(Early) Fall Update: New Titles, New Name!

Hi everybody! An update, at long last!

It’s been a long, difficult summer here. We’ve been dealing with moving, illness, my husband’s retirement from active duty and search for a civilian job, house hunting in a new area, a worsening of my chronic migraines (no Mirrors to help me out, alas 😉 ), and did I mention moving??

Thankfully, my book-related news is much happier.

• Winter’s Fallen is once again free for the time being at all my sales channels. Maybe it’s wishful thinking on my part, but with cooler weather on the horizon where I live, it felt like the right time. 🙂
• I have released two new fantasy romance novels, this time under the name Amanda Dery.

Why the change of name?

When I first released Broken Mirrors (almost two years ago now, if you can believe it!), I was hard-pressed to find fantasy romance that wasn’t full of graphic content that I usually ended up skipping over. I made the decision, as I started writing my own work, not to include graphic content just because it’s a “genre expectation.” I saw no reason why romance HAD to be “steamy” to be romantic! Eight full-length, non-explicit romantic fantasy titles later, I’d like to think I succeeded in proving my point. 🙂

However, as I wrapped up the Conquest of Kelemir series, I did have an idea for a story where more mature content was appropriate. I first considered trying to change it around to avoid writing that kind of content, but then I realized that I was doing the very thing I hadn’t wanted to do when I began: writing to expectations, instead of what the story itself demanded.

So I decided to write this story as it wanted to be told, even if the result was more explicit than my norm, and see where that took me. I wasn’t sure the finished result would ever see the light of day, to be honest, and I was fully prepared to file it away under “failed experiments,” but the people I showed it to loved it!

So ultimately I decided that, to avoid confusing and disappointing readers who are particularly interested in non-explicit romantic fiction, I would release it under Amanda Dery rather than A. F. Dery so it would not be confused with my “sweet” titles. I am also posting a clear content warning at the end of the description on every title that has mature content, to minimize the chance of unwelcome surprises.

I understand that my choice may disappoint those of you who only read non-explicit romance, and I’m very sorry for that. However, I did not want to do this and say nothing about it, because then that could create confusion if you end up seeing two “Dery” authors writing in the same genre on Amazon!

I also want to assure readers that yes, I will be continuing to release A. F. Dery titles as well, which will continue to be “sweet” as far as content goes. There will not be any crossover of stories or characters between the two names either, so please don’t be concerned you will miss anything! Barring any further life upheaval (*fingers crossed*), I am still hoping to have another full-length A. F. Dery release out by the end of the year, and there will be another short fiction release as well that fans of Broken Mirrors should particularly enjoy. Please stay tuned!

In the future, I will not be posting about the “Amanda” titles on this blog (nor will I ever be notifying readers who signed up for A. F. Dery’s newsletters about them. This is a one-time announcement only on this blog to explain what the difference between them is.)

For those who are interested in these new titles, you can learn more about them under “Amanda Dery” at http://ringdroppress.com, or you can find the first one, Dreams Awake, here at Amazon. Like Broken Mirrors, it was written as a “duology” or two-book series, and both books are currently available.

Thank you very much for your patience and your support ❤ I love writing these stories, and I love sharing them with you!

Forged in Spirit Is Now Available!

Book Five of The Conquest of Kelemir series, Forged in Spirit, is now available at all the usual suspects!

The High Lord of the Union is to be executed for treason in three days, and his appointed stand-in—Thane, Dread Lord of Eladria—is relieved to finally see the end of the matter…until a strange pair of trespassers from Lyntara end up in his custody and turn everything upside-down.

Suddenly dark secrets are coming to light, old loyalties are called into question, and new duties demand more of both Thane and his Mirror than either of them ever expected.

Forced to accept the word of a Lyntaran mage or risk the entire Union, they find themselves on the one battlefield they’re not ready for. Will they be able to stop the High Lord’s treachery from destroying them all, or will more than the High Lord’s mind be broken?

Find it today at: Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~ tolino

It was so much fun for me writing Thane and Kesara again!  Please do let me know what you think, as I have another project involving them in the planning stages if their role in the Conquest of Kelemir is well received.

On that note, I suggest reading the Broken Mirrors Duology first if you have any interest in doing so, to maximize your enjoyment of all the books, but Forged in Spirit should still make sense if you haven’t/don’t want to. 🙂 A special sale on the first book in the Duology, Broken Mirrors, is coming up Monday, Sept. 28th on Amazon for those who’d like a copy! Please tell your friends!

More on Bound in Blood

I wasn’t very happy with the previous blurb I wrote for Bound in Blood, so I revised it to hopefully make it a little clearer what the story is actually about. This might be hard to believe, but I find those little blurbs a lot harder to write than the stories themselves. There’s just so much that needs to be condensed into a succinct little description!

I’ll be updating this shortly at my various sales channels, but for now, you can see it here first!

Whether regarded as man or monster, half-elven Dominic has always been alone. Sent by his lord on a journey to find the answers that Kelemir needs to survive the coming storm with Lyntara, Dominic finds not only his life, but his entire mission in jeopardy when a single mistake sends him hurtling off-course.

Now bound against his will to a reclusive necromancer with secrets of her own, he may no longer be alone but he’s also no longer free, and the bond they share can be a deadly one. Can he survive their bond and his journey, or will Kelemir’s last hope for standing against Lyntara die with him?

This story ends on a cliffhanger.

In a nutshell, this book is about Dominic’s attempt to cross Lyntara, gather information and hopefully obtain some answers/help from the High Lord of the Union on the other side of Lyntara’s border. It’s a last-ditch, shot-in-the-dark kind of effort for the Southern Province, one that his lord was understandably reluctant to even attempt due to its dismally low odds of success, and those odds just keep dropping when everything that can go wrong promptly does within an hour of Dominic setting foot on Lyntaran soil.

The book ends when his journey ends, so I’m being clear upfront that you won’t get all the answers or learn the final outcome of his mission in this book, hence the “cliffhanger warning.” Dominic’s journey gets its own book because it has important consequences for the rest of the series. I promise I didn’t do it this way to tease you!

If you’ve been following the series so far, I’d love to hear what you think. Are you looking forward to learning more about Dominic or did you hate his guts in Lord of War? : )

Bound in Blood is Now Available for Preorder!

Whether regarded as man or monster, Dominic has always been alone. But the mistake of a single moment irrevocably changes everything and leaves not only his life but his entire mission and the fate of Kelemir hanging in the balance.

Bound against his will to a reclusive necromancer with secrets of her own, will he be able to find the answers his lord needs before the bond kills him?

Preorder today at: Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo

This book was a lot of fun for me to write. Ok, who am I kidding, they’re all fun for me to write 😉 Elves, fated mates, and naughty necromancers, oh my! ❤

Lord of War is Now Available

Lord of War, the third book and halfway point in The Conquest of Kelemir series, is now available everywhere! Spoilers for Cast in Stone are in the description, view  it below the cut!

Find it at:  Amazon ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ tolino distributors

And remember, Winter’s Fallen, the first book in this series, is still free!

Cast in Stone is Now Available!

The second book of The Conquest of Kelemir series is now available for purchase at all the usual suspects 🙂

Amazon ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ tolino

After her parents are murdered by a brutal warlord, Celia makes it her ultimate mission to bring him to justice, but she can’t do it alone.

Rupert is a criminal mage whose sentenced execution is commuted if he agrees to serve as Celia’s Guardian until her mission is complete.

But what looks like the perfect opportunity for them both quickly turns into the perfect catastrophe. In the fall out, she is betrayed by those she trusted most. Now on the run, Celia and Rupert find not only their lives in jeopardy, but also their hearts.

Torn between her old vow and a new love, Celia must choose justice…or vengeance.

I hope you enjoy Celia & Rupert’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it 🙂

Coming Soon: Cast in Stone

After her parents are murdered by a brutal warlord, Celia makes it her ultimate mission to bring him to justice, but she can’t do it alone.

Rupert is a criminal mage whose sentenced execution is commuted if he agrees to serve as Celia’s Guardian until her mission is complete.

But what looks like the perfect opportunity for them both quickly turns into the perfect catastrophe. In the fall out, she is betrayed by those she trusted most. Now on the run, Celia and Rupert find not only their lives in jeopardy, but also their hearts.

Torn between her old vow and a new love, Celia must choose justice…or vengeance.

Cast in Stone is the second book in The Conquest of Kelemir series, but it is not necessary to read Winter’s Fallen first. I wrote them so that either book could serve as an entry point into the series. (Some plot details from the first book will inevitably be “spoiled” if you do choose to read them out of order, but if I’ve done my job right, this shouldn’t prove disastrous to your enjoyment of either book 😉 )

If you did read Winter’s Fallen (minor spoiler below the cut):

Have a Magical Valentine’s Day with Breath of Life!

I’m delighted to announce the release of my new fantasy romance novella, Breath of Life! It’s FREE for everyone this weekend only (February 13th-15th), only on Amazon!

On the feast of the love goddess, Valentine is preparing to make a confession to her childhood sweetheart when an unexpected moment of passion derails her plan and lands her in the path of a dangerous mage. He practices a forbidden form of magic, and he wants Valentine to be his apprentice. Life and death hinge on her decision, but one thing is for certain: he’s not going to take “no” for an answer.

Have a very happy Valentine’s day! ❤

Winter’s Fallen is Now Available!

Winter’s Fallen, Book One of The Conquest of Kelemir, is now available for purchase! Find it at: Amazon ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ iBooks

Grace has survived all of her life by simply doing her duty and not standing out, like all the people of her village, until the day their ruling warlord decides to claim her as the season’s tax. In a moment of blind panic, she flees straight into the first storm of winter…and into the life of a mysterious recluse. Now stranded in his tower until the spring thaw, she finds more than her mere freedom in peril as no one and nothing is as it seems…

Get snowed in with your copy today:

Amazon ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ iBooks

Winter’s Fallen is Available for Preorder !

Winter’s Fallen, the first book of my new fantasy romance series, is now available for Preorder on Amazon!

Grace has survived all of her life by simply doing her duty and not standing out, like all the people of her village, until the day their ruling warlord decides to claim her as the season’s tax. In a moment of blind panic, she flees, straight into the first storm of winter…and into the life of a mysterious recluse. Now stranded in his tower until the spring thaw, she finds more than her mere freedom in peril as no one and nothing is as it seems…

It’s coming soon to B&N for the Nook, Kobo, and iBooks as well. (To be notified by e-mail once it’s released everywhere, subscribe to my newsletter!)

To celebrate, there is a one day 50% off SALE on the e-book version of Broken Mirrors, book one of the Broken Mirrors Duology. Winter’s Fallen is set in the same world (although it is not necessary to read Broken Mirrors or its sequel to understand and enjoy Winter’s Fallen).

Grab it half off today only on Amazon, B&N for the Nook, Kobo, and iBooks!