I know it's been a while since I've updated my website. I wanted to reassure you all that I am still here. Soon, I'll be relaunching a four-book series that'd formerly been with Ellora's Cave for their Cerridwen Press/Blush imprints, but had the rights reverted to me.
I'm pleased to let you know that I've revamped the books extensively, added scenes and content, re-imagining the series in a way I wish I could've done the first time. The books are going to have new titles, reflecting the story, as well as new covers, and I'm planning on completing two more books, which had been placed on hold.
The first book, Persuasion, is almost ready to go. In the meantime, I thought I'd share the awesome cover design, as well as a little insight into the world of the Abcynians.
They
have lived for centuries. An ancient, secretive race faced with near
extinction. To assure their survival they must conceal their identities and
abilities, while protecting mankind from an unimaginable, primordial enemy.
Persuasion:
The Abcynians, Book I
As an Elder of a diminishing race, Garrick Forrester has
survived wars, plagues, and two arranged marriages. Nothing he’s experienced
prepares him for the discovery of his mate living in his demesne, or for her
resistance.
While aiding a child in the clutches of a dastardly man,
Aisley Reeves is rescued by the Earl of Danford, whom a village healer should
never dare approach without being summoned. At first, she is fascinated,
especially when he grants permission to speak at will and seems wise beyond his
years.
But when he claims she’s to become his betrothed, she
balks. Already fearful her work and red hair might tempt some to brand her as a
witch, she believes it is best to keep her distance from the dark, mesmerizing
lord whose thoughts she can hear and reminds her of the black leopard guarding
his earldom.
To protect her from an unimaginable evil, Garrick must
persuade Aisley to trust him, a man who is far more than…human!
The Abcynians
They
have lived for centuries. An ancient, secretive race faced with near
extinction. To assure their survival they must conceal their identities and
abilities, while protecting mankind from an unimaginable, primordial enemy.
Glossary
Elder:
The
equivalent of the peerage, an Elder is a term of respect for an Abcynian
capable of shifting into their alternate form.
Sustenance: A
mixture of herbs and spices from Abcynia, the former homeland of the Abcynians,
added to food or drink, enabling them to adapt to their environments and heal
if injured or ill.
Essence:
Within
each Abcynian is the soul of a panther, known as essence, which manifests
itself as an iridescent mark on the skin. When converting, mating, or healing,
it is given through a bite, providing nourishment, excitement, and increasing
the mate’s arousal.
Abcynian
Guard: Humans who have vowed fealty or loyalty to protecting the
Abcynians from false accusations or misunderstandings.
Duke:
Primarily
granted to those in the royal family.
Marcher
Lord: In England, marcher lords were appointed by the King to
guard the Welsh border. Eventually, they would become the second highest of the
peerage, known as a marquess or marquis.
Earl:
Highest
of the English titles/peerage during the Middle Ages.
Baron:
In
England, one who held tenured land for the King. Before Parliament was formed,
the Great Council could grant a writ or charter.
Healers/Midwives:
While
there were physicians, often healers tended those who were sick, injured, and
those with child.
Palfrey:
A
riding horse.
Destrier:
A
battle-tested warhorse.
Sennight:
A
week or seven days.
Fortnight:
Two
weeks or fourteen days.
Ell:
A
measure of distance, about 4 feet.
Firkin:
50+
pounds.
Furlong:
220
yards.
Hand:
4
inches
Pace:
2
½ feet.
Coins:
Mark=12
shillings, Pound=20 shillings, Shilling=12 pence, Pence=penny, Noble=1/2 a
mark.
Hurdy-gurdy:
A
stringed musical instrument, earliest form required 2 musicians to play, may
have been an early predecessor to the violin.
Lute:
A
stringed instrument, resembled a pear-shaped guitar.
Great
Hall: Usually where the lord held feasts or gathered guests for
midday a feast or midday meal, which tended to be the most significant with
multiple courses.
Livery:
A
small cupboard where a simple meal and wine or drink was kept for a lord or
lady’s evening repast.
Supper:
A
simple meal, served later in the evening.
Solar:
Private
quarters or room for the lord or lady and guests to gather. Note: Garrick has a
solar, which he keeps well away from his tower/area of his manor house, which
is large enough to resemble a Norman castle.
Nursery:
Room/area
in a house or castle for children.
Squire:
A
boy training for knighthood.
Knight
Errant: One who has attained knighthood, but may not have lands
of his own and wanders.
Banneret:
A
man who is knighted, but leads other soldiers or knights under his own banner.
For further information or vocabulary custom to the
Middle Ages, I highly recommend Sherrilyn Keynon’s Everyday Life in the Middle
Ages. It’s an excellent source for readers, authors, and historians, alike.
Panthera
Leo/Lions: It is important to introduce Lucien
Montgomery and his family. As he is the oldest of their kind, Lucien is the
Abcynian King, his sons and daughters considered princes and princesses. The
location of his pride is known only to a few and never spoken of when they are
assuming human identities.
Lucien
and Catarina Montgomery=Abcynian King and Queen. In England, Lord and Lady
Raybourne.
Valiant
Montgomery = Crown Prince. In England, Squire training for knighthood
Adrian
Montgomery= Prince, desires to become a sailor, explorer.
Dante
Luciano=Raised, adopted, and protected by Lucien and Catarina.
Elena
and Mercedes Montgomery-Princesses, reside beyond Europe.
Panthera
Pardus/Leopards: Amongst Abcynians, the leopards are
considered the best hunters, strategists, and warriors. Garrick Forrester is
the second eldest of his kind, an English earl who has dedicated himself to the
protection of England and his demesne.
Elder
Garrick Forrester, Earl of Danford.
Aisley
Forrester, Countess of Danford
Lady
Angelica Forrester=Garrick and Aisley’s newly adopted daughter.
Elder
Grayson Forrester, Baron Somerton, Garrick’s brother.
Elder
Colton Forrester, Baron Wolcott, Garrick’s youngest brother.
Jillian
Forrester, Baroness Wolcott, Colton’s wife.
Panthera
Tigris/Tigers: The most elusive of the Abcynians, the
were-tigers prefer to cloak themselves with their human titles. Thus far only
Lucien and Garrick know their identities, though if called upon, they will
stand up and defend their panthera cousins.
Due to their need for secrecy, names and titles
withheld until later in the series. 