High Tide

I grew up with a blended family. This may or may not be something with which you can relate, but I remember having this added feeling of excitement that surrounded the holidays because Christmas wasn’t just one day. I had Christmas with my mom, stepdad, and siblings, and then I had another Christmas with my dad and stepmom. Two families, two celebrations, two sets of gifts = Double the joy, and once I graduated from the selfishness of youth, double the gratitude.

This is what that feels like. Finally being able to share High Tide with you is like a second Christmas. A Christmas before Christmas.

I did not plan on writing this story. Meridia and Kallen were two characters that I knew existed, but didn’t have much desire to pay attention to. They were like seashells, drifting in the shallows. I’m a deep sea diver when it comes to writing. Cloaking Fate is like the treasure lurking in the depths, glittering enticingly. All of my focus has been on reaching what I considered to be the ultimate prize.

But damn if those perfect little seashells weren’t distracting.

I don't remember exactly when I got pulled in by High Tide’s current, but I remember why. I was over my head in edits for Cloaking Fate, reading all these blogs about starting a newsletter and watching tutorials on how to successfully create a following as a new author. Give them a cookie, they said. A little enticement. Your readers want to be rewarded for caring about what you write. Besides, who doesn’t like free stuff?

More than anything else, though, I figured, why not give them a sample? A taste of my prose. Who the heck wants to go in blind on a 170,000+ word fantasy by a no-name author? If I can offer potential readers a bite, and they find it delicious, surely they’ll come back for the whole pie!

So, that was my original intent with High Tide. It was just supposed to be a bite.

I could never have anticipated it would become such a vibrant, action-packed adventure with characters I found myself rooting for at every turn. Characters I didn’t want to let go of. Meridia and Kallen weren’t supposed to become more. But they pushed their way to the forefront of my mind, decidedly refusing to be ignored, and wound up settled comfortably in my heart.

It is with utmost pleasure that I introduce them to you now. High Tide is here. It is ready to be shared. And you, dear subscribers, are the only ones to receive it. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays. Enjoy.