Adversarius by M. L. Chesley

Keira Kroft and M.L. Chesley Have stopped by to discuss Ms. Chesley's latest release, Shadow of the Rose: Adversarius.

Keira: You have a story that just came out through Hellfire Publishing entitled ‘Adversarius, Shadow of the Rose, Book One’. What is that about?

Mel: Well, it’s about a long standing war between two kingdoms and what one of the ruling families is willing to do for peace. A marriage is arranged between the only heir of one kingdom to the daughter of the other. Problem is, the man’s father refuses to allow the union and orders an attack on the intended bride. She ends up losing her memory and it seems like the whole world tries to help get her home where she belongs.

Keira: Is writing your only talent?

Mel: No. I have an Associate’s Degree in Advertising Art. So, I like to draw when I have the supplies and opportunity. I am doing character drawings for my books. I’m also pretty skilled in people. In general, that is. I’ve worked customer service for almost 20 years and have learned to read people well. I use that in my writing when creating characters. I also love to cook/bake.

Keira: Where in the Hell did you find time to write?

Mel: I wish I could tell you! I have a great deal of time in the long winters of Alaska. I think if I didn’t have internet or my imagination, I’d go stir crazy. Picture ‘The Shining’...

Keira: Why are you a writer?

Mel: I love books. I love fantasy in particular. I have always enjoyed writing down little stories since I was a teenager and worked on some fan-fic with a friend. I knew, though, I had my own story inside me and over the years, I have had dozens of ideas and no patience to work on just one at a time. But I did!

Keira: Please share a particular detail about one of characters, please.

Mel: The pyrate in my books, Sorcha Lilanthroe, is actually based on my pirate persona from the SCA. (Society for Creative Anachronism) It is a medieval recreation group that has chapters all over the world. You have to research your name and device (coat of arms) and submit them to the College of Heralds. Everyone’s name and device should be unique (if possible) but also needs to be a name from the era you have chosen. You also have to research your history and come up with a viable story. My persona is Sorcha MacGregor from 17^th century Scotland, who turned pirate.

Keira: What advice would you give to an unpublished writer?

Mel: Hmm... I would say, write, write and re-write. When you think you’ve got it all polished up and pretty, edit it again. Don’t give up! If you choose to go the route of becoming a self-published author, spend the money on an editor. It is worth every penny and your book will stand out that much more!

Let’s get personal…

Keira: What is your guilty Pleasure?

Mel: Guilty pleasure... I’d have to say Slippery Nipples...

The drink! Buttershots, Bailey’s Irish Cream and milk. Mmm!!

Keira: What is your favorite Smell?

Mel: Easy! The smell of rain before a storm in the desert.

Keira: What is your favorite favorite animal?

Mel: Wolves, hands down. I have a wolf tattoo on my right ankle.

Keira: Can you tell us a secret?

Mel: Not much of a secret, but not something very well known, either. Don’t know what this will do to my sales, but I failed English all through high school. ~Blushes~ I had the skills and the knowledge. My teachers even encouraged me to write, but I just didn’t apply myself.

Keira: Can you share your blurb and excerpt with us?

Mel: Of course.

Two kingdoms, two goals.

The king of Relavia is determined to wipe out his warring neighbors in Paridzule, a worthy adversary for over five hundred years. News of an arranged marriage between his son and the daughter of his lifelong enemy has fueled the temper of Relavia's tyrannical king. What he doesn't realize is the true measure of his son's honor and how far he is willing to go to gain peace.

Adversarius Excerpt ~

 Captain Sorcha Lilanthroe pushed her spyglass back in upon itself and leaned on the railing of the quarterdeck. She chewed the inside of her cheek, trying to make a decision.

“Fromas,” she finally beckoned her bosun and brother-in-law to her. She passed him the spyglass and lifted her chin in the direction she had been studying. “What does that look like to you? Two points off the port bow,” she directed.

Fromas lifted the contraption to his eye and surveyed the horizon. The suns shone onto his bald head. After a moment, he lowered the spyglass. He tilted his head slightly as he looked at his captain.

“Looks tae be the remains of a ship,” he confirmed her suspicions. “Hard tae tell, but by the color of the sails, might be a warship. Possibly from Paridzule.” Smoke billowed up over the wreckage and as they sailed closer, flotsam appeared in the water. The wake of her ship, the Blue Drake, pushed it easily aside. Sorcha lifted her chin again, indicating another point off the opposite railing for him to inspect.

“And what do you make of that? Four points starboard.” He lifted the glass to his eye once more and whistled softly.

“That looks tae be a survivor,” he passed the spyglass back to Sorcha.

“Indeed it does.”

“What be your orders, Cap'n?”

“Prepare to bring them aboard.”

“Man overboard!” Fromas bellowed, and the crew below them on the main deck relayed the order and prepared to pull the person from the water. One of the crewmen grabbed the gaff, leaning over the railing with the long pole. He made sure to hook the wreckage the person floated on—not flesh. Some of Sorcha's crew pulled on a rope attached to a pulley, sending a man sitting on a plank with a rope tied to each end like a swing, high into the air. Another pull of the rope and he swung beyond the railing as they lowered him into the water. As the man wrapped his arms around the unconscious form, he gave a shout and the men on deck pulled again, lifting both people out of the water and on to the deck, water spraying everyone in a wide arc.

Sorcha left the quarterdeck, going down the stairs to where her crew gathered around the still figure. She jabbed them with her elbows, shoving them roughly aside.

“Someone go fetch Percy. Move!” She shoved several more of her men out of the way and knelt down, pressing two fingers to the cool skin of the girl's neck. Life pulsed there, weak, but life nonetheless. She grabbed first one hand, then the other, looking for something specific. Sorcha found it on the right hand, slipped it off of the unconscious girl's finger and deftly stuck it in her pocket. “All of ye get back to yer stations!” she hollered. Most of the men frowned down at the girl lying on the deck but knew better than to disobey their captain.

 

You can find M.L. Chesley at:

Blog

 

Website

 

Twitter: @MLChesley

You can find Adversarius, Shadow of the Rose: Book One on Amazon

Thank you Savannah for having us on your awesome blog today :)

Keira Kroft

www.keirakroft.blogspot.com

Beware the Dybbuk ~ Part Ten

Beware the Dybbuk

By Robin Renee Ray

Part Ten

          After holding Sam so tight he had to complain about not being able to breathe, Gabby got to her feet with her little brother in tow and pulled him up the stairs to the bedroom that they’d shared, the last time they had all been together. Both looked around with eyes twice their normal size, trying to get a glimpse of the being that had attacked. “I have to find my bag,” Gabby whispered as she pushed the door open.”

          “Me too…”

          “No…” Gabby spun around. “You have to watch our backs, Sam. I have a weapon, just let me get it.”

          Sam rolled his eyes, turning to look out the bedroom door. “I was going to get a weapon too, Gab. I have a pocket knife.”

          “You have a boy scout knife. I have this,” Gabby stepped up beside him holding up a small can of pepper spray.

          “That’s your weapon? What ya gonna do, burn his eyes to death?”

          Gabby punched him in the arm. “The cops use this stuff.” Her brows were wrinkled and the importance of his understanding was written all over her face, so Sam nodded. As they stepped out of the door, two firm hands grasped the front of Sam’s shirt and yanked him off of his feet, causing him and Gabby to both started screaming. The can of pepper spray appeared and Harold Grey’s guttural cries could be heard all through the estate.

          Sam’s eyes were burning from the fog that came off of the stream of pepper spray that hit Harold’s blood coated face. He pulled his fist back and hit Harold as hard as he could. The old man’s flesh split at the jawbone and slid with Sam’s hand as it went up and over the side of the man’s nose. Both of the hands that were wrapped in Sam’s shirt let go as they went to the open wound. Sam looked back at his sister who was screaming non-stop, then turned back and kick the big man who then fell backwards down the staircase.

          Grabbing her hand, Sam darted down the stairs, leaping over the crumpled man lying midway down the slightly curved stairway. “Just jump, I have you!” Sam yelled, pulling on Gabby’s hand.  He watched as the fear spread across her face and lifted his foot and stomped it down hard on the top of the man who had haunted them since he had opened the front door. “Now, come on, he can’t hurt you.” Nodding past the tears, Gabby took the three step leap over the horror under her feet and let her baby brother hold her.

          “I’m so scared, Sam.”

          “It’s gonna be okay Gabby. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

~ῲ~

          He could hear her crying as the throbbing pain invaded his ears. Mike tried to listen to his surroundings before opening his eyes but all he could hear was his sister and the pulse of his own heart, the sound that came with every throb of the pain that started from the kick to his face. Taking in small breaths through his mouth, he leaned forward and opened his eyes. The room was empty except for him and his baby sister who was curled up on her side with her arms tied painfully behind her back.

          “Cindy, baby can you hear me?”

          “I wanna go home,” she cried her reply.

          “We will sweetie, I just need you to be brave for me and stop crying. Can you do that for me?”

          Cindy nodded and slowly became silent. “Good girl. I almost have my hands free, you just let me know if you see or hear anything. Everything’s going to be all right.”

          “Did you see his body all twisted on the ground, Mike? Sam was right, it was in that man.”

          Mike cut through the rope and quickly brought his hands around, crying out in pain as he grabbed his shoulders. “Mike!” He hushed her then began cutting the restraints around his feet. Afterwards he rushed to Cindy’s side, first hugging her then immediately cutting her hands free. Once her feet were free, he lifted her up off the floor.

          “Do you think you can walk?”

          “I don’t know…and my arms hurt so bad Mike.”

          A loud sound came from the wall behind them and Cindy would have screamed had Mike not been close enough to put his hand over her mouth. He shook his head and as fast as he could made his way to the door that took them down into the basement. The moment they stepped through a bright glow floated down from the floor above their heads, and just as quickly vanished through the closed door that once held the locked wooden box, that the siblings thought of as a treasure chest. Mike stepped toward the hidden door and Cindy grabbed his arm.

          “Don’t Mike, let’s just get out of here.”

          “You start up the steps, I’ll be right behind you.” He gently pushed her on the back, nodding, then continued toward the door behind the basement steps.

To be continued….

Holiday Humor ; )

I thought it was time to bring some laughter to everyone this  holiday season : )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 WARNING: For ADULTS Only!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!