Showing posts with label Juli D. Revezzo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Juli D. Revezzo. Show all posts

Monday, July 29, 2013

Love for the Arthurian Tales (Guest Post)

For love of a tale

Why does anyone write? For philosophers and psychologists, this is prominent subject. The artist will tell you he paints because he is compelled to depict the world around him. The poet will tell you he pens his rhymes at the behest of his muse, to illuminate the beauty of life and love. The storyteller will tell you she had a burning desire to…well, tell such and such a story. Maybe some will even admit to having nattering characters in their heads.

For me, I suppose, it’s a little of all that. I’ve been a reader for a long time, even have a degree in literature to show for it. Now sometimes, I’ll wake up in the middle of the night, or reach for a pad and pen in the middle of a conversation. It’s just what I do; what I’ve always done. Yes, like many writers I have been a storyteller from a young age. Everything had a dash of fantasy here, a little bit of rhyme and music there, but in all forms, there was always a story in my mind—and in my house, the Hobbit, the Classics, modern day romance it was all there, even storytelling songwriters.

In the intervening years a burning love for the Arthurian tales always existed. When I think of a hero, those are the men (and women) I think of. So it seemed second nature when I sat down to write Passion’s Sacred Dance, my debut paranormal romance novel for The Wild Rose Press, that I might take my cue from the stories I’ve loved forever. These are stories that have stayed with us from the moment they were spoken by traveling minstrels in the fire-lit halls of the Middle Ages. Yes, love works into it too. If we didn’t love what we do, as writers, do you think we’d stay up ‘til all hours, agonizing about finding just the right word?

The lifelong love of these heroic tales, of the story of the Second Battle of Mag Tuired, tied up in knots in my mind with the current Urban Fantasies and paranormal romances I was reading and out walked a woman in a business suit, with a sword-wielding knight in jeans behind her. “Do we have a story for you!”

What could I do but what I’ve always done, and write it down? Would you like to know how the story turned out? Here’s a little taste.

Battling mounting debt, Stacy Macken is determined not to lose her historic art gallery. When Aaron Fielding appears and offers to help, she fights to keep the attraction sizzling between them from clouding her judgment. He may be her savior in disguise--but can she trust him?
Aaron intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what he claims, she would give up anything to help--even the gallery he claims is sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if only they can find it in time.
If the battle is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years. Stacy and Aaron's budding love might only complicate things.

Excerpt:
Aaron planted his stance against the ground like the roots of a great oak tree, and pulled out his harshad. He flipped the handle over in his hand and two flail-like ends emerged. The ends cut through the glass wall, and snaked around the lawyer’s throat like metal ropes, before tightening.
The lawyer’s face began to turn red. Rendered immobile, he stumbled easily as Aaron gave the handle a hard tug. Stacy screeched as she tripped along with him. Aaron stepped through the wall, pried Bradley’s fingers from Stacy’s flesh, and shoved her protectively behind his back.

“Do me a favor,” he ground out between clenched teeth. “Call the number I gave you yesterday. They’ll  do us more good than 9-1-1.”

Stacy turned and ran for the hall as the lawyer  hissed out, “You should learn not to get involved,  unsavory one.”

Aaron swallowed his relief when he heard Stacy slam the door against the wall. He turned his attention back to the cackling lawyer.

“I would give you the same warning, human.” Aaron studied the man in earnest, his voice calm.
“You  have no idea what you’re involved in.”

“I should say the same to you.”

“Oh, I know the depths of their malevolence.” He tugged Bradley’s shirt collar down to reveal the glowing green eye tattooed on his chest. The lawyer’s breathing became more shallow, and sweat trickled from his temple.

“Do you know what you’re dealing with? Think long and hard about which side of the debtors’ line you’ll be on when the battle comes.” He slung the lawyer around, towards the back door. “Tell your masters this ground will carry my brand when all is said and done, or I shall gladly hound them to the ends of their unnatural lives!”
*sigh* I love a good warrior, don’t you? Would you like to read more? If so, Passion’s Sacred Dance is available now at Amazon and coming soon to The Wild Rose Press store and other retailers.
 
For more on these and other books visit Juli at: http://julidrevezzo.com/

And Juli’s Amazon page and author page at The Wild Rose Press.

I’m also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julidrevezzo


Thank you, Pam, for having me here today!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Thursday Book Spotlight: Caitlin's Book of Shadows

Something terrifying stalks Caitlin and her beloved Trevor. Something the bits and pieces she left claimed she had to make sense of–or so legend says. When the curator of their collection finds Caitlin’s long forgotten diary, she wonders will it tell the whole tale? Will it tell why Caitlin seemed so determined to tell the difference between reality and nightmare even as she continued the fight to defend her family from evil? Will it explain why she thought her world twisted? If she really became a witch?

Perhaps the answer lies between the lines of her story, one of lessons, struggles, and the hopes she carried like a warrior’s shield.


This is a side (or supplemental, if you will) story in the Antique Magic series, a companion to The Artist’s Inheritance (Antique Magic, Book One).

Caitlin's Book of Shadows is free on Smashwords through Friday, May 31, and .99 at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Friday Guest Post: Juli D. Revezzo



Eye of the beholder

By

Juli D. Revezzo

The question of perception is one that we face every day. Do we really understand what we’re seeing sometimes? Take a car wreck. Experts say that if you have five different witnesses to the event you will get five different explanations of what happened.

I think the same thing happens in other areas of life. For instance, is there someone you work with or know that you just love, and others don’t? or vice versa?

Perception, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder and is something that changes throughout life. There’s a whole field of study on it, including but not limited to Alzheimer’s patients and perception. Sit in a warm house with an Alzheimer’s sufferer who claims they’re freezing and you’ll understand what I mean. Or take a look at your car. Does it really look like the color your registration lists? (Yes, I’ve heard this question before).

The question of perception concerns even my main character, Caitlin. In my debut paranormal novel,
The Artist’s Inheritance, Caitlin’s husband—an artist—gains a new patron who he and his mentors in the art community around them, think is just the best person to know. Caitlin, on the other hand, spends five seconds in the dude’s presence and knows something isn’t right about him. Read here and you’ll see:

* * * *
“How much will you take for these fine drawings?”
The male voice drew her attention away from Trevor’s work. A short man with black hair and a lazy eye, dressed in a pinstripe suit and straw hat, crossed the gallery to pause at Trevor’s side. “They’re your work, are they not? Are they available?”
“Yes, they’re mine,” Trevor said. “They’re not for sale. Sorry.”
Caitlin eyed the older man. Who’s this fella?
“Don’t be absurd, Trevor.” Abby Wilkins jumped in before Caitlin could ask.
Caitlin took in his fine coat, the diamond gleaming from his ring finger. More than likely, the man could pay a fortune for the pictures. Perhaps even the chair they had stashed in the attic. Maybe they’d be rid of the stupid thing yet.
“For you, Mr. Hofter? Of course they are.”
“No, I’m sorry,” Trevor said. “They’re not for sale.”
Abby choked and pulled Trevor aside. “Are you mad, darling? Do you know who he is?”
Caitlin peered over Abby’s shoulder, seeing the man in question studying a Jeffersonian era desk. Trevor grimaced. “I can’t say I do.”
“That’s Marvin Hofter,” Mrs. Wilkins said conspiratorially.
“Who’s Marvin Hofter?” Caitlin asked.
Abby spluttered and tugged at the collar of her linen blouse. “How can you not know him?”
The name meant nothing; Caitlin could only give her a blank look. “I don’t.”
“My dear, he’s only the editor in chief of Antiques Daily.”
Now Caitlin understood why Trevor’s mentor was making such a huge deal.
Trevor touched one of the sketches, almost, Caitlin thought, as if he would protect them. “I’m sorry, no. The pictures aren’t for sale.”
Hofter pursed his lips and retrieved a card case from the pocket of his silk coat. He pulled forth an embossed business card and handed it to him. “If you change your mind, don’t hesitate to call me.” The man tipped his hat and walked away.
Caitlin kept her gaze on him. Something about him made her want to grab Trevor and move as far away as possible. Like to Siberia.
* * * *
This is something Caitlin struggles throughout The Artist’s Inheritance, she can’t convince anyone of her feelings about Hofter, and she can’t explain why he makes her uneasy—and he’s not the only one she questions. It seems everyone around her has some sort of duality. Is she right about Hofter and the others comprising her husband’s new circle? Is there something out of the ordinary about them—something supernatural and sinister? Are they out to harm her family? How far can she trust her perception of them? Her questions continue in the follow up, Caitlin’s Book of Shadows.

I hope you’ll take a look at the stories and find out for yourself. If you’d like to see how Caitlin’s perception lines up with her reality The Artist’s Inheritance is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords and in paperback from Createspace.

Meanwhile, it’s something to think about, right? How trustworthy is our perception of the world? Are you sure of what you see? Or is the world subject to the eye of the beholder?


Synopsis:

Trouble only a witch can solve...

Settling into a new home, Caitlin notices changes coming over her husband. When nightmares deepen and ghosts begin lurking--Caitlin knows something's not right, and not just her newfound precognitive abilities. It's the damned chair her husband's carving, she's sure. Could it be just what it seems: a mundane piece of furniture? If so, why is it attracting dark forces--the forces she suspects drove Trevor's siblings to insanity and suicide?

Armed with a handful of allies--a coven of helpful witches--she must proceed with caution against the hellish forces besieging her family. If she fails, she may lose forever the one thing she cares about most: her beloved Trevor.


About The Author
Juli D. Revezzo has long been in love with writing, a love built by devouring everything from the Arthurian legends, to the works of Michael Moorcock, and the classics and has a soft spot for classic the "Goths" of the 19th century, in love of which she received a Bachelor's degree in literature from the University of South Florida. Her short fiction has been published in Dark Things II: Cat Crimes, The Scribing Ibis, Eternal Haunted Summer, Twisted Dreams Magazine and Luna Station Quarterly. She also has an article and book review or two out there. But her heart lies in the storytelling. She is a member of the Independent Author Network and the Magic Appreciation Tour.


You can find all the books in the Antique Magic series at: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Juli-D.-Revezzo/e/B008AHVTLO


Book Trailer for The Artist's Inheritance
http://www.youtube.com/embed/gjMsYqa9nUA

Book Trailer for Caitlin's Book of Shadows
http://www.youtube.com/embed/5tjqR_QPaTo

Buy link for Caitlin's Book of Shadows
http://amzn.to/Wxlf7q

And you can learn more about Juli at:


Authors Den:









Thanks, Pamela, for having me here!