Thousands of torches dot the winding hillside road. Their light dances on this inky, starlit night as an endless parade of horse drawn carriages glitter from feathered plumes, waving in the casual breeze. The queue moves slowly, and as each carriage pulls up to the medieval arched entry, masked strangers step out and climb the cobbled steps, entering into the gleaming marble hall.
Banners from nine different provinces flow from guilt poles, forming a colorful welcome to each royal guest.
Upstairs in the farthest corner of the castle, a jeweled crown is woven into the golden locks of a young woman. Her heart patters as she steps in front of the looking glass. Two hand maidens finish lacing up the back of her gown.
"You look beautiful your highness," stutters the youngest of the two. Emerald eyes flash from the reflection and into the servant's widened brown eyes.
She nods. "Thank you, Arabella."
Trumpets echo throughout the massive halls and shivers race through Princess Zoe's body. She squares her shoulders and stretches to her full height. "It is time for me to meet my future husband."
Arabella rushes to the princess's side and hands her a glittering mask. She bows. Princess Zoe gently takes it by the handle and steps toward her destiny.
One last carriage inches its way to the front. The footman opens the door and a booted leg hits the cobbled stone with a heavy click. He straightens to his considerable height and adjusts his metal mask dusted with fine marquisites.
He jets up the stairs and into the grand hall. Hundreds of guests congregate at the base of a massive, multi-storied stair case as twenty or so trumpeters toot another announcement. He stops and stares at the top of the landing, his view unobstructed.
A sentry calls out, "Her royal highness, Princess Zoe!"
Princess Zoe turns her head to one side of the crowd, smiling at her guests. As she pivots her neck in the opposite direction, she rests her eyes on the one man who stands head and shoulders above the crowd. A breath escapes her. She composes herself and glides down the staircase like a breeze over a wheat field.
She greets each one of the eight princes with a polite air. And continues to the ninth. The remaining guests part as she steps toward the mysterious man who watches her every movement. A stoic figure, carved in granite. Flickering torchlight illuminates his hazel eyes as she stops before him. He bows.
"Princess Zoe." His lyrical baritone voice sends electric shock waves through her body.
"And your name, Sire"
He remains silent and extends his arm.
Another breath escapes her...
Why all the mystery?
What does he have to hide?
Will Princess Zoe find her true love with this mysterious prince?
Or will his secret tear them apart?
A magical device may be their only chance...
First, I must say this is one of the most beautiful covers I have seen. And the mysterious circumstances of this premise has certainly peeked my interest! Let me be the first to congratulate Mary. She is an amazing writer and I know her newest novella will be a big hit!
ALL the best MARY!
Please drop by Mary's site and wish her well. And snap up a copy of this book. I know I will...
You can find Mary Waibel at:
Thanks for dropping by today everyone. I hope you enjoyed my newest intro....
Have a great day everyone.
Banners from nine different provinces flow from guilt poles, forming a colorful welcome to each royal guest.
Upstairs in the farthest corner of the castle, a jeweled crown is woven into the golden locks of a young woman. Her heart patters as she steps in front of the looking glass. Two hand maidens finish lacing up the back of her gown.
"You look beautiful your highness," stutters the youngest of the two. Emerald eyes flash from the reflection and into the servant's widened brown eyes.
She nods. "Thank you, Arabella."
Trumpets echo throughout the massive halls and shivers race through Princess Zoe's body. She squares her shoulders and stretches to her full height. "It is time for me to meet my future husband."
Arabella rushes to the princess's side and hands her a glittering mask. She bows. Princess Zoe gently takes it by the handle and steps toward her destiny.
One last carriage inches its way to the front. The footman opens the door and a booted leg hits the cobbled stone with a heavy click. He straightens to his considerable height and adjusts his metal mask dusted with fine marquisites.
He jets up the stairs and into the grand hall. Hundreds of guests congregate at the base of a massive, multi-storied stair case as twenty or so trumpeters toot another announcement. He stops and stares at the top of the landing, his view unobstructed.
A sentry calls out, "Her royal highness, Princess Zoe!"
Princess Zoe turns her head to one side of the crowd, smiling at her guests. As she pivots her neck in the opposite direction, she rests her eyes on the one man who stands head and shoulders above the crowd. A breath escapes her. She composes herself and glides down the staircase like a breeze over a wheat field.
She greets each one of the eight princes with a polite air. And continues to the ninth. The remaining guests part as she steps toward the mysterious man who watches her every movement. A stoic figure, carved in granite. Flickering torchlight illuminates his hazel eyes as she stops before him. He bows.
"Princess Zoe." His lyrical baritone voice sends electric shock waves through her body.
"And your name, Sire"
He remains silent and extends his arm.
Another breath escapes her...
Why all the mystery?
What does he have to hide?
The Mystery Prince
by
Mary Waibel
Will Princess Zoe find her true love with this mysterious prince?
Or will his secret tear them apart?
A magical device may be their only chance...
First, I must say this is one of the most beautiful covers I have seen. And the mysterious circumstances of this premise has certainly peeked my interest! Let me be the first to congratulate Mary. She is an amazing writer and I know her newest novella will be a big hit!
ALL the best MARY!
Please drop by Mary's site and wish her well. And snap up a copy of this book. I know I will...
Buy Link:
You can find Mary Waibel at:
https://twitter.com/mewtweety14
Thanks for dropping by today everyone. I hope you enjoyed my newest intro....
Have a great day everyone.
76 comments:
Another great intro! First I thought you were leading into a new story of your own. I think you could write that genre very well.
What an intriguing introduction and a great cover. Congrats to Mary.
Liked your intro, certainly captured me. Off to check out the book.
Oops, the link doesn't work. Forgot to say love the cover.
Thanks so much, Michael! Loved reading your interpretation.
I agree, Alex, I think Michael would do a great job with fantasy.
Thanks, Susan.
I love to cover, too, Jo. Charlie does a great job on her designs. If the link still isn't working, you could try this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KU6TSY8
Michael, did you write this lovely blurb! ***sigh***i really don't understand why a publisher hasn't picked you up. Really.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
Very nicely done. You really have a gift for this sort of thing.
mood
Moody Writing
Congratulations, Mary! Sounds like an interesting read.
I know, right?
He really does a great job with them.
Thanks Stephanie! It was lots of fun to write.
What a great intro, Michael! Good luck with the book, Mary. Nice cover.
Mary Montague Sikes
Thanks, Alex.
Glad you liked it, Mary! You're so welcome! And I really do think the cover is fantastic! Can't wait to read it!
Thanks Shelly! Yes, I did write it. Actually I would really enjoy doing it for a publisher, but I do freelance blurbs for authors as part of my service as you may know.
Thanks, Mood! I enjoy writing them, so maybe that's why I have the knack.
Thanks, Mary.
Licks lips and swallows lump in throat. What next?
I agree this cover is gorgeous. And it engages my imagination. The story sounds great. Good luck to you, Mary!
What a lovely cover!
Congrats Mary!
And once again, Michael's done such a great job with the intro...
Medieval fantasy love story! Sounds so enticing.
What I find amazing is Michael wrote Zoe's words almost word for word, and Tristan's response was quite similar!!
Thanks Carol. Charlie is just so fantastic to work with. This is the third cover she's done for me, and I've loved each one!
Thanks Michelle!
And yes, Michael did a great job.
Thanks! I like the sound of that. (I usually say fairy tales with a twist :-) )
Congrats Mary! Love the cover.
Great intro. I'm so curious now. And congrats to Mary
It is a beautiful cover. Michael. And Alex is right: I think you could do this genre well. All my best to Mary Waibel.
I don't read a lot of romances, but this is one I would seriously consider. (And the cover is amazing!)
This looks and sounds awesome, Michael. This is captivating:
'...glides down the staircase like a breeze over a wheat field.' Love the imagery.
Congratulations to Mary and congratulations to you for your wonderful intro. Can't wait till you do mine, lol!
Denise
Thanks SP! I love it too!
Thanks Natalie!
Thanks Roland!
Thanks Jack. I was so excited when the cover came into my inbox, and we did very few changes to it.
Thanks Denise. And yes, Michael's imagery was amazing!
Great intro, Michael!
Congratulations, Mary!!! :)
Thanks Melissa!
What an amazing intro! It's so vivid and the wording is rich. Well done, Micheal!
Congratulations, Mary! The cover art is stunning! I love how the colors and images are blended beautifully. I wish you much success. :)
Thansk Chrys. The colors were perfect, and I loved the sparkle lights Charlie added to it to give it a fairy/party atmosphere.
Thanks so much, Chyrs, I'm glad you liked like. I did very much enjoy writing it.
Thanks Melissa!
Hey, Denise,
You know I'm ALL ABOUT imagery and atmosphere. LOL.... Thanks!
Well, I'm sure you remember my first novel was a fantasy, It is my FAVORITE genre. Love it! And anything set in medieval times has always interested me. Magic was such a big part of their beliefs...
Thanks, Natalie! Glad you liked it.
Thanks, Michelle!
Thanks Lee... I guess you'll need to get the book. LOL.
You made it easy for me Mary, the blurb you sent had enough information for me to zoom in on Zoe's and Tristan's emotions.
Thanks Mary!
Well, only if you promise to read us the book yourself as some bedtime reading, Mikey ... :)))
... yes... me knows me is too naughty, Mikey....
Congrats to Mary on her book :)
Thanks, Dezmond!
I think that we will always be enamored of royalty. Princess Diana re-sparked the public's infatuation and now we have William and Kate (and baby) to ensure that the love lives on.
This book is well-timed and intriguing!
Ah Michael,
And thus, your intro doth immerse the reader into a world of wondrous enchantment.
Mary, your book entices and hearty congrats to you. Wishing you the very best.
Sire Gary :)
Wonderful intro! Makes me want to find out what's behind that gorgeous cover!
Congrats to Mary! What a beautiful cover-intriguing! I agree with you, Michael!
Reads like a fairy tale in very poetic visual language Love the idea of a mystery prince and indeed a great cover
Good pick
Oh I've been rocket launched into the fairytale stratosphere! Congrats on the book! Yummy cover and oh... the mystery! :)
shahwharton.com
So true, Robin. I remember watching her wedding. In fact, I found pictures of the wedding that I cut out of a magazine a few years back in a box of things I collected.
Thank you for your kind words, Good Sir :-)
Thanks, Jemi. I cannot say enough about Charlie's talent with covers.
Thanks, Ella!
Michael really has a great way with words. And mystery princes are so much fun!
Thanks Shah! I love that- the fairytle stratosphere! :-)
Something tells me the world is ready for more/original fairytale-esque stories, and this is jumping on the boat. Congrats, Mary! Sounds like an intriguing read. :)
Thanks David!
Congrats to Mary, love the cover. And Awesome intro, Michael!!
Thanks Cathrina. (BTW- I love your name!!)
Thanks for the lead. I'll check it out.
Wow that's an intro. If I ever write a book I want you to introduce me!!
Thanks JJ!
It is a great intro- Michael certainly does an amazing job with them (especially seeing he didn't read the book, just the cover copy)
Thank you, Marja. What a nice compliment!
Yes, Mary's story is truly inspirational and has a great premise!
Thanks Cathrina!
Glad you enjoyed it! And, I have to agree with Mary, you do have a fantastic name!
Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it OE... I'd be delighted to intro your book when you do!
Ah, thanks Mary! So happy you liked what I wrote. Your cover copy was perfect to work with. I gleemed so much out of it.
Such an evocative intro Michael! I love the way you set the scene!!
I agree, Johanna, he has a great knack for setting scenes
Thank you, Ladies... I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Post a Comment