Cas lives in the lovely county of Hampshire, southern UK, where she was born. On leaving school she trained for two years before qualifying as horse-riding instructor. During this time she also learned to carriage-drive. She spent thirteen years in the British Civil Service before moving to Rome, Italy, where she and her husband, Dave, lived for three years. They enjoy returning whenever they can. Cas supports many animal charities and owns two rescue dogs. She has a large collection of cacti and loves gardening. She is also a folk singer/songwriter and is currently writing and recording nine folk-style songs to accompany each of her fantasy books. You can listen to and download all the songs from her website: www.caspeace.com
See the video of her performing live at the King’s Envoy book launch here: http://www.caspeace.com/cas-
Taran Elijah’s quest for knowledge uncovers a plot that threatens the world...
Desperate to learn how to control his innate Artesan powers, Taran embarks on a foolhardy plan to acquire the teaching he craves. The military backlash his action unleashes forces Albia’s High King to send Major Sullyan as an envoy to the Fifth Realm. But a dark and treacherous power is moving through the realms and all will feel its influence.
Captured and tortured by the power-hungry Lord Rykan, Sullyan is trapped in Andaryon. Aided by the unlikeliest sources, the major formulates a plan to defeat Rykan and end his quest for the throne. But Sullyan’s strength is fading fast and time is running out. The only thing that can save her is Rykan’s mysterious Staff, which lies buried in the ruins of Taran’s cellar.
Sullyan’s lover, Robin Tamsen, sets out to recover the artefact, but the enemy is two steps ahead of him. If Robin fails to secure the Staff, Sullyan’s life, the Artesan craft, and the very existence of their world is under threat.
Review:
"Cas Peace's Artesans of Albia trilogy immediately sweeps you away: the drama starts with King's Envoy, continues unabated in King's Champion, and climaxes in King's Artesan, yet each volume is complete, satisfying. The Artesan series propels you into a world so deftly written that you see, feel, touch, and even smell each twist and turn. These nesting novels are evocative, hauntingly real. Smart. Powerful. Compelling.
Janet E Morris: Bestselling Author of The Sacred Band of Stepsons series; the Dream Dancer series; I, the Sun; Outpassage; The Silistra Quartet;and editor of the Bangsian In Hell series. Famed contributor to the shared universe fantasy series, Thieves World.
Join the Audio Book Tour for the first book in
this trilogy HERE
Q&A with the Author
1. When did you start writing, and was there a specific event or person who influenced you to become an author? I have always loved writing and used to write poems and short stories when I was a child. But my serious writing didn’t start until the late 90s, after my husband and I returned from a few years living in Italy. I didn’t have a job and found myself bored one cold, wet December afternoon. I began writing out a small scene I’d had in my head since watching a kid’s TV program in the 70s (called Tarot, Ace of Wands), and that seemed to open floodgates I didn’t know existed. It turned into my triple-trilogy fantasy series, Artesans of Albia, and in case anyone’s interested, the actual scene became Taran’s first meeting with Major Sullyan.
2. Are you currently working on a project, and if so, can you tell us anything about it? I’m currently working on a prequel to my Artesans series that will relate Sullyan’s early life and how she became the powerful Artesan she is. It will be aimed at the YA market and is around halfway complete at this stage.
3. What is your favorite writing snack? Has to be chocolate, I’m afraid. Milk, not dark (too bitter for me), and I really love Belgian chocolates, especially the red Lindt balls!
4. If you could have dinner with any of your characters, which ones would you choose? Why? What food would you serve? Well, it’s no secret that only one of my characters is based on a real person, and that is King Elias Rovannon, who is based on UK actor Sean Bean’s portrayal of the Bernard Cornwell soldier, Richard Sharpe. So I would love to have dinner with Sean Bean, primarily to ask hm f he would do the voice of Elias in the audiobook versions of my novels! I have no idea what kind of food Sean likes, but I love Italian, so I’d most likely cook something pasta-based. I also do a mean lime cheesecake for dessert!
5. Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? I learned a huge amount from writing my books as I started from the bottom with only my High School English education to call on. I learned about POV (Point of View), how to structure a story, and also about rejection once I started sending my first book out. But I also learned how supportive and helpful people in the writing industry can be if approached in the right way. I also learned things about myself – most worryingly that I seem to have quite a dark side! One of the reviews of my final trilogy, Master of Malice, says that I go places that George R R Martin (Game of Thrones) didn’t dare go!
6. How do you relax, or what do you enjoy doing when you are not writing? I’m a singer/songwriter as well as a novelist and have written and recorded songs to accompany five of my fantasy novels, so singing is a wonderful way to switch off. I’m a member of a Shanty group, http://www.shantyhounds.co.uk/ and enjoy performing and raising money for charity. I have two rescue dogs that I love walking, and I also grow a large amount of cacti. My husband and I own a powerboat, a Nelson 38 called Sea Hound, and we love taking off round the Solent for day trips or longer.
7. What is your largest unfulfilled dream, and what are you doing to reach it? I’ve been fortunate enough to realize most of my dreams, or at least to take them as far as I am able. I would have loved to be a show jumper, but didn’t have the balance or courage required to be a top notch rider, but I did get to own my own horse. I never intended to become an author, but have achieved bestseller status with two of my novels, which is awesome. Now all I want is to remain happy, healthy and active for as long as I can and to look after those around me.
8. What do you fear most? What a horrid question! I have a couple of phobias – the first is that I can’t cope with electrical storms. I’m terrified of both lightning and thunder and often hide under bedclothes at night or put on all the lights and draw the curtains during the day. I certainly don’t go out if a storm is brewing! The other terror I have is of confined spaces. I rarely use lifts (elevators) and rarely shut doors in small rooms. Not so easy in public restrooms!
9. What was your favorite Halloween Costume? Much nicer question! I have never actually dressed up for Halloween (we Brits have only recently started celebrating it like the US does) but if I were to dress up, I’d probably go for a werewolf costume. I just love dogs!
Many thanks for hosting me, Nicole!
ReplyDeletexx Cas
You're so welcome :) Thank you for stopping by!
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