Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Adam's Point from Romantic Junkies

Hi, Everyone!

Received a great review from Romantic Junkies this week...4.5 blue ribbons. It won't be posted on their website until September, but here's an excerpt of it.

After reading GATEKEEPER’S REALM I was fascinated with the characters and the vivid imagery that enthralled me throughout the storyline. I’m thrilled to say that Elena Dorothy Bowman's continuation of the story in ADAM’S POINT contains all the same traits that have made the LEGACY series a thrilling read. I loved the men’s alpha attitude and determination to protect the women and had to laugh at the women’s ‘not without us’ attitude. While the sinister apparition kept me guessing at what stunt it would pull next I was really hopeful to ‘meet’ Jacob and learn just how he could help satisfy the wraith. I do have to confess while I was quite sure there would be a happy ending for the couples, I wasn’t anticipating the emotions which I experienced at the end of the story - sorry I can’t say more because it’d give too much away.

I would recommend reading all three of the books in the LEGACY series - HOUSE ON THE BLUFF, GATEKEEPER’S REALM and ADAM’S POINT in order to fully experience the wonders carefully hidden and guarded in this fascinating house/Inn.

Title: Legacy Series: Adam's Point
Category: Paranormal
Reviewer: Chrissy Dionne
Reviewer Email: RJchrissydionne@yahoo.com

Monday, August 13, 2007

KIm Baccellia Guests on Elena Dorothy Bowman's Book Blog

Today, I would like to welcome my special guest Kim Baccellia, a Young Adult Writer, to my blog. Kim is the author of Earrings of Ixtumea. A fascinating tale about a young girl who dismisses the legend about her Mexican grandmother's magical earrings as a silly fairytale...until the earrings thrust her into the parallel world of Ixtumea.

EDBB: Welcome to the elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com Kim. It's a pleasure to have you here.

Kim: Thanks for inviting me!

EDBB: Would you like to tell us about yourself…and about your book?

KIM: I’m the author of the YA multicultural fantasy, Earrings of Ixtumea.

Earrings of Ixtumea is a fast-paced fantasy featuring a young Latina who discovers ancient traditions in her family history that propel her to a magical civilization, where she struggles against evil forces that threaten her family, her heart, and her life.

EDBB: What book was it that made you want to be a writer? What was it about that book that piqued your interest?

Kim: I admit when I was in middle school I used to love reading Harlequin romances. I would write my own romances. Later, I loved such stories as The Far Pavillions and Clan of the Cave Bear and wanted to write books that would take the reader away to different worlds and time periods. I loved pure escapism. I even wrote my own fan fiction. I was a huge Star Trek and Star Wars fan. While in college I was introduced to such great fantasy writers as Orson Scott Card, Robert Jordan, and Terry Brooks. I was hooked.

EDBB: What did you do before you were an author or were you always a writer?

Kim: I was a bilingual teacher for eight years for South Whittier School District. I was a Sheltered English teacher for seven years for Tustin Unified School District. My favorite subject to teach? Writers Workshop, of course!

Before that I was a telemarketer, sales clerk, and I even worked at the BYU library while going to school. My favorite jobs involved being around books.

EDBB: Who publishes your books and what has your experience been with publishers? How long did it take you to get your first book published?

Kim: Virtual Tales is my publisher. They’ve been great and supportive. It took about two years to write Earrings. Another year or so to do revisions on my story and a year for it to come out in print. So over all, it took about four years.

EDBB: How did it feel when you first glimpse a copy of your first book with your name on it and held it in your hand?

Kim; Unbelievable at first. Then awesome!

EDBB: Are your stories based on real people, a combination of people, or are they all figments of your imagination?

KIM: They’re a combination of things. My imagination is huge. I remember being the storyteller of my neighborhood as a kid. I base my stories on a little of everything.

EDBB: Do you write a character chart for each of your characters, or do you imagine each one as your work progresses?

Kim: I use a character chart that lists the strengths, quirks, and traits. I also list the character’s faulty thinking and wound.

I cut out pictures from magazines of what I think my character looks like and post them in my writing room. My room changes to reflect what book I’m working on. Right now I have 1976 things and music in there as I’m working on my YA contemporary book, Bullets of Truth. I even have pictures of me during that time period and my father in the basement making bullets.

EDBB: What do you like the best or least about writing?

Kim: I love how you can bring your characters to life. I love it when people read my work and tell me how much my story affected them.

The least favorite thing is how long it takes to get published. It takes more than talent in this business. You need to be persistent and not to give up.

EDBB: How long have you been writing?

Kim: Since I can remember. I was on the high school newspaper staff. I wrote a horoscope column in middle school and my own poetry and gossip paper while in junior college. I also put together slide presentations based to my poetry. It seemed like I was always writing.

EDBB: Why did you want to become a writer?

Kim: It’s a part of me. My father used to tell me it was in my genes. I’m related to the author of Tarzan.
For a long time I put aside writing to have a more secure position, teaching. But the words wouldn’t leave me. I found myself attracted to writing programs for children. I ended up making writing a big part of my student’s experience. Then I thought why don’t I follow my advice to my students and write my own book?

Once I signed up for a creative writing class at UCI extension program, I was hooked. There was no turning back.

EDBB: Thank you Kim for being my guest for today.

Kim: Thank you for having me.

Elena Dorothy Bowman
************************************
Journey to the Rim of Space and Beyond
http://elenadb.home.comcast.net
http://www.myspace.com/elenabowmanauthor
http://elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com/
e-mail: elenadb@comcast.net

Friday, August 10, 2007

Review of Gatekeeper's Realm

Hi,

With permission from Romance Junkies and Chrissy Dionne

From RomanceJunkies.com
Paranormal/Futuristic
Gatekeeper's Realm
By Chrissy Dionne
May 1, 2007 - 5:27:00 AM


An ancient relic granted by Divine Decree to a Noble Knight who had been mortally wounded is buried beneath the foundation of a home - this home had once been named Pierce House but now is known as THE HOUSE ON THE BLUFF. Only a direct descendant of the Noble Knight may take possession of the house - and even he or she will be tested by the house to deem if he or she is worthy.

Abigail and her consort, Ethan, have fulfilled the prophecy surrounding their current dwelling which they’ve converted into an Inn. It’s a beautiful house steeped in mystery and ghostly wonders - who cling to the old ways. There’s no electricity, no running water, no central heating system, no phone and no television. Abigail’s a bit apprehensive about their first guests. There’s a possibility they’ll get spooked and want to leave especially once the ghosts make themselves known. There’s no way of telling how the ghosts will react to guests at the Inn and Jacob, the apparitions’ "Ambassador," knows it will just depend. Many of the ghosts have been living there for centuries and may not like having visitors in their house.
As soon as the first guests arrives a shapeless apparition appears over the Inn. Abigail, Ethan, and Tony (town sheriff and sometime permanent resident of the Inn when he’s not working) quickly realize that this apparition is not one of the ‘Others’ and they question who it is and what it wants. The ghostly appearance doesn’t scare off the guests though and is just the beginning of the bizarre appearances which will be taking place over the next couple of days. What will happen when the guests unexplainably begin to start disappearing - one or two at a time? Is the house holding them hostage?
I don’t normally read ghost stories but I have to tell you I was fascinated by this one! Elena Dorothy Bowmen’s GATEKEEPER’S REALM takes an ancient prophecy and brings it into a modern day setting with results that will steal your breath. I was enthralled by the ghost scenes and the guests reactions to each of them and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next or to whom it would happen. The storyline moved along at a quick pace but it never lacked enough descriptive information that I was easily able to imagine each of the scenes.
I would highly recommend reading HOUSE ON THE BLUFF first simply because I believe it goes into more of the details of what Abigail had to endure in order to claim the house. Of course, I’m also going to recommend the third book, ADAM’S POINT, because there are questions that are left unanswered in this story and I’m dying to find out the answers. HOUSE ON THE BLUFF, GATEKEEPER’S REALM and ADAM’S POINT are all available now.


© Copyright 2003 by RomanceJunkies.com
http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/paranormal/Gatekeeper_s_Realm_7970.shtml

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Barnes and Noble

Today I received a phone call from Barnes and Noble in Nashua, New Hampshire. I have been invited to a local authors' book signing September 16, 2007. Of course, since B&N doesn't work with my distributor I have to bring in my own books. But that's okay. Whatever it takes to get my books signed and sold at B&N. I have had several book signings at B&N when my old now defunct publisher was with Ingram and Lightning Press, and sold a number of books of my novel The House On The Bluff, the first book in the Legacy Series. Now, I will have not only the first book in the series but the second book as well to offer. The Gatekeeper's Realm is Book 2 in the series and I am hoping that those who purchased the first one will be eager to read more and purchase the second book. There is a third book to the series which is not in print as yet, but that shouldn't be too long in coming. Anyway, that's my thoughts for today.

Oh, I should mention that on August 13, I will be hosting on my blog, Kim Baccellia virtual book tour. Hope you'll drop in and get to meet Kim

Elena