CHAPTER 2: THE OUTER HALL (PART 1)
It was not difficult for me to imagine a dark ending to the story, even long before Wordhaven was breached. I imagined it all the time, every day. I nursed my apocalyptic vision in the quiet of my mind, like a fevered god I could not stop serving no matter how I tried, bound to its predictions yet never daring to give it voice for fear of speeding its arrival. Despite the courage I had seen among the Remnant, despite the power of Dei’lo I had seen wielded, despite the arrival of the Pearl itself, it seemed inevitable to me...
CHAPTER 1: THE BATTLE FOR WORDHAVEN (PART 6)
Looking over his shoulder, Brasen was surprised to find nearly a hundred of his warriors still awaiting his command. His heart swelled at the sight of them, and with a wave he ordered them to follow as he took off for the guardian line. Ajel could handle the fiery beast; he’d proven that now. But he still needed someone to cover his rear. (1)
It did not take long for the Wordhaveners to cover the distance to the Stand, but even though they ran at the enemy with no cover save their shields, their approach was barely noticed. The swarm had...
CHAPTER 1: THE BATTLE FOR WORDHAVEN (PART 5)
They ran northwest toward the river, where Ajel stood on the southern bank some four hundred feet or more from the oncoming blaze. Just like Brasen, Wordhaven soldiers from all sides rallied to him, but as soon as they got within earshot he would wave them away, giving the signal command to retreat to the Stand. And they obeyed, vanishing in successive waves of twenty or fifty or a hundred or more, as ethereal as mirages dispersed by the wind. (1)
Not wanting to be commanded back to the Stand, Brasen slowed his approach. Most of those with him followed his...
CHAPTER 1: THE BATTLE FOR WORDHAVEN (PART 4)
“To me!” Brasen yelled, waving his staff for the fighters to see, and ran west toward the Stand. The soldiers near him—now numbering in the hundreds—rushed to follow, but not all were quick enough to escape the churning fire before it hit the ground. The crash sent shards of flame and billowing smoke in all directions. But if there was sound…if there were screams from those who were swallowed in the blaze, Brasen did not hear them. His sphere of defense coated the entire scene in macabre silence. (1)
The heat of it was maddening, far worse than at first. Even...
Novel Update: The STEP Outline
My office has been transformed into a war room. In preparation for the writing journey ahead, I’ve stripped the walls of photos and artwork and framed diplomas. In their place, I’ve slapped up this strip of butcher paper, curving round the space like a virgin road to God knows where. On it, I’ve mapped the future—Gideon’s future, mostly, but also my own, ‘cause I’ll be writing this baby over the next several months.
CHAPTER 1: THE BATTLE FOR WORDHAVEN (Part 3)
“Jeo pur’theron!” (1)
A blur of sun-kissed steel whipped passed Brasen’s eyes, thudding heavily as it sank into the flesh of a guardian’s neck, his body already ablaze with blue fire from the soldier’s Word. Brasen blinked, as if awakening from a dream, and looked up to take in where he now found himself. (2)
He saw only fire—a wall, a tower, a swirling tempest of deep orange and red, rippling like a mirage behind thick waves of heat that made his skin feel tight and scorched black the leather on his arms and thighs. Accosted by the flaming mass, he...
CHAPTER 1: THE BATTLE FOR WORDHAVEN (Part 2)
As if to challenge his declaration, the mountain that encircled Wordhaven’s valley rumbled in reply.
“A quake?” asked one of the soldiers nearby. Brasen raised a hand to quiet him, and listened. His eyes searched the distant ridge for signs of shifting stone, but all remained still, as if the mountain itself were suddenly, inexplicably, holding its breath.
Just then, a quivering thunder rose beneath their feet. One startled gasp later, a tremendous explosion sprang forth from the bowels of the mountain, shattering the entire cliff face north of Wordhaven’s walls. The sound of it was ominous and hard, like a...
Big Announcement: Book 3 Will Be Blogged!
You heard right! I’ve decided to post the entire 3rd book of The Pearlsong Refounding right here on this blog, uploading a new entry week by week, as it is being written!
If you’ve read the first two installments— Gideon’s Dawn, and Waymaker—then I know you’re as anxious as I am to see the third and final book of the trilogy— The Word Within—completed and published. And I will certainly still publish the book, when it is complete.
But I’ve decided to take it one step farther, and actually publish the book online as it’s being written as well. That way,...
CHAPTER 1: THE BATTLE FOR WORDHAVEN (Part 1)
I wish I could have seen Wordhaven before that day, when the shadow of the Council’s malevolence first fell across that sacred valley. Having stood as the bastion of light and hope for so many centuries, who could have conceived such a place as that could ever be marred by darkness. But once the darkness found the gates, it was like the ending of a dream. There was no going back again.
— The Kyrinthan Journals, Musings, Chapter 30, Verses 121-123
“They’re coming!” Brasen Stoneguard yelled to his sqaudron, his voice booming across Wordhaven’s valley by the mystical power of...
Book Review Alert (again)!
Tim Frankovich of Christian Fiction Review posted this gem about Gideon’s Dawn recently on his oft-visited fiction review site, and promises a review of Waymaker as well soon! Hoo-Yah!
See the review by visiting www.christianfictionreview.com!
And Tim—Thanks!
Book Review Alert!
I wanted to quickly let you know about about a few reviews of Waymaker that have come in. The first is from my friend and fellow author Eric Wilson, creator of the Jerusalem Undead series! The word is getting out!
Words Brought to Life!
8 Sep 2008
Years ago, Michael Warden put out a deeply realized fantasy novel called Gideon’s Dawn. His characters were flawed and believable, making it a memorable beginning to what readers hoped would be a great trilogy. Then, due to publishing snags, the second book never came.
Now, at last, Waymaker is available to all, and I was first in...
A Thread of Gratitude!
OK, this has already made this a great day…
So last night I’m perusing my buddy (and fellow author) Eric Wilson’s website (www.wilsonwriter.com), you know just to see what the latest is in his world (and there’s some exciting stuff; you should check it out…and if you haven’t read Eric’s books, you should definitely check them out too). Anyway, I find this video interview of Eric that he did for Deeper Living, and I watched it. Cool.
So then, not two minutes after I finished watching it, Eric sends me an email. No joke! He says he’s reading Waymaker and loving it,...
Create Your Own Viral Video for YouTube!
I’ve been looking for a fun, creative way to get the word out about my recently released fantasy epic novels, Gideon’s Dawn, and its sequel Waymaker. And a few mornings ago, it hit—BAM—just like that:
Announcing my
YOUTUBE VIDEO CONTEST!
Your chance to win $250 of fun, easy money…or at the very least, a free copy of Gideon’s Dawn and Waymaker!
Here’s how it works:
1. To enter the contest, all you have to do is grab your camcorder and create a homemade video promoting Gideon’s Dawn and Waymaker, and upload it to YouTube.com.
2. Send me a link to your uploaded...
IT'S HERE!!
I’ve been waiting a long time for this day…the day that I could tell you, finally, at long last:
WAYMAKER IS AVAILABLE!
Wow. I think I’m just going to have to keep repeating that over and over a while before it sinks in.
It was just a few years ago that Waymaker was under contract with another publisher, and I was happily plugging along writing the story. But then, family tragedy struck: My dad passed away, and I was called from the mountains of Colorado to return to my childhood home in Austin to grieve with my family...
Trekking off the Map...
What an amazing trek this has been so far! I thought writing a novel was challenging (and it is!), but add to that the process of producing a published product, and you’ve got the mixings of a perfect storm.
Thank God for Josh, whose enthusiasm and creativity (not to mention ridiculously generous spirit!) produced the stunning book cover designs you see for both Gideon’s Dawn and Waymaker AND this very website at which you are now looking.
Funny thing…I tried for two years to get a traditional publisher or an agent to take on these projects, and got no love back....
Welcome to The Pearlsong Blog!
Dude…are we finally here?
Yep.
It’s taken a long time, huh? I know. You’ve been patient. Heck, you’ve been a saint! But you stuck it out with me, and the payoff has finally arrived. The site is live. The blog is live. And the books are for sale!
Scream it from the rooftops— The books are for sale!
OK, well…at least jump around a little. You know, do a jig. I do jigs, you don’t jig? Everyone should jig…I mean, at least sometimes, and this is as good of an excuse as any. Go on. Give it a go.
And when you’re done, email everyone...
Michael D. Warden has been working professionally as a writer and editor since 1989. After several years as Managing Editor for a large publishing house in Colorado, he stepped into the adventure of writing full time. In addition to his fantasy trilogy The Pearlsong Refounding, he has written several non-fiction books, and contributed to more than 150 other books and magazines.
- Chapter 1 is Now Online!
- Book 3 Will Be Blogged Right Here!
- New Reviews!
- Announcing YouTube Video Contest!
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