Monday 3 September 2012

Whispers on the Wind: Ari's Story

Good morning, blog world. Or good evening, afternoon - whatever it is wherever you are whenever you happen to be reading this. Maybe I should have just said 'hi'. Anyway, it's Monday morning here, and I get to do something exciting to kickstart the week - I get to introduce you to a book that has just come out!

Here is the cover:



I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I do, and this one intrigues me. I'm a sucker for old stuff, and the wax seal has sucked me right in. I want to break it and open the envelope - uh, turn the cover - and read the letter - uh, book. Having broken the seal, I'll hear the story Ari has to tell. It must be something important if it's been sealed so delicately. Come to think of it, what if her letter hasn't been addressed to me? What if I've just found it somehow, or if it's been delivered to the wrong address. It's not for me. Should I open it? What secrets lie within?

That's what goes through my head when I look at the cover. 

Here is the synopsis:

Whispers on the Wind : Ari’s Story, is a Young Adult fiction novel, set against the stunning backdrop of a fictional English coastal town, deals with new environments, finding your place, falling in love, and the fascination we all have with where we came from and the history surrounding us.

Hidden letters from 1812, the British Regency, tell the story of Alexander Ventus, member of a very rich and influential local family. Besotted with a local woman, Elizabeth, who is deemed beneath him, he is forced into a marriage with another woman. Distraught, she throws herself from a cliff. Followed years later by Alexander, burdened by his guilt.

Arianna takes a job at the local library where she begins to fall in love and become embraced in the community. Arianna does her best to uncover their stories, only to discover that history is repeating itself, every male descendant of Alexander has died on that cliff top and now a new set of letters have appeared with the same seal and the same warning signs.

Haunted by the echoes of the past, Arianna finds love, sees death and saves one man from repeating his ancestor’s mistakes after she takes it upon herself to catch him when he falls.


Here's a preview of the book - Alison has a wonderful reading voice! I'm going to buy the book, but I wish there was an audio version of it too. (Hint, hint, Alison! :p )


Maybe I will be clever one day and make a writerly video too.

For those of you too lazy to click the button and watch the video, or those of you who don't like being read to, 

Here is an excerpt:

I stood in the cavern and looked about with a candle. I'd only been down in the hidden grotto a few times an hadn't ever ventured beyond the first pillar. Even now I still didn't go any further than that. There was no need; so many hidden treasures were right by the steps. I set the candle in the closest corner as always, and within its range I scanned the treasures. There were tiny figurines carved from wood set in some of the alcoves. They become mere silhouettes right on the edge of the pool of light cast by the flickering flame. Some small tin toy cars from the 1950's were stationed into traffic queues, with a fire engine parked up by the pillar and a small police officer with his hand held up to the nonexistent drivers. There were more relics in the 'garden' above, some magazines from the 1970's rotting in a corner, next to the bench. Even older relics were scattered about too, hair ribbons, earrings and even a photograph of a wedding from the early 1900's On the back of it someone had penned a note:
My darling husband, 
You were mine for one short hour before you were taken to the battlefields. 
I waited. I wrote to you. For so long I waited to hear from you, a note, or a letter. Then I waited for a telegram. For the news you were not returning to me. Then I just waited. 
My family moved away. I stayed and waited for news. But it never came. Without you the world is grey, my heart is still, and day blurs into night. I feel as if I am Lot's wife - with all the tears I have cried I shall surely turn to salt. 
You never returned to me my love and so I shall come searching for you. 
The handwriting had deteriorated gradually throughout the note and the ink was smudged, tears had stained the words. I had placed it on a ledge of a rocky alcove last time I was down in the cavern to stop the damp ruining it too much; but now I reached out and slipped the picture into my bag as the candle light began to dim and the flame died. 


Here is the lovely author, Alison, herself:
Alison has been writing from an early age, stories, poems, novels, prose. After a three year sabbatical from writing she returned to her passion to write Whispers on the Wind: Ari's Story. Her first novel, Whispers on the Wind: Ari's Story was published in August 2012 on Lulu.com. Hanging from the Family Tree: Tobias' Story, a companion/sequel to Whispers on the Wind, will follow soon.
And here are the important links you need to know about!



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