Interview With One Of My Characters VII

May 16, 2022May 3, 2022 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 14 Comments

Hello Alfred, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I really appreciate you took the time to visit me here.

Thank you very much for the invitation, A.J. I enjoy being here.

It’s a little impertinent to ask, but how was your trip?

*booming laughter* Thank you, it was as fast and pleasant as ever.

Does that mean, that your kind teleports, just as Archangels, and many other supernatural creatures?

Of course, we do. Cherubim are Angels, after all.

I’m trying to hide a giggle, to be honest. I’m so sorry… but I always imagined, Cherubim to be short, little overweight boys in diapers, just sprouting their first wings?

*amused laughter again* Yeah, I don’t hear that the first time. Koyu told me the very same thing, once she found out who I am. But I have to disappoint you, just as I had to disillusion her. In Middle Eastern art, we were represented as lions or bulls with eagle wings and a human face. According to Christian beliefs, we belonged to the angels who guarded the entrance of the Garden of Eden… later, in Renaissance art, we were represented as little chubby kids with tiny wings. But the truth is, we are angels of the second highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy. We serve and praise our Highest, and very often, we serve as observers, just like I do. And just like every other angel, we look as we look. We blend in.

Thank you for your detailed information. I really appreciate it. Now, you mentioned being an observer. That’s what you do in your bookstore?

You’re welcome – and that’s exactly right. I met Koyu there. Sometimes we drank a cup of coffee together. She’s an unusual personality, but I wasn’t sure what she was up to. At one point I had to report her. She understood I had my duties, and we remained friends.

So, she wasn’t mad about you reporting her? She was taken in front of the Council Of Twelve, wasn’t she?

Yes, she was. And no, she never held a grudge. She still visits me in my bookstore, and occasionally we have a cup of coffee. Of course, now she’s got her own duties and tasks, and our meetings became rare. But I appreciate each one of her visits and consider her a friend.

Can you tell us more about her? I mean, how did the story start, and how did you know she isn’t human?

I cannot tell you more about her. Don’t forget, her story isn’t generally known yet. I told you, we occasionally met on the backstairs of my bookstore in the alley and drank a cup of coffee. Everything else you will read when her story will be published. As for me realizing she’s not human… I’m an Angel, that’s what I do. I have that talent, just as each one of my brothers and sisters has it.

You said Cherubim are the second highest order in the divine hierarchy. Does that mean you’re a good friend with the Council Of Twelve members?

*laughs* Yes, and No. Don’t forget, an Archangel is as different from an Angel, as an Angel is from a Human. The power an Archangel radiates intimidates many of us. We do have commanders, supervisors, and higher officers. I’m on a more friendly term with Andreas, the Council of Twelve assistant. He’s an amazing angel, and we get help from him, no matter when we call. I know the Council Members, yes, and I spoke to the one or the other before. But these Archangels are a powerful lot. On the other hand, they carry the burden of the World on their shoulders, taking over the responsibility as custodians for our Father and Lord. That’s not an easy task and they have my highest respect for that.

I understand a bit better now. Thank you for telling us. Now…

I’m sorry for interrupting here. But I’m called. I will have to leave you for now. But it was a pleasure meeting you in person. And one day, we might meet again.

Goodbye, Alfred.

Koyu’s Story Is Ready To Be Told

COMING SOON!!!

The fifth book of “The Council Of Twelve” series

DREAM WALKER

The Council Of Twelve Series Continues

April 7, 2022April 10, 2022 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 6 Comments

After quite some waiting time now, many life changes and a lot of traveling, I can finally come up with some news:

The Council of Twelve Series will continue soon.

Check out the four books that are already available:

A. J. Alexander’s Books

SOUL TAKER

After long years in the line of duty as a ‘Soul Taker’, Kate is worn out.

When she gets a new job offer from the ‘Powers Above’, she accepts her new job as a Guardian gratefully without knowing that her teacher is one of the most powerful beings in existence, the Archangel Raphael.

Along with Raphael, she takes on her new task and the connection between them grows.

Raphael helps, protects and supports Kate, but suddenly, she becomes a target for the Demons of Hell.

Raphael realizes that Kate means more to him than he expected, which causes him to fight furiously against danger. If he fails, Kate’s future will contain eternal darkness, evil, and torture.

SUNDANCE

Sundance is a promising young Warrior Angel, the first in centuries to join the Divine Army. With the help of one of the most powerful Archangels, her skill and talent develop, allowing her to master some of the most difficult tasks that face her kind.

Sundance, under the supervision of the ‘Council of Twelve’ seeks to prove that she deserves her unusual gifts in the eternal fight between good and evil. Follow her adventures as she discovers love, fights the good fight, and finds herself in the heat of battle trying to keep her wings from being singed.

DEMON TRACKER

Zepheira is the best Demon Tracker working for the Good side. With her unusual looks, her phenomenal sense of smell, and her bravery, she quickly draws ‘The Big 7’s attention to her talent. They hire her to find one of them. Leaving her familiar surroundings and regular work environment unsettles Zepheira at first. But the challenge to prove herself and to increase the reputation of her infallibility tempts her. She is convinced she will be a great asset to ‘The Big 7’. Little does she know she will be a much greater asset in Heaven’s fight against Evil. Zepheira suddenly becomes more than a hired tracker. She finds herself an important pawn in the game of love, heat, and fire. Will her courage and sacrifice be sufficient to dance with the flames?

Bounty Hunter

When Centriel roams the Earth in a dark mood and atypical despair, in a mountain clearing, far from humankind, he unexpectedly discovers a runner, followed by a petite hunter. The way the woman treats the giant fugitive amuses the Archangel, but he quickly learns that neither of them are what they seem to be.

Simin Arnatt is an extraordinary woman. Her occupation as a Bounty Hunter takes her all over the world, as she follows her prey to the most unusual places. She would have never expected to meet the famous Centriel while on a hunt. When he offers to help her, she feels the enormous attraction, but she knows, with the secret she holds, she could never dare to hope for love.Neither of them could guess that with her next assignment, Hell is breaking loose…

There still needs to be some work done. The filing for the copyright will be done, knocking on my Beta-Reader’s windows was done this week, and I was in contact with my cover designer just now. She will start working on the cover of the new book.

It’s time book five will be published, and you will find out who is the new addition to our growing consort circle. I will keep you updated!

Celebrating The End Of The First Draft Of My New Book

September 13, 2021September 8, 2021 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 6 Comments

In my blog post “How Not To Start A New Book” I announced that I was writing on a book outside my ‘The Council Of Twelve’ series’.

I’ve been excited to tell that story ever since I started to write it. That’s one reason why I didn’t prepare as carefully as I usually do.

I needed help in the middle of writing to create the plot realistic since this time, my readers won’t face magical creatures, wings, and whatever makes my series unique.

The story faces reality, and so do my characters.

I’m not going into details at this time; after all, we are talking about me writing the first draft of the book.

Now, M.L. Davis from the ‘Uninspiredwriters.com’ blog published a post where she recommends celebrating the finalization of every book draft! And that’s what I’m doing right now.

I DID IT!

I ended the first draft of my new book last night. And today I’m celebrating. There are so many reasons…one of them is, celebrating hard work. Many people seem to imagine us typing for a few weeks, then magically, a new book shows up.

As I explained to a friend today: ‘The fun part is over, now the work begins.’ And I stick with that! Writing is the fun part; now we’re going to typing into the computer, a process that gives me the possibility to catch mistakes, plot holes, confusion, and a few other things, and then…. Oh, wait! I’m not going there yet! Today is a day of celebration!

Please raise the glass with me: “Here’s to the next steps in the process to turn this into a readable story!”

And please:

Stay curious!

How Not To Start A New Book

July 8, 2021June 26, 2021 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 12 Comments

As many of you already know, my writing process is a bit unorthodox. With the books so far written in my ‘The Council Of Twelve’ series, I generally worked as follows:

1. Preparation (develop characters and update character sheets)

2. Draft plot and take notes

3. Start writing the first draft of the book by hand

4. Read the first draft, make necessary corrections in red

5. Type the corrected draft into the computer

6. Personal editing I

7. Personal editing II

9. Send book to the editor

10. Additional steps after the book is returned to me, fully proofread, edited, and formatted…

‘The Council of Twelve’ series is published with four books, and books 5 and 6 are written and prepared to be published. I have an additional book connected to the series currently with my editor. Book 7 is in my personal editing; books 8 and 9 are written and need to be typed into the computer. Since I got ‘The Council of Twelve’ series so very well prepared, I permitted myself to write a different story; one that has been in my head for quite some time already.

I have my ‘The Council of Twelve’ plot and character sheets updated and carry them with me constantly in the form of ‘Microsoft OneNotes’, which is a wonderful writer’s tool, at least to me… It allows me to take notes and write down ideas at any given time, on either my phone, my computer, or my tablet, and I have nothing else to do than to sync the program to have access to the latest version on any of my devices. Additionally, after nine books in the series, I know my characters quite well and rarely need to peek at my notes.

Now, I sit here, working on my new book. It’s a remarkable story and wonderful to work on. As soon as my pen touches the paper, it writes. I’m writing, drafting, plotting, writing again… And today I realized that, except a few notes on tiny paper sheets at the beginning and a hand-drafted family tree, I hadn’t done much preparation. In my excitement to start the book, I forgot to prepare correctly.

And now, in my handwritten draft, I’m paying for my omission. I forgot how often I have to flip to the pages to check on descriptions, characters, colors, and names. I discovered two ‘Davids’ and two ‘Peters,’ which angers me to no end.

I’m a very reliable person, and I don’t generally neglect my duties, not even those I have set up for myself, except in the preparation of this particular book. I decided to write a book outside the YA Fantasy genre, where I feel ‘home’ with my series. I should have known that careful preparation to write that book was necessary. But here I stand and could kick myself for not doing what should have been done quite some time ago.

I would therefore strongly recommend to new writers, like myself, to carefully prepare what needs to be prepared before starting the new book. Otherwise, they will find themselves in the same situation I am now, with a few mixed ideas, two very similar conversations, and two Peters and Davids. At least, I find myself discovering my mistake now. I can still work on fixing the problem. But I know I shouldn’t have let it go that far. At least next time, I know what I have to do. Go back to the well-prepared, reliable writer I am.

What kind of advice would you give your fellow writers? What mistake have you been making that you had to correct? What problem were you facing that needed to be fixed? Let us know in the comments.

WHAT’S UP, Pat Garcia? – Written By Patricia Garcia

June 7, 2021 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ Leave a comment

I seem to have disappeared after my book release, but I haven’t. I have been taking classes, writing feverishly on five submissions for writing contests, and preparing my marketing plan for Turn The Light On so that I could get it into motion. There were many things that I had to learn also about YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook that I hadn’t known before the book was published, and I have had fun learning these things most of the time.

Today, I am revealing the book trailer for Turn The Light On. Many thanks to 4WillsPublishing. They have been marvelous in setting my desires into the type of book trailer I wanted to have.

CONTINUE READING HERE

Bounty Hunter’s Third 5-Star Review

March 20, 2021 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 2 Comments

I was informed that the fourth book in ‘The Council of Twelve’ series, Bounty Hunter, has another 5-star review on Amazon. This is so exciting.

Also, the author of the review has published a second, a bit more detailed, but wonderfully great review on her website. I’m permitting myself to show them both here.

Deliciousness in a Book!

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2021

Verified Purchase

I adored this book! When you feel sad when the book is over that is a sign it’s a good book. Bounty Hunter is giddily delicious! So much fun to read! Alexander instantly welcomes you back into her luscious world with characters that are phenomenally created big or small. Alexander locks your eyes in at first sentence and you fall easily into her world and get lost. You do not want to put the book down. It was pure happiness on my Kindle.

REVIEW

Bounty Hunter is 4^th book in ‘The Council of Twelve Series’ If you have not read the other three, I advise you do such. Especially if you happen to by chance start your introduction into the Council of Twelve Series with this book. It’s the perfect YA fantasy/ paranormal romance book that adults will gobble up as well. In Bounty Hunter, we meet Centriel the youngest Arch Angel in the Council of Twelve. A bit forlorn as the others have found their consorts or at least have a “someone” he decides to take a flight to clear his thoughts. He finds a clearing to land and rests on a rock only to stumble upon a scene as we meet Simin Arnatt a petite, but fierce bounty hunter with a secret. She bursts through with her prey and Centriel is stunned. Centriel steps in when her bounty the dangerously charming shadow demon Rapha Golden requests the Council of Twelve asylum. This very act throws Simin and Centriel into a fire that instantly ignites them in more ways than one.

Bounty Hunter is giddily delicious! So much fun to read! Alexander instantly welcomes you back into her luscious world with characters that are phenomenally created big or small. Alexander locks your eyes in at first sentence and you fall easily into her world and get lost. you do not want to put the book down.

(Source of that review here: Indie’s Review: Bounty Hunter: Book 4 The Council of Twelve Series by AJ Alexander (indieproreview.blogspot.com))

Find the book here:

https://books2read.com/u/mgzd5X

Bounty Hunter’s Second 5-Star Review

March 16, 2021March 15, 2021 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 10 Comments

Yesterday I found another wonderful exciting surprise in my mailbox! Bounty Hunter got its second 5-star review. I’m so happy, I’m about to burst. It is such an exquisite emotion to know that the books I write are loved! Thank you so much for a wonderful review!

This Series Keeps Getting Better and Better…

Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2021

Verified Purchase

This may be my favorite installment of this series to date. Between this one and the two previous books I’m feeling like the series is maturing as a whole. The first book “Soul Taker” did a good job of introducing us to the author’s vision of this world, while “Sundance” and “Demon Tracker” started fleshing that world and its characters out more and more. In “Bounty Hunter” we dive more deeply into this series and get a new perspective from one of the actual members of the Council of Twelve.

This time we start out seeing things from the perspective of Centriel who having seen how the world’s of his fellow Archangels have changed, and wondering if he will ever find such happiness. Then he meets Simin a Demon Hunter and soon both their worlds’ are turned upside down, and we are soon drawn deeper into the manipulations of Hell and it’s many minions.

Finally, I want to say I loved the interactions with Simin and Zei, our heroine from the last book. I also enjoy how well the author integrates characters and dangers from the previous installments series, like the fact that Sundance is still trying to deal with problems from her time as a prisoner in Hell.

In short, this latest book like it really fit nicely into the world we’ve been introduced to, while at the same time expanding it at the same time.

A really great read. Can’t wait for the next volume.

Find the book here:

https://books2read.com/u/mgzd5X

Bounty Hunter’s First 5-Star Review

March 14, 2021March 13, 2021 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 6 Comments

I’m dancing and jumping around in excitement about the wonderful first 5-star review my new release ‘Bounty Hunter’ got yesterday! This is thrilling! Thanks for such an amazing review! I’m over the top happy that the book is liked!

REVIEWED BY LINDA TONIS
MEMBER OF THE PARANORMAL ROMANCE GUILD REVIEW TEAM

Archangel Centriel is having a bad day so it was suggested that he get out and fly,
something that he excels at. After a while he sits on a rock and looks out around him only to find a man running with a beautiful woman right behind. Centriel recognizes that the man is not human and when he gets down on his knees begging not to be killed his true appearance of a minotaur shows.

Simin Arnatt is a bounty hunter with secrets and once again Centriel knows he is not dealing with a mortal but is unable to detect what she truly is. The connection between the two of them is instant and Centriel realizes without a doubt that he has found his consort. She can hear his thoughts and touch his soul.

Now that Simin’s assignment is over Centriel takes her on a holiday to Bali where they can get to know each other better. The vacation is cut short when she is called for a new assignment, one ordered by Beelzebub. Rapha Golden, a demon has disappeared and Beelzebub wants him back. Zepheira is the best demon tracker and agrees to help since everyone knows that Simin is Centriel’s girl.

Knowing that this would not be an easy case since Rapha is a shadow and hard to track down both Zye and Simin are shocked when he turns himself in asking for asylum. He wants to turn to the good side and defect but is he telling the truth it will be up to the archangels to find out.

I loved the bond that Simin and Centriel formed and her acceptance by everyone else as a part of the family. Of course we touch base with other archangels and their consorts that we met previously which was nice and we still get a follow up on Sundance. I would suggest that this series be read in order just for your own enjoyment.