Author: Sharon Manssen

Back at the end of September 2023, my writing friends Lee Murray, Jacqui Greaves and I flew over to Canberra to spend 3.5 full-on days at Conflux: the annual conference for Speculative Fiction authors.

We were all on a bunch of panels (I was on three: Building Communities in Antipodean SFF, Self Publishing and In a Manner of Writing), as well as launching Remains To Be Told (Lee & Jacqui were in it, Lee curated it, and I had the honour of announcing it (by dint of being president of SpecFicNZ and a kiwi)).

Lee & I also unsuccessfully pitched to the Aurealis committee to get NZ accepted into the award (again in my capacity as president of SpecFicNZ). That was an extremely disappointing outcome and was quite a downer, to be honest. But there’s always a silver lining, so watch this space!

There were many opportunities to connect with others in the Speculative community and overall, it was a super fun and energising experience.

Click here to purchase Medar – Realmshift Trilogy Book 1

Click here to purchase Tyrelia – Realmshift Trilogy Book 2

Click here to purchase Golden City – Realmshift Trilogy Book 3

Click here to purchase The Tablet – a Realmshift Trilogy prequel

I know, it’s been a while since I last posted. October 2023 to be precise! What happened? Well, I’m glad you asked. Mainly it was because the security my work puts on my laptop was so tight that I couldn’t get in to my website! It wasn’t until yesterday that I got around to doing something about it.

So what have I been up to? Quite a lot, and I’ll tell you about it in more detail over the coming months, but in a nutshell:

• Sep/Oct 23 – I attended Conflux (a speculative fiction conference) in Canberra
• Oct 23 – I commissioned a new cover for my book Golden City – so now all 4 books have the same look (and are actually the same size!!)
• Nov 23 – had a book stall at my church’s annual Christmas Markets. I discovered some cool marketing tips!
• Dec 23 – I got my new covers for Golden City
• Feb 24 – received my 3rd every Amazon Royalty (and had an infuriating conversation with a chat bot)
• Feb 24 – stood down as President of Tauranga Writers (after 4.5 years of service)
• Feb 24 – attended my friend Lee Murray‘s presentation of the NZ Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement (Fiction)
• Feb 24 – was on selection panel for NZSA Mentorship – 96 applications!
• Mar 24 – wrote a book review for a SpecFicNZ member
• Mar 24 – was commissioned to do a complete Manuscript Assessment

So, watch this space, because there’s more content coming your way!

Click here to purchase Medar – Realmshift Trilogy Book 1

Click here to purchase Tyrelia – Realmshift Trilogy Book 2

Click here to purchase Golden City – Realmshift Trilogy Book 3

Click here to purchase The Tablet – a Realmshift Trilogy prequel

It’s arrived! If you’ve already told me that you’d like a print copy of my latest book The Tablet, I’ll be in touch soon to arrange how you’d like to get it.

Of course, you can always purchase it online, or email me at realmtrilogy@gmail.com to buy direct.

Click here to purchase Medar – Realmshift Trilogy Book 1

Click here to purchase Tyrelia – Realmshift Trilogy Book 2

Click here to purchase Golden City – Realmshift Trilogy Book 3

Click here to purchase The Tablet – a Realmshift Trilogy prequel

The Tablet is a prequel to the Realm trilogy written by S. R. Manssen and sets up the
backstory of the mysterious tablet found by the trilogy heroine, Freya. At its heart it is a
classic allegory with thinly-veiled Christian themes and messages.

Main character Aleryck is a crippled goat herder who is charged with a special quest, by a
deity called The Ancient. Aleryck’s physical weaknesses mean he must rely on his brothers to
help him fulfil the quest. Conflict between Aleryck and his older brother Taran puts all their
lives in danger and they must work together if they are to overcome great odds.

When Aleryck’s brothers abandon him in a thermal crevasse, it is a resourceful girl who
rescues him. Juniper is a kick-ass character who unquestioningly rescues Aleryck and his
brothers, at the behest of the Ancient. Juniper is a believer and embodies both desirable
Christian qualities and brains and strength, not to mention a loyal pet bird of prey, who helps
her when she is captured. Juniper’s bird and Aleryck’s donkey, Milly, remind readers that
help comes from unexpected places at times.

Like all the best junior fiction, the children in The Tablet outsmart evil adults, in this case,
human slave traders. The fight scenes are tight and well-written and I enjoyed imagining
grown men being beaten by suddenly-invisible children.

The conflict between Aleryck and his brother Taran is drawn convincingly; as is the rough
and tumble of a gaggle of brothers. Touches like the warping and the invisibility add a fun
mysticism that lifts The Tablet from being a moral fable to an exciting story, with the promise
of the trilogy to follow.

Book 1 Medar – published August 2017. Click here to purchase.

Book 2 Tyrelia – published March 2019. Click here to purchase.

Book 3 Golden City – published November 2020. Click here to purchase.

The Tablet (a Prequel) – published March 2023. Click here to purchase.