Cover Reveal: DATE SHARK

Here's a fun change of pace!  Today I'm participating in the cover reveal for DelSheree Gladden's new novel Date Shark. Romance lovers, check it out!

When It Comes to Choosing Between Obsession and Passion, 

Some Lines are Meant to Be Crossed

Life as the marketing director for a popular fashion boutique is overwhelming for Leila Sparrow, to say the least. She’s not sure what ever possessed her to add revamping her dating life to her already hectic schedule. Calling in renowned Date Shark, Eli Walsh seemed like a good idea until she actually met with him. She isn’t supposed to be fantasizing about her dating coach. Leila knows he only sees her as a client, but when their business relationship becomes more of a friendship, it’s hard not to imagine what might be.

His Date Shark business was only meant to be a side-enterprise to his thriving couple’s therapy practice, but Eli Walsh knows it’s become more of an obsession. At least, it was until he agreed to take on Leila. Somehow she has stolen his entire focus. He wants to admit his fascination with her and growing romantic interest, but he knows coming on too strong will scare her away. His plan to convince her that she is worth any man’s interest by first being her friend is challenged when his tips start to pay off and Leila begins dating Luke. Will his friendship with Leila mean the end to any romantic pursuit? 

Date Shark will be released from Limitless Publishing on

May 13th, 2014!

In the mean time... Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and an ebook copy of Date Shark!

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Check out Limitless Publishing!

Medieval Secrets in THE DRAGON'S MESSAGE

Today I welcome author Lori Fitzgerald, who is celebrating the release of her story 'Dragon's Message' with a Magic Appreciation Tour.

Lori J. Fitzgerald lives in New York with her fellow English Major husband and their two little bookworms. Medieval literature is her passion, and she wishes she could spend more time traipsing around Renaissance Faires and shouting “Huzzah” at jousts. She was a middle school English teacher for many years and was best known for her dramatic readings of The Princess Bride. Lori is currently a Staff Writer for the website Once Upon A Fan, the popular fansite for ABC’s hit show Once Upon A Time. You can contact her by email at WhiteRaven829@gmail.com.

Following Lori's guest post about Medieval influences on Dragon's Message, we have an excerpt from the story.  Also, don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway to win a free copy!

Medieval Secrets in 'Dragon's Message'

Medieval literature abounds with hidden meanings, for in the landscape of the medieval mind a character, setting, object or even action have both a literal and a symbolic meaning.  Many of the secrets in The Dragon’s Message are couched in medieval terms. There are references to the Code of Chivalry, such as curtesye (courtly manners) and trouthe (integrity). The coats of arms of both the protagonists, Sir Gwydion and Lady Rhiannon, are also keys to the quest in the story. Medieval heraldry began as practical badges of recognition, so that armored knights could be identified in battle.  However, the symbols, or charges, also represented the qualities that the knight and his family held important. Sir Gwydion’s coat of arms, in medieval heraldic terms, is Azure, a unicorn passant reguardant Or, a chief embattled Or, file Azure. This means the shield has a blue background, in the center of which is a gold unicorn with one front leg reared and its head turned to look behind it. The unicorn symbolizes extreme courage, virtue, and strength. The top part of the shield is a gold band shaped like the top of a fortress turret, which symbolizes protection…or fire. On this gold band is a blue “file” symbol (it looks like an “E”) which is the symbol of the oldest son. This is how Rhiannon recognizes Gwydion in his full battle armor when he first approaches her castle, Caer Idris. The gold (“Or”) symbolizes generosity and elevation of the mind, and the blue (“Azure”) symbolizes truth and loyalty. The tapestry in the main hall of Caer Idris unlocks the meaning of Rhiannon's coat of arms. And even the runes that the dragon messenger writes with “its red-gold ember breath in the darkening sky” hold multiple interpretations, because dragons “do not speak in as simple or as many words as we do, for their throats are clogged with embers. So each rune has many meanings, and can be interpreted in many ways, often depending on the other runes that they are with.”

I invite you to enter the world of the Dragon Tome and learn its secrets!

-Lori Fitzgerald, Author

Excerpt from Dragon's Message

Gwydion quickly handed her a cloth to catch her tears with.  His brow furrowed in concern.  “I did not mean to make you upset with memories.  Of course your father’s liege knights were intent on capturing Maelogan and the rest of his lackeys.  I myself almost had him in the lists but ran afoul of the mud.  His treachery was…most unexpected.”

Rhiannon nodded, and then looked closely at the cloth he had given her.  “Oh!” she exclaimed shakily.  “This was mine!” She held up the red scarf with crooked gold stitches forming a sleeping dragon in the middle.  “This was one of my first embroidery attempts.”  She looked up, smiling incredulously although her eyes still shone from her tears.  “I gave you this at one of the tournaments…and you’ve kept it all these years?”

“Ah…” he grinned a little sheepishly, “I liked it.”  Rhiannon laughed, pleased, and traced the uneven stitches on the dragon’s folded wings. 

            “Rhiannon,” the knight hesitated, and gestured at the ruins around them.  “Why are we here? And why is your book,” he pointed at the pack next to her, “so important?”

            Her lips twitched but she kept herself steady, not wanting to reveal the slight measure of triumph she felt from his questioning. Another step ahead, she thought, and her palms gave a tingling pulse as she pulled her book out from its pouch onto her lap.

            “This is a book of secrets that my mother bequeathed to me as my birthright.”  She spread the red cloth out onto the grass before her and the stitched dragon caught the strong light of the western sun.  “Gules, a dragon dormant Or.  Our family’s coat of arms is actually passed through the female line.”  She arched an eyebrow at Sir Gwydion’s dumbfounded expression. “Don’t tell my father that I told you that. That’s one secret,” she said slyly.  “You know there have been dragons sighted on our lands for centuries.  This book,” she said, as she ran her palms along the leather, “deciphers the language of the dragons.”

About Dragon's Message

A dragon writes a cryptic message with its ember breath in the evening sky...

Lady Rhiannon watches from the turret wall with an ache in her blood. She's the only person who can decipher the message as the sole keeper of the Dragon Tome. When an old enemy threatens the castle, her father charges his knight with escorting her to a safe haven—the same knight Rhiannon had a crush on as a girl. But she must now convince him to change his plans, for she has her own sacred charge to fulfill...

So begins a journey to hidden ruins where magic slumbers in the stones and love lies in the heart, waiting to awaken.

As Rhiannon and the knight face seemingly insurmountable odds, only the dragon knows if they can fulfill their destiny...

The Dragon's Message, a Dragon Tome Novelette, available now for only $1.99 

on Kindle and Nook

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What people are saying about HIGH MAGA

'Tis the season of Bel-Aethne. May all of you enjoy the rites of spring.

Here in KC, the transition from April to May was marked by a cold front and some severe storms, but the sun is out now and the fine spring weather has returned. The grass is growing (a little too fast), the trees are budding, and the tulips are in full bloom.

The semester is wrapping up at Avila. We have just finished the last week of classes; now we are getting into finals.  I am also in the process of packing up my office, as much of O'Reilly Hall will be gutted and remodeled this summer.  

Preparations are in full swing for this summer's NAPIRE program. About a week ago, Coordinator Barbara Dugelby and I hosted a workshop for home mentors and incoming research mentors. Right now, we are hammering out the final details of the schedule. We have a great group of students and faculty coming into the program this summer; I am really looking forward to it.

High Maga is one month old, and reviews from readers are starting to come in. Here's what some of the my readers have to say:

"I loved experiencing the lives of both characters [Eolyn and Akmael] and watching them change through the story. The story of their love and all the difficulties they face is absolutely breathtaking."

"Darker. Bleaker. Different. . . . A great read, and in some parts some may find it harrowing."

"This is a finely wrought story of love and deception, of reunions and disappointment."

"The characters are deep and real with complicated desires and needs that lead them in paths you cannot anticipate."

You can read the full reviews on Goodreads or Amazon.

It's great to get so much positive feedback on this novel, which is such a different story and presented very unique challenges compared to its predecessor.  Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write a review on Goodreads, Amazon, or elsewhere. This is a great way not only to express support for the author, but to help other readers decide whether High Maga is the right story for them.

Last Monday, I had a guest post on Heroines of Fantasy where I talked about war and violence in High Maga, and what inspired me to write such a dark sequel to the decidedly brighter Eolyn. I hope you will stop by to read it, if you haven't already. The post was written from the heart, and brings to light some of the formative experiences of my own youth.

Eve Brackenbury is opening a new store in historic downtown Blue Springs, called the Inklings Books and Coffee Shop.  She's invited me to do a signing there the evening of May 22nd. Author Mary C. Chambers will also be with us, and Rich Tuttle will be playing music inspired by Tolkien. The fun starts at 6pm; see the flyer below for more information.

ConQuesT 45 is on its way, and I am very excited! We'll be at the Marriott in downtown Kansas City on Memorial Day Weekend. If you'd like to attend my panels and readings, see my schedule for ConQuesT 45.

That's the news for now. I hope you are in for a great week.

Meet My Character Blog Hop

Historical fiction author Louise Turner has invited me to participate in the Meet My Character Blog Hop. I met Louise through Hadley Rille Books. Her debut novel, Fire and Sword, is set in 15th century Scotland. I read the novel last fall, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Louise's blog hop post focuses on the character of Hugh Montgomerie, the wonderfully ruthless antihero of her story. To find out more about the world of Fire and Sword, visit Louise Turner's website. You can also read my Goodreads review of her work.

In my countdown posts for the release of High Maga, I never really did a character sketch of Eolyn, so I thought I'd devote some time to her today. Here are the blog hop questions, with my answers:

1. What is the name of my main character? Is he/she fictional or historical?

Eolyn is a fictional character, but many historical figures inspired her creation.

2. When and where is the story set?

The story is set in a medieval pagan kingdom called Moisehén, a place with a rich tradition of magic that dates back centuries. Eolyn was born in the aftermath of a great civil war that put an end to this tradition. During the war, the Magas, female practitioners of magic, rose up against the Mage King Kedehen. After crushing the rebellion, Kedehen forbade women to practice magic and set out to destroy the magas. Eolyn's mother Kaie was in hiding when she gave birth to her daughter, but eventually the purges consumed her life as well. 

3. What should we know about her?

Eolyn is the sole heiress to the tradition of the magas. She is a gifted and powerful maga, but cautious in her actions -- as well she should be, because any misstep could cost her life. Eolyn abhors violence but will do what she must to see her dreams realized.

4. What is the personal goal of the character?

She wishes to practice magic freely and openly, and to restore the tradition of women's magic to the people of Moisehén.

5. What is the main source of conflict; what messes up her life?

As a young girl, Eolyn befriends a boy, Akmael, who also studies magic. They develop a great affection for each other, though they are parted before that affection matures into love. When Eolyn again finds Akmael, she discovers he is Kedehen's only son and heir, a formidable and dangerous mage in his own right, destined to continue his father's legacy of oppressing women's magic. If Eolyn is to see her own dream realized, she must, against the desires of her own heart, take up arms against Akmael.

6. Is there a working title of this story and can we read more about it?

I am describing the main character of my first novel, Eolyn, which covers her childhood and the early years of her journey in magic. Eolyn has multiple reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Its companion novel, High Maga, was just released this month. In High Maga, Eolyn is older, with greater responsibilities and even more complex challenges ahead of her. You don't necessarily need to read Eolyn before High Maga, but you will likely have a richer reading experience if you do.

7. When can we expect the book to be published?

Both Eolyn and High Maga are currently available from Hadley Rille Books. The third and final novel of the series, Daughter of Aithne, is in progress and will be available in late 2015.

~*~

Next week's bloggers for the Meet My Character Blog Hop will be Linda Ulleseit and DelSheree Gladden.

Linda Ulleseit is the author of several YA fantasy novels, including the Flying Horse series, and the historical fiction novel Under the Almond Trees. 

DelSheree Gladden writes YA fantasy that tends toward the dark side and incorporates mythologies of the American Southwest. 

Both of them are great story tellers, so I hope you will stop by their blogs to check out their work.  Look for their Meet My Character posts on or around May 5th!

Spring Fever

The Buffalo River in early spring.

My husband and I had a wonderful stay in the Ozarks last week. My only regret was that we had to return so soon.

We stayed at a lovely cabin near the Buffalo River, slept in during the mornings, went hiking in the afternoons.  Read, listened to music, watched videos, ate and drank as we pleased. We made a bonfire under a starry night, and then we went hiking some more. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better trip. I am already scheming to see when I can go back.

I was also able to write, truly write for the first time in ages. Bringing High Maga to press without Eric T. Reynolds at the helm of Hadley Rille Books had gobbled up all my time for the last several weeks. But I found some breathing space in the peace and beauty of the Ozark Mountains, and that gave me a fresh start on my continuing project with Daughter of Aithne. 

AND - here is the surprise I promised you last week: I've been listening to the brand new audio edition of Eolyn!  

Darla Middlebrook is the reader. I am in awe of her work. Listening to the story through her voice has been like discovering Eolyn's world all over again. Every scene, every moment, every word seems fresh and new; and, if I may say so myself, the story very well written!  ;)

A view from our cabin.

The audio edition of Eolyn will be available through audible.com, as soon Hadley Rille editor Terri-Lynne DeFino and I give it a thumbs up. Judging by my listening rate, that will be in about two weeks. My personal goal, actually, is to see if we can have it released in time for Eolyn's birthday on May 7th.

In other news, historical fiction author Louise Turner has a great post up on Heroines of Fantasy this week about real medieval women. Many of my own characters are based on historical figures, so if you want to learn about the women who inspired the women of Eolyn's world, have a look at Louise's post.

Also, my Orangeberry Tour continues this week with author interviews, excerpts, and more. I hope you have a chance to visit some of those posts and say hi!

We're going into the last stretch for the semester right now, so things may be a little hectic over the next couple of weeks. I will be posting regularly, though, as there is a LOT happening in May, and I want to keep you up-to-date with the latest news.

For now, have a good rest of the week.  Enjoy the magic of spring!

The Adventure Has Begun

Launch party at Avila University.

I am very grateful for the outpouring of support and positive energy that has come with the release of High Maga. It's been a wonderful ten days, both on line and in the 'real world'.  The excitement of readers, friends, family, and colleagues has been contagious; welcome medicine after what was a fairly stressful two months in bringing the book to press.

Two positive and very thoughtful reviews of High Maga have been posted on line, one by DelSheree Gladden at The Edible Bookshelf and the other by David Hunter at Heroines of Fantasy. 

We had a great turnout for the launch party at Avila University. Hadley Rille Books editor Eric T. Reynolds was able to join us, his first foray into the outside world since a stroke took him out of commission about two months ago. I spoke a little about the inspiration behind the novel, and read several excerpts. And of course, I signed a lot of books. Unfortunately, in the excitement I forgot to record my readings, so I can't post them here. But I'll make up for that with some audio recordings in the coming weeks.



On Tuesday, April 15, I'm starting a blog tour with Orangeberry Book Tours.  There will be book features, author interviews, excerpts and more. To see the full schedule, visit my Orangeberry Book Tour page.

This will be a short week at Avila. The university is closed on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, one of the perks of working at a Catholic institution.  My husband and I will take advantage of the spring weather by heading to the Ozarks, where we hope to indulge in some well-deserved rest and recreation. 

When I return, I will have a very special surprise for fans and friends of Eolyn.

Until then, enjoy Eolyn's new adventure!

With Mom and Dad after the show.

Launch Day!

Here's a look at the full cover of the print edition, front and back.
The bird on the back cover has special significance, but you'll have
to read the novel to find out what it is!

High Maga has hit the market about a day before the official release date!  You can now purchase both the print and Kindle editions through Amazon. Here are the links:

High Maga in paperback

High Maga on Kindle
High Maga on Kobo

I'll keep this short so you can purchase your copy and start reading. Thank you to everyone for all your support and enthusiasm as we've brought this novel to press. You've had a long wait; now it's payback time. Enjoy the adventure.

Remember that the launch party will be in the Whitfield Conference Center at Avila University on Saturday, April 12th, at 5pm. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Hope you can join us!