Blog Archives
READ IT NOW – Daughter of the Dark Lord – Part Three – INTO FUTURES PAST
I am excited to tell you that the third prequel to the Daughter of the Dark Lord – INTO FUTURES PAST has been released!
It is available on my website www.solitaireparke.com under Books. Check out the first two prequels and the other books there as well as some fun extras.
Daughter of the Dark Lord, Katherine, is determined to protect the downtrodden. She’s in a race against time and space to fulfill the prophecy and become a leader unlike any other before her. Follow her failures, triumphs, and unending journeys to claim her destiny as the Queen of the Dragons in this exciting, action-filled fantasy adventure as she struggles with self-acceptance and the acceptance of the dragons and people in her world.
In Book number three, Katherine travels through time to find herself transformed into the body of a woman named Elizabeth. She struggles to make sense of this unfamiliar new reality while being pursued by forces of good and evil. Using her special abilities, will she be able to claim her calling and as Queen of the Dragons, save them all? This is her story, one of thrilling adventure and at times heart-wrenching sorrow as she seeks to fulfill her destiny.
I hope you all enjoy the journey of Katherine Pendragon as she travels – INTO FUTURES PAST!
Solitaire
New Book Excerpts!!!
Hello Readers! These are excerpts from my new book –
“The Daughter of the Dark Lord
Part Three
Into Futures Past”
– which will be available very soon. This book is the third prequel to the previously published Dragomeir Series. The prequel books allow the reader an extensive view into the life of Katherine Pendragon, Queen of the Dragons, as she struggles to fulfill her destiny. Join Katherine in this fantasy adventure to another world, another place, and another time!
Check out all my other books at www.solitaireparke.com.
You can contact me at my website if you have any questions, or just leave a comment. It’s always great to hear from you. Thanks for reading –
Solitaire
Part Three of the Daughter of the Dark Lord Series – Into Futures Past
The Daughter of the Dark Lord, Part Three, Into Futures Past will be out very soon. I’m excited that it’s in the final editing stages. This book is the third prequel to the previously published Dragomeir Series. The prequel books allow the reader an extensive view into the life of Katherine Pendragon, Queen of the Dragons.
Daughter of the Dark Lord, Katherine, is determined to protect the downtrodden. She’s in a race against time and space to fulfill the prophecy and become a leader unlike any other before her. Follow her failures, triumphs, and unending journeys to claim her destiny as the Queen of the Dragons in this exciting, action-filled fantasy adventure as she struggles with self-acceptance and the acceptance of the dragons and people in her world.
Check out all my other books at www.solitaireparke.com.
You can contact me at my website if you have any questions, or just leave a comment. Thanks for reading –
Solitaire
What is a Typical Day in a Writer’s Life?
I start my day in the same way as, I would assume, any other person. Personal hygiene, shower-shave, the usual stuff. Ordinarily it wouldn’t be worth mentioning except that without it I manage to think about a lot of things. It’s just that none of them equate to writing. Being freshly showered seems to energize my mind and allow it to do other things besides wallowing around in a fog. Coffee is on the menu between 7 and 11 in the morning. I rarely stop for a lunch break, but occasionally snack here and there while I keep working. From 11 on, I usually drink tonic water and ginger ale – my ginger tonic.
I have two dogs, so periodically during the day they need an outdoor break. Then there are the two cats who definitely don’t want to feel ignored. Pets have their own ways of letting you know when they need your immediate attention. Not always in a good way!
If I’m writing dialogue, I often have conversations back and forth with my characters to determine what sounds awkward or unrealistic. If I need to clear my head, once in a while I’ll watch an episode of a Sci-Fi show just to keep a fresh mind and then its back to writing again.
For me to get into the spirit of writing, the mood of the room is actually quite important in the scheme of things. A good desk lamp tends to set the stage, casting an ambience that is conducive to seeing the story before I write it, or at least doesn’t take away from the ability to begin writing.
Music is the single most important ingredient to my writing, and it has to match the feel of the story. I write more fantasy than anything, and I’ve found that epic instrumentals work every time. I can almost see the characters being inspired right along with me.
I try to write 8 hours a day, Monday-Friday, and rewrite the bits and pieces I don’t like in the evenings between 10:00 p.m. and midnight. I don’t sleep as much as most people, and it just seems logical to do something constructive during a time when very little happens otherwise.
I’ve been asked many times about taking breaks and I advocate them, of course, but I rarely remember to take them. Once I get caught up in the story, it tends to take on a life of its own.
Oh, and then there’s that full-time job that I work from home for thirty-two – sometimes more – hours per week. I’m a pretty busy author these days.
If you haven’t already, check out my Website, my Amazon Author Page, friend me on Facebook and follow me on Pinterest.
Thanks for reading!
Solitaire
What’s Your Writing Process?
What process do you use on a day to day basis to determine what happens next in a novel? What is your decision-making process for introducing new characters and how do you determine their importance?
Early on I researched how other authors went about prepping for writing a novel. Some created elaborate outlines and spent inordinate amounts of time agonizing over every detail. The system works, just not for me. In the attempt to recreate the entire book in outline form, I lost contact with what I was trying to say. Consequently, it would take me months to find I wasn’t getting any closer to the actual writing process.
I finally hit on how it functioned for my level of impatience and trust me, once you find it, stop butting heads with the inevitable . . . just write. I started over a lot until I realized one key thing; by trying to adhere to an existing outline, letter by letter, number by number, the story got lost in the translation from my attempt to force the outline to become the book. The story has to come from the gut, not from a preconceived notion that was designed before the writing began. The story needs to have a mind of its own, and at times, should not be controlled. Sometimes, you should just let the monster out of the box.
I usually dig back into my past and find that moment, everybody has them, where everything that could go wrong . . . does, and then allow the characters to go through, at least in spirit, the same level of agony, just to see where they will take it instead of me. I discovered that if I put on my writing shoes, and then just followed my feet, the characters managed to get themselves into enough trouble to satisfy my wanderlust. Sometimes, I don’t even know what they’re about to do, but isn’t that how life works?
The importance of characters in a story should be dealt with in primarily the same way that God deals with us down here on earth. No one person is of greater importance than anyone else. If we treat any single character with less importance than their counterparts, we have done them a grave injustice. We as writers never know which character will surface again in a subsequent story. Today’s sidekick might be tomorrow’s hero.
Do you have a certain process that inspires you to create new characters or prep for a new piece or novel you are writing? I’d love to hear your comments.
Thanks,
Solitaire
You can purchase or preview my books at www.solitaireparke.com.
Author Fair * Book Signing – Saturday, November 3, 2018
http://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/ServicesForYou/Pages/Just-Read-Local-Author-Fair.aspx
Saturday, November 3, 2018 from 11a.m. to 2p.m.
Burton Barr Central Library, 2nd Floor
1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Join me for the Author Fair to meet authors from all over the state of Arizona and learn about our books, including children’s, teen, adult fiction and nonfiction.
Books will be available for purchase and signing. I hope to see you there!
Solitaire
www.solitaireparke.com
WHY WRITE A PREQUEL?
A prequel is a work that forms part of a back-story to the preceding work. Simply stated, it sets the stage for the existing novels and usually comes after the original work was written.
If you have followed my blog or perhaps seen my books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or various other sites then you know I have authored a succession of books called the Dragomeir Series, an urban fantasy/sci-fi saga of dragons and their riders, along with some rather unusual creatures and captivating characters.
Some readers might ask, “Why write a prequel?” I had originally planned to finish this series and then push on to other projects but began having second thoughts as I put a close on the third book in the Dragomeir Series, “Egg of the Amphitere.” One of the main characters known as Queen Mother needed to be expounded upon to give a better understanding and proper closure as to who she was and why. I realized there was a fascinating back-story to be told, and the prequel was born. The story, albeit told by Tanis Theatra (one of the dragon riders), was more about the life and times of Katherine Pendragon (Queen Mother) than anything else.
The only way to pursue that was to go back where it essentially started and tell her story as it began on the Provinces. So, the prequel series, “Daughter of the Dark Lord” was created to give credence to Queen Mother’s life, why she was so passionate about family, and to clarify her dedication to stopping the Dark Lord from invading earth. Last, but not least, it was to express how she eventually planned to liberate the Denizen people of the Provinces. While telling her story, it would also give the reader a bird’s eye view into Tanis Theatra’s beginnings, and of course the amazing dragons. To accomplish this there will also be one more installment to the original Dragomeir Series, entitled “Back from Oblivion.” This book describes Queen Mother’s ultimate objective which is exclusively detailed in the “Daughter of the Dark Lord” prequel series. There are two books available in this series now, and a third is currently being written.
All together it should delineate the complete story as first introduced by Tanis Theatra and recanted by me, Solitaire Parke. Check out my website at
to read sample chapters, discover exciting extras and purchase books at multiple locations in a variety of formats. I hope you enjoy!
Here is a question for my readers – Do you enjoy reading a prequel to a novel?
Have you written a prequel? I’d love to hear about your writing experience.
Solitaire
10 Ways to Promote Happiness
Happiness – the often elusive thing that nearly everyone is searching for. We all have different ideas, preferences, and desires for our lives. But after years of scientific research, it has been suggested that certain things make the good majority of us happy. To be more specific, happiness does not result from reaching “bigger and better” signs of success, but rather from looking for contentment from new and fresh experiences in our quest for a life that is considered well lived. So, what kinds of experiences provide the best happiness benefits? Well, scientific study has discovered that these 10 ways will increase your everyday overall happiness:
- Make little changes in your daily routine, such as getting more sleep, exercising, getting out into nature, and meditating.
- Read more books. Read books to learn—research suggests that lifelong learners remain healthy and engaged, and live long lives. Read books as an escape from your everyday life, Read books—it will make you happy. (One of my personal favorites. I have always loved to read, and write as well. Check out my books at www.solitaireparke.com)
- Find your right fit or match, both personally and professionally. If you love what you do and who you are with, you’ll position yourself for personal happiness and professional success.
- Be grateful. Two specific activities help foster a greater sense of gratitude. First, keep a daily gratitude journal. Second, pay a “gratitude visit” to someone from your past that has had a significant impact on your life, and let them know how you feel.
- Smile more—even if you don’t feel like it. Research shows that the simple act of smiling can trick your brain into a happier state.
- Take pleasure in simple, everyday moments. Appreciating life’s small moments, such as a beautiful sunny day, plants sprouting from the ground, and skipping rocks at the beach, teaches you to be more grateful for what you have, especially during moments of stress and anxiety.
- Perform random acts of kindness. Do good deeds. Volunteer. Be charitable. Shop for someone else! Studies have shown that you can help yourself by doing good things for others.
- Spend money on experiences versus things. Studies have shown that buying an object—a car, handbag, or kitchen gadget—can quickly lead to buyer’s remorse. On the other hand, investing in experiences—a concert, a camping trip, music lessons—leads to greater happiness. Experiences create “happiness residue,” and our perceptions of them often get better over time.
- Avoid comparisons. Whatever you may think of someone else’s life, particularly as viewed through the phony, filtered lens of social media, it’s almost certainly messier than you imagine. It’s easier to embrace and learn to love your own imperfections, if you don’t conjure up myths about how perfect everyone else’s lives seem.
- Build and maintain close relationships. Having a small number of tight, meaningful relationships is one of the highest predictors of happiness. (Pets are wonderful companions too!)
We all lose sight of some of the happiness priorities, so don’t feel bad if you do. In this world we battle on a daily basis the relentless marketing and expectations of society that attempt to lead us down paths to happiness that lie somewhere else. We don’t need to over-complicate things. It’s the simple things in life that matter most. Live each moment with purpose and intent – live each moment as if it were your last and enjoy the people around you. You have one life – so live each minute to the fullest!
“Attaining lasting happiness requires that we enjoy the journey on our way toward a destination we deem valuable. Happiness is not about making it to the peak of the mountain nor is it about climbing aimlessly around the mountain; happiness is the experience of climbing toward the peak.”
Solitaire
Dragomeir Series – Prequel Book – Part Two is now Here!
Here are the Prequel books to the Dragomeir Series –
- Daughter of the Dark Lord – Part One – The Burning Sky –
AND NOW AVAILABLE –
- Daughter of the Dark Lord – Part Two – The Alberra Project
Follow the journey of the daughter of the Dark Lord on the Provinces of Hell, Katherine Pendragon, from a baby to a young adult as she struggles to discover who she really is and make a difference in the world around her.
In Part Two – The Alberra Project, she unwittingly learns the truth about her father, the Dark Lord of the Provinces, revealing the reality she has long dreaded. With the beloved dragon, Exxa, by her side Katherine makes an incredible and frightening discovery that leads to an uncertain future, both for herself and those she would free from this vile world. She must somehow survive, prove her worth and save the people of the Provinces before it is too late.
You will find this book and many others at solitaireparke.com.
If you love dragons and other amazing creatures check out the Dragomeir Series.
Solitaire
Forthcoming Novel – Daughter of the Dark Lord – Part Two – The Alberra Project
Daughter of the Dark Lord – Part Two – The Alberra Project is finished. The last six months have been chaotic, as the holidays and life in general seemed to hijack my writing time. But The Alberra Project has progressed into editing mode and will be available in eBook and paperback very soon. The first book, Daughter of the Dark Lord – Part One – The Burning Sky, has been out for a while now and is available at a variety of locations – all of which can be reached from my website – www.solitaireparke.com.
The Daughter of the Dark Lord books are prequels to my previously published Dragomeir Series – a must read for anyone who loves dragons and other wonderful creatures. I’ve always been intrigued by dragons. They are magnificent creatures who interact in the most unique ways with their riders and fellow beings and have characteristics that are remarkably like humans at times. They’re quite brilliant and good-natured, contrary to all the bad press they’ve been given over the centuries.
Part Two continues Katherine Pendragon’s journey as she comes of age on the Provinces of Hell, a dark and often unnerving place in which to grow up. She unwittingly learns the truth about her father, a reality she has long dreaded. With her beloved dragon by her side, Katherine faces her biggest challenge yet as she struggles with the knowledge of her father and an uncertain future, both for herself and those she would free from this vile world.
Stay tuned for the forthcoming endeavors of Katherine Pendragon in
Daughter of the Dark Lord – Part Two – The Alberra Project.
My other books are available, along with “Extras,” at –
Happy reading!
Solitaire
