Visit Todd at www.toddfahnestock.com
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Chris Mandeville. Thank you for listening, for brainstorming, for all the support. What would I do without you?
Thanks to Elise Stephens for your fantastic beta read. You changed the story for the better.
And a huge thanks to Quad Fahnestock, my facebook group for this series.
Author Letter
Tower of the Four began as something completely different than this episodic series you’re holding now. It started off in Vale’s hometown of Torlioch where Brom, a twenty something failure of the Champions Academy, languishes, drowning himself in ale because he’s lost his magic. Royal and Oriana—former classmates and sworn enemies on the opposite ends of a decades-long war—find Brom there. They tell him that Vale, their fourth Quad mate and Brom’s old girlfriend, has essentially transformed into Maleficent, killing innocents from a forest stronghold. They must convince him to help them reclaim her soul…or kill her. For the good of the two kingdoms, of course.
As I started writing this story, I kept thinking about how these four characters originally came together, and what had gone wrong to split them apart so long ago. As the story opened up, they downright hated one another. They had such diverse backgrounds and value systems, how could they possibly have bonded to come together as a Quad and learn magic in the first place?
I resolved to put in two chapters of Champions Academy flashback during their journey to Vale’s stronghold.
When I reached that spot, two chapters became four. Four became eight, then twelve. Suddenly, I did a quick word count on my manuscript and realized that two-thirds of the story I’d written was this Champions Academy flashback.
Too much. Far too much, I told myself. This is going to unbalance the story, throw the reader into the past for far too long.
I looked for ways to cut it.
Just then, my intuition piped up. And let me tell you that this little voice has seen me through many an ambiguous stage in many a novel, and here it was again, trying to get my attention. It said, “Dude (my intuition says “dude” a lot), your story begins at the academy. I’ve been trying to tell you that for twelve chapters now. When you gonna listen?”
I sat back, stunned. Instead of searching for parts to cut, I flipped my perspective around. Did I have enough meat in the flashback to tell an entire story?
“Dude, I’ve been trying to tell you for twelve—”
“Okay, okay!”
So I dove into the backstory, following my intuition. Twelve chapters mushroomed to thirty-seven. How did Brom come to the academy? How did the Quad meet for the first time? What were their struggles? How did they overcome them? And on and on.
Tower of the Four, Episode 1: The Quad was born.
Episodes 2 and 3 will pick up where this left off, telling the entire story of this Quad’s time at the academy. Then we’ll move on to Episodes 4-6, which tell the story of a year after the academy. And no, it’s doesn’t much resemble what I described earlier. Though there is a little bit of Maleficent-ish-ness in there. : )
This story is close to my heart, and I hope you enjoyed it. Stay tuned, because there is so much yet to come. I have twelve episodes planned, taking us through wild adventures with Brom, Royal, Oriana and Vale. The journey has barely begun.
And if you want to keep up to date on everything Tower of the Four-ish, be sure to sign up for my Readers Group and/or join Quad Fahnestock (my Facebook group). Links to both are included on the next page.
Thank you so much for reading.
-Todd
MAILING LIST/FACEBOOK GROUP
MAILING LIST: If you like the stories in the Tower of the Four world, don't miss out on the latest news and information about the series. Join my Readers Group:
https://www.subscribepage.com/u0x4q3
FACEBOOK GROUP: Also, if you want to meet other fans of Tower of the Four, join the Facebook group, Quad Fahnestock :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/176249136990979
Praise For Author
For Urchin - A Tower of the Four Short Story (5 stars):
A captivating story that will leave you wanting more.
This dive into the Tower of Four universe is fast paced and will have you rooting for this urchin to stand up to the thug that tries to control her. This story grabbed me and pulled me in and I am waiting VERY impatiently for more.
- Tracy Nicholas (Amazon reader)
For Urchin - A Tower of the Four Short Story (5 stars):
Captivating from the start.
Urchin is yet another striving character with flaws and so much promise. Captivating from the start, this book catches your interest and leaves you rooting for her success.
- Georgine T (Amazon reader)
For Urchin - A Tower of the Four Short Story (5 stars):
Great Start! It makes me want the rest of the series. It is a great tease on the future. It shows the strength of heart and will power needed to become what is needed.
- Steven Sobotta (Amazon reader)
For Urchin - A Tower of the Four Short Story (5 stars):
Wow.
Fantastic short story. It’s just a taste and I’m definitely hooked. Who doesn’t root for an underdog in a world full of bullies? I can’t wait to read more.
- Sue (Amazon reader)
For Urchin - A Tower of the Four Short Story (5 stars):
Must read! Leaves you wanting more!
The characterization in this story is beautifully written! Vale, the main character, feels like someone I have known for a long time, someone I can connect to. I am so excited to see where this story goes and looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
- Katelin Barson (Amazon Reader)
Tower of the Four Short Stories
This collection of short stories brings you into the Tower of the Four world. The main epic story will begin with Tower of the Four, Episode 1: The Quad (coming in April).
These short stories are prequels. Each focuses on one main character from Tower of the Four and shows how they were approached by The Collector, a forbidding figure who gathers magically talented young people. He brings them to The Champions Academy, where they will train. In the end, they will either become Quadrons, beings of incalculable power, or they will die trying.
Urchin
When a stranger heals Vale’s injured leg…
…she begins to believe in magic.
He tells her she is destined to learn it, too. But first, she must conquer her fears. She must see the magic for herself.
And then, she must risk her life to take hold of it.
As she struggles to see clearly, a street thug tries to make Vale his slave. He beats her, takes her food, intimidates her into doing his bidding.
Can she find the path to magic before he kills her?
You’ll love this short story in the Tower of the Four world, because even vicious little urchins deserve a chance at magic.
Royal
When Royal’s dream becomes a prophecy…
…he knows he is destined to save his country.
But how can one young man stop an army?
To prove he is worthy to go to war at such a young age, he must first run a deadly race called The Spiral.
But he is interrupted by a demigod who tells Royal he could become a demigod, too. But first, he must lose the race, spurn his society and alienate his people.
Will Royal throw away everything for a chance at godhood?
You’ll love this Tower of the Four short story, because some people were just born to save the world.
Princess
When a bloody disease kills Oriana’s uncle…
…she doesn’t want to be a princess anymore.
The Bloodbane only infects highborns, and it is killing them one by one. Instead of waiting to catch the Bloodbane, Oriana conspires to run away with the woman she loves, as far away as she can.
That night The Collecto
r arrives, tells Oriana she is chosen, that she must come to the Champions Academy and learn magic that might cure The Bloodbane…
Will Oriana choose her lover…?
…or the slim chance to save the highborns of her kingdom?
You’ll love this epic fantasy short story, because when duty and desire clash, a princess’s choice will define her forever.
The Quad Page 11
