Time is Running Out!

August 22, 2017August 21, 2017Leave a comment

The Rafflecopter giveaway for my newsletter subscribers will be coming to an end very soon. Don’t miss your chance to win an autographed copy of Into the Shadow Wood, a companion book to Journey to Aviad.

Not subscribed yet? Feel free to take a look at my last newsletter. In this edition, the feature article “It’s Not Easy Being ‘Clean,'” talks about the difficulty I have finding “clean” entertainment, and how my own works are viewed by others because they lack adult content. There is another author update and links to a couple of giveaways for LOTS of free books. When you sign up for my newsletter, you’ll also get a free e-copy of Book 2 in my series, Ancient Voices: Into the Depths. You can unsubscribe at any time, so really you’ve got nothing to lose!

Want the chance to win an autographed copy of Into the Shadow Wood?

Step 1: Subscribe to my newsletter and download your free ebook
Step 2: Enter the giveaway

That’s it! The winner will be announced in my September newsletter. Good luck!

Enjoy an Excerpt from Into the Shadow Wood

Our weather-worn tents were nestled into a small clearing, like growing things that had sprung up out of the ground. There were so few of us left…so few. Remaining were the stubborn, the desperate—those who, like me, simply couldn’t let go. Something was still driving us to fight—to hope—in spite of the brutal truth that we had lost. What are we still doing here? This decision to go on is folly. Alaric’s words echoed in my mind. They rang no less true now than they had in the heart of the Shadow Wood.

Though I had escaped the confines of its borders, the Wood had not released its hold on my mind, and my nights continued to be filled with its dark torments. I slept fitfully, with a knife in my fist and my bow close at hand…just in case. The Shadow mocked my inner pain, whispering words of despair to my soul; I would never be free. Each morning I bathed in a nearby stream, scrubbing my skin nearly raw, shaving my face, and grooming my hair. No matter how vigorously I washed, I could still feel the slick residue of the Wood’s filth, and my lungs were heavy with its thick air. When I caught glimpses of my reflection in still pools, the face looking back at me seemed not my own. And it was not only my looks that startled me. At meal times, despite my best intentions, I ate like a crazed, half-starved animal. My brethren no doubt saw me as such judging by the cautious looks I caught from the corners of my eyes. So far, none of them had dared to ask about my journey into the abyss—they seemed afraid to know what could have possibly reduced me to such a state.

Book Description: Into the Shadow Wood

Once a proud member of the Sovereign’s prestigious personal guard, Einar has lost everything: his home, his Sovereign, and his purpose. Most of his closest friends have either been killed in battle or executed. His friend Nevon died trying to fulfill a dangerous oath…one that Einar disagreed with, but now feels honor-bound to take up in his stead. The quest plunges Einar into the depths of the dark and twisted Shadow Wood, testing the limits of his strength, his beliefs, and his sanity. What he finds in the Wood is far more ominous than anything he’d expected. If he’s not careful, Nevon’s fate might end up being his own.

Want to Win an Autographed Book?

August 8, 2017August 8, 2017Leave a comment

I’m doing another Rafflecopter giveaway for my newsletter subscribers. This time I’m giving away an autographed copy of Into the Shadow Wood, a companion book to Journey to Aviad.

Not subscribed yet? Feel free to take a look at my last newsletter. In this edition there is a character spotlight on Alaric from Into the Shadow Wood, along with some author updates and links to a couple of giveaways for LOTS of free books. When you sign up for my newsletter, you’ll also get a free e-copy of Book 2 in my series, Ancient Voices: Into the Depths. You can unsubscribe at any time, so really you’ve got nothing to lose!

So, back to my original question:
Want the chance to win an autographed book?

Step 1: Subscribe to my newsletter and download your free ebook
Step 2: Enter the giveaway

That’s it! The winner will be announced in my September newsletter. Good luck!

Into the Shadow Wood

Have you been waiting?

September 30, 2016September 26, 2016Leave a comment

The ebook version of Into the Shadow Wood has been out since August, but sometimes only a real book you can hold in your hands will do. For those who have been waiting, the paperback is finally available! Find it on Amazon, CreateSpace, and other retailers as it continues to show up on virtual bookshelves.

In the last couple of weeks, my new novella has gotten some attention on other blogs. Thanks to David Wiley at The Scholarly Scribe for writing a thoughtful review, and to Renee Scattergood for posting an excerpt and interviewing my character Alaric. Check them out, along with all the other great posts featured on both of their blogs.

Renee Scattergood Interviews Alaric from Into the Shadow Wood

September 2, 2016Leave a comment

Thanks to Renee Scattergood for featuring me in her Friday Author Spotlight this week! As part of the spotlight, there is a never-before-seen interview with my character Alaric from Into the Shadow Wood. Be sure to check it out!

Author Spotlight: Into the Shadow Wood by Allison D. Reid

2 September, 2016 Written by RScatts

ISW Cover Med Welcome to this week’s Friday Author Spotlight! This week I have Allison D. Reid returning with her new novella, Into the Shadow Wood. I was lucky enough to be able to read an early copy and it’s an amazing story. It had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down!

Alaric, where were you born, and what was it like growing up there?

I was born in Tyroc Castle. Though I was not the son of the Sovereign, or even one of his lords, I was born into a nobility of sorts. I am the seventh generation of my family to serve as one of the Sovereign’s elite personal guard, called the Circle. I am also the last generation to bear that honor.

My childhood was spent preparing me for my entrance into the Circle, even when I wasn’t aware of it. Every activity was meant to build up my strength, endurance, skills, or character. All of my needs and desires were taken care of; I never went hungry, lacked clothing, or endured the labors of the field. I received a better education than most of the boys in Tyroc, too. But my purpose was also made very clear. My life belonged to the Sovereign, and my first duty was to defend him and his family. Their lives were valued above mine, and if necessary, I was to die protecting them. This was not a sacrifice, but an honor passed down from my father to me…

Read the rest of the interview on Renee Writes.

Review of Bell Mountain by Lee Duigon

December 17, 2015Leave a comment

Review of Bell Mountain, by Lee Duigon.

I will admit that as an adult, I still enjoy reading young adult fiction—I even studied it as part of my writing major in college. Whether you like to read young adult books yourself, or pass them along to a young person in your life, I can sincerely recommend Bell Mountain as one book that should not be missed.

Jack’s dreams have been haunted by the legendary Bell Mountain—a place shrouded in both mystery, and a thick ring of clouds that obscure its peak from view. But Jack isn’t the only one who has been dreaming about the mountain, or wondering what the dreams might mean. Some said that there was an ancient bell on top of the mountain that could bring the whole world to an end if it was struck, but others disagreed there could be any such bell. Tormented by his persistent dreams, Jack was determined to find out for himself. He and an equally determined young girl named Ellayne, set out on the journey together. And though their purpose was to solve the mystery of Bell Mountain, in the end what they found went deeper, and spread farther, than they could have ever imagined.

There is a fairy tale quality to Bell Mountain that instantly captured my interest. Right from the first page, I settled in comfortably, ready to enjoy an adventurous tale as seen through the eyes of a young boy named Jack. It is told in a time-honored style that is familiar to all those who love both children’s fantasy and fairy tales. There are plenty of fantastical creatures to spark your imagination. Some are benevolent, like the small, hairy animal named Wytt who befriends the children. Others are terrifying, like giant birds that attack horses and eat them for supper. Peril and excitement abound in this unique story unlike anything else I have found. As a youth, this would have been a favorite book that I went back to read again and again. As an adult, it makes me feel like a kid again, sneaking off with a new book fresh from the library to get lost in world very different from my own.

Best of all, Bell Mountain is not just an ordinary story. It has a strong Biblical foundation that introduces some of the basic concepts of Christianity in an easy to understand, non-threatening way. I anticipate that as the series continues, the children’s faith will continue to grow and mature, becoming an increasingly important part of their lives and the lives of those around them. I look forward to picking up the second book, The Cellar Beneath the Cellar, to find out what is in store next for Jack and Ellayne.

Character Interview with Fnaa from The Fugitive Prince

Lee Duigon wrangled this interview with Fnaa, a supporting character in his Bell Mountain series. Fnaa is only ten years old when he first appears in The Fugitive Prince, so Lee asks that we cut him some slack.

Q: Fnaa, mostly what you do is impersonate King Ryons. In fact, you’re a dead ringer for him–even I can hardly tell the two of you apart.

Fnaa: Well, you should learn how. We don’t want to get stuck because you forgot who’s who.

Q: What’s it like to have a whole city full of people thinking you’re the king–when you aren’t? [long pause] Do you want to stop fidgeting and answer my question?

Fnaa: The little girl who’s a prophet or something, she said I could do it. She said God wouldn’t mind.

Q: But all those people cheering you–isn’t it kind of overwhelming?

Fnaa: What’s ‘overwhelming’?

Q: It means ‘too much to take in all at once,’ overpowering, awesome–

Fnaa: [Rude noise] I know what it means! It’s fun to take the tax money and throw it back to the people on the street. They really go for that! And it’s fun to call those high-and-mighty big shots names like ‘Fatty’ and ‘Baldy.’ Yes, I love all that–but it’s not like I want to do it all the time. Let King Ryons be king for a while.

Q: Didn’t you feel a bit guilty, allowing that good man, Prester Jod, to go on thinking you were King Ryons?

Fnaa: I’ve got to go now.

Q: But we’ve only just started the interview–

[Fnaa ducks back into the book and disappears. He makes one last comment: “If people want to know about this stuff, they ought to read the books! Why don’t you sell them some of your books, dummy?” And that was that for the interview. ]

Purchase Bell Mountain

http://leeduigon.com/books/

Other Books in the Series

The Cellar Beneath the Cellar (Volume 2)
The Thunder King (Volume 3)
The Last Banquet (Volume 4)
The Fugitive Prince (Volume 5)
The Palace (Volume 6)
The Glass Bridge (Volume 7)