made sure to register for as many art classes as possible. You can see my work in my deviantart account. www.asharceneaux.deviantart.com.
I still love digital art. After spending three years working solely on book covers, I'm doing my own digital art now. I've done some horror themed stuff, and I'm about to start a gothic-cover-art-themed series. Check it out! Again, the link is www.asharceneaux.deviantart.com.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Hey everybody!
How's it going? Good here. Sorry about the no posting...I started school and things have been innssssaaannneee! I'm only taking three classes, but one of those is an art class that takes up six hours a week. Doesn't seem like a lot until you're sitting on an art donkey with an artboard on your thighs for three hours a day, twice a week! It's a lot of fun, though. I've been posting my assignments to my deviantart account, so you can see my progress.
Winterborn came out in December, and literally the day after it went live, I got an email from an agent I forgot I'd queried, wanting to see a partial! So while it's for sale, the print release is on hold until I hear back from the agent. As much as I love WB and want to see it in print, having a chance to get my work in front of an agent is worth delaying the print, even if that means I won't have a new release with me at Romantic Times this year.
I just found out I'm going to be FEATURED in The Horror Zine in their May issue! I'm so excited. They've featured some kick-ass artists, and it's an honor to be up there with them! I have a new loosely-connected series that they'll post in their ezine-- you can get a sneak peak at it by checking out my dA gallery. www.asharceneaux.deviantart.com.
On the writing front. Wow. I had a short story I was fleshing out a little bit for TEase Publishing's Unseelie anthology. Laugh with me, now. The story began as an 8k word short. Now, it's stretched waaaaaay out to this 62k word and growing epic fantasy. *facepalm*
BUt I LOVE this story. It features two of my favorite characters, half-Seelie Kaeda, a feisty healer mage, and Ceron, the cold-hearted half-Unseelie king of a damned nation who manipulates her into coming to his castle. He claims her as his consort, and even though he's a total ass, she sees the beauty hidden behind the beast. Cast out by her own people--who change their mind when they realize she's nearly fae royalty, Kaeda searches for a purpose in life and finds it when she learns she can break the curse that binds Ceron and his dying lands.
I'm hoping to wrap that story up in time to pitch at RT this year. In addition to Dark Consort, I have another book, a contemporary inspirational women's fiction novel called 'Something Beautiful', about a quarter finished.
I keep telling myself I should write just one genre. I don't know though...I have so many stories to tell!!
All right, kids are home from their 'sperm donor's' house, so I'm out.
Check out www.rorreviews.wordpress.com and www.swampdweller.wordpress.com for new book reviews!
Ash
Winterborn came out in December, and literally the day after it went live, I got an email from an agent I forgot I'd queried, wanting to see a partial! So while it's for sale, the print release is on hold until I hear back from the agent. As much as I love WB and want to see it in print, having a chance to get my work in front of an agent is worth delaying the print, even if that means I won't have a new release with me at Romantic Times this year.
I just found out I'm going to be FEATURED in The Horror Zine in their May issue! I'm so excited. They've featured some kick-ass artists, and it's an honor to be up there with them! I have a new loosely-connected series that they'll post in their ezine-- you can get a sneak peak at it by checking out my dA gallery. www.asharceneaux.deviantart.com.
On the writing front. Wow. I had a short story I was fleshing out a little bit for TEase Publishing's Unseelie anthology. Laugh with me, now. The story began as an 8k word short. Now, it's stretched waaaaaay out to this 62k word and growing epic fantasy. *facepalm*
BUt I LOVE this story. It features two of my favorite characters, half-Seelie Kaeda, a feisty healer mage, and Ceron, the cold-hearted half-Unseelie king of a damned nation who manipulates her into coming to his castle. He claims her as his consort, and even though he's a total ass, she sees the beauty hidden behind the beast. Cast out by her own people--who change their mind when they realize she's nearly fae royalty, Kaeda searches for a purpose in life and finds it when she learns she can break the curse that binds Ceron and his dying lands.
I'm hoping to wrap that story up in time to pitch at RT this year. In addition to Dark Consort, I have another book, a contemporary inspirational women's fiction novel called 'Something Beautiful', about a quarter finished.
I keep telling myself I should write just one genre. I don't know though...I have so many stories to tell!!
All right, kids are home from their 'sperm donor's' house, so I'm out.
Check out www.rorreviews.wordpress.com and www.swampdweller.wordpress.com for new book reviews!
Ash
Friday, January 15, 2010
Winterborn is available now!
Winterborn is available now in eformat at http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-winterborn-401248-140.html !
Here's the blurb!
Plagued by vivid, violent hallucinations, a recovering drug addict desperately seeks the truth. Are her waking nightmares a product of her self-medicating, or dire supernatural warnings?
Tamsyn Hallert, an artist, exists in a vicious circle of addiction and recovery, fueled by her husband Sean’s long-time secret affair. The affair ended in his lover's bizarre suicide, but not before she left a surprise on Tam and Sean’s doorstep—Kevin, the son Sean never knew he had.
Sean moves them to the country, to his familial home near the crumbling Wraithborne Estate, the massive old house with a terrible mythos. The twisted attempt to save their marriage only makes matters worse as Sean’s obsession with his dead lover deepens, and Tam’s grip on reality grows more tenuous. A horrific plot to summon the dark spirits that possess the Estate comes to light, with Tam, Sean, and Kevin in the center of it all. Will Tam be able to save her family, or will the lure of the spirits’ promises be too strong to resist?
******
Read my older posts for more excerpts!
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