Tag Archives: midnight guardian series

Surviving the Storm

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On Friday evening, I arrived home and barely set my purse down before I heard the wind coming on like a freight train. With little warning, a storm with “hurricane-force” winds hit our region and left devastation and dark houses behind.

The miracle workers at AEP (Appalachain Electric Power) continue to work 16+ hour days to restore power under a record-breaking heat wave. I would like to send out a big THANK YOU to these folks. Our power came back yesterday – yeah! no more cold showers by glow stick!!

Seriously though, it could have been much worse than a cold shower. God watches over us, kiddos. I have no doubt about that.

So, back to business as usual. Because of the lack of power, phone, or even cell signal after the storm, I was unable to reveal the teaser trailer for Book 4, Shadows Rising, on Sunday as planned. So here it is…

Easter Eggs: Midnight Child

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Happy Easter everyone! As has now become tradition, I present the 2nd annual Easter egg post. This year’s post is all about “Easter Eggs” (those little hidden treasures) in my newest book, Midnight Child, Book 3 in the Midnight Guardian series.

So, here are the stories behind the story. Enjoy!

frog princess ornament & decorating gingerbread men on Christmas Eve – Keira mentions to Brun that her favorite Christmas ornament is a frog princess. This is a reference to a new trilogy that I’ve been working on.

Continue reading →

Hunger Games: DISTRICT INDIE

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This week’s YA Indie Carnival hot topic is The Hunger Games. Carnival writers and reviewers were asked to reap a boy and girl “tribute” to compete. Thinking on the Midnight Guardian Series, Brun and Broo Gammen immediately come to mind.

I know what you’re thinking. Yes, brother and sister against each other means big drama. However, these two have never been chummy. They despise each other and only work together when it’s of mutual benefit. They’ve squared off before.

BrooBroo strikes me as more of a Career. She has charisma, strength, and no remorse. Plus, she can shapeshift which would be the ultimate secret weapon in the arena.

BrunBrun would be more of an independent in the games. His fighting skill and speed would make him a fierce competitor, but his acute strategical prowess would put him over the top. He’d play more of a Haymitch thinking game and that smile would be bound to attract many sponsors.

By the way, I was among the insane masses who went to a midnight showing and it was AWESOME. It differs from the book several times. Some things are glaring like Buttercup is black and white. Really? His name is buttercup…a yellow cat named for a yellow flower. What were they thinking? Are there no yellow cats with a SAG card?

So, I still proclaim that the book was better; but the movie doesn’t disappoint. It’s definitely a must see. Violence is toned down greatly, the worst, in my opinion, being at the run for the cornicopia.

See what characters these participating authors would have in the games. And, as always, may the odds be EVER in your favor…

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series 2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. Heather Self 4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga 6. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog 8. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series 10. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11. Dani Snell’s Refracted Light Reviews 12. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
13. M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping 14. Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
15. Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls 16. Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
17. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter 18. TG Ayer
19. Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy 20. Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga
21. Roots in Myth, PJ Hoover 22. Courtney Cole Writes
23. Four Seasons of Writing: Variable like the Employment

YA Indie Carnival: Cover Love

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This week’s carnival topic is Cover Love. Can you judge a book by its…you know the old song and dance.

First off, I have a group of three to recommend. These are three awesome covers that turned out to be three awesome reads. I bought them for their covers, but recommend them for the story inside.

Second, are three books whose covers have driven me into a frenzy. I’ve gotta read’em.

Third, is a special sneak peek at the cover for Midnight Child, Book 3 of the Midnight Guardian series which debuts in February.

3 Covers to Love with Stories to Match

Fairy Metal Thunder by J.L. Bryan
It’s the story of Jason who’s crushing on fellow bandmate Erin. Trying to impress her, he steals some magical instruments from the fairy realm. A lovable good guy, unexpected danger, and a concert that brings the house down…literally. Rock on!
Every Last Kiss by Courtney Cole
Long before the indie carnival pulled into town, I came across this book on Amazon. I was entranced by the cover and the story is equally intoxicating. Charmian, the handmaiden and confidant of Cleopatra, must sacrifice everything to set destiny straight just as she has done in every lifetime before and since.
The Reckoning by M. Leighton
This is a chilling and creative story. Carson’s transformation into a reaper and the drama and adventure that unfolds makes this a real page-turner.

Three Covers that Look Awesome…Can Hardly Wait to Read

Callum & Harper by Fisher Amelie releases Christmas Eve The Blue Stocking Girl by Gwenn Wright coming soon Existence by Abbi Glines releases December 13th

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Midnight Child, Book 3, Midnight Guardian YA Series

YA Indie Carnival: Fiction Pie

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pie photoThis week at the YA Indie Carnival, the authors are serving up Fiction Pie and giving up their own special recipes for plotting great stories.

With Book #3 of the Midnight Guardian series currently in development, I’m often asked if this will be it…the final one. It’s been a fun series to write and I’m pleased to say that #3 will definitely not be the last one.

I had originally planned it to be a 6 book series. Well, that’s not exactly true. When I released Of Sun & Moon and people asked me how many there would be I would say 4 or 5. I didn’t fine tune the 6 until I began writing Whispering Evil. And although I have planned 6 books (taking the story to Drew’s second vox), Ann and Katie’s timelines have been plotted to the third vox (9 books) just in case I can’t let go.

My time traveling characters have certainly made plotting more complicated. Since Ann and Katie travel back in time, their reality isn’t linear like the other characters. I also quickly realized that not only did I need to keep track of them in time, but I also needed to keep track of them separately. They even have their own Excel spreadsheets with their trips, ages, physical description and emotional concerns at the time of their trip all matched up against points in the linear plot of the whole series. Whew!

Anywho, time travelers aside, here’s my basic no-bake recipe for a great plot:

  • 1 strong female mixed with a dash of special ability
  • 1-2 villains you love to hate
  • 1 bunch of friends, super and non
  • 2-4 interesting locales
  • pinch of mystery
  • stir in unexpected twists
  • season with drama to taste
  • Simmer with a heaping tablespoon of bad boy hottie until boiling and serve

Collect more fiction pie recipes from these other YA Indie Carnival Authors. BTW – My favorite non-fiction pie is banana creme.

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series 2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. Heather Self 4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga 6. Darby Karchut, author of GRIFFIN RISING
7. Lexus Luke 8. PJ Hoover, Author of SOLSTICE, Blogging at ROOTS IN MYTH
9. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy 10. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
11. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed 12. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series
13. Courtney Cole, author of The Bloodstone Saga 14. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
15. Dani Snell’s Refracted Light Reviews 16. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
17. M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping 18. Abbi Glines, author of Breathe and The Vincent Boys
19. Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind 20. Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls
21. Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler 22. Nicole Williams, author of Eternal Eden, Falling Eden
23. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter 24. TG Ayer
25. Melissa Pearl, author of Golden Blood 26. YA Fantasy

Working on Book 3

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Bryna Butler, authorI’ve been working on Book 3 which I call Midnight Child. It’s coming along really nicely and I expect to have it in publication in early 2012. There’s alot going into it, so it will likely be larger than the first two books.

Midnight Child will have more action. Keira starts her search for the true “human gift” and the mogdocs learn that Drew Hayes is her charge. Plus, there’s all the drama of senior year. It picks up a few weeks after Whispering Evil ends (fall of junior year) and continues through most of senior year.

Better get back to writing now. Talk to you soon.

Bryna