Thursday, August 1, 2013

Blog Tour: Phoenix Ashes (Maggie Henning & The Realm #4) by Lisa Morgan

Phoenix Ashes (Maggie Henning & The Realm #4)


Title: Phoenix Ashes (Maggie Henning & The Realm: book 4)
Author: Lisa Morgan
Genre: YA/NA Paranormal-Fantasy Romance
Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours
Maggie Henning has fallen.

Sent to Ashe, stuck between life and death, Maggie is living in a dream; remembering nothing of the battle to save the world or of her love for Luc. There is only one way back- she must remember it all. But in leaving the perfection that is Ashe, she’ll lose her mother all over again.

Luc won’t let Maggie go without a fight. Even as he watches her body withering before his eyes, he refuses to give up on their love. Aided by trusted friends, Luc wages war to bring back the Phoenix he loves, even as a threat far bigger than Ossa lets his presence be known.

When you are left with only one chance to get it all back, do you seize it, or do you burn the world to the ground?


PRAISE FOR THE MAGGIE HENNING SERIES:

*PHOENIX RISING (book one)*

"A literary roller coaster ride leaving you screaming for more!" -Phenomenal Reviews

*PHOENIX BURNING (book two)*

"The Author has outdone herself with creating these characters. Building this world that has totally sucked me in and refuses to let me go." - Young Adult & Teen Readers

*PHOENIX SHADOW (book three)*

"Lisa Morgan leaves you begging for the next book after each book she writes. You have been warned." -Sara Bree High


Lisa C. Morgan lives in rural Upstate NY with her husband, three children, a degu, a precocious Siberian Husky, and a half Pom/Half Chi spoiled baby named Salacious B. Dustbunny.
A lover of books and words, it has always been her desire to tell stories that the people near her could listen and read, escaping the world around them by way of the page.
Always having a new story idea popping into her head, (sometimes at the least appropriate of times,) Lisa can almost always be found with a notebook and writing utensil somewhere within reach, just as her 8th grade teacher made her promise to do.
When she isn't writing or taxiing kids, Lisa enjoys reading, football, softball, cooking, singing & dancing (badly) tattoos, and spending time with family and friends.

Links:
Blog/Web: http://www.thefinalphoenix.com/

Playlist:


When I’m writing, music is as important to my story as the ink, paper, or Word document I’m typing on! So much so that the songs are like another unnamed character that becomes essential to drive the plot forward.
While writing Phoenix Ashes my music library grew by roughly 300 songs in a wide variety of genres. I found certain songs that had they not been blaring through my ear buds, could have lead to a very different ending! I thought I’d share a few of the more pivotal tunes and a little insight as to what was happening or why I chose that particular song.
Bedroom Hymns by Florence & The Machine: I have been enamored by Florence Welch’s voice since I first heard her. Bedroom Hymns, with its underlying drum rhythm was a song I stumbled on exactly when I needed it! And what did this song help me with? Only my favorite fight scene I’ve ever written! Yes- a fight scene. The opening lines of the song are “This is as good a place to fall as any. We’ll build our altar here.”  I could easily picture three of my characters making a stand against the revenants as they attempted to break free. I see them standing on a staircase, weapons poised. I could visualize one leaping and kicking off a castle wall as they struck down an approaching guard. “I’m not looking for absolution” Florence sings, and in truth, at that moment in the book, these characters aren’t looking to finish off the epic battle to save the world, they’re just trying to escape by whatever means necessary. That beat, that voice- oh heck yes!
Burn by In This Moment: Maria Brinks has one of the most haunting voices I’ve ever listened to. While this song is gritty and edgy, it’s her voice that almost claims you. Maggie is seemingly lost to Luc in this book, and when I hear the opening line of this song, I get gooseflesh: “I’ve felt this since the beginning; the beginning of the end. There’s nothing left to fear now. So watch me close because once again you burn.” Luc remembers Maggie, but she is lost. He takes one last chance to try to get her to regain her memories, to return to him and the love they have for each other. The words are haunting, desperate, as Maria brinks almost begs Maggie to recall Luc’s touch. While Maggie may wield fire, the title of this song has nothing to do with that ability and everything to do with the shared emotions between Maggie and Luc as he prays she’ll remember him.
I Know These Hills by Kevin Costner and Modern West: This song, from the award winning mini-series “Hatfield’s and McCoy’s” at fist listen would probably lead you to assume the wrong thing in my book! Stone in the Earth. Rain in the sky. Blood on the blade. Hear the angels cry. Remember my name, The look in my eyes. Oh, I, oh, I… I know these hills.” This has almost nothing to do with Maggie. There comes a point in Phoenix Ashes where Luc is asked to do something; a task that a reader could easily assume to be an easy one for him given his history. But it’s in the request that Luc changes. He realizes what it is has must do, the man he has no choice but to be. As I listened to this song while writing that part of the story, I was forced to pause in my typing and call a friend because I quite literally fell apart sobbing. We all know who Luc is, and as I wrote, I experienced his pain along with him.
Ruff Ryder’sAnthem (Dirty Remix) by DMX: Two words: Enter Hayden. As Luc’s oldest and best friend, this elf has all the attitude of Luc in a nice Elvish form! His arrival in Phoenix Ashes couldn’t have happened at a better moment, as Luc is about to jump off a proverbial cliff. Hayden helps ground him as only a trusted friend can. There isn’t a particular line or lyric in the song that inspires me. It’s the attitude, the swagger of the song that makes me picture the pair of them together, ready to face the world!

There really are way too many songs to list them all in one post! For the complete playlist, please check out my website http://www.thefinalphoenix.com I have the playlists for all of my books on the page!

1 comment:

  1. Fantastic info with the music! Love the series so much:) Great blog post!

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