Historical Fantasy

[close] Called the "Specs" for short, we are friends meeting up in the Monroe, NC area. We write, discuss helpful tips, and offer encouragement and support on each others' projects. We have a particular fondness for speculative fiction...

[close] Reading the works of the late, great June Lund Shiplett. As I knew her a little in life, growing up, as an extended family member I was always fascinated to have known a "famous" author that lived so close and had family ties (my cousin's grandma). Now, later in life, as I reflect on the things I'd like to know and the books I want to read and being a fan of Diana Gabaldon and hearing, in a review, a comparison of one of Shipletts novels, to the series I love amongst my life favorites, I'd like to read Lund's books, if only, to keep a great romance author alive. I'd like to think, had we had the Internet, as it is, Netflix and Amazon, Goodreads and all the other media outreach we have now Shiplett might be among the greats. But, as I have yet to read an entire novel, I do not know. So I ask any others, romance fans, historical romance, paranormal romance fans (and here too, we can debate on where these books, a long with Gabaldon's belong) to read the works of this author. Would she be bigger, had she been able to have further reach, as an author, been able to publish her books now, rather than at the end of the seventies, and early eighties? Because, for a romance writer, she received more acclaim than the general Harlequin romance writer (or, did she?) I would love to have anyone join me on this quest as my main love is not romance but I do love a good historical fiction so, join me, as we share in reading the books of June Lund Shiplett starting with Journey to Yesterday. As this is my first time reading the author anyone who has read her before this has more experience please contact me if you'd like to direct!

[close] Books. Baddies. Gentle accountability.

[close] The multiracial world of Xi'an is one of relative peace, thriving commerce and trade which is controlled by dragons who live far away from the races that they govern and protect. The world has been at peace for millennia, the cruel and vicious ways of war a faraway nightmare of the uncultured and uncivilized. On the eve of the new millennium a ravaged and fever-induced man stumbles into the capital ranting about imminent doom. In his delirious state, he tells the tale of an argument that has erupted between a golden and green dragon for reasons unknown. The argument escalates into a fierce battle, ending suddenly when the golden dragon is slain. Upon hearing this, the priest who was tending to the man's wounds drops the medicine he had been holding in a state of deathlike fear. If the tale is true, it meant one thing and one thing only: War was coming.