Great News!
Stef will be signing Be Careful What You Wish For ... The Story of: Gwendolyn the Great, Savior of Idlebury, Protector of the Universe on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the Virginia Festival of the Book in beautiful Charlottesville, Virginia. Look for Idlelbury Books' table in the atrium of the Omni Charlottesville Hotel. Stef will be there from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., so drop by and meet her. Plus, find out what's up with Thane and the gang in book #2 of the Idlebury series. Book #2 titled, A Force To Be Recokned With . . . The Story of Thane: Prince of Magic, Mayhem, and Marvelous Things is in the works and is scheduled for publication in late 2010 or early 2011!
Last year's Virginia Festival of the Book was a huge success. Don't Miss it in 2010!
See you there!
Stef
Friday, January 22, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Sample Chapter:
Be Careful What You Wish For . . . The Story of: Gwendolyn the Great, Savior of Idlebury, Protector of the Universe by Stef
Chapter Five:
The Enchantress’s Request
Queen Filanthropi and Lightening raced through the Slothful Forest on a mission to return to Idlebury. The queen knew she must alert the king that the princess, rightful heir to the Idlebury throne, was alive and living at Pretty Pictures in Idleburg, Pennsylvania, Dimension X, Planet Earth. But she didn’t know where to find him. So her best bet was to go home, in hopes that the king had returned from his journeys.
Lost in thought, the queen didn’t notice the bright light up ahead, but Lightening did. The powerful animal abruptly stopped. The queen looked at the huge yellow orb and searched her memory for why it was familiar. “Wilameena?” she whispered, half scared and half thrilled.
Queen Filanthropi dismounted Lightening and stood alone before the pulsating orb. “Wilameena, my enchantress,” she said with delight. “I have not seen you since I was locked away in Cringley Castle many years ago. Can it be you are still alive? I thought I had imagined you. Am I imagining you now?”
“You silly girl. You haven’t changed. Still doubting your own perceptions of the world,” the enchantress replied in a mocking tone as she materialized in the form of a matronly woman. “And yes, it’s me, my friend. But maybe you remember me more like this,” Wilameena said as she transformed into a beautiful young woman. “Or maybe like this,” she said as she transformed again, but this time into a beggar man.
“That was you?” Queen Filanthropi said with embarrassment as she remembered shunning the beggar a few years back when she was in a hurry.
“’Twas me. And of course, I’m alive for I can’t die, as there’s no such thing as death.”
“Why do you come to me now? Where were you when I needed you?” the queen pleaded.
Wilameena chuckled. “Needed me? You’re too bull-headed to need me. You didn’t call upon me because you no longer believed I could serve you. That was an error in judgment. For I don’t serve you, you can only serve yourself. Nonetheless, I’ve watched over you. Now, I can no longer watch you destroy yourself and the people of Idlebury. So I have an adventure for you.”
“An adventure? Hmm! Go on,” the queen responded in a cynical manner.
“Find Matilda and bring her to me,” the enchantress demanded.
“MATILDA?” the queen screeched with indignation. “She was a make-believe friend—a dragon no less. She is not real and she was never real. I was forbidden by my parents to ever mention her again.” Queen Filanthropi hesitated as she stared at the enchantress, who smirked at her. Then she meekly said, “Besides, how would I find her?”
“Use your powers, silly girl,” Wilameena said with annoyance.
“But I cannot. I took an oath to protect the people of Idlebury. I cannot break it.”
“And protect them you have. But at what cost?”
“What do you mean, cost? I have been faithful to my people and my position.”
“Your people are helpless, hopeless, ungrateful leeches.”
“Helpless? Hopeless? Ungrateful? They are my responsibility. I am their queen. I am destined to protect them.”
“Protect them? Ha! From what? They’re the living dead. No hopes. No dreams. No aspirations. No accomplishments. No joy. No passion. Oh, I’m sorry. I’m describing you. You’ve projected yourself on your people.”
“How dare you talk to me like that? I am the Queen of Idlebury. I demand respect from you as I do from all my subjects.”
“Well! I do believe I hit a nerve. The truth hurts, as they say. And just to get our relationship straight, I’m not your subject. I’m no one’s subject. Ergo, I’m not at the whim of your commands, demands, tortures, or tantrums. For that, you have the kingdom of Idlebury and its faithful subjects. And while we’re at it, the people of Idlebury have you jumping to their every command. Not the other way around.”
“Silence! I have heard enough. I was so happy to see you, and now I wish I had not,” the queen said as her voice quivered and her eyes filled with tears.
“Pish posh! You need me. That’s why I’m here. And despite our contention, I’m here to help you,” the enchantress said in an attempt to reconcile.
“Okay, so help.”
“First, find Matilda.” Wilameena’s voice trailed off as she vanished.
Queen Filanthropi took a deep breath as she watched her old friend turn back into an orb of light and disappear. “It has been years since I have seen her and she still gets on my nerves,” she said as she mounted Lightening. Surprisingly, the horse shook his head in what appeared to be agreement. Then he and the queen once again set out for Idlebury.
The ride soon became tedious and Queen Filanthropi began to tire. She pulled on Lightening’s reins but the horse refused to stop. The harder she pulled, the faster he ran. The queen had no idea why her trusty steed disobeyed her command. He’d never disobeyed her before, just as she’d never disobeyed the commands of her people. Something was amiss, she thought and shuddered. But she gave in to the feeling and decided to let Lightening take her on a journey.
For nearly fifteen minutes, Lightening galloped toward Idlebury. Queen Filanthropi had just begun to relax when the horse took a sudden westward turn toward East Wisdomere and uncharted territory. East Wisdomere, where individual empowerment, personal responsibility, and accountability were professed, was the antithesis of Idlebury. Therefore, all Idleburians, including the king and queen, were prohibited from visiting the kingdom.
“Lightening,” Queen Filanthropi screamed. “It is forbidden. Turn back. Go back to Idlebury.” She tugged on the horse’s reins, but once again, he ignored her commands.
A few minutes later, Lightening suddenly slowed his pace. For up ahead, a beam of light that extended from the ground to the sky vibrated and hummed. The horse walked up to the beam. He reared as if to tell the queen to dismount, but she held on tight. He reared again. The queen didn’t budge. Then he leaned forward as if to bow before the beam. The queen remained firmly on the horse’s back. Lightening then turned his head toward the stubborn queen and said, “Get off.”
“What?” Queen Filanthropi asked, astonished to hear Lightening speak.
“I said, get off. Now!”
This time, the queen didn’t hesitate. She quickly dismounted. As she set foot on the ground, the beam engulfed her. The noise was deafening. The light, blinding. Just when Queen Filanthropi thought she could tolerate it no more, she plopped in the middle of the great square of the kingdom of East Wisdomere.
The weather was glorious. Flowers in full bloom adorned the square. Massive trees provided shade for the thousands of people who were obviously out to take advantage of the beautiful day. Vendors sold beautifully decorated cakes, cookies, pies, and breads. The scent of grilled sausages and other meats wafted in the air. Drink machines whirred as they whipped up delectable slushy delights. Well-dressed and well-behaved children played freely; some teamed up for games of all sorts. Groups of perfectly coiffed adults gathered in polite conversation. The women were impeccably dressed, many with doily-collared dresses and gloved hands as well as matching shoes and handbags. Men were clothed as if ready for work that required brain power rather than brawn. Some parents and children were dressed exactly alike as if to announce their familial affiliations and unconditional loyalty to their heritage. Some couples and families laid blankets on the grassy area and enjoyed abundant picnics. Soft music added to the ambience.
Queen Filanthropi looked around in awe. This was nothing like Idlebury, she thought. Part of her wished Idlebury was this idyllic, yet in her gut, she knew something was wrong. Everything appeared too perfect. Everyone was the epitome of decorum, even the children. It was this thought that roused her annoyance. Amidst the hive of activity, her arrival had gone unnoticed by the polite, proper East Wisdomerians despite the fact that in her drab garb, she was grossly out of place. “Do they not notice that there is a queen in their presence?” she muttered to herself.
She was about to make her presence known when a herald’s horn blared to announce the arrival of King Karful and Queen Prudea. The people graciously bowed before the king and queen, some blew kisses, others tossed flowers at the royal couple’s feet, and some offered fresh baked goods, hoping for a coveted royal blessing. Music filled the air. Still, no one noticed Queen Filanthropi standing ever so majestically in the center of the square.
A wave of indignation washed over her. “How dare they not acknowledge my presence?” she angrily mumbled, hardly able to believe that someone of her social standing would be ignored. “I guess I will have to take matters into my own hands.” With typical royal arrogance, the Queen of Idlebury parted the crowd and walked toward the King and Queen of East Wisdomere. King Karful spotted her. He stood and hushed the crowd with a wave of his hand.
“Well! Well! If it isn’t Queen Filanthropi of Idlebury,” the king said as he disapprovingly glanced at Queen Prudea. “What brings you to our lovely kingdom . . . unannounced? We are hardly prepared for a proper welcome. But if you have come begging, well, I guess beggars cannot be choosy.”
The crowd roared with laughter at the king’s cheekiness.
Queen Filanthropi stood proud, looked the king in the eyes, and said, “Wilameena has sent me.”
With this remark, Queen Prudea stood and declared, “Wilameena? She has not been seen here for nearly two hundred years. I thought the old hag was dead.”
Again, the crowd broke out in laughter, and a few jeers were heard.
“You are clearly mistaken,” Queen Filanthropi cockily replied. “In fact, she has sent me here on a mission.”
“Oh, do tell of this mission. I am all ears,” replied Queen Prudea as she placed her hand to her right ear.
“Hear, hear with your ear, ear,” the East Wisdomerians disrespectfully shouted.
Queen Filanthropi raised her hand to quiet the crowd. Much to her surprise, they complied. Then she confidently announced, “I am to find Matilda.”
Queen Prudea’s face became ashen. “Matilda?” she muttered as she tried to hide her obvious shock. Despite the fact the she was happy to see Queen Filanthropi, she wished the queen’s timing had been better, for a perfectly wondrous day was now ruined.
“You heard me right. Matilda . . . our dear, long-lost childhood friend.”
“But she was not real. She was a figment of our imaginations,” Queen Prudea stated dismissively in an attempt to regain her royal presence.
“Evidently not. I am to find her or the kingdom of Idlebury and possibly all the kingdoms in every dimension are in danger. And I do believe East Wisdomere is still part of Dimension XIII. Am I correct?”
The king was confused but refused to allow his subjects to think he wasn’t in control of the situation. He snapped his fingers and told his guards to bring the Queen of Idlebury to the royal palace at once. Then King Karful and Queen Prudea got into their opulent carriage and charged in the direction from which they came. Queen Filanthropi followed on mount, protected by the Royal Guards.
Be Careful What You Wish For . . . The Story of: Gwendolyn the Great, Savior of Idlebury, Protector of the Universe by Stef
Chapter Five:
The Enchantress’s Request
Queen Filanthropi and Lightening raced through the Slothful Forest on a mission to return to Idlebury. The queen knew she must alert the king that the princess, rightful heir to the Idlebury throne, was alive and living at Pretty Pictures in Idleburg, Pennsylvania, Dimension X, Planet Earth. But she didn’t know where to find him. So her best bet was to go home, in hopes that the king had returned from his journeys.
Lost in thought, the queen didn’t notice the bright light up ahead, but Lightening did. The powerful animal abruptly stopped. The queen looked at the huge yellow orb and searched her memory for why it was familiar. “Wilameena?” she whispered, half scared and half thrilled.
Queen Filanthropi dismounted Lightening and stood alone before the pulsating orb. “Wilameena, my enchantress,” she said with delight. “I have not seen you since I was locked away in Cringley Castle many years ago. Can it be you are still alive? I thought I had imagined you. Am I imagining you now?”
“You silly girl. You haven’t changed. Still doubting your own perceptions of the world,” the enchantress replied in a mocking tone as she materialized in the form of a matronly woman. “And yes, it’s me, my friend. But maybe you remember me more like this,” Wilameena said as she transformed into a beautiful young woman. “Or maybe like this,” she said as she transformed again, but this time into a beggar man.
“That was you?” Queen Filanthropi said with embarrassment as she remembered shunning the beggar a few years back when she was in a hurry.
“’Twas me. And of course, I’m alive for I can’t die, as there’s no such thing as death.”
“Why do you come to me now? Where were you when I needed you?” the queen pleaded.
Wilameena chuckled. “Needed me? You’re too bull-headed to need me. You didn’t call upon me because you no longer believed I could serve you. That was an error in judgment. For I don’t serve you, you can only serve yourself. Nonetheless, I’ve watched over you. Now, I can no longer watch you destroy yourself and the people of Idlebury. So I have an adventure for you.”
“An adventure? Hmm! Go on,” the queen responded in a cynical manner.
“Find Matilda and bring her to me,” the enchantress demanded.
“MATILDA?” the queen screeched with indignation. “She was a make-believe friend—a dragon no less. She is not real and she was never real. I was forbidden by my parents to ever mention her again.” Queen Filanthropi hesitated as she stared at the enchantress, who smirked at her. Then she meekly said, “Besides, how would I find her?”
“Use your powers, silly girl,” Wilameena said with annoyance.
“But I cannot. I took an oath to protect the people of Idlebury. I cannot break it.”
“And protect them you have. But at what cost?”
“What do you mean, cost? I have been faithful to my people and my position.”
“Your people are helpless, hopeless, ungrateful leeches.”
“Helpless? Hopeless? Ungrateful? They are my responsibility. I am their queen. I am destined to protect them.”
“Protect them? Ha! From what? They’re the living dead. No hopes. No dreams. No aspirations. No accomplishments. No joy. No passion. Oh, I’m sorry. I’m describing you. You’ve projected yourself on your people.”
“How dare you talk to me like that? I am the Queen of Idlebury. I demand respect from you as I do from all my subjects.”
“Well! I do believe I hit a nerve. The truth hurts, as they say. And just to get our relationship straight, I’m not your subject. I’m no one’s subject. Ergo, I’m not at the whim of your commands, demands, tortures, or tantrums. For that, you have the kingdom of Idlebury and its faithful subjects. And while we’re at it, the people of Idlebury have you jumping to their every command. Not the other way around.”
“Silence! I have heard enough. I was so happy to see you, and now I wish I had not,” the queen said as her voice quivered and her eyes filled with tears.
“Pish posh! You need me. That’s why I’m here. And despite our contention, I’m here to help you,” the enchantress said in an attempt to reconcile.
“Okay, so help.”
“First, find Matilda.” Wilameena’s voice trailed off as she vanished.
Queen Filanthropi took a deep breath as she watched her old friend turn back into an orb of light and disappear. “It has been years since I have seen her and she still gets on my nerves,” she said as she mounted Lightening. Surprisingly, the horse shook his head in what appeared to be agreement. Then he and the queen once again set out for Idlebury.
The ride soon became tedious and Queen Filanthropi began to tire. She pulled on Lightening’s reins but the horse refused to stop. The harder she pulled, the faster he ran. The queen had no idea why her trusty steed disobeyed her command. He’d never disobeyed her before, just as she’d never disobeyed the commands of her people. Something was amiss, she thought and shuddered. But she gave in to the feeling and decided to let Lightening take her on a journey.
For nearly fifteen minutes, Lightening galloped toward Idlebury. Queen Filanthropi had just begun to relax when the horse took a sudden westward turn toward East Wisdomere and uncharted territory. East Wisdomere, where individual empowerment, personal responsibility, and accountability were professed, was the antithesis of Idlebury. Therefore, all Idleburians, including the king and queen, were prohibited from visiting the kingdom.
“Lightening,” Queen Filanthropi screamed. “It is forbidden. Turn back. Go back to Idlebury.” She tugged on the horse’s reins, but once again, he ignored her commands.
A few minutes later, Lightening suddenly slowed his pace. For up ahead, a beam of light that extended from the ground to the sky vibrated and hummed. The horse walked up to the beam. He reared as if to tell the queen to dismount, but she held on tight. He reared again. The queen didn’t budge. Then he leaned forward as if to bow before the beam. The queen remained firmly on the horse’s back. Lightening then turned his head toward the stubborn queen and said, “Get off.”
“What?” Queen Filanthropi asked, astonished to hear Lightening speak.
“I said, get off. Now!”
This time, the queen didn’t hesitate. She quickly dismounted. As she set foot on the ground, the beam engulfed her. The noise was deafening. The light, blinding. Just when Queen Filanthropi thought she could tolerate it no more, she plopped in the middle of the great square of the kingdom of East Wisdomere.
The weather was glorious. Flowers in full bloom adorned the square. Massive trees provided shade for the thousands of people who were obviously out to take advantage of the beautiful day. Vendors sold beautifully decorated cakes, cookies, pies, and breads. The scent of grilled sausages and other meats wafted in the air. Drink machines whirred as they whipped up delectable slushy delights. Well-dressed and well-behaved children played freely; some teamed up for games of all sorts. Groups of perfectly coiffed adults gathered in polite conversation. The women were impeccably dressed, many with doily-collared dresses and gloved hands as well as matching shoes and handbags. Men were clothed as if ready for work that required brain power rather than brawn. Some parents and children were dressed exactly alike as if to announce their familial affiliations and unconditional loyalty to their heritage. Some couples and families laid blankets on the grassy area and enjoyed abundant picnics. Soft music added to the ambience.
Queen Filanthropi looked around in awe. This was nothing like Idlebury, she thought. Part of her wished Idlebury was this idyllic, yet in her gut, she knew something was wrong. Everything appeared too perfect. Everyone was the epitome of decorum, even the children. It was this thought that roused her annoyance. Amidst the hive of activity, her arrival had gone unnoticed by the polite, proper East Wisdomerians despite the fact that in her drab garb, she was grossly out of place. “Do they not notice that there is a queen in their presence?” she muttered to herself.
She was about to make her presence known when a herald’s horn blared to announce the arrival of King Karful and Queen Prudea. The people graciously bowed before the king and queen, some blew kisses, others tossed flowers at the royal couple’s feet, and some offered fresh baked goods, hoping for a coveted royal blessing. Music filled the air. Still, no one noticed Queen Filanthropi standing ever so majestically in the center of the square.
A wave of indignation washed over her. “How dare they not acknowledge my presence?” she angrily mumbled, hardly able to believe that someone of her social standing would be ignored. “I guess I will have to take matters into my own hands.” With typical royal arrogance, the Queen of Idlebury parted the crowd and walked toward the King and Queen of East Wisdomere. King Karful spotted her. He stood and hushed the crowd with a wave of his hand.
“Well! Well! If it isn’t Queen Filanthropi of Idlebury,” the king said as he disapprovingly glanced at Queen Prudea. “What brings you to our lovely kingdom . . . unannounced? We are hardly prepared for a proper welcome. But if you have come begging, well, I guess beggars cannot be choosy.”
The crowd roared with laughter at the king’s cheekiness.
Queen Filanthropi stood proud, looked the king in the eyes, and said, “Wilameena has sent me.”
With this remark, Queen Prudea stood and declared, “Wilameena? She has not been seen here for nearly two hundred years. I thought the old hag was dead.”
Again, the crowd broke out in laughter, and a few jeers were heard.
“You are clearly mistaken,” Queen Filanthropi cockily replied. “In fact, she has sent me here on a mission.”
“Oh, do tell of this mission. I am all ears,” replied Queen Prudea as she placed her hand to her right ear.
“Hear, hear with your ear, ear,” the East Wisdomerians disrespectfully shouted.
Queen Filanthropi raised her hand to quiet the crowd. Much to her surprise, they complied. Then she confidently announced, “I am to find Matilda.”
Queen Prudea’s face became ashen. “Matilda?” she muttered as she tried to hide her obvious shock. Despite the fact the she was happy to see Queen Filanthropi, she wished the queen’s timing had been better, for a perfectly wondrous day was now ruined.
“You heard me right. Matilda . . . our dear, long-lost childhood friend.”
“But she was not real. She was a figment of our imaginations,” Queen Prudea stated dismissively in an attempt to regain her royal presence.
“Evidently not. I am to find her or the kingdom of Idlebury and possibly all the kingdoms in every dimension are in danger. And I do believe East Wisdomere is still part of Dimension XIII. Am I correct?”
The king was confused but refused to allow his subjects to think he wasn’t in control of the situation. He snapped his fingers and told his guards to bring the Queen of Idlebury to the royal palace at once. Then King Karful and Queen Prudea got into their opulent carriage and charged in the direction from which they came. Queen Filanthropi followed on mount, protected by the Royal Guards.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Happy 2010!!!!
Happy New Year to all my current . . . and future readers!
As you recap 2009, I hope all of you find that you had a slew of fun sprinkled with much-deserved achievements. But 2009 is the past and 2010 is the present, so now is the time to make a list of the exciting things you want to achieve in the coming year. First on my list is to publish the second book in the Idlebury series titled, A Force To Be Reckoned With . . . The Story of Thane: Prince of Magic, Mayhem, and Marvelous Things. This is no small task as I haven’t completed the first draft, but I have set a deadline of March 1, 2010 for it to be done. (Yikes, I better stop blogging and get writing!) And as you writers out there already know, the first draft is only the beginning. The writing isn't done until the editing is over! The first draft of the first book in the series titled, Be Careful What You Wish For . . . The Story of: Gwendolyn the Great, Savior of Idlebury, Protector of the Universe took years to write and eight grueling months of editing, rewriting, editing, rewriting, editing, rewriting . . . Finally in October 2008 it was published. Yippee!!!! And three awards later, I can say all the hard work was worth it.
The second item on my 2010 list is to improve my website. There are a few glitches to work out, but I did achieve my 2009 goal of getting the website up and running. For those of you who are reading this blog without having gone to the website first, you can check it out at www.idleburybooks.com.
The third item on my list is to participate in more book festivals. It's great fun meeting those of you who have read my book and it's always exciting to sign copies of my book for my new readers. I hope to see you all at a book festival this year.
So as you write your 2010 "To Do" list remember to dream big, prioritize, and don't be discouraged if you don't get everything on the list done before 2011 rolls in. Just have fun, study hard, read some good books, ask for help when you need it, be kind to your family and friends, and of course, take good care of yourself.
Happy New Year and Happy Reading!
Stef
As you recap 2009, I hope all of you find that you had a slew of fun sprinkled with much-deserved achievements. But 2009 is the past and 2010 is the present, so now is the time to make a list of the exciting things you want to achieve in the coming year. First on my list is to publish the second book in the Idlebury series titled, A Force To Be Reckoned With . . . The Story of Thane: Prince of Magic, Mayhem, and Marvelous Things. This is no small task as I haven’t completed the first draft, but I have set a deadline of March 1, 2010 for it to be done. (Yikes, I better stop blogging and get writing!) And as you writers out there already know, the first draft is only the beginning. The writing isn't done until the editing is over! The first draft of the first book in the series titled, Be Careful What You Wish For . . . The Story of: Gwendolyn the Great, Savior of Idlebury, Protector of the Universe took years to write and eight grueling months of editing, rewriting, editing, rewriting, editing, rewriting . . . Finally in October 2008 it was published. Yippee!!!! And three awards later, I can say all the hard work was worth it.
The second item on my 2010 list is to improve my website. There are a few glitches to work out, but I did achieve my 2009 goal of getting the website up and running. For those of you who are reading this blog without having gone to the website first, you can check it out at www.idleburybooks.com.
The third item on my list is to participate in more book festivals. It's great fun meeting those of you who have read my book and it's always exciting to sign copies of my book for my new readers. I hope to see you all at a book festival this year.
So as you write your 2010 "To Do" list remember to dream big, prioritize, and don't be discouraged if you don't get everything on the list done before 2011 rolls in. Just have fun, study hard, read some good books, ask for help when you need it, be kind to your family and friends, and of course, take good care of yourself.
Happy New Year and Happy Reading!
Stef
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