R.K. Lander's Blog, page 3
December 17, 2018
Audiobook Coming Soon!
We are all set, finally! and the big day is 12th February, 2019. Path of a Novice will be an audiobook, narrated by the amazing Daniel Thomas May.
I honestly can’t wait to hear my book read by Daniel. I’ll probably cry but who cares? I’m not sure how long after release date that Amazon will link it to my books but I will be keeping you posted, just in case you want to add it to your wish lists.
[image error]Path of a Novice Audiobook Now in Production
The question now is, how am I going to get from now ’till then without going bonkers? Easy; I’m finally approaching the end of SD1 (Shitty Draft 1) which is a huge milestone for book three, Dawn of a Legend. That will keep me busy and distracted. Wait, does this mean I have to throw another party?
I know I will, and you’re all invited. Fingers crossed this narrated version will be as beautiful as I think Daniel can make it.
December 11, 2018
Road of a Warrior Wins The BIBA!
We won a BIBA!!
What a wonderful day. I just won my first literary award. Road of a Warrior has won the Best Indie Book Award 2018 in the Fantasy and Paranormal category. How cool is that! Please hop over and hit the likes and shares 
November 30, 2018
New Apocalyptic Thriller: In The End
Today, I’m really excited to have author G.J. Stevens on the blog to talk about his debut novel In The End, launching right now.
When I found out about the story, the first thing I asked G.J was, what would you pack in your ruck sack – I mean if you knew the world was ending? This is his answer …
When RK Lander invited me to write a guest post to celebrate the release of my debut novel, In The End, a fast paced apocalyptic thriller following group of friends as they race to survive civilisation crashing around them, she asked what I would do if presented with the same scenario? Little did RK know it was exactly that question which inspired In The End!
I’m very lucky that my wife and I have an amazing friendship with my school buddy of twenty seven years and his wife Sarah. Much to our spouse’s despair, Sarah and I ask that very same question almost every time we meet up. Every year our combined troop of seven, if you include our children, go on holiday and the question always comes up. Be it a villa in Spain with a glass of the local white in hand, where we’d discuss the virtues of the iron bars on the windows, the steep climb up the access road, the small supermarket at the foot of the hills. Last year we were in Greece and apart from the remoteness of the location, it was a poor choice for an apocalypse hideaway, but on passing a metal merchants, Sarah and I looked at each other and smiled, knowing it was the place to get reinforcements for the windows if we were given enough warning of the worst happening.
We have a standing plan, I’m not sure I should tell you this because we don’t want the place overrun….but I’ll say it anyway. We assume the phones will be out and there will be no way to contact each other, so we have to be prepared in advance. The aim will be to meet at the Ikea in Southampton. Okay, so it sounds like an odd plan, but hear me out. Firstly it’s about an hour and a half drive from our house, a little shorter for them, so if the roads are clogged it’s not as far as Scotland! The Ikea is right on the coast and next to a major port, if ships arrive to evacuate we’ll be in a prime place. It’s also close to the ferry terminal for the Isle of Wight. If the island is a safe zone, again we’re in the right spot.
Now why Ikea and not a supermarket? Supermarkets have loads of food and supplies, but they’ll draw in everyone else, plus I don’t know how comfortable they’ll be for more than a night’s stay. Ikeas have two main things going for it, beds and meatballs. There would be enough meatballs and other food for a good few weeks for the evacuation.
However the plan is not without its flaws. Southampton is a major city, in the case of a war or a contagious virus spreading across the population, it’s probably not the best place to aim towards, but we have to meet somewhere and we can’t change it unless we both agree. I’m sure we’ll continue to flesh out the details and refine the plan each time we have a drink in our hands.
The characters in my novel, In The End, had no such prior thoughts, no such preparation. They had to think on their feet, had to react in disbelief to things they believed to be fact crumbling before their eyes. With just the suitcases of clothes they’d taken with them on holiday to Cornwall, they had no special tools, no special kit prepared. I on the other hand have thought about this before. I’ve taken things a little further than Sarah. I say it’s research for my novels, everyone else smiles and lets me get on with it.
[image error]
I call it the Bug Out Bag. It sits in my wardrobe and I have blogged about it a lot. Inside is everything I think I would need in the case of an emergency situation which forced me to leave the house with only minutes notice. All I need to do is grab the bag from the bottom of my wardrobe.
So what’s in it I hear you say, I hope you say. Did anyone say? I’m sure I heard someone.
The contents of the bag have been tested and refined in detail and you can view the full contacts on this post on my blog gjstevens.com.
In summary, there’s survival ration biscuits which are extremely high in calories and can be stored for up to five years; a water purification straw to enable you to drink directly from any water source; a camping stove which can use multiple fuel types, fire lighting equipment, a tent, ultralight sleeping mat and sleeping bag.
[image error]
Also there is a large pack of razor blades for bartering with other survivors because what value is money going to have when there’s no government to pay up on the promise written on the notes. There’s a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, lightweight clothes, but multiple layers, a wind up radio and torch, plus three of the most important items, a hunting knife, a micro pick and gaffer tape. The knife is obvious, but the pick was chosen after a test of all available household / shed based items that would make the best weapon if you had to survive an apocalypse which went against all the laws of nature, like the one which effected the protagonists from In The End. I hope I don’t need to tell anyone why I packed the gaffer tape!
Of course this is all a bit of fun, but I’ve had some great feedback from people who live outside the UK who have found my numerous posts a great help in creating their own Bug Out Bags. Their need for the bag is much more realistic as they suffer under a very real threat of natural disaster, rather than my envisioned epidemic which twists the laws of nature.
If you enjoyed this post then I would hope you will enjoy my novel, In The End, released on paperback and Kindle on 30thNovember 2018 from Amazon.
Today, I’m really excited to have author G.J. Stevens on ...
Today, I’m really excited to have author G.J. Stevens on the blog to talk about his debut novel In The End, launching right now.
When I found out about the story, the first thing I asked G.J was, what would you pack in your ruck sack – I mean if you knew the world was ending? This is his answer …
When RK Lander invited me to write a guest post to celebrate the release of my debut novel, In The End, a fast paced apocalyptic thriller following group of friends as they race to survive civilisation crashing around them, she asked what I would do if presented with the same scenario? Little did RK know it was exactly that question which inspired In The End!
I’m very lucky that my wife and I have an amazing friendship with my school buddy of twenty seven years and his wife Sarah. Much to our spouse’s despair, Sarah and I ask that very same question almost every time we meet up. Every year our combined troop of seven, if you include our children, go on holiday and the question always comes up. Be it a villa in Spain with a glass of the local white in hand, where we’d discuss the virtues of the iron bars on the windows, the steep climb up the access road, the small supermarket at the foot of the hills. Last year we were in Greece and apart from the remoteness of the location, it was a poor choice for an apocalypse hideaway, but on passing a metal merchants, Sarah and I looked at each other and smiled, knowing it was the place to get reinforcements for the windows if we were given enough warning of the worst happening.
We have a standing plan, I’m not sure I should tell you this because we don’t want the place overrun….but I’ll say it anyway. We assume the phones will be out and there will be no way to contact each other, so we have to be prepared in advance. The aim will be to meet at the Ikea in Southampton. Okay, so it sounds like an odd plan, but hear me out. Firstly it’s about an hour and a half drive from our house, a little shorter for them, so if the roads are clogged it’s not as far as Scotland! The Ikea is right on the coast and next to a major port, if ships arrive to evacuate we’ll be in a prime place. It’s also close to the ferry terminal for the Isle of Wight. If the island is a safe zone, again we’re in the right spot.
Now why Ikea and not a supermarket? Supermarkets have loads of food and supplies, but they’ll draw in everyone else, plus I don’t know how comfortable they’ll be for more than a night’s stay. Ikeas have two main things going for it, beds and meatballs. There would be enough meatballs and other food for a good few weeks for the evacuation.
However the plan is not without its flaws. Southampton is a major city, in the case of a war or a contagious virus spreading across the population, it’s probably not the best place to aim towards, but we have to meet somewhere and we can’t change it unless we both agree. I’m sure we’ll continue to flesh out the details and refine the plan each time we have a drink in our hands.
The characters in my novel, In The End, had no such prior thoughts, no such preparation. They had to think on their feet, had to react in disbelief to things they believed to be fact crumbling before their eyes. With just the suitcases of clothes they’d taken with them on holiday to Cornwall, they had no special tools, no special kit prepared. I on the other hand have thought about this before. I’ve taken things a little further than Sarah. I say it’s research for my novels, everyone else smiles and lets me get on with it.
[image error]
I call it the Bug Out Bag. It sits in my wardrobe and I have blogged about it a lot. Inside is everything I think I would need in the case of an emergency situation which forced me to leave the house with only minutes notice. All I need to do is grab the bag from the bottom of my wardrobe.
So what’s in it I hear you say, I hope you say. Did anyone say? I’m sure I heard someone.
The contents of the bag have been tested and refined in detail and you can view the full contacts on this post on my blog gjstevens.com.
In summary, there’s survival ration biscuits which are extremely high in calories and can be stored for up to five years; a water purification straw to enable you to drink directly from any water source; a camping stove which can use multiple fuel types, fire lighting equipment, a tent, ultralight sleeping mat and sleeping bag.
[image error]
Also there is a large pack of razor blades for bartering with other survivors because what value is money going to have when there’s no government to pay up on the promise written on the notes. There’s a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, lightweight clothes, but multiple layers, a wind up radio and torch, plus three of the most important items, a hunting knife, a micro pick and gaffer tape. The knife is obvious, but the pick was chosen after a test of all available household / shed based items that would make the best weapon if you had to survive an apocalypse which went against all the laws of nature, like the one which effected the protagonists from In The End. I hope I don’t need to tell anyone why I packed the gaffer tape!
Of course this is all a bit of fun, but I’ve had some great feedback from people who live outside the UK who have found my numerous posts a great help in creating their own Bug Out Bags. Their need for the bag is much more realistic as they suffer under a very real threat of natural disaster, rather than my envisioned epidemic which twists the laws of nature.
If you enjoyed this post then I would hope you will enjoy my novel, In The End, released on paperback and Kindle on 30thNovember 2018 from Amazon.
October 23, 2018
The Silvan Book III Update #2
It’s coming to the end of October and there are exciting things going on with The Silvan.
The very talented Will Musser is composing music for the series. To celebrate, I have created a teaser trailer for Book III: Dawn of a Legend. This music is just a part of Will’s composition, titled ‘The Alpines.’ You’ll also get a sneak peek at the new artwork for The Company. They’re not all ready, but we’ll get to that in a couple of weeks.
So click full screen, turn the volume UP, and I hope you enjoy.
August 21, 2018
The Silvan Book III: Update #1
[image error]Mid August and I find myself at my writing desk once more. It’s SD1 stage (Shitty Draft 1).
Many authors will agree with me that this is the most time-consuming part of the whole process, the most involved and most absorbing moment. This is when the writer goes into hibernation, lives in pyjamas, drinks coffee by day and wine by night and all the while, scenes of the book are playing and replaying in their head. This is all I have been doing for the last two weeks.
Dawn of a Legend is being created, rearing from the strange recesses of my obsessed mind and I must say, it is slowly beginning to take shape. Meng Yeen, my Beta Reader, is proving as precious to me this time as she was for the first two books in the series; in fact I sometimes think she knows the story better than I do, knows the mind of my main character more than I do. It is unnerving and it keeps me on my toes. Thank God for Meng Yeen!
[image error]So SD1 will be ongoing until October, when book coaching will begin with an overall evaluation of the book – no specifics. I am really looking forward to Andrea Lundgren’s Big Picture Coaching, because once I know I have a good, solid base, a story that is well-paced, has all the elements it needs, is coherent and interesting enough to read, then everything will click and the ball will start to roll faster down the path towards publication.
And then comes the line-by-line coaching, editing and proof reading and if everything goes to plan (ha ha), the books should be ready to launch some time in May 2019. I am wondering about the possibility of adding some simple sketches of the characters. I’ve never done that before.
I am immensely optimistic about book three, especially after the great success of book 2, Road of a Warrior. Reviews are slowly but surely rolling in for both episodes, both on Amazon and Goodreads and for book three, I would dearly like to have more Advanced Readers before publication, so please let me know if you are interested.
So back to writing. You probably won’t hear from me in a while but I will still be reading you guys and keeping up with your stuff.
Thanks for reading.
August 2, 2018
Audio in July [4]
If you’re interested in seeing what is in the studio, follow us on Facebook! Now onto our July pubs…
7/3
Charlie Hart & Anastasia James // 3 TITLES
THEIR PHOENIX
THEIR MATE
THEIR SIREN
7/5
Elizabeth Knox // BLACKJACK
Ripley Proserpina //SHADOWS OF THORNS
7/10
Courtney Konstantin //SURVIVE
7/11
Jaxson Kidman & London Casey //3 TITLES
5 YEARS LATER
ANNA’S DRESS
DEAR EVERLY
7/24
Eva Chase //CONSORT OF SECRETS
Frankie Love //BUILT
L.M. Halloran //DOUBLE VISION
LJ Swallow //THE FOUR HORSEMEN: CHAOS
Shari J. Ryan //MANSERVANT
Violet Duke //BEFORE THAT PROMISE
7/26
Lillian Cole //HIS TO CLAIM
July 24, 2018
BLOG TOUR – The Gemini Connection – REVIEW, EXCERPT
via BLOG TOUR – The Gemini Connection – REVIEW, EXCERPT
Check out Teri Polen’s new book The Gemini Connection.
July 20, 2018
Path of a Novice Bonus Chapter
This extract was originally a part of Path of a Novice, specifically a prologue which was edited out for pacing reasons. It remains a favourite to those that have been a part of the story from the very beginning. The recipe is tried and tested and it’s delicious, so if you have fresh, spring peas, try it out!
Pea Soup
Dense foliage juts powerfully from the fertile land, extending up to the leafy heavens, where dappling light keeps it alive and content, roots anchored deep and tight in the loamy earth, just like those who dwell here, where peace still reigns and trees thrive; a place without Sand Lords, where Deviants only exist in the bedtime stories of brave Silvan children, future warriors of Ea Uaré.
Here, amidst majestic trees, shady glades of vibrant grass and sprawling moss of every conceivable shade of green, lies the village of LanTaria. Cottages of stone and timber merge almost invisibly with the trees that embrace them, as if they had always been there, grown together in fraternal harmony.
A Silvan lady works in her garden, collecting the long green pods that hang from wooden sticks placed up against an overgrown hedge, the haze of woody smoke floating above her, reminding her that Autumn was already upon them.
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Amareth of Lan Taria smiled indulgently at the howling laughter that once more danced around her, honey-coloured eyes glancing fondly at the small platform nestled in a mighty tree at the end of her garden. There they go again, she smiled as she walked inside and deposited her basket upon the rough, wooden tabletop of her homely kitchen. Sliding her thumb down the seam of a green pod, she watched as the peas popped unwillingly from their nests and into the wooden bowl with a mellow thud. Well they would not go willingly, she mused, for they surely knew what awaited them.
Her smile turned from amusement to fondness and then motherly adoration, for although the boy was not her son, she loved him just the same, for is mother not she who nurtures and cares for a child? She who sacrifices her own life and joy for the simple, perfect laughter of a tiny life, one that without her, could not blossom? What had blood to do with it?
She turned to the small pot sitting over the wood fire, water bubbling invitingly with the promise of sweet pea soup and sour cream with crunchy nuts – his favourite. He would peck her upon the cheek every time she made it, his flushed face, pearly white teeth and sparkling green eyes so full of life and love; such a beautiful, innocent child was Fel’annár, Green Sun.
The name had been given to him by his mother, ‘for his eyes are greener and brighter even than the Green Sun of the Deep Forest’ she had said. Amareth smiled at the memory of her tragic sister and her devotion to those rare plants that blossomed but once in a lifetime, for that is how she had seen her son.
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Her beautiful nephew had lived in Silvan joy for the passing of many years, with no cares in the world save for those of his tutors. A childhood of fond memories his had been, yet not an altogether easy one, for uncomfortable questions and no small amount of antagonism followed the boy everywhere he went. Of course it did, she scoffed, for the child was extraordinary in every way. Indeed, for one so young, he had born it all admirably, first with frustration, then anger, then surrender. She was no fool though, she knew his questions were still there, latent yet ever present, repressed. Sooner or later they would surface once more, and the Spirit forbid he find his answers.
She carefully slid the peas into the boiling water and sat back to watch the flames lick at the heavy pan, slowly bringing the water back to bubbling, and her mind resumed its nostalgic wanderings.
The beautiful child had become a handsome young elf who had thought of little else other than becoming a warrior. He had trained in the Silvan way, in the forests, not in the city where the venerable weapons masters train, yet even so, he had excelled far beyond the expectations of his tutors.
He had taken to the bow, sabres and hand-to-hand combat so naturally; and how could it have been any other way? she asked herself wryly – for was it not in his blood? His mixed blood?
She shuddered as her thoughts took her, once more, down that familiar path of cold dread and gnawing anxiety and she moved a little closer to the fire. She would not lose him to battle. She would not lose him to political scheming. Though he was already an adult, Amareth would still protect him, at any cost; shield him from those that would break his world apart, scorn him, mark him as a child born of love and not matrimony.
She took a steadying breath as she reached for a cloth and unhooked her pot from the cooking frame. Carrying it carefully to the sink, she discarded the boiling water, delighting as the fragrant steam warmed her face. Next, she poured the bright green pearls into a basin of frigid forest water, watching as they turned an even more vivid green – Fel’annár.
Turning, she sat and dried her hands upon her apron, eyes set in maternal steel and yet, in spite of her determination, something screamed at her in mock and disdain. Foolish woman, for he is a warrior now, the best we have seen for many years, and talent like that will always reach the ears of Thargodén’s captains. You cannot protect him forever …
It was a matter of time; in her heart she knew this as surely as she knew her own name, however much she tried, and failed, to convince herself otherwise. Her determined eyes dimmed in defeat; Fel’annár was too good a warrior, too beautiful to behold. His long, silvery hair and his wild eyes, eyes too green to ever pass a glance unnoticed. These were not the markings of a Silvan immortal but of an Alpine elf, in spite of his mother’s forest origins.
The peas, now strained, sat once more in the earthen bowl and Amareth sprinkled sage, thyme and mint over them, and then added a generous knob of butter and a dash of cream. Almost done, she said to herself as another bust of laughter tickled her ears, closer now, and defeat – turned to acceptance.
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Fel’annár had enrolled in the king’s army, just as she had always known he would. One more day and he would be gone, riding out for the first time, away from the western quadrant that had been his home for fifty-one years, bound South, into the city. He would revel in his new-found freedom, stare in wonder at the bright, new things he would see. He would look on in fascination at the stonework and architecture of the king’s fortress and he would make her proud upon the training fields of the Royal Guard. Yet more than this he would come face to face with the other side of himself and there was, perhaps, some comfort in that at least, Ramien and Idernon would be with him when it happened, when his questions were finally answered.
Images of four small children playing and giggling, as they acted out the great battles of old flitted nostalgically before her mind’s eye. Ramien they had called the biggest of the four, for he surely was a strapping lad, a Wall of Stone. Another was named Idernon, WiseOne, and fittingly so, for even as a child he was wont to question – to reason and logic; a child philosopher.
Thavorn too, played their games but his calling was different; he was to be the mightiest Tree Master the Silvan people had ever known. And then Fel’annár had become Hwind’atór, the WhirlingWarrior, for he had, quite by chance, decided that dancing could be fun with a blade in his hand, albeit a wooden one. The Whirling Warrior, she smirked to herself as she worked.
Excited chatter exploded in the kitchen, just as she placed her bowl of steaming pea soup on the wooden table.
“Mother!” exclaimed Fel’annár as he sat himself down unceremoniously, his youthful face flushed with excitement and hunger.
“Now now, wait for the blessings, Fel’an.”
“Of course,” he added with a cocky smile, as Ramien, Idernon and Thavorn sat, nodding politely at the woman they loved as an aunt.
“Aria, Spirit of the Trees. We thank you for the bounties before us,” said Amareth simply, before looking up once more and smiling at the four, expectant faces, no traces of her previous thoughts left now – only adoration, for this was the dawn of a new life for them, and perhaps the waning of her own. Their yet unwritten adventures were just beginning, and what better way to celebrate, than with her famed pea soup?
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And so it was that the next dawn brought with it a heartfelt goodbye. Amareth stood, her woollen shawl wrapped tightly around her slumped shoulders for there was a chill in the air, and in her heart. If only her sister Lássira could have seen him now –young and beautiful, brave and optimistic, with the world at his feet and a thousand dreams in his head, she would have melted like the spring frost, a wash with love for her beautiful son.
Who was to say where Lássira was now, for she had taken the Short Road to Valley, and so Amareth simply stood in defeated silence as her eyes met the extraordinary eyes of her son; her sister’s eyes. There were no words, only eloquent emotions that both understood as clearly as if they had been spoken.
I am sorry that I never answered your questions. I have loved you too much. So come back to me safely, my Silvan – Alpine son … with knowledge of who you are – and judge me if you will.
July 13, 2018
New Books and Free Stuff!
Hi All! Summer is upon us, bringing with it some awesome weather and some awesome new books! Check out this latest release by Ryan Lanz! Also, scroll to the bottom for FREEebooks!
Shadows of Tomorrow features two thrilling, post-apocalyptic short stories, Only One Mask and The Price of Art.
Only One Mask:
Nob only trusts two things: his knife and his breathing mask–the latter because he has to.
Ever since the world went crazy, he feels like he’s always on the run. Running from those who want to kill you. Running from those who want your food, your water, and your only way to safely breathe.
Tricia once said he takes things too seriously. That was a long time ago. Now taking things seriously keeps him alive.
He’s used to taking what he needs without an ounce of guilt, but now he’s faced with a moral dilemma…
View original post 273 more words
