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Monday, December 16, 2013

Artesans of Albia !!!




Hey! Milady here, with an exciting and thrilling  post... my first blog tour! I am honored to be part of the Artisans of Albia tour celebrating the release of the first trilogy which I definitely recommend for you to read. Cas Peace’s novels are exciting, filled with battles ,romance, and  a lot of world building.   It has an old fashioned fantasy feel  about  it, reminiscent   to some of the classics, and strong heroic female characters. This series is a must have for fans of Tamera Pierce or Lord of the Rings.

I have a synopsis of the series for you to read right here  and the youtube trailer for the trilogy.

                        Here is the YouTube link to the new Trilogy trailer:

                        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76ORbCO_wGI

 

Series Synopsis.

 On a foolhardy foray into a foreign realm, Taran Elijah is attacked by a terrible weapon known as the Staff. Killing its wielder, he escapes into Albia, inadvertantly carrying the Staff.

Concerned by the vicious raids that follow Taran's actions, Major Sullyan of the High King's forces crosses into Andaryon to seek diplomatic resolution to the crisis. She is captured and tortured by Lord Rykan, aspirant to the Andaryon throne.

Slowly dying, Sullyan escapes his clutches. She offers her skills to the Hierarch in defense of his throne, finally confronting Rykan on the field of battle.

Her handsome Captain and lover, Robin Tamsen, embarks on a desperate quest to recover the Staff. But Rykan's greedy General, Sonten, is two steps ahead of him. If Robin cannot lay hold of the weapon before Sonten does, Sullyan's life and the lives of all Artesans are forfeit.

The race for the Staff has begun.

Also I have been lucky enough  to get a character interview  which I am excited to show you ! I am here now introducing Miss Rienne Arlen!

Q: So Rienne, you are a healer. Was that something you always wanted to be?

 

A:         I suppose so. I can't really remember ever thinking about being anything else. You see, I am my parents' youngest child, and I have five older brothers. Five boys who were all more boisterous, more confident, more capable than I was. I'm not saying I was neglected, not at all, but my brothers always seemed to get the best of everything. Don't get me wrong, I love them, every one, but they were a bit overpowering!

            Because of that, I was often left to my own devices. There was a lovely old lady in our village who was our healer. She was always very kind to me. I think she tried to make up for what she thought I missed out on. She often took me around the village with her when she saw her patients, and I suppose I naturally soaked up the things she did and said. I seemed to have an instinct for it. When I was old enough, she started letting me help prepare the milder medicines and ointments, and I found I loved mixing potions and gathering herbs. I simply seemed to know what herbs and medicines would cure specific ailments. It all grew from there, I suppose.

Q:Did you have to train anywhere else before becoming a fully-fledged healer?

 

A:

Not really. There are no schools for healers in Albia. Oh, I suppose there might be one in the capitol, Port Loxton; I expect our High King has a very skilled healer. But there are no teachers for village healers, only those already doing that job. Who better to train you than someone who has such a wealth of experience?

 

Q:

But you didn't stay in your village to take over from that old lady, did you? What made you leave?

 

A:

Once I felt enough confidence in my healing abilities, I wanted to push myself. I knew there must be greater healing challenges out there than the minor ailments, injuries and diseases I'd seen at home. And we didn't really have enough work for more than one healer - except during harvest, of course! But by this time I didn't want to be just a harvest time healer.  Also, I knew something of the other towns and villages in Loxton Province, and I wanted to see them. Healers are almost always welcome, so I knew I could make some kind of living while I was searching for somewhere to settle.

 

Q:

Wasn't it dangerous, traveling alone like that?

 

A:

Not really. Albia is quite peaceful, except for the odd band of raiders, or outlanders from another realm. Our High King, Elias, shook up all the garrisons in Loxton Province after the civil war, and his Kingsmen are very skilled swordsmen. They might be a bit rough and ready, but they know how to keep the peace! I wasn't worried about being attacked.

 

Q:

So how did you meet Cal, your life mate?

 

A:

He's cute, isn't he? Have you ever seen such long eyelashes? Many a maid has wished she had lashes like his! Oh, sorry - I got a bit sidetracked there!

            I met Cal the first time I arrived in Hyecombe village. I hadn't actually meant to stop in Hyecombe, but I was thirsty and they had an inn. I stopped for some lunch and a drink, and as I was sitting outside in the sun, this gorgeous, dark-skinned lad with wonderful eyes came over. He was quite shy at first, like me, but we got talking very quickly. He told me about his early childhood. His parents were appalled to find that their young son had the Artesan gift - some people are frightened of the gifted, you know - and they more or less abandoned him. He started thieving, and eventually fell in with a band of Roamerlings.  You know what they're like - they do love to steal, and Cal fit right in. Then, one winter a few years later, when his adoptive band came to Albia to escape Endormir's terrible weather, they came here, to Hyecombe. A man called Taran, who was also an Artesan, recognized a kindred spirit in Cal and offered him a home. When I met him, I liked him at once, and when Cal asked me to stay and be Hyecombe's healer, Taran took me in, too. And there we are!

 

Q:

And now you are the personal healer to Major Sullyan. What's that like?

 

A:

It's amazing. Sullyan, and the Manor, have given me everything I could have wished for. I always knew I had an instinctive gift for healing, but I never imagined it was akin to the Artesan gift. I'm empathic, apparently, which is why I often know exactly how to treat diseases. And because I have this incredible bond with Sullyan, I often know what ails her before she knows it herself. Me and Cal have found a forever home at the Manor - I can't imagine ever leaving. I hope I never have to!

I hope so to! Thanks for bring here today Miss Rienne Arlen!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cas Peace was born in Hampshire UK, in 1957, and has lived there most of her life. Her first career was as a horse-riding instructor, and horses remain very close to her heart. She then spent 13 years working for the British Civil Service before leaving the UK to live in Italy for three years, 1991-1994. She speaks passable but by no means perfect Italian, and loves to return to Italy whenever she can.

 Cas's other great loves are anything to do with animals, especially dogs and horses, (she supports many animal charities) and also singing. Cas loves folk songs and along with her husband, who plays guitar, has performed in many a Southern England folk club. Sometimes they even asked her back! She writes folk songs to accompany her fantasy novels, and offers them as free downloads from her website.

AUTHOR LINKS:




 

Also here is the link for a rafflecopter giveaway.! Please enter to win these amazing books till December 18,tomorrow!


Well I did it, my  first blog tour. Bear with me for I am sure there are some mistakes. Still it’s been exciting and a real joy to feature the Artesans of Albia trilogy.  Please leave a comment to the author Cas Peace !

2 comments:

  1. I've been searching & searching for your address to send you a thank you note for the very sweet package you sent, but I lost it in the Christmas craziness. I couldn't not say thank you, though!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am really glad you liked it! I had so much fun putting the package together and it got me in the Christmas sprit! It made my day that you thought to thank me!

    ReplyDelete