Sharon Bayliss, author of "The Charge" guest post and giveaway: Write Like a Man

"Write Like a Man"

Please welcome Sharon Bayliss to Now is Gone today.  You may remember my post on Sunday about her book The Charge, currently on sale, recently published by Curiosity Quills.  If not, go and look at it, it's linked above; the sale lasts until Saturday!  Anyway, I asked her: how do you manage to write as a male protagonist?  In response, I received the following guest post.  Be sure to check the bottom, where other tour stop links and other links in general are included, as well as the trailer AND  a giveaway!.  And now, without further ado, Sharon Bayliss, to tell us how to "Write Like a Man"!

I have often pondered why I prefer writing from the male POV. That has to be weird, right? As a woman, shouldn't I feel more comfortable speaking as a woman? Shouldn't I be more versed in what women think and feel?

Although quite girly in real life, for some reason in fiction, I'm a tomboy.

I can write from the female POV, and do in The Charge, which is told from multiple POVs. As a matter of fact, the original draft of the novel that would become The Charge was written from Lena's perspective, the leading lady in the story.

Deciding to change my main character from Lena to Warren was a big decision, namely because it meant re-writing most of the novel. But also I didn't trust that I could master the voice of an 18-year-old guy, especially one like Warren, who is not that much like me. However, I decided to make the change at the suggestion of some astute critique partners.

From a plot perspective, writing the story from Lena's perspective had been a mistake. She's deeply involved in the story, but it's not about her. It's Warren's story, and should be told by him. Honestly, I think I was stuck in the female-focused mentality of the YA/NA genre. I naturally started writing from the female perspective, just because it seemed like the normal thing to do, even though it wasn't right for my story.

When I stated writing the story from Warren's POV, it felt like fireworks erupted in my head. It worked better partly because it made for a better plot, but also his voice flowed so naturally. The prose came to life with color and texture.

My leaning toward the male POV didn't stop with Warren. The exact same thing happened with my next novel (which I hope to publish later this year). When planning the story in my head and in outlines, I fully intended to write from the perspective of the main female character. But when I actually sat down to write, the main male character took the helm. I just started writing a scene from his perspective and he tumbled out for a whole novel.  In retrospect, I am very glad I chose him as a MC. He's a deeply flawed character and making him into a likable MC added much more complexity than I would have had otherwise.

 

Who knows, perhaps I do have some deeply seeded gender issues, but my guess is that something else is going on here. I like writing from the male perspective because the voice is less like mine. When you're attempting to write from the perspective of someone who is not like you, you have to make a more conscious effort to create a strong and consistent voice, which at least in my case, improves the quality of my writing.

In addition, I find it more enjoyable to write as a character unlike myself. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Sharon fan, but I live in my head 24/7. Stepping out of myself adds fire to my writing because it's fresh and different, and I enjoy the challenge. So, at the end of the day, I don't think it's that much about gender. I enjoy writing as someone different from me. 

If you often write from the POV of your own gender, or as characters otherwise similar to you, I challenge you to a few exercises where you write as someone unlike you. If you're like me, hopefully it will help to enhance your voice and add fresh color to your writing.

So, what about you? Do you usually write MCs of the same gender? If so, why do you lean towards one or the other?

Thank you so much for having me here, Katy!

And thanks for dropping by, Sharon! Now, some links!

Info for The Charge:

Purchase Links: http://amzn.com/B00BNPCHGQ 
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-charge-sharon-bayliss/1114745688

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheChargeBook

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17239442-the-charge

NetGalley (free review copies): https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/28197

Blurb:

When King of the Texas Empire kidnaps Warren's brother, Warren embarks into a still Wild West to save him. On his journey, he makes a discovery that changes his life forever—he and his brother are long-lost members of the Texas royal family and the King wants them both dead. 

He gets help from an activist Texan named Lena, who's itching to take on the King and happens to be a beautiful firecracker Warren can't stay away from. Convincing her he's not one of the bad guys becomes harder when a mysterious energy stirs in his body, turning his brain into a hive of emotions and memories—not all his own.

A legacy of violence is not all he inherited from the brutal Kings of Texas. The myth that the royal family possesses supernatural powers may not be myth at all.

Gone are the days when choosing a major was a big deal. Now Warren must save his brother and choose whether or not to be King, follow a King, or die before he can retire his fake ID. 

Some more links:

Excerpt:  http://sharonbayliss.blogspot.com/p/sample-chapter-of-charge.html

An audio recording of me reading from The Charge: https://soundcloud.com/sharon-bayliss/the-charge-reading

What Side Are You On? Quiz: http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/ieHsew9/What-side-are-you-on-in-The-Charge

And the trailer:

Giveaway here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Finally, some info about the author and more links:

About Me

Bio: Sharon Bayliss is a native of Austin, Texas and works her day job in the field of social work. When she’s not writing, she enjoys living in her “happily-ever-after” with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and playing in the mud (which she calls gardening). You can connect with Sharon at www.facebook.com/authorsharonbayliss and www.sharonbayliss.com.

Blog/Website: www.sharonbayliss.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorsharonbayliss

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sharonbayliss

Google +:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/103722620541134203282

Review: Eye of the Sword

Eye of the Sword by Karyn Henley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Christian fiction
Reading Level: Young Adult
Recommended for: People seeking family-friendly fantasy, those who enjoy epic fantasy
Trigger Warnings: Murder, violence

My Thoughts: I'm finding I'm very much enjoying this story, especially after how dark the last series I read was. While this is not exactly light—there are people being killed and enslaved after all—it is much lighter than the last, and the family-friendly nature of it means that the violence is not as bad, and the overall feeling is much more hopeful. Again, while this is labeled as Christian fiction, those who normally avoid such should still enjoy this book; there is no preachiness, and it is a remarkably tolerant and easygoing version of faith in this book. I'm really enjoying this series. I have one more book to go, Throat of the Night, but since I am scheduled on a blog tour for that one on Friday, the review for that one will be delayed until then. I'll be reading it next, however, so you'll just have to wait a couple days for the review. Recommended.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Series Information: Eye of the Sword is book 2 in the Angelaeon Circle, published in June 2012.
Book 1: Breath of Angel, published in June 2011 (review linked here where formatting allowed)
Book 3: Throat of the Night, published in March 2013 (to be reviewed soon)

Synopsis: In Camrithia, a land of shadows and mystical secrets, Trevin lives to serve King Laetham. But his heart belongs to the princess, Melaia. When the King sends Trevin on on a dangerous quest to find the missing comains—captains in the king’s army—he must leave Melaia to the advances of a swaggering Dregmoorian prince. 

Challenged to prove his worth, Trevin throws himself into his quest. Striving to prove his love, Trevin undertakes a second mission—find the harps Melaia seeks in order to restore the stairway to heaven. Through fire caves, rogue winds, and murderous threats, Trevin remains steadfastly dedicated to his quest—even when he is falsely accused of a heinous crime. As Trevin’s time runs out, he realizes he must face the shame and horror of his own past and the nightmare that has come to life. Will he have the courage to finish what he has started?



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Review: Breath of Angel

Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Christian Fiction
Reading Level: Young Adult (15 and up)
Recommended for: Fans of fantasy stories, YA readers, others who enjoy a good, clean fantasy
Trigger Warnings: Murder, violence

My Thoughts: In my original review, I mentioned that this would possibly be appropriate for readers as young as 12, but re-reading it, I'm thinking maybe slightly older. I was remembering the sorts of books I read at age 12, but I was reading at about the level of an 18-year-old when I was 12, so... However, there is no swearing or sex (although there are mild sexual situations) in this book.

I mention in my original review (placed at the bottom) that I was surprised to learn this was considered Christian fantasy. As I reevaluated this book, part of that surprise came clearer: it is apparently perfectly okay in this world to take lovers without being married, even the priestesses. Personally, I think that's just fine, but it sort of surprised me to notice it.

I really like the characters in this book, and their individual mannerisms, such as Pym's interesting oaths, and Livia's stiffness. I also found a comment that really brings home to me the difference between a strong female character and one of the new “spunky” types that annoy me so much. Jarrod says to Meleia, “It's one thing to be determined and steadfast. It's another to be bullheaded and willful.” That cuts right into the crux of the matter, I think. Too often writers make willful and bullheaded characters, intending that they be “spunky” but they come off as just annoying. It's much harder to write a steadfast and determined heroine, but I think Melia is moving that way by the end of the book. I still enjoyed it a lot and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. I will be reading the rest of the series over the course of the week.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. My original review is below.

Series Information: Breath of Angel is book 1 in the Angelaeon Cycle, published in June 2011.
Book 2: Eye of Sword, published in June 2012 (to be reviewed soon)
Book 3: Throat of Night, published in March 2013 (to be reviewed soon)

Synopsis: The stranger’s cloak had fallen back, and with it, a long, white, blood-stained wing.

When Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard, age-old legends recited in song suddenly come to life. She discovers wings on the stranger, and the murderer takes the shape of both a hawk and a man. 

Angels. Shape-shifters. Myths and stories—until now.

Melaia finds herself in the middle of a blood feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the stairway to heaven, stranding angels in the earthly realm. When Melaia becomes a target, she finds refuge with a band of angels attempting to restore the stairway. But the restoration is impossible without settling an ancient debt—the “breath of angel, blood of man,” a payment that involves Melaia’s heart, soul, and destiny.

My Original Review: Posted 6/21/2011:
My Synopsis: Melaia is a young priestess in Navia, in training to take over as high priestess when the current high priestess—Hanamel (Hanni)—steps down. Three younger novice priestesses tend the temple as well—Iona, who is 14; Nuri, who is 12; and Peron, who is six. One evening when Melaia is outside, a thin, disheveled-looking man staggers into the courtyard. As is the custom of the temple, she offers him rest and succor, but before he can get inside he is attacked—viciously—by a hawk, which fatally wounds him. While preparing his body for burial, Melaia discovers he has wings—he is an angel. She is astounded, because she thought angels were just a myth. Soon another man comes into the temple, threatens the priestesses and disturbs the body—saying very odd things indeed. When Hanni and Benasin—a friend and advisor to the Overlord—arrive, just in the nick of time, they are able to drive him off.

But Melaia's adventures are just beginning—she is summoned to the Overlord, who ends up selling Benasin's harp to a kingsman as a gift for the King—and throws Melaia in as an extra bonus. She finds herself on the way to Redcliff, the kingdom's seat. Then things start to get really weird …

My Thoughts: I don't want to outline any more of the plot, so as to avoid spoilers. Suffice it to say that Melaia learns that what she thought she knew was mostly wrong—even about herself. She matures significantly in the course of this, the first book in the series. The second book, Eye of the Sword: A Novel (The Angelaeon Circle), is due out in 2012, so be on the lookout for that.

I was much impressed by the story-telling ability of this author—the story flowed smoothly, transitions were clean and the characters were well-developed and interesting. Apparently this book is classified as Christian fiction, but I'm not sure why—while the religion espoused in this novel is monotheistic, it is not much like Christianity. But this book is clean—no swearing, no sex—and safe for people who are bothered by such in the books they read.

I can recommend this book for anyone from 12 on up—under 12 I think it might be a bit scary, but it depends on the young person him- or herself. It's also a book that older readers can enjoy—an adventure, good vs. evil, right vs. wrong—all that great epic stuff is here, but done in a fairly unique way. Check it out!



View all my reviews

FREEBIE ALERT plus: "Should I Fight or Flight? New Adult" Guest Post by Matthew Turner

There's a new kid in town going by the name NEW ADULT  - have you heard of it by chance?

If you have then you're probably aware of a few things:

1. It's full of female writers

2. It's very romance centric

3. It's been termed as smut for teenagers and steamy young adult

It might be strange to learn, then, that a man's trying to break into this genre and convince people it's good idea. Never one for conforming, I'm doing just that - my name is Matthew Turner and I'm embarking on a campaign called The New Adult Man

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

This week my debut novel, Beyond Parallel is FREE (18/03/2013 - 22/03/2013), the reason being to show that MEN can be part of this wonderful New Adult World, too. I see great potential in this genre, and although I have absolutely nothing against romance or steamy sex scenes, I think limiting NA to this would be like limiting YA to vampires and wizards.

New Adult is about the young life, it's about a world away from the teenage years but before the real world hits, and it's about going through issues that those young folk know oh so well: careers, love, commitment, new beginnings, leaving old one's behind, friends, family, etc, etc.

Although trying to break into a genre full of romance may be hard, I honestly believe this is the home for my writing. No other book I write will be like Beyond Parallel, but my general style is to craft stories that focus on very real issues - for the most part those we go through when we're still coming-of-age.

During the writing process I worried where my book fit, but as soon as I found New Adult I knew I'd found home. The only issue was, was it ready for me?

Overcoming Adversity

There once lived a man who appeared in Titanic, appeared on every pre-teen magazine cover around, and was generally seen as an adorable sex symbol rather than an actor. I for one hated Leonardo DiCaprio, but I can't say the same these days.

Today he's one of my favourite actors because he's shown himself to be amazing.

That's the strange thing about perceptions and assumptions. They're so important, but they can easily change over time. Apple were once seen as Microsoft's geeky little brother, but is today the coolest, most successful brand around. Fashion, too is a great example. What's cool one minute isn't the next.

At the moment outlets like ABC News have painted New Adult with a particular brush, but that doesn't mean it will be like this forever. I believe New Adult fulfils a genuine need, but like most things in life it has to mature and earn it's stripes.

This is what I hope The New Adult Man Campaign achieves. Beyond Parallel is set around relationships, but isn't overly romantic. It's about the young life, a world after college, and a time when you can achieve anything.

For me, this is what New Adult is all about.

Will You Spread The New Adult Love?

I hope you'll download Beyond Parallel for FREE, but before that I hope you'll give New Adult a chance. Head to Goodreads and find a few books you think you might like, give them a read, and try and discover what New Adult means to you.

There's so much talent out there and the limits to what NA can achieve is infinite. I hope you'll uncover, discover, and share the love...

Should I Fight or Flight? Heck, the easy thing would be to flight I guess, but I have no plans to do this. In a year's time I hope I'll be one of many male writers happy to fit into the genre, and not only will journalists be happy to spread the word, they'll spread a varied and eclectic one - a word that helps everyone appreciate what New adult is really about.

It's about the young life. Are you on board? >>> JOIN The Party HERE

Matthew Turner - author of Beyond Parallel

****

Matthew Turner is a Male New Adult Writer who's debut novel, BEYOND PARALLEL is FREE all week (18/03/2013 - 22/03/2013). 

The New Adult Man Campaign is geared toward exposing this great new genre and showing that men can play a part too. JOIN THE FACEBOOK EVENT and help spread the word, discovering some great New Adult reads along the way. 

New from Alex Bobl" "Point Apocalypse"

New from Alex Bobl, now available from Amazon, Point Apocalypse.  This sounds like a really interesting book.  Check out this synopsis!

About the Book:

He enters a prison world. A place of no return harboring the death of the universe. No proper food or drinking water, no modern technologies. He doesn't know who he is. He can't tell friend from foe. He has no idea what brought him here. He has no time to think. He lives from one objective to the next. 

The Earth's laws end here. No one to turn to for help. The lives of thousands of people now depend on him alone.

This book is part of Amazon's KDP program, which means that Prime members can borrow it for free! Or you can buy it for just $2.99. I know I'll be adding it to my wishlist!

"Troll or Derby" giveaway winners!

The giveaway for Troll or Derby is now ended, and the two winners are...




*drumroll please*




For the Kindle copy:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


For the Nook copy:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Congratulations!

Book Review: "King" by Jolea M Harrison

King by Jolea M. Harrison

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




Book Info: Genre: Science Fantasy
Reading Level: Older Young Adults (16+)
Recommended for: Those who enjoy darker stories, epic fantasy, stories about the ultimate nature of good vs. evil and the balance of order and chaos
Trigger Warnings: Murder, violence

My Thoughts: This has been a long series. Each book is long and intricately plotted, and threads wind through from the beginning to the end, occasionally popping up to remind us of their existence. I will say again that I recommend reading this series all together, one book right after another, and definitely do not try to start anywhere but the beginning.

That said, this was an extremely and eminently satisfying conclusion to the series. There were times in the series where I had a lot of trouble and struggle over the nature of the villains, but as I've been reading, I've been thinking about it, and I think the problem I had was that the sense of pure evil in this series was so distressingly close to reality. Jolea Harrison has provided me a guest post where she discussed the nature of that (along with a giveaway), so be sure to go and read it. Link is here where formatting allowed.

There is a slight sense of Deus ex machina in the ending of this book, but it's a realistic one for this universe, and it worked out nicely. The ending is not at all rushed—the denouement actually starts more than 200 pages (in my copy*) prior to the end of the book—and an epilogue provides a lovely sense of completion to the overall series. I can honestly say, now that I have finished, that the entire series was most worthwhile and I plan to re-read it again when I have a chance, in order to better understand all the nuances. I also want to point out that an issue I had with the prior book, where in the review I mentioned being confused, was due to a problem with the ARC file I had, and is hopefully not actually in the published edition.

I still recommend this series be confined to older young adult readers, due to the very dark nature of much of the story, and highly recommend that you read the entire series. While you might be tempted to stop at certain points, I guarantee you will completely revise your opinion of the overall series once you have read this finely crafted finishing touch. Wonderful! I highly recommend this book, and the series as a whole.

*Please note: probably due to the nature of transfer into .epub format, my copy of the book shows as having 819 pages, while the “official” count is 400. Therefore, take the page count with a grain of salt. It is more accurate to say the last quarter of the book encompasses the conclusion.

Series Information: King is the 8th book in the Guardians of the Word series.
Book 1: Chosen, released in 2011, reviewed August 2011, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Book 2: Myth, released 2011, reviewed August 2012, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Book 3: Telepath, released 2012, reviewed August 2012, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Book 4: Legend, released 2012, reviewed August 2012, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Book 5: Union, released 2012, reviewed August 2012, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Book 6: Seer, released 2012, reviewed March 2013, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Book 7: Adept, released 2012, reviewed March 2013, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Please note: On March 18, I started a giveaway on my blog for all 8 books, plus a grand-prize winner will also receive a $25 gift certificate. Link is here where formatting allowed.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis:Evil bides its time, ever waiting to breach the thin veil. Action and reaction join to swing the pendulum toward anarchy and destruction. Chaos reigns. The Demon lurks in the dark recesses.

The possibility exists that it can’t be destroyed. Evil will endure. It can’t be taken, cured, or overcome. Night will cover the world no matter what. Faith may not be enough. Love may not survive.

Amidst deception, temptation and fear, the last choice is made, the ultimate sacrifice taken. Father bequeaths unto son. Natural order must be restored. Those who are chosen to die may live, while those who are chosen to live may not make it through.

The fate of the universe, of a kingdom, of a family... of one man is decided. The final battle is at hand.



View all my reviews

Guest Post and Giveaway: Jolea Harrison "The Intransigence of Evil in the Guardians of the Word series"

Today we have a guest post from Jolea M. Harrison, author of the Guardians of the Word series. There is also a giveaway, so be sure to sign up on the rafflecopter form at the bottom of the post. The giveaway is for a file containing all eight of the books in the Guardians of the Word series, and also one Grand Prize winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble or Amazon, their choice. The 2nd prize winner will receive the e-book file, containing the eight books, in .epub or .mobi, again their choice. It's a great giveaway, so don't miss it! I'm currently not quite to the halfway point in reading the 8th book (at the time I'm setting this whole thing up), so I don't have that review up yet; it should be up later today. However, you can see the other reviews by following these links.

King is the 8th book in the Guardians of the Word series.
Book 1: Chosen, released in 2011, reviewed August 2011, review linked here.
Book 2: Myth, released 2011, reviewed August 2012, review linked here.
Book 3: Telepath, released 2012, reviewed August 2012, review linked here.
Book 4: Legend, released 2012, reviewed August 2012, review linked here.
Book 5: Union, released 2012, reviewed August 2012, review linked here.
Book 6: Seer, released 2012, reviewed March 2013, review linked here.
Book 7: Adept, released 2012, reviewed March 2013, review linked here.

Now, without further delay, here is Jolea. Remember to sign up for the giveaway at the bottom!

The intransigence of evil in the Guardians of the Word Epic Fantasy series

Plato: To prefer evil to good is not in human nature; and when a man is compelled to choose one of two evils, no one will choose the greater when he might have the less.

Why does evil prevail so thoroughly in this story?

I’ve been asked that question by a few readers who want to know my motivations for making the evil characters in my book ‘over the top’ bad. They almost never lose. How are the heroes ever going to win?

First, I’ll give you a bit of back story. Epic Fantasy is by its mostly agreed upon definition a big, larger than life tale of heroic feats that usually have the fate of the world at stake. That’s true in this series, Guardians of the Word, which is specifically titled due to the stringent and overbearing suppression of knowledge, which also plays into the above question. If the heroes don’t win, everybody dies. Not just friends and family, but everyone. The world is destroyed. But what’s worse, the souls of these poor people are at risk of being held in perpetual subjugation. Those are some pretty big stakes, so that’s one reason that evil is larger and more powerful than anything else out there.

There are cases in real life where this sort of supreme badness existed (and probably still does somewhere on the planet, for like art, evil is in the eye of the beholder.) Current events are full of bad people doing bad things to others, every single day. Our round the clock access to streaming everything doesn’t miss a tick. We are bombarded by images and information of just how evil people can really be.  For an Epic Fantasy to come across as real, the acts of evil require a level of reality and a connection to the real world in order for the story to be believable and for you, the reader, to form an attachment to the struggling heroes. Will they? Can they? How?

An obscure philosopher by the name of Lars Svendsen sets out a few parameters about the nature of evil. There are four types, according to him. He doesn’t agree that all four actually exist, but I use them all in Guardians. I guess that Philosophy class I took in college stuck with me more than I thought.

Kinds of evil: Demonic, instrumental, idealistic and stupid or accidental evil.

• Demonic evil is defined as evil for evil’s sake, that take the form of actions meant to harm others, or for the really sick and twisted purpose of enjoyment. My antagonists, Maralt Adaeryn and his ancestors, Adiem (all Six of them) use this kind of evil throughout the series. Real world infamous examples of this sort of horror come in the form of serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer and Albert Fish, both known to torture their victims before they murdered them.
• Instrumental evil is an evil that occurs in order to carry out some other purpose. Modern day examples might be gross negligence on the part a large business. Exxon and BP might be considered perpetrators of instrumental evil since both failed to heed the warning signs that led to the two largest oil spills in history. In Guardians a number of warning signs were missed, sometimes by design.
• Idealistic evil is justified by some greater cause or greater good, if you will and I use this form of evil and the temptation of it is probably one of the main themes of the story. All the telepaths are tempted to use their powers in ways they know they are not supposed to. Sometimes they fail and fall. Some fall farther than others and become part of the problem. The other case of idealistic evil comes from an unlikely source, one purported to be on the side of good, although some case might be made that this was stupid evil, acts based on incompetence or lack of awareness.
• Stupid or accidental evil occurs when people make mistakes they don’t intend. In Chosen, the main character innocently picks up an evil talisman, even though he’s told he shouldn’t, since the appearance of the thing is out of the ordinary and some caution should have been taken. Curiosity won out in that case and all the rest followed. The evil talon is then taken by another character who idealistically believes he won’t be affected by the inherent evil nature of the object. Boy, was he wrong. All the heroes of the Guardians Saga are used and abused by various forms of evil and some of them succumb to its lure.

But how, you may wonder, are the good guys going to prevail? The answer lies in how real, every day people prevail against the likes of Dahmer, Fish, Bin Ladin, Hitler, et al. Through sheer will and perseverance. It took police 13 years to finally capture Dahmer. The police didn’t give up. They were charged to find this man and finally they did. WWII from its start to its finish took years and years of massive effort and countless lives lost to finally win the day. On a much lesser and lighter scale, most of us thankfully don’t have to deal with that sort of death and dying extreme. When life knocks us down, we get up! When it knocks you down again, get up again! Yes, it is incredibly difficult to keep getting back on your feet, and the characters in my books certainly get knocked down a lot.

Is that enough? Do they? Is that really all it takes? Well no, nothing is that simple. It takes fortitude and courage to deal with the knocks life hands you, but persevering against all odds and just plain stubbornness are the basis of my philosophy of life and thematically runs throughout all eight books. Does life always work out even when you get back up after the last knockdown? No, not always. Does that mean you aren’t going to keep getting up? That is the purpose of evil in this long tale: a foil against the toil of living, to find out if these people who have faced such extremes of evil finally, at long last prevail. 

Jolea M. Harrison can be followed on Twitter, Facebook, or Goodreads.  Her blog is here.  She is also on Amazon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

J. Taylor Publishing Cover Reveal: "Eye of the Soul" by Terri Rochenski

Eye of the Soul

Pool of Souls #1

by Terri Rochenski

Release Date: October 7, 2013

Target Reader: Adult

Keywords: Fantasy

 

Back of the Book

 Escape. 

That should be Hyla’s first thought as her people are chained and imprisoned for no imaginable reason. 

Instead, Hyla finds herself traveling through a land void of Natives, with human soldiers pillaging in desperate pursuit of her, and in search of the mystical Pool of Souls—home to the one man who can save her people.

Or so she believes.

Led by her faith in the deity Fadir, Hyla is met along her journey by Jadon—a human male and fierce King’s warrior, and his childhood best friend Conlin—one of the few Natives aware of his Fadir-given Talents.

Protected by Jadon, guided by Conlin, and with an unfailing belief in the purpose of her pilgrimage, Hyla carries on. 

Like her, though, another searches for the Pool, and should he gain access first, everyone she loves, and everything she knows, could be lost.

Forever.

URL: http://www.jtaylorpublishing.com/books/33

"The Charge" by Sharon Bayliss on sale now!

The new book, The Charge by Sharon Bayliss, published by Curiosity Quills on March 2, is currently only 99 cents at Amazon!

So, be sure to pick up this e-book between now the the 23rd, while it's on sale.

Also, on Wednesday, the 20th, I'll have a guest post by Sharon Bayliss, so be sure to check out for that!