WORLD-BUILDING: Na'Reish territory (maps)

One of the things I really enjoy when creating a fantasy series is the world-building.

With the Light Blade series I roughed out a map of their world and then, thanks to John Wrench, a friend who's skilled with IT graphics programs, he transformed my etchings into what you see below.

This is the map that appears in ALLEGIANCE SWORN.

 

Compass Rose from the map

What do you think of maps for fantasy worlds? Do you prefer a visual aid? Something that adds value as the story unfold? Or do you prefer to leave it to the imagination?

Cat-urday! - Games Cats play...

 Yes, it's...

Ahh, cats...

CAST OF CHARACTERS: Imhara - the Na'Reish demon leader

As an introduction to the characters from ALLEGIANCE SWORN, today I'd like you to meet Imhara, the heroine.

Name: Imhara Kaal

Race: Na'Reish demon (Na'Reishi highborn & Na, leader of her Clan)

Age: 28

Background: Imhara belongs to the Clan Kaal, one of twelve Na'Reish Clans. Her ancestors have remained true to the Old Ways - honoring the Lady as their deity and embracing a lifestyle where humans, Na'Chi and Na'Reish live together in peace.

Since the Great War over 400 years ago, her Clan has led an double life, interacting with the other Clans when necessary, portraying the use of a caste system and slavery as a part of everyday life, yet discouraging and restricting access into their territory to keep their secret safe.

Imhara (& Arek)

Their territory is geographically isolated by a mountain range and they control Skadda Pass, a well known slave-route used by Na'Reish patrols and raiders, to sneak into the southern provinces of human territory.

Imhara monitors the pass and all traffic, taking advantage of her rank as Na to demand tribute from those who use it, and rescue humans captured for the auction block.

As the only survivor of an assassination attempt on her entire family five years ago in a raid designed to seize control of her Clan and Skadda Pass, she took her father's place as Na during a Clan Enclave, foiling Na'Rei Savyr's attempt to claim her family's territory as his own.

Over the years she's survived numerous attempts on her life and made many enemies among the other Clans. Seeking vengeance, and in an effort to ensure her Clan's survival, Imhara intends to kill Savyr and approach the Blade Council for a truce. But to aid her in this attempt she needs to find an advocate, someone who will speak for her and convince them that the Kaal Clan are not a threat.

Skills: Imhara was taught by her parents the importance of responsibility and leadership from a young age, even though her older brother was groomed to take on the role as Clan Na.

Her father also insisted she train and learn weapon skills and strategy with her brother and his Na'Hord. She was able to utilise these skills after her family was murdered.

To avoid any further assassination attempts Imhara honed her fighting skills - an usual move by a female Na'Reishi society.

Imhara has also learned the art of deception and lives a double life within a culture that despises the Lady and her tenets. She's an advocate of the Old Ways, while her alter-ego, Na Kaal, has developed the reputation of being a tough, ruthless leader who enjoys taking human male slaves to her bed (a proclivity frowned upon by most of Na'Reish society).

Interesting facts:

• Imhara and Rassan (her Second-in-Command) became close friends during her teens. They met when her father insisted she learn fighting skills with his Na'Hord. Rassan was one of the young trainees.
• Imhara prefers the comfort of wearing breeches & a shirt to dresses, flaunting Na'Reish convention.
• Her favorite drink is k'sa, a hot, creamy, strong nutty flavored beverage popular among the Na'Reish.
• Imhara and her mother made the matching quilts that adorn her bed and chair in her room.
• As part of her persona as Na Kaal, Imhara has chains and shackles attached to the corner posts of her bed to foster the perception that she takes unwilling, human lovers.

Saturday Seven! (Flesh)

It's Saturday Seven!

FLESH by Kylie Scott is a post-apocalyptic erotic romance. Ali and Daniel have met and their relationship has progressed to intimacy but it's still in its infancy.

They've just come face to face with some Mad Max type bad-guys who tried to kill them and been rescued by Finn, an ex-policeman. They're now holed up in a safe place, hiding from them, but they all know their survival depends on trusting one another.

Finn is attracted to Ali, something Daniel is acutely aware of...

Finn chuckled, casting an eye over his sleeping beauty. His gaze glommed onto the side of her breast where it pressed against Daniel's chest.
After a hell of a long moment, wherein he was certain the guy had stopped breathing and quite possibly swallowed his own tongue, the kid's gaze shot back to Daniel's face. Hungry looking eyes turned guilty in an instant. "Shit.. Sorry, man."
"Don't worry about it. I know what it's like." Yeah, he knew what it was like. He still wanted to hit the pretty asshole, but he did know what it was like.
Therein lay the root of the problem.
Sharing was not in his nature, but nature would have to adapt. Ali needed this kid. Finn was a modern day gunslinger. Deep down he fucking hated it, but his girl needed this one nice and close. Preferably wrapped around her finger and deeply concerned about her health and happiness.
Every goddamned minute of every goddamned day would be best.
Daniel did not want to share her. Not with the kid, not with anyone, not even a little. He knew it would work, this insane idea of going halves, he just didn't want it to. He had only recently found her and she was his. But he couldn't keep her safe on his own, a fact that bit deep and hard and hung on as a pit bull would. How the hell to convince her? What Ali wanted and what would keep her safe and alive would likely be at odds in this case. She'd accused him of being pushy a time or two. His girl had no real idea how far he would go to protect her.

FLESH

Ali has been hiding in an attic since civilisation collapsed eight weeks ago.

When the plague hit, her neighbours turned into mindless, hungry, homicidal maniacs.
Daniel has been a loner his entire life. Then the world empties and he realises that being alone isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Finn is a former cop who is desperate for companionship, and willing to do anything it takes to protect the survivors around him.
When the three cross paths they band together; sparks fly, romance blooms in the wasteland and Ali, Daniel and Finn bend to their very human needs in the ruins of civilisation.
Lust, love and trust all come under fire in Flesh as the three battle to survive, hunted through the suburban wastelands.

CAST OF CHARACTERS: Arek - the demon hating warrior

As an introduction to the characters from ALLEGIANCE SWORN, today I'd like you to meet Arek, the hero.

Name: Arek Barial

Race: human

Age: 29

Background: Arek's parents were Light Blade warriors.

His mother was captured and raped by Na'Rei Savyr when he was 3 years old. She gave birth to Annika Gannec, his younger half-blood sister (who's story is portrayed in VENGEANCE BORN).

Chris Hemsworth - my inspiration for Arek.

His father committed suicide on learning of his mother's capture.

Arek was brought up by Davyn, his maternal grandfather. Thanks to Davyn's embittered influence, he grew up hating everything demon and made it his mission in life to kill as many of them as possible.

He held the position of Kalan's Second-in-Command until it was presumed he was killed in a rescue mission-gone-wrong (in ALLIANCE FORGED - Varian, the Na'Chi leader took his place at Kalan's request to help forge the alliance between the humans and Na'Chi).

Arek was actually captured by a Na'Hord raiders and transported into Na'Reish territory to be sold as a slave.

Skills: Arek is a Light Blade warrior - one of the best. His Gift from the Lady, the power to kill with kinetic energy, is so strong he's able to direct it through any weapon or via touch.

In human society, Light Blades are highly respected for their skills and dedication to upholding the Lady's tenets. They are the protectors of all.

Interesting facts:

• Kalan is Arek's best friend. They met as children and trained as Light Blade warriors together. He considers both Kalan and Kymora the brother and sister he never had.
• Growing up he used to escape the pressure of living up to his parents' reputation as Light Blade warriors taking off into the city with Kalan - to play with the children there, or, as he grew older, to visit the Night Markets.
• He cherished the time he spent with his paternal grandparents on their farm outside Sacred Lake. Helping them with the daily grind of chores was something he thoroughly enjoyed as he was able to leave his studies and training as a Light Blade warrior behind. It also gave him time away from Davyn and his never-ending lectures on his obligation to avenge his parents' deaths.

Arek (& Imhara) - not a bad match for Chris, eh?

• Arek froze the first time he faced the Na'Reish in battle. If it hadn't been for Commander Yevni's intervention he would have died on the battlefield.
• He was the first to discover the information that the Na'Reish and humans used to coexist peacefully together, and those with Gifts from the Lady were actually of mixed blood (ie.Na'Chi).
• Arek is highly respected as a Light Blade warrior and leader, yet quite openly admits he'll never make a good Councilor given his outspoken attitude and lack of patience with the political arena. He's insulted almost every member of the Blade Council at one time or another, and been ejected a number of times from meetings because of his lack of diplomacy.

Goodreads Giveaways Galore!

With the release of ALLEGIANCE SWORN exactly a month away, it's time to begin the party with a triple giveaway!

Yes, you read that right - a TRIPLE giveaway!

Not one book.

Not two books.

But THREE books of Light Blade goodness.

• VENGEANCE BORN

• ALLIANCE FORGED

and

• ALLEGIANCE SWORN

All are now listed over at Goodreads (they're also listed in the side bar of this blog) - get thee there and enter! Good luck!!!

GUEST AUTHOR: S.E.Gilchrist

I first met S.E.Gilchrist at a Romance Writers of Australia conference many years ago, and it was then we discovered a shared love of all things paranormal, and that we liked to read many of the same authors.

Today it's a great pleasure to have her as my guest - please make her feel welcome!

S.E.Gilchrist Bio: My home is in the beautiful Hunter Valley of Australia with vineyards, rivers, tree studded countryside and the Pacific Ocean all at my doorstep. I grew up in a small coastal town in NSW, a fantastic place with the ocean, the lake, the Aussie bush, caves, old mines all offering different ‘worlds’ to explore.

I love traveling, meeting new people and exploring their cultures. I have visited Asia and the US and spent several years traveling around Australia, lived on a cattle station, on the gem fields, beside the ocean, camped beside mountain streams and under the stars in the outback – all truly magical experiences.

My dream is to earn a living from my writing and be in a position to travel once more.

My writing passion is in the romance genres of sci fi / futuristic, fantasy, paranormal, post apocalyptic/dystopian, ancient history and time travel. I love to combine adventure and romance and aspire to give my protagonists a goal worth fighting for. And I really enjoy giving them a hell of a lot of problems along the way! Adventure – exploring new worlds, battling aliens, dueling with medieval warriors, vanquishing demons, weathering the storms and embracing the joys of challenging relationships.

My other interests are : the environment, science/new technology, animal welfare, mythology, kayaking and bush walking.

I am a member of the RWA of Australia, Romance Writers of New Zealand,  Darksiders Down Under Blog, Hunter Romance Writers, Hot-Down Under anthology writers and RWAmerica, the SF Brigade, Savvy Authors.

Title - LEGEND BEYOND THE STARS 
Publisher - Escape Publishing 
Setting - The Seven Galaxies 
Hero - Commander Tarak el Rajan of the Darkon Battle Fleet 
Heroine - Captain Alana Knight of the United Earth Corporation 

LEGEND BEYOND THE STARS

Seeking redemption from a mission gone terribly wrong, Captain Alana Knight volunteers to aid a dangerous operation to transport colonists between Earth and alien traders. But on board the spaceship, she learns of a galactic war raging for power. A power that can be transformed into a terrible weapon. 
When the colonists are betrayed and sold, Alana’s mission is re-defined. Nothing will stop her from keeping those in her care safe and finding a passage home. But her new captor is nothing like she expects…

Commander Tarak El Rajan is human, male and equally determined to retain his payload. With his race on the brink of extinction he is under strict orders to transport all females to the planet Isla for research purposes. 
In a world of uncertainty, where the wrong decision could mean the death of an entire race, the last thing either of these two soldiers expects or needs is to fall in love.

Buy Links
Escape Publishing     Amazon     Kobo


Scene you would never cut -
Alana swallowed hard on the bile which burned her throat. She was proud her voice did not quaver when she continued, “And Commander Tarak, does he know too?”
Surprise widened Atolo’s eyes. “Of course. Now we must hurry.” He waved the warrior away. “I am eager to begin. This section here, we have some interesting specimens of our earlier research. Up ahead we have preserved the results of our experiments in more recent years. As you can see, we had almost reached a stage of achieving an actual embryo. Almost but not quite.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her along. Alana shook her head in violent denial, refusing to accept his words. She saw his mouth moving as he gesticulated with pride at the tiny vulnerable life forms curled up in the familiar foetal position in their lonely tube coffins.
Her body spasmed.
A shudder so profound it almost felled her to the ground wracked through her. The monster’s voice had receded to a thin drone in the background. Alana heard nothing through the roar in her ears. She could barely see as she stretched out a trembling hand and touched the uncaring metal. A bitter wave of revulsion shook her to her core and she struggled for air.
And Tarak knew of this?  Could this be the secret her lover had kept from her? That plus the knowledge her friends and herself were destined for these horrendous research chambers? She thought back over all the times she had sensed he had held something back, something of vital importance. She recalled the eerie atmosphere pervading the Darkons’ city, the grim almost despairing auras that clung to Tarak and his warriors. Deep inside amid the cauldron of horror, doubt and remembered grief, murderous thoughts poisoned her mind.
She jerked her hand from her jailor, lurched to the side and vomited.
Over and over until nothing remained but hollowness.
Emptiness.
She scrubbed at the tears on her face and retched again. She knew she would carry the image of a frail shrivelled body until the end of her days.
Her eyelids were as heavy if they were weighted with bricks and her body felt as if lead was in her veins. She shuddered and realised she huddled on the icy floor. The faint sounds of whimpering were coming from her own throat.
So cold, she was sure she would never be warm again. Her movements slow and jerky her hands scrubbed at her face. She wiped her sleeve under her dripping nose. Only one thing mattered now. Her mouth hardened into a thin line as her brain kicked back into gear.
I’ll kill them.
All of them.
Every last Darkon.
And she would save Commander Tarak for last.

Something your heroine would never do or say – Alana would never turn her back on anyone who needed her. She’d also never sing, as she sounds like a drowning cat.

What do you think the readers will like about LEGEND BEYOND THE STARS?
The love story. I hope readers will find emotionally fulfilling Alana and Tarak’s romance. Both Alana and Tarak have to wrestle with duty, their responsibilities for others and the knowledge they need to sacrifice what they hold dear if they should reach out and take this chance at happiness.

There’s action and adventure in this story plus the underlining thread is a war raging in the background and a villain who has yet to be conquered.

What themes or tropes appear in the book?
Sacrifice, protection, responsibility for others. Greed and desperation. 

What's the most fascinating aspect about writing in the science fiction romance genre for you?
Definitely the ability to create entire worlds with new rules, laws, cultures and religions. Power! Give me more power!

Which authors have inspired you in your own writing?
Wow, too many: Elizabeth Peters, Denise Rosetti, Linnea Sinclair, Angela Knight, Karen Marie Moning, John Birmingham, Agatha Christie, Georgette Heyer, Matthew Reilly, JRR Tolkien, Betty Neels, Karen Hawkins, JD Robb, Johann Lindsey etc.

Is there anything else about LEGEND BEYOND THE STARS that you'd like to share?
*Legend has a quirky little side-kick, an alien called Norman who ends up a close and important friend to Alana.
*The need for the colonists to leave Earth for example is because climate change has wrecked havoc on our resources and war has erupted on all borders as people become desperate for the basic necessities of life.
*There’s also some gritty realism in this story. Just like in our reality, people make unpleasant decisions; some with terrible consequences. And not everyone gets their HEA.

*And I’d like to finish with a mention for a hot, short story called THE PORTAL. It's a tale set in the same world as Legend and was released on 1st March by Escape Publishing.

THE PORTAL
When Janni, a young salvager, boards a space wreck, she is caught for daring to steal Darkon tech by a patroller and the one man she had thought never to see again. Several months ago she had allowed him to slip past her defences for a brief and wonderful interlude. But with both of them on either sides of the law, they had walked away. Now they are trapped on a wreck and with an alien life-force hunting them. Will the patroller save her or abandon Janni to her fate?


Kylie, thank you so much for hosting me on your site today. Its been wonderful!

Thank you for visiting, SE, and congratulations on your latest releases!

You can find out more about S.E.Gilchrist at her website or Escape Publishing, or you might like to follow her on Facebook, Twitter or the Hunter Romance Writers blog.


Other books by S.E.Gilchrist:

Released Dec.28th, 2012 w/Smashwords & Amazon

Released Dec.1st, 2012, Momentum Books