Category Archives: Sister Margaret

Halloween in May

May 28, 2009 R. Parrish Leave a comment

Belinda McBride is having a Halloween in May event at her blog and on her mailing list. All month she has been having guest bloggers pop by and write about paranormal expiriences, Samhain or Halloween. I am lucky enough to be one of those guest authors.

Yesterday I was scrambling to find something to write about because I’d forgotten that the topic was meant to be Halloween/Samhain/Paranormal themed…which meant the topic I’d planned to write on wouldn’t work. Wewps. It all worked out in the end, though.

Halloween has always been important to me, so I talked a little bit about that and how what it’s meant to me has changed through my life. Please, take a look if you’re even vaguely interested 🙂 All comments left on that blog entry (on Belinda’s blog, not mine) will be entered into a draw to win a copy of Sister Margaret.

On a sort of related note I’m curious. If you have received a free copy of Sister Margaret from me and I sent it to you via Fictionwise, did you get it? I’m asking because I’ve given out a fair number of e-books that way and still there are only two reviews for Sister Margaret on the website. If people just aren’t giving reviews that’s fine, but I really want to make sure that people are getting the copies I’ve promised them.

Right, so yes, I’m blogging at Belinda’s today. Check it out by clicking here. Thanks 🙂

Reviews, Sister Margaret

Four Fang Review

May 10, 2009 R. Parrish Leave a comment

I’ve never actually met Roxanne Rhoads of Fang-tastic Books but I may love her. She just posted a review of Sister Margaret today in which she gave it four fangs (out of five) and said:

Rhonda Parrish delivers a wonderfully written concise story that will grip you with anticipation. Her characters are strong along with a hidden depth to their personalities. I was surprised at how short the story was but Ms. Parrish wrote it in such a way that there is magic in every word. I am impressed at her ability to pull you in and deliver a satisfying ending. An entertaining story that is wickedly clever!

Is it any wonder I adore her? You can read the full review here if you’re interested. Actually, if you like vampire stories at all it’s well worth checking out her site. She has book reviews (obviously), interviews and giveaways all the time.

In other news, I’m still struggling to keep myself focused for long enough to work on the first draft of any of my big projects these days, so I’ve shifted my focus for a little bit. I’ll be revising my novella THERE in order to send it out to publishers. Hopefully once I get back into the groove of writing every day it will be less painful and I’ll be able to get those first drafts done.

I’ve also just had the full manuscript of one of my Aphanasian novellas requested by the first publisher I queried about it. Keep your fingers crossed for me on this one please.

appearances, Reviews, Sister Margaret

Updates

May 5, 2009 R. Parrish 2 Comments

I just got home from the World Horror Convention in Winnipeg. It had the lowest attendance of any World Horror Con (61 paid memberships with about 30 of those people actually attending), but it was a blast. We really got a chance to just hang out and talk and I got to know some really amazing people. Truly.

While I was in Winnipeg I was also being featured on Amber Stults‘ blog. I meant to post about it here as it was happening, but um…I forgot. *looks sheepish* Sorry.

Firstly, Amber interviewed me. You can check that out here. She asked me a lot of questions that I’ve never been asked before, and I had a lot of fun answering them. The interview also includes my Rhysling-nominated haiku, Lovers, in case you’re curious and want to check it out.

That same day, Amber posted a review of Sister Margaret (here). In it, she says:

“The only thing lacking in “Sister Margaret” is that it’s not enough! I know Rhonda has written more stories and a novel with some of these characters. I’ve been purposefully staying away as a beta reader so I can be surprised like everyone else when they get published.”

Lastly, she invited me to write a guest blog post, so I wrote about falling in love with secondary characters. Secondary Characters = <3.

I would like to thank everyone who stopped by and commented and congratulate Joyce for winning a copy of Sister Margaret just for commenting.

Now I need to get my nose to the grindstone. I have a new layout for this blog I really want to install and show off!

appearances, Newsletter, Reviews, Sister Margaret

Lots of News

April 21, 2009 R. Parrish Leave a comment

I have loads of news today. I like it when that happens.

Firstly, Sister Margaret is now available from Fictionwise. That means you can pick it up for less than two bucks. This makes me very happy. >> Sister Margaret on Fictionwise <<

Also, I finally sent out the newsletter for April. It’s late but I’ve often heard ‘better late than never’, so I’m not putting this in the loss column 😉

I’m guest blogging over at The World Can Wait about motivation today.

There is also a new review of Sister Margaret over at Imperfect Clarity today that says, in part:

Rhonda shows her ability as a true wordsmith in this story. As a fledgling writer myself, while reading this piece, it was as though each word was carefully measured and painstakingly chosen because it was the exact word needed to make the story flow.

The choice of details and description within the story truly bring out the richness that she has wrought.

I think she’s being far too nice, LoL but how could I not adore being called a wordsmith? I do, I love it. I admit it. Even if I’m not sure it’s deserved LOL

Included with the review is a guest blog I wrote about inspiration. Mostly about the inspiration for Sister Margaret, but not exclusively.

I think that’s it for today.

Pretty exciting to be me this Tuesday, lemme tell you 😉

appearances, Reviews, Sister Margaret

Leaving You Breathless

April 20, 2009 R. Parrish 1 Comment

*happy dance*

Clare Revell reviewed Sister Margaret at her blog today and said:

The book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was fast paced from the start and its twists and turns make for gripping reading. The descriptions meant I had vivid images in my mind throughout the book. At just over 4000 words, Rhonda wastes none of them, throwing you straight into the story and leaving you breathless at the end.

“Leaving you breathless”. How awesome is that? I am flattered and completely blown away 🙂 Clare also interviewed me to go along with her review. She asked me a lot of great questions about Sister Margaret, Niteblade and writing in general. Tomorrow I will be guest blogging there too, talking about writing and finding the motivation to do it LOL

Please check it out >> here << and leave a comment and thank you so much Clare. You rock!

appearances, Niteblade, Sister Margaret

White Rabbit

April 19, 2009 R. Parrish Leave a comment

I’m late. I am so late with this month’s newsletter. Originally I was waiting until the 16th to put it out because I was going to the hairdressers on the 15th and I thought it would be fun to take a new picture with my new hair…alas, it turns out I’m too lazy to actually put makeup on and take that picture, so that hasn’t happened yet LOL

Since then things have been a bit crazy…but I’m hoping to do the newsletter today or tomorrow. If you’ve been waiting (lol) I apologise. I’m on it. Really. I haven’t forgotten, I’m just doing my White Rabbit impersonation. I’m late! I’m late! I’m late!

Kim, from Eternal Press, interviewed me recently and it went live on their blog today. Just in case you don’t know more about me than you want to already LOL You can read it >> here <<.

In other interview news, I had the pleasure of interviewing Leslie Ann Moore for Niteblade. You can check that out >> here <<. Leslie is the author of the Griffin’s Daughter trilogy. Book two recently came out and though I haven’t read it yet it is on my list because I adored the first book so much 🙂

appearances, Published, Sister Margaret

Sister Margaret Release Day

April 7, 2009 R. Parrish 2 Comments

Today is the day. Sister Margaret is now available as a Coffee Break Selection from Eternal Press. Yay!

>> Click Here to read an excerpt and see how to order <<

Sister Margaret is a short story about a vampire hunter and a half-incubus swordsman who are hired by a priestess to take care of an undead pimp. It’s been called ‘…a gritty tale of cross and double cross’ by one reviewer and received several glowing recommendations from others.

I am so very proud of this story, I hope everyone who buys it loves it and I’ll be watching my Fictionwise ratings (when it becomes available on Fictionwise in a few days) with avid attention. Despite all the good reviews its received I’m very nervous on behalf of ‘Sister Margaret’. Keep your fingers crossed for me that it’s well-received LOL

To celebrate the launch of Sister Margaret I am giving away a free copy to one lucky subscriber to my Newsletter. I’ll be announcing the winner later on today or early tomorrow. I will also be guestblogging over at Fang-tastic Books today and giving away a copy to someone who leaves a comment there. It’s going to be quite a day. 🙂

appearances, Sister Margaret

Calendar Fail

April 5, 2009 R. Parrish Leave a comment

Apparently I fail at calendars. It’s sad but true. Did you know that April 7th is Tuesday? If so, then you don’t fail like I do LoL For some reason I kept thinking it was Wednesday so I had things all set up for me to do various chats and pop by a few blogs on Wednesday to celebrate the release of Sister Margaret.

Turns out, that’s not really a good plan LoL

At least I realised it before the 7th, not after. So now I’m re-arranging my life to make sure I can be at the Eternal Press launch party (held on their Yahoo groups) and visit Fang-tastic Books where I’ll be guestblogging and giving away a copy of Sister Margaret. There are several other places I’d like to (virtually) be as well as a rather large to-do list I want to get through, but those are the two big ones.

Have you ever had a calendar fail?

Reviews, Sister Margaret

Sister Margaret Reviews

March 30, 2009 R. Parrish Leave a comment

The reviews for Sister Margaret are starting to come in, and they are making me very happy. Yay!

The most recent review was by Puss Reboots and she said, in part, “The vampires therefore are just one of many different species living in the city and are not presented as the mysterious lust-worthy nobility with a dark side as they so often are these days.”

That makes me very happy because I don’t want the vampires in this story to be smooth sex symbols. She also said ““Sister Margaret” reminded me favorably of any number of fantasy short stories I’ve read in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.” Which is flattering just no matter how you look at it.

If you’d like to read the full review you can check it out >> here <<.

Release day is drawing closer. Sister Margaret is being released by Eternal Press on April 7th. If you are subscribed to my Newsletter you can expect a short special announcement to remind you on that day LoL Also, I will be giving a copy away to one random subscriber, I’ll make that announcement on the 7th as well.

Yay for good reviews! They totally make my day 🙂

Published, Sister Margaret

My First Cover

November 30, 2007 R. Parrish Leave a comment

I got my first cover today 🙂 “Sister Margaret” was published in the December 2007 issue of Pantechnicon and as if that weren’t wonderful enough, it was chosen as the cover story. I am over the moon with happiness! See that? I’m so happy I don’t even mind that I’m using cliches 🙂

If you click on the image above it will take you to a larger version of itself. Yay! I’m so happy. Best of all, Pantechnicon is free so if you’d like to check out my story, or any of the other awesome works of fiction in it, you can do it easily by clicking any of the links to it. Like this one –> Pantechnicon!

I write, I edit and I take a lot of naps.