I am currently seeking a literary agent for The Lightning Sword.
Narrated by a sentient sword with a wry sense of superiority, The Lightning Sword is a 102,000-word adult character-driven adventure fantasy. It will appeal to readers who enjoy the morally gray swagger of John Scalzi’s Starter Villains and the playful, tongue-in-cheek trope subversions of Peter Beagle’s I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons.
Avrazel’s first taste of battle—and blood—wakes it from a millennium stuck half-dozing as a ceremonial wall ornament. Avrazel is unimpressed with the five survivors’ attempts at leadership. Their bumbling soon leaves them trapped, an army beating down the door. Despite having no experience, the overconfident sword fabricates a prophecy that conveniently names it commander
After its clever escape plan mostly works, Avrazel keeps issuing orders, solidifying its command. Proud to be in charge, Avrazel adopts the humans’ mission: to retrieve a long-lost weapon to fight an invading empire. But managing egos and emotions is a thankless job for a sword, especially as it yearns to bond with its human companions.
As the mission flounders, Avrazel’s overconfidence turns to self-doubt. It resorts to undermining a grieving widower who threatens to lead a revolt, convincing horse-lovers to eat horsemeat, and other increasingly questionable leadership tactics to keep the team moving. Even as it seeks friendship, its heavy-handed approach alienates its companions.
Avrazel learns that only it can activate the ancient weapon, a magical explosive capable of destroying both sword and empire. It must lead the team’s final assault while also preparing for its own sacrifice. Yet Avrazel questions whether fulfilling its purpose is worth losing the found family it has come to care about.
This is my debut novel, inspired by twenty years of managing groups with similar team dynamics and interpersonal conflicts to those found in fantasy adventuring parties.
I am currently writing The Wizard’s Spaceship, an adult fantasy novel.
The year is 2040. Aliens have conquered Earth with what appears to be vastly superior technology. David Elstein, a middle-aged engineer, is “involuntary staff” on a spaceship. He soon discovers the alien technology is all cleverly disguised magic. Alone among the humans, he can summon magic to disrupt ship’s systems.
David finds himself forced into leading a slave revolt to take control of the ship and its powerful weapon. Even as he seeks freedom, he suspects that he is merely a pawn in a fight between alien political factions. Can he lead a ragtag group of humans to conquer the ship and free Earth?
I am currently developing this adult fantasy novel, and will start on the prose after I complete The Wizard's Spaceship.
Lisette Armaux is a naïve but ambitious firearms dealer from the technologically-advanced Western Kingdoms. Tenmar is a translator from a mixed background, his mother from the cultured Amayan of the eastern plains, his father a forest-dwelling Khrun. The Khrun are hosting the centennial re-signing of a peace treaty. The top Khrun leader dies from what appears to be Amayan magic, but because he collapses while meeting with Lisette, she falls under suspicion. Tenmar’s employers ask him to investigate, but his mixed background makes him untrustworthy in their eyes. Lisette and Tenmar must work together, navigating treacherous politics and theological animosity, to uncover the true killer before the region falls into a devastating war.