February « 2016 « WIZARD'S WORKSHOP

GREETINGS, MERRY TRICKSTERS!

I am Marc Royston, author of Hecate’s Faun (available now at Amazon.com), The Story of Méabh (current project), and The Wizard Ignites (Volume I of A Wizard’s Life) (UPCOMING RELEASE FOR 2016 from My Boy Publishing).

For this stop of the tour, I am your happy host. Welcome to my worlds of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. Keep your shoes off the sofa. And remember: the demons bite.

If you have read the instructions for participation as posted on the event page for A Celebration of Author’s Blog Hop Hunt, you know that you have to find a number somewhere on this page (and on every host’s page for this event). Add up the clues you find along the way, and you can enter the contest for a chance to win a FABULOUS PRIZE.

One lucky winner will receive a GRAND PRIZE BUNDLE. Once the hunt begins, there is a week to play and then to submit your answers.

If you would like to find out more about the A Celebration of Author’s Blog Hop Hunt, please click here:

http://acoascavengerhunt.weebly.com/

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Somewhere on this page, there is a number listed (hint: the number is highlighted in RED). Collect all the numbers of all the host authors, and then add them up. Once you’ve added up all the numbers, and if I am your first and last author/blog or webpage, you can fill out the form here to officially qualify for the prize OR go to the Blog Hop Hunt blog and click on the ENTER HERE page to find the entry form.

Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

For this juncture of A Celebration of Author’s Blog Hop Hunt for February 2016, I am pleased to present my friend and colleague, the wonderful ELLEN MAE FRANKLIN.

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From the Desk of ELLEN MAE FRANKLIN:

FANTASY! It is a word that holds the reader’s imagination in the palm of a writer’s hand. The very word oozes unpredictable delights and will no matter whether you are willing or not take you on a journey that begs to be believed.

As a fantasy writer, I am self-indulgent in the belief that anything is possible in the writing world. Grimdark/gritty/epic and traditional fantasy is where I dwell, so grab onto your seats, settle down with a cuppa or two and lose yourself in the worlds I create. I fall in love with every one of my characters and am thankful they are a part of my life. It is such a pleasure to share them with you.

Born in Adelaide, South Australia I am a mother, a social media maven and an author who loves what she is doing – writing. You will find me on a plethora of social networking sites, from Twitter and Facebook to Tumblr, RebelMouse, Goodreads, Linkedin and Pinterest as I connect with readers and other authors on various platforms.

I am involved in various writing and creative communities and contribute to an online Blog, where twelve writers produce short stories of various genres called Out of Print – http://out0fprint.wordpress.com/

Australian Author Ellen Mae Franklin’s websites are dedicated to creative writing and short stories – http://www.theunseenpromise.com and http://authorellenmaefranklin.weebly.com/

I am and will always follow my passion for Fantasy writing.

The Tarkeenia Series
The Unseen Promise
Heart of Secrets
In the Cold Light
To follow
A Fighting Chance

The Un-named Chronicles
Forthright & Clement
Armitage & Envy
To follow
Maub the Dreamer

A Dark Compendium
A collection of short fantasy stories

Ellen Mae Franklin is currently working on subsequent manuscripts and is involved in various writing, and creative communities. She would like to share an excerpt from the fourth book in the Tarkeenia series – A Fighting Chance:

Most of Shard lay underground. Vast caverns hollowed out beneath the core of the mountain Roedanth’s now lived in and it served his purposes well. One of the caves acted as a parade ground for his new recruits. Stalactites hung from the cavernous roof, threatening spikes of limestone and crystal and more than a few eyes wandered in unease as they gazed up at the wondrous sight.

They filled the chamber, almost shoulder to shoulder. Men and women, row upon row of peasants, soldiers and mercenaries stood in the wait. Kahlu had procured an assortment of misfits. Sad souls who dreamt of a new life in a new world, they pined for comfort and salvation and in this yearning Shard were a white beacon in a dark world.

‘It’s going to be quite the opposite you poor shits,’ Roedanth looked down upon them with satisfaction. ‘Just look at you all! A crowd of pleasers, not the army I was hoping for but you soon will be. Those that survive anyway’, and he laughed. A hollow sound void of love and fear.

Kahlu didn’t hang about the doorway, he had heard enough, seen enough and had learned a while back to keep a straight face. Not to give away a lick of what he was feeling. He listened to the lord of Shard’s laugh, heard the evil intent behind it and turned away. There had to be a place where he could feel like a man again.

Roedanth raised his hand, singling out Mallic from the front of a roughly ordered crowd. He waved him up and with a smart salute, the rough ragtag broke the ranks. Casting a triumphant look over his shoulder at Tinker and Jacket, it was a proud soldier who went to stand before his master.

“Sir, the troops are ready for your inspection.”

“Is that what you think they are? Soldiers Mallic?” Roedanth’s voice was low and dangerous. He had grown some these many months, matured into the son of a God.

“We have been training almost every waking hour to be as ready as we can for you sire. I can’t help it if half of them have never seen the pointy end of a blade before. Farmers and thieves the lot of them, but as fodder they will do.” Mallic was so sure, so cocky of his tenuous grip on leadership, that Roedanth almost rolled his eyes at the proclamation.

“Your rolled up mob of pretenders will need to be ready Mallic. And as you say, the slackers will be weeded out.”

A flicker of suppressed anger crossed the former soldier’s face, the darkening of eyes and a tightening of the mouth. But he knew enough to keep his thoughts quiet, after all, where would he go? The hole he’d dug for himself would either bury him alive or offer up a life, better than the one he had left behind. Mallic turned the sour look into a submissive mien and Roedanth nodded. The meeting was over.

“You are promoted to the rank of Captain, Mallic now go join your men.” Roedanth turned to leave, but thought the better of it, “and Mallic find 36 who you know will serve me well, men who understand the value of death. One in particular should favor immorality as much as he does breathing. I want you to be ready in seven day’s. Make sure those you choose will be up for the challenge, for I have something rather special that needs doing.”

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I hope you enjoyed this sneak preview and if you would like to win a printed copy of the first book – The Unseen Promise to begin your fantastical journey into Tarkeenia, please enter the Rafflecopter on the website – http://authorellenmaefranklin.weebly.com/for a chance to win.

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6950868.Ellen_Mae_Franklin

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/chocolategirl46/

Out0fprint is a blog that features a collection of short stories from a group of talented writers – Ellen Mae Franklin is one of those creative talents.
http://out0fprint.wordpress.com/

Youtube Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0QPryonxzI

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AussieauthorEMF

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/preview?locale=en_US&trk=prof-0-sb-preview-primary-button

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/chocolategirl46

Facebook Groups

STREET TEAM

If you love fantasy as much as I, perhaps you would like to join the Mystical Mages Street Team. This wonderful group of people help Raven and myself in sharing not only our books on social media, but to be the voice of this incredible genre.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1677863542450617/

FREE FOR READERS – This group is to offer the listing of free books to readers. It is the hope that any author using this group will invite / add 4 readers as well to give them the chance to benefit from many great reads. As a writer it is all about exposure!! at the end of the day for each and everyone of us.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1461599994100198/

FANTASY: Flavour of Fantasy is a group whose members love Fantasy in all its forms. There are so many sub-genres that it makes being a member a fun place to be. Only Authors of this genre may promote in this group, but anyone can join if you wish to learn more what it can offer.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/997839853579833/

FANTASY: Flight of Imagination is a page dedicated to the genre of fantasy/sci-fi and horror. It reflect the voice of fantasy as I embody to share with readers and author like mind my love of this genre

Fantasy – Flight of Imagination

Purchase Links

Authors Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HK6BWVI
Authorgraph: https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/carolbondauthor

The Tarkeenia Series
The Unseen Promise – Book 1

Amazon US – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F212NQG
Amazon AU – http://tinyurl.com/qhvtds9
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/365012
Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Carol_March_The_Unseen_Promise?id=sUGCBwAAQBAJ
http://ilovebookz.com/?s=the+unseen+promise

Heart of Secrets – Book 2

Amazon US – http://tinyurl.com/p4hvfyd
Amazon AU- http://tinyurl.com/ojukp5u
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/458432
Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Carol_March_Heart_of_Secrets?id=tNaCBwAAQBAJ
http://ilovebookz.com/?s=heart+of+secrets

In the Cold Light – Book 3

Amazon US – http://tinyurl.com/kekqz9v
Amazon AU – http://tinyurl.com/q6zcwl6
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/468231
Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Carol_March_In_the_Cold_Light?id=WgWEBwAAQBAJ&hl=en
http://ilovebookz.com/?s=In+the+Cold+Light

The Un-Named Chronicles
Forthright & Clement – Book 1

Amazon US – http://tinyurl.com/mqgj8ql
Amazon AU – http://tinyurl.com/otedwqf
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/360121
Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Forthright_and_Clement?id=PEWEBwAAQBAJ
http://ilovebookz.com/?s=Forthright+and+Clement

Armitage and Envy – Book 2

Amazon US – http://tinyurl.com/n4e77nc
Amazon AU – http://tinyurl.com/ojpevv9
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/482398
Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Carol_March_Armitage_and_Envy?id=q0WEBwAAQBAJ
http://ilovebookz.com/?s=Armitage+and+Envy

A Dark Compendium

Amazon US – http://tinyurl.com/lcyckkg
Amazon AU – http://tinyurl.com/qdyma5c
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/500141
Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Carol_March_A_Dark_Compendium?id=XkSEBwAAQBAJ
http://ilovebookz.com/?s=A+Dark+Compendium

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Did you find the number? If you did then click this: ELLEN MAE FRANKLIN’S LINK TO CONTINUE THE HUNT.

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WIZARDS UNITE! The World Needs Your Magic.

BECOME AN APPRENTICE! Click FOLLOW on the right of your screen to stay tuned for updates and for exclusive material on Marc Royston’s A Wizard’s Life, an epic adult fantasy soon to be released as a serialized novel.