#Blogmas | A Fantasy Christmas celebration feat. authors of fantastical realms | The Songkeeper Chronicles by Gillian Bronte Adams

Posted Sunday, 2 December, 2018 by jorielov , , , , , , , 6 Comments

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Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

A wee short bit of time ago – there came into my Inbox a curious little invitation about celebrating #FantasyReads for a properly lit #FantasyForChristmas celebration headlining authors through Prism Book Tours. As [2018] became the year I reclaimed my inner #fantasynerd whilst co-hosting the first annual #WyrdAndWonder event – I decided to participate – sorting through the authors and sorting out which days I wanted to host their introductions to their fantastical worlds – however, this particular novelist (Ms Adams) snuck past me and when I saw a chance to listen to the first chapter of “Orphan’s Song” if you joined her author’s newsletter – wells, let’s just say, I didn’t hesitate to sign-on!

I’ve been keen on sourcing more audiobooks to fetch throughout the New Year [2019] as I continue to try to offset my readings in print with listening to worlds in audiobook! What happened was rather magical – as I personally *adore!* how the author is narrating her own story! So much so, I dared to hope she’s recorded the full audiobook adaptation and perhaps, one day I can listen to it in full!

I have the tendency to forget about ‘Christian Fantasy’ as its own unique niche of literature, as I generally look at Fantasy from a wider angle and lens – I’m more Tolkien than I could ever be a follower of CS Lewis – (for instance) and the novelist who cut my teeth into High Fantasy / Epic Fantasy worlds was Kate Elliott with her Crown of Stars Saga; a series I need to re-visit one year whenever I am able to sort out which book contains the books as I never did read it in full after having *loved!* the beginnings! A quirk I am sure most booklovers can attest as being something that happens whilst we’re reading & discovering new stories. We don’t always get to finish the series we’ve begun – which in of itself is one of the reasons I’m joining the Backlist Challenge in [2019].

I don’t limit myself to INSPY Reads even though I have been a hybrid reader of both INSPY and mainstream fiction since I first started sorting out my reading life as a nine year old fourth grader as that was the year I started to :love: reading despite feeling up til then reading was a bit of a thorn in my side. Most dyslexics I am sure share a similar affinity for reading until they sort out their own path into these incredibly layered worlds of imagination! I love moving between both sections of literature – there is something for me in both branches *but!* as said, I tend to overlook the Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Speculative realms as sometimes I feel they go a bit overboard for what I’m seeking – hence, why today, I was thankful to read the approach of Ms Adams publisher! They write #SpecFic both ways – for those who want ‘more’ centreing on INSPY narratives and those of us who like narratives which are influenced by Christianity but are not overly intensive to where the world building itself suffers. In essence, its the best of both worlds for me – as I love cleaner reads, non-explicit worlds and a layering of epic quests which Fantasy is renown to have inclusive!

Whenever I get the JOY of finding a new publisher whose writing the kind of stories I’m keen on reading, I love *celebrating!* that find with my readers! Therefore, as I was originally meant to kick-off my #FantasyForChristmas spotlights on the 2nd, before our schedule was moved forward by a day – I decided to treat myself to see what this series was about and found something rather extraordinary when I listened to the audiobook sampler!

Plus, I spied a gryphon – which brought back why I have been itching to start reading Jess Owen’s The Summer King series! It isn’t often I find myself intrigued by a Fantasy series such as this one and I am thankful to be part of the Prism blogger team to take part in this lovely showcase as December starts to arrive bringing with it a lovely respite of #awesomereads!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Published by: Enclave Publishing (@EnclaveBooks)

an imprint of Gilead Publishing

(owned by Steve Laube of The Steve Laube Agency)

Songkeepers Chronicles:

Orphan’s Song (book one) | add to LibraryThing

Published: 14th October, 2016 | ISBN: 978-1683700289

HER SOLO IS A DEATH SENTENCE

Deep within the world of Leira flows a melody that was sung at the beginning of time by Emhran, the Master Singer. Now it is broken, buried, forgotten. But in each generation, a Songkeeper arises to uphold the memory of the Song against those who want it silenced forever.

When Birdie first hears the Song coming from her own mouth, her world shatters. She is no longer simply an orphan but the last of a hunted people. Forced to flee for her life, she must decide whom to trust—a traveling peddler, a streetwise thief, or a mysterious creature who claims to know her past.

With enemies at her heels and war threatening to tear her homeland apart, Birdie soon discovers an overwhelming truth: the fate of Leira may hinge on one orphan’s Song.

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Songkeeper (book two) | add to LibraryThing

Published: 15th April, 2016 | ISBN: 978-1621840695

WAR RAVAGES LEIRA AND THE SONG HAS FALLEN SILENT.

Freed from the hold of a slave ship, Birdie, the young Songkeeper, and Ky, a street-wise thief, emerge to a world at war. Hordes of dark soldiers march across Leira, shadowed by whispers of plague and massacres, prompting Ky to return to his besieged home city in hopes of leading his fellow runners to safety.

Desperate to end the fighting, Birdie embarks on a dangerous mission into the heart of the Takhran’s fortress. Legend speaks of a mythical spring buried within and the Songkeeper who will one day unleash it to achieve victory. Everyone believes Birdie is the one, but the elusive nature of the Song and rumors of other gifted individuals lead her to doubt her role. Unleashing the spring could defeat the Takhran once and for all, but can she truly be the Songkeeper when the Song no longer answers her call?

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Song of Leira (book three) | add to LibraryThing

Published: 5th June, 2018 | ISBN: 978-1683700869

THE SONG BIDS HER RISE TO BATTLE.

Reeling from her disastrous foray into the Pit, Birdie, the young Songkeeper, retreats into the mountains. But in the war-torn north, kneeling on bloodstained battlefields to sing the souls of the dying to rest, her resolve to accept her calling is strengthened. Such evil cannot go unchallenged.

Torn between oaths to protect the Underground runners and to rescue his friend from the slave camps, Ky Huntyr enlists Birdie’s aid. Their mission to free the captives unravels the horrifying thread connecting the legendary spring, Artair’s sword, and the slave camps. But the Takhran’s schemes are already in motion. Powerful singers have arisen to lead his army—singers who can shake the earth and master the sea—and monsters rampage across the land.

As Leira falters on the verge of defeat, the Song bids her rise to battle, and the Songkeeper must answer.

Converse via: #FantasyForChristmas, #FantasyNerd and #EpicFantasy

About Gillian Bronte Adams

Gillian Bronte Adams

Gillian Bronte Adams is a sword-wielding, horse-riding, wander-loving fantasy author, rarely found without a coffee in hand and rumored to pack books before clothes when she hits the road. Working in youth ministry left her with a passion for journeying alongside children and teens. (It also enhanced her love of coffee.) Now, she writes novels that follow outcast characters down broken roads, through epic battles, and onward to adventure. And at the end of a long day of typing, she can be found saddling her wild thing and riding off into the sunset, seeking adventures of her own (and more coffee).

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Read a cheeky convo between

the author & her character’:

Interview with Amos McElhenny

Prior to the events documented in Orphan’s Song, reported by Gillian Bronte Adams

He is already seated when I arrive at the Whistlin’ Waterfly. From the number of empty mugs, I guess he had company or has been here some time—the fly exploring his discarded meal seems to point to the latter. I rummage in my satchel for a parchment and quill as I approach.

GBA: Pardon me, but are you “the great Amos McElhenny”?

AM: (blinks bleary eyes and scowls) So they tell me.

GBA: My readers will be thrilled to know your story. Thank you for agreeing to this interview.

AM: Not sure I did exactly. (He scratches his head.) Who are ye with?

GBA: Uh … The Kerby Post.

AM: Oh. Right. Well, I’ve stayed too long already. Time I was on my way—

GBA: Rumor is you have quite the interesting past for a traveling peddler from … Bryllhyn is it? That Waveryder village in the Westmark? Care to comment on the years you spent in Kerby?

AM: I … ye must be mistaken. I’ve never been t’ Kerby.

GBA: Well, maybe not as Amos McElhenny the traveling peddler. Which is odd since your route takes you to every other village and town nearby. Is there something in Kerby you’re avoiding?

AM: Ye know, I don’t have t’ sit here an’ be interrogated. I’ve more important things t’ do.

GBA: Like checking on that girl at the Sylvan Swan? Speaking of Birdie, how did you meet her?

AM: Well, the innkeeper—Dalton—an’ I are old friends from … back in the day. So I always stop by t’ chat on my way through. She was only a wee wisp o’ a thing when I first met her. Somewhat about her reminded me o’ … well, I just felt I had t’ look after her.

GBA: I see. So what was it about Birdie that reminded you of the Songkeeper Artair?

AM: Well, there was a sort o’ music in her laughter even then an’—bilgewater, what are ye goin’ an’ puttin’ words in my mouth for? Birdie doesn’t remind me o’ him. If she did, I’d stay away, ye can bet yer britches on that. I’d like nothin’ better than t’ forget I ever knew him.

GBA: Why is that? If you don’t mind sharing …

AM: I do mind. (But he doesn’t leave.) He lied t’ us is all. Deceived us with sweet words an’ left us to ruin. What wouldn’t I like t’ forget about that? Was it Nisus put ye up t’ this? Sounds like his doing. Tell him we were fools then an’ he’s a fool now if he still believes. (Stands and throws on his overcoat.)

GA: Wait. (I grab his arm) Look, I know who are and I think my readers deserve to know too.

Amos: Aye. (He pulls free.) I’m the great Amos McElhenny. (He strides away with a muttered “bilgewater” and leaves me with more questions and fewer answers than when I began.)

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If you enjoyed this introduction to Amos, I implore you to seek out the author’s newsletter, as when you start listening to the Chapter Sampler she provides, you’ll be captivated by Amos – as he steals the scenes and the accent she’s put into his character heightens the appeal – especially if you love narrators who offer characterisations which bring out the best of the characters their narrating!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

What is wicked fantastic about the first chapter is the foundation of the world-building! I am also partial to hearing the ENTIRE novel read by the author after listening to this chapter sampler! I only wish we could have downloaded the sampler to re-listen to later – as it would have been incredible to hear her read the chapter more than once and even, after securing a copy of the paperback – as I noticed this is only released thus far into print and digital copies.

I honestly hope the author considers narrating her series – I think it would be a wicked surprise for her readers but for this reader in particular, I’d love to see what she would do with it – as the sampler went by so dearly quick! I remember finding another Fantasy series involving songs & soundscapes – I never had the chance to read it but after hearing this sampler, I dearly know I’d like to start to read this series! I also know based on the synopsis for each installment – this series is going to be dearly intense to read but there is something about it which intrigues me – if you can hear what I heard on the narration scale of the sampler, you might feel as compelled as I am to seek out the novel!

I’d say more – but the truth of it is – truly, I didn’t want the narration to END.

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This blog tour is courtesy of: Prism Book Tours

Prism Book Tours

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Fantasy for Christmas blog tour via Prism Book ToursClick through via the badge to find out what else awaits you! Especially as this is a special tour featuring Christmas SURPRISES for readers who LOVE a stuffed stocking!

Each day, a new author is showcased – I selected the authors I wanted to feature ahead of time, however, Ms Adams either snuck past my purview and/or she wasn’t yet confirmed – I’m so thankful to have had a second chance of becoming introduced to her series – as I’m already seeking it via interlibrary loan at my local library!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Similar to blog tours where I feature book reviews, as I choose to highlight an author via a Guest Post, Q&A, Interview, etc., I do not receive compensation for featuring supplemental content on my blog. I provide the questions for interviews and topics for the guest posts; wherein I receive the responses back from publicists and authors directly. I am naturally curious about the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of stories and the writers who pen them; I have a heap of joy bringing this content to my readers.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

{SOURCES: Cover art of “Orphan’s Song”, “Songkeeper” and “Song of Leira”, the author’s photo and biography, blog tour banner and The Prism Book Tours badge were all provided by Prism Book Tours and used with permission. Post dividers and My Thoughts badge by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets embedded by codes provided by Twitter. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: Stories in the Spotlight banner and the Comment Box Banner.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2018.

I’m a social reader | I tweet my reading life

About jorielov

I am self-educated through local libraries and alternative education opportunities. I am a writer by trade and I cured a ten-year writer’s block by the discovery of Nanowrimo in November 2008. The event changed my life by re-establishing my muse and solidifying my path. Five years later whilst exploring the bookish blogosphere I decided to become a book blogger. I am a champion of wordsmiths who evoke a visceral experience in narrative. I write comprehensive book showcases electing to get into the heart of my reading observations. I dance through genres seeking literary enlightenment and enchantment. Starting in Autumn 2013 I became a blog book tour hostess featuring books and authors. I joined The Classics Club in January 2014 to seek out appreciators of the timeless works of literature whose breadth of scope and voice resonate with us all.

"I write my heart out and own my writing after it has spilt out of the pen." - self quote (Jorie of Jorie Loves A Story)

read more >> | Visit my Story Vault of Book Reviews | Policies & Review Requests | Contact Jorie

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Posted Sunday, 2 December, 2018 by jorielov in #blogmas, Blog Tour Host, Book Spotlight, Fantasy Fiction, High Fantasy, Indie Author, Prism Book Tours




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6 responses to “#Blogmas | A Fantasy Christmas celebration feat. authors of fantastical realms | The Songkeeper Chronicles by Gillian Bronte Adams

    • Hallo, Hallo Ms Adams,

      Ooh this is delightful news!! :) If you could narrate the story one day, that would be #awesomesauce! I’m so thankful you visited with me to see why I was excited over the sampler you shared with your newsletter readers!! It was quite literally the best way of feeling attached into this world you’ve created and gave a lovely (and cheeky!) introduction to the character I felt leaves a lasting impression on all of us!! I am so very thankful I decided to participate in the blog tour this year; it’s leading me to wonderful new authors to read and new worlds to explore! Many blessings to you this holiday season!

  1. Yay! So glad you’re joining our #blogmas celebration, Jorie :D I’ve had so much fun highlighting my fellow fantasy nerds, and Gillian’s character interview was so much fun. Really want to read her books now too! I’m with you on Christian fantasy. I cut my teeth on the genre with Tolkien in grade school (I read bigger younger lol) and have long preferred his works to C.S. Lewis. But since then I’ve reclaimed more love for the subgenre, like Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s works. :)

    • Hallo, Hallo Ms Silverwood,

      I couldn’t help myself – really! Finding all these lovely new Fantasy novelists during the first days of December? Felt rather kismet really! I’ve been having such a blast discovering the authors, each in turn and although I’ll be skipping over a few I felt might not be a good ‘fit’ for me as a reader, I’m delighted I can help shine a light on the ones I’m feeling rather intrigued by finding! I’m having even more fun chasing down the books which are already published and available to borrow through my local library whilst sorting out which ones need to go for purchase requests! In essence, my next year will be full of the fantastical which is truly a gift of its own.

      *Thank you!* for responding to this – I nearly wasn’t sure if anyone would – as I know there are loads of people who prefer Lewis over Tolkien; thanks for sweetening my day with a bit of random joy knowing I’m not the only one who felt this way!! Love how you said “read bigger younger” – my teachers were saying the same about me! Including my 4th grade teacher who was trying to get me to :love: reading the year I wanted to drop out as reading was such a bone of contention back then – til I somehow managed to sort it out and even attempted “Robinson Crusoe” – otherwise known as Jorie’s most Boring Read of all Time! (lol) I was reading Clancy, Grisham and Crichton by age thirteen – preferring the science of ‘Jurassic Park’ over the shock factors and suddenly realised my peers weren’t reading anything as heady and heavy as I was during those years! I mean, between the ethical contemplation’s of Crichton, the legal dramatics of Grisham and the heart of Jack Ryan… I had a lot on my mind back then!

      I gathered the complete works of Tolkien – including the Histories of Middle Earth from England. Sadly, when I was ready to read them start to finish, the books are in a box somewhere and I haven’t had the chance to unearth them again to read! One of these (future) Winters, whilst knitting and baking my way through a blizzard, I’ll have to pull out the stories and find myself somewhere in Middle Earth! At least, that is my goal!

      I’ll have to look into Ms Stengl’s works – I’ve noticed for awhile you and I have similar reading patterns, so I’m always eager to know what you’ve read and whose works you’ve loved! Thanks for stopping by and here’s to having a wonderful chase up to Christmas!

      • I’m so happy you enjoyed this as much as I did. We started this event last year and it was the reason I and a couple other authors started We Write Fantasy. We really wanted a fun place where we could share our love for writing and the genre. So I’ve been excited to meet these new authors and their lovely books this year :)

        Another reason I love this genre is how it has something to offer for everyone. Like you said, not every book is for every reader, and that’s the beauty of the reader’s journey I think. It’s fun discovering what “fits” and which books really speak to the soul. :)

        Also, I LOVE that you go to your library and ask them to carry authors’ books. That is a huge deal, especially for us Indies, so I feel like I should extend a collective thank you for helping us spread the word!

        Haha, I felt the same about Robinson Crusoe. For me, I tried diving into Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans (because I loved the movie as a child) but the book was NOT the same lol. Very dry reading, but good mental exercise! I love Jurassic Park for the same reason, and Grisham makes my brain hurt when I read him, lol. I’m not mathematically inclined at all, and all the legalese speech Grisham uses pushes my limits, but in a good way :)

        I think you’d love Stengl’s series, you’ll have to let me know your thoughts when you get the chance!

        • Hallo, Hallo Ms Silverwood,

          I am still compiling which Fantasy reads I can start to consume in the months leading into May (for #WyrdAndWonder) whilst sorting out which of these lovelies I discovered during the #FantasyForChristmas event — if you all hadn’t started this event, I might have missed the opportunity to find everyone! It was such a solid idea and a lovely way to give book bloggers a way of having some #randomJOY as we sort out the stories & get a chance to know the writers as we’re preparing the posts to share! :)

          I’ve added #WeWriteFantasy’s blog to my sidebar – it’s featured under the Author’s Blogs I enjoy reading and visiting! I had to recently overhaul that section as some of the blogs I wanted to return to are either discontinuing or their blocking comments (ie. you need to use Google). I try to use that as a quick-guide of where I want to travel before I move into the Lists I curate on Twitter. I’m looking forward to my visits with your site(s) in 2019 and finding out about the stories I’ve yet to discover!!

          Yes, it is EXACTLY how you said it – some stories really affect us on a heart/soul level! I have talked about for years (wells, maybe not the years on my blog as I wasn’t focusing on my writerly life) with others is how I wanted to thread my own stories through that kind of connection. I wanted to write heart/soul stories which could appeal to a wide audience of readers.

          Fantasy for me can become a bit hit/miss – but when I enter into a narrative where the writer has developed the world in such a way I don’t wish to exit anytime soon, then I know I’ve come to discover a keeper! Those kinds of #bookhugs are truly special and I cherish them! I’m actually hoping to attach myself into Julie E. Czerneda’s “A Turn of Light” this January – as it is a first book in a series I’ve attempted to read for at least two years and never could gain traction. I think I just had too much on my mind and now, I feel I have better clarity to enter into this world she’s created. It is also my first of her Fantasy stories as I came into a deep appreciation for her Science Fiction (ie. #theclanchronicles). I am hoping this and by re-queuing to borrow “A Mortal Song” – I can start the New Year off right and have Fantasy back in my life full-time! As the third story I’m reading is yours “Silver Hollow”!!

          Encouraging my libraries to purchase books is a personal joy of mine!! I love having the flexibility of sorting out what to request each month and then, waiting to see what happens thereafter. I have to re-queue some of the ones I had in 2018 but I’m already preparing the ones to request for January as I missed submitting any for December. Ohh well. A new month and a new year – what could be better!?

          It isn’t just my library though – I can ILL (inter-library loan) Indie authors through using WorldCat where the books come either from an in-state consortium or from any library quite literally in the states who will lend their stories out. I’ve had fun seeing where they come from – Kansas is a big supporter of sending books and dvds to patrons and so are other states in the Mid-West, but I’ve had books come from as far away as Washington state, too! I regret I didn’t keep a special map to remember where each and every book/dvd originated. I might try this during 2019 – just to have a small record of joy of who helps our reading lives feel a bit more enriched by the sharing of materials between libraries!

          Yes! I can understand that! I tried Mohicans, too – and others by the author, I found him dry and dull, just like Crusoe! I think I have to alter how I approach the Classics as apparently despite what I learn about the stories there is a stark difference between that ‘knowledge’ and being a reader in those books. This is one reason I am dearly curious which of the Classics I’ll be reading this year will be beloved favourites and which ones will raise a few of my eyebrows for similar reasons we’ve discussed!

          I never heard of that before about Grisham… it makes sense though, I just didn’t realise that that could be an issue. Thanks for cluing me in! I’ll definitely be updating you on my reading life as I move into these stories!

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