Putting Everything Out There--For Kindle Scout

I have eight days left in my Kindle Scout campaign, and I feel like pretty much everyone on the planet has heard about it. I've Tweeted, I've YouTubed, I've Tumbled, I've Pinned, everyone's been LinkedIn, my Grams are all Instant, and of course my Book of Faces has had nothing but "NOMINATE ME!" right up in their business for weeks on end.  Yep, I've shouted it from every social media mountaintop in the range.
None of this has been easy for me, mind you. I am not one to pester the crap out of everyone most of the time. Sure, I'll ask my friends to support my kids' fundraisers at school. But I don't feel like I'm constantly shouting, "Buy my book!" so that it just becomes white noise. Maybe my friends would disagree, but I don't think so. I never know what to say when someone I have known for a while says, "I didn't know you were a writer." Well, yes, I suppose so.... But part of Kindle Scout is that darned Hot and Trending list (the one I haven't seen in over a week) and to get on there, you have to do a lot of self-promotion. Is it the be-all and end-all. No.  Does it help? Likely. At the end of the day, if my writing isn't good, it won't matter how long I've been on there. And if the writing is good enough, it won't matter if the only person who nominated it was me. (And I did by the way....)

https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/OT9F85ZHLEKL

Not only is hard to find the places to beg for nominations, it's hard to convert those nominations as well. Take this blog, for instance. I have had a huge amount of support from Books Go Social tweeting and retweeting about my blog the last two weeks. I've had over 1500 visits to my blot posts about Kindle Scout in that amount of time, but I've only had a few (like less than 10) visits from my blog to my Kindle Scout page. So that means the people who visit here either don't think my book is interesting enough to check out, they think it will take too long to nominate, or they intend to do it but end up getting distracted and not going back.
So listen, this is me putting myself out there asking you to go to my nomination page and just read the blurb and maybe part of the excerpt. If you think it's crap, then don't nominate it. But if you think the writing is good, the story is interesting, the cover is cool, or anything of merit can be found in Beneath the Inconstant Moon--even if it's not the type of book you usually read--please go ahead and nominate it.  You don't have to have a Kindle to read the free copy (if I get published through Kindle Press you will get a free copy). You can read it on any smart device, including your computer. Obviously, you don't even have to read it (although I would hope you would, eventually, once you get through that huge stack of other books you are planning on reading first.) I honestly think this book has something to offer to the literary world and that a lot of people will like it. A lot of people have read it and do like it. It deserves a chance to be published, but without enough eyes on it, it may never even get a second look by Kindle Press. So, please, check it out and then make your decision. You can find it here. https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/OT9F85ZHLEKL
And if you've read this far, thank you for your support! I really can't wait until this campaign is over so I  can crawl back into my little writer hidey hole. (I'm sure you all agree.)

5 Reasons You Must Read Clandestine by Editor McKinley Morrow

Hi All!
For those of you who have never heard of me, I'm ID Johnson's editor, McKinley Morrow. And, unlike most of the world, I have actually had the opportunity to read Book 2: Resurrection, which comes out on June 1st.  Lucky for you--that leaves you a couple of weeks to read Book 1: Transformation before the release date--and here are five reasons why you will want to get hooked on this incredible series.
1) It's Twilightish, but without the K-Stew.
All right, folks, let's be honest, some of us actually liked the Twilight books. Some of us may have stayed up way too late reading them all, wondering if Team Edward or Team Jacob was going to win (not that it wasn't obvious!) Well, The Clandestine Saga is a little like Twilight. There are vampires. There is a female lead--a strong one! And there's some romance going on.  But, unlike the Twilight movies,  no one is forcing you to take an otherwise tolerable lead character and watch her shrug her way through ten hours of squinting.... Cadence Findley can look like whoever you want, at least until Johnson sells the movie rights. I think she looks a little like Emma Stone, especially around the eyes.
2) The dialogue sounds like actual people talking!
One of Johnson's strongest assets as a writer, in my opinion, is her ability to make the characters say things that real people would say to each other. Does she feed the plot through the dialogue? Sure.  However, they also talk like normal people, saying things that often also turn out to be quite humorous and clever. Here's a short excerpt of a conversation from Transformation:

            “What time is the Witching Hour anyway? Midnight?” Sidney asked, her expression seeming to indicate that she was considering going with Drew.

            “No,” Cadence said almost automatically.  “It’s 3:00 AM.”

            “Are you sure?” Jack asked.  “I always heard it was midnight.”

            Cadence’s glance became a bit sterner. “I’m sure,” she replied.

            “Search engine it!” Taylor said, taking over the mouse.

            Jon laughed, “Because the word Google is trademarked,” he commented quietly, almost to himself.

            “She’s right!” Taylor exclaimed. “It is 3:00 AM. Says so right here.”

            “On Wikipedia? The most reliable source of information since the invention of the internet,” Jon sneered.

            “No, it’s not Wikipedia! It’s a site about witches!” Taylor said defensively. 

           
3) Cadence Findley is a Boss!
Okay, not literally. Aaron is the boss--at least for now. But Cadence Findley is one kick-ass heroine who can literally take down any vampire or ghoul that comes her way.  And even though she's new to this thing, she's amazing at it. She's not perfect--she makes mistakes and almost gets kicked off the team. However, she comes back stronger than ever and proves that girls can do anything guys can do.
4) The pop culture references cause nostalgia.
Johnson has a flare for subtly weaving in memorable lines or references to the movies, books, and TV shows we all love.  In fact, you may have to read the book a couple of times to make sure you didn't miss any. One of my favorite scenes is in Resurrection when Cadence and Aaron are talking about Bram Stoker's Dracula:

            "Dracula.  Not true," Aaron said.

            "Oh, I guess you would know since you were alive back then," Cadence replied.

            "When Dracula was born? I'm not that old. Or did you mean when the movie was made? Yes, I was alive in 1992."

            "I wasn't," she reminded him.

            "God, how is that possible," he muttered, a comment that would have been under his breath if it hadn't been through IAC.

            "I meant at the turn of the 20th Century, when most of the book was set. You were alive then, right?" Cadence clarified.

            "I was. And I knew Mr. Stocker," he added, glancing in her direction. She looked a bit shocked. "He needed some information for his book. Though, he didn't quite stay true to what we explained to him, he got most of it right."

5) Just enough kissing to keep it interesting....

"Is this a kissing book?" (If you know what movie that line is from, you'll be happy to know Johnson works in references several times!)

This is not a love story--well, it is--but it isn't! I mean, there's Jack, Cadence's ex-boyfriend, and you have to wonder if something's going on there. And Christian tries to put a move on her.... But most importantly there's Aaron and we know how Cadence feels about him, despite the fact that she says he is "creepy" pretty early on. Nevertheless, there's just enough to keep you guessing. And by the end of Resurrection, you'll think you know how it will turn out--or do you??
Okay, so call me biased if you will--but I honestly think these books are not only extremely well-written on top of being entertaining.   So, Transformation is on sale for 99 cents right now and you can buy it here.  Also, you can pre-order Resurrection for 99 cents here. Two amazing books for $2?!? Yes--do it, buy them now!

A note from ID Johnson:  First of all, thanks so much Kinley for your time, your support, and for this hilarious piece.  And to the readers, I hope you love the characters in these books as much as I do. I would love to hear your feedback, especially as I begin to write Book 3: Repercussion.  

Lots of Love!!

Immy

Cordia's Will is Free This Weekend

In honor of Mother's Day this weekend, Cordia's Will is free through Monday, May 11th!
I hope that you will download it, read it, fall in love with Cordia, Will (or even Carey!) and then leave me some feedback.  I started writing Cordia's Will over ten years ago. I never thought I would finish it. One day, on a whim, I sent the half-completed manuscript to my sister. She insisted that I finish it.  So, I thought about it--a lot. And, I just didn't know what happened next.... I hadn't written anything in ten years because I didn't want to leave Cordia sitting there, waiting on true love.  It wasn't until I decided to tell a different story (Deck of Cards) that I was able to return to Cordia and Will and finally finish their story.
Writing Cordia's Will was difficult for many reasons. Probably the most difficult part was killing off so many of the characters that I love. There were two scenes in particular that had me in tears as I wrote them. Read the story and I'm sure you'll figure out which ones.
My favorite scene happens late in the book and I won't give it away but it has to do with Cordia and Margaret sitting in the kitchen at the Adam's Farm when our heroin hears the back door open behind and realizes something is horribly wrong....
If you've read Cordia's Will, I'd love to hear from you. If you haven't, what are you waiting for? It's free this weekend! Download it here and happy reading!

Cordia loses her love and then has to choose between what her heart wants and what her family desires.
Image courtesy of Getty Images

First Review for The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation

The first review is up for my new book--and you can read it on this lovely smoking gun pic!

I feel like this reader said everything I have been trying to convey in my blog posts and in book blurb. I know this reader has read some of my other books as well and I am honored that she is such a big fan. (And no, I don't know her--or him--and it isn't my mom, lol!)

Yesterday, I found this striking image on Getty Images and I decided to elect this woman my new spokesperson.  You see, Clandestine means secret and the book is all about how there's a secret world that we, as humans, don't even realize exist. Once you're part of that world, you never see anything the same ever again. So, Cadence not only has the burden of figuring out who she really is, she also has to keep this extremely important secret from many of the people she loves--her friends, her ex-boyfriend Jack, and her sister Cassidy.  As a result, she doesn't know how to relate to those people any more. However, she also doesn't feel as if she is really a part of the LIGHTS team either, especially after she almost gets kicked off for making a bad decision. This Vampire with a secret kind of sums it all up--Vampires are real, but you can't tell anyone....

It's so awesome to have a review already. I hope to get some feedback from other readers soon. Book 2 is about halfway done, and I am still formulating ideas for book 3. Feedback will help me insure I am keeping the readers entertained, intrigued, and captivated.  So, please, read the book and let me know your thoughts.

Pictures courtesy of Getty Images.

Living in Ignorant Bliss...Sort of: Meet Cassidy

This is the last installment of a month long series introducing the characters in The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation. Pre-order your copy here.  The release date is February 28th!

Cassidy Findley is a bright, lively 15-year-old high school student.  Like most girls her age, she is worried about her grades, cute boys, and her wardrobe.  That is until her older sister Cadence's best friend winds up dead and her sister starts acting really, really strange.
Now, there are all of these weird people at her house all the time. And her sister seems to be gone a lot. Something is going on with Cadence... and Cassidy is determined to figure out what it is.
But for now, Cassidy puts on a brave face and acts like everything is normal. Before she can tip her hand that she is aware that something weird is going on, she's got to get a little more information....


The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation focuses on older sister Cadence's transformation from a typical college student to a Vampire Hunter. However, this summer (2015) I will be writing a book what you are.

Cassidy Findley knows there's something odd going on with her sister Cadence, but she's not sure exactly what it is...

series revolving around Cassidy Findley and how she discovers her sister's secret--and decides whether or not she also wants to become a Vampire Hunter. This series, aimed at young adults, will follow the challenges of figuring out who you are...when you're not really sure

Like her sister, Cassidy is smart and popular.  She gets plenty of attention from the boys. Unlike her sister, she is a bit more reserved and a little timid. Will she be able to gather the courage and inner strength it takes to fight the vicious undead?

You'll find out in The Vampire Hunter's Sister Book 1: Revelation, coming Summer 2015.

Tomorrow, read the first chapter of The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation.

Picture courtesy of Getty Images.

The Father of the Vampire Hunter: Meet Eli

This is a series of blog posts introducing the characters in the upcoming The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation, which premiers February 28th. You can pre-order your copy here.

Cadence Findley is a daddy's girl.  She has always had a great relationship with her father, Eli.  Upon discovering that she is, in fact, a Vampire Hunter, Cadence immediately thinks of her parents.  However, when she finds out that her parents have known all along, she is shocked. How could her father keep such an important secret from her?
For Eli Findley, it hasn't been easy. He has always known that his own father was once the leader of the Guardians--the group appointed to protect the Vampire Hunters from the evil ones. He also lies to his daughters (Cadence and Cassidy) and tells them their grandfather died in a plane crash. The truth is almost too much to bear.

Cadence's father, Eli, could have chosen to become a Vampire Hunter but he chose a different path.

When Cadence lets Eli and his wife Liz know she has become aware of her true identity, he is both relieved and terrified. Now that Cadence knows what he is capable of, how can he possibly protect her from the evil he has always known is lurking in the shadows?
Thought Eli chose not to develop his abilities to fight bloodsuckers, he is very proud of his daughter for choosing the path that leads to protecting others, serving, leading, oh, and lots and lots of Vampires.  Even though it's scary to think that she could be taken out by one of the menacing Vampires, he trusts the team that protects her. But more importantly, he trusts his daughter.

Tomorrow, we meet the last member of the Findley family, Cassidy, Cadence's younger sister who has no idea who she really is.

Picture courtesy of Getty Images.

The Mother of All Vampire Hunters: Meet Liz

This is a series introducing the characters in the upcoming The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation.  The book debuts February 28th. You can pre-order your copy here.

It isn't everyday your daughter finds out she's a Vampire Hunter. Of course, Liz Findley has been keeping the secret from her daughter Cadence for years. It's actually a bit of a relief when she gets the cryptic text from her daughter:  "It's happened. I'm on my way."
Though Liz could have chosen to become a Vampire Hunter herself, she decided not to.  The risks involved just seemed too great.  Instead, she decided to lead a normal life, carrying the secret--the clandestine--existence of Vampires, Hunters, and Guardians as a burden she could not discuss with anyone, except for her husband Eli who was also very much aware of the existence of this other world.

Meet Cadence's loving mother, Liz

When Liz finds out that Cadence knows her true identity, she is initially afraid for her daughter's safety. However, once she learns that Cadence is safe, many more issues come to light. How will Cadence adjust to this new life?  What can she do to support her?  And when Cadence misses Thanksgiving for the first time, the mom can't help but wonder what other holidays and special occasions will be interrupted now that Cadence has been called upon to keep the world safe.
Liz is her own person--lively, funny, caring, and a bit nosy.  But above all else, she loves her daughters, Cadence and Cassidy. And she will do whatever she can to keep them safe, both from the obvious assailants (the bloodsuckers) and the not so obvious ones, (like broken hearts).
Read more about Liz in The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation.

Tomorrow, meet Liz's husband Eli. He'll support his daughter Cadence through anything, even if it means she's suddenly learned how to rip the heads off of the undead.

Picture courtesy of Getty Images.

Brains or Brawn?: Meet Shane

This is a series introducing the characters in The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation, which launches Saturday February 28th. Pre-order your copy here!

Cadence Findley has recently discovered she is part of a secret much bigger than herself.  She is a Vampire Hunter. However, she can truly begin her life ridding the world of the evil ones, she must go through an intensive training program at LIGHTS (the Lincoln International Guardian and Hunter Training Station).  Though Aaron, the Guardian Leader, is primarily responsible for training Cadence, there are times that his hectic schedule takes him away, which leaves her reliant on someone else. And most of the time, that person is Shane.

Shane is the muscles behind the Vampire Hunting LIGHTS team.

Shane has been a Guardian for decades. His primary focus is getting new Hunters ready for the field.  He is every bit the jock, with his enormous biceps and his "How you doin'?" attitude. Cadence admits that she likes him almost instantly. She finds that she can learn a lot from his expertise. However, during the first observational hunt, something goes very wrong, and Shane finds himself throwing Cadence under the bus to save himself. Despite the interjection of several other members of the team, the damage is done. Will Cadence ever be able to rely on Shane again?
Though Shane is a minor character, and a minor member of the LIGHTS team, he sets the tone for the sentiment of several of the other Guardians when Cadence makes a mistake on the hunt.  Is the damage irreparable or will she find a way to earn back the trust of the team? Can she find a way to trust Shane again?

Find out in The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation.  
Tomorrow, we meet Cadence's mother, Liz. A little overly-protective, a little noisy, a little kooky, if anyone ever suddenly explains to you that you are a Vampire Hunter, you're gonna need a mom like Liz.
Picture courtesy of Getty Images.

The Other New Girl in Town: Meet Meaghan

This is a series of posts introducing the characters in the upcoming The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation. Due to release Feb. 28th, you can pre-order here.

Cadence Findley has recently discovered she is not who she thinks she is.  The mild-mannered, beautiful, and intelligent college freshmen is more than meets the eye; she's also a deadly Vampire Hunter capable of ripping the head off of a vile bloodsucker without batting an eyelash.
But Cadence isn't the only one to recently discover these new found abilities. When Cadence arrives at the Vampire Hunter training facility, known as LIGHTS, she meets another young lady in a similar predicament. Her name is Meaghan, and while she does not have the skills that Cadence naturally possesses, she works hard and becomes an ally to our heroine rather quickly.

Meaghan does her best to help Cadence out. Is it enough to keep her friend out of trouble?

The girls train together and are invited to go on their first observation together as well. When the observation goes awry, and Cadence finds herself in a world of trouble, Meaghan offers her assistance, doing her best to set the record straight.
However, it isn't enough, and Cadence shortly finds her way out the door.
Nevertheless, Meaghan is a great friend to have around. If Cadence can figure out how to prove her value and get herself reinstated, she and Meaghan are sure to make a great team.

Find out how Meaghan helps Cadence when you read The Clandestine Saga Book 1:Transformation.

Tomorrow, meet Shane, the Guardian with the Guns.

Picture courtesy of Getty Images. 

Peace, Love, and Death to Vampires: Meet Finn

This is a series introducing the characters in the upcoming The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation, which launches on February 28th. You can preorder your copy here.

Finn is a free-loving hippie, whose mantra is "Peace-out," unless he's killing Vampires and then that whole thing goes out the window. He is not part of the LIGHTS team, the main forces that battle against the bloodsucking evil ones. Rather, Finn operates independently. However, he has chosen to work alongside two other Vampire Hunters on a certain project: finding and killing a Rogue Vampire by the name of Henry. The other two Vampire Hunters, Sam and Camille, all have one thing in common with Finn: they each hold Henry responsible for the death of a loved one.
But they don't just want to kill Henry, they want to make him pay first.

Don't let that peaceful attitude fool you--he's all Vampire Hunter.

Unfortunately, a new Vampire Hunter by the name of Cadence Findley interferes with their plans and that becomes a huge problem for Finn.
Now, it isn't just about exacting revenge against Henry, Cadence needs to pay for her transgressions as well. For that matter, so does the entire LIGHTS team.  But Finn and his friends are not about to make any hasty moves. They will bide their time and let Cadence begin to feel comfortable. Then, when she least expects it, they will make their move.

Find out what it is that has Finn so hot around the collar in The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation. Tomorrow, we meet Camille, the last of the independent Vampire Hunters featured in book 1.

Picture courtesy of Getty Images.

This Mysterious Stranger is to Die For: Meet Carter

This is the tenth installment in a series introducing the characters from The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation, which you can pre-order here.

Carter, more than a mysterious stranger--a dangerous one.

Drew has always been attracted to mysterious men. So, when she catches the eye of the dark and handsome Carter at the Eidolon Festival, she is intrigued.  When he sweeps her away from her friends into the night, she is more excited then scared, until she realized he isn't really a man at all.
He's a Vampire.
And his interest in her is more than skin deep.

Once he has Drew in his grasp, is it too late?

Drew's friend Cadence is rushing to save her.  When Cadence discovers Carter in the woods with Drew in is grasp, a battle ensues.  It is this fight to the finish that sparks the epic face off between Cadence and the Vampire queen, Holland.

Cadence and Holland will battle it out.

Carter's impulsive decision to take Drew insights a war between Vampire and Vampire Hunter, good and evil.  To find out who wins, read The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation

Tomorrow, meet the Guardian who'd rather send Cadence back to where she came from, Elliott.

Pictures courtesy of Getty Images.

That's What Friends Are For: Meet Sidney

This is the sixth installment in a series introducing the characters in the upcoming The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation.

Sidney is one of Cadence Findley's best friends. The girls have done practically everything together since grade school, until it came time for college, and they chose separate campuses. Sidney is very excited to see Cadence over Thanksgiving break and hopes to spend as much time with her as possible.

Sidney, one of Cadence's best friends. She has no idea who Cadence really is.

When the rest of the group starts discussing the possibility of attending an Eidolon Festival (a celebration of ghosts, goblins, and ghouls) Sidney wants no part of it. However, when the rest of her friends decide to go, she begrudgingly gives in.
The friends aren't at the festival long when things take a turn for the worse. When their friend Drew goes missing, Sidney and Taylor panic, and Cadence insists that John escort the girls back to the car while she and the other two male members of the group, Kash and Jack, search for Drew. The last thing Sidney remembers from that night is a feeling of overwhelming dread that they are being chased by something terrifying.  When she awakes the next morning, her memories are different. She remembers going rock climbing with her friends where something awful happened to Drew.  Though she is upset about the tragedy, she has accepted that these things happen and is determined to go on with her life.
But now Cadence is gone, moved to Kansas City as part of some security team, and her circle of friends is crumbling. Sidney clings to Taylor for emotional support as she attempts to stabilize her ever-shrinking circle of friends. Will all of these changes result in the demise of her friendship with Cadence or will they find a way to fight it out through thick and thin?
Find out in The Clandestine Saga Book 1:Transformation coming Feb. 28th and pre-order here! In the next installment, we'll meet Jamie, the misunderstood Guardian.
Picture courtesy of Getty Images

Hit the Road, Jack: Meet Cadence's Ex-Boyfriend, Jack Cook

This is the fourth installment in a series where I introduce the characters in the upcoming Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation. 

Jack Cook is a pretty normal guy. Laid back, relaxed, calm--oh, and totally hung up on his ex-girlfriend, Cadence Findley. They dated in high school for a couple of years before it was time to go off to college. Jack received a full baseball scholarship to pitch for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln, while Cadence decided to become an education major at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. With the schools a couple of hours away from each other, the two decided to call it quits. Jack has clearly regretted that decision ever sense.

Jack Cook, baseball player, "nice guy," and Cadence's ex-boyfriend 

Jack returns to their home town of Shenandoah for Thanksgiving break and finds himself hanging out with Cadence and the rest of the gang, just like old times. Though he and Cadence have agreed to stay friends, things are still a bit awkward, and when the group of friends hangs out in Cadence's bedroom, well, it's hard to stay focused on the current status of their relationship.
Drew, the youngest member of the group suggests they attend an Eidolon Festival (a celebration of all things creepy) and while Jack is not exactly stoked to go, when he finds out Cadence will be attending, he decides to tag along, too, seeing it as an opportunity to spend more time with her.
The festival is definitely not his thing and he feels extremely uncomfortable even from the beginning. However, things escalate when Drew is swept up into the crowd and Cadence takes off after her. Unwilling to let the girls disappear, Jack and his friend Kash take off after them. Cadence suddenly seems to have some superhuman speed and it is a struggle for Jack and Kash to keep up with her. They become temporarily separated.  Hearing noise from the woods, they race in, only to discover a gruesome scene.  Drew is laying on the ground, bleeding from the neck, and Cadence has clearly had some sort of an altercation--with the undead.
With no time to ask questions or even think, Jack sweeps Drew up and the friends take off running through the woods.  Cadence cautions that there may be predators quick on their heels, and this soon becomes evident to Jack as he sees strange creatures sweeping down upon them.  With just seconds to spare, help arrives and the friends are ushered to safety by the Guardians, sent to protect Cadence.
When Jack awakes the next morning, his head is a buzz and his memories are a blur. He remembers rock climbing with his friends, and he knows there was an accident of some sort--something has happened to Drew--but he doesn't remember exactly what it was....
It seems the more Jack tries to remember what happened that night, the more uncomfortable and paranoid he becomes. Why does he have strange dreams that someone is following him? Why does he constantly think someone is listening to his conversations? As time goes on, Jack begins to grow physically ill.  Is it the stress of the situation or something else?  Whatever ails him, Jack is certain, the only person who can save him is Cadence, and she has suddenly left town, taking a mysterious job in another city.  When Jack needs her most, will Cadence be there?
Find out in The Clandestine Saga Book 1: Transformation coming Feb. 28th! Pre-order here.  In the next installment, we meet Eliza, the little Guardian who could.
Picture courtesy of Getty Images

Oh the Places We Will Go (In Deck of Cards)

Occasionally, a reader will ask what the significance is of the place names in Deck of Cards.  If you've even read the book blurb, you know that the novel is loosely based on an actual deck of cards.  So, what do the place names have to do with that? If you're in to symbolism, then this is the post for you!

Princess Katherine. Will she be forced to marry King Philip?

The story starts within the walls of Castle Blackthorn, in the Kingdom of Clovington. Blackthorn is actually a type of tree or shrub known for having very dark bark and a plethora of thorns growing around it.  The castle is also known for being quite dark and difficult to penetrate.  Clovington comes from the clover--or club. King Philip is the first "black" king, the King of Clubs.

Castle Blackthorn, where Matthew is held captive and Princess Katherine is to wed King Philip.

Next, we find out that Princess Katherine is from the Kingdom of Placidia. While Placidia does not represent any of the suits, the Queen of Placidia, Nichole, is actually one of the four Queens discussed in the book (there are five if you  count the Queen who abdicated from Zurconia--we won't count her). In the game of cards unfolding in the book, Placidia is sort of like the Joker. It could go either way, play with any suit.  Of course, we know what side is eventually taken, but for the most part, Placidia is placid and uninvolved.

The castle in Placidia is high in the mountains with gorgeous views.

We know that King Matthew, the captive king whom Philip is holding hostage somewhere within the castle, comes from the Kingdom of Zurconia.  It is clear from the beginning that Zurconia represents the suit of Diamonds and that Matthew is a "red" king--one of the "good guys."

The castle in Zurconia where Philip's men relied on espionage and sabotage to take Matthew captive.

We are given hope that Matthew will survive his ordeal when we find that his brother, King Caleb, is on his way to Castle Blackthorn in an attempt to rescue Matthew. Caleb hales from the Kingdom of Arteria, the suit of hearts, our other "red" king. Though at first it may not be quite clear why King Caleb is, in fact, the King of Hearts, as the story unfolds, it becomes more evident.

Castle Caine in Arteria is highly fortified and would be nearly impossible to penetrate.

The final kingdom that we are introduced to is Gradenia, which represents spades, a tool one uses in the garden.  Why is it not Gardenia? Just to keep you on your toes.... Gradenia is ruled by the sinister King Leopold, our final "black" king.

King Leopold, The King of Spades, rules Gradenia.

One may ask, why are the kings delineated and the queens are not? In a way they are.  We have two queens whose kingdoms are invaded and their families torn apart (Doloris and Margaret) and two queens who over-come great obstacles and fight for what they believe in (Nichole and Katherine) so, in this sense of the word, we could possibly assign suits but that takes the symbolism a bit too far for me. I'm content with leaving our four queens be and focusing on the kings and kingdoms.

Did you find the suits obvious or were they a bit tricky to unravel? What other aspects of the novel are you wondering about?

Purchase Deck of Cards here and read on any device on the Kindle Cloudreader. Only $2.99

Pictures courtesy of Getty Images