Heidi Angell's Blog, page 16
April 6, 2017
Fantasy "Behind The Scenes" Tour - Stop #5
"Fantasy: The Great Escape" by Andy Peloquin
What do you do at the end of a long day? Maybe you come home and sit in front of the TV, hit the gym, or spend time playing games with your family. All of these things help you to de-stress and combat the pressures of the day.For me, the best way to kick back after an intense day is to get lost in the pages of a book. There's nothing I like more than to forget about my problems for a few minutes as I follow the adventures of a warrior, sorcerer, king, thief, assassin, or some other fantasy character.Until very recently, fantasy (and science fiction) was the "genre for nerds". People who talked about Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Warhammer 40K were perceived as "dorks" or "geeks". Speculative fiction may be perceived as a "commercial" or "popular" genre, perhaps even lacking the "literary" quality of the deeper genres: women's fiction, creative non-fiction, etc.But so what? Fantasy is as great an escape as Sherlock Holmes, Atlas Shrugged, or Fahrenheit 451. Just because the books don't deal with the deep, world-changing topics, that doesn't mean they don't have value. Quite the contrary—I'd argue most fantasy books contain some pretty interesting truths that other genres can never quite touch on.Fantasy gives us a way to step back and examine hot button issues with a sort of "disconnect" that modern fiction doesn't allow. By creating fictional religions, political systems, economical situations, or social issues, we have the freedom to discuss them without our personal beliefs and preferences interfering or making us feel offended. I can showcase how bad my fictional religion is without making Christians, Muslims, or Buddhists feel attacked. I can write about the dangers of an oligarchy of evil without making Democrats or Republicans feel like they're under siege.And so what if fantasy isn't as deep as other genres? I love how Neil Gaiman put it:"Fiction can show you a different world. It can take you somewhere you've never been. Once you've visited other worlds, like those who ate fairy fruit, you can never be entirely content with the world that you grew up in. Discontent is a good thing: discontented people can modify and improve their worlds, leave them better, leave them different.If you were trapped in an impossible situation, in an unpleasant place, with people who meant you ill, and someone offered you a temporary escape, why wouldn't you take it? And escapist fiction is just that: fiction that opens a door, shows the sunlight outside, gives you a place to go where you are in control, are with people you want to be with(and books are real places, make no mistake about that); and more importantly, during your escape, books can also give you knowledge about the world and your predicament, give you weapons, give you armour: real things you can take back into your prison. Skills and knowledge and tools you can use to escape for real."To me, fantasy offers the ability to step out of all of today's problems and escape into yesterday. The issues around me fade for a short while. I'm free from the prison of my worries, stresses, and anxieties. I'll take that any day!Find out More About Andy PeloquinWebsite,Twitter,FacebookPrevious Stop|Next Stop|Tour Index |Genre Index
March 31, 2017
Poetry Corner-To The Mother of my Love
I haven't met him yet;
and so I don't know you.But I know you're out there.The mother of the one I'll love so true.I want to say, I thank youFor all that you have taught him.Thank you for all the things you doto make him better than my visions dim.You taught him to say "please" and "thank you."You taught him it was ok to cry.The kindest traits you did imbue.Such as, it's important to say "I love you", and "I'm sorry."You taught himto not to wear his emotions like a gloveto rely on honesty, truth, faithand that the best thing is love.I thank you for all that you taught himEvery day of his lifeAnd all the things you'll teach himso that one day I'll be his wife.Until next time,Keep Reading!
and so I don't know you.But I know you're out there.The mother of the one I'll love so true.I want to say, I thank youFor all that you have taught him.Thank you for all the things you doto make him better than my visions dim.You taught him to say "please" and "thank you."You taught him it was ok to cry.The kindest traits you did imbue.Such as, it's important to say "I love you", and "I'm sorry."You taught himto not to wear his emotions like a gloveto rely on honesty, truth, faithand that the best thing is love.I thank you for all that you taught himEvery day of his lifeAnd all the things you'll teach himso that one day I'll be his wife.Until next time,Keep Reading!
March 30, 2017
It Began With a Map Guest Post by James Dorr
Hello Lovelies,We have another awesome guest post from author James Dorr, as he shares with us the inspiration for Tombs: A Chronicle of Latter-Day Times of Earth, which releases in May. I have to be honest, it has been a true pleasure reading James' insightful posts, and I am definitely excited to read Tombs! Without further ado, let's turn the time over to James!The original planning for Tombs: A Chronicle of Latter-Day Times of Earth began with a map--different areas were defined in terms of the people who lived there. More or less “normal” people lived in the New City and the Tombs; ghouls, the eaters of the dead, were in the Old City; boat gypsies lived on the river--they were mostly normal, but prone to disease from the river’s poisons, thus leading short but more intense lives; more or less normal people again lived in the Port City, far down the river, but had a higher proportion of mutants.I asked myself how people made a living (in the Tombs, for instance, in trades related to undertaking: digging graves, guards to protect from corpse robbers, but also tombstone artists and carvers, curators for record keeping), and then what the social structure would tend to (in the New City an exaggerated version of parts of current America with rich getting richer and more privileged and poor getting poorer--and with hierarchies among hierarchies, as in varying levels of respect even among the city’s beggars). I asked about male-female relations (in New City, especially among the wealthy, rather “male chauvinist piggy”; on the river more rigid but also with the sexes more equal; in the Tombs the society in general tending to more individuality but also more collectivist when it comes to meeting mutual threats). The physical world is a dying Earth with mixed levels of technology (the New City, for instance has electricity, but boats on the river are powered by sail) and with a sun that’s gradually swelling, becoming hotter to the point that it’s dangerous to go out in daytime, so part of the game is watching people within their various societies adapt themselves to a nocturnal existence. But the thing is, you start with these strictures, then have to work through them to their logical conclusions (how, for instance, if the sunlight during the day is deadly, do homeless in the New City survive; or what of those with so little money they can’t even afford to bury their dead).
So, filling the map, it starts with the river, suddenly turning east in a great bend, circling about, then continuing to south. On the east bank--as if with a bite taken from it by a huge mouth--stands the New City, with bridges connecting it to the Tombs; while the Old City consists of ruins spilling onto both sides and partially surrounding the Tombs to west, all of which once had been part of a vast ancient metropolis until it had contracted inward, leaving its outcasts to fend for themselves. Even before sundown carts are assembling, forming the corpse-trains that make the journey, two, three times a night, bringing the New City's dead to rest, to the ever-expanding necropolis, monuments dotting the hill that rises beyond its walls, surmounted by a huge step-pyramid said to have once been an Emperor's grave-site. Walls glow a pale green with luminous fungi, as torches dot paths between mausolea, while outside the gate the first corpse-train master reaches up to the bell-pull provided, pulling it once for each corpse in his cargo. Haggling with gate-guards over the corpse gifts he brings with his charges, until the gates open. Across the river, silhouetted against the brighter lights of New City, new carts are loaded.And thus the process is repeated, again, again, as the night goes on, until the first glow of the sun is seen to the east. Business is hurried, the now-empty trains racing back to the city, to shelter and safety as, higher to the east, the red, bloated sun now appears in its fullness, its actinic rays flooding those streets not protected by awnings. All who are still out by now will have donned all-encompassing chadors, day-masks and sunhats, as they scurry homeward too, as their counterparts in the Tombs descend into catacombs beneath the surface, seeking their own beds amidst the coffins of those that they care for.And thanks to James, I learned two awesome new words! The lexicomaniac within is greatly satisfied! If you find James Dorr as exciting and enthralling as I do, then be sure to followhis blog(I have absolutely been loving it!) and follow him onFacebook.Want to know as soon as Tombs is available? Follow hisAmazon Author page.Until next time,Keep Reading!
So, filling the map, it starts with the river, suddenly turning east in a great bend, circling about, then continuing to south. On the east bank--as if with a bite taken from it by a huge mouth--stands the New City, with bridges connecting it to the Tombs; while the Old City consists of ruins spilling onto both sides and partially surrounding the Tombs to west, all of which once had been part of a vast ancient metropolis until it had contracted inward, leaving its outcasts to fend for themselves. Even before sundown carts are assembling, forming the corpse-trains that make the journey, two, three times a night, bringing the New City's dead to rest, to the ever-expanding necropolis, monuments dotting the hill that rises beyond its walls, surmounted by a huge step-pyramid said to have once been an Emperor's grave-site. Walls glow a pale green with luminous fungi, as torches dot paths between mausolea, while outside the gate the first corpse-train master reaches up to the bell-pull provided, pulling it once for each corpse in his cargo. Haggling with gate-guards over the corpse gifts he brings with his charges, until the gates open. Across the river, silhouetted against the brighter lights of New City, new carts are loaded.And thus the process is repeated, again, again, as the night goes on, until the first glow of the sun is seen to the east. Business is hurried, the now-empty trains racing back to the city, to shelter and safety as, higher to the east, the red, bloated sun now appears in its fullness, its actinic rays flooding those streets not protected by awnings. All who are still out by now will have donned all-encompassing chadors, day-masks and sunhats, as they scurry homeward too, as their counterparts in the Tombs descend into catacombs beneath the surface, seeking their own beds amidst the coffins of those that they care for.And thanks to James, I learned two awesome new words! The lexicomaniac within is greatly satisfied! If you find James Dorr as exciting and enthralling as I do, then be sure to followhis blog(I have absolutely been loving it!) and follow him onFacebook.Want to know as soon as Tombs is available? Follow hisAmazon Author page.Until next time,Keep Reading!
March 29, 2017
Book Review-Crank it Out by C.S. Lakin
Genre:Nonfiction, Writer Help BookSynopsis:Want to become a successful author? If so, you’re going to have to crank out books. And not mediocre books but high-quality ones.Why? Because that’s what readers expect and want. Regardless of whether you write fiction or nonfiction, if you want to get established as an author, you need to be productive. Highly productive. You can’t just write one terrific book and call it good, expecting that singular work to carry you atop the wave of success for years to come.Studies show readers want 3-4 books a year from their favorite authors. And to build traction and a growing audience, authors need to deliver. But how many writers have the time to write that many books? In today’s busy world, amid distractions and demands, it’s hard to carve out time to write even one book a year. But plenty of super-busy people find time to crank out numerous high-quality books. And in this in-depth look on the topic, you’ll learn the strategies that help them—and will help you—be super productive. If you want to grow your readership, you need to write the best books you can—and that means strategizing to optimize every factor that impacts your writing.Here are some of the things you’ll learn in Crank it Out!:How to dig deep into the Productivity ABCs—attitude, biology, and choices—and analyze yourself to prepare to make the needed adjustments to be super productiveHow to spot destructive attitudes and rewire them to allow you to break through to successHow to determine your biological prime time and identify your peak hours to write in order to get the most out of your writing timeHow to hack around your excuses, bad habits, and distractions that are blocking your wayHow to alter your sleeping, eating, and other behaviors to ensure peak performanceHow to thwart self-sabotage and perfectionism, which prevent you from becoming the super-productive writer you long to bePlenty of people who work full-time, have heavy family responsibilities, or deal daily with chronic health issues or physical challenges find ways to crank out books. They do so because writing is important to them. How badly do you want it? Now’s the time to stop making excuses and start becoming proactive. Instead of complaining you have no time to write, take the challenge this book presents. There’s a surefire way to becoming a super-productive writer, and it’s as simple as ABC.My Take:First, I have to confess. I couldn't finish reading this book. I tried, I really did. For almost a MONTH! I read 70% religiously, despite the struggle, then scanned to 89% and honestly, I don't know if I will finish scanning the rest. Here's just a few reasons why:ABC stands for Attitude, Behavior, and Choices. I get the desire to go with the ABCs, but for me, ABC mean "Airway, Breathing Compression" first and foremost, thanks CPR! And "Always Be Closing" thanks to years in sales. If the ABCs had been more specific to writing, it might have made a deeper impact. (I totally had to look up before writing the review. That's how little of an impact it made.)Early on she talks about the importance of focusing on finding quality time to create quality work, but this book really struggled with organization and structure. Honestly, it felt like she just vomited words about all the tips she's learned over the years, and then tried to structure it after the fact. Combine that with the multiple glaring grammar and spelling errors, and that at 89% of the way through the book I didn't feel like I had learned anything new, I was just so done.Perhaps the issue is that this is more designed for a new author, or someone who hasn't spent a ton of time on self-improvement and studying motivational speakers. That being said, if you are one of those people, you will get clearer and more actionable materials from Michael Hyatt, Jeff Goins (who specifically focuses on writing), and by studying the 90 day year by Todd Herman. Spend a couple of hours watching Tony Robbins on Youtube, and you will get better actionable materials.If you are an author and would like a more detailed review, head over to my author site,Angell's for Authors, to read more of the review.Until next time,Keep Reading!
March 28, 2017
Teaser Tuesday: A Penslinger's Ponderings Vol 1 Special for my Lovelies
Hello Lovelies!So excited! I have everything set up for A Penslinger's Ponderings volume 1!And guess what? I dedicated the book to ya'll, my amazing blog followers! Without you, this blog wouldn't happen. Without your encouragement, and support, and comments I would have given up on this blog a long time ago. After all, I don't want to just be another voice cluttering up the internet.So I compiled all the advice and feedback I got from everyone on the covers, and here is what the final cover looks like:
It is now available for pre-order onAmazon for $2.99,but will go up to $4.99 on release day, April 25th.Those who would like to read before it comes out,send mea copy of your receipt for pre-order and I will send you an Advanced Reader Copy.For those who are good enough to leave an honest review on release day (I will send you a reminder!) I will do a drawing and select winners will receive a free copy of another book of mine, their choice. I am thinking one winner for every ten reviews. Seems fair.Until next time,Keep Reading!
It is now available for pre-order onAmazon for $2.99,but will go up to $4.99 on release day, April 25th.Those who would like to read before it comes out,send mea copy of your receipt for pre-order and I will send you an Advanced Reader Copy.For those who are good enough to leave an honest review on release day (I will send you a reminder!) I will do a drawing and select winners will receive a free copy of another book of mine, their choice. I am thinking one winner for every ten reviews. Seems fair.Until next time,Keep Reading!
March 27, 2017
Meet the Author Monday with Joey Paul
Hello Lovelies,
I am delighted to introduce you to Joey Paul, an indie author, exploring the young adult crime genre. She has released nine books in total so far, with the tenth and eleventh due out in the summer of 2017. Her current works include the "Dying Thoughts" series, which is eight books. She usually writes crime and mystery fiction, with a paranormal twist, but she has been known to dabble in contemporary romance and general fiction. She is writing her seventeenth and eighteenth books at the moment, having recently finished her last two.Joey is disabled and a recent graduate from The Open University with a BA (Hons) in Health & Social Care. When not reading medical textbooks, she enjoys reading crime novels, medical dramas and young adult novels. When she's out and about, she likes looking for Tupperware in the woods with GPS satellites, otherwise known as geocaching. And when she's not doing THAT, she's sleeping! She's 35 and has been writing since she was retired from her job on medical grounds at the age of 19. She plans to write for as long as she has ideas or until someone tells her to stop!So excited to have her here today! Welcome to An Angell's Life, Joey. How are you?I'm doing okay actually. It's 1 am and I couldn't sleep and since I'm behind on my TV shows I figured I'm make the most of the time and get some serious watching done as well as catching up on interview stuff! I may also get onto some writing since I'm behind in that too! The life of an author, sleep is optional so long as you have tea!Lol, in my house sleep is optional, so long as you have coffee and chocolate! I can relate. What is the current book you are promoting?I'm actually preparing for two releases right now so I have one that is the fifth in my series – Dying
Thoughts – and the other that's a standalone. I normally only release one book a year, but I've been busy at the keyboard and as such have had a backlog created so decided to go for two books this year and it's busy busy busy!Dying Thoughts – Fifth Secret is the continuation of Tara's story. Tara has a gift where she can see the last moments of someone's life when she touches something that used to belong to them. In the fifth book, she's been getting some creepy notes very similar to the kind her mother received before she was murdered when Tara was six. Her mother had the same gift and it's gonna be a wild ride!It's Not Always Rainbows is a standalone dealing with LGBTQ teens who are working to solve a string of murders in the community. They face many struggles along the way, but are determined to get to the bottom of it when it seems like the police aren't asking the right questions.Wow, both of those sound awesome! What is your next project?I'm actually working on two books right now. One is the second in a trilogy that kinda sprung out at me from nowhere. I was writing what I thought would be a standalone and it turned into something bigger, and so I'm writing the sequel to that as well as the first book in a brand new series. I recently finished my last series after fifteen years of writing it and was at a bit of a loss, but then the idea for this one popped into my head and bam, I was writing!I completely sympathize! I am going through that right now with The Survivalist Bible! Who is your favorite fictional character and why?I have so many favorites, simple because I read SO much! If I had to narrow it down completely to just one (which is hard!) then it'd be Kinsey Millhone. I love her because she's been stuck in the 80's for the past twenty odd years as Sue Grafton only writes one book a year, and she still kicks arse at solving crimes and tying up mysteries!
Kinsey is pretty awesome, and so were the 80s! Where do you come up with your stories?I have an overactive imagination. I've been told that for a long time, as a kid it never was said as a compliment, but now that I'm an adult it works really well for coming up with stories! Some of them have been knocking around for years while others have been thought up on the fly and then turned into something bigger and greater than I could have ever imagined.What is one great lesson you have learned as a writer?That writing takes time, energy and a lot more work than some people realize. That even though you've written the book, it's not finished and won't be finished for a long while yet. It took me a while to realize that writing “The End” does not mean you're done!So true! Well, thanks for coming out Joey. Are you as intrigued about all the paranormal, thrillery, mystery-murdery goodness Joey is laying down? Follow her onFacebook,Twitter,Youtube, andTumblrto see more. Want to know what awesome books Joey is reading? Follow her onGoodreads. Want to learn more about her books, and be notified as books come out? Follow herwebsiteandAmazon page.Joey will be back to join us in just a couple of weeks, as she is getting ready to release the fifth book in the Dying Thoughts series, and her main character will be gracing us with a character interview! How much fun will that be?Stay tuned!Until next time,Keep Reading!
I am delighted to introduce you to Joey Paul, an indie author, exploring the young adult crime genre. She has released nine books in total so far, with the tenth and eleventh due out in the summer of 2017. Her current works include the "Dying Thoughts" series, which is eight books. She usually writes crime and mystery fiction, with a paranormal twist, but she has been known to dabble in contemporary romance and general fiction. She is writing her seventeenth and eighteenth books at the moment, having recently finished her last two.Joey is disabled and a recent graduate from The Open University with a BA (Hons) in Health & Social Care. When not reading medical textbooks, she enjoys reading crime novels, medical dramas and young adult novels. When she's out and about, she likes looking for Tupperware in the woods with GPS satellites, otherwise known as geocaching. And when she's not doing THAT, she's sleeping! She's 35 and has been writing since she was retired from her job on medical grounds at the age of 19. She plans to write for as long as she has ideas or until someone tells her to stop!So excited to have her here today! Welcome to An Angell's Life, Joey. How are you?I'm doing okay actually. It's 1 am and I couldn't sleep and since I'm behind on my TV shows I figured I'm make the most of the time and get some serious watching done as well as catching up on interview stuff! I may also get onto some writing since I'm behind in that too! The life of an author, sleep is optional so long as you have tea!Lol, in my house sleep is optional, so long as you have coffee and chocolate! I can relate. What is the current book you are promoting?I'm actually preparing for two releases right now so I have one that is the fifth in my series – DyingThoughts – and the other that's a standalone. I normally only release one book a year, but I've been busy at the keyboard and as such have had a backlog created so decided to go for two books this year and it's busy busy busy!Dying Thoughts – Fifth Secret is the continuation of Tara's story. Tara has a gift where she can see the last moments of someone's life when she touches something that used to belong to them. In the fifth book, she's been getting some creepy notes very similar to the kind her mother received before she was murdered when Tara was six. Her mother had the same gift and it's gonna be a wild ride!It's Not Always Rainbows is a standalone dealing with LGBTQ teens who are working to solve a string of murders in the community. They face many struggles along the way, but are determined to get to the bottom of it when it seems like the police aren't asking the right questions.Wow, both of those sound awesome! What is your next project?I'm actually working on two books right now. One is the second in a trilogy that kinda sprung out at me from nowhere. I was writing what I thought would be a standalone and it turned into something bigger, and so I'm writing the sequel to that as well as the first book in a brand new series. I recently finished my last series after fifteen years of writing it and was at a bit of a loss, but then the idea for this one popped into my head and bam, I was writing!I completely sympathize! I am going through that right now with The Survivalist Bible! Who is your favorite fictional character and why?I have so many favorites, simple because I read SO much! If I had to narrow it down completely to just one (which is hard!) then it'd be Kinsey Millhone. I love her because she's been stuck in the 80's for the past twenty odd years as Sue Grafton only writes one book a year, and she still kicks arse at solving crimes and tying up mysteries!Kinsey is pretty awesome, and so were the 80s! Where do you come up with your stories?I have an overactive imagination. I've been told that for a long time, as a kid it never was said as a compliment, but now that I'm an adult it works really well for coming up with stories! Some of them have been knocking around for years while others have been thought up on the fly and then turned into something bigger and greater than I could have ever imagined.What is one great lesson you have learned as a writer?That writing takes time, energy and a lot more work than some people realize. That even though you've written the book, it's not finished and won't be finished for a long while yet. It took me a while to realize that writing “The End” does not mean you're done!So true! Well, thanks for coming out Joey. Are you as intrigued about all the paranormal, thrillery, mystery-murdery goodness Joey is laying down? Follow her onFacebook,Twitter,Youtube, andTumblrto see more. Want to know what awesome books Joey is reading? Follow her onGoodreads. Want to learn more about her books, and be notified as books come out? Follow herwebsiteandAmazon page.Joey will be back to join us in just a couple of weeks, as she is getting ready to release the fifth book in the Dying Thoughts series, and her main character will be gracing us with a character interview! How much fun will that be?Stay tuned!Until next time,Keep Reading!
March 21, 2017
Teaser Tuesday: Nephilim Falling On Sale
Hello Lovelies,Are you looking for an exciting paranormal investigation? I found this awesome deal on a new series I am interested in trying out. Author Felicia Beasley's Nephilim Falling is 99 cents for everyone who buys it onAmazon.
They say demons and angels don’t mix. I say people should mind their own damn business.My brother, Damian, has been my rock ever since mom left. Didn’t matter to him that I was a lowly half-demon while angel blood flowed through his veins. I was his and he was mine.But nothing lasts forever.He wants me to go to college. I’d rather fight a hundred sentinels than lead a boring, safe life hiding who I am. So when a nephilim goes missing, I go behind Damian’s back to find the teen. Maybe if I can solve the case, he will upgrade me to his partner in crime solving.As bodies begin to drop, I realize I’m in way over my head. But there’s no way I’m going to admit that, not when my future hangs in the balance. Instead, I set my eyes on recruiting the help of the new kid. Lucas is arrogant, sexy, and persistently trying to get my number.He’s also a nephilim. Off-limits, no matter how good he looks flinging fireballs.I am excited to add this to my TBR. It looks very exciting! Buy it nowon Amazon And for those of you who are interested, Felicia is offering a free book for anyone who signs up for her newsletter. You can get that by subscribing on her websiteFeliciaBeasley.comUntil Next time,Keep Reading!Then again, I was never good at resisting temptation.She is also offering a freebie for signing up to her newsletter. www.feliciabeasley.com
They say demons and angels don’t mix. I say people should mind their own damn business.My brother, Damian, has been my rock ever since mom left. Didn’t matter to him that I was a lowly half-demon while angel blood flowed through his veins. I was his and he was mine.But nothing lasts forever.He wants me to go to college. I’d rather fight a hundred sentinels than lead a boring, safe life hiding who I am. So when a nephilim goes missing, I go behind Damian’s back to find the teen. Maybe if I can solve the case, he will upgrade me to his partner in crime solving.As bodies begin to drop, I realize I’m in way over my head. But there’s no way I’m going to admit that, not when my future hangs in the balance. Instead, I set my eyes on recruiting the help of the new kid. Lucas is arrogant, sexy, and persistently trying to get my number.He’s also a nephilim. Off-limits, no matter how good he looks flinging fireballs.I am excited to add this to my TBR. It looks very exciting! Buy it nowon Amazon And for those of you who are interested, Felicia is offering a free book for anyone who signs up for her newsletter. You can get that by subscribing on her websiteFeliciaBeasley.comUntil Next time,Keep Reading!Then again, I was never good at resisting temptation.She is also offering a freebie for signing up to her newsletter. www.feliciabeasley.com
March 20, 2017
Meet the Character: Drast Kaligula of Anaerfell By Robertson and Boyd
Hello Lovelies,We have an exciting character spotlight today with Drast Kaligula, who is one of the main characters in Robertson’s and Boyd’s novel, Anaerfell: The Blood of Dragons, which is the prelude to The Kaelandur Series [I reviewed the first book, Melkorka recently].Drast Kaligula is the son of Serder Dagmar Kaligula, a tyrannical, power-hungry man who wishes to live forever. Drast and his older brother, Tyran, are hard-pressed by their father to kill the God of the Dead to grant their father immortality. Their quest becomes increasingly dangerous as they are forced to wield life-draining magic to defend against skin-switchers and three-headed dragons! Please enjoy this exclusive interview with Drast. (Here is an image from Legends of the Cryptids that is, according to the authors, an uncanny likeness to their imagining of Drast.)
What is your idea of perfect happiness?Perfect? Happiness? Concepts like these were created by pathetic dreamers who are incapable of accepting their lot in life. Perfection and happiness are delusions. You may find pleasure, gratification, or satisfaction in this life, but never happiness.What is your greatest fear?Ha! If you are going to twist my arm, then the answer is to not be remembered. But I hardly should have to worry about that. I assure you, songs will be sung about me long after I am dead.What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?The same trait my father deplores in me: my love for my brother. Nine Lands, I know he has tried to beat it out of me, but I cannot shake my allegiance to Tyran. We are bound by blood.What is the trait you most deplore in others?Weakness. I thought I already alluded to this answer.What do you consider the most overrated virtue?Virtues were created by fearful men to restrain power. Virtues will leave you either bored with life or hamstrung. I can barely read through the virtues without vomiting in my mouth.Which living person do you most despise?Any of the skin-switchers. Best we skin them and wear them to stay warm than allow them to keep breathing.What is the quality you most like in a woman?Besides their tits? I don’t know…um, let’s go with their tits.What or who is the greatest love of your life?I knew this servant girl once named Kura. She cleaned up my vomit when I missed the chamber pot, and she never cried when I got bored and dragged her into my room. I cannot say I loved her, but I did not hate her.Which talent would you most like to have?Finding a way to get you to stop asking questions would be terrific.What is your most treasured possession?What? Why would you bond yourself to a thing? Attachments make you vulnerable to being manipulated or worse.What do you most value in your friends?My brother is my only friend. He is loyal, dependable, and will not hesitate to take a man’s head from his shoulders.What is it that you most dislike?I have never been a fan of cold weather. I am also not fond of the smell of burnt dog.What is your greatest regret?I suppose I could have had another tussle with Kura before setting off for Anaerfell. No matter. I’ll eventually find another girl.How would you like to die?Ha! If Tyran and I are successful in killing Wolos [The God of the Dead], I will not have to worry about dying, now, will I?Drast is quite the character, isn't he? He is one of the two main characters from Anaerfell by Joshua Robertson and J.C. Boyd. I am very excited to read this dark epic fantasy as soon as I finish the Kaelandur series (Read my review ofMelkorka here.)If you want to learn more about Joshua Robertson, and his exciting books, you can follow him onFacebook(he is highly entertaining with all his delightfully geekish posts!) Follow him onTwitter, or join hisnewsletterfull of fantasy goodness (and get a free book)!Until next time,Keep Reading!
What is your idea of perfect happiness?Perfect? Happiness? Concepts like these were created by pathetic dreamers who are incapable of accepting their lot in life. Perfection and happiness are delusions. You may find pleasure, gratification, or satisfaction in this life, but never happiness.What is your greatest fear?Ha! If you are going to twist my arm, then the answer is to not be remembered. But I hardly should have to worry about that. I assure you, songs will be sung about me long after I am dead.What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?The same trait my father deplores in me: my love for my brother. Nine Lands, I know he has tried to beat it out of me, but I cannot shake my allegiance to Tyran. We are bound by blood.What is the trait you most deplore in others?Weakness. I thought I already alluded to this answer.What do you consider the most overrated virtue?Virtues were created by fearful men to restrain power. Virtues will leave you either bored with life or hamstrung. I can barely read through the virtues without vomiting in my mouth.Which living person do you most despise?Any of the skin-switchers. Best we skin them and wear them to stay warm than allow them to keep breathing.What is the quality you most like in a woman?Besides their tits? I don’t know…um, let’s go with their tits.What or who is the greatest love of your life?I knew this servant girl once named Kura. She cleaned up my vomit when I missed the chamber pot, and she never cried when I got bored and dragged her into my room. I cannot say I loved her, but I did not hate her.Which talent would you most like to have?Finding a way to get you to stop asking questions would be terrific.What is your most treasured possession?What? Why would you bond yourself to a thing? Attachments make you vulnerable to being manipulated or worse.What do you most value in your friends?My brother is my only friend. He is loyal, dependable, and will not hesitate to take a man’s head from his shoulders.What is it that you most dislike?I have never been a fan of cold weather. I am also not fond of the smell of burnt dog.What is your greatest regret?I suppose I could have had another tussle with Kura before setting off for Anaerfell. No matter. I’ll eventually find another girl.How would you like to die?Ha! If Tyran and I are successful in killing Wolos [The God of the Dead], I will not have to worry about dying, now, will I?Drast is quite the character, isn't he? He is one of the two main characters from Anaerfell by Joshua Robertson and J.C. Boyd. I am very excited to read this dark epic fantasy as soon as I finish the Kaelandur series (Read my review ofMelkorka here.)If you want to learn more about Joshua Robertson, and his exciting books, you can follow him onFacebook(he is highly entertaining with all his delightfully geekish posts!) Follow him onTwitter, or join hisnewsletterfull of fantasy goodness (and get a free book)!Until next time,Keep Reading!
March 17, 2017
Poetry Corner- When Visions Start to Fade
When visions start to fade, the world begins to die.Our senses start to jade. Our morals go awry.When visions fade away, traditions disappear.We'll not live another day that won't be filled with fear.Don't let the visions fade. Hold them in your heart.The seeds have been laid. From your visions never part.Until next time,Keep Reading!
March 16, 2017
Thoughtful Thursday: Poetry Books
Hello Lovelies,I am working on the first poetry collection. After popular discussion last week on the Facebook page, a couple of groups, and of course Goodreads, the title for the poetry collections will be A Penslinger's Ponderings.I am working on a cover, and have come up with a few examples.
As you can see, I am working with two main images here. I really love the first one as it has a female "penslinger" pointing her pen at the audience. Although there is a mix of poetry in the book, there is a decidedly dark tone, so I thought this was great. My husband had a different opinion! So we are bringing it to the readers. Which image do you like better?I also provided several different font options. Which one do you like? And feel free to mix and match. For example, you can tell me: I liked image 1, the title font from 3, and the title color from 5, with the author name font and color from 2. (Or whatever it is that you like.)My goal is to have the pre-orders available next week, and the book will launch in April for National Poetry Month #npm17! (Did you know that was a thing? I didn't until just the other day!)So, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!Until next time,Keep Reading!
As you can see, I am working with two main images here. I really love the first one as it has a female "penslinger" pointing her pen at the audience. Although there is a mix of poetry in the book, there is a decidedly dark tone, so I thought this was great. My husband had a different opinion! So we are bringing it to the readers. Which image do you like better?I also provided several different font options. Which one do you like? And feel free to mix and match. For example, you can tell me: I liked image 1, the title font from 3, and the title color from 5, with the author name font and color from 2. (Or whatever it is that you like.)My goal is to have the pre-orders available next week, and the book will launch in April for National Poetry Month #npm17! (Did you know that was a thing? I didn't until just the other day!)So, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!Until next time,Keep Reading!
