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Kari Kilgore

The Heartbreak of Acceptance

Selene Knight fiercely loves and protects her children. Keeping them from too much pain and sadness.
Watching her son Arch struggle in silence shatters her own heart.
Only trying to get others to fight for him hurts her worse.
Can she convince the ones who matter most to accept the truth and help them both?

Also available in the collection Fantastic Side Trips: Side Characters Take Center Stage

An excerpt from The Difficulties Ahead:

Accepting What No One Wants to Admit

Moabar met Selene's gaze, but didn't flinch or say a word.

"They are not creating the problem, Moabar! It's not imaginary, and it's not any sort of coincidence. This isn't bad luck that swirls around Arch for no reason at all." Her voice broke and grew ragged, but she couldn't stop now that she was finally putting words to the horrible reality.

"The bad luck is part of him. He creates it somehow. He can't help it, and he hates it as much as we do, but none of that changes the fact that he cannot escape it."

He stared up at her, his blue eyes wide and increasingly miserable.

Selene's heart broke for him nearly as much as it did for their son.

"I know what you say is true," he said, his voice rough as well. "But I can't bear to think of it. He's a child, Selene. Just a boy. If I can't hold this dreadful thought in my head, how can we expect him to understand?"

Spiral Publishing, Ltd.

Misfortune and Magic

The Difficulties Ahead: A Misfortune and Magic Story

Escaping Her Own Past

The new Baroness Dyna Bacalan faces constant change and adjustment.
Learning her role and home of Profant. Enjoying married life with her beloved husband.
But a mysterious voice from the past haunts her mind and threatens her happiness.
Will asking for help set Dyna free, or send her deeper into madness?

Also available in the collection Fantastic Side Trips: Side Characters Take Center Stage

An excerpt from Lines of Strength and Grace:
Taking the hardest step: asking for help

At moments like this, Dyna wished for a bit less understanding and freedom, and more of the clear knowledge of what was expected of her that she'd had growing up. Yes, she'd chafed under all the rules, especially after she met Hildar.

But she'd had fairly easy choices then as well. Do what she should, or accept the consequences of refusing. Which generally resulted in her doing what she should have in the first place.

All the while, she got precious little practice in deciding for herself without considering whether rebellion or even protest was worth it.

"Since you brought me here," she said, "you must trust this woman's abilities. So I shall at least hear what she has to say."

Berga lowered her head in the closest thing to a bow she'd offered as they walked.

"As you like. I'll accompany you for introductions, then follow your wishes about whether you'd prefer me to stay or go."

Berga took several steps before Dyna got her own feet moving.

Lines of Strength and Grace: A Misfortune and Magic Story

Pure Joy and Fierce Competition

Tonn thrills at the sight of airhorses, even after tough months as a rider-in-training.
Knowing every day brings him closer to a pairing of his own.
And the ultimate freedom of taking to the skies.
But conflicts with other riders prove the bigger challenge.
Can Tonn learn to overcome difficulties and trust himself?

Also available in the collection Fantastic Side Trips: Side Characters Take Center Stage

An excerpt from Trusting Their Magic:
The Match That Defines a Lifetime

Tonn jumped at Master Adur's sharp voice.

"How did the airhorses learn the flight pattern we're observing right now? Tonn?"

He was certain he knew the answer, but a rush of nerves sent his belly twisting anyway.

"Same way landhorses do, or fish or fowl or anything else, Master. They're playing. Or at least that's how it starts out."

"Exactly so." Master Adur's warm smile balanced out her sometimes harsh tones and fierce expressions. "The wild colony of airhorses not far from here does much the same every morning when the weather's fair. Have any of you had a chance to observe them in their own play?"

Every hand shot up.

Tonn took every chance he got to take the long walk out past Maestar's towering city wall, cutting through the low, wide passage out to the rocky cliffs overlooking the sea. He wasn't the only one who made the trip by the faintest light of dawn, hoping to catch a display even more breathtaking than the one over their heads.

Trusting Their Magic: A Misfortune and Magic Story

Drifting Through Noise When She Needs Peace

Goresi reflects on her path to becoming an Honored Mage.
Considering all the magical steps that delivered her so far.
Facing one last challenge with a mind and heart full of chatter and nonsense.
And no time left for practice and patience.
Will a visit to her own past help Goresi discover the way?

Also available in the collection Fantastic Side Trips: Side Characters Take Center Stage

An excerpt from Footprints Along the Path:
Discovering Her Own Way Forward

A prickly aroma of delicately sweet magic alerted Goresi before someone spoke.

"How did you do that?"

She turned to see a short, slender girl with a head full of thick brown hair floating in the breeze. The girl's robe was an intense, rich orange. Only a couple of matching footprint shapes marked the ground around her.

Her pale blue eyes were wide, but thank all the powers that be, her expression was more curious and admiring than upset.

"I just...well, I figured out how to change the color is all."

Goresi knew her cheeks were flaming red, but she wasn't sure why or what to do about it.

She hadn't meant to show off or make anyone else feel bad. She was much too familiar with that kind of teasing behavior from her own family to want to pass it along to a stranger.

A stranger who grinned and mouthed a silent wow as she took a few steps closer.

Steps that didn't show up on the ground at all.

Footprints Along the Path: A Misfortune and Magic Story

When Dreams Find Wings

Mranes loves life along the Wrynath Sea. Scarlet sand and warm water, hard work surrounded by family.
But her heart and imagination yearn for the sky and adventure.
And a glorious airhorse to take her there.
What will she learn about herself and the life ahead of her, on one special night when magic and desire collide?

Also available in the collection Fantastic Side Trips: Side Characters Take Center Stage.

An excerpt from Wings of the Heart:

The Launch of All of Her Dreams

"Will they get upset if I go now, Father? I don't want to make anyone feel bad."

"The younger ones won't likely notice. And the older ones will know exactly why you enjoy extra time this evening. Your birthday is tomorrow, remember? Your fourteenth."

Mranes expected a fine meal this evening, and gifts. Hopefully books with tales of faraway lands, or maybe one of her father's fine tunics made especially for her. She preferred those to gowns, much to her grandmother's disappointment.

"I don't think I've ever forgotten my birthday, not since I was old enough to understand what it was."

"What you don't yet know is this one is special. Tonight your mother and I will help you recall your sleeping lifetime in a different way than we have before."

Mranes shivered as the breeze cooled her legs, startling after so long in the warm water.

And not a little bit from the idea of having one of her sleeping lifetimes recalled.

Wings of the Heart: A Misfortune and Magic Story

From Hero Support to Leading Roles

Mranes loves life by the Wrynath Sea with her family.
But her heart longs for the sky and adventure.

Goresi faces one last challenge to reaching her dream.
Noise and nonsense in her mind block the path.

Tonn loves his difficult training as an airhorse rider.
Conflicts with other riders proves the bigger challenge.

Dyna experiences change and joy as a newlywed.
A voice from the past haunts her mind.

Selene Knight fiercely loves and protects her children.
Her son Arch’s struggles shatter her own heart.

Everyone needs support and friendship. Especially fictional heroes on the journey.
But those side characters live fascinating lives of their own, all too often unexplored.
What would they tell us if we listened?
Join Kari Kilgore as she discovers the larger world of her Misfortune and Magic series.

Includes five original Misfortune and Magic stories: Wings of the Heart, Footprints Along the Path, Trusting Their Magic, Lines of Strength and Grace, and The Difficulties Ahead.

More from Fantastic Side Trips:

When Dreams Find Wings
Mranes’s heart and imagination yearn for the sky and adventure. And a glorious airhorse to take her there.
What will she learn about herself and the life ahead of her, on one special night when magic and desire collide?

Caught in Distraction, When She Needs Peace
Goresi faces one last challenge with a mind and heart full of chatter and nonsense.
And no time left for practice and patience.
Will a visit to her own past help her discover the way?

Pure Joy, and Fierce Competition
Conflicts with other fledgling airhorse riders prove the biggest challenge for Tonn.
Can he learn to overcome difficulties and trust himself?

Escaping Her Own Past
A mysterious voice from Dyna’s past haunts her mind and threatens her happiness.
Will asking for help set her free, or send her deeper into madness?

The Heartbreak of Acceptance
Watching her son Arch struggle in silence shatters Selene’s own heart. Only trying to get others to help her fight for him hurts worse.
Can she convince the ones who matter most to accept the truth and help Arch?