A.R. Kahler's Blog, page 5

Super Sexy Cover Reveal!

Hey loves,

I have been waiting for AGES to share this with you. And that’s par for course, seeing as we sold this book nearly two years ago–this is a world I’ve been so eager to give you! The incubation period between the initial sale and now has allowed the story to flourish in amazing new ways, and I couldn’t be happier with the entire process. This one’s gonna be big.

A HUGE thank you to my amazing editor, Patricia Riley, the entire Spencer Hill Press team, and IceyDesigns, for the BEAUTIFUL cover. Seriously…I saw this and teared up.

 

This series has it all.

Monsters.

Tainted magic.

Ruined cities.

Gay protagonists.

Kickass straight sidekicks.

And, to quote Patricia, a villain with “panty dropping powers.”

Don’t forget, a portion of the proceeds will go to charity, so please vote in and share the poll below!

Also, there’s more info about the series as a whole at the official website : www.fearthehunted.com

 

And now….

are you ready?

wait for it….

 

To which charity should A.R. Kahler donate a portion of his proceeds from MARTYR?



UNICEF
The Trevor Project
Water.org
To Write Love on Her Arms

Poll Maker

MARTYR cover reveal and German Translations!

Hey everyone!

Some exciting things today, and more coming up oh-so-soon.

First! On March 18th, we’re revealing the cover for MARTYR, the first book in my new YA series, THE HUNTED. There are so many cool things going along with this, but the one I can tell you about now is….a portion of all proceeds are going to charity! And you get to help pick which one gets the love.

If you’re interested in being a part of the reveal, CLICK HERE!

If you’re interested in acquiring an ARC (and oh, how gorgeous they will be!) CLICK HERE!

I’ve added the blurb at the bottom of this post, just so you know what you’re getting involved in.

 

Annnnnnd as you may have seen on Publisher’s Marketplace, THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS will soon be coming to you IN GERMAN! Here’s the official release.

German rights to Alex Kahler’s THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS, pitched as a macabre marriage between Joss Whedon’s “DOLLHOUSE” TV series and Holly Black’s “TITHE”, yet unlike any show on earth, to Amazon Germany, in a nice deal, for publication in 2014, by Laurie McLean at Foreword Literary.

Excitement all around! And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

But now, the teaser for MARTYR…..

 

Three years have passed since magic destroyed the world.

Those who remain struggle to survive the monsters roaming the streets, fighting back with steel and magic—the very weapons that birthed the Howls in the first place.

Tenn is one such Hunter, a boy with the ability to harness the elements through ancient runes. For years, the Hunters have used this magic to keep the monsters at bay, but it’s never been enough to truly win the war. Humans are losing.

When Tenn falls prey to an incubus named Tomás and his terrifying Kin, Tenn learns there’s more to this than a fight for survival. He’s a pawn in a bigger game, one with devastating consequences. If he doesn’t play his part, it could cost him his life, his lover and his world.

Musical Monday: Bring the Fire

Hey friends,

It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these, but this came on the radio and it just…resonated. I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching the last few weeks, doing the usual twenty-something-what-am-I-doing-with-my-life questioning. The answers weren’t always the most positive, as I have some strong defeatist streaks. Then came this song, and it was exactly what I needed to hear. (And yeah, I have a soft spot for anthems and Ellie Goulding, so it was a match made in heaven)

 

I was, admittedly, down for a few days there. I did what you’re not supposed to do and read unhappy reviews from unhappy readers, and it was…harsh. Because reviews are like intentionally opening yourself up to hugs and stab wounds, for me: positive reviews are a hug. They feel great. They’re necessary to function as a human being. But they don’t last forever unless it’s one of those uncomfortable hugs that lingers  way too long. Negative reviews are stab wounds. A single one can undo a thousand positive words. They hit deeper, hurt harder, and take much longer to heal from.

Clearly, the answer is A) just avoid reviews because, as I learned in art school, everything is subjective and what I love, others hate, and B) give myself a little credit because, damn it, I’m 27. I have four books published and five more slotted for release. That’s…amazing, especially since a few years ago, I would have given almost anything to have even one book seen by the masses. Not only that, my books are impacting people in big ways, and that’s honestly why I write. Books help me deal with life, even if indirectly. I’m honored to be able to add to that collective library.

So that’s where the song comes in. I’m pretty certain it’s my new theme song. And it applies to everything: art, love, friendships, life. I know so many creative types who struggle to keep the spark of their passion alive. The world can be a cold and blustery place, and negativity hates those who try to overcome it with beauty. It’s much easier to despise what is than create something more, and there can be a lot of hatred out there who raise up the flame. This song is for the artists. For you. For the ones trying to keep their heads above water, the ones with the dreams that are yet unlived. It’s for everyone.

If you have the fire, don’t hide it. Don’t let negativity get you down. Burn fiercer, burn brighter.

While you’re on this earth, be more than a shadow.

Light that shit up.

Epilogue!

Hey all,

So, as you might have read in the Amazon forums a while ago, a few days before launching the final episode of FINAL ACT, I decided to cut the epilogue. I thought it was a nice artistic flourish–it allowed the reader to use their own imagination and carry the story whichever way they wanted. But it quickly became clear that that’s…not what the readers wanted. People wanted me to give closure and, since I do what I can to keep readers happy, that’s what I’m going to do.

With that in mind, all copies of FINAL ACT purchased after 2/22 have the epilogue included, and all previous copies will be updated very soon (hopefully by Thursday this week) to include the epilogue.

No one likes saying goodbye to the characters they’ve fallen in love with, the author least of all. Three years of living in this world made writing those last pages very hard. But I do hope you keep in mind, too, that the end of a series doesn’t necessarily denote the end of a world, or the characters within it. If threads were left hanging, it was intentional. If closure wasn’t given, that, too, was intentional.

There are many ways a series can continue and flourish after the final book, and I’m hoping to be able to reveal my own plans soon….

Endings and Beginnings

Hey loves,

Today is a strange day for me.

Today is the day THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS: FINAL ACT airs its final episode. Sure, there’s still some time until the paperback comes out (5/27/14) and all my international friends are awaiting the book to air in their neck of the woods (2/18, I hope!), but the series is…finished.

 

And so, I wanted to take a moment to thank you. It always sounds a little cliche for authors to talk about being humbled by their readers and the response their books draw, but it’s honestly the best word I have. I am humbled. I am grateful. A few years ago all I could think about was getting published–it was my biggest dream, the goal that kept me going through more shit than I care to recount. And now, here I am, thanking the thousands of readers around the globe who’ve read, loved, and shared THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS. You guys have bombarded me on Twitter and the Kindle Forums and email, sending questions and love and a few exclamations of HOW COULD YOU!? The experience has been surreal.

Admitting I’m a real-life author is still impossible.

I just kind of write things. And oddly enough, lightning struck and stars aligned and those things got published, and people read them, and more than a few fell in love with a world that spent most of its life in my head. But I guess that just goes along with the territory of being an author–we’re the weirdos who spend most of our lives in our heads, and it’s strange to admit that other people are living in there with us now, too, and making all those made-up worlds into their own.

 

Sad as I am to say goodbye (for now….) to the cast and crew of the Cirque des Immortels, I’m ecstatic to say that other shows will go on.

 

I have dozens of irons in dozens of fires, and I can only tell you about a few of them.

The main one is MARTYR, which debuts from Spencer Hill Press in October this year. It’s a dark, post-apocalyptic YA with monster hunters, magic, and kickass gay protagonists. Very soon we’ll be debuting the cover and the full description, but for now, I leave you with these profile cards. Yes, they’re real, and collectible, and if you see me at a convention, I’ll probably throw some at you. Amicably, of course.

 

 

Thank you, again, for your support. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.

Now, let’s go on another adventure, shall we?

 

Tenn

Jarrett

Dreya

Devon

Sweet Charity

Hey loves,

Exciting things are happening in my neck of the woods. Things that I cannot wait to share with you. I’m still reeling as I get back into ‘society’ mode after a few days on the Washington coast (pictures soon!) but I wanted to drop a note and start taking a poll.

 

For Super Secret Reasons, I’m looking for charities. And, although I’ve done my fair share of research and donating, I wanted to find what charities you cared about most. Local or international, big or small–who do you feel needs a bit of monetary lovin’?

 

Share your thoughts in the comments. Tweet using the hashtag #ImmortalCharity. Let’s get a fantastic list going!

You’ll find out why very, very soon.

Until then….

Author Photos!

Hey loves,

It’s rare for me to be excited about pictures of myself.

I mean, like, really rare.

Which is why I’m so excited to share the amazing set of images taken by the even more amazing Kindra Nikole.

Seriously, this girl is probably one of the most inspiring people I know. And that says a lot.

She’s even inspired me to get (back) into photography. So expect a few more visuals coming from here very soon.

I wanted my author photo to reflect me as a person and as an author. I could go into the metaphors of ‘words igniting imagination’ and ‘lost in the woods’ blah blah blah but for now, just enjoy the pretty.

And yes, it was real fire. 6 inches from my face.

I’m in love with all of them. Which is your fave?

The Final Act Blog Tour: Stop One

Hey loves,

I’m very excited to announce the launch of the week-long blog tour for THE FINAL ACT. The first stop is at my dear friend’s blog, Me, My Shelf, And I. Make sure to follow every stop for exclusive teasers and extras, and an exciting giveaway! (Everyone loves giveaways!)

Just click the image to start the trip….

Cover reveal!

Friends,

It’s with great pleasure I can finally reveal not only the stunning cover of the last book in the Immortal Circus trilogy, The Final Act, but also share the pre-order link so it will be on your Kindle the day it launches. Which, lest we forget, is January 14th. (SO SOON!)

I’m super excited for this cover, not only because it’s gorgeous, but because the model and photographer are both dear friends of mine. I’m so happy I get to support them and their art!

(Click the image to go to the pre-order page!)

What are your thoughts?

 

Very soon, we’ll have a book blast and blog tour with exclusive interviews, teasers, and contests. Keep your eyes peeled and spread the word!

 

Oh, and sign up for the mailing list.

The very necessary update post

Hey loves,

It’s been a while, and so much has happened in the last few months that that’s truly unacceptable. I can’t reveal everything just yet. Consider this the first post of many.

 

First : Mailing List!

Yes yes. Look to the right and you’ll see a wee sign–up form. I’ll be releasing monthly updates and exclusive art/teasers, so it’s totally worth your while. Oh, and contests. The first newsletter will contain a contest for the audiobooks of the first two IMMORTAL CIRCUS novels!

 

Second : my short story, A CHILD OF WIGHT!

I’m super excited to announce that my short story, once featured in MAGICAL MAYHEM, is now available as a digital single for $.99! It’s about creepy children and lost souls. Think Garth Nix meets Neil Gaiman and you’ll have an idea.

Click to go to the order page!

 

Third : THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS for $.99!

You heard right. If you order any of Amazon’s top 100 SF/F books for Kindle (click the image below for the list), you’ll be able to order THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS (and up to three other books) for only 99cents! How amazing is that? ‘Tis the season for new e-readers, so stock up now!

Click for the deal!

 

Fourth : THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS : FINAL ACT debuts 1/14/14

You guys. We’re currently finalizing the cover and getting the promo copy ready. I’m also making some killer promo images you all can make viral. There will be a ton of contests and teasers and other fun things. So stay tuned, join the mailing list, and enjoy the sneak preview of the teaser promo….