Warrior Princess Book One

By Allan | Friday, 7 November 2008 at 11:19
Category: Writing | Tags:

The first volume of my newest quartet of books is due to hit the shops on the 27th of January 2009.

The Series is set in the British Isles in the period known as the Dark Ages, a grim and dangerous time when the native peoples of the islands were under attack from invading waves of Saxon conquerors. Only in the west of the mainland do the Britons still hold out against the foreign armies – and at the very forefront of this last defensive stronghold stands the fortress of Garth Milain where Princess Branwen ap Griffith lives with her Warrior parents and her gallant older brother.

This is a time when the old superstitions and beliefs are no longer a part of people’s lives – but Branwen learns that the Old Gods – The Shining Ones – are still very much alive – and that they have a Destiny for her, if she is willing to follow their path.

It takes just a moment for fifteen year old Branwen’s life to change forever. In the blink of an eye the Saxons attack and her brother, Prince Geraint, is killed. Almost as quickly, she is sent against her wishes away from her fortress home to a stronghold beyond the mountains where she’ll be safe from harm in the coming war with the Saxons. Now Branwen lives as a true Princess should – in lavish quarters, surrounded by exquisite things. But she is more used to life on the borderlands, where danger lurks over every hill – and even in this life of luxury, her heart and soul remain those of a born warrior!

Just when Branwen despairs of ever being able to join in the fight against the Saxons, a seemingly chance encounter with a mystical woman in white changes her life forever. With no time to lose, Branwen must make a choice: either to continue on the path her parents have set for her, or to do as the woman in white bids and step into the role of a true Warrior Princess.

“You are one of The Shining Ones?”

“I am.”

Branwen stepped forwards, her eyes grown used to the brilliance thrown off by the woman in white, but her mind still dazzled. “What do you want of me?”

“I have waited long for you, warrior child. All of Brython will be your home, and you will gather to you a band of warriors who shall keep the enemy at bay for many long years.”

“No! You’re wrong. I’m not a warrior.”

“You can be a warrior, if you choose to be,” Rhiannon said, her eyes shining.

“Not me!”

“There is no one else,” Rhiannon said. “You are the one who will save this land. You are the Sword of Destiny. The Bright Blade! The Emerald Flame of your people!”

[cross-posted from MySpace]

The Immortal Realm

By Allan | Tuesday, 3 June 2008 at 07:52
Category: Writing | Tags:

I have just finished writing book one of the new Faerie Path Trilogy, or book four of The Faerie Path series, depending on how you look at it.

I sent the book off to my UK editors on Saturday 31st May. They expect to get it back to me in a couple of weeks with their thoughts and comments and suggestions. When I’ve made the changes I think improve the book, it will then be sent off to my American Publishers in New York – who will doubtless have their own bunch of thoughts comments and suggestions which I will be asked to take on board. Heigh-ho – a writer’s life!

Actually, I’m quite pleased with how this book has come out. For those of you who have read the first trilogy, I can give you a few pointers as to what goes on – without spoiling the plot, of course.

As the book opens, it is three weeks after the end of The Sorcerer King. Everyone is gathered in Leiderdale in the Earldom of Dinsel, to witness and celebrate the wedding of Princess Cordelia and Bryn, the Unicorn-friend from Weir. Tania is having a great time. Her Mortal Parents are visiting Faerie and despite the trials of having two Fathers and two Mothers in the same place at the same time, everything is going smoothly. Tania’s Mortal Mother is getting on really well in Faerie, and likes Titania, but her Mortal Dad is having problems adjusting to this new magical land, and besides, he has a really annoying summer cold, which is dampening his spirits more than somewhat.

One of the small problems that Tania has to face is the fact that her Mortal Dad thinks she should go back to London to finish her education – then, he says, once she has some academic qualifications under her belt, she’s free to come and live in Faerie if she wants to. He makes it very obvious that he doesn’t think she should stay in Faerie at all. “You’re living in a fairy tale right now,” he tells her, “but what happens on the day after happy ever after?”

And as if Dad isn’t being annoying enough, a second problem hits Tania when, out of the blue, Edric proposes marriage to her!

Well, she loves him, and really wants to be with him, but she’s sixteen and she’s never even thought about getting married. She kind of freaks out at the suggestion and Edric takes it badly – feeling totally rejected by her. Of course, it’s okay for Edric – he’s been around for hundreds of years – and in Faerie love is forever. He can’t understand why Tania won’t agree to marry him, and she can’t understand why he’s making such a big deal out of it – after all, they’re together, aren’t they?

Anyhow, they have no time properly to talk this thorough when something truly terrible happens. A small infant dies – of an illness! The death of a little baby is tragic enough in any circumstances, but in Faerie there is no illness – so how has this happened? What Dark Power has brought sickness into Faerie after ten thousand years? Is it some last malediction from Lyonesse? And if not, who is attacking Faerie and why?

Tania, helped by her sister Rathina, sets out to answer these questions, despite the opposition of the powerful Council of Earls and in particular Lord Aldrich of Weir, father of the evil Gabriel Drake, whose schemes almost destroyed Faerie in the all too recent past!

One clue – Lyonesse isn’t at the bottom of this deadly attack on Faerie!

[cross-posted from MySpace]

The Faerie Path – Books 4, 5 & 6

By Allan | Thursday, 27 March 2008 at 08:37
Category: Writing | Tags:

Readers who have enjoyed The Faerie Path trilogy – “The Faerie Path”, “The Lost Queen” and “The Sorcerer King” – will be pleased to know that I am writing a further three books about Princess Tania and the Immortal Realm of Faerie.

The books are planned to form a second trilogy – three linked stories which will take place in the Immortal Realm of Faerie and in The Mortal World. Most of the characters from the first three books will be reappearing, and the action will begin about three weeks after the end of The Sorcerer King.

Without giving too much away at this point, I can say that the Faerie Court has travelled west to the Earldom of Dinsel, where Princess Cordelia is to marry Bryn, the Unicorn-friend. Something truly terrible happens at the wedding ceremony – something that has not happened in Faerie for thousands of years and something which throws the whole Realm into turmoil.

To makes things worse, serious problems develop in the relationship between Tania and Edric as Tania is forced to face the reality of the word “forever” when used by an Immortal. In Faerie, forever truly means for ever!

[cross-posted from MySpace]

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