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Hello everyone! Today I am pleased to welcome the lovely Blaine D. Arden to the blog.  Blaine is here to share more about her newest release, The Forrester II: Lost and Found. I really enjoyed the first book in this series and am excited for the sequel.  Blaine is also offering a really cool contest, which includes a chance to have your story prompt written into a book!  So please join me in giving Blaine a big welcome!

The Future of the Forest Competition

With the second part of The Forester Trilogy just out, and the third well on its way, I’ve been thinking about the future of my forest world. Despite my often exclaimed comments that I’ll NEVER write another series again, I love this world too much to leave it be. So, I will be writing more tales of my forest.

I already have at least two more stories in the pipeline.

The Guide will get his own story. I’ve already got an idea about who his love interest might be and when he’ll meet them. Our Guide may be asexual, but he’s a true romantic at heart. *wink*

Brem, Kelnaht’s apprentice, will also get his own story, somewhere after he’s finally passed his Truth Seeker’s exam and will take up that position with another tribe. I’ve already had glimpses about who his love interest will be as well. It shocked Brem more than it did me, to be honest.

Suffice to say that neither story will be straight up gay romance. Of course, both stories still exist mostly in my head, but they’re both on my writing schedule for 2014—which makes it sound far more sophisticated than it actually is, but I do hope to write them sometime next year.

All in all, I seem to have created a small number of tribes already, even if we’ve only really seen two of them: Kelnaht’s and Oren’s. Aside from those two, there is Veld’s tribe of dark elves, the tribe south of Kelnaht’s, across the mountains, where the Guide was born, and the tribe that will acquire Brem as their new Truth Seeker. That still leaves many undiscovered tribes. Some barely a week’s walk away from those mentioned above, and some so far away it takes moons (months) of traveling to reach them.

And while all those tribes share the same belief- and punishment system, there are also slight differences between each tribe. Which is something I like about this world, no tribe, no elf, is completely the same, despite all those similarities. Just like none of us are completely alike. A couple of months ago, I wrote a post about some of the traditions of the forest. For those interested in reading about it, you can check it out here.

Now, why am I rambling about a future that doesn’t even exist yet? Well, I thought it would be a nice idea to grant one commenter the power to tell me what they’d like to see me write about in this world. A new tribe, new characters, new situation, directed by one of you, though… within the rules I’ve already set for this world. I can’t have complete chaos, after all. 😉

To participate, comment with a short blurb for a plot you’d like to see me write–however detailed you want to make it. No codas to existing forest stories, no existing characters either. I’m willing to write m/m and trans* stories. I’m not as familiar with writing f/f… but I might give it a go. Please, remember that my forest stories are mysteries as well as fantasy, and I’d prefer to keep it that way.

Since my writing schedule for 2014 is already filling up fast, I can’t promise a quick turn-over, but I will try to finish the story late 2014/early 2015. The winning commenter will get first dibs at beta-ing (should they choose to be involved on that level), their name in the dedication, and a free copy in format of choice (provided it gets published, of course).

To keep this all above board—because after reading all your suggestions, it will be bloody difficult for me to stay partial—I’ll have our generous host here at Joyfully Jay choose the winner.

Please, mention in your comments if you’d like me to archive your plot idea (with your name attached) after the competition has finished, to be used in possible future forest stories. No promises or extra prizes, but I WILL mention you in the dedication should I end up using the suggestions.

Good luck, and have fun 🙂

I can’t wait to see what you all can come up with.


The Forester II: Lost and Found – Now Available for just $3.99!

the forrester II“The Guide mentioned puddles, but I envisioned lakes, deep treacherous lakes, and I was drowning.”

One turn has passed, another Solstice is just around the corner, and having an illicit affair with not one but two lovers—smith Ianys and shunned Forester Taruif—is taking its toll on Truth Seeker Kelnaht.

If it isn’t sneaking around to find some quality time with his lovers, it’s heavy rainfall hiding traces of a missing stripling, or waiting for the elders to decide whether or not to set Taruif free.

And if that’s not enough, Kelnaht fears that in gaining one lover, he might be losing another, as Ianys seems to be pulling away from them, and it looks like someone is, once again, trying to frame Taruif.


Blaine D. Arden is a purple haired, forty-something writer of gay and trans* romance with a love of men, music, mystery, magic, fairies, platform shoes, and the colours black, purple and red, who sings her way through life.

You can find Blaine at blainedarden.com, twitter,facebook, and goodreads.


Contest

Blaine is offering up a chance for one winner to help create a new forest story!  Just leave your idea here for a chance to win (and see Blaine’s notes above with her guidelines).  The contest closes on Friday, January 3rd at 11:59 pm EST.

  • By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • Winners will be selected by Joyfully Jay. No purchase necessary to win.  The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
  • If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
  • Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
  • Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
  • By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
  • Readers may only enter once for each contest.  Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
  • Void where prohibited by law.
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