Wednesday, August 31

Numerology

Hi everyone! Today's Into the Paranormal post is about Numerology. First off, here's the definition of what it is from Wikipedia:
"Numerology is any study of the purported mystical relationship between a count or measurement and life. It has many systems and traditions and beliefs. Numerology and numerological divination by systems such as isopsephy were popular among early mathematicians, such as Pythagoras, but are no longer considered part of mathematics and are regarded as pseudomathematics by modern scientists. Today, numerology is often associated with the paranormal, alongside astrology and similar divinatory arts."

I have had a little experience with it, but not a whole lot. I decided to analyze my name and birthday for research for this blog post. What I found was pretty intriguing. Sure, in some ways, I guess I'm a little susceptible to this kind of this, but it's fascinating when the report points out things within you that you know about but no one else could. But overall, I view it mostly as entertainment. Something to do for fun.

So, instead of blabber on about it, I'm going to share the numerology links and let you give me your thoughts on the subject!

http://www.facade.com/numerology/
http://www.paulsadowski.com/NameData.asp

Tuesday, August 30

Guest Author Kinley Baker

What is a Shadow Shifter?

RUINED takes place in the Realm of Shadows, a mystical land where the Shadow Shifters’ Ancestor gods watch over them. The Shadow Shifters use the shadows of their Ancestor gods to shift at lightning speeds. They can’t shift during broad daylight without the shadow of trees, or other large objects. Their power is not without limits. But I love the idea of being swept away by magic, literally, into darkness that allows the Shadow Shifters to travel at fast speeds.

I’d love to have the ability to shift through shadows. What super ability would you have if you could have any power you wanted?

EXCERPT of RUINED

"You.” Fury burned hot under Jessa's skin as she glared at Vale. “Who do you think you are, demanding I come live in this castle? You can’t just order your guards to enter a woman’s home and pack up her things.”

“Well, I did.” Vale came around the desk and propped one hip against it, more of a threatening than casual movement. “Someone tried to kill me. It makes sense that I have my Healer close by.”

She released a pent-up breath. “Why couldn’t you have explained that instead of mandating?” Silly. Her imagination had run away with her. The king needed his Healer. But the realization he didn’t want her made her angrier.

“Because I didn’t want to give you the option of saying no.”

She most definitely would have said no.

“If you would have explained your reasoning, I would have complied. Your safety and health come first, even if I—”

“Even if you what?”

“Loathe you.” She bunched her fingers into two fists, seriously tempted to hit him. For all the nonexistent pain it would inflict upon him.

“Do you?” His tone deadened with calm. “Because I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“That’s normal.” She brushed off the claim. “I saved your life.”

He moved in a blur. A true Shadow Shifter. One second he stood near his desk, the next he had her in his arms, one locked around her waist and one hand tangled in her hair. Their lips almost brushed.

“I can’t stop thinking about you.” His murmur played down her spine, leaving a tingling trail. His scent invaded her. His voice embraced her like bare skin against satin sheets.

Her heart beat fast, her pulse jumped.

She disliked him, but didn’t want him to let her go.

“Have you been thinking about me?” His soft tone feathered over her flesh.

“Only how much I dislike you.” Lust pulsed in her belly.

He pulled her head back gently by her hair, so they looked straight into each other’s eyes. Their bodies pressed tightly together. “Liar.”

BLURB of RUINED

Jessa is one healing away from death. Under the thrall of her gift, the Court's Senior Healer risks giving her life in exchange for her patient's.

Vale is a rebel ruler. When his brother is killed, he's given the throne and the decree from the Court to produce an heir or lose his family's hold on the land--and his deceiving advisors aren't afraid to use murder as a weapon if their directive to stay away from the Senior Healer goes unheeded.

But Vale burns to possess Jessa. The heat between them leaves a wake of smoke, and even the powerful forces above want to bind them in a union that lasts forever. Vale taking another would be a betrayal neither could survive.

Their enemies fear a child born of such a powerful Healer and Warrior, but the true threat lies in the bond forged in shadows and fused in fire.

Buy Links

Paperback - http://www.amazon.com/Ruined-Kinley-Baker/dp/1937254143/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314561038&sr=8-1
Ebook - http://www.amazon.com/Ruined-ebook/dp/B005D9J6L2/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1314561038&sr=8-1

Trailer Link

Trailer - http://youtu.be/aG2oSaUZeJM

Author Links

www.kinleybaker.com
www.twitter.com/kinleybaker
www.facebook.com/kinleybaker
http://authorkinleybaker.blogspot.com
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11925534-ruined
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kinley-Baker/196649877015210

Wednesday, August 24

News

Hi everyone. Sorry for not much blogging recently. I promise I have an excuse. Things have been pretty hectic for me recently. But I will get back to my normal schedule on Sunday. ;-)

Before I go, I'd love to share an exciting piece of news though! Techno Crazed is a bestseller on All Romance eBooks! Woohoo! I'd dreamed of being able to say one of my books is a bestseller, and now I have that opportunity. Yay!

Okay, well... I need to get back to my WIP! See you Sunday!

Wednesday, August 17

Bloody Bones

Today's Into the Paranormal topic is on Bloody Bones, a mythological creature from Irish mythology. It also goes by the names Rawhead and Bloody-Bones, Tommy Rawhead, or Rawhead. He tends to live near ponds or other forms of water. Although, Ruth Tongue in Somerset Folklore says he "lived in a dark cupboard, usually under the stairs. If you were heroic enough to peep through a crack you would get a glimpse of the dreadful, crouching creature, with blood running down his face, seated waiting on a pile of raw bones that had belonged to children who told lies or said bad words."

Other mentions I've seen of how he looks are that he can change his form to what he chooses, he's very tall and grotesque, and several others.

What else? Yep! You guessed it. He's basically a boogeyman to scare children into behaving. I first heard about him through the book Bloody Bones by Laurell K. Hamilton, and it seems like he's in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files graphic novel, Welcome to the Jungle. I haven't read that yet.

Interesting Tidbit:

  • The first cited mention in the Oxford English Dictionary is from 1550 as "Hobgoblin, Rawhed, and Bloody-bone."
  • It's said the stories of Bloody Bones were most common in Lancashire and Yorkshire, UK and then the tales traveled to North America, specifically the South.
  • For a list of Bloody Bones mentions in pop culture, click here.
And before I go, here's a clip from Supernatural the awesome TV show where Sam and Dean fight Rawhead.  http://youtu.be/XEkMe2Jze28 Sorry, I can't embed the video.

So what do you think of Bloody Bones? Have you heard of him before?

Tuesday, August 16

Guest Author Cathy Pegau

Five Reasons I Love Speculative Fiction

No matter what basic storyline pops into my head, I always seem to throw an otherworldly curve in it. A western becomes a story about demon hunters on the frontier. A women’s fiction about best friends becomes a ghost story. I love tales that have some kind of “otherness” in them, some twist on what we know as our normal reality. Why does my mind take these turns? I have no idea. But I can tell you why I love reading and writing them.

1) Bending the Rules—or even breaking them (my personal favorite ; ). If you can imagine it, you can write it into your world. As long as you can explain why the sky is green and the grass is blue, why not? Not only can it make a run-of-the-mill story different, but you get to do cool research too.

2) Get Lost—in your imagination. A story set on another planet, in another reality, is a great way to put your own reality aside for a little while. It’s like a mini vacation that costs only a few dollars. And the characters typically have much greater problems than our everyday issues. If the MC can handle alien invaders, I can deal with the evil day job.

3) Turn a Subgenre on Its Head—Space westerns. Elves in Manhattan. Automatons in a Victorian-era mystery. Subgenres and combinations abound in speculative fiction. Granted, too many categories can be a little cumbersome (space elves landing in Victorian Manhattan to solve a murder? Well, maybe…) but if the author does her job even that might fly.

4) Plot-tastic Tales—where the world-building lends itself to wild situations. As long as they make sense, just about anything goes. Hmm…I wonder what those space elves are up to?

5) Super Characters—sometimes literally. Some speculative fiction characters have super powers. Some have wings or pointy ears or pointy teeth. Some change form. Some have kick-ass martial arts skills or pulse weapons and jet packs. No matter what their attributes, skills, talents or tech, a good spec fiction character is a step above mere mortals while retaining traits that the reader finds relatable.

Those are my reasons for loving all manner of speculative fiction, from high fantasy and magic realism to science fiction and steampunk. What about you?


Cathy’s debut F/F Science Fiction Romance Rulebreaker is out from Carina Press now. Here’s the blurb and a short excerpt:

Liv Braxton's Felon Rule #1: Don't get emotionally involved.


Smash-and-grab thieving doesn't lend itself to getting chummy with the victims, and Liv hasn't met anyone on the mining colony of Nevarro worth knowing, anyway. So it's easy to follow her Rules.


Until her ex, Tonio, shows up with an invitation to join him on the job of a lifetime.


Until Zia Talbot, the woman she's supposed to deceive, turns Liv's expectations upside down in a way no woman ever has.


Until corporate secrets turn deadly.


But to make things work with Zia, Liv has to do more than break her Rules, and the stakes are higher than just a broken heart…


From Rulebreaker, Chapter One:

One of the three masked men raised his rifle and shot a short burst of energy pulses into the ceiling of the First Colonial Bank of Nevarro. Fft-fft-fft-fft-fft. Plaster hit the wood floor in a staccato patter louder than the shots themselves. Ozone, dust and cries of alarm filled the air.

The shooter swung the muzzle toward me. “I said, heads down, lady.”

Gut tight, I complied, imitating the others who had been caught inside the bank when the black-clad men had entered just before closing time. It wasn’t often that I stared into the dark, deadly hole of a weapon. I don’t recommend it as a regular activity.

“Everyone stay down and stay quiet,” he ordered. “We’ll be outta here in two minutes, and y’all can go home alive.”

One of the men in black escorted the teller and the manager to the back of the bank where the vault was. The guard, an elderly couple, Calvin and I lay on our bellies, hands on the backs of our heads and cheeks to the rough wood. The elderly couple had come in to check on their savings.

Cal and I had come in to rob the place ourselves.

Despite the pulse pistol nestled under my clothes against the small of my back, and Cal’s gun tucked in a holster covered by his right pant leg, neither of us was inclined to play hero.

Cal turned his head away from the shooter to glare at me. “Only you, Liv,” he whispered fiercely, “would pick the exact same day to rob a bank as real criminals.”

Real criminals? I opened my mouth to loudly voice my indignation but snapped it shut.

I’d already drawn enough attention to myself. Instead, I returned his harsh whisper. “We are real criminals. This is just poor timing.”

Cal and I had been planning this job for a while. The Exeter Mining Company deposited its employees’ pay during an undisclosed period each month to avoid such actions as, say, robbery. But Cal had finagled the schedule and amounts from a friend. Seventy-five thousand in cold, hard cash had been delivered to this bank in Milchner the day before. Many small-op contract miners preferred hard money to electronic transfer—fewer slipped digits and short changings to worry about.

We chose this branch because it was the most remote, the least secure and had the fewest personnel. Despite its lower take than a branch in one of the larger cities, like Pembroke, it was the perfect hit.

Apparently the competition thought so too.

“We should have done this sooner,” Cal grumbled.

“It’s not my fault my car died,” I said.

This had not been one of my luckier days, or months, or years for that matter. The job was supposed to go down last month, but fast transportation was a must. Cal only had access to a slower model Airvan. A week before the original hit date, the lifters on my somewhat newer, sleeker and more sensitive light air car went offline. Part of this take was earmarked to pay that bill. Damn the void.

*******************

Rulebreaker is available from Carina Press Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Visit Cathy at her blog, website or say hello on Facebook and Twitter.

Monday, August 15

Techno Crazed, now at All Romance eBooks!

So, as I mentioned on Friday, I'm trying a new schedule where I cut back on blogging a little to get more writing done. Except today I have some very cool news! Techno Crazed is now available for purchase at All Romance eBooks! Woo!

It's at a special discounted price as well, so make sure to go get it if you haven't already.

Blurb:

Ian vows to protect Hannah. As a technomage in a high-tech world, his resources are almost endless...

Private Investigator Hannah Franklin's life is turned upside down after being contacted by a former employee of MAX Home Security, the leader in security services. But they're not just protecting people anymore. Hannah's informant claims to have proof that MAX has ordered the assassination of politicians who stood against the corporation.

When her informant is killed and an attempt is made on her life, Hannah has no choice but to contact a freelance hacker. Her only hope now lies in the hands of a man she never expected to welcome back into her life.

Ian Bradley has lost his girlfriend and his job, as well as having acquired a very annoying gnome. Now his ex, Hannah, is in danger, and she needs his help. Ian vows to protect Hannah with every resource available to him -- and as a technomage in a high-tech world, his resources are almost endless…

Changeling Press

Techno Crazed (Hacked Investigations, #1)

Sunday, August 14

Six Sentence Sunday 3

Hi there everyone! Thanks for the wonderful comments the past two weeks. I very much appreciate them. Here's a continuation from last week's Six Sentence Sunday. Click here to view the previous entries.

Quick note to set it up. Adara is an Amazon warrior princess, and Rei is a weretiger biologist on assignment in the Amazon Rainforest.
All she’d known of the world had flipped upside down since meeting him.

Rei cocked an eyebrow, watching her. His gaze brushed over her, stoking the strange warmth in her belly.

Adara couldn’t stop the unfamiliar heat rushing up her neck, reaching her cheeks. Her eyes lingered on his naked human form. His tan skin captured the moonlight that filtered through the very old trees.

Jungle Heat available from Changeling Press.

Friday, August 12

Weekly Wrap Up

Today I'm posting excerpts for Techno Crazed and Jungle Heat over at Love Romances Cafe for their Fun in the Sun event. If you're interested in reading them (or an author who wants some promo time) head on over! It's looking busy and like fun.

Also, just a note that I'm thinking about changing my blogging schedule to be every other Tuesday - Guest Blogger, Wednesday - Into the Paranormal, and Sunday - Six Sentence Sunday with other book news being posted when I get it. Then I'd post writing tips or whatnot every other Thursday at Castles & Guns. I'd do this to cut some stress and spend more time writing. If you have opinions, feel free to leave a comment.

So, I hope you all have a great weekend. What are your plans for it?

Wednesday, August 10

UFOs and Aliens

Sorry for the lateness of this post. I'm hard at work on Jungle Fire. Anyways, I'm stopping by to talk about something totally out there for my subject today. Welcome to UFOs and Aliens, Into the Paranormal style... lol.

Let's look at what they are first.

A UFO is an unidentified flying object, which is..."is any unusual apparent object in the sky that is not identified. This term is originated from the military forces, such as of US Air Force, US Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy etc. The UFO can be a missing-rout airplane, spy airplane, enemy’s surprise attack, missile, etc. ... However, more loosely the term UFO refers to supposed alien spacecraft, being one explanation (among several; see extraterrestrial hypothesis) offered for such sightings." (Wikipedia)

An Alien is defined as a life form not from Earth. Also known as extraterrestrial life.

First off, I'm not sure that I believe in UFOs and aliens. There could be something else out there in the galaxy and beyond since Earth is a small part of the universe, etc., but I highly doubt anything would really go all Independence Day or Men in Black on us. Who says they'd be the little green men movies portray anyways? I enjoyed the Alien and Predator movies, especially Alien vs Predator, but for me that's just entertainment. There's an episode of the TV show Supernatural that I loved where there were supposed alien abductions, but the real cause of those "abductions" was the Trickster.

Although, if people believe in aliens and UFOs, great. I've been in Arizona and seen pictures of strange lights. I've seen some myself, but a lot of the alien lights could very well be military aircrafts. They've got some pretty fancy stuff.

That being said, I'm looking forward to seeing Cowboys and Aliens. *grins*

What are your thoughts on UFOs and aliens? Have you seen Cowboys and Aliens yet? What did you think?

Monday, August 8

Reading, A Valuable Tool for Writers

Hey everyone! I hope you're having a fantastic Monday. Today I'm guest blogging at Kinley Baker's! I'm talking about making a plan as well as my new release Jungle Heat. Stop on over when you have the chance!

First posted June 26, 2011 at The Speculative Salon.

I’m sure we’ve all read an interview with a talented author and skimmed down to the bottom where she gives tips for aspiring authors. Advice from one of the best? Heck yeah, I’m taking it! But then, what you see is that writers should write, write, write and read, read, read. Hmm... Not what was necessarily expected. Writing, that’s an obvious one. The more you do it, the better you’ll get. But what about reading?

Reading is a good way to take in what other authors have done craft and story-wise and see what worked and what didn’t work for them. I’ve always enjoyed reading, but I didn’t give it much time. I had other things to do... like write, socialize, watch TV, etc!

Last year, I challenged myself to read more and stick to my goal. Happily, I did! At the beginning of the year, I found it was easier to read a book without looking too deeply at the writing craft, but as the year progressed, it was easier to see what the writer did well or not and how I could improve myself even more.

Basically, when you’re sitting there slaving away on honing your craft by writing your next book and reading a ton of writer’s reference books -- you are, right? -- give yourself permission to step back and go read. Aside from being fun, you might find your writing skill improving!

Stephen King said in his book On Writing, "If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that."

If you have been reading, do you think it’s helped? If you haven’t, what’s stopping you?

Sunday, August 7

Six Sentence Sunday 2

I really enjoyed Six Sentence Sunday last week, so I'm back for more! This is my heroine Adara, Amazon warrior princess, contemplating Rei, the hero, in his human form. She met him when he was in his weretiger form. It follows shortly after last week's Six Sentence Sunday post.

Even naked, he had a sophisticated, intelligent aura about him. He was much more handsome than the local Indians. They didn’t have the air of confidence and grace he possessed. They bore a more savage image of life, like her people.

She shook her head, ridding herself of those thoughts. For if they were right, she had no business associating with him.

Jungle Heat available from Changeling Press.

Friday, August 5

Giveaway Winner

Hi everyone! Thank you to everyone who participated and left a comment in the giveaway this week. The winner, chosen by randomizer.org, is C R Ward! Congrats!! Please email me at sarah(at)sarahmakela(dot)com with the title of the book you'd like to receive (Jungle Heat or Techno Crazed).

Aside from the giveaway information, I don't have too much else to report. I'm off to go type some words on Jungle Fire now. Have a great weekend!

Thursday, August 4

New Interview + Last day for Giveaway

Hey everyone! Just a quick post to give you the heads up that today is the last day for the giveaway. Details are...

I'm doing a giveaway of one (maybe two depending on how many comments I get this week) of your choice of either Techno Crazed or Jungle Heat if you leave a comment. You'll get one extra entry for each of the following, follow the blog, follow my Twitter @sarahmakela, and Tweet or Retweet. (Please let me know in the comment, if you do the extra entries.) I'll pick the winner(s) tomorrow!

Also, I talked about the interview I'll be doing with Marsha A. Moore yesterday, well... it's now posted! So make sure to hop on over to her blog... http://marshaamoore.blogspot.com/2011/08/great-interview-with-author-sarah.html

So, to leave you guys with something to comment on. How about this... What's your favorite genre to read?

Wednesday, August 3

What kind of supernatural being do you want more of?

First of all, I hope everyone is having a fantastic Wednesday! Mine has been a little hit or miss so far. My interenet refuses to work, so here I am blogging from my phone. *grimace* Due to that, I'm going to keep this post fairly short.

I did an interview with Marsha A. Moore for tomorrow, and she asked a fabulous question about the fact I have a technomage and weretiger, which are both atypical magical beings and what was enjoyable about writing them? That made me think since although I haven't seen many other technomages (and weretigers are kind of rare), I hadn't thought I was working with such unique beings. Her related question was what other magical beings would I like to write in the future. To find out my answer, you'll need to check back... but that leads me to my question for all of you.

What magical beings (paranormal or mythological) would you like to read more of?

I can't wait to see your answers!

Tuesday, August 2

Guest Author Aubrie Dionne

What is Your Paradise?

In Paradise 21, most of my characters find paradise, but they don’t all find it in the same place. Some find it in a place, and others find it with each other. You’ll have to read the book to find out who finds it where.

The question I raise is: what defines paradise?

In Merriam-Webster Online, “paradise” is defined as

1 a : eden 2 b : an intermediate place or state where the souls of the righteous await resurrection and the final judgment c : heaven

2: a place or state of bliss, felicity, or delight

Interesting, because “waiting” for anything for me is hell. I’m so impatient. I’m not sure my paradise would be waiting for resurrection. But I do like the word bliss.

Have I felt paradise before? Yes. My whole family together at Christmas, and my vacation in Hawaii were bliss in totally different ways. Do I feel paradise everyday: no. But that’s okay. :-) There’s a little bit of paradise in eating a chocolate bar, or holding my sister’s new baby, or taking my dogs on a walk in nice weather. Little moments of paradise are sprinkled throughout each day.

People also use “paradise” as a catch phrase:

A candy store is a child’s paradise.

Or

Barnes and Noble is a writer’s paradise.

My question to you is: What is your paradise?

Paradise 21
A New Dawn Novel, Book One
Aries has lived her entire life aboard mankind’s last hope, the New Dawn, a spaceship traveling toward a planet where humanity can begin anew—a planet that won’t be reached in Aries’ lifetime. As one of the last genetically desirable women in the universe, she must marry her designated genetic match and produce the next generation for this centuries‐long voyage.

But Aries has other plans.

When her desperate escape from the New Dawn strands her on a desert planet, Aries discovers the rumors about pirates—humans who escaped Earth before its demise—are true. Handsome, genetically imperfect Striker possesses the freedom Aries envies, and the two connect on a level she never thought possible. But pursued by her match from above and hunted by the planet’s native inhabitants, Aries quickly learns her freedom will come at a hefty price.

The life of the man she loves.

Monday, August 1

Revisions

I figured it's pretty timely for me to talk about revisions since I just finished some for Hacked Investigations 2: Savage Bytes.

Also, don't forget... In celebration of finishing up Savage Bytes and Jungle Heat's recent release, I'm going to do a giveaway of one (maybe two depending on how many comments I get this week) of your choice of either Techno Crazed or Jungle Heat if you leave a comment. You'll get one extra entry for each of the following, follow the blog, follow my Twitter @sarahmakela, and Tweet or Retweet. (Please let me know in the comment, if you do the extra entries.) I'll pick the winner(s) next Friday!

Anyways, I used to think of revising as going to line one, sentence one and line-editing straight on through. Maybe doing that multiple times, and boom! Done! Not anymore. I've actually developed a system. Something, if you follow my blog, know is pretty rare for me. Still, revisions are intense. They tend to take me a little longer to complete (probably also due to the fact that I don't read at super speed like some people *winks*).

I do have to admit though. I'm beginning to slowly find them easier, especially now that I have a system, which is fairly new since I only started with it at the beginning of this year. Another thing is I'm also less intimidated by the process of going through the book and making it shine. In fact, some days I prefer it to writing, but then again, I think that switches whenever I'm doing one or the other. I've had days where I'd prefer to write than edit. Usually when I'm to the point where I'm revising, I don't have time to let myself go with whims and fancies. :-) By that point, I've used up those privileges.

Anyways, here's my revision process. Hopefully it helps!

  1. I print out the entire story and then wince because I'm not a fan of using lots of paper. (Although, it doesn't work as well for me when reading over the manuscript on screen the first time.) 
  2. I grab some post-it notes, a pen, and my manuscript. 
  3. Read over the manuscript making notes about major things that bug me. (Step away from the typos and grammar! It's not time for that yet.) 
  4. Once I'm done with that, I implement the changes for the notes I made and kick myself for making so many great catches. 
  5. Next, I do line edits. 
  6. Sending it off to a critique partner is an awesome idea. Although, sometimes it's not possible due to deadlines and schedules.
  7. Also, if there's extra time, I'll either put the story through a text-to-speech program to have it read to me, or I'll read it work out loud. I've tried it and caught errors doing so. Although, after a while my tongue started tripping over words. lol


So, that's my process! What's yours? Do you have tips for making it through revisions (somewhat) painlessly?
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