Will Granger's Blog, page 3

Anabar's Run reviewed on top kids book blog!

Big thanks go to Erik at his excellent blog, This Kid Reviews Books for reviewing Anabar's Run.
Erik's blog is quickly becoming one of the most popular sites on the web to read honest, well written reviews of kid's books. Kids, parents, teachers, and librarians should definitely check out Erik's blog.

Thanks again, Erik!

Anabar's Run reviewed on top Kids Book Blog!

Big thanks go to Erik at his excellent blog, This Kid Reviews Books for reviewing Anabar's Run.
Erik's blog is quickly becoming one of the most popular sites on the web to read honest, well written reviews of kid's books. Kids, parents, teachers, and librarians should definitely check out Erik's blog.

Thanks again, Erik!

300 Followers!

I reached 300 followers on Twitter this week at @WillGranger1 so I thought this would be a good time to take a look at what I have done in the past year to create an online platform, or presence.

First, I have my three blogs: My Author Will Granger Blog that you are reading now; my Anabar Series Blog that features my books Anabar's Run and Anabar Rises; and my Bad Dreams by Will Granger Blog where I feature my short horror stories The Deadly Path, Gladitorium Immortuos, and Vampire Truths.
I admit I am a bit surprised when I see all this links, but I have found that I really enjoy all this along with my writing.

In addition to my Twitter account and blogs, I have been working to get established on other social media platforms like my Facebook site; my LinkedIn site; and my Google+ site.


I have also made some good friends online, and I add information on them later today.

173 Downloads of Anabar's Run in 2 Days and my first time on Amazon's top 100 Free Bestseller List

So far my current promotion to offer Anabar's Run for free is going very well with 173 downloads in two days for Amazon US and UK.
There is even more good news as the book has made two of Amazon's bestseller lists. It is ranked #19 on Amazon's US Kindle > Children's ebooks > Action Adventure top 100 free bestseller list. It is also ranked #17 on Amazon's UK Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Children's Fiction > Literature > Action & Adventure top 100 free bestseller list.
So what does this all mean? Well, I can say for sure that this free promotion is helping get my book some attention. That has to be a good thing. Now I hope this leads to some good reviews and then to some sales. I also hope the people who are downloading the book will want to read Anabar Rises, book #2 in my Anabar series.
For those of you who have downloaded Anabar's Run this week, thanks. This is really good news for me.
P.S. Please check out and follow my Anabar Series Blog. It is a fun site where I am continuing to tell Anabar's Story.
Peace,

Will Granger

Anabar's Run Free on Amazon until Jan 26!

Anabar's Run is now free on Amazon.com until Jan. 26! I just joined Amazon's KDP select program, and after Jan 26, the book will also be available through through the Kindle Owners' Lending Library for Amazon Prime members. So far, 41 people have downloaded Anabar's Run in the first 10 hours! Please get the book and add a review if you wish.

Also, please take a few minutes and check out my fun Anabar Series blog. I am going to continue to add new maps, photos, journal entries, songs, and other information in the coming months. Please follow the blog; I would love to hear your suggestions and ideas.
Thanks,
Will

Review and Interview for Anabar's Run on Bookworm Blather Blog

Big thanks go to Michelle Isenhoff, a blogger, writer, and teacher who writes the excellent Bookworm Blather Blog. Michelle recently wrote a great review for Anabar's Run and interviewed me for her 5-Q Interview feature on her blog.

I really appreciate her honest review of Anabar's Run. I agree with her assessment that the book is best suited for readers age 8-14, and I have starting to market the series to these younger readers I also appreciate Michelle's positive mention my blog/website for my Anabar Series. I think it is a fun, unique site for my readers, and it is especially nice to have someone else like it.

Author Will Granger: My presumptuous comparisons with Pottermore

Author Will Granger: My presumptuous comparisons with Pottermore: Let me start with several points. First, I am thrilled that J.K. Rowling is starting her new Pottermore site. I'm looking forward to using ...

My presumptuous comparisons with Pottermore ( I think J.K. Rowling stole my idea)

Let me start with several points. First, I am thrilled that J.K. Rowling is starting her new Pottermore site. I'm looking forward to using the site and wish I was part of the beta test. I am a big fan of the Harry Potter series, and I believe that reading the books helped my sons to become skilled readers and writers. Several months ago, I was very interested to learn about Pottermore because I am a fan, but also because I was already trying something similar with my own Anabar Series Blog for my books Anabar's Run and Anabar Rises.
I am really not trying to say I am as good as J.K. Rowling, but I did start my site/blog before I heard of Pottermore. I want my site to be a fun, interactive experience for my readers, and I think it is quite unique. The web offers us many exciting opportunities to add to the reading experience, and I plan to keep adding more material to the site.
Please check out my site. Let me know what you think. I would love to hear your suggestions and ideas.

Thanks, and Merry Christmas,

Will

My presumptuous comparisons with Pottermore

Let me start with several points. First, I am thrilled that J.K. Rowling is starting her new Pottermore site. I'm looking forward to using the site and wish I was part of the beta test. I am a big fan of the Harry Potter series, and I believe that reading the books helped my sons to become skilled readers and writers. Several months ago, I was very interested to learn about Pottermore because I am a fan, but also because I was already trying something similar with my own Anabar Series Blog for my books Anabar's Run and Anabar Rises.
I am really not trying to say I am as good as J.K. Rowling, but I did start my site/blog before I heard of Pottermore. I want my site to be a fun, interactive experience for my readers, and I think it is quite unique. The web offers us many exciting opportunities to add to the reading experience, and I plan to keep adding more material to the site.
Please check out my site. Let me know what you think. I would love to hear your suggestions and ideas.

Thanks, and Merry Christmas,

Will

My review of "The Bones of the Earth: Part 1, Initiation Rites" A definite must read.

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I don't review many books, but this new series is really excellent, and I can't wait to read more from author Scott Bury.
The Bones of the Earth, Part 1: Initiation Rites is the first novel by author Scott Bury. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to much more from him. I liked this coming-of-age epic filled with believable characters and situations, tense action, and mystical, magical elements. This is the story of Javor, a young man unknowingly destined to defend the world against evil forces pouring out of the east.
The story begins with a fertility ritual led by Vorona, the village witch and performed by the adolescent members of the village. Bury deftly accomplishes several things in this scene. First, he introduces the characters as typical young people, a bit confused about life, but eager to become adults. It also shows Javor to be naive, which makes his later ascendance even more appealing, as the reader sees how much he grows during the story.
Unaware of his destiny as a conqueror of evil, Javor gets his first taste of combat when Elli is captured by Avars, a pack of savage horsemen. He rescues her, exhibiting a both natural talent for fighting and an unshakable courage in the face of extreme danger. Javor returns a hero, and his life changes when he meets Photius, who convinces Javor to join him on a quest to drive evil from the lands.
The rest of the story is filled with intense action as Javor and Photius encounter a variety of monsters and creatures; each time Javor learns a bit more of just how powerful and capable he is. Eventually, Photius admits that he is part of a secretive group of warriors and that he believes Javor to be destined to join the group and lead the defeat of evil forces coming out of the east.
Bury does a great job here, combining violent, exciting action, with Javor's reluctance to accept his new role. Javor is a realistic young man, pulled in different directions by confusion about what he ought to do with his life. Still, and perhaps despite Javor's reluctance, we see him growing in power and confidence, and he eventually starts to accept, and thrive in, his new role.
The violence, combined with several scenes in which Javor is intimate with female characters, makes this more suited for older teens. The novel also contains many characters, which help give it a foreign feel. This makes it initially difficult to keep track of them, but it becomes clear after a few chapters.
The real strength of The Bones of the Earth is that Bury has created a realistic character chosen by fate and destiny, who is able to fight magical, mystical forces with his very human strength, skill, and determination. I look forward to reading more of this series.