The Damewood Trilogy

Demons of the Past on Amazon Kindle

2011-04-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Check out Demons of the Past now on Amazon Kindle for the low price of .99.

Modern civilization has disintegrated.

The technological advances of mankind have flourished beyond expectations and have escaped the controlling hands of the human race. Cloned humans and genetically engineered creatures prowl the lands, pushing the earth over the edge to a third World War.

Four centuries later, the world has regressed to a feudalistic state, unaware of its advanced past. Now, kingdoms live in fear of mutated “demons,” of shadowy forests, and of frosts destroying their spring crops. It is a land where only the secret of society’s past is known by a select few—and those few seem to have their own agenda on the upcoming successions of thrones.

Nadia, the eldest princess of Damewood, flees for her life after her castle is attacked by an underground cult bent on bringing society back to its “roots.” Disguising herself as a knight, she joins a hunting party along with her best friend—a demon horse with his own dark past—to put an end to the massacres and retrieve a stolen key that will unlock the cult’s mysteries and the history of her people.

2008 Foreword Book of the Year Award Winner. http://www.amazon.com/Demons-Past-Damewood-ebook/dp/B004VWKXC8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1303578022&sr=8-2

Mention on Book Lover's Inc.

2011-04-18T13:04:00.000-07:00

The Damewood Trilogy was mentioned on Book Lovers Inc., read below:

http://www.bookloversinc.com/2011/03/genres-101-world-is-ending-aka.html

Cast my book characters

2010-01-03T00:21:00.003-08:00

Cast the characters of my books as if they were movies.

http://www.storycasting.com/author.aspx?id=ef335853-8902-4135-9993-e8a1c5535d71

It's a fun link. Check it out.

New review for Stones of Time

2009-08-19T00:48:00.000-07:00

Here's a review from author Rae Lori, check out here site here: http://www.raelori.com

On to the review:

This was an awesome read that I daresay enjoyed even better than the first book.

Stones of Time starts off right where Demons of the Past ended as Nadia is imprisoned by the scientists and her betrayer Maurdruik. She gets to know one of her guards, Shaden, probably my favorite character in the book, a soldier who is well read and unlike his brethren. Soon Nadia gains his trust and somewhat manipulates him in helping her escape, after revealing his dismay toward the way the other soldiers think. The opening scenes are interspersed between flashbacks of horrific experiments to create super soldiers and one genetically enhanced "demon" child (whom it is hinted as being Shaden) is subjected to countless painful experiments.

As Nadia and Shaden escape, she stops at a door where her old friend/love interest/former mentor Vestro is being held and still kept alive. Insistent on taking him, Nadia and Shaden then make their escape toward the city of Colorado Springs (with a stop here and there) and run into some old friends, the demon hunter Damien and the former would be king of the Pearl Isles Andrew who has changed a bit in appearance and moved on with a new love interest Anna. From there, they devise a plan to stop the Ordi and the vicious experiments while attempting to gather the last remnants of the Pearl Isles together to rise up and retake the kingdom from the growing Ordi empire.

There are some nice moments between Shaden and Nadia earlier on that I believed would turn into an interesting triangle but instead gave way to another connection that would band Shaden, Nadia and Vestro together. I was taken aback with the revelation and also how Shaden changed from a hardcore warrior to somewhat child-like in mentality and curiosity but it was understandable after getting a bit used to it.

The beauty in this story not only lies within the depth and complexities of the characters but in the detail of this future world. From steam energy powered lights in the future city of Colorado Springs to the fact that California had broken off the rest of the continent, the technological future that was hinted at in book 1 is fully shown as Nadia makes her way out of the city. Genetically enhanced beings are treated with contempt and subhumans and we see in the low paying jobs they are given, the way they are treated as property and the disapproving glances they are thrown on the streets.

This was a great addition to the Damewood trilogy and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how the series is tied up as the final confrontation looms and the characters begin to settle with each other and in their home to prepare for war once again.

New reviews for Stones of Time

2009-08-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

PRAISE FOR STONES OF TIME:

"... perfect blend of future, past and present that keeps the characters, and reader, in a whirlwind of action, suspense, and even a little romance thrown in to brighten an otherwise bleak world... This series shows us that there is a new force to be reckoned with on the fantasy playing field, and that force is Erin Durante."

--Thomas Morton, Front Street Reviews

"... A great read and I'm looking forward to book three, with hopes that it'll be just as good and the characters will finally realize their goals and the secrets left to be revealed won't be too calamitous to their overall futures. Keep 'em coming, Erin!"

--Toni V. Sweeney, Author of Blood Sin

"Two Thumbs Up" Can't wait to read complete trilogy. Adventure and fantasy could not put down till completed. "

--Mark, Goodreads Reviewer

"Adventure filled Sci-fi tale of friendship and loyalty... The characters had depth and the story moved quickly. I am looking forward to the third book in the trilogy."

--Beth, Goodreads Reviewer

Win a free copy of Stones of Time

2009-06-30T00:02:00.000-07:00

My Publisher, Leucrota Press, is giving away free advance review copies of Stones of Time.

Go to their website at http://blog.leucrotapress.com/?p=451#comment-906 to enter and win books. They usually give free copies of all of their upcoming books, so keep checking back for more.

Stones of Time

2009-06-29T19:05:00.000-07:00

My upcoming novel, Stones of Time: Book Two of the Damewood Trilogy

Surviving the final battle at Ferrington Pass after her quest to retrieve the fabled Whisper and restore order to her kingdom, Princess Nadia must now accept her new existence as one of the outcast “demons ” and connect with allies old and new to help Andrew take back his place on the throne.

But with the Ordi Ex Machina in control, things get complicated with the sudden rise of technology and growing military threat of the kingdom of Krill in the shadow of the coming war.

In order to bring the surviving kingdoms together, Nadia must help her allies—as well as herself—to abandon their beliefs of society and the world around them, and join forces with the creatures they had originally sworn to destroy.

Deception, adventure, and tests of loyalty and friendship await those few brave enough to stand together against an ominous empire, as well as the truth behind what it really means to be human.

The book will be available October 15, 2009, but you can pre-order from Barnes and Noble and my Publisher now.

Demons of the Past

2009-06-29T18:58:00.000-07:00

A little about my first novel, Demons of the Past. Demons won bronze in the nationwide Foreword Book of the Year Awards in Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Modern civilization has disintegrated.

The technological advances of mankind have flourished beyond expectations and have escaped the controlling hands of the human race. Cloned humans and genetically engineered creatures prowl the lands, pushing the earth over the edge to a third World War.

Four centuries later, the world has regressed to a feudalistic state, unaware of its advanced past. Now, kingdoms live in fear of mutated “demons,” of shadowy forests, and of frosts destroying their spring crops. It is a land where only the secret of society’s past is known by a select few—and those few seem to have their own agenda on the upcoming successions of thrones.

Nadia, the eldest princess of Damewood, flees for her life after her castle is attacked by an underground cult bent on bringing society back to its “roots.” Disguising herself as a knight, she joins a hunting party along with her best friend—a demon horse with his own dark past—to put an end to the massacres and retrieve a stolen key that will unlock the cult’s mysteries and the history of her people.

Demons of the Past is the story of a young girl from a land that turns its back on the ideas of race, country and technology, and is thrown into the midst of these issues with no warning or protection save her sword and trusty steed.

PRAISE FOR DAMEWOOD:

“…I honestly cannot say enough good things about this book, or its author. Durante gives us an action-packed thrill ride; believable, lovable characters; and a future that is not only entrancing, but uniquely envisioned and beautifully integrated. I wish all debuts were this good.” Read the full review here

—Front Street Reviews

“Damewood: Demons of the Past, the debut novel from Erin Durante, is nothing like I have ever read…the story slips down into a unique whirlwind ride of action and suspense. The budding romance between Vestro and Nadia was well written and the tension was so accurately splayed out it could have been cut with a knife. In a genre that is often void of developed dynamic characters, “Damewood: Demons of the Past” more than carries its own weight…a pleasure to read and I will be looking for more…”

—Shane Moore, author of the Abyss Walker Series

“Durante has a way of writing great action scenes that are matched only by her vivid visual descriptions… There were some nice surprises and crazy beasties sprinkled throughout the chapters and many moments of great suspense that ultimately lead to the jaw dropping revelations in the final chapters. All in all, Damewood: Demons of the Past was one heck of a story with a fabulous setting, a fantastic futuristic and dark background and supporting characters that really made me cringe and gasp when one of them was hurt or killed. It’s a pretty fast paced story that I often found hard to put down once I started reading…” Read the full review here

—Rae Lindley, author of Cimmerian City and The Eye of Alloria

"The characters are unique and refreshing... and the fast-paced plot will keep you guessing ‘til the very end. And, speaking of the end—wow. I can honestly say I never saw it coming! What a very intriguing start to the series—I can't wait to see how the story progresses over the course of the next two books."

—P.G. Forte, author of the L.A. Love Lessons and Oberon Series

"Damewood: Demons of the Past is an action-packed novel that creates a believable fantasy world out of a compelling science fictional future. Though the story starts out as a simple quest, it quickly becomes apparent that much more is going on than meets the eye and I was pulled through to a conclusion that I found both satisfying and left me wanting to see what happens next."

—David Lee Summers, author of Vampires of the Scarlet Order and Editor of the anthology, Space Pirates

"The story is a tantalizing mixture of mystery, science fiction and medieval fantasy with plenty of action and suspense to keep your heart pounding. I was simply amazed at Ms. Durante’s ability to combine so many genres and describe the scenes in the story so vividly... Durante keeps us riveted to the very end as the story unfolds and the mysteries behind the real purpose of the ocarina and the motives of all those who hunt for it are revealed.Damewood is a fantastic story, and one that I would recommend to teens and adults alike..." Read the full review here

—V.L. Jennings, author of The Alien Mind and Visionary from the Star

Let's get started

2009-06-27T00:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, well since it seems that every author out there... wait, make that every person out there has a blog I figured I'd start one too. I probably don't have much of anything to say, most definitely nothing creative or of substantial importance because I tend to use my muse points up on my novels, but I guess a few posts of random words here and there on news, happenings, or curt complaints won't kill me.

So, a little bit about me...

I grew up in San Diego , California , and am still here to this day. Went to college, lost several semesters as I couldn't decide on what to do, and finally gave up trying to be something I'm not by picking a "traditional" career such as teaching or business, and set my sights on my love for writing.

I worked my way through school as a freelance airbrush artist, painting wall murals in large estate homes and touching up bad paint jobs on dirt-encrusted, lifted trucks. I got a clerical job filing paperwork and editing emails, when my boss took an interest in my technical writing skills and started having me work on more important business letters and legal documents, and soon was able to work completely from home on my computer writing ad copy and working on government contract forms.

Several other odd jobs later and a few short stories and poems published in indie magazines and online markets, I decided to become an introvert and spend all of my free time away from college classes to pen a novel. Not my first, mind you, and definitely not my last. In fact, that one went straight to the bottom of my cat litter pan after about one hundred pages, but I didn't lose hope, and kept a writing journal each day, hoping for that divine inspiration that would give me the muse to write the next Great American Novel.

Well...three years later I finally forced myself to finish a story for my final English requirement, writing the entire first draft of Damewood in a four month period. Sloppy, rushed, and lacking the depth of characterization Nadia and Vestro had in the dusty corners of my brain, I was hoping to just pass so I could graduate and move on. I was delightfully surprised when the professors hailed my project as unique, entertaining, and "definitely publishable."

Needless to say, that changed my direction. I graduated, got married, and cut work hours back to part time so I could dive into the edits of Damewood (at that time titled The Knight in Pink Lace... yes, thank God for editors and their insight) and then started submitting around like crazy. Many rejections and disheartened nights later, my novel finally found a home when I took on a position at Leucrota Press. I managed to pass the novel along when I first got hired, and after being relentlessly pushy to the point of nearly being fired (twice) my manuscript landed into the hands of the editor, and well... here I am.

When I'm not writing I like to read. Yes, sounds like the typical author's response, but it's true. I pretty much read anything as long as it has a solid plot, but I tend to lean toward the Classics and will never pass up the chance to read Hemingway, Sinclair, Vonnegut, or O'Hara. I listen to metal and opera, don't (and on some levels, can't) dance, and write while listening to indie rock. My favorite animal is a leopard, but I have yet to put one in any of my stories. I like horses a lot too, but I'm far too busy to be able to keep up on caring for one so I stick with fish and dogs. I tend to get along better with people several years my senior--coming away with more lasting friendships with my college professors than classmates, but still indulge my inner child by watching the random kid's cartoon (gotta love the The Little Mermaid, The Last Unicorn, and An American Tale). I like sushi and tofu, but hate pork chops and lobster.

I guess that's about it for now. Thanks for stopping by.