Author: Marcia Meara

#TenThingsYouMayNotKnow – About Deborah Jay

/ Marcia Meara / 74 Comments

Once again, another Wednesday has rolled around, and it’s time for a new Ten Things list. This one is from author Deborah Jay, a friend who lives in Scotland (ooooh … men in kilts!) and I think you’re going to enjoy it a lot. With that in mind, I’m turning the floor over to her without further delay. Take it away, Debby!

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Ten Things You May Not Know About Me
by Deborah Jay

  1. Although I work professionally as a trainer of dressage horses, I have competed in a wide range of other horse sports, including long distance riding, horse trials (eventing), show jumping, showing classes, and side-saddle competitions.
  2. I am a total Lord of the Rings geek, and when I visited New Zealand, I took a 2-week tour visiting filming locations, some of which were only accessible by helicopter.
  3. I once modelled nude for a life class for the local art school.
  4. I can’t cook. I love to eat, but someone else has to produce it!
  5. I was an official at the London 2012 Olympics.
  6. A few days before the UK’s first Covid lockdown I achieved my dream house move, and now live full time in the Scottish Highlands, about 15 miles from Loch Ness.
  7. We adopt and foster rescue dogs with behavioural difficulties that mean they don’t fit into regular homes.
  8. I have been a passionate flower gardener for some years. Now I’m learning to grow vegetables as well.
  9. My hair really was ginger when I was young. Now it takes regular dying to keep it this way.
  10. My real name is Deborah Judith Lush. Hence I used my middle initial to come up with my pen name of Deborah Jay.

Debby Outside Sam & Rosie’s Hobbit Hole

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Author Deborah Jay

Deborah Jay writes fantasy and urban fantasy featuring complex, quirky characters and multi-layered plots – just what she likes to read.

Fortunate to live near Loch Ness in the majestic, mystery-filled Scottish Highlands with her partner and a pack of rescue dogs, she can often be found lurking in secluded glens and forests, researching locations for her books.

She has a dream day job riding, training and judging competition dressage horses and riders, and also writes books and magazine features on the subject under her professional name of Debby Lush.

A lifelong fan of science fiction and fantasy, she started writing her first novel aged eight, and has never stopped. Her first published novel is epic fantasy, THE PRINCE’S MAN, first in the Five Kingdoms series, and winner of a UK Arts Council award. #2, THE PRINCE’S SON and #3, THE PRINCE’S PROTEGE are both available with the concluding book in the quartet, THE PRINCE’S HEIR, due out in 2021.

Her first urban fantasy, DESPRITE MEASURES, about a Scottish water sprite, is the opening novel of the CALEDONIAN SPRITE SERIES. The companion short story, SPRITE NIGHT is available FREE on most ebook retailers.

BUY DEBORAH JAY’S BOOKS HERE:
 Amazon author page: https://viewAuthor.at/DeborahJay

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REACH DEBORAH ON SOCIAL MEDIA HERE:

https://deborahjayauthor.com/

https://www.facebook.com/DeborahJay

https://twitter.com/DeborahJay2

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/debbylush/boards/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7172608.Deborah_Jay

Newsletter sign up and FREE short story: http://eepurl.com/bPZcmT

Deborah Jay Author (list-manage.com)

 

#BadMoonRising – Post 26 Featuring D. Wallace Peach

/ Marcia Meara / 5 Comments

 

Today’s Bad Moon Rising guest is author D. Wallace Peach. Diana is one of my favorite writers, since I’m a huge fantasy fan. Her books are beautifully imagined and written, and her interview today is fascinating. Don’t miss it! 

Check out Diana’s Post HERE
Enjoy!

October Siege

/ Marcia Meara / 20 Comments

While it’s still in the high 80s and low 90s down here in the Land of Sunshine, I’m in the mood to celebrate fall and Halloween, so here’s an offering from my book, Summer Magic: Poems of Life and Love. Hope you enjoy October Siege!

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October.
The siege begins.
Enemies among us
Everywhere!
With evil grins,
They lurk,
They skulk,
They glare,
Sharp fangs bared.

October.
Hide inside.
Nighttime danger
Everywhere!
With shining eyes,
They menace,
They taunt,
They torment,
Mouths opened wide.

See how they glow!
Deadly, gap-toothed grins
Midst curves of vivid orange!
Silently screaming with devilish glee,
They lounge on nighttime porches,
And march up darkened drives.
Casting yellow light from watchful eyes,
They search for unwary victims,
For slow and easy prey.

Big ones, tall ones,
Skinny ones, or round.
Colored like the fiery sun,
Or the moonlight pallor of alien visitors.
They line up on fence posts,
Stair steps, and windowsills.
Peering out . . . or peering in?
Looking for who?
You!

October.
Watch your step.
They’re back again,
Everywhere!
With wicked intent,
They scheme,
They hunger,
They haunt,
Pumpkins on patrol!

Boo!

Thanks, Everybody!

/ Marcia Meara / 11 Comments

My heartfelt thanks to everyone who commented on my post about beta readers. I decided to remove the post because I did a terrible job of explaining what I really wanted. (I’ll admit, I’d just come back inside from some labor intensive yard work in 90 degree weather, so was probably too tired to even try to tackle the post.)

Please know that I definitely understand that most writers don’t have the time to be beta readers for another writer. I was mostly hoping you might have a friend or family member who’d enjoy it, but honestly, it’s not a big deal. And I apologize profusely for bothering you folks unnecessarily. 

So … pay no attention to that crazy ol’ granny behind the curtain. A good night’s rest in the glorious air conditioning, and she’ll be back to normal again. (Or, as normal as she gets, anyway.)

And THANKS for putting up with me. (I do go crazy now and then!)

 

#BadMoonRising – Post 25 Featuring Shari Sakurai

/ Marcia Meara / Leave a comment

 

Like your scary tales to have some teeth? Then nip right on over to take a peek at today’s Bad Moon Rising author, Shari Sakurai. Another interesting (and new-to-me) author for you to check out. 

Check out Shari’s Post HERE
Enjoy!

#ReblogAlert – Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord Weekly RoundUp Post

/ Marcia Meara / 5 Comments

Looks like Sundays are going to be my weekly roundup post days, folks. Seems like the last day of the week is appropriate for a weekly roundup, so I’ll give it a try. 

As always, be sure to take a look at Sally’s roundup post. With all she has going on over there, it’s pretty easy to miss something good, so stop by and check out what happened last week. You’ll be glad you did.

Check out Sally’s RoundUp Post HERE
Enjoy!

#ReblogAlert – This Week on #StoryEmpire

/ Marcia Meara / 13 Comments

Another great week, as always, on Story Empire. If you missed any of the latest posts, head on over and check them out. You’ll be glad you did!

MONDAY: Jan Sikes continues with her marketing series with #MKTG – Part 6 – Pinterest. Lots of good stuff to learn here on a topic that baffles many of us. Check Jan’s post out HERE.

WEDNESDAY: Gwen Plano gives us a very thought-provoking post entitled The Before and After of Writers. This one certainly resonated with me, and I’m sure it will with you as well. Check out Gwen’s post HERE.

FRIDAY: Mae Clair’s post, Are You Ready? #NaNoWriMo, is an interesting  and fun perspective on all that comes along with taking part in this major writing challenge. You can check out Mae’s post HERE.

And there you have it once again, Folks: 
Another wonderful week on #Story Empire.
Enjoy!

#BadMoonRising – Post 24 Featuring R. G. Vaughan

/ Marcia Meara / 4 Comments

 

Today’s Bad Moon Rising post features author R. G. Vaughan, and I thoroughly enjoyed his interview answers and reading about his newest writing endeavors. I think you will, too, so head on over if you haven’t already visited this morning.

Check out R. G.’s Post HERE
Enjoy!

#BadMoonRising – Post 23 Featuring Mae Clair

/ Marcia Meara / 19 Comments

 

I’m really excited to share today’s Bad Moon Rising post because it features my good friend, Penderpal, and fellow Dresdenphile, Mae Clair. You definitely want to check out Mae’s interview Q&A! It will leave you shivering, I pretty much guarantee, and I can also attest to how great her new book is, because I’m reading it right now, and loving every word! 

Check out Mae’s Post HERE
Enjoy!