Are you ready to challenge Fate? #ya #fantasy

I published my first novel Reborn (The Fate Challenges #1) back in May 2014. After three years, I now have a second edition of Reborn available as well as two novellas! Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until 2018 for Forged (The Fate Challenges #2) and Destined (The Fate Challenges #3) are ready for me to publish.

I'm also running a sale on Reborn, which is 99c for a limited time. Determined (A bonus novella set between Chapters 24 and 25 in Reborn) is free on my website, and Marked (The Fate Challenges #1.5) will always be 99c. (Prices are subject to change by country.)

To save her kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.

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On her seventeenth birthday, Phoenix Prophetess Yssa must leave her home to serve the God of Prophecy. Sea serpents and other gods endanger her travels and sour the omens. Her duties at the Temple of Apenth prove Yssa is cursed instead of blessed. Not yet permitted to give prophecies to temple goers, Yssa spends her days reading dusty scrolls, which does nothing to help her forget Tym, the boy back home. Then, there is Liam, the annoying yet gorgeous ferryman’s son. He proves to be a distraction not even a psychic can predict.

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Her boring temple life screeches to a halt when premonitions of her parents’ murders consume her. Yssa races to her home an ocean away to stop their deaths. After all, Apenth’s rare Phoenix Prophetesses are gifted with the ability to alter the future. Fate, however, won’t be changed as easily as Yssa assumes. Worse, it has plans for her and the kingdom.

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Yssa must either accept her destiny or fight Fate.

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A prophetess must prepare for war.

The city of Amora will burn, if the Phoenix Prophetess doesn’t uncover a way to alter Fate. But Yssa is a world away from warning the kingdom of its impending demise.

While Yssa learns fighting techniques from the ferryman’s son Liam and how to follow the threads of Fate from the woodwose seer Zoon, she sets out to restore her friendship with the woodwoses. She is determined to put things right before Liam and she leave at the month of beginnings.

Because when they exit Waldbaum Forest, their real challenges will begin.

Available only through Cherie Reich’s website, Determined is set between chapters 24 and 25 in Reborn and meant to be read in conjunction with the first book of The Fate Challenges.

Saving the Phoenix Guard has changed him forever.

A blade to the gut gave Liam a one-way ticket to the Underworld, but Phoenix Prophetess Yssa brought him back to life. As the second mortal man to survive a sojourn to Hupogaia’s realm, Liam strives to understand how the one he was tasked to protect saved him, why he lived when so many others died during the battle against the Great Beyonders, and, most of all, why he now sees and hears things that aren’t there.

Liam researches the God of Prophecy’s mortal son, the one who also came back, but Moran died over twenty-four hundred years ago. To say that information is scarce is an understatement, but Liam won’t give up.

After all, rumors are flying around the Kingdom of Amora about Yssa’s newfound powers. Threats loom ever closer. Liam must protect the Phoenix Prophetess at any cost. Uncovering Moran’s destiny may be the one thing that helps Liam save the one he loves, if he can find the right scroll in time.

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So are you ready to challenge Fate and read The Fate Challenges?

Illuminarium, an Amoran Holiday #fantasy

Amora is the kingdom I created for The Fate Challenges series. Although the series won't actually feature the Amoran holiday Illuminarium, except for a bonus section in the boxed set, I thought I'd talk about the holiday today since it comes up this month--December to us, Hupogaim to Amorans.

The festival begins at sunset on the longest night of the year, our Winter Solstice. Illuminarium honors Hupogaia, the Goddess of the Underworld. At sunset, Amorans either gather at a temple dedicated to Hupogaia or in their homes and light candles or fire pits. They stay up through the night and talk about those who have gone on to the Underworld since the previous Illuminarium. They grieve. They laugh. They remember their lost loved ones.

As dawn approaches, they burn asphodel petals. Asphodel is said to be the food of the dead.

Once the sun has broken the horizon, they extinguish the flames and celebrate life. Even though it's a long dark night without their loved ones, the sun has risen and it's very golden--or maj--to be alive. The Amorans exchange gifts and will often eat, dance, and make merry up to a week afterwards.

As Illuminarium comes in our realm, I think of my uncle who passed away in March. He was a big man who gave the best hugs and made awesome food. He loved Salem football (local high school) and going to yardsales, garage sales, etc. He knew I loved collecting owls, so when he found something at a yardsale, he would buy it for me. My favorite item is an owl teapot.

Even though I miss him, I'm grateful to have known him and am grateful for all my friends and family still with us.

As an Illuminarium gift, I give to you a free copy of Reborn, the first book in The Fate Challenges. Use the coupon code JL35Q at checkout on Smashwords. The coupon code is good until December 31, 2015.

A to Z Challenge: S is for Saddest

Today is S day!

If you haven't heard of it, check out the A to Z blog and join in the fun.

Here at Untethered Realms, we're taking on the Challenge as a group. Each day, one of us will be sharing with you a teaser from one of our books.

S is for Saddest

"Why do you think something is bothering me?"

"Because you're the saddest girl here."

This teaser is from Cherie Reich's Reborn.

And don't forget to check out Untethered Realms' Fantasy Uprising! Nine fantastic stories, including Reborn. The collection is $0.99 until the end of April, so be sure to grab your copy of this fabulous fantasy collection before the price goes up!

Happenings in the Realm, Huzzizzle July 2014 #specfic #fantasy #scifi #horror

Untethered Realms Huzzizzle

We celebrate you, our awesome friends joining us on this journey with a spectacular speculative fiction giveaway. Enjoy!

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M. Pax Huzzizzle

July Sale! 7/1 - 7/31 on Select Ebooks

Backworlds series on sale, books 1-5 50% off at Smashwords. Use coupon SSW50 at checkout. Get caught up! HERE 

The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear also 50% off. Use coupon SSW50 at checkout. Check it out HERE

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Cherie Reich Huzzizzle

July Sale! 7/1 - 7/31 on Select Ebooks

Smashwords is having its annual Summer/Winter sale. You can purchase Reborn, Gravity: The Complete Trilogy, and The Nightmare Collection for 50% off their retail prices with coupon code SSW50.

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Christine Rains Huzzizzle

July Sale! 7/1 - 7/31 on Select Ebooks

The 13th Floor Complete Collection is 50% off retail price during Smashwords' July sale with coupon code SSW50. The Collection includes "The Shadow," a bonus story rated 5 stars which is only available with the book. Yet if you only need to catch up on a few of the novellas, use the same code with them and get them for FREE!

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Catherine Stine's Huzzizzle

Summer Sale on Ruby's Fire!

Ruby's Fire is still priced at only $0.99. And it just earned a finalist spot in the Next Generation Indie Awards for YA. Grab it from Amazon for your kindle!
“A world full of magic & unexpected romance!” –Teen Blurb
“A thrilling adventure led by an exciting cast of characters & the romance is really well handled.” -YA’s The Word

Reborn Blog Tour: Three Ways to Write Better

 

Three Ways to Write Better

1. Read. Yes, it's that simple. Read and read a lot. Stephen King said the tools of a writer involve reading and writing.
2. Write. Writing helps you grow as a writer. I suggest free writing and writing shorter works, such as flash fiction to help you practice writing. They're a great way to learn how to be concise in your words.
3. Learn grammar. I'm not saying you have to know the obscure uses for a comma, but you should know what a subject and verb are. Pick up a simple book on grammar and read it. Knowing the basics will help you write better and spot issues with your writing. After all, editors and proofreaders miss things too, and in the end, the quality of the work you put out is all on you, the author.

To save a kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.

On the day of Yssa’s death and rebirth, the god Apenth chose her as the Phoenix Prophetess.

Sea serpents and gods endanger the young prophetess’s journey and sour the omens. Yssa is cursed instead of blessed, and her duties at the Temple of Apenth prove it. She spends her days reading dusty scrolls, which does nothing to help her forget Tym, the boy back home. But the annoying yet gorgeous ferryman’s son Liam proves to be a distraction she can’t predict, even though he rarely leaves her alone for two sand grains.

Her boring temple life screeches to a halt when visions of her parents’ murders consume her. Yssa races across an ocean to stop the future. If she can’t change Fate, she’ll refuse to be the Phoenix Prophetess any longer. Fate, however, has other plans for her and the kingdom.

Yssa must either accept her destiny or fight to change Fate.

Available in Ebook and Print!

To purchase: Amazon | Createspace | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | OmniLit | Smashwords | Other Retailers

Click here to add on Goodreads.

The authors of Untethered Realms and I are giving away over $50 worth of books to one lucky winner. The giveaway is open internationally.

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A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her books include the horror collection Nightmare, a space fantasy novella collection titled Gravity, and the fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles and The Fate Challenges. Reborn is her debut novel. She is Vice President of Valley Writers and a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Untethered Realms. For more information, please visit her website.

Cover Reveal and Excerpt of Cherie Reich's Reborn

This week is full of excitement since I'm revealing the cover art of my debut YA Epic Fantasy novel Reborn. I had the idea for Reborn in 2006. On January 15, 2009, I started writing the first draft. Since then, it's been through a complete rewrite and multiple edits and will be released on May 23, 2014 ... just five months away!

From 2006, I had an idea of what I wanted the cover art to look like for Reborn, and I found the perfect cover artist, the brilliant Laura Sava, to take my vision and make it into a reality. Without further ado, here is the cover art for Reborn.

To save a kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.

On the day of Yssa’s death and rebirth, the god Apenth chose her as the Phoenix Prophetess.

Sea serpents and gods endanger the young prophetess’s journey and sour the omens. Yssa is cursed instead of blessed, and her duties at the Temple of Apenth prove it. She spends her days reading dusty scrolls, which does nothing to help her forget Tym, the boy back home. But the annoying yet gorgeous ferryman’s son Liam proves to be a distraction she can’t predict, even though he rarely leaves her alone for two sand grains.

Her boring temple life screeches to a halt when visions of her parents’ murders consume her. Yssa races across an ocean to stop the future. If she can’t change Fate, she’ll refuse to be the Phoenix Prophetess any longer. Fate, however, has other plans for her and the kingdom.

Yssa must either accept her destiny or fight to change Fate.

Unfinished Print Cover Art

And here is the prologue of Reborn:

The Island of Mournia
23 Day of Inasham
Year 2500 AUC

The infant lay limp upon the table, a thin cloth separating her from the wood. Her dark hair was matted down, and a smudge of birthing fluids tainted her pale flesh. The midwife had rushed to wipe off the baby after birth and deposited her in the nursery away from the child’s parents. Apenth, the God of Prophecy, Wisdom, and whatever else mortals had labeled him with this day and age, believed the little girl was perfect, except for one tiny thing.

She was dead.

Apenth had waited five hundred years for this child’s birth. Breath flowed from his nostrils and rustled her hair. Wails from the other room clamored for her death not to be so. He straightened at their pain. The small crib sat discarded in a corner. A doll, sewn by an expecting mother’s steady hand, peered at Apenth with its coal-black eyes. Her parents didn’t know a god was here, watching, waiting for an opportunity to save their child. His hand hovered over the baby’s heart.

One touch would change everything.

“Stop, my son.” A wrinkled and liver-spotted hand seized his wrist.

He cursed his lack of a premonition. Shouldn’t he have known Postera, the Goddess of Future and Foresight, would try to stop him? He was the God of Prophecy, after all! Her bony fingers gripped tighter with a strength he didn’t know she possessed. With a sigh, he focused upon her clear blue eyes, so like his own.

“Mother, she’s the one. I have to continue Amora’s prophecy.” He gently pried her aged fingers from his wrist.

“You cannot go against Fate again. The gods are displeased.” Clothed in the threads of life, she ran her fingers along the thrumming red yarn—each strand symbolized one life and weaved together to create her dress. All threads emerged from a ruby gemstone belted over her navel. The closer to death a person was, the more the yarn would change color from bright to dark red. She reached into that dress and thrust the severed darkening strand of this baby’s lifeline toward him. “Fate has forfeited her life, and her soul shall reside in Hupogaia’s realm.”

His heart sank. The detached thread swayed back and forth from her fingers. Was it too late to revive the child? His body curled closer to the infant. Her life was slipping through his fingers with each passing grain of sand in an hourglass.

This girl had to be the sixth prophetess.

He jerked away from his mother. His eyes flicked between the blackened thread and the baby. If he didn’t save the child, who would stop Fate? His Phoenix Prophetesses were more than normal seers. They had the power to take his prophecies and change what was to come by foreseeing the future, peering into the past, and dreaming of the present. Her future was fading into the dark depths of the Underworld. She couldn’t be one of Hupogaia’s eternal children. He owed it to his deceased love, Amora, and the kingdom she had created and ruled. “You know what will happen if I don’t save her.”

“I know what may come. Who taught you the art of prophecy? I did.” Postera exhaled through her nose and pulled at her hair. “You cannot keep meddling. Do you not see my wrinkles, my white hair? Kisa will curse you like she has me. Have you forgotten how Hupogaia protested against you last time in front of the High Council? They blinded your prophetess and said grave consequences will come if you save another one.”

He couldn’t forget the council’s words or how they’d cursed his fifth Phoenix Prophetess. But visions of the Kingdom of Amora in flames flashed through his mind. He could taste the ashes, like burnt bread, and hear her people’s screams. The prophecy of the kingdom’s destruction leaked sour bile into his mouth. The other gods, including Kisa, the Queen of the Gods, might be willing to turn their backs on their loyal people for Fate, but he wasn’t.

There was also the infant in front of him. She reminded him of his daughter. His mortal family resided in the Underworld, but he wouldn’t let this child.

“I have to save her.”

“Think of the consequences, my son.” She seized his robes.

He had. They both knew the gods would find a way to curse him and this innocent child, but the price was worth saving the kingdom.

Ignoring his mother’s protests, Apenth leaned over the lifeless baby again. His lips pressed against her ashen forehead, so cold to the touch. Postera clawed at his arms, but he shoved away her hands. Nothing would stop him from completing Amora’s prophecy, protecting the kingdom named after his love.

“You are mine, little one.” His palm pressed over the infant’s heart. Electric heat flowed from his glowing fingertips and nearly burned his flesh, but he kept his hand steady. The white light expanded and exploded within the room.

“Live.” He commanded, pleaded.

“No!” Postera screamed. The child’s life-thread ripped from his mother’s hand and joined the pulsing jewel on her belt. The piece sizzled, reattaching to the gemstone, and transformed to blood red.

The life-giving luminosity collapsed into the child, her flesh glowing for a moment. A tiny strawberry-colored birthmark in the shape of a phoenix blossomed upon the flesh over her heart. The baby’s lungs filled with air, and a cry broke from her lips.

The Phoenix Prophetess was reborn.

Click here to read Chapter One.