Subgenres: Portal Fantasy

Do you ever have those moments where you’re visiting in a garden and see a stone archway or maybe you’re walking in the woods and come across a peculiarly bent tree and think, “This looks like a portal to another world”? Sometimes I do.

Today, I’m picking back up with blogging with a new mini-series—subgenres! Every month for an undetermined time, I’m going to pick a subgenre and recommend a couple books. I’m going start with one of my favorites, and one of the more familiar ones—portal fantasy.

 

Portal fantasy: a subgenre of fantasy that features at least two different worlds. The character(s) often start in our world and travel to another world via some magical method, often a portal, which often takes the form of a door.

 

Coming-of-Age

Many, though not all, portal fantasy stories tend to include some sort of coming-of-age protagonist, so it’s a great subgenre for young adult fiction. Part of the charm of portal fantasy is experiencing the wonder of a place through the perspective of a child.

Take C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia for example. When the Pevensie children first discover Narnia, they may not want to live there for the rest of theirs lives, but they soon come to love the talking animals of the land. In later books though, some of the characters “age out” of Narnia and are told it’s time to live in their own world from then on. While this can be disheartening, it’s a part of the growing up process (or in some cases, the re-growing up process) that the characters endure.

 

The Journey

Another feature includes one or more characters trying to stay in the other world or trying to get back to ours. In this sense, portal fantasy always features some sort of journey, from one world to another. Though why anybody would want to leave these fantasy worlds, I don’t know. They tend to be pretty awesome. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—if I happen to find myself in a magic realm, please leave me there. I don’t want to come back.

A lot of traveling takes place in Neil Gaiman’s Stardust, from a tiny little town in England called Wall across the realm of Faerie and even into the clouds where ships sail the skies. Not to mention various methods of travel from a magical candle to a unicorn to a ship to just plain walking. It’s a weird book. I like it.

One might even put Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones in this subgenre because it features a character originally from our world who ran away to another, and with a title like Moving Castle, yes there’s lots of traveling. I’m talking about the book, here, not the movie. England pops up once or twice, but it’s not the main setting. The castle also features a portal door, which lets out in various cities. Maybe I’m stretching it.

 

Magical Items and/or Abilities

Portal fantasy doesn’t just feature magically transporting from one world to another, though. It also tends to feature some sort of magical item or ability or both. Take the Shades of Magic trilogy by V.E. Schwab. Some of the characters have the innate magical ability to world-hop, and some characters (sometimes the same ones) have magical items like a multi-sided cloak or an evil rock that will corrupt the heart of an entire realm.

The term world-hopping makes me think of Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere books, but they don’t feature our world, so it’s not exactly portal fantasy… Oh, well.

 

Various Quests

One of my favorite things about fantasy is the variety of plots, and portal fantasy is no different. Some stories like Cornelia Funke’s Inkworld series feature a quest to defeat tyranny and go home (or find a new one), and others like Alix E. Harrow’s The Ten Thousand Doors of January feature one character’s hunt for the truth while evading those trying to cover it up and uncovering many Doors along the way. Some stories are about realm or kingdom saving, and others have lower, more personal stakes. I enjoy them both.

 

 

I’m seeing a trend in author names. If you abbreviate one or two of your first names, you might be a perfect fit for the portal fantasy genre. L.A. Klein. What do you think, guys? Should I write a portal fantasy?

One might also argue that multi-verse stories could be portal fantasy, but I’m not actually a fan of most multi-verse stories or the multi-verse theory, so I’m going to leave those books alone for now.

Thanks for reading!

 

Let’s chat! What are some of your favorite portal fantasy novels? Have you read any that I listed? Are there any others that you’d recommend?

 

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Similar posts: 7 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book-to-Movie Adaptations I Enjoy, 8 Popular Fantasy Novels I Enjoy, 7 Reasons I Enjoy Fantasy Novels

Last of the Memory Keepers Book Birthday!

I can hardly believe it. A year ago today, I meant to pre-schedule my print copy and somehow hit publish, and there it was, ready to take on the world! Or, you know, all its readers. It’s surreal to hold my own book, to tell people I’m a published author, to have conversations like this with small children:

“What do you want to be when you’re a grown up?” the girl asked. 

I never thought I’d find myself quoting Trumpkin the Dwarf: “I am a grown up.” And, I added, “I’m an author.”

Yes, I made my book a party hat. Isn’t it cute? Here are just a few things that happened the past year because of Last of the Memory Keepers.

I learned the ins and outs of the post office.

Until it changed its hours. They’re so short staffed, it’s not even funny.

But I quickly got the hang of how much it would cost to send each book (with insurance—learned that the hard way) and how to package each book.

I learned a lot about indie publishing.

Giveaways tend to generate more blog traffic but not necessarily more reviews. Of the ten or so signed copies I shipped out, maybe one person wrote a review. (Thanks, S. M. Metzler!) Oh yeah, and giveaways received more attention when I posted them on my blog and when I added a free entry option. People like free stuff.

I sold several print books to my local independent bookstore, and a couple of months later, they sent me another e-mail asking for more. Just yesterday the owner told me that the book is going to be read for the shop's next book club and requested MORE. Now, we’re planning a book reading/book signing. WHAT. IS. THIS. EVEN!?

Support your local bookstores.

Bottom photo credit: Kendra, Sweet Things & Stories Shop Owner

While studying for my MBA, I took a class on marketing and learned a lot. Like how less is more and the quality of posts trump quantity every time. Wow, I wish I had learned more about marketing sooner! At the same time, I’m glad I could learn through trial and error. Now I know more of what I should do when it comes to my next book!

Granted, I’m not perfect. I still only have three reviews on Goodreads. *stares intently at people I know have read the book* But seriously though, if you’ve happened to read one or all of the novelettes, I would greatly appreciate an honest review on Goodreads and/or Amazon.

(See Writing Book Reviews: Some Tips)

The e-books got a cover redesign!

I don’t even know what I was thinking with the first set. Thanks to my ever-so-patient cover artist and fellow blogger, Faith René Boggus, they have a fresh look!

I’m partial to The Forgotten Sons. I mean, look at that lighting! And the brothers Jahan and Navid! That and this story is not-so-secretly my favorite of all my novelettes. What? Don’t look at me like that. I can have favorites too!

My sister knows more about my characters than I do.

Say what? While writing my stories I used to think that nobody could know my characters better than I could. Until my sister got copies of her own and reread them to death, and now she can point out characters I’d forgotten about after six months. How does she do that?

Maybe it’s because I’d moved on to my next story already. As a writer, I try to focus on one story at a time. When I finally hit publish and put one story down to work on the next, it’s like saying goodbye. In this sense, the reader has the advantage of reading and rereading the final product while my head is full of first, middle, middle-middle, last, and actual last drafts.

Oh yeah, and apparently, I killed off her favorite character. Whoops.

My dad started reading my book.

My parents may have encouraged my taste for books when I was a kid, my dad through radio talking books and my mom through award winners. But my dad has never been much of an avid reader. When he came back from a vacation telling me that he’d started my book, mentioning details I knew only a reader could know, I was stunned. In a good way, of course.

Hiccup (aka me): I knew it… I’m dead. 

Stoic (aka Dad): No, but you gave it your best shot. 

(How to Train Your Dragon)

I know I already mentioned this in my acknowledgements, but I’m going to say it again. Thank you to all my readers for all your support and for a great first year!

Let’s chat! Readers, have you read Last of the Memory Keepers yet? If so, who’s your favorite character? (Please keep the comments spoiler-free!) Indie authors, what things did you learn the first year your book was out?

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Similar Posts: POV in the Last of the Memory Keepers Series, Happy 4th Blogiversary!, and 6 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Got Published

Happy 4th Blogiversary! (Featuring a Giveaway)

Around four years ago, I sat down and decided I wanted to start another blog. A blog where I could write about my thoughts on books, inspired by discussions I had on literature while I was attending university. The word blog is a weird in and of itself. Then we have the word blogiversary. What has the English language come to?

I decided to ask the internet, yes, the internet, if anybody had any questions about my writing or blogging process. Here are the questions and my answers. Stick around because I’m running a giveaway at the end!

Why did you start Word Storm? And why a blog and not any other social media?

I started Word Storm because bookish discussions make me excited. When I was in college, I wanted to continue to talk about books outside of classes. Now that I’ve graduated with my degrees in English and English Literature, I’m glad I started my blog when I did.

I picked a blog because I’m not very outgoing when it comes to other forms of social media. I have a Twitter and an Instagram account, but I’m chattier in the blogisphere. Also, I prefer writing over talking, so you probably won’t hear/see me on YouTube anytime soon.

Read more about Why Word Storm? on my About page.

What inspired you to write blog posts?

It all depends on the blog post. When I started blogging, college classroom discussions inspired me. Now, I draw inspiration from the books I read, trends I see, you name it. My last blog post, A Guide to Getting Lost in Your Local Library, was inspired by my constant visits to my library where I like to volunteer and bring home one too many books.

Actually, I’d say fewer of my blog posts come from inspiration than hard work. Inspiration is a term that’s way overused. Maybe 1% of writing is inspiration and 99% is actual writing. And that inspiration? Its name is coffee.

Did your family play a role in your interest in writing?

Yes and no. Both my parents gave me a passion for stories and reading. My mom especially used to tell me many outlandish stories when I was a kid, so like Hiccup, at least I know where I get my dramatic flair from. But most of my interest in writing came from other writers like C. S. Lewis, who wrote fantastical tales, and Mary Elizabeth Edgren, whom I got to meet as a kid, and teachers who encouraged me to craft stories of my own.

What role does God play in your blogging?

Whatever I write, I do it for the glory of God. As such, I try to write without being overly preachy. Growing up as a chaplain’s kid, I know what a sermon sounds like. Still, I aim to prompt thought and discussion from readers, regardless of their background.

As a Christian, I like to talk about wholesome stories that uplift and encourage. I try to keep my blog PG, even if some of the books I read are not. All the same, I try not to shy away from topics that may be controversial. In fact, I wrote a whole series of posts entitled “Controversy in Fiction,” addressing topics like Racial Diversity, Feminism and Female Characters, Magic, and Christian Fiction.

Are you ever going to write more about the Memory Keepers?

Maaaaaaybe. I have some ideas. While I haven’t settled on a particular story line, if I were to write more in the Memory Keepers’ world, the story would most likely involve trains, explosions, and journalism vs. academic writing.

First I’d need more reviews for Last of the Memory Keepers. If you’ve read any of the stories, please consider writing a review and posting it on Amazon and/or Goodreads. It doesn’t have to be long, and I welcome honest feedback. Did you know more reviews means more exposure? So, if you like a book, leave a review!

When you start plotting a story, where do you prefer starting? Characters, settings, storyline, something else?

Ideas can come from anywhere. Sometimes they come in the form of characters, sometimes in the form of witty quotes. But my plotting is a little more structured. Before I start, I’ll give it a rough name, which can be anything from Story Idea 11 to Just Breathe (original title for Origami Swan). Then or simultaneously, I’ll pick a genre and a target audience. Both are vital for understanding how long the story will be and how much research I’ll need to do.

When I write my basic outline (inciting incident, turning point, climax), I’ll typically start with the characters. I need to know my main players. Who they are. What they want. How they influence the plot. I’ll write this bit in a notebook so it’s portable and so I can add details wherever I go.

Once that’s done, and sometimes even before then, I’ll put some meat on the bones by writing a complete synopsis. That’s when I figure out how the plot influences the characters. I write this part on my computer so I can rearrange, change, or add details if necessary. And that’s about it. I used to write chapter-by-chapter, but later found it was too tedious.

See 3 Methods for Outlining Your Novel.

Slight side-note: I’m not participating in NaNoWriMo this year, camp or otherwise.

Why, you might ask? Well, it’s a great tool to establish discipline and to actually finish writing a book. But that’s the thing. I’ve written… eight? Nine? I don’t know. I lost count. Guys, I’m obsessed with writing. So much so that I have to be dragged away from my computer screaming, “You can’t turn it on and off like a tap!”

So… I’m taking July to do #31DaysofBunnies instead! That’s right. I’ve been trying to take up drawing for a while now, and I haven’t really sat down long enough to draw, unless you count during class once a month. As my next novel may include bunnies, I’m thinking of doing some of my own illustrations. That and they’re just fun to draw.

Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Giveaway time!

Please keep in mind that because of shipping expenses, I will only be giving away a print copy to a person with a US address. If you happen to live outside the States, you may still enter for the chance to win a Kindle/Nook edition of the first three novelettes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let’s chat! Any other questions you might have about Word Storm or my stories? What’s been your top book(s) of 2018 so far?

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Similar posts: Origami Swan: Novel Title Change and Cinnamon Rolls (Aka Characters), 3 Methods for Outlining Your Novel, and Controversy in Fiction: Christian Fiction

Book Review: The Beast of Talesend

Part-Indiana Jones, part-Sherlock Holmes, Nick Beasley is the best detective for denouncing false magic, until an encounter with a very real magical item causes him to change his mind… and his form.

This year, I’ll be challenging myself to post more book reviews, particularly focusing on new releases and books I enjoy that don’t get enough attention.*

*Last year, I tried out a monthly post on Character Types, and it just wasn’t working for me. I ended up procrastinating such posts and avoiding them where I could. So instead of writing about content I don’t care for (though I still like characters!), I thought I’d focus on something I’m excited to write, like book reviews!

Book: The Beast of Talesend by Kyle Robert Shultz

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale Inspired

My rating: 4/5 stars

One-word description: Witty

I’m not a fan of fairy tale retellings. Before you freak out, please allow me to explain. I grew up on fairy tales. I don’t know them all, but I feel like I know a lot of them pretty well. So I guess you could say I’m not a fan of leftover plots. I don’t care for leftovers from my fridge (and I like food!), so why would I want to read the same story again? (This doesn’t apply to rereads. Rereads are fun.)

The Beast of Talesend, however, is not your average retelling. As the author put it in a recent interview, it’s more of a fairy tale inspired story rather than a direct retelling. After all, the events in this novel take place long after all the fairy tales themselves. This story in particular draws from Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, and several others.

Not only is the cover aesthetically pleasing, but the story was an enjoyable read. The characters and the chapter titles are witty. I also like how developed and different the characters were. Cordelia is rather self-confident and driven while Nick is a skeptic with extensive knowledge about artifacts. In fact, his respect for artifacts like books and—even more—his determination to protect his brother make him incredibly likeable.

But there were a couple of formatting choices that I found odd. Like why wasn’t the map bigger? I can hardly read it even with my reading glasses on. I have a hunch the e-book is better quality in this sense, but a vertical map might have been easier to read. Just so you know, I’m not docking stars for formatting. I’ve read plenty of traditionally published books with issues. (Like that one time I read a misprinted book that had 50 pages missing. Ahem. *cough* I digress.)

My only complaint is that I wish the story were longer. There could have been more details, but then again, I’m drawn to long and wordy stories. Perhaps too much so. This book was much shorter than I had been expecting. At least there’s a sequel!

That being said—the ending has me hooked! With some hints that the Jabberwock may make a later appearance, I am now seriously concerned for the rest of the characters. *shudders* I can’t wait to read the next book in the Beaumont & Beasley Series, The Tomb of the Sea Witch.

I gave The Beast of Talesend 4/5 stars for a great and creative plot and witty and well-developed characters. Reminiscent of The Tenth Kingdom, I would recommend this to readers who enjoy fantasy and fairy tales but don’t necessarily want to read the exact same story again.

Does The Beast of Talesend spark your interest? Have you read it already? You might also enjoy these great books: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Where the Woods Grow Wild by Nate Philbrick, and This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab.

Let’s chat! Has The Beast of Talesend made it to your to-be-read list yet? Anybody out there read it? Have any fantastical book recommendations?

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Similar book reviews: In the Palace of Rygia, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and Rebel of the Sands

POV in the Last of the Memory Keepers Series

I can’t believe it’s the end of 2017 already! At the beginning of this year, I set out on a self-publishing journey. In March, I published the first of my novelettes in e-book form, then in September, I released the entire Last of the Memory Keepers series in print. What fun this has been!

*

For fans of The Chronicles of Narnia and Paradise Lost, Last of the Memory Keepers is a compilation of six sequential stories and one poem. Follow Rhona Farlane and Ellard Coburn on their adventures to befriend members of other races while they fight to save their own. 

Today I’ll be discussing the point of view (POV) in the series and the way I strove to resolve any issues that arose with writing in first person. For those who have not read my series yet, I have done my best to keep this post spoiler-free.

*Winners for the giveaway have been selected.

Dual Perspective

The first novelette in the series, “The Diplomat’s Daughter”, is told from the perspective of Rhona Farlane. She’s knows what she wants out of life and she’s spunky, perhaps a little too much so for a diplomat-in-training. But she’s determined to follow her apprenticeship through to the end and unite the peoples of her world.

Notice Rhona’s detailed enthusiasm in the following excerpt:

“Spring of the year 4137, Finley proposed his most wonderful, foolhardy idea yet. Even at twenty years old, he was coming up with reckless ideas that would probably get us killed. Naturally, I supported his idea and Ellard protested. But not much. Not this time. Even as the pitch black of night in the stable shrouded his face, I could just hear the smile behind his tense voice.”

—Rhona Farlane, “The Diplomat’s Daughter” (LMK, vol. 1)

The second novelette, “The Quiet Apprentice”, takes a different approach, told from the perspective of her friend Ellard Coburn. Like Rhona, he’s an apprentice to one of the masters of the Memory Keepers, but unlike her, he’s skittish and gets along better with animals than with people.

Now compare that scene with Ellard’s confusion when his friends keep interrupting his study session:

“Finley held his hands up, then looked at me. ‘Ellard, can you please help me change the subject?’

“I couldn’t think of a single interesting thing to say. I was still trying to wrap my mind around their disagreement. Leave it up to a Memory Restorer [Finley] to argue about the color of a historical figure’s clothes. I couldn’t even remember who Zaire was, much less what he’d done.”

—Ellard Coburn, “The Quiet Apprentice” (LMK, vol. 2)

When it came to writing each perspective, Rhona’s and Ellard’s, I had to take their backgrounds into consideration. Rhona was raised by a diplomat, the Master of Deep Memory, and Ellard was raised by a stable hand and a horse trainer. Rhona comes from a privileged family of intellectuals, and Ellard comes from a more rural background who had to work harder to earn his apprenticeship.

A Verbal Account

The main issue I had with writing these stories arose because I decided to go with first person. After all, how was I supposed to tell the narrative from the perspective of characters who don’t write their history down? At one point, there’s even mention of Ellard, my second protagonist, being illiterate. So how is somebody who can’t even read supposed to write a story?

To resolve this issue, I went with a verbal account instead of a written one. Because the Memory Keepers have the ability to access the memories of the trees, they keep their records by speaking to the trees, like one would write their thoughts in a diary or recite their memories to a starship’s log in science fiction. As a result, I read each story aloud to my sister to ensure it flowed well and actually sounded like people might talk.

“The Quite Apprentice” (LMK, vol. 2) explores the concept of recording memories more so than the first story. At the end of the novelette (don’t worry, this is not a spoiler!), Ellard explains that he’s storing his memories in an oak tree. And in the final volume, a certain character reveals that he listened to each verbal account and wrote them down for public record.

The Problems with Memory

Memory can be fleeting. Sometimes, people ignore certain details or remember others incorrectly. Sometimes people forget things. And as alluded to in “The Memory Thief,” some people are made to forget.

Last of the Memory Keepers isn’t just a recitation of adventures written down by a scribe. Like some works of fiction, it’s the narrators who are putting together the pieces of their stories after they are resolved. Sometimes the stories may be an exaggeration or a reflection of the past. Sometimes they leave you wondering what’s real and what’s not.

Any mistakes are my own, or you can blame it on the troubles with memory. Most of all, this series—this book—is just a story. I hope you enjoy it.

Giveaway Time!

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! So I’ve been hosting a lot of giveaways this month, but I can’t help it. I like my readers! Today I’ll be giving away two prizes: 1) a signed copy in print and a desert rose; 2) the entire e-book series (Volumes 1-6). Enter to win one of two prizes below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let’s chat! Which prize sounds more appealing to you? Have you added Last of the Memory Keepers to your To-Be-Read List yet? For those who have read the first two volumes, whose perspective did you enjoy the most: Rhona’s or Ellard’s? If you haven’t read any volumes yet, which character sounds most appealing?

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Similar posts: Last of the Memory Keepers Series Announcement, LMK the Five Races Q&A, Luan and the Star’s Daughter: A LMK Companion

Last of the Memory Keepers: Print Edition Cover Reveal!

One of the questions I find readers like to ask a lot is “Where’s the print version of your stories?” Good news, everybody! Print is not dead. I decided to release the e-book versions first to allow the stories to get a running head start. Now, I am pleased to present you with the print cover for Last of the Memory Keepers!

Isn’t it gorgeous!? The cover is not only intriguing 
and purple, but it portrays one of my favorite places 
to develop in the LMK series—the lost City of Light!

“Just because something’s forgotten doesn’t mean it never existed. History may forget our names, but that doesn’t mean we never lived.”

Rhona Farlane is among the top three apprentice Memory Keepers and an advocate for the unification of the remaining three races. But some days, she feels like she’s the only one willing to put in enough effort. Her closest friends, Finley and Ellard, are either too reckless or too reserved to make a positive impact on the world, and her uncle doesn’t even believe she deserves her apprenticeship.

Determined to make a difference anyway, she joins her father on her first diplomatic mission in the Southern Rim where negotiations are going smoothly. Perhaps too smoothly. Then a tragedy threatens to cease all negotiations within her lifetime and even start a war. Will Rhona ever be able to achieve unity when everything she believes about her world is shattered? 

Why should you buy the print version?

1)      LOOK AT THAT COVER!!!

I kid you not, I often pick out books because they look pretty. If you enjoyed “The Diplomat’s Daughter” or any of the subsequent stories, don’t you want to show off this book on your shelf?

2) The poem, “Luan and the Star’s Daughter”, is a lot easier to read in print.

Unlike the version on my blog, you don’t have to scroll down and scroll up and scroll back down to read the footnotes. Of course, you can just ignore them if you want. But the print version is more user-friendly.

3) The print version contains exclusive content.

In addition to the poem following right alongside the novelettes, there will also be a fantasy map. That’s right. A map! Travel-enthusiasts like myself may appreciate this tidbit, as will anybody else who is curious as to how the Forest of Memory lies in proximity to the Eastern Desert.

4) Signed editions.

If you’re interested in a signed copy, I will be sending out quite a few! Even though I live in Europe, shipping to the United States is not an issue.

The estimated release date for the print version of Last of the Memory Keepers is September 1, 2017!!! (I reserve the right to change this date for any number of reasons. My primary concern is how soon my proof copy will arrive.)

Print edition cost: $13.99 (£10.74 or €11.99)

Signed edition cost (with shipping): est. $18.99 (£14.57 or €16.10)

Release date: 1 Sep. 2017

Feel free to contact me if you want a signed copy! You can comment below, send me a message on Facebook or Twitter, or e-mail me at word.storm.blog@gmail.com

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Similar posts: Last of the Memory Keepers, LMK: The Five Races, and LMK: Series Announcement

Let’s chat! What did you think of this cover? Do you think you’ll want a print edition? Which is your favorite volume from Last of the Memory Keepers so far? 

Last of the Memory Keepers: Cover Reveal and Sneak Peak

A couple of years ago, I set out with an idea and a dream to write a fantasy short story series. And for the past year and a half, that dream’s only grown and grown. Now, I’m putting the final touches on my now novelette series, Last of the Memory Keepers, and I’m proud to reveal to you the cover and the title for the first story!

But first, a little something about the plot:

Rhona Farlane is among the top three apprentice Memory Keepers and an advocate for the unification of the remaining three races. But some days, she feels like she’s the only one willing to put in enough effort. Her closest friends, Finley and Ellard, are either too reckless or too reserved to make a positive impact on the world, and her uncle doesn’t even believe she deserves her apprenticeship.

Determined to make a difference anyway, she joins her father on her first diplomatic mission in the Southern Rim where negotiations are going smoothly. Almost too smoothly. Until a tragedy threatens to cease all negotiations within her lifetime and even start a war. Will Rhona ever be able to achieve unity when everything she believes about her world is shattered? 

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Here comes the cover…

*drumroll*

Much thanks to my critique partner and fellow writer, Faith Boggus! You did such a great job on bringing Rhona, my protagonist, to life through watercolor. I can’t wait to share her adventures with the rest of you, my dear readers. Mark your calendars for March 3^rd because that’s when I plan on unleashing “The Diplomat’s Daughter” on the world! 

You can pre-order your copy here! 

Until then, here’s a little sneak peek to tide you over:

Ancients’ Memory, Summer Equinox, 4137

Keepers Present: Rhona and Ervin Farlane

Father once told me that we’re all still a part of the human race, no matter what the Elders claimed. Which isn’t entirely true because thousands of years ago after our world began, we murdered the human race. Now we’re all that’s left.

Or so I thought.

Spring of the year 4137, Finley proposed his most wonderful, foolhardy idea yet. Even at twenty years old, he was coming up with reckless ideas that would probably get us killed. Naturally, I supported his idea and Ellard protested. But not much. Not this time. Even as the pitch black of night in the stable shrouded his face, I could just hear the smile behind his tense voice.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

I cinched the girth and slipped the bridle off my shoulder. “Are you?”

It wasn’t a question of whether we wanted to get caught but rather if Finley and I wanted to lose to him. Again. Despite being Apprentice Communicator, Ellard was a natural-born rider. With his parents both working in the stables, he was practically born in the saddle. 

I heard the creak of leather behind me as he swung himself into the saddle. Of course he could tack up and mount in the dark twice as fast as I could. Show off. I frowned and reached out in the dark, feeling for my mare’s head. Just as I managed to slip the bridle over her ears, I heard Finley mount up.

“Come on, slowpoke!” he said.

I adjusted the chin strap and ran my hand down the horse’s neck, searching for the saddle. In the two seconds it took me to mount, Finley and Ellard were already leading their horses around me in opposite directions. I squeezed the reins tight, wishing to stare down both of them, but I knew they were doing it just to get on my nerves.

I pressed my heels into my horse’s sides, urging her out of the stable. Finley’s horse skirted out of the way, and I glanced back with a smile. “Are we racing or not?”

I kept silent from there on out as we rode past silhouettes of buildings, glad for the cover of clouds overhead. Just as long as my mare, March, could keep her footing—and we didn’t get caught—we’d be all right. After another minute, the last of the stone buildings gave way to rows of trees. The moon came out, lighting up the patches of the underbrush before us.

We rode on at a walk for another ten minutes, then stopped just behind two tall spruces, a place we often met in the daylight. Finley turned in the saddle to face Ellard and me. “All the way around the Haven. First one to make it back wins.”

I chuckled. “Wins what?”

“Why, respect of course,” Finley said.

Ellard scoffed.

“Ready?” Finley said.

I adjusted the reins in my hand, and March swung her ears back, tense, awaiting the word.

“Go!”

I couldn’t remember who shouted it, but I gave one kick and March surged ahead. With a pounding gallop, we tore off, bearing northward. The moonlight poured through the trees, just enough so that I could make out the underbrush and the boulders, just enough to tell that I was barely ahead of Finley on my left. Ellard was nowhere in sight, but I hadn’t the time to worry about him.

We were riding hard, and I focused all my attention on the path. Just as we skirted around the northern rim of the Haven, Finley’s horse veered to the right, dodging a tree and nearly running into me. March stumbled, recovered, and blasted right through a bush, setting us behind Finley by several yards. I grit my teeth as he took the lead and squeezed with my knees, urging March for more speed.

Finley held the lead all the way down the eastern side of the Haven and along the south. Just as we were curving back up west, I kicked again, letting out a shout, and managed to pull up next to Finley. We were riding neck-and-neck.

We had mere seconds before we reached the western rim where we’d started. Mere moments before I had to pull ahead of Finley. Mere breaths before—

Ellard’s horse charged between us, startling our horses. We pulled apart for a second, then galloped after him. But Ellard was already letting out a loud whoop as he charged through the trees where we started. He pulled his horse to a stop as Finley and I passed the trees simultaneously. I pulled back on the reins before we ran into Ellard.

Finley was laughing. “I’m going to need to see your memory on that last bit. How do we know you didn’t hang around here the whole time?”

“I didn’t cheat,” Ellard said, sounding offended. “That’s your job.”

Finely chuckled. “That it is, my boy. That it is… Oh, but not this time, I assure you!”

Ellard scoffed. “Sure.”

But even as we headed back towards the stables, I noticed how Ellard sat up a little straighter.