How I visualize Jakins’ blacksmith shop, though with a little less modern-day equipment. Fendt in German apparently has something to do with agriculture.

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“Jakin!”

He reached out his hand toward the shadowy figures, grasping at air.

“Mother! Father!” he screamed.

A Skazic dragged away the figures. Jakin fought hopelessly against the one holding him. But he was so small, and the Skazic was too strong.

“No! Please!”

Tears streamed down his face. It was too late. Too late for any of them.

“Jakin!” This second voice sounded too real and too high-pitched to be his mother.

He sat up, rubbing his eyes. I hate that nightmare, he thought.

Someone pounded at the door. Like most shop owners, his living quarters were above the blacksmith forge below. Looking out the window, he saw that the night was still pitch black. Flipping to the side, he intended to go back to sleep, forcing the customer to come back in the morning.

“Jakin, please!” A female voice echoed. “I need your help!”

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The audiobook is here!

Get the Audiobook

Darkness gathers. Faith is tested. A new bride must learn that the only way to save her people is to surrender her battle to the One who fights for her.

Etania’s wedding to Keyel should have been the beginning of a joyous union celebrated by the people. But the honeymoon is cut short by the drums of war. Damien, possessed by the demon Narak, has amassed a terrifying coalition intent on crushing the Southern Tamnarae.

Desperate to protect those she loves and end the bloodshed, she faces a harrowing temptation: a promise of peace from the enemy himself. When she tries to take matters into her own hands, she learns that walking alone leads only to darkness. To rise as the leader her people need, Etania must learn that true strength is found not in power, but in reliance on Melchizedek.

As dragon fire rains down, Etania, Keyel, and Zaden must unite against a tide of evil that seeks to devour their world. Their only hope lies in forgiveness, trust, and a faith that burns brighter than the darkness.

Until Next Time,

M.H. Elrich

P.S. I started a YouTube channel! See my first author interview on it here.

If you’re new around here, welcome! This is the Elrich E-Readers, a group of Christians who enjoy fantasy books with romance subplots. You have joined this group by entering a giveaway or grabbing my free e-book, Beginnings. You can opt out any time by unsubscribing at the bottom, but I hope you will stick around for news about my book series, Daughters of Tamnarae, and other opportunities to read free, clean, and/or Christian Fantastical Fiction.

Author News:

• My audiobook is under approval! I will send you an email as soon as it is available.

• Lavanna’s Journey is being edited by C.E. Stone. I am hoping to release it in September.

• I am going to be live on Instagram on March 21 at 1 PM with Jenelle Leanne Schmidt, who wrote the Turrim Archive. Save the Date to tune in to that interview. I have another April 4, same time with H.L. Burke. I hope to see you there!

• Also, if you are new and didn’t know, I am now offering paid subscriptions! For less than $2/month, you can read the serialized novel, Tala. Find out more about Etania’s mother and father, how they met, fell in love, got married, and most of all, how they came to faith in Melchizedek.

  Get 75% off forever

Highlighting Keyel Evant

Keyel Evant has always been Etania’s love interest.

His original name was Malkiel, a name I took from the Bible, meaning “God is my king.” However, it seemed like too much of a mouthful, so I abbreviated it to Keyel.

Unlike Zaden, Keyel was always a bit harder to write. Just like his character, he was reserved, taking a while to warm up to my entreaties for more.

But once he did, he showed me his haunted past, where he failed to protect someone he loved. Once I realized that, it explained why he was so overprotective.

Etania’s relationship with him developed naturally. He was there for her, unlike her father, and he also could relate to her difficulties with Jakin.

Handsome, a good listener, a lover of books, and noble, Keyel is definitely a knight in shining armor.

However, he is flawed.

You see, I didn’t want to make Etania’s love interest a picture-perfect man. I wanted to show his good side in Etania’s Worth and his flawed side in Etania’s Calling. Then, his character comes full circle in Etania’s Destiny.

SPOILERS AHEAD, SCROLL PAST THE NEXT IMAGE TO SKIP

In Etania’s Calling, Keyel struggles with trusting Etania after she lied to him for months. Adding to his jealousy and difficulties was the deceptive prince Zaden, who wiggled his way into their relationship, lying to them both.

Once Zaden revealed his true colors and both of them realized they had been deceived, Etania and Keyel were able to repair their relationship.

In Etania’s Destiny, they are wed. Together, they face the darkness threatening Tamnarae. They learn to forgive Zaden for what he has done.

In the end, Keyel builds a rivalry with Zaden that is more akin to two brothers. He helps Zaden train to become the next Lehrling.

Because Zaden lives with Jakin as his apprentice, when Keyel has children, they essentially become like family.

In Lavanna’s Journey, Keyel takes more of a mentor role, and his conversation with Garel reveals that.

A medieval duel that reminds me of my story. Just give them wooden swords, less armor, and a ship, and you’re in the right place.

“Mind if I duel you?” Keyel asked.

Garel gulped. Keyel was an excellent swordsman who was one of the few who could beat him. The times Garel had won were mainly due to Keyel’s age, rather than skill. Yet, the opportunity to duel the General of the Guard was too great to pass up. He nodded, and they took their stances across from each other.

First, they tested each other, hitting their wooden swords against each other at the tip. Then, Garel took initiative, attacking first with a quick lunge that Keyel easily parried. He countered with a swift thrust, but Keyel deflected that, too. Their wooden swords clacked against each other, and Garel felt sweat drip down the side of his cheek. He tried another maneuver, wanting to stay on the offensive, but Keyel suddenly got the upper hand. Instead of Garel being the initiator, Keyel was, and Garel was forced to defend. Clenching his jaw, Garel tried to regain his footing, but was soon exhausted by Keyel’s relentless, precise sword strikes.

Heaving, Garel was disarmed and out of breath. He bowed, as was custom to end a practice duel, and then noticed that Keyel, too, was panting. Garel smiled.

“What are you grinning for?” Keyel asked, his mouth twitching as it attempted to stay in a firm line.

Garel stiffened and stood at attention. “I-I’m honored to give you a good fight, General.”

“I’m not a General now, Garel,” he said. “I’m just Keyel. You can call me that.”

Garel twitched. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to do that. After all, you and my father are heroes.”

“Heroes, huh?” Keyel’s expression darkened, and he ran his hand through his hair. “Tell me, how is it that a ‘hero’ like me failed to resist the sirens?”

“You, sir?” Garel sputtered, utterly shocked that Keyel had succumbed.

“Did you listen to what those creatures said?” Keyel asked.

Garel’s brow wrinkled as he tried to recall their words.

Keyel sighed. “The siren told me that it could help me get my wife back in an instant. I knew it was lying, but still…”

Garel tried to contain his shock. “Wh-why are you telling me this?”

“I wanted to comfort you,” Keyel said. “You seem like someone who idolizes the old generation, but doesn’t realize his own value.”

If Garel was surprised before, he was astonished at this moment. How could Keyel see him so clearly?

Keyel laughed at his expression. “I know, it doesn’t seem like the General would notice or care, right? Well, I notice a lot more these days.”

“I-I see,” Garel said.

“Anyway, my point is, we ‘heroes’ are real people, too,” Keyel said. “We make mistakes. We mess up. We seek Melchizedek’s forgiveness.”

Garel didn’t reply.

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They murdered his family-

Stole his childhood, and even his innocence.

But when they came for his soul . . .

The year is 2158. Civilization has collapsed, but from the ashes, the Order has emerged, not as a savior, but as the unseen power that has ruled all along. Once a subtle force lurking in the background of human history, the cataclysm has unveiled the Order’s dominion in full—an unchallenged, one-world religion that bends all to its will. Truth is a relic. Dissent is a death sentence.

When Professor Reuel arrives unannounced and in obvious distress, his old friend Butterman offers help.

But his assistance may very well come at the price of his home and his livelihood, possibly even his life- unless a new visitor intervenes.

Find out if Butterman or Reuel can survive the tyranny of the Order, and start the adventure with a sneak peek behind the scenes of the exciting new epic, The Seekers Series.

Fans of Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, and the sprawling worlds of Dune and Atlas Shrugged will be captivated by the pulse-pounding fusion of high-stakes thriller, epic sci-fi, and profound spiritual warfare.

Get the Prequel Free

Until Next Time,
M.H. Elrich

Cecilia took off. Although Tala knew she needed to order the gift quickly, she decided instead to go back to the female slave quarters. It’s not because of him, she told herself. I just want to make sure I get the best price, and everyone knows people judge based on appearances. The room, which looked more like a great hall, contained all of their beds. There was no privacy in these quarters, and the only thing that was theirs was a single old, wooden trunk at the foot of each bed.

Tala went to hers and unlocked it using the key around her neck. She pulled out the dresses, debating over each one. Several needed patches, and the best one was black, only used for funerals. She eventually settled on a dark green dress that only had tears at the bottom of it. She carefully folded the remaining clothes, placed them back inside, and locked the chest.

Walking over to a barrel of water, she rinsed her face using a washcloth. Then she pulled on the green dress and combed her hair into a braid. Looking at her reflection in the basin, she wished, for a brief moment, that she had some of the cosmetics that Lady Eliza possessed. Sighing, she decided her current appearance would do, and she headed out of the room.

The Knights had begun practicing in the yard, and Tala made sure to skirt around the edge, out of reach of their practice combat. Wooden swords clashed, and yells abounded as the soldiers practiced. The use of Neuma was prohibited within the fort walls, so it wasn’t too hard to avoid them. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Captain Cephas giving orders to Cadet Werdna about his sword form. She ignored it and left through the open gates of the fort.

She walked toward Haven, which was only a kilometer away from Fort Kundur. Haven was buzzing with activity, as usual. Stone houses contained shops downstairs and living quarters upstairs, and every single shop had a colorful flag or banner marking what it sold.

Tala made her way through the crowds, her satchel tapping against her dress until she came to the silversmith. She purchased a piece of silver, then walked to her next destination: the blacksmith’s shop.

Smoke poured out of the shop, which was open to the air rather than enclosed. She watched the young man plunge a red sword into the water and steam fill the area like a cloud. Tala coughed, trying to hide her fit behind her hand so that she looked more ladylike, but to no avail. The steam cleared, and he put the blade to rest on an anvil and turned to Tala.

“How can I help you miss—?” he began.

“T-tala. And you’re Jakin, yes?” she asked.

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If you’re new around here, welcome! This is the Elrich E-Readers, a group of Christians who read high fantasy with romance subplots. You have joined this group by entering a giveaway or grabbing my free e-book, Beginnings. You can opt out any time by unsubscribing at the bottom, but I hope you will stick around for news about my book series, Daughters of Tamnarae, and other opportunities to read free, clean, and/or Christian Fantastical Fiction.

Author News:

• My audiobook is under production! To listen to a sample of it, use this link. If you want to listen to other great audiobooks or check mine out yourself, go here.

• Lavanna’s Journey is being edited by C.E. Stone. I am hoping to release it in September.

• I am going to be live in March with a lovely author friend. This is hopefully the first of many author interviews I plan to do in a segment I’m going to call: Beyond the Written Story, where you can learn more about the books and characters of amazing Christian-made fiction. More information coming soon!

• I’m helping an author friend launch her YA Dark Fantasy into the world. If you like books that address religious trauma in a fantastical setting, you can get her first for .99 and get an Advanced Review Copy here.

• Also, if you are new and didn’t know, I am now offering paid subscriptions! For less than $2/month, you can read the serialized novel, Tala. Find out more about Etania’s mother and father, how they met, fell in love, got married, and most of all, how they came to faith in Melchizedek.

  Get 75% off forever

Highlighting Zaden Rapiro

Zaden Rapiro is one of those characters who is easy to write. Somehow, writing a bad boy with a charming personality came easily from my fingertips.

Zaden is a character who always threatens to take over the book when he shows up.

In the books, he is first a prince who has everything at his fingertips, but wants more.

He seduces wealthy women, convincing them to give him their most precious possessions or stealing them.

Then, he’s given a challenging prospect: seduce the Leici, Etania Selali. Steal her from her beau, Keyel. Use her, then hand her over to the evil queen, who just so happens to be Zaden’s cousin.

Of course, he takes the deal. It’s a challenge. It’s exciting.

He thinks it will be easy.

He is oh so wrong.

Zaden is one of those characters I always intended to break.

It sounds terrible, but I think that if you read Etania’s Calling, the first book he appears in, you’ll understand why.

Many believe that you can sin and get away with it. Think of Ocean’s 11 or Leverage. These kinds of shows can be fun, but they downplay the seriousness of theft, which is a sin.

Zaden is a character meant to show the consequences of a life of debauchery and selfishness.

But he is also meant to show what happens when life is transformed.

SPOILERS AHEAD, SCROLL PAST THE NEXT IMAGE TO SKIP

Once Zaden is properly humbled in Etania’s Calling, he experiences a massive redemption arc in Etania’s Destiny.

This arc has been compared to Zuko’s from Avatar: the Last Airbender. It isn’t immediate, and it isn’t easy. Zaden, like Zuko, has to earn back the trust of those he betrayed.

He also finds out that he has impregnated one of his lovers, Gwen. That’s where one of the main characters from Lavanna’s Journey comes in. Torrance is Zaden and Gwen’s son, but he doesn’t know it at first.

Of course, Zaden has another role to play besides being Torrance’s father. For that one, keep reading!

How I picture Mayumi (somewhat).

“Come on.” Mayumi dragged Zaden out of the cell by his arm, slamming the door behind them and locking it with a resounding thud. Picking up the box, she shoved it into Zaden’s hands.

Waving her tanto, she said, “Carry that and follow me.”

“What’s in the box?” Zaden asked as he trotted behind Mayumi. “It feels ominous.”

Ah, so he can feel it too, Mayumi thought. She had thought she was the only one who felt the evil emanating from the box. Choosing not to answer the Lehrling, Mayumi forced the Lehrling above deck.

On deck, the crew worked tirelessly to repel the sea dragon’s sweeping attacks. Whether it was repelling the dragon with waves or using their light Neuma to blind him, they had so far kept the masts intact. Mayumi found a place that was relatively out of the way for both of them, but still above deck.

“Open the box,” Maymi commanded.

Zaden obeyed, and then cocked his head to the side as he took in the kote. Metal and leather were woven together in long gloves that ended at the elbow. Mayumi figured the Lehrling had never seen such a thing. After removing the cuffs that limited Zaden’s power, Mayumi issued a command, flourishing her tanto.

“Put them on.”

Zaden bit his lower lip and hesitated.

“Put.them.on,” Mayumi threatened, deepening her voice even more and putting her tanto in front of Zaden’s face.

Zaden pulled the kote on, shuddering as the darkness that surrounded them seemed to sink into his skin. Mayumi put the other kote on and tried not to wince as it tightened around her arm. She lifted her arm and watched, with delight, when Zaden’s arm lifted too.

“What did you do to me?” Zaden asked.

“Surely, you have heard of Daas’ gauntlets?” Mayumi said.

Zaden’s eyes widened. “I-it can’t be. They were destroyed!”

“Maybe yours,” she said. “But ours are intact.”

She didn’t mention that it was because her brother had them commissioned by a Cult of Daas member, or that these were instruments of his eventual death. No, she wouldn’t mention that. She suppressed a shudder.

“I want you to teleport us on top of the dragon.”

“Excuse me?” Zaden said. “I don’t think I heard you right. Did you say teleport?”

“Yes. I have heard it is easier if you are in the open air. Perhaps you should consider climbing the main mast.”

He shuffled back a few feet. “You can’t be serious. You want me to teleport on a moving sea dragon?”

“I thought you were intelligent enough to understand basic words,” Mayumi spat. “Apparently, I was mistaken.”

Zaden crossed his arms over his chest. “I understand you perfectly. I think you don’t understand that doing so would put us both at risk.”

Mayumi ground her teeth together. She yelled the name of one of her subordinates, who came and bowed.

“What is it you need, Mayumi-sama?”

“Grab the female Lehrling and bring her here,” Mayumi said. “It seems our Lehrling friend needs extra motivation today.”

“No!” Zaden said. “Please, don’t. I’ll…I’ll do it.”

Mayumi would normally be happy that she had convinced her prey so easily. Instead, she was relieved she wouldn’t have to hurt the woman herself. She knew all too well how it felt to be vulnerable, and she didn’t wish that on anyone. She dismissed her subordinate with a wave of her hand.

“Good,” Mayumi said, making sure her voice didn’t reveal how she truly felt. “Get started then.”

Taking a deep breath, Zaden stared at the water dragon for a few minutes, observing its patterns while her crew defended the ship.

“I’m ready.” Zaden held out his hand.

Mayumi frowned at him.

He rolled his eyes. “Trust me, okay?”

She didn’t trust him, but the kote should keep him from disobeying her. With that in mind, she sheathed her tanto and reached out her hand. He took her hand in his own, and she was surprised to find it calloused from working with swords. Was this man truly the smooth talker that Sensei thought? Before she could complete that line of thinking, she heard Zaden start mumbling under his breath. Is that a prayer? Mayumi wondered. Whatever it was, the darkness seemed to shrink away from the kote, and amethyst colored flames began to swirl around Zaden’s arms. Trying not to be frightened, she kept her eyes open as the tornado of flames swirled around them, whooshing them away.

The blur of flames and passing landscape mixed, causing her to be dizzy and disoriented when they reappeared—directly on the sea dragon’s back! Mayumi cursed as the dragon flailed with its new riders. Hanging on as best she could, she scrambled to reach her tanto. Zaden used his flames to burn the sea dragon’s head, causing it to shake even more. Mayumi’s grip slipped, and her tanto began to fall. Managing to grip the hilt without falling off, the water dragon dove underwater.

The sting of seawater and sudden loss of breath almost shocked Mayumi away from her task. Once the dragon saw that it could not drown them, it emerged from the water. Mayumi gasped, and nausea rose as the dragon began shaking its head violently. Zaden hit its head with his flames once more, and Mayumi tried to steady herself so she could stab it. Just as she managed to swallow her nausea and withdraw her tanto, the dragon dove again. She choked and sputtered as it dove into the water and emerged. Finally, she stabbed downward even while she coughed, her sharp blade penetrating the scaly flesh. The dragon roared, the water spraying from its mouth and moving in waves to its sound. Zaden added to her attack, using his flames to continue. The dragon bucked as it died, and Mayumi and Zaden were flung into the sea.

Immediately, her heavy clothes caused her to sink. She tried to kick and emerge, but she had never been a strong swimmer. She looked around and saw Zaden swimming toward her. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her upward, kicking both of them to the surface. She spat out seawater and tread water with his arm around her waist. The crew threw a rope out to them, and they were taken aboard. On the wooden platform of the ship’s deck, they cheered and congratulated her. Mayumi’s ears rang as she gasped for air, trying to get her dignity and her bearings back. Zaden was already on his feet, and he offered her his hand. She huffed and didn’t take it.

“Why did you save me?” Mayumi questioned. “You could’ve been free!”

Zaden shrugged. “It was the right thing to do.”

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Book of the Month

Sold as a slave and uprooted from home, 18-year-old Hest must decide where his loyalties lie or risk losing his new friends.

At peace in the stable, Hest cares for the visitors to Stad while spinning tales of adventure for the innkeeper’s son. But when a foreign warrior purchases him as a slave, he must decide if he’s willing to live the adventures he’s told.

With his new home under attack from an old enemy, Hest must learn to fight or lose his life in battle. While recuperating from injuries, he overhears a plot of treason. Choosing where his loyalties lie will seal his fate and that of a kingdom.

Hest’s already lost one family. He’ll do anything to keep his new one—even ride out to battle and most-certain death.

Uprooted is the first book in the coming-of-age fantasy series, The Sovereigns. If you like action, rounded character development, and dragons, you’ll love Kandi J Wyatt’s book.

Use Yes2Hope to Get the FREE Book

Until Next Time,
M.H. Elrich

Tala remembered the day she lost her freedom. She was seven years old, sleeping soundly when her parents came into her tent and woke her up, putting their fingers on their lips to let her know not to wake her younger brother and sister.

“What is it, Mama?” Tala asked, rubbing her eyes with the backs of her hands.

“We have a surprise for you,” her mother began.

Tala wrinkled her nose. The smell of alcohol was on her mother’s breath.

“Really?”

“Yes, it is a good one,” her father agreed.

He rubbed his hands together, looking right and left at the tents belonging to the Knights of the North Legion. They were traveling merchants and had stopped to spend the night with the military, selling their wares before they moved.

“Can I sleep after?”

“Yes,” their mother reassured. “You’ll get to sleep with soldiers watching over you.”

Tala didn’t know what that meant, but she trusted her parents. Tala’s father held her hand and she took it, stumbling to her feet. He guided her through the camp, swaying from side to side. They came to a stop at Commander Caiden’s tent, one marked by the blue and gold flag of the Knights.

“I brought her,” her mother said.

“Good!”

A woman emerged from the tent, and instead of being hit by the smell of alcohol, Tala was surrounded by the pungent aroma of perfume. Looking up, Tala saw that the woman wore several layers of cosmetics—the most noticeable being the woman’s dark red lipstick that made her smile seem like the gaping mouth of a lion.

“Lady Eliza,” Tala’s father said.

Both of her parents bowed, so Tala attempted to do a clumsy curtsy. Eliza laughed.

“She still has much to learn,” the Commander’s wife observed.

“Yes, but is she acceptable?” her mother questioned.

Lady Eliza hummed to herself. “She will do.”

“Is our debt settled then?” her father said.

“Yes.” Lady Eliza snapped her fingers, and an old woman appeared. “Get this girl cleaned up. I don’t like my slaves to be filthy.”

Slaves? Tala wondered. What does she mean?

Tala wouldn’t understand for months afterwards. She was taken to Fort Kundur, where the Knights of the North Legion were stationed. At the time, her parents told her it was temporary, that she would work for a year for Lady Eliza and they would come back for her.

But as the years passed and her parents’ gambling debt continued to pile up with the Knights of the North Legion, Tala was smart enough to figure out that she would never be free again. She saw her parents once every year, and at that time, the most Tala could hope for was that they wouldn’t get further into debt. If they did, her siblings would be sold as slaves.

That’s why it surprised her when, during her eleventh year as a slave, Lady Eliza called her and the other slaves to her room within the Fort and made them an offer.

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If you’ve read my complete trilogy, found here, you’ll know that there’s one particular character that people love that didn’t get that much page time for a certain spoilery reason I can’t go into. Her name?

Tala.

Tala is Etania’s mother and Jakin’s wife, but before that, who was she? What did she do? How did she come to meet and marry Jakin in the first place?

These questions I’ve tried to answer numerous times, writing and rewriting the beginnings of her story to no avail. Some of it is because the story is set during a time when Melchizedek was alive, so it’s a sort-of-not-really Jesus/Gospels retelling.

Well, I’ve finally decided, with God’s gentle nudge, to serialize her story right here on Substack, and I want to invite you, my Elrich E-Readers, to be the first ones to read it. This is an unedited version of what will eventually, hopefully, prayerfully, be published as a standalone novel from my other books. The only catch?

This is a paid subscriber exclusive.

I know, I know, I can hear what you might be saying—I don’t need another paid subscription, Elrich! I have enough already.

I get that, I really do.

But honestly, I can’t keep doing this without your help.

It would be lovely if I could just give away all of my writing for free. Believe it or not, I would happily do that if I had loads of money.

I try to give away what I can for free, from my free short stories to my free devotionals to my free monthly newsletters (which contain monthly snippets of my other work-in-progress and usually a freebie by an author I trust).

The truth is that with the rising cost of living and self-publishing my books, I have been forced to seek alternatives means of raising funds (including working multiple jobs and the amazing fundraiser to cover medical bills that you may have participated in). It would be nice to not have to work so much and be able to spend more time writing the stories you love.

So that, combined with the fact I got my first ever paid subscriber suddenly (shout-out to you!), I decided to prayerfully write a serialized story exclusively for this person and whoever else would like to join.

And get this? It’s only a $1.25/month (if I did my math right with the discount).

So, if you’re interested in getting the discounted price (to you who paid the full price; if you are able, please see if you can take advantage of this), subscribe below. You can cancel at any time and even binge the serial when I get enough in. I’ll probably send out reminders quarterly about this offer, but it won’t last forever.

Get 75% off forever

If you’re someone who couldn’t do a paid subscription, I totally understand. I will continue to give you valuable information through the free monthly newsletter and work on publishing the next book in the series.

My books are also available for libraries to purchase, and I currently have four libraries (that I know of) carrying my books. I also offer free copies to anyone who is willing to read and review them. So if you are someone with limited means, there are multiple opportunities for you to read my books for free. I also do a sale on my series at least three times a year, which you can take advantage of.

Thank you for your unending support.

Until Next Time,
M.H. Elrich

If you’re new around here, welcome! This is the Elrich E-Readers, a group of Christians who read high fantasy with romance subplots. You have joined this group by entering a giveaway or grabbing my free e-book, Beginnings. You can opt out any time by unsubscribing at the bottom, but I hope you will stick around for news about my book series, Daughters of Tamnarae, and other opportunities to read free clean and/or Christian Fantastical Fiction.

For everyone else, you asked and I’m answering! Here’s why I love Etania and where she is now in my current work-in-progress, Lavanna’s Journey.

When I first wrote Etania’s Worth, she was the only character in the book.

You read that right. She was the only narrator, the main character, and the only one with character growth.

I gave my first completed version to my husband, squeezed my eyes shut, and asked him to give me a critique.

He said the book was good, but it was like a house with walls and nothing else. It needed more.

I agreed, rewriting the novel so that it included more characters and more development, eventually becoming the version we know today.

So, of all my characters, Etania is the most developed.

She’s caring, compassionate, kind, and more a reluctant heroine than a kick-butt female character. Yet, she’s strong in her own way.

She can be impulsive, stubborn, and even easily deceived.

By the time she appears in Etania’s Destiny, I hope you see how much she has matured. She’s embraced her role as the Vexli, a woman with powers which can essentially make monsters powerless. She’s learned how to deal with different crisis in her life.

Most of all, she has come to trust in Melchizedek, my God figure, throughout all the trials.

SPOILERS AHEAD, SCROLL PAST THE NEXT IMAGE TO SKIP

Etania also married Keyel, her loyal bodyguard. When you read her ending, it is a few years into their marriage and she gives birth to a girl.

The girl’s name?

Lavanna.

You can probably see the connection now.

Lavanna’s Journey is told approximately twenty-five years after the end of Etania’s Destiny and centers around the journey of Lavanna and her companions.

At the beginning of the book, Lavanna (who is the inheritor of the Vexli powers), longs for adventure, but is contained to the capital city. There, she is permitted to use her powers only to help her mother, as portrayed in the scene below, one of the few scenes featuring my beloved first main character.

Enjoy!

“No, you mustn’t!” an unearthly screech greeted Lavanna’s ears as she approached her home.

Lavanna rushed inside, where a scaly woman was wrestling Zaden and her mother, trying to get free. Based on the state of the living room, the Soacronis had been at it for a while.

“We will not force you,” Etania’s voice rang out. “But you expressed earlier that you wanted to change. So which is it?”

“I–I can’t decidesss,” the woman’s voice slurred.

Lavanna waited with her hand on her hilt. Should she draw? Right now, Zaden had the woman pinned to the ground with his knee. Etania gazed at the woman, arms crossed over her chest. They seemed like they had it handled, but then Lavanna heard thumping from…was that their closet?

“Ah, Lavanna, you’re home,” Zaden said with a monotone that made this another ordinary day. “Deal with the one in the closet will you? They’re twins, and we didn’t have enough hands.”

“Be careful!” Etania cried out.

Lavanna rolled her eyes and yanked open the closet door.

“I’m always—oof!”

The male Socaroni’s body slammed Lavanna before she could draw her sword. With his superior strength, he knocked her to the side before rushing to his companion.

“Don’t do it, Layla,” the Soacronis said. “They’ll change you back to human! Did we really give up our dragons for that again?”

Lavanna yanked him back by his collar, slamming him to the ground and pinning him in a similar way to his sister. Dazed, the Socroni could do little but blink rapidly. Lavanna hoped she hadn’t hurt him too badly.

“Shush, it’s her decision,” Lavanna said. “Maybe she wants a normal life again, ever thought about that?”

The man grumbled but said nothing.

The female Soacronis, or Layla, looked between the man and Etania, whose expression was full of compassion. Lavanna wondered if she would ever be able to convince Skazic to give up their wickedness like her mother.

“I…” Layla swallowed, and tears came to her eyes. “I want a normal life again, Linus.”

With that permission, Zaden eased his knee off her back so that she could stand. He turned around and approached Lavanna.

“Let me handle him.” Zaden jerked his head in her mother’s direction. “Help her by getting a dress out of the trunk.”

Lavanna nodded and they switched places. Because their Neuma removed the powers of the Skazic, it sometimes resulted in a person’s nakedness. This was especially the case with the Soacronis and Toothbreaker types, which were covered in fur or scales in their monster form.

Etania’s hands glowed and Zaden turned both Linus and himself around as her mother began the process. Bright light filled the living room, even brighter than the sunlight streaming through the windows. Layla screamed and groaned, flailing as the white flames ran up and down her body.

“What’s happening? I thought you were going to help her!” Linus cried out.

“Transformation isn’t easy,” Zaden said.

A cry of relief echoed in the room as the transformation was completed. Lavanna opened a trunk in the corner of the living room to find a dress and undergarments for Layla. This one was a dress that Amalia had made. She could tell because of the neat, ornate stitches. Whenever Lavanna attempted to make clothing, her sewing was jagged.

Lavanna handed Layla the dress, which she took with tears in her eyes. Quickly, Layla changed into her new outfit. Although the tall herbs and plants from their garden covered the windows, Lavanna knew it was better to be careful than embarrassed.

“Thank you,” Layla told her mother. “You saved me.”

Etania shook her head. “I didn’t save you. Melchizedek did. Turn to him fully, and you will find joy in a new life.”

Layla nodded, dabbing her eyes with one of the handkerchiefs in the dress’s pocket. She turned to face her twin. Zaden eased a bit off of him so he could stand and look at his sister. He shivered, looking too and fro, his snake-like tongue flickering in and out of his mouth.

“Linus,” Layla said gently. “It’s your turn now.”

He clutched his arms and looked away from her more human gaze.

“But your cries…it seemed like it hurt…”

“Yes, it does,” she said softly. “But sometimes, pain is just a different type of healing.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

Layla smiled and offered him her hand. “Come and see.”

Trembling, Linus took it.

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Book of the Month

First daughter. First enemy. First escape.

When Araby slavers seize stronghold first daughter Kyrin Cieri from the coast of Britannia, she finds a mystery, martial skill, and friendship closer than blood.

A falcon pursues her through tiger-haunted dreams, love, and war in the Araby sands. With a strange dagger from her murdered mother’s hand, an exiled warrior from the East, and a peasant girl, Kyrin faces the sword that took her mother. Caught in the caliph’s court intrigue, she must outwit deadly treachery to save those she loves and overcome more than a blade. Kyrin will spend her blood to protect her friends and her stronghold from those who would destroy them: Love against hate, dagger against sword.

Get your FREE copy here

In February, I will be highlighting Zaden’s appearance in Lavanna’s Journey and how far he has come. Also, the audiobook version of Etania’s Destiny should be launched then! Wohoo.

I would love to hear from you: if you were to become a paid subscriber to my Substack for $1/mo, what would you be willing to pay for? Serial fiction? Short Stories? Let me know by replying to this email (even if it is to tell me you wouldn’t become a paid subscriber!).

Until Next Time,
M.H. Elrich

If you’re new around here, welcome! This is the Elrich E-Readers, a group of Christians who read high fantasy with romance subplots. You have joined this group by entering the Clean Fantastical Fiction Paperback Giveaway. You can opt out any time by unsubscribing at the bottom, but I hope you will stick around for news about my book series, Daughters of Tamnarae and other opportunities to read free clean and/or Christian Fantastical Fiction.

The winner of the paperback giveaway is…..

Nathanael Stottlemyer

If you didn’t win, I hope you’ll take advantage of this FREE story instead.

Here’s a sample:

I paused at the top of the stairs and took a deep breath. As I stared at the worn treads, I prepped myself for the off chance that I might come in contact with Fiona. “It’s just another day like any other. Don’t expect anything from her. It doesn’t matter that it’s your birthday.” No matter what, this year, I would not get my hopes up.

I shuffled downstairs then through the dining room to the kitchen. Fiona’s immense plate collection in the hutch rattled in my wake.

Fiona sat at the kitchen table, eating a late breakfast. She dropped her head, shaggy gray hair falling around her face as she wiped her eyes, and shoved a postcard into the pocket of the drab brown sweater she always wore—even in this summer heat.

I almost turned and left, but I needed coffee. Sighing, I plodded to the coffee maker, eyeing the cracked black-and-white checkered tile as I went. My tangled mass of black hair dangled in my face, shielding me from view.

Fiona slurped her coffee. “Look who decided to grace us with her presence.”

I wanted to ask if “us” included her many personalities. I bit my tongue. Instead, I grunted something resembling “morning.”

I hoped she’d leave it at that. Nothing good came from conversation with Fiona. The more I allowed the woman to voice her opinion, the greater the chance I’d run away in tears. She was a guilt-trip ninja, striking when I least expected.

“I have something for you.”

A warning thumped in my chest. I continued to stir the cream and sugar in my coffee, too much of each. I turned to face her. “What is it?”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake, stop gawking and come here, Fallon.”

I peered with extreme caution into her outstretched palm.

“Well, take it.” She shook the object clasped in her meaty fingers.

Like a game of Operation, I snatched it and removed my hand as fast as possible as if to avoid the buzzing sound. I then backed to a more comfortable distance.

A necklace. I sucked in my breath. The pendent seemed ancient. A heavy circle made from some type of gray stone attached to a leather cord. Seven cone shapes pointed from a circular indent in the center, giving it the shape of a star or a sun. Strange marks, like hieroglyphics, each unique, etched deep between the points.

It had been so long since I’d received a gift I didn’t know how to respond. “What is it?”

“Not quite sure. It belonged to your mother.”

“My mother?” The amulet fell, the cord caught around my finger. I pulled it to safety and let out a heavy breath. My mother. I couldn’t remember the last time she was mentioned in this house.

Fiona’s steel-blue eyes lost their sharpness for a nanosecond. “Yes.” Then with a quick shake of her head, adding more volume to her frizzy hair, she stood and brought her dishes to the sink. “Well, enough of that.”

“No.” My mother’s ghost had been summoned. I couldn’t let it float away.

Fiona stuck out her jaw and glared at me with dead, unblinking eyes. My stomach jumped into my throat. I had ventured into dangerous territory, but I might never have another chance to find out about my mother. I’d searched this house from top to bottom for pictures—any insight into my parents—only to be denied. I tried softening my tone. “I mean…did my mother give this to you?”

Fiona dropped her gaze and returned to the sink. “No. She didn’t.”

“Well, who then? You’ve been holding on to it all these years? Why’d you give it to me now?”

Fiona placed her hands on her disproportionately large hips, lowered her head, and sighed. She remained like that, as though worn out from fighting down whatever humanity remained entombed within her otherwise heartless carcass.

After a few eons, she faced me. “Fallon, I really didn’t know your mother well. This was given to Nathaniel after her…” She paused as if searching for the appropriate word. “…disappearance. He was instructed to hold onto it until your seventeenth birthday then give it to you. He’s not here, so I’m doing it.”

“Someone gave it to Bumpah after my mother…? Who?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t there. He never said.”

“But why? Why give this to me now? What for?”

Fiona folded her arms across her chest. She leaned toward me. Her pear-shaped frame extended as her face scrunched in a scowl, forcing the peach fuzz to stick out on her upper lip. “I was tempted to throw the stupid thing away. I’m only doing this for Nathaniel. I promised.”

Was she for real? I knew she hated me, but this was a whole new level of heartlessness. To want to toss the one thing connecting me to my mother…that was cold. My eyebrow twitched as I tried to think how to respond. I opened my mouth, but words escaped me. Her unblinking eyes bulged in my direction. Words I’d been dying to say for years flew from my mouth. “You’re not the only one who lost your family, ya know. I miss Bumpah too. It’s not fair. I can’t even remember my parents. And I’m…I’m…” I knew what I wanted to say but couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“You’re what?”

Her nasty tone loosed my tongue. “I’m stuck with you!”

“Don’t try to bait me. Nathaniel would still be here if it weren’t for you. He was too old to be chasing after a rambunctious kid. As for my son—let me just say—no parent should outlive her child. You miss people you never knew. I lost the only people I ever loved. And where’s your mother? I don’t know. Her casket is empty next to my son’s. Is that fair?” She paused as though I might actually reply. “For all I know, she killed him.”

Fiona’s chest heaved as she gulped for air, her face red. Blotchy. I stood frozen. Though her words stung, they didn’t send me crying as they once had. Instead, they fueled my anger. I wanted nothing more than to smack her across the face. I fought to keep my clenched fists by my side. “What about me? I’m your granddaughter, remember? You didn’t lose everyone.”

Fiona shoved her hands into her pockets. “Oh for Pete’s sake, I don’t have time for this nonsense. I have more important things to attend to. Not all of us sleep until noon.” She trudged out of the kitchen, leaving dirty dishes in the sink.

Blown off again. Fiona didn’t have anything to do but send herself postcards from her dead husband, add to her ridiculous plate collection, and resent being stuck with me.

I dropped my cup into the sink, chipping it, and adding to the pile.

Several fantasies flashed across my mind. Most involved Fiona spinning and falling after a swift blow from a frying pan. Hurtful words I wished I’d said resonated in my mind. I cursed myself for allowing her to suck me in. I should know better by now.

My mind returned to the amulet. My first tangible connection to my mother. I placed it around my neck. It fell heavy against my breastbone. Warmth radiated from the spot, comforting me as if a missing piece of my heart had returned. I held it up to study the markings once more. As my fingers traced the cone shapes, feeling the rough surface, it sparked, like static electricity in the dark. I jumped. The necklace slipped from my fingers and thudded against my chest. My heart skittered. I yanked the stone off and dropped it on the counter.

Get the Book

Thank you for voting in the poll! As you asked, I’ll be back in January with a feature about Etania, and a snippet of her appearance in Lavanna’s Journey, the fourth book in my series. Save the Date: January 9, 2026.

Until Next Time,

M.H. Elrich

*Click the banner above to discover some FREE E-Books*

Dear E-Reader,

Are you someone who likes to look ahead?

I enjoy planning for the next day, the next month, or even the next year.

I like thinking of different scenarios and options, running through the possibilities in my mind.

Sometimes doing so can create more worry than peace, so I’ve learned to keep my “plans” for the year with an open hand.

I try to invite God into the process, asking him what I should do and where I should go next.

Sometimes he tells me to wait. Sometimes he tells me to go. And sometimes, he leads me down paths I never expected.

One of those paths is the Goodreads Group, where I want to (eventually) move most of my engagement.

Another is the email series I’m starting in the New Year which will feature one of my characters and their appearance in Lavanna’s Journey, the next book in the Daughters of Tamnarae series. If you ever what happened to the characters from the first series or want to know about the new generation, this series is for you!

*Poll Ends Today! So Vote Soon*

Finally, there’s the devotionals I’m a part of that will continue in 2026. Whether that’s the Beneath the Tangles devotional, the Daily Devotional for Women, or the features in Clean Fiction Magazine.

There’s so much to look forward to, including an audiobook version of Etania’s Destiny (coming February 2026).

What are you looking forward to in the New Year?

Leave a comment

Last Day to Enter

Tomorrow I’ll be sending an email out announcing the winner of the paperback giveaway and giving you an opportunity to read another Christian Fantasy book.

Sincerely,

M.H. Elrich

Dear Elrich E-Readers,

I promise I don’t email this often, but I just want to make sure that you know you can get my books and many others for cheap, and today’s the last day to take advantage of the sale.

So, if you haven’t already, buy my entire series here.

Or you can check out Starganauts, a sci-fi series that has made many fantasy fans love convert, here.

If you’ve already loved and enjoyed those books, there’s an entire selection of clean books here.

If you’re looking for a devotional and you love anime, I’m running a limited time sale on my personal paperback copies of Finding God in Anime Volume 3, found here.

NEW: A paperback giveaway just in time for Christmas begins today! Enter for a chance to win here.

NEW: An Ebook giveaway of faith-filled freebies can be found here.

If you’ve already bought, read, or reviewed my books or others I’ve recommended, THANK YOU. I am so grateful for every kind word and encouragement you have shared with me.

The next time I will be emailing you is December 12th and 13th, where I will remind you to enter the giveaway, share author related news, and on the 13th, announce a winner.

Until Then,

M.H. Elrich

Buy the Series Here

Buy the Series Here

Purchase a Paperback Copy

Browse the Sale

Until Next Time,

M.H. Elrich

This depressing statistic struck a chord with me when I heard about it on a podcast I listen to called Author Update.

Yet, it also made me grateful.

Grateful for each and every one of you who still reads.

Whether it is on an e-book, with a physical book, or listening in the car, I’m grateful you take the time to not only enjoy my work, but also the works of others I recommend.

This statistic also inspired me to do something a little different.

The truth is, I want to get to know you, my readers, better.

So, if you’ve read and enjoyed my works, I would like to invite you to an even more exclusive club than this newsletter.

In it, we will have a book-related discussion every month.

People can discuss what they’re currently reading and what they want to read.

We will probably have some read-alongs and prizes, especially for my books and books from other authors I know you’ll love.

Overall, I want it to be a place where I know we can share our love of books AND spread the word about books we love with other people.

Where will it be?

Goodreads!

This website is a great place to keep track of your reading, review books, and find books to love. It’s free to use, and if you need any help setting it up or knowing how to use it, you can check out this video.

What’s it called?

Christian Fantastical Fiction Readers.

This is because it will be focused primarily on fantastical fiction written by Christians, preferably with Christian themes or elements.

Do you want to join?

Join the Group

Author News

• Save the Date: Black-Friday to Cyber Monday Sales (including my very own books!). I will send out several emails then. I’m also part of a massive paperback giveaway starting in December.

• The audiobook version of Etania’s Destiny will be here in February 2026! I’m so excited! If you would like to help spread the word, please comment below.

• Lavanna’s book is coming along nicely and I hope to add 10,000 more words to my draft as part of the new novel writing challenge hosted by King’s Daughters Writing Camp.

• In-person Book Signing Events: Olive Knolls Christian Church on November 22nd. If you live in California, reply to this email and I’ll send you the address.

• Thank you for contributing to my medical debt fund! We are fully funded because of many of you.

Here are some great books to check out:

The Tower of Babel Giveaway

The greatest skyscraper on earth.

And the greatest danger.

Fresh off a trip to Europe, Austin, a young sculptor, comes home to his apartment longing to create. But a letter slipped under his door changes everything. It’s from Stella—the unearthly girl who broke his heart three years ago, when they labored to bring a mysterious god to earth who would cleanse the planet of evil.

The letter calls Austin back to the abandoned church in the countryside where he and Stella failed. It’s time to pick up the task again. Yet Austin can’t possibly return to Stella or their old work—especially after he gets commissioned to create the crowning sculpture at the top of the Tower of Babel, a titanic skyscraper that’s going up at the edge of the city.

Then C. Arthur Gilgamesh, the director of the Tower project, reveals his dark purpose. Austin’s past and present are deeply connected—and Stella and Gilgamesh are mortal enemies. Austin can’t vacillate any longer. The battle has already begun, and his artwork—as well as the Tower—lie at the heart of it. He’ll have to play both sides to bring the god to earth at last and survive the coming apocalypse.

Enter the Giveaway

Magical Library. Distorted fairy tales. Time travel.

Bookworm Bellarose, egotistical Gerard, geeky Quinn, and mysterious Elayne are thrust into a fairy tale through a magical library. The problem? Most of these eighteen-year-olds’ memories have been wiped clean of life before they became characters in a familiar, but twisted story.

In this first tale, despite insulting banter and recent grievances, Bellarose must join forces with Gerard to break the curse the enchantress Aerowyn has placed on a hexed plantation. The stakes? Those they care about will be cursed forever. The unknown price? They will be stuck inside the warped fairy tales where they may become the villains.

Read this teen fantasy series for action, adventure, wholesome romance, and many nods to Beauty and the Beast.

Buy the Series

I’m constantly asked: what should I read next? Well, I decided to put together a guide filled with my favorite Christian-made Fantastical Fiction. So if you’re stuck in a rut and don’t know what to read next, check out this guide. FREE for you, my Elrich E-Reader.

View Here

Until Black Friday,

M.H. Elrich

Contrary to what that slimy Bram Stoker said, I, Lucy Westenra, am not dead, nor lustful. After all, any good vampire hunter knows that stakes through the heart don’t work. One must burn the body completely before the vampire dies.

That’s the problem. I don’t die. I don’t age. And even though being a beautiful, ethereal being seems like a wonderful blessing, it’s not. I have many reasons to hate my new existence.

Reason One: my fiancé left me in a tomb to die and then married someone else.

Reason Two: I’m always thirsty, and the only drink that will satisfy me is blood. Sure, I drink the blood of criminals (not children! I’m looking at you, Bram Stoker!). But have you ever tried drinking blood? I doubt it. It’s nasty, and the coppery taste makes me wish I could be a vegetarian.

Reason Three: Dracula pursues me, intent on making me a member of his harem. As if I would ever want to be one of those succubi! Especially since they serve the vampire who made me this way.

Because of him, I fled London and am traveling the world. I never stay in one place, and I don’t make friends or boyfriends. That would get me killed. I dyed my hair more times than I can count, changing names and identities like clothes.

Sometimes I wonder: is there hope for me to be human again?

Knock! Knock! A loud pounding interrupts what I wrote in my journal. I stand slowly, tucking the journal into my suitcase.

“Miss Lucy Westenra?” a young man states.

Goosebumps pimple on my skin and the hair rises on the back of my neck. I don’t know how this man found me in a hotel in San Francisco.

“Who are you?” I ask.

I gather my clothes from around the room and stuff them into one of my suitcases. I need to get him talking, thinking he has me cornered, and then flee down the fire escape.

“My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself, didn’t I? My name is Jack Holmwood.”

Holmwood. My heart beats faster at the mention of the last name of my ex-fiancé, remembering times of courtship long gone. How we walked side by side in the garden. When he leaned in, his lips brushed mine with a stolen kiss. His joy when I said yes to him and not to the others. Grief seizes my beating heart, weighing it down. I can’t help it. I whisper the words.

“I haven’t heard that name in a while,” I say.

“I suppose not. It’s been thirty years since then,” Jack replies.

I glance at the crumpled up newspaper. October 1, 1935. So much time has passed. I want to ask if Arthur is still alive, but the words stick in my throat. Before I could push past the block, Jack speaks up.

“My father died. That’s why I’m here,” he says. “He asked me to deliver his will.”

“How did he find me?” I ask.

If he’s found me, how much longer will it be before Dracula does? My palms become slick with sweat, and I resume packing.

“He said that the Helsings have a network,” Jack explains. “The Helsings know that you’re not as evil as they first assumed. They promise to keep your location a secret.”

I shiver as I put the final clasp on my suitcase. After the Dracula incident, Van Helsing found a young wife to bear a bunch of children, starting his own supernatural hunting agency. Many a vampire, werewolf, and faerie has fallen to his silver, holy-water laced, bullets. He always burns the bodies. Unlike my idiotic ex-fiancé.

It’s funny how one’s immortality makes one wish for death.

“I’m glad they’re so reliable.” My voice is layered with sarcasm as I inch toward the window and thrust it open.

“I know they don’t have the greatest relationship with your kind, but my father’s will reveals that they discovered a cure.” Jack strains against the door, rattling its hinges. “Won’t you let me in? I can show you.”

I stop as I straddle the window and the fire escape. I’m so close to getting out, to fleeing before someone a lot more dangerous than Arthur’s son finds me. Yet, the word “cure” is too tempting. I ease back into the room, cross over the small space, my heels clicking against the wooden floor, and open the door.

With curly brown hair, striking green eyes that match his checkered, green square suit, Jack looks every bit the Londoner he more than likely is. Tsking under my breath, I pull Jack inside and close the door behind him.

He reddens and clears his throat. “Is there any reason we can’t meet in the hall?”

I roll my eyes. “Dracula is after me. Propriety is the least of my concerns. Besides, haven’t you heard? Women can vote now. There’s no reason to be so self-conscious.”

“Right.” He says the words in a way that makes me think he doesn’t believe them, adjusts his tie, and opens up the letter. He reads it in a clear baritone.

“My dearest Lucy,

I am certain that you probably hate me for what I did. But you have to understand—you transformed, becoming something beautiful and terrible right before my eyes. Trust me when I say that I wish I had told your mother about why we had the garlic in your room. Maybe it would have stopped your terrible fate. She told me you sent her gifts. Before she died, she asked for you. I didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth.

As for my marriage to another, you can’t blame me, can you? How could I marry a woman who doesn’t age? Would you truly love me in the time of rheumatism? Beautiful, ageless, woman that you are, I doubt our relationship could’ve lasted.

Yet, I know I bear a certain amount of responsibility, and as I come to my last days, I decided to make up for it as best I can. I instructed my son to help you obtain the cure, in return for inheriting my fortune. Hopefully, you can spare him from your fangs until then? Dr. Helsing says that you do not partake of the innocent. My son is the paragon of virtue. Otherwise, I would not have sent him to you.

There is only one cure for vampirism: drinking the communion wine and bread. Of course, there is great danger in this undertaking. As you know, entering a church causes vampires great pain, and holy water causes mortal wounds. This is why I sent my son to you. He can enter the church, retrieve the communion wine and bread, say the words, and presto! You’re cured.

I suppose then; the choice is up to you. Free yourself from this curse by risking death and involving an innocent person, or continue to live in hiding for eternity.

Even though it may not seem like it, I loved you once. I hope this letter shows that.

Sincerely Yours,

Arthur Holmwood

P.S. My son has been instructed to leave if you choose not to do this. So you must decide immediately.”

I sway as I process the words of my former lover, dropping my suitcase on the floor. I eventually sit on the edge of the bed. Jack, for his part, stands quietly, looking at me with the patience of a saint.

I don’t know how long I sit there before I rise to my feet.

“You can leave,” I say to Jack. “You’ve fulfilled your father’s promise.”

Jack arches an eyebrow at me. “What’s your decision?”

I don’t tell him, but I plan to find some other chap to take his place. I can’t bear the thought of having Jack with me, endangering his life for a bloodstained vampire. Besides, I’m not sure this “cure” works. It sounds too easy.

“You don’t need to know,” I tell Jack. “Now, get out of here before Dracula comes.”

“There’s no way Dracula followed me,” Jack says. “I was careful.”

The lights flicker, creaking noisily before they sizzle out. Darkness envelops us, and an unladylike curse escapes my mouth.

“You brought him right to me! So much for being careful!” I grumble.

“I’m sorry! But don’t you think it’s worth it if you can be cured?”

“If I can be cured,” I repeat under my breath.

“What was that?”

I don’t answer. Grabbing Jack by his wrist, I snatch my suitcase and walk towards the open window, the only source of light in the dark room.

“Do you have your luggage anywhere?”

“With the hotel clerk, why?”

I glance at him. “Take the suit jacket off.”

He hesitates.

I reach for the jacket, but he removes it.

“Now what?”

“I’m sorry for this, but I promise it will only hurt a little and you won’t turn.”

“Huh?”

I lunge for his neck, sinking my fangs in. He groans, falling to his knees as I suck his blood. It takes every inch of my self-control to hold the blood in my mouth instead of drinking it. I take just enough and spew it on his jacket, leaving it on the bed. Glancing at him, he looks pale in the sunlight, but otherwise fine. Holding his hand to his neck, he stumbles to his feet, lost and confused, like a puppy I kicked. My heart pangs a little, but I ignore it. He’s not dead, I reassure myself.

“We’ll need to get you something to eat and a change of clothing.” I state matter-of-factly. “That jacket will only delay Dracula for a few minutes. Then he’ll be after us.”

I scoot out the window, my nylons scraping against the sill. One of them has a hole, but I have no time to worry about that. I lift my suitcase and put it beside me on the metal fire escape. I put out my hand to Jack.

Jack ignores my hand and hops through the window himself, shutting it behind him. We both begin descending the fire escape. The hubbub of the city below and the ruckus of the hotel staff reach my ears.

“What happened?”

“Where did that man go?”

“He looked rather pale, didn’t he?”

I ignore the conversation, intent on fleeing before Dracula sees through my ploy. We reach the bottom step when I hear an inhumane screech above us. I don’t glance up, but Jack does, his mouth agape. Clouds gather overhead, and the scent of rain mixes with cement and human sweat. I push forward through the crowds of people.

Automobiles honk as I cross, winding street after street. The rain is pouring now, and Jack follows me. I slip in a puddle in my haste, my skirt staining with mud, water, and God-knows-what. I’m about to stand up when Jack offers me a hand. With his white shirt and askew tie, he reminds me too much of his father. My heart pangs again as I rise to my feet and brush off my skirt. I feel a chill rush down my back and I know Dracula is drawing near. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see him, his pale black hair and gleaming eyes hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat.

We run, and I see a trolley up ahead. I leap on, joining others, and glance behind me to see if Jack is there. The trolley bell rings, and I’m still looking for Jack. At last, I spot him, standing with his hands shaded over his eyes, squinting into a crowd. My hands fly over my mouth as I see Dracula approach Jack. The vampire looks so unassuming in his three-piece suit and tie, just another American among many. I want to shout, “No, stop, it’s Dracula!” But the words don’t fly out of my mouth as the trolley pulls away, chugging its way through San Francisco’s streets.

It’s sometime later when I hop off the trolley and begin wandering. Somehow, I find myself in Chinatown. The oriental buildings and garish red-yellow decorations blur together. The Chinese stare at me as I cross through their streets, their long braids and thin mustaches standing out just as much to me as I do to them.

For the first time, I thirst. It’s getting dark, and the riff-raff of San Francisco is already out. My eyes gleam as I find my target—a Tong gang member picking on one of the restaurant owners who owes him money. I wait until the member gets his pay and crosses into a dark alley. Like a lioness stalking her prey, I sink my teeth into his flesh and drink my fill. Putting his dead body in a dumpster, I look down at my clothes and know they’re ruined. I crouch behind the dumpster and change into an outfit more suited for my surroundings: a qipao. I hide my hair under a wide hat and hope that I’m not mistaken for a nightwalker.

I stride back out to the streets and find a hotel. Checking in with a few crumpled dollars from my suitcase, the innkeeper doesn’t even blink at my haggard appearance and un-Chinese-like features. He takes the money and jerks his thumb towards one room. I enter and try not to gag. It smells like booze, opium, and vomit. I opt for the chair, where I curl up to sleep.

Jack’s face haunts my dreams, and I don’t sleep well. At midnight, the innkeeper knocks on my door.

“Message for you,” he says with a thick accent.

“Slip it under the door,” I reply.

I hear the letter land on the floor. My hands tremble as I unravel it. I hope it’s from Jack, but I see the all-too-familiar handwriting of my stalker. Lucy, if you want your pet, meet me at the Golden Gate Bridge at dawn tomorrow. It’s time that you stop running.

Crumpling the letter, I know what I must do, and I hate it.

Somehow, I sleep, and when I wake, it’s dawn. Changing into more American attire, I choose a curve-hugging black dress and black heels. If I’m going to lose myself to Dracula, I’m going out in style, I think. I pay the innkeeper, who bobs his head at me, then I walk outside. The streets are quiet. Few are awake at this time except for the paper boys. One of them calls out and I toss him a coin.

His eyes widen as he says, “Thank you, Miss!”

His expression reminds me too much of Jack. I unfurl the newspaper and peruse the headlines as I walk, trying to distract myself from the rising butterflies in my stomach. Eventually, I toss the newspaper in the bin and make it to the meeting place. The orange-red wires, suspended like cobwebs, support a long bridge that connects San Francisco to Marin County. Recently constructed, the bridge still isn’t in full use yet. I wait at one end and look out at the sea.

I can see the fog unfurling over the ocean, coming alongside the waves. Seagulls cry overhead, and the mix of salt and sand fills my nostrils. The fog reminds me of London and why I chose this busy city as my shelter. The peaceful moment feels like a slap in the face compared to what’s ahead.

“So you came after all.” Dracula’s breath tickles the back of my neck and I shiver.

My vampiric instincts want me to turn around and embrace him, but the part of me that’s still me, still Lucy, resists. I turn and lean back, trying to put as much distance as I can between me and him.

Dracula is a tall, thin, pale man. Because of his frequent feedings, he has lost his white hair and replaced it with a black wig that makes him appear more debonair than dangerous. His suit is hardly crumpled from his encounter with Jack.

“Where’s Jack?” I ask.

“Don’t worry.” Dracula purrs, and he closes the distance between us, his mouth dangerously close to my neck where he first bit me. “He’s somewhere safe.”

I squeeze the railing behind me, turning my head away. My instincts scream at me, but my inner Lucy wins out.

“No Jack, no Lucy,” I say, inching away from him.

He frowns, knowing his vampiric abilities don’t have me under his spell.

“Do you really like that man more than me?” He pouts.

“It’s not a matter of liking or not liking. Tell me where he is, and I’ll go with you willingly.”

“He’s at St. Mary’s Hospital.” Dracula glances at his fingernails, as if he is not the least bit interested in the fate of someone he almost murdered. When he looks up, an animalistic gleam flashes in his dark eyes.

I gulp. My stomach is in knots, and if I could throw up, I would.

“Now, if you came here, that must mean you’re done running.” Dracula reaches for my cheek and I stiffen as he brushes his cold knuckles against me. “Are you ready to become my wife, Lucy?”

A whine escapes my throat, a mixture of terror and acceptance. As Dracula leans closer, I wonder if there’s anything more I can do. My mind races. If only the cure is real and I could escape. If only I ran when I had a chance. If only Jack hadn’t gotten involved. I squeeze my eyes shut, salty tears mixing with the moist air as Dracula leans in for a kiss.

“What are you doing out here, kissing a lady in broad daylight!” an old man’s voice breaks my frozen terror. “What has this world come to, the indecency! I say, it all started with women’s rights. If those cantankerous women hadn’t started…”

I can’t hear the rest of his raving as a laugh escapes my throat. Dracula looks ready to murder the bystander, but I wish I could shake his hand in thanks.

“You’re right, Dracula,” I say. “I’m tired of running.”

Then, squeezing through the steel webbing, I dive into the bay.

I stumble on to the shore, sopping wet and wishing that I didn’t choose to wear my best dress and high heels. Twisting the fabric of my dress, I try to empty most of the salty water on the pebble-lined beach. I wince as I wobble among the stones, making my way up to the street. I thread my fingers through my hair and try to squeeze water out of the blonde locks.

With determined steps, I make my way to the nearest trolley stop. Everyone stares at me as I step on, and the trolley trucks away, leaving the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge in my peripheral. My heart flutters in my chest. I did it; I think. I finally escaped Dracula.

Even though I’m relieved, I know Dracula will still be able to pursue me as long as I’m a vampire. I swallow hard. I know I need to be cured, but first, I have to make sure Jack is okay. Getting off the trolley near the hospital, I am still dripping despite my best efforts. As soon as I step into the hospital lobby, I feel it: the sign that this is a holy place.

The wet clinging to my dress steams. Heat fills my body, and I wonder if I have a fever. The nurses in the lobby greet me with concerned words, but I can barely hear them. I stumble forward, whispering the words.

“I need to see Jack.”

“Are you family?”

I nod. A lie, but in my mind, I justify it, thinking of how we could’ve been family if his father had married me.

“I understand, but perhaps you should get checked out first? You’re sweating profusely.”

“Please,” I beg. “I’m just a little warm. I’ll be fine.”

My eyes must have tears in them because the nurse nods numbly and leads me through the hallways. I stumble through, my vision spinning, until we come to a long room filled with beds and privacy curtains. The nurse points to a bed in the corner, where a priest is standing a little outside of it. Am I too late? Are they administering his last rites? My throat feels clogged, and I no longer care that I’m burning up in this holy place.

The priest turns and sees me.

“Jack is sleeping,” he says. “It might be good if you wait to see him.”

“Is he stable?”

“I think so, but I’m no doctor. Nurse?” the priest asks.

The nurse nods. “He’ll recover.”

I slump inward, about to collapse. The older priest puts his arm around my shoulders. It feels like stinging needles. I grit my teeth.

“Come,” the priest says. “Take a walk with me.”

He leads me out, and I’m so weak that I let him. As we turn down some hallways, I realize he’s leading me toward a chapel. I balk as I come to the threshold, and I’m filled with terror. I’ve been told vampires die as soon as they enter a church. That’s why my ex sent Jack. The priest lets me go and enters.

“I thought it might be quieter here. You seemed like you needed a moment.”

He is kind. So kind. But he doesn’t realize what I am. What will happen to me the moment I cross over the threshold? I fall to the ground against the wall of the hospital, trying to get my breathing under control.

“I-I’ll wait out here,” I say.

He nods, as if that happens to him often, and turns away.

At that moment, I reach out and say words I never thought I would say.

“Priest…could you…would you…administer communion to someone like me?”

The priest pauses, and his eyes are soft. “Communion is for anyone who believes.”

I falter, realizing I don’t have that much faith. I’m not even sure if I’ve spoken to God since the moment I’ve turned. A passage floats across my memory, something about having the faith of a mustard seed. I swallow. I think…I have that much faith.

The priest holds out his hand, and I realize that I have to undergo the pain of the pinpricks from touching a holy man again. My hands shake as I reach out and he lifts me to my feet. Pain fills my mind, and every instinct cries out to me to run away. Tears sting my eyes as I take a slow step forward over the threshold of the church, hoping and praying that I will not vanish right then and there.

Nothing happens. I’m still shaking as I take a seat in the front pew and the priest goes behind the altar to get the communion wine and bread. As I look at the candles and the image of the crucifix, I wonder why I wasn’t a pile of ashes. Looking at Jesus’s broken face, I put my head in my hands and think that somehow, God has spared me. I don’t deserve it, I think, and tears stream down my face.

Another idea occurs to me. What if Dracula perpetuated the lie that vampires would die near holy places so that he could continue to populate his race and control his people? It would be something he would do, and the blood reaction that he builds into his progeny discourages most from trying it. It seems too easy; I think.

“That’s grace,” the priest says, and I realize I spoke my thoughts aloud. “It’s simple and seems too easy. But it is only so because of what He did.”

I look up, and he is pointing at the crucifix again. I nod, astonished and numb.

“Now, here is the wine and the bread.”

The priest hands it to me and I take it, trembling as my hands envelop the goblet and bread.

“’Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him.’”

I listen, barely comprehending the words.

“This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” The priest gestures to the bread.

I put it in my mouth, and its softness melts on my tongue.

“This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” The priest motions to the goblet of wine.

I drink it, draining it to the dregs, feeling the bubbles and acid coating my tongue. I give the goblet back to the priest, and he disappears behind the altar again. Waiting, I don’t really feel any different at first. Then, it comes.

I sweat and shake profusely. My vision spins, and my head pounds. I fall off the pew, and distantly, I hear the priest calling for help. All I can feel is burning, burning from the inside and sweating on the outside. I feel like I’m being ripped apart, and I flail even as the nurses and doctors surround me. I know I’m being lifted, but it’s like I’m seeing myself distantly, incomprehensibly. At some point, I black out.

When I wake up, everything has changed.

Jack opens his eyes and blinks. Once. Twice. He rubs them just to be sure, but he can’t believe what he’s seeing.

Lucy Westenra sits by his bedside, her blonde hair messy, her blue Blondell dress with its white ruffle resting against her reddish-pink skin. She smiles at him, and that’s when he knows—she isn’t a vampire anymore.

“What, how?” he asks.

“Well, this is a Catholic hospital, after all,” Lucy replies. “It wasn’t hard to find a priest to perform the rites of communion.”

Jack eases to a sitting position, wincing from the pain. “I thought you didn’t believe in the cure.”

“Woah, there,” Lucy says, pushing him back on the bed. “The doctor says you should take it easy. You’ve been asleep for days.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

She looks out the window. “I didn’t believe it at first. But then the priest came, and one thing led to another, and…here I am.”

“It’s a miracle,” Jack mumbles.

Lucy nods. “By the way, I had the priest perform rites for you, too. Just in case.”

He clears his throat. “Thanks. But what about Dracula?”

“Oh, him?” Lucy turns to face him. “I reported his location to the Helsing branch here in San Francisco. Can you believe that they’re hiding underneath the Coit Tower? And here I thought that’s just a pretty monument.”

“And that…stopped him?” Jack questions.

Lucy frowns. “No, but it scared him, and with me being a human, the Helsing agency told me it would be harder for him to find me. They tried to recruit me, but I told them I’m too old for that kind of thing. Besides…”

She pauses, and he could see some nostalgia rising in her blue eyes.

“I miss London. I miss home.”

She flashes her beautiful smile again, and Jack observes she doesn’t have any fangs.

“Could you take me home, Jack?”

He chuckles. “Well, I am heir to a fortune now.”

“That’s true.” Lucy laughs with him. Then, her brow crinkles. “There’s only one thing that confuses me about all of this.”

“What’s that?”

“Why was communion the only cure?”

“I’m not sure.” Jack scratches his chin, realizing he needs to shave. “What did they say when they administered it?”

Lucy repeated the verse, then asked, “What does it mean?”

Jack tapped the side of his forehead for several minutes, pondering the passage. He snaps his fingers as he realizes.

“That passage is talking about Jesus’ blood, right?”

She nods.

“Well, Catholics believe that Jesus’ blood and flesh are transubstantiated. They believe it is literally the blood and flesh of Jesus, just transformed in a way that humans can consume it. If that’s the case, by taking the ‘blood’ of Jesus through the wine and the ‘body’ of Him through the bread, you were taking on the divine.”

“I’m not sure about all of that.” Lucy’s nose wrinkles. “Are you saying I ate Jesus?”

Jack chuckles. “I don’t know about that. But something divine must have happened, or you wouldn’t be the way you are.”

Lucy looks solemn. “Yes…I think so.”

“You’re uncertain?” Jack asks.

“I experienced something within this hospital.” Lucy bites her lower lip. “I definitely felt an inkling of faith, but it’s all so new for me that I don’t know what to make of it.”

Jack nods. He had attended church his entire life, but he had never really thought about its power. Lucy surprises him by reaching over and squeezing Jack’s hand.

“When we get to London, could we find a church and see for ourselves?”

Jack’s heart warms. “Yes, let’s.”

And that, ladies and gentleman, is the story of how I became human and lived happily ever after. I suppose it was written a little differently than Bram Stoker wanted, but oh well.

As for Dracula, he is still out there, hunting young women and turning them into vampires. Despite Helsing’s best efforts, killing Dracula is harder than it seems. Yet, there is hope. Vampirism isn’t permanent. For women like myself, it is freeing knowing there’s a way out.

All you have to do is to partake of communion.

Looking for more to read?

Enjoy this:

What divine mercy could ignite a man’s rage?

Angelo, champion of the sea god, is ordered to deliver hope to his most despised enemies. Instead, he boards a ship headed in the opposite direction. But divine assignments aren’t so easily ignored. Shipwrecked and pursued by the very forces he despises, he faces an impossible choice: cling to the hatred that defines him, or embrace the treacherous divine assignment he fled. The future of two nations, and his own survival, hangs in the balance. Can he abandon the bitterness that defines him, or will his rebellion doom them all?

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Werewolves. Vampires. Zombies. It seems like as soon as October hits, the world of the spooky and supernatural comes alive. I tend not to like it, feeling as if the darkness is creeping into my light-filled world.

Yet, there is no reason to fear the supernatural.

The supernatural is intimately connected with the Bible. If you take the Bible at its word, there’s ghosts (1 Samuel 28), people who were dead coming back to life (Ezekiel 37, John 11), demons (too many Scriptures to pick one), supernatural locust (Revelation 9:7), and angels with eyes, wings, and different kinds of heads (See Ezekiel, Daniel, and other passages).

God himself is supernatural. The descriptions of his throne room are filled with descriptions of jewels, lightning, thunder, water, light, and fire. No wonder Isaiah was terrified of him! I would be, too, if I saw God in his full glory.

Knowing this, the supernatural has ceased to scare me, and instead inspire me to write stories that honor God and shine light on a dark world.

The first foray I had into werewolves was with a friend, who wrote about werewolves and light wolves before I even knew what they were. As I matured, I decided to create my own werewolves. They were the corrupted Eritam (the wolf-tamers of my world), who had supposedly sold their souls to Malstorm in a horrifying ceremony.

Toothbreaker is the novella that I call my “werewolf redemption story.” In basic terms, Sage, a werewolf who no longer has the ability to turn, returns to his hometown, where he has to face his crimes and decide if he wants to continue his life of crime or turn to the light side. The e-book is available for free here, but if you ever wanted a paperback, you can order one direct from me here.

Carrying on in the supernatural tradition, I wrote a short story about a vampire. And not just any vampire: Lucy Westerna. This vampire is from Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula, and I wrote a spin-off short story about her, set in 1920’s San Francisco. I plan on releasing it on Halloween, so stay tuned. To give you a taste of the story, here’s the mood board:

In other news, thanks to many of you, and the support of family and friends, our medical debt fundraiser is about halfway through. If you feel inclined, you can still donate until the end of October.

I’m still working on Lavanna’s Journey, but I’m in the revision stage, so I can’t exactly say where I am word count wise because I’m doing a lot of rewriting, adding, and subtracting. My hope is to be able to publish it in September 2026. We shall see.

Here’s some great books for you to read in the meantime:

Are you…

Overwhelmed by what to read next?

Can’t keep your books organized?

Ready to finish a reading challenge this year?

Start the A to Z Reading Challenge TODAY (in a really easy way!)

The aim of this pack is to make it easy from day 1 to read more and discover new books!

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I personally read and loved this novel! Here’s my review:

An enjoyable YA Christian Fantasy Novel...

First, characters! Rowan and Blythe are fantastic protagonists. Rowan was one of those characters you love but also want to shake at the same time, which makes her compelling. Blythe was a sweet cinnamon roll that had fierceness about her despite her disability. She was great. Bane, the primary love interest, was sweet, but I would’ve liked to know more about him. Oren was interesting....and I will leave it at that.

Second, the setting/worldbuilding. I really loved how color and sensory details was incorporated throughout the story. Especially the orange and purple colors, which was very distinct. Then, I loved how the author incorporated a God character and this idea of shadows/light. Finally, the phoenix and unicorn aspect-it was so different and neat!

Third, the plot. I will say that I thought I knew where this story was going, and it surprised me. It is a steady build to a climax, and since this is a series, not everything is resolved. As a result, I’m looking forward to book 2!

This is a wholesome, clean novel with no language, minimal violence, and no sexual content. This book releases October 21st.

Preorder the Book

A Novella collection just in time for Christmas!

“Inheriting Peace” by Erin R. Howard

Maggie’s long-lost relative informs her she’s inherited the Starlit Inn, and she jumps at the chance of a brand-new life. Except, the magical place her aunt described is in desperate need of renovations mere weeks before Christmas guests arrive. Second-born prince Alexander is happy not to inherit the crown of a land that hasn’t had peace in twenty years. When the portal to the Starlit is unexpectedly fixed, he packs his bags for his childhood spot only to find it in disrepair. He offers to help Maggie, but how can he put his happiness above his kingdom’s suffering?

“Asunder” by Brett Armstrong

A couple ready to give up hope on their marriage stops at the Inn and finds themselves trapped in frozen nightmare-scape of Vonlaus. As they race to save the planet and themselves, the fire of hope they mutually stoke in one another may be the only thing that can help them return to their world.

“Keeper of the Stars” by Dawn Ford

Grief-stricken girl escapes a Mars space station through a hidden portal back in time to the Starlit Inn on Earth. Once there, mysterious items plague her, and she finds a path to joy she never imagined possible. Time is relevant and surprises abound in this story of redemptive joy.

“A Quantum Christmas” by J. L. Burrows

When key intel drives a researcher into the quantum time-travel loop to travel three hundred years back, she never imagined she’d be assigned a handsome but reluctant protector. Yet even as time twists into a knot, they somehow discover the true meaning of Christmas for themselves–love.

Will trouble reign, or will each visit to the Starlit Inn result in the wonder of joy, peace, hope, and love?

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No full-length audio books this month, but if you want something creepy but ultimately shows that crimes are not worth committing, then I highly recommend this YouTube version of Edgar Allan Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart. It’s fantastic. It even gave me the shivers!

Until Halloween,

M.H. Elrich

Dear Reader,

You may have noticed some changes to your typical newsletter, which is mainly that it is now being delivered by Substack instead of MailerLite, and there are now subscription options.

There is one primary reason I had to do this: MailerLite decided to start charging its customers if they reached 500 subscribers. Because I am very close to that number (Praise the Lord), I decided to pre-emptively move all of you over to Substack. After all, I can’t afford the $30/month charge it would take to keep MailerLite.

What does that mean for you?

1. You will still get a free newsletter every month featuring Christian or Clean Fantastical Fiction books, as well as author news like this one.

2. You now have the option to upgrade to a paid subscription, which will include the free short stories many of you already have, plus any future short stories I write (one of which will come next month). I will also be adding more bonuses as I gain more paid subscribers. You can always pay for one month and cancel the next if you want to read the short story.

3. You can now comment on my newsletter! This makes me very happy because then I can see your reactions from month to month.

So, for most of you, your newsletter won’t change and will still contain the great content it always has.

Audiobook Update

After trying to narrate it myself, I have quickly come to the realization that I am not an actress and I really need an audiobook narrator. So, my hope is that I can raise some funds to pay for the wonderful Trista Shaye, whose voice reminds me so much of Grace Woods that I really want her as my narrator going forward. If you love audio, please support me by using your credits on Audible to buy my current audiobooks. Also, if you could leave a review, I would much appreciate it.

Kindle Unlimited & Libraries

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling the financial squeeze of inflation here in the United States. For me and my husband, that means working multiple jobs. For you, I decided to do something out of the ordinary.

First, I decided to publish my print books through Amazon and Draft2Digital. That means my paperback books are cheaper than they usually are on Amazon.

Second, I decided to enroll my books in Kindle Unlimited. Then, after I found this out, Amazon agreed to allow books in Kindle Unlimited to also be in libraries. So now my books are both in libraries and in Kindle Unlimited.

I don’t know how long I will do this. It honestly depends on whether or not you take advantage of KU or the library availability to read my books. If I see many of you doing that, I will continue to keep them there.

If you’re still uncertain, mark your calendars for Black Friday-Cyber Monday. It is the only time of year I put all of my e-books on sale for .99.

You can also buy signed copies at my store here.

Other News

• I will be selling books at the Alpha Omega Con on September 20, 2025.

• I am currently 60,000 words into Lavanna’s Journey

• I will be sharing an exclusive, Dracula-inspired short story next month to paid subscribers.

Book Recommendations

*Disclaimer: I have not read this book*

Blurb:

Teenagers Katrina and Andrew have been bitter adversaries ever since the accident that left Katrina’s sister blind, but when a portal thrusts them into a strange, new world, their normal lives become a struggle for survival.

Cade van Cassian is seeking justice for the betrayal dealt to him by the people he trusted and trying to solve the mystery of his mother’s death. The last thing he needs is his father trying to marry him off to the girl who’s come through the portal. But Katrina and Andrew are valuable. They are those the prophecy foretold would arrive at the time of the Divide—when one nation will split into two.

Teetering on the knife’s edge of civil war, the world is ready to go up in flames. Can forgiveness unite a broken people, or are some wounds too deep to heal?

Buy the Book

*I have read and enjoyed this book. Check out my review here. This one also has an audiobook!*

Blurb:

In a world of flight, he was born wingless. But that’s the least of his problems.
Since being orphaned at a young age, wingless sprite Asher Songfeather has been sure of one thing: Bat sprites aren’t to be trusted. The fact that his own mother was one is something Asher does his best to forget.

But when his adoptive sister Carinen falls deathly ill, he’ll risk anything to save her—even if it means striking a bargain with a mysterious Bat sprite newcomer. The deal sends Asher on a perilous quest into the heart of the Bat Colony itself, where nothing is as it first appears. Saving his sister will require more than just courage and wits. It will take trust, too.

And Asher will have to rethink everything he knows about Bat sprites—including himself.

Buy the Book

*I have read one book by this author and enjoyed it, so I can recommend this story freely!*

Blurb:

The leaves are turning gold, and Serah is about to discover that even the most unlikely roads can lead to the grandest adventures.

Still grieving a loss she cannot come to terms with and longing for hope she cannot grasp, Serah is drawn to whispers of an ancient legend that tell of a golden city said to offer riches and hope to all who find it. Determined to see if the stories are true, she steps onto a winding autumn path that glimmers with mystery.

By her side walks Tandem, a mischievous yet wise feline companion who knows more of the golden city than he is willing to tell. Together, they must face trials of heart and spirit, where every step draws them closer to the promise of wonder, healing, and faith reclaimed.

But the golden city keeps its own secrets, and Serah must discover whether this legend can truly mend what grief has broken.

Get the Book for FREE

That’s it for this month!

Until Next Time,

M.H. Elrich