{Illustration/Excerpt/Giveaway} THE HERO'S GUIDE TO STORMING THE CASTLE by Christopher Healy

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Last year, I took part in the fun promotion put together by Walden Pond Press.

They revealed artwork from THE HERO'S GUIDE TO SAVING YOUR KINGDOM.
I was able to reveal a hairy troll for you to see.

I even got to interview series illustrator Todd Harris!

This year, Walden Pond Press is doing a reveal and excerpt tour again for the second book in The League of Princes trilogy, THE HERO'S GUIDE TO STORMING THE CASTLE.

And the giveaway is even bigger and better!  See below for more on that front,
because for now...

 I get to reveal Reynaldo, Duke of Rhyme!
To me, he looks a lot like Hook:

Artwork Copyright © 2013 by Todd Harris

And now I bet you want to read an excerpt to see a little more about him, right?

***Excerpt***

     Reynaldo, Duke of Rhyme, was (as Liam liked to point out to people) not really a duke. He was, however, Avondell’s royal bard and one of the most famous bards in the Thirteen Kingdoms. His “The Tale of the Sleeping Beauty” was the biggest international hit of its day—or at least it had been until that Harmonian hack, Pennyfeather the Mellifluous, started flooding the market with his “League of Princes” songs. What was so special about Pennyfeather’s songs anyway? Was it because he named the princes? A cheap gimmick! And one that, if it caught on, would mean more work for the bards. Reynaldo couldn’t imagine how annoying his life would become if he had to start making sure his stories contained facts. 
     But he was going to beat Pennyfeather at his own game. Reynaldo’s song about the wedding, “The League of Princes Fails Again,” was already gaining in popularity—and he didn’t mention a single real name in it (other than that of Briar Rose, of course). No, Reynaldo went back to calling all the men Prince Charming. It made the story incredibly difficult to follow, but nobody seemed to care—the people were just happy to hear about a familiar character they already knew. Or thought they knew. 

Caben lets out another sigh and slowly pulls off my boot. His warm fingers skim my calf as he inches up my pant leg. “Just stick your foot in,” he says, then adds lower, “while I stick mine in my mouth.” 

Unexpectedly, I laugh. “At least it’s now clean,” I say. “Would you like some help getting it to your face?”

Text Copyright © 2013 by Christopher Healy

***GIVEAWAY***

You could win...

A framed print of Duke Reynaldo, signed by the illustrator, Todd Harris!
A hardcover copy of the book!

And The Book Rat is running a giveaway with another hardcover copy, as well as an awesome framed print with Prince Liam, Princess Ella, and a cowering Prince Frederick!  There are swords, and a girl who knows how to BRING it!  Rawr!
You can also enter a THIRD HERO's giveaway to win an autographed copy of ...STORMING THE CASTLE by visiting this week's interview with author Christopher Healy!

This giveaway is US only.  Ages 13 and up.
As with all of the giveaways for Fairy Tale Fortnight, make sure you've already filled out our Giveaway Registration Form - this only needs to be done once!

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