Good News for Fans of Faeraven

DawnSinger

DawnSinger, Tales of Faeraven, book one

DawnSinger (Tales of Faeraven 1)

DawnSinger was a March pick for ACFW book club readers. I also was invited to be interviewed on Alive in Christ radio by host Tony Marino. If you missed the show, you might want to listen to the archived copy as I discuss some of the allegory in DawnSinger.

Janalyn Voigt on Alive in Christ Radio

While you’re there, be sure and leave a comment!

DawnSinger: A headstrong young princess and the guardian sworn to protect her fly on winged horses to the Gate of Life above the Well of Light in a desperate bid to release the DawnKing, and the salvation he offers, into a divided land. Will they each learn in time that sometimes victory comes only through surrender?

WayFarer, Tales of Faeraven, book two

WayFarer, Tales of Faeraven, book two

WayFarer (Tales of Faeraven 2)

If you’ve been waiting for the release of WayFarer, book two in my Tales of Faeraven trilogy, you’ll be happy to learn I’m reviewing the final galley and will soon have a launch date. This story is special to me because it contrasts love and hatred, acceptance and prejudice. I can’t wait to share it with you. Watch for more exciting updates as WayFarer nears its launch.

Watch for more exciting updates as WayFarer nears its launch.

WayFarer: When an untried youth ascends to the high throne of Faeraven, his mistakes tear kingdoms apart and allow just one chance at redemption. He must humble himself before the man he banished.

 

DawnKing (Tales of Faeraven 3)

I’m gearing up to write book three of Tales of Faeraven. It helps that I will have read through WayFarer, book two, twice. One pass was to pull things out for inclusion in the glossary, which continues to grow for each subsequent book in the series. I’m in the middle of the second pass, this time as a check for errors in the final galley. Once I’ve completed this task, I’ll immediately launch into book three. I’m excited to finally tell in full the story that has remained with me for so many years.

DawnKing: A half-breed daughter and an illegitimate son seek to unite a divided land. But can they learn to trust one another?

Tweetables: 

Good news for fantasy fans! 

Book two of Tales of Faeraven is coming!

Heads up, Fans of DawnSinger: book two is on its way! 

 

 

©2013 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds newsletter and/or blog!

Author Journal: Moving Out of My Comfort Zone

Janalyn Voigt's Alive in Christ Radio  You’ve probably noticed the radio interview announcement to the left. Truth to tell, I’d rather design the announcement than do the interview. If I sound nervous, it’s because I am. The interview is set for between 8 and 9 pm Pacific Time, Tuesday, March 12th. That’s a time I’d normally be getting ready to slide into bed with a book, not talk before an international audience LIVE. (Thank you for listening.) Not to worry if you are reading this after the event. You can listen to a recording at the Alive in Christ Radio Network website.

This month, in fact, is all about stretching and growing as a public speaker. Yep, everyone’s favorite thing to fear is what I’ve taken it into my head to go out and do. I’ll be at the Inland Northwest Christian Writers Conference in Spokane next weekend teaching several classes and doing private social media and branding consultations with my friend and business partner, Melissa K. Norris. I’ll barely be home before I’ll be speaking at a meeting of the Northwest Christian Writers’ Association’s Fiction Writers Group. There are other events coming up, but if you’re interested, you can discover them by going to the speaker page for Janalyn Voigt and clicking on the calendar icon at the bottom of the page.

I don’t like having to step out of my comfort zone, but I do want to share the message that burns within me. I won’t preach it here, except to say that most people live unexamined, purposeless lives, and that’s a shame. There’s so much more. If you aren’t sure you’re living your life fully, you might want to listen to the interview.

In news of interest to writers, I’ve completed, together with Melissa K. Norris, the first draft of a book on author branding. We still have to edit, have it beta read, and add some cool touches, so we won’t release it until September. However, we’ve made part of it available in a workbook at the website we put together for our new business, TriLink Social Media Mentors.

At some point I’m going to have to plan this year’s research trip to Montana. I’ve been putting it off due to being so busy, but it’s March already so I can’t ignore it much longer. I’m looking forward to a road trip with my husband this time! He shares my love of history and is observant and bright, so I’m looking forward to researching with him.

After last year’s road trip to and from Texas within a month of the Grand Canyon trip, I’m laying low about attending any national writing conferences, however there is one factor that may get me to the ACFW Conference in Indiana this fall. I’ve entered DawnSinger in the Carol Awards. If it finals, I’ll probably go to the conference so I can sweat profusely while waiting for them to name the winner. I’m up against some tough competition in the speculative fiction category, but I also entered DawnSinger in the debut novel category. That gives it an extra chance to final. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I also have news on WayFarer (Tales of Faeraven 2)My editor at Harbourlight tells me that she’s putting together the final galley now. So, if you’ve been waiting for the second book in my series, she told me it’s safe to say it will release this year. My guess is that it won’t be much longer. Of course, all of this is making me anxious to start DawnKing (Tales of Faeraven 3). It’s had to wait behind other projects, but its time has come. I’m looking forward to immersing myself once more in the world of Elderland.

This journal has become a little lengthy, so I’d better stop chatting and let you go. Until next time, then.

©2013 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds newsletter and/or blog!

Book News: Current Projects and an Exciting Development

Books.jpg

DawnSinger CoverBy now you will be recovering from eggnog, peppermint mocha, and/or fruitcake consumption and gearing up for your new year. That’s pretty much the state I’m in too. With my email inbox filling up faster than I can empty it and several opportunities to grab at the turn of the year, I’ve been swamped. I won’t say I’m entirely caught up, but I’m headed the right direction.

ACFW Book Club Pick

It’s a dream come true for me to have DawnSinger published and WayFarer (book two of Tales of Faeraven) on its way. That would have been delectable enough, but this cake has frosting. DawnSinger has been chosen as the March pick for the American Christian Fiction Book Club. This is a much-sought-after honor. I am currently giving away 4 copies of DawnSinger to book club members in a drawing. Enter through the American Christian Fiction Book Club.

Historical Romance Projects

My agent is sending a proposal and sample chapters for Hills of Nevermore, book one of a historical romance series set during Montana’s gold rush. I’ll keep you posted. I’m also working with my agency on a Christmas novella submission as part of a collection.  Due to the need to coordinate between the authors involved, the location of my story came as a surprise. This story has taken hold of me and won’t let go. I’ll say more when I can give details.

Romantic Suspense Project

I’ve agreed to write a romantic suspense novel as part of a linked-fiction series with talented authors Lynnette Bonner and Lesley McDaniel.  Lynnette and Lesley are part of a critique group I belong to, so we’re used to working on one another’s writing and have develop a high degree of trust and rapport. We’re also all members of the Live Write Breathe retreat group. Each year we carve a week out of our schedules to go to some hideaway or other and write. Last year we rented waterfront property in the San Juan Islands, where our series will be set. We’re entitling the series Islands of Intrigue. Lynnette is setting the first novel, The Unrelenting Tide, on San Juan Island. It will release in March. Mysterious Shaw Island takes center stage in Lesley’s The Tide Will Tell. I’ll feature Orcas Island in my contribution, Deceptive Tide. Watch for more details about this exciting new series.

Current Giveaways

I’m giving away two copies of DawnSinger on Goodreads.

The ACFW Book Club is hosting a drawing for four free copies of DawnSinger.

©2013 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds newsletter and/or blog!

Author Journal: Time Management, Upcoming Travels, and News

Ticking Clock

The Clock is Ticking

My speaking engagements next year in part call upon me to teach others better time management skills, so it seems fair that I master it in my own life. Since taking on the role of writer, then contracted author, and now published novelist, my life has gotten more and more complicated. I’ve started taking irons out of the fire. Like any good cowgirl, I can only brand so many cattle at once.

Sometimes you have to let go of something that’s good to make way for the new. This week I resigned from a group blog to which I contributed to make way for a new direction. Being involved in the blog wasn’t negative, but I need to focus differently. Life is nothing if it’s not about focus. Writing books, building this website, travel blogging, and taking beautiful photographs are all part of my defining direction. I find myself centering here with you and will continue to do so.

On the Domestic Side

Streamlining my life is not limited to the area of writing. I’ve begun bulk cooking sessions on the weekends I’m home to cover weekday meals. I’m pleased with the results. Not only have I saved money by having meals in the freezer when I’m tempted to eat out, but the time and money savings have been amazing. This works because I’m able to reuse knives and bowls, sometimes with just a rinse. For example, last weekend I made wheat rolls and Irish soda bread in the same bowl. If I had made them on different occasions, I’d have had to wash the mixing bowl twice. Bulk cooking also helps us eat better. When I’ve already rinsed and drained lettuce leaves, chopped onions, and made salad dressing, it’s not that hard to throw together a salad for lunch.

We’re in the process of adding in bulk shopping to the mix. In October we purchased a side of beef for our freezer, and in November it will be a side of pork plus an extra turkey to freeze for another month. In December we’ll purchase wheat, sugar, citrus fruit, cranberries, pomegranates, figs, and dates.  We allot one half of our grocery money to bulk purchases. We don’t know for certain yet, but shopping in this way should lower our grocery bills. Let me know if you’re interested in having the bulk shopping list by month that I’ve put together and I’ll post it in my next journal entry.

Another area that I’ve started speed-dialing is home duties. I’ve taken to heart the professional cleaners’ method of doing all of one thing at a time throughout the house. I try to spend no more than an hour a day, although sometimes it still gets away from me. I’m also considering going to a checklist rather than to a daily rotation. So far my revamped cleaning schedule looks like this:

  • Monday: Decluttering Project
  • Tuesday: Sweep, Mop, Vacuum, Shampoo an Area or Room.
  • Wednesday: Scrub Sinks, Bathtubs, Showers, Counters, Toilets, and Kitchen Appliances.
  • Thursday: Remove Cobwebs and Polish Furniture.
  • Friday: Clean Glass, Change Lightbulbs, and Take an All-Purpose Cleaner to Walls, Switch Plates, and Doorknobs
  • Saturday (when home and willing): Clean the Deck, Garage, Outbuildings, and Yard

If you decide to try any of my systems, shoot me an email or comment and let me know how they work for you.

Future Travels

Least you think I’ve abandoned travel adventures for domesticity, never fear. Plans are in the works for next year’s week-long Live Write Breathe retreat, which I organize for and with a group of other writers. We’ve batted around locations and have settled on one of two: a private mansion that has been offered to us if the dates work out or one of the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington state.

There’s also an upcoming family retreat, usually to somewhere along the coast of Oregon or Washington, so we can watch storms and challenge ourselves to endure an often-freezing walk along the beach. It’s a strange tradition but uniquely ours. A research trip to a ghost town I’m writing about in Hills of Nevermore, my historical romance work-in-progress is in the offing for next year, and we’ll also visit Yellowstone and a-yet-to-be disclosed location with my extended family.

Writing News

Historical Fiction: I received requests to read more of a manuscript my agent proposed to several editors at the conference I attended, so I worked hard and edited what I had written of that manuscript. That story is part of a series set in Montana’s gold rush that I’m developing.

Fantasy: Before going on my Grand Canyon road trip I completed my publisher’s requested edits for WayFarer, book two of my Tales of Faeraven epic fantasy series. I have yet to hear if there will be a second round of edits and I don’t have a release date yet. I’ll let you know when I know. Meanwhile, I’m gearing up to write DawnKing, book three of the series, in the beginning of next year.

I’ll close this open letter with wishes for a safe and happy holiday season for you, dear reader.

Janalyn


DawnSinger (Tales of Faeraven #1)The High Queen is dying… At the royal summons, Shae mounts a wingabeast and soars through the air to the high hold of Faeraven, where all is not as it seems. Visions warn her of danger, and a dark soul touches hers in the night. When she encounters an attractive but disturbing musician, her wayward heart awakens.

But then there is Kai, a guardian of Faeraven and of Shae. Secrets bind him to her, and her safety lies at the center of every decision he makes. On a desperate journey fraught with peril and the unknown, they battle warlike garns, waevens, ferocious raptors, and the wraiths of their own regrets. Yet, they must endure the campaign long enough to release the DawnKing—and the salvation he offers—into a divided land. To prevail, each must learn that sometimes victory comes only through surrender.

©2013 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds newsletter and/or blog!

Mythical Creatures: Winged Horses and Wingabeasts

DawnSinger (Tales of Faeraven 1)

Horses and flying both fascinate me. Small wonder, then, that wild winged horses known as wingabeasts feature in Tales of Faeraven. In DawnSinger, book one of my epic fantasy trilogy, the hero and heroine undertake a perilous journey on the back of wingabeasts.  I want to give the reader a chance to fly.

The wingabeasts of Faeraven are based on Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology. While Pegasus is large and white, as befitting the carrier of thunder on Mount Olympus, wingabeasts come in a variety of colors: silver, gray, black, and gold among them. They also vary in size from delicate to brawny. The smaller wingabeasts have more agility.

Pegasus is said to be the son of Poseidon and Gorgona Medusa and sprang, according to differing accounts, from drops of blood or blood mixed with dirt or blood and sea foam after his mother was decapitated by Perseus. Pegasus struck the ground with his hoof to create the stream Hippocrene in the Helicon Mountains, a place poets drink the water to spark their creativity.

The wingabeasts of Faeraven ran wild in the Maegrad Paesad (Impassible Mountains) until Talan, one of the High King’s of Faeraven, captured one in a memorable ride forever immortalized in the history of his people. After that more wingabeasts were captured, but an untamed remnant retreated beyond reach. The Guardians of Rivenn received the privilege of riding the captured wingabeasts. The creatures’ respond both to touch and sound commands, and will hold still when instructed, even when predators are near. When danger threatens and their riders are not present, as a safety measure, wingabeasts will launch into flight, but later return.

In the Middle Ages, the time period the world of Elderland within Tales of Faeraven is based upon, the winged horse symbolized virtue and wisdom. In DawnSinger, the wingabeasts certainly help those who ride them to that end.

Learn more about DawnSinger.

Read the first chapter of DawnSinger.

Purchase DawnSinger.

This post first appeared as a guest post on author Sarah Sawyer’s website. 

*Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased at Amazon.com through affiliate links.

Tweetables

 Wild winged horses known as wingabeasts feature in DawnSinger (Tales of Faeraven #1) (Click to Tweet).

“I want to give the reader a chance to fly.” Janalyn Voigt, author of DawnSinger (Click to Tweet)

The wingabeasts of Faeraven are based on Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology (Click to Tweet).

Talan, High King of Faeraven, captured a winged horse in a wild ride immortalized by his people (Click to Tweet)

In the Middle Ages the winged horse symbolized virtue & wisdom (Click to Tweet)

Related Posts and Pages

Mythical Creature: Gryphon

Good News for Fans of Faeraven

Tales of Faeraven

DawnSinger (Tales of Faeraven 1)

 

First Paragraphs

A crosswind caught Kai’s wingabeast as lightning flared too near. Shrilling, the winged horse tilted in flight, and Kai’s stomach lurched. A gust snatched the hood from his head and roared in his ears. He blinked to clear the stinging rain that drove into his eyes. Thunder boomed like a timpani, shaking the air. Flecht shuddered beneath him, and Kai placed a calming hand on his wingabeast’s straining neck. He did not like this long flight through the wild night any better than did Flecht.

An image rose, unbidden—Lof Raelein Maeven, Faeraven’s High Queen, upon her deathbed, her sea-green eyes surging with life. As a guardian of Faeraven and as a friend, he would die to appease the hope that had flared in those eyes.

Wind howled and lightning flashed close enough to blind. Kai wondered if his own death neared. He would not—could not—halt his journey, although it took him into the teeth of danger. Necessity drove him as he pushed onward, past endurance. If he survived the storm, he would deliver Maeven’s last summons.

Read the First Chapter of DawnSinger.

Read the First Chapter of DawnSinger

©2013 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds newsletter and/or blog!

Travel Journal: Shipwrecked

Lake at Fort Stevens State Park

Serene Beauty at Fort Stevens State Park

Why grocery shopping for our family’s camping reunion after driving across the state of Oregon had seemed like a good idea I couldn’t recall. Supper waited if we could but reach our family’s camp sites in Fort Stevens State park. Forcing my mind from my growling stomach, I added trail mix, bread, and eggs to my cart, and then hunted down bottled water. At last the items on my list were either in my possession or skipped as impossible to find in the strange store. I piled bags of groceries into my already-laden car, then buckled my seat belt with a determined click. Dark wasn’t far off.

Our small family caravan had difficulty finding the park, and then the sites where our relatives waited to greet us. When our search yielded results, and I could at last shut off the engine, I sighed with relief. The last several days of our trip had been an endurance test. I was tired but all the chores of setting up camp needed to be done. My husband would join me tonight after the camp was asleep. My exhaustion and the need to hurry before full dark fell clouded my judgment, and I picked up a satchel without bending my knees. I say this to my shame since I spent five years of my life as a mail carrier and certainly knew better. The satchel wasn’t heavy, but pain shot through the small of my back. Dropping the satchel, I called for help. Under normal circumstances my back might have handled the slight strain but switching between the brake and clutch during that hour’s-long traffic jam in Salt Lake City must have taken its toll.

John arrived to find me in my sleeping bag, moaning in agony with every shift of position.

The next morning our entire family group visited Fort Clatsop, but I spent the rest of the day flat on my back in our tent. It’s just as well I’m a writer and reader because I kept myself entertained for hours with a notepad, pen, and book. Sleep finally overtook me, and I slept until my family’s return. Pretending I felt better, when members of our group went to a lake I tagged along. I wound up sitting on a bench while they played. As moss-draped trees swayed in the breeze, the contrast of light and darkness fascinated me, and I took pictures until my battery ran out.

Fort Stevens State Park

IMAG0386

By now it was apparent that my back would not heal immediately, but the next day I went to the beach anyway. I wanted to see the wreck of the Peter Iredale, a British sailing ship that ran aground on a sandbar in 1906. She was sold for scrap. Only the bow, several ribs, and part of a few masts remained. The rudder now sits in the parking lot of Astoria’s Columbia River Maritime Museum. Over time the wreck has embedded itself in the sand. The Peter Iredale is one of many shipwrecks along the famed “graveyard of the Pacific.”

I made my slow, painstaking way down a sand bank with my husband’s support. The wreck doesn’t look like much at first, but when you reach and stand inside what would have been the hull you begin to understand its enormity.

Janalyn Voigt at wreck of Peter Iredale

Here I am at the wreck of the Peter Iredale. I tried, but that smile on my face looks more like a grimace of pain.

IMAG0403

Peter Iredale shipwreck

I missed seeing the barracks at Fort Stevens completely. Besides the Peter Iredale, my photo session at the lake and the faces of my family around the table at meals were all the attractions I saw. I had to swap cars with my husband for our automatic so I could use cruise control to spare my back on the drive home. The rest that gave me actually helped me to recover. Within a few days of my return, I was walking normally.

I hope you’ve enjoyed coming along on my adventure. Watch for more travel journals, notes from my research, and my author news in upcoming entries. I don’t post on a set schedule, just when I have something to share. I’ll leave you until next time with this peaceful video of Fort Stevens State Park. Enjoy!

Tweetables

The last several days of travel had been an endurance test (Click to Tweet).

As moss-draped trees swayed in the breeze, the contrast of light and darkness fascinated (Click to Tweet).

Images of the Peter Iredale, a British sailing ship that ran aground on a sandbar in 1906 (Click to Tweet).

Peter Iredale is one of many shipwrecks along the famed coast named the “graveyard of the Pacific.” (Click to Tweet.)

#TravelJournal: Wreck of the Peter Iredale (Click to Tweet) 

Creative Worlds Newsletter

Escape into Creative Worlds!

Click the image for the secure sign-up form to receive posts as they publish and/or the monthly Creative Worlds newsletter. Janalyn Voigt updates readers with travel journals, tidbits from her research, details about her books, author journals, and more. As a subscriber, you’ll receive exclusive content plus advance notification of Janalyn’s book releases, contests, and giveaways.

Click to subscribe now!

 

 (Grand Canyon Road Trip in sequential order)

Travel Journal: Washington to Oregon (Grand Canyon Road Trip #1)

Travel Journal: Oregon to California (Grand Canyon Road Trip #2)

Travel Journal: Road to Yosemite (Grand Canyon Road Trip #3)

Travel Journal: Ghost Town in the Shadow of the Sierra Nevadas (Grand Canyon Road Trip #4)

Travel Journal: One Big Hole in the Ground (Grand Canyon Road Trip #5)

Travel Journal: Strange Bedfellows (Grand Canyon Road Trip #6)

Travel Journal: Start of a Very Long Day (Grand Canyon Road Trip #7)

Travel Journal: Middle of a Very Long Day (Grand Canyon Road Trip #8)

Travel Journal: End of a Very Long Day (Grand Canyon Road Trip #9)

Travel Journal: Sam Hill’s Stonehenge (Grand Canyon Road Trip #10)

Travel Journal: Shipwrecked (Grand Canyon Road Trip #11)

©2013 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds newsletter and/or blog!

Travel Journal: Sam Hill’s Stonehenge

Mt. Hood from Columbia Gorge Mt. Hood from Columbia Gorge @Janalyn Voigt

The buffeting wind countered the warmth of summer as I slipped into shadow. This was a momentary stop, a diversion on a long day of driving from Emigrant Springs in Oregon’s Blue Mountains in the east to Astoria on the Pacific coast. Above me lofty heads lifted against a blue sky. Whispering of a forgotten past, of a time when young men went off to war, they circled me, stone upon stone, Stonehenge revisited, but more. There, etched on a plaque, names recalled Klickitat County’s fallen sons, heroes from World War I. Beyond it the blue waters of the Columbia slid on their way to the sea and golden hillsides slumbered below a distant snow-peaked mountain.

Sam Hill's Stonehenge © Janalyn Voigt Sam Hill’s Stonehenge © Janalyn Voigt

You would think this was the English countryside, where ancient stones stand, but Sam Hill’s Stonehenge Memorial, a tribute to Klickitat County’s fallen World War I soldiers, rises on a hillside above the Columbia gorge in Washington state.

Sam Hill, a millionaire businessman and Quaker, built this model as a full-scale replica of the original Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. The Stonehenge Memorial lies four miles east of the Maryhill Museum at the site of the original Maryhill townsite. On a bluff a short distance away Sam Hill’s crypt overlooks the Columbia.

Stonehenge Memorial © Janalyn Voigt Stonehenge Memorial © Janalyn Voigt

“… Hill was mistakenly informed that the original Stonehenge had been used as a sacrificial site, and thus constructed the replica to remind us that ”humanity is still being sacrificed to the god of war.” …” (Maryhill Museum Website, 2006)

I turned to go. It was time to move on Fort Stevens State Park, where a family reunion and an even more poignant remnant from the past awaited me. 

Tweetables

Whispering of a time when young men went off to war, they circled me, stone upon stone, Stonehenge revisited (Click to Tweet).

Travel Journal: Sam Hill’s Stonehenge: a plaque recalls Klickitat County’s fallen sons (Click to Tweet).

The Columbia slid on its way to the sea & golden hillsides slumbered below a distant snow-peaked mountain (Click to Tweet).

You would think this was the English countryside, where ancient stones stand (Click to Tweet).

Sam Hill, a millionaire businessman & Quaker built a full-scale replica of Stonehenge (Click to Tweet)

Creative Worlds Newsletter

Escape into Creative Worlds!

Click the image for the secure sign-up form to receive posts as they publish and/or the monthly Creative Worlds newsletter. Janalyn Voigt updates readers with travel journals, tidbits from her research, details about her books, author journals, and more. As a subscriber, you’ll receive exclusive content plus advance notification of Janalyn’s book releases, contests, and giveaways.

Click to subscribe now!

 

 (Grand Canyon Road Trip in sequential order)

Travel Journal: Washington to Oregon (Grand Canyon Road Trip #1)

Travel Journal: Oregon to California (Grand Canyon Road Trip #2)

Travel Journal: Road to Yosemite (Grand Canyon Road Trip #3)

Travel Journal: Ghost Town in the Shadow of the Sierra Nevadas (Grand Canyon Road Trip #4)

Travel Journal: One Big Hole in the Ground (Grand Canyon Road Trip #5)

Travel Journal: Strange Bedfellows (Grand Canyon Road Trip #6)

Travel Journal: Start of a Very Long Day (Grand Canyon Road Trip #7)

Travel Journal: Middle of a Very Long Day (Grand Canyon Road Trip #8)

Travel Journal: End of a Very Long Day (Grand Canyon Road Trip #9)

Travel Journal: Sam Hill’s Stonehenge (Grand Canyon Road Trip #10)

Travel Journal: Shipwrecked (Grand Canyon Road Trip #11)

©2013 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds newsletter and/or blog!

Travel Journal: One Big Hole in the Ground

Lights of Las Vegas from space Las Vegas From Space
Astronaut photograph ISS026-E-6255 was acquired on November 30, 2010, with a Nikon D3S digital camera using an 180 mm lens, and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations experiment and Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center. http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=47687

A young member of our family expressed his reluctance to visit our main destination by calling it “just a big hole in the ground.”  Those of us who had seen the Grand Canyon smiled at one another and made no response.

Before leaving Las Vegas, where more family members flew in to join us, we  drove down the famous strip. Among other things, there was a depiction of Camelot, dinosaur statues, and even a building of glass that shone golden in the sun. We stopped to explore the Luxor. More an experience than a hotel, the Luxor is shaped like a sphynx and pyramid. Besides hotel rooms it contains giant Egyptian statues, fountains, a food court, shopping mall, restaurants, and probably more than I had time to take in. We dined at an Irish pub where the waitress asked, “And what will yourself be having?” She leaned a little too close to my husband, John, and called him “Darlin’.” I’d already noticed men turning their heads to watch the women of our party. Although a roller coaster wound through Camelot, this was after all “Sin City.”

We didn’t see the strip lighted at night, but images taken from the international space station show Las Vegas as the brightest place on earth. Within that bright city, the strip shines with greatest force. These images literally show light that is lost in space, and therefore wasted. Since I prefer my nights dark, I was a little relieved when we left the big city for the long, hot drive to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Along the way we encountered a thunderstorm and even drove beneath arcing lightning at a place called, appropriately enough, 2-mile wash. Inquisitive creature that I am, I wondered how the voltage of a single lightning bolt compared to the luminosity of Las Vegas.

We drove out of the storm and through miles of wilderness where deer herds grazed in misty meadows. We ‘d lingered so long in Las Vegas we worried about getting our tents up before dark, so we didn’t stop to take photos, but I managed to catch a decent photo of the forest by rolling down the car window as the car slowed.

Grand Canyon North Rim Forest Grand Canyon Forest © Janalyn Voigt

We set up our tents in the dark.

In the morning it was time to explore that big hole in the ground and rearrange the thinking of a jaded young traveler. We hiked to Bright Angel Point in the heat, but the stunning views were worth the effort.

Grand Canyon Path to Bright Angel Point Grand Canyon Path to Bright Angel Point © Janalyn Voigt

Grand Canyon North Rim Beauty Grand Canyon North Rim Beauty © Janalyn Voigt

North Rim Grand Canyon North Rim Grand Canyon © Janalyn Voigt

John pointed out a power line impossibly strung from the north rim down into the canyon. This puzzled us until he figured out that it must supply energy to the North Rim lodge from Hoover Dam.  We puzzled over how such a feat had been accomplished and ventured various theories from use of a crane to the wire being hand-carried through the canyon.

We spent the night huddled in our tent, which we’d moved to the south rim, as thunder shook the ground and lightning flared above the thin fabric separating us from the storm’s fury. We weathered the night without getting wet, but others of our party weren’t so fortunate.  More views compensated for our wild night.

Grand Canyon with Colorado River Bends Grand Canyon with Colorado River Bends © Janalyn Voigt

Grand Canyon South Rim Switchback Path for the Daring Grand Canyon South Rim Switchback Path for the Daring © Janalyn Voigt

Grand Canyon South Rim Contours
Grand Canyon South Rim Contours © Janalyn Voigt

The force that created the Grand Canyon, the Colorado river, still threads through the canyon, but now Hoover Dam regulates its flow, directing once-untamed waters to create energy–energy to power Las Vegas.

Creative Worlds Newsletter

Escape into Creative Worlds!

Click the image for the secure sign-up form to receive posts as they publish and/or the monthly Creative Worlds newsletter. Janalyn Voigt updates readers with travel journals, tidbits from her research, details about her books, author journals, and more. As a subscriber, you’ll receive exclusive content plus advance notification of Janalyn’s book releases, contests, and giveaways.

Click to subscribe now!

Tweetables

When he called the Grand Canyon “just a big hole in the ground,” we smiled (Click to Tweet).

#TravelJournal: Thunder and lightning on a road trip from Las Vegas to the #GrandCanyon (Click to Tweet)

#RoadTrip from the brightest place on Earth to the deepest (Click to Tweet). 

“It was time to rearrange the thinking of a jaded young traveler (Click to Tweet).”

Thunder shook the ground & lightning flared above the thin fabric separating us from the storm’s fury (Click to Tweet).

 (Grand Canyon Road Trip in sequential order)

Travel Journal: Washington to Oregon (Grand Canyon Road Trip #1)

Travel Journal: Oregon to California (Grand Canyon Road Trip #2)

Travel Journal: Road to Yosemite (Grand Canyon Road Trip #3)

Travel Journal: Ghost Town in the Shadow of the Sierra Nevadas (Grand Canyon Road Trip #4)

Travel Journal: One Big Hole in the Ground (Grand Canyon Road Trip #5)

Travel Journal: Strange Bedfellows (Grand Canyon Road Trip #6)

Travel Journal: Start of a Very Long Day (Grand Canyon Road Trip #7)

Travel Journal: Middle of a Very Long Day (Grand Canyon Road Trip #8)

Travel Journal: End of a Very Long Day (Grand Canyon Road Trip #9)

Travel Journal: Sam Hill’s Stonehenge (Grand Canyon Road Trip #10)

Travel Journal: Shipwrecked (Grand Canyon Road Trip #11)

©2013 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds newsletter and/or blog!

Author Journal: Living, Writing, Breathing…and Waiting

Northwoods Sunset © 2011 Janalyn Voigt Northwoods Sunset © 2011 Janalyn Voigt

Upcoming Journeys

I and a group of writing friends will soon invade one of the San Juan Islands for a week of writing, researching, catching up on one another’s lives, and talking shop. Our yearly Live Write Breathe retreat is something none of us would willingly miss. I’ll also venture out on side trips, camera in hand, ready to capture the wild beauty and mystery of my surroundings. But we’ll only need to look out the window of our rental home to drink in the changing beauty of Puget Sound. I’ll report on this retreat and post pictures upon my return.

This year will include two adventures farther afield, one for pleasure and the other for business. I’ll explore the Grand Canyon and its environs with my family, and then drive with a friend to Texas for a writing conference. I’ll post my observations and, of course, some of the images from these trips in the coming months.

Book News

DawnSinger is about to release. I’ll celebrate my debut novel’s launch on July 3rd. That should be happy news, and it is. And yet…launching a book is an emotional ride for its author. One day I’m thrilled, and the next wondering if people will like my novel. These days discoverability is the issue. Can I gain enough attention for my book so that its readers will find it? Time will supply the answer. Meanwhile, I wait.

Watch for announcements of promotional giveaway drawings for free copies of DawnSinger and special discounts offered only to members of my email lists.

DawnSingerAbout DawnSinger, Tales of Faeraven, book one:

The High Queen is dying… At the royal summons, Shae mounts a wingabeast and soars through the air to the high hold of Faeraven, where all is not as it seems. Visions warn her of danger, and a dark soul touches hers in the night. When she encounters an attractive but disturbing musician, her wayward heart awakens. But then there is Kai, a guardian of Faeraven and of Shae. Secrets bind him to her, and her safety lies at the center of every decision he makes. On a desperate journey fraught with peril and the unknown, they battle warlike garns, waevens, ferocious raptors, and the wraiths of their own regrets. Yet, they must endure the campaign long enough to release the DawnKing—and the salvation he offers—into a divided land. To prevail, each must learn that sometimes victory comes only through surrender.

©2013 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds newsletter and/or blog!

Big Changes

livewritebreatheI’ve moved my blog for writers to my new site at http://LiveWriteBreathe.com.  You will not be automatically transferred to that list since not everyone on my email list is a writer who will appreciate that site. Some signed on to follow my journey as an author and/or the progress of Tales of Faeraven, my epic fantasy series, toward publication. Since it’s impossible to tell who wants to follow me where, I’ll let you make your own decision. I will not duplicate content between the sites and each will offer benefits, so if you’d like you may follow updates at both sites.

In celebration of its launch, I’m giving away free letterhead and query letter templates on Live Write Breathe. Subscribers to this site will receive weekly writing-related blog posts or videos, and advance notification of teaching resources. I have other plans for this site but don’t want to steal my own thunder, so I’ll hold off on mentioning them now.

The sign-up giveaway on http://JanalynVoigt.com will change soon, so if you want my Scheduler, grab it now.

I’ll develop JanalynVoigt.com as a place for readers to discover my books and learn more about my writing and about me as an author . Although I will no longer blog from this site, I’ll post infrequent notes from my research similar to my posts on Edward and Eleanor: A Royal Love Story that Transcended Death, Greek Fire: Lost in the Mists of Time and Forgotten in Time: Titanic of the Mississippi, America’s Worst Maritime Disaster. Other occasional updates will provide news of interest about my books, writing, and life as writer. In addition, I’ll offer promotional contests to readers and special discounts to email subscribers for http://JanalynVoigt.com.

Thanks for your friendship and interest in my writing. I value you.

©2013 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds newsletter and/or blog!