H is for Hour and Hourglass

The Symbolic meaning of Hour glass: Some say it is one of the items Grim carries  with him while on his daily chore of collecting souls.  
It also appears when the computer performs a function. Ancient Alchemist used this instrument as well.


I would like to share with you an excerpt from  a story I'm working on, Young Adult dark fantasy, Reaper's Novice. The girl in this story works for Grim... or Ernest as he likes calling himself. She got this job by trading her soul for the four souls of her family, after they were involved in an accident. Working as a nurse, I always wondered what happens to the soul. Therefore I came up with this story idea last year.

The hour started out as usual, one made up of compact minutes. Now it seems to have grown wings and flown by, leaving me with a handful of minutes. I've been sitting here, waiting for someone, anyone to come in and help her. Her life, her soul is mere minutes, then it's mine to collect. I don't want to. Not when I know she will forever be gone. I feel frustrated of my inability to help her because that would only conflict with my occupation. Soul Collector. How does one collect her best friend's soul? Can I make a deal with Grim to let her live?  What would I trade her soul for? I am a soul collector. I have nothing more to offer.


My eyes dart to the hourglass perched on the table in front of me. The sands of time sift through as if competing to reach the finish line. The clock strikes midday, still no one has come to save her, to stop the gunshot bleeding. Finally, the last of the sand sifts through. I exhale, my  eyes  sting with tears. Pain twists inside my chest as the shimmering red soul rises from her inanimate still warm body, and floats towards me, towards the soul vial clutched in my hand.


Afterwards, I snatch the hourglass from the table and shove it inside my coat, then place the soul vial carefully in the padded pockets of my trenchcoat. I wipe my eyes with the sleeve of my coat. With one last look, I leave the room.

Yeah, it's a sad scene, in the story, 
Oh, and another book I am really looking forward to read, hopefully soon. 

from Goodreads

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.



Do you know any myths relating to the Hourglass? Have you read Myra McEntire's Hourglass? Ever wondered what happens to a soul once it leaves the body?

Interview with The Perfect Game Author, John Hansen

Today I'm hanging out with John Hansen, a dear friend and author of  'The Perfect Game'. Would you like a free copy of his book? Head over to Amazon and grab yourself a copy. It is free. Today is the last day.

Cece: Tell us a little about yourself

John: Some people call me John Hansen.

I’m the author of ‘The Perfect Game’ (short story), its prequel, ‘The Games Begin’ (novella), and also ‘Man’s Best Friend’ (short story), which is forthcoming from Untreed Reads Publishing. My work appears in the lit mags “Raphael’s Village” and “Crack The Spine” and in the “Dark Light” anthology published by CH&BB Publishing.

Or, the simplified version:

There's a line between killing your characters out of necessity and killing them for pleasure. I tend to cross it. [Insert evil laughter here].

You can find me on:

Goodreads
My blog
Facebook
Twitter

Cece: Tell us about your latest book.  Do you have anything new in the works and can you tell us a bit about it?

John: My latest book, ‘The Perfect Game’, is a horror short story that explores a game show where the challenge is to kill on live TV. And also, what happens when the show goes too far.

Here’s a more official blurb:

“Entertainment is changing forever. Comedies, dramas, and reality TV shows are out. Murder is in.

In a world where murder is being exploited on TV, viewers watch live assassinations for their own entertainment. A hit game show where the challenge is to kill arises, stirring up remarkable popularity. Millions of viewers all across the globe watch it, vicariously experiencing the thrill of murder without ever committing the crime. And they all love it. Murder is the world’s latest and most remarkable excitement turned entertainment. But what happens when it goes too far?”

I’m currently writing a prequel to ‘The Perfect Game’ entitled ‘The Games Begin’ to be released sometime in July (hopefully).

Cece: How did you come up with the idea of your story?

John: It all stemmed from a book title I saw for some random self-published book. Oddly enough, that book was a romance, but the title made me think of parodying TV. It was then that I knew my next short story would be a TV parody, and with a dark twist, I decided. That’s when it hit me: what if I wrote about a game show where people kill each other on live TV?

And thus, the idea was born.

Cece: What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?

John: Well, beyond the ability to market efficiently, every writer must be capable of creating an interesting and unique story. This means creativity. Also, every writer should read hundreds of books in their genre before writing anything at all, these books ranging from good to bad ones so the writer can learn what works and what doesn’t. A writer must have patience and must realize that not every book will be good. A good editor is also vital, as well as an initial beta reader who’s willing to say “this is awful” if, indeed, it is. Most importantly, writers with books must be able to distinguish between promoting themselves and spamming, so they come across as real people and not annoying SEO dweebs.

Cece: Anything else you'd like to share?

John: Well, first, thank you for having me! I really appreciate it!

In addition, I’d like to add that my horror short story, ‘The Perfect Game’, is free for a limited time on April 7^th and 8^th. You can download it for free here:

Amazon UK
Amazon US

It was a pleasure having you here, John!

G is for Gemini

Got the image from here

Gemini is the third astrological sign in the Zodiac, and I'm proud to say, I'm a Gemini. Although at first I used to ignore some facts about Gemini, I later came to find out that some are true as far as some traits go. Some characteristics I found to be true were: I tend to talk alot, and spontaneous, and can be indecisive at times.


Abit about Gemini:

Most Geminis delight in socializing, and they are almost always the ones who make a particular event a lively occasion. They simply love to entertain that’s why most of them take interest in hosting an event or performing in a crowd. They are magnanimous in offering their friendship to people. They have this gift of the gab, which makes them a good asset in every social circle as well as in work. In other words, they are the life of every occasion.

When it comes to serious matters such as work and love, Geminis are unique in a sense that they are born to become intelligent people. They are witty and sometimes, even cunning. They can also juggle multiple tasks without looking tired afterwards. As for communications, one can never be bored whenever he is around with a Gemini. A person who is born under this sign often makes it a point to carry out the conversation no matter how boring it may seem for him. Perhaps the most interesting quality of the Geminis lies in their being good at persuading people. Using their ability to communicate efficiently, they can easily get what they wanted from a person. Geminis are naturally charismatic, too. This is why most people fall for them even if they do not intend to please everyone.

However, since nobody is born perfect, a Gemini also has some flaws in his personality. The seemingly positive Gemini traits tend to backfire to the person. Being excessively spontaneous, Geminis can be viewed as reckless and flirtatious lot. Although they do not intend to act like that, the people around them tend to think otherwise. Another thing is their being indecisive. No one can exactly tell where their indecisiveness has rooted from, but this is true for most Geminis. Their minds tend to change every 15 minutes, albeit that would be a bit of exaggeration. Even though they are witty, there are also the times when they cannot simply make up their minds; especially if the matter seems to excite them. They love novelty and change, but in areas concerning love and career, this personality may not work for their own good.

Source: Gemini Traits

What is your astrological sign? Do you believe that the the traits described under your astrological sign are correct? 

Today's Book Spotlight: The Perfect Game by John Hansen

For a limited time—April 7th – April 8th—The Perfect Game by John Hansen is FREE on Amazon US, Amazon UK, and all other Amazons! Be sure to spread the word and download your FREE copy today! Here’s more info: 

Blurb: 

Entertainment is changing forever. Comedies, dramas, and reality TV shows are out. Murder is in. 

In a world where murder is being exploited on TV, viewers watch live assassinations for their own entertainment. A hit game show where the challenge is to kill arises, stirring up remarkable popularity. Millions of viewers all across the globe watch it, vicariously experiencing the thrill of murder without ever committing the crime. And they all love it. Murder is the world’s latest and most remarkable excitement turned entertainment. But what happens when it goes too far? 

--------------------------- 

What People Are Saying: 

“The Perfect Game foreshadows the talents of a new talent.” – Aldo T. Calcagno, Amazon.com

“This is a short story like no other.” – Jenn, Amazon.com

“A bargain at 99 cents. Watch out Stephen King. You have company.” – Debra Spellman, Amazon.com

“What an amazing story!! Wow!! Still can’t get over how John’s mind worked in this one!! This is a MUST READ!!” – Brenda Romine, Goodreads.com

“I am so glad I read this book!” – Ana, Goodreads.com

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Excerpt: 

The Perfect Game was an epidemic, a poison, a drug and although he knew it was bad, it was so addictive, so entertaining, so thrilling that Jeff simply could not stop. He loved The Perfect Game, loved how it changed him, strengthened him, darkened his moral and ethical views. It gave him this feeling of power, omnipotence, and violence; murder was a game, and he could do it freely. And it felt so good. 

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Learn more at:

Goodreads

John’s Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Download for free for a limited time (only through April 7th and 8th!) here: 

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Universal Mirror Blog Tour

On the island of Cercia, the gods are dead, killed by their followers and replaced with the study of magic. Magicians are forbidden to leave their homeland. Laws bind these men that prevent them from casting spells on the living—whether to harm or to heal.


Quentin, a young nobleman, challenges these laws out of love for his wife. His best friend, Asahel, defies authority at his side, unaware that the search for this lost magic will bring them both to the edge of reason, threatening their very souls. The Universal Mirror shows how far two men are willing to go for the sake of knowledge and what they will destroy to obtain it

Building Cercia: The World of The Universal Mirror

Gwen Perkins

Grave robbing, healing plagues, and fighting mages—these are just some of the events that lie ahead for Quentin and Asahel, the protagonists of my new fantasy novel, The Universal Mirror.  This is fantasy that doesn't rely on dragons or elves but is centered by magic and moral conflicts.  Several readers and reviewers have commented on the richness of the setting as well as its medieval feel, wondering how the island of Cercia came to be and where I developed the details.  Today, I'd like to talk a little bit about the inception of this novel and the real history that inspired it to shed some light on this subject.

The novel itself began when I was talking to one of my children about Leonardo da Vinci and how he was one of the first artists to use human anatomy in his work.  I recalled that he had dissected corpses in order to learn how muscles worked and also recollected that this type of knowledge wasn't that typical at the time (and in fact, had been forbidden at one earlier point).  The idea lingered and I put away, thinking nothing much of it.

Now, I am not an artist.  I can't draw a straight line and the closest I've ever come to origami is making a thousand paper airplanes that never flew.  But like many who can't draw, I have an intense admiration for those who can. 

It struck me as I was looking at some art on the internet that art is really a form of magic.  Which led me to further questions... why, in so many fantasy novels, were there so few prohibitions against magic by their governments?  Wouldn't a government try to control magic?  Wouldn't religion?  Then I began to wonder what would happen if a government did try to control it, how they might do so, and why they would have the need to do so. 

Then I developed a fascination with lampworking which is the art of blowing glass into beads.  As I began to learn how to do this myself, I started reading about the history of glassblowing.  It was then that I discovered the story of the glassblowers of Murano.  Murano is a series of islands near Venice that became famous for glassworking when all the glassmakers in Venice were forced to move there in order to contain fires.  (This was in 1291.)  The glassmakers were unique on Murano—unlike other artisans, they were allowed to carry swords and held high status because of their art.  However, there was a caveat.  Because of the fear that the state would lose the secrets of making glass, the glassmakers were never allowed to leave.

If you've read The Universal Mirror, this sounds very familiar, I'm sure.  It's one of the Heresies—or prohibitions that govern mages—in the novel. 

Once I had all of these pieces together, I transformed them into elements of the book.  The artists became magicians who were trying to work against the government because they disagreed with its prevention of scientific pursuit (in this case, healing).  The culture of magic changed as well as I incorporated the history of the Murano glassblowers into my own world, tying magic with class and social status while preventing those who practiced it from leaving Cercia.  These elements have also led to developments in the subsequent books I am writing in the series (and, I note, to researching all kinds of interesting stories and artifacts as one idea led to another).

In conclusion, I'd simply like to note that spending a little time thinking about and researching events that have happened before can greatly enhance even the most fantastic of worlds.  Don't be afraid to mine moments from your own life—people are still people, no matter what time or place they may be from.  Some ideas and emotions are, after all, universal.

Gwen Perkins is the author of The Universal Mirror, a fantasy novel released in 2012 by Hydra Publications. Read more about this book and her upcoming projects at theUniversalMirror.com.

Gwen Perkins is a museum curator with a MA in Military History from Norwich University. She has written for a number of magazines, exhibitions and nonfiction publications. Her interest in history fueled the creation of the world of The Universal Mirror, inspired in part by people and events of the medieval and Renaissance periods. She lives with her partner and three children in Tacoma, WA.


The Universal Mirror is the first novel of the Artifacts of Empire series. Gwen is presently at work on the second volume, entitled The Jealousy Glass.

Friday Fantastic Feature:Author Sasha Summers

Today I'm hanging out with Sasha Summers, a fellow Inkspeller, and the author of the upcoming contemporary romance 'Hollywood Ever After'.  Not only is the cover beautiful, the story is utterly romantic. Can't wait to grab a copy and immerse myself in the world she has created.  

Cece: Please tell us your name

Sasha: Sasha Summers (it’s a pen name )


Cece. Please tell us about your book. When will it be released and by which publisher

Sasha:  Hollywood Ever After is a yummy contemporary romance that starts in Hollywood but travels all over the place. It’s a wonderful love story, but it also touches on the importance of self worth and trust. InkSpell Publishing will be releasing it on July 21st, and I can hardly WAIT.

Cece:  What project are you working on?

Sasha: I’m juggling two projects right now. The sequel to Hollywood Ever After, Hollywood Homecoming – Jennifer and Ben’s story. And the third in my mythology series, Loves of Olympus, through Crescent Moon Press. It’s Apollo’s story – and it’s a tear jerker. I’m massively addicted to tortured love stories – that’s why I’m into myth retellings.

Cece: How much research did you do for this project?

Sasha:  Before I write, I have a fairly good idea of where I’m going on the page so I try to come to the computer with all the info I’m planning on using. Of course, my characters frequently have other ideas, so sometimes I have to do more research as I go along. I’m a fluid writer, I try to go with it. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes not so much J

Cece: How did you come up with the story idea?

Sasha: I love Hollywood and movies and happily ever afters. This story kind of came together gradually, but I knew it was something a lot of women would enjoy. InkSpell seems to agree- hurray! Medusa, the first in the Crescent Moon Series, was a dream. I almost forgot it, but the song Cosmic Love by Florence and the Machine (thank you Florence J) brought it back to me. It was so vivid I had to write it down.

Cece: Which genre is the book?

Sasha: Hollywood Ever After is steamy, funny contemporary goodness. Think Victoria Dahl, Lori Wilde and a little Kristin Higgins. That’s might vibe.

Medusa is romantic fantasy.

Cece: Which genres do you enjoy reading and writing

Sasha: I’m a reader, period. I read everything. Books make me happy – most of them do. I give every book til page 50. If I’m not hooked by then, I’ll set it aside. As far as writing… I write the stories I see, if that makes sense? I’m a romance writer, first and foremost. But the genre depends on the love story I’m telling.

Cece:  Where can readers and fans find you - online that is?

Sasha: I’m trying to make myself as easy to find as possible! LOL. I’ve an author page of FaceBook: Sasha Summers. I’m @sashawrites on Twitter. You can find me on Goodreads and Pinterest too! And my blog is www.sashasummers.com.

I also participate in a group blog, Plotting Princesses – tiaras optional ;): http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com/

And my publishers: www.CrescentMoonPress.com and http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/


I also have an awesome book trailer for Medusa, here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90fH7xoZiCo

Here is the cover as well as the blurb:

She wasn’t meant for movie stars, Hollywood, or happy endings. And then she met him.

Happy Endings are for fairy tales. Or the movies. Not for real life. At least, not Claire’s life. Even though she’s starting over, she knows better than to want too much this time. But when she falls, literally, into the strong arms of Hollywood’s ‘it’ boy Josh Wiley, Claire’s in for some surprises. Her plans for rest and relaxation are forgotten as one incredible night with Josh becomes two… And her heart begins to want him as much as her body. Will two kids, one bastard ex-husband, and Josh’s juggernaut career mean the end of their affair? Or can Claire find her happy ending after all?


Hollywood Ever After is available to preorder through InkSpell Publishing:

http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/store.html

Hollywood Ever After book trailer:

And... here is Medusa book trailer.

F for Florence 

Florence is one of those cities I've marked up in my '1001 places to visit list when I'll eventually have enough time to travel. I've lived in Austria close to eight years now. It'd take me a few hours by flight, car or by train to Italy. Well, about 5 hours by car to the border, but for some reason, when I make plans, I end up cancelling them. One day, I keep saying, I'll get there.  I will.

Reasons why I'd love to visit Florence, the birth place of Renaissance and classical art.

 - The city's medieval art and architecture - I'm obsessed with the design and facade of medieval buildings

Narrow Sidewalks in Florence I love the historical-sy feel 

Experience the culture

Epiphany,

Not to mention the various events celebrated in Italy throughout the year from Epiphany -
Epiphany commemorates the arrival of the Three Kings in Bethlehem to Festa di Santa Reparata


Would love to visit Uffizi Gallery, the oldest gallery in the world. Imagine all the wonderful things inside just waiting patiently to be ooh-ed and aaah-ed at.

Fantastic Florence

What about you? Ever been to Florence? Or any city begining with an F?