Submersibles, Zombie Knights, and Free Reads

Today I am over at Pamela Thibodeaux's Wild Rose blog to talk about the third book in my steampunk thriller series, The Blackburn Chronicles.

Chasm Walkers is the culmination of a series that spans nations, seas, and the sky. Long brewing wars and unexpected betrayals drive Charlotte's story towards an excited finale!

From strange submersible machines to unexplained mechanica controlling the heroin, there are plot twists and harrowing adventures that bring this series to an explosive end. 

I hope you check out Charlottes journey from debutante to dissenter to the most dangerous woman in a war for survival.

The Chasm Walkers will definitely satisfy your fix for thrills.

To celebrate the release of the series, I have three #FreeReads available to download. Have a taste of the strange and chaotic world of The Blackburn Chronicles with these novellas...

Click to Download Free Novellas

Travel Tales & Goodies!

Today I am over at Tanya's Travel Topics to discuss the inspiration behind the bustling sky settlement of Outer City in my YA Steampunk thriller, The Tremblers!

Stop by to say hello, leave a comment, and don't forget to sign up for the chance to win a free, signed copy of The Tremblers below!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Tremblers

by Raquel Byrnes

Giveaway ends January 31, 2018.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Cant wait to win? How about TWO FREE NOVELLAS? Discover the secrets that set in motion the incredible adventures of The Blackburn Chronicles with two FREE READS!

Airships, Calamities, & Giveaways!

Stop by the Speculative Fiction Cantina for a fun radio interview where we talk secret societies, global catastrophe, and air ship battles.

And don't forget to enter the GoodReads giveaway below for a chance to win a signed copy of The Tremblers!

Charlotte Blackburn—Beautiful, intelligent, a gifted tinkerer—lives in a cloistered world of wealth and privilege beneath the Electric Tesla Dome that shields survivors of The Great Calamity. But when her father is abducted, and a strange sickness starts transforming men into vicious monsters, she discovers that technology is no protection at all.

Ashton Wells has a dire mission: Secure Colonel Blackburn and deliver his research to The Order of the Sword and Scroll. But the plan goes awry, and he is left with nothing but the colonel's daughter who has a target on her back and is willing stop at nothing to rescue her father—including handing over to the enemy the only means to stop the monstrous plague.

Branded as traitors, Ashton and Charlotte brave the treacherous floating sky ports of Outer City to hunt down the elusive inventor, Nikola Tesla—the only person able to activate the strange device that harbors the secret to their salvation. 

With the government closing in, a rebellion brewing in the streets, and terrifying Tremblers attacking the innocent, the two must work together to stop their fragile world from crumbling once more into destruction.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Tremblers

by Raquel Byrnes

Giveaway ends January 31, 2018.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Can't wait for the contest to end? Download two FREE NOVELLAS that take you into the dangerous world of The Tremblers. 

Your Free Goodies Are Here!

I have some goodies for all of you!  The website for the entire Blackburn Chronicles series is now live! And to celebrate, I have FREE downloads available in anticipation of my upcoming release...

Free Downloads

Two Free Novellas - How did the mysterious spy Ashton rise from a beggar child on the streets to the most feared knight of the Order of the Sword and Scroll? What tragedy pushed docile nursemaid, Lizzie Frances to become the violent leader of the rebel group Defiance? What unfathomable secret drove the celebrated scientist Nikola Tesla to risk his life to destroy his own invention?

Of Books and Blades

In this prequel to The Tremblers, we learn of the shadowy Order of the Sword and Scroll, and one boy who will do anything to keep from returning to a life of hunger and fear on the streets.

This Perilous Path

In the years leading up to The Tremblers, the life of those in service was brutal. When the one bright spot in her otherwise dreary existence is unexpectedly and viciously extinguished, it sets Lizzie Frances on a path straight to the heart of the rebellion.

And don't forget to check out The Tremblers on pre-order now.

Charlotte Blackburn—Beautiful, intelligent, a gifted tinkerer—lives in a cloistered world of wealth and privilege beneath the Electric Tesla Dome that shields survivors of The Great Calamity. But when her father is abducted, and a strange sickness starts transforming men into vicious monsters, she discovers that technology is no protection at all.

Ashton Wells has a dire mission: Secure Colonel Blackburn and deliver his research to The Order of the Sword and Scroll. But the plan goes awry, and he is left with nothing but the colonel's daughter who has a target on her back and is willing stop at nothing to rescue her father—including handing over to the enemy the only means to stop the monstrous plague.

Branded as traitors, Ashton and Charlotte brave the treacherous floating sky ports of Outer City to hunt down the elusive inventor, Nikola Tesla—the only person able to activate the strange device that harbors the secret to their salvation. 

With the government closing in, a rebellion brewing in the streets, and terrifying Tremblers attacking the innocent, the two must work together to stop their fragile world from crumbling once more into destruction.

I'm so excited about sharing Charlotte's world with all of you!

Unexpected Adventures

Got to FINALLY meet fellow COTT alumni and Tosca Lee at SCCWC

I was in the midst of a very hot, very busy summer of writing and editing. I cannot believe I survived it, quite frankly. I had no time for play...at least, that is what I told myself.  

Deadlines loomed. Social media called to me. I had all but barricaded myself in my office to get my work done. However, in an attempt to keep the creative juices going, I went to the Southern California Christian Writer's Conference's inaugural event this past July. 

Held at the beautiful Biola University, I had an absolute blast!  I opted to stay in the dorms and eat in the cafeteria because, why wouldn't I? Not only did I get to chat with fellow book lovers, I had the pleasure of meeting some of my own favorite authors.  It was a total out-of-the-blue opportunity and I was so glad I took it.

The best part was the workshop on Writing Fight Scenes in which we acted out specific fist fights with each other while a Krav Maga guy encouraged us how to 'be more aggressive.' I can't tell you how funny a room full of writers looks practicing assault. We are sort of an awkward group. An unexpected bit of adventure...and I loved it!


Book News!

I am so excited to announce that The Tremblers is on pre-order on Amazon! 

And speaking of unexpected fun...I have been working on a surprise for you guys...To celebrate the launch of the first book in the Blackburn Chronicles, my publisher is releasing Three Free Novellas!  I hope you enjoy them!

Of Books and Blades, Ashton's story of how he became a spy for The Order of the Sword and Scroll.

This Perilous Path, tells of Lizzie's rise from nursemaid to leader of the violent rebel group, Defiance.

A Dream of Darkness, Tesla's tale of the strange device that set in motion the dangerous events of The Tremblers.


Recommended Reads and Fun Stuff

This fall we see the release of so many hotly anticipated installments in quite a few of our favorite series. From Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare to Mari Lu's Warcross, the offerings this fall are amazing.

All I need at this point is a cozy cardigan, some coffee, and a quiet crevasse in which to binge read.

This October is the Gaslight Steampunk Expo in San Diego!  This is year they will be having an Escape Room, Grand Ball, and an Ice Cream Social.  Yes Please!

I am so close to buying a corset just so that I can go and take part in all the fun!  Wish me luck!


Until Next Time

I would love to hear about your summer or what you plan to do this fall. With school starting, holidays just around the corner, and work responsibilities nipping at our heels, what unexpected adventures do you see yourself taking? 

Welcome To Disaster

So I've been playing around with gifs and ended up doing this fun collage about my upcoming YA Steampunk, The Tremblers over on my Tumblr. I have to say...it was a lot of work, but such a blast!

I figured out how to add text to gifs so I put some of the quotes from my first book on various scenes that hint at the story...

Trying to capture the danger and awe of a world crumbling into disaster was challenging and really got my creative juices flowing!

What sort of non-writing creative outlets do you turn to when you're seeking that imagination pick-me-up?

Until next time...

Happy SpoOKTOBER!

I am a total child when it comes to October. I love it. Like...LOVE it. You see, its the month with no pressure.  No big holiday meals to prepare or houses to clean for guests.  In fact all the guests stay right outside my door...so, so nice.  

It is time when color combinations like orange and purple are not only acceptable, but encouraged.  I love bats and creepy "crystal" goblets and frothy black lace sleeves.  It is the month that brings joy to the Goth girl still hiding inside my head.

I totally ROCKED one of these!

I think is has to do with imagination. October is the month where whimsical and terrible play together. Pretty, pretty princess dresses hang next to the tattered shreds of a mummy suit. And the candy...THE CANDY!  

I love the creativity that comes out during this time of the year. I remember making costumes that were necessarily 'punny' because we could not afford real costumes.  So I was the "Freudian Slip"...aka the girl in the body suit and white dress slip with "Freud" cut out of construction paper.  It think I saw that in a movie and thought it was the height of sophistication...costume wise, anyway. 

ALAS, the night was misty and the black cut-out letters shriveled into dark clumps and people asked me if I was a girl snowman...?  Whatever, people. It was glorious in my living room.

All the good things are in October...

I was the "cactus" which was really a green sweat suit with glued on sponge wedges.  

It was awesome, I tell you.  AWESOME!

The one year I did buy a costume...I chose a bizarre inflatable, hat-like, goblin head. Why? Because it came with BOTH a cape AND face paint!  Whaaaa?!  I was in heaven.

October to me still means creativity and freedom from the expected. This time, however, I don't plan costumes. I plan books.  It is the month leading into NaNoWriMo. 

So I do all my outlining, planning, and preliminary research this month.  Last year it was for my final book in the Blackburn Chronicles...so lots of cogs and gears...zombie flesh...and pretty, pretty dresses that happen to have hidden weapons.  I AM still a girl, after all.

This month, I am planning my next book...a creepy fantasy with monsters and daggers and...pretty, pretty magic cloaks!  Wish me luck!

What is your favorite part of the year? Is it the pastel springtime?  The balmy summer?  What about the crisp winter?   What about them makes you smile?

Until next time...