Helen B. Henderson's Blog, page 60

Hooked on Hatchling's Mate, Orders, #mfrwauthor #bookqw

This week's entry in the MFRW Book Hooks hop uses the Wednesday quote word "Order." Just before this excerpt, mercenaries under the control of the Parant murdered two of the oldest dragshi, a couple named Gremeille and Turnaimh.

Excerpt:


An overwhelming sorrow came through the ethereal connection. Unshed tears burned Talann’s eyes. Desperate, he searched the mindlink for his parents. Their presence, when found, failed to ease his fear. Somewhere, he knew, a dragon lord had passed beyond the veil. Tied so closely to Llewlyn and Jessian, the dragon souls connected to his parents, Talann realized the lament had not come from human throats, but those of dragons. Somehow, the twinned soul, instead of coming into its own as a true dragon, had also died.

Eirwen, her mental tone filled with rage and sorrow blanked out all thought. < Gremeille and Turnaimh are dead. All dragshi are to return to Cloud Eyrie.> Her steel-hard, < Immediately,> left no room for argument. < On the wing if possible, with guard if not.> Thoughts too fast to be caught flickered through Talann’s mind as Eirwen issued orders to individual dragshi.

“I can’t stand here and do nothing,” Talann growled at Glyn. He brushed past and snatched his saddle from the stall post. “Glyn, you go to Lexii. She’ll need your strong shoulder. I’ll head to the meadow.”

“No, Talann. You can’t be risked.” Glyn’s move to block the aisle mirrored Buar’s. Although she had stood complacently being brushed, the mare reared forcing Talann back.

“I don’t have to obey Eirwen’s decree,” Talann snarled. “I’m not dragshi.”

Glyn grabbed ahold of Buar as the mare’s bugle added to the tension in the stable. A few feet away, when with a toss of his mane, Ohlmar slid out from underneath the unbuckled saddle. The heavy weight dropped to the floor at Talann’s feet.

“What the?” Talann snarled. Each time he tried to get the stallion ready for travel, Ohlmar refused to cooperate. Finally, Talann gave the battlefield command, “Stand,” but the stallion skittered aside.

Spinning, Talann advanced on Buar to drag the mare out of the way.

“Talann, stop,” Glyn called. “Son of the head stallion of Cloud Eyrie or not, Ohlmar will not disobey Buar.” A wry smile twitched Glyn’s lips. “Don’t under estimate a female.”

~  ~ ~
Hatchling's Mate - From their birth it was expected that Talann’s and Lexii’s destiny would be entwined. However fate had other intentions. Lexii and Talann could not stand to be together.

Click here for another excerpt and a free read of the first chapter.

Ebook Available at:   Amazon   Kobo  Walmart.
One click to more ebook stores

Paperback Available at:  Amazon  Barnes&Noble  IndieBound

Fact in Fiction?

Ever wonder how much of real life bleeds into a book? Some Authors Dish on that topic on the CTR Blog.  Oh yes, I am one of them.

The full list of authors is at https://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts/ad2019-jan-facts/. But I hope you'll start with my post. Won't you?


 

Hooked on Dragon Destiny, A Question #mfrwauthor #mfrwhook

It's winter and there are storms rolling one after another across the land. It's not happening just outside the windows, but also in the mountains that are home to the Dragshi.From the dragon shifter fantasy, Dragon Destiny.

Excerpt:

Branin grimaced as the cold winds from the ice fields tugged at his wings, the frigid air piercing even thick dragon skin. Ranks of clouds on the horizon warned of the nearness of winter storms. Soon, he would need to return to the sanctuary of Cloud Eyrie. He could not survive outside sturdy walls, even if he remained in the dragon form of his twinned soul, Llewlyn. Still Branin soared higher, seeking solace from his dark mood. He dreaded the long months during which weather isolated Cloud Eyrie from the world. Snow-blocked passes and roof-high drifts prevented travel in human form by foot or horseback. Gale force winds prevented escape by wing. Winter trapped him inside walls of stone, denying him the option of escaping his loneliness in the skies above. All the other dragshi had met their mates. Their happiness, the depth of their attachments, especially that of his friends, Liam and Dealan, just emphasized Branin’s solitude.

His plans to winter over somewhere other than the high mountain complex of the dragshi vanished with the unexpected summons from Lady Eirwen. After his first rebellious thought to ignore the order from the ruler of the dragshi to return, he surrendered to the inevitable. Within the walls of Cloud Eyrie, even the temporary companionship of a woman disappeared.

Until his true mate appeared, he resigned himself to lesser relationships with the opposite sex. Over the years, many women had tried to seduce him in order to claim they’d bedded a dragon shifter or to garner the power a dragshi- wielded. At their first contact, he always made it clear no dragshi could have a permanent liaison with a true human, and that his favors could not be bought with money or wiles. Most women took his word and remained satisfied with the companionship. If they pursued their relationship to a physical level, it was done with no expectations beyond mutual pleasure. He pictured the red-haired beauty he just left. Broch went beyond the usual flattery and flirtations. Sharp words always seemed to lie just beneath her light tone and apparent sincerity. Despite her physical beauty, he sensed a ruthlessness within her. No matter how hard she tried to throw herself at him, the fire never kindled.

Branin screamed his frustration to the sky. Liam and Dealan had found each other within weeks of their first shift into dragon form. According to the ancient records in the back recesses of Cloud Eyrie, he and Llewlyn had already waited longer for their mates than any other dragshi had ever done. Llewlyn woke more frequently from the shadowed corner of Branin’s mind where he slept and the dragon’s discontent echoed Branin’s own. They were alone and, Branin feared, destined to remain that way forever. Again, he yelled to the winds. However, what echoed back from the ice-covered peaks sounded more like a moan than a dragon’s trumpeting call.

A hint of emotion whispered at the edge of his senses. He could tell the feeling did not come from his fellow dragshi, or, from one of the old dragons. That left only a true human.

The depth of the other’s longing called to him. His own hunger answered. Reaching out with a gentle mental summons, he asked, <Who are you?>

~ ~ ~
Buy Links: One click to ebook sellers
Paperback at Amazon / Barnes&Noble


 

Stars Shine for Hatchling's Vengeance

[image error] The cloud's are gone, the nighttime sky is clear. It's time for stars. Four of them for Hatchling's Vengeance. 

Here's a snippit from the review.

Henderson "puts the reader right in the middle of the action, painting pictures vividly for their imagination. ...an entertaining tale with plenty of dragon fun!"

Read the full review at InD'tale.

I hope it convinces you to consider it for your ToBeRead pile. If not, click on the cover in the top banner for a blurb and free read of the first chapter. 

Hatchling's Vengeance Available at ebook stores via this universal buy link.


I'm off flying with the dragshi.

~Till next time. Helen

Hooked on Windmaster, Stars

The holiday decorations are down, skies are cloudy and foreboding, the post holiday blues have set in. Then the email came. What better way to psych yourself up for new book, than a five-star review of another.

Whoo hoo for Windmaster. There is a lot in the review and I need to read it again to get it all. There are words like "exciting," "edge of your seat," and "I can’t think of one thing I didn’t enjoy about Windmaster." And perhaps the best line, " I would highly recommend to readers who enjoy adventures by land and sea, swashbuckling quests, and magic."

Hope you'll check out the rest of Big Al's Books and Pals review.

In celebration of the review and stars, from Windmaster, dinner under the stars. It is also where the story of Windmaster Legend, (coming March 2019) is first told.

Excerpt:

Each evening of the voyage, Dal and Ellspeth shared wine beneath the setting sun. One such night, two bright lights sparkling near the horizon caught Dal’s attention. “The stars are different down here than in the north.”

“You haven’t been to the Southern Sea before?”

“No,” he answered after a moment’s pause. “Most of my travels were throughout the Four Kingdoms. And we didn’t often have a chance to just sit and stare at the stars. Even when on night guard duty, you dared not focus on one point too long.”

Sensing his hesitance to talk about his background, Ellspeth quickly changed the subject. “The stars are named Iol and Pelra. Did you ever hear their legend?” When he shook his head, she started the ancient tale. Her low voice barely carried above the sound of water beneath the hull. “Rima, my grandmother, told me this on my first sea voyage. Iol and Pelra were captains; both had won their gold bracelets. Their rank was suitable, but his mother had rejected her father’s courtship, so a joining between Iol and Pelra was not allowed. Since no one had ever sailed the southern island route in less than four sevenday, the two families proposed a wager. If Iol and Pelra made the trip in less than two sevenday, the families would allow the marriage. The pair set off in their respective ships with all masts carrying as much canvas as the rigging could handle.

“Iol and Pelra prayed, and in recognition of their devotion the water god favored them with fair skies. Brisk winds pushed them faster than any vessel had ever sailed before. The ships returned in the final hour allowed by the bet. Despite their return within the allotted time, the parents reneged and declared Iol and Pelra had lost the bet and refused to allow the marriage. The ruling council of Iol’s house ordered him to a remote inland lake to captain an old scupper. Pelra was confined to her family complex. Unable to return to their ships and the sea, the pair sneaked to the twin rocks that guarded the harbor entrance. When the families sent soldiers to enforce their orders, the water god brought up a storm to protect the lovers. Then he transformed Iol and Pelra into shipfish. Legend has it they swam together to the end of the world. One powerful leap carried them into the night sky.”

I haven’t thought of that story for years, Ellspeth mused. Why should it come to mind now? As if in answer, her eyes were drawn to Dal whose gaze had fixed on the two stars.

~ ~ ~
Buy Links: One click to ebook sellers
Paperback at Amazon / Barnes&Noble

Visitor's Reprise, SciFi, Fantasy, Paranormal

As part of the year's end clean-out and evaluation of earlier stories, here's a reprise of some of the books that were showcased as a Tuesday Title. Contemporary and historicals were covered in a previous post, so now I'm re-showcasing books with a science fiction, fantasy, or paranormal element.

Hope you'll stop by and check out the works by these talented authors.

Rescuing Prince Charming SciFi Romance by Edward Hoornaert
Lifeline SciFi by Judy Griffith Gill
Refuge SciFi by Judy Griffith Gill
Ancient Curse dark fantasy paranormal romance by Barbara Edwards 
Mist Falcon fantasy by Ryan Doughan
Dragon Knight's Axe paranormal time-travel Scottish romance by Mary Morgan
Knight of Rapture historic fantasy by Ruth A. Casie
Beneath the Stones Southern Gothic paranormal romance by Susan Coryell
Dark Moon Rising gothic romance by Jacqueline Seewald
Dream Waters contemporary fantasy by Erin A. Jensen
Dream World contemporary fantasy by Erin A. Jensen


And if you happen to read this and would like your science fiction or fantasy book showcased, drop me a line. Helen

Hooked on First Change, Meeting with a Daxa, #mfrwauthor #bookqw

The dragshi are more than just a man or woman. Each are two beings–one a dragon, the other a human–sharing one body in space in time and able to change forms with the other at will. Their world and the adventures of the dragon shifters are recorded in the Dragshi Chronicles

Within each of the chronicles, the ceoltiers, the keepers of the past and teachers of the present, recount some legend. As with all such tales, some contain larger than life deeds. Others are the simple story of a man or woman doing what must be done, regardless of the cost. Sometimes embellished, the ceoltiers use the stories of times and actions past to educate and inspire.

Unlike the previous works in the series which related to the trader girl Anastasia and Lord Branin Llewlyn, First Change features the story behind the legends told in the previous volumes. First Change contains five stories of duty and honor, love and loss, happiness and despair from the chronicles. As with all such tales, some contain larger than life deeds. Others are the simple story of a man or woman doing what must be done, regardless of the cost.

Excerpt from Fire and Ice:

Drum beats echoed off the thick stone walls. The ominous sound froze both body and soul. Each roll dropped the temperature in the audience room from rafter to floor until Mirabeesh swore the polished stones dripped ice. She slid her hands into the wide sleeves of her gown for the illusion of warmth they provided. Only one man dared walk the palace in such a way—Xelme. The head daxa of the temple considered himself the equal of the throne and of its current occupant, Kai of Eruichin. No, Mirabeesh corrected, Kai and I. He married me... not as consort, but as empress. She fought to control her rising pulse.

Unlike his predecessors, Xelme used his position as a religious leader for more than spiritual guidance to his followers and believers. His tools went beyond bestowing blessings and interpreting visions. Curses and blackmail were more common. Threats replaced requests.

~ * ~


Buy Links: Links to ebook sellers

Additional excerpts from the three novellas in First Change.

Visitor's Reprise, Contemporary and Historicals

I was a reader long before I became a writer. Before the programming of software, before I created the first marketing catalog or designed a technical manual, there were westerns, science fiction, fantasy, and, spy and adventure novels to take me to other lands. So it should not come s a surprise that there are stories about other's books on my blog. As part of the year's end clean-out and evaluation of earlier stories, here's a reprise of some of the books that were showcased as a Tuesday Title. First up are contemporary and historicals.

Dream Waters contemporary fantasy by Erin A. Jensen
Dream World contemporary fantasy by Erin A. Jensen

Raiders On the Saint Johns Civil War historical fiction by Lydia Hawke
Exiles On The St. Johns Civil War historical fiction by Lydia Hawke
Sunday's Child regency romance by Rosemary Morris
His Ocean Vixen regency romance by Victoria Chatham

Seducing the Baker contemporary romance by Janet Lane Walters 
Alaskan Magic contemporary romance by Carol McPhee 

The Burning literary novella by J P Seewald

2018 Challenge Post Summary

To accompany the observations about the Marketing for Romance Writers 52-week blog challenge, a summary of the numbers and a listing of the posts. When I first thought about participating, I wasn't sure about being about to do 52 posts, let alone the topics. I finished 2017's list of topics, but tackling another year seemed an insurmountable task.

Some of the posts were easy, simple lists of things. Others were more challenging, especially with the consideration of writing something meaningful. Some of the posts were fun to share, others not so much. They were depressing as dreams that would never be fulfilled.

Then there were the subjects that were more personal than I care to reveal. I admit to being old school enough that I don't post my entire life on whatever is the social media site du jour. Experience with stalkers and identity theft also adds discretion to my reveals.

The first half of the year the average number of authors participating was 18, while the highest number was 34. The second half of the year saw an average of eight posts per challenge. Whether it was the topic of "Wedding Disaster," the weather, or the holidays, the final week of the challenge only garnered six entries. 

So how did I do as far as numbers?

Altogether 52 out of the 52 were posted. Yay! Pats self on the back. With a new release in the spring of 2019, I won't be doing this challenge again. However, there are a couple of others that look interesting and I hope to participate on a regular basis in the book hooks events so be sure to follow my blog to be notified when I do jump in.

Links to the 2018 posts by alphabetic topic are below. Again, congratulations to the other authors who participated. And to our readers I hope you enjoyed our revelations whether they be personal or about the writing life.

~till next time, Helen






Allergic To
An Island Survival Invention
Authors I'd Like To Meet
Book That Influenced My Life
Earliest Memory
Favorite Thing I've Written
How Much Of Me Is Is My Writing
If I Couldn't Write
Best Dish I Cook
Best Gift I Ever Gave
Bucket List
Celebrating Completing A ManuscriptCharacter/Setting ProfilesContest ExperiencesCreative Outlets I EnjoyEpilogue Or No? Fantasy Vacation
Favorite AppsFavorite IndulgenceFavorite Romance Genre To Read Or WriteFavorite Social Media PlatformsFear (Biggest)First, Second, Or Third PersonFriends, Family, Pets In My BooksGrateful ForHoliday FoodHoliday MemoryHow My Family Survives My WritingIf I Never Had To AgainIrrational FearsItem I Can't Live WihoutJournal Or Diary         Lessons From Worst ReviewLessons Learned From Book ResearchMost Fun I Can Have While DressedMost Memorable ExperienceMost Romantic MemoryOdd Thing I CollectOdd/Useless TalentOnly My Family Would UnderstandPrologue Or No?Secret SnackTheme Song
Wedding Disaster
What I Wear When I Write
When I’m Not Writing, I…
Winning The Lottery
Worst Gift I Ever Got
Worst Writing Advice
Worth Bragging About
Writing Advice (Best) I've Gotten
Writing Rituals

Hooked on Dragon Destiny, Saving a Caravan #MFRWHooks

Welcome to the first book hook of the new year. BookHooks is a blog hop created by Marketing For Romance Authors where authors share a small snippet from one of their favorite books. To start off the New Year, an excerpt from the first story I ever wrote.

Excerpt:  

A flashing evaluation later, Branin decided the best way to support the trader caravan. The trail was too narrow for him to maneuver along the road. However the steep drop-off provided the necessary space. And if some of the attackers happened to fall over the edge, so be it.

Screaming his defiance, Branin folded his wings and plummeted earthward. His tail lashed out as he fell past the wagon. It ripped the sword from a burly man about to stab Yunka. Back the tail whipped and wrapped around the attacker’s waist. A tug sent the man, arms flailing, out over the chasm. With great sweeps of his wings, Branin soared upward toward the next group of fighters.

Loud cries of “For Clan Miller” reached his ears as the traders rallied, turning the tide of battle. Above the bedlam, Branin heard Broch screeching, urging her men to turn and fight. Then a male voice cut above her orders with a stentorian “retreat.” Those actively engaged in a fight broke off. In a panicked rout, they scrambled up the hillside, dragging wounded comrades with them. Although every instinct called for him to follow, Branin hovered above a wagon and initiated the change to human form. His great sword, Mt’wan Comraich, filled his hand before he even dropped onto the wagon’s roof. He searched the battlefield for Anastasia. A cold chill rippled through his nerves at the sight of Anastasia on her knees.

If you're hooked, and want to know what happens next, you'll have to get Dragon Destiny. Buy links are below. Or if you're not quite ready, more excerpts and a free read of the first chapter is here. 

Buy Links: Links to ebook sellers
Paperback at Amazon Barnes&Noble

~till next time, hope you'll visit the other authors sharing their Wednesday snippits.