Wednesday, April 1, 2020

IWSG: April 2020 & Dragon's Heart

I can't believe it's April. And all I hope for this month is for all of you and your family and friends to be safe and healthy. Thanks to the administrators of IWSG for all the work they do and to Alex J. Cavanaugh for starting this group.  Find all the entire list of participants here.

The question this month: How are things in your world?

All fine, so far. My husband and I are staying home except for a few careful trips to the grocery store. My granddaughter's parents are teachers, so they're working from home. I'm only watching her a few hours per week while they attend various Zoom meetings. I like being at home so the order to remain there doesn't bother me even a bit. I live in the country, so going outside for a walk doesn't bring me into social contact.

One bit of stress that I mentioned last month has now been relieved. My Pennwriters Conference that was supposed to be in May was being held hostage by the hotel. Even though we were supposed to hold any large gatherings, they wanted to hold us to the cancellation penalty of many thousands of dollars and wouldn't let us invoke the national emergency clause. Finally, last week they gave in, but only after we contacted a lawyer. I get that they're losing lots of money, but geez....


That said, there are many people I'm worried about. I have a number of older relatives and many, many older friends. Four of my five sons still have to go to work. My daughter is far away in Boston. My one sister lives in Washington State in a small town not far from Seattle. She might have been safely out of it until the Seattle residents invaded their town and wiped out all the little stores of supplies. I have a sister who lives outside New Orleans, and we know how dangerous that piece of real estate has become. So many of my former students are in the medical field and a number are police officers. I'm worried about them. I'm worried about small business owners. I'm worried about all those people who live paycheck to paycheck. I can't even imagine what is happening in some parts of the world.

I'm  not going sleepless. It's more like a constant low-level feeling of something wrong that is with me all the time. Please stay home and stay safe.

On the writing front, all this force time at home has given me time to get back to writing. Five thousand words last week and hope for the same this week. And in other good news, today is the release day for Dragon's Heart by David P. King. Read all about it.

Dragon’s Heart 
  
Blurb:

A princess. A dragon. Their quest.

Terrible things happen whenever Princess Celesia falls in love—she blacks out and attacks her suitors, which makes an alliance with a more powerful nation impossible. Believing that she’s cursed, Celesia is given two choices: marry without love, or be responsible for her kingdom’s demise. Instead, she sneaks off in search of a remedy.

She doesn’t make it far when she encounters a dragon who bears a curse of his own—he is a prince, desperate to reclaim his humanity before the dragon takes over. He's heard of a stone that can lift both of their curses, but neither of them can find it alone, and they’re not the only ones after it. An evil alchemist is intent on using it to steal the land’s magic and dominate the realm. Only together, with the help of an even greater magic, can Celesia and the dragon stop this evil, or be bound forever by their curses.

Review:

“King has gifted us an immersive world, filled with memorable characters. What an adventure! All fantasy novels should have this kind of momentum.”
                               - Carrie Butler, author of the award-winning Mark of Nexus series






About the author:

David was born in beautiful downtown Burbank, California where his love for film inspired him to write. His works include the internationally published YA Fantasy Woven and The Undead Road: My Zombie Summer. An avid fan of science fiction and fantasy, David also has a soft spot for zombies and the paranormal. He now lives in the mountain West with his wife and four children.





Are you staying home? Do you have to go into work? Are you finding writing easy or difficult during this time? How cool is David's cover? I love a quest to break a curse.

24 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Big congratulations to David!
I'm glad you got your money back.
There are so many places that have not been hit yet but they need to prepare for when it does.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Glad to hear you and your husband are doing okay. Walking in the country sounds so calming. We have a nice neighborhood to walk in, but we have to be aware of other people out and about. Thankfully, everyone is careful.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
Wishing David all the best for his release and it is good to hear that you are taking things as calmly as possible.
Wishing you all the best and be safe.

Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

Natalie Aguirre said...

Glad your family and you are safe. I walk most days in my neighborhood or at a county park with a friend.

Congrats to David on his book!

Pat Hatt said...

Great that you got the money returned. Shame you had to threaten legal action though. Having time to write is a win too. Hopefully all stay safe in your side of the world.

Liza said...

I am working from home, caring for my husband and grateful I don't feel the push-pull of physically needing to be at work. I pretty much worry about everything. We are near Boston. Our daughter has been furloughed in Charleston, SC., but has connections that put her to work in an essential business right away. Half the money, but she's busy and that's something. I just worry about the virus lurking around her. Hope you and yours stay safe and well.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I know what you mean by a sense of something is wrong. To me, it's a uneasy quiet.

I can't believe the hotel was fighting you on that. I know they are hurting (my best friend manages a resort in Hawaii) but they need to honor a cancellation.

Rachna Chhabria said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rachna Chhabria said...

I envy you your walks in the country, sadly due to this lockdown I have stopped taking walks, I have started doing yoga. Be safe.

cleemckenzie said...

Glad you're out walking. That's what's keeping me from going over the edge. Another congrats to David on his new book.

David Powers King said...

Thank you so much for the shout out! That's awful that people from the cities are raiding small town stores! Hopefully the supply chain can keep up and the panic-buying slows down. Seems to be getting better in my area. Still no TP though. Stay safe, Susan! :)

J E Oneil said...

I hate places that try to get money from you when it's an actual health risk to have large gatherings. But you're right, they are losing a lot of money. It's been hard for everyone.

emaginette said...

The book sounds awesome. Good luck with the tour. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Tyrean Martinson said...

I'm definitely staying at home more. As a property manager, I do have to go out sometimes - getting bird's nests out of dryer vents, meeting up with a woodworker who is repairing some unsafe decking - but mostly I have been at home, tutoring through Zoom, and going to the grocery stores once a week for my parents and for us. But, like you, I am concerned for those I love and for those who are out of work. It's tough times. But, we will get through this together.
Congrats to David!

betty said...

Good you get a chance to see your granddaughter some. I bet the parents are enjoying the time they get to see her but I'm sure they are itching to get back into the classroom etc though I know it won't happen this year. The various elementary schools here the teachers have hung out posters for the kids to look at saying how much they miss them, etc and to keep reading. Something everyone should be doing anyway but especially during this time.

betty

M.J. Fifield said...

David's cover is really cool. I love it.

My significant other and I have been staying home as well (we both work at home full-time anyway), except for the occasional necessary trip to the grocery store. Our neighborhood is secluded enough that we're able to get out for walks. Something for which I am supremely grateful.

messymimi said...

This whole thing is bringing out the best in some people and the worst in others. Hope you and yours stay safe and well.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan - glad that everyone is relatively safe - people are so selfish sometimes. I'm sure we'll all get through - but! Take care and go easy as you can ... all the best - Hilary

Diane Burton said...

Congrats to David on his new release. Sounds very interesting. Glad you are well. I, too, worry about those who have to work (my son is a chef in a restaurant that is doing takeput only). My family is okay. We're all self-isolating. Doing what we can. This too shall pass. Stay safe.

Michelle Wallace said...

Those walks in the countryside sound like the perfect way to keep your sanity... and get some exercise too.

Yes, the world has gone mad and everything is in limbo… neither here nor there… the global tailspin is crazy. Actually, it’s surreal. One of the bloggers used the word “discombobulated” and I had a good laugh. But she’s right. Just under a million virus infections within a month? Yes, discombobulated IS the word!
Stay safe in your corner of the globe.

Juneta key said...

Congrats DB on new release. Glad you got your money back. Stay safe, stay healthy and belated IWSG!

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