Two Years Later...

(⊙＿⊙') Oh wow! I suppose I call it my "neglected blog" for a reason. But! I'm back! And I have news!

The Children of the Morning Star series is complete! Not only that, but books 1 & 2 have been revamped (ha ha) and the entire series is relaunching October 19, 2021! But what does that mean?

The easy answer? It's the same story with an improved reader experience, beautiful covers, improved blurbs on the back, bonus material, and the conclusion!

The long answer (which, come on, you know is my favorite answer) involves looking back at the history of the series. I wrote "The Arrival" in 2007. Well, technically, I started writing it decades before that, but I digress. I wrote "Confessions of the Second Born" immediately afterword and tinkered in patchworked segments on what would become "Last Born Daughter." In 2008, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. In 2010, I had a major health set back. In 2013, my medical team brought up disability and I began amending the schedules and duties of my job. I stopped tinkering with Book 3. In 2014, I could no longer work and had to leave a job that I loved. In 2015, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a double mastectomy. I had right heart failure. I endured multiple surgeries and much pain throughout 2016. In 2019, I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type III. In 2019, I also became immuno-compromised and began living a life with masks and sanitizer, avoiding crowds, and steering clear of all sickness whenever possible. That should be fairly familiar to everyone by now. ;)

Amidst all the cancer stuff, I'd curl up on my bathroom floor and just cry. And since it was breast cancer and your chest tends to heave when you cry, it hurt. A Lot. I needed a win. I published "The Arrival" in 2017. As you can see, life didn't get easier. I published "Confessions" in 2018 to make my own happiness and began working on Book 3 again. In 2020, I published Book 3, "Last Born Daughter." And now, in 2021, I've completed the series with Book 4, "Eternal Light Descendant." Writing was (is) cathartic and a welcome exercise by my providers as stress relief and an escape from a painful body.

So, what prompted the rewrites and revisions? Honestly? Feedback, honest reviews, and my personal growth as an author. "The Arrival" read like a debut author searching for her voice. "Confessions" was better, but contained a bit of eye-glazing repetition. "Last Born Daughter" was amazing and helped me see the possibilities of putting in more effort (not that I was lazy about it before). I'd learned a lot and grown as a writer and reader, and I found my voice! I'd published the first two books as a hobby and I really wanted to go back and add my current voice, make them all "sound" the same and look the same. To fix the issues and redundancy. So I did. And it wasn't easy. Or stress-free.

"The Arrival" was heavily revised and rewritten to include flashbacks in line with the other 3 books. It is now called "The Arrival Reawakened" and the feedback has been great! Bonus content includes a deleted scene and a new character scene.

"Confessions of the Second Born" was heavily edited and cut down by thousands of words. It includes bonus material: Interviews with an Unwilling Vampire.

"Last Born Daughter" remains largely unchanged with only a few additions that tie in closer to the finale. It features an updated Bonus Chapter that previews the first part of the finale's first chapter.

"Eternal Light Descendant" is the brand new finale. The End. ^_^

The first three books are linked to the originals on GoodReads as Revised Editions and the final book is also there awaiting its first review! All books are available anywhere books are sold. The older versions are still out there, so I urge you to look for the revised editions for the best reading experience, but really, the story itself has not changed. Thank you to everyone who's been on this journey with me! It's bittersweet to see "The End" in text at long last.

Avalon Hall by Ruth Miranda ^_^

Avalon Hall is available for Pre-Order now and launches October 3!

The Short:  Fans of modern paranormal fantasy and Arthurian medieval fantasy rejoice, for Avalon Hall celebrates both, weaving them together through magic and Ruth Miranda’s distinctive voice into an engrossing and entertaining tale.  It’s an interesting, fresh, and unique concept, and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire journey.

The Long:  Avalon Hall is like two books in one in which Ruth Miranda explores Arthurian legend through the past and present by serving up a slice of modern paranormal fantasy in Part One and a slice of medieval fantasy in Part Two.  A tidy epilogue bridges them as a platform upon which the reader must eagerly await the next installment.

In Part One, fans of the The Blood Trilogy will recognize a few faces and places as they are swept into majestic Avalon Hall, a modern day academy for witches with its own resident vampire and too many secrets.  Surrounded by gates, magical barriers, forest, and a misty lake, Avalon Hall’s setting is perfect for the mystical mysteries the characters either keep or must uncover before they can understand the true powers within themselves, of the school, and of a history enveloped in legend.  Be forewarned that the cliffhanger into part two is a sheer drop, so watch your footing.  ;)

In Part Two, the reader is whisked into the heart of medieval fantasy and the early origins of King Arthur’s tale.  Miranda’s voice shifts here, and appropriately so, to fit nicely amongst nobles and castles and the magical world of Avalon—a world they must carefully curate and maintain through strict tradition and strategy.  Themes of personal freedom and gender roles/equality glide along the undercurrents and punch the surface to add ugly truths atop the romanticized legends of the dark ages.  Life, death, love, hate, sorrow, joy, betrayal, loyalty —all of these things blend the past with magic to build the foundation for a future that must be protected at all costs.

But what happens when that future comes crashing into its foundation while still in its infancy?  Well…this is a trilogy, so stay tuned!

My Thoughts:  As with anyone, my reading habits skew my views, but they’re particularly pertinent here because I may read a lot of paranormal fantasy manga, but I don’t read many fantasy novels (I do read some – I read a bit of everything as long as it sounds interesting).  As a fan of Ruth Miranda’s The Blood Trilogy, I am partial to Part One.  If you’ve read it (no spoilers from me), this fills in the gap.  I envisioned the twins on the island listening to this story, and, for me, that made it even more interesting.  Many of these characters were minor or secondary characters in The Blood Trilogy and you get to revisit them and/or learn more about them, so you not only get this new story with this new trilogy, but you also get a companion tale from within the same universe that encompasses most of Ruth Miranda’s books.  Avalon Hall holds true to Miranda’s writing style, but it’s subtly tweaked in ways that match this story and its needs.  The modern Part One doesn’t punch as hard and fast as The Blood Trilogy, and it doesn’t need to.  It’s a sweeping tale in which Miranda holds nothing back and explores many of the same hard-hitting gritty bits of reality like domestic violence, self-discovery, and self and peer acceptance, while pulling the reader into the lives of these magical characters in a realistic manner.  The shift into the past in Part Two is abrupt and I think it’s beneficial to the reader to know that going in.  I loved tales of chivalry and knights in my youth, but they’re not usually in my reading piles these days.  That said, I enjoyed it and I was sucked in.  The flow slows a bit at first, which I think allows the reader to recover from the momentum of the previous section and adjust so they can sink into the lives of characters that were merely glimpsed in the present.  Part Two carries a palpable emotional weight that is easy to identify with.  These characters feel real despite originating from historical legend and being wrapped in magic.  The story is simply crushing at certain points and that speaks volumes of Ruth Miranda’s skill at adapting her voice and writing style to support the setting and era as she deftly weaves her words. 

Overall:  Avalon Hall is essentially two books in one:  a modern paranormal fantasy with the intrigue of legend and a plunge into that legend for a delightful Arthurian/medieval fantasy.  Ruth Miranda’s distinctive voice and writing style draws the reader into both parts with skillful shifts in her techniques that match the settings of both present and past.  She delivers a thoroughly captivating pair of intertwining tales that are not only fascinating, but also tackle real life issues that you can sympathize with or that make you think.  Miranda’s fans are sure to love Avalon Hall, which also serves as a welcoming invitation to new readers to discover her magical writing!

I am the Night by Ruth Miranda

The short: If you like intense reads with bloody vampires and a gritty reality that holds nothing back, READ THIS.

The long: This companion novella to The Blood Trilogy fits between Blood and Scars, books 1 & 2. It can be read alone simply for the story of a newly turned vampire learning about his new life, or with or after reading the trilogy. Where you jump in depends on what you want - if you want Marcus's POV and character development from the events in Blood before moving on to Scars, then read it after Blood. If you want the maximum emotional effect, read it after you finish Marianne.

Marcus's energy and confusion are palpable from the start as the whirlwind of his life throws everything but kindness at him. This poor boy, from a poor family, knows nothing of true friendship or love, but is intimate with ridicule and brutality. It's no surprise that he both embraces and loathes what he becomes. It speaks to the effects of abuse and the questioning nature of accepting our actions, acting on impulse, enacting revenge, learning from mistakes, and growing to love ourselves. Although it comes from a preternatural angle, the emotions are raw and quite human. The wild fluctuations of Marcus's state of mind transition seamlessly and believably. Caught in a moment where everything ever known shifts in an instant, adrenaline and base emotion deliver a powerful blow that forces us to stay on our feet however we can. Marcus's resolve makes him do just that. Life keeps kicking him, but he's not one to fall flat and get trampled.

As a fan of the original trilogy, I loved seeing Marcus's side of things from Blood, seeing his character development, and hearing his thoughts, feeling his emotions. Ruth Miranda has a distinct voice and a writing style that flows with the way many of us think. We generally don't think or speak with grammar in mind - there's a stream of thought, of words and fragments - and that's what makes slipping into Marcus's head so easy. The reader becomes one with his thoughts and, to me, that pulls you in even more. I don't mean this as a slight or insinuation that grammar is foregone. On the contrary, I feel that there is magic in the wordsmith'ing that Ruth Miranda pulls off and it sets her writing apart.

All in all, I loved all of it. It's an emotional, gritty read that tackles tough issues while delivering an entertaining and thought provoking story. I enjoyed the entire series, with Marianne standing out as the highlight and emotional peak, but this adds layers and insight into Marcus that fans will love. I'm so happy Ruth Miranda choose to write this companion novella, and, as others have said, I hope she writes more like this in the future.

Praetorian Rising by J. McSpadden ^_^

With a writing style and turns of phrase all her own, yet reminiscent of epic fantasy from the days of yore, Author Jessica McSpadden lulls you into the simple, and, at times, harsh, life of small village Aspera before plunging you into the depths of chaos.  She welcomes the reader into her richly detailed world on a note of pressing intrigue and grows that world around vivid, believable, and connectable characters.  Fierce and headstrong Camille throws herself between anyone and anything that threatens harm to those she loves and seeks to protect.  Camille's snap-to decisions aren't always the wisest and sometimes (usually) make things harder, but she follows through and keeps her traveling companions on their toes.  Praetorian Rising is a delightfully fun, yet gritty and dark, fantasy that will have readers curling their toes while their fingers twitch to turn the page.  But in one's haste to reach the climax, pause to enjoy the scenery, sink into the emotional depths, and don't be surprised if McSpadden coaxes out a few tears and laughs before she takes your breath away and leaves you gasping for more! 

Praetorian Rising is a fast-paced must read for fans of Tolkien style fantasy that rides an undercurrent of tension all the way to the breathtaking end. 

(My reader review is available on GoodReads!)

Hot-Blooded Hunter by Katie Lewis ^_^

The frustrating thing about reading (or writing) a series or trilogy is resolving a self-contained subplot within each book while furthering the overarching tale and hooking the reader into wanting more...willing to await the next "fix."  Katie Lewis nails this and then hammers it into your chest on the final page!  Okay - I don't normally read romances...but DAMN!  I am not in this book's target demographic, but at one time I was and I must applaud Lewis for grabbing my attention enough with the main plot that I'm eagerly awaiting the next book, HOT-BLOODED HUNTRESS.  I mean...DAMN!  I like books that make me think (not that this one doesn't), but...DAMN!  Okay, okay.  Backing out of the heat broiling my brain and insides alive, the first page hooked me.  Entering at a mid-point with the characters at a natural pause in the action isn't easy to pull off, but it feels real - anticipation flows from the page into your fingers.  The shift from that scene into the next few chapters pulled me out a bit and I can't pinpoint why - this may be part of the whole not-my-thing thing - but Lewis hooked me again and the rest is a blur.  I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and I haven't felt that pull in a while.  The exhilaration of paranormal romance hit me like it did when I read the genre 20 years ago and a different kind of anticipation took over - as it should.  An info dump of backstory isn't given or necessary.  Lewis provides everything you need to know along the way.  I am left oh so satisfied with the subplot resolution, but have so many questions yet to be answered with the next book(s).  Trace reminds me a lot of Zero from the Vampire Knight manga, and those familiar with the hunter's society can easily picture the Institute.  I've returned to that series in my reviews lately, but there's a more direct correlation here.  Lewis offers the perfect opportunity for Zero fans who may want a bite (and rather large one at that) of hot sexual tension in a similar situation.  I connected more with Trace and feel like he is a better formed character, but that fits the story so far.  I don't believe, for an instant, that Ilana knows so little about guns after 10 years of vampire hunting and training, and I was disappointed at how weak she was against the one vampire, but, again, it fits with the story and each character is similarly flawed.  Ilana is clearly a healer, and the fact that she's uncertain of her place in life adds realism.  If your heart's not in it, you're not in it, and even down to life or death, certain expectations, hindrances, and confusion excuse her shortcomings (see? It does make you think).  I think Lewis has something in mind for Ilana and I'm rather curious about it.  (wink)  Even though it's not my normal read, I'm giving 5 stars because Lewis did her job and did it well.  She not only snagged someone outside her target audience, but also took my breath away in the end.  I've joined the ranks of those who can't wait for the next book!  Kudos for providing the guilty pleasure I've been unknowingly missing for a long time. 

Marianne by Ruth Miranda (Book 3 of The Blood Trilogy) ^_^

Intense, Emotionally-Charged, Blood, Sex, Magic

Ruth Miranda perfectly captures the peaks of ecstasy and pits of desperation, teetering between the two and teasing them closer and closer to become something else altogether tangible.  Velvety, thick love, both pure and tricky, honest and mysterious, mashes against viscous, red-hot anger, inciting a lingering ache that burns your heart.  Life is pain.  Life is joy.  On this rollercoaster, scars rachet uphill and blood slicks the rails for a thrilling and twisty ride.  The intertwinning of trauma and vulnerability exposes how we build our walls and wear our armor, which only we can break down or open.  By choice, we allow others in or permit ourselves to *feel* or to *live* beyond pain.  Sometimes we choose wisely, while other times let hurt pillage our souls to lows rivaled only by the highs of true love.  Marianne sucked me into rare emotional depths with an invested connection to the main three (Cai, Marcus, & Marianne).  It's arguably the most gripping of The Blood Trilogy, and all three read together form an absorbing and thoroughly engrossing tale about the "human" condition, whether you're human or not. 

Notes:  *I normally avoid books with sexual violence, but the scene furthers the story and elicits a response that drives the characters and reader forward.  *Read the author's afterword.  After such a whirlwind I admittedly wished for more, but her thoughts, questions, and musings sent me smiling into my mind as I carried her characters into their potential futures.  I hope we get to see more of them. 🖤🖤

Review posted to Amazon and Goodreads.  Please support indie authors and leave reviews for their books! 

Life & Writing Updates

Things at Pavlik HQ have been busy as usual.  Gunner, my husband's retired EOD K-9, crossed the Rainbow Bridge on March 19.  He was a part of our lives for nearly a decade, so we're rediscovering "normal" life where we can and making up the rest as we go.  Gunner was so much more than a pet.  He "spoke" five languages, came to the United States from Slovakia, and had the mentality of a 6-year-old.  He was Tim's partner for 9 years, putting his life on the line every single day.  They were attached at the hip, even after Gunner retired and spent his days at home with me and the cats instead of with Tim.  As soon as Tim got home from work, Gunner lit up, always excited to see his guy and to return to his side.  The house is empty and quiet without him, and his absence has left a large hole in our lives.

In other, typically-Pavlik, news, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder.
  It's not great news by any means, and might end up being the worst news I've ever gotten, but it does answer so many questions for my doctors.  After more than 5 months of my doctor and I arguing with insurance, we finally approached the lab directly and they agreed to run the required DNA panels at no cost to me.  This is an insanely great development, as this disorder has several subgroups, one of which being fatal, that can be confirmed with DNA testing.  Additionally, there is a global push for genetic testing to further research.  There is no cure and currently no adequate treatments for the defect itself.  People with this disorder are born with faulty collagen and not only suffer through life, but sometimes live rather short lives.  The results should arrive any day.

As is also typical for me, when I need something good in my life, I make something good in my life.  Today, I received my physical proof for my short story novelette, How to Make Lemonade.  I've had fun developing a few digital images using both photographs and original drawings, which I then replicated via pencil sketch and colored using blended oil pastel and chalk/charcoal pencils.  To complete the illustrations, I then merged the digital and physical copies and created hand-touched pictures with the added depth of digital.  I will post about this separately soon.  This should go live by the end of next week!

I'm still rather active on Instagram.  The writing community there is supportive and interactive, and it's nice to be apart of a group of like-minded individuals.  I'd been searching for a support group for my health, but I don't fit in with the MS or EDS communities, although both are helpful at piecing together ways to cope with my unique needs, so it's awesome to connect with other authors, writers, and readers.  It has truly worked wonders for coping with everything despite being completely unrelated to my health.

In fact, I've connected with an author whose books I enjoy, Serene Conneeley, who interviewed me for her Camp Nano MoWri daily challenge for today.  Check out her site to read the interview and check out her books, HERE!  I also reviewed one of her books a few posts down.  And I enjoy interacting with author Ruth Miranda, whose Blood Trilogy I am currently reading.  The review of the first book, BLOOD, is also in the posts below.  More reviews coming soon!

Finally, I'm preparing for my speaking engagement at the Tolono Library on April 23!  The library has received quite a bit of interest, so I'm nervous.  (laughs)  I'm seriously looking forward to it, though. I love talking about my books, the writing process, and so forth, and I'm not afraid of talking in front of people.  I am a little scared that my MS brain will steal something from me mid-sentence or mid-explanation, but that's a daily thing, so I'll deal with it, like I deal with everything else!

Bye for now!

   

Blood by Ruth Miranda Book One in the Blood Trilogy ^_^

I bought Ruth Miranda's Blood Trilogy and am reviewing each novella after I read it to keep it simple. In Blood, you come into a world equally as real as our own. But then reality begins to bend and shift in these twisty little ways, and I love how she does this. The majority of the novella is told from Cai's POV and in his voice, and this works well because you learn what drives him through his actions and in the meanings between the lines. There is a duality to his view of blood that multiplies by the end -- the blood on his hands, the blood that binds, the blood that gives life, the blood that takes, etc. It's an interesting concept furthered by magical/mythological additions still set within a very real and gritty reality. By the end of BLOOD, I was ready to open Scars and keep going! If you're a manga fan, there's a mythology in the Vampire Knight series regarding vampire hunter twins that I kept wondering about as I theorized. But, no spoilers from me. :) This first part is short, but it does its job quite nicely to start the trilogy. @kitchenwitchmiranda 🖤🖤  Originally posted HERE.

P.S.  I finished the second book, SCARS, last night.  Review coming soon!  I definitely recommend reading these books back to back as a complete story.  It helps maintain the connection to the characters.  I'll expand upon this more, but I love that there's no lamenting or acceptance of what the brothers are - they simply are who they are, love each other, and have an incredibly tight bond, AND how the world around them expands without stealing the focus.  This is their story, which is contained within their radius without narrowing the world at large.  I'll begin the 3rd book, MARIANNE, today or tonight. 

Into the Light by Serene Conneeley ^_^

Review:  Into The Light by Serene Conneeley, YA Magical Realism/Fantasy/Slice of Life
 
Love! "Into the Light" by @sereneconneeley completes the "Into the Mists" ya trilogy. This 'slice of life inside magical realism' begins at the end of book 2 and follows 17-year-old Carlie through the end of her journey of grief and self discovery. As someone currently grieving, I sympathized with Carlie's process and found myself empathizing with her at varying points such as the discovery of a new furry friend or her friend's unexpected aloof attitude in her time of need. Serene has a way of weaving magic into the page and pulling you in so you're sitting in Rose's kitchen, petting Luther, and smelling all those wonderful herbs and breads and cookies! (She needs to do a cookbook.) The descriptions of the rituals impress upon you the character's delight and wonder, and offer a sense of the power that Carlie can grow into - which is never explicitly mentioned, but lingers like a thread for the reader to pull and discover. Magic doesn't take the spotlight. Carlie's growth and acceptance of the self is the star, making her relatable and likeable as she navigates school, life, death, and everything in between. 🖤🖤  Originally posted on Instagram HERE.

The first two books in the trilogy, Into the Mists and Into the Dark, are both equally as good.  This trilogy follows Carlie on her life-changing journey as she moves halfway around the globe following a devastating loss.  Life throws hard lessons at her that nearly close off her heart, but she learns how to push forward, to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and is ultimately able to open her heart to love and friendship.  This trilogy is quite insightful and deep in ways that will keep you thinking for a while.

Also!  Serene interviewed me for her Camp NaNo WriMo monthly challenge for today!  Check it, and her books, out HERE.  (http://www.blessedbeebooks.com)

I'm on Instagram!

Background Image:  Public Domain License;  Quote Credit:  Kastie Pavlik

If I didn’t neglect this blog, I’d probably write shorter posts.  Imagine that!

As is the norm of my life, I am overwhelmed with lots going on, especially in the health department.  But!  As much as I want to update on that, it’d be best to wait for concrete results.  For now, we are assuming the worst (with just cause - there is 0% chance of good news).  Soo, let’s talk about Instagram.

I am so late to the party.  I never understood the appeal of a platform based on photographs – and I love photography.  But I get it now.  It’s pretty cool seeing all these little slices of life from around the world.  And I’ve connected with an awesome writing community and readers, and all around fun.

Being new means I’m learning and experimenting.  Blog upon blog offers the best hashtags or ways to boost follower numbers.  I’m not going to do that.  It’s not like I know enough to do that anyway!  But!  I will say this:  most Instabloggers recommend a streamlined page.  You know – find your one thing, stick with, and post consistently.

None of those bloggers have met me.  Have you met me?  Yes, I could exercise some self-restraint, I suppose.  But that’s rather unrealistic.  Because, again, have you met me?  Or seen my leaning-to-be-read pile because I have NO self-restraint at book buying?  My name is the antonym of self-restraint.

Thus, express no surprise at a feed that looks like random circus puke.  Hm?  But maybe prettier than that sounds?

I have too many hobbies and enjoy too many things.  This is nothing new, but it’s gotten worse – which is actually a good thing – with each new diagnosis or new symptom or new day stuck in bed.  (Oh woe is me . . . or whoa, if it’s a Bill & Ted moment – queue guitar riff.)  It means I'm busy carping all those diems!  (Thanks, Summer.)

Excluding the first month or two, there is a method to my Instagram madness.  Starting on the right, I post about writing, then cats in the middle, and then random but usually comic/cat/art-related something or other on the left.  Three posts every morning.  The weekends mess up the order sometimes.  And I do free-peak fridays where I post a page from one of my books, which, with the current writer's challenge, also sometimes messes things up.

The gist is, my one thing is *everything* under the sun and moon, and sometimes beyond.  My passion is writing.  I love my cats.  And I enjoy life.  I’m eccentric, eclectic, and unique.  I’m something of a medical mystery, so I want to bring awareness to my health.  Hopefully, I can inspire someone else who is suffering.  You know?  Finding your passion, reveling in what you enjoy, and embracing your life can be the most cathartic thing you can do.   I put it on a picture.  It must be true!

 

I’m certain my feed will evolve.  And I hope it continues to grow.  I’m not a Follow-for-Follow person (sometimes I will, though).  I don’t want to superficially inflate my numbers or (no offense) junk up what I see.  Instagram is freeing, in a way, and I truly enjoy interacting with the other authors, writers, readers, artists, cats, and people that I’ve never met.  When I friend someone on Facebook, I interact with them.  I don’t just collect people.  It’s not quite as easy to do this on Insta, but liking someone’s photo is a simple interaction.  I'm still in that awkward "what to write or respond" stage, so forgive me when I put my foot in my mouth.

Finally, if you know me, then you’ll love this:  Instagram limits posting length and hashtags.  No novel-length postings there!  LOL – you can find me easily, or check out the linked feed on my website for a quick peek.  

See ya on Insta!

PSA:  All photography/imagery posted is mine and copyrighted unless otherwise credited.  Please credit on reposts or contact me for usage rights.  I will give credit to any image used that is not my own or in the public domain, and will remove any image I've used at the request of the image owner.  Don't be a jerk.  Respect and give credit to the creators/copyright owners.