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    Release Day for Gamer Girl and a guest post by Glynis Astie (who has indeed got game)

    6/2/2016

    Got Game? A guest post by Glynis Astie
    Glynis Astie and Game ControlsI love video games. LOVE them! The catchy music, gorgeous graphics, engaging characters and exciting journeys—what’s not to like? Every time I turn on my console, I have countless choices in front of me. (I live with three boys who crave variety, so our library is rather extensive.) Am I in the mood for military strategy, martial arts or traveling through a fantasy world? Do I want to put the pedal to the metal or ski down a beautiful mountain? Or is it time to kick it old school with Pitfall or Donkey Kong? Simply asking these hypothetical questions makes me giddy. My fingers are itching to grab hold of my trusty controller!
    There’s just one tiny problem. I have no skills. I’m completely devoid of game, if you will. It’s sad, but true. I used to be able to fake it when I was younger, when the most I had to do was weave a small square through a maze in Adventure or shoot a few targets in Duck Hunt. I could even handle that crazy Centipede! But as technology advanced and video games became more complex, it was clear that I didn’t have what it took to keep up. This, however, did nothing to quell my fascination with all things gaming.
    For a number of years, I took the role of observer, living vicariously through my friends and family as they tackled the latest offerings from Nintendo, Capcom and Konami. Then I met my husband and he opened up a whole new world to me with games like Manhunt, God of War and Halo. To him, a new game meant spending the weekend lounging on the living room floor, glued to the TV, until his new adventure had been finished. While his games had way more violence than I was used to, I admired his dedication. Since I had no desire to shut myself off from the world, I spent those days sitting by the pool with a good book, waiting for the onslaught to be over.
    Then I became a mother and was forced to give gaming another try. When your three-year-old son hands you a controller and asks you to help him, you can’t really say no. I did my best, but it didn’t take long for his abilities to surpass mine. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen the disappointment in your little one’s eyes when you can’t bring Mario through his latest world unscathed. He has since developed quite the sense of humor about it, chuckling and saying, “silly Mommy” when I try to follow him on one of his video game adventures. (Until I fall too far behind and he asks me to exit. D’oh!)

    Glynis Astie and toysEver the astute child, he introduced me to The Simpsons: Tapped Out. Finally! A game I could play! All I had to do was tap the screen with my finger. The characters did all kinds of funny things and I earned money to buy tons of imaginary stuff. Woohoo! After a few months, my confidence grew and I tackled more challenging offerings like Candy Crush and Juice Cubes. Next stop: Plants vs. Zombies. Watch out world!
    Unfortunately, it’s doubtful I will ever be a true gamer, but this won’t stop me from obsessing over the gaming world. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it was watching a documentary about the history of video games which gave me the idea for my latest book, Gamer Girl. Why not create a character who had the mad skills I craved? Brilliant!
    I started by designing a game I would want to play. I knew it would be an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) because I wanted the ability to create a second storyline for my heroine—the escapades of her online alter ego. Since I’m the only girl in my house, I may have gone to town with my love of magic, fairies and dragons. (I live in a world ruled by Lego, Transformers, army guys and toy guns.) Then I picked the brain of my favorite gamer–who also happens to write fantasy novels–and voila, my main character’s sacred gaming world of SpellBound was born.
    It was such a blast to write Gamer Girl! I sincerely hope it will be just as much fun to read. It’s a completely unique creation—part chick lit, part fantasy, with a dash of gaming and a whole lot of fun! And at least in the world of writing, I’ve got loads of game.
    Gamer Girl - Cover
    Gamer Girl
    Struck by tragedy at an early age, Meri Palmer escaped into the only world she understood. Within the virtual realm of online gaming, she lived a life filled with mythical creatures and thrilling adventures, where she was strong, powerful, clever, and beautiful—everything she believed she wasn’t in real life. As the years went by, her desire to cling to her cherished fantasyland only grew stronger.

    But when Meri meets Morgan, equal parts gorgeous and goofball, she begins to wonder if the time has finally come to rejoin the so-called real world. Channeling the bravery of her fairy warrior alter ego, Meri slowly lets Morgan beyond the protective walls she’s built around her heart. Just as she finds a comfortable groove in an uncertain world, Morgan succumbs to insecurities of his own, leaving her lost and confused. Through her battle to regain her equilibrium, Meri will discover that even in reality, things aren’t always what they seem.
    Will Meri win the battle raging in her heart and summon the will to rescue her knight in shining armor? Or will she give in to the fear and find her game over?

     

     

     

    Glynis AstieGlynis never expected in her wildest dreams to be a writer. After thirteen years in the Human Resources Industry, she decided to stay at home with her two amazing sons. Ever in search of a project, she was inspired to write the story of how, in only six short months, she met and married her wonderfully romantic French husband, Sebastien. The end result became her first novel, French Twist. As this was just the beginning of their epic love story, Glynis continued to chronicle their adventures in the sequel, French Toast, and the final installment in the series, French Fry. After she finished milking her life story for all it was worth, she decided to write straight-up fiction with Gamer Girl, which infuses her beloved chick lit with a hint of fantasy.
    When Glynis is not writing, she is trying to keep the peace amongst the three men and two cats in her life, finding missing body parts (Lego pieces are small!), supervising a myriad of homework assignments and keeping a tenuous hold on her sanity by consuming whatever chocolate is in the vicinity.

    Links to find Glynis on the web.

    Website: www.glynisastie.com
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glynisastieauthor/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlynisAstie
    Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/glynisastie/
    Global buy link for Gamer Girl: mybook.to/amazongamergirl

    Comment

    Glynis Astie
    5/31/2016 03:24:48 am

    Thanks for having me to visit, Monique! 🙂