Wednesday, May 19, 2010

CSFF Blog Tour - Day 3 - An end to the Tour, but not to the story!
(click image for Amazon link or click link below)

BY DARKNESS HID (Blood of Kings - Book 1)
By Jill Williamson


By Darkness Hid -
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0982104952
MarcherLord Press Store:
http://www.marcherlordpress.com/New_Store/Product--To_Darkness_Fled.htm
Author Web site and blog -
http://jillwilliamson.wordpress.com/


Vrell Sparrow is the second of two main characters. She is introduced to the story during a fitting for a special undergarment that acted as an extreme corset and allowed Vrell to pass as a boy. Before this time, Lady Caroline was Vrell's only confidant and confessor, for who else could she trust with this carefully guarded secret?

In contrast to Achan, Vrell already knew how to bloodvoice by the time she went into hiding. Though untrained, Vrell could sense others and read the mind of others, a skill that proves invaluable later in the book. Her bloodvoice gift helps Vrell keep her identity a secret and avoid the cruel and powerful Gidon Hidar who would force her into marriage.

Under Vrell's false identity, she took up position as a apprentice to the local apothecary, or druggist. Vrell wanted to help deliver children and assist the midwife, but couldn't as a boy. Instead, she soaked up what knowledge she could in preparation for helping others in the future.

This empathy struck me as a similarity between Vrell and Achan. Vrell dwelt among people and felt their needs and pains. Achan worked among the livestock and animals, and he could read their feelings and needs. Both developed strong bonds communicating with their associated group. Both felt strong empathy and compassion for others, and wanted to protect those less strong.

But as all good things must end, Vrell must make a run to stay free as the Prince's men close in. Her bloodvoicing gift becomes a beacon to those with the same ability. Capture seems certain. But an even bigger danger than the Prince looms on the horizon. The Darkness is growing, changing the hearts and minds of those involved; and worse cutting them off from Arman, the Creator. Agents of Darkness sense the power of Vrell and Achan, and hope to either twist their bloodvoice gift to the Darkness, or remove the threat.

Well, this is the last blog tour day for By Darkness Hid. Take the leap. Avoid the Darkness. Buy a copy for yourself, or better yet buy both books together so you won't have to wait to continue the journey. It's a great trip of a story!


Buy By Darkness Hid and To Darkness Fled at Amazon for $25.72 shipped, as both total more than $25.

Book 1: By Darkness Hid - http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Hid-Blood-Kings-book/dp/0982104952/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Book 2: To Darkness Fled - http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Fled-Jill-Williamson/dp/098259870X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b











*Participants’ links

Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Gina Burgess
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
R. L. Copple
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Sarah Flanagan
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Rebecca LuElla Miller
New Authors Fellowship
John W. Otte
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
KM Wilsher

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

CSFF Blog Tour - Day 2
(click image for Amazon link or click link below)

BY DARKNESS HID (Blood of Kings - Book 1)
By Jill Williamson


By Darkness Hid -
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0982104952
MarcherLord Press Store:
http://www.marcherlordpress.com/New_Store/Product--To_Darkness_Fled.htm
Author Web site and blog -
http://jillwilliamson.wordpress.com/


Two story lines run through By Darkness Hid - that of Achan Cham a poor stray, and Vrell Sparrow a noble girl forced into marriage to someone she detests. These two story strands intertwine and eventually form a whole greater than its parts. It will take these two speakers of the blood to overcome the darkness building to overtake their land.

Achan was left before his earliest memories of Sitna Manor where he served Lord Nathak. Less than a peasant slave, Achan was a stray - a person of unknown past or parentage. In this world's pecking order he was stuck at the bottom, and the manor bullies always found ways to remind Achan of his place. But Achan dreamt of more from life, he wanted to become a Kingsguard. A chance meeting with a passing knight encourages Achan to become more than he dared hope. Lord Nathak took Achan in many years earlier, and forced him to drink a horrible tasting 'tonic' each day.

When Achan misses his morning drink, he starts hearing voices in his head. More and more voices join the cacophony in his head, increasing his confusion. Were these voices a precursor to madness, or some minion of the Darkness? As Darkness spread across the land, an enveloping mist cuts off the light, and cuts off those within from Arman - the Creator if All.

Sir Gavin sends Achan deeper into the forest and tells Achan that each Squire must kill his first beast alone. Achan has always had a gift with animals, and has felt empathetic toward them. Achan hears a doe's thoughts and tells it to step closer. He pats it and gulps as he raises his dagger and strikes. The extinguishing of life strikes home with Achan as he realizes, the doe's fawn like him, is an orphan, a stray. Achan must redeem himself and learn to control his latent powers if he is to become a Kingsknight.

But, what must he go though, and overcome, along the way?

Buy By Darkness Hid and To Darkness Fled at Amazon for $25.72 shipped, as both total more than $25.

Book 1: By Darkness Hid - http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Hid-Blood-Kings-book/dp/0982104952/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Book 2: To Darkness Fled - http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Fled-Jill-Williamson/dp/098259870X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b











*Participants’ links

Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Gina Burgess
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
R. L. Copple
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Sarah Flanagan
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Rebecca LuElla Miller
New Authors Fellowship
John W. Otte
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
KM Wilsher

Monday, May 17, 2010

CSFF Blog Tour - Day 1
(click image for Amazon link or click link below)

BY DARKNESS HID (Blood of Kings - Book 1)
By Jill Williamson


By Darkness Hid -
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0982104952
MarcherLord Press Store:
http://www.marcherlordpress.com/New_Store/Product--To_Darkness_Fled.htm
Author Web site and blog -
http://jillwilliamson.wordpress.com/


I first reviewed By Darkness Hid, by Jill Williamson, last Fall. http://fantasythyme.blogspot.com/2009/04/by-darkness-hid-by-jill-williamson.html

You may wonder why return to By Darkness Hid? So new readers will have the opportunity to read Achon and Vrell's stories. These two speakers communicate through bloodvoicing over great distances with others of the Blood both young adults are unsure and scared of their new found ability. Achon is running to escape an unjustly hard life and what he sees as the evil of bloodvoicing. Vrell is running to escape a forced marriage, and attempting a return home.


What's great about this reblog - is that a word? - is the bundle offer of volume 1 and 2 of The Blood of Kings.
Buy By Darkness Hid and To darkness Fled at Amazon for $25.72 and get free shipping since the total is over $25.

Book 1: By Darkness Hid - http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Hid-Blood-Kings-book/dp/0982104952/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Book 2: To Darkness Fled - http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Fled-Jill-Williamson/dp/098259870X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b











*Participants’ links

Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Gina Burgess
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
R. L. Copple
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Sarah Flanagan
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Rebecca LuElla Miller
New Authors Fellowship
John W. Otte
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
KM Wilsher

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Kentucky Christian Fiction Conference 2010
June 11- 12, 2010

Northside Baptist Church
1800 Pear Orchard Orad, elizabethtown, KY

Website: http://kychristianwriters.com/

Keynote Speaker - Virginia Smith

Other Faculty
Michael Brewer, Wendy C. Brown, Lettie Kirkpatrick Burress,
Tracy Crump, Ann H. Gabhart, Carlton W. Hughes, Dara Lehner, Kim Peterson,
David W. Pierce, Mary Lou Redding, Emily Akin, Andrea Merrell


Workshop Topics include:
• Turning Facts into Truth: Fiction Techniques in Non-Fiction
• The Writer’s Ministry: Employed by God
• Heads & Tails: Beginnings & Endings
• Beginners’ Basics
• Proof & Profit: Selling What You Write Again & Again
• Dive Deep–Taking POV to a Deeper Level
• Revise, Revise, Revise Stirring the Pot: Writing for Chicken Soup
• Making Sense of Market Guides
• Making Characters Come to Life • Writing for Your Children’s Ministry
• Kids Want to Know: Writing for Children’s Magazines
• Writing for Young Adults
• And the Secret to Mystery Writing is . . .
• Get Organized and Sell Your Work
• Speaking to Millions: the Reach of Devotional Writing
• The Plot Thickens . . .
• Oil Cans & Flashlights: Writing Techniques from Scripture
• Tackling Tough Topics
• Understanding How the Me in Memoir Works

If you're looking for a good mid-sized writing conference, not large enough to get lost in the crowd but larger than a dozen people, The Kentucky Christian Writers Confence may well fit your needs. Writers at all writing levels will have the opportunity to improve their craft with the knowledge gleaned from the confernce speakers and and workshops.

Website: http://kychristianwriters.com/