C.J. Milbrandt's Blog, page 76

Ulrica found her prey loitering behind a pierced screen. “Run away with me?” she whispered.

Freydolf frowned at his sister, then scanned the crowded room. In low tones, he replied, “Give me any excuse, and I’ll ensure our swift escape.”

In a trifling, they were out a window, over the wall, and away.

With skipping steps, Ulrica steered clear of their usual haunts. She tried to be subtle about it, but her brother noticed.

“Where are you taking us, little sister?”

“I want t...

Today is the last day you can get Byways Book #3, Over the Bridge: A Zane Johns Adventure FREE on Amazon.This is Zane’s first solo adventure of the series. Summary: Zane Johns and his best friend Jovan are searching for one more person for their team. At their first waypoint, they hear a rumor about a blacksmith who wants to move West. A visit to the forge brings one surprise after another. Nab this e-book for your virtual library while you can! GET IT NOW

Tupper followed his daytime guardian, taking care not to let his hair get caught in overhanging branches. His last haircut had been near the end of the previous summer, so his white-blond curls were becoming difficult to manage. He often wondered if he could buck Flox tradition and let his hair grow out as long as Freydolf’s.

—excerpted from Galleries of Stone, Book 2: Harrow

Tupper Meadowsweet’s whole perspective shifts when he joins Freydolf in the Statuary. The rush of new information wou...

For a limited time, Byways Book #3, Over the Bridge: A Zane Johns Adventure is FREE on Amazon.This is Zane’s first solo adventure of the series and is full of allusions to the state of New Jersey. Summary: Zane Johns and his best friend Jovan are searching for one more person for their team. At their first waypoint, they hear a rumor about a blacksmith who wants to move West. A visit to the forge brings one surprise after another. Nab this e-book for your virtual library while you can! GET I...

I love getting postcards from readers, especially when they come from places featured in the Byways books. Yesterday, I came home to a pile of mail from several different states. (I’ll share more about that later.) And I wanted to feature one that figures prominently into Byways, Book #4 Up the Mountain: A Ganix Johns Adventure.

The mountain Ganix climbs in the story is called Stone Mountain, and it’s named for the real Stone Mountain. For those who may not know about this natural wonder, S...

Sometimes magic triggered strong emotional responses, especially when moonstone was involved. Old Master Platt used to say Morven was greedy for tears, influencing their ebb and flow as surely as the moon ruled over the tides.

—excerpted from Galleries of Stone, Book 2: Harrow

Show and Tell. Surprises in my inbox are just as fun as surprises in my post office box. You guys are so generous! I’m back with new fanart of Freydolf and Tupper from the Galleries of Stone trilogy. This time, Skylee...

There’s a formidable stack of stamped-and-addressed postcards sitting next to my coffee cup. Tomorrow, I’ll drop them in the mailbox up town. I love sharing these art peeks with readers. Are you on my mailing list? If you’d enjoy receiving the odd bit of story-related snail mail from me, drop me an email at milbrandt [dot] cj [at] gmail [dot] com.

Aren’t these new “From Me to You” stamps from the USPS fun?

A quick reminder that the Minnesota Trip Mini-Challenge is still underway. You have u...

A quick reminder that the Minnesota Trip Mini-Challenge is still underway. You can claim one of these hand-stamped notecards if you post a new review for one of the Byways books. MORE DETAILS

Aurelius strutted along the wharf, head high, eyes fixed on the red sails that had always meant home. Uphill families might look down on dockside folk, but merchants had their place and their pride. Tooth and claw, rip and raw—we are Pred.

“Trophy walking!” called the owner of their district’s ale house. “Look sharp, Spicers! We have us a man among men!”

Flaygore saluted the barrel-chested barkeep. “Save a cask for us, sir. Tonight, we celebrate!”

“Aye, it’s already on res...

Hello from my hometown! Those familiar with this blog may remember that while I currently make my home in Southern California, I’m originally from a small town in Minnesota. From time to time, I come back to the north country to visit my folks, who still live in the same old farmhouse where I grew up. Many aspects of the Galleries of Stone trilogy find their roots in my rural upbringing—rolling pastures, garden fare, and flocks of chickens. On past trips, I spotted another tie-in. Something...