RT Book Reviews - Review of KNIGHT DREAMS by C.C. Wiley

RT Book Reviews - Review of KNIGHT DREAMS by C.C. Wiley
FOUR STARS - HOT
This is awesome news! If you are a subscriber, the full review is now available in the RT Book Reviews, May 2010 edition!
Thank you, RT Book Reviewer, Keitha Hart!

Unjamming the Flow

I’m paddling as fast as I can while I layout a new story to write. The thoughts whiz by. What will I write? If I can write...? Will I write...? What to write? What to write? Argh!


While I'm doing my best to figure things out, time marches on. The clock is ticking. Thoughts careen through my head. Can I do this? Why is this time so hard? Was every project this hard to start?

I've stared at the glaring blank screen before. I can do this! Can't I? What have I done before to break free? Stay busy. Keep moving forward. Okay. Right. Got it. I know there is all manner of housekeeping chores to keep me busy, but yet, I sort and shuffle information, getting nowhere.

Then I realize I am paddling up stream...

Ah, perhaps, I should let go of the paddles and let the underlying current take me where I need to go. Might as well. Right now, I’m not getting anywhere fast. Why not enjoy the view and experience instead of fighting it?

Decision made. I'm going to let go and let life drift into my world of words.
Sigh. Already, the current catches hold. It's going to be alright. The dam breaks.  And the words rush in. So good. So good...to allow the flow of words.

Here I am, God. Trusting...well, the best that I can.

The E-MAIL

Where was I when I got THE E-MAIL for the sale of KNIGHT DREAMS? Hmmm...


Actually, I have two points of celebration. In the fall of 2008, a little over a year ago, I was in Indiana visiting my parents when I received the first e-mail from  Samhain Publishing editor, Deborah Nemeth. (I miss her and wish her well at her new publisher.) That message was a blessing and brought joy into a rough, rollercoaster year.
Reports of tumors, cancer, surgeries, and damaged relationships had arrived back to back in 2008. In fact, cancer was what brought me from California and to my mom’s side. The preliminary report said the surgeons had removed all of the cancer from my mom. This allowed us to break from the deep valleys, catch our breath, and wonder if chemotherapy and radiation was needed. While we waited, we remembered to add laughter to our tears and faith to our prayers.


It was during this valley that Deborah’s e-mail came. She loved my story! I squealed as I read those few words and did a happy dance. Breathless, I ran down the stairs to share the news with my parents. They knew how long I’d been writing. This was the third manuscript I had completed. They wanted their little girl to succeed and live her dream.


Then I read the rest of Deborah’s email. There was a BUT... ‘Would you be willing to make some changes?’ My stomach twisted. This story holds a special place in my heart. I wrote it while I was in the midst of my own personal heartache. It carried me away from my grief and brought me hope. It helped me dig my heels in and not give up.


Would I make some changes? I looked at Deborah’s edit notes and gulped. The first few pages were a sea of red! Are you kidding me? With some trepidation, I said, “Of course!” The next e-mails came with rapid fire and the task was set. I turned to my parents. Hope and pride burned in their gaze. It was time to celebrate!


This joy was just the beginning of my stay in Indiana. Word soon came that my mom did not need to have chemotherapy or radiation. And that celebration continues.


The second celebration came in the spring of 2009. After a few rewrite requests, I finally received the contract offer! This time, I was home...alone...when I saw THE E-MAIL in my Inbox. SQUEE! I dropped to my knees. I read the e-mail again and again and again! I laughed and cried and danced around the house. I called my husband, tearing him away from a meeting, and sobbed my news into the phone. I called my parents. Once again, their pride and love filled my heart. I called my writing friend, Kimberley Troutte, and left an indiscernible message on her answering machine. (She soon returned my call, worried I had had an emergency and needed help.) I sent out e-mails to my children and friends. It was my writing group night and as I drove to the meeting, I cried and laughed. The joyful energy brought shivers through my body. I swear, if had been stopped by the police they would have thought I was high. And I was. I was high on persevering.


In October, 2009, KNIGHT DREAMS was released as an eBook by Samhain Publishing. Before I know it, August 2010 will arrive and KNIGHT DREAMS will be printed as a trade paperback. The view is beautiful from here. It’s also inspiring and intimidating at the same time. There is so much to do and learn. Although setbacks might come, it’s an exhilarating ride and I’m grateful I didn’t give up.


Look out 2010! I’m just getting started.

Knight Dreams

By C.C. Wiley

ISBN: 978-1-60504-674-7
Genre: Historical Romance
Cover art by Angela Waters



For king and country…or the love of one woman?












Wales, 1415

Terrwyn, the daughter of a dispossessed Welsh lord, is blessed with unusual talents. Her skill with a bow and cursed ability to dream the future, however, didn’t save her younger brother from conscription into the English army.


To honor a deathbed promise, she sets out to bring him home—and discovers that one of the king’s knights holds the key to locating her brother. Now she must stay close to her sworn enemy…and try to ignore the growing heat between them. A difficult task, when they wind up manacled together.


Sir James Frost, confidante to King Henry V, can trust no one, particularly the young Welsh maiden impersonating an archer within the ranks. With treason brewing, the last thing he needs is the secretive beauty chained to his side. The connection between them, though, becomes stronger than any links of metal.



When an assassination plot places their lives in jeopardy, James is torn between duty and the woman he loves. He must choose where his fealty lies…and Terrwyn must decide if changing Fate is worth the price.



Warning: This story includes steamy sex scenes with a hot knight who holds magic in his hands and a spunky Welsh archer who knows exactly where to place her arrows.



Read An Excerpt Online

The Next Best Thing

The release of my first novel, Knight Dreams, came out this month. What a grand day! It was almost...almost as exciting as the birth of my two children. Granted, having my first book published is cause for celebration. My children, however, take the award for the celebration of life changing events.

As the week went on I found myself explaining what an E-Book or even an E-Reader was and how it worked. And why would I ever choose to have my book published that way? Some of my darling family, friends, and even strangers can only imagine holding a book made of paper. I had indeed traveled to the dark side. Ah. I wonder if that is what we thought when manufacturers brought out those other silly inventions.

Do you like your car? Do you remember your very first vehicle? Heck, I was impressed with my first car that came with power steering. The cars of yesterday didn't have the bells and whistles that they do now. Where would some of us be without power steering and brakes, the radio, the CD-Player, GPS, and Lo-Jack? Tired, tuneless and lost.

Do you love your laptop? Do you remember your first computer? Can you imagine life without it? Or can you imagine hauling the larger versions around on your back?

How about your cell phone? Can you recall the first cell phones? They came in a bag and you plugged it into the car. Or better yet, remember the first cordless phone? It was like holding a brick to your head.

How about your IPOD? Before it, came the 45's, 33's, the 8-tracks, the cassettes, and the CD's. And should I bring the memory of the boombox back to mind?

Each improvement didn't really negate the one that came before it. (Okay, I admit, I'm thankful the tangle of 8-tracks are gone.) The inventors enhanced the product and brought more choices to the table.

Rest assured, I don't plan to give up my tree-books forever. They are marvelous for research and there is something wonderful about holding them in my hands. But when I'm traveling and don't want to pay the airlines another surcharge for the weight of my many books, the E-Reader is the way to go. If I'm at the gym and I want to workout both of my arms instead of using one to hold the book and the other to move the machine, I'm going to use my E-Reader. If I'm sitting beside my darling man and he wants the lights off to enhance the movie and I want to read, I'm going to sit beside him and read with my Sony E-Reader's little light on.

Ah...life is enhanced! And life is enjoyed!

So come on over, discover the E-Reader that fits your lifestyle. I've attached a link to help you on your new adventure. Be sure to check out the latest Digital Book Readers. AKA / E-Readers.

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1929387,00.html?xid=rss-topstories-cnnpartner&imw=Y

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1929384,00.html

You know you're gonna want one!

First Book Review

Oh, Happy Day! My first review! Gulp! I wrestled with wanting to know what a book reviewer wrote about my book. It's exciting, thrilling, and very scary. Do I want to know what they thought? Will I have this crazy need to crawl into a cave and never come out?

I bring myself to push the keys on the laptop. And scroll down the screen. There it is. The beautiful cover of my book. And then...the review.

An excerpt from LASR's Book Review:
"C. C. Wiley enchants with admirable imagery and a compelling writing style. All the characters of significance are satisfactorily accounted for before the story ends. Even though traumatic times have been endured along the way, the promise of living happily-ever-after looks bright.

This is a wonderful 15th century romance with a touch of history and imagery that thrills the senses." LASR awards FOUR BOOKS

Four Books out of Five! Not to bad for a new author! Not to bad at all! The the thoughts come in. Why didn't it get the top score? My mind spins. Next time, I want my stories to get the Five Books Award. I need to get cracking on learning all I can about my craft. I almost forget to enjoy the moment. Almost. I take a deep breath and realize that for right now, this very minute, I'm going to enjoy the glow of the first review of my first novel.

Can you see the smile on my face? I'm grinning from ear-to-ear and looking like the cat who drank a whole bowl of cream. I think I'm going to plaster my office walls with all the great reviews. When I'm down or fighting to pull a single word out of my head, I'll read those kind words and all doubt will wash away.

How do you conquer the doubt that sneaks its ugly mug into your thoughts? What do you do to keep yourself motivated? For me, I'm going to keep smiling and take another peak at that review.

If you want, you can read the whole review by following this link. longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2009/10/knight-dreams-by-c-c-wiley.html

There are so many things to do in life. Some are loathsome and some are mundane. Other tasks brighten our lives with color. Lately, I've returned to an old love from the past. Painting.

When I can't get rid of the internal editor that nags and nags in my ear, I've learned to shift my struggles from writing and focus on what's around me. What do I see? What details do I miss when I'm in a rush?

What do you do when you can't seem to write another coherent word? What creative well do you go to that brings new life?