Alvor: Spicing things up

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Spicing things up

Okay, we need a giveaway. It's been too long. Since it's five months before the second book of Alvor is released, I'm going to do a double book giveaway.

Meaning.... the winner gets Alvor and another YA book of my choice. Ha ha ha.... I'm not going to tell you what the other book is. But I will tell you that I read it and I liked it. It's clean, funny and has a touch of romance without being mushy.

So... do you want something new to read?

Here's the scoop. You have to leave a comment- give me something that spices up your November days. You know, cinnamon in your cocoa, watching the latest flick with a bag of popcorn, painting your nails orange, whatever. Just give me some spice.

And, of course, you need to be a "Very Cool Person" ( a follower of this blog for those of you who weren't completely sure what defined you as one of those) AND make sure your e-mail address is in your comment so I can find you if you win.

That's it. Now give me some spice. Starting now.

Contest ends Friday November 12- and I'll use random.org to choose the winner.

37 comments:

Katy said...: I read (& really enjoyed) Alvor over the summer, so no need to enter me. But I wanted to comment and say YAY I'm looking forward to the second book coming out! :); November 4, 2010 at 10:41 PM
doreen lamoureux said...: What spices me up for november months are cups of hot chocolate with cinomin sticks. Mmmm
I follow....dor

dorcontest at gmail dot com; November 4, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Stephanie said...: A hot chai latte spices up my November.

I'm a follower

Skk25@aol.com; November 4, 2010 at 10:47 PM
Aik said...: Chocolates and cookies spices me up in November!

aikychien at yahoo dot com; November 4, 2010 at 10:54 PM
Lena1xoxo said...: Caramel in my spiced cider! Oh man...so good! And it keeps me warm. :)

*drools*

longhorn08fan(at)gmail(dot)com; November 4, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Libby's Library said...: I'm a follower - Libby's Library
PUMPKIN PIE - need I say more?
Thanks for the giveaway:-)

libneas[at]aol[dot]com; November 4, 2010 at 11:00 PM
Unknown said...: My November was spiced up by my wife going into labor during the first hour of the month. We have a new baby boy to show for it!; November 4, 2010 at 11:07 PM
ossmcalc said...: Yes, I am a very cool person according to your definition. My life was spiced up when my daughter told me this week that she and my grandson might come to visit after Christmas. He turned 4 years old on Labor Day, and they have not been to visit me since he was 4 months old. This would be the best Christmas present that I could receive.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net; November 4, 2010 at 11:54 PM
Stacey Brucale said...: White hot chocolate from Starbucks spices up my november!

xxsquigglesxx(at)gmail(dot)com; November 4, 2010 at 11:55 PM
M.A.D. said...: Mary D
zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Hi Laura :) I follow you both via email and GFC.

AS for what spices up November for me, I am hooked on Cinnamon brooms lol

Thank you for the terrific giveaway, I'd LOVE to have my own copy of Alvor!!!; November 4, 2010 at 11:56 PM
Mystica said...: I am a follower via GFC but too old to get spicy! Please count me in.; November 5, 2010 at 12:44 AM
Llehn said...: Going to the beach with my family spices up my November.

Already a follower.

lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com; November 5, 2010 at 2:09 AM
Anonymous said...: Carmel Apples and I Love painting my nails orange this time of year!!

Chirth7@yahoo.com; November 5, 2010 at 2:47 AM
RagDollVampGirl said...: I Love Drinking A Salt Caramel Hot Chocolate With A Dash Of Pumkin Spice! It's Soooo Good! I Drink One Everytime I Feel Stressed. I Tend To Drink One Everyday Though.. Si I Guess I'm Stressed A Lot.. Lol!

KailaEscobales(at)aol(dot)com

Thanks!; November 5, 2010 at 4:34 AM
Pam said...: I'd have to say I agree with all the chai latte and hot cocoa comments but I also have to mention that my November days get spiced up by starting my Christmas baking with some wonderfully spicy gingersnaps!

melacan at hotmail odt com; November 5, 2010 at 5:32 AM
Kerren said...: Hmmmmm . . . spicing up November days? Well, they're already so good, they hardly need any spicing up. I love having a fire in the fireplace compliments of a switch on the wall that makes it happen instantly! I love a bowl of my husband's famous clam chowder, and I love the rosy sunsets that come earlier every day. I love that people I know and love do amazing things to share with others and bring fulfillment to their dreams. (i.e. Laura!) Have a great day.; November 5, 2010 at 6:05 AM
Lucy said...: Please include me in the giveaway. I'm a very cool person by way of Google Friend Connect. November starts the hot chocolate with a candy cane in it. I learned this from a local celebrity named Sally Starr. She was a beautiful blond with a long ponytail. She dressed in a cowgirl outfit with beautiful embroidery and fringe. I remember her hosting a kids show with loads of old cartoons (Betty Boop, Popeye, etc.). During the cold weather she would have hot chocolate and tell us kids to put your Christmas candy canes in your hot chocolate. I add a squirt of whipped cream and remember Our Gal Sal. Thank you.

makeupgirl21@comcast.net; November 5, 2010 at 6:13 AM
Julie S said...: I love to get the fireplace going on a cool November night :)

juliecookies(at)gmail.com

Follower :); November 5, 2010 at 6:13 AM
Stormi said...: hot chocolate and pumpkin cookies! Yummmmmm.

Thanks,
Stormi

booklady2007[at]gmail[dot]com; November 5, 2010 at 7:22 AM
ParaJunkee said...: Hot mochas. Call me a slave to consumerism...but nothing says weather transition like the switch from iced coffee to hot coffee ;); November 5, 2010 at 7:25 AM
rhapsodyinbooks said...: I've been drinking hot Good Earth Original Flavor (very spicy) tea with lemon slices. Very spicy and very good!
I follow by email subscription.

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com; November 5, 2010 at 8:03 AM
Alden said...: Birthdays (mine and my wife's) keep November pretty hopping.

alden.ash at gmail.com; November 5, 2010 at 9:28 AM
Anonymous said...: My November's pretty spicy with Nano going on. ;) But things I do? I like to burn "pumpkin spice" candles or "mulberry" to get ready for Christmastime. =D
(You know me, LT. ltelliot at live dot com); November 5, 2010 at 10:09 AM
Van Pham said...: Warm Chocolate chip cookies and hot coco, spices up November for me.

van
Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com; November 5, 2010 at 11:07 AM
Alyce said...: My November favorite is pumpkin pie - especially if I've grown the pumpkins myself (didn't happen this year).

I follow on GFC.

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com; November 5, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Jolynn_Reads said...: I love the Spicy weather here in Nov. in Ut. nice and warm & sunny, then Snow, then even rain too. And of course, this could all happen on any Nov. day.
Jolynn_Reads@yahoo.com; November 5, 2010 at 2:10 PM
lag123 said...: Sitting by the fire, drinking hot tea.

lag110 at mchsi dot com; November 5, 2010 at 7:20 PM
Emily M said...: Spicing things up.....putting on more fuzzy blankets, getting to wear sweaters, and helping rake other people's yards (and jumping in the leaves).; November 5, 2010 at 8:18 PM
Emily M said...: Spicing things up.....putting on more fuzzy blankets, getting to wear sweaters, and helping rake other people's yards (and jumping in the leaves). I was so excited I forgot to add my email address the first time!

emfawcett@yahoo.com; November 5, 2010 at 8:25 PM
throuthehaze said...: Hot apple cider spices my November up :)
I am a follower
throuthehaze at gmail dot com; November 5, 2010 at 10:05 PM
Anonymous said...: What spices my november is adding the peppermint mocha cremer to my coffee, which seems like something more for December. But, I also make my coffee by adding cinnamon to my coffee. Even if I just end up putting regular cremer, it still tastes delicious!

Thanks for a great chance to win awesome books,
Emma

emmamelerojuarez(at)yahoo(dot)com; November 6, 2010 at 2:09 AM
windycindy said...: What a fabulous book giveaway contest!
I follow you publicly via Google]
Friend Connect.
I love November and what spices me up
is sitting in front of a roaring fire, reading a good book while sipping on hot spiced tea...
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com; November 6, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Kristen said...: What spices me up is my stash of Chai Tea Latte from David Rio (I get Tiger Spice) and I just love coming home to a warm cup of chai tea latte. Nom.

dragonzgoil at gmail dot com; November 7, 2010 at 8:47 AM
Laurie T said...: Going apple and pumpkin picking and feeling the grass crunch underneath my boots from an early morning frost spices up November for me.

I'm a follower.
readergirls(at)gmail(dot)com; November 7, 2010 at 3:43 PM
Unknown said...: What spices me up in November is the changing of seasons, the smell of the leaves and cinnamon and getting ready for THANKSGIVING!

I also follow your blog.

Val
lastnerve2000@gmail.com; November 7, 2010 at 4:09 PM
emmad said...: Over here Novemember is just spring so I often get a pedicure to have my toes and feet looking nice.; November 8, 2010 at 1:26 PM
andrea b said...: what spices up my November days is wearing colorful scarves with my dark coat :)

I'm a GFC follower.
email: brigneti(at)gmail(dot)com

thanks for the contest!; November 9, 2010 at 6:11 PM

First Chapter of Alvor

Chapter 1 A New Book
Erin sat on the back seat alone. The sound of laughter drowned out the drone of the school bus. It was amazing how much noise two fifteen year old boys could make. Soon it would be just her and her brother left for the thirty minute drive home.
She thumbed through the yearbook. Grandpa Jessie always insisted on buying them each their own.
“See you in the fall, man. Woo-hoo! It’s finally summer!” the boy shouted as he stepped off the bus.
“Yeah! Have fun in Florida, you lucky dog!” Bain called back.
The bus jerked down the street again. Bain got up and walked to the back. He sat backwards in the seat and looked at her.
“Trade you,” he said. “I didn’t get to sign yours yet.”
She handed him her book as he let his bounce on the seat next to her. She picked up his yearbook and let the page open randomly. Colorful permanent ink graced the page with hearts, smiley faces and lots of exclamation points. She turned the pages looking for a blank space.
“I think I’ll just sign over top of my picture. It could only improve it.” Erin looked for the section where the black and white photo of her stared out. She took her red marker and wrote, “Here’s to the summer!”
“Erin, didn’t you even go outside for the yearbook signing? There’s practically nothing written in here.”
“Oh, I was talking to my chemistry teacher about my grade. I didn’t expect to see an A-. I was sure I had an A in there.”
“The last day of school and you spend your time talking to a teacher on purpose? I think you might need professional help.”
“Thanks.”
“Anytime, little sister.”
“Hey, only by ten minutes.
“I’m still bigger than you.” He smiled with a crooked grin.
He had her there. He was already almost six feet tall. At this rate, she was never going to catch up. He flipped back around in his seat so he was facing forward.
She stared out the window. The trees walled the sides of the street in green. As they approached their village, the familiar Pennsylvania misted hills came into view. She loved seeing them every day from the bus after school.
A purple butterfly flickered into view before it was gone again. That was one thing she loved most about her home. There were more butterflies here than any of the neighboring little towns. She never understood why there were so many gathered in her tiny village when only a few strays could be seen anywhere else. Maybe there was some kind of plant they loved in the hills.
The ride home made her feel as though she was ominously leaving her familiar school. She loved school. It wasn’t that she really had very many friends, she just felt like she was somewhere when she was there. And during the school year she only had to live in an empty house at night. With Grandpa Jessie gone every Monday through Friday for work, the summer days dragged on in the quiet house.
She watched as the houses began again to pass by her window and imagined what it would be like to have her mom greet her at the door. How many times had she let herself slip into the same daydream? She had to stop. It wasn’t like she should really miss her parents. She never even knew them.

“Wait up!” she called. “I can’t believe you still have so much energy after your run.” She could feel herself pant as she jogged to meet him.
He didn’t even glance back.
“It’s right over there,” he pointed. “I’ve never really gone this way before, but I found if you climb through a few bushes it opens up on the other side.”
The landscape here was full and green. From the road they could only see a few feet into the foliage. High humidity and plenty of precipitation encouraged the trees, grass and plants to thrive.
“Right,” she offered as she eyed the bushes. She hesitated.
He just chuckled quietly and moved in.
Beautiful as the greenery was, Erin was not fond of climbing through the mountain laurels that reached taller than her. Bain held the branches for her and helped her through the thick shrubs, all while somehow avoiding scratches from the dense vegetation.
She was grateful he didn’t tease her when she tripped twice and then accidentally smacked him right in the face with a stray branch. He just laughed good-naturedly and kept going.
“How far did you get this morning?” Erin asked as she tried to calculate the forest waiting for them.
“Not too far, really, I just followed a trail for a few minutes. It kept going though, and we haven’t seen a new trail for a long time.” He gave her a smile as if trying to reassure her. “Don’t worry; this is going to be great.”
“You didn’t waste any time finding a new place to explore this summer,” she said, trying to stall the hard hike ahead. “Did you bring all the regular gear in your backpack? We are going to need to mark the trees so we can find our way back.”
“No worries. I am totally prepared, as always. There’s enough food to last a couple of days. What else could we need?”
She couldn’t help but smile. It would take an enormous amount of food to actually satisfy him for a couple of days.
After two hours, Erin was glad that Bain had come through with the water. They tied red twine around a few trees along the way so the trail back would be easier to find. The trees all seemed the same to her and Erin was sure she would never find her way back without the marks. Bain was a born compass though. He always seemed to know which direction they were going and how to find their way around.
The bushes finally gave way into a clearing where the view made her stop in astonishment.
She had seen houses that the founding fathers of this country built. Century-old homes could be found in their own village. Some were fancy, and some were not. But nothing she had ever seen could even begin to compare to the stark beauty that stood before them now.
There in the lush grass stood a small cottage. It was petite, but astounding. The eaves were carved with skill into a curling Victorian pattern. Each window was framed with a lace-carved shutter. The whole structure was in different shades of wood. There was no paint to be found, but the colors that exuded from it were vibrant and contrasting.
“Oh wow,” she breathed. “What? How?” She looked at Bain. He was just as mesmerized by the work of art as she was.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “It looks brand new but it couldn’t be. All around the grass and trees are untouched. There’s not even a worn path on the ground.”
“What do you want to do?” She wasn’t sure if they had found a new treasure or if their adventure was at an end.
“Eat lunch.”
“Are you serious?”
Bain just smiled. “Sure. I’m starving and if there is anyone in the house maybe they will see us and come out. Besides, I need some time to figure out what this place is and the easiest way to get in.”
“You could try knocking.”
He was already sitting on the grass pulling out the bag of food. She gave in and sat down too. They ate peanut butter and grape jelly sandwiches while they puzzled out the little house. It could be a miniature mansion. The detail suggested that the cottage was built by someone who wished to explore all the avenues of master wood carving. It must have taken ages to chisel the wooden swirls and delicate squared patterns.
The oddest part was that it looked brand new. She had seen the graying effect time had on some of the older wood houses in her village, but this place looked like it had been completed just yesterday. It was perfect.
“Do you think anyone lives here?” she asked as she picked up an apple.
“I was wondering that too. There is no electricity. No phone line. There is a chimney, but no wood pile. The grass looks like it has never been walked on. It’s maybe the weirdest thing I have ever seen. It doesn’t make sense to build this place and not hook it up at least to electricity.”
“Maybe they’re not done yet. It could be a rich person’s summer cabin that they haven’t finished yet.”
“I don’t know. It still doesn’t make sense. I think we should look around. I seriously doubt this place has been lived in.”
“Well I’m still going to knock on the door,” Erin said as she got up and brushed off her pants. She walked up to the rich mahogany door and knocked loudly. “Is anyone there?” she called. It didn’t surprise her that no one answered.
She tried the door handle just to see. The knob turned easily in her hand. “It’s open.”
Bain started packing everything into his backpack.
“What are you doing?” she asked. Knowing Bain, he would assume that this was their invitation nailed to the front door inviting them inside.
“I bet no one is here. Don’t you want to take a look at the inside too? It’s not like we’re going to hurt anything, just look around.”
He walked up to the door and winked at her as the brass knob turned smoothly under his hand.
They stepped inside onto the shiny hardwood floor. There was a stone fireplace on one wall and several wooden chairs seated around the room. There were no switches or light fixtures on the golden pine ceiling. In the corner sat a small tree with delicate leaves of bright lime green that fluttered against the white bark without the benefit of a breeze. An oil lamp sat on a small table next to one of the chairs.
“Who do you think owns this?” she asked.
“I don’t know.” He inspected the chairs around the room. “You have to try this! The chair is so comfortable it’s like it was built just for me to sit in!”
She just watched him, not sure what to make of this place yet. The next room appeared to be a historical museum’s kitchen display. In one corner sat an old fashioned oak box with a door. Inside was lined with metal.
“I think I found the fridge,” she called.
“And the stove,” he said as he leaned against the doorway. “I think you actually have to build a fire in the bottom of that thing for it to work. I don’t think I would want to bake cookies here.”
He walked around the room inspecting the ancient appliances. “Check this out! It looks like this floorboard lifts up.” The wooden floor was shiny and smooth with a barely recognizable handle indenting just large enough for him to fit his fingers in.
Erin knelt down and tried her fingernails in the crevice. A door began to rise as she tugged on it. She quickly let the floor drop back into place.
“What are you waiting for?” he asked as he crouched down and pulled the door all the way open.
She stared at the dark staircase and imagined rats and snakes below the unoccupied house.
“Are you feeling brave?” he asked. His eyes shone with excitement as he grabbed the oil lamp from the table and lit it with one of his matches. He didn’t wait for her reply before descending the stairs.
Erin wasn’t sure what would be worse, waiting alone in someone else’s cabin or following him into the cool dark cellar. She took a deep breath and started down the stairs. “There better not be any spiders,” she called as she caught up to the torch light.
The walls were made of the same gray and white granite as the stairs. Specks of mineral reflected in the lamp light on the marbled walls. She touched the cold, flat wall. It felt as smooth as ice. It unexpectedly sparked a memory, as if she had been here before. But before she could grasp it, it was gone.
She couldn’t help but notice that each step was carved with straight, perfectly squared edges. It was nothing like the cement steps that led down to the coal room in her house.
Bain’s voice pierced the silence as he called up to her. “There are forty nine steps! That’s a pretty big cellar.”
“What do you think they keep down here?” She hoped she sounded braver than she felt.
Before she made it to the last step Bain lit several torches that lined the hallway. At least she would be able to see where they were going. Already, she could see a hallway extending impossibly far with openings leading into even more corridors.
“It looks like an underground maze,” he said.
“I wonder who lives here. Maybe they actually live underground.” It seemed reasonable enough. There was far more room under the house than above.
Down the hall just a few feet from the stairs stood a grand looking entrance. It was the only door in sight. The tall double doors bore the same exquisite carving as the front of the cottage. Above the door, swirling letters formed words carved in several languages.
Erin recognized the German and French, but was only sure of the one in English. “‘Room of Truth’,” she read out loud. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“‘To enter here you must tell a truth. The inner eye sees only truth. What do you wish to see?’” Bain read. “Maybe we should knock.”
“Now you want to knock?”
“Maybe you have to tell the door what you wish to see if you want to enter.” He continued as if he hadn’t heard her.
“You can’t be serious. We’re going to talk to the door?” But even as she spoke, an odd sensation enveloped her. The cool stone cellar no longer seemed imposing, but like something she had seen in a dream. Even the door was tugging at a lost memory. How did she know this place?
She stepped forward and closed her eyes. “I wish to see the truth,” she spoke in an even tone. She wasn’t sure why she knew what to say, but it all was so familiar, as if she had done this before.
The towering double doors opened. She stepped inside the cavernous room as the doors closed immediately behind her. The walls were the same granite stone as the stairwell had been. The large room was empty with the exception of a podium that stood in the center. On it sat a large, leather bound book. The cover was decorated in scrolls and patterns similar to the ones on the house and door. Letters moved before her eyes and suddenly the cover read The Book of Knowledge.
Just then the doors swung slowly open and Bain stepped into the room. His broad grin clearly marked how pleased he was to have won the contest with the door.
”Bain, what happened to you? You are glowing white!”
“What are you talking about? I’m not glowing, but that book is. Do you see that? It’s shining bright blue! How is it doing that?” He walked over to the table.
She couldn’t keep her eyes off of him; a white halo engulfed his whole body. What had that door done to him? She checked the book to see if it had started to glow, but it sat there just as before, a beautiful brown leather book.
“Why do you think it’s glowing like that?” he asked. “Do you think this place is radioactive or something?”
“I can’t see anything coming off the book, but you are still glowing white. Can’t you see yourself?” She was starting to wonder what was wrong with both of them. She spotted a mirror on the far wall and grabbed Bain’s arm. “Come look at yourself,” she insisted.
She pulled him in front of the mirror and watched his face. He did seem to look worried.
“I look the same, Erin. Something must have happened to us when we came into the room. I’m not sure what, but we’ll figure it out.” He put his arm around her shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll still love you even if you do think I’m a glow worm.”
“Maybe we should check out the book.”
“At least we won’t need a flashlight to read it. It has its own super charged light.”
She tried to give him a stern look, but he seemed convinced. Shrugging, she touched the butter soft cover and pulled it open. It seemed to set itself open to the first page.
You have entered into the first steps of becoming a new creature.
Only truth will allow you to enter here.
An honest heart is the only key to opening this book and new doors.
The gifts you received in this room are yours to prove.
Choose wisely.
We are seeking the pure in heart. Your journey begins.
She tried to turn the page, but it was as if it had turned to stone. She could not even lift a corner.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Spicing things up

37 comments:

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