Devri Walls's Blog

Short and sweet here everybody. After all the emails, tweets, and facebook messages, I finally have an answer. Wings of Nestor has been released! Enjoy!  Links are at the bottom. Barnes and Nobles and Amazon are Live- Itunes is a little slower, but it will get there eventually!

[image error]

http://www.amazon.com/Wings-Nestor-So...

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wings...

Hey guys!!!

Promotion time! We are currently running a promotion. Wings of Arian is on sale for 99 cents. This is on all sites so go grab your copy now! We are rapidly approaching the release date for book three, Wings of Nestor, in this four book series. If you haven’t started it yet, now is the time.

I have the links here for you and after that, just for fun, I included a teaser of book three for all you fans out there!

LINKS!

http://www.amazon.com/Wings-Arian-Solus-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B007WMYJ7E/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1367088333&sr=8-1&keywords=wings+of+arian

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wings-of-arian-devri-walls/1111487501?ean=2940014764483

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Wings-Arian-For-fans-Julie/book-Jc0st0UWIkmxsTD1jNvSIg/page1.html?s=y4PXeG1KgkaggqNVMDdNiA&r=1

Here is Amazon Uk, for those who need it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wings-Arian-Solus-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B007WMYJ7E/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1367255415&sr=8-1&keywords=wings+of+arian

EXCERPT! WINGS OF NESTOR

[image error]

EMANE STRIPPED OFF HIS shirt with some effort. The tight material stuck to his sweaty chest like a second skin.
Alcander scowled at him. “That is meant for protection.”

“Oh, is that so?” Emane held the shirt in the air with one hand while placing his sword in the neck and slitting it right down the middle. “It doesn’t do a whole lot of good against a sword.”

Alcander processed this for a minute before burying his sword into the ground and stripping off his shirt as well.

Emane positioned his sword out in front, his body turned at an angle. “Ready to go again?”

Alcander faced him and Emane attacked, striking with as much energy as his exhausted arms could manage. He wasn’t about to let Alcander know he was tired. Alcander stepped in for his own attack but Emane easily countered, swatting him on the back with his sword. “Dead.”

Alcander growled, whirling to face him. “I have been at this for days—I should have it by now.”

“Witows train for years,” Emane said, circling him. “Maybe if you could let go of the idea that you are inherently better than me, it would be less aggravating to you.”

Alcander lunged. The swords shrieked as metal slid against metal. He leaned in, pushing the flat edge of his blade against Emane’s, trying to drive him into submission by sheer force. Emane left one hand on his sword to keep Alcander at bay while he slipped the other hand to his belt. In one quick movement, Emane had his dagger pressed into the skin under Alcander’s chin.

“Dead again,” Emane said. “You shouldn’t get so close to your opponent—it opens you up to a host of other moves.”

Alcander jerked back, fire blazing in his eyes.
“Maybe we should take a break?”
Alcander slumped before flopping to the ground in such disregard for his normally stiff posture that it was almost comical. “Fighting like a Witow,” he breathed, his eyes closed, “is exhausting.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Emane said dryly. “My magic only aids my fighting. I can’t use it to blow someone off their feet with a flick of my little finger.”

“That is a shame. Much easier, and faster.” He looked up at Emane through one eye. “Aren’t you tired?”

Emane contemplated lying, but instead chose avoidance. “You’re getting better.” Alcander grunted.

Emane grinned. “Was that a thank you?”

“No.”

“Of course it wasn’t. In that case, let’s go again. You can’t train others if you can’t do it yourself.”

Alcander looked at his sword with clear distaste before grabbing it. Emane lunged at him and Alcander moved to the side, leaving his arm wide open. Emane took the window and caught him with the face of his blade again.

“Diagonal, Alcander! Not to the side. I know that is how you are used to avoiding magical attacks, but when avoiding attacks from a sword, you have to keep yourself covered—with your sword. It is both your defense and your protection. Watch. When I move to the side, my body is vulnerable. If I move diagonally, I can keep my sword between you and me. Look, you have a natural fighting ability—we just have to adapt it to a new style.”

“You certainly have gotten complimentary,” Alcander said dryly.

“Fine.” Emane held his sword at the ready. “You are the worst fighter I have ever seen. I would rather train a pig. Surely they can wield those tusks better than any sword I could put in your incapable hands.” Emane swung his sword, catching the underside of Alcander’s blade and disarming him with a twist of his wrist.

Alcander snorted and then started laughing. Emane grinned. He was growing more accustomed to Alcander’s laughter. These last few days, it had made an occasional appearance.

A quick thanks to Allen Johnson, Swordsman and Screenwriter Extraordinaire, for his advice with sword play. Check out the page of his latest movie! http://www.thefreemasonmovie.com/cast...

I have my fair share of character flaws. Don’t we all? It’s what makes the world go round. It’s what makes life hard and challenging and gives us things to overcome.  Some character flaws are somewhat innate—it is amazing once you have children to see what they start life out with. I can be very impatient, for example. Just always been that way. Some character flaws are learned. I struggle to acknowledge the amazing things I do—nothing is ever good enough. That one was learned.

I also have some strengths. For example: I am very good, sometimes overly good, at looking to myself as the source of a problem. When I was in my teens I was struggling with depression and a need to talk it out. As a result, I was going through friends like candy. I came home after a rough night with some “friends” that were basically not going to my “friends” any longer. My mother was upset and protective and said, “Those girls are just so horrible.”

I remember sitting there and everything became so clear. I said. “It can’t be them, mom.” My mom was confused and I explained. “This isn’t the first time it’s happened. I have gone through so many friends. At some point it can’t be them anymore. The common denominator here is me.” ( I may not have spoken so eloquently at 14, but you get the gist.) And it turns out, I was totally right. Who wants to hang out with someone who is always depressed and cries all the time? Uh, that would be no one.

This is something I wish everyone would learn. Self-evaluation. It is a very good thing when kept in check. No, you can’t (and shouldn’t) blame yourself for everything. Not everything is your fault. But guess what guys? There is a large piece of life that is.

I know some very miserable, unhappy and incredibly angry people. Every single one of them has one thing in common. They are incapable of looking to themselves. Everything is somebody else’s fault. Their neighbor, the guy at the grocery store, God, their boss, Mother Nature. Whatever—whoever. You name it, regardless of the situation; they are incapable of looking to themselves for the root of the problem.

In desperation to cling to the ideal that they are by no means the cause of anything driving their pain, they are inadvertently placing themselves in the exact situation that feeds their anger. A situation of total and complete helplessness. How angry would you be if you felt like you were tossed about in a sea of pain and loss without so much as a life preserver?

Although events happen that are truly outside of our control, most of the consistent everyday things that may plague us are very much inside of our control. Sometimes our ideals need to be adjusted, goals altered, or minds opened to what might truly make us happy. Maybe a little forgiveness? Or maybe, just maybe it was our own idiotic actions that got us to here in the first place.

It’s ok! Be mad at yourself for a minute. But here’s the kicker. Let’s say you can’t acknowledge it was you—YOU, that got you there? You become mad and angry at everyone else and everything around you—things you can’t change. You feel helpless—again. And angry—very angry.

BUT, if it’s you that caused it, what do you do? After you get done being mad at yourself. You tell yourself that you aren’t going to do that again. You change. And then, as if by magic, things slowly but surely get better.

You are not helpless. You are not at the mercy of a vengeful God, or Karma, or whatever it is you believe is making your life horrible. You are not drifting in a sea of monsters out to get you. The biggest monster in the waters is you. It always has been you. If you truly want things to get better, battle that monster. Get YOU under control and always take a look at your own snarling teeth before looking elsewhere for blame.

I will probably be balling my eyes out while I type this, just so you know. And because it’s about my husband, I will not have him edit it. He will just get all embarrassed. So, we are going to make a deal. You promise to assume all errors are due to the tears in my eyes. Deal?

Come on, you have to agree or you can’t continue. Deal???? All right. . .you promised.

The other night as I was stressing out and crying, (Yes, this is a fairly common occurrence over here in the Wall’s household) my husband sighed and looked at me with the saddest eyes. He said something that he has said before, he said, “I wish you could see what I see.”

I know. I wish I could too. I have wished that so many times, because often times I just don’t.

Then he said, “Honey, not recognizing your strengths is your biggest character flaw. If I could change anything about you, that would be the only thing. I love all your quirks, everything about you. This is the only thing that I would change, that you could see all the good you do and how amazing you are.”

It was beautiful. To be loved like that. How could I ask anymore? I could not. I am so blessed to have him in my life. He is the most loving, supportive husband I can imagine and my perfect match in every way. He puts up with so much crazy (aka, stress out crying sessions) and yet the only thing he would change about me is to give me the ability to truly appreciate who I am.

My biggest wish is that my son will treat his wife like this, and my daughter will settle for nothing less. Our marriage has been work, and growth—but we have gown together.

Last night I read Cassandra Clare’s, The Clockwork Princess. I rarely cry at books.But there was a part near the end where two dear friends, who loved each other very much, were parting. It spoke to my biggest fear, loosing the man I love, and I balled like a baby.  “All my life, since I came to the institute, you were the mirror of my soul. I saw the good in me in you, who will see me like that?” –Will Herondale, the Clockwork Princess-

Zack, you are my greatest blessing, and your eyes the window through which I see me. I love you. Thank you for loving me.

It’s that time again! Time for the next cover: Wings of Nestor, book three in the Solus Series. Only this time, I have a special treat for you all. This cover was a little more difficult than the two previous ones, we were having problems finding the right image for cover three. I wanted the illustrious Alcander on the cover. And funny, there don’t seem to be many photos of men with long white hair. Go figure. We tried a few things, nothing was working.

Enter my two heroes! Claudia at Phatpuppy art and the amazing photographer Teresa Yeh. (If you want to see some AMAZING art, click on those links, just trust me on this.) These two ladies rock my world! Not only did they work together to make this possible in more ways than one, they knocked out my favorite cover to date! Teresa is a doll to work with, even when life throws her a few punches. She is the epitome of professional, sweet as pie, and just gets it!! The proofs she sent me were amazing, and I wanted to keep all of them. Picking just one was SO hard!

Here are some pictures of the behind the scenes preperations to get ready for this shoot.

[image error]

Here’s our boy, Ari Bond getting ready to be transformed into Alcander! Nice, hair, don’t you think?

[image error]

 The wig! He looks excited, no? The fabulous hair and makeup lady behind him, Nancy V.Brown, certainly had her hands full here.

Now, drum roll please…….

[image error]

Here is the fabulous Ari Bond, after being transformed by Nancy V. Brown and photographed by the amazing Teresa Yeh. But hold onto your shorts ladies and gents, we are  not done yet!

After picking the proof I wanted to use I sent it over to Claudia. I told her a few ideas I had, and in fifteen minutes, (yes, FIFTEEN MINUTES!) I had the first cover proof in my inbox. It was almost perfect. My jaw just kinda hung there and all I could manage was, “Woooah” My husband leaned over to look. I could tell by the silence he was having the same reaction. There were some super small adjustments that needed to be made to accommodate font, and within 5 more minutes I had my cover image.

[image error]Not bad huh?? All hail Claudia McKinney and Teresa Yeh!

But wait! There is one more step to turn it into a cover

After a quick visit to Aaron Patterson over at Stonehouse Ink to insert the font, we have THIS!

[image error]

TADA!!!

BUT WAIT, I know you’ve seen what you came for, but don’t go!

I have a little surprise for you. . . a teaser if you will.

We did a double photo shoot with Teresa, because I happen to have one more cover I need. Book Four, Wings of Lomay, can not be naked–and I needed Alcander to make a reappearance with our heroine, Kiora. Although I am NOT going to share the final proof I chose, because I am flat out evil, I am going to show you the behind the scenes shots of the model we choose for Kiora.

[image error]Here is Veronica Farren!!

All right, I am giggling over here. Yes, I totally chose the one that didn’t show her face just so you would all scream.

Bahahahaha!

Ok, ok- Since I refuse to show you faces on covers, here is one for you.

[image error]There you go! I am so thoughtful.

Again, poor Nancy has got her hands full.

[image error]Ahhh, isn’t she cute! Veronica did an amazing job in this shoot as well.

I can’t wait to show you the final cover for Wing of Lomay!

I hope you all enjoyed this fun, behind the scenes, look at the making of the cover for Wings of Nestor! We are expecting a release date of late Spring to early Summer, and I will be sure to let you all know!! And HEY, if you want to make sure that you know, sign up for my newsletter. There is a sign up button in the right sidebar right smack at the top. And as one of the biggest haters of spam email there is: I promise, you will only hear from me when I have something super important! Like new releases, free books or a huge giveaway. Other than that, mums the word! Oh, and you will only hear from me once each time– no notifications of giveaways that pop up in your inbox every stinkin day. *grumbles at my inbox*

Wait, what? What is book three about?? *slaps head* I always forget something. Read on my friends. . . .

Kiora needs answers. Who is the Shadow? Who is Jasmine? Are they connected? And even more pressing: how can she stop Shadow from using Kiora’s dreams as a map to find them? They have escaped three times, but are living on borrowed time—and everybody knows it.

Her search for help will push her closer to Alcander, send her to the dragon mountain of Toopai, and straight back to Meros—where magic will finally return to the land of no magic. Answers will be uncovered and plans unearthed that have been waiting for thousands of years.

But with the Shadow’s forces gathering, it looks like the land’s path is hurtling towards one outcome: war with the Shadow and death to all rebels. Armed with knowledge and hope, Kiora is determined to change that path. But will fate allow it? Or will it deal her a hard lesson about following ones own destiny?

Thanks for stopping by!!

I wrote a facebook post yesterday that went like this;

Although perfection is something we all strive for, none of us are. I am growing weary of a world that portrays itself as perfect via facebook, twitter and blogs. It results in widespread feelings of inadequacy amongst everyone who look at their life and say, why can’t I be like that? The truth is- they are not like that either. I wish we all could embrace our strengths, proudly say where it is we excel, while being able to admit our shortcomings as well.

It has received quite a response, mostly in agreement. Although some have worried that what I am saying equates to griping and complaining about one’s life. That worried me, because that is not at all what I meant, and could not be further away from how I feel.

I am a firm believer in striving for greatness in whatever you choose to do. Whether that be motherhood, the Olympics, writing a book- whatever. This is your life, and you get to pick what you want to be great at. And you should be great, don’t settle for mediocrecy.

That being said, there is a problem with our society that is leading to wide spread depression and feelings of inadequacy. We are blasted with magazine pictures of “perfection” that are airbrushed to unobtainable standards by anyone on this planet. We are told our hair should be thick and shiny, our makeup perfect, our bodies ripped, our houses impeccably organized. Then we make our way over to Facebook and the blogs so many of us follow, only to be accosted by pictures of smiling, argument free, children. Brand new cars, perfectly decorated homes and so on. We then look at our own life and think; why can’t I be like that? We look up from our computer screen, thinking about our limp ponytail and that fact that our children out fighting over the Wii remote while rubbing an elbow through jam smeared on the counter. We fail to see- because no one wants to show it- that we are just like everyone else and it is OK!! We see only what they want us to see, and if we were a fly on the wall, well- it might not be very pretty.

And here is where I want to deviate. Up until now, I feel the messages we get are either A; be perfect. Or B; gripe and complain about your horribly miserable life and be an overall negative Nancy because that makes you “real”

Well, my friends, I beg to differ. I have this quote on my website and it is one of my favorite,

“ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. ” Marianna Williamson.

I believe this with a fervor. But what we see in today’s society is not this, but some warped version of false perfection. What I would like to see, what I would really like is this; What would happen if we not only recognized and acknowledged the good about ourselves and the blessings that we have while saying, “YES! I can do that!” And, “Yes, I am good at that.” But also simultaneously having the humility and good grace to laugh at ourselves and say, “My life is not perfect, my house may not be perfect and that is OK.” And then, maybe, just maybe, when we realize that perfection is a myth, and that others fall short of that perfection they try to exude, we can rejoice in what we are and WHO we are- awesome yet imperfect. We can give others around us permission to do the same. Instead of looking at Miss Sally Jo’s immaculate house and crying- we can look at Miss Sally and think, “That is one of her strengths, she is such an amazing housekeeper. And that is ok, because I happen to be phenomenal…… at what ever you are.”

We need to love our lives, love who we are, and are be ok to ADMIT who we are, both good, bad, and lacking perfection. We need to recognize everything that we have been given and if we do that, we will be happy. Do you think that by not recognizing who you really are, by denying your gifts and trying to be someone else that you will be happy? No my friends, you will not. Not ever.

I have experienced life from both sides of this coin. Looking at others and sobbing to my husband that I will never be good enough, that I can’t be these women who are completely perfect. He has patiently told me over and over that what goes on behind closed doors is not what I see.

And now, I am on the receiving ends of those looks. “You teach preschool, teach voice lessons, write novels, take care of your kids, the house, your husband? Wow, I don’t know how you do it, I could never do that.” And you know what? Yes! It is pretty awesome. YES! I need to recognize the extraordinary things I have been able to accomplish. However, I laugh on the inside because if you only knew! I feel a little guilty for making others feel about me the way I have felt about others. But I should not have to hide my accomplishments, I just need to be able to also admit my shortcomings so that others can be happy with me, without being pushed to the brink of depression.

Think of what a place this world could be if instead of putting on a façade of perfection, we actually try to perfect those things we are meant to do? And cut ourselves some slack in the other departments?

We have had some hilarious and wonderfully relaxing posts going on via my Facebook page titled Keeping it Real! I would like to share a few really quick,

Yesterday Our choir sang, I am the director ( pretty funny story given that I don’t read music and can’t keep time) I got up to the stand with the choir and they all looked at me like, “where is our music” I had left it all at home, Thankfully it was based on a hymn so they could read it from the hymnal ( enter mad panic as everyone is grabbing hymn books and trying to find the page)

I can make a pretty dang good meal but on occasion I tell the kids “there’s hotdogs in the fridge-help yourself I’m not cooking”

I have baskets of laundry in 2 different kids’ closets that just keep getting piled upon with more clean laundry. And I too have those boxes of misc stuff that should be sorted & put away…they usually end up in the garage.

My office is a sty!! I shove all “papers” and misc. crap in there every time we have company over. I may or may not clean it…ever! Ha!

I am pretty sure there are several science experiments growing in my fridge but I’m too scared to look. The rest of my house looks like a tornado hit it all the time. But hey my kids are healthy and happy, and my husband doesn’t complain so that’s good, right?


  So….honestly! This room in the back of my house I call ‘ My Craft Room’! My husband  & kids call ‘The Crap Room’! It’s the catch-all for things that have no place! If only I  could motivate myself to dig in & master it! Not

  Thanks Devri…you’re helping us all realize how much we have in common! It’s  refreshing, a relief, and put a smile on my face when I was just about to think it was  going to be one of “those” days. Now I know it doesn’t have to be. Wahoo

I made a pretty good dinner last night but had no desire to clean up the mess afterward. I got to wake up to a kitchen disaster…yeah 


Today I wore a skirt to church that I can no longer zip up. I tried to hide it with like three layers of shirts. Just keeping it real

And here is mine! Not only do I totally wear spanx to church every week to look less rolly polly. I am sitting on a couch in my room doing work next to a pile of pillows, blankets, and robe, what may be a child’s drawing (kinda hard to tell from here) and a empty pepsi bottle that may or may not be from a week ago.

Yes , I am still in a bit of shock that I admitted to the spanx thing. Oh well, it is the truth.

SO guys, I would like to up the ante on our #KeepingItReal posts. I want you all to summon the courage to not only admit what makes you completely real, but also what makes you completely extraordinary! You are NOT ALLOWED to feel bad at anyone else’s extraordinary, because you have your OWN! This world would be a very boring place without you, and every single talent and gift is needed. And so help me, if you try to tell me that there is nothing you can do, you have no talents, or you are not extraordinary- I may have to drive to your house and smack you. ( In a completely loving way, of course.) Because you DO! We ALL do! Whether you are exceptional with children, patient, loving, a good friend or a superstar- not one of these is more valuable than the other. The world may say they are not equal- but the world is wrong, wrong, wrong! Where would we be without fantastic mothers? Without great friends? Without chefs or singers? Every single one of you is special in your own right and I want you to recognize it. And then I want you to recognize, that it is ok to not be someone else.

Here is me in a nutshell. I am a very talented singer (yes, I had a hard time adding the “very” to that. It is just not natural yet.) I am a great teacher. I am a good- soon to be great-author. I have an AMAZING marriage. I have smart, beautiful kids. I have a wonderful life that is full of more blessings than I think I deserve. I can cook- pretty darn well too. I am intelligent. I am very sensitive to others emotions and can often read people and situations. I think I have very nice eyes. I have a good work ethic and work hard at what I do.

I also can’t do everything- my plate is full. My car is scary, crumbs have overtaken the back seat. My bedroom is often in a state of chaos because it is the last room I get to, therefore I do not get to it. I can not draw a straight line (not kidding) and any artistic discipline is out of the question for me. I yell at my kids sometimes. My laundry does not get done until the kids are out of clothes- period. Mopping is really more optional in my mind than a necessity. And often, I leave ridiculous things, (like old Pepsi bottles) lying in strange places because I am just too dang tired. I work the equivalent of four jobs, something has to give somewhere. And although sometimes these things bother me, the truth is, I am not perfect and I simply can not do it all. There is not enough time in the day or strength in my body, and that is ok. Because what I do, I do well. And that makes me real AND awesome, all in one neat Spanx filled package. [image error] (Nice visual, eh?)

What do you say guys? Can we do it? Can we truly keep it real by being extraordinary and normal all in one wonderful confession?

[image error]

 Ok guys! It is that time. The time where I bite my nails and get a little sick to my stomach as the reviews start to roll in. But for all of you it is the time for… PRIZES!!! We have Amazon giftcards, bookmarks, signed books, signed posters.. that’s right, fun for the whole family, step right on up. (A little too much carnival? All right, I will tone it down.)

So- here is what you need to do. I am going to share the rafflecopter form here, or you can head over to xpressobooks and sign up there. And, be sure to follow the tour, different sites will have additional giveaways popping up all over the place. Have fun! Because let’s face it, this will be way more fun for you than me. *grabs barf bag* Mmmmmm, classy, yes?

Here is your schedule.

February 4

-Refracted Light Reviews

-A Dream Within A Dream

-Pinkindle Reads & Reviews

-Defiantly Deviant

-The Starry-Eyed Revue

-Booking It With Hayley G

-Queendsheena

-#BookNerd

-Lizzy’s Dark Fiction

-The Bookmark Blog

February 5

-The Non Reluctant Reader

-Darkest Addictions Book Reviews 

-Manhattan Reader

-These Flying Pages

-shatterbooks

-Basia’s Bookshelf

-My Home Away From Home

February 6

-Starting the Next Chapter

-The Bibliophile’s Corner

-What the Cat Read

-Bookworm in Love

February 7

-Read-A-holicZ 

-Paranormal Urban Fantasy Reviews

-Books With Bite

-I’m A Book Shark

February 8

-JennReneeRead

-Book Loving Mom

-Between Fantasy and Reality

-bookmarkedpages

February 11

-Megan Likes Books 

-YA-Aholic

-Auntie Spinelli Reads

-My Escape

February 12

-Paranormal Opinion

-Girls on YA Books

-Kelsey`s Cluttered Bookshelf

-Wake Up at Seven

-Addicted To Novels

February 13

-Moosubi Reviews!

-Reader Girls

-Nick’s Book Blog

-Dear, Restless Reader

February 14

-Reading and Rising With the Sun

-The Fable Faerie

-Paranormal Indulgence

February 15

-The Literati Press

-Every Free Chance Book Reviews

-The Book Nympho

-Book Passion for Life

And HERE is your rafflecopter. Enjoy!

I had to share this. A.) Because it is funny. B.) Well, I must secretly like to humiliate myself.

My husband received an email from someone rather high up in his place of employment. It was riddled with errors, as well as missing partial sentences. He was railing to me about how ridiculous it was and how he could not believe this man did not have someone look over his emails.

Little back story here: hubby edits all my blog posts because I seem to have problems with proper punctuation. I also type so fast words come up missing here and there. I take that back, it is not the typing, it is the inability of my fingers to keep up with my brain. And then to make it worse, when I try to edit things myself, my brain just puts in what should be there. It’s problematic.

Continuing on: my hubby then repeats his sentiment that this man should have his emails proofread. I pipe in with, “Honey, I don’t have anyone read my emails. I just don’t have time.” He pauses- looks at me. His head drops to the side in what I can only describe as sorrow and simply says, “Oh, honey.”

Yep. And in honor I am not having him proofread this post. HA! That’s right, I am punishing all of you. Mwahahahahaha!

It’s a blog hop! Cha, cha cha. Everyone dance to the blog hop. Cha cha cha. . . errrr, what? Don’t look at me like that, you know you want to dance.

No? Sigh.

Fine, I will get on with on it. Although, just so you know, you totally missed the best part. The name of this blog hop is, The Next Big Thing. And Erin Keyser Horn was so sweet and nominated little ole ME! I recently read Erin’s book, Eyes of Lightening and really enjoyed it. But before we get to me, a little about Eyes of Lightening.

After a thousand years of curses, the Thunderbird’s secrets are about to be unleashed in the charming town of Galena, Illinois.

Ivy is a normal fifteen-year-old girl . . . if you consider yellow eyes and storm-chasing urges normal. Life gets even more normal when she runs away from home to find Walter Nimiki, the grandfather she’s never met. It’s he who tells her the truth—Ivy is a descendant of the cursed Thunder Clan, so the boy she’ll someday fall in love with will die young. Walter believes Ivy is the hope the clan has waited for, the one who can end the curse. Before she can learn more, a terrible accident leaves Walter in a coma. Ivy can’t save Walter without the help of three boys: Gabe is keeping a promise to Walter, Cal always knows what she’s feeling, and Dan can’t stand the sight of her. Ivy doesn’t know what would be worse—failing to save Walter, or accidentally falling in love with a boy. Either way, someone will die.

Erin is a multitasker after my own heart. On top of writing novels she is a yoga teacher, a youth group leader, a library assistant and a farmers market vendor. Oh- and then there is the mom thing. Which we all know takes just minutes in a day. (Snort)

Click HERE to learn more about Erin and all about her book. She answers ten questions on her blog about her book and asked me the same questions about mine.

[image error]

1.) What is the title of your book?

Wings of Tavea.It is the second in the four book Solus Series.

2.) Where did the idea from the book come from?

I got this question a lot with book one, Wings of Arian. Is it cheating to say the idea for book two stemmed from book one? (Yes, I am laughing at my own sad joke. I will pretend you are all snickering with me.)

The Solus Series was inspired by our societies lack of shock things that a hundred and fifty years ago would have been horrifying. It is the story of girl who has never experienced evil of any type until she is sixteen. She experiences pain, hate and lies for the first time and has to put them behind her to defeat the evil Dralazar who threatens the land.

And the fantasy part of the story- well that was inspired because I love all things fantasy.

4.)What genre does your book fall in?

Young adult fantasy

5.)Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I hate this question. Seriously. So I have a better idea; I propose a competition. Anyone who has read either Wings of Arian or Wings of Tavea now is your chance to propose your list for who you would like to play Kiora and Emane. If you have read book two, please add Alcander to list. I will review your suggestions and the winner will receive a signed bookmark and a e-copy of whichever book they would like. You may pick Wings of Arian, Wings of Tavea or Wings of Nestor as soon as it is released.Just leave your suggestions on the comment section I will pick the winner Jan 1st.

6.) What is a one sentence synopsis of your book?

Kiora and Emane race to save not only Meros, but the rest of the land, from the deadly Shadow.

7.) Is your book self published, published by an independent publisher or represented by an agency?

I was published by an independent publishing house, StoneHouse Ink.

8.)How long did it take you to write your first draft of you manuscript?

About two months.

9.)Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Her name was Sandra. She told me I should write a book. After I laughed at her and rolled my eyes, her words kept rolling through my heads for weeks. So, thanks, Sandra. If it weren’t for you the idea probably would not have ever occurred to me.

10.)What else about your book might pique your readers interest?

Let’s see. . . Romance, Dragons, Shapeshifters, battles, illusions, telepathic Pegasus, magic, more romance- Do I have you yet? How about a total escape from everything reality? If you don’t want that then, congrats. But, I can’t help you. [image error]

And now onto MY nomination. I nominate author K.C Neal and her new book, Alight. To follow the blog hop click HERE to head on over to Kate’s blog.

[image error]It is announcement time! Book two in the Solus Series, Wings of Tavea  is available on Amazon now! They tell me all the other sites are a little slower getting them up, but you should see it popping up on Barnes and Noble and Itunes soon! And kobo- can’t forget them.  So without further adieu, here you go!

Wings of Tavea (Solus Series Book Two): Devri Walls: Amazon.com: Kindle Store

Kiora is rapidly learning that evil and lies come in shades of black and white and swirling greys, but nothing could have prepared her for the shock of leaving Meros. Kiora and her protector Emane step through the pass into a world they never knew existed but were always meant to save, only to find it far worse than they could have ever imagined. Good has been forced into hiding for its own survival, while the rest of the land bows to the Shadow, a force that pushes any remaining thoughts of Dralazar from Kiora s mind. This land is full of new creatures, each more dangerous than the last. Her visions have taken on a deadly twist, and magic, or what comes of it, was never so real. And then there is Alcander: a Tavean, their guide, and an entirely different kind of trouble.