Blog Archives
The Boys of the Akasha Series
This Contest is Now Closed
Congratulations to our Winner – Stephanie W.!
For all the ladies out there, single or not, the boys of The Akasha Series wanted to wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Your gift (besides the obvious eye candy, of course), is the chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card in the ‘For the Love of Swoon Hop’ hosted by The Book Hook Up and I Am a Reader Not a Writer. To enter, simply complete the entry form at the bottom of this post. There are extra entries available for liking my page on Facebook and following on Twitter.
Don’t forget to click on the Swoony Boys Hop poster and follow the linky for more great prizes!
Introducing the boys of the Akasha Series; Micah, Shawn, and Alex.
During an interview with Cami from My Reading Addiction, I was asked which actors might best portray my characters. Well, there you have them – packaged up in sexy Valentine’s cards for you. Oh, and never to be upstaged, Kaitlyn has her own little card for the guys:
How to Enter: You must fill out the form below for one entry. Answer the questions at the bottom of the form. For extra entries, click below:
Like my Facebook Page for one extra entry
Follow me on Twitter for another extra entry.
Or, Follow my blog via e-mail for 3 extra entries (at most, I post once per week) – sign up under the ‘Follow Terra Harmony’ widget on the right.
Giveaway Details:
This giveaway is open internationally. Giveaway is open until midnight EST on Feb. 20th. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be emailed, and this blog post will be updated to reflect the winner. Winner will have three days to respond, or a new winner will be selected.
Good Luck!
Idea Contest
Readers – I need your help! I am currently writing the finale to ‘Earth’, the fourth and final book of the Akasha Series. There is, of course, a final battle between One Less (Shawn’s organization) and The Seven (or Team Kaitlyn, whichever you prefer to call it).
Needless to say, the elements involved have to awesome. I am playing mix and match with some of the elements and have come up with a few ideas – but I need more. Rack your brains for some super cool storms. To you get you started, here is what I’ve done:
Combine Air and Fire for:
Fire Tornado
Combine Earth and Air for:
Sandstorm
Just your typical sandstorm – but when you add a dash of frozen water, imagine the destruction with flying mud balls. Hard to dodge when all you see is sand. That may be a stretch, but we are just throwing around ideas here. If it helps, the final battle location will be in the USA – Colorado to be exact. I am leaning toward the Red Rocks Amphitheatre where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. What better place for a final showdown for ‘Earth’? Red Rocks is a geological phenomenon – the only naturally-occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheatre in the world. Come to think of it, I might have to use something to do with sound in the final battle.
Just comment below with your ideas – or feel free to email me directly at terra.harmony11@gmail.com.
What will you win?
If I choose any part of your idea I will write a character for you in ‘Earth’!!! The character will be based on your answers from a list of questions I send you. I will also send you a complete set of the entire Akasha Saga once ‘Earth’ is released; either in digital or print format.
So, let’s get brainstorming. Let me know what you come up with!
Contest details: No purchase necessary. You must comment with an idea or send me an email with your idea to be eligible. There can be more than one winner. Deadline to submit ideas is December 21st, 2012 at midnight. By submitting your idea – you are giving me permission to use it in ‘Earth, Book Four of the Akasha Series’ for no monetary reimbursement.
It’s August!
Photograph by James Larkin
It’s August, my absolute favorite month! This year August means hot days, afternoon thunderstorms, and the Olympics. I woke up this morning, anxious to get started on another month of 50k words to finish out Earth, Book Four of the Akasha Series. Granted, I fell back asleep almost immediately, but I am not deterred. I am excited, because did you hear? It’s August!
Besides the fact that it is my birth month, it is also my first child’s birth month – so lots of birthday cake to go around. Plus, we have a fun month planned; a trip to the beach and the awesome Orangeberry Summer Splash Mini Book Tour Marathon. A feature of 100 authors and 500 blog stops. With interviews, guest posts, music playlists, giveaways, and much more – there is something for everyone. Please check it out!
‘Water, Book One of the Akasha Series‘ will be featured. Here is the schedule:
2nd August - Author Interview at Grady Hendrix’s blog
5th August – Twitter Blast with Pandora Poikilos
10th August - Guest Post & Book Feature at Krazy Book Lady
11th August – Twitter View with Pandora Poikilos: follow @harmonygirlit to see
12th August – Book Feature at Peace from Pieces
17th August – Guest Post & Book Review at Christopher Starr’s blog
18th August - Ford 99 at Mommy Adventures: read page 99 of ‘Water’
Can’t wait? Here is a teaser; part of my interview:
If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
Slow down, already!
What is your guilty pleasure?
Vampires.
Favorite places to travel?
Anywhere without the kids…sorry guys, but sometimes mommy needs a break.
Of course, there will be reminders throughout August to check everything out, and I will be perusing to let you know my favorite blog stops. In the meantime – I want to know how you would answer the questions above! Leave a comment with your guilty pleasure and/or your favorite place to travel. Also, if someone wrote a book about your life, what would be the title?
Indie-Pendence Week Blog Hop
This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to winner: Kassandra! Thanks to all who entered!
I am getting this post up late due to my usual inability to plan, and a pesky derecho that wreaked havoc in the Mid-Atlantic. I seriously didn’t even know what a derecho was up until now – sounds like a cowboy movie to me. Anyway, on to our July 4th celebration and the Indie-Pendence Week Blog Hop hosted by Grave Tells. Thanks for stopping by!
Some of the best experiences I’ve had so far as an indie author is the support of the community, and other indie authors specifically. Thus far, they seem eager to share their experiences, their time, their statistics – anything I may have a question about to help boost my own sales. Some of the great authors I have come across include:
Scott Marlow, author of The Five Elements
Pavarti Tyler, author of Shadow on the Wall
Ashley Barron, author of Ava, a Priya Novel
Follow the links above to check out their books, then enter the contest below. I am giving away one free book of the winner’s choice out of the three above mentioned novels, or one of my own. Please keep in mind ‘The Five Elements’ and ‘Shadow on the Wall’ are physical books that will be mailed to you, and ‘Ava’ is an e-book only. Be sure to click on the Indie-Pendence banner above to follow the blog hop for more great prizes!
Happy 4th of July!!!
To enter the contest, complete the form below. For extra entries, please complete the following tasks;
1. For 3 extra entries, follow my blog by clicking on ‘Follow via e-mail’ in the right sidebar.
2. For 1 extra entry, ‘like’ me on Facebook.
3. For 1 extra entry, follow me via Twitter.
Two Great Blog Hops and a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card
Hope everyone had a great Earth Day yesterday! If the day completely slipped your mind, don’t worry. It is never too late to do something for Mother Nature!
Now, I want to do something for you. I am currently participating in two great blog hops. Every person who enters will receive an e-copy of my novel, ‘Water‘, and a chance at a $25 gift card (that is two gift cards, one for each hop). Click on the images below to enter each hop, and don’t forget to follow the linky for other great giveaways!
Flash Fiction and Giveaway
Hi there everyone! If you haven’t yet, hop on over to Can’t Put it Down Reviews where I am giving away six sets of the first two books, ‘Water’ and ‘Air’ in the Akasha Series, plus one grand prize winner gets to pick a t-shirt from my store.
I am also giving away the complete set of the Kindred Curse Anthology, not yet released anywhere, in the Follower Love Giveaway Hop. Oh – and did I forget to mention the $25 Amazon Gift Card?
Now on to my newest flash fiction. This was recently featured on Can’t Put it Down Reviews. It is some of the back story on Kaitlyn’s (main character in the Akasha Series) parents. Enjoy!
Good Luck Charm
Mary leaned forward, looking through the windshield of their small, blue Honda and up into the sky. “Do they know we’re coming?”
The sky was growing darker by the minute, and the wind was picking up.
Cato answered from the back seat, “No one knows. Well, except Shawn. Boy probably doesn’t even remember, as involved in video games as he was.” Cato stared at the scenery rushing past. Corn fields. Acre after acre of the tall stalks; all leaning to the left with the growing wind.
“Oh, please. Your son is gifted and you know it. I’ve seen the spark on more than one occasion.” John smiled at Cato through the rearview mirror. He put his hand over Mary’s, attempting to calm her fears.
She smiled, but her eyes still wrinkled with worry. It began to hail. Small chunks of ice pelted the windshield and road ahead. Mary began rubbing at the charm around her neck.
It was a necklace given to her by their only child. John thought of their daughter Kaitlyn, at home probably working on college applications. She was all they really had, and he would give anything to make it a better world for her. Which is why they were all here. With far more confidence than either of his two passengers, he resolutely nodded his head. “Yes. Everything is going to be –“
“John! Stop!” Mary cut him off with her screams. He slammed on the brakes. About a mile ahead of them, a funnel shot down from the cloud cover. It was already bending the sturdy highway signs with its force. John put the Honda into reverse.
“Don’t want to do that either, John.” Cato pointed out the back window. A thick formation of clouds were already spinning in preparation for another tornado vortex to emerge.
John and Mary locked eyes. Their communication was almost telepathic. This was not natural weather.
The corn stalks no longer leaned in one direction. They waved wildly, as if flagging away the trio. But it was too late; they were trapped with twisters blocking each direction of road.
“So now we know – there has to be a traitor with The Seven.” John and Mary each turned to look at Cato.
“Let’s just get through this. Then we can turn to who is responsible. If I don’t make it…” Cato trailed off.
“We’re all going to make it.” John didn’t give Cato a chance to finish. “And we will all go home to our children.”
Cato nodded at his lifelong friend, thankful he was here to help face their enemy. The three exited the car.
Mary’s long, red skirt whipped around her legs. The red was a stark contrast to the dark grey skies. She faced the first of the tornados, opening herself up to the warm, moist air being drawn in from the south. She used her powers as a water elemental to diffuse the air of moisture. John stood by her side, commanding the cool, dry winds blowing in from Canada. Together they worked, forcing away the conflicting weather and trying to stabilize the atmosphere.
Though Cato could manipulate all of the elements, he concentrated on the wind speed. He worked to slow it down, preventing any more updrafts. He was significantly stronger than the pair that worked behind him, but he was hindered, having to deal with chunks of road and now farm equipment being tossed at them by the tornado. He moved forward, certain he was the target of the attack. The least he could do was decrease the risk to his friends by angling away, further down the road.
Mary looked back to see their small car in a slow spin, gradually being lifted up. It was as unpredictable as the winds. “We need to move!”
Without hesitation, she turned to the fields. The sharp, unharvested corn cut that might offer some protection from the wind, bit into her bare legs as she ran. John stayed close on her heels. “Where is Cato!” He called to her. But there was no time to answer. He lunged forward, tackling Mary to the ground as the roof of a barn whipped by overhead.
Cato remained on the highway, struggling with the wind patterns. They were unpredictable. He detected several threads of power being woven into the storm from two different directions. There would be more than four elementals attacking – and no time to target them. Cato had to settle for playing defense. He looked behind me, startled to find John, Mary and the car gone.
He ran back to where he had left them. Dumbfounded, he looked to the right, at the slightly wavering speed limit sign, still planted in the ground. He peered closer into the fields, thinking he saw a flash of Mary’s skirt. He took a step towards it, when a spinning, blue mass shot by, missing Cato by mere feet. He could barely track it with his eyes. It was their car, now bouncing end over end down the highway, taking the speed limit sign with it. Cato blinked, then turned back to the wind patterns in the sky and could only hope the same fate had not befallen his friends.
Gradually, his energy waned, and he was left only able to maintain a protective circle around himself. The weather had grown too strong; almost like more elementals had joined in. The corn fields and his friends were on their own. Cato’s whole body shook with exertion until he dropped to his knees. His sphere was allowing the strong gusts to pass through, but it would hold against the more solid objects thrown at him by the storm, and it would keep him firmly planted on the ground.
The two funnels moved closer, then angled in – towards the path his friends took. Shards of debris littered the air like feathers in a pillow fight. Cato was still able to discern the funnels, large as they were, merging together. As they did, lightening lit the sky and thunder cracked in the air, barely heard over the freight train noise of the super twister. It was a triumphant announcement; both sides knew who had won this battle.
Wind gusts did not let up. They grew stronger and stronger, pulling even more debris into the air, until Cato could not see past his protective circle at all. He was sure the large mass was coming for him next.
With a final burst of energy, Cato pushed himself to his feet. He wasn’t going to face death curled up like a coward. It would be full on, shoulders squared and eyes opened. And without his shield.
When the noise was unbearable – and Cato was sure the climax had arrived, he lifted his hands to dissipate his shield. Before he could, the world went silent. Stalks, corn, dirt, and fractured wood from nearby structures all fell to the ground at once. There was no wind. What cornstalks were left in the ground were still. In the skies, clouds moved away revealing a disturbingly peaceful blue sky in their wake.
The last of Cato’s energy fizzled out, and his protective circle vanished. Two loud, sickening thumps came from behind him. Cato swallowed the rising lump in his throat, then turned. Mary and John lay dead on the highway. All of their limbs twisted in unnatural, odd angles, except for one. Mary’s hand still clutched the charm at her neck.
Let me know what you think! Comments always welcome.
