What is Kickstarter?

You’ve heard of gofundme. Think of Kickstarter as a gofundme with perks! The gaming community has used Kickstarter for years. The indie-published book industry has just recently hopped on board.

This crowdunding option, enables the reader to have direct access to the author. The messsage feature works well, and many times the author has the reader interact with them through polls.

Since Kickstarter has been around for years, they’ve figured out the ins and outs of how to vet projects, provide secure payment options, etc.

How Kickstarter works

The project will be live for 23 days. During that time, you have the opportunity of pledging and encouraging your friends to pledge and back the project. If it funds, and only if it funds, you’ll pay what you pledged and get your rewards.

Reward tiers allow you to choose how much you wish to receive and how much you wish to support a project.

If the project funds early, then stretch goals are implemented–these are things that brings more value to your product and the project. For books, it’s often character art, maps, special art to include in the book, bookmarks, stickers, deleted scenes, extra short stories, etc. The more people who back, the higher the project goes and the more perks everyone gets!

When the project ends, late pledges can be in effect. (I’ve set mine to last until I make a final order of books.) This means there will still be people who can get the perks, even if they were late to the party.

A week after the project ends, Kickstarter uses Stripe to charge your credit card. Then if your card has changed since you pledged, Kickstarter, and often the author, will reach out to get that fixed. I just supported one Kickstarter where those errored cards made the difference in what art we would receive in our books! I was so excited to hear it got figured out and everyone still was able to have that stretch goal.

Kristjan’s Rise as a Kickstarter

I learned a lot from Bonded Crowns as a Kickstarter, and that helps you out.

You’ll be choosing from several options.

The first level is “back because you want to”–you can add some extra change to support it without receiving anything or add more to your pledge because you believe in it.

Then there are ebook options–from Uprooted to Kristjan’s Rise months before it’ll be available on outlets.

Physical product: Every physical product comes with an ebook as well. You’ll have your choice of paperback or hardback or sparkly hardback. Let me explain.

Both paperback and hardback will come with chapter art headings. These look really nice in the proof paperback I’ve received. There are two different images–one for Geirfinnur (the dad) and one for Kristjan’s point of view.

In hardback, you’ll have two choices–regular and shiny sparkly. The regular one has a dust jacket with the cover on it, and on the book, just Kristjan and his thinking spot.

The Sparkly Hardback special edition:

Let’s work our way from the outside in. There is a gold-foiled dust jacket–the title and author name in gold foil. When you turn the book to the side, you’ll see the gold-colored sprayed edges. When you open it, you’ll see leather-look endpages. If you take off the dust jacket, you’ll understand why the endpages are leather-like. This cover is as if you’re opening a leather tome like Kristjan would have in the library. There is gold foil on the metal corner pieces. And then each chapter has the art.

Stretch Goals

Once we reach our goal of $500 pledged, we’ll be working toward art that will be placed in each book. There are a lot of art-worthy scenes in this story, and Moonpix Art is already working on pieces for the game that will go along with Kristjan’s Rise.

This scene is of the original founders of Storeheltur.

Besides art, there are many deleted scenes. My editor was even sad to see these go! So, I’ll be offering those up.

There are also songs in the story and as those who followed Bonded Crowns knows songs can be fun to have digitally, but can also take a long time to produce. This time, I already have the songs composed and written down for musicians to play. I’ve spoken with a harpist and she has access to two different studios and has recorded before.

So as you can see, these books, besides being available months before the rest of the world gets access, have the potential to be unique and an interactive experience.

Now What?

How do you get your own special edition? Hop over to the Kickstarter and click follow (or make a pledge) depending on when you see this. It will only be available from May 13-June 5. A few tiers will be available after that.

Did you hear about the game? I’ll have more information later about that, but think Settlers of Catan meets Ticket to Ride meets Arkham. You’ll become one of the Ancients, the original settlers of Storeheltur, and help them create Storeheltur in under 30 days. Each round is one day, so the clock is ticking.

In the meantime, follow the kickstarter to get in on the special edition. It won’t be availble until November otherwise, and the sparkly hardback won’t be availble until next year sometime! And then only on my website.

Do you love worlds where there are high stakes? Worlds where cultures clash and people have to figure out how to get along? Where love is gentle and comes along slowly?

Then you’ll love Sharon Rose. Whether she’s writing stories in space or a medieval world, she brings all of that together in a masterful story.

Arts of Substance

This unique world has three gifts: Formers, Weavers, and Streamers.

Formers can sense and move the ground. They polish stones, excavate, and build.

Weavers move the wind and can control the weather patterns.

Streamers control the waters.

The gifts are given based not on the person but what Creo deems best for the world, and if someone acts in defiance to him, their gift can be taken away! In a world where status is held based on your gift, that’s not something people are willing to chance.

Book 1: To Form a Passage

The first book introduces us to Dirklan, an underground province that is expanding and bringing ore to the rest of the kingdom until there’s a collapse and the province is cut off from above. Their will to survive is challenged, and politics come to the fore as they seek a passage to reach the world above.

Book 2: To Weave the Wind

Set several generations after the first book, To Weave the Wind gives us a glimpse of the world outside Dirklan and then the problems that have resulted from years of isolation below.

An ambassador is sent from above to Dirklan province, but this ambassador is the daughter of the king and queen. Her gifting has always been valued, and she’s grown up knowing that she’s needed below.

When she arrives, though, she discovers she’s not what the people of Dirklan think she is. They want a streamer to open the waterways that bring in supplies, but she’s a weaver of the wind. What need can there be for wind in an underground world?

To make matters worse, all the eligible bachelors are vying for her hand in marriage. Thankfully, her father gave instructions to the governor of Dirklan that she’s capable of making her own decision.

As the passage that brings food in worsens and political scheming rises, the ambassador and the governor’s son work together with their unique giftings to bring unwanted but much needed help to the province.

Review of To Weave the Wind

Sharon Rose did it again! A story that brings to light the problems that can form when we don’t see things from different perspectives. The age-old struggle of thinking our way is right without bothering to discover that there are other ways of thinking.

Her use of the giftings is masterfully woven to show that each person is unique even if they have the same type of gift–each gift is manifested in a unique way. The whole idea of gifts resonates throughout the story shedding light on our own world.

A must read for those who love fantasy worlds with a touch of realism, characters to love, and books that transport you while they encourage you.

Today, we’re focusing on the first two trilogies: Bright Lands and Battle Lines

Bright Lands

The first trilogy starts off with eighteen-year-old Hest. All he wants to do is work with horses. They’re much easier to get along with than people–especially girls. He can talk to horses, understands what they’re saying, and knows how to care for them. People? Not so much. Maybe because he was orphaned eight years ago. Whatever it is, he prefers the comfort of the stables.

But…

There’s always that little word. My dad always used to say watch what happens after the word but. It’s always important.

But when a wonderous stallion visits his stable, Hest is introduced to a warrior. This warrior demands Hest comes with him and hands coins to the innkeeper. Hest thinks he’s been sold as a slave!

Meanwhile, the warrior starts teaching Hest some of his language while they travel south toward the land of the sun. By the time they reach the capital of Hest’s country, Hest gets up enough gumption to ask about slavery. The warrior is shocked to say the least. He explains that the money was the cost of an apprentice and he wanted Hest as a squire. When Hest agrees to this, his real adventures begin.

Going in front of kings.

Meeting a beautiful (and spirited) princess.

Saving a baby dragon!

That last one sends Hest on a journey he never expected–to be a king!

Wait! What? The kid who isn’t good with people is supposed to be king? That won’t work. And you’re right. Hest tries his best, but between his bond with the dragon, his longing for his homeland, and the struggles of a new marriage, being king is least of his worries. Unfortunately, several different groups take advantage of this and threaten the royal family as well as the kingdom.

Battle Lines

The second trilogy focuses on the girls in Hest’s life.

Siobhan

We’ve seen everything from Hest’s point of view up until now. Grown to love him and understand him, but now we get to see Siobhan.

We’ve met this feisty princess earlier, but now we dive into her thoughts, emotions, and determination. We see the grit she’s made of, as well as how she’s been spoiled as a princess.

She wants her relationship with her husband to be perfect, but there’s someone else in her husband’s life–a dragon–and she’s jealous! Jealousy is a bad bed partner.

The tension builds, but maybe a baby will make everything better. For a bit, but kids also add more stress to a relationship.

Add in PTSD, to postpartum depression and Siobhan is ripe for fear to control her. Then when her greatest fears come true and she’s again abducted by her enemies, she has to learn how to face fear.

Facing fear isn’t a one time action, though. Even as Siobhan takes action to never be weak again, she’s still learning how to grieve and how to manage her fears.

A new threat to her kingdom steps up to join forces with her old enemies, and she must face the ultimate decision in battle.

Mairead

And what about that little girl, Mairead? (pronounced Marr-ed)

We’ve seen here as a baby, as a little girl running around the Rittider training ground, and training horses. (Yes, she has her da’s love of the creatures.)

Now, we watch her in grief as she takes on the crown. Her faithful captain of the royal guard is there for her, and she has a journal from the original dragon king to guide her.

But…

(There’s that word again.)

By the time she’s sixteen, almost seventeen, a neighboring country extends a treaty proposal with a marriage proposal. Mairead’s not ready for marriage, but she’s curious about this right of passage.

After convincing her council to at least allow the prince to visit, she finds the prince is more than meets the eye. Although plagued with a disease that causes constant pain in his joints and muscles, he also is a mage. Mairead is interested in this since she’s starting to see and feel strange things whenever she thinks of the dragons of her country’s past.

What will be the cost of her decisions? How will she tame this wild energy within her?

Although, the first two trilogies are finally published, there’s still one more story in Four Stars over Ardatz: Sovereigns–Bonded Crowns. This is the original dragon king’s story. Look for it in 2024 with a Kickstarter launch. (Look for the Kickstarter project in spring of 2024, or follow my blog and newsletter to get updates.)

Action

The series Four Stars over Ardatz: Sovereigns has been touted for its action-packed pages. Resolved is no different. The action starts with tension between the queen and her council and moves to rumors of war which Siobhan tries to stop.

Coming of Age

If you thought Siobhan grew in Determined, she really comes into her own in Resolved. Before she was a spoiled princess learning about marriage. Now, she’s queen and a single parent to a ten-year-old. She’s doing her best to keep her daughter and her kingdom safe.

Clean Romance

The sanctity of marriage has always been at the top of my values. Therefore, it was with trepidation that I allowed my characters to speak to me and act on their hearts. What followed was a clean romance that doesn’t defy any boundaries, but may result in some interesting conversations down the road between characters.

Epic Fantasy

What’s more epic than the peace of multiple nations? The Navwood have been a pain in Siobhan’s side since she was a teen. Since they can’t do much on their own, they look for allies—like they did with the Aeguskey in Uprooted. This time they find a neighboring kingdom to help along with a jiddee’adar (mage).

Addicting Series

Many have said this is an addicting series. All I can say is find out for yourself. Pick up Uprooted and see what you think.

Found Family

This theme has woven its way throughout every single book. From Hest and Sydur to Hest and Siobhan, and now Mairead is seeking a da that’ll be there for her. Find out who’ll step up and fill those shoes.

Worldbuilding

As I build a world, I want to create it in such a way that I can enjoy living in it over the course of writing the book(s). Ardatz is no different. For over a year, I brainstormed with family members and even a scientist to be sure that it was plausible. I didn’t want to live with sci-fi, but some of the stories that may live in Ardatz may very well be more science fantasy if not science fiction!

As a result, Ardatz is a world you can want to live in.

Lovable Characters

From the beginning, readers have loved Hest. Siobhan and Mairead, Kyeth, Gareth, and Faolan are sure to become fan favorites as well.

Good vs Evil

This age-old battle has filled fantasy for centuries. The jiddee’adar vs sanyalee express that in Resolved, but also the question of war. Good being the country at peace and evil being the country that invades for no other reason than they can.

Amazing Rallying Cries

You know the scene. The one where Theoden rallies the Roharrim. Or the one where Aragorn and Legolas argue in Helm’s Deep with the men looking on. Both are rallying cries that stir your hearts. According to my editor, Siobhan has just the right rallying cry for her Rittider and army.

Mages

In Ardatz, mages are known as jiddee’adar. They follow Jeeah’s guidance and have been given power from the various elements on Ardatz that flows through their blood. Sanyalee either are jiddee’adar that have turned against Jeeah, or they’re normal people who use stones and other focusing items and force the power to themselves.

Out of all of Four Stars over Ardatz: Sovereigns books, Resolved sees Lugh and Conry fighting together. The sanyalee that they face is one that originally was a jiddee’adar but has turned his back on Jeeah.

Explores an Age-Old Question

Why do bad things happen to good people is a question that has troubled philosophers and still bothers everyday people. I didn’t go about writing a treatise on why bad things happen to good people, but it flowed in story format and then was tempered through the events of 2020 when Determined and Resolved were written. As you read, you’ll see the hope and the reason behind why bad things happen to Siobhan and, hopefully, see why they may happen to you.

So, here are 12 reasons why you should pre-order Resolved? What are you waiting for? Haven’t started the series yet? No problem. As I told my email readers, you still have time to pick up Uprooted and read through. Resolved releases on July 11. Grab your summer reads now and get caught up.

Sales

The first way we celebrate is with discounts. Who doesn’t like that? Uprooted and Determined are on sale for 99 cents for this week. If you haven’t nabbed them, now’s the time.

Why you should purchase it?

Do you like books that keep you turning the pages? Books that are addicting? Those that have hope despite the darkness around them? Do you like series where the books keep getting better and better? These are what readers are saying about this best-selling series–Four Stars over Ardatz: Sovereigns.

If you like dragons, clean romance, fantasy, and action, you’re bound to enjoy this series.

First chapter

The preview at the end of Exalted isn’t from the first chapter. My editor and I debated about what to add as the preview and decided to show a bit more of the action instead. So, the first chapter has yet to be seen. Hop on over to read it and get a glimpse of the story.

What’s all the hub-bub?

According to one reviewer, “The tension never lets up. There are threats around every corner, and that includes in [Siobhan’s] own castle.”

Another reviewer said, “I liked how we see Siobhan’s POV more in this novel, and she has her own resilience.”

A third reviewer commented, “Determined is a good mix of action, suspense, heartbreak and romance. The story is a bit more dark than the previous books but just as good.”

“Another amazing story.”

What it’s about

When your nightmares waken, where do you find rest?

Eighteen-year-old Siobhan had lived a sheltered life until the Navwood attacked and a dragon bonded with her betrothed. Living with the remnant terrors of two abductions has left its mark, and that cut is getting deeper as she tries to adapt to life as a queen, a wife, and a mother.

Her husband is more interested in spending time with his dragon than being with her—or fulfilling his duties as king. Siobhan’s jealousy over their bond feeds her fear of the draconic features that come and go with his emotions, and the dragon’s silver around his eyes is a constant reminder that he’s not wholly hers—or ever will be.

But when the Navwood send a kidnapper to steal their daughter, Hest marches to battle, leaving his family under the protection of a palace guard. Unfortunately, the dangers of war are closer to home than either of them realized, and to save herself and her family, Siobhan will have to find new courage in the face of a waking nightmare.

When Hest returns, it’ll take all her strength to face the pressures from the court—let alone the changes war has wrought on her husband. Can their own bond survive both the pressures of a kingdom and the fears they both carry?

Where to get your copy

A fun puzzle for you

Click the refresh button at the bottom of the puzzle and you’re ready to go.

Cover Reveal celebration

To celebrate the cover reveal, you can pre-order Determined for only 99 cents! That’s this week only, so be sure to snag your copy.

If you haven’t started yet, you can start with book 1, Uprooted, for only 99 cents. The rest of the series is on sale for 30% off.

I also wrote an interview for The Fantasy Princess. It features Hest, Sydur, and Kyeth along with some Easter eggs, so you’ll want to bookmark it and return to it after reading Determined as well as Resolved and Divided.

What It’s About

What’s all the hype? Four Stars over Ardatz: Sovereigns is a coming-of-age epic fantasy set in a world where one side of the planet is always in night and the other side is always in sun.

18-year-old Hest lives on the dark side of the planet, and gets along with horses better than people. When a magnificent stallion walks into his stables, and the horse’s owner hands the innkeeper coins, Hest assumes he’s been sold into slavery.

It’s not until he’s traveled to the capital that Hest discovers he’s been taken on as squire to Captain of the Royal Guard of the neighboring kingdom.

If that’s not enough, he frees a baby dragon and sets into motion events that are beyond his small town heritage.

The first trilogy follows Hest as he learns to deal with castle intrigue, relationships, and his bond with the dragon. The second trilogy, beginning with Determined, focuses on Siobhan and then their daughter.

Blurb

When your nightmares waken, where do you find rest?

Eighteen-year-old Siobhan had lived a sheltered life until the Navwood attacked and a dragon bonded with her betrothed. Living with the remnant terrors of two abductions has left its mark, and that cut is getting deeper as she tries to adapt to life as a queen, a wife, and a mother.

Her husband is more interested in spending time with his dragon than being with her—or fulfilling his duties as king. Siobhan’s jealousy over their bond feeds her fear of the draconic features that come and go with his emotions, and the dragon’s silver around his eyes is a constant reminder that he’s not wholly hers—or ever will be.

But when the Navwood send a kidnapper to steal their daughter, Hest marches to battle, leaving his family under the protection of a palace guard. Unfortunately, the dangers of war are closer to home than either of them realized, and to save herself and her family, Siobhan will have to find new courage in the face of a waking nightmare.

When Hest returns, it’ll take all her strength to face the pressures from the court—let alone the changes war has wrought on her husband. Can their own bond survive both the pressures of a kingdom and the fears they both carry?

Cover

Fantasy

Of course, fantasy is the largest section this year with several of them being books that had been on my to-be-read list for many years and one a book that I didn’t realize had more in the series. I’ve divided the fantasy books by whether or not the author is part of Realm Makers.

Non-Realm Maker books

1. Ranger of Kings by C. J. R. Isely was very similar to Uprooted. I enjoyed it but not enough to continue on to book 2.
2. Blood and Loyalty by Luna Fox has appeared at the top of the lists that Uprooted, Blessed, and Exalted have been on this year. I enjoyed it but wasn’t expecting it to be a novella.
3. Heart of Hope and Fear by C. S. Johnson has been on my to-be-read list waiting (not too patiently) for it to release. It finally came out this year and I was able to read it. It was the perfect ending to the trilogy!
4. Chronicles of Narnia–Okay, this isn’t a single book, but I discovered I was reading them one per day and almost made it seem like one book. I didn’t get to read The Magician’s Nephew because I’d leant it to a student who never returned it. I picked them up after reading the next book on the list which I really wasn’t sure what category to put it in.
5. Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan This wonderful read was worth purchasing in paperback form, and I’d even go as far as to say hardback would be worth it. It really was the first book that I went around telling everyone they should read it. It’s a historical fiction about a young boy in the mid 1950’s and his sister who’s attending university. When he gets a book from his aunt to help him wile away his time in bed since he’s sick, he falls in love with the book, but when he discovers the author teaches at his sister’s university, he begs her to ask the author where Narnia came from. The tale unfolds reliving C. S. Lewis’s life along with the story of the sick boy and his sister. An excellent read!
6. Dragon Rider: The Griffin’s Feather by Cornelia Funke was a delightful discovery. I didn’t know there were more in this world. In fact, book 3 just recently released. It’ll probably be my Christmas present to myself. I purchased The Griffin’s Feather in paperback and loved it! Sometimes with sequels you lose your favorite characters or the action isn’t as good as the first book. None of that was true with this book. I was able to still have my favorite characters discovering new characters and risking their lives to help save mythical creatures. A win-win!

Realm Maker books

1. The Risen Age Archive trilogy consists of Curse Bearer, Blade Bearer, and Rune Bearer by Rebbeca P. Minor. I read all three books within a week or so of each other. They were a fun epic fantasy world adventure with a hint of romance and life and family on the line.
2. Wayne Thomas Batson books: The Myridian Constellation is clean, epic fantasy at its finest. I aspire to write like this. I’d listened to the first three books on audio last year, and when book four was announced as on pre-order with a special short story if you ordered, I debated, but I wanted to finish out the six books with the narrator, Dave Cruse. He does a phenomenal job of recreating the characters. In fact, there’s one that I don’t want to meet in a dark alley, let alone his bone chapel!
   The Misadventures of Strylum and Xerk is a novella origins story in the same world. I also was able to listen to the short story that was available with the pre-order.
3. H. L. Burke’s Superheroes: Power Up and Power Play take the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project to young adult readers. We’re introduced to Prism’s camp for troubled teens and meet the three teens. The first book, Power On, let’s you see all the teens and get into their heads. From there, each book focuses on a specific teen. Power Play blends LitRPG with superheroes when a new girl’s power traps the teens inside a Dungeons and Dragons style game. If you like Marvel, you’ll love H. L.’s superheroes. Power On even won a Realm Award!
4. The Lost Stones of Argonia by Dawn Shipman captured my attention and pulled me in. I read book 2 as an advanced copy and then went back and purchased book 1. I had to know what happened and how she’d gotten to the point she was at in book 2. To make things even better, I was able to cheer Kingdom Lost on when it was in the running for a Realm Award.
5. A Castle from Ashes by Sharon Stone was the last of the Castle in the Wilde series I’d read last year. I loved that world of non-magical fantasy. The characters drew me in, and I wanted to know what happened to them.
6. When Your Dragon is Too Big for a Bath by C. E. White is a fun children’s book to help kids understand prayer.
7. The Case of the Missing Robot by Laura Zimmerman is an enchanting mystery for middle grade readers. It engaged and pulled me into the story.
8. The Shallows series by Denver Evans is one of those stories that I read book 1 several years ago and never could find the rest in the trilogy until around Black Friday when I learned that Denver Evans runs the Black Friday sale I’m in every year. I immediately picked up Phantoms and Legends and read them. This Irish-inspired island world with magic and inventions and sailing ships kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s a must read, and I’ll reread it as well.

Sci-fi

What Sci-fi isn’t complete without Timothy Zahn. If you know me, you know I love his books. I’ve recommended them before and will probably continue to recommend them. This list contains one trilogy and a sequel to one of my favorite books by him. It also has some new names.

1. The Icarus Plot by Timothy Zahn is a sequel to my favorite books by Mr. Zahn, The Icarus Hunt. This story picks up several years after the close of book 1 and is designed for those who’ve not read the first book to be able to read. These two will sit at the top of my favorite books by Timothy Zahn.
2. Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendency is a trilogy that is well worth listening to or reading. I used it as my to work and back story for the first part of this school year. I love Thrawn and how he thinks. Even in the early books, I enjoyed him. Here learning about his back story, it’s even better.
3. Gemini’s Key by H. Halverstadt released the same time Blessed did. We had a joint release party at Realm Makers, but unfortunately H. Halverstadt couldn’t make it, but I read the book on the plane trip home and loved it! If you love space romps, you’ll enjoy this one.
4. Amish Vampires in Space by Kerry Nietz Yes, you read that correctly. The story is that someone presented this title as a joke at a conference, then Kerry thought about it, came up with a plausible plot, and ran with it. It is a traditional Amish story only they start with a colony in space. When Jedidiah’s family secret gets out, the whole colony is forced to flee to the stars where adventure and all kinds of temptation await. I listened to the audio and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Non-fiction Books

I did read Madeleine L’Engle’s Walking on Water as well as a couple other non-fiction books this year.

1. Walking on Water by Madeleine L’Engle was worth the read. It gave insight into being an artist as well as a Christian.
2. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont was recommended to me before the end of last school year by my son’s girlfriend. I figured if she reached out and shared a book with me, I’d better read it. I have marked it up with all kinds of things that struck me. It’s designed for writers, but it also helps you figure out life. On one particularly rough day last spring, I did as Anne Lamont suggested and started to write what I was feeling. It was freeing and now I have that for later years to look back on.
3. Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church by John Onwuchekwa was a book handed out at church. I used it as a way of starting my day. It was a challenging and thought-provoking look at prayer and the church.
4. I read Crooked Lines: A Single Mom’s Jewish Journey by Jenna Zark as a favor to the author. I wasn’t sure what to expect and so didn’t go in with much expectations other than I’d loved Jenna Zark’s The Beat on Ruby’s Street. The same writing skills come out in this essay-based journey. The first night, I’d been slapped with yet another loss in 2022 and needed hope. I was reminded that God’s mercies are new every morning! From there on, I continued to read, enjoying the similarities between this Jewish mom and me.

My 2022 didn’t end up like I expected, but I had some great books to carry me through. What’s on your book list for 2023? Any that I should add to my to-be-read list? Did you gain some books to put on your to-be-read list? I hope so.

Our Protagonists Meet in a Medieval Market by Kandi J Wyatt and Phyllis Wheeler

Hest wandered into the market place where bobbles and trinkets met his gaze. He stared in wonder at the intricate cogs and wheels. How were they made? With a shake of his head, he glanced over at the person standing next to him and gaped. A silver-haired young man with muscles larger than any knight he’d ever seen strode beside him. Silver orbed eyes blinked back at him as the man cocked his head.

Heart of my hearts? Usheen’s voice filtered through his mind.

Where was the dragon? Hadn’t they been flying over Muintir? Gripping his sword at his side, Hest felt the bond’s magic flow through his muscles.

“Hush, ‘tis I,” The silver-haired youth said, bringing a hand to his mouth as if to confirm he’d spoken.

Hest blinked. “Usheen?”

His companion nodded, not daring to open his mouth again, but he trailed a talon-like fingernail over dark lines on his hand that looked suspiciously like someone had drawn scales there. Hest wondered if that’s what he looked like when he gave into the bond, but no one had ever said he had silver hair.

The two stared at each other until someone bumped into them.

“Watch where you’re standin’!” The man grumbled. “Most people keep to the sides if they’re goin’ to gawk.”

“Ah, my pardon,” Hest nodded to the man, gazing around for his personal guards, only to find none. Goshkeah would be furious that they’d been separated.

With a courtly bow, Hest moved to the nearest booth, Usheen trailing after. Hest couldn’t help but double check to be sure the dragon had no tail dragging behind him.

Jake and Ava

At the other side of the market, voices called out, hawked wares, scolded, spoke in admiring tones, and generally sounded like background babble to Jake and Ava’s ears. Seasoned time-travelers from 2020s America, the eleven-year-old twins started at one end of the market and wandered toward the middle, noting the cinnamon, cloves, and body odor flavoring the air.

A group of soldiers in clinking chain mail, wearing swords, marched by. A robed merchant seemed to ignore the soldiers. Or did he? Ava thought he flinched.

Jake zeroed in on a long-haired dog that lay next to a rug seller, pillowed on his own colorful soft rug. Jake knelt to make friends.

Across from the rug merchant, Ava found a house of puzzles–jigsawed figures, made of colored wood.   A star in three dimensions begged her to pull it apart. But when she tried, the puzzle merchant frowned at her, his gray beard nearly covering his downturned mouth. 

A Magical Song

The next booth was a gadget shop, full of boxes of gears and cranks. What could this dark blue metal box do? She paused. A yellow button poked out of it, inviting touch. When she picked the box up, a soft melody drew her in.

Jake stood up from the dog and came over to listen. “I know that song,” he said. “Don’t I?”

Hest and Usheen were both drawn into the stall. That music! Hest hummed along. It couldn’t be.

“’Tis the swantry,” Usheen said, his voice quiet and awed. He reached out a hand toward the box.

“Wait!” said Ava, and Usheen flinched away, the spell broken.

Trouble

“Push it!” said Jake. He reached over and pushed the button.

A stench filled the air.  The four of them backed away.

Hest glanced about and took in the situation. They were in a foreign city without his personal guard. There was no time for diplomatic measures.

“They’ll be coming for us soon,” he said, gesturing toward the long-haired gadget merchant.

The man was trotting away down the alley flapping his arms and crying, “Help! Help!”

“Usheen, create a distraction!” Hest glanced about for inspiration and saw a banner flapping in the distance. “The city gate ‘twill be our best chance. Meet there.”

City Gate

Usheen, though in human form, had not lost his dragon roar. He launched himself through the crowd letting out a bellow that made people cover their ears. Surely the soldiers would follow him, looking for a dragon, but not finding one.

After ten minutes, the four of them met up outside the city gate.

“Please explain what we’re doing here in this market.” Hest took in the two younger ones, while Usheen tried his best to glare at them. But a cocky smile spread across his face.

“I guess we’re all keeping my brother out of trouble,” said Ava, poking Jake with her elbow.

“Sorry,” he said. He ducked his head.

So, what did you think? Would Usheen make a great human? What would you have looked at in the market?

Remember, there’s one more day to enter the giveaway in celebration of the release of both Exalted and The Dog Snatcher.

Hub-bub

What’s all the fuss? In book 1, we followed Hest as he went from a simple stable boy to squire of the captain of the royal guard of the neighboring kingdom. Oh, and he rescued a baby dragon. That baby is no longer so little and what Hest can do because of the bond he has with the dragon is becoming more alarming as the months go by! You’ll want to know what happens in this addicting tale.

This is what a reader had to say about Blessed.

It’s a really engrossing well written adventure tale!! I did not want to put it down and definitely hope to read the entire series. Warning: addictive!

Di Ketchup

Early review of Exalted.

The bond she creates between the dragon in the book and the King is a bond that is so strong that it has the power to destroy them both, or bring them victory. You will need to read this book.

Sandra Stiles

If you like addicting stories, vividly-written tales, and vibrant characters, you’ll love Exalted.

Release Celebrations

In recognition of the release, there are several things readers can do. You can order swag (bookmarks and stickers for Continental US mailboxes only), download a bookmark to print, read the first chapter (yes, it’s more than what’s at the back of book 2), and enter to win a prize bundle of nine paperbacks, 3 ebooks, a dragon trinket box, and a stuffed puppy dog (again Continental US mailboxes only for the physical items).

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Get Your Free Printable Bookmark

Read the first chapter

Learn about the Giveaway

Another opportunity to win a dragon figurine is to share the pinned post on my Facebook page.

Where to Find it

Exalted is available on all outlets in ebook, paperback, and hardback formats.

What People are Saying about Uprooted

Those boys are now seven years older and have grown so much! The older of the two was the inspiration for Hest. He gave me much input on the original cover ideas until we settled on what you see on the book now. He approved, and later today, I get to hand him a hardback copy of Uprooted for his collection. Once I had Robin’s approval, we sent the book out to early readers. Here’s what they said.

The details about the world are fascinating. ~Goodreads Reviewer

As always Kandi Wyatt has created a series you have to read. Once I started the book I could not put it down. ~Amazon Reviewer

A campaign of horses, kings, queens and perhaps princess love and at least one Dragon. All to fight the war. It’s a really engrossing well written adventure tale!! I did not want to put it down and definitely hope to read the entire series. ~Bookbub Reviewer

Loved the characters, especially Hest. ~Goodreads Reviewer

If you like playing with language, this story also delivers on that fantasy trope, and the glimpse of a dragon promises more for future books. ~Goodreads Reviewer

About Uprooted

If you like action-packed, original fantasy with great world-building, and wonderful characters, you’ll love Uprooted.

Grab your copy today, wherever books are sold.

Celebrate my Book Baby

There are several ways you can celebrate with me. If you’re on Discord, come on over for the celebration this week. You can also celebrate tonight at 7 pm Pacific on Instagram with Amy Earls as she gives away a prize package including Uprooted. Finally, you have through today to enter this giveaway and get your own copy.