Illusion's Reign COVER REVEAL + Preorder Info!

Hello, everyone! I've been talking for a while about Daughters of Atìrse #2, the prequel to Song of the Selkies, and I'm happy to announce that it now has a title, a cover, AND a release date! So, if you've been eagerly anticipating a new story of Atìrse, or if my mentions of it have gotten you curious, you're in luck. It's coming, and it's coming soon. Comparatively, anyway.

I could talk more about this, but I think I'll just show y'all the cover first.

A transformed princess is determined to reclaim what's hers — but can truth prevail when illusion wears the crown?

Crown Princess Onora of Atirse is eager to prove herself as the heir to her parents' throne. Moving into one of her family's holdings away from the Royal Seat offers the chance to put into practice all she's learned and demonstrate what kind of queen she intends to one day be, and even the shadow of an uprising among Atirse's faery neighbors can't dull her excitement. Yet her plans go awry when one of her attendants proves false and she's transformed and replaced by a faery imposter.

Though cursed and cast into the role of a lowly goose-keeper, with only her beloved cat as an ally, Onora refuses to admit defeat. She'll do whatever it takes to break the curse, expose the imposter, and take back the role that is rightfully hers. However, that's easier said than done when her opponent can so easily manipulate the truth — and the fickle feelings of the locals and the surliness of the miller's strange assistant don't make her task any less difficult.

Time is swiftly passing, and Onora must reclaim her place before the transformation becomes permanent. But can she do so when nothing is as it seems and even her allies have secrets?

Return to the kingdom of Atirse and discover what happens when "The Goose Girl" meets "Puss in Boots" in this prequel to the award-winning Song of the Selkies.

Releasing September 27, 2024

Preorder on Amazon || Add to your Goodreads shelf

Those of you who've read Song of the Selkies are familiar with Onora already, of course — she plays a pretty significant role in Ceana's story as Ceana's wise older sister, guide, and confidante. Illusion's Reign jumps back ten years to a much younger version of Onora who's facing her own trials and, in the process, becoming the person we know she will be (with the help of her own mentors and allies). Be ready for schemes and secrets . . . but also community, a magical cat, an arranged antagonists-to-lovers romance, and a protagonist who will let nothing stand in the way of making the truth known (even when that means her determination is sometimes at war with her common sense).

As a story, Illusion's Reign can be read on its own. However, it will be best enjoyed if you've read Song of the Selkies. Haven't had a chance to pick up that story yet? It's available on Amazon, and if you like reading books on Kindle, you'll be happy to know that the ebook will be on special in September. Keep an eye on my blog and socials for more details regarding that.

Illusion's Reign will release in September as part of the Lost Kerchiefs Arista Challenge, alongside books from Kendra E. Ardnek, Tricia Mingerink, and other authors. Check out last night's Facebook party to learn more and discover all the Goose Girl retellings coming out next month!

What do you think of the cover? How excited are you about Illusion's Reign? Please tell me in the comments!

Song of the Selkies COVER REVEAL + Preorder Info!

 

Hello, everyone! Some of you may have seen this on Facebook yesterday evening, but if you're not on Facebook (which is probably a wise choice, to be honest), I have some exciting news. That news, of course, is of my upcoming book release: Song of the Selkies, a roleswap Little Mermaid retelling. I've been working on this book for a good while now, and I'm super excited to get to show it off.

So, without further ado, let's give it a chance to shine . . .

Undercover in a foreign land, a princess discovers the secrets behind a generations-old enmity.

The youngest princess of Atìrse, Ceana always planned to marry for the good of her people and let love come later. With her sisters' marriages ensuring peace with the nearby human kingdoms, Ceana sets her sights on their last unallied neighbor: the magical and reclusive selkies. The two peoples have experienced a wary peace for generations, and the time seems ripe for a deeper alliance that will benefit both kingdoms. The last thing Ceana expects is for Fionntan, king of the selkies, to take the proposal as a grave insult.

With relations between the two peoples suddenly precarious, Ceana is determined to set things right. Aided by her grandmother, she disguises herself as a selkie and travels to their hidden home of Emain Ablach, where she hopes to discover the reason behind King Fionntan's reaction. But the more she learns about the selkies, the more she uncovers long-kept secrets of her people — and her heritage — that shake the foundations of how she viewed the world. Her growing friendships with and affection for some of the selkie nobility, including King Fionntan himself, further complicate matters, especially as her admiration for the selkie king begins to blossom into something more. No relationship built on a lie can survive, but revealing her true identity as an Atìrsen princess will doom her efforts towards peace.

In order to bridge the divide between selkies and humans, Ceana will have to overcome generations of selkies' suspicion and reveal the insidious evil that's taken root in her homeland. But the greatest obstacle to her success may be her own heart.

Discover a magical new world in this Little Mermaid retelling from the author of Through a Shattered Glass and the Bastian Dennel, PI mysteries

Releasing September 19, 2023

Preorder on Amazon || Add to your Goodreads shelf

For those who read that blurb and now have questions . . .  yes, this is a kissing book. (Technically, it's a romantic epic fantasy, but that's a technicality.) Don't worry; I'll still be writing plenty of nomance and low-romance books in the future! But I wanted to do something with the idea of a princess who wants to get married, and who wants the arranged marriage that so many young adult heroines spend a lot of time and energy running away from, and that meant that there had to be a love story in here alongside everything else. It's very much a slowburn, though, and it's super sweet. I had fun writing it, and I think y'all will like reading it just as much.

Also, in a turn of events that will surprise absolutely no one who's been following me, Song of the Selkies is releasing as part of the Stolen Songs Arista Challenge collection! One of the other covers for that release has already been revealed, and the rest will be uncovered on Saturday. Check out the Facebook party to learn more! Additionally, all the Stolen Songs books are on a special $0.99 ebook preorder special for just a little while longer, so make sure you place your preorder soon!

So, what do you think of the cover? How excited are you about Song of the Selkies? Please tell me in the comments!

Wags, Woofs, and Wonders Cover Reveal & Other Exciting News

 Hello all! No Friday 5s today, sorry — travel, family stuff, and needing to prioritize other projects have left me without enough time to put something together. However, I do have some exciting news from this week that I wanted to make sure y'all heard.

First, of course, is the cover reveal for Wags, Woofs, and Wonders, the upcoming anthology from Fellowship of Fantasy and Uncommon Universes Press. If you follow me on other social media, you saw this earlier this week, but for everyone else, BEHOLD!

 

Every dog has its day.

Is there anything as faithful or loyal as a dog? Always ready to lend a paw, cuddle up next to you, or chase away foes (because their noses know!).

This feel-good collection features eight magical stories of whimsical, true-hearted, and rascally hounds. From a blind dog with surprising gifts to a watery pup with a winsome secret to a fiery hound, ready to test his new dog-sitter to his limits. Danger may lurk, but don’t worry! Every story is guaranteed a heartwarming, happy ending.

This sixth anthology from the Fellowship of Fantasy and Uncommon Universes Press showcases incredible authors dedicated to telling doggone good fantasy fiction that will make you laugh, sigh, and cuddle your own furry friend.

Releasing July 6, 2023

Preorder the ebook on Amazon | Preorder the paperback | Add on Goodreads

This anthology includes my short story, "Grim Guardian," a slightly spooky Southern mystery that I had a lot of fun writing and I think y'all will really enjoy reading. Also, can we all just take a minute to appreciate that cover? That is a very magical Good Boy right there, and some absolutely lovely colors as well.

Again, if you follow me on social media, you're probably already aware of this, but Through a Shattered Glass, my remix of The Snow Queen and the Alice books, was selected as a finalist in the Novella category of the Realm Awards! I'm both thrilled and honored that Through a Shattered Glass made the list, especially considering how many other amazing books and authors I know were in the running. The winners in each category will be announced at the Awards Banquet during the Realm Makers conference, and I look forward to being there and finding out who won, whether or not that list includes my book. (Also, just saying . . . if you haven't yet read Through a Shattered Glass, now is an excellent time to do so.)

Order TaSG on Amazon || Add to your Goodreads shelf || View the full finalists list

So, yes! Between all this and my sister's graduation, this has been a very exciting week. (Also stressful, for other reasons, but that's beside the point.) Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to vote for the Realm Makers Readers' Choice Award — while my books aren't in the running, a lot of other excellent books are.

Have a lovely day!

 

 

 

Through a Shattered Glass COVER REVEAL + Preorder Info!

Hello hello hello! I've been working on Through a Shattered Glass on and off for a bit, and now I have some exciting news! Which you can probably guess from the title, but in case you're the kind of person who skims past the title and just clicks the post: Through a Shattered Glass has a cover! And a release date! And, in a surprise to no one at all, it's going to be released as part of the Broken Mirrors Arista Challenge Group.

So, who's ready to see the shiny?

 

Drop the mirror and you break the world in two.

Alys hasn’t set foot in Wonderland in years. Not since the White Queen’s mirror shattered; not since her best friend, Kai Hatter, was killed; not since Alys fled back to her own world with a shard of enchanted mirror in her eye. She’s done her best to set aside the past and move on — until a red-painted rose appears in her room, and the portal opens once more.

Simultaneously desperate for hope and terrified of what she might find — or cause — Alys ventures back through the mirror. But the Wonderland she finds is not the same one she left behind, and though Kai is less dead than she thought, he still might be past saving. To make matters worse, the mirror shard is still in Alys’s eye, and Wonderland is all too susceptible to its corrupting power.

Only Alys can save the land and friend she loves — but if she’s not careful, she might be their doom instead.

A dark portal fantasy remix of The Snow Queen and Lewis Carroll’s Alice duology.

Releasing December 23, 2022

Preorder on Amazon || Add to your Goodreads shelf

 

Yes, you did read that correctly — this will be my second book released this year. And yes, it is coming out just two days before Christmas, which means I will be extra busy this holiday season. It's fine. (And yes, this means it may or may not arrive in time for Christmas gifts . . . but if it's a little late, it's fine. It spreads out the cheer, y'know?)

As I mentioned, Through a Shattered Glass is releasing alongside the rest of the Broken Mirrors collection, a group of six Snow Queen retellings, which I strongly encourage you to check out! They all sound SO GOOD. You can learn more about them by reviewing the escapades from last night's Facebook party, but I also have some links here.

Snowfield Palace (The Austen Fairy Tale Book 4)
by Kendra E. Ardnek

A young girl struggles to find her place among her betters, only to have visitors send her world spinning.

Preorder on Amazon || Add to your Goodreads shelf || Discover the Series

The White Queen's Spell (Sequel to The Dark King's Curse)
by Wyn Estelle Owens

Danger abounds when curses combine, and now it's Ailsa's turn to be saved.

Preorder on Amazon || Add to your Goodreads shelf || Check Out Book 1

Shattered Reflection (The Shattered Lands Book 1)
by Madisyn Carlin

When her brother is taken, Layree must form an uneasy alliance with an old enemy to save him.

Preorder on Amazon || Add to your Goodreads shelf

Of Ice and Roses (A Flamesend Novel)
by Heather M. Elliott

As dangers mount, what is Gemma willing to sacrifice for the fate of two kingdoms?

Preorder on Amazon || Add to your Goodreads shelf

Christmas Games
by Erudessa Gentian

Beware the harmless Christmas Gift.

Preorder the ebook || Preorder in paperback || Add to your Goodreads shelf

 

Sound intriguing? I think so. Also, for the next week or so, you can preorder all of these in ebook form for just $0.99 each! So if any of these sound up your alley, make sure you get in soon to take advantage of this deal!

Also, if you're as excited about this reveal as I am, you're invited to help spread the word! We've put together a reveal packet with information about all six books. Feel free to share about any or all of them on your socials or blogs.

As a bonus, if you either preorder all six books OR share all six covers, you'll receive a special PDF with a sneak peek of the first chapters of each book. And if you both preorder and share, you'll also receive one of several free ebooks from the Broken Mirrors authors. Full details are available here. And if you want to request an ARC or get in on the release festivities in December, keep an eye on the main release page.

So, what do you think of the cover? How excited are you about Through a Shattered Glass? Which Broken Mirrors retelling are you most excited for? (I hope it's mine . . . but I won't be offended if it's not.) Please tell me in the comments!

Mask of Scarlet Cover Reveal

All right, all right! Who's ready for a cover reveal? (It's me. The answer is me. I'm ready. Hopefully y'all are excited too!) Today, we're debuting the cover of Mask of Scarlet, the third book in the Bastian Dennel, PI series. Like the other covers in the series, it was designed by yours truly! But before we get to that . . .

Nah. I'm kidding. Let's get this shiny out for y'all to admire.

 

Bastian Dennel is a detective, not a matchmaker. 

But he’s also not one to turn down easy mazuma. So when one of Innsjøby’s richest young sheiks hires him to find his so-called true love — a girl he’s met only once at a masked party — Bastian is on the case. After his last few high-risk adventures, he’s ready for a job where the hardest part will be collecting his payment. Sure, all he has to go on is a guest list and a description . . . but how hard can it be? 

Of course, easy money always has a catch, and what should’ve been a simple search turns out to be anything but. Everyone seems to have their own opinion on who this mystery girl should be, whether or not it matches reality, and even the Families are getting involved. To make matters worse, Dayo is acting cagey, and Bastian doesn’t know why. 

Bastian’s business is the truth. But what can he do when everyone around him has already decided what they want the truth to be? Find out in this Jazz-Age take on “Cinderella,” book three of the Bastian Dennel, PI mysteries!

Releasing April 29, 2022

Preorder on Amazon || Add to your Goodreads shelf || Check out the rest of the series

Mask of Scarlet is releasing alongside Kendra E. Ardnek's Crown and Cinder and Rachel Roden's Cindy Ellen as part of the Three Midnight Curfews, a group release of Cinderella retellings. This is my first time publishing outside of an Arista Challenge release . . . though, I mean, there's still a lot of overlap, given that Kendra was still the one to put it together. You can learn more about the other books at the links below.

Crown and Cinder (The Austen Fairy Tale Book 2)

Preorder on Amazon || Add to your Goodreads shelf || Austen Fairy Tale Book 1

Cindy Ellen (The Austen Fairy Tale Book 2)

Preorder on Amazon || Add to your Goodreads shelf || Discover the series

 

And, of course, a cover reveal means special promotions! Today through February 11, The Midnight Show and Gilded in Ice are both available in ebook form for $0.99 on Amazon. A lot of y'all have probably picked those up by now, but if not, now's the perfect time to do it!

So, what do you think of the cover? How excited are you about Mask of Scarlet? Please tell me in the comments!

 

Revealing the Gilded in Ice Cover!

 

Hello, everyone! I've been talking about Gilded in Ice, the sequel to The Midnight Show, for . . . storms, eight or nine months at this point? And I mentioned that I finished the cover around the end of last month . . . and now I get to show it off! Now, some authors might drag this sort of thing out, but not me! Not much, anyway.

 

Bastian has two new missing person cases. One is cold. The other is his own sister.

Since his success solving the Midnight Show disappearances, Bastian Dennel is sitting pretty. And with the new high-profile cold case that just got dropped in his lap, he’s pretty sure things will stay that way for a while. But when he finds out his sister has gone missing without a trace, he’s determined to find her and bring whoever’s responsible to justice — even if his only lead is a stray cat with a knack for vanishing unexpectedly.

Kona Dennel’s plans have already been upended, so when the talking cat she’d befriended asked her for help breaking an enchantment, she didn’t see any reason not to say yes. She didn’t expect to be trapped in a frozen mansion or to be drawn into conflict with a mysterious lady of the fair folk. Even the cat is hiding more secrets than she realized. It’ll take a skilled detective to untangle this web . . . but since Bastian isn’t here, Kona will just have to do it herself.

Secrets abound, and the one creature who knows the truth isn’t talking. Can Bastian and Kona outwit a fae who’s been at this for centuries? Or will thawing out the long-frozen truth drop them in over their heads?

A magical mystery reimagining Snow White and Rose Red and East of the Sun, West of the Moon in the jazz-age world of The Midnight Show.

Releasing September 24, 2021

Preorder on Amazon || Add to your Goodreads shelf

For those curious: yes, I designed the cover, just like I designed the cover of The Midnight Show! Speaking of The Midnight Show, the Kindle version is free on Amazon today through Saturday, July 17!

As some of you know and others of you may have guessed, I'm releasing Gilded in Ice as part of the Frosted Roses Arista Challenge group. This is my fourth year participating in the Arista Challenge, and it's a new adventure every time. You can check out the full author lineup by reviewing last night's Facebook reveal party or visiting the release info page. And if you want to help spread the word about the release (or these snazzy new covers), we have several ways for you to do that. You can share the covers (info packet here) or sign up for an ARC or the blog tour! (If the info isn't up on the sign-up post yet, just check back in a bit. Kendra's in the process of putting that together.)

As a final note, we are currently running two special promotions! For the duration of this week, all of the Frosted Roses preorders will be only $0.99, and if you preorder all six and forward your receipt to Kendra, you'll get a special gift. And if you share the covers this week, you'll get another special gift! Find all the details on this post.

 

I can't wait to share this story with y'all. Thanks for your support!

Love and Memory Cover Reveal

 

Hello, y'all! I'm here with a cover reveal for Kendra E. Ardnek's next book, Love and Memory! I'm currently alpha-reading this book, and it's pretty awesome . . . and the cover is just as great. Want to see? I thought so. I'll show you in a minute, along with sharing a mini-interview . . . but first, a little about the book.

About Love and Memory

The Rizkaland Legends #3

When a Queen forgets,
Her enemies rejoice in her weakness.
But when the Queen remembers,
They tremble in fear.
When a King loves,
His country rejoices with him.
But when that love is broken.
The land is broken, too.
Can Water and Fire join again?
Can Love and Memory be restored?

They spent years in Rizkaland. They ruled the land, forged friendships, built families, and made it their home. But then it was time to return to Earth, and their former lives just don’t fit anymore. Clara and Andrew struggle to reevaluate their priorities when hundreds of miles separate them. Reuben and Petra are lost as they seek a balance between their old friendship and their Rizkan marriage. And Ashna and Noraeto never planned to return, so what live is there for them on Earth?

When the unthinkable happens and a new enemy arises, they’re all thrown back into Rizkaland, into a young prince’s rise to power and struggle to build alliances for his kingdom. But they no longer belong in their other world, either.

Are good memories too much to bear?

Preorder on Amazon || Add on Goodreads

About Kendra E. Ardnek

Kendra E. Ardnek is the self-proclaimed Arista of Fairy Tales. She lives in the Piney Woods of East Texas with her dragon babies and massive herd of mini-giraffes, and she is still waiting for one of of her fifty nutcrackers to come to life and marry her. When not writing, you can usually find her sitting in a random box, and she's frequently known to act before she thinks.

Find her online at: Website || Blog || Goodreads || Facebook || Twitter || YouTube || Newsletter || Instagram || TikTok || Amazon 

Excited yet? Ok, let's finally show off that gorgeous cover . . .

Mini-interview with Clara, Petra, and Kendra: What's the most important thing we should know about this book/your adventures in it?

 

Clara: This book is cruel and unusual punishment and I'd like to find the person who convinced Kendra to write it and ... I'm not going to finish that statement. Plausible deniability, you know.

 

Petra: I was an idiot and this book is not my finest moment. *sigh* Seriously!

 

Kendra: I apologize in advance?

Sounds about right . . . if you want to get a sneak peek of what they're talking about, you're in luck, because Broken, Part One of Love and Memory, is currently available for FREE on Amazon! So definitely go check that out.

 And if that's not enough books for you . . . As part of Perry Kirkpatrick’s Black Friday Sale, Kendra is offering book one, Water Princess, Fire Prince as a FREE ebook on Amazon, and book 2, Lady Dragon, Tela Du, is just 99 cents! (There are also quite a few OTHER awesome books available in that sale, including some of my favorite Arista Challenge releases, and, y'know, my books, so don't miss this opportunity.)

Are you excited for Love and Memory? Have you gotten any good books this Black Friday? Please tell me in the comments!
Thanks for reading!

Who Wants to See Mechanical Heart's Cover?

Hey'a, everyone! Last night, over on Facebook, we had the cover reveal for the Golden Braids group release, this year's Arista Challenge group release. It was a great time, but since I know not everyone could make it out there, I'm sharing the shinies here too.

And, yes, if you were wondering, this means that I am officially publishing Mechanical Heart with the Arista Challenge this summer. I mean, I was going to publish it sometime soon no matter what happened; I've put in too much work not to. But I'm excited to be joining Kendra's group again. The group release will run from August 5th to August 9th, and Mechanical Heart specifically releases on August 7th.

Ok, enough of me trying to increase the suspense. Let's see the shiny!

Can you save someone who doesn’t know if she’s alive?

Breen lives locked away, separated from the world by the walls of her clock tower and the machine of gems, gears, and magic that replaces her heart. That is, until an unexpected visitor appears in her tower, offering a dangerous gift: freedom. His promises awaken hope for a life unbound by the tower walls — but she knows that if he learns about her heart, it’s only a matter of time before he turns on her.

Josiah is powerless. Though he’s the crown prince of the mighty Chanian empire, he feels stifled by his inability to protect his people from the schemes of corrupt nobles. When he discovers a girl trapped in a locked clock tower, he thinks he’s finally found a problem he can solve . . . but more than just walls keep her captive.

From the royal palace to the streets of Rivenford to the tops of clock towers, secrets hide around every corner in this steampunk retelling of Rapunzel. Breen and Josiah hold the keys to each other's struggles — if they can break down the barriers that divide them.

Preorder on Amazon || Add on Goodreads

As those of you who've been reading my blog for a while might know, this is a story that's been in the works for a while. I mean, obviously I've been rewriting and editing like mad over the course of the last year, trying to weave all the plot threads and characters and details into their proper form. But I first drafted this back in summer of 2016 — and I came up with the earliest version of the story all the way back in 2014! It's not the earliest story that I eventually want to share, but it's definitely a good bit older than Blood in the Snow. And now I finally get to share it with you. I'm so excited!

Oh, and while I have you here, can I just say how much I love my cover? Savannah Jezowski of Dragonpen Press/Dragonpen Designs created it for me, and I think she did an amazing job. No lie; she emailed me the very first iteration and I did a legit happy dance. I was that excited — and it just got better from there. If you're also looking for a cover, I absolutely recommend her services. She's a storming magician, and I say this as someone who knows how to use Photoshop fairly well herself.

Ok, I'm done. Go preorder Mechanical Heart, if you don't mind. Or at least add it to your Goodreads shelves. Thanks muchly. And while you're at it, go check out the other Golden Braids books: Hair We Go Again, Rebekah's Refuge, Molly Storm, and The Dragon's Flower.
Have a lovely day!
-Sarah (Leilani Sunblade)

Worth of a King Cover Reveal!

Hey'a, everyone! So, most of you probably know this, but Kendra E. Ardnek is currently working on a new novel in the Rizkaland multiverse, The Worth of a King. I'm an alpha reader for Worth, and let me tell you, it's pretty awesome— on the same level as Lady Dragon, Tela Du, honestly. And today, we're revealing the cover!

Release Date: August 27 

About the Book:

Princess Obsidia’s father was killed the night she was born. Since there was no male heir, the crown went to the man who killed him, by Dialcian law. This never bothered her, growing up, and when it comes time for Obsidia to choose her husband, she chooses Prince Delaney, the son of that man, with little hesitation. Only then does her life start crumbling around her.

Adrian expected to live a normal life, taking his father’s place at the print shop when his father retired. But, on his eighteenth birthday, when the princess’ engagement is announced, his world is ripped out from under him when he learns that his life was a ruse, and he is the twin brother to the princess – and expected to take back his father’s throne.

Delaney knows that his country is hovering on the brink of war – and that his father may harbor murderous intentions towards his intended bride due to her Zovordian blood. He wants nothing more than to protect Obsidia and his people, but as merely prince, he has little power against his father.

The ancient war between the Dragons and the Immortal King and Queen is nearing its climax, and the three are already caught in it.

Read the opening chapter || Add it on Goodreads

About the Author:

Kendra E. Ardnek loves fairytales and twisting them in new and exciting ways. She's been or acting them 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 glorify God and His Word.

Find her online at: Website || Blog || Goodreads || Facebook || Twitter || Amazon  

Isn't the cover gorgeous? Definitely my new favorite of Kendra's covers. I love the colors and the crown, and the dragon eating its tail seems very fitting for reasons that y'all will figure out once you read the book . . . hopefully, anyway. It has a very different feel than most of Kendra's other covers, but then again, the book is pretty different as well (even if it does feature some familiar characters). 

In addition to the cover, Kendra has provided some bonus goodies for y'all to enjoy: a snippet, a mini-interview, and one of her inspiration Pins!

Snippet:

“Well, that’s one village down – just eleven more to go,” Nadilynn declared once they were well on the road again the next morning. “Del, I don’t know that Sidi will be able to survive it. Whatever shall be done?”

“I think that, if you’ll just leave her alone between now and this evening, she might actually make it,” Delaney suggested.

Nadilynn pursed her lips. “She did well and enough during the speech,” she mused. “It’s just after we talked to the printer about his sons that she went all quiet.”

“Obsidia is generally quiet,” Delaney pointed out, folding his arms over his chest. “Maybe you’ve finally been quiet enough to notice.”

 Interview:

This interview features the voices of Kendra and three of her main characters! First up, Kendra! What was your favorite part of writing Worth? 

Kendra: The relationships. Adrian and Obsidia as they discovered each other. Delaney and Obsidia's sweet romance. Adrian and his adopted brother, Jerolin. Adrian and Christa, the girl he only realized he loved after he found out that he's a prince and will likely have to marry some princess. Adrian and Delaney, now that was an interesting pair. Obsidia and Christa. Obsidia and Nadilynn. Delaney and Nadilynn. All the relationships. 

Also, I got to write a world that took place in an inverted sphere. That was awesome.

And for the characters: Pick one of your fellow main or major characters who’s especially important to you and describe them in one sentence.

Adrian: Obsidia, the twin sister I just found out that I have. The reason that I'm willing to face up to my true ancestry and do this whole prince thing. She's ... quiet. And confusing.

Delaney: Obsidia, who I'm pledged to marry. I'll do anything to keep her safe. Like Adrian said, she's quiet, but she's smart and intelligent and I value her knowledge of history immensely.

Obsidia: *glances between the two* I suppose I'm now expected to choose between my twin brother and the man I plan to marry? Well, I refuse. The person most important to me is Nadilynn, Delaney's younger sister. She's an incorrigible ray of sunshine who's going to land herself in a heap of trouble one of these days.

And now we see why Obsidia is, in many ways, the main-main character of the novel . . . but let's move on, shall we?

Inspiration!

And that's it! Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to check out the rest of the cover reveal stops for more exclusive content!
Have a great day!
-Sarah (Leilani Sunblade)

Songkeeper Book 3 Cover Reveal!

We interrupt your finals week/end of semester panic/Christmas planning (whichever applies to you) to bring you some exciting news: Songkeeper book 3 has a title and a cover! Finally! For those of you who don't know, the Songkeeper Chronicles is a wonderful fantasy trilogy by Gillian Bronte Adams featuring griffins, mysterious songs, evil empires, magic, friendship, betrayal, and Amos McElhenny. If you haven't read it, you should, and if you have read it, you're no doubt eagerly awaiting news of book 3. And because I'm in the same straits you are (or, y'know, would be; I've had the details for almost a week now), I won't make you wait anymore. Without further ado, Songkeeper book 3!

  Releases June 5, 2018 // Preorder on Amazon

THE SONG BIDS HER RISE TO BATTLE

Reeling from her disastrous foray into the Pit, Birdie, the young Songkeeper, retreats into the mountains. But in the war-torn north, kneeling on bloodstained battlefields to sing the souls of the dying to rest, her resolve to accept her calling is strengthened. Such evil cannot go unchallenged.

Torn between oaths to protect the Underground runners and to rescue his friend from the slave camps, Ky Huntyr enlists Birdie’s aid. Their mission to free the captives unravels the horrifying thread connecting the legendary spring, Artair’s sword, and the slave camps. But the Takhran’s schemes are already in motion. Powerful singers have arisen to lead his army—singers who can shake the earth and master the sea—and monsters rampage across the land. 

As Leira falters on the verge of defeat, the Song bids her rise to battle, and the Songkeeper must answer. 

I don't even know where to start with all this. I mean, the cover is seriously awesome, but also kind of terrifying. I mean, I assume that's Birdie? And she's apparently controlling a storming tidal wave, or something to that effect? Can you say power-up? And apparently we don't just have griffins and lions now, but we also have . . . unicorns? Can we call that a unicorn even though the horn has multiple points? (Also, I'd like to point out that I don't think I've ever seen a more warlike unicorn. Just saying.)

Moving on to the cover blurb: ok, so we knew everything was terrible at the end of the last book. No surprise there. Also no hints as to the fate of a certain character, but that's also not a surprise; Gillian's too smart to give up her secrets that easily. I think I need to reread the series so I can remember what the "legendary spring" is, because I'm not sure what's up with that. But in general, this should be pretty epic.

What do you think of the cover and blurb? Are you excited for Song of Liera? Please tell me in the comments!
-Sarah (Leilani Sunblade)

P.S. So, yes, my hiatus went a bit longer than intended due to final project craziness. If all goes well, we should return to the usual schedule this weekend. Thanks for your patience!