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3.28.2016

"Espionage" Cover Reveal


About the Book


“Sir Roland has invited us to visit for the Autumn Feast.”

“Do we have to go, Papa? I couldn’t feast with the most crooked politician in all of Briznom.”

As the daughter of a Briznomian vassal lord, Vannie Cumberland has spent her childhood immersed in the world of politics. Relations between Briznom and the neighboring country of Calhortz are strained due to the tyrannical rule of the strytes. A proposed alliance could calm relations between the two countries, but would come at the cost of Briznom’s freedom.

When her father’s political archenemy invites them to the Autumn Feast, Vannie uncovers an evil scheme endangering the life of someone close to her. Personal enmity comes to a dangerous head as Vannie struggles to expose the corruption and stop the alliance. Time is running out. 

Events are becoming too big for her to handle. Will Sir Roland’s son help or will things finally spiral out of control?

Release Date

Espionage, A Companion to Time Captives, will be released on May 16th, 2016Stay tuned on Morgan’s blog and Facebook page for more information and sneak peeks.


About the Author


Morgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Her other interests include reading, playing the piano and violin, and politics. She is the author of Across the Stars and The Experiment as well as the Time Captives fantasy trilogy.

You can connect with Morgan on her websiteblogFacebookTwitter, Google Plus,Instagram, and Pinterest.

3.14.2016

So You Want to be a Blogger... ||| Finding the Perfect Name

Of all the things that might change about your blog sometime in the future, the name is something that will stay the same.  So the name is super important!


1. Take your niche into consideration.

Somewhere in your title, you want to say what your blog is all about.

2. Come up with a catchy name.

You want to convey information with your name, as well as hooking the reader into clicking on your blog and reading your posts.

Elvish Pens, Fantastical Writings - The words "Pens" and "Writings" say that this is a writing blog.  "Elvish" says I like elves and fantasy (and more subtly states that I am a huge LOTR nerd).  "Fantastical" says I like to write fantasy/sci-fi/weird genres.
A Writer's Faith - From this name, you can clearly see that this is a writing blog, written by someone whose faith is very important to them.

The Art of Writing for Him - a writing blog by someone who has dedicated her writing to the Lord.

Pencils Can Change the World - a writing and/or drawing blog written by someone who believes the things you create can change the world.
In coming up with a catchy name, ask yourself
"What is important to me?"

3. Revise and Perfect your name.

You can't change your blog's name anytime you please.  Once you publish your blog, the name is final!

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What are some of your favorite blog names?  What is the story behind your blog's name?  Any blogging veterans want to give tips about blog titles?

3.08.2016

Adela's Curse Blog Tour + Giveaway | Guest Post by Claire Banschbach |Why Write Fantasy?


I am very pleased about this opportunity to host Claire Banschbach as part of the blog tour for Adela's Curse! Thank you so much for guest posting on my blog!


About the Book



A curse. A murderous scheme. A choice.
A witch and her master capture a young faery and command her to kill their enemy. Adela has no choice but to obey. If she does not, they will force the location of her people’s mountain home from her and kill her. To make matters even worse, the person she is to kill is only a man struggling to save his dying land and mend a broken heart. 
Count Stefan is a man simply trying to forget the woman he loves and save a land crippled by drought. When a mysterious woman arrives at his castle claiming to be a seamstress, he knows she is more than she seems. 
Adela enlists the help of Damian, another faery, to try and delay the inevitable. He insists she has a choice. But with the witch controlling her every move, does she?


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Why Write Fantasy?



Why write fantasy? You can write stories of love and loss, adventure and glory, in any setting or time period in our world. So why go somewhere completely different?

We’re so used to seeing “ordinary” things all around us, that we are drawn to the fantastical. As a writer, fantasy lends a unique landscape to tell stories. 


You create everything, literally from the ground up. You become an explorer in a strange new land. 

You are the first to encounter the native people of each continent. Perhaps have a run-in with a magical creature of fearsome proportions. 

But you might choose to write fantasy because there’s something about it that lends itself to stories of redemption, love, triumph of good over evil, and trilogies of course. You can write about any of these things in our world, but allegories and themes are easy to weave under layers of complex world building, intricate characters, and a life or death plot. 

This quote by G.K. Chesterton sums up a reason to write fantasy more than anything. 
“Fairy tales are more than true, not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.”

This quote is speaking to the message that any story can give. I think it’s easy to convey that message in fantasy where our own values and beliefs seep onto the pages and into the lives of the characters until we see in them a mirror reflection of ourselves. If we give a wondrous setting to a story, we are likely to remember and believe. 

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So what about you? Why do you love fantasy?


Unlock the rest of the series


Discover more of the magical world of Myrnius! 
5 new newsletter subscribers by Wednesday, March 9, to get a sneak peak of Book 2!

10 Facebook likes by Friday, March 11, for a first look at Book 3! 

Giveaway


3 winners! Prizes include 2 copies of Adela’s Curse, and a paperback version of The Rise of Aredor to celebrate its 2 year anniversary on March 11! Open to international entries. 

About the Author


Claire Banschbach was born and raised in Midland, TX, the fourth of eight children. She was homeschooled through high school and is now a proud member of the Texas A&M University class of 2014. She is currently working on her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Texas Tech University Health Science Center. She continues to write in her spare time (and often when she doesn’t have spare time). She hopes her strong foundation in God will help to guide her writing. 

Check Out the Rest of the Blog Tour

March 7


Claire Banschbach– intro post
Steph Gregory – interview
Morgan Huneke – review
Shannon McDermott – excerpt
Jack Lewis Baillot – spotlight – Damian


March 8

Claire Banschbach– post
Alyssa – review
Emily Kopf – interview
Rachael Ritchey – spotlight – Adela


March 9

Claire – unlock Book 2
Rachael Steele – interview
Kendra Ardnek– review
Tyrean Martinson– spotlight – Marek


March 10

Claire Banschbach– artist feature – Jocelyn Banschbach
Rachael Steele – review
Morgan Huneke – interview
Faith Blum – excerpt
E. Rawls – guest post – Making Magical Creatures Different


March 11

Claire Banschbach– unlock Book 3
Rachael Steele – spotlight – Stefan
Lauren Gunter – interview
Abby Cashen – review

March 12

Claire Banschbach– short story
Lena Tesla – interview
Jaye L. Knight – excerpt

3.07.2016

How to Turn Any Book Into a "Movie" in 5 Easy Steps

Welcome to my totally serious post about making books into movies.  Enjoy and become even more addicted to books.


"When will this book be made into a movie?" is just about the biggest question every bookish person has.  However, when it is made into a movie by Hollywood (a.k.a. We Change The Plots of Books And Keep The Titles), it usually comes with major changes and disappointments.

In 5 easy steps, YOU can make any given book into a movie made only by you, and only for you to see.  Ready to get started, my bookish friends?  (Never fear, non-bookish people, you are welcome too.  I don't bite.)
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1. Learn how to daydream.

Okay, so you know when you daydream and it feels like you are watching a movie in your mind?  (You should be able to to this unless you are Jen from The Ankulen.)  Know how to do this and be able to make your brain go into this mode when you choose to.
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2.  Begin to read.

3. Picture what the words on the page are saying in your mind. 

Create an image of the characters.  Add voices; add scenery; add action.  Now follow the story.  You will find the words disappear into a mind "movie".

4. Focus more on that "movie" in your mind than the words on the page.
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5. You now have a PERFECT movie rendition of your favorite book that YOU made yourself!

Warnings 

- This may lead to an addiction to reading.
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- You might have a second of amnesia after pausing your "movie".
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- Fangirling (or fanboying) may occur at any given time.  This looks a bit like this:
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