Confessions of a Disney princess fan.

By the picture one can assume the object of this blog post. I must say that I was shocked to find out they were doing a movie about Maleficent. Not because she wasn't interesting, or because I didn't think that there was a story there. No, my disbelief came from the fact that I thought I was the only one who was in love with her. 

I have talked before about being a heavy movie watcher and as a kid the Disney line up was one of the first mythologies I was introduced to. Of course I crushed on Ariel(who didn't) and Belle was a beautiful bookworm, what's not to love? Mulan(probably one of my favorites) was awesome.

Still, as a kid while watching sleeping beauty and having people talk about Aurora, I was focused elsewhere. I mean Maleficent had a raven(still love that evil little Diablo) one of my favorite birds. Was she good? No. Still, she was intriguing and she had style. Throw in the green skin, a great voice, purple eye shadow and I was hooked. Besides all that she turned into a freaking dragon and almost took out the pretty boy prince, if not for those goody goody fairies. (I may have had some issues as a kid...might still. lol)

When I first found out Angelina Jolie, was going to be playing her I was stoked. The teaser had me as well, but the first trailer got me worried. It reminded me a bit too much of Jack the Giant Slayer in graphics and styling. 

Still I am not one to judge until the movie is out and I have seen it. I was relieved or at least granted some of my diminished excitement back when I watched the latest trailer. 

With Lana Del Rey singing with her haunting tones  on Once Upon a Dream and the update on the graphics I have to say it gave me chills. I truly can't wait for this movie.

Here is the trailer below. 

Anyway, who else is excited for this movie? Also, who else liked someone in a Disney movie that wasn't the hero?  As always, have fun and keep writing.

Time to get real...about Fantasy.

I figured since I just did another "sorry for my absence" post I should do an update post. I have some—maybe lofty—goals set for this year. I am very confident that I will accomplish them though.

First, I am planning to release the next Light Bringer book, actually titled, Light Bringer, in late April early May. I got my cover artist working with me again and can't wait to do a reveal soon. 

Second, is a book I have been working on while revising the Light Bringer books. Its working title is, The Andious Seed. I am hoping to finish this and have it out by August. This book has been really fun to work on and I can't wait to see what people think. I did an excerpt from it a bit back for Lucky Sevens. You can read that here.

I am extremely excited for these to come out. They have been challenging at times, but always fun. 

Next on the list is the illustrations I'm working on. They are for a chapter book about a worm named Dirt. It has really been a great experience. I really like trying to add a bit of flavor to someone else's writing. If you want to know more about DiRT, go here.

Last on my list of planned works is something close to my heart. It prompted me to draw the "serious" picture of Bax and Axie above. Anything we write should be something we treasure and be almost like a child to us. Still, for over fifteen years I have worked on building and cultivating a world for me to write epic fantasy books in.  I talked about feeling unworthy of writing the books in my first IWSG post. This past year taught me that the only way to get where you want in your writing is to write. 

This year will see the first completed MS for this world. I am super nervous, but so far writing in this world has felt like coming home. I am not ready to share any details yet, but as the year progresses I hope to add some drawings and maybe some excerpts from the story. 

Somewhere in there a baby will be born and most likely many curve balls thrown my way. Still, I can't be more excited for this year. I truly believe this will be the year I become what I have always hoped to be.

One more thing. If you love giveaways there are some cool prizes over at Easy Reader. Also a pretty fun coffee chat happening there as well. 

Now I got to go see all your wonderful blogs and say hi.

Anyway, what is the year looking like for you guys? As always have fun and keep writing. 

Cover Reveal for Reborn.

I'm honored to be able to show you guys an awesome cover. Cherie Reich's new book will have a beautiful packaging to accompany it. 

Here is a bit about the book. 

To save a kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.

On the day of Yssa’s death and rebirth, the god Apenth chose her as the Phoenix Prophetess.

Sea serpents and gods endanger the young prophetess’s journey and sour the omens. Yssa is cursed instead of blessed, and her duties at the Temple of Apenth prove it. She spends her days reading dusty scrolls, which does nothing to help her forget Tym, the boy back home. But the annoying yet gorgeous ferryman’s son Liam proves to be a distraction she can’t predict, even though he rarely leaves her alone for two sand grains.

Her boring temple life screeches to a halt when visions of her parents’ murders consume her. Yssa races across an ocean to stop the future. If she can’t change Fate, she’ll refuse to be the Phoenix Prophetess any longer. Fate, however, has other plans for her and the kingdom.

Yssa must either accept her destiny or fight to change Fate.

Reborn, book one of The Fate Challenges, by Cherie Reich will be released on May 23, 2014. For more information about Cherie Reich and her work, please visit her website or blog. The cover art is created by Laura Sava. To add on Goodreads, click here. If you’d like to be notified when Reborn releases, please sign up for her newsletter here.

Here’s an excerpt from the prologue of Reborn:

He couldn’t forget the council’s words or how they’d cursed his fifth Phoenix Prophetess. But visions of the Kingdom of Amora in flames flashed through his mind. He could taste the ashes, like burnt charcoal, and hear her people’s screams. The prophecy of the kingdom’s destruction leaked sour bile into his mouth. The other gods, including Kisa, the Queen of the Gods, might be willing to turn their backs on their loyal people for Fate, but he wasn’t.

There was also this infant in front of him. She reminded him of his daughter. His mortal family resided in the Underworld, but he couldn’t let this child.

“I have to save her.”

“Think of the consequences, my son.”

He had. They both knew the gods would find a way to curse him and this innocent child, but the price was worth saving the kingdom.

Ignoring his mother’s shrieks, Apenth leaned over the lifeless baby again. His lips pressed against her ashen forehead, so cold to the touch. Postera clawed at his arms, but he shoved away her hands. Nothing would stop him from completing Amora’s prophecy, protecting the city named after his love.

“You are mine, little one.” His hand pressed over her heart. Electric heat flowed from his glowing fingertips. They tingled, nearly burning his flesh, but his hand remained steady. Luminosity brightened around the child and him, further blocking out Postera’s pleas. The room filled with the blinding white light.

“Live.” He commanded, pleaded.

“No!” Postera screamed as the child’s life-thread ripped from his mother’s hand and joined the pulsing jewel on her belt. The piece sizzled, reattaching to the gemstone, and transformed to blood red.

The light imploded into the child. Her flesh glowed for a moment before the room’s shadows returned. A tiny strawberry-colored birthmark in the shape of a phoenix blossomed upon the flesh over her heart. The baby’s lungs filled with air, and a cry broke from her lips.

The Phoenix Prophetess was reborn.

Author Bio: A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her ebooks include the horror series Nightmare, a space fantasy trilogy titled Gravity, and a fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles. She is Vice President of Valley Writers and a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Untethered Realms.
 
Her debut YA Epic Fantasy novel Reborn, book one in The Fate Challenges, will be released on May 23, 2014.

Website Link: http://cheriereich.webs.com

Blog Link: http://cheriereich.blogspot.com

Newsletter Sign-ups Link: http://eepurl.com/j3D5X

Writing with the fishes!!!

The last few months of this pregnancy has been trying for us here in the Ax family. Lots of doctor visits and medicine. This being the case, I have not been able to be on here like I would like(this makes excused absence # 345, I know, I know, LIFE BE CRAZY!!! lol). Monday makes 34 weeks and so if he tries coming they won't stop him. It is now completely up to Dorian to pick his B-day.

I won't say it hasn't been a bit stressful. Still, I had a wonderful gift from my wife that has me super inspired and has given me a great writing tool.  I got a new 75 gallon fish tank with Koi in it.  I love them so much and the peaceful flow of the water pump is like having a fountain again.

There is nothing quite like sitting in a quiet room, the water flowing and Koi swimming around. I have already gotten a few really good writing secession done in front of them. Thankful for the small things that mean so much. 

Anyway, I hope all is well your way. As always, have fun and keep writing.

IWSG

IWSG is an awesome group that formed to allow people to express concerns or give advice or just get some things off their chest. To join in the fun go here and sign up.

This month I wanted to post something that has been on my mind lately. Failure. It is a hard word. To fail, to not succeed at something. Even, to be a failure. When going through it you feel every bit the word. Depending on what it is you are failing at can be the difference of depression or even quality of life.

What I am learning as I get older is a strange fact. Failure, is just as important as success. You heard me right. Success is amazing and I wish it for everyone trying to accomplish their dreams, but failure is its counterpart and as hard as it may seem, a very important part of life.

As you grow older you will at times look back on your life and realize that each step no matter how hard or heartbreaking changed you into who you are today. Maybe who you are today is not the person you want to be, maybe you are failing right now. Want to know an awesome secret? Time moves on. One day you will look back and see your hardships and wear them like a badge of pride. 

Does that mean everyone who fails one day goes on to better things? No. There is another secret though. If you want to have the best chance of success there is one thing you can and must do. Learn from these things. Worry, fear, anger, all of these are normal emotions, but never let them consume you. Have your moment to realize what you are going through in life, find out what is in your power to change and then let go of what you can't.

There is a saying that many people use, but my family has always said it, since I was a kid I've heard it. "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger". It is a great saying, a warrior's saying, but it is missing something. On the end needs to be added, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, if you let it." We are in control of our lives, even if it doesn't feel like it sometimes, how we react to a situation is one of the most powerful gifts we have. 

Anyway, here is hoping everyone learns from their mistakes and failures and finds that success we all hope for. As always, have fun and keep writing.