Author’s name: Annie Douglass Lima

Title of series: Annals of Alasia

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

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)

Paperback

Amazon (Kindle version)

In the Enemy’s Service ($2.99 temporarily 99 cents)

Paperback

Amazon (Kindle version)

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

Kobo

Apple iBooks

Prince of Malorn ($3.99 temporarily 99 cents)

Paperback

Amazon (Kindle version)

Barnes and Noble (Nook version)

Smashwords

Kobo

Apple iBooks

Google Play

Google Books

Lulu

Annals of Alasia: The Collected Interviews (available for free!)

Amazon (Kindle version)

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

Apple iBooks

Where can readers connect with you online? 

Email: [email protected]

  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieDouglassLimaAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads 

Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AnnieDouglassLimaOnAmazon

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AnnieDouglassLima

Google Plus: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGooglePlus

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

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

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. 

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 

Paperback

Amazon (Kindle version)

In the Enemy’s Service 

Paperback

Amazon (Kindle version)

Prince of Malorn 

Paperback

Amazon (Kindle version)

Annals of Alasia: The Collected Interviews (available for free!)

Amazon (Kindle version)

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

AppleiBooks

Where can readers connect with you online? 

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieDouglassLimaAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads

Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AnnieDouglassLimaOnAmazon

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AnnieDouglassLima

Google Plus: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGooglePlus

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:

Amazon (all venues), Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and in paperback from Createspace.

Click here to see the book trailer for Changeling’s Crown.

Where can readers connect with you online?  

They can find me at: 

my homepage

Facebook

Google+

Good Reads

Pintrest

Twitter

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. 

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?  

Storm Chase is available on Amazon and Smashwords

Chronocrime is available on Amazon and is now FREE for a limited time!

Where can readers connect with you online? 

Visit me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kmcarrollauthor

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/netraptor01

Blog: http://netraptor.org/blog

Author’s name: Meredith Mansfield

Author Autobiography:

Author’s name: Tony Breeden

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.

Author Tony Breeden Under Attack

Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)?  

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.

Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)?  
Right now Leandra’s Enchanted Flute and its sequel, Return to Finian Jahndra, are only available in digital format from Amazon.

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!

The Golden Apple

Adult Fantasy/SciFi

March 24, 2014

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

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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