Pre-order News! Fantasy Short Stories will publish 8th April 2022! #fantasy

Posted on March 29, 2022 by suzannerogersonfantasyauthor

I have been very quiet on the blog this year, but now I’m ready to share some brilliant news – I am about to publish a book of short stories with characters from my fantasy realms. See below for details.

Blurb

A collection of stories featuring favourite characters from Visions of Zarua and ‘Silent Sea Chronicles’, plus a glimpse into the new series, ‘Starlight Prophecy’.

The Guardian

With an assassin picking off wizards one-by-one, Kalesh visits Cassima, a former student, hoping to persuade her to re-join the Royal Wizards and use their protection to keep her family safe.

Kalesh’s newest charge, Paddren, has strange visions which link to a past event known only to a select few. The knowledge hidden in Paddren’s visions is invaluable so Kalesh must guard the boy at any cost.

Can Kalesh keep his students off the assassin’s radar long enough for his order to stop the killer?

Garrick the Protector

Fifteen-year-old Garrick is helping at his uncle’s farm when his cousin’s illegal use of magic threatens the family’s safety.

Mara is in immediate danger from the Assembly who deem all magic as a threat. The only safe place for her is the Turrak Mountains where exiled mystics have found sanctuary alongside the island’s Sentinel.

Can Garrick get Mara to safety before the Assembly catch up with them?

War Wounds

Conscripted to fight off invaders, Calder finds the months of bloody battle unleash a sixth sense buried inside him.

Finally released from duty, he travels home and encounters a mysterious woman who insists his life is destined to serve a higher purpose. Calder rejects her claims, wanting only to return to a simple existence with his wife.

But can Calder pick up his old life when the powers within him have been stirred? And why does he feel such misgivings about his return?

All three stories give readers a tantalising glimpse into the fantasy worlds created by Suzanne Rogerson.

***

Pre-order your copy of Fantasy Short Stories now for only 99p.

Publication date 8th April 2022.

***

Suzanne Rogerson – Author of epic fantasy and heart-warming romance

You can follow me on

Twitter Goodreads BookBub Amazon Facebook Instagram

You can also join my Newsletter for writing updates and news of promotions.

Visions of Zarua is 4 today! #fantasy #epicfantasy #bookbirthday

Posted on November 16, 2019 by suzannerogersonfantasyauthor

Four years – I can hardly believe my debut book has been out that long! Happy birthday to Visions of Zarua.

I hope you can forgive a bit of a promo post today as I’m so proud of this book and all I have achieved in the last 4 years. Thinking back I really can’t believe I actually had the guts to do it. Releasing my debut novel was a scary undertaking, but thanks to the wonderful reviewers and book bloggers I’ve met along the way I’ve never regretted it. In fact, self publishing is addictive and I can’t wait to get my fifth book out there!

Here’s Poppy, she’s so proud of her human.

2019 has been a massive year for Visions of Zarua with the audiobook coming out in July and the Czech translation in October. I loved visiting the bookshops in Prague and seeing it in real life.

The audiobook has been brought to life by Guy Barnes and I can never miss an opportunity to share a clip with you.

You can buy all editions of Visions of Zarua from Amazon here.

You can also buy the audiobook on iTunes or audible where it’s free to listen to with your monthly credit. If you don’t have a audible account, you can follow these links to set up an account and receive a free months trial.

UK readers – Audible link

US readers – Audible link

French readers – Audible link

German readers – Audible link

(Note – If you use this link, order Visions and decide to keep your membership I will get a referral bonus from audible.)

Visions of Zarua has received some wonderful reviews on Amazon and Goodreads in the last few years. I love to read them and I thought I’d share a couple of new ones today.

Shelley Clarke – ‘The author created such believable, magical worlds with wonderful characters that I didn’t want it to end. There’s everything in this story, good v evil, romance, crime, mystery, passion & fabulous magic, all put together in a wonderful writing style.’

Jenn – ‘It perfectly mixes past and present timelines into one unique story that will have you enjoying each moment. And who doesn’t like some magic and magical beasts? Guy Barnes does a great job narrating this book.’

Rebecca – I found this book to be fresh and unique because the author combines my favorite elements of fantasy with an engaging and suspenseful mystery. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t stop listening…’

Tiffany T – ‘I absolutely loved Visions of Zarua. It was very interesting to go back and forth in time to the two different stories and then see how they intertwined at the end. I almost felt like I got two stories for the price of one!’

If you have read Visions of Zarua would you consider adding your review to Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub or where ever you can think of? These reviews show other readers my book is worth a try, and if I can get enough reviews I might have a chance of getting accepted for that elusive BookBub Ad where I have a chance of reaching 1000’s of readers in one day.

Thanks for being there with me on this incredible journey. Long may it continue.

If you want to pick up your copy from Amazon, here’s that universal link again for Visions of Zarua.

I’ll leave you with the blurb just in case you haven’t seen it enough in the last four years…

Blurb

Two wizards, 350 years apart. Can they save the realm of Paltria from Zarua’s dark past?

An ancient darkness haunts the realm of Paltria.

Apprentice wizard Paddren is plagued by visions of a city on the brink of annihilation. When his master dies in mysterious circumstances, the Royal Order of Wizards refuses to investigate.

Helped by his childhood friend, the skilled tracker Varnia, and her lover Leyoch, Paddren vows to find the killer.

The investigation leads Paddren down a sinister path of assassins, secret sects and creatures conjured by blood magic. But he is guided by a connection with a wizard from centuries ago – a wizard whose history holds the key to the horror at the heart of the abandoned city of Zarua. Can Paddren decipher his visions and save the Paltrian people before the dark menace of Zarua’s past is unleashed?

***

Suzanne Rogerson – Author of epic and heroic fantasy

You can follow me on

Twitter Goodreads BookBub Amazon Facebook Instagram

A writer’s life – Prague highlights #indieauthor #fantasyauthor #Tuesdaybookblog

Posted on November 12, 2019 by suzannerogersonfantasyauthor

I recently spent a wonderful few days in Prague enjoying the sights, the food and the drink. But the real highlights of the trip was seeing my translated book – Zarua Ztracene Mesto (Visions of Zarua) in the bookstores and visiting my publisher, Albatros Media. I signed some books for competition prizes while I was there and found out the story behind how they discovered my book too!

The holiday to Prague was months in planning and ran into its fair share of problems. I was supposed to go with my daughter and husband, but we didn’t have anyone to leave the puppy with so I transferred the flights to my parents and they came with me instead. We had various issues doing the transfer and I experienced a lot of frustration trying to get hold of the airline on the phone, but I finally got everything sorted a few days before we were due to fly.

The morning of the flight didn’t get off to a good start either when my alarm didn’t go off! My phone had decided to switch off and I woke up at 4.25am with only 5 minutes to get dressed and brush my teeth before the taxi arrived. We got to the airport on time, but my phone refused to switch back on and was heating up. It’s a closed unit so I had not option of removing the battery and I feared it wouldn’t be allowed on the plane. Thankfully a lovely man at the Dixon store showed me how to get it to switch on and it started to cool down almost instantly. The phone had hardly any charge left, but the pressure was off and I could finally relax and enjoy the start of my holiday. So much stress and it was still only 6.30am!

We arrived at our grand hotel and spent four days exploring the sights, having first got to grips with the transport system, which I must say is cheap and very simple to use once you understand it. The weather was beautiful and warm on the first day and we only needed a cardigan as we started our first adventure into Prague.

The remaining days the temperature dropped and we needed coats, scarves and gloves! We decided to take a bus tour through Prague, which included a walking tour of Prague Castle, a traditional lunch and a boat trip under Charles Bridge. The guide was very knowledgeable and we had a lot of fun despite the cold.

I would love to share some more pictures but I will save them for another post. I’ll end by saying that Prague is a great place to spend a few days exploring on foot or jumping on and off the many trams that run through the city. There are beautiful buildings everywhere you look, and don’t forget to look up or you’ll miss some great architecture. The eagle-eyed might also spot a few of these cute little guys in the River Vltava (Coypu).

Until next time…

***

Suzanne Rogerson – Author of epic and heroic fantasy

You can follow me on

Twitter Goodreads BookBub Amazon Facebook Instagram

Visions of Zarua #Audiobook blog tour wrap up #epicfantasy #fantasy

Posted on October 22, 2019 by suzannerogersonfantasyauthor

Over the last five days lots of lovely bloggers have been reviewing the audiobook of Visions of Zarua and I’m excited to share a few snippets from their posts, plus links to the in depth reviews. Here’s a reminder of those involved.

Mai’s Musings ‘Having discovered Suzanne’s Silent Sea Chronicles earlier this year and fallen totally in love with them, I was excited to see what Visions of Zarua had to offer. I approached this book with extremely high hopes and I wasn’t disappointed. Although narrated by a male narrator, I found that Suzanne’s signature style and writing voice resonated throughout, giving me, as a fan of her work, a familiar, welcoming feel that absorbed me instantly. Once again her exquisite attention to detail shines through…’

Rev. Rebecca Writers: Read, Write, Pray ‘I found this book to be fresh and unique because the author combines my favorite elements of fantasy with an engaging and suspenseful mystery. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t stop listening…’

In De Boekenkast ‘I loved this book set in a world full of imagination and amazing characters. The audiobook with the wonderful storyteller is amazing and gives the mystery set a special touch…’

Writing with Wolves ‘If you like original & deeply detailed fantasies with magic & assassins then you seriously need to give this book a read… or a listen!’

Jess Bookish Life ‘The narrator had a type of voice that grabbed my attention, and following all the POVs and all the characters was even more fun, especially when I would close my eyes and imagine what was being narrated. It allowed my imagination to run wild by just listening…’

Splashes into Books ‘The narrator for the audiobook version has a fantastic, clear and expressive voice for bringing the story to life in the imagination of the reader, making it clear just who is talking and using a variety of cadence to keep the listener engaged and enthralled. Even though I’d read the story and remembered much of what happened (which shows how well written it is) I still listened with eager anticipation to the audiobook version.’

Reviewsfeed ‘Guy Barnes’ narration of the storyline. Can I say, he does a fantastic job of bringing each of the characters, major or minor, to life. Each is distinctively unique in the persona he has given them. The variety of accents he pulls off consistently is amazing too.’

Donnasbookblog ‘I thought that this was a well written and well developed fantasy story with an added element of mystery and it really had me hooked right from the start.’

Alistenersslant ‘I loved everything about this from the first word to the last, I was drawn in and hooked and didn’t want to leave. The characters, the setting, the sights, sounds and descriptions well all right on the money.’

***

It’s wonderful to see that the audiobook has been so well received, but I shouldn’t be surprised as Guy Barnes made such a brilliant job of the narration. If you missed it, here’s a sample.

Thanks as always to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources who arranged the blog tour for me and thank you again to all the reviewers involved.

Audible links for new customers – UK US FR DE

Audible UK Audible US

iTunes

Amazon book link. (If you’ve previously bought the ebook, you can pick up the audiobook for a fraction of the price on Amazon.)

I hope to be back tomorrow with a writing and reading update.

Visions of Zarua #audiobook #sample #fantasy #epicfantasy

Posted on September 16, 2019 by suzannerogersonfantasyauthor

I was very excited to release the audiobook of my debut novel Visions of Zarua in July. I’m so proud of the wondeful job Guy Barnes did on the narration but I realise that I’ve never shared an audio sample on my blog before. So here it is, enjoy…

You can pick up a copy at any of these places;

Amazon

Audible

iTunes

There are a few options for you to reduce the cost of your audiobook. If you purchase or have already purchased the ebook of Visions of Zarua (currently selling at £2.99) you can buy the audiobook at a much cheaper price through Amazon.

You can join Audible and receive a 30 day free trial in which you can listen to Visions of Zarua for free. You can cancel anytime but if you love audiobooks I highly recommend the monthly membership which is very reasonable. Follow these links for more information – UK US DE FR.

Finally, if you are willing to review the book on Amazon and Audible I would be happy to provide a free code for you to redeem and listen to the book on Audible.

I’ll leave you with a reminder of what this standalone epic fantasy is all about and a couple of quotes.

Blurb

Two wizards, 350 years apart. Can they save the realm of Paltria before the evil of Zarua’s past is unleashed?

An ancient darkness haunts the realm of Paltria. Apprentice wizard Paddren is plagued by visions of a city on the brink of annihilation. When his master Kalesh dies in mysterious circumstances, the royal order of wizards refuses to investigate. Helped by his childhood friend, the skilled tracker Varnia, and her lover Leyoch, Paddren vows to find the killer. The investigation leads Paddren down a sinister path of assassins, secret sects, and creatures conjured by blood magic. But he is guided by a connection with a wizard from centuries ago – a wizard whose history holds the key to the horror at the heart of the abandoned city of Zarua. Can Paddren decipher his visions in time to save the Paltrian people from the dark menace of Zarua’s past?

Faith – Goodreads Intriguing characters, strong structure, high stakes, memorable world. The Visions of Zarua packs a punch in delivering all of these. A superb story that fantasy readers will definitely enjoy!

Jennifer – Goodreads Every fantasy lover should be reading this book… Overall, I found this story to be crafted to perfection. This may very well be the best fantasy genre book I have ever read. A brilliant debut novel!

Jo – Goodreads Visions of Zarua is very much a mystery stroke who dunit kind of a read, that just happens to be set in a mythical fantasy world with Wizards. But the two genres blend so beautifully together. This book really is an exquisite slow burner of a read, that needs to be savoured, there is no rushing this novel. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Jessica B – Goodreads I loved everything about Visions of Zarua! From the flawed, relatable characters to the intricately planned out world of Paltria, and the ancient abandoned city of Zarua…this book had everything I want to see in a fantasy novel.

Thehappymeerkat – Goodreads This book is one of the best fantasy books I’ve read to date! From the very first chapter I was hooked to read more and it isn’t many books that truly keep you reading from the very beginning to the very end.

***

Only 2 days to go! The Sentinel’s Reign out 29th June 2018 http://mybook.to/sentinelreign

Posted on June 27, 2018 by suzannerogersonfantasyauthor

On 29th June, The Sentinel’s Reign will be released into the world and I hope you will all help me celebrate the second book in the Silent Sea Chronicles.

I made the decision not to run a proper blog tour this time around. Last year it exhausted me and took the shine off the publication of The Lost Sentinel.

I do have a few guest posts, interviews and mini excerpts lined up over the coming weeks and hopefully a few reviews will be going up very soon as well. I hope to write an update post each day with links to the bloggers who’ve agreed to help promote my new release.

And here they are;

Rainne over at Rainne’s Ramblings has posted an exclusive look at the prologue of The Sentinel’s Reign.

And Ari Meghlen interviewed me on her blog today. It’s always fun answering questions about my writing journey. Please check out both these lovely ladies blogs.

That’s about it for today’s update.

I would love to get a few more pre-orders in and see The Sentinel’s Reign hit the kindle charts hard on release day, will you help me? You can pick it up at the bargain price of 99p, just follow the link here.

Thank you for your support.

The Lost Sentinel 99p in the kindle countdown deal + pre-order The Sentinel’s Reign for 99p #fantasy #epicfantasy

Posted on June 4, 2018 by suzannerogersonfantasyauthor

I am running a Kindle Countdown Deal for Book 1 in the Silent Sea Chronicles. The Lost Sentinel is just 99p for one week only.

Book 2 The Sentinel’s Reign is also on a pre-order offer of just 99p. The price will go up after publication on 29th June 2018.

That means right now you can pick up both books for just £1.98

Here’s the info about the first two books in the trilogy…

BOOK 1 – THE LOST SENTINEL

The magical island of Kalaya is dying, along with its Sentinel. With the Kalayan people turning their back on magic, can Tei help the exiles find their new Sentinel before it’s too late?

The Assembly controls Kalaya. Originally set up to govern, they now persecute those with magic and exile them to the Turrak Mountains.

Tei, a tailor’s daughter, has always hidden her magic. But when her father’s old friend visits and warns them to flee to the mountains she must leave her old life behind.

On the journey, an attack leaves her father mortally wounded. He entrusts her into the care of two exiles, Rike and Garrick, and on his deathbed makes a shocking confession.

Struggling with self-doubt, Tei joins the exiles in the search for their lost Sentinel. But mysterious Masked Riders want the Sentinel too, and time, as well as hope, is running out.

How can Tei help the Kalayan people reunite and save the magic when their ignorance threatens to destroy them all?

Follow Tei’s journey through the magical land of Kalaya and the Astral Plane.

ORDER FOR 99p / 99c 1 week only

BOOK 2 – THE SENTINEL’S REIGN

The new Sentinel’s reign is doomed to failure unless Tei can prevent the Kalayan people from plunging into war.

With the new Sentinel initiated and the magic restored on Kalaya, life is flourishing for Tei and the exiles. But Rathnor’s plans for war soon escalate and thwart any chance of peace.

Brogan’s position on the Assembly is uncertain as rumours circulate that he is an exile spy.

After an attempt on his life, Farrell is more determined than ever to build a home for his people on Stone Haven. But the council have their sights set on Kalaya and Farrell struggles to steer them from war.

As trouble brews within and outside forces gather against them, can the exiles keep their hold on the magic, or will this spell the end of Kalaya and its people?

JUST 99p / 99c TO PRE-ORDER A COPY NOW

Note – To those who pre-ordered The Sentinel’s Reign at the higher price of £2.99, please be assured you are covered by the Amazon price promise guarantee and will only be charged 99p on the publication date 29th June 2018.

Book News! Visions of Zarua is being published in Czech #fantasy #epicfantasy

Posted on April 23, 2018 by suzannerogersonfantasyauthor

Those who follow my blog may remember a while ago I mentioned I’d been contacted by a publisher about a Czech translation of my debut novel, Visions of Zarua.

Well last week I received the signed contract so I can finally announce the deal is official!

I do not have a publication date as yet but I’m so happy to share this news and to say I will soon be a traditionally published author! That is a dream come true, even if it has come about in a totally unexpected way.

I am so proud of this book and can’t wait to see what it looks like in Czech!

For those of you unfamiliar with the book here’s the blurb…

Two wizards, 350 years apart. Can they save the realm of Paltria from Zarua’s dark past?

An ancient darkness haunts the realm of Paltria.
Apprentice wizard Paddren is plagued by visions of a city on the brink of annihilation. When his master Kalesh dies in mysterious circumstances, the Royal Order of Wizards refuses to investigate.
Helped by his childhood friend, the skilled tracker Varnia, and her lover Leyoch, Paddren vows to find the killer.
The investigation leads Paddren down a sinister path of assassins, secret sects and creatures conjured by blood magic. But he is guided by a connection with a wizard from centuries ago – a wizard whose history holds the key to the horror at the heart of the abandoned city of Zarua. Can Paddren decipher his visions in time to save the Paltrian people from the dark menace of Zarua’s past?
Goodreads book link

Why not see what others have been saying on Amazon via universal book link.

I am currently approaching agents with this book and would really love to get some more reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, or to be featured on your book blogs. If you are willing to post an honest review in exchange for a free copy, please get in touch using my contact form. Alternatively, Visions of Zarua is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited where members can read it for free.

I hope to have more news to share soon, but for now thanks for reading.

Would you like to win a copy of Visions of Zarua #fantasy #tuesdaybookblog

Posted on November 21, 2017 by suzannerogersonfantasyauthor

Last week, my debut fantasy Visions of Zarua turned 2 and I announced the Goodreads birthday giveaway, and also a giveaway on my blog.

All you have to do is comment on this post (or the birthday post here) and I’ll be in touch with the winner over the weekend. Or enter the Goodread Giveaway here.

Visions of Zarua is a dual timeline fantasy following the story of two wizards 350 years apart. Paddren is the reluctant hero of the present day in Paltria, while Jago is the hero 350 year ago when the problems first beset the magical city of Zarua. Steeped in mystery, with plenty of magic, murder and mayhem along the way, this is a fast-paced action adventure on an epic scale.

Visions of Zarua has an average rating of 4.34 on Goodreads and 4.5 on Amazon.

A few readers have said;

‘Told through four unique perspectives, Visions of Zarua is an epic fantasy that follows three friends as they struggle to fight demons of the past threatening their homeland of Paltria. Moving between the past and present, the narrative unfolds at a brisk speed, never losing momentum, introducing an intricate world full of magic, intrigue and danger.’ Faith – 4 stars

‘This is a dark fantasy novel, that I loved from the very first page. It has to be said that fantasy novels are not my usual genre, but I was surprised by just how much this book spoke to me. Even though it is set in the mythical world of Paltria, and the ancient and abandoned city of Zarua, the book echoed the emotions of everyday, normal life. This is why I connected so much with this book and the characters within it.’ Jo – 5 stars

‘This may very well be the best fantasy genre book I have ever read. A brilliant debut novel!’ Jennifer – 5 stars

‘Brilliantly written fantasy, finished it and wanted more.’ Anita – 5 stars

*****

Blurb

Two wizards, 350 years apart. Can they save the realm of Paltria from Zarua’s dark past?
An ancient darkness haunts the realm of Paltria.
Apprentice wizard Paddren is plagued by visions of a city on the brink of annihilation. When his master Kalesh dies in mysterious circumstances, the Royal Order of Wizards refuses to investigate.
Helped by his childhood friend, the skilled tracker Varnia, and her lover Leyoch, Paddren vows to find the killer.
The investigation leads Paddren down a sinister path of assassins, secret sects and creatures conjured by blood magic. But he is guided by a connection with a wizard from centuries ago – a wizard whose history holds the key to the horror at the heart of the abandoned city of Zarua. Can Paddren decipher his visions in time to save the Paltrian people from the dark menace of Zarua’s past?

Excerpt
As Paddren stepped through the unmanned gates of the Redstone Manor estate, a presence shrouded by darkness brushed against his mind. Sharp pain ripped through his skull and white light flashed across his vision. He staggered to a halt and dropped his pack of supplies on the cobbles as a thunderclap exploded in his head. He gripped his skull between his hands, the pain so excruciating he had to clench his teeth to stop from screaming. His mental shield began to buckle, but then the unfamiliar presence retreated as suddenly as it had arrived.
He sucked in a shaky breath and tasted the tang of blood in his mouth. A tremor quaked through his body and his hand shook as he stooped to snatch up his discarded bag.
‘Are you all right, Paddren?’ one of the baron’s stewards asked, detaching himself from the small crowd that had gathered to watch.
‘I’m fine,’ Paddren said, forcing a smile.
The onlookers began to shuffle away. Ignoring them, Paddren tried to envisage the dark presence – certain it had been searching for someone or something. Whatever its purpose, he knew he had to tell his master.

*****

If you want to check out some reviews or download a sample, please follow the universal amazon link here.

Thanks for you time.

Book Review: The Lost Sentinel

Posted on November 18, 2017 by suzannerogersonfantasyauthor

Today I’m sharing a well thought review of my book The Lost Sentinel by Kim on her blog The Writing Process. I’m really chuffed that she loves my visual descriptions, all those hours of editing have paid off!
Please take a look and let her know what you think.

The Writing Process

The Lost Sentinel
Silent Sea Chronicles – Book 1
Suzanne Rogerson
High Fantasy

Rating: 4/5

I received this book for free to assist with either a beta read or ARC review of book 2.
It was also on my WordPress TBR list.

Synopsis
Set on Kalaya, an island fuelled by a dying magic, the mystics of the mountains struggle through hardships as they search for their saviour: the lost sentinel. Outside the mountains, magic is feared and despised, forcing people into exile. Magic is blamed for their troubles and the ruling council of Kalaya, the Assembly, are all too eager to pass laws against it.

Follow Tei and her companions as they face multiple challenges in an attempt to overcome a dark evil and save the island magic, all while being hunted by those who wish them harm.

Characters
I felt like I had a good connection with…

View original post 531 more words