Tara Maya's Tales

There are tons of fairies and magical critters in The Unfinished Song . I’m always on the look-out for traditional magic creatures that I can adapt. I remake them to fit my world-building, but I do the research into whatever folk legends first. It’s a great excuse to pursue my love of folklore and mythology. The Aluxob are small, mischievous creatures are part of the world of the Maya, which are known from carvings and clay figurines from the ancient world. They play the same role as gnomes, hobs or leprechauns in ancient Celtic tradition. The Aluxob are usually only about 12 to 18 inches tall and are often found in maize fields, gardens, forests, and caves. They can become invisible or visible at will. They are usually depicted wearing traditional Maya dress.  Some stories even describe them turning into small forest creatures like weasels or frogs. Weasel and frog shifters? Cool. These creatures are known for their mischievous nature, and often show their displeasure at being bot...

A dangerous secret. A deadly skill. Nya is an orphan struggling for survival in a city crippled by war. She is also a Taker—with her touch, she can heal injuries, pulling pain from another person into her own body. But unlike her sister, Tali, and the other Takers who become Healers, Nya's skill is flawed: she can't push that pain into pynvium, the enchanted metal used to store it. All she can do is shift it into another person, a dangerous skill that she must keep hidden. If discovered, she could be used as a human weapon. But one day Nya pushes her luck too far and exposes her secret to a pain merchant eager to use her shifting ability for his own sinister purposes. She refuses—until Tali and other League Healers start disappearing mysteriously. Now Nya must decide: How far will she go to get Tali back alive? You can find The Shifter  on Amazon , Barnes and Noble or IndieBound . Excerpt Danello lived in one of the better boardinghouses on Market-Dock Canal, in a...