Dragon Knight Chronicles Book Spotlight: Introducing Louise Findlay

Author Name

Louise Findlay

Author Bio.

Louise Findlay writes fantasy (generally short stories) and inspirational poetry. She enjoys reading and writing about mythological creatures such as angels and demons but has a soft spot for vampires. Louise is currently in the midst of writing a vampire novella about two vampire clans whose deputy’s clash in a big way, entitled A Spy in the Sagax Vampires. She generally writes ebooks but she’s apart of a few anthologies which are in print and plans to release a print version of a collection of poetry at Christmas time this year.

Author’s Website URL/Blog

louisefindlaybooks.com

Author’s Social Media & Additional Links

Smashwords: http://smashwords.com/profile/view/angel7090695001 Lulu: http://lulu.com/spotlight/angel7090695001 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Louise-Findlay-Books/430927340306453 Twitter: http://twitter.com/authorlouise

List your previously published works

Vicious Vines This is the last straw. Humans have trampled over nature for the last time. Watch the plants fight back in the form of a human at one with nature. Will nature succeed in eradicating the humans or will an unexpected foe turn up in an effort to survive? https://writingroom101.wordpress.com/guest-post-by-louise-findlay The Rogue’s Odyssey Heroes with an edge are always fascinating and when the metier is poetic, the romance tends to rise exponentially because, after all, everyone loves a rascal who’s only a heartbeat away from being on the wrong side of the tracks, but who somehow always battles on to win the day, whether that’s fleeing from dastardly henchmen, or fighting a terrifying dragon. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/514720 The Magic Christmas Dragon & Other Poetry Tales There was a dragon that hated Christmas because Santa never gave him any presents. Every year he tries to ruin it for everyone in Wintaru. Read the tales about fairies, elves and goblins who try and thwart this dastardly dragon. eBook: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/499435 Print: http://www.lulu.com/shop/louise-findlay/the-magic-christmas-dragon-other-poetry-tales/paperback/product-22112635.html The Author’s Nightmare Story: Regina’s Curse (A Once Upon A Time Fanfiction Piece) Operation Mongoose 4x21 4x22 AU. For Regina the cruellest thing was to have had hope in the past and then have it ripped away from you. Regina's worst nightmare is her Mother and the Author has enacted her worst possible nightmare. Can Regina protect Henry from the Queen of Hearts? Does Emma have magic in this alternate Enchanted Forest? Who will become the new Dark One? https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11376045

Excerpt

Challenging a Demon—Idiot Number 73,854

By: Louise Findlay

Eventually the prattling mortal came.

"I am Liamus Titus, scourge of Valeria and the Dark Lands. I am sworn to defeat you, you foul beast," spat Liamus.

This would make idiot number 73,854. This was getting old, fast. I might have to go look for a real challenge someday.

I stepped forward menacingly. "Fool! For sixteen thousand years I have slain mortal men. I have annihilated empires, burned continents, and plucked the mightiest of kings from their thrones! If I could be killed, it would have been done already."

"With the might of the holy sword, Briusburn, I will defeat you," the idiot yelled, brandishing his sword.

What is it with heroes and their idiotic war cries? Insignificant mortal.

"Really. Just keep telling yourself that," I replied.

"Perhaps you did not hear me, demon scum," Liamus sneered, dragging the sword behind him. The blade flashed and sparkled in his heavy grip. With every step forward, the young man's eyes grew darker. "I hold Briusburn!"

I took my sword out of its scabbard and parried his first attack.

God he was so slow. Mortals always were compared to the speed I possessed. I parried all of his strikes with ease and looked on absent-mindedly as he tried to come up with creative ways to attack me.

"Seriously. Did you fail Sword Fighting 101?” I asked with disdain.

"Fiend! I happened to get an A+ from Voriay Du Lac's School of the Sword," he replied.

"Voriay, how is he? I spared his life once. Now he was a warrior! Name calling's not going to do much to me you know," I said smoothly.  I was a demon; I'd been called every name under the sun.

"Voriay is dead. I killed him," he told me.

The Dragon Tempest offers a collection of short stories in a variety of fantasy genres, including dark, light, adventure, and epic. Creatures from all worlds abound: dragons, angels, centaurs, witches, gods and goddesses, and those lurking below the water’s surface. Whether you’re moved by tales of battle and bloodshed, suspense, humor, or enlightenment, The Dragon Tempest will leave you craving more from each author. Such a diversity of great fantasy tales to enjoy will leave no room for disappointment. 

Judges:

Allison D. Reid

KJ Hawkins

D.B. Mauldin

Joshua Robertson

1^st Place Winners

Christine King

Katie Roxberry

Winter Bayne

Jane Dougherty

Wilson F. Engel, III

2^nd Place Winners

Christine Haggerty

Randall Lemon

Deborah Jean Anderson

J. Abram Barneck

Louise Findlay

3^rd Place Winners

Samuel Milner

Karen Brown

Ebook Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Tempest-Fantasy-Adventure-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0105JE02O/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436399998&sr=1-1&keywords=the+dragon+tempest+tales+of+fantasy+%26+adventure

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/552304

Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dragon-tempest-tales-fantasy/id1009713116?mt=11

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dragon-tempest-dragon-knight-chronicles/1122188936?ean=2940151986038

Paperback Buy Link:

Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/5586901

5 Tips to Writing Your Author Bio...

I'd like to share an excellent article that was in Karen Cioffi's newsletter The Writing World:
 
5 Tips to Writing Your Author Bio

By D. Jean Quarles

Writing your first novel is an endeavor that takes perseverance, but writing your author’s bio can cause the most loquacious of authors to freeze. What should you include? What can be left out? And most important of all, what do your readers want to know and that will encourage them to buy your book?

Here are 5 tips to writing your author’s bio.

1. Write your bio in the third person. While writing your novel you probably struggled here and there with the invisible critic that seems to be ever close. That critic rears up again when the time comes to write your bio, which is why it’s best to write your bio in the third person. This will create some distance and you may find it easier to talk yourself up.

2. Figure out what facts are relevant to your story. Where you were born or raised is probably only important if you are writing about that particular area. Telling about your previous or current career will also only be important if it ties somehow to what you have written. Degrees and education should be dealt with in a similar fashion. If they lend you credibility for your writing mention them, if not, leave that information out.

3. Always be sure to mention any awards, contests, or achievements related to your writing you have acquired. No matter how insignificant you may feel they are, they will show you are serious about your craft.

4. Are your characters quirky? Is that what brings them to life, if so use that same quirkiness when writing your bio. If you have a sense of humor that comes through your writing, find a way to share something humorous.

5. Your bio should be accompanied by your author’s photo. Give your photo some careful thought. For many of your readers, your photo will come to represent your brand. Do you want to be perceived as knowledgeable? Thoughtful? Funny? Brave? You may want to consider hiring a professional photographer and discussing the impression you wish your photo to give to your readers before you sit for your picture.

You will need two or three bios: a short one for queries and such, a longer one for your book cover, and sometimes just a one or two liner.  Read the bios of other authors before you begin and see what stands out to you about each. Which ones compel you to check out their work? Then write several versions and share them with other authors who can also help give you feedback. And remember, just like a resume, your bio should be updated regularly.

D. Jean Quarles is a writer of Women's Fiction and the co-author of a Young Adult Science Fiction Series. Her latest book, House of Glass, Book 2 of The Exodus Series was written with co-author, Austine Etcheverry.

She is a wife, mother, grandmother and business coach. In her free time . . . ha! ha! ha! Anyway, you can find more about D. Jean Quarles, her writing and her books at her website: www.djeanquarles.com

You can also follower her at www.djeanquarles.blogspot.com or find her on Facebook.



Article reprinted from The Writing World newsletter. Want more must-know writing and marketing information along with updates on free webinars right in your inbox? Get access to The Writing World (http://thewritingworld.com) today.

IWSG and Quotes on Writing

Wednesday is September's Insecure Writer's Support Group hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh. To visit the main website, click HERE. The co-hosts for this month are as follows:

Heather M. Gardner  http://hmgardner.blogspot.com/   

Christine Rains http://christinerains-writer.blogspot.com/

Dolorah at Book Lover  donnahole@gmail.com 

Julie Flanders  http://julieflanders.blogspot.com/ 

Murees Dupé  http://www.mureesdupe.com/   

Quotes on Writing

"Write what should not be forgotten." ~Isabel Allende~

"My books are friends that never fail me." ~Thomas Carlyle~

"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by." ~Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt~

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." ~Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings~ 

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." ~Ernest Hemingway~

"If you don't have time to read, you don't have time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that." ~Stephen King~

"Substitute 'damn' every time you're inclined to write 'very'; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be." ~Mark Twain~ 

"Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it." ~Lloyd Alexander~

"You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write." ~Saul Bellow~

"No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader." ~Robert Frost~

"Read, read, read. Read everything- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it.

Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window." ~William Faulkner~

"Fiction is the truth inside the lie." ~Stephen King~

"Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." ~Anton Chekhov~