"There is not a nation at war abroad that is not at war within." In the marshes of the east, there dwell the Qarkilcha, a proud race of beasts who have maintained relative peace with the humans in the west. But in their hearts, they yearn to reclaim the lands that were once theirs. When a headstrong rebel stages a coup against their beneficent leader, he sows the seeds of an invasion. The humans are a divided people, where even a common enemy cannot cultivate unity. Cities fall, the legions crumble, and the Qarkilcha make their glorious march to victory. Only one city stands in their path: Pelladis, the greatest stronghold in the known world. Yet within the thick outer wall brews a conflict between two leaders: a pragmatic general and a mysterious knight without a name. As the drums of war draw near, the general seeks to discover the secret behind the knight and whether he will betray them when the fight reaches their threshold. Hope is fading and the reality of destruction is upon them. Who will deliver the people when the clouds of doom are overhead? Or is the fall of mankind all but assured? The first part of The Pyromachia saga, STRONGHOLD blends history and fantasy in a grandiose story of war, betrayal, loss and redemption. Beneath the great wall of Pelladis, the course of history shall be written with fire, steel and blood.
About the Author: Writing has always been a part of my life. Ever since I was a young child, I wanted nothing more than to see my name on the cover of a book. It was a dream of accomplishment, but also one of an imagination that never seemed to slow down. In 2006, my dream came true: I published my first novel, Soul Trader. It was independently published, which meant the burden of perfection fell on my shoulders. Suffice it to say, I learned a great deal about the difference between dreams and reality, which was reinforced when I attempted to find a publisher to pick up the first volume of my Pyromachia saga, Stronghold. In The Pyromachia, I have chosen the avenue of blending historical fiction with fantasy, creating something that makes perfect sense coming from a Classics scholar. Life has taken some interesting and unusual turns for me over the past few years, but the one constant that has kept me afloat is my writing. At present, I have written seven complete novels (3 published, 4 unreleased), a compilation book and nearly three dozen short stories and novellas. Though my writing has been reduced to a mere hobby, that will not deter me from sharing my work for those with a mind for epic adventures, unique conceptual pieces and heartfelt stories that can only come from the voice of the soul. I currently reside and work in Colorado. I received my degree in Classics from Xavier University.