Teaser Tuesday

Another Tuesday has rolled around, so that means a teaser.

LOL, I'm going to have to stop asking what to post about on Twitter; it's always the same overwhelming answer: "More Assssssssssh!" Not that it's a bad thing. But Puck is threatening me with hedgehog-ism if I don't give him a turn soon.

















So, here's our broody HBWS once more. (If you're wondering, HBWS=Hot Boy With Sword. I didn't make that up.) Some names have been removed to prevent spoilers.

***


“One more thing,” Ash said in his dangerous, soft voice as we turned away, and ??? shot him a wary look. “If you do not return with her,” Ash continued, staring him down, “if she comes to any harm while she is with you, I will turn this entire camp into a bloodbath. That is my promise, lieutenant.”


***



So, who do YOU think the mysterious ??? is? And next week, I'm going to have to do a teaser with Grim or Puck, as they're threatening me with very bad things for not getting a turn, lol! Until next week.

Julie

R.I.P Jennifer Rardin

Earlier this week, I learned that Jennifer Rardin, author of the Jaz Parks urban fantasy series, had passed away. She was only 45. Jennifer and I have never met, but the news sort of struck home for me--we share the same wonderful agent, and I had just been on the phone with said agent right before I heard the news. My heart goes out to Jennifer's family, friends, fans, and all the people that knew her.

I had seen Jennifer's books while stalking the aisles of my local bookstore, and often told myself I should read them. When I was a very newbie author (I still am, I guess), I was amazed and even a little envious of Jennifer's success, and hoped that someday I might publish a lot of books like she had. Now, I can only think of how we should live each day as if it were our last, and be thankful for the things we have already accomplished.

Tomorrow I am going straight to my bookstore and picking up Once Bitten, Twice Shy. While I have never met Jennifer Rardin, and never will, I can think of no better way to remember a fellow author then for her words to live on within us, forever.

R.I.P Jennifer Rardin. I know you will be missed.

Sims3: New houses, Old friends

Disclaimer: Sims3 posts are in no way related to actual events in The Iron Fey series.


What have the Sims been doing this week?

Well, Puck bought himself a house, a nice little cabin out in the wilderness.
















He's been keeping himself busy, practicing old skills...
















...learning new ones...















...or not.
















This is one of his favorite pastimes now.

















Fly, fly!
















The Chase household had an unexpected visitor this week.


















Fortunately, the burglar alarm went off before anything was stolen.



















And the police arrived in a timely manner.



















Unfortunately, she was a wuss, and the burglar got away.

















Also this week, Ash got the rest of his family out of the house and started cooking.
















The lights are dimmed, and he appears to be preparing something special.




















But for what?
















Ahh, Meghan has arrived. For a nice quiet dinner, or does Ash have something else up his sleeve?

















To be continued...

Have a nice Fall

It's the first day of Fall!!!

Wheeeeeeeeee!

Autumn is my absolute favorite time of year. I love it, so much more then Summer and quite a bit more then Spring. In fact, here's a neat little list about all the things I love about autumn.

1. Colder weather. I hate heat and I hate being outside in the sun, feeling like I'm about to melt into a gooey puddle on the sidewalk. Summer and I don't get along. My perfect day is crisp and cool, where you can see your breath on the air and smell the autumn leaves.

2. Hoodies. I love them. I have a thing for hoodies; I don't know why. Jackets, too. It's a sickness, really.

3. Autumn Leaves.

4. Firepits. Oooh, fire! *Poke poke, prod prod.* What else can I throw in there that will burn? (I may be a teeny bit of a firebug; my friends don't let me have lighters.)
















5. Halloween.

6. Festivals.

7. Pumpkin Spice malts at Culvers.

8. Hoodies (I might've mentioned this earlier)

9. Scarecrows, hay bales, pumpkins, other fall decorations.






















10. Getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas.



That's why I love autumn, so what's your favorite (and least favorite) time of year?

Teaser Tuesday

Yawn, I'm up too early. This is what I get for watching The Stand until late last night. I'm watching post-apoc movies for inspiration for my new series, so if you have suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Watched The Road with Viggo Mortensen too; that was one depressing movie, and I Am Legend is on deck as well.

Anyway, I guess I'll post today's Teaser Tuesday while I'm up. Let's do one with both Ash and Puck this week.





“Looks like nobody’s home,” Puck said, turning in a slow circle. “Hellooooooooo? Anybody here?”

“Be quiet, Goodfellow,” Ash growled, peering into the shadows with narrowed eyes. “We’re not alone.”

“Yeah? How do you figure that, prince? I don’t see anyone.”

“The cait sith has disappeared.”

“ … Crap.”






Hmm, who could they be talking about? Lol, as if there was any doubt. Until next week...

The Reflection in the Mirror: Villains

Villains.

Every story needs one. Whether its an evil, tyrannical government body or a vicious, cunning man-eating shark, the antagonist plays a vital role in nearly every tale. What would the hero do if there were no villain? What would the reader do if there were no bad guy, no evil for the hero to conquer and triumph over?

Be bored out of our gourd, that's what.

Villains mean conflict, something every story needs. Even if the antagonist is the hero's own sense of doubt and insecurity, he (or she) still needs something to struggle against and overcome. In praise of villains, here is a list of a few of my favorite antagonists, in no particular order. The villains that we hate to love and love to hate.

Note: Because so many of my favorite villains are from movies and T.V. (Dr. Evil, ) I'll just be sticking to some of my favorite literary bad guys.

Gerald Tarrent (When True Night Falls): You've probably never heard of this fantasy series, but let me tell you, it had one incredibly hot, charming, bad-ass sorcerer villain. Tarrent was unapologically evil; he knew he was tainted and twisted, and he offered no excuses for it. Yet he was so charismatic and suave and logical about it all, you couldn't help but love him, even though you knew he'd probably betray you the second he needed to. He was MUCH more interesting then the book's stalwart, upright, hopelessly boring hero.





















Cezar (Wildwood Dancing): Cezar is one of those antagonists I don't hate to love, I just hate. HATE. With the fury of a thousand suns. Small-minded, egotistical, patronizing, bullying, self-righteous, slimy, masochistic man. If you want to see what truly ruffles my feathers in a guy, read this book.

Professor Umbridge (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix): Another villain that made me bristle with loathing every time she stepped onto the page. I hated her sickeningly sweet attitude, and the way she smiled when she knew you couldn't do anything about her injustice. Couldn't stand her. Wonderful villain. Hem hem.

Spitz (Call of the Wild): Who would've thought a dog could be such a fantastic villain, and not just because it only wants to tear your throat out? Spitz is Buck's antagonist in Call of the Wild, but he's not just a mindless monster. He's cunning as well as vicious, bullying Buck, stealing his food, harassing him because he knows he can get away with it. And when they finally face each other in their epic fight to the death, you can barely stand the tension, because this had been coming for a long, long time.



















Dracula (Dracula): The vampire that spawned every vampire story ever told. You just can't beat the original.

Voldemort (Harry Potter series): Without a doubt, this is one evil, terrifying bad guy you do not want to triumph at the end of the day. Lord Voldemort was so feared throughout the wizarding world his very name had become taboo, yet he was intelligent, powerful, and charismatic enough his former followers returned to his side even though he'd been "dead" for 15 years. That type of villain leaves an impression, and was monstrous enough to cast his shadow through all seven books, until the final, inevitable showdown with Harry at the end.

Serverus Snape (Harry Potter series): You gotta admit, Rowling sure knows how to create memorable characters. While Umbridge I loathed with a fiery passion, and Voldemort gave me the shivers, I could never decide if I hated Snape and wanted him to fall out a window, or if I wished he would give me "private" lessons in Potion's class. Hey, don't judge; I know you all felt the same.






















Darth Vader (Star Wars): I don't even need to say anything. (I've read the books, too!)

Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII): Okay, so this is a video game. But Sephiroth remains one of my favorite, if not the favorite, villain of all time. If you've played FF7 or seen Advent Children, you know what I mean. If not, well here's a picture.

















Those are some of mine. Who are your favorite villains?

Giveaway: Bookmarks and signed Iron King/Daughter

~

Oooh, shiny new bookmarks from Harlequin Teen. Harlequin Teen bookmarks, in fact.

Methinks this calls for a giveaway.

Because...why not? I have bookmarks. (Pets bookmarks)




Sooooo, this is what I'll do. I'll pick 5 commenters from below via random selection and send them a bundle o' bookmarks. That way ya'll can share and spread the love around.

AND, to make it interesting, I'll throw in a signed Iron King and Iron Daughter to one randomly chosen commenter.

























But first, you have to answer a question.


THE QUESTION: Who said this? (From The Iron King)



"What a plain, dirty little specimen. What does Oberon expect me to do with this?"



Will run this giveaway till the end of September. Cause that seems a good time.

Annnnnnd, go! :)