An exciting new adventure!

The Lies Dragons Tell

I'm thrilled to announce that I'm co-writing a new epic fantasy novel with the incredibly talented India Drummond! If you haven't read India's books yet, you're in for a treat. She's a gifted storyteller with a polished, flowing style and a spicy flair. Her Caledonia Fae series is a masterful blend of urban and epic fantasy. We'll be working on the outline of our new project in the weeks to come, so I'll have more updates in my fall newsletter, but I'm excited about this venture, and you should be too!

The title is The Lies Dragons Tell, and it's about two brothers trying to save their sister. We plan to release it in Dec 2014 (both of us have our own books to write, after all), and it's going to be epic!

A mysterious illness sweeps the capital, starting with five highborn youths.  Two brothers, as helpless as the healers who say there's nothing more they can do, watch while their younger sister fades away. Determined to save her, they approach one of the dragonborn, a mage who promises to help but demands a terrible price. Hard choices divide the brothers when they uncover a dark and twisted plot, and their love and loyalty are tested. What price is too high to save someone you love?

India designed and created this cover. What do you think? She's multi-talented!

India lives in Scotland, and we struck up a friendship on Facebook and through email. We've enjoyed each other's books so much, we thought it would be fun to co-write a novel. Please allow me to introduce her.

India knew from age nine that writing would be her passion. Since then she's discovered many more, but none quite so fulfilling as creating a world, a character, or a moment and watching them evolve into something complex and compelling. She has lived in three countries and four American states, is a dual British and American citizen, and currently lives at the base of the Scottish Highlands in a village so small its main attraction is a red phone box. In other words: paradise.

The supernatural and paranormal have always fascinated India. In addition to being an avid sci-fi and fantasy reader, she also enjoys mysteries, thrillers, and romance. This probably explains why her novels have elements of adventure, ghosts (or elves, fairies, angels, aliens, and whatever else she can dream up), and spicy love stories.

See her Amazon author profile at:
http://www.amazon.com/India-Drummond/e/B004VKMP4E

You can find her at:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/india.drummond.author
Twitter: http://twitter.com/IndiaDrummond
Blog: http://www.indiadrummond.com/

India is best known for the Caledonia Fae urban fantasy series. The modern tale begins in Perth, Scotland, where a police constable chases a serial killer, only to discover the crime has roots in the supernatural, a paranormal reality he never knew existed. During his murder investigation, contact with a mysterious woman stirs his dormant druidic powers, changing his life forever. She, and the killer, are fae.

In this bestselling urban and epic fantasy book series, humans are plucked from Scotland, England, The Netherlands, Germany, The United States, Australia, and elsewhere and transported into the faerie realm. They learn to build a new life, tame their magic, even find love, all while facing danger, murder, kidnapping, and chaos. Those who survive will usher a new era into the Otherworld.

Book 1, Blood Faerie, is FREE on Amazon, Apple, and Barnes and Noble.

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050Q4YBK/

Progress report: Beta time!

I made it through a full revision of Kinshield's Redemption and sent the manuscript off to beta readers to get their impressions and complaints -- two weeks early! :) The book is currently just over 110,000 words long, so it's slightly shorter than book 1, but longer than books 2 and 3. As I continue to revise, that length will probably change, but not by a whole lot.

The book is still on target for an August (sometime) release. The exact release date will be announced in my newsletter, so sign up if you want to get the scoop.

Progress report - book 4

After stripping out about 2000 words last week because I decided to go in a different direction, I'm happy to say I've reached 90,000 words on the first draft of Kinshield's Redemption. For comparison, book 1 is 121,000 words long, and books 2 and 3 are about 90,000 words each, so book 4 will probably be somewhere in the middle, length wise.

I hope to have the first draft done in the next couple weeks, and then I get to start revisions. That's my favorite part -- filling in the fine detail, adjusting plot points here and there, messing with my characters (Gavin in particular), and making sure that if he sets his sword on the desk, it doesn't inexplicably appear on the dresser. hehehe. After that, a quick edit for spelling, and it's off to the beta readers!

I'm on target for an August 2013 release. :-)

FREE book! Heroic fantasy novel The Kinshield Legacy is now FREE!

I've decided to offer my heroic fantasy novel The Kinshield Legacy (book 1 of The Kinshield Saga) for free going forward. This is the longest of the three books that are currently available, but book 4 (coming soon!) might rival it in length. I'm only about 60% of the way through it, and it's already over 70,000 words long. To give you a yardstick to measure that by, books 2 and 3 of the series were both right around 90,000 words. My science fiction novel, The Venom of Vipers (aka Blood Pact) was also around 90,000 words.

Want to know where to download The Kinshield Legacy for free? I've got the updated list on my web site. While you're there, take a look around -- I've recently redesigned it, just for you. ;)

I admit, I'm not real good at updating my blog as often as I should, but I do have a newsletter that you can sign up for. Newsletter subscribers get new release info before everyone else, and I sometimes do giveaways *just* for them (gift certificates, Kindles -- who knows? Maybe one day I'll give away a pony! haha J/K). I'm not spammy -- I won't put out a newsletter more often than once a month, but usually it's once per quarter. Sign up -- you can unsubscribe later if you want, and no new spam will grace your mailbox because of me. I promise.

(If you didn't already know, I'm an anti-spam advocate. I even have another blog where I expose companies that let their customers' email addresses fall into the hands of Viagra peddlers.)

Guest post - character development

Author Rita Carla Francesca Monticelli invited me to write a guest post on her blog. I wrote about character development, one of my favorite writing-related topics. Head over and take a peek!

http://ladyanakina.blogspot.com/2013/03/three-dimensional-characters.html

Excerpt from a hidden journal

Sithral Tyr had sold one of Crigoth Sevae's old journals to the wizard Brodas Ravenkind, but there was one journal that Tyr kept hidden, waiting for the right time to sell it... or trade it for his life.

It was quite by accident that I overheard old King Dantrek on his deathbed confide to Prince Arek that there exists a wellspring high in the mountains that his father, King Ivam, had some interest in for its secret magical properties. According to legend — a legend that King Ivam had worked hard to discredit — drinking of the Wellspring had the potential to permanently raise a person's spirit to the purest form. Not only would this effect eliminate crime, it would also inspire a sense of community such as the world has never seen. There would be no more hunger, no more poverty. I have never heard of this wellspring, but the notion of it intrigues me. I will endeavor to learn more about it.

from Well of the Damned, book 3 of The Kinshield Saga.

First blog review for Well of the Damned

Many of us authors are excited yet terrified to see reviews of our work. We're in this at least partly to entertain people. When we succeed, it's like a party inside our head. When we fail... well, it feels bad. We know we can't please everyone, but that doesn't stop us from wanting to. ("I'm going to be the first author in the history of the world to thrill every single person who reads my book!" hahaha)

Book bloggers read a lot. It's what they do, right? Because they read so much, it's easy to find bloggers who like the same kinds of stories, writing, etc. as we do. Following them can yield some great book recommendations.

If you enjoy reading indie books & discovering new authors, head on over to the Indie Book Blog and read Scott's reviews and author interviews. Most recently, he has posted his review of my new release, Well of the Damned.

Oh, and since he doesn't get paid to give readers a heads up on books he reads, please consider using the link at the bottom of the reviews to buy the books he's convinced you to try. :)

Win some digital books!

Here's a chance to win digital books from LK Rigel, KC May, JC Phelps and Debra L Martin! Sign up here.

The Next Big Thing

Not long ago, my friends Moses Siregar and A.E. Marling invited me to join a blog series called The Next Big Thing, in which writers talk a little bit about their work in progress or, in my case, latest book. It seems to have been started by http://www.shewrites.com/ -- which looks like a cool blog for women writers.

You'll find Moses's blog at http://sciencefictionfantasybooks.net/. If you haven't read his novel, The Black God's War, definitely check it out. It's a more mature work in the fantasy genre, unusual for a first novel, and it's getting rave reviews! He has a new novella out, Children of Wood and Wind.

A.E. Marling's web site is http://www.aemarling.com and he writes highly rated fantasy. In fact, he's offering Fox's Bride free on Amazon right now, so be sure to grab a copy.

So without further ado, let's get to it.


What is the working title of your book?

I've settled on Well of the Damned. When I started the project, I called it Wellspring of Enlightenment, but that's not as compelling as Well of the Damned. It's now available at Amazon.com, BN.com and Smashwords, but Kobo is still processing.

I'll be starting book four in The Kinshield Saga in January (well, technically I've already started -- by moving scenes I originally wrote for Well of the Damned), but I don't have a working title for that one yet. It might be something like Kinshield's Redemption. Or something along those lines. Or something completely different. heh.

I'm celebrating the release with a drawing for a Kindle Fire! Be sure to enter the drawing. http://fantasyauthor.blogspot.com/2012/12/kindle-fire-giveaway.html


Where did the idea for the book come from?

In The Kinshield Saga books one and two, Gavin Kinshield begins to get pieces of a story that explains his obsession with the King's Runes, his recurring dreams, and his frequent bouts of deja vu. He finally learns the truth about what happened to King Arek two hundred years earlier. In the third book, Well of the Damned, his goal is to answer the question, "Why?" Book four will answer the question, "What are you going to do about it?"


What genre does your book fall under?

This is most definitely a fantasy novel, with kings and swords and magic. It takes place in a made-up country called Thendylath that's a mix of British and American culture, language and technology of the mid 1600s. I hesitate to call it "epic" fantasy, but I do call it "heroic" fantasy. Some would even call it sword-and-sorcery.


Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie version?

Gavin Kinshield is quite a large man -- he's 6'6" and about 300 lbs. For that reason, I'd probably choose Jason Momoa to play him in the movie. If you've seen Game of Thrones on HBO, you know him as Kahl Drogo. He also played Conan in the recent remake of Conan the Barbarian.

Most of the women actors would need to be hard-core athletes to play battlers realistically -- someone who looks fit and strong, like Jillian Michaels or natural (steroid-free) bodybuilders, like Felicia Romero

 or Lauren Frahn.

None of my women battlers would be caught dead in bikini armor!


What is the one-sentence synopsis of the book?

Gavin Kinshield recovers a valuable artifact and discovers a wellspring whose magical waters could save -- or destroy -- the kingdom.


Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

This book was self-published. Perhaps one day I'll submit my work to a publisher, but not until things change in the industry. We authors can actually make more money and sell books at a lower price when we self-publish. The efficacy of traditional publishing just isn't what it once was.


How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I'd say about six or seven months. It helps that the world and characters were already developed. The first book in the series took roughly four years to complete!


What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Well, The Kinshield Saga is traditional fantasy fare, but I hesitate to compare it to any particular story. I don't recall reading anything else that tells two stories in one -- the unraveling of a land's lost history along with the developing adventures of the hero.


Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Readers did! I received quite a few emails from people who wanted to see where the story went after The Wayfarer King -- what happened to Cirang? I have to admit that I'm also a bit of a Gavin Kinshield fan :), and while I do like to torture him, I admire his perseverance and thirst for knowledge. I also like stories of scandal and intrigue among royalty, and so the opportunity to write one featuring my favorite swordsman was too appealing to resist.


What else about your book might pique the interest of readers?

If you like fantasy novels that are long on dialog and short on flowery description, if you prefer stories about heroes who are flawed yet decent, who do the best they can in difficult situations, if you're tired of novels that digress into philosophical rantings or seem like thinly veiled political statements, if you enjoy escapist novels, you might like The Kinshield Saga.


Here are some authors who’ll be participating in the Next Big Thing Blog Series next week. (More to be added as folks accept my invitation to participate!) I urge you to check them out!

L.K. Rigel
Debra L. Martin

Kindle Fire Giveaway

In celebration of the release of Well of the Damned (book 3 of The Kinshield Saga), I'm giving away an Amazon Kindle Fire in a drawing on December 31, 2012. Check out the rules below and enter to win!

DATES: The giveaway will begin at midnight (eastern time) on December 21, 2012 and end at midnight (eastern time) on December 31, 2012.

HOW TO ENTER: No purchase necessary, but you must be a U.S. resident and at least 18 years old to enter. Start here:

Click to join KC's Rafflecopter giveaway

You can have multiple entries for more chances to win!

There are four ways to enter:
• Answer a question (one entry per person)
• Like K. C. May books on Facebook (one entry per person)
• Follow @GASciFiAuthor on Twitter (one entry per person)
• Tweet about the giveaway (one entry per day) using hashtag #WellOfTheDamned. If you follow GASciFiAuthor, you can just retweet my announcement tweets.

Remember, you must register for the giveaway on the Rafflecopter site before you go about liking and tweeting and so forth! Be sure to tell your friends!

WINNER SELECTION: The winner will be selected by random drawing of all entries submitted. The winner will be notified by e-mail and must respond with U.S. shipping address within 72 hours from the notification email timestamp to claim the prize. If prize is not claimed within 72 hours, he forfeits the prize and another winner is selected. PRIZES: One (1) Amazon Kindle Fire 7" LCD Display, Wi-Fi, 8GB w/special offers
Eligibility and Limitations. Participants and winner(s) must be a resident of the United States of America and be at least 18-years old at the time of the drawing. Members of my immediate or extended family are not eligible to participate and win. The term "immediate or extended family" includes spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins whether as "in-laws," or by current or past marriage(s), remarriage(s), adoption, co-habitation or other family extension, and any other persons residing at the same household whether or not related.
Delivery Disclaimer. I disclaim all liability for any delays, misdelivery, loss, or failure in the delivery of any item sent by mail, email, courier, express, electronic transmission, or other delivery method. I will ship the prize within 30 days of winner's acceptance.
Publicity. By participating, all participants and winner(s) grant me exclusive permission to use their names, location, characters, photographs, voices, and likenesses in connection with promotion of this giveaway, and waive any claims to royalty, right, or remuneration for such use.
Release. By participating, each participant and winner waives any and all claims of liability against me for any personal injury or loss which may occur from the conduct of, or participation in, the giveaway, or from the use of the prize.
Taxes. Any valuation of the prize(s) stated above is based on available information provided by Amazon.com, and the value of the prize awarded to a winner may be reported for tax purposes as required by law. Each winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying any and all applicable taxes. Prizes are not transferrable or redeemable for cash.
Decisions. I reserve the right to disqualify any participant or winner and may refuse to award any prize to a person who is ineligible or has violated any rule, gained unfair advantage in participating in the giveaway, or obtained winner status using fraudulent means. Further, I will resolve any disputes, conflicting claims or ambiguities concerning the rules and my decisions concerning such disputes shall be final. All decisions will be made by me and are final. I may waive any of these rules at my discretion.
Miscellaneous. No purchase is necessary to participate or win. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend upon the number of participants and entries. I disclaim any responsibility to notify participants of any aspect related to the conduct of this giveaway.
Compliance with Law. The conduct of this giveaway is governed by the applicable laws of the United States of America, which take precedence over any rule to the contrary herein.
Kindle, Kindle Fire, and Amazon are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Kindle devices are given away on behalf of author K.C. May. Amazon is not a sponsor of this giveaway.

The Kinshield Saga continues

My original intention was to limit The Kinshield Saga to two books: The Kinshield Legacy and The Wayfarer King. However, I left a door ajar at the end of The Wayfarer King -- where "Cirang" unexpectedly survives her encounter with Ritol.

I've spent the summer & fall working on the next book about Gavin Kinshield and his friends. As I got closer to the end, I realized that to create a new series would require more backstory and more explanation of the magic. No matter how hard I tried to justify calling it book 1 of a new series, the fact of the matter was that it's really book 3 of the first series. It's all part of the same overall story arc.

Like The Wayfarer King, the new book, Well of the Damned, picks up immediately where the previous book left off. Had several years gone by, or even months, it might have been easier to convince myself that it was the beginning of a new series about the existing characters, but that just "felt" wrong. When I asked some writer friends about it, they agreed. It's better to call it book 3 than risk confusing readers who begin with book 1 of the new series and find themselves in the middle of the larger story.

So I'm here to announce that, officially, The Kinshield Saga, originally intended to be a two-book series, will become a four-book series. The story will conclude at the end of book 4, and whoever is left alive will live happily (or not) ever after.

Having banished the demon released from its prison by his defeated nemesis Ravenkind, Gavin Kinshield faces new challenges: a magical barrage by Ravenkind's grieving mother and an age-old mystery whose time has come to be revealed.

A former member of an elite battlers' guild, Cirang Deathsblade has a dark past. She sits in gaol, awaiting the new king's sentence for her terrible crimes... but she's not who he thinks she is.

In exchange for a leniency, Cirang leads Gavin to a centuries-old, hidden journal that holds the secrets of ancient kings and a magical wellspring with its own dark past... and an even more terrible future.

The official release date will be Dec 25, though it might show up on Amazon, B&N, Kobo, etc. before then. I can't show you the cover art, because I don't have it yet, but I'm 99.9% sure everything will come together by Christmas. :)

Revision time!

I've spent most of the year working on my next novel, which still doesn't have a proper title. For a time, I tried writing two novels simultaneously, but I realized that I wasn't getting either one done very quickly. I decided to set aside the science fiction novel for now and focus on finishing the story of Gavin Kinshield.

And now, my favorite part of writing has begun: revisions. This is where I get to fix what's broken in the story. I don't worry about getting the words right. Not yet. That'll come in the editing phase. For now, I'm adding warning signs (foreshadowing), setting up roadblocks (conflict and obstacles), and repairing pot holes (logic problems).

Those who've read the first series, The Kinshield Saga, learned that Crigoth Sevae sent Ritol to attack King Arek, but like Gavin, they don't know why. In the first book in this new two-book series, Gavin's main focus is answering that question. Of course, in doing so, he uncovers a new problem that must be resolved before he can even hope to live happily ever after...

Planned release date: late December 2012. If you want to be the first to know the exact date, sign up for my newsletter!

Guest post

Author R. Mac Wheeler invited me to be a guest poster on his blog series about the elements of story: plot, action, character and setting. Here's how I see it:

http://rmacwheeler.blogspot.com/2012/09/writers-voice-guest-author-kc-may.html

While you're there, check out Mac's vast array of books! He writes fantasy, science fiction, paranormal and suspense.

In other news, yesterday I sent out my first ever email newsletter. I'll be announcing my book updates in the newsletter before I do so anywhere else. If you'd like to be on the mailing list, you can subscribe here.

How many of you have enjoyed listening to audiobooks? I used to listen to them in my car when I was on the road, and they sure helped to pass the time. The Kindle has text-to-speech, but it's not perfect, though it is nice to have in a pinch. I decided late in July to create an audiobook edition for The Venom of Vipers. 

 

I went to acx.com and interviewed a few narrators, found one whose voice was terrific, and got started. Unfortunately, she had some technical issues that made creating quality audio recordings next to impossible and had to bow out. My dilemma was to find someone else or try recording it myself. The benefit to hiring a voice actor is, of course, quality of the voice acting. :) At one time, I was a pretty darned good actress, myself, but my voice doesn't have the kind of quality to make birds sing or men's knees go weak. Rumor has it, audiobook listeners really enjoy hearing the author read the story herself. 

 

Now, this isn't the greatest recording ever made, but it's a decent first try, I think. How about you? Have a listen and tell me what you think. Too fast? Too slow? Should I keep going, or get someone who knows what she's doing?

Listen here!

I've been featured!

Have you seen the new Kindleboards blog yet? It's got lots of great articles and tips for Kindle users, including low-priced apps and ebooks. They also have a featured author segment, and today that author is yours truly.

Check it out at kboards blog.