(*drum roll*) Announcing my next book: THE DEEP END OF THE SEA

AHHHH!!! I am so excited today to share with you some details about my latest book! But first, a bit of background . . .

A lot of people ask me where the inspiration for the Fate series comes from. My answer is always the same: my fascination with various global mythologies, especially Greek, Roman, and Norse. I adore mythology. Absolutely adore it. And there are some stories that I love better than others, and one of those has lasted with me for a long time simply because it always sat wrong with me.

I remember going to see Clash of the Titans when it first came out at this small theatre within walking distance of my house. No, not the one out just a few years, but the original one back in the (oh, snap--I'm dating myself here) 80s. The total cheese-fest one, the one where you watch it today and alternately cringe and laugh at the horrible effects as well as feel solidly nostalgic that they just don't make movies like this anymore, whether or not that's a good thing. Anyway, I remember the scene where Perseus goes into Medusa's lair to lop of her head (so he can take it back and slay the Krakken, in order for him and Andromeda to get it going), when she first slithered into the scene, I covered my face with my hands, fearing if I saw her, too, there was the very real possibility of turning to stone myself. (Hey, at least if I'm dating myself here, I'll letting you know just how young as I was then, too.) Anyway, my dad didn't cover his face; this stressed me out the whole time. I kept sneaking peeks at him as I listened to this monster's tail rattle around on screen, making sure that when it came time to leave, my dad was going to make it out alive with me.

Girl just wants to be left alone, right?

Obviously, we did. And thus my fascination with Medusa was solidified.

(And, ahem, that movie, which I will still watch every time it comes on)

The older I got, and the more versions of the Medusa myths I read, the more I came to feel sorry for the poor girl. The majority of the legends have her being raped; as a punishment for, oh--I don't know, having the audacity to be raped, she's cursed to be a monster. It was a classic bit of crappy patriarchial victim blaming that had me thinking more than once that if she became a vindictive monster afterwards, could you really blame her? There was always a kernel in the back of my mind, story-wise, about what kind of person would she be, having gone through such trauma. Story lines came and went over the years, but then I heard John Mayer's album "Born and Raised" last year and all of a sudden . . .

I knew I had to tell her story.

(Yeah, I know. You're all, "John Mayer, Heather? What does he have to do with Medusa?" But THIS is a story for another blog post down the road.)

So I'm pleased as punch to let you know that my next book will star Medusa--and it's a love story, because love stories are my favorite.

THE DEEP END OF THE SEA by Heather Lyons

coming February 13, 2014

What if all the legends you’ve learned were wrong?

Brutally attacked by one god and unfairly cursed by another she faithfully served, Medusa has spent the last two thousand years living out her punishment on an enchanted isle in the Aegean Sea. A far cry from the monster legends depict, she’s spent her time educating herself, gardening, and desperately trying to frighten away adventure seekers who occasionally end up, much to her dismay, as statues when they manage to catch her off guard.  As time marches on without her, Medusa wishes for nothing more than to be given a second chance at a life stolen away at far too young an age.

But then comes a day when Hermes, one of the few friends she still has and the only deity she trusts, petitions the rest of the gods and goddesses to reverse the curse. Thus begins a journey toward healing and redemption, of reclaiming a life after tragedy, and of just how powerful friendship and love can be—because sometimes, you have to sink in the deep end of the sea before you can rise back up again.

The cover will be revealed on December 19--I am so, so excited to share it with you guys, because it's absolutely gorgeous. If you are a blogger and want to take part of the reveal, you can sign up HERE.

Inspirations: Pale Blue Dot

Confession time . . .

Something a lot of readers don't know about me--or, heck, even friends--is that I am an astronomy/astrophysics geek. I absolutely ADORE learning about space. It sometimes boggles my mind, leaving me at times grasping towards the boundaries of understanding and yet reveling in the sheer beauty of wondrous possibilities that our universe offers. 

I blame my grandmother for this.

When I was younger, she and I would go outside at night and talk. Talk about the constellations and the legends associated with them. Talk about the stars, and how they were more than just pinpoints of light above us, how they were massive entities in which other celestial objects were trapped in orbits around. We talked about supernovas and black holes and comets and time and light and I used to always feel so small and so large all at once, hearing about these things. How I felt . . . almost spiritual about it, if that makes sense, because in the vast void of the universe, there I was, a piece of stardust.

When I went to college, I couldn't imagine myself taking any other science requirements than astronomy. Not because there's an urban legend that claims it's easy, but because I was genuinely interested in the subject matter. But . . . here's another confession: I am not mathematically minded whatsoever, much to my everlasting shame. So I struggled when my professors asked me to calculate masses and distances and expansion rates, and there were times I wondered if such torture upon my ego would drive a lifelong love away from me. It nearly did. But, resolute, I refused to let even math take away something so very profound and beautiful from me, so I dug my heels in, found myself some friends who were astronomers, and pushed through.

I discovered Carl Sagan at this time, and Stephen Hawking, and others whose books and ideas challenged me to step outside of my comfort boundaries and really think about what life is really all about. Even now, even today, I will listen to lectures and read works by people like Neil deGrasse Tyson often, because they speak to me. I was an archaeologist, a historian, and now I am a storyteller, but so much of me looks up and out and wonders about the future.

So, today, friends . . . if you'll indulge me, I want to share something with you that has stuck with me for years. Something that I pull out every so often and either read or listen to, because I think my soul needs it. Maybe you already know what I'm talking about. Maybe this piece is in your canon, too. Maybe this will be your first time hearing the gorgeousness of Carl Sagan's voice, and of his thoughts. Maybe what he says will resonate deep within you, too. Maybe you'll hit repeat and subsequently feel the need to dig out more of his work. Maybe you'll sit back and scratch your head and think, "That sh*t is boring." Maybe it'll inspire you to look into the night sky and begin the beautiful yet elusive quest to understand our place in the universe. Maybe you'll look at the world around us differently.

Maybe you won't even press play. 

But maybe, just maybe, you will.

I really hope you will.

And now, here's Carl Sagan's beautiful musings on the Pale Blue Dot.

"From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. But for us, it's different. Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us."

Earth, as seen by Voyager 1 in 1990.

"Oh it, everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering. Thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter or forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization. Every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every superstar, every supreme leader, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there. On the mote of dust, suspended in a sunbeam. The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors, so that in glory and in triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel, on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner. How frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity--in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit? Yes. Settle? Not yet. Like it or not, for the moment, the Earth is where we make our stand. It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."

For more of Sagan's thought-provoking musings, check out his book Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space. You can also check out The Carl Sagan Portal.

Carrying on Sagan's work is Neil deGrasse Tyson. I cannot recommend reading/listening to him enough. Go HERE to learn more about him and his work.

Cover reveal: SOUL OF ASIMINA + Interview with Kristi Strong!

Guys, I'm thrilled to be able to share with you the latest (and beautiful!) cover in the Land of Kaldalangra series for Soul of Asimina. Make sure you check out my interview with author Kristi Strong below!

Her parents were heroes of the realm, and when Sabina de Nespa found herself in a position to thwart grave evil, she had never been more determined to do what is right, or more terrified.

Cover by Once Upon a Time Covers

Coming this winter!

Soul of Asimina is the third book in the Land of Kaldalangra series, written by Kristi Strong.

Sabina de Nespa was content living in the shadow of her heroic parents, traveling the realm and aiding the less fortunate. As the child of royalty, she kept her intentions pure and her heart guarded, always aware that the crown may one day rest upon her brow.

When two strangers fall into her world, life as she knows it spirals out of control, and shakes her to the core. One brings with him an enemy that destroyed entire cultures in his old world, and the second is filled with hidden intentions and dangerous secrets.

It has been two years since the reign of the tyrannical King Verikhan has ended, and the realm of Kaldalangra flourishes.

When a decade old evil threatens to destroy the peace of Kaldalangra, it is up to Sabina to take the step into her parents’ footsteps, or let everything for which they worked crumble into dust.

* * * * * * * * * *

Rhea Aralia lived an uneventful life in Virginia, until the fateful night of her kidnapping. Taken to a strange realm of destruction, despair, and mysterious people with dark secrets, the young woman must learn a new way of life to survive.

With the help of her new companions, Rhea discovers the courage to defy the tyrant King Verikhan and his heir, the cleverness to deceive the court, and the power within herself to transform this world of darkness into one of beauty and hope.

Will Rhea triumph over those who seek her destruction, or will she be forever lost in the darkness known as Kaldalangra?

Kindle

 Nook

  Paperback

  Goodreads 

Nyssa has taken her place as Queen of the realm, with her secret love, Sebast, now openly at her side. She rules with a fair hand, striving for justice and prosperity for all of her people.

Rowan and Rhea travel the realm, spreading peace and healing wherever they go. In Kylassame, they have formed a strong bond with friends and spread deep roots in the community.

The people of Kaldalangra are joyful, and life in their

world is better than ever before.

But a string of tragedies has the ability to bring Rhea to her knees, and with her, the entire realm. While Rowan struggles to recover the village of Kylassame from a devastating crime, Rhea’s faith in her own strength weakens, with dire consequences.


Re-enter the world of Kaldalangra, and join the adventure as Rhea and Rowan endeavor to continue upon their chosen destiny.

Paperback

Kindle

Nook

Goodreads 

~ * ~ * ~

About the Author

 Fixing broken computers, wrangling a very spirited little toddler, and creating a world with a tyrant king, are all parts of the average day for Kristi Strong. While she has called Virginia her home for two decades, her head has rested in two countries, three states, and under far too many roofs to count. She was more than happy to give up her nomadic lifestyle and settle down with her husband, daughter, and their small zoo (consisting of a dog, cat, and chinchilla).                                                                                               Attending James Madison University gave Kristi the rare opportunity to work as part of an archaeological team on a variety of dig sites in Virginia. She now uses her extensive studies in human cultures (aka, Anthropology degree), to create her own world in her fantasy novels, beginning with her debut novel, The Lady of Steinbrekka, continuing with her second novel, Heart of Kylassame, as well as her upcoming novel Soul of Asimina.

* * * * * * * * * * 

heather: Soul of Asimina is the third book in the Lady of Kaldalangra series. What was your inspiration behind these fantasy stories? 

kristi: It sounds cliche, but it all started with a crazy dream. One night back in 2011 I had a dream about being kidnapped and taken to a strange realm where my best friend had been transformed into an evil prince. While I was there, he was attacked by a horrible creature. I wrote those down because they were so vivid, and then The Lady of Steinbrekka was born as I tried to connect the dots.

After I was finished with The Lady of Steinbrekka, I wasn't done with Rowan and Rhea, so I decided to sit down and write a sequel, Heart of Kylassame. While I'm a sucker for "happily ever after", I don't think many people get that in life, so I wanted my characters to show how you have to work for that happy ending, and how fragile love can sometimes be.

I actually wrote Soul of Asimina while finishing Heart of Kylassame, because one of the characters from The Lady of Steinbrekka wanted to come back, but didn't fit into the second book. I immediately fell in love with Sabina, Darian, Alcine, and the "children" of Heart of Kylassame and loved writing about their adventures.

heather: Like my Fate series, you've got a large cast of characters. Who are some of your favorite characters to write and why? 

kristi: I love most of them :) I think my top contenders for female characters are Rhea and Sabina. Rhea was incredibly fun to write. She is strong, feisty, and has a great personality. While I wouldn't say it was enjoyable to write her deeply sad story in Heart of Kylassame, I "enjoyed" writing about how she responded to such deep loss, as well as her fight scene with Rowan.

Sabina was also exciting to write, because she is just finding how deep her emotions run, as well as discovering love for the first time. 

Rowan is still my favorite male, with Darian (from Soul of Asimina), and Alcine (from Soul of Asimina) following closely behind. They are all incredibly strong male personalities, but with surprising tenderness. They are not perfect, but they always strive to be there for their family and do what is right. The three men are also have very different personality quirks, so it was a challenge writing reactions (to one event) that would be true to each man.

heather: What are three things readers might be surprised to learn about you?

kristi: I went to school/received a degree to become a professional archaeologist. [heather: YAY FOR FELLOW ARCHAEOLOGISTS!] During my undergraduate and upon graduation, I worked at numerous archaeology sites including Mount Vernon (George Washington's home), Montpelier (James Madison's home), as well as many civil war sites and pre-historic sites.

Though my characters are all very outspoken, I am extremely shy and avoid conflict in any way possible. I'm getting better about it, but when I had my first author signing last May, I had a panic attack in the car because I was terrified of all the new people and just the aspect of not knowing what was going to happen. Once I was set up and meeting with readers though, all the nerves went away and I had an amazing time.

I don't own an i-phone (lol!). While my regular job is tech support, and I certainly love playing with all of the latest gadgets, I'm actually several years behind actually owning any. In my house all I have is my laptop, a desktop computer (7 year old Dell), and my Trac-fone. One day I'll get caught up!

heather: My Fate series is Urban Fantasy, but I love reading fantasy in general--it's one of my favorite genres! I'm making an assumption here, but I figure you must be a fantasy fan, too, since you write it. What are some of your favorite fantasy stories and authors?

kristi: Absolutely! I first discovered fantasy in the works of Marian Zimmer Bradley (who doesn't love Avalon?) and from there quickly discovered authors such as Juliet Marillier ( especially the Seven Waters series and Bridei Chronicles) , Anne Bishop (Black Jewel Series, Tir Alainn Series, Landscapes of Ephemera Series), Jacqueline Carey (Kushiel's Legacy series and Naamaah Trilogy), and the late Sarah Douglass (particularly the Crucible series and Troy Games). While I do enjoy Piers Anthony's Xanth series (and read all of those books that had been published prior to 2004), the series of his that really drew me was the Geodyssey series. That series, along with those produced by the authors already named, really showed me how important it was to blur the line between fantasy and reality, and how to make it seem totally natural that there is a little magic in the every day world.

A MATTER OF TRUTH's Blog Tour!

Ahh, guys. I am so, so thrilled to share with you all the third book in the Fate series. A Matter of Truth truly is a lil' labor of love for me, as I'd had the book written for over a year and then threw it away when it came time to polish it up and get it ready for publishing. I rebuilt it from the ground up, and I gotta say, I love this part of Chloe's journey a whole heck of a lot. I hope you guys feel that way after reading it, too!

Over the next two weeks, AMOT will be featured on a lot of great book blogs with reviews, interviews, playlists, dream casts, and other goodies. I'll be updated the list with specific links throughout the tour. I hope you'll follow along!

*below you can find some amazing teasers that my fabulous street team has made for A Matter of Truth. Aren't they lovely?

November 4^th

Vilma’s Book Blog--Excerpt & Review

Romance Addict--Review

made by Vilma's Book Blog

November 5^th

The Book HookUp--Review
The Book Trollup--Review
Cristina's Book Reviews--Review

made by Cristina's Book Reviews

November 6^th

TSK TSK What To Read--Chloe's Top 5 Reasons Being a Magical is Great & Review
Reading Rainblog--Review
Andrea Heltsley Books--Review

made by Ana from The Book Hookup

November 7^th

Reading the Alphabet--Review
2 Bookaholics--Excerpt

made by Andrea Johnston

November 8^th

Lovin Los Libros--Dream Cast & Review
Living in a Bookworld--Author Interview

made by Caitlin Kerry of The Road is You

November 9^th

Rumpled Sheets Blog--Guest Post on Love Triangles
Confessions from Romaholics--Review

made by Kathryn of TSK TSK What to Read

November 10^th

Simply Sarah’s Corner--Review

made by The Book Trollop

November 11^th

Paperbook Princess--Review
Book Labyrinth--Review

made by Caitlin Kerry of The Road is You

November 12^th

Starbucks N Books Obsession--Guest Post
If the Book Fits--Review Only

made by Andrea Johnston

November 13^th

Never Judge A Book By Its Move (Julie Darley)--Excerpt
Shawna’s Survey--10 Songs Perfect for Fall
Christie Palmer--Interview & Review

made by Vilma's Book Blog

November 14^th

Once Upon A Twilight--Review
A Bookish Escape--Review

made by Caitlin Kerry of The Road is You

November 15^th

The Road is You--Character Interview
The Last Chapter--Author Interview

November 16^th

Deal Sharing Aunt--Playlist
Kaidan’s Seduction--Review

November 17^th

Natasha is a Book Junkie--Excerpt
Pandora's Books Blog--Review

* * * * * * * * * * 

And if that isn't enough awesomeness, A Matter of Heart, the second book in the Fate series, is on sale for only $0.99 for one week--which means A Matter of Fate (#1), Beyond Fate (#1.5), and A Matter of Heart (#2) are all less than a dollar each. So, you can get, like, three of the four books in the Fate series for the amount you'd pay for a cup of coffee at Starbucks. WHOA.

A Matter of Fate purchase links:

Amazon --> http://amzn.to/172i13s
B&N --> http://bit.ly/1a4Drkb


Beyond Fate purchase links:

Amazon --> http://t.co/quSvdsOD4E
B&N --> http://t.co/YF8Cwz7f27

A Matter of Heart purchase links:

Amazon --> http://amzn.to/11ItYY1
B&N --> http://bit.ly/144FnV0


A Matter of Truth purchase links:

AMOT Amazon --> http://www.amazon.com/Matter-Truth-Fate-Series-ebook/dp/B00GFGSAA0
AMOT B&N --> http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-matter-of-truth-heather-lyons/1117316043

Cover reveal: PSYCHO INSIDE ME by Bonnie R. Paulson!

Bonnie R. Paulson's Psycho Inside Me releases November 30, 2013. This YA thriller romance is fast, fun, and more than a little dangerous. See why...

Psycho Inside Me

I killed my first victim at thirteen years old – my age, not his. He was going to rape me, him and a couple of his friends. And so, I killed him. And then… I killed again. And again.

At seventeen, I’m killing four to six times a year – maybe more. Don’t stress out. I only go after the pedophiles and rapists. There are more out there than I could cover in a lifetime.

Saying I did this on my own would be selfish. Enforcing justice holds a glory all its own.  But now, my lifelong friend and backup, Deegan, has been arrested. I have to decide if I want to give myself up and take his place or leave him with all the damning evidence. I don’t want to stop killing. But if I let him take the fall, I can’t kill anymore. And I need to keep doing that.

But the worst part of it all? I love him.

My cover was created by the ultra talented Redbird Designs. She's amazing...

Bonnie R. Paulson likes it dark and twisty. For more on her Science flavored with Romaction, sign up for her newsletter.

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