I wanna rock!

A: I need the music loud and big tonight!

D: How about some panpipes? I have a lovely set somewhere over–

A: No, D – not any of your bard-y fireside music. I need big – it needs to be heard over a body of water – music.

D: Ah, pipes, then?

A: And drums.

D: Um, A. . . are we going to war?

A: War? Silly Druid, wars are for politicians. No, we are celebrating. You and TC are in charge of the music and probably the singing too, since I can’t carry a tune.

D: What are we celebrating – and what are you bringing to this hootenanny?

A: Me, of course!

D: Now you’re just being obscure.

A: Says the Druid. First, I’m bringing me to the hootenanny, and possibly potato chips and dip. Second, my word count for Camp NaNoWriMo has been validated.

D: How many words?

53,728

D: And the book?

A: Congratulate me first.

D: . . .That’s stupendous, A. Way to go.

A: With sincerity, and possibly enthusiasm, if you can manage it.

D: I never doubted you for a moment, A.

A: That’s better. The book is well on its way. They’re in 1745, they’re realizing that perhaps they were sent there for a reason, and Bonnie Prince Charlie is about to call the clans. All in all, good times. Word vomit, but good times.

D: I’m proud of you A.

A: Thanks, D. Me too!

D: Okay, that was nice. Get back to work, woman.

A: What about my hootenanny?

D: Don’t you watch TV? That always ends with crazy masks and zombies.

A: Right. How could I forget? No more Netflix for you, D.

A’s Telling the Tale Tonight, Baby!
IMG_0305
Ralph and the cat

The Creative Writing Challenge continues at the Community Storyboard. Today’s prompt: Pick an object in your room, and write a story. I have sleep (or lack thereof) on the brain with “Bed Head.” For the best story that popped up at the Community Storyboard, check out Ionia’s, “Polly wants a what?” Hands down my favorite of the day.

Also, huge congratulations are in order to Charles and Briana – thank *you* for letting us be a part of your respective book promotions. It was a lot of fun. Wishing you both a ridiculous amount of success!

Finally, here’s a little something from Part 3 of The Book, i.e. something I salvaged from the word vomit:

Silence.

It beat at her. Tiny movements bombarded her. Breathing hurt her ears, so complete was the absence of noise.

Maureen opened her eyes, slowly acknowledging that this was no dream – no nightmare to be avoided by deeper dreaming.

Nothing met her gaze. The darkness absolute. Her shriek rose from deep within her gut.

“Sean!”

It is Here!

A: Get your copy of Briana’s new book, A Girl Named Cord, today!

Briana (Vedsted) Atkisson's avatarWhen I Became an Author

a girl named cord

A Girl Named Cord is now available for purchase on
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A-Girl-Named-Cord-ebook/dp/B00E91QL7W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375275789&sr=8-1&keywords=a+girl+named+cord
and
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/342078

Get the eBook for $2.99 and the paperback for $7.99!

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On Sale Now! Legends of Windemere: Prodigy of Rainbow Tower for .99 Cents!

D: Legends of Windemere: Prodigy of Rainbow Tower is live on Amazon! Get your copy now! Hey, A – why are you blogging? Go buy a copy. Now, Woman!

A: Can I just hit “reblog post” first?

D: What, you can’t multi-task?

A: Where did you learn that word?

D: You – every time you attempt to write and watch an hour of television, you call it multitasking.

A: True. Okay, folks – multitask – read and buy!

Charles Yallowitz's avatarLegends of Windemere

The day has come, everyone!  Legends of Windemere: Prodigy of Rainbow Tower is live on Amazon.com!  See the adventure that Luke Callindor and his friends have found themselves in now.  Meet the hot-tempered, magic-hurling Nyx and her cunning rival Trinity the Chaos Elf Queen.  Filled with more humor, action, drama, and adventure than Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero, this book is already being praised on Goodreads.

Anyone that received preview copies, feel free to write up reviews for the Amazon and Goodreads site.

For the month of August, Legends of Windemere: Prodigy of Rainbow Towerwill be .99 cents.  After that, it goes up to $2.99.

Thank you to everyone that has helped me and supported me.  I couldn’t have gotten this far without you and a big thank you post is coming soon.

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A Girl Named Cord Releases July 31, 2013!

CORD-Flat
Cover Art
Dirk Porsche
http://shiggyenterprises.wordpress.com/

D: A! A! It’s here!

A: I seem to recall just doing this.

D: No, A – ITS HERE!

A: You are scaring me, D.

D: A Girl Named Cord is on Amazon, A. You know, Briana’s exciting new book about Cord, a delightfully spunky cow-puncher in the Old West, who suffers trials and –

A: D! Don’t give away the plot. Yes, I remember. We had the happy opportunity to be beta-readers. But since you are so excited, why don’t you do the honors?

D: Why, thank you, A. That’s mighty kind of you!

A Girl Named Cord

By: Briana Vedsted

Available on Amazon.com, July 31, 2013 as both a paperback and an eBook.

Book description

Cord had to work hard to earn her living as a cow puncher, and she was getting along just fine until a wealthy rancher moves into the county and threatens the lives of her and her friends. Cord rises up to meet every challenge, but the death of friends, both old and new, plague her at every turn. And just when everything seems like it is going to go back to being peacefully normal, a secret comes to light, putting Cord and her future family in danger. Will Cord let go of her sorrow filled past and revengeful wishes long enough to save her loved ones and pull her life back out of the bottomless pit it seems to be stuck in?

“But let me tell you this: peace in the heart is much more comforting than blood in the sand.”

Read more about it at Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18269695-a-girl-named-cord

Cover art

Dirk Porsche at http://shiggyenterprises.wordpress.com/

More about the Author

Find out more about Briana on her blog, http://whenibecameanauthor.wordpress.com/

Also by the Author

Check out Briana’s other books here:

The Night I Walked off of Boot Hill

The Untold Story of Margaret Hurst – alias Maugrim Valletta

Prodigy of Rainbow Tower Releases July 31, 2013!

Prodigy Cover Final
Cover Art:
Jason Pedersen
Website: http://www.jasonpedersen.com/

A: D! D, it’s here!

D: What is here, woman?

A: Careful D, or Nyx is going to blast you sky high.

D: She could, too. Is it reasonable to assume that Charles Yallowitz’s new book, Prodigy of Rainbow Tower is available for purchase?

A: You bet your god-impersonating Pictish arse,

D. D: Really?

A: I’m just stating the facts, D. The second installment of the Legend of Windemere series is here (check out the first installment, Beginning of a Hero). I’m excited; I’m allowedt to play fast-and-lose with words.

D: What is your excuse all those other times?

A: (Eye roll) Now, for the important bits:

Legends of Windemere: Prodigy of Rainbow Tower

Book Description:
The action-packed, humor-filled, dramatic sequel to ‘Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero’.
Battling through a demonic assassin and an army of monsters, Luke Callindor has survived his time at Hamilton Military Academy.  Now, Luke and his friends must leave the safety of the academy to escort Duke Solomon’s heir down the L’dandrin River and into the safety of the city of Gods’ Voice.  Joining them for this journey is Nyx, a powerful caster apprentice of Rainbow Tower.  With her talent for combat magic and her short temper, Nyx will prove to be a challenge for Luke and all of their enemies.

Who will survive the harrowing trip down the L’dandrin River?  And, who will be the one to break Luke’s trust?

On Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18171173-prodigy-of-rainbow-tower

Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero:

Get caught up on Luke’s adventures in Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero (Book 1 in the Legends of Windemere Series).

Cover Art Credit:

Jason Pedersen. Website: http://www.jasonpedersen.com/

To the very last

2013-Participant-Lantern-Circle-BadgeA: Only 1,339 words left!

D: Think you’ll make it, A?

A: You bet your mother-goddess worshiping Druid arse!

D: Is this a thing with you?

A: (Snicker). Just wait. It gets better.

D: You terrify me sometimes, you know that?

A: Only sometimes? Hm. Need to work on that.

D: Lovely. Did you have any other wisdom to impart beyond your Camp NaNoWriMo status?

A: Um, no.

D: Are you certain? I think you may be experiencing temporary memory loss. Is that grey matter leaking out of your ears? Oh dear.

A: If I have grey matter trickling out my ears, then you better take charge (for the moment, not for always…. Just so we are very clear on this!)

D: (Oh, certainly, A.)

A: (Good.)

D: (Of course, when done parenthetically, my promise means—

A: Oi, Druid!

D: Fine. I understand there’s a … what do you call it, blog blitz? I haven’t seen a blitz since WWII, A. Tell me there aren’t Nazis.

A: (Face palm) No, D. No Nazis, just book releases. Charles and Briana’s book releases. Those posts will be up very soon – stay tuned!

D: And the lovely Sarah M. Cradit, in honor of her Birthday (A&D: Happy Birthday, Sarah!), has her books for sale for .99 for 5 days – it’s a birthday sale, and it is what A likes to call, a steal for these wonderful books!

A: The Community Storyboard Creative Writing Challenge, Day 4 debuted with a bang–

D: I thought that was a twang.

A: Where were you at 7 in the morning when I was trying to write my poem?! Seriously? Now you come out with that?

D: What? I’m not your on-command muse, A.

A: (Grr…arg!) Moving on. I’d just like to point out an inspirational post at Jack Flacco’s site about how it is totally possible for a zombie apocalypse to fail.

D: Inspirational? Really, A?

A: I thought it was lovely. You know, we go on about how it would be an apocalypse, but really, we could take ‘em out. It might be messy, but it would probably be less an apocalypse and more a zombie raid.

D: Please, no one encourage her. She’s obviously up way past her bedtime.

A: Cheers, D!

Oddments and triflings

D: A, you are an oddment and a trifling.

A: Gee, D. With compliments like that it’s a wonder you spent your life alone!

D: Oi!

A: See, two play at the insult game. It’s not just yours to monopolize!

D: (Grumble).

A: Exactly.

D: If not you, then what are our oddments and triflings?

A: They are a highlight of some of the lovely posts I read today, that made a typical Monday a delight, when I had a chance to breathe, that is.

D: I see. A joint tale-telling, so?

A: Indeed.

First, at We Drink Because We’re Poets—

D: Uh, A, Excuse me, but you’re not a poet.

A: And?

D: What’s your excuse?

kombuchaA: This isn’t a drink as such, D. It’s Kombucha.

D: It’s fermented, though.

A: Sure, but only a little. It’s good for you. All sorts of pro-biotic goodness for the gut to heal it from all those delightfully-inflammatory potatoes I ate over the weekend.

D: I think you’re some sort of witch.

A: Thank you, D. Moving on:

The prolific Charles and the delightful Rara go head to head with some incredible poetry. Stop by We Drink Because We’re Poets to vote in Round 1 of the Championship For The Ages Final!

Also at We Drink Because We’re Poets–

D: I think you just like saying the name.

A: And?

D: . . .

A: As I thought. There’s a new exercise/prompt debuting on August 11. Read more about it, mark your calendars, and participate, because it looks to be great fun!

D: This means we’re taking part, correct?

A: You bet your Pictish, Time-Traveling arse.

D: It’s such a pity she uses her words for things like that. It could be so much more. (Sigh.) Regardless, the Community Storyboard Creative Writing Challenge continues with this day 3 Prompt: Write a story set before 1950. A of course cheated and used a chapter opener that she wrote last night, which she’s titled, “Where do we go from here?”

A: What, is it my fault I rarely write anything set after 1950? No, I think not. Finally, Charles did a guest-post on Green Embers’ blog about character classes in Dungeon and Dragons. D, I’d like you to take notes on the Druid part.

D: I’m not that kind of Druid.

A: I know, but –

D: You’re mocking me.

A: Yes, I am, but –

D: I am a teller of tales; I hold the clan’s record of births and deaths within my soul, I gaze at the stars and interpret their patters, I have the magic of the ancients in my veins, and you’re telling me that all it amounts to is having antlers in my hair—

A: D, chill. I like the antlers.

D: . . . I give up.

A: Ha! I win. Good night, folks!!

Where do we go from here? (Prompt)

D: A, this is a spoiler!

A: No it isn’t, D. It’s a teaser.

D: There’s a difference?


A: Yes.


D: And . . . ?

A: D, it’s Monday. Let’s just let it be a teaser for Part 4 of the book, okay?!


D: (Sigh) As you will.

Behind the Scenes at the Dainty China Country

A: For Day 2 of the Creative Writing Challenge

D: What have you called it, Fan-Farce?


A: I think it’s appropriate.


D: Well, perhaps not appropriate, but at least you’re not taking it seriously.


A: (Groan).

Woke up in love this morning

Good morning!
Good morning!

Well, not really – not in the romantic sense, at least.

I had a post all ready to go to A) dispute the Druid and his pompous proclamations, and B) analyze just why I am moping.

Instead, I chucked it out the window. To quote my favorite doppelganger: bored now.  Besides, the Druid is right (don’t tell him I said that – I’ll never hear the end of it if he finds out).

D: I heard that.

A: Oi! This is my spot. Sundays are my day!

D: Yes, but you seem to lose the plot when you start talking all by yourself. I’m just here to keep you on track.

A: Right. . .

D: And to help with the humor factor.

A: I wasn’t trying to be—

D: And that’s why you fail.

A: Oi, D!

D: Yes?

A: Fine, whatever. May I continue?

D: Be my guest, but keep it snappy, A.

A: I was going to say something about following my own advice and not take my characters – or myself – too seriously, but it seems rather beside the point, now.

D: Indeed. I think you need to limit your poignant posts to once-a-month. Any more than that and you might tax your sensibilities beyond their limit.

A:  . . .

D: I’m just looking out for you, A.

A: You’re just looking out for your book.

D: Yes, but for me, A, they are one and the same.

A: RIght, and on that note . . . take a gander at the page, my friends. I’ve added two links at the top. One is for “Other Fiction” and the other is “Defining the Dialogue.” The first is rather self-explanatory, but the second—

D: Why do we need defining, A?

A: You’ve said it yourself, no one else is inside my brain—

D: (Consider yourselves lucky – it’s a tough place to escape).

A: And Defining the Dialogues is a timeline of sorts for The Book. Oftentimes our dialogue centers on passages I’ve written. Decoding puts them in chronological book order –

D: Or as good as, considering it’s a time-travel story.

A: D, you’re not helping. Posts pertaining to Part 1 of The Book have all been listed. I’ll work on Part 2 this week, and since we have yet to post about Parts 3 and 4, those will go live as they happen.

D: You made it live without completing it!? A!

A: It was 2 in the morning, D – I wanted something to show for the insomnia!

D: She really needs to get out more.

A: And stop focusing on word count. Can I just say how happy I am going to be when July is over?

D: You and everyone else, A.

A: Cheers, D – good night all. Lifting a glass to fun snark, from here on out.