My Stories

I write adventures for those in search of a good story. My novels fall in the Fantasy genre, but many people consider them Sci-fi too. Each story is written with what I look for when I read a book: action, adventure, twists and turns, love, heroes, vicious enemies, fighting (weapons and hand to hand combat). I write because I want to share the stories that are inside of me. I hope you enjoy the adventures as much as I love writing them!

Saturday, August 25, 2018

"Taken: The Ytinu Srebas" one scene that was created by a song

When I was writing about the music that had a huge influence in the writing of "Taken", I mentioned a couple of scenes/songs. So I'd like to share one of them today.

First is "Never Tear Us Apart" by INXS.  If you're not familiar with the song click on "Never Tear Us Apart" for the link to it. Or click on it as you read the scene below. 😉

So here's the scene:


“He turned to me as the music faded into a new song, and his eyes locked onto mine. They were a brilliant blue that emanated strength, and I knew I’d be safe with him.

I wasn’t sure if it was the music or him, but I could feel my desire rising. He put his hand on my hip, not touching my bare skin, and we began moving with the rhythm of the music. I felt his other hand move down my body without ever touching me. We moved as one. There was no uncomfortable closeness or awkward motions, causing me to feel like we had done this before.

His hand slowly moved into my hair and he bent me back. His breath caressed my neck as he bent over me, and I closed my eyes. I could picture his blue eyes looking into mine, his worried smile. He rolled my torso up close to him again.
My body was craving his, it was overwhelming. I wanted to be so much closer. I breathed him in. I knew him, but it was only a dream… wasn’t it? Suddenly it didn’t matter, and I opened my eyes. He was leaning in close and I lost my train of thought completely. He was all that existed. 

My hands moved across his broad shoulders, one hand went to the back of his neck the other touched the side of his face. I could feel a strong sensation coursing through my entire body, I felt the need to have him closer. His eyes stared into mine, and I could feel what felt like agony. I felt it so strongly that there were tears brimming my eyes. His lips pressed against the palm of my hand, releasing the most amazing sensation I had felt since I woke up. I knew that he wanted only to be with me, and that… 

“I will keep you safe,” he whispered in a voice that was all too familiar. 

Tears were sliding down my cheeks, everything about me needed him. His face moved within inches of mine, his eyes were so blue I thought that they were glowing. He brushed his lips against mine, and I closed my eyes to the sensation that set my soul on fire. I felt him regretfully pull away.


(Excerpt From: Amanda Schmidt. “Taken: Blades of the Ytinu Srebas (Book 2).” iBooks.) 


Now I don't know if you can feel it like I do, (I hope you can) because still to this day, when that song plays this scene is ignited as though it was my memory instead of something I created for a story.     


Wednesday, August 15, 2018

August

I can't believe it is the middle of August. I went camping in the U.P. near Porcupine Mountains and time just isn't the same up there. I highly recommend going to the Porcupine Mountains if you love nature, hiking, camping...   Now I know I've said for a long time that hiking above Pictured Rocks is my favorite place. However, I think I might have changed my mind. The trails in the Porcupines are steeper and more forested, and just as, if not more, beautiful. 








I apologize for halting my posts on here. Along with hiking and camping I've also been working on Story 20 (adding more details and flow to the story). And I'm finally working on Story 16 again. I am fixing the edits I received from 2 of my 3 editors. (I'm hoping to have this one ready for publishing November-ish.) Unfortunately I still have to create a title and cover art  .  And as soon as I get that project set, I'm going return to fixing the edits/revisions I've made to the printed manuscript for story 10 (When I finish that, I am hoping it will be ready for editors).

And finally, for the rest of August I am going to remain on the story "Taken" and slide into Book 2: "Taken: Blades of the Ytinu Srebas". (It is also the the second book I wrote and published.) 

Here are all the basic things about book 2:

Genre: Adventure/Contemporary Fanatsy/Young Adult
Age: 10 and up.
(I let my kids read them when they were 10. There is suggestive language and mild violence so it's a parental choice. My kids really enjoyed the adventure and characters as do all my fans which spread across the spectrum from preteen to seniors)

Published: 2012

What it's about:
The official blurb: Ava was taken from the world she knew, tortured, trained, and almost killed by Will - a power-hungry Lanigiro. Wasn’t she? Ava awakens in the world that should feel like home with her best friend Ashley by her bedside, but it’s not right, something is missing. Ava is not at all certain about what has happened, but one thing is for sure her life has forever changed.

Who (origin/gender):
Ava (Earth woman)
Gabriel (Trinnatium man)
Jake (Lanigiro man)
Lisa (Trinnatiu woman)
Will (Lanigiro man)
Naliak (Lanigiro man)
Ashely (Earth woman)
Ben (Earth man)

Where:
Earth