The Seven succeeding Elven Lords of Allyra were dead, lost in the Siege of Berinfell as babes. At least that’s what everyone thought until tremors from a distant world known as Earth, revealed strange signs that Elven blood lived among its peoples. With a glimmer of hope in their hearts, sentinels are sent to see if the signs are true. But theirs is not a lone errand. The ruling warlord of Allyra, the Spider King, has sent his own scouts to hunt down the Seven and finish the job they failed to complete many ages ago.
Now 13-year-olds on the brink of the Age of Reckoning when their Elven gifts will be manifest, discover the unthinkable truth that their adoptive families are not their only kin. With mysterious Sentinels revealing breathtaking secrets of the past, and dark strangers haunting their every move, will the young Elf Lords find the way back to the home of their birth? Worlds and races collide as the forces of good and evil battle. Will anyone escape the Curse of the Spider King?
Venom and Song — Trapped in the strange world of Allyra, the seven royal Elf lords struggle to control their new powers. With the Spider King chasing them and traitors in their midst, the young lords must unravel the mystery of the legendary Rainsong before the Elven race is destroyed forever. Standing in their way are peculiar and perilous creatures, a trap-filled fortress, and a dangerous secret.
A New Collaboration:
Unbeknownst to each other, two fantasy-fiction authors were praying for the very same thing at the very same time: a C.S. Lewis/J.R.R. Tolkien-type relationship. Little did they know that such friendships do still exists and–like legend–begin in the most unlikely of ways.
While attending the same international publishing trade show in Colorado Spring in the summer of 2006, Wayne and Christopher met through a coincidental encounter at a book signing. Later the same day–as divine comedy would have it–they would run into each other at yet another book signing. With email addresses and phone numbers in hand, they two left for home, one to Maryland, the other to New York.
With a solid friendship over the internet soon developing, they two decided to try meeting for a single weekend to discuss their latest work, and encourage each other in the field of writing. Scranton, PA was decided upon as the half-way point between their homes; there, they would find lodging at the historic Lackawanna Station Hotel, and nourishment at The Banshee. Like Lewis and Tolkien, their writing weekends became a great source of camaraderie, as did their adventures together in the Fantasy Fiction Tours. And it was during one of these first weekends that the two novelists discussed writing a work together.
What was then just a dream is now a reality. And this fall, you will be able to see what three years of friendship and numerous trips to Scranton, PA have developed…The Curse of the Spider King! (Thanks to their website for this great story!)
About The Authors:
Wayne Thomas Batson is the author of five best-selling novels: Isle of Swords, Isle of Fire, and The Door Within Trilogy. A middle school reading teacher in Maryland for eighteen years, Wayne tailors his stories to meet the needs of young people, whom he cares so deeply about. Wayne writes adventures set in imaginative locals because he believes that on a deep level we all dream of doing something that matters and long for another world. When last seen, Wayne was tromping around the Realm with his beautiful wife and four adventurous children.
Christopher Hopper, whose books include Rise of The Dibor, The Lion Vrie, and Athera’s Dawn has often been called a modern renaissance man. Christopher is a recording artist with nine CDs, a painter, youth pastor, president of a Christian discipleship school, entrepreneur, and a motivational speaker for schools across the US and Europe. Christopher has dedicated his life to positively affecting the culture of his generation and longs to see young people inspired to live meaningful and productive lives. He resides with his wife, 3 children, and horses, in the mysterious 1,000 Islands of northern New York.
To buy Curse of The Spider King, click here.
To buy Venom and Song, click here.
Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to read Venom and Song. But you can find out what others are saying by clicking on the names below.
Morgan L. Busse
Jeff Chapman
CSFF Blog Tour
CSSF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
George Duncan
April Erwin
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Leighton
Rebecca LuElla Miller
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Kathleen Smith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Jason Waguespac
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Hi, Beckie! This is GREAT background stuff. I can still remember Christopher and I walking in downtown Scranton. We were breathily talking story ideas, and then we just stopped right there in the middle of the sidewalk. “Wouldn’t it be cool to write a book together?” And God said, yup, it would be cool. Do it.
On Wednesday, I am featuring your books we have in our church library. Isle of Swords and Isle of Fire are really popular!
What a neat story about how Wayne and Christopher ended up as co-authors. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Great stuff, Beckie. I’m so glad you’re participating in the tour, even without having received a copy of the book.
Becky
Great background, Becky! Thanks for sharing that with us! 😀
oh, very neat to see how they merged together on the project!