My Books (in Waiting)

Information about my works in progress, short stories and books.

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Interview with Zadeki

Welcome Zadeki

Jeanette: Zadeki, Welcome. We’re chuffed you could take time to fly into today to enlighten us a bit more about yourself. We’ve been following your adventures Under the Mountain and also across the ocean in the Lonely Isles. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun). Coughs Please, please pull up a seat and make yourself welcome.

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Zadeki:  My thanks, daughter of the pen. (Brushes a small feather from his hair, and jumps up onto a tree branch.) I’m glad you decided to have the interview outside. Sometimes I think I’ve been in more tunnels than anyone should in a life time.

Jeanette:  I can understand that. The last few days most have been particularly harrowing. Can you tell us a bit about how your association with the twins, Delvina and Retza, came about?

Zadeki: Ah, well, that’s a bit embarrassing. I wanted to prove to the Kinleader that I was ready to be a Pathfinder. So I decided to fly over the mountains to show my skill at shape-shifting. Instead, I ended up being caught in a snow storm and colliding with a mountain and breaking a wing … er arm. That’s when the twins found me and took me into the mountain caverns.

Jeanette: Your time with the twins and their people has been fraught with danger and difficulties. Even now things are in the balance, yet I’m sure the twins have been very glad of your help and that of your Kin.

Zadeki nods.

Jeanette: Lets talk a bit more about you. In our world, people are often divided between ‘cat’ people and ‘dog’ people.  Do you have a particular preference between the two?

Continue reading →
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Ruhanna’s Flight

Ready to read new stories? Do you prefer print to e-book? Read on.

Ruhanna’s Flight and Other Stories

Over the last few years, a number of my short stories have been published in different anthologies. Have you ever wished that they were in one book? Now, many of Nardva tales connected to Tamra and the Five Lands are combined into one beautiful volume – Ruhanna’s Flight and others stories.

 

Tales of wonder, romance, adventure – dip into the world of Nardva with this collection of stories.

Now available for pre-order 99c USD — Ruhanna’s Flight and other stories – a collection of stories from the world of Nardva – some previously published, others brand new.

* * *Ruhanna’s Flight – Ruhanna’s father is coming for a rare visit from the capital. When everything goes terribly wrong, she discovers a mysterious gift that could save her — if it doesn’t kill her first.

* * *Heart of the Mountain – When shapeshifter Zadeki slams into the mountain side, he finds himself trapped in a strange underground realm. Can he escape or is he there for another reason?

* * * Rendezvous at Alexgaia – In her last mission, Space operative Dana secured the Infinity Cube at the cost her partner’s life or at least his humanity. Will Neon’s sacrifice be for nothing or will Dana be able to retrieve the key to the mysterious cube’s use?

Also Anna’s Dilemma, The Herbalist’s Daughter, Lakwi’s Lament, Moonflame, Withered Seeds, Space Junk, Rookie Mistake, Inferno and more.

Thanks to Bhri Stokes for the cover design.

Release date 6th March, this delightful volume is available for pre-order at the special low price of 99c USD

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079VVQHL3/

Amazon AU https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B079VVQHL3/

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079VVQHL3/

As always, if you read and enjoy my stories, please consider leaving a review on Goodreads and/or Amazon – or recommend them to a friend.

Also, don’t forget  On the Horizon Book Bundle is also available for pre-order (which includes Akrad’s Children as well as stories for Charis Joy Jackson, Mirren Hogan, Stephanie Barr and over 18 other fantasy and sci-fi authors).

On Amazon: http://amzn.to/2zqiFLM

Everywhere else: http://bookae.org/horizon/

Books in Print

Do you love the smell of a paper and ink book?

 

Print version of Heart of the Mountain and Blood Crystal have been available on Amazon since last year. I’m also working on having them available for wider distribution through Ingram Spark, as well as print version of Akrad’s Children and for  Ruhanna’s Flights and other stories.

Book Fairs and Conventions

I’ll be at two events in the next couple of months. If you live in or are visiting South-East Queensland, I’d love you to drop in and say hello.

Omega Writers Book Fair (March 10th)

Meet over twenty authors including Gary Clark (creator of Swamp), Kathy Hoopmann (All Cats have Asperger Syndrome), and Young Adult speculative fiction authors Lynne Stringer (Verindon trilogy), Adele Jones (Blaine Colton Trilogy), Jenny Woolsey (Ride High Pineapple) and myself.  Find out more at the FB event page or Omega Writers website.

Supernova Gold Coast (April 27-29th)

Once again I’ll be sharing a table with Lynne Stringer, Adele Jones, this time at Supernova on the Gold Coast. This will be a fabulous event – with a great line up of stars, including Peter Calpadi, Pearl Macki and John Barrowman from Doctor Who. Wow!  Find out more about the convention here or Adele, Lynne and myself here.

Next post I hope to have an interview from an emerging Australian science-fiction writer.

Jeanette

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Thanksgiving Sales

Thanksgiving is an American tradition and so are the Black Friday sales. The sales at least seem to be a trend – and why not give my readers a chance to acquire the Nardva stories for a reduced price. So — for a few days only — all my sole authored books are available for 99c US each. And there’s a bonus at the end.

 

 
* If you’ve thinking of reading Akrad’s Children or Heart of the Mountain – now’s the time’
* If you’ve read and loved Heart of the Mountain & want to read the sequel Blood Crystal – now’s the time
* If you have a hankering over some engaging short stories over a cuppa – whether a sweet romance or a coming of age story –  now’s the time.


Click on the links below to check out the books (which are also available on other outlets).

 

Akrad’s Children

https://www.amazon.com/Akrads-Children-Legacy-Book-ebook/dp/B075BK8436/

Four young lives, a realm ravaged by war, a haunting legacy

Four young lives are bound together in friendship, love, rivalry and tragedy. A realm ravaged by civil war, a ruler scarred by betrayal, a legacy that haunts them all.

Caught between two cultures, a pawn in a deadly power struggle, Dinnis longs for the day his father will rescue him and his sister from the sorcerer Akrad’s clutches. But things don’t turn out how Dinnis imagines and his father betrays him.

Does Dinnis have a future among the Tamrin? Will he seek revenge for wrongs like his sister or forge a different destiny?

This is the first book in the Akrad’s Legacy series – and is tied in with my previous short stories and novellas – The Herbalist’s Daughter, Lakwi’s Lament, Heart of the Mountain, Blood Crystal

Akrad’s Children Available: https://www.amazon.com/Akrads-Children-Legacy-Book-ebook/dp/B075BK8436/

 

Fantasy Adventure Under the Mountain

https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Crystal-novella-Under-Mountain-ebook/dp/B073H83F42/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heart of the Mountain

YA Fantasy Adventure in the lost realm deep under the mountain.

Twins Delvina and Retza’s greatest desire is to be accepted as prentices by their parents’ old crew when they stumble across a stranger. Trapped under the mountain, young Zadeki’s only thought is to escape home to his kin. Peril awaits all three youngsters. Will they pull apart or work together to save the underground realm?

“Jeanette O’Hagan creates a world rich in lore and mystery.’ Kasper Beuamont, author.

“Three intriguing young characters with life changing missions struggle in a vivid fantasy world of ice and feathers.” Karen Tyrell, author.

Heart of the Mountain Available: https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Mountain-short-novella-Under-ebook/dp/B01J74G9I6/

Blood Crystal

Unlikely heroes, Thrilling adventures,  Unthinkable choices

The underground realm is under attack from mad Overseer Uzza and the Crystal Heart is failing. As things become desperate, Twins Delvina and Retza brave a treacherous journey to seek help from Zadeki and his people.

Will they find the answers they seek before it’s too late?  What are the twins prepared to do to save their realm and those they love from certain destruction?

Blood Crystal is the second novella in the Under the Mountain series. Like most of my fiction, it is set in the world of Nardva.

“Traditions are questioned, new friendships forged and two worlds collide in this exciting adventure story.”L Painter

Blood Crystal Available: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Crystal-novella-Under-Mountain-ebook/dp/B073H83F42/

 

Short Stories – Tamrin Tales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Herbalist’s Daughter

A sweet fantasy romance set in the world of Nardva.

Anna’s biggest concern is whether the sturdy young guard will ever notice her. That is until the mischievous young prince Naetok begins to stir things up at the Palace.

The Herbalist’s Daughter occurs  about 20 years before the Akrad’s Legacy Series. For more stories about Anna – check out Fever.

The Herbalist’s Daughter Available: https://www.amazon.com/herbalists-daughter-short-story-Tamrin-ebook/dp/B01M9IP1O4/

Lakwi’s Lament

A Coming of Age story in the World of Nardva

Lakwi would love to read the books in the Royal library, but girls aren’t allowed inside. Her passion for books attracts the attention of her dashing older brother, Prince Rokkan, and her suave cousin, Lord Haka. Will her drive for knowledge lead her into more trouble than she can handle?

Lakwi’s Lament Available: https://www.amazon.com/Lakwis-Lament-short-story-Tamrin-ebook/dp/B01N5RSW95/

On The Horizon

And as a bonus, I’m thrilled to announce the Akrad’s Children will be part of the  On the Horizon Book Bundle. This collection of fantasy and science-fiction books by 22 International authors is available for pre-order. Release date 1 May 2018.

 

 

On the Horizon: Simple worlds of speculative adventure

A Collection of over 20 Fantasy and Science Fiction Novels

SPECIAL PRE-ORDER PRICE. REGULAR PRICE $4.99

A collection of 22 Fantasy and Science Fiction full novels from an international cast of bestselling authors. This action-packed boxset features strong-willed individuals in unusual and exciting settings. Encounter queens, witches, wizards, werewolves, shifters, angels, dragons, or shadowy nemeses.

Stories are character driven and set in worlds with low or no technology. You will follow their journeys to discover magical worlds, encounter dystopian lands, space stations, and galaxies they never dreamed of before their adventures.

Join us On the Horizon for these deadly and dangerous quests filled with thrilling action and adventure!

Contributors:

Aiki Flinthart—Avril Sabine—Brendan Smith—Carina Merritt—Charis Joy Jackson—Connor Sassmannshausen—Diane Morrison—Donna Maree Hanson—Erin Yoshikawa—Greg Alldredge—Jason J. Nugent—Jay Michael Wright II—Jeanette O’Hagan—J. I. Rogers—Judith Rook—Katie Salidas—Katie Taylor —Mirren Hogan—Rebekah Dodson—S. A. Gibson—Stephanie Barr—Steven Turnbull

Links for On the Horizon

https://www.amazon.com/Horizon-Simple-worlds-speculative-adventure-ebook/dp/B077N3FXZB/

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/on-the-horizon-steven-gibson/1127474717 Other outlets  (except Amazon): https://www.books2read.com/u/bQBgZP

 

Happy hunting – and wishing you hours of great reading.

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Visions of Future: Futurevision blog tour

 

Early last month Futurevision was launched – 20 Australian authors’ visions of the future.  Our stories that range from the near future to the far reaches of time; some dark, some bright, some with a future still to be decided. At Oz Comic Con (Brisbane) a couple of weekends ago, Futurevision was a hot item. I’m not surpised, it’s a great and engrossing read (you can read my review here) and it’s a great way to sample a range of Aussie authors. It also has an unbeatable price.

20 stories of the future, most from the perspective of the people of earth (or their victims).

Rendezvous at Alexgaia is set in a different universe – in the future of Nardva and under the light of two moons, millennium after the events related in the Under the Mountain series and the Akrad’s legacy series or Barrakian tales, Broken Promises, Full Moon Rises).

As Nardva’s space age flourishes, new threats and new villains emerge, especially the all-powerful Consortium:

 

The acolyte looked over his shoulder. ‘Our order doesn’t like rebels. Besides, there are rumours that the Abbess is negotiating with the Consortium, certain concessions for protection and special privileges.’

Dana snorted. ‘Might as well negotiate with a black hole.’

The info-monk shrugged his rounded shoulders. ‘Takes aeons for a star-eater to consume a galaxy. In the meantime, there are perks for those in the know.’

(From Rendezvous at Alexgaia, Futurevision, 1231 Publishing, 2017).

It is the consortium that Dana and her fellow operatives have to defeat, or at least curtail.

Initially, when I looked at the Futurevision brief, I dismissed it. I write other-world fantasy, not science fiction. But then I remembered a flash fiction that came out of a writing exercise last year, Space Junk (published in in Mixed Blessings: Genre-lly Speaking, Breath of Fresh Air Press, 2016), and the ideas took shape.

It was fun writing about plasma pistols, transporters (transmits). spaceships and cyborgs. Dana’s adventures continue in Rendezvous at Alexgaia as she attempts, once again, to out-smart the Consortium.

And, I thought, that would probably be the end of it.

Except it wasn’t.  A sequel, taking Jerren’s story, emerged into a longish short story Project Chameleon soon to be released Quantum Soul (currently available for pre-order). The question, what would it be like to be captured by the Consortium grabbed my imagination, and before I knew it I’d written the rough first draft of a trilogy – The Chameleon Protocols (tentative release, late 2018/early 2019).

If you want to read how the adventure begins – grab a copy of Futurevision. And also enjoy 19 other author’s gripping visions of the future.

Paperback copies of Futurevision can be purchased from Amazon or 1231 Publishing for just $10 AUD (plus postage). Electronic copies will be available soon. Or you can purchase them from the individual authors (like Nola, Raelene or me).

If you’d like to find out more about the stories, scroll down the Futurevision page at 1231 Publishing and click on the arrows to read extracts from all contributions.

Last week, writer, poet and editor, Nola Passmore started the blog tour, speaking about how she came to write 100 Words.

Next week, fantasy author Raelene Purtill, the author of Ground Zero, will continue the Futurevision blog tour. You can check out her website here.

Jeanette

 

 

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Akrad’s Children

It’s been a long time coming, but finally it’s here!

Cover reveal

Akrad’s Children

Four young lives bound together in friendship, love, rivalry and tragedy. A realm ravaged by civil war, a ruler scarred by betrayal, a legacy that haunts them all.

Caught between two cultures, a pawn in a deadly power struggle, Dinnis longs for the day his father will rescue him and his sister from the sorcerer Akrad’s clutches. But things don’t turn out how Dinnis imagines and his father betrays him.

Does Dinnis have a future among the Tamrin? Will he seek revenge for wrongs like his sister or forge a different destiny?

This is the first book in the Akrad’s Legacy series.

Akrad’s Children is available for pre-order 22nd September https://www.amazon.com/Akrads-Children-Legacy-Book-ebook/dp/B075BK8436/

Upcoming Events:

Futurevision launch

Fictional visions form the near to distant future
– who will we be and what challenges will we face?
Futurevision is an anthology with 20 stories by 20 Australian authors — including stories by Delia Strange, Matt Hellscream, Julian Green, Kasper Beaumount, Nola Passmore, Nyssa Baschal, Raelene Purtill and Jeanette O’Hagan.

Rendezvous at Alexgaia By Jeanette O’Hagan

In her last mission, Dana secured the Infinity Cube at the cost her partner’s life or at least humanity. Will Neon’s sacrifice be for nothing or will Dana be able to retrieve the key to the mysterious cube’s use?
Rendezvous at Alexgaia is set in the future of Nardva and is the prequel to the Chameleon Protocols trilogy.

 

The Futurevision launch is this Saturday (9th September) at Northlakes Library.  Spots have filled up – though, if you haven’t already booked,  you could put your name on the wait-list here.  It will be a great afternoon.

Oz Comic Con – Brisbane

YA spec fic authors Lynne Stringer (Verindon trilogy), Adele Jones (Baine Colton trilogy) and I have a stand tat this years Oz Comic Con 23rd-24th September. Love to see you there. To find out more check out Intricate Worlds here.

Fabulous Space Opera

Adam David Collings has released the first episode in his Jewell of the Stars series – Earth’s Remnant.  Earth’s Remnant is gripping novella that sets up series – a cruise ship in space fleeing from a sudden and devastating tragedy on Earth. I loved the characters, the action and the sci-fi elements in Jewell of the Stars: Earth’s Remnant. You can read my Goodreads review here.

It’s been a busy month or so getting ready for the release of Akrad’s Children and preparing for Oz Comic Con. More news soon.

Jeanette

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Blood Crystal Scavenger Hunt

Over the last three weeks, Blood Crystal has been touring a round of fabulous blogs. Today, we arrive at the final stop.

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

Isn’t it strange how, when we are waiting, time seems to stop moving. It’s almost as though we are caught in amber, caught between the moments, as though time itself has been freezed-framed and whatever we are waiting for will never arrive (or is that just me?).  The temptation is to give up.

And then, in a pivotal instant, there is the knock of the door, the arrival of a friend, the opportunity we’d hoped for.

Patience is rewarded.

As a writer, we want it all to happen from finishing writing the book, to publishing it, to gaining thousands of readers – but at each step of the journey we find ourselves waiting and in need of patience and persistence.

As a reader, with a great book we enjoy the journey – both inpatient to get to the end and, at the same time, never wanting it to end. Then we can’t wait for the sequel 🙂

At one point in the Blood Crystal, the twins Delvina and Retza head off on a treacherous journey to find help from Zadeki and his kin. They face a number of different challenges due the extreme terrain and their own unfamiliarity with the ‘outside’. At one point they run out of food and it seems they will never reach their goal.

Delvina placed the last of their dried mushroom and slithers of smoked cave fish into Retza’s mug and poured some of the steaming melt water over it. Saliva flooded her mouth at the tantalising smell. She offered the mug to her twin, giving him her own share in mute apology. If there was a source of food in the barren wilderness, neither she nor Retza had been able to find it. He gulped down the broth and then thrust the cup into her hands, half full.

She shook her head. ‘It’s yours.’

‘We both need to be strong.’

Once she swallowed the delicious mouthful, she stood and gathered her gear. Retza groaned and did the same. Ducking her head, she stepped out into the soft grey light that seemed to linger as the sun dipped down behind the jagged skyline. Retza stumped in front of her and took the lead and the full force of the buffeting wind for this shift. She clutched the copy of the instructions the old Scrybe had written out for her. A soft sorrow welled up and brought tears to her eyes. It was hopeless, beyond crazy. Perhaps they should go back.

Is their patience and persistence rewarded? You’ll have to read Blood Crystal to find out.

Last question for the Scavenger Hunt. What is Delvina and Retza’s final meal as their food runs out during their journey?

Scavenger Hunt

Blood Crystal Scavenger Hunt will run throughout the Blood Crystal Blog Tour. Each blog will have a reflection or memory related to themes within Blood Crystal and a related question. The first person to answer all NINE questions  right will win a $50 Amazon voucher. The runner up will receive copies of both Heart of the Mountain and the sequel Blood Crystal.

Please give your answers in the comments below.

Here are the Questions with links to the different blogs to find the clues.

Blog 1 Jeanette O’Hagan Writes: Where do Glow Worms live and what kind of animal are they?

Blog 2 The Vince Review: What mineral used to be mined in the Adelaide Hills town of Callington?

Blog 3 Lynne Stringer: What do the agents need more than Sarah?

Blog 4 Cindy Tomamichel: What is Trajan’s secret fear?

Blog 5 The Write Flourish: What is the name of that underground location which Nola toured?

Blog 6 David Rawlings Author: Who has to go on a perilous journey in Blood Crystal?

Blog 7 Adele Jones Author: What is the name of the mine associated with the pollution of Dee River

Blog 8 Adam Collings:  The formations that hang down from the ceiling of a cave, are they stalactites, or stalagmites?

Blog 9 Jeanette O’Hagan Writes (here): What is Delvina and Retza’s final meal as their food runs out during their journey?

I’m looking forward to seeing your answers.

Comment Winners

Announcing the winners who commented on the different stops on the way. Thank you for everyone who took time to stop by, read and leave a comment. I loved reading through the different comments and found it hard to choose.

One person deserves a grand-prize as she give thoughtful and interesting answers on every single blog. Way to go Nola Passmore.

So without more ado, I’ll detail the winners of a copy of Heart of the Mountain. (If you’ve already have a copy, you can nominate a friend to receive a copy or nominate one of my other e-books instead – The Herbalist’s Daughter, Lakwi’s Lament or Blood Crystal).

Winners:

Overall winner – Nola Passmore for the most comments – always interesting and entertaining 🙂

Blog stop 1  – this was so hard to choose, but I loved Susan Preston’s answer.

Blog stop 2  – Adam Collings

Blog stop 3  – Badger

Blog stop 4 – Paula Vince

Blog stop 5 – Sally Poyzer

Blog stop 6 – Adele Jones

Blog stop 7 – Linsey Painter (also receives her choice of a book in the Blaine Colton trilogy from Adele Jones)

Blog stop 8 – some great answers & hard to choose, but as others have already received a prize, Christine Dillon (also receives a copy of Lynessa’s Curse by Adam Collings).

Honourable mentions to Lynne Stringer and Cindy Tomamichel  🙂

And a big thanks to my wonderful blog hosts – Paula Vince, Lynne Stringer, Cindy Tomamichel, Nola Passmore, David Rawlings, Adele Jones and  Adam Collings. Please, check out their blogs for some great content 🙂

Until Next Week

I’ll announce the Scavenger Hunt winners next Friday – so you still time to enter, but remember the first two to get the all the correct answers wins.

 

Jeanette

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Blood Crystal Blog Tour

Unlikely Heroes

Superheroes are all the rage on the big screen. Super-heroes have super powers, snazzy suits, impressive physiques and side-kicks. They laugh in the face of danger, amaze us all with their stunts and tricks, and despite the super-villains they are pitted against, they always save the world – or the cosmos.

Do you remember Susan Boyle when she first walked on the stage. No one took her seriously, no one thought she could sing – until she opened her mouth and the world gaped. Often we are so fixated on image that we miss the substance. In real life – heroes come in all shapes and sizes. They don’t necessarily have perfect figures, flawless hairdos and the latest fashion sense or the coolest technology.

The twins, Delvina and Retza, may not look like your typical heroes – but I think they are. In Blood Crystal, they undertake an epic journey across a hostile landscape to save their realm. They dare to attempt what others are too afraid to, they have the grit to keep going and faith that they will find answers. They care what happens to each other and the people they know.

Can you think of some unlikely heroes? What do you admire about them? What can you learn from them?

YA Fantasy Adventure in the lost realm Under the Mountain – Book 2

The underground realm is under attack from mad Overseer Uzza and the Crystal Heart is failing. As things become desperate, Twins Delvina and Retza must brave a treacherous journey to seek help from Zadeki and his people.

Will they find the answers they seek before it’s too late? Is the blood of Uzza’s children the only way to restore the Crystal Heart? What are the twins prepared to do to save their realm and those they love from certain destruction?

Blood Crystal is the second novella in the Under the Mountain series. Like most of my fiction, it is set in the world of Nardva. Available from Amazon, or Kobo, Nook and other retailers.

Blog Tour

A few days ago, we launched Blood Crystal – sequel to Heart of the Mountain.  Over the next couple of weeks – Blood Crystal will be featured on a different blogs as part of the Blood Crystal blog tour.

There will be –

Reviews of Blood Crystal

Interviews of both me and maybe even a character

Reflections

Competitions &  Scavenger Hunt.

Opportunities to win:

Throughout the blog tour there will be many opportunities to win prizes.

Comment below

Comment below on this post (and on any of the posts in the Blood Crystal Blog Tour) – the best comment (imo) will win a copy of Heart of the Mountain: a short novella.

Heart of the Mountain on Amazon

Scavenger Hunt

Blood Crystal Scavenger Hunt will run throughout the  Blood Crystal Blog Tour.  Each blog will have a reflection or memory related to themes within Blood Crystal – and a related question. The first person to answer all NINE questions  right will win a $50 Amazon voucher. The runner up will receive copies of both Heart of the Mountain and the sequel Blood Crystal.

Follow each post on the blog tour to find the questions & list your answers in the comments on the final blog post of the tour on 28 July. There will also opportunities to win prizes at each blogspot.

Glow Worm Caves

In my twenties I stayed at Lune River Youth Hostel south-west of Hobart. Apart from a pet possum that would scamper up guests’ legs to reach their heads, the Youth Hostel was close to some famous glow worm caves (in the Hastings caves area).

Getting to the caves involved driving into the bush on dusk, stopping at the side of the road as the sun set behind the horizon and them hiking in 20 minutes to an abandoned site, using old railway lines as a guide for part of the way. As the light faded, we secured our miners lamps and jumped down to a creek (or small stream) and followed it as it disappeared under the hill into the spacious caverns. We walked some distance in, staying in the main cave, and switched off our lights. Slowly above us the cave roof filled with bright stars in swirls and clusters denser than the milky way in the middle of the outback – glowing lights produced by a colony of insect larvae. Did you know that glow worms only found in Australia and New Zealand?

After we had enjoyed the wonder and beauty of their magical lights, we clambered out from under the mountain, up from the creek bed and walked back through the bush to the road in the dark. Glow worms are small, seemingly insignificant – yet produce inspiring beauty as they shine in the dark – perhaps unlikely heroes.

It was an amazing experience, one which I drew, on along with a visit to the deep underground mines in Mt Isa, when writing Heart of the Mountain and Blood Crystal.

Question for the Scavenger Hunt:

Where do Glow Worms live – and what kind of animal are they?

Next Stop

The next stop on the blog tour – is Paula Vince. She will be giving her review of Blood Crystal  If you haven’t discovered it yet. Paul gives thoughtful, entertaining and intriguing reviews – including a fresh look at our favourite books through lists – in the Vince Review. Check it out here.

Blog Tour Schedule

 

Jeanette

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Heart of the Mountain is here.

I’m thrilled to announce the launch of Heart of the Mountain: a short novella.

HeartMountainCoverRevealx250

Count down to Launch

I hosting an E-launch of Heart of the Mountain on Facebook

2-4pm Australian EST, Saturday 30th July 2016.

Join in the fun on the FB event page for competitions, prizes, and release details. https://www.facebook.com/events/596826930491016/

Love you to join the event if you’re a lover of fantasy or fantastic adventures 🙂.

Heart of the Mountain: A Short Novella

Twins Delvina and Retza’s greatest desire is to be accepted as prentices by their parents’ old crew when they stumble across a stranger. Trapped under the mountain, young Zadeki’s only thought is to escape home to his kin. Peril awaits all three youngsters. Will they pull apart or work together to save the underground realm?

YA Fantasy Adventure in the lost realm deep under the mountain.

The adventure continues with Blood Crystal, Story 2 in the Under the Mountain series.

Heart of the Mountain now set up on Goodreads 🙂
https://www.goodreads.com/…/…/31276257-heart-of-the-mountain

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Reflections

I originally wrote Heart of the Mountain for the Glimpses of Light anthology, but it soon took on a life of its own and grew too big for the designated word limit. I loved the story and have developed it into a short novella (or long short story).

It is the first in the adventurous tales of young Zadeki. The events of this story occur many years after ‘Ruhanna’s Flight’ (my eventual successful submission for Glimpses of Light) but a few centuries before the events of the Akrad’s Legacy series and the other Tamrin Tales (such as ‘Fever’, ‘The Herbalist’s Daughter’ and ‘Lakwi’s Lament’).

The story, in part, is inspired by other great story tellers such as J R R Tolkien, Jeanne DuPrau’s City of Ember, Frances Hardinge’s A Face Like Glass, Christopher Paolini’s Eragon and my own vivid memories of descending into the depths in an Underground tour of Mt Isa Mines, Mt Isa. I have endeavoured to make this story my own.

My heartfelt thanks to my wonderful editors, Nola Passmore (of The Write Flourish), Paula Vince and to my redoubtable critique partners and beta readers Nicole Nugent, Kathleen Hillenberg, Suzanne Hay-Bartlem, Raelene Purtill, Julian Green.

I also had fun with the cover design and appreciate the tough and truthful critiques of my young artists in residence, as well as suggestions from Suzanne Hay-Bartlem, Kathleen Hillenberg, Christina Aitken, the Swinburne Creative Writing Critical Friends and the Omega Writers Science-Fiction and Fantasy Groups.

I’m especially grateful for my family—my loving husband Tony, my precious children, my parents Tom and Jean Curtis—who instilled in me a love of faith and fantasy—and siblings, Tom Curtis, Frank Curtis and Kathleen Hillenberg, whom I’ve shared many wonderful adventures.

Most of all, I’m grateful to my Maker in whose creative footsteps I can only hope to follow.

 Jeanette O’Hagan  July 2016

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Tied in Pink Giveaway

TiedinPinkx200 Writing in January

It’s hard to believe it’s February already. I completed the Month of Poetry 2015 having written 33 poems – some serious, some humorous, some long, many short. I posted the poems up on my Facebook page each day. As always, it was a lot of fun and I blog about it here.

I also finished a first draft of “Broken Promise” – a fantasy adventure set in the same world as the Akrad Legacy series and Tamrin Tales – but on a different continent. I am hopeful of having a few stories published this year in anthologies.

The Big News – Tied in Pink GoodReads Giveaway

But the big news is the that you have the opportunity to win a beautiful print copy of Tied in Pink. As I mentioned before, my story “The Herbalist Daughter” features in this anthology – and it takes up Anna’s story though both Naetok and Rokkan also feature. Tied in Pink is available in Kindle or print form (more info here).

Tied in Pink is a charity anthology – with all the profits going toward Breast Cancer Research – and each story has an Easter egg – the mention a pink ribbon. Each of the 14 authors added a dedication to their stories. I gave a copy of Tied in Pink to two best friends whose lives have been significantly touched by breast cancer – and look forward to giving a copy to another couple of friends similarly affected soon.

For the next 9 days, we are running a GoodReads Giveway of Tied in Pink. It finishes on the 10 February 2015 – 4 days before Valentine’s Day. It’s easy to sign up HERE if you are already in GoodReads. And I’d love you to visit and follow my author’s page as well which includes a regular update on blogs from Jeanette O’Hagan Writes among other things.

If you are not a member of GoodReads – you might just want to join up. It’s a wonderful community of readers, a great way to keep track and review your favourite books and authors and to discover new books to read. (I blogged about GoodReads here).

So best of luck on the giveaway.

And if you do win the book or buy it and read it – we would love you to leave an honest review on Amazon, GoodReads, BookLikes and/or your blog (if you have one).

My first box of books arrive.

My first box of books arrive.

Jeanette

3 February 2015