Gwain is an 18-year-old half-breed, recently returned to the island of his birth. Maijha Minor is a secretive place, home to the despised and hunted fauns of his maternal ancestry. Fauns are killed for sport, as well as for sacrifices to the wyvern gods. Gwain believes that the island holds the clues that will change the way fauns are treated. However, between hostile natives, traps, hunters, blood-drinking bats, and a host of poisonous creatures, the island may kill him before he learns the secret.

“The Secret” is a 10,000-word novelette from the world of Panamindorah, related to the Guild of the Cowry Catchers series. “The Secret” is a stand-alone story that can be enjoyed without reading Cowry Catchers, but the story will have more meaning for fans of the series.

This ebook includes the full text of the story, as well as access to the audio version. Instructions for easy audio download can be found at the end of the text. The MP3 is DRM-free and will play on any MP3 player. The story is over an hour long.

The text + audio bundle is available for $4.99 from Amazon and Smashwords.

This is the story that subscribers to my list voted on back in March. This story was more challenging for me than the previous novelettes. It is first person, epistolary - two forms that I've never written before. It took me longer to write it, but I think you will be pleased with the results. Chris Lester, who voices Gwain's character in the fullcast audio version of Cowry Catchers, performs the story.

After much debat, I have decided to make the text + audio bundle available on Amazon/Smashwords for 2-4 weeks. Then I will split the text and audio editions. I will put the audio up through ACX to Audible and iTunes, and I will make a text-only version of the story available on all ebook sites.

There are pluses and minuses to any method of getting the story. You know what you like. I'm giving you options.

I hope you enjoy "The Secret"!