Writing this book has taken me a long, long time. Much longer than it should have. But it wouldn’t be what it is today without my editor and friend Jesse Rebock. From the first terrible draft to the final product, Jesse has read it all, pointed out the good ideas, ripped out the weeds, demanded what should be better, and truly challenged my creativity.

A special thanks to my grammar editor Kia-Marie Khelawan who also endured the first draft and sanded the final. Her critique, opinions, and edits have been invaluable in my writing.

And finally to the following people who read specific chapters, encouraged me, insisted that I published years ago, and generally believed that I could finish: Yvonne Knights, Keisha Knights, Vonrick Knights, Gina Ravello, and all the members of my Skywriters group – James Hall, Jen Henderson, Mirel Bodner Abeles, Ann Stanley, Joanne McAlpine, Christy Zigweid, Sherma Webbe Clarke, Eleanor Huteson, Kate Hewson, Abigail Borders, Adrian Nicolae, Karl Tobar.

Thanks again, everyone.

King Larsen’s entire world shatters when his beloved queen Gwen becomes infected with an unknown illness and dies. He loses the will to rule, and his city Vivek is overthrown by King Malik of Holt Harbour. A year passes, Larsen never recovers from despair, lives as a vagabond just close enough to Gwen’s grave so he can visit her daily, and all his people suffer under Malik’s oppressive laws. However, Larsen learns that Gwen never actually died from her illness and a cure is possible by taking her into Desanorbis, a land named after the Servant of Insanity.

Larsen tries to ignore it, nothing but the ravings of a crazy Cord Master. His former general Carder certainly thinks so, and wants the fallen king to join the rebellion to take back the city. Meanwhile, the giant Dirk has found a new purpose as a member of the Guls in the remote village of Seaben, keeping it safe from the outlaws that frequently make port. Sounds easy enough. He was a feared warrior during the Battle of Vivek, he could certainly keep any scum from causing trouble, or so he thought. Something stalks the shadows of the village, and the Guls must catch it before it kills them all.

But to Larsen, none of it matters. Haunting dreams of Gwen are too much to bear. So he disregards all warnings, ignores better judgment, digs his love up from her grave and embarks on the quest, setting into motion a series of events that puts not just Vivek or Seaben, but the entire world in danger.

My debut fantasy novel Guardian of the Cursed Crown releases today on the Kindle bookstore.