I am proud to host my very first cover reveal for my friend, Marilyn Almodovar, who is soon to release her debut novel INTERRED! And now without further ado... *pulls the drape off* TADA!

COVER REVEAL!

Interred (Chronicles of the Interred #1)

by

Marilyn Almodóvar

The cover was created by the amazing Devan Edwards of Nimbi Designs.

I'm excited for Marilyn on a couple of fronts. I think the cover is beautifully designed and I had the honor of BETA reading this book for and it's complex and intense! Here is the book's blurb:

Blurb

 *****

Time has never been an issue for Baxter Jacobs, but then she never knew she had the ability to Bend it.

As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Baxter inherits a pendant that will change her life. Connected to the pendant is a dark and mysterious young man named Declan Ashdown. Trapped in a Time loop for the past 122 years, Declan needs Baxter’s help to escape. The only problem is, she has no idea how to do it.

To acquire the power she needs to free him, she’ll become one of the Interred, those whose Magical abilities emerge as they come of age. When she does, she’ll discover that Declan isn’t the only one interested in the fact that she’s a Time Bender.

As the Interment arrives, Baxter knows this will be no Sweet Sixteen. A vengeful relative and the ruthless Council are determined to control her. Declan’s powerful and charming descendant, Jack Ashdown, claims he can save her. She’ll soon have to decide who she can trust, and how to master her new abilities before Time runs out.

*****

INTENSE right?

The release date is JANUARY 22, 2013. Add it to your GOODREADS list now.
Here's a contest Marilyn is running! Enter now! http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1aa0793/

Brief author bio:

Marilyn Almodóvar is an American YA Author born in Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. A lover of words with a penchant for Victorian novels as well as the books of Stephen King, Lyn's favorite past-times have always been reading and writing.

It was this love that propelled her to choose Theater and French as majors in University, with a minor in English Victorian Literature. Lyn lived for almost a decade in England followed by three years in France before returning home to the U.S.

A self-confessed citizen of the world, Lyn is fluent in English, French and Spanish, with basic knowledge of the Italian language. Lyn currently lives in Central Florida with her French husband, English-born eldest son, and French-born youngest son. Her debut YA Novel, Interred, will be published by Iambe books on 01/22/2013.

Ways readers can connect with Lyn:

Twitter (http://twitter.com/LynAlmodovar)
Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/Marilyn-Almodóvar/142589622496531)
Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/MarilynAlmodovar)
Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/lynalmodovar/)
Blog (http://marilynalmodovar.blogspot.com/)

The Oracle and The Muse: The Next Big Thing: The Sky Throne

I am participating in a blog hop/ blog tour in which we have to post and answer a few questions about our manuscript. First, I'd like to thank Dimitri Sarantis, author of ‘Deep blue eyes on the Greek Isles’ a suspenseful romance, for beginning this endeavor. Be sure to go visit his page. 
Also thanks to Melpomene Selemidis for inviting me along for the blog ride. Visit her page wherein she answers questions about her work-in-progress, Sirens of Santorini. Also thanks to Meg McNulty for tagging me in her post. Visit her page where she discusses her work-in-progress, Banshee.

Today is my day to give the world a little more information about the manuscript I just finished.

1) What is the working title of your book?

The Sky Throne

2) Where did the idea come from for your book? 

I was sitting in my room at the SCBWI-NY Internatonal conference back in January 2011 and had just returned from a group bashing circle critique of my MS called Banished (a greek-based historical fantasy) and I had a thought... what would Zeus and his siblings have been like as teenagers? And The Sky Throne was born. It's an "Origin" story.

I've always loved mythology (bet you couldn't guess that from this blog :) ) and thought it would be fun to imagine all of those gods as teenagers. I was right. It was fun. IS fun. Lots!

3) What genre does your book fall under?

Young Adult Fantasy

4) Which actors would you choose to play in your movie rendition?

HA! Well let's see... I could certainly see Maria Menounos, Demi Lovato, Mila Kunis (I realize she's not Greek... but she's hawt and she could pass :) ) I have some more if you visit my Pinterest board [The Sky Throne]

5) What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

In order for Zeus to become powerful enough to avenge an attack on his surrogate family, he must access the power in The Sky Throne, but doing so could kill him.

6) How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

A little less than one year.

7) What other books would you compare this story to?

The Outsiders, in the sense that it's told in first person, yet has an ensemble cast of characters. I would also compare it many ways to the X-Men, character interaction-wise, minus the political underpinnings. The Sky Throne is X-Men meets Greek Mythology. 



Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment and SHARE if you LIKE it!

Next Week:
Be sure to visit those I mentioned above.

And go visit the next brave authors on the tour on December 19th.

Marylin Jeulin

JoLynne Valerie

Sunshine Blogger Award

The illustrious Meg McNulty, writer, photographer, Greek Mythology enthusiast and lover of historical romance has bestowed upon me the Sunshine Blogger Award. 

(insert whistling here to the tune of "I'm Walking On Sunshine")

Usually these types of awards come with questions and/ or instructions which give you a glimpse inside the mind of the blogger. So here goes:

1.      What is your favourite Christmas/ festive movie?

I love, love, love Bad Santa for my irreverent side. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (animated) makes me split my side with laughter every time I see it... never gets old. And lastly, I love The Holiday and Love Actually to feed my sappy romantic side.

2.      What is your favourite flower? 

I guess I'm partial to Azaleas since I grew up on them in the south.

3.      What is your favourite non-alcoholic beverage?

Ohhhhh, without a freakin' doubt... EGG NOG!! (yes, the all caps was necessary)

4.      What is your passion?

Storytelling. Oh and football. Equally.

5.      What is your favourite time of year?

Can't decide... and I suppose it might depend on where I lived... but Spring is such a time of renewal and rebirth... and hope and dreams and promise. But Fall is just gorgeous, especially if you live where the trees turn to all the hues of fire.

6.      What is your favourite time of day?

NOT MORNING!! lol I'd have to say the quiet and serenity of just after midnight.

7.      What is your favourite physical activity?

Running, when my knee isn't hurting.

8.      What is your favourite vacation?

Hard to say... I've had so many wonderful vacations. My favorite *dream* vacation that hasn't happened yet is to go to Santorini, Greece.

I do thank Meg for selecting me for this blog award. I am so honored and humbled.

ARTFUL THURSDAY: I am Woman, Hear Me Roar. Reflections of Rhea.

As Mother's Day approaches, let us reflect on one of the greatest Mothers ever.


-From www.theoi.com

RHEA was the Titanis mother of the gods, and a goddess of female fertility, motherhood, and generation. Her name means "flow" and "ease." As the wife of Kronos (Time), she represented the eternal flow of time and generations ; as the great Mother (Meter Megale), the "flow" was menstrual blood, birth waters, and milk. She was also a goddess of comfort and ease.


In myth, Rhea was the wife of the Titan Kronos and Queen of heaven. When her husband heard a prophecy that he would be deposed by one of his children, he took to swallowing each of them as soon as they were born. But Rhea bore her youngest, Zeus, in secret and hid him away in a cave in Krete guarded by shield-clashing Kouretes. In his stead she presented Kronos with a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes which he promptly devoured.


Rhea was closely identified with the Anatolian mother-goddess Kybele. They were both depicted as matronly women, usually wearing a turret crown, and attended by lions.


Presenting Rhea:

Hope you enjoyed.

Lucky Seven Meme... and a Sky Throne Excerpt

I have been tagged to participate in the Lucky 7 Meme... a *Get-To-Know-My-Work* exercise, of sorts. Here are the rules:

The Rules:
1. Go to page 77 of your current MS/WIP
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines – sentences or paragraphs – and post them as they’re written. No cheating
4. Tag 7 authors
5. Let them know


So here we go: (I went with 7 paragraphs)
*****
This selection is from my WIP The Sky Throne, which recently got accepted to the Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program and is being considered by several agents.
*****

Once the crowd dissipated, the first wrestling match was set to begin. A tall, athletic man with the obvious talent of throwing his voice to the far reaches of the arena, announced the contestants.

“From Elite Academy of Sumeria we have the Asian champion, Enlil.”

The crowd applauded as he jogged out. He didn’t seem very big, but his muscles were well defined and popped out of nearly everywhere. His hands glowed as he walked to the center of the circle. Then he surprised the crowd by slapping himself in the head several times and howling like a rabid wolf.

“And from our own Othrys Prep... Menoetius!”

“O.P.” the crowd chanted over and over until it reverbed in my ears.

As soon as the judge dropped his hand to begin the match, the contestants attacked and mauled one another. Strong stance after clever defense, the combatants clawed their way to points of advantage. I admired their brute strength.

I remembered wrestling with Tos. I’d always beat him, which was interesting in its own right because he was better than me in nearly everything else. I had a signature move that he fell for every time. But as I looked on at Enlil and Money, it occurred to me that Tos and I were only playing at wrestling. Enlil and Money were engaged in the real thing.

Now for seven more victims, I mean, authors.

1. Brooke R. Busse 
2. Carrie Bastyr 
3. Kerri Cuevas 
4. Sarah Pearson 
5. Esther Spurrill-Jones 
6. Andy Brokaw 
7. Tara Tyler