Jorie Loves A Story, is a blog that was inspired into creation due to a reader’s love and passion for the written word. She reads bookish industry newsfeeds, keeps a pertinent eye on newly published authors, is readily eager to book travel to independent book shoppes, athenaeum libraries, historical landmarks of literary interest, and book festivals, conventions, or symposiums; absorbs herself into the written word, cherishing each book she comes across that has the ability to transport herself into another time, place, and world. This is her journey, as she uncovers one book at a time that leaves her musefully happy for the discovery.

Read my Introduction Post, to see where I am hoping to take Jorie Loves A Story. To help celebrate the launch of my blog, read my Launch Day post! Read how the Story of Jorie Loves A Story was knit together!

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In February, 2020 I became a promotional influencer and reviewer for LibroFM ALC. I announced my participation in the LibroFM ALC programme via #TheSundayPost.

Jorie of Jorie Loves A Story

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A #WyrdAndWonder Top Five Saturday | Top Five Secrets of Travelling within the Verin Empire | Guest Post featuring William Ray who wrote the uniquely fantastically clever “Shadow Debt” (Tales of the Verin Empire, Book Three)

Posted Saturday, 15 May, 2021 by jorielov #WyrdAndWonder, Self Published, Shadow Debt, Tales of the Verin Empire, William Ray 0 Comments

#TopFiveSaturday is a meme hosted by Devouring Books

The blogger has been on a bit of a hiatus, thereby this respun meme was inspired by the book blogger who originated a theme base Top Five meme! Usually the host will suggest a theme wherein bloggers can list books associated with the theme they feel honours the topic of choosing their Top Five for that Saturday. I’ve decided to go a different route this Saturday by featuring an Indie Fantasy author’s series.

I asked a dear friend, Louise @foxesfairytale (hostess of @Mythothon) to help me find a Top Five meme and I was grateful she knew about #TopFiveSaturday! I might have to participate once the host of this meme resumes her themed schedules.

Jorie’s topic for William Ray:
Top Five Secrets of Travelling within the Verin Empire ??

Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

As you know, I positively love Indie (Press and Publishers) and Self Published Speculative Fiction storycrafters who are giving me wicked good literary wanderings within Cosy Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy.

I’ve been sitting on this lovely guest post by Mr Ray since I originally hosted his blog tour with Storytellers on Tour – a blog touring company whose championing Indie Storytellers and giving us all a lovely chance to feature their collective works. I originally hosted a Top Ten Tuesday respun meme for him and this guest post was kicked out during the tour, as I knew I wanted to showcase him during #WyrdAndWonder.

We’ve amassed our largest gathering of adventurers this Wyrd And Wonder – we’re 100x strong this year, imagine!? And, next year is our 5th Year!! I know a lot of adventurers are seeking series and novels to put on their TBR and I’m hoping the Verin Empire might tempt you to add it to yours! I, for one am trying to source copies of the novels myself through my local library – including submitting a purchase request this May to see if I can start reading them myself.

I am hoping you will feel a part of this world, as you take a sneak peek of it through the illustrative artwork and the cheekiness of the humour which you can see through how Mr Ray approached writing this guest post! Welcome to your #TopFiveSaturday welcoming you into the Verin Empire!

Brew yourself a cuppa and let’s go on a Wyrd And Wonder adventure!

Shadow Debt
Subtitle: A Tale of the Verin Empire
by William Ray

Glynn Sorley is sheriff of Keat’s Field, a tiny settlement in an otherwise lawless frontier. With the discovery of diamonds, her town is flooded with fortune-hunters looking to strike it rich. It’s also a target for competing colonial powers, savage goblin tribes, and outlaws.

A rustler on the run from the law stumbles across his father’s mysterious legacy – a weapon of immense magical power. He uses it to ravage across the territory as the notorious outlaw Gentleman Jim.

But the weapon’s power comes at a terrible cost, and Keat’s Field may just have to pay the price…

This third Tale of the Verin Empire returns us to the world of Gedlund and The Great Restoration. It explores a frontier trapped between competing nations, where goblins reign and a lone sheriff fights to keep the peace.

Drawing inspiration from L’Amour’s Comstock Lode, Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and our own late 19th century, Shadow Debt continues William Ray’s bold, critically acclaimed reinvention of classic fantasy in a world of memorable characters and unique perspectives, and features sketches from acclaimed illustrator Tom Parker.

Genres: Fantasy Fiction, Blackpowder Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Gaslight Fantasy, Paranormal Urban Fantasy, Noir Crime Drama, PI (Private Investigator)

Places to find the book:

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 979-8681940616

ASIN: B08JF16LBM

Also by this author: Shadow Debt (Guest Post)

Published by Self Published

on 17th September, 2020

The stories of the Verin Empire:

Illustration Credit for Book Covers: Ramona Marc

Connect with the illustrator Tom Parker via @papagaeio

Gedlund (book one) : Blackpowder Fantasy

A Case of Eager Heris (short story) :
Gaslight / Urban Fantasy | Private / Noir Detective

The Great Restoration (book two) :
Gaslight / Urban Fantasy | Private / Noir Detective

Shadow Debt (book three) : Weird West | Western Fantasy

Top Five Secrets of Travelling within the Verin Empire

William Ray's Verin Empire illustration provided by Storytellers on Tour and is used with permisison. — William Ray’s Verin Empire series illustration provided by William Ray
and is used with permisison. Art Illustration Credit: Tom Parker.

Martin’s Guide — Touring the Frontier

Readers wishing to venture into these strange lands can find them chronicled in Tales of the Verin Empire, by William Ray.

Whether you’ve grown up in Oxhill, or never traveled beyond the bucolic delights of Duros, you needn’t speak Garren for excitement and adventure to be found abroad!

William Ray's Verin Empire illustration provided by William Ray and is used with permisison. — William Ray’s Verin Empire series illustration provided by William Ray
and is used with permisison. Art Illustration Credit: Tom Parker.

5. If the rolling hills and lush forests of Verin Aelfua beckon to you, the eastbound rail now stretches all the way to the thriving city of Khanom, nestled at the base of Uhnjal Peak. Enjoy the open spaces scattered across the countryside, where great Elven metropolises once sat. Visit battlefields and explore the mysterious monuments left behind.

4. Travelers in Verin Aelfua are reminded that old magics do linger in certain places, and care must be taken. Additionally, by law, any Elven treasures discovered are property of the crown and must be turned over to the proper authorities. Under no circumstances should travelers accept invitation to any tours of Gedlund or the northern strait.

3. For the more adventurous, why not set sail to the distant south and explore Verinde’s colonies in distant Rakhasin! Exotic wildlife, beautiful native flora, and rustic delights await. The Rakhasin frontier is a rugged place, but the rail services now extend through much of the once-inaccessible interior, allowing visitors to see the richness of this uncivilized country!

2. Prospective travelers will no doubt delight to know that the dangers of Rakhasin have been greatly exaggerated. The fearsome beasts of the frontier are not so different from creatures already well-known in Verinde – otters, lizards, snakes. The fearsome goblin tribes lair only in the deepest wilderness, and most travelers will only ever see a tamer sort, selling trinkets by the roadside.

William Ray’s Verin Empire series illustration provided by William Ray
and is used with permisison. Art Illustration Credit: Tom Parker.

1. Travelers in Verin Rakhasin are reminded that certain frontier hazards do remain and venturing into areas beyond the railway are not recommended. The beauty of the Great Meadow can be seen on lines running along its eastern and southern edges, but entry into tribal territory still presents some risk. Travelers are strongly cautioned to avoid travel by road, as criminal agents are known to operate in the lawless areas between settlements.

Martin’s Guide is an invaluable tool, wherever the rails take you!

Happy travels!

This Guest Post is courtesy of: William Ray

About William Ray

William Ray is the author of the Tales of the Verin Empire; including Gedlund (named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2016), The Great Restoration and Shadow Debt (September, 2020).

Originally from North Carolina, he currently lives in Reston, VA with his wife and dogs. A graduate of Ithaca College, and Wake Forest’s School of Law, he has worked in television, retail, patent prosecution, trademark law and other irrelevant nonsense. To paraphrase Lloyd Alexander, however, if being a life-long lover of fantasy literature qualifies one to write it, then he is well qualified indeed.

Originally I hosted a Top Ten Tuesday Guest Post
during the lovely blog tour via Storytellers on Tour:

Shadow Debt blog tour route banner provided by Storytellers on Tour and is used with permission.

I look forward to reading your thoughts & commentary!

Be sure to leave notes, takeaways and commentary for the author who would love to hear your thoughts on behalf of this guest post. We look forward to seeing what you felt the premise of this novel.

NOTE: Similar to blog tours wherein I feature book reviews, book spotlights (with or without extracts), book announcements (or Cover Reveals) – I may elect to feature an author, editor, narrator, publisher or other creative person connected to the book, audiobook, Indie film project or otherwise creative publishing medium being featured wherein the supplemental content on my blog is never compensated monetarily nor am I ever obligated to feature this kind of content. I provide (98.5%) of all questions and guest topics regularly featured on Jorie Loves A Story. I receive direct responses back to those enquiries by publicists, literary agents, authors, blog tour companies, etc of whom I am working with to bring these supplemental features and showcases to my blog. 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. Whenever there is a conflict of connection I do disclose those connections per post and disclose the connection as it applies.

This guest post contributed to my #WyrdAndWonder Year 4:

^{CLICK THE BANNER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR YEAR 4 EVENT | READ JORIE’S YEAR 4 INTRO}

Enjoying my fantastical reviews about the worlds of Fantasy?

Ever since the beginning of Jorie Loves A Story, I have embarked on a Quest to seek out stories within the worlds of Fantasy which would heighten my awareness of the genre and give me wicked good reads – across the subniches of a genre I’ve loved since I was seventeen. Every May, I happily co-host @WyrdAndWonder – whilst throughout the months of the year, I regularly read & discuss the Fantasy reads I am discovering.

Visit my full archive for ALL my #EnterTheFantastic wanderings! As well as take a walkabout through my archives for #WyrdAndWonder – or take a walkabout through my archive for everything deemed wickedly fantastical!

{SOURCES: Book covers for “Gedlund”, “The Great Restoration”, “A Case of Eager Heirs” and “Shadow Debt”, book synopsis, author biography, author photograph of William Ray, the tour banner and book tour banner as well as the promotional graphics (with artwork from the series) were all provided by Storytellers on Tour and are being re-used with permission. Select illustrations from the Verin Empire series were provided by William Ray and are used with permission of the author directly. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets were embedded due to codes provided by Twitter. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: #WyrdAndWonder Year 4, #TopFiveSaturday badge and the Comment Box Banner.}

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

.@wyrdandwonder Hallo, Hallo #WyrdAndWonder!

🗒️#TopFiveSaturday
✍️Top Five Secrets of Travelling within the Verin Empire 📖 #guestpost featuring @VerinEmpire

I have a special treat for you: illustrations & a travel guide into this #Fantasy world!👏

🗒️📖https://t.co/i0pdGPUHAQ pic.twitter.com/EwYdk8g9QF

— Spooktastically Jorie 👻🍂 (@joriestory) May 15, 2021

Comments via Twitter:

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)

Posted Saturday, 15 May, 2021 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Book Spotlight, Bookish Memes, Fantasy Fiction, Indie Author, Storytellers on Tour, Top Five Saturday

« A #WyrdAndWonder Audiobook Review | “The One Great Gnome” by Jeff Dinardo, narrated by Simone Stevens, courtesy of #NetGalley

A #WyrdAndWonder Book Review| A Mythological Fantasy re-telling in the pages of “Cassandra” by Kathryn Gossow »

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