Welcome to the launch of Shadows of the Hersweald, the third novella in the Legends of Light series! If you enjoy Christian fantasy and fairy tale retellings, you’ll want to check out this Hansel and Gretel novella.
They would have to come that afternoon. Haydn glared at the rutted road twisted away from the gate beneath him, slithering into the shadows of the Harsweald. And what was the flaming idea behind leaving him in charge? Tregaron in the hands of a criminal… that would put them all in the good graces of the province governor, no questions asked.
A battered soldier from a defeated army, Haydn knows there is only one end to the arrival of the Prince’s governor. Except he hasn’t counted on the Prince himself. Or the pardon which his recent foe has declared to acquit all those who fought against him.
A pardon Haydn detests.
A pardon that refuses to punish the rebels now threatening his own village. And his sister.
Guilt-ridden from his own actions during the war, Haydn knows there are others who have no conscience at all. Others who are using the freedom of the pardon to forward their own desperate schemes.
With enemies closing in on all sides, a pardon that refuses punishment, and nightmares of murder and fire haunting his every thought, will Haydn recognize the truth or will his fear condemn everything he loves to destruction?
Although the history of Aslaria and the conflict between the Prince and the rebel, Tauscher, flow chronologically through the series, each novella in the Legends of Light series is a stand-alone story. Each novella focuses on one of the nine aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit while twisting fairy tales in a clean, exciting, and inspiring manner.
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About the Author
Hope Ann is a Christian authoress who lives on a small farm in northern Indiana. She was homeschooled and now helps teach several of her eight younger siblings.
She has been writing for over five years and has so many story ideas that she doubts she will ever stop. Her favorite genre to write is high fantasy with a touch of the allegorical. A close second is futuristic suspense. Her goal is to not only entertain with her stories but to provide inspirational fiction for young adults.
Predictably, she loves reading fantasy, fairy tales, mythology, and futuristic suspense. Her favorite authors include J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Dickens, Frank Peretti, Mark Twain, and Serena Chase.
Her hobbies include photography, movie making, knitting, tree climbing, writing e-mails to friends, listening to Celtic music, and collecting shiny trinkets for story inspiration.
You can visit Hope’s blog at authorhopeann.com, or follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter.
INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
What inspired you to write Shadows of the Hersweald?
Since I’m focusing on each aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit in order, I knew my next Legends of Light novella would be about peace. The Hansel and Gretel story worked well for that theme and from there I moved on, figuring out what details I wanted to use to match with the fairy tale and what I needed to add in.
What is the main reason that you are a writer?
Because I’ve stories in my head and I need to write them out. It sounds cliché, I know, but it’s true. I can’t imagine not writing. There are so many cool characters and scenes and ideas and themes in my head. I just have to get them on paper in a coherent way that makes sense and shows the reader what I want them to see. Not the easiest task by any stretch of the imagination, but it is so worth the work.
What is one piece of advice you would give to other young authors about writing habits?
Stick with it. Writing isn’t always easy and there are times a story stalls. Don’t give up. Even if you don’t know what happens next, don’t wander around expecting inspiration to strike. Take the time you’d normally write, sit down, brainstorm and think and work and do it day after day until you work your way through your problem and can start writing again.