Monday, June 9, 2014

WHO LURKS BEHIND THE MASK? ...

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?


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:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

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.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

What an intriguing introduction and a great cover. Congrats to Mary.

Jo said...

Liked your intro, certainly captured me. Off to check out the book.

Jo said...

Oops, the link doesn't work. Forgot to say love the cover.

Unknown said...

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

shelly said...

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

mooderino said...

Very nicely done. You really have a gift for this sort of thing.

mood
Moody Writing

Stephanie Faris said...

Congratulations, Mary! Sounds like an interesting read.

Unknown said...

I know, right?

Unknown said...

He really does a great job with them.

Unknown said...

Thanks Stephanie! It was lots of fun to write.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

What a great intro, Michael! Good luck with the book, Mary. Nice cover.

Mary Montague Sikes

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks, Alex.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Glad you liked it, Mary! You're so welcome! And I really do think the cover is fantastic! Can't wait to read it!

Michael Di Gesu said...

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.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks, Mood! I enjoy writing them, so maybe that's why I have the knack.

Thanks, Mary.

cleemckenzie said...

Licks lips and swallows lump in throat. What next?

Carol Kilgore said...

I agree this cover is gorgeous. And it engages my imagination. The story sounds great. Good luck to you, Mary!

Michelle Wallace said...

What a lovely cover!
Congrats Mary!
And once again, Michael's done such a great job with the intro...

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Medieval fantasy love story! Sounds so enticing.

Unknown said...

What I find amazing is Michael wrote Zoe's words almost word for word, and Tristan's response was quite similar!!

Unknown said...

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!

Unknown said...

Thanks Michelle!

And yes, Michael did a great job.

Unknown said...

Thanks! I like the sound of that. (I usually say fairy tales with a twist :-) )

S.P. Bowers said...

Congrats Mary! Love the cover.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Great intro. I'm so curious now. And congrats to Mary

Roland D. Yeomans said...

It is a beautiful cover. Michael. And Alex is right: I think you could do this genre well. All my best to Mary Waibel.

Jack said...

I don't read a lot of romances, but this is one I would seriously consider. (And the cover is amazing!)

Denise Covey said...

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

Unknown said...

Thanks SP! I love it too!

Unknown said...

Thanks Natalie!

Unknown said...

Thanks Roland!

Unknown said...

Thanks Jack. I was so excited when the cover came into my inbox, and we did very few changes to it.

Unknown said...

Thanks Denise. And yes, Michael's imagery was amazing!

Melissa said...

Great intro, Michael!
Congratulations, Mary!!! :)

Unknown said...

Thanks Melissa!

Chrys Fey said...

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. :)

Unknown said...

Thansk Chrys. The colors were perfect, and I loved the sparkle lights Charlie added to it to give it a fairy/party atmosphere.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks so much, Chyrs, I'm glad you liked like. I did very much enjoy writing it.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks Melissa!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hey, Denise,

You know I'm ALL ABOUT imagery and atmosphere. LOL.... Thanks!

Michael Di Gesu said...

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...

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks, Natalie! Glad you liked it.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks, Michelle!

Michael Di Gesu said...

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.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks Mary!

DEZMOND said...

Well, only if you promise to read us the book yourself as some bedtime reading, Mikey ... :)))

DEZMOND said...

... yes... me knows me is too naughty, Mikey....
Congrats to Mary on her book :)

Unknown said...

Thanks, Dezmond!

Robin said...

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!

klahanie said...

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 :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Wonderful intro! Makes me want to find out what's behind that gorgeous cover!

Ella said...

Congrats to Mary! What a beautiful cover-intriguing! I agree with you, Michael!

Marja said...

Reads like a fairy tale in very poetic visual language Love the idea of a mystery prince and indeed a great cover
Good pick

Shah Wharton said...

Oh I've been rocket launched into the fairytale stratosphere! Congrats on the book! Yummy cover and oh... the mystery! :)

shahwharton.com

Unknown said...

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.

Unknown said...

Thank you for your kind words, Good Sir :-)

Unknown said...

Thanks, Jemi. I cannot say enough about Charlie's talent with covers.

Unknown said...

Thanks, Ella!

Unknown said...

Michael really has a great way with words. And mystery princes are so much fun!

Unknown said...

Thanks Shah! I love that- the fairytle stratosphere! :-)

David P. King said...

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. :)

Unknown said...

Thanks David!

Cathrina Constantine said...

Congrats to Mary, love the cover. And Awesome intro, Michael!!

Unknown said...

Thanks Cathrina. (BTW- I love your name!!)

JJ said...

Thanks for the lead. I'll check it out.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Wow that's an intro. If I ever write a book I want you to introduce me!!

Unknown said...

Thanks JJ!

Unknown said...

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)

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thank you, Marja. What a nice compliment!

Yes, Mary's story is truly inspirational and has a great premise!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks Cathrina!

Glad you enjoyed it! And, I have to agree with Mary, you do have a fantastic name!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it OE... I'd be delighted to intro your book when you do!

Michael Di Gesu said...

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.

Johanna Garth said...

Such an evocative intro Michael! I love the way you set the scene!!

Unknown said...

I agree, Johanna, he has a great knack for setting scenes

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thank you, Ladies... I'm so glad you enjoyed it!