James D. Macon

Zeal, a new-made Master Practitioner of the Arts, answers a summons from his Mentor, the living statue, Iris. When he travels to see her in the Mausoleum of the Temple of the Ladies of Life, where he’d spent his early seasons, she reveals knowledge that has been kept not only from him, but from every living person she’s encountered throughout her many seasons.

Zeal is shocked and awed when he learns of the integral role he has played in the Temple’s creation and his Mentor’s life path. Iris tells him the time has come for him to fulfill his critical obligation, which requires his going into the past. But how?

Charged by Iris with this daunting task, Zeal, her Champion, turns to his bonded Shadow Cat, Kit. Together, they seek guidance from those who are wiser than they. Allied with his friends, Tallen, the bard, and the mercenary commander, Tulip, Zeal hopes that everyone’s combined knowledge and talent will help him accomplish… the impossible. The fate of Iris, the Temple, and generations of children falls on Zeal’s shoulders. Indeed, the continued existence of his world is at stake. If he fails, everyone and everything he values will be lost.

Is Slag dead? The rare ring found on a body burned beyond all recognition suggests the Trade Master of Arlanda has been killed. Zeal, an apprentice Practitioner of the Arts, and Tulip, a Mercenary apprentice, are summoned to Arlanda to help discover the truth regarding their former mentor.

Zeal and Tulip, together with the Shadow Cat, Kit, and the apprentice Bard, Tallen, join with the Trade’s forces to investigate. If they fail to resolve this mystery, the continued existence of the Trade in Arlanda is threatened.

Unbeknownst to everyone, a powerful organization is working to destroy the Trade, and its members are willing to kill in order to succeed. The search for answers soon turns deadly.

In this eagerly awaited sequel to "Practitioner of the Arts," Zeal, a young Phosfire, and his Shadow Cat, Kit, seek out the cause of Mother Essmee’s distress, only to discover that Master Feneas is dying. Zeal is stricken at the thought of losing his esteemed Mentor in the Arts. And what happens when the bond between Mother Essmee, Feneas’s Shadow Cat, and her bond mate, Feneas, is shattered? Are Zeal and Kit destined to share Feneas’s and Essmee’s fate? Zeal’s close friends and fellow apprentices, Tulip and Tallen, offer to help save Master Feneas and Mother Essmee. The four young adventurers set off to find the mythical Tree of Life, a journey fraught with dangers, obstacles, and threats.To complicate matters, before they leave, Zeal is seized by a compulsion to open a hidden door he discovered in the Repository Archive, a highly restricted area. Ignoring the wisdom offered by his mentors, Zeal takes rash actions that set him on a perilous path and jeopardize his quest to aid Feneas.

In this exciting sequel to "Purveyors and Acquirers," if apprentice Zeal has any hope of learning how to control his explosive Phosfire talent, he must travel to the city of Havensharth and face the difficult challenge of becoming a Practitioner of the Arts. As he leaves behind those he loves, including Iris, the Temple of the Ladies of Life, and the Trade, who have all sheltered and protected him since he was an infant, he is joined by his best friend, Tulip, who decides to accompany him and study the Warrior’s Arts, herself.

Furthermore, Kit the Shadow Cat claims Zeal as her own and surprises him with her decision to travel along. Zeal soon learns the risks associated with his bond to this beloved, intelligent, yet fierce creature.

Zeal and Tulip are taken into the care of strangers: Master Ice, Zeal’s Mentor as a Practitioner, and Lady Mirada, a retired mercenary. While the young apprentices expand their skills and make new friends, their newfound abilities may not be enough to enable them to survive the dangers that await them.

In the port city of Arlanda, Zeal, an orphan with a mysterious benefactor, is an Apprentice in the shadowy organization known as the Trade. Through his training, mentorship, and natural skill, he rapidly becomes adept at procuring possessions and secrets that belong to others.

When one of his fellow apprentices is kidnapped by a group preying on Arlanda’s children, Zeal’s Mentors discover to their surprise that the kidnappers are using the conjuring arts to carry out their nefarious plot. Although the Apprentices are instructed to stay out of the matter and not endanger themselves further, Zeal and his fellow novices cannot stand aside. How can they, when their specific, intensive training can be used to help their friend?

Against their Mentors’ wishes, and in accordance with their lessons, they plan and act in secret. As they fight the threat to their Trade family, Zeal and his cohort meet adventure at every turn, while Zeal discovers he has unusual powers of his own, including the ability to talk to the dead.

James D Macon is an author located in Washington State. James' work, "Purveyors & Acquires", is the first in the series, "The Phosfire Journeys". The second volume in the series is, "Practitioner of the Arts". The third volume is, "Opener of Doors". The forth volume is "Guardian of the Trade" and the recently released fifth volume is "Champion of the Temple".

THANK YOU!

I wish to thank all who are reading "Purveyors and Acquires", "Practitioner of the Arts", "Opener of Doors", "Guardian of the Trade", and "Champion of the Temple". I hope you enjoy the stories and the characters. Personal reviews and comments have all been positive. Pass the word on for me.

J. D. Macon

1/12/22

I want to wish everyone a healthy and prosperous 2022. I hope you and your families are well and staying healthy. Please take care of yourselves and find a little time to enjoy a bit of reading. Thank you all for your interest in The Phosfire Journeys. I am deeply humbled and appreciative. 

James

Annie has autographed copies of all four books at The Neverending Bookshop. Check out her shop, say hello, and pick up a copy.

The Neverending Bookshop

7530 Olympic View Drive

Unit 105

Edmonds, WA 98026

435-415-1945

1/1/20

Hello there,

I was revisiting a posting that I wanted to reshare. It is a scene with Qwen being interviewed by Interested Party featured on author Angela Korra'ti's "Boosting the Signal" web site. I think you will find it entertaining. Click on the link below and enjoy.

James

http://www.angelahighland.com/2017/06/16/boosting-the-signal-purveyors-and-acquirers-by-james-d-macon/

You can find copies of my books at a location near you!

"Purveyors and Acquirers", "Practitioner of the Arts", "Opener of Doors", and "Guardian of the Trade" are available at Third Place Books for those who live in the area.

Third Place Books
17171 Bothell Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA, 98155

Signed copies of "Purveyors and Acquirers", "Practitioner of the Arts", "Opener of Doors", and "Guardian of the Trade" can be obtained at The Neverending Bookshop.

7530 Olympic View Drive

Unit 105 Edmonds, WA 98026.

The phone number Is (425) 415-1945.

Copies of "Purveyors and Acquirers", "Practitioner of the Arts", and "Opener of Doors can be obtained at MillGeek Comics. Go say hi to Russ.

17624 15th Ave SE

Suite #105A

Bothell, WA 98012

Qwen's Recipies:

Qwen's Bread Pudding

1 Dozen Eggs (plus the yolks of 3 others, separate the yolks and reserve

            for the sauce)

1 Quart Milk

1 Cup Sugar

1 ½ Teaspoon Cinnamon

½ Teaspoon Nutmeg

1 ½ Cup Raisins

1 ½ Cup Pecans

2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1 Teaspoon Salt

½ Stick of Butter (cut in pieces and add do not melt)

French Bread (enough to soak up custard, let harden a few days before use.

Cover and bake @ 375 for 50 minutes, then uncovered for 10-15 min more allowing the top to acquire a golden brown.

SAUCE: 

3 Egg yolks (from above)

1 Pound of Powdered Sugar

1 Pound of Butter

Alcohol of Choice Rum, Spiced Rum, Bourbon, etc. (Hard to find a concentrated form of Spiced Mead in our Terrene.)

Beat to Peaks