To celebrate the upcoming release of Windswept, the first book in the series, Ignited, is now on sale! Grab your copy of Ignited now and catch up on the Dance of the Elements series before book three releases 6-14-2022. An Eternal Flame.A Powerful Secret.The Republic of the Sand Sea is a dangerous land where fire … Continue reading Ignited .99 Sale Now- June 15th
This is an easy one (and like all my giveaways) requires no purchase to enter 🙂 Subscribe to today’s bestselling Fantasy and Science Fiction authors for a chance to win A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin, Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes, A Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah, and The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport, plus a Gideon the Ninth book … Continue reading Another month, ANOTHER Giveaway!
You know I have to share a great giveaway when I see one 🙂 Follow some amazing authors on BookBub andbe entered to win a $300 Amazon gift card! Multiple ways to enter, including some daily tasks! https://clcannon.net/2022/04/18/sffbbap22/ This giveaway is free to enter and will close Fri June 3rd, 2022 so hurry and enter while … Continue reading A Giveaway for May
Scroll through this all-inclusive compilation of middle-grade authors, each featuring an exciting adventure for young readers! Frances and the Monster by Refe Tuma https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MD77CXV/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Save the Dream: March on Washington by E. M. Bridges https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B09DCFFNL9&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_JT8NJF2EAN2BY9NMY3EE The Munchkins by Candice Zee https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B098Q38CK8&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_0YW88QWMXG20FBZ5GPHG Beyond the Doors by Clay Kelly https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B097986B6T&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_2Y3PBW5HAS45ZD33KAFE Little Wanderers by I. K. Silver https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B09D9YKFL5&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_9M9R0075YH62MMZ7M90P … Continue reading Middle-Grade March
Hey y'all! I'm participating in this great giveaway and wanted to share here too! The offer expires at the end of the month (August 31) so be sure to get your name in before then 🙂 Click here to sign up!
Hey y'all! It's day 26 and for many writers it's that final push to finish the novel in a month challenge. Some lucky souls have already finished and I congratulate you! Woohoo!!! Now to business... Firstly, apologies! I got hit with the flu. The actual can't eat, can't move, just sleep all day flu! It … Continue reading NaNoWriMo Day 26
What's this? A Saturday post? I told you things might get a bit crazy this month! I've been steadily plugging away on Windswept and need to spend some time this afternoon or tomorrow updating both the progress bar and my word count tracker on the NaNoWriMo site. BUT! I said I would share some first … Continue reading NaNo Day 9 Progress & Excerpt
Hello! It's a hump day miracle! Just kidding. I scheduled this post so this is technically me from the past peeping in on y'all here in the future and...now my brain hurts. Here is a link to last week's post. If you're ready to see what happens next scroll down and start reading! A wedding? … Continue reading Your Story-Romance Edition: Part Eight
Happy Monday, y'all! It's day five of National Novel Writing Month and if you're anything like me, you might be starting to feel like you've taken on an impossible task. Fear not! Help is on the way in the form of these five easy tips to make your month of writing a success. 1.Write every … Continue reading 5 Steps to Winning NaNoWriMo
It's day four of national novel writing month and I am safe from behind my pre-scheduled posts! I had the thought that I probably won't feel much like hammering out additional words after marathon writing until my brain turns to mush but also I don't want to break the habit of the daily blog. So … Continue reading NaNo-Oh-No!
Isn't this a pretty image? Honestly it's a fake it 'til you make it happenstance here. While the leaves have mostly started changing and falling off it is still very HOT! Also, as I've decided to participate in NaNoWriMo I basically feel that the above image should look more like this: Am I over-exaggerating? Meh, … Continue reading NANOWRIMO
This month's obsession is the Rituals of the Night series by Kayla Krantz. This series just released its fourth title on what is a planned nine book series; good news if you find yourself a fan! Firstly, I'm in love with this bookstagram! Not only is it aesthetically pleasing but it actually tells the story … Continue reading This Month’s Obsession: October
Happy Wednesday, my loves! It's midweek, so it's time for another edition of "Your Story." As per usual, here is a ping back to last week's episode in case you missed it! Let's see what's going on with Izzy now... I don’t need to answer him right away. At the moment, I don’t even want … Continue reading Your Story-Romance Edition: Part Seven
Yesterday I mentioned that holidays allow windows for people to view other's cultures. Another way to do that is through the clothing people choose to wear. Even what seems more like a day for children to indulge in costume and candy is in reality steeped with tradition and cultures shared hundreds of years ago. Samhain … Continue reading Customs & Costumes
Halloween is a long-standing tradition that has been in a variety of different cultures for hundreds of years. While it is often depicted in fiction it is rare to find (a traditional) Halloween in a fantasy setting. But that doesn't meant that the fantasy world created doesn't have their own take on a special holiday … Continue reading Tricks & Treats
Earlier this week I struggled (and inevitably failed) to catch a feral kitten outside of the day job. I work on a busy intersection and we wanted to get the furbaby someplace safe. Unfortunately, while he was curious enough to come close enough to catch, he did NOT want to be held. He tore my … Continue reading Meet the Creature: Shifters & Werecats
I promised my thoughts on monsters and now that I have given dragons their fair due I can move on to other creatures I've written about that go bump in the night. My favorite creation (thus far) has been the altaww'am. Illustration by: Sam Wood In the world of Jangbahar, the altaww’am is a creature capable of … Continue reading Monster of My Own Making
Welcome back to another edition of "Your Story." You can catch up on last week's episode here. If you're all caught up, scroll down and enjoy! How crazy is it to just pretend I don’t hear and ignore the knocking? Would they just go away? I squeeze my eyes shut and try one really hard … Continue reading Your Story-Romance Edition: Part Six
Illustration by Atriend Zabu Except that they are, at least in the literal sense in any case. Dragons are always epic and ferocious and perhaps that's why so many writers and artists enjoy creating their own version of this mythical beast. (You might have noticed my obsession.) But are dragons monsters? So yes, there is … Continue reading Dragons are NOT Monsters!
Keeping up with the battle theme of this week I thought it would be fitting to end with the Border Wars: the giant battle that started the entire Dance of the Elements series. This short story was previously unavailable unless you purchased a Kindle copy of Ignited. I hope you enjoy! Border Wars Year 1341 … Continue reading Meet the Character: Josper
Hey y'all! Remember how I promised fight scenes this week? If you didn't catch the excerpt from Submerged's Maritime Massacre you can read it here. For those who don't know, the Dance of the Elements series features a group of people known as Fire Dancers: individuals enslaved and forced to fight dragons with their unique … Continue reading The Blazing Battle
Happy Hump Day and welcome back to another edition of Your Story. Here is a link for last week's post if you need to catch up on the back story. I want to ask him not to sit down but it's his bed and I'm the one who stole his dress shirt and broke into … Continue reading Your Story-Romance Edition: Part Five
As y'all know, I'm letting my spooky shine this week by sharing some bloody battles! In this scene, we follow Vex as he leads his soldiers in what becomes a messy massacre. Please enjoy this excerpt from Chapter Nine of Submerged: Vex was surprised at how easy the battle was. Battle wasn’t even the right … Continue reading The Maritime Massacre
War is a gruesome reality that is often romanticized in literature while the truth is that war is just gruesome. Aside from the romanticized version of glorious battles won for patriotic purposes, war is sometimes necessary for the plot. The best stories are those that mirror our own lives and unfortunately, war is a bitter … Continue reading War! It’s Good for the Plot!
Yes, weapons can too be evil! Or at least, I can do my best to make them sound that way. In many ways, blood chains are the original antagonist of the book as their placement on Jura's father is the catalyst of the series. In this scene, Jura contemplates everything she knows about the beautiful … Continue reading Meet the Evil Weapon: Blood Chains
As y'all know, this month has had a bit of a spooky theme as I show you some of the darker aspects of fantasy and the horror found in the Dance of the Elements series. One way to utilize horror is the element of surprise and sometimes in fiction this can be utilized with the … Continue reading Adham’s “Pit of Despair”
Hey y'all, welcome back to another edition of "Your Story." To catch up on parts one and two click here. And for part three click here. If you're already caught up just scroll below the picture and enjoy! SO. This is embarrassing. I search my brain for something to say but all I can do … Continue reading Your Story-Romance Edition: Part Four
It is difficult to imagine a more awful way to wake up. Personally, I experience a tiny panic attack whenever my morning alarm goes off. Peaceful, utterly relaxed and probably snoring and then BAM! Heart rate pumping, adrenaline coursing through your veins. It might be a bit cliche but I enjoy waking Jura up with … Continue reading Wake-Up! Danger!
She would have screamed but a gloved hand quickly clamped over her mouth. Jura's eyes widened and she struggled under the weight of the Shadow Dancer. From Ignited, Chapter Fifteen That poor, pitiful main character. Writers have to make them suffer because readers want to experience the main character's growth. How can they achieve anything … Continue reading Spooking the Heroine
Every story needs a secret group of assassin spies run by a sadistic evil queen, am I right? The Shadow Dancers were said to be a secret group of assassins, thieves and spies. There was no proof of their existence and many believed the guild was nothing but a story to frighten children. Ignited, Chapter … Continue reading Meet the Character: Shadow Dancers
Dark magic, blood magic, magic coming with a terrible price...these are all expected tropes in the fantasy genre and I suppose the reason for this is simply that they work! But why do they work? I think it all comes down to the point that magic must come at a cost and, well...it's just more … Continue reading Magic Has To Be Spooky
Hello, everyone! Welcome back for another segment of Your Story. If you've been following along you can just read the next part down below. If you need to catch up on the first two parts, you can do so here. I'm an idiot. I look down of course. I'm up way, way higher than I … Continue reading Your Story-Romance Edition: Part Three
I adore hedgerhumor, if you're not following this comic, you should be! Oh, October! This month makes me seriously happy, y'all. The weather finally starts to cool down, I get to start utilizing my extensive scarf selection and it becomes socially acceptable to be a witch in public. But what do I love most about … Continue reading October, let’s get spooky!
So you might be thinking, wait a minute! Isn't this a television show? Well, you're not wrong! But. September has been a bit different on the blog so honestly it almost makes sense that I would shake up this segment too. Here are all the reasons I'm currently obsessed: So yes, this is a television … Continue reading This Month’s Obsession: SEPTEMBER
No, not that kind of dragon love! Kay loves dragons like many young girls love their horses. Although she is just seven years old, Kay has spent her entire life helping her father raise and train dragons. Rumble, a ruby red dragon who has been in her home since before she was born, becomes her … Continue reading Meet the Character: Dragon Love
Previously, on Your Story: You would think years of sneaking back into dorms past curfew would have prepared me better for this moment. That’s where my thoughts are in any case as I press my back up against the cool, stiff bricks of the building. It’s really cold outside but at least there isn’t a breeze and … Continue reading Your Story-Romance Edition: Part Two
Do you remember your first kiss? Was it magical? Often times in fiction the first kiss is just that. After all, isn't that what the reader wants? To be transported, to feel the romance? I know I certainly want that! While Beshar is no frog, the over-weight middle aged man is not who Jura envisioned … Continue reading The First Kiss
Hey y'all! I'm hosting another giveaway once I reach 150 members in my reader group. I'm currently at 107 so I've almost reached my goal 🙂 If you're a Facebook user and think you'd like to participate (mostly by laughing at my stream of silly GIFs) you can join the group here. Once I reach … Continue reading Another Giveaway!
So I know I said I was back to our normal programming for Friday but...umm, I lied. Instead of another piece of the map and country dissection of Jangbahar, I've chosen to keep the theme going and now ask you to "Meet the Love Triangle! You already know Jura and I believe there have been … Continue reading Meet the Boys- Character Romance Edition
Love triangles seem to be a necessary evil, especially in the Young Adult genre. But do they all suck? I certainly don't think so! In fact, if done well, love triangles can actually help characterize your heroine WHILE adding drama and suspense to the subplot. Instead of dissecting all the reasons the crappy love triangles … Continue reading Gross, Another Love Triangle
You would think years of sneaking back into dorms past curfew would have prepared me better for this moment. That’s where my thoughts are in any case as I press my back up against the cool, stiff bricks of the building. It’s really cold outside but at least there isn’t a breeze and I swallow … Continue reading Your Story- Romance Edition: Part One
Ahh, flirting. Luckily for me, my characters are just as awkward at it as I am! I think the key to building successful romantic tension begins with flirtation and it's even better when the characters are clueless because suddenly the readers are let in on a little secret. We see this all the time in … Continue reading Go Ride A Dragon
Hi friends! I'm back from my hiatus with the hubby. We took time off to spend time together for our leather anniversary. Leather because it's been three years of wedded bliss! I'll be going back to our regularly scheduled posts on Wednesdays and Fridays but thought it would be fun to mix in a bit … Continue reading A Touch of Romance
Hi y'all! Ready for another breakdown on a portion of my world? If you've been following along, you know that I've been sharing bits of my created world and setting from my Dance of the Elements series. I started the "tour" with a detailed look at the Republic of the Sand Sea. Not only does … Continue reading Meet the Character: Jangbahar Part 5
I picked up this series because a recent reviewer said that Ignited gave them similar vibes. When I was a newbie writer, hearing such a thing would have terrified me and I would have proceeded to stress out over the fact that my story wasn't 1000% (yes, 1000%) original. Now I know better. Ideas can … Continue reading This Month’s Obsession: August
Thanks for joining me for the tenth installment of Your Story! Here is a link to last week's post to help you catch up on the first nine parts. Scroll down for the action if you're all caught up! Somehow, the shovel appears different in your hands. No longer simply a tool, worn and weathered. … Continue reading Your Story: Part Ten
Good morning!Hopefully you've been following along the SIMs series because last week we showed a movie and it was epic. Here is the link for you to watch it here. So while the cinematic adventure with Kay was awesome, the story continued to move forward with Jura. What I enjoyed most about this video was … Continue reading SIMs Let’s Play! DOTE: Episode Three
Hello, everyone! I hope you're ready for another detailed look at my world, Jangbahar. If you've been following along you know that Jangbahar is a fictional continent made up for the Dance of the Elements series. Although the land mass is primarily governed by the Republic of the Sand Sea, there are several smaller countries … Continue reading Meet the Character: Jangbahar Part 4
Welcome back to another segment of your story 🙂 if you missed the first seven parts they can be found here. Part eight is summarized in italics down below, scroll down if you're all caught up! You still haven’t made a move for the shovel or my hand and both are stretched out toward you. … Continue reading Your Story: Part Nine
Hello everyone! It's been a while since I posted the SIMs Let's Play! I hope by now that those of you who are interested have Liked and Subscribed to Melizzle's YouTube channel. If this is your first time learning about the SIMs Let's Play for DOTE then get excited because I am just in love … Continue reading SIMs Let’s Play DOTE: Kay’s Cinematic Adventure
It was brought to my attention (thanks, Dad) that while I have Tales of a Sixth Grade Werecat listed on my progress bar, I haven't really talked about it here. SO here we go: an introductory post to my new middle-grade series 🙂 The idea for the story came years ago, actually the summer after … Continue reading Tales of a Sixth Grade Werecat
Welcome back everyone for another segment into my world. The next bit of the map I would like to dissect is the chain of islands known by the Republic as Is'Le'Spar . While there is mention of both these islands and it's peoples in Ignited, it is not until Submerged that readers get to dive … Continue reading Meet the Character: Jangbahar Part Three
Welcome back for another segment of your story. As the story gets longer I'm thinking of different ways to include the previous posts. Today I chosen to just give you the link to last week's post here, if you need a refresher before the next segment! You still haven't made a move for the shovel … Continue reading Your Story: Part Eight
Hi y'all! As some of you may know, I've started a new segment detailing the world-building that went into the setting for my series, The Dance of the Elements. The majority of the continent known as Jangbahar is controlled by the Republic of the Sand Sea and you can find more info for that here. … Continue reading Meet the Character: Jangbahar Part 2
If you're all caught up, simply scroll down past the image and read the NON italicized text. Happy Reading! Previously, on Your Story: I bet you’re probably thinking: how did you get here? You can’t quite recall how we met or who said the first word (it was you, by the way) and now here … Continue reading Your Story: Part Seven
EEEK!!! Okay y'all I am SO EXCITED to talk about this trilogy. Krantz is an intelligent writer with female characters who are inclusive and real. I think what I appreciate most about the author's style is how she manages to place normal people into extraordinary circumstances. I especially enjoyed starting this series- the main character … Continue reading The Witch’s Ambitions by Kayla Krantz
So today's character sketch is going to be just a bit different. Instead of a continuation of spotlighting the new and minor characters in the Dance of the Elements series, I've decided to showcase the setting. Ready to learn a bit more about this giant land mass I made up? Firstly one of the first … Continue reading Meet The Character: JANGBAHAR
Previously on Your Story: I bet you’re probably thinking: how did you get here? You can’t quite recall how we met or who said the first word (it was you, by the way) and now here you are. I imagine you, sitting over there nonchalant with your toes tucked up under you, hiding in the … Continue reading Your Story: Part Six
Happy Tuesday! Yesterday was release day for Submerged and after the online launch I celebrated with friends. devoured sushi and fried rice and copious amounts of sake. It was awesome 🙂 Before our dinner out, my hubby and I hosted a screening of Kay's cinematic adventure- a fifteen minute fan film that left us all … Continue reading SIMs Let’s Play: Dance of the Elements (3)
Ready for another character sketch? This is the last one before the release of Submerged this Monday (7-29-19) and I felt that y'all needed the spotlight on Denir because she is such an interesting character. If you've read Ignited, you know that Denir is a member of the Thirteen ( a group of ruling families … Continue reading Meet the Character: Denir
Under ordinary circumstances, Beshar, Ninth of the Thirteen, would have been bored. Today’s circumstances, however, were anything but ordinary. He squirmed in the hard wooden seat of the Ninth and struggled to focus his thoughts on the present. The First presided over the Session, placing judgment on the citizens who came before him. There … Continue reading Submerged: Chapter Four
Hello my loves! You might remember my post from last week where I was thrilled to introduce you to Melizzle, gamer and YouTuber, who is currently doing a spotlight on my Dance of the Elements series. Now, last week I shared her speed build of the glass arena found in the Republic of the Sand … Continue reading SIMs Let’s Play: Dance of the Elements (2)
Artist credit: Nikola Damjanov Kay was very careful not to do any more bad things. After the incident in the practice arena and that one tiny explosion…well, everyone treated her differently now. The last few weeks were a hazy blur of events. There was still so much she didn’t understand. But there was one thing … Continue reading Submerged: Chapter Three
Hey y'all! Let's meet Kale 🙂 Here is another character introduced for the first time in Submerged. Kale is an interesting character in that he gets one measly POV chapter but he was so much fun to write! Kale lives in Aina, an underwater city ruled by the Wave Master and Admiral of the three … Continue reading Meet the Character: Kale
The release of Submerged is less than two weeks away and I have started to share teaser chapters. You can read chapter one here. The second chapter in the book introduces Coralyn Cur'En, a spoiled warrior princess who is about to have her life changed. Some of you may remember her character introduction post I … Continue reading SUBMERGED: Chapter Two
Previously, on Your Story: I bet you’re probably thinking: how did you get here? You can’t quite recall how we met or who said the first word (it was you, by the way) and now here you are. I imagine you, sitting over there nonchalant with your toes tucked up under you, hiding in the … Continue reading Your Story: Part Four
Okay y'all- fan art is out. Sims Play is in! I'm not sure if this is actually a thing but fan and gamer Melizzle on YouTube has created a Let's Play based on the Dance of the Elements series and I am OBSESSED! After seeing some of the amazing content she was creating and with … Continue reading Dance of the Elements…with The Sims!
Jura didn’t tell anyone how different she felt. The first few days of travel had been a sandstorm of activity with little food or sleep, and she told herself that she only felt strange because she was tired. Except she didn’t feel tired. For the first time in a long time Jura felt alive. On … Continue reading Submerged: Chapter One
Today is Friday so it's time for another character sketch! As you may have noticed, I've been highlighting some of the minor characters lately- characters who might not have their own POV chapters but who are still essential to the progression of the story's arc. To check out a brief character sketch on my main … Continue reading Meet the Character: Markhim
You may have been wondering, where is chapter three from last week?! Well, to make up for it, I'm including chapter four as well. Enjoy 🙂 Chapter Three Wonder Child The completion of the laps brought with it the sweet afternoon ration of water. Kay gulped hers down in a hurry. It was better not … Continue reading Chapters 3 & 4
Windswept releases in less than one week! Be sure to help me celebrate by entering my giveaway. The winner will receive an autographed copy of all three books in the Dance of the Elements series as well as two bronze bookmarks and a library scented candle. https://clcannon.net/2022/06/05/dote/ An Eternal Flame.A Powerful Secret.The Republic of the … Continue reading Giveaway Alert
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