February's Featured Author: Rowena's books!

Today, our Featured Author Rowena Cory Daniells stops by to tell us about her books. Read on!

The T’En Trilogy (1999-2003)

This trilogy grew out of my feeling that most books ended when the real story began. Many years ago I read Machiavelli’s The Prince. I was fascinated by the idea that once you had conquered a country, the real test was holding onto it.

So I opened the book after General Tulkhan has conquered Fair Isle and beaten the legendary T’En. The real challenge is for him to hold the island. And how does he do that?

By marrying the last surviving royal, Imoshen, a throwback to the pure T’En race of mystics who settled Fair Isle 600 years ago. But Tulkhan’s soldiers are afraid of magic. The general’s society is dominated by men. Back home, a man may take several wives. Things are very different in Fair Isle, which was ruled by an Empress until the general invaded. Imoshen considers herself Tulkhan’s equal in every way and she has no intention of letting him use her as a figure head.

Meanwhile, Imoshen’s betrothed, Reothe, is determined to undermine Tulkhan’s rule and will stop at nothing.

Can Tulkhan keep the island kingdom he has claimed? Can Imoshen save her people from years of warfare? Can she civilise this barbarian general? More importantly, can she turn her back on her first love, her betrothed? What price duty?

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The King Rolen’s Kin trilogy (2010)

With this trilogy I set out to write a story that you can curl up with on a rainy Saturday afternoon, the kind of book that I used to love finding in my bookshop. With this book I wanted to explore how characters grow (or fail to grow) to meet the challenges life throws at them.

As they celebrate 30 years of peace, King Rolen prepares for his jubilee. Little does he realise that he will soon be dead leaving his four children to fend for themselves. Lence the heir, his twin Byren the spare heir, Fyn the son sent to the church and thirteen year old Piro are tested when their kingdom is invaded.

Fyn hates to see anyone hurt, even animals and because of this he believes he was a coward. Yet, when his family’s kingdom is invaded, he risks his life to warn his father. Piro doesn’t want a safe life, married off to consolidate her brother’s throne, but she discovers the reality of escaping invaders is much more frightening than exciting. And sometimes, no matter how hard we try to do the right, as Byren does, everything goes wrong.

There has been a bit of controversy with this series because one of the supporting characters is gay. I really did not expect this. The fact that Orrade is gay, tests Byren’s strength of character. But this is only a very small thread in the larger narrative which is a rollicking adventure.

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Giveaway!! (yes, another one!)
Rowena is giving away one book from her King Rolen’s King trilogy (eg. If you haven’t read any of her books, she’ll send book one. If have book one, she’ll send you book two). This one's open INTERNATIONALLY!

To enter, comment and answer this question:
Take a look at your bookshelf and tell me which ones are keepers and why.

Oh boy, that would be a page-long answer for me... Maybe it'll have to be a whole blog post... *grin* What about you? Don't forget to include your email address in your comment, and do it before 6pm CST February 16th!

Can't wait? Pick up Rowena's books from Amazon!