Debbie Viguié's Blog, page 30

The first newsletter is going out July 1st so sign up for it if you haven't already! Also, this is your chance to ask a question. Debbie will answer one question for the newsletter. Topics can include any of her books, a writer's life, the publishing industry, or pretty much anything related to books! Leave a question here if you have one.

Congratulations to Cynthia, Tandi, and Valerie for correctly identifying my retold fairytale heroines as Violet, Pearl, and Ruth!

Don't forget to register for the Scavenger Hunt!

That's right, an actual scavenger hunt. There will be clues that will lead you all over the internet in search of information which could help you be the big winner. The hunt will run July 30-31. To register for the hunt leave a comment here. The first 25 people to do so will get a free signed bookplate. The grand prize includes the chance to be officially "Dead to Me". That means your name will appear in one of my books as the name of a character who has been killed. A copy of your official "Dead to Me" death certificate will be provided to commemorate the event. More details to come later about the scavenger hunt so sign up and keep an eye out here.

First prize – "Dead to Me" prize package including your name appearing in one of my novels and a $50 Amazon gift card

Second prize – A $50 Amazon gift card

Third prize – The complete Wicked series signed by both Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

Fourth prize – The complete Sweet Seasons series signed by me

Fifth prize – The first three Psalm 23 Mysteries signed by me

Sixth – Tenth prizes – one of my books signed

Sorry about the delay for the contest. We had some technical difficulties yesterday. So, here it is. I've written three retold fairy tales. Name the heroine from one of the three fairy tales. The first three unique, correct responses will win an autographed book.

That's right, I'll be holding a contest here on Monday and the winner will receive a free signed book. Make sure you check back Monday for your chance to enter and win.

Read the first chapter of the second book in the Crusade series! Check it out here.

We all love heroes. And not surprisingly there have been countless stories written about the journey that transforms a young man into a hero. We can talk more about that in a later post. But for now consider this, the hero's journey while different for every individual still shares a lot in common with those of other heroes. So, quick, who am I describing?

- Orphaned boy

- Raised by his Aunt and Uncle in relative isolation

- His Uncle is harder on him than seems necessary

- Boy finally is told by a stranger with magic like abilities that his father was murdered by the villain (the one he must ultimately face and defeat)

- Boy learns he has special powers which he has to learn to control and use through study and practice

- Boy is befriended by and trained by an old, wise wizard

- Boy makes new friends: a boy, a girl, and a hairy giant (the other boy and the girl eventually end up together after much fighting and frustration between the two of them)

- Boy has a trusted sidekick who is not human who often acts as a messenger

- Boy discovers he has an uncommon talent for piloting a flying apparatus

- Boy acquires one of the tools of his trade, a cylindrical object to be held in the hand and used as a weapon; boy uses the weapon in a number of duels

- Boy comes out on top after first confrontation with the villain

- Boy is honored publically in front of all his peers

- As the fight between the forces of good and the forces of dark continue to rage boy finds himself continuously in the center of things

- As the fight wears on the boy becomes more mopey

- Boy finally discovers that he has a very intense personal connection to the villain

- Boy also learns that his old wizard mentor also helped teach the villain when he was a boy

- Boy's mentor is killed in battle, actually, he allows himself to be killed to serve the greater good

- Another of boy's mentors dies leaving him feeling alone

- One of boy's other allies who has always been slightly more timid than him and living in his shadow wins one of the key victories in the final battle

- Boy gives himself up to his enemies during the final battle in order to ultimately win

Think you know? If you said Harry Potter, okay. If you said Luke Skywalker, okay. If you said both, congratulations!

Here's to the heroes!

Passing, the short story by Debbie and Nancy that launched the Crusade series is now available as an ebook! Check it out here!