Rival Gates's Blog, page 65
April 11, 2014
New Release Spotlight @Solsticepublish
Michael Long from MichaelScifan.us was kind enough to do a new release spotlight on his web site. Check it out at http://www.michaelscifan.us/new-relea...
April 9, 2014
Sapphire Crucible is Out! @Solsticepublish
The day is finally here. "Sapphire Crucible" is out on Kindle. It will be available on paperback down the road. For those of you who have read "Quest for the Red Sappire", you are in for one wild ride! Helen Alexander posted a Character Interview on her web site to get you in the mood. http://helenalexander.weebly.com/2/po...
To buy the book go to Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Crucib...
To buy the book go to Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Crucib...
Cover Reveal, .99 Sale
I have been honored to appear on the Katie’s Corner blog with a cover reveal for “The Sapphire Crucible”. http://crasyabout.blogspot.com/ It is sown the page a bit as it was first published yesterday but had “Quest for the Red Sapphire” on the blog. Speaking of the first book, it is still on sale at Amazon for .99! That’s a steal. You can find it here. http://www.amazon.com/Quest-Red-Sapph...
April 7, 2014
New Book Interview
Author Helen Alexander has been kind enough to interview me about “The Sapphire Crucible” You can read it at http://helenalexander.weebly.com/blog... She runs a great web site and blog. I am honored to make my appearance there. Remember “Quest for the Red Sapphire” is still .99 on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Quest-Red-Sapph...
April 6, 2014
Sale Continues, Excerpt
The .99 sale on “Quest for the Red Sapphire” continues. “The Sapphire Crucible’s” debut on Kindle is only 4 days away! I am stoked for this. Just to tease you a little more, here’s another excerpt. Enjoy!
“Sergeant Hugon...these are the Elves taken prisoner at the river crossing,” the Human Captain stated as he dropped a rolled scroll on the table. “They are not to be mistreated.”
Hugon angrily opened the document and struggled to read its contents. Then he began to laugh. Moving the parchment over to a lantern on the desk, he set the orders ablaze. “That’s what I think of your orders. I do as I please with my prisoners.”
The Captain drew his sword. Hugon stood quickly and took hold of his club. The other goblins in the tower drew their weapons and rallied behind the Sergeant. In spite of the insurmountable odds against him, the Captain held his position.
“I want you to acknowledge that you have taken custody of the prisoners,” the Captain said with his blade pointed directly at Hugon’s heart. “You will be accountable for any deviation of the orders from this point forth.”
The Goblin Master snorted and answered, “I have them now, Human. Now be about your business. I wouldn’t want you to get your pretty uniform dirty.”
The Captain looked at the jailor with disdain and sheathed his weapon. “Goblin scum,” he branded as he turned and left.
After the Captain exited, the gates were closed and Hugon turned his attention to Linvin and his family. Using one hand for each, he picked up the twins by the chest and examined them. “So these are the Dangerous Elves that everyone is in fear of? Ha.” Hugon threw them aside and looked at the others. “I presume you are Anvar Greenlith.
The paper said you were not to be unchained under any conditions. Seems you’re some sort of Magician or somethin’. You look mighty old for anyone to be scared of you.” He shoved Anvar to the ground and stepped on him with his foot. “I could just squash you like a worm. You’re nothin’ but a feeble old elf.” He began to slowly press down on Anvar with his foot.
Linvin could not stand the sight. “Leave him alone, Gutter-Rat,” Linvin cried angrily.
Hugon removed his foot from Anvar and turned his attention to Linvin. With two fists full of Linvin’s shirt, Hugon lifted him into the air and drew his face close. The great elf was weak and sick but still stubborn. He stared straight back at the monstrous creature.
“So you’re the little half-breed that has everyone so upset. You look pretty harmless to me. Kind of like a bug. I guess maybe them Humans is afraid of bugs?” The other goblins started laughing.
Linvin replied. “You must be the pathetic Goblin Pet your Human Masters chose to guard the mean, nasty little Elves. What a sad commentary on you. So scared of us are you that you need to keep us shackled. I do not blame you though. Slaughtering all those goblins in the Territory was quite easy and actually a good deal of fun for us. I would be scared of us too.”
Hugon threw Linvin against the wall and turned to the goblins who traveled with the prison wagon. “They killed goblins?”
“At least an entire patrol,” the shivering voice of one of them said.
Hugon was furious and quickly showed his displeasure by uncoiling his whip. Without a thought he began to lash Linvin with vigor. “You want to play games with me Boy?” Hugon shouted as the thick leather tore through Linvin’s clothes. The victim curled into a ball to protect his face. Unrestrained, the leather sliced through his skin with ease and did not stop until it struck bone.
“How do you like that?” Hugon screamed as the other goblins cheered his torture of Linvin. “I think I’ll give you one lash for every goblin you’ve killed. If there’s anything left of you after that, I’ll show you the lower levels where we can really have some fun.”
Linvin watched his tormentor closely. When the whip headed his way again Linvin held up his shackles and let it wrap itself around the chain. Then he grabbed the weapon and pulled it from the goblin’s hand. “I am Linvin Grithinshield,” he said from his knees. “No one puts leather to me and lives.”
“Sergeant Hugon...these are the Elves taken prisoner at the river crossing,” the Human Captain stated as he dropped a rolled scroll on the table. “They are not to be mistreated.”
Hugon angrily opened the document and struggled to read its contents. Then he began to laugh. Moving the parchment over to a lantern on the desk, he set the orders ablaze. “That’s what I think of your orders. I do as I please with my prisoners.”
The Captain drew his sword. Hugon stood quickly and took hold of his club. The other goblins in the tower drew their weapons and rallied behind the Sergeant. In spite of the insurmountable odds against him, the Captain held his position.
“I want you to acknowledge that you have taken custody of the prisoners,” the Captain said with his blade pointed directly at Hugon’s heart. “You will be accountable for any deviation of the orders from this point forth.”
The Goblin Master snorted and answered, “I have them now, Human. Now be about your business. I wouldn’t want you to get your pretty uniform dirty.”
The Captain looked at the jailor with disdain and sheathed his weapon. “Goblin scum,” he branded as he turned and left.
After the Captain exited, the gates were closed and Hugon turned his attention to Linvin and his family. Using one hand for each, he picked up the twins by the chest and examined them. “So these are the Dangerous Elves that everyone is in fear of? Ha.” Hugon threw them aside and looked at the others. “I presume you are Anvar Greenlith.
The paper said you were not to be unchained under any conditions. Seems you’re some sort of Magician or somethin’. You look mighty old for anyone to be scared of you.” He shoved Anvar to the ground and stepped on him with his foot. “I could just squash you like a worm. You’re nothin’ but a feeble old elf.” He began to slowly press down on Anvar with his foot.
Linvin could not stand the sight. “Leave him alone, Gutter-Rat,” Linvin cried angrily.
Hugon removed his foot from Anvar and turned his attention to Linvin. With two fists full of Linvin’s shirt, Hugon lifted him into the air and drew his face close. The great elf was weak and sick but still stubborn. He stared straight back at the monstrous creature.
“So you’re the little half-breed that has everyone so upset. You look pretty harmless to me. Kind of like a bug. I guess maybe them Humans is afraid of bugs?” The other goblins started laughing.
Linvin replied. “You must be the pathetic Goblin Pet your Human Masters chose to guard the mean, nasty little Elves. What a sad commentary on you. So scared of us are you that you need to keep us shackled. I do not blame you though. Slaughtering all those goblins in the Territory was quite easy and actually a good deal of fun for us. I would be scared of us too.”
Hugon threw Linvin against the wall and turned to the goblins who traveled with the prison wagon. “They killed goblins?”
“At least an entire patrol,” the shivering voice of one of them said.
Hugon was furious and quickly showed his displeasure by uncoiling his whip. Without a thought he began to lash Linvin with vigor. “You want to play games with me Boy?” Hugon shouted as the thick leather tore through Linvin’s clothes. The victim curled into a ball to protect his face. Unrestrained, the leather sliced through his skin with ease and did not stop until it struck bone.
“How do you like that?” Hugon screamed as the other goblins cheered his torture of Linvin. “I think I’ll give you one lash for every goblin you’ve killed. If there’s anything left of you after that, I’ll show you the lower levels where we can really have some fun.”
Linvin watched his tormentor closely. When the whip headed his way again Linvin held up his shackles and let it wrap itself around the chain. Then he grabbed the weapon and pulled it from the goblin’s hand. “I am Linvin Grithinshield,” he said from his knees. “No one puts leather to me and lives.”
April 5, 2014
.99 Sale!
With “The Sapphire Crucible” coming out on Thursday April 10th it seemed like a good time to have a sale on Book 1 of the Sapphire Chronicles, “Quest for the Red Sapphire”. Right now it is on sale at Amazon for download at .99! Here is the link http://www.amazon.com/Quest-Red-Sapph... If you want to be up to speed when the next part comes out, this is the perfect time to purchase the first instalment for less than a buck. Enjoy the read.
April 4, 2014
Post and Excerpt
Here’s a cover reveal and another exclusive book excerpt. Thanks to the good folks at “Between the Lines for fitting me in. Enjoy! http://wp.me/p47cK4-y1
Post and Excerpt
Here’s a cover reveal and another exclusive book excerpt. Thanks to the good folks at “Between the Lines for fitting me in. Enjoy! http://wp.me/p47cK4-y1
April 3, 2014
An Excerpt From Sapphire Crucible
It’s official. “The Sapphire Crucible” will be released on Amazon Kindle on Thursday, April 10th. In the meantime I have decided to whet your appetites with some small excerpts from the new book. Enjoy…
At that moment a goblin along the side of the wagon struck Linvin again with his spear handle. From the front of the column came an order to halt. “Assembly.” cried the voice. The escorting soldiers fell into line along the road and stood at attention.
A human soldier mounted on a horse rode slowly before them. He wore a fine suit of plate-mail armor and a red tunic, which ran diagonally across his torso before changing into a cloak across his back. A short sword hung at his side and a long sword was sheathed on his saddle.
The man handled his horse with such precision that his mastery on the stead was evident. He addressed the goblins like children. “Were my orders unclear?”
The goblins answered in unison, “No Captain.”
Reaching the end of the formation, the Captain turned his horse about and slowly went back the other way. “Then either you chose to ignore the orders or you are too dim-witted to comprehend them.” He dismounted in front of the last goblin to strike Linvin. Drawing his short sword, the Captain towered over the soldier at such close range he could see the goblin quiver. “So which is it, soldier? Did you choose to ignore me or are you just a two legged animal?”
The goblin weighed the choices and could not find a response that would exonerate his behavior. When he did not answer, the Captain’s annoyance increased. In a fluid movement, he seized the soldier by his filth-laden hair and slit his throat. The goblin fell to the ground and died moments later. His murder drew no gaze from the other soldiers. The rest of the troop remained at attention and did not dare to follow the fall of the body with their eyes. Such empathy could prove fatal.
The captain wiped the blood from his sword on the dead man’s shirt. Then he replaced the weapon and mounted his horse. “His lack of answer leads me to believe you are all feebleminded and unwilling to follow orders. Perhaps now you will understand my directions. You will not converse with the prisoners. You will not harm the prisoners. You will not come into contact with their property. You will not unshackle them for any reason. These are the standing orders of Lord Necromancer. If you feel inclined to disobey ANY of these orders, I will kill you where you stand. Your friend was fortunate. Had Lord Necromancer been here your comrade would have died a prolonged, agonizing death. If he is displeased when we arrive, we may all share in such a fate. He does not have my sense of mercy. Am I not merciful?”
“Yes Captain.” yelled the goblins.
At that moment a goblin along the side of the wagon struck Linvin again with his spear handle. From the front of the column came an order to halt. “Assembly.” cried the voice. The escorting soldiers fell into line along the road and stood at attention.
A human soldier mounted on a horse rode slowly before them. He wore a fine suit of plate-mail armor and a red tunic, which ran diagonally across his torso before changing into a cloak across his back. A short sword hung at his side and a long sword was sheathed on his saddle.
The man handled his horse with such precision that his mastery on the stead was evident. He addressed the goblins like children. “Were my orders unclear?”
The goblins answered in unison, “No Captain.”
Reaching the end of the formation, the Captain turned his horse about and slowly went back the other way. “Then either you chose to ignore the orders or you are too dim-witted to comprehend them.” He dismounted in front of the last goblin to strike Linvin. Drawing his short sword, the Captain towered over the soldier at such close range he could see the goblin quiver. “So which is it, soldier? Did you choose to ignore me or are you just a two legged animal?”
The goblin weighed the choices and could not find a response that would exonerate his behavior. When he did not answer, the Captain’s annoyance increased. In a fluid movement, he seized the soldier by his filth-laden hair and slit his throat. The goblin fell to the ground and died moments later. His murder drew no gaze from the other soldiers. The rest of the troop remained at attention and did not dare to follow the fall of the body with their eyes. Such empathy could prove fatal.
The captain wiped the blood from his sword on the dead man’s shirt. Then he replaced the weapon and mounted his horse. “His lack of answer leads me to believe you are all feebleminded and unwilling to follow orders. Perhaps now you will understand my directions. You will not converse with the prisoners. You will not harm the prisoners. You will not come into contact with their property. You will not unshackle them for any reason. These are the standing orders of Lord Necromancer. If you feel inclined to disobey ANY of these orders, I will kill you where you stand. Your friend was fortunate. Had Lord Necromancer been here your comrade would have died a prolonged, agonizing death. If he is displeased when we arrive, we may all share in such a fate. He does not have my sense of mercy. Am I not merciful?”
“Yes Captain.” yelled the goblins.
April 2, 2014
Just a Week To Go!
I’m so excited. “The Sapphire Crucible”, the long awaited sequel to “Quest for the Red Sapphire” is all ready to go. I am just waiting to have approval of the date from my publisher, Solstice Publishing. Over the months that the first book has been out I have been peppered with questions. They come in all shapes and sizes. Who was behind the murder of Linvin’s parents? Does Rander keep his word and get with the program? Do they get to keep the Red Sapphire? Does anyone die? Is there much action? Do we get to see Falconfeather more? Will there be any romance in this book? How does the key play a part? Then there’s the most frequent question, did they get caught? Those and many more questions are going to be answered in “The Sapphire Crucible”. It is killing me not telling you. Tentatively it is due out around April 10th but I need confirmation from Solstice. If the questions you just read didn’t make sense, you should probably read “Quest for the Red Sapphire”. It will be on sale for only .99 starting April 5th. That book will open up a whole new world for you. Then you will be as anxious as the other readers to find out what happens in “The Sapphire Crucible”. One person commented at hearing the name, “Sapphires aren’t put into a crucible. What does it mean?” I just smiled and said they were in for some rude awakenings in the sequel. The answers are coming. You just need to wait for about another week to find them. Until then think about your questions. Many of the loose ends will be tied in the new installment.
