Chapter 10 & 11

If this post looks familiar, that's probably because you read it on the Magicians series blog.  I am posting this on my personal blog for those of you who do not --for some bizarre reason--follow the Magicians series blog.

Since I'm late with the update on chapter 10 and some of you have already read it, I decided tonight to combine an update so then you hear about chapter 10 and chapter 11.

Chapter 10: Shadow of Power

In chapter ten Celestria is closer to death then she ever has been before.  Now traveling with this new man's she met, she faces the greatest challenge of all.  It's evident: survival is key.  If they die, they lose everything they have ever worked for.

EXCERPT FROM THE CHAPTER:

The light was beginning to shine through my eyes, but I heard a man’s voice next to me.  Alaire was conquering a spell of some sort as well; the problem was I doubt either of us knew what we were trying to perform.  There was a screeching sound and then a gust of wind that blew past us.  I placed my hands down and could feel something wet below me.  When I glanced down I saw a river of water…black water.  The water moved towards Lena and Melodie, neither of which seemed to know what to do.  The thunder grew louder and a lighting bolt struck down, barely missing us.

Now onto the newest chapter...

Chapter 11: Encounter

In chapter eleven there is a simple question you must ask yourself: When can you deny what you see?  Celestria asks this same question when she once again encounters her dead sister, Dyanna.  Now, though, she is beginning to wonder whether these encounters are imaginary --something perhaps of her own making--or very much real.

What happened to Dyanna so long ago?

EXCERPT FROM THE CHAPTER:

The closer I got, the more blinding the light became.  When I could not see anything but the whiteness around me, I stopped and stood still.  In a moment the light faded away to focus solely on the woman in front of me.  She wore a dark green dress; the same dress she had worn the last time I had seen her.  Could it really be her?  Was she here?  Was I here or was this a dream, and I had never actually woken up from the fight?  Even that I doubted, though, because in past dreams I had never been able to speak or be heard.

Find out next time you read Cursed with Power.

The images used in this post are not mine.  All credit goes to the creators of these images, which were found on deviantart.com

Be there for the magic: www.themagiciansseries.blogspot.com

Chapter eight... Doomed

The chapter actually went public on Friday evening but I forgot to post the update on this blog until just now.  If you already read the update on the Magicians series blog this is the same exact update, so you might want to take note of that before you start reading it thinking it's something different.  I am writing up chapter 9 today.

CHAPTER EIGHT

DOOMED

I realize it took me an extremely long time to finish chapter eight, and I can only apologize for this.  While nano and my job should seem like good enough excuses, I also have myself to blame because once I got far into this chapter it actually got really interesting to the point where I wasn’t writing it in my journal, but I was typing away like a mad woman.

Let’s get on with what the chapter is about, though. And remember, while there are no spoilers I will let you read a sneak peek so you can get a feel for the chapter before you even read it.

(Please note that chapter eight is entirely different from what it was like in the original first version ofCursed with Power.  If you read the original version, please read this new one because it has significantly changed.)

In chapter eight Celestria walks about on the streets and thinks about a decision she made.  As she is walking she meets a man, Aldemund.  He begins questioning her because of the staff she carries; he also, strangely enough, knows her name.  Who is he?  How does he know her?

Excerpt from the chapter: Instant pain shot through me, and I did not need to look to know what had happened.  He was burning my skin, and if I did not stop him I would surely die.  While I screamed in agony I cursed him, but despite my conditions I was able to think. 

Will Celestria survive?  Who is this man she meets? And what causes her pain in this chapter…so much pain to perhaps even “doom” her?  Find out when next you read Cursed with Power.

Want updates on other books besides Cursed with Power.  Let me know here.

Be there for the magic: www.themagiciansseries.blogspot.com

Revisions

I began researching for Cursed with Power.  This time around I'm deciding an actual place to set the characters in and then the towns I can either keep made up or name whatever I wish.  I'm trying to decide between Ireland or Romania.  It's a hard choice, but when I have come to a decision I shall let you know.

While I thought I could keep the first three chapters and the prologue as they are, I am thinking now that is not the case.  I may very well just have to rework it all.
Here's an idea of what I think I'll be doing, though.  I'm going to get all the historical facts correct so it seems as real as ever that these characters are living in 1573.  Then I'll add in all the fantasy elements.  I think this way it will be more believable because it will have history coming into fantasy, and then maybe you'll even have more of a reason to think, "Yes, this could have happened."   Like it?
I'll post again soon.  And by the way, there's a new cover for Gracien's Staircase coming soon.

What's new?

Well, I'm glad you asked because I can actually tell you several things.  Whether you want to read this or no I'll leave for you to decide.
I lied when I said that I am now reading Bourne Objective.  I am actually reading Magic Under Glass because I discovered this book at the library and it sounded really good.  I am only into the fourth chapter now, but already is has my full attention.  If you want to read a story with romance, mystery, and perhaps, yes, even some magic this is definitely the book!  Seeing as I like it so much already, I may very well post up a review about it when I'm finished.
Cursed with Power went up to 967 in ranking.  While I'm a bit devastated to see it go up in ranking again, I have not lost all hope.  After all, I am not even finished with the book yet so I have a ways to go before I start really getting everyone to read it.

In case you didn't see, I added music to the blog.  I know it seems like a lot of the songs are by male artists, but please know that I did not do this on purpose.  It just so happens that I was trying to think of some of my very favorite songs to share with you, and a lot of them are ones I have listened to recently.

And I am returning to book swaps.  (Sort of)... It is just taking me forever, I realize, because I want so badly to just work on my book instead.  Of course, if I never do the book swaps then I'll never hear back from others, so I am forcing myself along very slowly.

I don't know if I mentioned this, but I did start chapter 13 yesterday.  I feel like I have not been working on Cursed with Power in a really long time, and I think because of that feeling I am going to read back a lot of it to myself so I can refresh my memory.
And for now that's about all...

Great news!

I found out that the magazine I'm published in is only for online view, however...
The girl running it told me that I could become part of the writing staff, which would be I could get way more involved in the magazine and even put more work into it.  I am really excited about this now, but keep in mind that I may be back to ask you guys for your opinion about some more of my stories.

Also, I am interviewing Julie Musil first for the writing interviews.  I'll have her interview up when I get a reply back from her. Remember if you're interested to let me know.

New review today

I read a new review I got on Cursed with Power that mentioned something that rather surprised me.  This person was most curious as to why the man Celestria was writing to in the prologue had the name of Adam when they lived in such a "fantastical world".
I never really thought that Adam's name was out of place for the book because while there are magicians in this story, there are also regular people within it --Adam being one of them.
So I suppose what I am saying here is that I just want to explain that I see no reason to really change Adam's name because he is an ordinary guy with a name that was common back in the 1500s.  I think the extraordinary names I researched I used for the magicians.

Anyways...
Today I am going to try and start chapter thirteen after I refresh my memory with where I left off.  I'm assuming at this point in the book there are three major questions everyone has.
Is Léal ever coming back into the story?  What really happened to Dyanna?  Is there a real message inside of the diamond?
Alas you will have to wait until more is written to come to the conclusions of those questions.  For those of you who aren't reading the story, do not worry too much that I will give away a lot by my posts about Cursed with Power.