​   As a member of a literary audience, after I read a novel or short story that is part of a series, I often wonder about the evolution of the characters that appear in the continuing saga. Nobody closes the first Lord of the Rings book and is just done; if you do, there might be a check up in order.
  
   For those who have read Dark Empire's Rise, here are a few things to think about: Who is the character you connect with most on an emotional level? Who charms you? Who disgusts you? Who do you want to read more about? What sparks your curiosity about the actions of the individuals, or the direction of this storyline?

   Perhaps your answers lie in the next book, or will appear down the line in a future volume. Maybe the question you ask is just the one to inspire the writer (that means me, in this case) to explore a creation on a much deeper level.

   An author is a creative being and nothing feeds into the joy of creating more than an audience who is willing to engage and ask questions. In a moment of writer's block or quietness, it may be you that breathes life into the pen or keyboard. Remember, human curiosity exists in us all and a need for answers drives both sides of an entertaining coin.

​Of course you could always just choose to ponder all of the above in private instead of feeding the story beast.

~Danielle G.

   Dark Empire's Rise was not my first "completed" novel. By completed, I mean to say that I have a book where the storyline is done, but when I began that journey, my writing style was more unsure; it has evolved since the beginning of that particular venture. Because of the changes in style, my first completed story needed (and probably still needs) a lot of editing, and time being what it is--and me with my wandering writer's brain--I was drawn to finish the first book in The Chronicles of Orion series before I returned to my old friend. But now, I am ready to settle back in, even with a plate full of other projects and give my first lady her due. It make take a bit of time to polish the edges, but I will move forward.

   Her name is Jade; and she is running from a life forced on her by military scientists and the shadowy edges of the government. What would you do if you found out that you were created to be a weapon? What if you don't want to be that weapon? Would you run and hide, or would you stand out in the open, shining a light on the dark corners and exposing those behind your engineering?

​~Danielle G.

​   Have you ever walked into a spider web? On occasion, I have had the displeasure of walking out of my front or side door and straight into a spider's web. The experience is frankly, gross. Not only do I suffer from arachnophobia, but the feeling of getting tangled in something sticky and foreign when you least expect it is disturbing. The more you fight a web, the more you find yourself stuck and entangled. After you get the web off of you, you then have to worry about whether its weaver is now in your hair and clothes; now there is a lovely consequence to think about.
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   The point of a spider's web is , of course, to ensnare other insects or creatures so that the spider can eat. So when people write about getting caught "in a web of lies," it is very appropriate. When people tell lies, they usually come back to bite them. Often, once a lie is told, there must be more and more lies created to support the first lie and so on.; thus, the web of lies gets larger and when someone gets caught in that web, they become unavoidably entangled. And what about that spider, while you are busy fighting the web, she may have you at her mercy; you won't even see the bite coming.

   Let's just face it: there is no such thing as a little lie. Even if you tell a "white lie" to keep someone from getting hurt, it usually hurts them more when the truth comes out and they find out you weren't honest in the first place.


~Danielle G.

​​   I would like to extend my thanks to all of the readers who have chosen to take the journey into the world of the Orions with me. Although Dark Empire's Rise  is just the beginning, there are plenty of miles to go as we traverse the centuries, explore the world, the universe, and look past borders into the lives spawned in these first published pages .
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   There are many more characters waiting to make their presence felt in the upcoming books of The Chronicles of Orion series. Some of the characters are linked to this world's ancient mythologies, histories, and cultural communities; as well as the narrative of the past and future in the literary world they are a part of. Will more people choose to join we who have already stepped into the new realm of Devil's Claw and beyond the visible stars? I certainly hope so; I surely wouldn't want them to miss out!

​~Danielle G.