Stone of Doubt
by Margaret Izard

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GENRE: Paranormal Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

In the absence of doubt, only faith is found.

A human with Fae powers living like an oddball has its ups and downs until Evie MacDougall’s dream Fae boy pops back into her life after she thought another was “the one.”

One dark and devilish, the other her long-lost love. Evil forces trap her for a magic Fae stone, but which man can she trust? As a teen prophesied to be Fae king, Aodhán viewed the girl of his dreams through an Eye of Ra.

Once, he risked all to help Evie MacDougall find a magic Fae stone, only to end up imprisoned. Kept from his true love for years, he finds her at risk from an evil Fae hunting a magic stone.

Is a single vow strong enough to save true love, to save the human and Fae realms?

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EXCERPT ONE:

She breathed as Aodhán wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his muscular chest. “Welcome to Broemere Castle, my home.”

She turned as he held her in his arms. “Yer home? Ye mean the Fae realm?”

Aodhán brushed his fingers over her cheek. “Aye.” He gazed at her momentarily with a grin spread over his face. “Come, I wish to show ye around the castle before we meet the others.”

He pulled her hand, and she tugged back, stopping him. “The ball, it still calls ye?”

He nodded as he turned, and she tugged again. “Ye mentioned punishment. What for?”

He took her hand and kissed the back. “For showing ye spells I wasn’t allowed to.”

Evie stood staring at him as the edges of his eyes crinkled. She looked down, her mind rolling over memories as the past connected with the present, then his statement.

She gasped. “The Fae, they punished ye for helping me.” Her eyes connected with his. “Yer punishment was because of me. Ye didn’t leave me. They kept ye away.”

Aodhán stepped to her, his hand on her cheek. “Aye, that’s true.” He bent and brushed a kiss. Tingles like before shot to her toes, electrifying her body.

Aodhán’s whisper brushed her ear. “And I’d do it all over again.”

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GUEST POST:

Feedback is a Gift

1.) Reframe Rejection as Redirection

Rejection doesn’t mean failure—Feedback is a gift. Feedback in all its forms, negative, positive, constructive, and coaching, is set to provide the creator with something that helps them improve. Not all the feedback I’ve had is easy to take, but at its core, it has something to contribute to my creative process.

2.) Extract Constructive Feedback (If Given)

If you receive personalized feedback, treasure it! Editors and agents don’t often take the time to provide comments unless they see potential. Even a short note like “great voice, but not the right fit” means you’re on the right track.

3.) Keep Submitting and Writing

Even if it stinks, write. Get it on the page. You can always edit it after. You should edit and edit and edit. Writing is a practiced technique. Storytelling is a practiced art. They go hand in hand, but to learn, one must practice. Continually writing prevents you from obsessing over one rejection and builds resilience.

4.) Have a Rejection Ritual

Chocolate is therapy. Create a healthy way to process rejection—whether treating yourself to your favorite dessert (mine is chocolate), walking, or keeping a “rejection journal” to track progress. A ritual helps normalize the experience and makes rejection feel less personal.

5.) Join a Writing Community

While writing is solitary, crafting and creating great stories isn’t. Rejection feels less isolating when you share it with other writers. Join critique groups, writing forums, or social media spaces where writers discuss their struggles and wins. Seeing how others persevere can keep you motivated.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Margaret Izard is an award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. Her latest awards are 2024 Reader’s Favorite Honorable Mention for Stone of Love and 2024 Spring BookFest Silver Award for the same title. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her desire for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets.

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