Shadows of Valor new release date: September 7, 2013!

My publicist just informed me that due to internal changes at Jolly Fish Press, and other preparatory reasons, the release date for Shadows of Valor has been set back to September 7, 2013. I've already waited SO LONG, and now I'm waiting longer. Aaaa! But I know Jolly Fish has my book's best interest in mind, so I'm grateful the only inconvenience is changing the date on all my blog posts, twitter, Facebook titles and so on. Could be worse I suppose *smile*. And so goes the way of the publishing world *shrug*

Teri Harman's witch fantasy BLOOD MOON

Welcome to the Magical World of Witches!

 

PROVO, UT—Jolly Fish Press (JFP) has successfully signed a three-book deal with Teri Harman. Harman's groundbreaking debut YA fantasy/paranormal novel, Blood Moon, the first installment in The Moonlight Trilogy, completely reinvents the modern concept of witches. Blood Moon will be released Summer 2013 in conjunction with Litha, or the Summer Solstice, a classic time for magic of all kinds.

Overview: A hand slowly reaches out a crack in the window to feel the light sprinkles of rain. The hand, cemented with dirt, sweat, and blood, trembles like a withered leaf hanging to a dead branch. Although filthy, the hand emits a history of grace and elegance long lost to the evils of torture and imprisonment. . . . From what Willa recalls, seeing this pitiful hand, and, eventually, the person connected to it, was the catalyst to her realizing she wasn't like everyone else. Willa is a witch, and it turns out her boyfriend, Simon, is a witch, too. That would explain their strange, nearly overwhelming connection. Simon and Willa's journey to free the imprisoned owner of the pitiful hand marks the beginning of their dangerous, yet magical immersion into the hidden world of witches. Soon, they are catapulted into a world of covens, true friends and enemies, and the mind-bending power of magic.

Watch the book trailer for Blood Moon on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3axG-GlAegs

Blood Moon’s release date - June 22, 2013 in hardcover, paperback and electronic wherever books and e-books are sold! Below are the links to the Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads listings. If you've reviewed the book, we welcome you to post your review/rating there.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Moon-Teri-Harman/dp/1939967015/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370531937&sr=1-1

Barnes &Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-moon-teri-harman/1114940694?ean=9781939967008&itm=1&usri=9781939967008

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16104353-blood-moon

Even before she wrote Blood Moon, Harman was already fully immersed in the world of writing. She writes articles on writing and book reviews for both Deseret News and KSL.com, runs a monthly television segment on books for Studio 5, Utah's number one lifestyle show, and has appeared on a plethora of radio shows and writing festivals. When she's not writing, Harman spends time with her three crazy kids and brilliant husband.

You can find Teri Harman online here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTeriHarman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeriHarman

Website: www.teriharman.com

Teri Harman's blog tour schedule: http://teriharman.com/events-calendar/blood-moon-blog-tour/

Below is a link to the giveaway for the tour, which will go live June 10th to July 3^rd:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MDQ4NmY1MmY0NmFkNjI0NTc2NDI1MTIxMWYxNTE4Ojg=/

SHADOWS OF VALOR pre-order and overview!

(This post updated 5 July, 2013)
OH MY GOSH! I'M SO EXCITED!!! Shadows of Valor is available for pre-order at Barnes and Noble!!! Aaaa! Someone pinch me! This is so AWESOME!!! Here's the link to the Barnes and Noble page showing Shadows of Valor: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-of-valor-elsie-park/1114940696
Eeeee! My insides are jumping! Release date September 7, 2013!

SHADOWS OF VALOR overview:
    On the surface, Graywall is content and booming. Lord Shaufton, who presides over the city, is a fine ruler. The poor are well-cared for, the area is popular, and morale is high—but within Graywall's roots, something dark is stirring. This darkness threatens to overpower the once-peaceful town, until a mysterious figure appears: The Shadow.

    As much a figure of fear to the unruly as legend to the innocent, The Shadow is a well-known enforcer of justice and aid to the King. Due to an outrageous export tax set by King Edward, smuggling has tainted the kingdom, so The Shadow is sent to hunt the smugglers down. Contrary to legend, The Shadow is simply a man known as Sir Calan who, although talented and just, struggles to keep his dark thoughts of revenge from becoming ruthless action.

    Due to sheer coincidence, The Shadow learns of a deadly plot against Lord Shaufton on a journey to Graywall. Now, he must enter a pseudo courtship with Lord Shaufton's daughter under his original guise of Sir Calan, all while old emotions are stirred by the lovely Elsbeth, Lord Shaufton's niece. Elsbeth, it seems, is the only woman who can heal his troubled soul, but she has a story of her own. What entails is a glorious tale full of deceit, greed, inner struggles, betrayal, and most of all—love.

All about SHADOWS OF VALOR

Many people have asked about my book, Shadows of Valor, and what it's about (being that it'll be released September 7, 2013).

In a nutshell: In 1300 A.D. England, a knight-spy (aka The Shadow) for King Edward hunts down smugglers and brings them to justice. A childhood acquaintance, Lady Rawley, enters the scene, adding a touch of PG-rated romance. Together the duo search out thieves, often at the peril of their lives, and contend with the danger of traitors, sword fights and fires. As The Shadow struggles to keep his dual identity a secret, misunderstandings arise with complicated circumstances and strong emotional ties.

For those interested, here are links to articles I've posted on my blog about the book and the music I composed for it that will be included in the publication. My cover and book trailer will be released soon, and I will share them when they come out.

-TEN QUESTIONS I ANSWER ABOUT MY STORY: http://elsiepark.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-next-big-thing.html

-THE BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT FROM JOLLY FISH PRESS: http://elsiepark.blogspot.com/2012/06/heres-my-book-announcement-from-jolly.html

-MY RESEARCH PROCESS: http://elsiepark.blogspot.com/2012/07/normal-0-false-false-false.html.

-DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSIC I COMPOSED FOR SHADOWS OF VALOR: http://elsiepark.blogspot.com/2012/07/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_31.html

-COMPOSING THE MUSICAL SCORE FOR MY BOOK TRAILER (including a sheet music sample): http://elsiepark.blogspot.com/2013/04/composing-musical-score-for-shadows-of.html

-BASIC INFO ABOUT MEDIEVAL CLOTHING AND INSTRUMENTS: http://elsiepark.blogspot.com/2012/09/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_20.html

-BASIC INFO ABOUT MEDIEVAL ENGLISH SPEECH: http://elsiepark.blogspot.com/2012/07/medieval-english-speech-formal-vs.html

I want to thank all those who have shown an interest and excitement for my debut novel and for your WONDERFUL love and support! I love you all!

Fairy Godmothers Inc. book review

Fairy Godmothers Inc., a 299-page novel by Jenniffer Wardell, is a fun PG-rated romantic comedy that’s unraveled at a nice leisurely pace.

Usually a fairy godmother is the one bringing about a happily-ever-after, but what if the one needing help with her relationship is the fairy godmother? To whom does she turn to sort out the trials and pitfalls of her budding romance? As one character says to the prince in the story, “It strikes me as horribly ironic that you apparently need a Fairy Godmother to properly manage your courtship of a Fairy Godmother.” And so it would seem.

Ripe with quick wit and continual references to fairy tales the reader will recognize, this amusing read cleverly melds old-world tales and new-world business techniques. Wardell introduces a new take on the fairytale with a behind-the-scenes look at the production end of fairy godmothers, but not everything is smooth sailing. In fact, under the surface, questionable practices brew, create issues for the company and its clientele.

And what of Cinderella (Rellie) being set up with someone whose not her intended prince? Misunderstandings and shady business tactics cause problems that seem near impossible to sort out. Will this story achieve its happy ending?

Pick up a copy of Fairy Godmothers Inc. to see how everything turns out in this new and unconventional tale.

First Pass Edits Done and Sent

http://www.lego.com/en-us/

I was given two weeks to edit, correct, add, change and look over my story. I took nearly the entire time, finishing up with two days to spare. Sent it off to the editors Memorial day weekend. I can relax a little, until they send me the second pass - eesh. Still waiting on my cover (not that I'm rushing anyone, not at all, I want the art department to spend as much time on it as they need to make it AWESOME!), but I am eager to see it. Shadows of Valor will be released in just three months (September 7, 2013) and I'm getting giddy that it's coming down to the wire. Can't wait to see the trailer on Youtube (when it's done) and can't wait to see the cover (when it's done).

INSIGHT, Terron James' YA high fantasy

INSIGHT, a 426-page young adult high fantasy is Terron James’ debut novel and the first installment of four in the Beholders series. James has masterfully crafted the mystical land of Appernysia, a world brimming with rich history and magic that an audience of all types will find delight in discovering. Readers will be impressed and fascinated by James’ meticulous narrative and detailed maps of Appernysia. The maps, as well as some amazing concept art not appearing in the book, can be viewed at: http://terronjames.blogspot.com/p/world-of-appernysia.html

Synopsis:

Rumors are surging through Appernysia that a Beholder has been born, the first wielder of True Sight in over a millennium. Seventeen-year-old Lon Marcs discovers he has been blessed—or cursed—with this gift. He cannot control the power of True Sight and feels it killing him with each passing day. He realizes that the only people who might possess the knowledge to save his life are the sworn enemies of his king. To obtain their help, Lon would have to journey into exile, leaving behind his village, family, and beloved Kaylen. Although this is the hardest decision Lon has ever made, it is only the first of many that will test his strength and challenge his interpretation of right and wrong. (synopsis by Jolly Fish Press)

INSIGHT was released June 1, 2013 through Jolly Fish Press.

Watch the book trailer on Youtube!

My review of INSIGHT:

INSIGHT, Terrons James’ first story in his young adult “Beholders” fantasy series, gripped my interest from the first page. His fantastical world of Appernysia (complete with detailed maps and a glossary of terms), and the main character's dilemmas, was like a cross between Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and the BBC’s miniseries, Merlin, both of which I love. Though the first third of the book flowed at a leisurely pace, taking time to introduce the reader to the main character, Lon, and his background and trials, it really picked up in the second portion of the story, making INSIGHT a page-turner. I itched to learn what would happen next in Lon’s quest to control his new-found powers in perceiving and utilizing the invisible essences of nature. As he’s drawn into enemy territory and forced to become one of them, Lon is torn and confused over who he is and who he needs to become in order to save his life and the lives of those he loves. James' descriptions of settings, weapons and events are fascinating, allowing the reader to really picture the scenes in great detail, but that in no way slow the story. Of course, I was completely hooked by the end of the book and eagerly looking forward to the next installments in the “Beholders” series, especially with James leaving the reader with a hint of events that will unfold in the next books. Well done, Terron James!

Find INSIGHT at:

Jolly Fish Press

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Goodreads

Or order it from any other bookstore!

About the author:

Born in the wrong age, Terron James continually fantasizes of shining steel, majestic stone architecture, thundering cavalry rushes, and opportunities to prove his honor. James is an English teacher and a member and recent president of the Tooele Chapter of the League of Utah Writers. He currently lives in Tooele, Utah, with his wife and four kids.

Follow Terron James on:
(click on subject below to go to link)

The INSIGHT Website

Facebook

Twitter 

Editing and writing next two weeks!

My publisher, Jolly Fish Press, just sent me my first editing pass! I've got a bit of editing and writing to do on Shadows of Valor in the next two weeks! I'll be a little slow on my blog till I'm done with that (of course, my publicists will probably say I'm always slow on my blogging - LOL). I'll try to share a few things, though. Will probably be shorter posts, like this one, but there you go, that's what's happening right now. Lots of work ahead, but I'm excited things are coming down to the wire. The book will go to copy editing soon. Book release is only two and a half months out. EEEEEE!!! *BIG SMILE*

My Mascot for Shadows of Valor!

The historical backdrop for my novel, Shadows of Valor, touches on the illegal practice of smuggling wool from England in 1300 A.D. after King Edward I levied a heavy tax on it. I was at a local thrift store the other day and found the cutest little sheep buried among other second hand stuffed animals. I thought, "Hey, I could use that little guy!" And so I did. He is now my unofficial mascot for Shadows of Valor, sporting a sign picketing against smugglers by stating "HARK YE:  Say 'NO' to smuggling wool (it's ba-a-a-a-d)". What a cutie!

FAIRY GODMOTHERS, INC.

In a world where fairy tale situations are as much a fact of life as death and taxes, everyone knows hiring Fairy Godmothers, Inc. is the best way to assure that your beautiful daughter or enchanted frog of a grandson will get the happily-ever-after he or she deserves. Sure, sometimes a little love potion is required to make sure those quotas stay up, but what Prince Charming doesn't know won't hurt him. Kate, an experienced Fairy Godmother, who's enough of a romantic to frustrate her rigidly rule-bound boss, has just received a specialty assignment from one of the company's board of directors. Cinderella—Rellie for short—was placed with an appropriately wicked stepfamily years before, and now needs the dress, ball, and handsome prince to complete her happily-ever-after. The fact that Rellie isn't sure this is her dream come true—balls are fun, but princes tend to be less interesting than fluffy bunnies—isn't something management considers a problem. Complicating things a bit is Jon, the youngest son of the royal family, who meets Kate, and is smitten, but isn't quite ready yet to reveal his true identity. After all, it's his older brother Rupert who's supposed to marry Rellie, which means pretending to be a lowly civil servant will give him the chance to spend more time with Kate. (As long as he can get the ball arranged, and stop Rupert from getting himself into trouble over his "self-actualization" business, he should have the perfect opportunity to explain everything and get started on making a little magic with the Fairy Godmother of his dreams.) But, of course, things never ever happen as planned. (preceding synopsis by Jolly Fish Press)

Fairy Godmothers, Inc., a hilarious and witty debut novel from Jenniffer Wardell, was released April 27, 2013. Wardell uses her experience in journalism and theater to create a perfectly flawed and (hopelessly) romantic adaptation of an age-old fairy tale. Topped with Wardell's unprecedented knack for sarcastic humor, Fairy Godmothers, Inc. will leave readers desperate for more, while theater and movie producers clamber for production rights.


For more details on Fairy Godmothers, Inc., or to review the novel, contact Kirk Cunningham at kirk@jollyfishpress.com.


Publication Date: April 27, 2013
Jennifer Wardell is the arts, entertainment, and lifestyle reporter for the Davis Clipper. She's won several awards from the Utah Press Association and the Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She currently lives in Layton, Utah.

Fairy Godmothers, Inc. is Wardell's first novel.



Find her online here:
Facebook: facebook.com/JennifferWardell
Twitter: @wardellwriter
Website: jennifferwardell.blogspot.com

Below is a link to the giveaway for the tour, which will go live April 22nd to May 4th. 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MDQ4NmY1MmY0NmFkNjI0NTc2NDI1MTIxMWYxNTE4OjQ=/