Ashes of Aldyr

by Russell Archey

GENRE: Dark Fantasy

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BLURB:

The world of Alda is broken, destroyed by an event the survivors call "The Rupture." The aldyrs, magical trees connected to the soul of the world and once grew in breathtaking groves, are dead. Elf-kind, who shared a close bond with these trees, are dying off due to shortened life-spans as a result. The dwarves have retreated into their mountain homes. Humans gather in crumbling settlements. Sinister, god-like beings, each uniquely horrific, exert their influences over the world. Each story is a different thread forming a larger tapestry that shows the scope of the horror and insanity brought by the elusive and mind-numbing entity known as the Obscured Throne. The world was once saved from this threat and Alda was hidden and sealed away. Now, an ancient and shadowy cult called the Black Gnarl have broken enough seals to expose Alda to the Obscured Throne...and It's coming.

AMAZON

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Excerpt:

I cleared my throat nervously, withering under her expectant gaze. I stepped closer, seeing the words in their eloquent legibility. How could she not see this? The ink, though faded, was still quite vibrant. The pages were slightly dry from age, but not nearly as fragile as I would have thought. Although the language was Ligothian, a variation on the many human languages spoken in Alda, it was an archaic dialect not used in hundreds of years—making the quality of the pages even more cryptic. I picked a random verse from the page and read aloud:

“…the names that are spoken in quiet places. In the peat and the mold and the rot. Rain and blood are their nourishment, and perpetuate the fruit of their flesh. All is life and death and stagnation and growth through Them: Mariamyn in her Molded Gown, Hitala’vi and Namtinugga the Twin Sickness, Suhpona’s putrid domain, and Carticarneah The Root and Blood. Many are their names, and all are beautiful to their father, Ygiddra, in whom they dwell.”

I stopped, feeling my heart beating faster upon speaking those fetid words. I looked to Nayomi, my face feeling pale and cold. Her eyes were wide, and a hint of a smile curled her lips.

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Talking with author Russell Archey!

What is your writing environment?

Just my home! I have two computers, one in my studio (I’m a full-time voice-over talent) and my personal computer that I write on. I like having that different environment to write in to switch things up.

What is your writing process?

I tend to start with an idea, usually from some characters I created, a world I want to write in, or a particular theme or setting I want to write about. Next, I usually wind up with certain key points or events in the story. After that, I start putting together the “rules” for the cultures, languages, magic, etc. that will need to be abided by. This is helpful for me as it also winds up creating new characters or plot points. After that, it’s just letting my imagination run as my characters play their role in the story.

What authors have caught your interest lately and why?

I’ve really been wanting to read The Witcher series, so Andrzej Sapkowski is one, for sure. I’ve played all the video games and watched the series and love that setting and the characters so I’d like to see where it all began.

What was your inspiration for this particular novel?

I love fantasy (particularly dark fantasy) and I love cosmic horror (really, I’m a horror fan in general but that’s a particular subgenre I really enjoy), so I wanted to write about a setting where I though “what if the mythos’ of Lovecraft and Tolkien had a baby?”

What is your favorite scene in your new release?

Well, if I described it, the ending of one particular story would be given away. Let’s just say the ending to “Forget Me Not” was particularly creepy and enjoyable to write. Many of Annica’s waking nightmares in “Ashes of Aldyr” (the story named after the book) are also favorites.

What are you working on now and when can we expect it to be available?

I’m working on the second book in this trilogy, Ghosts of Alda, and would really like to have it completed within the next few months and off for editing!

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

My career is actually as a full-time voice-over talent, which I love. My hobbies are…many and varied. I like video games, board games, collecting retro video games, and a lot of other geeky interests.

What is one interesting fact about you that readers don’t know?

I have almost 300 board games in my collection.

Top 3 things on your bucket list?

1) Write a New York Times Bestseller

2) Narrate an audio book for a NYT Best Seller

3) Go to Scotland and Japan

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Fantasy and horror have always been Russell’s preferred genres. Some of his favorite stories often combine them–and the grittier the better. His eclectic tastes in this genre originated when he discovered Lovecraft’s stories of beings so vast and incomprehensible that just thinking about them will melt your brain. Later, he would discover the more sinister but equally unfathomable creations of Laird Barron and, combined, these two influences would create Russell’s desire to fashion his own story of cosmic horrors, but with a fantasy flair. Fantasy often holds many horrific aspects of its own, but Russell enjoys finding ways to take those facets and run with them.

Social Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RSArchey

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/russellarcheyauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russarchey/

Website: http://www.5princebooks.com/russellarchey.html

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GIVEAWAY:

Russell Archey will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway