Kait Nolan's Red, Second Campaign Challenge and Liebster Award

Kait Nolan's Red is out!


Have you read it yet? No? What are you waiting for? Here's a little bit of what the story's about:
"Elodie Rose has a secret.

Any day, she'll become a wolf and succumb to the violence that's cursed her family for centuries. For seventeen years she's hidden who and what she is. But now someone knows the truth and is determined to exterminate her family line.

Living on borrowed time in the midst of this dangerous game of hide and seek, the last thing Elodie needs to do is fall in love. But Sawyer is determined to protect her, and the brooding, angry boy is more than what he seems. Can they outsmart a madman? And if they survive, will they find a way to beat the curse for good?"

You know what? I think Kait's the first modern (published only in the 21st Century) author, and first indie-published author, whose books I pick up as soon as they're released. As someone who normally reads novels and poems by authors long passed on, it's exciting to be able to say that. There's always some bit of news out there about publishing suffering the last throes, or no one being able to write any more, and so on. Well, Kait's proving them all wrong, and writing some great romantic paranormal stuff while she's at it. I wish I could turn out books that quickly!

Susan Bischoff interviewed Kait Nolan the other day - and there's a Jamie Fraser reference in there. Diana Gabaldon's Scottish Prisoner is coming soon, by the way. I've preordered it and hope Amazon can deliver on the day.

And now...
Second Challenge of the Writers' Platform Building Campaign!
Rules: "Write a blog post in 200 words or less, excluding the title. The blog post should include the word "imago" in the title. Include the following 4 random words: "miasma", "lacuna", "oscitate", and "synchronicity". If you want to give yourself an added challenge make reference to a mirror in your post. For those who want an even greater challenge, make your post 200 words EXACTLY!"

I've done it all! Here's my entry, adapted from my novel, Out of the Water:

The Necessary Imago

"Rosa?"

Caught! She pretended she hadn't heard and continued down the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Arcturus reached her at the bottom. His eyes widened as he took in her outfit in the dawn light.

She stayed silent as a lacuna, but he followed her, down the hill past the tower. She remembered the day she'd looked down that hill and seen Ayten, and Baha had rescued the girl at her word.

Perhaps that was the day he'd fallen ill; some miasma from the icy waters had entered his lungs. If it hadn't been for her, he never would have lingered in the snow. Or perhaps it had been further back; the cold night on deck after the pirates' attack. Again, if it hadn't been for her... But perhaps it had merely been synchronicity.

They'd reached the harbour. She glanced across the mirror-like water, up to the palace walls. They said the Sultan could see all their neighbourhood through his windows.

A fool's errand it might be, but she would not back down now.

Arcturus followed her gaze, as if he'd read her mind. "You're going to the palace?"

"Yes. Don't oscitate."

"Is that why you're clothed as a boy?"

Thank you to fellow campaigner Sheril for the Liebster Award! Ich liebe meine fellow bloggers.


THE RULES
1. Show your appreciation to the bloggers who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your five picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the camaraderie of the most supportive people on the internet ~ other writers.
5. And best of all ~ have bloggity fun and spread the love.

MY PICKS
1. Sarah at The Aspiring Subcreator, who's a Tolkien fan
2 Glynis at Glynis Smy - Writer, who's celebrating the birth of her first grandchild
3 Liz at Liz Fichera, whose Craving Perfect you really should read
4 Michael at In Time..., who's hosting a What I Did On My Summer Vacation blogfest that I hope to sign up for, even if I'm late
5 Stacey at Stacey Wallace Benefiel, whose The Toilet Business is a hilarious and touching roundup of all the random jobs she's had

Meanwhile, this past week was Hobbit Day and Tolkien Week. I'm on my yearly reread of The Lord of the Rings, and it never ceases to amaze me how much reading this story is like slipping into a familiar world. The language, the pace of the story, the humour, the poetry; it's all so well known yet fresh. Sara had a post about rereading the other day. Does anyone not reread? Why not?

Thanks for visiting!

Comments

Nadja Notariani said…
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm a re-reader' for sure! I love your line about '...is like slipping into a familiar world...'
So true.
~ Nadja
Sarah McCabe said…
Oh, Deniz, you do spoil me with awards!

I reread quite a bit as well. Tolkien's works, of course, (though I prefer The Silmarillion to LOTR) as well as the first four Dune books and the Discworld books are favorites of mine to pick up again and again.
Anonymous said…
Deniz, thank you so much for the link and mention! I completely and totally heart you. :)

I also loved your entry! The way that you wove in those bizarro words seemed very effortless without taking away from the movement of the story.

And thanks for the reminder too about SCOTTISH PRISONER. I must order it.
Miranda Hardy said…
Interesting and mysterious. I enjoyed it, wondering what she would do at the palace dressed as a boy. Good job.
S.P. Bowers said…
Yay, thanks for the snip. Can't wait to read their story in full.
Zan Marie said…
Aren't you clever! Worked all that into your WIP, too. I'm going to be your first "like". ; )
alberta ross said…
well done it looks so good - are you gong to keep the new words in?! I re-read all the time and as for the Fellowship I lost count of how many times I have re-read that I started at about 15yrs missed four or five years when I was ill and i have read or listened to it every year - do the maths I'm past 65 now.

so sorry you didn't get the give away info- don't know what happened to it but of course all your readers will be included in the draw - to late now I guess to put the info up here but I am broadcasting it around the ether.
must do better next time.
Nas said…
Hi Deniz,

I'm also a re-reader! And I agree with you about CRAVING PERFECT, it is awesome!

Your snippetwas interesting and mysterious! Great!

Congrats on the award!
Brinda said…
Great job! I enjoyed reading and wish I had more of the story. :)
Sonia Lal said…
Enjoyed the story. Sounds like it could be a lot longer.

I am rereader, too!s
Brynne said…
Thanks for the tip about Red! I'm off to check it out, now! And great job on the challenge! Loved it! I am sure your new novel is going to be incredible:)
Wow Deniz, this was very good! You def made me want to know what happened after she made it to the Palace! ; )
Trisha said…
I love it, Deniz! Great job! I would also definitely want to read on. Love your description.
Cheryl said…
Nice little snippet that made me curious for more. I like the name Arcturus - I used it myself in a short story a while ago (all the characters in that had star names).
F.E. Sewell said…
Ooh I'm dying to know what happens next. If this was a full-length novel I would read it in a heartbeat.
Naina Gupta said…
You make me want to re-read LOTR. I can't believe you do it every year (I don't mean that in a bad way)
Anonymous said…
Great job, it's left me wanting to know more. Mine is #29
Michael Di Gesu said…
Hi, Deniz,

Thank you so much for the award... you are too sweet!

I haven't re-read Tolkien since my first read as young teen. I guess it's time to do so the first chance I get.

I really enjoyed your Campaign challenge. You worked those weird words so well.
Jen said…
This is very intriguing, and I definitely want to know what happens next!
Mine is #3.
David P. King said…
You've set up something amazing here. Setting is awesome. I completely entered this world and am now curious about what your characters are into. I'd continue reading.

Great job, Deniz! :)
Yeah, thanks, Deniz!

You have created intrigue with your post.
Camuesque said…
So much characterization and world-building in such few words!Kudos!
Susan Fields said…
Great job on the challenge! I did the last Campaign, and the challenges were always so much fun!
Thanks for the book info.

Congratulations to the award recipients.

I love the last line of your piece.
Golden Eagle said…
Thanks for the information on Red! :)

Great challenge entry. I have to wonder what she's going to do in the palace, dressed as a boy!

Congratulations on the award.
Denise Covey said…
Hey Deniz. You've got enough for about 3 posts here, hee hee. Loved your Imago story and congrats on your award!

Denise
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks Nadja!

I'm scared, Sarah - I feel like rereading all 12 books of Middle Earth, but it would take weeks and weeks and my TBR pile is already large...

Thanks Liz, I'm glad you liked it!

Thank you Miranda and Sara! And thanks for the Like Zan Marie!

You're like me, alberta! I've been rereading LOTR and usually the Hobbit every year since I was 10 or so. I've reread all his other writing but not as regularly.

Thanks Nas, Brinda, Sonia and Brynne!

Yay! Thanks Sheri, Trisha, Cheryl, and F. E.! Coming around to read everyone else's today...

It just seemed to happen that way Naina - talk about a story that hooks you from the start.

Thank you Bridget and Michael! Once I found the right scene, the words seemed to fit. Doubt I'll leave them in the final though...

Thanks so much Jen, David, Glynis, Camus, Susan, Theresa and Eagle!

I know Denise! Some days it works out that way, and other days I have such short entries...
Anonymous said…
Enjoyed your challange piece.
Congrats on the lovely award.
I sometimes re-read novels, but usually too busy catching up with the new ones on my pile of TBR list :O)
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks Madeleine! I feel the same way - love to reread but it takes away from the TBR pile...
Anonymous said…
Great job weaving those tricky challenge words in this piece. But what happens at the palace?
Anonymous said…
I love how you used your wip for the campaigner entry.

Congrats on the award.
Christine Rains said…
Congratulations on the award and nice work on the challenge. Great use of the words and interesting ending.
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks Raelyn! Aha, well if my querying is successful, perhaps you'll find out what happens... If not, I'll post another snip someday soon :-)

Thank you Medeia and Christine!
Unknown said…
It's amazing how many different versions and genres one can find in these challenge-entries. I like your writing style, made me feel as if I'm right in the story.
By the way, I'm number 180.
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks so much Treelight! Off to visit you...
Cherie Colyer said…
Oh, this is very intriguing! Great job blending the words into your entry!
Karen deBlieck said…
Wonderful opening of a story...I want to know more. :) Great job!!

#189
Deniz Bevan said…
Thank you Cherie and Karen!