S.A. McClure's Blog

A Sorceress and her KnightThe smell of honeysuckle filled the air as Marianna wandered through the forest. Warm light filtered through trees as birds sang overhead. She twirled a daisy between her fingers, smiling as she entered a small glade. She sank to her knees and lifted her face up to the bath of sunlight pouring from above. Dampness pressed in upon her the longer she remained seated on the ground. Her golden hair fell in curls around her face, partially blocking her vision. She barely noticed as her mind wandered to thoughts of the knight she’d met at the dance.He had been handsome, though not in the way most women of the court deemed acceptable. His overly bright green eyes had become even brighter when she’d asked him to dance. His hands were too big for his arms and she could have sworn he had two left feet, but he was funny when he told her stories of his regiment. He’d made her laugh in a way that had felt comfortable. At one point, she’d even snorted at his jokes and had blushed a brilliant scarlet color. He’d laughed with her. His smile had been...A twig snapped from somewhere within the shadows of the forest, pulling Marianna from her thoughts. She dug her hand into the folds of her gown and grasped the hilt of her dagger. Its cold metal comforted her as she narrowed her eyes and peered into the forest. There was nothing but silence. Closing her eyes, Marianna breathed out in a long, steady breath. She focused on the air being exhaled from her lungs and sent it wafting through the wind. Whispering quietly to herself, she called upon her breath to find what had cracked the twig.In her mind’s eye, her breath showed her the outline of a man holding a crossbow. It was just outlines, but she could see the man aiming the weapon. She heard the faint click of a trigger being released.To be continued...

As many of you may know, I have been actively working on my upcoming novel: Kilian. This stand-alone story follows none other than Kilian Clearwater before he became the powerhouse warrior that we meet inKeepers of the Light. I'm nearing the end of the creation period for this novel, but I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the inspirations I have drawn from. First of all, a big shout out to my father and my other half, Michael, for telling me that Kilian Clearwater was their absolute favorite character in Keepers. In fact, at one point my father told me that he wanted to know how Kilian had come to that place and who he actually was. Of course, being the daddy's girl that I am, I had to oblige. Thus was born Kilian: A Broken Prophecies Story.The Creators take what is theirs and give only to the deserving. They alone decide who is blessed with the magic of the Light or who is doomed to live their days in darkness. Since the creation, they have sought out the bravest, strongest, and most intelligent among men in order to discover the Light's Hero. For centuries, legends of the Hero have passed from one Keeper of the Prophecies to the next. Some say that hero has come.Kilian Clearwater thought he was nothing more than the son of a poor farmer. But, when his father inexplicably dies and a lone pirate wanders onto the family farm a year later, Kilian is faced with the secrets of his father's past. In a world wrought with intrigue and magical plots, the only way for Kilian to discover the answers he so desperately seeks is to gain favor with the Creators. Plunged into a magical world Kilian barely understands, he must travel beyond the Forgotten Isles and defeat the greatest foes known to all of Mitier: the Shadow Knights.Does Kilian have what it takes to be the Hero?Now, don't be fooled. Kilian may seem like the classic adventure story we have grown to know and love through such works as LOTR, Eragon, and GOT. It is in some ways. In this novel, you will find a coming-of-age tale about a poor farmer's son turned hero. Although, it might not turn out exactly how you might expect. Like the universe it is set in, Kilian is faced with his own broken prophecy.In an effort to pre-sale the book, I've started a #kickstarter campaign. It'll run from now until May 10, 2017. Check it out here:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1246874462/kilian-a-broken-prophecies-story?Don't forget, the Broken Prophecies universe is set in the mystical world of Mitier. This land is divided into kingdoms wrought with intrigue, chaos, and jealousy. Rulers seek out the bravest and most talented among their people to gain favor with the Creators-gods that give and take power. Check out the world's map below.If you're interested in this world and the story, be sure to check out the kickstarter page.

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about how people discover their passion areas and make the decision to move forward: to take the risk.I work with (have worked with) a lot--and by a lot, I mean A LOT--of college students over the years. I've volunteered with several youth programs including Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Girl Scouts. I've listened to so many stories of big ideas and hope and figuring out life. I've been a part of that decision making process on several occasions. And, as I have been thinking about how to discover a passion area, I've realized that the number one thing holding people back is fear.It certainly was *cough*cough* is *cough*cough* for me.It is incredibly scary to take a leap of faith and follow through with a plan. It's scary to take a risk without knowing the outcome. It's scary to feel like you don't have all the right answers and no one is telling you what the right answer is. In fact, it is downright terrifying.It's like being at the top of a very high ledge with a rope hanging before us waiting to be swung on. It's too easy to look down and say, "Whelp, it was nice knowing you, but I don't think I'm going to take that plunge. Where are the stairs again?" Too often, we shy away from the hard thing, the thing we most want because we're afraid of the impact that decision might have on... I'll let you fill in the blank.But.There are really only two options for when we reach the top of that ledge with the rope: (1) take the stairs or (2) take the rope.I've been trying to take the latter.

I know. It's been a while. And I am sorry. It's been a busy end of the year. Well, really a busy start to a year. A busy life? Yeah, that's right. Still, I recognize that this is no excuse for falling off my blog poss and neglecting all of you out there who have been loyal to my books. So. It's been a while and I am sorry.Let me give you a quick update. Let's call this a micro-blog.I've been working on my new book (featured above, if you couldn't tell) about none other than the great and heroic Kilian Clearwater. Currently, I am about 40% of the way through the book. You all have my father and my significant other to thank for this one. They told me that Kilian was their favorite character and that they wanted more of him.More of him they shall get.And so shall you.(And you get a car. And you get a car. And you get a car!)Here's brief synopsis of the new story:(1) It's set in the Broken Prophecies universe (obvi)(2) It's a more classical fantasy novel than Keepers of the Light was.(3) There will be death. And heartache. And a hero who might not be such a great hero afterall.(4) What happens in Kilian will foreshadow what is to come in the next five books of the Broken Prophecies series.(5) Follow Kilian Clearwater as begins his journey, meet the ubiquitous "her/she", and discover what Midtier was like before the Darkness.Alright. That's all for now. Til next time, S.A. McClure

I attended my very first author event yesterday at a lovely little bookshop calledBookmamas.It was rainy. And cramped. And had very little foot traffic during the first hour of the event.I don't write that to complain. It just was how it was.I was super excited for this event. Since publishing my book in June, I have been participating in marketing campaigns and contacting various bookstores in the Indianapolis area. Bookmamas was the earliest one on the schedule and I was looking forward to testing out my spiel on people other than my friends and family.I was also nervous.What if I didn't do a good job talking about my book and it's story? Or worse, what if I did do a good job talking about my book but nobody was interested in its story?I came to realize something during my very first author event: my experience as an author is what I make it.I only sold one book. A lot of people might think that wasn't a very successful event, but here's what I think:(1) That's one more book sold that will potentially have a huge impact on someone else's life. This book was meant to be inspirational and written for young adults/teenagers. The message being shared in this book is more important to me than selling millions of copies.(2) I met some really great people. Author events and fairs are not just about meeting potential new fans and selling books. They're about networking and meeting other authors as well. I met some truly inspiring authors during this event and I look forward to staying in contact with them and sharing my experiences with them.(3) The conversations I had with people walking through the bookstore were the whole point of this event. There were several people I spoke with who were interested in the story of The Search. They told me their stories. We connected in our experiences. They may not have purchased a book yesterday, but they will remember my name, just as I will remember theirs.(4) It was good practice. Since there was so little foot traffic because of the rain, I had the unique experience of truly pitching my book to the few who ventured out into the abysmal weather. I learned more about what works and doesn't work. Also, I got to see how other authors set up their booths and take note. Each new experience is worth it.(5) I am ready for this. I am ready to use my passion and talent for writing for something more than just a hobby. I'm ready to continue learning about other authors and support them. I'm ready to meet people and share our experiences. After all, storytelling is ALL about helping people connect.One author event down. So many more in the future to go.

I had a conversation today with an incoming student about American Horror Story (AHS). It was AMAZING (emphasis on amazing, of course). Can you believe that he had never watched the first season? I know, right! That’s the best one. It is the one that started it all. That got us discussing which seasons we thought were the best and our theories about what the next season is about to explore. Essentially, here are the quick, easy facts (in rank order) about which seasons are the best and why.5- AsylumI know. A lot of people LOVE asylum. But I just can’t. After the best season of the show, AHS Asylum seemed too messy without enough threads to tie the divergent plot lines together. Too many loose ends were left unfinished. The mixture of the aliens, Frankenstein style zombie creatures, and demonic possessions just didn’t mesh well together. It was worthy of being in an asylum.4-CovenAlthough Coven had some great moment woven into it, the overall plot was a tad weak. The witches fighting against the queens of voodoo was interesting and brought into question the racial tensions between White/Black culture in America. The fight for the witches to find, develop their skills, and protect themselves was entertaining to watch. Unfortunately, there were too many episodes that lacked mystery, intrigue, or action. Still a great season.3-Freak ShowStrong plot line and acting. The ‘oddities’ in the freak show were based on real circus workers, which made me want to research what it was like being in the circus at that time. I thought this season also had a great social commentary when it comes to discriminating against people who are ‘different.’ Well done, AHS. Well done. Plus, Twisty.2-HotelVampires. Need I say more? Add to that the interesting mix of the serial killer and the ghosts trapped in the hotel, this season did a great nod to the first season.1-The Original American Horror StoryThe first season was by far the best. It left you wondering what was really happening, had several plot twists that not many saw coming, and did a great job weaving the disparate plot lines together. And Tate. He was one of the most interesting characters in the all 5 seasons.I look forward to season 6 continuing this trend and hopefully bridging all 6 seasons together!What do you think? Which was your favorite AHS season?

Dear College Student,I met you today as you were moving in and I couldn’t help but remember my own freshman move-in. The anxiety, nervousness, and—yes—hope of what was to come next. I remember the sweat dripping down my back as I loaded, then unloaded, then carried, then unloaded, then shopped, then unpacked, and then went shopping again. I remember the tears welling in my eyes (unbidden!) as I hugged my parents goodbye. I remember the momentary sense of ‘what next’ as I sat in my new, unfamiliar room, for the first time by myself. I say momentary because it really did only last a moment. Then my neighbors down the hall asked me to do something with them. And I did. And it was glorious to make new friends in a new place that would be home for the next nine months. Just remember, it’s ok to have those moments of ‘what next’ ever so often. You’ll be better because of them.Today marks a pivotal moment for you. You are leaving home (likely for the first time). You are going to leave behind many childhood friends and make many more new ones. You are going to take classes you love and some that you hate. You’re going to try things that you never thought you would. You’re going to morph into someone new. And then do it again.All of these things are great.All of these things are going to turn you into the person that you will one day be.So as you move into your new room and your new life, here are just a few things I can tell you:Remember to call your family. This could be your parents, siblings, grandparents, best friends—whoever you consider to be your family. They are your support and just because you are doing all these amazing things doesn’t mean you should completely forget them. They’ll be the ones there for you through it all.Take classes that you never thought you would in high school. So what if it doesn’t count towards your major? This is one of the few times in your life where you get to explore multiple different facets of yourself, your interests, and your passions. Take advantage of the great resources and faculty college has to give you. You might just learn something valuable along the way.Talk to the person on your floor that you never would have talked to in high school. College is a time to explore different world views and understandings. This is your chance. Don’t miss it.Join at least one club that excites you. What are you interested in? Find that club and join it. It might be a zombie hunting club or a midnight waffle club. Who cares. This is your chance to do something (typically late at night) with other people (just as crazy as you are) doing something you love.Don’t be afraid to change. Change your hair. Change your friends. Change your major. Whatever will make you feel happy and successful, this is what you need to be doing. Forget what you’ve been told you should be and do if it isn’t fulfilling you. Discover that thing. Take hold of it. And own it. It’ll be worth it. I promise.Dear college student, just live.

I’ve been trying to remember why I write. Ever since last week when I attended several seminars on writing during Gen Con 2016, the same question kept popping up: why do we write? How much do want this—the writer’s life? What’s the point?I can tell you one thing: it’s not to make money.Did you know that the majority of authors (even if they’re traditionally published with one of the biggest—the big four—publishing houses) make less than $5,000/year/book? As in there are only 40% who make more than $5,000, and only 9% make over $100,000. For a self-published author (like me) who only has one book out (currently) the likelihood is that I’ll make a whopping $0.00 on my first book during the first year. Yee Ha!So, needless to say I am not a writer for the money.That brings us back to the central question: Why do I write?It’s not an easy answer. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. My mom, bless her, saved all these short stories and poems I wrote from the time I was a little girl (maybe… MAYBE second grade) all the way up to when I was in middle school. For the record, I started keeping my own stories and poems after that. I look back at some of them now and think, “wow that was pretty shitty” or “you know, for a fifth grader, that wasn’t so bad.”I think about all the times I regaled my younger cousins, younger Girl Scouts, and friends with stories around the camp fire. Sure, they were ghost stories or camp stories, but they were my stories. I remember how it felt seeing their faces as we got to the climax of the story. Or how they would hold onto my arm afterwards as we walked back to our tents, because the story I had just told was that scary.Stories have the power to connect us.They make us feel understood. They help us discover the world(s) beyond our own imagination. Stories are the core of what it means to be human.I remember why I chose to writemy first novel. I wanted to share an experience that was heart-wrenching, real, and unforgettable. I wanted to inspire others to believe that they can be the person they always wanted to be. I wanted to write something personal. So I did.As I continue to grapple with this idea about what it means to be a writer and why I write, I think the most basic answer is this: I am a storyteller. I pay attention to the experiences of the people around me and, as I discover who they are and the things that they’ve done, I write. I create whole characters and worlds where I can grapple with the human experience or a major social concern that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to grapple with. I write because this is who I am.At my core. I am a storyteller.

The best four days of gaming just came to a close. It was the time of my people; and by that I mean the over 60,000 people who fanboy/girl over fantasy authors, table-top board gaming, and nerdy comedy shows. This year, I spent four days discovering new authors, learning tips from the pros, and—of course—playing strategy games. Here are some of the highlights:1. Ticket to Ride: Rails and SailsIf you know me, then you know that I am an absolute Ticket to Ride fanatic. This board games leaves little left to be desired. It has all of the charm of the original game, but adds a new layer of strategic planning and depth. Although the map only really covers the Great Lakes region within the United States and Canada, I look forward to playing this game in the future. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been released yet. Oh Days of Wonder, why do you torment me so? But seriously, this game comes out in late September or early October. Check it out.2. Business of Writing: By the Numbers – Breaking Down the Financials of a Writing CareerSo this happened.Maxwell Alexander Drakeled this humorous, insightful, and “soul-crushing” seminar on the basics of financial literacy within the publishing industry. Let me just tell you now. The publishing world is not kind. It is rough. It is hard work. And, in most cases, it doesn’t have a high pay off (at least financially). The idea that we should be treating our work as a profession is something that really resonated with me. As a writer, I should continue expanding my knowledge about the English language and creative writing. I should join writing groups to continue perfecting my craft. I should attend conferences and conventions to meet other authors and attend writing seminars. These were all great pieces of advice, especially when the realization that so few authors make more than $1.00/book/year. That being said, the thing he said that had the largest emotional punch was when he said that authors write because they can’t do anything else. They just keep writing. I will keep writing.3. Cosplay ParadeSeriously. Check this out:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t6TPVKYe5kNeed I say more? I didn’t think so.4. Writer’s Workshop: Grassroots Marketing & Social Media for Authors, Artists, & Game DesignersAnother part of the Writer’s Symposium at Gen Con 2016, this seminar covered everything from tips and tricks of social media to examples of how to build your brand. My biggest take aways from this session were as follows: a) build relationships with other authors, b) post consistently, c) answer the question how much do you want this. Thank you,Gail Martin, for putting a great seminar.5. The Exhibit HallThere’s too much I can say about this. I learned how to play new games, met some awesome vendors, and purchased new gear to up my geek cred. It was amazing. And crowded. There were rows upon rows upon rows of game makers, cosplay designers, and authors. If you ever get the chance to attend Gen Con, this is a must-do stop.6.Patrick RothfussWords. I need them. This man is amazing. Funny. Witting. Scary. Just readThe Princess and Mr. Whiffleto find out what I’m talking about. My boyfriend convinced me that I needed to attend his 2-hour long author session and I was not disappointed. If you ever—EVER—get the chance to meet him in person or attend one of his author events. Just do it. We even sang at the end. It was like a dream come true.After attending all four days of Gen Con 2016, I feel rejuvenated and inspired. This was exactly what I needed. Thank you, my geek family.

Have you ever wanted to do something so much that you felt like you would simply burst if you didn't do it? Have you ever worked so hard on something that when you finally reached the top and you looked at what you had achieved that you could barely believe it? It's the climb.I wrote my first, full-length book when I was in college. I'd written smaller things, shorter things before, but I had never actually finished a novel until my junior year. It was a huge accomplishment. Hours were spent in