Novels

I'm very self critical of my story telling style.  I frequently revisit the same story, pull it to bits and reconstruct it.

I also tend to be dialogue-heavy as though I'm writing for the screen.

This is not necessarily a fault, except to publishers who hate the amount of paper dialogue wastes, but it's not so much an issue in the age of e-books.

I've completed one stand-alone novel, Symbiosis (Adult Romantic Drama), which I finally put to rest and told myself never to touch again.  That was 2006 and I 've obeyed, so after 9 years of editing, I can safely say it's finished.

I've also written a series of novels, Khataria (Adult Romantic/Mystery Fantasy).  Khataria contains 11 novels at last count.  It's difficult to determine an exact number yet as some of the later books are still at plot level and it depends how much they expand.

The first six books of Khataria are finished.  They are in final edit stage, which I've set myself until December 2011 to finish.

My fear with writing a series is that while I'm aiming for the quality of Lord of the Rings, I'll become impatient and end up writing crap like Star Wars with broken plot lines and contradictions from one book to the next.  For that reason, I chose not to release any of the Khataria novels until the last of the series was fleshed out.

Finally, another series, Replicants (Fantasy Sci Fi Thriller) which comprises 4 books.  The plots are set but I'm not letting myself flesh them out further until I've finished Khataria.

At this stage, I haven't sought publication of any of my books as they are difficult to pin down to a genre, and again that's unpopular with publishers.

I have allowed select people to read and critique them, and will release Book One of Khataria shortly.

I'd like to see Khataria go to screen one day but only if Russell T Davies produces it. :)  No one else could pull it off and maintain its integrity.

Anyway, enough preamble.  Each book with a short synopsis is listed below.

Symbiosis (1997-2006) 67,000 words
Set in Central Queensland in the late 1970's:  Scarred by violent childhood, two defiant boys, barely men, find each other by chance and fall in love.  Set in a time when such romance is oppressed by the state and the church, they choose not to hide but to stand united as society unleashes its worst against them.

Creatures of the Faith (2000-2011) 82,000 words
Book 1 in the Khataria series:  Each generation, by design of the mysterious Faith, three princes are born simultaneously to rule the future empire, one mortal and two Seers to guide his reign.

In the midst of a twenty year war against a species who feast upon the conquered, the new trinity is born with Crown Prince Karelia at its head, and his Consuls Danos and Zanaes at his side.  Their lives seem much like all who passed before them, but as manhood nears, factors beyond their control are destined to tear their trinity apart.

Invasion looks imminent and Karelia learns that his reign was foreseen 700 years before by the great prophet Jai.  Meanwhile, in his Consul Danos, the gentle  Karelia finds true love, a love they both know that Crown and Faith will not allow.

With Karelia's world in turmoil, the Faith intercedes and takes his Consuls away, sending them to war at opposite ends of the empire.

Princes of Khataria (2000-) 113,000 words
Book 2 in the Khataria series:  Fatally wounded, Zanaes lies on his deathbed in the alps.

Five thousand miles away, Danos is refused the right to go to Zanaes' side.  Powerless at the hands of mortals, Danos dares to face an impossible belief he has nurturned in his soul since birth; that he is the prophet Jai reborn.

He tests his immortal gifts to save Zanaes from afar.

Meanwhile, Karelia is isolated in the capital.  Without the gift of sight, he can do nothing but wait for news as he prepares for the Kung Tai, the ritual of the Faith that will decide his right to ascend.  And his right to live.

If he succeeds, the Seers will allow him to succeed King Arasti.  If he fails, they will kill him.

Prophets (2000-) 78,000 words
Book 3 in the Khataria series:  Danos rises through the ranks of the military but an unusual buildup of foreign shipping signals trouble in the south.  He turns his vigilant eye to the vulnerable port of Aspiria, where the Aliens rule beyond the ranges.

Karelia, distraught by news that Zanaes is dying, defies his father and treks to the alps to be with him.

He finds his royal brother changed and fragile.  A once-powerful Seer, Zanaes is humbled by his experiences.  He reveals to Karelia that his beliefs are failing and he spirals into depression and fear.

Meanwhile, Karelia harbours a secret plan to defy his masters one more time and sail south to be reunited with his beloved Danos.

Rites of Passage (2000-) 98,000 words
Book 4 in the Khataria series:  Zanaes treks south for the troop exchange, but battle comes quicker than anyone imagined and he and Danos are caught up in its eye.

This time, defeat will surely mean the fall of the empire.

Meanwhile in Okhatar City, Karelia waits for his Consuls to return to the capital to commence the Rites of Passage.

Only through its successful completion, can they resume their lives together and plan for their future reign.

But throughout his deliberations and fears, one thought brings him joy.  Danos.  His love could wait no longer.

He declares his hand to the Faith - If the Seers wish him King, then they will accede to his single demand; that he be allowed to wed Danos and love him for the rest of their days.

In the south, in the aftermath of yet more war, Danos sees how fragile Zanaes has become.  With time short, Danos plans a dangerous pilgrimage to strengthen their battered spirits.

He voyages to Titania, deep inside enemy lines to visit the temple ruins of his long-dead hero, the prophet Jai.

Envoys of Okhatar (2001-) 127,000 words
Book 5 in the Khataria series:  With his royal sons returned to the capital, King Arasti issues their ministries.

Danos must prepare to leave for the State of Xenia to take up governorship of the mysterious region with its equally mysterious past.

Karelia readies himself for a secret mission of his mother's device; to visit his despotic uncle in Ossa and subdue him, or if he fails, to lead an invasion force to oust him.

Meanwhile, Zanaes takes his place in the Faith's inner sanctum and discovers that there are powerful Immortals both living and dead who are working against his trinity.

His investigations are interrupted as the King orders him to voyage to the land of their ally, the Kingdom of Althase, on a seemingly routine diplomatic mission.

But in Xenia, Althase and Ossa, others are already waiting for their envoys from Okhatar, and they have plans of their own.

Rage of the Immortals (2001-) 181,000 words
Book 6 in the Khataria series:  Civil war breaks out on all fronts entwining all of the Princes.

In Althase, Zanaes is caught up in a web of deceit as a mutual enemy attempts to destroy the Althasian Empire on the eve of its heir's coronation.

Faraway in Ossa, Karelia's negotiations are thwarted and an assassin's arrow brings him down, while in Xenia, battling enemies of his own, Danos sees visions of the plight of his brothers.

Defying all laws of Crown and Faith, Danos calls upon the strengths that his powerful spirit possesses in order to save those he loves.

He places himself in deepest trance and transcends to the spirit realm, aware that the cost will be the death of his spirit, and an endless sleep for his mortal self from which no one will ever wake him.

Lords of the Kreyml (2007-)
Book 7 in the Khataria series:  Seven hundred years earlier, Bataq and Tamaq, twin sons of King Stavius, are sixteen and finding their places in the world.

Bataq, the eldest will ascend with Tamaq as the General by his side, but the pair know that the kingdom they will inherit is in ruins, thanks to their father's paranoia and the grief of his wife's death.

Tamaq is the gentler son and favoured by his father but a defiant stand on the terms of their relationship puts them at odds.

A further dispute over the treatment of Andraes, the imprisoned prince of Althase brings their tension to a head.

Tamaq is exiled from Okhatar for the term of his life to the frontier mines at Titania.

Five years pass and Tamaq meets Jai, a troubled youth who resembles a spirit who visits him oft in visions.

Tamaq realises that Jai is special, perhaps even The Fair Haired One himself, and joins with him in sacred tenure as mentor and paidika.

Exile of Titania (2007-)
Book 8 in the Khataria series:  Tamaq reveals his true identity to the people of Titania and introduces Jai to the magics of the Faith.

Outcasts and refugees, everyone sees the pair as hope for a better future.  In the people's trust, Tamaq finds purpose and with Jai at his side, begins to address their concerns.

They journey north to Aspiria where Jai explores the world of the Faith and is welcomed into its fold.

In Okhatar, word reaches King Stavius that Tamaq has not been tamed by exile, and of greater concern, that the boy has turned his captor into an ally.  Stavius sends an envoy to Titania to investigate the rumours and confrontation boils over.

Meanwhile, Bataq, still reeling from Tamaq's exile five years before, is decimated by the suicide of his paidika, and then struck down again as his lover abandons him and flees south to join Tamaq.

South of Aspiria (2010-)
Book 9 in the Khataria series:  A year on, Tamaq has established a garrisoned city in the desert to give protection to the dispossessed.

Jai's gifts are growing stronger, and with support from his peers in Aspiria, he establishes himself as Village Seer of the southern lands.

Frustrated by his father, Bataq visits Tamaq and they discuss with yearning their plans for bringing peace to the new world once their father is dead.

In Titania however, a mysterious Seer arrives from the Kreyml with errant news that Andraes of Althase has taken his own life in prison.

The joyous reunion between Bataq and Tamaq turns sour and Bataq flees Titania for his life.

The Broken City (2006-)
Book 10 in the Khataria series:  Bataq fortifies Okhatar, but King Stavius, softened by age in his twilight years, invites Tamaq home.

The family is reunited but Tamaq does not trust them and brings his armies with him.

The Titanians invade the Kreyml and conquer all lands east to the harbour, dividing the capital in two.

Meanwhile, now a Seer of great repute, Jai discovers that the Kreyml is populated with bureaucratic fools.  He rebels against his masters and sets about rebuilding a new system for the future.

In a vision, he also learns that he must make a spiritual pilgrimage to the untamed Eastern Continent, unsure if he'll ever return.

Kingdom of Ice (2006-)
Book 11 in the Khataria series:  As fulfillment of his promise to the rebel priest Thanas, Jai leaves Okhatar ahead of a vast Karistyan armada to conquer their enemies, the Pentakhosts on the Eastern Continent.

In Okhatar, the siblings' war continues.  Bataq pursues Tamaq to Althase, where Andraes has reclaimed the throne.

They come together in battle one last time, with the Kingdom of Khataria as the prize.

Replicant My Friend (2010-)
Book 1 in the Replicant series:  Trent is ambitious and dreams of doing so many things.

He has a thousand ideas for projects he wants to finish in his lifetime, but he is almost half way through his life and he's a realist.

If only he could replicate himself, a perfect copy to share his burdens and his dreams, even his reward and fame.

He ponders the question often.  He could do it if he wanted to.  It wasn't difficult and apparently the process was painless.

But still, to bring another life into the world, and without its consent.  Could he?  Should he?

The Lonely Replicant (2010-)
Book 2 in the Replicant series:  details to come.

Replicants Departed (2010-)
Book 3 in the Replicant series:  details to come.

Replicant Triangle (2010-)
Book 4 in the Replicant series:  details to come.