Thank you for your interest in my work. All of the series takes place in my fictional world of Elan, so in some respect, they are related. That said, each series is written to stand on its own, which means you don’t HAVE to know anything about one to enjoy the other to the fullest. That said, For people who do read all the books, there will be little winks and nods to those in the know as you find various Easter eggs I’ve hidden.
Legends of the First Empire is a completed six-book epic fantasy series that explores a watershed moment in the history of Elan that leads to the second great war and the founding of the First Empire. This series features an ensemble cast of misfits who rise to legendary status through their achievements and failures at this important time. The tale is filled with magic and explores the truth behind the creation of the world and the gods, some of which play an active role in the events of mere mortals. From a timeline perspective, it begins 800 years before The Rise and Fall and 3,000 years before the Riyria stories.
The Rise and Fall is a trilogy which is my current work in progress. It consists of Nolyn (Summer 2021), Farilane (Summer 2022), and Esrahaddon (Summer 2023). As the name implies, it chronicles the rise (and subsequent fall) of the First Empire (whose formation was the subject of Legends of the First Empire). Currently, two books are written and I’m doing the research to begin writing the third by the end of summer 2020. Unlike many authors, I write the entire series before publishing the first book which allows me to weave plot threads and plant foundations in earlier works when I discover something while writing a later one. This process is not an easy way to go, but I find it provides the best story. I also employed this same process for Legends of the First Empire and The Riyria Revelations. The series takes place 800 years after the events of Legends and 1,000 years. From a timeline perspective, this series begins 800 years after Legends of the First Empire and it ends 1,000 years before the Riyria stories.
The Riyria tales are actually two series: The Riyria Revelations (a completed six-book series that is released in three volumes, and The Riyria Chronicles, which are largely standalone tales). These books feature Royce Melborn (a cynical ex-assassin) and Hadrian Blackwater (an optimistic ex-mercenary). The completed series (Revelations) starts out simply and mysteries and character backgrounds are built in layers leading to a very satisfying conclusion. The Chronicle tales were written due to overwhelming demand by readers who wanted to spend more time with two of their favorite rogues. The first two books (The Crown Tower and The Rose and Thorn) take place 10 years before the events of Revelations and tell the tale of how those two very different men founded their thrives-for-hire enterprise. Other tales in the series are standalone adventures.