Sword. Shard. Book. Arrow. The trials of an apprentice knightsage aren’t especially difficult—as long as you can fly. A catastrophic fall at birth left Princess Alelle terrified of heights, flightless in a society that takes great pride in the power of their wings. Now three days from turning fifteen, Alelle faces her moment of choice: risk the trials of an apprentice knightsage, or abandon her royal heritage and don the robes of a servant. Success would redeem a lifetime’s humiliation, but if Alelle fails, she’ll be branded a white feather—a living disgrace to the royal family. Her father’s life will be forfeit in the arena, his throne handed to a jealous rival. The princess has struggled all her life to prepare, and she’s nearly ready. All that stands between Alelle and her dreams are three arrows, three targets, and the impossible task of shooting on the wing. Behind the scenes with the author: Q: This is your debut novel, is it not? A: Yes, it is. I’ve been working on White Feather for many years, and it is truly a labor of love. I’m a big fan of swords & sorcery—the type of fantasy adventures full of strange creatures, dragons, cool magic systems, and bizarre mechanisms festooned with spinning cogs and whirling armillary spheres. When I set out to write my own version of said adventure, I wanted to focus on the journey of a young heroine on a quest to uncover her hidden abilities in a bleak, Gothic-inspired fantasy world. Q: Are there gods, goddesses, or other metaphysical oddities? A: Yes. Mistress Fate and her four elemental Guardians represent the pantheon of Xil, and they take an active roll in the story as it unfolds. What fantasy world is complete without cantankerous goddesses and gods that meddle in the lives of their mortal children? That being said, all the metaphysical and otherworldly goodies have been applied with a light touch. Q: Is White Feather just another bloated fantasy tome? Be honest. A: Not at all. Weighing in at just over 100K words, White Feather is on par with many modern works of fantasy—and lighter than some. The pacing is brisk and full of action, enlivened with a healthy spark of romance. My goal was to write in a style that would appeal equally to teens, young adults, and adults who enjoy a good coming-of-age fantasy—tastefully dark.