GREYSTONE
B L Ryan
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GENRE: YA Fantasy
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BLURB:
All
Mouse could remember about her father was sitting on his lap while he told her
stories. She wished she could remember what he looked like. When she hangs a
white pendant that belonged to her father in her bedroom window, this wish
becomes the key to great adventure in another world. A gate appears with a
dragon twirling in the air above a colourful garden on the other side of the
gate. Zeeta, the royal dragon, greets Mouse and invites her into the garden.
The garden is part of Sweet Water holding, home to Lady Jane, who is the seer
for Prince Ruler Jared.
As
Mouse and Zeeta struggle to complete a quest, Mouse searches for her father.
Their journey takes them across the plains of Norlanda and south to the Border
Mountains.
The
seers have foretold that a far traveller will appear and lead Norlanda against
its enemies. This does not seem likely, as Norlanda is prosperous and peaceful
at this time. Meanwhile, dark forces gathered in the Border Mountains have
recognized the presence of Mouse in the lines of destiny and have started to
move towards her.
How
will the presence of a child, a far traveller from another world, affect the
destiny of this world?
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EXCERPT
King Henry
regarded Jared impatiently.
“It has come to
my attention that you and members of the Royal Guard have taken up with all
manner of disreputable people. I have been told that you visit mead houses and
the common rooms of guild holdings throughout Greystone City.”
“The Royal
Guard are not responsible,” said Jared.
“No, they are
not!” His father slammed his hand on the table.
The King’s
scribe, sitting in the corner, jerked and dropped one of his ink brushes. It
fell off the desk and rolled across the floor. He knelt and picked it up
quietly.
“I had hoped
Captain Hawke would subdue your more eccentric tastes in companions!”
“Are not the
common folk my people?” Jared asked. “That is not the issue,” said the King,
his voice rising with irritation.
“You disappear
with Zeeta for days at a time. It is time you acted as the future King of
Norlanda.”
“Father, how
else can I know this Kingdom and its people?”
“An excellent
sentiment!” the King said. He pressed both hands on the table and leaned
forward. “A grand tour would give you a chance to meet some of your other loyal
subjects as well as suitable maidens.”
Jared’s jaw
tightened; his grey eyes narrowed. “I would meet only the maidens the Council
deemed suitable,” he returned shortly.
The King glared
at him. “You have a life of great privilege and responsibility. By the grace of
the Etu, your life belongs to this land and its people.”
“By the grace
of the Etu, I would not ask for such a life,” his son returned tersely.
The King
signaled the scribe to leave the room and came around the table to stand by his
son. He tried to speak reasonably. It had been a long day. He was not feeling
well, and he knew his temper was not helping. He placed a hand on his son’s
shoulder.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Born in Saskatchewan, Betty has lived in several areas across
Canada, from Ottawa to Vancouver Island while growing up. Her fondest memory as
a child is of her father building a tent trailer and her mother sewing yards
and yards of canvas for the tent. The family travelled across Canada and down
the eastern seaboard of the United States for several summer vacations.
Betty worked as a drawing office assistant in Oxford, England, for
almost two years before returning to Canada to work as a topographical clerk in
Edmonton, Alberta. She pursued a BSc. in Agriculture with a major in
Horticulture from the University of Alberta. While raising her children, Betty
worked as an Office Manager for a non-profit society and took writing courses
at night school and from the Institute of Children's Literature, Connecticut.
The garden has always been a source of inspiration and joy for
Betty, as are all the beloved cats and dogs who have walked into her life.
Betty believes stories are the foundation of our life. The stories we enjoy,
the stories we tell ourselves, our children and others, reflect how we view the
world around us. She enjoys writing fantasy for the youth genre because she
feels there is still so much of the wonder of life, and the attitude that
anything is possible, from this age group.
Greystone is her first novel. She is currently working on the
sequel, Greystone: A New Beginning.
Free to read on KU: https://www.amazon.com/Greystone-B-L-Ryan-ebook/dp/B0CQK3HB8R/ref=sr_1_1
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER
CODE
B L
Ryan will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
Thank you so much for featuring GREYSTONE today.
ReplyDeleteLook, a great book.
ReplyDeleteWhat made you want to write this story?
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt and giveaway. :)
ReplyDeletenice
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete