A Chance Beginning: Book One of the Shadow's Fire Trilogy

*****Reader's Favorite Award Winner in Epic Fantasy*****

Every heart has a quest . . . and every journey begins with a first step

Erik Eleodum never wanted to be a hero. Fate had a different plan.


Erik is content farming for his family for the rest of his life, while his brother and cousin can't think of a worse fate. For different reasons, they leave the life they know behind. Soon, their world crashes down around them as they realize it is cruel, brutal, selfish, and violent. Now, they must not only rely on one another, but also on gypsies, thieves, mercenaries, dwarves, and a mage for their survival.

In the end, Erik will face danger, deceit, murder, death, evil, and - most terrifyingly - himself to become the hero he was always meant to be as an ancient evil many thought only a myth resurfaces.

Enter a world readers have compared to the epic fantasies of Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, a world of adventure, terror, political intrigue, sorcery, and great heroic deeds. Come face to face dwarves, slavers, black mages, ruthless warriors, dragons. Come live in a world full of evil and fear.
This is a true hero's journey of faith, one of friendships, of trials and increasing danger. It all came from A Chance Beginning...

Christopher Patterson lives in Tucson, Arizona with his wife, Kellie, and children. A Tucson native, Christopher studied literature and creative writing at the University of Arizona and currently teaches in Tucson. He gained a love for adventure and fantasy at a young age and started writing fantasy-adventure stories using his grandmother's typewriter. She would title all of his stories "The Next Great American Novel." His family has always been encouraging and supportive of his craft and it was in college when he discovered he desired a career as an author and began seriously writing. He has also played the guitar for over 20 years and is active in both the music and youth ministries at church. Christopher is also involved in sports, coaching both wrestling and football, and competing in power lifting.