Friday, July 25, 2014

ART POST - featuring Michael Cryer

Michael Cryer is a man with a knack for photography. He has spent a lot of time traveling due to his job and on these travels he has taken some extraordinary shots. So I'm going to share with you some of my favorites and the reason why.
http://michael-cryer.artistwebsites.com/featured/alien-landscape-michael-cryer.html
This beautiful picture is alien like. The hues of pink and purple alone the cracking surface of lava truly makes this picture feel out of this world. Not to mention the addition of the enlarged moon in the background, which we know is Photoshoped, but it's outstanding.

The Windmill picture is simple and clean. I can see this on postcards (as I can see with most of his works) along with as a print hanging up on a wall in a room where the windows are open all the time and the smell of the air is fresh. Does it not evoke a feeling to go barefooted outside? And adding the detail reflection of the windmill in the puddle was a wonderful idea. It adds to the overall feel and life of this picture.

To purchase the picture you can follow this link:
http://michael-cryer.artistwebsites.com/featured/newport-windmill-with-reflection-michael-cryer.html




The next picture I want to focus on is called, "My Conscious". This picture is beautiful and reminds me on being a child. The innocence and sense of discovery rushes back as I look at Pinocchio talking with Jiminy Cricket. the angle of the picture with the red flowers in the back ground truly add character and life to this setting. I can see it being a piece in a child's room or the center piece of a fantasy themed getaway room.

To purchase the print follow this link:
http://michael-cryer.artistwebsites.com/featured/hes-my-conscience-michael-cryer.html




Michael Cryer
View the rest of his works here:
http://michael-cryer.artistwebsites.com/art/all/all/all

Friday, July 11, 2014

Adding to my Bookshelf

Newest members to the Book Shelf:
Author Amanda Hocking
Wake (Watersong, Book 1)

10586539Fall under the spell of Wake—the first book in an achingly beautiful new series by celebrated author Amanda Hocking—and lose yourself to the Watersong.

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

Lullaby(Watersong, Book 2)


14759334Now that Gemma Fisher has inherited Penn, Lexi, and Thea's curse - and all the strange new powers that come along with it - she has no choice but to run away with them. Devastated that she has to leave everyone she loves behind, she's still determined not to give in to the unspeakable hungers that plague her.
Unfortunately, they're growing stronger every day, and she's not sure how much longer she can resist.

Harper won't give up on finding her sister Gemma, vowing to get her back no matter what the cost. The search draws her closer to too-gorgeous-for-his-own-good Daniel, and tests her fiercely guarded independence like never before. She's always been the strong one who everyone else depends on.... Can she let herself depend on Daniel?


As Gemma and Harper plunge deeper into a magical world they barely understand, it becomes painfully clear that Gemma's old life may be lost forever. But can she still hold on to her humanity?

Tidal (Watersong, Book 3)

16045037Gemma and Harper Fisher are facing the fight of their lives. Gemma has been cursed with extraordinary powers that have a terrifying dark side, but she's finally found what she needs - a way to break the curse and become human again. However, finding the means to do it will be her greatest challenge yet. And now Penn, Lexi, and Thea - the gorgeous but deadly creatures who cursed her - are determined to kill her before she has a chance. Making matters worse, Penn has her sights set on Daniel - the guy Harper loves - and Penn always gets what she wants.

As Gemma and Harper race to break the curse before it's too late, they're thrust deeper into a mythical world of immortal secrets. They must look into their enemies' past to find the answers they need, even if it means being drawn deeper into their savagely beautiful world. But one of the girls is not what she seems...and Gemma finds an unlikely ally as she struggles to save herself. Will it be enough to break an ancient curse that no one has ever escaped from alive?

To complete the set I am missing the fourth book, but I will remedy that soon enough. :)

Elegy (Watersong, Book 4)

13615701Now that Gemma holds the key to breaking the siren curse, the stakes have never been higher. At last, a future with those she loves—and a romance with Alex—is close enough to touch...but not if Penn has anything to say about it. Penn is more determined than ever to have Daniel for her own and to destroy Gemma and Harper along the way, and Penn always gets what she wants. Now a final explosive battle is about to begin, and the winner will take everything Gemma holds dear.

Amanda Hocking:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/amanda_hocking
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandahockingfans
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/amanda_hocking  


Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Covered in RED

I got my rough draft of book one of The Middle-Lands back to find it riddled in red.

No problem. I can handle in that.

Lots of comments on the side bar. No problem. I love comments.

Then I read all of them….

After a thorough examination and several suggestions from her it looks like I’ll be changing a few things and adding in A LOT!

At this point my eyes were bulging, because I thought it looked nice and complete when in all honesty she was RIGHT! I was missing dialogue, scenes that would really help, and background to the character I want the readers to love. Feeling completely overwhelmed and like I had to start over I turned to the one man who could give me guidance, my husband.

And he said, “Rip it in half.”

Okay, I nearly had a heart attack and then I thought about it. I mean, I had so much information shoved into this manuscript. It was lacking a few things and needed a lot. So after a couple of days of truly debating and cringing at the thought I think I have finally come to a conclusion. He is right. I don’t say that often. :)

The Middle-Lands book one and two are in rough shape, but being worked on. I am working hard to make book one the best it can be and to have to release before 2015. The date is ever changing so be patient with me.

Thank you and I can’t wait to share a chapter with you in the next couple of weeks.


-Brenda Franklin, Author of the Pulse Trilogy.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

I'm such a Geek/Nerd.

Good Morning!

For the longest of times I have considered myself a little bit of a Geek/Nerd and I find that in the past year it has really grown. I mean, I own a pair of Captain American PJ Bottoms, a Green Lantern Shirt, I have seen Every Marvel Movie that has come out, I watched SHIELD, and I can catch connections between the stories and give backgrounds into the characters to some degrees. haha It's so much fun to lean over and whisper into my husband’s ear exactly Who Nick Fury is or the story behind Captain America and what's to come with his friend based off of the comics, which there are many!!
The worlds of Marvel and DC are huge and ever changing! I love it. Absorbing all the information is both challenging and fun. It also helps for my own story building, character developments, and creative juices. It counts under research. haha

Nathan Fillion on Firefly
Another big thing I have started getting into was Joss Whedon things. Oh my gosh, I have been a big Firefly Fan and even Watch Castle because of Nathan Fillion, but I never wanted to watch Buffy or Angel. I was like, ‘this is before my time and so lame’. But let me tell you! I recorded several episodes and I'm addicted. I keep finding myself curled up in front of the TV and stopping Shawn from saying something because Buffy is being brought back from the dead or Spike is saying something insulting or Giles is...being Giles. :) I’m so addicted to the Gang that even now I'm still rethinking of the last episode I watched and wondering how far Willow is going to go with the dark magic. Now I haven't gotten onto watching Angel, but that just might be next!
My next addiction is this thing called Teen Wolf, I might be losing some points with people out there but the writers have really done some homework and taken this amazing concept and amped it up. Every episode is filled with so much conflict, mystery, suspense, and great dialogue that you can't look away. I came in on an episode where a character dies and I was at my TV like, NOOOOO!! What the heck? How did this happen to me?  Darn you awesome people that put out these TV shows to fill me with worry about the latest episode and rip out my heart when you leave me with cliff hangers!!

Wow, I feel like I was having a very random episode with this post. I went from Marvel/DC geek to Teen Wolf fan. I guess that is an okay leap. I wonder what’s next. My husband does have this series called Smallville he wants to watch. Maybe I’ll try that.

Are you a geek or have an obsession you want to share? what about a TV Series to watch? I'm willing to try watching anything once. :)

-Brenda Franklin, author of the Pulse Trilogy.