The Runaway Queen, A Fire and Fury Prequel Novella Read online

  Acknowledgments

  There are some amazing people who had a hand in helping me develop my story. My critique group has really put up with my tendency toward melodrama (called me on it every single time) and helped me see how less is more. Thanks Heidi#1 (Thornock), Heidi#2 (Wilde), and Mindy Strunk, great ladies who have become good friends.

  Thanks to Dad who is a prolific reader but sighs a lot when he has to endure romance scenes (give him a Tom Clancy thriller and he’s good to go), Mom who has no problem with romance scenes, and Deanne Cummings who always encouraged me because she enjoyed the way my words flowed.

  Thanks to my sister Juli Caldwell, who is a wonderful fellow writer and editor and wasn’t afraid to tell me to hire a professional editor outside the family. She was, however, willing to help me with alpha reading, final line editing, and formatting. I couldn’t have done any of this without her help. Her advice, stories, writing style, and spunky narrative voice are an inspiration to me.

  And most of all, thanks to my guys — Gene, Daniel, and JC, for putting up with all the hours I spent glued to my computer monitor. The series has been years in the making and you’ve been over-the-top loving and supportive. I must’ve heard this a thousand times: “Just publish your book, Mom!” Just so you know, none of this means a thing without you.

  About the Author

  Shantal grew up climbing trees, riding bikes, roller skating, and playing on the beaches of Southern California. Once the family moved to Utah, she paid her way through college while modeling and acting, a life so out of the ordinary that it triggered her imagination and her confidence to write. She earned a B.A. in History from Weber State University and an M.A. in English from the University of Utah, and she has been developing stories ever since.

  She still lives in glorious, beautiful Utah with her husband and two sons who had the audacity to grow up. In addition to reading and writing, Shantal enjoys being outside in her garden, hiking, camping, traveling, and skiing (both kinds―recreation is king in Utah), and hanging out with her kids. She’ll come inside to bake, mostly cookies, but anything will do as long as there is chocolate. Catch up on her adventures on her blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and G+. If you’d like more info about future releases sent directly to your inbox, sign up for her newsletter here.

  The Runaway Queen

  A Prequel Novella

  Copyright © 2017 by Shantal Sessions

  The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the right under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  Dedicated to Jerry and Sandy Hiatt

  For Dad who gave me the gift and Mom who can spend hours with a good book.

  Thanks for the best kind of love.