*Finnikin of the Rock* | Bookish Community Read-A-Long!

Posted Monday, 7 October, 2013 by jorielov , , 1 Comment

Finnikin of the Rock badge created by Jorie in Canva. Photo Credit: Cole Patrick (Public Domain : Unsplash)You will be seeing quite a bit of this lovely badge, over the score of the next month, as I proceed to enter into the world of the “Lunatere Chronicles” as foretold and revealed in “Finnikin of the Rock” by Melina Marchetta!

My fascination with this book has roots to the original post I read about it whilst wandering around Blog Nation’s bookish blogs feed page, wayy back in August! Whereupon I stumbled across this book review made by Charlene (Bookish Whimsy), and of which, made me realise that this was a high fantasy novel that I wanted to read! :) There was something about the way in which she conveyed the characters, the setting, the story, and the overall enjoyment on her end to have read the book!! I was intrigued and captivated by this world I knew nothing about and I felt energised to want to read it! I had no idea that there was a read-a-long in the works, and as I marked myself down to participate, I was even more curious about the book in the weeks & months leading up to the start date! You see, all I can speak about in my home, is “You know there is this bloke called ‘Finnikin’, and you see,…” Now, I get to read his story!

| Actual Event Scheduling |

The Event runs from October 7th – 27th
Finnikin of the Rock readalong: October 7th-20th. (That’s two weeks to read 400pg)
October 7th-13th: Prologue and Chapters 1-15
October 14th-20th: Chapters 16-30
(Scheduled posts by participating bloggers will be added here as they are received.)

Charlotte @ Gypsy Reviews | Lumatere Chronicles & High Fantasy (date open)
Lee @ Rally the Readers | Reaction Post (Oct 21)
Tory @ The Sleeping Latte | Feels post, possible Lucian post (Oct 14, 21)
Kim @ YA Asylum | Character/Relationship post (Oct 17)
Alisa @ Picture Me Reading | Undecided (date open)
Samantha @ Celestial Carousel | Review, possibly more (Oct 22)
Doing Dewey | Review (Oct 25)
Charlene @ Bookish Whimsy | Review, Beatriss and Trevanion (date open)
Paola @ A Novel Idea | Undecided/Isaboe (date open)
The Duchesses Group Review (date open)

[I will be updating this calendar of posts as I know more!]

| Jorie’s contributions will be |

Theme of Community: 20 October | November
Theme of Family: 26 October |  November
Stand-Out Character Profile: 27 October | November
Reaction Post: 27 October | November

+ The Three Friday’s Discussion Posts!
| [8 November: Prologue – Chapters 10] | [15 November – Chapters 11 – 20] |
| [22 November – Chapters 21-30] |

**Originally it was my intent to post in October, due to personal matters I had to let go of that idea and pick up the reading & the blogging of my adventures in this wicked world in November! I will be turning in the links for my posts as they alight on my blog to Charlene @ Bookish Whimsy so that perhaps in time, other readers who are seeking reader impressions about this book will stumble across the reading I did too! It would be nice to think that I could pass forward to the joy of ‘wanting to read’ this novel as that is how it came to alight in my own life, through the joy spun out of Charlene’s review of the book! Due to my participation in SFN I decided to draw out the reading per week in order to manage both events!**

{SOURCE: Finnikin of the Rock badge created by Jorie in Canva. Photo Credit: Cole Patrick (Public Domain : Unsplash).}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2013.

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Posted Monday, 7 October, 2013 by jorielov in Finnikin of the Rock, High Fantasy

Samantha Lien @ JKS Communications Publicity Firm | Panel Speaker: James River Writers Conference!

Posted Monday, 7 October, 2013 by jorielov 0 Comments

James River Writers Conference

Prominent Authors and Agents Ready to Converge in Virginia for 11th Annual James River Writers Conference

Two Day event which features: workshoppes and inspiration for up and coming writers! Be sure to mark your calendars!

| 19-20th October 2013 |

How did JRW start? We began in 2003 when a group of area authors sought to address the needs of writers and literary fans in central Virginia by hosting Richmond’s first writing conference. Since then, we have grown into a multifaceted organisation of more than 300 members that serves as the region’s literary hub and a welcoming home for anyone who loves the written word. Our many programs inspire people, young and old, to pick up a book and read, or to start writing for the first time. For those already writing — be it poetry, a family memoir, or a great new novel — we help them improve their craft. A number of local writers have gone on to get their work published because of JRW. JRW plays a key role in expanding our region’s life-long literacy and in adding a vital dimension to Richmond’s cultural life.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA: Writers, mark your calendars. The James River Writers Conference, is celebrating its 11th year as one of the most prestigious gatherings of published authors, literary agents and editors in the country with a two-day event that will inspire and educate writers on the rise.The James River Writer’s Conference returns to Richmond on October 19 and 20 with an impressive line-up of literary professionals, writing workshoppes and opportunities for aspiring writers to pitch their book ideas, hone their skills, and connect with nationally recognised authors and publishers.This year’s conference features an extensive list of esteemed guests and speakers including: award-winning book designer and writer Chip Kidd; National Book Award-winner Kathryn Erkskine and best-selling | award-winning author Christopher McDougall. Also making appearances at the conference are award-winning authors Cece Bell, Lydia Netzer, Megan Mayhew Bergman, and Philippa Ballantine. Book Doctors and Pitchapalooza founders Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry will be on hand, and don’t forget to make time for agents including: April Eberhardt, Deborah Grosvenor, Victoria Skurnick and Paige Wheeler.Year after year, the conference is lauded for its remarkable programs and its noteworthy influence on the writing community. It’s no wonder why hundreds of people have been flocking to central Virginia each fall since 2003!

“The James River Writers Conference [is] one of the best writers’ conferences in America,” says David Henry Sterry, of The Book Doctors. “If you’re a writer, do yourself a favour, and get yourself to Richmond, Viriginia, and go to this conference. It’s filled with warm, generous, talented writers, editors and agents.”Registration for the annual conference is OPEN and writing sessions are already filling up. Find more details and a full list of programs at JamesRiverWriters.org.

The 2013 conference is supported by BrownGreer, VCU Libraries, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Fraga Studios, CultureWorks, Dominion, Hunton & Williams, Art Works, and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

 

When Ms. Lien contacted me on: Monday, 7th October 2013 asking me to help promote a writers’ conference she would be attending lateron in the month; I excitedly agreed to post this on Jorie Loves A Story! You see, she is my contact with JKS Communications Publicity Firm for working with them for blog book tours! I worked with them in early September on the tour for “The Prayer Box” by Lisa Wingate, and I am scheduled to work with them again in January 2014 on the tour for “To Tuscany With Love” by Gail Mencini. She’s always such a delight to schedule a tour with, that I was compelled to seek out what JRW involved and thus, was inspired to share this on my blog!

First and foremost, I am always willing to spotlight an event for writers’ because without these tangible in-person conferences for writers’ who are still on a journey towards publication, we, the readers’ might not be graced with such a diverse range of books to read each year!  I decided to do a bit of research to see who would be attending as well as to ask Ms. Lien to give me a bit more information about which panels she would be participating in herself! Lo and behold, amongst the authors’ I found one of the books I remember reading spotlighted on Book Browse! I only regret I won’t be able to attend! It sounds like such a wonderful event!!

| Authors in Attendance |

Kathryn ErskineA well-traveled interesting author who has resided in the following lovely locales: The Netherlands (where she was bourne!), Israel, South Africa, Scotland, Newfoundland (Canada), and Virginia! I have a sneaking feeling that I am going to be seeing if I can get her books through my local library: Ibhubesi: The Lion, Quaking, Mockingbird, The Absolute Value of Mike, and Seeing Red. I am thankful for this chance to come across her writings!

Christopher McDougall – He is the author of the book Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen. The premise is quite intriguing because I have always been keen on natural healing and health, always wanting to seek the best wellness I can for my body, and this book delves into a tribe in Mexico who has unearthed the secret to not only curbing disease and illness, but how to ‘run’ great distances without pain, injury, or rest. I am rather intrigued about this book now, I must say! As I have heard of running in the forest to help heal your feet and weaknesses of tendons or knees, but I am curious what he learnt whilst in Mexico studying the Tarahumara Indians!?

Cece Bell – Children’s book author & illustrator of the following quirky and clever titles: Bee Wigged, Itty Bitty, Food Friends, Busy Buddies, and the Sock Monkey series. She exhibits a very happy attitude and a carefree spirit that I am sure is stitched into her stories! I will have to check out her children’s books at some point! I love finding new children’s lit authors, and I love the happy glow she has about life, living, illustrating, and writing books that young readers can get excited about!

Lydia Netzer -This is the author I was referring too above, as her novel Shine, Shine, Shine, was not only a featured selection on Book Browse, but it was one of the books they gave away! The thing is that I thought at the time, this book was a bit too emotionally intense for me to tackle, yet that didn’t take away from me appreciating that she would a wholly unique story!

Megan Mayhew Bergman -Her short story collection Birds of a Lesser Paradise, was a Book Browse pick in March 2012, yet I do not believe I came across it at the time it was featured! Although, I do attempt to read everything that Book Browse offers its members, I oft find that there are a few books here or there, that do slip past me! I am not as familiar with shorts, as I would hope I would be, and therefore, I might give this one a try, as I am finding them to be quite a unique lens to view the world!

Philippa Ballantine – She has an extensive array of published books, including a wicked looking Steampunk series entitled: The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences! Originally from New Zealand, she calls Virginia home! A regular pod-caster, and multi-genre author who co-writes her Steampunk series with her husband, Tee Morris! This appealed to me because I am finding that the range of Steam novels that are available are of such a wide variety, that you simply have to give them ‘a bit of a go’ and see where your interests lie!

| Literary Agents in Attendance |

April Eberhardt – She chose to found an agency that can weave between the traditional and e-publishing markets. She’s an agent that gives top priority to those who submit their stories in person at select writers’ conferences by which she attends yearly.

Deborah Grosvenor – On a personal note, what interested me to read in her biography is that she picked up “The Hunt for Red October” by Tom Clancy whilst she was an editor! I was intrigued by this news, as that is singularly my favourite “Jack Ryan” motion picture, and a book that I want to read! She seeks out non-fiction alongside these themes of choice: history, biography, politics, current & foreign affairs, memoir, food, health, the environment, and health. She is a principal agent at the Grosvenor Literary Agency.

Victoria Skurnick – She spent 20 years working for the Book-of-the-Month Club, where she had the honour of working with numerous best-selling authors! I can attest to her selection skills as in the early 2000s, I was a member for a short-lived period of time! She currently works with Levine Greenberg Literary Agency.

Although I haven’t come across the books they represent previously, the blurbs of these had me curious about what I’d find inside their covers: “Mr. Churchill’s Secretary” + “Princess Elizabeth’s Spy” by Susan Elia MacNeal; “A Little Night Magic” by Lucy March; and “While We Were Watching Downton Abbey” by Wendy Wax.

& Paige Wheeler – She helped develop Folio Literary Management, who is individually keen to read stories that encompass the following themes: women’s fiction, romance, mystery, thrillers, inspirational/Christian, and psychological suspense. She also is interested in select non-fiction titles that run the gambit of: lifestyle, relationship, parenting, business/entrepreneurship, food-subsistence-homesteading topics, popular/trendy reference projects and women’s issues.

It should be noted that they represented “The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” by Jacqueline Kelly which I am going to be re-reading at some point so that I can speak about my impressions on JLAS, as I simply loved this book! This is a book that is transformative in its narrative and endears you to the story due to the nature of the relationship between Calpurnia and her grandfather! This is the book whose story will affect anyone who grew up with a deep appreciation for the natural world such as I did!

11th Annual James River Writers Conference Events By which Samantha Lien will be in attendance:

This marks Ms. Lien’s first year in attending the James River Writers’ Conference, on the lark suggestion of a bookseller she knows who believed she would make an excellent guest speaker! She has also heard stories of past attendees who are authors she knows personally, who do nothing but evoke a sense of urgency in seeking out JRW, due to their positive reactions to past conferences! I hope that her first conference goes smashingly well and that being a speaker on the panels rewards her in ways she is not suspecting!

PANEL ONE:

DAY: Saturday, 19 October 2013 | 3:45-4:45p | PANEL INFO

TOPIC: What’s New in Publishing?

PANEL: Greg Michalson, Beth Phelan, Samantha Lien, & Rebecca Joines Schinsky, Mod

INSPIRATION: How do writers keep up with the ever-changing landscape of publishing? Catch up on all the latest news and trends with industry professionals. Find out how you can adapt your marketing strategy to reflect recent developments.

PANEL TWO:

DAY: Sunday, 20 October 2013 | 10:30-11:30a | PANEL INFO

TOPIC: Thinking Outside the Book: Trailers and Apps

PANEL: Megan Mayhew Bergman, Samantha Lien, Michael Portis, & Julie Green, Mod

INSPIRATION: How do you grab your share of attention in this digital age? What do you need to know to make your own book trailer? Is your book right for an app? Learn the answers to all these questions and more!

PANEL THREE:

DAY: Sunday, 20 October 2013 | 11:45a-12:45p | PANEL INFO

TOPIC: Creating a Strategic Marketing and Publicity Plan

PANEL: Carey Albertine, Samantha Lien, Jon VanZile, & Rebecca Joines Schinsky, Mod

INSPIRATION: Explore the steps you can take to prepare your work for the best possible reception. Leave with ideas you can put into practice right away!

Questions for my dear readers: Have you ever attended a writers’ conference like James River!? IF so, what do you attribute to being the best part of your experiences? Do you think you will be attending JRW this year OR do you hope to earmark the conference for 2014!?

{SOURCES: The “James River Writers” Logo & the 2013 Conference Badge were provided by James River Writers’ Conference for Press/Media/Bloggers who aim to get the word out about their organisation & conference! The information about James River was taken from their Press Materials online. I was asked to help promote this particular year’s conference by Ms. Lein of JKS Communications Firm, who said that I was qualified to use these logo badges due to the fact I am promoting the Press Release for this Event! Ms. Lien provided not only the official Press Release, but she answered a few of my questions as far as the specifics of her participation at the event itself! I also conferred with JRW and was given permission for the use of the badges and text about them in the manner in which they appear.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2013.

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Posted Monday, 7 October, 2013 by jorielov in James River Writers Conference, JKS Communications: Literary Publicity Firm, Literary Workshoppes

*Blog Book Tour* : Chronicles of Ave: Vol. I by Stephen Zimmer

Posted Saturday, 5 October, 2013 by jorielov , , , , 0 Comments

Parajunkee Designs

Chronicles of Ave: Vol I | Tomorrow Comes Media

Chronicles of Ave: Volume I by Stephen Zimmer

[continuing the saga started within the Fires of Eden series]

[Book One: Crown of Vengeance]
[Book Two: Dream of Legends]
[Book Three: Spirit of Fire]

Published By: Seventh Star Press, 3 September 2013
Official Author Websites: Zimmer on Facebook; Zimmer on Twitter; Personal Site; Blog
Author Page: @ Seventh Star Press
Artist Page: Matthew Perry @ Seventh Star Press; Portfolio

Available Formats: Softcover and E-Book
Page Count: 330

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Acquired Book By: I was selected to be a stop on the “Chronicles of Ave: Vol. I” Virtual Book Tour, hosted by Tomorrow Comes Media. I received a complimentary copy of “Chronicles of Ave: Vol. I”  in exchange for an honest review by the publisher Seventh Star Press. The book released on 3 September 2013. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein. This marks my first stop as a Tour Host for Tomorrow Comes Media!

It should be known: Although, I do not know Mr. Zimmer personally, I have come to appreciate his conversations on science fiction and fantasy, as I uncover exactly where my allegiances lie in each genre! There was a period of time, not so far away from today, whereupon I knew exactly the thematic of story I could sink myself into, but time and memory have waylaid my knowledge of those specifics! Through working with Mr. Zimmer to set up book tours through Tomorrow Comes Media, I am finding a new niche of this side of my reading life, and I am thankful to have found such a kind-hearted and genuine voice at the other end of my inquisitive missives! I was thankful too, that he agreed to partake in an author submitted interview by someone such as I, who had not yet read a book of his, but was curious to know a bit more about him, and of his writings!

Stephen ZimmerAuthor Biography

Stephen Zimmer is an award-winning author of speculative fiction, whose works include the Fires in Eden Series (Epic Fantasy), the Rising Dawn Saga (epic-scale Urban Fantasy), the Harvey and Solomon tales (Steampunk), the Hellscapes tales (Horror), and the Rayden Valkyrie tales (Sword and Sorcery).

He is also a writer-director in movie-making, with feature and short film credits such as Shadows Light, The Sirens, and Swordbearer. His Steampunk stories are available through Dark Oak Press.


The Chronicles of Ave
Artwork Credit: Matthew Perry

Synopsis of The Chronicles of Ave: Volume I:

Escape into the wonders of Ave in this first collection of short stories featuring the fantastical world from the Fires in Eden Series by Stephen Zimmer.

Into Glory Ride” tells the story of a young Trogen Warrior who is called to go up against insurmountable odds when an Elven raid strikes his homeland. The Trogens have only begun training winged steeds for combat, but time is of the essence and a momentous choice has to be made by the young warrior.

In “A Touch of Serenity” a conscript laborer working on a massive wall constructed under the orders of the Divine Emperor begins to hear ghostly voices asking for help. His response leads him on a journey that will test his courage, wisdom, and compassion.

In “Moonlight’s Grace” a young man goes to help his people when a Midragardan raid strikes Gael. He seeks to prove his worth to the chieftain whose daughter he loves with all his heart.

The novella-length “Winter’s Embrace” follows a warrior-monk into the depths of dangerous woodlands in the heart of winter. There he will find his faith tested in ways he never anticipated, when he must help a forest witch against an enigmatic, immortal being known as the Undying.

Lion Heart” introduces the heroic Sigananda of the Amazu people, who must confront things that transcend the laws of the physical world when powerful Wizards threaten his homeland.

In “Land of Shadow” a knight who is part of a band of Avanoran mercenaries discovers how perilous the mysterious Shadowlands are when they undertake a journey to locate a site to build a fortress.

A world of wonder beckons to be explored and fantasy enthusiasts are invited along for the journey in these half-dozen stories from the world of Ave!

Also be sure to take further adventures in Ave in the Fires in Eden Series, beginning with Crown of Vengeance, Book One!

On how to pronounce the title:

“Ave” is pronounced like “Ave Maria”. It’s a salutation in Latin, closest to the word “Hail”. He wanted a way to announce the creation of the world, and the world itself is a proclamation of its existence as much as the beginning of the stories of the world itself.

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In the Authors Own Words:

Ave is meant to be a salutation to life and existence itself, in
the purest sense, as the antithesis to oblivion and death. Ave is, in
some senses, a salute to life and the world at its origin, and hopefully
its eventual, transcendent state where death has no place.

Therefore, Ave is filled with the glory of welcoming, an enthusiastic
“Hail” to life, and you can embody the idea of that in the love of a
mother for a son, and the gift of a mother, as resonates in that song
“Ave Maria”.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

| “Into Glory Ride” |

I was not quite prepared for the warrior’s song that I uncovered whilst reading this short story, as I was drenched into the heart of the Trogen’s fiery spirit, as Marragesh sets the pace for a heart-wrenching battle to reclaim his clan’s right to live outside the borders of their greatest enemy, the Elves! Taken a bit aback at the dedicated war hunger of the Elves, I was esteemed to find Marragesh and his clansmen built of such sturdy fortitude and bravery, realise that they could effectively change their race’s future; if they could only resolve how to make an imprint of a theshold on their enemy’s next advance! What bolted me to enraptured emotion in the ending pages of this story, is the dexterity of skill, the Trogen’s exercised in the sky!

I haven’t read fantasy novels in quite a long while (at least of this magnitude!), enso, my point-of-references are all but obscured and obstructed! Yet within the layers Zimmer used to build this battle, he’s able to capture with the keenest sense of story-telling precision, the etches of other battles from other fantastical realms. In the thick of the battle flight, where sword is pitted against sword, creature fighting against creature to retain their alighted heroes, I saw echoes of the Jedi attempting to make enroads against the Sith in their surge against the Death Star, as much as I saw a murmuring echo of the battle sequences in Avatar, when Jake took the courage to stand with his fellow Na’vi, who became his adopted brotherhood!

The sweeping arc of the setting grabs you from the moment you recognise the gravity of the scene unfolding for young Marragesh and his steed, Banca as they practically tip-toe amongst the cliffs he’s meant to keep watch over to guard over his clan’s safety. Waves crashing against the bolstered cliff wall took me to far away lands I have only dreamt of visiting and hope to see with my own eyes one day. There is always a draw for me to be on a land of such magnitude of power as the sea evokes to its native shores. A resolute strength against the tides! And, in regards to Banca’s sure footedness any person who has a fondness for cats, can assert that some animals are naturally graced with a sturdy gait and a footfall that defies logic! Especially since, this reader has a feisty little tux that can scale a rail and run its length without even a whisper of her presence known! Fur flying behind her bloomers and all!

The entitlement provoked a certain resonance for foreshadow that I was observant of, yet being an optimistic soul, I had hoped for an alternative outcome, when logically there could only have been the one transcripted! I think we always want to hold onto what we are never ready to part with, as a part of our human condition and inability to always yield to accepting the circumstances that bring about the most change in our lives. Even as a reader, we long for characters that we travel along with as they ride into their destiny to take a piece of our hope with them, that our strength can somehow infect them with a bit of a balm of extra strength, and somehow we take away with us a part of theirs in return. Their strength etches into our consciousness, as we lament about their life’s song of purpose, forever grateful to have crossed their path. Zimmer has a gentle hand in navigating what a heart yearns to see and what destiny has already provoked to being necessary!

I had hoped that Mr. Perry might have included sketch references of the Elven Lavion and of the Trogen Harrak, as although I could just make out each of their differences and strengths, I think a sketch might have helped shaped the sky battle a bit better for me! I was most impressed by the docility of Marragesh’s Harrak, as it reminded me of how fond a warrior Native was attached to their horse! I think there are certain bonds between animals and the ones deemed to fight alongside them.

An end that came too soon: I was swept into the Trogen’s encampment, to the brink of being thirsty for more of their stories! I can see why in the footnotes of this collection it is said that Zimmer’s readership crave the stories featuring the Trogen’s! How could they naught!? They’re bold warriors who have a sense of fighting skills and courage that even the Vikings would consider honourable! They are a mighty gruff race of war-hardened men, who endear you to them by the way in which they fight for their freedom and way of living! They commit you to their cause without having to overstate their purpose! I appreciated how Zimmer transcends the potential gore of war into a metaphoric rumination on life, peace, and the hope of what may yet come. He humanizes his characters, grounding them with a full conscience of integrity, and allows them to champion our heroic endurance to seek a way for them to succeed! I will look forward to digging into the “Fires of Eden” series as I am able too! I daresay, I want to know more! This is a brilliant introduction as it is a window into one specific time period of Trogen life, yet its the full gist of their threaded core of courage and heart!

As an aside, each time I read “Marragesh” I inadvertedly thought musefully of “Marrakesh”!

| “A Touch of Serenity” |

Epic in the scope that a sense of place is easily recognisable as an alternative sub-sphere of time which stitches close to the construction of the Great Wall of China. On the crescent sliver of engaging into this new history of Ave, I vaguely remembered the brutal horror of a warlord like Ghanghis Khan, (although not Ghanghis Khan!) of whom was notorious for entombing his foot soldiers into the pillar statues of an army tenfold in size! Of course, I am not sure if this has been reputed and disregarded as mere ‘myth’ rather than definitive proof of existing, as this stems back into my childhood! And, such stories always stand out to be rather fantastical and scary! This was a different story from how the Terracotta Warriors came into being! I remember well how I longed to learn more about his reign (here I am referring directly to Ghanghis Khan!), and those of the Mongolians! I am not as sure as why I have always been drawn into histories of war, but war played a large part of my interests in history throughout the centuries. Perhaps because it is in our nature to go to war with such a frequency that is harrowingly shocking! Therefore, this opening sequence of events was not met with aghast horror but with a fascination of just how far a ruler would go to ‘cleanse’ his servants’ existence in the pursuit of a maddening project of vanity and power!

I trudged forward into this story, because I knew at the heart of this one could lie self-sacrifice of another lens by which Zimmer chose to key in on and give his readers another hearty segment of museful solace! He’s definitely a story-teller who wants his words not only to soak into your mind whilst reading, but to leave a definite impression to be re-examined and turned over once the story is not as readily visible! This is one of his strengths, as he lays bear his impressions and lamentations of what he wants to depart upon the benefit of his characters’ giving voice to his own thoughts on these subjects!

Being a student of T’ai Chi Ch’uan, I took an interest in his lead character’s name in this short, as it drew me back to why I appreciate the serenity that can be found whilst practicing the Four Winds as much as the Long Form! I miss the reverent days of my studies in T’ai Chi Ch’uan, but when ones’ instructor ups and leaves without notice, its oft difficult to find a replacement whose calm teaching yields the ability for internal solitude of thought intermeshed with seeking the hidden benefits of slowing down one’s mind, in order to capture a tenth of the chi lost in the chaos of everyday life! Zimmer’s Ch’uan evoked a sense of longing to restore the peace I used to cherish in securing each morning I would practice!

It was here, at the introduction of Chang Tao Ling, that I realised that the insight of Mr. Zimmer in knowing where my heart lay with fantasy was of the utmost of truths! I could not eat the words fast enough, nor could I drink in the heart-pounding joy of being a breath away from a tiger! I am truly a girl bent on reading epic fantasy! What a joyous discovery to have made, because I was curious if I leant more towards this side of fantasy rather than another! I do appreciate the scope and depth to these kinds of stories, which is why I think the most obvious of things to note are generally the ones that are within plain sight! I should also disclose that I have always held a candle for learning more about Chinese history, folklore, and mythology! I am drawn into stories that touch on these subjects, as much as I appreciate a motion picture that explores a certain level of mythical proportions! One of my favourites, of course, is “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, which I believe I mentioned on my blog recently (although I could be mistaken and bespoke of it on another blog completely!), as it lends itself to that particular style of story-telling that I adore so much! There are other films that fit into this particular niche, as much as they shift out of it a bit: “House of Flying Daggers”, “Hero”, “Curse of the Golden Flower”, “Life of Pi”, and “The Forbidden Kingdom”, by which I would like to see one day! And, of course I appreciated “Bulletproof Monk”, even if I wished the CGI sequences could have been matted a bit better against the live action!

Remnants of readings of the Magi were subtly contained within the wizard counsel where we’re introduced to: Fu Shen, Tsai Shen, Kuan-Ti, and Shou Lao! I also detected a bit of Incan and Aztec histories inside this story, as I know more of their sacrifices than of other cultures, as I have visited Mayan ruins, where of the three distinct cultures, the Mayan’s infused a temperament not seen in the other two! With a dashing nod to the Egyptians as well! This story has a bit more intense battle playing out inside itself, but as foresaid, Zimmer has a way of dampening the level of bloodshed to impart the greater message that the tale is being writ to give!

I was not a bit surprised at the gravity of the evil encased into this storyline, as it begs to reason that with great power can bequeath either great good or great evil! There is always a ying-yang balance, which directly applies here as the roots of this story lie in the mythologies of the East. I think none of us truly are aware of what our earthen gift is until we reach the day where we instinctively feel that we have arrived at the moment by which our true path has emerged into view. Each of us can do far more than we think is possible, and each of us can give back so very much to others in ways that we may not even be readily aware of. The key to life and of living is to remain steadfastly open to the possibilities that are beckoning just beyond the light of what we understand!

An enlightened man’s eyes become fully awake, filled with light, and are perpetually open rather than closed. His sight is not blinded to what he didn’t understand previously, but rather, is cast anew by the insight he has been given!

| “Moonlight’s Grace” |

This is the one short I didn’t finish reading, because the turn of bloodshed evoked more of a visage of horror then I was willing to shake off as ‘part of the overall story’! I do have my limitations, and for me, this one was just a bit too brutal for me to recover from or go through! I think if the beheading had been cheeky as in Harry Potter’s introduction to “Nearly Headless Nick” for instance, I might have been able to sustain it, but this is, wells, let’s just say, it’s a proper beheading! I am sure Louis VIII would find it faire of choice! I did not get to the ‘grace of the moonlight’, so I do not know if Finnian & Brigit were able to secure their affirmative love for each other, or if they were ill-fated to unite! Honestly, I had an easier time with the previous two shorts, because the stitchings of the story were not co-dependent on the battlefield gore in the foreground, but rather an internal course of fate!

I did read the note on this short in the back of the book, as I nearly had forgotten that Mr. Zimmer was including notes on each story,… I think I will ask him which page to ‘skip over too’ in order to bypass the battle, jump into the romance that is evolving between these two characters, and tap into the reason he has selected this as one of his favourites thus far to have written! I wish I had a stronger stomach, but I just couldn’t shift past that particular gruesome scene, sorry! Having read his spin on this short, I see its of true importance to the story of the people of Gael!

| “Winter’s Embrace” |

A simple respite from a glowering fire-filled ire of humid insanity, I started to allow my mind to entertain the full brunt of Winter, to off-set my uncomfortablity in enduring a Southern Autumn! This short brings such blissful notions to mind as stomping through high packed snow, whistling winds, and a bone-chill of cold to greet your body as you step outside into the elements! What heavenly bliss to partake in, whilst your succumbing to high 90+ degrees when a few states to your North are already seeing the temperatures bank downward into the mid-60s or in some fortunate spots, droplets of snow have begun to fall! A story of Winter! I am already enjoying it!

Ah, Zimmer returns to the style I appreciate when it comes to fierce battles of woe! Skirting the grisly details, being near euphoric in hope, and confirming that the battle is intense, but there is a greater purpose about to be lit upon! I guess you could say I like war to be a bit glossy and rosy! I really do not need to bear witness to the exactness of what a soldier or warrior needs to experience, because I have enough empathy inside me to last many moons over many lifetimes of battle scarred warriors! Of course, I spoke too soon! I made it through the battle, but ugh, the next bit reminded me too much of what I didn’t like in the ending chapters of “The Boxcar Baby”! I will give the next short a go!

| “Lion Heart” |

I appreciated that the central focus on the opening of this story wasn’t about the kill that takes place (here I refer to a wild animal, not a person), but rather, what led to the killing to happen, which struck a chord, as I oft wondered if this could occur in our world as well, if hunters and those with them might not see the warning signs on the trail they are walking and could befall a situation that had tragic consequences. The wild environs deserve our greatest respect, because the animals who live in the wild play by a different mindset and group of rules than those of man. Instinct reigns supreme as does the fight for survival at all costs. I like how he included the Native American beliefs that I grew up listening too by a Cherokee I befriended at an art gallery who stressed that his tribe and others, do not believe in killing what cannot be used nor what is not readily needed. He said that an animal that gives their life has to be honoured and respected in return, and ever since that day, I have noticed how many indigenous cultures feel the same and keep the same traditions. I, too, believe this, and I am not sure if this was inspired by the stories I overheard OR if I had had this view prior to knowing. I lean towards my views being spilt in the middle of origin!

Actually, in a unique twist of wording, I was impressed that Zimmer lessened the severity of the scene by using a clever ‘visual metaphor’ of describing one of the crucial bits to it! My mind adverted off the scene directly and juxaposition his clever foreshadow of the action being described rather than to consume myself with the totality of what was really happening! Highly appreciated!

Sigananda is given a foreshadowing of his destiny by Mawa, who is the village’s seer that I think many would have not only balked against as possible but would have contemplated why they were singled out before accepting her words as truth. I did miss a bit in not having read Ave, as to understand the key structure of his people, such as the differentiating regiments of warriors that can be called to battle; however, I tried not to worry about what I didn’t fully understand and focused instead on who the impetus for entitling this “Lion Heart” would be revealed as to being! I like stories that give a particular character a ‘quest to undertake that is both grave and mortally wounding’ as they are generally the mark of transition of character, growth, and the full realisation of that person’s pre-destined path. I appreciate these stories because they seek to encompass the larger truths that are not always explored.

I even like the exploration of Sigananda’s back-story, as in regarding to his unwavering courage in times of intense adversity! He is a strong character who does not understand the true depths of his worth, nor of his abilities, but he has the honour of a warrior who knows that despite any doubts he might foresee, he must march in the direction of where he is ordered to deliver a resolution that everyone can accept. I liked how he is flawed in one sense, as he distrusts his own abilities, but knowing of the task he was given, I am sure most would have felt the same! And, yet he is strong in another, as how he is able to think quickly on his feet to secure his safety and the safety of others in harm’s way. He’s an interesting character for sure! And, I sensed that like Marragesh, his path is not lighted with an easy load by which to carry!

This short ends on the precipice of a larger evolving story, by which, I would think expands in the part of Ave that it originally was inspired to be drawn out of. In that way, I am curious if the boy and girl effectively hold a larger piece of where Sigananda’s future path takes him!?

| “Land of Shadow” |

The second thing I found amiss in the collection came to me whilst I read this short, (as the first I had said was the lack of illustrative plates by Mr. Perry to help encase our heads around the inhabitants of Ave), was the lack of a topographical map! I had forgotten how helpful I find maps to be inside fantasy novels, because they help align your bearings as you walk through different realms within the same world! They help you get a navigational sense of place, and therefore, can best ascertain the vastness of distance that worlds such as Ave contain! My favourites always included the different tribes, as well as specific landmarks known or not yet known within the timescape of the story itself! I think I have missed having that at the ready! I would presume it is enclosed with the first installment of Ave!?

The Shadowlands being presented here in this short, is not for the weak of heart as to having to thwart or contend with creatures that put the hairs on your necks on auto-pilot detection! I’m not a fan of spiders, so just knowing this part of Ave has a mutant variety of them at the ready to pounce on you was just as devastating to realise that there are water-based creatures who can fell a man simply out of boredom! What a curiously hostile part of Ave! Reminiscent of documentaries I have viewed on tv that depict such harsh and dangerous areas in our own part of the universe, I can attest that this is one girl who would not traipse through this territory but opt instead to hang out with the Trogens!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.comA note on Zimmer’s style of story-telling:

He is one of the writers that I would genuinely be delighted to seek out (if it had not been for Tomorrow Comes Media!), as he parlays his fervent passion for research by interspersing what he uncovers into the tapestry by which Ave is threaded against! It’s a world that encompasses as many distinctively unique cultures, traditions, spirituality’s, and languages as our own living counterpart, and yet, it has something to give back to us as well!

It’s quite apparent at first reading that Ave is a world that you can gently enter into but its a world that draws a breath of dedication with each glance! The further you walk inside Ave, the more you want to know, the more you want to experience, and the more your drawn to wonder about the extensive scope of the stories that prompted this collection of shorts, which marks a transition through a lesser notation of them in the serial installments already known! Bits and bobbles of undercurrent histories stitched into the under threads, that give a larger impression of the story on a whole! OR, at least this is what I imagine to be true!

You get the firm sense that Zimmer is a voracious reader who dips into a bit of everything that yields to his personal curiosity and allows his mind to wander through the gate of his imagination to deposit into a reader’s hands a wholly encased world whose dimensions are ever expanding into larger scales of tales yet to be told! Except for the few shorts, where I think he opted instead for traditional heroic bloodshed story-telling! This might draw a close eye towards the fact he appreciates the horror genre, and bits of that seep into this side of his fantasy worlds. It’s his passion for research that I applaud first and foremost, as not every writer goes to the length as he does and I always celebrate a writer I find who carries out research on this level! Secondly, he endeavours you to amplify his words into motion by the words he uses to provoke a visual response, in which backs up something he said in an interview I heard of his (whilst researching which questions I wanted to ask him in my own interview!) where he acclaimed his novels are set to embody a motion picture medium rather than the printed world of the book! This is a claim he rightly deserves to make!

The care he takes to diminish the force of the violence inside by counter-balancing it with a life lesson is absolute genius, because your not as apt to focus on the brief encounters of evil, but rather, on the benefits of what each short attempts to draw out of the character he’s chosen to hone in on instead! These characters, I perceive to be secondary ones in the larger stories (novels), yet, they have a specific life-path in Ave that cross-sects with the intervening entities or events that bring about the most metamorphose of growth! You can use me as a barometer in knowing that if I can handle these stories, you can as well! I have an intolerance for violence, but I cherish the soulful stories such as these that grant the reader a ruminative conclusion of what they’ve read!

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A pause to highlight some of his character’s name selections:

Marragesh – My first instinct was that this name was not wantonly unknown to me, but I couldn’t place its direct origin, except to query a curious eye as towards it was a surname rather than a first name! I, tend to do this myself, whilst I am creating characters that I want to draw a firmer breath of strength into and to set them apart from their fore-bearers or familial contingents! My earlier mentioning of having this ‘hint me towards Marrakesh’ was my way of expressing that I create ‘endearing’ names for characters I struggle with to pronounce! In this way, I find characters transcend their original intentions left behind by the writer’s whose hand drew life into them! I am not sure of his method of creating names, which is why this will remain elusive to me!

Jarun – I did not know there is a lake in Croatia of this same name! I remembered “Jaran” or “Jaren”, and I wasn’t sure if he was hinting that this was an alternative to either of those or a new name completely! It doesn’t surprise me that he named the Trogens with bold and strong names, that can inflict their personality into their warrior spirits! Afterall, a warrior isn’t akin to a name that doesn’t sound like it could weaken in battle! No! They want a name that can be declared with a bit of power behind the letters!

Ch’uan – Is a bit easier to place, as its a name originating from Thai, yet is a Chinese name! The direct meaning of the name is to transmit a message or to convey a message, which is interesting, as this is what I was speaking about how ‘names can clue us into a character’ in a way that is singularly unique outside the scope of the narrative! It is also in different reference to T’ai Chi Ch’uan, in which it is known as boxing with fist, which is clever as this Ch’uan in the story is a pacifist!

Chang Tao Ling – This wizard’s first name can be representative of the attributions of “constant or often” which I think speaks directly to his ethics of how he approaches his duties as a wizard. Tao is a way of ushering in a path by which to take or of an understanding of a particular route. This is recognised readily when Ch’uan and Ling first meet in the forest! Ling can even be referred to as monasterial in Tibet, but I think what is being called upon here is that he is a reverent sage! Historically, “Chang Tao-Ling” founded the “Way of the Celestial Masters” as part of Chinese Religious Beliefs!

Fu Shen – The more interesting sounding names, I oft discover have a rather ordinary meaning behind them! As would you think that “Fu” means simply to be pretty!? Shen on the other hand can go the gambit as being part of Chinese spirituality or can be a testament towards accepting that not every dragon you cross paths with is going to be the good natured kind! Being a wizard I would presume its part compliment to his countenance and part a glimpse into his spirit. Wizards, of course, were always known to be enlightened past the brink of commoners, such as monks generally are known as well! In Chinese mythology, “Fu Shen” was a God of Happiness!

Tsai Shen – How interesting! This name could mean: spiritually gifted chai! As in Cantonese this “Tsai” translates to chai, by which is one of my favourite drinks!! Especially if its in latte form, silky smooth, and a cuppa of comfort of luxury! Clever! Except to say, that “Tsai Shen” was a powerful God of Wealth and Prosperity!

Kuan-Ti – One thing that I have known, is that writers who are passionate about research, which parlays into the spiritual realms, have the tendency to leave behind little ‘grains of seeds and sand’ that a reader can seek out and gain further insight into the creating side of the stories they read! As the wizards who were presented in the short, something struck me as being extraordinary about not only how they were being introduced but the names in which they held! Clearly, despite my absence of reading fantasy, I have not lost all my instincts in the genre, as this article will expand on the history of “Kuan-Ti”.

Shou Lao – If you seek, so you shall find! Look at what I found about the origin behind “Shou Lao”!! Whose full meaning will illuminate in your mind after you read Ch’uan’s story in full! Ironically or naught, I knew there was a bit more to that final sequence than my mind was attaching itself towards! I just ‘knew’ I was missing something!! Humph! I sorted it! Wicked!

Brigit – The name made me think of “Bridget”, though I knew better than to suspect commoner origins for her, as she has a story of great urgency and importance to share, which made me smile whilst I uncovered the “Celtic Brigid“!

Finnian – I love unearthing potential histories of characters I encounter in stories, as I may stumble across a writer’s inspiration behind their character names, but even if I hit a bit into left field, the joy in simply understanding a plausible next level of insight into a story, is enough for me to feel content! “Finnian of Clonard” has an interesting life’s tale to share!

I personally love character names that make you pensive about the origins of where they were generated as much as the motivation of the author to use them! They give a sense of place that you cannot always slide into the narrative as easily as a ‘name’, as our names are as distinctive as our ancestral backgrounds! They are like fingerprints of origin and hint at a history just outside our scope of knowing!
Rock on, Mr. Zimmer!

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The short that told a tale larger than its size:

A toss-up between “Into Glory Ride” and “A Touch of Serenity”, although of the two, I think I lean more towards “Into Glory Ride” because it was the one that choked me with emotion the most! Despite my affection for Ch’uan, of whom I hope is developed further into the annals of Ave, it was the sheer bravery and choices made by young sky riding Trogen males that endeared me to their race and to their triumph over the Elves! There is something naturally spiritual about the story that takes us into Marragesh and Jarun’s world ever-so-briefly. A parable of a dying breed of men who choose to rise above their own desires in order to see the clan by which they belong endure longer than their oppressor hopes to extinguish! I find great courage in this story, as well as such a strength of Hope that weaves through their courageous hearts! I am not sure if they mirror how I perceive the soldiers’ I give back too through Soldiers’ Angels, banning together and being strong for each other at the times that count the most or not, but this story was larger than its size!

 Ave, Middle Earth, and Pandora, places I can only long to visit:

I can easily assimilate myself into worlds whose expanse of depth encircles a sphere as big as our own Earth! Challenging and shifting histories, cultural clashes, religious misunderstandings, and the everyday strife for people to survive is etched into any world that is written into the hearts of the readers who find their stories! I am not certain if Pandora was necessarily available in story format prior to the motion picture of “Avatar” being released, but the reason I included that particular world is due to the majestic arc of its natural environment! I was literally swept out of this reality and placed wholly into another one — by the time the film ended on its climax, I was hungry for the next installment! The Na’vi are an indigenous race who endear themselves to you as soon as you meet them! How could you not want to live amongst them, even despite the obstacles towards that end!? I can still see the forest if I close my eyes, and listen ever so closely to the sounds that you would hear if you walking at nightfall…

When I was first introduced to “Middle Earth“, it was an unexpected late afternoon / early evening showing as I went during opening weekend of “The Fellowship of the Ring“! I would later aspire to attend a midnight showing, but I am not remembering if I had; I do know I saw a midnight showing of the last prequel of “Star Wars“! From that very first glimpse into Middle Earth, I knew I had ‘gone home’, as there was such a curious attraction of recognition from what my eyes took in from the screen! I couldn’t get over this feeling as though “I have been there”, and yet, after learning that the director Peter David had filmed in New Zealand, that loomed to be a rather large improbability! Yet. I never shook the feeling, and to this day, I hold a special place in my heart for Middle Earth! My favourites are book-ended, as its the middle ‘Middle Earth’ film that I didn’t appreciate as much! (“The Two Towers“) Which strangely is my same affirmation for “The Chronicles of Narnia“!

Although, this serves as my first introduction to the world of Ave, I very much hope that its not my last sojourn into its core of history! I am hopeful that despite the battle savvy warriors of the Trogens, and the dedication of the warriors of Gael, that perhaps there will be more of the life of Ch’uan and of the descendents of Marragesh’s clan! I’d love to see what happened to the evolving arc away from Elven rule, to where the Trogens could declare liberty and live more freely! I would very much like to see Ave in peace-time as much as I have seen her in war-time! There must be lands of enchanting visual beauty as well, as Ave appears to me to be a world where the natural world is as divinely inspiring as the one that lives outside our own doors!

What staid with me after I closed the final pages on this collection of Ave:

I learnt that its okay not to thoroughly become engaged with each short inside a collection of shorts, if I can detect an appreciation for the world at large, in which this case is Ave! I think this is why I was always a bit hesitant to read short story collections, because I oft wondered, what happens if I cannot find my footing!? What if I cannot sink into the stories, but find rather, I like bits and bobbles in each of them, but overall, I cannot get my head to wrap around the whole!? I learnt through this tour, that with collections such as these, it’s better to go in seeking a path towards understanding the world of the “Fires of Eden” series verse attempting to put heart-to-mind in a resolve to engage in each short as it was intended to be read! Afterall, what appeals to me through “Into Glory Ride” and “A Touch of Serenity” might not appeal to the next reader at all and vice versa!

I also learnt that I am drawn into epic fantasy realms where the scope of the story is told out through many installments, and where each of the layers that you unravel only serve to give you a further glimpse into a partial history of the combined story! I love the mystery and suspense that that evokes, as you never know who or whom you will encounter, or how each piece of the puzzle will fall into place, until you reach each new chapter or tome of story! Such bliss, right!?

There are creatures who have a dedicated heart that match their companions, and there are unsightly evils that seek to destroy the remaining good that has Ave wrapped in Light. I like how the stories each strive to serve one main purpose of showing the dividing lines between good vs. evil in a few new ways than might first be expected to be revealed. These are the stories that everyone can relate to the most, and the ones I think will always have weight to be consumed!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

“Crown of Vengeance” (Book One of the Fires of Eden series) by Stephen Zimmer

by Seventh Star Press

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Be sure to catch the second half of this showcase on JLAS:
Jorie interviews Stephen Zimmer!

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“Shrewsbury & Zimmer” Virtual Book Tour Roadmap:

  1. 30 September: Contest @ Library Girl Reads & Reviews
  2. 30 September: Interview with Stephen Zimmer @ Ian’s Realm
  3. 30 September: Review @ Book in the Bag
  4. 1 October: Review of “Blood & Steel: Legends of Gaul”
    by Steven Shrewsbury @ Azure Dwarf
  5. 1 October: Reader Interview Stephen Zimmer @ Bee’s Knees Reviews
  6. 1 October: Guest Post by Steven Shrewsbury @ Armand Rosamilia, Author
  7. 1 October: Review of “Chronicles of Ave: Volume One” @ Lost Inside the Covers
  8. 2 October: Character Post: Gorias La Gaul @ Beauty in Ruins
  9. 2 October: Guest Post: Steven Zimmer @ Come Selahway with Me
  10. 2 October: Guest Post: Steven Shrewsbury @ Sheila Deeth
  11. 3 October: Promo Spotlight @ Deal Sharing Aunt
  12. 4 October: Promo Spotlight @ Sapphyria’s Book Reviews
  13. 5 October: Promo Spotlight @ Spellbindings
  14. 5 October: Review of “Chronicles of Ave: Volume One”
    + Reader Interview Stephen Zimmer @ Jorie Loves A Story
  15. 5 October: Review @ Jess Resides Here
  16. 5 October: Guest Post: Stephen Zimmer @ SpecMusicMuse
  17. 6 October: Promo Spotlight @ The Flipside of Julianne
  18. 6 October: Review @ L. Andrew Cooper’s Horrific Scribblings

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.comBe sure to scope out upcoming tours I will be hosting with:
Tomorrow Comes Media Tour Hoston my Bookish Events Featured on JLAS!

Please take note of the Related Articles as they were hand selected due to being of cross-reference importance in relation to this book review. This applies to each post on my blog where you see Related Articles underneath the post. Be sure to take a moment to acknowledge the further readings which are offered.

{SOURCES: Cover art of “Chronicles of Ave: Volume One” by Matthew Perry; Stephen Zimmer’s photograph and biography, and the blog tour badge were all provided by Tomorrow Comes Media and used with permission. Blog Tour badge provided by Parajunkee to give book bloggers definition on their blogs. The book trailer by Seventh Star Press had either URL share links or coding which made it possible to embed this media portal to this post, and I thank them for the opportunity to share more about this novel and the author who penned it. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2013

Related Articles:

Stephen Zimmer – (gingernutsofhorror.com)

Author Stephen Zimmer Talks about Word Counts – (breathoflifebookreviews.blogspot.com)

Azure Dwarf Horde: Interview with Stephen Zimmer, June 23, 2012 (YouTube) – (youtube.com/user/SeventhStarPress)

Chinese Terracota Warriors – (pinterest.com/pattirabbit)

Worlds of Wonder Author Hop Day 4: Welcome to Ave, a World Like No Other – (stephenzimmer.blogspot.com)

Guest Post by Stephen Zimmer – Challenges of Writing Short Stories That Tie Into Fantasy Series – (smsand.wordpress.com)

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Posted Saturday, 5 October, 2013 by jorielov in Anthology Collection of Stories, Fantasy Fiction, Folklore and Mythology, Heroic Bloodshed, Heroic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Indie Author, Supernatural Fiction, Sword & Scorcery, Tomorrow Comes Media

*Nominated & Awarded* | The Liebster Blog Award! | by The Geek’s Bookshelf!

Posted Wednesday, 2 October, 2013 by jorielov , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 11 Comments

Liebster Blog Award

I, Jorie, of Jorie Loves A Story, have been thus nominated to be awarded the coveted “Liebster” Blog Award, on 29th of September, (a Sunday), 2013! The blogger who contacted me to inform me of this honour is *Sarah!* | A Geek’s Bookshelf, of whom I am certain I have visited in the recent past, but I am forgetting the connection of my stop on her blog, by which, she reminded me, it was Bout of Books, 8.0!! She is also one of my Feedly readers!!

I not only accept this nomination and award, but I know exactly which bloggers I want to give the award too! Before I get into the particulars, I want to explain the origins of the Award, as they were described to me, with a few edits where I expanded on what was being said:

The Official Rules of “The Liebster Award”

If you have been nominated for The Liebster Award and you choose to accept it, write a blog post about the Liebster Award in which you:

  1. Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog.
  2. Display the award on your blog.
  3. Answer 10 Questions About Yourself. These should be provided to you by the person who nominated you, but hey, maybe they didn’t know!
  4. Provide 10 Random Facts About Yourself.
  5. Nominate 5+ blogs that you feel deserve the award, which have less than 1000 followers. I also read this to be between 200-3,000! Clearly flexible!

After you have posted your “Liebster Award” post, kindly inform the people whose blogs have been nominated for the Liebster Award. Provide a link to your post so that they can learn about the award (as they could be in the dark about it!) and make sure to send your 10 questions and tell them to provide their own 10 random facts!
Although many mistake this for a chain letter type of blog post, to me it feels more like a bookish community meme, wherein everyone enjoys sharing the love of blogging with the aspect of finding out a bit more about the blogs we come to love on our blog hoppin’ visits! The main idea behind the Liebster is to recognise your favourite new bloggers and help promote them! At its root, it’s a compliment you pay forward!

About my nominating blogger: Sarah has been blogging since 2011, she’s a member of The Classics Club (by which I join in January 2014!), and our paths originally crossed during Bout of Books, 8.0! In other words, it was rather serendipitous that our paths crossed at all! I am finding that this is the case a lot of the time I find new blogs & bloggers to follow! She lives in Scotland, a country in my ancestral past, and one by which I adore to watch such as through the BBC series “Monarch of the Glen”!! I look forward to dropping back by her blog, as to be honest, I had to suspend all of my Bout’er activities, but it’s still on my docket to complete, as the 7 Bout Books I choose are works-in-reading-progress (just follow my WWW escapades!) and I am still wanting to go back through the 108 blogs that I discovered during the Bout itself! :)

10 Questions of Jorie asked by Sarah:

{she provided me with a sheet of 50 Random Questions, of which I could select 10 to answer!}

  1. What books on your shelf are begging to be read!? |In no particular order: Rebecca’s Tale by Sally Beauman (sequel to: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier; both on my tCC!); Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke; Glow by Jessica Maria Tuccelli; Moonrise by Cassandra King (which I believe is either a sequel to Rebecca OR Jane Eyre; going on my tCC!); Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline; The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne; Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter; Fly Away + Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah; and Mistress of my Fate by Hallie Rubenhold!
  2. Do you save old greeting cards and letters!? |I must certainly do! I started to write letters to friends’ who live outside my own country when I was younger, as there was a pen pal club for children. My first correspondents were to a Norwegian girl who lived near the Arctic circle and a Kiwi (New Zea lander) who lived in a large city compared to how small her island country truly is! I loved receiving their letters, as each letter was an adventure and a learning experience of getting to know someone who lived far, far away from me, with different customs and traditions! I continued to find new people to write as I entered my teen years, and onwards through to present day! My correspondents have become my cherished friends!! The treasure each of them, and quite a few of them read this blog now, and so, this is a special shout-out to them for always supporting me and being a bright light in my life! THANK YOU! Oh, to answer the forementioned question! Laughs! I not only save their letters and cards, but I make sure each friend of mine has their letters secured into a special folder whereupon I can re-read their letters at any point in time! I love seeing their handwriting, choice of stationery, typeface if they typed their letter, and of course, the pure delight of seeing which postage stamps were selected for the envelope!
  3. Which animals scare you the most!? | Hands down, snakes, spiders, and anything in the insect world!
  4. Do you have a catchphrase!? | Not only do I have a wide variety of them, but I tend to either compliment someone else who used one that I liked for myself by saying it whenever I feel it’s warranted to be used; but I oft make up new ones to try out OR to become part of my voice! :) The one that I use the most online though is “wicked sweet!” To express my purist joy over something that has caught my eye or attention!
  5. How and where do you prefer to study!? | Although, I am well outside the schooling years, being a writer who craves research as though its going out of fashion, my favourite places to study the research I need to stitch together my stories are in two places: a library | my study! I am sure most writers have a ‘study’ these days, as it serves a duality of purpose, part personal library, part research hub, part writer’s lair! It’s that special place where you can tune out the world, and focus directly on your writings and the characters that are pulling you deeper into their stories!
  6. What is your all-time favourite towne or city!? | I have several actually: Washington, DC; Uxmal, Mexico; St. Augustine, Florida; Seattle, Washington; and Key West, Florida! I think the appealment of the nation’s capital goes without question, as due to the history of the city, and the walkability of seeing that history is impressive by itself! Uxmal is one of the last standing relics of the Mayan age that still feels as though its heyday were yesterday rather than thousands of years! St. Augustine is a quirky, artsy towne that has an authentic charm of history itching out of itself! Seattle, was a lovely place to visit, and yet wholly unfamiliar to me, as you could see volcanic mountains no matter what your vantage point was downtown! To me, that was as impressive as the fact the ‘sun’ took a hiatus, rain fell without lightning, and the temperatures were heavenly! Key West is an enchanting city, which being at the very tip of the southern most point in Florida, I was always thrilled that I could have the opportunity to visit and say, “I’ve been tip to stern in Florida!” :)
  7. When do you find yourself singing!? | Whenever the mood strikes!! I love music, from the radio, iHeart radio, albums on CD, tape, or vinyl; whichever method the music is reaching me, and I feel the rhythm and lyrics inspiring, I start to sing! :) I know the Oldies like the inside of my hand, and the funk, soul, and folk of the 1970s holds a special place in my heart as well! :)
  8. When did you immediately click with someone you just met!? | You could say each friend that I cherish to have in my circle is an example of this, including the lovely souls I am sending this Liebster Award too! There are some people who alight in your life, as happily as a butterfly OR ladybug, who singularly know how to make you smile, engage you in a great conversation, and whose presence is always appreciated! I am quite blessed, indeed!
  9. What’s one thing you’d rather pay someone to do than do yourself!? |Being a creatively museful individual, if I could delegate two aspects of everyday life, they would be housework + yardwork! Those are the two areas of the domestic arts, that I could seriously do without! Although, I do enjoy vacuuming on occasion, as I find that its a great stress reliever! And, I would love to have a proper garden one day to maintain, but outside of that, yes, I freely admit it, a housekeeper and groundskeeper would be rather ideal! :) 
  10. What’s something that amazes you!? I would have to say the natural world, of whom I am always rapt in awe with what I observe, discover, and uncover through my lens, as I walk amongst the inhabitants of a world just a stone’s throw from our own! Comparatively, I can never stop seeking out the stars and constellations that slowly move around us in the upper cosmos and yet, reflectively are a constant part of our lives, as they’re twinkling never fails to impress me by their ability to transport me out of a living moment and into a pensively blissful one!

10 Random Quirks About Jorie:

  • I am a girl with yarn on the brain, to the extent, that my eyes tend to outweigh my abilities to knit up my WIPs [works-in-progress] + UFOs [unfinished objects] as quickly as I’d prefer! I am keenly addicted to natural, plant, and animal fibers for knitting, but I do a lot of charity knitting, where I am at the mercy of the donated yarns! My favourite charity knits thus far along are prayer shawls + mini prayer shawl crosses! I currently have |11 WIPs: 3 prayer shawls, 2 shawls/wraps, 3 afghan blankets, 1 set of fingerless gloves, 1 headband, & 1 earwarmer! | Its my desire to knit through my Harry Potter Knitting Book, as much as to be able to learn how to make amigurumi animals! I dream in fiber! :)
  • To put it mildly, I am a reader who can become jazzed about a book as quickly and as simply as wandering through a library, a book shoppe, a card catalogue, a book tour, random bookish blogosphere reads, OR anywhere else my eyes alight to find the creative scope of a story! Due to this magnetic attraction, my TBR Mountain has grown a bit past Everest in both height and depth! Therefore, I will be implementing the bookish sphere’s project: The TBR JAR in October! Stay tuned!
  • I have a very low-tech (or lo-tech!) sensibility (as you may have read about in my sidebar!), to where I not only dream about owning a retrofitted and restored vintage typewriter, but I am quite determined to make it my sole writing machine once I do acquire a workhorse model! Having suffered 3! computer crashes and deaths within 15 years (PC / Mac), and losing countless hours of work, files I’ll never remember having, and data that cannot be replaced — I am finding myself less akin to using a computer to write, than I was agreeable too prior to this! This is not to be misunderstood — I am quite a happy book blogger who adores her blog, and the bookish community she has become a part of — I am simply referring to my writing life ‘off-blog’ and how thankful I will be to have a machine independent of electricity + tech! The typewriters of the 1930s + 1940s are my absolute dream machines!!! :)
  • I am most comfortable being away from our hectic lifestyles by absorbing myself into the simplicity and serenity of the natural world! I breathe deeper and feel an internal balance whilst swept into marshlands, prairies, mountains, lakeshores, forest, and oceanscapes! I love the curious creatures who inhabit these diverse ecosystems as much as I like taking stock and notice of the natural environments that live counter-current to our own lifestyles! The random joy of seeing birds of prey within a stone’s throw of your stance and to be caught up in the beauty of a shorebird alighting on a path inches from your camera lens is a true blessing to behold! Nature affords such a calming effect on me, that I always ache to return into her folds of grace, if too much time has elapsed since my last visit!
  • Cats will always have a place in my life, because I cherish having their presence in my life! The hardest part of Spring, (as read here) was the sudden death of my beloved cat! He has left an impression on me, due to his strength at the height of an insidious illness, as much as his uncanny way of knowing when you’re not feeling well yourself! His kind soul-filled eyes could melt your heart, and warm your wary soul! He was outspoken, considerate, and a true diplomat when it came interacting with other animals! Cats tend to know instinctively how to fit into your life, and for that, I am forever blessed to know them!
  • Although I have the tendency to watch quite a heap of medical examiner series (fictional ONLY!), I am squeamish about how visual and graphic I am willing to go to watch them! This is most readily a ‘true quirk’ because although I adore: Crossing Jordan, Castle, and NCIS, I oft long for the softer edges of Quincy, M.E.!! At the same time, police procedural dramas and detective mysteries are amongst my favourite tv serials to watch! Case-in-Point Examples: Nash Bridges, The Sentinel, Walker, Texas Ranger, McMillan & Wife, The Mentalist, Castle, Monk, NCIS, NCIS: LA, Hawaii Five-O (original/sequel), Cagney & Lacey, The Division, Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbach), Hetty Wainthroppe, Rosemary & Thyme, Inspector Morse, Inspector Lewis, Endeavour, CHiPs, and a heap more I am sure to have forgotten to mention!
  • Pottery was a passion of mine, but not from the artisan side of it, but rather the hobbyist side!! I used to love to pick out unfinished bisque, sit down with water-based paints, and just paint the world of time away by absorbing into that piece and seeing where the day took me! I was going to have my own locker at a pottery studio, complete with array of paints, white & green bisque (there is a better word for that, but I’m forgetting it!), and a lovely gathering of artsy souls, but the place went out of business the very day I went to put my ‘lock’ on the locker! Oyy vie!
  • My latest best find of the past year is the CDBaby newsletter free music programme! Artists select tracks each month to give to listeners as a way to get to know their artistry and music style! I cannot tell you how many of those artists I’ve either grown to love OR am personally starting to connect with! I recently discovered that Rolling Stone offers a daily download option as well! :) I’m not really into digital music per se, as I am a traditionalist a bit in that regard, as I still love to collect CDs | vinyl, but this is one way where the industry falls in your lap, as you get to stay on the inside edge to the indie artists!! :) :)
  • I am a late bloomer in the kitchen, as like Julia Child, I didn’t pick up an instinctive hankering to ‘cook’ until I was on the brink of my 30s! She followed me and started cooking in her early 30s, which is why I can always jokefully lament, that I bet her to it by a few years! :) Laughs. I always was keen to bake though, so I suppose in some ways it was a natural progression, but what truly captivated my joy of cooking, was simply by observing my Mum all these years! She cooks like my grandmother did, where each recipe has its own ‘hidden’ steps and each ‘measurement’ is really not one that can be writ down! Laughs. I developed a keen sense for spice, herb, and supplemental ingredients from a young age, and I am definitely a girl who loves her garlic! Yet. Getting to the point to read recipes and cookbooks and actually feel like I understood what to do with the information took time to evolve! The fact that I’m evolving out of an omnivore into a herbivore makes it even sweeter! :)
  • I thrive on four seasons yet I struggle to survive in a sub-tropical volcanic heat intense state such as Florida!

My Nominees Are:

[Due to the elusiveness of # of followers, my nominees have less than 200 &/or 3000 total followers! At least by the best of what I can deduce by visiting their blogs and seeking the information! IF they have more than they were meant to have, I did the best estimations without contacting them directly! Afterall, it’s an award we each elect to give to another blogger who has made an impact on our blog reading life, (as much as our personal life!) to which end we wish to draw others to discover their blog in return! As this award is elusive, I doubt this rule is strictly finite!]

Charlene @ Bookish Whimsy | I originally found Charlene’s blog through her post about “Finnikin of the Rock“. At the time of nomination she has a total of: 1,648 followers [via Twitter, Linky Followers, & Bloglovin’] What I love about Charlene is her lovely way of drawing you into her interests, and for never letting you feel as though you’ve let her down if time swept you away from something! She has a kind-hearted spirit, and is as mad-crazy about authors and books she adores as I am! She has a great sense of knowing how to convey her thoughts in her reviews, and she’s always there to cheer you when your downtrodden and celebrate your joys when you’re accomplishing something rather grand!

Lianne @ Caffeinated Life | Lianne & I were matched through a Blog Pen Pal Exchange, hosted by Stormy @ Blog. Book. Bake. At the time of nomination she has a total of: 50 followers [via Bloglovin’ + Feedburner] Curiously we each were going through a heap of life moments that were sweeping us away from our ability to compose our thoughts onto paper, but we did each manage somehow to get out one letter that fateful month! However, what endeared me the most was her listening ear, whenever I had a ‘blog’ question to pitch to her, OR to ruminate about something I had learnt to do myself on JLAS! She has a great spirit for sharing not only her life, but her passions contained in motion pictures, books, and blogging! She is an incredibly patient soul, and I am quite eager to see where our next conversations take us!

Maggie @ An American in France | Brought together through a read-a-long of Jane Eyre, neither of us expected to find a true blue friend in each other! At the time of nomination she has a total of: 63 followers [via Bloglovin’ + Twitter] It is always said to be that the people who cross your path are the ones you might not see alighting into view! You never know who you’re going to meet, when you will encounter them, or how radically altered you will feel by having their presence bless your life! Maggie came out of the ether’s of Septemb-Eyre and we have been stitching together our friendship ever since! Including starting to exchange letters by postal mail which delights me to no end!

Audra @ Unabridged Chick | At the very heart of her blog, is a reader who isn’t afraid to read something with a controversial subject if at its core is a story of the human condition! At the time of her nomination she has a total of: 1,771 followers [via GFC, Bloglovin’, and Twitter] Audra was an unexpected stop on a tour hosted via TLC Book Tours, for “Freud’s Mistress“!! As I started to read her blog, visit more of her tour stops, and get an insight into her reading life, I started to realise that I wanted to keep dropping back on her blog each day &/or week, just to get caught up! She was reading and reviewing a LOT of books that turned my eye, but maybe, I had hesitated to seek at the library, for one reason or another! Finding out that she is a fellow writer was simply happenstance and pure bliss!

Christine @ Readerly Musings | I quite literally ‘stumbled’ across Christine’s blog within hours/days of her launch! I felt like I was able to pass forward something that I did not experience myself, which was a fellow blogger who found my blog unexpectedly and jumped into a a hearty conversation about reading, books, and the merits of spontaneous joy + discovery! Our conversations exploded on her blog, and I am forever grateful now, to the WWW Meme, which was responsible for bringing our blogs together, and for giving us a new friend we were not expecting to meet! At the time of nomination she has a total of: 7 followers via WP!

At present, Jorie has 31 followers [via Bloglovin’, FeedBlitz, Feedly, WP, and Email!]

[Although, I do know that I have regular readers who are not officially following me!]

[My gratitude overflows to each person who drops by Jorie Loves A Story!]

[I gained 1 more follower before I could post this awesome news!]

Questions for my Nominees to Answer (if they accept the award!):

  1. How did you initially get caught by the bookworm, to develop a passion for reading as you entered adulthood!?
  2. What are your go-to yearly reads if you have been able to curate a short list of books you MUST re-read!? IF not, which books would you love to re-read if you had the time!?
  3. What is one hobby or interest that you maintain that is a close compliment to your reading life!? (ie: for me its knitting and writing letters!)
  4. What is one of the biggest joys that book blogging has brought into your life!?
  5. Were you surprised how dedicated you became to curating content for your blog!?
  6. What makes you awe-struck to the brink you just have to stand there in rapt amazement!?
  7. What city would you love to visit if you haven’t already!? Why is it of interest!?
  8. Do you have any books that are winking to you from your shelf and you simply haven’t had the time to read them!?
  9. What is your favourite bookish character &/or tv serial!?
  10. Do you seek out classic motion pictures OR only watch modern films, outside of book adaptations that is!?

{SOURCE: To the best of my knowledge, the Liebster Blog Award Badge is freely given to be used by any and all bloggers who are nominated for the award. I haven’t been able to source the origins of this award anymore than anyone else who has failed in their attempt at time of nomination and acceptance! Therefore, if further credit is needed, please alert me, as I was not readily able to sort of whom to give it to and by which to attribute the source. Until then, from my understanding of this award and meme, we are given permission to have it on our blogs. Which I was going to do, until I realised I had a free post lovely from Shabby Blogs that “fit” this award quite well! Post lovely provided by Shabby Blogs with edits by Jorie in Fotoflexer. 50 Random Questions provided by The Greek’s Bookshelf but originally was sent to her by The Most Happy Reader!}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2013.

Related Articles:

A Liebster Blog Award – (ageeksbookshelf.blogspot.com)

The Liebster Blog Award – (inaroomofmyown.wordpress.com)

The Liebster Blogging Award -(thewanderingsoles.com)

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Posted Wednesday, 2 October, 2013 by jorielov in An American in France, Awards & Honours for JLAS, Bookish Whimsy, Caffeinated Life, Jorie Loves A Story, Readerly Musings, The Liebster Blog Award, Unabridged Chick