Emma Shelford's Blog, page 2

I'm going to start reviewing fantasy books that I read on my blog, so stay tuned for (hopefully) weekly reviews right here! I don't plan to rate them with stars, just discuss what I thought of each.
This week I'm talking about Live Fae or Die Trying by Jenna Wolfhart (do you think her name is a pseudonym? It's a pretty great name). It's about a fae woman in a world where supernatural creatures have been outed for ten years. All fae belong to a "court," except her, until she is scooped up by the prince of one and they have to solve the mystery of a serial fae killer. If the angsty romance angle was cut out, I would have enjoyed it a lot. It was fast paced, the stakes were high, the main character was relatable, and the world was interesting. However, the main character is connected by a bond to her prince, and there's a lot of romantic tension involved (too much for my taste, although I realize that is a highly subjective factor!). Also, I would have found her attraction to him more believable if the prince hadn't had a flaming red eye. Eyes are the windows of the soul and all that, and I don't know if I could gaze lovingly at the eye of Sauron. Am I just picky? :D
Conclusion: If you like the alpha werewolf dynamic but are looking for a change of scenery, try this book on for size. It's also in KU.

​https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NDJRKXP/...

I am excited to present Free Dive , book one of my new series, the Nautilus Legends. Free Dive is about a marine biologist who discovers that mythical sea creatures are real. I earned a doctorate in oceanography before I started writing books, and it was a pleasure to bring my writing and science sides together. Free Dive is available for pre-order on all major online retailers (Amazon, Kobo, Nook, Apple Books, and Google Play). In honor of the release of Free Dive, I interviewed Leah Thorpe. Leah is the Director of Operations at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, a beautiful aquarium in my hometown of Victoria, BC. Everyone who knows Leah knows of her love of all things ocean and whales, and she has worked for a number of whale conservation groups in the past. She kindly agreed to share with me her love of the ocean in an interview. What's your favorite ocean animal and why?
 
This is a very challenging question. I don’t know how anyone really chooses a favourite when there is such an incredible diversity of weird and wonderful life in this world. I tend to be drawn to things that are very bizarre. The Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) is a great example. This strange looking animal is the heaviest of all the bony fishes and has a flattened body that is as tall as it is long. It was previously believed to be planktonic (meaning it couldn’t swim against the ocean currents) but recent research has shown they can actually swim up to 3.2km/hour. Woah! Slow down Ocean Sunfish!

Floodgates, book 3 of the Musings of Merlin Series, is now out! Check out Amazon if you've been waiting for the next of Merlin's adventures.

I'll be selling my books at a few craft fairs this holiday season. I love to meet my readers in person, so if you're in the neighbourhood, pop on by!


November 18th, 10am-2pm: Handmade Christmas Market
http://www.northdouglaschurch.org/event/handmade-village-craft-market/


November 19th, 10am-4pm: Highlands Winter Craft Fair
https://www.facebook.com/highlandswintercraftfair/


November 25th, 10am-3pm: Doncaster Holiday Craft Fair
https://www.facebook.com/DoncasterSchoolCraftFair/

I am pleased to announce that Winded is now available on Amazon! (USA, Canada, and hopefully now in your regional Amazon). To celebrate, I have put Ignition on sale, so tell your magic-loving friends! :)

Summer is fast approaching, and I will be selling my novels at a few events in Victoria BC this year.

July 1st: Gorge Canada Day celebrations , 9am-4pm
http://www.gorgecanadaday.ca/

​July 6th, July 20th, August 3rd: Sidney Night Market, 5:30-8:30pm
 https://www.facebook.com/SidneyStreet...

​And possibly one more date in late June... to be confirmed. I hope to see you there! Winded will most certainly be for sale.

Garden of Last Hope, the sequel to Mark of the Breenan, is finally here! The Kindle edition is available in the USA, Canada, UK, and anywhere you can buy Kindle books (and is available for free for Kindle Select customers). The paperback is currently available in the USA, and will be coming shortly to other markets.

​Thanks for being patient, reader. I hope you enjoy Gwen's latest adventures!

Happy April 1st! Garden of Last Hope's release date has been delayed for a week due to technical difficulties. Unfortunately, this is not an April Fool's joke. Fortunately, we won't have to wait long... it should be available in a week or two.

I've been working with my amazing graphic designer, Christien Gilston, on the cover for Garden of Last Hope (Book Two of the Breenan Series). Not that my role is particularly onerous, as I mainly spout off vague, half-formed ideas, and Chris comes back with designs far better than I imagined.
So, without further ado, here is the cover for Garden of Last Hope, due out March 2016: