Fire Star Press: #Fantasy

Showing posts with label #Fantasy. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

New Release -- Pennytook and Peregrine’s Curse (Legends of Winatuke Book 4 & 5) by Sarah J. McNeal

PENNYTOOK

Pennytook is a war-weary Gypsy who longs for peace from the past, and wants something meaningful in his life for the future.

Esmeralda, a Gypsy trick rider, has harbored a deep affection for Pennytook, for many years. But her dark secret will never allow him into her life.

A mythological creature is about to unleash its horror and change the destinies of Esmeralda and Pennytook forever. Will forgiveness allow them the love they both search for…if they manage to survive?

PEREGRINE’S CURSE

Peregrine McKnight is a wildly successful musician who only wants to fall in love with a woman who understands him and have a loving family. But Peregrine knows that can never happen for him—he’s been cursed.

After a foray into the magical dimension of Winatuke, Peregrine suffers a curse placed on him by the evil Navasi king. Though Peregrine manages to survive, the curse prevents him from ever falling in love.

Beautiful dancer Parisa Habuba survived the war in Syria—but at a price: she has lost her hearing in the constant bombing attacks. When Parisa learns of a position for a dancer with the famous musician, Peregrine McKnight, she doesn’t hesitate to audition. This may be her only chance to prove she can dance—in spite of her hearing loss.

Although it might take a miracle for Peregrine and Parisa to find love—anything is possible in the magical realm of Winatuke...

EXCERPT PENNYTOOK:

Esmeralda remembered how Pennytook's eyes had followed her while she rode. She did her best tricks to gain his attention. It was a stupid thing to do. He might recognize me and then what would I do? In her own defense, Esmeralda knew she could not help herself. When Pennytook was young and had a wife and baby, even then, she thought him handsome and charming. He was lean and muscular with black hair, dark eyes, and an olive complexion. The years had changed him very little. Feathers of silver now ran through his black hair, and his face was more angular, with lines around his mouth and the corners of his eyes. His hands, though worn and hardened by hard work, were still strong.

His abilities with horses and music were renowned. Everyone loved Pennytook. He led his tribe with a fair hand and kindness. His campfires were always warm and his ways generous and inviting.

Many said of him that he knew the ways of magic and held great wisdom. Esmeralda knew this to be true firsthand from that time on the Dark Isle when hell opened up and spewed horror. She knew Pennytook would eventually realize her association with his son and that night on the Dark Isle. He would learn her terrible secret. When he came to know she was the cause of him losing his son, he would hate her, and she would be shunned by his tribe for all time. Knowing that Pennytook would think ill of her if he knew the truth hurt like a dagger sticking in her chest. She had always loved him, though she held her feelings close to her heart. Still, even though he would turn away from her and curse her, she knew she had to tell him what she had done. He needed to hear her reveal her secret from her own lips, and from no other. And then, she would have to bear his hatred.

Sunday, June 21, 2020

CAT SUMMER WINS BIG PURRS, by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer

I have some great news! Cat Summer, (FireStar Press 2019) has won a Certificate of Excellence for Books: Sci-Fi Fantasy in the Cat Writers’ Association Annual Communications Contest.

As a longtime member of CWA, this is not my first COE, but the thrill never goes away. The association has a strict judging policy, and there is no guaranteed winner if the judges deem no work is up to their high standards. So, yay! Three separate judges consider Cat Summer to be of the highest quality!

Now the book competes with others in its category for the coveted CWA Muse Medallion which will be announced at the CWA Communications Contest Virtual Awards Ceremony in August.

Cat Summer is Book One of the Cat Seasons Sci-Fantasy Tetralogy. Here’s the blurb:

Lise has a special destiny: to help a clowder of sentient cats save the world from an evil older than history itself. It is a terrible battle, but Lise and her feline comrades prevail, putting an end to war, poverty, ignorance and want. The world is a better place.

Or is it?

A century later, it becomes clear that something has been lost. The new civilization produces no artists, no musicians, no scientists, no philosophers. Inertia has taken hold. Lise, now at the end of her life, must join her cat-friends once more to restore the Spark of the Human Spirit, but the goal cannot be reached without sacrifice.

To note, I also received COA’s for two of my cozy mysteries, and one for a set of cat poems, so I’m really happy right now!

The Cat Writers’ Association is a global cat-centric professional organization dedicated to excellence in written, visual and audio media.

Find out more on my blogsite: www.lecatts.wordpress.com

Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/MollieHuntCatWriter/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7768987.Mollie_Hunt

@MollieHuntCats

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

New Release - Quest for the Light of Valmora (Legends of Winatuke Book 3) by Sarah J. McNeal

The evil witch-queen, Mahara, has returned to the Dark Isle after her exile, even more determined for revenge on those who have tried to thwart her evil plans—and that vengeance begins with capturing Raven McKnight!

Raven’s son, Falcon, has distanced himself from the family after the near-death of his younger brother, Peregrine, which he believes was his fault. But now, he must push his feelings aside and return to save his father and the entire realm of Winatuke. Falcon, filled with self-doubt, knows he’s not an exceptional warrior. On top of that, he’s falling for Izabelle, the beautiful Gypsy woman who is Peregrine’s love—and that, he cannot allow.

Izabelle quickly comes to understand that her heart’s desire is for Falcon’s love—not Peregrine’s—whose affection seems to be solely for his music and his violin. As the terrible meaning of the QUEST FOR THE LIGHT OF VALMORA reveals itself fully, the sacrifices that Izabelle and Falcon must make seem unimaginable, and likely, unattainable. Neither of them may survive. Can Izabelle bring the Light of Valmora in time to vanquish Mahara and her cruel vengeance?

With the witch-queen’s anger aimed directly at her old flame, Raven, Falcon understands the only way to save his father is to take his place. No matter the consequences to himself, it’s the only way to keep everyone he loves safe from Mahara’s vindictive punishment. But will Falcon be able to survive even one night in her demonic captivity?

EXCERPT

A mist crawled on phantom fingers along the forest floor as twilight threatened. Ebony trees, bereft of leaves, stood like soldiers that reached for heaven through the gloom. An unnatural silence fell upon the forest. Woodland creatures burrowed deep into the earth to seek comfort, their hearts fluttering with apprehension. A living cloud of birds darted across the darkening sky in an attempt to fly to the safety of some distant place where the light still held. Cicadas hushed their chatter and held themselves tight against the rough bark of the old oaks to become invisible. Not even the wind dared to breathe.

A few thin clouds clung to the darkening sky as the pale moon rose from the horizon. Out of the breech of trees, a horse with glowing red eyes galloped and upon its back, a rider appeared clothed in a dark cloak, its face shrouded in the depths of the darkened hood. The specter approached with urgent speed, hooves thundered on the forest floor and scattered dead leaves in its wake. Close enough now, a face appeared in the bleak light of the sunset. Its skin, unnaturally white and bloodless, glowed in the faded light. Obsidian tendrils snaked out of the hood to ride in the wake of the wind created by the swift ride.

Closer and closer she rode. Her soulless eyes filled with malice, glittered with death. Thin lips peeled back from her sharpened teeth as she croaked, "I'm coming for you and death to all who stand in my way." Upon the heels of her ominous threat, a hideous peel of laughter pierced the quiet while the shadows of night enveloped the Earth. The witch-queen of the Dark Isle rode with malignant purpose.

Mahara!

Monday, September 2, 2019

Research by Michael E. Gonzales

My most recent story, Einar of Vindemiatrix, required a lot of research. I set my story in a mythical “dark ages”. I saw the characters, for the most part, as English like. So, I read up on a great many subjects, among them; period dress, period customs, weapons, castle design and layout, mythology, manner of speech, and much more. All very enlightening.

Obviously my fantasy would necessarily have to abridge the historical record.

And much that is ‘canon’ in ancient lore I would also need to bend a little.

The biggest challenge, for me, was the language. First off, what people spoke in “the dark ages” would barely be recognizable today as English. I noted several categories of Ole English, for my purposes I selected three: Old English, Middle English, and Early Modern English. There are few alive today, scholars only perhaps, that would understand any of that speech. To wit:

So…I settled on what I call Ren-fair speech or, “fake English accent people us at a Renaissance fair.” This is the sort of thing `ya hear in the old Errol Flynn Robin Hood movie.

I also learned you have to be sparing with it. I had friends, family and total strangers read some test lines and they quickly became lost.

So…I altered the meter of speech, used a very few archaic words and at last reached a happy medium. Or one might say, “Ci leáslícettung bæd.”

The mythology surrounding weapons in the Ancient world I found fascinating! Stories of magical weapons with amazing powers and abilities, carried by famous Vikings, Romans, Goidelic, and Pictish warriors. Weapons fashioned by the gods, and by demons. These demonic weapons held the promise of victory but at the price of your immortal soul. Damned weapons that would incur the wrath of evil on their bearers, or result in instant death from merely touching them.

It was, however, the true story behind the Ulfberht sword that grabbed my attention for Einar.

There was a type of sword prized by Vikings that far exceeded any European weapon of its day. The rare and precious Ulfberht swords were a thousand years ahead of their time, and wielded only by the most elite and powerful of Viking warriors.

Most Viking blades were found to have been composed of slag-ridden, low-carbon steel. But the Ulfberht blades’ metal was comparable to the strength of modern steel. They were inscribed with the signature “+Ulfberht+,” and their like would not be seen again in Europe until the industrial revolution.

It was a personal journey through history, legend, myth, and lore. One I shan’t soon forget. Doubtless, dear reader, you shall see me put my lesson to use again, in future efforts.