Ethan Howard's Blog, page 2

Know Thy Self (A review of Book Three)

Know Thy Self by Ethan Howard (Opportvnvs Adest Series Book 3)



Know Thy Self
by Ethan Howard

My rating: 5 stars
 
Series: Opportvnvs Adest –BOOK 3
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; Book Three edition (March 20, 2017)
Genre: Fantasy
Paperback: 254 pages
AVAILABLEfrom: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

It is the year 2020. Rex Talion and his Quid Pro Quo have pushed the unsuspecting population to the brink of the greatest war the planet has ever seen.

Regina Tate is the only one aware of Talion’s insidiousPLANS and the impending Degan invasion. For this reason, she and her son Dante have been marked for death by the most unlikely source.

Quentin, the man from the stars sent to Earth on a mission to save the planet has ultimately ignored his responsibilities. The powerful Vestigare with a dark secret has entered into a relationship with Regina and this action may spell doom for the planet and all of existence.

Experience the explosive convergence as these three characters uncover revelations aboutTHEMSELVES and others that will lead Earth on a collision course towards destruction……

Know Thy Self by Ethan Howard
(Opportvnvs Adest SeriesBOOK 3)

The planet is teetering on the brink of a war of cataclysmic proportions and doesn’t even realize it. People are being blindly led like lambs to slaughter by Rex Talion and only one woman knows the truth. “They” are coming and “They” will be unstoppable and “We” will need a miracle toSURVIVE.

Regina, a woman of deep personal convictions knows too much, so she and her son must die. For anyone who still believes we are alone in the universe, on this plane of existence or any other, prepare to become part of the End as an inter-galactic battle between good and evil is being staged on the chess board called Earth. Discover possible truths behind the faiths we cling to. Are the Powers we believe in actually alien beings seeking to test our resolve? Do we deserve toSURVIVE as a species?

As the players line up, the parallels between religious beliefs and alien tampering are terrifying. Has Talion come to cleanse the earth or is he evil run amok in a world seeking instant gratification preparing us to become his minions in hell? Has our true savior been among us? Quentin was sent to save our world, but he fell in love. Has he lost his way, misunderstood his mission? What role will Regina take on and how did this God-fearing woman become the warrior she is and finally Dante, a young and innocent child, who could he become and what would he stand for? Has the primordial soup boiled over leaving the truth of the world exposed, just as it is ending or will humans be givenA SECOND CHANCE to get things right?…not if Talion has his way…

KNOW THY SELF could be Ethan Howard’s best addition to the Opportvnvs Adest Series as he rains chaos down on a clueless world eager for the pleasures of life. The simply brilliant imaginings from his mind have been shared and trust me the action is non-stop, the betrayals are brutal and the revelations can be heart stopping. From start to finish, this tale is amazing, rich with details that only add to the chaos and turmoil as Earth becomes the tennis ball in final match forSURVIVAL.

Its time to meet another author, spread your reading wings and take flight into the world Ethan Howard has created. Mr. Howard has the of suggestion down pat as he leads his readers into a world of what ifs, whys, and cause and effect as time runs out on humanity.

Enemy of The Human Race (A Review of Book Two)

Enemy of the Human Race (Hostis Humani Generis) by Ethan Howard (Opportvnvs #2)



Enemy of the Human Race
by Ethan Howard

My rating: 4 stars
 
Series: Opportvnvs Adest –BOOK 2
PUBLISHER Imprint Publishing (March 30, 2016)
Publication Date: March 30, 2016
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; Book Two edition (March 20, 2017)
ISBN-10: 1544713177
ISBN-13: 978-1544713175
Genre: Dark Fiction
Print Length: 297 pages
Available from: Amazon

A once young child of strong religious background and faith is now a man full of unparalleled malevolence.

Rex Talion is the great deceiver and he carries the mark of the Degans. He is the Anti-Life for planet Earth, the third and final great evil foretold in Degan prophecy to pave the way for the most terrifying life-form the universe has ever spawned, the Discarded One. The otherworldly allies Talion has gathered to set hisPLANS in motion will stop at nothing to see the planet fall.

Hostis Humani Generis chronicles the loss of innocence, the deconstruction of an individual’s humanity and the creation of a madman.

Enemy of the Human Race (Hostis Humani Generis)

by Ethan Howard(Opportvnvs #2)

He was once a well-loved little boy. Born to wealth and privilege, there was nothing he couldn’t have, but hisPARENTS raised him in the faith of their church, and his heart was filled with light and goodness. But his life, his goals and his memories changed when his parents died one fateful night.

No longer did he believe in goodness. No longer did he believe in God and no longer did he think his life was anything less than a living nightmare. He became a student of people, life control andPOWER and his name became Rex Talion. One of the most powerful and wealthiest men on earth, he was now guided by a monster, an evil power that became his mentor and his quest was to conquer the entire world.

With the calculated manipulations of alien beings, Talion was on his way to dark greatness and any means available, any pawns in play would be his vehicle to darkPOWER. But was Talion really just another puppet dangling from the jagged wires of an all-powerful evil?

ENEMY OF THE HUMAN RACE by Ethan Howard is a terrifying journey into the madness of a man who had it all and gave it up to become the master of his own dark malevolence.

Ethan Howard’s world is raw, primal and very soulless as Talion sinks further into the madness of his own machinations. What drives one man toward the light and goodness? What pulls another into the abyss of hell, reveling in the pain of others inSEARCH of the ultimate power? Mr. Howard creates monsters from other worlds, voices in the dark and bloody violence and depravity of every kind.

Tread carefully through the maze that is veiled in darkness as we witness the fall of good and rise of evil told in bold strokes with no sensibilities left unscathed. There are times the fall may be and painful, others when it seems to drop with the speed of a broken elevator, one thing for sure, the descent is terrifying. You may find yourself watching for things that go bump in the shadows…intriguing writing, demonic scenes, horror fans, this is for you!

A Fun Interview with Mercedes Fox

Hello out there.

One of the many enjoyable things about writing is getting to know new people. Here is an April interview with fellow writer and blogger, Mercedes Fox:

Why do you write?  The sheer joy of creating stories and characters. This an outlet for an over active imaginative mind that never stops thinking about endless possibilities.

When did you decide to become a writer?  I thought about it for years, but when I truly decided to write was in 2012 when I came home from the Middle East and realized it was time for a new challenge.

How long does it usually take you to complete a book?  6-7 months.

What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?  Talking to my wife in the kitchen about writing and she said “Why don’t you start writing? There’s nothing stopping you.” I started that night.

Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?  Best time for me is late Friday and late Saturday night. After I have spent my time with family and everyone is tucked in, I start writing.

How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?  I have read hundreds of books for enjoyment in the past. Now, I go back and STUDY them. Meaning, I look HOW someone writes. Tone, foreshadowing, structure, etc.  Alan Moore, Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, H.G. Wells are just a few of my teachers.

Do you listen to music or watch TV/movie while you write?  I listen to music on my iPod. I enjoy all kinds of music, but for writing the content I have, it is very specific. Smashing Pumpkins, Deftones, Godsmack, 311, Godsmack, Sevendust, CKY, Korn, Papa Roach all put me in a creative state of mind. Go figure.

What have you written?

Tales of the Unexpected

Starry Messenger

Enemy of The Human Race

Know Thy Self

End of All Things

Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just seeing where an idea takes you?  Always outline the plots first. Create profiles and detailed histories on the character—even if I do not show the histories to the reader. Once I know the characters inside and out, the dialogue is considerably easier to write.

Do you design your own book covers or have someone else? If you use someone else would you tell us who/website?  Julia Sage is my designer. She is terrific. Detailed, professional, timely, and patient. Oh, and she is a nice person too.

Julia Sage Photography and Talent Promotion   @juliasagephotography

Is there any marketing technique you used that had an immediate impact on your sales figures?  Scheduling book signings with local book store. Great way to interact with the public and actively promote your product.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?  Keep writing. Write for yourself. SOMEONE will read it and SOMEONE will like it.

Give us an insight into your main character. What does he do that is so special?  Quentin is very complex and we can all relate to him. Yes, he is an alien with great power but the reader can see his/herself in him. He is isolated, lonely, and full of doubt. He questions authority and is confused by his own action. He rebels and does the very thing his superiors tell him not to do. I think there is a little of Quentin in all of us.

Where do your ideas come from?  Traveling the world. Reading everything I can. Talking to diverse people and getting their opinions on life itself. Staring up at the sky and just imagining.

What is the hardest thing about writing?  Devoting the proper time to do it and balancing the rest of your life.

What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?  Coming to the end and saying goodbye to the characters.

What is your favorite movie or TV show?  Favorite movie: LA Confidential.

Which writers inspire you?  Too many to count but I will give you one: Alan Moore.

What is the current book you are promoting?  All four books in the Opportvnvs Adest series are now out. Binge reading at its finest.

Starry Messenger
Enemy of The Human Race.
Know Thy Self
End Of All Things.

Who is your favorite character in your book and why?  Quentin, for the reasons I stated earlier.

Who is your least favorite character and why?  Dante Tate. He is a ten-year-old boy who I wish was not such a little pain.

Do you have any formal education in creative writing? If not are you planning to go to school?  Studied creative writing in college.

If your book were made into a movie, whom would you cast?

Quentin: Idris Alba

Regina Tate: Ruth Wilson

Rex Talion: Jason Isaacs

What is your next project?  Opportvnvs Adest series created an entire universe of worlds and characters. I am finishing a encyclopedia ( A-Z) with every character, world, weapon, item, directly, or indirectly related to the stories.

The other project (and the most enjoyable) is a timeline for my alternative universe. This ambitious time line begins 4.6 billion years ago and ends 2020 CE.  It gives you a crash course on the Opportvnvs Adest Earth. Everything from the pyramids to the Kennedy assassination is in there. Unexplained, weird things throughout history are explained.

Who is your favorite fictional character and why?  Professor John Robinson from the Lost in Space. He was the perfect blend of brains and brawn. He was brave, heroic, and a family man.

If there was one thing you could do to change the world, what would it be?  Homelessness.

Who inspires your writing?  Alan Moore. Richard Matheson. Ernest Hemmingway. Henry James. Ray Bradbury. Ian Fleming. Phillip K. Dick. Lewis Carroll. Virginia Woolf, H.G. Wells. Mary Shelly. John Wyndham. Isaac Asimov. Stan Lee.

Where do you come up with your stories?  By studying history. I tried to explain the unexplained by putting a science fiction/fantasy twist on it.

If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?  Casino Royale. Ian Fleming created one of the most iconic, most imitated, characters in the last one hundred years. And it turned into a billion-dollar movie franchise. Not bad.

What is one great lesson you have learned as a writer?  Save your work in several places! Including on a pin drive. Listen to your editor. I started out with Latin titles for my books. I did a live interview and host and audience could not pronounce the names.

Do have a favorite car or truck model?  BMW 325i.

Do you ever feel self-conscious when writing love/sex scenes?  No. It is a natural instinct in all creatures on Earth. Whenever I write a scene like that, I make sure it fits the story and not just gratuitous smut.

What are some of your favorite books and why?  The Martian Chronicles. Frankenstein. Old Man & The Sea. Portrait of a Lady. The Iliad. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. A Tale of Two Cities. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. The Day of the Triffids. War of The Worlds. I, Robot. Rabbit Run. Lord of the Flies. Just great reads.

Are you currently reading a book or just finished one?  The Dictionary of Imaginary Places by Alberto Manguel. This fine piece of literature catalogs fantasy lands from literature around the world.

What do your readers mean to you?  They keep me in line. They deserve a good story and no shortcuts. Ever.

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And there you have it.

Thank you, Mercedes for an enjoyable interview. I encourage all indie writers out to do these. Not only are they fun, but the extra expose cannot hurt. Heck, if it gets one more person to read your book, then it is a win.

See you next time.

Peace.

EH

Every Indie Writer Needs A Good Cover Artist

Hello out there.

Been awhile since I spoke to you. Why is that?

Glad you asked.

I have spent weeks and weeks searching for a cover artist for my Opportvnvs Adest series..

It is a long and arduous process. You know what you want but dammit you can’t draw! You meet someone and it sounds good but in the end they don’t deliver on the promises. Others are not professional and “space” meetings. Some forget deadlines. There are those who disappear after initial contact. They don’t return phone calls or texts.

Almost sounds like dating.

Well, my search is over.

Julia Sage came to my rescue and I could not be happier.

Ms. Sage is a professional artist and photographer in the San Diego area with a good reputation. I was a bit skeptical at first meet but all doubt was erased when I took a look at her portfolio. Her work is timely and flawlessly executed to my specifics.

That is a fancy way of saying she put up with my last minute changes!

I could not be happier with the results.

Recommendation to all of you indie writers (like me): DO NOT SETTLE. Keep looking until you find the right one to convey the message you want on your book cover. Do yourself a favor and see if Ms. Sage is artist for you. https://www.facebook.com/juliasagephotography/

********************************************

Below are the covers to the science fiction series called Opportvnvs Adest. All four books are available on Amazon  and anywhere else you want to look.

If you like mystery, the unexpected, fantasy, and a story rich with characters, and enough drama to last a lifetime, then this is the story for you.

You will not regret it.

 

p.s. I got rid of the Latin book titles because nearly fan I encountered stumbled over the pronunciations. It was good advice. Thanks.

Until next time. Be good to yourself.

Peace.

–EH

 

Book Three of the Opportvnvs Adest Series

 

“What you know is false. What you believe is wrong. So where lies the truth?”

DECIDE FOR YOURSELF………………..

 

 

Leftovers From San Diego Comic Con

I would highly encourage authors, writers, and artists if they can afford it, go to the San Diego Comic Con at least once.

Sure there is plenty of eye candy (movie stars, toys, creative costumes, etc) but I am referring to the people you meet and converse with.

There are so many indie writers and artists walking around.

It’s easy to strike up a dialogue. Being an (aspiring?) writer myself, it is helpful to be around so much creativity and get tips on the trade.

I met a few gentleman starting a new comic line called Vault Comics and purchased advanced previews of their books (Failsafe, Colossi, Karma Police, Fissure, Powerless). Good stuff with fresh artwork.

Also of importance, they were just a bunch of cool fellows.

I will be checking out their books when they hit the shelves Feb 2017.

That’s all for now. Stay tuned for the release of Temet Nosce (Know Thy Self) Book Three of the Opportvnvs Adest series. I will dropping tidbits about it in the coming days.

Oh, if you have not checked out the previous two stories, do yourselves a favor and pick them up…….you just may be glad you did.

Peace.

—EH

 

The Year of the Superhero

Hello out there, folks.

Just came from a second viewing of Captain America: Civil War and I have to say I like it as much as I did the first time.

If you like superhero movies and TV shows like me, than you are happy because there is no end in sight for the genre with Suicide Squad, Dr. Strange, Thor 3, Spiderman: Homecoming on the way. Flash is still interesting after 2 seasons and Netflix will have Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and the Defenders on the way.

Having said that, we are at the halfway point of 2016 and I thought it would be cool to take a moment and pay a little homage to the year 1966.

Why 1966, you ask?

Well, if not for that year, we likely would not have the comic book big screen entertainment that we enjoy today.

I call 1966 the year of the superhero.

You always had comics. Superman began in 1938 for DC and Marvel really came on the scene 1961 with the Fantastic Four.

By 1965, you had all the biggies seeing print like Spidey, FF, Avengers, Batman, JLA, DD, Cap, Iron Man, X-Men, etc. Good stuff, but comics were still a small niche audience and by my parents recollection and other people I have interacted with from those days, quite a novelty.

Enter 1966

At least 90% of America had a TV in their homes and superheroes took over.

There were Marvel Superhero Cartoons during the week by Grantray-Lawrence that produced Thor, Hulk, Captain America, and Sub-Mariner. Now the animation was…um..terrible and it was basically filming comic book pages, BUT you at least could watch them.

.You had the Super 6, King Kong (yes, they made him into a cartoon) Superman and Lone Ranger.

Still not convinced about 1966?

There was the Mighty Heroes, the Impossibles, Frankenstein Jr, and perhaps the most entertaining of them all, Space Ghost strutting their stuff on Saturday mornings.

All of this opened the door to renewed interest in Manga/Anime.

Astro Boy, 8th man, Kimba, and Prince Planet had all debuted the summer of 65 but the interest was lukewarm. Only Kimba was in color.

Japan stepped it up and gave us two great live action (color) shows in 1966 called Ultraman and Space Giants. A quick note about Space Giants: Do yourself a favor and check it out. It had all kinds of drama and things did not always conclude by the end of the show. If you like Dr. Who, you might like Space Giants.

There was also Marine Boy, a kid with a special suit who could chew gum, breathe and talk underwater. He was also friends with a dolphin and a mermaid.

No kidding.

Remember the cheesy, but beloved Batman TV show with Adam West and Burt Ward? That was in 1966 too. Kapow!

Because of the success of 1966, the networks decided to ramp things up even more the following year. Speed Racer, the Fantastic Four (my personal favorite), Herculoids, Spiderman (artwork by the John Romita Sr!), Shazam (the genie, not Captain Marvel), Super President, Birdman, Moby Dick, Galaxy Trio, Mightor, Samson and Goliath, and Jonny Quest all premiered in 1967. Whew!

DC caught the fever and produced Green Lantern, Flash, Superboy (with Krypto) Atom, Hawkman, Aquaman, and Teen Titans, and the JLA.

People complained about too much violence and a lot of those shows went off the air by 1969-70, but the seeds were planted and we are reaping the benefits today.

A special thanks to Hanna Barbara, De Patie& Freleng, Grantray-Lawrence, Osamu Tezuka, Filmation, Terebi Doga, Terrytoons Company, Rankin & Bass, Eiji Tsuburaya. You guys made it happen.

Please let me know if left out any cartoons or shows!

Things for reading and I will talk to you soon.

Peace and goodwill to all.

EH

 

Musings (and Ramblings) from a Comic Book Fan

The dust has settled on Batman vs Superman.

I am not here to say how bad or good the movie was. The general public has already spoken and the movie was not liked.

I want to talk a moment about the DC comic company on the whole.

There was a time when New Teen Titans and Legion of Superheroes was on par with X-Men. Green Lantern had some of the most memorable stories I have ever read.Justice League was pretty good back then too.

I have been a comic book fan/collector since the late 70s and I am convinced DC is  going to remain subpar unless they do a self inventory and go back to what made them good in the first place.

They have been second best to Marvel and to me they always will be. And if they are not careful, Valiant could push them for the number two spot.

Now it sounds like I am being hard on a multi-million dollar company but let’s take a moment and look at their spotty track record with a few quick points.

DC cannot decide on the direction of their comics.  After Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC editors told the readers that everything they read prior to 1986 did not happen.  Characters like the Multiverse, Krypto,Superboy and Supergirl never existed and there was only one Earth. Huh? We were told this change was necessary because the stories were too confusing to readers. Uhh ok.  DC decided to bring everything back slowly over the years, invalidating what they had done before and erasing what Crisis was supposed to fix.
DC has a continuity problem. How many times has DC hit the reset button since 1986? 4 times I believe. The origins of Hawkman are a jumbled mess Which version of Superman should I embrace? How about Flash or Green Lantern. Oh, and they are doing it again this May. Their whole line of books will be starting over from number 1 yet again.
DC has iconic characters and fails to portray them properly. People fall over themselves over Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns series. I argue that story stripped what made Batman great and turned him into this evil, unfeeling Machiavellian genius. He has yet to be freed from that label.  You want great Batman? Check out Marshall Rogers or Neal Adams Batman from 70s and get back to me. Good (Wally West) Flash stories can be found by Mark Waid in the late 80s. Ron Marz knew what he was doing on Green Lantern in the 90s. Superman? John Byrne went out of his way to show weak Superman was and writers since then have been reluctant to make him all powerful and the inspiration to all other heroes like before. And can we stop this whole Batman beating him up thing? Every writer wants to do a Miller replay. I don’t get the Superman hate. Alex Ross or Alan Moore please take over!
DC is not good at making films compared to Marvel. Explain to me how unknowns like Antman and Guardians of the Galaxy can be well received and DC cannot get Green Lantern right? Outside of hardcore comic fans, I doubt many people knew about Iron Man before 2008. I suspect the directors of DC movies are not true fans of the characters and that could be why they miss what makes them great. It is the only thing I can think of with after Batman vs Superman was such a swing and miss.

There is hope.

The Flash tv show is a fun romp. Arrow is everything Batman should and could be. Legends of Tomorrow has promise. Supergirl…….well, never mind.
The Suicide Squad movie could change the whole movie narrative. The execs are supposedly doing reshoots after the reviews from B v S. The trailers look good too. Maybe the negative press spur the DC execs the listen to the public and make the movies fun.
Marvel is not perfect. Daredevil was forgettable. Spiderman 3 was a mess. The Amazing Spiderman 1 & 2 missed the mark completely. The Fantastic Four was horrific. The Marvel line of comics have gotten stale with the saturation of Avengers and X-Men books. And there was/is too much Wolverine.

The bottom line is I enjoy both companies and have no skin in the game as to who I want to be better. If both put out good products than it is a win for us all.

Ok, rant over. Thanks for listening.

Until next time.

EH.

 

 

 

Enemy of the Human Race

BOOK TWO OF THE CONTROVERSIAL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES

A once young child of strong religious background and faith is now a man full of unparalleled malevolence.

Rex Talion is the great deceiver and he carries the mark of the Degans.  He is the Anti-Life for planet Earth, the third and final great evil foretold in Degan prophecy to pave the way for the most terrifying life-form the universe has ever spawned, the Discarded One.

The otherworldly allies Talion has gathered to set his plans in motion will stop at nothing to see the planet fall.

Hostis Humani Generis chronicles the loss of innocence, the deconstruction of an individual’s humanity and the creation of a madman.

The journey continues March 26 2016 on Amazon, Kindle, etc..

The Starry Messenger and the Enemy of the Human Race now walk the planet.

Earth is on the doomsday clock.

You have been warned!

 

 

 

 

Tips & Tidbits from an Indie Author

Hello out there.

I like to share information and any wisdom I collect to fellow authors out there.

San Diego just wrapped a free Writer’s Expo at University of Phoenix Campus. The Topics included :

● From Concept to Publisher—How a concept becomes a successful book

● All About the Voice—Writing that moves the reader

● Writing and the Law—What every author should know

There were a number of cool indie authors and publishers there. It was a way to talk to students about their writing ideas, and promote your own work.

I urge you, my brothers and sisters in the craft to look in your prospective city for such events and book yourself.

Last but not least, I want to thank, Mark Kvalvik for hosting, Antonio Vianna (Author of Secrets Kept Hidden & so many other books) for thinking enough about me to send me an invitation AND to my editor, Robyn Ramsey from Imprint Publishing for attending in my stead at the last moment.

I unfortunately had hernia surgery (sorry if TMI) and was not well enough to make it.

Thank you Robyn. I know you had to hand write your sign but your presence was oh-so- important!

Authors, if you need an indie publisher with a personal touch, I would recommend these folks.

Peace to all

EH