It’s always a thrill to release a new book! My fantasy novel Wintersun is up for preorder and releases Oct 23rd, and my collection of fantasy stories is in all the ebook stores already. Both are 99c at the moment.
Wintersun was probably the most fun to write. It’s an epic fantasy quest, and I’ve got all my favourite elements of fantasy – barbarians, sword fights, dragons, earth magic and of course, sentient apes. I tried for Conan, but the hero Grieve ended up with a sense of humour, and a gentle heart which saw him giving his last coin to the needy and using his strength to help where he could. His sister Jana was a bit more assertive, as she battles with learning how to manage her magic of trees, while the dark side of magic tempts her with its power.
This book was inspired by my favourite authors – RE Howard and Edgar Rice Burroughs, and I hope I do them justice. It started with a one word prompt in a writing group, then grew to a short story, then blossomed into a novel during one heady month of Nano. I had a pencil drawn map as a plot guide, and the words poured out, which as a writer I can say that is a glorious feeling and the main reason I write.
The short story collection of fantasy stories now completes my series – including Tales of Imagination, Romance and Science Fiction. I will do a box set collection with some bonus material at some stage in the future. There’s some weird stuff in there, so I hope readers enjoy it.
I’ve included an excerpt of Wintersun below, the first page. As Maeve would say “Time to die, demons!” I trust you enjoy it, and remember, authors need reviews!
Blurb
In a land of endless Winter, two heroes are born. Jana has the magic of trees, Grieve has something…other than magic.
An oath to save their world will shape their destiny. End the Winter brought by the Ice Lord and his demons.
Enslaved by the ice demons, Grieve’s path to discovering his dark heritage will force him to become a gladiator, dragon rider, and pirate. Jana battles the lure of the dark side of power as she strives to control her magic.
It’s not going to be an easy journey. But there will be dragons.
Wintersun is an old school epic fantasy quest with fabulous beasts and extraordinary heroes.
Excerpt
An icy wind tore through the small mountain hut. It carried cold and the thin keening sound of hunger. “Maeve…” it called, “Maaeevvee…”
Maeve’s nostrils flared. Stronger than the stench of blood and birth was the scent of evil. Predators that hunted her once more.
Biting hard on the leather strap gripped in her teeth, she grunted, expelling the placenta onto the birthing hide. Glancing at her baby, she tied the cord and gathered her close. The blood smeared girlchild moved strongly in her arms, and a tiny fist batted her on the cheek.
“Be strong daughter. We have a battle to fight yet,” Maeve whispered. She wrapped the babe and tied her against her breast, making sure she was secure. She would need both hands free in the battle to come. “Do not worry, I will not let them get you.” She relaxed as she felt the babe suckle.
The wind keened again, and Maeve shivered. The hungry sound was closer. Not for a few weeks had she heard that sound, and she had hoped she would birth in the village far below. But yesterday they had found her, and a fall down a snowy cliff had hastened her birth time by a week.
One night a bride, nine months a widow. She looked down at the reddish hair of her daughter, she was so like Gareth, the babe’s father.
“Oh Gareth, why did you not let me die with you?” The baby cooed at the sound of her voice, and she whispered to her, “maybe you are the answer.” The tiny hut around her held memories of love and death, courage, and darkness. For a brief time, Maeve allowed herself to remember, wishing Gareth was here to see his daughter. The little girl in her arms was all she had left of her husband. Maeve, woozy from birth and blood loss, let her memories overtake her.
Tales of Fantasy
Explore the strange journeys into different worlds in this collection. An eclectic mix of magic, the paranormal, hauntings, poems and experiences well outside the normal.
What did the dog discover? The son of Odysseus, A future museum, Spring, Shieldmaiden, A Victorian tale of horror, The ball on the road, Mist time once again, Silver as the moonlight, Observations on Earth, loyal furry friends, a different sort of werewolf, Charlotte’s children, a twisted tale of parenting, Goldilocks post bears, Flying over Oz, the heritage of a lost princess, a statue’s musings, a poem of relentless pursuit, a ghostly encounter, an unwished for superpower, money and power are not the whole of life, the sons of deities on Earth, and an epic poem of adventure.
Escape the everyday with twenty-five short stories, flash fictions and poems.
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My newest scifi book is now available. It’s a scifi military action adventure, with a good dose of snappy one liners, and an environment that is out of this world! Pick up Underground Planet via this Link.
My latest romance book, a contemporary romantic comedy is now out on Amazon- free on Kindle Unlimited! Rocky Road to Love tells the tale of two scientists falling in love in the Australian outback. There’s geology, archaeology, dust, danger and the occasional possum! Link: Rocky Road to Love
For those that have not read Druid’s Portal yet, you will have to wait a while. My publisher has gone kaput, and I’ll be re releasing the box set of the series next year. Sign up to my newsletter to keep informed.
I have a fantasy fan fiction novel on Archive of Our Own. If a bold new adventure in Narnia, Middle Earth and the world of Harry Potter tempts you, check it out via this link. Be sure to leave a comment and some kudos! Check out the book trailer via this link.
Scifi more your thing? Try my short stories in the anthologies Quantum Soul and Tales from Alternate Earths 2. Or hopeful speculative fiction? Check out It Takes a Village.
Short stories and poetry? Try my collections Tales of Imagination and Tales of Romance and the latest Tales of Science Fiction.
Or what about horror? Try Haunted, a free horror anthology.
Check out my post apocalypse story “After the End” in SlyverMoon Chronicles X or my haunting tale of a woman’s life “Journey” in Queens of the Quill.
Doing NaNo this year or know someone that is? Grab a copy of my free guide “NaNoWriMo Ready.”
My latest author help book “30 Organizing Tips for Writers” is still free.
And my own author newsletter, for book news, odd facts, recipes and random freebies. Every subscription gets a free copy of my short stories ‘New Beginnings’ two tales of later in life romance and/or a scifi story Sign up here.
