www.PaulaMillhouse.com
Stories where fantasy, romance, and suspense collide.
Fireworks, Independence, and Fantasy Romance
Mia gripped Kort’s hand tighter, and said, “Before my parents died they told me elves would come for me someday, but my father didn’t say I’d get to rescue a dragon.”
“Did your father say why he stole the Dragonstone and hid you away for twenty years?” Mia flinched. Defending her father’s decision to do just that might prove daunting considering Kort Elias was the Prince of Chalvaren, and next in line to the throne.
“He did it to prevent a war, a holy war, I think…” Mia glanced down at the sleeping dragonlet, and tried to remember all the details. “He said there was a struggle between heaven and hell, or good versus evil, if you want to think of it that way. A wizard who practiced black magic was killed for summoning unsanctioned power, and his wife went crazy. That struggle threatened to tear the seven kingdoms of Chalvaren apart, so my father took the Dragonstone so she couldn’t use it against Chalvaren.”
Kort pulled her closer, nodding, “Magic should be used to sustain life, not take it. Our alliance is at peace now, Mia … for the most part.”
Update: Chalvaren Rising is due out July 14, 2015, and I can’t wait to share this story with everyone. Check back soon for the cover reveal and pre-buy links. Hooray!!
FIREWORKS
We always got together as a family when I was a child to watch fireworks in Savannah on the 4th of July to celebrate the holiday. Where’s the best fireworks show you’ve ever seen?
INDEPENDENCE
Kort and Mia will face incredible odds fighting for their kingdom’s independence in my upcoming release, Chalvaren Rising. The external story provides a battleground, dragons, hearty opposition, and a chance for my Readers to cheer this couple on while they fight to ensure the freedom of their kingdom.
FANTASY ROMANCE
The internal story, though, is about family. While Chalvaren Rising is set in a fantasy world, steeped with breathtaking fantasy characters and magic, the structure is laid on the bones of the idea that love is worth fighting for. It’s about two people who fall in love, face extreme odds, and how they choose to work through opposition and stand together to protect their future dynasty.
I think the best fantasy stories in the Universe show me how similar we all are, how interconnected our hearts crave to be.
Visit all the weekend writing bloggers at #8 Sentence Sunday – Weekend Writing Warrior’s blog. You just might find your perfect story over there. Share this: #8Sunday #SnippetSunday #SundayBlogShare
If you’d like to read more of Kort and Mia’s story, start here with Dragonstone.
BOOK BUY LINKS:
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Goodreads spread for Dragonstone
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Ohh, intriguing backstory in just the right amount of words. That “for the most part” sentence has me curious as to what else is still a ruckus. Not to mention I’m curious why this wizard was practicing black magic, for what purpose.
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Oh, Daelyn, thanks for your question! This wizard wants the Kingdom of Chalvaren to bow at his knees. Trust me. He’s gonna meet some serious opposition.
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Happy Belated 4th!
OMG I can’t wait for this story to be released.
My favorite 4th was at my parents lake house and my uncle shot off this huge roll of 100,000 firecrackers. It left a hole in the ground. Kids were crying and they went on forever. It was a lot of fun.
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Thanks, Bonnie – Sometimes I think you just might love Magnus more than me. Fingers crossed things go as well as possible.
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Great story, well done added the backstory!
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Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Iris.
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Lots of intriguing information in this snippet of conversation. I think the most impressive fireworks I’ve seen was in Vancouver B.C. at the World Expo.
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Whoa – Vancouver! That must have been incredible. Happy 4th!
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Hum, “for the most part” that’s sounds like a lot of trouble and I’m sure someone can wait twenty years or more for revenge.
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Caught that last line there, did you Linda? I’m glad. Yep – there’s tons of trouble waiting on Mia in Chalvaren. Should she go? Should she follow Kort and his dragonlet back to the Kingdom of Elves?
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I hate it when parents neglect to inform you of a possible dragon-filled future! 🙂 This story is shaping up to be fascinating.
One of my favorite fireworks shows was Manitowoc, Wisconsin about four years ago. I live in a truck, so we never know where we’ll be on the fourth. I never expected I’d ever experience fireworks over Lake Michigan, sitting on a boardwalk full of friendly mid-Westerners. It was lovely!
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Lake Michigan? Awesome! I didn’t realize you lived in a truck. You must have some interesting tales to tell, Christina. 🙂
One of my favorite 4ths was spent in Bradford, Vermont. I took a traveling nurse position up there, and my husband and I hosted a couple from our hometown of Savannah. That was the most amazing Fourth, all of us Southerners surrounded by friendly Vermonters, a huge bonfire, watching fireworks over Lake Morley.
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Yes, we’ve had some interesting experiences. There’s something about fireworks over a lake- so beautiful. Also, no fire danger. Since I’m from the west, we tend to obsess over that. 🙂
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Oh, I like the heroine! Her backstory is intriguing.And it was fluid–not like there was a ton of information being delivered. Nicely done, Paula!
The best fireworks? Back in the day, my husband and I used to get on the boat at Freeport and head downriver to Pittsburgh. We’d drop anchor near Point State Park where the Allegheny and the Monongahela Rivers form the Ohio River, and we’d watch the fireworks. It took us all day to get there. And we had to haul everything for comfort with us. The fireworks reflecting on the water was the prettiest thing! Then we’d head upriver just far enough (night navigation on the water is dicey)to drop anchor below lock and dam #2 and spend the night.
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Sounds just terrific, Teresa. Fireworks from a boat, and such an adventure to get there. Thanks for sharing!
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Happy July 4, Paula, and a particularly happy Bastille Day!
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So this book is going to land on a French National Holiday. Oh, wow! I wonder if I can get them to shoot off some extra fireworks for Magnus, and Mia and Kort. 🙂 Nothing like a historical revolution to get things shaken up.
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Backstory well handled indeed! Enjoyed the excerpt, very smoothly written. Can’t wait to read the whole story.
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Oh, my gosh, Veronica – THANKS!! Fantasy Romance fist-bump.
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Great backstory described in a few sentences.
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I’m thrilled it came off that way, Aurora. It’s an epic tale to tell, and yes, getting the gist of any story into a few sentences is a talent I strive for. Happy 4th to you and your family.
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Great set up in this, explaining background without being an infodump.
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Ah, the highest compliment, P.T. So glad you stopped by!
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Only one week to go? Awesome!
Mia is an interesting character–I can’t wait to read her whole story. 🙂
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I’m so glad you like reading about Mia, Sarah. These next few weeks are going to be amazing!!
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Everyone has reasons for what they do. Good snippet, Paula. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Siobhan!
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I do love the passage about her father. All in the name of love and protection. Beautiful writing, Paula.
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Thank you so much, Charmaine!!
This story has a huge family backbeat to it. Course, there’s the dragons and all the magic too…
Thanks for commenting!
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Good luck with the launch! Happy days!
Big shoes for our heroine to step in. A wise and disciplined father makes a challenging role model. Nicely done Paula, thank you for sharing.
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Very happy days, Kim! Mia definitely has her work cut out for here, and her father made a huge sacrifice to protect her. Good fathers always do,right?
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I think the best fireworks show I’ve ever seen was the Red, White, and Boom in Columbus back in the late 90s. The Columbus Clippers game had just ended (they were the Triple A team of the Yankees at the time) and we didn’t realize the city was setting off the fireworks. We found the radio station that was playing to the fireworks and saw the show from the parking lot of the baseball field. Really great show. And no, I don’t remember who one the game. Haha!
Happy 4th, Paula! 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Stacy!
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Happy 4th of July, Everyone!!
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