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A Blast from the Past
Thanks to Nellie Thorne for her review of Children of Pride. It’s nice to know that my first novel is still finding an audience as it comes up on its twelfth anniversary! In part:
Overall, this is a beautifully crafted portal fantasy that balances adventure, mystery, and heart. It’s the kind of story that reminds you why this genre is so enduring, because when it’s done well, it feels like rediscovering wonder itself.
I love it when a reader gets it!
And speaking of “getting it,” you can get Children of Pride and the whole Into the Wonder series here.
Dead of Night Is Now Available!
Keep your word? Avoid a war? Save your your neck? Rune can do it all. And the only thing it may cost him is his soul. Things get dark in the second installment of the Caretaker Trilogy, but it’s still fun, smart, and uplifting contemporary fantasy. I hope you’ll like it!
You can find Dead of Night in all the places:
BOOKSHOP (paperback) | BOOKSHOP (ebook)
AMAZON (paperback) | KINDLE | B&N | NOOK
Dead of Night Is Coming!
Dead of Night is the second book in the Caretaker Trilogy. It will be available on July 1 at all the usual places.
What is Dead of Night about?
Dead of Night is the next chapter in the story of Rune, a defector from Faeryland who’s just trying to get by on Main Street USA. In Shadow of the King, Rune’s troubles followed him from the faery realm. Now, the problem is home-grown: a supernatural threat that he has never faced before lurking in the shadows of this world.
You’re being kind of vague.
Fine. It’s vampires. Rune is going up against vampires.
You mean like Dracula or Lestat?
Among others. There are many different creatures in world mythology that we might call “vampire-adjacent.” They maintain a grotesque existence by feeding off the blood, breath, or life-force of the living. Some of them are animated corpses. Others are demonic entities that refuse to die. I’ve packed a bunch of them into Dead of Night, so maybe you’ll find one you like.
But none of them sparkle.
Are any of them sexy?
Your mileage may vary.
The night gets darker on July 1, but you can pre-order today from Bookshop (paperback or ebook) or Amazon (ebook).
So…
July 1 sound good to you?
Dead of Night Coming This Summer
This summer the night gets darker.
Don’t Take My Word for It
Here is a very gracious review of Shadow of the King from Brandi of Dragons and Spaceships.
Interview on Dragons & Spaceships!
Dragons & Spaceships is a newish podcast that deserves a bigger following. I had a lovely conversation with Brandi a few weeks back. Go check it out!
How Did I End Up on a Podcast?
Apparently because there was an empty slot on the podcaster’s schedule! I had a nice conversation with MasterSwagKing on his podcast, the MSK Show. We talked about life, creativity, writing, media adaptations, and of course Shadow of the King. Check it out if you’re into that sort of thing.
Shadow of the King: Q&A
How long did it take to write Shadow of the King?
Way too long! I first got the idea of Shadow of the King when my daughter was in high school, though best I can remember she had already graduated before I started working on it in earnest.
A quick look at my laptop informs me I created the Scrivener file for the book in September of 2019. The first chapter went through some truly awful iterations before I landed on something I was happy with, and there were definitely some plot points early on that needed not to happen. Then, of course, COVID hit. Which I think means that was about eighteen years ago.
Fortunately, book two, Dead of Night, went significantly faster. I’ve gotten it back from my editor and look forward to diving into her suggestions. And I’m a bit over 20,000 words into writing the conclusion, Twilight of Avalon.
What’s next for Rune?
Rune’s arc is all about finding a place where he belongs, and the obstacles he must face to find it. In the first book, those obstacles come in the form of entanglements with the magical realm from which he came. In the second book, he’ll contend with supernatural threats native to his new, ostensibly mundane, realm. Finally, the third book will pit factions of both worlds against each other, and Rune is going to have to make some hard choices. His loyalties will be tested, and the lines between allies and enemies might even get a little blurry.
All in all, I’m very happy with how the story is progressing. My editor thinks book 2 might be better than book 1, and that’s something every writer loves to hear! I hope you’ll stick around for the whole ride.
It’s Here! It’s Here!
Shadow of the King is now live!
If you’re looking for fun, smart, and uplifting fantasy fiction, I’d be honored if you’d give it a try. You can buy your paperback or ebook version HERE.
The shadow has fallen!
Darrell J. Pursiful 