About the day

Well, it never fails to impress me what all happens on a book birthday. Often I’m at school, and I sit on pins and needles trying to figure out what’s happening on the internet. Sometimes I end up sick–like the last three releases. There’s always some kind of celebration, but this one is my twelfth release! So, I planned a facebook party with all kinds of giveaways–there are at least 15 different paperbacks, ebooks, or audiobooks being given away just for participating in the party. Then on Thursday, I’m heading to Rose City Comic Con in Portland, Oregon. I’ll be there all weekend. Come join me if you’re in the area.

Today though has been even more hectic than what’s planned. Last week was the first week of school, an ordinary event. This year our school was scheduled for a seismic upgrade, but instead of it happening over the summer, they started around August 15. So, last week they were in the middle of working on classrooms and the roof. Crazy conditions to try to teach in, but it gets better! It rained this weekend. As of yesterday, I’ve not had access to my room. Today it was totally sealed off, and I won’t be able to get in there for two weeks. What a birthday present.

About the book

An Unexpected Exploit is my first portal fantasy, but I’m not new to portal fantasy. I remember growing up and loving the books that let me cross over into a new world. Even as an adult I’ve listened to The Beyonders series, Narnia, Pendragon, and The Tethered World, which you can win at the facebook party.

It was so much fun writing this book. I allowed my imagination to soar and my faith to shine. When I asked, “Do the sanraksaka believe in a creator?” the whole system fell into place. Why wouldn’t a sentient bigfoot creature believe in a creator? With that, in came Sirjanakarta.

Reviews

There are already two reviews up on Amazon, three on Goodreads, and one on a reviewer’s website. The book is a 5 star on Amazon and 4.33 on Goodreads.

The Cover

Music from https://filmmusic.io “Dangerous” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

If you haven’t picked up your own copy, both ebook and paperback copies are available now.

Birthday Cake

Well, come join me for some birthday cake and presents–for you–tonight at 6 pm Pacific and 9 pm Eastern. The party’s all set up and just waiting for you.

There are two grand prize packets. This is just one of them. Here’s your access to it.

Stars Descend

Well, now that I’ve put that aside, when I saw the opportunity to host Stars Descend on my blog, I jumped at the chance to interview Sol. I wanted to introduce you to this wonderful fun space-elf. Wait, what? Yep, you heard me right–space-elf. These elves reminded me a bit of Middle-Earth elves, but they have space travel. Some people in the book club weren’t too sure about it at first, but it really worked with the story.

The main character is Stella, a girl from earth who lives in Liberty, formerly Seattle. However, there’s been contamination, and the elves have come to earth and are ruling with an iron fist. This street rat stays as far away from elves as possible, until one day she discovers traesure in the elves’ dumpster. That’s when she meets Sol.

Meet Sol

Hi, Sol, since my readers can’t see you, can you please describe yourself to them so they’d recognize you on the streets of Liberty if they saw you?

Sol: I’m the elf with perfectly styled blond hair and a charming smile.

Who is your best friend?

Sol: Geldyn. We’ve been through a lot, and as painfully serious the man is, I can always trust him to keep quiet. Don’t ask for clarification on that last bit. He’s a closed book. … He’d better be.

Where are you from, and what’s it like there?

I hail from Dertryis, the elven home planet. Think of the thickest forest you’ve ever been in, and add shops, homes and a palace, all coexisting with the wild. It’s probably similar to that.

Who do you admire the most and why?

Sol: I admire Stella. Don’t tell her I said that, though. She’s frail, talks too much, and is an emotional mess. But she doesn’t back down from an argument, even though she’s usually wrong, and I have to admire her for that. She has a strong spirit.

Where did you learn to fight?

Sol: I learned on my home planet. I went through a physical education program of sorts, where elves undergo intense physical and emotional training before being allowed to serve as warriors.

If elves are so peace loving, why do they have an army?

Sol: We have an army because humans are not peace loving.

Ouch! Okay, what’s your reason for being here on earth and specifically in Liberty?

Sol: We are here to save the earth, and if we can manage it, the humans as well. Liberty was chosen as the city to build our main base for many reasons, including the fact that it isn’t choked with radiation, like other areas of the planet. It’s also close to the water and has some sparse forests not too far off. Those are good renewable resources to have nearby.

Elves are known for being reserved, yet you allow emotions to show through. Why?

Sol: Do I? Perhaps it is because I study humans frequently, and their mannerisms are rubbing off on me. I want to understand them better.

What’s your greatest achievement, and what’s your biggest disappointment?

Sol: One: my greatest achievement was probably being selected by Eldaren to help him heal Earth. Two: disappointments are best left in the past.

Did I say you were more open? Ugh, oh well, let’s move on. What makes you different than the other elves around you?

Sol: I’m the most attractive of the lot.

Seriously, Sol, is there anything you wish to tell my readers? Any reason they should take a look at your story?

Sol: I want to tell your readers they should pick up a copy of Stars Descend because I am in it. That is why they should read the book. I’m handsome and have fantastic hair. Lyra would tell me that sounds arrogant, but is the truth, arrogance? I think not.

Information about Stars Descend

What do you think? Does this sound like a character you’d like to learn more about? As I read Sol’s answers, I laughed outloud. It was so much like him. I can’t wait to read more of his story in Shadows Grow, which I picked up this past weekend.

Blurb for Stars Descend

The elves have come down from the sky in their ships, their countenances full of light and their bodies, power. But they rule over us humans with iron fists, and without mercy.

Vampires stalk the streets, lurking in shadows and the cover of darkness. Their lust for blood is never sated, and the nights are filled with the screams of their victims.

I’m just a street rat, a trash picker. I didn’t expect him to choose me. The Prince of Elves could have anyone, so why me?

Even as my heart sings at the elf’s close proximity, I still love the boy who left me, disappearing into the city’s corrupt underworld. I don’t even know if he’s still alive.

Stars reign. Rebellion brews. And with my already uncertain future disintegrating into chaos, I don’t know who to turn to, or who to trust.

Purchase links

You can get Stars Descend for 99 cents, and when I created this post you can pick up Shadows Grow for 99 cents as well. When you read the books, get back to me and let me know what you think. Who’s your favorite character? Did Sol live up to your expectations?

Join the Fun

Feel free to meet Kara Jaynes and learn about her books at a facebook party on June 12th, from 8-10 pm EST.

Here’s Laurie Lucking

Before “Edged in Silver,” my Snow White retelling in the Encircled anthology, I’d never written a short story. Considering all my previous story ideas had turned out long and complex enough to require a novel-length word count, I didn’t even think I was capable of writing anything shorter! But when Rooglewood Press announced Snow White as the theme of their latest fairy tale retelling collection, I couldn’t help wondering if it would be worth giving a short story a try.

The making of a short story

A few days later, my son and I were riding our bikes on a path through a beautiful, dense forest. I smiled, recalling my ludicrous ideas of romance as a young teenager when I’d wander, singing, through the trees behind my grandparents’ cabin, hoping a handsome gentleman would step out and declare his love for me. Totally old-school Disney princess style. That’s when the story idea hit – what if my Snow White character was a modern girl harboring similarly implausible daydreams and actually did encounter a prince? Except he wasn’t human…

That night, I pored over websites about fantasy lore, eventually settling on dryads as my mythical creature of choice. Except rather than the mischievous, seductive nymphs they’re often portrayed as, my version of dryads are shy, reclusive beings with their own social structure and a special kind of magic called Darach. I envisioned a scene in which the Snow White character was crying in the forest, and the dryad prince who resided in her favorite tree could no longer resist communicating with her. From there, I had fun working in various elements of the original Snow White fairy tale – all with a twist, of course! And it turned out I could write a short story, as long as I didn’t allow myself any side plots or a large cast of secondary characters. In fact, I enjoyed writing “Edged in Silver” so much that I went on to write three more short stories: “Threshold” was published in the Fellowship of Fantasy’s Mythical Doorways anthology, “Return to Callidora” will be part of a Christmas anthology by Mt. Zion Ridge Press releasing later this year, and the third is still out on submission. Now my challenge is going back to the complexity of writing full-length novels!

The making of Encircled

As a side note, I never ended up submitting to the Rooglewood contest, because so many of my critique partners became excited about the prospect of writing fairy tale retellings that we decided to put together our own anthology instead! Hence, the origin of Encircled. I hope you have as much fun reading our stories as we had writing them!

About Laurie Lucking

An avid reader practically since birth, Laurie Lucking discovered her passion for writing after leaving her career as an attorney to become a stay-at-home mom. When she gets a break from playing superheroes with her two young sons, she writes young adult fantasy with a strong thread of fairy tale romance. Her debut novel, Common,won third place in the CWRC Reader’s Choice Literary Lighthouse Awards, and her short story, “Threshold,” was published in a Fellowship of Fantasy anthology titled Mythical Doorways. A Midwestern girl through and through, she currently lives in Minnesota. Find out more by visiting www.laurielucking.com.

About the Anthology

Experience six of the world’s most beloved stories in a whole new light! From historical to futuristic, these retellings will take you to an enchanted forest, a cursed castle, and far beyond. Uncover secrets of a forbidden basement, a hypnotic gift, and a mysterious doll. Fall in love with a lifelong friend or brand-new crush. Venture to unknown lands on a quest to save a prince, a kingdom, or maybe even a planet. With moments of humor, suspense, romance, and adventure, Encircled has something to offer every fan of fairy tales, both classic and reimagined. This anthology features stories from S.E. Clancy, Jebraun Clifford, J.M. Hackman, E.J. Kitchens, Laurie Lucking, and Tori V. Rainn.

Where you can get your copy

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PV4PJCP/
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130963276
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/encircled
Apple Books: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1456811281
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44540764-encircled

You can even pick up some goodies if you pre-order

Giveaway

The Ever Afters have teamed up with the Just-Us League to host an epic giveaway celebrating
their upcoming fairy tale anthologies! Enter for a chance to win one of FOUR sets of prizes!
Grand Prize (U.S. residents only)

• Two paperbacks (Fractured Ever After and Encircled)
• Book cozy
• Slipper ornament
• 3D-printed bookmark (pick one design)
• Set of four signed illustration prints
  First Prize (U.S. residents only)
• Two paperbacks (Fractured Ever After and Encircled)
• “Fairy tales do come true” charm bracelet
• 3D-printed bookmark (pick one design)
• Set of four signed illustration prints
  Second Prize (international)
• Two ebooks (Fractured Ever After and Encircled)
• 3D-printed bookmark (pick one design)
• Set of four signed illustration prints
  Third Prize (international)
• Two ebooks (Fractured Ever After and Encircled)
• Choice of 3D-printed bookmark (pick one design) or set of four signed illustration
  prints

You can enter the giveaway here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway