An icy wind swirls frigid flakes of varied lace patterns along a rocky trail. Haunting fingers branch from slumbering trees toward a lowly horseman. In the distance, on the highest peak, seven turrets pierce a veiled silver sky. The rider lowers his head as shoulder-length ebony hair whips across his face.
The days of summer and its warmth are long gone ...
* * * * *
Porcelain and metal crash onto a stone floor. A teen boy’s trembling hands reach out for the pieces, his world forever in darkness.
“Not again!” a shrill voice calls out.
He gathers up the broken shards into his apron. Heat burns through his cheeks as he feels his way toward the garbage bins.
* * * * *
A sharp blade swishes through the air seeking its target. It misses. Sweat rolls down the swordsman's face. A moment passes. He sucks air through clenched teeth. Stench from an unwashed body assaults his nostrils.
He steps further into the darkened corridor. Silence louder than an explosion weighs upon him like a two-ton boulder. Racing heart beats pound his tunic. He turns the corner as a shadow shifts from behind a massive column and inches closer ...
* * * * *
Dainty finger plucks mint leaves off a stem and drop them into a boiling cauldron. Swirls of vapor caress her fine features as she inhales the brew.
“This shall do nicely,” she says to her furry companion. Emerald eyes flash in the flickering flames. The cat’s hackles raise from a knock on the door.
“What is it?”
“His majesty anxiously awaits your arrival.”
“I shall be there shortly.”
* * * * *
As shrieks throughout the kingdom break the silence, a monster licks its talons from another human feast.
Weak sunlight attempts to burn off the mist at dawn, as a fair-haired man straps a sword to his back. Heavy boots leave imprints in the snow with each step he journeys toward his final destiny.
* * * * *
The Kingdom of Wintermill is not unlike any other. Many mysteries are locked behind closed doors ...
The Men of Foxwick by Cherie Reich
Hi, all,
I hope you enjoyed my intro of Cherie Reich's newest collection. These shorts sound so intriguing, don't they?
I can't wait to delve into this enchanting world. What else will we discover?
Below is Cherie's blurb and information. Please drop by her blog to congratulate her.
GOOD LUCK, CHERIE!
Men of Foxwick by Cherie Reich is now available! This fantasy short story collection features five men from the Kingdom of Foxwick.
A blind teen seeks a place in the kingdom. A dragon seer journeys to Wintermill to spy on the queen. A sword master’s worst fear comes true when he fails to protect the royal family. A king falls in love with an herb witch, but will she feel the same way? A hunter will rise to the challenge to hunt down a man-eating monster.
Short stories in this collection: Blind Scribe, Dragon Spy, Sword Master, Courting Magic, and Monster Hunter
To purchase: Amazon / Amazon UK / Smashwords / Kobo / Nook
Click here to add on Goodreads.
About the Author: A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her books include the horror series Nightmare, a space fantasy trilogy titled Gravity, and the fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles. She is Vice President of Valley Writers and a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Untethered Realms.
Her debut YA Epic Fantasy novel Reborn, book one in The Fate Challenges, will be released on May 23, 2014.
Also, Cherie has a special announcement for her email newsletter subscribers. Click here to sign up for her updates and receive a coupon for a free copy of Women of Foxwick.
44 comments:
Aww! What a great introduction to my Men of Foxwick! And I think Amelia, my herb witch, does need a cat. Thank you so much for featuring Men of Foxwick today! :D
Awesome introduction! I know Cherie's stories will be as great as her cover.
Aww, thank you, Carol! :)
By the second story, I knew what book you were featuring! Awesome, Michael. That's an introduction fitting for Cherie's book.
Love the cover and awesome teasers!
As always, Michael, your introductions are fascinating and skillfully designed to whet our interest.
Did you miss your calling as a cover-copy editor? :D
Oh goodness... your visuals really are incredible, Michael. You have a way with words that creates a "mood" around them. I wanted to stay in that first blurb! I want to be riding next to the ebony-haired rider! It's all so magical.
So neat for Cherie! I really do love the cover. And her work looks wonderful!
(All of these authors who get you to intro their books are so lucky!)
Fantastic intro.
Wonderful post Michael, great to read.
Yvonne.
Thank you, Katie and Morgan! :)
Love the cover. Happily shared and tweeted.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
Great intro for Cherie's book! The stories sound spine-tingling. :)
Best of luck to Cherie. These stories sound magnificent, and I love the cover.
Masterful intro, Michael!
VR Barkowski
Every time I see her cover, I think, "That's a good one!"
Wow, I'm seeing this all over! Great intro, btw. Very intriguing :)
I second what Dianne said. You do a great job, Michael, enticing the reader to check out the book.
As Stina said: you do a grand job of arousing the reader's curiosity to read more. :-)
This sounds wonderful!
This is one I want to read.
.....dhole
Just reading it made me cold! Good job and nice cover! Congrats, Cherie! :)
Sounds interesting.
Cherie's cover is really pretty. Your into does it great justice.
What a great introduction—Cherie's book sounds incredible!
Thank you, Shelly!
Hehe! I don't know about spine-tingling, but a few are dark, a couple light, a well-rounded collection, I hope, Laura.
Thank you, VR!
Aww, thanks, C. Lee! :)
Thank you, Alleged!
If you get a chance to read it, I hope you enjoy it, Donna!
Thank you, Celeste!
Thanks, Patsy, Diane, and Dana!
Love all the excerpts!
P.S. to Michael: Talked to my sis in Chicago last night. Yeah, the weather!! Weird. Good luck w/your condo. We are in the process of moving too! Looking at places even more remote (more desert) than the one we have. Call me crazy. :) So good to *hear* from you yesterday! xo
A stellar intro, Michael...very well done!
Cherie's book sounds like a lot of fun!
I am looking forward to starting her books! They all sounds really good
Great intro, Michael!
I already have that beauty on my Kindle.
Best of luck, Cherie. :)
Beautiful introduction! Wishing Cherie the best of luck. Her books look great :)
interesting excerpt.
Hope you're having a nice weekend ahead, Mikey!
Love the teasers :)
Suzanne @ Suzannes Tribe
What a super introduction, Michael. Cherie is a wonderful writer, her descriptions take my breath away.
Wonderful introduction, Michael. These stories do indeed sound intriguing - as is that cover. Congrats, Cherie!
P.S. to Michael - I'll definitely be heading into the city again this summer...and I'll force you to look at alll my vacation photos, haha.
Wonderful intro, as one can expect from you, Michael. Best of lucks to Cherie and her new book. I just *know* it will rock!!
For a minute there I thought you had opened my closet door. There be monsters in there, lol!
Very nicely done and yes, I do want to check out this book of tales. I think my son would enjoy it as well. But, not today. Today is cleaning out the slime monster from my oven so my darling son can replace the baking oven. :-)
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
What an amazing, and fitting, intro for Men of Foxwick. Huge congratulations to Cherie!
Michael, your descriptions were super, I was swept away by them. Looking forward to reading more of your work. I initially thought you were quoting from Cherie's book.
That's a cool intro to Cherie's lovely book!
What great teasers! And a multi-sensory experience too!
I could actually "see" the ebony-haired rider, and almost "smell" the stench from an unwashed body... and the mint too!
Writer In Transit
Cherie's book is already on my mental, to read list, but you make it sound fabulous!
What a great way to present the flavor of the book(s)! Nicely done, Michael, and Congratulations, Cherie! Very cool.
I love the way you do these :)
Best wishes to Cherie and Men of Foxwick!
wow! Sounds like Cherie's got an awesome story here!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
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