Wednesday, April 30, 2014

A to Z Challenge: Z is for Ziggurat, and the Unexpected Truth About Newbie Authors

The zigguratt may not be as popular as the pyramid, but I find it just as intriguing. This pyramid-type structure, while not classically used by the Greeks, was a symbol of man seeking the divine, which is a theme common throughout Greek myth.
I've started reading a book called Jake Bowers Versus the Firebird by Laryssa Waldron. It was recommended to me by a good friend, who recommends all the best books. It starts out with a scene in a ziggurat, which immediately caught my attention. I can't say much about the book as I've just started, but I can say this--I enjoy it so far and I want to keep reading, which in my mind is the mark of a good author.

This brings me to another point. This is the end of A to Z, and I'm trying to find a purpose for my blog. In the past I've posted updates on my own writing, and I'm also a member of Clean Teen Publishing where I'll post announcements and giveaways of their super fabulous books, but I want to do something else worthwhile, something that can help other people like me. This is what I've decided...

I want to host a new author twice a month. The only requirement is that these authors can't be well-known, and most will probably be getting their start. I've been doing this writing thing for four years now, and I've learned a lot, but I've also learned something that surprised me.

Good authors aren't all published by the big companies. Good authors struggle to get their writing out there. They aren't well-known, their books aren't being made into movies, but their writing is compelling and imaginative. Their stories are heart-warming, and I believe these stories will be remembered in the mind of the reader for years to come.

I won't be able to do this by myself. I'll need help getting the word out, and I'll also need lots of new followers if I want this campaign to be a success.

The book I mentioned by Laryssa Waldron will be my first to review. If I'm correct, this is her first book to publish. So PLEASE support her!http://www.amazon.com/Jake-Bowers-Versus-The-Firebird-ebook/dp/B00J5QOEWK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398871422&sr=8-1&keywords=jake+bowers+versus+the+firebird

I hope to have many more authors to host! So please, if you aren't following me, do so. If you're a new author, contact me. It's our own fault if we don't help new authors get their stories out there.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

A to Z Challenge: Y is for Ymir, or Yo Mama, as in This Ain't Yo Mama's Creation Story

We've all heard creation stories, right? Most of us are familiar with Adam and Eve. They live in the garden of Eden for a time before partaking of the forbidden fruit, and thus are cast out.

But what do you know about the creation myths of other cultures? In Greek myth, Cronus devours his children to keep them from overthrowing him, only to be overthrown by his son, Zeus.
The tale of a primal deity whose body suffers mutilation is common in more than one culture's beliefs. In Scandinavian myth, the Norse creator gods slay Ymir, a huge frost giant. They disassemble him, making the earth from his body, the oceans from his blood, and the dome of heaven from his skull.

Wikipedia gives Ymir the following description...

Ymir birthed a male and female from the pits of his arms, and his legs together begat a six-headed being. The gods Odin, Vili, and Vé fashioned the Earth (elsewhere personified as a goddess; Jörð) from his flesh, from his blood the ocean, from his bones the hills, from his hair the trees, from his brains the clouds, from his skull the heavens, and from his eyebrows the middle realm in which mankind lives, Midgard. In addition, one stanza relates that the dwarfs were given life by the gods from Ymir's flesh and blood (or the Earth and sea).

I find Ymir's story fascinating. It's gory, yes, but it's also an effective way of describing how the death of one being brought life to countless others. A theme which is found in Greek myth also, in the form of sparagmos (a dollar to anyone who can tell me what that is!)

Sparagmos is the ritual tearing apart of a sacrificial victim.

Do I owe anyone a dollar?

As always, I'm thrilled to have new followers. My day always seems a little brighter when someone new follows me. Also, my book RAZE is on sale for only $2.99. It's the heroic story of two sisters who are New York's only professional hellraisers. They are put the testing point when they are hired to save a client's daughter. It's a fast, fun read. It won't cost you much, but it will mean the world to me if you support me, so please don't miss out!

Monday, April 28, 2014

A to Z Challenge: X is for Xanthus--and Why I am a Dirty Rotten Book Thief

Today's post was originally going to be about the character Xanthus from Holly Kelly's RISING. But some recent events have taken place that have made me change my mind.

This past weekend I attended the LDStorymakers writing conference in Utah. I was excited to go, but as soon as I left my house, I missed my kids. Missed is actually an understatement. I felt as if I'd had a limb torn off (four limbs, to be exact.) I was a hot mess the whole time. Any time I saw a baby I fought back tears. It was painful for me, physically painful, to be away from my little ones. But when I got to the conference, I met some wonderful people, went to some great classes, and it helped me forget my pain a little.

On the last day, they had a book signing. There was ONE book that I absolutely had to get signed. RISING by Holly Kelly. I love this book. It has a great story, lovable characters, and a good dose of myth. If you've been following my blog, you know I like that one.

But this was the last day, the last event, and my homesickness had grown into a hard knot in my throat that threatened to burst any time I thought about my kids. And I thought about them a lot--so much that after I got my book signed, I put it in my bag with my previously purchased books and completely forgot about it.

I didn't remember until I got to my friend's house that night and started unpacking.

I am a dirty rotten book thief. I have no excuse. I stole a book from one of my all-time favorite authors, and now I feel like a rotten person.

The worst part--Holly had, that very same day, admitted to me that she'd had a whole box of her books stolen. And I stole her very last one. I've messaged her to ask if I can pay her somehow. (If anyone from CTP is reading this, please let me know how I can pay for the book!)

Please help me make it up to her! You--my reading friends--can help. I know we all get online to find something fast and fun to read, perhaps something to take our minds of the everyday stresses--but today you can do something kind AND get your mind off day-to-day stresses at the same time. HOW???

BUY Holly Kelly's book! (And if you download the Kindle version, it's absolutely free!) http://www.amazon.com/Rising-The-Series-Holly-Kelly-ebook/dp/B00EZRNT5W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1398700321&sr=8-3&keywords=holly+kelly

Saturday, April 26, 2014

A to Z Challenge: Why Women are a Nagging Burden

The Greek's view on women is a topic I found interesting, if not a little depressing. Let's just say I would've hated to be a Greek woman. I know women today feel they're treated unfairly, but if they take a walk back in history, they might not feel so undervalued.
To illustrate, I'd like to give you a quote from Hesiod's Theogony. The passage starts with the birth of the first woman, created by Zeus, formed by Hephaestus and clothed by Athena...

From her (Athena) comes the fair sex;
yes, wicked womenfolk are her descendants.
They live among mortal men as a nagging burden
and are no good sharers of abject want, but only of wealth.
Men are like swarms of bees clinging to cave roofs
to feed drones that contribute only to malicious deeds;
the bees themselves all day long until sundown
are busy carrying and storing the white wax,
but the drones stay inside in their roofed hives
and cram their bellies full of what others harvest.

Like I said, cruel, right? It makes me look at my own role as a woman, and particularly as as stay-at-home mom. In the past this has been a touchy subject for me. Am I still contributing to society by staying at home with my kids? I'm not earning any money. I'm not adding to my resume. I get no breaks, no rewards, and sometimes it's very hard to see if I'm doing any good at all.

But that's when I have to stand back and look at the big picture.

When I got pregnant with my fourth baby, I got really sick. I couldn't do the things I always took for granted--the laundry, dishes, picking the kids up from school, making meals, taking the kids to sports or dance. That's when I realized how much I actually do. No, I don't get a paycheck, but that doesn't mean I'm worthless.

Moms--you're worth it. Every effort you make is worth it. The Greeks didn't think so, and I believe that's what perpetuated our society's view on women, a view we're still trying to make right today.

Some people ask me what I do for a living. My answer: I stay at home with my kids.
Sometimes I get "the look." That face that says, "Oh, you're just a mom. You don't really DO anything, do you?"
It breaks my heart to realize that some people think that way.

A stay-at-home mom's efforts are not be as visible as someone working in a professional career. The clean clothes, the dishes, the meals, the juggling game between sports or dance or scouts, but I've come to learn that these things are just as important as being the bread-winner. I don't have a paycheck to show for it. But I hope what my children learn from me will be of greater value than money.

Women and men are different, but they're also equal.

In my book, RAZE, I write about two sisters who have lost their mother to cancer. My lead character, May, realizes how important her mother was when she's driven to the testing point, and remembers her mother's advice. If you'd like to read about two heroines who show what it means to be strong, please purchase my novella, RAZE. It's on Amazon for only $2.99. Thank you!

I've written more about mothers than I expected. It was not something that I intentionally sat down to write about. I guess that deep down, I feel strongly about good mothers--and how vitally important they are to our society. The Greeks never realized this. It's our responsibility to set the record straight.

Friday, April 25, 2014

A to Z Challenge: V is for Vulcan

One of the reasons why I love Star Trek is because the shows include a good dose of Greek myth. I've already discussed the Romulans, so today I'd like to focus on the Romulan's original ancestors, the Vulcans.

In myth, Vulcan is the Roman name for Hephaestus, the god of fire and the forge. I'm curious to know why Gene Roddenberry picked the god of fire to represent the Vulcans, a race of people who repress emotions. Surely the Vulcans aren't fiery. But if you dig deeper, you'll find that the Vulcans weren't always in control of their mental state. At one point they nearly drove their race to extinction because of their wild and violent emotions, so at the time, the term Vulcan would have been accurate in describing their race.

What is your opinion? Why do you think Gene Roddenberry choose the name Vulcan?

As always, thanks for following my blog! I've had a fantastic time with A to Z and I'm already looking forward to the next challenge. Also, I want YOU to read my novella. RAZE is a fast, fun read and it's gotten some stellar reviews, so don't miss out. My book is on Amazon.com for only $2.99.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

A to Z Challenge: U is for Uranus

Uranus was the original sky god. He came before Cronus and Zeus. He fathered many offspring, including the Titans, the Erinyes, and the Gigantes. He was also the husband-son of Gaea, though he was castrated and deposed by his "crafty" son Cronus.
Of course, we all familiarize the name with the planet. Wikipedia has this to say about the planet Uranus...
The ancient Greeks and Romans knew of only five 'wandering stars' (Greek: πλανήται, planētai): Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Following the discovery of a sixth planet in the 18th century, the name Uranus was chosen as the logical addition to the series: for Mars (Ares in Greek) was the son of Jupiter, Jupiter (Zeus in Greek) the son of Saturn, and Saturn (Cronus in Greek) the son of Uranus. What is anomalous is that, while the others take Roman names, Uranus is a name derived from Greek in contrast to the Roman Caelus.

So if you can name the planets in order, you're also able to quote Greek family history. Neat, huh?

As always, thanks for following me! And if you haven't yet--please check out RAZE, my Shine novella, about girls with extraordinary abilities.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

A to Z Challenge: T is for Tiresias

You've probably heard of the blind seer Tiresias. He played an important role in myth. However, his story didn't end with the myths. I've incorporated him into my own writings.
I made him a sort of zombie Tiresias. I gave him seer stones for eyes that were dispersed through the Everlands. My heroes must find his two eyes and unite them with his corpse if they wish to succeed.

Here's a snippet from the book:

Ian spoke up. “I hate to ruin the family reunion, but I’d like to know what happened to Tiresias’s corpse.”
“Lost it,” Mr. Rainwater answered.
Ian narrowed his eyes.
“Well, don’t look at me like that, boy.”
“I warned you,” Ian said. “You shouldn’t have gone. Now the queen is closer to finding the Ever King.”
“Not if we find his eyes first.”
“Eyes?” Lily asked, confused.
“Tiresias’s eyes,” Ian said as if that explained it.
“Hold on. Wasn’t Tiresias that blind seer from Greek times or something?”
“Yes,” Dr. Vander answered. “He was the blind prophet of Thebes.”
“And you’re trying to find his corpse?” she asked.
“They found it,” Ian put in. “And lost it.”
“Aye, but that’s not important. It’s his eyes we’re after,” Mr. Rainwater said.
“The eyes won’t do any good without the corpse,” Ian said.
“But why do you need a corpse? Or . . . eyes?" Lily asked. "You know this all sounds very strange.”
Dr. Vander turned to her. “After Tiresias’s first death, he was reborn as an immortal. He followed the old gods to the Everlands. For a time, he coexisted with them. When Tiresias foresaw the destruction of Hades, Hades dismembered him. Tiresias’s eyes, in actuality, were seer stones. Hades separated his eyes from his body, ensuring he never saw any more visions. The stones were powerful. Zeus knew it. To protect them, Zeus stole the stones, then hid them in the Everlands.”
“And now you’re trying to find them?” she asked.
“They think Tiresias will show them where the Ever King is,” Ian answered.

If you'd like to read more of my writing, my novella, RAZE, in on sale for only $2.99 at Amazon. Thanks for reading! And don't forget to follow me!

Also, I'd like to give a special shout-out to The Masquerade Crew. They are featuring me over on their blog today, so go over and check it out--I give inside information on how SHINE was developed. http://masqueradecrew.blogspot.com/2014/04/tamara-aka-tcgrantham-explains-how.html

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

A to Z Challenge: S is for Styx

You've heard of Styx, right? The ancient river that kept people inside Hades. But it wasn't only a river. Styx is also the name of the oldest daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. She aided Zeus in his battle with the Titans. Zeus honored her by by making vows made in Styx's name irrevocable even for gods.
The name Styx means hate or detest. (Aren't you glad you're not named Styx?) Styx was the wife to Pallas and bore him Zelus, Nike, Kratos, and Bia.

Another note of interest: As of July 2013, Styx became the name of one Pluto's moons. The other moons--Charon, Nix, Hydra, and Kerberos, also have names from Greco-Roman mythology.

I hope you learned something new today! As always, if you enjoyed reading, don't hesitate to follow me!
Have you read my book? RAZE, SHINE 6, is available on Amazon for only $2.99. Do you like strong heroines and a plot that keeps you guessing? Read on!

Monday, April 21, 2014

A to Z Challenge: R is for Romulus

If you're a Star Trek buff like me, you're probably familiar with this one. In Greek myth, Romulus killed his twin brother Remus and became the founder of the Roman empire.

I found a great definition of Romulus as pertaining to the Star Trek universe over at http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Romulus

They give a much better explanation of the planet Romulus than I ever could, so click over there and check it out!

*Here's an interesting picture of the USS Bellerophon orbiting Romulus. If you were with me on letter "B" day, then you'll have inside information on the story behind Bellerophon's name. See? It pays to follow my blog!

In my novella, RAZE, I drop a few more Star Trek references, so be sure to support a new author and buy my book!

Saturday, April 19, 2014

A to Z Challenge: Q is for Quirinus

I'll give a you a whole batch of cookies if you knew who this guy was--ever heard of Quirinus?

If not, here's your chance to find out...

Quirinus is an early god of the Roman state. When the Sabines and Romans called a truce to their warring, Romulus became the leader of this ultimately Roman government. He ruled for 38 years, but during a storm, he suddenly vanished in a dark cloud. Some said he was killed by resentful Patrician senators. But he was officially said (by the senators) to have been taken up in a cloud and worshiped as the warrior god Quirinus.

Do I owe anyone a cookie?

If not, then read ahead! I'm the author of RAZE, a novella in the Shine universe, where young women manifest extraordinary abilities called Shine. My book is available on Amazon for $2.99. As always, thanks for following!

Friday, April 18, 2014

A to Z Challenge: P is for Pomegranate

Today's post is a topic close to my heart--the relationship between a mother and daughter. I have three sons and one little girl. All my children are special to me, but my little girl will always hold a tender place in my heart. Right after I gave birth to her I looked at her pink, tiny face, and my first thought was, she's perfect.

She's six now. I love her as much as a mother possibly can. She's my extra set of hands. She tends the baby and feeds her brothers and makes us laugh. She's a beautiful little girl, but every now and then, I panic. She'll grow up someday. Will she have to go through the same growing pains I went through? The teenage angst, the heartbreak, the feelings of rejection, the realization that the world is an imperfect place filled with imperfect people?

I realize I'm not the only one to have these worries--which is why the poem, The Pomegranate, spoke so closely to me. This poem is by Eavan Boland. She was born in 1944 in Dublin. She wrote it during the winter, which is significant to the poem's theme, where she compares her mother-daughter relationship to that of Ceres (Demeter) and Persephone.

If you recall, Ceres's daughter Persephone was stolen by Hades. She attempted to rescue her daughter but was never able to get her back. Persephone had eaten the seeds of the pomegranate, making her forever bound to the underworld.

The Pomegranate

by Eavan Boland


The only legend I have ever loved is
the story of a daughter lost in hell.
And found and rescued there.
Love and blackmail are the gist of it.
Ceres and Persephone the names.
And the best thing about the legend is
I can enter it anywhere. And have.
As a child in exile in
a city of fogs and strange consonants,
I read it first and at first I was
an exiled child in the crackling dusk of
the underworld, the stars blighted. Later
I walked out in a summer twilight
searching for my daughter at bed-time.
When she came running I was ready
to make any bargain to keep her.
I carried her back past whitebeams
and wasps and honey-scented buddleias.
But I was Ceres then and I knew
winter was in store for every leaf
on every tree on that road.
Was inescapable for each one we passed.
And for me.
It is winter
and the stars are hidden.
I climb the stairs and stand where I can see
my child asleep beside her teen magazines,
her can of Coke, her plate of uncut fruit.
The pomegranate! How did I forget it?
She could have come home and been safe
and ended the story and all
our heart-broken searching but she reached
out a hand and plucked a pomegranate.
She put out her hand and pulled down
the French sound for apple and
the noise of stone and the proof
that even in the place of death,
at the heart of legend, in the midst
of rocks full of unshed tears
ready to be diamonds by the time
the story was told, a child can be
hungry. I could warn her. There is still a chance.
The rain is cold. The road is flint-coloured.
The suburb has cars and cable television.
The veiled stars are above ground.
It is another world. But what else
can a mother give her daughter but such
beautiful rifts in time?
If I defer the grief I will diminish the gift.
The legend will be hers as well as mine.
She will enter it. As I have.
She will wake up. She will hold
the papery flushed skin in her hand.
And to her lips. I will say nothing.

If you're a mother or daughter, or even a father or son, I think you relate in some way to the poem. It's hard not feel that pulling feeling--that tugging at your heart--that someday they will be their own person. That they will have to suffer because it is inevitable, and all I will see is that perfect pink face that I brought into this world, and know that in some way, I am responsible.

As always, thanks for following! Raze, my novella set in the world of SHINE, is available as an ebook on Amazon.com for $2.99. In my book, I explore the relationship between daughters and mothers, and how trials and hardships can bring them closer together. It's also a fun, action-packed read, but I had to include some mother-daughter drama as well.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

A to Z Challenge: O is for Orpheus

Who is Orpheus? He was a poet and singer, made famous for his expedition into Hades to rescue his wife Eurydice, who had died of a poisonous snake bite.

Orpheus's talents lie in his music. With his lyre, given to him by Apollo, he captivates the world- mortals, wild animals, gods, and even Hades himself. He brings the god of the underworld to tears with his music, and rescues his wife, only to make one fatal mistake that will haunt him for the rest of eternity. He cannot bear to look at his wife before they are free, although Hades strictly forbade him, warning Orpheus that if he should look on his wife before they left the underworld, she would be doomed to stay there.

Like Adam's tasting the forbidden fruit, or Pandora's opening the box of evil, Orpheus's loss is final. Eventually, after a violent death of dismemberment, he is transformed. His lyre becomes a constellation, and his soul is granted immortality in Elysium.

Thanks for reading today's post! I hope you'll follow me as I'll gladly follow you back. Also, check out Shine #6, RAZE, my novella, on sale at Amazon for only $2.99.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

A to Z Challenge: N is for Nike

We've all heard of Nike, but perhaps not in terms of the Greek goddess. If not for her, we'd all be wearing shoes and windbreakers named Hermaphroditus or Ascanius. Personally, I'm glad they went with Nike. Care to guess what Nike was the goddess of?

She's the personification of victory, to whom a temple was dedicated on the Athenian Acropolis. She was also known as the winged goddess of victory. Another fact to note: Nike is one of the most commonly portrayed figures on Greek coins.

This statue of Nike is located on the Titanic engineer's museum in Southampton England.

I need YOU to read my book! Raze is only $2.99 on Amazon. My little ebook has gotten some great reviews, and I'd love for you to find out why...

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Losing Logan

HAUNTING ZOE by Sherry D. Ficklin
Available NOW! 



GET IT FREE ON SMASHWORDS



*Haunting Zoe will be FREE on Amazon soon! 

Logan woke up with a big problem.

He’s extremely dead.

No one from his former life seems able to see or hear him, making his afterlife little more than a miserable nightmare. 

That is, until the day of his funeral, when the bitterly sarcastic Zoe, a friend from his childhood, starts calling him out at his own wake. Now his only chance at moving on means dealing with his sordid past—and the girl he never really got over.




LOSING LOGAN by Sherry D. Ficklin


Find out why readers are saying that Losing Logan is the best paranormal-romance stand-alone novel of the year! 




"What if the one thing you never meant to hold on to, is the one thing you can't let go of?" 




Losing_Logan_EbookNormally finding a hot guy in her bedroom wouldn’t irritate Zoe so badly, but finding her childhood friend Logan there is a big problem.



Mostly because he’s dead.



As the only person he can make contact with, he convinces Zoe to help him put together the pieces surrounding his mysterious death so he can move on. Thrust into his world of ultra popular rich kids, Zoe is out of her element and caught in the cross-hairs of Logan’s suspicious ex-girlfriend and the friends he left behind, each of whom had a reason to want him dead. The deeper they dig to find the truth, the closer Zoe gets to a killer who would do anything to protect his secrets. And that’s just the start of her problems because Zoe is falling for a dead guy.








Please help us spread the news about this early release by sharing this blog post, Tweeting it, Facebooking it and/or Pinning it!  


Sherry's-an-Author-030Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.



She is the author of The Gods of Fate Trilogy now available from Dragonfly Publishing. Her previously self-published novel After Burn: Military Brats has been acquired by Harlequin and will be released in 2015 with a second book in that series to follow. Her newest YA steampunk novel, EXTRACTED: The Lost Imperials book 1, co-written with Tyler H. Jolley is now available everywhere books are sold and her newest YA novel, Losing Logan, is due for release in 2014 from Clean Teen Publishing.



  

More from Clean Teen Publishing:


   
 

A to Z Challenge: M is for Medusa

I know what you're thinking--you know who Medusa is. How could you not know? She's the lady with the snake hair who slew people with her gaze. As a child, Medusa fascinated me. I don't even remember the name of the show, but I remember the scene where Perseus walks into the cave where Medusa lurks and uses his mirror shield to defeat her. That scene has stuck with me for my entire life. I used its inspiration in my book, DemonSpark, and came up with my own idea of who Medusa was. (DemonSpark is still trying to find a home, so as of yet, it's still unpublished.)

In my book, the heroes, Lily and Ian, have entered an ancient pyramid in a world called the Everlands, a place where all myths co-exist. They have to find the ancient prophet Tiresias' eye, which in actuality is a seer stone, to defeat an evil demon-witch. They've fought the bad guys and have found a chamber with Medusa's corpse...

A wooden door with the eye’s image sat under an alcove. When they reached it, they stopped.
“The seer stone is in here?” Lily asked.
“Better be.” Ian grabbed the handle. Hinges squealed as he opened it. They entered a room only a little larger than her bedroom back home. Actual sunlight shone from a hole in the ceiling. It illuminated a stone coffin. A gentle calmness clung to the bare sandstone walls and dirt floor, as if they’d entered a sacred chapel.
With quiet footsteps, they crossed the room. She peered at the coffin, surprised to see it uncovered and open to the air. A woman slept inside.
She had flawless fair skin, pink cheeks, and a shapely body covered by sparkling gossamer fabric. A strip of cloth had been wrapped around the woman’s eyes, creating a blindfold.
Lily took another step, only then noticing that her shimmering white hair was actually made up of snakes fanning from the woman’s head.
“She’s . . . not hideous. Are you sure this is Medusa?” she asked Ian.
“Who else could it be?”
“I thought she was supposed to be repulsive. And her head is attached.”
“There are a lot of stories out there, not all of them true. Ovid called her ravishing, fair. I’ve heard Perseus fell in love with her and couldn’t kill her. He killed one of her Gorgon sisters instead. Stheno, I think was her name. I don’t know. I guess the myths aren’t always true.”

In researching for my book, I learned that Medusa was the only mortal Gorgon. She had two sisters, Stheno and Eurayle. Wikipedia has this to say about the three sisters...

Stheno (Greek: Σθεννώ, English translation: "forceful"), in Greek mythology, was the eldest of the Gorgons, vicious female monsters with brass hands, sharp fangs and "hair" made of living venomous snakes. The daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, she was born in the caverns beneath Mount Olympus. She and her sister Euryale were both immortal, and the third sister, Medusa, was mortal.

Of the three Gorgons, she was known to be the most independent and ferocious, having killed more men than both of her sisters combined. In Greek mythology, she was transformed into a Gorgon because of standing with her sister Medusa, who was either raped or seduced by the sea god Poseidon in the Temple of Athena. Athena was furious with Medusa. As a punishment, Medusa was changed into a terrible monster, along with her sisters Stheno and Euryale. Stheno tends to be depicted as a thin gorgon monster with red snakes curling around her head instead of hair.

I've always thought it was a neat concept to reintroduce characters who we have preconceived notions of, and then to undo those ideas we thought were true. It worked in the Twilight Series. Even if you're not a fan, there are plenty of people out there who feel differently.

As always, please follow me! Also, I have a brand new website that I'm really thrilled about. www.TamaraGrantham.com. And if you haven't read my novella yet--don't miss out. Raze is only $2.99 on Amazon. You would be doing me an amazing favor if you read and download--I'm a brand new author and need all the support I can get.

Monday, April 14, 2014

A to Z: L is for Lamia

In recent years, I doubt anyone could get away from the recent vampire hype. But vampires aren't the only blood sucking creatures out there. The Lamia may be just as infamous, though not as well-known.
Myths vary on Lamia's origin. Some say Hera slew her children, so Lamia stole other children as retribution. The Lamia were folkloric monsters similar to vampires or succubi who seduced young men and fed on their blood. Most describe them with the head of a female and torso of a snake, though other versions give them snake scales for skin and a human body. Other versions say that she looked like an ordinary mortal, though had a snakeskin wrapped around her arm or waist.

I thought this picture was beautiful. It's called Lamia (first version) by John William Waterhouse.(1905) Note the snakeskin wrapped around her arm and waist.

During the middle ages, mothers used the Lamia's tale to frighten their children. The Lamia, enraged and saddened at her own children's death, was said to snatch children from their beds and devour them.

In modern times, the Lamia appears in the BBC show Merlin, as well as in one of my favorite book series, The Kate Daniel series by Ilona Andrews.

Have you heard of the Lamia in any books or movies?

As always, I appreciate all my followers and welcome any newcomers! I have a brand new shiny website, if anyone wants to check it out, please got to www.TamaraGrantham.com. Also, be sure to check out my novella Raze, about two sisters who are New York's only professional hellraises. They're hired to find a missing girl who is a Shine--a young woman with extraordinary abilities. But when they do find her, they aren't prepared for what happens next...

Saturday, April 12, 2014

A to Z Challenge: K is for Keres

Keres--Have you heard of them? If not, here's the scoop. The Keres are winged demons who, like the Fates, were daughters of Night. They are associated with the personifications of death and doom. And some claim that they may be involved with the destinies assigned to each person at their birth.

How cool is that?

A daughter of Night, assigning each person a destiny--I see a story in this. Do you?

Don't forget to follow my blog! I do a happy dance every time I get a new follower. Do NOT let me pass up my day without doing a happy dance. Also, my novella Raze in on Amazon for only $2.99. Check it out!

As today is K day, I'd also like to recommend a great series I've discovered by author Jennifer Anne Davis. Book One of the True Reign series is called The Key. (K for Key, get it?)I literally couldn't put this book down. My family hated me. Here's what it's about:

His father's kingdom is on the brink of upheaval and at the center of it all is an ordinary girl who could be the key to its undoing. When faced with the ultimate choice, will he choose the girl he's falling in love with or the kingdom he has sworn to protect?

An ordinary girl with an extraordinary past... All she wants is to be free. What she doesn't realize is that freedom comes with a price she can't afford to pay. She's forced to accept the proposal of a prince she despises, even though her heart belongs to someone else... his brother.

Seventeen-year-old Rema lives in a brutal kingdom where travel between regions is forbidden, people are starving, and looking at someone the wrong way can mean death. Nineteen-year-old Darmik is the king's son and Commander of the King's Army. He spends his days roving the island, doing his father's bidding and trying to maintain control over the people.

When a chance encounter throws Rema and Darmik together, they share an instantaneous connection, but any sort of relationship between them is strictly forbidden. Darmik's brother, the Crown Prince, notices Darmik's interest in Rema and, in a calculated, political move, blackmails her. Faced with an impossible choice, Rema is forced to sacrifice her heart in order to save her family.

As Rema is taken to the palace with the Crown Prince, Darmik confronts the growing rumor that a legitimate blood heir to the throne exists and is trying to overthrow Darmik's family. In Darmik's quest to hunt down and kill the threat, he discovers that nothing is as it seems. Locked in the king's castle, Rema finds herself a key player in a massive power struggle. When Darmik shows up, she's not sure if she can trust him. The line between friends, enemies, and loyalty becomes blurred. As truths are unlocked, Rema understands that she just might be the key to finding the rightful heir and restoring peace to the kingdom... if she can manage to stay alive long enough.

My thoughts: I've heard some reviewers explain that they found parts of the book cliche. In the book world, the word cliche has come to be a nail in the coffin, a hex for anyone who shall read the book. But there is one quality that trumps cliche, and that is intrigue. Write a good book, make it interesting and with likable characters, and cliche ceases to hold any power. At the beginning of the book, I thought that it did seem somewhat like other books I've read before, but by the end those thoughts didn't matter. I loved the characters. I wanted them to succeed. My heart hurt when they didn't, and I could NOT wait to read the next book, Red. I did. And it's just as good as the first. I give both books 5 stars, and I'm anxiously awaiting Book 3, War.

The Key is available on Amazon or B&N. It's FREE for a limited time, so don't miss out!http://www.amazon.com/True-Reign-Jennifer-Anne-Davis-ebook/dp/B00GOHVFPW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1397316376&sr=1-1&keywords=the+key+jennifer+anne+davis

Friday, April 11, 2014

A to Z Challenge: J is for Judgment of Paris

There's a reason why Greek myths are still around today. Sure, they're a piece of history and important to our culture, but they're also just fun. They're like soap operas or, as is the case of today's myth, a bad episode of Jerry Springer. (You remember Jerry Springer, right?)

It started with a banquet. Zeus held it to celebrate the marriage of Peleus and Thetis--the parents of Achilles. Eris, the goddess of discord, was not invited, and she was not happy about it. She arrived at the banquet with a golden apple from the Garden of the Hesperides. She threw the apple into the crowd. Written on the apple were the words, "For the Fairest One."

Three goddesses claimed the apple. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. They demanded that Zeus judge who was the fairest of the three, but he refused to be involved, and chose Paris, a Trojan prince, to judge for him.

True to the drama, the judging proceeded with bribery. Hera offered to make him king of Europe and Asia. Athena offered wisdom in skill in war. But Aphrodite tempted him with something more alluring--the world's most beautiful woman--Helen of Sparta, wife of the Greek king Menelaus.

Paris, of course, chose Aphrodite's gift, incurring not only the wrath of Athena and Hera, but also the condemnation of the entire Greek nation. In fact, the Greeks expedition to retrieve Helen from Troy is the basis for the Trojan war.

As always, thanks for following! And if you need a fast read for this weekend, please check out my novella. Raze, Shine # 6. It's gotten some great five star reviews. You can check it out on Amazon. Also, for this week only, Shine # 7, Lost Haven by Sabrina Fish, is only 99 cents!

Do you need to read the previous five books to get up to speed? No. The Shine books are like comic books--they're published as monthly serials, although the first five are great reads too. I hope you discover the new Shine phenomenon!

In the near future, a few young women manifest extraordinary abilities called "Shine." Each girl's ability is different. Some develop extraordinary mental abilities. Some become physically strong. Others have powers that defy description. But the world does not embrace these Shines. It fears them.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Cover Reveal- A Losing Logan Novella

COVER REVEAL- A Losing Logan Novella

HAUNTING ZOE by Sherry D. Ficklin
Available 4/18/14 


Logan woke up with a big problem.

He’s extremely dead.

No one from his former life seems able to see or hear him, making his afterlife little more than a miserable nightmare. 

That is, until the day of his funeral, when the bitterly sarcastic Zoe, a friend from his childhood, starts calling him out at his own wake. Now his only chance at moving on means dealing with his sordid past—and the girl he never really got over.

*Haunting Zoe will be FREE to all readers! Please note that it will be free on Smashwords and then FREE on Amazon within the first few weeks.


CELEBRATE the Release of Losing Logan and the upcoming release of Haunting Zoe at our online Facebook Release Party Friday Night! April 11, 2014. Win prizes, get insider info and more! 




LOSING LOGAN by Sherry D. Ficklin


Find out why readers are saying that Losing Logan is the best paranormal-romance stand-alone novel of the year! 

Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Suspense

AVAILABLE NOW!

"What if the one thing you never meant to hold on to, is the one thing you can't let go of?" 



Save $2 on the purchase price of Losing Logan for 72 Hours Only! Reduced from $4.99 to $2.99! Release Special! 

Losing_Logan_EbookNormally finding a hot guy in her bedroom wouldn’t irritate Zoe so badly, but finding her childhood friend Logan there is a big problem.



Mostly because he’s dead.



As the only person he can make contact with, he convinces Zoe to help him put together the pieces surrounding his mysterious death so he can move on. Thrust into his world of ultra popular rich kids, Zoe is out of her element and caught in the cross-hairs of Logan’s suspicious ex-girlfriend and the friends he left behind, each of whom had a reason to want him dead. The deeper they dig to find the truth, the closer Zoe gets to a killer who would do anything to protect his secrets. And that’s just the start of her problems because Zoe is falling for a dead guy.








Please help us spread the news about this early release by sharing this blog post, Tweeting it, Facebooking it and/or Pinning it!  


Sherry's-an-Author-030Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.



She is the author of The Gods of Fate Trilogy now available from Dragonfly Publishing. Her previously self-published novel After Burn: Military Brats has been acquired by Harlequin and will be released in 2015 with a second book in that series to follow. Her newest YA steampunk novel, EXTRACTED: The Lost Imperials book 1, co-written with Tyler H. Jolley is now available everywhere books are sold and her newest YA novel, Losing Logan, is due for release in 2014 from Clean Teen Publishing.



  

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