The Adelfian Prophecies Series, now on Facebook!

Guess what, everybody? My epic fantasy series, The Adelfian Prophecies, now has its own Facebook page, where you can not only keep up to date on all the latest happenin's as I continue writing the series, but also take part in discussions about the series, ask questions about already-released or upcoming books, share favorite scenes or characters, talk about what the stories mean to you...and well, maybe even get a sneak peek or two.
I'd love for you to join me, so visit facebook.com/TheAdelfianProphecies, like the page, and let the journey begin!

So...what's next?

So now that Song of the Wren-Falcon and A Knight on the Old North Shore are out, what's coming up next from author Mary Ruth Pursselley?

I'm glad you asked!

Of course, if you're one of those who have been asking about the sequel to Song of the Wren-Falcon, let me assure you that it is in the works! I must confess, we're still in the first-draft stage at this point...but it's coming. Recent experiences with setting goal dates and deadlines for myself has led me to decide that I am not going to do so with this project, other than to say that, God willing and the Twilight fans don't attempt a world takeover, it will be out in the first half of 2016.
Since you've all been so sweet with your feedback about the book (and your reviews on Amazon make me want to melt), and it absolutely makes my day every time someone eagerly asks about the sequel, I thought I might as well give you a few little sneak peeks...next week. (Okay, sorry, but I can't help being just a little devious.) In the meantime, here's a look at what else you can expect to see from me over the next several months:

The Shadowfields - An historical novella in the spirit of The Secret Garden...with a tiny dash of Northanger Abbey thrown in. This one will be available both in print and as an e-book.

The Pirate Shrine - High-seas fantasy adventure with generous helpings of espionage, political intrigue, swashbuckling action, and maybe just a little romance. This one will also be available both in print and electronic versions.

Plus, more short collections like A Knight on the Old North Shore! I have two of these in the production stage at this point, but neither has a fixed title yet. These will be available exclusively as electronic versions, with a compilation volume of all of my short books planned to release in print eventually.

Of course, these plans are all writing-related, and there's a whole lot more than that going on in my life right now...but more on that at a later time, too. ; )

A Knight on the Old North Shore Now Available on Kindle!

Greetings, all! After a ton of delays, technical difficulties, and the complications of life, I am thrilled to announce that A Knight on the Old North Shore is now live and available on Kindle!

Click Here to download it for only $0.99. 

I am so super excited about this project, which also happens to be the pilot project of Magical Ink Media, a publishing co-op that my friends H.A. Titus and Elynn W. Marsh and I have started together.
Special thanks to Elynn for designing the gorgeous cover art, and to Heather for doing the editing and formatting. I couldn't have done it without you girls!
And now, for the rest of you, get on over to Amazon and check it out! Elves, dragons, mysterious travelers, stormy shores, unstable portals...there's something here for everyone. Be sure to post a review on Amazon as well as Facebook, personal blogs, Goodreads, and wherever else you feel inclined once you've read it.

Enjoy, everybody!

Calling All Bloggers! Free Books!

(I knew the 'Free Books' would get your attention even if the rest of the title didn't. ; ) )

Hey, everybody! As you know, my short book, A Knight on the Old North Shore, is coming soon, and I'm looking for a few enthusiastic readers to help me give it a good welcome into the fiction world.

Intrigued? Read on.

If you:

-Love to read
-Love fantasy
-Love old-fashioned storytelling and poetry
-Have a blog
-Love writing book reviews

...then send an email to editor(dot)thewriterslair(at)gmail(dot)com and tell me so. You could receive a free advance copy of A Knight on the Old North Shore! In exchange (okay, so I guess it's not entirely free if I'm asking for something in exchange, but...whatever) I'm asking you to write a review of the book (be honest--I want your sincere opinion, and you're not obligated to say you like it if you don't) and post it to your blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, whatever you have. Once the book releases, I also ask that if you have an Amazon account you post your review on the book's Amazon page as well.

I'm only giving out five advance copies of the file, and it's first come, first served, so don't be shy and don't wait around!

Coming Soon: My New Release!

That's right! Since the release of my novel last November, I've been hearing from lots of you who read my book and wanted more. (Thanks, by the way! There's no better way to make an author's day!)
The sequel to The Song of the Wren-Falcon is still in the works...but it is in the works, never fear! So to tide you all over until it gets here, I'm releasing a mini-book collection of some of my short works.

A very few of you may remember my poem, A Knight on the Old North Shore, from several years ago. For those of you who don't remember, it was the first work I ever published, back in 2009. The interesting thing is that today, among those who know it, it is still by far my most popular and loved work.
So it seemed appropriate to make it the title work of this collection. It will appear alongside three other works, two short stories and another poem.
The official release date isn't set yet, but it will be soon, and of course I'll let you all know. This will only be available as an e-book, since it's so short (printing wouldn't really be cost effective for anyone involved), but it will be available in multiple formats, so no matter what e-reader you use, you'll be able to get it.
Stay tuned--I'll keep you updated on its release!

Book Review: The Sparks

Title: The Sparks
Series: The Feud

Author: Kyle Prue
Genre: Fantasy, YA

I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting into when I agreed to review this book--not only is it a new release, the author is a new face in the fiction world, so I really had nothing but the publisher's information to go on.
What I found when I read the book is that Kyle Prue is a highly talented young writer with an extreme amount of potential. He had the idea for this book when he was sixteen, and now as a senior in high school he's a published author. (I know nothing I dreamed up at sixteen was worth publishing!)
The Sparks is set in the city of Altryon, a place riddled with political tension and turmoil and ravaged by a deadly feud among the families of Taurlum, Vapros, and Celerius. The genre is definitely fantasy, although there is mention of muskets and other firearms being used and the overall feel has slight hints of a historical flavor.
The story focuses mainly on the teenage children of the three feuding families. The author does a fantastic job of keeping the somewhat large cast of characters clearly organized and distinct, which is highly impressive. (I know from experience how hard it is to keep a big cast straight!) Bear in mind, these are teenage children of dysfunctional families who have been feuding, harassing, thwarting, and murdering each other for centuries. The natural result is that the book has a bit of teen angst underlying it. Ordinarily teen angst is a gigantic

turnoff for me, but in this case it was kept very low-key and, as I said, completely natural. Teens in this kind of situation are going to experience angst, it's just a fact. And each character has a unique ability--their own special 'superpower' for lack of a better term--that makes things even more interesting.
The plot itself is complex and fascinating, and the author has done a great job weaving together the individual character arcs while fitting all of them perfectly into the plot progression involving the feud itself, the political environment of the kingdom, and the growing danger that begins to threaten the main characters even more than the feud they are a part of . Not to mention, there is a satisfying number of twists and surprises to keep things interesting. The pacing of the story was perfect--the book kept me turning pages and seemed to fly by in no time.
There is some mild-ish language scattered throughout the book, and a very small amount of mildly suggestive content, so readers should be aware of that.
On the purely technical side of things, this book is printed on very white paper with an ink that is very bold and clear...as long as the light isn't shining directly on it. But when I tried to read with the book laying open on the table and the overhead light shone directly on the page, the ink was actually very shiny and reflective, making it impossible to read the words, which I found highly annoying. So, read it in indirect light or on your Kindle, otherwise you can't actually read it.
I'm not big on making predictions when it comes to things like this, but in this case I'm going to make an exception: Kyle Prue is an author to watch. I love the fact that he is aware and concerned about the tendency among teens, particularly boys, to give up reading when life starts getting busy. His conscious, deliberate efforts to write something that appeals to teens in order to keep them reading is extremely commendable.
I'm not going to say this is one of my favorite books ever, but it's definitely an interesting, engaging read that kept me turning pages start to finish. If you're looking for something different and unique, or looking for an up-and-coming author to watch, check out The Sparks by Kyle Prue.
~*~*~*~
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. A favorable review was not required.

Join the Discussion!

I know that at least most of you who have ordered a paperback copy of Song of the Wren-Falcon won't have your books yet, but I also know that some of you have already purchased the e-book version and started reading. (Give yourselves a hug for me.)
If that's the case, of course post your review on Amazon as soon as possible. Nothing helps a book get off to a good start like getting some good reviews right off the bat.
But once that's done, you can also pop in at Shelfari.com and join in a discussion about the book! General impressions are welcome, of course, but I'd love to get some deeper conversations going as well. How did the book make you feel? What did the story make you think about? Do you have a favorite or least favorite character? Who, and why? What are you hoping to see in the sequel? (You know, the kind of conversation you and a friend might have talking about books over a cup of hot chocolate.)

I'm excited to hear your thoughts. Chime in and let's get talking!

The Song of the Wren-Falcon Now Available on Kindle!

Well, it's Day 3 of The Song of the Wren-Falcon's existence as a published book, and it's a special day because it's now available as an e-book as well as in print!
I know some of you awesome people out there have already ordered your own print copies, and may I just say - you rock. But for those of you who prefer the e-book format (or who just can't wait for the print copy to arrive in the mail), the e-book is here!

Click Here to download the Kindle format.

Click Here for other e-book formats.

And of course, no matter what format you read The Song of the Wren-Falcon in, don't forget to write a review and post it on Amazon, GoodReads, and blogs. I'm looking forward to hearing what you think! :D

New Short Story out in Havok Magazine

Hey, all! Some of you may remember reading about the flash fiction contest I won at the Realm Makers' convention last August. (If you don't you can refresh your memory Here.) Well, that story, The Mermaid's Pocketwatch, is now in print in Issue 1.1 of Havok Magazine!

Just thought I would let you all know. You can get more information, subscribe, order copies of individual issues, or learn how to submit your own writing to Havok by Clicking Here.
(And of course, be sure to check out Page 3 of this issue for The Mermaid's Pocketwatch!)

Book Review - The Heiress of Winterwood

Author: Sarah Ladd
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: Whispers on the Moors
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pages: 310

I have to admit, I was a little surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this book. I was expecting just another run-of-the-mill historical fiction read, (i.e. lots of mush) but this was a great story!
Amelia, the main character and heiress of a vast estate, promised her dying best friend that she would always look after her friend's then-newborn daughter. Nearly a year later, Amelia is engaged to marry Edward, a man who doesn't want the baby to stay with them after they're married. And the baby's sea captain father is coming home for his first leave since the birth of his daughter and the death of his wife. Desperate not to lose the baby, who has become like her own daughter, and increasingly suspicious that Edward might just be after her money, Amelia concocts an outrageous plan: propose a marriage of convenience to the baby's father.
What follows is a very exciting and intriguing adventure that I really enjoyed reading. The characters and their relationships to each other were very well done, I thought. While some of the dialogue felt a little bit awkward (not consistently, just in a few places), the interactions resulting from differing personalities, histories, and personal struggles were very deep and believable. And while a love story does develop over the course of the book, it was a far cry from the typical sappiness fest that books like this all too often turn into. The love story was very low-key, and felt very natural, while the action of the story was kept at the forefront.
And the plot itself was quite unique from anything I have read before. Uniqueness and originality always get bonus points from me!
There were a few editing issues scattered throughout the book... enough to irritate me. For instance, a dress worn by one of the characters was described as two different colors in the same scene, there were a few typos, and a few word choices that are inaccurate to the time period.
I certainly would have enjoyed the book more had those issues not been present, but it was still a good read.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review - Stress Test

Author: Richard L. Mabry, M.D.
Genre: Action/Mystery/Medical
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pages: 302

I'd never read anything of this genre before, but I'd heard good things about Richard L. Mabry as a writer, so I thought I'd give it a try. I wasn't disappointed. I loved this book!

Excerpt from the back cover:
Dr. Matt Newman thought he was leaving his life as a surgeon in private practice for a better one in academic medicine. But the kidnappers who attacked him as he left the hospital at 2 a.m. have no such plans--they just want him dead. Bound and in the trunk of his car, Matt's only thought is fleeing with his life. He does escape, but at a price: a head injury that lands him in the ICU... where he awakens to discover he's being charged with murder.

While full of surprises and twists, this story showed a very refreshing lack of the exhausting convolution so prevalent in a lot of fiction I've read. It had a good, exciting adventure and mystery to it... honestly, it was a lot of fun.
There was some cheesiness to parts of the story - sadistic but none-too-bright evil henchmen Lou and Edgar, and Virgil Grimes the bad-tempered homicide detective, for example. They gave a rather Walker: Texas Ranger-esque feel to the book (which is even set in Texas). But it wasn't a bad kind of cheesiness at all--I know that sounds nonsensical, but it's true. And honestly, having grown up watching Walker, it didn't bother me that Stress Test had the same kind of feel to it. I actually found it quite delightful.
The characters were nicely developed. From time to time I came across bits of dialogue that felt stiff, but aside from that the character interaction was very natural, I thought. The characters spent very little time sitting around analyzing their own feelings, which I also found quite refreshing.
It's not often that the main character is my favorite one in the story, but this was one of those rare times. Matt Newman is a truly likeable character, and I love the way he develops over the course of the story. It felt extremely natural - no unexplained explosion of heroism, no fireworks, no melodrama.
The medical aspects of the story were, in my opinion, brilliantly done. The emergency room or other hospital scenes were paced and placed just perfectly so that the story didn't get bogged down with them, and they were very well written. Of course, in some instances that wasn't all that pleasant - sitting on the sofa reading about emergency room cases, and thinking I feel warm... I wonder if I have a fever. Is that an earache coming on? I think I'm having chest pain! - but I took it nevertheless as a sign of good writing. Though I'm still trying to recover from the scare I got while reading a scene about an aortic aneurism that was about to rupture, when the speaker on the family computer made a popping sound for no apparent reason. I thought I was going to bleed out for sure.
As I said earlier, I'd never read anything of this genre before, but I very much enjoyed my first sampling of it, and it has definitely made me interested in reading more of Dr. Mabry's work.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: So Shines the Night - Plus an Interview with the Author!

Last fall I had the privilege of becoming part of author T.L. Higley's publicity team, The Caravan. (You can even see my name in the back of So Shines the Night, in the list of Tracy's Caravan members!) Tracy is an amazing author and I have been enjoying her work for years. I think what I love most about her novels is the way they make you feel like you've actually stepped back through time to whatever exotic location she has chosen - be it Egypt, Babylon, or in this case, Ephesus. When you finish reading one of her books, you feel like you've actually been there, breathed the dust of the streets, felt the sun on your face, and taken part in the story.
What reader doesn't want an experience like that? What writer doesn't want their work to have exactly the same effect on their readers?
So, in addition to today's book review, there's an extra special treat: an interview with Tracy herself! Hope you enjoy!

Author: Tracy L. Higley
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: The Seven Wonders
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pages: 395

Shortly after losing her job as a private tutor for a nobleman's daughter, the multilingual Daria finds work at a school in Rhodes. The arrangement doesn't last long, however. When Daria stumbles into the rites of a group of sorcerers, she's forced to flee for her life. A spur-of-the-moment offer from businessman Lucas Christopoulos to come with him to Ephesus seems the only escape.
Once in Ephesus, though, Daria realizes that maybe this wasn't a good idea... at all. The sorcery that drove her from Rhodes is even more rampant in Ephesus. The city is riddled with tension between the sects of Artemis-worshipers and a new, trouble-making religious sect known as Christians. Lucas is haunted by demons and darkness of his own. For Daria, who balances her instinctive desire to help with the rationale of looking out for her own security, the chance to keep her distance from evil and danger might be lost.

Though I will admit it was not as spectacular as Shadow of Colossus/Isle of Shadows or Guardian of the Flame (in all fairness, those are both extremely tough acts to follow), So Shines the Night was an awesome read. The story and characters had so many layers, all of which contributed to the realness of the book.
I've read about the Ephesian sorcerers and their conflicts with the early Christians plenty of times, but reading this book helped bring that to life in ways I hadn't thought about before - the anger of those who profit from the sale of spells and charms, the defensiveness of those whose dark powers give them political sway. This book really pulled me into that conflict and helped me think about it in real-life ways, ways I hadn't looked at it before. How would I feel, were I there in the midst of it? How would I feel if someone I loved was on the opposite side of the conflict from me? What would it have been like, how hard must it have been, to see a man like Paul, with the power to cast out demons, compared to the powers of the sorcerers? Had I been an Ephesian in those days, which side might I have chosen? How would I decide which power to believe in?
You've just gotta love a book that provokes that kind of thought, those kinds of questions.
Real biblical characters featured prominently in fictional stories tend to make me nervous - mostly because I'm a perfectionist and the thought that they might not be represented accurately is just about more than I can handle - so the biblical characters in So Shines the Night, Paul and Timothy especially, put me a little bit on edge. But, that's just a personal issue that most other people probably don't struggle with as much as I do.
And the plot twist at the end... oh my. Never saw it coming. Almost didn't recover.
There was a scene or two in the book that almost ventured within the borders of sappy-ness (and if you've been following this blog for any length of time, you'll know how I feel about that), but it wasn't bad. And Tracy also stated in the Author's Note that for a change of pace she had woven some elements of old Gothic-era romance literature into the story, so it was at least somewhat deliberate. And on the whole, the effect that those elements created in within the dark setting of sorcery-ridden Ephesus was very tantalizing. As a writer, I absolutely love that kind of creative ingenuity and experimentation, so I guess I can swallow a semi-sappy scene or two... if I have to. ; )
Seriously, if you're looking for a unique and exciting read, pick up So Shines the Night.

And now, that extra-special treat I promised! As part of promoting the launch of So Shines the Night, Tracy gave members of her Caravan the opportunity to ask a few interview questions to share with our blog readers. So here they are!

Mary: What can you tell us about the challenges of interweaving actual historical events with fictional ones?

Tracy:

It’s actually quite fun!  The historical events give me sort of “anchor points” for the story and help me structure the plot. Then I fill in around them with all the fun fictional stuff. I really enjoy it when the place and time give me lots of history to work with.

 Mary: As a fellow writer I know that every story seems to have one character who just captures your heart. Was there a character like that in So Shines the Night, and if so, who was it?

Tracy:

I think I might have had a little crush on Timothy, if you must know.  And Lucas, well, sigh.  I just had to rescue him.

Mary: What advice would you give other writers who want to bring their story settings to life and leave their readers feeling like they've been there?

Tracy:

Research is key, of course. Don’t skimp. You will end up with more than you can use, but you never know when a particular detail you’ve found will breathe life into a scene, or inspire a major plot point. Second, take time for the sensory. When you think about and make sure the page shows all the colors and sounds, tastes and smells, textures and feeling of a place, it will start to come alive.

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions, Tracy! And of course, thanks for writing yet another wonderful story for all of us!

Favorite Archers in Fiction

If you've been paying attention, you've probably noticed that archers seem to be becoming more and more popular in the entertainment industry lately. While some of the bow-wielding characters popular today are long-lasting favorites, such as Robin Hood, new ones are popping up every time we turn around, it seems.
So just for fun, I thought I'd dedicate a blog post to featuring the most popular archers of our time.

Legolas Greenleaf, of Mirkwood, Middle Earth.

Hawkeye, of the Avengers - a.k.a. Agent Barton of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Katniss Everdeen, of District 12, Panem.

Kili, of Erebor, Middle Earth

Merida, first-born of Clan Dunbroch, Scotland

Robin Hood, of Sherwood Forest, Nottingham. (Since there are so many different representations of him I just picked a picture of my favorite one. Yes, the Disney cartoon is my favorite version.)

Susan Pevensie, of Finchley - a.k.a. Queen Susan the Gentle, of Narnia

It's hard to say what has made archers so popular in entertainment... maybe boredom with guns, admiration for the skill required for archery, a hankering for something unique. Who knows? But I, for one, don't mind the trend at all. I like the variety it brings to books and movies. And let's face it: there's just something way too cool about a character with a bow in his or her hand, and a quiver of arrows on his or her back - whether it's a medieval-style weapon like Merida's, an elf-made weapon like Legolas', or a high-tech mechanized weapon like Hawkeye's.

Do you have a favorite archer character?

Book Review: Winter

Author: Keven Newsome
Genre: Spiritual Warfare, Supernatural
Publisher: Darkwater (an imprint of Splashdown Books)
Pages: 322

My Thoughts: I'd been wanting to read this book for a long time, so I was very excited when I finally got a chance to make that happen. The unique premise of a new Christian (who's also goth) discovering that she has the gift of prophecy intrigued me. Actually reading the book kept me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover.
Winter is a new Believer whose faith is helping her put her life back together after a childhood that was more than a little rough. It's slow going, but she's making progress bit by bit.
Her progress gets a pretty major shaking-up, though, when she begins having premonitions, seeing things that haven't happened or knowing things she has no logical way of knowing. When her friend Kaci talks to her about spiritual gifts to Believers, Winter begins to suspect that hers is the gift of prophecy.
And when hideous, violent crimes and an anti-religious power grab rock the campus of the university, Winter's gift might be the only way to save the lives of her friends and bring the college back to its Christian foundation.

This book had me hooked from the first page. The author, Keven Newsome, is absolutely an artist with the written word. He has the ability to present an image or setting in complete, vivid detail in the reader's mind with just a single turn of phrase or a word or two (literally) of description. His ability at scene-crafting is incredible. There were multiple scenes throughout the book that just amazed me with their vividness and the way they came to life, making me feel like I was watching a movie instead of reading a book. If nothing else, writers, read this book to learn how to create scenes and settings like Keven Newsome does it!
As for the content itself, be forewarned that it is very, very dark throughout the book, which just sort of comes with the territory. Between the spiritual warfare and brutal crime (and by brutal I mean very brutal) that make up the plot, and the frequent flashbacks to Winter's early teenage years, following her path into the Goth sub-culture and her eventual experimentation with witchcraft prior to her conversion, darkness is a necessary element. What I loved about it was the way that Winter's own experience with the dark elements of the book was part of what enabled her to figure out what was going on and fight against it, and in several instances it was what kept her from being shocked and freaked out to the point of not being able to function. I thought that was a skillful use on the author's part of the fact that what we intend for harm, God uses for good.
One element that seriously bothered me about this book was when Winter was first realizing that she had the gift of prophecy, but was doubting her own suitability for the calling. During one of her doubt-filled, questioning prayers, she hears the voice of God saying "I, the Lord, believe in you." Which is totally not a Biblical concept in any way, shape, or form. God makes it abundantly clear over and over in His word that our ability is not ours, but His. He pulls no punches making sure we know that we don't have the ability in ourselves to do what He wants of us, that the ability all comes from Him. So that really got under my skin.
Another thing that puzzled and perplexed me was the lack of parental involvement in the plot. At one point a few of the main characters even show up at parents' house seeking medical help after one of them has been kidnapped and beaten, tell the parents what's going on in full, and ask their advice. The parents offer them advice, prayer, and encouragement to face the situation as God would have them to... and make no attempt whatsoever to get involved. Their children are facing sadistic Satanic maniacs, and they don't make an effort to get involved. Really, now? I understand that, as a writer, if your main character is a child you sometimes have to marginalize the parents to an extent, since a parent's job is to protect the child from the kind of things that usually go on in fictional stories. But this was just a little extreme for my tastes.
There was some lack or realism, too, in how quickly Winter seems to recover from the various injuries she receives over the course of the story. For instance, at one point she gets a few broken ribs; after looking her over a nurse sends her upstairs to take a shower before she wraps the ribs. Having had a little bit of experience with rib injuries, let me tell you that with broken ribs, you're not going to be interested in undertaking anything more ambitious than just breathing - and even that becomes a chore. No way are you going to walk upstairs and take a shower.
But, if I forced myself to ignore the "I, the Lord, believe in you" thing, and overlooked the other few things, like I said I really enjoyed this book. Dark, yes. Brutal at times, yes. I definitely wouldn't recommend it for anyone under 18. But a very unique story with a unique cast of characters, and stellar writing and scene-craft.
Let me know when the movie comes out - I'll have my ticket reserved!