We are having a celebration…
for
Dragon’s Hanukkah
December 14, 2025
4:00-5:00 PM
The Last Word Bookstore
116 S. Main Street
Mt. Airy, MD 21771
Come join the fun.
Meet the author.
Then head over to the Menorah Lighting event in the Railyard (1 N. Main St.) at 5:00 PM.
The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland, is an intriguing story about a group of five dragonets that have been raised in isolation so they can fulfill a prophecy that they end the war.
Clay is a mudwing dragonet, but he knows next to nothing about his own people and how they live. He is determined to protect his friends and prove that he isn’t the vicious killer their guardians believe his is. When the dragonets leave the safety of their cave, they are thrust into a cruel world where the different dragon species are divided behind the three sister dragons vying to be crowned the ultimate ruler.
The different types of dragons and their cultures in this book are fascinating. I loved the interactions between the dragonets and how Clay keeps them together. There were several twists and revelations. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Great news! Thanks to Wolf Mint Books, Star Touched is back.
The E-book went live a few weeks ago and the audio version is now up!
You can find them on Amazon.
If you are looking for a print version, I have the last two copies. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait until 2025.
It’s hard to be who you are meant to be.
Especially when your powers can get you killed.
Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.
Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. Will Tatiana flee or stay and fight for the new life she has built? Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.
“A unique and finely crafted novel. The characters touched my heart as I was drawn into their plight and compelled to finish!”
— New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder
“Star Touched is fast-paced with well-defined characters and dialog that snaps. The ravaged, post-technological American society is depicted with sure strokes. The story draws one in and keeps one reading. And that’s exactly what one wants from a book.”
— A. L. Sirois, author of THE BOHEMIAN MAGICIAN
“A great YA dystopian novel exploring the challenges of being different, acceptance, maturity, and friendship.”
— Steven Southard
Star Touched was originally published in 2017 by Intrigue Publishing.
The story continues:
Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.
One step toward understanding.
One stride toward survival.
One leap toward flying free from the past.
It’s amazing how a few little changes can make a cover stand out. I love the way the jaguar’s eyes stand out. All I did was shift a few images, add more green to the top, and put the goddess mark on the M.
What do you think of the new cover for Mark of the Goddess?
(Side note: AI was NOT used to create this book cover. The photographers who took the base pictures gave permission for their use and are acknowledged in the book. The cover was created by using GIMP software, a graphics editing program.)
Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.
Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.
There are several meteor showers throughout the year, but the Perseid meteor shower is one of my favorites. It’s one of the reasons I used is as a base for some of the events in my novel, Star Touched. This annual show is caused by the dust and debris left behind by the 1992 passing of the Swift-Tuttle Comet. It’s going on now, but peak is between August 11-13th, where you could see as many as 60-70 meteors an hour. That’s a lot of space junk. The little crescent moon will set before the shower starts after midnight.
Look north toward the Perseus constellation. (just below Cassiopeia)
Pull out a chair.
Slather on some bug spray.
Camp out under the night sky.
Enjoy the show.
While you’re there, keep an eye out for Mars and Saturn. Both will be visible.
But don’t worry, none of the meteors are big enough to cause a cataclysm.
Here are some links for more information:
https://www.space.com/32868-perseid-meteor-shower-guide.html
https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/perseid.html?hc_location=ufi
Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.
Especially when your powers can get you killed.
Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.
Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.
Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.
Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.
One step toward understanding.
One stride toward survival.
One leap toward flying free from the past.
Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.
Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.
A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret
Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.
But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.
Check out what Michele Chynoweth said about Star Touched!
5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting Read
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2022
“This novel grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go! The characters and setting were richly developed, especially the main character, Tatiana. I found myself rooting for her and the townspeople she encounters along the way, holding onto the edge of my seat along a roller coaster ride of a story. Bravo, I can’t wait for A.L. Kaplan’s next book!”
Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.
Especially when your powers can get you killed.
Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.
Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.
Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.
Emily really enjoyed Hummingbird.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great descriptions!
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2022
“Hummingbird has a great progression from beginning to end, with wonderful description and overall themes to guide us through the story. I loved the way this story was written and how impactful it was despite its short length.”
Did you get your copy yet?
Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.
One step toward understanding.
One stride toward survival.
One leap toward flying free from the past.
Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.
Especially when your powers can get you killed.
Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.
Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.
Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.
A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret
Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.
But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.
Only One Day Left To Get A Free Copy of Hummingbird: A Star-Touched Story
The promotion ends Sunday, December 19th at 11:59 PM.
Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.
One step toward understanding.
One stride toward survival.
One leap toward flying free from the past.
To commemorate my first World Con, a digital copy of Hummingbird: A Star Touched Story will be available for free on December 15-19, 2021
Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.
One step toward understanding.
One stride toward survival.
One leap toward flying free from the past.
DisCon III is the third World Science Fiction Convention to be held in DC.
It’s also my first WorldCon.
To commemorate of this event, Hummingbird: A Star Touched Story will be available for free on December 15-19, 2021
Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.
One step toward understanding.
One stride toward survival.
One leap toward flying free from the past.
“If you read Star Touched, you’ll love Hummingbird. If you haven’t read Star Touched, now you’ll want to.”
~ Kathy Steinemann
“A delightful insight into the origins of one of my favorite characters in the Star Touched world!”
~ Maria V Snyder, New York Times best-selling author and PRISM Award Winner
“Set in the world of Star Touched, this short story puts the reader in the mind and body of a newly-hatched hummingbird. Except this is no ordinary hummingbird! Charming and captivating, and a must-read for anyone who loves watching birds.”
~ T. C. Weber, author of the BetterWorld cyberpunk trilogy and other works.