Congratulations to Glenn Skinner, author of The Keya Quests: The Battle for Shivenridge, one of three finalists for the Outskirts Press 2011 Best Book of the Year Award. The first two finalists were introduced yesterday and the day before on this blog. Beginning tomorrow, public voting will determine which of the three finalists should be awarded the Outskirts Press 2011 Best Book of the Year award and its $1,500 Grand Prize Voting is open to everyone and begins on this blog on Friday, June 1.
Glenn Skinner brings his lifelong love of fantasy, science fiction, and medieval history into everything he writes. His debut novel, The Keya Quests: Three Souls Destiny-Bound, was published by Outskirts Press in August of 2010 and showcased his lifelong love of fantasy, science fiction, and medieval history. His true calling would be that of a bard, spinning a rich tapestry of tales by firelight, infusing magic into the grey sameness of everyday life. A traditional archer and bowmaker, he has also made handcrafted longbows for Renaissance fairs. He is a technical support engineer by day, star gazer by night, and an author always. Glenn lives in Massachusetts with his wife of 35 years; they have five children and three granddaughters who share his love of imagination.
The first in a series, The Keya Quests: Three Souls Destiny-Bound went on to become an official 2010 Outskirts Press EVVY Nominee and win 2nd place in the 2010 Reader Views Literary Awards.
His follow-up in the series, The Keya Quests: The Battle for Shivenridge, was published in May 2011, garnered another official Outskirts Press EVVY nomination, an EVVY Merit award, and is a finalist for the 2011 Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year award.
A 425-page epic, The Keya Quests: The Battle for Shivenridge continues
the fabled tales of Keya, a young and brave warrior. With destiny on her side and supernatural forces unleashed that she never could have imagined, Keya has triumphantly emerged from her first adventure in Three Souls Destiny-Bound and has found the warrior of legend who will save her people from the evil Lord Randar. But she finds that her epic quest has only begun — now they must free the people of Shivenridge. Keya’s army charges through the portal and races into the raging battle below.
But is Shivenridge ready to accept what Keya brings? Years of war and hardship have fostered suspicion, and the people have mixed feelings about the legendary Black Sword and the warrior who wields it. New friends, old enemies, betrayals, and dreams of destruction abound. Keya must come to terms with a psychic’s prediction, and an ancient book that holds the key. A curse must be broken, and there is a secret to be revealed. Keya’s life has been drastically changed, giving her new resources of personal power and emotional strength, but she still struggles with doubts and fears that may be her demise.
As Keya and her companions embrace the elation and frustration of adjusting to their new roles in Shivenridge, the portal between the worlds remains ready to be used…or misused. There are friends waiting to join Keya in her quest, but Lord Randar’s legacy of evil lives on in his lieutenant, who shares Randar’s lust for power and revenge. Join us now in the next adventure with a uniquely endearing heroine whose impulsiveness, courage, integrity, and innocence combine to make her both deeply human and immensely powerful.
Will her gifts allow her to overcome the odds again? Or will the price of freedom for Shivenridge prove to be too high?
- Buy the paperback from Amazon for $21.95
- Buy the paperback from Outskirts Press for $19.76
- Buy the hardback from Amazon for $36.95
- Buy the hardback from Outskirts Press for $33.26
- Download the e-book from Outskirts Press for $5.00
- Download the Amazon Kindle edition for $2.99
Every year, Outskirts Press recognizes the best book they publish with their annual Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year award, which must not only win an EVVY Award from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association but must also be recognized as the best book among three finalists in a public opinion poll. As one of three finalists, Glenn Skinner and his book The Keya Quests will be competing head-to-head-to-head with the other two finalists in a public poll on this blog starting on Friday (tomorrow). Revisit the previous two blog postings for information on the other two finalists and then come back on Friday to vote for the book you believe to be the best among the three. The author of the winning book will receive a $1,500 credit to his or her Publishing Center, courtesy of Outskirts Press, and an exclusive 2011 Best Book of the Year award seal to apply to the cover of the book.
Are you ready to publish your own award-winning book and perhaps find yourself in the running for next year’s Best Book of the Year award?
Get started today.
I wasn’t able to see inside any of the books, so I can’t give a reasoned vote.
The Keya Quests: The Battle for Shivenridge does have the look inside the book feature on Amazon