by S.A. Hunter
Only Thera of Allenholme hears the voice of forest-mind…and heeds its warning . Thera doesn’t know why the Elanraigh forest-mind chose her, of all the Allenholme folk, to hear its voice and to awaken her gifts of mind and spirit. The Elanraigh sends a warning dream; black sails swooping toward Allenholme from across the western sea—the Memteth, an ancient enemy, armed with blue fire that hungers to consume life. As Thera awakens to her gifts of bonding with raptor birds and reading hearts, the knowing; she also awakens to love. Will she choose Chamakin the young Ttamarini warrior who is a kindred in spirit to her, or the polished young nobleman who covets her beauty even more than her estate? Forest-mind is aware she is yet too young for such power and responsibility. It has no choice—the lives of all Thera’s people and the existence of the Elanraigh Forest itself, depend on Thera fulfilling her destiny. Can she learn what she must of gift, and heart, to survive what comes their way?
Author Bio
Sandra attended school in Victoria, B.C. and later graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B.A. in English Literature. After her daughter came along, she chose to work close to home and indulge her love of animals by working for an amiable, if thrifty, veterinarian. She believes in promoting the right of all creatures to live the existence that Nature intended. This value is strongly evoked in her novel.
Sandra’s always lived at the edges of ocean and forest, so it came naturally to have a sentient forest as a major character in Elanraigh: The Vow. She loves kayaking the scenic Island coastline, swimming and walking. She has a ready sense of humor and an optimistic outlook (a good thing when you’re a writer).
Her publications include Dark Fantasy short stories in pro magazines and she is currently working on a sequel to Elanraigh: The Vow.
Guest Post
Writer on Fire
Sometimes when writing a particular scene I had the experience that all of a sudden the words poured out of me, a psychic might say something like “you’re channeling a guide/mentor, or the Akashic Records”. Or, perhaps I could best describe it as a deeply meditative state, where everything your mind’s eye sees is brilliantly vivid and real. After this storm of writing passes, you lapse back, exhilarated and amazed, and realize that what you’ve written is some of your best yet.
It’s something of a “mountain top” experience, though. Not something you can deliberately coax it into being. You may attempt to seduce it, but it comes only when it wills. I was curious whether other writers shared this phenomenon; so I posed this question to other writers in the blogasphere:
“…If this is something you’ve experienced, please tell me about it; was it after hours of plodding work, or did it happen as soon as you set fingers to keyboard. What was your frame of mind? Did something put you in that frame of mind, i.e.: were you listening to music? Reading some other writer’s work and suddenly…”
The answers flew in, and yes whether in a meditative state such as I’ve experienced, or from the sub-conscious world of dreams, writers agree that from there, they’ve draw their best inspirations. Here’s some samplings of the responses I’ve had:
“I’ve experienced the same feeling of writing as if someone is moving my fingers...
“My characters come to life in my dreams. Sometimes I wake up pretty tired but I get some of my best scenes that way. It’s almost like they are writing the story and I just type it.”
This aspect of our characters taking the bit between their teeth and running with it seems to be a common thread in many responses.
“…sometimes when I’m writing, my character will reveal something about him/herself that I didn’t know.”
Or how about this comment, “My characters won’t leave me alone—and usually at two o’clock in the morning! I can’t shut them up until I write them.”
“…an out of body experience. I’m the vessel, for whatever is being said. It’s the best high out there.”
Perhaps as a reader of books you have read some in which you’ve become totally immersed in the novel’s world in all its detail: you taste the food, smell the air and live in the skin of the characters—you are moved by their grief, shaken by their terrors, and can shed tears of joy for their happiness. When the book closes, you know that your life has been enriched. That book was written by a writer on fire.
Sandy Hunter www.sandrahunter.blogspot.ca
(S. A. Hunter)
Elanraigh: The Vow Blog Tour
sandyh118@shaw.ca
Sometimes when writing a particular scene I had the experience that all of a sudden the words poured out of me, a psychic might say something like “you’re channeling a guide/mentor, or the Akashic Records”. Or, perhaps I could best describe it as a deeply meditative state, where everything your mind’s eye sees is brilliantly vivid and real. After this storm of writing passes, you lapse back, exhilarated and amazed, and realize that what you’ve written is some of your best yet.
It’s something of a “mountain top” experience, though. Not something you can deliberately coax it into being. You may attempt to seduce it, but it comes only when it wills. I was curious whether other writers shared this phenomenon; so I posed this question to other writers in the blogasphere:
“…If this is something you’ve experienced, please tell me about it; was it after hours of plodding work, or did it happen as soon as you set fingers to keyboard. What was your frame of mind? Did something put you in that frame of mind, i.e.: were you listening to music? Reading some other writer’s work and suddenly…”
The answers flew in, and yes whether in a meditative state such as I’ve experienced, or from the sub-conscious world of dreams, writers agree that from there, they’ve draw their best inspirations. Here’s some samplings of the responses I’ve had:
“I’ve experienced the same feeling of writing as if someone is moving my fingers...
“My characters come to life in my dreams. Sometimes I wake up pretty tired but I get some of my best scenes that way. It’s almost like they are writing the story and I just type it.”
This aspect of our characters taking the bit between their teeth and running with it seems to be a common thread in many responses.
“…sometimes when I’m writing, my character will reveal something about him/herself that I didn’t know.”
Or how about this comment, “My characters won’t leave me alone—and usually at two o’clock in the morning! I can’t shut them up until I write them.”
“…an out of body experience. I’m the vessel, for whatever is being said. It’s the best high out there.”
Perhaps as a reader of books you have read some in which you’ve become totally immersed in the novel’s world in all its detail: you taste the food, smell the air and live in the skin of the characters—you are moved by their grief, shaken by their terrors, and can shed tears of joy for their happiness. When the book closes, you know that your life has been enriched. That book was written by a writer on fire.
Sandy Hunter www.sandrahunter.blogspot.ca
(S. A. Hunter)
Elanraigh: The Vow Blog Tour
sandyh118@shaw.ca
Giveaway
The author is having a grand giveaway that will include: one Print copy of the book (US) a signed bookmark (INT and US) and a $20 amazon gift card (INT and US)! Fill out the Rafflecopter below, Good Luck :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hi Carly, thanks so much for having Elanraigh: the Vow on your great site today! How I would love to be in Ireland personally :) I'm looking forward to your blog buddies comments and hope some will be adding Elanraigh to their "to be read list".
ReplyDeleteYes, Heidi, isn't it great when you've enjoyed a good read like that :)
Thank you so much for your post girl!
ReplyDelete