Please help me welcome Author Julie Walker to my blog today!
Hi
Jodie and thank you for hosting "The Griffin's Boy Flying Book Tour –
incorporating The Great Griffin Giveaway".
If
your readers are wondering how anyone can gift wrap a griffin and put it under
their Christmas tree, the answer is you don't. It would be unfair to the
griffin, and probably detrimental to the tree's fairy lights.
Our
up-for-adoption griffins are literary, not literal!
The
winners of our contest will see both their adopted griffin's name and
their name appear in "The Griffin's Boy", as illustrated in the
extract below:
The Griffin Master's Choice ...
and the two griffins to be christened by our winners
(Griffin
Master Romulus has arrived to select recruits from students and young griffins
to join his elite squad. Fourteen year old nobody Neb, whose ambition is to
work for Romulus as the equivalent of a stable lad, is keen to ensure his
favourite griffin is chosen.)
'Behave, Balkind, best behave,' Neb muttered from the corner of his mouth. But just in case, he kept a hand on Balkind's shoulder. He buried his fingers into the ridge where the griffin's velveteen pelt gave way to a fluff of feathers and prayed harder than ever, as he watched his fate approach.
An odd couple indeed: Chantress Anderra glided as she walked. Her nest of dark brown hair, piled into a top knot above her narrow sharply angled face never stirred. Besides her elegance, barrel chested Romulus's rolling gait seemed more pronounced. A scar ran from his left temple to his upper lip, leaving that side of his face immobile. Apart from the puckered flesh around the scar, the left side of Romulus's face was smooth and unwrinkled; his milky left eye only half visible beneath a permanently semi closed eyelid. But the other side of the Griffin Master's weather beaten face was usually immobile too, and his remaining eye missed nothing.
Please let him chose Balkind, and please let him chose me as a griffin's lad. Neb's hand curled on the wing emerging from Balkind's shoulder until it clutched at a fistful of feathers. Surely Balkind would be chosen; he was difficult, but fast – and clever – a little too clever for his own good. If Balkind could talk, he probably wouldn't bother to speak with me. Neb smiled inwardly at that thought, but kept his eyes trained straight ahead. Chantress Anderra sailed past him. By contrast Romulus's head twisted this way and that, in an effort to see everything. Romulus pointed – this one, that one – his was the choice to make, Anderra advised.
Neb watched carefully, mentally approving the Griffin Master's selection: Almost instinctively, the experienced old warrior had chosen five of the swiftest, bravest and most obedient of the assembled griffins: Among them two of Neb's favourites, the tawny gold and black (winner's choice of name here), and the pied black and white (winner's choice of name here).
Neb's heart beat a little faster, and he sent up another prayer to anyone who might be listening: … One last griffin to be chosen; he has to name Balkind; he might not be the most obedient, but he is the fastest, and bravest. Please let him call out Balkind's name …
'Behave, Balkind, best behave,' Neb muttered from the corner of his mouth. But just in case, he kept a hand on Balkind's shoulder. He buried his fingers into the ridge where the griffin's velveteen pelt gave way to a fluff of feathers and prayed harder than ever, as he watched his fate approach.
An odd couple indeed: Chantress Anderra glided as she walked. Her nest of dark brown hair, piled into a top knot above her narrow sharply angled face never stirred. Besides her elegance, barrel chested Romulus's rolling gait seemed more pronounced. A scar ran from his left temple to his upper lip, leaving that side of his face immobile. Apart from the puckered flesh around the scar, the left side of Romulus's face was smooth and unwrinkled; his milky left eye only half visible beneath a permanently semi closed eyelid. But the other side of the Griffin Master's weather beaten face was usually immobile too, and his remaining eye missed nothing.
Please let him chose Balkind, and please let him chose me as a griffin's lad. Neb's hand curled on the wing emerging from Balkind's shoulder until it clutched at a fistful of feathers. Surely Balkind would be chosen; he was difficult, but fast – and clever – a little too clever for his own good. If Balkind could talk, he probably wouldn't bother to speak with me. Neb smiled inwardly at that thought, but kept his eyes trained straight ahead. Chantress Anderra sailed past him. By contrast Romulus's head twisted this way and that, in an effort to see everything. Romulus pointed – this one, that one – his was the choice to make, Anderra advised.
Neb watched carefully, mentally approving the Griffin Master's selection: Almost instinctively, the experienced old warrior had chosen five of the swiftest, bravest and most obedient of the assembled griffins: Among them two of Neb's favourites, the tawny gold and black (winner's choice of name here), and the pied black and white (winner's choice of name here).
Neb's heart beat a little faster, and he sent up another prayer to anyone who might be listening: … One last griffin to be chosen; he has to name Balkind; he might not be the most obedient, but he is the fastest, and bravest. Please let him call out Balkind's name …
They were moving back
down the line again. Anderra spoke into the Griffin Master's ear. Neb's ears
were sharp and he heard their whispered exchange:
'Are you certain?'
'He has the makings of something special.' Their eyes moved over Neb and his griffin. Romulus nodded 'and Balkind,' he finished. Neb patted Balkind's shoulder, and almost allowed a grin to escape.
'Are you certain?'
'He has the makings of something special.' Their eyes moved over Neb and his griffin. Romulus nodded 'and Balkind,' he finished. Neb patted Balkind's shoulder, and almost allowed a grin to escape.
From "The Griffin's Boy" available in
ebook from Amazon: now at a special launch price of only 99 cents, until Sunday
22nd December, when it will adjust to $3.50.
The Griffin's Boy Synopsis:
In a world
where only those of noble birth are invited to join the elite Griffin Riders, orphan Neb is
destined for a life of drudgery. His path changes when he steals the disobedient
young griffin Balkind in an attempt to prove that you don't need noble blood to
become a hero.
Join "The
Griffin's Boy" on the adventure of a lifetime as he encounters girls
for the very first time, learns the meaning of friendship and battles evil forces
for his very soul.
Thank you again for
hosting the griffins, especially as I know you're so busy with your own
projects, in particular the fabulous anthologies created with other authors,
and sold in aid of The National
Children's Cancer Center.
Book 1 in The Griffin
Riders' Chronicles, "The Griffin Cryer"
enjoyed an amazing five days in the top twenty free fantasy downloads, and hit
the top 100 best seller charts. There's still a couple of days to enter our
free contest, but as "The Griffin Cryer"
is now back to its usual price, and I don't want your readers to miss out, I'd
be delighted to offer a free copy on request.
Please thank Julia for joining us! Check out her books!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Griffins-Boy-Griffin-Riders-ebook/dp/B00H9NMQE4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387336108&sr=1-1&keywords=the+griffin%27s+boy
Keep Writing!
Jodie Pierce
Hi Jodie, - The Griffin's Boy launch has been a massive success, and still riding high in the top 100 Romance charts, mainly thanks to all our wonderful hosts and their readers. Thank you for seeing the Flying Book Tour off in style! We're looking forward to playing host to two marvelous anthologies by yourself and fellow authors, on New Year's Day. Even more so because both titles will benefit a very worthwhile cause, The National Children's Cancer Center.
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas to you and your readers, and see you all in the New Year over at Words Unlimited!