Jay Swanson's Blog, page 9

Steps of Krakador – First Review

If you were wondering whether or not to dive into the trilogy, here’s Ray Nicholson’s review of Steps of Krakador in full. (Ray is currently ranked in the top 1,000 reviewers on Amazon) – I haven’t added or removed anything, but if it’s in bold it’s my emphasis.

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“The Steps of Krakador” is the final book in ‘The Vitalis Chronicles’ by author Jay Swanson. This Kindle e-book was a 1498 Kb download and sold for $5.99 at the time of writing this review.

Please Note: the author provided me with a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review when it was published.

Spoilers

This book follows several individuals and their adventures on the two continents of Grandia and Veria. On Grandia we track Ardin as he continues to discover his abilities and how to use the them effectively. Also present on this side of the world is King Rendin who must lead his armies out of the relative safety of the Dragon Tooth mountains in an attempt to try and defeat the Daemons and hopefully expose the evil Relequim. On Veria we witness the stories of Mayor Merodach, Major Anders Keaton and Quinn Phelts as they deal with both internal and external threats to their beloved Elandir.

End Spoilers

Some thoughts on “The Steps of Krakador”…

1.) epic fantasy at its very best

2.) well written with a polished sense of pace and timing. With lots of action, intrigue and clandestine, backstabbing plotting… even a little romantic longing thrown in.

3.) some great, extended battles. Graphic, gory and glorious… loved them.

4.) loved the character development of many individuals, notably Cid, Rain and Keaton. The author allows us to witness their inner most thoughts, often while enduring contenious external events or conversations.

5.) several very important characters that can be seriously injured of killed… adding a sense of shock and realism to this fantasy adventure.

6.) a definitive and satisfying ending.

7.) maps… several maps making it possible to follow (most of) the action. The only thing missing on the maps was the locale of King Rendin’s (and his army) final trek. This has been partially corrected on the final e-version publication.

8.) cover art… stunningly different. Not sure who it represented, but I loved it!

9.). and finally, being the old sentimental softie that I am, I loved the epilogue. Touching!

A couple minor complaints…

1.) while I’m very grateful for any maps, a little more detail on the map(s) leading to the final battle would be have been appreciated by this reader.

2.) with battles involving the heroes with supernatural abilities (i.e. Ardin) I tend to find encounters that use terms like ‘meta-physical currents’ and ‘spiritual powers’ etc. in the battle descriptions very confusing and truthfully, beyond my comprehension. I realize that certain individuals have some special abilities, but to me, good old-fashioned thrust, jab and parry (with an occasional fireball thrown in… lol) would suffice most of the time. Obviously a personal and subjective opinion.

Conclusion:

A trilogy that heralds the arrival of author Jay Swanson to the ranks of the upper echelon of fantasy/adventure writers.

An overall intriguing story/series that got better with each ensuing book.

I look forward to reading more of this author.

As it is… 5 Stars

Ray Nicholson

raynicholsonsreviews@hotmail.com

@ralannicholson

It’s Time for a New Map

Fantasy maps are something I really enjoy drawing – I’m not gonna lie. There’s something really fun about building a world and just letting it grow in front of you. Some of it comes from a vision, a desire to make something you know exists in your head already, and a lot of it just grows as you let the pencil wander.

I really debated adding this map, or any like it, because the Desert Mountains (in Steps of Krakador) are very mysterious to the characters themselves. I thought about drawing the various misinformed maps that they have in the story, but that seemed like a ridiculous amount of maps to add just to give you the sense that no one knows where anything actually is. So instead I thought I’d make a map of better-known territory, the estate of a new character: Bramblethorn. Of course I throw in some useful information pertaining to the story, as this is to serve predominantly as a point of reference (we never visit Bramblethorn’s humble home, sadly).

I was pushed to add it by a particular fan who loves maps, and who was sad that a new one hadn’t been included. Of course I hope that this scratches his itch – I want to provide something of real value to you guys, because that’s important to me above so many things.

I did decide to do it in a different fashion – everything is done by hand, there’s no computer-generated text of any kind. I kept in line with the blue of the water in previous maps, but aside from that the rest is hand-drawn. I did this because I felt like I was making more of a localized, almost fantastical map for the world itself. The Desert Mountains aren’t well explored, as you’ll read in the book, and I wanted to keep them off to the side and somewhat poorly revealed (covered by a giant floating banner in this case).

 

If you enjoy maps, I hope this suits you well. And did you catch all of those links in the text above? Whatever could they be linking to…

Fashion World has Disappeared? Guwhaaa?

So I received a comment on the Fashion World post this morning that alerted me to the fact that Fashion World had gone offline on Facebook, and no one seems to know where it’s gone. I’ve talked to Raja, their mysterious leader, and she says that everything is alright – they had to take it down for something to do with Facebook. To be honest the conversation was cut short by something else going on and it was in French, so I feel like I missed something.

However, never fear, the show will go on. I’ll work things out with the Fashion World folks.

In the meantime, if you haven’t sent your entry in yet and would like to do so (you still have three days) you can email them to us at photo.contest@jayswanson.me and I’ll get them to the Fashion World team.

I’m not really certain what’s going on myself, so check back here for updates. Thanks everyone! And remember, my first two books are free on Amazon Kindle right now and for the next five days! Jump on them if you haven’t already!

You can find White Shores here: http://amzn.to/12tyaiy and Tomb of the Relequim here: http://amzn.to/12nSD6h – enjoy!

UPDATE: I caught up with Raja and she said that due to some complaints last night they were forced to take the page down for a few days. It should be up again soon and everything should be back on track. Thanks!

Free Fantasy Books!

That’s right, free fantasy books! For the next five days, my first two books will be free on Amazon leading up to the release of the third and final installment in the trilogy! You can find White Shores (Book I) here, and Tomb of the Relequim (Book II) here. Each book is up for free for the next five days, that is through May 19th. After that they’ll go back to costing, so get on it while the getting is good!

Also feel free to share the following graphic from my Facebook Page, or you can just copy it from here and post it to wherever you please. I’ve made up a little description text for you below if you need the help.

Click on the image for higher resolution, then copy and paste this in where you need a description: “The first two books in the Vitalis Chronicles trilogy are free on Amazon for Kindle RIGHT NOW! Go grab ‘em while the grabbing’s good! You can find White Shores here: http://amzn.to/12tyaiy and Tomb of the Relequim here: http://amzn.to/12nSD6h and more informatoin at http://jayswanson.me”

Thanks everyone so much for spreading the word! Just five more days until Steps of Krakador is released upon the world!

All Kinds of Book Release Craziness

There’s a lot to stay on top of, so let’s just jump straight into the video, shall we?

You can click here to check out the cover design process that I mention in the post, and don’t forget that my first two books are FREE for five days starting TOMORROW! How exciting is that?! Tell your… tell everyone!

Help Make an Indie a Bestseller

I’m self-published, that much is certainly true, but independent I am not. If I want my books to reach readers, and if I want my story to be shared with more people, then I need the help of my fans, friends, and family (the holy alliterated trifecta, as it were) to get it done. I need your help, but let me explain a little first.

I started writing the Vitalis Chronicles trilogy back in May of 2010, about the same time I made this crazy decision to sell everything I owned and move to West Africa. I didn’t know what life was going to throw at me next, but I did know that I needed to start writing before it was too late.

On Christmas day of 2010 I finished writing what is now White Shores. I’ve told this story before, but the most terrifying thing in the world for me at this point was sharing something that had existed nowhere but in my head until that very day. The moment I put the finishing touches on my first draft it existed outside of myself, and it was in danger of no longer being mine.

I did share it, because if you don’t share your work it may as well never have been made, and I waited.

The waiting is the killer part. The waiting is where you pace around in your tiny cement cell of a room in Zulu territory in South Africa, grabbing your scalp as if to pull yourself into a somersault in mid-air, reliving every error you’re sure you made and seeing every person you sent your book to cringing (or rolling their eyes) each time they find them.

This is the time when you bury your kindle under a pile of clothes, because every time you open what you sent people around the world you find something else that’s embarrassing. A corny line of dialogue, a misspelled word, or God forbid: a cliche. I will never forget the night that my book was returned to me. I will never forget Peter Koontz.

Peter is my friend, a big firefighter who looks kind of like Shrek, and who will tell you anything and everything straight whether or not you want to hear it. It’s one of those qualities that puts a lot of people who are used to lies off pretty quickly. Peter doesn’t lie. Don’t get me wrong, Peter is a fantastic guy. He’s friendly, funny, and is a mad man at cribbage. But if you’re wearing a shirt Peter doesn’t like, and you ask him what he thinks of your shirt, Peter will tell you how much he hates it and why. He might even do so uninvited.

I love this about Peter, because it means that I know exactly where I stand and what he’s thinking. But when he read my book, and especially because he’s an avid fan of all things fantasy, I was terrified. I remember the rush when he told me he had finished my book, and the fear when he asked if we could talk about it. We set a time and a place, and after an evening meeting we sat down in the old run-down gym of Appelsbosch College to go over what I can best describe as a piece of my soul.

The place was full of life. Kids were playing, parents chatting, singles mingling and playing games (and eating lots of ice cream). But Peter and I just sat in the corner, and the first words out of his mouth were, “First thing is that I’m proud of you. Proud just that you sat down and finished writing a book at all. But even more proud because, secondly, you’ve written a good book. And in some places, you’ve written a very good book.”

Hours later, when the gym had cleared out and the night sounds of Africa began to take over, Peter and I were still there talking. You can bet that he had a list as long as his arm about what was wrong in my story. I wouldn’t so easily get off the hook with Peter, but he liked my book. More than that, it had become his in the process. He knew the characters, the places, and the events that had only ever existed in my head before.

He had shared something that was once only mine, and now that it was his I felt something very deep and very powerful. I practically danced my way back to my little cell in the men’s dorm. And that is why I am here today, asking you to join me in spreading the word and sharing my stories. I know that they resonate with a lot of people already, and that those people have enjoyed them in varying degrees. I have a hard time believing this sometimes (most of the time) but I take it on faith that people aren’t lying to me when they say they enjoyed my books.

As my third book comes out I want to share the trilogy with everyone that I can. These stories aren’t mine any more, they’re yours. They’re ours. I want to grow our little club and share them with even more people because, for me, that’s what it’s all about: sharing! And last time we did this there were such cool results!

That’s why tomorrow, and for five days, I’m giving my first two books away for free on Kindle to the world. Let’s spread the word and tell everyone! I can’t be the only one who wants to share these stories! If you want to get even deeper into it than that, check out the plan that I posted yesterday. It’s all about ways you can help us spread the word and invite more people to share in our stories!

As I said before, I’m not independent. I need help from other people. I need you.

Won’t you join us in spreading the word, and getting this story into the hands of everyone you can? Last time we did this (with White Shores) we made it to the 3,000 spot. Let’s see if we can do even better this time!

The first two books will be free for Kindle starting tomorrow, and the third book comes out on May 20th!! Let’s tell everyone!

Book Release: I Have a Plan (Cylon-free)

The main goal is to spread the word, to tell people in real life in creative ways and to share like crazy on the internet.

Hey everyone! So here’s the deal, I’m releasing my third book on May 20th, which is not very far away at all. I need your help to generate buzz and spread the word!

I am not on my own, I can’t just make the success of my stories happen, I need other people. I need you.

Thankfully, as my stories have somehow found their way into more and more hands, there are more and more fans and friends out there who are willing to help. I’m hoping you’ll be among them, because with your added enthusiasm they’ll go even further!

So here’s my little scheme. I hope you’re game to help spread the word!

The Key Element: “Sharing” via Facebook

In order to maximize our collective power and push this together, I’m going to ask that you help out directly by sharing things I post onto your own newsfeed and the newsfeeds/pages of others. When I post an image with the announcement that the books are free on Amazon, for example, I think it will be more effective if everyone “shares” that post from my facebook page to their own newsfeeds rather than creating their own unique posts.

I’ll specifically ask in each post that people share it, and hopefully it will grow exponentially. Otherwise feel free to share whatever you like from the resources below!

Phase 1:

Giveaway (Emphasize free books and release date) May 15-19th

White Shores and Tomb of the Relequim go up for free on Amazon on May 15th! That’s just two days away! First thing on the 15th, I’m going to post a picture on my facebook page with links and relevant info in the descriptoin. Please share that photo to your own timelines!

During this phase, I’d also love it if you would raise awareness of the release date by using one of the profile pictures or cover photos I’ve prepared below for just such an occasion.

I’ll also be publishing a “Make an Indie a Bestseller” post here tomorrow that will appeal to the world to help spread the news, much like I did for the release of White Shores.

Phase 2:

Release (Emphasize book III is available) May 20th

When the book goes up on Amazon I’ll post another photo with information in the description. Share that on your own Timelines (and those of everyone you feel like pestering) and spread the word like crazy! We’ll also be releasing a book trailer, and hopefully the winners of the Fashion World makeup contest! There will be a lot to share, so please do so far and wide on every social network and into every level of the stratosphere!

 

RESOURCES

Profile Pictures: (click through for full size)

You can also post these on your Instagram account. I already made them square and everything!

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Include the following in the description: “The Vitalis Chronicles: Steps of Krakador is almost here!! You can get the first two books for free on Amazon right now if you search for ‘The Vitalis Chronicles,’ and then Steps of Krakador is coming out May 20th! Visit http://jayswanson.me for more info!”

Cover Photos: (Click through for full resolution)

 Include the following in the description: “The Vitalis Chronicles: Steps of Krakador is almost here!! You can get the first two books for free on Amazon right now if you search for ‘The Vitalis Chronicles,’ and Steps of Krakador is coming out May 20th! Visit http://jayswanson.me for more info!”

Banners for blogs etc.:

Bestseller blog post: (Going live tomorrow)

Phone backgrounds: (Click through for full resolution)

Wallpapers:

Video: 

Cover Design Process

Book Trailer (coming soon)

Thanks everyone! I’m really excited to see how things turn out! Let’s get the word out there!

Steps of Krakador: Introduction

The Vitalis Chronicles: Steps of Krakador is set to be released on May 20th!

I’ve wanted to share things with you as the date draws near, and there seems to be so much to share! One of those things has been parts of the book itself, which I’ve shared a little bit of via Instagram in particular. But that wasn’t good enough for some people, and I’m glad.

Here’s a little preview for you, as cajoled out of me by my buddy Ethan. The introduction to Steps of Krakador:

 

The Vitalis Chronicles

STEPS of KRAKADOR

by Jay Swanson

Ardin Vitalis launched to his feet, the world coming rapidly into focus around him. And then there was nothing. He stood in the midst of swirling mists and hues of gray. The ground beneath his feet felt level, but he couldn’t see past his knees. His heart raced, blood pumping so loudly in his ears he strained to hear if anything around him made any noise at all.

The silence was complete. He turned, searching for the mountains, looking desperately for the bridge on which he stood and the abyss over which it ran. The abyss. He stopped turning for fear of any misstep. Perhaps he had been blinded. The last thing he wanted was to careen over the edge to his death. To follow the Shadow King.

The Shadow King. The thought struck his mind like a drum, and suddenly the world began to take form. The mists cleared from around his feet, swirling and whisking away from him with increasing intensity. He could see the cracks in the stone, the edge of the curb. Hope sprung anew behind the adrenaline, and, as if in response, the mists vanished into the distance. It was as if a wind had flown out from him, pressing the fog farther and farther until he could see the Cathedral, the Tomb, the floating mountain, and finally the entire mountain range known as the Dragon’s Teeth surrounding him.

How did I get here? He was at the center of the bridge. Only moments before, he had been at the very foot of the Cathedral, the tall structure built into the side of the floating mountain that encased the Tomb of the Relequim. And where is all the color?

That was a strange realization. There was no blue in the sky. No pink on his hands. Even the bloody patches in his leather armor looked black in this light. Was it the light? Or was it something else?

He turned in place again, suddenly uncertain of his whereabouts. Fear crept into the edges of his consciousness as his fingers tightened into fists. He reached for his sword, sliding the blade out by its hilt. When did I sheathe this?

And then he heard the voice. “I was beginning to wonder if you would ever come through.”

The hairs on the back of Ardin’s neck rose, prickling against the tingles that coursed down his spine. He found himself unwilling to turn but forced to do so nonetheless. “No.” Disbelief cut any other words short as he caught sight of the billowing black cloak and streaming silver hair.

The Shadow King smiled. He adjusted his grip on the exaggeratedly long blade in his left hand. He held the hilt loosely against his leg so that the tip rested just above the ground.

The sword… how did he get it back?

“This is my world, boy.” He raised the blade slowly and pinched it with his free hand. The Shade ran his gloved fingers along the blindingly sharp edge as if to inspect it. “Here, the tricks of the Magi cannot save you.”

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I can always be persuaded to add more before the 20th. There’s a lot going on in the next week, but I’m sure there will be a slow day that needs another entry! As always, let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you along the way.

Steps of Krakador Cover Progression

If you were wondering what the various stages of creating a cover for a book looked like, you can wonder no longer! Granted that when someone like Nimit Malavia goes to work on an illustration for you, the process is probably going to look a lot different than if you hire one of these goobers. But thankfully I do have Nimit on my side, and he’s done a fantastic job.

I’ve gone ahead and compiled a video for you as well as turned it into an animated gif – because c’mon, who doesn’t want a gif to toss around? It’s nice to have something that just loops, because the process is fascinating to see.

The book comes out May 20th! I don’t think there will be any problems with the Kindle version being released on time, let’s just hope that the same holds true for the paperback!

Without any further ado: video!

And of course, the gif! Feel free to add it to your Tumblr or print it out frame by frame and then throw it at a friend! It’s really up to you.

If you came from the land of the giraffes, hi!! Sorry for the lack of bananas for scale.

 

Shopping for Clothes in Paris – Not so Easy

French Friday 14 is dedicated to the pursuit of clothing in Paris. Sort of. It’s more my complaint about how if you’re any larger than the average French guy (which is not hard to do, apparently) then you’re gonna have a rough go of finding clothes that fit you.

I have a relatively easy time finding clothes back in the States, at least in every department besides hats. I never get the best selection in shoes, being a size 13, but I don’t have any problems finding pants or shirts or full suits of armor. Hats are really the only thing I can’t seem to find anywhere.

But in France, clerks and salespeople either laugh at me or gape at me in horror when I tell them what my sizes are. I’m just on the outside of the curve at most places, and way beyond it in others. This is the story of my shame. Well, to be more accurate, this is the story of my annoyance with a lack of selection in a country where everything is tiny.

I might need to buy a suit in the not-too-distant-future as well. I’m kind of terrified of this process, and I haven’t even started it yet.

If you liked the video please do like it on YouTube, comment here or there, and subscribe to my channel! And here’s a photo of the sun breaking through the gloom for you on this otherwise fantastic Friday.