Coming Soon! The Abcynians and Persuasion

Hi everyone,

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.