THE OPEN PORTAL
Conquest of the Veil #1
by
MICHAEL SCOTT CLIFTON
Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal / Magical Realism
Publisher: Book Liftoff
Publication Date: May 1, 2019
Number of Pages: 337 pages
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SCROLL DOWN FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
But with dreams, there can also be nightmares Lonely and plain-featured, Mona Parker is just another faceless teenager at Spring Hill High School. One day she runs afoul of Lady Anne Golightly, a beautiful and arrogant classmate who turns Mona’s colorless life into a hellish existence. Bullied relentlessly and with nowhere to turn, Mona considers suicide. One night, Thaddeus Finkle, her guardian angel, appears. He offers her a way out—swap lives with another. The choice seems easy, and Mona takes the angel up on his offer. She awakens on Meredith, a parallel world of Earth where magic has replaced technology. Mona discovers she is Alexandria, a woman of breathtaking beauty, and the daughter of a Duke complete with servants and riches. Then she discovers the price of her bargain. Trapped behind the Veil, an impenetrable curtain of magic, the Duchy of Wheel is the last major province still unconquered by Marlinda, the creator of the enchanted barrier. Known as the Dark Queen, Marlinda’s cruelty includes a singular fondness for melding men, women, and children, with animals…and she has special plans for Alexandria. Tal, the Prince and Heir of the Empire of Meredith, burns with an intense hatred for Marlinda and her minions. The Dark Queen’s raiders regularly cross the Veil to prey upon the helpless citizens living near the magical boundary. Despite an elaborate system of Watch Towers along the enchanted barrier, it is impossible for the Empire to stop all the raids. Desperate to protect his people, Tal takes dangerous risks to prevent these attacks. Banished to a remote garrison for his reckless behavior, while on a routine patrol, Tal leads an elite unit that happens upon a group of raiders—one whose leader possesses the means for opening a way through the Veil. Thus begins the conquest of the Veil.
“The Open Portal is packed full of action from the time it begins in our mundane world, to when it jumps to another. It has all the elements of a good fantasy: a cruel queen; a frustrated prince; and beautiful girl with a pure heart. There are brave boys, werewolves, white priests, and watchtowers. I can’t wait for the saga to continue.” — Abookanight
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Would You Exchange Your Life with Someone Else?
Guest Post by Michael Scott Clifton
You see them every day, yet you rarely know they exist—faceless people leading quietly desperate lives. Unremarkable, they merge with the background camouflaged by their own colorless existence. They come and go, unnoticed by society at large.
As a public educator for thirty-eight years, I saw a number of students who fit this description. Often lonely and friendless, they find it hard to fit in. Such students drift from grade to grade, campus to campus, simply going with the flow like driftwood caught in a stream’s current. These individuals are easily bullied and intimidated because they won’t complain or make others aware of their predicaments.
What would such students do if offered the opportunity to swap their lives with someone else’s? And in so doing, live a life they could only dream of? What price would they be willing to pay for such an opportunity? More importantly, how would exchanging a life and a destiny change these individuals on the inside?
This describes the dilemma my character, Mona Parker, faces in The Open Portal. Like the nameless people I have portrayed, it would be impossible to measure Mona’s character, her strength, or her determination. Yet, as Mona’s guardian angel Thaddeus Finkle said, “it is in the small things one does that can tell you volumes about them.”
Like giving back to help others.
I suspect many of us would be surprised if we could somehow discern the depth of character and caring of the shy and quiet people we barely know exist. We might find them to be more empathetic, generous, and yes, even possessed of more courage than we could ever hope to have.
Which leads to the most important question of all. Can such an unlikely heroine make a difference? Next, add in the following elements: an enchanted barrier, a lonely and plain-looking teenager transformed into a beautiful woman, an impulsive and hot-headed young prince, and finally, an evil, malevolent, sorceress whose cruelty knows no bounds.
All these ingredients make up book one, The Open Portal, in a rousing new fantasy series, Conquest of the Veil.
Happy Reading!!!
Michael Scott Clifton, a public educator for over thirty-eight years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, currently lives in Mount Pleasant, Texas with his wife, Melanie and family cat, Sadie. An avid gardener, reader, and movie junkie, he enjoys all kinds of book and movie genres. His books contain aspects of all the genres he enjoys…action, adventure, magic, fantasy, and romance. His fantasy novel, The Janus Witch, received a 5-Star review from the prestigious Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews, and he has been a finalist in a number of short story contests with Edges of Gray winning first place in the Texas Authors Contest. Professional credits include articles published in the Texas Study of Secondary Education Magazine. Clifton’s latest book, The Open Portal, launches the fantasy book series, Conquest of the Veil. In addition, look for the YA novel, Edison Jones and the Anti-Grav Elevator, to be released soon. He is available public speaking.
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FOUR WINNERS!One Signed Copy Winner, Three eBook Copy Winners
MAY 14-24, 2019
(Print copy U.S. Only)
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Many thanks to Lone Star Book Blog Tours and Michael Scott Clifton! It was a pleasure hosting!
And be sure to check out the other stops on the tour for more opinions and extras!
And be sure to check out the other stops on the tour for more opinions and extras!
VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
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5/14/19
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Guest Post
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5/14/19
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Character Interview
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5/14/19
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BONUS Post
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5/15/19
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Review
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5/15/19
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Review
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5/16/19
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Excerpt
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5/17/19
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Review
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5/18/19
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Scrapbook Page
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5/19/19
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Review
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5/20/19
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Review
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5/20/19
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Review
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5/21/19
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Excerpt
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5/22/19
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Review
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5/22/19
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Review
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5/23/19
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Review
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5/23/19
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Review
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