Virtual Book Tour Dates: 3/5/14 - 3/19/14Genre: Epic Fantasy
Blurb:
A Dark sorcerer is Awakened from eight hundred years of ensorcelled slumber, unleashing an ancient and terrible scourge upon the land as he uses his malevolent powers to enslave a continent and create an empire built on blood magic and death.Across the Luminous Sea in Calderia, a crown prince grows to manhood, unaware that he carries within him a seed of divine power that must now be Awakened, if his people have any hope of surviving the evil sorcerer’s coming invasion of his homeland.But to do so, the human prince must help forge an alliance with other warring nations, including his blood enemies, the Elves, and their warrior princess who wants him dead. Somehow, these sworn foes must join forces, gathering other companions as they undertake a perilous journey to find a hidden talisman, solve an age-old mystery, and save their world from oblivion.Excerpt:
Killian moved forward to the edge of the clearing, then turned and looked at Ellianthia, holding out his hand. After some hesitation, she inhaled deeply and walked over to his side, raising her hand tentatively to press her palm to his. The Elfin princess looked up at him, his flame-red hair gleaming in the sun, his blue eyes clear and bright with excitement. What kind of power did this human possess, that he could so easily enter this sacred place, this Elfin sanctuary where even Mellisandria, an ancient Wise One, trod lightly? She gripped his hand more tightly, wondering what might happen if she let go.
They walked directly to the mound, hearing no sound save that of their own footsteps, the pounding of their hearts, and the rustle of the grass as they brushed against it in their passing. When they reached the mass of tangled vines and stood before the Stone, he felt humbled by its megalithic size and grandeur. The surface visible beneath the branches and the blossoms appeared smooth and flawless, with no sign of weathering, as if time had stood still for ages here in this place of power.
Killian did not know what he was meant to do next, but he felt drawn to walk around the Stone while it waited for him to unlock its mystery. Still leading Ellianthia by the hand, he had paced perhaps a quarter of the way around its base before he found that same palm-sized circle that he had seen in his vision, positioned partway up the side of the monolith. Knowing instinctively that this was what he had been seeking, he raised his hand toward the circle and looked at Mellisandria for final confirmation that he should proceed.
“It is your destiny,” she said, nodding once. With that, he stepped forward and placed his palm flat upon the circle.
At the instant of his touch, a brilliant flash of golden light erupted from the circle, encasing the Calderian prince and the Elfin princess. Then several gasps arose from the observers, Ellianthia’s loudest and nearest of all, for Killian’s eyes were two luminous orbs glowing with divine presence, as if the gods themselves had entered his body and now looked out through their Avatar upon the awestruck mortals gathered there. In that moment, any lingering doubts that he was indeed the chosen vessel of the deities vanished from the minds of all who had witnessed it.
Almost immediately thereafter came a deep rumbling that shook the ground and rattled the lofty branches of the trees around them. A strong gale sprang up, whipping hair and clothing about, and making them blink from the force blowing against their faces. The deep vibration seemed to be emanating from within the Stone itself as, before their wind-stung eyes, a vertical crack appeared in that flawless gray surface.
Soon, the crack became a narrow crevice running down from top to bottom, then widened steadily into a rift that grumbled and creaked with every inch of movement, cleaving the granite and snapping the vines that covered it. Then two stone doors, each some five feet in width, pivoted as if on hinges and swung outward, revealing a dark, mysterious opening into the monolith.
Killian glanced at Ellianthia, who was staring back at him with the same expression of shock written on the faces of the other Elves and humans waiting behind them on the edge of the clearing. Though the glow in his eyes had dimmed, he was undeniably the prophecy fulfilled, for all could see that the “One who will come to split the stone” stood before them. She tried to pull her hand away, but he shook his head slightly and pointed toward the opened doors, knowing that their presence was required there. Gathering his courage, he led her inside.Buy Links:Author Bio:
I was raised on the East Coast, enduring the freezing winters and loving New York pizza by the slice, the kind you fold in half and start eating with the hot melted cheese dripping down into your mouth. Now a psychologist, I live here in the California sun with my wife and daughter, and assorted pets. I don't regret leaving the cold weather behind, but I do still miss the pizza.I have been enamored with science fiction/fantasy since I was (as my southern grandmother used to say) "knee-high to a grasshopper." Thank the gods for ebooks, because I ran out of room to store my collection many moons ago. I enjoy reading, RPG’s, canning homegrown preserves, old time radio, more reading, and Scottish Highland Games (middle name is McMaster). I actually had a kilt of my clan tartan made, and I've been promising myself to learn how to play "Scotland the Brave" on the bagpipes. Perhaps one day…
Why I Write Classic Fantasy—Part II: Mythical Races and Magical Creatures.David M. EcheandiaThis is the second in a series of book tour posts about why I write classic fantasy novels. Fantasy is usually the first literature we hear about as young children, in the form of fairy tales that depict imaginary lands full of wonder where impossible and magical things happen. I’ve never outgrown my love for fantasy, though I now prefer more adult themes and characters. So, when I grew weary of waiting for the next sequel in any of the 6-7 series I was reading and decided to write my own story, it had to be classic fantasy.The Avatar of Calderia Trilogy is a classic epic fantasy, a “sword and sorcery” tale set in an imaginary “medieval” era world where brave heroes and nefarious villains meet in a mighty struggle of good vs. evil. My role models have been iconic writers such as Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, as well as Jordan, Eddings, Salvatore, and Carey, among many others. The pages of their works contain certain elements and themes that are essential to the classic fantasy that I love, such as the presence of wizards, sorcerers and the wonders of magic that I discussed in my first tour post (3/10/14). But no self-respecting fantasy would be complete without the inclusion of another of my favorite features: mythical races and magical creatures.Elves, fairies, sprites, dwarves, goblins, trolls, giants and ogres are only a few of the many mythical beings that may inhabit the classic fantasy author’s world, interacting with the main characters in some important (and often critical) ways—or sometimes being the main characters themselves. These creatures of legend have a deeply rooted place in our human psyches and cultural memories, perpetuated by the telling and retelling of their imaginary history and fanciful exploits through oral and written traditions passed down over the centuries. As mysterious, and sometimes magical, forces of nature, both good and evil, they are markedly different from humans in unpredictable and exotic ways that lend a surreal quality to any tale of adventure told around the fire. They can inject a sense of whimsy, humor, drama or danger, engendering feelings of awe and wonder (or fear and loathing) that may powerfully impact the reader’s emotions as the story unfolds. (Gollum of LOTR really does this for me). That’s what makes them fascinating, intriguing and fun to write about.Most people are familiar with the well-loved archetypes of these mythical beings that appear in classic fantasy. Everyone “knows” that elves have pointed ears and live in the forest; that dwarves are short, bearded, hearty folk who live underground and dig for ore and gems; and that ogres are big, smelly, primitive and vicious. Some fantasy writers prefer to move beyond these older conventions by creating “new” races and creatures endowed with their own unique characteristics and cultures. I greatly admire their ingenuity and creativity, and I enjoy reading their books. As for me, I purposely chose to include some of the more time-honored imaginary characters in my books—the elves, dwarves, ogres and others yet to be revealed—because I feel like I‘ve known them all my life. They are like old friends to me, and I wanted the opportunity to enjoy incorporating their rich heritage into my stories and doing my own “take” on them. So, if they sound familiar as you read my books, that’s because I fully intended it that way. You can check out some of my other favorite elements of classic fantasy if you follow along on future stops of this blog tour. Happy reading
Connect With The Author:Giveaway:Author David M. Echeandia is giving away two $20 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Cards (winner’s choice) to two lucky winners!
The giveaway runs 3/5/14 – 3/20/14 (Midnight Eastern Time).
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