Ruth E Parlour’s Earth Angel Blog Tour
Ruth is another incredible supporter who I can always count on to comment on my blog or offer encourgement via twitter and guess what? Now her indepedently published book, Earth Angel, is ready for release! She’s stopped her on my blog with a beautiful snipit:
‘You know, there’s a young girl very distraught after you broke her nose,’ said a voice from the shadows. Gabrielle and Oz stopped as the tall, blond watchman emerged from someone’s doorway.
‘She tried to steal from me,’ Gabrielle retorted innocently.
‘So that’s why you’re running?’ The watchman raised his eyebrows as he examined Gabrielle; searching for a weapon. She noticed his stare and glared back.
‘We’re just in a hurry to get home,’ Oz announced, the lie tumbled out his mouth like a schoolboy, as nonchalant as the truth.
‘Looks like you’ve been through a war,’ said the watchman. His tone was sociable but obviously forced. Gabrielle knew she looked starved and scarred. She shrugged, deciding she would fight the man if she had to. The watchman’s gaze fell upon her gemstone pendant. She watched as his eyes widened and confusion clouded his face. Angels wear pendants like that.
Gabrielle stood strong and tense like a loaded bow. Oz knew that expression, it was the pre-emptive I’m-going-to-hurt-someone glare.
The watchman stood forward.
‘Both of you are coming to the command post with me,’ he said, regaining his composure.
Like a hare Oz split down the street.
‘Hey…!’ the guard cried, jolting into action. His attention diverted away from Gabrielle, which was his first mistake.
With a well-aimed lunge Gabrielle crashed low into the watchman, throwing his already unstable balance. She whisked the blade from his boot and pressed the cold steel under his chin. The watchman, stooped from his stumble, froze as Gabrielle pushed him against the wall, the blade cut down on his skin.
‘Going to kill me?’ He asked, blue eyes fixed on her.
‘If I have to,’ she growled. ‘Give me your sword.’
‘What?’ he asked but she replied with more pressure on the knife. ‘Fine, here.’ He slowly slid the long sword from its scabbard around his belt and presented the hilt to Gabrielle. When her eyes looked down he pushed forward, grabbing the hilt of his sword, the blade slipped from his throat drawing a red line. The forgotten knife clattered to the floor but Gabrielle had hold of the sword and she pulled back, stretching the man’s reach into her centre as she twisted her hands so the blade pointed up. It narrowly missed the watchman but forced him to let go. Gabrielle swung the sword low at his legs. He tried to dodge but the blade neatly sliced his shin and with a cry he fell to the floor clutching the wound as hot blood began to flow. She wouldn’t kill him, not on her first day of freedom. She left and sprinted after Oz, the watchman’s sword still clasped tightly in her hands.
‘Help!’ the man cried, curled on the cold floor. ‘Alert the watch!’ he yelled, voice breaking. But no one was around in this dark little street, and no one chose to hear him.
Her beautiful prose and imagery really grab you in this action-packaged passage. If you’re interested in reading Earth Angel, leave a comment here or contact me on twitter and if you’re the first person, you’ll get a promotional code to enjoy this adventure on Smashwords for free!
Ruth was born in North Yorkshire and grew up in country Durham, North East England. She is a fantasy writer for young adults and occasionally write short stories. She is currently studying a masters degree in digital arts and design at Teesside after obtaining her BA in interior design.
She especially love bunnies, and has a cheeky lop called Bandit and one day hopes to be a fosterer for unwanted bunnies.
To purchase your copy of Earth Angel, here’s where it is available:
GUTGAA Meet and Greet
For those of you that don’t know what GUTGAA is, it’s a month long contest held by Deana Barnhart that helps you Gear Up to Get an Agent. I’m super excited about participacting and here’s a little bit about me:
- Where do you write?
On my Vaio laptop either in my bedroom or in the living room of whatever home I’m living in at the time.
- Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?
Pictures of my late kitties when they were kittens and a stuffed bear wearing an England hoodie.
- Favorite time to write?
Afternoon. I spend the morning getting psyched up.
- Drink of choice while writing?
Water. I keep it simple.
- When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?
Silence!!! I can handle television noise and a little background commotion, but too much distracts me.
- What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?
Seventh grade English class. Squirrel carrying an acorn. You can read more here
- What’s your most valuable writing tip?
Oh man, I have a whole blog worth of tips! Not sure if they’re any good 😉 I’d say my favorite tip is to write what you want to read and do it the way you want.
If you’re from GUTGAA stopping by, please share your blogs so we can coonect!
5 Myths About Best Sellers
There seems to be some confusion about what makes a best seller. A few myths are floating around and make people believe there’s a foolproof formula to writing a book. I even wrote a slightly cheeky post about this very subject. It seems to me that most writers look at the best seller list as some sort of special club that the people “In the Know” managed to slip on to by knowing the mystical secret. But there’s no secret, just a misunderstanding of facts.
Myth: The Prose Must be Mind-blowing
Fact: Truth is, it doesn’t really matter. I know this is going to make some people get themselves in a knot, but most stories that find success do so from being approachable. Whether the writing is spectacular, average or subpar.
Myth: Unique Concept
Fact: The story you’re reading off the bestseller list has likely been written before. More than once. In different incarnations, of course. Fairytale retelling, classic story mash-ups or just a new twist on an old favorite. You don’t need to concern yourself with discovering the one thing that’s never been written—give something a fresh look and make it your own.
Myth: Stereotyped Characters
Fact: Granted, many stories pull from character molds or stereotypes, but a successful novel often showcases a variety of characters and the majority of which are multidimensional.
Myth: Romance Heavy
Fact: There doesn’t need to be a prominent love triangle, quadrangle or even decagon for people to find a relationship they attach to. People like romance, and they’ll find it even if you don’t write it. But it does help to write it 😉 And write it well.
Myth: Every Reader is Pleased
Fact: This is just wrong. Any book will have its lovers and haters. Even those on the best sellers list.
In reality, any type of book can make a best sellers list. And there’s no such thing as THE Best Seller’s List. There are so many lists out there your novel could be on, you don’t need to fret about making a sacred single list. Now that light has been shed on some of the darkest myths, you can write freely without the best seller monkey on your back. Unless of course you know more myths that need debunking! Please, share!
All Knotted Up Comic 3
Another installment of the All Knotted Up Comic Series has come to the blog! Thanks to @markedforpower for her artists skills and amazing way of making my chibi characters ten times cuter than I could have ever imagined.
Pitch Wars Mentee 2014
Awards
