Today the Dragon Wins

2008-05-20T08:51:00.003-05:00

The Two Posts Today
Or…You're either here for the Duran Story or the Author Island contest excerpt

Either way, what you want is right below this post. This is just your explanation so you know you're in the right spot. Because first, we have the inspirational quote of the day. (It's just the way we do things here at The Dragon, in case you're a new visitor. And if you're a new visitor: WELCOME!)

Also, if you're a new visitor, this is Sandy Lender's official main blog where each day (except today) I post a Word of the Day with a clever and sometimes humorous use and give you the opportunity to use it in your own creative and sometimes humorous sentence in the comment field (see past posts for examples). Each day we also have the quote of the day to get you fired up for creativity or coping with whatever you might have happening in your life. And there's sometimes an extra post about writing or marketing or an interview with an author or a book review or a contest announcement or an update on one of my book releases or a scene from the books, etc. You get the idea. Today…we're going to rave about meeting Duran Duran (because that's freakin' inspiring) and I'll post a scene for the contest I'm "doing" during the Author Island all-day chat today.

Visit www.authorisland.com for info on the chat. It's a great chance to meet new authors and hear about new books while discussing recipes and books with other readers.

Visit my publisher's site for info on my fantasy novel, Choices Meant for Gods.

To comment and drive traffic about the ConQuesT39 convention where I'll be speaking this weekend, visit Tina Murray's blog, Jamieson Wolf's blog, Nigel's blog or the Author Island blog. There may be more soon, and I'll let you know as they pop up.

Tuesday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"Hope is the power of being cheerful in circumstances which we know to be desperate."
— G.K. Chesterton

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a great and hope-filled day!
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, hope, G.K. Chesterton, Duran Duran, Author Island, Choices Meant for Gods, ConQuesT39

2008-05-20T08:39:00.003-05:00

The Scene for the Author Island Contest
Or...a partial re-post from Choices Meant for Gods

This is a sweet little romantic scene between Nigel Taiman and Amanda Chariss as they ride from the estate at Arcana to Arcana City. Her wizard guardian has already clued her in to the fact that Nigel wants to court her, and she’s upset over it. Regular visitors to Today the Dragon Wins will recognize it because it's part of a longer post I had on last week. It's from the scene I read at Internet Voices Radio on Mother's Day. But we've just got enough of it here today to get the contest question answered. If you're not participating in the Author Island chat, you can check in at the yahoo group.
---------------------
Nigel frowned at her. Spurring his horse slightly, he reached out to take hold of Shadow’s bridle. Bringing them both to a stop, he turned in the saddle to face her.

“Hey!” she objected.

“Indeed. Have I done something to anger you?”

Her cheeks reddened with embarrassment.

“’Manda?”

“You’re staring at me.”

“By the gods, Woman. All right, I’ll look at your horse. ’Manda,” he said to Shadow, “what have I done that’s made you angry?”

“I’m not angry.”

“You’re not a liar,” he spoke to Chariss again.

“All right, so I’m a little angry. It will pass.”

“And you don’t want to tell me what it is?”

She couldn’t blame her reticence today on worry over Drake. She also couldn’t blame her health because she’d completely recovered from her telabyrinth poisoning. With Hrazon and The Master attending the summer festival, she couldn’t blame some sort of timidity at being ‘alone’ in the city. No, she had to take a deep breath and be honest with him. Considering the number of suitors she’d sent packing in the past few years, this should have been an easy thing to do again. It wasn’t. She sighed, closing her eyes as if she could make the scene disappear.

“Do you agree that you’re my friend?” she finally asked.

He watched her open her eyes then, realizing where the conversation must be going.

“Yes,” he spoke with exasperation.

“And that I’m your friend?”

“Yes.”

“And does that please you?”

He sighed, but didn’t get a chance to answer.

“You see, Nigel, it pleases me. I appreciate your kindness, and I would be disappointed if we hadn’t built such a…such a…”

“Friendship?” he retorted.

“Such a rapport.”

He rolled his eyes. “A fancier word with even less affection.”

“My stay at Arcana is much more pleasant because I have this relationship with you. But someone has tried to convince me that your…your…”

“Feelings?”

“Well…your…”

“Intentions?”

“Well…your opinion of our relationship might be somewhat different from mine.”

“’Manda, just say what you’re thinking. You won’t hurt my feelings.”

She looked miserable then. “I don’t want to say what I’m thinking.”

“Good!”

“No, that’s not good. Hrazon thinks you’re…Hrazon believes you spend time with me because…” She paused, searching for the words.

“Because I’m in love with you?”

She nearly fell backward. “Just blurt it out!”

He chuckled slightly. “This is uncomfortable, isn’t it? I’m sorry to embarrass you. This conversation would be better in a darkened corner of Arcana’s parlor. ’Manda, I’m not going to lie to you. Hrazon has every reason to believe I’m after his ward because I am. It’s no secret to anyone I enjoy your company. What, where are you…You’re the only woman I know who can scoot that far away on a saddle without falling off.”

“I don’t think you should say those things.”

“Aye,” he sighed, watching her fidget with Shadow’s reins. But he made a decision to press the matter. “I’m going to say them and get them out in the open. Then we can decide if you’re to die of embarrassment, or slap me across the face.”

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Author Island

2008-05-20T08:12:00.006-05:00

Sandy Lender Meets Duran Duran in Orlando
Or...The Dragon wonders what this hit of meeting-the-muse will do

Last time I met John Taylor, I drove back from Atlanta, sat down at the computer, and, two weeks later, had a 70,000+ word paranormal Christmas romance novel. I've played with it since then to up the word count and my publisher wants to wait to release it until the Choices fantasy trilogy is all out, but, just thinking about that writing binge makes me go...hmmm...what's gonna happen this time?

You see, I met the whole band Sunday night in Orlando before they took the stage for their Red Carpet Massacre show. (They rocked the house, by the way. My lungs still ache from all the screaming and singing along.) Jennine flew down from Kansas City to "gift" this experience for my early birthday present. I drove up to meet her in Orlando and we stood in line to get our VIP tickets. No big deal. We weren't expecting to win the randomly selected Meet-n-Greet opp. Good Lord, what are the chances? Well, turns out chances were pretty good.

So we recover from THAT news, call multiple friends to alert them that the earth is about to shift on its axis, and proceed to meet our destiny.

Let me just tell you, the members of Duran Duran operate on what we fans call "Duran Time," which is time minus half an hour or so. This means we weren't surprised to wait...and wait...and wait. It just made the eventual meet-n-greet that much more exciting. I made Jennine practice what she'd say to Simon because, well, let's just say we've been fans for a LONG time and this would prove nerve-wracking. What I found refreshing is that the folks in line around us were just as bubbly and excited as we were and didn't find it at all "odd" that we were practicing our lines. Of course, when one finds oneself in front of Simon LeBon, one does forget one's practiced lines. I nudged her. It was fine.

I spoke to John Taylor intelligently. Thanked him for the gift in our VIP package (a red leather journal) because it's the perfect gift for a writer. He actually seemed intrigued that I was a writer, for a brief flickering moment, and then the moment was over and he had to move on down the line to the next fan. Sigh. I finally got to meet Roger Taylor, who has lovely eyes and a fantastic voice.

When it came time for our photo opp, my brain snapped. Jennine zeroed in on Simon (good girl), and since I couldn't stand "within" John Taylor, I didn't know quite what to do. He and Nick were so close to each other that I didn't think I could squeeze between them politely, so I aimed for the end of the row, which would NOT be next to my idol (supreme sadness). John stopped me (supreme joy). He teased, "we don't allow any girls on the end." So he motioned me in between him and Nick (which, by the way, just in case anyone had any doubt, is a FABULOUS place to be) and I boldly wrapped my arm around his shoulders. When the fan club gets the pictures to us, I'll post it here. I'm sure I look like a start-struck moron, but, hey, I'll look deliriously happy.

I was.

So Jennine had to fly back home to K.C., where I'll see her at ConQuesT39 next weekend, actually, and I had to drive back to Naples. Sigh. We met some really neat folks in line and I hope they check in here at the blog so we don't lose touch. It was great to share the experience with you guys, and I'm glad you got to meet the band, too!

And, in case there was any doubt on this point, John was adorable. I am inspired. I think I'll write a paranormal romance novel...
Bwuahahahahaha.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Duran Duran, Choices trilogy, John Taylor, Sandy Lender, dragon

2008-05-17T09:55:00.002-05:00

Saturday's Inspirational Quote of the Day

"If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun."
— Katharine Hepburn

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a fun day!
Keep reading for more of today's posts, including the interactive Word of the Day for all you visiting writers.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, fun, Katharine Hepburn

2008-05-17T09:47:00.002-05:00

Choices Meant for Kings ARCs are Ready for Reviews
Or…Fantasy Author Sandy Lender has advance reader copies of Choices Meant for Kings prepared for professional review

While I've contacted several reviewers who are placing CMFK on their summer review schedule, I would like to make a more concentrated effort to gather opinions on this fantasy novel than I did with Choices Meant for Gods. As a complete novice with the first of this fantasy trilogy, I waited until the book's release before approaching reviewers, and found most of them disappointed that the novel would be "old" before their opinion could be shared with the world. I don't want to make that same mistake with the second book in the series.

Choices Meant for Kings rests at the publisher awaiting its turn on a backlogged production schedule. The release date could be sometime later this summer or early fall, so the timing is perfect to get ARCs to reviewers now. If you're interested and haven't already been contacted, please let me know.

If you need a copy of Choices Meant for Gods, I have the pdf available for reviewers. Readers can also find the eBook and hardcover edition at my publisher's site. The hardcover is also available at Amazon. If you bring your copy with you to ConQuesT39 over Memorial Day weekend, I'll be happy to personalize it for you.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Choices Meant for Kings, Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy novel, fantasy trilogy, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, professional review, advance reader copy, ARC, eBook, ConQuesT39

2008-05-17T09:31:00.004-05:00

Inspiration at Goodyear
Or...it happened again

So I posted yesterday that, yes, I can be inspired even sitting in the lobby at Goodyear, and, in fact, the first three chapters of my fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods were edited and the next few scenes written while I sat there waiting for new tires. Lo and behold...

I got in my car to go to turtle patrol this morning and this pretty red light flashed at me from the dash. It didn't just flash. It clicked on and stayed there, shining vividly red for quite some time. After a while, I began to worry. I mean, this car has 173,890 miles on it. (The person I'm still trying to divorce took the valuable car when he fled the state last summer.) So when I finished turtle patrol (no new nests in my zones, doggonit!), I took my trusty little sedan to my friend who works at Goodyear. Yes, the service manager at Goodyear is one of my connections at LinkedIn. (If I'm lyin' I'm dyin'.) Now, the warning light was for coolant, so this wasn't a huge concern, but I had to replace the fan in that car once before, and my fear was that the fan had a problem again. It's always good to "know somebody" when you have an aging vehicle. I solved today's problem for under $100 and now will drive the four hours up to Orlando (oh, yes, this was a wee bit stressful) where Jennine is sitting by the pool waiting for me to begin our Duran weekend. The boys play tomorrow night and this is my birthday present. It's one month early, and that's totally cool with me. I need a Duran Duran break. And the tidbit of stress-inspiration this morning got the writing-adrenaline pumping for the pool-side scribble-fest later this afternoon.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Duran Duran, Choices Meant for Gods

2008-05-17T09:21:00.003-05:00

Saturday, May 17, 2008
Word of the Day
Swamped (adjective) -- the state of being overwhelmed with work and activities, usually to the point of nearing a nervous breakdown (make up your own etymology for this one)

Word in a Sentence: In the Choices fantasy trilogy, Chariss is totally swamped with her duties protecting Master Rothahn, helping care for little Kaylin Taiman, readying an army to march on the enemy, building a strategy for said army, planning a wedding, finding a runaway newlywed couple, breaking the spell of a bad prophecy that's upset the balance of good versus evil in her world, convincing kings to join her instead of a mad sorcerer, etc.

Your turn! Feeling overworked, overstressed and overwhelmed? Tell us about it! We feel your pain...

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, Choices, trilogy, swamped, dragon

2008-05-16T13:04:00.004-05:00

ConQuesT39 Announces Faculty List with Sandy Lender

Or...The Dragon's going to Kansas City for ConQuesT39 over Memorial Day weekend

In exciting news, the organizers of this year's ConQuesT in Kansas City, Mo., mailed out the Faculty Handbook for Fandom University. That's right: if you're a sci-fi/fantasy/horror fan, you're in for a schedule sure to set your imagination alight at Fanimal House 2008 this May 23-25 at the Airport Hilton in good ol' K.C., Mo. Yours truly, Fantasy Author Sandy Lender, will be on hand to speak about blogging and trends in homosexuality in sci-fi/fantasy lit, and to read from my first fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods. If you bring your copy to the autograph session Saturday at 4:30 (or any other time you bump into me at the con), I'd be happy to personalize it for you.

Now, there's more to draw you to ConQuesT than my happy mug. The special media guests this year are Ellen Muth of Dead Like Me and Jeff East of Young Clark Kent. The guest of honor is Joe R. Lansdale; the artist guest of honor is David Lee Anderson; and the toastmaster is Wm. Mark Simmons.

Seminar tracts include anime, blogging, British TV, comedy, creative writing and publishing, filk, gaming, literature, science and more. Saturday night's masquerade promises to be a Kodak moment and the Story-in-a-Bag contest should bring plenty of laughs (with prizes). It's going to be a great event, and I encourage anyone who hasn't already made plans to consider getting out to Kansas City for the long weekend. The festivities end with "graduation" Sunday afternoon so you have plenty of driving time on Memorial Day...

Down to business: If you'd like more information about ConQuesT39, check out the site here.

If you need a copy of Choices Meant for Gods, get free two-day shipping at Amazon here. I'll have some copies on hand that I can sell and sign on-site, but you shouldn't count on the dealers in the dealer room being well-stocked. I've learned from past conventions that they don't always communicate well with the distributors like Ingrams and Baker & Taylor.

Hope to see you in Kansas City over Memorial Day weekend!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: ConQuesT39, fantasy, blogging, Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, Ellen Muth, Jeff East, dragon

2008-05-16T08:17:00.002-05:00

Friday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"Seek to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you."
— James Freeman Clarke

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a happy day!
Keep reading for more of today's posts, including the interactive Word of the Day for all you visiting writers.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, happiness, Clarke

2008-05-16T07:50:00.003-05:00

Sources of Inspiration
Or...The Dragon wants to know what inspires you

I filled out an online form at Nothing Binding so I could market my fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods in yet one more place. When Choices Meant for Kings is released later this summer (or fall), I'll add it to the list there. In the process of filling out their questionnaire, I ran into the question: What inspires you? They wanted a complete answer.

Oh my.

I'm inspired by everything. As regular visitors to Today the Dragon Wins may know, I edited the first three chapters of Choices Meant for Gods and began writing like mad on the next few while sitting in a mechanic's shop one afternoon waiting SEVERAL HOURS for the workers to change and balance the tires on my oh-so-sensible Saturn sedan. (I still have that car, by the way. 173,000+ miles and still ticking.) Now, tell me, what could be inspiring in a Goodyear lobby?

My response to the inspiration question included everything from literature references such as Bronte and Beowulf to ocean references such as darling Kibby the dolphin at the Dolphin Research Center. I included mentions of '80s music and movies with sad endings. Truly, just about anything that crosses my path can inspire a bit of dialogue or a new scene, even though I need to put it in a fantasy world and morph it for another realm. As Terry Brooks alludes to in his book Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons From a Writing Life, you've got to be careful around us writers. We steal your moments and turn them into fiction without you ever noticing it...because you inspire us.

So tell me what inspires you. I've listed a couple of my "inspirational catalysts" here. Whether you're a writer, a painter, a sculptor, a teacher making lesson plans, a preacher coming up with sermons once (or twice) a week, a mom planning day activities for kids, an architect designing a new building, or whatever, what sparks creativity in you? Share with us in the comment field and let others be inspired, too.

And thank you for being part of the creative process.
(If you're an author or a writer with an unfinished work, you can join Nothing Binding by clicking here. If you'd like to read the first three chapters of CMFG for free, visit my publisher's site here.)
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspiration, Choices Meant for Gods, Choices Meant for Kings, fantasy novel, creative, Nothing Binding, Terry Brooks, Dolphin Research Center, Bronte, Beowulf

2008-05-16T07:39:00.003-05:00

Friday, May 16, 2008
Word of the Day
Catalyst (noun) -- something that causes a reaction; something that begins an event without actually being involved in the event or without being changed by the event; a being, organism, substance or chemical agent that causes a process to begin (it's a bit complex, but it stems from Greek "kataluein" meaning "to dissolve")

Word in a Sentence: In the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods, the union of two powerful bloodlines is the catalyst that sets in motion a prophecy that endangers not just the highest active god of Mahriket, but for all Geasa'n.

Your turn! What fabulous creativity does today's word cause you to dive into? Share your sentence with us in the comment field!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy novel, catalyst, dragon

2008-05-15T08:43:00.002-05:00

Thursday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"In a world filled with causes for worry and anxiety, we need the peace of God standing guard over our hearts and minds."
— Jerry W. McCant

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a peaceful, creative day.
Keep reading for more of today's posts, including the interactive Word of the Day for all you visiting writers.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, peace

2008-05-15T08:27:00.004-05:00

Free Formatting Help for Writers
Or...The Dragon suggests free PDF-creation site

My friend Jamieson Wolf turned me on to a different site for creating PDFs, and I like it better than anything else I've tried so far. If you're a starving writer like me, you can't bounce out to the store to buy new software on a whim, so finding freebies is "cool."

Check out http://www.pdfonline.com/ to create pdfs of documents you'd like to send via e-mail, etc. Once you get there, you can either download free 30-day trials of the pdf-making software (which will create macros-vs.-Windows XP issues for you, thus I elected not to go that route - you see, The Idiot I was once married to had a free 30-day trial from someone for, oh, a couple years, on his computer that kept that stupid macros pop-up window popping up every time you opened Microsoft Windows - joy) or you can purchase the software outright or you can use the link on the site to create one pdf at a time for free. Because I create pdfs so infrequently, I've opted to merely use the site.

Here's what you do:
Step 1. Go to http://www.pdfonline.com/.
Step 2. Click on the orange Convert to PDF for Free>> link on the left-hand side of the page.
Step 3. Browse for your document. (It's as easy as attaching something to an e-mail.)
Step 4. Type in the name you'd like for the finished file.
Step 5. Type in your e-mail address.
Step 6. Hit the submit button.
Pdfonline.com creates the pdf in a few minutes and sends it to your inbox.

A couple tips:
Make sure you add pdfonline@bcltechnologies.com to your accepted mail list.
Make sure you can receive attachments.
Make sure you don't have any "strange" fonts in your original document. (I made that mistake my first time around and had to repeat the pdf-creation process. Please note that the process is so easy that repeating it was a breeze - once I'd replaced the offending font in my original document.)

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: formatting help, creating PDF, Jamieson Wolf, www.pdfonline.com, software

2008-05-15T08:17:00.003-05:00

Thursday, May 15, 2008
Word of the Day
Choice (noun) -- election; liberty of selecting; option; the power of choosing something (from Gothic "kausjan" meaning "unattested")

Word in a Sentence: In the Choices fantasy trilogy, Chariss makes the choice to accept the responsibility of guarding and protecting The Master Rothahn, even though the task will be difficult for many reasons.

Your turn! This word has been bandied about in our society, thus my first fantasy novel's title, Choices Meant for Gods, is in mixed company on the Amazon Web site. But what interesting sentences can you come up with to enforce some of its positive or liberating meanings today?

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, choice, fantasy trilogy, Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy novel, dragon

2008-05-14T07:48:00.002-05:00

Wednesday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"The amount of satisfaction you get from life depends largely on your own ingenuity, self-sufficiency, and resourcefulness."
— Dr. William Menninger

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a creative, resourceful day!
Keep reading for more of today's posts and scroll to see yesterday's link to the new X-Files movie trailer! I want to believe! Woo-hoo!
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, life, resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, X-Files movie, I want to believe

2008-05-14T07:27:00.005-05:00

The Dragon's in a Hurry

Or...The Dragon's in a Hurry

In good news, I'm preparing for the release of Choices Meant for Kings during the minutes when I'm not buried in the day job (read: the job that pays the bills). So the negligence of this happy blog is not for naught. :)

Enjoy the inspirational quotes, though! And don't forget to skim for the answer to the contest question "In the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods, who is Chariss chosen to protect?" so you can win the fabulous basket that's up for grabs. You e-mail your answer, with your name and snail mail address to authorisland at yahoo dot com before the end of this month.

If you can't find the answer on this blog (I'll be stunned), you can find it at http://www.authorisland.com/, in the book blurb at http://www.amazon.com/, or at my publisher's site at http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm. If you need to read the story (and who doesn't!?), you can own the eBook version for only $3.99 by ordering it at my publisher's site at that same link. It takes about three minutes to process and download. (I've done it myself to check it out.)

Have fun and I'll try to become "un"overwhelmed soon.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, eBook, author island, dragon

2008-05-13T08:37:00.002-05:00

Tuesday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm; it moves stones, it charms brutes. Enthusiasm is the genius of sincerity, and truth accomplishes no victories without it."
— Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a day filled with enthusiasm!
Keep reading for more of today's posts, including the interactive Word of the Day for all you visiting writers.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, enthusiasm, Edward Bulwer-Lytton

2008-05-13T08:33:00.003-05:00

I Want to Believe
Or...The Dragon is stoked about the X-Files

July 25th, Baby...I'm there.

You can see the trailer and a ton of goodies here: http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/05/12/the-x-files-i-want-to-believe-trailer-has-arrived/

There's nothing more to say than you'll be blown away!
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: X-Files, I Want to Believe, trailer, dragon

2008-05-12T08:29:00.002-05:00

Monday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"If you let your fear of consequence prevent you from following your deepest instinct, your life will be safe, expedient and thin."
— Katharine Butler Hathaway

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you an exciting, daring week!
Keep reading for more of today's posts, including the interactive Word of the Day for all you visiting writers.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, instinct, Hathaway

2008-05-12T08:11:00.004-05:00

An Excerpt From Choices Meant for Gods for Romance Enthusiasts

Or...The Dragon's posting last night's shared excerpt from the PIVR show

This is a romantic scene as Nigel Taiman and Amanda Chariss ride from the estate at Arcana to Arcana City. Her wizard guardian has already clued her in to the fact that Nigel wants to court her, and she's upset over it. The scene mentions the bear-like ryfel creature that nearly killed Nigel in the training arena...

Nigel frowned at her. Spurring his horse slightly, he reached out to take hold of Shadow’s bridle. Bringing them both to a stop, he turned in the saddle to face her.

“Hey!” she objected.

“Indeed. Have I done something to anger you?”

Her cheeks reddened with embarrassment.

“’Manda?”

“You’re staring at me.”

“By the gods, Woman. All right, I’ll look at your horse. ’Manda,” he said to Shadow, “what have I done that’s made you angry?”

“I’m not angry.”

“You’re not a liar,” he spoke to Chariss again.

“All right, so I’m a little angry. It will pass.”

“And you don’t want to tell me what it is?”

She couldn’t blame her reticence today on worry over Drake. She also couldn’t blame her health because she’d completely recovered from her telabyrinth poisoning. With Hrazon and The Master attending the summer festival, she couldn’t blame some sort of timidity at being ‘alone’ in the city. No, she had to take a deep breath and be honest with him. Considering the number of suitors she’d sent packing in the past few years, this should have been an easy thing to do again. It wasn’t. She sighed, closing her eyes as if she could make the scene disappear.

“Do you agree that you’re my friend?” she finally asked.

He watched her open her eyes then, realizing where the conversation must be going.

“Yes.” It was said with exasperation.

“And that I’m your friend?”

“Yes.”

“And does that please you?”

He sighed, but didn’t get a chance to answer.

“You see, Nigel, it pleases me. I appreciate your kindness, and I would be disappointed if we hadn’t built such a…such a…”

“Friendship?” he retorted.

“Such a rapport.”

He rolled his eyes. “A fancier word with even less affection.”

“My stay at Arcana is much more pleasant because I have this relationship with you. But someone has tried to convince me that your…your…”

“Feelings?”

“Well…your…”

“Intentions?”

“Well…your opinion of our relationship might be somewhat different from mine.”

“’Manda, just say what you’re thinking. You won’t hurt my feelings.”

She looked miserable then. “I don’t want to say what I’m thinking.”

“Good!”

“No, that’s not good. Hrazon thinks you’re…Hrazon believes you spend time with me because…” She paused, searching for the words.

“Because I’m in love with you?”

She nearly fell backward. “Just blurt it out!”

He chuckled slightly. “This is uncomfortable, isn’t it? I’m sorry to embarrass you. This conversation would be better in a darkened corner of Arcana’s parlor. ’Manda, I’m not going to lie to you. Hrazon has every reason to believe I’m after his ward because I am. It’s no secret to anyone I enjoy your company. What, where are you…You’re the only woman I know who can scoot that far away on a saddle without falling off.”

“I don’t think you should say those things.”

“Aye,” he sighed, watching her fidget with Shadow’s reins. But he made a decision to press the matter. “I’m going to say them and get them out in the open. Then we can decide if you’re to die of embarrassment, or slap me across the face.”

She couldn’t help smiling, even though her heart beat as if it would burst through her bodice from the tension she felt.

“I enjoy being with you because you’re my perfect match,” he said. “Have you noticed that we agree on almost everything? And the few things we don’t agree on are intriguing to argue because you make them intriguing. There’s no one at that entire estate, The Master and every intelligent student combined, who can hold my attention as you do. None of them compare.

“I’m attracted to everything about you, including your compassion. Even now, when you’re on the verge of falling off a horse with embarrassment, your concern is for my feelings, not your own. Godric, who doesn’t deserve to wash your feet, who finds every excuse to correct you, gets your respect because you remind yourself that he’s your benefactor. Do you know what strength of character that shows? Do you know how it endears you to me to know you bite your tongue after his arrogant remarks to save my mother’s feelings?”

She merely nodded, her eyes cast down.

“And do you know how it endears you to me to know you would fight to the death for little Kaylin?”

She nodded again.

“And do you know how it endears you to me to know you instinctively threw yourself into healing spells to save my life?”

“You shouldn’t assume that means—”

“I remember sliding toward death that night, life spilling out of me, and poison seeping into me from that thing’s claws. But do you know what I remember most distinctly? I remember you commanding me not to bleed to death…and I remember your hands afterward. Once I was healed, once Master Rothahn became preoccupied with the dead ryfel, you crawled over to me and put your hands on me again, as if you had to be sure He’d done a good enough job of healing me. But you would’ve done it for any member of my family. I daresay you would’ve done it for any student in the school. And it’s because you care about others, and you want the best for everyone around you. And you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

The last comment caught her off guard. It didn’t seem to fit with the logical argument he tried to make.

“I fail to see how these things tell you you’re in love. Kaylin enjoys my company. Mia enjoys arguing with me. I saved Sorne’s life once. Does this mean they’re in love with me?”

“If love could be explained that easily, it wouldn’t be real.”

“But what makes you think it’s real now? If you can’t explain your feelings, how do you know you’re not misled?”

“How does the rose know to bloom in spring?”

“Oh, now that talk I’ve heard before. I didn’t believe it then, and I don’t think you should let yourself believe it now.”

“’Manda, I’m telling you the truth and I’m telling you what I know. If I’ve made you angry by falling in love with you, you’re just going to have to deal with it. Because you’re not currently interested in me, you have to give me time to change your mind.”

They were silent then; he waited for some sign that she wasn’t going to cast him aside, she waited for her heart to stop beating so loudly in her ears. As far as she was concerned, she was often a foolish girl, but her intentions at the beginning of this conversation were foolish beyond compare. She realized—with alarm—that the blood rushing through her veins, the lightheadedness, the excitement at getting to spend an afternoon with him, were all signs she had chosen to ignore.

She swallowed hard against the fear in her throat, and, with as much calm as she could muster, said: “What gives you the idea that I’m not interested in you?”

If you'd like to read more scenes from the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods, by Fantasy Author Sandy Lender, the first three chapters are available as a free sample at the publisher's site at http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm. You can also purchase the eBook there for $3.99. The hard cover edition is available for order there, or at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, etc. I know you'll enjoy the story.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy novel, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, PIVR, http://technorati.com/tag/www.archebooks.com, Amanda Chariss, dragon, ryfel

2008-05-12T07:59:00.004-05:00

Monday, May 12, 2008
Word of the Day
Protect (transitive verb) -- to guard; to keep from harm; to guard against injury; to prevent from coming under attack; to safeguard (from Latin meaning "to cover in front")

Word in a Sentence: In the Choices fantasy trilogy, the propechy scrolls make it clear that Chariss is to protect The Master Rothahn, the highest active god of Mahriket, because she is not merely an orphaned mortal, but a well-trained wizard's apprentice who has special gifts beyond anyone's imagination.

Your turn! After last night's show at Internet Voices Radio, in which we talked quite a lot about protecting bears in celebration of Bear Awareness Week, I thought it prudent to use this simple, yet meaningful vocabulary word today. It's an easy one to be creative with. What intriguing sentences can you come up with to lodge it in our minds today?

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, Choices, fantasy trilogy, protect, prophecy, Internet Voices Radio" rel="tag">Internet Voices Radio, Bear Awareness Week, dragon

2008-05-11T09:11:00.003-05:00

Sunday's Inspirational Quote of the Day

"Do all the good you can,
"By all the means you can,
"In all the ways you can,
"In all the places you can,
"At all the times you can."
— Anonymous

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender hopes you have a great Mother's Day filled with good deeds and good wishes.
Keep reading for more of today's posts! Remember that the CMFG basket contest runs through the end of the month - send the answer to the question: "Who is Chariss chosen to protect?" to authorisland at yahoo dot com with your name and snail mail address.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, hope, good deeds

2008-05-11T07:49:00.004-05:00

A Mother's Day Tribute to Lavinia Lamkin
Or...The Dragon remembers her roots

I got some grief over the acknowledgment page of my first published novel because I've never really shared with folks outside my family how deeply I was (and probably still am) influenced by my great grandmother. For those of you who haven't read CMFG, here's the acknowledgment page:

Dedication
to Lavinia Lamkin
My Kora Rothahn, my Hrazon of Mon'dore, my Mia, my matriarch, my mentor, and my support--I wish you could have met Nigel and Chariss

I didn't start thanking anyone else because, as you'll see by the insane list of acknowledgments in the front of Choices Meant for Kings, it would have taken a lot of space, and I would have forgotten someone, and would have gotten grief over it. You can't win for losin', can ya? But here's the deal: folks outside my family didn't see the relationship I had with my grandma. (And, yes, even though she was my great grandmother, I called her "Grandma," as I called my other two grandmas. I didn't really see a distinction.)

Further, if you read the back cover inside flap of CMFG, there's this bio about me (hey, the publisher put it there). The second sentence reads: "As a child, she entertained the folks in her great grandmother's apartment building in Southern Illinois with tales of squeaky spiders and mice picking berries," etc. That's how I got started with this whole writing bug. I distinctly remember standing shyly by as Grandma read my little stories to Ruby from down the hall. (Poor Ruby! I need to add her to the thank-you list!)

In a college speech-writing class, I prepared, and presented, a speech on someone who inspired me; that was Grandma. When Mary Warner prepped a Sunday School lesson on heroes, I listed mine as Grandma. When Grandma needed someone to stay with her at her apartment before she made the move to a nursing home, I took a week's vacation and went to Southern Illinois to be with her. (Other family members took weeks as well; I'm not playing martyr here.) When I was a little girl hanging out at her apartment, she taught me how to crochet. (I didn't take so well to knitting...) Believe it or not, I can make doilies and blankets. Go figure!

Also when I was a little girl, Grandma told me that if I asked my dad, he'd take our family to church. Novel concept. Okay. That worked out for a couple of years and I learned something interesting: you make some close friends in a church. Friends who get out of bed and drive through the rain to take your mom to the hospital while you're out of town.

Thinking of all the lessons Grandma taught me during the 28 years I knew her awes me. Some of those years she spent in Ohio with her daughter, helping her get through difficult times, so my visits were limited. Some of those years, I lived in Kansas City, so my travels were less frequent than I would have liked. Just because I got over to St. Louis to visit my parents for a weekend didn't mean I made it the additional three hours to West Frankfort to see Grandma. That necessitated a longer weekend, and I tried to work in as many of those as I could. We all know the gift of time when loved ones are aging. And Grandma was born in 1906. Do the math.

From those visits, I remember the dripping air conditioner unit rattling away in the living room window. I remember stacks of paperback novels piled waist-high next to her armchair, next to her couch, next to her bookshelves, next to her sewing table, and next to her dresser. I remember sitting up late on the hideaway bed with the "woah" in the mattress eating baby dill pickles like candy while watching Friday Night Videos. I remember her letting me take a picture of her holding one of her wigs in one hand...and her dentures in the other. I remember the dusty, melted-vinyl smell of her ancient green car with the black interior and no air conditioning that she "sold" when the state took her driver's license - oh, what a fiasco. (She got her license back...and a new car...and don't think THAT story's not going in a novel someday...) And I remember that last week I got to spend with her when I made whatever dinner she craved each day and served her hot tea from her expensive antique tea cups off her display shelves because, you know...Grandma just deserved tea from fine china tea cups.

Grandma's little sister Thelma is still with us, and it's a crying shame my circumstances have put me in such a way that I don't get to travel to see her. I haven't been home since Christmas '06. Life throws strange curves in our path at times, but there are ways to cope. Memories and swapping stories with people who knew our loved ones the way we did helps keep them alive in our hearts. On this Mother's Day, I hope you're celebrating with the people who are special to you, and who help you keep special people close to you.

Happy Mother's Day!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Mother's Day, matriarch, grandma, great grandmother

2008-05-11T07:29:00.004-05:00

Sunday, May 11, 2008
Word of the Day
Matriarch (noun) -- a dominant woman in a family or tribe; the female head of the family or clan (from Latin meaning "mother")

Word in a Sentence: In the Choices fantasy trilogy, Arcana Scheld is the good, lovely matriarch of the Taiman family who helped turn the tide against the bigotry aimed at the Geasa'n of the world, while the evil goddess Julette is the matriarch of the Line of The Dragon that will set a horrible prophecy in motion meant to destroy the Geasa'n and the god Chariss is chosen to protect.

Your turn! I bet you can't run-on a sentence like that...He he he. In honor of Mother's Day and all things "mom," let's see your creativity shine!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, Mother's Day, Choices trilogy, fantasy trilogy, matriarch, dragon

2008-05-10T10:17:00.001-05:00

Saturday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become."
— Charles Du Bos

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a great and successful day!
Keep reading for more of today's posts, including the interactive Word of the Day for all you visiting writers.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, sacrifice, Charles Du Bos