AN AXE EXCERPT AND OPERATION SAVE THE DIGIPETS

Writing

I got my galleys back for The Shard Axe and my editor has given me permission to post the teaser excerpt from the front of the book. So, without further ado:

Protect and defend the heir of Frostmantle once more...

Aggar was on the far side of the cell, his back to her. He was naked from the waist up and rust-colored hair clung in sweaty strands to the nape of his neck. Muscles rippled along his back and gold rings sparkled on his fingers as he went through the motions of swinging an imaginary axe against an equally insubstantial foe. The many beads and trinkets in his beard clattered and chimed with each practiced movement.

"Finally," the Tordannon heir said without turning to look at her, not missing a step in a complicated pattern of slices and thrusts. "I’ve been asking for water since midnight."

"I’m not here to bring you water. I’m here to haul your carcass out of the fire—again."

At the sound of her voice, Aggar stopped so fast he almost stumbled and whipped about as though yanked by an invisible cord. The color fled from his normally rubicund face, and his green eyes stood out like crown gems.

"Saba? What in the name of Onatar’s huge hairy backside are you doing here?"

Heh.

Everything Else

Many of you know that my husband is a Lieutenant in the US Navy (Reserves). In a not entirely unexpected turn of events, he's been called up to active duty in support of Operation Tomodachi. No, he's not going to save the digital pets (that'd be Operation Tamagotchi), but to provide aid to the victims of the recent disasters in Japan. As always, please keep him and all of our military men and women in your prayers, whatever their mission is. If they didn't do their jobs, we couldn't do ours.