Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name:
Ian Vroon
Title of book and/or series:
Ayphae
Book 1 of The Flames Chronicles
Brief summary of the story:
They woke up seven years ago with no memory. They found themselves in a land of glowing flowers, mushroom houses and psychedelic spores. They have only dreams, flashbacks—fragments of thoughts they can’t explain.
But now the land is withering. Mushrooms are crumbling to ash, trees turning to mush—and no one knows why.
Enter the aiethepa spore. This fungus grows fast and thick throughout Ayphae. No one knows what it does, and no one can open it. Some blame it for the withering—others think it will breathe life into the land.
Paths cross, and an alliance is born: the three with lost memories, a field scientist, a ranger-turned-speaker and a pragmatic politician. But can they find the problem—before it’s too late?
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Ayphae is a world of mushrooms that think using your brain. So for instance, sparkler mushrooms will send out sparkles that arrange themselves in pretty patterns—using your brain to determine what defines “pretty.” Murmuring mushrooms will use your subconscious to bring out thoughts that are comforting to you, which you will hear as a sort of “murmur.” Memory mushrooms will search the recesses of your mind for lost memories and restore them to you (or make you forget things). Mirror mushrooms will alter your visual center so they look like an exact duplicate of you. All these mushrooms think using your brain—provided you’re in their neural net.
Mushrooms with a neural net are known as “net mushrooms.” Apart from you, they have will, but no brain to exercise that will. You grant them that intelligence by wandering into their net. However, you are not aware of them thinking using your brain. It does not affect you in any way, shape or form.
If we were to visit Ayphae as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Visit the Obo Mushroom in Obo City (the capital). It’s a giant mushroom the size of several cities—and its cap is so wide, it spans the entire horizon. This mushroom sits at the very center of Ayphae, and people live inside it. The Marden (Ayphae’s ruler) also has his office there.
Though no one knows why, the sun will always rise from behind the Obo Mushroom. No matter where you’re standing, it will always seem like the sun’s rising from behind it and setting behind you. And the Obo Mushroom itself is a net mushroom—it’s sustained by the emotional energy of Ayphae’s inhabitants. Its roots stretch across the whole land.
What dangers should we avoid in Ayphae?
Beat mushrooms (called “drums”). These dangerous mushrooms are taller than you, have large legs to stomp the ground and are fiercely territorial. If you come across one, it will demand that you match its beat. After stomping out a rhythm, it will expect you to stomp the same rhythm in return. If you don’t, it will attack you. There are five colors of drums in the wild, and they like to travel in herds with the same color. If different colors meet, they will challenge each other for the land by stomping out beats or outright brawling.
Yeast marshes—glowing ponds of ultraviolet muck—should also be avoided, as they are nearly impossible to get out of. You’ll have to be rescued by a pathfinder (Ayphae’s equivalent of a ranger, but more extensive).
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Ayphae?
Like everything else, the food in Ayphae is quite unique. Marvel mushrooms are usually the main ingredient. These fungi are net mushrooms, and they can change their molecular structure to taste like anything. The caterer programs them to have a specific taste when making the dish, and the best caterers can even invent their own flavors (and combine them). Soups are most prevalent as the main course, as the most nutritious mushrooms (felrusii) can only be eaten cooked. (I actually have a real mushroom soup recipe in the back of my book.)
Scent spores can be programmed to smell like anything, so they help the dish further.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Ayphae?
Slingshots are the most common weapon. These can fire frost puffers—fungi that explode and freeze whatever they land on—as well as firebuds. Firebuds are mushrooms that burst into flame when you bop their cap. Firing them is more about intimidation than anything else, as they won’t inflict any serious burns before their flame peters out. In fact, firebuds are usually dropped into jugs of water to make them boil quickly. The frost puffers are better weapons. (Some people use tar as well, though this is less common.)
The martial arts style used is unique to Ayphae, and mostly focuses on agility and defense. Ayphae doesn’t have much crime, so the police usually don’t have to bother.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or through Ayphae?
Spincars • These cars use spinning mushrooms for wheels. Spinning mushrooms will spin by themselves (they go faster when injected with alter spores), so they can propel wooden carts. Since the carts are covered, you would most likely view them as a wooden car. Spincars can come in many sizes and be convertible, but they all share a few common features. Rearview mirrors, brake stems (flowers growing in the spincar’s wood whose roots grip the spinners to keep them from moving—as otherwise you wouldn’t be able to park the car!), a shroomshift to change speed or go in reverse (they just change the level and type of alter spores being injected into the spinners), and so forth. Now and then you need to replace the spinners, as they do wear out.
Pravel • To keep the roads in good condition, a type of pavement called pravel is used. It’s actually an intelligent yeast that repairs itself as you walk or drive over it. It compensates based on pressure, so areas where more people walk will still be in pristine condition. Essentially, the roads you walk on in Ayphae’s cities are one unicellular creature that adapts to your footsteps.
Jellibs • Transparent pink eggs with the consistency of Jell-O that grow on the ground like watermelons. They open up so you can hop in (size varies—some carry only two people, while others can house an entire dance troupe), and you float along the stream. They can also travel through the roots of obosas (giant mushrooms people live in) at about 60mph. This allows swift transportation, and it’s the standard means of getting around outside the big city. Spincars would be used in the villages, but dirt roads can’t handle them very well. Since pravel is in limited supply, only the cities use spincars.
Aerophytes • these glider-like spores appear to have leaves for wings. They can fly you along any air current, but they nest inside aerophytus flowers to rest. Like other net flora, they read your mind.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Ayphae that we don’t see on Earth?
Dancing Mushrooms • They usually travel in “troupes.” If you come across some in the wild, they’ll want you to dance with them. They’re especially impressed by good dancers—so if you perform well enough, you’ll get a reputation across Ayphae. Pretty soon, any dance troupe will be able to recognize you and demand your performance.
Mirror Mushrooms • When you look at a mirror mushroom, all you’ll see is yourself. And your reflection might be doing something different—so it’s not quite like staring into a mirror. Instead, these fungi read your mind and alter your visual center so you always see what they want you to see when you look at them. They’re quite mischievous, and their laughing sounds like birds chirping. But they really value athletic feats, and they’ll shower you with applause (a sound like rustling leaves) when you do backflips and other tricks. They’re classified as prankster mushrooms because they like to mess with you.
Flying Mushrooms • These unruly mushrooms fly across the sky. When they land, they usually nestle in groupings. Frills likes feather dusters spread out from beneath their caps, which are very sensitive to movement. Their most common predators are birds.
These are just a couple examples, but you can find others in this questionnaire. Most of the transportation uses wildlife (aerophytes, spinners, etc.), for instance. In fact, pretty much everything in Ayphae relies upon mushrooms of some sort. Clocks, houses, cars, medicine, you name it. Everything is a fungus or flower of some kind, from the pavement to the lamps.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Ayphae? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
Ayphae has a plant-like Sage who protects it (his name is L’Hwon). However, he can only protect it from outside dangers. Currently, there is a barrier protecting the land of Ayphae and isolating it from the outside world. No one can come in or out, and no one knows how the barrier got there. Otherwise, magic has no impact upon Ayphaeans.
These are the only magical elements in Ayphae. Some limited magic will be involved in future books, but I’m more of a sci-fi-in-a-fantasy-setting kind of guy. I want rational explanations, imaginative functions and things that will make people wonder. None of the same-old dwarves and elves kind of thing.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Ayphae? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Earphones • Have you ever seen a picture of a fungus that looks like an ear? Imagine one growing on a tree—then imagine you can speak into it and someone will answer. These are Ayphae’s equivalent of telephones. An operator sits at a central earphone and patches people into other earphones (they’re net fungi, so they read the operator’s mind). This allows information to travel much more quickly across Ayphae. It also allows for tunes to become popular, along with talkshows.
Running mushrooms • these small mushrooms can run very quickly. No human can keep up with them, so there used to relay messages. A note is tied to them, the sender concentrates on the destination in their mind—and the runner reads your mind and sprints to that location. This can also be used to deliver small packages, although jellibs are preferred for larger products. Running mushrooms are used to steer cargo jellibs, so no one has to make the trip from town to town.
Malady mushrooms and bevel lichen • These net mushrooms (and lichen) can be programmed to combat any disease—viral, bacterial, fungal or protistal. As a result, disease has been virtually eradicated in Ayphae, along with allergies and other nuisances. The malady mushrooms tend to be better at combating more advanced diseases…but they have a nasty sense of humor. Sometimes their spores will make you sicker instead of curing you. For that reason, they’re usually kept in reserve and only used if the bevel won’t work.
Bubble-scopes • a special tree resin creates a bubblelike film over these microscopes, allowing scientists to see on a microscopic level. This has given them an atomic-era level understanding of chemistry, so they are beginning to understand fission (though they lack the tools to split the atom or do anything remotely close). They do have laser tulips—special plants that emit a laser from their piston—but that only helps them so much. Their ability to conduct advanced chemistry has allowed them to create mixes from all sorts of different mushrooms in Ayphae. These mixes can do crazy things, like make you sweat mist that glows in colors that represent the emotion you’re feeling.
Shroomlamps • In lieu of electricity, which has not been developed, people light their houses with shining mushrooms that act as lamps. With their caps reversed, the smaller lamps can be used as flashlights. Glowing mushrooms are also a thing. They are planted near the front walkway and light up when anyone comes near. They act as porch lights.
There’s so much more. For instance, trumpet mushrooms project your voice, like speaker boxes on a stage. I don’t want to detail everything here, though. You’ll find out more when you read Ayphae.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Ayphae.
Parties are the main feature in Ayphae. People gather around to hear singers, speakers and debaters—not to mention watching dances, eating food and whatever other special events are present.
The dances are quite unique. Dancers can ingest special mixes to make them glow. In addition, they can camouflage themselves, sweat glowing mist and so forth—all depending on the fungal mix they ingest. They often dance on a field of glowing flowers that makes ripples of light with each step—like waves from a pebble tossed into a still pond. Many other tricks are used involving mirror mushrooms (you’ll see what those are), but I don’t want to spoil it for you. (I’ve got over 40,000 words’ worth of notes on Ayphae, so there’s a lot to tell. It’s quite a world, and I’m only showing you a little in this questionnaire.)
As for sports, it’s mostly about hopperball. Hoppers are mushrooms with stems coiled like a spring, which propel you if you jump on them—much like a trampoline. In hopperball, one of the few rules is that you cannot touch a hopper while holding the ball. You must toss it into the air—then in your next jump so you will catch it before it lands. You can also pass to a teammate. Opposing players try to intercept the ball whenever you toss it, so there is a constant give-and-take. Four timed quarters are played.
People also like to play with melody mushrooms (melodies). If you eat them, melodies can give you perfect pitch or make you sing off tune—but either way, they’ll make it so you sound perfect to yourself. You might be singing horribly, but you’ll sound fine to your own ears. People like to eat them, sing to their friends—and based off their friends’ reaction, guess whether they got the positive or negative effect. It’s really more a game about reading people than anything else.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Ayphae as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
Days of the week, months, etc. are the same. One peculiarity is the complete absence of holidays. Ayphae has no real concept of special days—other than days when certain events are going on, such as an election or party. People are usually more laid back about things like time.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Ayphae? Please describe what it involves.
Informally, yes. There is a general belief in a set of moral systems set into effect by something, but no real concept of an afterlife or specific deity to go with it. It’s more cultural than anything else.
Truth be told, I wanted the emphasis to be on this society’s real deity: entertainment. I do mention a church somewhere in there, but Christianity or whatever is not present. I made this choice because I wanted to focus more on core issues of philosophy and morality rather than centralizing on a specific system of beliefs. I also wanted to avoid making an allegory. Another fantasy world that does this kind of thing is J.R.R. Tolkien’s middle earth. However, I hope to foster critical thinking about deep issues significantly more than he did as the series unfolds.
What is the political or government structure in Ayphae? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
Democratic Monarchy. That is to say, the people elect a king. So he’s not really a king so much as a president with almost absolute power. He must abide by the sacred rules: a seven-year term, after which you can reelect him or elect a new ruler; no executions (that’s for the court of law); no silencing the press…and if he’s smart, he’ll hold a vote and let the people decide on major issues. This makes the people feel listened to. His official title is the Marden.
The current Marden is Joven Marshalltoe. He’s quite a character, and in Ayphae he feels like everyone is getting on his case for the withering land. They’re blaming him for just about everything. He’s done what he can policy-wise, but it’s clearly not enough—the land is going downhill, the crops are failing, everything’s going wrong. He doesn’t want to let the people down—but something has to be done.
And no, he’s not supposed to represent Trump, Obama, Bush, Clinton or any other president. He’s his own character, and should be treated as such. I really like his pragmatism, as it sells his polite but no-nonsense demeanor.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Ayphae?
Everyone gets up early. This is because the houses they live in—obosas—are giant mushrooms that feed off the neuroelectric energy they emit. Specifically, they feed off your emotions. They do this the way you would absorb heat from a campfire—they don’t drain you or anything. So it’s a mutualistic relationship between the humans and their mushroom houses.
This is important because humans put out less emotional energy while asleep (obviously). The obosas need them to be awake for a good part of the day, so they have musical cords running through them called tonal cords. The obosas twang these cords to wake up their inhabitants. Think harp strings, but longer.
This means if you sleep in, your obosa must not be working properly. People will express concern immediately. Getting to bed earlier is an excellent way to compensate.
Otherwise, the culture is remarkably similar to ours. Out in the small towns, people are touchy about private business—but in the big city, they may be straightforward to the point of rudeness. Nothing too unexpected. (Their colloquialisms may throw you off, however. They’re all fungi-related expressions.)
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
I love studying science, so whenever I come across new and interesting fungi, they get featured. I also love geology, which will be featured in an upcoming book. Basically, whatever inspires me in creation gets a slot in my books.
The idea of giant mushrooms is just natural. You see something strange and weird, and you want to enlarge it to make it even stranger and weirder. One should think the dancing mushrooms would be credited to a certain Disney movie…but surprisingly, Fantasia had nothing to do with it. I just thought it would be fun if the mushrooms danced. That’s how most of my ideas work. They just happen. (I give credit to God for my creativity.) 🙂
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
Most people would like to blame their problems on one political party or the other. In Ayphae, everyone is pointing the finger at the politicians. The question I raise is whether people should look in the mirror. Politicians can’t change your heart—only reflect what you value. Rather than blaming this political party or that party for everything, why don’t we look at ourselves as the potential problem?
I don’t take a conservative or liberal approach. I dismiss politics altogether and foist the responsibility to produce change on us. If we don’t fix things, no one will.
But I don’t like preaching at my audience. So I bring in some counter arguments as well. Government can surely do a few things right—some problems can only be fixed by them. I admit that. But again, I’m as politically neutral as possible. I really want to emphasize individual responsibility. Honestly, it feels like an appropriate message for our time. Everyone wants to play the blame game.
I’ve also taken safeguards to prevent any of my characters from being mouthpieces. I’ve ensured that each protagonist disagrees with me on at least one major thing (different for each character)—and to prevent villains from being reversed mouthpieces, I’ve ensured that each of them agrees with me on at least one major thing. I want my readers to think and question rather than being spoonfed my morality. I believe critical thinking is the best tool we have, as without it we can never improve.
Author Autobiography:
Everything I write puts a new spin on fantasy as you know it. And when I’m not writing, I’m imagining my next book.
I love science and incorporate it heavily into my fantasy worlds. I also love philosophy—and since I hate going with the crowd, I resolve to take the reader on a journey of questioning and suspense, watching my characters struggle with interpreting and reacting to unfolding events.
As I live near the foothills of Colorado, I enjoy exploring the outdoors with my wife—soaking in the sights, sounds and smells of creation. But we are most passionate about our strategy games, usually spending hours or even days nerding out on one game alone.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.
You can preorder Ayphae at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Ayphae-Vibrant-Dying-Ian-Vroon-ebook/dp/B07SBY3CD1/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=ayphae+ian+vroon
Enjoy! You can also subscribe to my newsletter on my blog and get a free copy of part 1. That way you can sample it. I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts. (Since I’m still looking for more reviewers, you could be one of them.) 😊
Where can readers connect with you online? Connect with me at https://ianvroon.blog/
I love interacting with my readers!
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Ayphae. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
-Annie Douglass Lima
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name:
Larry Paris
Title of book and/or series:
The Darkened Land ,Book One of the Seven Towers Series
Brief summary of the story:
Separated from the world of darkness by a bottomless chasm lie the stones of light. The King has built a bridge from that world to His kingdom across the chasm to give people access once again to the stones. He has established seven cities of light and seven towers as beacons to The Darkened Land.
Lachlaniel’s world is a world of complete darkness, but across the Godwin River there are stones of light. When he sees the light for the first time and beholds the wonder of the stones, Lachlaniel sets out for the Godwin accompanied by Ewald, the woodsman. But creatures of darkness, who hate the light and the stones, pursue them. Guided by Kesniel and protected by Velius they reach the Great City Agapay and the Bridge. The stones lie just beyond, but the quest has aroused The Great Evil. Nameless and powerful he bends his might to crush the city and put an end to the light in his dominion. The city is now in peril.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
A world of complete darkness except for the light from the King’s stones. The great cities form a ring in the north and are approximately 1500 miles apart. There are no ice caps so one can conceivably cross the north pole to cities on the other side of the world.
If we were to visit Pipto as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Visit the Bridge and one of the Great Cities especially one with a Great Stone in the tower’s turret.
Also check out the one of the Kin’s orchards (the fruits are indescribable).
What dangers should we avoid in Pipto?
Wolves, Hashimorts, Solveig, Aiden (dragons Aidan – singular) And don’t go in the Black Tower
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Pipto? Sword and shield, ax, arrows – typical medieval weapons
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Pipto?
Horses, carts, and walking.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Pipto that we don’t see on Earth?
Giant snakes (over 300 feet long as adults); Solveig – bat-like creatures with poisonous fangs whose bites cause blindness and death; Hashimorts – A giant flying scorpion of sorts; Aiden – speaking, flying, fire-breathing dragons whose armor as adults is quite impenetrable, except for the belly where it is weaker, but a normal man could not penetrate it in his own strength even there; the great evils who can take any form and are huge; the Chuchoteur – thought whisperers; and lesser evils posing as men.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Pipto? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
The supernatural is generally associated with the King; however, the evils also have abilities that humans don’t possess.
The stones of the King give light and reveal light as in the light of a fire. They stay with an owner (although the term ‘owner’ isn’t quite correct) and when removed from his presence will disappear and reappear beside the ‘owner’. Once you’ve crossed the Bridge and obtained a stone you are given the King’s armor which is tailor made for only you. You also gain access to your closet which is always near at hand though not visible. People without stones can see the light from them but most prefer the darkness and many are aggressive to those that have the stones or are seeking them. Many others have never seen the light and know nothing of the stones (as in the case of Lachlaniel, the first character you meet).
The evils generally inhabit animals and on rare occasion people. They are visible as a black mist that rises from the corpse once the animal is dead. They can also assume other forms including human.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Pipto? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Not technology to our way of thinking, but the stones and the swords of the King can bring understanding of things past, present, and future. The stones also serve as a food source and give water. Both are very restorative and life-giving. They also give oil that heals. The Great Stones, of which there are seven corresponding to the Seven Towers and Seven Great Cities, have other properties which will not be described here. The closets have already been mentioned and bring direct access to the King.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Pipto as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
They are the same. There is Passage Day, which is the day that the Bridge was completed.
What is the political or government structure in Pipto? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
Government other than the Great Cities is not mentioned. The Great Cities are governed by a King-Steward and have a council that rules in the absence of the King-Steward.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
Most of the People places and things are allegorical to things in the Bible. There is a glossary at the back that gives the meanings of the names and their pronunciation.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
The means of Salvation, which is a hot button for many.
Author Autobiography:
I was born in Dallas Texas and raised in a small town near there. I attended Dallas Baptist University starting in 1975 and graduated in 2010 (yes it took me that long to get through). My degree is in Christian Ministries. I was on the Dean’s List and was Greek Honor Student (sorry I don’t remember what year). I started writing at the end of High School. I began the Darkened Land in the mid 90’s though 2/3 of it was written in six weeks in 2017 (God is good. He helped a lot.) Presently I am writing the second in the series titled The Basaners along with a series of short stories entitled The Physician and an end times novel (first of a series) with the working title Jack Russell and the Repository.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)?
You can find both print and Kindle versions by clicking here.
ebook copies are available through Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and others by clicking the Books2Read link here.
Where can readers connect with you online?
Presently I am on Facebook and I have just joined MeWe. Visit my webpage at larryparisbooks.com or email me at mailto:[email protected].
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Pipto. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
-Annie Douglass Lima
Blurb
By day Yosyph appears nothing more than a mute tavern-hand. By night he is the shadowy leader of a growing revolution.
When he learns that thousands of his people will be sent as slaves to the mines, he must choose—fight the royal army with an ill-prepared rebellion or journey to the land of his ancestors through the deadly King’s Trial, where he hopes to win the help of his kin.
His journey grows complicated when he rescues a maiden and enrages a prince, but if he doesn’t return with help in time, the people he’s loved and secretly served will be gone.
Click here to download The King’s Trial. It will be free on July 16th and 17th!
Annie’s Thoughts:
I just finished reading The King’s Trial this morning. I wholeheartedly recommend this clean fantasy adventure! All the main characters went through their own journeys (literal or metaphorical) of growth, and I like that I would not have predicted where some of those would lead. There was an element of romance, but it wasn’t entirely predictable either (predictability is what bothers me about most romance novels). A twist near the end caught me by surprise, which was also fun. But my favorite thing about The King’s Trial was the part of the story where Yosyph must travel through a maze of rock formations using a series of clever riddles/clues to tell him where to go. In one scene, he had to sing a particular song, walking at a pace where his feet kept rhythm with the tune, and then turn each time the word “left” or “right” came up in the song lyrics. I thought that was quite clever!
Though the main conflict does get resolved and there’s no cliffhanger, a few loose ends in the story make me look forward to the sequel. If you enjoy fantasy or adventure stories, why not download your copy of The King’s Trial now?
Short and long excerpts from The King’s Trial
Short Snippets:
Nightmares usually end with the coming of day, but this one bled into the morning hours. Sunlight filtered through a vine-smothered window. – Yosyph
I slid from the horse’s back. “Glue for you.” I half-hoped he would wander off while I was in the Thirsty Stallion. I’d rather walk than get back on him. I pushed my way into the inn. Ugh. And I thought the clothes I’d taken smelled bad. Vomit, sweat, ale, beer, and all the other smells of the barracks were packed into one room. I thought the soldiers were gross, but this—no wonder Mother called the people dirty, miserable animals. – Halavant
We stepped off the hill’s crest and climbed down into the first reaches of the desert. The dry morning air burned with each breath. By the time we’d reached the bottom, it seemed we’d entered an oven. A hot wind whipped up to meet us, casting gritty sand in our eyes and mouths. The desert had swallowed us whole, and the other world of grass and trees no longer existed. – Yosyph
I learned something over the four days of travel: Galliard was wrongly named. He wasn’t Galliard the Wanderer but Galliard the Obstinate. I’d never had to endure a more mulish man, and there were plenty of them that sat in council with my mother. When I became king, I’d place him as the lead donkey in our luggage train, and he could put his talents to use. – Halavant
The wind crashed against me on both sides of the bridge, like waves breaking on sea cliffs, pouring over me with such force it ripped away my breath. – Yosyph
The middle of the night was toe-stubbing dark. I bit my lip to stop crying out as my little toe bent sideways around the leg of a chair. – Halavant
Longer Excerpt 1: Yosyph
I turned around to see the prince stomping down a garden path, whacking at bushes with a stick. Sun reflected off his white ringlets. Was he bleaching his hair now, or wearing a wig? He used to have wheat-yellow hair. His skin showed he spent hours outside each day, somehow turning it gold instead of ruddy or brown. His face had the round softness of luxury. It was little wonder the women compared him to a god.
“Prince Halavant,” the steward called out, “Hadron, the vintner, has sent a special gift of wine for your bride.”
He turned toward us, his brows furrowed and lips tight. “It won’t do any good. It would have been perfect for our picnic, but she’d rather go riding without me. I imagine she’s climbing our oak or skipping stones on our pond, without me!”
He was an angry, spoiled godling, not yet full grown. But at least he told me where to find her.
I turned to leave as he continued his rant.
“I’d like to thrash someone. But everyone even the least bit capable is on duty. Not one can spar. Nothing is going right today.” He turned. “You, what is your name and service?”
Why did he, of all people, notice me? I motioned to my throat.
“He is mute, sire,” the steward explained. “The son of the vintner.”
The prince studied me closer, then nodded, “You stand with the ease of a swordsman.”
I dropped to a slouch.
“Though too tall and lean to be much of a match. Still, I see no better options. You may have the privilege of sparing with your prince and future king.”
I slouched to the sparring yard. Perhaps he would rethink fighting me if I looked incapable.
The prince grumbled, “Pointless, worthless day. Left to spar with a mute commoner. Could it get any worse?”
I could think of a hundred ways.
He grabbed one of the dull metal practice swords and tossed another toward me. I leaped to the side, letting it clatter to the ground. I fumbled as I picked it up.
“He has no more skill than a practice dummy. I could take off his head.”
I rethought my strategy. He stood shorter than me, but heavier built and held himself with the balance of a dancer. I shifted my weight to my toes and gripped the sword, point down. Defend myself or not? Run? Wait. Watch. Three long breaths.
He sneered, then lunged, driving his sword toward my chest.
I threw myself to the side, barely keeping to my feet. The prince’s sword slid by my arm as he stumbled past.
I turned to face him. He roared and swung his sword downward. Metal screamed as I tried to deflect the blow. It was like trying to stop a falling cask with a metal rod. I pushed myself off the weight of the swords and spun aside with a slight stumble. It was getting harder to pretend clumsiness while avoiding blows.
He was like a bear. If I wasn’t careful, he’d break my arm or crack my skull. I ducked to avoid the latter.
“Stop dodging and fight, coward!” He whirled around with another crushing swing.
I didn’t like taking orders from him, but fighting instead of dodging seemed sound advice if I didn’t want to be crippled. So much for my half-wit mask. I leaned away from his swing while flicking my sword under his blow, striking him lightly across the ribs.
His Royal Rageness drew back and blinked. Had I injured his pride? I could end up in prison for scratching his pampered flesh. I tensed my legs, ready to dash through the open porter’s gate.
“Unexpected.” He adjusted his sword grip from a fist to a fencer’s hold. He rose to his toes. A hint of a smile creased his green eyes.
Longer Excerpt 2: Yosyph
At the water’s edge, a young woman stood beside a white horse. She flipped a stone into the pond and it skipped twelve times. If the prince liked novelty, she fit it. Hair the color of an autumn maple trailed down her back in tight curls. Paprika freckles dusted her cream skin. She burned brightly in a land of brown and flaxen tresses.
“She says I’m not fit to be a queen.” Katrin flung another stone. It skipped once, hit a lily pad, and sank. “Too ungainly, too brash, too forward. She’s nothing of grace herself, all dominance and force.”
I stepped from the trees.
She continued to rant. “I shall not be frightened away by her threats. I shall not! She tells me she shall make my life miserable if I don’t refuse to marry her son! Oh, how could she be Mother’s best friend and such a beast to me?”
I stepped closer. Still, she didn’t see me. Sometimes, not being noticed was bothersome. I cleared my throat. She whirled, a thin dagger appearing in her hand. Good, so she wasn’t oblivious to the danger.
Longer Excerpt 3: Yosyph
Katrin bent over the map, the end of her turban trailing down beside her face. “The map won’t change, no matter how much you glare at it.”
She was right.
I rolled up the map, slipped it inside a waterproof pouch, and tucked it back inside my robe. The recently purchased desert robes hung loosely from my shoulders to my feet. I considered taking them off and wearing my regular clothing, something easier to mount with. Yet the map had warned to wear desert robes to keep the body from losing too much water. How that worked was beyond me. They seemed to add to the heat of the day. I hooked one foot in the stirrup and swung my other leg over Flax’s back. My leg tangled in the robe and stopped halfway, leaving me sprawled across the saddle.
“You’ve never ridden in robes before?” Katrin’s eyes crinkled with amusement.
I shook my head as I slid to the ground. The robes fell back straight around me, as if they hadn’t had the perverse amusement of stopping me mid-mount.
Katrin looked at me as if waiting for my full attention. She stepped into the stirrup and in one fluid motion, flew into her saddle, her robes flowing out and settling around her. She nodded. “The robes are not all that different from my riding dress.”
“Which I’ve never had the pleasure of wearing,” I muttered.
Her eyes danced with laughter. “So you do have a sense of humor.” She watched as I semi-successfully mounted Flax. “Does that mean we are going?”
About the Author
As a youth, I made up stories to help my little sisters go to sleep. It backfired. We stayed up for hours continuing the tale. The King’s Trial was born in those late, whispered nights.
Ever since I climbed up to the rafters of our barn at age four, I’ve lived high adventure: scuba diving, mud football with my brothers, rappelling, and even riding a retired racehorse at full gallop—bareback. I love the thrill and joy.
Stories give me a similar thrill and joy. I love living through the eyes and heart of a hero who faces his internal demons and the heroine who fights her way free instead of waiting to be saved. I read fiction and true-story adventure. I write both, though I’m starting with publishing the fiction—fact will come later.
I create high fantasy, fairy tale retellings, and poetry. I live a joyful adventure with my husband and six children. I am a Christian and I love my Savior.
– M. L. Farb
10 Fun, Random Facts about the Author
1. As a child, I couldn’t walk across a room. I danced, spun, skipped, ran, or otherwise moved, but I couldn’t just walk.
2. I took calculus at a community college at age 14. I planned to go to MIT and become an astronaut. Plans changed—in wonderful ways.
3. I love reading to my children. We’ve enjoyed books from Dr. Seuss to Les Misérables. Maniac Magee is one of our favorites.
4. I lived in St Petersburg, Russia for half-a-year teaching English to kindergartners. I learned to wash my clothes in a bathtub, filter and boil my drinking water, and love my sweet, crayon-eating, kids.
5. I have slight dyslexia. ‘b’ and ‘p’ sometimes flip flop on me. But it also means I can read a book upside-down.
6. I love climbing, rappelling, and horseback riding. But I hate roller coasters and bungee jumping.
7. I’ve journaled almost every day since I turned seventeen. I capture conversations, descriptions, happenings, and quotes. I explore ideas. Through the years I’ve written well over a million words. It prepared me to become an author.
8. Plumbing Repair is my nemesis. I’m grateful I don’t have to battle it very often. In the end, I always win, but I feel like I’ve fought an arch-villain who pulled every dirty trick in the book, including Chinese water torture in claustrophobic conditions.
9. I live with a vivid imagination. I dream in 3-D, technicolor, and occasionally with my eyes open. This is a bane when it comes to nightmares. I will not watch horror movies.
10. The King’s Trial started as a bedtime tale I told my little sisters twenty years ago. Don’t worry. I wrote the second book, The King’s Shadow, in six months, and it will come out this autumn.
Plus an extra: I have an accent. People often ask me where I’m from. Maybe it’s my reader accent. I’ve read out loud enough different books in character, that perhaps it stuck.
Author Social Media Links
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: Annie Douglass Lima
Title of book and/or series: King of Malorn (Book 5 in the Annals of Alasia)
Brief summary of the story:
Life as the king’s younger sister should be exciting.
Not for Princess Kalendria. She’s sick of the dissent and of constantly having her family undermined by those who think they could rule Malorn better than King Korram.
Hoping to lighten the mood in the palace, Kalendria plans a ball to celebrate her seventeenth birthday. It doesn’t hurt that their handsome Alasian ally King Jaymin has promised to attend, and she’s been waiting for him to notice her for as long as she can remember.
But unfriendly forces have their own party plans. When Kalendria, Korram, and Jaymin barely survive an assassination attempt, their only recourse is to flee into the wilderness. Tracked by unknown assassins, they must figure out whom they can trust and who is behind the plot. Can Kalendria help her brother reclaim his throne – oh, and catch Jaymin’s attention while she’s at it – before they are all killed and war destroys both kingdoms?
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
The first half of King of Malorn takes place mostly in the kingdom of Malorn. I’m choosing not to focus on that setting in this post, since I featured Malorn in a previous edition of Realm Explorers after Prince of Malorn was published. The second half of the book is set partly in Malorn and partly in the bordering kingdom of Alasia, which I also featured previously in Realm Explorers, when I focused on Prince of Alasia and again for The Nameless Soldier.
This post will focus on a new and relatively tiny nation known as Karvasi Territory, which our heroes must pass through on their journey to safety from Malorn to Alasia. Formerly known as the Western Wilderness, this area was part of Malorn until just before the beginning of King of Malorn. Long inhabited by bandits who attacked and robbed travelers and the few settlers who lived there, the Western Wilderness (sometimes called Bandit Territory) has always been dangerous. Malorn’s government finally decided it wasn’t worth the expense and manpower to protect it, and they gave the land to the bandits, requiring all Malornian residents to leave. (King Korram was furious about this decision, but his High Council outvoted him. Since Malorn is a constitutional monarchy, the king does not have the power to make decisions that the rest of the government disagrees with.)
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| See the triangular area to the west, between the two rivers and the mountains (enlarged in the image below)? That’s where the Karvasi live. |
If we were to visit Karvasi Territory as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Stay away! Karvasi Territory is no place for tourists. The bandits (or Karvasi, as their race calls themselves) do not welcome outsiders. You may find yourself stopped and forced to pay a “toll” before you go on. Furthermore, the land is dry and rocky, full of thornbushes and coarse brush, and only a few crops can even grow there. You may be lucky enough to find a stream for water, but in general, the land itself isn’t even friendly.
However, if you find yourself forced to travel through Karvasi Territory, there are a few sights worth seeing. One of the streams there winds through a ravine of reddish rock, in which you can see a scenic waterfall. (The scene depicted on the book cover actually takes place in that ravine.) However, there aren’t many safe paths into or out of the ravine. If, like Kalendria and her companions, you find yourself trapped in there and in a hurry to get away, beware! The waterfall is located at a dead end. Unless you can climb straight up the cliff, your enemies will likely catch you.
What dangers should we avoid in Karvasi Territory?
The Karvasi, of course! Apart from robbing travelers, if they think you mean them harm, they will likely kill you, especially if you are Malornian. However, they do have a cordial trading relationship with the Alasians, so if you can convince them you’re Alasian, they’ll be more likely to let you live. If you must travel through their territory, I recommend bringing a gift of food, tools, or other supplies for them. If you ask nicely and they can see you don’t pose a threat, they might even be convinced to give you something in return. But they know that the Malornian government has ceded the land to them, and that no one is supposed to pass through without their permission now, so they don’t take kindly to the sight of anyone else in their territory. Unfortunately for them, the Malornian government recently sent a large number of soldiers through their land to guard the Telleck River against the Alasians army (after all, the Alasians have reason to believe the Malornians recently assassinated their king). So, the Karvasi have been grumpy about that and inclined to resent anyone they see.
You’ll want to avoid those Malornian soldiers, too. Nothing much has happened since they set up camp by the river, and many of them are bored and looking for trouble.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Karvasi Territory?
Once Malorn’s government ceded the land to them, the Karvasi built a village and planted gardens, but those haven’t started producing yet. At this point, most of their food comes from birds or rabbits that they hunt or whatever they can trade from the Alasians. However, since so many Malornian soldiers are camped out by the Telleck River, trade has been difficult lately, and the Karvasi have been tightening their belts.
If they have enough to spare and decide that they like you, you may be served a type of round, flat bread folded around slices of cooked meat (rabbit is most common), seasoned with a variety of herbs. They may also include sprigs of raw green onion or other vegetables and leftover fried eggs.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Karvasi Territory?
The Karvasi fight with short, curved scimitars. Some (like the burly Blenniel, one of the men our characters encounter) are experts in unarmed combat, and many are proficient with the longbow. They make a particular type of poison that they often smear on their blades and arrowheads, so even if they don’t strike a killing blow, a scratch that merely breaks the skin will leave their victim dead in minutes. So I recommend avoiding fighting with them if at all possible – unless you dare to challenge one of them to unarmed combat, as King Jaymin’s bodyguard Erik does.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Karvasi Territory?
The Karvasi travel on foot. Others who pass through their territory might use horses, carts, or wagons. Boats are common on the two rivers that form part of their border.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Karvasi Territory.
At this point, the Karvasi have to put a lot of energy into trying to survive and avoid their enemies. They don’t have a lot of time for games or fun activities. However, they do enjoy contests of strength and skill, such as the one in which Erik pits himself against their best warrior. Of course, the stakes are extremely high, so I suggest enjoying such activities as a spectator, not a participant, unless you’re quite confident in your own abilities.
What is the political or government structure in Karvasi Territory? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The Karvasi are ruled by a chief named Raddiek. He is in charge not only of the residents of the hidden village our heroes stumble into, but of thousands more Karvasi waiting back in the mountains to the west. When he sends word that it’s safe, the rest will come and join the first wave back in their ancestral homeland.
Author Autobiography:
Annie Douglass Lima considers herself fortunate to have traveled in twenty different countries and lived in four of them. A fifth-grade teacher in her “other” life, she loves reading to her students and sparking their imaginations. Her books include science fiction, fantasy, YA action and adventure novels, a puppet script, anthologies of her students’ poetry, and Bible verse coloring and activity books. When she isn’t teaching or writing, Annie can often be found sipping spiced chai or pomegranate green tea in exotic locations, some of which exist in this world.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your books?
King of Malorn is available in both paperback and Kindle formats here.
You can see the rest of the Annals of Alasia here.
Or, take a look at all my books on Amazon here.
Where can readers connect with you online?
email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieDouglassLimaAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads
LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnLinkedIn
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/annie-douglass-lima
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Karvasi Territory. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
-Annie Douglass Lima
Thanks for stopping by! Take a look at my brand-new fantasy adventure story with a hint of romance.
You can download a copy of the ebook for free between July 9th and 11th!
Book Description:
Life as the king’s younger sister should be exciting.
Not for Princess Kalendria. She’s sick of the dissent and of constantly having her family undermined by those who think they could rule Malorn better than King Korram.
Hoping to lighten the mood in the palace, Kalendria plans a ball to celebrate her seventeenth birthday. It doesn’t hurt that their handsome Alasian ally King Jaymin has promised to attend, and she’s been waiting for him to notice her for as long as she can remember.
But unfriendly forces have their own party plans. When Kalendria, Korram, and Jaymin barely survive an assassination attempt, their only recourse is to flee into the wilderness. Tracked by unknown assassins, they must figure out whom they can trust and who is behind the plot. Can Kalendria help her brother reclaim his throne – oh, and catch Jaymin’s attention while she’s at it – before they are all killed and war destroys both kingdoms?
Click here to download your copy of King of Malorn on Amazon now!
Click here to see King of Malorn on Goodreads.
Series Information:
King of Malorn is book 5 in the Annalsof Alasia. But don’t worry if you haven’t read the others; it will still make sense on its own.
Each of the first four books can stand on its own as well (and three of them are temporarily discounted to 99 cents at the moment!). They each deal with events surrounding the same major political incident: the invasion of the kingdom of Alasia by the neighboring kingdom of Malorn.
Prince of Alasia begins on the night of the Invasion and describes what happens to twelve-year-old Prince Jaymin after he is forced to flee for his life.
In the Enemy’s Servicefeatures a girl as the protagonist and tells the story of those who were not able to escape from the Alasian palace when the enemy invaded.
Prince of Malorn begins several months earlier and focuses on the Malornian perspective of the events leading up to the Invasion.
The Nameless Soldier shows how a young Alasian soldier lives through the Invasion but then has to survive and make a name for himself in enemy-occupied Alasia.
In each of the books, main characters from the others make brief appearances and interact with each other at the point where the timeframes and settings overlap.
I also have a short ebook of “interviews” that I conducted with the characters in the other three books. Annals of Alasia: The Collected Interviews is not available on Amazon, but I send a free copy to anyone who signs up for my mailing list(to receive updates when I release new books or occasionally offer them for free).
Author Biography:
Annie Douglass Lima considers herself fortunate to have traveled in twenty different countries and lived in four of them. A fifth-grade teacher in her “other” life, she loves reading to her students and sparking their imaginations. Her books include science fiction, fantasy, YA action and adventure novels, a puppet script, anthologies of her students’ poetry, and Bible verse coloring and activity books. When she isn’t teaching or writing, Annie can often be found sipping spiced chai or pomegranate green tea in exotic locations, some of which exist in this world.Author Contact Info:
Email: [email protected]
Blog: http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/anniedouglasslima
LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnLinkedIn
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: Laura VanArendonk Baugh
Title of book and/or series: Shard & Shield (The Shard of Elan, 1)
Brief summary of the story:
He can save her life—if he sacrifices himself and those he swore to protect.
King’s bastard Shianan Becknam buries himself in his military career to avoid the family that never wanted him and the dangers of drawing political attention. When the artifact intended to end an interdimensional war is damaged, the mage Ariana is trapped on the other side of the rift with her servant—only the cheery young boy is really one of the monstrous enemy, disguised as a human. Shianan is desperate to rescue Ariana, one of his few friends, but to do so requires committing treason and betraying his duty, leaving his people open to attack.
State mage Ariana struggles to survive as a prisoner of war in a world of deadly magic and unfamiliar customs. Her only ally is her former servant, now a renowned warrior caught up in political machinations. To survive, he’ll have to once again take up the fight against Ariana’s world.
As their people’s wasted armies prepare for fresh battle that will devastate both sides, bastard, mage, and monster must set aside prejudices and rivalries to find an end to centuries of conflict, before they die as traitors.
Book 1 in a new epic fantasy series.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:This was really fun, because I got to create twoworlds!
Chrenada is a land in the human world, surrounded by countries and states such as Vandoga, Tyrg, and the trading empire of the Wakari Coast (settled originally by pirates but no one talks about that now). Chrenada is most similar to, but not exactly like, southern Europe during our Renaissance, if Greco-Roman culture had persisted a bit longer.
But there’s also the Ryuven world, and its inhabitants can magically intrude into the human world, wreaking devastating raids like interdimensional Vikings. When Ariana finds herself there, she discovers cities of wide avenues and tall buildings, where glittering nets shield private areas from other winged citizens.
Bridging the culture gap, especially in a generations-long war, is a part of the story.
And now, I’m going to turn you over to Captain Torg, a career soldier who is going to take you around and answer your questions. Have a good trip!
Hello, your lordships and ladyships. As the scribe said, I’m Captain Torg. Mind your step as we go around.
If we were to visit Chrenada as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
There’s an annual festival in the capital city of Alham which is usually enjoyable, even though it’s a lot of work for us officers. The military gives a big parade, and then there are duel tournaments to watch, featuring the best fighters like Shianan Becknam. This is important because it’s the soldiers who protect the people from the marauding Ryuven.
What dangers should we avoid in Chrenada?
Well, the usual. Bandits come in human form as well as the raiding Ryuven. Or you could be caught by an unscrupulous slaver and sold, as slavery is such a large part of the economy. And of course the big danger is the Ryuven, but they tend to strike agricultural targets more than cities, so just stay inside Alham. No worries about the beasts, all the worst ones tend to stay in the mountains these days.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Chrenada?
You know, it’s funny you should ask, because we have just the usual vegetables, grains, meats like chicken and mutton and pork, all the regular staples. There’s always the worry that the Ryuven will take it and supplies will be short, but fortunately we have plenty of plains for growing and grazing and a good trade network. But some other of you Realm Explorers visitors have asked for strange meats, like—what was it called—beef? From a really large goat? What did they call them… Something like cats, except obviously cats are small and not good eating… Oh, cattle! That’s the word. I’ve never heard of any domestic animal so large as what they describe, to be honest! Except for a horse, of course, but no one would eat a horse; it would be like eating gold.
The oddest part was a lady tourist asked once, if we had no cattle and with horses so rare, how did we use our wagons and plows? ‘Soats, I have to say I don’t understand you Realm Explorer folk sometimes. We were walking right through a slave market.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Chrenada?
We’ve got all kinds of fighting, plenty of opportunity to develop it and adapt it to fending off the Ryuven. You’ve got to fight a fast, aerial enemy differently than a human army. Our armor is specialized to provide extra defense from above, and we have arrowheads that are harder to pull out so that the Ryuven can’t heal so quickly.
The good news is, while they can fly and they’ve got magic, they’re pretty fragile things. Break like birds if you can hit them. You’ve just got to finish the job before they can heal.
Oh, and I guess I ought to mention the mages. We’ve got mages for defense, too, grey mages for all the common work and then the Great Circle for strategy and magical defense. But take my word as a captain that it’s the soldiers who do most of the real fighting.
Oh, look, there’s the Great White Mage himself, Ewan Hazelrig! Yes, we certainly do owe a lot to the Great Circle for keeping us all protected!
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Chrenada?
Here in Chrenada, we mostly walk, or we’ll use wagons for loads or if someone can’t walk well or far. Over on the Wakari Coast they use litters, too, with bearers, but you don’t see that as much here.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Chrenada that we don’t see on Earth?
Well, you should hope you don’t, really. The most likely is the Ryuven, and that means you’re caught in a raid. They’re tall and lean, like youths that haven’t really filled out yet, with big skin wings coming out their torsos. A little delicate, almost, because their bones are hollow. Like birds. But they’re dangerous.
There are some of the old monsters still around, but mostly in the mountains now, as I said. Leucrocutas and the occasional catoblepas. But you’re not likely to see them unless you go into the passes at the wrong time of year.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Chrenada? Please describe what it involves.
We’ve got one primary religion, though to be honest it’s not the important beyond a cultural tradition. I guess I mean a lot of people don’t use it that much beyond swearing by it. But some people take it pretty seriously.
There’s a scattering of other beliefs around, too. There’s even some sort of war cult with little strongholds spread all over the kingdom. Mostly rituals about preparing for the war of wars, or something. I don’t understand it, except I know Commander Becknam had to offer them his townhouse as a new property to get the Shard of Elan from them. Weird folk. Don’t see any of them volunteering to fight the Ryuven, don’t think they know much about real fighting.
What is the political or government structure in Chrenada? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
We’re a kingdom, so we’ve got a king. He’s good enough, as kings go, mostly makes decent policy and listens to his council for the most part.
What’s that? Yes, two sons, the prince-heir Soren and the younger prince Alasdair.
Well, yes, there is another son, the bastard Shianan Becknam. How is he with the third son? Well, I don’t know that it’s my place to comment, and I certainly wouldn’t have any insight to that, not as a captain, would I? By the way, how’s the weather where you folks are from? No need to rush out, it’s been lovely to have you, but that’s enough here and I have work to do. I hope you have a great trip back home! Take care!
Thanks everyone, this is Laura again! I hope Captain Torg gave you an informative tour.Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
It wouldn’t be fair to call this an East-versus-West book, as the cultures are not that defined, but of course I drew on aspects and influences from our own world. There’s a lot of historic Italy, north and south, represented in Chrenada and the Wakari Coast, Alham and Chrenada are named from my time living in southern Spain, and I drew on historic Asian cultures for some Ryuven practices.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
There are some messed-up relationships in this book, no question, which have created some broken people. There are themes of abuse, and I would alert readers that if this were a film, it would likely carry the MPAA rating of PG-13. However, the story is written from a positive worldview and the intent is not to wallow in the dark but to provide hope, so please look for the light!
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Shard & Shield is available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook. You can find it at many of your favorite outlets at https://books2read.com/ShardandShield, or ask at your favorite local bookstore or library.
Where can readers connect with you online?
My website is www.LauraVAB.com and all my social media links can be found there as well. Please be sure to sign up for the newsletter—it goes out only occasionally and you get free stories! 😊
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Chrenada. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
-Annie Douglass Lima
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: Kyle Robert Shultz
Title of book and/or series: Deadwood, Crockett and Crane Book 2
Brief summary of the story:
It’s not the people in this town you have to watch out for.
It’s the buildings.
Monster hunter and part-time centaur Todd Crane didn’t ask to be sheriff of Deadwood. For one thing, he’s never had an easy time staying on the right side of the law. For another, he’s too busy trying to find a dangerous sorcerer who nearly destroyed the United States of Neverica.
But some men—and centaurs—have greatness thrust upon them. Not only is Todd the reluctant defender of the peace in Deadwood, he’s the only one who can thwart the schemes of a powerful magical entity manipulating the town from the shadows.
And when Todd’s past comes back to haunt him, the stakes get a lot more personal for him and his friends.
Heroes will fall. Secrets will be revealed. Everything is about to change.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
The Afterverse, the alternate reality in which all my stories are set, is a world where every myth, legend, fairy tale, and classic story is a real historical event. These stories have all converged to form a timeline not unlike our own in many ways…except that magic and monsters are real. The United States of Neverica, the country where Deadwood takes place, is a land built upon American folklore.
If we were to visit Neverica as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
The city of Neveryork is a sight to behold…an alternative version of 1890’s New York full of magic and magical creatures. This is one of Neverica’s primary tourist destinations. However, Deadwood takes place on the frontier, where only the bravest or most foolish of adventurers dare to go. It is beautiful despite the danger, though. The Grand Chasm, formed by a magical catastrophe in pre-history, is a breathtaking sight…a massive, rippling, iridescent rift in space-time at the bottom of an enormous canyon. Just make sure you don’t fall over the edge, or you may never stop falling.
What dangers should we avoid in Neverica?
There’s no shortage of dangers on the frontier. Keep your eyes peeled for rattlegriffs (think gryphons, only with rattlesnake mixed in along with the lion and eagle portions). Roving packs of wulvers (werewolves, essentially) are always on the hunt, especially when the moon gets full. Unscrupulous potion-sellers represent a different kind of danger…mainly to your wallet, but possibly to your life if the potion doesn’t work in an emergency or has a very different effect than what was advertised.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Neverica?
Most of the food is the same as what you might have found in our world during the time of the wild, wild west, despite the large populations of fantasy creatures. People generally avoid eating foods made from their meat due to the high risk of magical aftereffects. That said, roc eggs are fairly safe to eat, since the roc is just a very large bird that is not found in our world but which has no inherently magical qualities. Just make sure the eggs come from domesticated rocs. Wild rocs have an uncanny ability to track down whoever trifled with their eggs and exact vengeance.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Neverica?
Most weapons used in Neverica are magical in nature. Potions are commonly employed in combat, either by directly applying them to one’s opponent or by charming a weapon with them to give it magical properties. The latter method is used to craft magical revolvers which have inexhaustible ammunition and whose bullets cause a variety of magical effects depending on which chamber is lined up with the barrel. Some bullets freeze the target, while others set it on fire, transform it in some way, and so on.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Neverica?
Horses are commonplace, though creatures with hooves of their own, like centaurs (as well as creatures with wings), don’t need them. Some humans possess magic rings which allow them to shapeshift into centaurs to travel faster. Pegasi are occasionally used for transport, but they’re very difficult to capture and domesticate, so this is not common.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Neverica that we don’t see on Earth?
Representatives of practically every mythical race have emigrated to Neverica from the Old World. You’re likely to encounter centaurs, fauns, satyrs, dryads, elves, and even dragons. Sasquatches are an offshoot of the orc species native to Neverica. Gorgons are less common, and usually quite dangerous, but there is a significant population of them in the country. Magical plants with mythological origins can also be found, but should be avoided by those without experience in handling them. Narcissus flowers, for example, can afflict a person with dangerous level of self-aggrandizement. Syrinx plants play a mesmerizing melody when the wind blows across them, but it’s intended to lure unsuspecting victims into marshes, where the mud entraps them and the plants feed upon their life essence.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Neverica? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
Aside from combat, magic is also used for a variety of everyday tasks and chores in Neverica. Farming, for example, is often aided by dispersing potions across the fields to nurture the plants and to protect them from weather and insects. Scarecrows are fully mobile golems who walk around the fields chasing away pests. Cattlemen also use magic in their work, generally by hiring creatures with helpful powers. Centaurs are particularly good at herding cattle, especially since they have telekinetic powers in addition to their speed and agility.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Neverica? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
In addition to weapons, there are various other types of magic-powered technology in Neverica. Most farm machinery is fueled by magic. Telephones and automobiles use magic as well, but as of the early 1890’s, they have yet to gain popularity outside the cities. The telegraph is fairly common on the frontier, and works by binding a lightning elemental to a transmitter. The elemental is not exactly sentient, but is still prone to violent outbursts, so only the most experienced operators can safely use telegraph machines.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Neverica.
Racing is extremely popular, and usually involves centaurs, gryphons, and occasionally dragons. Poker is a common pastime, but in the more unsavory districts of Neverica, you will find people playing Bruja, a more magical variation on gambling. The cards used for this have supernatural powers, and more abstract things than money are gambled away—for example, years of a person’s life, or talents, or memories. This game is outlawed across most of the country. A safer diversion is the good old-fashioned game of horseshoes. Just don’t play against centaurs; they’ll beat you every time.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Neverica as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The calendar is essentially the same as our own. Independence Day is one of the most popular holidays, and involves impressive displays of fireworks provided by dragons. Christmas is somewhat different in Neverica due to the fact that Santa Claus makes no secret of his existence in this particular country. He does, however, remain tight-lipped about precisely how he manages to be in thousands of places at once. He is also quite adamant about people remembering that the holiday does not revolve around either him or the gifts he brings.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Neverica? Please describe what it involves.
Christianity is the primary religion in Neverica, and the version observed here is surprisingly similar to the Christianity of our world. There is also a dangerous cult known as Mirabilism, made up of fanatical worshipers of magic itself who embrace chaos for chaos’ sake.
What is the political or government structure in Neverica? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
Neverica is a federal republic, like America, led by a president. The current president is an elf named Edward Whisperleaf, who is a popular and well-respected figure. However, rumors persist in some quarters that he made bargains with dangerous magical entities in order to ensure his rise to power.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Neverica?
In a general sense, magic and monsters are considered to be perfectly “normal” in Neverica, so betraying surprise at such things may get you a few strange looks. Regardless of what bizarre or remarkable things happen, try to remain calm.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
I currently live in southern Idaho, so a lot of the scenery descriptions are described by what I see out my window—rolling desert landscapes, dramatic canyon vistas, etc. The easygoing and patriotic Idahoan culture has influenced the atmosphere of my stories in the Neverican setting as well.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
None. Though my Christian beliefs aren’t hidden in my works by any means (and particularly not in Deadwood), I steer away from anything overtly controversial.
Author Autobiography:
I started writing stories in my early teens and never stopped. My first published book, and the first Afterverse book, was The Beast of Talesend, released in early 2017. Since then, I’ve continued to build on the characters, storylines, and world introduced in that novel through sequels and spinoffs. My passion is telling stories which entertain without offending or preaching, and which families can enjoy together.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.
All of my books are exclusive to Amazon. You can find a full list of them, organized by series, on my website. If you want to get a free sample of my work, you can download short stories by joining my email list. My most recent book, Deadwood, can be purchased here.
Where can readers connect with you online?
I’m most active on my Facebook page and on Instagram. These are the best places on social media to interact with me. I’m also on Twitter. I don’t spend a lot of time on that platform, but it’s a good place to keep up with my announcements. I also have a blog where I post updates on my work and articles about writing and creativity.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Neverica. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
-Annie Douglass Lima
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I’m excited to announce that my young adult action and adventure novel, The Collar and the Cavvarach, will soon be available as an audiobook! I have made arrangements with the talented Joseph Baltz to narrate the story, which is estimated to be a little over 13 hours long in its final form. It should be done and available for purchase by the end of summer.
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Set in a world alarmingly like our own, The Collar and the Cavvarach is the story of fourteen-year-old Bensin, a slave, whose status is made obvious to everyone by the steel collar locked around his neck. A martial artist who competes to win money for his owner, Bensin fights in tournaments with a sword-like weapon called a cavvarach. But his greatest battle is the struggle to protect his little sister from the horrors of legalized slavery in a world where slaves have few rights. Desperate to keep her safe, Bensin struggles to find a means – legal or otherwise – to arrange for her freedom.
(For a fun introduction to the story’s setting and its culture, including an explanation of how cavvara shil works, click here.)
Sound like a story you might enjoy? Click the play button below to listen to the first 15 minutes of the story as narrated by Joseph Baltz.
Can’t wait till the end of the summer to find out what happens? You can read the whole of chapter one here, download the ebook from Amazon here, or buy the paperback edition here.
Click here to find out more about narrator Joseph Baltz. You can even listen to samples of other audiobooks he’s recorded!
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name:
Savannah Jezowski
Title of book and/or series:
The Witching Hour Series
Brief summary of the story:
The lights are going out.Part One: As shadows encroach on the city of Lite, one cat stands between humanity and the hounds of darkness. Romeo takes it upon himself to find a suitor for his human Isabel in order to save the city and sets his sights on the unlikeliest of candidates. Will Romeo find that perfect match for his human before it’s too late? Can true love really save the day?
Part Two: When Isabel disappears in the middle of the night, the city of Lite is once again plunged to the brink of disaster. This magical cat finds himself trekking through the dangerous wildlands to rescue the young queen with a clownish wizard, a sassy she-cat, a pretty healer, and a mysterious soldier. However, their only hope may be the very thing Romeo fears most. Can Romeo and his friends save the day before the shadows consume them?The Witching Hour is a frolicking fantasy adventure with fairy tale themes and clean romance. Perfect for fans of Diana Wynne Jones and Lloyd Alexander.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
The Witching Hour takes place in a world that strongly contrast light and dark. Darkness has taken over most of the world, so that even in the middle of the day, the wild lands are covered in shadows. The city of Lite is one of the few safe havens left in Romeo’s world. (Romeo is a magical cat, if you’d like to know). Lite is known especially for its glass rooftops and glittering lights. The city is protected behind a towering wall that is kept secure by a magical connection to the king and queen.
If we were to visit Lite as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?You definitely need to go see the royal palace. It’s a breathtaking structure of vaulted rooms and glass rooftops. Romeo would also suggest you visit the kitchens. Cook is stingy and won’t give you treats, but the maids will slip you a snack when Cook’s back is turned. He also says the mice are quite tasty in Lite and ought to be sampled. (I don’t recommend that, however).
What dangers should we avoid in Lite?
Don’t leave the city. Ever. There are shadows and hounds and other beastly things beyond the city walls that will drag you away, where you’ll never be found.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Lite?
The weapons in Lite are of the usual sort in a fairy tale setting—swords and knives and the like—However, magic is the greatest weapon at your disposal. There are wizards and magical cats to keep the city safe from the hounds of darkness lurking outside in the shadows.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Lite?
Due to the dangerous conditions outside the city, travel rarely occurs in Lite. If you simply must venture outside the city, you will have to travel by horse or on foot, I’m afraid. I don’t recommend it.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Lite that we don’t see on Earth?
There are several species you will encounter in Lite. Magical cats are the most important ones (so they say), but you will also find sentient hounds in the wild lands, and other creatures like golems and a positively horrid monster known as the darkening king. He’s rather an unpleasant combination of tree and shadow and pure evil. The shadows are also alive. They have the power to influence your emotions and thoughts, luring you away from what you ought to be doing and into dark places you shouldn’t go.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Lite? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
As I’ve already mentioned, magic is very important in Lite, as vital as air and water to the people and creatures who live there. Without it, they’d be overrun by the shadows and lost to the darkness. The magic system isn’t spell based and doesn’t require the use of wands or anything of that nature. It’s more instinctual—a gift that some people and creature are born with. There is also a very special connection between the royal couple and the city. If something happens to the king and queen, the lights begin to go out and unpleasant things happen. Light is the primary source of magic and keeps everyone safe.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Lite as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The days and months are pretty much the same, as are many of the major holidays. However, there is one special event that happens in Lite that doesn’t happen anywhere else in the real world (or other fictional ones, that I know of). There is this special Alignment, and a new king and queen can ONLY be chosen on the day of the Alignment, also known as the Witching Hour. They even wrote a song about it. When the moons merge, the magic activates, and the light chooses the people who are destined to rule and keep the city safe.
Black is the Glass at midnight,
Strong the shadow’s power,
Blacker the soul that falters
When strikes the Witching Hour.
This stanza of the “Witching Song” refers to the moment of choosing—if the man or woman the light chooses to become the next king or queen falters or runs away from their calling, the city would fall prey to the darkness. It’s a very serious matter.
What is the political or government structure in Lite? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
When the story begins, an elderly woman named Sylvia is struggling to rule the city on her own. The magical strain of keeping the lights on by herself is causing her to buckle, though. She’s a very determined and gentle soul. Young Isabel was chosen years ago to replace her, but a king needs to be found first before the young couple can relieve Sylvia of her duties. That’s where Romeo comes in. He takes it upon himself to find a suitor for Isabel, but the bloke he chooses isn’t the most likely candidate.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Lite?I suggest you be careful what you say around the animals. You never know which ones are magical and which are just normal cats and dogs. If you accidentally insult the magical variety, you’re likely to find mice on your pillow for the rest of your life or get beaned on the head by small flying objects.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
The animals in my story were inspired by own dogs and kitties. The mannerisms, likes and dislikes, and general temperaments of Romeo, Pursy, and Ash are blatant reflections of my own dear fur babies. You’ll also find some subtle Cinderella influences in Part One of the story: the glass rooftops, the magical cat in place of a fairy godmother, a gender-swapped chimney sweep and princess, the grand ball where a prince is to be chosen, and things of that nature. Also, the whole concept of the Alignment, of the king and queen being chosen, light versus darkness, good versus evil, is heavily influenced by my Christian upbringing. I had planned for the original tale to be more heavily allegorical in nature, but the story and characters wanted to take a lighter, more fairy tale spin. So I slipped in some Christian themes where they fit naturally and let the story run its course. Besides, who am I to argue with magical cats?
Author Autobiography:
Savannah Jezowski lives in Amish country with her Knight in Shining Armor and a wee warrior princess. She is the founder of Dragonpen Designs and Dragonpen Press, which offers author services such as cover design, developmental edits, and interior formatting. Her debut novella “Wither” is featured in Five Enchanted Roses, an anthology of Beauty and the Beast, and is a prequel to The Neverway Chronicles, a Christian fantasy series filled with tragic heroes and the living dead. She is also the author of When Ravens Fall, a Norse Beauty and the Beast retelling. She is featured in several Fellowship of Fantasy anthologies, including Mythical Doorways, Tales of Ever After, and Paws, Claws, and Magic Tales. When she isn’t writing, Savannah likes to read books, watch BBC miniseries, and play with cover design. She also enjoys having tea with her imaginary friends.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.
The Witching Hour Part Two on Kindle (On Sale for $.99)
Where can readers connect with you online?
You can enter to win a FREE paperback of THE COMPLETE STORY, Parts One AND Two in one cute paperback. To enter, simply enter the rafflecopter giveaway. Winner will be chosen March 30th. This giveaway is US ONLY. Enter the Giveaway!
Be sure to check out all the stops in The Witching Hour Blog Tour. There will be fun character interviews, guest posts, book reviews and more!
March 18 – http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com
March 19 – http://cobonham.com
March 20 – https://thefoldedworld.wordpress.com
March 21 – https://tammylash.wordpress.com/
March 22 – http://jenelleschmidt.com
March 24 – http://corinnejet.wordpress.com
March 25 – https://dragonpenpress.com/ RELEASE DAY
March 26 – http://annie-louise-twitchell.blogspot.com/
March 27 – www.hlburkeauthor.com/blog
March 28 – http://megdendler.blogspot.com/
March 29 – http://sjeckert.wordpress.com
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Lite. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
-Annie Douglass Lima
If there’s one universal truth about writers, it’s that we like to share. When we hear great writing advice, we share. If we read a book we like, we share. And, when we come across a resource that has really helped us, yes that’s right…we share!
So today I’m sharing some news: authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi have released a second edition of The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression! You may have heard of this book, or even own a copy, but it’s quite possible that you didn’t realize it had a second edition. Up until a month ago, I didn’t either! It was all kept a secret by the authors who were determined to “show, not tell” their next new book through a mystery reveal. I
So today I’m sharing some news: authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi have released a second edition of The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression! You may have heard of this book, or even own a copy, but it’s quite possible that you didn’t realize it had a second edition. Up until a month ago, I didn’t either! It was all kept a secret by the authors who were determined to “show, not tell” their next new book through a mystery reveal. I
This second edition is more than a new cover. It’s been been enhanced and expanded to include 55 new entries and double the teaching material. Now we can go even deeper when showing our characters’ emotions!
Anyway, if you want to look into it further, you can read some of the reviews on Goodreads or find more information here. Also, one more thing I want to share…a MEGA-OPPORTUNITY to win something amazing!
GIVEAWAY ALERT:
To celebrate the new book & its dedicated readers, Angela and Becca have an unbelievable giveaway on right now: one person will win a free writing retreat, conference, workshop, or professional membership to a writing organization, winner’s choice (up to $500 US, with some other conditions which are listed on the WHW site). What conference would you attend if the fee was already paid for…or would you choose a retreat? Something else? Decisions, decisions! This giveaway ends on February 26th, so hurry over and enter!