Passage of The Week : Part 2 Epsilon

Chronicles of Astoria Part II Epsilon-page 61, Pepsy and Ariana explore the ship:

"I don’t know what happened, one minute it was in the vial.. The next it chased me across the room and now it’s on my arm" Pepsy stated. Ariana had now joined her in their fascination of the mysterious new discovery.

"Lets test it on something, hold on, here let’s try burning it" Ariana's excitement was plain to see. Pepsy looked unimpressed as she stood there before her looking at the blow torch that Ariana had found on the other workbench and was now ready to use on her.

"Do you really think I am going to let you burn my arm?" "No not your arm, just that piece, your armour will protect you anyway" Ariana replied, her excitement growing every second. Pepsy’s curiosity too had grown and she eventually nodded her approval. 

Ariana moved in and, turning on the torch, applied the searing white cone of the burner to the silver surface of Pepsys vambrace. Under the intense heat Pepsy should have expected to feel her arm getting warmer underneath but surprisingly she felt nothing. As Ariana pulled back the torch they both looked on and observed the scorch mark that was left upon its shiny surface from where the white hot tip of the flame has been applied. They then both observed the mark vanish before their very eyes and the gleaming silver remained unblemished and brand new.

"Wow" Ariana exclaimed and once again she fell completely silent. Pepsy turned and walked to the door of the room, her every step was slow and careful, lost in thought from the events previously. Out in the main lab she then turned and hurried about, scurrying her way around the lab in search of something that Ariana could not understand. She stood at the doorway of the 'amorphous alloys' lab watching the red angel frantically throwing and clearing the debris from the tops of the lab tables, her eyes darting left and right until she paused and picked something up. Turning quickly she made her way back over to Ariana.

"I want you to hit me with this?" Pepsy said as she produced a solid steel mallet from her hand. 

"You want me to hit you with that?" this time it was Ariana with the reluctance to the plans idea.
"Hit you where?" she asked. Pepsy rolled her eyes at her friends’ lack of savvy.

"On the toe silly, WHERE DO YOU THINK?"

-Ends-

Peace & Love 

*MR Shields*

Now Released! - Chronicles of Astoria, Part II Epsilon

Five months after the release of Part I, I can  proudly say that Part II is NOW available on paperback and Kindle from Amazon.

I loved writing part two because there's so much action. Also, so many of the stories that were left unexplained or unanswered will now be brought to light - It's exciting stuff I promise you that. 

The story itself takes place three months after part one and continues each sub-story accordingly. My advice to anyone that has completed part one is to re-read it as it will make part two even clearer. Re-reading part one will definitely be worth your time and will only add to your enjoyment - especially if you love fast moving action. 

On its own this part stands strong. It has action right from the start and the sub-story details the trials that an aspirant must go through to become an Angel, and earn their prestigious armour. It's a case of the classic good versus evil theme; along with various other themes such as ' a hero that falls' and also an enemy that repents.

I cant wait for my copy to arrive. I like to detach myself from the fact that I've spent so many waking moments building on each of the characters personalities, working out the plot twists and really delving into the story. For me receiving the physical books enables me to read the story as if I wasn't the actual author and that in itself is a moment of pure bliss.Even though I've written the story I do feel that the characters take on additional personality traits and evolve into something I never quite imagined they would become. 

You can pick up Part II from Amazon here, do let me know your thoughts, likes and dislikes. 

Peace & Love 

* M.R Shields *



Blurb - Chronicles of Astoria Part II

It has been three months since Astoria was thrown into chaos by the sinister workings of the dark Lord and the Angels are doing everything that they can to piece it all back together. It is Chances’ hope that the Superfuse World Championship will bring the people closer once more and return happiness to their once beautiful city... but, an even darker plan has already been set in motion

Everywhere he goes Raphael is heckled, hated and generally unwanted. He just cannot understand it. Some Astorians even go as far as assaulting him with produce from their stalls. He finds himself lying to Chance more and more each day, lies that he believes are not going unnoticed and he blames her lack of affection toward him on himself. He has dark secrets that he needs to tell her but with her attention focussed on the Superfuse preparations, he just can’t find the right moment.

Chance finds herself with an inner turmoil. She is pregnant and hasn’t told Raphael yet. She feels him slipping further and further away from her and she begins to analyse just how badly she treats him and blames herself for the unsaid truths that are now constantly passing between them. She needs to tell him about the baby but can’t find the right moment; she vows to tell him after the tournament.

When the tournament gets vandalised and all fingers are pointing at Raphael, the sinister scheme is set in motion. Have both Angels left it too late to confess their truths?

- Ends - 

Hope you enjoyed the blurb, you can now pick up your copy over on Amazon here. 

Peace & Love 

* M.R Shields *

Release Date for Part II Will Be...

I am so excited to reveal that chronicles of Astoria Part II Epsilon will now be released on the first of June 2013, it will be available to purchase on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle e-book formats. 

It's felt like a long five months since part one's release. I would however describe part two as my 'baby' as the story has really started to heat up, it's all very exciting. 

I made a few changes to the look of this book, I've opted for the more traditional cream paper this time around and also increased the font size. I can confirm that there are five to six plot-lines that flow through this episode and will continue throughout to part six which is still a long way off.

Keep an eye out also for a new short story coming out which is based on the series and will follow the story of Crystal and how she came to be in Astoria. I hope you are all as excited as I am, when I hear that you've enjoyed it and when I'm asked 'what's going to happen next' it really makes everything so worthwhile and for that, I thank you greatly. 

Peace & Love

* M.R Shields *

Watch The Chronicles of Astoria Temple Scene Here & Now...

This is now my second video blog [vlog] for Chronicles of Astoria fantasy novel series. I know it needs further work such as bringing the camera in closer and improving the sound but it's definitely a work in progress and at this stage I'm very proud of it. 

I hope you enjoy this Temple Scene video. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or over on the Official Facebook Page here.

Peace & Love 

* M.R Shields * 

How Good Nutrition & Creative Writing Come Hand in Hand

How many of us have reached the end of our novels, having worked hard on them for months on end, day after day and night after night and then feel like they have run out of steam when it comes to doing the first draft proof check?

I for one have fallen into this trap as I near the end of writing Part II of my Chronicles Of Astoria novel series. I had finished all the fun parts, eg the creative story writing part and have now reached the mundane stage of checking for errors before sending it on to my proofreading team.The whole thing began to feel like a chore and before I knew it, I was ordering takeaways and eating fast food because I ‘thought’ I didn’t have the time to make healthy food.

Well my lazy ways led to more lazy ways, I'd reach the gym and my usual forty minute workout had become more like four minutes plus a really long shower and slowly but surely, the time that I had set aside to proofread was filled with playing the Xbox, watching movies, terrible daytime TV and basically I'd become the king of procrastination. I struggled to get up in the morning, I'd wake up nice and early and just sit on Facebook using my phone while hiding under my duvet covers away from the world.

It took a loving girlfriend and a caring best friend to point out that I had in fact been buying crisps more often than normally (which was never) that I looked sluggish, seemed stressed and generally not my happy, creative self.

I had to take action! Luckily for me I'm a personal trainer and nutritional adviser by trade although lately I have been far better at advising others than taking my own advice. I decided that it was the best time to implement change.

My good friend asked me 'What's most important to you?'  I replied naturally “finishing my book” and she swiftly scolded me (as a caring friend does, it was over the phone but I'm pretty sure she was waving her finger like a school teacher) she told me that my health comes first and once I was back to  my usual bouncy self, the writing would come.

Doing as I was told, I went home and re-evaluated my own diet and realised that the takeaway foods (as we all know) are filled with carbs, fat and very little in the way of healthy nutrients; this all had to change and so I addressed each section of my nutritional life carefully.

First of all, as a man I had to increase my protein intake. knowing that proteins break down into amino acids blah-blah-blah, (I wont bore you too much) but basically I need to increase my nitrous oxide levels which in turn increase levels of testosterone - which for a guy is important for thousands of factors but the main two were, getting out of bed in the morning and also having more drive and stamina in the gym, those 4 minute workouts just wouldn't cut it for long! 

I also supplemented zinc, just at the standard dosage as it is very important for men’s health, I added in my eggs at breakfast, some chicken at lunch and then red meat or tuna for dinner. I'll add in some salmon next week once I am paid.

Next I aimed to increase the good fats in my diet so that I could balance out my good cholesterol, strengthening cell walls and improve my brain health. To do this I supplemented with cod liver oils  and added in some avocados - I even experimented with making guacamole and also added in peanut butter - spread of brown toast of course. I LOVE milk and sometimes avoid it for, well I actually don’t know why but I added it back in at 500ml per day to increase my calcium and to add in some good fats to the diet. 

Then focusing on both good hydration and high fibre I added in porridge alongside some healthy vegetables and brown bread. Ensuring all the while that I drank a minimum of three litres of water per-day.I found it was easier to fill a big three litre jug in the morning, making sure it was done by the end of the night - some days it was a case of easier said than done. 

Last stop was Vitamin C. This little vitamin packs a hefty punch, it's fantastic for generally increasing mood as well as all adding very important nutrients into the body that are needed to ensure it functions correctly.  Personally I just wanted to feel better and so I ensured I ate more fruit in the form of apples, tomatoes and more avocados which are very high in Vitamin C.

Within three days of following the new regime (yes that soon) I can feel myself springing out of bed in the morning, feeling less stressed, more focussed and more determined than I have in a long time. I have proofed a further fifty pages to my book which is 300% more than I'd done in the previous three weeks and this accomplishment has seriously made me more determined and all round happier than before.

So if you are stuck in a rut and cant create, go back to the basics. Eat well and feel great (that almost rhymes) I promise you won't regret it. Happy is as happy does. 

* M.R Shields*

New Raphael Concept Art - Take a Peek

I was super excited when I woke up this morning to an email from my graphics girl telling me she had rough drafts for the concept art to my book. Upon opening the email I was gobsmacked at what I found. From taking a few small descriptions about the character she was able to construct his face to exactly how I had imagined him in my mind.

Below is the image of Raphael, he's the main character in my first book, 'Chronicles of Astoria Part I, Delta. It's just a head shot and she still has to create his shining white armour so I am really excited to see it all completed. I love that she had brought my books to life!!! 

Updated: Here's another updated image of Raphael in his white armour alongside Chance. 

Pretty awesome huh? Do you like the Raphael and Chance concept art? 

* M.R Shields *