So much news!!!

First off, you'll get most of it in the Newsletter! Sign up HERE to NOT ONLY get a FREE series of four short stories but ALSO be the first to know the rest of the AMAZING news coming up for August! 

For now... It's official! Rydan is coming!!! 

Book 1 of the Son of No Man was written over an 18 month period while I was in vet school. I assume my brain needed to push back against the enormous amount of memorization and studying. So, over five years, I wrote the entire series, starting with Rydan. I got to know Tohmas Galanth, the First King of Espar and his rather dubious upbringing. His was already a legend in Dragon's Talon and SoulBurner, but I had to go back to the beginning to see how he became the man who brought together Espar.

And the funny thing is that he did it for all the wrong reasons. 

Check out RYDAN, releasing August 15th 2021 thanks to the awesome people at 4 Horsemen Publishing. Apparently, we'll be pounding the other five books out back to back to back, so it's going to be fast, furious, and fantastic!

I first met Leia Talon at a conference, where she stood out from the masses of excentric authors by wearing a spectacular green cloak. We chatted at meals, then went to the talks together, and found we had a lot in common with our styles, interests, and writing matter. Later, I was delighted to act as a beta reader for her, where I got to know her amazing characters and poetic style, which she weaves within narration seamlessly. She beautifully builds the kind of romances I enjoyed reading (to my surprise). Instead of the often-mind numbing smut out there, her tales were tender relationships. I envy her skill in telling tales of the heart!
 
When I read “Falling through the Weaving” I was already familiar with “Shelta’s Songbook”, so I felt like I knew Shelta a bit. I had been baffled by the mix of styles and time periods in the songbook, yet with reading “Falling”, it all became clear. A woman lost in the tempest of time, seeking control of her fate; I felt for Shelta and her plights. And, as a mother, I eagerly read Shelta’s passage into motherhood, something rarely depicted. Seeing Shelta with her child was genuine and pure, and something I related to easily. 
 
I encourage people to take a look at “Falling through the Weaving” for an at-time heart-breaking, but soul-lifting time-travel fantasy full of music and love. 
 
For beautiful art and poetry, check out Shelta’s Songbook too! 

Poet. Musician. Lioness. Rebel. Leia Talon writes fantasy and sci-fi with romantic elements. Her lyrical style is influenced by a lifetime of turning emotions into poems and songs. Follow Leia’s blog for reviews, writing insights, and the latest on upcoming books: https://leiatalon.com/blog
​

   We're gamers in this house. 

   Being a 'gamer' has a lot of different meanings these days, but most of them apply! I grew up as my brother's competition on a lowly Nintendo (original, and we had 2 games). He brought the first game console into our house, moving through Xboxes and PlayStations. Learned shooters and farming games. I ran with Mario. I flew with Spiro. On the computer, I was the master of Fury (a jet-fighter game) and I played through Diablo more times than I could count.

   But more than any of these, we play games together on the dining room table . 

  Our family knew many card games, and we all played ramole on camping trips, betting with chips or piles of pennies. We have a cupboard of board games now. The picture above is the kid's smaller version. 

   Why games? It was where I learned about taking turns. I learned math playing cribbage with my parents. I learned strategy with my sister's chess board. And I learned about losing while playing games. My parents were not the kind who would let the child win. We lost a lot at first. I should have known my younger brother would be my better when, at the age of six, he beat me at chess.

 But we learned by mimicking our opponent's strategies. We improved. We learned to be gracious victors. 

  And we came to see how all the skill in the world could be outdone by luck, yet skill paid off in the long run.

   I had the chance to join a Dungeon & Dragons group in high school, and that taught me a lot. I became a Game master after that, where I organized the adventures and guided characters through. Those familiar with the game will know that 'guided' is used loosely; players have a tendency to run off in any and every direction EXCEPT the one a GM is trying to point them to. I learned improvisation. I figured out what people enjoyed in their stories, and when they got bored. I became a story teller. 

   Has it been a while? Is it time to pull out that deck of cards and find a friend to play?

It took a bit of elbow grease (and some helpful people down in the support community on Weebly) but I got it working! 

As of now, when you sign up for the Newsletter, you immediately get access to a free anthology; four short stories from The World of Taint! 

Check out the stories below, then click on the image to sign up and claim a copy!​

Black Arrow (Soon-to-be published in printed anthology #8)
     He was a slave with a single gift; the ability to read. When the right book falls into his hands, Maltor discovers a world unlike any he has known and begins to believe in something he had never before considered: Hope.
     He will be a legend.

To Dream  EXCLUSIVE: ONLY available through this offer:
     Arekson is meant to be following the prescribed course of his life on Wanter; teaching magic. But rumors of a new kind of thinking drew him outside the polished existence he had believed in. The words spoken by the stranger threaten everything he thought he knew.  Dare he risk it all for the chance to dream for himself?

​Reading is an escape. We love to curl up with a book and a cup of tea as the rain pelts down (common enough around here!) and leave the world behind. A good book draws you in like a fuzzy blanket, wraps you up, and makes you never want to leave. 

But then, it happens. The author slips up, and something snaps you right out of the world.

For me, it was a horse. Apparently, the horse was greeting a nearby person in a barn with a whinny. It kicked me so far out, I stopped reading. 

Horses whinny to call to another animal at a distance. It’s LOUD. They don’t whinny to greet; they nicker. A simple word choice, and I was jarred.

If we, as authors, state a fact that is glaringly incorrect, we risk ruining that deep connection our reader had with the story. While being accurate is best across the board, here are four particular areas to pay close attention to!

1. Military. 
      I mention this first because while many people write it, but few truly know the topic! 
There are more than just facts to know about any representation of military bodies in novels; there’s an entire culture. It’s how people talk, walk, sleep, and breathe. If you have not lived the life, you need someone who has lived it to read the sections relating to military affairs and check it for authenticity. Military novels (historical, contemporary, and SciFi) have a huge audience. Even if the reader has not been directly involved in the military, they probably have read enough military fiction to know what to expect and recognize when it goes awry.

2. Location
     If you set your fiction novel in a real place, get out the map and get it right. Anyone who has visited or lived in your setting will immediately recognize if you fudge a street name or a distance between two landmarks. Never been there yourself? Google maps or local newspapers can go a long way to add authenticity, but get a local to read it too!

3. Professions
      There’s a lingo to every profession. I’m a veterinarian, and I talk to vets differently than I do other people. They know what I mean when I say a patient ‘smiles.’ Or if I write COHAT as a recommendation.
      A plumber uses different slang for their tools than a carpenter does. A chef called that vegetable ‘shrooms.’ Don’t give a surgeon painted nails (you’re not supposed to have nail polish!!), and don’t let a hunter have a pistol in Canada. There are exceptions, but you’d better explain!
      We have to be careful we don’t get so into our vocabulary that we lose the reader, but a detail or two can cinch up a character perfectly, just as incorrect use can jar the reader.

4. Body language. 
      It’s not just for humans. Humans are probably the hardest because they lie, but it takes an excellent con to lie with their body language. Discrepancies between body and voice add fabulous subtext, but it has to be done right. Be conscious of what the body language is saying. People tend not even to be able to explain what they know about body language, but we all pick up on it subconsciously. Use it!
      And don’t forget animals. A cat who narrows its eyes before striking rings untrue; cats have wide eyes when stressed. Narrowed eyes are a kitty smile!
Animals do not often lie, although sometimes it happens! 


      There will be moments when you have something that appears ‘wrong’ on first pass. A dog may wag its tail while growling. Maybe it’s just happy to attack! But if there is a discrepancy, it has to be explained at some point. Larry Correia was once taken to task by a reader who pointed out that Hind helicopters could not hover in the manner he described. Before he could reply, the reader wrote back, “Never mind. Magic Orc pilot,” and the matter was closed (Correia’s orcs had specialties they were essentially supernatural with; that orc’s was the helicopter.) An explanation will diffuse the ire. Leave it out, and your readers will have every right to call you on your ‘mistake’! 


What else have you noticed an author getting wrong that threw you out of the story?




 

Writing is a personal affair, which is a strange thing to say about something you publicly share. But ask the writer, how easy is it to show what you have written? How long did your work hide away, unacknowledged, before it got to be viewed by even a single, trusted individual? 

It’s extremely hard to bring writing out into the light of day. Why? 

Because the writing is a piece of the author. 

Even if we don’t recognize it formally, everything we write ties into us. Some aspects of our private lives slip through onto that page and are now on display. It could be something we’ve experienced or something we believe. It might be our dreams or fears or perhaps our greatest aspiration. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was suspected of creating the amazing Sherlock Holmes as a wishlist for himself, although he was also based on someone Sir Arthur knew. 

I do not often use people I know as inspiration for characters (although Cuuks from a novella of mine is a notable exception). For me, the characters are usually aspects of myself brought to extremes. Gensiana is my optimism. Cairon is my introverted-ness. Loni is my lusting side. Arnika is the loving aspect of a wife. Lania is my warrior. Akara is my faith. 

All of the characters become far more than just one thing, but they were born of me and my life. It’s my heart and soul lovingly arranged on the page. I wish there was a glass case for them to go into so they won’t get dirtied or damaged from being out, but they’re out there, exposed in my writing. 

It’s hard to share what you write. 

This is why it’s so important to support each other as writers. We’re vulnerable, especially as we start out. A harsh word can break a blooming author. Over time, our skins thicken and criticisms have less pain, more gain. But until then, treat your budding authors as if they are orchids: Be delicate, lest they wilt. Give them just the right amount of food and water to grow and improve. 

SoulBurner is here!

Click the image to check out the Amazon page (including kindle) OR click HERE for the full details on my website!




To celebrate, Dragon's Talon is on SALE wherever ebooks are sold. FREE! 
Universal link HERE and Amazon HERE


I grew up with these characters, from the inception of a place where dragons lived together, to the development of the threat they faced. Cairon's story in Dragon's Talon was the first full novel I completed and considered done (as opposed to the ones that were completed but needed to be fixed again and again and again). I submitted it to a publisher once in 2011, so that tells you how long it's been in the works! SoulBurner had to follow Dragon's Talon to finish the job of freeing Espar and bring Danoron's plight into contrast with Cairon's.
I've grown a lot since then, and so has the story. Still, I love the characters from surly Cairon to perky Gensiana. The conflict of the sword itself SoulBurner is the main focus of this tale, asking the important question; What will you sacrifice for your people?

 Everyone has a story in them, although very few people put it on the page. That’s all you need to be a writer; One Great Tale that you put into words. It doesn’t matter how long it is or the topic or how pretty it is, or isn’t. One Great Tale written makes you a writer.
 
For those who choose the words to express their story and dream of getting it published, it’s a long haul. You will rework the One Great Tale a hundred times or more. Editing will seem never-ending. Good writers learn and revise, then learn more and revise again. The One Great Tale is polished over years, perhaps decades, until it is absolutely, positively, perfect. 
 
But when it comes out, it will be gorgeous. It will astound people, draw them in. People will sing its praises! You will be an acclaimed author! 
 
And then the readers will look for the next book. 
 
It took decades for that first book to be ready, but the audience is hungry now for the next. They won’t wait decades more. So what happens?
 
The mistake I see so often is that the second book is written in a few years, at most. It doesn’t get the same attention or polish. The third book is rushed through in a few months. It’s like a television series that carries on long after the fanbase left, grasping at anything to make an episode and ruining the wonder of the initial concept. The ideas are not there. The finesse certainly isn’t. There is no time to make it great.
 
This is the danger of the One Great Tale.
 
If you are happy with One Great Tale, please write that beautiful story and share it with the world. I’m not trying to discourage people with this caution! But for me, it’s not enough to make One Great Tale. I want to become a great storyteller and great writer. As I work through drafts, I experiment, explore genres and styles. I write poetry sometimes. I fight with short stories. I submit other pieces. I take out parts. I go to conferences. I do writing exercises. I practice, practice, practice. 
 
Because then, when my fans come looking for the second book, I’m ready to produce something just as good as the first. With practice, that second book will only take months. 
 
I encourage you to put down the One Great Tale when you’ve finished it and not stop there. Pick up a new idea and run with it. Write a snippet or a sequel. Anything that will help you grow. 
 
Then, when you're ready, write the Second Great Tale

I'm not going to say 'look on the brightside.' I'm not going to mention the big C. Nope. I want to leave this year on a positive note, looking ahead gladly and back gratefully. So I put together the top 7 GOOD things to come out of 2020. 

1. Second Best in the world. 
       Canada was officially declared the second-best country in the world by USNews. I'm fond of the fact we were #1 for quality of life and #2 in citizenship (which is "cares about human rights, cares about the environment, gender equality, progressive, religious freedom, respects property rights, trustworthy, well-distributed political power.") Also, they ranked Canada as the most trustworthy country in another report, which makes me proud.  

See the entire list here: 
https://www.usnews.com/media/best-countries/overall-rankings-2020.pdf

2. CO2 emissions went DOWN.
    Although we plateaued in 2019, 2020 saw a decrease in Co2 emissions globally. One part due to lockdown measures, but who knows? Maybe the global interest in renewable resources is hitting its stride too. I like the idea of a better future due to using smarter energy resources. It's becoming affordable to be green!
 
They checked in April, so here's the article: 
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-020-0797-x

3. 15 minutes of fame for David Ayres
      It was just a nice story: David Ayres was the 42-year-old  Zamboni driver emergency goalie who came to the rescue of the Carolina Hurricanes as they battled the Toronto Maple Leafs in February. Although it happened in Toronto, and David was from Toronto, and he was recruited to play against the Leafs, he was good as gold and made eight saves on ten shots. Thanks to his honest efforts, the Hurricanes beat the Leafs 6-3. He was a sensation afterward and truly embodied the spirit of the game and being Canadian. 

He's in wikipedia now...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ayres


4. Speaking moistly
      In another moment of levity, watch Justin Trudeau's speech when he made the error of saying "speaking moistly," a phrase that you could see he instantly regretted. Of course, Canadians ran with it. It became a song and a lip balm! 

The slip: 
https://globalnews.ca/news/6792967/coronavirus-trudeau-speaking-moistly/

The song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eySDeBdqxGY

The… lip balm?
https://paintedpeopletattoos.com/product/speaking-moistly-natural-lip-balm/

5. The Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building. 
       NASA recognized the work of a hidden historical contributor to the space program: Mary W. Jackson.  Jackson was the first African American female engineer at NASA in 1958 and was instrumental in getting the USA into space as one of their 'human computers' But, like many of the time, she was given no recognition until now. This was the latest move in NASA's attempt at reconciliation with their past, where 'Hidden Figures' went unrecognized for decades because they were female or of a minority. It's a good thing to see. 

Check out the press release here:
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-names-headquarters-after-hidden-figure-mary-w-jackson

6. Mutant Enzyme Heralds Breakthrough in Recycling
     An enzyme was discovered in 2012 that could breakdown plastic faster than expected degradation (which is freakily slow). So what does humanity do?  Optimize it. 
Now we can use it to break down plastics in a matter of hours, and the products can be reused for new products! Score another one for science.

Click here for the news!
https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottsnowden/2020/04/11/new-enzyme-breaks-down-plastic-in-hours/?sh=285698175e4e

7. Big finale? Dec 7th 2020. 
       Marcus Andrew Ronald Lambert, our little rainbow baby, made our family into a family of four.  If you're unfamiliar with a 'rainbow baby,' it's the one born after a loss (miscarriage or stillborn). I experienced two miscarriages on our journey to have Marcus. Welcoming him into the family has been a long time coming. 

I hope you have other things to be grateful for in 2020. It's those silver linings that I hold to as we advance into 2021. May the New Year bring great prospects and opportunities for us all. 

I didn’t think I had time for Newsletters. I also didn’t think I had the interest. But it's part of being an author these days, so I started (little scientist me) to research it. I signed up for several to see what others were doing. I read articles. I investigated platforms and programs. I asked around.

Maybe someone else is thinking about it. Here is what I learned about Newsletters:

1.    It’s a connection. 
Right now, connecting with people is hard. So maybe a little email sent to you monthly is a bright spot, a new idea, or a thought to share. It’s one more point of contact for people to remember that people are still out there, doing stuff.  I liked having that moment of connection. 

2.    Newsletters are powerful
Newsletters are direct, from-the-source material, unlike many other platforms with filters or algorithms that continuously change and challenge our ability to connect. The message is going right to the person who wants to hear it. That in itself makes it potent. 

3.    Yes, it’s a way to advertise. 
But is that all bad? From the other side, it’s a way to keep up with current developments, maybe even get ahead with pre-release information or covers before publication. It’s a way of generating momentum for a new book or helping people see older ones in a new light. Or maybe there is an event that needs to be shared. It’s all right there. I can be kept in the loop instead of counting on coming across something I may not even know to search for online. 

4.    Broadening my horizons, or at least my booklist. 
Finding a new author, or a new song, or a new idea. By connecting with authors, we learn about their journeys. We get access to resources we never knew. Maybe we can be inspired! And with cross-promotion, we may find another book to read. Not that I have time for more of those… but I can dream. 

5.    Feedback from the readers! 
What do you think of the new cover? What’s the interest in the fantasy world? Should more books follow, or is it time to move on? What do they love? Not love? Who do they root for? All of that is a vital part of getting to know the most important person in the writing field; the reader. A Newsletter is a way of hearing back. 

So I'm going ahead. 

In setting up my newsletter, I had to decide on some basic things (like the platform, frequency), but the hurdle became the content. I love music so expect some listening recommendations. A fun quote. Sure. But the content, the meat of it. What was I going to do?

I don’t want to be another newsletter about how to write. I am learning, and no doubt there will be some bits about the journey, new covers, release dates, but why would people open MY newsletter?

I decided I want to be a bright spot. I want to be that happy thought for the day or the funny quote. I promise to keep my newsletter upbeat and fun. We all need an excuse to smile.

If you’re interested, sign up here. The first one goes out Dec 1st. And yes, I’ll send you a short story as a bonus on sign up!