Eldentimber Sale, Free Elodie Digital Wallpaper, and a Big Surprise!

I have an Eldentimber event going on right now, and today I’m posting the schedule and a couple fun things! I think you’re really going to like the second one, especially if you’re a big fan of Eldentimber. Let’s start with the sale details, and then we’ll move on to the rest.

Eldentimber Event

Jan 27th – 31st

Free eBooks:

Pippa of Lauramore

Anwen of Primewood

$0.99 Countdown Deal (US & UK)

Seirsha of Errinton

Audette of Brookraven

Also, we’re offering free US shipping on all the signed Eldentimber books in my online shop during the event!

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For the first freebie, I have a free Elodie desktop wallpaper for you. In the book, Elodie is an artist, so I decided to go with a watercolor theme! This wallpaper is 1920 x 1080, and it will work best on a widescreen monitor.

CLICK HERE for Wallpaper

How to Download and Use Background:

1. Left Mouse Click on the file of your choice above and a new tab/window should open.
2. Right Mouse Click on the image that appears and from the context menu that pops up, select “Save image as…” (or similar phrasing depending on your browser).
3. Save File in a location where you can easily find it or wherever you normally store desktop background images.
4. Instructions for various operating systems…
   • Windows 10
   • Macintosh

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Okay, now on to the surprise. It’s something I’ve never done before, but I’ve wanted to try it for quite some time.

In 2020, I’m going to write a book on the blog. To be specific, I’m going to write an Eldentimber book about a character I get a lot of questions about. (Are you excited yet? Many of you have probably guessed what’s coming.)

WARNING: MAJOR SERIES SPOILERS AHEAD

That’s right. I’m finally writing Lionel’s story.

What happened to the prince after the dragon abducted him at the end of Pippa of Lauramore? We know he showed up in Elodie of the Sea, but where was he in the eight years between Pippa’s tournament and Elodie’s maze? And who was the girl he seemed to be with when he arrived in Triblue? (Seriously sharp eyes, people. I didn’t know if you’d notice that one, but several of you did.)

I’m going to answer those questions in this book! I’ll post the first scene next week, but I’m going to give you a little preview below.

Just a quick note: this is a rough draft. The scenes and chapters I’ll be posting won’t be professionally edited, and they will definitely change a bit when I dive into revisions. I’ll leave the book on the blog until the official release on Amazon. After that, you can purchase your own final copy if you would like!

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Sneak Peek:

Genevieve

I draw my bow, moving silently, waiting until the deer steps into my range. She pauses, lifts her head, and waits. Her body is perfectly still, but her ears twitch back and forth as she takes in the summer sounds of the forest. After several long moments that make my arm ache, she continues forward.

Almost.

Almost.

A loud roar rings through the woods, scaring birds from the trees and sending a season’s worth of suppers leaping for cover.

I snarl to myself, carefully releasing the arrow, and glance north, toward home. It was a greeting roar, a welcome. I suppose I should see what the fuss is about.

Returning the arrow to its quiver and strapping the bow on my back, I walk a game trail, changing course to follow the creek when I reach it. Eventually, I come to a meadow that’s backed by a sheer granite cliff which runs from east to west as far as the eye can see.

A great cavern opens in the rock face like the entrance to a cathedral, easily four stories tall, narrowing inside as it travels back.

I pause at the trees’ edge, my eyes on the scarlet dragon in the clearing. He’s a newcomer, large and powerful. His scales glisten like rubies in the sun, and I squint as the sun glints off him. But he’s not what has me wary. No, it’s the thing that lies in front of him, just out of view, blocked by the dragon himself. The great beast flaps his wings, agitated, and that’s when he fully reveals his prey—a man.

An unconscious one at that, possibly dead. Though why the dragon would bring a dead man here, I don’t know.

I glance at Torith, who has met the scarlet. I know better than to interrupt, but I strain to hear their conversation. Dragons are not known for a soft tone, so they’re intentionally keeping the conversation quiet.

Nearly identical, Cadalia and Shalay, copper and gold respectively, wander to Torith’s side, their eyes on the man. A few more dragons, less brave–or perhaps wiser–linger near the cavern’s mouth, hanging back, watching the meeting between the two male dragons.

After several long minutes, Torith and the newcomer let out a duet of roars, scaring the poor birds that just thought it was safe to return to their roosts. I lean against the tree, less concerned. After living with the dragons for the last ten years, I know their customs.

It’s obvious an agreement was made, but what?

Impatient, I wait for the scarlet dragon to leave, hoping he doesn’t linger for the night. I’m comfortable here, with my beasts, but I can’t help but worry one of their guests will someday grow peckish during the night and decide I’d make a tasty snack. I’ve seen their table manners—I don’t particularly want to die in that manner.

Finally, the scarlet dragon stretches his wings and leaps into the sky, circling as he grows higher and higher. I wait for him to disappear into the clouds before I walk into the meadow to investigate.

Tanrith eyes me as I step up to the unconscious man and nudge his leg with the toe of my boot. “You scared away my supper.”

“My apologies,” the black dragon says wryly, obviously caring little.

“Is he dead?” I cross my arms and frown. “If so, I hope you’re not planning to ask me to dig his grave.”

The man is huge. Long, curling blond hair, knotted and tangled, covers half his face. His lip is bloodied, and one eye is black and swollen. He’s not a handsome man, not alluring in any way, though his clothes were fine before they were tattered and torn from his time in the scarlet dragon’s talons.

Who is he?

The man shifts a little, groaning as if he just regained consciousness. He clutches his head and looks like he’s going to attempt to rise.

Tarith and I stand, shoulder to massive, scaled shoulder, watching him with impartial interest.

“His wounds are festering,” Tarith says in his deep, gravelly voice. “He’s likely suffering a fever.”

The man attempts to push himself up to a seated position and croaks, “Where am I, and what do you want with me?”

“Why is he here?” I ask, ignoring the newcomer.

“He’s a prince of Vernow,” Tarith answers. “He killed one of our own, and he was delivered so we can dole out his punishment as we see fit.”

I inhale sharply, and the great black dragon turns my way, curious.

“You didn’t know her,” he says. “She left us ages ago.”

“Does it matter?” I demand. My hand drifts to my dagger. “I’ll finish him if you like.”

I mean it, too. How dare the scarlet beast bring a dragon slayer into our midst. This is my family, and if this man were to so much as—

“I’d like to see you try to ‘finish’ me,” the stranger manages.

As one, Tarith and I turn toward the man—this battered, bruised, nearly dead man who doesn’t even have a weapon—and laugh.

Apparently, the stranger has never had the pleasure of hearing a dragon’s cackle because his non-swollen eye goes wide, and he crawls back, perhaps mistaking the chortle for a roar.

Taking advantage of the man’s surprise, I yank my dagger from its sheath and crouch in front of him, pressing the tip of the blade to his throat. He slowly gulps as he focuses on my face, his eyes full of anger and shame.

A prince, was he?

How the mighty has fallen.

“How badly would you like to see it?” I demand. “Because I would be happy to indulge you.”

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More coming next week!