Ephie Risho's Blog

Who’d have thought that writing, editing, and publishing a book is just the start? Turns out, in order for it to get a good readership, there’s a lot more work to do. The battle has just begun! So, we’ve signed up to sell our books at events in Montana throughout the year (dates and places below). 

Most importantly, the books just need a ton more reviews online (both Amazon and Goodreads). The Twelfth Scepter finally has some reviews on Goodreads, but is seriously lacking on Amazon. If you’ve read it, please do give reviews. They go a long way!!! And this goes for all the books in the series.

Here are a few snippets of the great reviews that have come in on the book on Goodreads so far:

“Risho’s writing is awesome – it paints such a clear picture and keeps you hooked with all the action.”
—DarkFantasyReviews

“This is by far one of the best fantasy adventure series for the age group I’ve read in a long time.”

“It’s a book that sticks with you, not only because of the cool world it creates, but also because it’s got some deep themes about bravery, friendship, and doing what’s right.”

“By far, the most thrilling, heart pounding book in the series, so far. There is non-stop, exciting action on virtually every page.”

“I have loved every installment of The Elementalists so far and I usually end up saying the current book I’ve read is my favourite . . . well I’m doing it again!”

“Whether you’re a fan of the series or brand new to it, this book is a must-read because it’s so easy to get into and has such a captivating story and characters. Trust me, once you start reading, you won’t want to stop!”

Link to Amazon listing

Link to Goodreads listing

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate it.

And now, here’s a list of our 2024 in-person events:

BOZEMAN Spring  // May 3-4  // BRICK BREEDEN FIELDHOUSE

FRI 5 pm- 8 pm  VIP // SAT 9 am-10 am Early Bird, 10 am-4 pm FREE entry

MISSOULA Summer  // June 23  // CARAS PARK

SUN 10 am-4 pm 

FLATHEAD CHERRY FESTIVAL   // July 27-28 // MAIN STREET, POLSON

SAT 9 am- 5 pm // SUN 10 am – 3 pm

BOZEMAN Fall  // OCT 25-26  // BRICK BREEDEN FIELDHOUSE

FRI 5 pm- 8 pm  VIP // SAT 9 am-10 am Early Bird, 10 am-4 pm FREE entry

HELENA Holiday  // DEC 6-7 // LEWIS & CLARK FAIRGROUNDS

FRI 5 pm- 8 pm  VIP // SAT 9 am-10 am Early Bird, 10 am-4 pm FREE entry

MISSOULA  Holiday  // DEC 15 //  ADAMS CENTER

SUN 9 am-11 am VIP  // 11 am-5 pm FREE entry

I was recently interviewed about the latest and greatest book The Twelfth Scepter on The Books and Authors Podcast. Give it a listen here:

Ephie Risho and The Elementalists on Podcast Episode 202

Keep exploring.

Ephie

We’ve been featured in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle again. Here’s the latest article. Enjoy!

https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/dailyfeatures/local-family-releases-final-installment-of-young-adult-fantasy-book-series/article_7899da4a-a4d9-11ee-baa2-6b8e1402074d.html

It is with great pleasure that I am finally able to welcome you to purchase your very own copy of The Twelfth Scepter, book 4 of The Elementalists. The Kickstarter launches today, where we are pre-selling books in order to get them to you before Christmas. The books will be for sale online on December 18th, so this is a great way to get signed copies ahead of time.

Get your copy now!

The story picks up two years after book 3, and follows a thrilling climax of the story arc started in book 1. The cover and interior art are incredible, and the story is sure to delight readers of all ages!

In a race against time, the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of a group of young elementalists. With the malevolent White Queen on the verge of obtaining unimaginable power, the brave heroes must band together to thwart her evil plan. But as they face impossible challenges and formidable foes, they realize the task is far more daunting than they ever imagined. Armed with only their growing magical abilities and unwavering determination, they must stop the queen from finding the hidden mana tower, learn more of the spell itself, and prevent the catastrophic spell from being cast. With two skilled wizard mentors by their side, the elementalists must push themselves to their limits and beyond. But when up against foes who can see into the future and harness otherworldly energies, will their training be enough to save the world from eternal darkness?

The moment we’ve been working toward is finally here, and I’m thrilled to have you along for the journey. The Kickstarter will end in 20 days. Please jump in and support us to get some momentum on the site rolling to hit our goal. And don’t hesitate to tell your friends. The books make great Christmas gifts!

It was a crazy big windstorm, the kind you only get in places like Montana where it blazes off the mountains and takes out everything in its path. We scrambled as it came in, trying to save our old wooden fence (we didn’t) and the trampoline (partly successful). The dog was freaked out, the cat insisted on sitting on our laps, and nobody even considered leaving the house. 

In the morning, branches and stray pieces of construction littered the yard. And yes, there was a big, green canoe. We stared at it with wide grins. How long would it take for the owner to figure it out? 

Going through windstorms is how we end up with good stories in the end. Joshua and I went on a six-day whitewater rafting trip in Idaho with friends and family, and on day three we were hit with the tip of Hurricane Hilary. We were blasted with rain, drenched from head to toe from every direction. 

At one point, Joshua said to me, “Dad. This isn’t fun. I’m cold and wet. When will it be over?” 

I said something about how, when it’s over, we’ll appreciate the sun all the more, which of course didn’t help him in the slightest. But looking back at the photos and videos of our week in the wilderness, that day where we were barraged with water was the most fun. We were desperate to stay warm, so we were singing constantly, spinning our raft in circles, and when we got to shore, doing crazy Viking games where you spin with an oar on your head and leap over. 

A good story has tension, which is what makes it an adventure. When real-life adventures hit us, we don’t always welcome them, but they sure do enrich our lives. Writing books is an adventure in and of itself. As it emerges, the plot takes its own twists and turns, many times unexpected. This latest book has been through quite the adventure to get itself to the finish line. As I was thinking of what it’s been like, I think of the morning after that windstorm and seeing the canoe—a spark of joy at where it all landed.

Most of this year, I’ve been writing solo. This entire series exists because of the spark from my eldest, and I struggled for a while to keep that spark alive. And while both kids have had an interest at some time, they’re now focused on other things. It took me a while, but I’ve accepted and now am truly enjoying this new phase of writing. Sometimes, as new twists emerge in the plot of my real life, I relate them to the grand adventures of the books, and I know that I can weather anything. The book series exists because it started as a collaboration project, and that makes me happy. 

What makes me happier still is seeing the book in its nearly-complete state. The initial round of edits with my professional editor gutted the first four chapters. I wish more books and movies would go through such a tough process. Who needs a slow start, anyway? Let’s jump right into the plot arc that’s going to be most important. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched a movie, and ten minutes in I’ve thought they could have started it there. She helped me see that for this book.

The editing process may have gutted four chapters, but it added many more, salted throughout, till it’s now just barely the longest in the series. Early readers have said it’s the most cohesive and engaging one yet. And I still think about it constantly, which means it’s got some good hooks to it.

The last things are getting tidied up—cover art, inside illustrations, and one final round of copy editing. And then, it will be available for the world. The Twelfth Scepter kicks off a grand finale to the plot arc created in book one. It does leave an open door for a fifth book, which was a part of the original vision, but it also has a satisfying ending that makes the first three books worthwhile. It took me longer than I’d hoped, and looking back it feels a bit like a windstorm, but we’re now in the final stages and just about ready to launch. 

So, keep your eyes peeled for a Kickstarter coming soon to get your signed copies, and join the adventure as the young elementalists tackle their greatest challenge yet. My hope is you’ll be as delighted to see the final result as the morning I woke up to that big old green canoe.

Right at the turn of the year, Celia told me she no longer wanted to work on the books with me. Devastated, I asked a dozen questions, but the more we discussed, the more it made sense. Celia, at 14, has simply moved on, and has other priorities. 

Immediately, I noticed the void. Although we’d worked on the outline of book four of The Elementalists together, and we were a quarter of the way through writing it, I no longer had a working partner for brainstorming. Every time I tried, Celia said, “No. I’m not involved anymore.” The five-book series with the grand vision she’d initiated, and we’d concocted together almost six years ago was now resting solely on my shoulders.

It also left a void in my relationship with my teenager, which I still haven’t figured out how to fill well. It was our way of engaging with each other regularly, which I’ve found as a Dad was really helpful. Now, more often than not, I’m searching for ways to connect with her, and they’re harder and harder to come by. 

Celia’s twelve-year-old brother Joshua immediately perked up and said, “I’ll do it!” We’ve worked on it quite a bit now, and the story is coming along nicely, with a different sort of energy, some of it unexpected and fun. His ideas bring that young perspective and spark that I appreciate for a book whose main characters are teenagers. I’m also thrilled that my brother Sam, who helped a great deal with book three, has been deeply involved. He’s helped shed light on improvements to the rules of magic, noting the slow-downs in a chapter, and helping us craft the story into something more compelling.

Although this comes with mixed emotions, as you can tell, I’m happy to say book four is just over halfway written, and in better shape than ever. With Celia gone, I changed some of the things she had demanded be included that I never liked. We’re also now able to do some things with the storyline which I think will make it a much stronger book and story, which Celia didn’t have an interest in. And some of Joshua’s youthful ideas have made the book sparkle with energy. 

All in all, the process has been a bit of a roller coaster, and pushes back our summer release goal to something probably closer to the fall of this year. The best news is I’m having lots of fun again. Amber’s character arc is exciting and interesting, both to read and to write. The puzzle pieces are all starting to fit together, and the wizards they are up against are coming alive in new ways they hadn’t before. 

Book four takes place a few months after the end of book three, and it pushes the elementalists to their limits in every way as they reach the climax we’ve all been waiting for, the fulfillment of the prophecy. We’re writing it so that book four has a strong resolution, but the outline of book five is still waving at me, saying it yearns to be written, so my plan is to finish the series that was originally concocted back in 2017, and write all five. 

For now, I lick the wounds of a struggling teenage relationship and do my best to make the most of it. It’s all that any of the characters I write about would do, and frankly, why write about heroes if we can’t all take on some of those character traits ourselves from time to time?

Author’s ask

If anyone has read book 3, Secret of the Kraken, we are woefully lacking in reviews on Amazon. Even just clicking the star and adding a few words goes a long way, and we appreciate it very much!

A great article about us was in the Bozeman Chronicle last week. Enjoy!

We‘ve been selling our books locally, at the MADE fair in Bozeman, at the local bookstore, and upcoming at the two next MADE fairs in Helena and Missoula, MT. If you‘re around, we look forward to meeting you!

Ephie

One thing I’ve learned about self-publishing, everything takes longer than you wish it would! Between signing, organizing who gets what, packing them up with mailing labels, and taking up two lines at the post office (and feeling guilty about it!), we finally have sent out everybody’s copies of the books!

For those who have digital downloads, if you own a Kindle you can plug the Kindle into your computer and drag-and-drop the .MOBI file onto the Documents folder. Easy-breezy!!!

For everyone else, I truly hope I was organized enough to send you want you wanted. If something isn’t right, just let me know and we’ll get it sorted.

For those who are close to Bozeman, Montana, we’re having a launch party tomorrow (Saturday). If you’d like to join, email me. At this point, we just love meeting our fans, and Michelle is making a Greek feast (notice the island theme to go with the underwater adventure?).

Thanks for all the support. We sure do love writing these books, and you keep us inspired to keep at it. Also, when you finish reading, it goes a LONG way if you write a review on Amazon for us. For any of the three books.

Keep finding the adventure.

Ephie

Our Kickstarter finishes on August 15th and we’re about a quarter of the way there. If you want to support us getting out book 3, now’s the time!

Also, just a note to say we really do rely on our readers to keep writing and publishing these books, so thank you for staying on our mailing list, and please do share the link with friends and family. We have a dream that one day we’ll be sold in bookstores around the world.

Keep adventuring!

Ephie & Celia

After a year of hard work, we’re finally ready to start pre-selling book 3: Secret of the Kraken. Visit our Kickstarter page for more info and to support the effort. (you’ll also get to see Celia’s new hobby – animation!)