Please help us give Helen Henderson a warm welcome to the blog this week. Helen is sharing her newest fantasy release, Fire and Amulet. Welcome, Helen! We are all excited to hear more about Fire and Amulet.
Inspiration behind Fire and Amulet
A question often asked of an author is the inspiration behind the story. I have always wanted to fly, either in the bright blue sky or the star-speckled universe. The daughter of an airline flight engineer, I learned my numbers and letters helping update manuals and reading the instrument panel of an old Constellation. As a child lying in the grass of our central New Jersey farm, I would identify airplanes from their silhouette and airlines by their tail logo. Time working in the fields was made lighter by watching the clouds drift across the sky.
At one time I studied aviation and considered a career as a pilot, so it is not surprising that I’ve written several works that feature creatures who play tag with the clouds. The Dragshi Chronicles have dragons who share their bodies with a human soul twin providing the ability fly in the skies to those who would otherwise be earth-bound. Fire and Amulet has a dragon that using his magic can take on human form.
While most of my fantasy and fantasy romance novels have a special breed of horse, this book has another fantastical creature, a bird called a helwr. The original inspiration for the large black bird with vibrant orange eyes were the chicken hawks gliding over the fields or roosting on the roof of the barn. Other than the coloring, eagles from the riverside cliffs near my family farm provided the physical inspiration for the helwr named Tywyll. The character of Tywyll was not planned. He just inserted himself into the story. And not surprisingly, also into the sequel, my current work-in-progress. What I’ve enjoyed about the bird’s tale is his loyalty and his taste for vengeance. When his mistress was kidnapped, the bird marked her capture with a talon across the cheek.
Available for purchase:
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WY87HTP
Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/fire-and-amulet
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1142490
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fire-and-amulet-helen-henderson/1141304944
Collection of More Book Sellers: https://books2read.com/fire-and-amulet/
What Fire and Amulet readers are Saying…
A Brilliant Adventure! What a grand adventure and hopefully the start of a new series. The characters are interesting and well motivated. Enjoyed every word of the story and hated to reach the ending. Well written and a great fantasy concept.
– Janet Walters (Amazon verified purchase)
First Rate Fantasy! You can always depend on Helen Henderson for great fantasy reading. Characterizations are spot on, and amid all the sayings, there is wit and humor, and good, badass heroines!
– Eileen Charbonneau
An Excerpt from Helen Henderson’s Fire and Amulet
The excerpt I decided to share has a touch of humor. To set the scene, it is early morning and Deneas is exercising in the privacy of her yard when she is interrupted by the town bully. Enjoy.
The sensation of eyes on Deneas broke her focus. Only Caldar or his son Karst, would be bold enough to interrupt her. A bet with herself, and she turned to see Karst leaning in all his arrogance against the side of the house. She stood the sword point down and placed her hands crosswise on the hilt so she wouldn’t be tempted to swing the blade at the self-appointed master of Darceth.
His perpetual sneer drew even higher as his gaze raked her body from head to toe, lingering on the sweat-darkened breast band. “Slayer Deneas, the council demands your presence in their hall.”
A deep breath to control the urge to wipe the lust from Karst’s face, Deneas forced her tone level. “I will attend them shortly.”
“Now, Deneas. You are to come with me NOW!” The abrupt gesture towards the large circular building that served as the village’s gathering place brooked no delay. “My father ordered. On your back or your feet. Your choice.”
Although she knew she would pay for it later, Deneas let a bark of laughter slip past her lips. “Really, Karst. You think you can take me? You’ve never been more than a candlemark’s walk beyond the village wall. Let alone run the slayer obstacle course.” To add to the boast, she swung the blade in a single-handed series of figure eights. “You never could best me in armed or unarmed combat.”
The idea of beating her oppressor and getting revenge for all his insults sent a tingle of excitement through her body. “While it is the challenged who gets to choose weapons and site, today I gift it to you. Which shall it be? Sword or staff? I promise to only bruise you a little.” Now she added a hint of sultriness in her tone. “Please don’t refuse on account of my sex. After all, I’ve heard so much about your prowess, I’d love to see it.”
Crimson crept up Karst’s neck, yet he stood silent. His tight lips showed the effort he took to control his temper.
You really shouldn’t antagonize Karst that way, whispered Deneas’ sense of self-preservation.
But it is fun, another part of her mind answered. Still, she kept at bay the grin that tried to twitch itself into existence. Heartbeats later, she decided she had toyed with her prey long enough. “Very well, another time.” Quick steps took her to the garden wall and the scabbard. A shove slid the sword into place. Without a word, she spun and walked into the house.
She knew the leering Karst followed close behind, but refused to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging his presence. Mentally counting his steps, she waited until she figured he was on the doorstep. A backward kick slammed the door in his face. In the same movement she spun and dropped the wide plank into the lock brackets.
Karst’s grunt from outside told her that the door stopped at the edge of his nose. This time Deneas allowed her smile free rein.
Meet the Fascinating Helen B. Henderson
Although the author of several local histories, and numerous articles on the topics of American and military history, antiques and collectibles, Henderson’s first love is fiction. Her work in the museum and history fields enables a special insight into creating fantasy worlds.
The descendent of a coal-miner’s daughter and an aviation flight engineer, her writing reflects the contrasts of her heritage as well as that of her Gemini sign. Her stories cross genres from historical westerns to science fiction and fantasy. Her work in the museum and history fields enables a special insight into creating fantasy worlds. In the world of fantasy romance, she is the author of the Dragshi Chronicles and The Windmaster Novels. In her books, she invites you to join her on travels through the stars, or among fantasy worlds of the imagination.
She loves to hear from readers.
Social Media Links:
Blog: https://helenhenderson-author.blogspot.com
Amazon: http://amzn.com/e/B001HPM2XK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelenHenderson.author
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/777491.Helen_Henderson
Email: helenhenderson.author@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/history2write
Thanks for the chance to visit.