I
AM PLEASED TO WELCOME AUTHOR
Karen
Cowan of
Cowan/Cole/Danner
TITLE: “Journey to Wizard’s Keep”
RELEASE DATE: September 25, 2016
AUTHOR: K.C. Cowan, Sara Cole, Nancy Danner
KEYWORDS: fantasy, adventure, romance, wizards, fairies, magic, girl
friendships
CATEGORIES: Epic Fantasy/Historical Adventure
PAGE COUNT: 332
ISBN: 978-0692762301
IMPRINT: Chimera
AUTHOR BIO:
Sara Cole is an officer with Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, where she is the Crime Prevention Coordinator. Sara provides public outreach to citizens on topics such as Neighborhood Watch, ID Theft and Personal Safety. She also serves on many community coalitions, and is a board member of the Crime Prevention Association of Oregon. Sara is married and enjoys spending much of her free time with her two active grandchildren.
Nancy Danner is the daughter of a shoemaker and a teacher. Nancy is a teacher, and for many years taught in a blended class of hearing and hearing-impaired students. Nancy's love of music has her singing in church choirs, directing children's musicals, and writing songs for her students. Nancy's family includes two grown children, Sean and Clarice, a rescue dog named Hal, and a loving husband, Rodney.
BANTER – STUFF ABOUT YOU
Q: Tell
me something you would like your readers (fans) to know about you.
A: This
book literally saved my life. In 2012, I had lost my “dream job” and had no
prospects. I thought my “working years” were over and I would be going into an
early retirement at 55. Then, out of the blue, one of my two best friends,
Sara, asked me if I still had “The Log,” which was the novel we co-wrote when
in college. I did and she begged me to type it up. Long story short – finishing
the book and then working three years to polish it for publication gave me a
reason to get out of bed every morning!
Q: If you
could morph into any creature what would it be?
A: A pampered housecat!
If you don’t mind me asking,
why?
A:
Because I have this lazy streak and being a cat and being able to sleep about
20 hours a day would suit me just fine!
Q: When
you think of a garden, do you picture vegetables or flowers?
A: I only
ever had a flower garden at my house, but I love to get fresh, homegrown
tomatoes and zukes from friends who do put in a vegetable garden. And, besides,
who ever would go to see a vegetable garden, while there are SO many gorgeous
flower gardens around the world to explore!
Q: Did
you like school when you were a child?
A: I
loved school. In fact, I still feel that “going back to school” excitement
every Fall. Getting new school supplies was the highlight of the year for me.
And yes, I was teacher’s pet!
BOOKS – ABOUT THE CRAFT
Q: When
did you start writing and why?
A: I have
written my entire life. Stories when I was a child, and then as a news
reporter, for most of my career. Writing always came easily to me, which, I
think made me think I wasn’t “special” in any way. It wasn’t until I took a job
as a spokesman for a state agency and saw how other people wrote that I thought
– oh, hey, I’m pretty good here!
Q: Who's
your favorite author?
A: If I
could write like my favorite authors: Elizabeth Gilbert, or Amy Tan, or
Isabelle Allenda, I would LOVE that. But that is their gift for the world to
enjoy. I am happy that fantasy has worked out for me.
Q: Do you
write long hand first, or does it go straight into the computer?
A: When
my two best friends and I wrote “Journey to Wizards’ Keep” while in college
(just for fun) we did it by longhand. Then, we’d make copies and mail them to
each other. But after a career as a news reporter for TV and Radio, my fingers
fly pretty fast and I find writing by hand just can’t keep up with my brain, so
it’s all by computer now.
Q: Are
you a sit down and play it by ear kind of writer, or do you need a structured
guideline, or maybe a little of both?
A: My co-writer
Sara (which whom I continue to write) and I map out a general plot. Then, I
think of writing as problem solving. If I know the plot is going to take us to
a certain place, then it becomes a “game” of “how do I get there?”
But, I
may start a scene and not quite know how it is going to get to the end –
sometimes I am delighted by what comes into my head!
BOOKS - NOW LETS PROMOTE – STRUT YOUR STUFF
Q: What are you
working on now? Would you like to share anything about it?
A: My writing
partner, Sara, and I have been finishing up Book Three in the Irene Nan and Kay
saga. We are very close to the end now, and it’s getting exciting!
Q: Do you have a new
book coming out soon? Tell us about it.
A: I am currently
polishing the sequel to Journey to Wizards’ Keep that I wrote with Sara. The Hunt for Winter continues the story
of Irene, Nan and Kay – five years after the first book ends. It will come out
in 2017 with Ravenswood.
Q: How can we find
you? Do you have a web page, FaceBook page or any buy links?
A: Yes, we do! Please visit www.irenenankay.com and learn more about how this book was
truly 30 years in the making. Also, we have additional scenes and stories that
were cut from the original and even some illustrations we did way back in the
early 1980’s!
OTHER AUTHOR LINKS:
ONE LINER:
Can three very
different girls join forces to fight a common foe—a wizard bent on destroying
their world? First they must convince the last remaining wizards to come out of
retirement.
SYNOPSIS:
Best
friends Nan and Irene want what all 16-year-old girls in their village
want—to find true love and marry. Instead, they’re going to have to
defeat an evil wizard. When Irene and Nan’s village is attacked by the army of the Secret Valley, the two girls are taken captive—destined to become “playthings” to the King. Kay, a lady-in-waiting to the Queen, vows to help the girls. But when a jealous handmaid betrays Kay and her fiancé, all four have to flee the Valley. When they learn an evil wizard, known as the Black Lord, is the real power behind the Secret Valley, their only hope is to go to Wizards’ Keep and persuade the last remaining wizards to come out of retirement and help defeat the Black Lord.
Journey to Wizards’ Keep is a non-stop thrilling adventure with romance and humor as three girls with very different personalities join together to save the land.
Excerpt:
Nan and Irene followed Richard into the cool darkness. The rock wall swung shut behind them. At last their eyes adjusted to the dim light shed by wall torches. They realized they were in a tunnel that stretched a great distance. Sir Richard walked so briskly that the tired girls were hard pressed to keep up with him. After a while, the torches became less frequent as the tunnel was becoming increasingly brighter. Ahead of them, Irene saw daylight. “We must have gone clear through the mountain,” she spoke her thoughts aloud.
“Correct.” Richard’s voice startled her. “We are approaching the Secret Valley. Only its inhabitants know of its existence. We are nestled between two of the peaks of the Hooded Mountains and are unobservable from the trail that leads over them.”
Irene studied their captor. He seemed excited to be home, and his face shone with an anticipation that made his boyish face more handsome. They continued to the end of the tunnel and stood, blinking in the late afternoon sunlight.
“Who found this place?” Nan asked.
“Our King, Lord William, stumbled onto the valley while lost on a hunting expedition. He persuaded his father, Dob, to bring their kingdom here. We have flourished over the years and grown to become the mightiest conquerors of the land. Behold! The land of William, Son of Dob!” He extended a hand dramatically over the valley, which lay below them. There was a castle, town center, homes, and fields, all surrounded by thick forests. Richard began to walk down the wide path and Nan and Irene followed.
“Why, ‘tis far too large not to be seen by anyone from above!” Irene exclaimed, gazing in amazement at the thriving community.
“We suspect some ancient enchantment keeps it from being seen.” Sir Richard shrugged. “Not for nothing is it called the Secret Valley. It allows us to attack our enemies and retreat to safety. No one can find us. But enough gawking. You’ll soon get to learn the place. After all, this is your new home. Follow me.” Richard continued down the path.
ZZZZZZIP!
An arrow landed directly at Richard’s feet. He jumped back, but made no move for his own weapons.
“Kay!” he called, looking around him. “I recognize that arrow. Come out at once, or I’ll tell his Lordship you’ve been neglecting your duties again!”
The three of them whirled about as laughter rang from above them. Out of a nearby tree a young girl jumped down, smiling brightly. She was dressed all in soft doeskin from her shockingly short skirt to her knee-high moccasin boots. On her boyish, blond curls, she wore a garland of spring wildflowers. She carried a bow; upon her back hung her quiver of arrows. She laughed again, showing two deep dimples on either side of her smiling mouth, and spoke in a light, musical voice as she mockingly bowed to the man.
“Not neglecting my duties at all, Sir Richard, not at all. Merely looking for a bit of excitement and possibly a choice piece of venison or grouse to present to his Lordship.” She paused, her gaze falling on Nan and Irene. “Looks like you’ve had fair hunting.” She walked over to the trio and retrieved her arrow.
“Just a pair of wenches I picked up for his Lordship.”
“Oh? Her Ladyship will love that, Richard. Or have you forgotten her? She’ll not stand for two wenches in the palace.”
“I’m...I mean we’re not wenches!” Irene burst out in anger. “Nan is an accomplished dancer from the Academy of Gene the Ewe.”
“And Irene is of royal blood!” added Nan.
The blond girl cocked her head, impressed. “I think you’ve made an error, Sir Richard. Now, surely, you’re not going to hand them over as mere bed warmers, are you?”
Richard scowled. “Why didn’t ye tell me, girl?”
“You didn’t give me a chance!” Irene replied icily.
“Bravo!” The girl laughed. “She’s got some spirit. Come, let me take them to my chambers and fix ‘em up. Then we can decide what’s to be done with them. You can’t present them to anyone now, Richard. Truly, they look like a dog’s dinner.”
Sir Richard started to protest, but Kay was already leading the two girls down the path to the town below.
Nan and Irene followed Richard into the cool darkness. The rock wall swung shut behind them. At last their eyes adjusted to the dim light shed by wall torches. They realized they were in a tunnel that stretched a great distance. Sir Richard walked so briskly that the tired girls were hard pressed to keep up with him. After a while, the torches became less frequent as the tunnel was becoming increasingly brighter. Ahead of them, Irene saw daylight. “We must have gone clear through the mountain,” she spoke her thoughts aloud.
“Correct.” Richard’s voice startled her. “We are approaching the Secret Valley. Only its inhabitants know of its existence. We are nestled between two of the peaks of the Hooded Mountains and are unobservable from the trail that leads over them.”
Irene studied their captor. He seemed excited to be home, and his face shone with an anticipation that made his boyish face more handsome. They continued to the end of the tunnel and stood, blinking in the late afternoon sunlight.
“Who found this place?” Nan asked.
“Our King, Lord William, stumbled onto the valley while lost on a hunting expedition. He persuaded his father, Dob, to bring their kingdom here. We have flourished over the years and grown to become the mightiest conquerors of the land. Behold! The land of William, Son of Dob!” He extended a hand dramatically over the valley, which lay below them. There was a castle, town center, homes, and fields, all surrounded by thick forests. Richard began to walk down the wide path and Nan and Irene followed.
“Why, ‘tis far too large not to be seen by anyone from above!” Irene exclaimed, gazing in amazement at the thriving community.
“We suspect some ancient enchantment keeps it from being seen.” Sir Richard shrugged. “Not for nothing is it called the Secret Valley. It allows us to attack our enemies and retreat to safety. No one can find us. But enough gawking. You’ll soon get to learn the place. After all, this is your new home. Follow me.” Richard continued down the path.
ZZZZZZIP!
An arrow landed directly at Richard’s feet. He jumped back, but made no move for his own weapons.
“Kay!” he called, looking around him. “I recognize that arrow. Come out at once, or I’ll tell his Lordship you’ve been neglecting your duties again!”
The three of them whirled about as laughter rang from above them. Out of a nearby tree a young girl jumped down, smiling brightly. She was dressed all in soft doeskin from her shockingly short skirt to her knee-high moccasin boots. On her boyish, blond curls, she wore a garland of spring wildflowers. She carried a bow; upon her back hung her quiver of arrows. She laughed again, showing two deep dimples on either side of her smiling mouth, and spoke in a light, musical voice as she mockingly bowed to the man.
“Not neglecting my duties at all, Sir Richard, not at all. Merely looking for a bit of excitement and possibly a choice piece of venison or grouse to present to his Lordship.” She paused, her gaze falling on Nan and Irene. “Looks like you’ve had fair hunting.” She walked over to the trio and retrieved her arrow.
“Just a pair of wenches I picked up for his Lordship.”
“Oh? Her Ladyship will love that, Richard. Or have you forgotten her? She’ll not stand for two wenches in the palace.”
“I’m...I mean we’re not wenches!” Irene burst out in anger. “Nan is an accomplished dancer from the Academy of Gene the Ewe.”
“And Irene is of royal blood!” added Nan.
The blond girl cocked her head, impressed. “I think you’ve made an error, Sir Richard. Now, surely, you’re not going to hand them over as mere bed warmers, are you?”
Richard scowled. “Why didn’t ye tell me, girl?”
“You didn’t give me a chance!” Irene replied icily.
“Bravo!” The girl laughed. “She’s got some spirit. Come, let me take them to my chambers and fix ‘em up. Then we can decide what’s to be done with them. You can’t present them to anyone now, Richard. Truly, they look like a dog’s dinner.”
Sir Richard started to protest, but Kay was already leading the two girls down the path to the town below.
Buy Links:
AMAZON US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JLGPZ58
AMAZON UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01JLGPZ58
AMAZON CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01JLGPZ58
BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1124254879;jsessionid=70AD27240A410917FBE0F437C3AF5C03.prodny_store02-atgap03?ean=2940153372662
KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/journey-to-wizards-keep
iBOOKS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1140397537
CREATESPACE: https://www.createspace.com/6460244
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