The Imlen Brat

Stisele of Imlen knows she's in trouble, but not how much. The young adopted daughter of Beltresa's sovereign longs to be a weapon in her mother's service — even against her birth family, should Utroneth ask it. If only Stisele could master the temper that drives her to pepper the royal heir with petty kin-curses.

But Stisele's dreams are bigger than the balance of intrigues that keeps her alive and captive in this perilous royal court. She can be more than a speaker of kin-curses. She deserves a life beyond the palace islet she's never left. Her two imaginary friends, if indeed that's what they are, tell her so.

If Stisele is to make her own life in a world that's not ready for her, she must regain the trust of wary allies. She must begin to control the power of the kin-curse — her imaginary friends are as much hindrance as help. And she will have to give up her place in the only home she's ever known.

Sarah Avery’s won the 2015 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for her collection of contemporary fantasy novellas, Tales from Rugosa Coven. She grew up as an Army brat in Kentucky and Korea, Japan and Germany, with a long stretch near Washington, D.C. An escaped academic, she wrote her doctoral dissertation on modernist poetry before returning to her first love, writing fantasy. Her short stories have appeared in Jim Baen’s Universe and Fantasy Scroll, as well as Black Gate, where she has been a columnist for many years. With David Sklar she coedited the themed anthology Trafficking in Magic, Magicking in Traffic. She lives in Maryland with her husband and sons. OTHER FORMATS: eBook ISBN 978-09974140-3-5 $2.99 EPUB, PDF and MOBI Audiobook ISBN 978-09974140-4-2 $6.55 Running Time 2:16:29 Narrated by Nebula Award Winner C.S.E. Cooney

"The Imlen Brat opens in quite enjoyable territory. Then things start opening up, and moving in surprising directions. A delightful beginning. I look forward to seeing Stisele’s future in all its colors."

— Rich Horton, Editor, The Year’s Best Science Fiction & Fantasy

"The Imlen Bastard was a delight! People are going to be looking for more of this story."

— Betsy Mitchell, World Fantasy Award Winner, Best Editor

"The Imlen Brat is a tale of court intrigue, fast-changing alliances, and the constant subtle peril of being an adopted daughter in an enemy royal house. It's a compact Game of Thrones, with mighty pirate kingdoms, weather wizards, quarrelsome ghosts, curses, and secret magics. Don't miss it!"

— John O’Neill, Black Gate

Launch Events, Book Signings, Readings, and Panelist Appearances at Conventions:
Capclave (DC area, October 7-9, 2016)
World Fantasy Convention (Columbus, OH, October 27-30, 2016)
Arisia (Boston, January 13-16, 2017)
Lunacon (NYC area, April 7-9, 2017)
Balticon (Baltimore, May 26-29, 2017)
Dragoncon (Atlanta, September 2-5, 2017)

Month-long online launch throughout October hosted by Hugo Nominated Magazine Black Gate and World Fantasy Award Nominated Publisher John O'Neill.

In-person outreach to DC-area librarians booksellers, both chain and independent.

Listing in Broad Universe catalog of science fiction, fantasy, and horror fiction by women, a resource used by librarians and booksellers.

Listing in Broad Universe directory of available speakers.

Participation in Broad Universe Rapid Fire Readings at conventions and other events.

Advertising in three issues of Locus, both print and online.

Banner ads at Ralan.com, The Wild Hunt blog, and Black Gate.

Consistent presence across social media.

Press release to DC area local media.

Giveaways on Goodreads, Black Gate, and other sites.

Newsletter announcements to author's email list.