C.J. Milbrandt's Blog, page 83
March 4, 2015
RAKEFANG: Barnes & Noble and Kobo
Good News! Rakefang is now live in the digital bookstores at both Barnes & Noble and Kobo. Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Rakefang finds Tupper Meadowsweet a young man by Flox reckoning, but he no longer fits in with his own people. Wild hair, stealthy grace, and foreign fashions make it obvious that he’s lived with Pred since boyhood. For three years, he’s been on the lookout for someone brave enough to follow him onto the legendary Moonlit Mountain. The last place he expected to find her was...
March 3, 2015
CHIT-CHAT: Adopt a Word
I’ve been following wordnik since my first days on Twitter, participating in their (now defunct) daily challenge to use their Word of the Day in a sentence. I have fond memories of silly word-related contests, and I often retweet their List of the Day. Hey, I even won a wordnik t-shirt! So it’s only natural that when they began putting words up for adoption, I jumped at the chance to celebrate the Byways books. For the duration of one year, you’ll find C. J. Milbrandt listed alongside their o...
March 1, 2015
Deuce, Chapter 8: Food, Shelter
8
Food, Shelter
Aurelius stared hard at Ulrica, whose rebellious glare dared him to disbelieve her. Magic. Ghosts. Vanora. He wanted her to make some sense of her insinuations, but that would have to wait. As leader, he needed to prioritize, and legendary mountains weren’t at the top of their list. Aurelius asked, “Do you have experience sleeping in trees?”
She nodded stiffly. “Rope for harnessing. Close quarters. Sleeping by turns.”
Unknotting his sash, Aurelius unwound the rope he’d used earlie...
February 24, 2015
RELEASE: Rakefang
Book Birthday! Today’s the release day for the third volume in the Galleries of Stone trilogy. Rakefang just went live on Amazon … and should be available soon in other book venues. BUY IT NOW! >>
After years of searching for someone brave enough,
Tupper Meadowsweet finds her at Pennyflax & Quince.
Tupper Meadowsweet is a young man by Flox reckoning, but he no longer fits in with his own people. Wild hair, stealthy grace, and foreign fashions make it obvious that he’s liv...
February 21, 2015
Deuce, Chapter 7: Guard, Guide
7
Guard, Guide
Running allowed Ulrica to test her muscles, calm her jangled nerves, and reset her priorities. Her new hunting partner had no business grabbing up so much of her focus. When Aurelius had taken the lead with proper custom and confidence, she’d yielded. And Ulrica was convinced there was no shame in her response. We are hunters. This is our hunting ground. For the duration of the hunt, that’s all that matters. Willing her senses to take in the smells and sounds of the wood, she mat...
February 20, 2015
FOLKS: Torio Kite
“I heard this mountain was guarded by a tiger,” the man rejoined, sounding wholly unconcerned. “They said nothing of a tigress.”
Ulrica snarled something in Terse, and he answered in kind. Switching back to Verit, she ordered, “Lift your lantern! Let me see how many lies are reflected in your eyes!”
He immediately obliged, and Tupper had his first good look at the traveler. Ragged clothes that must have been fine once. Dusty boots that had traveled far. Blue eyes with an audacious glint. A broa...
February 16, 2015
Deuce, Chapter 6: Lead, Follow
6
Lead, Follow
Aurelius wasn’t often allowed the lead, so he wasn’t wasting this chance. Driving a fist into the ground between them, he said, “We’ll approach Vanora from the east—downwind, in shadow, to water. From there, I’ll track your pretty kitties.”
Ulrica signaled her acceptance by pressing her own knuckles to the earth.
Which surprised him no end, but Aurelius wasn’t letting on. Leaders expect to be followed. So he sprang away and waited several ticks before stealing a backward glance. U...
February 13, 2015
COVER REVEAL: Rakefang
The third and final book in the Galleries of Stone trilogy is set to release in less than a fortnight, so it’s high time we did a cover reveal! Tupper Meadowsweet is no longer the newly-nubbed boy of ten who first arrived at the Statuary to cook and sweep. He turns sixteen in Rakefang, the age when most young Flox turn their thoughts to courtship.
After years of searching for someone brave enough,
Tupper Meadowsweet finds her at Pennyflax & Quince.
Coming Soon: Rakefang
February 24, 2015
February 9, 2015
COMING SOON: Rakefang
Book Three. The third and final volume in the Galleries of Stone trilogy is due to release on Tuesday, February 24, 2015. As of yesterday, Rakefang‘s cover has been finalized, so look forward to Friday’s cover reveal! I’ve been swapping emails all week with Hannah Christenson, illustrator extraordinaire. Art peeks are my favorite kind of teasers, so I have to share!
Here’s what things look like in the sketch phase:
Hannah’s creating dozens of these small illustrations, which serve as scene brea...
February 7, 2015
Deuce, Chapter 5: Hoof, Paw
5
Hoof, Paw
Aurelius might have complained about Ulrica’s callous disregard for the inconveniences he’d endured for her sake, but he wasn’t a lackwit. Only a fool throws obstacles into his own path. Instead, he checked the sky as he calmly recoiled his rope. “Can you run?”
“Fast and far,” Ulrica snapped. “Try to keep up.”
Bark and bite, with bristles besides. Aurelius couldn’t wait to see if the girl’s confidence was justified. He accepted her answer with a nod, but made no move to put their temp...
