Helen Henderson talks about "Windmaster Legend"

Welcome to this Sunday's featured author Helen Henderson!

Although the author of several local histories, and numerous articles on the topics of American and military history, antiques and collectibles, Henderson’s first love is fiction. Her work in the museum and history fields enables a special insight into creating fantasy worlds. The descendent of a coal-miner's daughter and an aviation flight engineer, her writing reflects the contrasts of her heritage as well as that of her Gemini sign. Her stories cross genres from historical westerns to science fiction and fantasy. In the world of romantic fantasy, she is the author of the Dragshi Chronicles and The Windmaster Novels. In her books, she invites you to join her on travels through the stars, or among fantasy worlds of the imagination.

Tell us about your life outside of writing.

As the years have passed and I’ve aged, non-writing activities have changed. Bicycle riding and antique and air shows gave way to cross-stitch embroidery and crocheting. Somethings, such as caring for home and hearth, haven’t changed. Currently, writing time is sandwiched between caregiving tasks.

Do you have a work in progress?

A novel set in the world of Windmaster that I started during NanoWriMo (also known as the crazy month for authors when we try to write 50,000 words in a span of a month) is demanding to be finished. And a twist on a dragon shifter story is fighting for equal time.

Was there a person who encouraged you to write?

The call to write struck me at an early age. Although teachers tried to encourage me, the structure of school writing assignments interfered with intuitive thinking and chased the muse away. I especially hated outlining. I would write the assignment then reverse engineer the required outline. Of course that meant I often had the work done ahead of time.

I would say several people encouraged me to become a published author. My mother and grandmother because they instilled in me the love of reading. And to me, to be an author you have to be a reader first. On the professional side, I would never have been published or kept going as long as I have without the support and encouragement of romantic suspense writer Carol McPhee and one of my early fiction editors, romance and science fiction author, Judy Griffith Gill.

Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?

Five years seems like an eternity when looking forward, but flashes by in a heartbeat. As to the author me of five years from now? Much depends on the state of the world, the level of caregiving I need to provide, and a myriad of other things. But I would like to have an additional three books under my byline. And with some luck to have at least a couple of the novels from my backlist, at least if my voice holds out, narrated and released as audiobooks.

What are you working on now?

Because of the release earlier this year, in addition to the projects mentioned above, I’ve added guest posts to the blog hops that I’ve been participating in since the first of the year.

Windmaster Legend

 A forbidden love. An impossible quest. The accusation of witchcraft. Can love survive?

What history and time may conceal sometimes refuses to stay lost in memory. Windmaster Legend reveals the story behind the legend of the star-crossed lovers, Iol of the House of Cszabo and Pelra of the House of Pirri.

Fate conspired to keep Iol and Pelra apart. Friendship is allowed between members of competing trading houses, but nothing more. He loves the sea and wants his own ship. She hates the deep blue and has worked too hard to allow her dreams to be sidetracked by the lure of magic. Despite a beautiful woman on his arm every night, Leod wanted the one he couldn’t have—Pelra. His kin on the ruling council did more than put him on the fast track to his own ship. It provided him the power to fulfill his desires, or to ruin those who refused him.

Exiled to distant posts, given impossible challenges, and subject to Leod’s machinations, Iol and Pelra only have the hope of a future together to sustain them. But can their love survive the accusation of witchcraft?

One click buy link: https://books2read.com/windmaster-legend

  

Hatchling’s Vengeance

Glyn, former bodyguard and companion to a dragon lord, is now Lady Glynnes Janaleigh, a dragon lord in her own right. And she has found her intended mate. But, finding him is only half the battle. Keeping him alive is the other when duty has other demands and Fate holds all the cards. On one card is written -- A mating flight doesn’t always include the one you want.

The cult leader, the Parant, means to have his vengeance. No matter how long it takes or how many innocents die, he will kill all dragon shifters. Saving your kind—or yourself—requires more than the power of a dragon soul twin when vengeance threatens all. Not even dragon fire and talons are enough to overcome the mind control wielded by the one called—the Parant. Your only hope lies in the fact that vengeance has two paths. One is death—the other is love.

One click buy link: https://books2read.com/Hatchlings-Vengeance

You can find Helen online at: Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Goodreads / Amazon. 

Excerpts of her work, writing tips, and information on new releases can be found at https://helenhenderson-author.blogspot.com.