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Erin MacMichael
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Welcome!
I'm Erin. I've been writing science fantasy fiction for twenty years, but just went public this past year with my first publications.
In 2016 I published three prequels which lay the foundation for the epic space opera series, T'nari Renegades--Pleiadian Cycle. Each novella can be read as a stand-alone story, but when read as a collection, they build on each other and introduce key concepts and pivotal characters who come together in the upcoming first novel, Blood of the Prime (due to be published later this year).
Here is the recommended reading order of the novellas to experience the "full flavor" of the series:
To Steal a Moon peers into the brutal world of the ruling reptilian classes in Draco as seen through the eyes of Bálok, Lord of the Eltanin system. We find out why a degenerate race on the brink of collapse shifts into outward expansion and conquest of the populated worlds of the galaxy.
Descent of the Maw opens in the Pleiades where the native human and bird races fight to hold out against the reptilian invaders slowly swallowing the star cluster. We also meet the Makhás tiger adepts (loosely based on Tibetan mystics) who are struggling to escape oppression on their homeworld in Sirius.
Flare Shifter takes place in Algol where we look inside the harsh reality of shapeshifters living under reptilian rule. The protagonist is an introverted goldsmith who holds the world at arm's length in order to stay alive.
In the T'nari Renegades series, you'll encounter technologies based on blood and gold as well as psychic adepts, planetary portals, sentient crystalline starships, and energetics directed by sound geometry and sexuality.
You'll also encounter the T'nari game masters, a group of beings dedicated to doing something about the violence of the reptilian races.
Are you ready for a wild ride?
Visit my website at http://realityraiders.com/ to purchase each of these books in MOBI, EPUB, and PDF formats or find them on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Visit my new blog, "Fringewalker" for articles and postings on out-of-the-box thinking. Sign up for my mailing list to be the first to know when Blood of the Prime is ready for release.
To Steal a Moon
I've never been satisfied with one-dimensional bad guys. I want to know what led them to do what they do and get inside their heads and emotions before I judge them. After all, "bad" is a matter of perspective.
When I decided to write shorter works to release before publishing the whopper first novel of my series, I asked my two sons which characters they would be interested in learning more about. I was surprised and intrigued when one of them suggested a backstory for Bálok and Izar, two of the kingpins of the reptilian Drahks, the antagonists in the entire series.
And so the short-story-which-became-a-novella was launched. I knew I had my work cut out for me to craft a story around some very violent men. The challenge was to step into the heart of their culture and bring the reader inside Drahkian psychology while creating sympathetic characters and an interesting storyline. No small task - but I pulled it off.
The story is told entirely from a reptilian nobleman's point of view. Other races are barely-noticed, simply-to-be-consumed commodities within the complex machinations of elite Drahkian society.
To Steal a Moon
(T'nari Renegades–Pleiadian Cycle, Prequel Novella)
The once-vast reptilian empire in Draco is in disarray. Noble houses vie for position and wealth, fanned by a depraved, jaded tyrant who holds power through a fleet of ancient, lethal destroyers.
Summoned to Darban to fight in the Emperor's Tournament, Bálok, Lord of the Eltanin system, has no choice but to comply. His bloody reputation in the ring has captured the attention of Emperor Tashek and he must answer the call for fighters from the top-ranking Drahkian nobility to compete for the prize of a small imperial destroyer.
Walking into a maelstrom of hostile factions and political intrigue, Bálok's agenda is all too clear: to keep the destroyer out of enemy hands and to bring his only son and Eltanin officers back out of Darban alive. And while the rare opportunity exists, he privately vows to find and kill the one man from his past who had savagely pushed him beyond sanity.
As the tournament begins, Izar, the flamboyant Lord of Rastaban, despised by Tashek and excluded from the lists, blasts his way into the arena and petitions to be allowed to fight. The stakes of the deadly games escalate to new heights and Bálok warily finds himself the focus of more than one pair of watchful eyes.
--"If you claim your power over your rage, my god, you'll be … magnificent."
The dramatic first chapter will be read by Angela Chrysler on Story Time in the Brain to Books Cyber Convention beginning April 7th. Be sure to check it out!
Descent of the Maw
The second of the prequel novellas in the T'nari Renegades--Pleiadian Cycle delves into the backstories of two of my all-time favorite characters.
Magnus Talrésian is a young captain in the starfleet of Alcyone. He's an intelligent, capable leader and tends to be loud and overbearing, sometimes quite a smart-ass, but his heart is entirely in the right place. He's a dedicated father and deep feeler who has a terribly difficult time coming to terms with loss in a devastating war.
Kirian Vall is a brilliant psychic adept of the Sirian Makhás tiger clans. Brooding and sober, he reluctantly steps into the shoes of his deceased father to lead the last surviving masters in their quest to escape Lyonnae.
What these two men have in common is passionate intensity and an unflagging drive to protect the people dear to them. Due to the incredible pressure of fighting for survival, they both internalize the stressful responsibility that comes with leadership and are prone to blaming themselves when events turn sour.
Their stories are laid out in parallel throughout this lengthy novella and touch on the mysterious circumstances which ultimately bring them together. We come to understand what shapes the choices they make in order to meet the inevitable challenges which lie in their future. The stage is set for the events which unfold in the upcoming first novel of the series, Blood of the Prime .
Flare Shifter
This novella is a riveting science fantasy tale that holds its place within the lineup of T'nari Renegades--Pleiadian Cycle prequels (Overlord Bálok makes an appearance) and it also happens to be a romance.
The story takes us into the heart and fears of a rather extraordinary man. Ryder Dundalk is the superlative introvert. He's a loner for good reason - he fears for his life.
Flare Shifter
(T'nari Renegades–Pleiadian Cycle, Prequel Novella)
The peaceful worlds of the Algol binary system with its erratic stellar flares have long ago fallen to the rapacious Drahkian Empire. Under the harsh rule of reptilian overlords, cities are left to rot and the deep-feeling Algolian shapeshifters are brutally controlled, forced into servitude as assassins, or sold off-world as highly-prized commodities.
In the crumbling capital of Tessin, master goldsmith Ryder Dundalk has gone to great lengths to guard his privacy and the secret he hides from the vicious Lord Tiro, master of the Assassins Guild, and the elite Algolian truthsayers. His inborn gift of psychic touch has become a hazardous liability: the grip of a reptile makes him ill, the hand of a truthsayer could bring his demise, and the slightest touch of any other Algolian lies far beyond the bounds of what he can allow.
For the soft-spoken jeweler, isolation means survival. The status of his craft gives him privilege and a modicum of protection from the reptilian gentry and he has learned how to elude their terrifying saur beasts. But Ryder's carefully controlled world and his tenuous security are thrown into jeopardy when he discovers he is being stalked from the shadows.
–"Just tell me how to find you," he said in a low voice, "and watch for me after the flare."
The cover of Flare Shifter will compete in Cover Wars in the Brain to Books Cyber Convention beginning April 7th. Be sure to vote!
The artworkI've been an artist since I was little, so it came quite naturally to do all the artwork for the book covers and interiors, Reality Raiders logos, and the images for my website. I craft the initial designs in Corel Painter or Zbrush and add the final enhancements in Photoshop.
For each of my publications, I designed colorful chapter headings to include within the text.
To Steal a Moon
The insignia on the left represents the House of Bálok and the one on the right is the badge of the House of Izar. The background is a depiction of the blood-splattered dirt floor of the Imperial Arena.
Descent of the Maw
The headings indicate the setting of the chapter, either the Pleiades, Sirius, or both.
Flare Shifter
The image depicts Ryder's studio workbench and the gold collar he was working on at the onset of the flare.
Fun triviaThe red dragon on each of the novella covers holds in its mouth a miniature representation of the star group where the story takes place.
Blood of the Prime
This is the novel I began twenty years ago. It has grown and changed a lot over the years as I have altered my vision for the whole series and beyond. The entire manuscript draft is complete and currently stands at 292,000 words. I am in the process of editing and polishing the final manuscript as well as creating the cover and chapter headings, aiming for publication later this year.
It's a big story, written from multiple points of view, including the reptilian "bad guys." Here is initial description:
A Drahkian warband has launched a campaign into Maia, one of the last free systems in the Pleiadian cluster. The Alcyoni fleet, armed with new ships, abilities, and priorities, joins the Maian Birdwings in their battle to hold off the brutal reptilians.
After the devastating loss of Maia's smallest outworld, Alcyoni starship pilot Rhys Talrésian is plagued by abusive nightmares until an elusive feminine presence helps him break through the terrifying illusions, only to discover that he has inexplicably become the personal target of the invading warlord Biak.
When the reptile's sadistic attacks move from his dreams to an assault on one of his closest friends, Rhys pursues the reclusive dreamwalker, and through their fiery union, ignites the dormant codes within his blood. As the seeds of change begin to ripple through his awareness, he is led by his new mate to a mysterious geometric city in the dreamcore where he senses the presence of the T'nari League, a legendary group reputed to be fighting the Drahks.
As Biak pushes his invasion further into Maia, the warlord's obsession with Rhys escalates and his terrorist strikes into Alcyone become brazen and deadly. Driven to connect with the slippery League, Rhys leads his family and friends along their painful journey to unlock the power of sexuality, blood, gold, ... and choice.
--"I’m just a match to light the fire. Before we’re done with this ride, we’ll all be up in flames."
Watch the progress bar on my website to keep tabs on the project and sign up for my mailing list to be the first to know when Blood of the Prime is ready for release.
Fringewalker Blog I just opened up my new blog on the Reality Raiders website. The predominant themes are big concepts and expansive thinking.
Visit "Fringewalker" for articles and postings on Outside-the-Box Thinking, Belief Systems, Beyond Science, Power Sites, Irreverent Humor, Reptilians in Myth & Archeology, and Way Cool phenomena.
Here are a few samples of recent posts:
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In the next few weeks, I will begin to include write-ups of big concept fiction, movies, anime, games, art, and music as well as trailblazing researchers and visionaries. I will have a special section devoted to the T'nari Worlds and my own writing. I welcome you to leave comments and suggestions!
Reptilians in Fiction and MediaI'm starting a list to post on my blog of notable reptilian characters in fiction, films, anime, games, artwork, etc. I will compile a second, more lengthy list specifically for dragons, so for this group, my intention is to include any kind of upright lizard, snake, or other reptilian humanoid type beings. Here is my initial list:
Set, lizard man - Orion in the Dying Time, Ben Bova
The Yilanè, lizard men - West of Eden, Harry Harrison
Pantatheans, serpent people - Shadow of a Dark Queen, Serpentwar Saga, Raymond E. Feist
The Race, lizard men - Worldwar and Colonization series, Harry Turtledove
Larry, amphibian man - Mrs. Caliban, Rachel Ingalls
Kassis, lizard sauran - "God's Law," R. A. Salvatore
Jeriba Shigan, Drac reptilian - Enemy Mine (novella & film), Barry B. Longyear
Sarris, lizard man - Galaxy Quest (film), David Howard
Bossk, Trandoshan lizard man - Star Wars (film series), George Lucas
Gorn, lizard man - "Arena," Star Trek (TV Series), Fredric Brown
Slar, Gorn lizard man - "In a Mirror, Darkly," Star Trek: Enterprise (TV Series), Manny Coto
Guruk Dolim, Xindi-Reptilian lizard men - Star Trek: Enterprise (TV Series), Rick Berman & Brannon Braga
G'Kar, Narn reptilians; Drakh, reptilians - Babylon 5 (TV Series), J. Michael Straczynski
Scarrans, lizard men - Farscape (TV Series), Rockne S. O-Bannon
Unas, lizard men - "The First Ones," Star Gate SG-1 (TV Series), Peter DeLuise
Silurians, lizard men - Doctor Who (TV Series), Malcolm Hulke
The Visitors, lizard men - V (TV Series), Kenneth Johnson
Orochimaru, snake man genetics manipulator - Naruto, Naruto Shippūden, Masashi Kishimoto
Do you have more characters to add to this list? Post them here, or send me a message through Goodreads (Erin MacMichael) or the Reality Raiders Contact Form. Thanks!!
Behind the Names of the MakhásIn Descent of the Maw, the Makhás psychic adepts on the Sirian world of Lyonnae are tiger people who are being hunted by the elite of the lion clans. The Makhás' abilities with sound energetics and bell-making as well as the decimation of their culture by the Shitza is loosely based on Tibet.
A few of the characters had already been named when I wrote this backstory (Kirian and Selina Vall), but the new characters and places created for Descent of the Maw were given Tibetan or Chinese names. Here is a partial list:
Tibetan-based names
Makhás Masters (from "mkhas," meaning "skilled, wise")
Khalama crystalline starships (Tibetan name meaning "sky path")
Ustagi tiger clans (from "stag," meaning "tiger")
Rinzen, last sentient Khalama starship (Tibetan name meaning "holder of intellect")
Yeshe, leader of the Makhás (Tibetan name meaning "wise one")
Tsari (sacred crystal mountain in Tibet)
Tenzin Ngari, master of ship-birthing (Tibetan name meaning "keeper of teachings" / Tibetan place name)
Kalden Ngari, senior adept (Tibetan name meaning "of the golden age" / Tibetan place name)
Arman Sijia, adept, master bellmaker (Tibetan place name)
Senga Shengeti, senior adept (from "senge," meaning "lion")
Chinese-based names
Shitza (meaning "lion")
Chao Rong, Shitza leader (meaning "surpass" / "glory")
EXCERPTTo Steal a Moon, Chapter 1, “Raid”
Bálok stared at the blood on his hands. His pebbled skin burned where the hot liquid sank through it, racing through his flesh to invade his bones, but he couldn’t seem to move to scratch it away.
The sound of explosions ripping through buildings registered faintly at the periphery of his awareness. Something must be happening in the city. He’d have to go see what it was, after he found Tiga—he needed to find Tiga. She was probably with Bakir and his tutor, or Shim in the nursery. If only he could get up off his knees, he could go find her….
Someone was shouting. He could almost recognize the voice.
“I found him—he’s here!” the man yelled above a volley of weapon fire. A strong hand gripped his shoulder—and the world split apart around him.
“Lord Bálok! Lord Bálok! We’ve got to get out of here!”
The wall to his right blew into pieces and the officer in front of him stepped to his side to shield him from the flying debris before shaking him roughly. “Lord Bálok, get up!!”
The smell of blood assaulted his senses. It was all over him. He tried to raise his arms to get it off, but they wouldn’t move. What was wrong with his hands? He squeezed his eyes shut and looked again, blinking in the dim light of the ruined chamber. It wasn’t his hands he was seeing, but the shredded remains of his wife and eldest son.
A wild scream ripped from his lungs as he bolted to his feet and let the bloody flesh fall off of his hands to the floor. His wrists were bound in front of him and he shrieked like a wounded animal as he backed blindly away, his cries mingling with the rapid whine of weapon fire.
The frantic officer snatched up a knife from the floor and seized his wrists, slashing up through the heavy cord in one swift movement to cut him loose. Bálok grabbed the man’s shirt with both hands, pulling him up close as he trembled and panted brokenly, fighting to anchor his mind on the familiar features of the captain in front of him. “Jimat,” he whispered, slowly easing his grip and staring into the captain’s angry golden eyes. He couldn’t look down or he would be lost again.
“Who did this to you, Lord?” Jimat spat harshly as a dozen elite guards swarmed outside the doorway, taking in the grisly scene.
Abruptly the bombardments and shooting ceased. The smooth hum of vessels preparing for liftoff sounded outside the walls of the palace.
“Get me out of here,” Bálok rasped, keeping one trembling fist clutched in Jimat’s shirt so he wouldn’t trip as the captain led him out into the decimated hall past the silent soldiers. Before he knew what he was doing, he was running, tearing around the bleeding bodies clogging the wide passage and through the demolished entrance out into the open grounds. Jimat and the guards caught up with him just as three unmarked heavy fighters rose from behind the palace and disappeared overhead into the darkening sky. The faint sound of blasts between a warship and their own forces could be heard far above the city. Too little, too late.
Bálok stood and gazed up into the empty sky. He knew the man who had done this. He knew—and he would never forget.
*****
This excerpt is featured in the B2BCyCon Story Time event, read by Angela Chrysler who does a wonderful job with this dramatic opening to the novella which gives us insight into the psychology of the main character, Bálok of Eltanin. Keep this excerpt handy as you listen to Angela's reading.
Special GiveawaySend me a message through my Goodreads Author Page, my Facebook Author Page, or the Reality Raiders Contact Form to let me know that you visited this Author Showcase booth and I will send you ONE OF MY NOVELLAS in the digital format of your choice as a thank you gift. I appreciate you coming by!
These look so interesting! I really want to read them. How do you come up with your character's names?
Maddy wrote: "These look so interesting! I really want to read them. How do you come up with your character's names?"Hi, Maddy! Names are soooo important. There's nothing more jarring than reading a story with cliché or dorky names, so I spend a lot of time searching for the right sound I want for a character. It's really intuitive and sometimes frustrating to find the right one.
Two of my favorite searches are: 1) digging through sites on names from around the globe, and 2) combing maps from different remote locations. I keep a running list of potential character names when I come across something that has a good "ring" so I have a pool to choose from when a character needs naming. If nothing on the list fits the character's personality, I go hunting.
I have one character I named from personal experience: the primary bad guy in Blood of the Prime is Biak (Bálok's grandson) whom I named after an encounter with a gun-toting jerk who made me mad on a tiny island in Indonesia. :)
Erin wrote: "Maddy wrote: "These look so interesting! I really want to read them. How do you come up with your character's names?"Hi, Maddy! Names are soooo important. There's nothing more jarring than readin..."
Haha wow that's great. Thanks for telling me. Do you travel a lot?
Maddy wrote: "Haha wow that's great. Thanks for telling me. Do you travel a lot?"Yes, I have in the past. I spent some time living in Germany and traveled all over Europe and Britain. I've also taken trips to Bali and Java, England and Wales, Peru and Bolivia, Mexico, Greece and Egypt, and have lived and roamed all over North America. I'm finally content to stay put in the Pacific Northwest.
There's nothing more eye-opening, especially for Americans, than walking your boots across someone else's dirt. I grew hugely as a person by taking myself out of the familiar and looking, I mean really looking, at new faces and places. I tended not to pay too much attention to the drivel fed to most tourists and explored sites on my own or with a handful of friends - and that's where the real cool stuff really began. Those experiences have worked their way into my writing in one form or another. Just how I ended up in Draco and the Pleiades, well.....that's another story. ;)
Erin wrote: "Maddy wrote: "Haha wow that's great. Thanks for telling me. Do you travel a lot?"Yes, I have in the past. I spent some time living in Germany and traveled all over Europe and Britain. I've also t..."
Wow that is really amazing. I've been to France and England but those were not notable visits. But, I went to Cuba last year and wow was that different than anything here in the US.
Maddy wrote: "Wow that is really amazing. I've been to France and England but those were not notable visits. But, I went to Cuba last year and wow was that different than anything here in the US. "That's really interesting - what drew you to Cuba? And what kind of experiences did you have?
Erin wrote: "Maddy wrote: "Wow that is really amazing. I've been to France and England but those were not notable visits. But, I went to Cuba last year and wow was that different than anything here in the US. "..."I went on a school photography trip, and it was a lot of fun. We went to Havana and Trinidad and it was great. Although it was rather upsetting to learn about a lot of the circumstances the people who live there go to.
Maddy wrote: "I went on a school photography trip, and it was a lot of fun. We went to Havana and Trinidad and it was great. Although it was rather upsetting to learn about a lot of the circumstances the people who live there go to. "That's great. Photography, eh? An excellent means of looking at the world in a new way. When you have a minute, send me a few of your best shots from that trip. I'd love to see them.
As for the upsetting insights, keep them close as a part of your richer experience and let them add to the tapestry of who you are. I saw some shocking, horrific things in my travels and they broke loose a determination I still carry with me. It takes strength to look at the underbelly of 3D reality. I'm glad your path is taking you into a deeper understanding of life.
Erin wrote: "Maddy wrote: "I went on a school photography trip, and it was a lot of fun. We went to Havana and Trinidad and it was great. Although it was rather upsetting to learn about a lot of the circumstanc..."I'll send a few once I get a chance. Thank you for the advice. Would you like to see more landscape type pictures or the streets or a mix-match?
Maddy wrote: "I'll send a few once I get a chance. Thank you for the advice. Would you like to see more landscape type pictures or the streets or a mix-match?"I would love to see both! I don't know much about Cuba at all. Send me the shots you are most proud of. Thanks for sharing, Maddy!
Erin wrote: "Maddy wrote: "I'll send a few once I get a chance. Thank you for the advice. Would you like to see more landscape type pictures or the streets or a mix-match?"I would love to see both! I don't kn..."
Of course! Anytime.
Brain to Books Cyber Convention (FAIRGROUNDS)
Books mentioned in this topic
Descent of the Maw (other topics)Flare Shifter (other topics)
To Steal a Moon (other topics)
Descent of the Maw (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Erin MacMichael (other topics)Erin MacMichael (other topics)
Erin MacMichael
Descent of the Maw
(T'nari Renegades–Pleiadian Cycle, Prequel Novella)
The Drahkian Empire is on the move. The worlds of Merope in the Pleiadian cluster are under attack and the starship fleets from sister systems Alcyone and Maia have come to their aid in a united effort to defend against the reptilians.
Using unknown means to transport ships at will and break through planetary portal defenses, the invading warband gains foothold and expands its conquests one world at a time. As the Drahks advance, Alcyoni captain Magnus Talrésian struggles to cope with the challenges of watching friends die and entire populations fall to brutal Salaal, his frustrations compounded further by lagging support from politicians back home.
While the Pleiadians battle for Merope, in far-off Sirius, a colony of Makhás adepts struggles for survival in caverns deep below the surface of Lyonnae. Kirian Vall, young leader of the Makhás and sworn protector of the last great Khalama starship, searches desperately for the keys to repair their torn portal in order to escape Lyonnae before they are hunted down by the violent Shitza and their off-world reptilian masters.
Two leaders, two struggles, and behind the scenes of both, an invisible hand plants the seeds to lead them into a future which could change the game for all of them.
–"They're coming. It's not a matter of if, but when."