JUNE, already! I know I seem to repeat similar statements each month, over and over, but hey, where the hell is this year going?
May flew by for me, I did engaged in a little blogging, but mostly I have been kept busy writing, Forces of Mist, which still has quite a way to go, but I must admit, I am happy where it is headed.
This week at work, we are being visited by an auditor, which, even though he is a pretty nice guy, does seem to cause stress in the workplace. Also, my classroom was sadly trashed by a group of students, who gained access through an unobservant teacher, booking the adjoining room to use lap top computers!
I came back to the room to find chairs placed under tables, lap top computers left unsecured around the room, graffiti, my resource books scattered around the room and now the windows won't open! I am wondering if the darling children, (left unsupervised) super glued them shut, or somehow jammed the locks!
I am not a happy camper! lol!
But, I must add, once reported, my principal and line manager jumped up to the mark and addressed the issue immediately!
The adjoining room has been taken from the bookings sheet and the security issue is being addressed. I only hope my windows will soon be fixed, or I will end up baking in the demountable when summer comes.
Epic Fantasy combines with Young Adult romance in this stunning new adventure set in a richly developed medieval world.
When
Emariya Warren learns enemy forces have captured her father, she'll do
anything to save him. Anything. Even marry a mysterious prince she knows
nothing about in order to rally the strength to arrange a rescue.
During her journey to Torian's foreign castle, Emariya comes face to
face with her mother's killers--and a deadly secret.
Not only
does Emariya possess a powerful but unexpected magical gift passed down
through each of her families, the prince she's promised to marry
possesses a third, and an ominous prophecy has warned the three gifts
must never be combined.
If she breaks her promise to marry
Torian, she won't be able to save her father and if she keeps it, she
may bring a curse upon everything she holds dear. Determining which
choice is best won't be easy, but when she meets the gorgeous prince who
may desire more than just her heart, she realizes she will have to
fight just to have a choice at all.
Her heart wants him
desperately. Her head begs her to run. If she doesn't want to share her
mother's fate, she'll have to find a way to untangle the truth from the
lies in time to save herself.
Discover the heartbreaking betrayals, fascinating magic and fated love of Cornerstone.
MY TEASER:
Emariya scrambled to get footing as she was dragged rapidly backwards. They were moving too fast and she couldn't get her feet under her. She tried to twist around, but it was no use. The man's hand was wrapped tightly in her hair, forcing her neck in a very uncomfortable angle. All she could see was the snow falling down toward her in the moonlight and a few branches from the scattered trees around the camp. The man’s other arm circled around her chest while his hand clamped down over her mouth, silencing her and holding her to him at once as he dragged her away from the fire. One of her arms was pinned painfully between her back and the man’s ribs. Walker, Kelly (2013-12-01). Cornerstone (Souls Of The Stones) (Kindle Locations 1897-1900). . Kindle Edition.
Walker, Kelly (2013-12-01). Cornerstone (Souls Of The Stones) (Kindle Locations 1895-1897). . Kindle Edition.
I met someone who
changed everything. Matthias. My autistic sister's guardian angel.
Honest. Inspiring. Funny. Hot. And immortal. That was the problem. What
could I do? I did what any other girl would do-I fell in love with him.
Zoe's sister darts in front of cars. Her brother's a pothead. Her
parents are so overwhelmed; they don't see Zoe lost in her broken life.
Zoe escapes the only way she knows how: partying. Matthias, a guardian
sent from Heaven, watches over Zoe's autistic sister. After Zoe is
convinced he's legit, angel and lost girl come together in a love that
changes destiny. But Heaven on Earth can't last forever.
MY TEASERS:
I stepped back again, even though I knew I couldn’t outrun him. He was lean under those caressing clothes, and he wasn’t that much older than me. He’d have us both in a second, and then he’d let Abria go while he did whatever he’d come to do. I squeezed her against me. Laurens, Jennifer (2009-08-15). Heavenly (Kindle Locations 89-91). Grove Creek Publishing. Kindle Edition.
A thread sizzled through my body. Whoever he was, he had spunk. I liked that. I stopped inches away from him and looked up into his smiling face. A soft breeze lifted his toffee-colored waves, showing off flawless, smooth skin, except for a light scar above his left brow which I hadn’t noticed before.
Laurens, Jennifer (2009-08-15). Heavenly (p. 50). Grove Creek Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Today, I have invited Sharon Bayliss to this site as part of her Blog Tour for her new release, Destruction! She has kindly offered to talk about the themes relating to her series The December People
Please welcome Sharon and I hope you enjoy her post.
Carolyn
The butterfly...yet another symbol. It stands for re-birth, hope, and change.
When I think about book "themes" it reminds me of high school English class. Who knew I would actually use that info later? :) I'm still waiting to find a practical application for calculus.
Destruction, and all the books in The December People, do have significant themes woven throughout the story. Here are a few:
Darkness and light: The visual and symbolic darkness vs. light comes up constantly. Since Destruction is about dark wizards, they struggle to learn what darkness really means, and it's many different facets are explored.
"We do not believe that light exists in spite of darkness. We believe that light exists because of it. Darkness is the only fertile ground for light. It is the only garden where light can be sown."
"This darkness didn’t feel frightening. In fact, David couldn’t remember ever feeling so safe. The darkness was the foundation that everything else was built on. The garden where the universe grew. The simplest, most basic thing in existence. And it was spectacular.
He supposed that was the answer that waited for him. That darkness in itself was not evil. Darkness was peace. Potential. Home."
Destruction: Well, that's a no-brainer. :) This concept was important enough that I made it the title. Dark magic is destructive. And, so are other acts, like abuse and rape. The story considers what can actually destroy a person.
"That’s why dark wizards can’t practice. Even if they want to be good, they can’t. It’s too dangerous. Dark magic is about destruction. Breaking things. Breaking people."
"If you want to make a case for magic, why don’t you do something a little more interesting than breaking glass? Anyone can break glass. You don’t need magic. Glass is easy to break. It’s one of its defining qualities. Where’s the challenge? What’s the point?"
"Destruction is easy. Dark magic is like stabbing someone in the heart. And good magic is like performing heart surgery to fix it. Almost no one can do it."
"Obviously, Emmy is not fine. But you know what, if she doesn’t
end up getting herself killed tonight because of you, she will be fine. Eventually.
So will Samantha. They can heal. You can’t."
Love: The story is not a romance, but I still think that love and family are some of the most important themes. Love is what keeps the dark characters from truly becoming evil. In the story, we have "talismans." A talisman is basically is a person who loves you and who you love, and that keeps you from evil. I believe that kind of magic is the real deal.
"He said only people can be talismans, and those talismans work. They are the most powerful kind of magic."
"I knew the magic inside me was a bad thing. But if I had never met you, I don’t know what would have happened. When I fell in love with you… it was like the gap inside me wasn’t as big anymore. I could cope. The whole world looked different."
Spirituality and Religion: The wizards in the story are Baptist, and have to deal with the complexity of understanding themselves within the Christian tradition.
"As nice as it is to think I can cast a spell and protect my family
on my own… I feel safer knowing I’ve consulted an expert.”
“You mean God?”
“Yes, I mean God.”
“What you are is different from what you believe. We can believe
whatever we choose to.”
“Do you believe in God?”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe in the Devil?”
“Yes.”
“Can wizards get into Heaven?”
“They have the same chance as everyone else.”
“But you don’t know for sure.”
“Emmy, no one knows for sure. Not about any of this.”
There are even more themes that I didn't mention, the four seasons, good vs. evil, etc. And each book has new symbols for the season they represent. The summer book involves a lot of symbolism about heat, light, and fire. The spring book has themes of life vs. death and resurrection.
To learn more about Book One, Destruction, read on!
---
Introducing a new dark wizard family drama, Destruction by Sharon Bayliss, Book One in The December People Series.
David Vandergraff wants to be a good man. He goes to church every Sunday, keeps his lawn trim and green, and loves his wife and kids more than anything. Unfortunately, being a dark wizard isn't a choice.
Eleven years ago, David's secret second family went missing. When his two lost children are finally found, he learns they suffered years of unthinkable abuse. Ready to make things right, David brings the kids home even though it could mean losing the wife he can’t imagine living without.
Keeping his life together becomes harder when the new children claim to be dark wizards. David believes they use this fantasy to cope with their trauma. Until, David's wife admits a secret of her own—she is a dark wizard too, as is David, and all of their children.
Now, David must parent two hurting children from a dark world he doesn’t understand and keep his family from falling apart. All while dealing with the realization that everyone he loves, including himself, may be evil.
The Author
Sharon Bayliss is the author of The December People Series and The Charge. When she’s not writing, she enjoys living 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). She only practices magic in emergencies.
