Monday June 27, 2022
Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:
Thursday June 21, 2022: PG Forte brings us a post from the archives discussing her book, Going To The Chapel.
LAST WEEK!
Only .99 cents for these romance books and boxed sets.
PG Forte writes magickal tales of love from yesterday, today, tomorrow. A little steampunk, a little supernatural, a little sci-fi...and a whole lotta heat!
PG Forte writes magickal tales of love from yesterday, today, tomorrow. A little steampunk, a little supernatural, a little sci-fi...and a whole lotta heat!
Monday June 20, 2022
Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each Monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:
Tuesday June 14, 2022: Deborah Bailey discusses Using Emotional Wounds for Character Development.
Happening this Thursday, June 23 for ONE day only!
https://www.romancebookworms.com
LAST CHANCE!!
Ebook sale. All Genres. Only .99 cents. Ends June 22.
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BLURB:
When legends spring to life, can they heal these broken hearts?
Twice each year, Aine Murphy ventures into the woods to hold ceremonies to honor the Oak King and the Holly King, never dreaming these Lords of the Forest could be anything more than myth. When the legends spring to life in front of her, how can she help but fall for the sexy demi-gods she's loved all her life?
From midwinter to midsummer, Fionn O'Dair rules the Greenworld as the Oak King--a role he feels is beyond his abilities, and one that dooms him to a loveless future, forever craving the one man he can never allow himself to have. How can he resist what Aine offers--the sweet devotion that soothes his aching soul, and the slim chance to live a "normal" life as her husband, if only for half a year? Holly King
Kieran Mac Cuilenn never desired a human lover--until now. Seeing Fionn and Aine together fills him with longing for the love he threw away and awakens feelings he thought he'd buried with the last Oak King. Is there enough magic in the solstice to correct the mistakes he made years ago? Or is he doomed to be forever left out in the cold?
*Previously published as The Oak King.
EXCERPT:
June 1894
At the time of the summer solstice
The woods were shadowed, tranquil and green as Aine Murphy made her way into the forest. This early in the day the sun had yet to burn off the morning mist, but although the day promised to be fine, an unidentifiable melancholy seemed to hang in the soft, still air. It was just a trace, but enough of one that Aine took note of it and thought it strange. Why should the forest feel so gloomy today? What grief dared mar so perfect a morning?
When she reached her destination, a secluded grove where a stately young oak and wizened holly stood a short distance from one another, she paused and glanced around, feeling the hair rise on the back of her neck. The sense of sorrow, of loss—of despair, almost—was even stronger here. She did not consider herself a fanciful woman, but there was an unusual sentience in the woods today. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear she was being watched.
She shook her head, waiting for the odd notion to dissolve. It was naught but foolishness. She was well aware that there was no one to see her. Indeed, that was another of the reasons why she’d chosen this particular place for her ceremonies; it was as far from her neighbors’ prying eyes as she could get. She brushed her concerns aside and set about getting ready for the morning’s ritual, taking comfort in the familiar routine—the same one she’d followed for several years now, ever since her husband’s death had freed her to worship as she saw fit.
She began by setting up her altar, reverently laying out the tools she would be using. Then she walked the circle, calling on the directions and raising power as she went, carefully placing eight stones around the perimeter to denote the quarter and cross-quarter days. When she’d returned to the start point, she stopped and removed her cloak. Cool air caressed her bare skin, raising goose bumps on her arms and legs and pebbling her nipples. A hush seemed to fall over the forest. The feeling of being watched grew stronger.
Her heart was beating uncomfortably fast as she entered the circle and knelt upon the soft green moss. She’d come here today to sing songs of praise; to greet the newly crowned Holly King and pay homage to the fallen Oak—a ceremony that had always brought her joy in the past—but the atmosphere this morning had unsettled her. No longer in the mood to tarry, she rushed through her opening prayers and started right in on a hymn in honor of the Oak King. She was midway through the second stanza when her ordinary day caved in upon her. A naked stranger materialized from out of the fog, nearly scaring the life out of her in the process. Aine gasped in surprise. “Gods save me.”
The stranger said nothing. He stared back at her, looking almost as surprised as she. For one shocked instant Aine was convinced she’d somehow conjured the very Spirit of the Forest. Then reason reasserted itself. This was no insubstantial sprite—his heavy muscles and gleaming flesh attested to that. However godlike he appeared, he was likely no more than a no-account rover, a drifter who’d stumbled drunk onto her property the night before and judged this sheltered grove to be a perfect place to catch a night’s sleep.
“Who-who are you?” she demanded shakily, still staring at him. “Whence did you come?”
His chestnut hair was shaggy and overlong, streaked gold as though by the sun and in desperate need of a trim. It hung in his face, very nearly obscuring his beautiful hazel eyes. Even partially veiled, those eyes were remarkable, a warm amber color overall, like honey and cinnamon swirled together, but with bright flecks of summer green shimmering in their liquid depths. His strong brown body was broad and tall. Perhaps not quite a match for the oak tree that spread its branches above their heads, but still he was an impressive sight to behold. He quite captivated her attention. Although, given that they were both skyclad at the time, their mutual surprise was not so astonishing. She, at least, had a cloak with which to cover her nakedness.
“Answer me,” she demanded as she scrabbled for her cloak and hastily wrapped it around her. She was pleased that her voice no longer shook, though her heart was still pounding at far too swift a pace. She should be running away, but she feared her legs wouldn’t carry her.
“There’s no need to fear me, lass,” the stranger said, smiling in a way she suspected was meant to be reassuring. “I mean you no harm.”
Aine’s mouth tightened. “Sure, and wouldn’t you like me to think so?”
The stranger blinked and appeared confused. “I would, indeed. Why else would I have said it?”
Aine choked back a laugh. Her hands were shaking as she began to gather her tools together, spilling everything repeatedly, her motions too jerky and uncoordinated for anything else. “Why indeed.”
“Here, now.” The stranger took a step closer. “Let me help you with that.”
“No!” Aine raised her hand in a futile effort to stop him. “Stay back. Do not come any closer.”
“As you wish.”
His easy acquiescence emboldened her. She stopped what she was doing to level a glare at him. “What I wish is that you’d see fit to answer my questions. Who are you and what are you doing here?”
FIONN DIDN’T ANSWER right away. If truth be told, he was having trouble finding his voice. It wasn’t just that Aine’s beauty stole his breath; he was also dazed and disoriented, momentarily depleted of power. Who knew it took so much effort to work magic? Well, Kieran, probably. But, then again, Fionn suspected there were many things the Holly King knew but had not bothered to share with him.
Bitterness rose inside him at the thought, at the memory of Kieran’s cold disregard. Although most of the hurt Fionn once had felt had long since turned to anger, the old resentment smoldered still. If there was one thing he would not be wasting time on—neither now nor ever again, if he were lucky—it was Kieran.
Now that he had finally broken free, Fionn intended to live as a human, at least until the winter solstice. Perhaps he wouldn’t go back at all. Maybe, if he were truly lucky, he would discover that the winds could not find him on this side of the veil. Or maybe, in his absence, his Lord and Lady would choose someone else to take his place, someone better suited to the task than he.
PG Forte writes magickal tales of love from yesterday, today, tomorrow. A little steampunk, a little supernatural, a little sci-fi...and a whole lotta heat!
BLURB:
When legends spring to life, can they heal these broken hearts?
Twice each year, Aine Murphy ventures into the woods to hold ceremonies to honor the Oak King and the Holly King, never dreaming these Lords of the Forest could be anything more than myth. When the legends spring to life in front of her, how can she help but fall for the sexy demi-gods she's loved all her life?
From midwinter to midsummer, Fionn O'Dair rules the Greenworld as the Oak King--a role he feels is beyond his abilities, and one that dooms him to a loveless future, forever craving the one man he can never allow himself to have. How can he resist what Aine offers--the sweet devotion that soothes his aching soul, and the slim chance to live a "normal" life as her husband, if only for half a year? Holly King
Kieran Mac Cuilenn never desired a human lover--until now. Seeing Fionn and Aine together fills him with longing for the love he threw away and awakens feelings he thought he'd buried with the last Oak King. Is there enough magic in the solstice to correct the mistakes he made years ago? Or is he doomed to be forever left out in the cold?
*Previously published as The Oak King.
EXCERPT:
June 1894
At the time of the summer solstice
The woods were shadowed, tranquil and green as Aine Murphy made her way into the forest. This early in the day the sun had yet to burn off the morning mist, but although the day promised to be fine, an unidentifiable melancholy seemed to hang in the soft, still air. It was just a trace, but enough of one that Aine took note of it and thought it strange. Why should the forest feel so gloomy today? What grief dared mar so perfect a morning?
When she reached her destination, a secluded grove where a stately young oak and wizened holly stood a short distance from one another, she paused and glanced around, feeling the hair rise on the back of her neck. The sense of sorrow, of loss—of despair, almost—was even stronger here. She did not consider herself a fanciful woman, but there was an unusual sentience in the woods today. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear she was being watched.
She shook her head, waiting for the odd notion to dissolve. It was naught but foolishness. She was well aware that there was no one to see her. Indeed, that was another of the reasons why she’d chosen this particular place for her ceremonies; it was as far from her neighbors’ prying eyes as she could get. She brushed her concerns aside and set about getting ready for the morning’s ritual, taking comfort in the familiar routine—the same one she’d followed for several years now, ever since her husband’s death had freed her to worship as she saw fit.
She began by setting up her altar, reverently laying out the tools she would be using. Then she walked the circle, calling on the directions and raising power as she went, carefully placing eight stones around the perimeter to denote the quarter and cross-quarter days. When she’d returned to the start point, she stopped and removed her cloak. Cool air caressed her bare skin, raising goose bumps on her arms and legs and pebbling her nipples. A hush seemed to fall over the forest. The feeling of being watched grew stronger.
Her heart was beating uncomfortably fast as she entered the circle and knelt upon the soft green moss. She’d come here today to sing songs of praise; to greet the newly crowned Holly King and pay homage to the fallen Oak—a ceremony that had always brought her joy in the past—but the atmosphere this morning had unsettled her. No longer in the mood to tarry, she rushed through her opening prayers and started right in on a hymn in honor of the Oak King. She was midway through the second stanza when her ordinary day caved in upon her. A naked stranger materialized from out of the fog, nearly scaring the life out of her in the process. Aine gasped in surprise. “Gods save me.”
The stranger said nothing. He stared back at her, looking almost as surprised as she. For one shocked instant Aine was convinced she’d somehow conjured the very Spirit of the Forest. Then reason reasserted itself. This was no insubstantial sprite—his heavy muscles and gleaming flesh attested to that. However godlike he appeared, he was likely no more than a no-account rover, a drifter who’d stumbled drunk onto her property the night before and judged this sheltered grove to be a perfect place to catch a night’s sleep.
“Who-who are you?” she demanded shakily, still staring at him. “Whence did you come?”
His chestnut hair was shaggy and overlong, streaked gold as though by the sun and in desperate need of a trim. It hung in his face, very nearly obscuring his beautiful hazel eyes. Even partially veiled, those eyes were remarkable, a warm amber color overall, like honey and cinnamon swirled together, but with bright flecks of summer green shimmering in their liquid depths. His strong brown body was broad and tall. Perhaps not quite a match for the oak tree that spread its branches above their heads, but still he was an impressive sight to behold. He quite captivated her attention. Although, given that they were both skyclad at the time, their mutual surprise was not so astonishing. She, at least, had a cloak with which to cover her nakedness.
“Answer me,” she demanded as she scrabbled for her cloak and hastily wrapped it around her. She was pleased that her voice no longer shook, though her heart was still pounding at far too swift a pace. She should be running away, but she feared her legs wouldn’t carry her.
“There’s no need to fear me, lass,” the stranger said, smiling in a way she suspected was meant to be reassuring. “I mean you no harm.”
Aine’s mouth tightened. “Sure, and wouldn’t you like me to think so?”
The stranger blinked and appeared confused. “I would, indeed. Why else would I have said it?”
Aine choked back a laugh. Her hands were shaking as she began to gather her tools together, spilling everything repeatedly, her motions too jerky and uncoordinated for anything else. “Why indeed.”
“Here, now.” The stranger took a step closer. “Let me help you with that.”
“No!” Aine raised her hand in a futile effort to stop him. “Stay back. Do not come any closer.”
“As you wish.”
His easy acquiescence emboldened her. She stopped what she was doing to level a glare at him. “What I wish is that you’d see fit to answer my questions. Who are you and what are you doing here?”
FIONN DIDN’T ANSWER right away. If truth be told, he was having trouble finding his voice. It wasn’t just that Aine’s beauty stole his breath; he was also dazed and disoriented, momentarily depleted of power. Who knew it took so much effort to work magic? Well, Kieran, probably. But, then again, Fionn suspected there were many things the Holly King knew but had not bothered to share with him.
Bitterness rose inside him at the thought, at the memory of Kieran’s cold disregard. Although most of the hurt Fionn once had felt had long since turned to anger, the old resentment smoldered still. If there was one thing he would not be wasting time on—neither now nor ever again, if he were lucky—it was Kieran.
Now that he had finally broken free, Fionn intended to live as a human, at least until the winter solstice. Perhaps he wouldn’t go back at all. Maybe, if he were truly lucky, he would discover that the winds could not find him on this side of the veil. Or maybe, in his absence, his Lord and Lady would choose someone else to take his place, someone better suited to the task than he.
PG Forte writes magickal tales of love from yesterday, today, tomorrow. A little steampunk, a little supernatural, a little sci-fi...and a whole lotta heat!Often it can be a challenge to develop a character from scratch. What are their goals and motivations? What is the backstory? At times I get an idea of who the main characters are before I begin writing. But there are always times when I’m not sure who they are and what they want.
One thing I’ve learned is
that determining the character’s emotional wounds are a good place to
start. You can use them to get your characters to act and move forward in the
story.
They tie into the GMC
(goal-motivation-conflict) of the character. For instance, even if the hero wants
to slay the dragon, it helps to know why it’s so important. What need is he filling by putting himself into that situation?
I think it also helps to
be able to see the character as a three-dimensional person. Real people do have
wounds and trauma that they have to process. Giving a character a similar
experience helps readers to see them as well-rounded. They go from being made-up people
to people who could actually exist in the real world (or a world of your creation).
As with real life, people will be driven by inner needs and desires, and those
needs are often tied to the emotional wounds (and/or traumas). What is your
hero or heroine working to achieve in the outer world so that they can fill an
inner need (or heal a wound)?
For
instance, a character who has had
many bad relationships might believe they don't deserve better. Their goal
might be to find love, but their motivation is based on feeling unworthy and
needing the validation of someone else's love.
A character who has been wounded emotionally
might take actions based on that wound. Though they want love, they may believe
that they are bad, or unworthy of love and respect.
At the same time they may be compelled to seek
out other traumatized people as friends or lovers. In that way, they can
"save" the other person because they are really trying to heal
themselves.
This is something that
can play out in a romance (particularly a dark romance) or in any genre. The
hero or heroine who is drawn to what isn’t good for them, and yet they keep choosing these partners and situations.
Readers can relate to
characters who are going through real challenges. As they heal their wounds and
evolve, their HEA (or HFN) will be even more meaningful.
Part of the journey for
the character in the story is for them to realize that they can accept love.
They can resolve past issues and be better for it.
Yes it can be tough to put our characters
through a lot of discomfort. For the character to have a rebirth, they have to
have a "death."
They have to be put into a situation where they
are willing to do whatever it takes for happiness (if it’s a HEA) or to solve
the crime, catch the killer, break the magical curse – whatever it is that is
the prize for your character.
Even if every single point isn't on the page, it
helps to know these things about your characters. Then you can write them
knowing exactly who they are and what emotional obstacles they will have to
overcome.
Writer, podcaster and author of fiction & non-fiction books.
DBaileyCoach.com/Brightbooks
Monday June 13, 2022
Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:
Once in every one million births, a child is born on Bellac with the Synergistic gene. These children are taken from their parents and raised, trained, and prepared for the day when they will find their Synergistic other half. For when that happens, an entity is created from the combination of both male and female who holds unbelievable powers. An entity who is trained to protect and defend its home world.
Grey Dansis is a Synergian. She has reached the time when she must meet the others like herself and hopefully find the male who will become her life-long partner from a crowd of strong, prime adult males who are ready to join the war as soon as they are united with their female halves.
Unfortunately Grey has secretly harbored a longing for Rowe Maine. But the man is five years her senior and considered long past acceptance. He is an Unmatched Synergian who has lost his chance to become one of the rare new entities. By law he is no longer able to seek his mate. Now the man is a trainer and teacher at their special school.
It won’t be long, however, before their world is again attacked by marauders. The creatures bent on domination are a species the Synergians have never encountered before. And this time the creatures’ goal isn’t just to conquer Bellac, but to totally wipe the planet's population and its army of Synergians out of existence.
Grey has no idea that Rowe, the man she has long been in love with, is her fated other half. Or that the power coming from their union would be the only force strong enough to save Bellac from complete annihilation.
Because the law won't even let them touch.
Warning! Contains human weaponry, alien attacks, unapproved use of pudding, overly-aggressive males, excessive sex as a health benefit, badly fitting uniforms, trial by antagonistic rulers, and a love that defies the laws of man and nature.
Excerpt and Buy Links
PG Forte writes magickal tales of love from yesterday, today, tomorrow. A little steampunk, a little supernatural, a little sci-fi...and a whole lotta heat!Once in every one million births, a child is born on Bellac with the Synergistic gene. These children are taken from their parents and raised, trained, and prepared for the day when they will find their Synergistic other half. For when that happens, an entity is created from the combination of both male and female who holds unbelievable powers. An entity who is trained to protect and defend its home world.
Grey Dansis is a Synergian. She has reached the time when she must meet the others like herself and hopefully find the male who will become her life-long partner from a crowd of strong, prime adult males who are ready to join the war as soon as they are united with their female halves.
Unfortunately Grey has secretly harbored a longing for Rowe Maine. But the man is five years her senior and considered long past acceptance. He is an Unmatched Synergian who has lost his chance to become one of the rare new entities. By law he is no longer able to seek his mate. Now the man is a trainer and teacher at their special school.
It won’t be long, however, before their world is again attacked by marauders. The creatures bent on domination are a species the Synergians have never encountered before. And this time the creatures’ goal isn’t just to conquer Bellac, but to totally wipe the planet's population and its army of Synergians out of existence.
Grey has no idea that Rowe, the man she has long been in love with, is her fated other half. Or that the power coming from their union would be the only force strong enough to save Bellac from complete annihilation.
Because the law won't even let them touch.
Warning! Contains human weaponry, alien attacks, unapproved use of pudding, overly-aggressive males, excessive sex as a health benefit, badly fitting uniforms, trial by antagonistic rulers, and a love that defies the laws of man and nature.
Excerpt and Buy Links
