What Evil Scares You the Most?

What is scarier, evil that comes from within or evil that comes from without?

What do you fear?

My children’s fantasy book, Three Floating Coffins, begins with three princesses stepping into coffins, the symbol of death. A prophecy tells them that one of the three harbors an evil magic; the guilty one will sink and he innocent one will be washed ashore. The princesses know that by getting into the coffins, they are risking their lives—yet death isn’t what scares them.

For the older two sisters, but especially Ariadne, the middle princess, the fear is that they themselves will become evil, that they will become a monster, that they will lead to the destruction of everything they love. Ariadne has the magical ability to fill vessels with any liquid she desires, and while some liquids are innocent, like water or soup, other liquids, like poison and acid, can be quite deadly. 

“Ariadne was afraid every single day that a chance touch and a careless thought would send a plague upon her kingdom. When, in the family chapel, the priest put a hand on her shoulder and whispered the prophecy in her ear, Ariadne had seen it all so clearly. Her hands glued to the edge of a pot, stuck, unable to stop the dark magic that streamed onto land and sea, destroying everything it touched: father, sister, subject all falling to the ground, blue and stiff and silent.” 

Ariadne is afraid that of the power. She is afraid that, willingly or not, power will turn her evil. At the very least, her power will cause her to unwittingly do evil deeds and hurt those she loves the most.

On the other hand, Odele, the youngest princess, is the only one to realize that the prophecy is a lie. The actual evil one is the person telling them the prophecy, the priest. Odele realizes that the priest has plans to destroy her family, her kingdom, and everything she loves. She does not go quietly into the coffin. She kicks and screams and fights with all she has: 

“The hard-faced men threw the youngest princess into the coffin. She tried to climb out, but one man pinned her arms down. The other held her legs. Odele whipped her head back and forth and yelled in a raw, desperate voice.

“He’s a liar! He’s lying to you all.”

But despite her efforts, she is pushed into the coffin and sent out to the sea.

For Odele, evil is an outside force—in this case, the priest—but even though she recognizes it, she can’t do anything about it. She is powerless, and throughout the book she struggles with the fear that she will never be strong enough to defeat the priest and save her family.

So which is scarier? To have power, but to be afraid it will turn you evil? Or to see evil and not have the power to fight it?

You can purchase Three Floating Coffins on Amazon today.

On Sale Today for 99 Cents: Three Floating Coffins

My second novel, Three Floating Coffins, is having a Countdown Sale on Amazon. The deal is, for today only, you can download the Kindle version for 99 cents. Tomorrow, the book goes up to $1.99. Sunday, it goes up to $2.99. And Monday it goes back to its normal price of $3.99. You can purchase it here. (The paperback version is still $15.00)


What happens when you can no longer trust your family? That's what 13-year old Princess Odele wonders when her father seals her and her two older sister in three floating coffins and cast them into the sea. Now, Odele must find new allies and uncover old secrets if she is to save her sisters and her kingdom. Full of magic, mystery, and adventure, Three Floating Coffins fighting to discover the truth and the power within herself.

For more details, see my website:
http://www.rebeccalangstories.com/three-floating-coffins.html

So, why am I having this deal? Well, I've entered Three Floating Coffins in an Amazon contest and the grand prize is $10,000. However, part of the judging is based on how many sales and reviews my book generates. Right now, I don't have a lot of either, so I'm hoping to boost it. At the very least, I'm hoping for more people to find and enjoy my book. While I am incredibly grateful for the love and support from my family and friends, I want to spread my story to people outside my circle. I believe it has a positive message for many people.

You can listen to me read the prologue and the first chapter of Three Floating Coffins in the videos below.

Rebecca Reads the Prologue

Rebecca Reads Chapter 1

If you do buy and read the book, please review it on Amazon. That, again, would really help me out, because the more reviews, the more likely other people, scanning the list, will buy it. It doesn't have to be long. Five minutes is all it takes. If you're unsure how to write a review, I wrote a blog entry about how to review on Amazon here. 

I Read Chapter 1 of Three Floating Coffins

In the video below, I read my first chapter of Three Floating Coffins out loud and give some thoughts on how I wrote it and what I was going for. My book is going on sale this Friday, August 24, 2018, where you can download it on Kindle for 99 cents. It will be $1.99 on Saturday and $2.99 on Sunday.You can buy it here.

Please read and review my books and let me know what you think.

Would you like me to make more videos reading my work? If so, let me know in the comments or email me.

I Read the Prologue of Three Floating Coffins

In the video below, I read my prologue of Three Floating Coffins out loud and give some thoughts on how I wrote it and what I was going for. My book is going on sale this Friday, August 24, 2018, where you can download it on Kindle for 99 cents. It will be $1.99 on Saturday and $2.99 on Sunday.You can buy it here.

Please read and review my books and let me know what you think.

Would you like me to make more videos reading my work? If so, let me know in the comments or email me.

Review: Three Floating Coffins

This upcoming weekend, I'm launching an Amazon campaign that will sell the Kindle version of Three Floating Coffins at a reduced rate. In honor of that, I'm posting my own review of my story.  Details on the deal below.


Title: Three Floating Coffins
Author: Rebecca Lang
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade Reader

Summary

What happens when you can no longer trust your family?

This is what 13-year old Odele wonders when she and her two older sisters are sealed in coffins and cast into the sea by their father, the King of the Seven Isles. A priest has prophesied that one of the princesses holds magic that will destroy the kingdom. Only Odele knows the truth. The priest is lying.

On the run and unsure of who she can trust, Odele undertakes a journey to find the one thing that may defeat the evil priest: a magical amulet her mother hid years ago somewhere in the Seven Isles. Hunting Odele are the priest’s twin daughters, witches who control dragons made of wind and water. With time running out, Odele must pry open the secrets of the past before she loses her family forever.

Review

Warning! This review is extremely biased, because I wrote this book. However, there's no reason I can't tell you what I liked and didn't like about it, even if my perspective is a little skewed.

I like stories with complicated plots, and this story delivered. Although it's relatively simple compared to my first novel, The Changelings, you're still following two main stories--Odele's quest to save her island from the priest and how her father unearthed magic in the first place. These stories weave together; as Odele learns more about magic, she better understands who the priest is and how she can defeat him. Also woven in are the stories of Odele's sisters and the two "witches" hunting Odele. The elements tie together at the end for what I hope to be a satisfying conclusion.

Personally, my favorite character is Melantha, one of the priest's twin daughters. She can create dragons out of water, which she uses in some creative ways. But although she is a dangerous opponent, she's not evil, and as you learn more and more about her life and backstory, you may find yourself sympathizing with her--I certainly did. There's a really great scene toward the end where you learn her backstory, which was one of my favorites to write.

Another favorite character is Damianos, the street urchin who is desperate to find a way to make his fortune, for reasons that become clear later on. Although at first he tries to turn Odele over to the priest, the two later become friends. Damianos is clever and resourceful, but also vulnerable. That's what I like about him. He and Odele complement each other and bring out their best.

If I had to write about the weak points of this or what I disliked, I'm not all that fond of the father. I find his character to be weak and it makes me feel less involved in his backstory, of which there is a lot. Some of the plot twists were not that all that surprising, and the conclusion was a little open ended.

On the whole, I think this is a fun, enjoyable story. I highly recommend it.

* * *

Now that I've done my review, I'd like to hear what other people have to say. So please, write your own review! I'll be checking on them on Amazon. If you're not sure how to write a review on Amazon, check out this post here.

Starting Friday, August 24, 2018, I will be launching an Amazon Countdown deal. This means the Kindle version of Three Floating Coffins will be selling for 99 cents--but only for this one day. On Saturday, August 25th, 2018, starting at 6:00AM, the price goes up to $1.99. On Sunday, August 26, 2018, the price goes up again to $2.99. By noon on Monday, it reverts back to its price of $3.99. So, if you haven't done so already, Friday is a great time to pick up your Kindle copy.

Presenting My Newest Book... Three Floating Coffins

Three Floating Coffins... On Sale Now!

I'm proud to share with you, my newest book, a magical fairy tale adventure that took me six years to write... Three Floating Coffins. All the juicy details are covered in the video below, but if you'd rather not see me talk (and I can't say I blame you--I HATE seeing myself on video), keep on reading.

In the Kingdom of the Seven Isles, a priest has prophesied that one of the three princesses holds a dangerous magic that will destroy the land. The only way to save the realm is to cast out the princesses in three floating coffins. The guilty one will sink and the innocent ones wash safely to shore. Only youngest princess Odele knows the truth. The priest is lying.

Separated from her family, hurt, and on the run, Odele begins a quest to find the one thing that may save her kingdom: a magical amulet that her mother hid somewhere on the Seven Isles. As she delves deeper into the family past, she unearths shocking family secrets and realizes she has more power than she knows. Will it be enough to save her family from the dark plans of the evil priest?

Three Floating Coffins reads like a fairy tale, with all the classic elements you know and love: princesses, dragons, magical amulets, clever urchin boys, mysterious quests, and evil villains. However, I put my own twists on these elements, and it goes deeper beyond the simple surface.

I wrote this book for upper elementary school readers in mind--6th grade or so. However, I think that anyone can enjoy this story, no matter their age. Three Floating Coffins is also a stand alone novel, not part of any series. It's available for Kindle at $3.99 or paperback (352 pages) for $15.00, and you can order both on Amazon or order the paperback on Createspace. I'm working to get a copy for Nook, as well.

If you want to know more, I posted my prologue and first chapter on my website. You can read the prologue here or chapter one here. In the future I might actually read them out loud and post them on my YouTube account, but we'll see what happens with that.

Please check out my book. If you buy and read it, please review it, as I really, really need the reviews. (If you're not sure how to write reviews on Amazon, please click here.)  And if you think you someone you know may like it, tell them as well. 

If you have any questions about me or my book, post in the comments and I'll do my best to answer. Thanks for your support!

Weekly Update: 6-26-16: Shakespeare Season Begins

"Hunchback'd toad," they all did groan,

but Richard kept his face a grin.

He quick consumed his tadpole kin 

and leapfrogged up the British throne.

Free at Griffith Park

Life Update: It's Shakespeare season. Yesterday, my father, my friend Rita, and I attended the opening performance of Richard III as acted by the Independent Shakespeare Co. at Griffith Park. (Performances are free and run throughout the summer.) Although more traditional than other adaptions of Shakespearean plays done by this company,  Richard III included some fun modern-day twists, such as  a background track of electric guitar riffs and a montage of Richard shaking hands and kissing babies before ascending to the throne in a burst of confetti. The play took place in the evening. In the afternoon, Dad, Rita, and I visited the Getty Center, a ginormous (and free) LA art museum, where we viewed the Romantic landscapes of Rousseau, admired 18th century French furniture, and ambled through the beautiful gardens.

Getty Sculpture or the Isle of Lost Souls?

Writing Update: One of the rock sculptures at The Getty reminded me of the Isle of Lost Souls, a barren rock where sailors are shipwrecked by a sea dragon in the children's fantasy book I'm writing called Three Floating Coffins. Purely by coincidence, I happened to be editing the very chapter where the Isle of Lost Souls was introduced just a few days earlier. I wanted to edit my Coffins novel before Nanowrimo takes hold next week. In two weeks, I finished editing 3 chapters and got about halfway through 2 more. It's progress, I suppose, but I wish it wouldn't take so long. I'd really like to get Three Floating Coffins done by the end of summer, but between Nanowrimo, college, and all the Shakespeare days I'm taking, I've no idea how I will finish it all.

 Summer Tip: The Huntington Library is an awesome, awesome combination of museum and gardens. (I've written about it here.) Unfortunately, it's a bit expensive, with tickets costing up to $25. Fortunately, the museum has a monthly free day--the first Thursday of the month. Unfortunately, there is a limited amount of people who can enter, so you need to order tickets in advance. Tickets can be ordered on the website and printed at home. Tickets for July are already "sold out," but you can reserve up to 5 tickets for August 4th, starting from July 1st, 9:00 am. See website for details.

Poem: Little Lost Lamb

This song plays a role in upcoming chapters of my "Three Floating Coffins" story.  Enjoy.

Little lost lamb, you chew on greens on the hill.
You lay your head down of a bed of dried moss.
But the sun dwindles down and the air becomes chill.
Little lost lamb, you don't know you are lost.

Hear my song, little lamb, and leap into my arm.
I'll bring you back home.  I'll protect you from harm.

The shadows of nighttime creep over the range.
Clouds obscure moonlight and hide every star.
The land you once loved is now foreign and strange.
Little lost lamb, you don't know where you are.

Hear my song, little lamb, and leap into my arm.
I'll bring you back home.  I'll protect you from harm.

A howl from the beast with sharp teeth sends you off.
You fly though the grass, hope the wolf won't pursue.
A cliff breaks the ground.  You stand still and aloft.
Little lost lamb, you don't know what to do.

Hear my song, little lamb, and leap into my arm.
I'll bring you back home.  I'll protect you from harm.

About to give in to your terror and fear,
You lay your head onto a pillow of stone.
But see now! The light of my lantern draws near.
Know, little lamb, I won't leave you alone.

Hear my song, little lamb, and leap into my arm.
I'll bring you back home.  I'll protect you from harm.