Hey, lovelies!! It gives me great pleasure today to host Lou Kemp and her new book, “Violins Played Before Junstan,” here on FAB!! For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.
Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Lou and to increase your chances of winning!!
Thanks for stopping by!! Wishing you all lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!!
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Violins Played Before Junstan
The Celwyn Book Series
Book One
by Lou Kemp
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GENRE: Fantasy (Magical Realism)
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BOOK BLURB:
While on a mission to avenge the death of his lover, the immortal peyote-eating magician Celwyn is hired to deliver an automat, Professor Kang, to a priest. But Celwyn quickly learns that everything the priest told him was a lie. Now his ship, the Zelda, is stuck in a horrific storm and Celwyn knows he must reconsider his allegiance if he is to steer his vessel in the right direction and continue his quest.
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EXCERPT TWO:
The place was half full, the gas lights dim, and as quiet as it would get. Just inside the door sat a priest who boldly regarded Celwyn, as if he knew him, yet Celwyn would have remembered the little elfin ears, long black hair, and vaguely Asian eyes. The eyes glittered an invitation.
Oh, really? The magician thought it odd to discover a priest in a saloon—in his experience they were more likely to drink their whiskey by candlelight in the church vestry, elbow-to-elbow with the spiritual mice. Curious, he placed his top hat on the table and settled into the chair opposite the priest.
Beads of sweat decorated the bald head of the bartender as he rushed forward with a shot of whiskey on a tray. He deposited it in front of Celwyn and whirled to run back behind the bar.
The priest aimed a thumb at the publican. “Well-trained. Just like a seal at a waterfront show.”
Celwyn paused and then picked up his glass. He recognized that voice. A fortuitous coincidence? A few blocks away, St. Marks provided excellent places to eavesdrop, such as a false wall behind the altar. This morning the Monsignor of St. Marks and this same priest had discussed some unusual incidents occurring during Mass. It was not a coincidence that the same man should be sitting here.
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GUEST POST:
Inventing and Developing Mystical Creatures
When
I reached the one third way point in writing book three of the Celwyn series, I
realized Celwyn needed a new tack to sit on, or friend to pal around with. Luckily, I remembered one of the British
Midsomer Murders episodes.
I’m not sure of the title of the episode, but it was set in a fictional fancy estate and restaurant. Om the sign outside the gates, it read, “Wyvern House” and portrayed a dragon like creature.
Y Draig Aur; A flag which was carried by Owain Glyndwr who most noticeably displayed it at Twt hill after his successes in reclaiming Welsh territory.
Wyverns have been around for centuries and part of many cultures worldwide.
A carved wyvern on the choir stalls of Chester Cathedral in Cheshire, England, c. 1380
I was fascinated, and decided my mythical wyvern would be worthy of Celwyn on several levels. For the rest of Book 3, The Raven and the Pig, the gorgeous green “Wye” (as Celwyn named him) became an unpredictable and entertaining addition to the chaos surrounding the adventurers. He frightened the bejeebers out of Bartholomew, and fascinated Professor Xiau Kang. Captain Nemo is not amused by the wyvern’s presence but tolerated him. When Valentine, a most dangerous vampire, meets Wye he also studies him, but is not alarmed. Showing the creature’s unpredictability was part of the story around him.
In creating the wyvern, I added in the elements of his personality that made him unique and part of the story. In the books, he responds to Celwyn when the magician is thinking about him, or Wye feels he should help him. When the head of Prague’s coven angers Celwyn, Wye appears behind her, ready to attack.
The wyvern loves Celwyn and has some of Celwyn’s own habits, such as scaring the magician and then disappearing. Wye also gets along with Qing, the mechanical bird who had captured the magician’s affections first. Wye’s abilities come to the forefront in book 5 (2024), The Pirate Danced and the Automat Died, where he demonstrates bravery and loyalty to Celwyn in a most deadly and terrifying conclusion to the story.
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AUTHOR BIO:
Early work was horror and suspense, later work morphed into a combination of magical realism, mystery and adventure painted with a horrific element as needed.
I’m one of those writers who doesn’t plan ahead, no outlines, no clue, and I sometimes write myself into a corner. Atmospheric music in the background helps. Black by Pearl Jam especially.
More information is available at LouKemp.com. I'd love to hear from you and what you think of Celwyn, Bartholomew, and Professor Xiau Kang.
Milestones:
2009: The anthology story Sherlock’s Opera appeared in Seattle Noir, edited by Curt Colbert, Akashic Books. Available through Amazon or Barnes and Noble online. Booklist published a favorable review of my contribution to the anthology.
2010: My story, In Memory of the Sibylline, was accepted into the best-selling MWA anthology Crimes by Moonlight, edited by Charlaine Harris. The immortal magician Celwyn makes his first appearance in print.
2018: The story, The Violins Played before Junstan is published in the MWA anthology Odd Partners, edited by Anne Perry. The Celwyn series begins.
Book 1, The Violins Played before Junstan reissue with the publisher, the 4 Horsemen on 10-17-22. The 4 Horsemen will publish the remaining books in the series beginning with Music Shall Untune the Sky, The Raven and the Pig, The Pirate Danced and the Automat Died. The companion book, Farm Hall continues the story of Pelaez, another immortal magician and Celwyn's brother will also be available.
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CONNECT WITH LOU:
Website:
Facebook Fan Page:
https://www.facebook.com/Lou-Kemp-Author-Page-110721901406273
Facebook Personal Page:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Lou-Kemp/100070730154592
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/LouKempBooks
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/LouKempAuthor
Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3452047.Lou_Kemp
Goodreads Book Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62146288-violins-played-before-junstan
Amazon Author Page:
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BOOK BUY LINKS:
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Amazon US Kindle eBook:
Amazon US Paperback:
Amazon CA Kindle eBook:
https://www.amazon.ca/Violins-Played-Before-Junstan-Celwyn-ebook/dp/B0BBLLD7WK
Amazon CA Paperback:
https://www.amazon.ca/Violins-Played-Before-Junstan-Celwyn/dp/1644506262
Apple Books eBook:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-violins-played-before-junstan/id6443307690
Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/violins-played-before-junstan-lou-kemp/1141757454?ean=9781644506257
Barnes and Noble Paperback:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/violins-played-before-junstan-lou-kemp/1141757454?ean=9781644506264
Google Play eBook:
https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=xXOCEAAAQBAJ
Kobo US eBook:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-violins-played-before-junstan
Kobo CA eBook:
https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-violins-played-before-junstan
4 Horsemen Publications Paperback:
https://4horsemenpublications.com/product/the-violins-played-before-junstan-the-celwyn-series-book-1
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GIVEAWAY INFO:
Lou will be awarding
a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly
drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.
**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**
This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.
This is a fantastic site. The design is clear and colors interesting while they showcase the books. Thank you for hosting.
ReplyDeleteA big thank you to Goddess for organizing the tour and this stop.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your guest post, bio and book details, I have enjoyed reading about you and your work and I am looking forward to reading Violins Played Before Junstan and to meeting all of your mystical creatures. Do you have a favorite among them?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt the book sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about inventing and developing mythical creatures and I enjoyed reading the excerpt, Violins Played Before Junstan sounds like a great book for me to read!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing it with me and have a happy and successful New Year!
This sounds like a great story.
ReplyDelete