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Showing posts with label Liz Fichera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Liz Fichera. Show all posts
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Story of A First Gift
Welcome to a special post here at That's What I'm Talking About. Today, I am participating in a special Blog Hop sponsored by author Liz Fichera. I hope you enjoy my story.
Lean in really close... I have a secret to share. *whispers* I’m going to cheat - just between you and me - this isn’t really about a first gift. Because to be honest I cannot remember the first gift my husband gave me. But I do remember the gift he gave me when I was pregnant with our first child. That counts - right?!
Back in August 2003, I was 7 months pregnant with our first child. I truly LOVED being pregnant. But, things were a bit chaotic. I was working full time, and my husband was traveling - gone 2-4 nights per week. We were in the middle of a MAJOR kitchen remodel project. The entire kitchen and dining room were completely torn apart. We had a make-shift kitchen in our family room - it included a card table with a college-sized microwave, a mini-fridge below, a box full of paper products and a few dozen pantry items. Not to mention our full-sized solid wood dining room table set was placed in the middle of the family room along with our family room furniture. It was crowded! We were also working on the nursery and all of the fun things that come with the first kiddo.
On August 22, 2003, we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. I wasn’t expecting much for a few reasons... First: we had a baby on the way and that was a big expense. Second: we were remodeling our home - another big expense. Third: my husband isn’t known for his gift giving abilities. He’s more of a sweet card and take-me-out-to-dinner kind of guy. (Although I’ve trained him since and he now gives me gift certificates to the spa. He’s learned well!)
So when he showed up that evening with a small box, I was a bit surprised. It was a jewelry sized box... what could it be? I hadn’t dropped any hints for jewelry, or any gifts for that matter. When I opened the box my heart melted. I found inside a beautiful silver locket with a note that said “On the 5th anniversary, you are supposed to give silverware. I’m giving you silver that you can wear.” I started to cry. I blame the pregnancy hormones, but it was so incredibly sweet and such an amazing surprise. And it re-enforced why I love that man so much!
My son at one week old, holding onto my "first gift."
I hope you enjoyed my FIRST GIFTS story. Be sure to check out the other bloggers participating in author Liz Fichera’s special blog hop. Click HERE to find out more.
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Sunday, November 7, 2010
Sunday Snippets #33
From Captive Spirit by Liz Fichera
We danced until our chests ached from breathing so hard, until the sky fell completely silent again, freezing us in place. The drummers stopped. The circle of men who danced around our circle stopped, too, so that there was one man standing before each girl. I blinked, staring back at the man before me. Like the others, he wore a red clay mask painted with yellow and green lines and bright white circles around the eyes. His bare chest glistened in the firelight from the sweat of the dance. It was covered with purple bruises and bright red cuts.
Fresh ones.
I bit the inside of my lower lip to stop a smile.
They were the boys from the White Ant Clan. Had to be.
Of course! I thought.
This was a special dance to celebrate their ball court
victory! I scanned their chests, trying to discern the faces behind the masks. Honovi? Sinopa? Who? My eyes danced trying to solve the puzzle but my cheeks stayed frozen. Mostly.
Yuma approached the circle, along with Miakoda. Miakoda stood behind the boy who stood before me. My eyes lowered instinctively when Miakoda rested his eyes on mine. I was only brave enough to look at him directly when he wasn’t looking back at me. I’d rather stare into the eyes of a charging javalina than meet Miakoda’s empty eyes. He grunted and then jabbed his walking stick into the ground, once.
I flinched at the sound.
Then Yuma ordered the boys to remove their masks and my eyes lifted again, hoping for Honovi’s face, or even Sinopa, wanting them to know that I was in on their ruse. They might have fooled some of the girls but they didn’t fool me. No wonder Honovi had been acting strangely across the fire.
Quickly, he removed his mask, lifting it upwards with one hand.
I swallowed back a breath. My eyes widened.
The boy who stood before me was neither Honovi nor any of the boys from the White Ant Clan.
It was Pakuna.
Without a word, he took a deliberate step forward, stomping one foot into the ground like he owned the circle. Then he grabbed my wrist.
My body froze. I was too startled to say anything. Too stunned to move.
That’s because I realized I was no longer a girl. I was a prize.
Oblivious to my confusion, Pakuna turned to Honovi, his face gloating and triumphant. But then, slowly, even reluctantly, he turned his steely gaze on me. The reflection from the fire filled his dark eyes and sent a shudder through my body. They were the same empty eyes of his father.
And that’s when I knew.
This wasn’t a Dance of Womanhood.
This was a wedding ceremony—mine. Chitsa had tried to warn me.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Contest Winner - Captive Spirit
I want to thank everyone for stopping by and visiting with author Liz Fichera these past couple of days. I’d also like to give a huge thanks to Liz for the interview, answering questions and donating her book for a giveaway.
The winner for the giveaway was picked from those that commented during the designated time using random.org.
And the winner is:
Desert Lioness
Congratulations!! I have forwarded your email to Liz so that she can send you a copy of Captive Spirit. It’s a fabulous book and I hope you enjoy!
Thanks!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Captive Spirit - Review
Captive Spirit
Author: Liz Fichera
Release Date: June 28, 2010
Publisher: Carina Press
ISBN: #9781426890390
Genre: Historical Romance
Note: I won this book from the author in an online giveaway. The author asked if I would review the book.
Be sure to check the bottom of this post for CONTEST information.
From the author’s website:
Sonoran Desert. Dawn of the sixteenth century.
Aiyana isn’t like the other girls of the White Ant Clan. Instead of keeping house, she longs to compete on the Ball Court with her best friend Honovi and the other boys. Instead of marriage, she daydreams of traveling beyond the mountains that surround her small village. Only Honovi knows and shares her forbidden wish, though Aiyana doesn’t realize her friend has a secret wish of his own…
When Aiyana’s father arranges her marriage to a man she hardly knows, she takes the advice of a tribal elder: Run! In fleeing, she falls into the hands of Spanish raiders and finds herself being taken over the mountains against her will. Now Aiyana’s on a quest to return to the very place she once dreamed of escaping. And she’ll do whatever it takes to survive and find her way back to the people she loves.
What I’m talking about:
I’m going to start by telling you that this is NOT the typical book that I read and review. First - It’s historical... taking place in the early 1500’s and focusing on Native American life. Second - there is paranormal activity in this story. There are no vampires, faeries, shifters nor any paranormal studs involved, and I LIKED IT! It is a wonderful love story and *SHOCK* I didn’t miss the smut! I have officially expanded my horizons!
The story is told in first person narrative from the point of view of 16-year old Aiyana. She feels trapped by her daily life and dreams of going beyond the safe territory of her clan’s land. But when she is kidnapped by Spanish raiders, she realizes that her heart belongs back at home and with her best friend, Honovi. She is driven to do what it takes to make it back.
This story outlines the intricacies of daily life and ceremonies for a Native American clan in a way that brought to life for me this early civilization. The details are beautiful and I felt like I was right along side of Aiyana as she struggled to keep up with her domestic duties, hunted deer, and struggled against her Spanish and then Apache captors. I was able to feel the anguish of Aiyana as she was dealt one blow after another in her quest to return home and keep dear Honovi safe. It made the moment of their eventual union so satisfying, it brought a tear to my eye. The innocence of a pure, unfettered love was amazingly sweet and romantic.
The action in this tale was intense and had my heart racing at times. I really wasn’t sure if Aiyana and Honovi would make it and that had me glued to the pages of the book. Aiyana faces and overcomes several challenges including capture and being taken far from home, two marriage arrangements to over-barring males (to whom she is a possession), starvation, basket weaving (it’s more intense than you think), and near rape. She is a strong girl and this tale takes us on her journey into womanhood. This self-discovery leads to the realization that sometimes home is the best place of all.
The only thing that (slightly) irritated me in this book was the way the eventual escape from the Apache warriors went down. Aiyana and Honovi keep fumbling and things became hopeless until a true miracle occurred. It wasn’t a bad way to get out of the situation, but I felt a little cheated - you know, make it impossible and then *BAM* all is fixed. It didn’t detract from the story, but I was a little frustrated. Yet that went away quickly as the pair journeyed homeward. The ending was left open and I look forward to the next tale of Aiyana and Honovi.
My Rating:
Now for the GIVEAWAY:
Readers... Liz is generously offering a digital copy of her book, Captive Spirit. Please leave a question for Liz or a meaningful comment on yesterday’s interview OR today’s review of Captive Spirit. One winner will be chosen randomly from those that comment. Comments must be posted by August 10, 2010, 11:59 PM EDT. Winner will be announced on August 11, 2010.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Author Interview - Liz Fichera
Today I have the honor of bringing to you author Liz Fichera. Liz is living in the Southwest by way of Chicago. She likes to write stories about ordinary people who do extraordinary things, oftentimes against the backdrop of Native American legends. Many of her novels and short stories are set in the American Southwest. Her path from hobby writer to published writer was neither easy nor quick. From the time of her first story till publication of her first novel, she has worked as a woefully bad receptionist, teacher, technical writer, project manager, and IT Director for a Fortune 500 firm. Please help me welcome Liz to That’s What I’m Talking About. AND look for a special giveaway at the end of this post!!
Twimom: Liz, welcome and thank you for stopping by.
Liz: Hi, Jen! Thanks so much for having me on your beautiful blog. Love the blog’s new look, by the way! Thanks also for taking the time to read CAPTIVE SPIRIT.
Twimom: Thank you for the compliments... and I enjoyed reading your book. This is your debut novel, congratulations... How long have you been writing? Is Captive Spirit your first book or have you written any unpublished works?
Liz: CAPTIVE SPIRIT is my first published novel. It’s also my first historical romance. I’ve written several novels before CAPTIVE SPIRIT and am hopeful that at least one of them will be published. I’ve been writing since I was about 10 years old, but I didn’t start to get serious about being published till about five years ago. I write mostly young adult and women’s commercial fiction.
Twimom: What were your inspirations for creating a story based on Native American culture? How much research did you need to complete for this story? How much of the day-to-day life and ceremonies that you describe in your story is based in truth vs. creative license?
Liz: Living in the American Southwest, it’s hard not to be inspired by Native American culture. For CAPTIVE SPIRIT, I did a lot of research online, in the library, and at a wonderful place called the Phoenix Heard Museum which has one of the most comprehensive Native American collections in the entire world. CAPTIVE SPIRIT involves an intriguing people called the Hohokam Indians.
When I first moved to Phoenix, Arizona, from Chicago, I remember learning that the Hohokam were the first inhabitants of the Sonoran Desert and of Phoenix, in particular. They traveled to the desert from Mayan and Aztec cultures around 300 BC and existed peacefully as master canal builders and farmers till around 1500 AD when they vanished for reasons unknown. Archeologists still don’t know why they left the desert—abandoned their whole lives, really—and it was the Pima Indians who called them Hohokam which means “Those Who Have Gone.” I always thought that little bit of history was so unbelievably cool. It’s also what inspired me to write CAPTIVE SPIRIT.
If you watch the book trailer for CAPTIVE SPIRIT, you’ll see the rugged setting for the book—much of it hasn’t changed in hundreds of years—along with Hohokam petroglyphs. I always wondered if maybe the Hohokam were trying to leave us a message with their petroglyphs about what happened to them? We’ll never know, but it teases the storyteller in me.
Twimom: Wow! That is very interesting. The focus on the Native American lifestyle was one of the things I loved about the story. Are you planning a follow up/sequel to Captive Spirit?
Liz: Yes, I am planning a sequel. It’s one of the two books I plan to write in the next 12 months. I haven’t been unable to get Aiyana and Honovi and their adventures out of my mind!
Twimom: Oh, I’m glad to hear that - I would love to know what happens to Aiyana and Honovi! Are you working on anything else at this time?
Liz: I’ve just finished up a contemporary fantasy romance, and I’m starting another historical romance with a literary bent involving a well-known Apache Indian. My head is already spinning with that story
Twimom: I look forward to hearing more. Besides writing, what else keeps you busy? What are your hobbies and interests?
Liz: I’m one of those crazy people who actually likes to run—not 100 mile marathons or anything. But I do like to run in the desert, although I have to run inside at my local gym at the moment because it’s currently 105 degrees and will probably stay that way for another month or two. I also love to visit museums and watch theatre productions in Phoenix, where I sometimes write theatre reviews for local blogs and organizations. When time and money permits, I love to travel anywhere there’s a museum and really good room service.
Twimom: Good for you. I tend to stay in the comfort of the gym, no matter the season. What is the best book you've read in 2010? What upcoming 2010 book release are you most looking forward to reading?
Liz: I read A LOT, so it’s practically impossible for me to pick a favorite. I recently finished Elizabeth Bass’s MISS YOU MOST OF ALL which I enjoyed very much. I’m a sucker for stories that take place in the American West and involve sisters. MISS YOU MOST OF ALL has both. I’ve got BETRAYED by Claire Robyns and LIBERTY STARR by Rebecca Grant loaded on my nook and I look forward to devouring those books when I go on vacation later in the month.
Twimom: What are your favorite genres for reading?
Liz: I read just about anything—Middle grade, young adult, contemporary romance, paranormal, historical, literary fiction. I do read a little nonfiction, but not much. When I read, I want to escape. I want to see life through someone else’s eyes for a while. That’s the great thing about books.
Twimom: Liz, once again thank you so much for taking the time to tell my readers a little bit about yourself and your writing. It was wonderful chatting with you.
Liz: Thank you, Jen.
NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY...
Readers... Liz is generously offering a digital copy of her book, Captive Spirit. Please leave a question for Liz or a meaningful comment on today’s interview OR tomorrow’s review of Captive Spirit. One winner will be chosen randomly from those that comment. Comments must be posted by August 10, 2010, 11:59 PM EDT. Winner will be announced on August 11, 2010.
Be sure to stop back tomorrow when I have a review of Liz’s debut novel: Captive Spirit.
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