An avid reader, a writer, a teacher, a bookseller, a daughter, a sister, a friend. All of these and ...
All, thank you for the support! I added a more in-depth synopsis in the ’About Flames in the Dark’ section of the page! I’ll include it here as well, but please come take a look, highlight portions you like, recommend the description or comment on the book to get people talking about it. Thank you to all who are spreading the word about the contest and about this adventure.
THE SETTING
Deep in the Emerald Forest there lives a fire witch of great and terrible power. She will scorch you where you stand with only a look. Cross her temper and your skin and possessions will burn. Please her, and she’ll ensnare you with her magic and leave you trapped in flames of her making for all eternity. People enter her forest at their peril and only at great need, or if they have a desire to see her golden eyes burn before they die. Or so the legends say.
In a world where magic is rare, but accepted, the Wilde family had more than most. Fire and fate ran in their blood. Even so they live a simple life, growing smoke apples in a forest. Contrary to the nearest villager’s belief, it wasn’t Edana the fire witch they feared. She saved them from burning countless times for her power lay in controlling the fire. Brand however, had a short temper and the power of the spark to match. Trespassers, cheats, even the occasional hunter with unfortunate timing had felt the heat of Brand’s temper. Each one only noticed the slip of a girl with hair afire, eyes aglow and arms outstretched to calm Brand’s flame. They never saw the boy curled in on himself, eyes squeezed shut, breathing to calm the spark in his blood.
So the legend of the fire witch grew as years passed, and Brand’s ability remained secret.
THE STORY
“Sparks journey to mountain high, evil there will burn and die.”
So begins the prophecy that sends Brand the fire mage from his forest home and out into the world. For the first time fate calls for him to take the family’s crop of smoke apples to Minian to sell in the autumn market alone. Along the way, strangers become friends, friends become brothers, and enemies burn to ash. With only the vague lines of prophecy to guide him, and a goal of getting to the capital city of Tareath in time to save it from darkness and help his sister to meet her own fate, Brand journeys through mountains, to cities, into fortresses, and even the bowels of the earth. He searches for answers to questions in the prophecy, and for aid. As powerful as he and his sister are together, they cannot beat this evil on their own.
The Children of the Dark are coming out of the earth. Something they haven’t done in centuries. The only thing that can beat back the dark, is light. Luckily for Brand, he’s never been without a steady supply of that. This time though, it’s a different kind of darkness.
Please let me know what you think of that! Thanks again, and let’s keep this fire lit!
Tara
(Long post, Wall-o’-text incoming)
[It’s important to note that this takes a bit of time to write and all numbers and placements are based on where everyone is when I write this. It may be different now but it should be close.]
You can view last weeks here: The Story So Far Part 2
Welcome back to The Story So Far, my name is @Joey Angotti and I’ll be your guide for this evening. New faces, new covers and new videos highlight this third week of the Geek and Sundry fantasy contest right here on Inkshares! Let’s take a closer look!
10. Her Latent Charm: Book 1 in the Bridge Series by @Dana Brentson (46 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 10)
Holding on to the 10th spot is Ms. Brentson and “Her Latent Charm” - the first book in the Bridge Series. She has been in and out of the top 10 but is still managing to hold onto the 10th spot. These contests feature numerous highs and lows for the authors and often surges of preorders so expect Ms. Brentson and her story featuring a young woman named Brigid, who has a knack for magic, to make its way up the leaderboard soon!
9. Leaf Falling by @Michael Slusser (58 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: N/A)
Leaf Falling by Michael Slusser is a new entrant into the Top 10 and is currently pushing up the ranks of the leaderboard. Mr. Slusser has a fantastically crafted description up on his page, here it is in his own words:
“Leaf Falling is a novel of a woman on a journey. Gifted with talents of stealth and cunning, Leaf has lived on the edges of society for many years, surviving through thievery and guile. Taken by a powerful lord due to her unnerving abilities, she is charged to journey with a mercenary and a tale-teller in pursuit of a terrible goal—one that no one will reveal to her. Hemmed in on every side, she is forced to walk a dangerous path in an attempt to win her freedom. But before that can happen, she will have to do what no other person has ever done and defy the gods themselves.”
The story sounds extremely interesting and the character names are symbolic and extremely impactful. Mr. Slusser is an English Professor and he’s conjured up a pretty entertaining intro video on his page(Spoiler Alert: He’s smoking a pipe at the start, it’s freakin’ awesome!) - if you read the comments you’ll see that this is his second attempt at the video(I didn’t get to watch the first one) but he’s working really hard to keep things fresh and entertaining. Definitely check out the sample chapters he’s put up as well! I have a feeling we’ll be talking about Leaf Falling more next week!
8. The Fairy Stepmother, Inc. by @Maggie Hoyt (65 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 9)
Two weeks ago Ms. Hoyt was simply an honorable mention here on The Story So Far, last week she broke the top ten and this week she’s solidified herself in 8th place and still climbing up the ranks. With over 60 unique preorders, she’s now shared her third chapter for our enjoyment. The story is definitely worth a view, especially if you listen to those actually reviewing it. Here’s what @Chrissy Cook had to say:
“There’s nothing like a good re-imagining of a classic, and The Fairy Stepmother Inc. certainly falls into that category. Evelyn, our stepmother protagonist, is presented a real, and even likable heroine, despite her status in the traditional tale. There’s a blend of modern family dynamic (not the TV show) placed into a medieval setting that makes it at once charming, immersive, and relatable. A sure crowd-pleaser!”
Definitely don’t miss this entry! Check it out! (Maybe she’ll give us more chapters to read!)
7. A Beast Requires by @Jay Lockwood (66 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 7)
No longer tied for the spot(Though close with Ms. Hoyt hot on his tail), A Beast Requires by Jay Lockwood continues to make waves on Inkshares. If you’re not following Mr. Lockwood’s book profile, comments and updates you are truly missing out. He is easily one of the most funny and entertaining people on the site. He’s also worth following because he intends to upload more Chapters of A Beast Requires as the weeks go by. If you haven’t checked out his recent video on world building(it involves a lot of food for all the foodies out there!) it is definitely worth the watch. Also, he’s uploaded an audio version of himself reading the prologue! Check it out!
6. Flames in the Dark by @Tara Roquemore (73 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 3rd)
Despite falling out of the Top 3, Flames in the Dark by Tara Roquemore is still one of the most intriguing titles in this contest. Now that she’s posted Chapter 1, we get to see more of the Wilde family and learn more about the story! Ms. Roquemore has also modified her description of the story at the top of the page, here’s what it says now:
“Prophecy sends Brand Wilde to sell his smoke apples in Minian. Dangerous upheaval in the mountains, and a growing evil from beneath them has him seeking answers. There is darkness ahead despite the fire bound within him.”
This story is definitely worth your time. (People are still buzzing about the Prologue - just sayin’.) This is a story that was Ranked 1st for some time during this contest and could easily reclaim that spot in the next few weeks.
5. The Delicate Art of Soulripping by @Sara Polk (76 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 2nd)
The Delicate Art of Soulripping by Sara Polk has fallen to the 5th place after being in 2nd last week, but don’t let that deter whether or not you should check out this story. This story is dark and gritty but also full of feeling. After reading what Ms. Polk has already posted up for us, it’s easy to see why the Snarky, Darksy Syndicate(awesome name!) picked this title for the month of August. If you get 5 other people to preorder she will add you to the book and at 100 preorders she’s going to upload another chapter. Some time out of town may keep her quiet on Inkshares for a few days but I think she’ll be pleasantly surprised by the response when she comes back. Keep this book on your radar throughout the contest!
4. The Living God by @Kaytalin Platt (77 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: Tied for 5th)
Kaytalin Platt and her book The Living God have bounced around the Top 10 throughout the first three weeks of this contest. Currently in 4th place, only one ahead of The Delicate Art of Soulripping, and 3 preorders away from tying the Chronicles of An Domhan(again), you have to wonder what Ms. Platt has in store for us. Apparently: A LOT! Now with 4 beautifully written chapters for our viewing pleasure, Ms. Platt has been a busy little bee(shout out to Commodus from Gladiator - can’t think of anything else when using this saying) since returning from her vacation! There is a brand new website for The Living God, that you can check out right here. It’s chock-full of information about the book and character bios that are definitely worth checking out. Also, she plans on working on character illustrations very soon. If her art is as fine as her writing, I think we’re in for a treat! Check out The Living God, its new website and Ms. Platt’s comment section on the book page!
3. Chronicles of An Domhan by @Conri (80 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: Tied for 5th)
While no longer tied for 5th place, Mr. Conri and his book - Chronicles of An Domhan - can’t take their eyes off Ms. Platt and The Living God since they’re still close to each other in standings but Mr. Conri must continue to look forward as well as he pushes upward in the leaderboard. Now that he has broken into the top 3 and is only 1 preorder away from tying 2nd, you can’t help but notice the amount of work that’s going into his book’s page. With outstandingly beautiful and extravagant artwork from Kassandra Leigh now decorating each title on his page, it’s hard to ignore the hard work and devotion he has to his story as well as the people passionate about it around him. This combination alone makes him one of the most interesting entrants to watch and he is showing no signs of slowing down. The first video update about his book and the contest is live now on his page with more to come. Be sure to check out the first 3 chapters he has posted already and stay tuned for the 4th chapter that’s going to be up on the page soon!
@Stephen Carignan had some great things to say about the story and summed it up nicely in his review:
“The compelling internal conflicts of Paladins who’ve veered from the path usually make for good reading and Chronicles of An Domhan is no exception. Balancing description with exposition, the author navigates the reader through the world with a confident hand. I look forward to reading more!”
Nicely put, Stephen! Check out Mr. Conri’s work and do your eyeballs a favor and check out the artwork!
2. The Slave Prince by @Jeyna Grace (81 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 4th)
The Slave Prince by Jeyna Grace is back in the Top 3 this week! After falling to 4th last week, Ms. Grace’s book about Thom, a mischievous teenage prince who relies on the power of a magical dagger to save his people, has bounced back in a big way. But with the Chronicles of An Domhan hot on her heels, she’ll need to really appeal to her fans and followers to stay in the top 3. Luckily, her comment section is extremely well thought out and entertaining! Usually featuring a definition that sums up what she’s about to talk about(ripped straight from google, love it lol), she’s breaking down what The Slave Prince is all about and why it’s worth the read. If 81 unique readers isn’t enough to get you to check it out, maybe the words of @Michael Sebby will:
“Epic fantasy novels can sometimes be cumbersome to ease into, but Grace’s world is so easily accessible and complex at the same time. She masterfully immerses you into the plot while painting a beautiful backdrop for the characters to interact in. The swelling sibling rivalry between Thom and Dedric makes for great tension in the story, and kept me engaged for the entire first two chapters as the conflict unfolded. The suspense propels the story forward with the reader anxious to find out what’s around the next corner.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Michael. Check out The Slave Prince and see what all the hype is about! You won’t be disappointed!
1. Storm Song by @Allison Griner (100 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 1st)
Storm Song by Allison Griner is the first title in this Geek and Sundry fantasy contest to reach 100 unique preorders! The best part about this? Chapter 4 and 5 are now uploaded on the book’s page. You really need to do yourself a favor and go check out this story! Thoster Chatwyn is easily one of the most interesting characters currently floating around in the Inksharian Universe so you need to make sure you’re not missing out on his adventures. Allison(I’m doing good at remembering to spell it with two “L”s this week!) Griner’s writing is captivating and brilliant and vacuums you into the story like a whirlpool in the ocean(see what I did there?) - Go check out her story and see exactly why she was the first one in this contest to hit triple digits!
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I’m going to brainstorm some more ideas for next week. If you’re in the Top 10 you may be receiving a direct message(if we follow each other!) from me in terms of adding more content to these forum posts. It may be interview-style questions or little blurbs/quotes from the authors directly that I can add here to spice things up. Be on the lookout for that.
I’m open to any and all feedback, let me know if I should keep doing these. If you like the idea/concept/posts then don’t be shy and inform your friends and other Inksharians. Let’s try to get more people involved in the forums in general and liven up the place!
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I’m not sure people who aren’t tagged are even reading this or slightly interested. Also, people not using the forums enough could not be seeing this as well. Any and all extra exposure of this forum post would be appreciated!(It’s a lot of work to not be seen by more people on the site!) - A mention on your books page or more comments could keep this afloat and make sure more people see this post - therefore more exposure and good things for your entry! Plus it might get more people involved on the forums which is good for Inkshares as a whole, imo.
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Shameless Plug: Want to help me achieve my dreams? Want to see my awkwardness when I have to include myself in the Top 10? Please take a look at A Soldier’s Crest: Heroes of Khroma(my very own entry into this contest)!
Want to help me out in another way that literally costs you nothing? The first book in the Soldier’s Crest Series/Universe has been self-published and is already available on Amazon. Once you all get there one day you will understand the importance of Amazon reviews - please head over, check out the book(there is a “Look Inside” feature), and leave a positive review! I know it’s a cheap and maybe not completely honest review of the book, but much like Inkshare Contests, quantity/numbers go far in that regard. It could really increase sales of my first book, help me achieve my dreams and hopefully do things like this for a living(the whole point of us all being here, right?)!
A Soldier’s Crest
Lastly I want to thank Inkshares for making this site and giving aspiring authors like us a chance to share our stories. I also want to thank all the Inksharians, especially those in the Top 10, for giving me some interesting stories to read and write about.
Cheers!
Hey everybody! I have uploaded Chapter One, Prophecy of Sparks. I hope you enjoy this further introduction to the Wilde family and where we’re going to go from here. Flames in the Dark is currently 6th on the leader board. Please keep reading and sharing. Let’s keep this moving and pick up that momentum back up. I am so grateful for all of your interest, and your willingness to share my dream.
Please highlight sections you like and comment on the chapter at the bottom of the page. When you talk about the book, it pops up on the front page of Inkshares.com as a recent event and gets the chatter going.
There’s some confusion about how the contest works. Individual readers are what count. So the more people who are interested in the book, all the better. The number of copies pre-ordered does not count towards the contest. They do count for Inkshares. 250 orders earns a light publishing of the book, 750 earns a full publishing deal with marketing and graphic design.
What this means is that the more people we share the book with, the better we’ll do in the contest.
I say we, because I could not do this without all of you. Thank you again, and may you always have light in the darkness.
Sincerely, Tara
