tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34203384333193146182024-03-05T06:38:01.507-08:00Erin L. Snyder - Fantasy and Science Fiction AuthorOnline presence for Erin L. Snyder, fantasy/science fiction author.Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-860717259942329282020-07-10T19:43:00.003-07:002020-07-10T19:43:58.510-07:00Now Available: The Weaving Spell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1083" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwYbmb-uMPZnZA0hYp9D23lqSqXGKzvvImoelpQIIkinppt2WoGZQLsYzAh5Z3EKWrUuMgbreZ3XlCkjll7cuYqf1y_x3_YJ-oPcBVeQTzUpQF8eGAYiaexvAHWpOT4dT_ufAc0fl2y0/s320/Weaving+Spell_Final_Cropped.png" width="216" /></div>
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The ninth and final installment in The Citadel of the Last Gathering is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CN38XH7">now available for Kindle and in paperback</a>.<br />
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I've been writing and revising these novels for the past ten years and mulling them over a lot longer than that, so it feels strange finally having them finished. If you've been reading along, I'd like to thank you for giving these books a chance. I'm proud of how the series came out, and I believe <i>The Weaving Spell</i> is one of the best installments.<br />
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If you haven't already picked up the earlier books, this weekend is a good time to do so - between Friday and Tuesday, Kindle copies of the first three books are free, and the fourth and fifth are on sale.<br />
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You can find <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Citadel-Last-Gathering-Book/dp/B081S1T1B2">the early novels in the series here</a>.Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-70633368733198969282020-05-13T19:44:00.000-07:002020-05-13T19:44:55.415-07:00Book 9 Will be Available Soonish!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozW9bqT_dmb50dxEbiC6bc7f2dnY2RMMfcGCXAoxeudNnixxTZYCcKokm6pZ0fU73QrGP4rY_ioc2TxFI_7i1JLmcGWS8e3oNWiqB_vjs6JsV55aLRAWXRvkqz200hgkDmHWs_1pcP8k/s1600/TheWeavingSpell_CoverArt_Backup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozW9bqT_dmb50dxEbiC6bc7f2dnY2RMMfcGCXAoxeudNnixxTZYCcKokm6pZ0fU73QrGP4rY_ioc2TxFI_7i1JLmcGWS8e3oNWiqB_vjs6JsV55aLRAWXRvkqz200hgkDmHWs_1pcP8k/s400/TheWeavingSpell_CoverArt_Backup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Originally, we'd been eyeing sometime in May to release The Weaving Spell, the final installment in The Citadel of the Last Gathering. Everything but the last few rounds of editing was already taken care of - the first draft was actually finished back in 2017, and I put some cover art together last year (which is why there's a image up there). Getting this wrapped up by May seemed easy.<br />
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Then the pandemic hit, and time became a precious commodity. I should note that my family and I have been extremely fortunate so far - we're all healthy, and both my wife and I are able to work from our home. We've also been extremely fortunate to have our daughter, whose first birthday is coming up fast, with us. The world feels a lot less depressing when a baby is laughing.<br />
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But that also means there are days where almost every minute is devoted to work, cleaning, cooking, and looking after the little one. Fortunately, there are other days we're able to find pockets of time to do a little editing or watch some TV. But those are exceptions rather than the rule, so things are getting pushed back a bit.<br />
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How far back? Honestly, I don't know. We're really close to having this ready - a few more passes should do it. But whether those last few passes happen this month or next has a lot to do with my daughter's ever-evolving weekend nap and bedtime schedule. Because of that, we're tentatively looking at getting this out sometime in June or July, with the caveat that August is certainly still in the realm of possibilities.<br />
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I'm really proud of this one - I think it's one of the strongest installments in the series. I'll of course post more info on the release when we're closer to having this done. In the meantime, I hope everyone out there is staying healthy and doing well.Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-74243437242237803682019-11-02T11:06:00.000-07:002019-11-02T11:06:30.443-07:00The Hut at the Towering Oak: Available November 7th!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7riJoF4c6s98oGdAeGDQ4r14tkQwO0zuV1kKtoN6LyLNDqjYxDiH_xQWiMZsthyXa1IMZbzkF_K48yPEV9gj60nh2qVn61mUDvV-7YGgFxhyphenhyphenm2qgARVUolbTGbshZSoYW-t683qBFE14/s1600/Hut_Oak3_text_KindleCrop_flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7riJoF4c6s98oGdAeGDQ4r14tkQwO0zuV1kKtoN6LyLNDqjYxDiH_xQWiMZsthyXa1IMZbzkF_K48yPEV9gj60nh2qVn61mUDvV-7YGgFxhyphenhyphenm2qgARVUolbTGbshZSoYW-t683qBFE14/s400/Hut_Oak3_text_KindleCrop_flat.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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Before I get to the book news, I should probably acknowledge the reason I've been absent from this site for the past six months.</div>
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Last summer my wife gave birth to our first child, a healthy, beautiful baby girl, and...</div>
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I am so tired.</div>
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That won't be news to any of you who have kids, but for those who don't: everything you've heard is true. Seven uninterrupted hours of sleep sounds as mystical and phantasmagorical as anything I've ever put in a book.</div>
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Which is a decent enough transition back to the initial topic. Book 8 in The Citadel of the Last Gathering will be available for Kindle in just under a week, and the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQDBC3B/">pre-order page is up now</a>. The ninth and final book will be out sometime next year (we're still finalizing a release date).</div>
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If you're new to the series, I strongly recommend reading these in order. And to make that easier, I'll be offering the first three installments free next weekend, along with sales on books four and five. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074CCVSC3">Head over to the series page</a> on November 7 to grab copies.</div>
Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-16327998598040121812019-04-29T20:43:00.000-07:002019-04-29T20:43:44.571-07:00Alaji the Witch Available May 2nd!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Alaji the Witch</i>, the seventh novel in the <i>Citadel of the Last Gathering,</i> will be available for Kindle on May 2. Physical copies will be available on or around that date, as well.<br />
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This installment features a fairly substantial subplot concerning goblin epistemology and three chapter ones - in other words, it's weird, and I really think you'll like it. The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QGRCQ3B/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_ip6UCb1W00BWR">preorder page is up now</a> if you want to ensure you'll get the digital version the moment it's available.</div>
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Of course, it's not going to make much sense if you haven't read the first six books in the series, so you'll want to get on that. In order to make things a little easier, I'll be offering digital copies of the first two books free on May 2nd and discounting most of the later novels. This promotion will go through the weekend, so make sure you grab copies before everything goes back to its normal price.</div>
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As always, if you'd like some information on what this series is about, you can <a href="http://www.erinlsnyder.com/2016/09/overview-of-citadel-of-last-gathering.html">head over to the FAQ</a>. Links to every novel appear below.<br />
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Book 1: <a href="https://amzn.com/B00WS2LCRI">A Count of Five</a><br />
Book 2: <a href="https://amzn.com/B0184REPKG">A Tide of Ice</a><br />
Book 3: <a href="https://amzn.com/B01L8C9ZD6">A Unique Sickness of Spirit</a><br />
Book 4: <a href="http://a.co/0BVtGoe">A Contest of Prophecies</a><br />
Book 5: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CQSYF5W/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_7p6UCbRQDM669">A Sea of Sky</a><br />
Book 6: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J3MJ4KT/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Bm6UCb4FGSJ4H">A Layer of Ash</a><br />
Book 7: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QGRCQ3B/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_ip6UCb1W00BWR">Alaji the Witch</a></div>
Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-78830545839284102352018-12-31T12:04:00.001-08:002018-12-31T12:04:05.271-08:00Exciting NewsI have a bit of exciting non-book news to share regarding the population of planet Earth. Despite some concerns about the number of humans currently residing here, Lindsay and I decided to risk increasing that number by one. We're expecting our first child in late June, and we couldn't be more excited.<div>
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I'm anticipating this will affect pretty much every aspect of my life... but it shouldn't seriously delay the last three books in my fantasy series, The Citadel of the Last Gathering. I've already got those written, and expect to have Book 7, <i>Alaji the Witch</i>, out before then. My plan is to have books 8 and 9 almost completely edited before my life turns upside-down in June, so it'll just be a matter of getting them out. While I can't promise a few self-imposed deadlines won't get a little "fuzzier," I want to assure anyone reading these that you're not going to get 2/3rds of the way through and discover the series isn't getting finished. The books are written, I'm extremely happy with how they're coming out, and the series - in its entirety - is going to be released.</div>
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Other than that, I hope everyone had a great Christmas. If you haven't been keeping up with <a href="https://www.mainliningchristmas.com/">Mainlining Christmas</a>, we posted a bunch of reviews of old and new Christmas movies and specials, along with several new podcast episodes (most recently, <a href="https://www.mainliningchristmas.com/2018/12/podcast-episode-5-is-die-hard-christmas.html">we chimed in on the Die Hard debate</a>).</div>
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What else? I've been heading to the movies while I still can - look for my reviews of <a href="http://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2018/12/movie-review-bumblebee.html">Bumblebee</a>, <a href="http://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2018/12/alternative-movie-review-spider-man.html">Into the Spider-Verse</a>, <a href="http://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2018/12/movie-review-aquaman.html">Aquaman</a>, and <a href="https://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2018/12/movie-review-mary-poppins-returns.html">Mary Poppins Returns</a> over at The Middle Room. It's been a fantastic month for movie fans. In fact, it's been a fantastic year - you can find my <a href="https://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2018/12/2018-movies-revisited.html">rankings for 2018 movies here</a>.</div>
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Other than that, I'm going to enjoy the last few days of my vacation and get back to editing. As always, thanks to everyone reading and following along - it means a lot.</div>
Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-75045710749231086282018-10-26T20:39:00.002-07:002018-10-26T20:39:56.044-07:00A Layer of Ash Now Available! Plus Get Books 1-3 FREE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnwzEZjRYW9xpeHmzU9N5SqKxrckAGZqcaf8jK5eeBrnkDqMCFwPVTKcIsp9hFd5dftXB3dq7Hu9RYbBGUuGkMGYpBpZGj_XnYyAp_LHzH7vxBGpzUE1BcG8s54IspkZyv91shzJF2MY/s1600/A+Layer+of+Ash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnwzEZjRYW9xpeHmzU9N5SqKxrckAGZqcaf8jK5eeBrnkDqMCFwPVTKcIsp9hFd5dftXB3dq7Hu9RYbBGUuGkMGYpBpZGj_XnYyAp_LHzH7vxBGpzUE1BcG8s54IspkZyv91shzJF2MY/s320/A+Layer+of+Ash.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i>A Layer of Ash</i>, book 6 in The Citadel of the Last Gathering, is <a href="http://a.co/d/7ZKLGJs">available now for Kindle</a> (paperback copies should be available soon). To celebrate, we're making the first three novels free for the weekend:<br />
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<a href="http://a.co/d/bRlOtCr"><i>A Count of Five</i></a><br />
<a href="http://a.co/d/7ckTHPb"><i>A Tide of Ice</i></a><br />
<i><a href="http://a.co/d/izUTow0">A Unique Sickness of Spirit</a></i><br />
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I hope you'll check it out!Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-47588720656137342222018-10-19T19:00:00.000-07:002018-10-19T19:00:07.774-07:00Two New Supplemental StoriesTo celebrate the release of <i>A Layer of Ash</i>, I'm posting two new supplemental short stories. These are in continuity with The Citadel of the Last Gathering and build out the setting, but neither directly concerns characters appearing in the main novels. To put it another way, skipping them won't detract from the experience of reading the books, but I'd like to hope reading them fleshes out the world a bit.<br />
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<a href="https://www.erinlsnyder.com/p/the-guest-citadel-of-last-gathering.html" target="_blank">The Guest</a> offers a look at the politics of Hathari as it would have been. The first novel, <i>A Count of Five</i>, contains background you'll need to understand what's going on. I recommended reading at least that far before looking at The Guest.<br />
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<a href="https://www.erinlsnyder.com/p/the-fall-there-was-no-mortal-wizard-in.html" target="_blank">The Fall</a> is set later in the timeline, between books five and six. It's intended to offer a little closure on the world of <i>A Sea of Sky</i>, so I'd suggest reading that before the short story.<br />
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These join <a href="http://www.erinlsnyder.com/p/the-truthspeaker-citadel-of-last.html">The Truthspeaker</a> and <a href="http://www.erinlsnyder.com/p/a-meeting-in-desert-citadel-of-last.html">A Meeting in the Desert</a> under the <a href="http://www.erinlsnyder.com/p/short-fiction.html" target="_blank">Short Fiction</a> tab.Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-2928372716197393392018-10-18T20:50:00.000-07:002018-10-18T20:50:50.307-07:00A Layer of Ash: Available October 26<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv1XvsNBQ8YY_KszsJwaSUVFpLMLPuQVStjfwBDRTLJ8apU-LQ6ee7wyrGRu06L9KM0Gp7vyG43NZzJRvH-P0ZY2er0T-QQuoD21OPmSY1UkR-GPiC3HMDiFWOrfdK9qyDoLV51va5rY/s1600/A+Layer+of+Ash_Silhouette+Cover2_text280_revision2_KDPcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv1XvsNBQ8YY_KszsJwaSUVFpLMLPuQVStjfwBDRTLJ8apU-LQ6ee7wyrGRu06L9KM0Gp7vyG43NZzJRvH-P0ZY2er0T-QQuoD21OPmSY1UkR-GPiC3HMDiFWOrfdK9qyDoLV51va5rY/s400/A+Layer+of+Ash_Silhouette+Cover2_text280_revision2_KDPcrop.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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<i>A Layer of Ash</i>, the sixth novel in The Citadel of the Last Gathering, will be available for the Kindle on October 26 and available in paperback around the same time. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J3MJ4KT">You can find the pre-order page for the Kindle version </a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J3MJ4KT">here</a> if you want to ensure it's delivered to your device the minute it's available.<br />
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Between its darker tone and autumn setting,<i> A Layer of Ash</i> would make a good Halloween read. If you're caught up on the first five novels, you'll be rewarded checking this out sooner rather than later. And if you're not caught up, you've got just enough time between now and the 26th!<br />
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While releasing two novels in one year has certainly been tiring, we're going to try and do it again in 2019. The last three books in the series have already been written, and we're planning to have book 7 revised and released in spring or summer, then book 8 in fall or early winter. The ninth and final installment should be ready sometime in early-to-mid 2020.<br />
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I couldn't be happier with how this series is coming along. <i>A Layer of Ash</i>, in particular, is one I'm extremely proud of, and I hope you'll give it a chance.Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-29781384335242028402018-05-03T05:00:00.000-07:002018-05-03T05:00:02.696-07:00A Sea of Sky Now Available!<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>A Sea of Sky</i>, book five in The Citadel of the Last Gathering, is <a href="http://a.co/24PYsr5" target="_blank">now available for Kindle</a> and <a href="http://a.co/1qz4WV0" target="_blank">in paperback</a>!<br />
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To celebrate the release, we're also offering the first four novels at a free or discounted price between today and Saturday, so this is a good time to catch up.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/CountFive" target="_blank">A Count of Five</a>: FREE<br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/TideofIce" target="_blank">A Tide of Ice</a>: FREE<br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/UniqueSickness" target="_blank">A Unique Sickness of Spirit</a>: $0.99<br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/AContestP" target="_blank">A Contest of Prophecies</a>: $0.99<br />
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<b>A Sea of Sky</b><br />
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The horizon is broken; earth and sky are one.<br />
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Alaji and Yemerik arrive in a world where the remnants of old empires are scattered to the winds. Survivors have rebuilt on islands suspended over a world of unimaginable danger.<br />
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They are seeking a fellow time traveler, hoping he will help them restore the fractured timeline and return Alaji to her home in the distant past. <br />
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But even if they find him and win his help, there are obstacles beyond the sea of sky. Revelations and betrayal will force Alaji to confront questions and doubts she's long avoided. After everything she's seen and experienced, does she still want to return home?</div>
Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-72765999674841876862018-01-18T20:54:00.001-08:002018-01-18T20:54:58.655-08:00Citadel of the Last Gathering Supplemental - First Two Stories Now Available!I've added a new section to the <a href="http://www.erinlsnyder.com/p/short-fiction.html" target="_blank">Short Fiction</a> tab for stories tying to the fantasy series, The Citadel of the Last Gathering. These will be short pieces connected in some way to the books - they'll contain minor characters, settings, or other elements touched on by the novels.<div>
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I think this goes without saying, but just in case: none of these will contain information necessary to follow the main story of the novels (if they did, they'd be part of the novels). But they allow me to build out the world a little more and incorporate a few ideas that didn't fit in the books.</div>
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The first two stories are now up. Both are intended to be read after the second book in the series, <i>A Tide of Ice</i>, though either can be read out of order or even as stand-alones.</div>
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<a href="http://www.erinlsnyder.com/p/the-truthspeaker-citadel-of-last.html" target="_blank">The Truthspeaker</a> is a short piece I originally wrote to get a better feel for setting and voice in <i>A Tide of Ice.</i> It's something of a prequel to most of the book, and it would work read before, after, or even as a standalone. I'm still suggesting you wait until after, but take that as a light recommendation.</div>
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The same is true of <a href="http://www.erinlsnyder.com/p/a-meeting-in-desert-citadel-of-last.html" target="_blank">A Meeting in the Desert</a>: this doesn't feature any characters appearing in the novels, and shouldn't spoil any plot points (though it may change your perspective on a minor piece of one character's backstory).</div>
Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-40692244757619277752018-01-02T22:17:00.000-08:002018-01-02T22:17:52.292-08:00Happy Belated New Years!Well, Christmas is finally over (at least by most modern standards), and the cosmic ticker has flipped forward, so I wanted to check in and say, "Hi." Also, in keeping with tradition, I put up <a href="https://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2017/12/2017-movies-revisited.html" target="_blank">a list ranking all the new movies I saw in 2017, from least to most favorite</a>.<div>
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Now that the holidays are behind me, I'm back to focusing on revising the next novel. There's still a lot of work to be done, but I'm hoping to have it available before summer.</div>
Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-9429190354224443692017-12-17T14:24:00.000-08:002017-12-17T14:24:17.276-08:00Hear me!Lindsay and I put together a <a href="https://soundcloud.com/mainliningchristmas" target="_blank">pilot podcast for Mainlining Christmas</a>. In addition to a prolonged discussion on the longstanding relationship between the holidays and time travel, you can listen to me reading one of my stories aloud. We're planning at least a few more episodes on some other nerdy topics. Time frame is still TBD, however.<br />
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In other news, as I type this, you're anxiously waiting in line to get tickets for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. I caught it on Thursday night, and I loved it. I typed up some thoughts over <a href="http://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2017/12/movie-review-star-wars-last-jedi.html" target="_blank">at The Middle Room</a>, though I'd avoid any reviews or discussion until you've seen the movie.Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-33155439857054921672017-12-01T05:00:00.000-08:002017-12-01T05:00:04.385-08:00Book Sale!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you haven't read my first novel, the Kindle edition of <a href="http://a.co/bDRqBcC" target="_blank">For Love of Children</a> is only 99 cents this weekend. I started For Love of Children after graduating from college in 2003, and it's still the work I feel closest to emotionally. We're also making <a href="http://a.co/bqf6K0c" target="_blank">A Count of Five</a> free this weekend, so this is a great time to save a few bucks.Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-46037489855184207622017-11-26T11:50:00.000-08:002017-11-26T11:50:44.045-08:00Festive CheerThe Christmas season is upon us once again, which means Lindsay and I have kicked off our annual binge of holiday media at <a href="http://www.mainliningchristmas.com/" target="_blank">Mainlining Christmas</a>. We're continuing our tradition of posting reviews or articles three times a day through December 25th.<br />
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What else?<br />
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I suppose this is as good a time as any to announce I've finished a first draft of all nine novels in The Citadel of the Last Gathering. There's still a lot more work to do, but we're hoping to have book 5 edited and released Spring of next year and (no promises) maybe get book 6 out before the end of 2018.<br />
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I'll leave you with this picture from our Black Friday party. If you want more context, <a href="http://www.mainliningchristmas.com/2017/11/another-black-friday-come-and-gone.html" target="_blank">head over here</a>.<br />
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<br />Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-79114936224623837912017-08-10T15:00:00.000-07:002017-08-10T15:00:03.565-07:00Now Available: A Contest of Prophecies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You can now buy <i>A Contest of Prophecies</i>, the fourth book of The Citadel of the Last Gathering, <a href="http://a.co/2yjLqCA" target="_blank">in paperback</a> or <a href="http://a.co/2qxtdVv" target="_blank">for Kindle</a>. If you haven't read the first three, it's a good time to catch up - Kindle versions of <i><a href="http://a.co/af3qKg8" target="_blank">A Count of Five</a></i> and <i><a href="http://a.co/jc0MX8B" target="_blank">A Tide of Ice</a></i> are both free through the end of the weekend, and <i><a href="http://a.co/au12c6C" target="_blank"> A Unique Sickness of Spirit</a></i> is just $0.99.<br />
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The Citadel of the Last Gathering is a series of time travel novels ranging across millions of years in a fantasy world where magic drives evolution and culture. The story follows Alaji, a young woman from a forgotten civilization, as she explores a history far larger than she ever thought possible. You can read the <a href="http://www.erinlsnyder.com/2016/09/overview-of-citadel-of-last-gathering.html" target="_blank">FAQ for more about the series</a>.<br />
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<br />Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-31112151416635581442017-07-27T18:50:00.000-07:002017-07-28T07:08:31.992-07:00A Contest of Prophecies - Available August 10th!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>A Contest of Prophecies</i>, book four in <i>The Citadel of the Last Gathering</i>, will be available on Kindle August 10th - <a href="http://a.co/3XuhtAG" target="_blank">you can pre-order it now</a>. A paperback version will be released around the same time (give or take a few days).<br />
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It picks up right where we left off at the end of <i><a href="http://bit.ly/UniqueSickness" target="_blank">A Unique Sickness of Spirit</a></i> - on a stolen airship circling the world. I think those of you who have read the earlier books will really like this one. As for the rest of you... <a href="http://www.erinlsnyder.com/2016/09/overview-of-citadel-of-last-gathering.html" target="_blank">what are you waiting for?</a><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><b>A Contest of Prophecies: The Citadel of the Last Gathering, Book 4</b></span></span></blockquote>
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Not even history can withstand the vastness of time.</strong> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In streets blackened by soot and the shadows of airships, their names were legend. But if they want those stories to survive, Alaji, Phaesha, and Yemerik will need to craft a prophecy that will last for eons.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">They’ll need to travel back to a time of dragons, knights, and castles and forge an alliance with a man destined to be king. They’ll need to start a war that will kill thousands and conquer a nation to create a past that matches the future they left behind.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">But theirs is not the only prophecy. A spirit has followed them back through time, and it will not rest until Alaji is destroyed. Their war in the past masks a grander contest between forces striving to reshape all of time.</span><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A Contest of Prophecies</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> is the fourth book in </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Citadel of the Last Gathering</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, a time-travel fantasy series following a young woman from an era before history journeying across millions of years, exploring a world of evolving magic.</span></blockquote>
<br />Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-54934547331406427372017-06-07T19:59:00.002-07:002017-06-07T19:59:53.832-07:00Summer. FINALLY.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I thought I'd check in, since I haven't posted in a few months. As always, I've been busy writing. I'm still planning to release my next novel, <i>A Contest of Prophecies</i>, this summer - our current target is mid-August.<br />
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In addition, I'm hoping to find some time to start getting some new short fiction up. Assuming everything goes as planned, I'll work on those as soon as I'm done revising.<br />
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In the meantime, it's summer, so the superhero movies have been out in force. Recently, I went to see <a href="http://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2017/06/movie-review-wonder-woman.html" target="_blank">Wonder Woman</a> and <a href="http://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2017/05/guardians-of-galaxy-vol-2.html" target="_blank">Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2</a>. Click the links for my reviews, if you're curious, but the short version is I loved them both.<br />
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Oh, wow. It <b>has</b> been a while since I last posted here. Long enough I haven't mentioned <a href="http://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2017/03/kong-skull-island.html" target="_blank">Kong: Skull Island</a> yet. I liked that one, too, though it wasn't on par with the two above.<br />
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In addition, I do an annual breakdown of summer movies, along with projections (fancy way of saying 'wild guesses') for how good I think they'll be. <a href="http://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2017/03/futures-market-2017.html" target="_blank">Find that here</a>, if you're really bored.<br />
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What else? Lindsay and I have been out hiking again this year (hence the picture above). Plus, this is our first summer in our new house, so we've been having fun discovering what flowers pop out of the ground and what animals come out of the woods, such as this guy we saw hanging out on our porch.<br />
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I'm not even going to pretend I don't love bunnies. Freaking adorable.Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-29017238330250689332017-03-08T21:54:00.000-08:002017-03-08T21:54:36.340-08:00Just Checking InIt's been more than a month <a href="http://www.erinlsnyder.com/2017/01/youll-never-guess-what-im-getting-for.html" target="_blank">since my last post</a>, and I didn't want you guys worrying I'd disappeared. I've been busy revising <i>A Contest of Prophecies</i>, the fourth novel in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B0188DIYFS/" target="_blank">The Citadel of the Last Gathering</a>, and working on the next three books.<br />
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Actually... make that the next <b>four </b>books. I started writing book eight a few days ago. Like I said: BUSY.<br />
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If all goes as planned, <i>A Contest of Prophecies</i> should be available this summer.<br />
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What else? I've reviewed a couple superhero flicks since I last checked in: <a href="http://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2017/02/movie-review-lego-batman-movie.html" target="_blank">LEGO Batman</a> and <a href="http://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2017/03/movie-review-logan.html" target="_blank">Logan</a>. Not much difference between the two, aside from the fact one is significantly more violent than the other (the violent one being LEGO Batman, obviously). I thought both were good, though the Batman movie felt a tad redundant compared to other things I've seen.<br />
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<br />Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-68382923636275184242017-01-19T17:00:00.000-08:002017-01-19T17:00:09.226-08:00You'll Never Guess What I'm Getting For My Birthday!That's right - my birthday's January 20th, and America got me.... a new president who's more or less vowed to systematically destroy everything I love about this country.<br />
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Not to sound ungrateful, but I don't suppose you kept the gift receipt.<br />
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So. Yeah. I'm not exactly expecting this to the "best birthday ever" or anything. I'll be spending my free time doing what I've been doing for most of January: writing. I've found that to be an especially therapeutic pastime recently. Yup, something about writing a powerful female lead in a fantasy setting where it's possible to jump ahead in time (say, four or eight years, for example) has been even more satisfying than usual.<br />
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In the off chance anyone else out there wants some escapist fantasy to help them through the next few days, I'm making <a href="http://bit.ly/CountFive" target="_blank"><i>A Count of Five</i></a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/TideofIce" target="_blank"><i>Tide of Ice</i></a> free Friday through Sunday.<br />
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I wish you all the best of luck this weekend. And, you know, however long it takes before our country corrects course.Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-545070640452739682016-12-22T22:02:00.000-08:002016-12-22T22:02:02.218-08:00Happy Holidays and All That<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been extremely busy moving into the new house and bingeing on Christmas movies, which is why I haven't posted anything here in a while. As I do every December, <a href="http://www.mainliningchristmas.com/" target="_blank">I've written dozens of reviews over on Mainlining Christmas</a> - it's a good resource if you're ever looking for advice on what to watch and what to avoid like the plague during the yuletide season.<br />
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A few highlights include the absolutely amazing holiday album from one of my oldest friends and his collaborators - you can <a href="https://greenwoodburns.bandcamp.com/album/2016-soundcloud-all-star-holiday-spectacular" target="_blank">download it free here</a> and <a href="http://www.mainliningchristmas.com/2016/12/kirwan-greenwood-burns-present-2016.html" target="_blank">read my take here</a>). Also, check out my write-up of <a href="http://www.mainliningchristmas.com/2016/12/mainlining-christmas-ruins-adam-ruins.html" target="_blank">the Adam Ruins Christmas special</a> and the pictures of the <a href="http://www.mainliningchristmas.com/2016/12/krampus-custom-action-figure.html" target="_blank">custom Krampus action figure I put together</a>, if you get a chance - I'm especially proud of these two articles.<br />
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If you're looking for something longer to read this Christmas, I'm making my 2009 fantasy novel <a href="http://a.co/gFW9mkk" target="_blank">For Love of Children</a> available free on Kindle between the 23rd and the 27th. It offers an alternative look at holiday icons and modern mythology - grab a copy, if you haven't already.<br />
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I haven't made it to the movies much recently, but I did make time for Rogue One. My <a href="http://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2016/12/movie-review-rogue-one-star-wars-story.html" target="_blank">full review is up at The Middle Room</a>, but the short version is that I loved it.Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-67963327403944580372016-11-27T09:10:00.000-08:002016-11-27T09:10:19.635-08:00Interesting Times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiin8wCNcbngY5Defr-9cfVGY_eQrGLZpP5XZD3lhbHx9Ml2pVssUXWmtTZNWZast5skAuKhP0RweuN7Ncu6lscAC0SW49pa31AJPSw4M3NLohVnN152gAJZJSKDjC3Lrpxkt7WOGu5t44/s1600/IMG_20161126_224020243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiin8wCNcbngY5Defr-9cfVGY_eQrGLZpP5XZD3lhbHx9Ml2pVssUXWmtTZNWZast5skAuKhP0RweuN7Ncu6lscAC0SW49pa31AJPSw4M3NLohVnN152gAJZJSKDjC3Lrpxkt7WOGu5t44/s320/IMG_20161126_224020243.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The experience of the past month has placed me in a position of being able to offer a piece of advice. It is extremely specific, but in the off chance it's ever relevant to anyone reading this, I'd like to share what I've learned:<br />
<br />
For the love of God, never buy a house in the middle of a presidential election.<br />
<br />
That's not to say we didn't get a nice house - we ended up with a beautiful place at a good price. However, watching your country flush its future down the toilet really takes the wind out of your sails when you're trying to move. The past few weeks have been among the most exhausting of my life, and we still have to unpack.<br />
<br />
As if that's not enough, Christmas is upon us once more, which means it's time to <a href="http://www.mainliningchristmas.com/" target="_blank">dust off our annual holiday blog and start pumping cheer into our bodies</a>. We briefly considered taking a year off, but... Mainlining Christmas is tradition now. Besides, if we quit <a href="http://www.mainliningchristmas.com/2016/11/christmas-is-cancelled.html" target="_blank">the stop-motion villains win</a>. So head on over for an near-endless string of reviews, articles, and perhaps a couple holiday stories.<br />
<br />
Now if you'll excuse me, I still have several pieces of IKEA furniture to reassemble before I binge watch seven seasons' worth of Christmas episodes.Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-42730817889310730572016-10-06T14:43:00.000-07:002016-10-06T19:55:57.606-07:00Now Available: A Unique Sickness of Spirit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooBVzM-yZHdFgMsuDvRhiEansmGs9pIFj5JhhnnCNc1zqTkiKahMGzvvD5yWr1fc5qTK4ieB3ZZW5tqD6DXOum-WBHGuLetGH2FjHxvZ5rS8AkOTZyixpCptQ0l_wgZ_hGSemwvdBLvU/s1600/IMG_7480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooBVzM-yZHdFgMsuDvRhiEansmGs9pIFj5JhhnnCNc1zqTkiKahMGzvvD5yWr1fc5qTK4ieB3ZZW5tqD6DXOum-WBHGuLetGH2FjHxvZ5rS8AkOTZyixpCptQ0l_wgZ_hGSemwvdBLvU/s320/IMG_7480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Book 3 of The Citadel of the Last Gathering is now available in paperback and for your Kindle!<br />
<br />
<i>A Unique Sickness of Spirit</i> finds Alaji and Phaesha in an era of sprawling cities, horrific apparitions, and flying ships. They discover a place where the undead have become mundane, and once commonplace magic is the stuff of legend.<br />
<br />
The world has been waiting for them for thousands of years... but it's no more prepared for their arrival than they are for what they find.<br />
<br />
You can buy a <a href="http://bit.ly/UniqueSickness" target="_blank">Kindle edition here for just $2.99</a>. Print copies are <a href="https://amzn.com/1537466577" target="_blank">available for $9.99 here</a>.<br />
<br />
If you haven't read the first two installments, pick them up first - I'll even make it easy. From now through the end of this weekend, the Kindle version of <a href="http://bit.ly/CountFive" target="_blank"><i>A Count of Five</i> is FREE</a>, and <a href="http://bit.ly/TideofIce" target="_blank"><i>A Tide of Ice</i> is just $0.99</a>!Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-49732378740391993272016-09-23T18:04:00.001-07:002020-09-13T21:26:38.124-07:00Overview of The Citadel of the Last Gathering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9bVF6PF7COJTPE2Ljv8_Iofn4EaXb1-7ybeGYdgCt2-rsCsRWnesk2TQeobUnOSGteKhFNOM7EK-8VGc5HQ7uOqLbHiL6NdseZgSBL_pZkCZLrU_nKV0-RQSSivfgPqnqEqSDfmqjnM/s1600/IMG_20160923_052725563.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9bVF6PF7COJTPE2Ljv8_Iofn4EaXb1-7ybeGYdgCt2-rsCsRWnesk2TQeobUnOSGteKhFNOM7EK-8VGc5HQ7uOqLbHiL6NdseZgSBL_pZkCZLrU_nKV0-RQSSivfgPqnqEqSDfmqjnM/s320/IMG_20160923_052725563.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Somewhat belatedly, I realized I should throw together some sort of explanation for what this series is and why you might want to read it. I figured an FAQ would be more fun to read and write than a rant, so I went with that.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>What are these books?</b><br />
<i>The Citadel of the Last Gathering</i> is a series of nine novels I wrote over the course of a decade. I've finished writing the books, but may add a few more short stories down the road.<br />
<br /><br />
<b>What's the genre?</b><br />
Well, that gets complicated. First and foremost, these are fantasy, but that could mean a lot of things. In this case, it actually does mean a lot of different things: because the books incorporate time travel, the sub-genres change from novel to novel. The first book is essentially ancient world, the second is sword and sorcery, the third is an amalgamation of Victorian fantasy, steampunk, and some related genres... you get the idea.<br />
<br />
If you're inferring elements of SF from the presence of time travel, you're on the right track. While the mechanism is magical in nature, I'm not treating it as a throwaway concept. I've put some effort into crafting the rules of time travel and taking it seriously. In quite a few ways, I'm treating this as a science fiction story occurring in a fantasy setting, rather than a fantasy story with a couple SF tropes.<br /><br /><br />
<b>Oh, you mean this is really happening on Earth</b><br />
No! I promise, the last book doesn't end with them going back in time and destroying magic or something. This isn't occurring on Earth - it's a fantasy world.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>What's the world called?</b><br />
Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed I haven't named the planet... and there's a reason for that. With very few exceptions, I hate it when SF and fantasy authors create cutesy names for their worlds. While I appreciate it from a branding perspective, it just doesn't make sense.<br />
<br />
Historically, people on Earth have typically assumed their world is the only one and just named it accordingly. That's why our planet is still called a synonym for dirt. I'd expect cultures of a fictitious world to act similarly.<br />
<br />
I considered having a few cultures do something like this early on in the series, but I decided too many people would assume that just meant it took place on our Earth, which... see the last question.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Who's the main character?</b><br />
Alaji, a young woman from the distant past, who finds herself on an adventure spanning countless eons. Along with the spells known to her people, she has developed the ability to skip back in time a few seconds, a simple-sounding effect which makes her a lethal foe.<br />
<br />
She is an outsider everywhere she goes, both in appearance and customs. As she travels, she will need to determine her place in a vastly complex world.<br />
<br />
Other major characters will come and go - some may even overshadow Alaji as the primary lead for a book or two - but the series will tell her story. She'll also be the only character to appear in every novel.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>How about romance? Is there a love interest?</b><br />
Eventually, but not for quite a while. It's a factor in the later books, but it's not the primary point of this series.<br />
<br />
I like a good love story as much as the next person, but I'm a little tired of a couple meeting and discovering they're soulmates. That can be a fine premise, but it's been done to death.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Will I like these books?</b><br />
I hope so! Most reviews I've gotten have been very positive. The few tepid exceptions generally cite time travel as the element the reader disliked.<br />
<br />
I don't think genre fans familiar with the trope will have an issue, but if you've never encountered a time travel story you enjoyed, this probably won't break the pattern. I don't think I've made the books too complicated, but I do assume readers will be familiar with the concept of time travel and will be willing to explore some unusual spins on the idea.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Why should I read them?</b><br />
The settings are dynamic, shifting from book to book, as the world is transformed by geological changes, a shifting climate, evolution, and catastrophic magical events... not to mention Alaji's actions, which will leave a lasting mark on humanity, the world, and history.<br />
<br />
It's fantasy at a very large scale, filtered through Alaji's changing perspective of the world she's altering. All of that on top of the action, comedy, and suspense you'd want from a genre series - these books are both philosophical and fun to read.<br />
<br />
It's by far the most ambitious project I've ever undertaken, and I'm extremely proud of the story. I hope you'll give it a shot.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Where can I get them?</b><br />
Amazon. I publish the paperbacks through Createspace, Amazon's print-on-demand service. The digital versions are only offered through Amazon, as well, formatted for Kindle:<br />
<br />
Book 1: <a href="https://amzn.com/B00WS2LCRI" target="_blank">A Count of Five</a><br />
Book 2: <a href="https://amzn.com/B0184REPKG" target="_blank">A Tide of Ice</a><br />
Book 3: <a href="https://amzn.com/B01L8C9ZD6" target="_blank">A Unique Sickness of Spirit</a><br />
Book 4: <a href="http://a.co/0BVtGoe" target="_blank">A Contest of Prophecies</a><br />
Book 5: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CQSYF5W/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_7p6UCbRQDM669">A Sea of Sky</a><br />
Book 6: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J3MJ4KT/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Bm6UCb4FGSJ4H">A Layer of Ash</a><br />
Book 7: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QGRCQ3B/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_ip6UCb1W00BWR">Alaji the Witch</a><br />
Book 8: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQDBC3B/">The Hut at the Towering Oak</a><br />
Book 9: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CN38XH7">The Weaving Spell</a><br /><br />
If you're a fan of a different e-reader format, I apologize. I used to offer books on other platforms, but the sales never justified the effort. When Amazon started offering promotional options in exchange for exclusive access, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to reach a larger audience.Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-64370938960257521662016-09-16T15:08:00.000-07:002016-09-16T15:08:29.541-07:00Sneak Preview: A Unique Sickness of SpiritA Unique Sickness of Spirit, Book 3 of The Citadel of the Last Gathering, will be available for the Kindle on October 6th. You can <a href="https://amzn.com/B01L8C9ZD6" target="_blank">pre-order now and get it delivered to your device the moment it's out</a>.<br />
<br />
Here's a short passage to hold you over until then:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*</div>
<br />
Eventually, the path came to the remains of a stone bridge, which reached only a third of the way across a chasm several hundred feet wide. Alaji approached to examine the stonework.<br />
<br />
"Careful,” Yemerik said. “I’m not sure that’s sturdy.”<br />
<br />
“I won’t go far,” Alaji promised, taking a few steps onto the structure. Vines hung from the edges, and moss grew everywhere. “It’s beautiful,” she said.<br />
<br />
“It’s a bridge,” Phaesha said dismissively. “Or it was one.”<br />
<br />
“They had ones like this in Hathari, but they were smaller. The stones were less… smooth.” Alaji said, kneeling down to run her fingers over the rocky floor. She rose and returned to the others, who were peering into the ravine. “I’m sorry. It’s still new to me.”<br />
<br />
“It’s a good sign. Even in this state, it means the area is important enough to warrant attention. There are likely other roads nearby. We just have to get across. Fortunately, the slope looks gentle enough. We’ll have to be careful, but I think we’ll make it down alright.”<br />
<br />
“I can barely see the bottom,” Phaesha replied. “I’d expect you’d want to wait for morning.”<br />
<br />
“I didn’t like the look of those tracks,” Yemerik explained. “I’d rather not wait around for whatever made them to find us.”<br />
<br />
“You’re assuming it’s not waiting for us down there,” Phaesha said.<br />
<br />
“Well, I don’t have a better idea.” He turned to the others in case they did, but he was only met with blank faces. “I’ll go first then.” He lowered himself over the edge and slid down in as controlled a manner as possible, knocking several rocks loose as he did so. “I’m alright!” he called up, once he’d reached the bottom. “The smell is awful, but other than that it looks fine.” He stood up and began brushing the dust from his back. Behind him, he heard the sound of stones shifting. He stepped forward to give Alaji or Phaesha room.<br />
<br />
“Yemerik! Look out!” Alaji screamed.<br />
<br />
He turned to see something emerging from beneath the ruined bridge, crawling from a hidden cavern cutting into the hill. He could tell it was large – at least twice as tall as he was – but beyond that, it was a dark shape shifting in shadows.<br />
<br />
Yemerik started away across the bottom of the ravine. Then, ahead of him, he saw a large rock lift up as something pushed it out of the way from underneath. He turned back. The thing coming from the bridge was joined by another, slightly smaller but still more than eight feet tall. Now that they were in the open, he caught a bit more detail in the moonlight: long slender limbs attached to fat, round bodies.<br />
<br />
With a quick incantation, Phaesha hurled a blast of fire at the two by the bridge. They shrieked and covered their faces, though they’d barely been touched by the flames. In that instant, the light revealed green flesh spotted in warts. Alaji stepped into the chasm and began sliding down. One of the creatures heard her and turned.<br />
<br />
Alaji jumped as she slid and stepped back in time mid-leap. Once again, the creature’s back was turned to her. She buried her knife into the pale green skin on its back. It cried out in rage and pain and whipped around, throwing her off to one side. Alaji struck the loose stone hill and skidded down to the bottom. The creature turned toward her, baring its teeth.<br />
<br />
With a twist, Alaji arced her hand upward, trailing fire behind. Once again, the creatures shielded their eyes and leapt back with a cry.<br />
<br />
Phaesha gave a shout and charged down the hill, kicking her legs forwards as broken slabs of rock slid under her. One of the creatures turned to meet her. It swung a clawed hand at her head, but she ducked beneath the attack and sliced into its side with her sword. The monster screeched in pain but gave no ground. Instead, it grabbed for her. Narrowly, she avoided its reach and stabbed into its elbow, catching it in the joint.<br />
<br />
The creature growled, then lifted its arm, throwing her backward. It lunged after her, but was turned back by flame.<br />
<br />
“They’re afraid of fire!” Alaji cried out, a moment after hurling the flame that pushed back the creature.<br />
<br />
“Not fire!” Yemerik yelled, running towards the two women. “Light! They’re trolls! Afraid of light!” He almost reached them when a hand caught his ankle and pulled him off his feet.
Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420338433319314618.post-10131770783010535622016-08-31T20:17:00.000-07:002016-08-31T20:17:23.570-07:00Pre-Order A Unique Sickness of Spirit! Also, Other News!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQmBEFlg3DahkhqP0QXh81DcS9WQOAYg4HYi4iVjsRMaB-l0C2M_-pjigdRQq3HJRjxLcvZGwD4qJuBdi7_6cGA9XDA7G3fH3zR8u_sqXkISXfc88pZamMBCpJlsgVfAAoHuqRoNZSrc/s1600/Cover_KDP_UniqueSickness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQmBEFlg3DahkhqP0QXh81DcS9WQOAYg4HYi4iVjsRMaB-l0C2M_-pjigdRQq3HJRjxLcvZGwD4qJuBdi7_6cGA9XDA7G3fH3zR8u_sqXkISXfc88pZamMBCpJlsgVfAAoHuqRoNZSrc/s640/Cover_KDP_UniqueSickness.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The Kindle copy of A Unique Sickness of Spirit, the third novel in The Citadel of the Last Gathering, will be released on October 6 and is <a href="https://amzn.com/B01L8C9ZD6" target="_blank">now available for pre-order</a>. As usual, we're not 100% sure when the paperback copy will be finalized. It all comes down to how the cover and map look in print and whether adjustments are needed.<br />
<br />
Also, the first novel in the series, A Count of Five, will be free if you pick it up on the 1st or 2nd of September. If you haven't already gotten a copy for your Kindle, do so then and save a few bucks!<br />
<br />
In other news, I wrote a pair of reviews over at The Middle Room that you might be interested in. First, I saw <a href="http://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2016/08/movie-review-kubo-and-two-strings.html" target="_blank">Kubo and the Two Strings</a>, a beautiful movie I wish had focused a little more on tone. Nonetheless, it's absolutely stunning, and you should check it out on the big screen before it's too late.<br />
<br />
If you have Amazon Prime, you may have heard you can watch the pilot for the new live-action spin on The Tick. If possible, I'd suggest doing so before <a href="http://welcometothemiddleroom.blogspot.com/2016/08/pilot-review-tick.html" target="_blank">reading my review</a> (or anyone else's for that matter). It's nothing like I expected, but it's one of the most intriguing starts to a superhero show I've ever seen.<br />
<br />
And speaking of streaming TV shows, <a href="http://www.mainliningchristmas.com/2016/08/stranger-things-season-1-2016.html" target="_blank">I wrote up a few thoughts on the use of holiday tropes in Stranger Things for Mainlining Christmas</a>. Lindsay and I both enjoyed the show quite a bit, though we felt like it leaned a tad too heavily on its references. If it had worked in an element or two that felt wholly original or uniquely realized, I think we'd have loved it. As it was, we just really liked it.Erin Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894781339191061541noreply@blogger.com0