S.W. Kent
We’re delighted to start promoting and publicizing The Storyteller from Balincia: Book One of the Driftstone Series by author and executive consultant S.W. Kent, forthcoming from Belquis and Martel Publishing.
S.W. Kent is the author pseudonym for Alexander Amonett Lopez, who lives with his husband and his familiar in the Pacific Northwest.
Before becoming an author, Alex enjoyed a twenty-year career as a coach, counselor, and executive leader, focusing on equity and human rights in the consulting, insurance, and tech industries. He has won multiple DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) awards throughout his career, including the Best DEI Initiative in U.S. Insurance. His proudest achievements include partnering with NAAIA (National African American Insurance Association) and LAAIA (Latin American Insurance Association of Agencies) to release two groundbreaking industry reports, advancing dialogue around the Black and Latinx professional communities.
An accredited leadership coach, Alex has served on the Board of Directors for Pride Houston, multiple corporate DEI Advisory Councils, and has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Currently, Alex is the founder and CEO of Belquis and Martel Publishing LLC, an indie publishing company dedicated to promoting underrepresented narratives in fantasy fiction and helping diverse and marginalized authors navigate non-traditional publishing routes. The Storyteller from Balincia is his debut novel and the first work published by his company.
The Storyteller from Balincia : Book One of the Driftstone Series
An epic fantasy series crafted for all those who, as children, never found reflections of themselves in the pages of a Fairy Tale. World-building for a new generation — where anyone can be the hero, love knows no limits, and magic thrives unrestricted by prejudice.
What if there was more to the world than you knew? What if magic truly existed? How far would you go to uncover the truth?
In Balincia, no one ever questioned what was-when what is– is all one would ever need to know. Every citizen was granted provision and purpose by the twin witches who ruled from the floating isles of Chaos and Order. Surrounded by majestic mountains and cascading waterfalls, every aspect of a Balincian’s life was idyllic, nurtured with intention and measured. What more did one need?
Enter Birk, the witches’ nephew and a young Storyteller, whose life is turned upside down when a mysterious stranger presents him with a magical book in dire need of an author. As Birk uncovers the shocking truth that the world he knows is merely a fraction of a far grander reality, he sets out on an epic quest to delve into his aunt’s hidden past.
Joined by a fierce new generation of witches, he teams up with Zara, a fearless warrior princess; Grey, a gentle soul with a secret; his spirited little sister Brynn; and Thalon, the arrogant heir of the Elven Witch from the Living Forest. Carrying the weight of their ancestors’ choices, they race against time to unravel a daunting prophecy. The group must prevent the evil Bog Witch and her terrifying horde of Arcanivores from breaking free from the Under and obliterating the balanced scales of magic.
Will Birk and his newfound allies succeed in this high-stakes battle for the future of their world? Or will the high cost of truth lead to a darker fate? Questions might lead to discomfort. Discomfort might lead to confrontation. Confrontation might upset balance…and balance is everything.
Adventure awaits in a page-turning thriller and a stunning debut by S.W. Kent.
S.W. Kent builds a fantasy world where diversity is intentional, not forced. Queer, Black, and Female narratives take the lead, defying the stereotypes often assigned to them in the Fantasy genre. This series will undoubtedly hold a special place on your shelf and in your hearts.
“Everyone has a story to share; maybe yours is waiting to reveal itself.”
Stay tuned for updates!
