Sunday, December 24, 2017

Our Guest Today is Author Joanne Jaytanie #OurAuthorGang


Please welcome author Joanne Jaytanie to our blog today. So glad you could join us.


Joanne was born and raised in Sherburne, New York.  She writes in the romantic suspense, as well as Paranormal and Contemporary romance genres. She submerges herself in the world of her characters, living and breathing their lives and marveling at their decisions and predicaments.

Joanne is a member of Romance Writers of America and Past President of the Peninsula Romance Writers, the latter being author Debbie Macomber's home chapter.  Currently she resides in Washington State with her husband and beautiful doberman, Maya.  She loves hearing from her readers and may be contacted at the links below.

Joanne's novels are for mature readers of 18 years of age or older.

http://joannejaytanie.com/   Website
http://www.authorjoannejaytanie.blogspot.com/  Blog
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joanne-Jaytanie-Author/146892025475388?ref=bookmarks   Facebook
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7063660.Joanne_Jaytanie Goodreads
https://twitter.com/joannejaytanie   Twitter
http://www.pinterest.com/joannejaytanie/ Pinterest
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/joanne-jaytanie/61/52b/532/  LinkedIn

BOOK 1 of The Winters Sisters Series
http://a.co/a0XpxbX

Everybody's Chasing Victory: a power-hungry scientist, a corrupt conglomerate, and her own government.

Victory Winters is on the run. A world-renown geneticist, her mission involves conquering disease and improving quality of life. But, a co-worker has been murdered, putting Victory and her mission in danger. Chasing her are all sorts of men who want to recruit and control her, manipulating her genetic secrets and research for their own corrupt purposes.

Naval officer, Tristan Farraday, is undercover investigating Biotec, a conglomerate that trumpets a better tomorrow in its bright, shiny annual reports. But, Tristan's bosses suspect that beneath Biotech's carefully managed exterior lies more than simple violations of a few experimental protocols.

Farraday is following a trail of murder, kidnapping, and blackmail. The trail leads him to Victory, who's been forced into Biotec's world. Can Tristan chase down the truth and win the race for Victory?

Please check out the other books in this amazing series.


DON'T FORGET!!! Submit your guess for a chance to win a prize package from all of Our Author Gang authors.


Saturday, December 23, 2017

Book in the Spotlight: "Pirates in Hell" #OurAuthorGang

Pirates in Hell

Joe Bonadonna

Cover by Roy Mauritsen

Avast, ye readers! Here be Pyrates! Feast yer eyes on the cursed treasures before you! Hoist the skull ‘n’ crossbones! Walk the plank with Hell's sorest losers! Join the damnedest buccaneers and privateers ever to sail infernal seas: Attila the Hun, Anton Lavey, Daemon Grimm, Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare, Frank Nitti, Admiral Nelson, Captain Henry Morgan, and a cast of thousands! Twelve tales of piracy in the Heroes in Hell universe, created by Janet Morris and spun by Janet Morris, Chris Morris, Nancy Asire, Paul Freeman, Larry Atchley Jr, Rob Hinkle, Michael H. Hanson, Andrew P. Weston, S.E. Lindberg, Jack William Finley, and me . . . Joe Bonadonna.

What's happening in Hell, you ask?

Well . . . the seas, oceans, and rivers of Hell are threatening to combine. Hell’s geography is moving; old landmasses crumble while new ones rise to take their place. Some places are flooded, some are bone dry. Pirates take advantage of the chaos, offering safe harbor at exorbitant costs, but the magnetic Flux under Ocean and the Deep yawning to swallow all makes hellions wonder if Hell could be completely flooded — and whether Erra, the Babylonian god of Plague and Pestilence, and his Seven Sibitti warriors are at fault. But Erra is no Moses. There’s no ark big enough for the Damned, nor would he help them if he could, and no way to tell which course is safest. The depths of Hell chill the boldest sinner as damned souls learn why the deeper in Hell you go, the colder it gets.

My novella, “The Pirates of Penance,” stars Victor Frankenstein and his assistant, Quasimodo. Along for the ride are Errol Flynn, Douglas Fairbanks, Sr, Jean Harlow, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Johnny Appleseed, and a host of the famous and infamous from all eras of Earth’s history.  This time out, Frankenstein and Company set sail to film a movie titled “Captain Blood: Vampire in Hell,” the sequel to one of Flynn's most famous movies. But that's just a front for what they're really doing: sailing for the Isle of the Damned, which they believe will lead them up and out of Hell. Problem is, something is haunting their ship, preying on the cast and crew . . . something which may be a real vampire. What? One of the blood-sucking Undead among the Dead and Damned in Hell? Preposterous! Impossible! Or is it? Find out what happens in Pirates in Hell — volume 19 in the eternal-infernal shared universe of Heroes in Hell, created and edited it by author Janet Morris, and published by Perseid Press.

 Heroes in Hell/Pirates in Hell named among these TOP 10 SF STORIES & WORKS
TL; DR version:
(10) James Erwin - Rome Sweet Rome
(9) Janet Morris (Perseid Publishing) - Heroes in Hell
(8) Thomas Disch - Josie and the Elevator
(7) Harlan Ellison - I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
(6) David Brin - Thor vs Captain America
(5) George R.R. Martin - Sandkings
(4) Omni Magazine
(3) James Tiptree Jr - The Screwfly Solution
(2) Robert Sheckley - Options
(1) Ray Bradbury - Martian Chronicles

Pirates in Hell . . . don’t set sail without it!

#piratesinhell  #heroesinhell  #perseidpress  #bangsianfantasy  #horror  #janetmorris  #joebonadonna


A Small Gang of Authors New Contest!  Guess, Vote, and Win!!! 

Guess if our blog will or will not reach 100,000 views by December 31st. If your guess is correct, you could be in the running to win an eBook package or signed physical editions in this exclusive giveaway by our authors.

Click on the link for more details.
https://goo.gl/forms/N3u2eNWCvqiV1c2I3

Friday, December 22, 2017

Magic Rules #OurAuthorGang


Rich Feitelberg

Magic has rules. It’s your job as the author of your story to know what those rules are. Consider for the moment, the different types of magic. Sympathetic magic requires you have a likeness of something to affect the thing that the likeness represents. Alchemy follows rules and the alchemist has books on what to combine to achieve a specific effect.



Sorcery, on the other hand, is magic by repetition, chanting the same phrase over and over again. Rituals also follow a specific pattern of words, movements, and actions to yield a result. And Thaumaturgy is observational magic. The wizard sees how something is done and then mimics it.

You can, of course, make up your own rules for all of these forms of magic or do a little research and base your rules on real beliefs. You can even make up new forms. For example, perhaps magic requires a rhyme or a little song and dance. Or perhaps it is sacrificial requiring something be destroyed.

Often knowing the true name of a thing lets a wizard control that object. When combined with sorcery, you might be able to summon something by chanting its name repeatedly. And some forms of magic, say necromancy, are probably banned by most ethical wizards.

You are also going to need rules for when a wizard can use magic. Wizards aren’t above the law. So they can’t cast fireballs and lightning bolts causing property damage unless they want to be hunted for destruction of property. They can, of course, defend themselves. Other uses are probably in a gray area, say reading someone else’s thoughts. Are there laws about this? That’s up to you to decide.

Finally, you need to decide whether magic requires the use of an external item, like a wand, or whether words and gestures are enough. Alchemy requires physical components like lead or sulphur, by other forms may not. Again you’ll need to decide what works for you.

Above all have fun with it and look for new ways of doing magic. This will keep your story fresh and engage the reader.


Thursday, December 21, 2017

Pick a Book Day at #ourAuthorGang



~
Nonfiction novel-companion series by:
Toi Thomas
eBook cover and title is slightly
diffenernt from the paperback
Eternal Curse Companion Book 1
PAPERBACK AND EBOOKS 

Everything you want to know about the book Eternal Curse: Giovanni's Angel with out reading the book.

If you love extra features and behind-the-scenes footage of your favorite movies, then you will love this official companion guide to Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel. 40 Days and Nights of Eternal Curse breaks down the first installment of the Eternal Curse Series with writer’s notes, excerpts, character profiles, outline details, and special tidbits that you won’t find anywhere else. This companion guide isn’t just all info and no fun; this is a fulfilling and interesting read all on its own. At only 97 printed pages, this is an easy and inviting read in any format, and will prompt your mind to wander and wonder of things to come.
~

The start of an epic fantasy in eBook form
~
 Heroic Fantasy for kids 8-17
By Erika M Szabo and Joe Bonadonna



Golden Book Award Winner, spooky and funny heroic fantasy adventure for middle-grade children and young adults. Nikki and her impish cousin, Jack, find a mysterious black pumpkin in the forest on Halloween. A wise talking skeleton, Wishbone, tells them that the ghosts of the Trinity of Wishmothers are trapped inside. The children offer their help, so the skeleton takes them on a journey to the realm of Creepy Hollow to retrieve the three wands he hid long ago in Red Crow Forest, the Tower of Shadows, and the Cave of Spooks. On her 13th birthday, Nikki discovers she has magical powers. Nikki and Jack return to Creepy Hollow. They conquer their fears and gain courage, and in the final battle against Evila and her minions they grow into the warriors they were destined to become.

"Humor abounds, with three stooge-like goons (Poo, Goo, and Boo) and Dragon Rocks (a.k.a. scat, or poop) playing essential roles. Plenty of righteous motivations drive Jack and Nikki: they protect the weak and confront evil directly. It is fun to see them grow. Some of the bad guys are just too bad to save, but others are open to redemption. In short, Szabo and Bonadonna make a great pair. Their Creepy Hollow Adventures is a perfect starting point for young children making the leap from "kids books" to "novels."
~SE Lindberg

Epic Fantasy for Adults

By Rebecca Tran



When a sinister mage murders Mara Coryanda’s father, she trades her privileged existence for one devoted to vengeance by any means necessary. Soon her tireless quest leads to frustration. 
The mage proves to be a formidable opponent, who will stop at nothing to ensure his master plan comes to fruition…unless Mara locates the magical artifacts that could twist fate and help her raise an army to save her homeland.
Will her quest prove to be too much to bear or will fate intervene on her behalf?

“The Rashade has similar tones to books such as Deltora Quest and Game of Thrones as the main characters set on an adventure where there are tombs, priestesses and sword fights that will leave the reader on the edge of their seat in anticipation. Epic battles crossed with a burning desire to destroy an evil man will mean the reader will be captivated until the very end.” - Literary Titan





Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Christmas in Camelot ~ Part 2 #Christmas #Arthurian #Legends #OurAuthorGang


By Mary Anne Yarde


Gustave Doré's illustration of Camelot from Idylls of the King 1867 ~ Wikipedia

In Part 1 of Christmas at Camelot I took a look at the food that you may well have found on an early medieval table, but today I want to look at what they did for entertainment in those long winter nights.

In the 14th Century, a poet — whose name has been lost over time, but is now referred to as The Pearl Poet — wrote an epic Arthurian poem. This is how The Pearl Poet described Christmas at Camelot.

“…then they brought the first course, with the blast of trumpets and the waving of banners, with the sound of drums and pipes, so that many a heart was uplifted at the melody. Costly and most delicious foods were carried in. Many were the dainties, delicacies and fresh meats, so great was the plenty they might scarce find room on the board and table-cloth to set all the silver dishes. Each helped himself as he liked best, and for each of two guests were twelve dishes served, with a great plenty of beer and bright wine…”

According to The Pearl Poet, Arthur knew how to throw a party! One would expect a feast at the Midwinter/ New Year celebrations, but perhaps not on such a grand scale.


There would have been music and entertainment at such a feast. I should imagine there were jugglers and those with what we would call Circus Skills!

Tom 1068 ~ No attribution required ~ Pixabay

 Bards would tell wonderful stories to entertain the guests — perhaps they told stories of Arthur and his Knights — and as the evening wore on, old men would become philosophical, as they contemplated mortality.

But there is one story about a Christmas feast that every Arthurian enthusiasts will of heard of, and that is...

Gawain and the Green Knight.
by The Pearl Poet

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (from original manuscript, artist unknown) ~ Wikipedia

 
If you not familiar with the story, then read on for a very abridged version with a little of my own poetic licence thrown into the mix!


New Year's Day, Camelot


The Knights of Camelot were celebrating the New Year in Arthur's Great Hall. Food was a plenty, and the mead was freely flowing. Friends and family gathered around the fire pit to listen as a bard wove the most fantastical tale.

Sir Gawain was content to sit and listen to the bard. There was nothing that needed his attention. This was a time to relax and rejoice. The New Year promised to be a good one. The Kingdom was at peace, for the most part, and everything was as it should be.

But this tranquillity was soon quashed when someone pounded against the great oak door of the Hall. The door rattled on its hinges. The bard fell silent, as did everyone else. All eyes turned towards the door and everyone held their breath.

The door opened and there, on a horse the colour of spring grass, was a giant of a man. The giant's skin, like that of his horse, was an unnatural shade of green. Without a by-or-leave, the giant rode his horse into the Hall and dismounted. In his hand was a monster of an axe. This Green Knight narrowed his eyes and looked around him with a contemptuous sneer.

"Is this Arthur's court?" the giant asked, his voice was so loud that some of the women shrieked. "Are these his Knights?"

"It is," Arthur said, rising to his feet. "They are. What can we do for you?"

The Green Knight smiled, showing a perfect set of green teeth. "Your knights are the bravest in the land, or so I am told, and the most chivalrous. Well, we will see about that. I wonder if there is any knight amongst you that would be brave enough to accept a challenge from me."

All the Knights looked to Arthur… But one.

"I will accept your challenge," Sir Gawain said, rising from his seat.

"Gawain, no,” Arthur ordered under his breath.

"Brave boy," the Green Knight snarled. "Or a foolish one. Take my axe, Sir Knight, and chop off my head."

"Why? Do you not like life?" Gawain asked, taking the axe from the Green Knight. The axe was so heavy that Gawain had a job to lift it.

"I do not fear for my life, but perhaps you should fear for yours."

A block was brought forth, and the Green Knight knelt.

 "Aim true," he stated.

Shaking his head, Gawain lifted the axe and then with a sickening thud, he took the head from the Green Knight’s shoulders.

The silence that followed was deafening. But then something strange happened. The Green Knight’s headless body stood, and his hands reached for his severed head.

"Meet me at the Chapel Green this time next year, so that I can return the favour," the decapitated head said, and then he left.

Gawain watched as the door closed behind the Green Knight. He turned to face his King with a look of horror. What had he done? There was no way he could survive such a strike.

The year that passed was uneventful, but each day Gawain knew he was a step closer to his death. As the leaves turned from green to brown and the first snow began to fall. Gawain tacked up his horse and, with a heavy heart, he set out for the Chapel Green.

God's Speed by Edmund Blair Leighton 1900 ~ Wikipeida

After many weeks of traveling he happened upon a castle, and there he was greeted by Bertilak de Hautdesert and his beautiful wife. Berilak asked Gawain why he was here and Gawain told him only that he had promised to meet someone at the Chapel Green on New Year's Day. Bertilak assured him that the Chapel was just two miles away. Bertilak then, very kindly, invited him to stay with them. Gawain thanked Bertilak and took him up on his generous offer.

The next day Bertilak went hunting. But before he departed he told Gawain that he was more than welcome to stay as long as whatever he might gain during the day, he gave back.

Gawain frowned at such a riddle, but later in the day, all became clear.  Bertilak's beautiful wife began to tease him. Gawain had never met anyone like her. She was intoxicating. So very beautiful. Gawain found himself clenching his fists to stop himself from reaching for her. One kiss, he finally allowed, when he could not take it anymore. Just one kiss. I will take nothing more, for Bertilak is my host.

Lady Bertilak at Gawain's bed ~ from original manuscript, artist unknown ~ Wikipedia

 
When Bertilak came back cold and muddy from his hunt, he asked Gawain if he had gained anything this day and if so, he must remember to give it back. So Gawain kissed his host. Sir Bertilak looked confused by the kiss, but he did not comment upon it.

The next day, Bertilak went hunting again. And once again Bertilak's wife began to tease. This time, Gawain allowed two kisses and just like the night before, when Bertilak returns he gave back what he had gained.

On the third day, like the previous days, Bertilak went hunting. This time Bertilak's wife gave Gawain a girdle of green and gold silk. She told him that if he wears it, he would stay safe from harm. They then shared three kisses. That evening he gives Bertilak the three kisses, but keeps the girdle for himself.

The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse,1880 ~ note the girdle around her waist ~ Wikipedia

 
The following day Gawain, with a pounding heart and the girdle wrapped around his waist, set out to meet the Green Knight. He found the giant sharpening his blade outside of the Chapel.

"So you have come?" The Green Knight stated with a look of surprise.

"I accepted the challenge," Gawain stated with a bravery he was not feeling.

"The kneel and place your neck upon the blog, young Knight of Camelot."

Gawain closed his eyes briefly and prayed to God for courage. He knelt and bared his neck. The Green Knight raised his axe. And despite himself, Gawain flinched in fear.

"I should have known," The Green Knight jeered. "You are a coward, and you bring shame to your King."

"Swing again," Gawain growled, "And I will not flinch."

The Green Knight raised his axe and feigned a strike.

"Be done with it," Gawain ordered. "Do not tease."

"I was merely testing your resolve," the Green Knight stated.

The Green Knights raised his axe again, and Gawain closed his eyes. The blade cut through the air, but instead of taking his head it only scratched his skin, although it drew blood.

"That was for the lie you told me, for you are wearing my wife's girdle. Rise, Sir Knight," the Giant stated. "The challenge is over."

With unsteady legs, Gawain rose to his feet and turned to look at the Giant, but the Giant was not there. In his place was his kind host, Bertilak.

"What is this?" Gawain asked, thoroughly confused.

"A test, young knight, from Arthur's sister. She thought you would fail. I am pleased to say you passed, for you are indeed chivalrous, brave, and for the most part... Honest."

Sir Gawain and Sir Bertilak parted on good terms. When Gawain finally made it home from Camelot, he was greeted with a hero's welcome. And from that day on the Knights of Camelot wore a green sash around their waist in recognition of Gawain's quest and a reminded to always be honest.

Copyright © 2017 Mary Anne Yarde

The Vigil by John Pettie, 1888 ~ Gawain represented the perfect knight, as a fighter, a lover, and a religious devotee ~ Wikipedia


It beats a game of Cluedo and Guess Who? I suppose. Although, I think I will celebrate Christmas and see in the New Year with a couple of board games and a verse of Auld Lang Syne.

War is coming to Saxon Briton…

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