Non-political views

     Alright, there has been a lot going on in this country (USA) and let's face it, it hasn't all be good. But I did just want to make a quick post and let you all know this. I won't be talking about it here. It won't come up and my personal views will not be expressed here. This blog is about fantasy, and books, and good things in life. I believe that politics are to depressing and it pulls out a monster in everyone and that doesn't belong here.

Silver Mane - Part 4

Start Here

     The monster of a wolf stood there a moment, his eyes meeting his alpha’s and with no more than a curl of her lip, he bowed low and walked away. Within a moment he returned dragging the kill into the center of the pack. Stela pulled her human up with her, watching any who would oppose her and tore into the dead animal. She ripped out the heart and dropped it in Ana’s hands. A grin was on her bloody face and without a second thought she dug into the animal, the pack following her lead.

     Ana had the still bleeding heart in her hands as she backed away from the circle of wolves. It was a feeding frenzy and she wanted nothing to do with it all. She looked at the organ in her hand. She knew what it meant, she wasn’t stupid. It was a vital organ, normally given to those who are most important. Alphas, and expecting mothers. As far as she knew, she was neither. She plopped herself down on the ground and rooted around for two stones and some small twigs. She quickly built herself a fire. One final perk of being someone’s slave, you knew how to make fire in a hurry. She laughed at the memory of having her master’s cane come down across her back. She could laugh because she knew that it would never happen again. The thought gave her piece of mind.

     She took the raw organ and slowly cooked it over the small fire, her eyes never leaving the feeding wolves. It was odd, in a good way. It reminded her of a home that she never had. A family eating around the table, as one. She sighed and dug into her own dinner. This would be her life now. The wolves, her family, at least until they got tired of her. The meat was oddly sweet compared to what she was used to. It was heavy and thick and oddly the most amazing piece of meat she had ever ate.

     The feeding came to a close as the pack members had their fill of the animal. Stela walked over to Ana and sat down, her paws heavy on the grass. “Did you get enough?” She nosed at the woman, her breath hot as she spoke.

      This was the most kindness that anyone had ever shown Ana in her life. This so called monster had more grace and respect than her old master and he ruled lands. She found herself smiling at the question and as she turned her head her eyes met those of her wolf. It already didn’t scare her anymore. She was easing into their lives and for once she was happy. The eyes that watched her blinked slowly and every move the animal made was slow and deliberate, making sure not to scare her. The paw moved up and brushed a strand of hair out of the girls face. Ana found her breath caught in her chest for a moment, then she remembered the question. “Yes, I did, thank you.”

Part 5

Writers and Ice Cream Shops

     I was reading a ebook today on my train ride home and ran across something that got my brain working. Up until this moment I had been thoroughly enjoying the book. It’s called “52 Ways to Sell More Books” by Penny C. Sansevieri. Here is the exert from the book, it was in a chapter about knowing your industry.

“What would you think of a store owner who opened a yogurt shop in downtown San Diego only to find that fave other stores were opening within months of his, one of them a very successful franchise with a huge following? Wouldn’t this make you sort of wonder why on earth this store owner would do that, I mean open a store without doing the proper research?”

Now when I first ready this I had to pause a few moments and reread it just to be sure I got this right. Because that wasn’t actually the first thing I thought about. I didn’t in fact wonder why he would do that, because while in the end game it might not have been the smartest choice, we don’t know his full plans. I thought a man here has a goal and a dream, and he’s doing whatever it is that he set his mind to. That part was inspiring.

Let’s face it, Most big chain ice cream/ yogurt shops have all the same stuff, are priced a tad too high and have a high percentage of High Schooler employees. If this man does things well, and proper, and brings something new that those big name places can’t. He right there would have a hand up on the market. Maybe he will make all of his product in house and fresh, instead of from some bag mix shipped from a warehouse.

It hurt me a bit when I read this and I took some time to reflect on how it was said, because yes I can understand her point, and the need to know what your industry is doing, but with how she words it, none of us should be writing. Taking the same example that she gave us. “Why do something when someone bigger than you is already doing it?” If that was the case, we should all give up now because I’m fairly sure most of the basic ideas have been used.

I personally believe that no two minds work the same or think alike. How you write something, let’s say a dragon setting a city on fire, and how I write it, can come across very different to a number of readers. Some will like yours others will like mine. So back to the ice cream shop. If you write, and you specialize in something. You write it. Take those big ideas and open your mind and heart up and let it loose next to those “big chains” (or authors in this case.) and show the world how you do it differently. We need stories, books, ideas. We need them to be new and fresh because what works for you, doesn’t always work for me.

What are your feelings on this topic?  

Silver Mane - Web series part 3

Part one here.

     “Pack?” Ana’s eyes got big and she sat at full attention.

     Stela nodded. “Yes. I am the alpha so as long as you are mine, you are safe. They should be back from the hunt soon.” She smiled. It was odd to see a smile on the canine muzzle. Her lips pulled back while she tried to mimic the look humans normally have but with her teeth it looked like something from a nightmare. “I bet you are hungry.” There was still a hint of satisfaction in her deep grumbling voice.

     As long as I was hers? The thought alone sent Ana back into fight or flight mode. She seemed to escape one cage only to land into another one. She curled herself back up and only nodded. She was hungry but the voice inside her was still worried about everything. She was so unsure how her life was about to change. In one sudden swoop she felt like the world was turned upside down. Or perhaps it was just her hanging. The howl in the distance pulled her away from the what if’s.

     “Come, meet them.” The wolf finally stood up to her full height and out stretched a paw to the girl who sat still on the bed of straw. “They will be excited to meet you, Ana.”

     The girl reached up, her hand hovering just over the paw pads of the beast who was now in charge of her life. She still felt safe but also still scared. The two stayed like that for a moment. The wolf never pushing her. That gave her a settling feeling. Ana threw caution into the wind and let her fingers fall against the soft pads. With one swift movement she was pulled ever so gently to her feet. Her head spun for a moment for not moving for so long. She thought for a brief moment that she would fall, but before her body could even give out, Stela was right there pressed against her. Keeping her stable for a few moments before she stepped back and led the human out of the cave.

     The sun was still setting and it seemed as if time itself had stopped. Ana blinked as her eyes adjusted to the bright light, compared to the darkness of the cave. She looked around here. There was a collection of massive wolves just like the one who had been talking to her all afternoon. Each was slightly different. Stela took her time and introduced each one in turn. First she pointed to a pure white wolf. “That’s Kavos.” He nodded and stepped back. A light tan one took his place. “Tucker.” He was smaller than the others and thin but he was still much larger than Ana was. A black and silver wolf stepped up next. “Alice.” She nodded and hopped back, perching herself on a rock. Another stepped up and took her place. A total of about seven wolves were introduced in this manner. Ana smiled and nodded as each one bowed to her, even though she knew she wouldn’t remember them all. It was such an odd feeling, even, happy.

     The last one that lumbered up had a stag slung over his shoulder. This wolf however was more than twice the size as the others. He was a true beast. “Aurel.” Stela nodded in his direction as he tossed the animal onto the ground. He grunted and stepped closer to the human instead of away. His nostrils sucked in air. It smelled on her and he snorted as he stood back up to his full height. “Problem?” Stela’s lip curled as she spoke.

     He crossed his arms over his chest and kept himself squared with his alpha. “She’s human.” Every other wolf tucked their ears and just watched.

     Stela pulled the girl closer against her body. “And she is mine.” All of emphases was placed on the last word.


Part 4

Current Reading Exert - A Game of Thrones

            "The Other said something in a language that Will did not know; his voice was like the cracking of ice on a winter lake, and the words were mocking."

     I just want to talk a bit about this line. It is from A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. To sum up the book for those of you who haven't seen the T.V. series or read the book; it's a massive collection of seven books total that follows a few different characters through the worst winter many of the lands residents have ever seen. There are supernatural forces waiting outside the kingdom's protective walls. So the main conflict lies with the Stark family of Winterfell. They seem to have a lot on their hands. 

     So far I really am still early in the book, only a few chapters in out of a 800+ page novel. However this little piece stood out to me. There was so much in that single line. There was feeling. Emotional and physical. It drew in all of my senses and really made my heart race a bit at the thought. That my friends, is good story telling. Those are some goals that I hope to reach in my lifetime.

     What have you been reading recently? What's a line or two that really stand out to you?

Want more Werewolves? Beta reader offer.

     As some of you know I have recently been posting parts to this web series that I am working on. It's an adventure/romance about werewolves and I have a lot planned for this little project. I hope to spread it out over a few months and at one point release the entire collection with some bonus content. That's for later. For now, I hope you are asking, "how do I get more now?"

     That is a very simple answer. I am looking to build a group of beta readers. Not only for this project but for some future ones as well. As a special reward, you will get the Sunday release, emailed directly to you on Friday. You will also get a few other bonuses from this, like updates on my future work, as well as discounts and even free books to read! 

     Now if this sounds like something your interested in please finish reading and click the link at the bottom. All you have to do is subscribe with just a simple email (the one I'll be sending things to!). I also will promise you this, I'll never sell your email or give it away, it is only as a way for me to send you things, and gives you a way to reply, that's fairly simple on everyone. 

     I am going to ask from you is a few things. Out of this group I am looking for real feedback on these projects. I want to hear from you and get your feelings on how things are going and even hear your ideas. If you are not up to keep in contact, that is okay. Do feel free to sign up, however you might get limited emails instead. 

Still interested? Click Here! And subscribe. It's right on the home page. 

Silver Mane - A webseries Part 2

Read part one here.

     Ana woke, dawn well sense passed. She pulled herself up and looked around. She was on a pile of warm straw, with a massive pelt of thick fur slid down her body as she sat up. She didn’t recognize this place at all. The walls were of stone and there was only dim lighting from small bowls of fire that hung on the walls. She was the only one that was there. There was straw in her auburn hair and she picked it out while she focused. She tried to remember what had gotten her here.

     A soft noise echoed through the stone cavern. Something soft was falling on the stone floor. Her amber eyes fought to adjust to the dim lighting. Her eyes couldn’t seem to adjust in time as a massive shadow blocked the light from the wall lamp. Her breath left her body as Ana’s mind was flooded with the memories of the night before. Again she found herself wanting to run, but she was still planted on the warm straw.

     The massive wolf let itself fall onto all fours and sunk down to the ground. The large creature was laughable while it attempted to make itself seem smaller than it actually was. The creature crawled closer to the girl who was in shock. Its mouth moved, lips curling. “Are you well?” It was a growl of a voice and yet it had a light tone to it.

     Ana’s eyes widened at the words. She never thought that a monster like this could speak. Her body trembled but her mind was what centered her. If it had wanted her dead, she would have been dead by now. She took a deep breath while the beast waited for the answer. It’s eyes never leaving her. “I,” She stumbled over the words in her own head. “I, I believe that I am.” She paused while the canine sat up slightly, its ears swiveling at her words. “Who are you?”

     “Stela.” Its mouth moved again while it sat there. It was odd. The creature sat on its rear with its legs stretched out. Her spine hunched over. It looked like an odd mix of dog and human. “You are?” Her words were crude at best, but her tone stayed soft, considering all of her teeth made certain syllables harder.

     The odd idle conversation was enough to make Ana relax. The tension eased enough so that she felt like she could breath again. The air in the cave felt fresh, yet heavy. She took in a deep breath while she focused on the wolf before her. There was a softness about the animal. She wanted to trust her. “Ana.” She pulled her legs up against her chest.

     “Ana.” The wolf repeated. It continued to sit in the awkward position while its eyes never left the girl. “Why were those dogs chasing you?” She cocked her head to the side like an inquiring pet would at a new command.

     There was a pause and a stillness in the air. Ana’s smile quickly slipped away at the new topic. “Those were wolves.” She started to speak, but a garbled laugh stopped her words.

     “I am a wolf, they are just hounds with no real thought process.” Stela interrupted. She went silent again to let the woman finish her story.

     “Oh.” Her brain grasped the concept. This was her first meeting of a werewolf, so she decided not to correct the beast. “Anyway, I had escaped their master. He was keeping me as a potential bride but he was a cruel man. So I freed myself and ran.” She went quiet again and fell into a trail of thoughts. “Please don’t make me go back.” Her words came suddenly.

     The werewolf was taken aback by them. Her head cocked again. “Of course you will not be returning. You will be part of my pack from this day forth.” 

Part 3

A little help from you all.

     Hey there, even if you are just passing by for a few moments and you see something you like. Do me the kind favor and like/share/comment. Anything.

     Why should you do this you ask? What do you get out of it? Well here's the simple truth. I don't know how you feel about something unless I hear from you. If you read something and like it, let me know. Then I know what you are enjoying from my blog. That means I will make more. If you like an ongoing series, then share it with your friends. They might enjoy it too. It helps me gauge what you are all enjoying so we all can waste less time and get right to the good stuff.

     So, if you want more werewolves, tell me. Want some odd space alien abduction, let me know. I might not always do what everyone wants, but odds are, you'll see it sooner if you comment or like as opposed to just staying quiet.


     Thanks for all your help, reads, and support!

Silver Mane - A web series part 1

     Night fell in Romania and the north wind swept in quickly. It was only August and snow was already on the winds. It was going to be a cold one that was for sure. A shrill scream ripped through the dense forest. Ana's heart pounded against her ribs, her breath was coming in short gasps. Her feet were bare and stones assaulted her feet but she paid them no mind. She was just praying that she would see the sun rise. A howl echoed off the same trees. Their padded feet followed the same path that the human had just ran. They were closing the distance very quickly. Their breath streamed from their nostrils.

     Ana turned to look behind her. That was her first mistake. There was a pack of wolves chasing her. There were four of the massive beasts. All in different colors. It would have been beautiful if not for their teeth that gleamed in the bright moonlight. She kept running while she wasn't looking. That was her second mistake that night. Ana hit a wall, or at least what felt like a wall. It was solid however, it was warm. It was also covered in fur. The momentum she had knocked her back a few steps and then she noticed what was standing before her. Her eyes went wide as her blood ran cold.

     The wall of fur wasn't a wall at all. A monster stood there before her. It stood taller than any man. Its ears might have even brushed against the tavern door frame. It also wasn't just covered in fur, under the thick pelt was cords of muscles. The fur was a deep black with silver highlights that glimmered in the light. The beast snorted. Warm wisps of breath streamed from its nostrils.

     Ana's eyes met the creatures. They were gold and they seemed to trap her. She willed herself to run. Run while she had the chance, but something in those eyes held her still. Ana let out the breath she was holding as the small pack of wolves entered the small clearing that she hadn't seem to notice before. She looked back at them. She was surrounded by wolves and she knew she was doomed.

     The small pack looked up from their hunt. Even their eyes widened at the sight of the massive wolf that was standing on two legs. One snapped at the monster. Demanding his prey that they had been chasing.

     The wolf that stood on two legs spoke. It's voice was a growl, but still clear enough. "Get out mutts, these woods aren't yours." As the words left it's muzzle it released a primal howl and stepped forward, squaring itself up towards the smaller dogs. Without a second thought they turned tail and ran back the way they came. Ana had stood there the whole time. Her eyes were on the largest wolf she had ever seen. The creature turned back to her. Those golden eyes holding her captive. "Are you well?" The animal's voice was much softer, but still had a deep growl in it.

     Ana opened her mouth to speak but her head spun when she tried. She felt herself falling but couldn't stop herself. She felt the ground hit her, but her eyes were already closed by that point. A bit of shock hit the werewolf's face. Normally people feinted before this point. The wolf shrugged and picked up the limp human bridal style and carried her deeper into its forest.


Part 2

The next book that I would like to read.

     I read a lot. Some would say way to much, but considering I could be doing meth instead, I think this is a pretty safe hobby. Anyway, I was out and about today and picked up a flyer of Indy novels that are going to be released this month. I thought that was very interesting and I haven't seen it before, so I grabbed a copy. 

     As I read through it, I was excited to see one book on there. "The Bear and the Nightingale: A Novel" By Katherine Arden. With the book came the price and the books description. 

"The Bear and the Nightingale is an enchanting mix of fairy tale, fanasy, and historical fiction set in medieval Russia. (That right there sucked me in!) Nestled between the northern wilderness and civilization is a village where old and new traditions live side by side. Vasya, the last daughter of Pyotr and Marina, is born on the howling winds of autumn. Different from the others in her village, she is destined to be like her grandmother and is gifted with powers by birthright. As time goes by, Vasya is tested. Caught in the conflict between the old spirits and the new religion, Vasya must do everything in her power to save her family and village. Arden's novel is the rich, mesmerizing fairy tale you've been waiting for!"

     I really hope to pick up a copy soon, it sounds like something interesting and right up my alley. If you get it before me, please tell me what you think about it!

~Skadia

Top 5 Favorite Fantasy Novels

     I have lived a thousand lives. Each book I read takes me to a different place. A different time. A different life. It never ceases to amaze me, and it never gets old. Over my many hardcore years of reading I have picked up a few that refuse to get out of my head. If you have read them, then you know what I mean, if you haven't, give them a shot.


1. One of my all time favorite series is the Dragonlance Series by Wies and Hickman. It has strong characters that will stick with you long after the book ends. I still remember things from them and I haven't even looked at the book in years. Dragons, magic, and an ongoing story line that stays interesting.

2. Belladonna. Okay so that's really the second in a series but it's amazing. I bought it first and read it, only to find out that there was something that came before it. I adored the strong female lead who was less than perfect. It was very refreshing for the main character to be almost evil, a bit twisted and definitely dark.

3. Winterwood. This one is a recent read and I can't wait for the next one to come out. I very rarely will buy/read unfinished series. The wait kills me, but I couldn't help myself. Another very strong female lead. Nothing overly special about her but it's a very smooth read and really get's you pulled in.

4. We all knew that this was going to be on here and again it's another series. Harry Potter. I'm a nerd. I like the magic and the creatures and Rowling really has the entire world so fleshed out that it makes it just believable enough that you might start hoping for your own letter to Hogwarts.

5. Witchling. Here again I'm pulling a book that's part of a series but I really think this (and the others in it's set) are worth a spot here. This set is more geared towards romance, but it has plenty of fantasy. It has some pretty awesome creatures and again some beautiful main characters that aren't afraid to show their faults.

     Again, theses are just some of my own personal favorites. There are so many good books out there some days it's hard for me to pick what I love more than others. This small set have just stuck with me over years.


I'm currently reading A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.

New Year, New Goals

     So last year I did what I did. It wasn't a bad year for me and I am beyond proud of myself. (We all need a little self love sometimes.) I published a total of 5 shorts, and read a lot of books. My favorite this year, was Winterwood. A beautiful pirate novel where a woman has to find herself, by figuring out her past. I really enjoyed it, so go check it out if you're into female leads.

     I didn't do as much as I wanted to. I had high hopes for myself to release quite a few more shorts and even a novel or two. I just didn't get there this time. I also didn't finish my NaNoWriMo this year. I came close with around 40,000 words, but work bogged me down with the holidays. I'll perhaps try again next year.

      I learned a lot. I found myself in my writing and found what works of mine really sing, and what ones didn't. That was a surprise. I also found out that I could write a 40,000 word novel while working two jobs. That was also a surprise.

     My hopes for this year. To write. To keep writing. To pour my heart onto the pages for you all to enjoy, but mostly to just get the voices out of my head. I do plan on redoing this blog. I want to shift my focus from just updates to more of a free web series. I will be testing the waters on this project over the next few weeks.


     I wish you all a very happy and safe new year. May this one be the best so far.
~Skadia