Synopsis:
“One
must be careful practicing deception. The easiest to deceive will always be
one’s self.”
The
skilled thieves of the Takers Guild plot to overthrow the kingdoms of Baelon,
but when their plans are thwarted by a prescient woman and her brooding
daughter, they must turn to the League of Assassins for assistance. Meanwhile,
retired royal guard Rolft Aerns returns to the palace of King Axil with an old
score to settle. When they all cross paths–and swords–in the dark shadows of
Fostead’s south end, nothing is as it seems and the murder count rises quickly.
The long
fingers of the Guild reach everywhere, and one overly ambitious thief is all it
takes to spark a chain of events that will haunt the world of Baelon for many
years to come.
Six Moons, Seven Gods is book one in The Legends of Baelon.
Excerpt:
Sibil sat on a bed in a servant’s quarters, her head spinning. Had it not been for previous visits to the palace with Princess Lewen, she would not have known where she was. The steward had escorted her briskly to the room some time ago, leaving her to entertain herself.
There seemed no end to the mystery surrounding her mother. Supposed premonitions of death had been unnerving enough, but now… an audience with the king? At his request! It was surreal, and Sibil’s wildest conjectures did not begin to explain it.
Her attempt to seize control of her own life seemed waylaid once again. She was imagining herself a bit of flotsam from a shipwreck, at the mercy of the ocean’s currents, when the steward returned, shutting the door angrily behind himself.
“Where is my mother?” she asked as he approached.
“With the king.” Without warning, the steward sat so close to her their thighs touched.
“I should like to see her.” Sibil started to rise.
“In due time.” The steward caught her arm and pulled her back to the bed.
“What are you doing?”
“If your mother were more forthcoming, you would not be so inconvenienced.”
“How do you mean?” Sibil’s eyes darted toward the door.
“The woman’s hiding something. Perhaps you’d like to tell me what that is.”
“My mother has nothing to hide from the king!”
“I could be convinced of that, I suppose.” The steward loosened his hold and placed a palm against Sibil’s cheek. “There are many ways for you to prove your loyalty to the throne.” His hand brushed her breast as he withdrew it. “Are you prepared to do so?” Before Sibil could respond, he leaned in, his lips seeking hers.
Sibil pushed him away, struggling to stand. “How dare you!”
“Need I remind you where you are?” The steward rose, positioning himself between her and the door. “Or who you’re talking to?”
“I mean no disrespect, m’lord, but if you—“
“Take off your blouse.”
“What?!”
“Like mother, like daughter. Take off your blouse and let us see what you are hiding there.”
“I’ll do no such thing,” said Sibil breathlessly. “And if you lay another hand on me—“
The steward grasped her sleeve. Sibil twisted violently away, her blouse ripping at the shoulder seam.
The steward grinned. “You see? One way or the other!” He started to laugh, sobering quickly at the sight of the dagger Sibil produced. “Put that away before you hurt yourself.”
“Take me to my mother!” Sibil waved the dagger at him.
“Did I not warn you about making demands?” The steward lashed out, recoiling as Sibil’s blade pricked his arm. He swore loudly as he inspected the spot of crimson staining his white blouse. “You’ll not soon forget what I’m going to do to you.”
“Touch me and I’ll kill you!” Sibil lurched past the steward and onto the bed, clambering quickly over it, but he intercepted her before she could reach the door. He kicked a stool separating them toward her. Sibil grabbed it and flung it back at him. The stool sailed past the steward’s head and crashed against the door.
“Make all the noise you want,” the steward said. “No one cares!”
Author
bio:
Website: https://rawalkerwriting.com/
Author Guest Post:
What advice would you give budding writers?
Three pieces of advice: first, writing’s a
journey. Don’t look too far ahead. Focus on your passion and the here and now.
Write, write, write, and enjoy the travelling, one step at a time. Had I known
early on what it would take to be published, and all the work involved in
getting one’s book into the hands of readers, I might never have finished my
first novel, let alone started it. I was so naïve to think that--you know--if
you write something worthwhile, someone’s going to want to publish it and people
will then read it. Simple, right? The truth, of course, is so much more complex
and challenging, regardless of whether you are trying to secure the
representation of a traditional publishing firm, or you have decided to
self-publish. Unless your intended audience is limited to friends and family,
finishing your novel (quite the accomplishment in and of itself) is only half
the battle. So my advice is to take it slowly and enjoy the journey—don’t peek
too soon or too closely behind the publishing world’s thick curtain lest that cause you to turn back. Tackled one
issue at a time, none of it as overwhelming or intimidating as the big picture
first appears; there’s lots of support out there, and if you persevere, all
those little challenges just make reaching your destination that much more
rewarding. Carry on!
My second piece of advice is to listen to your
heart while you are writing. Mine will generally tell me when I’m on the right
track, and when I’ve gotten lost. The characters and scenes that I have been
most engaged with during the creative process typically turn out to be those
the reader also finds most entertaining. So now, when I find myself slogging
through some piece that I don’t find particularly exciting or enjoyable to
write, I ask myself: why is that? Am I asking the reader to suffer with me? Is
there not something I can do to the storyline or character to make writing this
more entertaining?
Lastly, I strongly suggest that you read your
work aloud and slowly, either to yourself or to an interested listener. You’ll
be surprised at the number of errors and opportunities that expose themselves.
This advice was given me by my father, a professional editor by trade, and I
have benefited from it ever since.
Author Q & A
On writing:
Which was
the hardest character to write? The easiest?
The most difficult character to write was
Sibil…there was so much going on inside her head and heart, and she was such a
central figure, that getting all that right was critical to the overall story’s
success. The easiest to write were Reynard and Spiro… their crazy relationship,
and the banter between them, came quickly and naturally.
There are
many fantasy books out there....What makes yours different?
I’ll let blogger Liliyana Shadowlyn (The Faerie
Review) answer this one: “Walker has pulled off an epic fantasy, the likes of
which I can’t say I’ve ever read. If you had told me that there could be this
many points of views in a story, and it would be an amazing read, and not the
least bit confusing, I wouldn’t have believed you. The story is tightly woven,
and being able to see the story from various POVs, some shorter than others,
helps keep the story moving, and helps you understand everything that’s happening
at once. The characters are as rich and varied as the world they inhabit, and
the story itself captures you from page one, and makes it difficult to stop
reading.”
Do you have
another profession besides writing?
I was in public service for over thirty years.
Though that required loads of writing and editing, it’s only since retirement
that I have found sufficient time to write for pleasure.
How long
have you been writing?
Since grade school. I still remember my
second-grade teacher, Mrs. Smith, reading my first short story to the entire
class. I loved her so much I bought her marble bookends with my allowance
savings.
Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you
overcome it?
Absolutely. Exercise and music help a lot, but I
can go days before the spirit moves me. If the blockage is due to plot
complexities, I find my best solutions come while lying on my back in the dark!
What is your
next project?
I’m currently working on the sequel to Six Moons, Seven Gods, and having a lot
of fun with that.
What genre
do you write and why?
I write fantasy with tinges of romance and grim
dark. I want to create stories that immerse people in make-believe worlds that
feel real, and that stimulate a variety of emotions in the reader.
What is the
last great book you’ve read?
The last GREAT book I read was Scott Lynch’s The Republic of Thieves. Ahem, Scott, if
you are out there listening, my son and I are still waiting for the fourth book
in your series. Pleeease!
What is a
favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
When Six
Moons, Seven Gods won Chick Lit Café’s Book Excellence Award for Best
Medieval Fiction, they called it “one of the most sophisticated works of
fantasy and romance that we’ve ever seen.” I still haven’t gotten over that!
What were
the biggest rewards and challenges with writing your book?
The biggest challenge was learning the ins and
outs of traditional vs independent publishing, all of which was far more
complicated and involved than I had imagined it to be.
In one
sentence, what was the road to publishing like?
A tortuous country road, full of unexpected
twists, turns and potholes, but also with glorious views and the promise of a
gratifying destination.
Which
authors inspired you to write?
J.R.R. Tolkien, Frank Herbert, Zane Grey, Ian
Fleming, and Scott Lynch
On rituals:
Do you snack
while writing? Favorite snack?
All too often. Just a hint of writer’s block can
send me to a jar of cashews. And one or two chocolate raisins added to the mix
can’t hurt, right?
Where do you
write?
Most often, I am in our family room. It’s a
comfy place with a small view of the Pacific Ocean, which I find quite
relaxing.
Do you write
every day?
No. I wish I could, and I try to write at least
a sentence or two each day—because there’s a sense of satisfaction in making
even the smallest progress toward a book’s ending. There are definitely days
where I do not meet that objective, but I try to keep them to a minimum.
Is there a
specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time?
Not really, but in general I find that I write
best while listening to music, specifically sad ballads. I’m not sure why.
In today’s
tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written
parts of your book on paper?
Yes, I’ve often had snippets of dialogue or plot
come to me at unusual times, when I don’t have access to technology. When those
moments arrive, the closest pen or pencil will do. In fact, there have been
several times when I have had to memorize a particular line or two that I know
I want to use—just until I can find a place to write them down.
Fun
stuff:
Favorite
travel spot?
When the kids were young, it was Disneyland. Now
that they’re older, Kihei, Hawaii.
Favorite
dessert?
Hands down, a hot fudge sundae. (With real hot
fudge, not that thin chocolate sauce!)
Any hobbies?
or Name a quirky thing you like to do.
Tennis is my favorite pastime, but I’m a better
cook. Desserts are my specialty. My wife would tell you it’s hard to beat my
strawberry shortcake, chocolate cake or chocolate chip cookies.
If there is
one thing you want readers to remember about you, what would it be?
I love feedback. There’s nothing better than
hearing from a reader, especially if they’ve been entertained by my work.
What is your
favorite thing to do in winter?
On the west coast, there isn’t as great a
distinction between the seasons. So regardless of the time of year, if I’m not
writing or working on a home improvement project, I can probably be found in
the gym or on the tennis courts.
What is your
favorite holiday tradition?
Gotta love a traditional Thanksgiving meal with
family and friends. I generally do most of the cooking, and my stuffing would
have pleased even the gods of Baelon.
What song is
currently playing on a loop in your head?
“Kaleidoscope” by Chappell Roan… hauntingly
beautiful.
What is
something that made you laugh recently?
Reruns of
Everybody Loves Raymond… too funny!
What is your
go-to breakfast item?
A bowl of Alpen or Raisin Bran with no-fat
milk—which my kids call “Old Man Wheaties”
Tell us
about your longest friendship.
I’ve known my closest friends since elementary
school. One grew up next door to me; the other a mile down the road. Both still
live in Massachusetts, where I spent the first twenty years of my life.
Author
Marketing Experts:
Twitter: @Bookgal
Instagram: @therealbookgal
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GBn9mY
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199440750-six-moons-seven-gods
Praise:
"A fascinatingly detailed and
murder-fueled adventure in a violent fantasy setting."
—
Kirkus Reviews
“In Robert A. Walker’s Six Moons, Seven Gods, loyalty and treachery entwine, friendships
are tested, and dangerous secrets are held close to the heart… a brilliant,
compelling narrative that hooks the reader from start to finish.”
—
Literary Titan 5-star Review
"...an exceptionally rewarding fantasy.
There are twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat, unable
to stop reading.”
— Ronél
Steyn for Readers’ Favorite, 5 stars
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