❖ Omen and Tormy recently informed me (with dramatic flair and zero subtlety) that they’ve been far too quiet lately. I can't argue — those two are pure chaos and charm, and between Omen’s grin and Tormy’s “honest honest,” I caved faster than a crumbling portal stone.

 

❖ So, as a little summer treat for all the Friends Of Cats And Dragons, here’s something special: a sneak peek from the next book, Devastation.

 

❖ I hope this rare early glimpse adds a bit of joy, a dash of mischief, and maybe a spark of adventure to your day.

Morning sunlight streamed in through the large picture window of 7 Daenoth's private office. Omen paced back and forth in front of his father's cluttered mahogany desk and adjusted the release latch of the great sword strapped across his back. He glanced up at the Ven'tarian clock on the far wall once more. It was nearly ten in the morning, only a few more minutes to wait.

The younger Daenoth's horse-sized ginger cat lay in the center of the room, perfectly positioned in a patch of sunlight, paws outstretched, amber eyes half closed. Tormy purred softly, obviously content in his pose, his orange and white fur gleaming in the golden light.

"We're leaving soon, lazy bones," Omen told the cat, reminding his feline companion not to get too comfortable.

"I is knowing," Tormy murred with a hearty stretch of his paws, displaying his razor-sharp claws. "But I is napping now. Then I is going fishing. We is going fishing right, Omy?" Tormy looked up anxiously, his ears perked forward.

"Yes, we're going fishing," Omen agreed.

Both Tormy and Tyrin had been looking forward to their trip to the swamps Revival, eager to try some of Terizkand's aquatic delicacies. "We're just waiting for—"

A noise at the door cut Omen off as his little brother Kyr raced into the room and skidded to a stop before tripping over Tormy. His platinum-blond hair tied back with a velvet ribbon, the half-elvin boy was dressed for travel in the knee-length lavender overcoat Omen's mother had sewn for him.

Omen smiled.

❖ As ever, these little WIP glimpses can change and shift before the final draft. It is a work in progress, after all, until the last note sounds. 

 

❖ Wishing you golden August dreams — soft, lingering ones that live between summer’s hush and autumn’s promise.

The full moon is just around the corner, school days may be stirring, and perhaps the dogs of summer are napping in the shade . . . but there’s still quite a bit of magic left in these warm, mid-summer nights.

Until next time,

A fresh selection of fantasy books — completely free — is now available for a limited time. I can’t vouch for every tale in the collection, but if you’re curious and love exploring new worlds, it’s worth a peek.

You just might discover a new favorite.