Time Honored Magic: Marianne Curley Marianne Curley is an Australian author known for her captivating novels in the fantasy genre. Her works often revolve around themes of magic, time travel, and ancient prophecies. With her unique storytelling abilities, Curley has captured the imaginations of readers around the world. One of Curley's most renowned works is the Guardians of Time trilogy, which includes The Named, The Dark, and The Key. This trilogy combines elements of mythology, history, and fantasy to create a thrilling and immersive reading experience. The story follows a group of teenagers who possess the ability to travel through time and must protect the past to secure their future.
336 pages, Paperback
And because I wanted to give The Shadow a chance to make it into libraries alongside the first three books, something that I felt was essential, I needed to apply to the National Library to have The Shadow listed. It was here Nancy and I talked about some copyright issues and she assured me the book would be printed only for her personal use, a few copies for her friends who are also GOT fans, and to submit for her graduation project.
The story follows a group of teenagers who possess the ability to travel through time and must protect the past to secure their future. Curley's writing style is characterized by intricate world-building and well-developed characters. She effortlessly creates vivid and detailed settings that transport readers to different time periods and locations.
Self-Publishing, My First Experience
When I began writing The Shadow two years before publication, I did so for two reasons. The first was for the fans. In my heart I felt that I owed them this book. They deserved a more conclusive ending than they ended up with in The Key. And the other reason was for myself. From my earliest concept The Guardians of Time was supposed to be a series of four books. I’d finally finished the story the way I wanted it to end, and I wasn’t going to allow it to remain a manuscript in my bottom drawer forever.
The thought of self-publishing my new book after having seven books traditionally published by a major world publisher was daunting to say the least. I’ve been in the industry since a publisher bought the rights to my first book Old Magic at a mini auction in London more than 18 years ago. And now, with The Shadow being the fourth book in a series first published in 2001, I took my first foray into self-publishing.
So, decision made, I started to ask around. Someone told me publishing my own book would be easy. I looked at him with scepticism. I grew up under the belief system that nothing worthwhile ever came easily. You reaped rewards for hard work. There was honour in hard work. And for most of my life, that proved to be true. So I wasn’t expecting easy, and I didn’t get it. Every step was one I had not taken before, every step a lesson in something new. I started reading. Google helped. Yes, Google was great. I asked the question: Self-publishing – where do I begin? And Google brought up fifteen million, nine hundred thousand suggestions. I read until my eyes burned like they were on fire and I could read no more until the next day. I read articles, blogs, reviews and books on the various self-publishing options, from Amazon’s Create Space and Kindle’s Print On Demand to a variety of vanity publishers that would cost upwards from five thousand dollars. I didn’t have that kind of money, but self-publishing is not free. Two or three thousand would make a start, more if you wanted your book to look professional. The less you do yourself, the more you have to pay someone else. Professional editing is one area where you don’t want to go cheap. Another is the cover. I could write an entire book on that topic. But essentially, you just need to remember to allocate enough in your budget for a decent cover.
I was lucky. My daughter is a designer, her specialty the interiors of houses and hotels. Not exactly books but she had the required software and an artistic eye. Between the two of us we came up with a cover I loved. Toss in my other daughter’s expertise on writing blurbs and the cover was created without costing me a cent.
With the cover completed it was time for formatting the interior file to fit the size I chose, the size that came closest to matching The Named, The Dark and The Key. No matter how many times I measured and checked, I still couldn’t make it a perfect fit. And I had to move on, I still had a four-hundred page Word document to reformat. I watched videos for that, and learned how to work with a Kindle Previewer. I selected an appealing internal style from a choice of six offered, then created the author’s rights page, formatting the chapter breaks and headings, and of course the Table of Contents.
The Guardians of Time Original Covers
And it was still only the beginning. There was the ISBN, a 10 and a 13-digit number essential for scanning of paperbacks, which, I discovered later, costs less when purchased in a pack of ten or more, preferably with the barcodes at the same time. And because I wanted to give The Shadow a chance to make it into libraries alongside the first three books, something that I felt was essential, I needed to apply to the National Library to have The Shadow listed.
I can’t recall how many times the process came close to overwhelming me. The most satisfying part of my usual day – the writing part – I’d had to set aside. My next project would have to wait months. I was just growing accustomed to that thought when my first proof copy arrived. I found myself swept up with a tingling excitement that flowed in my veins and pumped my heart harder. I’d done it. My chest swelled. I couldn’t stop smiling. That dreadful sense of being overwhelmed dissipated the moment I held the book in my hand, the moment I read the title, and it felt good.
Below is a photo of the second edition cover, created by AC Graphics.
My first experience at self-publishing had been a daunting task, but a task that generated a sense of accomplishment and pride. It challenged me in more ways than I thought I could handle, but I rose to the challenge and while I still have a lot to learn, I know now that it won’t defeat me.
The Shadow E-Book Edition belonging to a reader enjoying a glass of wine
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Excited Nancy with her book The Guardians of Time – The Bond
Her characters are realistic and relatable, dealing with dilemmas and conflicts that resonate with readers. The underlying theme of Curley's novels is the enduring power of magic. Whether it be through the use of supernatural abilities or the discovery of ancient artifacts, magic plays a central role in her stories. This theme conveys the belief that there is a timeless and universal fascination with the idea of magic, which transcends cultural and historical boundaries. In addition to her Guardians of Time trilogy, Curley has also written other notable works, such as Old Magic and The Avena Series. In Old Magic, she explores the relationship between past and present, weaving together a love story that spans centuries. The Avena Series delves into a battle between angels and demons, delving into themes of destiny and free will. Overall, Marianne Curley's novels are a testament to the time-honored appeal of magic and adventure. Her ability to create rich and immersive worlds, combined with engaging characters and thought-provoking themes, has garnered her a loyal following of readers. Curley's works remind us of the enduring power of storytelling and the magic that can be found within the pages of a book..
Reviews for "time honored magic marianne curley"
1. Sarah - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Time Honored Magic" by Marianne Curley. The story felt forced and predictable, with very little originality. The characters lacked depth and their actions didn't make sense. The writing style was also confusing and hard to follow. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book if you're looking for something engaging and well-written.
2. John - 2 stars - "Time Honored Magic" was a letdown for me. The plot seemed promising at first, but it quickly became repetitive and uninteresting. The pacing was off, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and unsatisfying resolution. The romance in the story felt forced and cliché. The author also relied too heavily on telling rather than showing, leaving little room for imagination. I was expecting more from this book, but unfortunately, it fell short.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I struggled to connect with the characters in "Time Honored Magic". They felt one-dimensional and lacked any real development. The dialogue was also wooden and unrealistic, making it difficult to become invested in their struggles and relationships. The world-building was also lacking, with minimal explanation of the magical elements and the rules governing them. Overall, the book had potential, but failed to deliver on its promises.
4. Michael - 1 star - "Time Honored Magic" was a boring and poorly executed read. The story dragged on without any sense of urgency or excitement. The writing was lackluster, filled with repetitive descriptions and unnecessary details. The plot twists were predictable and the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. I couldn't wait for the book to be over and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
5. Rachel - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Time Honored Magic" but was ultimately disappointed. The characters were shallow and their actions didn't always make sense. The plot, though interesting in concept, lacked proper execution. The pacing was off, with certain parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The romance angle felt forced and lacked chemistry. Overall, the book had potential, but failed to engage me as a reader.