Elizabeth Hull writing as C.N. Lesley

I first met Elizabeth when I started an author's support group.  She has been a faithful member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy retweet group, and I've enjoyed reading her books. (See my review of SHADOW OVER AVALON below.)

​Diane Rapp ​Author Bio:  

​Elizabeth Hull, writing under the by line of C.N.Lesley, lives in Alberta with her husband and cats. Her three daughters live close by. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth likes to read and to paint watercolors. She is also a keen gardener, despite the very short summers and now has a mature shade garden. Once a worker in the communications sector, mostly concentrating on local news and events, she now writes full time.

Why did I start writing? 

Vivid dreams and the need to know what happened next, I guess. I got a glimpse into worlds and lives but not the whole picture. It left me wanting more so I set out to put it all down. Not long after that I joined the newly created Online Workshop for Science Fiction and Fantasy that was set up in the first place by Del Rey, an imprint of Random house to channel their slush. This put me in touch with some wonderful writers with many of whom I have established a lifelong friendship. Thus begun the process of learning to write and especially, learning to write in my chosen genres. 
 
I suppose the next question will be why the by line? I had intended to use my own legal name until I discovered it was already taken by a great lady, the wife of Fred Pohl, who was also writing in those genres. It would have been disrespectful to have continued so I chose something else. The initials and name does hold a lot of meaning for me so it was the closest I could come to my own name. I don't make any secret of the fact I have an author name or what my legal name is so am not difficult to find. 
 
There are new books in the works. Staff of Shadows is written, edited and waiting for a cover. Writhe of Wurms is in the process of being written. 
Darkspire Reaches, book 1 in the Darkspires series.   The wyvern has hunted for the young outcast all her life; a day will come when, after being rejected by civilisation and the tribes, she must at last face him.

Abandoned as a sacrifice to the wyvern, a young girl is raised to fear the beast her adoptive clan believes meant to kill her. When the Emperor outlaws all magic, Raven is forced to flee from her home with her foster mother, for both are judged as witches. Now an outcast, she lives at the mercy of others, forever pursued by the wyvern. Soon her life will change forever.
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A unique and unsettling romantic adventure about rejection and belonging.    DARKSPIRE REACHES sale $2.99 Serpent of the Shangrove, book 2 in the Darkspires series.  Copper is now a fully grown Drakken, but despite his magical abilities, he is shunned and shamed by his pure-blood kin.
Wandering despondent in the wilderness, Copper discovers a portal that reminds him of his lost crèche mate, left behind when the Drakkens fled their ancestral home. Knowing the portal will only remain open for three short days, Copper cannot resist the challenge to bring the lost maiden to safety, and prove himself worthy of his breed.  

But the other world is not what he and his kin expected. The peoples are hostile, the Angressi emperor has not forgotten his grudge, and something is killing Samara Maidens.

In this eagerly anticipated sequel to her bestseller, Darkspire Reaches, CN Lesley transports us back into the world of Drakkens, of Connor and Raven, and of their son.

Deep in the Shangrove—a dark place that feeds on creatures of magic—a new evil is growing, waiting for the perfect mate. 
SERPENT OF THE SHANGROVE DIANE'S 5* REVIEW:
Arthurian Legend Steps into the Future

This science-fantasy was a real surprise, but one that I enjoyed immensely. The author takes the Arthurian legend and steps into a future where Harvester monks cull the human population above ground and telepathic seers control aquatic people in the domed underwater city of Avalon.

Ashira, a highly-trained war maiden, literally fights for her life after the monks strip her memory. As a Outcast, she is expected to die in the wilds where flying saurians kill for food, but she's a powerful telepath who has learned the skills of a warrior. In her new life, she becomes known as Shadow, keeping secrets from friends and foe alike. She is intent on destroying the Harvesters and finding the son who was taken from her womb.

Readers learn her history as Arthur delves into records kept by an all-knowing entitity called the Archive. Will Shadow and Arthur learn to defeat their common enemy or become casulaties of their own superior abilities?

I recommend this interesting novel to anyone who enjoys an incredible story. Shadow Over Avalon, book 1 in the Shadow series.  Fortune twists in the strongest hands. This is no repeat; this is what happens next.

A man, once a legend who bound his soul to his sword as he lay dying, is now all but a boy nearing the end of his acolyte training. Stifled by life in the undersea city of Avalon, Arthur wants to fight side by side with the air-breathing Terrans, not spend his life as servant to the incorporeal sentient known as the Archive. Despite the restrictions put on him by Sanctuary, he is determined to help the surface-dwellers defeat predators whose sole purpose is to ensure their own survival, no matter the cost.

Ashira, War Maid and princess of the surface-world, is ready to sacrifice her life to defend her kin, but when she is betrayed and cast out of the life chosen for her, she must choose whether to die with honor or become one of the creatures her kinsmen fear and loathe.   

Following two threads of time, C.N. Lesley’s new incarnation of the Arthurian tales of old delivers the perfect blend of science fiction and fantasy. 
SHADOW OVER AVALON 99 Cents ​Sword of Shadows, book 2 in the Shadow series.  Arthur and Kai have escaped the threat of Emrys, but now they must face life on the surface world—and all the fearsome creatures that dwell there. But just as they assemble the beginnings of a fighting force, they discover a vital component to their safety has been compromised. This means a return to Avalon, where Arthur has an unexpected encounter with the untrustworthy Merlin. The magician's orders are clear: Arthur must find the sword to save the surface-dwellers and Avalon. There is no alternative.
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Kiri Ung, leader of the Nestines and ultimate controller of the Terran slaves on the surface, needs Arthur in order to ensure of the continuance of his species. With the Nestine Queen dying, failure means ultimate extinction. Wherever Arthur goes, so goes Kiri Ung.
Whoever finds the sword first gains control over all humanity. But simply gaining possession of this powerful artifact is not enough to wield its power. Let the battle commence.   SWORD OF SHADOWS sale $2.99 Chalice of Shadows, book 3 in the Shadow series.  Freedom from slavery should have meant a peaceful life for Morgan, but fate has other plans.

Rescued by the Outcasts, Morgan escapes a Nestine attack only to be bound to the task of retrieving a lost chalice by the Outcast god. Unable to fight the pull of the chalice, she is drawn toward the vessel and all its unearthing will herald. Only her rescuer knows he must get her to the Brethren Haven where they will be safe.

With familiar players of stories past moving into place, from the leader of the Nestines to Shadow and Ector of Avalon, only one thing is certain: Morgan is at the center of it all.
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In this third instalment, following Shadow Over Avalon and Sword of Shadows, C.N. Lesley takes us on another epic adventure, once again immersing readers in her alternate universe based on Arthurian legend and twisted into richly detailed science fantasy.  CHALICE OF SHADOWS Connect with the author at the following links: Elizabeth Hull on Facebook WEBSITE TWITTER Author's Facebook BOOKBUB