Readers: Help me Choose a Cover for Cade's Next Novella!

       The time is drawing near, once again, for a new perspective on the Otherworld to be released into the wide world . . .  Okay, okay, I guess the time isn't drawing TOO near, but I'm starting to get that urge to write again.  As some of you might already know, for the past few months I've been spending a large part of my free time getting ready for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, so my Muse has been remaining scarce with regards to the Otherworld and Oescienne books (instead she's been sending me tons of material for a completely different series . . . but that is another story entirely).
       This week, however, I am lucky enough to have oodles of time on my hands, so I'm doing my darndest to make good use of that time by getting some writing done.  Now, as much as I'd like to finish the first draft of this next Otherworldly novella by the end of the week, I think that's a bit ambitious even for me.  I will, however, do my best to keep at it and get this story to you as soon as possible because I know there are many of you eager to hear more from Cade and he still has much to tell you (though he'd appreciate it if you didn't tell Meghan all of his secrets . . . ;)).  I'm about 15,000 words in and I'm aiming for 30,000-40,000 in the end, so please be patient and keep your eyes peeled for updates and possible tidbits on my facebook page.  Ah, and perhaps you'd like to know the title of this next Otherworldly installment?  The next novella told from Cade's POV will be called Ghalien, and you'll have to wait and read it to find out what exactly Ghalien means :).
       Now that I've shared the news, I'd like to ask you all a favor.  I've been playing around with cover designs for Ghalien and I've narrowed it down to two, but I like both of them and I can't choose.  So I was hoping that you guys might be able to lend me a hand.  Which of these covers do you prefer?  The RED cover on the left or the YELLOW cover on the right?  Since many of you wrote to me with suggestions for the scenes for this novella, I thought it only fitting that you help me out with the cover design as well.  All you have to do is decide which one you like best and tell me either by leaving a comment here, emailing me or making a comment on my facebook page.  When I'm ready to release Ghalien, I'll tally up the 'votes' and let you know which cover was most favored.  Again, be sure to look for updates on my facebook page and once again, thanks so much for reading!
-J.E. Johnson

 

The Otherworld in the Mortal World - Episode One

 



A local cave, one I believe might just lead to
the Otherworld . . .

Recently, I came up with the crazy idea that it might be fun to go around my hometown and document all of the locations which make an appearance in the Otherworld books. I personally believe there is a lot of magic in this world that often goes unseen or unnoticed. How do I know this? Because of how easily the simple things can inspire a whole new world in my mind. For this first installment, I asked my friend Niño to come along with me while I explored one of the many hidden treasures along the Central Coast.


I first learned about a trail just beyond the city limits of San Luis Obispo on our local news, and when the reporter showed her viewers the waterfall and cave that accompanied it, I knew it would make a great addition to my Otherworld books. Currently, I'm trying to balance the writing of Cade's second POV novella, my fourth Oescienne novel, and a book that delves into Robyn's life after Meghan leaves for the Otherworld. Since Robyn's story needs a little more world building than the other two, I wanted to do a little exploring and make sure certain details added up in the book. Although a lot of my stories contain elements that I've created separately from the real world, with the Otherworld series my aim was, and still is, to incorporate as much of the mortal world as I can.

Part of the trail we climbed down.

Now, I can't give away too much of the plot for this latest Otherworld work in progress (for one thing, not all of it has presented itself yet, and second, I don't want to give anything away). What I can tell you is that Robyn will encounter Otherworldly things (not saying what or who . . . ), and that she'll be spending much of her time in the city of San Luis Obispo.

And at the bottom of that trail . . .
A cave!

Of course, this meant I needed a portal to the Otherworld located a little further north than the one in Meghan's old neighborhood. So after our sword fighting class this Sunday, Niño and I drove out to the trail head and made our way to the cave and the waterfall just next to it. I don't know the exact history of this cave, whether it was carved for a pipeline or if it was used in some old mining expedition, but what I do know is that it would make the perfect portal to the Otherworld (there has to be a dolmarehn buried in there somewhere . . .). In fact, a man who'd hiked to this same location with his two young sons asked if we knew what the cave was for.  Naturally, I responded that it was for getting to the Otherworld.  He didn't seem too convinced by my theory.

Yes!  I'm only a few steps away from entering the Otherworld!  I only hope that I'm not greeted by Cumorrig on the other side . . . Perhaps I should test out my theory of being Faelorehn another day ;)

After getting a few good camera shots from a short distance, I took off my shoes and followed my friend across the creek and up the slippery rocks leading to the cave. I'm glad I did this because I would have gotten my shoes soaked for sure. In order to enter the cave, I had to bypass some streams of water and to my slight chagrin, I didn't quite dodge them and I ended up getting the back of my shirt wet (fortunately we were having one of our 'Summer in January' days here on the Central Coast and the weather was perfect for splashing around in a waterfall).

Um, did I just hear something back there?

Once I was inside the cave, I felt a little uneasy, especially when my back was turned to the inside of the cave. I could have been attacked by a faelah at any moment . . . Niño felt the same way, though he decided to remain safely on the outside and closer to the mortal world.


Niño, is there something behind me?!

I'm not certain how far back the cave went (I didn't venture any further than a few feet in. I didn't want to risk the chance that I might be Faelorehn and get sucked through to the Otherworld without being properly prepared). Maybe someday I'll return and test that theory ;). For now I'll have to leave it up to my imagination (and yours) as to where the cave leads. One thing I know for certain, however: this cave and the waterfall next to it is definitely one of those magical, everyday places certain to give the imagination a good workout.

- J.E. Johnson

Here is a short clip of me talking a little bit about our outing.  And when I say a little bit, I mean it.  I'm not a big fan of speaking on camera, and I often shy away from such things.  However, I've decided it's something I should probably work on, so here is my first attempt at speaking about my books directly to you.  Yes, tis not the best (and it got a little cut off at the beginning, sorry!), but hopefully I'll improve over time :)

 

Luathara Cover Reveal and Teaser and more . . .

     Hello readers!  I know, I know . . . It's been a while since I've posted anything, but to be honest (and hopefully to redeem myself ;)) I've been very busy trying to finish up Luathara.  As of today, I'm about two-thirds into my cover to cover read-through (where I read it from beginning to end and tie up all loose ends along the way).  Once I've finished doing that, it will still need a few more rounds of editing.  Also, I'm currently about 15,000 words over my word count goal (and I still have a bit more to patch up), so that might add to the time frame of getting it all nice and edited.  So that's the news I have for you right now.  I'm sorry it's taking so long, but I never anticipated writing so much for this concluding book of the Otherworld Trilogy (but heck, since it's the last one, I'm going to pack in as much as I can :)).

     Despite the fact that I don't have the book ready for you yet, I do have the cover art AND the entire first chapter (and then some, since anyone who purchased the digital edition of Dolmarehn already got a chance to read the first chapter of Luathara).  I hope you all enjoy this teaser and please keep hanging in there.  Luathara is almost here!

Some quick, other news:

I started working on a short scene from Cade's POV (what happens between the end of Dolmarehn and the beginning of Luathara).  I'd like to post that here on my blog when I'm done, and include it in the Omnibus once the trilogy is complete.  Stay tuned for more!

-J.E. Johnson

Here it is!!  The cover for Luathara!  Hope it meets your expectations ;)

 

And now, without further ado, I give you the new, slightly expanded, Luathara teaser . . . (Just keep in mind, this still needs some more editing, so don't let the typos and such scare you away ;))

 

-One-
Purpose

     The creature was utterly disgusting, whatever it was.  Faelah, yes, but I didn’t have a name for this unfamiliar beast.  Not yet, at least.  So, what to call this one . . .  I’d have to come up with something creative, some new word to describe the half-dead creature resembling a possum, coyote and rabbit all rolled into one.  Perhaps I could combine the first two letters of the names for each of the animals: po-co-ra.  Huh, pocora.  It even sounded like an Otherworldly term.

     The thing, the pocora, jerked its head up from whatever poor creature it feasted on, bony jaws dripping with gore.  My stomach turned, and not just because of the brutal scene.  The faelah was eating one of Mrs. Dollard’s cats, the chubby one that obviously hadn’t been able to outrun this particular enemy.  I gritted my teeth.  I wasn’t attached to my neighbor’s cats, despite the fact I once spent a summer caring for them, but the poor thing hadn’t deserved to die at the mercy of an Otherworldly monster.
     I took a deep breath, pulling an arrow free of the quiver slung across my back and deftly positioned it in my bow.  I’d become quite good at this in the past several weeks; arming my longbow with an arrow quickly and without making a sound.  I stretched the bowstring back and aimed the arrow’s tip at the creature, steadying my arms while trying to concentrate.  With a twang, I released the string and fixed my face with an expression of satisfaction as the arrow pierced the mummified hide of the pocora.  The creature squealed like a pig and fell to the ground, kicking and clawing and attempting to remove the hawthorn arrow.  If I had used any other wood, the faelah might’ve stood a chance, but even as I watched the small monstrosity struggling to regain its feet, smoke lifted from where the hawthorn shaft burned through nonliving flesh.  I crinkled my nose at the acrid smell and turned away.  Generally, I didn’t like killing anything, but the faelah of Eilé were an entirely different matter.  And they weren’t technically alive, either.
     The creature’s screams ceased and it went still.  I waited a few more moments before moving close enough to pull the arrow free.  I always kept the arrows from my hunts.  It wasn’t like I could go down to the local sporting goods store and ask for arrows made with hawthorn wood.  I wiped it on a nearby patch of grass out of habit.  Whatever remained of the faelah would already be gone, however, burned off by magic.  I glanced back over my shoulder as I left the small clearing behind, but the pocora had already disintegrated into ash, its glamour no longer keeping it alive and whole in the mortal world.  I sighed and turned my eyes to what was left of Matilda Dollard’s cat.  I would pay her a visit later and tell her I’d found her pet’s remains in the swamp.  Another poor victim of a coyote attack.
     Clear, a bright thought said in my mind, forcing my thoughts away from the gruesome scene.
     I shaded my eyes and glanced up into the eucalyptus leaves only to catch the brilliant white flash of a small bird of prey darting through them.  She had been scanning the forest for more faelah.  I grinned.
     Did you catch anything? I sent to my spirit guide.
     Meridian chittered and sent back a joyous, Tasty.
     That would be a yes.
     I heaved a deep breath and pulled my quiver back onto my shoulders.  Mid-morning had become late afternoon and I knew Mom would be worried if I didn’t get back soon.  After having confessed to my family I was Faelorehn, an immortal being from Eilé, the Otherworld, and that a vindictive goddess was out to get me, she had been a little more protective of late.  I guess I couldn’t blame her.
     Meridian finished up with whatever she had caught and then set her focus on accompanying me back to the house.  The walk home took a good fifteen minutes, but I didn’t mind taking my time this afternoon.  I had a lot on my mind, after all.  Actually, there had been a lot on my mind since my junior year in high school when all of this stuff concerning the Otherworld got dumped on me like a ton of bricks, but for the past month I had even more to worry about.
     I made my way back to the main trail leading out of the swamp and thought about what had transpired just before graduation.  It sometimes made me sick with anxiety, but I couldn’t help that.  The Morrigan had tricked me, once again to my chagrin, into thinking she meant to go after my family.  A few years ago, she would have been happy just to kill me.  Now that she knew I possessed more glamour than the average Faelorehn, she was intent on using me as her own personal supply of endless magic.  She probably would have succeeded if Cade hadn’t stepped in.  Cade . . .
     A pang of regret cut through me and when I reached the spot in the trail where a fallen tree blocked my way, I leaned heavily against the rough trunk and pulled a well-worn note out of my pocket.  The message wasn’t from Cade, but from his foster father, the Dagda.  I unfolded the edges and began reading.
     Meghan,
     Cade is improving every day, yet he is still very weak.  I know you wish to see him soon, but please give him a little more time and don’t cross into the Otherworld.  The Morrigan has been lying low; no one has seen her lately, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t lurking in the shadows, waiting to cast her net.  For now, you are safer where you are.  Cade will come and get you as soon as he is recovered.
     -Dagda
     The note should have made me happy, and it did when I first received it a week and a half ago, but I longed to visit Cade so badly I ached.  I needed to know he was safe and I needed to witness with my own eyes that he was healing.
     I folded the worn paper into a perfect square and returned the note to my pocket, then climbed over the log and kept on walking.  Last May I’d been all set to go to prom with the guy of my dreams, Cade MacRoich, the gorgeous Faelorehn boy from Eilé who appeared one day like some guardian angel to save me from the Morrigan’s faelah and to tell me all about my strange heritage.     Unfortunately, on the day of the prom, we both got tricked into running headlong into the evil goddess’s trap.  Only, Cade wouldn’t let her have me, and right before he took on almost a dozen of her monsters, he told me he loved me.  And then he died.
     I stopped for a moment and craned my head back and leaned on my longbow, soaking in the filtered sunlight trickling down between the leaves above.  I shut my eyes and tried to tell the knot of worry in my stomach to go away.  Cade had died, he died defending me and the trauma of such a terrible experience forced my power to surge forth, scaring the Morrigan away, at least for the time being.  The sudden rush of my glamour had soon faded and the reality of what had happened slammed into me like a train.  I was convinced my heart would tear itself asunder, for Cade had sacrificed too much.
     Only after recovering from my hysterics did I remember Cade’s foster father, the Dagda, an ancient Celtic god-king, happened to own a magical cauldron with a reputation for reviving the dead.  A frantic horse ride against a driving storm later and I dropped like a fly at the Dagda’s door, a lifeless Cade in my arms.  I’d arrived just in time; Cade would recover.  But he never got to hear me tell him I loved him, too.
     I had returned to the mortal world, an emotional and physical wreck, only to finally confess the truth to my family: I was an immortal from the Otherworld, the daughter of a Celtic goddess and the high queen of Eilé, and one day I’d be going back to the world of my origins.  Let’s just say after such an ordeal, I needed something to keep me distracted, to give me purpose so I wouldn’t lose my mind completely.  Thus, I had taken up hunting for the faelah on my own.  Heck, before the Morrigan’s attack, Cade constantly pestered me about practicing my archery and this way I could kill two, maybe three, birds with one stone.  I was getting some much-needed practice in, I was keeping the swamp clear of dangerous faelah, and I was keeping my mind occupied.  Yup, three birds.
     I fingered the note in my pocket once more as I stepped onto the equestrian trail leading to my home.  I hoped the Dagda was right; that Cade was recovering.  I so desperately wanted to turn around and head for the dolmarehn in the heart of these woods, to travel back to the Dagda’s home and see Cade, but like the Dagda said, I’d be an easy target in the Otherworld.  And I agreed with the other thing he’d mentioned as well.  I had no doubt the Morrigan would be looking for me.
     Gritting my teeth, I turned my mind away from those dark thoughts and picked up my pace.  By the time I reached the end of the path, I welcomed thoughts of a shower and a sit down with a good book and some hot chocolate.  Summer was in full swing, yes, but the coastal fog was already creeping in and the early evening would turn chilly.  I planned on crossing our backyard and slipping in through my sliding glass door, but a barrage of young boys accosted me before I could even step foot on the lawn.  Apparently my brothers had been waiting for my return.
     “Meghan!” Logan whined as he rushed forward.  “We wanted to go with you this time!”
     He crossed his arms, and yes, actually stomped his foot.
     I blinked at him and my other brothers as they gathered around me, a small army of Elams.
     “Huh?” Despite my claims that my hunting ventures helped purge my mind of everything    Otherworldly except the faelah themselves, my wandering thoughts still found ways to wrestle free of the bonds I’d placed on them.  I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about.  I’d been too busy reminiscing.
     “We want to help you hunt!” Bradley offered, thrusting out a fist which happened to be clutching a small bow.
     Oh.  That.  I cleared my throat and took a breath.  When would they realize no meant no?  I was still getting used to the fact that my parents and brothers knew about my Faelorehn blood.  After keeping my identity a secret for so long, I found it easy to forget I had told them (and shown them) what my Otherworldly power could do.
     I squatted down so I would appear less imposing to them.  Hah, me, imposing . . .
     “I’m sorry guys,” I said, feeling only slightly guilty.  “But you can’t go faelah hunting with me.  It isn’t safe for you.”
     “You go,” Bradley put in.
     I rolled my eyes.  “I’m Faelorehn Bradley.  I have magic, remember?”
     Not that it would make any difference.  Whatever power I managed to store up in Eilé during my last visit had most likely burned out after my battle with the Morrigan.  I was running on empty and it would take another extended stay in the Otherworld to get me back up to a level where I could do some real damage.  But they didn’t need to know that.
     “And I’m glad you didn’t come with me,” I continued.  “I encountered something really creepy today.”
      And just like that, their scowls were replaced with wide eyes.  “What?” Jack and Joey, the twins, whispered together.
     I grinned, despite the fact that the encounter had been more ghastly than usual.
     “Well, I’m calling the faelah I killed a pocora, but I’m not sure what it’s called in the Otherworld.”
     They remained silent, waiting for me to continue.  “It looked like a cross between a rabbit, a possum and a coyote, and I think it might have been mummified.”
     I had explained early on, right after telling my family the truth, that anything concerning Eilé would have to be kept top secret.  I made all my brothers double swear, spit and shake on it (tantamount to a blood oath, or in the Otherworldly sense, a geis).  They were not to repeat a single thing they saw or heard to their friends or classmates.  Having to keep this promise, and not being able to go on my hunting adventures with me, was practically killing them.  So, whenever I came back from one of my faelah target practices, I distracted their disappointment with a detailed description of whatever I happened to kill.  Worked every time.
     “Did you shoot anything else?” Logan piped in, forgetting his previous irritation at being left behind while I got to have all the fun.
     “No,” I said.
     Their shoulders slumped, so I thought the conversation was over.  I started to stand back up and nearly fell over when Bradley blindsided me with a completely different question.
     “So, when do we get to meet your boyfriend?”
     After regaining my balance, I blinked down at him.  “What?”
     “Your boyfriend,” he crooned, “the guy in the Otherworld you always talk about.  When do we get to meet him?  Or is he imaginary?”
     I blushed and gritted my teeth.  I did not always talk about Cade.  Always thought about, yes, but I only ever talked about him with Mom, long after my brothers’ bedtime.  Little, eavesdropping cretins.
     “He’s not my boyfriend,” I grumbled, glaring at Bradley.
     Then I paused.  Or was he?  Before the Cúmorrig had overtaken him, Cade had told me he loved me, but the last several weeks had given me plenty of time to think about it.  Did he really mean it, or had he only said so because he realized he wouldn’t survive the fight?  Did it mean he might have acted rashly?  Of course, it didn’t change the fact that I loved him . . .
     “Sure he isn’t,” Bradley snickered.
     “I bet you let him go hunting with you,” Logan muttered.
     I scowled at him again.  I’d have to try and analyze my scattered thoughts later.  “He’s my friend, and he’ll meet you guys when he’s better.  He’s very sick right now.”
     That’s right, because being brought back to life and recovering from what had killed you in the first place could be considered a sickness . . . sure.
     To my immense relief, my younger brothers decided not to hound me about Cade anymore.  We all headed back up towards the front of the house, but before we even got clear of the backyard, Meridian dropped from her perch in the eucalyptus trees above and came to rest on my shoulder.
     The boys all started arguing and crowded in again, forcing me to stop so I wouldn’t trip over them.  They absolutely adored Meridian.  She used to use her powerful glamour to keep herself hidden from them, but now she understood it was safe to be seen and she no longer bothered with the disappearing act.  Besides, I think she was rather infatuated with my little brothers as well, and I often wondered if she thought of them as her own little merlin chicks.
     Chase game!  Meridian sent as she chittered excitedly, leaping off my shoulder and darting around the backyard as my crazy brothers ran after her.  She loved playing this game with them.  Even Aiden, all too often happy with simply watching from the sidelines, joined in.  My heart warmed at seeing him play like a normal boy, but a painful lump rose in my throat again.  This was all temporary.  I couldn’t stay with my mortal family forever.
     Feeling rather morose, I reached into my pocket again and brushed my fingers against the thick paper of the Dagda’s note.
     Be safe Cade and come back to me soon, I thought.
     I turned to sneak back into the house, but the sudden presence I detected near my leg made me pause and glance down.  Aiden.  Apparently he was done playing chase.  Yes, I would be leaving the family who took me in and raised me so I could live in Eilé, where I belonged.  In Aiden’s own quiet way, he was telling me how we all felt about it: none of us wanted to let go.  I wasn’t human, though; I needed the safety the Otherworld and its magic would grant me, especially now that my power had shown itself.  Moving to Eilé would be hard, and I think I would miss Aiden the most, but I had to be brave.
     Fighting the well of pain in my chest, I removed Aiden’s hand from my shirt and curled my own fingers around his.  He looked up at me, his blue-green eyes trying to tell me something, but like always, his autism kept him from saying what he needed to say.  Luckily, I’d become rather good at reading his face.
     Taking a deep breath, I stood with him as my other brothers kept at their game with my spirit guide.  I set my quiver down and leaned my bow against the house, then bent over and pulled Aiden into a rib-crushing hug.
     “I know buddy, I know,” I whispered as he wrapped himself around me.  I managed to hold on a little longer before a tear escaped.  “I’ll miss you too.”

-Two-
Recovered

     The next morning I woke up feeling groggy and slightly dejected.  I didn’t know exactly when I’d be going back to the Otherworld, but I knew it was inevitable.  I wanted to go, don’t get me wrong, and not just because it meant more one on one time with Cade.  There had been something about feeling the full extent of my very own Faelorehn glamour that urged me to return, almost like a drug I couldn’t get enough of.  Despite the terror and anguish I had felt when facing down the Morrigan, the whole experience had been exhilarating.  It was almost as if the magic of Eilé itself was crying out to me; coaxing me to cross over into the Otherworld and soak it in like warm sunshine.
     Yet, there was also that part of me that hated leaving my friends and family.  Not that I would leave and never come back, but to not wake up and see my brothers every day?  To find my dad reading his newspaper while the house erupted in chaos?  To wake up without the smell of my mom’s cooking filling the kitchen?  The ache that swelled next to my heart threatened to overwhelm me, but I quickly got a hold of it and banished it away.  All children left their parents’ houses at some point in time, whether to go to college or start a life of their own.  How was this any different?  Okay, most young adults weren’t going to live in a different dimension full of magic, monsters and goddesses bent on destroying them, but hey, most people my age were human.
     Sighing to dispel some of my negative mood, I rolled out of bed and headed to my shower.  I took my time this morning, letting the steaming hot water pour over me, imaging it was washing away all of my worries.  After the shower I brushed my teeth, combed out my unruly hair and threw on a pair of old jeans, a t-shirt and a sweatshirt.
     It was still foggy out and I planned to go down in the swamp to get some more practice in with my longbow.  I wasn’t about to slack off, despite the fact that I’d found only the one faelah creature the day before.  I located the torque and mistletoe charm Cade had given me on my desk, placing them around my neck as if they were pieces of armor.  Ever since the day I’d returned from Eilé in late spring, I’d been wearing them almost constantly.  I had been questioned by Robyn almost immediately about the torque (let's face it, the piece of jewelry kind of stood out and Robyn knew her Celtic stuff), but I had merely brushed her off and told her that Cade had given it to me.  She was still the only one of my friends who had actually met him.  Of course, she thought he was human, a conviction I wasn’t about to correct.  Soon I'd have to tell them the truth, or at least some version of the truth, but for now I'd let them go on believing the lies as long as possible.
     I sighed and placed my hands loosely on my hips, scanning the room for my spirit guide.  Meridian, another gift from Cade, snoozed in the corner, making soft chirruping sounds as she slept.  I grinned.  I hated to wake her, but she was my bodyguard on mornings like these.
     Meridian, I sent to her.
     She snoozed on.  I smiled and tried again.
     Meridian!
     She woke with a snort, well, her version of a mental snort.  Up! she sent as she ruffled her feathers and tried to act as if she had been alert the whole time.
     I laughed, threw my quiver over my shoulder, grabbed my bow with my left hand and held out my forearm to her.
     Ready for practice? I asked
     Yes.  Hungry.
     She landed on my sleeve, then crawled up my arm to settle herself on my shoulder, tucking her head back under her wing.
     I turned towards my sliding glass door, expecting to see the fog-dimmed vista of our backyard and the eucalyptus trees that trailed down into the swamp.  But something else was there waiting for me and my heart nearly leapt out of my chest.  There, standing on the concrete slab that served as a small patio stood a huge, white wolfhound.
     My bow thlunked to my carpeted floor as I dropped it, my eyes wide and my jaw hanging open in shock.  The dog panted and scratched at the door, his tail wagging.  But all I could do was stand there, frozen.  The memories of the month before flashed through my mind: the Morrigan, the faelah, Cade dying, Fergus nowhere to be found.  He had fallen somewhere during the battle, dying when his master had, and we’d been forced to leave him.  But if he was here now, alive and eager to get my attention . . .
     “Cade!” I cried out, barely even a whisper.
     My senses returned to me in a rush and I bent down to scoop up my bow, nearly tripping over its length in my rush to get to the door.  Meridian dug in with her claws as she got jostled about on my shoulder.  I dove for the handle of my door, flipped the latch, slid it open and tumbled out.  Fergus took a few steps to avoid me, but he wasn’t fast enough to escape the hug I threw around his great neck.
     “I’m so glad to see you!” I proclaimed as he panted next to my ear.
     I let go and he gave me a quick canine grin before trotting towards the horse trail.  I didn’t even hesitate to follow him, my heart lurching once again when he didn’t stop at the oak tree to indicate Cade had left me a note.  Could Cade really be here?  I shook that thought from my mind before I tripped over myself in a jumble of nerves, but the idea wouldn’t leave me alone.  My heart sped up even more.  The last time I’d seen Cade, he’d been lying in bed in one of the Dagda’s rooms, barely alive.  Would he be glad to see me?  Would he regret what he had done?  I bit my lip and tried to move faster to keep up with Fergus.
     We came to the point in the trail where the path led over the small land bridge and between two thick rows of willow trees.  On the other side was the small meadow where my normal, well, somewhat normal life had all started to go downhill.  I passed it without giving the memories of my first meeting with the Cúmorrig a second thought.  I walked a few steps further down the road, and then stopped dead in my tracks.  There, leaning against a tall eucalyptus tree, stood a tall young man.  Caedehn MacRoich.
     For a few breathless moments I merely stood there, my eyes taking him in, my heart galloping in my chest as my emotions tried to settle.  He wore the clothing of the Otherworld; brown leather pants with knee-length boots and a loose, cream colored shirt beneath a beautifully worked leather vest.  Instead of the old trench coat he had worn when we’d first met, he wore a long green cloak lined with fleece, the hood thrown over his head.  But I could see his face well enough.  He was pale, but not as pale as he had been after fighting the Morrigan’s - his mother’s - monsters.  His green eyes met mine and he smiled, but it was guarded, as if he was unsure of how I would react to his presence.  He looked worn down, weary, older almost, but I had never seen anything or anyone more beautiful in my entire life.
     Finally he spoke, only one word, but it was enough to make my scattered emotions burst forth.
     “Meghan,” he said, his tone so quiet I barely heard it.
     That was all it took.  The sob that had been hovering in my throat broke free and I dropped my bow and quiver.  Meridian took off in a flurry of white feathers and irritated chattering as I sprinted across the small space that separated us.

* * *

Sneak Peek at Ehriad!

Hello everyone! 

     I've been getting a lot of emails and questions about the release date for Luathara (Book Three of the Otherworld) lately, and all I can say is that I'm going to do my best to get it out by November 1st.  I can't make any solid promises, however, because I have a lot going on during the next few months (the Orange County Book Festival at the end of the month, getting back into the rhythm of the new school year etc.).  But I would just like to let you know that I greatly appreciate all your messages and comments and that they do encourage me to keep on writing (even when my Muse demands a vacation ;)).  I can't thank you all enough for your wonderful support and enthusiasm for this series.

     I have also been working on Ehriad, my novella that will be a handful of scenes from Faelorehn, told from Cade's point of view.  I'm almost done with that book and I hope to have it out some time this month.  As of this moment, it is a little over 16,000 words, but may end up being more or less after editing.  I have no set date on its release, however, I am happy to give you guys a small excerpt to help tide you over until it's complete.  Again, thank you for all your emails and wonderful comments and I hope you enjoy this little preview!  (WARNING: There may be a few typos . . .)

 

From Ehriad, a Novella of the Otherworld . . .

 

The sharp snap of a twig and a low, almost imperceptible growl informed me that the creature I hunted was now only a few yards away.  I assumed his growl of frustration was aimed towards the branch he’d broken, giving away his presence, and not by any means meant to intimidate me.  No matter, I had planned it this way.  I had known he’d been following me for a good fifteen minutes now.  It helped when you had another pair of eyes, and a good nose, to help you along.

How close? I sent to my spirit guide.

Ten feet, to the right, Fergus answered.

His mind was sharp, focused on the hunt.  Even better.

 

I let my body ease out of the tense stance it had taken at hearing the sound of the snapped twig.  One more minute Fergus.  I’d let the creature stalk me for sixty seconds more.

The thing about faelah is despite their vicious, blood-thirsty tendencies, they weren’t very smart.  I was only a few feet from the dolmarehn now, boxed in on most sides by the steep walls of the culvert, and the faelah was somewhere above me, close to the edge but remaining out of sight.

What exactly are we dealing with? I asked my spirit guide.

About my size, dark, no hair.  Small eyes, big teeth, sharp, thin claws and a tail like a rat.

I nodded to myself.  This particular monster resembled most other faelah: the grotesque, zombie-like imitations of an animals created from the long-dead body parts of many others.  If the people of the mortal world could see it, they would be cursed with a lifetime of nightmares to disrupt their sleep.

Fortunately for them, the faelah’s glamour kept it invisible from sight.  No, only my people, the Faelorehn, could see the faelah.  At least until they were destroyed and a small window between the time their glamour faded from their bodies and their flesh turned to ash did the mere mortals get a chance to catch a glimpse.  This was one of the main reasons I lured as many as I could back into the Otherworld, or at least deep enough into the woods to kill them where they wouldn’t be seen by anyone.

The crunch of dead leaves met my ears again, along with Fergus’s words: Get ready.

I slipped my hand into my boot, pulling out a long knife, pressing the dull side against my forearm so that I could stab if necessary.

In the next breath, the faelah leapt from the edge of the ravine and used the trunks of dead trees crisscrossing my path like ladder rungs to make its way down.  The faelah came to rest only fifteen feet in front of me, a monster looking very much like a partially decomposed mountain lion.  It growled at me, showing several long teeth, and twitched its reedy tail.  Just as I had suspected, this one wasn’t going to let me lead it back into the Otherworld.  Looks like it would have to be a kill.  Not that I regretted it much.  Most of the faelah had been other animals at one time, animals that had been transformed by the Morrigan.  I bared my teeth in a grimace, hoping to intimidate the monster.

A flash of white caught the corner of my eye and a giant wolfhound joined us, using the same method the faelah had to reach the gully floor.  He landed behind the creature, bearing his teeth and laying his rusty ears flat against his skull.

Kill? he sent me.

Yes, this one will have to be a kill.

The beast howled and snapped its jaws before hunkering down on its hindquarters.

Here goes . . .

With preternatural speed the faelah leapt, mouth gaping open, massive paws tipped with needle-thin claws outstretched.  I froze for a fraction of a second, then with one swift movement, jerked my hand diagonally across my body, swiping the sharp edge of my blade against leathery skin.

The yowl in the monster’s throat died and I quickly sidestepped, letting the body hurtle past me.  It landed in a tangled heap in the dirt, the head nearly severed from the rest of the body.  Its limbs twitched a few times as black, putrid blood spilled from the open wound.  I wrinkled my nose at the smell, but didn’t gag.  I was used to the stench.

As I cleaned my blade I felt the faelah’s glamour swell like a bubble, growing larger and larger until it burst.  There was nothing to see really, but my own well of magic felt it all the same.  If there had been mortals around, they would now be gaping, dumbfounded at the atrocity lying at their feet.  I didn’t even stay to make sure it turned to dust.

“Come on Fergus, time to go,” I said to the wolfhound.

Wounds? he sent me.

No, not even a scratch.  I was, after all, very good at my job.

* * * * *

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek of Ehriad!  Feel free to leave comments or if you have any questions about the Otherworld series, send me an email at: jejoescienne@yahoo.com

Faelorehn Poster for the Orange County Children's Book Festival!

In one short month, I'll be heading down to Costa Mesa, California for the Orange County Children's Book Festival.  I have my paperback books ordered and I'm working on getting some bookmarks and other items done, but one thing I'd like to bring along is a poster for Faelorehn.  I've been spending the last few weeks working here and there on a design that I hope will capture the interest of potential new readers.

 

This is a new book festival for me, so hopefully I'll be prepared.  If not, I'll be sure to take lots of notes for next time.  I'm also hoping that some of you will be able to come by and visit if you live in the area or are visiting.  Now, without further ado, here is the final poster for Faelorehn (Sorry, this was the largest image I could upload that didn't overlap into my side margins :P).  Feel free to comment - there is still time to make corrections/improvements ;).

 

-J.E. Johnson

 

 

I Need Interview Questions for my Faelorehn Characters!

Hello Readers!

I have been spending a good deal of my summer break getting Dolmarehn ready for publishing and working on the third book in the Otherworld Trilogy.  The past few days, I've also been inundated with ideas for more books about the characters in this series, especially a short story told from Cade's point of view.  With that in mind, I'd really like to post a character interview sometime in the future with one (or more) of the characters from Faelorehn.  So, I'm opening this up to you guys: Does anyone have any questions they would like to ask Meghan, Cade, Robyn, Tully or any of the other characters from Faelorehn?  Now, I cannot guarantee that I can answer every question (some might be too revealing to discuss on a blog ;)), but I am eager to hear what my readers might be curious about.  If you would like to offer up your inquiries, you can either leave a comment for this post, or send them directly to me at jejoescienne@yahoo.com.  Thanks and I hope to hear back from some of you!  Until then, happy reading ;).

-J.E. Johnson