Géra's Gift launches in Centurion, South Africa

Where to find Géra's Gift

Géra's Gift, the first book in the series of the Grandmasters, is now available at these websites:

1. www.linzebrandon.com

2. www.amazon.com

3. www.barnesandnoble.com

or contact your local bookstore.

Back of Book:

T’ara knew that loving Géra would never be simple, but when his life’s ambition is within his grasp, she could not stand in the way of his dream.

Thrown together in battle for the very survival of their people, the young magicians quickly realised that they had been suffering for the choices they had been forced to make in the past.

But when T’ara willingly submitted to a ritual that could cost her her life, Géra knew that they had come to a crossroads. The problem they now faced was whether this sacrifice could gift them a future together or separate them forever?

Géra's Gift - for real!

I have not yet stopped smiling since I got my first copies of Géra's Gift this week. While it is not yet available to buy, it will be available as hard copy and e-book versions, from the publisher and Amazon.

It might take a while for the realization that I am now a published writer to sink in, but until then I am like a kid with a new toy.

I don't think the thrill is going to wear off very soon.

Butterflies or Broomsticks: The Discipline of Freelance Writing

Today it will be a broomstick. Since starting to do freelance writing, I have come to realise that writing takes a lot more discipline than I thought when starting out. Deadlines are the essence of freelance projects and sometimes it takes more out of me than I would care to admit. Since I do the writing part-time (yes, I do have a full-time job) sitting down in front of my computer after a hard day at work, is not always easy.

Aside from the deadlines that loom over my head, the subject matter can be either difficult to just be excited about, or takes a few hours of research to get the facts straight. And then I still have to write the required number of words for each article. The hardest is where the project requires many articles on the same subject, and then the creative juices tend to run a little thin after a while.

What I did learn, and really appreciate, is the discipline. Yes, I know, I am repeating myself here, but this time it is not a complaint. It takes practice to keep writing fit, and when a creative thought does enter my mind, it is not that difficult to sit down and do an outline or plot for a new story.

Practice makes perfect, and keeping to my target of 1000 words per day (in any month other than November) is not as hard any more.

So if you are freelance writing, or writing your own short stories (or novel) take the time and write your word target everyday. You will find that soon enough it is part of your routine and the discipline so deeply ingrained that the novel gets written much faster than you planned for.

Surprise Visitors

While having coffee with friends today, the coffee shop where we like to meet had three surprise visitors today. These three lions cubs, two males and a female, are just seven weeks old and they stole our hearts right away.

They came to the city to visit their vet and while their owners had breakfast, these cuties were quietly crawling into our hearts. Used to human touch they let us pet them, and didn't mind the camera flashes too much.

They had just fed are were lazy only like a well-fed cat can be. But they did play around a while and then cuddled up again to do what baby animals do - sleep. They are cute now, but soon they will become the predator that earned its fearsome reputation for a reason. Enjoy, we did!

Pen, Paper and Stamps

When was the last time you penned a letter? A real, honest pen-to-paper letter. Stuck it in an envelope, added a stamp and mailed it to someone. For me it has been years. Literally. Until February came around in the form of A Month of Letters. How I came across the blog, I cannot remember, but I do remember the thrill of opening those first letters.

I registered late, and only in time to be going away for work, and to places with no internet access. But once I was back, I was like a kid with a new toy when those first letters appeared in my mailbox. Of course, I planned to write to my fellow contributors, but they were too fast for me. I had fun replying to the ones I did receive, and then penned a few more of my own.

The biggest problem I had - finding greeting cards to write on. And after a week of shopping still didn't find any. People simply do not write any more. Even postcards seemed to have been relegated to the malls at the airports. So paper and envelope it was.

I love my email, and do get many each day, but the letters (even from strangers) has a little something extra that just make them special. It was sent to me. Written specially for me. So go on, dust off that pen, dig out some paper and write someone a letter today. Who knows, you might make some new friends - just like I did.

Cover of Géra's Gift

Well, I got the final graphic design for Géra's Gift today. It took a few weeks, and some very amateurish drawing skills on may part to get poor Jana (the graphic artist) to interpret what was going on in my head.

And I have to say I like it. The background can serve as the cover for the next installment in the series. I will then only change the details for the specific novel - in this case the two shields on the front part of the cover.

The lettering still needs to be added, but I will leave that for a surprise - cannot have all the book's secrets revealed before publishing.

With the interior of the book also complete, it is now off to final layout, and then publication. It seemed so long ago when this process started, and now it is almost done. The suspense is killing me :-)