Sunday, March 25, 2018

Character Introductions: Margo Pack Porter and James Porter

Today's Characters are Margo Pack Porter and her husband, James Porter: Parents of Anwen Porter.


 For those who have not read the previous books, there will be spoilers ahead.


Margo Pack Porter (Deceased)

Margo is the wife of James Porter, but returned to her maiden name of Pack upon his death. She is the mother of Anwen Porter. She raised Anwen by herself after her husband died.

Physical description: Margo is slight of build with auburn hair. She likes comfortable clothes. She is deceptively skinny looking but is actually quite strong and fast.

Personality: Margo is a sort of no-nonsense type of individual. She has no problem taking charge of a situation and will often do so without thinking. She has a soft spot for her daughter but doesn't usually show it to anyone. She was/is a devoted wife and never remarried when her husband was murdered.

Brief History: Margo grew up outside of the Village of Lindwyrm, mostly due to her grandmother taking them away from the area to preserve their family line from being polluted by the Mage Circle. On the outside, she met James Porter and fell in love. They were married and brought Anwen into the world. After her husband died, she took on the responsibility of raising her child without the help of others while keeping secret her heritage on both sides of the family. Margo was killed at the end of the battle against the Mage Circle and her soul entered the Mage Ring, which Anwen wears. When she died, she passed on the title of Kaida to her daughter.

James Porter (Deceased)

James Porter is the husband to Margo Porter, and father to Anwen Porter. Descending from a long line of the same name, James was a devoted father, a dreamer, and a designer. A graphic artist by trade, he worked by commission on various projects, including illustrating books, designing maps, and occasionally spinning a few tales of his own.

Physical Characteristics: Not much is known about James' physical appearance. He was of average build, with brown hair, and wore glasses. He preferred comfortable clothes that were functional, and often had a studious air about him.

Personality: Though studious in his craft, James was easy to get along with. He loved to tease, but could be serious when needed. A devoted husband and father, James only wanted what was best for his family. He was dedicated, loving, and protective. Like his daughter, he was more than willing to give the shirt off his back to help another, often at the expense of himself. Perceptive and generally calm, he had a way of soothing over hurts and helping others see a broader perspective on life. He tended to bring the best out of people.

Brief History: James was born in New Hope to Nathan James and Jenna Loise Porter. After college, he met Margo, and they were married. Only a few years after Anwen was born, he felt compelled to move the family to Pallose, citing work as a reason. There, he worked various jobs to support his family, spinning fantastic tales to entertain his wife and daughter. When Anwen was around eleven, he died tragically. Before he died, he charged his young daughter to one day find their ancestral home and finish the work he'd started.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Character Introduction: Doc, Anise Hayward, Mr. Willis, and Kira Millard

As a sort of "lead up" to the release of Tarragon: Dragon Bane, I'd like to introduce/re-introduce you to the characters of this series. There are a few new ones and I hope to include new information on the ones you may already know and love. I will post at least one a week until the release of Dragon Bane on May 5th. We'll start with the less seen and go from there.


 For those who have not read the previous books, there will be spoilers ahead.

 


Today I'd like to re-introduce you to Doc and to introduce you to Mr. Willis, Kira Millard (who only shows up briefly), and Anise Hayward.


Doc

A doctor living and practicing in the Village of Lindwyrm. His real name is either unknown or never used as he goes by the nickname of "Doc" with everyone. He tends to be a bit scatter-brained but is an accomplished practitioner and can be quite observant. While you only see him briefly, he has a part to play in the whole of the story.

 Anise Hayward (deceased)

Anise Hayward is the many times great grandmother of Courtney Willis. A dragon mage, she did not follow the teaching of the Mage Circle and was ostracized by her family. They even changed their last name to distance themselves from  her. She died an honorable death serving Tarragon and the dragons who dwell therein.

Mr. Willis 

Mr. Willis is the father of Courtney Willis. While the blood of the dragon mage runs in their family, he did not inherit the ability to use its abilities. He is, however, an accomplished businessman, taking over the Dridi Inn at the end of the battle against the Mage Circle. He is kind, considerate, and tends to look out for the welfare of others.

Kira Millard (deceased)

Kira is the identical twin of Daphne Millard. Though she did not grow up in the Village of Lindwyrm, she has strong ties to it through her aunt. She is deceptive and finds nothing beneath her, be it using others or betraying them. She is manipulative and calculating, but can act with the best of them. And above all else, she seeks power.

Generally, she wears whatever fits the role she's chosen to play, though she likes cloaks. She has black hair and dark eyes, is build like a model and has a decided sense of confidence in everything she does.


Brief history: Kira was separated from her family at birth due to the suggestion of her aunt, Matilda Millard. She was raised apart from the others but knew of the existence of her twin and would often sneak into the Village to watch her in the off chance she needed to copy her. She quickly went up the ranks in the Mage Circle and served as Madame Millard's secret right hand, until she discovered the Revenants and was absorbed by them. She then became a tool in their arsenal of weapons against the dragons while still maintaining some autonomy. Her attempts to steal the soul of the acting Kaida (Margo Pack), resulted in the revelation that she had become a lesser Revenant, whereupon she was destroyed by the dragons.



Thursday, March 15, 2018

Tarragon Book Tour

Hey folks!

I just wanted to let you know that I have added a few "in person" events to my Tarragon: Dragon Bane Book Tour. All events associated with this are posted below.



  Official cover reveal March 21







 North Texas Book Festival on April 7 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm in Denton, TX




Online Blog Tour starting April 30 - May13


Official Launch Party Online on May 5 from 6 PM - 8 PM MST



 
Frisco Arts Author's Corner at Half Price Books in Frisco, TX on June 2 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm


 

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Random Musings for a Wet March Day

Hey everyone!  It's been a long time since I last posted anything, especially anything not related to my books, so I decided it was time to do so. Okay, maybe I'll mention something about them further down. :D

This past year has been an interesting one, as has this one so far. I've quit my day job - again - and will hopefully never have to work a 9-5 ever again. As much as I have loved working and teaching in a preschool, I think it's time I move on and get back into the groove of all things writing, baking, and just being me.

For those who don't know, last year was a difficult one for me. There were a lot of ups and downs and I felt like I was stuck on a fast-paced roller coaster that had no end in sight. I am happy to report that I have finally gotten off that roller coaster and traded it in for a more tame version, which will hopefully allow me to get back on my proverbial feet.

So, since Spring is just around the corner, I'd like to share some happy thoughts. Spring is a season of renewal and growth, and happens to be my favorite season. Christmas may be my favorite holiday, but Spring is by far my favorite time of year.

We've had a TON of rain over the last week or so, which is awesome, but also keeps me cooped up inside because I somehow managed to lose my umbrella. Oops. But hey, we just bought a ginormous one at the store that can easily allow me and my husband to walk under it without getting wet, so long as the rain doesn't decide to come down sideways!

Spring is the time when flowers bloom and I love flowers. I love their colors, the vibrancy, and yes, even the bugs that come with it all. I love seeing the bees, who usually leave me along so long as I leave them alone. Gotta have the bees, right?

Also in the Spring comes a plethora of fun holidays and outdoor activities, warmer weather, more rainbows, and just a general sense of excitement as we all brush off our winter cocoons and get outside and moving. I really need to do that myself. (I've put on some winter weight.... but who hasn't?)

But I think my most favorite part of Spring is being able to walk down the street and see the stream teeming with ducks and other water birds, even some geese. It's just amazing how many different varieties there are! I love it so much. And even though the grass makes  me itch, I love it when it turns that vibrant green, making me wish I could just roll down a steep bank full of it. I don't because I really dislike hives, but I can still pretend.

And Spring means new opportunities, like the book fair in Lewisville on March 10th, which I will be a part of. I also hope to soon become a part of the Frisco's Program for the Arts' Summer Reading Lineup. We'll see on that one.

So many opportunities, so many ways to grow. May we all grow like the flowers in Spring, and turn out just as nice.