C.M. Gray's Blog
October 24, 2014
Five Star Amazon Review for The Flight of the Griffin!
Thanks Dianne from 'Tome Tender Book Blog!'
5.0 out of 5 stars Fall Into a World in Peril, Be a Hero!, October 23, 2014
By Dii (Florida)
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
This review is from: The Flight of the Griffin (Kindle Edition)
Five young heroes, three crystal skulls, magic, demons and an ominous character called “The Hawk” are all that’s needed to ramp up a younger reader’s imagination as they leave this world for the realm of the unknown. What am I saying, younger readers, any reader that loves a well-told tale will fall into the story and become a larger-than-life hero on a quest against evil, I myself was pretty awesome in the background! C. M. Gray’s The Flight of the Griffin is the ultimate quest in the battle against good and evil as four young boys fall into a fantastical journey to save the world from Chaos and are joined by one feisty girl who can shift shapes.
As their journey begins, each becomes uniquely special, have powers and a role to play as a team and it’s all done with the magic as they become the ones to use the Last Great Spell to save the world from Chaos. Will they survive those who would stop them? Will they have what it takes to stand as one in a battle where the world truly needs a hero? Time is running out, there is danger at every turn as they forge into the unknown, the weight of humanity on their shoulders.
Not only has C. M. Gray fueled our imaginations with his words, he has kept his tale easy to follow, allowing younger reader to use one of their most valuable assets, their minds. Young readers do not need the gritty details spelled out, they want the excitement, the thrill and to be part of the good fight without having reality putting limits on them. One of the greatest gifts we can give another is the gift of reading and The Flight of the Griffin has everything a reluctant reader just couldn’t’ resist!
5.0 out of 5 stars Fall Into a World in Peril, Be a Hero!, October 23, 2014
By Dii (Florida)
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
This review is from: The Flight of the Griffin (Kindle Edition)
Five young heroes, three crystal skulls, magic, demons and an ominous character called “The Hawk” are all that’s needed to ramp up a younger reader’s imagination as they leave this world for the realm of the unknown. What am I saying, younger readers, any reader that loves a well-told tale will fall into the story and become a larger-than-life hero on a quest against evil, I myself was pretty awesome in the background! C. M. Gray’s The Flight of the Griffin is the ultimate quest in the battle against good and evil as four young boys fall into a fantastical journey to save the world from Chaos and are joined by one feisty girl who can shift shapes.
As their journey begins, each becomes uniquely special, have powers and a role to play as a team and it’s all done with the magic as they become the ones to use the Last Great Spell to save the world from Chaos. Will they survive those who would stop them? Will they have what it takes to stand as one in a battle where the world truly needs a hero? Time is running out, there is danger at every turn as they forge into the unknown, the weight of humanity on their shoulders.
Not only has C. M. Gray fueled our imaginations with his words, he has kept his tale easy to follow, allowing younger reader to use one of their most valuable assets, their minds. Young readers do not need the gritty details spelled out, they want the excitement, the thrill and to be part of the good fight without having reality putting limits on them. One of the greatest gifts we can give another is the gift of reading and The Flight of the Griffin has everything a reluctant reader just couldn’t’ resist!
October 13, 2014
Amazing new cover for Shadowland!
The wonderful graphic designer Adriana Hanganu of www.adipixdesign.com has made me this incredible cover for Shadowland.
I made the last one, which was nice but very boring and green and, let's face it, nobody was going to pick it up to see what the story was about! This one is amaaaaaazing!
Thanks Adi, you're the best!
I made the last one, which was nice but very boring and green and, let's face it, nobody was going to pick it up to see what the story was about! This one is amaaaaaazing!
Thanks Adi, you're the best!
September 11, 2014
A new 5 Star Amazon Review for Chaos Storm!
CHAOS STORM - 5 STAR; HARRY POTTER AND HIS LAME SIDEKICKS FROM HOGWARTS, STEP ASIDE, A NEW CREWS IN TOWN... THE GRIFFIN CREW! - 11 September 2014
By Christopher HepworthFormat: PaperbackExcellent read, hats off the man behind this gripping story and adventure, I love the characters and the realm that they exist in, even more now, than I did from the first book. (The Flight of the Griffin)The crew has evolved into real heroes, each a playing crucial role in defeating the evil that try's constantly to disturb the energy order of the Source, but my favourite character is certainly Mr Bartholomew Bask.
Harry Potter and his lame sidekicks from Hogwarts, step aside, a new crews in town... The Griffin Crew
Please don't leave us hanging to long.
Purchase at Amazon UK or Amazon US
By Christopher HepworthFormat: PaperbackExcellent read, hats off the man behind this gripping story and adventure, I love the characters and the realm that they exist in, even more now, than I did from the first book. (The Flight of the Griffin)The crew has evolved into real heroes, each a playing crucial role in defeating the evil that try's constantly to disturb the energy order of the Source, but my favourite character is certainly Mr Bartholomew Bask.
Harry Potter and his lame sidekicks from Hogwarts, step aside, a new crews in town... The Griffin Crew
Please don't leave us hanging to long.
Purchase at Amazon UK or Amazon US
August 20, 2014
Audio version of Shadowland!
Full Audio Book Coming Winter 2014I am so excited to be working with the wonderful Ioan Hefin on an audible book version of Shadowland!
It is amazing to hear my tale told by such a wonderful voice, several chapters have been completed and we hope all will be ready for full download by the end of the year.
To hear Ioan read the prologue, click on the link below...
'Click Here' for the Shadowland Prologue on You Tube.
It is amazing to hear my tale told by such a wonderful voice, several chapters have been completed and we hope all will be ready for full download by the end of the year.
To hear Ioan read the prologue, click on the link below...
'Click Here' for the Shadowland Prologue on You Tube.
July 31, 2014
New Cover for The Flight of the Griffin!
Adriana Hanganu of
Adipixdesign
has made me a wonderful new cover for The Flight of the Griffin!Thanks so much Adi you are amazing!
If you haven't already, then grab a copy on Kindle in The UK or US or a paperback copy in the UK or US!
July 9, 2014
Summer 2014 writing update.
Audible version of Shadowland - Coming Soon!Not only has Shadowland just received its 185th review on Amazon, which is a huge achievement, but later this year you will be able to download the audible version of the book.
I'm so excited to be working with Ioan Hefin, the wonderful Welsh actor who is giving his incredible voice to Usher Vance, as soon as I have something I will post it here! I cannot tell you how thrilling it is to hear Shadowland read by Ioan, I couldn't have asked for a better reader, his voice is perfect, and I'm sure you will agree..JPG)
Also, I am still writing the sequel to Shadowland. As with most of my writing it is taking its time but the story is really coming together. I am now nine chapters into it and certain things are really beginning to 'click.' Normally I write without any clear plan of the story that is opening up before me, but with this book, which I'm calling, 'The Shadow of a King' I do actually have two ancient legends that tell of Uther and it will be these two legends that form the root of my tale. I am putting the 'first draft' prologue below to wet your appetite. Do bear in mind it has not been properly edited and will no doubt go through a few changes before it makes it into the book, but here is the prologue to The Shadow of a King...
Go to post here - http://author-cmgray.blogspot.com.es/...
May 28, 2014
180th Amazon review for SHADOWLAND
Arthurian legend Shadowland has just received its 180th Amazon review!Thank you M.A.Foster! May 27th, 2014 Impresseive!By M.A.Foster ''M,A,Foster'' (the OC, CA USA)Surprising retelling of the King Arthur legend that provides a sort of prequel from Uther Pendragon's perspective. Rich historical backdrop of early Briton rarely seen in fantasy. Interesting and somewhat unique versions of Merlyn and the Lady of the Lake. Overall outstanding read.
Read it on Amazon US or Amazon UK
May 10, 2014
The Flight of the Griffin reduced!
From 10th - 12th May you can download a kindle copy of TFOTG for just .99cents in the US or .99pence in the UK!If you haven't got it already, how can you resist!
54 reviews on Amazon US with an average of 4.3 stars...
Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1sx4aN8Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/19RclxI
March 12, 2014
A Question: Remain exclusive to Amazon or sell all over the net?
Here’s a question for authors out there that I’m sure many of us are pondering.
The question is... Should I remain exclusive to Amazon KDP select, the biggest marketplace in the world for digital books… or should I leave select and also be selling through Smashwords and other sites?
I have three books published on Amazon at the moment with a total of 218 reviews, which is great. I make money not only when I sell books through them, 70% commission, but also when people loan out one of my books as a KDP prime member. However, Amazon insist their KDP member remain exclusive to them and I’m starting to think I’m missing out.
For a start, I don't sell many books. Romance seems to sell well, but other genres struggle for some reason.
I love Amazon, but I don’t like the fact that each book can only be offered at a discount, or free, for five days every quarter, the rest of the time it has to have a normal price. This restricts my promotional abilities.
I also think that Amazon is biased towards authors from the big publishing houses. The after sales from promotions has dropped significantly in the last year or so.Any other authors have thoughts on this subject? Are you exclusive to Amazon or free to roam the net, what’s best?
I hope we can share some viewpoints for the benefit of all.
The question is... Should I remain exclusive to Amazon KDP select, the biggest marketplace in the world for digital books… or should I leave select and also be selling through Smashwords and other sites?
I have three books published on Amazon at the moment with a total of 218 reviews, which is great. I make money not only when I sell books through them, 70% commission, but also when people loan out one of my books as a KDP prime member. However, Amazon insist their KDP member remain exclusive to them and I’m starting to think I’m missing out.
For a start, I don't sell many books. Romance seems to sell well, but other genres struggle for some reason.
I love Amazon, but I don’t like the fact that each book can only be offered at a discount, or free, for five days every quarter, the rest of the time it has to have a normal price. This restricts my promotional abilities.
I also think that Amazon is biased towards authors from the big publishing houses. The after sales from promotions has dropped significantly in the last year or so.Any other authors have thoughts on this subject? Are you exclusive to Amazon or free to roam the net, what’s best?
I hope we can share some viewpoints for the benefit of all.
February 6, 2014
The Freyan Times - An interview with Bartholomew Bask
Merchant Bartholomew BaskThe Freyan Times
An interview with Bartholomew Bask.
Background.In events recently described in the official report entitled, The Flight of the Griffin , Merchant Bartholomew Bask was robbed of a cache of possessions. Rightly outraged, Mr Bask is thought to have hired a professional bounty hunter to trace his goods and bring the villains to justice. Unfortunately, the Times has learned that all did not quite go as expected and Mr Bask was the victim of a series of unfortunate events leading to him falling into the company of demons…
Times: ‘Mr Bask, thank you for joining us today. Make yourself comfortable is… is the chair errr… quite big enough is... Oh… Oh, well don’t worry I’m sure that we can fix that… No, really… please, put it down, Mr Bask please…’Bartholomew Bask, a portly man of middle years, jumps to his feet as the chair sags beneath him, brandishing the chair’s decorative arm.Bask: ‘Confound it man, yer damn chair’s not fit fer a midget. Yer might find me something a little more sturdy… and a cake, bring me a cake and…’Short respite as a heavy chair and refreshments are brought for our guest…Times: ‘Now then, Mr Bask, let us continue. I do hope you are quite comfortable now? I have a few prepared questions, so perhaps we can… What? Oh yes, yes of course, please help yourself to more cake… and oh… you brought cinnamon buns… in your pockets, how… convenient how…’With a mouthful of sponge cake and an eye to his carefully arranged pile of buns, Bartholomew settles. Small crumbs fly from his mouth as he speaks.Bask: ‘Get on with it man, ask yer blithering questions I have a business ter run… I want my fee and I want more cake!’Times: ‘Mr Bask, please, you’re getting bits of cake all over… Oh never mind, Mr Bask, I understand that you were robbed and…’Bartholomew jumps to his feet.Bask: ‘Robed I was, ragamuffin scum! Entered me sleeping quarters and sorted through me unmentionables they did, opened me safe and when they run, I followed, so I did. Tracked the orrible little… had a boat they did, and not some normal boat, oh no, this one, this Source confounded one… Griffin!’Times: ‘Mr Bask, please, you’re getting cake all over the floor… sit and calm yourself. So you had articles taken and then I understand that you employed the notorious hunter and tracker Matheus Hawk, whom I am told is wanted on several counts of murder and…’Bask: ‘Damn and blast, get yer facts straight man! The Hawk is no confidant of mine, an evil creature, so ‘e is. Tricked me, me a poor honest merchant, robbed and tricked by criminals so I was and…’Times: ‘Demons? Did you not also fall into the company of demons?’Bartholomew leans forward and his plate tips sending cakes and buns onto the floor.Bask: ‘Lies! The Source damned demons captured me, deceived me, stole my ship and and… ahhh, Yes, I will have more cake, it tends to sooth me… demons can’t be trusted, that I can tell you, never trust a demon.’Times: ‘But what took place Mr Bask? Who were these thieves? How did they manage to rob you and evade not only you and your men, but the hunter Matheus Hawk and a group of demons!’Bask: ‘Those thieves ain’t natural. Look like children they do, but they aint…them and their strange boat ain’t normal. Tracked them half way across the kingdom and back again we did. Almost got them, several times. Got dragged through storms at sea and terrible deserts.’ Bartholomew stands, drops his plate to the floor and stares out of the window.‘Looking for things they were. I’m still not sure why, but they was searching, and whatever it is they found it should be mine!’Yer cake is finished and there’s no more to tell. If you wants more then read the official report. Got most of it right they have, It’s called The Flight of the Griffin , got a very nice cover so it has.
Bartholomew waddles out, our brief interview is over.
