Hi! You’ve found me, me, Christina Anne Hawthorne. Me, the foremost authority on the World of Ontyre. It’s a fantasy world with technology, but also there are mammoths and gryphons. There are also sorcerers, witches, wizards, and those who possess specialized abilities.
The true beauty of Ontyre is that I can tell any story there—and it all starts on the continent of Tremjara during a time of great change. Carrdia is an isolated nation near the continent’s center and has fallen into a dystopian downward spiral.
Fifty years on, hope surfaces in the most unlikely of people. Riparia Dellbane, a courier for the rebel Keepers, lives a cherished life in isolation, but in a single night her quiet place in the world dies at the hands of Dioptric Ministry Practitioners…
Currently, my plan is for five Riparia novels. At present, there are three drafted. The fourth and fifth will be drafted in November-December of 2021. There’s also a prequel drafted (Exhuming Truths), along with a periphery novel (Torment Surfacing) that’s linked to the series and another that’s a link to the island nation of Pannulus (Following the Essence Stone).
Oh yes, I’d be amiss if I don’t mention Pannulus, the island nation. Needing a change about five years ago, I began writing short stories about the isolated islands with the 1920s -esque society. Since then there have been numerous novellas and novels: Stealing Light, Protecting the Pneuma Key, and Case of the Deadly Stroll.
In addition to those books, in 2014 I published a book of poetry, The Renaissance Cycle, that focuses on the important themes in my life: hope, determination, freedom, equality, and purpose. Those are also themes in my fiction.
Oh, right, this is supposed to be about me…
Childhood taught me about holding onto hope, despite the Childhood PTSD that followed. Returning to college for my degree opened my mind to the world and myself. It was my personal crossroads and pointed me at my purpose, though it’d require more years before I’d truly see the path. Surviving a lengthy illness (2009-11), where I literally came within a whisper of my last breath, taught me about determination, as did the recovery that lasted until 2017. LGBTIQA has taught me about equality, and its absence.
It’s all in my writing, all those elements and so much more. The reason is that, although these stories take place in a fantasy world with magic, they’re otherwise Women’s Fiction, stories that follow a character’s emotional journey.
The tales of Ontyre are about adventure, suspense, and romance, but above all they’re about purpose, personal triumph, and all that cooperation makes possible. Each story is intended as an engrossing tale worthy of multiple readings, each time revealing more to the reader. Too, each book enhances the book that preceded it.
Not everyone, of course, will be interested. That’s okay. I’m looking for those few…
Me in a nutshell? It’s vital we believe in ourselves and in each other. No matter the good or bad in my past, it’s still the story of how I arrived in the present. Its value exists in lessons for myself and my characters. Rather then focusing on what we believe cannot be done, let’s strive for the impossible and make it possible for the betterment of all. For my part, I’m tired of hearing “can’t” from those lacking vision. “Can’t” was what I was told after disease ravaged my lungs. I declared my intention to shed my dependence on the cannula, tank, and tubbing that pumped oxygen into my lungs to keep me alive.
The oxygen tank and accompanying paraphernalia? They’re all gone.
These days I walk, bike, practice yoga, and meditate. It all serves my purpose, which is to find a way to publish, to fill my little writing corner of the world with stories about people who overcome their own adversity to find purpose. It will happen. In the meantime, there are samples of my writing style under Short Stories. Taking Flight is a light version of a Pannulus Story. There’s also the blog, which I’m faithful about maintaining each Thursday, along with poetry on other days.
Be everwell.
(Updated 06/21)
Christina Anne Hawthorne 
I’ll be checking in from time to time! 🙂
Great. I’ll keep stocking the fridge and the blog for when you stop by. 🙂
Most excellent. I can’t wait to read more!!
Sounds like great fantasy novel, see you in the tribewriter
Thanks for stopping by and for the compliment. Yes, I’ll see you there.
I like the blog and I’m very intrigued by the novel. I can’t wait to read it. There’s no world like an alternate world. Cheers 🙂 -T.K.
Thank you so much. Yes, it’s an alternate world, but it’s an alternate world with many this world problems. Sometimes contrasting the everyday with the unfamiliar helps to bring the everyday more fully into the light. Loved the comment, T.K.!
Christina you inspire me to keep punching at my keyboard. I have nominated you for THE BEST MOMENT AWARD
Oh my, Kath, thank you. The feeling is certainly mutual. I’ve sat here for the past minute thinking about how I read your message after taking a break from writing dialogue for my heroine. Long isolated, she finds herself addressing a crowd and expressing her heartfelt gratitude. Such is this moment for me.
I have nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award. http://versatilebloggeraward.wordpress.com/vba-rules/
Thank you so much, Will. I’ve just returned home from working a graveyard shift so I’ll go through what the award entails after I’ve slept. Again, thank you, this is thoughtful and appreciated.
You are welcome Christina.
Wonderful journey of reading….and zud lyk to continue…
Thanks…I add to the online story on Tuesdays, blog on topics on Thursday, and do different things on Saturdays, which is often poetry.
Hey Christina, you know I have always been a fan of your writing. Keep up the great work and I will be expecting to get my signed book. Seeing as how we have a history. After all I did read the first draft.
Hi Lonna! Glad to see you here in WordPress land. I have a signature here with your name on it. Your feedback way back when was dearly appreciated, though you’d barely recognize the tale now. I hope you investigate the other writing here. “Last Word Before Dying” is the only Ontyre writing available at the moment. Your opinions were and continue to be intelligent and well thought out. You’re a writer’s dream.
Cats are particularly skilled at demanding. Not so much at contributing. At least in my experience.
Demanding? Yeah, I can agree with that. At the same time, my perspective is that in their demands for attention, affection, and play they contribute to my life. My cats and I interact continually and have many arguments, but at the end of the day when I lay in bed and read Misha sets her head on my shoulder and Mr. Calvin curls up against my waist. I love dogs—am babysitting one next week—but I don’t coexist with them well for long periods because. I think it comes down to personality matches where each match is wonderful simply because it’s a match.
Your alternate world looks inviting. I could probably dream there. I wish you success with this project.
Thank you so much. It’s a product of the dreams within me and I look forward to sharing it with others.
I nominated you for a WordPress Family Award. 🙂
Thank you. That’s so kind. 🙂
Good morning, Christina!
I found you via T.K. Colman. I shared your comment from his current post on my facebook page.
I had a quick peak about your site and was very impressed to see your pinterest board…very cool how you can pull up existing images to realize your vision for your readers.
Good evening, and thank you very much. I’ve been following T.K. for a long while, since before he was on WordPress and before he had many followers on FB. He has inspired me more than I can say and the comment I left was more than a response, it was his words inspiring mine. It’s at such moments that social media is at its best.
Thank you, too, for your comment concerning the Pinterest board. Having a visual link was always a dream of mine and I was excited to realize it. Too, I strive for selectivity. I don’t create wrong impressions. In other words, I don’t put up pictures that also include modern this-world trappings. As in theatre, I try to maintain that “4th wall.” Searching for such images can be frustrating, but it’s also a lot of fun.
Seems like great fantasy novel.
Thank you. I like to think of it as “alternative fantasy” because it differs from Tolkien-like works. Some may not like that I’ve gone off in a different direction, but it’s my hope that many will enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed developing and writing it. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Thank you for writing which is quite good and best wishes always, and greetings
Thank you for taking the time to leave your kindly worded message. It’s greatly appreciated.
Thanks for leaving that comment on my blog. I really like the layout of your website. That’s a great fantasy picture at the top of the page.
Thank you. The picture has a story. I’m certain it’s derived from one or more Albert Bierstadt paintings with new elements added (castle, tower above cliff). When I stumbled across it there was no credit as to who’d done the work, though. Someone more skilled in Photoshop than me, that’s for sure. What I did know was that it fit a scene from my novel almost perfectly. To make it perfect I flipped it horizontally, removed the geese flying over the water, and darkened the castle. Now it’s Ergain on her horse, Doppla, seeing abandoned Talonton Keep for the first time along Lake Seclusion in the Colossus Range. Thanks for visiting and leaving the comment!
Hi, Christina,
Hello, it is nice to be able to write to you.
Thank you for the beautiful tribute to Billy. I am your Aunt Suzanne and Billy was 14 years older than I. I have always called him Billy because that is what Grandma Chapman and my Mom called him. Dorothy let me know about his passing the day you called her. He was out of Mom’s house as far back as my memory goes, but I remember him as a Policeman, and the corvette he had for awhile. He also loved the drums. Later, as an adult, I would look forward to his occasional visits back east. My husband, Gary, the children and I were saddened at his death. We all remember him as someone with great stories to tell, but happier in the company of mountains than with people, and that’s all right.
I don’t remember where you fit into the age group of grandchildren, sorry. My oldest son, Robert (Robbie), will be 49 this year. He is married and lives in L.A. Pete (46 this year) is married, with 2 kids, his son is a freshman in college, his daughter is a junior in high school and hopes to become a Policewoman. My youngest, Heather (44 this year), is married with a son in 3rd grade. Heather is a writer, also, and has one book published with a second just finished. Best of luck with your book, by the way.
I am recently retired, a paper crafter and a sometime writer and poet. I have a blog, though I seldom remember to write on it. I am hoping to put more of my work on the blog this year. I love making cards, scrap booking and I am just getting involved with art journaling. Gary and I live out in a rural area of NY and have the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets to watch.
I, too, don’t see much of the family across the river (Hudson). I keep in touch with Dorothy and Danny mostly through Frances who calls me about once a month. There is usually a family party at Dorothy’s every year or so we all try to attend; her home is centrally located. Alison and I talk about 1-2 times a week and we visit 3-6 times a year. I have the most in common with her and she is closest to my age.
In the recent past, I have re-met Sharon after a gazillon years and met her girls. We follow each other on FB.
I am excited about your move, glad you also love mountains and happy I found your blog. I will drop in from time to time.
Oh, we also love cats. We have a semi-feral group (6) that live outside in heated houses. We have more than that inside ranging from 15 years to 9 months. They are pampered and are the stars of our lives.
Once again, I am happy to greet you after all these many years. I am sure that Billy welcomed your company at Christmas time. I am thankful you were there to help him with his last journey.
With love, Aunt Suzanne or just Suzanne
Oh my gosh, Aunt Suzanne, hi!
It’s truly wonderful to talk to you. I’ve always thought of you as “Aunt” so I guess I’ll stick with that. I’m 54 now, 8 years younger than Sharon. She has on occasion related stories about family gatherings, but by the time I was old enough to remember much they either occurred less frequently or we didn’t attend. I remember visiting your home once, but the memory is dominated by the migraine I suffered.
Heather and I became friends on FB a few hours ago. I noted the writing theme to her page, but forced myself to return to my packing. It’s exciting to discover I have relatives with similar interests. Too, I see that you also do some writing. I never knew that.
I’ve been in touch with Aunt Dorothy for several years now. I became severely ill back in 2009 after I contacted a bacterial infection in my lungs that kept me from working for a couple of years. It was during that time we reconnected. Too, I’ve had limited contact with Aunt Frances.
It was Aunt Dorothy who most enabled my reconnecting with Dad. She supplied me with the support and contact information. In a strange twist I then became the contact the nursing home sought when they found a card from me in his room. Apparently he’d not given them any numbers to call.
I have two daughters. Nicole is 31 and a traveling laboratory technician who’s currently in Philadelphia. For the past eighteen months I’ve been housesitting her home. Now I’m moving and she’ll return in early March to sell the house before taking her next assignment. Cheryl is 28 and also a traveling laboratory technician. In the oddest of coincidences she’s just begun an assignment in Missoula, Montana where I’m going.
Currently I live with my two cats, Misha and Mr. Calvin. Like my mother I adore cats and have had them around all my life.
All my love, Christina
Christina my dear, can you please email me your contact info? My publishers are trying to set up that blog tour of mine that you were kind enough to volunteer for. You can email me at karmicangie at gmail dot com. THANKS!
I sure will. 🙂
see 🙂
http://yawaroglu.wordpress.com/
Interesting and lovely
Thank you. 🙂
Hi, thank you for the likes and follow on my blog, good being across yours too 🙂
Thank you!
Thank you for connecting on my blog and I am glad to come here and learn more about you 🙂 I look forward to reading your posts!
My pleasure.
Great – keep it up!
Thank you.
You re welcome 🙂
may your words open hearts and shine on the issues, thanks for your story, amen
Thank you.
LOVE THE SITE, CHINA
china.alexandria@livingthedream.blog
Thank you!
Hello Christina!
It is so nice to meet you. Frankly, I followed you on Twitter after that pinned poem and seeing that you’re a writer of historical fantasy. Nice blog you’ve got here!
Thank you, it’s nice to meet you as well. I was happy to follow back a fellow writer on Twitter and have noted your responses for Fantasy Indies there. The blog is, in many ways, a chronicle of my writing journey, which has been long in the making. It also keeps me on a regular schedule given I post on certain days. It’s me expressing myself, but it’s also me learning, making mistakes, and passing along my experiences. Thank you again for stopping by.