The Prince’s Bargain: Cover Reveal!

While we wait for the Summer of Poll’s wrap up–I’m working on compiling the data still–it’s time to kick off The Prince’s Bargain celebration as we get ready for its release this month. Let’s begin with a cover reveal!

Meet Translator Mythlan and Crown Prince Arvel!

As it is with my other Elves of Lessa books, the illustration was done by Nibelart, and the font was done by Myrrhlynn. Nibelart did a particularly wonderful job at making Arvel and Benjimir–from Royal Magic–resemble each other. (For those of you who don’t know, they’re brothers.)

And as many of you might have guessed from the background, a good portion of this book takes place in libraries! Yay!

The pre-order isn’t up yet, but the team and I have settled on a July 24 release! Although I wrote this book fairly fast, the editing was something of a battle as I had to do some pretty intense work on–you probably guessed it–the romance. (Alas, my Achilles Heel!) So everything got pushed back as a result.

I really hope it makes you laugh, and I can’t wait to share it with you! Until next time, thanks for reading!

Heroes of Lessa and Calnor

Champions, you guys are the best! Royal Magic recently hit 80 reviews, so let’s party with the next extra: a short story called Welcome Home. (Click here for the PDF!) Thank you to everyone who submitted a review. I appreciate your support and feedback as it helps me a lot as an author, and also helps potential readers make informed decisions. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And now, on to the blog post!

I wrote Red Rope of Fate, because I wanted to create a lighthearted adventure/romance that focused on the relationship between elves and humans. When I started thinking about Royal Magic years ago, I wanted to keep that as the focus, but I also recognized that this sequel would give me the chance to show there are different types of heroes/heroines, and different ways people can be heroic.

This has always been a passion of mine, and you can see it in my Timeless Fairy Tale world. But the Elves of Lessa books are special because they take place in the same country–in the same city–and feature familiar characters and focuses on the same problem. (Answer: the relationship between Calnor and Lessa) It’s that familiarity and shared goal that really highlights how the main couples are so different and yet both do great things for their country.

In Red Rope of Fate Arion and Tari blow open the doors of communication. In bridging the expansive language gap, they bring huge medical and agricultural improvements to Calnor. Additionally, they break a long held taboo in their marriage as previously an elf/human relationship was off limits. Just by existing with their magical bond and Tari’s ability to speak both languages fluently, they tie their countries closer together and become legends. But that magical bond also limits their influence because many assume their relationship is an exception to the regular rules due to their “special-ness.”

Gwendafyn and Benjimir are the exact opposite. Their relationship is not fated, magical, or thrilling. Both of them, however, were in positions of  influence before they were married. The power of their relationship comes from how normal they are, from people witnessing how hard Gwendafyn struggles to master Calnoric, and seeing how they embrace their differences and work together. As a result, Ben and Fyn bring more of a cultural revolution because they prove to their citizens that they don’t need a mythical/magical connection in order befriend/love one another. They normalize it.

As the series progresses you will continue to see how the relationship between humans and elves shifts–and why it’s so important that it does shift. (Which is about as close of a hint as you’re going to get that the High Elves will return…)

But putting the ways they affect their nation aside, Arion, Tari, and Gwendafyn and Benjimir have very different personal roles as well. As shown in Royal Magic, Gwendafyn becomes something of a champion or defender of Calnor, while Benjimir steps into a leadership role in the army. Meanwhile, Tari and Arion continue their role as influencers and begin more readily moving around Calnor.

What might not be apparent is how the two couples help each other. Gwenafyn’s ability to fight was not spurned or even balked at because of Tari’s role as an Evening Star. Even if most people don’t know that Tari is capable of deadly magic, it is known she’s capable of returning insults, sarcasm, and getting angry. (Something that previously might have upset people in both Calnor and Lessa, but since she is the hailed hero fluent in both languages she’s easily forgiven.)

On the other hand, Arion and Tari travel more after Gwendafyn marries Benjimir because Ben’s indulgence in Fyn’s adventurous nature. (After all, if he–as a prince–doesn’t refuse his lovely bride, who can? The only one with the power to do so is King Petyrr and everyone knows he would never tell his daughter-in-law no.)

So not only do the couples change their cultures in different ways, but because of the fact that there are now two very prominent elf/human couples, they make headway for each other, opening up even more doors of possibilities as a result.

With that reflection in mind, it’s time for me to start collecting questions for the Benjimir/Gwendafyn interview I’ll post when Royal Magic reaches approximately 110 reviews! Post your questions in the comments down below, and I’ll try to feature as many as possible in an “interview” with Benjimir and Gwendafyn! (And who knows, Tari and Arion might show up for a moment or two as well!) Thanks for reading, Champions, and enjoy the short!

Redeeming a Villain

Wow oh wow, thank you, Champions, for all the love you’ve shown Royal Magic with the slew of reviews you’ve left! (I appreciate the feedback, and it helps me a lot!) Please enjoy the first Royal Magic extra: a scene told from an alternate point of view, Ben’s. (There’s actually a lot of new content in this one as for much of the scene Benjimir is apart from Gwendafyn.) I hope you enjoy it, and now let’s continue on with the post!

When you all voted the “Villain turned good guy” as the most wanted hero in the 2018 aptly named “most wanted hero poll,” I sweated a bit. I already had plans for Benjimir (previously a villain) and Gwendafyn to star in their story together, but I really didn’t know how I was going to pull it off, so I kept delaying it. But once “villain turned good guy” won the poll…I knew I couldn’t–or perhaps shouldn’t–wait any longer.

So I’m going to start off the fun by putting Benjimir in the hot seat and say he deserved his multi-year exile and removal of the “Crown Prince” title for his less-than-honorable actions in Red Rope of Fate when he actively tried to separate Tari and Arion. (You Champions seemed to take special offense to it, as Arion in particular never fails to be in the top ten–and usually is in the top six–heroes of my annual hero poll.) So knowing that what he did really was wrong, and that Arion is highly beloved…I was pretty nervous about trying to redeem him.

Thankfully, Benjimir’s saving grace is that the passion and protective instinct he used against Tari and Arion could be (eventually) turned around to work in my advantage by having him do the same for Fyn. You see, even though he didn’t care much for her–personally, anyway–Benjimir was prideful enough (And secretly honorable enough) that he wouldn’t actively sit by and let Gwendafyn’s aunt pick on her. And when he warned off Lorious he unknowingly won big bonus points with Fyn, and that’s the turning point.

Fyn is Benjimir’s redeemer. She sees the real him–she’s intimately familiar with it as she was read into the details about it. And yet she still chooses to reach for him, which in reality is what Benjimir wants more than anything.

So, ironically, you have the hero that is treated like a villain (Fyn) falling for Benjimir because he will stand with her and doesn’t flinch at her magic or large personality, and on the other end you have the villain who is treated like a hero (Benjimir) falling for Gwendafyn because she doesn’t blink an eye at his past or see a problem with his cunning personality. They’re seeking the same thing, but what makes Gwendafyn the hero is that despite what she faces, she never gives in to the temptation to use her strength for selfish or dark purposes. Benjimir is redeemed from his past because now that he has seen Gwendafyn’s love he knows why doing what he did was so wrong. (You can see it in the very public way he takes Lorious out compared to the shady techniques he used on Tari and Arion.)

Hopefully the new extra will give you a little added insight to his character! I hope you enjoy it, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Thanks, Champions, for reading, and an extra big thank you to everyone who reviews!