Old Blood: *New* title + cover + excerpt!

If you’ve been following my blog and/or reading my posts for any length of time, you have probably heard me mention my WIP fantasy series Graceborn and its first installment Old Blood. I first introduced the project in my post A tale of brothers and blood (my second post!), and I’ve got to tell you—my enthusiasm for it has grown exponentially since then!

After finishing the first draft of Old Blood back in March, I have been hard at work editing, planning the rest of the series, and—perhaps most importantly—building and developing the world in which Graceborn is set. This has given me a lot of time to think, to question, and I have at last come to a decision:

The title of Old Blood needs to change.

It’s not a significant change. Believe me, you’ll probably see the new title and wonder what all the fuss is about, but I don’t think I’ve ever changed the title of one of my WIPs. So it feels like a big deal. And do you know what makes it feel like an even bigger deal? THIS MEANS I HAD TO CHANGE MY MOCK COVER!!

I love making mock covers, so that was definitely not a chore. I took a step up this time and actually used Photoshop, along with a new image I licensed from Adobe Stock. The end result gels really well with the themes and the mood of the story! So, without further ado, I present to you the new title and mock cover of the first novel in the Graceborn series:

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TA DA!!

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Blood of Old isn’t really that different to Old Blood, is it? But it SOUNDS SO MUCH BETTER! I love the mystical ring to it and, it links in seamlessly with the rhyme that pretty much governs this first installment of the series:

Blood of Old through veins it flows
From the Land where nothing grows
Years will pass and Blood will fade
Because the sacrifice He made

For when the King took up the Spear
He faced the Dark despite His fear
His Blood of Old did save us all
And brought about Ch’rdili’s fall

As a part of my website makeover, I have also updated the Graceborn site page. If you want to read the full blurb or keep updated with my progress, please head over here and check it out!

Finally, to celebrate these changes, I thought I’d post another short excerpt (read the others here and here). I’ve talked about Graceborn’s MCs—Asa and Kael O’Dair—at length on Twitter, and have even published their character portraits. Today, I am going to give you some further insight to them and their relationship…as seen through the eyes of two supporting characters. I hope you enjoy it!!

~ EXCERPT ~

Endrid gave a brittle laugh. “Do you think I’m mad? Am I seeing shades?”

“You could be forgiven for seeing shades after the last few days, Endrid.” Tora turned away from him and peered back through the night towards Asa and Kael. “But I don’t think you’re mad.”

Kael passed Asa a skin of water and tucked the blanket more securely around his brother’s shoulders. Asa had lost weight, even in the last few days, and he was shivering despite the mild weather. Kael hugged him closer to his side, sharing his warmth.

“The Council will try to tear those two apart,” Tora murmured.

“That,” said Endrid, “would be a tragedy.”

Tora’s gloved hands curled into fists. “A tragedy it may be, but they’ll have no use for Kael. You know as well as I do that he is not Guide material. He’s flighty, fanciful, impulsive, and he can’t keep his mouth shut or his feet still. Maker’s Grace! If their story is to be believed, he walked straight into the Tainted Land and dragged his brother with him!”

“Perhaps he’s not fit to be a Guide,” Endrid acknowledged, “but if he is one of the Lost, the Council will want to keep him close.”

Tora watched the two boys huddling together in the darkness, so far from everything they’d ever known. Her chest squeezed uncomfortably tight. Had she ever been that young? “They’ll have to separate them if they want control of Asa. His leash will be even tighter than yours, especially with Lucan missing.”

Something flickered through the Weaver’s eyes—something she thought she’d never see again after what she’d done to him all those years ago. “You don’t trust anyone, do you Tora?”

“No,” she said. “But I have always trusted you.

You can read the blurb of Blood of Old (Graceborn #1) here.

What do you think of my title / cover change? Do you make your own mock covers? How? Tell me what you think of my excerpt and rhyme!

Rebecca Alasdair