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.
Don’t forget! At the bottom of this post there is a link to enter a giveaway for a number of free books, including Prince of Malorn!
Author’s name: Annie Douglass Lima
Title of series: Annals of Alasia
Brief summary of the series:
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.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
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 we were to visit Malorn as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
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.
What is the political or government structure in Malorn? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
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.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Malorn that we don’t see on Earth?
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.
What dangers should we avoid in Malorn?
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.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Malorn?
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.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Malorn?
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.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Malorn?
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.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Malorn as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
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.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Malorn.
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.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
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.
Author Autobiography:
Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since her childhood, and to date has published eight books (three YA action adventure/fantasy novels, a collection of character interviews, one puppet script, and four anthologies of her students’ poetry, all available through the links in the sidebar to the right). Besides writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science fiction), scrapbooking, and international travel.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your books?
Prince of Alasia ($2.99 temporarily 99 cents)
In the Enemy’s Service ($2.99 temporarily 99 cents)
Prince of Malorn ($3.99 temporarily 99 cents)
Annals of Alasia: The Collected Interviews (available for free!)
Where can readers connect with you online?
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Malorn. 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 a science fiction world known simply as The City, in Realm Explorers Part XXXXII!
-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 books.
Author’s name: Annie Douglass Lima
Title of series: Annals of Alasia
Brief summary of the story:
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.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
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 we were to visit Alasia as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
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.
What dangers should we avoid in Alasia?
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.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Alasia?
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.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Alasia?
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.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used for travel in Alasia?
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.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Alasia.
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.
What is the political or government structure in Alasia? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
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.
Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since her childhood, and to date has published eight books (three YA action adventure/fantasy novels, a collection of character interviews, one puppet script, and four anthologies of her students’ poetry, all available through the links in the sidebar to the right). Besides writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science fiction), scrapbooking, and international travel.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your books?
Prince of Alasia
In the Enemy’s Service
Prince of Malorn
Annals of Alasia: The Collected Interviews (available for free!)
Where can readers connect with you online?
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Alasia. 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 the kingdom of Malorn, in Realm Explorers Part XXXXI!
-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: Juli D. Revezzo
Title of book and/or series: Changeling’s Crown
Brief summary of the story:
Disgraced faery godmother Ianthe doesn’t count on her new assignment throwing her into the path of handsome ranch hand Briak McGee. Even stranger, she never thought she’d fall in love with a human. But everything she touches these days seems to backfire on her. Could love be just the thing to turn her luck around?
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Some of Changeling’s Crown takes place in “Everland” and “Everland Central” which is the home base for the faery godmothers, and dark faeries. On the “light” side you have crystalline streets, fields of lush gold and greenery, gleaming tours (for the king and queen—naturally) and quaint mansions and cottages for the faeries and faery godparents. There are also Crystal towering offices and lecture halls for the use of the administration, and the education sectors. And wide open lanes for grand coaches once moved (now the faery king favors hot rods, but who’s judging? ;))
On the other side of the grove, a sulfuric mist ignites the trees and glazes the hovels of the dark fae aglow. Terrific beasts, winged and horned, and twisted beasts, respectively—move over it all, seeking out their dinner—of fae and human flesh. The king’s places dominates the landscape like a twisted, rock giant flanked by, oddly enough, roses, more dead than alive.
If we were to visit Everland Central as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
The Crystal Falls, most definitely. Lovely place and if you’re really lucky, a mermaid might turn up.
What dangers should we avoid in Everland Central ?
J Just stay away from the dark side of the grove and you should be fine. Oh, and if you see a dandy faery godfather prancing around like he knows something, that’s Geldon, the worst pain in the neck you’ll ever meet. Stay away from him.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Everland Central?
It varies region to region and person to person—er, I mean, fae to fae. Though I can say most of the “light” faeries (that comprise the faery godparents pool) love particularly sweet foods—sweetened meats like roast, and honeyed carrots, cakes and cookies. I gather from them that holidays such as Christmas and Valentine’s day see a lot of them gaining extra pounds from all the sweet treats their kitchens whip up. By contrast, the “dark” fae are meat eaters and some don’t mind it raw and rancid. They’re not too fond of sweeteners in their food at all.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Everland Central?
Their weaponry is fairly traditional: swords, armor, staves. That kind of thing.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Everland?
To get to Everland from Earth, the faery godparents and dark fae take a staircase down, or the subelevators; sometimes they fly depending on how much time they have (or who they want to avoid!). Once in Everland, they have their pick of transportation, mainly horses and carriages, but the King Heath has imported a car or two for his own amusement.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Everland Central that we don’t see on Earth?
EC horses speak, and also there are pterodactyl-like dragon beasts that stalk on the dark side of the grove. Also, the king of the dark faeries employs three headed, troll-like guardians; while the king of the faery godparents employs cherubs in menial jobs. Unicorns also graze around in the sacred grove from time to time.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Everland? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
Magic is integral to the work of the faery godparents. Convincing humans of their one true loves isn’t always so easy with mere logic. Sometimes, a handful of pixie dust is needed. And if the technology that the humans love so much goes down, how else are the faery godparents supposed to communicate with each other, without magic?
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Everland Central? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Some of the older residents of Everland like to communicate via Magic Mirror. Some (like Ianthe’s mentor) think they’re as slow as human computers. 😉
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Everland Central.
There’s fencing and horse racing. True, they are mostly used to train for the Wild Hunt, but they’re good sport on their own. J
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Everland Central as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The boring answer to this question is, pretty much, except that they have a few days out of the year dedicated to the Wild Hunt.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Everland Central? Please describe what it involves.
Thumbelina is the faery godmothers’ goddess and they send prayers to her whenever they need a little divine help.
What is the political or government structure in Everland Central? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
They are, for the most part, a monarchy. King Heath rules the light side of the grove and to a fault. He doesn’t care if the balance tips, so long as everyone has their happy ending. Whatever he deems that might be. But he is a benevolent ruler. Probably much more forgiving than he should be. He does give Ianthe more chances than she should have. King Briak rules the dark side of the grove and though he can be ruthless when it’s required of him, he’s probably the fairest ruler those folks have ever had. He’ll torture me for telling you this but, though, he’s testy, he prefers peace to battle. As long as the balance remains intact, he’s happy. If not, well, watch out.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Everland Central?
Don’t try to cross into the dark side of the grove. At best, you’ll come out with a raging headache. At worst, you might get eaten!
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
Yes, I set the ranch sequences in my home state, and like Ianthe, I didn’t have the best luck with horses. I once fell off one after it stopped moving.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
Throughout the course of Changeling’s Crown the dark faery king’s place on the royal council is remarked upon, so I suppose that constitutes a fairly hot button issue among the residents of Everland. Also there’s debate as to the work of the faery godparents in matters of the heart. Some think the faery godparents are meddlers and some…don’t.
Author Autobiography
Juli D. Revezzo is a Florida girl with a love of fantasy, science fiction, and Arthurian legend, and she loves writing stories with all kinds of fantastical elements. Aside from Changeling’s Crown, she is the author of The Antique Magic series, the Paranormal Romance Harshad Wars series, and many short stories. She is also a member of the Independent Author Network and the Magic Appreciation Tour. Come learn more about her at http://julidrevezzo.com
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)?
Changeling’s Crown is available at:
Where can readers connect with you online?
They can find me at:
Or they can sign up for my newsletter here.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Everland. 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 the fantasy world of Faylinn, in Realm Explorers Part XXVI!
-Annie Douglass Lima
Thank you for having me on your blog. I am Katharina Gerlach, a German author with a Scottish “spare” family. Ever since I learned to read, I loved fantastical stories and especially fairy tales. When I started writing my first fairy tale retelling, I never thought it would grow into a series. But I was not surprised when my Muse (that’s the personification of my creative side – yes, I am crazy) assaulted me with one idea after the next.
So far, I’ve written variations on “Snow White and Rose Red” (Brothers Grimm, just released today under the title The Dwarf and the Twins), “The Beauty and the Beast” (Joseph Jacobs, due January 2015), and “Little Brother, Little Sister” (Grimm again, planned for April 2015). Currently, I’m working on “The House in the Wood” (Grimm). It is my mother’s favorite fairy tale and quite unknown even in Germany.
The most interesting thing about this series was when my Muse insisted that after the first story, which is filled with traditional magic, the second book would have to be a steampunk novelette. When I began asking questions about that, I got the plot for the third book in the series. It seems that in my world magic is declining while steam engine technology is on the rise. The two don’t seem to go together. The more I learn about this world, the more I long to write in it. The good thing is that there are as many tiny kingdoms (and a few bigger ones) as there are fairy tales to be re-told.
The Dwarf and the Twins eBook contains the retelling, a bonus short story, and the original story by the Brothers Grimm. It costs less than a cup of coffee in your local coffee shop. I sincerely hope you will like the book.
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. (One of these is FREE at the moment!)
Author’s name: K.M. Carroll
Title of book and/or series: Chronocrime, book 2 of the Spacetime Legacy
Brief summary of the story:
When his girlfriend’s corpse from the future appears in the present, Indal, exiled chronomancer, is summoned to solve the crime. But what at first appears to be a simple murder turns deadly when the corpse rises and tries to kill Carda, Indal’s friend and Strider of Chronos–at the behest of a confederate of criminals.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
The characters are all young adults living in Phoenix, Arizona. I only know of one major urban fantasy writer who sets books in Phoenix–it’s like this place nobody ever thinks about.
There are also several major worlds the heroes visit over the course of the series. In Chronocrime, we visit Bythia, a parallel world with a hotter climate–so their version of Phoenix is quite a bit nastier, with a much lower population.
Tyrona, on the other hand, is a shattered world of floating continents. It’s held together by the blood, sweat and tears of the space and gravity mages–while the factions living on the continents wage a perpetual world war. It’s a bit harder to wage war when the continents drift around, but they manage it. We glimpse it in Chronocrime, and visit it in depth in book 3: Wraithblade.
There’s also the Chronostrider Council, an entire governing body housed inside a cube the size of a city, floating in the fifth dimension.
If we were to visit the world of Spacetime as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Definitely take a spin around the multiverse! Hang out with some chronomancers, and maybe have them check your timeline to help you avoid unpleasant obstacles. Then find a strider, or space mage, to teleport you around to various landmarks.
Tyrona, despite its dangers, is amazingly rugged and beautiful. Very few semi-destroyed worlds are inhabitable, and sunset over the Rift Sea is one of the wonders of the worlds. If you’re lucky, you’ll glimpse the star shard at the planet’s core, which generates the gravity that holds the world together.
What dangers should we avoid in the world of Spacetime?
Be careful who you cross! Among the various otherworldly races running around, the Nevelves are a world of magic-starved people who have figured out ways to drain a mage of their powers.
While the magic is force magic only–time, space, and gravity–it’s quite enough to kill you in a number of unpleasant ways. As Indal found out, it’s possible to have your body interwoven with a second body on a higher dimensional level, a process called splicing. He was spliced with a lycanthrope, and is now a functional werewolf. But instead of his change being triggered by the full moon, it’s triggered when he tries to work magic.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in the Spacetime multiverse?
Depends where you go. Carda gained several pounds after he discovered the famous pastries crafted by Rothdaran chefs. The hot peppers cultivated by the dragons of the Twin Draconia make our terrestrial peppers look positively anemic.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in the Spacetime multiverse?
Many mages combine magic with more practical firearms or knives. While magic can do many things, no one can conjure a spell faster than a bullet can travel.
A magic battle is something to see, however. Space magic manifests as green fire, while time magic manifests as violet lightning. A skilled mage can use those elements to maim an attacker, while altering time or bending space. A space mage can wrap space around themselves, bending light and all attacks around them. They can’t move while wrapped in space, but they’re also invisible and untouchable.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to the Spacetime multiverse?
Lots of people favor portals, since they’re a door that can open wherever you want it to. There’s also the Highway, an interdimensional road that stretches in an infinite loop through nothing. Speaking your destination causes the Highway to direct you to a portal to your destination.
Usually.
This also means that it’s possible to drive a car from one world to another. Sometimes this is very useful, if a neighboring world has, for instance, really awesome road infrastructure.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in the Spacetime multiverse that we don’t see on Earth?
There are the Felicians, or cat-people, whose world was destroyed, and now are scattered across the worlds as refugees. Their women look exactly like human girls, but with cat ears and tails. Their men have a more feline look, with heavier noses and jaws, and sometimes their fingernails resemble claws.
There are the Angeli, a race of mortal angels who act as guardians for strategic people. They are constrained to lead moral lives, or their semi-corporeal wings will darken from gold to black. A blackwing angelus is one of the most dangerous beings in existence.
There is also Ben, a black lizard the size of a house cat. He’s a time elemental who is addicted to shiny things. He may or may not become a giant black dragon in his future.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in the Spacetime multiverse? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
For time and space mages, magic is useful for all sorts of shortcuts in day to day life. For instance, teleporting all the groceries from the trunk of the car into the house. Or locking that newly-poured cup of coffee in a time-stop when one has to rush off and answer the phone. A quick teleport will save you a cumbersome drive across town. For fun, try trapping a friend in a magic circle and see if their magic is strong enough to break your spell.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in the Spacetime multiverse? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Technology usually means an artifact imbued with magic. For instance, in book 2, we encounter a cube like a silver playing dice, but it contains a huge amount of healing power, contributed by an angelus.
In book 3, we’ll see a wraithblade–a dagger with a semi-phased blade that can open doors between worlds. It’s also very effective at killing people.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in the Spacetime multiverse.
In book 2, Carda and Xironi get their hands on a videogame system from the world Ramand–it functions purely in holographic projections, which the player passes their hands through.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in the Spacetime multiverse as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
Since our heroes are based on Earth, they celebrate typical American holidays. But many worlds celebrate the birth of Christ, as well as the summer and winter equinoxes, and various seasonal festivals.
Is there a particular religion practiced in the Spacetime multiverse? Please describe what it involves.
All typical Earth religions apply. Several of our heroes are quietly Christian–and there are no atheist chronomancers. They can look into the timeline probabilities, and see the hand of God at work. This is universally terrifying.
What is the political or government structure in the Spacetime multiverse? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The Chronostrider Council is a governing body and bureaucratic office. They facilitate trade agreements between worlds, negotiate peace treaties, and otherwise try to keep everyone playing nice together. The High Council is four senior mages–two space mages, two chronomancers–and the Strider of Chronos, a person possessing the Spacetime Legacy, which gives them the powers of both time and space.
In addition, there is the Lower Council, a fluctuating number of elected officials who represent various worlds.
In general, the Council is fair enough, but of course there is some corruption. And there are those who would love to seize all that power for themselves.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit the world of Spacetime?
Among mages, it’s immensely rude to teleport into someone’s house uninvited. Many people set up wards to prevent such an intrusion.
Among chronomancers, it’s frowned upon/borderline illegal to check your own timeline. Besides the fact that it’s almost impossible to see your own timeline, it messes up a person’s mind to know what will happen to them, as well as how they’ll die, if they’re foolish enough to look that up.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
My husband invented the Spacetime world in high school, because he grew up in Phoenix and always considered it home. I now have the privilege to write its books, and we collaborate closely on plots and characters. We now live in Phoenix, so I get to experience the heat, monsoons, and freeways first hand. I can also drive out and explore places I want to put in a book.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
Not so many of those–yet. While Storm Chase and Chronocrime mostly deal with immense magical threats, Wraithblade deals with a character who has been on mind-controlling drugs most of her childhood. She’s experiencing a cold-turkey detox over the course of the story, which, I suppose, becomes a commentary on such drugs. I didn’t set out to make a statement, though. That was simply one of the many ways the antagonists kept her tractable.
Author Autobiography:
Kessie Carroll lives in Phoenix, AZ with her husband and four children. In between homeschooling and otherwise managing a household, she writes in odd moments. Writing is her TV.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your books?
Where can readers connect with you online?
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the world of Spacetime. 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 the fantasy world of Dragonspeir in Realm Explorers Part XVII!
-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: Meredith Mansfield
Title of book and/or series: The Shaman’s Curse, Book 1 of the Dual Magics series
Brief summary of the story:
Vatar risked his life to try to save his friend–and failed. Now he has an implacable enemy in the vengeful shaman, who blames Vatar for the death of his only son. In his isolation, Vatar finds some comfort in daydreams. He knows the strange girl he sometimes imagines is just that–a dream. She’d better be.
Because, if she’s real things could get even worse for Vatar. The accepted magic of Vatar’s plains tribe wouldn’t enable him to see or communicate with a girl he doesn’t even know–or know where to find. That would be more like the magic passed down in certain, closely-guarded bloodlines among the ruling class of the coastal cities. And that’s bad. Very bad.
Unlike their own, Vatar’s people think the city magic is evil. If the shaman ever found out, it could be the weapon he needs to destroy Vatar. And yet, finding a way to accept the other side of his heritage may be the only way Vatar can ultimately defeat his enemy.
The two kinds of magic have always been totally separate. Until now.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Unfortunately, I haven’t given this world as whole a name, so let’s refer to it as The World of the Dual Magics. The peoples in it generally only know their own little corner of it (a coastal city, the central plains, or a hidden mountain valley). A few may have traveled to another location, but they don’t tend to think of the world as a whole. Yet. I plan to work on a map (other than my pathetic hand-drawn one) for the publication of the second book in the series, The Ignored Prophecy (this December).
Basically, the cities are scattered along the western coastline or accessible by river. These cities are all ruled by the Fasallon, though the bulk of the population is not Fasallon. Caere is the only one of those cities that comes into the first book in the series. Inland from the coast is a broad, trackless plain where the semi-nomadic Dardani live and tend their herds of horses and cattle. East of that is a huge, mostly uninhabited forest, backing up onto high, impassable mountains. In a valley beyond the mountains, if you can find the single pass that crosses them, there’s another civilization that is both eerily like and in some ways very different from that of the Fasallon.
If we were to visit the World of the Dual Magics as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Tourist attractions would be thin on the plains. If you were to visit the coastal city of Caere, though, you’d be well advised to be there in the summer, for the Festival, when the Sea Gods (or at least, what the Caerean think are their Sea Gods) parade through the streets.
What dangers should we avoid in the World of the Dual Magics?
Caere is pretty tame and well-patrolled. Dragons haven’t been seen in about 600 years. Unless, of course, you have Fasallon magic and aren’t already part of their system. Then you’d better keep your head down.
It wouldn’t be a good idea to try to cross the plains without an experienced Dardani guide. It’s not just the usual dangers–thunderstorms, lions, bears, and wolves. Without knowledge of a route that will take you to a waterhole at least a couple of times a day, it’s too easy to get lost and die out there. And you run the risk of Themyri raiders if you try to follow the river.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in the World of the Dual Magics?
Vatar and the Dardani wear long knives, often of Caerean steel. They also use the bow for hunting. However, Vatar is a terrible shot with the bow, so he mostly concentrates on the spear, by preference a long horseman’s lance. Apart from steel or iron implements traded for in Caere, the Dardani are a bronze-age people.
In Caere, only the Guard would carry weapons at all, often a short thrusting sword.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to the World of the Dual Magics?
Most travel over any distance is done either on horseback or by ship. It’s death to try to walk across the plains. Wagons would only be useful within the cities or their immediate environs. Otherwise, there aren’t roads suitable for wagons.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in the World of the Dual Magics that we don’t see on Earth?
The only sentient beings are people. No elves or dwarves, etc.
However, there are a few unusual creatures. Most notable is the forest tiger, which is rather like a saber-toothed tiger, but with rhinoceros-like armor. Very dangerous and very hard to kill.
Otherwise, one might see wyverns in the mountains. On the plains, there’s a wild horse that has spots like a leopard, almost impossible to see at any distance and impossible to catch. And in the forest, there’s a funny little flying-squirrel-like creature with a mane like a lion.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people there? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used
As the series title suggests, there are two kinds of magic in this world.
One is acquired by initiation into one of the clans of the plains people, the Dardani. It’s a kind of spiritual connection to the clan totem spirit. For example, Vatar is Lion Clan, which means that he can sense when lions are present and get a general sense of their mood. His friends can do similar things with the wild horses, eagles, or ravens. The shaman can do more, but any Dardani can do that much. However, the Dardani do not consider this magic and would take offense if you called it that.
In the coastal cities, the Fasallon closely guard a different kind of magic that is inherited from one’s parents. Almost every Fasallon can use Far Speech (we’d call it telepathy) and Far Sight (the ability to see something or someone with far away, especially if there’s some sort of connection). Other, more-valued Talents include Fore Sight (prophecy), certain rare healing abilities, and most valuable of all, transformations–the ability to make oneself or something else to appear to be something or someone else. The most Talented can actually change themselves into something else. This ability is key to their rule in Caere and the other cities.
Things get really interesting when the two kinds of magic combine. There’s a hint of that in The Shaman’s Curse, but it will really become important in the second book of the series, The Ignored Prophecy, which will be published in December.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in the World of the Dual Magics.
The Dardani play a game like a cross between basketball and polo. It’s played on horseback, on a triangular field, with three teams of five riders each. It’s the highlight of their midsummer celebration. Having three teams makes the game as much about shifting alliances as about the skill of the players.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The Dardani separate their year into six segments, one named for each of the clans. The lunar cycles within those segments are referred to as First and Second, as in First Wolf or Second Lion. The cycle starts in mid-winter with Wolf, followed by Bear and Horse. Midsummer separates Horse from Eagle, which is followed by Lion and finally Raven. It is considered propitious to be born in the season of your Clan totem. Second best would be within the season of one of the allied clans (Horse/Lion/Eagle vs. Raven/Wolf/Bear). Vatar was born during Second Wolf, an ill-favored season for a member of the Lion Clan.
Is there a particular religion practiced in the World of the Dual Magics? Please describe what it involves.
Among the Dardani, religion revolves around each clan’s totem Spirits. They don’t consider their connection to these Spirits to be magic and they have a strong superstitious dread of what they do call magic.
Historically, the Caereans worship Sea Gods. However, the Fasallon have essentially hijacked this religion, impersonating the Sea Gods to bolster their unquestioned rule in the coastal cities.
What is the political or government structure? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
Caere is ruled by the Fasallon High Council, made up of the most magically Talented representative of each bloodline. Smaller, day-to-day issues that don’t merit the attention of the High Council or their bureaucracy would be handled by the various guilds.
The Dardani aren’t so much ruled as led by their chiefs. Each clan may have several chiefs, chosen by popular acclaim for a life lived with honor. Either men or women may be selected as chiefs. There is usually a good representation across age ranges among the male chiefs. Women chiefs are more likely to be older widows. This is a practical consideration. Younger married women are usually to be found living with their husband’s clan. The chiefs work mainly by trying to create consensus within their clan or, together, within the tribe.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit?
If you should go out to visit the Dardani during their summer gathering of the clans at the Zeda waterhole, don’t go for a walk around the waterhole with a Dardani. Especially don’t accept any gifts offered on such a walk–unless you mean it. These are courtship rituals. You might find yourself married and living in a sod hut before you knew it.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
Well, I seem to be incapable of putting the ocean anywhere but on the west. (West-coast girl, here.) Specific locations may borrow somewhat from places I’ve visited. For example, Caere’s climate is a little like San Francisco’s.
Author Autobiography:
Professionally, I’ve been a financial analyst and a visual basic programmer. I also have a paralegal certificate, although I’ve never worked in that field. It’s anybody’s guess what I’ll be when I grow up.
Imagining stories and writing have always been an important part of my life. It’s one I’ve finally could get serious about while I cared for my mother who had Alzheimer’s disease.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?
The print book is available on
Amazonand other sites.
Where can readers connect with you online?
My
blogis probably the best place to find me.
My twitter handle is @MansfieldMJ (But I’m hardly ever there.)
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the World of the Dual Magics. 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 the fantasy world of Chadash in Realm Explorers Part XIII!
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: Tony Breeden
Title of book and/or series:
The series is called Otherworld. Luckbane was published in 2013. The forthcoming sequel is called Soulbright.
Brief summary of the story:
In a dystopian future, online gaming is the ultimate escape, until one corporation offers players a chance to play their favorite sword, steam and sorcery game live and in-person on a terraformed alien world. A ragtag group of Champions has been assembled to stop the dread Firelord, last of the Dark Lords, from obtaining Godspell, an artifact so powerful that it can alter reality itself. Along the way, the players face dragons, steampunk robots, hackers, aliens and whatever perils the Gamelords think will improve their ratings, because Otherworld isn’t just a game; it’s reality TV.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
There are actually three worlds I had to create for the Otherworld series. There’s the dark, dystopian future reality (which I unofficially think of as Realworld) controlled by the Megacorporations, where players immerse themselves in virtual reality games, like Impworld. There’s Impworld, the universe’s most popular sword, steam and sorcery game. And then there’s Otherworld, which is essentially Impworld 2.0 on a terraformed alien world. While I had to create entire histories, creatures and cultures for all three worlds, the majority of the story takes place on Otherworld [aka the continent of Wanjur on planet Tarak].
If we were to visit Otherworld as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
If you don’t do anything else, I recommend that you visit Cabon Gabrielle, City of Shields. Cabon Gabrielle itself offers a wide variety of tourist attractions. Thanks to its Sky Docks and dragonrail system, the Pearl of Olden is only a few days journey from wherever you happen to be. You can visit the Ogreball Stadium, peruse the magical artifacts in Arcanum Alley [if you can find it!], feast with the dwarves in the Mountain Hall tavern, dance with werewolves and vampyres at Club Blood, visit the griffon riders at the Royal Aerie, or take in a dragon’s-eye view of the city and its several story tall flying Shields from the top of Seneschal Tower. And don’t forget to visit the Lonely Ogre Inn while you’re there! More adventures have begun, passed through and ended at the Ogre than any other destination on the planet.
What dangers should we avoid in Otherworld?
What would be the fun in that?
In all seriousness, most of the indigenous life should be avoided at all costs. Fliers are harmless, but there’s no such things as a safe wog. Named after the late Dr. Henry Woggenstein, wogs are largely unclassifiable bug-reptiles [a tentative taxon at best] with too many teeth, eyes, tentacles, claws, pincers, etc. They’re basically everything we feared aliens would be.
One should also avoid Mot Hadrall, period. Only serious gamers brave it. It is not a place for tourists. They don’t call it the Accursed City for nothing; it boasts an 85% kill rate. Most players never even make it to the castle!
It goes without saying that venturing into a Dark Lord’s castle, a dragon’s lair or an orc village will not end well. And don’t antagonize the imps!
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Otherworld?
Earth foods grow to fairy tale proportions in the miraculous soil of Tarak. In fact, all “normal”-sized trees on the terraformed continent of Wanjur are actually pygmy varieties of Earth plants. You can also expect to eat rabdil [elephantine rabbit/armadillo crossbreeds] meat, a standard throughout the universe ever since the gentle giants were created through genetic manipulation. Of course, Otherworld offers a wide variety of foods that are culturally specific to elves, humans, dwarves, et cetera. Just be aware of dishes which may fight back!
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Otherworld?
Otherworld is a sword and sorcery environment with steampunk elements. Weaponry ranges from standard swords, axes, halberds, crossbows and siege engines to pistols, alchemical phials, dragonbreath cannon, walking battle platforms, and more exotic magical weapons, like gauntlets of ogrish strength, firebows and Godspell, a weapon that can alter reality itself.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Otherworld?
To reach Otherworld, one has to board a heilo platform and travel to a distant star system. Don’t worry; you’ll be in cryosleep during the journey and it only takes a month or so. From the Tarak system’s heilo platform, your stasis pod will be transported by solar sailor to Lunabase, orbiting the gameworld planet. Once you awaken and get over your bout of stasis sickness (sorry, it affects all living things), you can shuttle down to the Shakar Landing Field and book passage to the continent of Wanjur, but don’t forget to check out the Otherworld Zoo before you leave! There are a wide variety of ways to travel. Steampunk machines, ships that sail the skies and seas, zeppelins, dragonrails, terrestrial steeds (horses, dragonish warstriders, etc). One can also travel by magical bubble, carpet and dragonfly copter.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Otherworld that we don’t see on Earth?
Otherworld is filled with all manner of creatures you won’t see anywhere else outside of a movie or virtual video game. Dragons, goblyns, bugbears, minotaurs, elves, dwarves, vampyres, ophidians… the list of fantasy creatures and races goes on and on.
One of the character races unique to the Impworld/Otherworld environs are borogs. In game lore, borogs crash landed on Obsidius [the Impworld planet] during the latter part of the Third Age. Borogs are heavyworlders; being from a planet with greater gravity than the one they’ve crashed upon, they are much stronger and agile than many other races. They are divided into three people groups: Reigans rule by psionic superiority; horned Volktans are the warrior class; and Tagnars make up the slave working class. Some of the Tagnars have rebelled against their masters and found refuge amongst the Free Peoples of Obsidius.
On a similar theme, Realworld Earth has also seen the creation and rebellion of Homo adaptis, or mutants. Pantropic mutants come in several forms, depending upon where they were meant to serve. Fur-covered mutants work in arctic regions, gilled mutants farm the oceans, etc. They were created to mine near-airless Martian mines, fight our wars and basically do anything else Homo sapiens considered too low or dangerous. The War of Martian Independence and the subsequent Mutant Wars have allowed mutants to gain recognition of their basic human rights, but racial tensions are still high.
On realworld Tarak, one might encounter a strange, towering plant called the drubulb. Drubulbs are the home of the enigmatic dru, an insectoid hive that may or may not be sapient. When the continent of Wanjur was terraformed for gameplay, not even pocket nukes could remove the dru or their drubulbs, so the Gamelords have simply posted warning signs around them.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Otherworld? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used
The gameworld is filled with supernatural creatures, such as ghosts, wraiths, vampyres and werewolves. Some creatures are inherently magical; for example, dark-skinned, golden-eyed shadus elves can blend into shadows, glow in the dark and walk on any surface [even upside-down] at a thought. Some imps are nearly magic incarnate.
By the rules of the game, the phases of the two moons determine the level of power a spellcaster has at his disposal. Thrice annually, both Sylvanus and Ikon the Magebane wax full and a magic-user’s potential is at its peak. Unfortunately, their power drops to its lowest ebb roughly two weeks prior and following this “doubling,” making them vulnerable during this time. Spellcasters keep track of their power levels via a magical tattoo on their forearm. The sigil resembles a stylized hourglass, where the current stage of each moon was represented in its own hemisphere. In order to gain this tattoo, one takes the quidnunc, a gauntlet of challenges administered by representatives of the Magus Council to determine the spellcasters worthiness for the art. The Magus Council has governed the lawful use of magic ever since its formation during the Second Age. Those who pass are legally sanctioned to learn and practice magic. Those who fail are denied all but the meanest of spells on pain of death.
To refuse the quidnunc is to place a deathmark on one’s own head. The Magus Council keeps careful track those with budding magical abilities and sends its dread Inquisitors to hunt down renegades who chose to practice magic unmarked. Once cornered, they are given the choice to submit to the quidnunc or be executed. Inquisitors also bring magus to justice for crimes involving magic (which sometimes brings them into jurisdictional conflicts with local authorities, especially those who do not recognize the Magus Council’s authority) and those practicing the Forbidden Arts. Inquisitors are especially zealous these days, ever since a small army of largely unmarked wizards and witches had experimented with powerful, but unpredictable wyld magicks, resulting in the cataclysmic Magewar.
Non-magus can use magical artifacts. In general, all you have to do is figure out how to turn them on and then point them in the right direction.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Otherworld? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
The magic of Otherworld is made possible by nanites, while its creatures are largely made possible by biological robots called simulacrums, or sims. Some players opt not to play live, instead piloting avatars [basically remote-controlled sims] via nodal implants from Lunabase. The game also features a variety of steampunk technology, fueled by either soulstones, technofairies, or plain old-fashioned lowtech. To give an example, when visiting the City of Shields, one can see giant walking battlestations called Sentinels patrolling its walls, zeppelins harbored in its Sky Docks and dwarven gyrocopters buzzing through its skies.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Otherworld.
The most popular games within the most popular game in the universe are gladiator-type games and ogreball.
Ogreball was invented by ogres trying to train their cubs in the art of semi-organized team combat. The original version involved real weapons and a casualty rate. Several types of balls are used. Metal studded, leather clad balls are primarily used for making points. There are also a few metal or stone balls of larger size, used mostly as wicked, bone-breaking dodgeballs. Lastly, there is a large, ogre-sized wicker ball, inside of which is placed an unlucky prisoner (human, goblin, pig, etc.). Ogres were also known to use bombs and severed heads in gameplay. The rules of the ogrish game are uncertain. There are no goal posts; however, there is a large earthwork in the center. The floor of the playing pit is graded away from the earthworks, so that the balls will roll into ditches at either end of the pit. There, other ogre players collect the balls and launch them from oversized slingshots or, in the case of the wicker cage, a catapult. The object of the ogrish version is two-fold: beat the other team senseless until only your team is alive and/or conscious and beat the snot out of the wicker ball. It is pretty much a huge, rule-less battle with players using clubs to bash the balls at each other or to simply bash each other senseless, while mega-slingshot operators pummel everyone indiscriminately.
The civilized game utilizes an official court of play. The stadium is set up to resemble an ogreball pit with seats lining the tops of the perimeter of a rectangular field. Goal nets are placed at two opposite corners. A low net similar to a tennis court net halves the field, emulating the ogrish earthwork barrier. A pass exists on either side of the net. A semi-circle is marked off around the net in which only the goalie can occupy. He cannot leave this area. All players are protected with leather armor. The goalie bears a shield and his choice of either an ogreball club or racket. The guard players stay on their side of the net and are armed with ogreball clubs. Skirmishers can go anywhere on the field, except the goal zone. Skirmishers are armed with rackets. Unlike the ogrish version, players are not permitted to bludgeon each other. There are only two types of ball in play: medium sized leather-bound rubber balls and large leather-bound rubber balls. The field includes anywhere from 20 to 30 of the smaller balls, divided evenly along the sides of the net at the start of play and 2 to 4 of the larger balls, placed in the passes in even numbers. Smaller balls are worth 2 points apiece per goal. Large balls are worth five points. Play continues until the last ball has been caught in the nets, thus ending a set. A game consists of 1 to 4 sets, agreed upon beforehand. Balls which overshoot the net are tossed back into play. A standard game includes twenty 2-point balls and two 5-point balls at the start of a set. A championship game consists of thirty smaller balls and four larger balls and a large wicker cage ball [unoccupied] worth 20 points. No bombs or severed heads are utilized in the civilized version.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Otherworld as on earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The days of the week are the same as they are on Earth. Tarak has two moons. The aptly-named Feast of Two Moons occurs when both moons are full, every 4 months.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Otherworld? Please describe what it involves.
Realworld religions find their place in the game alongside fantasy dragon cults and such. Islam, Chrisianity, Judaism and Buddhism are still very much alive. Protestants and Catholics have, for the most part, unified. The Church utilizes shepherds, bishops and paladins. The Church is headed by a ruling Council.
One particular cult of note in Otherworld is Corpus Dracon, which loosely translates as the Boy of the Dragon. Each cell is led by a Locutor Draconis, or Dragon-speaker, who tells his followers the will of the coming Dragon Kings. Corpus Dracon has no tome; its ultimate authority lies with the Locutor’s word [locally] and the Grey Prophet [ultimately]. Their aim is to usher in the Age of Dragons, ruled by the Dragon Kings. It matters not one whit to these cultists that dragons are savage destructive creatures who haven’t the slightest bit of interest in governance. The Grey Prophet is a magus who conjures illusions to back up his various prophecies; his true identity is unknown.
What is the political or government structure in Otherworld? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The realworld is controlled by the Megacorporations. Only Israel and Switzerland have retained their national identities. AmeriCo controls Earth’s Western hemisphere, and thus is generally referred to as the West. EuroCorp controls Europe and northern Asia. The Islamic Confederacy ruled Afrika, the Middle East, and India. Imperial AsiaCorp, termed the East by most, owned Australia and the remainder of Asia. Each controls various interests in Antarctica and on the lunar colonies, both points of constant friction. Each blames the other for the fact that the Mars Colonies have successfully declared their independence. Everyone works for the Megacorporations or one of their various sub-companies. GameComm is a company of AmeriCo. It uses the West’s heilo wave technology to make travel to and from Tarak a possibility. The West benefits by mining Tarak’s levitanium [the element that makes hovertech possible, once only found on Mars or random asteroids] and by receiving a share of Tarak’s supercrops. GameComm uses indentured Colonists to harvest its crops and work its mines. There is growing concern that GameComm will request recognition of its separate Megacorporational status due to its Tarak holdings and due to the fact that GameComm also owns Earth Robitics Limited, the largest producer of robots in the universe. The current Vice President of Tarak Operations, and the face of GameComm for all intents and purposes, is Kenneth Gabriel. He is pompous, self-assured and ruthless in his pursuit of ratings. He lords over Tarak from his hoverthrone in Lunabase’s Command Center.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Otherworld?
Cultural practices vary according to the character races and kingdoms of the game. You’re going to need a handbook or a guide if you don’t want to end up tossed into a dungeon somewhere. Good luck.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
In general, history inspires and informs my locations, cultures, etc. Some of the battle scenes, creatures and artifacts were inspired by watching my own kids play. For example, when I attacked my youngest son with a plush spiked club [you have got to get one of these if you have boys!], he defended himself with a plush alligator. Thus Grundy the Ogre’s live alligator “club” was born. ;]
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
Luckbane doesn’t really touch on any hot-button issues, though it mentions a few I’ll likely explore later, like what it means to be human and how genetic manipulation, robot sapience, etc., might affect our views of human rights, how we practice religion, etc.
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Author Tony Breeden Under Attack |
Author Autobiography:
I’m from West Virginia, home of the Mothman, the Flatwoods Monster and Gray Barker, who likely invented the Men in Black. I’ve been an avid sci-fi/fantasy/steampunk/monster/comic book fan all my life and I have a wonderful wife and four adventurous boys who share my geek fandom. I credit my late aunt Sharon for giving me the writing bug; she helped me make my very first book about dinosaurs, loving illustrated in crayon. I basically write the movies in my head.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)?
You can purchase Luckbaneand all of my other books in both paperback and Kindle formats at
Where can readers connect with you online?
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Otherworld. 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 the fantasy world of Fiori in Realm Explorers Part VIII!
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:
The Kitsune Talesseries includes so far Kitsune-Tsuki, Kitsune-Mochi, and “The Lonely Frost” (appearing in Specter Spectacular and Weird and Wondrous Work later in 2014). Another novel is quite likely!
Brief summary of the story:
In Kitsune-Tsuki, we meet Tsurugu, an onmyouji who has been hired by the warlord to protect his new bride from a kitsune, or shape-shifting fox spirit, which is rumored to be near. The question is, how does one find a shape-shifter who may not even exist?
Kitsune-Mochifollows Tsurugu-sama and many of the characters into a new threat, as supernatural forces threaten Kaede-dono’s life with the warlord in a wholly new and very real way.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
This is Not-Japan of the Heian-Kamakura transition, roughly AD 1200. I have winked and called it “Not-Japan” because I took a few liberties to make some aspects more accessible for readers or to fudge a couple of historical facets closer together, but it’s fairly close to the historical culture.
Naka no Yoritomo is a daimyou, or warlord, subject to the shogun and fighting quiet battles of influence with other daimyou. Tsurugu Kiyomori is a talented onmyouji, which was actually a court position in the Heian era, a mystic practitioner responsible not only for supernatural protection but divination and calendar-keeping. All the supernatural elements in the story – the shape-shifting kitsune, music-loving tanuki, strong water-dwelling kappa, and more – are authentic Japanese folkloric elements popular for centuries of storytelling.
If we were to visit Naka-dono’s home as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
First of all, be very polite. Manners and accomplishment are everything in this society, and a beautiful girl’s marriage chances or a man’s political career can be spoiled by sloppy handwriting. Poetry is exchanged to settle everything from courtship to politics, and the quality of a poem can make or break one’s career. Speak carefully and with great consideration.
That said, this era produced poetry which has been honored for centuries, so take the time to read some of what’s passed to you. And then go outside to marvel at the military prowess which is being developed at the head of Japan’s shogunate.
What dangers should we avoid?
Well, offending the wrong person might result in such social dishonor or death, and that would certainly be inconvenient during your visit. There’s also the concern of Naka-dono’s shadows, stealthy spies and assassins to take care of that business which shouldn’t be discussed too openly. In future centuries, their descendants will be known as shinobi or ninja, but this is their misty past.
And of course there are thousands of varieties of youkai, or supernatural creatures. Many are harmless, some are friendly and benevolent, many are indifferent, some are mischievous but mostly harmless, and some like the water-dwelling kappa prefer to prey on human flesh. Don’t worry, we’ll help you to avoid the most dangerous!
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served?
Well, sushi and the hibachi haven’t been invented yet! But you’ll be served a lot of rice and vegetables, as Buddhism is making great inroads and has reduced the amount of meat consumed. What meat is eaten may be consumed raw, which will startle your tourist palette, or you may eat cooked fish. All the seaweed you eat will help to grow your hair – ladies of quality in this era had hair which reached to the floor or even trailed several feet behind!
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common?
Tsurugu works mostly in onmyoudou, a way of reading and influencing the contrasting forces of nature, male and female, and the five elements of wood, fire, earth, air, and water. (You may have heard of something like onmyoudou; its counterpart in old China eventually developed into Feng Shui.) You will frequently see him using circles and shikigami, spirit-infused paper servants, or reading a chokubanfor celestial alignments.
The shadows, however, train in taijutsu, the use of the body as a weapon. They are more than competent with other weapons as well, knife and staff, but they know how to use their own weight and strength to advantage when they have nothing else.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel?
Ox-cart is one of the primary methods of travel, for those who can afford it, though foot and palanquin are also seen. Horses, too, are ridden by those worthy and wealthy.
Technology is typically medieval, all muscle and levers, even though Tsurugu’s grasp of astronomy and natural science is daunting.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter that we don’t see today?
Your biggest surprise will be the youkai. This word is frequently translated to English as “demon,” but that’s a pretty poor translation; it means only something that is not human. A better translation for Westerners would be something like “elves,” which also are distinctly not-human and yet are seen in many varieties: Santa’s elves, Tolkien’s elves, elves which abduct children, elves which help shoemakers.
Youkai may be tiny creatures the size of a hummingbird or nightingale, or they may be enormous beings larger than Naka-dono’s spacious house. They may be as friendly as the polite beto-beto-san, who walks invisibly behind you until you gesture him ahead, or as dangerous as the fearsome oni which devours men. In general, it’s best to be cautious and polite.
The kitsune is a fox which can take the shape of a human, possibly even mimicking the appearance of someone you know. A kitsune has between one and nine tails, depending upon age and power, and it may be benevolent or malicious. They are clever and they are known to move among humans, but there are a few clues which might reveal one in disguise.
Sadly, the friendly kawausocannot be seen at all in modern Japan, as this shape-shifting river otter has been driven to extinction in its otter form.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people?
Onmyoudou informed the lives of everyone in this era – it was magic and astronomy and meteorology and the calendar, all in one. An onmyoujiwas responsible for divining an auspicious day for beginning a new project and for deflecting negative energies. The emperor’s court kept official onmyouji, regarded just as any other government official might be.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment.
We’ve mentioned the poetry, which was everywhere as the accepted form of communication. Men and women exchanged poetry in courtship before they met. Social status depended upon one’s graceful handwriting and turn of phrase. A moon-gazing party, in which the participants drank sake, wrote poetry, and read it aloud for prizes, might be a typical overnight indulgence among the elite.
If that seems like a ridiculous pastime, consider the sport of golf today, which is simultaneously a hobby and yet a negotiation field for many businessmen.
Is there a particular religion practiced in this era?
The native religion is Shinto, but Buddhism has been widely adopted and in some cases blended.
What is the political or government structure? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
Naka no Yoritomo is a daimyousworn to serve the shogun, but his word is law in his own land (and many other places). He’s aware of his power and tries to use it fairly, though he is also aware of the great potential for betrayal and treachery in this shifting political climate.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
Classism and sexism are inherent and powerful in this society. The elite view the lowest classes as animals, and women are greatly restricted in education, autonomy, and voice. Kaede, Naka-dono’s wife, and Murame, a farmer’s daughter, are two very different examples of how women find power and agency in this world.
Author Autobiography:
Laura was born at a very early age and never looked back. She overcame childhood deficiencies of having been born without teeth or developed motor skills, and by the time she matured into a recognizable adult she had become a behavior analyst, an internationally-recognized and award-winning animal trainer, a popular costumer/cosplayer, a chocolate addict, and of course a writer. She speaks at conventions on Japanese Folklore & Mythology and writes books about murder and magic and mystery and hope. Find her at www.LauraVanArendonkBaugh.com.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)?
Other titles and upcoming appearances can be found at
Amazonor my
website.
Where can readers connect with you online?
My website and blog is
www.LauraVanArendonkBaugh.com, and I always welcome comments! In addition I love to chat with readers on
Facebook and via Twitter
(@Laura_VAB). And please do say hello if we happen to be at the same writers’ or geek convention!
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to “Old Japan”. 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 the fantasy world of Astarkand in Realm Explorers Part VI!
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:
Katy Huth Jones
Title of book and/or series:
Leandra’s Enchanted Flute
Brief summary of the story:
Fourteen-year-old Leandra is brought to a magical land by a talking Carolina wren named Songcatcher. He believes she can save them from a canker destroying the land, since she beat cancer and her flute has been transformed by the magic of Finian Jahndra.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Finian Jahndra is the magical heart of a distant world, bordered on three sides by ocean. The only land border is formed by mountains and a wide, swift river. Most of the inhabitants are sentient birds. For millennia they have remained isolated from humans except for a trusted few who help protect the realm from invasion.
If we were to visit Finian Jahndra as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Definitely begin in the Enchanted Forest, where you’ll find trees with bell-like leaves, flowers that smell like chocolate, and rainbow-colored birds who will sing along with you in a delightful chorus. Next visit the humans’ lovely castle made of stone, and if you have time, travel north to the eagles’ Aerie in the mountains. You may want to avoid the plains in the west; the ostriches are not very hospitable.
What dangers should we avoid in Finian Jahndra?
Since only the great eagles are larger than their Earth counterparts, if you see anything else larger than usual, such as vultures, cockroaches, worms, etc., then RUN!
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Finian Jahndra?
If you’re not partial to insects (live or cooked), there are starberries and graflax cakes available, which taste like honey granola.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Finian Jahndra?
The humans use bows and arrows, slings, and catapults as defensive weapons. The birds use beaks and talons to great advantage, especially when flying in formation or running, in the case of ostriches.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Finian Jahndra?
The only way to travel to Finian Jahndra from Earth is via a song discovered by Songcatcher the Carolina wren. Within Finian Jahndra one must walk, fly, or ride an obliging ostrich.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Finian Jahndra that we don’t see on Earth?
The trees are sentient, even though their language is felt, not heard, so don’t even think about cutting firewood. The birds are also sentient, with some being more verbose than others. All species are similar to those on Earth with the exception of the great eagles.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Finian Jahndra? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
The magic of Finian Jahndra emanates from the life force of the trees and birds, radiating out from the Enchanted Forest. As long as the balance of nature remains, so does the magic, extending long life to the birds. Allseer, for example, is over 2,000 years old. Since the humans are not indigenous to Finian Jahndra, their health is merely improved so most of them live a full 70 or 80 years, barring accidents.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Finian Jahndra.
For most of the birds, music is the most important activity (after eating), and because of this the humans all learn to sing and/or play a musical instrument.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Finian Jahndra as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The days are close to 24 hours, and a year is similar to ours, but the birds don’t reckon time as we do; because they live so long, only the four seasons of each year matter to them. The humans do celebrate birthdays as well as the anniversary of the king’s reign.
What is the political or government structure in Finian Jahndra? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he?
There is always a bird who is Lord of the Enchanted Forest; in Leandra’s Enchanted Flute it is Allseer the wise owl. The humans have a king who consults with him. Currently on the throne is King Willow Bunting, but he is absent for most of LEF.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Finian Jahndra?
Never forget that the birds of Finian Jahndra feel themselves equal to or a little better than us humans, so we should never treat them like “wild animals.” After all, they were here first.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
My three years living in Hawaii inspired the Enchanted Forest to be a colorful paradise.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
Not sure if it’s “controversial” but some might be uncomfortable with a main character who has incurable cancer.
Author Autobiography:
When not writing, Katy Huth Jones plays flute and piccolo with a regional symphony. She’s been a published author since 1992, mostly for children, and her favorite genres to write and read are fantasy and historical fiction. She and her husband Keith live in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, and their two sons, whom she homeschooled, have flown the nest. Like Leandra, Katy is a cancer survivor.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Finian Jahndra. Questions about the world or the series? 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 the planet Caren in Realm Explorers Part III!
To post this Blitz and add your Social Media to the Rafflecopter,
email us at PrismBookTours(at)gmail.com with “Golden Apple Blitz” in the subject line!
We’re celebrating the release of Michelle Diener’s second fairy tale retelling:
The Golden Apple
An Adult Fantasy Romance based loosely on the Princess on the Glass Hill
The Golden Apple
Adult Fantasy/SciFi
March 24, 2014
Kayla’s world has been turned upside-down…
Her father has made her the prize in a deadly, impossible tournament, and Kayla has retaliated in the only way she knows how; by choosing her champion beforehand. But taking control of the outcome changes the game completely, and when the real reason behind the strange test becomes apparent, Kayla realizes not just her life, but her entire kingdom is at stake.
Rane’s honor is torn in two…
In order to save his brother, Rane will do whatever he has to–including deceive and betray a princess. He knew nothing about this tournament would be easy, but when it turns into a deeper, far more sinister game, Rane is forced to see it through to the end, or leave his brother at the mercy of their enemy.
Now their fates are entwined, and they must venture into the deep, dark forest together…
Kayla and Rane are bound to one another by an enchantment and Kayla’s actions. But the sorcerer forcing them to do his will may have miscalculated, because no-one comes out of the Great Forest unchanged. No-one.
The inspiration for The Golden Apple
The Golden Apple is loosely based on the Norwegian fairy tale The Princess on the Glass Hill. The original tale is more about the hero than the heroine, and it is a very straightforward quest story, with the hero becoming more and more accomplished, until at last he succeeds against the odds. But there were a few things in this fairy tale that stood out for me and made me take notice. The first is the very unusual situation of the king holding a contest for his daughter’s hand by putting her on top of a glass hill with a golden apple in her lap. Knights from all over are invited to race a horse up the smooth glass sides of the mountain and the one who can pluck the golden apple from the princess’s lap wins her hand and is heir to the kingdom. As usual in fairy tales, there is no explanation as to how the king came by a glass mountain, but I wondered where he got it, and that sparked the starting point of the story. It is really the inciting incident that starts the story off, rather than the focus of the story, as it was in the fairy tale.
Secondly, the crux of the tale, for me, is that the hero cannot win the princess’s hand without help from the princess herself. That part of the original tale is one or two lines long, but for me, it’s fascinating. The feminine power determining and choosing which masculine power will prevail. This really made me interested, because the princess doesn’t just sit there and take whoever it is manages to accomplish the (impossible) task set by her father, but actively chooses who it is she wants to win and helps them. I wanted to write a story about the consequences of her taking that power and using it and The Golden Apple was the result — far, far more heroine-centric than the original, and I really had fun with it.
– Michelle Diener
LAST CALL FOR REVIEWERS!
Are you interested in fantasy romance?Do you love fairy tale retellings?Have you read Michelle Diener and enjoyed her work in the past?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you can request a review copy of The Golden Apple! The Golden Apple is up for review by invitation only on NetGalley. Reviewers with book review sites can apply for a limited number of pre-approved copies. Book reviewers who post their review on their review site, Amazon, and Goodreads can enter a Rafflecopter draw to win one of ten copies of any Michelle Diener book of their choice, or a $10 Amazon gift card. (Instructions in sign-up form.)
Michelle Diener writes historical fiction. Her Susanna Horenbout & John Parker series, set in the court of Henry VIII, includes In a Treacherous Court, Keeper of the King’s Secrets and In Defense of the Queen.
Michelle’s other historical novels include Daughter of the Sky, The Emperor’s Conspiracy and Banquet of Lies (loosely connected to The Emperor’s Conspiracy).
Michelle’s first fantasy novel, Mistress of the Wind, is set for a December 23, 2013, release.
Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.
1 – Enter to WIN one of ten ebooks of The Golden Apple.
– March 30 – April 7.
See Rafflecopter for restrictions.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
2 – For book bloggers: Review The Golden Apple by April 1, 2014 and enter to WIN one of 10 prizes:
– Choose any one of Michelle Diener’s books or $10 Gift Card!
– March 24 – April 7
Request an early review copy using the form. Instructions on entering the second giveaway are included!
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