Saturday, November 7, 2009

Review Contest!

Hey, Everyone! Hello again!

I'm holding a review contest for quotes to place in future book trailers! There will be five 1st place winners, who will have their reviews placed in upcoming book trailers, such as I Know in Whom I Have Trusted (Jagumaterra 2), Witches in My Basement, and Rebellion! Five 2nd place winners, who will have their reviews posted on my profiles on FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, and Blogspot! And five 3rd place winners, who will receive a free WMRBJ pen! Everyone will have the option of having their names recommended to budding authors all over the Arizona Valley!

I'm looking for short, powerful one-or-two lined reviews based on (1) what you've seen here on WMRBJ, (2) what you've heard at one of our ANWA meetings/retreats, or (3) what you know about me as a person.

Please send your entries, along with your first name and last initial, relationship to books (author, reader, publisher, agent, editor, etc.), and address (for shipping the pens and thank-you cards) to my e-mail address at writingmiracles@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from all of you!

Yours,
Regan Brianne Jensen

Monday, October 19, 2009

NEW SERIES ANNOUNCED!

Hello to Everyone!

I am working on a new youth mystery/fantasy series called Maverick Manor Mysteries. It's about two girls who find an entire hidden world under the basement of their summer home with the help of their strange, deranged uncle-hermit and almost-human dog. It's supposed to be directed towards 10-14 year-olds and is still a work-in-progress, so if anyone has some amazing ideas, I'm open! Watch for updates on the first book, Witches in My Basement here on WMRBJ! Remember, comments, questions, and suggestions are warmly welcomed here, so PLEASE post!

Love you all!
RBJ

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Update and WMRBJ Challenge!

Greetings, Would-Be Fans and Supporters! ( ;) )

It's been a while since I've posted anything here, and I apologize. I'm still learning how to keep my blog updated and interesting.

So, the only reason Jagumaterra:A Science-Fiction Parable isn't out yet is that my cover artist, the lovely and gifted Audrey Hatch (yes, the daughter of my brilliant mentor and author of The Stranger She Married, Donna Hatch), is in college and has no Internet access to send me the updated version of the cover that we feel so certain will be the final draft.

Perhaps some of you know, but I could have never guessed what work went into getting the cover finished and ready! It's insane! Thank you for your patience. I will try to keep you updated as much as I can.

I am currently taking a break from writing, since I need to do a self-re-evaluation and actually become the characters I'm writing about. I don't want to stand on the soap-box as a hypocrite and not-very-leadership-oriented-author. You deserve better than that. Of course, we are all constantly learning and growing and progressing (or, at least, I hope we are), but I want to at least get to the point my characters are at right now and inspire, not just imagine what it would be like, to become a leader.

Okay, here's the challenge to all those who read this post. . .I would like to share this journey of discovery with all of you! Right now I am reading No One Can Take Your Place by Sheri Dew. But it isn't just a see-how-fast-you-can-turn-the-page dime-store novel. Oh no. I am delving into every scripture and reference, always looking for the answer to these questions: Why is this here? What is it trying to teach me? How can I apply this to my life and become a better person?

I challenge you to join me on this pathway of self-discovery! Keep me updated on your own journey! I will share with you what I discovered here on the blog. Those whose stories are truly inspirational will see their e-mails posted here on the blog! So don't hesitate! This journey is worth everything you put into it! (I know it sounds like I'm trying to sell you something, but you've really got to try this!)

E-mail me! I'm ready to hear from you! writingmiracles@gmail.com

You are all wonderful! I love each and every one of you!

Yours Faithfully,
Regan Brianne Jensen

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Ancient Jagumaterran Tongue

Ancient Jagumaterran Tongue

Vocabulary:

abalae – An extremely rare white stone. Only the Birs'e know where to find it. A palace made of abalae was given to the royal family when the Birs'e and Jagumas combined forces and gained their first victory. Signifies the start of something new. (AB-uh-lay)

ad – bad/no/negative in a sentence (AHD)
ahn's – hands/create/hold (AH-nihs)
am'd – angry/scowl (AH-mihd)
an'g – teeth/bite/patience (AH-nihj)
arel – goodbye/to leave/distance (AH-rehl)
asel – lock/seal (AH-zehl)
aser – ear/to hear/understand (AH-sr)
b'le – sort of/mediocre/lukewarm (buh-LEH)
ced – ten (KEHD)
chennet – ancient/old/a long time (CHEH-neht)
c'lamur – strong/muscles/conscience (kuh-LAH-mr)
dahe – head/smart/pride (DAH-hay)
delin – city/town/group of people (DEH-lihn)
Delin-LounderAsel – Heart Lock City (DEH-lihn LOWN-dr-AH-zehl)
deoher – shoulder/shrug/expression (DAY-oh-hehr)
detos – slow/stupid (DAY-tohs)
di – equivalent of “of” (DIE)
Oco eb uyo? - How are you? (OH-koh EHB OO-yoh)
duqa – four (DUH-kuh)
dy – dry/infertile (DIE)
eb – are/be/is (EHB)
efele – weak/thin/fragile (eh-FEH-lay)
els – legs/run/life path (EHLZ)
emalat – sister (EHM-uh-lat)
ema'ma – niece (eh-MAH-mah)
em'rea – aunt (ehm-RAY-uh)
em'reo – uncle (ehm-RAY-oh)
ende – obligation/duty (EHN-day)
enkes – knees/bend/resolution (EHN-kayz)
etch – chest/power (EHCH)
ete – feet/walk/grounding (EH-tay)
ex – six (EHKS)
Flauby – chubby flab (fl-AH-bee)
fosrif – child/youth/greenie (FAHZ-rihf)
fost – soft/gentle (FAHST)
getro - A green precious stone. Given to those with a caring heart and friendly spirit. (GEH-troh)
ginleth – shining/chosen (GIHN-lehth)
gran – able/allowed (gr-AHN)
Harmeace – Peaceful Harmony (HAR-mee-ays)
hinsien – instructor (HIHN-seen)
igebr – sunny/bright (ee-GEH-br)
igefs – fingers/touch/detail (EE-gehfs)
igelsn – one (ee-GEHL-sn)
ikel – to compare/to admire (EE-kehl)
ilan – claws/authority (EE-lahn)
ileck - A type of stone used in building fortifying structures, such as walls. Amethyst purple in
color. Signifies strength and fortitude. (IH-lehk)
ily – name to show dearness (IH-lee)
Int-L-Ned – enlightened intelligence (IHN-tehl-nehd)
inuq – five (EE-nuhk)
iqetu – quiet/hush (ee-KEH-too)
irah – hair/worth (EE-rah)
Irodi – A brightly-colored, pheasant-type bird hunted in Jagumaterra for food. (eer-OH-di)
Ishikarr – righteous gift (IH-shih-kahr)
itensi – A type of writing utensil made of a chalky stone. (i-TEHN-see)
jagaste – waste/feces/crap (juh-GAH-stay)
Jagumaterra – Planet of the Jaguar Humans (jah-GOO-muh-TEHR-uh)
kawae – awake/alert/paying attention (kuh-WAY)
kradem – marked/favorite (kr-AH-dehm)
lac'm – name (LAH-kihm)
Lanomise – Land of Promise (LA-noh-miz)
lase – asleep (LAH-see)
lehatun – sick (leh-HAH-toon)
Lestiem – heaven/sky/Dream Realm (LEHS-chehm)
leval – valley/flat (leh-VAHL)
levet – fur/beauty/mission (leh-VEHT)
lewl – healthy (LOO-ehl)
lit – tail/ego (LEET)
lounder – heart/love (LOWN-dr)
LounderRea – Heart Mother (LOWN-dr-RAY-uh)
LounderAsel – Heart Lock (LOWN-dr-AH-zehl)
lyi – to fly/jump (LIE-ee)
malat – brother (MAH-lat)
ma'ma – nephew (MAH-mah)
manod – move/travel (MA-nahd)
mars – arms/reach/balance (MAH-rz)
Monat – A hairless, wrinkled, primate-type creature that is hunted by Jagumas for food. (MAH-
nat)
mort – death (MOHRT)
na – equivalent to “a” or “an” (NAH)
nar'Ratimta – The Great Imitator (NAH-ruh-TIHM-tuh)
nar'Rea – grandmother (nah-RAY-uh)
nar'Reo – grandfather (nah-RAY-oh)
nar'Reos – Great Ancestors. Literally translated “Grandfathers.” (nah-ray-OHS)
nes – nose/smell/priciples (NEHZ)
niso – loud/annoying (NEE-soh)
obsidian - A solid black stone denoting great wealth. Typically associated with royalty. (ahb-SIH-dee-ahn)
oco – who/what/when/where/why/how. Denotes a question. (OH-koh)
Oco Reo ende mort? - Why did father have to die? (OH-koh RAY-oh ehn-DAY MOHRT)
Oco yeth lac'm? - What is your name/What do they call you? (OH-koh YEHTH LAH-kehm)
odog – good/yes (OH-dahg)
Odog, tuti. - good/yes, thank you. (OH-dahg, TOO-tee)
odub – two (OH-duhb)
odwin – down/low (AHD-wihn)
olan – alone (OH-lahn)
olug – A bee-type insect. (OH-luhg)
opre – string/rope (OHP-ruh)
ote – toes/tiptoe/detail (OH-tay)
otum – mouth/speak/opinion (OH-tuhm)
ovinte – wet/fertile (oh-VIHN-tay)
Pekeer – prince/princess. Literally, “little keeper.” (peh-KEER)
Pekeer-di-teh-Uma – king/queen. Literally, “keeper of the people.” (peh-KEER DIE the OO-muh)
pets – seven (PEHTZ)
poror – please/favor (poh-ROHR)
prit – three (pr-IHT)
pu – high/upward (POO)
raena – hello/meet/close together (ray-EH-nuh)
rak – dark/shady (RAHK)
Rea – mother (RAY-uh)
relfa – wild/unleashed/all the way (REHL-fuh)
Reo – father (RAY-oh)
reson - A red precious stone. Given to those with great courage and valor in battle. (REH-zuhn)
Reter – great hunter (REE-tr)
Retershollow – home of Reter (REE-trz-HAH-loh)
rhad – solid/hard (RAHD)
rosen - A pink semi-precious stone. No meaning is given to it. (ROH-zehn)
Rofes – Ancient Jagumaterran name for the Forests. Means forest. Creative, isn't it? (ROH-
fehs)
ry – eye/see/perception (RIE)
Ryedor – Girl Prayed For (RIE-eh-DOHR)
sa – large body of water (SAH)
saft – swift/hurried (SAHFT)
saphronyx - A blue precious stone with clouds of black. Very rare and very treasured. Signifies
loyalty. (sah-FRAHN-ihks)
sinu – cousin (SEE-noo)
stemo – tame/withheld/halfway (STEH-moh)
teh – equivalent of “the.” (TAY)
toc – eight (TAHK)
Torifor – Fluffy One (TOHR-ih-fohr)
Toshormo – To Wish for More (tuh-SHOHR-moh)
tuti – Thank you (TOO-tee)
umyd – dull/stupid (OO-meed)
umyt – stomach/eat/security (oo-MEET)
uti – pleasing to look at (oo-TIE)
utor – show/present (oo-TOHR)
uyo – you/yours (OO-yoh)
Vicnor – Victorious Honor (VIHK-nohr)
von – nine (VAHN)
yem – me/I/mine (YEHM)
yeth – they/them (YEHTH)
yeth lac'm. . . - My name is/They call me. . . (YEHTH LAH-kehm)
yo'nopar – you are welcome (YOH-noh-PAHR)
yujos – happy/smile (YOO-johs)
zaror – sharp/on top of it (zuh-ROHR)
How to create your Jagumaterran name:
Find the meaning of your name (ie “Regan Brianne Jensen” = “Heir Noble Jen's Son”)
Make a sentence out of it (ie “Jen's Noble Heir”)
Take the second and third letters of the first word (ie “En”)
Take the first and second letters of the second word (ie “no”)
Take the third and fourth letters of the third word (ie “ir”) (if there is no specified letter, just use the last one)
Put them all together (ie “Ennoir” pronounced “EHN-wahr”)
Jagumaterran Lullaby
Hush now, my child, please, don't you cry.
Sleep, my darling, your parents watch.
Please, sleep, sentry we'll keep and help you grow.
Please, darling, sleep, sentry we'll keep and help you grow.
Toshormo's Whisper
“I love you.”

Friday, March 13, 2009

Jagumaterra: A Science-Fiction Parable Book 1

Excerpt from Jagumaterra: A Science-Fiction Parable


"Vicnor pushed her fallen husband's hair away from his handsome face with her hand. As she caressed down his facial features and moved to his firm neck, the virgin blood from his fatal wound soiled her velveteen fur, creating a crimson bridge between her violet pelt and his of dark blue. Tears fell free from her eyes, mixing with the blood that painted the floor. She wished the blood was her own. His life was of so much more significance.
He was, after all, Toshormo, the King of Jagumaterra.
Vicnor buried her face against his chest and wept there on the forbidding obsidian floor, wishing to be wrapped in his arms, even if only once more in this life.
She lifted her face to the vaulted ceilings of the palace, she plead.
“nar'Reos, take my husband's soul into your kingdom and claim vengeance upon his murderer.”
Vicnor listened to her voice echo in the abyss of the inky canopies. A part of her panicked, praying that none had heard her cry, but the other half of herself felt satisfied that the Great Ancestors had heard her.
A soft coo reminded Vicnor that she was not alone in the throne room. Her infant daughter reached for her. The innocent smile on the baby's lips a giveaway to her ignorance of the circumstance. . .or perhaps it was a smile of comfort. There seemed to be a wise gleam in the child's deep blue eyes, the eyes and wisdom of her father.
Her little daughter lay in the large arms of Sir Flauby, King Toshormo's most trusted bodyguard. The devoted knight's head hung against his chest in reverence for his fallen master. Vicnor hoped that he did not blame himself for the death of Toshormo.
She laid her long tail on Flauby's shoulder and lifted her daughter from his arms. The babe's expression changed from her sweet grin to a pout. She blabbered for a moment, as if attempting to speak, then, frustrated by her lack of communication, began to cry.
The murderer's servants still lurked about the castle. It was risk enough that they sat in the open area of the throne room to say their last goodbyes to their friend, father, and husband. Yet, Vicnor defied their presence by whispering a toned lullaby.
“Iqetu, yem fosrif, poror, dy'yo'ry.
Sle'no, yem ily, 'yo Rea'Reo yoni.
Por'sle, alowa weeke tohe uyo yoow.
Por ily'sle, alowa weeke tohe uyo yoow.”
Her daughter nuzzled against Vicnor's breast and fell silent. She lifted her head to look at Flauby, who nodded and beckoned for her to follow.
With a small creek of hinges behind the stone throne, the room became a dark and empty tomb.
Empty, except for a regal, masculine body, giving a silent cry to the universe to save his people from the tyranny that threatened to consume their ignorant minds."