End of May: Reviews, Sales and Giveaways!

Join me in celebrating a fabulous review for LORD OF DRUEMARWIN: 

"Lord of Druemarwin stands strong among its peers as a solid sword and board fantasy story, which is what attracted me to it. I came for duels on parapet walls, political intrigue, and the ever-present burden of honor, but I stayed for the characters and tightly woven plot. Johannes has built a world where characters and their struggles keep the reader turning pages until the very end." 

Check it out at your favorite source on Bookbub, Goodreads, and Amazon.

If you're a print book devotee, you are in luck. There's still 5 days to enter for a chance to win an autographed print copy of LORD OF DRUEMARWIN in NN Light Book Heaven's May Giveaway. Scads of e-books, print books, and other prizes are up for grabs too at https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal 

Finally, my children's fantasy FREDERICK FLY-CATCHER e-book is on sale for 99 cents through the end of the month at all e-book vendors. Be sure to get a copy for your favorite child's summer reading: https://books2read.com/u/4Ekjo0

Happy Anniversary to My Publisher!

The Wild Rose Press is celebrating 15 years in publishing today. Happy Anniversary to Rhonda Penders and RJ Morris, my editor Claudia Fallon, and all the staff and authors of this fine independent press.

I'm pleased and proud to have three books published in their Fantasy Rose line. In late 2009, after hearing Rhonda speak at the Green Bay, Wisconsin, WisRWA writers' conference, I took a chance and sent them my first fantasy romance, THE PRINCE OF VAL-FEYRIDGE. That was my debut novel and I didn't know then, but it was destined to become the first book in the Crown of Tolem series. That book debuted April 26, 2010, almost precisely on TWRP's 4th anniversary. I've since added a stand-alone book, BLOODSTONE, and LORD OF DRUEMARWIN, Crown of Tolem #2, to my TWRP page: https://www.thewildrosepress.com/bookauthor/helen-c-johannes

Thanks again, Rhonda, RJ, and my wonderful editor Claudia for taking a chance on me and my books!

E-Book Sale & Print Book Giveaway

Long to be swept away from today’s worries? Drawn to swash-buckling heroes and fiercely determined heroines? Want to join larger-than-life characters on an epic quest where honor matters, a broken land’s future is at stake, and forbidden love requires world-altering sacrifices? 

You're in luck! Now, for a limited time, THE PRINCE OF VAL-FEYRIDGE, Crown of Tolem #1, is available for only 99¢ on Kindle and Nook. 

She's all wrong for Prince Arn, this lowborn healer who keeps meddling in his march to conquer her homeland. If only she hadn't helped him, and he hadn't kissed her, he could stop looking for her everywhere, hoping to find her...again.

Sigh--a great love story! ... I was enthralled from the beginning." ***** Amazon

Prefer print books? I'm giving away an autographed print copy via a rafflecopter with NN Light's Book Heaven. Enter before the end of the month for a chance to win this and other prizes: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal

Happy Fantasy Day! Celebrating JRR Tolkien

The Tolkien society has designated today, March 25, as Tolkien reading day because it's the day of the downfall of Sauron in Lord of the Rings.

I owe a great debt to Tolkien for being my introduction to adult fantasy. I grew up on fairy tales of the Germanic variety and, of course, Disney, but I hadn't yet been introduced to Arthurian legend. During my junior-senior summer, friends plopped into my hands the Lord of the Rings and I was instantly hooked on sword-and-sorcery fantasy. I fell into the Strider camp, although Legolas certainly had his charms, but Eowyn was my secret favorite, a terrific model for a shield maiden.

It wasn’t long after, inspired by Tolkien’s incredible world-building, that I began my own epic fantasy. The first is still half done, a fan-girl version with magic and conflicting alliances but without elves and dwarves. The second, a tale of an upstart seeking a lost crown to mend a broken kingdom, became my first published book, THE PRINCE OF VAL-FEYRIDGE. 

Now, in honor of Fantasy Day, the second in the Crown of Tolem series, LORD OF DRUEMARWIN, is on sale on all ebook venues for 99-cents.

Come for the love story of my own shield maiden, Lady Raell, stay for the epic adventure. You can read the books together or separately as stand-alones.

Buy Links:

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Druemarwin-Crown-Tolem-Book-ebook/dp/B07YNWLPQ2/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=04D72CQNZKKTGG0RX209

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lord-of-druemarwin-helen-c-johannes/1134375458?ean=2940160729602

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/lord-of-druemarwin

Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lord-of-Druemarwin-eBook-9781509228560/377758996

Wild Rose Press: https://www.thewildrosepress.com/books/lord-of-druemarwin-crown-of-tolem-book-2

Also remember to enter the rafflecopter for a chance to win an autographed print copy of BLOODSTONE in NN Light’s Literary Giveaway for March: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal

How Does an Author Come up with the Idea for a Book?

Ever wonder how an author comes up with the idea for a book? What tiny germ can stimulate someone to write 100,000 words? 

Well, it's not the same for everyone, honestly, but I can tell you how I came up with the seed that grew into my fantasy romance BLOODSTONE. You might be surprised. For the details, hop over to KJ Pierce's TellTale Tuesday blog: https://wp.me/pncwX-2oF Please leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

As long as we're on the topic of BLOODSTONE, you can enter to win an autographed print copy in NN Light's March Giveaway rafflecopter: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal

5 Stars for LORD OF DRUEMARWIN

I'm delighted to receive a 5-star review from NN Light's Book Heaven for LORD OF DRUEMARWIN: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/lord-of-druemarwin-bookreview 

Here's a snippet: "Brilliantly written, Lord of Druemarwin is a must-read for both fantasy and fantasy romance readers. Highly recommend!"

Hop over to Jeny Heckman's Tattletales for insight into Lady Raell, my heroine, depicted on Rae Monet's beautiful cover: https://jenyheckman.com/spotlight/helen-c-johannes/

Podcast Interview and Print Book Giveaway

I'm featured this week on  Tattletales, Jeny Heckman's blog and
podcast: https://jenyheckman.com/spotlight/helen-c-johannes/ She's graciously interviewed me for my first podcast appearance (whew!) and I'd love to have you join me at her Tattletales site. 

I've also shared a blog post interview with Lady Raell, the heroine of my latest fantasy romance, LORD OF DRUEMARWIN. Please come and meet her. You'll find she's a bit unconventional.

I'm also giving away an autographed print copy of LORD OF DRUMARWIN on NN Light Book Heaven's monthly giveaway. Dozens and dozens of ebooks, gift cards, print books, etc. are being given away to dozens of lucky winners. For a chance to win, go to https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal

Think Spring!