Excerpt from A tale of two witches

I am feeling quite generous today so I thought I would share one of my favorite parts from A tale of two witches.

Searing anger engulfed me and it felt like hot lava was coursing through my veins.  I could sense my temperature was rising, just like on those scorching summer days.  My heart began to pound faster and faster and a painful tingling sensation flew slowly through my body.  Unable to control what was happening, my body started to twist and bend in ways I never thought was humanely possible, and I swore my bones were breaking.  The pain was so intense that I couldn’t help myself—I howled in agony.

“LEXI!” Tessa cried out and I could tell by the high pithiness in her voice something was wrong.

“That’s amazing.”  Sebastian’s eyes grew big and everyone stopped eyeballing me and gazed at Sebastian like a deer caught in the headlights.

The temperature of the heat streaming through me escalated and I raised my hand to my forehead and jumped back.

“How are you feeling Lexi?”  Delena wondered.

“I feel weird, hot and scared.”  I screeched.

“You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen and I’ve been around for eighty years.  I have only seen these wonderful beings in books!”  Sebastian couldn’t contain his excitement.

“Creature?  Oh my god what am I?  Am I hideous?  I wish I had a mirror!”  I clamored.

Out of the thin blue sky a full length mirror appeared right in front of me.  I gasped in horror at the image reflecting back at me.  I lifted one arm and then the other, watching the fire bounce upon my body with shades of gold.  An eye catching array of reds, blues, greens, yellows, oranges and purples were covering me like I was being hugged by a rainbow.

“What am I?”

“Um…was I the only one that noticed the mirror falling from the sky?”  Michaela giggled trying her hand at comedy.  We just looked at her and shook our heads.

“You are absolutely exquisite.  You’re a Phoenix.”  Sebastian’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.

About me

Although I am pretty sure you are more interested in the entertainment I will bring to you rather than who I am, I figured I would tell  you anyway.  For my privacy and the privacy of my family, you will never see a picture of me.  I would like to be able to be with my family, especially my daughter, and not have someone trot up to me and say something about my writing or my book--especially if they didn't like it.  So for now, you'll just need to live with my witch pic :-)

I grew up in a small town and since there wasn't much to do except to cause havoc, I turned to reading at an early age.  One of my favorite authors was (still is) Stephen King.  And as the cliche goes, that's when the love of writing began as well.  I wanted to write horror stories,  I wanted to be the next Stephen King.  Well...that never happened.  I would write on and off and found that expression through words was incredibly helpful for me to get through my teen years.  Eventually, life took over and the need to work was more important than the need to write.

When my daughter asked me a few years ago why I didn't write anymore, I couldn't give her an answer.  There was absolutely no reason what so ever why I should have stopped writing, stopped learning the craft.  I might be successful today if I just kept at it.  But I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and the only conclusion I can come up with, I wasn't ready back then but I am ready now.

I wrote A tale of two witches for my daughter.  Yes it's a YA book but I wrote it so even kids at the age of 9 can read it.  I have to market it as YA since the characters in the story are 16 and older, but anyone can read it.  I want her to be proud of me and also I do this to inspire her.  She herself is very talented and loves to write.  She enters writing contests as well as participates in the writing UIL's at her school.  I know one day she will be a great author.  She is very involved with my writing always wanting to know what chapter I am on, what my word count is, and how many pages it will be.  She told me not to make my books too long lol

I have find joy in writing again and I am excited about it.  I look forward to the little writing time I get and enjoy getting lost in my other world.  While I am waiting for A tale of two witches to be edited and polished, I have started working on book 2--By the light of the moon.  I hope that I can have A take of two witches uploaded on Amazon and ready to go by the beginning of August, so make sure you watch for the announcement :-)

I also now have a website too http://lcdawn.wix.com/lcdawn

Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings.  Go enjoy your weekend and read a book or two.

Sooooo....

I didn't realize it has been that long since I have posted anything.  So let's catch up.

Back in March I announced that I was finished with my book.  Well....I was just kidding :-)  I have went back and made several changes as well as making it a bit longer than it originally was, and...I even changed the title.  It is no longer Haunted Moon and Wicked Deeds, it is now A tale of two witches.  I am very excited about the changes that I have made and I am pretty close to being done with the writing portion, then the editing begins and the beta readers will start their critique, finalizing my masterpiece so I am able to self publish it and make it available to all of you.

I have enjoyed immensely writing this story and I am all to thrilled and eager to start my second book of the series.  I am throwing the title Wild Side around.  TONS of ideas for this story and a pretty intense twist from what goes on in A tale of two witches.  I will keep you posted on when A tale of two witches will be available and I know you will just love it!

Finally done!

I did it!  I finished book one of my Lexi Reed series, Haunted moon and Wicked deeds!  I have started the query process and I am not going to lie, it is nerve racking.  All it would take is one agent who will believe in you as much as you believe in yourself.  I will NOT let myself get discouraged or over think this process, all that would do is drive me insane. 

I am extremely proud of this story and I hope eventually you will be able to read it and love it too!  Below is a little synopsis, let me know what you think!  And wishing everyone a wonderful Wednesday!!!!!

Lexi Reed has been told all of her life that she was the chosen witch.  She was the only one that would be able to defeat the horrid vampire, Leticia.  Lexi was getting ready to turn sixteen, and on her sixteenth birthday she would receive a very special amulet.  Not only will this amulet help on her quest to destroy Leticia, it will always reveal her perfect match.

Lexi lived with her coven on a farm in Melba, Oregon, and her father believed in the old ways—you were to marry within your coven.  She detested all of the boys in her coven and wanted to have the chance to choose who she wanted to be with.  The day of her birthday arrived and it wouldn’t be long until the ceremony would start, honoring Lexi and for her to receive her amulet.

As soon as her mother placed that talisman around her neck, she began feeling the torment of each powerful witch before her, and seeing their faces.  She ran away to her special spot by the ocean trying to comprehend everything that just happened.  Soon she started to get visits from other witches before her, as well as a sweet vampire, Sebastian, to help guide her through what she needed to do to rid the world of Leticia.

Leticia is an extremely old vampire and once was under the control of a very powerful witch, Alexandria.  Alexandria controlled the vampires with her amulet where they craved human food and not human blood.  Leticia fed up with being controlled and wanting to taste that warm nectar once again, found a way to possess the amulet and kill Alexandria—so she thought.

Leticia, like many vampires were once witches that were either burned at the stake or tortured in another way, and came back as vampires to avenge their deaths.  Leticia wanted more than anything to be the most powerful being throughout the universe.  She caught wind of another powerful witch emerging and know she needed to stop her.  One night Leticia and her army of vampires set out heading towards Melba, Oregon to rid themselves of Lexi.  Sebastian warned Lexi they were coming.

Lexi found herself falling for a boy that has been in love with her for as long as she could remember, Kevin.  They thought their love was strong enough to enchant a dagger that would Kill Leticia.  The night Leticia strolled in, they plunged at her with the knife but all that did was fuel her furry.  She kidnapped Kevin and went down a hole that led to the underworld.

The underworld is controlled by two fairies, Tessa and Drake, and they gave Lexi their permission for her to enter their world and find Leticia.  After they made their way through the Forest of Dread to the Mountain of Embers, they found Leticia compelled help from an evil witch, Rosella, who had the ability of mind control.  Lexi was able to slow Rosella down and once again was face to face with Leticia.  Lexi’s powers were growing and she was just about to destroy Leticia and save Kevin.  Rosella intervened and herself, Leticia and Kevin were gone.

Lexi felt defeated but knew she couldn’t give up.  She needed to save Kevin no matter the cost and began plotting how she was going to return back to the mortal world, a kill Leticia and rescue Kevin.

It's a New Year!

I didn't accomplish my goal in 2013 so 2014 will be my year. 

2013 was a learning year for me--at least in the writing world.  I developed more of my craft and learned more of what it will take for me to be a successful author. 

As you know from previous posts, I am working on a YA series.  Since day one, I have been excited about this story.  On my way to work this morning, my thoughts wondered through the traffic, and my story took a different twist.  I FINALLY came out with the title for book one!

Haunted moon and Wicked deeds.

This paranormal, fantasy story is so much fun to write!  Full of vampires and witches and maybe eventually, in books to follow, there will be more!  Soon I will introduce you to all of my characters, once I finish bringing them to life, from my head onto paper.

2014 will be an exciting adventure and I am looking forward to sharing all of the adventures Lexi Reed will endure.

Am I good enough?

Each day that I write, I smile, enjoying myself.  I get lost writing my story, wanting to know what happens next (just like any reader).  I am happy with the flow of the story, what the characters are doing, and happy with my word choices.

Then it happens. 

I start to second guess myself.  Why do I do that?  I think I write well, but just like any writer, there is always room for improvement.   People tell me they love how I write and I have been told that I have a unique style and to not lose that. But, when I look at another author's story, I become discouraged and stop writing.  I can't tell you how many stories I have started and pushed to the side because I didn't think I was good enough.  And now, I am going through the same thing I always do.  I tell my daughter to never give up and try your hardest, but it's easier said then done.

My sister-n-law is perusing an acting career.  I expressed to her how proud I am of her and she responded by saying "I just feel like you only live once so you should try to do whatever you want and who cares if u suck at it-at least u tried something cool."

She has a point.  What kind of role model am I to my daughter if I don't peruse the one thing I have always wanted to do...write.  My daughter has also started to write, she is pretty darn good too (she's 9).

So, if my amazing sister-n-law can peruse what she wants, and I have inspired my daughter to write, why not make them both just as proud of me as I am of them and finish a story.

It doesn't matter if I think I am good at the craft or not, it matter's what the masses think.  So, I am going to continue writing, the way I want, the story I want and know that no matter what happens, I did what made me happy.

The story of Lexi

I fell in love with the name Lexi 3 years ago and if I thought of this name when my daughter was born, well I would have named her Lexi :-)

One day while I was hanging out with my daughter, she told me that she wanted me to write a story about a Vampire and a Witch falling in love. 

Weird right?

So, I decided to humor her.  The name for the Witch had to be Lexi and my daughter came up with the last name--Reed.  As I started to plot out my story, I found that I didn't know as much about Vampires and Witches as I thought I did, but it's fiction, write it any way you want, let your imagination take over.  But, it does help to read up on your mythology.

I started visualizing my characters, Lexi, Sebastian, and Leticia.  The next thing I knew, I had my outline done.  Even when creating my outline I felt like I was there in the story, that I was Lexi!  I can see everything that is happening as well as everything that is going to happen so vividly.

Lexi Reed comes from a line of powerful witches and on her 16th birthday, she discovers just how powerful she is.  She lives with her Coven in a small town in Oregon and all of her life was told she was the chosen one.  Lexi didn't quite understand what that meant until she received her amulet and discovers all to quickly what it is she must do--destroy the most powerful vampire, Leticia.

Leticia is a very powerful vampire, she got her power by absorbing the magic from every powerful witch.  It just so happens that every powerful witch is related to Lexi.  The only way to absorb their magic is to kill them.  Leticia's power is almost complete, there is just one more witch's magic she needs to absorb, Lexi's.  Once she has succeeded, she will be powerful enough to give herself immortality.

Sebastian didn't want the vampire life and refuses to hunt humans for food and feeds off of animals.  Leticia came and destroyed his entire town and killed his true love, Josephine, and turned him into a vampire sensing that he will be useful in helping her achieve total power.   80 years later, when Lexi has turned 16, Josephine came to Sebastian begging him to help Lexi.

  Together Sebastian and Lexi plot how they will destroy Leticia, and throughout this process, fall for each other as well.

There, that is a brief little synopsis of my story.  If I went into more detail, I would ruin it for you and you would never read it ;-)  I still need a name.  Something catchy.  Hmmmm...perhaps the more I write it will come to me.

 If you have an idea I would love to hear it!!