Elrich E-Readers May 2026
A Survey Giveaway, Book Spotlight, and Bayanna
Dear Reader,
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Bayanna is a character that is often a reader favorite.
She’s sassy, funny, and spunky.
She is a kick-butt heroine who isn’t in your face about it.
She’s Mulan meets Merida, with the red hair, green eyes, and charming smile to match.
She’s Etania’s best friend.
Many readers want to know what happens to her after the events of Etania’s books, and I tend to hide my face behind my hands.
Bayanna is my one non-Christian character.
Because of that, I actually considered killing her off in Etania’s Destiny.
However, readers loved her so much, I figured you might bring out pitchforks and try to burn me at the stake if I did that.
So I kept her story and her role as it is, and I gave her a “happy” ending.
Yet, she remains in unbelief.
This is because, as sad as it is, not everyone will come to believe in Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.
I wanted to have at least one person realistically choose to live their own way instead of God’s way.
The result?
Bayanna is the same, but there are hints that her life isn't sunshine and roses.
Spoilers ahead, scroll past the image and go to the next heading to skip. What follows is a snippet from Lavanna’s Journey.
This is the character art for Bayanna.
Lavanna loved the beautiful blue ocean and the salty spray on her skin. But loving the water and loving the harbor were two different things. After checking in with the council to tell them what was going on, packing for a long trip, and then gathering information about the location of Bayanna and Cam, Lavanna was beyond exhausted. The harbor, with its crowds of sailors and the pungent smell of fish, was not something she enjoyed navigating. Nevertheless, she pushed forward, hoping that Bayanna and Cam could bring them one step closer to finding her mother.
At the end of a pier that jutted out from the shore, just a bit away from the Dragon Inlet, was Bayanna and Cam’s galleon. The gigantic ship, dwarfing the sea and shoreline almost by comparison, made Lavanna’s jaw drop. As soon as they approached and went up the plank, Lavanna observed sailors running up and down the deck. The captains were shouting orders while bickering—something that always made Lavanna wonder how Bayanna and Cam were still together if they argued so much.
When Bayanna saw their group, her eyes widened, and her grin overtook her face. She ran and embraced Lavanna’s father, who winced and guffawed at her brief embrace. Cam continued giving orders.
“ ‘Ello Keyel!” She looked over at Lavanna’s group. “Where’s Etania?’
Her simple question shot like an arrow through Lavanna’s chest.
“I see.” Bayanna scanned their group, eventually landing on Torrance. She pointed a finger at him. “Who are you?”
Torrance shifted from foot to foot. “I-I’m Zaden’s apprentice and his…son.”
Lavanna felt a slight twinge of sympathy for him, which she quickly suppressed.
“I should’ve known that womanizer would produce a child.” Bayanna shook her head. “Cam will lose a bet.”
Bayanna looked delighted that she could shove this fact in her partner’s face, and then faced Lavanna. “I haven’t seen you in quite a while. You’ve grown so much!”
Lavanna blushed at the compliment.
“Bayanna, we don’t have time for catching up,” Keyel reminded. “You know I never visit you unless we have a serious reason.”
Bayanna rolled her eyes. “I forgot how boring you are without Etania. Let’s go to my cabin to meet.”
They agreed, and Bayanna shouted at Cam.
“Come if you want to know what’s going on.”
“What if I don’t want to know?” Cam barked back. “Anytime they’re involved, it’s trouble.”
“Them?” Bayanna yelled back, “They’re still young! They haven’t done anything yet.”
“You know exactly who I mean,” Cam replied. “Take them to the navigation room. I will be there shortly.”
“I was going to!” Bayanna huffed.
She led them behind the wheel to a narrow ladder, which led down into the navigation room.
Book Spotlight
The Thief’s Keeper (An Enemy’s Keeper Prequel): A Heartwarming YA Medieval Fantasy with Budding Romance
Receive a bonus FREE companion graphic novel, The First Dance! 100% human-illustrated.
Two outcasts. One lost boy. A daring quest for freedom in war-torn England.
In the aftermath of a rebellion against William the Conqueror, northern England lies in ruins, its people scattered and starved.
Aelfric, a 14-year-old thrall, flees from his master and stumbles upon a cache of stolen laundry. The thief? Aliwyn, a girl around his age, ostracized for being “cursed.” In her care is a lost toddler she has rescued from the clutches of greedy thrall traders.
Forced to cover each other’s secrets, Aelfric and Aliwyn form an unlikely friendship... and maybe something more. They embark on a perilous journey to reunite the child with his family on Easter Sunday and to seek a cure for Aliwyn’s mysterious condition.
But time is running out. Aelfric’s master is on the hunt, and the shadows of death loom ever closer over Aliwyn. Will they find the courage and faith to press on, or will their quest end in capture and ruin?
Dive into a tale of heart-stopping challenges and unforeseen twists. The Thief’s Keeper is a thrilling magic-free YA historical fantasy that transports you to an alternate medieval world, where Celts and Norman knights live alongside the last Vikings. Begin your adventure today!
Until Next Month,
M.H. Elrich
P.S. Have you taken the reader survey yet? Please do so and get a chance to win a giftcard!