The Amber Chronicles is featured with Thursday's Opening Scene #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #romance #fantasy #short stories #novellas

 Strains of music wafted from the ball room of the Amber Palace into the garden. Emme tapped her foot against the flagstone walk in an angry counterpoint to the dulcet tones. With each passing moment, the realization of another failure strengthened. Four times a prince had appeared at the palace seeking her hand in marriage. Four times the prince had chosen one of her younger sisters. Tonight the last prince would name her youngest as his chosen bride.

With great effort Emme capped her anger. Lysanda would pay just as her other sisters had. As the oldest, she should have been the first to find a bridegroom. Envy twisted with jealousy to form a rope binding her thoughts. This prince should be here for he was the last of the eligible ones in this world called Amber suited for training as a wizard and destined to sit on the amber throne beside Emme’s.

The scent of roses, jasmine and bluet filled the air with their sweet breath. The heavy aroma pressed against her forcing Emme to gasp.

She heard light tapping of slippers on the stones and knew Lysanda approached. Her sister expected to find Prince, what was his name, waiting to declare his love. Then amber lights would radiate across the night sky announcing Emme had failed again. That would not happen.

Lysanda came into view. Her hair, a few shades darker than Emme’s pure amber tones, hung in ringlets down her back. “Where is Rendel?” she asked.

“Looking for you,” Emme said. “I sent him to the Tower of Sighs.”

“Why?”

Emme stepped toward her sister. She smiled at the alarm in Lysanda’s pale blue eyes. Only Emme’s matched the blue of a summer sky. “You stole him. He was to be my prince.”

Lysanda asked. “He fell in love with me. His heart once given can never change.” She stepped closer. Don’t think to take him from me. That is impossible.”

Emme fisted her hand on her hips. “I have no desire for a man who chose another over me. I’m sure he believes he will be able to rule you for your power is small and you can never sit on the amber throne. You have taken my last chance for love and rulership. I will take from you.”

Lysanda tore her gaze from Emme’s face. “What do you mean?”

“Face me, sister. Power against power or are you afraid?”

“I fear no one. I am a witch with power equal to yours.”

Emme heard a slight tremor in her sister’s voice. Knowledge filled her. She would drain Lysanda and leave her week. Three times before she had faced a sister and won.

She drew the wind to eddy around Lysanda in wispy bands and sped and tightened them. One by one Lysanda broke the restraints. With each snap, Emme absorbed the power of the breaking.

Emme set the torches of the garden blazing. Tendrils of fire flowed toward her sister.

Lysanda gathered the flames and sent burning orbs toward Emme. “You will not win.”

Emme pulled water from the fountain. Fire and water met turning to steam shrouding the air with sizzling vapor. With slow steps Emme moved through the mist. The earth shook beneath her feet. Lysanda’s body wove in an attempt to remain standing.

Emme grasped her sister’s wrist. “Cede to me.” She drained the essence of magic from her sister’s cells.

“A curse I cry.” Lysanda’s shrill voice pierced Emme’s concentration. “Long will you search. Until you can give with forcing and demanding you will be alone.”

Those words forced Emme to release her sister. Lysanda slumped to the ground. Four times one of her sisters had said the same curse. Four times a sister had survived. She raised her hand and released all she’d taken from Lysanda. Brilliant flashes of light colored the night sky with all the colors possible except for amber.

She heard the sound of pounding boots. The prince stepped into view. “What have you done?”

“What I had to. Lysanda remains a witch and in a hundred years or so she will recover. You will never become a wizard. You will never rule the world called Amber.

The prince drew his sword and stalked toward her. “Why have you done this to my beloved?”

“You chose the wrong sister as those before you have done. Take her. Announce your betrothal. You can’t defeat me. You are the last to try.”

The sword slipped from his hands. Lysanda stirred. He lifted her to her feet. “My love.” He glared at Emme. “You will never find love until you love another more than you love yourself.”

Emme turned and strode from the garden. Why didn’t triumph fill her? Her life had been destroyed. There would be no chance to take her rightful place. She hurried to her tower. Why did the shimmer amber walls seem cloaked with gray? Instead of going to her room at the tower’s peak where the city spread before her, she fled to the dark basement and sat in a dark corner.

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Thursday Writing The Amber Chronicles #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Fantasy #novellas #collection

 The Amber Chronicles was written for a series of collections put out by a group of authors in a mutual group of promoting each other's books. We were all given a gem as ours and mine was amber. Agem I enjoyed and one i had found with a bit of fern inside. All the stories were fantasies and that's a genre I enjoy reading and writing. Among the stories is one that's my favorite The Amber Dragon about a young and haughty princess who is turned into an amber dragon. Th become herself, she must find a prince to kiss her. But shehas insulted every prince in the surrounding kingdoms. There are hints of humor and the princess must learn lessons. Among the other stories in the collection are ones loosely based on fairy tales.

When the rights were returned to me, I decided to put them into a collection. That meant writing two more novellas, one to start the book and the other to end the book bringing the character from the first story through the lessons learned by the heroines and heroes of the novellas. I thoroughly enjoyed writing these stories and hope they bring enjoyment to the readers.

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Sunday's Book - The Amber Chronicles #MFRWauthor #Fantasy #Romance

Amber Chronicles Collection: Emme, a witch and the heir to the throne of the world called Amber is banished from her home to find love. She believes she can command a man to love her but this does not work. Angry at being told no by the crown prince of Rivand she casts a spell on the Riva family. Every hundred years when the moon is full at the summer solstice she will call the crown prince. If he refuses to cede his love to her he will enter the amber orb and vanish. Four times she fails and the princes find adventure on other worlds. One turns an enchanted amber dragon into a princess. The second is imprisoned in an amber tower and must select a bride. The third must free the heroine from an amber cage. Emme slowly learns her lesson and returns to spend her childhood with the fourth prince. Hoping knowing each other will help. She has fallen in love with the crown prince and enters the amber orb in his place. Can Emme who is Cast in Amber be freed and gain the love she has sought for all those years?

Reviews:
FOUR STARS! The witch's curse of zapping princes into an amber orb is one of my favorites. This story is the fate of the very first prince. It reads much like a fairy tale, where at least one moral is to be learned. An enchanting fantasy. **** Detra Fitch

 out of 5 starsJanet Lane Walters does it again.

ByKat Tayloron March 8, 2014

Format: Kindle Edition

JLW has written another winner. Her talent for world building has made her a favorite in the fantasy field. Strong characters draw you in and don't let go until the last page.

Sunday's Book - The Amber Chronicles #MFRWauthor #Fantasy #romance #witch #dragon

Amber Chronicles Collection: Emme, a witch and the heir to the throne of the world called Amber is banished from her home to find love. She believes she can command a man to love her but this does not work. Angry at being told no by the crown prince of Rivand she casts a spell on the Riva family. Every hundred years when the moon is full at the summer solstice she will call the crown prince. If he refuses to cede his love to her he will enter the amber orb and vanish. Four times she fails and the princes find adventure on other worlds. One turns an enchanted amber dragon into a princess. The second is imprisoned in an amber tower and must select a bride. The third must free the heroine from an amber cage. Emme slowly learns her lesson and returns to spend her childhood with the fourth prince. Hoping knowing each other will help. She has fallen in love with the crown prince and enters the amber orb in his place. Can Emme who is Cast in Amber be freed and gain the love she has sought for all those years?

Reviews:
FOUR STARS! The witch's curse of zapping princes into an amber orb is one of my favorites. This story is the fate of the very first prince. It reads much like a fairy tale, where at least one moral is to be learned. An enchanting fantasy. **** Detra Fitch

3.0 out of 5 starsRomance

By Stanley R. Dennett on April 18, 2016

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

It was OK. It was not what I thought it was when I ordered t but I went ahead and read it anyway. More of a romantic novel than anything. I thought that it was either Fantasy or SciFi when I ordered it.

5.0 out of 5 starsJanet Lane Walters does it again.

By Kat Taylor on March 8, 2014

Format: Kindle Edition

JLW has written another winner. Her talent for world building has made her a favorite in the fantasy field. Strong characters draw you in and don't let go until the last page

Thursday's Heroine - Jalese from The Amber Tower by Janet Lane Walters #BooksWeLove #MFRWauthor

The strains of a waltz filled the air with a poignant melody.  This evening the king of Lamau hosted a ball.  Women in brightly colored dresses swirled around the room on the arms of courtiers equally garbed in brilliant shades.

Jalese sighed.  As usual she hadn’t been asked to dance.  Why would any of the courtiers want to escort a plain, ordinary and often clumsy young woman, even if the king was her uncle?

When her cousin, Cyna, glided by on the arms of a handsome man Jalese sighed.  Cyna’s bright pink gown clung to her lush body while the paler gauze draperies moved like a cloud around her hips and legs.

Envy shot into Jalese’s thoughts.  Cyna was all she wasn’t.  Cyna’s blonde hair hung in ringlets down her back.  Her eyes were the blue of sapphires.

We should be friends, Jalese thought.  But we’re not.

One day soon their uncle would name as his heir the niece who found a husband who would be trusted with the rule.  A princess needed a prince and there were none available in the nearby kingdoms.

The music ended.  The king rose from where he sat with his friends.  Jalese left the secluded window seat.  The sorceress of Lamau appeared at the king’s side.  Her appearance was magical.  She raised her hands and sent clouds of scented flowers through the room.  “A prince has been summoned and will soon arrive.”

A hundred voices murmured and the sound rose in pitch.  Jalese drew in a breath and felt her hopes vanish like rain puddles after a summer storm.

Cyna clapped her hands.  She whirled.  Like a homing pigeon she appeared at Jalese’s side.  “Isn’t the news wonderful?  A prince has been found.”  She patted Jalese’s shoulder.  “Do you know what this means?”

Jalese did but she refused to cede the crown to her cousin who had arrived at the castle eight years ago.  Though Cyna had been born on the same day in the same hour and minute as Jalese when she appeared the king had been surprised to learn of her birth.  His estrangement from his oldest sister had been complete.

Jalese’s thoughts raced with questions.  When would this mysterious prince appear?  What kind of man would he be?  Her uncle was a good king who cared for the land and the people.  Would a stranger possess these qualities?  If he did could he maintain them with Cyna as his bride?

The sorceress bowed to the king.  “Be prepared for his arrival. He will be found and must be freed.”  She vanished.

Once the buzz of voices became whispers the king walked toward the refreshment room.  “Come, food and drink awaits.”  He led the way to the buffet tables.

A cluster of courtiers surrounded Cyna.  Jalese tried to escape but her cousin grasped her arm.

“Join us for the repast.”  Cyna’s honeyed voice added to Jalese’s edginess.  “The sorceress’ announcement will bring you much attention.  When I wed this prince there be any number of my court who want to wed a princess.”

Cyna’s unspoken words were clear to Jalese.  “I’m not hungry.”

“I won’t let you run off the way you usually do.  Did none of the courtiers ask you to dance?  If you continue to lurk in dark corners you’ll never wed.”

Jalese stumbled several times in the journey to the buffet room.  Twice she almost fell.  Her thoughts were as scrambled as breakfast eggs.  One of the courtiers pulled out a chair at one of the tables for her.  Why all this attention, Jalese wondered.  Being with these laughing maidens and men made her wary.  If only she could escape.

The courtiers strode away.  With grace Cyna lowered herself onto one of the chairs.  “Someone must take you in hand.  When I’m queen you’ll need a home elsewhere.”

Jalese’s hands fisted.  “The palace has been my home since I was two.”

“And mine since I was twelve.”  Cyna smiled.  “When I’m queen I’ll make many changes.  Uncle is too generous to the people and the taxes are much too low.  The entire palace must be redecorated.”

Jalese stared at the table.  Cyna would also spend money on jewels and fine clothes.  She would beggar the kingdom.  Jalese looked for an escape but her cousin blocked the aisle.  A man servant filled goblets with deep red wine.  The courtiers arrived with plates of food.

Cyna lifted a carydad and turned to Jalese.  “Try one.  They’re delicious.”

“And poison to me.”  Jalese jerked back and her hand hit one of the goblets.  Dark red liquid spilled across the table and spattered her bright green gown.

Cyna’s hand flew to her mouth.  “Oh dear, you’ve ruined your gown.  A blessing though.  That color makes your skin look muddy.”

Jalese pushed her chair back and fled from the room.  Instead of going to her chamber she slipped from the palace.  Surely her cousin would invade her privacy with dulcet words of sympathy for another ruined gown and jab holes in any self-confidence that remained.

Jalese wanted what she could never have.  She wanted to be the queen.  Her uncle spent hours teaching her the things a ruler should know leaving little time or inclination to learn the graces of a lady.

When she reached the towering trees of the woods behind the palace grounds she sank to the ground.  Though autumn had arrived the night was unseasonably warm.  She pulled her shawl around her shoulders.  She cried until no more tears would come.

Thursday's Hero Kristan From The Amber Chronicles by Janet Lane Walters, #MFRWauthor

The youngest prince of Rivand stared at the sky.  The moon had risen and was new.  He lifted the bottle of wine and drank deeply.  If only he could find something to be other than the wastrel prince, a man without a place in the kingdom.  He drank again and finished the bottle.  When he gestured for another, he saw the palace page appear.  Kristen tried to make himself invisible.  There could be no other man or woman in this tavern being sought by the king.

He watched the page search the faces of the men gathered around the tables.  Perhaps he wouldn’t be seen here on the balcony.  His hopes were dashed when the page hurried through the crowded room and appeared at Kristan’s side.  “Your sire requests your presence.”

Kristin rose and followed the boy to the tavern door.  At least he hadn’t imbibed enough to make his stagger.  He mounted his horse and rode through town to the imposing stone building that had been his home for all his life.

As he entered the throne room, she saw his father waited.  His oldest brother usually sat at the king’s side.  Where was the crown prince?  Did this mean his heir was about to be born?  Kristen shivered.  One day, a crown prince might be called to face the Witch of the Woods. He recalled the cryptic words he’d read in his grandfather memoirs and remembered his vow to free the woman caught in the amber gem.

“Kristen,” his father’s voice was low and rumbled with anger.  “Your conduct is unbecoming to a prince.  I’m tired of hearing of your constant pursuit of wine, women and dice.”

Kristan straightened.  “What else is there for me?  My oldest brother follows you.  The second will be his advisor.  The third will head the army.  The fourth, the navy.  The fifth the treasury and the sixth the agriculture of Rivand.  There is nothing left for me.”

“Not so.  There is marriage.  One has been arranged with the daughter of Wevald.  Put your affairs in order.  You leave at the end of the week.”

“I don’t want to marry someone I’ve never seen.”  Kristan turned and fled the room.

“You will do as ordered,” the king shouted.

Kristan raced along the empty corridors until he reached his chambers.  He sat on the edge of the bed and wished the numbness of the liquor he’d drunk would return.  He had to make plans.  This marriage his father had arranged wasn’t for him.  From deep inside came the certainty that for him there was another destiny though what he didn’t know.

He rose.  He had to leave the palace tonight.  Where he would go, he wasn’t sure.  He found a haversack and quickly packed a few changes of clothes.  From the chest at the foot of his bed he took the sleeping blanket he had used on hunting trips.  His hand brushed a tear-shaped globe.  He lifted the amber crystal and held it to the candlelight.

“Emme,” he whispered.  His thoughts flashed to the night his grandfather had died and how the valet had brought the amber orb to him.  For years, he had kept the globe beside his bed and stared at the woman trapped inside.  Without knowing why, he tucked the sphere in his haversack.  He stuffed coins in his boots where many men kept knives.  He hurried to the stable and saddled his horse.  He rode quickly through the town and exited the gates and rode toward the forest.

The crescent of the new moon rose but the light cast was dimmed by the trees.  Though the leaves were those of spring and small, the trees were crowded.  Kristan heard a rustling.  The wind or an animal, he thought.  The small light cast by the crescent moon cast shadows.

“Hoy.”  The shout startled him.  Someone leaped from one of the trees and knocked him from the horse.  The animal squealed.

Kristan was unable to free his sword.  His attackers slashed with knives.  He was able to land a few blows before something hit his head so hard he was dazed.  He collapsed and held his breath.

The thieves grabbed his pack and began to rummage in the contents.  He was glad he had thought to hide his coins.

“What’s this?”

“Amber and a large chunk.”  Suddenly one of the men screamed.  “No.”

The amber globe fell to the ground.  The men ran.  Moonlight illuminated the globe and the shimmer around the sphere appeared to grow.  Kristen tried to get to his knees.  His head felt as thought he’d been spinning for he couldn’t believe what he thought he saw.

Way behind #amwriting finally

Though I would be on the way to Florida but it didn't happen so I didn't schedule anyone for today. Have started three projects.

The first is the second of the Cancer heroines. This time she's found an Aries hero. Fire and Water can produce steam. He's a cop who just resigned because his boss has ticked him off. Caused his partner's death and Simon's injury. The heroine is divorced from his cousin and was his high school sweetheart.  Dana is seven months divorced and nine months pregnant.

The second has just been blocked in. The hero is a composer whose wife died leaving him thinking she got an abortion. When her younger sister arrives with his four year old son we have Taurus' stubborn nature meeting Cancer's determination.

The third is the opening to the Amber Chronicles and this is because I received the rights back to stories published in Jewels of the Quill anthology. The opening story has to show how the heroine managed to be banished from the world called Amber and her quest for someone to love. Then I'll have to look at the other stories and make some adjustments so this will flow as a single book though with one heroine and five heroes four choose other than her.

Love when the writing is flowing smoothly. Summer seems to be my best writing time.