WIP It Real Good: Young adult Horror author Rebecca Rook + giveaway

In addition to releasing False Haven, I have recently published a young adult Americana urban fantasy novel, The Penance of Valentine Cash, and I’m currently working an upcoming project. This novel is a Wild West young adult fantasy tale that’s a cross between A Deadly Education and True Grit, titled A Strange Affinity. It comes out in March 2024! Please see the blurb below.

In the Wild West, magic is real.

When two strangers arrive in her small town along the Oregon Trail, Gloriana Rue learns that she has the magical ability, called an Affinity, to manipulate metal. Even more shocking, her late mother was a renowned magical scholar but had abandoned the world of Affinities. Desperate to know more about this secret past, Glory agrees to attend an academy for magicians to find answers.

Soon immersed in train robberies, a magical education, and adventure, Glory begins to find her footing in this dangerous new world. Until she stumbles upon a disturbing discovery: A killer is hunting magicians throughout the American West – and he’s getting closer to her new home. Glory must glean the truth hidden in her mother’s long held secrets to save her community before it’s too late.

A Strange Affinity is a young adult fantasy novel set in an alternate nineteenth century American Wild West. Fans of Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman, Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto, and Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey will love this novel about found family, adventure, and magic.

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False Haven
by Rebecca Rook
Genre: Young Adult Horror
Publisher: Hellebore House
February 13, 2024
ISBN: Print: 979-8-9894253-2-7
ISBN: e-book: 979-8-9894253-3-4
ASIN: B0CNDX3SBY
Number of pages: 250
Word Count: 60,000
Cover Artist: Paper & Sage Designs
Her last chance may end her life.

Seventeen-year-old Vivienne Barston’s life has fallen apart.

With her mother recently dead, her father disappears into his grief – leaving Viv to deal with her sadness and anger alone. To cope, Viv turns to destructive behaviors like petty vandalism, and after a disturbing stint in a juvenile detention center frightens her, Viv agrees to a court mandated service opportunity designed to expunge her record. The deal: work for six weeks with a trail conservation crew in the rural woods of southern Oregon, and she’ll be free with a clean slate.

She knows it’s her last chance to fix her life.

When Viv arrives at the small town of Hard Luck, Oregon, she meets her motley crewmates, all with troubles of their own. The unusual group travels to Grafton Stake, a remote and derelict former asylum with a haunted history–and now Viv must face the ghosts of the past while fighting for her future.
Amazon

Excerpt:
Five faces looked up at her entrance: two girls and three guys. They sat around a conference table in office chairs that were sleek, professional, and out of place in the rustic lodge. An open box of cheap pastries rested at the center of the table, surrounded by water bottles, sodas, and napkins. A pile of hiker’s backpacks rested in the corner of the room. Viv cast the others a quick glance, then placed her pack next to the pile. She picked a chair at the end of the table, closest to the door.

Viv found five pairs of eyes studying her. She felt grubby after a long day on public transportation and tried not to squirm under the scrutiny.

“What’s your name?” one of the girls demanded.

“Viv.” She didn’t inquire about their names. None of them were there to make friends.

The girl who had demanded Viv’s name opened her mouth to say more but was interrupted by the arrival of a woman in her thirties with thin black hair pulled into a low ponytail, nut-brown skin, and a stocky, muscular build. The woman walked with authority and purpose, her shoulders back and her head upright, and when she came to a stop at the head of the conference table, she cast an assessing gaze over Viv.

“You must be Vivienne.” It wasn’t a question.

Viv nodded.

“Welcome.” The woman didn’t smile. “I’m Helen Whiteaker, and I run this program. You will report to me for the duration of your time here.” Helen’s dark eyes held a steel promise of order.

Viv found herself sitting up a bit straighter.

Helen swept a glance around the room. “We’re all here, so let’s start.” She then eyed the pastries in the center of the table. “I’d eat those if I were you. Our meals over the next six weeks won’t be spectacular.”

One of the boys reached for a Danish.

This seemed to satisfy Helen. “Welcome to the Conservation Corps for Teens. Let’s discuss what you’re here to work on for the next six weeks. At the direction of the Bureau of Land Management and the local county council, we’ll be providing the grunt labor for the demolition and cleanup of Grafton Stake, a local institution with several old buildings. We will also build a trail system, campsites, and recreational day sites around the area. The goal of our work is to help create a park-like setting for a future campground and visitor’s center.”
Helen paused. “Does anyone have questions?”

No one responded. The boy with the Danish ate loudly, without closing his mouth. Viv winced at the sight, then looked away. The squelching noise turned her stomach.

Helen eyed Danish Boy with a flicker of amusement in her eyes before continuing. “We have a tight schedule and will need to work fast. We work eight hours a day, every Monday through Friday, with lunches and breaks. Weekends will be spent at the campsite, or in town for short durations.”

Helen paused again and looked around the conference room with her eyebrows raised. When no one said anything, she sighed. “I’m going to be blunt: none of you are here because you want to be here.”

Viv felt the impact of the words like a dash of cold water across the face. She saw the others react, too, shifting uncomfortably in their seats or staring at the floor or the ceiling.

Helen stared at the table. “For various legal and privacy reasons, I do not know the specifics of why you are here, but I will not tolerate any insubordination or disruption on my team. If you misbehave, I will ship you home without a second chance. This is a job. You will be paid a stipend at the end of the six weeks—or a prorated amount for the time you’ve spent in this program. I expect professional behavior from each of you, towards me and towards each other.

That means no sex, no drugs, no shit talking, and no fights.”

The conference room was still. Viv’s stomach roiled with anxiety. She almost admired how efficiently Helen had asserted control over the group.

“Really?” Helen cast a skeptical glance around the room. “No questions at all?”

About the Author:
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Rebecca Rook is a hard of hearing person who designs tabletop games, manages a little free library dedicated to sequential art and comics, and lives in the Pacific Northwest with two wonderful dogs. A 2021-2022 Hugo House Fellow in Seattle, WA, she also attended the 2021 Tin House YA Fiction Workshop in Portland, OR. Prior to this, she completed the wonderful Yearlong Workshop for Young Adult and Middle Grade Fiction at Hugo House. She writes young adult fiction in the fantasy, thriller, and horror genres.

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When Vivienne Barston arrives in Hard Luck, Oregon, to fulfill her court mandated service, she travels with a motley crew to Grafton Stake, a remote and derelict former asylum with a haunting history. Now Viv must face the ghosts of the past while fighting for her future. https://amzn.to/3UitADA
#falsehaven #rebeccarook #youngadulthorror #spookywoods #yahorror #femaleprotagonist #ghoststories

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WIP it Real Good with Young Adult Fantasy Author Valerie Storm + giveaway

EXCERPT

Raven’s smile widened a sickening degree; Kari half expected her mouth to split at the ends and unravel.

“You’re the one. Not this sack of flesh and bone. You are my one.” She leaned against the barrier, pressing her cheek against it, eyes never leaving Kari. It was as if she couldn’t get close enough. “Come here, little demon. Why are you with the worms? Remake the world with me.”

Kari crossed her arms, to steady herself as well as to appear unbothered; yet her voice cracked when she spoke. “How did you get out of your prison?”

Mouth split from ear to ear, a low chuckle bred in Raven’s throat and died there. She brought one hand to her cheek and dug her nails in, dragging down as she spoke. “Well…this little creature came calling, and I answered.”

Kari stepped back, her arms dropping and her stomach twisting as blood dribbled down Raven’s torn cheek.

So, I’m working on book 8, the final book in Kari’s series. It’s a way off, but I want Fate of the Storm to be beyond ready when it’s time for editing! This scene is from past the halfway point—Kari has left home seeking the True Big Bad of the series, and runs into Raven, her arch nemesis.

Fate of the Storm has been a bit of a thorn in my side. More than any other, this book has the biggest impact on the land and the characters and it’s been intimidating to get everything *just right*. I have some confidence I’ll get it where it needs to be before I need to send it to my editors for publishing (I’ve got something like a year and a half left, plenty of time!), but it’s still scary.

Even saying that, I love the small moments like this—I am so proud of where these characters have gone and how they’ve gotten here, and when readers get there, I hope they feel the same way.

Heart of the Storm (Demon Storm Book Four)
by Valerie Storm
9/13/23
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Shadow Spark Publishing
ISBN: ISBN: 978-1-956883-14-5
ASIN: B0CFHBLMGJ
Number of pages:410
Word Count:101219
Cover Artist: @Ginkahederling
A fresh start. An old home, new again. And a new evil to match.
 

Crimson eyes and dark wings. Together, they'll be terrible. Can she break free?

Their light is broken. When a new darkness rises, will they overcome it?

More than night terrors keep Kari awake at night. Ari languishes beside her, broken by the horrors Raven bestowed upon him.

She hopes he heals, and soon.

When a familiar presence and an unexplainable human with magic happen upon their doorstep, Kari and Ari make a decision: leave Raziac Village in search of answers and a new home.

But the heart eater waits for them.

Amazon

 

Excerpt:
Kari pushed away her steak, half-eaten. “Can this place be real?”

Rathik looked up from his turkey. “Sometimes I can’t believe it myself, and I headed the revolution.”

Ari leaned over his plate, eyes widening. “You did? How?”

“From within the town itself. I was on the guard. I hid myself, too.” Rathik looked at Kari. “My commanding officer believed I had a skin disease.”

A sudden memory pricked her attention. The day she’d run into a guard in Snow Shade—after stealing the magic book for Kiki—she’d glimpsed scales on that man’s face and forgotten all about it.

Guine snorted. “Nice.”

Rathik inclined his head. “My position enabled me to sneak demons in. I was just trying to help sickly ones at first. Eventually my name—different than the one I used as a guard—became infamous.” He laughed, shaking his head, and took a sip of ale.

“I…I remember your name. Rathik.” Kari wracked her brain, remembering the first bolt of lightning she had called down; it had been glorious, though it also represented the first time she had felt the burning fire of the Catalyst. She’d been attacked by a demon yelling about a Rathik.

Rathik grimaced. “I became a rallying point for many demons in the north, and it wasn’t long until the Lord Isaac was looking for me.”

Kari, nodded, recalling that, too.

“Lord Isaac became frantic, especially when a man and his wife were found dead in their homes. He ordered searches, and it wasn’t long before my friends were found out. One died, trying to protect the others.”

Kari’s throat tightened. Ari shifted so she could grab his arm. Guine glanced at them.

“It was me,” she muttered in a hoarse whisper.

“What?” Rathik asked.

“It was my fault your friend died. I…I was the one who killed those two humans.”

She’d had no choice, she’d told herself, yet that hadn’t been true. How many times had Kiki tried to convince her they could run away without leaving any bodies behind? And Kari had refused, sure that killing Anne and Joseph was the only true way to honor her parents.

If she’d listened, Kiki may have lived, and Rathik’s friend wouldn’t have died.

Rathik leaned over the table. “No. Trust me, Kari. It was only a matter of time before Lord Isaac snapped. Even Dorn, from Isaac’s council, said he was well on his way to madness without anyone’s help.”

“He’s right,” Ari said, rubbing her. “Even we’d heard some stories in Raziac. You aren’t to blame for his actions.”

Kari caught Guine’s eye, his expression indiscernible, then frowned at her plate.

Rathik nodded. “His own people saw it. Some of them helped us, guiding our peaceful speeches to fellow humans, and reconciling began. Now we have this.”

He waved his hand, gesturing at the room.

“Even though I’d heard of the revolution, I can hardly believe my eyes,” Ari said. “This place is unimaginable.”

 

Check out the whole series

About the Author:
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Valerie Storm was raised in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up, she fell in love with everything fantasy. When she wasn’t playing video games, she was writing. By age ten, she began to write her own stories as a way to escape reality. When these stories became a full-length series, she considered the path to sharing with other children & children at heart looking for a place to call home.

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WIP it Real Good: Romantic Fantasy Author Brianna Sugalski + giveaway

Disillusioned (A Lay of Ruinous Reign: Book Two) by Brianna Sugalski

Chapter 5 Excerpt
It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the fireplace in the far corner. In front of it, upon a patchwork rug, was a large tan armchair that looked like it had seen better years. Or centuries. Garin sat in it, the trimmed back of his head looking very astute, and she wondered distantly if his cropped, blue-black waves ever grew.

There was a neatly made bed across the fire, lush cream undersheets beneath what appeared to be a black duvet, and next to it, a short shelf containing books and several manually bound stacks of parchment. His prized longsword from Sinclair was perched on a wall rack before her, and to the left of that, a long mounted shelf hanging with thick twine that nestled into the corner. This was lined in strange potted plants—ones she’d never seen before. She couldn’t tell if they were foreign as in from a different continent, or Low Forest foreign. None of them glowed, but it was hard to tell in the light. Some of them had mouths, or at least, leaves that looked like mouths. She could’ve sworn one of them yawned.

Stepping further into the room and promptly away from the row of plants, Lilac cleared her throat. “Nice of you to share your space with Lorietta.”

Garin looked up from the worn sheepskin book in his palm, turned so she could see his sharp profile against the hearth before him, and said, sounding alarmed, “What makes you think she shares my room?”

“That’s not what I was implying,” she said, motioning to the strange array of flora, unsure if he saw the motion. “Her plants make for some intriguing decor, that’s all.”

He turned back to the fire and the room was silent for a beat more. She waited while he finished his page, marked it with the red lace protruding from the top of the book, and slid it into his pant pocket.

“Are you still angry with me?” There was genuine curiosity in his words.

“No.”

Standing and rounding the chair, he sauntered toward her. The way the firelight struck the man’s features made her breath catch. He was beautiful, as he’d always been. But it was strange bearing witness to this beauty here, in his home—not his parents’ home, or the Sanguine Mine, but in the place Garin Trevelyan took true solace. True pride. Taken aback, it took a moment for her to meet his gaze, and by the time she did, he showed no intention of stopping.

Lilac played along, retreating and taunting him, lips slightly parted, her eyes wide and stormy, taking him in. Yes, she was still angry. Furious. She was also hungry. There were many ways to punish men, but applying this to Garin might also punish her, in ways she might not entirely mind.

He rocked with a bounce in each step, slowly dancing them both, untouching, to the wall of plants.

Hands behind her, both to feel for the stone and to keep herself from raking her nails into him, she came to rest against the wall. She was nearly panting by the time he leaned down so that their mouths were almost touching.

“If I can tell you’ve made yourself come tonight, do you think I wouldn’t be able to tell you’re lying to me?”

She’d been grinning hungrily up at him; now, the smile fell abruptly. Fire coursed through her veins. “I was—How did you know?”

He placed a hand against the wall and two fingers of the other under her chin, teasing against the pout of her bottom lip. “How’s staying away going for you, Eleanor?”

She had never intended to stay away. She was selfish, she’d been called that before and tonight she didn’t fight it. The intensity in his slate eyes was overwhelming, burning and heavy, this time planting her in her body instead of coaxing her out to sea. “You’re the one backing me into a corner.”

“And you’re the one who walked into my room unannounced.” His teeth were elongated; although this no longer invoked the same initial fear she once felt, they still sent a visceral reaction through her. He reveled in it, grinning with satisfaction. “That’s twice, now. If only the former king knew. If only, Armand knew.”

Lilac jerked her chin from him, but he gripped her jaw in a gentle, iron vice.

“Is that what this is?” She lifted her hand to his and coaxed the finger at the corner of her mouth onto her tongue, unflinching as she wrapped her lips around it.

Garin froze, his breath hitched and throat bobbing. She would play his game, and play it better. A low groan erupted from his throat as he released her.

“Is this your revenge?”

When he answered, his voice cracked. “If this is revenge, Your Majesty, let it be the sweetest I’ll ever taste.”

Disenchanted (A Lay of Ruinous Reign, #1)
by Brianna Sugalski

December 27th 2022
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Tangled meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this Breton folklore-inspired fantasy debut brimming with wry humor, epic adventure, and an irresistible romance.

At the peak of the Breton Renaissance, Lilac Trécesson is held prisoner in her own castle after a most wicked secret is revealed on the eve of her fifteenth birthday. Years later, her Accession looms upon her father’s decision to abdicate, and between town riots and the noble family bent on snatching her throne, she prepares for the worst…

Until a letter arrives from The Witch of Lupine Grotto, detailing a curious offer to banish her curse forever.

Her heirloom dagger at the ready, Lilac embarks into Brocéliande and finds herself in the grasp of a bloodthirsty barkeep who demands her help in exchange for protection against the even deadlier forces of the woods.

She is thrust on a quest to uphold her family’s legacy—and her sovereign right to destroy it and start anew—by any means necessary. Pity the fool to underestimate the girl with subpar blade skills but the pure spite to make up for it.

This is the tale of a cursed princess,

A crestfallen killer,

The town that wants them to burn,

And the witch who can save them both.

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About the Author:

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Southeast Asian fantasy author with a soup addiction. Diverse medievalist and developmental editor who lives in oversized sweaters, and prefers to explore the more ominous—disenchanting, if you will—undertones of history, romance, and the arcane.

My debut, Breton Arthuriana-inspired YA Dark Fantasy DISENCHANTED, released with the Parliament Press in March 2020, and is being re-released and rebranded for the New Adult/ Adult indie market in December 2022. The rest of the trilogy will follow this updated genre rating.

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PNR Author L. Diane Wolfe: WIP it Real Good - In Darkness Series

In Darkness: The Shark is my latest release and the second in the In Darkness novella series. The first was The Vampire (released this past February) and next up is The Werewolf (September 5).

I’d like to share a snippet from The Werewolf, set in England mid-1980s.

Salisbury Cathedral opened moments after their arrival. Nicholas stared up at the imposing tower, hesitant to enter. Would he experience acceptance this time? A tug on his sleeve caught his attention.

“Come on,” Vicki said, pulling him toward the entrance.

He approached the doors, a healthy fear of God tingling his nerves. Why did I suggest this? Father, forgive me. Please forgive the beast inside.

They entered the building and Vicki gasped. Nicholas held his breath, afraid to look. His movement gradual, he lifted his gaze. The massive cathedral opened before them, powerful and splendid in all her ancient glory. The presence of God thundered in the high ceiling, the sound rushing to meet the floor below. He shuddered at the sensation.

“Are you all right?” Vicki said.

Her fingers curled around his and her touch brought a measure of calm. “I’m fine.”

Straightening his back, Nicholas took a brave step forward. With Vicki’s hand wrapped around his, a surge of strength flowed through him. I can do this.

No longer consumed by dread, he let Vicki lead.

She paused for a photo. He hated to relinquish her hand and did so with reluctance. Waiting next to a pew, he glanced at the ceiling. A breeze moved down the corridor, stirring his hair. Rather than a chill, a warm breath touched his skin. The sensation set him at ease.

This is their second date. Nicholas is understandably nervous about entering the cathedral and it reveals his attitude toward his condition: he considers it an evil curse. While it isn’t a curse, it does present a struggle for him. Both main characters have a “condition” that causes them to withdraw from other people (shrouded in darkness), and the story reveals that through each other, they find acceptance.

You don’t have to wait until September to read about characters shrouded in darkness, though! The Shark and The Vampire are both available now.

In Darkness: The Shark
By L. Diane Wolfe

May 9, 2023, 

Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

Genre: Romance/Paranormal, Fantasy/Paranormal, Fantasy/Romance

85 pages

Souls shrouded in darkness…

Focused on her studies and duties at the aquarium, Jewels prefers her solitary life. Burned many times and short on trust, she has more in common with her aquatic friends than the people around her. But she never imagined coming face to face with a shark named Clarence…a shark who talks!

As their friendship grows, Jewels must overcome her deep set mistrust. There are dangers, both in the Australian ocean and on dry land. Can Jewels depend on the great white or will his animal nature betray her?

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About the Author:

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http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com - Spunk On A Stick’s Tips

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A professional speaker and author, L. Diane Wolfe conducts seminars, offers book formatting, and author consultation. She’s the senior editor at Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and contributes to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

WIP it Real Good: Epic Fantasy Author Bryan Cole + excerpts

My first book, Beginning of Arrogance, tells the tale of Krell learning what it means to have a god talking directly to him, driving him forward.

Krell’s story continues into book 2, Futility of Defense, where the consequences of his actions in Beginning of Arrogance come back to bite him.

From Chapter 1 of Futility of Defense:

Krell was serving aboard ReckNor’s Bounty as a common sailor. If he was going to be a paladin of ReckNor, then he felt he should know how to sail a ship. Captain Voss was a willing teacher, ever since Krell interceded and saved him from being sentenced to the levies. Now in service to the town council, ReckNor’s Bounty had sailed to drop wardstones across the sea floor. Krell glanced at the pile still on the main deck. Scribed with deep runes, Karaback had crafted the wardstones to warn if a force of sea devils approached.

As the minutes passed, the cliffs grew closer. Krell could make out the ruined tower atop a bluff to the east. He held rights to establish a residence there, but hadn’t begun investigating what that meant. Closer to Watford, he could see a team of people working on the foundations of a small fortress being built near the harbor entrance, and another team on the opposite side.

The new fortifications were progressing. Every time Krell had looked, the foundation seemed to expand. Petimus Smithforge, leader of the dwarven mining consortium and member of the Watford town council, kept saying that real progress required a stonesinger and that one was on the way.

Until the defenses were complete, the raids would continue.

Krell’s brow furrowed, the smile dropping from his face. The reason they were returning was because Watford was going to come under attack. Tonight. His eyes darted back to the clouds to the south, moving closer.

They almost always came when it rained.

In this scene, Krell is hurrying home so he can defend Watford once again. One of the overarching themes in the series is consequences of your actions – both good and bad. While being called as a paladin and standing against the threat from the sea is all well and good, Krell increasingly feels the futility of it. And while the obvious threat from Beginning of Arrogance is still present, there are other consequences that need to be dealt with as well…

A snippet from Chapter 8:

Dahlia leaned over Krell. “Can you move yet?”

Krell groaned and pushed himself onto his elbows. “I think so.” Krell shook his head slightly. “I think Olgar was going easy on me.”

Dahlia stared at him with wide eyes. “That was easy? Krell, you’ve been slammed by magic for the last twenty minutes. It wasn’t even directed at me and I’m sore. I’m not certain I would have lived through it.”

Krell struggled to get his legs under him for a moment, then gratefully grasped Dahlia’s arm when she offered it. His head swam for a moment as he stood, even as he felt the grace of ReckNor moving within him, and also into Dahlia.

“Are you okay?” she asked, a small smile on her face. “Praise ReckNor for his aid.”

Krell chuckled, then frowned. “I’ve felt better. And you would have. I think Olgar has enough control to use just enough, but not too much. There’s a deeper lesson here, I think.”

INDEED. THE USE OF THE GIFTS I HAVE GRANTED YOU ARE STUNTED BY YOUR OWN HAND. THE FRACTURED NATURE OF YOUR POWER LIMITS WHAT PALADINS TRADITIONALLY SHOULD BE CAPABALE OF. STILL, TODAY’S LESSON WAS INTERESTING TO OBSERVE. I AM PLEASED WITH OLGAR AND HIS SERVICE TO ME, MY PALADIN.

Krell clutched at his head as he sagged against Dahlia. She caught him and struggled to hold him upright for a moment, before Krell righted himself.

“That was your doing? You could have warned me,” muttered Krell.

I AM NOT WIDELY KNOWN FOR MY GENTLE NATURE OR DESIRE TO CODDLE MY FOLLOWERS, KRELL.

One of the aspects I love about well-written stories is that the characters grow, in both skill, power, and wisdom. Scenes showing training, where they struggle to master skills, are a vital part of that, and lends believability and credence to the story. If you haven’t read Beginning of Arrogance, early on Krell shatters his magic in order to stay alive, and the consequences of that action keep coming up in Futility of Defense.

Beginning of Arrogance is available everywhere you can buy a book online, and Futility of Defense should be published in the Summer of 2023. I’ve already begun work on book 3 in the series as well!

Beginning of Arrogance (A Paladin’s Journey Book One)
by Bryan Cole
June 30th, 2022
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Fat Paladin Incorporated
ISBN: 9780228868682
ASIN: B0B5JJ338K
Number of pages: 410
Word Count: 125,476
Cover Artist: Vilenko Vujicevic
Paladins are nothing but trouble

Paladins are nothing but trouble. Stories about paladins are everywhere, noble warriors riding magic steeds into battle against terrible foes. Champions of their gods. Heroes to everyone, except those who already have everything. Paladins are notorious for upsetting the balance of power, to the detriment of any who don't worship their deity.

So when Krell is called to service by the capricious god of the seas and skies, ReckNor, those with wealth and power can't help but be concerned. ReckNor hasn't called a paladin in years, and his nature is ever-changing and erratic. The fact that Krell is also an uneducated nobody with a stubborn streak as wide as the sea turns their concerns into fear.

All of which matters less than the threat clawing its way from the waves, ready to turn the ocean red with spilled blood...

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Excerpt:
Gerrard fell back and walked beside Krell for a moment.

“So, Krell, how do you know about the Forge Father and all that? Never heard you say anything like that before, you know?” Gerrard smiled up at him.

Krell laughed. “It’s true enough, Gerrard, that my education could best be described as lacking. Most people say I don’t know anything. I grew up alone, you see, so nobody taught me anything useful. I had to learn it all myself.”

Gerrard looked at him questioningly. “Alone how? I can’t see humans, even as insane as they often are, abandoning a youngling to grow up alone.”

“Oh, I had a family. Still might, somewhere, maybe. But I was lost at sea when I was young. Not sure how young. Washed up on an island somewhere and spent a bunch of years surviving.” Krell looked up at the sky. “My memories there are… poor. Can’t remember much, but I remember the cold, the loneliness, and the hunger. Those stand out in my mind.” Krell shook his head and frowned.

“Olgar taught me basically everything I know, aside from how to survive alone. Whatever knowledge I have is thanks to him, and one thing he made sure I knew well was who all the gods and their followers are. Paladins apparently spend a lot of time in conflict with faiths other than their own.”

“Ah,” said Gerrard, nodding in agreement.

Krell shrugged and looked back at Gerrard. “Whatever else I am, Gerrard, I’m a survivor. Maybe that’s why ReckNor chose me to be a paladin. Maybe he wrecked the ship on purpose to see if I had what it took. Maybe he didn’t. Either way, I hear the call. My blade is in his service, my will is his will. His voice thunders in my head, making his will known to me.”

“Wow. You know, Kraven’s right, you are intense!” Gerrard walked along in silence for a few minutes next to him. Then he turned and said, “That sounds really hard, having another voice in your head all the time.”

Krell laughed. “Nah, it’s really easy. When he tells me something, I do it. When he doesn’t say anything, I do whatever I want.”

Gerrard frowned. “I thought paladins had all sorts of rules they had to follow.”

Krell grinned at him. “You’re thinking of followers of Hieron the Honorable, lord of justice. There’s a big temple of his in Heaford, just up the coast, where the duke holds court. I’ve never met one of his followers, but apparently he loves calling paladins, and they’re pretty common in that faith. Most paladin stories are about paladins of Hieron.”

“Not common in ReckNor’s faith, though?”

“Not remotely. Apparently, Olgar can’t remember the last time ReckNor called one. He’s… well, most people think he’s insane, and that if you don’t appease him, he’ll destroy you. A cult of sailors and the mad. That he’s temperamental enough that even if you appease him, he still might destroy you. Which is all… somewhat true, I’d say.”

Ahead, Tristan laughed. “You’re telling me you think your god is insane?”

Krell shook his head. “No, but temperamental? Absolutely. Appease him or else, which is how his faith works. Sailors and those who live and work on the sea pay homage, though for many, it is out of fear. He’s often thought of as a survival-of-the-fittest sort of god.”

Krell noticed they were all looking at him now. Orca looked unhappy, Kraven appeared to be controlling his laughter, and Tristan and Gerrard were looking at him like he was dangerous.

“So… what does ReckNor teach, then?” asked Gerrard. Krell thought about it, and Tristan looked like he was dreading an explanation. Better to keep things simple for now, he thought.

“Basically two things. The first is that the seas and skies are his, so make offerings when you use them and he’s happy. The second is that he takes joy in the freedom of choice.” Krell went silent, and they walked on for a few moments before anyone said anything.

“I thought you were going to drone on incessantly about your god and how great he is all the time,” said Tristan. Krell looked at him and smiled.

“I’m a paladin. If you want that, go talk to Olgar. I’m here to show the faith of ReckNor through action, not through words.” Thunder rumbled in the distance as if on cue, adding ominous weight to his words.

Gerrard snorted. “Did ReckNor just add some thunder in the background to make you sound more intimidating or dramatic or something?”

Kraven laughed, and Krell joined him. Orca said, “That’s ridiculous!” at the same time Krell said, “Probably!”

About the Author:
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Bryan Cole is the author of the Paladin’s Journey series. New to the writing world, he spent years working in the enterprise software space, focused on quality assurance and delivery of software applications. Which is weird, because that has nothing to do with writing fiction.

For that, we need to go back – way back – to his first experience with Dungeons & Dragons. His friend Chris brought over the box set for Myth Drannor, eager to play. Together, they realized they had no idea what they were doing, because neither of them owned a copy of the Players Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, or the Monster Manual.

From those incredibly awkward beginnings, a lifelong passion for epic science fiction and high fantasy adventure was born. Everything from his grade 4 teacher letting him stay after school to play a video game where you were the wizard on a quest, defeating monsters by answering math problems, to some truly memorable movies like Willow that showed him a world bigger and more exciting than the real one.

Of course, Star Wars and Star Trek have had a major influence on him. Want to get in good with Bryan? Lead with a Star Wars meme.

From one of the good movies. Otherwise, your plan will backfire.

Bryan is also an avid gamer, and enjoys video games, board games, and tabletop roleplaying games.

These days, he lives in Toronto with his wife and daughter, and his adorable cat.

WIP it Real Good: Romantic fantasy author Jennifer Ivy Walker + giveaway

My new WIP is a novel about a sullen, solitary, chivalrous knight and his impossible love for a Viking princess who will be forced to marry a man she loathes. As her personal royal guard, he teaches her weaponry and equestrian skills, battling a horde of invading pirates to defend her beloved kingdom like a Valkyrie shield maiden of Nordic lore.

Snippet:

The Viking Princess of Finistère

He loved watching her long red hair billow in the briny wind, sheathed sword strapped at her slender hip, black cloak unfurling like enormous swan wings of a Valkyrie shield maiden. Marivée, her fleet footed gray Andalusian, flew across the heathered moors, the horse’s incredible speed a sheer, thrilling delight to the free spirited, flame haired, fire hearted Gabrielle.

The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven Book One
by Jennifer Ivy Walker
September 5, 2022
Genre: Fantasy/Medieval Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
ISBN: 978-1-5092-4568-0 Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-5092-4569-7 Digital
ASIN: B0B8XNMYBS
Number of pages: 377
Word Count: 111,565
Cover Artist: Rae Monet
Mirror, mirror on the lake. Reveal the path the queen will take.

In this dark fairy tale adaptation of a medieval French legend, Issylte must flee the wicked queen, finding shelter with a fairy witch who teaches her the verdant magic of the forest.

Fate leads her to the otherworldly realm of the Lady of the Lake and the Elves of Avalon, where she must choose between her life as a healer or fight to save her ravaged kingdom.

Tristan of Lyonesse is a Knight of the Round Table who must overcome the horrors of his past and defend his king or lose everything. When he becomes a warrior of the Tribe of Dana, a gift of Druidic magic might hold the key he seeks.

Haunted and hunted. Entwined by fate. Can their passion and power prevail?

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Excerpt 1 from “The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven”

He opened the brilliant blue eyes that she’d seen in the vision.

As she gazed into them, the earth tilted. Her heart raced; her bearings were lost. In the depths of his eyes, she glimpsed a fountain in a forest. The turquoise waters of the ocean. An underground well encased by sacred stones. She, the forest fairy, was immersed in the blue waters of the warrior’s eyes, the waves emanating from him flowing through her, cleansing her. Beckoning her.

In Tristan’s eyes, Issylte glimpsed a black bird—a sea raven—soaring over an open sea, hovering now before her. A small dove fluttered in her breast, called forth from her soul. White wings unfurled as she took flight, rising into the azure sky alongside the black seabird—-floating together through the diaphanous clouds scattered across the vast ocean.

In the breadth of an instant, Issylte was bound to this warrior, the Blue Knight of Cornwall, as if fate had indeed entwined them. Through the windows of his eyes, she peered into his soul, her own blending with his, as if they were the forest and the ocean, encircled now within the three layers of protective stones, the holy trinity of sacred elements of the Goddess.

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Enthralled with legends of medieval knights and ladies, dark fairy tales and fantasies about Druids, wizards and magic, Jennifer Ivy Walker always dreamed of becoming a writer. She fell in love with French in junior high school, continuing her study of the language throughout college, eventually becoming a high school teacher and college professor of French.

As a high school teacher, she took her students every year to the annual French competition, where they performed a play she had written, "Yseult la Belle et Tristan la Bête"--an imaginative blend of the medieval French legend of "Tristan et Yseult" and the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast", enhanced with fantasy elements of a Celtic fairy and a wicked witch.

Her debut novel, "The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven"--the first of a trilogy-- is a blend of her love for medieval legends, the romantic French language, and paranormal fantasy. It is a retelling of the medieval French romance of "Tristan et Yseult", interwoven with Arthurian myth, dark fairy tales from the enchanted Forest of Brocéliande, and otherworldly elements such as Avalonian Elves, Druids, forest fairies and magic.

Explore her realm of Medieval French Fantasy. She hopes her novels will enchant you.

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A paranormal romance, dark fantasy adaptation of the medieval legend of Tristan and Isolde, blended with Arthurian myth, Druids, Avalonian Elves, magic, and French fairy tales from the enchanted forest of Brocéliande.

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#paranormalromance #medievalromance #medievalfantasy #vikings #tristanandisolde #mythsandlegends #arthurianlegend #steamyromance #medievalfrenchfantasy

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WIP It Real Good: YA Fantasy author Rachanee Lumayno + giveaway

So, I did a thing.

I wrote a book. It’s called Heir of Amber and Fire, Book One in the Kingdom Legacy Series.

But I’m not here to talk about that.

I wrote another book. It’s called Heir of Memory and Shadow, second in the series, and it will be available May 3.

Cover art for the first two books in the Kingdom Legacy series. Aren’t they gorgeous?

But I’m not here to talk about that either. Well, sort of.

The crazy thing about being a creative is that once you finish one project, you’re already dreaming up the next one. Sometimes you’re dreaming up the next few projects while you’re trying to complete the first one! I am totally guilty of that.

So while we’re on this book tour for Heir of Memory and Shadow (Book 2), I wanted to share with you an excerpt from Book 3 of the Kingdom Legacy series. There’s no title for it yet, so I suppose it would be the Untitled Kingdom Legacy Project.

This book will be set in the kingdom of Rothschan, which gets a bad rap in the Gifted Lands. Spoiler alert: As I’m writing this third book, I don’t think Rothschan is going to be able to rise about that reputation. We’ll see… but I highly doubt it.

So you can read what I’ve written so far in this latest installation. I hope you enjoy it, just as I hope you enjoy the previous books in the series! And if you’re new to the Kingdom Legacy series, don’t worry — each book can be read as a standalone and you don’t have to read the previous books to know what’s going on. So start wherever you want!

Also, just a heads up — what you’re reading here may change by the time the third book is released. Or it may stay exactly the same, who knows? Either way, enjoy the excerpt!

Excerpt from Book 3 of the Kingdom Legacy series

The first thing I noticed was the smell.

There was a slight mustiness in the air, riding on the cool breeze coming from the dark opening before me. It instantly tickled my nose, threatening to make me sneeze. I squashed that urge immediately. I was on the run, after all. Any little sound could give me away.

The blackness before me didn’t help my apprehension, either. Staring into it, I felt like I had suddenly gone blind. I couldn’t see any light anywhere inside that might help ease my passage. An uneasy feeling washed over me. What would happen when I went inside? Would I find the answers I needed? Or would I just get swallowed by the earth, never to be heard from again?

My voice barely above a whisper, I turned as I started to say, “Do I really need to —”

I turned. My guide was gone.

I looked around, thinking furiously. I could retrace my steps, try to find my guide. I could just leave, go home.

Except I knew what was at home. And it wasn’t enough to make me want to go back to it, especially knowing what my fate would be if I chose that.

I turned back to face the opening. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, disappearing into the darkness.

As I walked, the musty smell grew stronger. There was a decidedly earthy tang to it, and the air steadily grew colder. Moving slowly, I put my hands out, first in front of me and then to my sides. In this pitch-black cave I would have to rely on my other senses, and sight was now useless. In front and to the left of me, I met only air, but to my right my hand scraped against a rough rock wall.

Relieved that I wouldn’t be forced to flail around in the dark, I placed my palm on the wall, following the jagged contours and praying that it would lead me to my destination. The sightlessness and silence bore down on me as I inched along.

Time seemed to have no meaning as I kept walking. Eventually I realized that, besides feeling like the earthy smell was permeating my clothes and my skin, the area I was traversing was getting smaller. If I stretched out my left hand, I could feel a rock wall on the other side. And then the top of my head scraped a rock ceiling.

A few more steps, and I had to stoop down a bit to continue on. And then I was crawling on my hands and knees, hoping the passageway wouldn’t get any smaller. If I had to, I could turn around and head back to the entrance, but already I was enclosed by rock on all sides. It would be hard to back up into a bigger area.

The leather satchel I had slung hurriedly over my shoulder in my flight from my home dragged awkwardly on the dirt floor. I cursed myself mentally for not double or triple looping it around my body before crawling along, but as I was currently running on pure adrenaline, I suppose my oversight could have been forgiven.

My shoulders ached. My hands, already scratched up from bumping into the cave’s walls, were probably a mess of dirt and cuts. My knees hurt from this seemingly never-ending crawl and I was sure my pants were torn and dirty, beyond salvaging.

At least I thought to bring an extra pair.

Although I wasn’t happy at having to replace items so early in my travels. Indeed, before my journey had even really begun.

I hate this. Why did I think this was a good idea? Maybe I should just turn around, before it’s too late ….

My strength was close to being spent. I didn’t think I could keep going, but at this point I also felt like it would be easy to go back. The idea of crawling backward in this interminable cave exhausted me. Maybe it would be best to just lie down here and sleep. Forever.

And then, ahead of me, I saw it. A glow. At the end of the tunnel.

I pushed myself to keep moving, intent on reaching that light. I was so focused on it that I didn’t realize I had reached the end of the tunnel. I tumbled out of the tight space, falling a few feet and landing on the hard ground. Unaccustomed to the flood of light that hit my eyes, I blinked several times, trying to adjust to the sudden brightness.

When I could see clearly again, I looked up. And into five rather unfriendly faces.

A sixth joined them, a man. Studying me carefully, he frowned and said, “And what do we have here?”

* * *

Heir of Memory and Shadow (Kingdom Legacy Series Book Two)
by Rachanee Lumayno
May 2022
Genre: Fantasy/ YA Fantasy
Publisher: Miss Lana Press
ISBN: 9781736181126
Number of pages: 338
Word Count: 72, 197
Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde
Kaernan Asthore may be one of the most gifted Seekers in the kingdom of Orchwell, but he wants nothing more than to be rid of his gift: the ability to find lost loves, which often ends in heartbreak.

So when Lady Adallia Pahame hires him to find her own lost love, Kaernan assumes it will be an easy, routine commission.

But when the mystery surrounding his new traveling companion causes them to run afoul of an infamous gang of bounty hunters, Kaernan realizes this is one commission he might not return from. Will he be able to uncover the truth in time to save his friends — and himself?

Heir of Memory and Shadow is the second book in the Kingdom Legacy series.

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Excerpt:
I bow over the lovely young woman’s outstretched hand as I agree to assist her. As we ride together, I see the sunlight halo behind her head, hearing her sweet laughter as she smiles hopefully at me, believing the world is full of possibility.

But, unfortunately, her hope is misplaced.

I watch as her face crumples in tears. Not the restrained, dignified sniffles that I would have expected from someone of her standing. Instead, the tears are great gulping sobs that rack her thin frame, threatening to break her in two.

Just as her heart was breaking.

I had been taught to remain neutral, but it is difficult to see to see the poor young lady react so violently to the news. But what had she honestly expected?

I try to calm her, to comfort her, even though it isn’t my place nor my business. I hold her firmly by the shoulders, speaking in a low, soothing voice as if she is an easily spooked animal.

The wild look in her eyes begins to settle. The tears begin to slow.

I breathe easier. It will be all right now.

Then, without warning, her hand shoots out toward me. I instinctively recoil, expecting to feel the sting of a slap. Instead, she grabs the hilt of the dagger sheathed at my belt. In one swift motion, she draws the knife out and plunges it into her heart. Her eyes never leave mine as the light fades from them.

I scream.

Or, at least, I think I do. All I know is, my mouth is gaping open in shock as she falls gracelessly into my outstretched arms. Her blood is everywhere. On my hands, my arms, splashed all over the front of my shirt. Pooling on the floor beneath her crumpled body. Her now sightless eyes are still fixed on me.

Accusing me, forever, that I could have prevented this needless death.

Couldn’t I?

* * *


I came out of the magically-induced memory doubled over, gasping for air, even though I wasn’t bound by enchantment or by physical means.

No, I was just bound to the lady Rosemary through my memories of my failed commission. “Thank you for allowing the Council to see that once more,” a deep, gravelly voice above me said. “I know that isn’t easy for you to relive, over and over.”

The voice recalled me to where I was: in my home country of Orchwell, standing before the kingdom’s other governing body, the Council of Seekers, on day ten of what seemed like a never-ending trial.

My trial.

Because my commission had ended so brutally, the Council had called me before them, repeatedly going over the events that led to Rosemary’s death. This was the fifth time I had had to relive the memories of what had occurred.

While the memories were painful, they were nothing compared to the possible futures before me. Depending on the Council’s ruling, I could be stripped of my Seeker ability, which at best meant I would lose my livelihood and at worst meant I would go insane. Or they could even sentence me to death.

I didn’t know which was the better outcome.

My breathing now under control, I looked up to regard the seated members of the Council of Seekers. Pellham Ravenwood, head of the seven-person Council, regarded me from his place at the center of the raised stand where he was flanked on both sides by the other council members. I recognized some of their faces: elderly Madame Kenestra, her white hair piled high on her head as she turned her shrewd brown eyes on me; the former knight Sir Lantley, a lean, athletic man with silver-streaked black hair; and Lord Olivera, the queen’s cousin, a bulky, solidly-built man with long blond hair that he often wore tied back from his face. He was at least a good five or ten years younger than his peers on the Council.

Orchwell’s ruling king and queen were the ultimate authority in our country, but they tended to delegate many of the day-to-day affairs of governing to the Council of Seekers. It made sense; Orchwell’s royal family was, by design, one of the few families of nobility that did not have the Seeker ability running through their veins. Or, if any of the royals did, it was often an extremely weak ability, akin to a minor magical skill. If anyone in the direct line of succession showed a strong aptitude for seeking, they weren't eligible to inherit the throne. There were too many headaches as a Seeker — and in my world, heartaches — to wish upon a future king or queen. Orchwell needed their rulers at home in the kingdom, fully able to focus on their duties.

Which was another reason why the Council of Seekers existed.

Several of those on the Council were members of the royal family who had been ineligible for succession. The rest were former Seekers who had since passed on their duties to other family members, but still wanted to serve the kingdom in some way. Members of the Council weren’t paid, but would occasionally receive monetary gifts from the Crown.

Pellham Ravenwood was a rare combination: as the king’s fourth younger brother with strong Seeker abilities, he had actually been allowed to pursue his Seeker career since he was never a strong contender for the Orchwell throne. Being a part of both worlds gave him remarkable insight and made him a formidable leader, which helped him earn the position as Head of the Council.

Pellham turned to Lord Olivera. “Well, as you were the one who requested Kaernan go over his commission yet again, are you satisfied with what you saw?”

Lord Olivera tapped his chin thoughtfully. He was wearing an extravagant wide-brimmed red hat with a silver feather; as he nodded, the feather nodded in time with him. “It was thorough, to be sure, but it didn’t give us any new information. It would be nice to have another perspective on the situation.”

I ground my teeth, pressing my lips into a thin line to stop myself from blurting my thoughts. Of course my story, rehashed multiple times, wouldn’t have given the Council new insights. The only person who could give the Council another perspective is dead.

While I hadn’t expected much sympathy from the Council during my trial, I found I really disliked Lord Olivera. The man seemed to enjoy torturing me, asking the same questions repeatedly, making me relive the commission over and over before the Council, and casting doubt on every move or motive I had during Rosemary’s commission. I already had recurring nightmares about it, and had barely slept for the last four months since returning home with the lady’s death on my hands.

Besides my nightmares and insomnia, I was constantly on edge from not exercising my Seeker ability. Seekers had to use their gifts regularly or potentially go mad, and I had been denying my gift for several months. And pre-trial, when I had to undergo the Council’s intense process of magically sealing witnesses from talking outside of the courtroom, I had barely recovered from it.

So I was definitely not in good physical or mental shape right now. And Lord Olivera’s “attention to detail” — as he called it, although I would have termed it otherwise — wasn’t helping me. I firmly believed that the Council would have come to a decision about my fate much sooner if he hadn’t been present.

“Perhaps we could —”

“Pause the hearing here, and meet again in ten minutes after we get some refreshments.”

Madame Kenestra smoothly interrupted Lord Olivera. “These old bones can’t go for much longer without some sustenance.”

“But —”

“I, for one, agree with Madame Kenestra.” Sir Lantley also cut off whatever Lord Olivera was going to say. “A short break would do wonders to clear my head.”

“If we could just —”

“Sir Lantley, you agree with me? Now that is a first! Pellham, did you hear that? Have the Council secretary note this day, for it truly is a momentous occasion: Sir Lantley agrees with me.” The twinkle in Madame Kenestra’s eyes as Lord Olivera’s face grew mottled red with rage told me she knew exactly what she was doing. I almost felt sorry for Lord Olivera.

Pellham Ravenwood sighed. After spending a few days with the Council, I had a vague idea of what he had to put up with on a daily basis. I ducked my head so the Council members wouldn’t see my smirk.

“Who would like to continue the hearing?” he asked the group. Only Lord Olivera’s hand shot up. “Who would like to take a short break?” Everyone else, including Pellham, raised a hand.

“All right, then, the majority has it. We will take a break and reconvene in, oh, about ten minutes.”

Pellham looked at me, then, really taking in my haunted eyes and drooping shoulders.

“And then, we will decide on the fate of Kaernan Asthore.”

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Rachanee Lumayno is an actress, voiceover artist, screenwriter, avid gamer, and amateur dodgeball player. She grew up in Michigan, where she spent way too much of her free time reading fantasy novels. She still spends too much of her free time reading fantasy novels, although now she writes them too. Heir of Memory and Shadow is her second novel, and the second book in the Kingdom Legacy series.

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