Lou Anders's Blog, page 12
July 24, 2015
Nightborn on Tour: The Nightborn Launch Event
Last Saturday, July 18th, was the launch part for Nightborn. We held it in the afternoon at the Barnes & Noble at the Summit Shopping Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Despite the best efforts of the weather--there were reports of hail!-- we had a great turn out. Thanks to all the booksellers who worked to make this happen and to everyone who came. Here are some of the pictures from this wonderful event.
July 22, 2015
Books of Wonder Event This Sunday
In New York City?
Then come see me, and two other wonderful authors, this Sunday at Books of Wonder!
FANTASTIC MIDDLE GRADE READSSunday, July 26th, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Books of Wonder is thrilled to invite your middle grade readers to meet and
hear from Newbery Honor Author, GAIL CARSON LEVINE, LOU ANDERS,
and SARAH MLYNOWSKI! Your young readers won't want to miss out on an
afternoon of filled with magic and adventure as these talented authors talk
about their latest books.
GAIL CARSON LEVINE for Stolen Magic
LOU ANDERS for Nightborn
SARAH MLYNOWSKI for Whatever After #7: Beauty Queen
Then come see me, and two other wonderful authors, this Sunday at Books of Wonder!
FANTASTIC MIDDLE GRADE READSSunday, July 26th, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Books of Wonder is thrilled to invite your middle grade readers to meet and
hear from Newbery Honor Author, GAIL CARSON LEVINE, LOU ANDERS,
and SARAH MLYNOWSKI! Your young readers won't want to miss out on an
afternoon of filled with magic and adventure as these talented authors talk
about their latest books.
GAIL CARSON LEVINE for Stolen Magic
LOU ANDERS for Nightborn
SARAH MLYNOWSKI for Whatever After #7: Beauty Queen
July 20, 2015
Adventues in SciFi Publishing: Nightborn
Today, I am a guest on the Adventures in Scifi Publishing podcast episode 307, talking about
Nightborn
, world building, writing for middle readers, transitioning from one side of the desk to another, and role playing games, among other things. Shout outs to Rpg G Amer-Dad and a big discussion of Evil Hat Productions' Fate (role-playing game system). Check it out here!
July 15, 2015
A Three-Part Nightborn Interview Conducted by Phoebe Yeh
My editor at Random House Children's Books, the wonderful Phoebe Yeh, conducted a three-part interview with Yours Truly to celebrate the release of Nightborn. Part one, "On Norse Mythology, Strong Female Heroines, and Gaming," debuted on the website
Brightly
. Part Two, "On World Building," appeared on
Suvudu
. Part Three covers my research trip to Norway, and what being an editor taught me about being a writer. You can read it on
SF Signal
.July 14, 2015
Nightborn: Today is the Day!
Today is the day that
Nightborn
is unleashed on the world! The second book in my Thrones & Bones series of middle reader adventure is now published! And I am thrilled.
Here is an amazing trailer to show you what the book is about:
And here is a ridiculously long list of fantastic endorsements already in from the critics:
"A winning testament to the value of friendship and to a surly dragon’s power of persuasion." Kirkus Reviews
"Good pacing, well-drawn characters, and engaging action scenes. And yes, there’s the promise of more to come." Booklist
"A highly enjoyable, fast-paced read." Joseph Mallozzi, co-executive producer of Dark Matter
"I thoroughly enjoyed both the books in these series, and am positive that young middle grade readers everywhere will get caught up in this action filled adventure. With characters that are easily likeable (or easy to hate), and a storyline that will grip you from the very beginning, there is a little bit of something for everyone!" Chapter by Chapter
"Nightborn was even better than Frostborn , which I didn't think would be possible!" Downright Dystopian
"I absolutely adored Nightborn ....a really fun series that I think adults will also enjoy as well as younger readers." Winter Haven Books
"The author does an amazing job at grabbing your attention and keeping it." Lovely Reads
"My latest young reader obsession." All About Romance's Blog
"I went into reading this book thinking it would be a great read for my kids and I would pass it on. Little did I realize that I would fall in love with it myself. This book had everything a fantasy lover could want in a book." Seeing Double in Neverland
" I highly recommend Nightborn to everyone and can't wait to read the next book!" Short & Sweet Reviews
"I was never bored reading Nightborn ! In fact, I was on the edge of my seat, following Desstra and Karn on their various (mis)adventures. The fast pace had me turning page after page, eager to see what was next." Books and Whimsy
"I love the pacing. You’re never really bored reading it, nothing is too short or too long, it’s just perfect." Words We Heart
"The climax is awesome!" Not Actually Hermione, But Pretty Close
"There’s plenty to enjoy about Nightborn , with new cities to explore and new characters, particularly the conflicted Dark Elf, Desstra, to meet. More importantly, Lou brings a sense of wonder to proceedings that often gets forgotten in many fantasy books." Sci Fi Pulse
"I highly recommend this serious to children looking for something similar to Rick Riordan’s series but meets a Lord of the Rings for kids fantasy. They won’t want to put the book down!" Twining for Books
"I loved every second of it!" Nightly Rendering
"A terrific fantasy adventure that promises much more to come, I can't wait to get my hands on the third." Children's Atheneum
"Fun, engaging, and the characters are great." Great Imaginations
"A great read for young minds looking for adventure." Reach Reads and Reviews
"This is a great series for younger readers especially if you are looking for a book that boys and girls can both enjoy." On Starships & Dragonwings
"Anders does a wonderful job of creating a vivid world, rich in detail, that makes the reader feel they are seeing it with their own eyes. The diverse cast of characters in the book resemble something from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Dragons, elves, giants, gnomes and other creatures abound, making it a great introduction to the fantasy genre for any MG reader." Middle Grade Mafia
"It is perfect for middle graders, teens, and even adults. There is action and mystery. It shows how true friendship is meant to be." Mind-Ventures
"The world that Anders created is so cool. We got to see a lot more of it in this book, and I absolutely loved it! I can't wait to see more! Overall, Nightborn is a fabulous addition to the THRONES & BONES series! I highly recommend starting this trilogy!" Marie Loves Books
"I think that this is an amazing series!" This Kid Reviews Books
"This novel is a wonderful adventure for readers of all age; it is not just for middle grade bookworms. Because of the adventures that friendship tends to bring in this series, I greatly enjoyed this book, and I am very excited to read more exciting novels that Anders has written." Cavalier House Books
"Heavy on the Lloyd Alexander when sharpened with Rowling, Lou Anders has hit his follow-up to Frostborn right out of the park. With a new games, challenges, and adventures, Thianna and Karn have returned for a rollicking good time in Nightborn !" Sit.Write.Bleed
"I adored these books." The Lovely Books
"The sense of adventure never slows down, teetering from challenging riddles and games (this book introduces the game called Charioteers) to battles and sieges and even a manticore driven chariot race that would impress and amuse Ben-Hur." The Bibliosanctum
"Mr. Anders has written a good story. A very good story. A really, really very good story. You get the point." View from Valhalla
" Nightborn is a fun middle grade adventure in a rich fantasy world and great for those young readers sick of gendered books. There are also instructions for board games at the end of each book, which sounds like a great afternoon activity wink emoticon. If you’re looking for a light and fun fantasy adventure or something to give to a young reader after they finish the popular middle grade fantasies, Nightborn is a great choice." On Starships & Dragonwings
"With Nightborn not only has Lou Anders told a thoroughly entertaining story, he is starting to reveal a long game for these characters and this world." SF Signal
is unleashed on the world! The second book in my Thrones & Bones series of middle reader adventure is now published! And I am thrilled.Here is an amazing trailer to show you what the book is about:
And here is a ridiculously long list of fantastic endorsements already in from the critics:
"A winning testament to the value of friendship and to a surly dragon’s power of persuasion." Kirkus Reviews
"Good pacing, well-drawn characters, and engaging action scenes. And yes, there’s the promise of more to come." Booklist
"A highly enjoyable, fast-paced read." Joseph Mallozzi, co-executive producer of Dark Matter
"I thoroughly enjoyed both the books in these series, and am positive that young middle grade readers everywhere will get caught up in this action filled adventure. With characters that are easily likeable (or easy to hate), and a storyline that will grip you from the very beginning, there is a little bit of something for everyone!" Chapter by Chapter
"Nightborn was even better than Frostborn , which I didn't think would be possible!" Downright Dystopian
"I absolutely adored Nightborn ....a really fun series that I think adults will also enjoy as well as younger readers." Winter Haven Books
"The author does an amazing job at grabbing your attention and keeping it." Lovely Reads
"My latest young reader obsession." All About Romance's Blog
"I went into reading this book thinking it would be a great read for my kids and I would pass it on. Little did I realize that I would fall in love with it myself. This book had everything a fantasy lover could want in a book." Seeing Double in Neverland
" I highly recommend Nightborn to everyone and can't wait to read the next book!" Short & Sweet Reviews
"I was never bored reading Nightborn ! In fact, I was on the edge of my seat, following Desstra and Karn on their various (mis)adventures. The fast pace had me turning page after page, eager to see what was next." Books and Whimsy
"I love the pacing. You’re never really bored reading it, nothing is too short or too long, it’s just perfect." Words We Heart
"The climax is awesome!" Not Actually Hermione, But Pretty Close
"There’s plenty to enjoy about Nightborn , with new cities to explore and new characters, particularly the conflicted Dark Elf, Desstra, to meet. More importantly, Lou brings a sense of wonder to proceedings that often gets forgotten in many fantasy books." Sci Fi Pulse
"I highly recommend this serious to children looking for something similar to Rick Riordan’s series but meets a Lord of the Rings for kids fantasy. They won’t want to put the book down!" Twining for Books
"I loved every second of it!" Nightly Rendering
"A terrific fantasy adventure that promises much more to come, I can't wait to get my hands on the third." Children's Atheneum
"Fun, engaging, and the characters are great." Great Imaginations
"A great read for young minds looking for adventure." Reach Reads and Reviews
"This is a great series for younger readers especially if you are looking for a book that boys and girls can both enjoy." On Starships & Dragonwings
"Anders does a wonderful job of creating a vivid world, rich in detail, that makes the reader feel they are seeing it with their own eyes. The diverse cast of characters in the book resemble something from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Dragons, elves, giants, gnomes and other creatures abound, making it a great introduction to the fantasy genre for any MG reader." Middle Grade Mafia
"It is perfect for middle graders, teens, and even adults. There is action and mystery. It shows how true friendship is meant to be." Mind-Ventures
"The world that Anders created is so cool. We got to see a lot more of it in this book, and I absolutely loved it! I can't wait to see more! Overall, Nightborn is a fabulous addition to the THRONES & BONES series! I highly recommend starting this trilogy!" Marie Loves Books
"I think that this is an amazing series!" This Kid Reviews Books
"This novel is a wonderful adventure for readers of all age; it is not just for middle grade bookworms. Because of the adventures that friendship tends to bring in this series, I greatly enjoyed this book, and I am very excited to read more exciting novels that Anders has written." Cavalier House Books
"Heavy on the Lloyd Alexander when sharpened with Rowling, Lou Anders has hit his follow-up to Frostborn right out of the park. With a new games, challenges, and adventures, Thianna and Karn have returned for a rollicking good time in Nightborn !" Sit.Write.Bleed
"I adored these books." The Lovely Books
"The sense of adventure never slows down, teetering from challenging riddles and games (this book introduces the game called Charioteers) to battles and sieges and even a manticore driven chariot race that would impress and amuse Ben-Hur." The Bibliosanctum
"Mr. Anders has written a good story. A very good story. A really, really very good story. You get the point." View from Valhalla
" Nightborn is a fun middle grade adventure in a rich fantasy world and great for those young readers sick of gendered books. There are also instructions for board games at the end of each book, which sounds like a great afternoon activity wink emoticon. If you’re looking for a light and fun fantasy adventure or something to give to a young reader after they finish the popular middle grade fantasies, Nightborn is a great choice." On Starships & Dragonwings
"With Nightborn not only has Lou Anders told a thoroughly entertaining story, he is starting to reveal a long game for these characters and this world." SF Signal
July 8, 2015
Nightborn: Friendship, Betrayal, and Adventure!
I've tracked 28 reviews for
Nightborn
prior to this one, and they are all enormously positive. However, this review on Cavalier House's website, from fifteen year old Caitlin G. of their "Read & Review Club" sure is special!
"Nightborn is the enjoyable, fast-paced second book in the Thrones and Bones series written by Lou Anders. Once again I was able to lose myself in the words that Anders spun onto the page, words of friendship, betrayal, and of course adventure! Throughout the novel the characters grow immensely through every event that they encounter and become closer to discovering who they are as people. This novel teaches both the reader and the characters that anyone can become a friend. People with different places of origin, people with different viewpoints, and people with different personalities all have one thing in common: no one wants to be alone. Readers of the Magyk series by Angie Sage, and of the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull will enjoy this series not only because of the amazingly awesome magical beings but also because of the dangerous adventures that the characters venture into. This novel is a wonderful adventure for readers of all age; it is not just for middle grade bookworms. Because of the adventures that friendship tends to bring in this series, I greatly enjoyed this book, and I am very excited to read more exciting novels that Anders has written."Caitlin G. previously reviewed Frostborn for Cavalier House Books here.
July 6, 2015
Thrones & Bones for the Fate Accelerated RPG Episode 3
The third and final installment of RPG Gamer Dad's live Thrones & Bones role playing game (powered by Evil Hat's Fate Accelerated RPG) has gone up today, along with an interview with Yours Truly! I cannot tell you how cute RPG Gamer Boy is, nor how utterly honored, flattered, and tickled I've been by this whole thing. I'm truly grateful to the RPG Gamer Family for all they've done.Meanwhile, for those coming in late, part one can be found in episode 35 and part two in episode 37. And for those wanting to play in the Thrones & Bones world themselves, RPG Gamer Dad and RPG Gamer Boy's character sheets for Karn and Thianna can be found here.
July 2, 2015
Mapping the Fantastic: Four New Maps added to the Thrones & Bones Website
The Thrones & Bones website is undergoing an expansion in anticipation of
Nightborn's
release. One of the first bits of new content is the addition of four new maps by amazing cartographer Robert Lazzaretti (of Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder fame). This bring the total number of maps on the site to six, all by Lazzaretti. He and I have worked very closely together to get the details of the world of Thrones & Bones exactly right (called the world of Qualth, with our focus thus far being on the continent of Katernia and the neighboring island-continent of Thica). I'm so fortunate to work with such a talented artist. Check out his gorgeous work and see more of the world of the Thrones & Bones series!
Last week, I interviewed Lazzaretti for Mundie Kids about his work on the T&B series. You can read our interview here.
Last week, I interviewed Lazzaretti for Mundie Kids about his work on the T&B series. You can read our interview here.
Lindsay Cummings Interview and Kirkus Essentail Reads
Earlier this week, I posted my interview with author Lindsay Cummings. Now, she has posted her Interview with Lou Anders. We talk about world-building, board games, Norse culture, my Top Five Books of All Time, and the perfect cup of coffee. Meanwhile, Kirkus has posted their Essential Speculative Fiction Reads in July, and I'm happy to say that Nightborn tops the list. They say:
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Everyone is chasing after a powerful artifact known as the Horn of Osius, an ancient relic capable of controlling dragons. Who is everyone? The Dark Elves; Desstra, a conflicted Dark Elf training to join their elite ranks; and Karn Korlundsson, an avid gamer and adventurer who learns that his best friend, Thianna Frostborn, disappeared when trying to find that very same relic.
WHY YOU MIGHT LIKE IT: Nightborn offers a carefully constructed and believable world populated with handfuls of imaginative and well-realized fantasy creatures. Plus, like Frostborn, the previous book in the Thrones and Bones series, Nightborn comes with a nifty extra: instructions for playing the board game Charioteers, highlighted in the novel.
