Six Sentence Sunday (2)

It's my first official SSS week. Enjoy!

--

“Come.” He did not stop as he passed Valence, his face straight, decision made. Gerad met the king at the doors. “Falistar knows where the line between good and evil divides.” He put a hand on the door and glanced back. “He will weigh your heart.”

--

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP

Blogfest Alert: The Nature of Magic Blogfest

I'm definitely excited about Tessa's next blogfest, but she's not alone in this one. Laura B. Diamond is your second host for the fest. Grab the banner here, or from Tessa's Blurb.

The objective is:

Write or share something you've already written that, to you, shows the nature of magic. It can be an excerpt from your WIP, something you've written especially, poetry, whatever strikes your fancy. It just needs to show the nature of magic as it exists for you or for those you write about.

Being a fantasy fiction writer, I'll likely pull it from my manuscript, Bond of Darkness. Stop on by her blog on March 26 to post, then swing by again between March 30-April 2 to vote for finalists.

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP

Six Sentence Sunday

I know my six sentences aren't official (because I didn't sign up and I just learned about it), but I'm just posting because I can. I plan to sign up the correct way when the next SSS post goes live on Wednesday, or as often as I'm able. Love the banner!

This week's six sentences come from my epic fantasy, BOND OF DARKNESS.

--

Valence thought on Melana’s words. Beauty and deceit all in one package. She helped him because he was dying, but she wouldn’t withhold information to the king whom she had sworn her fealty.

Gerad was handsome, quick-witted and utterly self-assured of himself. It was clear Gerad didn’t expect King Pallanza to stay his comment as if he were a cadet.

Casting that incantation should have left him as empty as a dry husk, but yet he lived.

--

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP

Announcements!

So yesterday was an exciting day for two reasons:

First, my new portfolio website went live. I worked a hard two weeks to make it run smoothly and get the transitions perfect. Click below to visit my portfolio. Spread the word: I love freelancing!

VISIT MY PORTFOLIO!

The other magnificent thing that happened is my good friend, Claire Legrand, was signed by a literary agent. Yes, the confetti was pouring down when I heard her news. She has a blog by wordpress, Builder of Worlds. She impressed Agent Diana Fox enough to sign her for her MG manuscript.

Now if all the celebratory stuff wasn't enough, Claire also might have impressed Ms. Fox with her adult fantasy series as well. Although Claire made it clear that Fox wanted her MG to come first.

How often does that happen? Impressing an agent with two different manuscripts of different genres? I was fortunate enough to beta the first manuscript in Claire's fantasy series, and by golly, I cannot wait until I also see that in print.

Visit Claire and wish her congratulations. She still in a severe state of elation, so be gentle.

That's all for now.

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP

Now Reading: Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks

BEYOND THE SHADOWS
Book Three of the Night Angel Trilogy
Published: December 1, 2008
ISBN-10: 0316033669
ISBN-13: 978-0316033664

Logan Gyre is king of Cenaria, a country under siege, with a threadbare army and little hope. He has once chance - a desperate gamble, but one that could destroy his kingdom.

In the north, the new Godking has a plan. If it comes to fruition, no one will have the power to stop him. Kylar Stern has no choice. To save his friends--and perhaps his enemies--he must accomplish the impossible: assassinate a goddess.

I am very excited to finally finish the Night Angel Trilogy. Here in the conclusion, after so much happening in the second book, Shadow's Edge, you couldn't possibly think some greater scheme is at large. WRONG! Brent Weeks made the choice to throw the large battle of Pavvil's Grove in Shadow's Edge, ready to impress you in Beyond the Shadows. It was like the Battle of Pelennor Fields all over again.

So here, after only reading the back flap, I know I'm expecting a fireworks finale. Kill a goddess? A new Godking rises? This means Kylar is taking on a hit greater than the last -- he's going right to the source, the goddess Khali, who empowers the Godking, his Vurdmeisters and wytches with the corrupting "vir." It'll be one heck of a showdown, for Kylar is a user of Talent, the one force of magic that opposes the vir all together. It's like the two sides of The Force. Oh yeah, going to be fireworks for sure.

Review of Beyond the Shadows to come.

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP

Review: Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks

SHADOW'S EDGE
Book Two of the Night Angel Trilogy
Published: November 1, 2008
ISBN-10: 0316033650
ISBN-13: 978-0316033657
Review: 4/5
Cover: 4/5

Highlight the blocked out spoilers to read them.

Brent Weeks has done it again in Shadow's Edge. While this second novel in the series was slower in the middle, telling of Kylar and how he is trying to get out of the way of the shadows, it soon picks up at the pace I love Brent Weeks for.

After he killed his master, Durzo, Kylar began rejecting everything about the assassin's life. He wanted a life with his childhood friend, Elene. They adopt a young girl, Uly, from Momma K, the leader of a very popular brothel. It turns out Uly is the daughter of Momma K and Durzo, and Kylar has more of a reason to escape the life of killing.

However, when his old friend, Jarl, comes knocking to recruit Kylar back for one last hit, the memories of that life slowly start to come back to him. That, and he learns Logan Gyre, his best friend and King of Cenaria, is alive. Kylar's final hit is the Godking, the murderous and very powerful ruler of the Kahlidorian army. Through betrayal and heartbreak as he watches friends die at his side to take on this hit, Kylar feels more like he needs this. He was meant for this one kill.

Now, here is where Brent Weeks really sucked me in. In the last ten or twelve chapters or so, things are moving so quickly with all of these characters coming out of the woodwork to participate in the final battle. While Logan leads the battle charge against the Godking's army, Kylar and his sworn enemy, Vi, make a pact to take down the Godking together.

After all is said and done, Logan succeeds in breaking the Kahlidorian threat and Godking is dead. He wants to return to Elene, but knows she will reject him. All he has now is the mysterious black ka'kari, the artifact that made him the Night Angel. A voice comes from the ka'kari, telling him to visit Durzo. He uncovers a letter at Durzo's grave, written by his master and dated a month after Kylar killed him. Durzo is alive!

Blew my mind! Sprockets and bolts were clicking everywhere. Didn't see it coming. I had assurance that something more was coming because everything seemed to be culminating in only the second book, and sure enough, I downloaded Beyond the Shadows last night. Can't wait to finish this trilogy.

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP

The Challenge of Titles - Redux

If you're looking for my blogfest entry to Brenda's Dark and Stormy contest, VISIT IT HERE.

Yet again, I am looking at the titles of my manuscript trilogy, Children of the Universe, and considering a small change. When I first blogged about titles, it was after I had a chat session with an agent, Diedre Knight of The Knight Agency. Find my original Challenge of Titles post here.

After that chat session, my previous, very lame and very generic title, The Awakening, became "Bond of Darkness." It resonated more with me and how I wanted to portray the true plot of the manuscript. The second manuscript became "The Shattered Darkness." The third title in my series was a placeholder. We all know about placeholders. They suck, but that's what they're for.

I didn't want the title of my final manuscript in the series to just be a plain-jane title like the first two. I wanted to make readers think. I didn't want it to be part of an event that is solely drawn by the title. I wanted something more abstract. I didn't want something that I wasn't totally happy with.

Going back and forth, I finally consulted a long-time writing friend, Claire Legrand, on the final title choice. I didn't need approval, but needed support that I was choosing something worth all my thinking. She knows a thing or two about great titles, as did Mrs. Knight.

So, the third title, previously "The Crossworld's Darkness," became: ...drumroll...

His True Darkness.

Do you have title woes? Vent and share.

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP

It Was A Dark and Stormy Blogfest Contest

Today marks the contest at Brenda Drake's blog. It's worth visiting and participating because the prizes are just fantastic. VISIT HERE to read all the other submissions.

The next two days invite the submissions and on the 9th, we're to post our revised first lines on Brenda's post. That said, onto my first line.

* * *

Name: J.W. Parente
Title: Bond of Darkness
Genre: Epic Fantasy

Valence kept his hands concealed, but the fabric of power tingling through him screamed for attention—that, and the poison slowly killing him.

* * *

Enjoy and best of luck to all!

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP

Let's Get Dark and Stormy!

So, the fabulous Brenda Drake is hosting another blogfest, which is also a contest. And boy, the prizes are FANTABULOUS! Click HERE to redirect to her page.

In a nutshell, on February 7 and 8, post the first line of your FINISHED manuscript to your blog so all the other participants can comment. Then, on February 9, you post your polished first line (if you've made changes from the comments) to the CONTEST POST that Brenda will be putting up on that day.

From there, it gets judged.

Prizes from Weronika (pronounced 'Veronica') Janczuk, agent with D4EO Literary:

1st place -- a critique of the first 50 pages + query

2nd place -- a critique of the first 25 pages + query

3rd place -- a critique of the query

So get it on it already and polish that first line.

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP