Gary F. Vanucci's Blog, page 13
October 12, 2012
Rick Novy Interview
Continuing with my rounds of interviews from the amazing independent authors I've met on social media, I give you now Speculative Fiction/Sci-Fi author: Rick Novy!
In what genre do you write for the most part?
I write mainly speculative
fiction, with a leaning toward the SF side of the fence.
Give us a brief synopsis of your book(s)
Fishpunk
When Wisconsin Territory
botanist Calvin Scholz receives a mysterious package from an old friend who
recently came to an untimely demise, it sparks a wild adventure. The mid-1840s
is a dangerous time, for the Americans are at war with Mexico.
Scholz survives attempts on his life as he tries to deliver the package to his
friend’s brother, a Savannah
ichthyologist interested in fish-powered machinery--ichthyotech. The situation
grows increasingly dire, and Scholz finds himself aboard a riverboat in the Amazon Basin
wilderness.
While this novel contains a fast-moving, original story, it is also a tasteful
parody of the Steampunk movement. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments,
as well as a few compulsory bad puns.
Rigel Kentaurus
It’s the first human voyage
outside the solar system, and Proxima Centauri is the destination. The crew of
the sleeper ship Deep Space discovers we are not alone, and not everyone out
there is nice. Diverted to Alpha Centauri A (Rigel Kentaurus) to fetch and
return a faster-than-light prototype, the crew learns that humanity is the only
civilization to ever solve the light barrier problem. Now, Deep Space must
defend it as a military secret, because the mysterious Betels have been at war
with the brutal Thrace
since before mankind discovered fire–all with sublight space travel.
Neanderthal Swan Song
The world of anthropology would
have been excited when a perfectly preserved Neanderthal body is discovered in
the Greenlandic permafrost, if authorities would allow the details out. When an
American anthropologist involved in the excavation is denied access to the
body, she uses an illicit tissue sample as source material to carry the
Neanderthal’s clone to term herself.
Meet Ike Mudge,
twenty-first-century Neanderthal man. Self-educated and raised in a laboratory
thirty-thousand years out of his time, he is alone in a world of billions. Will
it drive him insane, or will he make a final contribution for his kind–a
Neanderthal Swan Song?
When did you start writing?
I wrote on and off since I was in
grade school.
What inspired you to write?
I'm not really sure. It's as if
there has always been this knowledge deep down that I would write.
If your books were made into a movie, who would play the
roles?
I envisioned Johnny Depp playing
the protag in Neanderthal Swan Song, but Depp is gettig too old for the role.
Other than that, I haven't really put much thought into actors playing the
parts in my books. There isn't much to be gained by spending mental energy on
it, unless you use that to build the character in your mind. Usually, I already
have a personality in mind for my characters, so actors don’t play much of a
role in my character creation.
What would be your choice for a superpower?
The best superpower there is would
be to have incredibly good luck.
Who is your favorite author?
I don't really have a favorite;
there are so many good ones out there.
In fact, I can't read consecutive books by the same author. I usually
start tiring of the voice, and even if I don't I want to prevent that from
happening.
What are you reading now?
Harlan Ellison's The Other
Glass Teat, Kim Stanley Robinson's Antarctica,
Manfred Schroeder Fractals, Chaos, Power Laws, and a few more. I haven't
been absorbed by any of these books, so I jump back and forth.
Who is your favorite character to write?
I had a lot of fun writing Robert
Wenthworth in Fishpunk. He is madcap, but not stupid. That makes him a
lot of fun to write. I also had a lot of fun with Malshaak in Rigel
Kentaurus. I enjoy writing from the alien point of view and I'm told I'm
pretty good at it.
Do you have a writing process?
It all comes down to butt-in-chair
time.
What do you do when you aren’t writing?
I'm an avid aquarist. I have
anywhere between 12 and 20 aquariums going at once, depending on what I happen
to be trying to do at any given time.
Breeding can take a lot of tank space.
I'm a member of the crew at wetwebmedia.com, a great resource for people
struggling with aquarium-related problems and trying to heal sick fishes.
I'm also am a pretty avid NFL fan,
with allegiances to Green Bay
and Arizona.
I teach math at the local community college as adjunct faculty. I have a big
yard to take care of, and I'm a dad to three teenagers.
What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
Keep writing, be persistent, and
find your own game. Your writing is like nobody else's, so don't try to
imitate, just be yourself. But, those million practice words are not optional.
Keep working on improving at all times.
What sets your books apart from others of the genre?
I don't think the author is ever
the right person to answer this question.
What method do you use to publish your books for those of us
who might not know how?
I'm an independent author, and I
mean truly independent. I am trained as an engineer and scientist, so I
understand how ebooks work. In fact, a few years ago I wrote a short
non-fiction book on how to create EPUB files. It's obsolete now because in
those days, the software to do it for you didn't exist. Now, I just use the
tools that are available. So, back to
the question, I write the books, I create the ebook files, I manage the
accounts on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all my other online vendors, and I am
responsible for fixing any problems. That doesn't mean I don't get help, it
just means that I am the decision-maker and ultimately responsible for the
quality of my product, or lack thereof.
Where can we find you on social media?
Twitter : @ricknovy
https://twitter.com/RickNovy
Facebook :
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rick-N... (I've already like it!)
www.ricknovy.com
Amazon Author Page : http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Novy/e/B00...
Barnes and Noble Author Page : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/rick-...
Smashwords :
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie...
Kobo :
http://www.kobobooks.com/search/searc...
Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!
All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
In what genre do you write for the most part?
I write mainly speculative
fiction, with a leaning toward the SF side of the fence.
Give us a brief synopsis of your book(s)
Fishpunk
When Wisconsin Territory
botanist Calvin Scholz receives a mysterious package from an old friend who
recently came to an untimely demise, it sparks a wild adventure. The mid-1840s
is a dangerous time, for the Americans are at war with Mexico.
Scholz survives attempts on his life as he tries to deliver the package to his
friend’s brother, a Savannah
ichthyologist interested in fish-powered machinery--ichthyotech. The situation
grows increasingly dire, and Scholz finds himself aboard a riverboat in the Amazon Basin
wilderness.
While this novel contains a fast-moving, original story, it is also a tasteful
parody of the Steampunk movement. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments,
as well as a few compulsory bad puns.
Rigel Kentaurus
It’s the first human voyage
outside the solar system, and Proxima Centauri is the destination. The crew of
the sleeper ship Deep Space discovers we are not alone, and not everyone out
there is nice. Diverted to Alpha Centauri A (Rigel Kentaurus) to fetch and
return a faster-than-light prototype, the crew learns that humanity is the only
civilization to ever solve the light barrier problem. Now, Deep Space must
defend it as a military secret, because the mysterious Betels have been at war
with the brutal Thrace
since before mankind discovered fire–all with sublight space travel.
Neanderthal Swan Song
The world of anthropology would
have been excited when a perfectly preserved Neanderthal body is discovered in
the Greenlandic permafrost, if authorities would allow the details out. When an
American anthropologist involved in the excavation is denied access to the
body, she uses an illicit tissue sample as source material to carry the
Neanderthal’s clone to term herself.
Meet Ike Mudge,
twenty-first-century Neanderthal man. Self-educated and raised in a laboratory
thirty-thousand years out of his time, he is alone in a world of billions. Will
it drive him insane, or will he make a final contribution for his kind–a
Neanderthal Swan Song?
When did you start writing?
I wrote on and off since I was in
grade school.
What inspired you to write?
I'm not really sure. It's as if
there has always been this knowledge deep down that I would write.
If your books were made into a movie, who would play the
roles?
I envisioned Johnny Depp playing
the protag in Neanderthal Swan Song, but Depp is gettig too old for the role.
Other than that, I haven't really put much thought into actors playing the
parts in my books. There isn't much to be gained by spending mental energy on
it, unless you use that to build the character in your mind. Usually, I already
have a personality in mind for my characters, so actors don’t play much of a
role in my character creation.
What would be your choice for a superpower?
The best superpower there is would
be to have incredibly good luck.
Who is your favorite author?
I don't really have a favorite;
there are so many good ones out there.
In fact, I can't read consecutive books by the same author. I usually
start tiring of the voice, and even if I don't I want to prevent that from
happening.
What are you reading now?
Harlan Ellison's The Other
Glass Teat, Kim Stanley Robinson's Antarctica,
Manfred Schroeder Fractals, Chaos, Power Laws, and a few more. I haven't
been absorbed by any of these books, so I jump back and forth.
Who is your favorite character to write?
I had a lot of fun writing Robert
Wenthworth in Fishpunk. He is madcap, but not stupid. That makes him a
lot of fun to write. I also had a lot of fun with Malshaak in Rigel
Kentaurus. I enjoy writing from the alien point of view and I'm told I'm
pretty good at it.
Do you have a writing process?
It all comes down to butt-in-chair
time.
What do you do when you aren’t writing?
I'm an avid aquarist. I have
anywhere between 12 and 20 aquariums going at once, depending on what I happen
to be trying to do at any given time.
Breeding can take a lot of tank space.
I'm a member of the crew at wetwebmedia.com, a great resource for people
struggling with aquarium-related problems and trying to heal sick fishes.
I'm also am a pretty avid NFL fan,
with allegiances to Green Bay
and Arizona.
I teach math at the local community college as adjunct faculty. I have a big
yard to take care of, and I'm a dad to three teenagers.
What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
Keep writing, be persistent, and
find your own game. Your writing is like nobody else's, so don't try to
imitate, just be yourself. But, those million practice words are not optional.
Keep working on improving at all times.
What sets your books apart from others of the genre?
I don't think the author is ever
the right person to answer this question.
What method do you use to publish your books for those of us
who might not know how?
I'm an independent author, and I
mean truly independent. I am trained as an engineer and scientist, so I
understand how ebooks work. In fact, a few years ago I wrote a short
non-fiction book on how to create EPUB files. It's obsolete now because in
those days, the software to do it for you didn't exist. Now, I just use the
tools that are available. So, back to
the question, I write the books, I create the ebook files, I manage the
accounts on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all my other online vendors, and I am
responsible for fixing any problems. That doesn't mean I don't get help, it
just means that I am the decision-maker and ultimately responsible for the
quality of my product, or lack thereof.
Where can we find you on social media?
Twitter : @ricknovy
https://twitter.com/RickNovy
Facebook :
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rick-N... (I've already like it!)
www.ricknovy.com
Amazon Author Page : http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Novy/e/B00...
Barnes and Noble Author Page : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/rick-...
Smashwords :
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie...
Kobo :
http://www.kobobooks.com/search/searc...
Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!
All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
October 4, 2012
The Jeff Whelan Interview!
Jeff Whelan
Jeff Whelan is a fellow 'twitterer' and fellow fiction author that I met recently. He is a fantastic supporter of other independent authors and has a flair for writing amusing and far out speculative fiction. To learn more about this author, proceed with caution!
In what genre do you write for the most part?
I guess you would call it humorous, young adult speculative fiction.
Give us a brief synopsis of your book(s):
Space Orville, a young Earthman of 16, is relishing his new life as an independent "grown-up". He has just been accepted as an apprentice with Morphean Gaming Systems and has moved into an Earth-orbiting apartment with his companion, NeutroFuzz, to test holographic video games. As a result of a questionnaire he answered in the back of a magazine, Space Orville finds himself recruited by the Universal Protection Service to rescue a brilliant inventor who has been kidnapped by a group of diseased refugees seeking a cure for their malady. But these exiled aliens may have more nefarious plans for this inventor's device. Initially perplexed, Space Orville becomes thrilled at being recruited for this dangerous mission. He is therefore bummed to find his autonomy stifled when he is partnered with a warrior dwarf.
Meanwhile, two agents from the OmniCosmic Alliance are in pursuit of a dangerously powerful and deranged scientist, Bizmo the Inconceivable, who has escaped from prison with a device that can alter reality and enslave every living mind. When these two missions collide, Space Orville must find a way to work with this new team of real "grown-ups" while maintaining a hold on his new-found independence.
When did you start writing?
As soon as I could pick up a crayon and print my name.
What inspired you to write?
Hmmm. I read a lot of comics growing up and quickly came to realize, "Hey, there are people out there who think up this awesome stuff and write it down. I bet I could do that!" I also used to enjoy making up stories and telling them to my friends or my little sister. I found that, after telling them, writing them down helped me build these tales into better stories. Beyond that, I had a middle school librarian, Mrs. Phyllis Horton, who liked my writing way back then and encouraged me to keep at it. These days, my beautiful wife and two phenomenal sons are my biggest inspiration.
If your books were made into a movie, who would play the roles?
Wow, what a great question! Space Orville is the only book I have out right now and I would love to see what Pixar could do with it. But, if I had to choose actors for either live action or voice over, my dream cast would include Robert Downey, Jr. as General DeKay, Viggo Mortensen as Commander Buffalo, David Tennant as Riff KaBob, maybe Charlize Theron or Emma Stone as Lidweena Sponda, Hugh Laurie as Dr. Lunchwrap, Johnny Depp as Zabooka, Peter Dinklage as Ivan Earlobe, Seth Rogen would make a great Poon Garlik, Morgan Freeman as Miles O'Teeth and Tom Hardy as Bizmo. If NeutroFuzz needed an actor, it would have to be Andy Serkis. For Space Orville, though . . . sheesh. My wife thinks Matthew Broderick still sounds young enough to do a voice over, but I don't know. I'm thinking Andrew Garfield, Nicholas Hoult or Caleb Landry Jones might make a better match.
What would be your choice for a superpower?
My longstanding desire is the ability to duplicate myself in order to get more stuff done.
Who is your favorite author?
Yikes. So many! The list includes Douglas Adams, Clive Barker, Patrick Ness, Philip Pullman, Dr. Seuss, Jack Prelutsky, Kurt Vonnegut and Tom Robbins. And I will hereby admit to a fondness for Stephen King when he's on his game.
What are you reading now?
Right now, I am reading "MEAN" by fellow independent author, Renata Barcelos. A gripping psychological thriller.
Who is your favorite character to write?
That would have to be NeutroFuzz, Space Orville's constant companion. NeutroFuzz is a magnaradiant, capable of the most amazing things. I love him (I'm still assuming it's a "him") because he's so incredibly versatile and is not limited to any behavioral constraints that plague other species. I had a great time thinking up words to describe all the outlandish things he could do.
Do you have a writing process?
Lots of caffeine and really late hours. I also write everything longhand initially (my brain just makes a better connection to the paper that way) and do generate a rough outline with work the size of Space Orville. The outline may not be complete before I actually start writing, but it provides me a jumping off point. And I don't adhere rigidly to that outline. I find that a lot of story elements change themselves along the way.
What do you do when you aren't writing?
Full-time husband and father, half-time high school special education paraprofessional by day, part time remote medical transcriptionist by night.
What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
Keep writing, which you should know by now. Follow guidelines carefully and don't give up on print publishers. And beware of vanity press predators! Don't trust anyone who wants you to pay them vast sums to publish your work no matter what they promise you. But do not be afraid to self-publish and join the ranks of the Independents. It's remarkably easy to do, it will eat up nearly all of your time as you must market yourself relentlessly (while also vigorously paying it forward to other Indies who are marketing themselves), but it will get your work read.
What sets your books apart from others of the genre?
I would say the combination of twisted humor, inventive wordplay and a teenage protagonist set Space Orville apart from more traditional science fiction. Incidentally, those qualities also made it a much harder sell leading to a file folder fat with rejection letters.
**What method do you use to publish your books for those of us who might not know how?
Space Orville is currently published exclusively in e-book format. I started that process right here, if I may share a link http://www.amazon.com/gp/seller-account/mm-summary-page.html?topic=200260520. It told me everything I needed to do. Be very careful to follow all formatting guidelines and, if you're having trouble, seek help. One invaluable resource for me was this free book from Amazon, Building Your Book for Kindle, which is available here, if I may share the link http://amzn.to/LtTeZz. There is also a version available for formatting with a Mac.
Where can we find you on social media?
I have a Wordpress blog at http://bit.ly/H2U4cH and love visitors. I have a page at The Independent Author Network, http://bit.ly/H4uh5j, that likes visitors, too. I have a personal Facebook page http://on.fb.me/NrVm6s as does Space Orville http://on.fb.me/OHKfWW. Finally, I have a very active Twitter account at http://bit.ly/LQUTON. My Twitter handle is @SpaceOrville. Followers welcome!
And, if I may, interested readers can find Space Orville for their Kindle here at Amazon: http://amzn.to/GP7Eps. Nook users can find him at Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/H95HR4. He can also be found in other formats at Smashwords, http://bit.ly/GSUSVJ and Lulu http://bit.ly/PwIJen.
Thanks so much for this spectacular opportunity, Gary! These were some great questions and it's been a joy to share with you and your readers. Cheers!
Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!
All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
September 27, 2012
Shannon Mayer Interview
I had the pleasure recently of meeting Shannon Mayer on twitter and she agreed to share some things with us here at Eye on Ashenclaw. As you may or may not know, I am in the midst of trying to spotlight some new authors (well, new to you anyway!) as to introduce my readers to as many people and good writers as I can. My blog will be performing several interviews over the next few weeks from different authors and I hope my people will enjoy it! So, please have a seat and learn a little something about Shannon as we commence with the interview.
In what genre do you write for the most part?
Urban fantasy or some sub-genre within that, I like to blend them just to make
it interesting. So horror/romance, urban fantasy/mystery, are a couple of the
crosses I’ve done.
When did you start writing?
It was about eight
years ago that with the thought of actually trying to get something published,
I sat down at the keyboard. Before that I’d been writing for years, but just
for my own pleasure.
What inspired you to write?
I think it was
reading great books that made me want to write my own stories. I loved to be
immersed in new worlds and the idea of building my own and offering them to
readers was exciting.
What would be your choice for a superpower?
Control over the elements, that would be fun.
Who is your favorite author?
Too many! Kim
Harrison, Stephen King, Robert Jordan, Jacquline Carey, Brandon Sanderson to
name a few.
What are you reading now?
Dragon Badge by Scott
Moon, it’s an urban fantasy that blends magic and cops. Pretty funky if you ask
me.
Who is your favorite character to write?
I like
all my characters about the same, otherwise I wouldn’t write them at all. :0)
Do you have a writing process?
Write every day,
don’t let external crap get in the way of my time on the keyboard, and always
have chocolate handy for those emergency energy slumps!
What do you do when you aren't writing?
I still
have a day job, so that keeps me busy and my husband and I have a large farm
and animals that keeps the rest of the free time I might have tied up. And
occasionally, I take a break and bake cupcakes. ;p
What advice would you give to an aspiring
author?
Just keep writing and ALWAYS use an editor. You really can’t afford not
to.
What sets your books apart from others of the
genre? I think the blend of romance into the zombie tripe gives a bit of a
different spin, one that I hope readers
enjoy!
What method do you use to publish your books for
those of us who might not know how? I primarily use the KDP program with Amazon,
though I do have a paperback out with Createspace now too.
Where can we find you on
social media?
Twitter- @TheShannonMayer, Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ShannonMayerAuthor
and my blog, http://shannonmayer.blogspot.com
are the best places to track me down.
Bio- Reading and writing from a very young age I
learned early on that stories built in a fantasy world were where the fun was
at. Reading books by Robert Jordan spurred me on and it was the first real epic
fantasy that I fell in love with. After that came Piers Anthony, Melanie Rawn
and into my older teen years, Anne Rice.
It was in Rice's novels that the idea of urban fantasy really bloomed for me
and it was about that time that my grandmother was letting me read her
Harlequin Historical novels. (Okay, actually she was slipping them to me when
my mother wasn't looking, but let's not get picky.)
The combination of love stories and darker fantasy stuck with me and it's now
not only what I gravitate towards to read on my off time (Kelly Armstrong,
Laurell K Hamilton, Kim Harrison), but has become the style I love to write in.
Besides writing, I love to spend time with my family and animals, horseback
ride, garden and hike with my husband.
Shannon's Amazon Author Page
Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!
All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
In what genre do you write for the most part?
Urban fantasy or some sub-genre within that, I like to blend them just to make
it interesting. So horror/romance, urban fantasy/mystery, are a couple of the
crosses I’ve done.
When did you start writing?
It was about eight
years ago that with the thought of actually trying to get something published,
I sat down at the keyboard. Before that I’d been writing for years, but just
for my own pleasure.
What inspired you to write?
I think it was
reading great books that made me want to write my own stories. I loved to be
immersed in new worlds and the idea of building my own and offering them to
readers was exciting.
What would be your choice for a superpower?
Control over the elements, that would be fun.
Who is your favorite author?
Too many! Kim
Harrison, Stephen King, Robert Jordan, Jacquline Carey, Brandon Sanderson to
name a few.
What are you reading now?
Dragon Badge by Scott
Moon, it’s an urban fantasy that blends magic and cops. Pretty funky if you ask
me.
Who is your favorite character to write?
I like
all my characters about the same, otherwise I wouldn’t write them at all. :0)
Do you have a writing process?
Write every day,
don’t let external crap get in the way of my time on the keyboard, and always
have chocolate handy for those emergency energy slumps!
What do you do when you aren't writing?
I still
have a day job, so that keeps me busy and my husband and I have a large farm
and animals that keeps the rest of the free time I might have tied up. And
occasionally, I take a break and bake cupcakes. ;p
What advice would you give to an aspiring
author?
Just keep writing and ALWAYS use an editor. You really can’t afford not
to.
What sets your books apart from others of the
genre? I think the blend of romance into the zombie tripe gives a bit of a
different spin, one that I hope readers
enjoy!
What method do you use to publish your books for
those of us who might not know how? I primarily use the KDP program with Amazon,
though I do have a paperback out with Createspace now too.
Where can we find you on
social media?
Twitter- @TheShannonMayer, Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ShannonMayerAuthor
and my blog, http://shannonmayer.blogspot.com
are the best places to track me down.
Bio- Reading and writing from a very young age I
learned early on that stories built in a fantasy world were where the fun was
at. Reading books by Robert Jordan spurred me on and it was the first real epic
fantasy that I fell in love with. After that came Piers Anthony, Melanie Rawn
and into my older teen years, Anne Rice.
It was in Rice's novels that the idea of urban fantasy really bloomed for me
and it was about that time that my grandmother was letting me read her
Harlequin Historical novels. (Okay, actually she was slipping them to me when
my mother wasn't looking, but let's not get picky.)
The combination of love stories and darker fantasy stuck with me and it's now
not only what I gravitate towards to read on my off time (Kelly Armstrong,
Laurell K Hamilton, Kim Harrison), but has become the style I love to write in.
Besides writing, I love to spend time with my family and animals, horseback
ride, garden and hike with my husband.
Shannon's Amazon Author Page
Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!
All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
September 22, 2012
Interview with E.W. Greenlee
In the following weeks, I will be conducting interviews with fellow authors (mostly fantasy/sci-fi) to introduce some of you to my friends and peers.
I had the pleasure of interviewing E.W. Greenlee, fellow writer who often authors supernatural and Sci-Fi, along with fantasy. I could go one telling you about him, but instead, let's sit back and read along as we find out more about this author!
When did you start writing? My first writing was in high school. It was a supernatural short story for a class titled: Literature of the Supernatural. It was at the time my teacher gave it an A+ and specifically pulled me aside to say I should consider a career in writing. Unfortunately, I was more in love with architecture than writing. My skills in grammar are not that impressive, but I always kept this in mind. In the 1990’s I wrote two stories on an old typewriter. However in 2000 I devoted myself to a 10 year journey to write an epic fantasy mythology titled: The Chosen One of Allivar.
Why do you write? I write because I truly miss stories that spark my imagination and thought. Often I read current stories where the author provides so much detail that my imagination is not allowed to take off. Or, the plot is so simple, it appears written for elementary level thought processes. I like challenges such as Dante’s Inferno, Paradise lost and the complete world of JRR Tolkien.
If your books were made into a movie, who would play the roles? Boy this is a hard one to answer. Since I am 53 years old and do not follow much of the current actors skills, I cannot name anyone at the moment. Whoever would be selected would have to play the roles in a humble manner. My characters are not super humans. They are human, with human weaknesses and fears.
What would be your choice for a superpower? The power of invisibility. The old expression, “Oh, to be a fly on the wall”, applies to me. This is similar to wearing the ring of power and being invisible like Bilbo and Frodo, without all the side effects, of course.
Who is your favorite author? Without doubt JRR Tolkien because he created an entire mythology complete with languages. He was also able to devote his entire life to the expansion of this mythology, instead of shifting track depending on whatever the current reader trends were. He remained loyal to himself and controlled for the most part his own creation. That quality I find very noble.
What are you reading now? I am reading George RR Martin’s – Game of Thrones. However, I admit fully to being a very slow reader. College taught me that reading the classics cannot be rushed, for the authors truly put effort into each sentence.
Who is your favorite character to write? At the current moment it is the antagonist, because one has to step into the mind of evil thoughts. This is very difficult, well, not as difficult as writing about a woman.
Do you have a writing process? Yes, I am CPA and Financial Advisor, so I am methodical. I first draft the chapters and the premise for each chapter. I jump into writing and then proof read after the story is complete, making edits for everything to blend properly.
What do you do when you aren’t writing? When I’m not assisting clients or writing, I have been trying to refresh my passion for sketching and drawing. I am also trying to learn more about controlling my artistic affairs by gaining knowledge of Adobe’s complete create suite. I have much to learn yet. Join a Toastmasters International speech club, get active and enter speech contests where you can further your story telling skills and get the word out about your writing works.
What advice would you give to an aspiring author? Never, ever give up. Changes in self-publishing allow for everyone to give writing a try. In the end, it is not whether a publisher, agent, or editor likes your works, it is the reader. However, you must be open to constructive criticism and evaluation. I am also a member of Toastmasters International, where one can learn the craft of writing speeches, learning to evaluate and be evaluated, and just have a lot of fun.
What inspired you to pursue writing? JRR Tolkien is my greatest inspiration. His world allowed me to consider creating my own and to daydream again.
Tell us about your books I am currently writing a nineteen story mythology. Three of these stories are already completed and comprise the trilogy – The Chosen One of Allivar. The titles to the trilogy are:
Rise of the Fallen
Bound to Forbidden LandsLast Stand of the Living
The trilogy can stand alone, but I posed a question to my readers on whether they wanted more of the history. With a resounding yes, I have begun the next series which will comprise nine books, then a final series of seven books. Each of these series compliments the trilogy from a different perspective, one will truly understand upon completing the trilogy.
What sets your books apart from others of the genre? I would like to think that my stories separate me in that I created my very own world with unique beings and characteristics. The stories are fun and exciting reads, but they are also meant to challenge the mind and move one’s emotions.
E.W. Greenlee is a CPA and Financial Advisor living in Norman, OK. His world consists of oppressive regulations and compliance, where creativity can only land you in prison. To escape the bonds of mortal conformity and retain some sense of humor, he delves into the realm of fantasy, supernatural and science fiction writing. His first writing was a supernatural short story all the way back in 1976 and his English teacher suggested he consider a writing career.
Raised in a competitive family, there were no boundaries established to day-dreaming, art or any other creative endeavor. E.W. shares his free time with his wife for life, Tracy, and their Golden Retriever Ruby. In his spare time, EW blogs, sketches and delves into computer graphics or spends time in the outdoors dreaming of new stories and worlds.
For more information and social media links on EW Greenlee please visit his website
Website: http://www.allivarcreative.com/
Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!
All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
September 15, 2012
Skulldust Circle Anthology Live!
A Gathering of Dust is live !
If you enjoy fantasy in any style, than this might be the book for you. You will be getting a sampling of 6 different authors that make up the anthology which is easily the size of a full-length novel. It includes works from Jeremy Laszlo, William Kenney, Ross Kitson, Benedict Martin and yours truly.
Please take a moment to check it out on Amazon Kindle and it is enrolled in the KDP select, so if you are a Prime Member, you can borrow it for free! We will be making it available in print very soon, so keep your eyes peeled for those of you who want the actual print copy.
And as usual, if you don’t have a kindle, please go to Amazon home page here and download the app for FREE for any of your devices (tablet, iPhone, iPad, PC, Mac, android, etc.)
Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!
All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
September 11, 2012
Ross M. Kitson Interview
I had the opportunity recently to interview fellow 'Skullduster' Ross Kitson, Author of the Darkness Rising series. He believes (and I agree) that we have very similar writing styles and influences along the way that made it so.
I admire Ross as a writer and as a human being. He is a doctor in the UK with a family and still somehow finds time to gift us with some amazing fantasy. Do yourself a favor and check some of that out here:
http://amzn.to/DarkChainedUS
http://amzn.to/DarkChainedUK
http://bit.ly/DarkQuestUS
http://bit.ly/DarkQuestUK
The Interview:
Explain your main
characters briefly~
The main character in the Prism series is Emelia. We first
meet her as a teenager, serving as a housemaid in a noble house in a land
called Eeria. Emelia was sold into servitude by her father, and is still coming
to terms with that. She begins to have prophetic dreams and develops odd
powers, which we learn are the emergence of a type of (vilified) sorcery called
Wild-magic.
The series follows Emelia’s growth as a woman. The price of
utilizing Wild-magic is mental illness, and Emelia struggles with bipolar
disorder through the books. Her relationships with other main characters, both
intimate and friendships, become a key factor in the fate of the world she
lives in.
I was aware that the’ rags to riches’ story has been done to
death, especially in fantasy. What I wanted to avoid was the idea that Emelia
is secretly some reborn hero, or prophesized great hope that’ll save the world.
She isn’t: she’s just a naïve, slightly screwed-up girl, with powers she
struggles to control. I think I drew
more from the world of comics, such as X-men or Spiderman, in the creation of
Emelia and Wild-magic (well, minus the Spandex pants….).
Give us a brief
synopsis of your storyline~
Well, some I’ve alluded to above, but here goes. Emelia, who
works as a servant, begins to develop strange powers. One of her friends at the
Keep (where she serves) dies mysteriously, and Emelia suspects the Lord’s son
is the culprit. Her days there are numbered after she confronts him, and she
then escapes with two thieves- Jem and Hunor- one of whom is a Wild-mage. He
takes Emelia under his wing and trains her.
The thieves have stolen a strange crystal, which later turns
out to be part of an ancient Prism of Power. A group of knights arrive to
reclaim it, and then that’s when the adventure really kicks in. You see, a
group of undead sorcerers, led by a ghast called Vildor, need the Prism for
their nefarious plan. So the chase is on, and will continue to be on for all
six books!
What are you reading now?
I have three books on the boil. Firstly, I’m slogging
through Robert Zelazney’s Amber chronicles: all ten books in one 8 font tome!
Slow going, but very very good.
Second, on my kindle, I’m reading Clive Johnson’s Leiyatel’s
Embrace. It’s a fantasy book with a degree of eloquence that I’ve not read in
years.
Thirdly, I’m reading Elise Stoke’s Cassidy Jones and The
Secret Formula with my daughter. It’s a YA superhero book and is simply
fantastic.
Who is your favorite
character to write?
That is really tricky. I love the slightly affected
indulgence of Vildor, the bad guy in the Prism series. He has a trace of
melodrama to his actions, and a confident patter that makes you want to slap
his smug face. At the same time, the Fire-mage, Ygris, has such fun dialogue that
he’s a close contender. His people, the Pyrians, learned their ‘common’ tongue
from old Imperial literature and so speak everyday like they are eloquent
actors. He certainly provides the best quotes in the book.
Do you have a writing
process?
LOL, when I can!
In seriousness I tend to plot and re-plot continually and
jot these all down. I create a framework of a plot, then the characters within
that framework, and then I write. I find that sub-plots, scenes and dialogue
sort of evolves as you do it. With the first draft, which is a sort of
‘splurge’ writing, I then go back and tweak it for consistency, style etc. Next
stage is running it past my friends who beta-read, and then I generally take
their suggestions on board. Final stage is then to get it out to the editor.
What advice would you
give to an aspiring author?
Self-belief is vital. Be happy with what you do, do it
because it is fun, and don’t continually seek reassurance from others. Don’t be
afraid to say ‘screw it’ to traditional publishing and do-it yourself, but be
aware of the work involved and ask others for advice, via social networks.
Refine your book again and again, but be aware there comes a point when you
just have to put it out and sit back…
What inspired you to
pursue writing?
I just love it. I’ve always enjoyed creating, and I was a
big-RPGer when I was younger. Then my creativity focused into convoluted
campaigns and mashing up pre-written modules to fit my vision and ideas. It all
got put on hold as I trained as a doctor, but then about five years ago I
started writing a story based on old DnD characters. A friend said I should try
something new, and so off I went!!!
What sets your books
apart from others of the genre?
What I think I’ve done is to take a traditional epic/heroic
fantasy storyline (small bunch of heroes against vast evil power; hero in
menial role becomes saviour) and then throw in loads of other influences to
make it feel fresh. So I’ve tossed in some real DnD/RPG vibes, superhero style
Wild-magic, comedy, modern dialogue style (rather than pseudo-medieval), some
curious races, a villain who is quite intricate and tortured, and themes such
as mental illness and self-discovery. I hope the world, with its long history,
comes across as detailed and well-structured.
You are obviously a
huge D&D guy, which I can tell from your other blog posts and whatnot. What
inspired this current storyline?
I think the nature of the storyline is very D&D in
principle: we have a quest, with a bunch of cool characters. We have a magic
system and magical artifacts. We have a bunch of bad guys and demons, a
mythology, weird races and detailed battles. The D&D influences are glaring
in my work, and I’m proud of that. After all, D&D was written as a
modification of table-top wargaming into role-playing, with many classic
fantasy influences such as Tolkien, Lieber, Anderson, Howard, Moorcock et al.
That’s a heck of a pedigree.
Also playing and DMing D&D taught me about structure,
rules, plot and characters and how all of these need to hand together in a
rational way. Your magic has to be consistent in your world, it has to have
rules and rationale.
And finally it taught me that, ultimately, it all has to be
fun or no-one will be interested in it.
If your books were
made into a movie, who would play the roles of your characters?
I love this question! My current fave cast list would be:
Emelia: Emelia Clarke (who plays Daenyrs Tarragon in Game of
Thrones)
Hunor: James McEvoy
Jem: David Thewlis (Prof Lupin in the HP films)
Lady Orla: Anna Torv (from Fringe)
Vildor: Tom Hiddleston (Loki in Thor/Avengers)
When did you start
writing?
Over the last five years I’ve really started up with the
writing. In that time I’ve written five of the six Prism books (two are
published, one being edited, two are in draft and need a little more tweaking),
a YA sci-fi/steampunk, and several short stories.
At the moment I’m awaiting the final edit on my YA book, The
Infinity Bridge. It is set in York
and tells the story of two brothers who can see rifts between dimensions, one
of whom gets labeled as schizophrenic. It’s a fairly action-packed story with
touches of steampunk in it. It’s being released in October. I have two
anthology stories written: one is in the Skulldust Circle collection, and that is
about Jem and Hunor in their early days as thieves; the other is a steampunk
short story called the Boat of Ra, which is a collection by a new imprint,
Kristal Ink. I’m putting the final touches on Darkness Rising Book Three –
Secrets, which I hope will be out in e-book around New Year.
Why do you write?
I find the escapism from the pressures of my working life is
perfect. I work as a consultant in intensive care medicine and anaesthesia,
which is fairly full-on and can be emotionally draining. So writing speculative
fiction is a great release. I’ve also found that writing stuff is inspiring for
my kids, especially my daughter, who now writes her own short stories all the
time!
Who is your favorite
author?
Ahh, that’s such
a tough question. Can I cheat and have a few? Philip Pullman’s series, His Dark
Materials, remains an all time favorite and I love his style. Contemporary
literature I’ve always loved Roddy Doyle’s books. Comics has to Alan Moore, and
Neil Gaiman, who made the cross-over from comics like Sandman to novels. In
fantasy I really enjoy George RR Martin and Steven Erikson, although they can
be rather bleak.
Thanks for the
interview, Gary. I’ve really enjoyed answering the questions!
Here are some more links to find Ross on social media and don't forget that he will be included in the Skulldust Circle Anthology to be released very shortly!
http://rossmkitson.blogspot.co.uk
http://mouseroar.blogspot.com
http://thenuknights.weebly.com
https://sites.google.com/site/worldofnurolia/home
Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!
All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
September 6, 2012
Latest Pricing For Contest!
Interested in 5 star high fantasy?! Have I got a deal for you! Recently reduced prices for an AMAZON GIFT CARD contest going on centered around my Facebook fan page .
Goodreads Stats: Average rating: 4.85 · 54 ratings · 24 reviews
All kindle books currently $2.99 and £1.94!
★Wothlondia Rising: The Anthology★
www.amazon.com/dp/B008AEFN8M (US)
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008AEFN8M (UK)
★Covenant of the Faceless Knights★
www.amazon.com/dp/B0083ZDROA (US)
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0083ZDROA (UK)
★Secrets of the Ebonite Mines★
www.amazon.com/dp/B008EFALNO (US)
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008EFALNO (UK)
❝Let your imagination run wild in Wothlondia!❞
Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!
All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
September 3, 2012
Excerpt of The Legend of Ashenclaw
Here is a little snippet of my upcoming short story in the SKULLDUST CIRCLE ANTHOLOGY, due out mid-September.
(Yes, mid-September as one of our contributors has had some unexpectedly bad luck in his personal life, so please be patient with us!)
That being said, keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming anthology and be sure to snag it on kindle as soon as it becomes available! It will include such authors as Jeremy Laszlo, Ben Martin, William Kenney, Ross Kitson and yours truly! And there are some new guys being introduced to the world of 'author-hood' in this anthology, so please welcome them as well! I am personally excited beyond words as to what this may mean for our little group and we are all psyched to have you, the reader, introduced to all of us in one book!
We hope you will enjoy it! So, without further ado, here is the intro to my story.
The Legend of Ashenclaw
It was an especially
hot summer this year. That fact was well known by all.
Triniach
leaned upon his staff and peered skyward, seemingly searching for something.
The always-aloof wizard rubbed his chin thoughtfully, penetrating the thickening
and white beard that grew upon it. His bright robe was made of the finest
silken fabrics offered by a Veldennian seamstress and consisted of brilliant
blues and purples. The woolen garments beneath however, were soaked with sweat
and threatening to spill forth any moment, but Triniach did not seem to notice
or care.
The calendar
year was 414 according to the Wothlondian timekeepers and the heat had never
been worse. Where was it coming from, thought the mage, dabbing his brow with a
piece of cloth, though it did no good as more beads took their place
immediately.
“It seems the
summers are broadening,” he spoke aloud, calling over his shoulder to his
companions.
“It is getting
to be more than I can stand,” spoke Jon Veinslay, a paladin in service to The
Watcher. The symbol of the god of the sky, a stylized eye, was proudly
emblazoned upon his plated armor and shield, colored in pale silver with
accents of deep blue and white.
“No wonder,”
quipped the sorcerer behind him, Azbiel, who sat upon a flat rock that jutted
slightly from the hill upon which they stood at the base of the Chaos Crests in
the region of Hartsdale. “It's all that damned armor you’re wearin’.”
Jon simply
raised an eyebrow at his adopted brother, who smiled sarcastically and genuinely
through the heat and together they shared a laugh.
“I trust the
cold feel of steel in my hands over magic any day, brother,” Jon rebutted. “At
least I can rely on that which I can touch with my very own hands and this
armor will protect me more so than that robe you wear.”
“Against
swords and tangible weapons most assuredly, brother. But, I could roast you
alive in that very armor in which you place so much trust. Does this look real
enough to touch?” Azbiel said, gesturing and holding an outstretched hand face
up as a flame burst forth from his palm, burning just as the campfire they set
last eve. For a moment, the fire mounted in the mages hand until it was a
sphere shaped ball of fire hovering just above his hand. It spun like a ball of
yarn and was growing in size until it was the size of a ripe melon.
“Go ahead and
touch it,” Azbiel said. “It’s as real as the steel you carry at your side,
alright. It will melt your skin and turn that very shell you wear to slag.”
“Enough,
boys,” called a very gruff but very female voice from behind them. Twarda, a
dwarven warrior with arms the size of an ogre’s, made her way over to them. She
lumbered slowly in her plated hauberk and her arms hung with a light chainmail
over them, barely containing the muscles below. Her shield reflected the symbol
of an anvil, the crest of the family Stoneshell from the Mountains of Crescent
Ridge in the northeast.
“The both of
ye’ can argue ‘til yer both dead fer all I care,” she added, taking a tall
drink from her waterskin, no doubt full of ale. “We got more important things
ta’ be talkin’ on.”
“Yeah, like
where in the blazes is this fraggin’ heat comin’ from,” called a high-pitched,
yet male voice, like that of an adolescent boy. Breaching the crest of the hill
and plopping to the ground was the halfling, Figit Tallshadow. His long dark
hair was tied back in a ponytail to keep the heat from his neck and his leather
sleeveless jerkin was open, revealing his pale, hairless and very skinny chest.
A pair of daggers was belted to his hips; one on either side, but the
companions understood that the rogue carried many more hidden on his person. He
was a worthy adversary despite his outward appearance, which they all knew he often played to
his advantage.
Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!
All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
(Yes, mid-September as one of our contributors has had some unexpectedly bad luck in his personal life, so please be patient with us!)
That being said, keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming anthology and be sure to snag it on kindle as soon as it becomes available! It will include such authors as Jeremy Laszlo, Ben Martin, William Kenney, Ross Kitson and yours truly! And there are some new guys being introduced to the world of 'author-hood' in this anthology, so please welcome them as well! I am personally excited beyond words as to what this may mean for our little group and we are all psyched to have you, the reader, introduced to all of us in one book!
We hope you will enjoy it! So, without further ado, here is the intro to my story.
The Legend of Ashenclaw
It was an especially
hot summer this year. That fact was well known by all.
Triniach
leaned upon his staff and peered skyward, seemingly searching for something.
The always-aloof wizard rubbed his chin thoughtfully, penetrating the thickening
and white beard that grew upon it. His bright robe was made of the finest
silken fabrics offered by a Veldennian seamstress and consisted of brilliant
blues and purples. The woolen garments beneath however, were soaked with sweat
and threatening to spill forth any moment, but Triniach did not seem to notice
or care.
The calendar
year was 414 according to the Wothlondian timekeepers and the heat had never
been worse. Where was it coming from, thought the mage, dabbing his brow with a
piece of cloth, though it did no good as more beads took their place
immediately.
“It seems the
summers are broadening,” he spoke aloud, calling over his shoulder to his
companions.
“It is getting
to be more than I can stand,” spoke Jon Veinslay, a paladin in service to The
Watcher. The symbol of the god of the sky, a stylized eye, was proudly
emblazoned upon his plated armor and shield, colored in pale silver with
accents of deep blue and white.
“No wonder,”
quipped the sorcerer behind him, Azbiel, who sat upon a flat rock that jutted
slightly from the hill upon which they stood at the base of the Chaos Crests in
the region of Hartsdale. “It's all that damned armor you’re wearin’.”
Jon simply
raised an eyebrow at his adopted brother, who smiled sarcastically and genuinely
through the heat and together they shared a laugh.
“I trust the
cold feel of steel in my hands over magic any day, brother,” Jon rebutted. “At
least I can rely on that which I can touch with my very own hands and this
armor will protect me more so than that robe you wear.”
“Against
swords and tangible weapons most assuredly, brother. But, I could roast you
alive in that very armor in which you place so much trust. Does this look real
enough to touch?” Azbiel said, gesturing and holding an outstretched hand face
up as a flame burst forth from his palm, burning just as the campfire they set
last eve. For a moment, the fire mounted in the mages hand until it was a
sphere shaped ball of fire hovering just above his hand. It spun like a ball of
yarn and was growing in size until it was the size of a ripe melon.
“Go ahead and
touch it,” Azbiel said. “It’s as real as the steel you carry at your side,
alright. It will melt your skin and turn that very shell you wear to slag.”
“Enough,
boys,” called a very gruff but very female voice from behind them. Twarda, a
dwarven warrior with arms the size of an ogre’s, made her way over to them. She
lumbered slowly in her plated hauberk and her arms hung with a light chainmail
over them, barely containing the muscles below. Her shield reflected the symbol
of an anvil, the crest of the family Stoneshell from the Mountains of Crescent
Ridge in the northeast.
“The both of
ye’ can argue ‘til yer both dead fer all I care,” she added, taking a tall
drink from her waterskin, no doubt full of ale. “We got more important things
ta’ be talkin’ on.”
“Yeah, like
where in the blazes is this fraggin’ heat comin’ from,” called a high-pitched,
yet male voice, like that of an adolescent boy. Breaching the crest of the hill
and plopping to the ground was the halfling, Figit Tallshadow. His long dark
hair was tied back in a ponytail to keep the heat from his neck and his leather
sleeveless jerkin was open, revealing his pale, hairless and very skinny chest.
A pair of daggers was belted to his hips; one on either side, but the
companions understood that the rogue carried many more hidden on his person. He
was a worthy adversary despite his outward appearance, which they all knew he often played to
his advantage.
Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!
All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
September 1, 2012
Contest Reminder
For those of you who do not know, I have contest going on my Realm of Ashenclaw Facebook Fanpage. You could win a $50, $30 or $20 Amazon gift card if you simply share the post pinned to the top of the page. That gets you one chance to win. However, if you purchase one, two or all three of my books (the individual short stories do not count for this contest) AND/OR leave me a review, I add your name again for each one of these. Simply follow the rules listed below for up to 5 chances to have your name added!
☞ HERE'S HOW TO WIN: Go to my REALM OF ASHENCLAW Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Realm-...
(What you will find when you are on the fan page)
Like this page (if you haven’t already) and share this post on your wall for a chance to be entered to win one of three prizes!
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2. $30.00 AMAZON GIFT CARD
3. $20.00 AMAZON GIFT CARD
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Contest ends on Halloween, October 31, 2012! I will announce the winners right here and on EYE ON ASHENCLAW!
❖ MORE CHANCES TO WIN! ❖
Purchase any one of my books, copy and paste the Amazon Order Summary section of your receipt into the 'HOW MAY WE HELP YOU’ box on my CONTACT PAGE: http://www.ashenclaw.com/index.php/co....
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❖ WANT EVEN MORE CHANCES TO WIN? ❖ All you have to do is leave a review for any one of my books (or all three if you are industrious) and send an email to info@ashenclaw.com with the link for the review. It’s that simple!
Best of luck!
Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!
All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
August 23, 2012
GenCon 2012!
Here's what I was doing end of last week and beginning of this week...in case you were worried.
The bad: Surprise, surprise! The hotel and accommodations again were less than spectacular and extremely overpriced. I got slammed with a valet parking bill that was added to my bill daily for $28.00 per day. Holy crap. Lesson learned the hard way again. Oh, well.
Hey, that's my book!
hey, that's my name!
The good: Everything else!
What can I say? Awesome. That’s what.
I had an incredible time! Aside from my hotel bill…again…which I cannot seem to do anything about.
I met some amazingly interesting people that I must say were very cool. I met Jason Klimchok, (@runnetib on twitter) a fellow author who found me in Author’s Avenue and introduced himself. Very cool of him to seek me out and say hello. Mr. Erik Scott de Bie, he of the Forgotten Realms fame (game designer and author) and Shadowbane fame, made his way over to my table to chat before he went off to sign books himself in the D&D booth. I also had breakfast on Sunday with Mr. De Bie, which I will detail a bit later.
I met and introduced myself to Jeanette LeGault who runs the whole thing and who was responsible for getting me in this year. She was very kind and spared time even though she was constantly busy.
my table at GENCON 2012
Special kudos to my son, who was with me all four days (way to go, Nick!) and who endured the 10+ hour drive both up and back with me. We had a great time bonding, which I will treasure always. Nick was awesome as my ‘booth monkey’ as he so eloquently put it.
I met fellow author Chris Jackson (@ChrisAJackson1 on twitter) and his wife (Anne, I believe) and they were very nice to me as well. I sat across the way from Tammy Blackwell, a librarian and fellow author who is writing an incredibly popular coming of age series about Seers and Werewolves, which I would check out. She can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Tammy-Blackwell/e/B005A9B3XO. Tammy was also kind enough to gift a copy of her book to my wife, who I believe will enjoy it.
I also gave some books away to librarians, interested book bloggers and a young woman who gave me this 'token of appreciation'.
my token of appreciation
Some of the people that I met come to mind when I write this that made an impact. I met a British fella named Adam that I really enjoyed talking to. Another long-haired college kid I chatted with a few times made an impression, though I cannot remember his name. A woman named Jeanette who purchased the books was extremely nice and she came back to snap a pic of me the next day (very flattering...I think?). I met a couple who chatted with me about Pathfinder for about an hour named Blake? he and his wife are inspiring me to possibly make a Realm of Ashenclaw RPG supplement for Pathfinder... might be coming.
Here are the best two experiences. I met a man named Tony Rodriguez who wanted the books and purchased them from me on Saturday and had me sign them to his son, Alex. He happened to bring Alex in on Sunday and he was happy to meet me, told me he’d read up to chapter 6 that morning and was loving it. Wow! That made my day. And it got better. The second was a man named Scott, who had downloaded Wothlondia Rising: The Anthology (The short story prequels) to his kindle. He went out of his way to come back on Sunday morning to tell me that he was 94% through the book and thought it was amazing…and that he had downloaded the other two books that morning!
I was again completely humbled by their expressions of how I had affected two different people in such a great way. I felt honored that they had chosen me and my writing in order to escape from reality. I was honored that they both entered into my Realm of Ashenclaw with open arms and with an open mind. I cannot express in words how that makes me feel as an author and a human being.
So, on to my breakfast meeting with Erik Scott De Bie on Sunday. I must tell you that it was a tale of mishaps and odd misunderstandings as Erik and I exchanged texts as to where to meet, but after an hour, we finally caught up at a Starbucks there. Interestingly enough, Erik is a rather tall and imposing individual and carries himself very well in conversation. That being said, Erik and I talked about many things. The most memorable to me was his advice. He gave me some constructive criticisms, advice on becoming a better writer and talked to me as a peer. I cannot tell you what his respect means. He not only gave me the critique, but he also made a point to give me the good news, and I am paraphrasing, but, it included the following: My covers were eye-catching and consistent, my branding and logo (Realm of Ashenclaw) was extremely professional and most importantly, that my writing was compelling. He went out of his way to say that I was passionate about my work, that he thought I was on to something and that he was happy to see what I was able to do as an independent author.
All of this was extremely humbling to hear from an author who works for Ed Greenwood and Dungeons & Dragons. After we parted ways, I went back to my booth for the last day and Erik stopped back one more time to gift me a copy of an anthology that he had contributed on for GenCon, which was above and beyond. I highly recommend any fans of fantasy to check him out and follow his writing, as I believe he is worthy of being included in the Forgotten Realms gaggle of writers.
Go buy his stuff! Erik’s site is here if you are interested in seeing what he is up to. http://erikscottdebie.com/
Well, that about wraps up my details. Next post will include pics of all of the scenes and costumes that I was able to get! Stay tuned.
Oh, and all of my books are currently resting at 99 cents on the kindle for a post-GENCON sale! Go download 'em before I come to my senses and raise the price...lol.
Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!
All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.
