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"I really enjoyed this book. Another fantastic new series of books!" - Sean O.
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Did you miss a past newsletter? Click here to go to the newsletter archives.
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Here we are, halfway through August. I have to say the time is flying by! It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the first warm days of summer, and now it’s almost over!
This week, we decided to change up our schedule a little bit. Usually, this is when we would be going up to a cottage in the Muskokas, but this year we thought it best to stay home. Instead, we took a bit of a mini-staycation, heading out of the house from time to time, though we did still manage to get quite a bit of work done.
One of those trips was to a local dog park where Tilly and Daisy could run around off-leash. We picked a good time to go as there were very few other dogs, and the ones that were there were friendly. We had resigned ourselves to the notion that we would spend our time chasing after Tilly, but she fooled us by staying close the entire time. Daisy, as always, trotted by our side, content to stop and sniff on occasion. Now, if only we could do this more often!
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TV Show Review: As Time Goes By
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We recently found this gem of a show on BritBox. First airing in 1992, it stars Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer as an older couple that had a brief but intense relationship back in 1953. He went off to Korea, and they lost touch, only to find each other again many years later. Make no mistake, this is a comedy, served up with the best dry British wit you can imagine. The two leads are amazing, and, rather surprisingly, the series still holds up well. It ran for a total of ten seasons (series in UK parlance), and so far, we’ve managed to get well into the third season. This show has many laugh out loud moments, though it is targeted to an older audience.
Judi Dench is still active, mostly in movies, where she has been nominated seven times for an Academy Award, winning in 1998 for Shakespeare in Love, where she played the role of Queen Elizabeth the First. Geoffry Palmer is close behind with 193 film and TV credits to his name, though he may be less familiar to those of us on the western side of the Atlantic. If you watch a lot of UK TV, you’ve doubtless seen him.
If you’re looking for a witty, comedic turn on getting older, then this is the show for you.
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Temple Knight gets a new cover!
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This week Temple Knight received a cover update to bring it more in line with the newly updated Frozen Flame series. Not only that, but I've been hard at work on another Pre-order bonus!
As a reminder, those that pre-order will receive an alternate beginning chapter and a map of the area the first half of the story takes place in. Now, I am going to add a topdown view of the chapterhouse of the Temple Knights of Saint Agnes.
I would love to hear what you think of the updated cover. Please send your thoughts via email, or pop over to Facebook and we can chat about it!
Paul J Bennett's Facebook Page
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Future Books in the World of Eiddenwerthe
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This week I sat down to plan out my future releases. I’ve had a number of stories in mind, each with an overall plotline that spans multiple books. Heir to the Crown, as I’ve said before, will eventually have fifteen books (not including the Mercerian Tales), and I now have quick outlines for all of them. Added to that is The Frozen Flame series, which will eventually have eight books, though I may add more as I go.
The newest series, Power Ascending, will have a total of eight books, four featuring the character of Charlaine deShandria, a Temple Knight of Saint Agnes, while the other four will be about Ludwig Altenburg, the son of a baron. These tales are also outlined to their conclusion, though once again, only a quick overview of each book.
Observant readers may note that I actually have a fourth series, The Chronicles of Cyric. This one is not part of an epic storyline like the other series, but instead recounts the individual actions of one man, Brother Cyric, a Temple Knight of Saint Mathew. His tales are more mystery than action and consist of mostly shorter stories. There will always be more to come in the Chronicles of Cyric as I write them when I need a break from the other series I’ve mentioned.
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Congrats to Sean for winning last week's eBook Giveaway! I was very honoured to see how many of you would recommend my books to your friends!
Remember, all you need to do answer the question below, then you will automatically be entered into the Giveaway to win your choice of any of my ebooks, even the upcoming Temple Knight!
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| What would you suggest as a name for one of the upcoming "of the Crown" books? |
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| In the article above, you can see the ones I have put in, but they can be changed if you have a better suggestion |
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| You have now entered the Giveaway! Good Luck! |
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This was an interesting week compared to most. After putting the final touches on The Beast of Brunhausen, I must now wait for Carol to read it to ensure it flows smoothly.
With that in mind, I took a break from writing to organize my notes for upcoming titles, plotting out future stories well into 2023 and even beyond. Needless to say, I have a lot in the pipeline. With three series on the go and two books per series a year, I'll be working well into my retirement. (Don't worry, I'm not retiring anytime soon.)
The tricky part, of course, was the actual order, since events in some books will affect the storyline in others. (Sorry, I can't reveal any more than that.) I used Microsoft Visio to create the schedule, which helped me immensely. I even colour-coded each series, making it easier to sort them.
The fun part was thinking over titles. The Heir to the Crown series is the most challenging because they all end of 'of the Crown'. There were a few obvious ones that I couldn't resist (Enemy of the Crown and Peril of the Crown are now taken), but I'm always open to suggestions. What about you? Do you have an idea for a future title? (Hint, it is Daisy & Tilly's question of the week!)
By the way, someone on Facebook suggested Legacy of the Crown. It doesn't fit into the current storyline, but I may have to add another book, as the title is just too good to give up. (shout out to Michael Dent for the suggestion!)
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Until next time, enjoy a passage from Tempered Steel, Prequel to the new Power Ascending series.
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The sword came crashing down, driving Ludwig’s weapon to within a finger's length of his face as he desperately tried to parry. Angling his blade, he pushed back with all the strength he could muster, forcing his opponent's weapon to slide to the side as he stepped forward, sword tip at the ready.
“You’ll have to do better than that, Kurt,” said Ludwig. “After all, you taught me everything I know about sword fighting.”
“Agreed,” the older, dark-haired man replied. “And yet I didn’t teach you everything I know.” Kurt stomped forward, tapping the lord on the side of his knee. “I believe that’s my point.”
Ludwig lowered his weapon, using his left forearm to wipe the sweat from his brow. “That’s hardly fair.”
“Fair? You’re learning how to fight, not dance. There’s no such thing as fairness in battle, my friend.”
“What of honour?” asked Ludwig.
“Don’t talk to me of honour,” said Kurt. “On the battlefield, it’s kill or be killed. There is little place for such things as honour.”
“I don’t believe you. Surely, men of character are governed by the rules of war?”
“You are still relatively young,” said Kurt, “and uninitiated in the ways of battle, so I will forgive you your naivety.”
“I am twenty-five,” countered Ludwig, “and more than capable of holding my own in a battle.”
“If only that were true, but there's a world of difference between a friendly duel and the horrors of a battlefield. Enjoy your time at court, and leave the real fighting to men like me.”
“You think I would fail a test of valour?” pressed Ludwig.
“I think a man of your position should take leisure in the style to which he has become accustomed. Your father is the baron, after all.”
“My father’s position does not dictate my actions.”
“Doesn’t it?” said Kurt. “You could have fooled me. You’re the one that spends your evenings in the company of so many ladies. Live your life to the fullest, Ludwig, and let the rest of us handle the unsavoury duties.”
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Check out these featured books that are free, discounted, or new releases.
These authors are returning the favour by sharing my books with their readers.
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The Farshore Chronicles: A quick-witted thief is sentenced to a faraway land of magic, myths, and monsters.
Charity is a thief who survived Byzantia's deadly streets by thinking fast and running faster... Until a heist gone wrong saw her imprisoned on a ship sailing to the far side of the world.
Farshore, the Emperor's First Colony across the great sea, is humanity's lone outpost in a land inhabited by monsters, wild magic, and races from legend. Turns out, myths are just as deadly as a knife in the dark... MORE
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Pawn: A day will come, when curses will be broken, the lost shall be found, the found shall be lost, and the rift between mortal and celestial will cease to exist. - Prophecy of Erinyes
Maeve of Carn is a warrior of warriors, but she’s no hero. Born with superhuman strength she sells her abilities to mercenaries and warlords in exchange for wealth.
Until the night of the full moon. . . In the midst of a raid, led by the warlord she just might be falling in love with, Maeve is taken by the Dark Fae... MORE
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Once Upon a Fairy Tale Night: When it comes to romance, everyone could use a fairy godmother once in a while. Or at least a magic wand.
This hot new collection of fairy tale retellings has it all—enchanting Regency ballrooms, demon-infested forests, billionaire-controlled boardrooms, and dark alien planets. And all our fairy tales come with a twist.
Our heroes and heroines will take you to the depths of hell and the top of the castle's spire as they move from Once upon a time to Happily ever after... MORE
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The Shield of Soren: Young Soren is the apprentice of legendary warrior, Raven Lennox. At the age of sixteen, Soren is expected to fight in the eternal war against the Brotherhood of Shadow - but he seems to be more interested in mischief than battle.
When one of Soren’s adventures goes off course, he accidentally unleashes a deadly threat. As an age-old prophecy comes to pass, Soren must take a perilous journey deep into enemy territory.
But does he have what it takes to save the realm, or will the Brotherhood destroy everything he loves... MORE
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Featured Book Deals & Giveaways
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While you wait for the release of my next book, here are some great stories for your TBR pile!
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Extra Book Deals & Giveaways
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