Your Christmas gifts from author @KimHeadlee!

Christmas (c)2010 by Subbotina, Depositphotos ID 10605705.

I hope this holiday season fills you with joy, wonder, and blessings today and throughout the coming year.

If you like thrilling, poignant, well-written fiction, I know you'll love these titles:

• The Color of Vengeance
  ~ Kindle ~ Nook ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play ~
  
• Raging Sea: Reckonings
  ~ Kindle ~ Nook ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play ~
  
• The Challenge, episode 1: Dilemmas and Deliberation (graphic novel; Kindle only ~ free worldwide 12/25/2016 and always free with your Kindle Select or Amazon Prime membership)

These great books are free today as my gift to you. Enjoy!

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
Please enter often, and good luck!

Howling under a June moon with The Dawnflier (June 2016) #MFRWOrg #ASMSG

Visit with author Kim Headlee at Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum 6/4/16.

The Business of Writing takes a week off in deference to The Dawnflier, and there's a lot to howl about this month!

BREAKING NEWS (and a request for crossed fingers :) — King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court, which in April won the 2016 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal for Science Fiction & Fantasy, has cleared two hurdles toward getting a Publishers Weekly review! For those who don't know, Publishers Weekly is THE trade magazine of the publication industry, and they review just a fraction of every book they receive, especially in regard to independently published titles. Even though KASIWC is now in the hands of their review staff, there's still a chance it won't get reviewed; hence the request for crossed fingers, thanks!

MORE BREAKING NEWS and finger-crossing requests — On the heels of KASIWC's stellar showing in the Benjamin Franklin awards, I have submitted the book to several more contests, including the contest for independently published books sponsored by Writers Digest. Those finalists won't be announced till October, so if you need to use your fingers for something else until then, I totally understand. :D

EVEN MORE BREAKING NEWS — No worries; your fingers are safe for this one. I am pleased to announce the release of Episode 1 (Dilemmas & Deliberation) of my graphic novel edition of The Challenge. Get your Kindle copy today!

Subscribers to the MailChimp edition of The Dawnflier have received first crack at my latest Amazon giveaway. I run one every month, so please SIGN UP today (and claim your subscriber gift!) if you don't want to miss out; thanks!

Upcoming appearances:

• Saturday, June 4, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Family Day at Wolf Creek Indian Village, Bastian, VA.
• Wednesday, June 22, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Artist in Residence at Chautauqua Festival, Community Center grounds, Wytheville, VA.
• Thursday, June 23, 10 a.m. – noon. Featured Member at Black Horse Artisan Guild, 115 East Main St, Wytheville, VA.
• Friday, June 24, noon – 8:00 p.m. Chautauqua Bazaar, inside the Community Center, Wytheville, VA.
• Saturday, June 25, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Chautauqua Bazaar, inside the Community Center, Wytheville, VA.

Have a safe and pleasant transition from spring to summer!

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.

Please enter often, and good luck!

The gauntlet is thrown. One must die. THE CHALLENGE by @KimHeadlee graphic novel #newrelease

The Challenge, episode 1: Dilemmas & Deliberation.
Story by Kim Headlee, Art & Storyboard by Wendy Carey.

Refusal is not an option. 


The Challenge 
Graphic Novel Episode 1: Dilemmas and Deliberation
A Dragon's Dove Chronicles Novella

Arthur the High King is captive of Gyan's longtime enemy, the Saxon warrior-princess Camilla, who through the black arts may have enlisted a demon to aid in attaining her revenge. Though the passion that had colored the early years of Gyan's marriage to Arthur was still celebrated in song across the land, myriad problems had driven a wedge between them. These days, Gyan wasn't singing.

When Camilla issues her challenge for a to-the-death fight for crown and king, Gyan's duty, loyalty, and honor are put to the test.

She can forfeit the duel, her crown… and the joyless life that crown has come to represent. Or she can risk her life and perhaps her very soul for the sake of a man who may no longer love her.

Gyan's first challenge lies in determining the right path to take.

On sale now via Amazon!

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I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of Dawnflight!
To enter, click HERE.

Last month's copies of Kings got snapped up fast, so don't delay; enter today!

MailChimp subscribers to The Dawnflier receive exclusive giveaway opportunities.
Subscribe today so you don't miss out!

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.

Please enter often, and good luck!

Get ready for THE CHALLENGE by @KimHeadlee Graphic Novel Episode 1

The Challenge graphic novel, episode 1: Dilemmas & Deliberation
Story by Kim Headlee, Art c2016 by Wendy Carey.

Today on The Maze I am excited to report the completion of the first three pages of the graphic-novel version of The Challenge! The e-book edition of Episode 1, titled Dilemmas & Deliberation, will be available soon on a Kindle near you. :D

I am using Kindle Comic Creator software for this task—and I will be blogging about the software in a future Business of Writing post because I am about ready to stuff it down Jeff Bezos's throat. While I add the finishing touches to The Challenge: Dilemmas & Deliberation, I do invite you to download either the e-book or the audiobook edition of the full story for your reading or listening pleasure.

The teaser graphic, by the way, features principle character Gyanhumara (Gyan to kin and friends; a.k.a. Queen Guinevere of Arthurian legend) and Angusel (Angus to kin and friends; a.k.a. Sir Lancelot). While the Lancelot of legend is identified as Guinevere's champion and defender, in The Dragon's Dove Chronicles (Dawnflight, Morning's Journey, etc.), Gyan usually must fight her own battles and is, in fact, no stranger to the sword.

***

I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of Dawnflight!
To enter, click HERE.

Last month's copies of Kings got snapped up fast, so don't delay; enter today!

MailChimp subscribers to The Dawnflier receive exclusive giveaway opportunities.
Subscribe today so you don't miss out!

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.

Please enter often, and good luck!

Gull makes a startling discovery in Ch 12/Sc 1b of RAGING SEA by @KimHeadlee #amwriting

Graphic overlay c2016 by Kim Headlee.

Slowly I'm getting my new laptop whipped into shape. 

Windows 10 has not been the disaster I was expecting. In fact, as an operating system it's actually halfway decent. This, from someone who still remembers the improvements rolled out with Windows 3.1 in the last millennium.

I have had to bite the proverbial bullet and get accustomed to Microsoft's "ribbon" method of command organization for applications such as Windows Explorer, but I flat-out refuse to drink the Cloud Subscription Kool-aid for Microsoft Office.

Rather than install Microsoft Office 2010, however, I have decided to try an "open" (i.e., free) software suite, LibreOffice. So far, I have used its spreadsheet and word processing programs, and I've found the interfaces to be a reasonable hybrid of the pre- and post-2010 versions of their Microsoft Office counterparts. 

As of this writing, I've also begun dabbling with LibreDraw, which opens Microsoft Publisher files, and thank heaven for that mercy. I had been using Publisher to create promotional materials and to develop the Kindle edition of my forthcoming graphic novel, The Challenge. Now that I have my nonstandard fonts installed, and with the final page of episode 1 soon to be finalized, I have dived into that work in earnest.

Best of all, LibreOffice's command icons are brightly colored, making it much easier for my beleaguered eyes.

Gull can scarcely believe his eyes in today's excerpt from Raging Sea when he sees what Morghe's ship has been transporting.

Previous excerpts of Raging Sea 
Chapters 1–6 in Raging Sea: Reckonings

 Chapter 7: Sc 1 | Sc 2 | Sc 3 | Sc 4 | Sc 5a | Sc 5b |
Chapter 8: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 9: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 1d | Sc 1e |
Chapter 10: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2a | Sc 2b | Sc 3a | Sc 3b | Sc 3c |
Chapter 11: Sc 1a |  Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 12: Sc 1a | 

Raging Sea Chapter 12, Scene 1b

©2016 by Kim Headlee

All rights reserved.

The first passenger off the ship was a wee lad, tugging on his father’s hand and leaning forward for all he was worth, like a hound straining against the leash, whilst his mother struggled to keep pace. Both parents were toting knapsacks stuffed to bursting with the gods alone knew what. The man had a second, larger pack strapped to his back.

As his feet touched the dock, the lad surged and broke his father’s grip. Whooping with triumph, he careened toward Gull, ignoring his parents’ startled, “Eoghann, no! Come back at once!” They exchanged grimaces and rushed after him.

The lad shook his head, his wee little legs and arms pumping in furious rhythm to gain distance. But he missed spotting a loose board, tripped, and smacked headfirst onto the planking.

Gull dashed to his side and righted him in moments. The tyke looked more confused and stunned than hurt, though he already had grown a fair purpling knot on his forehead. But as his parents neared, he broke into a loud wail. Gull scooped him up. The boy, still howling, started flailing his fists and kicking anything in reach. Gull had to hold him at arm’s length to avoid getting bruised.

“So sorry, sir,” said the father in gruff Breatanaiche, reaching for the lad. Gull was all too happy to deposit the squirming dervish into the man’s arms.

“No harm done,” Gull assured him as the mother joined them to coo over the still struggling child, fingering his knot. Gull laid a hand on Eoghann’s shock of carrot hair. “Ye be a brave one, mo laochan.”

That got the lad’s attention. All movement of limbs and torso stilled. Between sniffles he gave Gull a puzzled stare.

“It means ‘my little hero’ in the tongue of my people,” explained Gull to the trio, selecting a word he thought the lad might know.

This time when Eoghann kicked, it was accompanied by a squeal and grin of pure joy.

And this time, Gull noticed the outline of a pair of tiny blue doves flying across the boy’s bare heel.

Only Caledonaich tattooed their children, and only children of the clan’s àrd-banoigin received such a tattoo. And only one clan in all Caledon laid claim to the pair of doves in flight.

Loholt . . . alive? With Móranach guardians? Answering to the name Eoghann?
 
Before Gull could decide which question to voice first, the lady Elian had hailed and her companion jounced down the gangplank. Gull and Elian watched as the warrior tried to steady her while maintaining his balance, though the pair managed to traverse the distance without mishap.

For a few moments the woman appeared to be looking past Elian and Gull, a slight but triumphant smile flashing across her face.

Gull turned to follow the line of her gaze in time to glimpse Loholt and his guardians disappearing into the crowd.

He could have kicked himself all the way to fire-ravaged Ifrinn and back.

Elian would be hearing about his suspicions later; Gull knew not whom else he could trust with such a sensitive matter.

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.

Please enter often, and good luck!

THE CHALLENGE News, reviews, and winners #FREE Nov.17! Arthurian #graphicnovel

The gauntlet is thrown. One must die.
Refusal is not an option.
The Challenge c2015 by Kim Iverson Headlee.
Art & storyboard c2015 by Wendy Carey.

Page one of the graphic novel edition of The Challenge has been delivered, and the audiobook edition is undergoing its final quality review and will be available soon too!


In celebration I'm offering the e-book edition of The Challenge as a Free Kindle Download Nov. 17!

My other Dragon's Dove Chronicles novella, The Color of Vengeance, is also free worldwide on Kindle, Nook US, Nook UK, Kobo, iTunes, Scribd, Inktera, Smashwords, and Oyster.

And if you have an Audible subscription, you may listen to Dawnflight and The Color of Vengeance audiobook editions free too!

To be among the first to receive special offers and the latest news about all my books, please sign up for my monthly newsletter, The Dawnflier. 


Meantime,  here are some of the latest reviews of the e-book edition of The Challenge:

• Harlie's Books: 4.5* "I definitely need to revisit this world soon.  Well crafted and great characters that I immediately liked and rooted for."
• I Read What You Write: 5* "This story is captivating from the start and maintains its intensity throughout."
• Fanatical Paranormal Romantical: "Can’t wait to see what the next book brings in Arthur and Gyan’s story."
• Romance Writer and Lover of Books Vikki Vaught: 4* "I was rooting for Gyan, even though she will face her husband’s wrath if she wins."

And last month's contest winners are already notified:

• Autographed note cards: Lisa H. and Tifinie H.
• Autographed copy of Dawnflight:  Joy F.
• Autographed copy of Morning's Journey: Phyllis R.

Please join me in congratulating everyone, 

and scroll down for yet more chances to win!

***

Enter this giveaway for an autographed copy of
King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***

All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court. Please enter often, and good luck!

November notions from The Dawnflier (Nov. 2015) #ASMSG #IARTG #MFRWOrg

Fred Franklin
Basic Training
Camp Stewart, GA
June 1944
c2015 by Kim Headlee.

Oh, my. It seems like I blinked in September, and now it's November!

Such is life as we get older.

As promised last month, I would like to take this opportunity to honor the memory of my Uncle Fred (pictured, left), who passed away on Sept. 8. The vagaries of family politics prevented me from knowing him for the majority of my life, but we were able to reconnect in July 2011, and we shared several visits, phone calls, emails, and written correspondence since that time. I even have saved a voicemail of his from a few months ago, which I plan to turn into a little video at some point.

It being November, I have shared one of his Army photos. Fred was a veteran of the WWII Burma campaign and attained the rank of sergeant. His life was filled with so much more, as a banker and husband and staunch friend and charity volunteer and man of faith.

I am blessed to have gotten to know him during the last four years of his long and fruitful life.

Another reason October flew by in a flash for me is because I was extremely busy with book-related projects, including:

• Creating a print edition of The Color of Vengeance; the digital edition is still free on Kindle, Nook, iTunes, and Kobo, and it's available as an audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes.
• Creating a print edition of The Challenge; the digital edition is free with membership in Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime.
• Providing feedback for the latest artwork for The Challenge graphic novel edition.
• Providing feedback for the latest audio files for The Challenge audiobook edition.
• Providing feedback for the latest artwork for King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court... and we're getting down to the wire on this project!
• Proofing the latest print layouts for King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court... and with luck I will have the hardcover in retail channels by Mark Twain's 180th birthday on November 30!
• Developing and presenting my workshop, The Business of Writing, parts 1 (An Introduction) and 2 (Diving Deeper).
• Continuing to make progress on the third full-length installment of The Dragon's Dove Chronicles, Raging Sea.
• Lining up an exciting array of personal appearances and speaking engagements in 2016, kicking off with MarsCon (Williamsburg, VA, mid-January), Farpoint (Baltimore, MD, mid-February), and the Virginia Festival of the Book (Charlottesville, VA, mid-March).

My imminent upcoming appearances:

• ChessieCon, Nov 27–29, Radisson North Baltimore Hotel, MD, where I am slated to present my Business of Writing workshop (11/27, 4:15 p.m.), as well as participating in several multi-guest panels, the mass book signing, and other events throughout the weekend.
• The Christmas craft bazaar at Prices Fork Elementary School, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Dec. 5, Christiansburg, VA.

As always, thanks for your support of my work, and I hope you enjoy the autumn before the next eye blink leaves you finding snow in your lap! :)

***

All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court. Please enter often, and good luck!

The Challenge #FREE Download Oct 27-28! #historical #fantasy @GoddessFish

It's my party, and I'll...

make my book FREE if I want to!

Okay, so my lyrics don't quite fit the earworm, but you're welcome.
On all counts. :)

The Challenge
A Dragon's Dove Chronicles Novella

Genre: Historical Fantasy Romance
Author: Kim Iverson Headlee
Publisher: Pendragon Cove Press
Release date: July 2014
Length: 6K words

Synopsis:
The gauntlet is thrown. One must die. Refusal is not an option.

Arthur the High King of Breatein has fallen captive of a longtime enemy, the Saxon warrior-princess Camilla, who lusts to avenge the death of her betrothed at Gyan’s hands and will stop at nothing, even the black arts, to achieve her goal. Because Gyan and Arthur have grown estranged, she fears that Arthur may side with Camilla and make her his new queen.

To meet Camilla’s challenge, Gyan must face all her demons—public as well as private.

Buy Links:

Kindle Unlimited (worldwide)
Print edition (Createspace or Amazon)

Excerpt:
Upon reaching Gyan’s side, Angusel thrust a scroll into her hand, his gaze softening. Her stomach knotted. It took all her strength of will to keep her hands from trembling as she broke the seal and unrolled the parchment to read its contents.

She had expected word of Arthur’s condition, couched in threats. Not this.

Camilla had issued a personal challenge to end the impasse by single combat in front of Gyan’s troops. If Gyan declined the challenge, violated the terms, or lost the fight, her crown would be declared forfeit.

Gyan crushed the parchment in her fist.

Buy Links:

Kindle Unlimited (worldwide)
Print edition (Createspace or Amazon)

Coming soon:

Full-Color Graphic Novel and Audiobook editions

Storyboard and art c2015 by Wendy Carey.

Meantime, download your FREE Kindle copy Oct. 27-28!

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Enter this giveaway for an autographed copy of Dawnflight!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***
And today is the last day to enter this giveaway for an autographed copy of Morning's Journey!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***

All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Morning's Journey. Please enter often, and good luck!