It’s been a long time coming, but Book IV, Exile’s Vengeance, is nearly ready for prime time. I finished the rough in May and went through and did a self edit, making changes, moving scenes and adding another fight scene. Then I foisted it on the patient person who serves as my editor. She has it now and just sent me Chapter 31 today (there are 37 chapters).

While she’s been working on making my writing less full of “that”, “was”, “were”, “to be”, pointing out missing words, echos, logic errors, etc., I have been working on the cover, and the interior map (yes, it changed again). The ebook version of the cover is ready to go, but I’ll keep it under wraps for a few more weeks. The image above is the result of my new attempt at making maps using Kartana. In its current state, it is suitable for the first book. It does not reflect the changes which have affected the landscape since the events of books II and III.

What else? Well, every book needs an ad blurb to stick on the sale page with Amazon. That’s what I’m working on now. It’s a completely different set of skills from writing a novel. I’m learning from one of the best in the industry, but I still have a long way to go in my journey. I’m posting my current draft of the blurb here. What I need from you kind souls is some feedback about what works and what doesn’t. I have some alternative phrases/words pasted in throughout the blurb. If you think one of those works better than what I have, let me know. If you have any ideas of alternative phrasing or come up with some hard-hitting words, don’t be shy.

Without further ado, here is the blurb:

Death looms from every direction (or… “Death stalks the elves”?). As the body count rises, two heroes must risk all to save their people from extinction. Can they stem the bloodshed, or will a confluence of ancient curses, pitiless slavers, and the walking dead consume their lives?

Raven has done her best to break free from her past. But when two dark mages unleash a wave of fire and undead, she has no choice but to turn to (or “contact”?) the father she barely knows. Will her search gain her a powerful ally, or will he prove worse than the villains she hunts?

W’rath pursues Historian (a lead/his prey/his quarry) into the Badlands, only to discover his allies murdered. Now he must choose between duty and saving the survivors from slavers. But when the local dragon swoops in stalking the slavers as well, will W’rath get caught in the crossfire?

As Raven and W’rath race to save their people, their foes close in keen for (or… “seeking”?) their blood…

Exile’s Vengeance is the fourth book in Lee Dunning’s Chronicles of Shadow epic fantasy series. If you enjoy sword and sorcery with a side of snark, you’ll love Exile’s Vengeance.

Don’t miss the epic conclusion—buy Exile’s Vengeance today.