Month: May 2020

Friday Face-Off: Fairy Tales, in Pictures

On By cherylmahoneyIn Ruminations1 Comment

FFO.jpg

It’s time again for the Friday Face-Off meme, created by Books by Proxy, with weekly topics hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog.  The idea is to put up different covers for one book, and select a favorite.

This week’s theme is: Graphic novel cover – “Love belongs to Desire, and Desire is always cruel”

I don’t read many graphic novels, so I had to really think about this one…and then I remembered that I did read quite a few of the Fables graphic novel series.  Characters from fairy tales (and sometimes nursery rhymes) are living in a secret community in modern day New York, exiles from their magical home.  Despite what this might sound like, they’re very adult-oriented graphic novels, with mature themes and sometimes more blood than I really needed!  Still a fun series though, and I probably read eight or ten volumes.  But I thought I’d look at covers for Volume One.

This seems to be the most common cover, and I think the one on the copy I read.  I actually don’t like it!  It looks too busy, and even studying it, it’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on, or what sense I’m supposed to get of the book.

Continue reading “Friday Face-Off: Fairy Tales, in Pictures” →

Writing Wednesday + Reflections on the Phantom’s Name

On By cherylmahoneyIn Writing1 Comment

I’ve been remiss in my Writing Wednesday posts recently, in part because there hasn’t been a lot to say week to week!  I spent all of April reviewing and doing light revisions on The Princess Beyond the Thorns, mostly to the effect of realizing that it is, in fact, probably two books, not one.  This has a way of happening to me…considering my Phantom trilogy was supposed to be one book to begin with too.  Fortunately I figured things out much earlier in the process this time around.  I expect to spend the rest of May continuing on those revision efforts.

My main focus has been shifting over towards getting the word out about my upcoming novel release, The Guardian of the Opera: Nocturne.  Have I mentioned it’s coming out June 5th? 🙂  And videos.  I seem to be making a lot of videos lately.

So today, instead of a writing excerpt, have a video.  It’s Phantom-focused, not surprisingly, discussing not just the (sometimes complicated) background of the Phantom’s name, but also some ways I used (or didn’t use) his name very intentionally in my book.  Enjoy!

Video Book Review: Star Wars – The Thrawn Trilogy

On By cherylmahoneyIn Reviews, Science Fiction2 Comments

Happy Star Wars Day, and May the Fourth be with you!  I may be a Trekkie, but I enjoy a good Star Wars book too, and today I’m offering a video review of what I think are the best: The Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn.  Celebrate Star Wars Day by watching my review below!

 

Pre-Order The Guardian of the Opera: Nocturne Today!

On By cherylmahoneyIn Novel News4 Comments

I am so pleased to announce that my next book Nocturne (The Guardian of the Opera, Book 1) is now available for Kindle pre-order.

Order your copy now

The book will release on June 5th, and will also be available in paperback and hardback.  I will, of course, be posting to remind you. 😉

Here’s a bit about the book, just in case you’ve missed all that rambling I’ve been doing about it for the last several years…!

Set against the backdrop of 1880s Paris and the stunning Opera Garnier, The Guardian of the Opera: Nocturne brings you the familiar tale from a different direction. Meg Giry met the Phantom once when she was twelve years old, a new ballet dancer lost in the Opera’s maze. Years later, when an Angel of Music offers singing lessons to her best friend Christine Daaé, Meg is sure she knows what’s actually happening. But as strange events unfold and the pieces stop adding up, Meg has to wonder if she truly understands the Phantom—or Christine.

Erik is a man of many talents and many masks, and the one covering his face may be the least concealing. The opera house is his kingdom and his refuge, where he stalks through the shadows as the Phantom of the Opera, watching over all that occurs. He never intended to fall in love; when he does, it launches him into a new symphony he’s certain can only end in heartbreak.

I can’t wait to share this story with all of you!