Yorian's Hand Cover Reveal

My friend Jenelle Leanne Schmidt (whose name I love to type. Anyone who can pull off three names deserves a prize. I am not one of those people. If I were to type my three names, it would take up so much room that this blog post would be over already) is coming out with a book! This is the third installment in her lovely fantasy series (I reviewed the first two books here).

Jenelle Schmidt grew up in the northern-midwest. She now resides with her husband and their three adorable children in North Carolina where the summers are too hot and there is never enough snow. Jenelle fell in love with reading at a young age during family storytimes. To this day she enjoys creating exciting adventure tales filled with poignant themes and compelling characters in the fantasy and sci-fi genres.

 

You can find her website here: http://www.jenelleschmidt.com

 

 

Book Description:

The years of Oraeyn’s short rule have been peaceful, but now ominous nightmares plague his sleep and cling to him during his waking hours. When two of his most trusted advisors disappear without a trace and not even the power of dragons can locate them, the fell promise of the king’s nightmares becomes reality.

From the furthest reaches of the world, an ancient enemy stirs. Stretching beyond his crumbling prison walls, this foe seeks to bring life to the darkest of shadows. His army marches towards Aom-igh with deadly intent, threatening all Oraeyn holds dear.

Aided by dragons, and with the warrior Brant and Princess Kamarie at his side, Oraeyn must journey into the wilds of a forgotten realm. Trusting in the wisdom and skill of the enigmatic minstrel, Kiernan Kane, the companions race against time in search of Yorien’s Hand, a relic that may hold the power to save them all.

While I loved learning more about Brant's childhood in Second Son, I can't wait to find out what has happened to Oraeyn and Kamarie and all of the other characters from King's Warrior!

And now, the cover:

This series has some of the most beautiful fantasy covers that I've ever seen. I can't wait to read it!

Live long and prosper

Water Princess, Fire Prince cover reveal

One of the most creative people I know, Kendra E. Ardnek, is releasing her fifth novel later this summer! 

Synopsis:

When the Lady Dragon does come,
Hold fast, do not fear, do not run.
Your Water Princess will fight,
Fire Prince will set all to right.
Each shall come from a Fall,
Their union will save you all.

Despite the fact that she's on track for competing in the Olympics, and he's practically raised his younger brothers since they lost their mom in a car accident, Clara Mandras and Andrew Stevenson are pretty much normal teens. They have normal hopes, normal dreams, and they live in a normal world.
All this is torn away from them when they are thrust into another world and declared Water Princess and Fire Prince. With no experience ruling a country, meeting each other for the first time, and being expected to fight the Lady Dragon – an evil sorceress plaguing the world of Rizkaland – Clara and Andrew are underprepared and inexperienced. Unless they learn to work together despite their standing opposition, Rizkaland's hope will be lost.

What is to come will change their lives forever.

Available for kindle preorder: http://www.amazon.com/Water-Princess-Prince-Rizkaland-Legends-ebook/dp/B00YTQBTDI/  $2.99 the 19^th and 20^th ONLY (at which point I’ll put it up to its official price of 3.99)

Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24022364-water-princess-fire-prince

Part 1’s first chapter: http://knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com/2014/12/water-princess-chapter-1.html

Part 2’s first chapter: http://knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com/2014/12/fire-prince-chapter-1.html

Author biography:

Kendra E. Ardnek loves fairy tales and twisting them in new and exciting ways.  She's been practicing her skills on her dozen plus cousins and siblings for years, "Finish your story, Kendra", is frequently heard at family gatherings.  Her sole life goal has always been to grow up and be an author of fantasy and children's tales that also glorify God and his Word. You can read more about her on her blog, knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com.

And now, the cover!

 

Fabulous, don't you think?

I asked Kendra three questions... here are her answers:

 1. Can you elaborate on how you came up with the prophecy and how you use it in the story as a plot device?
The very nature of the story idea when it came to me - a girl who walks out a waterfall to find herself a prophesied hero that would defeat some great evil - necessitated a prophecy. As I plotted out the story, there were various items that I knew I would have to include - like references to the Water Princess and Fire Prince each coming from a "fall," and the "Union will save you all" part. The original prophecy was eight lines and didn't rhyme, and while I liked it, it didn't quite hold up with some changes I'd been making to the plot. (Such as the fact I now wanted a reference to the Water Princess fighting).

I don't remember exactly how the current version came together, but I do remember it was about three years ago, because I had Clara and Andrew hanging out on a NaNo roleplay at the time (basically we were sending our characters to summer camp during the first Camp NaNo). [A note from Abbey: NaNo=National Novel Writing Month, or, NaNoWriMo.]

How do I use it for a plot device? Well, for the most part, it's the springboard for the book. It's how the Klaranders know that their Water Princess and Fire Prince are coming, and that the two will fight the Dragon and get rid of her. It does provide a bit of conflict between Clara and Andrew with the whole "union" line, but for the most part, it's just the springboard for the plot.

2. Why water and fire? Did something specific give you the idea?

The initial idea was a Waterfall Princess (later shortened to Water Princess at my mother's suggestion), and I tossed in a Fire Prince because, to my thirteen-year-old brain, it was the logical love interest for a Water Princess. Nothing specific, unless you count the fact that it came to me in the shower.

3. Tell us the best movie or TV show or visual media that you watched recently.

I'm not really a visual media person. Um ... I was perusing Once Upon a Time clips on YouTube the other day. It's an interesting show, puts some interesting spins on fairy tales.

Once Upon a Time is a wonderful show. :) Thanks for answering my questions, Kendra!

My Kingdom for a Quest cover reveal!

My friend Kendra is revealing the cover of one of her upcoming books today! Yay! My Kingdom for a Quest will be the third in Kendra's Bookania series.

Author Person:
Kendra E. Ardnek loves fairy tales and twisting them in new and exciting ways.  She's been practicing her skills on her dozen plus cousins and siblings for years, "Finish your story, Kendra", is frequently heard at family gatherings.  Her sole life goal has always been to grow up and be an author of fantasy and children's tales that also glorify God and his Word. You can read more about her on her blog, Knitted by God's Plan.

And here's the cover! but first a back cover blurb:

Arthur is the rightful king of Briton, but his Uncle Mordreth refuses to give up the regency.   Arthur and Grandfather are now returning with allies to wrestle the kingdom from his uncle's grasp.  But not all is as it seems among his allies, and everyone has secrets.  New loves, old loves, lost loves, kingdoms conquered and kingdoms stolen.   Who is the real "rightful heir" and will the nearly forgotten sword in the stone finally answer this question?

Bask in the loveliness of this cover! It is gorgeous, isn't it? Kendra's covers are always wonderful—she's got talented, artistic cousins.

And now: Three Questions from Us to You.

How have you developed as a writer since beginning the Bookania Quests? 

I've gained confidence and a better feel for what works and what doesn't. I've been reading through the first book on my blog, and I'm frequently confronted by lines where I thought I was clever but ... I wasn't really. I've gained confidence in my ability to spin a story, and in letting Christ shine through my writing. I still have a long way to go, and in three years, I'll probably be looking back at Kingdom with a shake of my head and a what was I thinking, but as long as I'm always moving forward, that's what matters.

What can readers look forward to in the future from the land of Bookania and your writing in general?

Well, from Bookania, you can expect a lot more fairy tales, twists, and all around fun, and from my work in general, you should expect a lot of complicated plots. Eventually, you will learn that everything I've written is connected at some level.

It is my current plan to release the first book of another of my series, Water Princess, Fire Prince of the Rizkaland Legends, sometime this late summer/early fall. I'm really looking forward to that, since it's been one of my favorite books to write. 

Would you ever stick a prince's sword in the ceiling (or whatever happens to be above you), or are you more the embroidery/sewing type?

If I knew how, I'd probably be the one throwing swords into the ceiling ... but I don't. I have done a few embroidery projects in my life, but not to the extent that Robert does. I'm more of a knitter. And my weapon of choice is the big stick. (The technical term is quarterstaff, but big stick is more fun to say).

Thank you for letting me be a part of your cover reveal, Kendra!

Live long and prosper. 

Link to Goodreads profile: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23563093-my-kingdom-for-a-quest
Link to Sew, it's a Quest, book one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005G3ZFKG
Link to Do You Take This Quest, book two: http://www.amazon.com/Take-This-Quest-Bookania-Quests-ebook/dp/B00CFDHFT4/