Annie Douglass Lima's Blog, page 48

Realm Explorers Part LXXXII: Visit Farrington with H. L. Burke

Welcome to Realm Explorers!  In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors.  Enjoy your travels!  And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book. 

Author’s name:
H. L. Burke
Title of book:Cora and the Nurse Dragon
Brief summary of the story:Cora's a young girl who dreams of being a dragon jockey but whose father disapproves of dragons being kept in captivity. She struggles to balance her father's beliefs with her own passions. When she gets a hold of a dragon egg that hatches into the nurse dragon, Cricket, though, she learns a lot about dragons, her father, and sacrifice.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:The world is an alternate version of ours, and Farrington would be a typical American town, except with a technology level of about 1920 … and dragons. The kids use 20's slang. The people wear 20's fashion. They have automobiles and the wealthier families have electric lights and telephones … but instead of horses or greyhounds, people race dragons, kids keep small dragons instead of goldfish and slightly larger ones instead of cats. 
If we were to visit Farrington as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?I'd definitely take in a dragon race. They're exciting, and the popcorn at the stadium is decent. A dozen snake-like dragons with wings moving faster than the eye can see, racing around the track, snapping at each other's tails, leapfrogging over each others heads … nothing like a dragon race. 
What dangers should we avoid in Farrington?While the races are exciting, the gambling feeds a criminal element. Seedier neighborhoods host gangsters, off-track betting, and even dragon smuggling. 
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Farrington that we don’t see on Earth?Obviously, dragons. The dragons come in multiple sizes and colors. The most common are the mayflies, short-lived dragons that kids hatch from eggs and raise in glass tanks until they die of old age, usually within two months. Luckier kids get cat-sized dragons, the most common of which are steamers (blue dragons who breathe water vapor), strikers (red dragons who breathe fire), and sparkers (yellow/gold dragons who breathe electric sparks). Then of course you have the racers, about the same size as horses, long, elegant, and fast. 
Is there a particular religion practiced in Farrington?  Please describe what it involves.Since it is an alternate Earth with basically the same history, my characters do practice Christianity. Cora's best friend is a preacher's daughter and that has some influence on her as she makes decisions about whether or not to follow laws she believes to be unjust. 
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?When I was a kid, pizza parlors had vending machines where you'd get plastic eggs with prizes inside for a quarter. The displays on these machines promised all sorts of shiny goodies, but I'd never get what I wanted, always something disposable instead. I used that as an influence, in the idea of kids buying dragon eggs in hope of getting a pet, but instead only getting short-lived dragons that would die just as they were becoming fond of them. 
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?To some extent, Cora's dad has a controversial parenting style. Cora is basically allowed to do what she wants, and while he sets some boundaries—not allowing her to drop out of school—he refuses to force his moral compass on his daughter. She makes choices he doesn't approve of, in choosing to raise dragon eggs and in idolizing the dragon jockeys, but he lets her make them and only provides guidance. It's not a parenting style that would work for all families or situations, but Mr. Harrison is a character I very much respect. One beta reader compared the relationship between him and Cora to Atticus and Scout, and while I don't think it is quite at that level, I love that I got compared to a story as timeless as To Kill a Mockingbird, at least in a small way.Also, there are some thoughts about disobeying unjust laws and defying societal expectations to do what's right, though they are approached in terms of fantasy situations.
Author Autobiography:An avid reader and self-proclaimed “geek princess,” H. L. Burke has been obsessed with the fantastic all her life. Now a mom of two girls and the wife of a handsome US Marine, she seeks out wonder wherever she can find it. 
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?The book is available through Amazon.com and kindle unlimited as an ebook (pre-order until January 31st) and available soon as a paperback through all major book sellers mybook.to/nursedragon
Where can readers connect with you online?  Website: www.hlburkeauthor.comBlog: www.hlburkeblog.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/hlburkewriterTwitter: www.twitter.com/typativemamacatGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7230868.H_L_BurkeInstagram: www.instagram.com/burkesdragons
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Farrington.  Questions about the world or the book?  Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!  

Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.

Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world, in Realm Explorers Part LXXXIII!-Annie Douglass Lima

Myanmar/Vietnam Vacation: Yangon's Shwe Dagon Pagoda

Floyd and I enjoyed a wonderful vacation in Myanmar and Vietnam over Christmas break! Scroll to the bottom for links to blog posts about other parts of the trip. (Some links may not work until all the posts are live.)


Here are some of our memories from the Shwe Dagon Pagoda, which is definitely the number one thing to put on your list if you're picking sites to see in Yangon.


The front entrance. There's a lot more to the temple complex than you can see from here. This man was our guide, which was really helpful since the pagoda complex is so big. He explained a lot about the history and purpose of the different buildings, as well as quite a bit about Buddhism in general. Dress code is serious business in Myanmar! All the temples we saw around the country had signs about how to dress appropriately. Since Floyd was in shorts (not considered "civilized dress"), he was required to buy and wear a "longyi" (wraparound skirt commonly worn by both men and women in Myanmar) before he could enter the temple complex. Everyone had to take off their shoes before going in. Artwork by the eaves of one of the buildings. There are lots of separate temples buildings in the Shwe Dagon Pagoda complex. There's no angle from which one picture could capture them all.



Everything that looks like gold in these pictures really is! Most of the temples were plated with gold leaf. As you can imagine, idols were everywhere, both in and out of the temples. Many of the people we saw were actively worshipping them. The sky that day was perfect for photography! I was impressed by all the elaborate details in the decorations on the temples' roofs. This temple is the actual, famous Shwe Dagon Pagoda itself. There were lots of other tourists and locals there.
Every pagoda was topped with these dangling decorative "umbrellas" (yes, that's actually what they're called).
The floor in the whole complex was smooth, cool, and clean (marble, I think?), so it was no problem to go barefoot on it.
Beautiful Shwe Dagon!
Gold was in evidence everywhere, but other building materials added nice color contrasts on some of the roofs. Some people were there to worship, others just to hang out.


After our experience at Shwe Dagon, on the evening of our first full day in Myanmar, we got on a bus (the "JJ Express") for the overnight trip to our next destination: the highland region of Inle Lake. We were pleasantly surprised when we saw what the bus was like!



Want to see more memories from our trip? Click on the links below!Yangon CityThe Town of Ngaung ShweA Day on Inle LakeBagan TemplesBurmese Cooking ClassBagan-Mandalay River CruiseMandalay CityUbein BridgeMingunHa Long BayHang Dao CaveHanoi City

Myanmar/Vietnam Vacation: Yangon City

Floyd and I enjoyed a wonderful vacation in Myanmar and Vietnam over Christmas break! Scroll to the bottom for links to blog posts about other parts of the trip. (Some links may not work until all the posts are live.)Here are some of our memories from the first few days in Myanmar, which we spent in the capital city of Yangon. 
These Christmas decorations greeted us in the airport when we arrived. We stayed in the Royal Star Guest House: nothing special to look at from the outside (kind of a hole in the wall, actually), but it was clean and comfortable, and the staff went above and beyond the call of duty to be helpful. Above left and center: the upstairs lounge area. Upper right: the entrance from the street. Lower right: the breakfast they served us (we discovered that fried rice with a fried egg on top is quite a common dish in Myanmar). Lower left: the view from our bedroom window. It was too late in the evening to do much sight-seeing when we arrived, but the folks at our guest house recommended the Sule Pagoda just down the street. It was closed for the night, but it looked pretty impressive from the outside. Unfortunately, it wasn't well lit. Actually, nothing we saw there after dark really was. It was strange to me to see stores open and active night life going on in a place with hardly any street lights. The next morning we enjoyed walking around town and seeing our first real glimpse of Myanmar.


This will give YOU a glimpse of what it's like walking down the sidewalk in Yangon! This is the famous Scott Market (more commonly called Bogyoke Aung San). We spent a couple hours in there and didn't even make it through the whole thing. I bought some traditional clothes, and Floyd and I purchased three oil paintings. They sell almost any kind of souvenir you can imagine, and all the prices are negotiable. Definitely the best place for tourists to shop in Yangon! Star Wars was showing in the theater near our guest house, and we were sorely tempted! (We hadn't had a chance to watch it yet before we left Taiwan.) But we decided to use our limited time in Yangon for things we COULDN'T do back home.  We asked the staff at our guest house to recommend a nearby restaurant where we could try Myanmar cuisine. They directed us to the Super Wonder Bowl Restaurant just down the street, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch! We especially recommend the stuffed eggplant (bottom right). Like many restaurants in Myanmar, it had several options for different flavored smoothies and lassis (Indian yogurt drinks) on the menu. (I ordered the papaya lassi.) Yum!
A quick look at what it's like to drive through Yangon.

The other activity we did in Yangon was visiting the incredible Shwe Dagon Pagoda complex. Stay tuned for my next blog post!
Want to see more memories from our trip? Click on the links below!
Shwe Dagon PagodaThe Town of Ngaung ShweA Day on Inle LakeBagan TemplesBurmese Cooking ClassBagan-Mandalay River CruiseMandalay CityUbein BridgeMingunHa Long BayHang Dao CaveHanoi City

Tevanon and Kensic: Turlot (A Middle-Grade Fantasy with a Giveaway)

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.
Tevanon and Kensic: Turlot by Tyson Clarke
MG/YA FantasyPaperback & ebook, 304 pages
October 19th 2015
Upon the shores of the Laughley Sea, in the shadows of the jagged Northland Mountains and not so far south as the blistering Aronee Desert, there exists a land of lush forests and golden plains. This land is known as Lynsid, a once great nation that has suffered through more than a decade of demoralizing wars. The brothers Tevanon and Kensic were born to Lynsid like their parents and grandparents before them. They know no other life and have never been outside the borders of their homeland. Lynsid, however, is on the verge of collapse and rumors of a Vlagen invasion spur a mass migration. At first, the brothers have no intention of leaving their birthplace, but soon enough they have no choice and find themselves on the trail to a land called Turlot where their Great Uncle Welksley resides.

At just thirteen-years-old, Tevanon is already highly skilled in swordsmanship, and his nine-year-old brother Kensic is mentally gifted. These attributes are useful, but the journey to Turlot will test not only their brawn and brains, but also their faith and tactfulness. The brothers learn quickly the world is filled with endless adversity. Treachery is in plain sight, evil sorcery is silently stirring, and an immortal army is lying in wait! If the brothers wish to survive, they must be vigilant, they must be brave, and they must believe in themselves.

Excerpt:

Avor, Wix and Hedik surveyed the dead brigands in hopes of finding one of them alive so as they could question him. As they meandered through the scattered bodies, they found men from every nation, men of light skin and dark, short of stature and tall, and the weapons they carried were equally assorted. The question, of course, was what brought together this reckless collection of thugs and criminals? What was their purpose? “Water,” a voice grumbled. “Water.”Avor followed the voice to a man lying on his stomach with a trench-like gash spanning the width of his back. This man appeared to be of Irbanian descent, having the light brown skin and dark black hair of that race of people. His beige colored shirt was soaked in blood, his face smeared with sweat and dust, and his hand still wrapped around the grip of his curved short sword. “Water,” he said again no louder than before.“What is your name?” asked Avor as he knelt beside the man and reached for his leather flask.“Latu, my name is Latu.”“Open your mouth, Latu.”Latu opened his mouth and Avor attempted to pour in some water. As the wounded man lapped at the liquid he was so yearning, he mumbled, “Thank you.”“Who do you report to?”“A man come through... Dezvil, lookin’ fer men... who wasn’t afraid to die. He paid up front in silver and said if we join him, there would... be gold, and no end to it... water, please...”Avor poured more water into Latu’s mouth.“Who was this man?” asked Avor.“He called himself Akarid.”“The sorcerer?”“I don’t... know... he wore a black... robe... with yellow...” Latu’s voice was fading with his life.“Yes, the sorcerer, but Akarid has been dead for five hundred years.”Latu was dead as well.


Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Smashwords


Tyson Clarke attended San Jose State University where he studied creative writing and film production. Post graduation, he found success as a technical writer then pursued other interests before rediscovering his passion for writing stories with encouragement from his wife and biggest fan.
Website - Goodreads - Facebook


Tour Schedule
January 11th: LaunchJanuary 12th: Christy's Cozy CornersJanuary 13th: Katie's Clean Book CollectionJanuary 14th: Letters from Annie (Douglass) LimaJanuary 15th: Rockin' Book ReviewsJanuary 17th: ColorimetryJanuary 18th: Singing Librarian BooksJanuary 19th: Life as LeelsJanuary 20th: deal sharing auntJanuary 21st: Enthralling Dimple & Mel's ShelvesJanuary 22nd: Teatime and BooksJanuary 24th: Grand Finale
Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)
Print copy of Tevanon and Kensic: Turlot (US only)
ebook of Tevanon and Kensic: Turlot (open internationally)
Ends January 30th

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Realm Explorers Part LXXXI: Visit Cupola with N.A. Cauldron

Welcome to Realm Explorers!  In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors.  Enjoy your travels!  And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book. 

Author’s name: N. A. Cauldron
Title of book and/or series: Book 1 of the Cupolian series. Anya and the Secrets of Cupola
Brief summary of the story: Deep in the walls of Cupola lies a secret. A 200 year old magical secret. And it’s up to Anya and her friends to solve it. Meet Anya, a twelve year old girl with utterly no direction in life. Meet Taika, her best friend who can make a potion strong enough to cure a weregoblin, but may forget to warn you that it can explode at any moment. And then there’s Gevin. Yeah … well … Gevin’s just Gevin, isn’t he? These three unlikely heroes will have to brew potions, battle monsters, and even endure the night-of-the-overturned-chicken-stool before discovering the deepest mysteries of Cupola.Brief description of Cupola: During the events that took place in book 1 of this historical series, Cupola was very similar to your medieval Europe. There was a castle with a courtyard and a wall, and on the east side of this were the houses of the Cupolians. Much like modern America, the houses were separated into subdivisions of poor and rich and in between. In other words, there was a good side of town, and a bad.
If we were to visit Cupola as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there? Well, since this happened so long ago, that would be very difficult, but I will say this. Some people would have probably wanted to visit the shops and merchants of course, get some local items to take home. They might have wanted to watch the spoonpole tournament or sneak into the annual ball. But I think most people today will find that the library is where the action is. Now that we know the secrets revealed to us by Anya and her friends, the library has become our historical hub. There you will find artifacts and historical documents.
What dangers should we avoid in Cupola? During the time of book 1, it would have been very dangerous to stray too far from the queendom.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Cupola? This is a very interesting question. One of the things I have discovered is the similarity between our culture and some of yours, particularly those of Southern, Jewish, and Native American descent. And one of the places this is most represented is in the food. For example, we have grits, fry bread, and narfel nuggets. According to my research, narfels are actually Kosher rodents. Looking like a large guinea pig or a small hog, they chew the cud, but they have a split hoof. They're pretty tasty too!
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Cupola? During the time discussed in book 1, which we now call the Great Revealiing, the main fighting was with swords, arrows, and daggers. Although that has obviously changed since then, and we have Anya and her friends to thank for that.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Cupola? Cupola was very simple then. Everyone walked or rode horses, and the horses were mainly used for pleasure or sport.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Cupola that we don’t see on Earth? I believe the only organisms different from earth that I talk about in book 1 are narfels, flabberflies, and gramwhats. But I would have to check my records.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Cupola?  If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used. Magic played an enormous role in Cupolian lives, they just didn't realize it. To learn more, I suggest you read my book Anya and the Secrets of Cupola. For that is when Cupola ... realized its ignorance, if you will.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Cupola. Ah, spoonpole! Commonly called two spoons and a pole, spoonpole has been a tradition of Cupola for centuries. As many people as want to can play in it at a time. There are no team member limits. Each team has a tall pole guarded by one of their players. Each player, including the guard, has two sticks with a leather cup/spoon on the end. They use these sticks to carry a ball to their designated pole. Everytime they touch a pole with their ball, their team scores a point. In fact, I was shocked to find out that spoonpole is identical to stickball that is played by Native Americans. They even have the same history! Stickball was used to solve disagreements between your tribes instead of war, thus preventing a lot of deaths. Spoonpole was also used to prevent war. Extraoridinary!
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Cupola as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there? Oddly yes. We have a seven day week. Our seasons are the same. The main events celebrated during Anya's childhood were the annual ball and spoonpole tournament. It was a week long celebration in the queendom! Nowadays, of course, we celebrate more holidays, as there is so much more to celebrate.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Cupola?  Please describe what it involves. As so many earthlings do, I choose not to discuss religion or politics.
What is the political or government structure in Cupola?  Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she? Excellent question!  During the time of the Great Revealing, and the horrible Dark Ages prior, the monarch of Cupola was always the first born, whether male or female. If it were a queen, Cupola was a queendom. If it were a king, Cupola was a kingdom. The spouse of the monarch ruled if, and only if, the ruling monarch died before their first born was able to take over. Anya and her family were ruled by Queen Pernicity. Her eldest daughter was set to take over whenever she retired. Now, what kind of leader she was ... I'll leave that up to the reader. Things are different now, of course.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Cupola? I think a visitor's biggest concern would be that it was believed and taught that Cupolians were the only humans in existance. So visiting at the time would have simply been out of the question. Nowadays we do offer visitation, but it is seasonal, and the allowed area are limited.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book? I love our history so much that I absolutely had to tell others about it! When I realized the popularity of my work had grown past Cupola and into the realms of earth too, I was shocked! And then to learn of all the similarities between our two worlds...
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book? I'm not really familiar with your controversial topics. I know that there are modern Cupolians who disagree with my portrayal of the historical events. They believe that it should be 100% factual. But I find that ever so boring, so while it is entirely based on truthful events and people of Cupola, it is a work of fiction.
Author Autobiography: 
N. A. Cauldron grew up on the outskirts of modern Cupola.  As a young child, she enjoyed listening to the tales told of Cupolian's history.  This ultimately led to a successful career as a research historian and her recent authorship of historical fiction.  She is an avid herbologist, and spends her free time hunting out and collecting rare herbs for her potion making.  She is especially fond of the snaggled tooth humpmoss, and has been known to spend weeks at a time on fungal expeditions.Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)?  The paperback can be pre-ordered and bought from me, or from Amazon when it is released. If you buy it from me directly, you can get it signed! The ebook can be pre-ordered or bought from Amazon.

Where can readers connect with you online?  Everything about me can be found at http://nacauldron.com/. My blog, my calendar of events, everything.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Cupola.  Questions about the world or the book?  Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!  

Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.

Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world, in Realm Explorers Part LXXXII!-Annie Douglass Lima

Dark Deeds: a Science Fiction Novel with a Giveaway!

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.
Welcome to the Release Celebration for Dark Deeds By Michelle Diener
Dark Deeds is book two in the Class 5 Series. If you missed Michelle's release­day message, go read it HERE, if you missed learning more about the characters from the series, go HERE, and don't forget to grab your copy of Dark Horse, book one, while it's on SALE for 99 ¢ ! There's a fabulous Amazon eGift Card giveaway as well. Enjoy the exclusive excerpt below...

[image error] Dark Deeds (Class 5 #2)by Michelle DienerAdult Sci­FiPaperback & ebook, 340 PagesJune 4th 2016 [image error]
Far from home . . . 
Fiona Russell has been snatched from Earth, imprisoned and used as slave labor, but nothing about her abduction makes sense. When she's rescued by the Grih, she realizes there's a much bigger game in play than she could ever have imagined, and she's right in the middle of it.
Far from safe . . . 
Battleship captain Hal Vakeri is chasing down pirates when he stumbles across a woman abducted from Earth. She's the second one the Grih have found in two months, and her presence is potentially explosive in the Grih's ongoing negotiations with their enemies, the Tecran. The Tecran and the Grih are on the cusp of war, and Fiona might just tip the balance.
Far from done . . . 
Fiona has had to bide her time while she's been a prisoner, pretending to be less than she is, but when the chance comes for her to forge her own destiny in this new world she grabs it with both hands. After all, actions speak louder than words.

Stacking heavy boxes in the launch bay, Fiona heard a ship come through the gel wall. Hard.There was a harsh grinding of metal on metal. The smell of burning, the hot scent of friction, blew over her a moment before the smoke. Black and choking, it engulfed her before being sucked out through the air filters.She crouched down behind the crates, grateful for the first time for the hood Captain Tak had forced her to wear for the last four weeks. It fitted tightly over her head, with strange, protruding ears, like a child's whimsical winter hat, and the bottom half covered her mouth, ending just below her nose. It helped filter out the noxious fumes.The loud grating sound ended with a shrieking crash that cut off abruptly, and in the sudden silence she heard a loud clang. She guessed the ship's ramp had just hit the launch bay floor.She'd never been allowed in the bay when one of the smaller merchant vessels entered to do business with the Garmman trading ship she was on. Hury always came and dragged her back to her cell long before they arrived, only letting her out when they were gone.So, this wasn't a scheduled arrival. And she didn't think every landing was quite so hard, or the launch bay would look a little worse for wear.She peered around the high stack of containers and froze.The ship that had come through was badly damaged, but she hardly noticed that.It was the occupants who had her unwavering attention. They came cautiously down the ramp, shockguns raised. They were slender, almost willowy, with hair that grew long and thick. Some had grown it to their shoulders or lower, others had cut it level with their ears. The pearl white of it contrasted with the delicate peach of their skin.They moved like a slick, well­trained team, and there was something predatory about them. They were in a sort of uniform, not identical, but close enough. Dark pants and shirt, boots that ended well above their ankles. The contrast of the dark color with their pastel skin and hair made them all the more astonishing.The launch bay door opened to her left and she turned to see Hecta and Nark stop dead in the doorway, mouths open at the smoldering ship, the damage to the bay.Without any sign of hesitation, two of the peach people lifted their shockguns and fired.Hecta and Nark went down, and two other interlopers ran over to them, pushed them clear of the doors and hit the button to close them again.One signaled to another of the group, and he ran over, took out a tiny silver rectangle and pressed it to the keypad next to the door. She heard the locks engage, locking the Garmman crew on the other side of the launch bay.Well.Fiona bent her head for a moment, sucking in a breath through the thick fabric of her hood.They could kill her. But she was going to die here anyway.It would be drawn out for a little longer, as some of the crew got up their courage to follow Captain Tak's unspoken request, but they would beat her to death sooner or later.She rubbed her hip where Hury had kicked her yesterday, and knew it was true.These people might kill her right now, but it was well worth the risk.She started to rise, and felt the hard plastic­like ears built into her hood wobble. She crouched back down.Captain Tak wanted her to wear the hood to hide what she was, and also to make her look like something she wasn't. It had become really important to him that she not be seen without it.And anything that Tak wanted, she was determined to do the opposite.She wasn't sure who the aliens in front of her were, but for all she knew, people who wore hoods like hers were their worst enemy. Whereas they couldn't have any negative history with a human.She got a good grip and pulled the hood off her head, and just to make sure, slid it between two of the containers, completely out of sight.The lingering smoke caught immediately at her throat, and as she stood and took a step out from behind the stack, she couldn't help coughing a little.Ten shockguns turned in her direction, and her heart gave a jump as they bared their teeth.They had incisors, their lips pulling back over their gums to expose them fully.It brought baboons from nature documentaries to mind. She slowly raised her hands to show she was unarmed. Then held her breath as they watched her, and she watched them right back.The pupils of their eyes were red, and she pushed down her rising panic at their very interested gaze. She may have made a mistake.One of them cocked his head to the side, and gestured for her to come closer.Before she'd seen the teeth, the eyes, she'd been willing enough to take the chance. Now she had to force herself to step slowly out of the shadows and into the harsh light of the landing area.“Grih?” The one who'd motioned her forward asked.She nodded, relieved. “I do speak Grih. And Garmman. And a little Bukari.” Fitali was too strange for her, she hadn't come close to working it out yet, and Tecran made her uneasy, made her heart beat faster and her hands shake. She had skipped over all the Tecran language lessons.“I mean, are you Grihan?” He spoke Garmman, his voice sibilant, his sharp incisors peeking out as he spoke.She frowned. He thought she looked Grihan? “No.”One of the team circled behind her, and she turned her head to keep him in sight.She flinched when he suddenly moved right in front of her. “Too short. And the ears.” The finger he reached out had too many joints and he touched the tip of her ear, shockgun resting directly against her chest as he did it.She shuddered, forcing herself to keep still.They weren't that much taller than she was, although close up she saw that while their limbs were slender, every muscle was defined. “Pity. We have a Grihan battleship chasing us and it would have been good to use you as a hostage.” The leader stared at her, and she saw there was a sly and calculating look in his eye. “What are you, then?”“I'm a prisoner.” She took a breath when the gun lifted slightly off her chest. “I wanted to ask if you'd take me with you? Help me escape?”The leader barked out a laugh. “No.” He looked back at his still­smoking ship. “How can we get out of here?”Suddenly, the shockgun was back on her chest, and she could hear the whine as it got to full strength.If a Grihan battleship was chasing them, then the Grih would come here to look for them, surely? That meant another group to appeal to for help.All wasn't lost. 
Amazon
Exclusive Excerpt from Dark Deeds

I am so thrilled that Dark Deeds, book 2 in the Class 5 series, is out, and to share some of the love, I have part of the first chapter as an excerpt for you today! Dark Deeds is the sequel to Dark Horse, which is on sale for 99c at the moment, until January 9th, when it goes back to its usual price of $4.99.
— Michelle Diener
Chapter One

Stacking heavy boxes in the launch bay, Fiona heard a ship come through the gel wall. Hard.There was a harsh grinding of metal on metal.The smell of burning, the hot scent of friction, blew over her a moment before the smoke. Black and choking, it engulfed her before being sucked out through the air filters.She crouched down behind the crates, grateful for the first time for the hood Captain Tak had forced her to wear for the last four weeks. It fitted tightly over her head, with strange, protruding ears, like a child's whimsical winter hat, and the bottom half covered her mouth, ending just below her nose. It helped filter out the noxious fumes.The loud grating sound ended with a shrieking crash that cut off abruptly, and in the sudden silence she heard a loud clang. She guessed the ship's ramp had just hit the launch bay floor.She'd never been allowed in the bay when one of the smaller merchant vessels entered to do business with the Garmman trading ship she was on. Hury always came and dragged her back to her cell long before they arrived, only letting her out when they were gone.So, this wasn't a scheduled arrival. And she didn't think every landing was quite so hard, or the launch bay would look a little worse for wear.She peered around the high stack of containers and froze.The ship that had come through was badly damaged, but she hardly noticed that.It was the occupants who had her unwavering attention.They came cautiously down the ramp, shockguns raised. They were slender, almost willowy, with hair that grew long and thick. Some had grown it to their shoulders or lower, others had cut it level with their ears. The pearl white of it contrasted with the delicate peach of their skin.They moved like a slick, well­trained team, and there was something predatory about them. They were in a sort of uniform, not identical, but close enough. Dark pants and shirt, boots that ended well above their ankles. The contrast of the dark color with their pastel skin and hair made them all the more astonishing.The launch bay door opened to her left and she turned to see Hecta and Nark stop dead in the doorway, mouths open at the smoldering ship, the damage to the bay.Without any sign of hesitation, two of the peach people lifted their shockguns and fired.Hecta and Nark went down, and two other interlopers ran over to them, pushed them clear of the doors and hit the button to close them again.One signaled to another of the group, and he ran over, took out a tiny silver rectangle and pressed it to the keypad next to the door. She heard the locks engage, locking the Garmman crew on the other side of the launch bay.Well.Fiona bent her head for a moment, sucking in a breath through the thick fabric of her hood.They could kill her.But she was going to die here anyway.It would be drawn out for a little longer, as some of the crew got up their courage to follow Captain Tak's unspoken request, but they would beat her to death sooner or later.She rubbed her hip where Hury had kicked her yesterday, and knew it was true.These people might kill her right now, but it was well worth the risk.She started to rise, and felt the hard plastic­like ears built into her hood wobble. She crouched back down.Captain Tak wanted her to wear the hood to hide what she was, and also to make her look like something she wasn't. It had become really important to him that she not be seen without it.And anything that Tak wanted, she was determined to do the opposite.She wasn't sure who the aliens in front of her were, but for all she knew, people who wore hoods like hers were their worst enemy. Whereas they couldn't have any negative history with a human.She got a good grip and pulled the hood off her head, and just to make sure, slid it between two of the containers, completely out of sight.The lingering smoke caught immediately at her throat, and as she stood and took a step out from behind the stack, she couldn't help coughing a little.Ten shockguns turned in her direction, and her heart gave a jump as they bared their teeth.They had incisors, their lips pulling back over their gums to expose them fully.It brought baboons from nature documentaries to mind.She slowly raised her hands to show she was unarmed. Then held her breath as they watched her, and she watched them right back.The pupils of their eyes were red, and she pushed down her rising panic at their very interested gaze.She may have made a mistake.One of them cocked his head to the side, and gestured for her to come closer.Before she'd seen the teeth, the eyes, she'd been willing enough to take the chance. Now she had to force herself to step slowly out of the shadows and into the harsh light of the landing area.“Grih?” The one who'd motioned her forward asked.She nodded, relieved. “I do speak Grih. And Garmman. And a little Bukari.” Fitali was too strange for her, she hadn't come close to working it out yet, and Tecran made her uneasy, made her heart beat faster and her hands shake. She had skipped over all the Tecran language lessons.“I mean, are you Grihan?” He spoke Garmman, his voice sibilant, his sharp incisors peeking out as he spoke.She frowned. He thought she looked Grihan? “No.”One of the team circled behind her, and she turned her head to keep him in sight.She flinched when he suddenly moved right in front of her.“Too short. And the ears.” The finger he reached out had too many joints and he touched the tip of her ear, shockgun resting directly against her chest as he did it.She shuddered, forcing herself to keep still.They weren't that much taller than she was, although close up she saw that while their limbs were slender, every muscle was defined.“Pity. We have a Grihan battleship chasing us and it would have been good to use you as a hostage.” The leader stared at her, and she saw there was a sly and calculating look in his eye. “What are you, then?”“I'm a prisoner.” She took a breath when the gun lifted slightly off her chest. “I wanted to ask if you'd take me with you? Help me escape?”The leader barked out a laugh. “No.” He looked back at his still­smoking ship. “How can we get out of here?”Suddenly, the shockgun was back on her chest, and she could hear the whine as it got to full strength.If a Grihan battleship was chasing them, then the Grih would come here to look for them, surely? That meant another group to appeal to for help.All wasn't lost. 

[image error] Dark Horse (Class 5 #1)
by Michelle DienerAdult Sci­FiPaperback & ebook, 381 PagesJune 15th 2015 [image error]
Some secrets carry the weight of the world.
Rose McKenzie may be far from Earth with no way back, but she's made a powerful ally­­a fellow prisoner with whom she's formed a strong bond. Sazo's an artificial intelligence. He's saved her from captivity and torture, but he's also put her in the middle of a conflict, leaving Rose with her loyalties divided.
Captain Dav Jallan doesn't know why he and his crew have stumbled across an almost legendary Class 5 battleship, but he's not going to complain. The only problem is, all its crew are dead, all except for one strange, new alien being.
She calls herself Rose. She seems small and harmless, but less and less about her story is adding up, and Dav has a bad feeling his crew, and maybe even the four planets, are in jeopardy. The Class 5's owners, the Tecran, look set to start a war to get it back and Dav suspects Rose isn't the only alien being who survived what happened on the Class 5. And whatever else is out there is playing its own games.
In this race for the truth, he's going to have to go against his leaders and trust the dark horse.
Amazon
[image error]
Michelle Diener writes historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction. Having worked in publishing and IT, she’s now very happy crafting new worlds and interesting characters and wondering which part of the world she can travel to next.
Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.
When she’s not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her blogging at Magical Musings. or online at Twitter, at Google+ and Facebook.
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Realm Explorers Part LXXX: Visit the Jackverse with Matthew Kadish

Welcome to Realm Explorers!  In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors.  Enjoy your travels!  And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book. One of them is available for FREE!
Author’s name:
Matthew Kadish
Title of book and/or series:
The Series is called The Earthman Jack Space Saga.  The first book is called “Earthman Jack vs. The Ghost Planet,” and the second book is called “Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army.”
Brief summary of the story:
The story centers around a young boy from Earth named Jack.  He’s kind-of a slacker, isn’t all that bright, and is also a bit of a troublemaker.  But he’s got a good heart and maybe possesses more courage than smarts.  The Earthman Jack Space Saga is the tale of how this kid became the greatest hero the universe has ever known, and we get to see him grow and mature from that unassuming underachiever he was at the beginning of the tale to a kick-butt superhero who is the universe’s only hope for survival at the end of it.  It’s an epic story filled with massive battles, deceit, treachery, magic, spaceships, aliens, robots, mind-boggling technology, friendship, coming of age, life lessons, tragedy, humor, adventure, mystery, and pretty much every other adjective known to exist.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Since this is a massive, sprawling space opera, there are multiple locations that make up this universe. Even though it’s set in our “Milky Way” galaxy, there are a number of planets, moons, asteroids, space stations, and other habitable bodies that exist within it.  The basic background of the universe is that long ago, there was an Ancient race of advanced beings who helped to populate galaxies and then suddenly (and mysteriously) disappeared.  There is now a galactic Empire based on the technology these Ancients left behind, and this Empire is being attacked by mysterious aliens who may or may not have had something to do with the disappearance of The Ancients.  This Empire consists of 100 planets, and a number of colonies, outposts, and space stations encompassing roughly 30,000 lightyears of space.
I don’t really have an official name for the universe I’m creating, so I just lazily refer to it as “the Jackverse,” named after my main character, Earthman Jack.
If we were to visit the Jackverse as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Oh, there are many great vacation destinations in the Jackverse, depending on what it is you enjoy.  For those looking for culture, they can tour the Hive Mind of Valghanna VII which houses the largest repository of art and literature in the known universe, including the complete collected works of the famed poet Vonnugat Van Habledorff (known more commonly as ‘Lil VonVan), encompassing approximately 7,000 volumes written in iambic pentameter, each of them containing sonnets where he rhymes the word “shoeboxes” with itself in every line – a feat previously believed impossible even by the most hardened of literary snobs.
For those interested in history, one can visit the capitol planet of the Empire, Omnicron Prime.  Though Omnicron has a long and colorful history, like being the capitol of the infamous “Twilight Empire” – a rival Empire manned by autonomous, sentient robots a thousand years previously – it was chosen as the new capitol for the Empire after the original homeworld – Regalus Prime – was destroyed by the Deathlords.  Capitol City, the seat of Imperial Government on Omnicron Prime, contains massive supertowers which are tens of thousands of feet tall, each one catering to specific worlds of Imperial members and housing millions of life forms.  Capitol City also consists of up to 200 levels, called “stratums,” with each stratum housing various commercial and residential districts.  The stratums and supertowers make Capitol City one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the universe, and also makes it a “melting pot” for every culture and race represented within the Empire.
If one is interested in more entertainment-based venues, they can travel to the pleasure planet of Vas Lagas, 98% of which is covered in ocean, which makes it easy to house numerous man-made islands for beach living and tropical nightlife.  Vas Lagas is also surrounded closely by an unregulated asteroid belt where numerous casinos operate.  “Resortroids,” as they’re called, run the gamut from “cheap & seedy” to “luxurious and family-friendly” and cater to any and all types of tourists and vacationers.  In fact, it’s just been announced that the Convention for Leisure & Anti-Social Male Escapism (also known as LAME Con), the largest pop-culture convention in the universe, will be re-locating there after outgrowing its old venue.
There are literally millions more destinations to recommend to tourists travelling through the Jackverse.  For a complete list of getaways, please see The Intergalactic Wayfarer’s Guide to Tourist Traps for more ideas and great offers on lodging.  (Be sure to use promo code “Earthman”)
What dangers should we avoid in the Jackverse?
As with anything in life, the Jackverse is not without its fair share of hazards.  Anything that shoots at you should probably be avoided, if you’re not into that type of thing.  There’s also your run-of-the-mill space piracy, malfunctioning robots, and the rare swarm of space insects which will consume any and all matter they come into contact with.  Mysterious viruses which cause intense illness followed by turning one into a violent, rampaging zombie have been known to break out on occasion.  Oh, and an evil, malevolent race of aliens called Deathlords which like to kill anything they meet and blow up entire planets.  It’s recommended you avoid them at all costs.  They’re kinda jerks.  And, of course, don’t drink the water on the third moon of Davlos Penumbra.  It’s been known to cause explosive diarrhea, followed by explosive vomiting, followed by an even more explosive build-up of ear wax.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in the Jackverse?
The Jackverse has a wide palate of intergalactic delicacies to be enjoyed, depending upon your species.  Food runs the gamut from spicy fried larvaworms (a bar-food favorite) to slow-cooked spiced Gourvine belly in a sweet-and-sour mustard glaze (particularly favored among Gourvines, who are well-known cannibals).  Though most food is of the replicated variety, since it takes large agricultural resources to cater to such a huge Empire, occasionally you can enjoy a genuine Demonsaur steak, which is heralded to be one of the most tender, succulent, and flavorful pieces of meat in all of existence.  As long as you’re okay with dozens of Ramballah hunters dying to provide your meal, since Demonsaurs are also one of the deadliest animals in all of existence.  But boy, do they sure pair well with a nice glass of nectarplum wine!
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in the Jackverse?
Though some cultures still use melee weapons and projectile weapons, the primary weapon used in the Jackverse is some form of “plasma gun.”  Essentially, these guns fire superheated bolts of gas, and can appear to look as though they are “laser bolts” as they light up from the chemical reaction of the plasma being heated.  The plasma bolts tend to melt whatever they come into contact with, and the heat of the gas can be adjusted depending on the goal of its use.  For instance, when engaging on a firefight in a spaceship, the heat level would be toned down so as not to pierce a ship’s hull.  Plasma weapons also use gas canister magazines, which make the weapons lighter weight and allow them to hold greater ammunition since gas is far more compressed than projectile weapons such as bullets.  While a typical handgun may hold just 12 rounds before needing to reload, a plasma gun can hold hundreds of rounds in its compressed canister magazine.
Fighting styles vary from culture to culture and species to species.  For instance, a species with six hands will have a different fighting style than a species with only two hands.  Most fighting styles are catered to a species’ specific anatomic strengths and weaknesses.  A truly skilled fighter must know the vulnerabilities of the race he’s facing to best defeat them.  This can make close-quarter combat and hand-to-hand combat complicated.
The best fighters in the Jackverse are usually “Warrior Paragons,” who are trained in the way of the Free Mind.  Paragons tend to favor melee weapons since it’s easier for them to control and exert their unique brand of “magic” through them.  Because of their “free minds,” they often have knowledge of how best to defeat whatever opponent they may be facing, and they can quickly learn new styles of fighting by simply opening their mind and discovering the knowledge of how to fight the way they need to in order to win.  This makes Paragons extremely formidable opponents in any combat situation.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to the Jackverse?
Travel methods vary depending upon which planet one is on and that culture’s preferred modes of transportation.  But the most common ones on a planetary level involve teleportation, which facilitates matter transference locally, allowing fast travel across great distances on the surface of planets (but at great energy expenditure). 
Between planets, one can travel through the Portgate network, which is a network of stable wormholes which allow instantaneous travel across thousands of lightyears of space.  Portgates are extremely safe and reliable, however, they were built by the Ancients long ago, so the network is limited to a certain number of planets, and no new Portgates are able to be made, thus limiting the number of destinations one can travel to using this method of transportation. 
If the destination is outside of this network, one must rely on hyperspace travel to go somewhere.  Though hyperspace allows for faster than light travel, it still takes much longer than a Portgate.  Depending upon the destination, a hyperspace trip can take days, weeks, or even months – and that’s on pre-scouted hyperspace lanes.  Deviation from these routes could lead to fatal collision with gravitational bodies.  However, sticking to these routes can also leave one vulnerable to piracy.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in the Jackverse that we don’t see on Earth?
There are actually far too many to list here, but I can give some examples of each.  For instance, there is a plant named Solanacus, which is more commonly known as “dreamleaf.” The Solanacus plant is mainly used as a recreational or medicinal drug.  It is a purple, cabbage-like plant which only grows on the dark-side of the Barbitol Moons.  Its leaves are often harvested, dried, and consumed for its psychological and physiological effects.  Chemical compounds in the plant shift brainwaves from Alpha state to Theta state, mimicking the effects of REM and NREM sleep cycles while the consumer remains conscious and aware.  This allows those who consume dreamleaf to stay awake for long periods of time with no adverse side-effects from sleep deprivation.  It is a popular recreational drug for those who work long hours, students cramming for exams, and partiers who wish to avoid feeling tired.  While under effects of dreamleaf, users can experience “waking dreams” that bleed into their conscious reality.  While not harmful in low to moderate use, continued heavy use of dreamleaf has been known to cause permanent dream states.
As far as animals go, there is a wide and varied bestiary across the galaxy, ranging from domesticated pets to wild beasts.  One of the most peculiar is the Lucheep, a small animal with fur that reflects light around it, causing it to be practically invisible to the naked eye.  Though harmless and docile, large packs of these animals can cause all types of problems, particularly if they wander into busy roads.  Though their fur is highly sought after to create “stealth suits” for military purposes, it takes a great deal of patience and skill to raise these animals, since it is easy for them to wander off and never be found again.  Also, because their fur is practically invisible, even when shaved off them, it makes building such suits a difficult and trying endeavor, making Lucheep shepherding a risky and potentially unprofitable endeavor.
When it comes to sentient races, there are over 50 sentient races within the Empire alone, and that doesn’t count those that exist outside the Empire.  The Jackverse has an extremely diverse and eclectic collection of sentient life, ranging from slug-like Scollums to sentient colors such as #00B2EEn (who is able to communicate with all shades of the color blue).  There are the monstrous, hulking Rognoks, the rock-like Recklek, the boisterous Stonehooligans, the dragon-like Izards, and the multi-colored Visini.  And that’s just scratching the surface!
However, Regals are the dominant race within the galaxy, mostly due to their colonization efforts of other inhabitable planets.  They are descended from a race known as The Ancients.  Those with stronger genetic links to the Ancients tend to be tall and beautiful, fair in complexion and with great skill of body and mind.  Regals tend to be slender, graceful, and strong, with slightly pointed ears that have a subtle leaf-shape to them.  Regals are very similar to humans, and though those with strong genetic links to the Ancients may look close to perfect, not all Regals have such strong ties.  Those with weaker links to the Ancient gene can have various differing appearances.  But even though hair color, eye color, height, and weight may differ, Regals tend to be very homogenous, and are by-and-large Caucasian in appearance.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in the Jackverse?  If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
In the Jackverse, the “magic” that exists is basically science we have yet to fully understand.  The magic is based on a holistic synergy of the body, mind, and soul which is referred to as a “Free Mind.”  Essentially, the magic system is based on two things – quantum physics and the biocentric theory of reality.
In quantum physics, existence essentially comes down to the consciousness of the person observing their reality.  In essence, quantum physics says that our brains “make things real.”  And until we make an observation, an infinite amount of possibilities exist in our reality.
The biocentric theory of reality is a theory that says consciousness creates life, not the other way around.  This theory essentially states that sentient consciousness uses quantum physics to form the reality we find ourselves in, as opposed to our environment forming the life that exists within it.
By meshing these two concepts together, those who wield “magic” in the Jackverse essentially use quantum physics to change the reality around them.  They can manifest into reality weapons, vehicles, armor, and pretty much anything else their brain can come up with.  Since quantum physics states that everything already exists – including knowledge – someone with a “Free Mind” can conceivably know everything there is to know in the entire universe.
By aligning one’s body, mind, and soul, and achieving a “Free Mind” capable of manifesting anything, it would appear as though one is able to perform supernatural feats.  The Ancients are a race that created astounding wonders that break the very laws of physics using this method.  In the Jackverse, there is a group called “Paragons” who study the teachings of the Ancients and strive to achieve a Free Mind.  These are the primary “magic users” of this universe.  However, it is hard to free one’s mind from all its limitations, so most Paragons are only able to achieve small amounts of quantum physics-based magic, depending on their skill level.
Because this is so difficult, Paragons are relatively rare.  However, the Emperor of the Empire usually has a strong connection to the technology of the Ancients, which is based on this “magic,” and the Emperor and his offspring are usually the ones who are naturally gifted when it comes to achieving “Free Minds.”
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in the Jackverse?  If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
There is a multitude of advanced and unusual technology at play in the Jackverse, mostly from the creations of The Ancients.  Some of the Ancient’s greatest technological advancements have been studied and secularized so that their use becomes common, while other advances are so complicated and hard to understand, that they have yet to be replicated.
In terms of advanced technology, one example is hyperspace travel.  In the Jackverse, this is how spacecraft traverse large distances between planets at faster than light speeds.  Essentially, an engine called a Brane Accelerator creates a field that excites the particles that form membranes between dimensions (known as “branes”), allowing windows into other dimensions which can be crossed.  Hyperspace is a mirror dimension to our reality, but whereas our universe is constantly expanding and growing, Hyperspace is constantly contracting and shrinking, making distances far shorter than they are in regular space and time.  By entering the hyperspace dimension and engaging lightspeed engines which accelerate ships to 99% the speed of light, starships are essentially travelling “faster” than lightspeed in our reality, without actually breaking the laws of physics.  And since the hyperspace dimension is linked to our own, when a ship reaches a certain destination in hyperspace and exits back into normal space, they come out at basically the same location, even though it took far less time to get there.
Probably the most unusual technology known to exist takes the form of “Great Seals.”  Great Seals are remnants of the civilization of The Ancients and are responsible for creating mind-boggling feats of scientific engineering that bend (and sometimes even break) all known laws of science.  Though no one fully understands how Great Seals operate, it is theorized that a collective form of corporeal knowledge is housed in a chamber behind a Great Seal, which the Seal then manifests into reality.  In this respect, the Seal acts like a sentient consciousness, one powerful enough to alter reality based on the corporeal knowledge it houses.  This allows for the creation of wondrous things, such as habitable planets with a breathable atmosphere but no plant life or nearby star.  The entire Portgate network is powered by one such Great Seal as well.  Though powerful, only a few Great Seals have been discovered to date, and their study is ongoing.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in the Jackverse.
For those looking for recreational activities in the Jackverse, there is a multitude to choose from.  Popular activities include going to the holocinema, nightclubs, and robot wrestling matches.  One of the more popular games in the Jackverse is a card game known as Loquir, which is a game similar to poker, but with multiple elements of strategy to it.  Loquir can be played for fun or for money, and is a large part of any gambling establishment in the galaxy.
For those looking for more of a mental challenge, one can partake in the game of Optiass, a chess-like strategy game played on a 12x12 board using holographic figures as board pieces.  Each figure has its own Artificial Intelligence, and can only be moved on the board by having the player convince it to perform the desired action.  Players communicate with the pieces by holding a “thought stone” which allows them to have mental conversations with the pieces.  The goal of the game is to get one’s pieces to move so that the Emperor piece of the opponent is captured.  Because of each piece’s unique personality, this can be quite challenging.  Some pieces will not act as the player wants them to, particularly if the piece realizes it is about to be sacrificed, in which case it may choose to act in its own best interest.  Both sides play in turns, and games have been known to last anywhere from a few hours to months or even years, depending on the difficulty setting of the A.I. being used.
Each culture in the Jackverse has its own type of sports that it enjoys watching or participating in.  For instance, the Egoi like to partake in a sport called Mentat, which consists of two Egoi entering a circular ring and trying to use psychic abilities to push the other player out of this ring.  Though exciting to other Egois, most races find the sport to be rather boring since it mostly consists of two beings staring at each other for long periods of time.  Another example is the popularity of the Orean dance competitions, where the most powerful politicians in the Orean race show-off their sweetest moves.  Though popular among other races, Oreans communicate through body language, and find these dance-offs rather stale, since to them, they are the equivalent of watching political debates.  And then there’s the Stonehooligan sport of ROCKBALL, which is essentially an excuse for Stonehooligans to headbutt each other.
However, probably the most popular sport among the Empire is the sport of Gravityball.  Gravityball combines elements of football, basketball, roller-derby, and rugby in various degrees of gravity.  A typical Gravityball court is divided into five vertical arenas, each with its own anti-gravity generator.  The goal of the game is to get the gravityball from the bottom arena to the top in order to score.  The weight of the ball decreases the higher up it gets, whereas the weight of the players are inversely proportional, with the first arena being nearly zero gravity for the players and the top arena being normal gravity.  Players use magnetic grind boots to skate along rails within the Gravityball court, and use a grappling hook to pull them to other levels, as well as trip up other players and steal the ball.  A typical Gravityball match is two hours long, and is normally comprised of two teams consisting of 8 players each.  Because of its fast-paced and chaotic nature, it has transcended cultures to become an almost universally loved sport.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in the Jackverse as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
All calendar measurements vary depending on the planet one is on, but there is a “Universal Timedate” which is based on the revolution and rotation of the Empire’s original homeworld, Regalus Prime.  Though not all planets in the Empire adhere to the Universal Timedate standard, it is used throughout the universe for the purpose of commerce, shipping, and communication.  A typical day on Regalus Prime was very close to that of Earth’s, so its minute/hour/day/week/month schedule is very similar.
Every culture within the Empire celebrates their own holidays and special events, such as the Stonehooligan culture on the planet Brittlecore.  Known to be some of the hardest laborers in the universe, the Stonehooligans are also the hardest partiers in the universe and will declare holidays for the smallest of things as an excuse to cut loose.  Their latest holiday, “My friend Remar found a penny on the ground” day, was said to have lasted several weeks and created a shortage of good beer on the planet.
Outside of these “local” holidays, there are universal holidays set out by the Imperial Government and the dominant religion of the Empire, The Church Of The Great Observer.  For instance, “Foundation Day” is a universal holiday celebrating the founding of the Empire by its first Emperor, Arcturus I, who was the first man to discover and utilize technology from The Ancients and unite his planet under one government.
Then, there is Chrimeria, which is the big religious holiday of the Church of the Great Observer.  Chrimeria is a month-long time of reflection where those who follow the religion are meant to examine their lives of the past year and try to right their wrongs using the teachings of the church.  However, the holiday has become quite commercialized, since most people choose to right their wrongs by sending gifts to others as a form of atonement, thus creating an intense retail season for the month of Chrimeria.
Is there a particular religion practiced in the Jackverse?  Please describe what it involves.
The Jackverse has numerous religions which are practiced within it, since each culture tends to support multiple different religions based on its species’ history.  However, there are some religions which are extremely popular and attract followers across planetary and cultural boundaries.  For instance, The Church of RNGsus of Pre-Determined Destiny (the RNG Church or, informally, RNG) is a popular galactic religion dedicated to the God of Random Number Generation.  Followers believe in pre-determined destinies and that through random numbers they can be guided toward doing what they need to do to in order to follow the path fate has laid out for them.  The church is most widely recognized for its RNGsus booths, which can be found throughout the galaxy.  They are a great source of income for the church and give followers guidance on what to do by printing tickets with random numbers that correspond to advice on how to live one’s life.  Members of the church can also roll church-sanctioned dice to assist them when making decisions.  There are a number of actual church buildings where the congregation of RNGsus gather to worship.  Their services are often described as being very similar to games of Bingo.
However, the official religion of the Empire is that of the Church of the Great Observer.  It was started by Emperor Arcturus I and the first Order of Peers, based off the teachings of the Ancients.  The doctrine of the church preaches the existence of a “Great Observer” who watches over the universe, and is responsible for manifesting everything within it.  The Great Observer is the embodiment of a true Free Mind, and possesses knowledge of all things, thus being “all seeing and all knowing.”  Followers of the church believe that all life is connected to this Great Observer, and that all living beings are part of him.  It is said that should the Great Observer ever blink, even for one second, all of existence would cease.  It was Arcturus’s belief in this Great Observer that led him to adopt the symbol of an all-seeing eye to be the official crest of his family, and thus the symbol for the Empire at large.  The religion is said to foster “free minds” in its followers, creating a culture of learning, freedom, and acceptance among its congregation.
What is the political or government structure in the Jackverse?  Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The central government of the Jackverse is known as “The Galactic Regalus Empire.”  Though imperialism is typically frowned upon as a system of government, it has been found to be the most effective way to govern lightyears-worth of territory.  Democratic or republic-based governments, though good on a planetary level, are far too inefficient on the galactic level.
The Regalus Empire is essentially a constitutional monarchy, with an Emperor at its head.  Though the Emperor has certain reserve powers, his job is primarily as a figurehead, and his primary responsibility is the use and discovery of Ancient technology for the benefit of the Empire.
There are two major governing bodies within the government, known as the Council of Juniors and the Council of Elders.  These are the government bodies which make the laws, with the Council of Juniors representing member planets of the Empire based on population and the Council of Elders representing all the member planets equally.
There is a judicial branch called the Royal Judiciary which consists of a “Council of Seven” and acts as a watchdog group to not only enforce the laws, but keep the Emperor in check as a way to prevent tyranny from taking hold.  The executive body is known as the Directory, and consists of five Directors who oversee their own little slice of the Empire.  Since the Empire is so massive, it is impossible for one being to oversee all of it, thus, the Directors have a great deal of flexibility in how they run their own sections of the Empire, but they must also reach majority agreement in order to govern the Empire as a whole.
The governing of individual planetary systems falls to regional governors known as “Legacies.”  A Legacy is a title that is usually passed down from generation to generation, ensuring consistency in the governing of a planetary system.  The Empire allows all planets to govern themselves on a local level, but Legacies oversee entire planets and ensure that Imperial law is enforced.  Essentially, a Legacy is the ruler of their own “mini-empire,” with every planet, outpost, settlement, and space station in their system under their control.  Legacy titles can only be granted or revoked by the Emperor.
At the time of Earthman Jack’s adventure, the only member of Legacy Prime still alive is Princess Glorianna, who is next in line to become Emperor on her 18th birthday.  She is a young girl who is overwhelmed by her position, and it is unclear what type of ruler she will one day become.  However, with Jack’s support, she may just grow to be one of the greatest Emperors the universe has ever seen.  Only time will tell.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit the Jackverse?
Indeed, and it is entirely dependent upon which culture or race one is interacting with.  An example of this is the Tygarian race, which appends silent letters to their names as a way to dignify certain achievements.  To possess a silent “K” in one’s name is the mark of a great warrior.  However, pronouncing the “K” is considered to be an insult and a direct challenge to the Tygarian who possesses it.  Thus, mispronouncing a Tygarian name with a silent “K” in it, even by accident, could in fact lead to a deadly encounter.
Because it is so easy for a “faux pas” to occur between cultures, it is highly recommended that one always travel with a certified attaché android that is fluent in the various cultures of the universe to best advise one on how to deal with all the different species one will encounter on their travels.

Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
Pretty much everything in my life inspires the different aspects of the world I’m creating in my books.  I love taking normal, mundane things I see around me and giving them a unique, sci-fi twist and coming up with something fun and different.  A lot of what I create comes from pop-culture influences from the 80’s and early 90’s.  In lots of ways, this story is a love-letter to the sci-fi I grew up enjoying, and I find it a lot of fun to build this world out and make it feel real (even if most of what I come up with is a bit goofy).
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
Pretty much everything you can think of, but not blatantly.  For instance, in the Jackverse, there is an alien race that bases its class system on the color of one’s skin.  In their culture, most beings have yellow skin, but the upper class have blue skin and the elite have purple skin.  Criminals and undesirables have red skin.  A white-skinned being is said to be the pinnacle of existence, while a black-skinned being is said to be inherently evil.  They think the skin is a reflection of the soul, so what a person is on the inside is reflected on the outside.  Of course, this brings into play issues of race and what one’s skin color really means.  It’s not an overt way of analyzing the role skin color plays in society, but it does allow me to underhandedly convey the message “racism is bad, m’kayyy?”
The story I’m writing has lots of themes, ranging from personal responsibility, to religion and spirituality, gender issues, political beliefs, and a host of other hot-button topics.  But they’re never the focus and it’s not preachy.  The great thing about sci-fi is that as an author, I can mask different messages in the cloak of fiction and explore them in a non-threating way for the reader.  This way, if the reader doesn’t agree with my viewpoint, they won’t get turned off by the story, and if they do agree with my viewpoint, they’ll enjoy the story even more.
Author Autobiography:
Matthew Kadish is an independent author and world-recognized evil genius. When he isn't writing or being evil, he enjoys relaxing at the beach and videos of puppies. Much like Scottish cuisine, most of his literary works have been based on dares. He currently lives in Las Vegas and always bets on black, because Westley Snipes has yet to steer him wrong in life. He is the most talented author ever. His mother tells him so every day.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your books?  
You can purchase my books in the usual places – Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc.  If you’d like to check out the Jackverse yourself, try reading the first book in the series “Earthman Jack vs. The Ghost Planet.”  I actually give a special edition of the book away at my website, which contains special features like full page illustrations, interviews, and appendixes that you can’t get in the retail version.
If you want to check out the first book, just head over to www.EarthmanJack.com to download it for free.
Where can readers connect with you online? 
I am all over the interwebz!  If you’re interested in checking out my inane ramblings and getting glimpses into my rather boring and nerdy life, feel free to cyberstalk me.  I make it SUPER easy!
Click here to check out my Facebook page.
Click here to follow me on Twitter @MatthewKadish. 
Click here for my Google+ profile.
Click here for my Instagram account.
And of course, my official website www.MatthewKadish.com!

I’m pretty active, so if you have any questions about the series of the universe I’m creating, feel free to contact me.  I love hearing from readers!
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the Jackverse.  Questions about the world or the book?  Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!  

Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.

Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the fantasy world of Cupola, in Realm Explorers Part LXXXI!-Annie Douglass Lima

Realm Explorers Part LXXIX: Visit Mysia with Lynnette Roman

Welcome to Realm Explorers!  In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors.  Enjoy your travels!  And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book. 

Author’s name: Lynnette Roman
Title of book and/or series: Ruby Eyed Devil: Book #1 in the R.E.D. series
Brief summary of the story:The First of the Seven Desolations of the Tatum Scrolls has come to pass through the decimation of the Salt Sea. The golden webs of destiny have responded in kind by entangling the lives of the most unlikely candidates for its work. Individuals from Earth, the Skylands, and the Waterworld will be brought together through a barrage of tragedies, to bring about the unfolding of a prophecy whose events will spread to the four pillars of the Earth. 

The resurrection of an ancient evil is underway and with it the Second of the Seven Desolations will be revealed. The LORD has opened his armory and called forth a name, centuries old. A name to be risen from the ashes, restored, and branded upon His chosen. A title birthed out of war and scarlet flames for such a time as this. 

His chosen shall be called—The Ruby Eyed Devil. 
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:  Earth, Sea and sky have been linked together through feuds, and prophecy. Each having their own hierarchy.
If we were to visit as tourists, what would you recommend that we do there? Get close to God.
What dangers should we avoid? Avoid the whip of the Silver Tail at the Fountain of the Two Calves. Its tip slices through both body and soul.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served? Caribou stew in the Arctic.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common? Weapons of the Skylands are the bolts of the heavens, while those of the Waterworld use fire.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel? Polar bears are used as companions. Transportation is an innate gift used by those of the supernatural.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter that we don’t see on Earth? The Meviathum are the legendary creatures of the sea.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of the people?  If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used. There is no such thing as magic. Only skill and innate gifts. Of the Meviathum, they possess the ability, at the time of their deaths, to “gift” the next generation with a skill they do not already possess in order to enhance their lineage with greater powers.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment there. Hunting.
Is there a particular religion practiced?  Please describe what it involves. Jehovah is the one true God. Though many others are mentioned, such as Chemosh, Molech, Nergal, Diana, Ashteroth, and others, there is none like unto Jehovah.
What is the political or government structure there?  Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she? In the Waterworld, the Queen Meviathum is the strongest among her kind and bears the most weight of enhancing and continuing her line by any means necessary. While in the Skylands, Duliars reign. Duliars are born, not elected. Because they are so few they are not permitted to die, only sleep, until it is their turn to reign again.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book? Bible study.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book? Jehovah is God and not another.
Author Autobiography: I was born in Royal Oak, MI and raised in Detroit, MI. I am 34 years old. I’ve taught Sunday School and Bible Study for years at the church where I reside in New Haven, MI. Mostly, the Old Testament Stories of the Bible give inspire my writing. I love the ‘thrust” into leadership roles, the fights, and the “Callings” of God.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?  Ruby Eyed Devil is in ebook format for now on both Amazon and Smashwords. The ebook will also be available next month, October 2015, at Apple, Barnes and Noble, Sony Books, etc.  Also the hardcover will be available at that time as well.
http://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Eyed-Devil-Book-R-E-D-ebook/dp/B015WMCZZS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443471057&sr=8-1&keywords=lynnette+roman+the+ruby+eyed+devil
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/580884

Where can readers connect with you online?  I’d love to be friends on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lynnette.roman.79and feel free to follow me at https://twitter.com/RomanLynnette!
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Mysia.  Questions about the world or the book?  Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!  

Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.

Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the sci-fi worlds of the Jackverse, in Realm Explorers Part LXXX!-Annie Douglass Lima

Realm Explorers Part LXXVIII: Visit Titus with Sherry Rossman

Welcome to Realm Explorers!  In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors.  Enjoy your travels!  And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book. 
Author’s name: Sherry Rossman
Title of book and/or series: Wake/City of Light Series, Book 1.
Brief summary of the story: Monet is a teen surviving on anxiety pills and memories of her beloved mother. Her city keeps her safe and cared for, but under tight control. She and her best friend, Luke, find an old book that shows the history of mankind—a past that’s been hidden from them and all the citizens of Titus. As their curiosity takes them down a dangerous path, supernatural events begin to occur, showing a different story from what they’ve been told. Monet and Luke find themselves at a crossroads: live within the safe, logical confines of Titus, or embrace the wild truth and risk death.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:Earth, one hundred years in the future. Titus is a self-sustaining city, perhaps the only city as far as its citizens are aware of. Religion and expressive art have been banned so the world won’t destroy itself again…at least that’s what everyone has been told.
If we were to visit Titus as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?I would recommend visiting The Seed, the city farm. Boasting numerous orchards and enough food to support the entire city, the building supplies the basic needs for every citizen. It’s also the place to socialize for this humanistic society—the meeting place for community celebrations and breathtaking blue and gold lights adorn this jewel of Titus.
What dangers should we avoid in Titus?Titus sustains itself in every area. Doubting this idea by exploring religion, traveling beyond the boundaries, or expressing any emotional need through art will get you taken. Some are rehabilitated and returned home—some are never seen again.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Titus?All citizens are vegetarian—there will be a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables for you to enjoy.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Titus?Violence of any kind is illegal. The only citizens permitted to learn about weaponry or self-defense are the watchdogs—the guards. Their main job is to make sure all are loyal to Titus and the leaders’ cultural ideals.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Titus?Only service vehicles are permitted, in order to prevent unnecessary accidents and erosion within the city. A shuttle transports students to school, and employees to their jobs.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Titus that we don’t see on Earth? You may eventually encounter paranormal beings, although some would argue that we live among them today. I can’t go into detail for fear of giving too much away, but it will give readers something to think about. =)
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Titus?  If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.Oh, magic, that controversial word! Despite the logical structure of Titus, magic does infiltrate the city, and it’s unlike anything the citizens expect.  Is it magic of the deceptive kind, or magic of the most extraordinary kind? Monet will have to find out.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Titus?  If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.Healthcare is somewhat advanced, as well as technology geared toward safety such as the highly revered whisper glass (designed so that none will ever get trapped in a burning building). The Seed is the most advanced in how they’ve figured out how to amass all of their required food sources inside a single farm.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Titus.Most spare time is spent in serving others. The only community-wide entertainment would be the festivals held in honor of their most valued volunteers. There is music and dancing, but because expressive art is banned, it’s very formulated and mundane.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Titus?  Please describe what it involves.The citizens of Titus have been taught that religion is dangerous, and are banned from any kind of spiritual practice or even the search for it. But they rely so heavily on the works of their hands, you could say they almost deify themselves…until things beyond their control start to happen.
What is the political or government structure in Titus?  Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?Titus is led by three people: Paul Orca, Barry Newt and Martha Tinman. They are called The Triad. Each of The Triad leads a sector of Titus, and the citizens share the last name of their sector leader.

Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?The direction of our current culture inspired my book. In Luke 19:40, Jesus responded to the Pharisees in a fascinating way when they told Him to silence His disciples: "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." I thought, “What would it look like if religion and our ability to search for the unseen were banned? Humans are limited, but God is not. What would He do?
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?I tend to gravitate toward hot-buttons, heh. Like I mentioned earlier, I use the word magic. It’s a word. Words should neither be feared nor sacrificed to evil realms. In fact, I think that leads to superstition. Also, science and faith are intermixed in Wake, which, for some people, is a hot-button. God made the world, He made science. There’s no threat there.
Author Autobiography: I wrote children's books before digging into genres for older audiences. The Relevant Christian Magazine and Wordsmith Journal Magazine have published my recent short stories. I’ve been a guest writer on numerous websites, including Christian eBooks Today. Recently, I became the author of the YA bestseller Faith Seekers. I am bold when I feel there has been too much silence, and quiet when there’s too much noise. I live in Northern Arizona with my husband and children.

Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)?  Please include links. Right now, Wake is available in ebook format on Amazon(release date of Feb. 1, 16). The paperback is soon to come.
Where can readers connect with you online?  Come visit me at sherryrossman.com

I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Titus.  Questions about the world or the book?  Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!  

Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.

Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another fantasy world, in Realm Explorers Part LXXIX!-Annie Douglass Lima

Realm Explorers Part LXXVII: Visit Lushaka with Dianne Astle

Welcome to Realm Explorers!  In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors.  Enjoy your travels!  And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book. 
Author’s name: Dianne Astle
Title of book and/or series: The Six Worlds: Book 1. Ben the Dragonborn; Book 2. Ben and the Watcher of Zargon
Brief summary of the story: There are six worlds under the care of one known as the Guardian. Each of the six worlds has a Watcher with a mystical connection to the Guardian and the world they serve. The Watcher guards the portals and is the Principal of a school where those chosen by the Guardian are trained. The Chosen of the Guardian are sent through the portals to other worlds so that they might protect and serve the cause of justice and peace.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story: On Earth the school is on a mist shrouded island off Canada’s west coast. To get to the school requires a boat, a float place or use of special portals that connect the school to the far corners of the world.  My main character goes through a portal to a world named Lushaka in the first book. It is a world covered in water, which is a problem, because Ben is afraid of being in water over his head. When Ben arrives in Lushaka, he finds that humans are about to go to war with the merfolk.
If we were to visit Lushaka as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?The Guardian’s school is only for those with a special invitation so I would recommend visiting the human community. However, think twice if they are on the verge of a war, because they become very suspicious of strangers.
What dangers should we avoid in Lushaka?It is best to avoid any of the larger islands on Lushaka. The land tends to have very dangerous creatures on it. Of course this is the very place where Ben needs to go. He needs to travel to the top of one of the bigger islands. 
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Lushaka?Ben was served raw fish, eggs, pickled sea slugs, sea cucumbers, and a seaweed and snail salad.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Lushaka?Those who travelled with Ben carried a spear and a knife, both of which they used to fight off spiders.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Lushaka?The portals that link one spot to another within the world are normally used for travel by the Chosen who go to Lushaka. Ben could not use the portals because he was not given the gift of being able to breathe under water. Ben travelled on the back of an orca-like whale and in a boat. At the end of the book some of the characters travelled on the back of a dragon.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Lushaka that we don’t see on Earth?The two sentient groups are merfolk and human. The humans live in huge trees that grow up from the bottom of the ocean. In and around the trees are cork lily pads. On these lily pads the humans keep some animals. The land is dangerous. The island Ben went to had piranha like sand creatures, large spiders and huge birds that sometimes carry away children and small adults.  
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Lushaka?  If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.There are supernatural abilities given by the Guardian of the Six Worlds to those who are going through a portal to do the Guardian’s work on a world not their own. These gifts are returned to the Guardian when the quest is over. Ben receives the gift of becoming invisible and the gift of octopus hands and feet. When he is sent to Lushaka no one understands why he is only given two gifts. That mystery is revealed near the end of the book.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Lushaka and the other five schools.Every school teaches a wide assortment of sports related skills. Hang gliding, parasailing, horseback riding, archery, sword play, tracking and outdoor survival, rope climbing, martial arts and much more. The Guardian’s school want to equip the Chosen for whatever challenges they face on a new world.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Lushaka as on Earth? There is a special medallion that reveals the day, month and year when the Chosen will go from one world to another which necessitates that the calendars be the same, although the special holidays will not be the same. 
Is there a particular religion practiced in Lushaka?  The Six Worlds are similar to the Narnia series in that they are not explicitly Christian, but there are spiritual themes, particularly in the second book, Ben and the Watcher of Zargon. My characters do offer up prayers and blessings.
What is the political or government structure in Lushaka?  Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?The merfolk have a king who is behaving unreasonably. He is insisting that the humans get his crown back if they want to continue to harvest food from the ocean. Getting the crown back involves travelling to the top of a very dangerous island. The humans have a council which has a hard time making decisions.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?I spent a few days on a float home moored near a small island off of Canada’s wild and wet west coast. I loved the area. It is my favorite place. An ancient castle makes little sense off the west coast where everything is relatively new, but I couldn’t imagine the school anywhere else. However, the place I spent a few days is a very lonely place. Very few people live in the vicinity or stay overnight in the area, so it is possible to imagine an ancient castle hidden away on a mist-shrouded island.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?In my mind there are no controversial topics. One of the themes in the book is finding friends where you expect to find enemies. The other is that we are more than we think we are and we need to find the treasure of our own true selves.
Author Autobiography:Dianne Astle has worked at a variety of jobs in her life.  She has been a draftsperson, a news correspondent for a radio station, a teacher’s aide, and most recently had the opportunity to practice servant leadership in a faith community. Dianne loves fishing, riding horses, and walking with her dog. She lives with her husband Doug, his three cats and her beloved dog Thomas
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)?  Please include links.At the moment my books are only available through Amazon.Ben the Dragonborn at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Dragonborn-Six-Worlds-Book-ebook/dp/B00GMAUA5C/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443310018&sr=1-1&keywords=ben+the+dragonborn
Ben the Dragonborn at Createspace   https://www.createspace.com/5713690
Ben and the Watcher of Zargon at Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/Ben-Watcher-Zargon-Worlds-Book-ebook/dp/B010WVS4GS/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443310018&sr=1-2&keywords=ben+the+dragonborn
Ben and the Watcher of Zargon at Createspace https://www.createspace.com/5598284
Where can readers connect with you online?  http://www.amazon.com/Dianne-Astle/e/B00GNTH8A2/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 https://www.facebook.com/Benthedragonbornwww.bendragonborn.comhttp://dianneastle.blogspot.ca/http://halibutqueenreviews.blogspot.ca/https://www.pinterest.com/astled/Twitter @bendragonborn
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Lushaka.  Questions about the world or the book?  Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!  

Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.

Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the _____ world of ______, in Realm Explorers Part LXXVIII!-Annie Douglass Lima