They never fail who die

  In a great cause. The block may soak their gore;

  Their heads may sodden in the sun; their limbs

  Be strung to city gates and castle walls;

  But still their spirit walks abroad.

   Though years

  Elapse and others share as dark a doom,

  They but augment the deep and sweeping thoughts

  Which overpower all others and conduct

  The world, at last, to freedom.

--Defeated Yet Triumphant, Lord Byron

I'm currently enjoying short stories by Fredrick Brown and I've got my eyes and nose in some history ebooks as well.

I was thinking this week about some of the fantastic beasties in my Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series. I'm getting the itch to write some more about them. Here are a few of the monsters:

-Dragons - Of course there are dragons. They're mean and evil with the power to bend men's will to their own purposes. With feathered wings and flame-spewing nostrils, they are a powerful source of magic in the series. Their young are a ravenous monsters, a danger to every man.

-Stone cats - Derived from a combination of native legends, these creatures with stone hides and antlers are formidable. Cursed to eat the dead, they also imperil the living, eating those they slay and saving the survivors for a fiendish feast of stolen emotions and enslaved minds.

-Gryphons - These beasts go their own way. Skeptical and dangerous, they're immune to the influence of their inveterate enemies, the dragons, with whom they are at war. They detest the dragon magic.

-Wanadaga - Little people like these figure in the legends of many tribes. With badgers and raccoons to serve them, they live underground in their unique society with fire mages and the annual tournament.

-The White Worm - This monster plays central role in Wanadaga culture, with priceless skin and waving whips of fire.

There are others, including the Vorn, and the beast that blends into mountainside, but the characters are the real treat in this series. Maybe I'll talk about them next time.

Fun Fact:

On August 22, 1776, the Admiral and General Howe launched the invasion of Long Island where Washington had stationed 9,000 troops. (See my novel Crisis in Fire and Snow for my exciting take on the battle). Howe pinned Washington's troops with a feigned frontal assault by his Hessians while sending a flanking force around via Jamaica Pass to route the Americans. Washington made a miraculous retreat and crossing of the East River under cover of darkness and a morning fog to avoid complete capture. 

Howe went on to take Manhattan, winning at Kip's Bay, amphibiously outmaneuvering Washington at Harlem Heights, and a heavy rain at White Plains allowed Washington to escape again. (All these are also related in Crisis in Fire and Snow). Howe went on to take Fort's Washington and Lee, capturing most of the garrisons. 

Washington continued to escape the British pursuit with an army that was down to only 3,500 troops. Going into winter quarters, Howe's arms had taken 4,500 prisoners (including 4 generals), 235 cannon, with thousands of shells, cannonballs, and muskets, and frightened the Continental Congress into fleeing Philadelphia.

Note: Smoke is on sale for a limited time.

Fire and Inferno: Plight of the Dragomancer Book I, by Luna Fox -- now only 99 cents.

Last time, I forgot to include a link to the Wyrd Warfare Anthology that contains my story "Seventh Hussar and Aide to the Mage."

It's more likely that I have included it and just didn't see it when I did review of my newsletters looking for it. The anthology is full of great stories.

Check out these great deals before you go:

Free Fantasy and Paranormal ebooks

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Free Fantasy Frenzy of various genres