Tag: author

Behind the Curtain: Loot, Prizes and Other Booty

No, I did not forget about prizes for Behind the Curtain. I have been stirring the cauldron in order for the best and most exciting prizes to float to the top. And, oh! What a range of prizes I have for this lovely contest. I’m not sure who will be the luckiest – all the packages are amazing!

The Dark Arts Package

Talented mixed media artist Angie Richmond (Twitter: @write_me_happy ; Etsy Store: Angie Richmond Designs) has donated an original canvas to the winner of this package (value: $50).  This 8″ x 10″ original mixed media work on canvas will feature one of Angie’s signature ‘dark trees’ and a quote from the winning work.

 
(Important Note: This is not an image of the prize, just a work by Angie at the same size. The prize will only feature the dark tree and the author’s quote from the winning story, not the bird. Artist reserves the right to change the details of dimensions or theme of this package, though the value will remain the same.)


The Dark Veil Package 

With all of these entries celebrating the dark secrets behind the curtains of the arts, we cannot forgot music. The winner of the Dark Veil Package will receive their own copy of the haunting gothic rock opera, Veil & Subdue. Veil & Subdue is the creation of Paul Ramey (Twitter: @paulramey) and Anna Meade.

For a sample, click below.

It Might Tonight – Music and Lyrics by Paul Ramey, vocals by Anna Meade and Paul Ramey.

Just Like Freedom – Music and lyrics by Paul Ramey, Vocals by Anna Meade.

In addition, the winner will receive a beautiful copy of the opera’s libretto, signed by Paul Ramey and Anna Meade.

The Dark Romance Package

For those who are not familiar with Sophie Moss (@smosswrites on Twitter), she is the authoress of the dark paranormal romance series Selkie Island Trilogy: The Selkie Spell, The Selkie Enchantress and the soon-to-be released The Selkie Sorceress. Sophie has a huge buzz going on Twitter and a devoted following, but was kind enough to donate a digital copy of her newest book, The Selkie Enchantress, to the Behind the Curtain contest.

It’s a perfect fit, for nothing is as it seems on Selkie Island and Sophie’s deft twists and turns will definitely leave you yearning for the third book. Sophie’s work and words were recently featured on the USA Today website – she is one to watch!
Sophie Moss, author of Seal Island Trilogy
Oh, this is what you’ve all been waiting for, THE ULTIMATE GRAND PRIZE PACKAGE for the winner of the Behind the Curtain Contest!


THE DARK FAIRY GRAND PRIZE PACKAGE

First, you too will get a copy of Veil & Subdue. But that is just the beginning of the Dark Fairy’s gifts bestowed upon you. 
Next, you will receive a magnificent writing notebook by our own Writing Organizational Guru, Ruth Long aka @bullishink.
 
Ruth puts us all to shame with her organizational mastery. This notebook can be used for NaNoWriMo or your Work in Progress and comes with a wealth of writing tips. Hordes of authors have begged for these notebooks AND I SECURED ONE FOR OUR WINNAR. HAHAHAHAH!

(Important Note: This is a photo of Ruth’s amazing writing notebook, for HER WIP. Yours will be similar but not identical. Ruth reserves the right to add or subtract contents.)
*blows trumpets of glad tidings*

Because your story was the finest of 61 entries, the Dark Fairy will offer things that NO ONE ELSE HAS EVER RECEIVED.
Allow me to repeat that. NO ONE ELSE HAS EVER RECEIVED THESE PRIZES. Excited yet? You ought to be. 

Winning author, rejoice! Dark Fairy promotions ahead!

 

* The winning author will be featured on Yearning for Wonderland in an in-depth interview by the Fairy Queen herself.

This interview will highlight your book, blog, or any other artistic project of your choosing. Anna will then promote this interview heavily on Twitter/Facebook and G+.
*The winning author’s story will be recorded by Anna. 
No, you did not read that wrong. Anna has a home recording studio and will do a creative/theatrical recording of your Behind the Curtain entry.
(This recording is yours, to use for any promotional/creative purpose of your choosing. This recording may not be sold or repurposed into another audio project.)
And, finaaaaallly…
* The winner author will be Anna’s partner in her next flash fiction contest (in Spring 2013). 
The winner will be heavily involved in this contest and will have input on the theme, promotions, format, prizes, etc. 
Who wouldn’t want to dance with the dark fairy?
Now that I have whet your appetites, please don’t turn on each other. Writer-on-writer murder will cause your entry to be disqualified. Maiming, on the other hand….
#MOOGHOOHAHA

Blog Hop, or Terror in my Soul

You may notice even though I frequently refer to writing on this blog, I have not actually posted much writing. That is because it’s far more pleasant to muse idly on the beauteous creations of others than to expose your own tender work to the knives of the internet comment board.

However, I have decided this is a cowardly stance. In support of my awesome and amazing writing friends, Lillie McFerrin, Daniel Swensen, Angie Richmond and Angela Goff, I am entering my tiny, humble piece-ling into their Super Cool Blog Hop Contest. In 300 words or less, write a piece of flash fiction, poetry or song using the photo prompt below. You can go here for the details. Below is my wee entry. *covers eyes* Okay, now you can read it.


Hour of Light
She kept walking. The Wood wasn’t bright enough this time of night, so she thought – luminosity – and it steadily grew brighter. Time and again, she had told the trees to grow in straight lines, but they never listened. The dark trunks jutted from the ground in irregular clusters, silhouetted in the gloom. She trailed her hand over the flowertops, gently dotting dewed petals with her fingertips.  As she brushed past them, they sang along with the wind in a lonesome susurrus. She placed a finger to her lips and tasted the dew; it tasted of memories.
This was how she always walked in the Wood, towards the light. The starflowers grew so deep this time of year; they were already above her knee. Her bare feet grew cold as she squished through the grass, so she decided it was warmer than she thought. 
 
She took great breaths of the air, scented with dead and growing things. The sky was growing steadily lighter, for she knew it was the hour of light. Sometimes when she walked through the mist, she could not decide which way was forward and which was back. So she kept walking. Was there a time she had ever not walked in the Wood? She finally reached the hanging light bulb and reached up, up, up so carefully on her tippy-toes. She pulled the cord and the light went out.

Singing the Dragons to Sleep: Farewell to Anne McCaffrey (1926-2011)

Today marks the end of an era: author Anne McCaffrey passed away at the age of 85, from a stroke at her home in Ireland.

I remember the first time I saw an Anne McCaffrey book: I was in a used bookstore, one that I frequently haunted in hopes of discovering some dusty paperback treasure. The books were always shelved stacked, spine-out, so you could scan whole stacks in a hurry. I was about 11 years old.

I was getting bored, as I already had a small book pile tucked under my arm, so I ran my finger down the shelf for “M-Mc.” The word “Dragon” caught my eye. I pulled it out; it was Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey. I had never heard of her, but I definitely liked dragons and I liked that there was a girl riding on the back of the dragon and that she seemed to have most of her clothes on. Even at the age of 11, I was skeptical about the fantasy novels that featured scantily-clad barbarian ladies on the cover.


I had read The Hobbit a few years before and had shuddered at visions of Smaug curled up, one eye half-open, gleaming with his gold. Who wasn’t fascinated with dragons? Who didn’t want to fly?

When I was older, I learned to appreciate her accomplishments. The White Dragon was the first science fiction novel written by a woman to make the New York Times Bestseller List. Her work often had strong female protagonists, not to mention queen dragons. She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction and the first to win a Nebula Award. She paved the way for countless female genre writers thereafter.

Anne brought us a whole world, blended science fiction and fantasy with carefree elan. Pern takes its place alongside hallowed fantasy lands: Middle Earth, Narnia, Oz, Earthsea, Discworld. Her writing allowed us to feel the wind blasting our hair back as the dragon launched into the air, to hear the flap of mighty wings.

She allowed us to fly. So ride the dragon’s wings to your well-deserved rest, Anne. Pern awaits.

Article first published as Singing the Dragons to Sleep: Farewell to Anne McCaffrey (1926-2011) on Blogcritics.