My 3 Favorite Secondary Characters in Common (Laurie)

Happy Blog Tour to me!!! My debut YA fantasy novel, Common, releases in four days. FOUR DAYS!!!!! And we're in the midst of a blog tour to celebrate! See below for more information about my book and the other stops on the blog tour.

Since it was my scheduled day to post here at Lands Uncharted anyway, I thought I'd share something specific to my book! But as you've probably noticed by now, I really have trouble choosing my favorites for Top 3s posts. So I went a little easier on myself and decided to go with my top 3 secondary characters in Common, which at least narrows the options a bit :)  (If you want to learn about more of my characters, make sure to stop by my visual guest posts on www.theantrimcycle.com and www.jmhackman.com from earlier this week!)

So, here are my top 3!


3) Sister Val

I wish I could tell you all about Sister Val, but I'll have to be cautious to avoid spoilers! She was definitely one of the characters I had the most fun with because she's a constant source of surprises. Beneath her exterior as a devout nun living in seclusion, she's funny, adventurous, and even knows her way around a dagger :) She's a prime example that a person doesn't have to fit a certain stereotype to have a deep faith in God.








2) Mabel

Once again, I can't reveal too much about how Leah knows Mabel because she doesn't show up until the second half of the book, but you'll know her when you see her! She was a fun character to write because she just jumped off the page for me - her dialogue practically wrote itself :) A motherly housekeeper with a feisty side, Mabel is loyal and compassionate to a fault. Her accent and sometimes unusual phrases give her a little extra spunk, and despite holding what some would consider to be the lowest position in her household, she's stubborn and not afraid to speak her mind.







1) Gretchen

Gretchen is Leah's closest friend, and she's my favorite secondary character in Common because she makes me smile every time she's in a scene :) Her vibrant personality and sense of fun make her the perfect counterpart for sensible, hard-working Leah. Outspoken, dramatic, and a bit of a flirt, Gretchen lives life to the fullest and makes friends wherever she goes. Leah doesn't always appreciate her friend's antics, but having Gretchen around keeps things interesting and she couldn't ask for a more loyal companion.



There you have it! To find out more, you'll just have to read the book :)


Speaking of which, here's the back-cover blurb for Common:

Only one person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it—the servant girl they banished.

Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and meekly curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair.

And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia.

But Leah’s safe, ordinary world begins to splinter. Rafe’s parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess, and she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. When she reports it without proof, her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason.

Harbored by an unusual group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe’s safety before it’s too late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than an ambitious nobleman with his eye on the throne.

Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend?

In case I've managed to intrigue you, you can find the purchase links for Common here :) And make sure to come hang out with us this Thursday, February 15th from 8:00 to 10:00 pm CST if you're available! The Facebook party celebrating the release of Common is going to be a blast - my co-hosts are super fun and the list of giveaway prizes includes so many of my favorite books!! RSVP and check out some sneak peeks here.

And here's a full list of all the stops on the blog tour! It's been so much fun so far, and there are some awesome posts still coming next week! Please stop by every post if you have a chance, I took these opportunities to share so much about myself and my inspirations for Common, and I'm so grateful to all the bloggers who offered to host me!!

Monday, February 5th, Review of Common, Pam Halter, www.pamhalter.com

Monday, February 5th, Interview with Laurie Lucking, Taylor Bennett, www.taylor–bennett.com

Tuesday, February 6th, Visual Post, Nancy Moors, www.antrimcycle.com

Tuesday, February 6th, Behind-the-Scenes Feature, Rae E, www.anewlookonbooks.com

Wednesday, February 7th, Visual Post, J.M. Hackman, www.jmhackman.com

Wednesday, February 7th, Guest Post: Author’s Journey, Kristen Stieffel, www.newauthors.wordpress.com

Thursday, February 8th, Guest Post, Laura A. Grace, www.unicornquester.com

Friday, February 9th, Interview with Laurie Lucking, Jebraun Clifford, www.quillsandinkblotts.wordpress.com/

Friday, February 9th, Review of Common, Erica Hogan, www.booksaholic.wordpress.com/
Saturday, February 10th, Top 3 Post, Laurie Lucking, www.landsuncharted.com
Sunday, February 11th, Behind-the-Scenes Feature: Laurie’s Writing Process, Liv Fisher, www.livkfisher.blogspot.com/
Sunday, February 11th, Review of Common, Jebraun Clifford, www.jebraunclifford.com/
Monday, February 12th, Character Interview, Brenda Anderson, www.inspyromance.com/
Monday, February 12th, Visual Post, Jannette Fuller, www.jannettefuller.com/blog
Tuesday, February 13th, Interview with Laurie Lucking, KaLyn Cummins, www.authorkacummins.com
Wednesday, February 14th, Release-Day Feature, Laurie Lucking, www.laurielucking.com (Release Day)
Thursday, February 15th, Facebook Party Feature, Michele Israel Harper, www.micheleisraelharper.com (Facebook Launch Party)
Friday, February 16th, Review of Common, Cathrine Bonham, www.dolphin18cb.wordpress.com

Thank you so much for celebrating with me!!!

Top 3 Favorite Aether Gifts (by special guest Jamie Foley!)

We're thrilled to welcome Jamie Foley back to Lands Uncharted today as part of the blog tour celebrating the release of Arbiter, the second book in her Sentinel series! Jamie did a fun interview with us back in February (which you can find here), and I reviewed the first two books in her series, Viper and Sentinel, here.

Today, Jamie is stopping by to share her top 3 favorite aether gifts. What are aether gifts, you may wonder? A super cool concept from her series! I realize that's still not very helpful, so luckily she took the time to provide some definitions and a lovely graphic :)


AETHER The energy source for spiritual gifts. It is generated by one’s soul and is invisible, but can be sensed by aethryn. Depending on one’s gift, it might be detected in the form of a color, a scent, a taste, or otherwise.

ARBITER A common spiritual gift that can transfer thoughts and memories from one mind to another.

EXORCIST A rare spiritual gift that can siphon another’s aether. A slang term for an exorcist is ‘vampire.’

HEALER A somewhat rare spiritual gift that can detect injury and fuse torn flesh together. Master healers can learn to cure certain illnesses.

SAGE A very rare spiritual gift that allows the user to see possible futures.

SENTINEL A common spiritual gift that can release aether in powerful waves or compact strikes.

SIFTER A rare spiritual gift that can sense aether from great distances and conceal its own aether signature.

VALNAH A common spiritual gift that can influence the feelings and emotions of others. Means ‘song of courage’ in the Ancient language.

VANGUARD A common spiritual gift that can create walls of aether, varying in strength depending on the user’s skill.

WEAVER A rare spiritual gift that can bind aether into physical objects. Bound aether diminishes very slowly over time.

Awesome, right? So now that you know about the different aether gifts, here are Jamie's top 3!


Humans in The Sentinel Trilogy can't choose their own gift--they're born with one that they have a natural affinity for. But anyone can learn the four most common gifts--sentinel, vanguard, arbiter, and valnah--with enough time and dedication. Just like I could learn to paint and play the piano, but really, I'm only going to be best with the skills God gave me from birth.

But if I could choose my own aether gift... well... I'd be an exorcist. Maybe the idea of having tons of aether goes along with me being an adrenaline junkie or a pyro. What? I'm a totally normal, sane person. >:3

Exorcists have to be really skilled, though, to get in a close-combat situation to be able to drain their opponent. So my second choice would have to be sentinel. Blasting things with waves of energy that I can fling around with my mind? Yes, please.

And third... hmm... that's a hard choice. If I were a sifter, I'd always know where my kids were. If I were an arbiter, I'd always know when they were lying. And if I were a valnah, I could always make them feel better.

But I'll have to go with vanguard. Maybe I could prevent a car wreck with the soft side of a vanguard wall, or have a magical extra counter space in my kitchen. The possibilities are endless!


Now I'm wondering which ones I would pick...so many good choices! Want to know more? Here's the blurb for Arbiter, Jamie's latest release:

Archangels return to Alani, creating a new generation of Serrans… for a price.

Jet Valinor can’t keep his secrets from Darien any longer. Sorvashti seeks revenge against her husband’s killer—a debt that can only be paid in blood.

The Lynx want their base back. The Serrans will fetch a good price for Zekk Sorrowsong, or make excellent slaves… if he can capture them before they’re betrayed from within.


I got to read an advance copy of Arbiter and it's SO good! The action starts right on the first page, and all the new information and plot twists kept me guessing throughout. If you like fantasy with phenomenal world-building and complex characters, definitely check out this series! You can find out more about the trilogy and purchase links here.


And here's a little more about the author:

YA fantasy author Jamie Foley loves strategy games, home-grown berries, and Texas winters. She’s terrified of plot holes and red wasps.

Her husband is her manly cowboy astronaut muse. They live between Austin, TX and their family cattle ranch, where their hyperactive spawnling and wolfpack can run free.

You can learn more about Jamie at her website, jamiesfoley.com, or by connecting with her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

 


 Thank you so much for visiting today, Jamie!! Today is the last day of the Arbiter blog tour giveaway! Here's the link for the entry form: https://goo.gl/forms/t92uVgb7qSKAz6Ud2

Story Snippets: An Introduction to Princess Penelope (Laurie)

I'm so excited to share my first Story Snippets post today! Lately, I've been working hard to complete Traitor, the second book in my Tales of the Mystics series. I've kept a copy of Common handy as a reference during my writing and editing process to make sure I keep things like names, geography, and timelines accurate. It's been so fun to both revisit familiar characters and places in this new book and add on to my cast and story world! Traitor is told from the point of view of Princess Penelope, who played a critical (though not necessarily positive...) role in Common but didn't get a lot of screen time.

Since I've been undergoing a more in-depth exploration of Princess Penelope's character in recent months, I thought today it would be interesting to take a look back at the scene from Common where she's first introduced. In case you haven't read Common yet, it's told from the perspective of Leah, a palace servant, who has a secret friendship with Prince Raphael and may or may not be developing feelings for him... :) Enjoy!

I pushed through the kitchen door into the dining hall, balancing a tray of steaming bowls of bouillabaisse. The party from Trellich had arrived several days before, sending the palace into a frenzy as servants readied rooms, hauled trunks, and prepared elaborate meals. Tonight, the entire palace staff had been recruited to serve at a banquet honoring our guests.

My steps faltered at my first view of the hall. Thousands of candles lit the walls, rendering the room hardly recognizable. Lavish floral arrangements spilled over their vases, nearly covering each long, rectangular table. They must’ve left the gardens practically barren. 

 I glanced to the head table. Rafe wasn’t seated at his usual post on the queen’s right. Instead, he was placed well to the left of the king and queen. On his right was a dignified, sharp-looking older man whom I presumed to be the King of Trellich. How odd—Rafe’s parents ordinarily kept their unenthusiastic son as far from foreign royalty as possible.

To his left sat the most beautiful young lady I’d ever seen. Her hair was almost as dark as Rafe’s, swept up in a stylish updo studded with jewels. Her large, amber eyes and porcelain skin glowed in the candlelight as she gave Rafe a shy, flawless smile. 

I frowned, then shook my head and looked away. The beautiful Trellan princess was welcome to smile at Rafe all she liked. I had a job to do.

But my gaze returned to Rafe each time I emerged from the kitchen with a new platter. While the Trellan king did most of the talking, the princess remained involved in the conversation throughout. She shifted to survey the room, and I hoped she might open a dialogue with her other neighbor. Instead, she laughed at something Rafe said and placed a hand on his arm.

My foot caught on a chair leg. I straightened, irritation nipping at my stomach. I’m here to serve a meal, not spy on Rafe. 

Cover Reveal for Traitor (Tales of the Mystics, Book Two)!!!!!

Happy Friday, friends!! This is an especially happy Friday for me, because I FINALLY get to share the cover for my upcoming new release, Traitor! Eeeeeeek! My publisher, Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing, set the standard really high with the first book in my Tales of the Mystics series, Common, so I couldn't wait to see what they came up with for Traitor - and it's amazing!!!

Would you like to see it??

Scroll a little farther...

Sorry, I'm having too much fun with this, but you're almost there...

Keep scrolling...

TA DA!!!!!!!

*happy sigh* Isn't it just stunning? And it fits the story SO well! Traitor follows Princess Penelope, who ended up more on the villain side of the equation in Common, as she travels to a country across the sea to fulfill a new arranged marriage. Although eager to make up for her past mistakes, she struggles to trust herself and to find her place in her new home. And she's determined to never fall in love again, which becomes more challenging than she expected when her new fiancé turns out to be devoted, charming, and just so sweet. (Yep, I have a bit of a crush on him...but to be fair, he's a lot like my husband!) So I adore the way the cover captures her hesitance and indecision with light shining as a beacon of hope. And that dress, and her pretty hair, and the cool architecture...I'm so in love!

Traitor is set to release on April 27th - I can't wait to share it with you!! Here's the back cover blurb:

Princess Penelope has finally found a way to redeem her past mistakes—if only it didn’t require betraying her new fiancé.

Princess Penelope has been the object of gossip and ridicule ever since she returned home in disgrace following her failed engagement to the Crown Prince of Imperia. When her father offers a new start in a country far across the sea, she has no choice but to accept.

Even if it means another betrothal, this time to a total stranger.

Penelope arrives in Delunia determined to avoid bringing further shame upon her family. But her devoted, caring fiancé makes it harder to guard her heart than she anticipated, and rumors of dark magic haunt her with memories she’d rather keep buried far beneath her pristine exterior.

When a poverty-stricken village outside the palace gates looks to her as their hope for a brighter future, Penelope embraces the opportunity to make amends for her transgressions. But in order to help, she must manipulate her new fiancé, putting her reputation on the line once more. And her heart.

Can Penelope rise above the failures of her past, or will she forever be branded a traitor?

 

Be on the lookout for pre-order links coming soon! In the meantime, I'm going to make the shameless plug that this would be the perfect time to read Common if you haven't yet! (See? I didn't forget that this is supposed to be a Weekend Reads post after all... 😆)  

I started Common with the Cinderella-type premise of a friendship between a maid and a prince. But then I took it in a totally different direction with the maid discovering a plot against the royal family and needing to save the day with the help of some mysterious nuns. If you're a fan of fairy tales, fantasy adventure, and clean romance, I hope you'll give it a try!

Have a great weekend! And thanks for celebrating my new cover with me!!

Laurie

Cover Reveal: Common by Laurie Lucking (THAT'S ME!!!)

Guess what?? It's cover reveal day for my YA fantasy novel, Common, which is scheduled to release from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing in February, 2018! Only a few months away!!! I can't wait to show the you cover, but first, a little back story...

(I had to make you wait at least a little bit, right?)

After I signed the contract with my publisher, they asked me to fill out a book intake form, which included questions about what I had in mind for my cover. When asked to list some of my favorite covers, among my top choices were books by Lea Doue:

 And books by Melanie Dickerson:

I'm guessing you can see the kind of vibe I was going for :) My biggest worry when approaching my cover was that a book with the simple title Common, featuring a servant girl, would need to look like something special to make it stand out to potential readers. And my cover designer was absolutely up to the task! I fell in love the moment I saw the first draft, and it's only become more lovely with each revision.

So now, without further ado... 

(Drum roll, please!)

Here it is!!

Isn't it gorgeous?? Even more beautiful than anything I could've imagined for my book. I've had it for weeks, and I still can't stop staring :) Many, many thanks to my publisher and cover designer for doing such a spectacular job! They absolutely nailed the YA-historical-fairy-tale-with-a-bit-of-magic feel I was hoping for, with a girl that totally captures the essence of my main character. I can't wait to hold it in my hands, and for it to be available for all of you! If you can tear your eyes away from the stunning cover long enough, here's the back cover blurb:

One person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it—the servant girl they banished. 

Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and meekly curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair. 

And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia. 

But Leah’s safe, ordinary world begins to splinter. Unexpected feelings for Rafe surface just as his parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess. Then she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. Her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason. 

Harbored by a mysterious group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe’s safety before it’s too late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than an ambitious nobleman with his eye on the throne.

Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend?

So, what do you think? What are some of your favorite covers? Thanks for stopping by to share in my excitement!!

See you next time!

Laurie

Top 3 Romance Book Quotes (Julie)

One week from now I will be married and on my honeymoon!! It's such an exciting (and nerve wracking) time! Here's what goes on in my head: is it going to rain on our outdoor wedding (very possible on a tropical island)? Or will there be a typhoon? Will everything look nice? Will the flies stay out of the food? Yes, those are the issues that we will have to deal with when/if they come up. But despite all of those "if's", I am super excited for a wonderful day no matter what.

One important thing I still need to do is write my vows (here's looking at you, Google)
  
In honor of the writing of vows and all the knee-buckling, swooning, butterfly inducing words to be written, here are three romantic quotes from books:

3)Pride and Prejudice ( of course something from a Jane Austen book had to be on here=)

“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”

2) Although the story is sad, it's a beautiful line from Nicholas Sparks's The Notebook:

 “I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough.”

1) This one surprised me considering it comes from a beloved kid's story/series, but A.A. Milne, through the wonderful voice of Winnie the Pooh, said this:

"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you." 

Do you have any swoon-worthy, knee-buckling lines from books that you love?

Relationships Beyond Romance: Mentors (Hannah)

Hello, and welcome back to the ongoing series Relationships Beyond Romance! If you missed the first few posts, here is a short recap:

1) Overt Friendships are friendships between non-related people that are characterized by positive interactions.

2) Covert Friendships also involve non-related people who genuinely care about each other, but to outsiders, the interactions between the two do not appear friendly because the characters consistently tease each other, compete with each other, or in some other way act unkindly to each other.

3) Parent-Child relationships are the first and most powerful, because they can prepare a child for a bright future or leave deep emotional scars.

4) Siblings have unique relationships.  Although every situation is different, the defining characteristic here is family.  Siblings generally don't choose each other, like friends do.  Whether through birth, marriage, adoption, or other circumstances, siblings are linked together forever through the special bond of family.

5) Sibling groups can be some of the most riveting bonds in fiction, and can even link together several series.

Part 6: Mentors

From Gandalf to Obi-Wan Kenobi to Professor Xavier and beyond, mentors are one of the most common of the character archetypes.  They fill a unique and necessary role in fiction, and just like their real-life counterparts, are often instrumental in the personal growth and development of their students.

What is a mentor?

Merriam-Webster defines a mentor as "a trusted counselor or guide; someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person."  In fiction, mentors most often appear in stories featuring a character who is discovering new powers, a hidden destiny, or an inherited legacy or conflict.  These often take the form of "coming of age" stories, as is the case with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Luke Skywalker (Star Wars), Gandalf and Bilbo and Frodo Baggins (Lord of the Rings), or Professor Xavier and his X-Men (X-Men).  Mentors also feature when the main character must undergo a drastic change, whether it is a change in circumstances or in character.  Examples of this include Genie and Aladdin (Aladdin) and Dr. Erskine and Steve Rogers (Captain America: The First Avenger).

Why are mentors so common in fiction?

Many stories, especially the aforementioned "coming of age" and "change" stories, feature the main character's personal growth. She will learn an important lesson and become a better person because of it.    The mentor often plays a key role in showing the main character the way to improvement.  He is the one with the knowledge, wisdom, and tools that will allow the main character to learn her lesson, defeat the antagonist, and achieve her goal.

Unfortunately, there is a catch in this simple scenario.  In order for the main character to prove her progress, she must show she doesn't need the mentor's help anymore.  Many writers give the main character a chance to act on her own by removing the mentor altogether.  The most well-known and emotional way to accomplish this is to have the mentor die just before the climax.  Gandalf, Obi-Wan, Yoda, Dr. Erskine, and many, many more have perished this way.  It is so common that TV Tropes created a page for it, and hilariously dubbed this phenomenon the Mentor Occupational Hazard.  In other cases, the mentor is simply kidnapped, disappears, or is busy elsewhere, still giving the hero a chance to act on her own.

Whatever happens to the mentor once his role is fulfilled, he is critically important because he often performs the function of an "Impact Character."  The antagonist is responsible for the surface conflict in a story, but the impact character has a deeper function.  The impact character is responsible for the inner conflict that ultimately drives the protagonist to grow or become a better person in some way.  Every story needs an impact character.  Although the impact character isn't always an older and wiser teacher, using a mentor is one of the safest, easiest ways to help guide a protagonist toward truth.

Do you have any examples?

1) Lord of the Rings

It is virtually impossible to talk about famous fictional mentors without mentioning Gandalf the Grey from The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.  Gandalf played the role of mentor for both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, as well as many other characters.  In The Hobbit, he is the one who "encouraged" Bilbo to join the adventure in the first place, and consistently helped to guide him as they quested toward the Lonely Mountain.

Later, in The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf was the one who taught Frodo the importance of the One Ring and sent him on his quest to destroy it.  Gandalf accompanied Frodo and the rest of the Fellowship for most of the first book, but was apparently killed in the Mines of Moria by the Balrog, just in time to leave Frodo all on his own for the climax.  Without Gandalf, Frodo was forced to face the corrupted Boromir alone, and ultimately escape with Sam.  Gandalf reappeared in The Two Towers as Gandalf the White, an even more powerful wizard than before.  When Pippin looked into the palantir, Sauron believed Pippin was the hobbit carrying the One Ring.  To protect Pippin, Gandalf kept the hobbit close to him for the rest of the book, until Pippin pledged his service to the Steward of Gondor.

2) Screwtape Letters

In this book by C.S. Lewis, we see an entirely different sort of mentor.  Although most people consider mentors to be good, there are many notable exceptions, including Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious (Star Wars), Sebastian Shaw (X-Men: First Class), and Screwtape (Screwtape Letters).  Lewis wrote Screwtape Letters as a series of letters from the older, more experienced demon Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood.  Screwtape advised Wormwood on how to ensure a particular man, known as "The Patient," does not find Christ and therefore eternal salvation.  Lewis used this structure to emphasize different tactics evil forces use to turn us away from God, all through the lens of a unique premise.

Screwtape functioned as a mentor to Wormwood, albeit a terrible one.  Some mentors can be genuinely evil and yet be supportive, wise mentors who prepare their students to excel in the future.  Screwtape was not like this.  He encouraged Wormwood to pursue evil and attempt to bring others down with him, expressed no actual affection for his nephew, and when Wormwood ultimately failed and was condemned to death at the hands of the other demons, Screwtape was the most eager to kill him.   Screwtape is a classic mentor and a fantastic example of exactly what a mentor should not be.

3) The Key of Living Fire

In this third book in the Sword of the Dragon series by Scott Appleton, Specter was guided through his difficult spiritual journey by the great white dragon Albino and the prophet Patient.  In the prologue to the first book, Specter was the leader and mentor for the elite warriors that served Albino, but when they all betrayed him for their own personal gain, Specter grew bitter.  Two of them died immediately, another was later killed by Albino's daughters, but the two remaining warriors turned to dark magic in order to bolster their power.  Specter spent much of The Key of Living Fire chasing his former pupil Auron.  If Auron wouldn't repent of his evil ways, Specter would kill him.  After all, Auron was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocents, and fully intended to continue his rampage of destruction.

Even though Specter was a godly man, he became blinded by his own anger.  His obsession with bringing down his former students consumed him.  Albino was not able to interfere with the situation directly, but he and Patient worked hard to show Specter a better path.  Auron could not be allowed to continue, but if Specter let his anger get out of control, he would no longer be doing God's work.  He needed to remember that God was the ultimate judge, and find the peace that comes with surrender to God's control.  Patient and Albino were devoted mentors to Specter and brought him closer to God even as Specter's own former students followed darkness.

Thanks for reading!

Have you noticed how common mentors are in fiction?  What are some of your favorite mentor relationships?  Do you have a mentor, or are you mentoring someone else?  Let us know in the comments!

~ Hannah


Next time, I will finish up the Relationships Beyond Romance series with a final Top 3s post.  If you would like to read the other posts in this series, check out...

Part 1: Overt Friendships
Part 2: Covert Friendships
Part 3: Parent-Child Relationships
Part 4: Siblings
Part 5: Siblings (Again!)

Part 6: Mentors
Part 7: Partners and Companions

Other Resources
- Dramatica has a comprehensive, in-depth article about the eight major character archetypes.
- K.M.Weiland gives a shorter and more reader-friendly post that covers the same archetypes, plus one more.
- Janice Hardy also complied a list of important characteristics of a mentor.

Attributions
Professor X: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c9/Xav-lopr.png
Obi-Wan Kenobi: http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/4/4e/ObiWanHS-SWE.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/500?cb=20111115052816
Gandalf: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/lotr/images/8/8d/Gandalf-2.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130209172436
Screwtape Letters: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81EDnN1NR2L.jpg
The Key of Living Fire: http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344605459l/13185621.jpg

Clean Fiction Blog Tour: A Story Snippet from Traitor! (Laurie)

I'm so excited to bring the Clean Fiction Blog Tour to Lands Uncharted today! For all of March, Story Quest Academy is celebrating clean indie fiction for middle grade and young adult readers with a variety of book reviews, interviews, and other posts from authors and readers. Some of my favorite authors have already been featured, including Liz Delton, J.M. Hackman, and Mollie E. Reeder! I also had the opportunity to share a fun interview over at 5WildeFlowers a few weeks ago :) You can find the full schedule of posts, plus information on an amazing GIVEAWAY, below.

Today, I get to share the *first ever* sneak peek into my upcoming young adult fantasy, Traitor! Eeeek! Traitor is Book Two in my Tales of the Mystics series (though it can be read as a stand-alone) and follows Princess Penelope, who was embroiled in a traitorous plot against her fiancé and his kingdom of Imperia in Book One. The plot was foiled, and Penelope has now returned home in disgrace with both her confidence and her kingdom's relations with Imperia in shambles. This is the very first scene of Traitor, in which Penelope's life takes a new direction (as hinted at in the Epilogue of Common 😊). Enjoy!

Chapter 1

“Exiled to Delunia?” I gripped the edge of my chair before I could topple out of it.

 
When Papa asked me to join him in his study, the nervous twitch of his brow hinted something was wrong. But I’d expected a scolding about the cost of my latest gown or a request to admonish my sister Sophia about her flirtatious behavior or loose tongue.

Not this.

Papa adjusted his collar. “Not exiled, Penelope. It is a betrothal. A joyous occasion.”

Oh, yes. My last engagement had been such bliss.

“The emperor and his son are thrilled to be making the alliance.” He adopted his best diplomatic smile, spreading his hands across the polished surface of his desk.

I swallowed a scoff. Of course they were. The benefit would be entirely on their side. How could Papa even consider it? Delunia was miserably hot, the people were loud and unrefined, and they didn’t speak any form of Sandrinian.

And it was thousands of miles across the sea from my beloved Trellich. From the entire continent of Sandrin.

The nightmare my life had become over the past year was about to get even worse.

“Won’t the voyage take weeks? Will I ever see you again?”

“Only one week, if the weather is favorable.” A ripple pricked through Papa’s confidence. “But it is a long journey, I can’t deny it. We won’t be able to visit often, but I’m sure every few years or so…”

Every few years. I’d almost prefer to separate from them forever than to become a stranger to my own family. “But why? How could anything they’re offering in an alliance be worth sending me so far away?”

He hesitated for a beat. Two. “They trade many valuable materials, and it would certainly be in our best interest to support and encourage those relations.”

“We have valuable items to trade as well,” I argued. “They can’t match our textiles, nor our gemstones. Isn’t that reason enough for the Delunian royal family to foster our trade agreements?”

“Their navy is formidable, the best on the Toan Sea. It wouldn’t hurt to have such might on our side, especially”—he glanced away, avoiding my gaze—“since our relations with Imperia have become more strained than ever.”

“Imperia?” I gritted my teeth. The very name made me want to shudder. “They wouldn’t cause trouble now, not with the new trade agreement in place.”

A knot on the dark wood of Papa’s desk consumed his full interest.

I swallowed a huff of frustration. “Surely, they wouldn’t defy an agreement they so recently—”

“They didn’t sign the agreement, Penelope.” Papa’s gaze collided with mine, roiling with frustration and concern.

“What?”

“I received their response last week.” He massaged his forehead. “They do not wish to enter into negotiations with us at this time.”

My stomach sank so quickly, I expected to hear a thud on the floor. They refused to sign because of me. Our improved alliance was supposed to be sealed by my marriage to Raphael, the Imperian Crown Prince. Instead, I’d gotten mixed up in a treasonous—murderous—plot.

“You’re ashamed of me. That’s why you’re sending me away.” I curled my fingers into the smooth material of my skirt.

“Of course not, dearest.” He leaned back against the curved wood forming the back of his chair. “I, too, misplaced my trust in the Duke of Brantley. He managed to fool us all.” He straightened. “But people will talk, and this marriage might give you a chance for a fresh start.”

A fresh start. Was such a thing possible? Another fiancé. A new country to explore. More opportunities to squander, relationships to destroy.

I gnawed at my lip. No, I mustn’t think like that.

The Duke of Brantley fooled even his dear friends, his own king and queen. I’d never step foot beyond Glonsel Palace again if my every thought anticipated future mistakes.

“Do you know anything of the Delunian prince?” I channeled stern tension into my legs, drawing on every last reserve from my etiquette training to sit still rather than fidget.

Papa smiled, apparently pleased by my feigned interest. “I met him when he was just a boy. A stout little fellow, clearly gentle-hearted and eager to learn. His father has spoken highly of him in his letters. Says he’ll make a fine husband, and one day, emperor.”

As though a father’s word could be trusted on such a subject. Especially when he sought to convince us to agree to the marriage.

But Papa looks so hopeful… “That is—comforting, I suppose. How old is he?” I pressed my lips together to prevent them forming a grimace. Please, Luminate, don’t let him be ancient.

“Only a few years your senior. Nineteen, I believe.”

That, at least, was a relief. “Then I am to be an empress.” The word tasted foreign—equal parts intriguing and distasteful—on my tongue.

“Indeed. And what a lovely one you’ll be.” Papa stood, rounded his desk, and placed a warm hand on my shoulder. “You shall be missed, child, more than I can say. But I do think it’s for the best. You’ve an entire lunar cycle to prepare for your departure, so take some time to get adjusted to the idea.”

An entire lunar cycle. He spoke the words as though they described a vast length of time, not the span of four weeks.

I rose, tucking my hands behind my back to hide their trembling. “I have much to think on and prepare. I’d best—”

“Of course.”

I hardly registered his reply before he clenched me tightly to his chest. Burying my face in his velvet doublet, I shut my eyes against welling tears. I’d be with my family for a lunar cycle yet, and they’d visit every once in a while. We could always write letters that would take weeks to travel across the Toan Sea…

A whimper escaped, and Papa clutched me tighter. Please, don’t make me go.

I can't wait to share the rest of the story with you!! Traitor will be published on April 27th and is now available for pre-order! If you're interested, you can find all the pre-order links HERE. And as a huge thank you for your interest in my book, I'm offering some pre-order goodies! Fill out THIS FORM, and I'll send you:

• Two art prints by the amazing SlisbyScribbles (one of Leah and Prince Raphael from Common, and one of Princess Penelope and her new fiancé Prince Vander from Traitor);
• Two double-sided bookmarks (one for you and one for a friend!);
• One signed bookplate (paperback orders only); and
• An EXCLUSIVE bonus scene from Common written in Prince Raphael's perspective!

*Art prints, bookmarks, and signed bookplates can be mailed to U.S. addresses only. (Sorry, international shipping is rough!). But the bonus scene from Common will be e-mailed as a PDF and is available internationally!*

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek at Traitor, let me know what you think in the comments!

As promised, I've included the entire schedule below! And remember that mention of a giveaway? To enter, just comment on and share posts in the Clean Fiction Blog Tour! (When sharing posts, make sure to tag @StoryQuesters so they can count your entry.) The prize pack includes a scholarship to Story Quest Academy, plus e-books and swag from many of the participating authors! You can find the full details HERE--good luck and happy reading!

March 1st Story Quest Academy

March 2nd Ellie Naomi

March 3rd Julie Gilbert

March 4th Jasmine Natasha

March 5th Liz Delton

March 6th Mark Hansen

March 7th Ian Vroon

March 8th Story Quest Academy

March 9th Nicholas Kotar

March 10th J.M. Hackman

March 11th Mark Hansen

March 12th Courtenay Kasper

March 13th Debbie Schreffler

March 14th Story Quest Academy

March 15th Steven Guglich

March 16th Laurie Lucking

March 17th Julie Gilbert

March 18th Meg Dendler

March 19th Nicholas Kotar

March 20th Courtenay Kasper

March 21st Story Quest Academy

March 22nd Molly Casperson

March 23rd D.J. Edwardson

March 24th Marty C Lee

March 25th Molly Casperson

March 26th Mark Hansen

March 27th Allison Tebo

March 28th Story Quest Academy

March 29th Debbie Schreffler

March 30th Nicholas Kotar 

March 31st Molly Casperson

Author Endorsements (Laurie)

You signed a book publishing contract, or have decided to move forward with self-publishing your manuscript - yay!! But your publisher wants a list of endorsers, or someone recommended that you get a set of endorsements for your work...eeeek! Endorsements are a very commonplace occurrence in the publishing industry, but they can be pretty intimidating for the first-time author. At least, they were for me! But I was fortunate to have very good luck in getting quite a few endorsements for my debut novel, Common (which happens to be on sale at the moment...), so I thought I would share a bit about the process and my recommendations. Keep in mind that my viewpoint comes from working with a small publisher and larger publishers may approach this very differently, but hopefully my tips are still helpful from a general networking perspective :)

The "Who"
The first big question that you need to address when considering endorsers is, of course, who should I ask? Obviously, endorsements from big name authors will make a larger impact, but you're also much less likely to actually receive an endorsement from a big name author unless you have a substantial connection with him or her. Also, not every author who agrees to consider endorsing your work will end up providing an endorsement, either because they didn't connect with your story, didn't have an opportunity to read it during the given time frame, or any number of reasons. So if you have a set number in mind, I would suggest putting together a list that's slightly longer than that target to account for authors who aren't able to follow through.

It's also best to have endorsers who write in a similar genre to the book you're publishing. First, if the authors truly enjoy your book and are willing to help promote it beyond just the endorsement, their promotion will be much more helpful if it reaches readers who like to read your chosen genre. Second, the backing of authors of a similar genre will carry more weight than authors who write something completely different, because that's the genre they've studied and have experience in.

Whether big name or up-and-coming, the best authors to ask for endorsements are ones you have relationships with. Ideally, writers you've met at conferences, writing groups, or elsewhere, but even having a connection through e-mail or social media can make a significant difference in whether you receive a response to your endorsement inquiry. Fellow authors from your publisher or groups where you're active on Facebook can also be good places to start.

When I sought endorsers for Common, I contacted a wide range of authors - several big name authors I'd interacted with a bit on social media, a few close friends from my critique group, some authors from my publisher who write for a similar audience, some authors I've interviewed here at Lands Uncharted, and many friends and acquaintances I met on my first trip to Realm Makers (a conference for Christian writers of fantasy and science fiction). Of the bigger name authors I'd contacted, most didn't respond at all, one declined very kindly, and the one I knew the best due to meeting her in person and multiple interactions online, said yes! :) I had a few non-responses from other authors I contacted as well, but for the most part my friends and acquaintances were very generous in offering their help and encouragement.


The "How"
Once you know who you want to ask, then there's the little matter of figuring out how to approach them. My first recommendation would be to make your request friendly but professional. Avoid contacting the author through social media if possible (unless you've interacted there frequently enough that it will help them remember you), and instead reach out through e-mail or a contact form on their website. Also, be sure to personalize your request. Remind them where you've met or connected in the past, and tell them what you loved about their latest book. Just as when you're approaching an agent or publisher, if you're asking this person to invest their time and reputation on your book, they deserve to know why you think they're a good fit and that you've invested time in their work as well.

I would suggest including a short excerpt or blurb in your request to give the author a sense of your writing style and whether it's the kind of story they enjoy reading. In addition, be sure to specify up front what the expectations are for timing, length / style of endorsement, etc. And thank them for their time, regardless of whether they agree to endorse or not. Even if it doesn't work out this time, you want your endorsement request to pave the way for a stronger connection in the future, not to burn bridges or leave a negative impression.

If the author says yes, hooray! But don't be too quick to send your manuscript. Generally, endorsement copies are sent out before the final proofreading, but after the initial rounds of edits have fixed plot holes, caught major issues, etc. If a book is sent to endorsers too early, they may be concerned that the final product will be too unprofessional to want their name associated with it. On the flip side, make sure to give endorsers a reasonable turn-around time to read your book and share their thoughts. Considering how busy most authors are, I'd say you need to give endorsers at least a few weeks, ideally a month or more to read your work and get back to you. And if the initial time frame you shared with them changes, let them know! Many authors don't get to read a lot of books in between their own deadlines, so help them plan ahead by keeping them updated on when your book will be available.

For Common, I started reaching out to potential endorsers about a year before my book was published, but you probably don't need that much lead-in time :) After my initial round of requests, I did follow up with a few authors I didn't hear back from, but only if I had a stronger connection with them. Our initial estimate for sending out my manuscript ended up being off by a few months, so I let the endorsers know when I had updates on the timing (based on the feedback I received, they seemed to find that very helpful!). We sent out the manuscript before the final round of formatting and editing and gave endorsers about five weeks to respond. As a snapshot of my own experience, out of the 22 authors I initially asked to endorse my book, 17 agreed to consider it, and 14 ended up endorsing - as I said before, I was very fortunate and am so grateful to all the generous authors who took the time to read my book!!


The Preparation
Even if you're not planning to publish a book any time soon (and even if you don't think you'll ever want / need endorsements!), if you're an aspiring author, I would highly recommend starting to make connections with authors in your genre right now. If you're able to attend conferences or local writing groups, that's by far the best way to make personal connections with fellow authors. Also, keep an eye out for book fairs, comic cons, or other events in your area that offer opportunities to meet authors. If you can't meet them in person, follow authors through their newsletters and on social media. If they ask a question or are looking for feedback, don't be afraid to respond! Most authors love interacting with readers :) Go out and read their books, and share on social media how much you enjoyed them! If you have a blog, inviting authors to visit for guest posts or interviews can be a great way to make connections. It's no guarantee, but I do think authors will be much more likely to pay attention to your book if they've seen your name around for a while and in a number of contexts, not just when you're asking them for a favor. And based on what I've observed, people notice when you're a team player in the publishing industry. As in many areas of life, authors are much happier to help someone who is out there engaging in the writing community and promoting others in addition to marketing their own work.


What do you think? Authors who have sought endorsements, what was your experience like? Aspiring authors, is there anything from this post you have already or would like to put into practice?


Thanks for reading!
Laurie

Biomes Part 1: The Natural World (Hannah)

Note: In this post, I am assuming you are not simply using a location that already exists, and are therefore (to some degree) creating your own world. This may also apply to historical settings if there is not enough available information to base your story completely on fact.

“Biome” seems like a simple topic, and really, it is. You can say “desert,” “tundra,” or “tropical island” and in an instant, everyone around you is flooded with related images, feelings, and ideas. This can be a benefit when explaining your story to others. But as a writer, you will quickly find that saying your story is set in “a rainforest,” for example, is nowhere near good enough.

For some people, like me, the setting is determined by the plot. If my main characters didn’t live underground, a lot of the story would be very different. For other people, the biome can be added after the story without changing it much. Whichever category you fall into, choosing your biome (or several) is one of the first steps in setting up your world.

So what is a biome, and why is it so important? A biome is defined as “a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat.” Choosing your biome means choosing the weather conditions, what resources will be available to your characters, and what daily life will look like.

In an overall sense, there are two types of biomes: biomes that exist in real life, and biomes that are created specifically for a particular story. Real biomes are definitely the easiest because there is a lot of factual information available, and often thousands of years of real civilizations that have figured out how to thrive in that setting. At that point, it is mostly a matter of doing your research. If you are creating a setting that is only loosely based on one that exists, you will have to do more work, but will have the benefit of a good starting foundation. Creating an entirely new biome is the most difficult as it requires a lot of critical thinking, planning, and brainstorming.

Climate and General Landscape

Despite the definition I gave above, a biome is generally defined by its climate. There are far too many for me to list, but this site gives a large amount of basic information on many different biomes.  It has pages for aquatic biomes, deserts, forests, grasslands, and tundra, and it covers many sub-types in those pages. These are very helpful if you just want to get an idea of what different ecosystems are like, and what wildlife is likely to be found there.

The first day of 30 Days of Worldbuilding has a related short exercise that fits in very well with this section. Try it out: Day 1: Climate and Variety.

If you are creating your own climate that is somewhat similar to earth, here are some things to consider:

• How hot or cold is it? 
• It is very wet, or mostly dry? 
• Are there mountains, hills, valleys, cliffs, or is it mostly flat? 
• In general, are there lots of trees, are they sparse, or are there no trees at all? 
• Is there lush green grass, wide prairie expanses, dirt, sand, or clay? 
• How large is your biome? How long would it take to travel across it? 
• In general, what are the surrounding areas like? 
• Is your biome landlocked, or does it border an ocean or sea? 
• What are some of the neighboring biomes? (This will come in handy later.) 

Keep in mind that if your story takes place across more than one biome (like mine does), you will have to answer separately for each distinct region.

Weather and Natural Disasters

Have you ever lived in a place that has no weather? Such a place does not exist on earth. If your setting is even mildly earthlike, chances are it will have weather of some sort. Of course, perhaps it would be interesting to consider a world without weather… But in most cases, unless explicitly stated otherwise, you will have to consider weather.

Weather can be tricky, since it is an intricate subject that not even meteorologists understand (which is why weather predictions are often wrong). The easiest way to handle it is to do some research on a similar region on earth. It doesn’t have to be perfectly scientific; all you need is a general idea.

For example, in central Florida, during the summer it rains for a couple of hours every afternoon, and then at the beginning of fall is hurricane season. It is mostly dry during the winter with mild temperatures in the high 60 to low 80-degree range, but summers reach over 100 degrees with limited breezes unless you are on the coast.

A simple summary like this is probably all you need. Unless you are writing hard science fiction, it doesn’t have to be perfect, just consistent. Besides, knowing the general weather pattern will help tremendously in rounding out your world and making it feel more realistic and developed.

Everyday weather isn’t the only thing to consider, though. You may have noticed that I mentioned hurricanes as regular yearly occurrences. Nearly every area has some sort of natural disaster that is common. In the U.S., states bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico get hit frequently by violent hurricanes. Tornadoes are common in the Midwestern states. Hawaii has the world’s largest active volcano. Countries like Japan, Indonesia, and Australia suffer from many earthquakes, and tsunamis plague most countries bordering the Pacific Ocean. Sandstorms in the desert can be deadly, and droughts can devastate a nation. Floods, hail, and unexpectedly heavy snow can be brutal as well. Don’t forget to consider the worst-case scenario possibilities for your setting.

Weather questions to consider:

• How often does it rain? 
• Does it get cold enough to snow, and how long is the snowy season? 
• Are there mild breezes or violent winds? 
• When are the rainy and dry seasons? 
• What natural disasters, if any, are common? 

The related 30 Days of Worldbuilding day is Day 2: Physical Planet.

Reni: Hannah, I’m pretty sure this violates the terms of our contract. You are two-thirds of the way through this post and I haven’t even said anything yet!

Hannah: I’m easing you in. After all, you may be a world traveler, but you aren’t a writer – not yet anyway. Nevertheless, I will let you take the next section.

Reni: Perfect. This one’s my favorite…

An Unnatural World

What if your biome is radically different from anything humans have ever attempted? Earth-like places are overrated, after all. The world is at your fingertips! Your characters might be living underground, in the depths of the sea, in the vacuum of space, on the surface of the sun, in a world sustained in impossible ways because of magic, or in some other fantasy scenario. This is where the real fun begins!

Hannah: Reni, your bias is showing.

Reni: Of course it is! Why shouldn’t it?

Hannah: If you are writing an informative post like this, you should be careful not to choose one subjective opinion over the other. State the facts and let the readers decide their opinions for themselves.

Reni: That’s ridiculous. Why write if I can’t share my opinion?

Hannah: That’s not how it’s supposed to be done…

Reni: Too bad! As long as I am contributing my knowledge, I will also be contributing my opinions. Anyway, back to the post…

If you are taking the hard route, you have a lot more to consider since you will likely have to make it all up for yourself. Hannah will come back to this again, but for now, try to use any of the elements in the first two sections that would be applicable.

Your species may not need water to survive, so rain or water may not be an issue. Your terrain might be made of stone, space dust, a coral reef, or any other material imaginable. There may or may not be plants of any sort, or plants might be the basis of the entire planet. Since there is so much variability, try to see what sort of landscape features in your world might function in a similar way to other features in earth. Unfortunately, even if you are bravely stepping away from the established world you live in, it is easiest if you can relate it back to the familiar. That will at least give you a framework to start asking questions.

Weather is similarly difficult. Underwater, there will be no rain or wind. However, currents may be comparable to wind, and a particularly violent one might be a natural disaster that affects your characters. Underground in the Vania Peninsula (an unfriendly territory in Ruavaen), there is virtually no weather of any sort. The temperature is consistent year-round, there is no rain or wind, and it is very isolated. However, earthquakes still cause damage, underwater rivers and springs can be accidentally freed leading to flooding, or a particular area may be extremely hot due to a nearby volcano.

One idea is to find a community campfire with other travelers you don’t know, tell them interesting stories to charm them into being talkative, and then interrogate them for their contributions.

Hannah: That’s not as easy on earth as it is in the Ruavaen wilderness.

Reni: See? This is why you create a world that isn’t related to earth at all. That way you can include great ideas like this.

Ok, we’ll try it the earth way. Gather a bunch of your friends who don’t think like you and brainstorm some different ideas and angles to help you get an idea of your world. But remember that stranger-campfire plan. I think it’s a winner.

• What is the landscape made out of?
• Is the terrain flat or dynamic?
• What are the nearby biomes like? 
• What bodies of water/life-giving liquid are nearby? 
• What natural shelter is there – caves, trees, outcroppings, or something else? 
• Does the temperature stay the same or does it fluctuate? 
• Does it have a regular pattern, like seasons? 
• How long is each season? 
• What is the range of temperatures? 
• Is there weather of any sort? 
• Is there anything comparable to weather that might serve the same purpose? (For example: currents, meteor showers, magnetic field disruptions, solar flares, radiation storms, ect.) 
• What natural disasters might disrupt daily life or cause significant damage? 

Hannah: Ok… Thanks, Reni. I’ll take it from here.

Reni: Aww…

In Conclusion

Landscape, climate, and weather play a huge part in the development of a civilization. They affect everything from the available resources (and therefore economy) to what buildings are important to what food your people eat and what clothes they wear… This is the foundation of your civilization. Over the next two weeks, take some time to consider the biome or biomes that are important to your characters, because next time I will get into how you figure out what resources your biome offers, and how those affect your economy and culture.

Thanks for reading! As always, questions, comments, opinions, and ideas are always welcome in the comments. And now I’m curious: what biome or biomes have you chosen?