Category Archives: Darkspire Reaches

November

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The first day today and that means two things. The first is that there are precisely 51 more days until the winter solstice when the daylight starts growing instead of shrinking. That is a milestone as I don’t like the huge darkness of this time of year a lot. Right now it is about 8.10 am and not a trace of dawn in the sky. This will be even worse next Sunday when 8 will become 7. Then the days really feel too short. On the flip side, I don’t believe I would like to live near the equator much as I had a big problem in Hawaii when the evenings were dark by six and dawn came long after I was up. I like my long summer days.

The second thing November means is the start of National Novel Writing Month, otherwise known as NaNo. Yes, I have enrolled and am working on the third book in the Darkspires series, entitled Writhe of Wurms.  Yes, I have actually written about five hundred words so far and am liking where the story is taking me. No, I have no idea what is going to happen. I am a pantzer and it will unfold to me as I write.

Untitled book about to begin

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I was driving back from having a flu shot yesterday and looking over the now bare fields I saw a coyote trotting briskly under a  clear cerulean sky and being overflown by a flock of tardy geese. It occurred to me that winter was a mere breath away and that snow was coming to stay very soon. That being so, it is time to start a new book.

The Darkspires series is definitely calling to me this time as I already have a new book in the Shadow series waiting in line for a publishing spot. I don’t know what I am going to call it yet, or how it will end and yet snippets are coming to me in an ever increasing torrent. It is clear I won’t be able to work on anything else until I satisfy the needs of these characters to have their voices heard again.

Maybe they were roused out of hibernation by the recent release of ‘The Book of Dragons’ anthology, where Dragon’s Bane features among the stories and is set in the Darkspires world? If anyone is curious how the Drakken Connor ended up all alone here is the place to find out. It is available on all the Amazons and other major outlets.

Maybe I am listening harder as I am now finally starting to feel human again after another go around with bronchitis? It will be a few days before I can really write as I have a lot of house cleaning to do with everything being coated with builder’s dust. Yes, he could have put up a shield and didn’t. This will be the sixth time I have wiped down all the exposed surfaces and I doubt if it will be the last. Still, I now have a very beautiful new kitchen and hall floor in marbled tiles. Yeah.

Darkspire Reaches… a wonderful review!

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Darkspire Reaches 2 (1)-page1

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superb Read!, July 4, 2017
This review is from: Darkspire Reaches (Kindle Edition)

What a superb read.

Picked this up on a recommendation and am so glad. The book is a richly described fantasy with magic and adventure woven through the tale of a young woman’s struggle to be accepted. The writing flows easily and draws you into the whole adventure.

Raven is a ittle different to the norm and her life isn’t made any easier by the woman who raised her. People she trusts turn against her, and the fears, doubts, and actions of those around her make her life a misery, until she meets the gorgeous Conner, but even he is hiding some terrible secrets from her.

I loved the characters in this book. Their flaws make them believable, thier special talents make them incredible. I found the whole thing thrilling, I particularly enjoyed the punishment one horrible character deservedly received. I shuddered in revulsion. (In a sort of satisfied way as the punishment was justified)

Make sure you have plenty of time when your pick this book up as you won’t want to put it down until the very last word…And then you want more.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1RONGDM0TBNZG/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00DJE8RP4

Want a preview? Dreaming of Darkspires is currently free on Amazon.com and I wish it were free elsewhere, but they declined to price match. It is, however, free on Kobo and Nook. https://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-Darkspires-C-N-Lesley-ebook/dp/B0178F3R8Q

Dreaming of Darkspires Twitter-page1

 

Or what about an audio book? Here is a review of Darkspire Reaches, the audio version, which is free for the first sign up to the audio program on Amazon.

5.0 out of 5 starsVery entertaining and engaging
ByDiana Cacy Hawkinson June 27, 2017
Format: Audible Audio Edition|Verified Purchase

I’m still making my way through the audio book for Darkspire Reaches, but loving it. Julie Hinton does a wonderful job of getting the characters’ personalities to come out. You team this up with C.N. Lesley’s wonderful words and it’s a very entertaining book to listen to.

She gets deep into the character’s emotions and helps you feel what the character is going through. Action is well paced, settings and scenes so wonderfully illustrated. Beautifully read by Julie Hinton.

I’ll be looking for more books read by her when I need to get the next one.

Audio darkspire reaches

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Strangely enough, this was not a book I intended to write after I finished Darkspire Reaches, which was supposed to be a stand alone novel. However, there was a certain expectation from my publishers that there would be a sequel and I will admit to prevarication until I saw the comments in the reviews for Darkspire Reaches. While I will never respond, I always take notice and I saw people were asking questions about the world, in particular the Shangrove and also wondering about a sequel, so I go to thinking about what would happen next. This book was so much fun to write and now I guess I am thinking about a third in the series. Maybe I’ll call that one Wurms of the World. We will see.Serpent 1-page1

Five Star Review for Darkspire Reaches

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Digital Cover

Woo Hoo! Does happy dance.

Eve reviewed Darkspire Reaches

Not your Typical Fantasy Novel January 3, 2017

I am a large fantasy reader, and that mostly is recent. But this goes beyond the standard dragon fantasy outline and is really about a young woman’s journey of self-discovery, and rising above the hardships of the hand dealt to her in life. I loved this book. The character development is what jumped out at me the most; I almost always love a book where I can connect to the characters, and this book did not disappoint on that front. This was a grab you from word one to the finish. I can’t wait to get a chance to read more from this gifted author. The plot was very well paced, my mind tends to stray from what I am doing if my attention is not grabbed and kept, and this book managed to keep me reading from page one to the very last page. Again the growth of the main character Raven is amazing and what really gives this novel the five-star rating I have rated it. To end this review, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more from this author.

 

http://bookShow.me/B00DJE8RP4

Color Dragon

My year in review.

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Looking back, it has been a very busy year. On the writing front, I have two new books published. The first, in spring, was Serpent of the Shangrove, book two in the Darkspires series and yes, I am planning a book three.Serpent-of-the-Shangrove-Digital-Cover-1-641x1024

What is this one about? Here is the trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMwPuG0FEys

The second book came out just before Christmas and is the third book in the Shadow series, entitled Chalice of the Shadows. Yes, there is a fourth book in the series and I have just finished writing it, so now need to do some editing. That one will be called Staff of the Shadows.

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Here is the trailer for Chalice. I haven’t made one for the Staff as of yet.

 

On a personal level we welcomed our first granddaughter, who is a joy after three dear little boys. It is amazing to watch them all develop into tiny people as time passes.

Looking forward to next year, I have a story in a dragon anthology coming out at Easter and I have a Paranormal Fantasy, entitled ‘Shift’ that has been with the Publishers since the earlier part of this year so I hope that will come out, too, along with Staff of Shadows. I guess the latter is dependent on if there is room in the schedule.

What I plan to get finished next year are a Science Fiction book, entitled ‘Death Angel’ and an Urban Fantasy, entitled for the moment as ‘Wildenwold’ although I think that is going to alter. I also have a story to finish for another anthology prospect and that must be done very soon if it is to stand a chance.

It is nice to be able to look forward to the New Year and be fairly confident there isn’t going to be a third world war started by cranky people, who are fortunately no longer going to have any influence. Hopefully, people will lighten up and start being nice to each other again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another five star review for Darkspire Reaches. Woo Hoo!

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Awe inspiring fire breathers, ancient magic, and a … August 31, 2016
Awe inspiring fire breathers, ancient magic, and a lonely young girl who grows to become a fierce, strong heroine. Exciting read! http://amzn.to/1S1LUIIColor Dragon
Read that one? Here is the next in the series. Serpent of the Shangrove.  http://amzn.to/1P9W4T3
And one of the five star reviews it has earned.

This story kept me reading into the small hours of the morning. Gripping story, with a good development of characters, I grew fond of Raven, the female protector who is as much a mother as she is a warrior.

I felt the Drakkens’ pain was well expressed in Connor’s mishap, Cooper’s struggles to become a man and in Rosella coming of age learning compassion in a harsh and horrible manner.

Their world is not an easy one with conflict waiting around every bend. Yet this is a story we can also reflect to today’s times and bring into our own world. Food for thought. After all, most people will find preferable to learning any lesson we encounter along the way in a more tasteful manner—prevention being the ounce we can take. Well done!