S.D. Howard's Blog

The Pre-Order Campaign for the Illustrated Edition is now LIVE!!!! I can hardly believe it's here already, nor can I believe the AMAZING concept art my illustrator has come up with. It's on the campaign page and just WOW. I'm speechless. If for no other reason, you need to go check those out!

Pre-Order your copy: Pre-Order Page

The two giveaways I'm doing also start TODAY!

If you want the chance to win a 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, click here: Blog Tour Giveaway

If you would like to help support the campaign, use the following instructions to gain entries to win a $15 Amazon/Kindle gift card:

- At the top of the campaign page, you will see the "𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲" buttons. Click on the "𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻" icon to get a custom link just for you. (𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘙𝘓 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵)
- Copy that link and paste it on your social media, email it to a friend, or text a fellow book lover.
- When someone clicks on that link and backs the book, you get 1 entry!

Please use #thecityofsnowandstars and tag me as well as my publisher, 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗗𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀, so we can help amplify your efforts!

Tag:
𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 - @the_editing_bard / @newdegreepress
𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 - @theeditingbard / @NewDegreePress
𝗧𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 - @SDHoward3 / @NewDegreePress

Thank you so much for all of your love and support!

If you have any questions, let me know!

The Pre-Order Campaign for the Illustrated Edition is now LIVE!!!! I can hardly believe it's here already, nor can I believe the AMAZING concept art my illustrator has come up with. It's on the campaign page and just WOW. I'm speechless. If for no other reason, you need to go check those out!

Pre-Order your copy: Pre-Order Page

The two giveaways I'm doing also start TODAY!

If you want the chance to win a 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, click here: Blog Tour Giveaway

If you would like to help support the campaign, use the following instructions to gain entries to win a $15 Amazon/Kindle gift card:

- At the top of the campaign page, you will see the "𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲" buttons. Click on the "𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻" icon to get a custom link just for you. (𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘙𝘓 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵)
- Copy that link and paste it on your social media, email it to a friend, or text a fellow book lover.
- When someone clicks on that link and backs the book, you get 1 entry!

Please use #thecityofsnowandstars and tag me as well as my publisher, 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗗𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀, so we can help amplify your efforts!

Tag:
𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 - @the_editing_bard / @newdegreepress
𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 - @theeditingbard / @NewDegreePress
𝗧𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 - @SDHoward3 / @NewDegreePress

Thank you so much for all of your love and support!

If you have any questions, let me know!

So You Want to Build a World?

Worldbuilding is considered by some to be the most dreadful part of writing Fantasy, but to me, it’s the most fun. Sure, it has its moments of pure rage and frustration, and yet, there is something so fulfilling about it.

Think about it: you build a new WORLD. Something new and fresh and exciting!

Or, at least it should be.

You see, when it comes to Fantasy, there is a lot that can go wrong with worldbuilding throughout the course of a story. There are rules and laws you must remember; cultures and kingdoms to manage, and don’t forget the magic systems!

All of that begins to overwhelm people, and I know because I’ve been there! The world for my book, The City of Snow & Stars is massive. We see only a small glimpse of it in the book, and while we’ll get to explore more later in the series, it’s a daunting task to take on.

Thankfully, I’ve come up with some easy ways to worldbuild that I hope will help you along in your own writing.

The 4 C’s of Worldbuilding

If you haven’t noticed, our world is pretty big and full of amazing things. Beautiful waterfalls, diverse and rich cultures, and breathtaking landscapes. Sometimes authors forget to put those same kinds of details into their books, which leaves the story ending up flat and bland.

But you’re not that author. While you may not desire to go Full Tolkien in your story, if you’re reading this, you just want to do what you do a little better.

Read the rest of the blog here: The Bards Blog

Happy Friday, everyone!

I turn 31 today. It's kinda hard to believe because I still feel like a teenager the majority of the time. Maybe that's why I write YA? *deeply ponders*

30 held quite a few surprises to say the least, but one of the best ones was actually getting my book published. The more I've worked on it, the more I've seen God work in my own life and give me a heart for the very people I write about. Broken people.

Here's the truth guys: I'm broken. I'm not okay most of the time. I have severe anxiety, imposter syndrome, doubts, insecurities, and vices I'm not proud of. I've got stuff in my past a mile long I look back on and shake my head. I've got regrets.

Being Christian isn't about being perfect. It's about acknowledging just how IMperfect you really are in light of who God is. It's about allowing Him to work in you and take all those ugly things and turn them into something beautiful, as only He can, and use them for good. In 2020, I learned I'm prideful and arrogant. I learned I often don't love people the way God calls me too. Yet He still calls me 'son'. Still loves me right where I'm at and calls me to more.

I don't know who needs to hear this today, but God likes you. He wants more for you. Not more stuff, mind you, but more of Him. Because He is good.

I didn't plan on writing anything of this lol I was going to talk about how the promo on the book is ending, create the "urgency" so you all feel like you should go and buy it. It's what any good salesman would do. But when I started writing, that's not what came out (obviously haha). I'm given you the truth about myself. A look into who I am; the bad, the ugly, the broken.

I am Trinia. Broken
I am Údar. Arrogant
I am Jayden. Always running

God says: I am redeemed
God says: I am cherished
God says: I am His

This is the heart of my book.

#thecityofsnowandstars #birthday

***Here's the sneak peek at the first chapter of my book. Enjoy!***

There would only be one chance. If she failed tonight and got caught, the past beatings her father had given her would be light compared to what he'd do to her. Trinia shivered as she stuffed the rest of her belongings into her pack and tied the straps. It'll work, she told herself, taking a calming breath. It'll work.

Shouldering her pack, she threw her midnight blue cloak over her shoulders, pinning it in place with a silver broach in the shape of a wolf—the symbol of Vyrni, goddess of protection. Next, she moved to the mirror and quickly braided her silver strands to keep them out of the way. She leaned on the small table, gripping the sides until her knuckles turned white. This is madness, sheer madness. Looking at her reflection, she wondered if the girl looking back at her had what it took to stop a man as powerful as her father?

She sighed. "I've got to try. Prophecy be damned!"

Grabbing her daggers, she slid them into the sheaths on her belt and pulled up her hood. Opening the door, she peered into the dark hallway lit by sparse torchlight. Not a soul in sight. Creeping out of her room, Trinia moved swiftly down the hall toward her first stop before she headed out into the deepening night. She took a left, staying against the walls as best she could, all senses alert.

Coming to an opening in the wall, she checked around the corner to see the shrine empty. Rushing over to the altar, she kneeled before it. "I'm sorry, Vyrni. I have no offering," she whispered. "Please forgive this insult and protect me as I go out."

Trinia moved back to the hall and continued through the endless maze of passageways until at last she reached the Grand Stair, the only way in or out of the palace proper. She looked up, seeing the endless night sky with the countless stars above her and relishing in its beauty. Then she took the steps down two at a time.

When she reached the bottom, she turned and looked back at the mouth of the palace carved into the side of the mountain, sitting like an open maw. Maybe one day it would be restored to its former glory and receive dignitaries like it had during the Old Empire. Just not at the cost of her people's lives.

She shook her head, making her way down toward the southern gate, the only real obstacle standing between her and her goal of reaching Canämor to speak with their king about fighting her father. Surely they would want to save their people from certain destruction?

Voices ahead drew her out of her thoughts, and she dove behind an ox cart, wrapping her cloak about her and holding her breath. Two guards appeared, talking casually as they patrolled the Upper Quarter. When they were far enough away, she crept from her hiding place and picked up her pace.

As she moved through the Upper Quarter, she wondered what Rionnagan, or the City of Snow and Stars as it was once called, would have looked like in all its glory. Precious few paintings or tapestries were left after the thousand years since the fall of the Old Empire and they were severely damaged, not unlike the real thing. After some unnamed god had sent a devastating winter upon the whole of the Empire, followed by flooding and other disasters, it had collapsed in the span of two hundred years.

While she wanted to see her home restored, she wouldn't do it at the cost of her people, unlike her father. Trinia grimaced at the thought of him. Focus on the task at hand. We'll take care of him later.

The Mid-Quarter came and went with only the decline in housing to show that she was nearing the Lower Quarter. Homes were cobbled together, and the roofs were a combination of stout moss and thatching while others were a patchwork of stones chiseled and shaped from the ruins. Typically, the area would bustle with the market and traders from the other Airgíd clans, though with the approach of winter, trade was slowing down.

Moving to the edge of Market Square, Trinia waited in the shadows and took everything in: Padrig's hammer was ringing through the night as he worked in the back of his smithy; Roparzh's honey stall outside her shop sat empty and dark; Niren standing watch by the gate.

She did a double take. Hells, it is Niren! The last thing she needed was him asking her questions. He could always tell when she was lying. Though, that was why he was one of her closest friends. How in the name of Madol am I going to get past him? Are there more guards in the barracks? She strained her ears but couldn't hear anything over Niren's soft singing.

Maybe if she got his attention somehow, she could talk to him and convince him to help her... No, that would only put him at risk. Looking around, Trinia spotted a bucket a couple of feet away. That will have to do. Picking it up, she crouched down and gave a low whistle, one he would recognize as hers.

Niren looked up and glanced around a moment before returning the call. Letting out another whistle, Trinia readied herself as his gaze turned to her hiding spot and he started walking toward her, as if he were out on a stroll. He sat down on the edge of a barrel, back turned to her, picking at his nails. "What on earth are you doing here?" he whispered.

Trinia brought the bucket down on his head hard. "I'm so sorry," she replied, dragging him back behind the barrels. Once she'd set him in place, she unsheathed his sword and put it in his hand. Hopefully, it would look like he was attacked. She kneeled and gave him a kiss. "You wouldn't understand, but I hope you don't hold this against me," she murmured.

She crossed the square and pressed her back against the wall, listening a moment for any signs of alarm. All was silent. Taking a few breaths to calm her nerves, Trinia launched herself from the wall and tore through the gates past the lit braziers toward the outer stables where they kept livestock and horses housed for the night. Upon reaching it, she glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone had noticed her. She saw no one. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Carefully, she opened the doors and made her way down the rows of stalls, using the light of the braziers outside the gate, until she found a horse staring at her from behind its gate. It was a beautiful russet brown and had a keen look in its eyes. Trinia held out her hand, letting the animal get familiar with her scent before stepping closer. She smiled, petting the side of its face. "Will you be the one to help me? Hmm?"

A horn sounded in a long, mourning wail that made her heart skip a beat. Not wasting a second, she flipped open the latch to the gate, grabbed the horse's mane, and launched herself onto its back, giving it a swift kick to the ribs. She held on as the horse reared and took off toward the open door. Another horn blasted, closer now. "Show me your speed!" she yelled to the horse.

Bursting through the door, she caught sight of men pouring from the gate a dozen yards away, all pointing and shouting at her to stop while launching a volley of arrows. All missed but one, sinking into her pack under her cloak. Trinia glanced back, seeing the fletching. Hells, that was close!

The horse stumbled a moment over the rough terrain, almost throwing her off. She squeezed with her knees to steady herself and grabbed the mane a little tighter. "Watch where you're going!"

Trinia counted off the distance between her and the Forest of Nex. She would try to cut through it and circle back around to the Old Road, which would take her to her goal. If she didn't stray into the heart of the forest, she shouldn't have any issues with the creatures rumored to lurk there.

Behind her, she could hear a low rumbling in the distance, which she suspected were the guards she had seen at the gate. With only a few miles to the edge of the forest, she would easily make it with enough time to disappear into the dense brush and escape.

She stole another glance at the star-studded sky as the moon peeked over the eastern mountains, and a small smile parted her lips. It never failed to take her breath away. By the milky light, she could see the dark outline of the forest ahead.

An arrow flew past her head, burying itself in the ground while another flew over her and landed a dozen feet away. Casting a look over her shoulder, she could see ten riders gaining on her. Figures, I picked the slowest horse! she thought, giving the animal another kick in the ribs.

She closed the distance between her and the tree line, preparing to dodge between them when the horse came to a dead stop, throwing her over its head. She landed on her back, knocking the wind out of her, and she gasped for breath as she rolled over to let the air fill them again. "Stupid horse," she growled, slowly getting to her feet. She tried to grab it, but it bolted, running parallel to the trees and leaving her on her own.

The thundering grew louder and Trinia saw one rider ahead of the rest, sitting tall and lacking the long silver hair of their people. Her heart froze. Sweet Vyrni! He came for me himself!

Bounding into the forest, she ran blindly through the underbrush. Her lungs burned, and her legs ached as she raced away from the one thing she feared most—her father. Even the surrounding trees seemed to claw at her and slow her down, catching her clothes, scratching her skin, and tangling her hair. Everything seemed to be against her. It was as if the forest wanted him to catch her, beat her, torture her.

Panic rose and her palms itched as she ran, her heart racing and cold sweat dripping down her neck. One option was still left to her—one horrible option. As low branches whipped past her in the dark, Trinia flicked her left hand out, feeling the flow of energy as her flesh separated from her in the blink of an eye and sent a perfect duplicate running the opposite direction into the woods.

Ducking behind a tree, Trinia doubled over as guilt and shame pierced through her. She ran her hands over her hair while tears streamed down her face, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Gods above, I sent it to its death!

The woods rang with shouts, one she could recognize as her father; it was so much colder, so much crueler. They grew until a scream pierced the night, one that sounded so much like her own. Trinia bit her fist as the screams echoed around her, paralyzing her and taking her back to her most recent beating a fortnight ago. She screamed in her mind and covered her eyes, praying to each of ten gods of her people to end it.

Then it did end. Silence stretched out, muting all other sounds around her. She held her breath, afraid that the slightest movement would bring him down upon her.

"You die when I say you die!" roared a voice. Her father.

Trinia jumped up and rushed headlong into the forest on shaking legs as her father raged behind her. She had to get away. She had to find help. Only then would she be able to repay him for the wounds he'd given her, both seen and unseen.

*************************************************

What a way to start off a book! So much exercise! Whew!

Comment below and let me know what you guys think of this opening chapter of The City of Snow & Stars! :D

The City of Snow & Stars: Cities of Wintenaeth Book One

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