It's time to delve into the mystery of Kyri's supposedly-dead brother... ----- Chapter 4. "Ready," said Poplock. Kyri looked around the large, rectangular room and saw Miri, Tobimar, and Lady Shae in combat poses. "Do you actually think he's going to lunge out of the tube to kill us all?" she demanded, feeling a somewhat unreasonable annoyance at this suspicion. We don't know it's Rion, she reminded herself. It really can't be him. Can it? "Expect, no," Hriista said from beside [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix Ascendant: Chapter 3
December 18, 2015 By Leave a Comment
There had been losses in the battle, and now after... Chapter 3. Poplock gave his own little salute from atop Danrall's shoulder as Tanvol's body, clad in a pure white robe with the pattern of the Seven and One embroidered on it in gems and gold thread, was borne towards the shores of Enneisolaten by seven people: Lady Shae, Miri, Anora, Herminta Gantil and another Color whose name Poplock didn't quite remember, Hiriista… and Tobimar. Tobimar had insisted he be the Seventh, and none had argued with him. The Unity [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix Ascendant: Chapter 1
December 14, 2015 By Leave a Comment
We've been reminded of what went before; now the new material begins! Chapter 1. "Lady Shae!" Kyri shouted even as she realized that Shae could not possibly react in time, and lunged forward, shoving the taller woman aside. Her gauntleted hands caught the sagging beam, gripped so tightly that the hardwood dented beneath her fingers, and she braced herself, throwing all the Vantage strength into keeping the monstrous mass of stone above from moving so much as one more inch. By then, Shae had caught herself [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix Ascendant: What Has Gone Before
December 11, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Today I begin the snippeting of the final book in the Balanced Sword trilogy, Phoenix Rising; we start with a summary of the prior two books. The first chapter will be up next week! Previously in The Balanced Sword Phoenix Rising Kyri Victoria Vantage lost her parents to unknown attackers some years before; even the Justiciars of Myrionar, God of Justice and Vengeance, the patron deity of her country Evanwyl, were unable to discover the identity of the assailants. But she has moved on, and her brother Rion has become a Justiciar [ Continue reading... ]
Demons of the Past: Chapter 5
October 29, 2015 By Leave a Comment
We conclude the battle we started this week. As a side note, the paragraphs that begin this chapter, and some others scattered through the chapter, are the oldest untouched pieces of prose I have ever posted; they are unchanged from the first draft of this work (originally called "Psionic!") written in 1978. -------- Chapter 5. Varan: Red fire-hammers slammed into the makeshift barricade. Being made of E-steel torn from the bulkheads behind us, it only gave a little, but even that little [ Continue reading... ]
Demons of the Past: Chapter 4
October 27, 2015 By Leave a Comment
I'm trying to pump out a lot of writing to catch up with things missed last year when Kathy was very sick, so that's why I'm posting snippets. In the case of Demons of the Past, I am going to take you through the first actually dangerous event of the book... which starts now! Chapter 4. Varan: The red target shimmered and exploded just a split-second before the blue. I was, unfortunately, blue. "And that," Diorre said gleefully, tossing back her red-gold hair, "makes it even, Navy Commander Varan." I tried to look [ Continue reading... ]
Demons of the Past: Chapter 3
October 22, 2015 By Leave a Comment
I'll post a couple more of these. Now when we left off, Our Hero had decided to think on a particular personal conundrum a bit... ----- Chapter 3. Varan: "And that makes it three for three," I said with some satisfaction. Diorre burst out laughing. "Okay, Sash, I'm well and truly beaten. Couldn't you have let me win just one?" "I might have, if it hadn't been for the 'wussy Navy boy' bit. The pride of the service required I put a Guard in her place." "Very impressive," a clear [ Continue reading... ]
Teaser Chapter: Demons of the Past, Chapter 2
October 20, 2015 By Leave a Comment
I posted the Prologue and Chapter 1 of Demons of the Past a while ago. As I'm in the middle of a crunch period and don't have much time to write other columns of interest (and one I DO want to write will be very long), I'll continue with a couple more sample chapters. Like The Stuff of Legend, Demons of the Past is with my agent Marisa Corvisiero and, hopefully, will get a bite soon. If you haven't read those prior chapters, go take a look before reading this one! ----- Chapter 2. Jearsen: She looked [ Continue reading... ]
Teaser Chapter: The Stuff of Legend, Chapter 1
October 13, 2015 By Leave a Comment
I posted the prologue for Stuff of Legend some time back. Here's Chapter 1 of that superhero novel (based in a possible future of the world of Paradigms Lost); this book's currently with my agent Marisa Corvisiero! ---- Chapter 1. "I think today's session went well, Mr. Thompson," Jennifer Hsui said in her best professional tone. It was important to conclude each appointment on time, but not to make the patient – or client, as some people preferred – feel pressured or cut [ Continue reading... ]
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