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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'.

Saturday 21 September 2019

Weekend Writing Warriors Snippet Sunday - a new beginning for Megan

Continuing snippets from the draft of my unpublished fantasy novel 'The Matchmaker's Mare which takes place in Wales. The  story is told from three p.o.vs. and two time-lines. Today's excerpt is  from  Megan's p.o.v. and takes place in the present. She has just inherited Ty Gwyn cottage from her uncle, unaware of the legend that surrounds it. If you've been following the story so far, I'm sure you can  guess who once lived in the cottage.

Don't forget to visit the other authors at the link below the excerpt, there's something for all tastes.

I apologise for this not going up last week, I'd been away and pre-scheduled it and somehow missed that it hadn't posted. I'd also intended to visit the other snippets but didn't manage it as things have been a bit hectic. Will try to do better this week, although as always it may be late Sunday/Monday before I get around to visiting folks.

Here's a picture of me and Choccy Dog at the war memorial in Norfolk which we visited while we were away. As you can see from the fact my hair is at 'a quarter to three' it was a bit windy!





Snippet:


A faint scent of lavender drifted toward Megan on the warm, silky breeze, although it was still only early March, and she sniffed appreciatively.

I’ll have to check out the back garden as soon as I’ve settled in

There must be lavender bushes at the back of the cottage, since she couldn’t see any at the front, which was rather overgrown and neglected. 

As she inserted the key in the door, she fancied she heard the tinkle of little bells and looked around to see if there was anything in the trees to account for the sound. Perhaps it was garden chimes, but her uncle hadn’t been the type to have such fripperies as he would have called them, and she didn’t think there were any other houses close enough for the sound to carry. She must be imagining things.
She took a deep breath and stepped into the cottage. A new home, a new job and a new beginning. A chance to put behind her the events of the last twelve months and start afresh.










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For Info: I now have some audio codes for each of the three books in the Destiny Trilogy. If you would like one, or all three, just let me know with your email address at Lyn@hywelalyn.co.uk and I'll send you the ones you request, (Each book has its own code). If could manage to post a short review after you've listened, that would be greatly appreciated. 😍















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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Saturday 14 September 2019

Alice Renaud - Author of The Sweetest Magic of All - Guest Post



I'm delighted to welcome Alice Renaud to the Flight Deck today. Make yourself at home, Alice and tell me all about your story and this anthology - sounds wonderful! (Oh and I noted the mension of Swansea,  in 'The Sweetest Magic' - a place I know quite well coming from South Wales myself.) Gorgeous cover too!


The Sweetest Magic of All, in the Mystic Desire anthology by Alice Renaud

Do you believe in love at first sight?
In the stories, of course, we do… Hero meets heroine, sparks fly, and before they know it they’re head over heels in love. I remember the advice from an editor at Harlequin that the hero and heroine should meet not just in the first chapter, but on the first page, or even better in the first paragraph! 

There are plenty of exceptions to the rule, and I’ve read great romances where the hero turns up in chapter 2. But the first meeting always has to be charged, significant, there has to be a connection between the two characters, otherwise the reader or viewer will soon lose interest.


 But in real life? When I was a teenager, I didn’t really believe in love at first sight in the real world. My view of love was that people met, didn’t think much of it, then grew to know and like each other, then one thing led to another… until eventually they found their happily ever after.Yet, since then, I have met quite a few lovely couples who did, it seems, fall for each other at first sight. My manager at work met his wife on a night out when they were both 18. In a bar. Some people say that you’ll never meet the love of your life in a bar. Or on holiday. They also say that you should never sleep together on the first date, that it will definitely scupper any chance of a real relationship. That sound you hear is hundreds, thousands of couples laughing. They broke the rules, and they’re still happily married decades later.


Because in real life, as I have discovered, there are no rules. You might meet the love of your life and know straight away that they’re special… or you might discover it later. I love hearing how couples found each other, and I love writing about it. In my short story “The Sweetest Magic of All,” part of the BVS supernatural romance anthology “Mystic Desire,” the apprentice witch Sapphire falls for the warlock Aaron when he takes her back in time to find the magical amulet that can save her aunt. If a man did that for me, I’d be quite impressed. It helps that Aaron is smoking hot… with magic at his fingertips. Read the excerpt below to find out more!
 
Oh, and they do meet on the first page… though not in the first paragraph!
What about you? Do you have a love story to share? If you have a partner, how did you meet them? Was it love at first sight, or did it grow over time? Let me know in the comments below!
Also don’t miss our great Halloween Mystic Desire book party on 31 October! There will be games, a chance to chat with the BVS authors who contributed to the anthology Mystic Desire, and many great prizes to be won! https://www.facebook.com/events/363136690941011/

Blurb
Mystic Desire is a collection of brand new supernatural romance stories by award-winning BVS authors! 
The Sweetest Magic of All by Alice Renaud:
When a sexy apprentice witch and a hot warlock go back in time to locate a magical amulet, they find more than they bargained for. It's May Eve, the most magical night of the year, and normal rules don't apply...
An Awareness of Evil – Dee S. Knight
Only two things stand between evil and a small girl: the visions of Amanda McMasters and Detective Brendan Gilchrist. Neither can afford to be wrong.
Bewitching the Wolf – Zia Westfield
The Witch, Alice Humphreys has poured her heart and soul into creating a magical B&B where guests experience the fantasy vacation of their dreams!  Brodie MacEwan has been sent to investigate the mysterious death of his uncle. He never expected to discover his soul mate in his dreams. But is the illusion real? Alice knows that there is something all too predatory about the Scotsman and he makes her body tingle in places it shouldn’t! 
Calling All Angels – Lora Logan
Elijah Baker, an immortal tasked with fighting against demons that exist on earth, finds peace when he meets his new neighbor, Celeste. But when he realizes that their love comes with a cost, he is faced with choosing between his calling and a chance at true love.
Dream Catcher – Callie Carmen
Long ago a medicine man had made a matched set of dream catchers as a wedding gift to protect the Chief’s daughter and her warrior husband. He had called upon the benevolent spirits to keep the two soul mates safe and in a loving, healthy marriage. It was foretold that if the two dream catchers were ever divided the new owners would be drawn together as soul mates. Was that possible?
Life Saving – Anne Krist
Saving lives isn't just for adults. Sometimes the innocent magic of a child can do the job better.
Love from the Mist – Patricia Elliott
When Jace Warden learns that his brother plans to announce his engagement at a family get together, he flees to the other side of the world to escape the joyous celebration.
Or at least attempts to…  His plane never makes it, and he winds up trapped on an island. Little does he realize, he’s not alone; there’s a mischievous little entity milling about, and she wants to play.
Love Knows No Apocalypse – Patricia Elliott
Getting stranded in the middle of a storm was not Samantha Wheeler’s idea of an ideal situation, especially in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. But fighting zombies was the easy part; her heart, though, was a whole other matter. Thanks to a man named Steve Jones.
When they find themselves in danger, she has to decide what’s more important - dying for someone she loves or surviving.
Love that Binds – Carol Schoenig
On the outskirts of a small town where nothing grows, a young girl, Ianthee, is being bullied and accused of being a witch. Young Caleb, inexplicably drawn to Ianthee, comes to her rescue. Before they can explore their feelings, Caleb and his family disappear. What happened to him, and what part does a long-ago legend play in their lives?
Love’s Ghost – R.M. Olivia
“Sorry, babe. I know it hurts to hear.” John frowned.  I’ll make this brief. I spoke to the man in charge and he is giving me one last chance.”
“Come again?”
“I’m allowed to make love to my wife one last time before I have to cross over. So, are you ready for your husband? Are you ready for me, Ingrid?” He lifted my chin up and ran his thumb along my lips.  I felt a chill go down my spine. How could this be real? How could this be happening?
The Anniversary – Richard Savage
A cruel twist of fate wrenched Evelyn and Peter apart on their wedding anniversary. Evelyn’s life descends into darkness.  James enters her life giving her a chance of happiness. Evelyn discovers a piece of jewelry, that has the power to grant her time with Peter on their anniversary. She adores James, but needs Peter.  Can she ever really let Peter go, while there’s still a chance they can be together?
The Mortal Vampire – Suzanne Smith
Remy enjoys life as a vampire, never giving a thought to sucking every last drop of tasty blood out of his unfortunate victims and leaving them door nail dead. But his cold and carefree existence changes the day he crosses paths with the beautiful and mysterious mortal Angela.
Through the Veil – Jan Selbourne
A beautiful March day in 1875 ends in tragedy when the wagon carrying Helen and Marcus plunges down the mountainside. Generations pass before Rachel Finlay finds an old sepia photo of a man and woman. She knows them but she’s never met them and now, for the peace of mind she desperately craves, she goes back to where it began. In time, through the veil, knowing she may never return.
Unconditional Lust – Breanna Hayes
The massive, hideous merrow leader, Muruch, craves the taste of human flesh. Confined to the ocean, he feeds his horde with sailors from ships pulled into the maw of the Bermuda Triangle. When US Army Captain, Nurys Shaye, puts her life on the line to save him after being captured, his hunger for human flesh is shadowed by the desire for her body and her love. Will she be able to see past his appearance and trust him to break down her walls and teach her to feel?

Excerpt from The Sweetest Magic of All, in the Mystic Desire anthology by Alice Renaud

Saffy knelt on the grass and opened the book of spells. Book was a strong word for the worn diary in which Auntie May had recorded her enchantments, but all witches had books of spells. So she’d call it a book, just as she called herself a witch.
Though she was only an apprentice. A chill crept over her skin, as if a shadow had blotted out the summer sun. She stared hard at the spidery handwriting, but all she could see was the thin body of her aunt, almost swallowed up by the tubes and machines that were keeping her alive. Only one thing could help her now, the magical amulet that she’d once worn around her neck. The amulet had vanished a week ago, on the day she’d had a stroke, and they’d rushed her to the hospital in Swansea. No one had been able to find it since. 
Cold enveloped Saffy and seeped into her limbs. The amulet was her aunt’s last hope. She had to find it. Now. 
She took a deep breath. The familiar smells of the seaside meadow streamed into her nose, pushing back the icy fear that dug its claws into her flesh. Salt on the wind. Wildflowers. Good, rich earth, softened by the morning dew. “I can do this,” she said. 
She placed the book on the grass and waved her hands above it, the way her aunt had shown her. Auntie May had made magic look so easy. Saffy had never managed to cast a spell on her own, but today she had to try, and succeed. She kept breathing, in and out, to keep herself calm. The spell to find lost objects was supposed to be easy. And this meadow was a special place, where the ancient magic of the world flowed fast and strong. Surely the spell would succeed here. 
Saffy laid her hands in the grass, on either side of the yellowed pages. A ladybird landed on her index finger and walked down onto the book, as if to encourage her. She concentrated. All her life seemed to pour into the breath she was taking… into her tongue as it formed the words. 
“Bound and binding
Binding, bound
See the sight
Hear the sound
What was lost
Now is found.”
She closed her eyes and waited for the vision that would show her where the lost amulet was. All she saw was the red light of the sun, shining through her lids. She opened her eyes. There was only the meadow, frothy with oxeye daisies, and the turquoise dome of the sky. A perfect midsummer day, mocking her and her pathetic attempts at magic. Bitter dismay surged, burning her throat and the back of her eyes. She let out a strangled cry. “Fuck and triple fuck!”
“What have you lost?”
The male voice, behind her, made her jump. She turned. A man, wrapped in a black coat, was staring at her, just a few feet away. A warm tide of embarrassment rose from her neck to her cheeks. He must have heard her say the spell. He’d think she was nuts.
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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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Sunday 1 September 2019

Weekend Writing Warriors Snippet Sunday "'Make For The Woods'

I'm back! I missed you all, last weekend, but this week I'm continuing snippets from my fantasy novel 'The Matchmaker's Mare which takes place in Wales. The  story is told from three p.o.vs. and two time-lines. Today's excerpt is again from Rhiannon's p.o.v. and takes place in the distant past. She and Sion are fleeing from her father and an arranged marriage with the evil Gwynfor Pryce who is pursuing them.

(This is the last snippet I'll be posting from Rhiannon's P.O.V.) Next time It will be characters from the present time. I probably won't be posting next week as I will  probably be away for a few days and won't have internet but I'll read snippets when I get back)

Don't forget to visit the other authors at the link below the excerpt, there's something for all tastes.


Snippet:

“Make for the woods,” Sion yelled, turning his horse in the direction of a thick forest, that covered the lower slopes of the steep mountain range known as Mynyddoedd y Ddraig—The Dragon Mountains. “Perhaps we can lose him in the trees.”


They leaned low over their horses’ necks, urging them on as fast as they dared. Both the horses were swift and sure-footed, but the deep snow made it impossible for them to increase the distance between them and their pursuer. 
 

They had to slow their mounts again in order to wend their way through the trees, scarcely able to see through the snow which fell thickly around them, but Gwynfor Pryce  cast a spell over the forest. The trees the lovers thought would hide them turned traitor, stretching out their branches to twine around the horses’ legs. They threw themselves from their saddles, and Sion hacked at the branches with his dagger, while Rhiannon tore at them with ice-cold fingers. 

At last they were free, and turning away from the treacherous forest, they remounted and ploughed through the snow along the narrow track up the precipitous mountainside. However, the delay had cost them precious minutes, and soon their pursuer was upon them…









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For Info: I now have some audio codes for each of the three books in the Destiny Trilogy. If you would like one, or all three, just let me know with your email address at Lyn@hywelalyn.co.uk and I'll send you the ones you request, (Each book has its own code). If could manage to post a short review after you've listened, that would be greatly appreciated. 😍















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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Saturday 24 August 2019

Weekend Writing Warriors Snippet Sunday "...someone is following us!"



Continuing snippets from my fantasy novel 'The Matchmaker's Mare which takes place in Wales. The  story is told from three p.o.vs. and two time-lines. Today's excerpt is again from Rhiannon's p.o.v. and takes place in the distant past, a few chapters along from the last one. She and Sion are fleeing from her father and an arranged marriage.

Don't forget to visit the other authors at the link below the excerpt, there's something for all tastes.


Snippet:

For two more days and two nights they rode toward the next range of mountains, only stopping to rest and feed the horses, and to let them drink when they found a river or stream. The wind blew strongly from the north, bringing with it flurries of snow. 

They stopped at friendly farmsteads along the way, to purchase a few loaves of bread and some fruit which they ate while riding. On the fourth day since she’d fled her home, the snow started to fall in earnest, soon covering the ground in thick drifts, and riding fast became dangerous, forcing them to slow down to a walk.

After several hours Seren whickered softly. Rhiannon turned and looked back, peering through the white mist of snow. A rider appeared like a wraith in the distance. “Sion, there’s someone following us, it must be either my father or Gwynfor Pryce.…”









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I now have some audio codes for each of the three books in the Destiny Trilogy. If you would like one, or all three, just let me know with your email address at Lyn@hywelalyn.co.uk and I'll send you the ones you request, (Each book has its own code). If could manage to post a short review after you've listened, that would be greatly appreciated. 😍















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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Saturday 17 August 2019

Weekend Writing Warriors Snippet Sunday - The Matchmaker's Mare - Sion's Camp

Continuing snippets from my fantasy novel 'The Matchmaker's Mare which takes place in Wales. The  story is told from three p.o.vs. and two time-lines. Today's excerpt is again from Rhiannon's p.o.v. and takes place in the distant past, a few chapters along from the last one.Some very creative punctuation to comply with the ten sentence rule.
Don't forget to visit the other authors at the link below, there's something for all tastes.
                                            Snippet Sunday Facebook  Group

Snippet:

 At last, with only a few hours left before daylight, Rhiannon reached the clearing where Sion had made his camp. A glowing fire still burned outside the caravan, she heard the chomping of a horse, and just made out Sion’s black and white cob grazing nearby. Then she spotted Sion, lying on a blanket near the fire, he never did like sleeping indoors, not even in his wagon. He preferred to sleep under the stars whenever the weather permitted, even now in early winter. She leapt from the pony and knelt beside the young man, shaking his shoulder, “Sion, Sion wake up—for goodness sake, I need you to wake up, I don’t know what to do.”

Sion raised himself on one elbow, blinking, before sitting bolt upright, “Rhiannon. Rhiannon, cariad, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be tucked up in your own bed fast asleep, what’s wrong?”

"Sion, listen to me, my father has arranged for me to marry Gwynfor Pryce in a week’s time, what am I to do, Sion, I can’t marry him, I won’t.” She lowered her voice to a whisper, “you know it’s you I want, and only you.”

Sion threw off his blanket and jumped to his feet,“Rhiannon, my love, I will never let another man have you, not if you love me. We must get away—ride, as swiftly as our horses can carry us, we’ll find a preacher to marry us, in a town where no-one knows us and we’ll settle down somewhere far away and no-one will ever find us.”



 

I now have some audio codes for each of the three books in the Destiny Trilogy. If you would like one, or all three, just let me know with your email address at Lyn@hywelalyn.co.uk and I'll send you the ones you request, (Each book has its own code). If could manage to post a short review after you've listened, that would be greatly appreciated. 😍




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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Saturday 10 August 2019

Weekend Writing Warriors Snippet Sunday - The Matchmaker's Mare ..the love of her life and her greatest aggravation.

Continuing snippets from my fantasy novel 'The Matchmaker's Mare which takes place in Wales. The  story is told from three p.o.vs. and two time-lines. Today's excerpt is again from Rhiannon's p.o.v. and takes place in the distant past, a few paragraphs along from the last one.

Don't forget to visit the other authors at the link below, there's something for all tastes.
                                            Snippet Sunday Facebook  Group

Snippet:

The last time Rhiannon and Sion met, he told her he had Romani family business to attend to on the English border, but he would see her in three weeks. Having consulted her scrying bowl in secret, before she left the cottage, she knew he was now on his way back, but still some distance away.


Sion Sienco—both the love of her life and her greatest aggravation. When she first met the young gypsy lad, he first teased her, and then wooed her. When she feigned disinterest, he took to playing
tricks on her, causing her milk cow to go dry, or her hens to take to the water, as if they were ducks. As it dawned on her he too had a little white magic, she scolded him until she was hoarse and ran out of words. Then he took her in his arms and kissed her until she was breathless and told her how sorry he was for causing her so much trouble. 

As exasperating as he could be, she knew he loved her and would never let any harm befall her. As she bent over the mare’s neck, feeling the powerful muscles beneath her, she prayed she would find him before her father noticed her absence.



I now have some audio codes for each of the three books in the Destiny Trilogy. If you would like one, or all three, just let me know with your email address at Lyn@hywelalyn.co.uk and I'll send you the ones you request, (Each book has its own code). If could manage to post a short review after you've listened, that would be greatly appreciated. 😍



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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join