Category Archives: The Writing World

Thank You River City!

I just returned form a morning of talks with the students of River City Middle School.  I was so impressed with how many students were interested in writing or had already begun to write a novel! What a blast. Thanks for not falling asleep on me! Maybe it helped that I threw candy at the kids. Oh, and I’m really sorry I hit that one girl in the head with chocolate, but I did repay her in candy 🙂 No concussion I think.

river city school

Writing is such a solitary act, but I’m more of a people person, so I was happy to get out of the house. Some of my favorite questions were-

How many books have you written total? This gave me pause. I had to stop and count everything I’ve written that has, and has not gotten published yet. The total right now is nine. This includes shorts, novellas and novels.

What is your favorite anime? This question was asked after I revealed I get much of my inspiration from anime/manga and music. My favorite animes are Sword Art Online, Bleach,  Shippuden, Blood Plus, Kamisama Kiss Inuyasha and Full Metal Alchemist. There are a BUNCH more, but It would fill this whole post, so I’ll stop here.

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Would you ever write about werewolves? The answer was probably not. I love werewolves, but like vampires, that market is saturated. Vampires, werewolves, angels and demons have been real big the last few years. Last year zombies came into the mix. If I did write about a werewolf It wold likely be a side character in a larger story.

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I’ll be teaching again next Wed. at Idaho Writer’s League on “Your Unique Writing Voice.”  And in April I’ll be presenting a workshop (with fellow RWA members) at the Get Lit! festival in Spokane about world building.  Hope to see you there!

 

 

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Making a Myth Your Own

I love myths and legends. Much of my inspiration comes from these old tales. Working myths into fantasy or paranormal writing is a fun way to add onto a world that’s already been created. The question after that is, do you keep the rules of the world, or break them?

Me personally, I like to stick to the original rules as much as possible. But if a really great idea comes up I might bend the rules a touch to make them work for my characters. Recently I’ve been working on a collection of stories based off of Japanese myths, and boy do they have some fantastic ones!

My new thing is writing what comes next. After the end of the myth or legend what happened to the kids, the town, the bad guy? I love carrying on a favorite story that would otherwise have ended. One of those is the tale of the Tiger and the Dragon. In Asian myths when the tiger wanted all power to himself he went up against the dragon. But after a long battle the two realized they were equally matched. They would forever have to share power, and they hated each other for it.

tiger dragon

I wonder what their kids would have gone through? Would this be a Romeo and Juliet ending or would the kids follow in their parents footsteps? Actually my muse came up with a third option, which will be included in the Shadow Fan series, soon to release. I’ll be sure to share more as the story unfolds. For now, enjoy those good old tales.

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Filed under Flow of Life, Japanese Tid-Bits, The Writing World

Great Review For Gargoyle!

I’m thrilled to share a little of the great review from Reese’s Reviews. If you want to read the full post hop over to – http://reesesreviews.blogspot.com/ And enter to win a free copy!

Reeses reviews

Elizabeta was an amazing character to read. She was easily relatable, especially when she was feeling all flustered when she was around Aelius. Elizabeta had a lot to learn about herself throughout the novel and I liked that she wasn’t perfect. She also liked scheming a lot which was awesome, one of the best scenes in the book! Aelius was hot is every sense of the word. He had the perfect body and was quite humorous himself at times, even though I don’t think he meant to be. He had a great sense of justice when it came to protecting Elizabeta and bringing justice to those who would seek to harm her. The honestly made a perfect couple!
Overall, Gargoyle is an amazing read. It is extremely original like none I’ve ever read. The lengths Elizabeta and Aelius were willing to go through to be together was amazing. They both grew as characters throughout the book which was awesome. There was always something going on in the story and I was always left guessing what would happen next. I hope you pick up a copy of this amazing book ASAP!
Favorite Quote: “My uncle started that little lie. It’s amazing you believed him.”

“Oh, I didn’t believe him. The Headmaster ordered me, and your other teachers, to keep an eye out for definitive proof. And now we have it, and this whole stupid thing is over. That’s all.”

“I hope so, Mr. Chevalier. Because, if you wanted to see something other than what I possess, I’d say you need to leave this island immediately and find yourself a wife.” Did I really just say that?! First I fall on him, crack his skull a good one, now I’m insulting him? What’s wrong with me?

He burst out laughing. He bent forward and slapped the water. “That’s more like it, Erro. That’s the spirit! Why aren’t you like that with the boys in class?”

My brow drew together. I insult him, and he thinks it’s funny? There’s a lot more I need to learn about men, it seems.

Rating: 4.5

Thank you Reese’s Reviews!

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Filed under Fiction, Flow of Life, Non-Fiction Paranormal, Paranormal Fiction, The Writing World

Gargoyle Is On Tour

I’m so excited to announce Gargoyle is on tour! Stop at a blog on the list over the next two weeks to win one of four copies of Gargoyle 🙂 There will be some fun posts, including one where you can take a quiz to see what kind of a Gargoyle master you would be!

Gargoyle banner_20

http://supagurltours.blogspot.com/2012/11/gargoyle-by-shelley-martin-tour-prn.html

The first stop on the tour is over at Paranormal Reads! They gave a wonderful review. Stop by to win one of four copies of Gargoyle for free. Just enter the raffle copter at the bottom 🙂

http://paranormalreadsreviews.blogspot.com/

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Filed under Fiction, Flow of Life, Paranormal Fiction, The Writing World

Insane Holiday Months…

Starting in October the holidays never cease to drown me in craziness. On top of that I had two book releases, Gargoyle ebook in October and the Print release in November.

November also held another release for me, Spirit Tracks. It’s a little short for $.99 featuring Arch the Assassin Lord and Richelle, the one woman he’s made a bargain never to go near. Problem is his new target found out that little bit of information, and has been lurking near her.

Richelle has known Arch for many years, but when she stated to fall in love with him as a teenager, he suddenly stopped coming around. Now that she’s back in the area she’s run into her neighbor, who looks remarkably like her crush from years ago. Only, it looks as if he never aged. But her life takes a sharp change when she finds a dead body outside her bedroom window, along with the injured neighbor.

Spirit Tracks will be randomly free throughout December if you’re interested. Hope the beginning of winter is warm and comfy where ever you may be 🙂

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Filed under Flow of Life, Paranormal Fiction, The Writing World

Congratulations To Our Winner!

Congrats to Misha, the winner of the Halloween Blog Hop give-away! She received her free e-book of gargoyle today, and I really hope she enjoys it 🙂

Thank you to all those who stopped by, we had a great turn out. I’m very excited about this book release, and want to thank you all for your support!

Gargoyle started out as a 13 page contest entry, which then turned into a novella after taking a place in the competition. After many (very many) drafts, it reached its final length and is now a novel. I’m currently working on the second in the series, tentatively named “Priestess.” I have several books in my head for the series, with a minimum of three.

I’ll see you soon, with more excerpts to come 🙂

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Filed under Non-Fiction Paranormal, The Writing World

Halloween Blog Hop, Free Give Away and Excerpt!

Hi all, and welcome to my little blog. I’m very excited to be participating in the Halloween Blog Hop. You can find them here http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/ where many other authors are doing give-aways! And if you get a chance please stop by and “Like” my facebook page here- http://www.facebook.com/ShelleyMartinFiction?ref=hl

For the contest I’m giving out a free ebook of GARGOYLE, my new YA/New Adult Paranormal Romance.  If you would like to qualify for the drawing please comment with your email (so I can send you your free book if you win!) Please give me a few days after the contest ends to announce the winner. Thank you, and please enjoy this extended excerpt from Gargoyle!

The only male figure I’d ever created filled me with pride.

“Now, what to call you?” The full moonlight glinted off his flawless face. “Something ancient, Roman maybe.” I used the damp rag to wipe the dust from his jaw. “Aelius… What do you think?” His gentle features looked down at me, accepting and understanding. I ran my thumb over his full lower lip. I had secretly studied many lips of the young men at this school to be able to create the perfect mouth. The mouth I would most like to kiss.

But I would never get to kiss lips like those, since I was pretending to be a boy.

I dared to pull myself up another few centimeters. No one lingered below. The hour was well past curfew. My breath reflected off his marble face as I turned my head ever so slightly to the side.  He was only a statue, and therefore I knew his lips would be cold and unyielding. But I was mistaken…

I discovered warm, soft lips when I pressed mine to his.

Then they gave a bit.

And then they kissed back.

The impossible yanked me back in surprise. The thought I had lost my mind was swallowed by fear as I lost my balance.  Gravity pulled me from the ledge.

As I fell backward my eyes locked with his. Dark and full of wonder, they beheld me. I reached out for him as I slipped farther away.  The muscles my hands had carved flexed in motion. Black wings sliced through the air as he lunged forward, his slender fingers grasping for mine. My falling body abruptly came to a stop, muscles pulling as I dangled from the gargoyle’s hand.

The warm, soft lips I had just kissed smiled. “Are you all right, my master?”

Confusion flooded my mind. A gargoyle was talking to me as I hung several meters away from broken bones or death. Was I crazy? Or sleeping? Perhaps my classmates were playing another prank on me.  Had they dosed my food with laudanum? Either way, I had to get down before anyone saw me.

“Uh… just help me down, please!”

He swiftly pulled me to him and caught me midair. I braced myself as his arms encircled me and drew my body to his chest. I thought I would meet the impact of cold stone. But his expansive chest radiated heat as warm as his lips. Those agile muscles had lost the coldness of marble. My figure came to rest against smooth flesh. His legs were hidden from view by a simple white wrap as he stood us up. His great leather wings unfurled and gracefully moved against the wind, to drop us down onto the balcony.

My trembling hands grasped his shoulders.  As the gargoyle straightened, he looked down at me. His pale arms held together my sanity. Black spices mixed with oak and vanilla filled my senses as I panted against him. The fragrance was heavenly.  Then I realized the tantalizing scent was him.  My rattled senses finally tore me from utopia. Taking pleasure in the arms of a monster was absurd. This could not be happening.

If you like the excerpt Gargoyle is available now from Pink Petal Books right now-

http://pinkpetalbooks.com/Gargoyle-by-Shelley-Martin.htmlou’d

But, if you prefer print, or to purchase your book through Amazon, it will be available November 1st. That’s just a few days away! Thanks for stopping by!

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Filed under Fiction, Flow of Life, Paranormal Fiction, The Writing World

Pink Petal Anniversary Celebration

Do you like free? Pink Petal Books is giving away free stuff this month! One of them being my short, Spirit Tracks.  Also my first novella, Wingless, is featured in the first Sampler give-away of the month. All you have to do is click the link below, or the picture on the side bar, and follow the directions!

<a href=”http://pinkpetalbooks.com/blog/anniversary4/“><img src=”http://pinkpetalbooks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ppb_4anniversary_blogbadge.jpg“></a>

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Filed under Flow of Life, The Writing World

Unexpected Release News

I heard from my publisher this week that Spirit Tracks, my first short, will be releasing around the same time as Gargoyle! The fun thing with the shorts is they are going to be free for a time. In October if you subscribe to the Pink Petal newsletter you will get a free short story with it. After that first month it will go to Amazon, available for Free for the fist three months.

I love the idea of free. This way people can “test drive” my writing style to see if they want to shell out the money for Wingless or Gargoyle. Although Gargoyle (to me) is an epic tale, Wingless is more on the mild side.  And I think Spirit Tracks settles in the middle of the two quite comfortably.

Thanks for stopping in and I’ll continue to post an update and other fun stuff!

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Filed under Flow of Life, Paranormal Fiction, The Writing World

Gargoyle Trailer

I am so excited announce the release of the trailer for Gargoyle.  It is a paranormal romance novel and releases on November 1st to print.  I love that we get to see the cover model (Aelius) in a different light in the video. It has a mystrious, creepy yet pretty soundtrack.  And the background is just cool 🙂 I hope you enjoy it!  Thanks for watching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUBBRjm0MwU

Please click the above link to view 🙂

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Filed under Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, The Writing World