COMING SOON:
Find out how it all started at the beginning of The Legends of Winatuke series: THE DARK ISLE
Can love abide when evil awakens?
The queen of the Dark Isle has taken the Nimway prince, Gabriel, prisoner and is determined to send him home in pieces. Her daughter has only a little time to save him, but even if she does, will he want someone born of evil?
Once told of his brother's captivity, Raphael must go to the modern world to ask for help to rescue his brother. But his true love, a human, has accidently crossed over into Winatuke. The chances of her survival are slim to none.
The Legend continues with LAKE OF SORROWS coming up next.
A
curse, a quest and undying love.
Both books will be available for $.99 even though they are full length novels. Quite a bargain. They will also be offered in paperback, but price is unknown at this time.
Thursday, May 09, 2013
Friday, April 05, 2013
TwoLips Reviews Is Having A Party!
Readers and authors are invited to join in the fun at TwoLips Reviews.
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I hope to see you there!
http://www.twolipsreviews.com
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http://www.twolipsreviews.com
Thursday, February 07, 2013
Introduciing My New Series: Legends of Winatuke
THE LIGHT OF VALMORA
Legends of Winatuke
A quest for an enchanted light...a Gypsy’s love...and a warrior’s sacrifice to save Valmora.
BLURB:
To free his father from the witch-queen of the Dark Isle, Falcon must find the legendary Light of Valmora that lies hidden in the darkest place on earth—right under the witch’s feet. To complicate things further, he is falling in love with Izabelle, the Gypsy woman who loves his brother, Peregrine.
Izabelle struggles with her feelings for her first love, Peregrine, and her growing affection for his brother, Falcon, but time is running out and the price of Valmora’s salvation may be the sacrifice of its greatest warrior and Izabelle’s last chance for love.
Excerpt:
She loved Peregrine. She had given her heart to Falcon's brother even though Peregrine did not love her in return. Surely, she was not this capricious that any man's touch could send her into this heat. If only Peregrine would touch her the way Falcon did. If he would only graze his fingers over her skin caressing her as he did his violin the way that Falcon did at this moment.
Peregrine hurt her when, instantly upon obtaining assurance that she was unharmed after the attack, he rushed off to join the others in celebration. Didn't he realize she wasn't fine, that she was afraid and shaken by the attack? Couldn't he sense the way his brother did that she needed to be held, touched, and sheltered by him?
Something shifted inside Izabelle causing her emotions to wage their own war inside her, until fear changed to anger. How dare Peregrine ignore her this way? She took the key from Falcon's hand and slipped it beneath her bodice. "No. I must keep the key. My father entrusted it into my care and the key is my duty and my destiny. I alone must carry it. I am not afraid," she lied.
Falcon withdrew his hand and stepped back from her.
She missed the warmth of him immediately. Venturing a glance at his face, she noticed the color had returned and his eyes became guarded once again.
"As you wish," he said with frosty indifference. "I'll leave you to your solitude. I'd like to find out more about this Thomas guy and join the others for a drink or two. You shouldn't stay here alone for long. No telling when another of Mahara's clan might find you."
"I'll be along in a few minutes. I want to wash my face and see to my horse first." Her throat ached where words, tender and unspoken, coagulated.
Falcon turned his back to her.
She watched him as he walked away from her with his back straight and his shoulders tense. A chill run down her spine and a cloud moved over her spirit. Something dark awaited Falcon's future, something no one could prevent. Her heart wrenched in dark foreboding. Death cast its shadow over him.
BUY Links:
Amazon/Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Light-Valmora-Legends-Winatuke-ebook/dp/B00BB5IWOE/
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/282441
The Light of Valmora launches my new paranormal series, Legends of Winatuke. The first two novels in the series, The Dark Isle and The Lake of Sorrows, are presently in edits and will be available in the near future for only $.99 each.
You could win a digital copy of my new release, The Light of Valmora, by leaving a comment and your email address in your comment. I will announce the winner on Valentine's Day, February 14.
Sarah
Tuesday, January 08, 2013
Inspiration
National Geographic
Inspiration for stories can come from anywhere; people we meet at the train station, snatches of overheard conversations, newspapers and just about everything else. I've been thinking about writing a story around a character I love in my upcoming series, The legends of Winatuke whose name is Pennytook. He's the chief of a Gypsy tribe in the world of Winatuke and travels from one fascinating place to another trading horses, going on adventurous quests, or enjoying the local frivolities.
I happen to watch a television program on National Geographic and saw an episode of a series I believe is called Human Planet where they explore the customs and cultures of people who live in extreme places. The episode that fascinated me the most was the Monguls who, as a right of passage into manhood, must scale a cliff, steal a Golden Eagle baby, raise it and train it to hunt. It's like the ultimate in falconry. When I saw how magnificent these people looked on their sturdy ponies, with their beautiful Eagles tethered to their arms, I knew, this was the image I wanted for my next hero, Pennytook the Gypsy.
From where do you get your inspiration? What is the most inspiring thing you ever encountered? Did you write about it? Do you purposefully look for inspiration or keep a writer's journal? Tell me about it.
Sarah
Inspiration for stories can come from anywhere; people we meet at the train station, snatches of overheard conversations, newspapers and just about everything else. I've been thinking about writing a story around a character I love in my upcoming series, The legends of Winatuke whose name is Pennytook. He's the chief of a Gypsy tribe in the world of Winatuke and travels from one fascinating place to another trading horses, going on adventurous quests, or enjoying the local frivolities.
I happen to watch a television program on National Geographic and saw an episode of a series I believe is called Human Planet where they explore the customs and cultures of people who live in extreme places. The episode that fascinated me the most was the Monguls who, as a right of passage into manhood, must scale a cliff, steal a Golden Eagle baby, raise it and train it to hunt. It's like the ultimate in falconry. When I saw how magnificent these people looked on their sturdy ponies, with their beautiful Eagles tethered to their arms, I knew, this was the image I wanted for my next hero, Pennytook the Gypsy.
From where do you get your inspiration? What is the most inspiring thing you ever encountered? Did you write about it? Do you purposefully look for inspiration or keep a writer's journal? Tell me about it.
Sarah
Labels:
adventure,
falconry,
Golden Eagles,
Gypsy,
inspiration,
Monguls,
National Geographic
Thursday, December 27, 2012
HEART SONG Needs Your Votes
Heart Song has been nominated at P&E in the short romance category. I've never been nominated before, so this is expecially exciting for me. I'm tied at third place at the moment.
Facing death might change Gideon ’s life.
Blurb
Gideon thought he had the perfect life as a musician with a beautiful model as his girlfriend, until he was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Ashamed and afraid he may die, Gideon hits bottom when his girlfriend dumps him for a real man.
Hope comes in the form of his father’s ghost and a person he has just met. Can he beat the odds and survive? And if he does, can he ever find happiness again?
Excerpt:
Something electric sparked in the air as silence ensued. He gazed into her eyes as if attempting to read her heart. The oxygen left her lungs and her heart flung itself against her ribs as he moved his lips closer to hers. The black irises in his eyes widened. His hand held the back of her neck and his fingers slid into her ponytail and loosed the clip that held it in place. The moment stilled. His voice sounded no more than a raw whisper when he spoke. “I’ve wanted to do this for so long. It feels like I’m in a dream.” Then his lips, firm and warm took hers in a kiss that started as gentle as a snowflake falling on a pine bough.
Lila returned his kiss and it grew into something filled with urgency and longing. She moved her hands around his neck to bring him closer and closer still. Warmth spread throughout her being like a thousand lights all turned on at once. They drew back from the kiss, took a breath and kissed again. His eyes darkened from aqua to navy as his hands pulled her closer until they pressed into one another from hip to chest. His breathing hitched as he pulled her close to him and enfolded her in his arms.
Heart Song has been nominated in the Short Story Romance Category at P&E. I would be so happy if you would vote for it.
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/tally_shortstoryr.ht
Heart Song
Facing death might change Gideon ’s life.
Blurb
Gideon thought he had the perfect life as a musician with a beautiful model as his girlfriend, until he was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Ashamed and afraid he may die, Gideon hits bottom when his girlfriend dumps him for a real man.
Hope comes in the form of his father’s ghost and a person he has just met. Can he beat the odds and survive? And if he does, can he ever find happiness again?
Excerpt:
Something electric sparked in the air as silence ensued. He gazed into her eyes as if attempting to read her heart. The oxygen left her lungs and her heart flung itself against her ribs as he moved his lips closer to hers. The black irises in his eyes widened. His hand held the back of her neck and his fingers slid into her ponytail and loosed the clip that held it in place. The moment stilled. His voice sounded no more than a raw whisper when he spoke. “I’ve wanted to do this for so long. It feels like I’m in a dream.” Then his lips, firm and warm took hers in a kiss that started as gentle as a snowflake falling on a pine bough.
Lila returned his kiss and it grew into something filled with urgency and longing. She moved her hands around his neck to bring him closer and closer still. Warmth spread throughout her being like a thousand lights all turned on at once. They drew back from the kiss, took a breath and kissed again. His eyes darkened from aqua to navy as his hands pulled her closer until they pressed into one another from hip to chest. His breathing hitched as he pulled her close to him and enfolded her in his arms.
Heart Song has been nominated in the Short Story Romance Category at P&E. I would be so happy if you would vote for it.
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/tally_shortstoryr.ht
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
MY NEXT BIG THING
THE NEXT BIG THING
I was selected to participate in The Next Big Thing and I was very happy to take part in the fun blog hop. So here goes...
A little bio:
I am a multipublished author of many genres of romance from western to contemporary, but my favorite is paranormal and time travel such as The Violin, Harmonica Joe’s Reluctant Bride and a new series, The Legends of Winatuke. The first book should be released in the next few months.
Places you can find me:
http://www.sarahmcneal.blogspot.com/
http://www.sarahmcneal.com
Here are some authors I like that I hope you'll check out:
Jenny Twist: https://sites.google.com/site/jennytwistauthor/
Stephanie Burkhart: http://sgcardin.tripod.com
Linda Swift: http://lindaswift.net/
Lindsay Townsend: http://www.lindsaytownsend.net
Cheryl Pierson: http://www.cherylpierson.com
Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:
What is the working title of your book?
THE LIGHT OF VALMORA, Legends of Winatuke
Where did the idea come from for the book?
My hairdresser, Cathy Craton, once asked me to write about something to do with fairies. Well, I couldn’t see me writing about the little magic folk, but I sure could see me writing about some big people with magical gifts and unique wings. Thus, I created the beings of light that I later named the Nimway. Each Nimway is born with a special gift or two and unique wings that are almost like fingerprints; some are like butterfly wings, some like birds and some a combination, but no two are exactly alike. Every good story has to have conflict, so what better way to disturb the good Nimway than to put their kingdoms and nomadic nations into deadly jeopardy and introduce a terrible dark antagonist who wants to destroy them and use them for evil. Mahara is the witch queen of the Dark Isle. She rules without conscience and possesses a lust for blood and pain.
What genre does your book fall under?
Paranormal/Fantasy/Romance
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Jake Gyllenhaa would make a perfect Falcon, fit, lean, dark hair, but with dark eyes instead of blue.
Penelope Cruz with her long dark hair in curls, brown eyes and her lovely accent.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A quest for an enchanted light...a Gypsy’s love...and a warrior’s sacrifice to save Valmora.
Where do you plan to submit your book, or will you self published it? Will you be submitting it to agents and NYC publishers first.
The Light of Valmora, Legends of Winatuke is contracted with Publishing by Rebecca Vickery.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
To completion, two years. I spent most of the time reworking the first chapter over and over again. I don't think I've ever spent so much time writing a novel, but I really hope readers will like it.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
If you mean by another author, then I would say Lord of the Rings but with 100 % more romance meets the wicked witch of the west.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
After writing two other novels in this series, I was running on adrenaline and eager to capture one of my secondary characters as a hero. The first two books will be available for $.99 at a little later date as well.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
This book is filled with secrets and extreme danger. It’s all or nothing, last stand; do or die. If the quest fails, all of Winatuke will fall to ruin—and it all depends on one human and his unpretentious talent for solving puzzles.
I recently posted the cover for The Light of Valmora, Legends of Winatuke created by Laura Shinn, a talented artist and author.
I was selected to participate in The Next Big Thing and I was very happy to take part in the fun blog hop. So here goes...
A little bio:
I am a multipublished author of many genres of romance from western to contemporary, but my favorite is paranormal and time travel such as The Violin, Harmonica Joe’s Reluctant Bride and a new series, The Legends of Winatuke. The first book should be released in the next few months.
Places you can find me:
http://www.sarahmcneal.blogspot.com/
http://www.sarahmcneal.com
Here are some authors I like that I hope you'll check out:
Jenny Twist: https://sites.google.com/site/jennytwistauthor/
Stephanie Burkhart: http://sgcardin.tripod.com
Linda Swift: http://lindaswift.net/
Lindsay Townsend: http://www.lindsaytownsend.net
Cheryl Pierson: http://www.cherylpierson.com
Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:
What is the working title of your book?
THE LIGHT OF VALMORA, Legends of Winatuke
Where did the idea come from for the book?
My hairdresser, Cathy Craton, once asked me to write about something to do with fairies. Well, I couldn’t see me writing about the little magic folk, but I sure could see me writing about some big people with magical gifts and unique wings. Thus, I created the beings of light that I later named the Nimway. Each Nimway is born with a special gift or two and unique wings that are almost like fingerprints; some are like butterfly wings, some like birds and some a combination, but no two are exactly alike. Every good story has to have conflict, so what better way to disturb the good Nimway than to put their kingdoms and nomadic nations into deadly jeopardy and introduce a terrible dark antagonist who wants to destroy them and use them for evil. Mahara is the witch queen of the Dark Isle. She rules without conscience and possesses a lust for blood and pain.
What genre does your book fall under?
Paranormal/Fantasy/Romance
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Jake Gyllenhaa would make a perfect Falcon, fit, lean, dark hair, but with dark eyes instead of blue.
Penelope Cruz with her long dark hair in curls, brown eyes and her lovely accent.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A quest for an enchanted light...a Gypsy’s love...and a warrior’s sacrifice to save Valmora.
Where do you plan to submit your book, or will you self published it? Will you be submitting it to agents and NYC publishers first.
The Light of Valmora, Legends of Winatuke is contracted with Publishing by Rebecca Vickery.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
To completion, two years. I spent most of the time reworking the first chapter over and over again. I don't think I've ever spent so much time writing a novel, but I really hope readers will like it.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
If you mean by another author, then I would say Lord of the Rings but with 100 % more romance meets the wicked witch of the west.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
After writing two other novels in this series, I was running on adrenaline and eager to capture one of my secondary characters as a hero. The first two books will be available for $.99 at a little later date as well.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
This book is filled with secrets and extreme danger. It’s all or nothing, last stand; do or die. If the quest fails, all of Winatuke will fall to ruin—and it all depends on one human and his unpretentious talent for solving puzzles.
I recently posted the cover for The Light of Valmora, Legends of Winatuke created by Laura Shinn, a talented artist and author.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Authors in the Kitchen: A Cook book for Charity
The authors and staff of Victory Tales Press, Western Trailblazer and Publishing by Rebecca Vickery have compiled a cook book of favorite recipes in Authors in the Kitchen. Proceeds go to Save the Children charity orgaization.
You can buy digital copies or PRINT at the following online stores:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/262369
http://www.amazon.com/Authors-in-the-Kitchen-ebook/dp/B00AJP6CXU/
The print is now available at Amazon for $7.95 at
http://www.amazon.com/Authors-Kitchen-Rebecca-J-Vickery/dp/1481179225/
I have several of my favorite recipes in it. Just saying...
I hope you'll consider buying several copies to give as gifts this year and know that your gift goes to the one you give the cook book to and to a child who needs your help.
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