Meet the Author: April Kelley Jones @akejones #fantasy

My good friend, Patricia Kiyono, "introduced" me to today's guest. April Jones is a fellow Michigander, and she writes fantasy. Here's a little about her and her journey to publication.

I spend most of my writing time as an editor and book coach. There’s something about stories (any story, any format) that I can’t help but be drawn to. I have just as much fun walking a writer through their plot holes as I do writing my own story, so it can be tricky to block off time for writing my own stories. The Curse Breaker took just under two years from start to finish to complete. Having worked for several publishers, I thought I would have to collect rejections for a while before I found the right publisher. However, I was at a writing convention chatting with a friend about my intentions to pitch my book to one of the publishers there when he suggested that I send it to his publisher instead. When I got home from the convention, I took a couple of weeks to comb over my story for imperfections before I sent it off to Dingbat Publishing. In less than a month I had a reply. It took all my courage to open that email, haha, but when I did I saw the words, “I love this!” and “Tell me there’s a second book!” (Spoiler, there is so I hope you like dragons). So to all the writer friends out there, keep the faith. It might take several rejections to find the right place for your novel, but maybe all it will take is the right friend’s suggestion and a little bit of courage.   

Book Blurb:

Eris's sister is missing, and Magic is definitely to blame! Eris knows only Magic can bring her back, but even as a Light Magic born, is she strong enough to save her sister?

Knox is cursed to spend his days as a corpse and his nights trying to find the prophesized girl who can break the curse. If he can't find her by his 20th birthday, he'll stay dead forever.

Eris and Knox will discover there are scarier things in their path other than curses and half-truths. If the Queen of the Underworld has her way, everything and everyone will die. The only thing standing in her way is the curse breaker, and Eris will have to choose between saving herself or everyone she loves.

Excerpt:

The Queen paced in front of her blood-red throne. After so many years, she was finally going to meet the thief who had stolen her amulet. And when she did, she was going to slowly sever every one of their limbs, one by one, before feeding their soul to Madame. The thought made her smile a wicked smile. That would teach them to steal from the Queen of the Underworld. Stupid humans were always trying to prolong their lives in the most feeble ways. Tonics, magic, deals. Death was something that could never be avoided entirely, but they didn’t seem to think that universal rule applied to any of them.

Three more months and her amulet would call to her like it always did when she could get free of this place, and then she would have her revenge. Whoever they were, they had been granted twenty years that did not belong to them, and she would make sure they paid for that stolen time. That was part of her job, after all, not that she was complaining.

“I apologize for being late, your Majesty.” Madame hurried in, a little out of breath.

The Queen turned and stared at a slightly disheveled Madame. Normally her long hair was braided and wrapped elaborately around her head, causing her to look like a long-lost ancient queen from the human world.

“We can discuss that in a moment. I called you here because I have a proposition for you.”

“I am but your humble servant, your Majesty.” Madame feigned humility they both knew she did not possess.

The Queen rolled her eyes and continued. “If you can find the insect that stole my amulet before three months are up, I will give you a special treat.”

“I will find the human. I will make it suffer.” Madame smiled.

“No. You will not touch a hair on its head. Bring it to me, and I will deal with it.” Madame looked disappointed but nodded.

The body of a girl suddenly appeared in the air in front of them, along with one of her servants. Madame examined the girl for a moment, but then seemed to lose interest once she realized the girl was neither alive nor dead. The Queen walked over and swept the girl’s long black hair back enough to see her face. She scrunched up her nose at the young girl’s beauty.

Snapping her fingers again brought new servants running.

“Take her and put her with the rest of the cursed.”

The women gently plucked the girl from the air. The Queen wondered how many bodies lay waiting in the limbo between life and death. Not that she would forgive the vermin that had stolen her amulet, but she would enjoy watching the human be tortured by all the souls it had trapped prematurely in the Underworld. Eternity would not be long enough for all the lives that heartless human had taken trying to break the curse that came with stealing something born from the Underworld’s power. Since the human had not been able to break it thus far, she continued to collect bodies stuck in the in-between, their lives connected to the cursed one’s. When that insect finally died, so would all of those souls, and she would have a lovely new collection of pets.

The Queen smiled to herself as she watched one of the servants wrap her arms around the girl’s legs while the other wove her arms around the girl’s back. Slowly they carried her out, leaving the Queen to her thoughts again.

Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084DLCY8Z?pf_rd_p=ab873d20-a0ca-439b-ac45-cd78f07a84d8&pf_rd_r=K7GRY0P45ACKY78G6QT2

Author Bio:

April Jones has read, written, or edited her way through numerous fictional worlds. When she's not teaching or writing, she spends her time trying to learn other languages or keeping her mischievous cat from eating the pet fish. She received her bachelor's in English and her M.F.A. in creative writing.

A Tennessee native, April currently lives in Michigan with her husband and three children. You can find her poems and short stories published in various literary magazines across the internet and in print. You can also check out her debut novel, The Curse Breaker. For more information visit her website thepathtostory.com

Social Media Links:

Facebook: Facebook.com/editorapril
Twitter: @akejones
Instagram: aprilkelleyjones
Website: thepathtostory.com

Guest @PatriciaKiyono and The Road to Escape

My guest today is long-time friend and frequent carpooler, Patricia Kiyono. Patty writes delightful, heartwarming stories. She's here to tell us about being part of a multi-author project. I finished this book late last night. My review is at the end.

The Road to Escape by Patricia Kiyono

Book One in The Escape Reunion Series, a multi-author project

Sometimes it takes a village… to write a book!

Writing is often described as a lonely profession. An author spends a lot of time working alone, other than the characters in his or her mind. But I’ve found that the end result is much better when other eyes, ears, and minds are part of the project.

In the case of The Road to Escape, I presented the idea of a patriarch who’s been estranged from his children. He receives a medical diagnosis that causes him swallow his pride and invite the children all home for a reunion. I suggested that I could write the patriarch’s story and asked if anyone would be willing to write stories for his children. Several other authors in my publishing house liked the idea, and came on board. Together, we brainstormed online and came up with names, locations, professions, and conflicts between their characters and their father.

But the collaborations didn’t end there. As we began writing, we knew we had to include scenes or memories of the other characters, so we shared bits and pieces with each other to be sure our visions of the characters matched what others thought. Thank goodness for emails, texts, and Facebook Messenger!

Face-to-face brainstorming sessions really helped. My brainstorming buddies from MMRWA were helpful in helping me work out how I could make different scenarios work. Sometimes I just needed ideas, and wherever a group of creative people gathers, ideas abound. My daughter and niece always provide valuable feedback on how younger characters would look, speak, and react in various situations. My character has a teenage granddaughter who comes to stay with him, so I needed ideas on how she would be dressed, so I asked them, as well as my own granddaughters.

Last, but not least, I enlisted the help of people in the professions of my characters. Tom Cooper is a part-time attorney who owns and runs an alpaca farm. Laurie Matthews is a former nurse who runs a diner. I met and/or chatted with people in all those professions to make sure my descriptions of the things Tom and Laurie did were realistic and accurate.

 So while the actual writing is done alone, it takes a wide circle of contributors to make a book come to life.

Author Bio:

Patricia Kiyono was born in Japan and raised in southwest Michigan, where she lives with her very tolerant husband, near their five children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Her first career was teaching, which she still does part-time at a local university. In addition to writing, she likes to sew and scrapbook. She also loves to travel, always on the lookout for special locations and historical details for her books.

Patricia Kiyono can be found on Amazon and at her  website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest. 

Blurb:

Tom Cooper left his high-pressure law practice in Indianapolis for life on an alpaca farm in the tiny northwest Indiana town of Escape. Though he continued to practice law, the farm provided a good life for him, his wife, and their four children. But when his wife died, grief consumed him and the children all left. He’s resigned to doing things alone, but a disturbing medical diagnosis could change things.

Laurie Matthews left her nursing job in shame. The town of Escape has welcomed her, and she now owns the local diner. She’s attracted to the handsome widower who comes in for coffee and a hot meal, but keeps her distance, because everyone she’s ever loved has died – her grandparents, her parents, her husband, and one other.

A romantic relationship isn’t on the agenda for either of them, but when the diner falls on hard times, Tom steps in to help, paving the way for them both to escape the loneliness in their lives.

Excerpt:

He was no stranger to big city fashion, but the girl standing in his doorway was unlike anyone he’d ever seen in Indy or Chicago — or any other place. From her unkempt multi-colored hair down to the tips of her worn sneakers she oozed rebellion. What was she doing here so far away from a city? His gaze went back up to her face and he prepared to ask if she was lost, but her first words shocked the thought from his mind.

“So. You must be Gramps.”

His mouth hung open and she shifted a bit. But the uncertainty disappeared under a mask of bravado. 

“You gonna make me stand out here? It’s not all that warm, you know.”

He started to step back, but caution reared its head. “Wait. I don’t know who you are. How do you know me?”

She did an eye-roll. “I just called you Gramps. Doesn’t that tell you anything? Do I need to spell it out for you?”

“I don’t have any grandchildren.”

“Yeah, you do. Me.” She struck a confident posture and held out a hand. “Nickie Jones.”

He shook the hand briefly. “So one of my kids had a child umpteen years ago and never told me?”

“That sums it up.”

“Which one?”

“Michael, I guess.”

“Now I know you’re lying. Michael’s dead.”

“Right. He died before I was born. I didn’t know much about him — or you — until yesterday.”

Pain gripped his gut as it did every time he thought about his second son. Of all his children, Tom had had the highest hopes for Michael. He’d been bright, curious, and ambitious. He’d been accepted into some top colleges. But he’d been in love with Regan—

He studied the girl again. Almond-shaped brown eyes stared back at him. That gaze that bore into him, as if reading his mind. “You’re Regan’s girl.”

The Road to Escape can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Kobo.

Diane's Review:

A touching story about second chances on life and love. Patricia Kiyono brings ordinary characters to life in an unforgettable way. An alpaca farmer and the diner owner have loved and lost. Maybe this time they'll have their happy-ever-after. This book is the first in a series. I'm looking forward to reading the others.

THREE FRENCH INNS by Patricia Kiyono

I'm so happy to welcome Patricia Kiyono back to my blog. Patty is a fellow member Mid-Michigan RWA chapter. Since we live fairly close, we often carpool to chapter meetings, so I've heard about this story as it developed. I was excited to read the finished product. (See my review below.)

Here's Patricia to tell you how THREE FRENCH INNS came about.

Three French Inns is the third in a series that began several years ago in response to a call-out for holiday stories. The requirements were simple: each story had to feature a duke, and needed to have one scene taking place at the 1812 Christmas ball hosted by Lord and Lady Kringle. The series would be marketed as The Twelve Dukes of Christmas. Being a musician, the series title made me think of the Christmas song and I went to the first verse for my inspiration. Even though I’d never written a regency, I went to work on what eventually became The Partridge and the Peartree. The story featured Phillip Peartree, Duke of Bartlett, and Lady Amelia Partridge.

Even though the book sold well, I wanted a chance to make some changes, and when the contract expired I got my rights back and republished it with changes that were more historically accurate, as well as some new scenes. And since some of my readers requested a sequel, I came up with Two Tutor Doves, the story of the duke’s valet, Robert Townley, and Amelia’s maid, Jeanne Brown. I learned I enjoyed writing about this era, but not necessarily about the endless rules of the ton. So even while I worked on Two Tutor Doves I started planning additional stories, and as soon as that book was complete I began outlining the next book.

Last week, Eskape Press released the third story in the series, Three French Inns. For this story, I focused on Jeanne Brown’s brother Pierre. Two Tutor Doves ended with Jeanne vowing to look for her brother, who’d been missing for several years. He’s been in the army, fighting against Napoleon. I needed a way to get him back in France, and I needed a way to weave three different inns into the story, because I had the title before I had the story!

The first inn was easy. Caroline and her father run Hôtel Bouchard, set in the French Alps. The third inn is the one that Pierre buys for Caroline after her father’s inn burns down. The journey that Pierre and Caroline take to get to that third inn is both dangerous (riding on horseback through the French Alps in winter is not my idea of fun!) and emotional.

I hope you enjoy my historical Christmas series!

Blurb:

Peter Brown joined His Majesty’s Army in the fight against Napoleon, but when he was wounded, a lovely French woman tended him. She was a recent widow, and they were on opposing sides of the war, so they went their separate ways. But he never forgot his “bel ange” — his beautiful angel.

Caroline Bouchard Duval marched with her husband in Napoleon’s army, eager to leave her sleepy village and see the world. But after being widowed, she returned to her childhood home in the French Alps. When a bloody traveler enters her father’s inn, she recognizes him immediately. Could this man give her another chance to fulfill her dreams?

Buy Links: Three French Inns is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, All-Romance ebooks, and Kobo.

Author bio:

During her first career, Patricia Kiyono taught elementary music, computer classes, elementary classrooms, and junior high social studies. She now teaches music education at the university level.

She lives in southwest Michigan with her husband, not far from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Current interests, aside from writing, include sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking, and music. A love of travel and an interest in faraway people inspires her to create stories about different cultures.

Author Links: Patricia Kiyono can be found at her website and blog, and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Diane's Review:

I love the titles of this series’ play on words from the Christmas carol, “Partridge in a Pear Tree,” almost as much as I love the stories themselves. In this story, the characters are well-drawn and likeable. I admire Caroline’s marching with her husband and soldiers in Napoleon’s army. What an adventure and how disappointing that she had to return home after her husband’s death. Although the story was written to entertain, I loved learning new things. The plot is a bit predictable. After all, it’s a romance, and we readers love our Happy Ever Afters. What wasn’t as predictable was the compromise two people in love made. Isn’t that what love is all about? A delightful holiday story.

Visiting Four Foxes, One Hound

Instead of my usual Monday Morning Musing post, I'm a guest of my friend Patricia Kiyono at Four Foxes, One Hound. She asked me how the Outer Rim series came about. I hope you'll hop over.

Until next week, enjoy the beginning of summer.

Spotlight on TWO TUTOR DOVES by Patricia Kiyono

TWO TUTOR DOVES

Two Tutor Doves is a sequel to The Partridge and the Peartree. Both are regency Christmas novellas.

Blurb for Two Tutor Doves:

Robert Townley prides himself as an efficient and indispensable valet to Phillip, Duke of Bartlett. But when Robert is coerced into teaching the poor children at the duchess' chapel school, he’s out of his element. Thankfully, he has assistance from some of the other servants, including the prickly Miss Brown.

Jeanne Brown is lady’s maid to the Duchess of Bartlett. She loves working with the children but can’t abide Robert’s lofty attitude toward them. She’d love to put him in his place — but she needs her job.

When the duchess decides to hold the school’s Christmas party in her home, Robert and Jeanne must put aside their differences and work together to ensure that the holiday celebration goes off without a hitch. Will they be able to endure the partnership, or will their sparks ignite something more?

 

Excerpt:

Since Phillip was at Parliament, Robert had the rest of the afternoon to himself. He packed a light bag and left the house through the servants’ door and made his way to Bond Street. He needed to think, and exercise always helped him clear his head. A round or two in Gentleman John Jackson’s Saloon would be the perfect way to accomplish that.

The smell of sweat and tobacco assaulted him as he made his way up the stairs to the training floor. At the top of the stairs he paused to drink in the welcoming atmosphere. It had been far too long since his last visit.

“Robert. Where’ve ye been, old boy? Bet you’re gettin’ soft.” Ralph Wilcox, one of the saloon’s trainers, slapped Robert on the shoulder. “Get yourself ready, and I’ll go a round with ye.”

Robert grinned at his old friend. Ralph had been his trainer since the first day his father had taken him to Jackson’s. Geoffrey Townley loved his son, but he hadn’t been the nurturing sort. His wife’s death had left him with a young boy and no idea how to raise him. All he knew was his duty to the Ninth Duke of Bartlett. Fortunately, the duchess had taken a shine to Robert and encouraged him to stay in the mansion as a companion for her son Phillip, who was about the same age. An extra cot was set up in the valet’s room, and Phillip was raised with the duke’s children. Still, the elder Townley had been careful to see his son understood the difference in their stations. “No matter what young Phillip says or does, he is still your better,” he’d told his son. “He’ll be the one with all the privileges, and it is your job to see that he gets them.”

Buy Links: Two Tutor Doves is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, and iTunes.

Author bio:

During her first career, Patricia Kiyono taught elementary music, computer classes, elementary classrooms, and junior high social studies. She now teaches music education at the university level.

She lives in southwest Michigan with her husband, not far from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Current interests, aside from writing, include sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking, and music. A love of travel and an interest in faraway people inspires her to create stories about different cultures.

Patricia Kiyono can be found at her website, personal blog, group blog (on Mondays), Amazon, Goodreads, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Saturday Sampler & #Giveaway - The Friendship Star Quilt by Patricia Kiyono & Stephanie Michels

The Stitching Post Quilt Shop is the setting for the weekly gathering of a group of women who come to sew, but leave with lasting friendships. The first book in the series, The Calico Heart, was nominated for a RONE award for Best Contemporary Book of 2013. Patricia Kiyono and Stephanie Michels are pleased to announce the release of the second book in the series, The Friendship Star Quilt.

BLURB:

Anne Brown loves her job at The Stitching Post Quilt Shop in Grandville, Michigan, but she keeps a suitcase packed so she can leave at a moment's notice. Living under the radar, she longs for a normal life, but settles for listening to family stories told by the friendly ladies of the quilting club who meet at the shop on Tuesday evenings. When she meets Brad, the handsome band director of an area high school and his adorable daughter, Anne begins to hope for a happily ever after of her own. But someone has far different plans.

Brad Carmichael is juggling the demands of his job as band director at Rivertown High School with trying to be a better father to his daughter. When Brad is late picking Jennie up from a birthday party, the pretty young clerk from the local quilt shop comes to his rescue. Kind-hearted and talented, Anne becomes a vital part of Brad and Jennie’s lives. But her past threatens to destroy their relationship.

EXCERPT:

Anne checked her watch. The store officially closed in ten minutes, but she’d leave it unlocked until the rest of the group arrived. At the sound of the door opening, she looked up to greet the newcomer. But her guest wasn’t a customer or a quilter.

Instead, a little blond cherub about six or seven years old stood in the doorway, studying the store with wide eyes.

“Do you need something, sweetie?” Anne asked.

The little girl turned soulful blue eyes in her direction. “It’s raining outside, and my daddy hasn’t come to pick me up yet. Is it okay if I wait in here?”

“Sure. Where was your dad supposed to pick you up?”

“The ice cream shop next door. I was at Suzy’s birthday party, but everyone else is gone now. And the ice cream man turned the lights off so I couldn’t stay there.”

“He turned the lights off while you were still waiting?” Anne had met George Connors many times in the two years she’d worked at The Stitching Post. She couldn’t imagine the shop owner behaving so cruelly.

The child nodded. “He told me I had to wait outside.”

Anne poked her head out the door and glanced at the ice cream shop. Sure enough, Freeze! was dark and empty. “Well, come inside. I won’t make you wait in the rain. What’s your name, honey?”

“Jennie… Jennie Carmichael.”

“My name is Anne, Jennie,” she told the child, giving her a reassuring smile. “Would you like me to call your father and let him know you’re here?”

“Yes, please. I have his phone number.” The little girl shrugged off her pink-and-purple flowered backpack and pulled a worn slip of paper from the front pocket.

Anne took the paper, squinting at the number scrawled on it. “Where does your dad work?”

“At the high school.”

“Is he a teacher? School was out a long time ago.”

“Daddy always stays after school to do work. Especially when there’s a concert or something. He’s the band director,” she added with a note of pride.

“Okay, let’s see if I can reach him. What’s his name?”

“Brad.”

Anne nodded and dialed the number on the Jennie’s paper. After several rings, a deep, velvety voice answered.

“Rivertown High Band Office.”

“Is this Brad Carmichael?”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Carmichael, this is Anne Brown at The Stitching Post on Wilson Avenue. Your daughter is in our shop waiting for you.”

“Jennie’s there? She’s supposed to be at the ice cream shop for a birthday party until—oh drat! I’m so sorry. I’ll be right there. Thanks for calling.”

The loud click told her he had disconnected in a hurry.

Anne put the receiver down and smiled reassuringly at the child. “Your dad is on his way now. Would you like something to drink while you wait?”

“No, thank you. The school isn’t very far away, so Daddy will be here soon.”

Anne was impressed with the girl’s manners. “All right. Would you like to sit down? I can clear off one of these low tables. You can sit on it like a little stool.”

Jennie shook her head. “Thank you, but I’ll just wait by the door so Daddy will see me in here, if that’s okay with you.”

BUY LINKS:

The Friendship Star Quilt is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords, as well as other ebook outlets.

GIVEAWAY:

Stephanie Michels is giving away a $5 gift card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble. To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us about a book series that you enjoy. Good luck!

BIOS:

Patricia Kiyono retired from public school teaching, and is now an adjunct faculty member at Grand Valley State University, where she instructs future teachers. Born in Japan, she lives in southwest Michigan with her husband, not far from their five children and nine grandchildren. In addition to writing, she enjoys sewing, scrapbooking, playing in local bands and orchestras, and taking care of grandchildren.

Stephanie Michels considers herself a “Jill of All Trades.” During her corporate career, she worked as a computer trainer, advertising copywriter, personnel agent, radio DJ, magazine columnist, and a financial planner among other things.  She recently left those behind in order to focus on writing full time.

Raised in Michigan, she lived in South Carolina, Missouri, and Germany, before returning to the Mitten State to raise her family.  When she isn’t writing, you can usually find her reading or spending time with family, friends, and Beta Sigma Phi sisters. The Friendship Star Quilt is her second novel with writing partner, Patricia Kiyono.

WHERE TO FIND US:

Patricia:

            Website: http://patriciakiyono.com

            Blog: http://creative-hodgepodge.blogspot.com/

            Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patricia-Kiyono/149294485148710?ref=hl

            Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5132660.Patricia_Kiyono

            Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Patricia-Kiyono/e/B0067PSM5C/

Stephanie:

            Blog: http://chunkingupthepage.blogspot.com/

            Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.michels.52?fref=ts

            Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7133902.Stephanie_Michels

            Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Stephanie-Michels/e/B00B0YSNS6