magic

01
Oct
2022

Free Fiction Feature October 2022 | Tale of the Tape, PLUS The Devil You Know

This month, you enjoy two fun short stories with strong female leads–one murder mystery, and a fantasy adventure featuring a dwarf and her demon sidekick:

Tale of the Tape: A Kira Brightwell Short Novel (Mystery)

Tale of the Tape Kira Brightwell coverA bootleg Nine Inch Nails cassette tape.

Weird thing for Kira to find abandoned by a sewer grate on her way to school.

The hand-drawn NIN logo in marker catches Kira’s eye. Who tossed the tape? And why?

Kira pockets it, of course. Seems a shame to leave it in the gutter. Who knows what kind of extra tracks she might find on it?

…Now she only needs to figure out a way to play the thing.

A twisting, short novel of Kira’s high school past from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Legends of Lasniniar: The Devil You Know (Fantasy)

Legends of Lasniniar The Devil You Know coverMerchants peddle fear in Belierumar.

Mothers cling to their children as they walk through the crowded marketplace. Eyes dart as people hurry to make their dubious purchases.

Demon-warding amulets. Herbs guaranteed to help victims of possession. Paige inspects them all with a jaundiced eye.

The young dwarf woman knows how to deal with demons. Probably better than anyone else in Lasniniar.

…With good reason.

In the aftermath of war, a new era begins in this stand-alone story from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Posted by Jacquelyn in Free Fiction Feature, 0 comments
01
Jul
2022

Free Fiction Feature July 2022 | Lucky Punch, PLUS Prevailing Wind

This month, enjoy two short story adventures that feature a strong female protagonist:

Lucky Punch: A Kira Brightwell Short Story (Mystery)

Lucky Punch Kira Brightwell cover

A nice, relaxing vacation. After all the mystery and mayhem over the past several months, a tropical getaway seems like just what Kira Brightwell needs.

With only her best friend for company and no one back home aware of their location (detective friend, persistent sidekick, and nosy reporters included), Kira can finally unwind and try to forget. Maybe enjoy a cool, refreshing cocktail on the beach.

But wherever Kira goes, trouble always follows only a step behind.

A stand-alone story from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by Jacquelyn Smith. If you enjoy a fun, tropical escapade, grab this book. 

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Legends of Lasniniar: Prevailing Wind (Fantasy)

Legends of Lasniniar Prevailing Wind cover

Arinwyn leads the Tribe of Hawk across the vast dunes of the Shifting Sands. A lone elf among humans.

The sun beats down on her head scarf like a hammer while the jingle of harnesses fills the dry air. A single shadow falls across the land from overhead in a ripple of movement.

A dragon.

Arinwyn knows the tribe cannot stand against it. But none of the tribe’s warriors want to lose status by fleeing.

Arinwyn must rely on her human companion Nasir to convince them otherwise while she tackles a much bigger problem—how to hold off the dragon.

…And what its seemingly chance presence might mean.

A short story adventure from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series and a follow-up to “Legends of Lasniniar: Without Wings” by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Posted by Jacquelyn in Free Fiction Feature, 0 comments
01
Jun
2022

Free Fiction Feature June 2022 | Legends of Lasniniar: Without Wings

This month, enjoy a magical story of an outcast elf who must go on a dangerous journey to embrace her secret heritage:

Legends of Lasniniar: Without Wings (Fantasy)

Legends of Lasniniar Without Wings coverGround walker. Wingless worm. Freak.

The only Sky Elf ever born without wings, Arinwyn does her best to ignore the taunts and slurs. Bad enough she can never know the thrill of flying. Must she suffer the cruelties of her own kind as well?

But the winds of change blow from beyond the elven wood as the Fallen One stirs.

…And more than Arinwyn realizes lies hidden within her wingless heritage.

A stand-alone origin story from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Posted by Jacquelyn in Free Fiction Feature, 0 comments
01
May
2022

Free Fiction Feature May 2022 | Legends of Lasniniar: Goddess Almighty

This month, check out a vengeful origin adventure, featuring trickster and aspiring goddess, Felara:

Legends of Lasniniar: Goddess Almighty (Fantasy)

Legends of Lasniniar Goddess Almighty coverFelara watches over the Light Elves’ wood from above, unseen. She knows Iarion wanders somewhere beneath the ancient trees.

Willful, mercurial, and more than a bit fey, some of her Unborn siblings consider her in danger of becoming obsessed with the elf that freed them from the Void.

Others might even argue she crossed that line some time ago.

None of that matters to Felara. She follows a vision only she can see.

A stand-alone origin story from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Posted by Jacquelyn in Free Fiction Feature, 0 comments
01
Apr
2022

Free Fiction Feature April 2022 | Clean Break, PLUS Quicksilver

Even though it’s technically spring now, we’ve had some more snow here recently in my neck of the Canadian woods. (Sigh.) Both of these stories are fun, winter adventures.

Clean Break: A Kira Brightwell Short Novel (Mystery)

Clean Break Kira Brightwell coverKira Brightwell needs a change of scenery.

A relaxing, solo trip to Toronto to visit her grandparents seems like a good idea. No nosy reporters, no criminals to take down, and (most importantly) no self-appointed sidekick Trevor Wright.

…But from the moment Kira steps off the plane from California, nothing goes according to plan.

A stand-alone short novel misadventure from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Legends of Lasniniar: Quicksilver (Fantasy)

Legends of Lasniniar Quicksilver coverHero of Lasniniar. Dwarvenhome’s Chief of Clans. Barlo can claim both these titles, and more. (But never ‘Master Chef.’)

Brave, stubborn, and loyal to a fault, he takes pride in his judgment of character. And he holds no qualms about sharing his opinions. (Much to his elf friend Iarion’s chagrin.)

…Even when it means he must tell an unwelcome truth.

A stand-alone story of the infamous Barlo and Iarion from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Posted by Jacquelyn in Free Fiction Feature, 0 comments
01
Mar
2022

Free Fiction Feature March 2022 | Legends of Lasniniar: A New Kind of Magic

Legends of Lasniniar A New Kind of Magic coverPaige trudges along the Great North Road and does her best to ignore her misery. An autumn rain pelts her face and soaks her to the skin.

A lone dwarf woman wandering Northern Lasniniar in search of adventure. A part of her wishes she never left her warm, comfortable burrow with Barlo.

But Paige knows she needs to find her own way in the world if she wants to become something more.

…A hero in her own right.

A stand-alone story that opens a door to new possibilities in the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Posted by Jacquelyn in Free Fiction Feature, 0 comments
03
Nov
2021

Writing/Publishing Roundup: A new Fatal Empire novel, PLUS a Lasniniar sale

So this update is entirely fantasy-focused… I really should have had it ready to go last month, but I got a bit sidetracked. I’ll be doubling up with a mystery-based update later this month.

Keeper of Wisdom Fatal Empire coverCelebrating a new Fatal Empire release and the 10-year anniversary of Lasniniar

Raziel’s quest for knowledge and vengeance continues in the new Fatal Empire novel, Keeper of Wisdom, plus save 50% on the first three novels in the World of Lasniniar series:

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Posted by Jacquelyn in Promotions, Publishing Updates, 0 comments
01
Oct
2021

Free Fiction Feature October 2021 | Her Rightful Place, PLUS Puncher’s Chance

Two stories are available to read for free this month–a dark fantasy adventure featuring elves and vampires, and a fun mystery misadventure featuring kickass amateur sleuth Kira Brightwell:

Legends of Lasniniar: Her Rightful Place (Fantasy)

Arinmalia holds herself above the rest of her Wild Elf tribemates. With good reason.

Few can match her fighting and tracking skills. She needs no friends to watch her back or distract her with their tiresome company. She prefers to walk the forest paths alone, with only her own thoughts as companions.

Arinmalia knows in her heart a great destiny awaits her. Something beyond the modest village life of her tribe. She dreams of finding it. She hungers to make her tribemates understand.

She needs them to acknowledge her rightful place.

A stand-alone story from the sprawling history of the elves in the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Puncher’s Chance: A Kira Brightwell Short Story (Mystery)

Puncher's Chance Kira Brightwell coverLocal hero and problem solver for hire, Kira Brightwell finds herself on the run. Again.

Her running shoes pound the crowded sidewalk. A trickle of sweat slithers down her back in the California heat. And the damp remains of scrambled egg spatter the front of her favorite Nine Inch Nails T-shirt.

The egg stain earns her a few looks from passers-by. That and her breakneck pace.

Kira’s quarry remains two blocks ahead of her. She needs to haul ass if she wants to catch him.

…Because when a bad guy messes with her favorite shirt, the case gets personal.

A stand-alone misadventure story from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Posted by Jacquelyn in Free Fiction Feature, 0 comments
13
Sep
2021

Writing/Publishing Roundup: A New Fatal Empire prequel, plus a new mystery series

Fantasy Updates:

Keeper of Prophecy Fatal Empire cover

A Haunted Past: Prequel Fatal Empire Story ‘Keeper of Prophecy’ Now Available

The joys and challenges of writing Moriah’s secret past:

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Mystery Updates:

Photo by Dominika Roseclay from Pexels

Meet Kira Brightwell’s Canadian Cousin: Mackenzie Quinn

There’s a new detective in town. More updates about a new series in progress:

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Posted by Jacquelyn in Publishing Updates, Writing Updates, 0 comments
01
Sep
2021

Free Fiction Feature September 2021 | The Unclean: A Fantasy Short Story

An appointment with the Mage-Lord.

Jared can sense the fulfillment of his destiny approaching as he rushes through the cobbled streets with his blue mage robes flapping behind him. The kingdom of Galdavia prizes the mage gift above all others.

And Jared takes pride in his abilities. He knows he belongs at the Mage-Lord’s side.

Nothing can come between him and his rightful place.

A stand-alone dark fantasy story and winning entry of the Writers’ Journal Fiction Contest (2010) by the author of the World of Lasniniar series, Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Posted by Jacquelyn in Free Fiction Feature, 0 comments