Greetings and welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the blog hop where a bunch of really awesome writers share from their published work or works-in-progress. I’ve started out the new year sharing from my new project, Death by Starlight, the sequel to Betwixt and Between. I’ve jumped ahead a little from last week, but we’re still in Zeke’s POV. He’s recently returned from the dark realm to the realm of humans, and needs a little assistance in ditching the magical creatures who might be following him.
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Alistair lived on a thirty-foot sailboat that looked about as seaworthy as an old shoe. Next to the charming, lovingly maintained houseboats berthed alongside it, Alistair’s boat faded like an oil spill on the water; rolled sails dingy, hull crusted with barnacles, portholes obscured with mysterious netting. Much of Alistair’s magic went toward keeping his boat unnoticed and undisturbed amongst his gentrified neighbors. He was an expert at hiding in plain sight, and that’s what Zeke need now.
Alistair’s boat bobbed at end of the line. The shaman had somehow motored his dilapidated boat to this place after discovering the space beneath the bridge concealed a portal through which magic flowed. This was where Zeke and Ian, with the help of Ian’s friends, had finally defeated the dark queen Ysolde.
Zeke hopped easily onto the deck of Alistair’s boat without causing any disturbance in its subdued rocking motion. He carefully stepped through piles of junk to the little door closing off the main cabin. Brushing aside a sturdy but simple guarding spell, he opened the door and descended the few steps to the cramped quarters below deck.
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I know I promised a blurb from Death by Starlight, but it hasn’t happened yet. In my other life, I’m a bookkeeper, and January BITES. So instead, here’s the scoop on the first book in the Edge of Night series, Betwixt and Between:
The Blurb:
Obsessed with magical creatures since childhood, tabloid reporter Ian Evers never experiences satisfying proof that the magical realm actually exists until he falls into an entrapment spell set by a handsome but dangerous elf. Barely escaping with his soul intact, Ian is able to undo the hex, but he can’t escape the very real infatuation he’s developed for the fierce elf.
Ezekiel Stormshadow is a svarta, a dark elf who serves the queen of the dark realm. The realm of darkness needs the power of light to survive, and while hunting the last few magical beings on earth, Ezekiel discovers Ian, a light elf who’s unaware of his true nature and ripe for the plucking. Their brief encounter awakens a great hunger in Ezekiel, and he’s determined to feast on the light elf’s power and body before the queen intervenes and claims Ian for herself.
Driven apart by the ancient imbalance between the dark and light realms, an evil queen starved for power, and their fear of each other, Ian and Ezekiel are relentlessly drawn together even though their union might destroy them both.
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Available at these retailers: Amazon Kobo Barnes & Noble
This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight to ten sentences from a published work or perhaps their current work in progress. Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! I heartily invite you to participate as a reader, writer, or both. It’s a great way to discover your next favorite book. Click here or use the address: http://www.wewriwa.com
The boat sounds not so appealing, but also pretty intriguing. I wonder what will go on there?
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‘as seaworthy as an old shoe’ that doesn’t inspire much confidence in it, but it’s a great description. Loved the snippet
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Your descriptions carry the reader along with the characters wishes. Just wonderful and exciting. Thank you.
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The boat may not be very seaworthy, but sounds like a great place to stay unnoticed.
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Loved the description of the boat! Terrific snippet…
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Magic everywhere “in plain sight”. Very nice.
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This snippet is full of awesome descriptive gems, Alexis. Excellent job.
Alistair sounds like he has some handy skills.
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Great visually active scene from the oil spill to his brushing aside the guarding spell. Nice job, Alexis!
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I enjoyed the vivid image you painted of the shaman’s boat — and the implied contrast between the modest outward appearance and his magical power. To me, it was an easy leap to seeing the ostentation of the wealthier boats as hiding a lack of real power.
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Great descriptions. Vivid. Hiding in plain sight is good. The contrast between the shaman’s boat and the others is great.
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Those descriptions of the boat are really nicely done. I can picture the wreck among all those pricey swans, hidden by magic.
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The right place at the right time? I like the way he disguises the ship, very smart.
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Great descriptions!
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Loads of information in this snippet, I like the the magic at work, concealing the boat from the gentrified neighbors. 🙂
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Great description!
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Wonderful descriptions!
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