Ivy? Who is She?

Lily looks at Ivy and grabs her hands in hers. “Ivy you must go now time is ticking, you must return in seven days at midnight or you will be stuck in that dimension forever.”

She kisses Ivy on the cheek and, steps back with tears sliding down her cheek.

Ivy looks frantic and scared, “can’t I say goodbye to everyone first Nana?”

“No sweetheart it makes it harder.”

Ivy walks a few steps away from her grandmother with her left hand around the star pendant. She looks back to see if her grandmother was going to tell her this was all a joke. Instead she hears her grandmother release a sob and sees her leaving the room. Ivy puts on the mantle and recites the words Lily told her.

 

Hi Fellow Bloggers,

The scene above is a familiar (recent one) that I have posted from the books. I could have found some more enthralling scenes, but I didn’t want to give too much of the book away ahead of time. This scene was included in the excerpt I just posted last week so if you want to read about this bit of information I suggestion reading that before you dive into this post. I don’t want to spoil any perceptions about Ivy’s personality or character traits for you.

I have worked with Ivy for a few years now. She has developed into a lovely girl. Much more outgoing… She was really guarded… even in her family dynamics. I think she was afraid to prove that she was less than her sister Anna. She didn’t realize the very thing that made her different from Anna is what made her special. They are two different girls.

In this scene Ivy is being prepared to leave to find the herb for her mother. She is given a rundown of her history and then she is kind of thrust into the unknown. This scene shows Ivy’s vulnerability the most throughout the beginning of the book. She is very distraught. She planned to go on this journey with her sister. She didn’t feel she was qualified by herself.

This scenes represents her innocence and loyalty to her family. It is the precept of events that pushed her into being the Ivy I love. The one who is strong and is willing to fight for her family. She still has weakness, but they are more sharpened. She knows that she has thicker skin. It’s just sometimes life really sucks and makes you test the thickness, and it really hurts. Ivy goes through a lot in this book and the next two that follow so she has to experience this life changing journey on her own to be prepared for the rest of it. Breaking a family curse isn’t easy.

As I reread over this post I am always brought back to the sheer disparity and fear she feels her. Her thoughts float through my mind and I can hear her second guessing herself. I can feel her extinct to run away from this. Her desire to pretend that she has another choice. I mean she just got sweep away from her birthday party to be told you have to leave. When all she really wanted to do was go sit with her mother and show her the pictures she took from the party. She wants to curl up beside her and feel the love they share. She was is mentally distraught. I mean Ivy is on the edge of a breakdown. Somehow in that moment of putting on the cloak, reciting the words of travel, and stepping through into the Hall of Doors. She finds her resolve. She finds the strength to follow her destiny.

I guess I choose this scene, because it is when I saw Ivy for who she really is. I saw her strength and I admired her for it. I wished for the same thing in my life. This is where I become a champion of her.

Chapter Four Excerpt One

Hi Fellow Bloggers,

As I was trying to figure out what to post this week, besides updates I keep getting distracted. I have a ton of stuff going on writing wise and I wanted to start the year off right on this blog. I don’t know why you decide to subscribe to my blog, but I thank you. I am hear to give my books an audience and a voice. I want them to become your friend while I also build a relationship with you. I am going to try my hardest to post on here at least once a week. It might be on the same day every week, but it will happen. I am going to try and get more organized with this blog. I have several other book ideas floating around in my head. Thanks to my sister I have journals now to write them down in. I also am trying to get a job while helping my mom out at the restaurant. I just want you to know that I am dedicated to this blog, and making it into a success. I want to create something we both can be proud of and interested in.

Needless to say once I finally got myself together I thought what better way to start off this year with an excerpt from the book. That is why I am here after all. Like I have said previously my writing has changed a lot. I feel like it has matured and better something refined. It still needs work, but its getting to a good place. Well I will hold you no longer below is a short excerpt. It is the beginning of Chapter four. Ivy learns a lot about herself, and her family here. I hope you enjoy.

As the party whined down, most of their family members had returned home with younger cousins who fell asleep. Ivy walked off toward the garden and stood under the gazebo, thinking about her mother. Thanks mom for throwing the best birthday party ever. I wish you could have been here with me. Every time I smiled or laughed about something, I would look up. Wanting to share the moment with you. In the midst of her leaning against the gazebo to watch everyone cleaning up. Her grandmother comes and stands next to her. She wears a plain yellow dress that forms to her waist and flares out, her yellow sandals perfectly matching Tennessee’s sunflowers. She gently pats Ivy’s hand and smiles.

“I hope you had a good birthday Ivy. We need to go upstairs to my room to discuss things as I promised,” Lily says and they both leave to head upstairs.

Ivy stands in front of her grandmother’s door, waiting for her to take her key ring out. I always found it strange that she locked her door. Ivy can’t remember a time that she has actually gone into her grandmother’s room. As she opens the door, Ivy is assaulted by a scent uniquely Lily’s. It smells of fresh flowers, sunshine and chocolate chip cookies: her favorite guilty pleasure.

They walk in and there is a small sitting room with a couch and a table. She turns the light on and they enter her bedroom. Her bed is in the center of the room and there are two large windows on each side of the bed, because Lily loves sunlight. She walks over to her dresser and unlocks a small drawer; she pulls out a beautiful gold jewelry box and sets it on the dresser. Over her shoulder she beckons Ivy forward and tells her to sit on her bed.

“Ivy dear there are things that need to be told” She says shaking her head in regret. “I know that this is going to be difficult to understand but you must listen and focus,” Ivy nods her head and says okay.

Lily unlocks the jewelry box and sets it back in the dresser. From it she removes the most beautiful piece of jewelry Ivy has ever seen. Awestruck she just gazes at it trying to comprehend why her grandmother would give this to her.

“Ivy, our family is cursed. Centuries ago a woman, Haley fell in love with a man, Drake from another planet. This sort of thing is strictly forbidden between planets. Despite this rule they got married and had a baby girl. Her name was Smyrna which means forbidden love on his planet. That baby was born six generations ago. As punishment for their crimes Drake was banished, and Haley became very ill on the eve of her daughters eighteenth birthday. Before he left Drake made her this necklace and gave her his family’s mantle. The necklace combined with the mantle would take their daughter to a different dimension, to find this natural herb rarely grown, to heal her mom. Each day she was there her mother grew worst at home. That curse has been passed down to every first born daughter ever since. It is your turn now Ivy,” She says.

Ivy looks at her grandmother and her pale skin turns ash white, her green eyes get huge and she begins to shake. This can’t be right. Her hands are sweaty and she is frantic just from the thought of having such a task placed on her.

“Nana I can’t do this, I feel like David going up against Goliath. Why can’t Anna do this, she’s much more equipped for this task. We were trying to come up with a plan to go together.” Ivy says.

Lily grabs her hand “the necklace only works for the first born and the pure of heart. When you put it on you must have good intentions or it won’t work. You must allow your soul to operate in the fruits of the spirit: Love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the things that will take you to the dimension and bring you home safely. You are much stronger than you know Ivy. Besides Anna cannot go with you.” she replies.

Lily pulls her up and places Ivy in the chair she was sitting in. She turns the chair around facing an empty wall near the window. She reaches around Ivy from behind with the necklace. She puts it on, and Ivy lifts up her hair so she can clasp it. Lily walks over to the wall and starts feeling around for something. Ivy hears a soft click and the wall opens, in the wall there is medium sized green box.

Lily pulls it out and the wall closes back on its own. She set’s the box on Ivy’s lap and motions for her to open it. She pulls the top off and removes the tissue paper from the box. Inside is a beautiful mantle resembling the necklace Ivy has on. The mantle is silver embroidered and has green vines intertwined around the entire cloak.

“Come Ivy there is much to tell you still” she says hurriedly.

Looking into her eyes she says “pay close attention to these instructions because if you forget one or skip a step your mother will die.” She grabs Ivy’s hands and pulls her directly in front of her. “Ivy you have seven days to find this herb. I cannot tell you what it’s called because it has different names in different dimensions. It has gray-green leaves, and large, showy, bright scarlet flowers. You must not cut the plant from the tree, pull it from the root. This necklace and mantle is the key to getting to the dimension you need, and back and must not be lost. Put the mantle on and recite these words.”

 

“Whosoever coverest thyself with light as a garment,

Will take this mantle upon thine self

To perform the task set before thee.”

 

         “The energy from your words will allow you to go through the portal for seven days. You will be transported to the Hall of Doors. Once you are in this room Ivy, you must think of what you need. The necklace will act as a guide to show you which door leads to the dimension you need to be in. The necklace won’t lead you to the herb, just the right dimension. Once you find the herb and are ready to return think of home and it will bring you back here,” she says.

Lily looks at Ivy and grabs her hands in hers. “Ivy you must go now time is ticking, you must return in seven days at midnight or you will be stuck in that dimension forever.”

She kisses Ivy on the cheek and, steps back with tears sliding down her cheek.

Ivy looks frantic and scared “can’t I say goodbye to everyone first Nana?”

“No sweetheart it makes it harder.”

Lovely Characters

So far in the story you have been introduced to Drake the Prince from Ekard. Haley the women he fell in love with and the women who cursed the family. Their daughter Smyrna who was the first firstborn female to establish the curse and travel to another dimension. Then we have Lily Maledetto who is the grandmother of the Protagonist. She is the one we met in the prologue telling her daughter Sarah Grey about the curse and having to travel. They introduce the story line. Chapter one opens up with the introduction of our lovely protagonist Ivy Grey who is the next in line for the curse. Although she is a twin To Anna Grey she was still the first one born. We then finally met their Father Jacob Grey who is pretty awesome if you ask me.

While I was in school one thing that I learned that helped me the most with story writing was development of character. I met my characters before I knew the story. They introduced themselves and began to trust me with their story. I have seen their growth and development over the course of three books and I am very pleased. Ivy is very shy as you probably have picked up in the first chapter so far. She is timid and doesn’t really like to be the center of attention. Of course she has red hair and green eyes so she has some fire in her as well. But its reserved for the most part. Here twin sister Anna is so different, she loves with her whole heart and doesn’t have any problem with telling you what is on her mind. She is something of a jokester and I really enjoyed writing her scenes.

The grandmother Lily is wonderful, there is just something so endearing about her. She says what needs to be said but she will wait to see if someone will say if first. She is the glue in the family. She has to be strong and keep her head up even when it was the hardest thing to do. She was probably the character that moved me the most. There were times when I was writing scenes for her and I cried. I would want to make it least emotional to keep myself for being empathetic for this strong women. But she would tell me to write and I would. I don’t know how appropriate it is for me to have favorites in my story but she is definitely one of the.

Sarah is sick for a good part of the books. So it takes a bit for me to get to know here. Despite this factor she still thrives as a strong member of the family.  We see the wonderful characteristics from her mother Lily shining through in her character. Sarah is wonderful and she cares deeply for her family. She will bring out the loving nurturer in her readers.

Jacob Grey is reserved, He is definitely the head of his family. He is the type of man that will allow the women to chatter and talk over him. But when he has his thoughts they are voiced and they are taken as he gives them. There is no room for discussing. He is a very loving man who is dedicated to the happiness and well being of his family.

I hope as you read the books and get to know my characters as I have you will love them. They are all special in their own way. But each one is missing a link that the other members fill. There is something masterfully wonderful about reading a story about characters with such a strong connection. I hope you see the character driven plot of my story. As it is one of the concepts I cherish that I grasped from school.

Forbidden (The Forbidden Love Trilogy)

This is the prologue to the first book in the series. It starts off with the Protagonist Ivy, Mother journey being told. I thought this was in interesting way to start the story. To engage the readers. I hope you enjoy and I always LOVE feedback.

Forbidden (The Forbidden Love Trilogy)
Prologue

          Sarah walks down the hallway into the room her mom has been occupying while she’s been sick. Today is her eighteen birthday and her mom promised she would tell her why she wouldn’t go to the doctor. Why she and her Father were being so secretive and hiding stuff from her.

“The illness has struck again,” Lily whispered, lying in bed.
She looked at Sarah, her daughter, sitting in the wooden chair next to her, who was looking out the large window at her father. Her father was in the yard tinkering with things. He wasn’t a man that fixed things, but he assumed he could whenever he was not able to handle difficult situations. Lily has laid in this bed for a few days now, trying to figure out a way to tell her daughter things she has withheld. To finally tell her daughter why she was sick. The steady beeping of the I.V. machine a constant reminder that her daughter must face the same test she had. Taking a deep breathe she begins the story that has been told for six generations to the first born females of their family.
“A long time ago a prince from another planet landed on Earth. He was from Ekard a planet where the supply of women was dwindling. A large meteorite hit Ekard six centuries ago and almost destroyed the entire planet. A few inhabitants survived the crash and started to rebuild their lives. Soon after, scientists learned of a toxin whose chemicals created a birth defect for the female line. They realized that one chemical from the toxin instilled itself in their genetic makeup and reacted negatively with estrogen, a hormone primarily in females. Because of this toxin, female fetus could hardly survive through birth, as the male fetus did.
The survival of the female line in Ekard was severely endangered. Dating from this destructive crash, Drake was in line to be the eighth emperor of Ekard, and by that time, very few females were making it through a full pregnancy cycle. There were several hundred males to each female living on the planet. The planets three wisest men had read the stars and predicted that there may not be a healthy woman born for a very long time. Even though Drake knew it was forbidden to mate with other planets, he traveled to earth and sought out a companion. Mating was a vital part of his planets existence; a young man could not survive long without a mate. Drakes also thought that if he brought a healthy mate to his planet, he could safeguard the royal line.
He traveled to earth and for several months he saw the beauty of many women. Only one, Haley, stole his heart. He cared for this woman so much that they performed the earthly ritual of marriage. They consummated their marriage and she became with child. This sort of thing is strictly prohibited between planets. The Supreme Overseer of the Planet’s exposed Drake, and banished him from earth. Before his returned to Ekard the S.O.P allowed Drake one request. He made his daughter, Smyrna, a necklace which was to be given to her on her eighteenth birthday. The necklace was forged from a large star. One that had burned up all its fuel; and collapsed upon itself due to the pressure of its own mass. The chain was gold and it had green vines intertwined all around the chain, and the Silver Star pendant. The star pendant was a ruby on the inside. He asked Haley to protect it, as it was very important and would protect them someday,” Lily said.
Sarah stood by her mother’s bedside awestruck with wonder from this beautiful tale her mother was telling her.
“Why did he make her the necklace?”
“For her to travel.”
“That woman was related to us?”
“Yes Sarah, you must now find the herb for me as your first born daughter shall have to do for you.”