In my new novel, a nation is waiting for a promised Restorer.

So to celebrate the release of this special book, I’m having a “Search for the Restorer” contest.

I’ll be giving five great prizes. Beautiful cloth Restorer bookbags filled with Christian books (Not MY books, but those of other wonderful authors I know you’ll enjoy).

Here’s how to enter:

Go to your local bookstores (Christian chains, independent stores, Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc.) and see if you can find The Restorer on the shelves. You might have to hunt in “Inspiration Fiction” or “Christian Fiction” or the “Religion Section” or it might turn up in the “Fantasy” fiction shelves. Can’t find it? Ask the manager and suggest he order some copies in. 🙂

(Hint – if you’ve requested bookmarks from me, you can give some to
the manager of the store!)

Post a comment here and tell me about your epic quest and where you found The
Restorer.

On June 15th, I’ll draw five names to receive the awesome prizes!

THEN, you can pop over to Rebecca Miller’s Fantasy Challenge. Post a comment there and qualify for another drawing for MORE prizes!

Caradoc Skewers:

Soak bamboo skewers in water.
Chop lamb or beef stew meat into one-inch cubes
Marinate in oil/vinegar seasoned with salt/pepper and favorite herbs for 30 minutes
Thread meat onto skewer.
Grill over high heat, brushing with BBQ sauce.

(The sauce Susan tasted is a secret recipe of a family in Lyric, but she was able to come close with a store-bought BBQ sauce from our world)

Susan’s Slow-cooker Version:

Brown cubes of stew meat (beef or lamb) to sear in juices. Place cubes into slow cooker and coat with barbecue sauce and simmer. Serve over rice.

Pick leaves of low-lying shrubs in the woods between Braide Wood and Ferntwine. Hang indoors to dry. Some people use heat trivets to speed the process, but others claim it makes the flavor bitter.

Grind and mix with the bark of the honeywood trees. Sprinkle into a large bowl of water held at a boil on a heat trivet and cover to steep. Ladle into mugs using a special straining ladle.

Susan’s Adaptation:

Steep chai tea, with cloves and a dash of cracked pepper. Strain and serve.

In several of the Sword of Lyric books, there is mention of a table game using black and white stones, called “Perish.”

Here are the rules, so you can try this deceptively simple strategy game.

Game Pieces: 12 black stones and 12 white stones.

Set Up: Stones are set up in four rows of six stones. Stones should alternate colors.

R1: B W B W B W

R2: W B W B W B

R3: B W B W B W

R4: W B W B W B

Game Play: Opponents take turns switching two neighboring stones either horizontally or vertically. Stones that are diagonal cannot be switched, and once two stones are switched, the same two stones cannot be switched again for at least one turn.

For example: B W B W B W could become W B B W B W

Object: The object of the game is to surround one of your opponent’s stones completely with your stones. This means that all four sides of the stone are completely surrounded.

For example:

R1: B W W W B B

R2: B W B W B B

R3: B W W W B B

R4: W B W B W W

Here is an image of a game where white has just made the winning move and surrounded a black piece:

Variation 1: (Short Perish) – “Surround” the opposing player’s piece by positioning your pieces at four corners around their piece – rather than completely surrounding them.

Variation 2: (Complex Perish) – Create a larger board. 6×6 or 10×10