Exiled: Autumn's Peril...# 4 on OMNILIT Top Ten

Looking for a Christmas gift that lasts? Why not think about an ebook that will entertain today AND tomorrow!

It seems people have discovered the Chronicles of Caleath and Book One has reached the Top Ten list at Omnilit.

Coffeetime Romance is offering 40% off all five books... Thanks Edith for letting me know!

Tweaking... an obsession? or just striving for perfection?

Once you have penned your article, novel, poem, letter, do you keep on wanting to 'fix' things?

I am a perennial tweaker. No day goes by without wanting to re do my last sentence. Today I am writing a short spiel for a newsletter. A spiel about me... the hardest thing to talk about. Do you think I can walk away from my 'finished' piece?

Other authors I know can put aside their work once the ink is dry.
Some days I wish I could do the same.
Is it lack of confidence? Is it wanting to reach perfection? In writing, or any form of art, perfection surely does not exist. Interpretation allows for imperfection. In painting as in writing. We are a channel for experiences, both visual and written. Everyone would and should relate any scene with focus on different aspects. So why do I worry?
Bottom line. I do worry and can't see myself stopping any time soon.

This week I woke from a nightmare with a new idea on how to improve the opening scene for Book One of the Chronicles.
Does it need improving?
I had some feedback that perhaps it does. So, I worried and came up with an idea.
Each of the other books in the series, so far, have a minstrel introducing the story. Bringing the reader up to speed. One review comment suggested the lack of back-story kept a younger reader from understanding where the action began.. so perhaps a minstrel opening the first book could help there?
The back story is sprinkled through the first few chapters, but if the younger reader didn't get that far, I have a problem. So, for one reader I lie awake at night wondering how to improve things.

Here is what I have come up with.. anyone who has read EXILED: Autumn's Peril, it would be great to know if you think this start helps...
LATEST VERSION  of opening scene from EXILED: Autumn's Peril

Francene Stanley talks about moonstone magic and STILL ROCK WATER...

Francene, welcome to my blog.

It is an exciting time. The ripples from the release of 
STILL ROCK WATER 
have barely settled and your second novel in the Higher Ground series has just been released too. 

Congratulations are in order.

Today I would like to talk about Still Rock Water. I have read this book and your ability to create a believable character in Liliha impressed me. 

Her situations and the magic of her moonstone ring make a great story. 


How much of your own experience have you shared, in this novel?

Good question. My reply would be nearly every part of my life. Here's why Australia inspired the novel:

Australia formed me. Born in sunny Adelaide, I thrived warm and free. In the nineteen forties, I learned to make do with what life presented, to fit in with my peers whilst retaining my individuality. Fostered by the discipline of the classroom, Girls' Brigade and Sunday school, I grew tall and strong entertaining my younger sisters with stories accompanied by my rendition of a fitting dance. School offered my first chance of a farm holiday at age 10 yrs. Mostly, I looked forward to days on the beach and picnics in the hills.

Life is so different for children now. I sometimes wonder if they will have the adaptability to survive if faced with hardship. But I shouldn't bring my imaginings of a possible future into the discussion at this point.

Married young, my circumstances changed from a life of ease in the nineteen eighties. After three children left home, I separated from my husband to work as a nanny and left my homeland, completely alone and friendless, for the other side of the world.

I love a sunburned country. A land of sweeping plains. Dorothea McKellar's words changed for me to:  I love a foggy country. A land of compact fields. Every experience along the way provided insight and material for my novels.

Liliha writes song lyrics in Still Rock Water, struggling to make an impression in the music industry. I believe it is possible to hear the song ‘she’ wrote… Comic Book Story, inspired by Christopher Reeves and his tragic accident.

Thank you to Francene for making this video possible. I am thrilled to be able to share Lilitha's song with readers here. Christopher Reeves has been an inspiration to so many, this song echoes my own feelings towards a 'superman'. As Lilitha, you, Francene, have done a great job.

What inspired the moonstone magic?

 In the beginning ... I bought the ring from a woman who sold interesting items through my craft shop.

Back in the nineteen seventies, I ran the shop from my home in Robe, a tiny seaside tourist town in South Australia, inhabited off peak by lobster fishermen. The shop already existed at one side of the front door behind a long, deep veranda. I loved that house.

Anyway, back to the signet-style ring with a cabochon stone set in heavy 24 carat gold. When I first saw it and gazed into the shimmering depths, I fell in love and purchased the ring. If tilted a certain way, a fault, hidden deep within the stone, revealed a star. This flash caught the light in a magical way.

In the seventies, all things were open to possibility. I believed with all my heart that thoughts could influence real events. During that time I proved the theory to myself when a cyclone threatened friends on the Queensland coast. The storm built up in ferocity during the afternoon. I meditated and used mind-force against the threat, over and over again. During the night, the storm dropped off the radar. Authorities were stunned. That's when I knew. If a person believed, cared and used enough emotion, they could move a mountain—or a cyclone.

And so, my imagination worked on a story over two centuries. The story expanded to three more and warped into four other novels about the future of the ring.

Francene, that's an amazing story in itself. Well worth a novel or two!

Subtle but exquisite descriptions give your novel an authentic air. I can identify with the Australian scenes and love being transported to Cornwall as well. Do you feel more comfortable writing about ‘what you know’ or creating a new world, as in the Higher Ground series?

For me, a future world is more satisfying. Imagination can take over from reality. Edith Parzefall and I created realistic characters in a future setting and grew to love them with all their idiosyncrasies. The first two books released are: Wind Over Troubled Waters and Knights in Dark Leather.

Both great books, well worth reading. :) 

Still Rock Water follows Liliha’s story. Could we share an excerpt?

Today, hope rose above despair. Now, she had to wait to see if the ring would be returned to her. The moonstone ring couldn't be the only factor when she'd helped others get out of difficult situations. Surely she motivated the action. The power and strength remained in her. She must use it to find a job and achieve every goal. Desire for routine filled her with purpose.

Wrapped in her waxed coat and a soft angora scarf, hat and gloves, she braved the elements. Outside, winds chilled her cheeks and scattered leaves in her path. At the ocean, waves crashed on the sand. A few birds cried into the rush of air.

The tang of ozone brought back memories of Robe. If she'd remained in Australia, she could have stayed with her mother close to Kaelyn and Alissa. But the idea of living in Adelaide again, where she'd spent the major part of her married life and every street corner was filled with memories, made her skin crawl. 

Betrayal. 

She kicked a shell along the sand. A sharp prick of tears blurred her vision. It did no good to dwell on what might have been. Reality bit into her soul. 

She wanted to be as far away from Gareth as possible. With his need for possession, he would have found a way to make her life a misery. St. Ives had become her safe harbor, her place to heal and stand on her own.

Who is publishing your story?

 Solstice Publishing. 

Where can we get this book?

Still Rock Water is available from:

Solstice: http://www.solsticepublishing.com/still-rock-water/

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/239487

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Still-Rock-Water-ebook/dp/B009KNQ4RG

Fictionwise: https://store.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b134972/?si=0

Barnes &; Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/still-rock-water-francene-stanley/1113017489?ean=2940015608960&itm=1&usri=still+rock+water

How can we follow your career?

You can find more about Francene Stanley at these links:

http://francene--wordstitcher.weebly.com/  

BLOG http://francene-wordstitcher.blogspot.com/

Released:  Still Rock Water * http://tinyurl.com/8uutmjb                

My books: http://tinyurl.com/944kqxm


Francene, it has been wonderful having you here today. This is my first audio post. How wonderful to have someone make your character's song come to life. It is certainly a thrill to hear Lilitha's music.

Nominee in Global Ebook Awards...

Book One in the 

Chronicles of Caleath 

has been accepted 

as a nominee 

for 

2013 Global Ebook 

Awards.

Now to wait and see if the judges like Caleath's adventures as much as readers do. :)

Review for EXILED: Winter's Curse

FIVE STARS 
The Saga Continues and It's Just as Good, 
 By Rochelle Weber

 Winter's Curse picks up where Autumn's Peril left off. Like The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Caleath reads as though Ms. Skinner wrote the whole story as one long book. Yet, each volume can stand on its own. There is enough exposition and back-story in each book so a person can catch up on what went before without bogging down the action of the current story. That is a sign of masterful storytelling.

 In addition to the cast of characters we met in Book One, new people appear in Winter's Curse to join the fray, or to detour Caleath, Gwilt and Nasith from their quest. They prepare for the battle against the Tarak, but they also encounter new challenges and face a few other battles along the way, while we explore more of the incredible world Ms. Skinner has created for us. 

Series writing is not easy. The second book is not always as good as the first. In this case, it is. I look forward to reading the next installment, and I encourage you to join me.

AMAZON REVIEW LINK

REVIEW for Exiled: Autumn's Peril

Book One (The Chronicles of Caleath), November 11, 2012

By Karen Doering "Parent's Little Black Book" 
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER) 

Game Master Caleath has been living in exile from his home planet Rampart 6 for a number of years. Like many of his kind he is haunted by his past, defined by his skills and hunted for his superior genetics. Having been captured and then set free by shipwreck he tries to keep himself hidden from those who would kill him. But he cannot escape the gamekeepers watch. They are everywhere and his chances of true freedom are small.

But limited as his chances for true escape may be Caleath still tries to find the way to freedom. With his new friends he will do all he can to save this planet from the fate that awaits it.

The world built is well defined, complex, imaginative and realistic. The protagonists compelling and believable, the secondary characters move the plot forward as needed. I found the dialog to be very good for this type of fantasy novel. It defines the characters well and helps the backstory develop easily. A very good Fantasy/Sci-Fi.

Karen Bryant Doering,
Parents' Little Black Book
Mist Blue Eeyore @gmail.com (no spaces)
REVIEW LINK ON AMAZON

Another glimpse into UNDERGROUND: The Day of the Sun

Underground: Day of the Sun
The next anticipated book in Rosalie Skinner's series:
THE CHRONICLES OF CALEATH

SNEAK LOOKSEE:

“Makes no difference what you heard or think you saw, wolf’s head. There is no going back. I need you. You took my commission and I will use you as I see fit.” Caleath watched Raff’s dark eyes change to chips of obsidian. He waited for a reaction, hoping to find an outlet for vexation.

“What if I resign?” Raff lifted his chin and smiled. His hand dug into his vest for the coin of Caleath’s commission. “Damnation, I need to know you are not capable of the evil I felt before you returned to consciousness.”

“Capable of evil?” Caleath laughed. “Better you should ask if I am capable of good.” 

“I have seen you do good.” Raff sounded like a man drowning in surf, knowing safety remained close but out of reach. “Why the doubt?”

“Why?” Caleath turned away. Vipers writhed as he asked himself the same question. How much easier would it be to unleash power and manipulate the outcome? He trembled as temptation washed through him.

Ebony’s ears snapped flat against her head. The mare tossed her head, snatched the bit and bucked while Caleath contemplated the lure of absolute power. 

His fist, damaged where Daryn smashed the dragon token with a rock to draw him back from the portal, throbbed. Merkaat’s essence leaked tendrils of threat into his mind. 

As seen on Museitup Publishing's Facebook page. :)