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Nov 23, 2019

"Just to say you should read his Heir to crown series, it is brilliant." - John P.

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On the Homefront

With too many things on the go in recent weeks, we decided to take a bit of a break. So this week consisted of enjoying some Holiday movies, both old favourites and a few new ones, while relaxing on the couch with Tilly and Daisy.

We also went out for a treat at a local cafe. You will have to trust me that it looked as good as it tasted because, by the time Carol pulled out her phone to take a picture, I had already eaten my cookies and cream cake!

Cover reveal! Mercerian Tales: The Making of a Man
His father says Bodden was cursed the day he was born.

Life on the frontier is harsh, leaving little room for mercy, but Richard, second son of the baron, believes there has to be a better way.

Even from an early age, he struggles to find his place in a world where he is neither needed nor wanted, powerless to change his fate.

It is only when he meets a knight of renown that he learns what it is to be truly noble.

Finally able to control his own destiny, he must choose between the past and the future for the sake of Bodden.

Gather some cheese and crackers, and get ready to start reading Mercerian Tales: The Making of a Man soon!

Win a FREE eBook! To enter, all you need to do is answer Daisy & Tilly's question below.

Congrats to Sue R who won last week's Giveaway where the correct guess was Defender of the  Crown

The Army of Merceria - Part II

Organization

When the original mercenaries arrived in Terengaria (the landmass that encompasses Weldwyn, Merceria, and the Twelve Clans), they were organized into groups, each led by their own leader. These groups ranged anywhere from a dozen warriors to more than two hundred and fifty. After they moved east after their defeat in Weldwyn and began settling, these companies became more organized, leading to a formalization of rank and structure.

The organization that was widely used in Merceria divided the entire army into individual companies. By design, these contain an official strength of fifty men, though they are often lower due to illness, injury or lack of recruitment. Companies typically include one or two sergeants and a captain, neither of which counts towards their overall numbers. Thus, in reality, there are 52 or 53 men in a company.

Any higher rank structure was minimal. If an officer controlled more than one company, they were referred to as a commander. In Weldwyn, the army is led by the king or his delegate, often a prince or trusted noble, but in Merceria that responsibility usually fell to the position of the marshal-general.

In the early days of Merceria, the king would designate a trusted leader to marshal his horse or foot, leading to the adoption of the rank Marshal of Horse, or Marshal of Foot, but later, after realizing the importance of using combined arms, these positions were replaced by the marshal general, who had the power to call on all forces of the kingdom.

This organization remained in place in Merceria until the recent reforms of Queen Anna in 963, which are detailed in Burden of the Crown.

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Work in Progress Update

So what’s coming up next? I have The Making of a Man, Richard Fitzwilliam’s story, that is undergoing final proofreading. It tells of Richard’s coming of age and will be released between Christmas and the New Year. After that comes Embers, the second book in The Frozen Flame series, which is scheduled for release in late January 2020. It is currently in the editing stage, so the dates are estimates.

We always like to have time to make changes if the BETA readers have suggestions. Of all the books I have written so far, Heart of the Crown had the biggest changes during the editing stage, due to the excellent feedback our BETA team gave us.

Beyond that, I have several projects in various design stages, including a series of short stories involving Brother Cyric, who was introduced in Ashes. There is also another series I have planned, entitled The Power Ascending, that will tell the story of two individuals, each on their own path to power. As of yet, I am still trying to decide whether this will be one series per character, or not since there are elements that overlap in their storylines.

Of course, the more I write, the more I start thinking about all the possibilities in my world. Suffice it to say that I have plenty left in me for many years in the future.

Author Spotlight!

Check out these featured books that are free, discounted, or new releases. The authors are returning the favour by sharing my books with their readers.

Grey Stone: In the land of the great red sun, dogs sing, wolves kill, humans serve, and wolf-shifters rule with magic and menace. Pietre is a human boy who has spent the last thirteen years afraid of the sunset, the Blødguard, and the wolf-shifting masters who...

The Caged Kingdom: A woman forged by fire. A girl the curse has chosen. A Soldier with a secret. An ancient enemy. A world on the brink of mayhem. Welcome to Brodanna. Only magic or your skill with a blade might save you. Katanya Leshi is one... 

Hood: Meet Robin Hood's band of outlaws. Their story starts with Christmas, a lost love, a hungry town and a robbery. In this Outlaws novella, Robin Loxley is a tortured young man mourning the loss of his title, his lands and his first love. Tonight, with the help... 

The Weapon Takers Saga: A mission to retrieve a stolen relic becomes an epic quest to locate the seven weapons of Madria. Can telepathic twins Belwynn and Soren find all seven weapons before dark forces destroy their world?

Heir to the Crown Box Set: An old warrior, too stubborn to die. A royal heir, hidden since birth. Can they save a realm on the brink of war? Snuck this one in just in case you did not know about my boxset! Books 1, 2, & 2.5!

Book Deals & Giveaways

While you wait for the release of my next book, here are some great stories for your TBR pile!

Did you miss any past Giveaways & Deals?

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Paul J Bennett

11 Constable Street, London
Canada

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