Cloak and Dagger Fiction

CSFF Tour: Residential Aliens

2011-08-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

I haven't had too much time to look around Residential Aliens' website, but I read the first story in their free issue ("Petition" by L.S. King) and loved it. The navigation on the site seems a bit tricky - once you click on a page, the only obvious link to go anywhere else on the site is the "Home" button at the top of the screen. And when you read a blog entry, you have to scroll back up to the top to get to the next one.

Other than that, the site seems a great place to find science fiction written with a Christian worldview, and I know I'll enjoy exploring further!

Visit the blogs below for more:

Noah Arsenault
Brandon Barr
Thomas Clayton Booher
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
CSFF Blog Tour
Carol Bruce Collett
D. G. D. Davidson
Dean Hardy
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Lyn Perry
Sarah Sawyer
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler

CSFF Tour: Darkness Follows

2011-06-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

This month, the Christian Science Fiction Fantasy blog tour is featuring Darkness Follows by Mike Dellosso.

I've received so many books from publishers over the years that finding time to read them is a challenge, so I try to limit my requests to ones I plan to read. I'm not a fan of horror in general (except for certain TV shows that blend in a good dose of comedy to offset it), so I didn't request a copy of the book or read it. But I love promoting speculative authors, so I stayed on the tour.

Here's a brief synopsis of the novel:

Sam Travis lives in a Civil War era farmhouse in Gettysburg, PA, where he awakens one morning to find an old journal with an entry by a Union soldier, Capt. Whiting, written in Sam's own handwriting. When this happens several more times, both at night and during waking, Sam begins to question his own sanity while becoming obsessed with Capt. Whiting and his bone-chilling journal entries. As the entries begin to mimic Sam's own life, he is drawn into an evil plot that could cost many lives, including his own. Can the unconditional love of Sam's daughter, Eva, break through his hardened heart before a killer on the loose catches up with them and Sam's past spurs him to do the unthinkable?

Check out the blogs below for reviews and discussion:

Noah Arsenault
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
Chris Deane
Cynthia Dyer
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Inae Kyo
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Sarah Sawyer
Kathleen Smith
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler

CSFF Tour: The Ale Boy's Feast by Jeffrey Overstreet

2011-05-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

This month, CSFF is featuring Jeffrey Overstreet and his latest novel, The Ale Boy's Feast. I interviewed Jeffrey several months back for an author profile in FamilyFiction's March/April issue (you can read the issue online here or download the PDF here).

Here are some excerpts from that interview that didn't make it into the article (or were paraphrased for space).

On becoming a writer:

I was so fond of books that I would actually copy down the entire text of books I was bringing home from the library, because I loved reading books and was just so fascinated by the whole experience of books that I wanted to make my own. Pretty soon I started making changes to the stories I was copying . . . by the time I was 6 or 7 years old I was writing original adventure stories, typing them out with one finger on an old Black Royal typewriter. I loved fairy tales especially, and that’s sort of the shape my stories have taken since then.

On the world of Auralia's Colors:

And the kingdom just becomes this gray, dull, sterile, somber place in the middle of an extravagantly beautiful landscape. Then I realized I was seeing this place over the shoulder of this character who was an artist who lived in the woods, who didn’t like what she was seeing and wanted to restore a sense of imagination and beauty to that place.

What he hopes readers take away from the story:

I hope they really enjoy their journey through this world, as dangerous as it becomes. I hope that they come away with some new questions about the role of imagination in our lives, what art does best, the many ways we try and exploit art for our own purposes, which really ends up hurting imagination.

Find out more about this book (and the entire series) on the blogs below:

Gillian Adams
Red Bissell
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Shane Deal
Chris Deane
Cynthia Dyer
Andrea Graham
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Inae Kyo
Shannon McDermott
Shannon McNear
Karen McSpadden
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
Sarah Sawyer
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler

CSFF Tour: The Strange Man by Greg Mitchell

2011-04-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

I haven't had a chance to read The Strange Man, so I'd intended to opt out of this tour, but I forgot to in time. But here's a quick blurb about the book:

Dras Weldon is a 22-year-old unemployed washout who lives in a world of horror movies and comic books. But when a nameless demon threatens his friend Rosalyn Myers, things change! Putting his faith into action, Dras races against time to turn Ros---and a whole town---toward God and away from unspeakable evil.

And here's the book trailer for the next book:

Noah Arsenault
Red Bissell
Kathy Brasby
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
CSFF Blog Tour
Amber French
Tori Greene
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Inae Kyo
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Gavin Patchett
Andrea Schultz
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler

CSFF Tour: The Resurrection by Mike Duran

2011-03-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

I've been reading Mike Duran's blog for years now, but I haven't gotten around to reading his debut novel, The Resurrection, yet (if you saw my to-be-read stack, you wouldn't be surprised). Here's a brief look at the storyline:

When Ruby Case, an unassuming crippled woman, inexplicably raises a boy from the dead, she creates uproar in the quiet coastal town of Stonetree. Some brand her a witch, others a miracle worker. Yet Reverend Ian Clark could care less. Dogged by demons and immersed in self-pity, Clark is being unwittingly drawn into a secret religious order--one that threatens his very life. But he's about to get a wake-up call.

Together, Ruby and Reverend Clark are thrust into a search for answers... and a collision with unspeakable darkness. For behind the quaint tourist shops and artist colonies lies a history of deceit. And a presence more malignant than anything they can imagine. Yet a battle is brewing, the resurrection is the first volley, and the unlikely duo are the only ones who can save them. But can they overcome their own brokenness in time to stop the evil, or will they be its next victim?

Check out the blogs below to find out more about the book:

Noah Arsenault
Brandon Barr
Red Bissell
Book Reviews By Molly
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Wanda Costinak
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Janey DeMeo
Cynthia Dyer
Tori Greene
Nikole Hahn
Joleen Howell
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McNear
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
John W. Otte
Gavin Patchett
Sarah Sawyer
Andrea Schultz
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Dave Wilson

CSFF Tour: The God Hater by Bill Myers

2011-02-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

While I have enjoyed Bill Myers' books in the past (starting out when I was young reading the McGee and Me novelizations), I must confess that I have not yet read The God Hater. One of the reasons I have shied away from reading it is simple: the back cover copy gives away too much.

Oh, I understand the publisher's logic for including a few critical plot points. After all, with a title like The God Hater you have to make sure your primary audience (for a Christian publisher, that generally means Christians) understands that this isn't a book that bashes God. There's a huge redeeming factor to this novel.

I just wish they hadn't spelled out exactly what that redeeming factor was.

No, I haven't read the book, but from what I can tell, the redeeming factor is part of the climax. And as someone who never skips to the back of the book, giving away the climax feels like the publisher forced me to do just that.

So if you want to read this book, don't read the back cover. Trust me, Bill Myers is an excellent writer. You don't need to know what the book's about to know that it's good.

And if any of the blogs below give away the climax (without spoiler warnings), feel free to give them a cyber Gibbs' slap:

Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Rachel Briard
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Melissa Carswell
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
Janey DeMeo
April Erwin
Amber French
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Joleen Howell
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
MollyBuuklvr81
John W. Otte
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Nicole White
Dave Wilson

CSFF Tour: Dragons of the Valley

2011-01-25T14:49:00.000-08:00

This week, CSFF is touring Donita K. Paul's Dragons of the Valley. I don't own the first book in the series, The Vanishing Sculptor (soon to be renamed The Dragons of Chiril), so I haven't read either book. However, my younger sister Lydia is a huge fan of Donita's books, and has this to say:

The characters in Dragons of the Valley captured my heart from the very first sentence – from the unpredictable Wizard Fenworth, to the adorable Rayn, and, of course, the absent-minded Lady Peg. Mrs. Paul writes in such a way, that at the end of each book, every character seems like an old friend. I look forward to reading these books again and again, and cannot wait to read Dragons of the Watch.

Twelve-year-old Lydia Hart loves fantasy, and is also a writer herself. She just had her first story published in the Winter 2010 issue of Starsongs magazine. The story is entitled "A Winter Melody."

For more about Dragons of the Valley, check out the blogs below:

Gillian Adams
Noah Arsenault
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Keanan Brand
Morgan L. Busse
CSFF Blog Tour
Amy Cruson
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Amber French
Andrea Graham
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Dave Wilson

CSFF Tour: The Wolf of Tebron

2011-01-04T23:55:00.000-08:00

The CSFF Blog Tour is in full swing once again! This month, we're featuring C.S. Lakin's novel, The Wolf of Tebron.

I haven't yet read the book, but here's a quick description of this fairy-tale story:

All Joran wanted was to live a peaceful life in his forested village of Tebron. But when his wife, Charris, is captured by the Moon in a whisk of magic, he must go on a grueling journey to the four corners of the world to rescue her. On his way, he befriends a wolf named Ruyah who becomes a trusted companion while he solves riddles and eventually battles the Moon to save his wife.

On her website, Lakin shares reasons why fairy tales are still relevant today, and why she writes them:

Fairy tales have an uncanny staying power, and the need for the archetypes of myth has never been greater. Most traditional tales carry the message that blessings follow those choosing honorable principles and seeking heaven's will. Fairy tales inspire hope, while at the same time impart life lessons as a hero or heroine ventures out into the world on a classic "hero's journey." Those of us raised reading fairy tales have had these values inculcated in us from early on, but it seems no one has taken the path of reinventing traditional fairy tales and turning them into full-length, original novels.

For more about this book, visit the blogs below:

Noah Arsenault
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
John W. Otte
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler

Feechiefolk

2010-12-08T17:50:00.000-08:00

As I was writing my article on Jonathan Rogers and The Charlatan's Boy, I came across this incredible video promoting the book, created by Jonathan's own family. If you ever wanted a glimpse of feechie life, you'll be sure to enjoy this:

The tour is wrapping up, so be sure to check out the blogs below for their final opinions about the book:

Sally Apokedak
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Jennifer Bogart
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Bruce Hennigan
Christopher Hopper
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Donita K. Paul
SarahFlan
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Elizabeth Williams
Dave Wilson

The Charlatan's Boy

2010-12-07T20:24:00.000-08:00

For the article I mentioned last week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jonathan about his journey towards writing and his latest novel, The Charlatan's Boy.

Jonathan shared how he got started with novel writing. "I knew I wanted to make a living writing, I just figured it would be more like technical writing or writing ads and brochures and stuff. While I was looking for that sort of work, I sort of dashed off a chapter of what became The Bark of the Bog Owl. I showed it to an agent, and the agent said he thought he could sell it, if I wrote that book, so I went ahead and wrote it. And it sold, and I’ve been writing books ever since."

I also talked to him about leaving the Biblical parameters that shaped The Wilderking series, especially the first novel. He said he actually enjoyed the freedom that came from drifting away from an already established plotline. "If there's any Biblical story that shapes these books, that shape The Charlatan’s Boy, it's really those passages in the prophets, where God is communicating to His people that they really are beautiful, even though they don't seem very beautiful."

To find out more about Jonathan and his novels, visit the blogs below:

Sally Apokedak
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Jennifer Bogart
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Bruce Hennigan
Christopher Hopper
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Donita K. Paul
SarahFlan
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Elizabeth Williams
Dave Wilson

Intro to Jonathan Rogers

2010-12-06T20:41:00.000-08:00

This week, the Christian Science Fiction Fantasy blog tour is featuring Jonathan Rogers' The Charlatan's Boy. I will be sharing more about this wonderful book in the days to come, but first, let me direct your attention to my introduction to the author and the book in FamilyFiction:

November/December issue of FamilyFiction
(click the book cover on the front page of the magazine to go directly to it)

In the meantime, please visit the other stops on the tour:

Sally Apokedak
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Jennifer Bogart
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Bruce Hennigan
Christopher Hopper
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Donita K. Paul
SarahFlan
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Elizabeth Williams
Dave Wilson

The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul

2009-09-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

Donita K. Paul visits the wonderful land she created in the DragonKeeper Chronicles once again in The Vanishing Sculptor. A brief intro:

Donita K. Paul’s 250,000-plus-selling DragonKeeper Chronicles series has attracted a wide spectrum of dedicated fans–and they’re sure to fall in love with the new characters and adventures in her latest superbly-crafted novel for all ages. It’s a mind-boggling fantasy that inhabits the same world as the DragonKeeper Chronicles, but in a different country and an earlier time, where the people know little of Wulder and nothing of Paladin.

In The Vanishing Sculptor, readers will meet Tipper, a young emerlindian who’s responsible for the upkeep of her family’s estate during her sculptor father’s absence. Tipper soon discovers that her actions have unbalanced the whole foundation of her world, and she must act quickly to undo the calamitous threat. But how can she save her father and her world on her own? The task is too huge for one person, so she gathers the help of some unlikely companions–including the nearly five-foot tall parrot Beccaroon–and eventually witnesses the loving care and miraculous resources of Wulder. Through Tipper’s breathtaking story, readers will discover the beauty of knowing and serving God.

I've just read the first chapter so far (though I've read all of Paul's previous fantasy novels and loved them), and already I'm excited about diving into the world of Tipper. To find out more, visit these blogs:

Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Rachel Briard
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Linda Gilmore
Todd Michael Greene
Ryan Heart
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Eve Nielsen (posting later in the week)
Nissa
John W. Otte
Lyn Perry
Crista Richey
Cheryl Russell
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Elizabeth Williams
KM Wilsher

Realm of Empires

2009-09-14T21:05:00.000-07:00

I'm a fantasy geek, right? So it's only natural that when I find an awesome fantasy game online I want to share about it. No, it's not World of Warcraft or any of those other MMORPGs that make you bleary-eyed from staring at the computer too long (and then people laugh over your obsession until you make a successful web show about people like you, a la The Guild). This game is designed to only take a few minutes a day, yet still be wonderfully complex and strategic.

The game is called Realm of Empires (aha - you guessed that from the post title, right?). It has villages and palaces and knights and clans and wars and royalty - you name it! No wizards or magicians as of yet, but the servants do a wonderful job of making amazing things happen. There's a tutorial to get you started, some quests to help you improve more quickly, and I've even written a nice long how-to article to make you the best newbie ever!

It is a Facebook game, so you'll need an account there to get started. Don't wait, start growing your empire today!

I Just Sold Caspian and Bought Aragorn

2009-09-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

Am I the only one strange enough to name my electronics after fantasy and science fiction characters? I think I'm a bit obsessed.

It wasn't always that way. My first computer, an ancient hand-me-down from my dad's job (it died because the battery ran out. I didn't even know desktops had batteries!), was named Humphrey. Named after the little snake Jack found in Derwood, Inc. It also sounded wheezy and old, which fit my computer perfectly.

Then I discovered Woot.com and bought my first MP3 player. Windows Media Player told me to name it, so I did. Samwise. A plain, dependable little player. My next upgrade was a bit more techy, so it was dubbed R2D2.

After that, I bought a used laptop off eBay. It was large, a bit mysterious (all the stuff left from the previous owner), and had several deep scratches on the lid. I called it Strider. The PDA that came free with it was dubbed my DLF (Dear Little Friend, aka Trumpkin).

I then bought an MP3 I could actually watch video on, and named it Caspian.

I got a bronze finish on my next laptop and thought of calling it C3PO, but the color and personality were entirely wrong. I went with Tirian instead.

And that brings me to my latest purchase, an MP3 player exactly like Caspian, but with twice the room. I've named it Aragorn, and just sold Caspian to my sister.

Not much point in all that, except to show my weirdness. At least I haven't named my cell phone or my camera . . . yet.

Do you name any of your gadgets, cars, pieces of furniture? Do tell!

Offworld by Robin Parrish

2009-08-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of Robin Parrish's writing since Infuze Magazine was Fuse Magazine - probably 2004 or a little earlier. It was right around that time I started joining writers' forums and began my own blog. Infuze was a big part of my falling in love with speculative fiction. Sure, I loved Narnia for many years before that, and had also discovered Kathy Tyers' and Karen Hancock's science fiction, published by Bethany House. But Infuze opened the doors wide to the entire genre.

And now it comes full circle in his latest speculative thriller, Offworld, published by Bethany House. The first manned Mars mission loses contact with Earth two months before they crash-land into a silent planet. What's next? I'll get back to the book once I finish this post. But something seems a bit familiar. I'm wondering if this is Vanished - the serial story that only had a few installments on Infuze. It's been years since that was taken down, so my memory may be wrong.

Visit the blogs below for more. You can also follow Robin on Twitter.

Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Gina Burgess
Canadianladybug
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Linda Gilmore
Beth Goddard
Todd Michael Greene
Ryan Heart
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Eve Nielsen (posting later in the week)
Nissa
John W. Otte
Lyn Perry
Steve Rice
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Stephanie
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Elizabeth Williams

The Enclave by Karen Hancock

2009-07-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

When I first read Karen Hancock's debut novel Arena, I loved it. It still ranks as one of my most favorite speculative fiction works.

The Enclave is Hancock's latest novel. Amazon's product description reads:

When Lacey McHenry accepts a prestigious research fellowship at the world-renowned Kendell-Jakes Longevity Institute, she sees it as a new start on life. But a disturbing late-night encounter with an intruder leads to an unexpected cover-up by Institute authorities, and she soon realizes there's more going on than she ever imagined.

She finds a supporter in genetics researcher Cameron Reinhardt. However, Reinhardt is a favorite of the Institute's director, and she can't help wondering if he, too, is in on the cover-up. The brilliant but absentminded researcher turns out to have his own secrets, some of them dark and deadly.

So far this sounds like a typical suspense novel, with one word hinting there may be something more. Can you find it?

The description continues:

The Enclave is characterized by adventure, intrigue, spiritual analogy, and romance, all set in an unusual but fully realized world--one that may have its foundations on earth but which, the more one learns of it, doesn't seem much like the earth we know at all.

Well!

That sentence alone (especially the last phrase) would make me want to read this novel. And you can read it too!

While I forgot to opt in for the CSFF book tour, I did request a review copy, so I am hosting a giveaway! Post a comment below with the one word that hints to something more from the first part of this book's description (it's okay if it's not the word I was thinking of!). I'll draw a name from the entries I receive by the end of August 15, 2009, and send the book to the US address you specify. If I receive more than 10 entries, I'll give away TWO copies of The Enclave!

Why Cloak and Dagger?

2009-06-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

I don't know what first led to my love of swords and flowing gowns and princesses in disguise. Perhaps it was my mom reading The Bridge out loud to me. Or when I read The Runaway Princess. Or when our homeschool writer's club read Tales of the Kingdom. Or when I finally picked up The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at age 11.

Soon following that came my love of spies and international intrigue and undercover work. From Phoebe the Spy to A Way Through the Sea, I loved reading about the rush of clandestine encounters and keeping secrets at all costs.

Later, I realized how hard authenticity would be for someone used to hiding in the shadows with weapon drawn. How could someone pretending to be someone else ever have a true relationship? But it's not just professional spies and incognito royalty who have to deal with the question. We all hide behind our own masks, ready to strike out at anyone who gets too close.

And so my fiction, and this website, explores the facets of this paradox:

How can you live authentically when your existence depends on keeping secrets?