Hobbits vs. Superheroes

I love me some Marvel superheroes. Captain America, Spider-Man, Ant Man, Iron Man (is it just me or do a lot of these end in 'man'? Hmm. A bit sexist perhaps...), they showcase a broad spectrum of heroes, anti-heroes, reluctant heroes, trying their best but still making mistakes heroes...Yep, I'm a geek. And superheroes aren't relegated to the world of Marvel or DC comics any more, either. Seems everyone and their brother-in-law is making stories about heroes with superpowers of some kind, whether they're magic like Harry Potter or mythological like Percy Jackson, or supernatural, like every paranormal romance ever written-- we love our characters extra special. Extra powerful. One in a million. In fact, we love taking it one step further, making our characters the MOST powerful, the MOST special. Fated to save the world. Chosen, prophesied, foretold, fated. It's getting a little clichéd, actually.

Don't get me wrong, I love me a good superhero. An occasional 'chosen one' or 'fated mate' isn't horrible. But go back for a sec to the roots of modern fantasy-- you know who I'm gonna start talking about, right? J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings of course. That all time beloved classic that's been ripped off too many times to count. Every fantasy author wants to write the next LOTR. Do you realize that the entire concept of LOTR is exactly the opposite of the recent superhero/chosen one craze in science-fiction and fantasy? It's up to two lowly hobbits, Frodo and Sam, to find their way into Mordor and save the world. They're the least of all the companions. Not wizards, not warriors, not mystical elves or mighty dwarves. They're the weakest, the least educated, the least experienced, the most unlikely of heroes. Many times I'll pick up a new fantasy book about a supposed unlikely hero who then goes on to discover unique abilities, or exceptional gifts that he or she has. They aren't all that unlikely, actually. They end up with something no one else has got. Not so for the hobbits. It could be said that their only superpower is the willingness to keep moving forward when all hope is lost, when their quest seems like a suicide mission.

And wow, does everyone love those hobbits. For all that they're weak and pathetic, they're some of the most celebrated heroes of literature. I guess it got me wondering, What happened to all the underdogs? Why is it that to be cool anymore in your speculative fiction, you have to be super-extra-powerful-special-chosen? Frodo and Sam were chosen, in a way. But they weren't imbued with special abilities-- only with enough grace- barely- to make it through their mission. Plus they had some cool friends. And oh how they made our hearts sing!

So that all got me thinking about those verses in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, (quoting from the NKJV) "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence...that, as it is written, 'he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'"

I love that just so much.

Sure, I love a good superhero. But it's so comforting to know that even a hobbit can save the world, and that you don't have to be extra-super-powerful-mighty to be loved and chosen by God. He delights in using the weak ones to accomplish great things. And when you're struggling with whatever burdens or stressful things you've got in your life, and maybe you're like me and you have days where it feels like World War Three just to make it till bed time in one piece, well, it makes the victory that much sweeter when you do accomplish that great thing. Or when you make it to the end of a rough day and by God's grace, you've got your family fed, the dogs are still alive, and you even managed to smile once or twice. It was a close thing, but, dang it all, you did it with no superpower other than grace. I think that qualifies you as being EPIC.

Sample Chapter, Red Wolf Book Two

Wow. Hey guys. Long, unintended hiatus there. Needless to say, the last couple months haven't exactly gone according to plan, and now I find myself WAY behind on everything, writing and blogging included.

Belatedly, I'd like to thank everyone who participated in my December book giveaway by commenting, sharing, and spreading the word! I'm so thankful for my faithful readers.

Way back in December, I had mentioned that I was planning on posting the first chapter in my Red Wolf Trilogy book TWO. Aaaaand then it never happened. So sorry about that.  The good news is, it didn't go anywhere in the meantime. So, without further delay, my I present the opening chapter in the next book in the series, Unmask the Night.

Red Wolf Trilogy #2

Unmask The Night

Chapter 1

“I want you to kill King Heymish. It’s time for my brother to die.”

Aaro D’Araines resisted the temptation to look his cousin, King Ormand, in the eyes. Even wearing his Shonnowan mask, infused with their magic so that only he could take it off, he felt exposed—aware that his emotions were battling underneath it, too raw to hide his expression. He feared that if their eyes met, it would spark recognition. A few hours ago, that wouldn’t have mattered, because he’d fully intended to reveal his identity once he had his dagger through Ormand’s heart. He had wanted his cousin to know who his killer was before he died. Part of him still wanted that, desperately. But Red’s blood had changed everything.

Gaping silence filled the king’s hall. Aaro’s shoulder started throbbing again where Red had bitten him, and he could feel captain Fernand’s gaze practically burning the back of his head. But still he said nothing as he struggled to process his own reactions. He thought he’d snuffed out his conscience four years ago, but now his heart burned in cadence with the pounding in his shoulder.

A few wispy tendrils of a plan were gathering in his mind, too, and he mentally scrambled to gather them before he spoke.

“Well?” Ormand said, his voice clipped with impatience. “Your hesitance doesn’t bode well. You’ve proven your loyalty to me, but this isn’t the mission to suddenly turn bashful.”

Aaro stirred, shaking off the conflict behind his mask, and offered a bow to hide his sudden smile, since the mask didn’t cover his lips. “My apologies. It is not a mission to be accepted lightly, as you can imagine.”

Ormand lifted his hand in a gesture of lazy dismissal. “Well?”

“Ten thousand in silver, and the job is done. I won’t be leaving immediately, though.”

Ormand leaned forward, raising an eyebrow at him. “I give the commands, Mask. And I don’t negotiate. My plans won’t wait.”

“And neither will mine,” Aaro replied. “I’ll be riding east within two weeks. If that isn’t soon enough to fit your plans…” he shrugged and glanced away, knowing his clear dismissal would have his cousin fuming inwardly.

Leaning back on his carved wooden throne with the silver inlays, Ormand’s brows pinched together in a look of controlled wrath. “If you reach Heymish’s palace and kill him within five weeks, the money is yours. If not, I will know it, and you’ll be the most hunted man in West Talva, should you return. Nor would I count on East Talva being particularly safe, if I were you.”

Aaro smiled. “Understood. But it seems you don’t really need my services, if you already have spies in your brother’s court.”

Ormand returned the smile, cunning and utterly cold. “True. I’m paying you because this is your specialty, and I don’t want any mistakes. Heymish is getting paranoid these days. And also…” he paused, that ruthless smile gleaming white, “because I like your style. I don’t want Heymish poisoned. I want him to bleed out, and everyone to know it was the famous masked killer from the West who did it.”

“Famous?” Aaro’s eyebrows went up under the mask.

“Infamous. Oh yes, my friend. They’ve heard of you, even in the civilized East. But you’re slippery enough that I trust you won’t be caught.”

“I don’t intend to be.” He touched the wide brim of his hat before he turned away, and captain Alonso Fernand fell silently into step beside him as he strode out of the hall, back toward the guard room at the main entrance, where his weapons waited for him. Once he had his belt with the twin guns and twin daggers back, along with his boot knife, he felt better.

The dried wolf’s blood on his hands cracked as he buckled the belt back on, and strangely, that helped to settle him as well, reminding him of his new purpose. Though it also reminded him of Ormand’s words a moment ago. I like your style…I want him to bleed out.

A sour-faced courier appeared at Aaro’s elbow to hand him a sizable sack of silver coins—his payment for delivering Ormand’s magic pendant to the Shonno-mara. He took the sack and hefted it, saying nothing. He’d as soon dump the money into the river as put it in the bank. However, if he could use Ormand’s own money to bring him down, he wouldn’t complain. It would fund his trip to East Talva, and still leave the majority to spare.

They left the palace, and Alonso followed him to the outer courtyard where he’d left his horse. The hitching rail stood by itself, deserted except for Aaro’s bay stallion, who waited in a pool of lamplight in the deepening dusk, perking his ears in their direction.

“Come to Merry Tinker’s when you get off duty,” Aaro said. “I’ll buy you a decent meal. I hear military meals aren’t fit to slop pigs with.”

“True enough.” Alonso slouched against the hitching rail, his dark eyes sharp in the dim light, belying the relaxed pose. “I may take you up on that.” Under his breath he added, “Better make it the Laughing Lady. I’ll be there at eleven, and you better plan on telling me what’s going on.”

Aaro nodded. “Later, then.”

He rode out through the stockade fence and onto the prairie. The outskirts of Skybreak lay to the southeast, dark blots of buildings looming against the fading twilit sky. He had another stop to make before his meeting with Alonso, so he nudged the stallion into a canter until they hit the main road through Old Town. Then he slowed to a walk so the sound of rushing hoofbeats wouldn’t draw attention.

As he neared the creek separating Old Town from New Town, he turned off the main road and headed back out toward the open prairie until he hit the familiar dike separating the outlying estates from the open planes.

A weathered stable loomed in the gathering dusk, and he dismounted at the back, looping the reins loosely through a rusted iron ring bolted to the wall. He tiptoed around the stable and toward the house, going silently without actually appearing to sneak. Sneaking was always the best way to get yourself noticed. Aside from wearing a mask, of course. But that couldn’t be helped.

The property looked more run down than he remembered, with a dilapidated buggy sitting on three wheels outside the carriage house, and tall prairie grass growing unchecked around the buildings.

He tried the back door, and it opened under his hand, with no one immediately visible beyond it in the dim house. Easing it closed behind him, he crept up the back staircase.

The first door he opened up there revealed a darkened bedroom, with the drapes pulled closed. It smelled of dust and disuse, and he moved on. After another two tries he found the right one—he hoped. Groping his way around the room, he found a chair in the corner and removed a pile of dirty clothes onto the floor before settled down to wait.

There in the dark, he waited long enough that he might have started to nod off, if his thoughts would have ceased their silent abuse. The dried blood on his hands felt stiff and itchy, reminding him of all the horrors that had happened since the last time he set foot in this house. Inevitably, his thoughts turned to Rowan. As little as he knew her before she’d been killed, he knew she would have hated what he became afterward, in the name of vengeance. What must she think of him today, if she could look down from her place with the Almighty and see him?

He shuddered, then straightened up at the sound of boots coming down the hallway. The door latch clicked, and the hinges creaked as it opened.

A young man stepped into the room. The lamp preceding him lit his features, reassuring Aaro that he’d chosen the right room.

Aaro spoke his name from the shadows. “Dustan Keir.”

And the Winner Is:

And now...

Drum roll, please...

I'd like to announce the winner of my 3 book giveaway. Congratulations to...

Julie Houle!

*Initiate Confetti Explosion*

I hope you enjoy these three fantastical tales. And to everyone else, thanks so much for participating, and I hope you are able to check out my books at some point.

Just a reminder, Betrayer is ON SALE this week for only $.99 for the Kindle book. Get it here.
Also, come back at the end of the week for one more Christmas gift to fans Quench the Day, book #1 in my Red Wolf Trilogy. I'll be posting the opening chapter from book #2, Unmask the Night. I'm pretty excited about where this series is going!

Again, a big congrats to Julie!

Book Giveaway LAST DAY!

Guys, this is your LAST DAY to enter for a chance to win signed copies of all three of my books! Don't miss it!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a328b2b51/?

Winner will be announced Monday evening!

Also, don't forget, Betrayer Kindle e-book is on sale this week for only $.99! Pick up a digital copy to take with you on your phone or Kindle. Or, borrow all three books through KU (Kindle Unlimited) for FREE.

Next week I have another little surprise planned, which I'll be announcing tomorrow along with the giveaway winner. Have I mentioned how excited I get about Christmas? LOL.

Book Giveaway!

Guys. Book giveaway. Need I say more?

Ok, maybe I don't NEED to say more, but I will. It's the start of the Christmas season, which is a REALLY big deal for me. So to say thanks and merry Christmas to my fantastic readers, I'm giving away a signed copy of each of my paperback books to one winner. This is my first time ever really running a blog giveaway, so I wanted to start pretty simple. If it's a success, you can definitely look forward to more giveaways in the future! The giveaway is open for entries RIGHT NOW and runs until Sunday, December 10th. That gives you just a few days to enter! I'll announce the winner on Monday, the 11th. That's only one week from today! Eeeeek!

Also, I wanted to mention that next week, from the 10th to the 17th, I'm running a Kindle Countdown Deal for Betrayer. You'll be able to pick up a copy of the e-book for only $.99!

Thanks, guys, for all the support, prayers, and encouragement. And Merry Christmas!

To enter, check out the link to Rafflecopter. It's super simple. I promise.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a328b2b51/?

Giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada.