The Bookshelf

Ashley W. Slaughter
The Crowned Chronicles

Ashley W. Slaughter was born and raised in South Louisiana. Post college, she and her husband lived in Guam for three years. They returned stateside after having their first child and now live in Sulphur, Louisiana. Writing has always been one of her passions, as illustrated through Ashley’s near-bursting manila folder of short stories she’d written during grade school. She began her publishing journey in 2021 with her debut award-winning young adult novel, Of Legends and Roses, the first of her Crowned Chronicles. The series follows passionate and determined Queen Rosemary who faces reign, love, the threat of war, and the mystifying world of the Talented.

In Of Legends and Roses, Queen Rosemary Avelia knows little about ruling a kingdom, and even less so about the ancient legends of her land. Since no one has been born Talented in centuries, she scoffs at the idea of magic. However, when the charming Prince Gryffin Danicio arrives just as her kingdom is under a deadly threat, he shows her that not all kingdoms of the Magian Peninsula have so quickly dismissed the legends of the Talented. Perhaps the Talented should not so easily be forgotten.

The second in the series, Of Deceit and Snow, finds Queen Rosemary out of control of her own life. In the kingdom of Tarasyn, she fights for her survival, playing to her captor’s wants and desires for a bride—and for her kingdom of Lecevonia. But how long can she keep up her game among the gilded courts of Tarasyn before King Gryffin discovers her ruse? An awakening of the Peninsula’s ancient magic is on the horizon. Rosemary must choose to stop it—or aid Gryffin in bringing it to fruition. But first, she must return home. And she cannot do it alone.

In the third and final installment of The Crowned Chronicles, expected in Fall 2025, Rosemary, Zeke, and Gryffin return in Of Reign and Embers, faced with deciding the fate of magic in their realm as a larger threat comes into play: the Rebels of the Red Sun and their relentless and vengeful leader Amicka. An Awakening is destined to happen, and everything will change—but will it be for the better?

Ashley writes fantasy, romance, and short stories. Her books can be found at Krew’s Books and Brews in Lake Charles, on her website, or any typical book retailer. Available in hardcover, paperback, and eBook.

The Value of Book Clubs

Reading has many health benefits, including reduced stress, improved sleep, enhanced empathy, plus mental and physical fitness. So, when you’re making those New Year’s resolutions this month, plan a visit to your local library. Or consider joining a book club! Book clubs give you an incentive to read and prompt you to discover genres you otherwise might not be drawn to. They’re also a great way to socialize and make new friends. Local bookshops and libraries often host book clubs or can offer suggestions on where to find one. Here are a couple clubs to consider.

The Totally R(e)ad Book Club in Lake Charles recently celebrated its 10th anniversary! This club was organized in 2014 by Mark Judson and Mary Villaume and is open to people of all backgrounds, both men and women. They focus on all genres of fiction, both classical and contemporary, and they’ve read 117 books to date. They meet the 3rd Sunday evening of each month. The club currently has 15 members and would welcome another woman or two. “We welcome all people who enjoy reading,” says Judson.

Silent Book Club Lake Charles is the local chapter in a non-traditional worldwide movement that encourages reading in a relaxed setting. Instead of all members reading the same book and then discussing, Silent Book Club members meet at various locations and read whatever they wish silently for an hour. Afterwards, they can share with others what they are reading, make new friends, or continue reading. There’s no pressure about what to read or deadlines. It’s BYOB – Bring Your Own Book! Find them on Facebook.