Life After a Series

Anyone following my blog, well they know my story.   They know about the July 2014 diagnosis of cancer, the fire that ripped through our hobby farm and the many surgeries.  All happening as I wrote the Blue Dragon's Geas Series.  I had to have a lot of push and support to get the last book out.  After the last period was placed and then the mis-release on Amazon were all resolved.  I just walked away from my computer.  The relief to finish the story before cancer finished me was a huge weight off my shoulders.

I moved to Minnesota to attend the Mayo clinic.  My health has been on a constant return to somewhat of a normal day to day that is manageable. I live with great friends who have made me part of the family.  I have learned to live in a new place with a new cultural approach to life.

Then it happened.  The story started to nag at me.   Where did Jon come from? What happened to Nightmare?  What about the baby?  Did anyone else know about Levielle's magic?  What about all the other Gods?  Why were they so absent?

Poke. Poke. Poke. Poke.

Guess what?  I have picked up my pen.  Jon's story needs told.  A lot of these questions need answers.  I can't leave it alone.  Death's Door is now in progress.  I should have it finished in two months to begin the editing process.  That is why I am reaching out to my readers.  What questions did the series leave you with?  I don't promise to answer them all in this book.  (Maybe future ones)  I will try to answer as many as fits the story-line I am writing.

So while I have been fairly silent over the last year.  I am here to say today, "I AM BACK!"

I  can't wait to hear from all of you.

Best wishes
Cheryl Matthynssens
Creator of the world of Vesta

Alador's Journal as King- Livewrite

I have had multiple requests to continue the story of the Blue Dragon's Geas, you can find the series on Amazon.  I hope this journal will help fill the void until the next book is written.  Let me know your thoughts, including are these of value to you?

It has all happened so fast  Once the wounds I obtained from Luthian were healed, time became a swirl of confusion.  There was a coronation to plan, fortunately Sordith and Henrick were happy to head that up.  They didn't really ask, but I am not complaining.

I cannot help but reflect on the evening of the celebration.  First there was Mesi.  She had cornered  me as I was taking Latiera to her crib.  I love her.  I will always love her.  But, when she told me she could not stay in Silverport, I knew it was truth.  My heart wrenched to hear those words.  I knew I could never return to Smallbrook to live as I had grown up.  I am a powerful mage.  I am still a half-breed.  Now, I am conqueror and King.  There is no return for me.

Sordith pointed out that Nemara would be more accepted as Queen.  I do love her as well.  It is not with the deep longing that has driven me to protect Mesi, but rather as a close friend.  She has been there for me.  She found Rena's egg and brought it back to me.  I can count on her to be there when I need her.  I do believe that I will follow Sordith's advice and make her my Queen.  Everyone treats her as if she already is so it would be more of a formality.

A Dragonologist's Journal

Dragonologist: June 14, 2014 (First publication of this dragonologist's search for a live dragon and the revealing of the red dragon, Keensight.)


I did not see a dragon at all today even though I am in an area where there was a reported sighting.  I did find some burn marks that might indicate this is a hunting area of a dragon with a breath of flame. However, I am unable to verify at this time.  This area is rife with mosquitoes and other irritating pests.  While this would not deter a dragon, I am finding myself quite uncomfortable and smelling of a great deal of bug spray.  Fortunately I thought to pack my mosquito net and will be able to sleep without such irritations.

Dragonologist:  June 16, 2014

I have entered more dangerous terrain. There is more evidence of flaming here even among the rocks. I think I am getting close and will proceed with caution.  A soot test revealed that some of the marks were as recent as within the month.

Livewrite: Ferryman of the Damned

Anonymous submission
slavetrader
place where I was born
addiction
Mud puddles

The sound of pelting rain, it never failed to fall when it was most unwelcome. Curt tugged up his collar of his jacket in a gruff manner. Giving a heavy sigh, he ran through the streets of the coastal city of Davenport. The streets barren of anyone living that didn’t have to be out in the pouring rain, soon he would be out of this mess and back to his ship. The new goods had come so quickly from the seller, his crew had hardly set foot onto land before they were wanting to shove off again.

 His thoughts yanked back as he misstepped and sank ankle deep in mud. Falling forward, his right arm came into contact with another puddle as the mud oozed through his fingers. With a growl, Curt wrenched free his arm and foot. The rain making it no easy task and further soaking his clothing.

 “Great, juuuust great.” muttering as he shook off the muck. The squishing of his boot sounded just above the din of the rain falling. Home after warm home and inn he passed, tempting him with a place to hole up until this mess of wind and rain was over. But, duty called and he wasn’t getting paid to sit comfortably on his ass in a warm hut. After rounding yet another switchback in the streets, the port was in view, his ship, Mari Toth, bobbed in the waves.



A smirk crossed his face once he got closer to the warf inns and saloons. The sound of revelry whispered like a siren’s call. He could imagine his men trading slips and tokens for drinks and the touch of soft pleasures, oh how he desired that. A gust of wind whipped surf into his face as he looked up. One of the crew was looking over a soaked manifest near the ship. His expression sour, Curt knew instantly that this was not a job he wanted to be taking.  His crew were standing around with large eyes and the ship was strangely quiet enough to hear the small harbor ripples hit the side of the massive ship.

Recent Books That Have Caught My Eye

Shift by Madison Dunn. $8.99 from Smashwords.com

I'm not sure why it happens, but when I focus just right, I can slow time. Things around me become lighter somehow, and I almost feel the tiny particles of energy spinning inside of them. The thing is, having the ability to transform the world around you isn't all it's cracked up to be -- especially when you are running from the Valencia without any deodorant.

***********

Celebrity Authors’ Secrets - The World’s Greatest Living Authors Reveal How They Sell Millions of Books by Stephanie Hale. $12.99 from Smashwords.com


Twelve of the world's greatest living authors reveal their tips for writing a book that sells over a million copies in Celebrity Authors' Secrets. A must-have guide - filled with publishing and book marketing info - for aspiring writers, authors, publishers, editors, writing coaches, creative writing tutors and anyone who loves books. Find out how to make your book stand out from the masses!

*********

The Missing Link by Maureen Murrish. $4.99 from Smashwords.com

It is time for Robby and Abigail to return to Dragon World and begin their role as full members of the community. But things go badly wrong from the moment they leave the cave with their dragons. The Missing Link is book two of the Dragon World series.

You Can Read All My Books for Free - Sign up for Kindle Unlimited

Prologue From Soon to Release: Fallen Tiers

Here is a tidbit from the upcoming novel: Fallen Tiers - Book 5 of The Blue Dragon's Geas

Art by Rebecca Hunt

Jon nodded to the acolyte that took the reins of his lexital.  His robes were gray from the dust of travel and his hair unkempt.  It was not this that drew the eyes of everyone in the stable yard, it was the little black dragon curled tightly around his neck.  The thin whip of a tail looked more like a choker tight against the mage’s throat.

He looked around in amazement.  He knew of this temple, all death mages did.  But, this was more than he had imagined.  It was fashioned similarly to the tiers, the levels though were not as distinct and black spires rose up here and there.  Where Silverport was built of white glistening stone, the temple was represented in black.  Where he stood now was in a courtyard outside the main wall of the temple.

The death mage’s eyes traveled up to see cave openings lining the far off cliff walls.  How many dragons had the High Priestess managed to gather?  If they were all full, it was a concern he would have to relay to Alador.  He cast a clean spell absently as he continued to take in the breath-taking view.

His eyes caught the far off movement of three dragons flying together.  They looped in and out of one another before making some far off diving run.  As they dropped down, he lost sight of them.  Their choreography in flight had been amazing.  He stroked Nightmare’s small muzzle bringing a soft sigh from the hatchling.

Review of In the Nick of Time

In the Nick of Time by Robin Chambers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Timeless Message Which Man Continues to Forget

Robin's unique style of writing mirrors well with my preferred view points. The glossary at the end, enlightens and expands my understanding of small cultural phrases. Extremely helpful for those of us in a different country where the local idioms are unknown.

The perplexity of mankind is that constant need to be in control of things beyond our personal spheres of influence. Evil, for the sake of evil, has always been about the ability of those with power to exert that power as they choose without consequence. It doesn't matter the genre, when evil is taken up with a professional hand, the sordid truth of its indecency is universal.

Robin Chambers is such a professional hand. In the Nick of Time brings forward the evil in man which is rarely hidden nowadays. It challenges thought on what justice is within in a world of injustice. These very deep human perplexities are buried under a whimsical tale of magic and power, fairies and daemons, and wizards and witches.

If there is true justice in the land, then someone with the power to do great things in the world will publish this man's work for all the world to see. He excels in word-crafting, world building, and storytelling. A true man of honor and integrity, you can feel the desire for a better world emerging though the voice of his hero. The unyielding voice of justice in Gordon married with the hand of healing and mercy in Grace, echoes in the minds of all those who have suffered the hands of cruelty just for the sake of being cruel.

The only criticism I would dare to offer is that the author breaks the fourth wall a couple of times which stuttered the immersion of the world. Not enough to detract from my opinion, but enough to be noted.

Huzzah Mr. Chambers - truly Huzzah

View all my reviews

New Video Trailer for Series!!

Outcast is Free - June 25, 2016

Update on the Final Book!

A title has been chosen for the final book in The Blue Dragon's Geas. The final book will be called Fallen Tiers. I am looking forward to tying up loose ends from Sordith's Wedding to Luthian's suspicions. Here is a small excerpt from Jon's thread.

Jon looked up on hearing the soft footsteps. He had known she was coming. Nightmare had bristled first at sounds that Jon could not hear. It had given him time to prepare himself for what he must do next. He would take no pleasure in it and yet he knew it was the only way he could accomplish his own ends.

Pseudo-Dragon is Released- Reviews Coming in Positive.

I am so excited about the release of Pseudo-Dragon. A couple of days ago it reached number eight in fairy tales on Amazon.  It is meeting expectations and is probably the best work I have done.  Bloodmines remains my favorite as far as storyline. I love the dragons interactions with Alador.  However, I have began tying up strings as I head for the final book of this series.  It does not mean I will never write any of these characters again, but the Blue Dragon's Geas will be completed.   I am a little confused that it is in the top 20 for fairy tales in UK and USA, I see it as more of a sword and sorcery type book.

If there is anything you would like to see me write, feel free to put it in comments.  I have started a list of next series stories, and as such am most willing to add my reader's wish list.  

Here are some of the reviews coming out of kindle readers:

Live Write - To Good To Be True!

To Good To Be True!

This Live Write Challenge was issued by Rob G

WARNING - THIS POST IS A BIT RACIER THAN MOST!

Items given: Amorous young wizard, down by the river that goes into a strangely lit waterfall, young wizard is supposed to be fetching his master's staff, and a fluorescent lizard 

Please note: Live writes are not edited other than simple spell and grammar checks. 

Picture of the Day!

Posted on Flickr by stilesathelake  CJ Stiles

Nathan sighed as he ran a hand through his short sandy hair.  He had been studying with Egbert to be a great wizard for over a year now.  Egbert, he thought, what kind of wizard name is Egbert anyway?  He tossed the book to his feet and laid back on the soft pillowing grass.  He had learned a great deal in a year, but still nothing of the great magics that would allow him to set out on his own.   He put an arm over his eyes to shelter them from the warm rays overhead.  It was early fall and while the nights were cold, causing the turning of the leaves; the days were still quite wonderful.   He sighed as he reviewed his situation.  Yes, he could cast easy spells now.  He could bring about a better crop for a farmer.  He could cast simple healing spells:  Things most hedge witches were capable of doing.    He could feel power in that center within boiling for something more powerful; longing to be cast out into the world.  Such simple spells hardly met this need. The sound of something splashing like a large boulder hitting the small cove of water echoed over the nearby waterfall.  Nathan sat up quickly and looked about.  The ripples of whatever had hit the water still shimmered out from the middle.  He looked towards the falls suspiciously.

Nathan sighed as he ran a hand through his short sandy hair.  He had been studying with Egbert to be a great wizard for over a year now.  Egbert, he thought, what kind of wizard name is Egbert anyway?  He tossed the book to his feet and laid back on the soft pillowing grass.  He had learned a great deal in a year, but still nothing of the great magics that would allow him to set out on his own.  


He put an arm over his eyes to shelter them from the warm rays overhead.  It was early fall and while the nights were cold, causing the turning of the leaves; the days were still quite wonderful.   He sighed as he reviewed his situation.  Yes, he could cast easy spells now.  He could bring about a better crop for a farmer.  He could cast simple healing spells:  Things most hedge witches were capable of doing.    He could feel power in that center within boiling for something more powerful; longing to be cast out into the world.  Such simple spells hardly met this need.


The sound of something splashing like a large boulder hitting the small cove of water echoed over the nearby waterfall.  Nathan sat up quickly and looked about.  The ripples of whatever had hit the water still shimmered out from the middle.  He looked towards the falls suspiciously.  

When I needed it most!

It has been a disheartening weekend with the rain at the festival.  I came home to these two reviews on Goodreads.  I  want to send my heartfelt thanks out to Lorraine Carter and Simon for taking the time to write these out!  They really made my day.

Lorraine Carter rated it 5 of 5 stars

Beautifully described landscapes and mysterious Dragon Lore; the warmth of genuine relationship and the wretched loneliness of being different. Cheryl Matthynessens captures it all writing, in this fantastical series of which Bloodmines is the latest release. She has the gift of being able to conjure for the reader a vast, vibrant canvas as well as embroidering the intricate details within it to create a genuinely enthralling story.

Simon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fantasy should be overwhelmingly intriguing, transporting the reader to a different time and place and this is what happens with Bloodmines. You simply shut the door, start turning the pages and you find yourself in a completely different and brilliantly imagined world. Without a doubt my favourite fantasy novel of the year to date!

Cover Art For Next Book

http://ursatomic.deviantart.com/art/Blizzard-Lights-535406422

Heather has exceeded my hopes once again.  I hope you will all stop by the link in the caption and give her some positive feedback.  She is considering stopping cover art.  I love her work and hope she will continue to do covers for me and many more authors.

This cover represents when Alador casts the spell his uncle has been seeking for some time.  Rena, one of the dragons that helped with his instruction, hovers nearby.  She still harbors a crush on the mage despite even her father telling her there is no hope.

Will Alador continue his assault upon the Daezun with the winter spells?  Will Rena win his heart despite the differences in species?  Find out in the soon to be released fourth book of the Blue Dragon's Geas!  Pseudo-Dragon.

The Inspired Writers! Blue Dragon's Geas Featured.

I had the privilege of being featured on The Inspired Writers blog athored by Merrie Housdon.  You can find the feature article here:  Day 19 of Fantasy Month: The Blackguard by Cheryl Matthynssens

Get the set of the first three here.

The Inspired Writers Blog is dedicated to the both authors and readers.  She occasionally dedicates a whole month to the most requested Genre.  You can vote for your favorite genre, or for the genre that you write, check out the Genre of the Month Poll Page.  There you register for your chance at a feature during this time if your genre fits what is chosen.  When there is no registration form, that means that registration has been closed or that a winner for the next genre of the month has not been chosen.

Words From One of the Greats on Fantasy!

www.wallpaperup.com

“For my present purpose I require a word which shall embrace both the Sub-Creative Art in itself, and a quality of strangeness and wonder in the Expression, derived from the Image: a quality essential to fairy-story. I propose, therefore, to arrogate to myself the powers of Humpty-Dumpty, and to use Fantasy for this purpose: in a sense, that is, which combines with its older and higher use as an equivalent of Imagination the derived notions of 'unreality' (that is, of unlikeness to the Primary World), of freedom from the dominion of 'observed fact,' in short of the fantastic. I am thus not only aware but glad of the etymological and semantic connexions of fantasy with fantastic: with images of things that are not only 'not actually present,' but which are indeed not to be found in our primary world at all, or are generally believed not to be found there. But while admitting that, I do not assent to the depreciative tone. That the images are of things not in the primary world (if that indeed is possible) is, I think, not a lower but a higher form of Art, indeed the most nearly pure form, and so (when achieved) the most Potent.

Fantasy, of course, starts out with an advantage: arresting strangeness. But that advantage has been turned against it, and has contributed to its disrepute. Many people dislike being 'arrested.' They dislike any meddling with the Primary World, or such small glimpses of it as are familiar to them. They, therefore, stupidly and even maliciously confound Fantasy with Dreaming, in which there is no Art; and with mental disorders, in which there is not even control; with delusion and hallucination.

But the error or malice, engendered by disquiet and consequent dislike, is not the only cause of this confusion. Fantasy has also an essential drawback: it is difficult to achieve. . . . Anyone inheriting the fantastic device of human language can say the green sun. Many can then imagine or picture it. But that is not enough -- though it may already be a more potent thing than many a 'thumbnail sketch' or 'transcript of life' that receives literary praise.

To make a Secondary World inside which the green sun will be credible, commanding Secondary Belief, will probably require labour and thought, and will certainly demand a special skill, a kind of elvish craft. Few attempt such difficult tasks. But when they are attempted and in any degree accomplished then we have a rare achievement of Art: indeed narrative art, story-making in its primary and most potent mode.” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien

Position Open for Sheriff - Live Writing Exercise!

The sound of the creaking wood and the rhythmic tapping was the first of Brandwil's realizations. The second was the fact his hands were chained above his head to a wall.  Confusion surged through him as he groaned.  The third realization as that his chest was on fire and his head pounded with a deafening headache.  It seemed to surge with the tapping that seemed close.

"Hello?" he called.  He used his arms to try to work off the blindfold that he could feel on his face. 

"Ah yes, he awakens." The voice sounded weak and old.  "Such timely coming you have made."  The hiss of the voice made it somewhat ominous.

Brandwil tried to recall how he had come to be here.  He had been out at the Jensen's homestead. There had been three children dead with no signs of what had caused their demise.  The only thing Mrs. Jensen had been able to tell him was that the children had spoken of a strange nest they had found the night before.  Despite the level of her grief, Brandwil had been able to get from the distraught mother the directions the children had spoken of before they went to bed.

The Jeweled Serpent - Live Writing!

     "He went this way."  One of the guards pointed down the darkened street of Drygate.

     "You had best be sure," the second guard snarled.  "If he gets away, it will be us on the stone for certain."

     Neither took note of the old washer woman, bent with age and struggling to hang her wash.  The two men hurried down the street looking for their prey.  The woman watched till they turned around the corner then pulled a bag from beneath the wet laundry.

     Khor had not had long, but the old woman had been more than happy to let him hang her laundry in exchange for the use of her cowled cloak.  He slipped back through the stone door and winked at her as he handed her the garment.  "I hung a fair bit of it.  You take care, elder.  I would hate for you to run a foul of those guards."  He slipped a piece of medure into her hand.  "That should keep you fed for a good while.  Just tell the trader, you found it in the sewer."

     The woman looked up at him; her eyes blank from years in the dark underground city.  "You be the one best be careful.  The priests' guards do not give up easily, and there is but one way out of the city."

     "I will try to avoid their arms."  Khor  kissed her hand gallantly and after checking the street, slipped out the door.

Thank You to whoever posted this amazing review.

I was fortunate to receive this review.  I had to share it with you all, though now I have I a very high standard to rise to in book 3. 

An epic tale of dragons and magic, friends and lovers, ambition and betrayal.

Alador finds himself in the city of Silverport, the Lerdenian capital. Surrounded by a culture that sees murder as a path to social power, he struggles to find his place. Sent by his uncle, the High Minister of Lerdenia, to the Blackguard, he begins his training as both a soldier and a water mage. The dragon dreams have not stopped and he learns more of the bloodstone he had harvested and what it means for him.

Auron, the Trench Lord of Silverport, hates Daezun as he sees them responsible for the death of his mother and being thrown away due to his lack of magic. Having clawed and fought his way to power, he discovers that the High Minister's nephew sits in privelege, a Daezun half-breed. He vows to see to the boy's undoing.

A rip roaring read from beginning to end, The Blackguard is Book #2 in The Blue Dragon's Geas, the bestselling fantasy series from author Cheryl Matthynssens. Intriguing and original with an exquisite plot and a hawkish reverence for prose, her world building is among the best in genre. There is rich detail in abundance which kindles the imagination and yet despite a fairly weighty page count, her narrative flows faultlessly. There’s no doubt that Matthynssens knows how to spin a spellbinding yarn and it really is as good as the genre gets, but her tale is most notable for a host of wonderfully observed characters that all but leap from the page.  Resonating with luminosity, she ably brings them to life whilst combining the best aspects of action orientated tales with suspense and intrigue, to ensure readers of all ages are kept on the edge of their seats.

Highly entertaining, The Blackguard promises much for the series ahead and definitely deserves a place on your bookshelf. It is recommended without reservation.