Books We Love Blurbathon - The Partisan's Wife by Kathy Fischer-Brown

Thursday, March 7, 2013BWL Blurbathon Presents The Partisan's Wife by Kathy Fischer-Brown












The Partisan’s Wife: Book 3: “The Serpent’s Tooth” trilogy





Faced with an impossible choice, Anne Marlowe is torn between her love for her husband and the hope of her father’s forgiveness. As the American forces follow up on their tide-turning victories over the British at Saratoga, Peter is drawn deeper into the shady network of espionage that could cost them both their lives.





“Echoes of great writers from the period abound here, but this modern tale moves fast and is always inventive. The characters, drawn from all classes … are crisply drawn and always believable. I'd recommend "The Partisan's Wife" particularly to any reader who enjoys the period, or a thoroughly researched historical set in any time. You won't be disappointed.” — Juliet Waldron, author of Mozart’s Wife





Available for Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/an4ss64 and in paperback: http://tinyurl.com/9wzmdmj at Amazon.com





Other books in the series: Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter: http://tinyurl.com/bykggat and Courting the Devil: http://tinyurl.com/b7zzots





Check out The Partisan’s Wife book trailer: http://youtu.be/at5BJcKNO_o



Visit my website: http://www.kfischer-brown.com





Check out my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KathyFischerBrownAuthor





Don't forget to stop back on March 9 for Vijaya Schartz

Thursday's Opening Scene from The Quest For The White Jewel by Janet Lane Walters

The Quest For The White Jewel


Chapter One.



From The Lore of the Jewels

In days long past, just after the world was formed and the people rose from the dust, Mother Sun and the Sister Moons beheld what had been wrought and were troubled by what they saw. For as people moved across the lands, chaos rather than harmony ruled.

"We must bring peace and order." Mother Sun spoke to the pale reflections of herself.

From her depths, she drew molten elements and fashioned them into Jewels. The icy breath of the Sister Moons cooled the gems. To Earda, they were sent and for each Jewel, there was a purpose.

And from the hearts of the six Jewels, light radiated and coalesced to become the White.



Liara closed the Lore of the Jewels. Everyone knew the ruling Jewel was black. And the tale of how the gems were formed was naught but an interesting fable. Her foster mother had given her the book on her last name day. Tana's insistence that she learn the legends puzzled Liara. What use were these mystical tales to one who might never hold a Jewel?

She heard a disturbance in the courtyard and peered through the open window. Several men dismounted. Their steeds were magnificent beasts with burnished horns. Who were these visitors? They looked to be men of importance.

Tana's maid appeared in the doorway. "Milady Holder bids you remain in hiding until her guests leave."

Liara sighed. Twice this lunar, visitors had arrived to see the Yellow Holder. Both times, she had been bidden to keep her presence a secret. Not that she minded missing lessons, of course. The complicated exercises in visualizing had no practical purpose she could see. What bothered her was not being allowed to sit in company and hear about events beyond the keep and the village.

Curiosity gnawed at her thoughts. In hopes of learning more about these unexpected visitors to the High Sanctuary, she hurried down the back stairs and lingered in the shadows near the postern gate. But the men had gone inside before she could hear what they said.

Excitement fluttered like the jeweled wings of a flitter. She was free, at least for the afternoon. She slipped outside and climbed the path beyond the walls of the massive stone tower. Then she broke into a run, deftly avoiding the roots of the gnarled, wind-shaped balsa trees.

A branch caught her kerchief and her hair tumbled free. Inky black strands whipped around her face. Clutching the scarf in her hand, she reached the end of the path. Clusters of multi-hued silk-sheep browsed among the grass and wildflowers.

After breathing deeply of the scented air, she ran across the meadow to the tumble of rocks at the edge of the cliff. She stared at the distant gray tower and peered at the village where the houses resembled pieces from a child's toy. She turned and gazed at the sea and watched white froths of foam roll across the dark blue expanse to dash against the rocky slope.

Settling on the grass, she using a rock for a backrest. As she soaked in the sun, she braided a necklace of yellow fiolas, Tana's favorite. To the chain, she added blue hearts and red chyrsmas. For health, she thought.

Sadness rose. Her foster mother's health failed with each lunar. Though Tana denied what Liara saw, Liara knew the older woman was dying.

While Liara considered the future without Tana, a million questions arose. The sun moved toward afternoon. Liara sighed. There were no answers, only questions.

"Liara!"

Her foster brother's shout set her heart pounding. She dropped the necklace in her skirt, quickly braided her hair and tied the kerchief over the crown of braids. Another puzzle to be solved, she thought. Her head had never been without a covering. Though she'd asked why, Tana had never answered.

"Liara, come!"

She lifted the necklace and hurried toward the path. "I'm on my way."

Brader emerged at the edge of the meadow. "Mother said you would be here. She wants you."

A lock of amber hair fell across his forehead and brushed his lighter eyebrows. Amber eyes studied her intently. She felt his leashed anger. With her or with his mother? These days, she barely knew him.

Since she'd begun her intensive studies with Tana, she and Brader had grown apart. Her lessons, his time with the armsmen, and his excursions to the village tavern left them with little in common.

"Have the visitors left?" she asked.

"Didn't stay for the evening meal. They're on their way to Pala. I begged leave to join them but Mother refused to release me." He shoved his hair from his forehead. "I'm tired of being caged here. There's much of Earda I want to see."

"Did Tana say why she wanted me?" She watched the setting sun stain the ocean whitecaps with streaks of orange. "Not for lessons, I hope."

He shrugged shoulders that had grown broader the past year. "You are to sup in her room. Don't stay long. The visitors tired her."

"When has she listened to me?" Liara held up the floral necklace. "Perhaps this will refresh her."

"Maybe. She's worried about something and she won't tell me what."

Liara clasped his arm. "All will be well."

He laughed. "Have you become a Healer making vague and pretty predictions?" His muscles tensed beneath her hand. "All will be well for you. You'll have her Jewel. Why else has she kept you by her side? I'm so tired of the High Sanctuary and of being the Holder's son."

Liara frowned. When had he grown so resentful? Did Tana know about his discontent?

When they reached the postern gate, the armsman stepped aside so they could enter. Never in all her years had there been armsmen at the gates.

Once inside the massive stone tower, she hurried to her foster mother's rooms. At the door, she paused and tucked stray strands of hair beneath the kerchief. Then she opened the carved wooden door and stepped inside.

Tana was abed. Liara crossed the room and kissed the older woman's flushed cheek, then slipped the floral chain over her foster mother's head.

Tana inhaled the blended fragrances. "Ah, Child, you remembered a bit of the Healer's teachings. Sit and eat. There's much I must tell you."

Liara studied her foster mother. Though flushed, there was a translucent quality to Tana's skin. Sunken cheeks, glazed amber eyes. Liara knew Brader thought his mother was tired, but there was more. The scent of death floated above the aroma of the flowers.

She sat at the table and picked at the slices of roast banta, shredding more than she ate. The open window brought a breeze laden with moisture. Liara cut an appa, ate several crisp slices, then pushed the tray away.

"Come closer. The time grows short." Tana's voice held a whispery quality. Liara sat on the chair beside the bed and took her foster mother's hand. "Perhaps you should rest."

"There will be time for rest later." Tana sucked in a breath. "Just listen. Your mother was twin to the one who holds the Black. Through trickery and deceit, the Jewel was usurped by your aunt. Your mother found the book of lore I gave you. For many years, she searched for the White."

Liara shook her head. "The White is but a tale told by old wives and written in that ancient book. Tell me about my mother."

Tana grasped Liara's hand. "Child, myths are ever based on some truth."

"My mother didn't find this Jewel, did she?"

"Alas, the Queen hounded her. She was chased from every refuge she found. She brought you here and left. Her Chosen was captured by the Guards. His house was destroyed by the mages. One by one, your mother's friends were killed."

Liara studied the bedcoverings. "Why tell me now?"

"The Queen is dying. While she is weak and before her daughter...your cousin masters the Black, you must find the White. When you do, the lessons I've taught you will help you harness the Jewel's energies. You must succeed. The people of Earda have suffered long enough."

Liara shook her head. She had no desire to leave the High Sanctuary. She had believed one day she would follow Tana and hold the Yellow. Now all had changed. "Do not force me to leave you," she pleaded.

Tana sank against the pillows. "I've been summoned to Pala. Even now, Guards are on the way to act as my escort."

"Will you go?"

"Nay, they will come too late. You must be gone before they arrive lest someone questions who you are. Child, your life is in danger should your aunt discover you still live."

Tears welled in Liara's eyes. "I cannot leave you."

"You have no choice. Brader will go with you."

Liara held back her tears. She'd known no mother other than Tana. "But who will...?" She couldn't force herself to finish.

"There will be others who will do what is needed." Tana pulled her Jewel from her neck and wrapped the gem and the chain in amber silk. "I have no daughter to follow me and the Yellow is not for you. I've sent a call to my successor." She will meet you on the way."

A million questions arose but they couldn't push past Liara's rising grief. "Does Brader know how ill you are?" She forced the question past a massive lump. "He'll want to stay. So do I." Her voice broke. She pressed her face against the blankets and let the tears flow.

Tana stroked Liara's arm. "You must go, for you are needed. Take the book and seek the answers. Maps your mother brought are on the table. Memorize them. Once Brader has seen them, they will be destroyed so all traces of your journey will be gone. You must follow your mother's path and succeed where she failed."

Liara wiped her eyes and reached for the maps. She studied them until the images were engraved in her mind. Then she walked to the window and stared at first moon. "I cannot leave you."

"Evil spreads through the land. The Black Jewel. The Queen. The Brotherhood of Mages. Soon Earda will be too polluted by evil to survive. Send Brader to me."

Liara hugged her foster mother and fought another storm of tears. "Farewell, Mother of my heart." She bit her lip and hurried from the room.

In the hall, she pressed her forehead against the rough stone wall. Soon Tana would leave this plane and journey to another. The High Sanctuary would never be home again. Liara gathered her tears inside and went to find Brader.

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Reasons people don't try

Hard to believe I've been a published writer since 1968, I began writing seriously before then and wish I'd been able to drive more than two hours to take classes in writing. Wasn't possible at the time but I did the next best thing. I purchased a copy of Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain and read this over and over again. When I went to my bookshelves to find my weathered copy to use to find inspiration for the Wednesday's Writer's Tip, I realized I had loaned the book to a budding writer perhaps five years ago and the book hadn't been returned. For Christmas I received some gift cards and used one of then to buy a new copy so I'll be using this to provide writer's tips for the next few weeks and maybe even months.

This book starts with reasons people don't think they can write. I do believe I suffered from them all when I began. So let's start on those reasons.

Reality checks. I didn't really think I could learn to write fiction since most of my time had been spent with non-fiction. But I began and learned I could. First efforts weren't great but there was the spark. Of course like all beginning writers I started looking for someone to wave a wand and by magic I'd turn into a writer. Wrong. What happened was with each draft the story became better. Learned there was no easy or hard way to learn how to craft stories. I did spend time analyzing other people's stories and that became boring because I learned they weren't me. One of the hardest things I found was putting emotions into stories. Still have this problem at times. Have learned to think about how I felt and try to put my feelings into the character's thoughts and words. Then I came upon rules. In school I'd had a firm grounding in the rules of grammar. My first efforts played by those rules I'd learned. Then I noticed that I wanted to break the rules. Use partial sentences. Start sentences with And of But. Omit commas or add them. One problem remains from my days of breaking the rules. I forget question marks. Fortunately most of the time the spell check on the computer finds them. Not all though. Another area I had to look at was fact finding. Those long boring passages that read like non-fiction and bogged the story down. Pages of description about a person, place or thing. I had to learn to scatter rather than disgorge. Actually what I really learned was the more you write, hopefully the better writer you become. And that is what I did but finding Mr. Swain's book really set me on the road to becoming published.

How about you? Have you discovered the same things I have?

Tuesday's Inspiration - words by B. J. Chute

When I read the essay by B. J. Chute, I came across interesting ideas. The essay was titled What Makes A Fiction Writer. That's something I've been thinking about for years. I sort of feel I write fiction since writing non-fiction often hurts my head. So here is what was said.

"There are four qualities without which one cannot write fiction at all." What are the qualities B. J. Chute thinks are vital to becoming a writer of fiction?

Imagination is the first. Without being to imagine a character or set of characters interacting in a situation all one would be left with boring lists and details. Imagination is what carries the writer into a new and different world or a new slant on the present one.

Empathy is the second. Empathy is the ability to walk in another person's shoes. Empathy goes beyond sympathy. Using this quality allows the writer of fiction to step beyond the facts and enter the character or character's world and bring the reader along for the journey.

Style is the third. I'll have to admit this puzzled me for a time. Here style is said to be the way the story is expressed. Perhaps this is the same thing as voice and tone put together.

Patience is the fourth, Lord knows, a writer needs gallons of patience. There is patience when writing and putting words on the paper hoping to find the right way of expression. There is also patience after sending the story into the world of waiting to hear from an editor or an agent. There is also the need for patience to see the story take form in the electronic or paper version.  I would rate patience next to imagination.

Books We Love Blurbathon featuring One More Tomorrow by Shirley Martin

Destined to live in darkness, Galan must defeat the evil Moloch to win the


love of the mortal woman, Stephanie.

_www.shirleymartinauthor.com_ (http://www.shirleymartinauthor.com/)

_http://bookswelove.net_ (http://bookswelove.net/)

_www.amazon.com_ (http://www.amazon.com/)

Please check out my video. _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm12rlz-hbI_

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm12rlz-hbI)

Would love to have you join my readers' group at

_shirleysfantasies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com_ (mailto:shirleysfantasies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com)



(http://shirleymartinauthor.com/?page_id=247)

Reviews

ONE MORE TOMORROW is a wonderful vampire romance. S.A. Martin has done a

truly outstanding job of showing the tormented life of a vampire through her

character of Galan. I also love the abilities she has bestowed on her

vampires, they can enter any door without being invited, they can transport

themselves anywhere, to any time period in which they lived and they have

amazing strength. The characters are realistically portrayed, the story line is

enthralling and the love between the two characters gives us all hope of a

soul mate. I highly recommend ONE MORE TOMORROW to all lovers of romance.

.C.Gruver



Vampire romance fans will not want to miss the delightful ONE MORE

TOMORROW, a fine tale starring two star-crossed lovers and the evil that shadows

their every step. Galen is an admirable soul who drinks blood from only

criminals while Stevie is a courageous person wondering if she truly loves the

vampire. Although Moloch seems too intelligent and malevolent not to

recognize the essential goodness of his apprentice (one can soundly counter argue

that it goes against his blood to believe a vampire would love instead of

hunt a human), readers will want more tales like this strong love story.

Harriet Klausner

Kathy Fischer-Brown will follow on March 7. She is an outstanding writer of

historicals.

Meandering on Monday with Janet Lane Walters #amwriting

I'll start today with a bit about the word it, as in it was and it had and all the other little uses of this word. I began to read a book and I won't mention the book or the author but before the end of the first chapter I was totally turned off and couldn't read more. All the its in these pages made me cringe. Yes, It is a real word and there can be a meaningful use of this word. But in this case the use showed a careless writer not paying attention to how much more powrful the sentences would be if they had just been re-worded. With a little bit of editing, this story would have drawn me in and I would have found the story delightful. Anyone who has sat in one of the critique groups I've been part of knows I will call them on this every time. Sometimes a person is so eager to be published they don't look at small details that ruin the effect of their words. When I first started writing, I used the It was or It had construction but an editor pointed this out to me that the sentences would pack more punch with a bit of re-writing. So, though I might enjoy other stories by this author, I doubt I'll buy another book. I'm just sorry her editor never picked up on the, while not passive tone of these sentences but that they could have been stronger and more specific just by removing the It was or It had and turning the sentence from a rhinestone into a diamond.

My second meander is about a book on writing I recently re-bought. I learned much of my craft from Dwight V. Swain's Techniques of a Selling Writer. There was something I wanted to reference here and realized I had loaned the book to a beginning writer and the book was never returned. This has often been the story of my life. I decided to purchase this again and I'm using it as a refresher course and also for the Wednesday's Writer's Tips on this blog.

As to my writing. I'm working hard on getting my workshop for NJRW that will take place in less than two weeks. I'm also working on To Heal Shattered Dreams and will soon finish another draft of the story. Then I'll turn to The Goddesses of Er for dredging another three chapters from the yellow carbon copy I found. I'll also be sketching out the next in the Moon Child series. So now it's back to work

3 Blog Visit Sunday discovered by Janet Lane Walters

http://www.plotmonkeys.com/2013/02/28/why-authors-should-read/

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/what-writers-need-to-know-about-goodreads_b62204

http://www.livewritethrive.com/2012/06/11/coming-clean-about-my-twitter-success/#more-1368

Books We Love Blurbathon featuring Deadly Secrets by Jude Puttman

Deadly Secrets by Jude Pittman




Welcome to Indian Creek, Texas, where you'll meet some amazing characters.

Kelly McWinter, a retired cop who suffered a personal tragedy that

caused him to quit the force. Kelly's dog, Jake, a German Shepherd who

has fought some battles of his own, and Cameron G. Belscher III, owner

of the Hideaway Bar and Barbecue and Kelly’s best friend.



A Clint Eastwood, John Wayne type of guy, Kelly has been coming to grips

with his personal grief and is once again feeling the pull to return to

law enforcement. That decision escalates when he and Jake find one of

the Hideaway’s favourite characters dead on the floor of the flea

market.



Coincidences, the emergence of a secret life, a treasure, an heiress searching for

her birth mother and the ulterior motives of some of the Creek’s own

citizens all have Kelly scrambling to uncover the truth before his best

friend ends up being convicted of a crime that Kelly is positive he

didn’t commit.



"Deadly Secrets is a mystifying tale with several twists and turns and an

ending that surprised me. This book has an old-fashioned detective story feel to it that is charming and complements the small town atmosphere

... the story had a good flow, with well fleshed out characters and I

would look forward to reading more suspense from this author." ~ Fallen

Angel Reviews



Available

here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YJEWQ2/



Find

the other Kelly McWinter titles here: http://bookswelove.net/judepittman.php



Come back March 3 for a blurb from BWL author Shirley Martin

Saturday's Excerpt from By Hearts and Compass by Danielle Thorne

When Lacey Whitman buys a restored Victorian home, she never dreams discovering an antique diary will lead her back to sea and into the arms of the dive bum she’d rather forget. Her habit of living in the past comes to a screeching halt as diver Max Bertrand and the diary of his ancestor take Lacey on the quest of a lifetime: To discover and raise the privateer ship, Specter, and bring the treasure and legacy of a true hero home again. But will finding it cost her heart?




EXCERPT:

Sitting outside, one of the divers looked busy replacing the o-ring on a scuba tank.



"I'm looking for Max?"



The long haired employee didn't bother to stand, much less look up.



"So?"



"I'm Lacey Whitman, and I'm looking for the Max that owns the museum."



"You call that worthless shack a museum?"



Dumbfounded, Lacey couldn't think of any reply.



"What do you want?"



"I'm looking for Max," she repeated, feeling a flash of impatience. "I have some papers for him."



"Warrant, restraining order, or paternity test?"



After a pause in which she realized he was serious, she replied in frustration, "I have some research for the Bertrand family and someone at the museum told me to come down here."



Lacey caught herself biting her lip.



Finally, the man of absolutely no assistance put down the tank and stood up. Short and compact, he had amazing turquoise eyes that glowed from a dark, tanned complexion. Loose strands of sun-kissed brown hair blew about his face in the breeze.



"Max doesn't need anymore paperwork. He doesn't want to see your research, and he is not giving dive lessons."



"I didn't ask for a dive lesson."



The diver sat back down again, crossing thick tattooed arms over himself. They stared one another down until he won. It was cheating to look her over as if she was a sweet little morsel, but it worked.



"I just want to talk to Max," she demanded.



He stared back with no expression. "You just did. Now get off my beach."



Lacey's cheeks were already flushed from getting the once over by this beach bum. His insult made her red all over.



"I'll be sure to let them know at the Bertrand Museum," she threatened, as if it mattered.



She turned on her heel and stalked off but he called after her, "Lady, I am the Bertrand Museum!"



BUY NOW AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/By-Heart-and-Compass-ebook/dp/B003U8AFIG/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280802562&sr=1-10



BUY NOW PUBLISHER: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-96/By-Heart-and-Compass/Detail.bok





Author Bio:

Danielle Thorne writes from south of Atlanta, Georgia. She is the author of sweet romantic adventure books, both historical and contemporary. Danielle has published poetry and short fiction as well as novels. Her popular blog, The Balanced Writer, focuses on life and the pursuit of peace and happiness.

Ms. Thorne has four sons with her husband, Rob. Together they enjoy travel and the outdoors, Marching Band competition and BSA Scouting.



Back List:

The Privateer

By Heart and Compass

Josette

Turtle Soup

Death Cheater

Friday's How She Does It - Danielle Thorne

We all know there are six elements in writing fiction and often fact. Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. I believe the first five lead to the sixth which for me is the plot. What's your take on this?




For me plotting can't happen without knowing who your characters are--the setting, their story problem and how it's all going to end. While some people do write and plot by the seat of their pants, I tend to be a plotter. Understanding the elements of Who, What, When, etc. are necessary before you can put a story together that makes sense. Writing without a plan or purpose rarely works, and even if someone can make that happen, there's a lot wasted time and a great need for careful editing.



1. How do you create your characters? Do you have a specific process?



My characters are based on both real and fictional people who capture my interest with quirky or fascinating personalities. Once I have an idea of a character type, I take it to the archetype board and figure out what kind of personality I'm dealing with so that I make sure their actions and reactions make sense.



Physical description for me, is based on people I may know and admire in bits and pieces. After a few chapters into writing the story, the characters' images become clear. Once I'm able to truly see them in my mind, I go back and make adjustments to descriptions and style.



2. Do your characters come before the plot? Do you sketch out your plot or do you let the characters develop the route to the end?



My characters almost always come before plot. While I may have the general story idea, characters begin the shaping and molding process of what is to come with their personalities. I love characters who are flawed or who make mistakes. Finding our truth path is one of the biggest challenges in both life and literature.



3. Do you know how the story will end before you begin? In a general way or a specific one?



I usually have a story plan when I sit down to begin a novel, even if it's not plotted out in detail at that point. Endings are sometimes the greatest surprises, but I do have a general idea of how things will end, even if some of the details surprise me at the finish.



4. Do you choose settings you know or do you have books of settings and plans of houses sitting around?



My settings are most often places I have visited or lived. I've been fortunate to travel for some of my research. In most cases, I will take a setting I wish to use, and then research and visit an example of such a place to find inspiration and details for my imaginary world.



5. Where do you do your research? On line or from books?

Both. Being a historical writer and using exotic settings, I've found that if I can't be there in person, online is a great way to capture the essence of what I need to provide to the reader. Actual research books are a necessity to acquiring dependable facts and illustrations. I also use the reference section in public libraries to examine photographs, records and documents.



6. Are you a draft writer or do you revise as you go along and why?



I'm definitely a draft writer, writing my first round draft without looking back. If I have questions along the way, I leave notes and symbols to remind myself of things I need to research or double check. I don't worry about typos or punctuation very much in a first draft. It's easily compared to pouring a home's foundation. I lay down the bones and get the story out of me. Each additional edit sets up the framework, windows, hard walls, flooring and roofing. I think of a final edit as a last touch of cleaning and a little additional decorating. J













http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com

http://www.daniellethorne.com