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.

Interview and Giveaway at HomeschooledAuthors.com

Hey, all! Just thought I'd let you know that Song of the Wren-Falcon and I are being featured this week over on homeschooledauthors.com with an interview and a book review.
Not only that, we're giving away a signed copy of the book, so be sure to pop 'round and enter for your chance to win!

Song of the Wren-Falcon Trailer Now Live!

So, I know it's unbelievably late in coming, but after way too many technical struggles and complications, the official Song of the Wren-Falcon trailer is live!

Enjoy! And of course, be sure to let me know what you think!

Writers, do you have a plan for 2015? Here are some ideas to get you going!

In addition to beginning a new year, I've begun a new chapter in my journey as a writer. I'm a published novelist now. I have a book to market and sell. I have readers asking for the sequel. I have a plethora of other, independent writing projects waiting to be completed.

All of that is good stuff.

None of that is going to get done without a plan.

So for the last couple of weeks, I've been doing a lot of thinking (and praying!) about how and what to plan for my writing in 2015, and I thought that sharing some of what I've been discovering and/or pondering might be helpful or encouraging to you all as well.

As they say, failing to plan is planning to fail. And I know, I know, we artsy writer types aren't too fond of planning, preferring instead to "let the spirit move," "wait for inspiration to strike," or find some other excuse of the like to use. Because yes, those are excuses.
Now, before you get all up in arms and start insisting that a writer can't possibly write without inspiration, let me explain what I mean.
In the first place, don't worry, I'm a writer too and I know perfectly well that it is truly impossible to write without inspiration. That is a fact.
But the idea that somehow sitting around and waiting long enough will lure inspiration to us, to pounce on us from behind, is a myth. Sometimes we have to go out and hunt inspiration down. It's completely doable. It's fun. And more importantly, it works--especially when you have a plan.

1. The first thing you have to do is set a clear, simple goal. The "clear and simple" part is key.

"To figure out and coordinate the long-term, overall theme of my writing as seen collectively through the individual themes of my unique projects and use that connecting theme to discover, develop, and market my personal brand as an author" is NOT a simple or clear goal. Try to break that down into a doable step-by-step process that includes goal dates. Not happenin'.

On the other hand,
"Finish the first draft of my novel" and "Write new short stories" are clear, simple goals, goals that are doable and step-by-step break-downable.

2. Know why your goals are important.

"Publisher X is accepting query letters through _____ date, but they require that the writer have a completed manuscript when they submit."
"Publishing new, high-quality short stories frequently will help keep my name and writing fresh in the minds of readers who may one day want to buy my novel."
"Writing new material while editing a large project will help keep my creativity active."
"Practice makes perfect."
"I need to finish what I start and see my writing projects through to the end."

These are all good, clear, concise reasons, and there are plenty more. Figure out what yours are.

3. Be specific with your goals.

"Finish the first draft of my novel by the end of June."
"Write twelve short stories this year."
"Write (that story, the one you have the idea for but haven't done anything with) by _____ date."

Those are specific, and setting a date can be a great way to keep yourself from getting lazy and indifferent.

4. Be reasonable, and know your own limitations.

Remember a few months ago when I decided to attempt NaNoWriMo while going through the final stages of publishing Song of the Wren-Falcon? That was NOT a reasonable goal.
Attempting to finish editing the second draft of one novel while writing the first draft of another while submitting a short story a week to magazines and anthologies while holding down a day job is not a reasonable goal (unless you're SuperWriter, in which case please email me about writing some guest posts for The Writer's Lair in your spare time).
Don't try to be SuperWriter, but at the same time, don't be too easy on yourself. A goal that is too easy to meet, or a deadline that is too far away can make it very tempting to get lazy and start down the slippery slope of procrastination.

5. Don't freak when life happens.

A loved one ends up in the hospital for an extended period of time.
One of your family members comes home with (insert contagious ailment) and unleashes an epidemic on your household.
(Insert natural disaster of choice.)
You discover that you aren't actually SuperWriter after all, and you've set an unreasonable goal for yourself.
The septic tank backs up into your basement.

It's life. It happens. No one reasonable is going to fault you if it takes you away from writing for a while. It doesn't make you any less dedicated, or any less a writer. It just means that you're a human and you have your priorities straight.

6. Follow through.

Plan some kind of reward for yourself when you achieve your goal. It doesn't have to be huge or outlandish; it can be as simple as taking a day trip with your family to someplace fun, spending an entire day reading in your pajamas, or treating yourself to frozen custard. Just make it something you enjoy and can look forward to.
Get an accountability partner. Another writer is preferable since you can return the favor by keeping them accountable and encouraging them to achieve their own goals, but really it can be anyone. Your mom, your best friend, your spouse, anyone. Ask them to ask you periodically whether you've been spending time working on your goals, whether you're focusing on the projects you should be focusing on.

7. Don't forget that writing is fun.

Seriously, I can't stress how important this is. I love every aspect of writing--seriously, every single aspect of it. It's what I do for fun; it's how I unwind; it's how I have adventures; it's how I express the truths that matter to me. But if I'm not careful, I can get so bogged down in goals that writing loses its enjoyability. Remember why you like writing. Treat yourself to writing something fun. Pick a random writing prompt off of Pinterest and go with it for an afternoon. Throw your favorite character into some ridiculous situation and help them figure their way out of it.

Remind yourself that you're doing this because you love it.

~*~*~*~*~

What are your writing goals this year? What is your plan for achieving them? What aspects of organizing your writing do you struggle with?
Any advice or tips you've learned that you want to share?

Also, be sure to stick around for my next post on how to actually go about hunting down inspiration when it seems a bit elusive!

Book Review: Fortress of Mist

Author: Sigmund Brouwer
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Series: Merlin’s Immortals

I’m honestly not sure how to go about writing a review for this book, other than just to come right out and say it: It’s appropriately named—I felt like the entire story, every scene, every character, every plot point, was shrouded in mist. I didn’t feel like I could see anything or anyone clearly. I didn’t understand why the characters did what they did. I didn’t understand what was going on, where it was taking place, or what the purpose was. In some parts of the book, with all the deceptions, double agents, and secret identities going on, I couldn’t even tell which character was which—let alone who was good, bad, or indifferent. I really just felt like I was squinting at this story through a thick fog.
I wanted to love this book—really I did. And who knows, I might have had I actually been able to tell what in the world was supposed to be going on. But as it was, I honestly couldn’t see through the mist to the fortress.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. A favorable review was not required.

A New Year...A New Steampunk Blog!

2014 was a big year for me, in a lot of ways. 2015 promises to be just as big, if not bigger, and I'm super excited about it! After the November release of my first novel, I took a whole month off to rest and relax, but now I'm hard at work on the sequel!
In addition to that, I've decided to invest a bit more time and energy into exploring the world of Steampunk. I'm doing it in a variety of ways. One of those ways is by experimenting with writing Steampunk literature for children. I've noticed that by and large, the steampunk literature being published "for children" is extremely dark, and I'm not too keen on that notion, so I'm hoping to shine some light into that genre. I'll be sure to keep you posted on my progress!
Another way in which my foray into steampunk is manifesting itself is in the launch of a new online steampunk community, The Facts of Steampunk Life.

The first inspiration for this concept came to me only very recently, but things seem to be falling into place very well and I'm pleased to announce that the blog, which will be the foundation site for the community, launched yesterday, January 1. You can check it out here, at http://factsofsteampunklife.blogspot.com
While the blog will serve as the foundation, the community also has a YouTube channel, a Pinterest, and a Google+ page, so if steampunk is something that interests you, be sure to check them all out!

Happy New Year, everyone!