We’re celebrating the release of Reese Sherron’s brand-new dystopian fantasy, The Trials of the Elysian!
The Trials of the Elysian (The Elysian Series #1)
Publication Date: November 30, 2024
Genre: Fantasy/Dystopian Fantasy
Hunger Games meets Divergent meets the 100
Slow slow burn
Lovers to enemies
Enemies to lovers / friends to lovers
Dystopian vibes
Family obsession
Lies + betrayals
Naïve FMC turns fierce
Deadly battle games
Mind tricks
Turns & twists
Touch her & die by both men
Disobey the City & die – Obey the City & live
Welcome to the six trials of the Elysian.
Will you live a life that is predestined and controlled from your first breath of air? A life full of darkness, destruction, and pain. Where your existence is owed to the survival of humanity.
Welcome to the Six Trials of The Elysian. In a futuristic world founded to cope with the effects of a famine that altered the course of humanity, there are certain commandments to follow to live a prosperous life. Faye steps into the City with unanswered questions. All she has is a mysterious symbol to find her soulmate, who was predestined at birth. Not knowing who her symbol will light up for, she must trust her judgment or her destiny. What will she choose? Not understanding the truth of the wickedness of the City walls, Faye is pushed to uncover the truth. The Trials push them to their limits and only those strong enough to make their City better will survive the tests. Either succeed in their trials or perish outside of the walls. Her rebelliousness leads her to uncover a disturbing truth about the City. Along with her mentor, Faye is determined to find the missing pieces and bring justice to herself and her family. She becomes fearless and not afraid to challenge those who are in power. But has her whole life been a lie? Will she uncover the truth of why she was born? Does she fight to be with the love of her life or follow the City, and let the City guide her to her symbols pair? Faye must decide.
Your mentor falls. So do you. He’s the eyes. The ears of the City. Disobey him. You’re disobeying the City.
WOULD YOU SACRIFICE AN ENTIRE CITY TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE?
A massive explosion rips through the outdoor seating area of a popular
restaurant in downtown Trondheim. Two days later, fourteen people are found
dead in a church along a remote section of coastline. The souls of the
victims have been ripped from their bodies. Moments later a spirit from the
Otherworlds steps through the Black Void to find the ancient relic that
killed them.
On a secluded island in the Arctic Circle, a troubled man sees a world that
has lost its way and feels compelled to change that. He plans to wield the
formidable power of a mysterious artifact to reshape the moral fabric of
eight billion unsuspecting souls—knowing that his actions will wipe
out the inhabitants of an entire city.
David Skye and Jade “Epiphany” Hendrix set out to stop him and
save the lives that would be lost if he were to succeed. Their efforts to do
that are complicated by Kari Salversen, a dedicated police detective with
the Norwegian Police Service. She believes David and Epiphany are involved
in a recent string of deadly attacks and is determined to apprehend
them.
A reckoning of souls is quickly approaching, as the battle for humanity
unfolds in the snowy, arctic fjords of Norway, and the vast spirit realms of
the Otherworlds. The possibility of a peaceful future for billions of souls
and the lives of tens of thousands of innocent people are both at stake. In
a clash that pits two opposing sides against each other, which one is on the
more righteous path?
Excerpt
Beyond thick veils of falling snow, a darkness awaited. There was no avoiding it, no turning back. David Skye had an uneasy feeling about what he’d find, yet he pushed forward anyway. Visibility worsened with each pass of the wiper blades as they swished from side to side, leaving smears of frozen snow across the windshield. He wrapped his fingers tightly around the steering wheel, doing his best to keep the vehicle from veering off the slick, snow-covered road. David desperately wanted to press down harder on the accelerator, but he thought better of it as he fought to guide the Toyota 4Runner along the deserted stretch of highway that hugged the northern coastline of Tjeldøya Island.
“There it is, up ahead, on the right,” Epiphany said.
The sound of her voice momentarily broke David’s concentration. The silhouette of the old church, its spire reaching into the cold, cloudy sky, stood out against the backdrop of the waterway and the mountains. A heavy, gray fog rolled in off the water. David slowed the vehicle and slid to a stop in the church parking area just off the main road, where he saw six or seven parked cars. The vehicle had barely stopped when Epiphany flung open the passenger door. She leapt out of the 4Runner, swung the door shut, and sprinted down the path leading to the church. David watched her disappear into the snow and mist, vanishing like a specter leaving this world for the next. A transient thought darted through his mind. He had barely been with Epiphany for more than a few days, and given their circumstances, he hoped they’d somehow manage to stay alive for a few more.
Guest Post – “Authors Who Inspire Other Authors” by Harrison Edwards
“Wow, I wish I could write like that,” is something I find myself thinking when reading a novel by an author whose writing style stands out from the rest as truly unique and innovative. At the top of my list is the late Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Some writers are great storytellers and others have a wonderful mastery of the written word—Carlos Ruiz Zafón is one of the talented few who has mastered both. The first book in his four-book series, was titled The Shadow of the Wind, and it was the biggest selling novel in the history of Spain, and his second book in that series, The Angel’s Game, was the fastest selling. Carlos Ruiz Zafón could weave together a magical tapestry of words in the manner that Beethoven could string together a collection of notes to form a magnificent symphony. Zafón’s characters are deep and full of life, and his stories transport you into another time and place.
In the category of great storytellers, there are two writers who stand out for me. The first is Tony Hillerman. I have read his entire Detective Leaphorn / Officer Chee tribal police series. Every time I read one of Hillerman’s books I feel as if I am right there with Chee and Leaphorn wandering a dusty arroyo in the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States looking for clues. The second author in the category of great storytellers is James S.A. Corey (the pen name for Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck). Picking up a novel in the 500-to-600-page range is something I’ve always tended to shy away from. How many pages would I have to read before the story grabs my attention? Would I get 200 pages in only to put it down because I’ve lost interest. That was not the case with the nine-book Expanse science fiction series written by James S.A. Corey. Each book was 500+ pages and I devoured the entire series in the course of less than one year.
Each of these authors has given me great insights into: incorporating setting as a critical element of their stories, creating characters that jump off the page (you feel their joy, their anguish, their pain and always root for them to succeed), and developing interesting plots with a pace that pulls you along through the entire story. After finishing one of their novels, I found myself anxiously anticipating the next book in the series. Every time I sit down to write, the great gifts these writers have given me and their readers are at the forefront of my mind, and I will never cease in my efforts to maybe someday write as well as they hav
About the Author
Harrison Edwards lives in eastern Pennsylvania with his wife and their
black Lab, Deacon. Harrison’s writing is a blend of science fiction
and urban fantasy. Subject matter for his stories comes from deep interests
in science, technology, and mythology. When he’s not compiling and
developing ideas for future novels, you can find him composing original
works of contemporary instrumental music for his next CD release.
Here Lyeth Johanna Frank (A Lifeline Fantasy Novel) Publication date: November 1st 2024 Genres: Fantasy, Supernatural
A small-scale supernatural fantasy on big, real-life values. A story of rewiring unworthiness and searching for a place to belong. Pre-order your copy today for an extraordinary, heartwarming read that is sure to unearth you. Release date, November 1, 2024.
Answers are buried beneath a grave marker. Only it happens to be her own.
Something was missing. It was easy for Lexxie to bury that niggling sense, she had all the love and protection a young woman needed. But when the man she thought to be her father spilled a fever-pitched confession—that she’d been taken from her real family as an infant—her content and isolated life ended.
STIRRING… EXTRAORDINARY… UPLIFTING…
Angry and heartbroken, Lexxie left the people she loved on a mere hint—her true father lived in Vereiteln Dorf, two villages over. Once there, she’s drawn to an unconsecrated graveyard. Since answers don’t come easy from the locals, she’s forced to make many assumptions and patch puzzling pieces together. But the more she does, the more her presence in this superstitious village becomes a threat, and the more she gives credence to a voice coming from a pit of ashes. The perils of a noose amid a 1688 witch hunt lay heavy on her shoulders.
Years earlier, in the same village, young Meginhardt succumbs to a vicious attack. Ethereal beings take him on a time-traveling journey to shake away the lad’s deeply rooted struggles of unworthiness.
But when Meginhardt learns that some woman named Lexxie is the chosen one to carry forward his father’s line of descendants, he throws away all he’s been shown. Fits of jealousy ensue—a dream shattered. It should have been him. He becomes frantic to ensure the demise of this undeserving woman. In apparitional form, he delivers Lexxie a message, face to face.
Her future lyeth in his words.
-The standalone background story to the Prologue in The Gatekeeper’s Descendants
-Book length approximately 90,000 words
-Recommended for Young Adults (14+) and up
-An edifying story involving feelings of unworthiness and a need to belong
-A small-scale fantasy representing the outskirts of heaven
More from the author:
The Gatekeeper’s Descendants, a standalone family drama involving bullying and grief
Jophiel’s Secret, a standalone adventure involving unforgiveness and grief
Anger tucked aside, she scurried up without bothering to read the inscriptions on the risers. Needing the strength of both arms, she pulled the door open wide. The haunting drawn-out creak confirmed a renewal of focus on her single priority. Find my lineage, my true father. Then new life is certain to follow.
An entrance hall revealed itself, though dark with looming shadows. Unable to avoid inhaling the displeasing odor, a mixture of lingering day-old incense and strong lye soap, her throat did a gaggle. Nothing like the sweet-pine pews inside her white-stucco church.
Attempting to step quiet-like, she still clicked her shoes against the marble floor, her feet inside all that lavish commenced to swell and pine for attention. Huh, stomping through town in modish spikes, ’tis not wise.
A figure across the room sat up on its knees and twisted a neck to inspect the visitor. Even in the darkness, the woman appeared maturely aged.
Unfolding with a painful slowness, the woman stood and rubbed her hands into her apron. With such a crippling figure, she couldn’t have had an easy go at life. Her head, a weighty slump, her neck, cranked to one side. Had she eaten in a while? So thin. And dressed in all black. Scrubbing a floor that already shone—preparing for a wedding or cleaning after the ceremony of a disposed corpse perhaps?
“State yer business,” the woman gnarled.
The plucky tone surprised. “Guten morgen, I’m, ah, here to examine the registers for births and deaths—if I may.” Politeness best protect her from being turned away. Harmon always said one achieved more with kindness than with harshness.
“Yer a stranger.” The woman’s shaking middle finger accused.
Huh. This woman the epitome of the latter.
“Madam, ’tis that I am. Please be, I intend no harm. I assure you. Just seeking. I shan’t be long.” Should be easy to check births around the time of her own, though this woman need not know that specific detail.
“Seeking? Huh, seeking ye what?”
Was it so wrong to seek? Lexxie sucked in a full breath. Her throat irritated by resins, she stifled a cough. But nay, she hadn’t come all this way to permit some grumpy old spinster to blockade her. Forget the kindness of honey, Harmon. Time for some harsh vinegar.
“Are ye cloaking history? Is that what you are saying, madam?”
The old woman shot an indication to a wooden door hidden beside the nave.
Lexxie jockeyed between pews in the direction the bony finger specified, stifling the clicks of her shoes as much as possible.
Whew. She knocked.
“We don’t lock history.” The old woman’s crusty voice echoed, having the last word.
This door, not nearly the heft nor clangor as the one fronting the church, Lexxie nudged and invited herself in. Larger than one might expect, the narrow room hosted wooden shelving loaded with books up to the ceiling sidelong. A movable ladder rested against the end wall, and an unlit kerosene lamp awaited on the single high table.
Help would be nice, some guidance as to the order of records. Lexxie glanced back where the scowling woman gave her a second glance. Then again, Lexxie could figure it out herself. After lighting the lamp, she shut the door for privacy.
A musty flavor and layers of dust from decades past awoke and scurried about. No window to allow a breeze of any sort. Once her sneezes settled, she walked the length of the room, thankful now for those daylong lessons in reading and writing with Grossmutter. ’Twas the age of enlightenment, Grossmutter would say. She kept at least one lesson ahead of Lexxie, so as to in turn share the blessing.
A thin cotton curtain covered one section of shelving beside a nailed sign—Prohibited Books. She edged closer to shelving with books of various sizes, difficult to distinguish due to caging, each row with its own locked latch. Huh, don’t lock history, say you?
She wandered to a series of consistent volumes laying heavy on their own, their leathery pasteboard covers bound with cord and red edging their pages. Numbers stitched atop.
Years, yes! Those ones were organized by years. They had to be the records she sought.
All she possessed now was her birth year. Harmon wouldn’t have lied about her age, would he?
A shiver ran through her veins. There had to be over seventy books, each covering a year, each varying in thickness.
Here it be: 1671. Energizing another dust cloud with a loud exhale, she heaved the book off the shelf and clutched it tight to her bosom. Her heartbeat thumped against the pasteboard cover. The registry for the year she was born must speak to her, reveal information she was desperate for. Vital to get on with any way of future.
She released her gripping hug, placed the heavy book on the table, and wiped dry her sweaty palms down the skirt of her new frock.
Overwhelm assaulted her. Harmon, the loving father she adored all those years. Grossmutter, the wise, gentle, and kind grandmother, her only female influencer. Was it true they be not her family? Would opening this book mean turning her back on them?
’Course, she’d already done so, hadn’t she?
If only they were cruel or unloving. Made her work like a slave. Cussed and cursed her day in and day out. This then would be so much easier. Her fingers twitched to shove the book back onto its shelf. Her legs urged her to take flight, run all the way back to Avondale, and bury this outlandish nonsense.
But nonsense, it weren’t.
The pounding in her chest begged to keep going, threatening to explode if she stopped now. She almost missed the rubbing of hinges, the only door to this library tomb opening, a male figure entering, the unwelcoming floor-polishing ogre poking her head around him to catch a glimpse.
“Searching, are we?” The man’s monotoned query struck an unexplainable chord.
Author Bio:
Not proud to admit, I’ve struggled with authority and routine since I can remember. A feisty red-headed child, I’ve barrelled my fist through windowpanes, ran away numerous times (to a bowling alley of all places), and even once, used a water pistol on my high school science teacher (right in his face, it was a dare). I actually managed to attain a master’s degree in business (though, really didn’t use it much). Instead, I preferred weekday evening classes in theology and weekend scribbling sessions of fantasy fiction. Losing a beloved teenage daughter to cancer snapped me to attention, then another (the second, a dear step-daughter) really did me in. Besides relishing the dearness of my husband and our other three children and their families, I write fantasy fiction with meaning. My mantra (which I made up of course) …because even a little heavenly imagination can loosen the chains of life. – Johanna Frank
“Frank, one of Canada’s emerging authors in spiritual fantasy, walks a fine line between general fantasy and faith-based fiction. Her work aims to innovate and transcend traditional boundaries, catering to a hungry market of curious readers who don’t want to be preached to but are open to exploring spiritual themes through fantasy.” – Sheri Hoyte, Reader Views
After humans circumvented anti-AI laws and made new species
to fulfill roles of menial laborers, sex slaves, and shock troops those
creations eventually rose up and killed every man, woman, and child on the
planet. This is the world if Frankenstein’s monsters ruled the Earth.
The Brittle Riders
Book One
by Bill McCormick
Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy
In a far future, Earth had already been visited by an alien
race called the Sominids, who came here for the express purpose of drinking and
having sex with everyone they could. When one of their infamous parties
resulted in the moon being cut in half and killing everyone who happened to
live there, they quietly left. Their encounter with the Sominids had taught the
human race many things, primarily that faster-than-light travel did not exist.
Denied the stars, the human race began to dwindle in numbers and terminate all
of their space programs.
A thousand years later, a scientist named Edward Q. Rohta
circumvented anti-AI laws, laws which had been on the books for millennia, by
creating organic creatures to provide manual labor. Instead of dying after ten
years, as promised in the company brochure, they would develop flu-like
symptoms and go into hiding. Eventually, fed up with the mistreatment they
suffered at the hands of humans, they rose up and killed every man, woman, and
child on the planet. This is the story of what happens next. The Brittle
Riders; Apocalypses are funny that way.
A very unique tone and world, reminiscent of GUARDIANS OF
THE GALAXY meets a MAGNIFICENT SEVEN/DIRTY DOZEN – type setup, but with a look,
flavor, and lexicon all its own. In a world where studios and streamers are
looking for IP that’s expansive, both narratively and in terms of ancillary
possibilities (prequels, offshoots, video games, etc.), (The Brittle Riders)
certainly seems to offer up a number of possibilities. – Garrick Dion –
Producer
As well as being an author, I have been a stripper and a nude model. Although not all at the same time. Publishers get weird about that stuff.
Who is your hero, and why?
This may sound trite, but my wife is my hero. She’s taken all that life could throw at her and come out stronger and more loving than you could imagine. We didn’t meet until I was fifty years old. And I knew that day I couldn’t lose her, that she was going to mean everything to me.
What kind of world ruler would you be?
A fun, inclusive one. I believe in God, and I believe that God is love, so I’d want a planet that would be secure and pleasant for everyone. I couldn’t imagine kicking innocent humans off our planet, so I’d do all I could to ensure there were safe places for all. I’d definitely be leading the “tax the rich” flotilla. I have no problem with people getting wealthy, but hoarding wealth at the expense of the rest of the planet is on my “do not do” list.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
I like to cook. I’m actually not half bad at it. While comfort food is my go-to when I’m cooking for myself, I can whip up a meal worthy of anything a chef at a five-star resort could muster. The first time I cooked for my wife, we’d barely been dating two weeks, I knocked out a Pork l’Orange with a citrus gravy for the potatoes and asparagus. She swooned and told her friends and random strangers that I could “throw down” in the kitchen. I also love to read. Not just sci-fi, but non-fiction, biographies, and anything else that catches my eye.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’d been writing non-fiction for years, but that was always tied in with my radio shows or other things. But I knew I’d arrived when I was sitting in a bar one day, and I introduced myself to a dude sitting next to me, and he said, “The writer?” Why, yes, Venom (his nickname), that’s me.
Do you have a favorite movie?
Wizards by Ralph Bakshi. Up until then, fantasy movies were testosterone-driven affairs. Manly men with swords saving damsels in distress or fighting something and then saving the damsel in distress. So, seeing a movie with a female narrator, two evenly matched antagonists, a scantily clad damsel who could take care of her own damn self, evil characters who changed sides, and was unafraid to add politics to the mix, was revelatory to this young mind.
Which of your novels can you imagine being made into a movie?
Trick question: I have had several companies nibbling around The Brittle Riders. To the point we now have a tone reel for investors, a pitch book for those who haven’t read the novel, and a complete script that has been vetted by industry professionals.
BILL McCORMICK is an award-winning and critically acclaimed
author of several novels, graphic novels, and comic book series, and has
appeared in numerous anthologies. He began writing professionally in 1986 for
the Chicago Rocker Magazine in conjunction with his radio show on Z-95 (ABC-FM)
and went on to write for several other magazines and blogs. He wrote a twisted
news & science blog at WorldNewsCenter.org. It provided source material for
his weekly radio show on WBIG 1280 AM, FOX!, which aired from 10/2010 to
8/2022. Bill is a big fan of music and this rainbow-haired goddess who married
him just for fun. You can find out more about him at BillMcSciFi.com.
Planning and setting up the décor is just as much fun as the event itself, and this punch looks great on the table!
It is perfect for Halloween parties and can be made for kids or adults! It’s the perfect blend of sweet and tart, and its deep red color makes it both fun and delicious!
*If you’re familiar with using dry ice, it can be added for a spooky effect!
Ingredients:
• 2 liters ginger ale or club soda, or lemon lime soda (Sprite or 7Up)
• 1 quart black cherry juice
• 2 pints (32 ounces) Pomegranate Juice
• 16 ounces frozen cherries
• alcohol your choice (I typically add Vodka)
Instructions:
1. Combine the juices and ginger ale together in a large punch bowl. If you are using alcohol, add it now.
2. Add the frozen cherries and stir.
3. Serve with ice and any decorations you may have for your spooky punch! I’ve used plastic vampire teeth and my guests thought it looked “fang-tastic!”
A Prophecy Awakened
Immortal Wounds Series
Book Two
Angie Barton
Genre: Fantasy Fiction/Magical Realism
Publisher: Angie Barton
Date of Publication: June 13, 2024
ISBN: 979-8990647220
ASIN: BOD73FHPSH
Number of pages: 448
Word Count: 104,000
Cover Artist: Donnell McKenzie
Tagline: The time has come for the two worlds to collide the prophecy has spoken.
Book Description:
Family. Destiny. Magic. Lore.
Forced to leave behind her only known family, on the night of her eighteenth birthday Charlotte Delgado flees through the invisible veil that has granted her safety since birth, with only an age-old diary to guide her. Given less than a day to read the four-hundred year-old tales scripted amongst its pages, she barely understands the predetermined path her ancestor writes of, let alone believes it.
However, despite the dangers the journal warns of—supernatural creatures that will hunt her along her journey—it’s the ominous twist of fate that surrounds the last bloodline witch in her family that fills Charlotte with the most fear.
Is she that witch or merely a pawn moving the prophecy forward?
Award winning author, Angie Barton, published her first novel, Immortal Wounds, in 2022. Angie’s love for writing centers around the fantasy genre, but she also enjoys writing thriller and romance. Her passion for reading, which led to her love of writing, began in elementary school with the Scholastic Book program. Her parents, who are life-long avid readers, have been a huge influence on her reading. Therefore anything and everything Angie could get her hands on she read.
Angie has been an early childhood educator since 1986 and hold a B.S. in Child Development. Her love for literacy has continued throughout her career, not only for herself, but also with the children she has cared for and taught. What Angie is most passionate about is helping others discover the excitement that reading brings. Her greatest desire in writing is to create and bring joy and entertainment to everyone she touches.
Currently, if Angie isn’t reading at least three books at a time or working on a rough draft for her next book, she can be found outdoors gardening, woodworking, or relaxing by her pond. She shares that she’s a Capricorn, tried and true, drinks way too much tea, and that her “to be read” pile of books can spike at any time.
Every October I make these amazing double chocolate chip cookies and it’s easy to say that they are a hit with both children and adults! They are soft and chewy with just the right amount of chocolate, but it’s the candy eyeballs that are the star of the show!
INGREDIENTS
• ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
• optional: black food coloring
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup + 2 Tbsp. Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 Tbsp. milk
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet)
• Candy Eyeballs for topping the cookies
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugars. You can add black food coloring at this time to get a deeper shade of black in the cookies. Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Blend in the egg and vanilla, scrape down the bowl if needed.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in the mixer on low speed just until mixed. Mix in the milk on the lowest speed and fold in the chocolate chips.
3. Roll about 2 tablespoons of dough into balls and place on the baking sheets. Flatten slightly. Top cookies with candy eyeballs.
Place cookie sheet in freezer for 10-15 minutes.
4. Bake for 10-11 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. ENJOY!
Immortal Wounds
Immortal Wounds Series
Book One
Angie Barton
Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Magical Realism
Publisher: Angie Barton
Date of Publication: April 22, 2022
ISBN: 979-8990647206
ASIN: BOD9XTF25K
Number of pages: 392
Word Count: 93,000
Cover Artist: Donnell McKenzie
Tagline: Did Isobel make an error in landing in the wrong time, or was it part of her destiny?
Book Description:
After witnessing the brutal deaths of her mother and husband, Isobel overhears a confession from one of the murderers, a ruthless vampire who claims to be her father. For fear that she and her unborn daughter’s death could come next, Isobel uses the only magic she possesses and summons a portal to take her two hundred years in the past to revisit an ancestor in Scotland who she believes may know the truth of her parentage. However, in her haste, Isobel lands in the wrong century. Before she realizes her mistake, she stumbles upon a family: a ferocious Highland warrior and his two sisters.
Isobel could not have prepared herself for what she discovers during her stay: the vampire who claimed to be her father, alive three hundred years in the past! With the help of Meg, the youngest sister, and Mariam, both women’s ancestor, Isobel finds herself belonging in a world she never dreamed of—one entangled with vampires and webbed with revenge, curses, and a prophecy that has dictated all of their lives for the last four hundred years.
Did Isobel make an error landing in the wrong time, or was it part of her destiny?
Award winning author, Angie Barton, published her first novel, Immortal Wounds, in 2022. Angie’s love for writing centers around the fantasy genre, but she also enjoys writing thriller and romance. Her passion for reading, which led to her love of writing, began in elementary school with the Scholastic Book program. Her parents, who are life-long avid readers, have been a huge influence on her reading. Therefore anything and everything Angie could get her hands on she read.
Angie has been an early childhood educator since 1986 and hold a B.S. in Child Development. Her love for literacy has continued throughout her career, not only for herself, but also with the children she has cared for and taught. What Angie is most passionate about is helping others discover the excitement that reading brings. Her greatest desire in writing is to create and bring joy and entertainment to everyone she touches.
Currently, if Angie isn’t reading at least three books at a time or working on a rough draft for her next book, she can be found outdoors gardening, woodworking, or relaxing by her pond. She shares that she’s a Capricorn, tried and true, drinks way too much tea, and that her “to be read” pile of books can spike at any time.
Lucy refuses to accept the life the Fae males in her family have planned for her. She has no interest in smiling coyly to a Fae Lord and wearing fancy dresses when she’d rather be elbows deep in sawdust, creating highly sought after Elderwood bows and arrows for her family business. Unfortunately, her father disagrees and the wedding invitations are already made.
There’s only one way to prove to her family that she’s more than a pawn to be married off: Lucy sets off for The Elderwood on her own. But when the amulet she uses to travel between realms runs low on magic, she’s stuck in the mortal world. What’s worse, her usual contact is gone and she has to convince his handsome but jaded grandson, Micah, to help her while she waits for the next full moon.
Without her trusted friend, the path to The Elderwood is in danger of being destroyed, and with it, Lucy’s hopes of a future she can create for herself. If she can’t convince Micah to help her, the arranged marriage would be a sealed fate.
S.A. Heiden has been on her writing journey since mid 2022. After years of keeping her stories locked in her mind, she finally found the courage to share them with the world.
Her current work, The Lumen Legacy Series, is a trilogy surrounding the Fae realm of Denora and the mortal realm of Joterra. There we meet the Fae female, Lucy, and the mortal, Micah. This series will be complete in the summer of 2024.
Storm and Flame Mallory Wanless (Enchanted, #1) Publication date: September 22nd 2022 Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Elena has always been a disappointment. Her magic is practically non-existent and now, on her sixteenth birthday, she is expelled from magic school by the strict headmistress–also known as her mother. Cast out into the world of the magically inept with only her familiar for company, Elena feels lost and alone until she meets a strange boy in the woods.
Quinn is a thief, a hunter, and a hothead. His unexpected friendship with Elena awakens a fiery side in him–quite literally– and uncovers new and surprising magical abilities. Except men aren’t supposed to be capable of magic.
With Quinn’s help, Elena carves a safe new life as a barmaid, but when she is attacked, her powers awaken with shocking ferocity. Elena’s explosion of magic creates a power surge that attracts the attention of magical investigators, sent to uncover and contain the source of the power surge.
But the awakening of their powers kickstarts an ancient prophecy. Will they be able to escape those that hunt them? Can they fulfill the prophecy, destroy the turmio and save magic from being destroyed once and for all?
Content warning: the story mentions incidents of child abuse, sexual assault, and birth trauma. May not be suitable for some readers.
Storm and Flame is the first in a completed trilogy. A found family low-spice series perfect for fans of Stephanie Garber’s Caraval series, Margaret Rogerson’s Sorcery of Thorns, and Phillip Pullman’s Golden Compass.
“Come on. Just work, dammit,” Elena muttered to herself, trying for the millionth time to cast her spell.
Agon had stretched his lithe, weasel-like body across a long, skinny patch of sunlight on the floor of the testing room. He’d spent the morning basking in the warmth of the sun-drenched stone and flicking his fluffy blue-black tail back and forth. As her closest, and arguably only, friend, Agon knew nothing he could say would make her feel better. She was in a mood, and the best thing he could do was to leave her be.
Sparks flared and quickly sputtered out from Elena’s fingertips.
“Dammit. Why can’t I get this stupid spell right?” It was a rhetorical question, but Elena was so frustrated by her own ineptitude that she would have traded everything she owned to successfully complete a spell on the first try.
Elena was easily the worst enchantress in her class, probably the whole school. The other students mocked her mercilessly. It didn’t help that her mother, Madame LaBelle, was the most famous enchantress in the whole country, possibly the world, and the headmistress of their school. She could turn a seed into a centuries-old tree with the flick of her wrist. Elena could grow a seed into a sapling with twenty minutes of chanting, flicking, waving, and praying. Maybe. On a good day.
Madame LaBelle was notorious for her skills with magic as much as her beauty. Unfortunately for Elena, she inherited her looks from her father. At least, she assumed that’s where she got her flat hair and dull brown eyes. She’d never actually met him. In Waverly, as far as enchantresses were concerned, men served one purpose: impregnating women. The men were used and released of all parental rights, whether they liked it or not. Most men didn’t even know the woman they had lain with was an enchantress, much less that they had fathered a child as a result. The women opted to disguise themselves—bar wenches, visitors lost in the big city, damsels in need of aid on the side of the road, etc.—just to get what they needed and be gone before the man even knew her name.
It was crass and cowardly, but Elena had been raised to believe it was for the best. Men weren’t capable of raising children, especially magical ones, and an enchantress always gave birth to another enchantress. Never in the history of the world, had an enchantress given birth to a non-magical child. Or a boy, for that matter. Enchantress beget enchantress. End of story.
Elena dreamed of love and happy endings when she was younger. All the girls did, but their time at Harbor Ridge taught them that magic was their top priority, followed closely by their loyalty to the school and Madame LaBelle. Elena always felt that it was a tad hypocritical how often her mother preached about loyalty to their family—the school and their classmates—when she never paid any attention to her own flesh and blood. What sort of mother neglects her own child to favor those who are more adept at magic? Not a good one, Elena mused glumly.
Agon had been with her since before she was born, like all familiars. They were born together and stayed attached for an “unusually long time,” according to her mother. Typically, familiars disconnected from the baby’s umbilical cord within a few days before settling into their permanent animal form. Agon and Elena stayed connected for two weeks, all the while Agon remained a blob encased in the placenta. Her mother had many specialists, including a Therionology Enchantress, or an animal enchantress, come and inspect Agon and try to coax him into taking any form at all. Nothing worked. Baby Elena just spent her days cuddling “this disgusting blob of goo” and sleeping. Madame LaBelle often liked to remind Elena of how unusual that was, and how that should have been a sign that her daughter was going to be different, and not in a good way.
Author Bio:
Mallory lives in Texas with her husband and their two young boys. She spends her days homeschooling and full-time parenting. Her nights, and any free time she manages to carve out during the day, are devoted to reading and writing.
Tendrils of darkness reach from the depths of her mind and shadows flicker
around every corner. Still reeling from Raven’s horrific display of
power, Kari suffers in silence.
When Guine finally returns with stories of a mirror that could help him
with his problems, Kari finds herself hoping that maybe, just maybe, it
could help with hers as well.
With the promise of a relatively straightforward outing, Kari, Ari, and
Guine set forth to find the mirror.
But what they find beyond the looking-glass threatens not only Kari and her
sanity, but also the world she loves.
About the Author
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.
Online Rebellion: The Escape Blue Matt Jeff Publication date: July 9th 2024 Genres: Fantasy, LGBTQ+
Courage rises. Secrets fall. Rewrite destiny in a world yearning for freedom.
In the heart of Slandra, a nation marred by secrets and tyranny, a tale of courage, betrayal, and a quest for justice unfolds.
Online Rebellion unfolds in a fantasy realm where individuals deemed outcasts in their homeland—whether due to their beliefs, LGBTQ+ identities, or opposition to cultural norms—seek refuge in a distant, democratic nation. Yearning for safety and acceptance, they confront persistent threats from their native land, where their past continues to haunt them. As they navigate this treacherous journey, their courage and resilience are tested at every turn.
Follow a diverse cast of characters as their desperate attempts to escape oppression lead them through treachery and heart-wrenching sacrifices.
Weaving themes of resilience, the power of unity, and the impact of truth in a society gasping for freedom, the tale reminds us how the actions of a few can inspire a movement and a nation’s destiny can be rewritten by the will of its people.
Join the rebellion. Get your copy today and explore a world where courage knows no bounds and justice demands sacrifice. Will you heed the call?
Blue Matt Jeff is a social activist with familial ties to the entertainment industry. They are concerned with human rights, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights around the world. Their debut novel, Out of the Shadow, is a dystopian novel that draws from Their prior life experiences. Mostly, Blue writes in Fantasy, but they write in other genres as well. Blue has also performed in numerous stand-up comedy events.
