Off Duty

We all need a little down time after a busy day.

Kindle Fire Department: Awesome Indies Kindle Book Sale 7/26

Kindle Fire Department: Awesome Indies Kindle Book Sale 7/26: If you’re concerned about quality in independent fiction, then check out the books on the Awesome Indies list. Their editorial staff only give their stamp of approval to books that meet the same standards as the mainstream. They save you the effort of wading through the slush pile yourself.

High quality books, exciting new authors, great prices.

Some Books Are Harder to Write Than Others

To celebrate her newest release,  Demon's Grip, the third book in the  Diamond Peak Series, I'm honored to feature a guest post by the exceptional author, Tahlia Newland, on the challenges and rewards of writing metaphysical fiction. As Tahlia has kindly noted, I've had the great fortune to work as an editor or her outstanding fantasy and magical realism novels and highly recommend her original and creative blend of adventure-filled magical fantasy and real world metaphysical reflection.

Some books are harder to write than others

 

Sometimes I wish I could write a story that is just a story, not one threaded through with philosophy like my stories, but I never could, because that isn't me. It would be a lot easier though, and that appeals to my lazy side, but it wouldn't satisfy me. I like novels with a touch of metaphysics in them, and authors always write the kind of books they like to read.

The most difficult aspect of writing metaphysical fiction is that you need to remain true to whatever philosophy you're working with without it being either didactic or extraneous to the story line. It also needs to be expressed in universal terms that relate to people of different world-views, otherwise it becomes religious fiction which has a different purpose.

I find myself faced with interpreting the technical language of my area of study, Buddhism into simple language that means the same thing but doesn't have religious overtones. Also, my books have teens as their main characters so the language has to be teen-speak.

Before you can simplify anything without destroying its integrity, you need to have studied the philosophy enough to understand it well. I can confidently say that I have done that, and I have no problem interpreting the simple concepts and weaving them into the story, but I was ambitious (sometimes I think foolish) enough to choose a theme for a series that required me to go deeper, and that's when things can get tricky.

Book one sets the scene with a simple idea, that of demons that are an external manifestation of emotions. My characters use skills learnt in meditation to defeat the demons, but before my central character, seventeen-year-old Ariel can do this, she must learn how. So, within this book are genuine and complete meditation instructions, and yet the word meditation does not appear even once. 

Yet this is essentially a new adult fantasy with all the elements of any great example of that genre ie romance, adventure, humour and life threatening battles!

I have just released book three, Demon's Grip, and it was the hardest book to write, because it had to explore the difference between wanting something and craving it. Why? Because the demon lord, Emot, bodyguard to the Master Demon, feeds on craving.

Finding the right words wasn't easy. Luckily I have a fabulous editor, Krisi, who by questioning the meaning of what I had written helped me to write it as clearly as possible.

All this talk about  concepts might make the book sound heavy, but it isn't. The demons are pretty sleazy, as demons should be, but all my writing has a light touch. There's a grumpy but amusing talking cat, a mysterious magician, a handsome young man, a gutsy nearly eighteen- year-old and a quirky but wise old man, and it takes place in our own time, in a realm hidden within our world.

 

Here's some perceptive things people have said about the series.

 

 “I can't even begin to describe all of the action you'll find in this highly imaginative journey. This is a fantastic depiction of a fight between good and evil.” Crazy Four Books.

"A magical world with an exceptional well-written ribbon of 'real world' weaved throughout."  Twisted Sense Book Blog

“This world is the context for Ariel, a young woman in the grip of a prophecy, desperately trying to rescue her mother before her mother is killed... or worse.” Ruthanne Reid, author of The Sundered.

 

“A beautifully written, exciting fantasy-adventure with vibrant description.” Krisi Keley, author of Mareritt.

 

It’s always best to start at the beginning of a series though, so to inspire you to do just that, book one in the series is only 99c until the 6th July on Kindle and Kobo, so pick it up and read your way to the top of Diamond Peak.

 

You can also pick up a FREE short story prequel to the Series here.

If you’ve read books one and two, you can find Demon's Grip at your Kindle Store , Smashwords & Kobo

Post by Tahlia Newland, the award-winning fantasy and magical realism author with a metaphysical twist. If you enjoyed this blog post, you can join her on Facebook , Twitter or Google+ You can even fan her on Goodreads. When not reading, writing, reviewing or mentoring authors you may find her being an extremely casual high school teacher or making decorative masks. Tahlia began writing full time in 2008 after twenty years in the performing arts and a five-year stint as a creative and performing arts teacher in a High School. In 2012, she set up the Awesome Indies List to showcase quality independent fiction. She has had extensive training in meditation and Buddhist philosophy and lives in an Australian rainforest south of Sydney. Creativity is her middle name!

 

 

Mareritt: The Friar Tobe Fairy Tale Files Now Available in Paperback and on Kindle

My newest release,  Mareritt, the first book in the  Friar Tobe Fairy Tale Files, is now available in both paperback and on Kindle. Readers who enjoy mystery/suspense, fairy tales and supernatural metaphysical fiction, or those simply looking to try something new, can check out sample chapters at the links below. (The paperback and Kindle pages aren't linked yet, so I've included a link to each separately.) The paperback is currently on sale for $9.49 and the Kindle version is only $2.99.

Paperback

Kindle

As beauty lies sleeping…

 

Four pretty, partying high school seniors, four strange and startling accidents the police believe the girls have brought on themselves. Do demonic nightmares and fairy tale visions bury a dark secret haunting the girls or is the past simply struggling to reach the light?

 

Twenty-eight year old former novitiate turned PI, Tobias Berger, hired to discover who, if anyone, is threatening the four troubled young women, is about to embark on a wild “mare ride” to slay their dragon and uncover the truth.

 

A dark fairy tale mystery with a touch of mystic light.

 

My thanks to anyone who gets a chance to check it out and to all who give the story a read, I hope you enjoy it. Other e-book versions will be available soon and more Friar Tobe Fairy Tale Files will be on the way.

 

Mareritt: A New Fairy Tale Mystery Coming in June

I'm excited to share that I have an upcoming release in June of a new book in a new series:  Mareritt, the first story in the  Friar Tobe Fairy Tale Files. Below is a peek at the front cover and book description.

As beauty lies sleeping…

 

Four pretty, partying high school seniors, four strange and startling accidents the police believe the girls have brought on themselves. Do demonic nightmares and fairy tale visions bury a dark secret haunting the girls or is the past simply struggling to reach the light?

 

Twenty-eight year old former novitiate turned PI, Tobias Berger, hired to discover who, if anyone, is threatening the four troubled young women, is about to embark on a wild “mare ride” to slay their dragon and uncover the truth.

 

A dark fairy tale mystery with a touch of mystic light.

 

 

For those who enjoy fairy tales and crime mystery/suspense,  Mareritt  offers a bit of a unique slant on both, as well as a little supernatural speculation on the side. A somewhat different style than the On the Soul series, it’s a fast-paced novel for both YA and adult readers but, although not explicit, parents may want to consider whether some of the subject matter is too intense for readers under 13.

 

Expected release date: mid-June 2013.

Tahlia Newland's Award-Winning "You Can't Shatter Me" FREE May 29-31

Double award-winning YA novel 'You Can't Shatter Me' is FREE from the 29th to the 31st of May 2013. (Pacific Standard Time) This book on empowering ways to handle bullying has been hailed as a must-read for teens, parents & educators

This heart-warming magical realism story has received an AIA Seal of Excellence and a B.R.A.G.Medallion^TM for outstanding independent fiction. It offers real solutions for handling bullying that will inspire and empower teens and adults alike.

When superhero wanna-be, Carly, stands up to a bully, he turns on her, forcing her to battle cutting words, flying hooks, a doubt dragon and a suffocating closet. Her karate-trained boyfriend, Dylan’s desire to stop the harassment sets off a struggle to control his inner caveman. Meanwhile, Carly searches for inner strength and a peaceful solution. Will she find it before Dylan resorts to violence?

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT YOU CAN’T SHATTER ME

 ‘I was awed  . . .  Tahlia Newland’s fiction is some of the best YA on the market . . . in Newland’s deft hands, this novel is an absorbing, educational read, that both satisfies and gives hope to adults and younger readers alike.’ Blibliotica Book Reviews.

‘An entertaining and uplifting read.’ Linda Gillard, best selling author of ‘A House of Silence’.

‘This is a story about understanding, kindness and compassion, uniquely told with surreal fantasy elements, and is both entertaining and thought-provoking.’ Kevin Berry, author .’

‘This is a book that all young adults should read. It is also a great book for parents and educators who may need a fresh look into teen struggles and bullying . . . Tahlia does a brilliant job making an otherwise tedious topic fun and relatable for readers . . . You are left feeling complete and some what light.’ Little Hyats Book Reviews.

About the Author

Award winning author Tahlia Newland writes contemporary fantasy and magical realism with a metaphysical twist. She also  mentors authors and provides Digital Reading Seminars in High Schools. When not reading, writing or reviewing you may find her being an extremely casual high school teacher or making decorative masks.

Tahlia is a bone-fide expatriate of the performing arts, with over 20 years experience in scripting and performing in Visual Theatre and Theatre in Education. She has studied philosophy & meditation for many years, lives in an Australian rain forest and loves cats, but she doesn’t have one because they eat native birds.

Connect with Tahlia. Weblog
Ripples in Water Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads Author page

The promotion is available from approximately 12:00 AM Pacific Standard Time on May the 29th to approximately 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time on May the 31st.

Kindle US
Kindle UK
Other Kindle stores

Don't forget to share the news and support the author by leaving a review. 

10 Reasons Not to Be A Writer

Another funny share via  The Passive Voice  from  Book Trust. Would it be negative of me to say that these all sound pretty true? Or maybe only pathologically ambivalent if I do, since I'm about to release a new book in a new series. Well, that's probably another reason not to be a writer, even if it didn't make the list. Enjoy and a lovely Memorial Day weekend to all.

10 Reasons Not to Be A Writer