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Hello Friends, Family, and Fans;

Every once in a while I get an idea for a novel but I’m not sure how well it’ll transition from brain to page. So I take the story out for a test drive. I call it a Proof-of-Concept and wrote about it here.

My family has been doing digital escape rooms for a while and I got an idea while writing Elizabeth 5, about a combination of an escape room and a dungeon dive but as a reality TV show.

Since I’d already written a book as a reality show, I figured this would be the perfect concept to re-visit Everdome.

It’ll probably be a long while before I get to it, but I’m excited to go back.

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She stood on the highest hill in the Grey Havens and looked over the fields of the dead. Despite the vanquishing of the Corrupter, this dome still writhed with undead horrors. Mostly shambling corpses that projected illusions of loved ones, but there were darker things hiding in the golden cities. Vampires, necromancers, and the last of the great beasts.

Just the idea of Thincas, the beast of two faces, sent a shiver down Queen Jasmine’s spine. She put her hand to her sword and felt the comforting weight.

“That’s not going to help you against the dead,” Kathryn said glibly.

“This isn’t any ordinary blade. It’s been blessed by twelve priests, the Sisters, and Myrddin himself. Since this is as much your fault as it was the old gods, I think you should be less flippant.”

Giving a withering look toward the Queen, Kathryn said, “Child, I have lived and seen things you have no concept for. I watched as Everworld exploded and became Everdome. I was there when this dome turned from gold to grey, and I have been trying to find a way to fix it since. I have travelled the realms and universe. If swords, honour, and military arrogance could fix it, it would have been done by better sovereigns than you.”

The Queen advanced toward the other woman, both the only splotches of colour other than the golden ruins. Their warm brown skin seemed to brighten the area. The Queen’s armour shone bright silver and Kathryn’s purple coat seemed to mirror the difference between them.

“Oh for fuck’s sake. I thought travelling with women meant I could avoid the pissing contests.” They turned to the shorter woman with wild brownish red hair. She was dressed in brown leather armour and had more weapons than most people could count. “You’re both idiots and you’re both right. We can’t do this without Kathryn, and we can’t do this without Jasmine. Get over yourselves and get along or we’re not just going to die, we’re going to become like them.” Es’Sem the warrior queen of the Wild Nations said, and the other women stepped away from each other and looked suitably cowed.

The three companions walked in silence while the sun rose, or more accurately the clouds became less black and more grey. The smell was horrific; a combination of sickly sweet and rotting. They each sucked on a strong mint candy to avoid gagging.

They approached the walls of the city of the dead, feeling the warmth radiating from its golden glow. There was a small strip of wildflowers and grass that grew along the walls. The walked as close as they could without trampling the only life they’d seen in three days and reached the great gates.

The city had been Everdome’s greatest mausoleum, where kings and heroes were laid to rest. It was also the site of a yearly patronage to honour the dead. When the Corruption had taken the land, smaller versions of the mausoleum had been created in all the domes.

When they reached the gates, all three women swore. They were sealed and had a large inscription, “The way is shut. The city was made for the dead, and the Dead keep it, until thirteen more heroes come to our aid.” Below the inscription was the sign of Elric the Mad.

“Elric, that plagiarizing ass! I regret ever loving that man or letting him read my copy of Lord of the Rings,” Kathryn spat. “What does it mean by thirteen more?”

Queen Jasmine shook her head and answered, “It seems we, again, need help from Earth to save Everdome.”

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You can learn more about Queen Jasmine, Es’Sem, Kathryn, the Great Beasts, and Everdome in: