Wednesday Discovering the Jewels' Secret #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #Fantasy #wizards #jewels #secrets

 

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here  http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some great excerpts. Mine is the third book in the Jewels of Erda series

Seven Jewels – Seven Holders and their bondmates. The words of an elderly Healer send each pair on a quest to learn the secret of the Jewels. Are these gems just tools or do they hold hidden danger for the Holders? The seven leave on seven quests to discover the answers. When they find the answer, they must decide the fate of the Jewels.

EXcerpt: 

Disa turned and waved farewell to the Holders and their Chosen who remained at the wizards’ stronghold. All but she and Brader stayed to tend to the living and the dead. Just days ago, the elderly healer had appeared and had given prophecies to all. The moment Disa had heard those words she knew she and Brader had to leave. Their role in the destruction of the wizards’ lair had ended. The overland journey to Quato where they would board a ship to Thanis would take a seven day.

She prodded her horned horse and caught up with her companion. “Must we race like prisoners released from a dungeon?”

He slowed his steed. “Why not? I wish to reach my home as soon as I can.”

Home, she thought. Hers had been a peddler’s wagon and then the tavern in Pala. She didn’t understand his being drawn to a place. “Thy home won’t run.”

He laughed. “Thee are right, but some inner yearning pushes me to hurry to High Sanctuary. What if the wizards have established a refuge there?”

She made a face. “Didn’t Andalor mention a ship filled with Queen’s Guards and wizards that arrived in Quato around the time when thee did?”

“One or more might have remained. I need to find out.”

She supposed he was right but that wasn’t his real reason for the rush to return to his home. He wanted to visit his mother’s grave to bid her farewell. Did he really believe her spirit lingered on this plane waiting to hear of the success or failure of Liara’s quest?

At dusk they arrived in Desert’s Edge where they purchased enough supplies for the journey. She nearly suggested they stop at the Healers’ House for medicinals, but could think of none they would need before they reached the market in Quato.

Eight days of traveling from dawn to dusk brought them to the seaport town. On the outskirts they passed the villa where she had received her Jewel. “Remember our time here?” she asked.

“Clearly. What a pompous fool I was. Attacking Valmir when he wasn’t the enemy. Angering Liara and thee.”

She reached for his hand. “Thee feared someone would harm her and keep her from the quest.” She sighed. “I wonder how the others fare.”

“If there were problems couldn’t they reach us on the inner path?” Brader asked.

“I don’t know. I’ve listened every night and the voices have grown fainter. Should we stay here or go directly to the docks?”

 

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Thursday's Opening Scene from Discovering the Jewel's Secrets #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Fantasy #Seven Jewels #seven heroines #seven heroes

 

Seven Jewels and seven threads.  Find them, twine them, bind them into a braid to discover how to unlock the secret of the Jewels. What was pale becomes dark and dark changes to light.  Sometimes destruction is the way to end a cycle of tyranny.   Blazing sun and icy moons unite in the Yellow Jewel.  You must go over land,  across the sea and back again.  Seek the thread and learn this lesson.  What makes a home does not have to be a place.  Fears may lurk and fears are faced when one learns to trust.

~*~

Disa turned and waved farewell to the Holders and their Chosen who remained at the mages’ stronghold.  All but she and Brader stayed to tend to the living and the dead.  Just days ago, the elderly healer had appeared and had given prophecies to all.  The moment Disa had heard those words she knew she and Brader had to leave.  Their role in the destruction of the mages lair had ended.  The overland journey to Quato where they would board a ship to Thanis would take a seven day.   

She prodded her horned horse and caught up with her companion.  “Must we race like prisoners released from a dungeon?”

He slowed his steed.  “Why not?  I wish to reach my home as soon as I can.”

Home, she thought.  Hers had been a peddler’s wagon and then the tavern in Pala.  She didn’t understand his being drawn to a place.  “Thy home won’t run.”

He laughed.  “Thee are right, but some inner yearning pushes me to hurry to High Sanctuary.  What if the mages have established a refuge there?”

She made a face.  “Didn’t Andalor mention a ship filled with Queen’s Guards and mages that arrived in Quato around the time when thee did?”

“One or more might have remained.  I need to find out.”

She supposed he was right but that wasn’t his real reason for the rush to return to his home.  He wanted to visit his mother’s grave to bid her farewell.  Did he really believe her spirit lingered on this plane waiting to hear of the success or failure of Liara’s quest?

At dusk they arrived in Desert’s Edge where they purchased enough supplies for the journey.  She nearly suggested they stop at the Healers’ House for medicinals, but could think of none they would need before they reached the market in Quato.

Eight days of traveling from dawn to dusk brought them to the seaport town.  On the outskirts they passed the villa where she had received her Jewel.  “Remember our time here?”  she asked.

“Clearly.  What a pompous fool I was.  Attacking Valmir when he wasn’t the enemy.  Angering Liara and thee.”

She reached for his hand.  “Thee feared someone would harm her and keep her from the quest.”  She sighed.  “I wonder how the others fare.”

“If there were problems couldn’t they reach us on the inner path?”  Brader asked.

“I don’t know.  I’ve listened every night and the voices have grown fainter.  Should we stay here or go directly to the docks?”

He prodded his horse.  “This is too far from town.  We’ll find an inn.  Word of ships leaving for Thanis will be heard at one, but we can’t leave for a day or two.”

She nodded.  “We have to sell the horses.”

“And arrange for passage.  We’re too late for today’s animal market.”

Once inside the town Disa led him to the inn where she and Andalor had stayed.  They were in luck and one of the suites on the third story was available.  After leaving their packs in the suite’s central room, they ordered a meal to be brought as soon as they finished in the baths.

A short time after returning to the suite, Disa opened the door for a serving woman bearing a large tray of food.  Disa inhaled the aroma of brewed chokla and grinned.  She slipped the woman a coin.  Brader entered from his sleeping chamber.  He fastened his amber colored hair at his nape with a thong.

“What of our plans for tomorrow?”  Disa filled a mug with her chosen drink.

“Sell the horses.  Find a ship.  Purchase some extra food for the journey.  Ship’s food is plain and sometimes not tasty.”

“Will we have to wait long?”  Though they’d taken coins from the mages’ treasury, if they were forced to stay too long their coins would vanish.

He shrugged.  “Who knows?  I’ll slip down to the common room.  Someone there will know about sailings.”

Disa lifted a banta leg.  “No tragon.”

He laughed.  “Guess Liara told thee how little tolerance I have for spirits.  I’ll stick to ale.”

Though Disa had planned to stay awake until Brader returned, the soft mattress lulled her to sleep.

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Saturday's Blurbs features Three Books by Jana Richards #MFRWauthor #romance

Lies and Solace - Blurb

She can’t handle one more lie. He can’t tell the truth.

Harper Lindquist is convinced she’s found the answer to her financial prayers. Unless she pours cash into crumbling Solace Lake Lodge, she’ll lose her family’s legacy. Her would-be savior arrives in the middle of a Minnesota blizzard and she’s determined to prove to her reluctant, and trapped, financier the lodge is a sound investment. But Harper isn’t completely honest with him. And she has no idea the lake is hiding secrets of its own.

Ethan James is a liar, but his money is very real. He isn’t convinced a broken-down inn is a smart investment opportunity. But the more he understands Harper’s dreams and desires, the more he wants to be the man to make them come true. The trauma in both their pasts means neither can fully trust the other. They must find the courage to love, to trust, and to accept, or yesterday’s sorrows will keep them apart.

Lies and Solace:

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079TDDSY4

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079TDDSY4

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B079TDDSY4

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B079TDDSY4

Secrets and Solace – Book Two, Love at Solace Lake series - Blurb

No matter how deeply buried, secrets rise to the surface.

Scarlett Lindquist has agreed to help her sisters rebuild the dilapidated fishing lodge in Minnesota they inherited from their grandparents. Although the lengthy restoration is bringing the three sisters closer together, Scarlett’s support is temporary. Her leave of absence from her job in Chicago is temporary and she has no intention of staying at Solace Lake Lodge, where the lake holds dark secrets. When frightening childhood memories resurface, they are tempered by her fascination with an irritating contractor. If only she could trust her feelings for him. If only he could trust her.

Cameron Hainstock meets Scarlett at his brother’s wedding to her sister and their attraction is instantaneous. But Cam avoids the beautiful marketing executive. All his efforts are aimed at battling for custody of his only child. When the unimaginable happens and Cam faces the biggest challenge of his life, he’s reluctant to accept help to halt his downward spiral. Can they learn to trust each other and fight for a future together or will they go their separate ways?

Secrets and Solace:

US: http://www.amzn.com/B079WGSNWD

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079WGSNWD

CA: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079WGSNWD

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B079WGSNWD

Truth and Solace– Book 3, Love at Solace Lake series – Blurb

The truth could destroy them. Or set them free.

Maggie Lindquist left Solace Lake determined never to return. Circumstances have pulled her back and she’s helping to restore her family’s dilapidated fishing lodge. When she agreed to the plan she didn’t expect to have to work side by side with the man who abandoned her ten years earlier. She didn’t expect to like him, or want him ever again. But can she trust him as she once did?

Luke Carlsson rushes home to tend to his ailing mother. Her lengthy illness means he needs to stay, at least temporarily. And to stay, he needs to work. Solace Lake Lodge offers him a job and an opportunity to work with the woman he’s never stopped loving. But the restoration is unleashing secrets hidden for decades and no one is left unscathed. Especially not Maggie and Luke, whose love needs to be resilient enough to forgive, and strong enough to build a future together.

Truth and Solace:

US: http://www.amzn.com/B079WFZXV2

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079WFZXV2

CA:  https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B079WFZXV2

Au: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B079WFZXV2

Tuesday's Writer's Tip Characters - Likes and Secrets #MFRWAuthor #BooksWeLoveLTD #writing

Now let's look at your characters again and find more things to know about them? What do they like and what do they dislike? Do they have a secret?

Knowing what your characters like or dislike gives another facet to their appearance in your story. Not just knowing what they like isn't enough. Think about whys they like a particular thing. One of my heroines has a love for mint tea. She likes the taste but she also likes knowing about the various mints and what they do. This plays much in her character and really becomes a symbol for her. There are other things like this with other characters. What they dislike is as important as what they like. When you provide a character with a dislike of some kind, you need to let the reader know why this trait or object brings the heroine or hero distaste. Some characters don't like say dogs. Give them a reason for their dislike that can border on fear. I have a character who is panicked by cats. His reason relates to a childhood incident but he has never gotten over the dislike and fear. 

Now, does your character have a secret? Most characters will have something they don't want anyone to know. Many times in the story this reveal brings a knowing in depth of the character. Say the hero or heroine doesn't believe they belong in a group or a family. Why will revealing this bring a change. Or they may feel guilty over something and this may color their lives. So look at your characters and find their secret. This will bring them alive on the page.

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Wednesday - On Plot - Revelation and Secrets

Revelation is a technique that often holds stories that aren't plotted together but often occurs in most published stories. Revelation is about a secret one that when revealed gives the story a focus. In a story the focus character discovers something hidden or realizes a truth that has been there for ages. This can be a quest or a journey with each encounter revealing a bit of the secret. For the reader this brings enlightment. There are a number of important things to remember about the secret.

1. The secret must be something worth knowing. The revelation must matter.

2. There must be a build-up to the secret with clues sprinkled along the way.

3. The secret must be easily recognized without a lot of lengthy explanations about what the secret is and what it means.

4. The secret must be a single thing, not a choice between two different meanings.

So write the story and think about how you plan to use revelation and secrets clearly. Don't muddy the waters.