I’m delighted to be a guest on Allan Hudson’s blog South Branch Scribbler. I have some fabulous news to share with you, the kindle copy of my book – The Curse of Time #1 Bloodstone releases today, Saturday August 26th. You are all invited to a fun on-line party on my blog: https://mjmallon.com/ Facebook and on social media. The Curse of Time is a middle grade/YA Fantasy set in Cambridge, England. I promise that the story will appeal to a wide range of age groups who love an imaginative, magical story so whether you are a young teen, an older teenager or an adult who has never grown up there will be something you will enjoy. I promise. Just because it says YA don’t conclude that the audience for the book or the party going age is restricted! Please join me on this long awaited day; I’m so excited to say that I’m an author. It truly is a dream come true.
And now, meet Marjorie Mallon and read an excerpt from her novel.
I am a debut author who has been
blogging for three years: https://mjmallon.com. My interests include writing,
photography, poetry, and alternative therapies. I write Fantasy YA, middle
grade fiction and micro poetry - haiku and tanka. I love to read and have
written over 100 reviews: https://mjmallon.com/2015/09/28/a-z-of-my-book-reviews/
My alter ego is MJ - Mary Jane from
Spiderman. I love superheroes! I was born on the 17th of November in Lion City:
Singapore, (a passionate Scorpio, with the Chinese Zodiac sign a lucky rabbit,)
second child and only daughter to my proud parents Paula and Ronald. I grew up
in a mountainous court in the Peak District in Hong Kong with my elder brother
Donald. My parents dragged me away from my exotic childhood and my much loved
dog Topsy to the frozen wastelands of Scotland. In bonnie Edinburgh I mastered
Scottish country dancing, and a whole new Och Aye lingo.
As a teenager I travelled to many
far-flung destinations to visit my abacus wielding wayfarer dad. It's rumoured
that I now live in the Venice of Cambridge, with my six foot hunk of a Rock God
husband, and my two enchanted daughters. After such an upbringing my author's
mind has taken total leave of its senses! When I’m not writing, I eat exotic
delicacies while belly dancing, or surf to the far reaches of the moon. To
chill out, I practise Tai Chi. If the mood takes me I snorkel with mermaids, or
sign up for idyllic holidays with the Chinese Unicorn, whose magnificent voice
sings like a thousand wind chimes.
Puzzle
Piece 1: The Invitation
Opportunity,
An unexpected invite,
Such a mystery,
To explore and discover,
A hidden cottage of light.
I found it to be a mystifying situation. An
unnatural stillness seemed to linger after many days of storms. Today, the sky
reminded me of a painting. It appeared too perfect, too bright, too still, a
picture landscape with no beginning or end. Instead, the vault of heaven spread
out toward an endless grey forever, as if seeping around the edges of an
untamed watercolour bleeding into the rest of the day. Even so, the sight
filled my heart with promise, a ray of hope in an otherwise dull morning.
The quietness of my contemplation came to an abrupt
end. I
heard the sound of an envelope crashing through the mail box. I jumped
at the clatter. The letter landed on the floor as the sound of a thousand
crystal chandeliers echoed throughout the house. I rushed to retrieve the
envelope and turned it this way and that. I couldn’t find an address label and
wondered if the note had been hand-delivered. Who could this message be for?
I stood puzzling over this peculiar circumstance when
out of nowhere my name: Amelina Scott appeared in bold writing. I watched
wide-eyed as the final character of my surname was spelled out in a delicate
font. I tore the dispatch open and inside I discovered a card printed on the
finest paper with gilt edges and embossed calligraphy. There were few details,
just an instruction to visit:
Crystal Cottage, River Walk, Cambridge, and the
following added at the bottom as an afterthought: R.S.V.P – Not required. We
promise to be welcoming when you arrive. When you’re ready, you’ll discover us…
I shook my head in disbelief.
Nothing good ever happens to the Scott’s so this invitation might look magical,
but surely it must be nonsense. Weird messages from unknown sources count as
dubious junk mail, the way I look at it.
I grabbed the envelope and attempted
to rip it into pieces, but it wouldn’t tear. With a mind of its own the
envelope curled its edges in protest. I searched in a drawer until I found
scissors and tried to cut the invite. That didn’t work either. My hand ached,
but the invitation endured intact as if mocking me.
Frustrated, I tried to cut the
invitation again. A sputtered cursing sound filled the room even though I was
alone. On my third attempt, I tore into the card with success. (I think it let
me.) And once again, I perceived a noise, an angry murmur, and then nothing.
Quiet descended in the room, so I threw the torn parts into the bin.
Finally satisfied that the annoying
issue with the strange invite would no longer plague me, I brushed my hands
together, and picked an apple out of the bowl on the kitchen counter, polished
it on my jumper and then took a bite. In no time my hunger had abated, and as I
chucked the core towards the bin, I registered a chuckle. I stopped, my feet rooted
to the ground as a feeling of certainty filled my soul. I knew what to expect.
I have no idea how I did, but I could see the image in my mind, the invitation
had reformed. The invitation was playing
games with me! I peered in the rubbish, and there I saw the envelope, connected
in one perfect, unblemished piece. What the heck?
Summary by the Author.
On
Amelina Scott’s thirteenth birthday, her father disappears under mysterious
circumstances. Saddened by this traumatic event, she pieces together details of
a curse that has stricken the heart and soul of her family.
Amelina longs for someone to confide in. Her once carefree mother has become angry and despondent. One day a strange black cat and a young girl, named Esme appear. Immediately, Esme becomes the sister Amelina never had. The only catch is that Esme must remain a prisoner, living within the mirrors of Amelina's house.
Dreams and a puzzling invitation convince Amelina the answer to her family's troubles lies within the walls of the illusive Crystal Cottage. Undaunted by her mother’s warnings, Amelina searches for the cottage on an isolated Cambridgeshire pathway where she encounters a charismatic young man, named Ryder. At the right moment, he steps out of the shadows, rescuing her from the unwanted attention of two male troublemakers.
With the help of an enchanted paint set, Amelina meets the eccentric owner of the cottage, Leanne, who instructs her in the art of crystal magic. In time, she earns the right to use three wizard stones. The first awakens her spirit to discover a time of legends, and later, leads her to the Bloodstone, the supreme cleansing crystal which has the power to restore the balance of time. Will Amelina find the power to set her family free?
A YA/middle grade fantasy set in Cambridge, England exploring various themes/aspects: Light, darkness, time, shadows, a curse, magic, deception, crystals, art, poetry, friendships, teen relationships, eating disorders, self-harm, anxiety, depression, family, puzzles, mystery, a black cat, music, a mix of sadness, counterbalanced by a touch of humour.
Amelina longs for someone to confide in. Her once carefree mother has become angry and despondent. One day a strange black cat and a young girl, named Esme appear. Immediately, Esme becomes the sister Amelina never had. The only catch is that Esme must remain a prisoner, living within the mirrors of Amelina's house.
Dreams and a puzzling invitation convince Amelina the answer to her family's troubles lies within the walls of the illusive Crystal Cottage. Undaunted by her mother’s warnings, Amelina searches for the cottage on an isolated Cambridgeshire pathway where she encounters a charismatic young man, named Ryder. At the right moment, he steps out of the shadows, rescuing her from the unwanted attention of two male troublemakers.
With the help of an enchanted paint set, Amelina meets the eccentric owner of the cottage, Leanne, who instructs her in the art of crystal magic. In time, she earns the right to use three wizard stones. The first awakens her spirit to discover a time of legends, and later, leads her to the Bloodstone, the supreme cleansing crystal which has the power to restore the balance of time. Will Amelina find the power to set her family free?
A YA/middle grade fantasy set in Cambridge, England exploring various themes/aspects: Light, darkness, time, shadows, a curse, magic, deception, crystals, art, poetry, friendships, teen relationships, eating disorders, self-harm, anxiety, depression, family, puzzles, mystery, a black cat, music, a mix of sadness, counterbalanced by a touch of humour.
Marjorie's links.
My blog – for
information about new releases, photos of main characters/character interviews, book reviews and inspiration: https://mjmallon.com
My
New Facebook Group #ABRSC: Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support
Club on Facebook:
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and Twitter: @curseof_time
Facebook: Facebook: m j mallon author
Tumblr: Tumblr: mjmallonauthor
I
have devoted the past few years to writing over 100 reviews on My Goodreads Review Account, and on my blog to help support traditional and indie
writers.
Thank you Marjorie for being our guest this week. Wishing you tremendous success with this series.
A very big Thanks to you - the visitor. Please leave a comment and make us smile!
Watch here for more news about my newest novel soon to be published!!!!!!!
