New Cover • Whimsical Tendencies

Whimsical Tendencies could be under your tree or on your e-reader this Christmas!

Although Cypher McCall has no memories before the quake that destroyed the kingdom of Augury, she holds a steadfast hatred of the repressive Cauldian regime now ruling the country. Her magical gifts are deemed subversive, so she does her best to avoid detection–despite the fact she’s too beautiful for the Cauldians to ignore. She stumbles on a silver key that she hopes will unlock her past, but first she must confront a long repressed horror at the Castle Augur ruins.

Will the knowledge of Cypher’s true identity tear her apart or will it empower her to restore everything she ever loved?

Buy the paperback HERE.

Last Few Weeks for Secrets of Yden

The publishing rights to my third Yden book, Secrets of Yden, will shortly be reverting back to me. By contract, I must keep the book off the market for 90 days. So if you’ve been thinking about reading it, act now or temporarily (until January 2017) hold your peace! I don’t believe the book will be available anywhere past October 12, 2016, but exact dates are up to the publisher. ~ Suzanne

Blurb: As Jon Hansen begins his senior year in high school, he and his friends are focused on the future. Unfortunately, a past skirmish on Yden is still having repercussions. Bailey of the Shark Clan is out for revenge, and he may have secret support in the Executive Council. Worse, time is stopping on Earth for increasingly long intervals, and only Jon’s ankh sets him apart. An unstable portal is the cause, but his search for answers uncovers an ancient prophecy that seemingly spells his doom. Can Jon repair the hole in the universe before time stops forever, or will he have to sacrifice himself to save the world?

Click HERE to go to the Yden series Amazon page. Kira: The Yden Trilogy Prequel is still free, and books one and two are in the KU program.

The Release of CLASH OF WILLS!

I’m pleased to announce the release of my romantic fantasy, Clash of Wills! The short story version was under contract for two years with a publishing company, so when I received my rights back I decided to rewrite the story and lengthen it into a novella. I’ve added new characters, new conflicts, and some awesome battles! If you’d like to check it out, Clash of Wills is available at Amazon HERE. ~ S.G. Rogers

Can Princess Samantha battle highwaymen, a snow demon, and a wayward prince to bring her brother home?

Princess Samantha’s magical compass will help her locate her long-lost brother, but only if she manages to escape the watchful eyes of her royal parents. When an unwelcome suitor comes to call, Samantha seizes her chance. She beguiles the prince into taking her north, intending to abandon him at her earliest opportunity. Unfortunately, his captivating good looks and charming manner present an unforeseen complication—especially when she is forced to accept help from the very man she has deceived.

To maintain his bachelorhood, handsome Prince Wills is not above deception. Although reluctantly entangled in Samantha’s scheme, he vows to protect her…until a lie threatens to destroy their alliance.  Can his powerful attraction to the princess overcome his mistrust?  And can they survive a dangerous quest to the wild and magical Uncharted Region?

Excerpt:

Dinner was a cordial affair, with succulent roasts, plentiful salads, and freshly baked bread. Samantha engaged Wills in conversation about the beauties of his kingdom by the sea, and encouraged her father to reminisce about his friendship with Wills’ father, King Ewan. The evening was so convivial, Wills’ shoulder muscles relaxed and his laughter became genuine.

Over a tangy dessert of fresh berries and clotted cream, Samantha asked Wills about the roads between their two kingdoms. “Tell me sir, did you encounter any difficulties on your journey here?”

“I wish I could report an exciting clash with a troll or a band of highwaymen, but my travels were quite uneventful,” he replied. “Comfortable inns line the roads, and it took but three days altogether.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Samantha turned a beaming smile on the king. “Oh, Father, I’d dearly love to visit Insolitia. Might I have permission to accompany the prince on his return home?”

“What?” Startled, Wills spilled wine down the front of his uniform. Footmen hastened to his aid.

“Nan can chaperone,” Samantha continued, “and I’m certain Prince Wills and his manservant will provide ample protection.”

Although Wills’ mouth opened, no sound would come out. Surely her father will refuse his permission!

“What a capital idea, Tomas,” the queen said. “Samantha will adore the ocean.”

“Why not, indeed?” Tomas nodded his approval. “It might do Samantha good to see a bit of the world—if Prince Wills agrees to the undertaking, of course.”

Wills twisted in the wind, but he had little choice but to be gracious. “It would alleviate the boredom of my travels greatly,” he managed. The wretched girl has outfoxed me…but to what end?

Magical Places – Formal Gardens

Formal gardens make frequent appearances in my stories.  Perhaps it’s the riot of colors, or the topiary, or the symmetry of a formal garden that stirs my imagination. I’d like nothing better than to meander down the pathways, admiring the flowers and the pleasing arrangement of manicured hedges.  To me, a formal garden is one of the living embodiments of magic… but I wouldn’t want to trim the shrubbery.

What locations do you consider magical?

~ S.G. Rogers

 

Excerpt from The Last Great Wizard of Yden:

Clusters of sculptures decorated the pathways and grassy lawns. Some were of magical creatures, but there were a great many sculptures of people.

“I can’t get over the number of lifelike statues,” Jon said.

“Well, at least we now know where the party is,” Fred said. When he poked a fisherman with his finger, it left a fading blue imprint in the stone. “Hey, look, it’s a mood ring statue!”

“Thermochromism,” Casey said.

Fred gaped. “What?”

“The rock is heat‑sensitive,” Casey explained.

Jon circled a statue of an old woman. “The level of detail is amazing.”

The central pathway through the garden featured a carving of a man on his knees. His arm was flung over his head, as if to ward off some unseen danger. Another man was prostrate on the ground. Brett frowned. “They look afraid.”

Jon exchanged an apprehensive glance with Kira. She drew her sword.

“Let’s head back to the beach,” Jon said.

“Sissies!” Fred said. He leaped over the prone statue. “Scared of a bunch of lawn decorations.”

Kira scanned the garden. “Perhaps it would be wise to fear their maker.”
The Last Great Wizard of Yden, a full length fantasy novel. Buy the e-book NOW through Astraea Press, Amazon, BN.com and other fine outlets ($2.99 MSRP) FINAL DAY SALE $0.99  and then enter to win the paperback through my Goodreads giveaway HERE.

Watch the book trailer HERE!

Sunday Snippet – Cypher by S.G. Rogers

The tunnel up ahead was caved in and impassable. Cypher’s shoulders slumped.

“I-I don’t know any other way around.”

“We passed a lot of other passageways,” Joss said.

“I don’t know where they lead. I always stayed in the main tunnel so I wouldn’t get lost. Joss, perhaps we should go back.”

“Shh.”

“What?”

“I hear something.”

“What do you hear?”

“A ringing.”

“The air isn’t that good, Joss. I imagine your ears are ringing.”

“No, it’s like a bell.”

Cypher cocked her head to listen. Moments later her eyes grew wide. “I hear it too! Do you
think there could be somebody else down here?”

“I don’t know, but it’s getting closer.”

Joss put his arm around Cypher and held her tight. Someone or something was approaching,and they were trapped in a dead end.

Cypher, a romantic fantasy novella by S.G. Rogers

Although she has no memories before the quake that destroyed the kingdom of Augury, Cypher McCall holds a steadfast hatred of the repressive Cauldian regime now ruling the country. Because her magical gifts are deemed subversive, she does her best to avoid detection. Unfortunately for Cypher, however, she’s too beautiful to ignore. After a Cauldian contingent arrives in her hometown, a chance encounter leaves her repulsed by the arrogant Prince Ewan and attracted to his distant cousin, Lord Joss.

When she learns Prince Ewan plans to tear down the ruins of nearby Castle Augur, Cypher vows to stop him. Although handsome Lord Joss tries to protect her from his vindictive cousin, Cypher can’t bring herself to trust the enemy. At the same time, nightmares and dreams nudge her toward reclaiming childhood memories. She stumbles on a silver key that she hopes will unlock her past, but first she must confront a long repressed horror at the Castle Augur ruins.

Can Cypher evade Prince Ewan long enough to recover her memories? Is Lord Joss all that he seems or is his charm a ruse to ensnare the unwary? Finally, will the knowledge of her true identity tear Cypher apart or empower her to restore everything she ever loved?

Buy: Amazon (Kindle format), MuseItUp Publishing (all e-formats)

 

The Last Great Wizard of Yden Excerpt

Excerpt from The Last Great Wizard of Yden:

He stood in a large, dimly lit cave. Long stalactites streamed down
from the ceiling, and towering stalagmites thrust up from the floor of the chamber. The walls of rock surrounding him were embedded with iridescent crystals shining with reflected light. The place struck Jon as beautiful, but he felt apprehensive. With a sense of foreboding, he searched for the source of the shimmering light, hidden among the forest of rock and mineral formations.

As he wound his way past clusters of stalagmites, his foot
dislodged a fist-­‐‑sized raw diamond that skittered off into the shadows.
Suddenly Jon spied a column of bluish light in an open space. He darted
toward it but accidentally skidded on a pile of loose crystals. When he fell,
jagged gemstones lacerated the soft skin of his palms. Blood welled up in
the wounds, and as he struggled to his feet, red droplets flowed down his
trembling, throbbing fingers and splashed to the stone floor. Emerging
into the open space at last, Jon saw a man, rigid and immobile, imprisoned
in the column of light. The man’s eyes were closed—as if in death. Jon’s
heart thudded inside his chest and horror spread through his veins as he
stared into the man’s face.

“Dad?”

Jon stretched his blood‑soaked hands into the bluish light and his
wounds began to close. He knew, somehow, his father had healed him.
“Thanks, Dad,” he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. “I’ll find a
way to rescue you.”

Suddenly a feral growling came from the shadows. Startled, Jon shrank back as a huge black wolf leaped from the darkness, its cruel fangs aiming for his throat…

 Amazon, Astraea Press, BN.com

Book Trailer HERE

S.G. Rogers’ Cypher – Release Day Party

UPDATE:  Using Random.org, Onisha’s number came up! Congratulations to Onisha, and thank you to everyone who left a comment on my blog. 😀

“You can’t raze Castle Augur. It’s a national landmark! How dare you even think of desecrating the place where so many people died!” Cypher exclaimed.

Prince Ewan sat with his boots up on a desk, his hands laced behind his head. “If it isn’t the pretty barmaid.” He swung his legs to the floor and stood. “Castle Augur is an eyesore and a danger to the community. I’m building a summer palace on the foundations. Don’t worry, there will be a job waiting for you as my servant once we’re through.”

“I’ll never wait on you. You’re not fit to kiss my Augurian backside, Your Highness.”

Although she has no memories before the quake that destroyed the kingdom of Augury, Cypher McCall holds a steadfast hatred of the repressive Cauldian regime now ruling the country.  Because her magical gifts are deemed subversive, she does her best to avoid detection.  Unfortunately for Cypher, however, she’s too beautiful to ignore. After a Cauldian contingent arrives in her hometown, a chance encounter leaves her repulsed by the arrogant Prince Ewan and attracted to his distant cousin, Lord Joss.

When she learns Prince Ewan plans to tear down the ruins of nearby Castle Augur, Cypher vows to stop him.  Although handsome Lord Joss tries to protect her from his vindictive cousin, Cypher can’t bring herself to trust the enemy.  At the same time, nightmares and dreams nudge her toward reclaiming childhood memories.  She stumbles across a silver key she hopes will unlock her past, but first she must confront a long repressed horror at the Castle Augur ruins.

Can Cypher evade Prince Ewan long enough to recover her memories? Is Lord Joss all that he seems or is his charm a ruse to ensnare the unwary? Finally, will the knowledge of her true identity tear Cypher apart or empower her to restore everything she ever loved?

Available today in all e-formats from MuseItUp Publishing HERE. Coming soon to Amazon, and BN.com.

To CELEBRATE my latest release, I’m giving away a copy of The Magical Misperception of Meridian (any e-format) and a Cypher cover t-shirt (men’s size L).  I’ll even throw in a little author swag (postcards, magnets, etc).

I’ll pick the winner at 11:59 p.m., Friday, June 22 (EST).  To enter, just do ONE of the following (pick the easiest!), and leave me a comment to tell me which way you entered:

1) LIKE my author Facebook page HERE; OR

2) ADD one of my books to your to-read list on Goodreads HERE; OR

3) LIKE one of my books on Amazon HERE; OR

4) FOLLOW my blog, or FOLLOW me on Twitter.

Buying Cypher or one of my other books (click on covers on the right side of my blog, or there are links on each book page) would definitely qualify as an entry (and make my day). (Cypher will be at Amazon in a day or two…BN.com takes a lot longer.)

Thanks for coming to my release day party.  😀 ~ S.G. Rogers

New Book Club With Benefits

Pure. Fiction.

Astraea Press has started a new book club on Facebook you will want to join. Why? For a two week period at the beginning of each month, Astraea Press will offer ONE free e-book to readers to read and enjoy 🙂 At the end of the month you can come back for a chat with other readers and the author. Readers are encouraged to post a reader review on Amazon, B&N and/or Goodreads with their thoughts on the book 🙂  There will also be the opportunity to win author swag!  You really don’t want to miss out.

The fun starts in June, and you must join the group HERE to be eligible to receive the book.  The very first free read will be…Come on over to Facebook and join the fun.

~ S.G. Rogers

Taming of the Shrew (Not)

Clash of Wills (The Wild Rose Press)

In the wild and untamed Uncharted Region, the greatest danger is falling in love.

Princess Samantha’s magical compass will help her locate her long-lost brother, but only if she manages to escape her royal parents for a few weeks. When an unwelcome suitor comes to call, Samantha seizes her chance. She beguiles the prince into taking her north, intending to abandon him at her earliest opportunity. Unfortunately, his captivating good looks and charming manner present an unforeseen complication—especially when she is forced to accept help from the very man she has deceived.

To maintain his bachelorhood, handsome Prince Wills is not above deception. Although reluctantly entangled in Samantha’s scheme, he vows to protect her…until a lie threatens to destroy their alliance.  Can his powerful attraction to Samantha overcome his mistrust?  And can they survive a dangerous quest to the wild and magical Uncharted Region?

Excerpt:

Samantha hastened in the same direction Wills had gone, but her heart began to pound when she realized she was lost. Someone pointed her down the alleyway that led to the general store, but Wills had already left. Panic quickened her pace as she retraced her steps.

Halfway through the alley, two men blocked her exit. They’d followed her from the tavern. A sense of dread gripped her so tightly she found it hard to breathe.

“Well, looky here, we’ve got ourselves a little mouse,” one sneered.

His companion laughed. “More like a piece of cheese, I reckon.”

Samantha turned to find her retreat cut off by the other two. She dropped her pack to the ground but before she could reach for her sling, the scarred bandit rushed forward and held a knife to her throat.

“Your tall friend is just around the corner,” he murmured into her ear. “Call him.”

“No.”

“Do it, or I’ll ventilate your windpipe.”

Samantha flinched as she felt the blade slicing into her skin. She knew if she called Wills, the men would kill him. She chose to die instead.

“Would that your hands burn with the strength of your evil,” she spat.

CLASH OF WILLS, a romantic fantasy novella, now available from Amazon (current price $0.99), BN.com and The Wild Rose Press ($1.25 MSRP).

To add to your to-read list on Goodreads, go HERE.

To return to Sweet Saturday Samples, go HERE.

Mad About Princes

What is it about a fairytale prince that captures the imagination?  A young, good-looking and masculine royal usually wins the day—and the hand of the beautiful maiden.  For me, however, the above-mentioned qualities form only the base of an engaging hero.  There must be something more that renders the man worthy of the heroine, be it in words, deeds…or simple kindnesses to strangers. Any prince can engage in feats of derring-do if he thinks the object of his affection will be impressed.  A true hero, on the other hand, renders kindnesses to others when he believes he’s unobserved…

Excerpt:

After she’d eased her hunger, Samantha’s temper began to improve. The room emptied out a bit and she had a direct view of Wills. He and Joe had struck up a conversation with several other travelers. The prince was laughing at a story Joe had just told. The innkeeper’s daughter hovered nearby. Staring openly in admiration, the awkward, homely girl took every opportunity to keep Wills’s tankard full. To his credit, the prince was kind. He thanked her profusely, and complimented the meal and accommodations. Samantha noticed him slip the girl a gold coin when no one was looking.

As she examined Wills’s profile in the lamplight, Samantha had to admit he was unusually handsome. The prince had an easy, open manner around people and was a natural leader. Her brother, David, would certainly have enjoyed his company. It was a shame her relationship with Wills had started so badly. Samantha felt an unfamiliar stab of regret. Under different circumstances, she might have liked to know the man better.

Wills glanced over and caught her staring at him. Samantha blushed and shifted her eyes to Nanny. The woman had a knowing smile on her face.

“What’s so amusing?” Samantha demanded.

“He’s a good-looking man, isn’t he?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied. “I wasn’t even looking at Wills.”

“If you weren’t looking at him, how’d you know who I was talking about?”

Samantha bit her lip. “That’s enough, Nanny.”

 

Up until now, Prince Wills and Princess Samantha have had a combative relationship.  Did one simple, unobserved moment begin to thaw Samantha’s heart? Hmm. Samantha doesn’t realize it yet, but she just telegraphed her interest in the hero.  What does our young hero do in response?  To answer that, you’ll have to read the rest of the story.  But I’ll say this much—I’m mad about Prince Wills.

~ S.G. Rogers

When an unconventional princess meets a footloose prince, a battle of wits begins… 
 

Princess Samantha’s magical compass will help her locate her long-lost brother, but only if she manages to escape her royal parents for a few weeks. When an unwelcome suitor comes to call, Samantha seizes her chance. She beguiles the prince into taking her north, intending to abandon him at her earliest opportunity. Unfortunately, his captivating good looks and charming manner present an unforeseen complication—especially when she is forced to accept help from the very man she has deceived.

To maintain his bachelorhood, handsome Prince Wills is not above deception. Although reluctantly entangled in Samantha’s scheme, he vows to protect her…until a lie threatens to destroy their alliance.  Can his powerful attraction to Samantha overcome his mistrust?  And can they survive a dangerous quest to the wild and magical Uncharted Region?

Clash of Wills is available at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, BN.com and wherever online books are sold.