Blog Archives
SMASHWORDS July Summer/Winter ebook Sale!
Hello Readers!
Welcome to the
Smashwords author discounts on their ebooks.
Why is it called “Summer/Winter?” Here in the Northern hemisphere, it’s mid-summer. Readers are loading their e-reading devices for summer beach reading and vacations in the age of COVID-19 – staycations. South of the equator, readers are now in the middle of winter. They’re ready to curl up in front of the fireplace and enjoy a great read too!
So, check it out and stock up on your favorite genres of books at great discounts!
You’ll find my Dragomeir Series, which includes the new fourth book, Back from Oblivion, as well as the Daughter of the Dark Lord Series (Prequel to Dragomeir), and others. Also listed at my website along with other extras. (Only ebooks at Smashwords are discounted)
Have a safe and happy summer.
Solitaire
Release of the new Dragomeir Series Book 4 – Back from Oblivion
A return to the Dragomeir science fiction/fantasy series,
continuing Katherine Pendragon/ Queen Mother’s story.
Book synopsis –
Queen Mother of Mt. Drago has a lifelong goal to liberate the Denizen people. After locking away her father, the Dark Lord, in Oblivion she is taking them to the planet 267. Tanis is a dragon rider and an important person in her past, present, and future. Through a series of misadventures, he regains the memories of not only his past but the accumulative knowledge gained by his future self and goes forward in time to effectively rewrite history. The earth becomes a burned-out cinder in 300 years because of the anomalies caused from time travel, so Tanis takes steps with his future self to remedy the situation. Guided by the Watcher, both Tanis and Queen Mother become stronger and wiser people through their efforts. They learn the importance of working together and with others as they strive to champion for all while fulfilling their own destinies.
THE DRAGOMEIR SERIES – BOOKS 1 – 3
To read excerpts from the books and find out how it all began – check out the PREQUEL BOOKS on my website at WWW.SOLITAIREPARKE.COM
Have a great day and stay safe!
Solitaire
AUTHORS GIVE BACK SALE – EXTENDED TO MAY 31ST – FREE AND DISCOUNTED BOOKS!
Smashwords 
authors are reaching out to do their part by using the power of their books to help minimize the emotional and economic hardships we all face in every country. Many of us are faced with having to stay at home and stay isolated from others in order to contain this global pandemic. So we, as authors, want to do our part by offering LARGE DISCOUNTS of 30%, 60%, or even FREE on select ebooks. We are continuing our sale through May 31st. So please browse Smashwords’ many selections and enjoy reading!
We hope that all of you readers might find comfort and enjoyment from them and it might make your day a little brighter. If you find a favorite book during the sale, please consider reading their other books as well. There are 140,000 authors that publish at Smashwords from every country around the world. They are all your friends and neighbors.
You can find all my Smashwords’ books here: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/solitaireparke
The first book in the Dragmeir Series – The Emerald Dragon – is FREE
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/446935
The first book in the Daughter of the Dark Lord Series (prequel books to Dragomeir)
Daughter of the Dark Lord, The Burning Sky) – FREE
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/707732
Please spread the word, take care and stay safe!
Solitaire
AUTHORS GIVE BACK SALE – NOW UNDERWAY – FREE BOOKS!
Smashwords authors are reaching out to do their part by using the power of their books to help minimize the emotional and economic hardships we all face in every country. Many of us are faced with having to stay at home and stay isolated from others in order to contain this global pandemic. So we, as authors, want to do our part by offering LARGE DISCOUNTS of 30%, 60%, or even FREE on select ebooks, starting now through April 20th.
We hope that all of you readers might find comfort and enjoyment from them and it might make your day a little brighter. If you find a favorite book during the sale, please consider reading their other books as well. There are 140,000 authors that publish at Smashwords from every country around the world. They are all your friends and neighbors.
You can find all my Smashwords’ books here: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/solitaireparke
The first book in the Dragmeir Series – The Emerald Dragon – is FREE
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/446935
The first book in the Daughter of the Dark Lord Series (prequel books to Dragomeir)
Daughter of the Dark Lord, The Burning Sky) – FREE
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/707732
Please spread the word, take care and stay safe!
Solitaire
“Thank You” to Brimhall Wellness for Book Signing Opportunity!
An enormous “Thank You” to Dr. John Brimhall at Brimhall Wellness
for the opportunity to display my books at their 2020 Homecoming in Tempe, January 17 – 19. I was able to connect with many new folks and view the other exhibits there as well. It was a great weekend. My good friends, Brian and Alex were there being super supportive. Thanks guys! Many many thanks to everyone who stopped by. It was a pleasure to meet you all. Check out the pics below –
Check out my website for all my books and fun extras. Happy Reading!
Solitaire
Veterans Day 2019 – THANK YOU!
This holiday is a time to show appreciation for all those who served America, both living and dead. It’s celebrated each year on November 11, the day the Allied forces and Germany enacted an agreement in 1918 that ended World War I.
We honor all those who have served and are now serving in the armed forces fighting for our freedom.
Solitaire
Cover Launch: DAUGHTER OF THE DARK LORD, Part Four, OUT OF THE ABYSS by Solitaire Parke
I’m excited to reveal the actual title and cover of the final volume of the Prequel series to the Dragomeir Series books. They began with Daughter of the Dark Lord, Part One, The Burning Sky, and now continue with Daughter of the Dark Lord, Part Four, OUT OF THE ABYSS.
I can’t wait for you to return to the adventures of Katherine Pendragon, Daughter of the Dark Lord of the Provinces. She navigates a whole new journey with unexpected difficult decisions, old and new friendships, and of course, dragons.
After traveling through time, Katherine finds herself in Iceland where she reunites with people from her past, although they don’t all remember her. Cystic is a trusted old friend, and Tanis is destined to be of great importance in her future, belonging to an organization called the Thaumaturgists. Cystic takes her to Mt. Scartaris, the home of dragons and their stewards, where she proves herself to be a worthy leader. Queen Mother/Katherine, brings change to their chaotic and undisciplined lives to protect them from future harm. But not long after, she learns of a greater threat. Cystic has known for some time that Mt. Scartaris is an active volcano which is currently displaying critical signs. To further complicate matters, there is the abyss. Now Katherine must engage the help of the Thaumaturgists, a clan of wizards, and find a new home for her family before the eminent disaster.
I hope I’ve piqued your interest. To find the other books in the Daughter of the Dark Lord Series and the Dragomeir Series, as well as other works and fun extras, join me at www.solitaireparke.com. My books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, & various other locations listed on the website. You will also find me on Pinterest, Facebook and Goodreads.
Happy Reading!
Solitaire
10 Quotes to Keep You Thinking, Encouraged, and Positive
- “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
- To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.”
- “When you think things are bad,
when you feel sour and blue,
when you start to get mad…
you should do what I do!
Just tell yourself, Duckie,
you’re really quite lucky!
Some people are much more…
oh, ever so much more…
oh, muchly much-much more
unlucky than you!”
― Dr. Seuss, Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?
- Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
― Oscar Wilde
- “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt, This is My Story
- I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
― Maya Angelou
- “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!”
― Audrey Hepburn
- “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
― Albert Einstein
- “You’re going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it’s always their actions you should judge them by. It’s actions, not words that matter.
― Nicholas Sparks, The Rescue
If you have a favorite quote, please share or comment.
Solitaire
15 Quotes to Celebrate Father’s Day
The third Sunday in June every year is Father’s Day. A great day to let your Dad know that he is important and you care, with a card, a gift, or just a hug and a visit. Fatherhood is rarely a smooth ride, but one that’s full of ups and downs, with both joyful and sometimes tragic experiences. You learn to find joy in the everyday pleasures and count your blessings, because nothing in life is guaranteed. So, live simply, don’t take yourself too seriously, live your life intentionally and with a sense of humor. Cherish each one of life’s moments that you have.
Here are some quotes from a handful of Fathers:
“A Father carries pictures where his money used to be.” – Steve Martin
“One Father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.” – George Herbert
“No man stands taller than when he stoops to help a child.” – Abraham Lincoln
“What you teach your children, you also teach their children.” – The Talmud
“A two year old is kind of like having a blender, but you don’t have a top for it.” – Jerry Seinfeld
“There should be a children’s song: If you’re happy and you know it, keep it to yourself and let your dad sleep.” – Jim Gaffigan
“It’s on ongoing joy being a Dad. ” – Liam Neeson
“The older I get, the smarter my Father seems to get.” – Tim Russert
“When my Father didn’t have my hand, he had my back.” – Linda Poindexter
“A daughter needs a Dad to be the standard against which she will judge all men.” – Gregory E. Lang
“Having a kid is like falling in love for the first time when you’re 12, but every day.” – Mike Myers
“My Father used to say, ‘It’s never too late to do anything you wanted to do. You never know what you can accomplish until you try.’ ” – Michael Jordan
“A Father doesn’t just tell you he loves you; he shows you.” – Unknown
“My Father taught me not to overthink things, that nothing will be perfect, so just keep moving and do your best.” – Scott Eastwood
“Daddies don’t just love their children now and then. It’s a love without end.” – George Strait
Happy Father’s Day!
Solitaire
The Prequel – Tips on Writing a Great One!
Hello Readers!
My newest prequel book to the Dragomeir Series is now in the editing process and will be out later this year. It will be the 4th book in the prequel series – Daughter of the Dark Lord – which can all be found on my website –www.solitaireparke.com.
When you finish reading the last book in a series – one that you just couldn’t put down – it would often be amazing to find out the stories behind the story. What were the circumstances in the past that contributed to, or carved out the personalities of the characters we either fell in love with, hated, or never even knew existed? Generally, a prequel provides the reader with new or expanded information on a story line that was important to the original series but perhaps only touched upon.
Yes, I know that over and over again, prequels have messed things up – especially when you’re talking about movies. Prequels can be difficult to write since they have to line-up with already established story lines. But they can be enormously popular as well. You just have to adhere to some guidelines in order to keep your stories straight.
First of all, be sure that your prequel story has a strong enough scope to merit telling. It should be able to stand on its own without relying too heavily on the original story, otherwise it will feel like “more of the same.”
Can you expound on the history of a particular place or answer more in-depth questions about your characters or their families, all without compromising the original story line? There might be an extensive untold backstory that could be important to the original series, that was only previously touched upon. Focus on telling your audience something unknown. In the prequel, you might find pieces of the story or past events that never got a complete or proper explanation, leaving you with questions.
Since the reader knows the outcome of the story, it can be tricky, and you must be careful not to contradict anything said in the original series. After writing thousands of pages, and spending countless hours editing and revising, an author can easily lose track of their own story. The prequel’s job is to fill in gaps and flesh out story lines, answer the unanswered questions, and give some important characters background on their motives for later actions, so a reader going back to the prequel can have that “aha” moment. At the same time, the author has to be careful to keep the essential secrets of the original series.
I would suggest that if you decide to write a prequel, do yourself a favor and scan through the original series before starting and as you go along, to refresh your mind on the world and characters you have created. It might even be wise to compile a database of information from which you can garner information when needed.
Telling a good prequel story is not easy. But if you decide to take on the challenge, these tips might help you stay on track and craft a story that your readers will love!
Solitaire
What are your ideas about prequels?
