So you may be asking why I am having
a cover re-reveal or what is a re-reveal anyways? Well you see, life sometimes
gets in the way of the best laid plans and changes sometimes have to be made.
When I had my first cover reveal back on February 1 (I know because it was my
birthday) Quest for Redemption seemed to be on the fast track to coming out,
but then life happened.
I can't remember which happened
first, but both my editor and I got sick. Like not a cold or flu sick, but
majorly sick. I had a major flare in my multiple sclerosis which left me pretty
much useless until it began to subside. School, which I was taking just for
fun, began to demand more and more of my time. This caused a delay in edits,
hence the delay in Quest coming out. Things happen and I can't say that I am
truly shocked the Quest for Redemption hit a few bumps on its way to
publication. You see, this book has been nothing but bumps and a test in
perseverance.
Quest for Redemption has been a
mountain for me to climb, over three years in the making and I have finally
reached the summit, publication is in sight. This started off as a novel
written during National Write a Novel Month, so needless to say the first draft
was a hot mess. It got tabled for a while, then I picked it back up and cleaned
it up added things here and there, turned it into something readable. Finally I
submitted it, it got accepted. During the time of pre-edits the story began to
change again, becoming more fantasy than romance, the characters deepened and
solidified. It was hard work this novel, my longest work to date and also my
toughest to get through.
Blood, sweat, and many tears went
into this work and soon it will be out in the world! This is by far one of my
biggest accomplishments as an author. My first full length novel, my first
fantasy piece, my first book with my new publisher. Quest for Redemption
represents over three years of hard work, sure it took me a little longer to
get here bear the release date, but I got here and for that I am grateful.
Quest for Redemption Cover Re-Reveal
Blurbs:
The fate of the realms rests on the hands of an elven
princess yet to prove herself and an orphan just learning his powers.
Zanna is an elven warrior princess, who seems to have it
all, yet really has nothing. Her fate is not in her own hands. Instead, it is
bound to an ancient magic she has no control over. She wants to rule the elves,
yet must prove herself worthy before she is accepted. She also wants to find
her mate, but after two thousand years, didn't hold much hope. Her existence
has become mundane, and she craves something new. A routine assignment suddenly
turns into something bigger that could ruin all of them. Is she strong enough
to save the world and find her own happiness too? Can she change and help
change the fate of the world with her?
Will is an orphan who has always been confused by his
strangeness. He keeps himself apart, separate from those around him. A chance
meeting with a remarkable woman changes everything. He not only learns about
himself, but about a whole other world that he is a part of by birthright.
However the father that abandoned him as an infant stands to ruin his future
and the future of the world unless he can be stopped.
Will and Zanna must face loved ones who work against them
and their past as well as find the strength to fight a bigger enemy and save
the realms from evil. Can love, friendship, family, and acceptance defeat evil
before it brings the realms crashing down? Can Zanna prove herself worthy to rule
the kingdom?
Author Bio:
Author Sheri Velarde
Sheri Velarde is an author, artist,
independent comic creator and jewelry designer out of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
She is a creative soul with eclectic taste and style when it comes to her art
and writing. Sheri is a multi-publisher romance author who is now branching
into fantasy as well with her Defender of the Realms series. When not creating
(which her fiancé argues is never), Sheri can be found spending time with her
fiancé and their two dogs, reading, watching fantasy movies, attending metal
concerts and just taking time to stop and enjoy life.
Excerpt: (if room available)
Zanna stood, stunned into
immobility. While with Alana, she would have to travel the human way. The
thought slightly annoyed her, yet fascinated her at the same time. "I do
not travel by vehicle, so I will be forced to ride in yours." She could
still smell and see the fear in Alana, so she tried to lighten the mood.
"You know I have never actually ridden in a car before."
"Really?" Alana seemed
shocked.
"I have never had the need. I
simply come and go in this world when I want. I usually arrive and leave the
very spot I wish, and there is never a need for me to travel from place to
place while in this realm. Not to mention I find the transportation of humans
to be quite slow and cumbersome." Nonetheless, Zanna elegantly bent her
long frame into the passenger side, slightly curious to see why many humans
loved their cars so much. Sitting inside one, she felt rather cramped and
uncomfortable, and while it was a fast means of transportation for a human, she
didn't understand what was so special. Maybe one had to be human to fathom why
vehicles fascinated them so.
Alana very nervously started her car
and began to pull out. "Aren't you going to put your seatbelt on? We don't
want to get pulled over."
"Excuse me?" Zanna had no
idea what the sprite spoke of.
"The human law enforcement
requires all people within a vehicle to wear a seatbelt." She pointed to
the belt around herself.
As she pulled the belt and fastened
it like Alana's, Zanna asked, "What is it for?"
"Protection in case of an
accident. Stops you from flying through the windshield," she explained.
"How curious. You know it is
completely unnecessary for me. But if it will keep human law enforcement from
interfering, so be it. The less I have to deal with humans, the better."
The drive to Alana's home did not
take as long as Zanna expected, especially considering she was used to arriving
in places almost instantaneously. She actually found the trip rather
interesting, seeing the human world in a way she had never experienced before.
The tall metal buildings and the harsh exteriors held a beauty to them in their
angles and order that she had never realized before. While she could never give
up the open airiness of the magical realm, viewing this realm as a human gave
her some insight into humans and their nature. Alana pulled into the parking
lot of a very tall and nice-looking apartment building. She turned off her car
and Zanna could see that she was once again trembling.
"What are you going to do to me
and my mother?" She spoke so quietly that a mere human would have had a
hard time hearing her.
"I am going to gather
information. The more I hear about how little you know, the less inclined I am
to punish you. I would like to know why you and your mother, who have magical
blood, cannot enter our world. It is your birthright. If you cannot enter our
world and have not been allowed those privileges of being two-natured, then I cannot
punish you for not following our laws." Zanna tried to smile and reassure
Alana that she meant her no harm. Judging by the look on her face, it worked.
Zanna had been told before that when she smiled at humans and stared directly
into their eyes they believed whatever she said. It came in handy when
questioning them before erasing their memories.
Alana took a deep breath and stepped
out of the car. Zanna attempted to follow, but forgot to take off the seatbelt
and found herself still restrained. To her surprise, Alana giggled, and after a
moment, so did Zanna. That shocked her even more. She rarely laughed, let alone
giggled like a young girl. Kalan had been right saying that something was up
with her tonight; she definitely was not herself.
As Alana took the lead, she said,
"My mom's going to freak out that an elf is coming to our home. She always
talks about how strong, powerful, and beautiful elves are. She's going to be so
pleased, but mad that I didn't call to warn her that you were coming."
"I told you I mean no harm to
your mother. There is no need to warn her."
"No, you misunderstand. She's
going to wish she had time to clean and dress nicely for you. To make our home
and herself more presentable to you," Alana explained.
Zanna was about to answer that this
would not be necessary, but they had just walked inside the apartment building
and a young man in the lobby, apparently leaving, walked right toward them.
Alana and Zanna both stopped talking, not wanting to be overheard. Zanna also
noticed that Alana's posture stiffened, and she could smell a little fear
coming off her once more. She could tell that, this time, she was not the one
causing the reaction. Zanna glanced and saw that Alana was blushing and peering
shyly at the young man coming their way.
Dawn Brower holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, a Master of
Arts in Education, and is currently working on a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts
with concentrations in Literature, History, and Sociology. She works as a
substitute teacher and enjoys the flexibility it gives her to concentrate on
her other endeavors.
