First Review for Storm's Tempest

I was thrilled to see the first review posted for Book 4 of the Stormfall Chronicles. Book reviewer Liliyana Shadowlyn at The Faerie Review has been following this series from the beginning, and I've been looking forward to seeing her impressions on the fourth book in the series.

This fourth installment might just be the best yet. . . . I was dying to see where things would go after the way book three ended. The story moves along smoothly, following different characters until the various plot lines converge. I loved the subtle romantic subplots flowing through and relieving some of the tension of the impending war. By the time you reach the last page, all the loose ends have been tied up, and while we aren’t left with any lingering questions, I have to admit, I wouldn’t mind a few more adventures with this band of characters that I’ve grown quite fond of over the course of the series.

https://www.thefaeriereview.com/2023/12/review-storms-tempest/

Thanks again for reading, Lily. I'm so glad you've enjoyed the series.

Second Draft for Wolves of Stormfall Prequel

While I've been waiting for my beta readers to come back with their edits for the second Wolves of Stormfall novel, I've been editing the second draft for the prequel to the series. Just got through with it today. Still more of a skeleton than a novel, but I have a better sense for what it will eventually look like now.

Fifth Draft Complete for Second Wolves of Stormfall Novel

 

I've completed the fifth draft for Book 2 of the Wolves of Stormfall. The text now totals 47,400 words in length, up from 45,600 words at the end of the fourth draft. I still have a couple of scenes I've been thinking of adding, but the text is now far enough along to send out to my beta-readers.

This story bridges the gap between the first Wolves of Stormfall book, and Callisto's appearance in Book 3 of the Stormfall Chronicles. Can't wait to see it complete.

Fourth Draft Completed for Second Wolves of Stormfall Novel

I've completed the fourth draft for the second book in the Wolves of Stormfall series. The text now stands at 45,600 words in length, up from 36,700 words at the end of the third draft. This story bridges the gap between the first Wolves of Stormfall book, and Callisto's appearance in Book 3 of the Stormfall Chronicles.

The story is beginning to be fleshed out. Still a lot more left to do, however, before I can begin cutting this story loose. My plan has been to release the novel first on Kindle Vella, and then subsequently on Kindle Unlimited and in paperback.

New Reviews for Storm's Herald

Storm's Herald, the first book in the Stormfall Chronicles, has added two more ratings and reviews during the past two weeks - on both Amazon and Goodreads. The novel now has 45 Amazon ratings with an average rating of 4.2, including 13 text reviews, and 33 ratings on Goodreads with an average rating of 4.09, including 17 text reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MYK9QHC

To quote from one of the most recent reviews added:

Great plot & character development. Plausible story line. Keeps your interest. Really first rate writing. I rarely give five stars. HIGHLY recommended!!!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5904633278

So glad to see readers enjoying the series.

A Wolf Before the Storm - Now on Kindle Unlimited and Paperback

A Wolf Before the Storm, previously released on Kindle Vella, is now available as an eBook on Kindle Unlimited, as well as in paperback.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJRY1V11

Delving into Callisto's story has been especially fun. I hope readers enjoy her her story as much as I have.

In an age of magic, in a realm where werewolves stalk the land, a lost girl awakens from a nightmare – and claims a legend as her own.

Callisto never saw herself as a hero in anyone’s tale, least of all her own. She never saw herself as a villain either. Just someone making the best of an impossible situation.

An indentured servant to a den-master of thieves, she has had to live by her wits and talents – all the while hiding the secrets of her past. Trained as a pickpocket and lockpick, she proves equally adept with a dagger. Fate, it seems, has never thrown her many favors. The few it has given her, she has learned to make the most from.

Everything changes when a chance burglary hints at a hidden cache of letters – letters left behind by an Arche-Mage centuries before. Secreted somewhere in the Imperial Library, the documents promise to fetch a fortune from the right buyer. It could be everything she dreamed of. Enough to pay off her debts. Enough to start a new life. Or it could just as easily land her in the dungeons of an empire vowed to exterminate her kin.

Amidst fleeting glimpses of a life she longs for but can never have, Callisto must maintain her cover long enough to find the treasured documents – before the shadows of her past overtake her.

The first in a new series and set in the same world as the Stormfall Chronicles, this novel follows the story of Callisto more than a decade before she appears in Book 3 of the Stormfall Chronicles.

Stormfall Chronicles Video Trailer

I updated the video trailer for the Stormfall Chronicles series, now that the fourth and final book in the series is released.

Storm's Tempest Pre-Release

Book 4 of the Stormfall Chronicles has finally been cut loose! The eBook will be live as of October 1st, and the paperback is available now!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJHPPJZF

It's been a longer journey than I might have anticipated, but it's good to have the concluding chapter to the original series released.

An army of dark fae on the march; a princess imprisoned in her own manor; and a desperate bid to rally support before the undead overwhelm the living. 

The armies of Marwel are on the march, seeking to exact retribution over her fae cousins. The Arche-Fae Council, however, remains in disarray, and the fae armies number too few to stem the mounting tide. 

With war on their heels, Lynette and Baxter are sent as emissaries, in a frantic attempt to convince the kings of the adjoining, human kingdoms to join a war against Marwel's undead armies. But who will listen to their warnings? A peasant girl and a squire on the run from his native land? 

Elyan, the Fae King lives, but he has not returned to his former vigor. And Elise, the Fae Princess, has been confined to the Royal Estate. Even the mage-turned-swordsman Garth, is nowhere to be found – stalking north on his own quest. The fate of both human and fae worlds may yet come down to a farmer’s son without name or title, and a sorceress afraid to use her own power. 

For Lynette must battle her own demons. How can she confront the threats ahead - when she refuses to tap into her own magic and abilities? Whom she might hurt, and what might she become, should her own magic overwhelm her again? 

Book Four of the Stormfall Chronicles, Storm’s Tempest provides the stunning conclusion to the series - an Epic Fantasy for all ages.

Third Draft of Book 2 from the Wolves of Stormfall

I've completed the third draft for Book 2 of the Wolves of Stormfall. This novel bridges between where the first book in the Wolves of Stormfall series left off, and Callisto's appearance years later in Books 3 and 4 of the Stormfall Chronicles. The text now stands at 36,700 words long, compared to 25,400 at the end of the second draft. It's starting to feel more like it has the pieces in place. Just need to flesh it out a bit.

At this point, I have Book 4 of the Stormfall Chronicles ready for release (absent a cover design which is still in work), a third draft of Book 2 from the Wolves of Stormfall (I usually release a title after the sixth or seventh draft), and a first draft complete for a prequel to the Wolves of Stormfall. The first draft for Book 3 of the Wolves of Stormfall, which follows Callisto's story following the events in the Stormfall Chronicles, is partially complete.

A lot of balls to keep in the air, but I suspect things will fall into place more quickly now.

Another Cover Teaser

It's coming time for my daughters to return to university. I'll be making the trek with my middle daughter tomorrow. Always a sad time of year to see them go. They are so much a part of my life and my writing.

In the meantime, I thought I might post another teaser from the Book 4 cover design.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZCZ139M

On the Road

I’ve been traveling this week, dropping my oldest daughter back off in Pullman, Washington ahead of the Fall

2023 semester. It’s always sad when I have to drop them off again. My kids have been so much a part of my life, and my writing, for so many years. I have one more daughter to drop off at university (in South Carolina) next weekend.

Been trying to catch up on some of my editing while I’m at it. Currently working on edits to Book 2 of Callisto’s story - which will be released initially on Vella.

The picture was taken in Montana on my drive back. Still a few more states to go.

Cover Design Taking Shape

Cover design for Book 4 of the Stormfall Chronicles is slowly taking shape.

It sometimes takes longer than what I might like - so in the meantime i thought I might post a teaser.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZCZ139M

Final Draft for Book 4 Complete

My oldest daughters are back from college for the summer, and the seventh and final draft for Book 4 of the Stormfall Chronicles is at last complete. The text now stands at 126,000 words long, compared to 122,000 at the end of the sixth draft.

It obviously took longer than expected, but there were a lot of loose ends to tie up. My middle daughter still needs to complete the cover art for the final installment, but it's getting closer.

Road Trip

I thought I might post a picture from my road trip, taken from a rest area in Pennsylvania. I'm on my way to pick up my eldest daughter from school. The cross-country road trip has become a twice annual tradition of sorts, with my eldest daughter attending university in Washington state, and with our home being in Connecticut. In another month I'll be picking up my middle daughter from her university in South Carolina (she's taking "extended May" classes this year). Needless to say, I've been very much looking forward to having them home for the summer.

As some are already aware, my daughters have been my beta readers throughout my publishing journey, providing critical feedback for my writing, and also creating the covers for each of the books. There have been many times when I've crafted a particular passage of the novels with them in mind: looking forward to hearing their response when they later read it. They have been a crucial part of this process, and part of my motivation for publishing these stories as well.

Second Draft for Book 2 of the Wolves of Stormfall

I completed editing the second draft for Book 2 in the Wolves of Stormfall. I really needed to get that story in a better place, fill out some of the gaps in the tale, before embarking on my final edit for Book 4 of the original Stormfall Chronicles series.

Small victories, after all.

Review of Book 3 in Bookshine and Readbows

Excited to see Steph Warren's review of Book 3 from the Stormfall Chronicles appear on her website. To quote from her review,

J.W. Golan has built an epic fantasy world in this series, and each instalment ramps up the tension and raises the stakes, making this story epic not only in genre but also in length, complexity and content.

Thanks again Steph. So glad you enjoyed it.

https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2023/03/06/catch-up-quickies-40/

Letter to Callisto

It looks like Callisto has received her first fan mail from online.

I've enjoyed sharing her story with everyone.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QL999X5

The World of Stormfall

It's been a while since I've posted an update, so I thought I might provide a little insight into the future of the World of Stormfall.

As those who follow my blog might know, I completed the 6th draft for Book 4 from the Stormfall Chronicles this past December. Since then, I have been working on a couple of early, rough drafts which continue Callisto's story in the Wolves of Stormfall series, before I complete the final edit for Book 4. To help piece how this all fits together, I've composed with the attached timeline and guide.

The Stormfall Chronicles is an epic fantasy, following a range of characters and storylines. Central to that story are the experiences of Lynette and Baxter, but there are many more in both the human and fae world who play a role in these events. Book 4 will bring this original story arc to its conclusion. It is now in its final round of edits, and will be ready to release in the coming weeks.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZCZ139M

The Wolves of Stormfall, on the other hand, follows the story of the werewolf Callisto, who appears in Books 3 and 4 of the Stormfall Chronicles. The first book in this spin-off series was released on Kindle Vella last year, and will be released as an eBook and paperback on Amazon shortly after Book 4 from the Stormfall Chronicles goes live. I also recently completed the first, very rough draft to Book 2 of this spin-off series, as well as the first draft to a short novella that serves as a prequel to Callisto's story. Book 3 of this series is also part-way through its first draft. I'm expecting Books 2 and 3 from the Wolves of Stormfall to be released first on Kindle Vella. I haven't decided what I want to do with its Prequel.