Weekly News: October 21

Originally shared in my newsletter October 16 SIGN UP HERE

Broken Veil Advance copies are in the hands of advance readers so I’M FINE I’M NOT NERVOUS AT ALL.

It’s fine. Totally fine.

In all honesty, it’s always nerve wracking ending a trilogy, and while I do have plans to return to this world and write more stories, this is the end of Carys’s journey, and I’m more than a little sentimental. I just really hope you guys love this one.

NEW TEASER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST! "(Feel free to skip, obviously, if teasers make you cry in frustration.)

Don’t forget that just like the first two books, Broken Veil WILL be going into KindleUnlimited, so if you’re not a Zon reader, then preorder direct!

What am I working on?

Oleg and Tatyana are plenty chatty, so Obsidian Empire is well underway. I posted a little teaser in my reader group on Facebook yesterday (HUNTERS’ HAVEN) the other day, so if you’re in that group, make sure to check it out.

As of right now, I’m still on track to finish on time and get this book out on February 12, but if things around the holidays get complicated, I might end up pushing it back a couple weeks.

I don’t THINK that’s going to happen, but if I do need to, I’d rather push it back to make some extra time instead of stressing myself out or ending up with a subpar book.

I’ve had kind of a heavy morning, friends. My mom and dad’s lovely senior Labrador retriever was diagnosed with cancer about a month ago. Since Molly is thirteen years old, my parents decided not to pursue chemotherapy or surgery, so they were making her comfy for as long as possible and giving her lots of treats and tummy rubs.

But Molly has, as my dad put it this morning, “lost her wag” so they’re taking her to the vet today to say goodbye.

I don’t want to be a bummer! Molly has had a very long and good life, but saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy, and it just makes me want to give everyone around me a hug, especially my furry friends.

Until next week, snuggle a furry friend, take care of yourself, and take care of each other.

With love and gratitude, Elizabeth

Teaser: Broken Veil

It was summer in Oxford, and there appeared to be more tourists than students. Carys heard plenty of American accents around her, along with languages from around the world.

Duncan poured her a refill from the Brown Betty teapot holding Earl Grey tea, glancing at Cadell as he poured. “Try not to look like you’re hunting for rabbits, old man.”

Carys pressed her lips together so she didn’t laugh. 

Even when her dragon was in human form, Cadell still looked somewhat raptor-like. His angular cheekbones and prominent brow gave him the look of a fierce bird-of-prey. The piercing golden eyes didn’t help.

“I’m not hunting rabbits,” Cadell said. “I’m waiting for Laura and Naida.”

“You look ready to eat that stray cat, man.” Duncan refilled Cadell’s cup as well. “Have some tea.”

“I prefer coffee.”

Duncan muttered something under his breath in Gaelic and Cadell said something back in guttural Welsh.

Before they could start arguing in different languages, Carys decided to distract them. “Did you know that Dr. Beck is the current expert on the fourth branch of the Mabinogian? She’s probably published more papers on Blodeuwedd than any other writer.”

Cadell and Duncan turned to her with confused expressions.

Perfect.

“What’s the Mabinogian?” Duncan asked.

“Who is Blodeuwedd?”

“It’s a thirteenth century collection of oral traditions and folklore that chronicles much of early Welsh mythology,” Carys said. “And Blodeuwedd is the adulterous wife of a Welsh hero who plotted to kill him but instead was turned into an owl.”

Cadell nodded silently. “Appropriate.”

“Obviously I grew up knowing most of the stories in the Mabinogion, but then as I studied more, I became more interested in the links between different traditions and their common threads.”

“Because the same stories reoccur all over the world,” Cadell said. 

Duncan smiled. “You’re saying folklore doesn’t repeat, but it often rhymes?”

“Exactly!” Carys brightened. “My doctoral thesis was on the parallels between Blodeuwedd and Persephone. Both women in arranged marriages who exhibited two natures, one light and one dark.”

“Huh.” Duncan tapped his teacup to hers. “I do enjoy listening to you fly your nerd flag, Dr. Morgan.”

Carys beamed. “Thank you. Hopefully you’ll enjoy meeting Dr. Beck too.”

Cadell was back to staring at the cat on the edge of the lawn. “That’s not a cat.”

Duncan turned to look at it. “It very clearly is a cat.”

“No, it’s not.” He stood up and started walking toward the animal, which darted into the bushes and out of sight.

“We have got to get him back to the Shadowlands,” Duncan muttered under his breath.

“Maybe there’s a gate nearby,” Carys said quietly. “I’m still not sure it’s good for Naida to be here.”

“I’d agree, except that of all of us, she can sense the gates more clearly on this side,” Duncan said. “Even ones that are dormant. For right now, we need her.”

Carys spotted Godrik’s silver and black hair over the top of a tour group. “I see them.” Laura and Naida were on either side, sticking close to the large man as the crowds grew busier. 

“Good.” Duncan finished his tea and stood. “We’re headed to the Bodleian Library then?”

“No, the Weston,” Carys said. “Dr. Beck has a reader card for the Bodleian, but she reserved space at the Weston for the manuscript she wanted me to look at.”

“Dra—Cadell!” Duncan shouted. “We’re off, old man.”

They started toward Godrik, Laura, and Naida, but as Carys turned, she collided with a swiftly moving woman wearing large glasses, sending the smaller woman’s massive handbag tumbling to the ground. 

“Oh, I am so sorry.” Carys immediately bent and started gathering up the papers that had fallen on the sidewalk. “I didn’t even see you there.”

“It’s my fault entirely.” The woman said. “I was rushing to meet a colleague and—”

“Dr. Beck?” Carys sat back on her heels, suddenly realizing who the woman was. “It’s me! Dr. Morgan.”

“Oh for heaven’s sake.” Dr. Beck’s Irish lilt grew stronger. “Of course you are. Your hair is longer of course. I don’t know why I didn’t realize—”

“I always braid it. And you usually wear yours down for meetings.” Carys laughed and finished gathering the papers, shoving them into the bag. “My friends just arrived, so perfect timing.” 

She stood with Dr. Beck and held her hand out to the woman with the heart-shaped face and the mass of dark hair piled on her head. “It’s so good to finally meet you in person.”

“And you as well. Please, call me Luna.” She shook Carys’s hand while wrangling her overly full handbag on her shoulder. “Welcome to Oxford.” She clapped her hands together. Finally!”

“You must call me Carys.” She turned to Duncan. “And this is Duncan, he’s…” Her mouth fell open but nothing came out.

“I’m her boyfriend.” Duncan held out his hand and shook Dr. Beck’s. “It’s new.”

Luna’s eyebrows flew up. “Oh, you’re lovely and Scottish. Very pleased to meet you.”

Carys found her voice again. “And this is my friend Cadell.”

A shadow fell over the small woman when Cadell reached them, and Luna looked up and up, her eyes widening as her gaze met Cadell’s.

Her mouth formed a small O, and she took a step back.

Cadell crossed his arms over his chest. “She’s fae.”

Carys blinked and looked at the dragon, then at the delicate woman to her right. “Dr. Beck?”

“You brought a dragon to Oxford?” Luna whispered. “My dear Dr. Morgan, why did you do that?”