A Carpet of Purple Flowers ~ Book Reviews by Fellow Authors

Mark Mayes ~ Author (THE GIFT MAKER)

This is a most entrancing and captivating story. Bea, as the central character, weathers every emotional storm you can imagine, and as we get to know her, we feel for her plight, and one is torn on her behalf as she herself is torn, between two men, two identities, two realms of reality. 

Bea is living a fairly ordinary life, running a small, somewhat esoteric, bookshop in London, left to her by her much-missed uncle. Into her somewhat muted existence burst beings from another realm, and why they are so interested in her gradually becomes apparent. 

Tracey-anne McCartney introduces us to a richly-detailed and dramatic cosmology drawn from Irish folktales, mythology, and magic, and it is by virtue of this age-old relationship between the world of the Sidhe and that of humans that we find ourselves drawn in most strongly. It is the skilful, often humorous, blend of supernatural and spiritual elements with that of ordinary life; the hopes and disappointments of the ordinary person, as experienced by Bea, which makes this novel so charming, and makes us experience Bea’s emotional maelstrom as our own. We want the best for her, even if deciding what that may be seems near impossible. 

The final scene in Coldfall Woods is magnificently achieved, and the writing overall has the right balance of lyricism and restraint and is peppered with moments of levity when appropriate. The narration allows one not only to viscerally experience the events described but also to be privy to the internal life of the principal characters, sensing their doubts, their confusion, their pain and joy – Bea's in particular.

The finale does not give up all the secrets hinted at during the novel. Who exactly is Jonathan? What does Bea’s future hold? And other questions, which I will not pose here for fear of spoiling the many surprises and revelations this artfully-plotted novel offers us en route. 

A Carpet of Purple Flowers is an original, entertaining, and sophisticated blend of romance, the paranormal, and the spiritual. 

James Silvester ~ Author (Escape to Perdition)

This is the kind of book that makes you glad to have stepped out of your comfort zone for a moment. Although aspects of magical folklore and the like have always intrigued me, I've never been that keen on reading about them in fiction, perhaps because I think it is a genre that is often lazily presented, to its own detriment. Not so with this book, however, which I thoroughly enjoyed on very many levels. The folklore isn't just thrown in there, it is researched and well considered, as well as being presented in a believable manner. So too is the main character, suddenly thrown into this new, ethereal world. While saying that there is something for everyone in this book, I don't mean it at all flippantly - the elements of fantasy, love, magic, sex, humour and raw emotion are all expertly intertwined by a very talented writer who really sieze her opportunity to make this genre her own. I look forward to more.

Shirley Golden ~ Author (Skyjacked)

'A Carpet of Purple Flowers' is a wonderfully rich and sumptuous debut novel by Tracey-anne McCartney. It is an elaborate folklore fantasy, which pulled me in right from the start. The central story involves a complicated love triangle between Bea, Chance, Alithia and Karian (yep, there are four in this triangle). I cared about all of the characters and enjoyed the world McCartney created. There is an especially salient moment where an illusion is shattered, leaving a deliciously gothic image. The ending left me wanting more, and I hope there will be more to come. Recommended.

Christina Philippou ~ Author (Lost in Static)

Epic fantasy, coming-of-age, romantic drama and mythology: this book is a finely woven carpet of great fiction.

Bea, owner of a little bookshop, is drawn into the war between two paranormal factions. Kari, a royal on one side, thinks Bea's harbouring the soul of his long-lost love, Alithea, and sets out to re-win her heart. Chance, a warrior for the other, thinks he's protecting Bea, but endangers her through his own actions. As Bea gets pulled in different directions, and starts to uncover histories and recover memories, she realises she alone holds the key to this war...

From the blurb, I expected a kind of 'Twilight for adults'. What I got was intricately-imagined fantasy, suspenseful action, two beautifully interwoven love stories (not the kind of paranormal love triangle I was anticipating), and a lot of well-crafted drama. Brilliant - I want more!

*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


Cate Hogan ~ Author & Editor ~ http://catehogan.com

As a romance editor / addict / obsessive, I often feel that even the best new novels are re-hashes of books I've read before. Which is why I was so pleased to discover this little gem - a truly unique premise that merges the spiritual with the paranormal in a very interesting way. The characters are gorgeous, and the love triangle is full of twists and surprises. I highly recommend.

Teresa Ruiz ~ Author (Freefall Into Us)

Not normally my genre, but was sucked in from the get-go, the author gifted at pulling you in. Could have been the instant love of the character, Bea, a book shop owner in London and the heroine in this story. Which may I say was very well written, not overly wordy (can't stand to much description) but still a whopping 400 pages. Honestly, the story was so engaging and hard to put down, It didn't matter. All the characters I liked, even Brandon whom at times I felt sorry for. Well done Tracey-anne, on a beautiful journey and debut book!

Love and light,

Trace

xoxo

Awake in Purple Dreams - Book Two (A Carpet of Purple Flowers) - Prologue excerpts from the first draft

Storybook Inspirational Visual designed using Polyvore Digital Collage

Prologue ~ Book two introductory section

(First Draft)

Karian stood allowing the bitter wind to bite into his skin. His eyes watered from the chilling harshness wailing against his body, now turned partially numb. The vacant space in which he stood, barren and cold, had remained uninhabitable since the ancients returned from Earth. It was known as Nede then, the garden of splendour, where their world's pole joined to Earth’s Eden via a portal known as the axis mundi, the navel of both realms. Within the ice-capped mountains the stone circle that he used to hear stories about when growing up still existed, but its power long gone. The Sindria elementals had closed the portal path of Nede to earth. Once a land of beauty until destroyed by violent storms, caused by the sudden Sindria withdrawal which had a devastating ripple effect on earth. Floods removed much of the evidence of the otherworldly beings ever having lived amongst humans. It was as if they never were and that same sentiment stirred within Karian’s soul. It’s what brought him here, a feeling of something that never was. Standing at the edge of time, a place between worlds, attached only by memory. Everything white, desolate, and hundreds of feet below, a snowy blanket stretched out for miles. One step and his torment would end. He felt a strange comfort in the thought, but he didn’t come here to die. He came to cold-burn her soul from his own and would continue to stand until the frost fully penetrated the warm flesh covering his heart. He waited, begging for the pain to bleed into ice where he could crack it open and remove the pieces of her that remained - a sting he welcomed to be rid of her once and for all.

Nede

*** Below, Spoiler Alert - Book One***

Chance had bathed for hours soaking in the Heaven Stone's temple floral waters trying to remove the earth stench, as much for his own sanity as for others, but removing the grime of earth didn’t remove the pull it had over his heart. He felt tainted by more than Bea’s world. Seeing her in Karian’s arms had left a stain on his soul that he couldn’t reach. He would have to work harder to overcome the haunting image of them together and eradicate the hurt of her teary eyes meeting his before he faded into the portal flames.
As he walked through the wide corridors of the Seelie Court to the Queens Hall, heads politely turned in a desperate attempt to avoid any further intake of a place they hated. Humans wouldn’t notice the odour, but the Sidhe only knew the sweet smell of home and earth carried the pungent aroma of their shameful past. Chance did not miss the hierarchy snobbery of Court life and didn’t want to stay longer than needed. Beithir normally took care of such matters, but due to his own communications with the queen while on earth, she requested an update on his mission’s outcome, personally. Their conversations on earth had been easy, brief, with no eye contact involved. The energy links were made mentally, and with only a few spots on earth that had enough energy to tap into for such conversations, he was thankful. It had been an excuse he often used to avoid further talk of Bea and the queen’s Alithia, but today there was no such escape. He wondered whether she would see failing in his eyes. Pushing the thought from his mind, Chance nodded at the two guards outside the throne room and waited for his arrival to be announced.
“Will you inform the queen of all your endeavours?” Saras's quipped.                                   “Including your own conduct at the glade?” Chance didn't mean to snap, losing his reserved calm, but he wasn’t in the mood for snide threats and had not forgotten the Heaven Stone warriors that fell under Saras’s blade at Coldfall Woods.
“We’re at war. " Saras shrugged, manoeuvring past a guard, now closer to Chance. "Lord Karian is an enemy of our Court, of our race, and if rumours are true…” He trailed off with a smug glint in his eyes. Chance’s stomach knotted, he had heard the slander but refused to give Saras the pleasure of knowing it had crushed him. He remembered everything, especially Karian’s hands on Bea in the glade, but refused to believe it was anything more than a display of misplaced love. The Court chatter of a human, Bea, carrying Karian’s child made him feel physically sick. He was about to retaliate when the doors flew open. He had seconds to re-compose, no doubt Saras’s intention.

Seelie Court Grounds

Amazon 

Book Website

Note: The axis mundi (also cosmic axis, world axis, world pillar, centre of the world, world tree), in certain beliefs and philosophies, is the world centre, or the connection between Heaven and Earth. More HERE. 

You are my heaven... (in Calageata)

Love and light,

Trace

xoxo

Book Stuff. How important is a book blurb?

Often it is the editor or some other person from the publishing house who writes the book blurb/jacket description. The publisher usually has a better idea of what elements of the story will most appeal to readers who pick up the book at a glance.

Below is an example of how important it is to get the blurb right. A professional reviewer and author, Christina Philippou, gave ACoPF a wonderful 5-star rating and listed it in among the top 10 books of 2015 on her blog - Wow! But this shows how the blurb can give a wrong impression that could ultimately repel potential readers ~

'From the blurb, I expected a kind of ‘Twilight for adults’. What I got was intricately-imagined fantasy, suspenseful action, two beautifully interwoven love stories (not the kind of paranormal love triangle I was anticipating), and a lot of well-crafted drama. Brilliant – I want more!'

Read HERE

In hindsight, I should've definitely re-written the book's blurb - shown below:

‘Every Unknown is a Beginning’

Bea lives a simple life residing in a South London second-hand bookshop. It had been an especially difficult year, first with Bea’s uncle dying, then splitting up with Brandon, her philandering, druggie boyfriend. The shop's trivial daily conversations, local faces and calm were all she desired, but that was all about to change.

No-one expects to bump into supernatural beings, let alone two opposing sects of a forgotten race. Bea’s quiet existence turns into turmoil as she slowly starts to unravel a secret past. A lost history in which love, revenge, betrayal, magic, power and karma are not mere cycles of a soul, but a sacred journey upon a web of many possibilities.

The future is not set in stone and the choices that Bea makes ripple through the cosmos. As the secret unfolds she realises that no matter what form your soul takes there are consequences for one's actions in which time has no relevance – we call it karma, they call it Vororbla.

Will she cope with the heartbreak and truths before her?
What would you do if your very existence came into question?
Join Bea as she uncovers the truth of her past via A Carpet of Purple Flowers.

To something like this, perhaps?

Discover a new fantasy world with a unique love story.

'Four Souls & Three Hearts' 

No-one expects to bump into supernatural beings, let alone two opposing sects of an otherworldly race. Bea’s quiet existence as a bookshop owner in SW London turns into turmoil as she starts to unravel a lost history. Reality quickly becomes blurred with folklore, and as the secrets unfold, she realises that no matter what form your soul takes, there are consequences for past actions in which time has no relevance – we call it karma, they call it Vororbla.

What would you do if your very existence came into question? 

Hmm. I'm going to work on book two's.

FICTION BLURB TIPS - T K. H

Note that the goal of the blurb is NOT to summarise the book. Rather, the goals are to:

• Implicitly reveal the genre or subject. This should reinforce the message conveyed through the title and visually by the cover.
• Entice the reader to look inside.

That’s it!

Here is a fiction blurb checklist:

• Be concise. Did you say anything that was unnecessary?
• Arouse curiosity. Did you give anything away? Does it read like a summary?
• Genre. If strangers can’t read the blurb and guess the precise sub-genre or have some idea as to the content, your blurb has miserably and utterly failed to be an effective sales tool.
• Engage. You need to draw interest immediately; most customers won’t be patient and let you build things up (true of your Look Inside, too). Come out swinging with your best stuff, but also pack enough punches so that you can engage interest throughout. When you run out of punches, stop writing your blurb.
• Flow. Check that it flows well. A hiccup, such as when a reader has to stop and figure out how to correctly parse a long idea, is like stumbling on your way to the cash register.
• Spellcheck, aisle three. If you can’t get the spelling and grammar right in a hundred words or so… Look, it’s not an option. You have to get it right.
• Vocabulary. It needs to match your target audience. Words they don’t understand can scare them away (but if such words are common in the prose, you also don’t want to create false expectations).
• Research. Do your homework. Check out blurbs of successful books similar to yours.

Feedback. Ask for opinions on your blurb. Before you publish, this can help you generate buzz.

Did you know Amazon has 30,000,000 different books to choose from? Wow! 

Love and light,

Trace

xoxo

Skyjacked - Book 1 of the Corvus Ranger series ~ Sci-fi fantasy ~ NEW Release ~ Debut

Excited ~ Guess what arrived today?

'Skyjacked' novel by Shirley Golden, a debut author with Urbane Publications. I can't wait to get stuck in. :o)

Blurb:
Separated from his son, only a galaxy stands between him and home... The year is 2154, and Corvus Ranger, a space pilot and captain of the Soliton, embarks on a penal run to Jupiter's prison moon, Europa. It should be another routine drop, but a motley band of escaped convicts have other ideas. When Soliton is hijacked, Corvus is forced to set a new destination, one which is far from Earth and his son. Unable to fight (or smooth talk) his way to freedom, Corvus finds himself tied to the plans of the escapees, including their leader Isidore and a gifted young boy who seems to possess strange abilities. Desperate to return to Earth and the son he left behind, Corvus is thrown into the ultimate adventure, a star-strewn odyssey where the greatest enemy in the universe may very well be himself.

Amazon U.K HERE

When I opened this book and read my name in the acknowledgements, I was blown away. Honestly, I just sat back on the sofa speechless. What a beautiful thing to do for someone. It really touched my heart. I only know Shirley through cyber chatting, where we supported each other in the early part of the debut author journey. So I wanted to say thank you and make this blog post for her. This book will be treasured for eternity. <3 nbsp="" p="">

If you can, please show Shirley some support on this journey. It takes an extreme amount of hard work and guts to get a book 'out there'. Thank you so much.
You can find Shirley on Twitter @shirl1001
Website HERE
Urbane Publications HERE

Right, I'm off to escape inside a great book. :o) 

Love and light,

Trace

xoxo