Jacob Devlin's Blog, page 10

Pietro Volo’s Keys to an Epic Road Trip Playlist

Hello people of the world!

Pietro Volo here, also known as “Peter Pan.” I know you weren’t expecting to hear from me today, but let me explain. Our good pal J-Dev has been super busy signing books, attempting to catch up on Game of Thrones, and word on the street is that he’s already neck deep in the sequel to The Carver. Whaaat? I hope he’ll name the next one after me this time, the obvious star. (Love ya, Pino.)

Anyway, since Jay is doing authorly stuff, and since I had so much fun being interviewed here a couple months ago, I thought I’d jump in the driver’s seat this time. Let’s talk about road trips!

Now, when it comes to road trips, Rule #1 is that you have to have a good playlist. I hate rules, so this is the only one that matters besides, y’know, keeping an eye on your gas tank and paying attention to your bladder.

Below are Pietro Volo’s Five Keys to an epic roadtrip playlist. Click within and get a small glimpse of what the Son of Pinocchio and I jammed to on our adventure across the country.

The playlist shall not be dominated by any one artist or band, no matter how much you love Maroon 5. Mr. Levine may be able to carry a tune, but no man can carry a car for seven hours. Also, would you want to spend seven hours sitting in an ice cream shop when all they have is chocolate? Okay, then.


The playlist shall include a number of powerhouse karaoke songs. I recommend Journey’s Greatest Hits as a starting point. When’s the last time you broke down the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme? If you need more inspiration, the early 1990’s were a gold mine.


The playlist shall include a number of songs without words, such as movie scores and other instrumentals. First of all, you’re going to get tired of your passengers’ terrible karaoke voices. Plus, have you ever zoomed down the highway listening to some badass escape music? Try it. You’ll love it.


The playlist shall fall almost as much as it rises. You’ll probably do some driving in the dark. You’ll go through some boring places where all you’ll see for an hour is like, one windmill. Unless it’s raining, that’s the perfect time to roll down your window and contemplate life. You might even have the best cry ever, not that I have any experience in this area.


The playlist shall be a collaboration. If you’re driving alone, you can do whatever, but if you have passengers, particularly a pair of angsty teenagers named Enzo and Rosana, then don’t be a playlist hog, okay? Share. You might even get feedback before you leave. Ask your friends such as Maira and Josh what they recommend.

I’d like to remind you all to drive safely as you implement your epic road trip playlist. In other words, make sure you stop by your local Starbucks if it’s gonna be a long one, stay alert, and please don’t play Pokemon Go behind the wheel, Kids. Pikachu ain’t worth it.

I gotta fly now, but I promise I’ll be back to hang out with you all again real soon! Until then, put a good word in with J-Dev, will you? I really want his next book to be called The Flying Man, but I still don’t think he’s having it.

Happy driving, and happy listening!

An Ode to Comic Con

 

Before I launch into this, I want to throw out a hearty THANK YOU to the fantastic bloggers, reviewers, friends, and Twitter enthusiasts who helped spread the word on THE CARVER over the past few days. The initial love and support for this book has been unreal. It got to the point that I couldn’t “like” every Tweet I got tagged in. There were just far too many, and that’s such an amazing thing to be able to say. I’m over the moon with gratitude for you all!

On the side, I may have been spending this whole entire week celebrating in San Diego! I don’t think it’s a secret that I’m a HUGE Marvel/superhero/comic lover, and it was a thrill to journey to the mecca of geekdom for my second year: San Diego Comic Con! YAY!

I have so much to say about this annual event and its special place in my heart. Some people tell me they don’t understand it, and I can’t judge that. From the outside, let’s be real: it sorta looks like a Black Friday sale on steroids. To be fair, there are people who go there and treat it that way. They throw things into bags big enough to carry me and push and shove (and sometimes get thrown out and it’s hilarious), and sometimes they don’t even know what they’re shoving into their bags. I can only speak for my own experiences and understanding, but ultimately, I feel that there’s a very beautiful side to this convention and a reason why I willingly braved the crowds a second time.

I think everybody needs something to believe in and something that they’re passionate about… the sort of thing they can’t outgrow and the sort of thing that grows with them. For me, that’s the culture that we celebrate about SDCC. It’s Marvel and DC and heroes and villains and the actors, writers, illustrators, and filmmakers who bring them to life. At its core, it’s stories. It’s the sort of life force that my mother imbued me with when I was going through chemotherapy almost twenty years ago. Superman would eat all his food; I should, too. Spider-Man would listen to the nurses; I should, too. Wolverine would be brave for the needle; I should, too. That’s where it started for me. Superheroes were role models, and as I grew, I saw the humanity in them and loved them for their flaws. For people who share my affinity for this culture, it means everything to stand in an endless line just to see Star-Lord/Chris Pratt flash the peace sign. It’s a thrill to think of Sabaa Tahir as some literary goddess and yet get to see her as a human who also geeks out over the X-Men.

One interesting thing that I keep remembering: talking to a fellow volunteer who has been doing this for 17 years and learning that at his first SDCC, there were 30,000 attendees. At the very first Con, there were maybe 100. This week, there were 130,000. I keep wondering: if I’m at SDCC in 15 more years, what am I going to be telling all the younglings about my first few Cons?

One thing I’d like to remember is the sense of comaraderie that one feels when you’re surrounded by superfans. This year, I camped out for the first time with the hopes of scoring some autographs from the cast of Arrow. The end result was that I got to spend about 10 seconds chatting with Charlie Hunnam and getting him to sign a poster for a movie I’d never heard of before. I may not remember that conversation in seventeen years, but I’ll definitely remember my first time camping out! I’ll remember how I thought I had such an edge on the other Arrow hopefuls by arriving at 1am. I’ll remember napping on the grass with a bottle of water, a blanket, and a couple of Cliff bars. I’ll remember that for about 9 hours, I was basically best friends with a few people I’ll probably never see again, all because we chose to suffer the #NotHallHLine for the exact same reasons!

Despite all the excitement, my legs feel like Jell-O. My eyes are a little red. I’m broke thanks to the corn dogs again. I’m a little relieved that SDCC is all done for the year and can’t wait to kick back and read my ARC print of A Torch Against the Night. But once my lower body strength returns, I’ll be anxiously awaiting next year’s SDCC!

On that note, who else is having a hard time waiting for the upcoming Harry Potter script book? What’s the “fandom” you geek out the hardest for, and why do you think you’re a fan?

Have a great week, friends!

 

 

THE CARVER Release Day!

Dear Friends,

Somewhere in a world we’ve never even seen (or I don’t know, maybe even New York), Peter Pan and all his friends are throwing a huge party. I’m sure there’s pizza involved. Mulan’s probably doing party tricks with her sword. Snow White’s probably trying to be the healthy one, so hopefully one of the seven dwarves are following her around and slapping the apples out of her hand before she can bite them.

MY FRIENDS! The Carver is officially in the world today! You can finally hold the book in your hands and get to know these characters as friends of your own. As a heads up, I will probably be running on caffeine and sheer adrenaline all the way through Sunday. This is the only “first release” I’m ever going to have as an author, so I want to remember this amazing feeling. I want to preserve these emotions in a jar and keep that jar by my bed for the rest of my days. It’s hard to describe the emotions, but the jar would probably look ethereal and fun, with some shiny cloudy smoky stuff swirling around inside.

I want you to know that this is a time I will never forget. I will always remember and appreciate that Blaze Publishing offered me the life of a story spinner, and The Carver will always hold a special place in my heart as the first adventure we got to share together. I hope you enjoy this little road trip I planned for you. It’s just the beginning of a much larger journey, and I don’t know about you, but I’m in it for the long haul!

Ultimately, I could ramble on forever, but Pietro and Enzo are about to jump in the car and hit the road, and I don’t want you to miss the trip. We’re partying on Facebook all day long. If you check out the Twitterverse, I’ve seen a few bloggers doing some really fun things already… gifs, playlists, excerpts, and don’t even get me started on that interview with Ryan Hill.

Enjoy The Carver, everyone, and make a wish!

-Jacob

 

The Guardian of the Old World

Well, friends, we are getting down to the final stretch in waiting for The Carver‘s release! We’ve heard from most of the key players, we’ve adventured through Nashville and braved thunderstorms, and throughout this wait, we have grown together! And so it’s definitely  fitting that we hear from the character who helped Peter Pan, Pinocchio, and Alice grow up in the first place. I want to warn you first. Violet’s a little strange. I never knew somebody so morally gray could be so purple. She kinda looks like this:

I’ve been looking forever for the name of the artist who did this… when I find it, I’ll update this because they rock!

Jacob: So tell the readers, Violet: What’s your story? What’s your role in The Carver, and where are you when it starts?

Violet: I’m the fairy guardian of the Old World. Technically I’m a princess–informally acting as the queen, but I tend not to think of it that way. I just keep an eye on things and make sure the people of Florindale are living in peace.

Jacob: Which of course leads to a great question: Are they living in peace?

Violet: Hmmm, mostly. But there are of course some rascals to watch out for. Am I allowed to say who?

Jacob: Sure, why not?

Violet: *sigh* I feel rather uneasy about Hansel these days. I fear he may not be himself.

Jacob: I actually interviewed him a few months ago. It was… interesting. You’ve known him for a long time, haven’t you?

Violet: Yes. It was I who delivered the news to him about his sister’s disappearance many years ago.

Jacob: That couldn’t have been a pleasant conversation for either of you.

Violet: The most difficult part was his silence. I think the poor man was in shock for a while. It almost would’ve been easier if he had screamed or shouted at me. Now, I feel like he’s always stabbing me with his eyes.

Jacob: Do you think he blames you? Maybe we should back up: What in the world happened to Gretel?

Violet: I’m not emotionally prepared, nor am I at liberty to discuss Gretel’s fate.

Jacob: You must have known I was going to bring this up, Violet. You’re one of the final interviews before The Carver launches. The readers are itching for a preview!

Violet: I’m sorry, Mr. Devlin, but I will say no more on Gretel. What else would you like to know?

Jacob: Lame… Why don’t you tell me about the Order of the Bell, then?

Violet: I do rather enjoy this topic. You’ve met them all, yes?

Jacob: I have. Is it true that you assembled them? How did you get so lucky as to get a hold of Hua Mulan, Merlin, Captain Hook, and the others?

Violet: The Order of the Bell has existed since before my birth, but I assembled this particular group many years ago. We had some problems to fix in Florindale. Dragons had become a bit of an issue. There was a beast terrorizing the Woodlands and devouring children. Giants were our biggest problem–no pun intended.

Jacob: So when things get out of hand, you call on them to save the world. Do you feel like you’ll get to do that any time soon?

Violet: One hopes it wouldn’t be necessary. It has to be a catastrophic danger for me to ask them for help. To give you some perspective, do you remember what happened to Snow White long ago?

Jacob: Are you referring to the incident with her stepmother? The poison and whatnot?

Violet: Yes. That was devastating. But even that wasn’t big enough to get the Order of the Bell involved. Sure, everybody had a small role in saving Snow and making sure she got justice. But the bulk of the work fell to other names. Prince Liam and the seven miners. Oh, I should mention that Hansel may have been involved as well. He tends to be left out of these stories, eclipsed by bigger names… that poor, poor man.

Jacob: Do you mind if I ask you one more question?

Violet: Ask away, my dear.

Jacob: What are you doing on July 19th?

Violet: Logging onto Facebook for your release day party, of course! There will be fireworks and cake and frolicking, yes?

Jacob: Whatever you want, Miss Violet! Tell me what you want and I’ll write it up for you. That’s what Authors do!

Violet: May the light be with you, Lore Master!

So she wasn’t so bad after all, right? I just keep on wondering what happened to Hansel and Gretel… Luckily, we’re only about 10 days away from the answer! *cues up Europe’s The Final Countdown*

Interview with The Order

Everywhere I’ve gone in the past few weeks, I’ve been attracting thunderstorms–the kind that rip your trees out of the ground and totally freak your pets out. I love them.

This week, one of those storms blew some eccentric visitors into town. Their arrival was straight out of a horror movie, honestly. There I was sprawled out on my couch with my goofy Wolverine snuggie and a book, and then one of those crazy flashes of lightning fill the sky. When the lightning went away, there were five dark shadows standing stone still outside my window. Seriously, it was like the lightning zapped them down from outer space or something. Terrifying, right?

And then I remembered that they were supposed to be here. I invited them over for an interview. WHEW! How could I forget?

When I opened the door, two women, two men, and a very large creature entered my apartment. Here is a part of the conversation that took place between us.

Old Woman: Greetings, Lore Master. We are The Order of the Bell, and we’ve come to share our story.

Jacob: *wearing a ginormous grin because the old woman just called me Lore Master. How epic!* Good evening, all! Thanks for braving this crazy monsoon tonight. I swear this storm came out of nowhere.

Old Woman: Don’t fret, Lore Master. Dealing with danger is our specialty. Shall I put on some tea for us all?

Jacob: Sure, if you want. The Keurig’s over by my laptop.

Bald Man: Nonsense, my boy! Let Ms. Rose prepare something real for you. Do you already know our names? She’s Ms. Augustine Rose. I’m Merlin the Magician. We are also joined tonight by Ms. Hua Mulan, Mr. James Hook, and Sir Jacob Isaac Holmes. He’s really not as frightening as he appears.

Jacob: It’s great to see you all! You’re legends. I named my book series after you!

Augustine: We always wondered if somebody would tell the story of the Order.

Mr. Holmes: But let us be clear. It is not our story. We are merely here to assist the heroes from the sidelines and keep the worlds at peace.

Jacob: That sounds like a giant responsibility.

Hua Mulan: We’ve all had our trials. Fortunately, we were appointed to the Order because we live for the thrills. After you experience the rush of saving China from invaders, the day-to-day gets a little boring. I jumped at the chance to save the world again and again. I especially enjoy dealing with dragons.

Jacob: So Mulan saved China. What’s the story for the rest of you? What’s been your biggest challenge until the events of The Carver?

Mr. Holmes: There are some rather unpleasant entities hiding in the Woodlands. Aquamantulas, witches, wolves–

Augustine: Oh, the wolves are nothing, dear. Leave those to me. The Woodlands are my turf. It was the giants we really needed to worry about.

Merlin: Valid. I personally enjoy dealing with any object touched by a solid, well-constructed curse.

Jacob: Wait, did I hear you correctly? You enjoy curses?

Merlin: Don’t misunderstand me, Sir Lore Master! I only enjoy dismantling them. I suppose the skill is somewhat comparable to what the younglings in your world do when they take on computer viruses. ‘Tis such a thrill to discover all the little threads and back doors in what would otherwise be an infallible curse. There’s always a flaw. I wish curses never existed in the first place, but the genie has long been unbottled. Speaking of which, that’s quite a thrilling tale for another day…

Jacob: I can only imagine! How ’bout you, James? You’ve been pretty quiet. What’s been one of your challenges?

Hook: Peter Pan.

Hua Mulan: James! Did we not agree that the subject of Mr. Pan is off limits tonight, and always?

Hook: Aye. And yet Mr. Devlin posed a query. Shall I lie to our Lore Master?

Augustine: Maybe just pick something else, dear. You’re not so fond of alligators, for instance.

Hook: Crocodiles, lass. There’s a difference.

Augustine: Potato, potahto.

Jacob: So you protect the Old World from danger. How do you know when to come together?

Merlin: We listen for the bells. Although, now that we’re here, perhaps we should all invest in smart phones? I understand there’s a curious new brand of magic called GroupMe. I’m most interested in trying it.

Mr. Holmes: Does it require one to know how to read? Because I’m afraid Mr. Hook here hasn’t learned to distinguish his As from his Zs.

Hua Mulan: The bells are tradition. Leave them as they are.

Jacob: So which one of you would I call if I were to find a spider in my room?

*silence*

Jacob: Any of you?

Hook: There be a reason I sail the seven seas, lad. The more distance I put between me and the shore, the more distance I put between me and those infernal demons. I’ll take my gamble with the crocodiles.

*more silence*

Jacob: Come on! You can’t be serious right now!

Augustine: Poor thing, I’m afraid you’re on your own with the spiders. We specialize in dragons, evil queens, werewolves, apocalyptic spells… you’ll understand if we acknowledge our weaknesses. There are certain types of evil we’re not equipped to deal with.

Jacob: I hate you all just a little bit right now.

On a dark and stormy night, which team would you call upon to save the world?

Next week, we’ll meet the person who first called upon the Order of the Bell. It’s kinda hard to call her a person, though. She’s more of a fairy, and she’s seen some weird stuff. I can’t wait to get her insight on her role in The Carver. Hope you’ll be there to meet Violet!

The Carver in Utopia!

Tonight I’m writing you from Nashville, Tennessee. I used my afternoon to get a little touristy. I walked along the river, checked out the Opry Mills, strolled Broadway and popped in and out of some local bars. I’ve never exactly been a huge country guy, but I appreciate what Nashville has to offer. The air was a little too thick with humidity, but in a charming way it reminded me of Charlottesville. Unfortunately I left my cowboy boots back home, but the smell of brand new leather and the flashing neon on Broadway reminded me that I easily could’ve picked up a new pair from one of about seven or eight different shops along a 3-block radius. Oh, and did I mention I stumbled on a FREE showing of Independence Day Resurgence in IMAX 3D? (Not a great movie, but I loved it! We all have movies like that, right?)

Anyway, the real reason I was here this week was to hang out with Blaze Publishing and to learn from fellow authors at Utopia Con. Honestly, I’d never heard of Utopia until this year, but now that I’ve done one, I think it’s so fitting that they hold it in Music City itself. I believe that writing can function a lot like music if you let it. Spinning a story that speaks to the soul is half the fun, but spinning language so it can breathe and sing to the soul? There’s nothing like it.

Utopia was an incredible experience and I’d do it all again. Here are five “shining moments” I took from it and a few things I learned:

5. I finally got to meet the people of Blaze Publishing in person! They’ve been so supportive and caring and they work tirelessly to bring their vision (and their authors’ visions) to life. Thank you, Blazers, for being a great publishing family, and for doing pizza and karaoke with me!

4. I met my child BOOK in person! It’s real! It exists! What made this so fun was getting to see it for the first time in a room full of vendors and tables and book displays. It gave me some great ideas for “book swag”, branding, and table banners. Also, it’s an amazing feeling to see total strangers geek out over The Carver as much as I do… to give the “elevator pitch” and watch their eyes light up, to sign a copy and know the reader is already imagining it on the bookshelf, and a few people even asked for pictures with me! Thank you, Utopians, for showering this story with love and enthusiasm.

3. The panels were very informative. If you love to write, I don’t care whether you’re published or not, the value of learning from other writers is priceless. I noticed a few recurring themes resonating with me this week:

We all have our “juggling acts”: full-time jobs, family and social lives, maybe we go to school, or maybe we eat up our own time scrolling through Facebook or binge-watching Arrow. But if writing is truly in your heart, you make it work!
Even the big names experience a little doubt sometimes.
How do you eat a whale? One bite at a time[image error]

Thank you, panelists, for your wisdom and inspiration this week!

2. I’m so bad at Twister. That is all. No thank you, Hasbro, for the burn in my thighs and shoulders. Hmph.

1. Oh, and the cherry on top: the exclusive pre-release copies of The Carver SOLD OUT. Whaaat! I’m still trying to wrap my head around this statement. The Carver sold out. Once upon a time, I thought my mom and a handful of friends were the only people who would ever read my story, and The Carver sold out. Thank you to those who so willingly jumped on board for a #RoadTripWithPeterPan! I’m a giant goof and cheese up my smile in moments like these, but the happiness behind it is still 190% genuine. I hope you all enjoy this tale and can’t wait for the rest of you to jump on board on July 19th!

Cover Reveal: The Surrendered by Case Maynard

Had to share this AMAZING cover for my fellow Blaze author!

Happy Cover Reveal day! Blaze Publishing has another gorgeous design to share with the world today. We’re revealing the cover to THE SURRENDERED by Case Maynard. This YA dystopian will definitely have your pulse pounding as a tax is placed on the financially devastated country’s most valuable resource–the children. Join the Facebook Party tonight from 5-11pm EST, and mark your calendars for release day 9/20!

Goodreads Pre-Order Request A Review Copy

After a financial collapse devastates the United States, the new government imposes a tax on the nation’s most valuable resource—the children.

Surrendered at age ten—after her parents could no longer afford her exorbitant fees—Vee Delancourt has spent six hard years at the Mills, alongside her twin, Oliver. With just a year to freedom, they do what they can to stay off the Master’s radar. But when Vee discovers unspeakable things happening to the younger girls in service, she has no choice but to take a stand—a decision that lands her on the run and outside the fence for the first time since the System robbed her of her liberty.

Vee knows the Master will stop at nothing to prove he holds ultimate authority over the Surrendered. But when he makes a threat that goes beyond what even she considers possible, she accepts the aid of an unlikely group of allies. Problem is, with opposing factions gunning for the one thing that might save them all, Vee must find a way to turn oppression and desperation into hope and determination—or risk failing all the children and the brother she left behind.

 

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about the author

With over 20 years’ experience in the legal and medical fields, Case Maynard decided to trade in her briefs and reports to write the stories that have been floating around in her head since childhood. She lives with her two teenagers and husband in South Georgia, while maintaining a long-distance liaison with her oldest daughter and partner in crime in Alaska. When not writing, she enjoys reading as often as possible, binge watching anything good on Netflix, and all things NCAA football (Go Noles!). You can learn more about Case and her stories on her website.

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submissions

Do you have a submission you’d like to send us? We’d love to see it! You can find our submissions guidelines on our website.

Want to stay up to date on everything from Blaze Publishing? Sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss a thing! The first 100 subscribers get free Blaze bookmarks (UK, US, and Canada only) AND get added to our Loyal 100 group, which gives you access to exclusive news, teasers, prizes, and ARCs!

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coming soon!

Coming soon! Paired with a dark prince in a murderous game of survival, Maia Graystone discovers the only thing more dangerous than the Emperor’s court is her conflicted heart. The YA Sci-fi Apocalyptic SHADOW FALL by Audrey Grey releases in November, but you can sign up for review copies now.

 

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Interview with Alice

Fun fact: summer hasn’t officially started yet (Monday!) and yet it’s 109 degrees in my neck of the woods. Temperatures like this can make a writer go completely mad. I look at a glass of water and I swear it’s shrieking, “Drink me! Drink me!” and it’s highly advised that people wear big floppy hats to keep the sun out of their face. Yep, I’m pretty sure Arizona is just a desert Wonderland.

How very fitting (and generous) that Alice herself has chosen to drop by and seek shade in my humble Castle of Writing! She looks a little different than you might expect from watching her in cartoons, but then again, she’s acquired a bit of life experience since her trip down the rabbit hole. She’s a single mom, she’s traveled all over, and I’m pretty sure she does NOT want to have an outdoor tea party in 109-degree weather.

Jacob: Don’t worry, Alice. We’ll keep it inside today.

Alice: No, it’s fine! It doesn’t really bother me that much. I’ve been to places where the weather is so much weirder.

Jacob: Like Phoenix?

Alice: *laughs* Even that’s not so bad… It’s Alicia now, by the way.

Jacob: You got it! I’ll call you Alicia. What prompted the name change, if I might ask?

Alicia: Oh, I guess I just needed a fresh start. You probably know all about the old Alice from books that have written and things people say. And people said some pretty mean things sometimes. “Alice is crazy. Alice wants attention. Alice reads too many books and doesn’t live in the real world.” After a while you get tired of hearing these things. You might even start believing them. So I changed my name when I got married.

Jacob: That’s really interesting… is there really that much in a name, do you think? Do you feel different? Act different? Are you different because you changed your name?

Alicia: Well, for a while I felt different, but I think that was love talking. I married this guy and he made me feel normal. We had a daughter together. We traveled a bit. And then I sort of saw a different side of him when I opened up to him about Wonderland and what I’ve been through. We’re not together anymore. Since the divorce, I sort of learned to embrace the real me again, but I kept the new name.

Jacob: I’m really glad you’re working toward that self-acceptance again. When I read about you, I always think of somebody really confident and strong and independent, which you are, but there’s always a little more beneath the surface, right? Everybody has moments of self-doubt. But you’ll be happy to know that you’re in the presence of people who believe you about Wonderland and everything you wanna tell us! So if you don’t mind me asking… what was it like?

Alicia: Hmm, did you ever see that Willy Wonka movie? The older one?

Jacob: Classic! One of my faves!

Alicia: At times Wonderland is like the chocolate factory. It’s fun and it’s colorful and it’s organic and there are amazing things to see, and you want to be that kid who wins the factory and gets to stay forever. And then there’s a whole other side…

Jacob: *gulp*

Alicia: It really is terrifying sometimes, like Willy Wonka’s boat ride. They’re always at war, the bees are the size of horses, it gets dark, you couldn’t pay me enough money to walk through the urban part of it, and the Queen of Hearts was a horrible person.

Jacob: Was she, really? Was she worse than–

Alicia: Oh God no. The Queen of Hearts was just grumpy and spoiled and she did like to collect people’s heads, but she wasn’t as bad as the person you’re thinking of.

Jacob: She beheaded people, and yet she’s “not that bad”? Wow. That’s saying something.

Alicia: Yep. But she’s no longer a threat to Wonderland. The king isn’t too happy, though. I escaped before he became much of a problem.

Jacob: Would you ever go back?

Alicia: I don’t think so. I’ve done my time, and I guess I just don’t want to know what became of it right now. I wouldn’t want to bring my daughter into all of that. I think she has enough on her plate.

Jacob: I kinda wanna go check it out… am I weird for that?

Alicia: As I’ve said before, all the best people are! But seriously, I really, really wouldn’t recommend it.

I have to admit her words made me want to play with Wonderland even more, but for now, I’m just really excited to share The Carver with you all in ONE MORE MONTH!

In a few more days, I’m headed to Nashville to enjoy the Utopia Conference with my publishers and fellow authors. Needless to say, I can’t wait for my first big conference! I can’t wait to share updates with you all, and that’s why the next character interview will have to wait an extra week. I promise it’ll be worth your time though! Hua Mulan is coming to test your honor, and she isn’t even coming alone…

Interview with The Fortuneteller

When I was scheduling interviews with the characters of The Carver, I was really excited to reach out to today’s guest. I had an email drafted to invite her to talk to you all, but this lady is truly a curious character…

Usually, it’s pretty standard to wait up to 48 hours for an email response, right? Well, get this. I didn’t even click send on the email, and then this email came in:

Dearest Mr. Devlin,

Yes. Madame Esme would be honored to join you and your readers on Sunday, June 12. Thank you for inviting me!

ALL the love❤

Madame Esme

So I guess it didn’t really surprise me when she came in and started answering questions before I even asked them.

Esme: Fine and happy! You are, too, I perceive. Now, Madame Esme thought she’d save you some time this day. She foresaw all questions you plan on asking me, so why don’t you allow her to address them right away?

Jacob: Really? You already know the questions I’m going to ask?

Esme: But of course! It isn’t so difficult to discern the knowledge you require from Madame Esme. She doesn’t require the gift in order to figure it out. For you see, you nearly always begin by asking the same question of all of us.

Jacob: No, I don’t…

Esme: Where is Madame Esme at the start of The Carver? What does she want the readers to know about herself? Hmm?

Jacob: Wow, you’re good. Okay, um, let’s start there, I guess.

Esme: At the dawn of The Carver, Madame Esme is purchasing a new smart phone.

Jacob: Interesting… even I didn’t know this, and I wrote you!

Esme: You still have much to know about the universe, Mr. Devlin. However, as long as Madame Esme has her phone, she knows all, past, present, and future!

Jacob: It seems like that would be quite a weight on your shoulders. I’m not sure I’d be able to handle all that. How do you juggle knowing the past and future while living in the present at the same time?

Esme: Through the ancient art of mindfulness. Madame Esme learns many things, but she learned long ago that once she has seen the future, she cannot influence the outcome. The only thing we have the power to control is the moment at our fingertips: the present.

Jacob: Okay, so walk me through this. Let’s say I learn that tomorrow, I’m going to have a barbecue dinner with my family.

Esme: Very good! Do you also possess the gift, Mr. Devlin?

Jacob: Uh, no, that was a total guess, actually… Anyway, let’s say that tomorrow, I’m destined to have that dinner with my family. You told me that I can control the present. Why can’t I do something in the present that will change my dinner plans tomorrow? Preorder a pizza, or something?

Esme: The laws of the universe are not for us to know, Mr. Devlin. If it is written in the cosmos that you are to have a barbecue dinner with your family tomorrow, then so it shall be. I cannot predict why. Perhaps your local pizza parlor will have a fire. Or maybe your driver will get stuck in traffic. I advise you not to chance it with Lady Fortune.

Jacob: Yikes… no need to convince me further! Alright, ma’am, I have some rapid fire questions for you now. You’ll never see these coming!

Esme: Coffee. Chocolate. Arrow. Majestic purple. Neither Coke nor Pepsi. Team Pietro.

Jacob: Honestly, I’m stunned right now.

Esme: *satisfied grin*

Jacob: While I have this wonderful opportunity to talk to somebody who can see the future, I have a very important question for you. It’s about the rest of the trilogy!

Esme: Mr. Devlin, Madame Esme must advise you to think before you make your query. People go mad when they dance with Lady Fortune. Do you really want to know the date of your death, knowing that you cannot change or prevent it? If Madame Esme tells you the name of your future spouse, you will never have the pleasure of dating and wondering what could be. Uncertainty is the engine of adventure, Mr. Devlin!

Jacob: Wow. Deep words, Madame Esme. I’m gonna have to contemplate them for a while. I’m not sure if I’m ready to know the answer to my question anymore…

Esme: A wise decision indeed.

Jacob: Here’s a better question: do you think readers are going to enjoy this story?

Esme: Madame Esme has no doubt. The Carver is full of adventure, and she is thrilled to play a role in it. Mr. Devlin, if you should continue the story, and indeed you shall, Madame Esme would be honored to return.

Jacob: I’m sure you already know whether or not you’ll be back! But anyway, of course! You’re far too interesting to forget. I’m in awe of you, ma’am. Thanks for saying hey to all the readers out there!

Friends, it’s summer, and where I live, it’s 113 degrees. It kinda makes me want to crawl into a hole and stay there until winter. You know who else went down a hole once upon a time? I hope you do, because we’ll be talking to her next week! I’m so excited, I could do like this guy:

Interview with The Prince

First things first: has anyone had a chance to try Snow White’s apple pie since last week?

Hansel may swear by it, and Snow may not be able to hide her pride for it, but there’s one man who can rightfully boast the title of “biggest apple pie fan”–more specifically, the biggest Snow White fan. And who should love her better than her husband, the prince himself?

I’ve chosen not going to give you any images that represent Prince Liam (this dude from Shrek isn’t one of them, unless you want it to be!). I purposely don’t describe him with much physical detail in the book, because I feel that he’s a character that merits a greater degree of reader imagination. Rosana calls him “the best looking man she’s ever seen,” and at one point Enzo notes that he’s the “Ryan Gosling of the Old World.” The idea is that he’s supposed to come pretty close to activating either the “swoon” factor or the “I want to be best friends with you” factor, and that’s a different image for everybody. So whether you picture someone like Leo DiCaprio, Idris Elba, or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, you’re correct! And that, to me, is half the fun of reading a book. I’m the screenwriter and the camera guy. You’re the director! And the casting agent. And the score composer. And the special effects guy/girl. Is there any better job than the ones we have?

Here’s what Liam wants you to know about himself!

Jacob: Liam! Welcome to my blog!

Liam: A thousand greetings to you and your readers, chum! Should we clash knuckles? *extends fist*

Jacob: Man… I’m so proud of you right now. You’re finally getting the fist bump thing down! *bump* Finding your place in the 21st century!

Liam: It is rather gratifying, I do confess. I still prefer the handshake, but the occasional hearty kabam between brothers keeps the knuckles nice and limber! Shall we do it again?

Jacob: Sure! *bump* So thanks again for being here today. We’ve met Enzo, Pietro, Rosana, and even your wife! We’ve been having a ton of fun promoting The Carver these last few weeks.

Liam: Your novel endeavor!

Jacob: And Liam’s grand entrance into the New World! What do you want to tell the readers about yourself before release day? Where are you at the start of the book?

Liam: Fighting a dragon! *frowns* No, I jest; I loathe dragons, which is most unfortunate because I’m a prince.

Jacob: Whose prince, exactly? I know you wanna brag…

Liam: SNOW WHITE! How Lady Fortune spoils me!

Jacob: Yep. You lucky, lucky guy, courting the fairest in the land. Two lands. I’m not jealous at all, by the way.

Liam: It’s quite alright, chum. I wouldn’t blame you if you were.

Jacob: Okay, maybe just a little bit. But I know I’m not the only one! A good handful of readers may end up jealous of Snow, though. I’m expecting #TeamLiam to start trending any day now.

Liam: *scratches head* Team Me? Why Team Me?

Jacob: You’re being modest. I told my readers that you were another one of my favorite characters to write, and that’s because you challenged me more than any other. You’re Prince freaking Charming, man! I had to go back and give you flaws because you didn’t have any. You’re too damn perfect! Stop it!

Liam: You’re quite kind! But I hardly understand what you’re talking about.

Jacob: Well for one thing, look at yourself. How much time do you spend in front of the mirror?

Liam: Snow and I agreed once upon a time that we wouldn’t acquire any mirrors in our home. Mirrors are dangerous possessions to meddle with.

Jacob: I dislike you just a little bit. You don’t even own a mirror and yet look at your hair… before I become too self-conscious, let’s talk about your flaws. You’ve been accused–by a man whose name I won’t mention–of being passive to a fault. A source says, and I quote, “He’s never ever slain a dragon before.” You already told me you hate dragons, but truly? I would think fighting a dragon is, like, page one of the prince handbooks.

Liam: I don’t like to fight. It weighs on my soul. I must confess that my master gets quite frustrated with me when we train together. She wants me to fight harder, but my heart’s just not into it. If it comes down to a life or death situation, I’m not so sure I’ll emerge triumphant.

Jacob: That’s really sad to hear. What if your land is in danger? What if your wife is in danger?

Liam: By the grace of Lady Fortune, it should never come to that. Snow’s worst enemy has already been defeated. Her stepmother shall never bother her again.

Jacob: But you do live in Florindale. Anything could happen in the Old World, right?

Liam: I suppose. However, the legendary Order of the Bell is tasked with protecting the realms. They’re the most powerful team I can think of off the top of my head, aside from your X-Men.

Jacob: Oh yes, I know all about the Order! But I see it as my job as a writer to ask: what if they’re not enough? What if a danger arises that’s too big for even them to handle?

Liam: *thinks for a moment* Then we all go for a pizza and we remember the merry times we once had!

Jacob: *sighs* I’m a little worried here. Liam… go home, please. I need you to be ready for action when THE CARVER hits the shelves. Understood?

Liam: *looks down* Aye.

So, there you have it. The man’s not perfect. Remind me to interview his master before all of this is said and done. But for now, I foresee a very mysterious guest joining us next week. I had an invitation all drafted and ready to send to her, but she had already seen it coming and responded before I could click send. You’ll see what I mean next week. Madame Esme’s like that.