THE WELL OF SECRETS - available now on Amazon Kindle!

THE WELL OF SECRETS is now available (in Kindle format) on Amazon. I am currently in the process of formatting the paperback version, which should be available in a couple of days.

THE WELL OF SECRETS marks the end of a seven year journey, as it completes the Palâdnith Chronicles - an epic fantasy trilogy about three brothers and the destiny that binds them.

I began this the first draft of what would eventually become the first two books of the series, during 2009, and finished the first draft a year later. That story was huge, and so I split it into two novels, and fleshed out the plot to create JOURNEY OF SHADOWS and THE CITADEL OF LIES. If the end of JOURNEY OF SHADOWS appears a bit of a cliff-hanger, that’s why – it was initially part one of a much bigger book!

THE WELL OF SECRETS was the hardest of the three novels to write. There were so many subplots to bring together, so many loose ends to tie up. As I began the draft of the third part of the series, I also began writing a bit of backstory. This eventually became a tale in its own right and in 2014 I published DEEP-SPIRE, the prequel novella to the series. 

DEEP-SPIRE takes place forty years before Seth, Eni and Val’s adventures, and tells the story of their mother Belythna. Writing DEEP-SPIRE was a bit of a detour, and slowed down the writing and publication of THE WELL OF SECRETS – however, I think the series is better for it.

So, seven years after I started work on JOURNEY OF SHADOWS, my own journey is now complete. It has been sad saying goodbye to the characters and world I have grown to love, but at the same time I’m looking forward to embarking on new adventures. 

What's this novel about?

The last chapter in an epic fantasy adventure begins… 

The Well of Secrets (Book Three of the Palâdnith Chronicles) is a tale of adventure, discovery, fear and courage. It's the story of three men, and the legacy that binds them. 

Seth, Eni and Val Falkyn stand at a crossroads. The Citadel of Lies now lies behind them and the Collar of Jade is lost. 

Floriana DeSanith convinces the brothers that in order to gain the skills they need to rescue their mother from Moden, they must first become Sentorân. Reluctantly, the brothers return home to Barrowthorne, to begin their training – a decision that they eventually come to regret. 

Meanwhile, an ambitious young realmlord travels to Deep-Spire with hopes of power and glory. At the same time, Edessa Delfen – who has escaped the Malwagen – begins a hunt for the man she deems responsible for the death of her lover: Seth Falkyn. 

When a new discovery comes to light, the brothers’ focus changes once more. Instead of continuing their training, they set of on another quest – this time in search of the mythical 'Well of Secrets'. 

However, there is far more at stake than the brothers realise… 

The first two installments of the Palâdnith Chronicles are both available on Amazon (Kindle and paperback editions). 

Journey of Shadows (Book One of the Palâdnith Chronicles) 
The Citadel of Lies (Book Two of the Palâdnith Chronicles) 

THE WELL OF SECRETS - available to pre-order now

The WELL OF SECRETS is available for pre-order on Amazon!

The publication date is 17 October  2015, but if you can't wait till then, make sure you order your copy now.

To celebrate the upcoming launch, I will be running an Amazon free giveaway, and a Goodreads giveaway of JOURNEY OF SHADOWS, the first book in the series. Watch this space for more details - coming soon!

Back to the trilogy - The Palâdnith Chronicles has been quite a journey.

I began this the first draft of what would eventually become the first two books of the series, during 2009, and finished the first draft a year later. That story was huge, and so I split it into two novels, and fleshed out the plot to create JOURNEY OF SHADOWS and THE CITADEL OF LIES. If the end of JOURNEY OF SHADOWS appears a bit of a cliff-hanger, that’s why – it was initially part one of a much bigger book!

THE WELL OF SECRETS was the hardest of the three novels to write. There were so many subplots to bring together, so many loose ends to tie up. As I began the draft of the third part of the series, I also began writing a bit of backstory. This eventually became a tale in its own right and in 2014 I wrote DEEP-SPIRE, the prequel novella to the series (available as a free PDF download on my website).

DEEP-SPIRE takes place forty years before Seth, Eni and Val’s adventures, and tells the story of their mother Belythna. Writing DEEP-SPIRE was a bit of a detour, and slowed down the writing and publication of THE WELL OF SECRETS – however, I think the series is better for it.

So, seven years after I started work on JOURNEY OF SHADOWS, my own journey is now complete. It has been sad saying goodbye to the characters and world I have grown to love, but at the same time I’m looking forward to embarking on new adventures. 

Excerpt from JOURNEY OF SHADOWS - countdown to the launch of The Palâdnith Chronicles Book #3

THE WELL OF SECRETS is just a couple of days away from having its publication date announced!

To kick-off the upcoming launch of Book #3 of the Palâdnith Chronicles, here's an excerpt from Book #1 in the series: JOURNEY OF SHADOWS. There will also be both a Goodreads Giveaway, and an Amazon promotion coming up for Book #1 - so keep an eye out on this blog for updates.

The following scene is from Chapter Four of JOURNEY OF SHADOWS when Seth Falkyn realises that his life is about to change...

***

They were still two hours from Weatherbay when the light faded completely.

Garth lit the lanterns and hung two on the carriage while Darin, who led the group, carried one aloft. It was the first clear night in weeks and the air was crisp and rich with the scent of wet earth and leaves. The stars sparkled overhead and a crescent moon rose into the inky sky. The temperature dropped sharply and the breaths of man and beast alike steamed in the chilled air.

At the rear of the group, Seth’s stomach rumbled. His back ached from the cold and he longed for a plate of hot food and a steaming bath. Home was another couple of hours away and they would all be exhausted by the time they reached Weatherbay.

They had reached the top of the last rise before the long incline towards the Wuthering River Valley. The shadows of trees rose up either side of the highway. A few feet from the lanterns’ glow, darkness swallowed the world.

It was at that moment that Seth felt a chill feather across the back of his neck. He twisted in the saddle and peered back into the dark. Had he heard something? The blackness was unfathomable, and Seth could see nothing beyond the glow of the carriage’s lanterns. He strained his ears, listening, but only silence greeted him. 

It’s just the darkness, he told himself, there’s no one out there.

Still, the sensation caused Seth to quit ruminating about his empty stomach and aching back. The marshal had hired the three of them to protect him, and if there were outlaws or undesirables lurking in the darkness, Seth’s job was to keep his master safe.

They rode on a little further and Seth scanned the roadside carefully, his eyes straining to make out his surroundings. He was just beginning to relax, and to think that fatigue had caused his mind to play tricks on him when the sensation – a cold whisper – breathed down his nape and once more caused the hair on the back of his neck to prickle. This time, Seth did not dismiss it. His heart quickened and his skin broke out in a cold sweat. Seth’s instincts were now razor-sharp.

Something was wrong.

Seth cursed the marshal’s decision to leave Dunethport so late in the day. There could be half a dozen men out there in the trees, watching them, and he, Darin and Kal would have no idea. Osforth’s stubbornness had put them all in danger.

Seth’s body tensed and his horse sidestepped in response. Within him, from a place he had never before known existed, a warning screamed.

Run now!

That was all it took. As a soldier, he knew that if he did not heed instinct, he was a fool. Seth drew his sword and dug his heels into his horse’s flanks. Then he shouted.

“Bandits!”

It was the one word sure to elicit the same response from the others. The forests in the Realm of Omagen were rife with outlaws. It was for this reason the marshal took his tower guards with him when he left home, for no rich man travelled alone in these parts. Seth heard his master’s shout from inside the carriage.

“Ride!” the marshal screamed, “ride!”

Garth shouted, lashed his whip, and the two horses pulling the carriage bolted into the darkness. Kal and Darin took off ahead of him with Seth bringing up the rear.

A scream split the night behind them. Fear clamped down on Seth’s ribcage at the chilling sound. He had never heard a man scream like that – the sound was enraged, feral.

***

Want to read more?

Download the Kindle edition of JOURNEY OF SHADOWS for US$2.99 from Amazon!

THE WELL OF SECRETS - deleted scene #2

The editing and polishing of THE WELL OF SECRETS continues - although the end is definitely in sight!

Here is another deleted scene from the novel - there has been quite a few snips to the original manuscript!

***

Edessa turned the final page of the book and slammed it shut, sneezing as a cloud of dust lifted.

“Nothing,” she muttered between gritted teeth.

Across the room, Sasha was bent over a pile of papers. She was carefully sorting through the mountain of parchment that Riadamor had left upon the desk.

“How goes your search?” Edessa asked her companion.

“Slowly,” Sasha replied with a grimace. “Most of these are illegible – the damp has ruined them.”

Edessa slowly ground her teeth. This news was unwelcome. The contents of this chamber had to contain the secret to unlocking the Collar of Jade. Riadamor would have recorded it somewhere, she was sure of it.

“It will be here,” she insisted. “It is likely Riadamor would have hidden it, just in case someone discovered her chamber.”

Sasha nodded before gently picking up a piece of parchment, only to watch in horror as it crumbled in her hands. “That’s just as well, for these are useless to us.”

Edessa gave the young Esquill a baleful look. “Check everything you can, nonetheless. And don’t damage anything else.”

Sasha nodded, her mouth thinning slightly. She then returned to sorting the parchments. This time, she moved with extreme care.

Edessa rose from the low stool, where she had been leafing through books, and let her gaze roam around the interior of the small chamber. It was an odd space, and she, once again, wondered at its origins. Presumably, one of the kings of old had built it, as a safe-hole lest the fortress come under attack. However, had that been the case, she would have expected a larger chamber. No wonder it had been so difficult to find; the doorway had merely been one of the hundreds of supporting columns that lined the network of corridors under Deep-Spire.

Three days had passed since Sasha had discovered the secret chamber – three long days of searching. Edessa, not patient by nature, was being stretched to the limit by the wait. Nevis of Foresthill still was not talking and the harlet she had sent after Seth Falkyn had not yet returned. Waiting was all she seemed to be doing these days, and it was slowly driving her mad.

“I shall return later,” she informed Sasha. “The ‘audience’ begins shortly.”

“Shouldn’t I come with you?” Sasha asked. Tradition dictated all the order were present during the day of ‘audience’.

“No – you’re more use to me here. I will deal with these people’s petty complaints as quickly as I am able. When I return, I hope you will have something to show me.”

Sasha watched the High Sorceress of the Esquill sweep out of the chamber, and listened to her softly retreating footsteps. When she was sure that Edessa could not hear her, she let out a loud sigh.

This chamber had become her prison since she had discovered it. She was growing weary of being treated like a slave, and disliked the responsibility that Edessa thrust upon her. If she did not find the details that Edessa sought, she felt sure that she would be blamed.

Sasha sat alone in the damp chamber, and gathered her thoughts. It was deathly silent in here, save for the gentle hiss of the burning torches, and the whisper of her own breathing. With another heavy sigh, Sasha shook herself out of her reverie. Then, she continued her painstaking search through Riadamor’s papers.

***

First draft of THE WELL OF SECRETS - done!

After over a year in the writing, the third (and final) installment in the Paladnith Chronicles, inches towards publication. 

The first draft of THE WELL OF SECRETS, is done!

This tale concludes the adventures of three brothers: Seth, Eni and Val Falkyn that begin with the first book in the series, JOURNEY OF SHADOWS (2013), and continue with THE CITADEL OF LIES (2014).

The brothers begin their training to become Sentoran, but events soon conspire against them.

A witch and a warlord make an alliance that puts all of Paladnith at risk, and an ancient mystery is rediscovered,

In a world in turmoil, three brothers embark on another journey - one they may never return from.

Find out more about the story on my Pinterest storyboard!

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Five reasons why I write epic fantasy

Epic fantasy has been a lifelong passion. It started reading fairy tales as a child and moved on to fantasy novels as soon as I had an attention-span long enough to make it through a full-length book! I've tried my hand at writing in other genres but always return to this one. Why?

Here are some reasons why epic fantasy will always be my favourite genre to write in:

1. Epic fantasy is pure adventure - you embark on a journey when you read an epic fantasy, and it's even better when you write one! You get to create a new world and fill it with details purely from your own imagination - great fun!
2. Epic fantasy deals with big issues - courage versus cowardice, good versus evil, fate versus self-determination, plus love, friendship, brotherhood, and a raft of other fascinating themes belong to this genre. As a writer, you get to explore these freely - and there's no better backdrop then an epic fantasy tale.
3. Epic fantasy is constantly reinventing itself - although it might seem as though this genre is based on well-worn tropes, I love taking the stereotypes and twisting them into something fresh. Think of Game of Thrones - it's definitely epic fantasy, but at the same time unique enough to gain mass popularity. This genre never goes out of fashion.
4.  Epic fantasy has a quest - there's something romantic and timeless about a quest. Whether it's to find some magical talisman, destroy something dangerous or save the world from destruction - a quest gives an epic fantasy tale a great sense of urgency and purpose. Readers love it when something massive is at stake!
5. Epic fantasy explores our humanity - it may be set in another world, but epic fantasy at its best explores what it means to be human. Characters are usually uprooted from their old life and thrown into an adventure that will change them forever - most of us will never get the opportunity to experience something so powerful, but our characters will!

Do you write epic fantasy? If so, share some of the reasons you love this genre below!

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My best Epic Fantasy reads: 2012-2014

Aside from the Song of Fire and Ice series (Game of Thrones etc.) - a true epic fantasy classic - here are a few other good reads from the last couple of years, that I'd recommend.

The Kingkiller Chronicle (Patrick Rothfuss)
The Name of the Wind (Book #1)
The Wise Man's Fear (Book #2)

Truly 'epic' fantasy, the Kingkiller Chronicle series is a great read for anyone who loves traditional epic fantasy. Both books are 'door-stoppers' - immersing the reader in a richly drawn world. It's the story of a talented young man, with a great destiny. I must admit I preferred the first book, to the second. That said, it's a gripping series that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys epic fantasy.

Read my reviews for these books on Goodreads to find out my thoughts on this series:
The Name of the Wind
The Wise Man's Fear

The Broken Empire Series (Mark Lawrence)
Prince of Thorns (Book #1)
King of Thorns (Book #2)
Emperor of Thorns (Book #3)

This epic fantasy is a compelling, 'dark' series that's a little different from others in the genre. The main character is an 'anti-hero' - a damaged, violent and immoral young man named Jorg. I don't usually go in for dark fantasy, but this series is so well-written and beautifully crafted that I would highly recommend this series as well.

Although I didn't review the first two books (I did rate each of them 5 stars), you can read my review for Book #3 on Goodreads:
Emperor of Thorns

The Prince of Fools (Book #1 The Red Queen's War) - Mark Lawrence
This is the first book in Mark Lawrence's new series. It's set in the same world as the Broken Empire series, but follows a new character on an incredible adventure. Absolutely loved this book - even more than the novels in Lawrence's first series. Highly recommend!

Read my review on Goodreads
Prince of Fools

Raven's Shadow (Anthony Ryan)
Blood Song (Book #1)
Tower Lord (Book #2)

Traditional epic fantasy adventure that's fast-moving and beautifully written. It's the story of a young man, abandoned by his father in a harsh order, where he must become a great warrior - or die trying. I enjoyed both novels in the series so far, although the story hasn't taken the direction I'd expected...

Read my reviews on Goodreads, for more details about these books:
Blood Song
Tower Lord

I could go on... Being a voracious reader, I have chewed my through many more books than these! However, if you love epic fantasy, and are looking for some good books to get lost in, why not give one of the above a try?

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Would you like to read the prequel novella to the Palâdnith Chronicles for free?

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THE WELL OF SECRETS... epic fantasy adventure on its way

Book Three of the Palâdnith Chronicles – work in progress…

I’m just under the half-way point of writing the manuscript (moving country has slowed the progress down slightly!), and it’s become clear that this is going to be the biggest book of the series. There are a lot of sub-plots to bring together, many stories to wrap up and a host of questions that need answering.

Yes – this story is going to be epic, in all senses!

The book may still be a work in progress – although I am steaming ahead now I’m settled again – but the cover is ready to go. This is my favourite cover of the series and, like the others, is the work of David Ortega – a graphic artist based in Spain.

If you enjoyed JOURNEY OF SHADOWS and THE CITADEL OF LIES then you’ll be wondering what THE WELL OF SECRETS holds. Here are a few lines to whet your appetite… There will be more details about the book coming soon.
 

---

THE WELL OF SECRETS

Book Three of the Palâdnith Chronicles

 

The greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it…

A year has passed since Seth, Eni and Val Falkyn found Captain Tobin dead on the road to Marlock – and the Collar of Jade missing.

After their epic journeys across Palâdnith, and narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Moden Walkers, the brothers are ready to begin their training with Floriana DeSanith. The sorceress has promised to help them become Sentorân. They are the last of an order thought to have been extinguished years earlier.

The brothers return home to Barrowthorne to begin their training, and are met with a cold reception from their father. Time is short and they are far from ready when trouble comes.

Their discovery of an ancient portal to Moden – the underworld prison where their mother has been trapped for other thirty years – means the time for waiting is at an end.

The Well of Secrets has been lost for a thousand years. It is hidden, in the lowest, darkest depths of the Esquill stronghold: Deep-Spire. It is the only way in to Moden. Yet, it is not a safe path.

It seems that some secrets are best left uncovered…

COMING SOON - DEEP-SPIRE

Every series needs a prequel - and the Palâdnith Chronicles is no exception!

COMING SOON!

A NOVELLA

Beware of friends that become enemies - for they know your secret heart...

DEEP-SPIRE takes place around forty years before the first novel of the Palâdnith Chronicles, JOURNEY OF SHADOWS, begins; over a decade before Val, Eni and Seth Falkyn are born. 

DEEP-SPIRE is the story of their mother.

Our tale begins on the battle-field. Two armies face each other on a winter's dawn - yet this will be a battle unlike any other, for it is between sorcerers, not soldiers. 

Belythna Arran watches the enemy emerge from the mist, before recalling the events, seven years earlier, which have brought her once respected order to ruin. 

DEEP-SPIRE is a tale of friendship, betrayal and coming of age. Belythna entered the Sentorân order at the age of thirteen, along with three others. Among them was a girl named Riadamor. 

As the years pass, Belythna and Riadamor mature into very different women.  One comes to realise that the price she has paid to become a Sentorân was too high, whereas the other chafes at the restrictions of the life she has chosen. 

Yet, only one will betray them all.

DEEP-SPIRE will be available on Amazon Kindle within the next few weeks - watch this space!

The main characters of the Palâdnith Chronicles: Seth, Eni and Val Falkyn

With the coming launch of  The Citadel of Lies - the second installment in the Palâdnith Chronicles - I thought was the right time to focus a little on the series' main characters: Seth, Eni and Val. 

Character development is the cornerstone of any good book - and the challenge with this series is that I have three main protagonists, who each have to carry equal weight. I enjoyed developing the brothers' characters, and making each one distinct. They ended up being very different, both in personality and in looks, to each other. The only feature they share in common is their eye colour - iron grey. When the series begins, the brothers have not seen each other in a decade, and did not part well. However, a family legacy is about to resurface that will pull their lives back together once more.

Seth Falkyn: The youngest of the three brothers - and many readers' favourite! Dark haired, good-looking and a bit of a shirker initially, Seth starts the series as a bankrupt marshal's Tower Guard. However, it's not long before he is forced to take life much more seriously - especially when he ends up on a run from an assassin...

Defining characteristics: Charming, likeable, realist
Greatest strength: bravery
Greatest fault: Insecurity

Eni Falkyn: The middle brother - a tall, muscular and a talented weaponsmith. Many readers don't fall in love with Eni initially, as he starts the series as a cold and driven individual. However, once he is sentenced to hang for a crime he did not commit, Eni begins a huge journey of discovery...

Defining characteristics: Driven, strong, aloof
Greatest strength: tenacity
Greatest fault: cynicism

Val Falkyn: The eldest brother - slim, blond and bookish. Val makes the most unlikely hero of the three. He starts the series as a reclusive, shy librarian, who is thrown into an adventure against his will, when his master sends him on a dangerous quest, he's far from prepared for...

Defining characteristics: sensitive, proud, willful
Greatest strength: intelligence 
Greatest fault: lack of self-belief
 
Intrigued? Join the brothers on a journey of discovery, danger and adventure. The first book in the series in available on Amazon (Kindle and paperback editions) and the second installment is due out this month - October 2013!

Journey of Shadows (Book One in the Palâdnith Chronicles) is available on Amazon (Kindle and paperback editions)

The Citadel of Lies (Book Two in the Palâdnith Chronicles) is due out this month (October 2013!). The novel is undergoing its final edit and polish. Watch this space!

Why I write Epic Fantasy

I write epic fantasy so that readers can embark on an adventure, explore a new world and stretch their imaginations.

I write epic fantasy to explore life's big themes, in a world entirely of my own creation. How do we give our lives purpose? How do we react to change and uncertainty? What decisions do we make when faced with life or death questions? How do we find hope in the midst of despair?

I write epic fantasy so that readers can travel without leaving their armchairs. I can create a world that you could believe exists. I can lead you across mountains, along the banks of wild rivers and through vast forests - and I can give them all names.

I write epic fantasy so that I can explore the stories of different people - all with their own motivations, fears, strengths and weaknesses. I can send them on epic adventures and watch them grow. In the end they become old friends, or enemies.

I write epic fantasy because it's fun. Because we all need a bit of escapism.

I write epic fantasy because we need stories - and stories need us.

Why do you read epic fantasy?

Classic fantasy films of the 1980s - a blast from the past!

Some of my earliest memories are of my dad taking me to the movies. He took me to see all the classics, even when I was a bit young to appreciate them fully, or follow the story lines! I remember sitting in the worn leather seat inside the theatre, surrounded by the smell of buttery popcorn. At the intermission, I would wait while dad went to buy us ice-creams - the kind they don't sell anymore at movie theatres: dipped in chocolate and nuts. I think I was five when I saw Star Wars, but I can still remember my awe (and terror - I was five after all!) as Darth Vader strode on to the screen for the first time.

Here are six fantasy movies that I saw during my childhood. Some of them have aged better than others - but all of them influenced me, and cemented my love for the fantasy genre. I have posted blurbs from Wikipedia (for those who haven't seen the films!) and short clips from You Tube. Ah the memories!

Enjoy!

WILLOW
Willow is a 1988 American fantasy film directed by Ron Howard, produced and with a story by George Lucas, and starring Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh, and Billy Barty. Davis plays the eponymous lead character and hero: a reluctant farmer who plays a critical role in protecting a special baby from a tyrannical queen in a sword and sorcery setting.

 First ten minutes.

THE NEVERENDING STORY
The Neverending Story (German: Die unendliche Geschichte) is a German fantasy novel by Michael Ende, first published in 1979. The standard English translation, by Ralph Manheim, was first published in 1983. The novel was later adapted into several films.
The majority of the story takes place in the parallel world of Fantastica (Phantásien in the original German version; referred to as Fantasia in the films), a world being destroyed by the Nothing, a mysterious force. The first protagonist is a young warrior who is asked by the Steward of The Empress of Fantastica to set off and find a way to stop the Nothing; the other protagonist is a boy from the real world, a reader of a novel with the same title, for whom the story gradually becomes more and more realistic.

 Trailer

LABYRINTH
Labyrinth is a 1986 British-American fantasy film directed by Jim Henson, produced by George Lucas and based upon conceptual designs by Brian Froud. The film stars David Bowie as Jareth and Jennifer Connelly as Sarah. The plot revolves around Sarah's quest to reach the center of an enormous otherworldly maze to rescue her infant brother Toby, who has been kidnapped by Jareth, the Goblin King. With the exception of Bowie and Connelly, most of the significant characters in the film are played by puppets produced by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.

Trailer

KRULL
Krull is a 1983 British-American heroic fantasy-science fiction film directed by Peter Yates and starring Ken Marshall and Lysette Anthony. It was produced by Ron Silverman and released by Columbia Pictures.
The film's most distinguished features include an unlikely union between the science fiction and fantasy genres, a robust score by James Horner, early screen roles for actors Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane, and its surrealistic set design within the "Black Fortress".

Trailer

THE PRINCESS BRIDE
The Princess Bride is a 1987 American romantic comedy adventure film based on the 1973 novel of the same name by William Goldman, combining comedy, adventure, romance, and fantasy. The film was directed by Rob Reiner from a screenplay by Goldman. The story is presented in the film as a book being read by a grandfather (Peter Falk) to his sick grandson (Fred Savage), thus effectively preserving the novel's narrative style. This film is number 50 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies," number 88 on The American Film Institute's (AFI) "AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions" list of the 100 greatest film love stories, and 46 in Channel 4's 50 Greatest Comedy Films list. In the United States, The Princess Bride has developed into a cult film since its release.

 Trailer

THE BLACK CAULDRON
The Black Cauldron is a 1985 American animated fantasy adventure film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. The 25th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics, it is loosely based on the first two books in The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, a series of five novels which in turn is based on Welsh mythology.
The film centers around the evil Horned King who hopes to secure the magical Black Cauldron and rule the world with its aid. He is opposed by the youths Taran and Princess Eilonwy, the bard Fflewddur Fflam, and a wild creature named Gurgi.

Trailer

New Zealand's South Island - an inspiration for epic fantasy!

I love creating worlds for my epic fantasy novels. Blessed (or cursed!) with a vivid imagination, there's nothing I like better than sitting down with a sketch pad and building a world that has never existed previously.

When creating a fantasy world, I firmly believe that you should have a reasonable sense of geography, as well as some knowledge of history and culture. I recently read a fantasy book that had the main character traveling from icy tundra to searing desert in just five days on horse-back! I've also read far too many rip-offs of clearly recognisable settings: ancient Rome and medieval Venice come to mind here. My favourite fantasy worlds are all richly developed; you believe that they could actually exist. Thought has gone into the details.

I had great fun creating Isador for my first epic fantasy, The Children of Isador, but I wanted something different for my next book. I wanted a landscape I could recognise, and sights and smells that were familiar to me. With this in mind, I created Palâdnith. Take a look at the map I drew - those familiar with New Zealand should recognise it!

I grew up in the South Island of New Zealand - in Dunedin (or Dunethport if you're looking for it on the map above). Palâdnith shares many similarities! Although the people and culture of Journey of Shadows are firmly rooted in epic fantasy, the landmarks, flora and fauna are distinctly New Zealand's.

New Zealand's landscape is varied, and can change dramatically in just a short distance. The climate is temperate; mild-maritime on the coast and continental inland. I centered my story around the Realm of Omagen, in reality the province of Otago - an area of New Zealand that I know very well. The coastline around Dunedin is lush and green, with silver beaches, the deep blue Pacific Ocean and extinct volcanoes. A couple of hundred kilometres inland, the landscape changes to dry, rock-studded terrain with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. You can see such landscape is an ideal setting for epic fantasy!

Landmarks such as the Rock and Pillar mountain range, with its unusual topography: stacks of stone and great rock tors, make a special appearance in the story - as do the Canterbury Plains, the Southern Alps, Central Otago and Southland. The next book in the series will take place in the temperate rainforests of Fiordland (or Westhealm if you're looking at the map above).

Basing a fantasy world on a place I know well, was a great help to the actual writing. As I based my novel on a real landscape, I feel that my depiction of this fantasy world is all the more credible for it. I tried to remain true to the geography - although I definitely let my imagination loose when it came to creating the cities, towns and people who inhabit Palâdnith. I also had a lot of fun creating the place names within this fantasy world - once again the product of a fertile imagination!

I hope that if you do read the book you enjoy Palâdnith, and appreciate its inspiration!

What makes an epic fantasy novel fantastic?

This blog is dedicated to my favourite genre - epic fantasy. I have always loved reading epic fantasy, and am constantly on the look out for new authors and novels to immerse myself in. If I think of my favourite epic fantasy books, there consistent elements that jump out at me; elements that have made these novels winners. Here are three things that (in my opinion) that make a good epic fantasy tale linger in the reader's mind, long after they've turned the final page:

• a richly drawn, believable world. From Middle Earth to Westeros, epic fantasy needs a world that readers feel could actually exist. I like worlds with a detailed, unique history, distinct flora and fauna and a realistic depiction of geography. A really good epic fantasy world take the role of another protagonist in the story; and as such should help shape and drive the plot, as events and characters do
• a rich cast of characters (just not too many) with a main character (or characters) that I can really identify with. No superheroes please. If our main character has lost his family, his job, and witnessed the destruction of the world - I want to see a real, human reaction to such events. I've read so many 'coming of age' stories that I tend to avoid them these days; instead I look for tales with characters who go through life-changing events that shape and alter them and their perception of the world forever. I like stories with flawed, gritty characters. Writers who stay with my favourite character's point of view for large chunks of the book please me, as I enjoy feeling as if I'm looking over this character's shoulder and living the adventure with them
• a unique, intriguing plot that may, or may not, include a quest. Like most avid epic fantasy fans, I love a good quest. However, it's been done so often that many quest-focused novels seem like a rehash of Lord of the Rings. For a quest to work it has to have both personal and a wider significance to those going involved - there has to be a reason why the main character would put his/her life at stake to save the world (other than being incredibly brave, or foolhardy).

So, what are the things that turn me off an epic fantasy novels - to the point where I will abandon the book? Unsurprisingly, have a few of these...

• killing off my favourite character(s) - this is very upsetting, especially if I have invested a lot of time into reading a book or series
• overly simplistic plots or character motivations - there are so many shades of grey in life and a good novel should reflect this. Readers like people and events that are not what they seem
• one-dimensional characters that behave the same way throughout the book - these are boring (and all too common in fantasy I'm afraid). I might be reading about a make-believe world but I want characters I can believe in
• sub-plots that take me off in long-winded digressions from the central story, focusing on characters we don't care about - the writer might have a grand plan, and such digressions will make sense in Book Four of the series; however I feel these weaken a story rather than add to it
• any book that rehashes the classics - I loved Lord of the Rings, The Sword of Shannara, Magician and Game of Thrones - but I don't want to read an imitation
• books that deliver beautiful description, but lack substance - readers want action, conflict and drama, not page-long, sigh-inducing descriptions of mist-covered mountains!

What do you love (or loathe) about epic fantasy? Please share!
 

Is the KDP Select Free promotion worth it?

In my previous blog I announced that The Children of Isador was about to have three days free promotion via KDP Select - and it did! The Children of Isador reached #10 in the best-selling epic fantasy downloads and has gained over five-hundred potential new readers because of this promotion. :-)

Before joining KDP Select and taking part in the promotion I was a bit cautious - and like many other writers I wasn't pleased with Amazon's rule that you cannot have your book published on any other e-publishing platform when enrolled in KDP Select. Nevertheless, I'd heard great things about the free promotion service and was keen to give The Children of Isador a boost. I published it in on Amazon Kindle in June this year and although the sales had been ticking over nicely, wanted to give the novel a bit more visibility.

So was the free promotion worth it, and would I recommend it to other self-published authors? The short answer is yes. I write primarily to get read. Yes, I want to make a living from it, and a monthly check from Amazon is most welcome, but what matters most is that epic fantasy fans read my book.

 So, here are the Free download stats for The Children of Isador over three days (23-25 October 2012):

.com = 401
.uk = 100
.de = 20
.fr = 0
.es = 2
.it = 0
.jp = 0

Total free downloads: 523 copies.

I know there will be writers out there that get thousands of downloads for the free promotion, but since The Children of Isador is my first book I'm pretty pleased with these numbers!

If you were one of the five-hundred and twenty-three people who downloaded my book, I thank you - and invite you to post an honest review on either Amazon or Goodreads. If you have any feedback or thoughts about the novel, you can email me at: samanthajcharlton@gmail.com  I'd love to hear from you.

If you enjoyed The Children of Isador then you'll be pleased to hear that I've been busy writing more epic fantasy! Journey of Shadows (Book One of the Palâdnith Chronicles) is due out in December this year. This first book in the series begins the story of Seth, Eni and Val; three brothers who parted ways ten years' earlier and have not spoken since. Unaware of their unusual heritage, or of the sorceress pursuing them, the brothers are catapulted from their old lives and begin journeys that will test more than their courage. Keep an eye on my website: www.samjcharlton.com for updates on this book!

The Children of Isador, a dark, traditional fantasy about the triumph of good over evil is now available on Amazon Kindle at its usual price of $2.99 USD.