All of my books are 50% off in the Smashwords Read an Ebook Week sale through March 13th. You can find them all here. Go grab some books!
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All of my books are 50% off in the Smashwords Read an Ebook Week sale through March 13th. You can find them all here. Go grab some books!
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 It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets! The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ+ I'm continuing to share snippets of first kisses today with Rhys and Gaz's first kiss in A Harmony of Fire and Earth, the second book in the Elemental Magicae series. Rhys and Gaz have been friends for some time...and Rhys has been in love with Gaz for some time too. Gaz has feelings for Rhys too, but he also has secrets that keep him distant. In this scene, Rhys has finally decided to do something about what he feels. He's just told Gaz he'd like to kiss him. Gaz speaks first in this snippet.  “It might not be a good idea.” “I know. But it might be a very good idea too.” Laughing a little, Gaz shook his head. “Do you not want me to kiss you? If so, just say, and I’ll never mention it again.” He silently recited every prayer he knew that Gaz wouldn’t say it. “It isn’t that I don’t want you to. It’s just—” Rhys didn’t let Gaz finish, and maybe that was wrong. He didn’t even consciously make the decision to close the distance—only a step or two—between them and press his lips to Gaz’s. It was a whisper of a kiss at first, light and soft. But Rhys was stunned to be kissing Gaz after all this time. Just that fact was glorious. You can find more about A Harmony of Fire and Earth here. Thanks for reading today, and I hope you're all staying safe and well.
It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets! The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ+ Last week, I shared the snippet of Griffen and Kirill's first kiss in The Envoy's Honor, which inspired me to take a little break from snippets from that book and share some other first kisses. I decided to start this week with Edmund and Arden in A Dance of Water and Air. In this scene, Edmund has been accused of trying to murder the queen he is supposed to marry and was thrown in the dungeon. Arden, the queen's brother, has decided to break Edmund out.  Two figures crowded into the doorway; Edmund had just realized who they were when one of the men spoke. “Edmund,” Arden gasped. “Are you all right?” “Arden—” Arden rushed forward and pulled Edmund into a kiss, a kiss that tasted of fear and desperation and a brilliant sweetness underneath the rest. The suddenness of it, the impulsivity of Arden’s kissing him in front of others—in a dungeon of all places—froze Edmund for half a second, but then he was kissing Arden back, and he never wanted to stop. You can find more about A Dance of Water and Air here. Thanks for reading today, and I hope you're all staying safe and healthy!
 A bunch of authors from the QUILTBAG Historicals Facebook group have gotten together to try to brighten this dark midwinter time with some posts based (loosely) on The Twelve Days of Christmas. There's also a fantastic giveaway, which you can enter here! Today is the fifth day, which means gold rings, and in my post, gold rings mean a wedding. This one is Edmund and Arden's wedding in A Harmony of Fire and Earth: “Your Highnesses?” the priest asked. “Are you ready?” Edmund smiled. “More than. Arden?” Arden reached up and settled his hands on Edmund’s shoulders. He looked into Edmund’s eyes. Arden’s green gaze was serious and searching—though for what Edmund wasn’t sure—and worry twisted in Edmund’s stomach. But then it softened, became achingly tender. Something turned over inside Edmund, and he was amazed once more that this man loved him, would be his. And he would be Arden’s. Arden nodded, as if Edmund had said something, answered whatever question Arden had. He smoothed his hands down the front of Edmund’s jacket. “Yes, we’re ready.” They didn’t take their eyes off each other as the doors were opened once more; Edmund was caught in Arden’s green gaze. He could have imagined them all alone, could have wished it, but he barely noticed anyone except Arden anyway. “Shall we?” Arden asked in a whisper. “Yes. Let’s get married.” They walked through the doors into the temple proper side by side, arm in arm. Edmund should be paying attention to the people who lined the aisle of the crowded temple, but the faces were a blur. Everything was a blur, indistinct, unreal—everything except Arden. They walked the long aisle together and up the three steps to where the priest and priestess waited at the altar. Kerenza and Ciaran stood on the second step. Neither Edmund nor Arden had made politically expedient choices in their witnesses, nor did they care. The priest and priestess began the ceremony. Edmund’s heart was racing; he could barely hear what they said, but he stared into Arden’s eyes, reading the emotion there, the fight not to let too much of it overflow—which Edmund shared. They were in full view of a court who thought their marriage a political matter, and, sadly, too many people would seize upon excessive displays of emotion as a weakness. It didn’t matter so much, though, because he was marrying Arden. Edmund’s feelings for Arden were not things he needed to showcase or have judged by the members of his father’s court, by diplomats and nobility and dignitaries invited to the wedding because of their titles not their relationship to Edmund. He loved Arden, and Arden loved him. Nothing else mattered. They said their vows to each other and exchanged rings—bands of gold set with diamonds and pearls, made new for them instead of taken from Edmund’s family’s collection. He’d wanted new for this new beginning. He slid Arden’s ring on with hands that trembled only slightly. Edmund wanted this so much, wanted Arden forever so very much. All that want had him nearly vibrating out of his own skin. Arden’s hands were cool and sure as he placed Edmund’s ring on his finger, his voice even and strong as he recited his vows. He kept hold of Edmund’s hand after. Edmund couldn’t remember if they were supposed to, and he couldn’t much care—Arden’s hand in his felt right. Arden gave him a small smile, just a slight curve of his lips, but for Edmund alone. About A Harmony of Fire and Earth [Note: The following blurb contains spoilers for book 1, A Dance of Water and Air.]
Prince Edmund of Thalassa and Prince Arden of Aither are eagerly anticipating their upcoming wedding, but the danger to their kingdom hasn’t lessened. They have a plan, but they won’t be able to carry it out alone: they need a strong wielder of each Element, whom they can trust implicitly, to carry out the magic. Rhys is a commoner and wielder of Earth magic. He and his sister have made a living from the use of their magic for years and have become highly respected in scholarly circles, though he prefers a more simple life with his plants. When a message from Prince Arden reaches them asking for their help, they don’t hesitate. They stop only to request that Gaz, a strong Fire wielder and the man Rhys has long been enamored of, accompany them on the journey to Thalassa’s royal palace. What no one knows is that Gaz was once known as Prince Gareth of Thalassa and is Edmund’s younger brother, long believed dead. He fled his home after his Fire Affinity made itself known and put him in danger, and he had no intention of ever going back. But he can’t keep himself from going to his brother’s aid, despite the risk of discovery and of the weight of his secrets potentially crushing his fledgling relationship with Rhys. Working against time, they must find a way to come together in a magical working the likes of which none of them has ever imagined, or their homelands will surely burn. Buy A Harmony of Fire and Earth: NineStar Press Apple Amazon Barnes & Noble Smashwords Kobo  NineStar Press is having a big sale so readers can get their hands on some books to read while isolating at home. It's a scary time, and I know I use books to comfort and distract myself. If you do too, here's a great opportunity to pick up some new ones. Everything at NineStar is on sale through the end of March! With regards to my books, A Dance of Water and Air is free (which has never happened before!) and the others, including newly released The Prince's Consort, are all 40% off. Find all of my books here. Go forth and read, my darlings. Do things that make you happy (we all need a little happiness), while also washing your hands, not touching your face, and staying home as much as possible. Take care of yourselves.  A Harmony of Fire and Earth has been out in the world for one year today! I thought it might be fun to mark the day with a giveaway. Comment below for a chance to win an ebook of A Harmony of Fire and Earth or of the first book in the series, A Dance of Water and Air, if you'd prefer. I'll pick a winner in a week. About A Harmony of Fire and Earth Prince Edmund of Thalassa and Prince Arden of Aither are eagerly anticipating their upcoming wedding, but the danger to their kingdom hasn’t lessened. They have a plan, but they won’t be able to carry it out alone: they need a strong wielder of each Element, whom they can trust implicitly, to carry out the magic. Rhys is a commoner and wielder of Earth magic. He and his sister have made a living from the use of their magic for years and have become highly respected in scholarly circles, though he prefers a more simple life with his plants. When a message from Prince Arden reaches them asking for their help, they don’t hesitate. They stop only to request that Gaz, a strong Fire wielder and the man Rhys has long been enamored of, accompany them on the journey to Thalassa’s royal palace. What no one knows is that Gaz was once known as Prince Gareth of Thalassa and is Edmund’s younger brother, long believed dead. He fled his home after his Fire Affinity made itself known and put him in danger, and he had no intention of ever going back. But he can’t keep himself from going to his brother’s aid, despite the risk of discovery and of the weight of his secrets potentially crushing his fledgling relationship with Rhys. Working against time, they must find a way to come together in a magical working the likes of which none of them has ever imagined, or their homelands will surely burn. ExcerptAfter they finished eating, Rhys and Gaz bundled up against the cold night and left Briallen and Meraud chatting and finishing the wine. Gaz needed to retrieve his and Meraud’s horses from the stables. Rhys went along to check on his and Briallen’s and make sure they’d been made comfortable for the night. He could admit to himself it was just an excuse to spend a few more moments with Gaz. If the others knew, they kindly didn’t mention it.
“So we probably won’t be seeing you for a while, then,” Gaz said after a few moments. They were strolling, despite the chill. Rhys didn’t envy his friends their ride home in the dark. “Since you want to get home before the worst of winter sets in.” “We don’t really want to have to travel then, so probably not.” As much as he regretted it. There was nothing to say they couldn’t travel, but Aither’s winters meant a lot of snow, even here in the foothills, and it wasn’t pleasant to try to get through it, even though he wanted to see his friends. “It’s best for us to go directly home from this last job.” “And you miss your greenhouses.” Gaz was smiling when he said it, the look almost fond. “I suppose I do.” Both Rhys and Briallen were Earth Affinities, but his was far more in tune with plants—growing them and strengthening their healing and magical properties, as well as doing some healing himself. So, yes, he did hate having to leave his plants in the care of others. Winter gave him time to tend the greenhouses and experiment, tasks he found both soothing and fulfilling. “No shame in that. It’s part of who you are. You should do what you’re passionate about. We all should.” Gaz’s voice was quiet but intense. Rhys turned to him as they stopped near the stables, just outside the circle of lantern light near the door. He watched Gaz for a moment, nerves making his stomach churn. Could he do this? “And what if what I want to do is kiss you?” Gaz’s indrawn breath was sharp and loud in the quiet of the night. “Do you?” “I do.” “It might not be a good idea.” “I know. But it might be a very good idea too.” Laughing a little, Gaz shook his head. “Do you not want me to kiss you? If so, just say, and I’ll never mention it again.” He silently recited every prayer he knew that Gaz wouldn’t say it. “It isn’t that I don’t want you to. It’s just—” Rhys didn’t let Gaz finish, and maybe that was wrong. He didn’t even consciously make the decision to close the distance—only a step or two—between them and press his lips to Gaz’s. It was a whisper of a kiss at first, light and soft. But Rhys was stunned to be kissing Gaz after all this time. Just that fact was glorious.  It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets. The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ+ Today, I have another wintry snippet for you, this one from A Harmony of Fire and Earth. It's also a first kiss.  It was a whisper of a kiss at first, light and soft. But Rhys was stunned to be kissing Gaz after all this time. Just that fact was glorious. Gaz’s lips were soft and still under his. Then he made a little noise and stepped into Rhys, bent just a bit, and the kiss became something more. Rhys clutched at Gaz’s hips, slim beneath the thick coat he wore. He wished they didn’t have coats and gloves between them—he wished they didn’t have anything between them. But there was something magical all the same about a kiss in the winter night, stars above them, fresh snow beneath their feet, crisp, cold air nipping at them. You can find more about A Harmony of Fire and Earth here. Thanks for reading today, and have a wonderful weekend!
 It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets. The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ+. It's supposed to snow here today, so I thought I'd share a snowy snippet today from A Dance of Water and Air. Edmund is from a place where it doesn't snow often, though I do have to admit I share his feelings about snow...when I don't have to go out in it!  Edmund turned back to the window. Snow was indeed falling lightly to the ground. An almost childlike delight filled him. He’d thought the view beautiful before, but with the softly falling snow and the hushed stillness it brought, it was perfect, like a painting. “I love that smile.” Arden’s whisper startled Edmund, and perhaps Arden too if his widened eyes were anything to go by. You can find out more about A Dance of Water and Air here. Thanks for reading today!
 A Dance of Water and Air has been out in the world one year today! I love this book and this world and these characters, and not only because it got me writing again at a tough time. The beginning of the idea for this book came with the question: what if a prince was supposed to marry a queen but fell for the wrong sibling? Everything in A Dance of Water and Air spun out from there. We have Edmund, prince and heir to the throne of Thalassa, obligated to marry the queen of neighboring Aither to create an alliance between their countries. Upon arriving in Aither, he finds intrigue he didn't expect and friendship with Arden, the queen's younger brother, that deepens in ways he doesn't anticipate. When Edmund is accused of trying to assassinate the queen, Arden helps him escape, and they run, trying to get Edmund to safety and pull two kingdoms from threat of way...and acknowledge that they've fallen in love. There's also elemental magic, found family, and MCs who are cis and demisexual and trans and bisexual. The romance ends happily in this book, but the fantasy plot is continued in A Harmony of Fire and Earth along with a new romance (and more of Edmund and Arden too). The story ends there for now, but I already want to revisit this world, so we'll see what happens... Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of A Dance of Water and Air. I'll pick a winner in a week. About A Dance of Water and Air: Edmund is heir to the throne of Thalassa and a wielder of Water magic. Devoted to his kingdom and his duty to it, Edmund can do nothing but acquiesce to an arranged marriage with the queen of a neighboring kingdom. The marriage and the child it is required to produce will seal an alliance between Thalassa and Aither that is vital to Thalassa’s safety, and far more important than Edmund’s personal misgivings. Arden is the younger brother of Aither’s queen and a wielder of Air magic. Raised in the politics of the court to support his sister’s rule, he understands the alliance is important to Aither, even as he worries about his sister marrying someone she’s never met. When Edmund arrives in Aither to prepare for the wedding, Arden is tasked with helping him settle in at court. As they spend more time together, Edmund and Arden develop a close friendship, then stronger feelings, but with Edmund’s wedding approaching, they must hide their feelings, even from themselves. When someone tries to assassinate the queen, Edmund is blamed, and Arden rescues him before he can be executed for a crime he didn’t commit. To prevent a war between their kingdoms and protect them from a dangerous enemy, Edmund and Arden will have to discover who wants to pit Aither and Thalassa against each other and mend relations between the two kingdoms as they evade those searching for them—all while finding a way to be together. Add A Dance of Water and Air to your Goodreads shelf. Buy A Dance of Water and Air: NineStar Press Amazon Apple Barnes & Noble Smashwords Kobo  If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you may have seen me mention my recent trip to France and Barcelona. I posted some pictures here and there, but I've been meaning to write a post about it since I got back earlier this month. I've put it off because of day job work and writing and preparing for The Spymaster's Secret coming out and adjusting back to my home time zone (I mostly have my sense of time back finally!). But I didn't want to forget to talk about it because it was a lovely trip. I went with family and met wonderful people and saw beautiful things and learned lots of history and ate amazing food (so much pastry!) and drank so much wine. I was ridiculously lucky to get to go. I've always loved travel, but recent years haven't seen me able to travel as much as I would've liked. This trip was a fantastic opportunity...and also reignited my travel bug, which might not be such a great thing depending on when my next chance to get away is! It was also a really inspiring trip in a lot of ways. But here's one very fun and exciting one. Does something look familiar about this particular chateau?   I got to visit Chateau de Chambord in the Loire Valley, which you can probably tell from the cropped cover photo above is the castle used on the cover of A Dance of Water and Air. I was so exciting I was absolutely shaking when I realized where I was! I only wish I'd know—I would've brought a copy of the book along and taken some pictures with it! This is absolutely one of my favorite of my book covers, and Chambord makes a lovely palace for Edmund and Arden. Not having the book didn't stop me from taking a bunch of photos anyway. It's a such a beautiful building! Here are a few more photos (including one of my in my very large summery hat) and one of the whole cover. 
Travel has always been so inspiring for me. Being in new places, experiencing new things, learning, soaking up culture and art...all of those things have always sparked ideas and creativity. The worlds and characters in books owe so much to the bits and pieces I've absorbed on travels. I think this trip will do the same. This year has been a difficult one for writing for me—I've talked about why before, and I'm not going to go into it again here because I'm trying to be upbeat and ride on the giddy wave this recent trip caused. I'm hoping the little sparks of story and character and setting ideas that began floating around my head during this trip will get me writing steadily again. The Chateau de Chenonceau and Carcassonne's walls and towers struck me as sort of magical and fairy tale, and the countryside and coast were so beautiful. Returning to Paris makes me finally want to write that story set there that's been floating around in my head for too long. I need to finish the next Chronicles of Tournai book (and maybe this trip did shake some things loose because the end of that is finally coming together!), but after I finish, we'll see where my imagination takes me... In the meantime, while I let my subconscious decide where we'll go next, here are a few of the (hundreds of) pictures I took while I was away.
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AuthorAntonia is a writer and a reader. She loves books, travel, art, photography, baking, pasta, and shoes. Archives
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