Get a Free Copy of Illusion's Child

Just to spice things up, I'm giving away Illusion's Child at Amazon's Kindle from August 3 to August 7.

Twelve-year-old Viper only wants acceptance from his nomadic tribe, but he’s too short, too frail, and too full of questions. His own father banishes him as a nameless outcast, but he can live with that. He didn’t see much future in carving buttons, anyway.

He travels to the nearest stone-bound city, where he’s adopted by an old sorcerer who’d rather not bother with an apprentice and a fierce girl who desperately wants to become a warrior.

But he also catches the attention of the city’s worst gang.

Between studying the basics of magic and helping his new friend learn sword work, Viper thinks he doesn’t have time to worry about bullies.

He should be worried. A lot. 

A 5-Star Review on Amazon:
Wow, that was really an enjoyable read. I mean, it took me a little bit to get into the rhythm of this fantasy world, but once I did, it pulled me along on a fun ride. And I inhaled it. I loved all the good characters, as much as I loathed the villains. I was intrigued by the setting and interested in the world Salisbury built. In some ways, this book reminded me of The Dragonlance books - hello, doddy old sorcerer - and a little bit of the Codex Alera series - young boy searching for the key to his own magic. With a bit of wit, a la Terry Pratchett, thrown in for fun. But Salisbury has founded a world all its own. I can't wait to see what she does next with this series. Lucky for me, there are already other books out in this series. Yay.

Find Illusion's Child on Amazon - click here!

Dead Wizard's Loot -- The first in my new series

Dead Wizard's Loot

Wizard Whitewing: Book 1

Stealing from any magical being is always a bad idea, but when Jamie and Aidan pilfer souvenirs from a dead wizard, they crack open a cage they don’t even know exists.

Wizard Whitewing-Viper returned home only three days ago, and right now he thinks his biggest problems are deciding how to organize his library, figuring out how a pair of teenagers got into his magical labyrinth, and understanding an oddly-behaving air sprite.

Too bad their problems never stay small.

Now on Amazon! You can buy it here.

Read a free preview here:

Magic's Child - the last book in the series!

Magic's Child is now available on Kindle!

The world’s newest wizard, dubbed Whitewing but known to friends as Viper, accepts the mission to track down and destroy a Mindbender before it takes over the world. But if his own half-trained magic doesn’t kill him, battling wizards ruled by the enemy will.

How can a wizard named after a butterfly defeat anybody?

The final book in the “Mindbender’s Rise” saga!

To celebrate, I'm putting Illusion's Child on sale on Kindle. And it has a new cover!

 

 Twelve-year-old Viper only wants acceptance from his nomadic tribe, but he’s too short, too frail, and too full of questions. His own father banishes him as a nameless outcast, but he can live with that. He didn’t see much future in carving buttons, anyway.

He travels to the nearest stone-bound city, where he’s adopted by an old sorcerer who’d rather not bother with an apprentice and a fierce girl who desperately wants to become a warrior.

But he also catches the attention of the city’s worst gang.

Between studying the basics of magic and helping his new friend learn sword work, Viper thinks he doesn’t have time to worry about bullies.

He should be worried. A lot.


 I think the new cover is much better than the old one. What do you think?

Wizard's Child - Sixth in the Series

Wizard's Child 

is now available on Amazon!

Book 6 in "The Mindbender's Rise" series.

After rejecting all other options, Viper undertakes the Wizard’s Route, the grueling physical and magical journey all would-be wizards must endure. And he’s none too sure he’s going to make it.

Lorel must survive – waiting. Is it possible for a girl to die of boredom? She has no idea how much trouble a bored warrior can stumble into.


You can read a preview Here! Just click on the cover under "Look Inside!"

My review of "Wish Hits the Fan"

Another wonderful novel by B. E. Sanderson!

"Wish Hits the Fan" is the latest installment in the fun “Once Upon a Djinn” series. Since it answers all of my questions from the earlier books, I suspect it’s the last in the series, but I hope Sanderson writes more in this world!

Jo Mayweather tries to help injured friends – and genies take damage in the most amazing ways – while fighting off their enemies. She solves problems that I’m grateful I’m not forced to deal with. I want to tell you more, but I don’t want to write any spoilers.

Highly recommended! 5 stars.

Newest Release - Alchemy's Child

I'm pleased to announce the release of my newest book:
 

Alchemy’s Child

The Mindbender's Rise, Book 5 

Viper and his crew must find the wielders of his magical weapons and convince them to join the battle against the newest Mindbender.

Plus they need to find a wizard to unleash the power inside the weapons.

But who in their right mind wants to go to war with an overgrown snake and a trio of crazy teenagers?

Available on Amazon and Kindle.

Finishing a Series

Writing the last book in a series reminds me of working a jigsaw puzzle. Early in the novel, the writer needs to reintroduce – briefly – all of the elements and main characters of the previous books. All of these pieces snap together to create the outer edges of the puzzle.

By the middle of the book, the edges must be filled in for several layers. Conflict grows out of the many interwoven elements, creating a honeycomb of holes for the main plot and new subplots. But everything still needs to link to the original puzzle’s previous stories.

At the end of the last book, every puzzle piece ever mentioned must find a home in the interconnected story / puzzle, but if the writer isn’t careful, the finale will be boring. The novelist needs to scoop all the remaining pieces into a box, jumble them around, and create an unexpected conclusion. All of the pieces have always been in sight, but with luck, the reader didn’t notice the all the possibilities.

For true success, the last lines must give all the satisfaction of placing the final jigsaw piece in place.

Today I’m starting the final novel my “The Rise of the Mindbender” series. And I’m excited to see what trouble Viper and Lorel can find on their way to confront the Mindbender.

Please wish me luck - and lots of writing speed! :-)

1850 – 1900 Bloomers Sewing Pattern

I'm pleased to announce that I have a new 1850s sewing pattern available.

1850 – 1900 Bloomers, Turkish Trousers, or Knickerbockers Pattern

No. 1850-3
Perfect for Reform Dress or Victorian Sports Wear.
These trousers may be made in the wide Turkish style or a narrower width, from below-knee to ankle length. The leg ends may be enclosed in a cuff, confined with elastic, or left open at the bottom.
 

Turkish trousers, Bloomers, knickerbockers, and divided skirts are all names for what was basically the same garment with a few variations. It was also a part of what was called a freedom dress, rational dress, and health dress. As physical exercise became fashionable for women, it became a component in bicycling, mountaineering, swimming, and gymnastic wear. They were also a favored garment at masked balls and theater performance outfits. They even were used in evening gowns by the most daring ladies.

The pattern has several variations. The trousers may be made in the wide Turkish style or a narrower width, from below-knee to ankle length. The leg ends may be enclosed in a cuff, confined with elastic, or left open at the bottom.

It includes 12 pages of instructions with historical tips and quotes, and 2 pattern sheets printed on bond paper, and enclosed in a reclosable plastic bag.

All sizes included, 2 – 30; waist: 17” – 55”, hips: 27” – 63”.

You can find it on my website at https://www.mantua-maker.com/1850-1-bloomers.html 

Dragon's Child

I'm pleased to announce the release of the fourth novel in "The Mindbender's Rise" series.

Dragon's Child

by D. J. Salisbury

 

Getting snatched by a dragon may not be a death sentence, but it certainly feels like one.

While Viper struggles to learn enough magic to escape the dragon’s lair before the creature decides to eat him, Lorel, Tsai’dona, and Kyri battle through the mountains to locate and rescue him.

But the dragon has plans of her own.


Dragon's Child can be found:
In paperback at Createspace

In paperback at Amazon

As an ebook at Kindle

Read a free preview here

The Art of Fashion: 1850 - 1859

I've just released my newest dressmaking book!

  The Art of Fashion: 

1850 - 1859

Dress, Sewing, and Clothing Care Advice

“To increase the beauty of the female person, by a gracefully made attire, is not only not wrong, but absolutely commendable; and the woman who neglects it pays the penalty of being called a sloven, if not a fright.”
Peterson’s Magazine, April 1852

During the 1850s, the art of fashion was studied by every woman who wanted to create her own wardrobe. Ladies magazines were scrutinized and dissected, scoured for details on how each effect was created, how many seams were used, and how the pleats were formed. She learned why changes were made, when they went out of date, and how to recreate the styles she liked.
Most of all, she studied what the current rules were, even though they seemed to change monthly, especially for the most fashion conscious women.

This book compiles sewing and fashion advice given in books and magazines during the 1850s, given in the words of writers of that time. Each entry shows the name and date of the periodical quoted. It has three sections:
1) Sewing tips and fashion advice
2) Fabric cleaning and care.
3) Bibliography of magazines and books I found useful.

The Art of Fashion: 1850 – 1859 includes over 490 black and white period engravings to help show the details of their work. It has 324 pages in an 8.5” x 11” format.

It's available on my website,

on Amazon,

and for Kindle.