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Welcome to my place in the blogosphere!
feel free to explore the Flight Deck and check out my books and website.
Then fasten your seatbelts, sip a glass of something sparkling and let's chat awhile!
I hope you'll stop by again for guest authors and spotlights from time to time.

Beloved Enemy joined Starquest and Children of the Mist to continue the Destiny Trilogy and I'm thrilled to announce was shortlisted for the R.N.A. RoNA Awards 2017, awarded 2nd Runner up in the RONE Awards 2017 and was the winner in the SF/Fantasy category of the 'Best Banter Contest'.

Tuesday 9 August 2016

The Son of Dark - Guest Post

I am delighted to welcome Jeremy Higley to the Flightdeck today, to tell you about himself and his book 'The Son Of Dark'

Author Bio:

Jeremy Higley was born in California but now lives in Arizona. As of 2016 he’s a graduate student working on a master’s degree in English. He’s also an instructional aide at a local elementary
school, a novelist, and a contributing editor for a nonprofit student success company called LifeBound

Let's hear from Jeremy himself:

When writing a “swords and sorcery” style fantasy like The Son of Dark, it is very easy to let the sorcery overpower the swords. I’ve noticed this trend in so many fantasies, and it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For my book, though, I wanted a more even playing field. I wanted magic to be ever present, certainly, but when fight scenes came I didn’t want my non-magical characters to be deadweight.

To make this work, I had to do two things. First I had to build my magic system with weaknesses that sword-users could take advantage of. Second, I had to write non-magical characters who could still hold their own in a world full of magic.

In many ways the magic system for The Son of Dark is very traditional. For wizards, magic is performed through a language of power, and the strength of the spell comes from the energy of the wizard’s soul. This has its obvious disadvantages when fighting. It takes time to explain to the elements around you that you want them to do something, and whether your spell is offensive or defensive, time is something a swordsman isn’t going to give you. The very versatility of language becomes a drawback. There are a hundred things a wizard might say in response to a sword thrust. While all the possibilities are crossing the wizard’s mind, his practiced opponent doesn’t need to think deeply in order to deliver a killing blow with a sword.

Further, the wizard can’t influence the swordsman directly with his magic.

The magic still has its bite, though. Wizards can call swords to them or turn them against their opponents, turn sand to glass and throw shards of it in all directions, or conjure flesh onto dead bones to create terrifying allies. Dragons can possess humans, or create a magical kind of fire that ignores flesh and cloth and burns the very blood inside your veins. Thrown into this magical world are characters like Zar, Morkin, and Largalarg.

Zar is easily the least magical major character in The Son of Dark. He’s a pirate turned merchant, and his most valuable asset in a fight against magic is his quick decision-making. He takes in a situation quickly and determines the best, most logical course. Before swords are drawn and spells are spoken, he has often already leveled the playing field by changing the environment to his advantage.

Morkin quickly becomes Zar’s most trusted ally, in spite of a vague background and even vaguer motives. The idea behind Morkin has always been that of a man who has turned a disability into a weapon. He and his entire people are cursed with silence…they can neither hear nor be heard. This silence extends to all human noises, including footsteps, clapping, and breathing. As a result, Morkin has perfected a ninja-like regimen of skills.

Largalarg, on the other hand, is a ten-foot-tall troll known as a Grag. Grags are known for making good non-magical mercenaries, and sure enough Largalarg serves as Zar’s personal bodyguard. His weapon of choice is a ball and chain, and his superior size and strength makes this a formidable choice indeed. Though impractical on a medieval battlefield, I figured that in a one-on-ten fight, wielded by a behemoth like Largalarg, a cannonball on a length of chain would be a sensible option.

Balancing the world so that characters like this could hold their own against magic-users was a personal goal of mine as a writer, as I hope I can demonstrate with the excerpt below.


Excerpt from The Son of Dark:

Marga pointed to the south. Zar didn’t turn, but he heard a gasp of recognition from Skel.
“Aja-aja,” he said with concern. “Three of them, about two miles away.”

Zar sighed in trepidation. The aja-aja were rare, enormous snakes prowling the Eltar plains, preying on elephants and any herders foolish enough to attack them. They had three heads each and stocky, powerful bodies to match, and could grow to over forty feet long. They killed and then predigested their prey by spitting streams of corrosive poison from their mouths.

“The aja-aja will be no problem,” he bluffed, staring into Marga’s eyes. “I have two magic-users with me now, a wizard and a Phage. They’re perfectly capable of dispatching a few overgrown snakes.”

“If so, then I’ll simply have to wait longer to be reunited with my precious one,”
the Wyvern said, eyeing the flattened snake corpses around her.

Something inside Zar began to burn like a fuse at the words “precious one.”

“You knew her before, I presume,” he continued, his voice much quieter. “Before you kidnapped her, I mean, and took over her mind.”

“She was mine to take,” the Wyvern retorted through Marga’s lips. “She was always mine to take.”
The last words hissed from Marga’s mouth like a challenge. Zar’s fingers wrapped around his sword’s hilt. He wanted nothing more at this moment than a way to strike at
his enemy, but the Wyvern was far, far away.

“If you want her,” Zar said, “you’ll have to kill me.”

“Too risky,” the Wyvern replied. “You crave nothing more than to die for her. To kill you might break my grip.”

“If you don’t kill me she will never truly be yours,” Zar said. He walked to within an arm’s length of her. “As long as there’s breath in me, I will always be fighting to free
her.”

“I’m sure you mean that,” the Wyvern said. “Once you’re dead, there’s nothing to stop me from singing her back to me.”



Buy Links:





Social Media:




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For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join   Every new subscriber will get a free download of my fantasy novella 'Dancing With Fate' (If this doesn't arrive within two days just email me at hywelalyn@btinternet.com) Every new subscriber will get a free download of my fantasy novella 'Dancing With Fate' (If this doesn't arrive within two days just email me at hywelalyn@btinternet.com)

Monday 1 August 2016

Reviews - a great post by Rosie Amber


I'm giving my Monday's ramblings   over to Rosie Amber today. She's written a great post on her blog about reviews - of you're hesitant about leaving a review for a book I think she explains why reviews are so important to an author and need not be a problem to write, very succinctly.

Check out her article here:

https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2016/07/25/4-quick-ways-to-write-a-bookreview-and-overcome-your-fears-mondayblogs/

Also this follow up post by UK author and fellow RNA member, Lizzie Lamb
https://lizzielamb.co.uk/2016/07/30/how-to-write-a-review-and-help-your-favourite-authors/comment-page-1/#comment-7535

And, of course if you've read any of my books and would care to leave an Amazon Review, I would be truly grateful - thank you so much.


For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join   Every new subscriber will get a free download of my fantasy novella 'Dancing With Fate' (If this doesn't arrive within two days just email me at hywelalyn@btinternet.com) Every new subscriber will get a free download of my fantasy novella 'Dancing With Fate' (If this doesn't arrive within two days just email me at hywelalyn@btinternet.com)

Friday 22 July 2016

Interplanetary Summer - TWRP Summer Reads Blog Hop



I'm delighted to be part of The Wild Rose Press Authors Summer Treats and Reads Blog Hop. A bevy of WRP authors are taking part.  I hope you enjoy the blog hop. Please visit the various authors' blogs and if you can spare a few moments, leave a comment (we all love comments) Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter contest for your chance to win a fabulous Kindle Fire donated by The Wild Rose Press.  

Many authors are offering additional prize on their own blogs. I'm thrilled to have published the third in my futuristic series  this year, so I am offering a free download of Starquest,  the first book in the series to a random commenter on this blog.

The theme of this blog hop, is of course, summer treats. I think most of us enjoy the lazy, hazy days of summer as it says in the popular song. Here in the UK, it usually falls on a Tuesday in July (only kidding). Although our summers are a bit 'hit and miss' over here, we usually have a few days during the summer months when the sun shines, the skies are blue and the countryside is full of summer scents and colour.

One of my favourite summer treats is spending time with my two horses, Harri and T'pau.  Sadly a hip injury means I can no longer ride, but there are still plenty of things to do with them, and we are all enjoying our 'retirement'.  I also like taking my little rescued dog for long walks in the countryside.

As I write science fiction romance, I started wondering what summer is like on some of my imaginary planets.  Osind, a planet featured in Starquest is, on the face of it, a beautiful place to spend the summer - but beware, it has hidden secrets, and the charismatic lord who lives in the castle on the clifftop is not all he seems either!
Niflheim, which is an important location in both Starquest and Children Of The Mist, the first two books in the Destiny trilogy, is a misty, icy planet, but parts of the planet are less hostile and the Earth colonists love their snowy home, which even in the summer looks more like a day in early spring on Earth, although the snow is not as thick as in the winter, and delicate flowers grow in the gardens of the settlements.

In contrast, Robigo, the main planet in my third book 'Beloved Enemy' is very hot and much of the landscape is covered in sand dunes and although there is plenty of sand, it's not the kind of landscape one would want to sunbathe on. In fact my two main characters, Cat and Kerry spend most of their time trying to get away from the planet - but it's not that easy!



So how do you imagine summer on other planets? Or do you prefer to stay on good old Earth? Don't forget to leave a comment and at the end of the Blog hop I'll draw a winner for 'Starquest'. The first book in the series.  

I'll leave you with a picture of Kerry Marchant,the lead character in 'Beloved Enemy' (as portrayed by the fantastic Jimmy Thomas  my favourite summer treat at the moment, LOL)


If you like the idea of spending a little summer time in a 'galaxy' far, far away, I invite you to check out
The Destiny Trilogy at my Wild Rose Press Author Page

(Each book is a complete story and can be read as a 'stand alone'.)

(If you fancy watching a trailer 'teaser' for Beloved Enemy,  just click on the video on the top of the right hand column)

Cat Kincaid is obsessed with killing the man she believes is responsible for the torture and death of her sister, but when she eventually catches up with him, survival becomes a greater priority than revenge.

Kerry Marchant, haunted by memories, regret, and self-blame, shields himself from the pain of the past by committing himself totally to the starship, Destiny, of which he is part owner. However, the beautiful, red-haired woman who reminds him of his lost love, and who he suspects is working for a corrupt regime, represents a possible threat not only to the ship, but to his heart.

Marooned on an inhospitable planet, they need to work together to stay alive, fighting not only unknown assailants, but their growing attraction. But how can they learn to trust each other when he has vowed never to get close to a woman again, and she made a solemn pledge to destroy him?
BUY NOW FROM THE WILD ROSE PRESS

PRIZES!
Remember to enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a Kindle Fire donated by my wonderful publisher, and visit the other blogs participating in the hop for more Summer Treats and prizes!  If you leave a comment on this post I'll enter you in the draw to win a copy of 'Starquest'.

Enjoy your summer and take time to relax with a good book!



For an extra entry into my draw (and a free  copy of my fantasy novella) please join my occasional newsletter email list. I promise no spams!

You can catch up with the other blogs taking part in the Blog Hop HERE:
1.
Sorchias Wild Rose Summer Treats Post | Visit blog
2.
RV Memory | Visit blog
3.
Tricia Schneider | Visit blog
4.
Anna Durands Spunk & Hunks | Visit blog
5.
Judy Ann Davis Summer Treats and Reads Blog Hop | Visit blog
6.
Spicy Summer Treats with Mia Downing | Visit blog
7.
Linda Nightingale. . . Wordsmith | Visit blog
8.
Jana Richards - Journeys with Jana | Visit blog
9.
Summer Memories of books well read @ Peggy jaeger. com | Visit blog
10.
Summer on Cape Cod ~ Kathryn Knight books | Visit blog
11.
Summer Fun at the Beach, with Katie OSullivan | Visit blog
12.
I Believe Ill Go Canoeing - C. B. Clark | Visit blog
13.
Summertime Love is Sweeter with. . . Frozen Mango? @ Kimberly Keyes blog | Visit blog
14.
Wild Rose Summer Treats Blog Hop @ Brendas Blog | Visit blog
15.
Summer Treats and Reads Blog Hop | Visit blog
16.
Midsummer Magic on the Isle of Skye! | Visit blog
17.
My Guilty Summer Treats from Lori Sizemore | Visit blog
18.
Interplanetary Summer - Hywela Lyn | Visit blog
19.
Wild Rose Press Summer Treats & Reads | Visit blog
20.
Camping is a Recipe for Summer Treats and Reads | Visit blog
21.
The Snarkology | Visit blog
22.
Summer Survival Tips @ Nitty Gritty Romance | Visit blog
23.
Wild Rose Press Summer Treats and Reads Blog Hop | Visit blog
24.
Nell Castle - Summer of the Sweat Lodge | Visit blog
25.
Myth, Magic & Wonder Susan Edwards, Breathing Life into the Past |Visit blog
26.
Romance with Spice, Sydney St. Claire | Visit blog
27.
Author Kat de Falla | Visit blog
28.
Anni Fife. Exciting new author of Steamy Romance with Irresistible Heroes | Visit blog
29.
Summer Vacation, Victorian-Style, AND a Giveaway | Visit blog
30.
Wildfires, Monsoons, and Mojitos - Author Susabelle Kelmer shares how she keeps cool in a climate that is on fire! | Visit blog
31.
Casi McLeans recipe for Hot Reads and Cool Treats | Visit blog
32.
Cool Summer Reads: Jeannie Halls Romantic Suspense Blog - Where Hearts Tremble From More Than Attraction | Visit blog
33.
Summer treat - Adult Slushie | Visit blog
34.
How to Rediscover the Magic of Bicycling | Visit blog
35.
Charlottes Tips on How to Stay Cool in HOT New York City | Visit blog
36.
Caryn McGill | Visit blog
37.
Charlottes Tips on how to stay cool in HOT New York City | Visit blog
38.
Charlottes Tips on How to Stay Cool in HOT New York City | Visit blog

Monday 18 July 2016

Monday's Ramblings

I've been a bit quite recently - apologies.  I've been quite busy with one thing and another.  It's a beautiful sunny day here in the UK today - I thnk summer has come at last.  Perhaps it will last for a few days if we're lucky.

It's a good day for drying and my washing is drying merrily on the line! The horses are enjoying the warm weather, we left them grazing happily in the shade. (One day if I win the lottery I'm going to buy a small farm in Wales so I can just look out of my window to see them, instead of having a half hour car drive every day)  Too hot to do much so Choccy will get his long walk a bit later when it's cooler.

Beloved Enemy - Banner

https://tonyaloveslife.wordpress.com/2016/07/18/excerpt-bios-beloved-enemy-sciencefiction-romance-by-hywela-lyn-hywela_lyn/comment-page-1/#comment-4382

Before I get down to some writing, I just wanted to mention that I'm touring with 'Beloved Enemy'  this week for three days, and I'd like to thank all the lovely bloggers who are hosting me. You can find out more by clicking the above link.

And - don't forget too join me on the 22nd June, when I will be taking part in the Wild Rose Press Blog Hop.  Should be fun.

How are you enjoying summer?  Leave a comment and tell me what you're up to.

Monday 4 July 2016

Happy Fourth of July

Wishing all my American friends a very Happy Independence Day!