Summer has begun and so has the fun! This month we are celebrating the release of the audio edition of High Maga, narrated by Darla Middlebrook. There are many great stops on the tour; the full itinerary is provided below.The tour includes a giveaway. Winners will receive their choice of the ebook, paperback, or audio edition of High Maga, PLUS a $5 Amazon gift certificate. It's easy to enter - just scroll down to the bottom of this post for the link.
About High Maga
Sisters in magic, Eolyn and Adiana seek to revive a craft once forbidden to women. When war strikes at the heart of the kingdom, their fledgling community of magas is destroyed; its members killed, captured or scattered.In hopes of defending her people, Eolyn tries to escape the occupied province and deliver to King Akmael a weapon that might secure their victory. Trapped by the invading army, Adiana is taken prisoner and placed at the mercy of the ruthless Prince Mechnes.
Even as their world is torn asunder, Eolyn and Adiana cling to a common dream. Courage and perseverance guide them toward a future where the Daughters of Aithne will flourish in a world set free from the violence of men.
“War propels the book forward, and the characters are at their best when the events engulfing them are at their worst.” –Publishers Weekly
Purchase Links: Amazon (audio book) † Barnes and Noble † Kobo
Excerpt from Chapter 12: Adiana Confronts Prince Mechnes
“I don’t intend to find a place among the Syrnte.” Adiana's breath stalled under the look Prince Mechnes gave her, a strange mixture of amusement and menace. “What I mean is, my home is here, in Moisehén, not with the Syrnte.”
“It’s all one kingdom now. Or perhaps better stated, will be soon.” Mechnes nodded to the guards. “Unbind this woman.”
In an instant, the cords that secured her wrists were removed. Adiana cradled her hands against her breast, rubbing the places where the leather straps had left her skin raw.
Mechnes closed the distance between them in two strides.
“You will have to find a place among us, Adiana, or you will perish. That is the way of conquest.” He took her hands in his and studied them carefully, strong fingers tracing the fine delicate length of her own. “What do you play?”
Adiana’s skin crawled at the intimacy of his touch. His aroma was sharp, like coals on the hearth, and laced with the smell of blood. She wanted desperately to look elsewhere, but could not. Mechnes’s massive frame filled her vision; his presence, at once sinister and magnetic, demanded all her attention.
“The cornamuse.” Her voice had dropped to a nervous whisper. “The dulcimer, and the lute, the short wood, as well. Among others.”
He pressed her hands between his. Adiana was visited by the sudden image of him snapping her fingers one by one, as if they were nothing more than dry twigs.
“I see you are telling the truth, in this much at least,” Mechnes said. “You have beautiful hands, Adiana. We must be grateful they were not damaged during the attack on Maga Eolyn’s Aekelahr. And we must also hope they will come to no harm here, under my care.”
A heavy silence followed. Adiana understood the unspoken threat that hovered between them. Who else would he ask? The children, the survivors of the siege, the members of Lord Felton’s household, if any of them still lived. There were untold numbers of people in Moehn who might give him the information he sought. What would Adiana’s deception gain for Eolyn in the end—fifteen minutes? Half an hour? It did not matter. Every additional moment could mean the difference between Eolyn’s escape and her death. Adiana had already lost one friend tonight. She would not betray the other.
She lowered her eyes and held her tongue.
~*~
Tour Schedule
May 20 - On Making an Audio Book. Interested in the behind-the-scenes process of making an audio book? Stop by for Karin Rita Gastreich's interview with author DelSheree Gladden! Get the inside scoop on audio book production, and ask questions too.May 22 - Adiana Confronts Prince Mechnes. Adiana, throws down the gauntlet against the nefarious villain of the novel, Mechnes. Read this sneak preview on Heroines of Fantasy.
May 23 - Ghemena Plans Her Escape. In another preview of the novel, Eolyn's youngest student, Ghemena, plots her escape from imprisonment by Syrnte invaders. This special excerpt will be posted on author Linda Ulleseit's blog Books, Books, Books.
May 25 - Women and War. Sparks fly when author Will Hahn and Karin Rita Gastreich face off on the question of women and medieval warfare. Join the debate at The Independent Bookworm.
May 27 - Swords and Staves. Enough about war! Let's talk about LUV. When the going gets rough, who do you want at your side: a brave knight or a cunning mage? Eolyn has both! Meet the men of High Maga, and choose your favorite, at Marsha A. Moore's blog Illusions of Intimacy.
May 29 - How to Make a Naether Demon. What's that terrifying beast on the cover of High Maga? It's a Naether Demon! Find out how to bake your own Underworld monster on author Christopher Gerrib's Livejournal blog.
May 30 - The People Behind the Story. Meet Karin Rita Gastreich and narrator Darla Middlebrook as we make another stop at Books, Books, Books.
June 2 - The Villains of HIGH MAGA. Sexy. Passionate. Ruthless. Queen Rishona and Prince Mechnes light up the stage every time they appear in High Maga. Find out why on author Jeanne Bannon's blog Beyond Words.
June 3 - When Readers Write Back. What does it feel like to hear from people who have read your work? Honesty is the name of the game when Karin talks about the good, the bad, and the ugly of reader feedback. Read her thoughts, and share your own experiences and insights, at Tracy Falbe's blog Her Ladyship's Quest.
June 6 - Eolyn and Adiana Tell It Like It Is. Eolyn and Adiana share the challenges, triumphs, joys and heartbreak of rebuilding women's magic. Be the first to read this exclusive interview with Medieval Times correspondent Ian McFae, on Linda Ulleseit's blog Books, Books, Books. On this date, Eolyn and Adiana will be available to answer your questions, too!
June 9 - Eolyn Battles the Naether Demons. Read the scene that inspired the cover art of High Maga, and learn what it's like to confront these beasts up-close and personal, on author Jamie Marchant's blog.
June 11 - The Accidental Trilogy. High Maga is the sequel to Eolyn, originally intended as a stand-alone novel. Even as we speak, the third book in the sequence is on the way: Daughter of Aithne. How did one novel morph into three? Learn about Karin's very special journey with Eolyn and her world on L. Blankenship's blog, Notes from the Jovian Frontier.
June 13 - How to Make Your Characters Believable. Some salient tips for aspiring writers on how to craft characters with a life of their own. Read Karin's final post for the tour, and be sure to bring your own questions, on Linda Ulleseit's Books, Books, Books.
June 15 - Tour Wrap Up. Visit Karin's web site at krgastreich.com for a wrap-up and final reflection on High Maga's Audio Book Tour and Giveaway. June 15 will be your LAST CHANCE to register to win a copy of High Maga (remember - your choice! ebook, audio book, or paperback) plus a $5 Amazon gift certificate.
Special Announcement!
For the duration of the audio book tour, ebook editions of High Maga's companion novel, Eolyn, will be on sale for $2.99 (regular price $5.99) at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Take advantage of this temporary price reduction and start the adventure today!
About the Author:
KARIN RITA GASTREICH writes tales of ordinary women and the extraordinary paths they choose. Inspired by a lifetime of exploring lush forests and breathtaking landscapes, Karin’s stories blend elements of epic fantasy, historical fiction, and romance. The worlds she creates are a strange amalgamation of medieval Europe and colonial Central America, with misty forests, vast savannas, and steamy jungles. They are populated by brave heroines, noble heroes, and twisted villains. From ancient woodlands to uncharted seas, readers will experience gripping battle scenes, heart wrenching loss, hard-won triumphs, and the ultimate magic of love. Karin’s fantasy novels Eolyn and High Maga are available from Hadley Rille Books. Her short stories have appeared in Zahir, 69 Flavors of Paranoia, and World Jumping. She runs an on-line discussion forum about women in genre fiction at Heroines of Fantasy. Follow Karin’s adventures into fantastic worlds, both real and imagined, at krgastreich.com.
You can also visit Karin at: Heroines of Fantasy † Facebook
Twitter: @EolynChronicles
Darla’s voice is a versatile instrument used with skill. It is a voice filled with intelligence and warmth. Her sound can range from mature to youthful female, and she can also produce convincing male timbres. Narrative is presented in a conversational, down to earth, matter-of-fact manner and also displays a broad emotional range across a large repertoire of characters (female, male, young, old and "creature"). All of that while still conveying a sense of wonder when telling the story. With experience of 34+ years as a Speech-Language Pathologist, more than 20 years as a stage & film actor and over 20 years as a trained singer with knowledge and insight into the mechanics of the voice and speech, Darla Middlebrook brings a wealth of experience to bear to develop character voices (male, female, mature, extremely elderly, creepy, bright exotic, etc) with an impressive emotional range. Currently, Darla is one of many voice actors who narrate podcasts for AIRS-LA (an audio internet service for individuals with visual challenges) in addition to narrating audio books.
Narrator Web Links:
Website: http://www.darlasvoice.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damiddlebrook
Twitter: @GypsyCatVoice
About the Narrator:
Darla’s voice is a versatile instrument used with skill. It is a voice filled with intelligence and warmth. Her sound can range from mature to youthful female, and she can also produce convincing male timbres. Narrative is presented in a conversational, down to earth, matter-of-fact manner and also displays a broad emotional range across a large repertoire of characters (female, male, young, old and "creature"). All of that while still conveying a sense of wonder when telling the story. With experience of 34+ years as a Speech-Language Pathologist, more than 20 years as a stage & film actor and over 20 years as a trained singer with knowledge and insight into the mechanics of the voice and speech, Darla Middlebrook brings a wealth of experience to bear to develop character voices (male, female, mature, extremely elderly, creepy, bright exotic, etc) with an impressive emotional range. Currently, Darla is one of many voice actors who narrate podcasts for AIRS-LA (an audio internet service for individuals with visual challenges) in addition to narrating audio books.
Narrator Web Links:
Website: http://www.darlasvoice.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damiddlebrook
Twitter: @GypsyCatVoice
Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for your chance to win a FREE copy of HIGH MAGA! Click the link below to enter:
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