Soul Asylum - Runaway Train

This is a powerful song for Malcolm, the young earthborn Sidhe in Scars of Silver. Like most of the earthborn Sidhe, he is untrained in magic and uneducated in the ways of the fey. He doesn't realize the threats he faces from predators. As a runaway he's got no one to count on and trust is a dangerous risk, as we see in this snippet from the urban fantasy series, Rise of the Unseelie.

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Malcolm still smelled like industrial hand soap from his sink bath at the gas station. He wiped the pocket fuzz from the black plastic comb that was only missing a couple teeth and then battled the knots in his too long hair. His reflection in the store window winced back at him. The skater boy hair served a purpose beyond just announcing to the world that he didn’t have the cash for a haircut. The unruly waves covered the telltale point to his ears.

Even after he beat the worst of the dirt off his clothing, Malcolm still looked like what he was, a homeless teen.

It wasn’t like he couldn’t go back. They’d take him back. He knew they would. Only, if he went back home they’d never let him leave again. “For his own protection.” That’s what they’d say. That’s what they always said. Like house arrest was what it was. Some kind of fey witness protection program or something.

Only, if they’d ever let him get out at least once in a while, he probably would know something. Like how to get money. Or food. Or a warm place to crash. Instead of having to figure a way to steal what he needed.


Malcolm crouched down behind the lunch special sign, waiting for customers to venture into the Fairy Circle shop. Probably a waste of time, only Malcolm lacked for any better ideas. Not like he could ask someone for directions to a fey hangout or anything.
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Read a longer excerpt
Scars of Silver on Kindle, Kindle UK, Barnes and Noble

Get involved: Find out what you can do to help homeless and runaway teens at the National Runaway Switchboard http://www.1800runaway.org/

enjoy: Soul Asylum - Runaway Train


Check out other Glamour Club music videos for Malcolm, The Unseelie and the rest of The Sidhe series.

Sweet Dreams are Made of This

Since we just did the casting call for Tiernan Kilgrave, of the Rise of the Unseelie urban fantasy series, it only seemed fitting for the Glamour Club to play a song for him! This song by the Eurythmics is perfect for our Unseelie dealer of all things pleasurable and addictive.

enjoy: Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams

Casting Call - Tiernan

 Ian Somerhalder looks about as Unseelie and bad ass as they come, so he is our pick for our fantasy cast to play the amoral dealer of all things lucrative and addictive, Tiernan Kilgrave. This sexy Sidhe makes appearances throughout the Rise of the Unseelie series, and in the future we'll see more of his story.

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Tiernan swagged with his lazily confident style and his usual smirk of self-satisfaction. Though only a century old his cocky attitude didn't soften even for the head of the Unseelie Elite. Then again, most exiles 'didn't give a shite' about the customs in the Mounds. One thing could be said for Tiernan; he embraced his Unseelie nature with as much vigor as he embraced life on the surface. Those pale eyes just focused on me with all seriousness, never acknowledging the other fey around him. To him 'earthborn' usually was synonymous with 'dumbass.'  Although outwardly a laid back individual, Tiernan hadn't established himself in his amoral endeavors and criminal empire by slacking.  He had been one of the key informants from some of the most secret and deadly of missions the queen of the Unseelie Court required.

Trapt - Headstrong

How's this for a song for the Unseelie? The young earthborn Sidhe in the Rise of the Unseelie urban fantasy series can definitely relate to the energy and lyrics in Headstrong by Trapt. And if Donovan, their leader, has anything to say about it, his young Unseelie will become soon be able to "take on anyone" - that includes vampires, wizards and the Seelie.

enjoy: Trapt - Headstrong

Aftershock blog tour stop #10

 Fade into Fantasy

We have another interview with Ravynheart (@Ravynheart), this time on the Fade into Fantasy blog. He talks about how he writes, relaxes and other personal tidbits you might enjoy, along with how he approaches writing the Rise of the Unseelie urban fantasy series.

Thank you Theresa (@FadeIntoFantasy) for letting us join you on your blog for the tour!

Papa Roach - Not Listening

Glamour Club DJ, Emma (@RegencyEmma) has come up with a great song for Donovan, the leader of the Unseelie in the urban fantasy series Rise of the Unseelie. It's defiant and strong, just like Donovan. After the song, check out our casting call post for the dark Unseelie leader, and see which actor we'd think would be a perfect Donovan!

Please note, the lyrics appear on the screen and they drop the F-bomb a few times. Just sayin'.

enjoy: Papa Roach - Not Listening

Aftershock blog tour stop #9

 Fantasy Book Chick

The Fantasy Book Chick has welcomed us back to her blog for an interview with Ravynheart and for a giveaway of the urban fantasy series, Rise of the Unseelie. Ravynheart talks about his writing and the series in this interview, as well as a little about himself. Hope you enjoy getting to know him better!

Thank you Jamie (@jjbeachgirl77) for the wonderful interview and for letting us visit with you again! It's been wonderful.

Aftershock blog tour stop #8

 Gathering Leaves Reviews

We are thrilled to be back on the Gathering Leaves Reviews blog for an interview with Ravynheart. He talks about the urban fantasy series Rise of the Unseelie, what you would need to know if you were one of the young earthborn Sidhe, and gives a little 101 on what are the fey, the Sidhe, and the Seelie and Unseelie. Plus some other fun stuff, that had me grinning to read it, so check it out.

And while you are there, sign up for the giveaway of the Rise of the Unseelie mini-series!

Thank you Cassie (@Cassie629) for all the wonderful questions and support! You are awesome!

Lady Gaga - Just Dance

The Glamour Club is the place for the fey. Especially the Unseelie Sidhe. Donovan has set up the club as a place for the fey to come and be themselves, when they have to hide who they are from most of the rest of the world. It is also a safe haven for the earthborn Sidhe, the new generation of Unseelie who are in their late teens or early twenties. These beautiful and dark Sidhe know how to party on the Glamour Club's dance floor, with seductive abandon.

Just Dance, by Lady Gaga, captures that sense of freedom that the fey feel when the music moves through their soul like magic. Check out all the Glamour Club music videos, and send your suggestions to Archer@SidheTouch.com or on Twitter @The_Sidhe . And you can find out more about the Unseelie in the Rise of the Unseelie series.

enjoy: Lady Gaga - Just Dance

Aftershock blog tour stop #7

 Gathering Leaves Reviews

We are back at the Gathering Leaves Reviews blog for a review of Aftershock: Rise of the Unseelie #1. I love this line from the review: "Lugh or Donovan?  I can’t decide.  But, do I really have to choose???" Nope! You don't have to choose! You'll be seeing more of both of them, and more urban fantasy goodness, in the stories to come!

Thank you Cassie for hosting the tour and for the fantastic 4 1/2 star review! See you tomorrow with the interview with Ravynheart.

Aftershock blog tour stop #6

Urban Fantasy Reviews

Today we are featured on the Urban Fantasy Reviews blog with a guest post called "All That Matters." It is a short scene with Donovan and the young earthborn Unseelie Sidhe he's rescued, and gives you a little flavor of the urban fantasy series, Rise of the Unseelie.

Thank you Kate (@UFantasyReviews) for hosting the blog tour today!

Casting Call - Donovan (Jhaer)

 No doubt about it Goran Visnjic makes an excellent choice for the dark Unseelie, and former head of the Elite, Donovan. Also known as Jhaer. As the leader in the Rise of the Unseelie mini-series, he's been praised for being the dark and sexy bad boy you don't want to meet in a back alley. Check him out in this back alley in a snippet from Aftershock.

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Donovan left cash and his untouched drink on the table. In no particular rush, he left the pub. By the time his pace carried him near the corner, the black-clad vampires had already flowed from the Town Car, scattering the youths who tried, and failed, to stand up to them. Kieran bolted from the scuffle, his friends buying him time, seconds at most.

Vampires moved far faster than any fey could on foot. Herding Kieran into the alley by cutting off all other routes of escape hardly taxed their skill set. Donovan did not need to see this to know where they’d gone. Following the vibration of footfalls against the earth served as a sixth sense. Without even breaking into a run, Donovan strode into the alleyway as two vampires toyed with Kieran. Every time he moved to try and bolt past them, they blocked. They’d played this game with the boy before. They enjoyed it. Kieran knew he was as good as drained. Probably got drained on a regular basis. The vampires would never kill him, their addiction to the Sidhe blood too strong to risk losing such an easy source.

“This is what my people are coming to? The noble elves of legend and fact... pinnacle of magic to ever take form… the Sidhe who were once worshipped by the Celts as deities… Reduced to little more than livestock for bloodsuckers?”

Donovan had not raised his voice. His commanding presence rarely required him to shout to garner attention. His glare alone, one that had seen far more enemies laid to waste before him than these vampires could begin to imagine, backed them away. Novice vampires at most, the both of them barely older than Kieran. Sensing their peril, the night creatures scrambled up the alley walls to escape the mere threat of Donovan’s presence. Little more than black blurs in their haste, they fled like shadows from the light.

Only Donovan hardly thought of himself as a light. No Unseelie, and member of the Dark Court, would ever think such a thing of themselves.

With the vampires gone, Donovan leveled his penetrating focus on Kieran. The youth had sense enough to tremble beneath the threat of it. He shouted at Donovan, “What do you want?”

Donovan reached out a hand, open and unarmed. “I want the Sidhe to thrive.”

Aftershock blog tour stop #5

Full Moon Bites

We are back at the Full Moon Bites blog today with a spotlight on the Rise of the Unseelie series. You can also enter for a giveaway of the entire series! Make sure you sign up for that.

Thank you Holly (@FullMoonBites) for hosting us again today! You've been wonderful!

Have you grabbed your free copy of Foreshadow yet? It's the prequel to the dark urban fantasy series Rise of the Unseelie!

Switchfoot - Dark Horses

You know this song must be about the Unseelie! Most especially the young earthborns who have been kicked around and abused, but who aren't giving up. There was Kieran with the vampires out for his blood, Trip captured by wizards, and Bryce imprisoned by humans. Not to mention Malcolm's suffering in Scars of Silver. These earthborn Sidhe have had it rough. Don't count them out though! Not with Donovan, who is determined to see the Rise of the Unseelie!

Enjoy: Switchfoot - Dark Horses

Aftershock blog tour stop #4

 Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance 

Ravynheart is back at the Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance blog for an interview about Aftershock and the Rise of the Unseelie. Find out what it's like to write urban fantasy, what inspires him, his thoughts on the dark and powerful Sidhe Donovan, and what's in store for the young Unseelie.

A big Thank You to Jennifer (@jenniferbielman) for making us so welcome on her blog. You've been a wonderful blog tour hostess!

Hey, did you know you can get the prequel to the Rise of the Unseelie series for free by signing up for the mailing list? Check it out!

Aftershock blog tour stop #3

 Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

 We are visiting the Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance blog today with a review of Aftershock and a giveaway of the entire 5 book urban fantasy mini-series of the Rise of the Unseelie.

What an awesome review! It was had to pick just one small quote, but this is one of the ones that just thrills me to read. "Archer and Ravynheart's writing style is what pulled me in from the beginning and kept me glued to the pages all the way through. It is both beautiful and dynamic. I love the start to this series."

Thank you Jennifer (@JenniferBielmen) for hosting the tour and for your enthusiastic 4.5 star review!

Aftershock blog tour stop #2

Kindle and Me

We are back at the Kindle and Me blog today with Aftershock: Rise of the Unseelie #1.

We start off with a guest post called "The Predators and the Prey", which gives you a little insight into the Sidhe and those who hunt them, particularly wizards, vampires, and Touch addicted human.

They are also having a giveaway of the entire Rise of the Unseelie series. If you dig dark paranormal fiction or urban fantasy, you'll love our Unseelie.

A big thanks to Anjana (@anjanavasan) for hosting the tour today!

S. Ravynheart on Journal Jabber Podcast Tonight!

 The Sidhe author and co-creator S. Ravynheart (@Ravynheart) will the guest on the Journal Jabber podcast tonight (2-14-2012) at 9PM EST. He'll be interviewed about The Sidhe, especially on the Rise of the Unseelie series for which he is the lead creator. Co-author and co-creator S.A. Archer that's me ;) will be in the chat room during the podcast. We'll be talking urban fantasy with the lovely and funny ladies of the Journal Jabber podcast, and we hope you'll join us for the fun.

You can either just tune in and listen to the podcast by going to the Journal Jabber page and selecting the show. Or you can double your fun and join the chat room during the show!

To sign up for the chat room go to the Journal Jabber page and sign in at the top right. The easiest way is to sign in with your facebook, twitter, google, or mySpace ID. (If you choose to register with the site to log in, it will act like you are going to sign up to be a broadcaster. That's cool, you can go that route, just sign up for a 'free' account and put whatever in the 'podcast name and description', and then confirm your email and all that fun stuff. And then come back to the link above and sign in to join the chat. It's a little bit of work going that route, but who knows, maybe it'll inspire you to start a podcast of your own! LOL!) Once you sign in, go to the show page and scroll all the way down past the show info and the comments. The chat room won't show up until 15 minutes or so before the show.


I am excited about tonight! Hope you all tune into the podcast and join me in the chat. Ravynheart might even jump in with us after the interview!

See you all tonight at 9pm!

End of the World blog tour stop #11

 New, Borrowed, Used

 We are back at the New, Borrowed, Used blog again today, this time with a guest post about the awesomeness of elves and for a giveaway of the entire urban fantasy series, Champion of the Sidhe.

A big thank you to Kristina (@kristinaD77) for hosting our tour again today! You rock!

End of the World blog tour stop #10

 Full Moon Bites

The wonderful Full Moon Bites blog is spotlighting End of the World and hosting a giveaway of the entire urban fantasy series, Champion of the Sidhe. Stop by and sign up to win!

Thank you Holly (@fullmoonbites) for hosting us once again and I'm looking forward to visiting your blog later this week with the Aftershock tour!

Linkin Park - No More Sorrow

The beautiful and talented @RegencyEmma is mixing it up for all the fey in the Glamour Club with this latest song for Malcolm, the tortured teen hero in the urban fantasy adventure Scars of Silver (Rise of the Unseelie #2). Malcolm will be back this April in Eyes of Magic (Rise of the Unseelie #3)!

Read an excerpt of Scars of Silver.

enjoy: Linkin Park - No More Sorrow

End of the World blog tour stop 9

 New, Borrowed, Used

Today we have a review on the New, Borrowed, Used blog. She gave End of the World 4-stars! Awesome! We'll be back over there tomorrow for a guest post about why elves are awesome and a giveaway. Urban fantasy, as well as fans of traditional fantasy, should get a kick out of it.

Thank you Kristina (@kristinad77)  for the wonderful review and for being a lovely blog tour hostess! See you tomorrow!

Aftershock Blog Tour Schedule

Feb 14 Journal Jabber (podcast interview - 9pm EST)

Feb 15 Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance (review & giveaway)

Feb 15 Kindle and Me - (giveaway & guest post: The Predators and the Prey)

Feb 16 Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance (interview)

Feb 17 Full Moon Bites (Series Spotlight)
Feb 19 Urban Fantasy Reviews (guest post: All That Matters)

Feb 20 Gathering Leaves Reviews (review)

Feb 21 Gathering Leaves Reviews (interview)

Feb 22 Fantasy Book Chick (interview & giveaway)

Feb 23 Fade into Fantasy (interview)

Casting Call - Danu

 Anna Torv is our pick for the All-Mother Danu is our fantasy cast. Here is a snippet from End of the World that describes Danu.

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(Edited to reduce spoilers)

Fear for friends and lovers kindled behind the greater dread that brought Lugh to a sliding stop on the dust-covered floor just inside the chamber.

In the center of the oval chamber… a lone woman curled onto her side on the floor. The fine layer of debris dulled the shine of the blond hair draped about her. Her slender back, decorated with premium fey brocade and lace, faced him. Like a finely crafted statue, she remained stone still.

“No,” Lugh exhaled. Utter shock drained the strength right out of him. His spear clattered to the floor with hardly a notice that he’d dropped it. If not for the quake that pitched the building and lurched him forward, he might not ever have broken the paralysis of shock. “Danu…”

Lugh scrambled forward as the very world gave a shudder.

Lugh gathered the tall, thin frame of the Sidhe All-Mother into his arms, rolling her body as he lifted. Twice again as ancient as Lugh, Danu’s delicate beauty remained unchanged from the innocence of grace she possessed at seventeen. Not even the pallor of blood loss could rob her of her Sidhe perfection.

The Creatix of the Mounds… The All-Mother of the Tuatha de Dannan… The people of Danu… The Sidhe… The single unbreakable tie binding together all magic in this fey realm…

End of the World Blog Tour Stop #8

Owl Tell You About It

Today the blog tour stops at the Owl Tell You About It blog with a guest post about The People of Danu. Learn about the Tuatha Dé Danann both as they are presented in legend and in The Sidhe series. We touch on the history, the Celtic mythology, and how we have re-envisioned it for this urban fantasy adventure series. We talk about how the Sidhe and humans have interacted over the years with each other and the consequences of Sidhe magic. I hope you find it insightful and interesting.

Thank you Laura for being a wonderful blog tour hostess!

End of the World blog tour stop #7

 Fantasy Book Chick

Today we have a guest post and a giveaway on the Fantasy Book Chick blog. The guest post discusses what it means to be a Champion, and how it has affected Lugh. This post gives a new perspective on our Seelie hero of the urban fantasy series, Champion of the Sidhe.

Thank you Jamie (@jjbeachgirl77) for hosting the tour today! You've been awesome!

Terence Jay - One Blood

This is a sweetly sad song that @RegencyEmma, our Glamour Club DJ, has picked for us today. It really captures the sorrow Lugh experiences early in the urban fantasy series, Champion of the Sidhe. Thank you, Emma, for another great song!

Enjoy: Terence Jay - One Blood

End of the World blog tour stop #6:

Fantasy Cookie

A 5-star review for End of the World! Fantasy Cookie hosted the blog tour today and gave a glowing review of End of the World, the first book in the Urban Fantasy series Champion of the Sidhe.

Thank you Fantasy Cookie (@CookieFeeder) for taking the time to read and review the story! You've been a wonderful blog tour hostess!

Have you gotten your free copy of End of the World yet? You can get it from Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo, or Smashwords (Kindle and PDF versions). Have you read the story? Why not leave a review on one of the sites about or on Goodreads? Leaving reviews, even short ones, is one way of helping the authors you enjoy. Thank you!

Stratovarius - Eagleheart

The awesome Glamour Club DJ, @RegencyEmma found this song for Lugh. The lyrics really fit for him in the urban fantasy series Champion of the Sidhe. Thanks for the song pick, Emma!

Have you got a song you'd like to suggest for the Glamour Club? Something that first one of the characters or series? Or maybe something that fits the Glamour Club, urban fantasy, or paranormal fiction in general? Email me at Archer@SidheTouch.com or tweet at me @the_sidhe!

enjoy: Stratovarius - Eagleheart

End of the World blog tour stop #5:

AO Bibliosphere

We are back at the awesome AO Bibliosphere blog for a giveaway of the entire Champion of the Sidhe mini-series. 5 ebooks in all. Stop by and sign up to win the urban fantasy goodness!

Thank you AO Bibliophile (@AObibliophile) for hosting the tour and the giveaways!

End of the World blog tour stop #4:

Gathering Leaves Reviews

We are back at the Gathering Leaves blog today for a review of End of the World. My favorite line from the review is "I love where Archer is taking us, and I love how these series are broken up into shorter installments and they are all related to each other." I am always thrilled to hear people say that.

Thank you Cassie for the review and for your excitement about this urban fantasy series!

End of the World blog tour stop #3:

 Fade into Fantasy

Today we have a guest post on the Fade into Fantasy blog. "Crossed Swords" is a bit of flash fiction that gives you some insight into how Lugh views his long time opponent, Jhaer (Donovan). These two characters have a long and conflicted history, making them very interesting to watch in action. I hope you enjoy it!

I want to thank the wonderful Theresa (@fadeintofantasy) for hosting the blog tour today!

Casting Call - Lugh

 For me there is only one actor who comes to mind when I think of Lugh. Orlando Bloom has all the right moves and the iconic Sidhe sexiness to portray the Champion of the Sidhe in our ideal fantasy cast. See if you can't just picture Orlando Bloom, as the heroic Seelie as Lugh describes himself in the snippet below...

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Lugh, in his own words...


Reminiscing about the past is not something I am fond of doing, given all that has been lost. At one time I was a king, but that kingdom has been laid to waste. At one time I was one of the most celebrated deities of the Celtic Pantheon, but the pantheon crumbled under the weight of its own diseased power struggles. I lost family and friends in the desolation.


At one time I was the Champion of the Sidhe and defender of all fey. I was a hero. I was revered. My reputation preceded me. I was the greatest of the high race of fey known as the Sidhe. Now the fey survivors are scattered to far flung realms of existence. I have found few Seelie fey, those of the lawful alignment like myself. I hope some Seelie Sidhe still live and are just in hiding. The Unseelie have coped with their change in circumstance far better. Their chaotic spirits adapt easier to the environments where they find themselves. The difference between Seelie and Unseelie is more than just the difference between light and dark. It’s the difference between civilization and the wild. Neither is truly ‘good’ or ‘evil’, just motivated by different goals.


I suppose the heroic tendency is not easy to shrug off, even though I have tried. I find myself on a hopeless self-appointed quest to build a realm of magic for all fey. A homeland. Since the old realm collapsed I have discovered a very disconcerting problem. I knew my magic was tied into the realm in which I once dwelled, but I had no idea just how true that was until I was without it. My new vulnerability is disconcerting and I am determined to hide the truth from friend and enemy alike.


For as you may know or have suspected, I am Lugh Samildanach of the Tuatha de Dannan. The Shining One. Son of Cian. Master of battle and sorcery. The Celtic god of the sun. I am the greatest of the high and glorious race of fey. Champion of the Sidhe. And the once and future king of the Seelie court.

Seether - Diseased

Our fabulous Glamour Club DJ, Emma (@regencyEmma) selected another son for the urban fantasy series Touched. There are really great lyrics in this song that really capture the effect of the Sidhe Touch on London, our human PI. Here's a short snippet from Addicted showing how bad the curse is affecting her.

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She peeled the label off her bottle of Guinness in strips, gave her hands something to do other than tremble. The craving for the Touch twisted within her worse than anything she’d known. Not even a vampire’s bloodlust seemed to compare. She’d never seen a vamp curl on the floor, hugging themselves and rocking, weeping with the need. Then again, they had lots of prey options. For London, only the Touch of the Sidhe would suffice. Only the Touch would relieve the pain. Wash away the anxiety. Make her feel whole and normal for a little while. But the Sidhe were scarce, all but impossible to find.

The closest thing she could compare the curse to was heroin addiction. Now she understood the way the crawling under the skin made them twitch. The circular thoughts spiraled over and over. The nightmares. So close to the fringes of insanity that keeping it together to even fake normal grew increasingly impossible until all you wanted to do was scream and claw your own flesh.

Every day it grew worse. Rico was gone. If he was still around she’d do anything… anything for relief. He could send her to face a thousand Changelings with nothing but a pocketknife and she’d do it, just as long as he Touched her again.

Shivering as the memories she tried to bury rose once more, summoned by the addiction, London brushed her lips with her fingertips. Rico kissed her once. Just once. Filled her mouth with magic. Made her inhale it. Swallow it. Seep into her body. Awakened her to a pleasure too intense to endure. She’d felt it change her. Curse her. And now bereft of it, she longed for nothing else but to experience the Touch again. Only the power of the Touch could ease her agony.

She had to have it. She had to have it soon!

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enjoy: Seether - Diseased

Skillet - Monster

I love getting song suggestions for the Glamour Club! If you have a suggestion send me an email at archer@SidheTouch.com or comment me on Twitter (@the_Sidhe). This song suggestion for London in the Touched series comes from the awesome @RegencyEmma, who has picked so many fabulous songs for the Glamour Club that I am awarding her with the title of "Glamour Club DJ!" You rock, Emma!

enjoy: Skillet - Monster

End of the World Blog Tour Stop #2:

AO Bibliosphere

We have a featured stop today at AO Bibliosphere for End of the World. They have a sample of the story, a blurb about the author, and loads of awesome links, including where you can go to grab a free copy of End of the World!

Thanks AO Bibliophile (@aobibliophile) for hosting the tour today! Looking forward to visiting with you again next week!

In Whom You Trust (prequel to the Champion of the Sidhe series)

 ###ALERT! This is part 1 of a 6 part story. “In Whom You Trust” is a prequel to the Champion of the Sidhe series, an urban fantasy adventure. This prequel is free for you to enjoy, and has been posted on 6 websites as part of a blog hop to promote the series. Begin your journey here for part 1. Follow the links at the bottom of each section to go to the next part of the story.

Thank You for joining us for this blog hop! Hope you enjoy the story!
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In Whom You Trust

(Prequel to the Champion of the Sidhe series)

by S.A. Archer

Chapter 1

“Celebrating prematurely, aren’t you?” Lugh used his glass to indicate the party filling the grand ballroom of the Seelie Court. It was as spectacular an event as any other victory gala he’d ever partaken in, with the notable exception that this time victory had yet to be secured, and to Lugh’s mind, probably never would be.

“Have faith.” Manannan offered a handsome smile full of arrogance. The Seelie king cut a dashing figure in his brocade doublet of a color that matched his ocean blue eyes. To gaze upon him, one would have believed nothing could tarnish his confidence, not even the rather inconvenient truth.

“Faith? I know the Unseelie. They shall never submit, not to you or any other Seelie king. That is at the very heart of the Unseelie, to never surrender their wild ways.” Lugh scanned those in attendance. All Seelie, which rather proved his point. The brightly attired Sidhe danced the familiar waltzes in the center of the rotunda to the traditional songs. The conversation groupings milling around the fringes were in the usual pairings, so much so that Lugh could almost with certainty describe the topics of conversations without even guessing. He knew the ones discussing politics, or domestic trivialities, or the gossip about the latest romances. All of the trappings of civility and pleasantries that the Seelie did so enjoy, and would have sent an Unseelie’s skin crawling.

Manannan tilted his head back to finish his drink, and then said, “This time, they shall accept our invitation. Danu herself is presiding.”

That did capture Lugh’s attention. He searched the guileless, even expression on Manannan’s face. Perhaps a shade too controlled. Something lurked unsaid just beneath the surface. To be certain, the king owed him no explanation, but Lugh rather wished he would accept his council in the spirit with which he offered it. Though he did not wish to see Manannan fail, in this matter he saw no conceivable way he could succeed. Save one possibility which could never be. Although it should have gone without saying, Lugh reminded his king, “Danu would not compel the Unseelie to obey her. Not in a matter such as this.”

“Certainly not,” Manannan dismissed the notion, “But they are the weaker court. Their strength is waning. The time for division is declining. We shall soon embrace our wayward brethren in one united court.”

Though ruled by their king, the Seelie Court moved by Danu’s bidding. She crowned the king for whatever term she deemed appropriate. Lugh himself had held the crown twice, and served his court with the love and dedication that ruled his life. While each king governed in his own fashion, no other had drawn more controversy than Manannan, crowned only a mere century earlier. Almost immediately the prophetess of the Unseelie Court spoke against him. Aoife predicted a grave doom would befall all fey should the courts be united, and that Manannan would drive them toward that doom with a relentless passion. Before she’d spoken of it, Lugh would have never even suspected such a thing as uniting of the courts would be possible, but Manannan embraced the prophecy as a challenge, as a prediction not of doom, but of his success and the Unseelie fear of it. A legacy no other Sidhe could outshine. The unification of the Sidhe. One people. One court. And, of course, all ruled by one king.

Ambitious, even for the arrogant Seelie.

Lugh gave no credence to predictions, Aoife’s or anyone else’s. Too often circumstances changed, defeating the disasters before they even manifested. But there were many that saw conspiracy woven into every action and every utterance, unconsciously determined to fulfill the very prophecy they claimed to battle. This movement among the fey, this undercurrent of fear, alone should have been enough to defeat the summit’s goal to find peace between the courts. In truth that was probably the very reason Aoife spoke of it, a political maneuver rather than a true vision. How Manannan thought this time would be any different than any other, Lugh could not fathom. The Unseelie queen and her king declined to even attend the last several times Manannan invited them to discuss the issue.

The king raised his empty goblet in a comradely salute, “Don’t trouble yourself about this tonight Lugh. Let us freshen our drinks and find ladies in need of a dance.”

As Lugh casually surveyed the room, he noticed one of the wood elf waiters moving too quickly through the crowd. He did not offer the glasses on his tray to any of the guests. In fact, his gaze was fixed on his destination. His target.

Lugh’s heart nearly stopped, the wrongness struck him that bluntly. Though he had no doubts that the summit would once more fail, there were those who feared it enough to do even the unthinkable to defeat it. It would not be the first time an assassin struck in public.

Lugh departed from Manannan without taking his leave. He cut through the crowd. Closing the distance.

The elf headed for Kaitlin, a princess and Manannan’s sister-in-law. The princess saw the elf coming. Her chin lifted. Eyes lit up. She breathlessly froze in anticipation.

Lugh slowed mere strides before reaching the elf. Had Kaitlin seemed frightened, or even unsuspecting, he’d have quietly detained the elf and discovered his true intent, for serving drinks certainly was not it. The elf removed a folded napkin from his tray. As he moved passed Kaitlin he passed the napkin to the girl without slowing down.

Kaitlin accepted it and then cast an anxious glance about her. Lugh turned away before her eyes could fix upon him. He murmured a random compliment to one of the ladies and she rewarded him with a musical laugh. When he pivoted back toward the princess she no longer faced in his direction, but rather slipped through the crowd with hast. The silk of her dress flowed about her lithe, dancer’s figure. Her loose hair spilled down her back before curling into soft ringlets that bounced youthfully against her back, too eager to make her escape to depart without noticeable excitement.

Curiosity sharp, he trailed behind her. The barrier over the castle prevented Glamour as well as teleportation. Not that following the young princess required in inordinate amount of stealth. Once he saw her safely to her private chambers, he suspected he knew her intentions. And the potential dangers.

##The next part of the story can be found here:http://melissa-melsworld.blogspot.com/2012/02/story-hop-in-whom-you-trust.html    And THANK YOU for joining us on this blog hop!##

Korn - Coming Undone

I love this Glamour Club video for both End of the World and Aftershock, where Lugh and Jhaer witness the sky of the Mounds cracking and falling in. The video shows something very similar, and gives you a good idea of what that might have been like for them. Here's just a snippet from Aftershock describing the event.

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Thunder rumbled like a landslide and then the sky flickered. Or rather the magic that gave the ceiling of the Mounds the appearance of a sky. Both Sidhe warriors relinquished their aggression to witness the cascade of destruction rupturing the fabric of their world. Cracks like a spider’s web shattered the illusion until the great bowl of rock overhead became visible for the first time in as long as any Sidhe could remember.

Jhaer kept his balance better the next time the ground shifted, although the horror that stabbed through him threatened to drive him to his knees. The thunderous sounds of earth ripping from earth filled the cavern that housed the magical realm of the Mounds. As the ground above them shifted ominously, Jhaer’s hands snapped upward, fingers curled as if gripping something heavy. Trembling from the strain, his mastery over the earth alone supported the bowl of rock overhead.

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enjoy: Korn - Coming Undone

End of the World Tour Stop #1:

 Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

Our first stop on the End of the World tour is with Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Not only does she give End of the World a really nice review, but she is also hosting a giveaway for the entire Champion of the Sidhe series. Make sure to hope on over there and sign up to win!

Thank you Jennifer (@JenniferBielman) for hosting another tour with us! You've been an awesome blog tour hostess. Looking forward to the blog hop with you tomorrow!