Cheryl Matthynssens - Author update!

Wow, so much has happened since I started this blog so let me see if I can catch you up!

Health wise:  I have my last dose of chemo on March 17th- 19th.  It looks like I am kicking it into remission.  I will be glad not to be sick every other week as this major impacts everything I do including writing and publicity.

Since starting chemo, I have still been able to put out two novels and one children book.  Magic Scorned (very adult), The Bloodmines and Once Upon a...Wait!  I can't wait to see what I can do full time when I am not having chemo.  Hopefully this thing will stay in remission.

A Sneak Peak at Book Four - Pseudo-dragon

http://argent-sky.deviantart.com/art/Lightning-Mage-354607103

“Henrick, I assure you.  I did not send Sordith to kill you,” Luthian’s cold tones held an edge of warning.  

“Liar.  You want me dead.  Do it yourself.” Fire rose up from Henrick’s hands and at the same time, Alador made his decision.  

Before Henrick or Luthian could fire off a spell, Alador hit Henrick square in the chest with a bolt of lightening. Henrick flew backwards hitting the ground hard.  Alador pulled his blade and had it at Henrick’s throat before the mage could recover.  Alador knew that Luthian was watching him closely because neither Blackguard had moved to assist or hinder him.

“Stay down, father.  I don’t want to kill you, but I will before I let you harm the High Minister of this city and your own brother.”  The blade pricked Henrick’s neck drawing a bead of blood.  “The people need his leadership and you sure as the Gods are not capable of leading anything but a whore around.”  

“I should have known you would turn on me.” Henrick snarled up at him.  “Damned half-breed more concerned about currying favor and gaining power than family.”

Alador’s cold smile melted into his eyes: the past giving weight to his words.  “Odd accusation as I have learned everything about currying favor from you.” Their gazes met for one long moment as Henrick lay helpless beneath the tip of his sword.

“Guards!  Take my brother to his manor house and confine him there until I decide what is fair justice for these false accusations and his drawing of power in my presence.”  Luthian’s command was just behind Alador.

“It would seem, my dear Henrick, that your cost to me is greater than your use.” Luthan moved up beside Alador and slowly pushed his blade away from Henrick’s throat.  “I thank you for a true heir that understands that sometimes hard choices must be made even amongst family.  For the sake of your son, I will not order your death.  I would prepare to leave Smallport and your manor home.”  

“You are welcome to one another.” Henrick hissed.  “I would rather be confined to the Daezun routes than ever step in your presence again!”

Luthian indicated for the guards to take him.  They both grabbed an arm and pulled the mage up.  Henrick jerked his arms free. “I’m going!  You don’t need to haul me off.”  He turned and stomped through the door.

Alador sheathed his sword as Luthian turned to look at him.  “You, my dear nephew, never fail to surprise me,” Luthian moved to stand before him.  “I did not expect you to strike your father.”

Alador met his gaze evenly.  “He breaks his word all the time.  You have been true to yours.”  Alador glanced at the open door and back to his uncle.  “You have a promise made that I intend for you to keep.”

Luthian’s cold smile sent goosebumps racing up Alador’s spine.  “You will have all you asked for... “ He grabbed both of Alador’s arms as he embraced him.  “... and more.”

This Amazing Review Made my Day!

Thank you Robert from New Mexico!  I appreciate the support as independent authors have to be their own publicists!

This review was found on audible for the audio version of the book!

"Engaging, entertaining book series"

"It has been a while but this book is both a traditional Epic swords and sorcery adventure that had characters that you care about a couple of new twists on the traditional swords and sorcery theme. I found each book to be satisfying individually and yet the first to lead to the need for hopefully and equally consistent third book. Whether that book is the finish of the trilogy or not, I just know that it's time for the next book in this saga to be put on audible for our enjoyment. sorry I waited so long before reviewing this book as I did have it noted down as a must finish the series level of quality. Finally putting up this vague review now because it has yet to be reviewed and this book and it's his sister book are both really good examples of intelligent traditional swords and sorcery stories that don't feel like another book you already read. Why, because I cared about the people of the world and the creatures and while they were similar since it is a traditional fantasy novel they were not one-dimensional or boring. 

A Blog Interview with Amy Metz

Amy Metz is the author of a humorous southern mystery series. Murder & Mayhem In Goose Pimple Junction was her first novel, and it was re-released in September 2014. Heroes & Hooligans in Goose Pimple Junction, released in December 2014, is Book 2 in the series.

She started a blog in the hopes of helping other authors promote their work. In the South, She lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where they have a campaign called, “Keep Louisville Weird.” That’s simply a catchy way of saying support local business. McDonald's and Applebee's are everywhere, but it’s the local businesses that give a city uniqueness and flavor. Local businesses are usually small businesses, with limited capital and resources. Not unlike indie authors.

So she started her own campaign called, “Authors Are Weird Too.” Everybody has heard of John Sandford, Michael Connelly, and Patricia Cornwall. They’re doing just fine on their own, thank you very much. But it’s the new authors, especially the new indie authors who need support. She hopes to do that with her blog.  You can find my interview with Amy below.

A Blue Million Books: Featured Author: Cheryl Matthynssens: About the book: Bloodmines is Book #3 in the Groundbreaking series The Blue Dragon's Geas.

Words From One of the Greats on Fantasy!

www.wallpaperup.com

“For my present purpose I require a word which shall embrace both the Sub-Creative Art in itself, and a quality of strangeness and wonder in the Expression, derived from the Image: a quality essential to fairy-story. I propose, therefore, to arrogate to myself the powers of Humpty-Dumpty, and to use Fantasy for this purpose: in a sense, that is, which combines with its older and higher use as an equivalent of Imagination the derived notions of 'unreality' (that is, of unlikeness to the Primary World), of freedom from the dominion of 'observed fact,' in short of the fantastic. I am thus not only aware but glad of the etymological and semantic connexions of fantasy with fantastic: with images of things that are not only 'not actually present,' but which are indeed not to be found in our primary world at all, or are generally believed not to be found there. But while admitting that, I do not assent to the depreciative tone. That the images are of things not in the primary world (if that indeed is possible) is, I think, not a lower but a higher form of Art, indeed the most nearly pure form, and so (when achieved) the most Potent.

Fantasy, of course, starts out with an advantage: arresting strangeness. But that advantage has been turned against it, and has contributed to its disrepute. Many people dislike being 'arrested.' They dislike any meddling with the Primary World, or such small glimpses of it as are familiar to them. They, therefore, stupidly and even maliciously confound Fantasy with Dreaming, in which there is no Art; and with mental disorders, in which there is not even control; with delusion and hallucination.

But the error or malice, engendered by disquiet and consequent dislike, is not the only cause of this confusion. Fantasy has also an essential drawback: it is difficult to achieve. . . . Anyone inheriting the fantastic device of human language can say the green sun. Many can then imagine or picture it. But that is not enough -- though it may already be a more potent thing than many a 'thumbnail sketch' or 'transcript of life' that receives literary praise.

To make a Secondary World inside which the green sun will be credible, commanding Secondary Belief, will probably require labour and thought, and will certainly demand a special skill, a kind of elvish craft. Few attempt such difficult tasks. But when they are attempted and in any degree accomplished then we have a rare achievement of Art: indeed narrative art, story-making in its primary and most potent mode.” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien