David Estes's Blog

I just passed 1,000,000 books sold in my career! To celebrate, I’m doing a huge giveaway, including free ebooks and chances to win audiobooks, $100 Zon gift card and signed books! https://kingsumo.com/.../david-estes-1000000-books-sold... #giveaway #win via @RealKingSumo.
Honestly, I don't know what to say. Like many authors, I struggle with imposter syndrome on a regular basis, which means I'm even more grateful (and surprised) to find such loyal, supportive, and just awesome readers coming back to my stories and characters for years and years. I am forever in your debt!
Thus, I'm taking this crazy milestone as an opportunity to give back a bit. For a week, you can enter to win some cool prizes, as well as grab five of my books for FREE. Just click on the giveaway link and scroll down for links to all five free books, which include Fatemarked, Kingfall, Forsworn, Demon's Reign, and Shadebound. Thanks again for everything, my friends, and happy reading!!

 My newest book, Forsworn, in my newest series, The Forsworn Oath, is out TODAY. For those who have been following along with my previous two epic fantasy series, Fatemarked and Kingfall, you know that Forsworn takes place chronologically years later, in a kingdom called Finfalla. As with my other series, Forsworn has a large cast of diverse characters with complex motivations that will lead them to the brink of destruction and, hopefully, back again. The best part is that book two, Heartsworn, will release in less than a month, and I'm nearly done writing book three, Stormsworn, so you won't have to wait long to continue the journey. I look forward to hearing what you all think! 

DOWNLOAD FORSWORN HERE

***audiophiles! I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the audiobooks for this series will once again be narrated by the incredible Tim Gerard Reynolds (narrator for Kingfall). The bad news is that because his voice is in such high demand that the audiobook version won't be released until around May of 2025, with a new sequel released approximately every six months thereafter. I appreciate your patience, I think Tim is well worth waiting for!

It's been a while since I wrote anything on my website. A LONG while. So this is long overdue! As many of you know, I did a Kickstarter campaign a while ago with the goal of creating a fancy collector's edition of Fatemarked (just book 1). Many of you supported it, in fact, for which I'll always be grateful. And it's a nice book. Really nice. But not nice enough. Not even close. I can do better, MUCH better. That's why I've decided to scrap the old collector's edition and create an entire boxed set collector's edition. (***For those who supported the previous version and are now getting annoyed that you won't be able to get the rest of the sequels to match, bear with me, because I'm going to take care of you, promise! You will be getting a HUGE discount if you support the boxed set so you won't have to "pay twice".***)

TAKE ME TO THE KICKSTARTER PRE-LAUNCH PAGE

As the above graphic promises, these beautiful faux-leather hardbacks will each come in a different eye-catching color, with brand-new artwork on each cover as well as a fancy slipcase to house them. But that's only the beginning of what will make this boxed set so special. Inside, there will be a new color map endsheet by Kellerica cartography, and no fewer than TWENTY color illustrations depicting scenes from the series (art by Joe Requeza and Andrew Maleski). In fact, I've already commissioned six of the pieces, and have scheduled to have the rest of the artwork created as soon as the Kickstarter meets its funding goals (the campaign will have a five-figure art budget!). Additionally, the books will have gorgeous new interior formatting by Damonza with all new chapter headers. The binding will be smith-sewn and the books will be printed on acid-free paper, with ALL BOOKS hand-signed by me. My personal favorite new feature, however, will be the "hidden" artwork on the edges of the pages (wait until you see this, it's SO FREAKING COOL). All of these features will be STANDARD for all backers of the boxed set. And if we happen to meet some of our stretch goals...

MOAR ART! Between 10 and 20 more pieces of art will be commissioned depending on how many of our stretch goals we hit. I'm really hoping we get to 40 pieces of art, which would be the coolest thing ever (in my humble opinion). There will also be some other really cool stretch goal bonuses as well. You know, just because. 

Long story short, if you're a fan of Fatemarked, this is your chance to get it in a collector's edition format that will beautify your bookshelves for years to come. Plus, if this campaign is successful, I plan to create similar deluxe boxed sets for Kingfall and my soon-to-be-released Forsworn series. 

Now, just for fun, scroll down a little further for a sneak peek at one of the new pieces of art, depicting Roan's harrowing escape from Dragon's Breath (art by Joe Requeza)! 

If you like what you see, click the link and sign up to be notified of updates from the campaign (i.e. the official launch, new artwork, stretch goals, etc.). Thanks for all your support, my friends, none of this would be possible without YOU!

CHECK OUT THE KICKSTARTER PRELAUNCH PAGE

David

How the art will look in the printed books:

 Aloha from Hawaii!

Over the last three and half years since I released the last book in The Fatemarked Epic, many of you have been asking for a new series set in the same world. Well, today is THE DAY. Kingfall is my new epic fantasy series set on a different continent in the same world as Fatemarked. It has a whole new cast of characters (though be prepared for cameos from your favorite Fatemarked characters), a new magic system and all new adventures, so whether you've read Fatemarked or not, you will get hours of reading entertainment in this 257,000 word beast! For those in Kindle Unlimited, you can now read the book for free through your subscription. For anyone else interested in the book, I humbly request that you purchase your copy as close to today as possible. You can have a MAJOR impact on the success of the book by moving it up the bestseller list. I truly can't thank you enough for your support. I write the books, but you make me an author. And, as always, your reviews are highly appreciated! PS- for those who are worried about how long it will take for the sequels to be published, books two and three are already up for preorder and will release on August 31st and September 29th of this year!GET KINGFALL HERE Enter Kingfall, a world on the brink of destruction...Warring kingdoms. Ancient blades. Dragonriders and godlings. A growing evil that threatens to destroy the world. Don’t miss the highly anticipated follow up series to the #1 Amazon bestselling saga, The Fatemarked Epic.
Be bright but do not burn. Embrace the darkness but do not live in the shadows.

Infused with magic, shadows and starlight, the powerful godblades were believed to be lost nearly half a millennia ago, when the Godswar ended. Now, however, one has been found by the unlikeliest of wielders: Sampson Gaard, a blind but ambitious prince with something to prove. The only question is whether he controls the blade or the blade him. With an insidious evil lurking in the shadows, the answer may very well determine the fate of all Kingfall.

The Kingfall Histories takes place on a different continent in the same world as The Fatemarked Epic. Fans of The Fatemarked Epic, The Stormlight Archives and Legends of the First Empire will fall in love with the world of Kingfall. Start your 5,000+ page epic adventure today. Thanks for all your support and I hope you enjoy the read!

Aloha from Hawaii!

At long last, Lifemarked, the 5th and final book in The Fatemarked Epic, is LIVE on Amazon.

GET LIFEMARKED HERE

As many of you have noted in your reviews, this series is incredibly character driven, so it saddens me as much as you to see it come to an end. I've been living and breathing these complex characters for the last two years, so I almost feel like I'm cutting off one of my own limbs. At the same time, I'm happy to have brought them this far. The rest is up to them...

OK, I lied. Because I had trouble letting go, and because as a selfish reader I like reading more about my favorite characters, I've included five "Future of the Four Kingdoms" epilogues at the conclusion of the novel. That way you as a reader get the satisfaction of a more complete ending with additional knowledge of what transpires over the seven decades or so after the main story line is complete. I hope you enjoy the read, and I'd love to hear what you think in reviews on Amazon!

For those of you who have yet to start this series, you can check out the entire series HERE. For less than $30, you get nearly 4,000 pages of action, characters, magic, and yes, there shall be dragons!

Happy reading :)

Aloha from Hawaii!And we're live! For those of you who preordered Fatemarked, the book should already be on your device (THANK YOU!). For those in Kindle Unlimited, you can now read the book for free through your subscription. For anyone else interested in the book, I humbly request that you purchase your copy as close to today as possible. The impact of all of you can have a MAJOR impact on the success of the book by moving it up the bestseller list. I truly can't thank you enough for your support. I write the books, but you make an author. And, as always, your reviews are highly appreciated! GET FATEMARKED HERE Four Kingdoms. A century-old war. An ancient prophecy that could change everything. In the spirit of fantasy epics like George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones and Brandon Sanderson’s The Way of Kings, The Fatemarked Epic promises immaculate world building, an ancient prophecy, a mysterious source of magic, interesting characters, war, political intrigue, and romance.

The Hundred Years War has ravaged more than three generations of kings, queens, and citizens across the Four Kingdoms. Corrupt rulers dominate. Religious intolerance runs rampant. The cycle of vengeance continues to turn with the seasons.

An ancient prophecy by a legendary oracle has been long forgotten. The prophecy promises the return of peace to the Four Kingdoms on the backs of a chosen few, the fatemarked, individuals marked at birth and blessed with specific magical powers. One shall be the Kings’ Bane, and will bring death to the warmongering rulers, using fear to force peace; another shall be the Peacemaker, bestowed with the rare ability to heal. Opposite sides of the same coin, dark and light, death and life, the Kings’ Bane and the Peacemaker are responsible for the fate of an entire continent.

As they fight to achieve their destinies, adversity will hinder them in every realm: in the frozen north, assassination attempts and a brutal power struggle; in the holy west, a vicious queen and her self-righteous army of warriors; in the mysterious iron-clad forest of the east, revenge and glory rule the day; and in the southern empires of Calyp and Phanes, maturing dragons, slaves, and a civil war.

To truly fulfill the oracle’s prophecy of peace, both the Kings’ Bane and the Peacemaker, as well as the other fatemarked, will need to overcome those who seek to destroy everything in their pursuit for power.

The first book in an epic saga years in the making, Fatemarked will sweep you away to another land, another time, when magic and dragons, kings and queens, and courage and valor still meant something.  PREORDER FATEMARKED HERE  Thanks for all your support and I hope you enjoy the read! 

Here's some more awesome Fatemarked art from my incredible cover artist, Piero. For those who love owning the paperback, here's what you'll get on the back cover :) An epic battle between King Ironclad and the Armored Knight. Who will prevail? Preorder Fatemarked for 25% off the regular price to find out. PREORDER FATEMARKED HERE Four Kingdoms. A century-old war. An ancient prophecy that could change everything. In the spirit of fantasy epics like George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones and Brandon Sanderson’s The Way of Kings, The Fatemarked Epic promises immaculate world building, an ancient prophecy, a mysterious source of magic, interesting characters, war, political intrigue, and romance.

The Hundred Years War has ravaged more than three generations of kings, queens, and citizens across the Four Kingdoms. Corrupt rulers dominate. Religious intolerance runs rampant. The cycle of vengeance continues to turn with the seasons.

An ancient prophecy by a legendary oracle has been long forgotten. The prophecy promises the return of peace to the Four Kingdoms on the backs of a chosen few, the fatemarked, individuals marked at birth and blessed with specific magical powers. One shall be the Kings’ Bane, and will bring death to the warmongering rulers, using fear to force peace; another shall be the Peacemaker, bestowed with the rare ability to heal. Opposite sides of the same coin, dark and light, death and life, the Kings’ Bane and the Peacemaker are responsible for the fate of an entire continent.

As they fight to achieve their destinies, adversity will hinder them in every realm: in the frozen north, assassination attempts and a brutal power struggle; in the holy west, a vicious queen and her self-righteous army of warriors; in the mysterious iron-clad forest of the east, revenge and glory rule the day; and in the southern empires of Calyp and Phanes, maturing dragons, slaves, and a civil war.

To truly fulfill the oracle’s prophecy of peace, both the Kings’ Bane and the Peacemaker, as well as the other fatemarked, will need to overcome those who seek to destroy everything in their pursuit for power.

The first book in an epic saga years in the making, Fatemarked will sweep you away to another land, another time, when magic and dragons, kings and queens, and courage and valor still meant something.  PREORDER FATEMARKED HERE  Thanks for all your support and I hope you enjoy the read! David

 Download on Audible                      Download on AmazonSo here's the thing...I'm not a big audiobook person. So when almost two years ago Podium Publishing approached my agent with an offer to buy the audio rights to the entire Dwellers/Country Sagas, I was skeptical. Podium, however, made us an offer we couldn't refuse, lined up the most amazing award-winning narrators from the industry, and produced the first three books in The Dwellers Saga (The Moon Dwellers, The Star Dwellers, The Sun Dwellers).And yet I still couldn't bring myself to listen to more than a few pages of the books. Something about hearing my own words spoken aloud freaked me out!Fast forward a year. The Moon Dwellers, narrated by Julia Whelan and Will Damron WINS an award from The Society of Voice Arts. Yeah, crazy, that's a pic of the trophy I got, and me acting a little excited. (first award ever, woot!) Anyway...now Podium has just released the latest book in the series, which can be listened to either before or after The Dwellers Saga, doesn't matter what order. And guess what? I actually GOT SUNBURNED listening to this book at the beach because I couldn't get enough of it. Why? Not because I think I'm the best writer in the world or anything, but because my narrator, Khristine Hvam, who has narrated other bestselling books like Daughter of Smoke and Bone, was INCREDIBLE as the voice of Siena. She didn't just narrate the character, she BECAME her.I truly believe this is a fantastic audiobook and I hope you enjoy listening to it. NOTE: even if you have never listened to an audiobook, you can get this book for FREE on Audible by signing up for a trial. Just sayin', what do you have to lose?Here are the linksies again in case you're interested:Download on AudibleDownload on AmazonHAPPY LISTENING, my friends!

Awesome readers,

Today kicks off my first ever reading marathon! It's being hosted by a Facebook group of 500+ incredible readers and will feature six weeks of reading about four chapters a day of The Slip Trilogy. And yes, there will be PRIZES. In fact, every day there will be a new prize (today's prize is a SIGNED copy of The Moon Dwellers). To enter each day's giveaway, all you have to do is join the group and comment on at least one of the day's posts. Most of all, just have fun! Here's a link to join:

Join The Slip Trilogy Reading Marathon

To get you started on reading SLIP, the book is FREE on Kindle today through Tuesday. Here's a link: Download Slip for FREE
Also, to celebrate the kickoff, five other authors have also made their awesome books FREE on Kindle today, here is the complete list, check them out!

JN Chaney - The Amber Project

Sarah Noffke - Ren  Elicia Hyder - The Soul Summoner  Heather Hildenbrand - Across the Galaxy  S. M. Boyce - Ari - (Free TOMORROW)
Thanks for all your support and ENJOY!

Sometimes the strings that tie us down are the same strings that set us free...
"Strings is a wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story and a heartfelt coming-of-age tale.  I was pulled in by young Pia's determination to free herself and her father, and I simply couldn't put this book down." –Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND

After over a year without publishing a book, I'm so pleased to release STRINGS, my new dark YA SciFi Pinocchio retelling! I was exceptionally honored and fortunate to have the amazing bestseller, Rysa Walker, read and blurb STRINGS; and she loved it so much that she decided to partner with me and our incredible narrator, Kate Rudd, to produce the audiobook.

Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below, you can win tons of prizes, from signed books to gift cards to artworks, and a whole lot more!

Thank you all so much for your support and kindness, you've literally changed my family's life for the better! Links to buy:

Buy on Amazon Kindle
Buy Amazon Paperback
Buy the Audiobook narrated by Kate Rudd
Add Strings to your Goodreads To-Read List

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Pia has always lived in a mysterious facility where mechanical strings control her existence. She plays apprentice to her father, Gio, in performing nanotech designs for the Company, and she soon suspects there are diabolical human forces behind the manufactured reality of her world. 

Though her childhood memories and the origins of the strings remain strangely elusive, she begins to find solace with the introduction of two unlikely friends: daring, irrational Sofia, and calm, tender Marco. 

As the truths of the past and present unravel together, Pia must find a way to free herself from her strings and escape the facility before facing the wrath of the unstable head of security, Mr. Davis. But to gain her freedom, she must navigate the dangers posed by Davis and by her suspicious new friends to find the real identity of the puppeteer. 

If Pia can succeed in revealing the secrets of the Company, she may very well find the independence she so desperately seeks. But in her controlled world nothing is as it seems, and the closer she gets to the truth, the graver the consequences.



a Rafflecopter giveaway