Today, I’m excited to partner with FFBC Tours and Wednesday Books to share this guest post written by the amazing author of Whispers of Shadow and Flame, L. Penelope. The book is on sale since yesterday and if you haven’t read this awesome novel, grab first Song of Blood and Stone after reading this post. This is the second book in the Eathsinger Chronicles series.

Check out her guest post below where she will share a few tips for us. Also, find out more information about the book (Book excerpt) and the giveaway as well.

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GUEST POST – A TYPICAL WRITING DAY BY L. PENELOPE

My typical writing day goes something like this:

In a perfect world, I get up early and do some type of exercise—usually either yoga or working out on the rowing machine or elliptical. Then I grab some green tea and sit down to get some words in. 

The best writing advice I ever got was to “do it first.” Whatever the most important thing you want to accomplish in a day is, do it first—or as close to first as possible—to ensure it gets done. It makes perfect sense when you think about it, but it took me years to understand. 

I used to write late at night after working a full day and so I was really tired. And while I did get stuff done, it wasn’t ideal. But when I prioritize my writing by doing it first when my brain is fresh, then I’ve found I’m able to finish more things and am happier with what I’ve done.

Since I’ve been working from home in my web development business for the past twelve years, I use my home office for writing as well. I don’t tend to write in coffee shops unless I’m meeting a friend there—I like being home in my own space. 

Once I’m settled and have my tea, I turn on Coffitivity, which is an app that plays coffee shop sounds. Since it’s usually just me and the dogs and cat, I like having the sounds of other people to write to, even when none are around. I don’t tend to write with music, but there are a few exceptions. If I find the perfect song for a particular character or scene, I will play it on repeat as I’m brainstorming. That can help get me into the mood and the vibe of the character, but it’s fairly rare.

How long I write for is determined by the stage I’m at on the manuscript. If I’m drafting, I will do at least 2 sprints of 20-30 minutes each, sometimes more if I’m on a roll. If I’m plotting or revising, then I spend at least 2-3 hours before my creative well feels tapped and I’m ready to move on with my day. 

I still run my website business, though I’ve slowed it down a lot to focus on the writing, but usually I have client work to do in the middle of the day. Then late afternoon is for administrative type things like book promotion and marketing, emails, etc.

Staying organized with my planner keeps me sane most days, and I’ve found this kind of schedule really works, keeping me productive and cranking those words out!

Synopsis

Born with a deadly magic she cannot control, Kyara is forced to become an assassin. Known as the Poison Flame, she is notorious and lethal, but secretly seeks freedom from both her untamed power and the blood spell that commands her. She is tasked with capturing the notorious rebel known as the Shadowfox, but everything changes when she learns her target’s true identity.

Darvyn ol-Tahlyro may be the most powerful Earthsinger in generations, but guilt over those he couldn’t save tortures him daily. He isn’t sure he can trust the mysterious young woman who claims to need his help, but when he discovers Kyara can unlock the secrets of his past, he can’t stay away.

As forbidden desire ignites their hearts, Kyara and Darvyn grapple with betrayal, old promises, and older prophecies — all while trying to stop a war. And when a new threat emerges, the cost of their love might just be too high.

• Author: L. Penelope
• Publisher: St Martin’s Griffin
• Publication Date: October 1st, 2019
• Book Length: 258 pages
• Genre: YA Fantasy

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About the Author: L. Penelope

Leslye Penelope has been writing since she could hold a pen and loves getting lost in the worlds in her head. She is an award-winning author of fantasy and paranormal romance. 

She was born in the Bronx, just after the birth of hip hop, but left before she could acquire an accent. Equally left and right-brained, she studied Film at Howard University and minored in Computer Science. This led to a graduate degree in Multimedia and a career in website development. She’s also an award-winning independent filmmaker, co-founded a literary magazine, and sometimes dreams in HTML. 

Leslye lives in Maryland with her husband and their furry dependents. Sign up for new release information and giveaways on her website: http://www.lpenelope.com.

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Giveaway

Prize: Win (1) of (3) copies of Whispers of Shadow & Flame (Earthsinger Chronicles #2) by L. Penelope (US ONLY)

Starts: October 1, 2019 – Ends: October 15, 2019

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Book Excerpt – CHAPTER TWO

Darvyn placed the portable radio receiver back in its cradle with a shaking hand. He leaned back to rest his head against the rock behind him. Wind flew across the mountain, chilling him. Those last words, heard through a haze of static, reverberated in his mind. A man he hadn’t seen in years had located Darvyn through the nested tangle of secret communications frequencies used by the Keepers of the Promise to alert him of the sighting of a woman in Checkpoint Seventeen. A woman matching the age and general description Darvyn shared with trusted contacts. A woman searching for her long-lost son.

He squelched the hope that rose inside him. He’d been dis- appointed before.

In the desert valley below, soldiers marched, drilling their formations over and over again. Hidden in the mountains above them, Darvyn grasped the bit of metal strung on a leather cord around his neck. The pendant bore the image of a jackal, really just a head and a mess of limbs since it was only half of a whole. This woman inSeventeen was probably nobody. But what if . . .

The crunch of gravel on the rocky path tore him from his thoughts. Though this section of the mountain was well monitored, his guard remained raised until uneven steps signaled Meldi’s approach. She limped toward him, favoring her right leg. The left one was a wreck of twisted scar tissue, courtesy of the fire that had nearly killed her as a child.

Darvyn rose and reached out to brush her forehead with his fingertips in greeting.She smiled and returned the gesture.

“How fares the Elsiran?” She motioned down to the uni- formed men walkingin unison far below.

Of the soldiers gathered, one was distinctly unlike the rest. He had the same general features shared by all Lagrimari with hair and eyes dark as midnight, but only one week ago the man’s hair had been its natural ginger color and his golden eyes had glittered with mischief. Jack had gone through the transformation from Elsiran toLagrimari without complaint. Darvyn admired his friend’s courage even as he feared for his safety.

Darvyn glanced at her, surprised. Only the elders of the Keepers of the Promise were supposed to know of Jack’s undercover mission.
                             

Meldi shrugged. “Voices carry.” The braids twining around her head formed acrown, making her look wise beyond her years. She was only a year older than he, but had a maturity only suffering can bring.

Darvyn reckoned she was right. That particular conversation had grown loud since the elders had not approved. At all. Fortunately, Jack wasn’t a Keeper, and Darvyn didn’t allow a lack of permission to stop him from using Earthsong to transform the man.

He sighed. “His squad has just returned from their supply run. He appears to be doing well. I feel no suspicion toward him from the others. They all seem to believe he is who he appears to be.”

“Do you think he’s found what he seeks?”

Darvyn shrugged. “I don’t know what proof the Elsirans will need in order to believe another breach is coming. But if anyone can find it, Jack can.”

Two weeks ago, Darvyn had sneaked into the neighboring country of Elsira, disguised as a local, to bring High Commander Jaqros Alliaseen a warning. TheMantle—the magical barrier which separated the two lands—was failing. It had stood for five centuries and only been breached seven times, each one resulting in war between Lagrimar and Elsira. But its magic was running out. The next tear would bring it down completely.

Jack had been shocked, but when Darvy told him the information had come from the Queen Who Sleeps, the young man had leapt into action. Five years ago, the two had met in the aftermath of the Seventh Breach, Darvyn a recently released prisoner of war and Jack a soldier. Darvyn knew he could trust the young commander who treated the Lagrimari trapped in Elsira as men, unlike most of his countrymen.

But the Elsiran government hadn’t trusted Jack when he’d passed on Darvyn’swarning. They could not fathom that their goddess would speak through a lowly Lagrimari. Five years was too soon for another breach, they’d said, so it must’ve been some sort of trick from the enemy. Only if someone they trusted gathered evidence with his own eyes would they take any action. And so Jack had asked Darvynto take him through the crack in the Mantle and disguise him so he could go undercover in the Lagrimari army.

It was madness. Reckless and foolhardy. Dangerous and desperate.

Darvyn wished he had come up with the idea himself.

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