Stephen Zimmer's Blog: Stephen Zimmer's Blog, page 7
May 16, 2018
Cover Art Revealed for When the Cold Breathes, a New Ragnar Stormbringer eBook Novella!
Today I have the cover art for the latest eBook novella to announce, as well as the opening of a pre-order window for the Kindle version! Thrilled to share this new art from Olivia Pro Design. She has done an amazing job with the look of the eBook novellas, both for the Ragnar Stormbringer Tales and the Rayden Valkyrie tales. I’m definitely looking to keep on a good pace with these of about 1 per month! I really appreciate my readers and want all of you to have plenty of new adventures to look forward to! 
May 11, 2018
Cover Reveal Today for My New YA Novel, Dream of the Navigator!
Very excited to be able to share the cover art by Enggar Adirasa for my new YA novel Dream of the Navigator, which begins the Faraway Saga. I describe this one as “1984 and Brave New World meets Narnia.” Going to be an exciting journey! Be sure to pre-order the Kindle edition today! Get ready for July 4th!
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Seventh Star Press is proud to reveal the cover art by Enggar Adirasa for Dream of the Navigator, the new Young Adult novel by award-winning author Stephen Zimmer that begins the Faraway Saga! Dream of the Navigator will be released in both print and eBook editions on July 4th, 2018! The pre-order window for the Kindle version is now open too!
Pre-order the Kindle version today for just $3.99 and have it delivered to your device on July 4th! Use the link below!
Kindle Pre-Order Link
Dream of the Navigator is a Young Adult, Dystopian/Cross-Genre novel that is the beginning of the Faraway Saga! It is a story an series about the ultimate battle for freedom; the freedom of the individual. Stephen Zimmer has described Dream of the Navigator as “1984 and Brave New World meets Narnia.” The editor for the new book was Scott M. Sandridge.
About Dream of the Navigator:
“1984 and Brave New World meets Narnia”
Cities have been replaced by technates. It is a world of soaring apartments, hundreds of stories high, where technology measures, monitors and rations to meet the needs of the greater populace. It is a world of drones, in the air and on the ground, and advanced robotic beings who carry out much of the harder labor, security, and even pleasure assignments.
Those discontent, or who resist, are taken to Rehabilitation Centers, established after the embrace of the Greater Good Doctrine.
For most, virtual realms, substances, and entertainment provide escapes, but for Haven, Cayden, Jaelynn, and Salvador, growing up in Technate 6 is a restless existence.
A hunger for something more gnaws inside each of them. Discoveries await that open the gates to transcend time and space, and even new planes of existence. Nothing in their universe, or others, is impossible to explore.
What was once reality, now seems like an illusion in a deepening experience.
Begin the journey to Faraway, in Dream of the Navigator, the first book of the Faraway Saga!
About Stephen Zimmer: Stephen Zimmer is an award-winning author and filmmaker based out of Lexington Kentucky. His works include the Rayden Valkyrie novels (Sword and Sorcery), the Rising Dawn Saga (Cross Genre), the Fires in Eden Series (Epic Fantasy), the Hellscapes short story collections (Horror), the Chronicles of Ave short story collections (Fantasy), the Harvey and Solomon Tales (Steampunk), and the forthcoming Faraway Saga (YA Dystopian/Cross-Genre).
Stephen’s visual work includes the feature film Shadows Light, shorts films such as The Sirens and Swordbearer, and the forthcoming Rayden Valkyrie: Saga of a Lionheart TV Pilot.
Stephen is a proud Kentucky Colonel who also enjoys the realms of music, martial arts, good bourbons, and spending time with family.
Find Stephen online at:
Website: www.stephenzimmer.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephenzimmer7
Twitter: @sgzimmer
Instagram: @stephenzimmer7
May 4, 2018
Blood of a Queen, the New Rayden Valkyrie Novella, Now Available in eBook Formats!
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Blood of a Queen, the brand new Rayden Valkyrie novella by award-winning author Stephen Zimmer, is now available in all eBook formats from Seventh Star Press!
Pick up your copy of Blood of a Queen for just $1.99 at the links below:
Kindle Link
Nook Link
Kobo Link
iTunes Link
The sword and sorcery/dark fantasy novella is the latest release in a new group of eBook titles from Stephen Zimmer featuring either Ragnar Stormbringer or Rayden Valkyrie. The stand-alone tales give readers a chance to further explore the world featured in the Rayden Valkyrie novels Heart of a Lion and Thunder Horizon. Releases will include both short stories and novellas.
The Rayden Valkyrie character is also featured in the TV Pilot Rayden Valkyrie, Saga of a Lionheart, where she is performed by Sol Geirsdottir. The project is nearing the completion of post-production and can be followed at www.raydenvalkyrie.com.
Cover art for Blood of a Queen was designed by Olivia Pro Design.
Synopsis of Blood of a Queen: Traveling farther east, Rayden Valkyrie comes upon a city shrouded in fear and anger.
A devastating drought has been followed by a nightmarish rash of brutal murders and disappearances that only occur after the sun goes down. A few witnesses speak of terrifying, monstrous wraiths prowling the streets at night.
The ruler of Terith-Ka, Queen Annukeyen, claims that the demonic entities have been summoned through dark magic wielded by sorcerers in the rival city of Rastapur. A war looms and the people clamor for vengeance against the city they believe has caused their suffering.
Rayden suspects something much darker at work underneath the simmering atmosphere of Terith-Ka. When all others have gone inside with the fall of night, Rayden heads into the empty streets of the city to find answers and confront the evil plaguing a frightened populace.
Blood of a Queen is a stand-alone novella that is part of the Rayden Valkyrie Tales.
About Stephen Zimmer: Stephen Zimmer is an award-winning author and filmmaker based out of Lexington Kentucky. His works include the Rayden Valkyrie novels (Sword and Sorcery), the Rising Dawn Saga (Cross Genre), the Fires in Eden Series (Epic Fantasy), the Hellscapes short story collections (Horror), the Chronicles of Ave short story collections (Fantasy), the Harvey and Solomon Tales (Steampunk), and the forthcoming Faraway Saga (YA Dystopian/Cross-Genre).
Stephen’s visual work includes the feature film Shadows Light, shorts films such as The Sirens and Swordbearer, and the forthcoming Rayden Valkyrie: Saga of a Lionheart TV Pilot.
Stephen is a proud Kentucky Colonel who also enjoys the realms of music, martial arts, good bourbons, and spending time with family.
Find Stephen online at:
Website: www.stephenzimmer.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephenzimmer7
Twitter: @sgzimmer
Instagram: @stephenzimmer7
April 19, 2018
When Natural Rights Are Being Suppressed, Stand Strong
The two visions are irreconcilable and incompatible in the long run. In the short term it is accelerating a lot of conflict between individuals and communities.
A very dangerous trend is taking place within this climate. Both the government and large corporations are engaging in the suppression of natural rights, and at the top of the list is the freedom of expression (speech).
Major social media providers are increasingly deciding what their users will and will not see, what they deem to be acceptable, or quality, posts, and censoring users who run afoul of various transgressions as established by the providers.
By using words like "hate speech" or "offensive speech", or "harassment", they have aimed to put anyone disagreeing with their censoring in a bad light. After all, how can anyone be supportive of "hate", or "offensive speech", or "harassment"?
The fatal flaw in their position is that the definition of "hate speech", "offensive speech" and "harassment" has broadened to the point where simple disagreement, legitimate criticism, and having a different view or opinion has fallen into these categories under their perspective.
Free expression and free discourse includes speech that may be deemed hateful and offensive. This is very different from making a specific threat to someone, or an active call for violence.
One only has to see what is transpiring all across Europe to see what I mean. Expression of one's own opinion about certain Islamic beliefs expressed in their religious texts, or discussing the dangers and costs that come to communities as a result of mass migration, can get a person fined or arrested in many countries.
The criticisms voiced by such individuals might well cause discomfort or even offend some, but they are part of legitimate discourse, dissent, and expression. The zeal with which the governments of many countries in Europe suppress the opinions and criticisms of many of their citizens raises serious questions about the agendas they are pursuing.
Agendas versus free expression are at the epicenter of the issue.
In America, anyone who is intellectually honest can see this in the current gun control debate as it pertains to the media's usage of Parkland students in their coverage, editorial content, and events. Students such as David Hogg, who align solidly with an anti-gun agenda, are given extensive coverage, invitation to forums, and wide exposure, while students such as Kyle Kashuv, who is a defender of the right to bear arms, finds options for media coverage and events much more limited.
It is clear that the mainstream media is not engaged in journalism, but rather the promotion of an agenda. This is demonstrated in what is covered, who is interviewed and what side of the issue they are on.
While Hogg is advocating for changes that will undeniably result in the suppression of the Second Amendment, media figures react in an adversarial fashion if one questions anything about him, from his FBI connections through his father, to where exactly he was during the Parkland shooting. (some stories say he was at home during the shooting and then rode a bike to the campus, while others have him in another building separate from where the shooting took place).
Questions seeking to clarify facts are not bullying in any way, contrary to what media figures would have you think. They are legitimate inquiries into a young figure who has irrefutably been spotlighted by the media as one of the leaders of a movement.
In a school with over 3,000 students, asking why David Hogg has such a prominent position versus his peers is a question that any honest journalist should be asking. Unfortunately, real journalism is in short supply these days beyond alternative and independent media outlets.
Thankfully, America's fundamental principles provides protections for freedom of expression in the face of agenda-driven suppression.
The Bill of Rights has the concept of Natural Rights at its foundation. Natural Rights are an innate part of being a living human person, upon birth, and are not granted by government or any other human-created entity.
What is given by a government can be taken away. Natural Rights, which are not given by government, can not be taken by government either, only suppressed.
Further, America is a constitutional republic, not a democracy. A constitutional republic is a bulwark against the kind of mob rule that those with agendas would desire to enact. This is why they are so eager to eradicate things like the Electoral College and other things that protect the minority from tyranny of the majority.
Ultimately, people simply need to understand the power that they have within them as individuals. All that is needed is the determination and will to take a stand when it comes to the defense of Natural Rights. A refusal to give ground. A refusal to allow suppression of Natural Rights to occur.
This path requires backbone and the thick skin required to endure a hailstorm of name-calling and character assassination attempts, but it is the same path that threw off the yoke of a tyrannical monarch and set in motion a country that achieved tremendous success and uniqueness in all of human history.
It is time to embrace that spirit once more.
April 17, 2018
Appearing in Vevay, Indiana on May 4th at the Community Art Center of Switzerland County!
I’ll be making a special appearance on Friday, May 4th in Vevay, Indiana for a special ComicCon-themed First Friday Event at the Community Art Center of Switzerland County!
The event will run from 5-9pm! Several great artists are also participating and I’ll be doing a book signing! The First Friday events in Vevay are a blast. Great venue, great hosts, and a really enjoyable time for everyone. I am looking forward to it!
Check everything out on the digital flyer below!
April 16, 2018
Cover Reveal and Kindle Pre-Order Window Open for My New Rayden Valkyrie eBook Novella, Blood of a Queen!
Very excited to present this new press release revealing my new Rayden Valkyrie novella Blood of a Queen! I love the cover, which was created by Olivia Pro Design. It is a very intense story and I know that fans of Rayden are going to love it! If you have a Kindle, pre-order today so you can get it delivered to your device right away on the day of release!
Press Release from Seventh Star Press
Seventh Star Press is proud to reveal the cover art by Olivia Pro Design for Blood of a Queen, a new Rayden Valkyrie novella from award-winning author Stephen Zimmer. A Kindle pre-order window is now open and the eBook release date has been set for May 4th!
Pre-order Blood of a Queen for your Kindle Device by using the link below:
Blood of a Queen Kindle Pre-order Link
The sword and sorcery/dark fantasy novella is the latest release in a new group of eBook titles from Stephen Zimmer featuring either Ragnar Stormbringer or Rayden Valkyrie. The stand-alone tales give readers a chance to further explore the world featured in the Rayden Valkyrie novels Heart of a Lion and Thunder Horizon. Releases will include both short stories and novellas.
The Rayden Valkyrie character is also featured in the TV Pilot Rayden Valkyrie, Saga of a Lionheart, where she is performed by Sol Geirsdottir. The project is nearing the completion of post-production and can be followed at www.raydenvalkyrie.com.
Synopsis of Blood of a Queen: Traveling farther east, Rayden Valkyrie comes upon a city shrouded in fear and anger.
A devastating drought has been followed by a nightmarish rash of brutal murders and disappearances that only occur after the sun goes down. A few witnesses speak of terrifying, monstrous wraiths prowling the streets at night.
The ruler of Terith-Ka, Queen Annukeyen, claims that the demonic entities have been summoned through dark magic wielded by sorcerers in the rival city of Rastapur. A war looms and the people clamor for vengeance against the city they believe has caused their suffering.
Rayden suspects something much darker at work underneath the simmering atmosphere of Terith-Ka. When all others have gone inside with the fall of night, Rayden heads into the empty streets of the city to find answers and confront the evil plaguing a frightened populace.
Blood of a Queen is a stand-alone novella that is part of the Rayden Valkyrie Tales.
About Stephen Zimmer: Stephen Zimmer is an award-winning author and filmmaker based out of Lexington Kentucky. His works include the Rayden Valkyrie novels (Sword and Sorcery), the Rising Dawn Saga (Cross Genre), the Fires in Eden Series (Epic Fantasy), the Hellscapes short story collections (Horror), the Chronicles of Ave short story collections (Fantasy), the Harvey and Solomon Tales (Steampunk), and the forthcoming Faraway Saga (YA Dystopian/Cross-Genre).
Stephen’s visual work includes the feature film Shadows Light, shorts films such as The Sirens and Swordbearer, and the forthcoming Rayden Valkyrie: Saga of a Lionheart TV Pilot.
Stephen is a proud Kentucky Colonel who also enjoys the realms of music, martial arts, good bourbons, and spending time with family.
Find Stephen online at:
Website: www.stephenzimmer.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephenzimmer7
Twitter: @sgzimmer
Instagram: @stephenzimmer7
April 15, 2018
Appearing at Southeastern Kentucky Author Event in Corbin, KY on Saturday, April 21!
I am very honored to be a last-minute addition to the great lineup for next Saturday’s Southeastern Kentucky Author Event in Corbin Kentucky at the Corbin Center! Includes great authors like Chasity Bowlin, Robyn Peterman, Kallypso Masters, Teresa Reasor, and many more!
This will be the first appearance I’ve ever done in Corbin too, so hope to see some friendly faces! They will have a meet and greet from 10-11, followed by a signing from 11am to 3pm.
Get more information at: https://southeasternkentuckyauthorevent.wordpress.com/
April 4, 2018
Depths of Night, My First Ragnar Stormbringer Novella, is Available Today in eBook!
Some great news! My first Ragnar Stormbringer novella, Depths of Night, is now available on eBook! Here’s the full press release on it!
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Seventh Star Press is proud to announce that Depths of Night, the first Ragnar Stormbringer novella by Stephen Zimmer, is now available on eBook for just $1.99! Direct links to different versions such as Kindle, Nook, and Kobo are below!
Direct Order Links:
Kindle Version
Nook Version
Kobo Version
iTunes Version
The sword and sorcery/dark fantasy novella is the first of several exciting upcoming eBook releases from Stephen Zimmer, some featuring Ragnar Stormbringer, and others featuring Rayden Valkyrie. The stand-alone tales will give readers a chance to further explore the world featured in the Rayden Valkyrie novels Heart of a Lion and Thunder Horizon. Releases will include both short stories and novellas.
The Ragnar Stormbringer character is also featured in the TV Pilot Rayden Valkyrie, Saga of a Lionheart, where he is performed by Brock O’Hurn. The project is nearing the completion of post-production and can be followed at www.raydenvalkyrie.com.
Synopsis of Depths of Night: After a harrowing end to a long sea journey, the famed northern warrior Ragnar Stormbringer and a force of warriors step ashore in the lands of the Petranni, a tribal people known for their workings in silver and gold. The search for plunder takes a sharp turn when homesteads, villages, and temple sites show signs of being recently abandoned.
When it is discovered that the Petranni have all taken refuge within a massive stronghold, Ragnar and the others soon fall under the shadow of an ancient, deadly adversary. Wielding his legendary war axe Raven Caller, Ragnar finds his strength tested like never before.
About Stephen: Stephen Zimmer is an award-winning author and filmmaker based out of Lexington Kentucky. His works include the Rayden Valkyrie novels (Sword and Sorcery), the Rising Dawn Saga (Cross Genre), the Fires in Eden Series (Epic Fantasy), the Hellscapes short story collections (Horror), the Chronicles of Ave short story collections (Fantasy), the Harvey and Solomon Tales (Steampunk), and the forthcoming Faraway Saga (YA Dystopian/Cross-Genre).
Stephen’s visual work includes the feature film Shadows Light, shorts films such as The Sirens and Swordbearer, and the forthcoming Rayden Valkyrie: Saga of a Lionheart TV Pilot.
Stephen is a proud Kentucky Colonel who also enjoys the realms of music, martial arts, good bourbons, and spending time with family.
Find Stephen online at:
Website: www.stephenzimmer.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephenzimmer7
Twitter: @sgzimmer
Instagram: @stephenzimmer7
March 25, 2018
A New Novella and a New Hero For Today
Ragnar Stormbringer is a heroic warrior that inhabits the same world as Rayden Valkyrie, who is the focus of my novels Heart of a Lion and Thunder Horizon.
Ragnar is also one of the main characters featured in the Rayden Valkyrie: Saga of a Lionheart TV Pilot, which is based upon an original screenplay and story line of mine (it is not an adaptation of one of my books, although I do plan to do a novelization of the show's story line at some point).
Brock O'Hurn portrays Ragnar wonderfully in the TV pilot and I cannot wait for the completion of post-production so we can show everyone his performance. I would love to see the pilot lead to a full season of episodes. I have a very exciting journey envisioned for the ensemble cast and I know that characters like Ragnar will both engage and thrill today's audiences.
I've wanted to begin telling Ragnar's full story for awhile. I also wanted to explore Rayden Valkyrie's story further. In that light, I began to develop a number of brand new stories, some featuring Ragnar, and some featuring Rayden, which will be part of an exciting group of new releases over the next few months in eBook formats.
The eBook releases allow me to bring new stories to my readers on a regular basis while I complete some larger novel projects. To me, this is a win-win for everyone as I can increase the number of releases I have without compromising the quality of my work.
My readers deserve my best at all times, and while it can take awhile to develop one of my larger novels, it is possible for me to deliver some shorter format works (like short stories and novellas) that meet my standards for putting something forward for release (which I won't do unless I am 100% confident I have done my best on it and left nothing behind).
I believe Ragnar, like Rayden, has a lot to offer readers of today. When it comes to heroes, I like to champion the kind of hero who is mortal, of flesh and blood, imperfect, and does not possess supernatural powers ... yet has an underlying honor code and rises up in trying situations to do whatever it takes to succeed. My heroes do not hesitate to go against the odds, no matter how overwhelming.
Rayden and Ragnar are very different characters, but at the end of the day they both are human, can be related to, and call upon everyone to embrace the heroic aspects that are inside each and every living person. You don't need some fancy costume, supernatural ability, hi-tech gadgetry, or otherworldly origin to be a hero in the vein of Rayden and Ragnar. To me those are the truest kinds of heroes, because they overcome the limitations we all struggle with.
I am confident that these stories can be enjoyed by all kinds of readers, not just those into sword and sorcery or fantasy fiction. Heroic, inspirational characters reach beyond genres and engage a reader on many levels.
The Ragnar Stormbringer adventure begins on April 4th, with the release of Depths of Night, and there is much more to come!
Check out the synopsis below and if you have a Kindle, be sure to pre-order a copy too!
Synopsis of Depths of Night: After a harrowing end to a long sea journey, the famed northern warrior Ragnar Stormbringer and a force of warriors step ashore in the lands of the Petranni, a tribal people known for their workings in silver and gold. The search for plunder takes a sharp turn when homesteads, villages, and temple sites show signs of being recently abandoned.
When it is discovered that the Petranni have all taken refuge within a massive stronghold, Ragnar and the others soon fall under the shadow of an ancient, deadly adversary. Wielding his legendary war axe Raven Caller, Ragnar finds his strength tested like never before.
Kindle pre-order link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BN9QRS8/
March 23, 2018
Kindle Pre-Order Window for Depths of Night Now Open!
The Kindle pre-order window for Depths of Night, my first Ragnar Stormbringer Tale, is now open! Pre-orders are delivered automatically to your Kindle on the day of release, April 4th. Pre-orders also help a new title get a strong kickoff, so if you are getting a Kindle version, you can help Ragnar Stormbringer make a strong debut by pre-ordering!
The link for pre-ordering is:
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