I had the distinct pleasure of collaborating with fantasy romance author D. Lieber on a special project in which our main characters met and had a chat!
A little about D.:
D. writes stories she wants to read. Her love of the worlds of fiction led her to earn a Bachelor’s in English from Wright State University.
When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, crafting, watching anime, Korean television, Bollywood, or old movies. She may also be getting her geek on while planning her next steampunk cosplay with friends.
She lives in Wisconsin with her husband (John), retired guide dog (Samwise), and cat (Yin).
Her book, The Exiled Otherkin, is set to be released on November 2nd.
Our scene between Ember, the protagonist of The Exiled Otherkin, and Stephen, the main character of The Magician’s Curse, takes place quite by accident. Enjoy!
Stephen and Ember Meet
SETTING: In the catacombs of Rome, a Fae refugee marketplace thrives. Ember has just purchased a replacement boot dagger. As she is leaving the stall, she almost collides with Stephen.
EMBER: (pulls her hat lower) Excuse me.
STEPHEN: My fault entirely. I’m a bit lost.
EMBER: (peeking up at him) It’s my first time here as well, so I doubt I will be of any help.
STEPHEN: If you don’t mind my saying so, you don’t (clears throat) look quite as out of place here as I feel.
EMBER: Is he human? (squinting slightly) How did you get here?
STEPHEN: (smiles) I’m actually not quite sure. I’m looking for a set of knives. I mentioned it to someone in a bar, and the next thing I knew I was climbing down a ladder. The gentleman disappeared after that.
EMBER: (excited over her new purchase) I just bought an excellent dagger from that stall (points). Do you want to see it?
STEPHEN: (nods) How kind of you.
EMBER: (pulls her dagger from her boot sheath) Check it out. You see these two jewels? If you slide this one (slides jewel), and then press this one … (points dagger at a wooden sign above a tavern, then presses the second jewel. The dagger blade shoots out of the hilt and into the sign. Grins at Stephen.)
STEPHEN: (laughs) That’s a little more dangerous than I have a need for. I’m looking for something I can juggle, not kill my audience with. I’m a magician on stage. (looks up at the blade in the sign) Would you like me to get that for you?
Colleen Chesebro wrote a fabulous review of my novel! Go check it out! And don’t forget, all proceeds from my book will given to those suffering from the effects of the hurricanes. The first $100 to go to help the people in Puerto Rico.
Thanks again, Colleen! ❤
Monday, October 2nd, 6:00pm
Jeff and Sandi (and everyone on the bus)
Jeff: So I’ve been thinking.
Sandi: About what?
Jeff: About where our relationship is going.
Sandi:(looks down at their hands clasped together) Do you think that’s a good idea?
Jeff: Are you happy with it the way it is? All this sneaking around?
Sandi: What is the alternative? Unless I quit my job at the dungeon, there’s no way you can go public with the fact that we’re dating.
Jeff: But we’re not doing anything wrong …
Sandi: Your superiors aren’t going to understand that. They’ll see only what’s on the surface.
Jeff: So what if … (gets up and kneels in the aisle beside her, a diamond ring in his hand) What if I asked you to marry me?
Sandi lifts her right hand to her mouth, her left is poised in front of Jeff.
Jeff: Life is much to short to let it pass us by worrying about what other people think. If you’ll say yes, it won’t matter what you do. Sandi, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you do me the great honour of becoming my wife?
This is awesome! I wouldn’t normally reblog a One-Liner Wednesday, but this one is a review of my book. Check it out! And say hi to Maida, an up and coming romance writer herself, while you’re there. 😀 Thanks, Maida!
The Magician’s Curse kept me turning page after page – I wanted to see what happens next.
Book Cover for ‘The Magicians Curse’ by Author Linda G.Hill
I gave Linda Hill’s The Magician’s Curse four stars on Goodreads and Amazon. This was an entertaining read. Oftentimes, if you’ve read as many books as I have, you’d be able to predict what’s going to happen next. With The Magician’s Curse, I couldn’t. That’s what kept me turning page after page – to see what the characters will do next, what will happen to them. It’s certainly different from the typical books I read and a great palate cleanser. It’s not cookie-cutter or formulaic at all. I don’t normally read books with young characters (18/23) anymore, but I made an exception for this. I’m glad I did because the heroine and hero (Herman and Stephen) are mature for their age. I’d recommend…
It’s been years–so many, that I’ve forgotten most of the story–since I read Jane Eyre. When I started reading All Hallows at Eyre Hall, I was a bit hesitant. I wasn’t sure how much was flashback to the original book and how much was new. I stopped reading. Yet I was determined enough to begin again; the second time I decided to trust Ms. Gray to guide me through seamlessly, and I’m very glad I did.
Ms. Gray has a talent for prose and her ability to immerse me in the time in history when the story takes place was astounding. The continuation of Jane Eyre’s tale is quite believable. It left me wanting more. If there is one criticism I have of this book it’s the jumping back and forth of the first person narrative. I found myself rushing through the beginning of some chapters to find out whose head I was in. But that wasn’t enough to make me want to put it down.
My book–the one I’ve been saying I was going to publish for four years now (didn’t believe me, did you?)–is finally here!
It’s a story I spent months obsessing over, traveled for, went to outrageous lengths for–I sat in the Kingston Via Rail station, taking notes for the description of it; drove around the city looking for the perfect setting for the house in which the story takes place and then I parked my car there and walked halfway back to town to see what it would be like. I stayed in different lodgings – the university where my characters went to school, the house that inspired the one in the book, and a small motel near the train station. I even had a chance to interview a magician. I’ll be posting that interview soon.
But most of all I had a lot of fun writing The Magician’s Curse and its sequel. And I’m almost finished writing the third book. Not sure if there will be more: I’ve toyed with the idea of a prequel.
For now though, I can finally share part of this world I’ve lived in by myself for almost six years. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. Magic and romance await.
Book Cover for ‘The Magicians Curse’ by Author Linda G.Hill 
lindaghill.com 