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.

New Cover • KIRA

KIRA has a beautiful new cover!

Blurb:

Poisoned by an enemy, Kira struggles to find an antidote before she succumbs to enslavement. At the same time, she’s desperate to save Dorsit, a Leopard Clan wizard whose youth and magic has been stolen by a murderous wizard on a rampage. As Kira’s homeland is invaded by bloodthirsty legions, Kira flees across the country in a bid to reach the Mystic Mountain nymphs and a legendary cure. Hunted by shadow hounds, an army of Cyclopes, and an evil jinn, will her wits and skill as a warrior be enough to survive?

Excerpt:

When Reye and Kira emerged from the lodge, he yanked her down behind a horse trough in time to escape the notice of a squad of armor-clad Cyclopes marching south down the main street. Huge axes and other weapons hung from the giants’ belts or were gripped in their massive fists.

“What on Yden are those creatures?” Reye whispered.

“Mandral calls them cygards,” she murmured. “He’s formed an army of Cyclopes.”

“That’s insane!”

“If we don’t get out of Eastknot before his cygards surround the town, we’ll be captured. My father will have no warning what’s about to befall Nomad Territory.”

“Wyckcrest is seven days from here,” Reye said. “Even if we rode hard, we wouldn’t get there in time to do much good.”

“Ylan is four days away, and I just learned Dorsit is alive. He can transport us directly to my father’s encampment, and help us fight off the invasion. I fear he’s our only hope.”

Reye nodded, peeked over the trough to make sure no cygards were watching, and then pulled Kira to her feet.

“Let’s move.”

KIRA is available for the Kindle, HERE

Prequel to the Yden Trilogy!

I’d like to announce the release of my Yden prequel KIRA, which shines the spotlight on Kira Szul, the Nomad princess who figures prominently in the Yden trilogy.

Blurb:

Although Nomad princess Kira has trained all her young life to be a warrior, she begins to yearn for something more. She unwittingly stumbles onto a plot to invade Nomad Territory, but not before being poisoned with a potion that makes her a slave to her enemy. Although she manages to blunt the worst effects, she’s never free of her obsession for the handsome warlord who seeks to make her his bride. Can she find an antidote for the incurable poison running through her veins, or is she destined to become the enraptured wife of a wicked conqueror?

At the same time, I’ve revised and released The Last Great Wizard of Yden, and added a bonus Yden short story in the back, called Ran! The novel has a re-imagined cover too, so it’s all shiny new for the dragon fans among us. Enjoy! ~ S.G. Rogers

Blurb:

Jon Hansen always thought his father’s tales about the magical planet of Yden were fiction. When his father is kidnapped by an evil wizard, however, Jon is forced to dig deeper. His investigation uncovers magical artifacts that will unlock another dimension—if only he can gather his courage to make the journey. On his quest to Yden, Jon encounters wizards, Cyclopes, and a warlord who seem to want him dead. Fortunately, he’s got friends by his side, as well as the ability to draw things to life. Can he and his friends defeat the most evil wizard the magical world has ever known, or will Jon become the latest addition to the Wolf Clan wizard’s gruesome collection of trophies?

KIRA and THE LAST GREAT WIZARD OF YDEN

are both available at Amazon.

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!

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.

Book Trailer for The Last Great Wizard of Yden

Want to see my new book trailer for The Last Great Wizard of Yden?  Grab some popcorn, click the icon, below, and enjoy!

There’s still time to vote for the book of the month at iBookBuzz.com!  Just go HERE to cast your vote.  I thank you for your support. 😀 ~ S.G. Rogers

 

 

Doodling Dragons

Excerpt from iBookBuzz nominated YA fantasy The Last Great Wizard of Yden…

When class began, the history teacher, Mr. Dace, droned on and on about the curriculum, policies, and procedures. After fifteen minutes, Jon started to tune out. He opened his binder and lost himself in a detailed drawing of a dragon.
“We’re going to end our semester with a field trip to the Tri-­County Museum,” Mr. Dace said.
The classroom erupted with excited chatter.
“Many of you will see this as a chance to goof off,” Mr. Dace continued. “But you will be writing a term paper on one of the exhibits.”
Mr. Dace strolled up and down the aisles as he spoke. He paused at Jon’s shoulder just as he was drawing a beautiful plume of smoke rising from the nostril of a dragon. Unfortunately, Jon was oblivious to the teacher’s presence.
“Doodling dragons is no way to get through life, Mr. Hansen,” Mr. Dace said.
Jon’s head snapped up. The entire class was watching, including Brett and Fred. Brett’s expression was unreadable, but Fred was licking his chops as if he couldn’t wait to eat him for lunch. Jon hoped his face wouldn’t explode from the blood rushing to his cheeks.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
His classmates snickered. Mr. Dace went on to pass out the syllabus and first assignment. After the lunch bell rang, Jon felt like slinking off somewhere and melting into a hole. His book bag was jammed under his desk, and he bent to retrieve it. When he straightened up, he was startled to see Brett waiting for him.
“Hi,” she said. “You probably don’t remember me, but we met at the mall.”
“Oh, yes, I do.” He attempted to sound casual. “Nice to see you.”
She examined his drawing. “That’s a great dragon. Maybe you could draw one for me sometime?”
“Anytime.” Anytime at all, he thought.

For his sixteenth birthday, all Jon wanted were the keys to the family car. Instead, he got a lousy magic ring…

Artistic prodigy Jon Hansen yearns to fit in, but when he stumbles onto a supernatural kidnapping, his life changes forever.  Unfortunately, his search for answers uncovers a magical secret—one that makes Jon a danger to everyone around him.

The Wolf Clan wizard Efysian has been draining the magic from Yden. On a quest for eternal power, he’s willing to kill to feed his addiction.  To harness the ultimate source of energy, he travels to Earth.  This time, however, he has a persistent witness to his crime.

Can Jon survive long enough to outwit the most evil wizard the magical world has ever known?  Or will Efysian add the young wizard to his gruesome collection of trophies?

The Last Great Wizard of Yden, a full length fantasy novel. E-book available now through Astraea Press, Amazon, BN.com and other fine outlets ($2.99 MSRP). Now available as a trade paperback too! (HERE)

There is still time to vote for The Last Great Wizard of Yden in the iBookBuzz book of the month contest!  Click HERE to vote!

To return to Sweet Saturday Samples, go HERE.