Two Book Birthdays and a Secret Project!

Hi

Today is a really big day.

It's the book birthday for Once Upon a Unicorn. My latest original novel is out from Penguin Random House's Crown Books for Young Readers and should be on shelves in bookstores everywhere.

Once Upon a Unicorn is about a science-minded unicorn forced to go on an adventure with a very hot-headed night mare (the fiery horses with flaming hooves). Their two herds DO NOT get along, at all, ever. But a magical menace with a pumpkin head is shaking everything up and both herds are in danger. 

Ordinarily we'd be having a Book Launch Party today, and in fact, pre-Covid 19 we were planning my first "double book signing" ever (double? See the Star Wars news further down in this newsletter). But obviously, that's not happening now. So if you are at all inclined to give some unicorns some love, either by picking up the book yourself or just helping to spread the word, that would be most appreciated. 

Once Upon a Unicorn is a very different book for me, lighter, slightly younger (though still middle grade), and written in a conversational, direct address to reader kind of voice. I'm very proud of it, and like its two protagonists, I hope that despite this crazy time it's being publishing into, it finds its true herd too! 

Today is also the release day for The Clones Wars: Stories of Light and Dark, to which I contributed, along with a lot of very talented and fun other authors. 

The Clones Wars: Stories of Light and Dark is a collection of retellings of Star Wars: The Clone Wars episodes, each from the POV of a single participating character. I wrote "Dooku Captured," a retelling of a first season tale told in the Count's own words, and like Pirate's Price before it, I'm thrilled that once again the actual voice actor from the television series (in this case Corey Burton) will read the story for the audiobook.  

This was a fun story to write, a great book to be a part of, and I'm honored to have made my second outing into that galaxy far, far away.

Now for the Secret Project, scroll down...

And here it is, the Secret Project!

I've been working on this nearly-full time since March. So drum roll please....

The Thrones & Bones Campaign Setting will be a 128+ page hardcover volume that uses the 5th edition of the most popular role playing game to tell stories set in the world of Qualth, which is the setting for my Thrones & Bones and Once Upon a Unicorn novels. I'm about 85% done with the book now, and I'll have more to say about its contents as we get into the fall. But it's going to be a big book, chocked full of world lore and monsters and adventures. You can see the (working) cover with artwork by Craig J. Spearing below. Maybe not the final cover, but looking pretty good, right?

And that's it! Unless you want to check out the newly redesigned and updated louanders.com. But I think that's enough exciting news for one newsletter. 

Thanks for reading, and I hope everyone stays healthy and safe. Until next time,

Lou Anders

Check out the Thrones & Bones series trailer!