Tracy Falbe's Blog, page 14

Nook Loses Market Share But My Fantasy Books Still Sell There

Coverage of digital reading ebook topics tends to be harsh with Barnes & Noble. The brick-and-mortar retailer followed Amazon's entry into the ebook market with its Nook line of ereaders and tablets. Although things started out a little promising, the market share for Nook has been shrinking, and Barnes & Noble wants to ditch Nook like it's a geeky girl it only let hang around with it because it felt sorry for her. The company plans to split Nook into its own company.

A recent PC World article reported the grim news that Nooks did not fly off the shelves for Christmas. Sales of devices, accessories, and content burbled down the drain with a 55.4 percent decrease in sales compared to the 2013 holiday season.

Barnes & Noble wants to focus on its print book retail operations, which I suppose is reasonable. B&N has never been particularly "into" the internet.

It's a shame B&N is fizzling in the ebook marketplace. I've sold thousands of dollars worth of ebooks for Nook over the years. The Nook audience has always been particularly responsive to my work and I appreciate those readers. How they ever found my books within the notoriously unsearchable Nook store is beyond me, but I gained lots of readers there. I still do. I sell at least 1 ebook to a Nook customer every day, and often more.

I really do lament the apparent decline of Nook. I hope it hangs on as a viable marketplace. I still make money there. I even own a Nook and like it. Buying ebooks on it is easy, and it's always easy to sideload ebooks from independent sources on it.

Oddly about a year ago, I noticed my Nook always directing me to Google Play whenever I opened an ebook that was not from the Nook store. This made me notice Google Play, which is up and coming as big global ebook market. All android devices point people toward it, so I've been giving Google Play more emphasis in my marketing. It's accessible to people regardless of what type of Android tablet they buy. I still want to communicate with Nook readers as well, but I fear they are drifting away to other platforms.

Retailers come and go I suppose. As an author and publisher I just have to keep positioning my content where people want to shop. My sales have been growing at Google Play, so I'm hoping to recover the erosion of market share at Nook.



A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Google Play Sale - Save 80% on Fantasy Book New Religion

Are you into the Rys Rising series? You can get New Religion the third book in this fantasy series for only $0.99 this week at Google Play Books. You'll save 80 percent off the regular $4.95 price. The sale price is active worldwide through Sunday January 18th. 

This is the part of the series when the rys Onja and her partner Dacian really begin to remake their world. They conquer one civilization and take it against the civilization ruled by their magical creators the tabre. I tell the story from several points of view. You'll get to partake of an epic clash from all sides.

I open the novel by introducing a new character. He's a teenager named Khage. He's abducted from his village to serve as a warrior in the Onja's holy war. His scenes illustrate the conflict from the point of view of a common person who must survive within horrible circumstances.

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 1. Children of Onja




Khage and his fellow prisoners were hauled to their feet by their handlers and lined up with the group of boys from the village. The boys shivered and whimpered. The strong scent of fear was in their sweat. Tears sparkled on their dark cheeks, and terror flashed from their eyes as each adolescent truly recognized his mortality for the first time. The boys looked at each other. A few older ones, in spite of their shock, extended comforting words to the younger boys. The prisoners heard the approach of many riders, and Khage looked over his shoulder. From the gates of Lord Opersan’s stronghold issued another two dozen darkly clad outlaws bristling with weapons. Villagers scattered from their path. Khage wondered why none of Opersan’s warriors were present. No one seemed to have even attempted to defend Poto Nor, and a wounding bitterness mauled Khage’s sense of justice. He and his family had given all their labor and loyalty their whole lives to their lord, who now left them at the mercy of outlaws. With his sharp eyes, Khage spotted local warriors watching but doing nothing from the walls of Opersan’s stronghold. A choking sob ached in Khage’s throat as he realized the brutal realities of his unvalued existence. He was quickly losing the will to fight outright sobbing, but then a startling vision knocked his mind loose from all the horrors. He ceased to feel the noose on his neck or worry about his life. A woman whose hair looked like fire galloped ahead of the approaching riders. One of her strong shapely arms wound with copper bands and golden bracelets held up a white banner depicting in blue a female between two lightning bolts. The woman stopped in front of the captive boys. Her bay colored horse that matched the red shine of her hair reared, but she stayed in the saddle with ease, as if she were an animal far wilder than her domesticated steed. Khage’s eyes grew dry as he stared unblinking at her marvelous body. She wore a vest of bronze links studded with aquamarines. Only a short skirt trimmed with gray fur covered her hips and left exposed her legs that bulged with smooth superb muscles. Tattoos were bold upon her pale thighs, and Khage imagined how her whole body must be made of that creamy flesh. Power was written across her face. Khage had rarely seen the uncovered face of a grown woman, except his mother, and never had he seen such raw confidence. This woman terrified him but also caused him an unfamiliar exhilaration. It heated his face and burned through his body down to his loins.No woman can be like this. She must be the new Goddess, he reasoned.The woman steadied her spirited mount that still pawed the ground and swished its long silky black tail. She looked over the bound boys, piercing each one with her startling blue eyes. The sobbing and whimpering abated a little as her extraordinary presence distracted the boys from their terror. The outlaws held back the crowd of villagers. Many people exclaimed at the sight of the red-haired woman, whose shocking lack of a tepa, foreign traits, and audacious attitude cracked the foundations of their reality. When the woman spoke, her voice was strong and accustomed to addressing crowds. On top of the trauma already inflicted, the boys were astounded to see a woman address a crowd. Khage had never thought it was possible. Women spoke in soft tones and mostly to each other. Loud outbursts were only excusable in extreme events, like the death of a family member. “I am Loxane,” she said. “High Priestess of Onja. Behold the banner of your Goddess.” She held the white and blue flag forward.Khage had trouble understanding her words. Her accent was strange, and he was used to his village’s dialect.“You serve Onja now. Great will be your glory,” Loxane said. 
Grab New Religion: Rys Rising Book III on sale at Google Play Books this week. 







A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Terrible 100+ Vehicle Accident on I-94 Was Certain to Happen

Yesterday morning when I heard the news on a local radio station that I-94 between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek was closed both ways, I was not surprised. The fact that it was closed on both sides of the freeway struck me as extraordinary, but considering the slick roads, low temperatures, and frequent snow showers yesterday, bad accidents were to be expected.

As I suspected, both massive wrecks occurred during white-out conditions. Pile ups took place near exits 88 and 92. This is very close to where I live. To go to my house you take exit 95.

Above I selected a video from YouTube because it shows the horror of one of the pile ups in progress. I teared up while watching it. This isn't the somewhat sanitary after-the-fact stuff you'll see on TV news. This video is tragedy in progress. I also noted that the news reports failed to mention the lunatic amount of semis on this freeway.

Although I lived in California for 12 years and know how to handle big-time traffic, I swear that I-94 in Michigan is the most dangerous freeway I've driven on. It's consistently terrifying due to the very high percentage of semi trucks that use it. Often there are MORE semi trucks than passenger vehicles on the highway. Driving it is a nightmare, especially if you're trying to get on the highway and a string of three or four or more semis is in your way.

So far I've heard of one person who died in the pile up. Hopefully no more people will die. I'd love to say that I'll avoid this freeway, but I'm sure to be on it when I go to Detroit next weekend. 



A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Going totally digital in 2015 has drawbacks

Today one of those 2015 New Year prediction pieces caught my eye at the Huffington Post. Nine Items You Won't Need For Your Home In 2015 aroused my curiosity. Would I agree with its opinions or not? 

The list had one thing I agreed with. Its death sentence for cable TV. I cut the cord years ago. Streaming video content online is so superior with no commercials and the ability to watch what I want when I want. Cable TV is utterly uncompetitive. 

Then I started disagree and downright dislike the rest of it. The list said desktop computers and printers were no longer necessary household items. I understand that most people are satisfied with their tablets and laptops or maybe just a little smart phone, but I intend to always have a desktop system of some sort with a proper keyboard, mouse, and a big monitor. 

My publishing business requires me to format manuscripts for both print and digital formats. And all the editing and proofreading I do demands that I have a big screen to work on and a mouse for all the fine tuning of text. I also do some graphic design when I make my own book covers and ads. The thought of doing all of that on a tablet or even a laptop makes my stomach shrivel. I admit many people will no longer feel the need have desktop computers, but people who actually use computers to WORK will. 

The article justified the elimination of printers because things like driving directions and boarding passes can be handled by smart phones. Hello, not everyone has smart phones, and I prefer my boarding pass to actually exist and instead of depending utterly on vulnerable digital devices that lose their charge at the most inopportune moments. 

And you know what? The internet isn't always available nor is GPS. In 2013 I went to a vacation rental that did not have internet and the GPS did not work in the region due some government surveillance complex in the area. The property manager specifically sent directions on paper and cautioned that we not lose them.

Cookbooks! Really? 

Then the digital-only author had the audacity to suggest that we don't need paper cookbooks anymore because you can store recipes on your iPad, use recipe apps, and bookmark Pinterest pages. I cook a lot and do all those digital things, but when it comes down to it, paper rules in the kitchen. 

Do you want to be tapping your tablet when flour-egg-flour is on your fingers. Or how about getting that precious tablet near spitting bacon grease or kids decorating cookies?

Pinterest is a great place to find recipes, but when I find one I like, I print it and put it my recipe file. Web pages aren't necessarily forever. Someone doesn't pay her web hosting and poof "the web page you're looking for no longer exists."

My opinion especially about cookbooks might seem hypocritical because I've actually published a cookbook in both paperback and ebook formats. People even buy the ebook. It's an affordable way for cooks to satisfy curiosity and do recipe research. But a cookbook that goes into regular rotation in the kitchen needs to be in print. I have four cookbooks in my kitchen that I use all the time and few more I refer to on occasion.

I'm a bit stodgy I suppose about my love of my printer, desktop computer, and cookbooks, but it irked me to see so much bad advice. These are not obsolete for everyone. Digital is great but it's not a total replacement for everything. 

It's a good thing my Grandma wrote down recipes for decades, otherwise I never would have discovered them after her death and been able to share them with my family and the world again. 


The recipes presented in
this collection came from my Grandma’s school
notebook that she began when she was 15 years old.
She grew up in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, and her
recipes reflect the food eaten at that time and place. ~
from My Grandma's Vintage Recipes Ebook or Paperback

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Final 2 Days to Save 80% on The Goddess Queen Fantasy Book at Google Play

Dive into an indie fantasy series that has entertained thousands of readers over the years. The Rys Chronicles was recently added to the Google Play store worldwide. Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I is a free ebook at Google Play and The Goddess Queen: The Rys Chronicles Book II is still on sale for only $0.99. This is a savings of 80 percent from its usual price of $4.95. Friday January 9th is the last day of the sale.

These are full length novels. Together they total over 300,000 words. These fantasy books deliver an immersive experience for readers who want to live through characters in the fantasy world of the rys.

About The Rys Chronicles:

Packed with personal duels, epic battles, magic, romance, and the corrupting influence of great power, this fantasy series introduces the rys, a rare super race whose most powerful members can kill across great distances, read minds, influence actions, and even enslave the souls of the dead.
Follow the journey of Shan, a good-hearted rys whose struggle against evil begins to warp his morality. Victories only bring greater challenges when hidden enemies seek vengeance for an ancient genocide and rise to punish the rys for their ancestors' crimes.  

Visit Tracy Falbe's page at the Play store to see all her fantasy books. 

Other places to read The Rys Chronicles:

Scribd
Smashwords
Nook
Kobo
Apple iBooks
Amazon
Brave Luck Books 
 
A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Journey of the Hunted: Werewolves in the Renaissance 2 - Excerpt from the Chapter 7 Bohemian Mice

Today I'm sharing a peek inside my newest novel Journey of the Hunted: Werewolves in the Renaissance 2. Thal is on a journey across 16th century Central Europe to reunite with his father, the sorcerer Sarputeen. A rival sorcerer has sent a werewolf to kill Thal before he reaches his father. In this chapter "Bohemian Mice" Thal and his companions have taken refuge in a remote village friendly to those with magic. In this scene Thal speaks with Father Petr, the village priest.
This scene illustrates some of the historical detail I wove into this paranormal fantasy. Through the Middle Ages, Christianity was the religion of the ruling class. The Church had to convert the rulers first. The common people kept mostly to their folk ways. But as the Renaissance and Early Modern periods advanced, the Roman and Protestant churches asserted their supremacy throughout all classes of society. Pagan practices became intolerable. But it was a long process, and, like today, rural people were often evasive of the demands of their big city masters. Bohemia in particular was one of the first regions to rise up against Roman Catholic domination, decades prior to Martin Luther's successful establishment of an alternative church. Bohemia was made a priority during the Counter Reformation that re-imposed Catholicism to the kingdom.  
Excerpt
Petr sighed as the drink soaked into his system and indulged in another long silence.Thal finally asked, “Do you know of any trails toward Pardubice so I can avoid the main road?”“We can show you one. It’s a very old foot path our ancestors knew. They let the Earth show them the lines of connection. Few use it now but it’s still there,” Petr explained. “I thought there might be a way,” Thal murmured. “Did you feel it?” Petr asked. When Thal nodded, Petr took two narrow L-shaped hazel wood rods off the wall. “I’m a douser when need be. I’ve a sense for things unseen,” he said. “So you’re not a real priest of the Church,” Thal surmised. “Oh, I’m a real priest, trained and ordained in all the ways of Rome,” Petr insisted. He pointed a divining rod to his crucifix necklace on the wall. “But I was born of this land and we of little Chironef do not stomp out the old ways just to make way for the new,” he said.  Watching the rods quake faintly in Petr’s light grip, Thal said, “Methinks your Church leaders would condemn you for witchcraft these days.”“Oh yes! But we don’t mention our private habits and nobody comes by to check on us here. At least not very often. Bohemians tend to be playful mice when their Church cat is away,” the priest said.“I’ve noticed,” Thal agreed and finished his wine while Petr held his rods toward him. With pursed lips the priest studied the rods and then put them back on the wall. “What did they tell you?” Thal asked. “Nothing,” Petr said quickly. He poured them more wine and said, “Have you tried to regain your memories?”“I sometimes contemplate my past and glimpses come to me. Occasionally a strong vision,” Thal said. Petr nodded gravely. “Good. I might be able to help you see more of your past,” he said. “How?” Thal said skeptically. “Tomorrow is the full moon,” Petr said. Thal was well aware of the phase of the moon. “It’s hard enough to remember I’m a man if you’re suggesting that I change,” he said. “You will change,” Petr said. “Only if it pleases me,” Thal said.“Really?” Petr cried. “I have complete control and need no full moon. I could do it right now or even when the moon is dark,” Thal said with pride. Petr lapsed into another silence. Thal supposed he had given him much to think about. “Tomorrow night Simona and I have a ritual planned. Only our closest adherents come to it,” he said. “If you participate I believe you will have a chance to explore better the landscape of your mind.”Curiosity goaded Thal. He wanted to know as much as possible about his former life before reuniting with his father.  “What must I do? Thal said.Petr glanced at his door and window as if to make sure that no one was close. Apparently not all things in open-minded Chironef were spoken of openly. He answered, “Take flying potion.” 

About Journey of the Hunted

The folklore beliefs of the 16th century Renaissance come wildly to life in the werewolf hero Thal. Created by the infamous sorcerer Sarputeen, Thal now battles the dark servants of Tekax, wizard to the Turks and nemesis of Sarputeen. While escaping the Holy Roman Empire, Thal discovers more about his werewolf powers as he struggles to reach a refuge shrouded in mystery.

I'm designing the Werewolves in the Renaissance series to function as individual books. Journey of the Hunted can be understood and enjoyed on its own.



Ebook available at Brave Luck Books, iBooks, Nook US, Nook UK, Kobo, Kindle, Smashwords, and Google Play.
Paperback $12.99 at Createspace or Amazon

If you'd like to read the first part Werelord Thal: A Renaissance Werewolf Tale, it's currently a free ebook!
Brave Luck Books
Google Play
Kindle ($0.99 at Amazon)
 Nook US 
Nook UK iBooks Smashwords Kobo
Paperback $12.99 at Createspace of Amazon
 A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Google Play Sale - 99 Cents for The Goddess Queen Fantasy Book

Continue The Rys Chronicles fantasy series on Google Play. The Goddess Queen is only $0.99 through January 9th. That's an 80% savings from the regular $4.95 price. Limited time only!Happy New Year - It's A Google Play 99 Cents Book Sale!
Available worldwide at the Google Play store, The Goddess Queen is only $0.99. The sale price will convert into local currencies worldwide, so don't miss this chance to find out how the rebellion goes for Shan, Dreibrand, and Miranda.

About The Goddess Queen: The Rys Chronicles Book II

The Kezanada agents of Queen Onja stalk Shan with enchanted weapons. Dreibrand Veta's growing list of victories has increased his influence, but the rebellion proceeds slowly for Miranda whose children remain captive in Jingten. Shan's armies will soon confront Onja, but she will tenaciously defend her throne, and Shan will discover that he does not know the powerful secrets of the Goddess Queen.

Read The Goddess Queen on your Android device right now. 

An Excerpt:



Tytido looked up from his almost finished dinner and chuckled. Dreibrand coughed a little then asked, “Why do you laugh?”“Nothing, Sir,” Tytido replied.“No, tell me,” Dreibrand insisted. “You looked at me and laughed.”Tytido considered a moment, then decided it was safe and said truthfully, “You smoke funny.”Dreibrand frowned and contemplated the pipe Tytido was sharing with him. The pleasantness of the smoke kept him from staying perturbed and he took another puff. Again Tytido smiled.“What do I do wrong?” Dreibrand asked with exasperation, glancing around the tavern to see if anyone else was amused.“I can’t explain, Sir,” Tytido said helplessly.“See if I take you out to dinner again,” Dreibrand grumbled indignantly and returned the pipe to the Hirqua. Tytido examined the half-charred contents of his pipe. “Forgive me, Sir. I don’t mean to be rude.”Dreibrand gestured dismissively and relaxed back into his chair. He was not really upset. The food at the tavern had been excellent and he felt very warm, comfortable and happy. He had not had much of a chance to experience common Temu society and so far he enjoyed the atmosphere of Dengar Nor. A good fire crackled in the great fireplace and Temu men sat around in small cliques drinking, smoking, eating, and playing games. One man tuned an instrument, preparing for the increased festivities of the later hours. On the wall by Dreibrand’s table hung the skin of a large speckled cat unlike any animal in the east, and he studied it with interest.  A pretty girl, probably the tavernkeeper’s daughter, came by with a pitcher of wine. Tytido had his cup refilled but Dreibrand required no more drink.Once she moved on, Tytido inquired quietly, “Do you think the Sabuto will be that much trouble to us?”Sighing, Dreibrand admitted, “Actually, I think they will. Although the Temu like to think they are cowards, I know they are not. The Sabuto have to see our rebellion against Jingten as their big chance to hurt the Temu. They will assemble as large a force as they can.”Tytido said, “I have never fought with a Sabuto, but they do not have the reputation of the Hirqua and Shan will bring us victory.”“Yes, he will,” Dreibrand agreed.The door of the tavern banged open and the draft of wind made the lanterns flicker. Redan and Misho entered in obviously high spirits. Misho’s face was scarred and still swollen and his hand was still bandaged. The healers had feared that Misho’s hand would be permanently crippled, and half of his face remained slack. Despite these problems, the young warrior seemed to have regained his vigor and he had become a close friend to Redan. The Temu patrons quickly recognized the long loose hair of the Zenglawa and frowned. The hushed rustle of disapproving gossip circled the room like dry leaves.Redan ignored them and proceeded straight to the bar. He slung his bow comfortably on his shoulder and produced a small pouch of coins. After he and Misho obtained drinks, they turned to find a table. The Temu had strategically spread out, making no seats appear available. Redan spotted his general and Tytido at a table and brightened. Part of Misho’s face also showed relief to see his commanders because he knew he did not keep popular company.“May we join you, Sir?” Redan asked.Dreibrand nodded and they settled in happily.“I see you have some money, Redan?” Dreibrand commented suspiciously.  Redan and Misho shared a conspiratorial look. Patting his new bow, Redan whispered, “It is not hard to get a Temu to bet against a Zenglawa these days.”Dreibrand wanted to show strong disapproval but only managed a paternal shake of his head. He had a sneaking suspicion that Redan had a pretty good hustle, and Dreibrand could not resist respecting that. Dreibrand simply advised, “Do not win too much money from our Temu hosts.”Gulping down some wine, Redan nodded. He knew too well the wisdom of his general’s advice, but he had had a very gratifying day and wanted to celebrate his success.“We’ll all be hustling in the streets if we don’t get paid something,” Tytido mentioned. “Yeah, I am working on that, Lieutenant,” Dreibrand responded, trying to hide his discomfort. “I think Shan has most of his finances worked out with the King. But for now the Yentay have shelter and food and you should not complain. And I am going to try and get everybody as much new gear as I can.”“Sir, I know you will get us as much as you can, but Lord Shan offered pay after we volunteered,” Tytido pressed.“We will all be wealthy when Jingten is taken,” Dreibrand reminded.“Truly, but I wouldn’t mind something to spend now in case I get killed, Sir,” Tytido said.Dreibrand laughed because there was no arguing with that point. “I will remind Lord Shan as soon as I can. He appreciates us and I am sure he will be generous. I could use some pay myself. I have the woman with a child on the way.”The Yentay chuckled at his impending financial burden and Tytido congratulated his general again. Dreibrand had just enough wine left to share a toast with them. Pushing back his chair, he announced his intention of returning to the castle. “Please stay, Sir. We should drink a couple more toasts to your good fortune,” Tytido invited.“No, not tonight, but thank you, Lieutenant. I should not get drunk and ask Shan for your pay,” Dreibrand joked.Tytido agreed with a grin and the three Yentay stood respectfully as their general left the table.“Do stay out of trouble,” Dreibrand ordered, giving Redan his particular attention.On his way out, Dreibrand looked back at his men. Redan had called for more wine and held his cup close while the girl filled it. He admired her with less then proper Temu manners and it did not look to Dreibrand like Redan had any plans of staying out of trouble that night. With a shrug, Dreibrand stepped out into the street. He knew no one deserved their fun like soldiers. Thinking warmly of Miranda, he anticipated his own pleasures.

Read The Goddess Queen on your Android device right now.  

Want to know what happened in the first book Union of Renegades?

Good news! Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I is a free ebook on Google Play. Download both parts of the series and enjoy hours and maybe days of epic battle and difficult choices. Download both novels today. The sale on The Goddess Queen only goes through January 9th.





A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Artistic Inspirations: Jimi Hendrix and What Foxy Lady Makes Me Think Of

Like many writers, I find music very stimulating to my imagination. I often turn to my music collection when I'm daydreaming before writing. Music helps me see characters and plan out their scenes. And specific pieces of music become associated with characters in my head.

In general I find all music by Jimi Hendrix enormously inspiring. He was a magnificent artist, and the world lost a lot when he met his demise at a young age. Foxy Lady by Jimi Hendrix has a sound that helped me create the scene that introduced Loxane, Shamaness of the Kelsur Tribe in the novel Rys Rising.

That song's grinding groove possessed the untamed and unashamed sexual energy appropriate to Loxane's arrival at the Thievesmeet, an annual assembly of rogues and nomads. Loxane comes down a cliff and casts off her clothes to dance naked before an adoring crowd before joining the Overlord of the Kez in a ritual that sets off an orgy. 

Sounds like a good book doesn't it!

Although I wrote that scene many years ago, I still think of it every time I hear Foxy Lady. That song by Hendrix helped me make a "foxy lady" in a novel. The finest art triggers other creative people to spawn new forms from the original. And Hendrix was only continuing a long line of glorifying sexually uninhibited women that surely goes all the way back to the primordial cave of humanity.

I'm sharing this YouTube video of Hendrix performing Foxy Lady at a 1968 Miami concert. Unlike most of the people in the crowd, I would have been up and dancing. Fortunately Hendrix does not seem to mind. He appears to be enjoying himself. His hands waltz with his guitar with graceful ease.

I've been a fan of Hendrix for many years. I have not one but two Hendrix posters in my house and regularly listen to the CDs I have: Axis Bold As Love, Electric Ladyland, and Purple Haze. Alas I seem to no longer have frilly silk shirts like when I was young. Maybe I'll find new ones someday. But I just must find a hat like he's wearing. Too cool!

Readers interested in meeting the foxy lady from the Rys Rising series can download the ebook for free at Brave Luck Books.

Here's the excerpt when she makes her entrance. 



People started to cheer and Amar looked up and spotted three figures coming down on ropes. Two men rappelled alongside the third figure that was draped in a voluminous hooded cape. Torches burned on the backs of the men, and the firelight rippled on their well-muscled arms as they came down the ropes.
When they reached the top of the cave entrance, they had no more rock to rappel from and they climbed the rest of the way down with their hands and feet on the ropes. The men alighted on the smooth rock before the cave, and they drew their torches off their backs like they were drawing swords. More slowly, the cloaked figure came down the rope and touched the ground between the two men. Wrapped tightly in the cloak, the third person advanced with the two men into the semi-circle of torches. The crowd became hushed, and Amar found himself sharing in the excitement. The sensation of awe and anticipation surprised him, and he thought nothing of his sorrows for more than one heartbeat.
When the Shamaness Loxane threw off her cape, people cried out with reverence and joy. She was naked and her wonderful body, both strong and soft, glistened in the torchlight. Tattoos of green and blue adorned her body, bright upon her exceptionally light skin. Her hair was long and curly and the most amazing color that Amar had ever seen. Red it was, like copper made soft and inviting. The enticing locks flowed over her shoulders but did not cover her full breasts that displayed her femininity unabashedly.
A sunburst tattoo encircled her navel and tattooed eagles adorned her thighs and perched on her knees. Snake tattoos coiled around her arms and their heads were drawn onto the backs of her hands with forked tongues going down her middle fingers. When she turned, Amar saw an elk tattoo on her back. Its great rack of antlers spread over her shoulder blades and its snout reached to the small of her back. The animal had starbursts in place of eyes, and when Loxane began to sway her body, the elk looked to be shaking its head.
Loxane began to move more of her body, limb by limb. Her hands rotated and then her arms lifted and her shoulders circled. Her torso circled with ever-increasing exaggeration of movement and her pelvis gyrated. Her buttocks lifted and squatted, glorious in their curvaceous smoothness.
The Shamaness Loxane danced naked in front of the gathered rogues and lawless wanderers, and she had no shame. Amar watched every move of her body, only blinking when he consciously thought to do it. Never had he seen, nor imagined, a woman making such a display of herself. And never had he imagined that a woman could be so beautiful, so powerful, but so wicked.
People were playing drums for her. First one drummer, and then three, and then dozens pounded a beat that was all life and no judgment. Their rhythms guided her and coaxed her to move faster. Her body joined with the beating of the drums, until the drummers seemed to respond to her movement as much as she responded to them.
Loxane moved to the edge of the semi-circle of torches and began to dance around the edge. People reached out to her but did not touch. She arched and swayed just beneath the fingertips of her admirers.
The crowd pressed hard against Amar and Gadoh as Loxane came closer to their position. Like all the others, Amar had no intention of giving up his spot. He turned sideways so that two more men could squeeze in next to him. Behind him, Gadoh giggled.
Closer she came to Amar, and his breath quickened and his eyes widened. The absolute scandal of her brazen nudity and erotic dancing pounded against all that his culture had ingrained in him about the modesty of women. Far back in his mind, his sensibilities railed against her outrageousness. She was the worst of the worst, criminal beyond the most wanton whore, but Amar paid less attention to the dogma of his upbringing the closer she danced to him. Indeed, as Gadoh had said, Loxane was among the greatest of wonders.
Although enthralled by her provocative display, Amar did not reach out to her when she danced before him. The fellows alongside him spread out their hands toward her, just barely missing her skin, but Amar only looked. His eyes went up and down her body, and he was truly awed by her lovely strength that went past simple maddening sexuality. His eyes traveled up her naked body, pausing at her breasts that glistened with the sweat of her dance, and then he looked at her face. Loxane’s eyes were half rolled back. The trance of her dance was deep upon her. Her lips hung open as if she would cry out with ecstasy at any moment.
Amar envied the oblivion on her face, doubting he could ever experience such inner peace.
Loxane’s eyes snapped into focus. The men reaching for her withdrew their hands, each gasping as if the snakes on her arms had come to life with venomous anger. She stopped dancing and lowered her arms. Her chest heaved with hard breathing and she stared intently at Amar.
He looked into her eyes that were shockingly blue.
In the background, the drums continued to beat, loud and hard like the heartbeat thudding in Amar’s ears. Just when the drums started to slow, she began to dance again, but this time with her eyes firmly on Amar. She took her gaze from him only when her dancing steps spun her around. She studied him and then step by step moved away. Amar watched her go. He could not have described his feelings. Desire, curiosity, perhaps even wariness confused him as he realized that she had shown him special attention.


Get Rys Rising at Brave Luck Books. It's a free ebook or you can buy a paperback. 

As the series continues, Loxane develops into an important character. She even made the cover of the third book New Religion.




A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Now on Google Play Books The Rys Chronicles Fantasy Series

Year in and year out my first novel Union of Renegades entices people to enter the world of the rys alongside Dreibrand Veta. It's finally on Google Play. This is terribly overdue. I apologize for taking so long to add all four novels of The Rys Chronicles to this global destination for Android book readers.

As elsewhere, Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I is a free Google Play fantasy book. After it comes The Goddess Queen, Judgment Rising, and the conclusion The Borderlands of Power.

In Union of Renegades you'll meet Dreibrand Veta, an officer with the Atrophane Horde. And yes it's a big deal to be part of the horde conquering the known world. Dreibrand is young and ambitious. He's out to rebuild his family's fortune. But at a critical moment, he realizes he's just never going to get what he wants working for his boss, the Hordemaster Kwan Chenomet.

Dreibrand does something rash. He ends up wanted and in the company of an escaped slave, Miranda. With her two young children, she is fleeing the brutal onslaught of the Atrophane. Together they enter the Wilderness. No one ever comes back from this place.

And so Dreibrand and Miranda are ensnared by magic and pass into the world of the rys where the Goddess Onja has ruled the western tribal kingdoms for over two thousand years. She sits upon the greatest treasure. Every year it grows as warring tribes deliver their tribute. Her rival Shan lives at her side, waiting for something to change so he can destroy her.

See where this epic series takes you.

Union of Renegades is free on:

Google Play
iBooks
Nook
Kindle
Kobo
Smashwords
Brave Luck Books

Then enjoy the rest of the series. The Rys Chronicles is a complete series and ready to become your new reading addiction. 


A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Entire First Chapter of Union of Renegades Audiobook Free on Soundcloud

For those audiobook lovers whose eyeballs are too busy for reading, I present today the complete 29-minute first chapter of Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I. This sample is on Soundcloud. You can download the audio file and easily share or embed it, like I have on this blog.

If you enjoy the sample, you've just discovered a 19-hour epic fantasy audiobook. It is available worldwide in mp3 format at my website Brave Luck Books for only $8.95. You can also get it Audible US, Audible UK, and iTunes if you prefer. But I don't control the prices at those retailers. It might cost more or less.

About the Fantasy Audiobook

In this opening novel of The Rys Chronicles you'll meet a man scarred by bad deeds who answers the call of a heroic cause. An unconventional heroine will tug at your sympathies as she bravely faces adversity with all the strengths and vulnerabilities of her womanhood. And overarching it all are the rys. Their magic makes them superior to humans, but they are not above employing humans in their deadly schemes. 

The second part of the fantasy series The Goddess Queen: The Rys Chronicles Book II is also an audiobook. 


A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.