Branding of my COS Series

September 2023 

I've wanted to 'brand' my books in each series. It is something that can be expensive and to find the right thing for the Chest of Souls series has been a challenge.  

So, I turned to someone with a vested interest in the story, my daughter.  After talking about it, going through a few designs, this is the basic, close-to-finished design. There are a few things to be taken away and a few things that need to be added; flourishes, glowing eyes on the blades heads, and numbering on the middle of the chest.

This logo will now be on the Title Page inside each book. It shows the Morda Blades that are used by Tasut and Talon - made from the heads of the avians known as rykes. The box in the middle will contain a number to identify which book it is.  

Which brings me to: Renumbering the entire set. 

The prequels and sequels will absorbed in the numbering so they are no longer identified as prequels/sequels, but are now in simple chronological order. The covers will reflect this.

In all honesty, I did all of this for me because I am interested in getting copies of my books in hardback. When they sit on my office shelf, I'll be able to see the numbers on the bottom of the spine. 

You may have noticed I have new covers as I find replacements. This is an expensive endeavor and has taken me a long time to get covers replaced - not to mention that I have been writing other series, etc. 

How many more books?  I do not plan on writing anymore after Ties that Bind. That is title of the last book in the series. Unfortunately, I have just realized I may have to write a book that spans the time before End of Reason (EOR) and Ties that Bind (TTB) because I am world-building again.  So, I will try NOT to write so much, but there is a lot to explore.

I am currently working on what I think of as the last two books, EOR and TTB, but I think I may have to add a bit to EOR's title: Arista, End of Reason, or, *sigh* I will simply have Arista, End of Reason, and TTB.

I have about 300 pages written so far and have hardly scratched the surface. Yet, I do not want to bog things down with how rich the world of Arista is, so I am trying to do something less with the history, which is more than a million years long, and do more with my wonderful new characters. 

The FIRST draft of the last two books should be finished at the end of this year (Cross your fingers!).  I usually do at least four drafts now, but this may take more because I have to tie up all loose ends.

 

New Cover for Sacrifice of Souls

 UPDATE 2024: The books are now numbered in chronological order with Five the Power Rising as #1 and will end with the final book, Ties that Bind. 

Sacrifice of Souls is no longer Book Four, but #9.

High Priestess Saro
I bought this on selfpubbookcovers.com
I had the artist modify it for an additional $50

I've wanted to replace several of my old covers, but didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars, so I've been using selfpubbookcovers to do so.

Sometimes, you have to compromise on exactly what you want. I suggest you pick at least two covers when you find one you like.  I had one other cover possibility, but it quickly fell apart when the changes I wanted would not have been able to be covered by the $50 surcharge.  This actually worked out better.

The character was described by Talon (the main male character) as looking like something that "hell spat out" and while beauty is in the eye of the beholder, to him, this woman wore WAY too much makeup and he thought she looked evil.  After all, she was noted for having children thrown into fire.  

There is A LOT more to this story and this book had some startling revelations (even to me, the author). However, I don't want to give the plot away. I'll just add the blurb.

BLURB 

Brenna is on the other side of time to be trained.

To her horror, it is a place she cannot reach or see Talon.

Others are there, including her mysterious teacher - a woman known only as the Forest Wife. The strange woman is beautiful, hard as Tasut, and as intelligent as Brenna's mother.

That combination doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room.

Talon is in Sogo - courtesy of his father's great fist.

He is to be sold at auction. He can't protect Brenna while he's in Sogo.

His plan at the moment is to survive.

Where he's going, the odds are stacked against him, 300-1. 

Chest of Souls Book 4: Winds of Change

Ignore the numbering of the book.
I hope to correct it and apply the branding very soon.

Artist:  Mates Laurentiu:  http://mateslaurentiu.deviantart.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Winds-Change-Fantasy-Series-Prequel-ebook/dp/B00KQ71X08

Price:  $2.99

The lace of legend is becoming frayed and Revaya doesn't see it. 

For more than twenty thousand years, she has been the Lady of Ogdones. 

But a storm is brewing. 

Her best friend is being hunted by an assassin so fast even Veya has a hard time seeing her. 

Strange notes of warning are being left for her and the others, but who is writing them? 

Vael’s unwanted interest continues to be a thorn in her side. 

The Winds of Change are howling and no one is listening. 

The distractions keep piling up. 

Even among the Five, love is the most powerful distraction of all. 

New Cover for Book 6 Chest of Souls

Old Cover
Note: it is easier to see
the constellation "Three Sisters"
on this cover - the white, the blue,
and the red make up the triangle.

New Cover
Ignore the numbering, it is
being replaced

Won Reader's Favorite Award 2011 - and that was with the old cover.

Q:  What changed?
A:  The Cover, the prologue, better editing, and improved format

Blurb

Brenna is safe because she’s oblivious to everything but Talon. 

She doesn't know that her mother is Hi-Sha of Eyes, or that her father was an assassin and he’s supposed to be dead. She doesn't even know her pet is the Queen of all shees.

Talon felt safe until he met Brenna. 

Once he is ordered to protect her, he's had to fight monsters he never knew existed, run away from an assassin, and escape a forest full of carnivores. His father burned down their cottage and left him with people he just met and he isn't sure who to trust.

In the meantime, the Chest of Souls waits to be powered and neither child can guess the price.

** 5-star Review from Reader's Favorites**

A new series sure to please the pickiest fantasy readers.., August 12, 2011 By Readers Favorite "Book Reviews and Award Contest" (Hawesville, KY USA) - Reviewed by Anne B. for Readers Favorite 

Michelle Erickson has created a new series sure to please the pickiest fantasy readers. In Chest of Souls Book 1, we meet nine year old Talon and Brenna, a beautiful six-year-old with power beyond imagination. Talon and Brenna are the only hope to destroy Sogo. Together they make a formidable team...if they live long enough to develop their powers.

Michelle Erickson does exactly what all authors should do...begin the book with a dynamic, attention-grabbing scene. However, she doesn't stop there; she continues with one heart-pounding scene after another. Her talent for description brought to life the strange creatures previously only seen in her mind's eye. There are plenty of monsters to fear and battle in Chest of Souls: a fierce part-horse creature, green crabs, and ice monsters.  

Brenna was one of my favorite characters. Although only six years old, she already has self-confidence and knows she belongs with Talon.

This is the first book in a new series; I can hardly wait to see what our two heroes face in the next book.

Book #2 Lend Me Your Mind

Released October 2010
Illustration: Daekazu


Blurb

Brenna assumed everyone could modify an entire species, raise the dead, and speak with Deity because she’s done all of those things and more. Yet, even with all her power she can’t make Talon love her.

Talon has questions no one will answer. Like why he has to keep moving when he’d rather stay with the Tybars, what his father does for a living, and what really happened to his mother. The answers he does receive aren’t comforting.

Odd things have started to happen - the ship he is on sinks, a woman from legend rises from the sea, and he has to keep a secret he never wanted to know.

Danger tracks him from the Ammon Islands to the far western shore of Utak. Through it all, he can feel where Brenna is and her most powerful emotions, but isn’t sure what it means.

Book#3 Aftermath

Released Dec 2010
Illustration: StravenLite





Blurb

Brenna yearns for Talon’s love, but knows he sees her as a child. She’s determined to change that before her parents keep their word to take her away where Talon will never find her. No one seems to understand that Talon is the core of Brenna’s existence, not even Talon – yet.

Brenna is unaware the evil that has been searching for her has found her and if it can’t take her, it will take those she loves.

Talon has read the Book of Benamii and is beginning to understand that if Brenna dies, all hope perishes with her. He will not allow anyone or anything to hurt her. Not even Tasut. He is determined to stand between her and what is coming.

NOTE:  This cover will be updated

Book#4 Sacrifice of Souls

Released December 2010 (I released 2 books as an early Christmas present to my fans)
Illustration: StravenLite





Blurb:

Brenna is on the other side of time to be trained. It is a place she cannot reach or see Talon and others are there including her mysterious teacher - a woman known only as the Forest Wife. This woman is beautiful, strange, as hard as Tasut, and as intelligent as Brenna’s mother. That combination doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room. Somehow, the Forest Wife knows Brenna will do whatever she has to do, pay whatever price must be paid, to save Talon and that guarantees her obedience – for now.


Talon is in Sogo – courtesy of his father’s great fist. He is to be sold at auction and join those destined for the Barracks. He doesn’t understand why. He can’t see how he can protect Brenna from Sogo. His plan at the moment is to survive the training and the odds are stacked against him: 300-1

NOTE:  This cover will be updated

Book#5 Traps

Released  January 2011
Cover Illustration: Mates Laurentiu

Blurb:

Talon was born of a woman without a heart 

and a man without a soul 

into a world without a conscience. 

Now he has to fix it.

Too bad he’s in the Sogoian Barracks, 

where hope of escape is trapped in the jaws of the hounds, 

the horns of the stone bulls, and the look in his father’s eyes.

The Book of Benamii claims there is a traitor among his men. 

He’s determined to find out who it is and save as many of his men as he can 

while they all train for the blood sport known as Cubes.

Safe on the other side of time, 

Brenna is learning things she never wanted to know 

about the past, present, and future.

 

The past concerns the fact the Five Creators are not myths and they left a deadly surprise beneath the Phoenix House orphanage. 

The present concerns what the Forest Wife does to those who disobey, 

and the future has no guarantees.

Book#6 Stone Dreams

Released February 2011
Illustration: StravenLite





Blurb:

Talon and his men have been training for seven years, but there is one competition they can’t train for. Stone Dreams is an invitation-only nightmare Nez will arrange with one goal in mind: death of all competitors. There’s a good chance the traitor will make his move because Stone Dreams takes place at night and ‘accidents’ happen in the dark.

Brenna now understands what it’s going to take to power the Chest of Souls. There’s only one choice she can make that will save Talon and bring about the fall of Sogo. She’d rather repeat all the traps the Ancients made by herself than tell Talon what will make the constellation Three Sisters fall and what his part in powering the Chest will be.


Note:  This cover will be replaced/updated in time

Book #7 Division of Souls

Released March 2011
Illustration:  StravenLite

Blurb:

After powering the Chest of Souls, Brenna’s severed from her ability to love and that isn’t all that’s missing. She has made her choice and it isn’t Talon.

Her plan is to save as many lives as she can before Sogo falls.
Logic rules her days and remorse rules her nights.

Talon survived Day of Air and must survive the coming days of Water, Fire, and Earth – ending with the travesty of the blood sport called Cubes. He thought the greatest test was when the Chest of Souls was powered, but his greatest challenge lies ahead.

He has to find a way to heal the division between Brenna and himself and if he can’t, he has to ask himself if he loves her enough to do what must be done, no matter what?

This cover will be updated

Book #8 Storm

Released April 2011
Illustration: StravenLite


Blurb:

Brenna’s not herself.

In Sogo, she’s discovered what she’s capable of – the streets are littered with living proof. All that keeps her sane is when she can meet Talon in dreams and that becomes impossible when Nez infects her with a Suque. Brenna comes to realize the Suque wants Talon more than it wants Nez and will do anything it can to have him.

Talon’s getting bad news on all sides – the Ammonites refuse allegiance until the storm of prophecy rages, he’s uncovered old secrets that make him question Brenna’s loyalty, and the traitor is one step ahead, leaving Talon and his army to face certain death.

In spite of outward appearances, Talon is sure that somewhere inside Brenna is the woman who loves him – the woman he will risk everything and everyone to free.

Note:  This cover will be updated

Book #9 Walking with Lightning

Released in May 2011.
Illustration: StravenLite



People have asked me what Sogo looks like.  Well, here it is - being destroyed (Hallelujah!) 

In this final installment of the series, everything has come to a head.  Talon is determined to fight for Brenna even though she may not choose him in the end.  Brenna is still fighting the Suque and the Temis Belt. 

The other characters (well...most of them) fulfill their callings doing something no one else can do and must be done in spite of personal desires.


Finally, we have resolution for the conflicts and plots that have twisted and turned throughout the epic - though there are still some major inner struggles that must be fought. 
 
This book was the hardest to finish because with the end, you also have to move on as an author.  The good thing is, I can go back anytime and revisit these, my children, and be proud of their courage under extreme fire.
 
There is a prequel planned (Tentatively Titled:  Five, the Power Rising) that my daughter intends to write and, if things in her life go as planned, she will continue with the story of the Five after Sogo falls.   I look forward to it with great anticipation.    


Update:  I wrote 5 prequels and there are plans for sequels to this book - beginning with Sundara, Queen of the Ammonites.

Prologue: Sacrifice of Souls

Originally, this was the prologue to book one.  I changed it when I made a choice to re-do the cover and didn't like any ideas the book presented because they all seemed to give something away.  However, when I began to imagine covers for the rest of the books, I envisioned what is now on the cover of book one, Brenna and her grandfathers.  I thought it was mystical, eye-catching, and would tickle the fancy of fantasy-lovers.  Therefore, I switched the prologues.  

PROLOGUE


It was time to summon the Chest of Souls.
The light was dim inside the cave, the Guardian noted with disapproval. Even then it wasn’t a steady glow, but the dancing flickering light that came from torches.
The faces of those with him, four Sons of Ammon, and four women, were shaded and appeared altered or grotesque as the uneven flames fought the draft coming from below. In respectful silence, seven of the others took their positions near the sacrificial pool. He noticed they did not meet his eyes when he looked at them – except one man; his best friend. He wished he hadn’t. The pity there was almost too much.
He clenched his jaw and took his place near a mammoth-size block of stone that had been wood eons before. Sitting on the stone was the sacrifice, a tall woman dressed in pristine white. Her face was tight with anxiety and her slender hands were clasped tightly together in her lap. He gently laid a massive hand on her shoulder and contemplated the task before him. He had objected to what was to take place in no uncertain terms. He even threatened some of those present with physical harm, but it boiled down to one fact: They had a chance to destroy the city of Sogo and they must take it, no matter the cost. He found it ironic that he had been the one to say those very words. He hadn’t known the cost; could not have, or he would never have said them.
The price was one soul - hers.
“You don’t have to do this,” he whispered, “let me.”
“I have the strength to do this one thing,” she said with fearful determination. “You have the strength for the rest.”
They anxiously watched the Poolseer gracefully kneel beside the sandpool. She was no ordinary Poolseer; she was also a Mage. Over a year before, she knelt in this sacred place and learned Father of All’s will to destroy the city of Sogo and was told how it could be done.
She lightly touched the surface of the sand with her right hand. The sand hardened like stone, returned to granular form, and then flashed bright purple.
The surface of the sandpool awakened and spun faster and faster until wisps of color-filled sand smoked up from its surface.
“I summon the Chest of Souls,” said the Poolseer firmly. Then she looked right at him with now-purple eyes, “Whatever happens, don’t let her go or she’ll kill everyone in this room.”
The willing sacrifice rose, her hands in fists. The Guardian grudgingly put his massive arms around her from behind, then clasped them over her arms as the sandpool turned white and the screaming began.

Let's Discuss: Queen Tahlana

Tahlana was Queen of the Ammonites
and aggressive like T Turner in Mad Max.

Queen Tahlana (Tah-lawn-ah): 

I always envisioned Tahlana to be an exotic combination of Polynesian/American Indian with green eyes. There are times Tahlana wears a Mohawk and face paint.  She is a fearless warrior, a strong-willed Queen, and has a don't-mess-with-me attitude that coats her like armor.  She is seventy years old - but doesn't look or act her age.  Another Tina Turner-like trait. 

Part of her age defying looks, of course, is her blood-line from Ammon and his second wife.  In her, the age-defying gene really took root.

Before book one even begins, a ship she was on sank and she was found on the northern shores of the mainland by her first husband, an assassin, who was being hunted.  They married and then lived in Utak.  In what she considered a huge personal sacrifice, she abandoned her husband, Jac Ryn, and her baby girl, Tahloni, and returned to her people to become their Queen.

There are few secrets among the Ammonites, so the people all knew Tahlana had a child, but that child was never recognized officially. Still, since Tahlana and her second husband had no children of their own, it was understood when the Queen gave the word, the unclaimed daughter would become their new Queen.  Because the Ammonites are who they are, they would accept her and love her as they did Tahlana. Her second husband was the King of the Ammonites, a man she respected, but never loved.

Her heartbreak rests in the fact that her people will not remain full-blooded Ammonites once the prophesied Queen takes the throne.  She fears the fulfillment of the prophecy.

Chest of Souls: Elite

For Zeal Yassun: I chose Ben Barnes 

A younger Zeal
just before going into Barracks

Zeal in Barracks - 7 years later

Zeal after Cubes and meeting the love of his lfie

Zeal (rhymes with seal) Yassun (Yaz-sun) 
As his name indicates, Zeal is very passionate about life. I wanted someone who looked good in longer hair.  He loves horses more than people. His father died searching for the treasure of Ogdones. Zeal is Dom's cousin.

Unknown guy for Dom

Dom Silva: Expert swordsman, clumsy, lousy sense of direction, talented using bolas, 8-penz, crossbow. Father was an treasure hunter/miner - Silva Family of Teris - famous blacksmiths - armorers

Unknown guy as Drew Barr

Drew Barr: Longbowman, archery, curly black hair/blue eyes - served under Gen Monus, competed in annual bow festival - won Acha bow contest whenever he entered from age 7, ran away from home.                           


                            

Billy Zabka (in KKid) as Tane

Tane Druss: farmer's son, trained by Master Ta, forms expert

                            

The closest I could come for Wyt Mun. 
He wouldn't have  beard and he'd have less hair - and he 
would have pale green eyes.

Wyt Mun: scarred back, pale green eyes, brawler-berserker, very loyal

Val Kilmer as Iskar Shyn

Iskar (Is-car) Shyn (shin): Val Kilmer can pull off attitude so I chose him originally for Iskar Shyn. Burang inventor, Ybarra hunter.

                              

I have no idea who this is. The article
was about beards. If someone knows,
let me know. I chose him because I always imagined
Par to be a guy made of blocks - square face, square body,
well, you get the idea. Par would not have a beard, but his
head would be shaved. Plus, as a Utakian, he would likely be handsome
in a rugged way.

Par: Master of five languages, Utakian, educated, bow/staff/weaving of rash rope, calm, has lived in Sogo before he moved and was then taken back.

Chest of Souls: Villains

Cover for SOS, Book 9 in COS 

High Priestess Saro (HPS): She is in charge of the Temple of the Unknown God in Sogo, the wickedest city in the world. One of the scariest and most feared of all people in the sixty-million citizen city.  She is not someone you want to cross. Ever.

Nightshades
I don't remember where I got the above picture. Perhaps a scientific publishing magazine. (update 2023: it was in National Geographic, at least I assume it was since their name was at the bottom of the article - Nov 2003, so 20 years ago). It is a real human eye, but modified for reasons I can't recall and I just tore a page out because the picture was interesting, not because I wanted the article. 

Freaky though, right?  I thought it effective. One look at someone with eyes like this and you wouldn't want to stay around them. The more the ex-humans murder, the more green covers the whites of their eyes until at last, you get the newest cover for Division of Souls. The woman on the front is the character Paril Demos, one of the Sogoian women that wanted immortality.  Note: Nez never told them the price.

Nez Shavae, Minister of Religion in Sogo, made the Nightshades using instructions garnered from an ancient text that mysteriously appeared on his desk amidst scorched hand prints and blood. Note: in the COS prequels, you will find out who left this information.

R Crowe

General Xavier Delisandro
Actor I envision:  Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe has the acting chops to pull off a man who is well aware of what he could have been and should have done.

P Saarsgard

Delf Shiraz
Actor I envision: Peter Saarsgard

Delf is a drug addict who frequently checks to see if his head is going soft - literally. He is also a lecher and wishes to form an alliance - and more - with the High Priestess Saro.

John Rhys-Davies

Grutlek Kohman
Actor I envision:  John Rhys Davies

Grutlek is a character that you'd like to use to wipe your hands on.  He is overconfident and a coward.  He is a brown-nosing ignorant oaf with high ambition and low I.Q.

Cillian Murphy

Scive and Razen Fellstein

Actor I envision: Cillian Murphy: Who else can absolutely nail the part of a bad guy with mental problems? In this story, he'd get to play TWO! 

Brendan Fraser

Cor Izor

Actor I envision: Brenden Fraser

  

Yeah, a bit out of the norm for Brenden, but I still think he could pull it off. I needed someone that looked nicer/kinder, etc. than what lay beneath the layers of corruption.