Tracy Falbe's Blog, page 20

Indie Book Bargains UK Featured My Fantasy Book Rys Rising

Indie Book Bargains is a site that features ebook deals in the UK Kindle Store. Right now Rys Rising is only £0.77 for Kindle in the United Kingdom as are the rest of the novels in the Rys Rising series Savage Storm, New Religion, and Love Lost. UK readers have in general been very positive about my fiction, as can been seen by the 5-star reviews at the retailer.

For British book lovers who don't have a kindle, my fantasy ebooks are also on sale at Kobo, iBooks, and Nook UK. And of course anyone can visit my web store Brave Luck Books and choose any format. I sell to readers directly worldwide.

To get a sense of my writing style, here's an excerpt from Rys Rising between the two characters shown on the cover:

With polite humility, he asked her only to remove the remainder of his tattoos. He said nothing as Onja worked on his skin. Gendahl paid attention to the sensation of having her magic touch him. She was blocking the pain as she burned the pigments bit by bit from his flesh, and then healed the skin as she went. The stags with their blue antlers gradually disappeared, and Gendahl forced himself to accept the end of his old life. It was the only way he could even attempt to go on. Gendahl could not be forgiven.
A breeze stirred and it was cool against his sweaty skin. He stared at his hands. The absence of his tattoos made him feel different. When his skin was tattooed, he had been only a small boy, and the painful task was one of his earliest memories.
This is my earliest memory of my new life, he thought.
With Onja’s firm slender fingers massaging his hands, Gendahl wondered if it had been the will of Jayshem, the God and creator of Gyhwen, that he experience a life other than being Lord of the Lin Tohs.
“Does it comfort you to think that your God willed your suffering and loss?” she asked.
Taken aback by her knowledge of his thoughts, Gendahl pulled his hands away. “What else can I think?” he asked back.
She lifted her eyebrows thoughtfully. The slight stretching of her eyelids sharpened the beauty of her features. His answer intrigued her greatly.
To change the subject, Gendahl examined his hands and thanked her. “I could not go on with my lord-born markings. I am lord-born no more,” he announced.
“You are still what you were, Gendahl,” Onja contradicted. “Tattoos did not make you a lord.”
“But they showed others what I was. I am something new now, but I know not what,” he said.
“You are Gendahl, my friend,” Onja said, and she smiled.
Her smile seemed to reveal a vulnerability that he would not have expected from her. She was alone as well.
“Your friend,” he said although he had no smile to give. “But call me Gendahl no more. I am Amar.”
“Amar,” she said and liked the name.
“I must go,” he said. He scanned the trees, rocks, waters, and mountains around him. Onja’s presence enchanted the landscape and made it more beautiful. It was a good place to die and to be born. “Back to the world of men,” he added.
Onja nodded with understanding. The time would come when she would go back to her kind as well. “If you want my help before I go back to Jingten, I will be here until the day equals the night,” she said, still hoping that he would make a request of her.
“Thank you, Onja,” he said and stood up.
Onja reached into his pile of gear and pulled forth his weapon. Proffering it, she said, “Your sword, Amar.”
Receiving the weapon from her opened a door in his mind, but he did not yet dare to look inside. He was not ready to receive any knowledge from this awesome being. As he took the sword from Onja and strapped it over his shoulder, he looked into her eyes that sparkled with powers to which no man could aspire. He would miss her.
Amar said, “I start a new life today. It is not a life I want, but perhaps if I keep living, the path to vengeance will present itself.” He decided that he needed this goal to keep going. He would view his smashed domain and take to the bandit life, and he would look for a way someday to hurt the Patharki and Ginjor Rib.
He parted from Onja without any more words. Planning to follow the stream through the hills, Amar walked away along the bank. When he turned back, Onja lifted a hand in farewell and he waved back to her. Onja sensed among his many harsh emotions his sadness at leaving her. It was good to have a friend.
You shall have your vengeance, she thought.

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.

Rys Rising Complete Fantasy Series 99-cents Sale Expands to Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords, and Brave Luck Books

The 99-cents sale on all titles of the Rys Rising fantasy series that I started last weekend for Kindle stores is now available at all ebook retailers. At all my retail outlets Rys Rising, Savage Storm, New Religion, and Love Lost are all $0.99 cents each. This is a great chance to pick up a complete epic fantasy series for an astonishing price.The sale is going on at Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Australia, Amazon Germany, Amazon France, iBooks, Smashwords, Nook US, Nook UK, and Kobo as well as Brave Luck Books.

Get the best price on the whole series at my website because that's where Rys Rising: Book I is free. So you get the whole series for only $2.97 worldwide. Read this fine excerpt from Savage Storm: Rys Rising Book II to see what you could be enjoying:Burbin said, “If it is the will of your Onja that the Kelsurs should fight for her, why does she not come to us herself?”
“Because she has sent me as her messenger,” Amar answered readily. “Do you make all your requests in person? Is it wise to ignore the messengers of the powerful?”
Burbin groped for a come back to Amar’s facetious answer, but Moto interrupted, “Enough of this. Our tongues go in circles. If your rys is so powerful and you are her messenger, then her power will let you pass a test that I would put to you. If you pass, I will grant my hunters leave to volunteer for you if they wish.”
Amar listened carefully to the translation, and his eyes lit up. This was progress.
“Will you face my test?” Moto goaded.
Amar naturally wanted to ask what the test was, but such quibbling hesitation would show weakness.
“Of course,” he answered.
Moto looked over his shoulder at the hunters seated behind him. A tall man rose like a bear out of a berry patch. The thick muscles upon his long frame looked as hard and smooth as the granite upon which he stood.
“Only the spirits can help you against Bifolomo,” Moto said gleefully as his magnificent hunter moved forward. He looked like he could wrestle an elk to the ground. His eyes sparkled with wolfish intensity as he eyed the outlaw born under a roof.

The sale is going on at Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Australia, Amazon Germany, Amazon France, iBooks, Smashwords, Nook US, Nook UK, and Kobo as well as Brave Luck Books.

Get the best price on the whole series at my website because that's where Rys Rising: Book I is free. So you get the whole series for only $2.97 worldwide.

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.

Finish Your Summer with a Fantasy Series - Kindle Ebook Sale

Yesterday I announced the start of my huge kindle sale on all the titles from the Rys Rising fantasy series. Each of the four books in the series is only 99-cents for a limited time. These titles normally sell at $2.99 to $4.99.

Sale prices on Rys Rising, Savage Storm, New Religion, and Love Lost are available at Amazon US - Amazon Canada - Amazon UK - Amazon Germany - Amazon France - Amazon Australia - Amazon India

About Rys Rising: Book I


A young warrior ruined and near death is saved by Onja a mysterious rys female. Forsaking all that he was, he will take the name Amar and serve his new magical mistress. A lord among outlaws he will become, feared by kings and called the dro-shalum or curse demon by the common folk. Indulge yourself and read this sumptuous epic told from many angles.
Today I offer an excerpt from Rys Rising: Book I so you can see if it suits your style.Amar drew his good sword and approached the altar. Onja followed him, captivated by everything she beheld. Cybar trailed them, stalling fearfully. Amar waved the birds away from the altar with his sword. The tormented man squinted into the sun. Amar, silhouetted by the brightness, was fuzzy to his bloodshot eyes. He tried to speak, but his dry thirsty throat barely made a sound better than the coarse crows.
Cybar called to Amar, “His life is for Preem. You must not interfere.”
Amar studied the man on the altar. His brown skin glowed red from the burning sun. His lips were cracked and darkly clotted. His chin length black hair with a deep widow’s peak was dirty and stringy, and blisters mottled his forehead, nose and cheeks. He had only been left clothed in a linen tunic and loin cloth and his bare legs showed the wounds of many probing pecks.
Upon hearing voices, the condemned tried again to speak. “Mercy,” he groaned. “Mercy. I do not deserve this.”
“Amar, we must go,” Cybar insisted. “Do not give him swift death.”
Amar had initially thought to end the man’s suffering with a merciful blow, but now that he looked at him, he changed his mind.
“I would free him,” he said.
“Preem will punish you,” Cybar warned.
Amar dismissed the threat of Preem’s ire. “I seek no forgiveness for anything that I have done. One more thing will not matter,” he said and then looked to Onja, seeking her opinion.
She came beside the altar. “Free him,” she concurred.
The bronze chains that draped the altar were old and corroded, but still firm enough to restrain a tortured man. Amar found a particularly weak link and smacked it with his sword. Three strokes and the link broke. Amar pried the link apart and then pulled the chains off the loop set into the stone.
The condemned man watched Amar with amazement. The young wanderer bore no resemblance to anyone he knew and he certainly lacked the appearance of a Nurati. With the chains loose from the rock, Amar looked at the manacles on the man’s wrists and ankles.
“I can get those off him,” Onja said.
The condemned man turned his head toward her lovely voice. “Sweet lady….” he started to say in a voice as rough as split logs but then he stopped. He did not understand what he saw. He fainted when her eyes began to glow with blue fire.
The bolts of the manacles softened as Onja precisely heated them. Amar pulled the manacles open and freed the man’s limbs. Amar gathered the limp man into his arms. He was slight of build, and Amar was able to place him over a shoulder. The man smelled terribly, and Amar turned his face away from his wretched body.
Cybar had retreated outside the ring of stones. From the shade of an oak he watched Amar approach with the unconscious man. Cybar shook his head insistently. “Put him back,” he advised urgently.
Onja tugged on Amar’s sleeve to stop him. “He truly fears what you have done,” she commented.
“He will get over it,” Amar said, unconcerned about Cybar’s opinion.
“The others truly fear this sky temple,” she said.
“The Gods are to be feared, Onja,” Amar replied matter-of-factly. “You are born. You die. The Gods are always there.”
She contemplated his simple words and then asked, “But you do not fear your Gods, Amar?”
Amar would have shrugged if he had not been burdened with a stinking half-dead man. “I do not care,” he said and continued toward Cybar.
Onja lingered in the sky temple and studied the faces carved in the stones. Their blank eyes now looked at her invitingly, welcoming her into their mysterious club.
So simple, she thought.
She set a hand on a monolith. The stone had been cut from the Rysamand and somehow the humans had dragged it up this butte. The effort that must have taken astounded her. So very strange that the humans would work so hard for something that benefited them not at all. Most of them lived in little huts and enjoyed no luxuries. Why did they not put their efforts toward making better shelters for everyone?
Onja looked at the men under the oak tree. Amar had set the man down in the shade and was dripping water onto the man’s ragged lips. Cybar frowned over them with worry.
There is power in fear, Onja realized.
A crow flapped over her head and landed on the nearest monolith. He squawked at Onja irritably, apparently blaming her for the removal of the sacrifice. She looked up at the impertinent bird. He turned his head and regarded her closely with a perfect black eye that glistened with intelligence. Onja shifted her attention entirely to the sentience radiating from the shiny black bird. Her wondrous mind that knew no bounds connected with the bird’s alien awareness.
“Yes, I took your prize. Forgive me this once, and I will make it up to you,” she told him mentally.
Utterly surprised by the communication, the crow tucked his dark beak against his feathery chest and peeked at her shyly. Onja lifted a blue hand and invited him gently with a twitch of her white-nailed fingers.
The crow looked back at his mates that were strutting across the altar stone, complaining among each other. Tentatively the crow on the monolith opened his wings, and, after one more encouraging gesture from Onja, flapped down to her hand. His feet dug into her skin but did not pierce her flesh. She stroked his neck and purred to him lovingly.
“You shall have to tell me your name someday,” she told him.
He squawked and took to the air. He landed in the oak tree over the men tending the victim plucked from Preem’s justice. Onja watched the indentations left in the skin of her hand fade before she joined her companions.
Amar made Cybar help him carry the man down the steep steps of the butte. The other men were distressed at Amar’s audacious theft from Preem.
But Amar scolded them, “We claim to be brother outlaws yet you would leave one to the judgment of the law-abiding. Whatever this man did, he is one of us now.”
Delirious, the man moaned and turned his head from side to side on the ground. He was grizzled, sunburned, and filthy. His body was thin and his hands were soft. Clearly he was no laborer.
Amar said, “I think this man has some quality.”
They took him to the little stream in the canyon and washed him. The cool water roused him from his burning torment, and he drank greedily, which made him retch. Amar rolled him away from the bank so that he could no longer slurp like a mad animal.
Clearly the group was not going to travel more that day, and Vame gathered firewood. While Amar nursed the man, Cybar answered questions from Kym and Vame about the sky temple. His Kez brothers often glanced warily at the quiet butte. The circling vultures were drifting away. Preem’s servants would go unpaid today. A debt perhaps that would not be forgotten.
Onja sat apart from everyone, cross-legged upon a boulder at the edge of the stream. She stared toward her mountains, lost in intense thought.
Kym eventually stood over Amar and the man that had been rescued.
“Amar, the priests of Preem might notice that the vultures disappeared when they should have thickened in the sky,” Kym said.
“Priests are slow. We’ll move on in the morning. Do not worry, Kym,” Amar said.
“Your accursed pet will not be able to travel so soon,” Kym said.
Amar’s dark eyes flashed up at the Kez warrior. “I do not fear Nurati priests who chain people and leave them for animals,” Amar said. “This man will ride with me.”
Kym shook his head because Amar puzzled him continually. “Why do you want this man? He’ll certainly make no warrior for Vu. I don’t think he could steal a bowl of porridge to save his life.”
Amar wetted a rag and wiped the man’s forehead. “He might have knowledge and rare skills. Warriors aren’t everything,” he said.
Kym scratched the back of his head, where his stubble was starting to grow in. “I suppose the Nurati are known for scholarship,” Kym granted. He squatted next to the thin wretched man and studied him. “Yes, yes, definitely a Nurati nose. What’s your name, Nurati criminal?” Kym asked.
The man’s eyes were half closed. His lips moved as if he might answer, but the effort to speak seemed to be too much. Amar dribbled at little more water into his mouth and said, “I am Amar. Who are you?”
“Amar,” the man whispered back and his long black lashes lifted. His crusty eyes were craters in a skull covered by tight skin. “I am Urlen.”
“Urlen,” Amar repeated. He liked the name. “What was your crime?”
Urlen shut his eyes as if the answer was difficult to recall. “No crime,” he said. “I did what was right.”
Kym chuckled. “Maybe he is a proper criminal.”





Sale prices on Rys Rising, Savage Storm, New Religion, and Love Lost are available at Amazon US - Amazon Canada - Amazon UK - Amazon Germany - Amazon France - Amazon Australia - Amazon India

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.

Kindle Fantasy Series Sale - All Rys Rising Ebooks 99-Cents Each at Amazon This Week

Finish the lazy days of summer with an unforgettable epic fantasy series. It's time to fill your Kindle with a take-no-prisoners fantasy series. All titles of the Rys Rising series are $0.99 each for a limited time in Kindle stores. These titles normally sell for $2.99 to $4.99. Rys Rising delivers a full-size saga. Three years in the lives of a big cast of characters unfold as the Age of Onja begins.

Sale prices available at Amazon US - Amazon Canada - Amazon UK - Amazon Germany - Amazon France - Amazon Australia - Amazon India
Rys Rising: Book I by Tracy Falbe
A young warrior ruined and near death is saved by Onja a mysterious rys female. Forsaking all that he was, he will take the name Amar and serve his new magical mistress. A lord among outlaws he will become, feared by kings and called the dro-shalum or curse demon by the common folk. Indulge yourself and read this sumptuous epic told from many angles.




Savage Storm (Rys Rising Book 2) by Tracy FalbeWhen Onja enthralls the savage Chatapaka people of the remote north and unleashes their brutal hordes upon vulnerable Nufalese settlements, the militia is overwhelmed. Cruce Chenomet and his comrades struggle to save the fleeing settlers. Cruce quickly loses hope but keeps his courage as he confronts the savage storm.




New Religion (Rys Rising Book 3) by Tracy FalbeOnja opens a two front campaign meant to expand her dominion over the western tribal kingdoms and bring misery and ruin to Nufal. She commands Amar to lead marauders into Nufal. Excited to be set loose upon new and foreign lands, he attacks without mercy and even dares to fight magical tabre. In the west, Onja’s holy war rages as she continues to crush old idols and remake society.




Love Lost (Rys Rising Book 4) by Tracy Falbe
In this breathtaking conclusion to the series, unleashed monsters born of cruel spells test the mettle of the sturdiest warriors. Soul wrenching chaos consumes the faith of thousands. Torn between his need to protect his secret lover and son and his legitimate family, Cruce struggles through ever worsening battles until he finally wagers his life against the most favored warlord of Onja.





Sale prices available at Amazon US - Amazon Canada - Amazon UK - Amazon Germany - Amazon France - Amazon Australia - Amazon India
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.

Budget-Friendly Fantasy Ebook Choices from Overdrive for Libraries

After many years of being denied access to library ebook distribution, I'm very happy to now have my full fiction catalog available through Overdrive to over 20,000 libraries.

I've heard that large publishing companies charge high prices to license their digital content to libraries. If that's the case, then I have great value to offer libraries. In general my titles are discounted for libraries by at least 20 percent off the retail list price. Overdrive, however, requires a minimum price of $1.99.

Now that Overdrive is stocking self published indie authors like me you can give your patrons better access to the full breadth of the fiction marketplace as represented by ebooks. 

Indie authors enjoy a significant share of the ebook reader retail market according to data analysis published by Hugh Howey. The July 2014 Author Earnings Report shows that 25 percent of the Amazon Kindle bestsellers are published by indie authors. Furthermore, on the same report analyzing Kindle ebook sales, indie authors represented 31 percent of daily unit sales volume.

Now through Overdrive you can choose from many fine independent authors from around the world.

My humble contributions to this thriving literary scene are priced at Overdrive as follows:

Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I
$1.99

The Goddess Queen: The Rys Chronicles Book II
$3.99

Judgment Rising: The Rys Chronicles Book III
$3.99

The Borderlands of Power: The Rys Chronicles Book IV
$3.99

Rys Rising: Book I
$1.99

Savage Storm: Rys Rising Book II
$3.99

New Religion: Rys Rising Book III
$3.99

Love Lost: Rys Rising Book IV
$3.99

Werelord Thal: A Renaissance Werewolf Tale
$1.99

View the titles in your
Librarians can find these titles by searching within the self publishing section of their Marketplace accounts at Overdrive for "Tracy Falbe" or individual book titles. All titles will be shown as published by Smashwords.

Your patrons who rely on the library to indulge their love of fantasy series will enjoy this fantasy collection.

My novels have received 5-star reviews at several retail outlets including Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Apple iBooks.

Here's an example of a 5-star review for Rys Rising: Book I
 
 And here's another one for the same novel from the Nook store:
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.

See My Interview at Heroic Fantasy Writers

Walter Rhein author of The Reader of Acheron was kind enough to interview me at his Heroic Fantasy Writers blog.

He asked some great questions and encouraged me to talk about the Rys Rising series.

Here's a snippet of what I had to say:

"Rys Rising isn’t a series for readers who like to only follow one or two characters. I deck out vast ensembles led by major characters. As two civilizations clash, I weave together their stories into an unforgettable ending of mythological scope."

Read the entire interview: Heroic Fantasy Writers: Words with Tracy Falbe, author of "Rys Rising"

Thank you for featuring me at Heroic Fantasy Writers. I encourage people to look at Rhein's novel. It has some great reviews at the Kindle Store.



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.

How to Read Ebooks on Your iPhone or iPad

You're stuck in a waiting room or mass transit delay. Your iPhone or iPad thankfully gives you a way to pass  the time. If you want something more than the graffiti-babble of social media, you can enjoy a novel or study a subject that interests you by reading ebooks.

Apple devices like the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch have free access to the iBooks store with the iBooks app. The app is also now available for Mac desktops too for us old-fashioned types that actually do work on computers that requires more than the swiping of fingers. This ebook store is active in over 50 countries and even has plenty of free titles to offer.

Once you have access to the iBooks store you can read free samples, buy ebooks, and organize them in your iBooks library. Ebooks from the iBooks store are viewable on any iOS devices.

Access to iBooks through iTunes has also improved lately. I used to not be able to find my titles in iTunes but now I can.

I currently have 9 fantasy novels, 3 audiobooks, and my nonfiction titles at iTunes and iBooks. 


By the way, if you like epic fantasy Rys Rising: Book I has only 5-star reviews from iBooks readers. It's a great value for only $2.99. Or check out Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I at iBooks. It has 4.5 stars after 24 ratings. Union of Renegades is even free. But be warned: You might get hooked.


For reasons unknown Apple has not made the iBooks store very visible. As I mentioned iTunes was not showing iBooks until recently and the iBooks store cannot be accessed with a web browser. Despite this, it sells millions of units and even little old me makes money from there year in and year out.

Hopefully it will become a more popular and prevalent source of ebooks around the world when the new iOS 8 comes out this fall. It's going to have iBooks preloaded so it will be easy for iPhone and iPad users to browse ebooks and enjoy reading actual literature instead of rants and text messages. It's good for the brain you know.

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.

Guest Post: Assassins Build on Warrior Theme in Fantasy Fiction

Today I welcome guest author Anna Kashina. She's promoting her new novel The Guild of Assassins. Obviously assassins are major characters in her saga that began in The First Sword and Blades of the Old Empire that I have reviewed previously on Her Ladyship's Quest.

In her guest post she explains why assassins are such a popular theme in fiction. 
Assassins in Fiction
by Anna Kashina

Thanks for hosting my post. I can never get tired of talking about assassins--or rather their romanticized version that drives some of my favorite fantasy books.

I know that my fascination with assassins is shared by many authors and readers. At a first glance it seems odd, to romanticize people whose profession is to kill others. I believe, however, that this tendency goes back to one of the most primal human qualities: to worship the strong, to follow someone who stands out because of his/her warrior qualities. After all, no one finds it surprising that we romanticize great military leaders, like Alexander the Great or Napoleon. These people are, in essence, killers, and they made their names by supervising mass killings on a grand scale, yet many find them romantic and attractive.

Earlier fantasy books often continued these trends. A standard hero was usually a warrior, either a born leader or one who achieves leadership through being the best at weaponry--which, almost always, include killing as many enemies as possible. This theme fascinated generations of readers, and still succeeds if exceptionally well done. However, over time, with emergence of thousands of new fantasy novels that explore this theme in increasing numbers of variations, it is also beginning to lose its spice.

Assassins represent a new twist on this traditional theme, one that does add the spice--and the depth--to the warrior type. To be an assassin you have to be the best with weapons, no question. You also need to be a loner, mysterious and feared by most people. Just these two things already stimulate imagination. But there is more. An assassin who lives to tell the tale must be good enough to defeat any opponent he/she is hired to kill, as well as to outsmart anyone who might want to come after them. On top of that, there is the notoriety of walking at the edge of the law, or rather, not caring about the law when it comes to killing. The possibilities that come with these qualities, the depths that open just by thinking along these lines, can be vast.

In my “Majat Code” series, which started this year with “Blades of the Old Empire” and now continues with “The Guild of Assassins”, I could not resist exploring this theme to the full. The Majat warriors featured in these books are top-ranked assassins. In the Majat Guilds, they go by ranks, identified by gems, and the best of the best have the Diamond rank. Two Diamond-ranked warriors, Kara and Mai, stand at the heart of the series. Their skills, their pursuits, and the often unexpected ways they act when driven to the extremes, form the core of what has made these books so fun to write.

“Blades of the Old Empire” centers around Kara and a difficult moral dilemma she faces, when her assignment from the Majat Guild conflicts with her sense of honor and righteousness. This triggers a whole chain of events that are partially resolved in book I and are followed through in book II in the series. When I wrote the Blades, I took care to stay out of Kara’s head, to maintain the enigma around her, and the romantic shroud an assassin in her rank is bound to have. In “The Guild of Assassins” I had to drop this shroud and give her a point of view, only to erect another shroud around Mai, her counterpart, a man who had been specially trained to be able to kill her.

These books have been very special for me, and I can’t wait to return to the “Majat Code” world in book 3, which I am now working on.



“Blades of the Old Empire” publisher’s description:




Kara is a mercenary - a Diamond warrior, the best of the best, part of the Majat Guild. When her tenure to Prince Kythar comes to an end, he wishes to retain her services, but must accompany her back to her Guild to negotiate her continued protection.

When they arrive they discover that the prince's sworn enemy, the Kaddim, have already paid the Guild to engage her services - to capture and hand over the prince (who she has grown very fond of).

A warrior brought up to respect both duty and honour, what happens when her sworn duty proves dishonourable?

“The Guild of Assassins” publisher’s description:





Kara has achieved something that no Majat has ever managed – freedom from the Guild!

But the Black Diamond assassin Mai has been called back to face his punishment for sparing her life. Determined to join his fight or share his punishment, Kara finds herself falling for Mai.

But is their relationship – and the force that makes their union all-powerful – a tool to defeat the overpowering forces of the Kaddim armies, or a distraction sure to cause the downfall of the Majat?

Links:

www.annakashina.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anna-Kashina/215289654593
https://twitter.com/annakashina

Bio:

Anna Kashina grew up in Russia and moved to the United States in 1994 after receiving her Ph.D. in cell biology from the Russian Academy of Sciences. She works as a biomedical researcher and combines career in science with her passion for writing. Anna's interests in ballroom dancing, world mythologies and folklore feed her high-level interest in martial arts of the Majat warriors.

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.

Only 2 Days Left to Save 75% on Fantasy Ebooks at Smashwords

There are only 2 days left at the Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale. All my specials will end at midnight on July 31st.

With coupon code SSW75 you can get The Rys Chronicles complete series for only $3.75! Union of Renegades is free and the next three books are 75% off. You can even pick up Werelord Thal: A Renaissance Werewolf Tale for only a buck with the same coupon.

Free - Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I

To save 75% use coupon code SSW75 when checking out with these titles.  You'll see the coupon code on each product listing page too. 
75% off, $1.25 after discount The Goddess Queen: The Rys Chronicles Book II

75% off, $1.25 after discount Judgment Rising: The Rys Chronicles Book III

75% off, $1.25 after discount The Borderlands of Power: The Rys Chronicles Book IV

75% off, $1.00 after discount Werelord Thal: A Renaissance Werewolf Tale

To save 50% use coupon code SSW50 when checking out with this title.  You'll see the coupon code on each product listing page too.
50% off, $1.50 after discount Bear Dog Dog Bear


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.

The Magic of Love and Desire in Eolyn Fantasy Audiobook

Today I welcome to Her Ladyship's Quest author Karin Rita Gastreich. She is promoting the audio edition of her novel Eolyn. She has a wonderful guest post everyone should read about the love life of her main character. The YouTube video above provides an audio sample. Plus there's a Rafflecopter giveaway you can enter at the bottom of the post.


EOLYN [audio edition]Karin Rita Gastreich (author)Darla Middlebrook (narrator)
Sole heiress to a forbidden craft, Eolyn lives in a world where women of her kind are tortured and burned. When she meets Akmael, destined to assume the throne of this violent realm, she embarks upon a path of adventure, friendship, betrayal and war. Bound by magic, driven apart by destiny, Eolyn and the Mage King confront each other in an epic struggle that will determine the fate of a millennial tradition of magic.
"Vigorously told deceptions and battle scenes will satisfy fans of traditional epic fantasy, with a romantic thread." – Publishers Weekly
“Magnificently written.” –Kindle Book Review
Buy Eolyn in any format at Amazon





Aen-lasati, the Magic of Love and DesireBy Karin Rita GastreichWhen I began crafting the world of Eolyn, I had it very clear in my head how women’s sexuality would be seen by the subculture of the Magas, the particular tradition of witchcraft that Eolyn inherits. I even allowed Magas to use the term ‘sexuality’ in the original draft of the novel, until one of my editors, Terri-Lynne DeFino, challenged me on this. Terri argued that sexuality as a concept didn’t really exist in the Middle Ages, making the word anachronistic in the context of epic fantasy.
Terri had a point, but her comment put me in a difficult dilemma.  While sexuality may be anachronistic in the context of medieval societies, it was not in any way anachronistic for the Magas of Eolyn’s world. Magas understand the concept of a woman’s desire, and consider it an integral part of women’s magic.  There was no way I could sacrifice the concept of 'sexuality' without losing a very important pillar of their worldview.With a little bit of thought and some help from a critique partner, I invented the word ‘aen-lasati’, a magical and sacred word that literally translates to the ‘fire within’.  So the word changed in the final version of the novel, but the concept remains.
Aen-lasati is one of the gifts of Primitive Magic, the most ancient, powerful, and least understood class of magic recognized in Eolyn’s world.  Aen-lasati is considered a divine impulse. Magas (as well as mages) are taught to respond to it with joyful reverence, not with fear, and certainly not with prohibition.In a maga’s worldview, there is no such thing as meaningless sex. All sex, when freely shared, is considered sacred. On the other hand, there is no maxim that sexual relationships must be bound by rules of fidelity. Indeed, according to some schools of thought, the whole concept of fidelity flies in the face of a true understanding of aen-lasati. (This is, of course, a little different from how I was brought up in the American Midwest, but that’s another story. . .)
This perspective does separate magas from the larger context of Eolyn’s world, where women are often expected to fill traditional roles associated with patriarchal medieval societies. This causes no small amount of tension and conflict, not only for Eolyn, but for all the magas who have come before her. From an author’s point of view, the practical implication of aen-lasati is that my heroine has no qualms about sleeping with a man she does not intend to stay with forever. She can also embrace the possibility of loving two (or more) men at once.  
Now, there is a hero in Eolyn’s story who is the wonderful, complex alpha-type guy that most readers would expect the heroine to commit to when all is said and done. But there is no guarantee that Eolyn will do that, even if given the opportunity. As a maga, she has been taught not to promise herself to one man because sooner or later aen-lasati will kick in, and the gods may very well direct her toward union with someone else.
This sets Eolyn apart from many of the heroines I’ve known, especially in fantasy, where most women seem clearly destined to settle with the one guy who is “right” for them.
I’m certain there are exceptions to this rule; Guinevere comes to mind as an example, and I hope we’ll hear others in today’s comments. But for the most part we seem to expect the Heroine, in her heart of hearts, to wait like the legendary Penelope, steadfast and true, for the one Hero who is “right” for her.
When writing the novel, I really enjoyed exploring this aspect of Eolyn’s world. I found it more interesting to allow complexity and nuance in her choice of partners. As a story teller, I especially appreciated having all bets off in terms of Eolyn’s final decision, whether that would be to settle with a particular man or to continue on her own path of magic.
I’ve also found that the concept of aen-lasati strikes a chord with a wide range of readers, both women and men.  Many consider this one of the most intriguing and fresh aspects of the novel; others are a little taken aback by the teachings of the Magas and their implications for Eolyn’s journey.  In either case, the idea of aen-lasati has my readers thinking, discussing, and debating. I like to believe that this is one of the signs of a story well told.
Note:  I have tried to construct this essay in a way that avoids spoilers for those who have not yet read my novel.  For those of you who have already read EOLYN, I would very much appreciate it if you do the same with your comments. Thank you!






About the Author:
KARIN RITA GASTREICH lives in Kansas City and Costa Rica. An ecologist by trade, her past times include camping, hiking, music, and flamenco dance.  Karin's first fantasy novel, EOLYN, was released by Hadley Rille Books in 2011. The companion novel, HIGH MAGA, is also available from Hadley Rille Books. Karin’s short stories have appeared in Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, 69 Flavors of Paranoia, and A Visitor to Sandahl.   She is a recipient of the Spring 2011 Andrews Forest Writer’s Residency. Follow Karin’s adventures into fantastic worlds, both real and imagined, at http://eolynchronicles.blogspot.com and at http://heroinesoffantasy.blogspot.com.
Author web links:
Blog for Eolyn:  http://eolynchronicles.blogspot.comBlog Heroines of Fantasy:  http://heroinesoffantasy.blogspot.comFacebook:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Eolyn/110814625640244 Twitter:  @EolynChronicles
About the Narrator:
With experience of 34+ years as a Speech-Language Pathologist, more than 20 years as a stage & film actor and over 20 years as a trained singer with knowledge and insight into the mechanics of the voice and speech, Darla Middlebrook brings a wealth of experience to bear to develop character voices (male, female, mature, extremely elderly, creepy, bright exotic, etc) with an impressive emotional range.​​Currently, Darla is one of many voice actors who narrates podcasts for AIRS-LA (an audio internet service for individuals with visual challenges) in addition to narrating audio books.  She is able to produce retail quality audio books from her home studio in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan - Canada.
Narrator Web Links:
Website: http://www.darlasvoice.net/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damiddlebrookTwitter: @GypsyCatVoice

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