The Final Curtain Call

Today, I have the bittersweet pleasure of unveiling the cover and plot of the final book in The Wilderhark Tales, by Danielle E. Shipley. I present to you:

For Gant-o’-the-Lute, “ever after” has been less than happy. With the last of Carillon’s charm over him gone, the minstrel-king puts royalty behind him in pursuit of the music he once knew and the lifelong dream he let slip through his fingers. But dark whispers on the wind warn that time is running out – not only for Lute and the apprentice in his shadow, but the whole of earth and Sky.

The Story’s End

Book Seven of The Wilderhark Tales

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An enchantress’s curse turns a spoiled royal into a beast; a princess’s pricked finger places her under a hundred-year spell; bales of straw are spun as golden as the singing harp whisked down a giant beanstalk – all within sight of Wilderhark, the forest that’s seen it all.

You’ve heard the stories – of young men scaling rope-like braids to assist the tower-bound damsel; of gorgeous gowns appearing just in time for a midnight ball; of frog princes, and swan princes, and princes saved from drowning by maidens of the sea. Tales of magic. Tales of adventure. Most of all, tales of true love.

Once upon a time, you knew them as fairytales. Know them now as Wilderhark’s.

--

For Danielle's thoughts on the end of her beloved series, take a look here.

And speaking of Danielle:

Danielle E. Shipley’s first novelettes told the everyday misadventures of wacky kids like herself. …Or so she thought. Unbeknownst to them all, half of her characters were actually closeted elves, dwarves, fairies, or some combination thereof. When it all came to light, Danielle did the sensible thing: Packed up and moved to Fantasy Land, where daily rent is the low, low price of her heart, soul, blood, sweat, tears, firstborn child, sanity, and words; lots of them. She’s also been known to spend short bursts of time in the real-life Chicago area with the parents who home schooled her and the two little sisters who keep her humble. When she’s not living the highs and lows of writing, publishing, and all that authorial jazz, she’s probably blogging about it at www.EverOnWord.wordpress.com.

Enjoy, my friends, and fare thee well!

Mira

Better Late Than Never?

Forgive me, for I have sinned! I completely forgot that last week was launch day for the newest Wilderhark book (though I was enjoying an ARC of it about that time, so maybe that lessens my crimes just marginally...?). Still, better late than never, and in the spirit of making things right in the world again, I present to you:

One of the most charming reads I've had in a long time, and highly recommended for anyone with a love for the whimsical and magical!

The Sky-Child and Other Stories (The Wilderhark Tales #6.5)

By Danielle E. Shipley

Genre: Fairytale Fantasy

Age category: Young Adult

Release Date: July 7, 2015

Blurb:

Born into a world his heart knows as beneath him, an extraordinary boy becomes a man of music, hopeful that someday he’ll find a way higher.

As the first day dawns, a world comes awake, order and disorder striking a dangerous balance.

Under the stars, a princess and tailor trade age-old lore, little dreaming of the future that could trap them in the past.

All of it in, around, and far above the timeless trees of Wilderhark, the forest whose secrets reveal themselves slowly, if ever at all.

Tales of beginnings. Tales of quests for belonging. Most of all, tales of true love.

Once upon a time, you knew something of Wilderhark’s tales. Now for the stories that fall in between.

The Sky-Child and Other Stories

A Wilderhark Tales Collection

You can find The Sky-Child and Other Stories on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25392492-the-sky-child-and-other-stories

This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.

Fare thee well, friend!

Mira

The Darker Side

Recently while I was goofing off with a group of friends, the oh-so-popular topic of Disney villains was brought up, which led me to the question, "Which Disney villain do you think you're most like?" Some of their answers were fairly expected: One said Ursula, one was stuck between Scar and Maleficent... but when it came to my turn, I was surprised, and slightly disturbed, to find mine was Mother Gothel.
Why disturbed, you may ask? I've always considered Gothel one of the darker Disney villains. Gaston may be able to rouse a mob to attack his rival for Belle's hand, and Ursula may use you as a tool to get to your father, but Gothel will get into your mind, with no help from any sort of magic, mind you, and twist your doubts and your fears until they're all you can feel. Most Disney villains will fight you face to face while monologuing about how much they love being evil. Gothel will give you a hug and then stab you in the back.
More to the point, Gothel uses a strategy I absolutely hate: manipulation. She doesn't have to use magic or blackmail to get what she wants, because she knows how to get into your mind and use every doubt you've ever had until you don't know what to think anymore. As someone with depression, that idea truly frightens me. So, you may understand why I was so shocked to realize how similar she is to me.
Or, rather, how similar she is to me at my darkest points. The times when I become so bitter and angry that I shove aside everything I love about kindness and empathy for a taste of power or revenge. When I'm hurting so badly I want the world to hurt with me, because how dare they be happy with themselves when I can't be?
Maybe that's what scares me the most about Gothel - the fact that I recognize her.
In the end, maybe that's what everyone is most afraid of, when something as simple as a story creates such a deep-set fear: the darkest side of themselves.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

The Surrogate Sea

This week marks the release of the newest Wilderhark Tale: The Surrogate Sea. To celebrate this most momentous of occasions, Wilderhark's gracious author Danielle E. Shipley has provided a letter she wrote to Wilderhark's dearest monarch: King Edgwyn Wile.

Dearest Edgwyn,

            I’m sorry I keep doing this to you. Exhausted as your own adventures have made you, I know you’d rather get put through it all again and again than watch your little ones struggle and suffer.

            I’m not a parent. Not technically. And of course I don’t love as wholly as you do. Still, I am author. My darling characters are my babies. I know what it is to hurt when they hurt, and to feel helpless to save them from life’s awful trials.

            And I never intended from the first to make things so hard with Lily. Yes, okay, the “Sun’s Rival” thing was a calculated choice, but hey. Curses happen. Ask your wife. With “Surrogate Sea”, though… That wasn’t my fault. And Edgwyn, sweetie, don’t for one moment think it was yours. Children will be children. Teenagers, it seems, will be teenagers. Humans will inevitably be human. Choices will often be bad.

            Maybe this isn’t the “happy ever after” you signed up for, back in Book Two. Then again, your heart’s one of the wisest I’ve ever seen. I’d not be surprised if you not only knew the risks, but embraced them.

            You deserve better than this, Edgwyn Wyle. But even an author-parent can only protect you from so much. You understand. Better than most.

Love you always,

            ~ Danielle

To pick up the latest in a series of charming retellings, head on over to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. And don't forget to take a look at the rest of the series!

And don't forget to check out other titles under the author! Check out her blog at https://everonword.wordpress.com/ for an exciting giveaway of Wilderhark swag!

As ever,

Fare thee well, friend!

Mira

The Surrogate Sea

Today marks a day of celebration. Of rejoicing! Today is the cover reveal for Danielle E. Shipley's latest Wilderhark Tale! *cue applause and whistles*

Probably my favorite of the Wilderhark covers to date, though The Stone Kingdom and The Sun's Rival are both up there with it. As for the story itself:

The Sea’s storm brought them together, and the Sea’s rules will keep them apart, unless the mute but melodious Muirigan can find another to take her place, freeing her to pursue the human man she loves. But when her plan collides with the schemes of the sly South Wind, a princess’s agenda to look for love in all the most fantastic places, and a prince whose head and heart have been long years at war, the result is a tragedy of errors from which the world might never recover.

The Surrogate Sea (Book Six of The Wilderhark Tales)
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An enchantress’s curse turns a spoiled royal into a beast; a princess’s pricked finger places her under a hundred-year spell; bales of straw are spun as golden as the singing harp whisked down a giant beanstalk – all within sight of Wilderhark, the forest that’s seen it all.

You’ve heard the stories – of young men scaling rope-like braids to assist the tower-bound damsel; of gorgeous gowns appearing just in time for a midnight ball; of frog princes, and swan princes, and princes saved from drowning by maidens of the sea. Tales of magic. Tales of adventure. Most of all, tales of true love.

Once upon a time, you knew them as fairytales. Know them now as Wilderhark's.

Author Bio:

Danielle E. Shipley's first novelettes told the everyday misadventures of wacky kids like herself. ...Or so she thought. Unbeknownst to them all, half of her characters were actually closeted elves, dwarves, fairies, or some combination thereof.

When it all came to light, Danielle did the sensible thing: Packed up and moved to Fantasy Land, where daily rent is the low, low price of her heart, soul, blood, sweat, tears, firstborn child, sanity, and words; lots of them. She's also been known to spend short bursts of time in the real-life Chicago area with the parents who home schooled her and the two little sisters who keep her humble. 

When she's not living the highs and lows of writing, publishing, and all that authorial jazz, she's probably blogging about it at Everonword.wordpress.com.

Personally, I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

Fare thee well, friend!

Mira

My Thoughts on Political Correctness

As a disclaimer, I have no problem with being compassionate about people's problems.  The world needs so much more compassion these days.  That being said, it really sucks when I, as a writer, find myself worried because I decided to include a black character in my latest project.  She is not a token character, she is not my way of making sure I have a character that represents minorities.  She is a character.  Who happens to be black.  I didn't even plan it like that, she just ended up telling me, "Oh hey, this is what I look like!" and I was like, "Oh, hey, that's great!  Thanks!" (Yes I talk to my characters.  And they talk back.  Whoever said writers are sane?)
However, since creating this character, I have been plagued by worries.  What if people take issue with the way I portray her?  What if people think I'm racist because of the way I have her act (even though any way she acts is just THE WAY SHE WOULD ACT IN REAL LIFE!!)
Look, I get it.  Racism is real, and it's bad, and it sucks.  But not every white person practices it.  Not every white person condones it.  And I'm kinda sick of constantly worrying about saying the wrong thing.  I'm sick of people judging each other by the color of their skin, because yes, this promote-minorities-by-hating-majorities crap is just contributing to everyone compartmentalizing everyone else.  Is it really so fracking hard to judge based on talent and aptitude rather than what one person's race did to another person's race over a hundred years ago?  If people want equality, maybe they should stop trying to tear down everyone but themselves.
Okay.  Rant over.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

King Lamoni's Father

Wow, sorry guys, there was a funeral and I've been trying to get back on schedule.  Which I am attempting to do now.

After a few days, Ammon received a revelation from God, telling him that Aaron, his brother, and a few of the men they'd brought with them, were in prison in a neighboring province called Middoni.  He went to Lamoni to ask if he could leave and try to free his brother, at which point Lamoni proved what an amazing friend he was by telling Ammon that of course he could go, but it would be easier if Lamoni went with him, because the king of Middoni was a friend of his and would be more likely to listen to him.
While they were travelling, they were stopped by Lamoni's father, the king of all the Lamanites.  He'd come to demand to know why Lamoni had missed his feast (which Lamoni actually was unconscious through, if my timeline is correct).  When Lamoni explained, he was shocked to find his father was angry.  He started going on about how Lamoni was an idiot to trust a Nephite, and that he had to go back with him this instant and on and on.  And then came the clincher: he ordered Lamoni to kill Ammon.
Remember when I talked about what an amazing friend Lamoni is? (And of course, there was the little thing where the last person that tried to kill Ammon was struck down dead.  Instantly.)
Lamoni flat-out refused, and his father was angry enough that he drew his sword to kill Lamoni.  Ammon quickly stepped in and told his father that if he killed Lamoni, he would be shedding innocent blood, to which the king replied that Ammon was right.  Lamoni was innocent: it was Ammon that had corrupted him.  The king attacked Ammon instead, and I assume we can all guess where that went (again, last guy dropped down dead?)  Ammon bested the king and had his sword to his throat.
The king begged Ammon not to kill him, and he would give him anything he wanted, up to half his kingdom (which I always found funny, half the kingdom if you let me live.  Only half, mind you, I can't be giving up the entire kingdom even if I'm about to die.)  Ammon instead said that if the king would let Lamoni govern the way he wanted, and give orders for his brothers to be let out of prison, he'd let the king go.  Obviously, the king thought this was a great idea, and they all went on their merry ways.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira