Secrets Of The Ash Tree: Thor Is In The House!

Very cool to be the final stop on Siv's blog tour! And as a special treat, Siv has brought the God of Thunder himself, Thor, over for a little Q & A!  

Secrets of the Ash Tree

By Siv Maria Ottem

In the realm of the gods and fairy tales the mystery of life is an endless path with many secrets to be discovered. Some secrets are like dreams, just waiting in darkness hoping to get into the light.

‘Secrets of the Ash Tree’ is the story about Liv, a young woman who discovers her true nature through the unraveling of hidden secrets. Her adventures begin when she digs up a chest that was buried by her father under the old ash tree in her garden. What she finds inside the chest changes her life forever. Liv discovers one secret after another and is thrown into a world full of dangerous and strange creatures, mighty Norse warriors and perils beyond her belief. What started out as a fairy tale in her father’s journal was to become her legacy, a guide line to survival, and a map to the world she was about to enter. Each day, each mystery, each encounter will ultimately reveal her true destiny and behind the edge of a sword awaits a young god who is willing to share that destiny with her.

Available in Hardcover, softcover, kindle:

Amazon
Amazon kindle 
Barnes and Noble
Goodreads

I rap with Thor... sort of.

E.J: You're charged (Get it? Charged. Because you're the god of lightening and storms? He's frowning at me... never mind...) with protecting mankind. What's the most annoying or reckless thing a human can do to make your job difficult?

Thor: You must have noticed all the storms and extreme weather these past few years. Humans have little regard for mother earth. Pollution and the destruction of the earth’s natural resources will someday destroy this beautiful planet unless something drastic is done. Time is running out.

E.J: That's... cheerful? Let's talk happy! Your wife, the golden-haired goddess Sif, is pretty smoking hot--put the hammer down, that's not where this is going! Sheesh, you're very touchy. Anyway, I was just going to ask how you two met and what date night was like for two almighty beings?

Thor: I have known Sif most of my life but when her first husband, the giant Orvandil was killed in battle my father Odin decided that a union between the two of us would be beneficial for the earth. It was a divine marriage between myself as sky god and Sif as earth goddess. I guess you could say it was decided for me that I should settle down and bed a wife. Don’t get me wrong, I am rather fond of Sif and she is a great wife and mother. This date night you talk about, I have never heard of it. What is this date night?

E.J: Can't be easy following in the shoes of a giant in the romance department, am-I-right? 

*E.J. holds up hand for high five*

*Thor stares at E.J.* 

Right... You cruise around in a chariot pulled by goats I hear. Other than trying to stink your enemies to death, why goats and not some sweet winged horses or something? Is it a weird Norse masculinity statement I'm not getting, or do you just REALLY love goats? 

Hey, I'm not judging, I've got a beagle and once owned some ducks. To each their own!

Thor: The answer to that is simple! These are special goats that can be resurrected. I find that since I am out in the wild where food can be scarce so much of the time, traveling with my meal is convenient. Goat is delicious and I have a rather huge appetite!

E.J: *clears throat and arches eyebrows* 

No, that's not creepy at all... Boxers, briefs, or are you a wool leggings kind of guy? :)

Thor: Boxer’s…Briefs? What are these things, some kind of special armor? As you can see I have come in peace today…Should I have worn armor? Bring me this bearer of my wife’s name, it is she who has written this book Secrets of the Ash Tree, is it not? I pray she has the wits to bring me something for my thirst!

E.J.: Can we have a little man-to-god chat here? Might not kill you to "loosen" up a bit. Just sayin'...

Tell you what, why don't we kick it over to Siv to bring this thing home, shall we?

Siv: What’s the matter with you Wesley? You should know to offer this honored guest some ale and a bite to eat. Lucky for you I come prepared with some nice venison and bread, as well as a keg of ale. It is a pleasure to see you again Thor. Please eat and drink while we talk.

Thor: A lady after my own heart indeed!

*Tears off a chunk of bread and piles on a slab of meat with his greedy hands. Then chases the food down with a huge mug of ale, and gives out a large belch before continuing the process over again.*

E.J.: *Shakes head.* 

Where are my manners? Didn't realize we were running a bed and breakfast for irritable and slovenly gods around here...

Siv: Last year we met and you got into a heated argument with Loki over his portrayal in the moving picture called Thor. There is a new Thor moving picture coming to the big screen soon. Will you have the chance to see this film and what do you think of the man who plays you in these moving pictures?

Thor: *Wipes his mouth with the palm of his hand and grunts.* 

We have a hall of mirrors in Asgard where it is possible to see these moving pictures you speak of. The first movie about me was amusing although they made me out to be just another pretty boy with stupid thoughts of love. I hope this time they show me as a true warrior and make me more dirty. The pretty boy was too clean and not tough enough! They better not make Loki some kind of hero in this next film!

E.J.: Seriously, who hates on Tom Hiddleston? 

Siv: They based this movie on comic books, which is why the characters do not remain true to the stories told from volumes of Norse mythology. If you could choose to make changes to the characters what kind of changes would you make?

Thor: Well for one thing, I would get my wife back and at home where she belongs… Also, her hair is not black! Her hair was restored again by the dwarves after Loki cut it off. Also, Heimdall is the shining god. He is pale like the moon, not black! Another thing…We do not fly all over the place and we are not from another planet!

Siv: Do you think that I did a fair job of describing you and the other gods in my book Secrets of the Ash Tree?

E.J.: Siv, you sure you really want an honest answer from Mr. I'm-Really-Into-My-Wife's-Hair? *grumbles* 

Thor: *Gives Siv a hearty slap on the back, and lifts his mug of ale.* 

Well done!

E.J.: There you have it! Be sure to check out Secrets of the Ash Tree. I's Thor approved, and he seems like the particular sort, so that's a ringing endorsement in my book!

And be sure to head over to Siv's blog and enter for a chance to win some awesome Norwegian chocolates and other goodies!  

Cancer and Firsts

Before I get started, I'd like to clear the air so as not to mislead anyone: I do not have cancer, nor does anyone specifically close to me have cancer. This isn't THAT kind of post. But it does have a lot to do with cancer.

About Bridget Zinn

A couple of years ago, I blogged about a writer who'd died of cancer. Her name is Bridget, and her passing touched me very deeply. You can read that post HERE. 

To be clear, I didn't know Bridget at all. I just read about her story on a blog I followed and was compelled to write about her. I think that's because Bridget was all of us--a writer yearning to share her stories with the world, a person with dreams and ambitions, and a hard worker in the way that successful writers must be hard workers. 

Sadly, she never had the chance to see her efforts pay off or her dreams realized. And that crushed me--is still crushing me--because there was nothing I wanted so much as to be published, and I knew that desire had burned in her heart as well. It was a cosmic injustice of unimaginable proportion--which is exactly what cancer is to everyone who gets it: A random, cosmic F-U. 

About Cancer

I have a special hatred for cancer, and a somewhat unique relationship with it. Like almost everyone, it has taken people dear to me--I'd lost two grandparents to the disease by the age of 10--but that's not really why I hate it.

I don't think I've shared this with most of my writing friends, but my wife is an oncologist. Treating patients with cancer is her business, and it's a horribly bustling one. 

There's not a day that goes by in my life that I'm not aware of some travesty cancer has caused. I'm far too familiar with the struggles families face watching a loved one die in slow motion, the tragedy of a life cut short, and the hardships of treatments designed to kill cancer, but have the unfortunate side effect of killing the rest of the body, too.

Our lives are like that movie Groundhog Day--with cancer being the reoccurring main theme. I'm the equivalent of a front row spectator at the Roman Coliseum, my wife is the Gladiator I'm cheering for, and the battles are just as grim and gutwrenching as you could possibly imagine. 

Sounds like a blast, right?

Here's the thing: I'll gladly take all of that awareness, plus all of the 100 hour work weeks my wife and best friend spends away from me, and all of the tears, frustrations, and burdens she places with me because she can't share them with her patients (as you can imagine, it's not really a job that ends when the 5 o'clock whistle sounds ... especially psychologically). I'll take it all because HAVING cancer is worse.

It is a brutal, bullshit disease that doesn't give a damn about your age, race, religion, tax bracket, or societal value. Cancer is the boss from hell. It isn't concerned about your upcoming honeymoon, your retirement plans, your first prom, or if your kids need you--if you get 'chosen' for the task, you'll put in your time first, and if you've anything left over, you can dole it out however you'd like. And there is no promise of more time. 

And that isn't a unique relationship. No, in an odd bit of fairness from such an arbitrary and cruel affliction, cancer hates us all equally. That's why I hate cancer in return.

More About Bridget ... And Firsts

At the time of her death, Bridget's debut novel was still with her agent, and still trying to navigate through the various doors to publication. Fast forward a couple of years later, and her book, Poison, is finally finding it's way into the world. 

To memorialize Bridget, her agent and publisher are asking for the writers of the world to help share her story (both the make believe and real one), because Bridget never got to revel in the joy of getting a story into the hands of readers. 

They've asked author-bloggers to blog about their 'first time' being published, which seems fair and also like something Bridget would enjoy reading about. (See her video below...) However, I'd simply like to share Bridget's story. This is her day, after all. :)

I like to think that Bridget's legacy enduring, and her dream coming to reality, is our own F-U to cancer. It can strip away our health and number our days, but it cannot touch our spirit, nor can it dust away the fingerprints we leave behind on this life.

Poison by Bridget Zinn

About the novel

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she's the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom's future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king's army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she's not alone. She's armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can't stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she's certainly no damsel-in-distress—she's the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

Where you can purchase Poison

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound
iTunes Bookstore
Powell's Books

About Bridget Zinn

Bridget grew up in Wisconsin. She went to the county fair where she met the love of her life, Barrett Dowell. They got married right before she went in for exploratory surgery which revealed she had colon cancer. They christened that summer the "summer of love" and the two celebrated with several more weddings. Bridget continued to read and write until the day she died.

Her last tweet was "Sunshine and a brand new book. Perfect."

Bridget wanted to make people laugh and hoped readers would enjoy spending time with the characters she created. As a librarian/writer she loved books with strong young women with aspirations. She also felt teens needed more humorous reads. She really wanted to write a book with pockets of warmth and happiness and hoped that her readers' copies would show the watermarks of many bath time reads.

More about Bridget

A remembrance of Bridget written by her agent (with a video of Bridget that shows how vibrant and funny she was)

Bridget's path to publication - in her own words.

A post in which Bridget shares her Sneaky Tips for writing (which also has an audio file of her reading this post)


If you'd like to help with sharing Bridget's story, follow the link below. You'll find lots of information about the release, and ways you can help. 

http://bridgetzinn.com/help/index.php

A Book Birthday and Thanks!

Hey gang! Want to say a quick thanks to all of you who commented on my blog hop post on Monday--I won! 

**QUICK CORRECTION/UPDATE** Actually, each judge picked their favorite, and I was chosen by 2 of the 4 judges. Awesome, right? 

How crazy is that? Unleash a couple of snarky friends on a dating quiz and look what happens. :-D

There's an anonymous 'reader vote' round (this round was voted on by the judges) on Friday I'd love to have your help with (I'll share details then...). My winnings this round are copies of Jaycee and author Magan Vernon's (the other judge that picked my entry) books, so I'll be sure to let everyone know how they are once I've given them a read.

Now,  MORE good news ...



Happy book birthday to Juliana Haygert and Her Heart's Secret Wish! Just in time for the holiday, Juliana gives us a little something to warm the cockles (and perhaps other things hehehe) and put us in the Christmas spirit:

Her Heart's Secret Wish by Juliana Haygert

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Release Date: 12/12/12

Genre: NA contemporary romance

Length: 13,000 words

With a renowned reputation as a player, she had everything figured out... Twenty-year-old college student, Natasha is the life of every party and the reason behind many celebrations. The easiest girl on campus has all guys at her feet and more than a few in her bed.

…until he came into the game…

Having entered the academic world by chance, Professor Jason Stone is surprised to find one of his young students a huge temptation. The infamous Natasha has caught his attention. But is there more to her than meets the eye?

…and changed the rules.

As their unexpected friendship grows, so does their attraction to each other. When Jason’s Christmas plans are canceled and he ends up at the same party as Natasha, sparks flare, destroying the safe zone around them. Will they figure out how to break through their self-imposed barriers to be together, or lose one another forever?

Decadent Publishing | Amazon | Barnes&Nobles | Goodreads

Or, maybe win a copy????

Rafflecopter code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author: 

Juliana is a Brazilian girl living in Connecticut. She would love to be Wonder Woman, Cheetara, Elektra, Buffy, Phoebe, She-ra, Rose, Korra, Cornelia, a blood elf shadow priest, and other various kick-ass female from books, comics, TV series, movies, and games, but she settles for—the less exciting but equally gratifying life—a wife, mother, friend and a writer. Her heroines are like the ones cited above and she also writes about the heroes who drive them crazy—and occasionally hot.

Since her first stories, she wrote about 20-something year old protagonists, and today she's part of NA Alley, a blog dedicated to New Adult.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | NA Alley

CONGRATS JH! Sounds like a fabulous read.

~EJW~

A Rocking Interview with Author Lyndsey Dee

Hey gang! If you haven't jumped into the Bury the Hatchet blogfest, and entered for a chance to win the Nook or other prizes I'm giving away, there's still lots of time (runs through October 19--see the stickied post above for details). 

I'm forgoing the 'Good News of the Week' feature this week, because I've got nothing BUT good news to share. Beginning with the first of two author interviews/recent book releases. 

Lyndsey Dee is the author of Flour City Blues. Here's what the book's about:

'Soon-to-be high school senior, Josh LaSalle is forced to move from Pittsburgh to the Rochester, New York suburbs as a tactic his parents have chosen as the only way to salvage their troubled marriage. Distraught with the change, Josh unexpectedly finds two friends who actually have the same idea of starting a band and begin to take over the city with their own brand of rock 'n' roll. While everyone is worried about college applications and making final memories, Josh experiences the gain of local success in the music scene, house parties, neglectful parents and trying to find out if the French foreign exchange student really likes him, likes him.'

Tell me that doesn't sound like a great rock and roll story?! And you all know how much I adore music... 

Lyndsey is truly a dynamic creative talent, and I think you'll find her as fascinating as I did. She's a true entrepreneur, and provides a great lesson for chasing down your dreams. At the very least, you'll leave here hungry, and with a tune in your head. :-)

(Details on where to purchase Flour City are at the bottom of the interview.)

EJ (ME) - So, I've done some snooping, and you are a lady of many hats: You write, you graphic design, you're a professional maker of yummy things. Tell us about your interests, and other business ventures, and how those things factored into you writing Flour City Blues.

Lyndsey Dee (LD) - Haha, I do have quite a few interests! I love baking and writing so I finally turned them into something. I’ve worked on bringing both to fruition for the past five years and finally broke loose this year. I just opened the doors to my tiny little bakery in Rochester called Cakes a Go-Go and finally released Flour City Blues. I released the book under my own publishing name, despite any stigmas that self-published books may have. I just grew tired of dealing with agents. I queried both larger and smaller houses and they told me to try querying the opposite. I took things into my own matters from there. I study the trends in both young adult and new adult literature, follow forums or Twitter chats and I do all of my own promoting. I am the publisher who doesn’t have the middlemen cutting into the royalty pie. I honestly don’t mind the grunt work. I spent the time working on the book, and I make sure it is getting the coverage it deserves. I take the same marketing approach to my bakery, using social media, daily customer service and writing press releases.

I am also excited to reveal that my younger brother and I have started Stingray Press and Media. He started The Anderson Stingrays a few years back and developed the music connections that we are using to pave the way with our venture. We are taking the aspects from the punk DIY ethic and creating a company to press and market books from the YA/NA genres and distribute music. We will eventually be launching our website and we’re already working on our first release for the winter—which we are super excited about. Any book-related stuff will probably not go into effect until early 2013. We want to give those bands or writers the chance to get their material out there. We’ll also offer coaching and other services for novice book-promoters who want to get noticed in the world. This is also where the graphic design will be coming in. I do design book covers, flyers, band logos and artwork.

Anyway, for the book, it was all about the music. I am the only one in the family who is not musical performance-challenged. But, don’t try to beat me at “name that tune,” because I’d definitely win. I am the visually-sound and creative one, the writer and artist. The book is an open love letter to the music I grew to love so much as a teenager. I fell in love with punk and rockabilly, and grew up with Elvis, the British Invasion and swing, thanks to my parents and grandparents. My musical exposure is well-rounded, much like my main character, Josh.

ME - You clearly have an entrepreneurial spirit, has that helped you tackle the book business? If so, how?

LD - Sure. Both ventures actually mirror each other in the sense that you constantly have to market yourself to be seen. The only difference is that opening a bakery costs more money! Ha! It may seem weird, but everything that I have to do for the book is my downtime, my therapy or my post-bakery workday wind-down. I catch up on Twitter, post a blog entry and compose a few emails. This takes me from early evening to late at night. I am constantly in promotion mode, always on alert and consider anyone a possible customer or reader.

ME - Flour City is all about the rock, the roll, and the tunes--what are your musical influences, and how have they impacted your writing? Also, the trailer gives a similar vibe as some of my favorite music-themed movies (Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, etc.). Any film influences? 

LD - Like I mentioned above, I fell in love with punk music when I was in high school. The fast guitars, the nihilistic views and the simple fashion. I was not too keen on piercings and Mohawks, although I did have my share of different hair colors, I was a Chuck- Taylor-and-leather-jacket-Ramones kind of girl. My parents also turned me on to their influences. My dad was a drummer in a few bands, and continues to really enjoy Grand Funk Railroad, the Doobie Brothers, Elvis and Motown artists. My mom liked the early Beatles, it was the one band her father actually enjoyed and bonded over. The British Invasion and garage rock were high on her list of favorites. Growing up, I spent tons of time with my paternal grandparents, and they each surrounded me around Johnny Cash, Glenn Miller, Louis Prima, Elvis (Grandma was OBSESSED! She saw him twice!) and Middle Eastern music. I think the wide exposure of music has shaped my writing in a sense that it helps create a story and a setting.

It is funny you mention Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, because it is one movie I was thinking about when I was writing. (ME - See! Great film, btw.) I have a communications/film background and plan my book like a movie in my head. The scenes in the book were just based on anecdotes I heard from friends or stupid things I have done.

I have a few outlines of future books lying around and I definitely draw the film inspiration from Federico Fellini or Francis Ford Coppola. I am going to go back in time to mid-century post-war society with a couple ideas I have.

ME - Check the trailer gang! (This is a punk rock jam, so adjust your speakers accordingly--which in my case means crank it to 11!)

ME - Being adept at so many artistically expressive things (baking, design, drawing, etc.), I think most people will want to know: Why a book? What did you need words to convey that you couldn't say with the other mediums?

LD - I feel conventional with the other interests. If I make a cake, I love when the customer tells me they have their trust in me to create a gorgeous conversation piece at their wedding or birthday party, but there are limits. Despite the free creativity, I am making something for someone else, not me. Then there’s the possibility of something happening during the baking process (God, forbid!). Owning a business is great, but there are those constraints that still don’t give you the full control. For example, I rent my space, rather than own. Since I rent, I have to adhere to the conditions of the landlord, the town, the county. Writing is something I can have complete control of and not hold myself back. Writing about teens is something you really should not try to do with a filtered mind. It is such a crucial age period filled with friendships and relationships that may have an expiration date, aka graduation. (ME - YES!)

ME - Okay, the good part: Tell us about Flour City Blues and how we can snag a copy of our very own. 

LD - Well, Flour City Blues is about Josh LaSalle, a 17 year-old who, along with his sister is uprooted from their home in Pittsburgh to a Rochester, NY suburb after his parents realize their tortured marriage could be salvaged if they move back to their hometown. While the parents are busy reliving their teen years, Josh meets Jeff Kilbourne and they recruit Frank DelVecchio to play drums in their band. They join ranks with the local punk and rock scenes in Rochester and join in on the booze and parties. Josh also falls for the French foreign exchange student, (ME - Ooh La La!) but after living through the hard times with his parents, he’s afraid to express his feelings. There’s a real theme of carpe diem throughout the book, you just have to see if Josh “seizes the day.”

FLOUR CITY BLUES ON AMAZON

FLOUR CITY BLUES ON LULU

WHERE YOU CAN FIND LYNDSEY ON THE WEB

Her site: www.lyndseydee.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lyndseydeewrites

Twitter: @lyndseyisgr8