Sep 22

Latest adult science fiction/fantasy novel, Worldshaper, now available!

Amazon U.S. | Amazon Canada | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Penguin Random House | Indiebound | Powell’s

Buy an autographed copy from my online bookstore!

My ninth novel for DAW Books starts off a new adult fantasy/science fiction series called Worldshapers. The artwork is by Juliana Kolesova.

“This rollicking secondary-world contemporary fantasy opens with a bang…(the characters) grapple with the ethics of changing the world, the question of what makes people ‘real’ when the worldshapers can change everything about them with nothing more than a thought, and the need to save the universe. Willett…meticulously includes small details that make the constantly changing scenery feel solid and real…This novel sets up a fascinating, fluctuating universe with plenty of room for growth for the main characters, and readers will eagerly join their journey.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Willett’s series starter is fun, quirky, and highly enjoyable, nicely laying the groundwork for future volumes.” – Booklist

“There is so much to love about this book. Like the fact it references Tolkien at least three times, if not more. Or perhaps the fact it referenced Doctor Who. Or maybe the fact that it’s got a sarcastic wiseass smartmouthed main female character who actually stops to think ‘what-if’ every once and a while. Or perhaps there’s the fact that there are so many interesting ideas in this book that it’ll make your world spin….Edward Willett is fast becoming my favorite author.” – Ria P., NetGalley reviewer

Book description:

From an Aurora Award-winning author comes the first book in a new portal fantasy series in which one woman’s powers open the way to a labyrinth of new dimensions.

For Shawna Keys, the world is almost perfect. She’s just opened a pottery studio in a beautiful city. She’s in love with a wonderful man. She has good friends.

But one shattering moment of violence changes everything. Mysterious attackers kill her best friend. They’re about to kill Shawna. She can’t believe it’s happening–and just like that, it isn’t. It hasn’t. No one else remembers the attack, or her friend. To everyone else, Shawna’s friend never existed…

Everyone, that is, except the mysterious stranger who shows up in Shawna’s shop. He claims her world has been perfect because she Shaped it to be perfect; that it is only one of uncounted Shaped worlds in a great Labyrinth; and that all those worlds are under threat from the Adversary who has now invaded hers. She cannot save her world, he says, but she might be able to save others–if she will follow him from world to world, learning their secrets and carrying them to Ygrair, the mysterious Lady at the Labyrinth’s heart.

Frightened and hounded, Shawna sets off on a desperate journey, uncertain whom she can trust, how to use her newfound power, and what awaits her in the myriad worlds beyond her own.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2018/09/22/latest-adult-science-fiction-fantasy-novel-worldshaper-now-available/

Sep 22

Cave Beneath the Sea now available as audiobook!

Cave Beneath the Sea, Book 4 in the Shards of Excalibur series,  is now available in audiobook format through Audible.

Elizabeth Klett once again narrates, as she has for the previous three books in the series, and once again does a fabulous job.

About the book:

The fourth shard of Excalibur might come with a price Ariane doesn’t want to pay: her mother.

Seeking to recover the shards of King Arthur’s sword Excalibur before Rex Major (the ancient sorcerer Merlin in a modern-day guise), Ariane and Wally have traveled around the world, and their quest is not yet over. Ariane’s magical powers as heir to the Lady of the Lake, combined with Wally’s clever thinking, have enabled them to hang on to two of the three shards they’ve located so far – but Rex Major still has one shard of his own and will stop at nothing to claim all the pieces for himself and use its power to rule Earth and invade the magical realm of Faerie.

And now Major has his eyes on a big prize: Ariane’s mother, who went missing after she refused the power of the Lady of the Lake.

Thanks to Wally, Ariane knows her mother is alive – and that Rex Major is trying to find her. If he succeeds, Ariane fears she’ll have no choice but to surrender the two shards she and Wally possess, because she’ll do anything – and give up everything – to have her mother back with her again.

Ariane and Wally race to the Caribbean as they try to find Ariane’s mother and the fourth shard of Excalibur before Major does. As they struggle to stop Major, Ariane and Wally face desperate danger…and must make the most difficult decisions of their lives.

Some reviews:

“Edward Willett has created as exciting a read as the earlier books in the series, continuing to develop his characters and their relationships while the action-filled plot carries the reader to intriguing national and international locales…. It’s hard for me to decide which is the stronger foundation for the story, the characters or the plot, as both are substantial and intricate.” (CanLit for Little Canadians)

“Cave Beneath the Sea will appeal to young readers in search of adventure as well as adults who enjoy another version of the timeless story of King Arthur…. Recommended.” (CM Magazine)

And here are links to the audiobooks of the first three in the series:

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2018/09/22/cave-beneath-the-sea-now-available-as-audiobook/

Sep 07

Lake in the Clouds audiobook available!

The audiobook version of Lake in the Clouds is now available, once again narrated by the amazing Elizabeth Klett, who also narrated Song of Sword and Twist of the Blade, and has already recorded Cave Beneath the Sea and Door into Faerie, coming soon!

And here’s a great review from an Audible listener:

“For me, this story was a very satisfying follow-on to book 2 in the series. Wally plays a much larger part in this one, something which I very much welcomed. His internal struggles as he tries to balance his worry for Ariane against his growing suspicions about Rex Major’s real plans for her and himself really helped to flesh out this character for me. It made the race to find the next shard that much more interesting.

“After the frustration of all the conflict between him and Ariane in the previous book, I was relieved to see this book make the shift towards understanding … even if it takes nearly the whole adventure to get them there. I also really enjoyed the way Mr. Willett uses humor – mostly at Wally’s expense – in getting the two teens back to working together again.

“Ms. Klett’s narration is, as usual, superb. I cannot overstate how well she handles the voices of all the characters; at no point is there any confusion as to who is speaking, and both male and female characters are voiced equally well.

“Travel to another great far-away destination, outsmarting the villain, unexpected character revelations, and a couple of really good plot twists all contribute to making the 6 plus hours of this story just fly by. I can’t wait to hear what happens next!”

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2018/09/07/lake-in-the-clouds-audiobook-available/

Aug 20

New review of Twist of the Blade audiobook calls it “fast-paced, entertaining”

Cathi Shaw, who previously listened to and enjoyed the Song of the Sword audiobook, has posted her review the audiobook version of Twist of the Blade, narrated, like Song of the Sword, by Elizabeth Klett:

“I’ve said before that the second book in a YA series is often the make or break book. Following up a strong debut novel in a series is difficult and many authors struggle with it. But Edward Willett comes through with Twist of the Blade. This was a fast paced, entertaining second book in this series, which also incorporated character development and a depth to the story that was missing in Book 1…I can’t wait to see what is in store for our young characters  in Book 3.”

Read the whole thing.

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2018/08/20/new-review-of-twist-of-the-blade-audiobook-calls-it-fast-paced-entertaining/

Jul 11

New short story collection published!

My new short-story collection, Paths to the Stars: Twenty-Two Fantastical Tales of Imagination, has just been released by Shadowpaw Press. The stories in it span my writing career–the oldest is one I wrote at age 19 (or possibly 18, I’m not sure) at Harding University; the newest just came out earlier this year.  They’re roughly fifty-fifty young adult and adult stories (but don’t worry, the “adult” stories are also YA-friendly).

Where can you get it? Well, you can buy it in all popular ebook formats or get an autographed directly from me through my new online shop (where, I’ll remind you, you can also order any or all of the Shards of Excalibur books!)

You can also buy it at any of these links:

Shadowpaw Press | Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Chapters/Indigo | Barnes & Noble

Here’s the official description:

From Edward Willett, Aurora Award-winning author of Marseguro, The Cityborn, and Worldshaper (DAW Books), among many others, comes twenty-two tales of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, drawn from a long career of telling fantastic tales.

A young musician dreams of playing his songs among the stars…A Broadway performer on the lam is forced to direct aliens in The Sound of Music…Strange vegetables with dangerous properties crop up in small-town Saskatchewan…A man with a dark secret gets his comeuppance on a windy night on the prairie…An elderly caretaker on the Moon preserves the memory of the millions who died on Earth’s darkest day…A woman and a bat-like alien must overcome their own prejudices to prevent an interstellar war…

From the far future and the farthest reaches of space to the Canadian prairie, from our world to worlds that have never existed to world’s that might some day, rich realms of imagination and the fascinating characters and creatures that populate them await within these stories, some previously published, some seeing print for the first time.

Time to go exploring…

And the first review…

“From exploding fruits and vegetables to a shrine on the moon, dedicated to the memory of a devastated Earth, these stories will not disappoint. If you’re a Fantasy and Science Fiction fan like I am, you’re sure to enjoy this rollercoaster of stories every bit as much as I did. I can sum my thoughts up in two words: ‘READ THEM!'” – Lorne McMillan, Author of Isaac’s Blood

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2018/07/11/new-short-story-collection-published/

Jun 23

Announcing the Edward Willett bookstore!

For a long time I’ve wanted to set up an online store where people can order books directly from me–autographed, of course (except for the ebooks, because I haven’t figured out how to do that, yet). After a not-inconsiderable amount of work, I’m pleased to announce that my very own personal bookstore, The Fantastic Worlds of Edward Willett, is open for business!

Among other things, you can buy autographed copies of any of the Shards of Excalibur books, or even buy a complete set (for just $65 Can.).

Browse!Better yet, buy!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2018/06/23/announcing-the-edward-willett-bookstore/

Jun 23

Announcing Shadowpaw Press

Like many authors, I’ve got a few projects that I’d like to get out into the wide world for which I do not have a publisher handy, and so I am turning to my own publishing resources–something far easier to do today than ever before.

Rather than simply self-publish, however, I’ve decided to go the somewhat more complicated (but offering-more-opportunities) route of setting up my own independent press, which I’ve named Shadowpaw Pressafter our black Siberian cat (because, why not? Also, he has a publishing pedigree of sorts–see “My publisher brought me a kitten!“) who also serves as the logo. (Preliminary logo–I think I’ll be doing more work on that.)

I have several projects that will appear under the Shadowpaw Press input, and the first will be out in short order: a collection of my short fiction, which I’ve entitled Paths to the Stars. Here’s the cover art and description:

From Edward Willett, Aurora Award-winning author of Marseguro, The Cityborn, and Worldshaper(DAW Books), among many others, comes twenty-two tales of fantasy, science fiction, and fantasy, drawn from a long career of telling fantastic tales.

A young musician dreams of playing his songs among the stars…A Broadway performer on the lam is forced to direct aliens in The Sound of Music…Strange vegetables with dangerous properties crop up in small-town Saskatchewan…A man with a dark secret gets his comeuppance on a windy night on the prairie…An elderly caretaker on the Moon preserves the memory of the millions who died on Earth’s darkest day…A woman and a bat-like alien must overcome their own prejudices to prevent an interstellar war…

From the far future and the farthest reaches of space to the Canadian prairie, from our world to worlds that have never existed to world’s that might some day, rich realms of imagination and the fascinating characters and creatures that populate them await within these stories, some previously published, some seeing print for the first time.

Time to go exploring…

Release date is July 10. You can pre-order the ebook now through Amazon. A paperback version will also be available–it’s in the final stages.

What else will be coming from Shadowpaw Press? Up next mightbe Blue Fire, a re-issue, with a new cover and layout, of Flames of Nevyana, taking it back to its original title (might be, because my editor at DAW Books is taking a look at it first to see if she might be interested). If I release it myself, I’m leaning toward releasing that one as an E.C. Blakebook, since that might garner interest from readers of the Masks of Aygrimatrilogy.

And after that? I want to pull the First World War memoirsof my grandfather-in-law, Sampson J. Goodfellow, into a book. It needs a good edit and some other work, but I think it could be interesting to readers, especially with the 100th anniversary of the Armistice coming up–which is approximately when I’d like to have it out.

Lots more to come after that: my Andy Nebula books in print again (currently they’re only available as hardcovers), re-issues of some of my earlier novels…who knows? If this actually proves profitable (a big “if”) maybe I’ll open up to submissions. An original anthology might be fun…

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2018/06/23/announcing-shadowpaw-press/

Jun 23

Available now: an illustrated collection of science fiction/fantasy poetry!

I Tumble Through the Diamond Dust, my new collection of science fiction and fantasy poetry, officially launched recently, with a great event attending by thirty-five people or so, in the basement of The Artesian on 13th (a former church converted into a theatre).

The book was published by Your Nickel’s Worth Press.

Here’s the book description:

Within these pages lie twenty-one poems…and twenty-one worlds: worlds in the farthest reaches of space, worlds steeped in myth and legend, worlds that never were, and worlds that yet could be.

Written by award-winning science fiction and fantasy author Edward Willett, and beautifully illustrated by Alberta artist Wendi Nordell, each poem was inspired by—and contains—two lines of published poetry from Saskatchewan poets, sent out every weekday by former Saskatchewan Poet Laureate Gerald Hill as a Poetry Month challenge to members of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild in April 2016.

Every poem tells a story. Some are frightening. Some are funny. Some are poignant, some surreal. Enter a realm of unfettered imagination…and embrace the fantastical.

Here’s an excellent review by Shelley A. Leedahl, herself a Saskatchewan poet:

“Prolific Regina writer Edward Willett took a great idea and ran with it…and the result is this creative, entertaining, and occasionally spine-tingling collection of poems that no one but Willett – well-known for authoring sixty books, including twenty science fiction and fantasy novels – could pull off.”

Read the whole review!

Like a copy? You can get it here:

Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Kobo | Chapters/Indigo | Your Nickel’s Worth Press.

In addition to reading from the book at the launch, and saying a few words, and introducing my niece, Wendi Nordell, who is also the illustrator, I sang a couple of songs (and my daughter, Alice, performed as well).

One of my songs was “Unusual Way” from the Broadway musical Nine…and here it is.

Enjoy!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2018/06/23/available-now-an-illustrated-collection-of-science-fiction-fantasy-poetry/

Jun 09

Twist of the Blade audiobook now available!

Twist of the Blade is now available in audiobook format, narrated by the wonderful Elizabeth Klett, who previously narrated Song of the Sword and will be narrating the entire series over the course of this year.

Audible reviewer Krista Jasper writes, “Elizabeth Klett does a great job of narration and bringing the characters to life. It isn’t easy to do justice to the voice of a teenage boy and then a middle aged British magician…I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a mystery wrapped in Fantasy and Lore.”

Here’s the official description:

Having saved the first Shard of the sword Excalibur from Internet mogul Rex Major (aka Merlin), Ariane and Wally are on the lookout for the second. Wally is worried that the power of the first Shard is already changing Ariane, giving her the strength to do good and evil, and when she badly injures his bullying sister, Flish, it seems he’s right.

Meanwhile, they have a serious problem: Ariane’s located the second Shard in France. Sure, her inherited powers from the Lady of the Lake enable her to travel magically through fresh water, but it hasn’t escaped their notice that there’s a huge saltwater ocean separating them from their next target. And Rex Major is already on his way there.

As Major uses Wally’s doubts – and his secret wish to be more than just a nerdy sidekick – to cause a rift between the friends, Ariane takes the chance to go it alone. But if the first Shard’s power is barely controllable, how will she fare when two Shards are united? And what can Wally do to get his friend back?

Critic Reviews

“The sequel to Song of the Sword improves on its foundation…. Willett realistically explores the difficulties Ariane and Wally face and paints Rex Major in such a light that readers may be unsure as to whether he is a master manipulator or misunderstood hero… Engrossing.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“A satisfying second instalment… Twist of the Blade offers an enticing sense of danger and excitement… It’s refreshing to read a story in which the heroes and villains are not cut-and-dried, and readers can look forward to three more instalments in this genuinely entertaining myth-based series.” (Quill & Quire)

Go forth and listen!

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2018/06/09/twist-of-the-blade-audiobook-now-available/

Mar 30

Cover art reveal: my next novel from DAW Books!

Worldshaper, my ninth novel for DAW Books, comes out September 18 in hardcover and ebook. It’s the start of a new series called Worldshapers. Here’s the fabulous cover: artwork is by Juliana Kolesova, who happens to also be from Canada–she works out of Toronto.

Here’s the description:

From an Aurora Award-winning author comes the first book in a new portal fantasy series in which one woman’s powers open the way to a labyrinth of new dimensions.

For Shawna Keys, the world is almost perfect. She’s just opened a pottery studio in a beautiful city. She’s in love with a wonderful man. She has good friends.

But one shattering moment of violence changes everything. Mysterious attackers kill her best friend. They’re about to kill Shawna. She can’t believe it’s happening–and just like that, it isn’t. It hasn’t. No one else remembers the attack, or her friend. To everyone else, Shawna’s friend never existed…

Everyone, that is, except the mysterious stranger who shows up in Shawna’s shop. He claims her world has been perfect because she Shaped it to be perfect; that it is only one of uncounted Shaped worlds in a great Labyrinth; and that all those worlds are under threat from the Adversary who has now invaded hers. She cannot save her world, he says, but she might be able to save others–if she will follow him from world to world, learning their secrets and carrying them to Ygrair, the mysterious Lady at the Labyrinth’s heart.

Frightened and hounded, Shawna sets off on a desperate journey, uncertain whom she can trust, how to use her newfound power, and what awaits her in the myriad worlds beyond her own.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.shardsofexcalibur.com/2018/03/30/cover-art-reveal-my-next-novel-from-daw-books/

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