Start that Idea Today|| Last Post Before Summer

Hello, friends and readers!

I'm alive! I promise! 

I haven't been blogging for the past few weeks. Yes, I know; that's terrible. I do have reviews that need to go up (many thanks to the authors for being so patient with me), I have guest posts to write on other book blogs. I have fun posts for here. I have stuff to share! I've just been so busy lately.  

Did you ask why? Well, the reason is quite simple. I've been playing around with a new story idea. I've been allowing it to germinate in my mind. I've shared the idea aloud with my sister (who called it the best of both of my prior novels). This makes me excited. Really excited. Like I stay up all night thinking and I walk around in a daze daydreaming about my characters excited. But...

10 Reasons why your non-writing friends think you're crazy

Oops, i'm a day late for my weekly posts. The past week has been the craziest most exhilarating one of my life so far. It's very exciting and it's writing related, but I dare not share anything until March 15th/16th. Oh, you're curious about what's going on? I'll just leave you hanging for another two weeks :P

In other news...
I thought that I would share all the reasons why us writers are seen as crazy by our friends. I hope that you think it's as funny as I do (just laugh after every punch line). Please feel free to add your own in the comments section!!

1)  You read far too many books. Actually, you probably like books more than people. Your significant other, family, and friends  have slowly become resigned to this reality.

Pro-tip: Just don't take your manuscript out on dates.

2) As you write, you begin to squint into the bright light that is your laptop screen. You hunch over in your chair and you don't move for hours. You sweat profusely as you think.  Your sister may poke your face to see if you're still alive. You are. Don't glare at her. Instead, smile and forcefully say that you're spending time with bae (aka manuscript).

Interview with Heidi Angell

Dear readers,
today on the blog, I am pleased to introduce Heidi Angell. 

"Heidi Angell is a bibliophile, lexicomaniac and wordsmith! She is the author of The Hunters Series, The Clear Angel Chronicles, and The Hell School Series. She also created Royal Prince Vince, and Creative Exercises to Inspire, 

When she is not reading and writing, she can be found spending quality time with her lovely family camping, hiking, swimming, or watching movies.  Learn more about her and her books at HeidiAngell.com"

Some of you may remember her as one of the amazing hosts for the New Year New Books 2016 Tour, but today I want to introduce her to you as the author of "Hell School: Fresh Meat." This post is a part of the tour for her novel. The tour started on Feb 21st and will end on March 21st, and I am so glad to be a part of this event!:Enjoy the interview!

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Ama et Bemma: Heidi, welcome to my blog! I am so glad that you allowed me to interview you!

Heidi: Hello Ama, Thank you so much for having me today! I am excited to connect with your readers. 

A: I bet that my readers are excited about connecting with you, too! So what's your latest news? 
H: I am excited to announce that Hell School: Fresh Meat is available for pre-order, and will release March 18th. *Squee* This has been a long time coming!

Michael Forester, Author of the Epic Fantasy-Poetry "Dragonsong" | Excerpt

Hello readers,

Today on the blog, I am pleased to share an excerpt from Michael Forester's latest novel "Dragonsong." As many of you know, I am a poet, so I instantly appreciate texts that experiment with verse of give generous nods towards traditional forms and styles. "Dragonsong" is an epic fantasy written in rhyming Old English (did your inner nerd just squeal with excitement? Because I totally started smiling like crazy when I first heard about Forester's novel taking on this form).

Forester has ever so kindly given us a special sneak-peak into his novel, and I hoping that you will all enjoy it as much as I have! As a poet, I know that it not only takes time but some extreme skills to pull off what Forester has done. The interwoven rhyme is not off-putting, and it gives way for ones imagination to reflect back upon older epic stories that must have been sung around hearths in the days of old. This skill should be of no surprise since Forester is a graduate of Oxford University. He, as he puts it, "was born with a pen in hand." He is an award winning author and has works already in print. You can learn more about him at the bottom of this post, but as for now, I  hope that you enjoy the novel description and the excerpt!

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About the Novel:

Genre: Fantasy Poetry

Word Count: 3,200

Rebekah, daughter of Merlin and noblewoman of Albion has been driven to madness by the murder of her lover Vidar. In her torment she bargains with the Prince of Demons to turn her into a dragon. Once transformed, she seeks to take revenge upon her father, Merlin, whom she is fooled into believing is responsible for Vidar’s death. Behind the subterfuge stands Oberon, Captain-King of Elves, who cannot foresee the devastation his jealousy and unrequited love for Rebekah will unleash upon the world of Gaia. Its salvation depends upon Merlin travelling back in time to find a pure hearted warrior, Lady Attie, who, together with Michael, seer of Albion, must take the Sleep Stone from the gates of Hell to persuade the dragon to sleep. But if they are unable to return the Stone to the mouth of Hell in time, the demon army will awaken and ransack Gaia in a war that will destroy its existence. Time is the solution to Gaia’s destiny – but only if the gods of Asgard can find a way to stop it. Dragonsong is a unique epic fantasy that explores fundamental themes of good and evil, jealously and revenge. Woven together with a gripping and powerful plot, the pattern of the language, the musicality of the form and the profound emotions invoked carry the reader to extremes of human experience and capability at both its best and worst. Read an Excerpt Below!

Dear Writer, Inspiration Never comes on Schedule | Landon Roussell

Preface

Dear Reader, today, on Ama et Bemma, we will be continuing our "Dear Writer" series with a guest post from Landon Roussel. Landon eloquently speaks to the bouts (or lack) of inspiration and persistence that a writer goes through. Being settled into the New Year, I find that such a message is important. We made goals (perhaps some were writing goals), and these goals may be not be coming to fruition the way we wanted. Reading Landon's post will let you know that the inspiration you seek will come gradually. Landon is the author of "On the Primitive way," a memoir that I will be reading and reviewing in a few months. Also, by the way, Happy Valentines day everyone.


Follow Landon Rousell on: Goodreads; His Blog; Amazon; Twitter; Google Plus

Dear Writer,

Inspiration never comes on our own schedule. At least, not usually. I don’t think I am alone in having the frequent experience of picking up the pen to write and just not being able to craft a piece as inspiring or as insightful the first go around as I would like. Certainly publishable first drafts happen, but they are not the norm. Instead, drafting a solid work of literature is always more of a process of revising than it is simply putting words down the first time. But in persisting with the cumbersome editing process, I’ve found that simply making time to listen to my voice (either through re-reading, comments from editors or input from beta readers) will allow that much-needed inspiration to come.