Haley Walden's Blog - Posts Tagged "fantasy-romance"
Get a Free Excerpt from Defender of Histories!
Defender of Histories (The Witness Tree Chronicles, Book 1)
Free excerpt for your e-reader of choice available here!
A young archivist. A hidden power. And a forgotten history poised to repeat itself…
Silira Mór is the most promising historian to serve the city-state of Iathium in centuries. Proud and headstrong, Lira has dedicated her life to preserving the city's histories, working her way up the ranks in the Archive of the Dome—even capturing the attention of Iathium’s young ruler, Eremon. But a long-suppressed power is emerging amongst the descendants of the outlying clans, and with it, a forgotten history that threatens to decimate Lira's skillfully-crafted world.
Defender of Histories releases on November 19, 2019!
Free excerpt for your e-reader of choice available here!
A young archivist. A hidden power. And a forgotten history poised to repeat itself…
Silira Mór is the most promising historian to serve the city-state of Iathium in centuries. Proud and headstrong, Lira has dedicated her life to preserving the city's histories, working her way up the ranks in the Archive of the Dome—even capturing the attention of Iathium’s young ruler, Eremon. But a long-suppressed power is emerging amongst the descendants of the outlying clans, and with it, a forgotten history that threatens to decimate Lira's skillfully-crafted world.
Defender of Histories releases on November 19, 2019!
Why the Unconventional Romance in Defender of Histories?
***SPOILER ALERT!***
If you haven't yet read Defender of Histories, you might want to click away. Spoilers ahead!
(Or keep going, if you want an inside look at what happens before you read.)
......OK, here we go.
---Spoilers below this line.---
The few people (like, literally 3) who read the earliest draft of Defender of Histories might remember that the first story of Iathium’s Rí was radically different. When I began drafting the book, he was a much older man named Lorcan (which I later changed because of a character in Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series with the same name). Rí Lorcan was murdered by his wife, Raní Macha, during Nami Mostari. The story’s earliest iteration was a whodunnit of sorts, complete with missing manuscripts from the archive (hello, MacGuffin!).
I got about 60,000 words into the first draft before I realized the story needed more lead-in…so I went back to the beginning and began writing again. My original intent was to add a few chapters to the beginning, but as my fellow writers know, it wasn’t that straightforward. As I drafted and re-drafted, the Rí became younger…and younger. He went from being a middle-aged man in his late 40s/early 50s to a younger man in his late 20s. Finally, I lowered his age to 19 and re-named him Eremon (his father received the moniker Corlan, a rework of the original name choice).
Eremon emerged as a warm, kind, passionate, and idealistic character—in short, an achingly good person with the best of intentions (though perhaps naive in his execution of them). The story had already established that his death would be a major plot point, and I was prepared to do what needed to be done to move the narrative forward…except I didn’t realize what I had gotten myself into.
In terms of the end-game romance in this series, my vision has always been for Aidryn and Lira to end up together. (If you’ve read book 1, hopefully this isn’t a major shock. ) They’re my Anne and Gilbert, my Katniss and Peeta (though, admittedly, Aidryn is inspired in part by both Peeta and Gale)…but the first time I wrote Eremon and Lira into a scene together, I groaned, “Oh, no.”
They were so good together, it hurt.
Lira and the Rí weren’t supposed to have a love story…or so I thought. But there was instant chemistry from that first anointing scene. At first, I flew straight into the bargaining stage of grief. Wasn’t there a way I could save Eremon? Did he really have to die? What would happen to Aidryn if he didn’t? Would Lira still have a story if he survived?
I bargained for a long while before my characters gently let me know that this was still the direction the story needed to go. That didn’t make it any easier to accept, and it definitely didn’t make it easier to write (thanks for the tough love while I was drafting chapter 15, Heather). To date, Eremon’s death is the hardest scene I’ve ever written.
I drew indirect inspiration for Eremon and Lira’s love story from a few different sources. First, from Sarah J. Maas, whose stories have become well-known for featuring more than one love interest for the main character (usually one that doesn’t pan out, then the OTP). Second, from Kelly St. Clair, whose Tainted Accords series features the very bold choice of the first love interest dying very early on in the first book.
Finally, the manner of Eremon’s death was inspired by my friend, reader, and enabler Christa, who has been on this crazy ride with me since day one. When I described Eremon’s magical inheritance to her and told her that I was trying to decide how, exactly, he was meant to die, she chimed in with, “What do you think happens to a person with a mix of magic like that?” And we were on our way.
For all of Eremon’s suffering and his tragic fate in Defender, I’m happy to say his story isn’t yet complete. He is still a critical part of Lira’s character arc, and I’m excited to share the rest of his story with you beginning in Keeper of Keys (Fall 2020).
---
Original post w/ artwork: https://www.authorhaleywalden.com/blo...
If you haven't yet read Defender of Histories, you might want to click away. Spoilers ahead!
(Or keep going, if you want an inside look at what happens before you read.)
......OK, here we go.
---Spoilers below this line.---
The few people (like, literally 3) who read the earliest draft of Defender of Histories might remember that the first story of Iathium’s Rí was radically different. When I began drafting the book, he was a much older man named Lorcan (which I later changed because of a character in Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series with the same name). Rí Lorcan was murdered by his wife, Raní Macha, during Nami Mostari. The story’s earliest iteration was a whodunnit of sorts, complete with missing manuscripts from the archive (hello, MacGuffin!).
I got about 60,000 words into the first draft before I realized the story needed more lead-in…so I went back to the beginning and began writing again. My original intent was to add a few chapters to the beginning, but as my fellow writers know, it wasn’t that straightforward. As I drafted and re-drafted, the Rí became younger…and younger. He went from being a middle-aged man in his late 40s/early 50s to a younger man in his late 20s. Finally, I lowered his age to 19 and re-named him Eremon (his father received the moniker Corlan, a rework of the original name choice).
Eremon emerged as a warm, kind, passionate, and idealistic character—in short, an achingly good person with the best of intentions (though perhaps naive in his execution of them). The story had already established that his death would be a major plot point, and I was prepared to do what needed to be done to move the narrative forward…except I didn’t realize what I had gotten myself into.
In terms of the end-game romance in this series, my vision has always been for Aidryn and Lira to end up together. (If you’ve read book 1, hopefully this isn’t a major shock. ) They’re my Anne and Gilbert, my Katniss and Peeta (though, admittedly, Aidryn is inspired in part by both Peeta and Gale)…but the first time I wrote Eremon and Lira into a scene together, I groaned, “Oh, no.”
They were so good together, it hurt.
Lira and the Rí weren’t supposed to have a love story…or so I thought. But there was instant chemistry from that first anointing scene. At first, I flew straight into the bargaining stage of grief. Wasn’t there a way I could save Eremon? Did he really have to die? What would happen to Aidryn if he didn’t? Would Lira still have a story if he survived?
I bargained for a long while before my characters gently let me know that this was still the direction the story needed to go. That didn’t make it any easier to accept, and it definitely didn’t make it easier to write (thanks for the tough love while I was drafting chapter 15, Heather). To date, Eremon’s death is the hardest scene I’ve ever written.
I drew indirect inspiration for Eremon and Lira’s love story from a few different sources. First, from Sarah J. Maas, whose stories have become well-known for featuring more than one love interest for the main character (usually one that doesn’t pan out, then the OTP). Second, from Kelly St. Clair, whose Tainted Accords series features the very bold choice of the first love interest dying very early on in the first book.
Finally, the manner of Eremon’s death was inspired by my friend, reader, and enabler Christa, who has been on this crazy ride with me since day one. When I described Eremon’s magical inheritance to her and told her that I was trying to decide how, exactly, he was meant to die, she chimed in with, “What do you think happens to a person with a mix of magic like that?” And we were on our way.
For all of Eremon’s suffering and his tragic fate in Defender, I’m happy to say his story isn’t yet complete. He is still a critical part of Lira’s character arc, and I’m excited to share the rest of his story with you beginning in Keeper of Keys (Fall 2020).
---
Original post w/ artwork: https://www.authorhaleywalden.com/blo...
Coming August 5: Ballad of Stallions, A Witness Tree Chronicles Novella
I’m so excited to announce that I’ve written a novella that I’ll be giving away for free, starting August 5. It’s called Ballad of Stallions, and it’s told from Aidryn Tarlach’s point of view. The story takes place two years before Defender of Histories and gives us a closer look at the things happening in Aidryn’s world during the years leading up to the events of Defender.
Here’s a quick synopsis:
Historian and horseman Aidryn Tarlach has spent his life waging one silent battle after another. The city archive is the only refuge he’s ever known, but even that has begun to unravel. Suddenly, he finds himself struggling to hold onto everything he’s fought for.
Aidryn is stretched thin among the interests and people he’s spent years trying to protect. His family is bent on controlling the throne. His closest friend, Silira Mór, is oblivious to his feelings for her—and is set to inherit a coveted magic she doesn’t believe in. Even worse, the city’s young ruler, Rí Eremon, has set his sights on Lira.
Set two years before the events of Defender of Histories, Ballad of Stallions follows Aidryn to the heartbreaking decisions he must make to protect Lira and secure Iathium’s future.
Writing this story with a focus on Aidryn’s world, plus the multiple chess games he’s been playing for so many years, was an excellent character study. It was exciting to spend some extra time with Eremon, too, and write several more interactions between him and Aidryn.
As an author, Ballad set the stage for the completion of Keeper of Keys, Book 2 of The Witness Tree Chronicles. It also introduces a new character who will be very important to the progression of the main series. I’m thrilled for you to meet her.
If you want a copy of Ballad when it launches August 5, just click the link below. If you’re already subscribed to my list, you’ll get it automatically. Keep an eye on your email August 5—I’ll be sending you a link where you can download the ebook to the e-reader of your choice.
Click here to get on the waitlist for the book.
Here’s a quick synopsis:
Historian and horseman Aidryn Tarlach has spent his life waging one silent battle after another. The city archive is the only refuge he’s ever known, but even that has begun to unravel. Suddenly, he finds himself struggling to hold onto everything he’s fought for.
Aidryn is stretched thin among the interests and people he’s spent years trying to protect. His family is bent on controlling the throne. His closest friend, Silira Mór, is oblivious to his feelings for her—and is set to inherit a coveted magic she doesn’t believe in. Even worse, the city’s young ruler, Rí Eremon, has set his sights on Lira.
Set two years before the events of Defender of Histories, Ballad of Stallions follows Aidryn to the heartbreaking decisions he must make to protect Lira and secure Iathium’s future.
Writing this story with a focus on Aidryn’s world, plus the multiple chess games he’s been playing for so many years, was an excellent character study. It was exciting to spend some extra time with Eremon, too, and write several more interactions between him and Aidryn.
As an author, Ballad set the stage for the completion of Keeper of Keys, Book 2 of The Witness Tree Chronicles. It also introduces a new character who will be very important to the progression of the main series. I’m thrilled for you to meet her.
If you want a copy of Ballad when it launches August 5, just click the link below. If you’re already subscribed to my list, you’ll get it automatically. Keep an eye on your email August 5—I’ll be sending you a link where you can download the ebook to the e-reader of your choice.
Click here to get on the waitlist for the book.
Ballad of Stallions is here!!
Ballad of Stallions is LIVE today - complete with a sweeping fantasy world, forbidden magic, unrequited love, and handsome, angsty boys competing for a beautiful (but oblivious) historian's attention. 😍
~
Synopsis:
Historian and horseman Aidryn Tarlach has spent his entire nineteen years waging one silent battle after another. The city archive is the only refuge he’s ever known, but even that has begun to unravel. Suddenly, he finds himself struggling to hold onto everything he’s fought for.
Aidryn is stretched thin among the interests and people he’s spent years trying to protect. His family is bent on controlling the throne. His closest friend, Silira Mór, is oblivious to his feelings for her—and is set to inherit a coveted magic she doesn’t believe in. Even worse, the city’s young ruler, Rí Eremon, has set his sights on Lira.
Set two years before the events of Defender of Histories, Ballad of Stallions follows Aidryn to the heartbreaking decisions he must make to protect Lira and secure Iathium’s future.
~
If you’re already on my email list, you should have a copy of the novella waiting in your inbox. If not, you can download your free copy here.
Enjoy!!
~
Synopsis:
Historian and horseman Aidryn Tarlach has spent his entire nineteen years waging one silent battle after another. The city archive is the only refuge he’s ever known, but even that has begun to unravel. Suddenly, he finds himself struggling to hold onto everything he’s fought for.
Aidryn is stretched thin among the interests and people he’s spent years trying to protect. His family is bent on controlling the throne. His closest friend, Silira Mór, is oblivious to his feelings for her—and is set to inherit a coveted magic she doesn’t believe in. Even worse, the city’s young ruler, Rí Eremon, has set his sights on Lira.
Set two years before the events of Defender of Histories, Ballad of Stallions follows Aidryn to the heartbreaking decisions he must make to protect Lira and secure Iathium’s future.
~
If you’re already on my email list, you should have a copy of the novella waiting in your inbox. If not, you can download your free copy here.
Enjoy!!
