The Cover for Heart of the Emperor

As I stated earlier, I had found this pink sparkling flower that I knew my daughter would love.  I kept looking at as we walked around the store and I couldn't stop thinking how it would make a beautiful cover for a book.  The flower became a pivotal part in the book.  It is a native flower to Tridan (the Kamtra home world) which roots itself into the heart of the planet. ( I would tell you more, but I'd rather you read the story to find out.  😉)  The background represents the ground that the Kamtra have made their city and tunnels in.  Not only is Tridan made of rock, but it is a lava planet as well, thus the lava flowing through the green rock.

Now one of my favorite things about the paperback cover is if you open the book and turn it upside down the lava flows in a heart shape.  Which I decided to do because of the title and the beautiful love story that this book turned out to be.  I was so pleased with myself for this idea until I realized that no one will ever notice...  unless I tell/show everyone.

Thank you, again!!

I just wanted to thank everyone who came out and said "hi!" and those who were willing to take a chance on me and bought one or more books at the Heritage Festival last week! Even though the weather was not in my favor, it was so nice to meet and have a chance to talk to people about writing and/or reading. Thank you so much!!! I couldn't keep doing this without you! 😊 
If you like my stories, please take a few moments to write a review or even just rate the book. It helps other people decide to take a chance and read one of my books too. For those of you who buy my books from me, I learned from a couple of fans, that you can go onto Amazon and write a review there (I'm almost positive you can do that at the iBooks as well). Thank you all so very much!!!  
If you missed the show last weekend, I am currently set to be at:  

• Rochester H.S.(Michigan) Holiday Bazaar:  Nov. 2nd from 10am to 4pm  
• Romeo H.S.(Michigan) Band Craft and Vendor Show: Nov. 9th from 10am-4pm

If anything else pops up, I'll let you know! 😉

Writing "Heart of the Emperor"

My mom has read every book I've published.   At one point she asked me if I could write a book without so much violence... towards the female.  I just stared at her.  The violence in my stories is because they're warriors, and that's pretty much what I told her.  However, my brain latched onto the challenge.  I already had a story that was brewing in my mind so as it started to come to life I held onto "write a book with less violence".    Yep, "Heart of the Emperor" is that attempt, and I think it turned out to be a wonderful story.

Now this story was created from an object I discovered while out shopping at a craft store.  (I wasn't actually the one doing the shopping, I went because I had nothing better to do.)  I remember picking up the object, knowing that my daughter would love it, it was pink and sparkly.  However, as I carried it around the store, I couldn't stop thinking how beautiful it would look on a cover for a book.  Now in order to put the object on my cover it would need importance, and from there, the story came alive in my mind.

One of my favorite parts about writing this book was that I had no idea who the underlying bad guy was, it could have been anyone.  (When I wrote this story, it was the first story where I hadn't seen the important part of the ending that helps me bring the book to a close.)  I remember making this comment to my cousin, excitedly telling him that I couldn't wait to finish it, because I wanted to know who the "bad guy" was.  He replied, "Aren't you the one writing it?"   I laughed and replied, "I'm the one writing it down."  I was to the last couple of chapters, and explained to him about the different characters and how they could be the bad guy, but until I wrote it down I wouldn't know who and why.  The people in my books are not always forth coming about who they are or where the story is going.  To me, writing is like watching a movie.  I see the images and I write it down. I hear what they're saying and I type it out. He smiles and says, "Ah yes, the voices."   We joke about "the voices" all the time.  Because honestly, it blows me away how I am able to write stories, and most times when I re-read them I still can't believe I wrote it.   This story was no exception.

Heritage Days In Rochester, Michigan

I will be selling my books at this event!  I'd love to see you there.  It really is a fun event for everyone.  

Heritage Days is an outdoor event with a long tradition in the Rochester community. The show is held in Rochester’s scenic Municipal Park, providing a pleasant, family atmosphere. In the past, this festival has attracted over 20,000 visitors and includes: the Arts and Crafts show, live music, native plant sale, Civil War Encampment, car show, tractor show, live lumberjack shows, camel rides, a pancake breakfast, wood carvers, a petting zoo, food trucks, and a variety of other family-fun activities.

The month of May: "Heart of the Emperor"

This month I will be writing about "Heart of the Emperor".

Here are the basic things:

Genre: Adventure/Fantasy/Young Adult 

Age: 13 and up.
(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: 2014

What it's about: 

Here's the official blurb: 

• Short: On a planet where the sun does not shine, a place where no other race is tolerated, in a patriarchal society where women are not soldiers, Commander Emma Matix finds herself forced to live. There is deceit and treachery, and she knows she must figure out what’s at the heart of the Emperor’s motives in order to save the Kamtra people’s lives - along with her own.

• Long: The betrayal of Commander Emma Matix cost her everything. Now she’s in a predicament where she must trust a Kamtra man that is rumored to rip people apart with his own two hands. She has stared into his metallic orange eyes and knows that he is quite capable of killing anyone that stands in his way. She knows he loathes the human race. So why did he save her in the first place? Was it to strip her of her identity, torture her, use her against the human race? Or did he keep her alive simply to prove to all what he is actually capable of? There is always an ulterior motive to kindness. Perhaps if she can figure out what his is, she will be able to survive.

Who: 
(Emma) Matix
Tiberius 

Remtec

Sahlia

Where:
This story takes place on Tridan and a few other planets in the depths of space.

I think that covers the blah blah blah part of the book, if you have questions or want more information feel free to ask.