Fantasy adventure

Hi,

I hope you’ve had an amazing week and wonderful break over Easter, however you celebrate. I'm looking forward to our family's Easter Sunday egg-cracking tradition. Knocking boiled eggs against each other to see whose egg lasts the longest without cracking. It's a strange but fun tradition my husband's family brought with them from Lithuania almost a century ago.

Oh, and, yes, this is the new-look email from KIT. Finally I've managed to get it up and running. I hope you like it. But if you think I've made a mistake, or something is wrong, I'd love to know. (Or if you really love it, that would be nice to know too!)

This week:

• Zambarau: one of our earlier dragons
• A free book: Grendel and Beowulf — by C. Gockel
• What I'm reading, Tenets in the Tattoos by Becky James
• Free Sci Fi and Fantasy 2026 promotion
• The cats: Maisie and Herbert

Zambarau

Zambarau, is one of our earlier dragons. A purple dragon from the second age, Zambarau is known for being grumpy, territorial and and always willing to lend a hand to the younger dragons. Older dragons not so much, but nothing makes Zambarau quite as happy as seeing a dragonling fly for the first time.

Free Book —Grendel and Beowulf — by C. Gockel

Once upon a time, in our ordinary world, there was a grandmother. She died. She was reborn as a Vampire in a world of Magick. The grandmother de-aged. Her ailments healed, her body became strong, and her wrinkles faded. Her wisdom, however, did not diminish. She knew monsters need monstrous names so they never forget the monsters they are.

She named herself Grendel, after the medieval haunter of borderlands and drinker of warriors’ blood, slain by the hero Beowulf. The name seems appropriate. Grendel the Grandmother haunts the borderlands and drinks the blood of (mostly) evil warriors.

But in a Magickal world, names don’t just have meanings, they are prophecies. And a new hero is rising. He has been molded since birth to fight evil, and been given the tools and skills to vanquish the most insidious evil of all: Vampires.

His name is Beowulf, and he’s coming for Grendel.

What I'm reading:

Tenets in the Tattoos by Becky James

My first thought was that I was going to ditch this book as a fated mates story. But that's not what it is. It's a lot of fun, with plenty of sword and sorcery. And yes, romance. Thorrn, the main character is thrown a curveball when his soul companion is bookish and appears to be useless in a fight.

And, I think the most fun thing about the book is seeing Thorrn—who is used to being oh, so competent in his hierarchical sword & magic wielding society—being absolutely incompetent on Earth.

Herbert and Maisie

Herbert out and about on the railing. This picture makes him look like he was about to fall off. But that's not true at all. He's just doing his little catwalk turn. 🐈 😉

Maisie on the prowl, demanding attention. Only I can't figure out what she needs right now. Brush no. Door no. Food no. Oh well, maybe she can't figure out what she wants either. 🐈 ❤️

Check out my website

A.J. Ponder's Books

Happy Reading,
A.J. Ponder