Writing Buddy Wednesday ~ Shona Husk's The Court of Annwyn

Welcome to another Writing Buddy Wednesday. Today I will be focusing on fellow DarkSider's Shona Husk and her series, The Court of Annwyn.

I've known Shona for a number of years via the Paranormal loop, and we've also collaborated on cover designs for her short stories and novellas.

Recently, this involved the cover for The Changeling Soldier, a novella set in The Court of Annwyn world. So I asked Shona along to talk about the series.



Faeries feature in the COURT OF ANNWYN series. How did you come to write about them?

The Court of Annwyn came about after a conversation with the kids about mazes and what they could be made of. Glass was mentioned, and I immediately thought what a perfect description that was for a fairy court: to be able to see what you want in the middle but to not be able to straight there. I loved writing the Court intrigue and politics and the way that fairies can be cold and conniving and completely obsessed with power...until they fall in love (which is something that no fairy would actually want to do).

Your upcoming release is an in between novella that you are self-publishing. Why a novella?

I like mid-series novellas. I think they are a way to build on the world and give the readers a little but more between books. The Changeling Soldier introduces new characters but sits at the end of book 2 and overlaps with book 3. Unlike Lord of the Hunt and To Love a King, The Changeling Soldier is set in our world and get to see how the changes in Annwyn affect the fairies living here.




What advice would you give someone thinking of self-publishing?

Think it through first and determine your reasons and make sure you're prepared for the long haul. With self-publishing the author has to pay upfront for things like cover art and editing. Then do your  Research. Don't cut corners just to get the book out, it has to be a professional product.

At the moment I have only self-published novellas. But who knows what the future holds, the publishing industry is changing so quickly.



What's next for the series?

After The Changeling Soldier there is To Love King (October 2014) which is Felan's story. People have been asking about him since book 1! After that I'm not sure, but there might be a 4th book.

(Eleni: yay!)



How do you go about writing a series (you've done quite a few)?

Some times it's intentional and I get an idea and plot out a series ARC (like the Shadowlands or Annwyn) other times the books are linked only by world like the In a Bottle series about genies--the genies never cross paths and there is no series ARC. I keep a note book for each series so I remember
the magic rules and what all the main characters look like and how old they are etc.

Thanks so much, Shona!

Now let's have a look at the Court of Annwyn series...

Book 1: THE OUTCAST PRINCE

Caspian Mort can feel the history in anything he touches, a gift he inherited from his father, the Crown Prince of Annwyn. Devastated over his ex-wife's infidelity, Caspian has withdrawn from human contact except when working as an antiques dealer.

While assessing the contents of the historic Callaway House he encounters the beautiful Lydia Callaway and senses that her home is haunted by a banished fairy. But what does the dangerous exile want? Unbeknownst to Lydia, she's the owner of the last remaining portal to Annwyn--a mirror hidden somewhere in the house. To keep Lydia safe, Caspian will have to divulge the secrets of his heritage, and risk losing his heart again.

Print ISBN: 978-1402280160

Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Booktopia

Ebook

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

Book 2: LORD OF THE HUNT

Their love could destroy a powerful reign and change the mortal world forever.

Raised in the mortal world, the fairy Taryn never planned on going back to Annwyn, much less to court. But with the power shift imminent, she is her parents' only hope of securing a pardon from exile and avoiding certain death.

Verden, Lord of the Hunt, swore to serve the King. But as the magic of Annwyn fails and the Prince makes ready to take the throne, Verden knows his days as Hunter are numbered. When Taryn and Verden meet, their attraction is instant and devastating. Their love could bring down a Queen and change the mortal world forever.

Print ISBN: 978-1402280191

Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Booktopia

Ebook

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

In-between the books: THE CHANGELING SOLDIER

Her time in the mortal world is running out...

After fleeing Annwyn three centuries ago, Ella built a life in the mortal world making gowns for European royalty and playing in mortal intrigues. Now those Courts are long gone, and she dresses Hollywood starlets. Mortals come and go, but Ella always ends up alone. She longs for the home she left behind.

He's been dreaming of the coming battle all his life...
Isaac Norton is a returned soldier. Now home, he's restless and his recurring dream is becoming more frequent: he's fighting on a snow-covered field stained with blue blood. When he sees Ella, he knows she isn't human. And she knows what he is, a changeling.

Ella can give Isaac the answers he needs, but there will be a price to pay: his soul.

Available for pre-order at:  iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords

It will also be available via Barnes & Noble and Amazon, also be made available in print.

Shona also has a Goodreads giveaway between 3 to 31May. 

Book 3: TO LOVE A KING

To keep the balance between good and evil at the court of Annwyn, Prince Felan ap Gwyn has two weeks to marry and take the crown. But he wants more than just power--he wants love; a love he once had but was too stubborn to hold on to.

It took years for Jacqueline Ara to put her life back together after Felan abandoned her. And she doesn't want fairies back in her life--even if her heart still burns for him. With war in Annwyn looming and death bleeding into the mortal world, Felan and Jacquie will need to heal old wounds for one last gamble. It's all or nothing to save both worlds.

Available October 2014

You can pre-order:

Print ISBN: 978-1402280221

Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | 

I've read Book 1 and 2, and The Changeling Soldier, and I'm thoroughly enjoying this series. If you love fairies, check out these stories. 

You can catch Shona at -

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Writing Buddy Wednesday: Shona Husk

Today on Writing Buddy Wednesday, I have the very amazing Shona Husk. I've known Shona online for many years (especially via the paranormal group and being a blog team member of the DarkSide DownUnder blog. I also have designed three covers for her as HelzKat Designs - see end of post). 

I finally met Shona in person this year at ARRC2013 and she's just as amazing in person.

Let's meet Shona...


Your most recent release is Ruby’s Ghost. Can you describe this book for us?

Ruby’s Ghost is one of those stories that took me a long time to write as it kept getting put aside for other projects (contracted books and editorial deadlines always come first), yet I kept going back to it because the idea of being caught between life and death, the past and future was really interesting. Because the characters are at college they are also on the cusp of becoming an adult and making decisions that will affect their lives. For Tate quite literally after he is involved in a car accident.

It is probably my least paranormal story and probably the trickiest to write, what does it feel like to be kissed by a ghost?



You went the novella route initially. Can you tell us why you chose that path to publication.

I was made redundant in the GFC and around that time I’d had the epiphany that if it took me a year to write a novel it would take me a long time to get my craft right and get published. I’d been reading a lot of novellas at the time from various publishers and I decided that I’d give writing them ago. Write shorter gave me the opportunity to play around with different characters and plots and find my voice faster. Once they started selling was able to use what I was learning by working with editors in my next novel (The Goblin King) and it sold. The thing to remember is that novellas and novels are different beasts structurally, but character and voice and dialogue and conflict and setting can be learned by writing short.

What attracted you to the paranormal genre?

I grew up reading fantasy novels and discovered romance in my mid-twenties. Paranormal romance seems like the perfect blending of real world, fantasy and hot heroes :) From a writing perspective I love making stuff up.


Are you a plotter? Pantser? Or somewhere in between?

Plotter. I need to know my characters and the big turning points of the story before I start—that said my characters and still take unexpected turns.

You are a prolific writer – how do you balance life, work and writing?

I work part time ;) I have 2 days a week where I get to write while the kids are at school. The other days I write for at least an hour, if I’m on a deadline sometimes more, but I do it after the kids are in bed. I’ve also developed ways to help me write faster. I spend more time plotting and mapping out the book as it saves me time when writing (and also editing as I often restructure during that mapping stage). I think some of this stuff comes from practise and learning how you work and how to make you work more efficiently. 

What are you working on now? And what’s in the near future for Shona Husk?

I’m working on Lord of the Hunt (Annwyn #2) and Annwyn #3 (#1 The Outcast Prince comes out in July) as well as a couple of sci fi romances for Ellora’s Cave, the first of which Lunar Exposure comes out May 10. 

What is your favourite part of the process of writing?

I really like plotting when the idea is shiny and new, but I enjoy the writing as well and even the edits which make the story shine. The bit I don’t like is reading the final page proofs as it’s a combination of being sick of the story and anxiety because it’s the last chance to find any typos.


What are you currently reading?

I’ve just finished The Lone Warrior by Denise Rossetti (book 3 in the four sided pentacle series) and started The Risk Taker by Kira Sinclair (M&B Blaze which was in the ARRC goodie bag— Blaze is my favourite line, plus it has a military hero so I was thrilled to find it in my bag).


What would be you ultimate research trip? ;)
One that was all expenses paid:) I’d love to go to Europe or South America.

~~~

Thank you, Shona!

You can catch Shona at her website, the WINKgirls blog, the monthly What We Are Reading posts on the DarkSide DownUnder blog, Twitter, Goodreads and Facebook.

  

~yia~

Stunning Saturday: Book covers by HelzKat Designs

Okay a little self promotion my alter ego here.

But for those who don't know, here are some book covers I've designed.



It all started with the Little Gems Cover Contest win for the 2010 issue.

And then I some friends asked me to design their covers....

 

Two you wouldn't have seen yet for are Shona Husk's two free reads. 

Special Guest: Shona Husk

Today, I have Shona Husk as special guest on my blog. A fellow DarkSider, Shona has done an amazing job in publishing via various publishers in novels and novellas alike. Take it away, Shona...

Switching POV

Most of my stories have been written in third person, aside from a couple of short stories. I’d never considered writing a whole novel in first person. One POV for 60,000 plus words?

But that means either the hero or the heroine will miss out, and I want both sides. And while I’ve read a couple of books where one character was in 1st and the other in 3rd it never quiet worked for me. I’ve also read one where both hero and heroine were in first—that worked but each change in POV was noted with the character’s name at the start of the scene.

So I was very surprised when I started writing Dark Vow and I realised after a couple of paragraphs that it in first person in the heroine’s POV. I was surprised because I plot, so I knew where my story was going, I had arcs for both characters…and yet it looked like my hero was going to miss out.

I stopped writing and considered switching to third, after all there is a very big difference between a short story and a novel and I wasn’t sure I could do the whole story from one POV. Then it became a challenge. I’d see how far I could get.

Once I’d given myself permission to just write it flowed. Dark Vow was, and still is, the easiest story I have ever written.

There is something about getting into the skin of one character, you only know what they know, there is nothing hidden in other POV and there is never any doubt about which POV to be in. And while I never got to be in the hero’s head I think I put enough of him on the page in action and dialogue, which was also fun, as it meant I could keep what he knew about the Arcane Union secret until he was ready to tell Jaines…and that also meant the reader didn’t find out.

There’s the saying change is as a good as a holiday. For me writing something in a totally different style was refreshing, and while not every story would work in first person it is something I will do again.

Have you challenged yourself as a writer to try something different?

~~~

Thanks, Shona!

Her upcoming release, Dark Vow, will be available on 14 November from Carina Press. 

You can pre-order now.

However, I will be giving away a copy of this ebook away to one lucky commenter.

~yia~

Parnanormal Writing Buddies doing good....

Tracey O'Hara's DEBUT book Night's Cold Kiss was shortlisted for horror category of the Aueralis Awards. Fantastic work....




The full jugde's report is available here. (opens pdf document)

Tracey O’Hara, Night's Cold Kiss, HarperCollins Publishers Australia 

Night's Cold Kiss offers the right mix of vampire romance and horror with a slight "pulp" element that keeps the story grounded. In the crowded field of supernatural/horror romance with a strong female at the centre, O’Hara’s characters and story stand out; the development is strong and the story arc is satisfying to the end. O’Hara has created a world that is believable and exhilarating. Unlike many novels in this subgenre, the story is told from various perspectives, which gives the reader an insight into each character’s motivation and adds depth. The romantic relationships are realistically passionate and add to the thrilling violence and horror of the tale.

Here's the book trailer to Erica Haye's Shadowglass (Book 2 of the Shadowfae Novels). Pretty impressive trailer and the book will be released next month. 

Mel Teshco has a new cover for her first Nocturne Bites, Her Dark Lord coming out in March. I must say ....very nice indeed. 

Denise Rossetti is doing a Cross-Blog tour with the other members of the Laced with Desire authors. 

Anna Hackett has a new Nocturne Bites coming out in April called Hunter's Surrender. Cover yet to be released. 

I'm sure you recognise these names, they were part of Eleni-fest back in October last year.


And here's a couple of names I'm sure you will get to know soon, I'm sure.


Kylie Griffin has had her SF romance Dark Shadows final in the Chase the Dream Contest. Go Kylie! 


Shona Husk has had a flood of good news lately- she has An Elemental Tail coming out with The Wild Rose Press; a story Black Widow in the Scary Kisses anthology by Ticonderoga Publishing; and a novella Boyfriend in a Bottle with Samhain publishing. 


Congratulations ladies!


~yia~