New Beginnings Aren't Always Easy 🌊
Jul 19, 2023 3:01 pm
I hope your week has been full of happiness, weirdness, and fun, whether it's been through actual adventures or fantasy romance books. I'm in the midst of discovering just who my latest heroine of the Elemental Bloodlines series is—and I think you might be able to relate to some of her struggles.
As usual, writing the beginning of my next full-length novel has been a challenge. Can I manage to hook hungry readers from the first chapter, the first paragraph, the very first sentence? Are there enough active events? No boring info dumps? Enough glimpses into the main character's motivations so readers can root for her?
Sometimes I think this "writing gig" was easier when I wrote for my own pleasure instead of for other human beings. 😜
But in those days, I didn't have you along for the ride, and you're what makes this indie author struggle worth it. 💖
Now how about we take our first look at Jasmin Hippler, the star of Book 4 in my Elemental Bloodlines series, Gift of Water.
Seeking Freedom And Purpose
If you read Gift of Darkness, you might remember Jasmin, a witchy waitress at a small-town beer garden and Amira's good friend. While Doro and Amira are quite content to stay in their Alpine hometown, Jasmin yearns for more. A water witch whose brother recently became a Teuton priest, Jasmin longs to find a noble purpose in life and explore the world outside her own community.
...And avoid getting trapped in a loveless relationship.
Photo courtesy of @lena_fox_art
I'm super excited to see just where Jasmin's story will end up, because I'm playing with some tropes I've never written before. A fake relationship that might transform into something steamy...and an ex-boyfriend who's actually respectful and supportive. Gasp! What a novelty! 😉
Readers of Gift of Darkness will also find out more about Jasmin's brother Karl, a misunderstood antagonist in Doro & Amira's love story. Are you ready to dive into a fresh tale about the Teutons of Wildertal? Cover and blurb incoming!
Water + Lava = Lust...? Love...?
As always, I'd like to thank my cover artist, J. L. Wilson Designs, for creating such magnificent artwork for Gift of Water. A water witch thrust together with a charming hiker with an unusual—and dangerous—goal. 🤔
Water and lava don’t mix. Until a fake relationship arouses unmet desires....
I’m the only single witch left in town. Working a dead-end job. A disappointment to my family. If I don’t match myself with another Teuton by the end of summer, they’ve threatened to choose a husband for me. That would spell the end of my freedom, considering my bloodline’s tainted history.
Enter a smoking hot college professor vacationing in my hometown. If he and I can convince my family we’re madly in love, that should give me some breathing room while I decide how to move forward. But wait.
Why does this stud want to climb the most treacherous Alpine peak around—the one inhabited by an undead priest? Does he have a death wish?
But why should I care if a demon enslaves him? We’re not actually...dating.
Wild Potato Vine
There are quite a few wild potato vines growing in the brush around my neighborhood. My husband and I have admired their flowers on our morning walks in the past few weeks. The purple centers really seem to attract bees and other pollinators!
Apparently wild potato vines grow edible tubers that taste similar to sweet potatoes. Have you ever eaten one? If so, was it any good? I'd love to know!
Smashwords Sale
If you've been following various indie authors for long enough, you might know that Smashwords holds a summer/winter sale every July. Lots of authors enroll their eBooks in the sale, and I just picked up a few yesterday for free! The main sale is linked at the graphic above, while I've linked a couple books below that I've personally read & enjoyed. There are lots of discounted books & freebies lurking on the Smashwords site, so be sure to browse it today!
Safe by Sarah Doughty
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1096842?ref=clcarhart1066
Riddle by Amanda Cale (a personal friend!)
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1355155?ref=clcarhart1066
The Spellbinding Courtship by Katherine Dotterer
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1246524?ref=clcarhart1066
Full Moon Saloon by Aimee Easterling
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1126721?ref=clcarhart1066
Other Books You Might Like
If you'd rather just nab books directly from your favorite retailer or app, then take a look at the two my fellow authors have to share with you today. The first one just came out yesterday at a super cheap price, and the other is free with newsletter signup.
Rejected? Not this alpha.
Returning home newly divorced from the jerk her family warned her about, Brianna Palermo lands her dream job at The Lion's Den, a hot new nightclub chain that features live big cats like tigers, leopards, cougars, and lions. It's an amazing place to work, except Brianna is afraid of cats and does her best to avoid them. But less avoidable is her new boss, and owner of the club. He has kissable lips and a dominance she's drawn to. When he claims she's his, she promptly informs him she's sworn off relationships, and isn't willing to put her heart on the line again.
Leopold Van Housen has everything he could want – wealth, power, dashing good looks, adoring women in his bed, a precious black kitten, and most importantly - a lush, thick head of hair. When his positions as pride alpha and national shifter leader are threatened by the International Shifter Syndicate because he isn't mated and has no heir, he's infuriated.
Things go from bad to worse when he meets his fated mate, and she rejects him, but then continues to work for him, teasing him with her tantalizing scent. But Leopold isn't willing to give Brianna up without a fight, no matter how much her rejection stings. And threats be damned!
Kiara
My entire life, I’ve been surrounded by love. My ever-in-love parents set the benchmark for me, and I wasn’t interested in settling for anything less. At almost twenty-one, I assumed perfect men existed only in my romance books. Until I met him, my dad's best friend's son, Zain. With his scorching kisses and possessive growls, I fell for him instantly. But when he ghosted me after our scorching kiss, I wondered if I could trust him with my heart.
Zain
As the adopted son of a billionaire, my formative years were far from perfect. Tormented by my childhood demons, love and commitment weren't easy for me. But that was before I laid my eyes on the tiny, curvy brunette whose cute nose was perpetually between the pages of her romance books. Nothing prepared me for Kiara’s sweet smile, large heart, drugging kisses, or her endless curves. I wanted to claim Kiara as my own. There was one problem; would my darkness corrupt her innocent soul?
That's all for me, because I've got to delve back into Jasmin's story and write just what happens the first time she meets her sexy but ignorant hiker. Do you plan on coming along for the ride? Don't forget to reserve your copy of Gift of Water today at the first link below. And have a wonderfully weird week!
Talk to you soon,
C.L. Carhart
Pre-order Gift of Water:
https://clcarhart.com/products/gift-of-water-ebook
Get the prequel Gift of Air:
https://bf.clcarhart.com/6w57qgfhc9
Get Dukes of Magic for free:
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/7yzvslyqb9
Smashwords sale: