GUEST AUTHOR: Sandy Lender

Hi everyone! I'm very pleased to bring a new guest to the blog today.

Jamieson Wolf, author of Hope Falls, Electric Pink,Electric Blue, and Garden City said, "Choices Meant for Gods is without a doubt the freshest most engaging high fantasy novel to come out in years and breathes new life into a tired genre. The characters leap off the page and the plot is lightning quick and deftly written with many layers that tease the mind and imagination. Choices Meant for Gods is not a mere novel; it is a gorgeous piece of written art. I can hardly wait for the second book!”

This book sounds fantastic!

Not even the gods noticed when Chariss was born with the mark of The Protector. Now she and her wizard guardian seek shelter from a mad sorcerer in a household not just full of secrets and false hope, but watched by the god who will unwittingly reveal her role in an impending war.

When an orphan sets aside a lifetime of running and fear to accept the responsibilities of guarding an arrogant deity, can she face the trials in the prophecies she uncovers? Will Nigel Taiman of her latest refuge dare to use his dragon heritage to bind her to his estate or to help her in her duty?

And as an added bonus for this wonderful Saturday afternoon, Sandy will be putting the names of all the commenters from each blog she's visited this week into a draw for an autographed, hard cover, first edition of Choices Meant for Gods. Good luck!

Inspiration’s Not So Easy to Pinpoint

Many interviewers have asked me what inspires me. My answers always feel inadequate because just about everything inspires me. But I can’t give a glib answer like that. It would be rude when someone has taken the time to single me out and ask about my writing.

I at least list a few of the things that inspire me—Duran Duran, baby sea turtles, my parrots, sci fi shows/movies, thunderclouds over the Gulf at dawn, short elderly drivers in huge Lincoln town cars, bizarre chicks in L.A. bars, snow in the mountains, etc. At my fancy new Web site, my letter to visitors tells of a funky incident from my early teens that inspired a short story in the recent chapbook WHAT CHOICES WE MADE.

Something I find that fires the flames of inspiration for me is setting up my writing space. I’m a romantic at heart, so I like the old-world sconces and wax-caked candle holders around my writing desk. I set up an old-fashioned, curved metal book stand with my Klaeber edition of BEOWULF on the corner of the desk (because you just never know when you’ll need to reference something in there) and place various dragon pictures around the room. Oh, I should have listed dragons above…

You get the picture here, right?

That’s my inspirational mayhem! There’s probably more. Writers checking in today can most likely empathize. Readers are welcome (and encouraged) to ask questions! Thank you for diving in. “Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”

Short Excerpt from CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS
There are a few at my fancy new Web site at http://www.authorsandylender.com under the “Books” navigation button.

Short Blurb About CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS
CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS is a Girl Power fantasy adventure where prophecy twists out of control. Captivating humans, wizards, Ungol, and dragons populate the realm of Onweald where even the gods must turn to an unlikely fugitive for help.