For those of you who may not know, Michael is an all-around amazing man. He’s also an amazing running partner. I just returned from attending Rainbow Con 2014 in Tampa, where Michael and I started off several mornings by running several miles. I can’t speak for Michael, but I personally find that running clears my cobweb-filled brain and helps me focus on my writing. In fact, some of my best ideas have come to me when I’m out on a run, although I have to admit that remembering them long enough to write them down when I get back home is sometimes a challenge!

As I write this, it’s two weeks from the release of my 11th Dreamspinner Press book, Into the Wind. On May 5th, the second book in my Mermen of Ea Series will see the light of day. I’m already hard at work on the third and final novel in the series, Running with the Wind. Which leads me to the title of this blog post, since it reminded me of Michael and our Rainbow Con runs in Tampa….

“Running with the Wind,” as with all the other titles in the Mermen of Ea Series, is a nautical term. It describes sailing where the boat is facing nearly 180 degrees away from the source of the wind (also known as “sailing downwind”). The first book in the series is Stealing the Wind, a term that describes a sailing maneuver where the attacking ship in a battle at sea manages to take advantage of the wind to the other vessel’s disadvantage. Into the Wind, the second book, describes a no-no in sailing, since if a sailboat heads directly into the wind, it cannot sail at all and will end up “in-irons” at a dead stop. Each title mirrors the story of the characters in the books as they struggle to come to terms with their outward and inner struggles.

The mermen of Ea are merman shifters who appear human, but transform into mermen when they are in the water. The series chronicles the journey of Taren Laxley, an indentured servant who is kidnapped by pirates and later learns that he is not human, but Ea, a merman shifter. Taren becomes embroiled in an Ea civil war, along with his love interest, the captain of the Ea ship, Phantom. High fantasy, high romance, set on the high seas.

In the first book of the series, Taren discovers his true nature, but before he has a chance to learn more about his people, is imprisoned as a spy by the secretive and brutal island faction (effectively “stealing the wind” from Taren’s sails). In book two, Into the Wind, which takes up where book one left off, Taren is struggling to find his place amongst his people, and struggling to shrug off the weight of a lifetime spent as a slave. He must learn to sail “into the wind.” Book three? Taren must learn to become the strong leader his people need him to be, and “run with the wind” by letting go of his fear.

The Mermen of Ea books are fantasy. They’re sexy adventure, but they are also stories about characters who grow and change as a result of their circumstances in very human ways.

Thank you, Michael, for hosting me today! I’m running a giveaway on my blog leading up to the release of my next book, Into the Wind. Here’s the link: https://www.shiraanthony.com/2014/04/countdown-and-contest-into-the-wind-mermen-of-ea-2/ The giveaway ends on May 4th! I’ll be running some new giveaways starting on release day, as well, so be sure to check back on my blog: www.shiraanthony.com for updates!