Apr 27, 2014
Feb 12, 2014
Love: A Short Story Collection
A few months back, several author friends of mine collaborated together to create a series of short stories centered around the theme of love. It's now live and available on Amazon. We hope you'll enjoy it.
Blurb: For centuries, people have been captured by tales of love. What makes this human emotion so powerful that countless fables and legends, mythologies and parables, have been devoted to it? Because every one of us has, in one way or another, been affected by its mysterious pull. Love is a force, a connection, a spiritual quality that can transform human relationships from mere exchanges into lofty connections. Love has typically been portrayed in mainstream media as conditional and artificial, which makes many a love story vaguely unsatisfying. But the writers who contributed to the stories in this collection believe that we can learn to more capably convey it. It is the hope of these authors that their stories will both be satisfying, as well as contribute to your personal reflection about love.
Happy Valentines Day!
Blurb: For centuries, people have been captured by tales of love. What makes this human emotion so powerful that countless fables and legends, mythologies and parables, have been devoted to it? Because every one of us has, in one way or another, been affected by its mysterious pull. Love is a force, a connection, a spiritual quality that can transform human relationships from mere exchanges into lofty connections. Love has typically been portrayed in mainstream media as conditional and artificial, which makes many a love story vaguely unsatisfying. But the writers who contributed to the stories in this collection believe that we can learn to more capably convey it. It is the hope of these authors that their stories will both be satisfying, as well as contribute to your personal reflection about love.
Happy Valentines Day!
Sep 28, 2013
New Project in the Works!
Wow, it's been a while since I blogged...I've kind of had to relearn my way around blogger. Where have I been? In truth, between the demands of being a mother and promoting Illumine Her, I've started working on a new novel entitled "Scar of the Bamboo Leaf".
I'm particularly excited about this new project because, well, it's new and fresh and the characters are different from Illumine Her. It's not a sequel (although some of you have asked about that and I may have a few ideas up my sleeve about a Part 2 so we'll see).
My new novel is a coming-of-age story about a 15 year old girl in Samoa. She's a sketch artist (and there will be all sorts of traditional art thrown in there) who goes to school and lives with her aunt and uncle who own an art center. And of course there's a boy... an afakasi boy from the States who she meets and befriends along the way and who she discovers has a lot in common with her despite their different ethnicity and upbringing.
Okay....who would like a little teaser? (Eeeek! I'm putting this out there with all the trepidation and nervousness that comes with the territory of writing). Here goes. I hope you enjoy it!
Scar of the Bamboo Leaf, 2014
(unedited and subject to change)
~ Sieni A.M.
For visual inspiration for 'Scar of the Bamboo Leaf' click here
I'm particularly excited about this new project because, well, it's new and fresh and the characters are different from Illumine Her. It's not a sequel (although some of you have asked about that and I may have a few ideas up my sleeve about a Part 2 so we'll see).
My new novel is a coming-of-age story about a 15 year old girl in Samoa. She's a sketch artist (and there will be all sorts of traditional art thrown in there) who goes to school and lives with her aunt and uncle who own an art center. And of course there's a boy... an afakasi boy from the States who she meets and befriends along the way and who she discovers has a lot in common with her despite their different ethnicity and upbringing.
Okay....who would like a little teaser? (Eeeek! I'm putting this out there with all the trepidation and nervousness that comes with the territory of writing). Here goes. I hope you enjoy it!
Scar of the Bamboo Leaf, 2014
(unedited and subject to change)
Poised
along the far wall to avoid distraction, Kiva perused the students scattered
around the room, heads and shoulders bent over their wood carvings, the clink
and thud of the chisel and mallet competing over each other. Uncle Mau paced
his time with each student evenly, making his way around, offering guidance
when needed. Kiva couldn’t make out his words from where she sat; only a few low
mutterings accompanied by the shake or nod of his head.
Kiva’s
eyes drifted around the room until they settled on the boy with the mysterious
tattoo. Ryler. Her suspicions were correct about his work when she noticed the slab
of wood with the sliced words in front of him. He hadn’t spoken a word to any
of the other boys, didn’t acknowledge them, and they avoided him too, as if he
had erected an invisible wall and they were aware of it.
Her uncle had no
problem stepping through it though. He was with him now, speaking in low tones
and gesturing to his work. What was he saying? Kiva strained to hear but
nothing came to her over the mass of carving sounds. A muscle in Ryler’s jaw
jumped as he sat, head bent, listening to him. Uncle Mau remained with him for
some time, talking and listening, acknowledging the need to spend more time.
Finally, a tap on his shoulder and a single nod before he moved away.
Kiva
noticed when Ryler picked up a carving knife, paused in concentration,
tentative and contemplative, before he met it with wood, the muscles in his
broad back contorting and flexing from the grip and release of the tool. What
had he decided to carve? Kiva wanted to inch her way forward to find out but
kept herself firmly planted. Thirty minutes passed and still she sat riveted to
her spot.
A
couple sharp drops on the roof was the only warning to the torrential downpour
that followed.
“Kiva!”
Hana’s voice shouted from across the yard and made her jump. “It’s raining! Get
the laundry!”
Kiva
scrambled off the floor, the noise drawing attention, and raced to the line.
The knifelike sting of raindrops hit her on the back and soaked through her
shirt. Ignoring the pricks, she rushed to unpeg each piece of clothing, throwing
it in the bucket, and returning for more. The rain came down harder and faster,
blurring her eyesight, the sound a thunderclap and roaring in her ears.
Tea towels, Uncle Mau’s shirt, Aunt Lola’s lavalava, Hana’s school skirt. Breathless, her quick movements had long ago uncoiled her hair; the pencil
slipped out and lost somewhere. She was nearing
the end of the line, grappling with a sheet, when she glanced up and noticed
the boys running from the center to the van, their lesson over.
Ryler appeared last
through the door, his brown eyes trained on her, and descended the stairs with
heavy, deliberate steps. Kiva stared wide-eyed as he stepped into the rain and
came towards her with unhurried, even strides. She watched as his grey shirt was
pelted with raindrops, soaking through until the wet dots spread and connected.
When
he was a foot away, he lifted his hand.
“You
dropped this,” he said, his deep voice an octave lower than the downpour.
Kiva
glanced down at his hand and saw the pencil she used to pin up her hair. It must
have dropped in the art center in her haste to take down the laundry. Reaching
for it she noticed the deep scars on the inside of his left wrist and paused. From this close they
looked even worse.
“It’s
not what you think,” he answered, interpreting her thoughts.
Kiva
snapped her eyes to his face. His eyes were lowered, thick lashes dripping from
the rain, a line formed between his eyebrows. She saw a scar near his right
eye, something she hadn’t noticed before.
The
sound of the van’s horn blared from the drive way.
“Ryler!
Hurry up, we’re going!” A superior gestured for him impatiently in the rain.
“You
better go,” Kiva said. “Thanks for returning this,” she took the pencil from
his hand and curled it in her fingers.
Ryler
nodded once and jogged over to the waiting van, his shirt now drenched through
and stuck to his broad shoulders.
Kiva let out a deep breath and gathered her
long hair in a bun, wrapped it once, twice, before stabbing the pencil through.~ Sieni A.M.
For visual inspiration for 'Scar of the Bamboo Leaf' click here
May 29, 2013
GIVEAWAY TIME!
***Giveaway Time!***
I'm dubbing this "Alana's Favorite Things" which includes everything you see in the picture plus more:
* The green sarong/lavalava you see in the background (perfect for summer!)
* Handmade ili (Samoan fan)
* Rainkissed Leaves body lotion from Bath & Body Works (smells divine...remember the scene she used this on her face, arms, underarms, hair? One of my fav scenes!)
* Covergirl's LashBlast mascara
* Some beautiful authentic jewelry from a country she visits in the book (guess where? clue: her dream destination)
* The Kindle version of The Bone Bearer (Telesa series #3) delivered to you on the day it launches
* AND a signed paperback of Illumine Her (first ever!)
To enter: Simply write a review of Illumine Her on Amazon; the draw will take place on 1 July. If you've already done so, your name's in. Share, share, share and good luck!
I'm dubbing this "Alana's Favorite Things" which includes everything you see in the picture plus more:
* The green sarong/lavalava you see in the background (perfect for summer!)
* Handmade ili (Samoan fan)
* Rainkissed Leaves body lotion from Bath & Body Works (smells divine...remember the scene she used this on her face, arms, underarms, hair? One of my fav scenes!)
* Covergirl's LashBlast mascara
* Some beautiful authentic jewelry from a country she visits in the book (guess where? clue: her dream destination)
* The Kindle version of The Bone Bearer (Telesa series #3) delivered to you on the day it launches
* AND a signed paperback of Illumine Her (first ever!)
To enter: Simply write a review of Illumine Her on Amazon; the draw will take place on 1 July. If you've already done so, your name's in. Share, share, share and good luck!
Mar 31, 2013
Blog Tour
There is a fantastic line up of book bloggers with reviews, promos, and giveaways to watch out for! Check it out:
31 March: The Indie Bookshelf
1 April: I Will Fork You
2 April: Bookworm Lisa
3 April: Book Reader Chronicles
4 April: Clean Romance Reviews
5 April: I Read Indie
6 April: Candy Coated Book Blog, Smardy Pants Book Blog
7 April: Beckoned by Books
8 April: YA Book Addict
Giveaway Winner
Thank you to everyone who posted a review on Amazon!
The winner of Sarah Dosher's debut novel Haven from the Storm is:
* Habitual Reader *
Thank you!
The winner of Sarah Dosher's debut novel Haven from the Storm is:
* Habitual Reader *
Thank you!
Mar 20, 2013
Giveaway Time!
A dear author friend of mine, Sarah Dosher, is
launching her debut novel on 30 March. She has been instrumental to me
as a writer and her book is on my top to read list.
So... on the day of her launch I will be GIFTING this book to a lucky Illumine Her reader out there. All you have to do to is write a review about Illumine Her on Amazon between now and 30 March, and your name goes in the drawer for this hot off the press read (if you've already written one, you're in).
Happy reading! and in the meantime check out her stunning book cover and intriguing blurb!
“If you’re going to make me cry, at least be there to wipe away the tears…”
Most were asleep in their beds the night Lily Grace’s entire world was ripped apart, leaving only darkness and torment in its place. The only remaining person she depended on abandoned her without a second thought…or so that’s what Lily has believed for the past four years.
Dean Haven has returned for one reason—to win Lily’s love again. He’s already broken her heart because of the demons that haunt him. Can his desire for Lily keep him from succumbing to those demons again?
Dean has no idea what awaits him when he tries to fight his way back into Lily’s life. Everything he remembers has changed, including Lily.
Is love enough when you’re forced to weather the storms life has blown your way?
Due to content and subject matter, suggested for readers 16 years of age and older.
So... on the day of her launch I will be GIFTING this book to a lucky Illumine Her reader out there. All you have to do to is write a review about Illumine Her on Amazon between now and 30 March, and your name goes in the drawer for this hot off the press read (if you've already written one, you're in).
Happy reading! and in the meantime check out her stunning book cover and intriguing blurb!
“If you’re going to make me cry, at least be there to wipe away the tears…”
Most were asleep in their beds the night Lily Grace’s entire world was ripped apart, leaving only darkness and torment in its place. The only remaining person she depended on abandoned her without a second thought…or so that’s what Lily has believed for the past four years.
Dean Haven has returned for one reason—to win Lily’s love again. He’s already broken her heart because of the demons that haunt him. Can his desire for Lily keep him from succumbing to those demons again?
Dean has no idea what awaits him when he tries to fight his way back into Lily’s life. Everything he remembers has changed, including Lily.
Is love enough when you’re forced to weather the storms life has blown your way?
Due to content and subject matter, suggested for readers 16 years of age and older.
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