Saturday, March 1, 2014

SPLINTERS by husband-wife team Matt Carter & FJR Titchenell



Back cover blurb:
Under ordinary circumstances, Ben and Mina would never have had reason to speak to each other; he's an easy-going people person with a healthy skepticism about the paranormal, and she's a dangerously obsessive monster-hunter with a crippling fear of betrayal. But the small town of Prospero, California, has no ordinary circumstances to offer. In order to uncover a plot set by the seemingly innocent but definitely shapeshifting monsters-that-look-like-friends-family-and-neighbors, the two stark opposites must both find ways to put aside their differences and learn to trust each other. Categories: YA, Horror, Sci-F

Splinters is the first book of the series The Prospero Chronicles.

Authors' bio:
F.J.R. Titchenell and Matt Carter met and fell in love in a musical theatre class at Pasadena City College and have been inseparable ever since. Though they have both dreamed of being writers since a very young age, they both truly hit their stride after they met, bouncing ideas off of one another, forcing each other to strive to be better writers, and mingling Matt's lifelong love of monsters with Fiona's equally disturbing inability to forget the tumult of high school. They were married in 2011 in a ceremony that involved kilts, Star Wars music, and a cake topped by figurines of them fighting a zombified wedding party.

Authors' links:
F.J.R. Titchenell’s blog: http://fjrtitchenell.weebly.com/
Matt Carter’s blog: http://mattcarterauthor.weebly.com/
F.J.R. Titchenell’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/FjrTitchenell

F.J.R. Titchenell is also the author of Confessions of the Very First Zombie Slayer (That I Know of)

 (link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18722335-confessions-of-the-very-first-zombie-slayer)

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Friday, February 28, 2014

BLACK MOON by Teri Harman

YES! The second book in Teri Harman's contemporary witch fantasy is finally released. Here is her awesome cover for BLACK MOON, a perfect match for her first book, BLOOD MOON, but just a different color:


BOOK SUMMARY

Simon Howard accidentally killed three people. Four months later, the nightmares won’t stop. Willa Fairfield, his girlfriend, his soul mate, wants nothing more than to help him move on. But guilt isn’t the only thing getting in Simon’s way. When unexplained earthquakes hit the small town of Twelve Acres, and dozens of people go missing, the Light witches discover their most feared enemy, Archard, is still alive. Employing the twisted, dynamic magic of a legendary witch known as Bartholomew the Dark, Archard plans to exact his revenge and take control of the Powers of the Earth on the night of the black moon, a rare lunar event infamous for Dark magic. As the Light Covenant fumbles to defend against Archard’s sadistic intentions, Simon’s magic grows inexplicably more powerful, even dangerous. Willa throws all her efforts into solving the mystery of Simon’s transformation, but when the events of the past storm into the present, the couple’s future changes forever.
BLACK MOON can be found in paperback and on e-book here:

Teri Harman
author of magic and wonder
Blood Moon, Black Moon (9/2014), Storm Moon (9/2015), A Painted Life (2015)
Instagram: @authorteriharman
Twitter: @TeriHarman, https://twitter.com/TeriHarman

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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Cover Reveal - MOJAVE GREEN by The Brothers Washburn

It's here! The sequel to The Brothers Washburn's YA horror mystery, Pitch Green: 
Check out the awesomely creepy cover! I LOVE IT!


BLURB:
       Camm and Cal thought they had killed the unearthly creature that preyed upon the people in their isolated mining town deep in the Mojave Desert. Off at college, they feel safe, until they hear news that Trona’s children are still disappearing. Caught in that nightmare since childhood, Camm feels responsible for the town’s children. As her life-long best friend, Cal feels responsible for Camm. With unsuspecting friends in tow, they return to warn the town’s innocent people, but things have changed. 
       Death comes in a new form. The dimensional balance is altered. Crossovers multiply. The situation spirals out of control, and Cal is pulled into another world where his chances of survival are slim. Without Cal, Camm seeks help where she can, even from the dead. Soon, she is on the run from relentless federal agents, who are hiding secrets and pursuing their own agenda. The mysterious depths of the Searles Mansion may yet contain a key to stopping alien predators, if it is not already too late.


THE BROTHERS WASHBURN
AUTHORS’ COLLECTIVE BIOGRAPHY

A. L. Washburn and B. W. Washburn are licensed lawyers and full time writers, residing in Colorado and southern Utah. They grew up in a large family in Trona, California, a small mining community not far from Death Valley, and spent many happy days in their youth roaming the wastelands of the Mojave Desert. After living in Argentina at different times, each came back to finish school and start separate careers. Living thousands of miles apart, they worked in different areas of the law, while raising their own large families.
Each has authored legal materials and professional articles, but after years of wandering in the wastelands of the law, their lifelong love of fiction, especially fantasy, science fiction and horror, brought them back together to write a new young adult horror series, beginning with Pitch Green and Mojave Green. They have found there yet remain many untold wonders to be discovered in the unbounded realms of the imagination, especially as those realms unfold in the perilous wastelands of the Dimensions in Death.

Author links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrosWashburn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBrothersWashburn
Blog: http://www.thebrotherswashburn.blogspot.com
Goodreads: Berk Washburn
                  Andy Washburn
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OFFICIAL Book Trailer for SHADOWS OF VALOR


Here is the official (and awesome) book trailer for SHADOWS OF VALOR on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWewq758un4

The short video directed by Yelena Baykova features the original score that I (Elsie Park) composed for it, the two cover models (Paulina Baykova and Brady Knighton) featured on the cover of SHADOWS OF VALOR as Elsbeth and The Shadow, and the narration by Ashley N. Grant. The still shots depict scenes from the novel, and the scenery in the video gives the appearance of a painted background, perfect for a medieval story. I LOVE IT SO MUCH! SO FUN! I LOVE IT! Did I mention I love it? :-)

Here is the link for the other book trailer I did earlier:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFgwPcsgEu0

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Sunday, February 16, 2014

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Picture from: http://mormon.org/discover/002/01-jesus-christ-our-savior.html?gclid=CL_Um8ze0bwCFUhgMgodAV8AKA&CID=99112502&ef_id=UrdRrAAABE5@-qzr:20140216225349:s
Lately I have felt a need to address an old misconception about my religious beliefs; that LDS (Latter-Day Saint / Mormon) people are not a true Christians.

Many people in the world still believe that LDS people are not Christian because our meeting houses and temples don't display the cross. This makes me sad because this misguided belief couldn't be farther from the truth. LDS churches and temples have tall steeples without crosses that seem to stretch toward Heaven as a reminder of the RESURRECTED Lord and symbolizing that we believe in eternal life (life after death). Although we hold Christ's death on the cross with ultimate importance and reverence, we focus on his life before and after his death. This beautiful song posted below, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives," embodies the message that Latter-Day Saints not only believe that Jesus Christ lived and taught on this earth, and that He not only died for everyone on the cross, but that he arose from the dead three days later, and that even today, He has a perfected, resurrected body. The best way we know how to emulate Christianity is not through displaying a cross on our churches, but by living a life that follows the example of Jesus Christ. After all, isn't a true Christian someone who emulates Christ's life through his/her own actions, showing forth the fruits of good works and not just in the displaying of a symbol?

That being said, I love all of my dear friends and acquaintances, whether from my own religious denomination or others, who  strive to live good lives and to serve their fellow men with selfless love and compassion.

Youtbe - I Know That My Redeemer Lives: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx6Y9nxnwos

Note: LDS people are in NO WAY associated with the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saint) church.
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Thursday, February 6, 2014

SHADOWS OF VALOR book trailer!




Here's the official book trailer on Youtube for my novel, SHADOWS OF VALOR:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWewq758un4

The short video, directed by Yelena Baykova, features the original score that I (Elsie Park) composed for it, the two cover models (Paulina Baykova and Brady Knighton) featured on the cover of SHADOWS OF VALOR as Elsbeth and The Shadow, and the narration by Ashley N. Grant. The still shots depict scenes from the novel, and the scenery in the video gives the appearance of a painted background, perfect for a medieval story. I LOVE IT SO MUCH! SO FUN! I LOVE IT! Did I mention I love it? :-)

I made a short trailer for my novel, too, using the same original score that I composed and my brother-in-law, Michael Park, mixed with his cool computer program and instruments. ENJOY! Be sure to turn up your bass speakers for the second half of the score. The bass It's sounds really cool! Here’s the Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFgwPcsgEu0&feature=youtu.be


ONE BRAVE KNIGHT is a ballad I wrote especially for SHADOWS OF VALOR.
The lyrics, written in with the sheet music, can be found in the book and on my blog here: http://www.elsiepark.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_16.html


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Sunday, January 26, 2014

FANTASY CON 2014! July 3,4,5!

FANTASY CON 2014
July 3,4,5 at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah

This 15-foot rock monster will be at Fantasy Con! 
Fantasy Con (not to be confused with Comic Con) represents science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, medieval and renaissance. SO FUN! It will be a family friendly event with vendors of all kinds, live entertainment, interactive characters, live LARPing battles (Live Action Role Play), cosplay (Costume Play), a 30-foot tall dragon with a 54-foot wingspan, kids archery area, 30-foot sentinels at the entrance, waterfall in the entrance, large battle arena with live action battles, entertainment stage, film festival, multiple panel discussions, fireworks show on July 5th at the Gateway, Cosplay parade on the morning of July 4th in downtown Salt Lake City and celebrity autograph sessions with BIG names from the performing, literary and visual arts (see list of celebrities below). Visit the Fantasy Con site for more information on ticket prices, vendor information and other events!

Celebrity guests (in alphabetical order by first name):

11 celebrities from THE HOBBIT and LORD OF THE RINGS

Adam Brown (Ori from The Hobbit trilogy)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=adam-brown
Billy Boyd (Peregrin "Pippin" Took from The Lord of the Rings trilogy)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=billy-boyd
Graham McTavish (Dwalin from The Hobbit trilogy)http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=graham-mctavish
Jed Brophy (Nori from The Hobbit trilogy)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=sylvester-mccow
John Callen (Oin from The Hobbit trilogy)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=john-callen

John Rhys-Davies (Gimli from The Lord of the Rings trilogy)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=john-rhys-davies
Ken Stott (Balin from The Hobbit trilogy)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=ken-stott
Peter Hambleton (Gloin from The Hobbit trilogy)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=peter-hambleton
Royd Tolkien (director/actor and great-grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien
who was author of The Hobbit and LOTR)
Claudia Christian (Castle, Grimm, Babylon 5, Quantum Leap, Highlander)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=claudia-christian
Doug Jones (prolific actor and contortionist, Pan's Labyrinth)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=doug-jones
K.C. Collins (Lost Girl, Saving hope, Robocop)
 http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=k-c-collins
Mark Singer (The Beastmaster and Beastmaster series, Batman animated series, V)
Mark Pellegrino (Lost, Supernatural, Dexter)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=mark-pellegrino
Mark Ryan (actor, singer, writer, action director, Transformers)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=mark-ryan
Mark Sheppard (Supernatural, 24, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek: Voyager)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=949
Paul Amos (Lost Girl, Murdoch Mysteries)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=paul-amos
Rachel Skarsten (Lost Girl, Beauty and the Beast, Flashpoint)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=rachel-skarsten
Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle from Xena: Warrior Princess, & Hercules)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=renee-oconnor
Rose McGowan (young Cora from Once Upon A Time)
http://www.fantasycon.com/?portfolio=rose-mcgowan
___________________________________________________

Guests Panelists include:
Bradley Voytek (zombie neuroscience expert)
Brandon Sanderson (sci/fi-fantasy author)
Chance Thomas (composer)
Doug Adams (author and musicologist)
Kid History (video shorts on Youtube)
Paul Genesse (fantasy author)
Sneaky Zebra (Geek programming, parodies, & cosplay music videos on Youtube)
The One Ring.net (info on everything Tolkien)
Utah Women in Film (educational organization)

Guest Cosplayers include:
Destiny Nickelsen - Harley Quinn (Injustice Gods Among Us), Elsa (Frozen), White Phoenix (X-Men), Juliet Starling (Lollipop Chainsaw), Princess Vivian (Dragon’s Crown), Elizabeth (Bioshock Infinite), Super Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon Super S), Red Mist (Kick-Ass), Supergirl (Supergirl/Superman/DC), Scarlett (Killer Is Dead)

Kristen Hughey - Costumer and founder of the charity HEROIC which proceeds profit foundations such as Make-A-Wish and ASPCA

Linsay Elyse - Blood Elf (World of Warcraft), Tifa (FFVII), Master Chief (Halo), Lara Croft (Tomb Raider), Jecht (FFX), Navi (Zelda), (League of Legends), Luigi (Super Mario), Connor (Assassin’s Creed), Han Solo (Star Wars)

Monika Lee - Little Sister (Bioshock), Rogue (X-Men), Wizard (Diablo 3), Steampunk/Victorian Poison Ivy, Summoner Yuna (Final Fantasy X), Blackbeard (Assassin’s Creed 4), Sailor Mars (Sailor Moon), Demon Hunter (Diablo 3), Lara Croft (Tomb Raider: Legend ), Elizabeth (Bioshock Infinite)

Riddle - Modern Wasp (Marvel), Huntress (Batman), Evil Mary Marvel (DC comics / SHAZAM), Snow white (Disney), Rocketeer (IDW/Rocketeer), Princess Leia (Star Wars), Hell Girl (Hellboy/Darkhorse/Mike Mignola), Rosette (Chrono Crusade), Ice (DC Comics Justice league), Alita (Battle Angel Alita)

Stella Chuu - Ivy Valentine (Soul Calibur), Psylocke (Marvel Comics), Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion), Burlesque Batwoman (DC Comics), Mako Mori (Pacific Rim), Inori Yuzuriha (Guilty Crown), Alisa Bosconovitch (Tekken), Sakizou Knocker (Sakizou Art), Vaporeon gijinka (Cowslip art. Pokemon), Kaneda (Akira)

Guest artists include: 

___________________________________________________
http://www.squishyanimation.com/

My brothers, Nathan and Kit Rees, owners of SQUISHY ANIMATION (logo on right) created an awesome animated DRAGON for the Fantasy Con site, and they did most ALL of the graphics on the web site. Nathan is a huge participator in the entire event, and good friends with the creator/organizer,  Josh Patel. 

I'm excited to be at Fantasy Con as a vendor selling my medieval romantic adventure fiction, SHADOWS OF VALOR.


___________________________________________________

BUY TICKETS HERE:  http://www.fantasycon.com/tickets.html
"LIKE" Fantasy Con on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/FantasyCon14

Other places to follow Fantasy Con:

 The Salt Palace Convention Center is located at 100 SW Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah
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Monday, January 20, 2014

Guardian of the Throne Room


Okay, so I saw this AWESOME toilet paper holder on the Walmart site, and although I want it to so very much, it really is too much money to be spending on a toilet paper holder (that and my husband said no *frown*). But I read the one review on it and it made me laugh. Just had to share it. Too cute:

"Guardian of the Throne Room 01/02/2014 - You'll probably think that I'm crazy reviewing a knight toilet paper holder on Walmart.com, but you're reading the reviews on a knight toilet paper holder on Walmart.com, so you're not one to judge. Shipped in far faster than expected. Packaged very well, although the styrofoam is crumbly and we're still trying to get it out of our carpet. Set up fast, very solid product. Only problem is that you always see the knight . . . and he just stares at you judgmentally, like "why did you buy a knight-shaped toilet paper holder?". Then I just put my head in my hands and cry. But yeah, quality product. A++"

Heheh - good for a laugh, anyway.
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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

The PERFECT Crispy-Rice Squares!


Can you mess up a simple crispy rice cereal treat (also known as the Rice Krispies Treat)? Yes! Yes you can! There is a science to the popular and widely known goody. Too much butter makes them goopy and oily. Too much cereal and they won't hold together because there's not enough marshmallow to go around. Too little butter or marshmallows make them hard and crunchy. Pressing into an over-sized pan yields ultra thin treats.

After years of using other people's recipes and not being satisfied with the outcomes, I've altered and experimented and come out with a darn good recipe! Now, of course, perfection is subjective, and I realize there are some people who prefer hard and crunchy treats, or treats that fall apart in your hand, so if you're one of those people, simply disregard this post. But in my opinion, the perfect crispy rice treat is THICK and FIRM, but still SOFT and CHEWY. But be warned, this is not for dieters, so if you're trying to eat healthy, walk away right now.

Elsie Park's recipe for perfect crispy rice treats. So simple :-)

THICK, SOFT and CHEWY Crispy Rice Squares

1 stick (4 ounces) of butter
21 ounces mini marshmallows
10 cups (80 ounces) crispy rice cereal
     
        Pre-measure the 10 cups of cereal into a large bowl and set aside. Melt butter in LARGE pot over medium heat and then add marshmallows. Stir until marshmallows are completely melted. Remove from heat and immediately pour rice cereal into the pot, mixing well until cereal is completely coated and there's no more marshmallow on the bottom of the pot. Scoop into 9 x 13-inch rectangular pan and with fingers covered by a plastic sandwich bag (or use a spoon if too hot to touch), firmly press cereal evenly into the pan. Do not eat right away as the squares will fall apart if still warm, but they ARE easier to cut into squares while warm. Wait until they cool to eat. These treats stay soft and chewy for days after (if they last that long, which is doubtful *wink*). ENJOY!

A reader posted a suggestion below and I think it's positively wonderful! Melt chocolate chips and pour all over the top of the squares. And, while the chocolate topping is still melty, decorate the top with Reeses Pieces. 
Mmm-mm! :) Thanks!
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Thursday, January 2, 2014

REPEAT RESOLUTIONS - GOOD OR BAD?


As the year 2013 ended and 2014 began, I, like many others, made a few resolutions for the new year. And as I did so, I realized that my resolutions were pretty much the same as last year's, and the year before, and the years before that. Does that mean I failed in my goals, forcing me to, once again, make them the current year's resolutions as well? Well, yes and no. Some things I did partially (like losing 30 pounds instead of my goal of 60). I suppose I failed in the sense that I didn't lose the entire amount, but as losing ANY amount of weight is always a plus, I didn't consider it a failure in the least. My goal this year, though it's STILL "to lose weight," is to lose the remaining 30 pounds (plus the 10 I gained back - heheh), which is an easier goal than the original 60.

Another goal I have every year is to be more patient with my children. Have I failed at that resolution because I haven't, in all these years, become a perfectly tempered mother? No. The fact that I even set a goal to watch my temper (even if it's just a little at a time, one year at a time) speaks for my healthy attitude for self-improvement. And isn't that what setting goals are really about? Self-improvement? So why do we cut ourselves short, saying we've failed in our goals, when in fact, we are still working toward them and have simply put a time limit where there really shouldn't be. In fact, it's unhealthy to live with the thought that we are imperfect and will never be perfect so we might as well give up all together, thus remaining static or even going backward. Yeah, that's not good.

Setting goals and resolutions is not necessarily about reaching the destination within a time frame (especially one short year), but about moving forward on the journey itself. As long as I am moving forward, no matter the pace, then it doesn't matter that I've set the same goals each year. That just says that I'm conscious of things I need to make better about myself and I am continuing to work on them. I steadily improve in one thing or another each year and I'll eventually reach my goals a little at a time. But until I do, I will be satisfied with moving forward on the journey. Like Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do." If I repeatedly try to improve myself, then that's what I am, someone who consistently tries to be better today than I was yesterday.
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