Know The Novel: Planning some Hair

So the majestic Cait and Skye aren't doing the Beautiful Books NaNo link-up anymore, but never fear! Christine over at Musings of an Elf is here to come to our aid. With Know the Novel. Another awesome link-up where we get to talk about our books! And I love talking about my books, so yay!!!

(Also, I need to get myself back into the blogging game. This year has just been all-around crazy, though.)

Anywho, for NaNo this year, I'll be writing book 5 of everyone's favorite Bookania Quests. And also finishing book 4, Honor: A Quest In, because it's not done like I wanted it to be. Just eight chapters left on that one, though.

So, questions.

1. What first sparked the idea for this novel?

Just following the writing of Sew, I wanted to know what happened next ... and the title "Hair We Go Again" came to me, I knew Lukas was going to show up, and I've muddled around with about twelve different plots for it in the days that have followed.

2. Share a blurb!

What I have on NaNo is "Robin and Eric agree to help Dick and Theo recover their old castle, lost in the hundred-year sleep." All the more that I'm going to say is that Rapunzel and jackalopes are involved. 

3. Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects about the setting?

It takes place in Bookania, predominately in Winthrop, though we will be heading into Skewwood for a bit as that seems to be a staple of the series.

4. Tell us about your protagonist.

You know, that would involve me knowing who the precise protagonist is, and I don't actually know that yet, since I still have to write the book. Is it Robin? Is it Eric? Is it Lukas? Is it Meg? Is it Rapunzel? I know they're all going to have POV, but I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE HAS THE STAGE YET.

(Also, I'd like to state that the "Hair" in the title is as much a reference to Meg's role in the book as it is Rapunzel's) 

5. Who (or what) is the antagonist?

Human nature. And maybe King William's grumpiness.

6. What excites you the most about this novel?

Several scenes between Eric, Robin, and/or Lukas, some scenes involving Maryanne, and then a proposal scene involving Meg.

7. Is this going to be a series? Standalone? Something else?

I think I answered this in the introduction.

8. Are you plotting? Pantsing? Plansting?

Plansting, as always. I do need to sit down and write up a table of contents, but so far all I have is: 

1. Wherein a Princess Prefers Adventures to Naps

2. Wherein Finding Old Castles are More Practical Than Jackalopes.

9. Name a few things that make this story unique.

It's a tale of what happens when the happily ever after seems to be going wrong. It also involves a precocious 18-month-old Maryanne who is intent on finding a jackalope. And maybe fishing a new best friend out from under a table.

10. Share a fun “extra” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).

A SPARKLY DRAGON CAT FAIRY IS NEVER LATE.

Okay, with that out of the way, I have two things too say that, apparently, should have happened/been posted BEFORE NOW, but I am a Sparkly Dragon Cat Fairy, and as such, I can never be late. Just have things post at unexpected times.

*coughcough* Sorry, glitter smoke is bothering my allergies at the moment. *coughcough*

Anywho, first up - The Worth of a King is now available to purchase in paperback! Yay!

I cannot believe how much of a bear and a half this was to get into paperback. This hasn't been as long a wait as Do You Take This Quest? had, but I was dealing with a lost computer at that time. I've just had to fight a swap from CreateSpace to KDP this time! (Though, to be fair, that was a FIGHT.) Anywho, the paperback is out now, and it's just $14.99, and it's sooooo shiny. I went with white pages for the first time on this book, and I really like how they fit with this story. I'm really leaning towards giving them to The Seven Drawers as well. 

Also, as a note, sign-up for the Magic Mirrors blog tour is closing at the end of this week, so if you want to help promote these lovely stories, please get in and help promote them.

Okay, and now for the purpose of this post. 

The next Fellowship of Fantasy collection is out! Yay! I don't have a story in this one (I almost did, as they considered putting my "Cinders" in here, and I also had a cat story involving Laura that I was working on, but had to drop due to time crunches), but I know a lot of the authors who do, and the stories SHOULD be awesome. And just look at that cat on the cover!

Annnnywho, I have a guest post from one of the authors!

Sharon Hughson

·What was your inspiration for your story in the anthology?

It’s been several years since I read through the WARRIORS series by Erin Hunter. This is a middle grade adventure series feature clans of cats told from the perspective of the cats. For some reason, Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities mingled with the cat adventures and my creative brain wondered, “What if it was ‘A Tail of Two Kitties’?” The children’s story I imagined in those days bears little resemblance to the fairy tale-like story in PAWS, CLAWS AND MAGIC TALES. Probably because in the years since working with those struggling readers who enjoyed WARRIORS, I’ve read dozens of young adult fantasy books.

Tail of Two Kitlings by Sharon Hughson

Two kitlings. One tail. A mother's sacrifice and a brother's betrayal. Who will survive the Siamese curse?

Go download and read this lovely little collection FOR FREE, and don't forget to add it on Goodreads. Also, I think there was supposed to be a giveaway, but I'm posting this after the tour officially ended, so I think it'd be pointless to post it. Just go download a free book. And check out the posts that actually happened DURING the tour.

I'm gonna go slink back to my cave and continue editing Red as Snow and revising The Seven Drawers, 'cause I'm so not ready for my own release at the end of the month.

Carrie the Cover Reveal!

Argh. I had a nasty weekend. Not entirely a bad one, but it was draining, and I ended up (1) sleeping until noon today and (2) completely forgot that I had a cover reveal to take part in today.

I mean, it's not like I've not had anything going on. 

Blog tour for this is open, btw.

Anywho. Here's the cover reveal now:

About the Book

Martha Squirrel made her journey down the big hill seem like a grand adventure. But what happens when Carrie Mouse disobeys her mama and explores the giant garage?

Inspired by a true story, Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage tells the story of a young mouse who gets trapped in the garage of the human house at the bottom of the hill. Beautifully illustrated with clay sculptures, this is a book you won’t want to miss!

Coming October 22!

And now ... the cover ...

... 

wait for it ...

...

Yes, I'm being annoying.

...

And here you go!

Wait, what? That's not the full cover!

Oh ... that's right.

Giveaway Time!

It’s a scavenger hunt! The Carrie Mouse cover has been cut into nine pieces and scattered across nine different blogs. Visit this post to find links to all the cover pieces. Assemble them and email the completed cover to hunekeauthor(at)gmail(dot)com to be entered in an extra special giveaway: A book signed by both the author and the illustrator and a handmade Carrie Mouse doll to be shipped upon publication of the book. If you need a collage creation software, you can use PiZap.com, a free online photo editor. All entries must be submitted by midnight EDT on Thursday, September 20. The winner will be announced Friday, September 21 at www.morganhuneke.blogspot.com. Happy hunting!

Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

About the Author

Morgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Books have always been a big part of her life, never more so than when working at the local library. She is the author of several middle grade novels including the Time Captives fantasy trilogy and one YA fairy tale retelling novella entitled Twisted Dreams. Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage is her first picture book.

To learn more about Morgan and her work, visit:

www.morganhuneke.com

or

www.morganhuneke.blogspot.com

About the Illustrator

Rebekah Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia with her parents, sisters, and yellow Labrador named Sophie. She has been working with Sculpey since age nine, and sells her creations in the Klay Kottage Etsy shop. She also creates and sells stuffed animals and knitted goods. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, and playing cello and piano. Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage is her first book.

To learn more about Rebekah and her work, visit:

www.etsy.com/shop/klaykottage

or

follow @klaykottage on Instagram

The Fall of a Star

Soooo ... it's been a week.

But, hey! I just promised you guys a Monday! Not any particular one. Be glad I'm giving you THIS one.

Anywho.

The blog tour for The Worth of a King is over, and I think it was a success, across the board. Not as amazing as the release for Water Princess, Fire Prince, three years ago - but it seems to be getting more of an overall positive response from its readers. We'll see how this goes.

I do have a goal of twenty reviews for the book by the end of the year - and I'm currently sitting at ten-ish on Goodreads (I say ish, because one of the reviews is someone freaking out over the cover.) So, if you read it, I do that ask that you go ahead and leave a review - even if it's just a few lines. I'd like to enter this book for the Realm Maker's awards - as I feel that it stands a chance of winning - and there is a minimum review count for that.

Now that the release week is over, the price has gone up to $3.99, and it'll probably stay at that price until its sequels hit the shelves. The paperback - which'll probably be around $15 - is coming, just as soon as I can find my brain.

So ... about the trilogy. For the first time, I've announced the titles of more than just the next book in a series. I know! I can't believe it, either. However, the thing is that #3 is a book that I've already talked about quite a bit, as a standalone, and you guys need to know that its title changed, though only slightly. But about book #2, first.

The Cost of a Queen. (Link is to add the book on Goodreads). So, readers of Rizkaland know that Amber and Granite fled Lintooalintae at its fall, and this book is that story. Its main characters are a set of triplets that Amber and Granite have adopted and raised as their own - and said triplets are actually recycled from a My Little Pony fanfiction that my sister and I had been working on.

There's something unique about these triplets - and why they attracted Amber's attention. For some reason, they're a perfect split of one person - Arissa represents mind, Catrina is body, and Lily is spirit. Why they're like this is a mystery I haven't quite solved yet, but they'll also be getting dragons that correspond with their element.

And, yes, there are good dragons in this book. I'm so excited.

I'm still hammering out the plot for this book, however, and only just started writing it. I like the set-up that I have for it, but there are still a few things that haven't yet come together. Which is why 2020 is probably the earliest you're going to see it hit shelves.

The Song of a Dragon, #3, almost made #2, as chronologically, it does take place before Cost. It's the tale of what became of the dragons after the events of Worth, and doesn't take place in Lintooalintae - but, rather, Wienta, which you might have heard Laura mention in Lady Dragon, Tela Du. It might also be the world that Saffron's Big Plan is set in. And it's also the book that was formerly #3 of Rizkaland, and, yes, contains spoilers for LDTD. This is, ultimately, the reason why I decided to have it last in this trilogy.

I actually have a first draft or two written for this book. I just have to rewrite it.

Anywho, Sarah Taleweaver, as the one who left the most comments across the tour, you will receive the privelege of reading both books as I write them - as I am writing them side by side, with the intention of publishing them within the same year, whenever that happens. And it'll probably be before Love and Memory finally gets out.

And Keturah Lamb, you won the rafflecopter giveaway. Get with me with your address and I'll send you your book and peppermint oil just as soon as the paperback exists.


Also, a few other small announcements:

Laura has made it to the finalists in the Strangest Character category in the Silm Awards. Please pop over and vote for her.

One of my author friends has a cover reveal today, so look at the pretty.

And speaking of cover reveals ....

Sorry that I can't say anything more, 'cause I have to leave for work now. But, LOOK AT ALL THE SHINY.

Worth of a Blog Tour Update

Hey there!

I'd like to apologize for how out of it I've been on this tour. My last two months have been non-stop, and I have just not been as on top of things as I like.

That said, remember that there is prize for the person who leaves the most comments across the tour, so go check them out.

Tour schedule

I'll be back Monday with a proper wrap-up.