Like Fantasy with a Japanese Flair? Here's a good new author...

Gloria Oliver is the author of “In the Service of Samurai” and “Vassal of El”, both fantasy novels. To find out more please visit www.gloriaoliver.com

Published Works
In the Service of Samurai - YA/Adult Japanese Fantasy

Short Excerpt:

“I have seen with my own eyes the dead can haunt the living.” Toshi carefully removed Asaka’s wakizashi from its sheath. “I swear to you, if you do not accept what I have brought and restore the honor due to the Asaka clan, I will commit seppuku right here and now and haunt you with my spirit the rest of your life.” He didn’t wait for Asano’s reaction, but instead focused his gaze on the naked blade before him. He wasn’t samurai, but he would come back. He would give the ultimate protest by ending his life and then force his spirit to return to perpetuate it for eternity if need be. What Asano was doing was wrong. And he wasn’t about to allow all he and the others had gone through to be in vain. He would haunt Asano and those of his line until justice was served!
Laying the blade on the floor before him, he parted his kimono until his stomach lay exposed. He tucked his sleeves beneath his legs to hold him upright if he should falter. Ignoring Asano, he took up the blade. His shoulder flared with pain and he tried not to flinch, as he grabbed the blade with both hands. He turned the wakizashi until its sharp point was aimed at his belly, the residence of his soul.
Closing his eyes, he calmly begged the Great Buddha not to allow him to be taken to his next life. Quickly, he tried composing a short death poem as he’d heard samurai often did, but nothing he came up with satisfied him. Instead, he pictured in his mind the way he had dreamed Asaka and Miko would have appeared in real life. He let Himiko’s young face drift above theirs and was again sorry she and Miko would never meet.
Slowly, he stretched out his arms and tensed, his eyes still closed. With a sharp intake of breath, he pulled them in to plunge the blade into his stomach.

General Info and Sample Chapters - www.gloriaoliver.com/samurai.html
Reviews - www.gloriaoliver.com/reviews.html
Published: 2002 from Zumaya Publications (www.zumayapublications.com )
ISBN : 1-894869-67-2