Monday, July 10, 2023

Book Review - Rocky Mountain Rendezvous

 


About the Book

In 1837, Juniper Collins and her sisters are shocked by their father's final request in his will for a special set of beads to be returned to a Piegan Blackfoot woman he credits with saving his life during his travels west. Together, the sisters set out for the trapper rendezvous to find the woman, but their mission turns more daunting when they come upon the mass of men and lodges spread out in the Green River Valley.

Riley Turner came west to find peace and quiet and live off the land, but when four unprotected women arrive at the rendezvous, he feels compelled to help them and is more fascinated by Juniper than any other woman he's known.

As their search brings only empty leads and dead ends, the sisters must decide whether to return east or stay in the mountains to continue looking--and that's if the mystery woman is even still alive. Is the risk to honor their father's last request worth the danger they find at every turn?

Discover the majesty--and treachery--of the Rocky Mountains in this unique combination of exhilarating adventure, inspiring faith, and sweet romance from USA Today bestselling author Misty M. Beller.

My Review


As a fur trade reenactor who participates in modern day rendezvouses, I was really excited to read this book. It drew me in right away. The combination of the four sisters was really fun, and I loved Riley. He’s amazing. I had a little trouble understanding why any father of the time would ever send his daughters out west to try to find a woman he knew twenty years ago. Or why he would keep any information from them. It didn’t make any sense to me. And I don’t think even having Riley around would have kept the girls safe all that time, especially the times they would go off on their own. Not in a huge camp of drunken mountain men. It just doesn’t seem realistic.

But, beyond those quibbles and the book feeling a bit slow in the middle, I did enjoy the story, and I look forward to continuing with the series.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


Monday, March 6, 2023

Ink Dragon Press

 


I've got a little bit of an announcement to make. I have decided to change the name of my publishing company to Ink Dragon Press. This is something I've been planning for quite some time now. A couple of years, at least, but I didn't want to do it until after all of the Ilyon books were released so that there would be no variation in the covers. Now that Daican's Heir is available, I can finally start using the new name.

Why did I change it? I don't really have a specific answer other than I just wasn't "feeling" Living Sword Publishing anymore. I still think it's a cool publishing name, but, as with many things you do when you are young, you realize it's just not you anymore once you're fully into adulthood.

So, going forward, all of my writing projects will be published under Ink Dragon Press. Eventually, I probably will change the Ilyon Chronicles paperback covers over to reflect this change (it will only be a minor change of adding the logo to the spine in place of the LSP). But for now, they will remain the same. 

Along with this change, I have also re-opened my publishing company Etsy shop. If you were part of my Nerd Cat Creations newsletter last week, you will have seen that I, unfortunately, have to shut down that shop due to Shopify increasing the price of their subscriptions. That was where I was selling autographed books and Ilyon merchandise, but it will now be available on Etsy instead. You can check it out here. (I'm still working on getting everything switched over to the shop.)

I'm really excited about the new name and the new logo and can't wait for what projects will one day be published under it.

Friday, February 17, 2023

Daican's Heir Release Day!

 


Wow, I can't believe this day has finally arrived. It's been a crazy (and, oftentimes, frustrating) journey to reach the conclusion of this series, but I am so excited to be here. While writing parts of this book, particularly the ending, was bittersweet, I am so happy with how it turned out and am so excited to finally share it with everyone.

I wrote the bulk of this book while struggling for two years with nearly crippling anxiety. It was one of the worst times in my life. Thankfully, as of last fall, it's no longer a constant, daily battle (though still likes to pop up at the worst times). It's a miracle from God that I managed to do any writing at all during that time, let alone finish this book. I was pretty much terrified from the moment I started the book nearly seven years ago to the day I finished that it wasn't going to be any good and wouldn't live up to the rest of the series. Again, God worked a miracle, because once I got into editing, I fell in love with it. Though it's hard for me to pick a favorite book of the series, this one is a top contender. Everything managed to come together even better than I dreamed, and I hope you will find the conclusion of this series as satisfying as I do. 

To celebrate the release of the book, I will be posting over at the Ilyon Chronicles blog every day for the next week (the final post will be on Saturday, February 25). The next few days will feature the highly popular character Q&As, so make sure you check them out.




I am also having a themed giveaway for the release. I'm giving away a signed copy of the book, an Ilyon Chronicles dragon mug, a custom Jace Funko Pop created by me, and a dragon bookmark by lydiasvintage. Unfortunately, due to shipping costs, this giveaway is only open to those within the US. You can enter by following the instructions on the giveaway posts on either my Instagram or Facebook accounts.



Friday, December 2, 2022

Daican's Heir Cover Reveal + Sneak Peek

I have been looking forward to this day for SO LONG! I can't believe it is finally time to share the cover of Daican's Heir! The last time I had an Ilyon Chronicles cover reveal was all the way back in July of 2018!


This cover has been sitting on my computer for YEARS waiting for this day. This is the first book of the series to feature a villain on the front. Considering the mood of the story and the stakes, it seemed appropriate. After all, it has all boiled down to this moment--taking out Davira. The blood-red background also fits her vibe very well. Can I just say how scary she is? Like, I know I'm the one who wrote her, but she still scares me. And she is not going to go down without trying to destroy everything around her first. 

I just can't wait to share this book. I got my first bit of beta reader feedback last weekend and it absolutely made my day. It confirmed that the satisfaction I felt about the book wasn't just my relief at finishing. You can read her endorsement for it below. I still don't have a set release date (maybe sometime in March...), but the Kindle book is up for pre-order! Unfortunately, Amazon still doesn't allow indie authors to set paperbacks for pre-order, so if you're wanting one of those, you'll have to wait to order until release day.

So, without further ado, please enjoy the cover, as well as a little sneak peek at the first chapter!


About the Book

For three years, the Resistance has suffered under oppression—first from Emperor Daican and now from his daughter. In her quest for vengeance, Davira has ripped Arcacia apart, and more blood is spilled every day. Newly married, all Jace and Kyrin want is to be able to live their lives in peace. In order to do that, they must help restore the rightful heir to Arcacia’s throne.

Carrying the weight of everyone’s hopes for the future, Daniel works every day to be the leader and king they have all fought so hard to see him become. With the Resistance and their allies from all across Ilyon united behind him, he prepares for a final confrontation with Davira. But to do so will require facing the full might of Arcacia’s military and Davira’s wrath.

When Jace and Kyrin become the primary targets of her ravenous hatred, Daniel finds himself in a race against time to stop his sister and avoid the bloodbath she is determined to unleash. Can he find a way to protect his loved ones and bring peace to Ilyon or will Davira succeed in bringing them all to their knees and destroying everything they hold dear?





First Chapter Sneak Peek

Jace didn’t like ships. 

His stomach had threatened to heave itself up his throat since he’d re-boarded the talcrin vessel an hour ago. So far he’d managed to keep it in place, but Holden wasn’t so lucky. He had already lost what remained of his supper over the edge and now leaned heavily on the railing. Clearly, it would take a lot more than the two days they’d previously spent on board, sneaking the Militia into Samara, for their stomachs to get used to the sea.

A low groan rumbled from Holden’s hunched form. “Remind me never to set foot on a ship again after this. I’ll happily stick to dragons.”

Jace had to agree with him there. As much as he hated heights, he’d far rather fly with Gem right now. And it wasn’t just his churning gut that bothered him. Despite only small waves rippling the sea, each dip and tilt of the ship robbed him of balance. The lack of solid footing left him feeling vulnerable. Not that he had any threats to worry about just yet. Those awaited him on shore.

Footsteps passed behind him, and he looked over his shoulder. Though pre-dawn darkness cloaked the ship, and they’d forgone any lanterns that could give away their position, General Torva strode across the deck with a confident stride. He made an impressive figure, as most talcrins did. He reminded Jace of Sam, especially in stature, though his hair was long and gathered into small braids, and his eyes flashed a cunning copper. 

Their talcrin allies were obviously masters of the sea. Jace hadn’t seen any of them on the verge of losing their stomach contents, though maybe that had not been the case when they’d first left Arda a few weeks ago. Somehow, Rayad and Trask didn’t seem affected either.

Torva stopped at the railing a couple yards away, feet planted and fists on his hips as he stared out over the dark sea. His bronze scale-mail glinted faintly like dragon scales. Jace had never seen armor quite like it. 

“We should be nearing the city.”

Jace scanned the horizon. He could barely make out the shore from this distance—just a black line against the indigo water and sky. No signs of a city, but the talcrins would know better how far they had traveled.

Someone else drew near. Jace shifted, and Rayad put his hand on his shoulder.

“How are you doing?”

Jace wasn’t sure if the question was in regards to his queasiness or what lay ahead. He shrugged. He still thought Balen should have chosen someone other than him to lead this mission. Someone with actual leadership skills and experience. But then, he was the one who could see in the dark, and their plan to take back Samara’s capital depended on infiltrating the city undetected. Logically, he offered the greatest chance of success.

Rayad gave his shoulder a squeeze. “We’ll be right behind you.”

* * *

Other Blogs Participating in the Reveal

Friday, November 25, 2022

Holiday Sales and a Pre-Order

It's that time of year again when sales abound. Today is particularly exciting because, not only do I have sales to offer, but the Daican's Heir Kindle book is up for pre-order! (Unfortunately, Amazon still doesn't allow indie authors to set paperbacks for pre-order.) This is extremely exciting for me. After all the many years I've worked on this book, I can hardly believe it is now there on Amazon. Ahhh! Now, don't panic when you see the release date set for all the way next fall. That is simply to give myself peace of mind and a ton of wiggle room. Right now, I'm very confident it will have an early 2023 release, and I'll update it as soon as I know for certain. The pre-order is also on sale for the next few days and will go up to $3.99 after Monday.

I also put every one of my other Ilyon books on sale for 99¢ each! This is the first time they have all been that low, and if you haven't started the series or haven't gotten through all the books, now is the time to grab them in preparation for the release of Daican's Heir!



Of course, I also have sales on my shop website and Etsy (this is how I actually make my living). All clothing and accessories are 15% off through the weekend and Monday. Unfortunately, this doesn't include the paperbacks of my books. Since I already offer free shipping on everything, I can't discount them or I'd lose money. *sigh* But all Ilyon Chronicles shirts and other fun merch are included in the sale! My shop has items for nerds, book lovers, writers, Christians, and kids and babies! Just about everything is on my personal shop website (plus some things not found anywhere else), but if you'd prefer to shop on Etsy, I'll include the links to my shops there as well.



If you've already read all of my books and are looking for something new to read, make sure to check out this huge book sale for clean fiction! Every single book is under $1. You can't go wrong with that. (This is also your subtle nudge to check out Elven Alliance by Tara Grayce if you haven't already. One of my favorite series EVER.)





Monday, November 14, 2022

Did someone say cover reveal?

 Hello, everyone! I know my blog has been a virtual ghost town for the past year, but there are some exciting things coming up! If you follow me on social media or got my newsletter this morning, you will have seen that I finished the final major edit of Daican's Heir earlier this month! It was a massive undertaking I pretty much dedicated every waking moment to for almost two and a half months. The result is a massive 151,000 word finale to Ilyon Chronicles. I am SO excited to share it with the world! While I don't have a release date just yet, I do have a cover reveal set for December 2nd! If you would like to take part in the reveal and share it on your blog, social media, email, or wherever online venue you like to frequent, you can sign up HERE. And to celebrate this milestone, you can read the official blurb, as well as a fun little sneak peek, below.


About the Book

For three years, the Resistance has suffered under oppression—first from Emperor Daican, and now from his daughter. In her quest for vengeance, Davira has ripped Arcacia apart, and more blood is spilled every day. Newly married, all Jace and Kyrin want is to be able to live their lives in peace. In order to do that, they must help restore the rightful heir to Arcacia’s throne.

Carrying the weight of everyone’s hopes for the future, Daniel works every day to be the leader and king they have all fought so hard to see him become. With the Resistance and their allies from all across Ilyon united behind him, he prepares for a final confrontation with Davira. But to do so will require facing the full might of Arcacia’s military and Davira’s wrath.

 When Jace and Kyrin become the primary targets of her ravenous hatred, Daniel finds himself in a race against time to stop his sister and avoid the bloodbath she is determined to unleash. Can he find a way to protect his loved ones and bring peace to Ilyon or will Davira succeed in bringing them all to their knees and destroying everything they hold dear?


Sneak Peek


Talas eyed Kaden up and down, probably looking for more injuries. A smirk lifted his lips. “Looks like you lost a bit of hair on that one.”

Kaden brushed his hand through his hair. Ashy residue dusted his fingers, and he did now catch an acrid whiff of burnt hair along with his singed clothing. At least he didn’t find any bald patches, and his scalp didn’t feel burned. His hair needed a trim anyway. Maybe Marcus could give him one later. The militiamen were good at keeping up their appearances.

He ran his knuckles over short whiskers along his jaw. None of them seemed to be missing. “At least the beard is still there.”

“You humans and your beards.”

Kaden snorted. Cretes might not grow facial hair, but they had their own vanities. “Says the one with hair halfway down his back. I bet it takes you longer to wash it than it takes me to keep my beard trimmed.”

Talas shrugged. “Maybe.”


Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Tabor Cover Reveal

 Today is the cover reveal for Tabor (Remnant Trilogy #2) by Angela R. Watts! Just like the first book, it looks epic! And make sure you check out the cool pre-order swag.


About

Five ragtag friends must close the Rifts between the Realms before an ancient war snuffs out all innocent life for good.

King Finnigan’s kingdom is crumbling—traitors plot in his midst, a witch has fled execution, and enemies attack allied lands. When Rifts form between Golgotha and Mazzabah, the ragtag remnants must close them before the ancient warlock, Shafiq, takes control of the realms.

With darkness engulfing both realms, the group parts ways to seek answers about the histories and what can be done against Shafiq. But what they find changes everything. If they can’t fight the darkness, Mazzabah will be lost, and so will every innocent life left behind. But to survive the ancient war, they need help. And with more help comes more traitors.

Pre-Order


Pre-Order Swag

Preorders begin TODAY (October 20th) and all preorder receipts must be sent in via the form before 11.15! The first thirty preorders will receive a print map, print character cards (Gunnar, Moray, Finnigan, Ama, and Sadon), a bookmark, a customized note, as well as an EXCLUSIVE monster art print! TWO readers who preorder and submit their receipts will be entered to win signed paperbacks of Golgotha and Tabor AND a scented candle inspired by one of the characters as well as the swag previously mentioned.