Di Francis

About me:

.. ...... So I'm a writer of fantasy fiction. My current available novels are the trilogy: Path of Fate, Path of Honor, and Path of Blood, and The Cipher, The Black Ship,and The Turning Tide, of the Crosspointe Chronicles, all available from Roc books.

The Path trilogy follows Reisil, a healer, who has been called to serve her land as a warrior/judge. She, of course, refuses. But then the daughter of a visiting ambassador is kidnapped, and Reisil has no choice but to accept if she wants to help her new friend. Soon she finds herself in the middle of a war, her land torn apart by malicious magic. Time is running out--if she does not find a way to stop the magic, her entire land could be destroyed. But soon she finds out that the people she trusts the most, can't be trusted at all.

The Cipher, is set on a magical inland sea. The story follows Lucy Trenton, a Customs Official whose longing for illegal magic may destroy her career, her friendship, her family, and her entire country.

The Black Ship is about Thorn, a Pilot on the magical Inland Sea. He finds himself kidnapped and forced to serve on a renegade ship, one that may be cursed. With an insane captain, a mutinous crew, and a traitor aboard, Thorn is forced to make terrible choices.

The Turning Tide is about Fairlie, Ryland and Shaye, three friends who find themselves at odds. One of them will betray another and when that happens, Crosspointe will be shaken to its core.

The books are available in all major bookstores.

Coming in October is my first Urban Fantasy novel titled Bitter Night. It is about Max, who has been forced into the service of a witch against her will, and finds herself in the center of a war that will decide the fate of all of humanity.

My website is at Diana Pharaoh Francis Home Come by and visit, read some excerpts, maps, links to resources, a host of short stories and articles that I've written that you can read for free, and some other treasures.

As far as more personal stuff, I live in Montana in a very small town, I teach college English, I have husband and two kids, and two welch corgis of the spoiled and pushy nature. I like all things chocolate, have a PhD in Victorian literature, I have a freakish weakness for Survivor and CSI, and some of my favorite authors are Carol Berg, Patricia Briggs, Anne Aguirre, Ilona Andrews, and P.C. Hodgell. I also write music reviews for Score if you ever get by there.

If you want to buy the books, click on a title:.... Path of Fate..... Path of Honor..... Path of Blood..... The Cipher: A Novel of Crosspointe..... The Black Ship: A Novel of Crosspointe

The Cipher is set on the island world of Crosspointe. It sits in the middle of a strange and magical inland sea. It's a treacherous sea, one that few can navigate safely. Lucy Trenton is customs official who has been accused of treason in the shape of stealing precious cargo--a magical substance needed to work powerful magics. She did not steal it. But all the evidence suggests she did. At the same time, a blackmailer has discovered the terrible secret she's been hiding, one that could destroy her family and her country if it gets out. Now she's in a race to stop the blackmailer from exposing her before she can be jailed for treason. And as if that weren't enough, she's been attached by a true cipher--a magical artifact that she is sure will kill her--it's only a matter of time. The only one she can go to for help is Marten Thorpe, a rogue sea-captain with secrets of his own; secrets that will can only hurt Lucy.

The Cipher has been given a 4 star review by The Romantic Times Book Review, and has been given stellar reviews by The Green Man Review and Fantasy and Sci-Fi Lovin' Book Reviews.

Some of their comments are: The Cipher is the first in a fascinating new series by Diana Pharoah Francis, and so far, it's shaping up to be a remarkably intriguing twist on the usual fantasy setting and There's actually a lot going on in this book, with several deep-layered plots weaving in and out, and it all culminates in an epic manner, laying down a status quo which will make the next book in the series, The Black Ship, all the more interesting.