Deby Fredericks's Blog

Once again I’m promoting my books! This one is for for The Ice Witch of Fang Marsh. It’s the is third in my Minstrels of Skaythe series, the high fantasy novellas about pacifist mages resisting a tyrant without resorting to violence.

Meven is one of my favorite characters in the series. She is very reserved, but can’t help opening her heart to a kid in need.

Meven is a renegade, hunted by the cruel regime of wizard-king Dar-Gothull. Her desperate desire is to lose herself in the treacherous Fang Marsh. Only there can she live the life she wants, in freedom and safety. To reach the marsh, Meven must sneak through the town of Eshur, where her old enemy, the wicked Countess Ar-Torix, commands dozens of spies and guards. It should be no problem!

What Meven doesn’t know is that she’s already being tracked. Ozlin was thrown out because of his emerging magic. Now he’s starving on the streets of Eshur. Caught stealing, he’s about to be imprisoned in the brutal temple school.

Until Meven recognizes his power and intervenes. Suddenly she has a new, desperate desire — to save this mageling boy, and maybe save herself as well.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

If you’re looking for a bit of light reading this holiday season, allow me to suggest Dancer in the Grove of Ghosts. It’s the second in the Minstrels of Skaythe series. In a world of dark magic, the minstrels seek to restore a forbidden power — hope!

“He’s dead. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

Mortally wounded, Cylass is abandoned on the battlefield by comrades who would just as soon have him out of the way. But as he waits for death, a strange savior appears. The dancer, Tisha, heals him with her forbidden magic, but also draws the wrath of his cruel former lord.

Soon guardsman and renegade mage are on the run. Will Cylass help Tisha, as she helped him? Or will he do the smart thing, and turn her over to the vicious Count Ar-Dayne?

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

It’s that time of year! I’m shining a spotlight on some of my e-books for your consideration. Maybe you’re planning a trip and need an e-book to read at the airport. Maybe you have a fantasy reader on your gift list. The Tower in the Mist is first in my Minstrels of Skaythe series, where the whole saga began.

Mages vs. Amazons vs. Giant Badger vs. Tyranny!

Zathi’s job is to capture renegade mages, but Keilos isn’t like any other mage she’s dealt with. Her drive to bring him in only leads them deeper into a cursed forest. Together, warrior and mage will face deadly beasts and grapple with decisions that compromise every principle. Until they stumble upon a place of ancient, forgotten magic. Zathi must choose — allow Keilos to claim it, or kill him once and for all.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

One of my latest publications is in Spirit of the Wolf from Wolfsinger Publications. I’ve just happened on another open anthology with them and I thought I’d share.

Voices for the Voiceless is open for all types of speculative fiction. Stories will focus on the act of speaking up for the powerless and oppressed. Rather than paraphrase, I’ll just share their guidelines. Maybe it will spark something for you.

There are moments when silence becomes unbearable. Moments when the innocent, the forgotten, or the powerless need someone to stand beside them and be heard.

Voices for the Voiceless seeks stories of guardianship, courage, and compassion. Tell us the stories of those who speak truth when others cannot, and who protect those who cannot defend themselves.

Whether your protagonist is a knight who defies a tyrant to save a child, an AI who advocates for an outcast clone, a witch who bargains with spirits to give the dead a voice, or an ordinary person who refuses to look away, your story should embody one truth: To give voice is to give hope—and to protect is to love.

Looking for stories that are: Hopeful in spirit (even if born from struggle), emotional, and compassionate; with heroism that is heartfelt.

We’re primarily looking for speculative fiction, fantasy, and science fiction, but are open to all genres. We welcome stories that explore advocacy and protection in new ways.

Political themes are acceptable when they serve the story or characters, but submissions must focus on personal courage, compassion, and humanity, not on promoting or opposing real-world political agendas. Strong storytelling and emotional truth come first.

Break the story-writing rules if you want. If you use a tried-and-true plot-line, twist it in an original and interesting way. Original stories are preferred. Query for reprints.

All writers are encouraged to submit. Whether you’re established, new, or just discovering your voice, we would love to see your story.

There are more particulars. If you’re interested, check them out here.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

They say truth can be stranger than fiction.

Well, in The Warlock’s Army, one of the main characters is a young man named Cassander. And at school, a kid in one of my groups is named Cassius. Darned if I don’t keep trying to call him Cassander! I haven’t yet, but it’s been close.

My fiction is bleeding over into reality!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

Fall Folk Festival is in the rear view mirror for this year. I had a great time, as always. The audience was small for my reading, but very appreciative. No books sold this year; that’s usually how it is. I returned on Sunday to volunteer as stage manager, and I enjoyed the performances I did see.

My favorite act was the Raging Grannies, an group who dress up like old women and sing protest songs. I also got to see the PJaMERs, a community marching band that played — what else? — protest songs. It’s been that kind of year!

With all this handled, I’m back to focusing on The Warlock’s Army. It’s up to 235 pages (manuscript, not printed) and 65,000 words now. Jeniana has decided to become a spokesman for the witches who are dispersed around Revelary Lake. Meanwhile, Cassander is explaining to his father, Revel Breed, that Viola said no to his generous invitation. Revel is mad enough to let a few truths slip out.

This is a delicate passage, because it will connect to some things Jeniana already learned from Viola. Cassander won’t know all that and should be confused, but will actually connect to parts of Revel’s scheme that Jeniana doesn’t know about. I trust my readers to put the pieces together. It’s a fun scene to write, anyway.

Back to it, then!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

That’s where I am this weekend. My reading is Saturday at 12:45, in the Skitch Conference Room. I’ll be reading selections from the books I plan to have in the festival store, Aunt Ursula’s Atlas, Aunt Anne’s Archive, and Cleodora, Book 1: Acorn Canyon.

Actually, by the time you see this, my reading will probably be over. Fall Folk Festival is always a great time. Tons of music and dancers on six stages, and a big craft fair with traditional arts. The best part, though, is the open seating area where groups can jam. You walk down from one end to the other, and pass through sound cloud after sound cloud. Sometime I want to go through it with an open mic and just capture the sound experience.

I’m really looking forward to it, obviously.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

At last, I have the purchase link for Spirit of the Wolf! You can pre-order through Wolfsinger Publications. Use the code NR2025 to receive a 15% discount until December 15, 2025.

The anthology is also available from Amazon or Smashwords, but I would prefer to send revenue directly to the publisher.

Tucked deep in Colorado’s Wet Mountains, where pine forests whisper with the wind and the night sky twinkles with unfiltered stars, is Mission: Wolf; a place where the voices of wolves echo across the ridges.

Within these pages, authors from around the world honor that spirit in tales that span the mystical and the modern, the feral and the familiar. From legends of the first howls to stories of companionship, sacrifice, and survival, Spirit of the Wolf explores the timeless bond between wolves and humans. For wolves are the guardians of the wilderness and reflections of our own souls.

Each story sings with the essence of the pack: loyalty, freedom, courage, and the enduring hope that even in captivity, the wild heart endures.

Proceeds from this anthology will be donated to Mission: Wolf, a sanctuary built on compassion and dedicated to the care and preservation of wolves and wolf-dogs, and to teaching respect for the delicate balance between humans and nature.

So settle in. Listen closely. Within these pages, you may just hear the wolf’s call as it awakens the wild within your own soul.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

What’s Happening? It’s Hallowe’en as I write this. School was in a state of high excitement today! Presently, my husband is answering the door for occasional trick-or-treaters. Nothing like a bunch of kids in cute costumes to lift the spirits. (Ha ha)

What I’m Working On. The Warlock’s Army is still in progress. It’s at 60K words and coming to a major turning point. Cassander is trying to catch up with Viola, and Jeniana is confronting her Pop about hiding the implications from her.

What’s Next? I have no firm plans at this time.

Where I’ll be. Fall Folk Festival is this month. In fact, it’s next weekend! I guess I’d better decide what I’m going to read.

Fun and Games. New content was released for Terra Nil, which is a game where you restore ecosystems in a destroyed wasteland. The extra levels are challenging, and I’ve enjoyed them. I am not reading any books right now, but I do have an issue of Uncanny magazine in my e-reader. Kate Elliott had a new release out this month and I’m waiting eagerly for that.

Wishing you a spooky or spicy Hallowe’en, according to your own preference.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.

Yep, I did the thing! Standing Stones & Danger Zones is now available for pre-order! This will be released as an e-book only, on November 15, 2025.

This is a fantasy double feature — a short story and a novelette in one volume!

Mistress Henbane: Ethan Mathias was the top student in a very competitive magical college — until his powers began to fade. Recovering at a country retreat, he discovers a very different magical tradition.

Yunarix: Merriam is a young, aspiring hunter who’s desperate to get a foot in with the Hunter’s Guild. At last he has the chance to journey along with Majia Casserine, investigating an attack by the monstrous Yunarix — but the opportunity comes with a nasty thread attached.

Come along for two fantastic adventures in one!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.