Wednesday 30 April 2014

Writing Buddy Wednesday ~ Shona Husk's The Court of Annwyn


Welcome to another Writing Buddy Wednesday. Today I will be focusing on fellow DarkSider's Shona Husk and her series, The Court of Annwyn.

I've known Shona for a number of years via the Paranormal loop, and we've also collaborated on cover designs for her short stories and novellas.

Recently, this involved the cover for The Changeling Soldier, a novella set in The Court of Annwyn world. So I asked Shona along to talk about the series.



Faeries feature in the COURT OF ANNWYN series. How did you come to write about them?

The Court of Annwyn came about after a conversation with the kids about mazes and what they could be made of. Glass was mentioned, and I immediately thought what a perfect description that was for a fairy court: to be able to see what you want in the middle but to not be able to straight there. I loved writing the Court intrigue and politics and the way that fairies can be cold and conniving and completely obsessed with power...until they fall in love (which is something that no fairy would actually want to do).


Your upcoming release is an in between novella that you are self-publishing. Why a novella?

I like mid-series novellas. I think they are a way to build on the world and give the readers a little but more between books. The Changeling Soldier introduces new characters but sits at the end of book 2 and overlaps with book 3. Unlike Lord of the Hunt and To Love a King, The Changeling Soldier is set in our world and get to see how the changes in Annwyn affect the fairies living here.




What advice would you give someone thinking of self-publishing?

Think it through first and determine your reasons and make sure you're prepared for the long haul. With self-publishing the author has to pay upfront for things like cover art and editing. Then do your  Research. Don't cut corners just to get the book out, it has to be a professional product.

At the moment I have only self-published novellas. But who knows what the future holds, the publishing industry is changing so quickly.



What's next for the series?

After The Changeling Soldier there is To Love King (October 2014) which is Felan's story. People have been asking about him since book 1! After that I'm not sure, but there might be a 4th book.

(Eleni: yay!)



How do you go about writing a series (you've done quite a few)?

Some times it's intentional and I get an idea and plot out a series ARC (like the Shadowlands or Annwyn) other times the books are linked only by world like the In a Bottle series about genies--the genies never cross paths and there is no series ARC. I keep a note book for each series so I remember
the magic rules and what all the main characters look like and how old they are etc.


Thanks so much, Shona!

Now let's have a look at the Court of Annwyn series...


Book 1: THE OUTCAST PRINCE


Caspian Mort can feel the history in anything he touches, a gift he inherited from his father, the Crown Prince of Annwyn. Devastated over his ex-wife's infidelity, Caspian has withdrawn from human contact except when working as an antiques dealer.

While assessing the contents of the historic Callaway House he encounters the beautiful Lydia Callaway and senses that her home is haunted by a banished fairy. But what does the dangerous exile want? Unbeknownst to Lydia, she's the owner of the last remaining portal to Annwyn--a mirror hidden somewhere in the house. To keep Lydia safe, Caspian will have to divulge the secrets of his heritage, and risk losing his heart again.



Print ISBN: 978-1402280160

Ebook



Book 2: LORD OF THE HUNT

Their love could destroy a powerful reign and change the mortal world forever.

Raised in the mortal world, the fairy Taryn never planned on going back to Annwyn, much less to court. But with the power shift imminent, she is her parents' only hope of securing a pardon from exile and avoiding certain death.

Verden, Lord of the Hunt, swore to serve the King. But as the magic of Annwyn fails and the Prince makes ready to take the throne, Verden knows his days as Hunter are numbered. When Taryn and Verden meet, their attraction is instant and devastating. Their love could bring down a Queen and change the mortal world forever.





Print ISBN: 978-1402280191

Ebook



In-between the books: THE CHANGELING SOLDIER

Her time in the mortal world is running out...
After fleeing Annwyn three centuries ago, Ella built a life in the mortal world making gowns for European royalty and playing in mortal intrigues. Now those Courts are long gone, and she dresses Hollywood starlets. Mortals come and go, but Ella always ends up alone. She longs for the home she left behind.

He's been dreaming of the coming battle all his life...
Isaac Norton is a returned soldier. Now home, he's restless and his recurring dream is becoming more frequent: he's fighting on a snow-covered field stained with blue blood. When he sees Ella, he knows she isn't human. And she knows what he is, a changeling.

Ella can give Isaac the answers he needs, but there will be a price to pay: his soul.


Available for pre-order at:  iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords
It will also be available via Barnes & Noble and Amazon, also be made available in print.

Shona also has a Goodreads giveaway between 3 to 31May. 



Book 3: TO LOVE A KING

To keep the balance between good and evil at the court of Annwyn, Prince Felan ap Gwyn has two weeks to marry and take the crown. But he wants more than just power--he wants love; a love he once had but was too stubborn to hold on to.

It took years for Jacqueline Ara to put her life back together after Felan abandoned her. And she doesn't want fairies back in her life--even if her heart still burns for him. With war in Annwyn looming and death bleeding into the mortal world, Felan and Jacquie will need to heal old wounds for one last gamble. It's all or nothing to save both worlds.

Available October 2014

You can pre-order:

Print ISBN: 978-1402280221




I've read Book 1 and 2, and The Changeling Soldier, and I'm thoroughly enjoying this series. If you love fairies, check out these stories. 


You can catch Shona at -



3 comments:

Mel Teshco said...

What a great cover! And congrats Shona on the self publishing too =)

Janni Nell said...

Nice cover. Congrats on the upcoming release.

Eleni Konstantine said...

Thanks for popping in ladies!

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