Brain to Books Cyber Convention (FAIRGROUNDS) discussion

Welcome, traveler! I am CC Rogers, author and illustrator.

Allow me to introduce you to the kingdom of Valheigh, a place unlike other fantasy lands you may have known. Who are the Jinn, the wizards hidden behind their mysterious wall, and what role did they play in shaping this world?

Begin your journey with the novel Secrets of the Throne:

 

Eighteen-year-old Lady Sharilyn Dawson yearns to sample the sophistication of the royal court. She recognizes an opportunity to leave her country home when she meets Lord Jonathan Redley, a widower who needs help caring for his young son. Life at the castle, however, is more perilous than she ever imagined. As lords vie for the throne and an assassin stalks the night, Sharilyn must learn to navigate the treacherous waters of politics before they claim her life.

Reviews
"A highly entertaining read" - Bargain Book Reviews
"Light fantasy with a dash of swoony romance!" - Emily McKay
"I was fascinated by the Jinn" - Leticia (Shh I Am Reading Reviews)
"There was drama, romance, adventure and fighting all rolled up into this plot. It really was a fun book to read." - OnlineBookClub.org Review

Alternatively, you can start your journey with the graphic novel Rune: A Tale of Wizards and Kings, set fourteen years later than Secrets of the Throne.

 

500 years after the banishment of wizards, the kingdom of Valheigh faces the unthinkable: the rediscovery of wizardry and the return of the legendary evil known as the Jinn. A vengeful wizard unleashes the most horrific curse of Jinn legend such that Prince Rune must either kill the woman he loves or die at her hands.

Rune ran as a webcomic and is still available to read (for free!) online at Tapastic. You can buy print or digital copies at IndyPlanet.

The story from Rune continues in the novella Wizards and Kings: Sacrifice:

 

A lone warrior seeks revenge for the death of his king and finds himself battling for the survival of his kingdom. A wizard, far from home, eases the guilt from past transgressions by helping those in need. A displaced king risks everything to find love. Their paths intersect as they face a threat unlike any they have ever known before.

Reviews
"Rogers' work is quite well done. The pacing within this novelette is perfect. Dialogue is smooth, and believable. Each character feels real, and I was able to see and feel the scenes that were written."
- Rebecca Foster

Thank you for visiting my booth. See the posts below for discussion and special offers!

Map Categories: #Fantasy #Romance

I'm giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Enter through Rafflecopter after following me on Twitter and/or commenting here on my B2BCyCon booth!

Update: the giveaway has ended and the winner is: Rainne A.! Congratulations!

Author Interview
"My writing is a mash-up of things that I love: sci-fi, fantasy, romance, comics, engineering... Like me, it's weirder than it appears."

Describe your favorite scene in one of your books and tell us why it's your favorite.
My favorite scene in Secrets of the Throne is where Sharilyn confronts the king and chastises him for disrespecting his son's needs. It has serious moments but also humorous ones. The king doesn't react by becoming angry or defensive, and he doesn't talk down to Sharilyn because she's a young woman. He later thanks Sharilyn for her honesty and directness. This is why I love writing fantasy: I can create a world where people treat each other with respect and kindness, and where rational thinking prevails over hate and prejudice.
What's your writing routine like?
When I'm falling asleep at night, I play through scenes in my head. I do most of my writing in the mornings, before my day job and my kids need my attention.
Tell us about any new projects you're working on. Are you writing a new book?
I'm currently writing Book 2 in the Kingdom of Valheigh Series. We'll see the assassin S'ven again and learn more about the Jinn!
How long did it take you to make your graphic novel?
It took about three years, but I had been working on the story in other forms (screenplay, novel) for a long time before I decided to make it into a comic.

Have a question for me? Please ask in a comment below!

Character Interview
Z: Hello, readers! My name is Zara. I'm one of the Jinn. Joining me today is Prince Rune. Rune, tell everyone about yourself.
R: Without spoilers?
Z: As much as possible, yes.
R: Well... I'm Rune Beowald. That's pronounced "BAY-oh-walled." My kingdom is Valheigh, pronounced "val-HIGH." I'm 21 years old. My father was King Edgar.
Z: Technically, using the past tense there was a spoiler.
R: Quills and ashes! This is impossible! From here on out, there will be spoilers. Readers, you've been warned!
Z: First question is for me: "Do you think your father will ever support the Jinn's return?" I'd say... no.
R: Zara—
Z: Next question! Rune, who'd win in a fight between you and Justin?
R: Tough to say. We're pretty evenly matched when I'm not distracted. We spar almost every day, to keep up with our training, and I admit that he wins more often than I do.
Z: Next question is for me again: "How old are you?" Honestly, I'm not sure. The Jinn don't celebrate anniversaries of our birth. We celebrate stages of life that aren't strictly linked to solar cycles. But, yes, we live a long time and so I'm older than you might guess from my appearance.
R: And now a question for me: "Were you wearing pants in that scene?" [laughs] You want me to spoil all the work done on clever camera angles? Believe whatever you're more comfortable with!
Z: I'll chime in and say I really enjoyed that scene. [grins]
R: So did I. The cookie was delicious! [laughs]

Have a question for Rune or Zara? Please ask in a comment below!

Free Short Story

Read Change of the Guards (a Kingdom of Valheigh Short Story), shared here for the Brain to Books Cyber Convention!

This short story is a prequel to the novel Secrets of the Throne. Lord Jonathan Redley faces a difficult time of transition after the death of his father.

Welcome to the Fair! Please feel free to leave a comment or ask a question!

C.C. wrote: "I'm giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Enter through Rafflecopter after following me on Twitter and/or commenting here on my B2BCyCon booth!"

Is it possible to download it to a Kindle? I don't like reading on computer.

Wordwizard wrote: "Is it possible to download it to a Kindl..."
The Kingdom of Valheigh books are available on Amazon for Kindle. The free short story is (at the moment) only available on Google Docs, but I'll be publishing it in other formats in the future.

Thanks for visiting my booth!

Popped on to say Hello, and stayed to read your wonderful short story. Thank you :)

Rainne wrote: "Popped on to say Hello, and stayed to read your wonderful short story. Thank you :)"
Thank YOU! I hope you're enjoying the fair!

Hello! This looks great! What's your writing routine like?

Ashley wrote: "Hello! This looks great! What's your writing routine like?"
Great question! When I'm falling asleep at night, I play through scenes in my head. I do most of my writing in the mornings, before my day job and my kids need my attention. Thanks for visiting my booth! I hope you're enjoying B2BCyCon!

Looks like an interesting story! I'd love to have artistic talent. How long did it take you to make your graphic novel?

Celesta wrote: "Looks like an interesting story! I'd love to have artistic talent. How long did it take you to make your graphic novel?"
It took about three years, but I had been working on the story in other forms (screenplay, novel) for a long time before I decided to make it into a comic.

Thanks for the question! I hope you enjoyed the fair!

C.C. wrote: "I'm giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Enter through Rafflecopter after following me on Twitter and/or commenting here on my B2BCyCon booth!

Update: the giveaway has ended and the winner is: Rainne A.! Congratulations!."

Wow!! Thank you very much CC :)