Emily writes the paranormal romance Light-Bearer series, full of Angels, Vampires, and the friction between the two in a universe with refreshingly little prejudice. Please welcome her to the blog and download her free sample.

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1) What type of stories do you write?

Romance, acceptance of people no matter their gender, sexual preference, color, race… “The Light-Bearer Series” is not preachy, but it comes from the premise that we all start in Heaven… and in Heaven, there is no prejudice just Good and Evil.  It’s kind of a weird concept because people think it’s religious but they really aren’t.  However, you can’t write about Angels and Vampires without a little religious undertone. 

I love the concept of good and evil without other outside bias–It doesn’t sound preachy at all to me. I’ll be taking a look at your first book once I get past my next release.

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2) How do you kick back, relax, and recharge your batteries?

That’s funny because I work full time and go to MBA School full time and I write and do self-promos on the side… so, when I want to chill I mostly read to review other Novelists that have asked for reviews.  Then if I am really lazy, I watch Jane Austen movies, Supernatural Series, or The Big Bang Theory Series.  I don’t watch commercial television only when it’s DVR’d.  I hate commercials!!!

What you describe is not unusual for many of the indie writers I’ve come to know. Busy with many projects and very focused.

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3) What’s your favorite wine?

Oh I’m such a class act… White Zinfandel on ice!  Too Funny!

Watch out–White Zin is a total gateway wine! Next thing you know you’ll be drinking sweet Rieslings, Moscatos, and the occasional Pinot Grigio. You know you want to.

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4) I’m always searching out music for my playlist. What are you grooving to this week?

I love, love, love Mullet Rock right now… but I’m a big Classical freak and Love Songs freak, especially 80’s.

I’ll check them out. And who doesn’t love 80′s music? I was out dancing and grooving to that a couple of weeks ago. It’s required education, IMHO!

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5) If you had a minion army, how would you use them?

Huh, wow good question!  I would make people treat other people with respect.  I know that sound’s cliché but you can’t help a girl for trying to make the world a better place.

I’d vote for you.

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6) When you rule the world, what style of dominion will you employ?

I don’t’ know if this is the answer you wanted???  Democracy but don’t get me wrong, I think that there are too many fat cats and the poor people need a voice.  If you are talking about a Supernatural Police force, I would say Vampires in a New York minute. 

See, I let folks run wild, and I get awesome responses. I like the idea of Vamp police…but what would we do during the day?

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7) What’s your personal peak of rabble rousing instigation? 

Yes, I have been part of a campaign against people stealing author’s books.  Not because I’m an author but because it’s wrong to steal.  You wouldn’t go to a BMW dealership and steal a car or go to Macy’s and steal mattress, right?  So just because authors don’t charge a lot of money for books, why do people think it is okay to steal their intellectual property?  However, I was harassed and people I thought were friends turned against me.  Oh well, I stood up for what I believe is right.

Good for you! Welcome to the official instigator’s club. Please have a cookie. And no, not everyone will thank you for your efforts, but many will.

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If had to pick any other career, at any period in history with no limits, what would it be?

I would love to be an actress.  I have acted since I was a kid in musicals and plays.  I loved it!

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9) Who’s your favorite author? What about their work speaks to you?

Jane Austen and I love her subtlety, wit, superb color and contrast in her writing.  It is fluid and moving.  Now, I am the World’s Most Hopeless Romantic, so that speaks volumes on the subject.  But why does Elizabeth Bennet turn the corner in her love for Darcy when she sees Pemberley??  Burning question for the ages… I think Jane was romantic but practical after all?

I love how you capitalized ‘World’s Most Hopeless Romantic’ up above, and Austen is a fitting match for your title.

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10) If you could hang out with someone famous for a day, how would you spend the allotted time?

Truly, and I think you will not understand it but Wollstonecraft.  She wrote such twisted and unadulterated story (s).  I would love to sit and chat up with her about logic, framing, idea, and progression.  She would be fascinating.

I’ll have to check her out.

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11) Tell me about the inspiration for your current project.

I am writing the sixth novel in “The Light-Bearer Series” which is called “Conundrum,” and it will be freaking awesome!   A lot of people don’t know how I can top “Ransom” but “The Light-Bearer Series” is just beginning to kick up some Angel/Vampire dust!

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12) Is there a flavor of ice cream you just don’t understand? One that, by all rights, simply should not exist?

Haha, and it’s a favorite of a lot of people… coffee… why?  I mean I can’t get into coffee iced either.  I guess it’s because my Mom was raised by Greeks and I drank coffee as a little girl… always warm or hot.

See, I’m one of those people that love coffee ice cream. *hides*

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13) Additionally, what do you consider to be the stupidest fashion trend ever?

Board Straight Hair!!!  I mean really?  Nothing like being frustrated to the max with a hair straightener, so I just gave up.

Now that you’ve gotten to know Emily, if you’d like to try out her work, go to http://emilyguido.com/share-the-love-the-light-bearer-series-by-emily-guido/ and fill out the form and get a FREE eBOOK emailed to you!  However, keep in mind you will be subject to standard copyright laws.  

About the Author:

Emily Guido is a new Paranormal Romance Author. She was inspired to start writing “Charmeine” because one day she got an idea of two characters that needed to have their story told. Not ever dreaming a week later she would have over a 100,000 words written. When Emily writes, it is similar to you or I watching a movie. She pictures the characters in her head going through vivid descriptions of each scene. There are so many nuances going through her mind that she cannot type fast enough.  The novels “Mactus,” “Accendo,” “Seditious,” and “Ransom,” are the continuation of the wonderful adventures of the inhabitants of The Castle Charmeine!

Emily is currently writing “Conundrum” the Sixth Novel in “The Light-Bearer Series” She is currently working at a College full-time, and pursuing her Master of Business Administration.

Where to find/follow Emily:

Website: http://authoremilyguido.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5764521.Emily_Guido

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Emily__Guido

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thelightbearernovelist

I’ll autograph it with whatever you want inside and you’ll get that freshly inked from a squid smell. Hmm, real books! Gotta love ‘em!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Daemon Whisperer

by Candice Bundy

Giveaway ends March 20, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Good luck!

Courtesy ConsciousInk.Com Temp Tattoos

I’ve blogged about time management before, making to-do lists, productivity, and so forth. Yes, planning your roadmap is critical. It lets you know where you’re headed and what you need to do to meet your goals, both short and long-term.

Let me share a little secret with you: tomorrow doesn’t exist. Yesterday? It’s a relic you can talk about over wine and cheese with friends, but never visit. All you have is this moment. Now.

Never underestimate the powerful gift of now. When you surrender allow yourself this moment, your ability to focus amplifies and all other distractions fade away.

In a hedonistic sense, this is choosing to live fully within your skin. Owning your choices, good or bad, and handling each moment with as much grace and acceptance as possible. When you’re no longer fighting the present moment, each task eases. Instead of wishing to be somewhere else you can  embrace the joy available in your current activity. Yeah, work may not be your ideal of sipping margaritas on a beach, but the fact is you can’t live on the beach every day. All of us live in a task-driven universe, with expectations–both external and internal–everyday. We can choose the joy in every moment or we can lose ourselves to a nonexistent reality of a tomorrow which may never materialize.

Joy is a choice. I invite you, in the moments of frustration and irritation, to seek it out.

No, it’s not easy. Life is imperfect, messy and sometimes painful. But if you don’t live it, immerse yourself in it, you’re missing the ride.

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The far-off murmur of chanting voices and rhythmic drumming sounded from the mid-morning meditation. Still drowsy from the crèche medicinals and comfortable in the water, she closed her eyes and relaxed into the sound, intending to wait out Mala’s return with the food. The drumming and chanting grew in volume, Rai nodded off into a trance-like sleep.

And with sleep, came a dream.

Rai stood in a forest full of ancient trees, so tall the crowns were lost beyond her vision. The smallest shimmer of light shone through the dense canopy, not enough to burn away the thick morning fog lying in the valleys. A melodious trickle pointed the way to a nearby stream. Gliding deep into the large grove, she took in a landscape dotted with immense ferns growing out of rocky outcroppings and long-dead fallen trees. Some trees were split into great building block sections, as if they were massive tables and benches laid out for a feast. The moist humus squished between her toes. Rai felt like a mere trog bug dwarfed by her surroundings.

Blisters wore at the soles of her bare feet, and her clothes, a long brown cape over a simple dress, and areas around the knees and forearms of her clothing were caked with mud. Her waist-long red curls contained bits of fern and dirt within their tangled mess. She gasped at the cool, humid air, trying to slow her breathing, then stilled in fright when the rustling fronds of ferns moved in the distance.

The sound of muted voices grew, echoing off the ancient trees. The meaning of the words escaped her, but their tone was all too clear. They were coming to punish her, but where could she go? The voices became a thundering force pushing down upon her, relentlessly pressing her to either run or face their malicious fate.

Filled with terror, Rai ran away from the voices. The forest fought her, fern fronds whipped her in the face, branches ripped at her clothing, and gnarled roots caught at her toes and twisted her ankles as she fled. She caught glimpses of hooded figures in her peripheral vision and her fear drove even faster. Running through fog and fern the voices pursued, getting closer with every step. She stopped to gauge her path through the dense fog and the voices abruptly ceased. The entire forest stilled. Something brushed through her hair, took hold, and pulled. Rai let out a frantic scream, striking her fists against her unseen attacker as she fell backward . . .

Mala’s voice delivered Rai back to consciousness for the second time that day. Rai laid in the bath, Mala leaning over her, Mala wrenching Rai’s wrists in the air between them, her grip burning against Rai’s skin.

“Stop it!” Mala cried out. Her grip on Rai’s wrists tightened.

Shaking in residual fear, Rai relaxed her arms and tried to regain some composure. “Yes, Mala, I’m fine.” A red mark on Mala’s chin stood out against her tanned skin. “Oh, I’m sorry! Did I hurt you?”

“Be still, Rai. It was just a bad dream.” Mala released her grip and stepped back, and then straightened her skirts. “You must be more tired than usual from the crèche. It happens sometimes. Still, for your own safety, don’t nap in the tub.”

Rai sat up, bristling over her mistake. “It won’t happen again.”

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I hope you enjoyed this snippet. Let me know what you think!

If you’re a reviewer and would like to get on the list for an ARC, just let me know.

Shakespeare in Miniature

Grok?

Imagine my joy when, among the books passed down from my Dad, I recently discover this collection of petite, leather-bound Shakespeare texts edge-gilt with gold. The case has long since fallen into disrepair, but the books are in fantastic shape. Each one fits in the palm of your hand, begging to be enjoyed.

In my youthful innocence I was fascinated by these gorgeous tomes. No one else in my family ever touched them, and I assumed because they were tiny that they were children’s books.

In retrospect, I remember using the glossary extensively, and wondering at the vocabulary Mr. Shakespeare thought proper for children. But then, his works were from an older time, and I assumed this was normal back then. Also, I read many faery tales, and so differing cadence and speech patterns didn’t slow me down.

It’s no wonder I swear like a sailor now, only that I do it in modern english. When my parents discovered I’d been reading them, and enjoying the likes of Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, Othello, and the like, they had mixed reactions. My father was, well, disturbed. My mother thought my reading of the classics couldn’t be all bad, although she’d have preferred I waited until high school, I think. Eh, kids!

Here’s a picture from inside ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. Someone’s being an ass.

Much Ado About Nothing

I don’t know why my Dad saved these, but I’m thrilled he did. Sometimes life is all about the little things.

If you’re new to the series, now’s a perfect time to give it a try, as Steven has the first book, Blood Skies, FREE on Amazon.

The Witch's Eye - Book 5 in the Blood Skies Series

The Witch’s Eye

A new evil is born.

The Ebon Cities have created a deadly new breed of undead called the Witchborn, whose very existence spells doom for the entire continent.

To make matters worse, a nihilist cult called the Black Circle has learned of the Witch’s Eye, the source of the Witchborn virus and an item capable of opening a portal to The Black.

Eric Cross’s scattered and war-weary team must find the Eye before it’s too late.  With the aid of some unlikely allies, the mercenaries will fight their way across the wastelands and challenge the horrors at the edge of oblivion.

And before the battle is won Cross and his team will make the ultimate sacrifice, and face one of their own…

Return to the world After The Black in Book 5 of the BLOOD SKIES saga!

On sale at Amazon for just $3.99!

Image courtesy Familylabels.com

This week we were watching a series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes on Logo, because he’s into the superhero gal and all things Whedon. He’s learning 101 ways to kill a vampire, and can’t figure out why wood is so magically powerful against them. We go a few rounds on this one. He’s pretty sure not all wood is strong enough to penetrate a super-strong undead being’s flesh, and I’m thinking he’s got a point. He’s been reading too much Harry Potter and worrying about Ollivander’s wand selections. I digress…

An ad for the show “1 gal, 5 gays” comes on the air. It’s a funny ad, catchy. My son takes offense. “Why’s the show called that?” he asks. I’m a little unclear–not sure what he’s asking–a common parental issue. I explain sexual orientation, which I know he’s already familiar with, because we have relatives who are lesbians. He gets worked up, his face twists with a frown and he puffs out, “It’s silly. They should just call the show, ’1 gal, 5 guys’. Why would they do that?”

He’s got a point.

I understand the marketing department needing to communicate to the consumer the focus of the show. I get a lot of things about labels. There’s great pride in owning and reclaiming all of your identity and in being able to support others of like mind. I know through my blog I’ve connected to other people with epilepsy because I’ve stood up and owned that label as my own. It’s a powerful and amazing feeling. I’m not against a person’s right to champion their causes, but I do question our cultural need to place others convenient buckets instead of discovering them as people.

My son lives in a world where many labels happily don’t register on his radar–it’s wonderful to witness, and a great reminder to question and reset assumptions when needed. I’m reminded of the ongoing discussions about legalizing “gay marriage” while others refer to the same topic as “marriage equality”.

The words we use form the reality we live in. When filled with labels which intentionally marginalize, we deliberately divide our culture. When we choose inclusive, non-hateful language, we instead build a framework to rediscover ourselves through each other.

Anyway, I’ve taken another look at my own labels, and making sure the ones I wear are self-chosen. How about you? Anything you need to peel off?

My new release, Demon Inhibitions, threads sci fi, urban fantasy, suspense, romance, horror and mystery.I usually anchor my novels in science fiction but find it fascinating and almost impossible not to blend these other genres into the mix. You could compare it to a meal. While there’s nothing wrong with eating a piece of fish by itself day after day you might find it more tasty to add broccoli (horror), rice (mystery), salad (romance), bread(fantasy) and dessert (suspense). To be more precise, Demon Inhibitions consists of:Sci fi: Agent Caitlin Diggs believes a genetically made soul stealer is responsible for recent murders.Horror: The soul stealer has escaped custody and crosses a parallel universe dragging Diggs with him via wormhole.

Urban Fantasy: Diggs is assisted by a Wiccan investigator and a succubus. In her parallel universe, demons outnumber humans and a preternatural branch of the FBI deals with their crimes.

Romance: Diggs enters an altered reality and a love triangle emerges. Her new boss Charles Grant is beyond handsome but the other version of her friend Stanford Carter is stirring feelings she never had for his alternate.

Hitches: Grant doesn’t know ‘his’ Diggs has been killed by the soul stealer. Alternate Carter has been turned into a demon. Would romance with Carter change her as well?

Mystery: Why is the soul stealer hell bent on eradicating a teen whose singing voice inhibits demon violence?

Suspense: Diggs faces the prospect that conventional weapons will not subdue her fugitive. Can her newly acquired paranormal abilities give her a fighting chance?

I’m sure we’ve all read great stories that brought some or all of these elements together. They usually get boxed under one category for sales purposes. Maybe someday a multiple-genre tag will be born. After all, paranormal romance is still a fairly young genre and is ever growing. Change does happen.

Please stop by my FB page: http://www.facebook.com/GaryStartaSciFiFanPage

Demon Inhibitions Excerpt

]]> http://candicebundy.com/2013/01/demon-inhibitions-blog-tour-gary-starta/feed/ 1 http://candicebundy.com/2013/01/let-go-and-embraced-editing/ http://candicebundy.com/2013/01/let-go-and-embraced-editing/#comments Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:31:24 +0000 Candice Bundy http://candicebundy.com/?p=1236 I faced a number of challenges and accomplishments in 2012, both personally and professionally. I completed and published my first full-length novel, The Daemon Whisperer. I stood by my father’s side as his medical advocate for most of the year while his health slowly declined and then arranged for his care after he’d passed in October. I worked on engaging projects in my programming job, only to be laid off in November due to the impending fiscal cliff of doom. (DOOM! doom!) In December I picked up writing the next book in my Liminals series, and then began edits for the first book in my Sci-Fi series at the end of the month over the holidays, all while job hunting.

Oh, I left out the up and down battle I’ve run with my epilepsy. At times over this past year medication has kept things well under control. Recently, despite all the meditation, yoga, vitamins, and exercise, I’ve slipped downhill in my fight. What can I say–epilepsy sucketh! Can I get a hell yeah?

As you can imagine in this 2012 retrospective, there are lessons I will take and continue to learn from, grow, and nurture. Despite the frustrations, I wouldn’t change last year’s journey for the world.

If you remember my post from last year, then you know I don’t do resolutions. Instead I keep a running list of goals and tasks. Well, multiple lists of to-dos. (Don’t laugh, they’re sorted by subject…anyway.) I’ve noticed something wonderfully awesome, and I wanted to share. I’ve blogged and tweeted before about how writing gets easier with practice. Recently, I’ve hit a similar threshold with editing.

Now, I know I only have two books published, so let me give you a bit more perspective on my writing path. I’ve also written the first two books of a Sci-Fi trilogy, The Depths of Memory, and have another two books (in two different series) which are mid-process. The Sci-Fi books I’ve edited a ridiculous number of times. I can’t rightly count how many, to be frank, because I’ve rehashed the material many times over the years. There’s a long story there and well … whatever.

You get the point. I haven’t reached this editing threshold through just working on two books. It’s taken years, at least for me … your results may vary. I’m unusually stubborn. You might be pliable as a willow frond. I can’t predict these variables! Right?

Yet want I want to convey is the sense of where I’m at now. The utter freedom. I’ve had it with writing for some time. Once I’ve imagined a scene, or at least the components and have the base elements of the research I need, the words flow. Heck, even if I’m missing something, I’ll put in placeholders and come back later and plug-in the things I didn’t have at the time.

I mean, honestly, do you know about pentilic tiles? No? I bet you know about frescoes, though? Thus, research! I mean, I’ve held those little buggers in my hands in Pompeii, but could I remember the name? Nope. Anyway, I digress.

There’s a freedom to editing too, and it comes with practice. I used to hate editing. From what I hear, it’s the norm. Yes, it sucks when you’re up against a deadline. I’m not talking about external forces, I’m speaking of the mechanics, and the creative flow of the editing process.

Revisions are the most creative part, when rework is required to enhance the flow or cohesive integrity of the story. What do I love most about revisions? Visualizing the architectural flow of the plot, like a spider’s web, and tracking all the ways the revision ‘threads’ into flow, for continuity. Invariably one new section requires slight to moderate adjustments in other areas, and catching all the connecting areas of the web is a wonderful challenge.

Then there’s the rework of catching overused phrases, or where characters and/or settings just aren’t fleshed out well enough. Those are easy to do once they’re located.

The repetitive, but oddly satisfying work, includes reducing unnecessary adverbs, removing crutch words (whichever yours are), honing the wording in key scenes where you want the reader’s focus drawn (I mean, strive to improve it everywhere, but especially there), and eliminating passive voice where ever possible.

Those are editing steps I take. But then there’s the mental leap: letting go and accepting the process. Treating it as a journey, and not a sprint.

It’s the same for me as writing, or exercising, dealing with my epilepsy, or any number of things. Yes, I have an end goal in mind. Sometimes there’s a daily time limit, sometimes not, depending on the activity. Sometimes it’s just about the mindset. My head space, if you will.

Yes, there’s the butt in chair, hands on keyboard, internet browsing off aspect. The other part is knowing the steps, and a willingness to dig in and do the work until it’s done, simply because you love it.

No, you may not love every step, but you love your book. Or, you did once, back before you wrote it and edited it twelve times and then worked it over with a chainsaw with your editor four times. Yeah, back then. THAT book.

That’s the book you’re editing and the book you’ll eventually publish. When it’s ready, and you’re proud enough of it to stand behind it and put your name on it.

All you have to do is embrace the journey. Your journey.

And put your butt in a chair.

Amazon is continuing to discount the paperback version to just below $9! So if you’ve held out for a sale, now’s the time! (Especially if you can bundle with other items and save on shipping.)

Some of you have asked how you can support my efforts. The first and most awesome is, of course, by buying my books. I know many of you have already purchased a copy, and you have my enduring heartfelt thanks!

If you’ve read my book or books and feel so moved, I’d love an honest review. It doesn’t have to be long, even a basic star rating goes a long way sometimes towards convincing other readers towards giving a book a chance. You can leave a review as short as twenty words on Amazon, and Goodreads allows for star ratings only if you prefer. Usually when I do reviews I cut and paste the same text between both systems, because I’m lazy like that.

Now on to completely free and almost zero effort ways to help! Anyone who has an Amazon.com account can click the ‘Like’ button on my book pages and my author page. The more ‘Likes’ I have, the more recommendations and visibility my book will receive. At around 50 ‘Likes’ I become eligible for additional promotional spots. Spiffy, no?

How to Like a Book on Amazon

To like my author page you need to get there first. Check out this next image, it shows how you click on my linked name under my book title.

Browse to Author Page on Amazon

Then, once you’re there, click on the ‘Like’ button to promote me as an Author. Cause I’m cool!

Like An Author on Amazon

Another area on the book page you can help out are on the Amazon Book Topic Tags located further on down the page. Just click on all of them you agree on. If you want to there’s a textbox with an Add button next to it where you can add in new topics as well. This helps readers find books when they search on a given topic in Amazon, i.e. ‘cooking’ will bring up books tagged here, and the higher the tag counts the higher the ranking on the search results.

Liking Book Tags on Amazon

Wasn’t that easy? Now if you really love/’Like’ me, you can hit my other book page, Ripples, and like it too. Do you have other authors you adore out there? I’m sure you do! Go forth and spread some holiday joy around and ‘Like’ a few for fun, now that you know what those little boxes are used for. (Please use responsibly.)

Again, I want to thank everyone for your support over the last few months as I’ve debuted The Daemon Whisperer. I’m in edits on The Dream Sifter, the first in my The Depths of Memory Sci-fi/Horror trilogy, and soon I’ll start posting teasers for you here on the blog as the manuscript firms up.

I’m also continuing work on The Madness Path, and loving the book. It’s well…messier than the first book, and I don’t mean gory. Well, there’s broken bones in the first chapter–fine. I’m just saying, things are shaping up to be pretty out of control. But considering how I’ve named it, this is no surprise, eh?