Win Another Spa Package From Arcana's Bathing Rooms

Or...this is the scene to read for the Author Island online chat contest Fantasy Author Sandy Lender is holding today

Excerpt from Chapter Two of Sandy Lender's Choices Meant for Gods
Available from ArcheBooks Publishing
For the chat taking place today at: www.authorisland.com
Send your answer to: NigelTaiman at yahoo dot com

(In this scene, Chariss and her wizard guardian, Hrazon, have arrived around midnight at the Taiman estate for protection. Godric and Kora Taiman are helping them up to a room where they can tend to Chariss, who is currently unconscious. Hrazon and Godric—who's putting on airs because he thinks he's oh-so-important—are discussing what's led up to this situation. If you'd like to read the whole chapter, including chapters 1 and 3, they're available as a Free Sample at my publisher's Web site at http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm.)

"We didn't realize he'd amassed so much power so fast," Hrazon said.

"I find it unbelievable Drake could do anything such as this without help. He's only been in Kida a few years. How could he convince his people to go along with this?"

"He's been there two years this spring, and I believe the Joveran people helped build the army."

"Hmpf. It seems longer than that since court was held. And do you still believe he attacked today? Do you mean that you were in Treown this morning?"

Hrazon nodded. "She [Chariss] brought us here. I don't know how. Somehow, she must've picked the estate from my mind, and when our horses gave out, she grabbed my hand and we moved through time. We moved like spirits, it seemed." He looked at Kora as if he expected her to understand. She looked like a sensible Geasa'n. Her mannerisms and demeanor spoke to Hrazon, telling him she understood completely, before he gave voice to his concerns.

"I've only performed that feat once in my life," he said. "And then it was a short distance, across a city. I fear what it's done to her, what you're not telling me."

With a motherly smile Kora looked down at her patient. Her fingers stroked Chariss's hand like a lover, and there was a supreme sadness in the gesture. "You already know she has a terrible fever." Kora's features betrayed how worried she was despite the kind expression she offered in her smile, her full, pale lips forming the curve with a practiced smoothness that spoke volumes. If she had intended to imply joy with that smile, her fairy green eyes would have twinkled with light; tonight there was a lackluster shine about them.

"She overexerted herself today," she said.

Even without Chariss's final wish, Kora couldn't have told him that the child he loved like a daughter had telabyrinth poisoning. The hormones and energies secreted during the act of teleporting made a dangerous combination. Typically, members of the Geasa'n never learned the skill. Yet, Kora sat staring at a young lady, barely twenty years of age, who had poured every ounce of strength she had into teleporting two people nearly two-thousand leagues in a day. Kora feared they might never solve the mystery of how Chariss had accomplished the feat. Her patient fell deeper into coma with each passing moment, and she found she couldn't bring herself to tell Hrazon that, indeed, Chariss was dying.

# # #

You can also pick up the eBook version of CMFG at the publisher's link given above for $3.99, or get the hard cover edition anywhere you normally order books--Amazon, Barnes&Noble, etc.

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, author island, fantasy author, Sandy Lender

Catching Up
Or...The Dragon is itching to blog again

Traveling to a major U.S. city shouldn't take you out of communication with the rest of the world. SURPRISE! Staying at a dump like the Cay Club Condominiums in Las Vegas, Nev., apparently, will. I was less than impressed with the facility. It's supposedly changing its name to Desert Tide so watch out for that name, too, when doing your long-term accommodation planning for Vegas. (It's across the street from The Rio and next door to the place that had the Ricin problem a couple weeks ago. No, I'm not kidding.)

The main beef I had was the absence of wireless Internet, which my boss told me the place boasted on its Web site. (I read it after connecting from a travel site, so I can't be sure that I was on the actual "hotel" site, thus I can't claim false advertising here.) Anyway, when I couldn't log on Wednesday morning, I wished to call the front desk. Lo and behold, there wasn't a phone in the living room. Fine, I can get up from the desk and look in the kitchen. I can look in the dinette area. I can look in the bedroom. Uhhhh...there was no phone in the condo because my co-workers had no phones in their rooms either. So I used my cell to call the front desk to learn that they don't have wireless Internet. When the bizarre little cord that I assume served as the wire connection failed, I gave up.

The sad thing is, once we were on the convention floors (yes, plural; the convention was huge with more than 142,000 in attendance on Friday), I didn't have time to use the computers in the press room for blogging. So ya'll didn't get the daily updates. I apologize.

The convention was exhausting, I must say. I hit the ground running Tuesday with appointments to visit and interview a couple folks before the show closed. Same with Wednesday and Thursday. Friday was all about running around; we didn't have any specific/structured appointments. It was just a Chinese firedrill of visiting booths and finding people we needed to see. Same with Saturday morning. We had a booth of our own for the express purpose of distributing magazines. We spent a total of one hour there (if that) during the course of the five days. The cool thing is the posters of a couple of our front covers will arrive here at my house today and I can hang them in my den. How cool will that be?

I got home Sunday just before midnight, spent an hour in the Ft. Lauderdale airport wishing my luggage would arrive, wishing the shuttle would pick me up, wishing I could get to my car, and wishing I could get out of the Park-n-Save lot. Sigh. Then I spent some time flitting about Ft. Lauderdale wishing I could find I-75. I think I violated the Florida Turnpike Toll Authority at one point because there was no one in the little booth (oops). The readout on the register said "closed" in its ominous green digital print...and the gate was up so I could pass...but as I drove through, slowly, looking for a basket to put my 50 cents in, I realized I saw a red light. Do you know the sinking feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you realize you've probably just done something stupid? Yeah. There it was. But I was so tired that I decided I cared not-a-lot. I'll probably care when I get some ridiculous fine in the mail from Broward County. (That is Broward County over there, isn't it?) Anyway, I'll send them 50 cents and a scathing letter about confusing exhausted travelers. (And then I'll end up in jail, I'm sure, while some drug-runner shoots a cop and ends up free and fat in Canada. Sigh.)

Where was I? Oh, yes. So I got home around 3 a.m. (It stuns me how people lose all concept of driving ability when they run into fog.) I woke up around 11 a.m. and thought, I should blog. Instead, I sneezed blood and went back to sleep. Yes, something's wrong with me. I can't leave the state ever again. :) Leaving the state causes me to collapse in something akin to near-death. I think I'm allergic to air that isn't laced with sea-salt. I need humidity to survive. It's quite reptilian. I managed to get out of bed and go to the grocery store late in the day because, you know, there was no food here. Now I've eaten some of that food for breakfast and I'm blogging as if I'm going to return to normal. How's that for a quick recovery? I like it.

So if you're tuning back in after the week of downtime, thanks for returning. We're back in business.

Today, we have an oh-so-appropriate Word of the Day to make me smile. We also have an excerpt (above) from Choices Meant for Gods for those of you participating in Author Island's St. Patty's Day chat. You'll find the answer to the trivia question posted during the chat in the excerpt. Yay!

We also have the ongoing relaxation contest. You can win a spa package from Arcana's bathing rooms (also from Choices Meant for Gods) if you comment here that you're an Author Island fan (and who isn't?). That's going through April 15, a day when we ALL NEED relaxation. You can enter every day, so comment often.

What else? I'll do individual posts tomorrow about the fun stuff I did in Vegas. There were a couple concerts, you know...

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

There Be Dragons on This Island
Or…chat with Sandy at Author Island tonight

The Choices Meant for Gods Online Book Tour takes Fantasy Author Sandy Lender to http://www.authorisland.com/ for a live chat at 8 p.m. eastern tonight. Join me there to discuss "What makes the perfect heroine?" Of course we'll have to restrain Nigel Taiman because all he'll do is wax poetic about his bride Amanda Chariss, but the rest of us can talk about other fabulous females in fantasy and other literature. I'm quite fond of Jane Eyre, you know...

Go http://www.authorisland.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=550 tonight around 8 p.m. and join in the discussion. There'll be a trivia question to answer to enter a contest to win your own copy of Choices Meant for Gods, which will be delivered to your door in a fabulous CMFG cloth bag. (I ordered the cloth kind because plastic gets into our oceans and confuses our sea turtles, you know. Bad bad bad.)

If you get to the island early, you can be-bop around and see what goodies I have listed under my name in the Fantasy section. There's a letter from me to readers there, but you have to "find" it. It's like buried treasure. You know…island…treasure…

If you don't already own a copy of Choices Meant for Gods, and don't trust your luck in contests, you can pick one up at Barnes & Noble or Borders or Hastings…or jog over to http://www.amazon.com/Choices-Meant-Gods-Sandy-Lender/dp/1595071652/ref=dp_return_1/104-9089752-5140754?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1175821346&sr=8-1 or the publisher's site at http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm
to order a copy there. See you tonight!

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

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Author Island, online book tour, Nigel Taiman, Amanda Chariss, Jane Eyre, fantasy novel, online chat, dragon

End of the Week News

Or...where has The Dragon been?

And where am I going to be, right? First, if you hop over to Jane Sutton's blog today, you'll see a guest post as part of the Choices Meant for Gods Online Book Tour. Woo-hoo! She's at http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com. The poor dear is waiting on her first novel's publication, The Ride, and going through the worries of how she's going to market and promote it. She read a book called Guerrilla Marketing that I think may be a bad idea for any first-time author; and then I frightened her with my insane schedule. Needless to say, she may be a bit on the fragile side right now. :)

I'll be interviewed at her blog next Friday. In the meantime, gear up for two author chats with me next week. They will each feature a contest in which you can win a copy of Choices Meant for Gods, so if you don't already own the epic fantasy, you can answer a question during the chat for your chance to win it then. Your first opportunity is at http://willifordblog.com during the 9 p.m. eastern chat Monday, July 16. The theme of that chat is "What makes a perfect villain?" I'll be talking heavily about Lord Jamieson Drake from CMFG, of course, but I'm sure I'll call upon my Bronte influences and discuss Heathcliffe at length. Your second opportunity to win is at the www.authorisland.com chat during the 8 p.m. eastern discussion Wednesday, July 18. The theme of that chat is "What makes a perfect heroine?" Of course I'll be trying to restrain Nigel as he waxes poetic about Amanda Chariss and how fabulous she is. ;)

Now, if you have any doubts as to your superpowers when it comes to winning contests, then hit http://www.amazon.com/Choices-Meant-Gods-Sandy-Lender/dp/1595071652/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9221383-5820111?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183135911&sr=8-1 (good luck there, also; there are only two copies left) to order the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods now because I'm announcing a contest HERE at Today the Dragon Wins on the final day of the CMFG Online Book Tour (July 21) that will involve you holding a copy in your hand. Woo-hoo! (If Amazon doesn't get their re-supply in right away, then you can always get a copy from my publisher's site at http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm.)

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

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Sandy Lender, online book tour, fantasy author, fantasy novel, Jane Sutton

Marketing Thankfully
Or…This day, I'm thankful for my fantasy novel

Those of you who know me personally know life has thrown some pretty bizarre curve balls my way as of late. But you also know that I'm realizing a pretty amazing dream right now. I have a fantasy novel "out there." Choices Meant for Gods, the epic adventure of an orphan-turned-protector-of-gods, is on the shelf at Borders in Tulsa, Oklahoma (down on 21st Street), thanks to Marilyn Milberry, and at the Barnes & Noble in Chesterfield, Missouri (1600 Clarkson Road), thanks to Jim Graf. Soon it'll be on the shelf at the Barnes & Noble in Naples, Florida, because that's where my first "official" book signing will take place Saturday, June 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. Don’t forget, though, that there's an exclusive meet and greet with three of the ArcheBooks Divas (that includes me) at Leapin Lizards in Cape Coral Saturday, May 19, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Now, I'm sure there are a few other stores that have Choices in stock, and every book store in the country can order it in for anyone who requests it. You can still order it at http://www.amazon.com/Choices-Meant-Gods-Sandy-Lender/dp/1595071652/ref=dp_return_1/104-9089752-5140754?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1175821346&sr=8-1 or http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781595071651&itm=1.

What's my point (other than I'm supposed to shamelessly plug CMFG here at The Dragon)? My point is I have something incredible to be thankful for. And I'm about to launch an online, electronic book tour that already has 18 tour stops booked. That means there are 18 sites willing to give this first-time author a place to "reside" and promote her book for a day. That's incredible. Again, I'm thankful for this windfall of success. And the tour hasn't even started yet! It starts May 21, and, while I'll be giving you a huge reminder as we near next Monday, I'll just state right now that this is going to be a whirlwind of blog-hopping with people you Dragon visitors should be pleased to get to know. I'll post my stops each morning so you'll know where to find me.

One in particular to get geared up for is the online author chat Wednesday, May 23, at 9 p.m. eastern on Marcus Williford's blog at http://www.willifordblog.com/. You have to pre-register (free and fast and he does NOT spam you afterward) so this is your big heads up.

Now here's a little something my boss brought to the office Friday. She got it from her acupuncturist, and I wanted to share it with all you visitors to The Dragon because it's a lovely reminder that, even when life is throwing nasty curve balls and sliders that look like something from Chris Carpenter when he's not recovering from surgery (go Cards!), we have much to be thankful for.

This Day, by Larry Winget
This day, I thankfully accept all of the good things that are coming my way. This day is full of excitement, love, energy, health and prosperity. This day, people are calling on me to be of service to them and I respond by giving them my very best. This day, I think and practice health in my life, refusing to accept anything less than perfect health. This day, I accept the abundance of prosperity that is mine and willingly share it with others. This day, I focus on the moment and give no thought to the past or to the future. This day, I spend in total enjoyment of what I do. This day, I fill with loving thoughts and actions toward all other people and myself. This day, I spend in grateful appreciation of all that is mine. This day, this hour, this minute, this moment is all that I have and I choose to use it in celebration!
From Larry Winget, author of Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life

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

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, dragon, Chris Carpenter, Marcus Williford, http://technorati.com/tag/Today+the+Dragon+Wins

The Dragon is Out and About
Or…you can “meet” Sandy Lender today

There’s an interview with me at http://authorsandwriters.blogspot.com/ today, April 10, and a live chat at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time at http://www.archebooks.com/Chat.htm.

For the interview on the blog, you can post questions (I believe) and I’ll check in mid-day and again end-of-day to answer. Having a day job really gets in the way of this marketing, doesn’t it? But let me tell you, the day job is the only reason I’m not starving to death right now! (I guess that’s how I should have answered the “advice” question, eh? “Don’t quit your day job until you’re at Stephen King status.”)

For the live chat this evening to talk about Choices Meant for Gods and other stuff, all you have to do is log in when you get to the ArcheBooks site, and that takes approximately five seconds, depending on your typing speed and the length of your name. The theme of tonight's talk is Living in a Fantasy World. :) See you at 7 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Central/you know where you are… (Only 100 people can be hosted at a time in the chat room…and one of those people is going to be Nigel Taiman from http://sandylender.blogspot.com, the Nigel Presents Sandy Lender site.)

“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, writersandauthors.blogspot.com, Sandy Lender, the dragon, Nigel Presents Sandy Lender, sandylender.blogspot.com