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 Blogging Challenge: M is for Mephinas

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 fantastical creature that may be from one of our books, a favorite movie, or something we just came up with as entertainment.

Today we have...

M is for Mephinas

When I was creating strange creatures for Reborn, I wanted something like a hermaphrodite and incorporate that mythology of the off-spring of Hermes and Aphrodite into The Fate Challenges. Thus, mephinas were born.

The doors opened, and a trumpet sounded. A strange creature with a woman’s body and two heads—one male and one female—entered. I blinked and leaned forward in my chair. Although I knew of mephinas, I hadn’t seen one before. According to legend, the winged god Mephets and love goddess Inashara created the mephinas when they joined together. The gods and Royals used the sacred mephinas as messengers. Their heads spoke in unison, “Presenting Prince Vespar and his contingent from the City of Apentha.” - an excerpt from Reborn

 Sadly, mephinas did not inherit their father's wings, which would make travel much quicker. They are also shy creatures, so there are no pictures of mephinas out there.

A to Z Blogging Challenge: K is for Karshiptas

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 fantastical creature that may be from one of our books, a favorite movie, or something we just came up with as entertainment.

Today we have...

K is for Karshiptas

When I was scouring mythologies for talking birds, I came across the karshipta from Persian mythology. Although my karshiptas aren't so noble to spread religion, they do send messages.

“Babak said the boat from Amora has arrived.” Dad’s arm brushed against mine.

“Send him to the harbor. Have him tell them I’m not coming.” Our karshipta, a talking falcon-like bird, could deliver the message. I hated I wasted the priest, the ferryman, and that boy’s time, but their journey back was only three days with favorable winds and the magical current rushing them toward Amora. - an excerpt from Reborn