Traveling with MORE

by T.M. Franklin

Since the theme of the Blogger Book Fair this year is Check into the Blogger Book Fair and Book Your Trip to Faraway Places, I thought it would be fitting to take a look at some of the locations—both real and imagined—in my novel, MORE.
MORE tells the story of Ava Michaels, a young woman who discovers the world isn’t quite what it seems, and in fact, neither is she. Ava is a student at Allenmore College, a fictional liberal arts college in the fictional town of Witteville in northwestern Missouri.

This is where Allenmore would be, if it were real.

Although Allenmore, and Witteville aren’t real, they are loosely based on where I went to college—Central Washington University, in Ellensburg, Washington. It’s what I had in my head for most of the scenes at Allenmore, including the bell tower, which is introduced in the sequel to MORE, The Guardians (coming November 7^th.)

An aerial view of CWU. See the tower?

Of course, Ava doesn’t spend a lot of time at Allenmore once she meets Caleb Foster, and finds out about an ancient race of people—the First Race—who fear she might be a threat, putting her own life in danger.

“We need to go—now,” he replied abruptly, striding through the room and throwing their extra clothes and toothbrushes in a small duffle bag. “There’s a safe house in Mead. If we can get there, they won’t be able to track us.” He cracked the door, peering out and then slamming it shut suddenly. “Too late,” he muttered, grabbing her hand and dragging her into the bathroom. Ava’s heart raced, adrenaline surging through her body as Caleb shoved the window above the shower, tossing the bag through the small opening then turning to her and lacing his fingers together. “I’ll give you a boost,” he said urgently. “When you hit the ground, run. Don’t go to the car, just run, you understand?”
“But—”
“We don’t have time,” Caleb said through gritted teeth. “They’ll be breaking down the door any second. Just run, Ava. I’ll be right behind you.”
Ava stepped into his hands, pulling herself through the window and out into the cold morning air. She landed on the ground with a grunt, rolled to her feet, and began to run. She heard Caleb hit the ground a moment later, his pounding footsteps closing in quickly. He grabbed her hand, pulling her to the right.
“This way,” he said, looking over his shoulder. She heard a shout and turned back to see Tiernan under the open window, pointing their direction. Caleb cursed under his breath, yanking her behind the motel office. “Wrap your arms around me,” he ordered.
Ava didn’t think. She just did what he asked.
“This is going to feel a little weird,” he said. “Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Don’t move, whatever you do.”
Ava inhaled deeply, clenched her eyes shut . . . and the world fell away from her feet.
- MORE, Chapter 8

Ava and Caleb’s journey take them north to the Canadian border, as they head toward what Caleb hopes will be a safe haven, a Colony in Ontario about twenty miles from Red Lake.

Red Lake – yes, it’s real. No, the Colony isn’t.

But I have to say, I think my favorite location in MORE is the city of the First Race, located in the Rocky Mountains about fifty miles from Kalispell, Montana.

A wide valley spread out at their feet, rolling lawns and landscaped gardens interspersed with modern buildings of white stone, glittering metal, and glass. Laid out in a perfect circle, the city wound out from a large central building—itself circular, with a two-story balcony running around the entire structure. Like spokes on a wheel, a dozen or so pathways fanned out from the central building at even intervals, intersecting with roads laid out in concentric circles. Beyond the city, the mountain rose up into the clouds, curving slightly around the city borders as if a chunk was carved out of the peak with a giant hand. Like the path, the city was surrounded by snow, but there was none actually within its borders. The city was jarringly structured, but still beautiful, and Ava took a moment to gape in wonder.
“What do you call it?” she asked, her voice a near whisper.
“New Elysia,” Caleb replied.
- MORE, Chapter 13

Imagine the city about where that lake is, and you’ve got it!

So, there you have it—some of the beautiful locations of the MORE trilogy. What are some of your favorite locations from books you’ve read? Let me know in the comments!

About T.M. Franklin

T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. After writing and unsuccessfully querying a novel that she now admits, “is not that great,” she decided to follow the advice of one of the agents who turned her down—write some more and get better at it. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days.
She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Mike, is mom to two boys, Justin and Ryan, and has an enormous black dog named Rocky who’s always lying nearby while she’s writing. Whether he’s soothed by the clicking of the computer keys or just waiting for someone to rub his belly is up for debate.
In addition to MORE, Franklin penned the Amazon best-selling short story, Window, as well as another short story, A Piece of Cake, which appears in the Romantic Interludes anthology. The sequel to MORE, The Guardians, will be released in the fall of 2013.

Connect with T.M. Franklin

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

About MORE

Ava Michaels used to think she was special.

As a child, she fantasized about having magical powers . . . making things happen. But Ava grew up and eventually accepted the fact that her childish dreams were just that, and maybe a normal life wasn't so bad after all.

Now a young college student, Ava meets Caleb Foster, a brilliant and mysterious man who’s supposed to help her pass physics, but in reality has another mission in mind. What he shows Ava challenges her view of the world, shaking it to its very core.

Because Caleb isn't quite what he seems. In fact, he's not entirely human, and he's not the only one.

Together, the duo faces a threat from an ancient race bound to protect humans, but only after protecting their own secrets—secrets they fear Ava may expose. Fighting to survive, Ava soon learns she's not actually normal . . . she's not even just special.

She's a little bit more.

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FREE for the Blogger Book Fair!

About Window

Chloe Blake has a unique gift, an odd connection to her house that results in glimpses of the past, present, and future via the picture window in her living room. Unfortunately, it’s a gift that sometimes proves to be more of a curse. Especially when she tries to help out Ethan Reynolds, the gorgeous boy who lives across the street – an endeavor that, for some reason, always seems to backfire. Or leave her covered in mud.

But the house is convinced Ethan’s life is in danger and Chloe’s the only one who can save him. The problem is, he thinks she’s more than a little crazy.

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Taking That Step

Taking That Step

By Allie Jean

When I was little, I had a hobby. I created elaborate stories. I even had my sisters act them out for friends and neighbors in small plays in our front yard. They’d all call me bossy (still do sometimes) but when it came to my characters, everything had to be as I saw it in my mind.

Later in life, my story telling took on a little different avenue. Instead of writing my own tales, my mind would continue the stories of some of my favorite books. Let’s face it; no one likes it when a cherished series comes to an end.

My family and I lost a son in 2009. In the aftermath, I felt myself falling into a depression. The what-ifs and self-doubt dug a huge hole that I didn’t know if I could climb out of. Writing became my saving grace.

Instead of internalizing all of the emotions circling through my heart, I focused them into my characters, starting the first chapters of my Dreamer series. It had been an idea I’d been sitting on for a while, and the tragedy of loss propelled me into it.

Through my hobby of writing, I’d met a group of girlfriends who became my support. They challenged me and were my biggest fans. One of them heard of a writing contest offered through The Writer’s Coffee Shop called the Original Romance Contest. The winner would be offered a publishing contract through the house, and my friends encouraged me to enter.

The moments leading up to the announcement were some of the most excruciating I could remember. First of all, my family had no clue that I wrote at all, let alone that I had entered a contest. I seem to recall my husband thinking I’d finally jumped off the deep end when I told him about it. Yet I’d taken that step, that leap, and finally put myself out there for the judgment of others. Nail biting my way through two manicures, I awaited the results.

Now, part of me knew that there was probably a very slim chance that I’d done anything but reveal myself as a secret writer to my family, having failed at obtaining that coveted contract. But when the email came in that they wanted my manuscript I was elated. Over the moon!

My road to publication may be a bit unconventional, but I think there is a moral to my story. To all of those writers out there, secret and screaming in the streets: Don’t Stop Writing!!!! Keep your characters alive, even if it’s just for a small audience. Don’t give up and put yourself out there. I love to write and getting the opportunity to put my stories out there has been a blessing.

Plus, my kids think it’s really cool.

 

Sneak Peek with N.K. Smith

Author to Author presents a special sneak Peek for N.K. Smith's new novel: Are You Mine? Set to release August 7!

Fox and I sit in awkward silence as Myka leaves.

“So,” he starts. “She’s cool, huh?”

“Yeah. She’s. . .Myka,” I finish when I can’t think of a complete enough word to describe her.

“I didn’t mean to, like, crash your day or anything. She’s sort of forceful.”

This makes me laugh because it’s the truth. “Yeah, she is.”

“Did you have plans or anything?”

Obviously this dude doesn’t know me. Plans beyond watching TV? Yeah, right. “Um, nothing important.”

Again, the conversation stalls, and we sit in silence. The ticking of the grandfather clock he pointed out earlier sounds as loud as a steam engine chugging down the line. That seems like a great beginning. “So, this graphic novel we’re apparently now writing, can you draw machines and not just humanoids?”

His eyes sparkle. “Yeah. I don’t have anything with me, but I went through an industrial phase in ninth grade.”

“Which one?” I bite the inside of my cheek hard when it comes out of my mouth.

“Which one what?”

“Never mind.”

Fox widens his eyes a bit. “No, which one what?”

I let out a breath and prepare for an altercation. I doubt he’ll let it drop, so I answer, “Which ninth grade.”

I hope that he’s too stupid to understand my meaning because I didn’t really mean to ask that question, but I can see in his eyes and in the way the constant grin gets smaller that he gets it fast.

To my surprise, Fox’s voice is calm and even when he speaks. “Yeah, so about that. Just so you know, it didn’t take six years for me to graduate. Only five. I was held back in ninth grade, but before that I retook third grade. And if you’re going to keep bringing that up, you should just tell your friend we’re not going to work together.”

I open my mouth but then close it again when I find nothing to say right away. Thinking about Myka and her instructions to be nice, I try to find a way out of the hole I’ve dug with this guy. I hate arguments even though I find myself instigating them regularly.

In the end, I figure a simple apology will be good enough, so I say, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.”

“Maybe not today, but you meant it on Saturday. You don’t know me, and you shouldn’t assume I’m stupid because my academic record isn’t perfect.”

Is he joking? Not perfect? Please, he repeated two grades, and I bet he didn’t even take the SATs. “Sorry. I don’t think you’re stupid.”

I can tell by his expression that he doesn’t believe me, but I don’t know how to change that since I do sort of think his intelligence isn’t as high as mine. I’m sorry, but he can’t be that smart if he just graduated at age twenty.

He wants to say something else, but he’s holding back. I can’t meet his eyes. This is now beyond awkward. Why can’t I keep my mouth closed sometimes?

Finally after what seems like hours, he asks, “What’s white and black and white and black and white and black?” He only waits for me to look up before he answers himself. “A penguin rolling down a hill.”

I shake my head at the stupid joke but allow the corner of my mouth to rise in a smile.

Fox pulls out a pad of drawing paper and says, “So I can draw and you can write. We should be able to come up with something for Myka. How do you think the story should start?”

“With an old-timey train pulling into a wild west station where ladies and gentlemen stand waiting in their Victorian style clothing.”

He’s smiling at me again, but I don’t know why. He moves his hand over the page. It’s fascinating to see how the white paper starts to fill up with gray strokes, then suddenly, there’s a train where once there was nothing.

“I don’t know what Victorian clothes look like,” he admits when he flips to another blank page.

As I grab my laptop, I start to wonder again about his intentions. He barely knows Myka. I know he’s supposed to be an ultra-friendly guy or whatever, but people don’t do stuff for nothing. What’s he getting out of this? I’m not anyone’s first choice on who to spend their summer with.

“What’s in this for you?” I ask as the images of Victorian fashion load.

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you doing this?”

He stops drawing and trains his warm eyes on me. “Because Myka asked.”

I could study him for hours, but somehow I know that superficial answer is the truth for him. She asked, he agreed.

My breath hitches for some reason when he moves to sit on the arm of my chair to see the images on the computer. Are boys supposed to smell this good?

I don’t understand it, but now that he’s sitting so close to me, there’s a flutter in my body that can’t be controlled.

And there’s a part of me that doesn’t want to control it.

~*~

Add it to your GoodReads TBR list here: Are You Mine? on GoodReads & keep a look out for it on Amazon, B&N, Smashwords and other fine retailers!

About the author:

Based in the American Midwest, N.K. Smith is a Technical Writer for a Fortune 100 company. The author of the Old Wounds Series, she is a mother of two who finds the time to write very early in the morning when the rest of the world is still fast asleep.

An avid lover of history, art, music, books, and people, she is interested in telling stories that speak to the human condition.

Other books by N.K.Smith Old Wounds, Little Battles, Weight of the World, Where All Things Will Grow, Old Wounds eBook Set, Ghosts of Our Pasts, My Only & Hollywood Lies

Sneak Peek with Allie Jean

Dreams of the Cursed

Book #2 of theDreamer series by

AllieJean

A secret war has wagedunderneath the notice of humanity since the beginning. The Warriors inheritedthis fight and are honor bound to rid the world of an ancient evil by guardingthe most precious, piercing light against the darkness - their female kin knownas the Oracles.

 

Chantal Breelan has sufferedfrom horrific nightmares for most of her life, believing something to be wrongwith her to have such visions of destruction. But when creatures of darknesscame crawling out of the shadows to hunt her down, her dreams became reality.

 

Now, Chantal has picked up thereigns of her birthright and stood by her Warrior kin. She’s on a mission torescue others like herself. Yet in this challenge a battle of wits is exposed.New players are discovered, throwing strategies into question. When the truthcomes to light, can Chantal hold her band of brothers together, or will theycrumble under the weight of betrayal.

Coming Fall 2013

 

Excerpt

“Come here, my dear.” Merclain smiled at her,revealing yellowing, crooked teeth. “Let me get you to a safe place.”

“Yeah, nothanks.” Chantal laughed. “But if you both survive, tell my brother, Damon, Isaid hi.”

“It isher, Merc!” Bubba pointed at her like a bona fide moron. Chantal smiled at themand bowed low with their arms held wide.

“Theoldest known Oracle at your service.”

Both menbegan walking toward her slowly, pulling their own weapons from beneath theirjackets. Bubba held a stumpy blade with a square tip and gnarly looking sawtooth edges. Merclain clutched a curved sword Chantal had seen in that movieabout the Spartans with half-naked men. She didn’t pay much attention to theplot, much to Mathias’s annoyance. In any case, neither of their weapons held acandle to her lightweight katana, and she fingered the well-suited hilt with afamiliarity that felt almost cathartic.

“Let’sget her, Merc!”

“Oh, comenow. Do you really think I’m that stupid?” The men split up, trying to approachher at both sides. “Do I look like I’m stupid?” Merclain and Bubba stayedsilent, assessing. “I’ll tell you what, let’s make a deal. If you two moronscan defeat me, I’ll go with you. That no-good brother of mine will love youboth. Throw you a parade or something.” The two men exchanged a loaded glance,and Bubba smiled like he’d won the lottery. “But, if I kick both of your pansyasses . . . well . . . I guess that’s just an overall win for me.”

“Thatdoesn’t seem like a fair trade, my dear.” Merclain now stood five feet away,Bubba cutting off any escape to her right.

“Itdoesn’t seem like you boys are into equality.” Chantal pushed off the headstoneand took a couple steps toward them. “Two grown men against helpless littlegirls. Let’s just say I’m evening the odds.”

“You think you can take both of us?” Bubbaguffawed, his belly shaking like pudding. Chantal smiled wickedly.

“Absolutely.”

In the blink of an eye, the fight had beenwon, yet to Chantal, she could see it precisely as if it had beenchoreographed.

The attack came at her quick from the backand the front simultaneously. Merclain brought his scimitar down toward herhead with a vicious swing. Chantal blocked the hit and countered it with anaggressive twist of her wrist, dispelling the weapon. In a flash, she spun onher heel and went down on bended knee, slicing her sword horizontally acrossboth of Bubba’s shins as he tried to grab her from behind, amputating both legsbelow the knee. Bubba fell and clutched at the gushing wounds, his weaponsclattering to the ground. Chantal spun back to Merclain just as he attempted tostrike and plunged her blade deep into his ribs. Eyes rounded with shock, theoddly thin solider fell to the ground and dark crimson fluid bubbled from hismouth.

“You see?” Chantal gripped her sword andwiped her brow, smearing a streak of blood across her face. “Now that’s how yoube cocky.”

Adrenalinezinged through her system but the red haze of rage she’d experienced with herfirst fight with the Kajola hadn’t appeared. Looking at both of her victimswrithing on the ground from their mortal wounds, Chantal sheathed her blade,confident they were unable to come after her.

“Youcan’t keep them hidden from us,” Merclain spat at her, pink foam brimming athis mouth.

“You’re too late.”

“You’re not in much of a position to offer methreats.”

Merclain laughed, more a gurgling wheeze, andpointed to something behind her. Chantal turned to see the orange sun settingbehind the horizon. The Shade would open at dusk and Chantal’s heart clenchedin panic.

Thegirls . . . 

 

Legacy of a Dreamer 

Book #1 Available now!

 

 

 

 

For more information visit AllieJean.net

 

 

 

Release Day Blitz!!!

Today is release day for Sydney Logan’s novel, Mountain Charm! Check out the book trailer and enter the giveaway for a signed copy of the book! 

At the age of thirteen, Angelina Clark followed in the footsteps of her ancestors by casting an Appalachian love spell, which promised she would blossom into a beautiful and gifted woman who would find her true love. A young Angelina had been thrilled to participate in the sacred ritual, but through the years, her father’s untimely death and her mother’s failing health have shaken Angelina’s magical faith to its core. As her twenty-first birthday approaches, she refuses to practice her supernatural gifts and no longer believes in the love charm. That is, until Dylan Thomas arrives on her front porch. Dylan, a Nashville writer, travels to the mountain town of Maple Ridge to unearth the family’s supernatural secrets. While her clairvoyant mother is convinced that Dylan is her daughter’s soul mate, Angelina refuses to see the nosy reporter as anything more than a nuisance. Despite their constant bickering, sparks fly. Dylan admits he feels strangely drawn to Angelina and is in no hurry to leave Maple Ridge or publish his magazine article. Fearful that his emotions are being influenced by the spell, a stubborn Angelina struggles to fight her own budding attraction to the reporter. The two inevitably grow closer just as her mother’s health begins to deteriorate, and Angelina is faced with the possibility of selling the family’s music shop to pay the mounting medical expenses. Desperate to help the woman he loves, Dylan explores his own family tree and finds support from an unlikely source. Can he finally prove his love is real—spell or no spell? A story filled with love, friendship, family, and just a hint of Appalachian magic, Mountain Charm will leave you spellbound.

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Sydney Logan is an Amazon bestselling author and holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. With the 2012 release of her first novel, Lessons Learned, she made the transition from bookworm to author. Sydney has a very unhealthy obsession with music, and her iPod is filled with everything from Johnny Cash to Eminem. She is also the author of two short stories: “Mistletoe Magic,” available exclusively on Amazon Kindle, and “Stupid Cupid,” which is featured in the Romantic Interludes compilation. When she isn't reading or writing, she enjoys playing piano and relaxing on her front porch at her home in East Tennessee with her wonderful husband and their very spoiled cat. Visit Sydney’s website at www.sydneylogan.com

T.M. Franklin's The Guardians Trailer reveal

First look at the trailer for The Guardians, coming 11/7/13

Don't forget to add The Guardians to your Goodreads Shelf!

But wait...there's MORE! (Heh!)

That's right - MORE, the first book in the trilogy, will be on SALE for $2.99 starting tomorrow ONLY on the TWCS Website. If you know someone who might enjoy it, please spread the word1

Legacy of a Dreamer by Allie Jean will be on sale too - so check it out! :)

Remember, every purchase at the TWCS website through the end of the month automatically enters you into a drawing for a Kindle Fire loaded with the entire TWCS Catalog!

About T.M. Franklin

T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. After writing and unsuccessfully querying a novel that she now admits, “is not that great,” she decided to follow the advice of one of the agents who turned her down—write some more and get better at it. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days.
She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Mike, is mom to two boys, Justin and Ryan, and has an enormous black dog named Rocky who’s always lying nearby while she’s writing. Whether he’s soothed by the clicking of the computer keys or just waiting for someone to rub his belly is up for debate.
In addition to MORE, Franklin penned the Amazon best-selling short story, Window, as well as another short story, A Piece of Cake, which appears in the Romantic Interludes anthology. The sequel to MORE, The Guardians, will be released in the fall of 2013.

Connect with T.M. Franklin

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

So what do you think of the trailer? Let me know in the comments.