I have to share that tomorrow is my birthday, but I’ve already gotten the best present ever. My first novel, “Released,” has just gone live on Kindle.
As I stare at the Amazon page, I wonder if this thrill ever gets old? Do established indie authors still get the heart-pounding sensation that I’m feeling right now?
I must admit…this is nearly as good as chocolate cake!
Here’s a tidbit from “Released” — on sale Friday, April 12.
Sometimes one must take drastic measures when their own survival is at stake. People are always going on about wanting to travel and see the world, but let me share something I once heard from my mother – be careful of what you wish for because it might come true…
When I was just knee high to a grasshopper it seemed that grass was always greener in someone else’s pasture. I wanted to go to faraway places and live a life of luxury. But that was before I met Sultan Shahryar and agreed to be his queen back in 1706. Talk about the honeymoon phase ending quickly. It ends up my life in that Persian palace lasted only 1,001 nights, before my stories ran out and the Sultan lost interest in me. The only way I could save myself from beheading was to end up here – shrunk to the size of Thumbelina and hidden away in a dusty bottle, floating through oceans and seas to land in 2013 on the shores of Malibu.
So, I survived, but was it worth trading my life for this kind of…existence? Every time I enter a new realm, I find myself wondering: what was I thinking?
# # #
As usual, my thoughts were reeling with images of people and places, while songs I had yet to learn pounded my psyche like a surreal music video. It happened every time I entered a new Realm — my mind played catch up, preparing me with visions of major events. Atrocities mixed with celebrations, joy along with sorrow. The visions came in flashes and snippets–two planes hitting New York’s twin towers, the U.S’s first black president taking the oath of office, and to my surprise, Queen Elizabeth II celebrating 60 years as Britain’s monarch.
I rested within the confines of my home, a cobalt blue bottle encrusted with a diamond butterfly. I intuitively knew that my release was imminent, but something was different about this time. The voices I heard today were those of two eighteen-year-old girls from unremarkable backgrounds.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on their voices, willing my mind to see them. A delicate hand turned over my bottle and traced a finger against the faint lines that bore my name…Suzette. But it was impossible to tell which girl had held my bottle in her hand. Just as quickly as it arrived, the vision altered and my mind’s eye drifted more clearly to the girl called Samantha. She was thoroughly absorbed in her shopping, browsing through racks of other people’s discards with purposeful intent, plowing ahead with determination. Every once in a while, her green eyes would twinkle with life as she would flip a wave of gorgeous red hair over her shoulder, letting her friend know that she was on a mission.
The other girl, Charlotte, observed her with serene patience and simply shook her head in the negative each time her friend held up a dress. Undeterred, Samantha moved quickly, bouncing from one rounder to the next, believing the perfect dress was waiting for her. Charlotte seemed the more grounded of the two and willed the ordeal to be over.
This mundane shopping expedition hardly seemed like a vision worthy of my talents. I struggled to focus my mind on who would become my next Releasor, but it was useless. Their conversation and gossip flooded my mind as if the volume had been turned up. It was all I could focus on and the image of the two of them was the clearest vision I’d had in months. Although I had yet to be released, I could observe them from within my bottle, much in the same way they watch television.
Stay tuned for more from the Romani Realms series…
I’ve always believed that you can’t be a great writer if you’re not an avid reader. I wanted to share a book that I’m anxious to read…”Silent Orchids” – The Age of Alandria, book one, by Morgan Wylie. This is Morgan’s debut YA fantasy novel and it sounds amazing.
A dying realm.
The ancient evil of the Droch-Shúil has been unleashed.
The Orchids have been silenced…but for how long?
Daegan, elite of the Ferrishyn warrior tribe of Faeries, is charged with a mission to find the Sol-lumieth, a mysterious new power that could change the fate of all in the realm of Alandria. But he is conflicted by his purpose, and he cannot trust the motives of those he serves. He has too many questions and they must be answered.
Kaeleigh, a girl abandoned as a small child just outside Missoula, Montana, is now 18. She is trying to discover who she is and where she belongs. In her heart, she feels she has family out there…somewhere. Desperate to unravel the mysteries of her past, she embarks on a journey that will forever change her along with her two best friends, Finn and Chel—who have secrets of their own.
You can keep up with news relating to “Silent Orchids” at Morgan’s social media channels:
I’m so excited to reveal my first cover…that’s right, I am a total cover newbie, but after working with the wonderful Eden Crane, I can’t wait to do this again. So here it is, my cover for “Released”: book one of The Romany Realms series.
“Released” features a Genie named Suzette who is bound to two seemingly ordinary high-school girls, but soon discovers that two demon gypsies, who have followed her throughout time, are taking a dangerous interest in these girls.
The novel is a paranormal romance with elements of steampunk. Look for it in April 2013.
Thanks for visiting my new site. I am so excited about the launch. My first books will feature a YA paranormal romance novel titled, “Released,” and a chick-lit novel called “Alert the Media.”
“Released” is the first book in a planned three-part trilogy and features Suzette (Suki to her friends), who is a Genie released by two seemingly ordinary high-school girls. The book focuses on Suki’s quest to help the girls’ discover their new found powers before a vengeful demon gypsy and her gorgeous brother (more on him later!) wreak their havoc.
“Alert the Media” gives a peek into the world of entertainment publicity. It’s a fun romp featuring April, whose life is turned upside down when her husband, a hot actor, decides he is gay, but insists that April keep up the charade of a happy marriage for publicity sake and the financial well-being of her firm.
Both books will be available at all of the usual online sites. Look for “Released” first, coming out in early March 2013.
