Michael M. Farnsworth

HALADRAS

When Skylar’s enigmatic uncle warns him to stay away from the mysterious winged insects that have been sighted on other planets, he thinks little of it; no one has seen the insects on their own planet of Haladras. His uncle knows more than he’s telling, though. The creatures are not insects, but machines. And they’re hunting for Skylar. Only after Skylar narrowly escapes capture and flees Haladras with his uncle does he learn the whole truth. What his uncle reveals will shatter Skylar’s world. Torn from the girl he loves and thrust into the center of a conflict that will consume the empire, Skylar must fight for all he cares for, even as he struggles to know who he can trust.

Haladras is the principle planet for this story—hence the name. It’s a small desert planet, whose entire economy is driven by teryleum mining. Though small, because of its vast production of teryleum, it plays an increasingly vital role in the empire of which it is a part.

Haladras is a harsh place. Men do not go there to live long comfortable lives. There is little time for leisure. Its mining units are utilitarian. However, if given the chance to see it, the Gorge of Kaladra is a spectacular sight when it’s lit up at night.

The sun. The deep desert. Sand storms. Drake Blacksands. Most of all, the Trackers.

Like their cities, the people’s food serves one purpose: to sustain life. Food which spoils easily is of little use. They mostly eat grains, legumes, and dried meats.

The blaster is the most common and efficient weapon. But there are some who still carry swords.

Few people on Haladras are wealthy enough to own a spacecraft. Most buy passage on large spacecrafts to travel between planets. On Haladras itself, sand rovers and transports are commonly used to get about the desert. Among the younger citizenry, the personal flying devices called jetwings are popular. If you find yourself on one of the planets with a more habitable climate, you might end up riding on the back of a shaggy-haired paqua.

Though you won’t find them on Haladras, paquas do make several appearances in the story. Their most prominent feature is their long shaggy hair, which is often shorn and woven into a coarse fabric. Primarily used as beasts of burden, their gait is slow and lazy.

None, practically. Though, the main character will have a few brushes with the supernatural during his adventures.

Yes. Early in the book, synthetic osteoclasts—nanomolecular agents—are used to rapidly mend a cracked skull.

The jetwing utilizes an invisible coupling link which acts as a sort of wing between the two hand-held jet thrusters. This enables an individual to fly with his arms outstretched, as if he were a plane or a soaring eagle.

Teenage boys love to play Orb Scram, a game involving jetwings and a levitating sphere. There’s also sand sailing that can be done out on the dunes on a windy evening.

The measure of years is reckoned by the length of the current monarch’s reign. Months are measured by the phases of its own moons.

Under the current monarch’s reign, religion in the empire has withered. Some still believe in a Spirit King, who rules over the dead. Some believe he also has power in the mortal realm. But there is no active religion practiced on Haladras. The largest contingency of believers are the priests which live isolated on the frozen planet of Kyndoo Yavi.

The Ahlderion empire is ruled by a king. Each official planet of the empire is governed directly by a lord. These lords pledge fidelity to the king, but are bestowed a significant amount of discretion when it comes to operating the affairs of their people. Haladras being a colonial planet, is overseen by a viceroy, who has significantly less power than a lord. The current viceroy of Haladras is Viceroy Aberforce. Generally, he is a prudent leader. Proud, but spineless.

On Quoryn, one of the nearest planets to Haladras, there are lush forests with towering moss-strewn trees. These were inspired by the magnificent forests of the Pacific Northwest, where I live.

Author’s name: Debbie Brown

Amethyst Eyes (trilogy) Books 1 and 2 available

15 yr old Tommy is forced to leave him home on Earth when his mother dies in a car accident. His estranged, alien father returns to collect Tommy, and the teen finds himself having to adapt to life on every level. He never knew of his father’s origins, and knows even less about the world he now calls his own. Tommy’s father is the commander of a Crisis Intervention Vessel that oversees the continuation of the human race throughout our galaxy.

The arboretum is a must since it carries vegetation from all human inhabited worlds. For anyone who wants to know what their true calling in life is, trying out the Orientation Chamber will surely interest them and give them something to ponder. The Endurance Training room provides an endless obstacle course through every possible setting, climate and condition, starting at the top of a redwood forest.

The main character has amethyst colored eyes, and that makes him the target of some unruly predators. But aside from that, most dangers are encountered planet side, during colony transfers. Or, in Tommy’s case, the occasional encounter with Jayden can prove dangerous.

Aside from the food Tommy grew up eating on Earth, he has been introduced to the food of his father’s people…and that can be anything from garagon porridge, shey pod fruit, or warm Durash pulp to help you sleep at night…but Tommy’s least favorite was his father’s attempt to feed his son something that resembled French toast…in flavor only, because the slimy green chunks were too much to ask anyone to overlook.

The ship has a full weapon’s array, though they have never used it. There is no violence amongst the Sirians, per say, and because sports can be seen as an ‘organized form of war’ these people do not practice any sports other than endurance training.

Replicators are used to grab a quick meal. Holographic technology is used for medical, educational and recreational purposes. Computer displays are found on many glass-like surfaces, such as desktops and wall-panels. They are all tactile, as well as being voice inter-active or chip interface activated.

Their medical technology is something to strive for. Diagnostic tables, made a soft glass-like surface that adapts to the body’s contour, offering support and comfort while the body is scanned. Crystal disks, placed on the patient provoke an electromagnet response in the body, causing the patient to relax or even slip off into sleep. Most procedures are painless, even when they are invasive. It is possible to regenerate bone and tissue. A holographic image of the patient can be called up, showing every detail of the body, down to cellular health, old scars or injuries, as well as bodily functions.

The Sirians, Tommy’s father’s people, are from the planet Sirius, orbiting the Dog Star Sirius. They were the first planet seeded by the Forefathers, and tasked with the role of watching over all human colonies in our galaxy. Mostly, the people are the same as the humans we encounter here on earth…with a few exceptions. Some have milk-chocolate skin and electric blue eyes, without any whites. Others have pale skin, bright green eyes and white hair. The Binari (bi (like bit) Nar ee) are bald, grey skinned people who hunt those with amethyst eyes.

The Kettra, found on one planet, are extremely dangerous. They are cute, furry animals with short, teddy bear snouts and large, paper thin ears. They hunt in groups at night and drag their prey back to the colony to be devoured fresh.

Another minute animal, living in rocky outcroppings, sting their unsuspecting victim and leave a dart that boroughs deep inside the body to release a burst of poison hours later.

Plant life goes beyond all you see on Earth. One example, found on a sister world, includes a short tree with a wide, green trunk and palm like leaves that grows one grey nut at a time. The nut can easily be mistaken for a rock, but like some form of cacti, it has very short, fine spines covering its entire surface that imbed themselves into the flesh of those who dare touch it.

The Binari, those who hunt people with Amethyst Eyes, believe that the eyes hold some magical power. All those who have amethyst eyes have shown a particular gift or ability.

All Sirians have two implants imbedded in their necks. One is a tracking chip, and the other a learning interface that allows them to communicate directly with the onboard computer.

Sirians are thought using people, and much of their technology reacts to their brain impulses. Children use learning orbs, balls that emit holographic images in response to their thoughts. Sirians do not sing, but their thoughts create music, and the more that gather, the more complex the music.

No sports are played since they are a form of organized warfare. People keep in shape through Endurance Training…you can think of it as an endless ‘tree-top adventure center’.

I did not change the time/days/calendar in Amethyst Eyes. They do not celebrate the holidays as we do on Earth, but there is mention of the Feast of Gratitude every year. (They celebrate the renewal of the seasons, the coming of life after the death of winter, and give thanks for all they have reaped from the previous year that has carried them through to the new season).

There is no mention of religion, though they refer to the Gods, having a male and female version of God.

The leader of the people is a Sovereign, chosen not through voting, nor lineage, but through the same evaluation system as the orientation chamber, targeting the best candidate to lead their people.

The Sirians share a special bond between close family members, giving an outsider the impression that they can read minds. A bonded, or married couple, shares the most intimate forms of this link. Thoughts, and feelings, as well as images and memories can be shared. Memories can be called up and relived as though they were once again real.

The only thing that inspired me to write was the loss of my daughter. I needed to create a place where people cared about one another, where family mattered and held together.

I spent my summers with my grandmother in the Laurentian mountains, right on the lake, and every week she would take a class on bead working and such, given by the Native Americans (back then Indians) living nearby, and I would attend…usually to thread the needles of all the older women, lol.

Nature, Native Americans, traditions, cooking, love of animals, and respect for one another all stemmed from time spent with my beloved grandmother. I miss her dearly.

In the book, the adults are responsible for the kids. And they are considered to be children until the age of 18, much to Tommy’s dismay.

The culture prides itself on its methods of career selection and that 98% of the population is satisfied with the role they play in their society. Random knowledge, such as first-aid for all is not common practice, because the best people for the job (medical professionals or first respondents) are on duty and THEY will handle the situation.

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Geralyn Wichers

“A manufactured person is no person at all.” Human cloning technology has advanced to the degree that clones are mass manufactured and used as a customizable workforce. Dominic is a clone who escaped from the cloning facility and made a life for himself. Now he returns to Caspian Genetics, the factory that birthed him, with revenge on his mind. Though he tries to steel himself from the plight of the other clones, when he sees a clone about to be killed for being out of specifications, he cannot turn away. Dominic’s plot begins to unravel, complicated by an unlikely alliance, a secret romance, and the creeping doubt that he’s been lied to. Is he human after all?

The story takes place in a near-future version of our own world, and I designed it to be generic. ‘The City,’ where the characters live, is never named.

The City is a grey, impersonal megalopolis. It is a bit like a fussy eater’s plate: everything has its own section, and nothing touches. The people are separated from each other based upon their strata of society. The working poor live in a ghetto. The professional class lives in modest houses and condos around planned neighborhoods. The rich avoid the city entirely, sequestering themselves in estates in the countryside. It’s also cold. The story starts in the winter, and the winter never seems to come to an end. I wanted the story and the locale to have a dark grey pallet.

The city is a fairly safe place if you’re in your own neighborhood. The city government keeps very close tabs on its citizens, particularly the middle/professional class. They make it difficult to get away with anything.

The food the characters eat blends into the sparse city rather well. Dominic lives on a regimented diet of chicken breast, vegetables, almond milk, and other health foods. Food isn’t a priority to him. It’s more like filling his vehicle with fuel, and the best fuel at that. Working class characters Justine and Casey live on wild game, rice and other staples. Yet, you get the idea that they do very well with what they have. Most of the meals in the story take place at their house–they’re hospitable people who’d share their last bit of food.

Public transport, such as buses and a network of monorail trains, is important in the city. Wealthier characters, such as Dominic, use self-guided cars. He speaks his destination into the navigation system, and the car takes him to that place.

The key difference here is the entire race of clones, or as they’re called in the story, Manufactured Persons, MP’s or ‘Empties’. The MP’s are perfectly human, but the common belief is that they are not. They are considered soulless, unable to form real relationships or survive in the world.

There are several types of MP’s. The story centers on Caspian Genetics, which produces Manufactured Fighting Personnel for military use. Other types include domestic MP’s, manufactured by Homeland, which fill ordinary labor roles, and High Performance Manufactured Personnel (HPMPs), manufactured by Symbiosis Genetic Labs, who are custom designed for special roles.

One bit of technology that will play a key part is tracking technology. The Manufactured Persons are all tracked by a chip embedded under the skin. Employees at Caspian Genetics are tracked by a bracelet they wear, and in the City at large, anyone with a cell phone is tracked constantly.

On the whole, religion is not encouraged in the city. There is a state-sanctioned Christian church. Some characters are involved in a clandestine Christian church.

The City is governed more by giant bureaucracy than by a figurehead. Its departments are famously bad at communicating with each other, which is exploited by one more nefarious character in the story.

Oh, definitely! The idea came from the pharmaceutical manufacturing plant that I work in. Caspian Genetics isn’t modeled on my workplace but many small details are borrowed–the gowning procedures, the documentation, the general feel of the production area.

I would call it a very ‘pro-life’ book. Humanity, and the value of human life, is a reoccurring theme. Dominic has lived his life convinced he isn’t human, but Casey, an important character he meets along the way, is determined to convince him that he is just as human, just as valuable, as any citizen of the city.

I live in Manitoba, Canada. When not writing, or working in the factory, I can be found running down the sidewalks and trails of my hometown, singing in the church choir, or staring into space–possibly all while carrying a massive book.

Currently, you can buy Sons of Earth in Kindle and Print on Amazon.

You can come by my blog. I write about adventures in running, relationships, personal development, and humor. You can also read samplesof Sons of Earth and my other book, We are the Living.

Or, if you’re on Twitter, I tweet from @GeralynWichers. I’d love to chat with you!

Author’s name: Annie Douglass Lima

Title of series: Annals of Alasia

Titles of books: The main trilogy consists of Prince of Alasia, In the Enemy’s Service, and Prince of Malorn.  There is a short companion book entitled Annals of Alasia: The Collected Interviews.

Each book in the trilogy deals 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 Service 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.  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.  Though each of the three can stand on its own, they each fill in gaps left by the others and together provide a much more complete picture of what was going on in the two kingdoms.

Annals of Alasia: The Collected Interviews is a collection of twenty-four “interviews” I conducted with major and minor characters in the other three books.  Though not a novel in and of itself, it is interesting to read alongside the trilogy.  In the interviews, characters reveal more about their personalities, motivations, and backgrounds, talking about themselves in their own “voice” and giving extra insights into the events of the series.  You can download it for free here.

The kingdom of Malorn is mostly surrounded by a huge mountain range that curves around it to the east, south, and west.  To the north, the Grenn River separates Malorn from Alasia.  The Impassable Mountains, as their name suggests, are dangerous and difficult to travel through even in summer, and almost impossible in winter.  The highest peaks are covered with snow all year round. 

Two races of people live in Malorn.  The Mountain Folk are a small, nomadic tribe of hunters and gatherers who live in extended family groups up in the Impassables.  Each family keeps a flock of goats for milk and meat.  They seldom venture down to the “Lowlands”, as they call the rest of Malorn, except when they must trade for supplies in one of the foothill towns.  But they are suspicious of Lowlanders, whom they accuse of cheating them in trade and mistreating them, and they avoid interaction with them whenever possible.

Lowlanders (who think of themselves simply as “regular” Malornians) live mostly on the plains, where they make a living through a variety of trades.  Many work as farmers, since the weather there is mild and ideal for growing a variety of crops.  Coffee grows well in the foothills, so you’ll find coffee farmers there, but few Lowlanders care to venture much higher than that.  Miners do travel into the mountains in search of gold, but again, most of them prefer to set up camp in the foothills where it’s safer and life is easier.  Those who live on or travel into the lower slopes of the Impassables are suspicious of Mountain Folk, whom they regard as dirty and primitive.  They often accuse the Mountain Folk of cheating them in trade and stealing crops.

If you like hiking or mountain climbing, there are numerous rugged and scenic spots to explore.  If shopping is your thing, you may enjoy browsing some of the high-class shops in Sazellia, the capital city, where you can buy fine clothing, jewelry, or gold decorations for your home.  Music is popular throughout the Lowlands, and minstrels can often be found performing in taverns, parks, or on street corners.  It’s polite to leave a coin or two if you stop to listen.  The best musicians perform in large concert halls where admission is expensive, but if people like a street minstrel’s performance, they may hire him or her to play for a party or special event at a more reasonable price.

Malorn is a constitutional monarchy, so the king there has less power than in neighboring Alasia.  The government is made up of a High Council, which includes the king and up to 19 other members, and a majority vote among them is required to pass new laws or make most decisions for the kingdom. 

King Kerman passed away under suspicious circumstances four years ago.  His son, Prince Korram, was still too young to take the throne (the legal minimum age for kingship in Malorn is 18), so a regent was chosen from among the king’s High Council to hold the reins of power until the prince came of age.  An honorary member of the High Council in the meantime, the prince can offer input into the running of the government but has little real power.  Regent Rampus, on the other hand, has done much to improve life for Malorn’s citizens and thus has been gaining popularity throughout the kingdom.  Conveniently, his political opponents have almost all dropped out of the picture due to a variety of unfortunate circumstances.  Rumor has it that if Prince Korram were prevented for any reason from taking the throne next year, the High Council would be sure to select Rampus as the next king.  In the meantime, Rampus continues to rule in Korram’s name, and the kingdom rests assured in the knowledge that their beloved regent is assisting the inexperienced prince in his royal duties.

Prince Korram is concerned that Rampus may not be planning to allow him to survive to his eighteenth birthday next year.  But there is no one to turn to for help, since practically everyone of any consequence in the kingdom is under the regent’s control in one way or another.  Even the military answers to him.  Only Malorn’s reclusive Mountain Folk, who care nothing for Lowland politics, are certain not to be influenced by any threats, bribes, or promises from Rampus.  And so Korram determines to journey into the Impassables to recruit his own personal army from among them, hoping thus to protect himself until he can legally claim his rightful throne.

A root vegetable similar to a turnip, called lumjum, grows plentifully in the mountains.  Other plants in Malorn are pretty much the same as those you’d find in similar climates on Earth.  If you trek high enough up in the mountains, you may glimpse a snowcat, though I don’t recommend trying to find one or getting close to it if you do.  This pure white, long-haired feline is about the size of a tiger and at least as dangerous.  Korram has two separate (and very different) encounters with snowcats during his time in the Impassables.

Humans are the only sentient race in Malorn.  However, Mountain Folk would argue that their horses are more intelligent and affectionate than mere animals.

It would be unwise to venture into the Impassables alone or with anyone not familiar with the area.  Besides the risk of getting lost, you would probably have difficulty finding food, unless you’re experienced in wilderness survival and living off the land.  In addition, you would face the possibility of blizzards and avalanches on the higher slopes.  Wild animals, including snakes, wolves, bears, and snowcats, are plentiful there.  If you met any Mountain Folk, they would be unlikely to help you for free, though for enough money they would probably sell you goat milk or a little of their food.

You would be much safer in the Lowlands, though there is always the risk of encountering pickpockets and other petty criminals in the cities.  Regent Rampus is not to be trifled with, but unless you plan on speaking out publicly against his leadership, you are not likely to attract his attention.

I hope you like coffee!  It’s by far the most popular beverage in the Lowlands and is available at any time of day anywhere food or drinks are served.  You can request it pretty much however you like, but it’s most commonly brewed strong and served with cream.  Lunch and dinner often include either potatoes or a variety of flatbread made with several types of grain, served beside vegetables (and meat, for those who can afford it).  A popular breakfast dish among the upper class involves eggs scrambled with cheese and sausage.

Mountain Folk have an unusual meal schedule which they fit around their day’s work schedule.  They typically wake up early to milk their goats, and then they share a small “meal” of goat milk.  after that, two or three members of the extended family group will take the goats out for the day to graze on a nearby slope (the grass is better the higher you go).  They will usually pack leftover cooked meat or other food to eat later in the day.  Meanwhile, the rest of the family will spend the next few hours working in the area where they are camped (usually in a valley by a stream or river).  They fish and gather nuts, berries, lumjum, and other edible plants, or they may go further afield to hunt.  They also spend time shaping tools from wood, stone, or bone; gathering firewood; or skinning animals they have caught, tanning their hides, and sewing them into clothing or bags or tents.  In the autumn, they will butcher several of their goats and dry the meat to last through the winter.  They keep busy at these tasks through most of the day, but they do take a break in the mid morning for breakfast.  In the early evening when the goats are brought back to camp, everyone stops their other work to help milk them.  After that, they eat supper and drink the milk together.  Both breakfast and supper can consist of meat, fruit, and small fried cakes made from mashed lumjum.  Though they don’t eat lunch, Mountain Folk snack on berries or anything else edible they come across throughout the day.

Soldiers in the Lowlands fight with broadswords.  Mountain Folk make wooden spears, though they’re primarily for fishing.  They occasionally use them to protect their goats from predators or to scare Lowlanders who they feel are threatening them, but on the whole they are a peaceful people and practice no traditional fighting techniques.  This makes Korram’s job all the harder when he seeks to raise and train an army from among them.

Lowlanders usually ride horses (or mules, if they’re traveling in the foothills).  Carriages are common among the upper class, and farmers will take their crops to market in carts or wagons.  Mountain Folk use horses as pack animals when they move camp every few weeks to find fresh grazing.  They seldom actually ride them, though, except occasionally for short hunting trips.

Yes, they are the same, though only Lowlanders use them.  Mountain Folk don’t keep track of days or months, measuring time only with seasons and phases of the moon.

Every year, Mountain Folk look forward to the Mid-Autumn Gathering.  This week-long event is basically a reunion in which their entire tribe comes together in a certain valley deep in the Impassables.  During this time, most work ceases, and friends and extended family members who haven’t seen each other since last year can relax and enjoy each other’s company.  Weddings always take place at this gathering.  It’s also a time to share news and discuss any issues of interest to the whole tribe.  During the rest of the year, the Mountain Folk live and travel in extended family groups, usually of ten to fifteen people, but at the annual Gathering, these groups are often rearranged so people can spend the coming year with different relatives.  Occasionally unmarried young adults will arrange to spend a year with someone else’s family, especially if they are hoping to get to know a friend of the opposite gender better.

Most Malornians in the Lowlands are more interested in the performing arts than in sports.  Horse races are popular, though, and many people from the middle and upper class enjoy social outings on horseback through meadows and farmland, often including a picnic. 

For most of the year, Mountain Folk lead busy lives that don’t leave much room for sports and games.  In the Mid-Autumn Gathering, however, they often engage in activities such as archery and spear-throwing contests, and young people play games similar to tag and hide-and-seek on horseback.

Racial prejudice is a theme I delve into in Prince of Malorn.  Those Mountain Folk and Lowlanders who are willing to get to know each other and learn the reasons behind their cultural differences find that they are not as different as they had thought.  But they come to realize that they can’t just blame the other group and sit around waiting for “them” to stop mistreating “us”.  Both sides have wronged each other over the years, and both need to be willing to take the first step toward reconciliation.  I believe it’s the same in our world: it’s easy to hide behind cultural differences and assume that “they” are strange and different and “we” are normal, and “they” are in the wrong for any conflict or misunderstandings.  But if we’re willing to get to know each other and learn about each other’s cultures, I think we’ll all discover that we’re not as different as we might think.

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Author’s name: Annie Douglass Lima

Title of series: Annals of Alasia

Titles of books: The main trilogy consists of Prince of Alasia, In the Enemy’s Service, and Prince of Malorn.  There is a short companion book entitled Annals of Alasia: The Collected Interviews.

Each book in the trilogy deals 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 Service 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.  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.  Though each of the three can stand on its own, they each fill in gaps left by the others and together provide a much more complete picture of what was going on in Alasia and Malorn.

Annals of Alasia: The Collected Interviews is a collection of twenty-four “interviews” I conducted with major and minor characters in the other three books.  Though not a novel in and of itself, it would be interesting to read alongside the trilogy.  In the interviews, characters reveal more about their personalities, motivations, and backgrounds, talking about themselves in their own “voice” and giving extra insights into the events of the series.  You can download it for free here.

I’ll focus mainly on the kingdom of Alasia in this post.  It has four medium to large cities (Almar, Tainabi, Wistra, and Mosra), along with hundreds of smaller towns and villages.  Alasia is on a peninsula just north of Malorn, which is its only bordering nation.  Its culture, level of technology, etc. are much like that of medieval Europe.  The climate is warm in the summer and uncomfortably cold in the winter, though you won’t often find snow except up in the hills.  The people who live there are human, and there are no other sentient races.

If you enjoy swimming or sunbathing, Alasia has miles and miles of beautiful beaches, and you might see dolphins playing in the surf or sea lions sunning themselves there.  A large factory in the city of Wistra produces glass for the kingdom for both practical and decorative purposes; they give free tours, and there is a gift shop where you can purchase glass tableware and other souvenirs.  You should definitely make sure you stop by the capital city of Almar to see the magnificent palace on its hill overlooking the sea, although you probably won’t be allowed inside unless you have royal connections.

As in most cities anywhere, I would recommend staying away from low-income areas at night, especially if you’re alone.  Overall, though, Alasia has been primarily a safe and peaceful kingdom until recently.  Now, you’ll want to avoid the Malornian soldiers (easily identifiable in their red and black uniforms) who patrol the streets of every major city along with many of the smaller towns.  Though officially looking for the missing prince who slipped through their fingers on the night of the Invasion, they also tend to be looking for trouble.  Avoid antagonizing them or even catching their attention if you can help it, and if you’re lucky they will leave you alone.

If you’re fortunate enough to be invited to a royal banquet, you will be served delicacies such as roast venison in a honey glaze, smoked salmon with lime sauce, and/or apricot stuffed quail.  At an average inn, you might eat roast pork or beef with gravy, mixed vegetables, and bread or potatoes.  In the coastal towns, little stands selling fresh grilled seafood are common.

The military uses broadswords and shields, along with bows and arrows. Twelve-year-old Prince Jaymin is skilled with both the bow and sword, though neither does him much good when he is forced to live in disguise.  Erik, Jaymin’s young bodyguard, is an expert in using unarmed combat against sword- and dagger-wielding opponents, which is a more useful and much less common skill.

Those who can afford one usually ride a horse, and many people in the middle or upper class also own a carriage, wagon, cart, or small buggy, depending on their occupation.  Boat travel between coastal cities is common as well.

Bow hunting is common throughout the kingdom, and garden archery is a popular hobby among the upper class.  It’s also common for wealthy families to have their sons trained in fencing (using unsharpened weapons only).  Many families entertain themselves indoors (especially on winter evenings) by telling stories, singing, or playing card games.  Outside, children often jump rope or play a sport similar to soccer.  Those who can’t afford a real ball will fashion a makeshift one from a bundle of rags tied up tightly with twine.

Alasia is a monarchy.  King Jaymin III was the ruler until he was assassinated by invaders from neighboring Malorn.  Now the kingdom is under the control of Malorn’s Prince Korram, with Regent Rampus holding the reins of power until young Korram comes of age.  The Malornian conquerors have been gripping Alasia with an iron fist, levying new taxes and carefully controlling who is allowed to travel where.  They have also seized control of important products such as glass and have begun sending them back to Malorn.

Jaymin III was a benevolent ruler but not really in touch with the lives of citizens in the middle and lower classes.  His newly orphaned son, Prince Jaymin IV, has his eyes opened as he is forced to live in disguise in an especially poor part of a poor town.  Coming face to face with poverty and need in the lives of ordinary citizens, young Jaymin is determined to improve his people’s lives someday if he is ever able to claim his rightful throne. 

Author autobiography:

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Travel is limited to animal-drawn transportation and of course, walking. Vehicles of any kind are not allowed across the border. In The Cloak, an exception is made for Uncle Hahn. His frequent jaunts back and forth from Germany to Errigal make it necessary for his private jet to make visits.

From the beginning, Errigal was a matrilineal society, consisting of beautiful, wise, and kind queens who passed down their name and position to their daughters. After being conquered within the last couple of generations by an outside Germanic tribe, a kingship was put in place. The desire to right this wrong is a thread woven throughout the book.

Author’s name: Jaye L. Knight

Title of book and/or series: Ilyon Chronicles

Resistance (Book 1) – When a cunning emperor threatens the lives of any who refuse to worship his false gods, a half-blood haunted by his bloodstained past and a young woman with a perfect memory must overcome their own fears and conflicts with society as they become part of the resistance.

The King’s Scrolls (Book 2) – When a group of mysterious, dragon-riding cretes arrive seeking aid in a dire mission, those in Landale must face impossible odds and a series of tragedies to try to rescue a teacher of Elôm and the last known copies of the King’s Scrolls.

Ilyon is comprised of five different countries, Arcacia being the largest. The mainland is a heavily forested continent with three major mountain ranges. To the southwest is the smaller island country of Arda. Ilyon has a strong medieval Europe feel to it, but I pulled a lot of inspiration from other cultures and times such as Ancient Rome, Greece, Vikings, and Native American. While there are a few of notable differences such as having dragons and two moons, Ilyon is very similar to our world.

Valcré, the capital city of Arcacia, would be perfect for anyone who isn’t much of an outdoorsy type and isn’t interested in roughing it. The city is very large and has much to see in the way of libraries, art galleries, and the amazing Auréa Palace. Now, if you do enjoy the outdoors, I would definitely encourage a trip to the forests of Dorland where the cretes live. The trees there grow an astonishing 300 to 400 feet tall, and it is in these trees that the cretes build their cities. If you happen to love tree houses, their lifestyle is definitely for you, though they tend to be a rather aloof people, so don’t count on a particularly warm welcome.

You’ll probably want to avoid the Krell Mountains on Ilyon’s southern shore as they are inhabited by cave drakes. Though these dragon-like beasts stick to their caves during the day, you have to be wary at night. They don’t breathe fire like the dragons from the mountains in Dorland, but they are very large and fierce. They aren’t very graceful, especially when flying, but they have been known to destroy villages built too close to the mountains.

You certainly wouldn’t want to travel far to the southeast into Wildmor either. Those deep forests are home to the ryrik people. They’ll attack anyone who isn’t a ryrik. Unless you’re part of a very skilled group of warriors, chances are very slim that you’d survive.

Pickerins, a type of large wild hog, are very good eating. They are plentiful throughout most of Arcacia, Dorland, and Wildmor. The boars, however, are quite dangerous, so many people don’t attempt to hunt them without a large group. To the north, black deer is a staple food in the country of Samara. If prepared right, it is very tender and savory.

Swords are a very common weapon. Most young men are trained to use them, at least moderately well. Bows are also common. Though it is frowned upon in Arcacia for women to use swords, many women in higher society are taught self-defense, which can include using a quarterstaff.

Horses are the main mode of transportation in Ilyon. You can also take ships along the coast. The cretes who live in Dorland ride dragons, which are the lifeblood of their people. Dragons used to be more common in Arcacia, but the cretes are the only people with the skills to train a dragon and they haven’t had dealings with Arcacians in many years.

Aside from the dragons and cave drakes, most animals and plants are the same or similar to what we have on Earth. Including humans, Ilyon has five races. While they are all human-like, they each have their unique differences. Talcrins are a tall, dark-skinned race with metallic eyes. They are much more scholars than fighters. Ryriks are also tall and very strong. They are known for their black hair and sea-blue eyes that almost seem to glow when they are angry or under stress. They are also the only race in Ilyon who have pointed ears. Ryriks are a very violent and cruel race, and most people believe them to be soulless and little better than animals. The cretes are a shorter race. They rarely reach six feet tall. They have a very Native American feel to them in that they dress predominately in leather, are brown-skinned, and all have long dark hair. And then there are the giants. At around seven to nine feet tall, they can appear quite intimidating, but they are actually very gentle. They don’t like confrontation and will avoid fighting whenever possible.

I prefer to write fantasy without magic. Realistic fantasy, I like to call it. 🙂 So Ilyon does not have magic, however, some of the people can be very superstitious. It’s a widely held belief that black wolves are possessed by demonic spirits.

Ilyon’s technology is similar to that of the Middle Ages, though a bit more advanced, particularly in medicine.

Gladiator games are quite popular throughout Arcacia for those who enjoy such things. Horse racing is also a popular sport. In Valcré, you can see plays and concerts. Men of high society enjoying going out on hunts, especially for large pickerin boars.

I do follow the same days of the week and months as we have on Earth. Birthdays are celebrated regularly and each race has their various holidays, though I didn’t get into that too deeply. For those who have faith in Elôm, there is an Old Testament-like sacrifice they take part in every spring.

Ilyon is divided into two major religions—those who follow Elôm (the equivalent of Christians) and those who follow Aertus and Vilai, Arcacia’s moon gods. Faith in Elôm at this particular point in the series is much like Old Testament faith. As I mentioned, every spring, believers gather together and sacrifice lambs as atonement for their sins and to look ahead to a coming ultimate Lamb sacrifice. There are far fewer believers in Elôm than in Aertus and Vilai and they have faced growing persecution for many years, particularly in Arcacia, though it is still the main religion among the cretes, talcrins, and in the country of Samara.

The worship of Aertus and Vilai is commanded by the emperor in Arcacia. To refuse to bow before their idols is seen as treason, and any offenders are executed. Temples and idols are set up throughout Arcacia to enforce such worship.

Each race and country have their own equivalent to a king. Arcacia has the most influence in Ilyon and is ruled over by Emperor Daican. His father is the one who changed the royal title from king to emperor as part of his plan to expand Arcacia’s reach across the continent and create an empire. Most Arcacian citizens would call Daican a fine, even admirable, leader, but he is violently opposed to the followers of Elôm. He sees his rule as a divine gift and believes that anyone questioning his gods will question his rule. He’s very ambitious and has dedicated his life to creating the legacy his father was working toward before his death.

You probably won’t want to just show up at a crete city. Best to have someone with you who knows them well and they trust. Either that or you should have one of their carved pendants they only give out to those they know are friends. But they don’t give those out lightly. And don’t be surprised if you make a crete friend and he refuses to sleep on the ground! They hate that. They much prefer stringing up a hammock in a tree.

I’ve always had a particular interest in Native American culture. I think it’s beautiful and I drew a lot of inspiration from it for the crete people. Their treehouse cities also came from my childhood dream of living in a treehouse like on Swiss Family Robinson or Robinson Crusoe. I’d still love to live in a treehouse.

Abortion is a topic I do touch on. There is only a brief mention of it in book one, but it’s a bit more prominent in book three (not yet published). Racism, bigotry, and bullying are also topics many of my characters have to face.

Author’s name: Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Title of book and/or series: Golden Daughter, book 7 in the ongoing Tales of Goldstone Wood

BEYOND THE REALM OF DREAMS

IS A WORLD SHE NEVER IMAGINED

Masayi Sairu was raised to be dainty, delicate, demure . . . and deadly. She is one of the emperor’s Golden Daughters, as much a legend as she is a commodity. One day, Sairu will be contracted in marriage to a patron, whom she will secretly guard for the rest of her life.

But when she learns that a sacred Dream Walker of the temple seeks the protection of a Golden Daughter, Sairu forgoes marriage in favor of this role. Her skills are stretched to the limit, for assassins hunt in the shadows, and phantoms haunt in dreams. With only a mysterious Faerie cat and a handsome slave—possessed of his own strange abilities—to help her, can Sairu shield her new mistress from evils she can neither see nor touch?

For the Dragon is building an army of fire. And soon the heavens will burn.

Most of the action in Golden Daughter takes place in the Noorhitam Empire, which is loosely inspired by a variety of East Asian cultures. My research focused primarily on ancient China and ancient Japan/Okinawa, but I also delved into Korean, Mongolian, and Thai histories, cultural practices, architecture, etc.

The empire itself is made up of a variety of subcultures, but the two most prominent are the ruling Kitars and the nomadic Chhayans. Two hundred years before the story of Golden Daughter takes place, the Chhayans were overpowered by the Kitar. The cultural clashes of the two people groups provide much of the drama for this tale.

You should definitely take time to visit Manusbau Palace, the home of the emperor. This palace is actually a series of beautiful complexes, gardens, and grounds—almost a mini-city in and of itself—fortified by magnificent walls. It is a sumptuous testament to the power and grandeur of the Kitar nation. Just be certain you don’t drink any tea laced with gold-leaf poison!

Built beside the palace and rivaling it in grandeur is the Crown of the Moon, an enormous temple dedicated to Hulan, the moon goddess worshipped by the Kitar and Chhayans alike. But while the temple is glorious indeed and well worth seeing, more interesting still are the humble ruins of an ancient House which stood on this site long centuries ago. The foundation stones of this House are still warm with the heat of the great conflagration that burned it to the ground . . . .

Noorhitam is crawling with enemies of the emperor, particularly the lethal Crouching Shadows, assassins from the neighboring kingdom of Nua-Pratut. You should also keep your eyes open for Chhayan bandits roaming the hinterlands of the empire. If they take you for a Kitar, they will show no mercy!

The Golden Daughters themselves—highly trained bodyguards of incomparable skill—are possibly the most dangerous threat you might face. Only if you threaten one of their patrons, however, so you should be safe.

Travelers may enjoy an eggplant mash seasoned with oil and a variety of spices and served with flat bread. In the palace of the emperor, you will be treated to teas, both black and herbal, candied fruits, and sweet pastries.

The Emperor of Noorhitam boasts a lethal artillery brigade of  longbowmen. Their bows are tall, and their arrows include weighted hare-fork arrows which can tear a man apart.

The Golden Daughters carry two knives which they hide up their sleeves. They are also trained in hand-to-hand combat and are comfortable with a variety of other weapons and poisons.

The Pen-Chan people of Nua-Pratut have discovered the secret of “black powder,” with which they have created dangerous explosives. So far they have managed to keep this secret from falling into the hands of neighboring nations, but it’s only a matter of time . . .

The Chhayans out on the wide plains of Noorhitam travel in gurtas, buffalo-hide dwellings on wheels, pulled by teams of buffalo. Not very fast, not terribly comfortable, but durable and providing decent shelter when the cold winds blow.

Pilgrims traveling to the various holy sites and shrines across the nation often ride mules or donkeys. Horses are considered the steed of noblemen.

Magic in my world is not really . . . magic, per se. Faeries abound in this series, and they have “magical” powers available to them (depending on the type of Faerie), but these are really more extensions of their Faerie selves than actual potions-and-spells magic. There are some characters who work enchantments and sorcery—and humans who dabble in Faerie magic are considered misguided and dangerous. But much of the magic of this world is not really magic in the traditional sense.

One of the major characters in Golden Daughter has the ability to walk in the Realm of Dreams. This is a strange, between-worlds dimension from which dreams are supposed to originate, and most mortals cannot access it. But the Dream Walkers are trained to send their spirits beyond mortal realms and explore deep into the Realm of Dreams and the surrounding dimensions. This could be considered a form of magic, achieved through concentrated meditation and chants.

Noorhitam is deeply devoted to a heavenly-spheres-centric religion personifying the sun and the moon as Anwar and Hulan respectively, and the stars—or Dara—as their angelic children. This was originally an old Chhayan religion, but when the Kitar people took over, they usurped the religion as well as the land (exchanging it for their vague ancestor-worship, which is now considered grossly out of fashion).

The Dream Walkers are considered sacred priests, using prayerful meditation to access realms beyond the mortal world with the hope of someday crossing the Dream and walking in Hulan’s Garden (a sort of Heaven where the moon and the stars are said to dance and sing).

There are quite a number of priestly orders, with the most prominent priests devoted to Anwar and Hulan, and lesser priests dedicated to the service of various Dara, such as the North Star, Chiev, and the star of the Emperor’s City, Maly. The duties of these priests vary according to their specific deities, but involve seasonal prayers according to which lights are most prominent in the sky.

Even priests devoted primarily to Hulan offer morning prayers to Anwar when he rises. Anwar is considered the most powerful of the celestial deities, although the High Priest is devoted primarily to Hulan.

Noorhitam is ruled by an emperor called the Anuk Anwar—which means the “Son of Anwar.” He is considered semi-deific and absolutely god-touched. He wields quite a lot of control, but intricate political dances require him to keep his various warlords and the clan leaders appeased.

The current Anuk Anwar of Noorhitam is a middle-aged man with a young face, fairly immature for his age. He isn’t particularly pleased with his lot as emperor, preferring the carefree life he used to know as a prince. He’s not above throwing his imperial weight around as he sees fit, however, and his warlords tread softly around him.

This book openly deals with the question “Where is God in times of suffering?” It was a difficult question to tackle, and not one I would have jumped into willingly. But when I write these stories, I spend a lot of time in prayer, asking God to lead me to what (if any) message He wants to communicate. My role is simply to be a willing vessel, and I earnestly seek to be open to His leading. In the case of Golden Daughter I was thrilled and amazed by the storylines I saw unfurling, by the message that bloomed naturally from the text and characters.

You can purchase Golden Daughter in ebook and print formats on all the major online bookshops! Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo.

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