Welcome to the last day of The Twins of Devonshire and the Curse of the Widow blog tour. It will run until August 17th and will feature excerpts and new author interviews each day. But first, here is the obligatory blurb about the novel to settle you into this strange world:
A plague has covered the land, a single word on the lips of the frightened masses: the Widow. Washing a wave of terror over the countryside and then disappearing like a thief in the night, the Widow holds a kingdom in the palm of her hand. The eyes of Chaos have settled on Prima Terra and heroes must rise. Xeno Lobo, enigmatic and cryptic, hunts the Widow, seeking an object taken from him years before. Will he be able to stem the tide of violence and horror that sweeps the land?
A few questions for the author:
How can we contact you or find out more about your books?
You can like my Facebook page, or follow my blog, where I will be raffling off a Kindle Fire in September to a
lucky follower. If you aren't already following my blog, I would encourage you to do so. I am also very
active on Twitter: @AuthorDanOBrien. I like to hear from fellow writers
and readers alike, so get in touch!
What can we expect from you in the future?
I have a lot of releases slated for fall and the following year. I started an apocalyptic serial called B-Sides that will unfold over the coming months, starting with Hobbes Family and Water. The re-launch of The Ocean and the Hourglass is coming, along with several new releases.
What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?
Share your experiences with others, leave a review, share updates, and follow me on social media. By being connected to readers, and readers being connected to me, I am able to get the word out about my books. Buying a book doesn't hurt either.
I have a lot of releases slated for fall and the following year. I started an apocalyptic serial called B-Sides that will unfold over the coming months, starting with Hobbes Family and Water. The re-launch of The Ocean and the Hourglass is coming, along with several new releases.
What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?
Share your experiences with others, leave a review, share updates, and follow me on social media. By being connected to readers, and readers being connected to me, I am able to get the word out about my books. Buying a book doesn't hurt either.
Here be an excerpt for your enjoyment:
Dawn was breaking as Xeno and Uthen rode into Sel’verene. A sheet of freshly fallen snow covered the majority of the street. The sparse buildings seemed more the part of tombs than businesses. They spied the sign that had INN sprawled across it in faded black paint and tied their horse out front, taking a moment to look up and down the deserted street.
Xeno grasped the rusted iron handle and turned it. Emitting a thin, squealing creak as the door swung inward, it revealed the darkened interior. With the exception of the dwindling embers in the fireplace and the dancing light of the lantern at the counter, there was little luminance of which to speak. They approached the counter, their snow-drenched boots leaving puddles of water and slush as they made their way.
Xeno peered over the empty counter, his eyes adjusting to the sudden darkness. “Hello?” he called, his voice echoing in the chamber.
The rustle of footsteps and then the muttering of several small voices came from the staircase to their right. Xeno moved to inspect when a young woman emerged from around the corner, her white dress covered in a dark brown shawl. “Can I help you?” she whispered, her voice more youthful than her appearance.
Xeno stared at the young girl for a moment.
Producing a small satchel of coins, he laid them upon the counter. “My companion and I weathered the snowstorm and need a room for the day and part of the night. Can that be arranged?”
“We have many rooms,” she began, but was interrupted by a craven, bent man who emerged from the same corner as the girl.
His thinning gray hair was almost non-existent, and his glasses slid to his nose. The freckles and dried skin made him appear the part of a troll. His back was crooked and his clothes hung from him as if he were a walking skeleton that had just risen from his grave.
“From where have you come?” asked the man with a harsh tone, his voice raspy.
“Far away from these parts, we are merely passing through,” replied Xeno quickly, knowing full well that the man was wary of strangers; especially those who had come looking for spirits in the darkness.
“Far away, eh? Your companion looks the part of a soldier,” crooned the old man.
“No, sir,” began Uthen and then trying to think quickly, he continued, “I’m a––uh…”
“We are entertainers, from the west. We have merely lost our way,” finished Xeno, flashing Uthen a disgusted glance. The man regarded them suspiciously and then scoffed, disappearing around the corner.
“Entertainers?” queried the girl with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.
“Storytellers mostly,” replied Xeno as he opened the satchel of coins. “How much for that room?”
“Seven gold is what we charge, but if you are entertainers….”
“Seven it is,” replied Xeno as he placed the seven golden coins marked with the emblem of the Nine Kings near the girl. She made them disappear beneath the table into an iron box.
“Would you tell me a story sometime? We don’t have many strangers who pass through, and none who can weave a wonderful tale.”
Xeno hesitated for a moment. “Of course, we shall tell a grand story of good and evil here tonight, after some rest. How does that sound?”
“Thank you, I will be waiting.” The girl skipped off. This was a change from the somber zombie who had stalked out to wait upon them.
“Was that wise?”
“Uthen, sometimes the Fates choose to play strange tricks upon us mortals, and it is best to just take them as they come.”
Uthen could not fault Xeno’s words, knowing that he would be reluctant to deny a few moments of peace to a town steeped in its own despair and misery. As they made their way up the stairs, they saw that snow had begun to fall once again.
Xeno grasped the rusted iron handle and turned it. Emitting a thin, squealing creak as the door swung inward, it revealed the darkened interior. With the exception of the dwindling embers in the fireplace and the dancing light of the lantern at the counter, there was little luminance of which to speak. They approached the counter, their snow-drenched boots leaving puddles of water and slush as they made their way.
Xeno peered over the empty counter, his eyes adjusting to the sudden darkness. “Hello?” he called, his voice echoing in the chamber.
The rustle of footsteps and then the muttering of several small voices came from the staircase to their right. Xeno moved to inspect when a young woman emerged from around the corner, her white dress covered in a dark brown shawl. “Can I help you?” she whispered, her voice more youthful than her appearance.
Xeno stared at the young girl for a moment.
Producing a small satchel of coins, he laid them upon the counter. “My companion and I weathered the snowstorm and need a room for the day and part of the night. Can that be arranged?”
“We have many rooms,” she began, but was interrupted by a craven, bent man who emerged from the same corner as the girl.
His thinning gray hair was almost non-existent, and his glasses slid to his nose. The freckles and dried skin made him appear the part of a troll. His back was crooked and his clothes hung from him as if he were a walking skeleton that had just risen from his grave.
“From where have you come?” asked the man with a harsh tone, his voice raspy.
“Far away from these parts, we are merely passing through,” replied Xeno quickly, knowing full well that the man was wary of strangers; especially those who had come looking for spirits in the darkness.
“Far away, eh? Your companion looks the part of a soldier,” crooned the old man.
“No, sir,” began Uthen and then trying to think quickly, he continued, “I’m a––uh…”
“We are entertainers, from the west. We have merely lost our way,” finished Xeno, flashing Uthen a disgusted glance. The man regarded them suspiciously and then scoffed, disappearing around the corner.
“Entertainers?” queried the girl with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.
“Storytellers mostly,” replied Xeno as he opened the satchel of coins. “How much for that room?”
“Seven gold is what we charge, but if you are entertainers….”
“Seven it is,” replied Xeno as he placed the seven golden coins marked with the emblem of the Nine Kings near the girl. She made them disappear beneath the table into an iron box.
“Would you tell me a story sometime? We don’t have many strangers who pass through, and none who can weave a wonderful tale.”
Xeno hesitated for a moment. “Of course, we shall tell a grand story of good and evil here tonight, after some rest. How does that sound?”
“Thank you, I will be waiting.” The girl skipped off. This was a change from the somber zombie who had stalked out to wait upon them.
“Was that wise?”
“Uthen, sometimes the Fates choose to play strange tricks upon us mortals, and it is best to just take them as they come.”
Uthen could not fault Xeno’s words, knowing that he would be reluctant to deny a few moments of peace to a town steeped in its own despair and misery. As they made their way up the stairs, they saw that snow had begun to fall once again.
Bio: A psychologist, author, editor, philosopher, martial artist, and skeptic, he has published several novels and currently has many in print, including: The End of the World Playlist, Bitten, The Journey, The Ocean and the Hourglass, The Path of the Fallen, The Portent, and Cerulean Dreams. Follow him on Twitter (@AuthorDanOBrien) or visit his blog http://thedanobrienproject.blogspot.com. He recently started a consultation business. You can find more information about it here: http://www.amalgamconsulting.com/.
All of his books are only 99 cents on Kindle right now!
Download The Twins of Devonshire and the Curse of the Widow for free on Kindle from 8/13 until 8/17!
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