Deborah Chester – författare

There’s more to writing a successful fantasy story than building a unique world or inventing a new type of magic. From the writing of strong, action-packed scenes to the creation of dynamic, multi-dimensional characters, fantasy author Deborah Chester guides novices and intermediate writers through a step-by-step process of story construction. Whether offering tips on how to test a plot premise or survive what she calls the dark dismal middle, Chester shares the techniques she uses in writing her own novels. Examples drawn from both traditional and urban fantasy illustrate her nuts-and-bolts approach to elemental story design.With a foreword by New York Times best-selling author Jim Butcher, who studied writing in Chester’s classes at the University of Oklahoma, The fantasy fiction formula delivers a practical, proven approach to writing fantasy like a pro.

The national bestselling author of The Sword, The Ring and The Chalice returns the royal court intrigue, the castle secrets, and the crown scandals of her acclaimed trilogy. The throne was her destiny, until Princess Pheresa lost her groom, Mandria’s heir, to the dark magic that consumed him. Now Pheresa’s fate is uncertain, even when the great King Verence names her Princess Royal, because the title comes with one condition: She must take Lervan, a man of acceptable birth and rank, as her husband. Reluctantly, she agrees. Then, without warning, the old king dies. And Pheresa succeeds to the throne. But all is not well. Many fear that Pheresa has been weakened by the evil magic. Her enemies are strong. Her husband plots against her. And her only ally is the last man she would ever choose—and the one man she should never love.

Lady Lea—beloved sister of the Emperor Caelan—is beautiful, good-hearted, and magically gifted, with the ability to see into the hearts of others. And when what she sees moves her to tears, those tears are transformed into flawless pearls.   Lord Shadrael, dispatched by his warlord brother to kidnap a member of the royal family, chooses Lea. A hardened warrior, he believes himself impervious to her powerful gifts. But on their journey through the fearsome Hidden Ways of the shadow world, he is drawn to Lea’s goodness and inner strength.   In Shadrael, Lea can foresee her destiny, even as she also anticipates great grief. For ultimately, if she is to save Shadrael from his own darkness, she will have to choose between her brother and her abductor.   “Chester is a world class fantasist.”—The Best Reviews

From the national bestselling author of the acclaimed fantasy trilogy The Sword, the Ring, and the Chalice.   Forsaking her spirit for her heart, Lea, sister of the emperor Caelen, has fallen in love with her kidnapper, Lord Shadrael, a man with no soul. Despite growing attachment to his captive, Shadrael hands over Lea to the corrupt Vindicant priests for the promise of redemption.   But when the Vindicants renege on their pledge, Lea and a gravely wounded Shadrael are forced to escape into the Hidden Ways of the shadow realm, where evil threatens to consume all it touches. Now, in order to survive, Lea has to find the balance between her light and Shadrael’s darkness before the shadows destroy them both.   Praise for Deborah Chester’s novels   “Fantastic.”—The Best Reviews   “Epic fantasy at its romantic best.”—Midwest Book Review

A time traveler faces his duplicate in 17th-century England in the series from the "masterful" national bestselling author of Lucasfilm''s Alien Chronicles (Extrapolations). In his attempt to return to the twenty-sixth century, historian Noel Kedran is transported, alongside his evil twin Leon, to the squalid streets and royal palaces of Restoration England—and into the blazing heart of the Great Fire of London. Amidst the inferno, Noel will distinguish himself as a hero, whose only hope is to get home to his own time. To do so, he will have to outwit the treacherous, equally brilliant Leon. But how can any man hope to outwit himself? "Chester is a world class fantasist." —The Best Reviews

The drums of Revolutionary War beat in the time travel series from the "masterful" national bestselling author of the Pearls and the Crown novels (Extrapolations). A time loop drops historian and time traveler Noel Kedran into the Revolutionary War—and into a deadly battle with himself. While America fights for its independence, Noel wages a desperate struggle against his evil twin, Leon. Leon''s plan is to assassinate George Washington and change the course of the Revolutionary War. If the plot succeeds, history will be as warped as Leon''s mind. Now it''s up to Noel to defeat the British army, and his own worst enemy—himself. "Chester is a world class fantasist." —The Best Reviews

Renaissance Italy becomes the final destination in the time travel series from the "masterful" national bestselling author of Lucasfilm''s Alien Chronicles (Extrapolations). In Renaissance-era Italy, as rival houses of nobility use deception and murder to gain power and wealth, historian and time traveler Noel Kedran struggles against the machinations of his evil twin, Leon. Thrust into sixteenth-century Venice, Noel arrives just in time to step into a trap set by his mad double. Sentenced to torture for a crime he didn''t commit, Noel attracts the interest of a sorcerer who wants the mirror-image twins under his control. He will plunge Noel into a shadowy realm of terror, madness, and death. There''s only one person Noel can trust to help him survive—the very twin who has pledged to destroy him. "Chester is a world class fantasist." —The Best Reviews

From the national bestselling author. "Masterful." —EXTRAPOLATIONS In the Planet Patrol, Costa was the best. The smartest, toughest, most ambitious officer in the ranks. Until the day the Omcri—a deadly alien force of faceless assassins—kidnapped the Kublai of Drugh, killing Costa''s patrol but leaving her alive. The brass think Costa has sold out. And now she''s on the run, desperately trying to clear her name. Her search for the truth will lead her from the back alleys of her own planet to the savage dangers of unknown worlds—and finally, into the dark heart of the Omcri Matrix.

One man and one woman are locked in battle for control of a terrifying weapon . . . in this novel from the "masterful" national bestselling author (Extrapolations). For eons, countless races have feared the godas—planet-sized doomsday machines that could destroy all time and space. But no one has ever dared unleash their awesome powers. Until now. Brock, dire-lord of the Held, is the only man alive who knows where the godas are hidden. As his empire crumbles, he vows to activate the godas—no matter what the cost. But Brock has a rival: Col. Kezi Falmah-Al of the ruthless Colonids. She too seeks the godas, to further her dreams of conquest. So begins the Goda War. Now, not even the stars are safe . . . Originally published under the name Jay D. Blakeney

As an evil emperor struggles to maintain his immortality, two of his subjects embark on fateful adventures in this epic fantasy trilogy debut.For the past nine centuries, Emperor Kostimon has ruled Imperia from the Ruby Throne, even as lawlessness and greed threaten to bring the empire crumbling to the ground. But his immortality stems from a bargain with the very source of evil itself: the dark lord Beloth. Now, as Kostimon''s tenth and final lifetime begins, the shadow god is growing restless…As the son of Imperia''s most powerful healer, Caelan E''Non is expected to follow in his father''s footsteps. Except Caelan feels a burning desire to blaze his own trail—and possesses a magic he does not understand. Meanwhile, Elandra Albain has been raised as a servant in her father''s house. Her spoiled sister, Lady Bixia, is thought to be destined for greatness. But Elandra has a surprising destiny all her own. Now, in a time of unimaginable upheaval, Caelan and Elandra begin journeys of adventure and terrifying danger—journeys that will alter the course of Imperia forever.

The national bestselling author of Reign of Shadows continues her "masterful" Ruby Throne Trilogy with a novel of epic dark fantasy (Extrapolation). For nine centuries the Emperor Kostimon has sat upon the Ruby Throne. The dark lord Beloth is responsible for his eternal existence—and what the shadow god has bestowed, he can easily take away . . . As the aging Kostimon awaits the crowning of his empress, Elandra Albain, forces of evil conspire to destroy the kingdom of Imperia. Whispers of treason come from those closest to the emperor—including his own son. Pure of spirit, Elandra remains untouched by the shadow god—but she senses his return. With darkness descending, Elandra finds her destiny joined with another''s. Possessing the magic of a healer and a warrior''s might, Caelan E''non has risen from lowly slave to champion gladiator. And when the dark lord and his minions overtake the castle, he will find Elandra''s life—and the future of the empire—in his hands. "Chester is a world class fantasist." —The Best Reviews

The stunning conclusion to the "masterful" Ruby Throne trilogy from the national bestselling author of Reign of Shadows and Shadow War (Extrapolation). After nine centuries—and ten lifetimes—the Emperor Kostimon is dead, and darkness sweeps the land. The emperor''s young widow, Elandra, has fled the shadows of war with her champion, the warrior Caelan—the man she has grown to love. But is the emperor truly dead? Or can the power of the shadow god bring him back? Elandra must make a fateful decision—to fulfill her destiny on the throne, or to follow her heart. And the warrior Caelan must stand and fight—for his life, for his love, and for the entire kingdom. "Chester is a world class fantasist." —The Best Reviews

From the national bestselling author.In the grand tradition of Dune, an epic of adventure and survival on a dying world. Omari has violated every sanction of his world to hijack the Forerunner and blast his way through a black star to reach the Uncharted Zone—and freedom. But on Ruantl, a toxic world lit by a black sun, Omari found himself hostage in an underground citadel deep beneath a radioactive wasteland. Here the enigmatic high priest and his horde of black-robed barbarian mutants guard an army of crystal caskets—and plan a bloody rebellion to save their race from extinction. To survive, Omari has one chance. But does he dare undergo the ultimate sacrifice and become one of the CHILDREN OF ANTHI?

From the national bestselling author. In the grand tradition of Dune, an epic of adventure and survival on a dying world The world of Ruantl is nearly dead, its waters tainted and its land scorched by a poisonous black sun. Members of the Galactic Space Institute have crossed into the Uncharted Zone, eager to strip Ruantl of its gold and gemstones. They will not—and cannot—be stopped. Not by the few survivors of a dying race. But one ancient lord is ready to fight back—even if he must reawaken the mighty goddess Anthi herself.

When a time-traveler is mistakenly sent to Medieval Greece, he finds bandits, Crusaders—and his own evil twin—in this sci-fi series debut.In the 26th century, chaos threatens to overwhelm civilization—but the historians on staff at the Time Institute are determined to change things for the better. By gathering first-hand recordings of history''s greatest events, they hope to restore faith in humanity and inspire the modern-day populace to pursue its own achievements. But when anarchist saboteurs infiltrate the Institute, time-traveler Noel Kedran is sent to the wrong place and century.Medieval Greece is little more than a way-station for European knights headed for the Crusades. This small pocket of history is awash in treachery as Greek bandits, French knights, and Constantinople''s diplomats battle for supremacy. Caught in their clash to rule Greece, Noel fears that any alteration to the course of history could destroy his own time. But then he meets his own mirror image—a doppelganger as determined to destroy the future as Noel is to save it. And he''s ready to take both history and Noel''s fate into his own hands…unless Noel beats him to it.

An Old West adventure in the time travel series from the "masterful" national bestselling author of Lucasfilm''s Alien Chronicles (Extrapolations). Unable to return to the twenty-sixth century, historian and time traveler Noel Kedran struggles to repair the sabotage that keeps him ensnared in time''s web. His evil twin Leon, created by the anomaly, works just as hard to prevent Noel from escaping the trap. Each attempt to go home lands Noel and Leon in a different era. Now, they''re in the New Mexico territory in the year 1887—a harsh desert land plagued by lawless bandit raids, border wars, and fierce Apaches. Although determined to preserve the fabric of history, Noel soon finds himself involved with the perils facing a ranching family. The ranch has been burned and a young girl abducted. If Noel can''t find a way to rescue her, the altered time stream will change the future forever. That''s exactly what Leon is hoping for. Which means that sooner or later, the two of them must have a showdown. "Chester is a world class fantasist." —The Best Reviews

A swashbuckling pirate adventure in the time travel series from the "masterful" national bestselling author of the Pearls and the Crown novels (Extrapolations). In his attempt to return to the twenty-sixth century, historian and time traveler Noel Kedran is transported back to the Caribbean in 1697, where black-masted ships rule the treacherous seas and murderous pirates kill without mercy. Stalked by enemies—including his evil twin, Leon—Noel fights to prevent a human sacrifice that could change history, and to stop his twisted twin before he destroys them both for a few glittering, golden pieces of eight. "Chester is a world class fantasist." —The Best Reviews

There’s more to writing a successful fantasy story than building a unique world or inventing a new type of magic. From the writing of strong, action-packed scenes to the creation of dynamic, multi-dimensional characters, fantasy author Deborah Chester guides novices and intermediate writers through a step-by-step process of story construction. Whether offering tips on how to test a plot premise or survive what she calls the dark dismal middle, Chester shares the techniques she uses in writing her own novels. Examples drawn from both traditional and urban fantasy illustrate her nuts-and-bolts approach to elemental story design.With a foreword by New York Times best-selling author Jim Butcher, who studied writing in Chester’s classes at the University of Oklahoma, The fantasy fiction formula delivers a practical, proven approach to writing fantasy like a pro.