Countries do not fight each other. Men fight each other.

And they only fight so that they can stop fighting and go home. It is the most horrific irony in the world. The once-peaceful nations of Mitoch and Fairgos are locked in a bitter war. Lady Aurora, however, has known only quiet privilege for her 21 years inside the walls of the Cavalcata manor house. As the educated, eavesdropping daughter of the Fairgosian Royal War Master, she is confident she knows more than most . . . except when the promised Fairgosian victory will bring her father home for good. But when the currents of war sweep her, half alive, to the shores of brutal, backwards Mitoch, Aurora will unlearn everything she thought she knewabout the war, her country, her father, and herselfand discover what is really worth fighting for.

About the Book

The War Masters Daughter tells the story of battles we all fightthose we wage with each other and also within ourselves.

Title Information
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9848945-8-1 Price: $14.95 Pub. Date: December 2011 Category: Fiction/ General Fiction Format: 8.5 x 5.5 (paperback) Pages: 346 Territory: World Edition Number: 1 eBook ISBN: 978-0-9848945-1-2 Price: $2.99 Format: PDF, EPUB, MOBI, HTML, RTF, LRF, PDB Wholesale Orders and Consignment Available through CreateSpace Direct: www.createspace.com/info/createspacedirect For consignment, email SMLXBooks@gmail.com View this media kit online: www.warmastersdaughter.com

A fantastic book! The War Masters Daughter was incredible, poignant, infuriating, intriguing, romantic, and addresses many of lifes big questions. Amanda Harris, Amazon A hybrid of historical fiction, adventure, romance, and even a bit of mystery. I felt anger, sympathy, frustration, fear, excitement, and most importantly, I felt an overwhelming desire to follow the lives of these characters. Carrie Hoffman, Amazon Rife with philosophical metaphors on the nature of man and humanity, Zupko tackles heavy themes with grace. I genuinely didnt want the story to end. - Kelly Leard, Alien Red Queen An extremely impressive debut novel. A philosophical fairytalea political Rapunzel storyin which the fantastic is replaced by questions of the self and the world. Rance Denton, The Action Prose Within the first 20 pages, I was hooked. The character development is fantastic and left me wishing for more. I am pleased to have found a new author to follow. Brandy Queen, Amazon I purchased The War Masters Daughter yesterday afternoon and only managed to stop reading for work and sleep. Zupko has a talent for beautiful lines and rhythmic phrases that make the book a joy to read Candice Hill, Amazon

Praise for the Book

Averaging on Amazon.com

Review of The War Masters Daughter

To suggest that Elly Zupkos The War Masters Daughter is merely a historical fiction novel would be to ignore a great number of its evident strengths. Simultaneously, pigeonholing the novel into any specific genre would be to discredit its willingness to step outside its comfort zones. . . . Zupkos book is a fantastic independent offering the intense strengths. . . . After the death of a loved one, Lady Aurora of Cavalcata the daughter of a popular military strategist commits herself to an unlikely adventure that incubates doubts about her faith, her love of country, and her very purpose in the world. The novel is less about the history, however, than it is the philosophy and the romance. The philosophies of Descarte, Locke, and Socrates all make small cameos as Aurora discovers that the world around her is stranger, more violent, and more unforgiving than she could have A philosophical ever imagined. Zupkos . . . A political use of detail story. and character insight is masterful. . . . [T]he climax is speedy and exciting in both story and form, the way a good conclusion should be. Her dialogue constantly moves the tale along, helping characters develop strong and unlikely relationships. Zupko also uses time as a flexible tool, straying away from the clichd flashback in favor of a non-consecutive storytelling form that leaps back and forth between many years without dissolving the novels tension. . . .

Rapunzel

Fairy Tale.

Zupkos book is a philosophical fairy-tale a political Rapunzel story in which the fantastic is replaced by questions of the self and the world. While Lady Aurora is an interesting and exciting character to follow, she is regrettably eclipsed by the complex characters stacked up around her. The people with whom she comes in contact are varied, charismatic, and layered. Storey a young man from the opposing country Mitoch is an ever-changing character who is equally sentimental, unpredictable, wise, and constantly growing. Cashel, the villain, is frightening and manic, driven by a maddeningly simple principle: the more killing that can be done, the more power to which one has access. One of the novels most unsettling scenes comprises a torture overseen by Cashel himself, gritty in its details and disturbing for how blissful Cashel acts while it transpires.

Unlike many novels nowadays, The War Masters Daughter is a one-and-done job the conclusion and resolution give very little room for a sequel of any real importance. Auroras story is told. When the final page is done, readers are forced to leave the 16th-century European fictional countries of Fairgos and Mitoch, which may leave some wanting to know more of the detailed world, its politics, its varying forms of faith, and its national relationships. Zupkos successful development of such a complex world merits one question: If not through Aurora, will readers ever get the opportunity to return? Zupkos world seems rife with future storytelling possibilities.

The War Masters Daughter is an extremely impressive debut novel. It overflows with talent and storytelling ability. It captures plenty of realism while incorporating just enough fiction. While historical fiction fans may find less history than they expect and romance readers less bodiceripping than they normally desire, Zupkos book is certainly not bereft of value it overflows with a story that stands strong on the heels of politics and philosophy. It is a solid, satisfying piece of fiction that keeps a consistent tone and never wanders outside its realm of believability.
Excerpted from The Action Prose

Press Release
December 11, 2011 Baltimore, MD Maryland native and Baltimore City resident Elly Zupko has released her first novel, The War Masters Daughter, a historical fantasy set in 16thcentury eastern Europe. Zupko published the book independently through the SMLX Books imprint, as a paperback and an eBook. In the book, the once-peaceful nations of Mitoch and Fairgos are locked in a bitter war. Privileged Lady Aurora and farmhand Storey should be enemies, but they find themselves trying to stay alive in the face of a power much darker than anything theyve faced before. Zupko said, One of the major themes of the book is that we cannot be arrogant about our knowledge, because knowledge is not necessarily wisdom, and it is not necessarily truth. In this modern world, were blasted with content and information, and its more important than ever to be able to parse out the truth. The novel is demonstrating appeal to a cross-over audience of adults and young adults, and it is already receiving 5-star reviews on Amazon.com. One reviewer said, I purchased The War Masters Daughter yesterday afternoon and only managed to stop reading for work and sleep. Zupko has a talent for beautiful lines and rhythmic phrases that make the book a joy to read. The book has also been reviewed on several blogs, and Zupko is planning a full-blown blog tour for October. Using print-on-demand technology, the paperback is available through SMLX Books as well as through Amazon and multiple book re-sellers. Zupko worked with Smashwords to distribute the eBook in a variety of formats, including iBook. Independent publishing offers a more personal experience for myself and my readers, not to mention a larger cut of the royalties, total creative control, and a much shorter publishing cycle, said Zupko. Whats not to love? ### For more information, contact SMLXBooks@gmail.com.

www.warmastersdaughter.com www.ellyzee.com @EllyZupko www.facebook.com/thewarmastersdaughter

NH Alumni Elly Zupko publishes book

April 2011 she submitted to 30 agents, over 20 of them returned some form of rejection. Zupko said, If one person is going to decide the fate of my book, it is going to be me. She did make it happen.

The War Masters Daughter is now available in paperback and e-book formats. John Updike said, I would rather have as my patron a host of anonymous citizens digging into their own pockets for the price of a book or a magazine than a small body of enlightened and responsible men administering public funds.
Zupko decided to live by this idea when she independently published her novel under the SMLX books imprint. What does this mean? According to her blog, Zupko said, As an author, I make approximately six times the royalties if you purchase from the publisher instead of from Amazon. That means more money goes toward the independent artist instead of to one of the largest corporations in the world. Independent publishing, like any independent art, functions best when there is an active conversation between the artist and the patrons,the author and the readers. There are many famous authors in history who also selfpublished their own work,, including Mark Twain, Walt Whitman,Thomas Paine, Edgar Allan Poe, TS Elliot, Henry David Thoreau, and Virginia Woolf. According to Zupko, The War Masters Daughter tells the story of battles we all fightthose with each other and those we wage within ourselves. In the novel, the main character is Lady Aurora of Cavalcata, the daughter of a popular military strategist. She commits herself to an unlikely adventure that incubates doubts about her faith, her love of country, and her very purpose in the world. The novel is less about the history, however, than it is the philosophy and the romance. The philosophies of Descarte, Locke, and Socrates all make a small appearance as Aurora discovers that the world around her is stranger, more violent, and more unforgiving than she could have ever imagined. In the book, Zupko writes, Countries do not fight each other. Men fight each other. And they only fight so that they can stop fighting and go home. It is the most horrific irony in the world.

Originally printed in The Cry of the Hawk Friday, February 24, 2012 By Katelyn Linson

The War Masters Daughter is a new novel by Elly Zupko, an alumni of North Harford.
Zupko currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland, but she grew up in the Pylesville area on a four-acre property. She graduated from Goucher College in 2003 with a degree in English and writing. Her first job out of college was at a small Baltimore publishing house, where she edited 11 novels that would go on to publication. This experience gave her an edge on navigating the rapidly changing publishing world, and she shares her experience and knowledge on her blog, Stuff Your Eyes with Wonder. She has had both fiction and non-fiction pieces published in a variety of outlets, such as Preface, The Eloquent Atheist, The Baltimore Writers Project, Why Vandalism? and APMPs Executive Summary. Her short stories What It Means to Be Alone and Fixed are available to read online through their respective publications. Writing a book is a challenging endeavor for any aspiring author, and Zupkos experience was no different. In

Q&A With the Author

Why did you choose independent publishing over legacy publishing?
There are so many reasons, and every day I find more. The biggest reason is that publishing a book has been the most important dream of my life. I realized I didnt want someone else to control whether that dream came true. With print-on-demand technology, the rise of eBooks, and social media channels, indie publishers now have the same power legacy publishers have: I can get my book to market, I can market the book, I can reach readers. My reward is a more personal experience for myself and my readers . . . not to mention a larger cut of the royalties, total creative control, and a much shorter publishing cycle. Whats not to love?

About the Author

Elly Zupko is a professional writer living in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. She grew up in rural Harford County on a four-acre property, graduating in 1999 from North Harford High School, where she was active in many organizations including marching band and Odyssey of the Mind. Elly attended Goucher College on a full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, where she majored in English with a concentration in writing and minored in Fine Art. She wrote for the school newspaper, The Quindecim, and interned as a music reviewer and horoscope writer at UR Baltimore. At Goucher, Elly studied under acclaimed novelist and National Book Award finalist Madison Smartt Bell. She had multiple stories published in the literary magazine Preface before graduating in 2003. Since then, Elly has had both her fiction and essays published in a variety of outlets, including The Eloquent Atheist, The Baltimore Writers Project, and Why Vandalism? . Professionally, Elly is a business writer specializing in proposal writing, marketing, and business development. She trains organizations in proposal writing and is active in the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (the APMP). At the intersection of her business writing and fiction writing life, the APMPs professional publication, Executive Summary, recently published her article, What Hemingway Can Teach Us About Proposal Writing. Elly previously worked at a small Baltimore publishing house, where she edited 11 novels that would go on to publication. Today, she is an active proponent of the independent publishing movement and founded SMLX Books in 2011.

You worked in publishing at the beginning of your career. What lessons did you apply when publishing The War Masters Daughter?
The most important thing I learned is to manage my expectations. I was so passionate about the books we put out; I fully expected any one of them could turn into a bestseller. I learned quickly, however, that the quality of a book does not equate to sales. These are two independent variables, the latter of which relies mostly on elements out of the authors or publishers control. We deal with a whimsical public, and success is much more about luck than its about blood, sweat, or tears. So I learned to write the best book I could, package it beautifully, and find ways to connect with readersbut not to hitch my ego to sales figures. If I did, Id never write another book, and thats the worst possible outcome.

Did you have any help?

I like to joke that Im an author, not a jobs bill. But seriously, part of the reason I chose indie publishing is my ability to fulfill all the roles throughout the publishing cycle. Having edited lots of novelsmany of them now publishedIm a very skilled editor and proofreader. Its still very, very difficult to edit my own work, and I may not choose that route next time, but I think I did a serviceable job with The War Masters Daughter and reviewers have commended me for it. There are legacy-pubbed books with more typos than mine! I also

The War Masters Daughter is her first novel.

have the graphic design skills to lay out the interior and exterior. And finally, my experience working at a small press taught me a lot about traditional marketing as well as guerilla tactics. Im learning social media as I go, but who isnt? The only help I got was from Brooke Shaden, the photographer of the beautiful artwork on the front cover, and a few designers whose work I used under Creative Commons. There exists a wonderful community of creative people who want to share their work without expecting anything in return. Im trying to pay it forward by keeping the price point of my eBook very low.

All that said, some of my favorite fiction writers are Ray Bradbury for his ambience and emotion, and Vladimir Nabokov for his unmatched command of language.

What do you want readers to get out of The War Masters Daughter?
First and foremost, I want them to enjoy the read. While its not a page-turner in the classic sense, Ive gotten a lot of feedback from readers that they couldnt put the book down. Thats a wonderful compliment. But what I want most is for the book to stay with them after they put it down. I hope that I raised some ideas in The War Masters Daughter that cause readers to contemplate and maybe even question some of their beliefs about the world. In the book, one of the main characters, Storey, says, We must always know that we cannot know, and understand that we cannot understand. Unravel your knowledge, and there you will find the truth. This is one of the major themes of the book: we cannot be arrogant about our knowledge, because knowledge is not necessarily wisdom, and it is not necessarily truth. In this modern world, were blasted with content and information, and its more important than ever to be able to parse out the truth.

Tell us more about the beautiful photograph on the cover.

My original cover concept was an image of the protagonist, Aurora, underwater. Its one of the earliest and most important scenes in the book, where Aurora unwillingly gets washed towards the unknown shores of another country. During my research, I was lucky enough to stumble onto Brooke Shadens work on Flickr. She specializes in underwater portraiture, and even teaches classes in it. Little did I know that featuring a woman underwater was one of the most popular book covers of the past couple years. Imaginary Girls, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, A Blue So Dark, Breathless, etc. etc. all have similar covers to what I was considering. I realized quickly this was not the route I wanted to take, and I was lucky Brookes work is incredibly diverse. When I saw The Untamed Passage, I saw Aurora making her fateful leap into the river. It was like Brooke took a still right out of the book and I knew I had found my cover.

So whats next for you?

I plan to continue independently publishing through SMLX Books. Im halfway through the first draft of my next novel, Bugged, which is a complete departure from The War Masters Daughter. What the two books have in common is an intimate cast exploring big ideas. I also have a short story in the works, and outlines for the next several books, including some science fiction and possibly a sequel to TWMD. Im also working with some terrific filmmakers to create a book trailer for TWMD. Weve scouted locations, drafted the storyboard, and hired the actress to play Aurora. All thats left is to shoot and edit the trailer. Well release the trailer later this year to coincide with my book release party and a virtual book tour. There really arent enough hours in the day for everything I want to accomplish, so Im incredibly grateful I have the resources to make things happen on my own schedule. View this media kit online: www.warmastersdaughter.com

Who are your influences as a writer?

I think when most novelists answer this question, they usually name other novelists. While I love novels, I dont think they influence my writing the most. Great fiction makes me want to write, which is naturally essential. But I am most actively influenced by the ideas I get from non-fiction, including philosophy, religious texts, science writing, and narrative nonfiction. Right now, Im reading Walden for the first time and also a book on neuroscience, The Tell-Tale Brain. Im also a huge fan of Radiolab, a science podcast from WNYC. I love to take real world ideas and explore them in the context of fictional characters.