HoC 6, Book Cover

Well, here's your look at the new cover!

(Just completed over the weekend.)

Note, we're still on Draft 2. But the art can give you some ideas about what will be in the book. ;)

-T. Erickson

HoC 6 "Trumped" - Edits - RabbitAndCat

Hello Readers,


No doubt you're wondering: "When's book 6 coming out?!"

Well, I'm hoping by summer. But I'm not making any promises. Due to a promo, we're going back through the books and re-writing pieces of the first book to clarify the plot.

Honestly, we'll be going through all of them so everything is as smooth as we can make it. We can only do so much editing before our eyes cross and we don't see the errors anymore.
When we get the much needed cash, we'll pay for professionals to edit. (BTW, for some editors, it can be $3.00 USD per PAGE! Times that by a 300 pg bk! $900.00...ouch!)

Once Bk 1's redo is done, then we'll jump straight back to HoC 6. It's nearly 300 pgs right now and this is just the rough draft 2nd stage (generally there are anywhere from 7 to 10).

So, book 6 will be called "Trumped" and will be the final book for the main series.

Then mom and I will cool our heels on the HoC world for a while. She'll work on her 40+ more books and I'll feel very accomplished and move on.


Anyhow, have a great one!

T. Erickson

HoC 5 Update - Illustrations - Advanstic Comics

Hey HoC fans,

We're going to discuss the illustrations for HoC5! Yeah!

To warn you, this round, some of the pictures in book 5 will be my Advanstic style. "Advanstic" meaning advanced stick figures.

EX:

This is an advanstic comic I did, based off of Disney's Wreck-it-Ralph a while back. I took the idea of an average work day and just filled it in w/Sgt. Calhoun and Fix-it Felix being cute. Turned it into a "I'm thankful for you" card.

Back to HoC 5, the reason I did this is because it helped the illustrations go quicker for me and focuses more on expression/feeling of the chapter than the beauty of art.

I feel my advanstic conveys everything quickly. Here's hopin' you'll be able to get a good laugh out of the last chapter heading (Chapt. 31).


-T. Erickson

HoC 5 Front Cover

Hello HoC Fans,

It's been forever since I've updated you on what's happening. Well, here's a look at the front cover of Book 5:

We're hoping to release bk 5 in December. I'm not sure on the exact date. I still have 10 or so illustrations to work on, we have one or two more edits to do, and a book blurb to pound out.

We actually had to split book 5 because it was getting too big. So, there will be a book 6. (Yay!) Though it won't come out until next year. But that's okay, cause it'll leave you with a whole lot of speculating to do during the waiting process.


-T. Erickson

HoC has a new label look!

God works in wonderful ways and at times through others.

Hannah Bischoff has become our typographer for House of Cards. She's done an amazing job at making the books look official. (We've now got a logo/trademark! How cool is that?)

For those who are wondering: "Typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and appealing when displayed. The arrangement of type involves selecting typefaces, point size, line length, line-spacing (leading), letter-spacing (tracking), and adjusting the space within letters pairs (kerning)." -Wikipedia

Hannah's also been kind enough to start teaching me how to use social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pintrest, etc), something that I'm not as connected with as I need to be. 

I'm looking at this as a wonderful way to connect with others, who'll want to spread the word of an amazing book series that is ready to make its place in the hearts of readers forever.

Update:

HoC 4 will probably not be ready until August 2016. Sorry guys. But we did complete RD 3 yesterday. RD 4 is in the works. Hopefully, things will go a lot smoother now.

-T. Erickson

HoC Bk 4 Update!

Hello Everyone,

There's a lot going on. We're still working on the 3rd RD of book 4. We're working on setting everything up just right. 
Soooo...we're probably not going to get the book out in June. (Sorry! :( But you understand, you wouldn't want to give someone a half baked pie.) Hopefully we'll have it out by the end of July.

I've got a long list of illustrations to do, 41 so far. Could develop into more. (YIKES!)

Meanwhile, have a funny sketch I did with Sarah and Taps discussing Tippi (tight pants): 

Hope it tickled your funny bone. It made me smile. :D

-T.Erickson

HoC Bk3 is Out! :D

Slap Jack: House of Cards Bk 3 is finally out (digitally) and ready for purchasing!

Go here to purchase: HoC Bk3

The blurb on the back:

Sarah survived the first two weeks at the Tapestry! 

Taps adopted her and she now has siblings that were also orphans. 
She's becoming more confident using her magic. 
Ransom is in love with her - she sees it in his eyes and feels it in his heart, even if she's too young to do anything about it. 

On the flip side: 

Her bodyguard was murdered and it remains unsolved. 
Taps is not only a cursed ghost, she and Sarah's brother are infected with a werewolf virus. 
Sarah still isn't sure what Dee is, but glad she's nearly finished knitting her brain back together. 

On the bright side of things, her friends are safe! 

She thinks. 
Maybe. 
Hmm...is anyone safe in the magical world? Ever?


I know it's late for me posting this (it was released April 14th of this year), but we've been busy with Books 4 &5! Our artist is already working on book 4's cover.

Once these books are finished, (we're thinking 5 or so for this series), I'm hoping to update this blog with more pictures and info on the main cast.

So, here's hoping for many accomplishments and that our books will be widespread and known in the next year!

-T. Erickson

HoC Art - More about the Persimmons cousins...

These are fun pictures that I wanted to post about the cousins:

 

Triple trouble or triumph?

Lacey Devine...so much chaos and brilliance wrapped into one it's scary.

Lana Devine. Organized. To the point. Strict as they come. Stick to the rules and you'll be fine.

Teresa Accolade Persimmons (TAPS). Kind, courageous, and always willing to lend a helping hand or fist. Depending on your need.

Author's Note:

What I've done here is post some old sketches of the characters and revamped the Devine Twins a little. 

Lacey's outfits are always a lot of work but they're even a surprise for me because I never have a set plan in mind when it comes to her clothes. I just sketch and my imagination does the rest. 

Lana's outfits are less work, sharp 'n crisp, but boring for color. She generally sticks to black-white-grey combos. If she's wearing purple or some other color, she's having a really good day.

Taps' outfit stays the same in book 1. Her tux & tails are her signature mark. I just wanted to show off her pretty blouse in the top picture.

HoC Bk1 Characters: Darrin Clowol

Name: Darrin “Dare” Clowol

Relationship Status: Single

Race: Magick

Spark: Magic Born

Suit: Spade ♠/Diamond ♦

Rank: 9

Occupation: Monster Caretaker. 

Known Talent: Works with several high Z classes.

Known Habits: Dresses like a cowboy. Has a bull whip he carries with him.

Awards/Recognition: Knight of the Tapestry Realm (KoTR).

Current Status: Alive.

Last known location: Unknown

Back to Character List

HoC Series: Card Rank and Rhyme

Card Rank & Rhyme

The higher the rank, the more power you hold. Each rank comes with a talent and general personality attached.

King - Strong and hard-working.

• They are joint rulers with their queens.
• Current Kings (HoC Bk1):
• Zelotes "Z", King of Hearts
• Daniel Musgrove Hyland, King of Diamonds
• Gunnar "Gun", King of Clubs
• Gideon "Gid", King of Spades

Queen - So pristine.

• They are joint rulers with their kings.
• Current Queens (HoC Bk1):
• Piedee, Queen of Hearts
• Charlotte "Letty" Ariminta Marble, Queen of Diamonds
• Eva, Queen of Clubs
• Pamela "Pam",Queen of Spades

Jack/Jaquelin - Gotta grin.

• Prince/Princess of their suit. Every size, style, and variety.
• There are several (and I mean 75+ in some of the monarchs royal immediate families). So forgive us if we don't list them!
• EX: Arianna, Sarah

Ten - Number 10, Realms they tend.

• Responsible to the max. The highest magick a citizen can be, but 98% of the time they become RKs. 
• Realm Keeper (RK) - They are appointed by their suits monarch(s) to watch over parts of the United States and the people within them. 
• EX: Taps
• There are 12 of 13 current realms functioning during HoC book 1.

Nine - Number 9, Likes to Shine.

• They've got the power and you're gonna hear about it in one way or another. 
• Knights of the Realm (KofR) - Defenders of the Realm that will only answer to the RK or monarchy they serve.
• EX: Kory & Lori 

Eight - Number 8, Close the gate! AKA "Crazy Eights"

• Known as major risk-takers/dare devils.
• If there's a 99% chance they could loose a battle and be trapped somewhere forever, they've still got a 1% chance, right?
• EX: Jacer, Rose

Seven - Lucky 7, Taste of heaven.

• Beautiful or handsome. 
• They have a great amount of charisma and can persuade people to do what they want. Unless someone has a very strong will.

Six - Number 6, Knows all the tricks.

• They know the "In's and Out's" & the "Do's and Don't's".
• Generally magicaniks - who combine magic and machine to make something wonderful. Ex: Lunchbox Wars, ladybug cars, monster trash bins, etc.
• EX: Griff

Five - Number 5, Really Jives.

• The best PR (Public Relations) workers you'll ever have. 
• They can get along with almost anyone and they're great dancers. Patience is their best virtue.
• EX: Zack

Four - Number 4, Disguises galore!

• First you see 'em - but do you really?
• They can transform into anyone their own gender and sound like them.

Three - Number 3, Holds the key.

• Puzzle solvers.
• If there's some fatal riddle or a puzzling contraption nearby, they won't be able to resist. An explosion/battle could be going on behind them and they wouldn't think twice about it. 9 times out of 10, they can solve any problem brought to their attention.
• EX: Ronnie

Two - Number 2, Good at what they do.

• Always do a satisfactory job.
• Trustworthy, reliable, and can blend in with the human crowd so well, humans wouldn't know if they were standing right next to them.

Ace - Any Ace, Can change their place.

• Can change their rank.
• Only once in their lifetime, can they become anything from: a Two to a Jack or Jaquelin (depending on their gender). The change is permanent. They have their own personality.

Joker - There are two at all times. They work as intelligence gatherers (spies). Chosen only by the King & Queen of Hearts.

Wild Card - Their are only four in existence at any time. Each royal couple gets to choose one person from their suit that they trust enough to bestow this gift. The powers and benefits are unknown to all but the wild card and their royal suit.


Q&A:

Can a card move up in rank?

• Yes.
• Your monarch(s) are the only ones who can do this.
• When you are raised in rank, it won't change your basic personality from your original card number.

Can a normal card become royalty?

• Yes. If they are an Ace, or if they marry into the royal family. 
• EX: Queen Piedee, who was a 7, married King Z. 

The Last Alley: House of Cards Book 1 - NEW COVER!!!

It's finally out!

Go here to buy it on Amazon: The Last Alley  $3.99 USD (Digital)

The new cover.

Our cover artist is Mates Laurentiu.

I've drawn the inside illustrations under my artist name. The digital format (Amazon.com) has color and the book format (Lulu.com) has greyscale pictures. We hope to have colored pictures in there one day, but it would be more expensive.

Buy the paperback version: The Last Alley: House of Cards Book 1 $19.99 USD (Book Format) 396 pgs, 6 x 9 inches.


I'm SO excited! It's finally ready for all of you to get!

Be sure if you read and love it, to leave us a good review on Amazon. It always helps a book gain popularity and people need more good books to read. Especially if it expands their imaginations to limitless possibilities!


-T. Erickson

HoC Bk1 Characters: Kory & Lori Williams

Name: Kory Williams

Relationship Status: Married. (See Lori below)

Race: Magick

Spark: Magic Born

Suit: Club ♣ ♣ (Double)

Card Rank: 9

Occupation: Co-owner of Guns & Roses. Weapons Smith.

Known Talent: Making magical weapons.

Known Habits: Likes overalls.

Awards/Recognition: SKS Alumni.1^st Knight of the Tapestry Realm.

Current Status: Alive.

Last known location: SKS

SKS Badge:

Name: Lori Goodchild Williams

Relationship Status: Married. (See Kory above)

Race: Magick

Spark: Magic Born

Suit: Spade ♠/ Heart ♥

Card Rank: 9

Occupation: Co-owner of Guns & Roses.

Known Talent: Plants

Awards/Recognition: Knight of the Tapestry Realm (KoTR).

Current Status: Alive

Last known location: Unknown

Back to Character List

The 4 Suits: Heart, Diamond, Club, Spade

What do the suits have as their special talents?

Hearts

Talents: Leadership & Healing

Diamonds

Talents: Finance & Preforming Arts

Clubs

Talents: Weaponry & Battle

Spades

Talents: Magical Animals & Plants

Reader's Favorite, "5 Stars" award! Onto the Finals!

Kick up your heels and shout "Hoo-ray!"

We've just won an award today!

"Reviewed By Melinda Hills for Readers’ Favorite

Left with only a partial understanding of her identity after an interrupted mind wipe, Sarah Card is whisked away from her home and parents and crashes onto an unfamiliar city street. The Last Alley: House of Cards Book 1 by Michelle and Trishelle Erickson takes you along on Sarah’s quest to save herself from Lurkers and find the Tapestry, the haven where she was supposed to land. Sarah immediately makes friends as other cards – magic users and magic born – join her in a battle to survive an attack by Lurkers, evil spirits that want to suck the magic out of anyone they can find. With a human to help, the group finds its way to safety and is introduced to Taps, a magical woman who is the keeper of the realm. They attend classes at a special school where Sarah can learn about who and what she is – a special card with an important destiny. As the magic continues to disappear and evil forces get closer to Tapestry, will Sarah be able to find out what she needs to know in time to help save the House of Cards?

The Last Alley: House of Cards Book 1 immerses you in a world that is magical yet exists side by side with the ‘real’ world. A wide variety of unique and interesting characters play clearly defined roles in this quick-paced story that is wonderfully entertaining. There is plenty of action, suspense, emotion and cooperation as Sarah and her friends are confronted with dangers that threaten their world. Michelle and Trishelle Erickson have created a fascinating world that holds your interest and promises more to come.

I enjoyed reading this story and look forward to subsequent volumes! The characters are well developed and interesting and the action keeps you turning the pages. Well done!"

Can I say: "Oh yeah! Oh Yeah!" (High five to Mom) "We did it, we did it!" (Insert funny dance moves)

Mom and Dad entered our book: The Last Alley: House of Cards Book 1, into "Reader's Favorite", an International Reading contest, and this was the result!

Because of this 5 Star Review, we're able to move onto the finals, where we can get: Gold, Silver, Bronze, or an Honorable Mention. Dun-dun-duuuun!

I hope and pray that we can get GOLD!!! If so, big publishers take a good look at your book. Oh please! We need it!


*Author's Note: M&D did pay an entry fee for the contest, but not for the review itself.

-T. Erickson

HoC Bk1 Characters: Emerson

Name: Emerson Devine

Sibling(s): Twin (See Orson )

Relationship Status: Married. (See Principal Lana Devine)

Race: Magick

Spark: Magic Born

Suit: Spade ♠/ Heart ♥

Card Rank: ?

Occupation: Jacob's Case holder

Awards/Recognition: A founder of the Starlight Key School (SKS).

Current Status: Alive

SKS Founder's Badge:

Back to Character List

HoC Bk1 Characters: Orson

Name: Orson Devine

Sibling(s): Twin (See Emerson)

Relationship Status: Married. (See Lacey)

Race: Magick

Spark: Magic Born

Suit: Spade ♠/ Heart ♥

Card Rank: ?
Occupation: Magicanick

Awards/Recognition: A founder of Starlight Key School (SKS). Maker of the Jacob’s Case.

Current Status: MISSING!

Last known location: His wife isn't sure...

SKS Founder's Badge:

Back to Character List

HoC Bk1 Characters: Oni

Name: Onisphere or “Oni”

Relationship Status: Single

Race: Goblin (3 mixed) “Tri-Gob”

Occupation: Polisher, hallway monitor

Known Talent: Polishing and making handkerchief dresses for herself.

Current Status: Alive

Nickname: Oni

Last known location: Tapestry

Back to Creature List

HoC Bk1 Characters: Lurker King

Name: Lurker King

Race: Lurker
Class: ZZZZ

Weapon of Choice: His entire body

Skill of Choice: Words

Known Talent: Summoning other lurkers and forcing them to do his bidding.

Known Habits: Sucking the magical world and its occupants of their magic.

Current Status: Alive (unfortunately)

Nickname: Unknown 

Last known location: Outside The Last Alley


Back to Creature List

HoC Evil Creatures: Lurker Bosses: Wrapper

Boss Lurkers are like regular lurkers, with a few exceptions:

Name: Wrapper

Species: Former Magic Born - Spade Royalty

Class: ZZZ

Description: They can make their spine grow 3-4 more feet. When they use it, their tail becomes tangible. Their eye sockets glow orange.

Special attack(s): They have been known to pull their victims into the air where they can’t be helped by those below. They will generally grab a quarries’ appendage with their extended spine and hoist them high into the air (weight does not matter). They then wrap around them like a serpent and suck them up before they can reach the ground.

            They don’t always have to drag their victim in the air. They can curl around their prey while they are grounded and, like a boa constrictor, squeeze them to render the victim breathless or unconscious. Then caps and shrouds them (if they’re a MB).

Defense(s): They will use their spine like a whip to wrap around and pull away any opposing weapon and throw the weapon far from their attacker.

Known facts: To display dominance, it will lengthen its tail and slap the average lurkers across the top of the skull. Then, the other lurkers who were former Spades will bow their heads in subjection.

            Out of all the Boss Lurkers, the Wrapper, is the one who ‘cooperates’ the best with other Bosses; especially when it comes to Magic Users (MUs).

Once the MU is grabbed and hoisted up by the Wrapper and if a Basher is in the area, they will work together and the victim is used as a punching bag, until MU’s spark is released and then sucked up. The MU will likely die in this encounter.

If a Slicer is in the area, the Wrapper holds the victim while the Slicer does its ‘slice-n-dice’ dance. The MU’s spark is released and then sucked up.

How to kill it: Break its spine in half. (You have ten minutes until it grows a new tail). Then attack it like any regular lurker. 

Nicknames: Whipper. Evil’s spine.

Back to Creature List

HoC Bk1 Evil Creatures: Lurkers and Boss Names

Name: Lurker (Regular)

Species: Former Magic Born (MB)

Class: ZZ

Description: Half skull (missing jaw) and backbone. A ghostly shroud is attached to the backbone. When moving, its shroud resembles the frills on a cuttlefish.  When it extends its wings, they resemble that of a tattered bat. Their eye sockets glow red when they smell food.

Attack(s): When spotting a victim, it moves in a serpentine fashion. Its shrouded wings become tangible enough to wrap around victim's arms and torso, pinning their arms to their body. The Lurker will place the underside of their skull on the victim's head and feed. The person is entirely sucked up and will disappear. Whatever shirt the victim was wearing will appear on the lurker’s wings as a pattern. (Also known as being "capped" or "cap and shrouded").  The Magic Born and their magic will be digested for a year. (For a way to save the victim, see the ‘How to kill’ section below.)

Defense(s): It's a shade (ghost). It can go through anything that's not magical.

Known facts: Any Magic Born who's rank is 10 and lower become these. They will use their "nose" to sniff magical residue left on the ground by magical people/creatures and begin their hunt. Anything non-magical whether living or not, is by-passed, undisturbed.

They are also sensitive to anyone with a large amount of magic. If their magical spark is big enough, lurkers that are within the powerful MB’s radius, will come to the hunt immediately and then it's a race to reach the victim.

Known History: Made by the Lurker King.

Tame: NO!

Weakness(es): Magic in any form. The more magic, the quicker the lurker will be lured.

How to kill: The skulls are their weak point. When destroying a Lurker, you need something with a high amount of magic to break its skull, not just crack it. The tools used against them are generally magical weapons.

            If a “full” Lurker’s skull is shattered, the victim will then fall out of them, weak and disoriented. Take them to the nearest Realm Keeper, magicks’ hospital or clinic, and have them checked over for remaining lurker residue.

Nicknames: Mindless vacuums. Flying sheets. Bedsheets. “Evil wearing a dress.”- Kory.

Known Boss Lurkers

-Bashers
-Wrappers
-Slicers
-Deathwings
-The Lurker King


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