Inktober

 

For the month of October I took the Jake Parker Inktober challenge of drawing in ink for 31 days straight. It was a bit of a challenge as I had to, not only,  produce a drawing everyday, but I would film it and put it on my channel on Youtube.

My theme, was ink drawings for book 7 in the Crystal Waters Book Series and I'm really pleased with all the drawings I created, which will all be definitely going in the book. I'll leave all the links below so you can you and check them out. Happy watching :)

Day One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xyN0WojBek&t=48s

Day Two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IkCFAXvEMU&t=64s

Day Three: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXBL-psVe80&t=8s

Day Four: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaDC2qZo9n0&t=102s

Day Five: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnVlXbBr14w&t=26s

Day Six: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIND0R8QDvA&t=36s

Day Seven: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLF5dGrTPrU&t=111s

Day Eight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=judGVbFAqK8&t=140s

Day Nine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x-FibjLK7E&t=26s

Day Ten: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wiXE4n4dbo&t=28s

Day Eleven: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR0vIzq6y3E&t=42s

Day Twelve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxlmg-nQgS0&t=19s

Day Thirteen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaqpIAO7cE4&t=22s

Day Fourteen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x0E_df4lno&t=17s

Day Fifteen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coHu_v7Awq8&t=188s

Day Sixteen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVcPr3nbJmE&t=38s

Day Seventeen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb68cBiXYsg&t=41s

Day Eighteen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5goyXyC2uQ&t=82s

Days Nineteen - Twenty-one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH9wdyNLWnI&t=51s

Days Twenty-two - Twenty-four: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D6EoX0IdYs&t=9s

Days Twenty-five - Twenty-six: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mpm6rSPqXsE&t=49s

Days Twenty-seven - Twenty-eight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAkvgiJgyDQ

Days Twenty-nine - Thirty-one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csj2CmCv3iY

 



ASMR Book 7 Calm, Ambient, Space Encounter

Meet the Globe Guisers

 

I must say, natural elements of the Earth have always interested me and digging further into it I was even more intrigued to find out in the philosophy of the seven Chakras there are correspondences to the five elements, as shared by both Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as two other elements: Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Time, Light and Dark. And as a writer and story-teller I felt at liberty to invent a few extra characters for my Crystal waters Series.

 

If you have been following my book series you will have already been introduced to them, but what you may not have realised is just how much background research and character development goes into every dramatis personae.

 

 

Of course, a lot of this information does not even make it into the books, but as an author, and a stickler for detail, it makes my characters whole and considerably real in my mind, and hopefully the reader then after.

 

Well, onward and upward with Book Seven (Crystal Waters Last Trip to South America). I will now immerse myself into all that lovely research, and you never know, there may be more characters developing from the depths of my creative brain :)

 



Book Six is Here at Last

At long last, after many delays, book six - Crystal Waters An Adventure in Asia is finally here.
Only six months delay, but I'm sure it is well worth the wait :)
Crystal Waters An Adventure in Asia is, as usual, available to buy from Amazon in paperback and kindle format.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_15?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=diana+rozevskis&sprefix=Diana+Rozevskis%2Caps%2C165&crid=1QY06QC67J7YG

Book Series Revealed

As we wait for the new book to arrive I thought I would let you in on some of my research and back plots that go on behind the scenes. Here are some of my notes (totally in the raw and unedited) for you to check out. Spoiler alert! If you haven't read Book Three (Crystal Waters Next Stop Antarctica) you may not want to read on, so I can safely say that you have been well and truly warned :)

 

 

Gateway History

 

·         Atlas and Pleione (Robert’s grandparents) were from Venus and had an idea to come to Earth to make it a better place. They built the city of Atlantis and when they were finished they discovered the secrets of the time-travelling gateway to the ancient worlds. They submerged Atlantis Hundreds of feet under the ice of Antarctica encased with a magic shield.

 

·         They found by using the Auroras; shimmering curtains of light around Antarctica, and magic crystals - each founded in the countries earth, it connected from each country to Antarctica. These channels pushed forward their magic to the doorways, and if the owner of these doorways had the right Crystal and a key (any shiny household object e.g. mirror, silver teapot, goblets, cutlery, bottles, crystal balls) they would be able to time travel. They allocated gate-keepers for each one around the globe.

 

·         Atlas and Pleione had seven daughters: Maia, Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Sterope and Merope.

 

·         Over the years Pleione got greedy and wanted more power and she eventually became evil. Things turned nasty between her and her husband Atlas.

 

·         Atlas turned against Pleione when he found out her true intentions: to rule over the countries with a rod of iron. All the evil people in the world she moulded into her way of thinking, Hitler – thinking he was making a purer race, Jack the ripper – ridding the world of the lowlifes in the world etc.

 

·         A bloody battle was fought. Pleione’s army against Atlas’ army. Pleione’s army won and Atlas was killed and six of their daughters were imprisoned in an ice-tomb in the depths of the Atlantian city. Merope escaped.

·         Merope met Plato and they had a baby boy – Sisyphus. Pleione and her army found the couple and Merope and Plato escaped yet again, but to their horror Pleione captured their son Sisyphus and brought him up as her own.

·         When Sisyphus became a man he met and married Sheila. They had a baby boy – Robert.

 

·         Pleione corrupted the mind of her son with her evil ways. And after she dies Sisyphus moves away from his wife and son and is made King of Atlantis.

 

·         But the city is now threatened; because of his greedy manner and attitude towards life, which goes against everything Venus/Atlantis represents, as Venus is normally a place of harmony, balance, sincerity, love and truth. The Venurans are good at delicate diplomacy when dealing with sensitive matters. Their race has enlightenment and is in connection with the spiritual world. Venurans also administer compassion and consciously choose forgiveness in a situation. And because the gatekeeper (Pleione and then Sisyphus) caused a rift in the whole time-travel scheme Atlantis started to slowly die and the shield of protection was slowly melting away, but they were both too pig-headed to see it.

 

Sisyphus (Robert’s dad) thinks he can save his world by sacrificing Robert.  He has found that by using numerology Roberts’ birthday and age is significant to the cause. Robert is born 24^th January 2+4 make 6. The symbolism behind number six is legend: With Venus as its ruler six represents harmony, balance, sincerity, love, and truth, six naturally reveals solutions for us in calm, unfolding manner. And connecting Robert to the machine he has built, deep in the ice caves of Atlantis, will restore Atlantis to its former glory.

 

And so, with that left with you to tantalise the taste buds, I better be off and get on with my writing. Book Six is way behind schedule and as I keep telling myself, 'it won't write itself!', so ta-ta for now xx


Slow on the Update

Has another six months passed and I haven't written a blog? It can't be! Well, being April 2017 and my last entry was October 2016, I can definitely say that it is.

So, what has been happening? *Scratches chin (that's a scratch on the chin to decide what to tell you first, not for of a lack of things I've done.)

I should first let you know that just before Christmas I published Book 5: Crystal Waters To Australasia and Beyond. I really didn't think I was going to make it, but it pulled together all in the nick of time. Lots of Christmas sales and lots of smiley faces (especially mine).

 

 

Secondly, I must say this malarkey of trying to do everything myself is proving rather difficult. Not only am I plotting, planning and writing the books, designing the covers and chapter drawings I'm trying to promote my books too. I've still a lot to learn regarding marketing my books and each day seems to throw a new challenge at me. Like, how do I build a platform for myself and my books and get them where they will be seen the most. I think I've exhausted Facebook and Twitter, there's only so many times you can plug your book to your family and friends, and although I have a Facebook page with a 1000 likes from new faces, it still doesn't seem to drive in the sales. Yes, an ongoing problem that only an agent or traditional publisher can solve. They have the right connections, see. Ah, well, maybe one day, eh?

 

Another thing I have been doing is getting out and about a lot more. No, I don't mean partying with my friends. I mean getting out and doing book signing and market stalls. I love it when I actually talk to real people, rather than just sitting there behind my computer screen hoping that someone out there is actually listening. The reward of meeting returning customers who love your books is like no other and it really does give me a buzz for days. That's what it's all about, isn't it? Creating stories, that have only been in your head for ages, sharing them and getting positive feedback. Just amazing!

 

On my stall, I must say, as if I'm not busy enough, I not only sell my books. I also create book inspired charms and crafts. You can check them all out on my website: www.crystalwatersmagic.com Another thing I've been working on. (Busy bee, me).

 

Anyway, for fear of waffling on too long. I must finish and put my tapping fingers to better use; get on with writing Book Six in the series. As I said earlier, it's April already and I'm way behind schedule already. Only the second chapter in. But at least all the planning's done and a wonderful book cover, created by the very talented Mike Wood (a local artist). What do you think?

 

 

Toodle-pip for now folks. See you soon ... or in six months. You never know :)

 

 

 



Nearly there!

Yet again, I must apologise for not writing sooner, but, you may forgive me as I have wonderful news: Book five, 'Crystal Waters To Australasia and Beyond', is finally complete and is at the editors as I write this blog. And so, providing my editor doesn't come back with major changes, I'm so happy to say it'll be definitely out for Christmas, yey!

So, jumping right in there, I thought I'd show you the back cover and the blurb to tickle your taste buds.

 

 

 

I must say I really loved writing this book. As usual the research into all the history and mythology that this new continent has to offer has just been wonderful. Of course, anyone knowing their ancient folklore may recognise some of the creatures I have used within this story, but will see that I have tweaked them a little to breathe a little life into them.

Hour after hour I spent reading New Zealand's legends, poring over maps and watching YouTube documentaries, and I found that New Zealand is still quite a mystery when it comes to ancient history. The Maori's freely admit that they were not the first to discover New Zealand 700 years ago. There were signs of life when they arrived, and many stories say that the ones who lived there before were either blonde or red hair, but both with very pale skin.

With these thoughts in mind, I felt at liberty to make two of my stories about these strange white tribes, who have mysteriously disappeared through our time. There is still so much intrigue with the hidden ancient tribal villages, which date back way before the Maori's came. I love mystery, and as you know this is such a tantalising hook for any writer, when a place has a history that no one can explain. So, there you have it, my imagination ran wild again and made a terrific story in the end, but don't take my word for it, look out for it in the next month or so and read it for yourself. I will keep you all posted. I promise :)