Michael James Ploof's Blog, page 3
September 1, 2014
New Legends of Agora pre-order!
Sea Queen: The windwalker Archive Book #2Amazon has finally allowed us lowly Indie Authors to set up pre-orders for our books. This may seem like no big deal to most people (in truth, a lot of people I talk to never use Amazon or Kindle), but it is hot shyte for me. Before, only the big names were allowed to set up pre-orders, and therefore, they could plop their bloated arses in the Hot New Release categories on Amazon for months and months, while we could only hold a spot there for one month. Well, now all that has changed. I have released Afterworld, Book 1 of the Orion Rezner Chronicles, due to release October 31, 2014, and Sea Queen, Book 2 in the Windwalker Archive, due to release December 1, 2014, for pre-orders to take advantage of the extended exposure time on these lists.
Like the old adage goes, 'vote with your dollars'.
You may have read the letter to readers at the end of my books. In it, I explain that I am a self-published author, and do not have the luxury of a team of promoters at my disposal. You are my team. I am David fighting a Galiath, and you, ladies and gentlemen, are my slingshot. If you plan on buying Afterworld or Sea Queen when they come out, I ask you to do so now. With enough pre-orders we can really make a splash in the rankings, and turn even more people on to the Legends of Agora books. That means more time to write for me, and more books for you.
So without further ado, I give you Sea Queen, and Afterworld. I hope you enjoy.
After a lifetime of abuse at the hands of the murderous Vald, Talon Windwalker is finally free. He sets out across the sea in search of Akkeri, with his spirit wolf Chief at his side.
Talon may have escaped the injustices of the barbarian island, but he cannot escape what he is—a Skomm runaway. Hunted, he must thwart his pursuers while searching for his lost love.
After joining up with a group of fellow runaways wanted for killing their master’s guard, Talon discovers clues to Akkeri’s whereabouts. His quest leads him across the foreign landscape of Agora, and onto a slave ship holding hundreds of his fellow Skomm.
With Chief at his side, and the elven ring Kyrr, Talon finally has the power to destroy his oppressors. But power comes at great cost. The lure of his magical trinkets gains him the attention of those who would take it for themselves. He begins to realize that with such power, he has a responsibility to help his oppressed people. However, in doing so, he may lose the only lead he has to finding Akkeri.
Talon Windwalker wants only a quiet life—if only he could escape the shadow of his own legend.
Pre-order here.
Seven years have passed since the Culling of 2033 which killed most of the world's population. Vampires, werewolves, and demons have begun to emerge from the shadows, and they are hungry. Boston, one of the last vestiges of humanity, is protected by a spell shield created by the Wizard Council. The shield is the only thing keeping the city safe.
Having studied the Craft for two years at Harvard Witchcraft and Wizardry, Orion Rezner embarks on his final rite of passage. But his first mission outside the city walls forces him to make choices he wasn’t prepared for. Narrowly avoiding possession by an ancient demon, he learns of a plot to destroy the spell shield and expose its survivors to the horrors outside.
Suspected by the wizard council of having been compromised by the encounter, Orion is unable to convince them of the danger. With the help of his closest friends and ghostly mentor, Orion sets out on a desperate quest to thwart the demon's plan any way he can--before it's too late to save the city. Pre-order here.
Like the old adage goes, 'vote with your dollars'.
You may have read the letter to readers at the end of my books. In it, I explain that I am a self-published author, and do not have the luxury of a team of promoters at my disposal. You are my team. I am David fighting a Galiath, and you, ladies and gentlemen, are my slingshot. If you plan on buying Afterworld or Sea Queen when they come out, I ask you to do so now. With enough pre-orders we can really make a splash in the rankings, and turn even more people on to the Legends of Agora books. That means more time to write for me, and more books for you.
So without further ado, I give you Sea Queen, and Afterworld. I hope you enjoy.
After a lifetime of abuse at the hands of the murderous Vald, Talon Windwalker is finally free. He sets out across the sea in search of Akkeri, with his spirit wolf Chief at his side. Talon may have escaped the injustices of the barbarian island, but he cannot escape what he is—a Skomm runaway. Hunted, he must thwart his pursuers while searching for his lost love.
After joining up with a group of fellow runaways wanted for killing their master’s guard, Talon discovers clues to Akkeri’s whereabouts. His quest leads him across the foreign landscape of Agora, and onto a slave ship holding hundreds of his fellow Skomm.
With Chief at his side, and the elven ring Kyrr, Talon finally has the power to destroy his oppressors. But power comes at great cost. The lure of his magical trinkets gains him the attention of those who would take it for themselves. He begins to realize that with such power, he has a responsibility to help his oppressed people. However, in doing so, he may lose the only lead he has to finding Akkeri.
Talon Windwalker wants only a quiet life—if only he could escape the shadow of his own legend.
Pre-order here.
.jpg)
Seven years have passed since the Culling of 2033 which killed most of the world's population. Vampires, werewolves, and demons have begun to emerge from the shadows, and they are hungry. Boston, one of the last vestiges of humanity, is protected by a spell shield created by the Wizard Council. The shield is the only thing keeping the city safe. Having studied the Craft for two years at Harvard Witchcraft and Wizardry, Orion Rezner embarks on his final rite of passage. But his first mission outside the city walls forces him to make choices he wasn’t prepared for. Narrowly avoiding possession by an ancient demon, he learns of a plot to destroy the spell shield and expose its survivors to the horrors outside.
Suspected by the wizard council of having been compromised by the encounter, Orion is unable to convince them of the danger. With the help of his closest friends and ghostly mentor, Orion sets out on a desperate quest to thwart the demon's plan any way he can--before it's too late to save the city. Pre-order here.
August 27, 2014
The Orion Rezner Chronicles Book #1AfterworldNow availabl...
The Orion Rezner Chronicles Book #1AfterworldNow available for pre-order!
Click here to pre-order
Amazon has recently allowed Indie authors such as myself to submit books for pre-order! I am extremely pleased to present to you Orion Rezner. A lot of time has been but into this book and the magic system within. I hope that my Legends of Agora readers will enjoy this magical romp through post-apocalyptic Boston. I know I have.
I would like to thank Paul Fiacco for all his help with everything from plot to magic system. He has been literally working full time on seeing this book through to completion.
I hope you enjoy it.
Pre-order today and have it automatically downloaded to your Kindle on Halloween, 2014.
.jpg)
Click here to pre-orderAmazon has recently allowed Indie authors such as myself to submit books for pre-order! I am extremely pleased to present to you Orion Rezner. A lot of time has been but into this book and the magic system within. I hope that my Legends of Agora readers will enjoy this magical romp through post-apocalyptic Boston. I know I have.
I would like to thank Paul Fiacco for all his help with everything from plot to magic system. He has been literally working full time on seeing this book through to completion.
I hope you enjoy it.
Pre-order today and have it automatically downloaded to your Kindle on Halloween, 2014.
August 25, 2014
Autographed Book Giveaway
Autographed Book Giveaway!Sign up at Goodreads for a chance to win one of three signed copies of A song of Swords, A Crown of War, and Talon: Book #1 of the Windwalker Archive. Sign up for all three giveaways ends on August 31 at 12:00am. Good luck!
July 22, 2014
The Sock Gnome Chronicles Book 1F...
The Sock Gnome Chronicles Book 1FREE 7-23-14 - 7-27-14Get a copy here
The first book of my middle grade series, The Sock Gnome Chronicles, will be free for five days. BookBub has once again agreed to promote the give-away, and I am expecting 5-10 thousand downloads. Crossing my fingers. If you haven't picked one up yet, here is a chance for a free one. You can also gift one to anyone with an amazon account and E-mail. This series is nothing like my Legends of Agora books (well, aside from the humor), but I think that it's worth a peek. Here's the blurbHave you ever wondered what happens to that one missing sock of a pair? If you have ever been folding laundry and come up with lone socks, then you may have Sock Gnomes living in your home. Billy Coatbutton is one such Gnome.
It is the day of Billy’s first test of mastery, a test to see if he will become a treasure hunter like his father. Billy has studied, practiced and prepared for this day for years. Like all Gnomes that have come of age, Billy will soon spin the Wheel of Destiny and discover which item it is that he must find to become a treasure hunter within Sockefeller castle.
Along the way he meets an old recluse Sock Gnome named Helix BonsaiTree, who has more than a little to say about the practices of the greedy Sockefellers, and helps Billy to choose the right path.
During his dangerous quest Billy must overcome a vicious rat, a hungry cat, and many other obstacles, all without the help or protection of Gnomeland Sockurity. He is determined to pass his test of mastery on the first try, a feat accomplished by only one other Sock Gnome, his father.
Billy will face many decisions, the greatest of all will leave the
life of a human child hanging in the balance.
Kids and Adults will both find something for them in this whimsical adventure with one of the monst memorable characters to be found within the musty pages of a kindle...
With references to Gnomeland Sockurity, The New York Sock Exchange, and the Sockefellers, adults will have thier fair share of the giggles.
The first book of my middle grade series, The Sock Gnome Chronicles, will be free for five days. BookBub has once again agreed to promote the give-away, and I am expecting 5-10 thousand downloads. Crossing my fingers. If you haven't picked one up yet, here is a chance for a free one. You can also gift one to anyone with an amazon account and E-mail. This series is nothing like my Legends of Agora books (well, aside from the humor), but I think that it's worth a peek. Here's the blurbHave you ever wondered what happens to that one missing sock of a pair? If you have ever been folding laundry and come up with lone socks, then you may have Sock Gnomes living in your home. Billy Coatbutton is one such Gnome. It is the day of Billy’s first test of mastery, a test to see if he will become a treasure hunter like his father. Billy has studied, practiced and prepared for this day for years. Like all Gnomes that have come of age, Billy will soon spin the Wheel of Destiny and discover which item it is that he must find to become a treasure hunter within Sockefeller castle.
Along the way he meets an old recluse Sock Gnome named Helix BonsaiTree, who has more than a little to say about the practices of the greedy Sockefellers, and helps Billy to choose the right path.
During his dangerous quest Billy must overcome a vicious rat, a hungry cat, and many other obstacles, all without the help or protection of Gnomeland Sockurity. He is determined to pass his test of mastery on the first try, a feat accomplished by only one other Sock Gnome, his father.
Billy will face many decisions, the greatest of all will leave the
life of a human child hanging in the balance.
Kids and Adults will both find something for them in this whimsical adventure with one of the monst memorable characters to be found within the musty pages of a kindle...
With references to Gnomeland Sockurity, The New York Sock Exchange, and the Sockefellers, adults will have thier fair share of the giggles.
June 30, 2014
Talon 2
Hey all, I'm hard at work on The Windwalker Archive Book 2, (Can't you tell) which I affectionately call Talon 2. I've gotten a flood of great reviews for Whill 1 since the crazy freebie sponsored by BookBub. I wanted to take a moment to say welcome to all the new subscribers and Thank You to those who have left reviews. It tells me that all the long, lonely hours are worth it, that someone is listening, and for that I am grateful. To think that I put a smile on someone's face, or helped them forget their worries for a few hours makes me happier than I can express. I have been blessed with the best readers in the world. You make it all worth it.
June 26, 2014
Great start to summer!
Great Start to Summer!
After a long, long winter up here in Northern NY, the summer is kicking off to a great start. BookBub picked up Whill of Agora Book 1 for a free giveaway promotion from June 24th - June 29th, (if you don't have it yet, you can pick it up for free here, or tell all your friends). On Tuesday Whill of Agora got over 19,000 downloads! I am now 3 days into the promotion and we are over 23,000 free downloads. Thanks BookBub.
Today I got a call from Stacey from Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP, the company I self-publish through) and she wanted to know if I would be interested in an interview, and supplying them with a quote for their landing page (the page people go to when they look up KDP). She said that they were setting up a new landing page and reaching out to successful self published authors to talk about their experience.
I then received an email from Bookbub, saying that they had accepted my middle grade book, Billy Coatbutton and the Wheel of Destiny, for a free promotion on July 23-July 27! I have submitted that book to them before, but they turned me down the first time. I'm really excited about this one, little Billy really hasn't gotten his chance to shine yet.
On another note, I'm almost done the first draft for Talon 2. It will likely be released around September. Also, the first book in my new urban fantasy series, The Orion Rezner Chronicles, is going through the first wash as we speak. I can't wait for you all to read that one. Its a lot different writing in the first person, but I love it. And it is set in THIS world! I can use references people understand, pop culture, and don't have to say Shyte and Arse, (It's not a YA book.)
I hope you are all having a great summer. Let the grillin-n-chillin begin!
After a long, long winter up here in Northern NY, the summer is kicking off to a great start. BookBub picked up Whill of Agora Book 1 for a free giveaway promotion from June 24th - June 29th, (if you don't have it yet, you can pick it up for free here, or tell all your friends). On Tuesday Whill of Agora got over 19,000 downloads! I am now 3 days into the promotion and we are over 23,000 free downloads. Thanks BookBub.
Today I got a call from Stacey from Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP, the company I self-publish through) and she wanted to know if I would be interested in an interview, and supplying them with a quote for their landing page (the page people go to when they look up KDP). She said that they were setting up a new landing page and reaching out to successful self published authors to talk about their experience.
I then received an email from Bookbub, saying that they had accepted my middle grade book, Billy Coatbutton and the Wheel of Destiny, for a free promotion on July 23-July 27! I have submitted that book to them before, but they turned me down the first time. I'm really excited about this one, little Billy really hasn't gotten his chance to shine yet.
On another note, I'm almost done the first draft for Talon 2. It will likely be released around September. Also, the first book in my new urban fantasy series, The Orion Rezner Chronicles, is going through the first wash as we speak. I can't wait for you all to read that one. Its a lot different writing in the first person, but I love it. And it is set in THIS world! I can use references people understand, pop culture, and don't have to say Shyte and Arse, (It's not a YA book.)
I hope you are all having a great summer. Let the grillin-n-chillin begin!
May 30, 2014
Ben Franklin's Virtues 1-7
I think that people are always trying to improve themselves, or at least they started out trying to improve, and because of whatever social or personal reasons they stopped. I have always striven to improve myself, I have often fallen flat on my hypocritical face while doing so, but luckily I never let myself or the world stop me in my pursuit of a better me. In my journey towards betterment I have learned something that is spoken in all religions, is known by most of us, but continues to elude many. Here it is, here is the big secret. WE KEEP SCREWING OURSELVES. We are our worst enemy, whether it is work, love, friendship, parenthood, etc, humans continue to shoot themselves in the foot. Rather than ranting about this highly hilarious and frustrating fact, I would like to offer up some wisdom that has helped me to quit drinking cold turkey for 18 months, and realize my dream of becoming a successful self-published author.
I give you Benjamin Franklins 13 virtues.
According to his autobiography (which is really a series of letters to his son) he devised a way to go about living that would help him achieve a happy and successful life. His system he called the thirteen virtues, and surprisingly he formulated this plan when he was in his early 20's (When most young men can think of nothing but ass and alcohol...and ass).
So here are the thirteen virtues with my two cents attached. If you are in the habit of attempting self improvement I highly encourage reading on, I mean come on, the dude is on the hundred dollar bill. He invented the lightning rod and a million other things, he was given degrees from colleges he never attended, and was instrumental in creating the country you live in. I'd say his two cents is worth a listen.
1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness, drink not to elevation. - translation - Don't eat until you feel like you should be rolled down the road, and don't drink until you're drunk.
This one (like all the others) is hard, but given the obesity problem in this country, and the drinking problem humans have always had, I think this one alone could change lives. You will notice that moderation is a main theme of many of these virtues.
2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. - translation - Don't talk shit about other people, and don't complain all the time.
If only more people would try this one.
3. Order: Let all things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. - translation - Pick up your crap!! And make time everyday to get your personal business done.
Anybody with kids knows how much easier it would be if everyone just picked up their own messes. My wife will probably scoff at this one and give me the stink-eye (Hi Honey, love you). The second part seems obvious as well, you should take time to take care of your personal business, however, so many of us seem unable to tackle this one. In the spirit of #3 I won't get into my thoughts on it.
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. - translation - Make up your mind to do the things you think you should, and then do those things until they are done.
This is a big one for me personally. One line by the Tragically Hip comes to me here, "No one's interested in what you didn't do." When I decided that I was going to become a successful self published author if it was the last thing I did, I took this virtue to heart. I made up my mind to succeed, and I have worked tirelessly the last year and a half to do so. That is not to say that I was successful simply because of my drive, luck had a lot to do with it as well, but as Ben used to say. "Diligence is the mother of good luck."
5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; ie, waste nothing. - translation - Don't buy so much useless crap!
How many people do you know who have worked hard, been successful, and ended up in the poor house? Why? Well they either had a crack habit, a gambling problem, or they bought too much useless crap. How many sports stars or movie stars or musicians have squandered fortunes? Guess what, we all have. Think about it. Even someone making minimum wage their entire life is going to make nearly a half million dollars. Where does the money go? You guessed it, useless crap. Basically take every holiday there is, roll it up in plastic, and put one thousand company logos on it and there you have it. Rather than property and homes and legacies passed down to children, you've got a big plastic shiny piece of crap that stands proudly as a testament to your coolness.
6. Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful, cut off all unnecessary actions. - translation - Quit wasting your time with dumb shit.
We all have a finite amount of time to fly around on this ZooPrisonCircus, and if your goal is to go about your day entertaining your inner couch potato with eye candy and pop tarts, by all means go for it, however, if you are trying to make each year find a better you, then do yourself a favor and stop doing dumb shit. For me this meant no video games, no more than 6 hours a week of TV (most days none), it meant fixing myself before I try to fix the world. And it meant taking a time-out from everyone else's endless problems. The amount of work we make for each other is astounding. I think my friend Paul Fiacco said it best, "The world needs to take a f**king time out from each other, seriously, enough already. Get in your corner and leave each other alone."
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly. - translation - Don't lie, shed preconceived notions, and speak likewise.
In my opinion lies are a tyrant's most powerful weapon. I have seen it here in this country, and if you look at history you will see it splattered all over the records of time. It has been used since times forgotten to keep humanity from realizing its potential, it is being used now.
That is all for now. I implore you all to take a shot at one or all of these. I will add 8-13 soon. Don't be overwhelmed, even Ben only attempted one per week at first, and in the end he admitted to never having mastered his 13 virtues. But he said that his life had been richer for the trying. Good luck Friends.
I give you Benjamin Franklins 13 virtues.
According to his autobiography (which is really a series of letters to his son) he devised a way to go about living that would help him achieve a happy and successful life. His system he called the thirteen virtues, and surprisingly he formulated this plan when he was in his early 20's (When most young men can think of nothing but ass and alcohol...and ass).
So here are the thirteen virtues with my two cents attached. If you are in the habit of attempting self improvement I highly encourage reading on, I mean come on, the dude is on the hundred dollar bill. He invented the lightning rod and a million other things, he was given degrees from colleges he never attended, and was instrumental in creating the country you live in. I'd say his two cents is worth a listen.
1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness, drink not to elevation. - translation - Don't eat until you feel like you should be rolled down the road, and don't drink until you're drunk.
This one (like all the others) is hard, but given the obesity problem in this country, and the drinking problem humans have always had, I think this one alone could change lives. You will notice that moderation is a main theme of many of these virtues.
2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. - translation - Don't talk shit about other people, and don't complain all the time.
If only more people would try this one.
3. Order: Let all things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. - translation - Pick up your crap!! And make time everyday to get your personal business done.
Anybody with kids knows how much easier it would be if everyone just picked up their own messes. My wife will probably scoff at this one and give me the stink-eye (Hi Honey, love you). The second part seems obvious as well, you should take time to take care of your personal business, however, so many of us seem unable to tackle this one. In the spirit of #3 I won't get into my thoughts on it.
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. - translation - Make up your mind to do the things you think you should, and then do those things until they are done.
This is a big one for me personally. One line by the Tragically Hip comes to me here, "No one's interested in what you didn't do." When I decided that I was going to become a successful self published author if it was the last thing I did, I took this virtue to heart. I made up my mind to succeed, and I have worked tirelessly the last year and a half to do so. That is not to say that I was successful simply because of my drive, luck had a lot to do with it as well, but as Ben used to say. "Diligence is the mother of good luck."
5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; ie, waste nothing. - translation - Don't buy so much useless crap!
How many people do you know who have worked hard, been successful, and ended up in the poor house? Why? Well they either had a crack habit, a gambling problem, or they bought too much useless crap. How many sports stars or movie stars or musicians have squandered fortunes? Guess what, we all have. Think about it. Even someone making minimum wage their entire life is going to make nearly a half million dollars. Where does the money go? You guessed it, useless crap. Basically take every holiday there is, roll it up in plastic, and put one thousand company logos on it and there you have it. Rather than property and homes and legacies passed down to children, you've got a big plastic shiny piece of crap that stands proudly as a testament to your coolness.
6. Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful, cut off all unnecessary actions. - translation - Quit wasting your time with dumb shit.
We all have a finite amount of time to fly around on this ZooPrisonCircus, and if your goal is to go about your day entertaining your inner couch potato with eye candy and pop tarts, by all means go for it, however, if you are trying to make each year find a better you, then do yourself a favor and stop doing dumb shit. For me this meant no video games, no more than 6 hours a week of TV (most days none), it meant fixing myself before I try to fix the world. And it meant taking a time-out from everyone else's endless problems. The amount of work we make for each other is astounding. I think my friend Paul Fiacco said it best, "The world needs to take a f**king time out from each other, seriously, enough already. Get in your corner and leave each other alone."
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly. - translation - Don't lie, shed preconceived notions, and speak likewise.
In my opinion lies are a tyrant's most powerful weapon. I have seen it here in this country, and if you look at history you will see it splattered all over the records of time. It has been used since times forgotten to keep humanity from realizing its potential, it is being used now.
That is all for now. I implore you all to take a shot at one or all of these. I will add 8-13 soon. Don't be overwhelmed, even Ben only attempted one per week at first, and in the end he admitted to never having mastered his 13 virtues. But he said that his life had been richer for the trying. Good luck Friends.
May 9, 2014
Whill of Agora Book #4: A Crown of War Now available on Amazon!
Book #4 is now available on amazon for Kindle.
Well, the time has finally come, and it is with a bittersweet sigh of relief that I present the conclusion the Whill of Agora story. This has been a labor of love for me since that fateful night in 2002 when I wrote the first lines. "The full moon lingered like a magnificent pearl in an ocean of black." Not bad, but at the time I thought it was a masterpiece embodied in a sentence. Wow, I was good, this was easy...right. I have made do with what I have - an overactive imagination.
I'm not a master of grammar, but I am getting better. I have made my mistakes and I have tried to learn from them. I am, however, a master daydreamer. I hope that I have created a world in which you and your friends/family can escape this one, if only for a while.
In this day and age it is hard to create something that hasn't been done before (look at Hollywood). When I began this story with Whill of Agora book 1, my kids were 4 and 7. I added all kinds of stuff from other stories just to make it the craziest tale there was. Chosen one, prophecy, twin heirs to the thrown, one brother kills the other, hot elf love interest, etc...ever seen any of that? This was done intentionally. I wanted to do all that stuff, and then make none of it really matter in the end, hence, Whill being thrown in a dungeon at the end of book 1. If there really are people out there that saw that coming then they are awesome.
Once Book 1 began to sell, and sell, I realized that I had set myself up to have to write the entire story...people were waiting for it! I put a lot into Book 2, it is my personal favorite. One of my favorite characters, Dirk Blackthorn, was introduced in that book. It seems to be fans favorite also, judging by the amazon reviews. When I got to book 3 I realized that there was far too much story left to wrap it up in one book. I never outline my books, as they refuse to conform. So here is Book 4. The final book in the Whill of Agora saga.
I hope that you have enjoyed the ride so far, I know I have. There are many more stories to tell, and I hope that there will always be people to listen. Thank you all for all the support through the years.
Available on Amazon
Well, the time has finally come, and it is with a bittersweet sigh of relief that I present the conclusion the Whill of Agora story. This has been a labor of love for me since that fateful night in 2002 when I wrote the first lines. "The full moon lingered like a magnificent pearl in an ocean of black." Not bad, but at the time I thought it was a masterpiece embodied in a sentence. Wow, I was good, this was easy...right. I have made do with what I have - an overactive imagination.
I'm not a master of grammar, but I am getting better. I have made my mistakes and I have tried to learn from them. I am, however, a master daydreamer. I hope that I have created a world in which you and your friends/family can escape this one, if only for a while.
In this day and age it is hard to create something that hasn't been done before (look at Hollywood). When I began this story with Whill of Agora book 1, my kids were 4 and 7. I added all kinds of stuff from other stories just to make it the craziest tale there was. Chosen one, prophecy, twin heirs to the thrown, one brother kills the other, hot elf love interest, etc...ever seen any of that? This was done intentionally. I wanted to do all that stuff, and then make none of it really matter in the end, hence, Whill being thrown in a dungeon at the end of book 1. If there really are people out there that saw that coming then they are awesome.
Once Book 1 began to sell, and sell, I realized that I had set myself up to have to write the entire story...people were waiting for it! I put a lot into Book 2, it is my personal favorite. One of my favorite characters, Dirk Blackthorn, was introduced in that book. It seems to be fans favorite also, judging by the amazon reviews. When I got to book 3 I realized that there was far too much story left to wrap it up in one book. I never outline my books, as they refuse to conform. So here is Book 4. The final book in the Whill of Agora saga.
I hope that you have enjoyed the ride so far, I know I have. There are many more stories to tell, and I hope that there will always be people to listen. Thank you all for all the support through the years.
Available on Amazon
May 8, 2014
The Windwalker Archive: Book 1, Talon
The Windwalker Archive: Book 1, Talon Now Live on Amazon!
Available on Amazon
As many of you will know I have been planning on expanding the Legends of Agora world for some time now. The idea for TALON came to me sometime in 2012. I suddenly saw a barbarian boy of 16 in my mind. He was small, dirty; he looked like a slave. There were whip marks, old scars...but kind eyes.
"Who is that?" I asked.
"Talon Windwalker," said the Universe.
"Who is he?" I asked.
"A barbarian runt who was born premature and is shunned by his people," said the Universe.
"Ooohhh," I said.
Talon scratched at my brain for the next year, patiently waiting to be told. When I finally finished the first draft of Whill of Agora 4, sometime in Feb '14, I began writing Talon. I wrote Talon in only eighteen, coffee induced 10 hour days. I have never seen a story form before me so clearly, I literally only had to sit down at the laptop for the stream of consciousness to flow. When I was finished I had a story about a boy who is scorned and hated, but quick to love, a boy who is often hurt, but slow to harm others. Talon is a story of a slavery, violence, intolerance, injustice and discrimination. It is also a book about friendship and love, compassion and righteousness. It is an underdog story, a race against time, a tale of fortune and fate.
I hope you enjoy the newest installation into the Legends of Agora. I have many more planned.
P.S. Fans of Dirk's spirit-wolf Chief will enjoy learning his origin story.
-MP
Available on Amazon
As many of you will know I have been planning on expanding the Legends of Agora world for some time now. The idea for TALON came to me sometime in 2012. I suddenly saw a barbarian boy of 16 in my mind. He was small, dirty; he looked like a slave. There were whip marks, old scars...but kind eyes.
"Who is that?" I asked.
"Talon Windwalker," said the Universe.
"Who is he?" I asked.
"A barbarian runt who was born premature and is shunned by his people," said the Universe.
"Ooohhh," I said.
Talon scratched at my brain for the next year, patiently waiting to be told. When I finally finished the first draft of Whill of Agora 4, sometime in Feb '14, I began writing Talon. I wrote Talon in only eighteen, coffee induced 10 hour days. I have never seen a story form before me so clearly, I literally only had to sit down at the laptop for the stream of consciousness to flow. When I was finished I had a story about a boy who is scorned and hated, but quick to love, a boy who is often hurt, but slow to harm others. Talon is a story of a slavery, violence, intolerance, injustice and discrimination. It is also a book about friendship and love, compassion and righteousness. It is an underdog story, a race against time, a tale of fortune and fate.
I hope you enjoy the newest installation into the Legends of Agora. I have many more planned.
P.S. Fans of Dirk's spirit-wolf Chief will enjoy learning his origin story.
-MP
April 15, 2014
Update:Whill of Agora Book #4: A Crown of War, is at the ...
Update:
Whill of Agora Book #4: A Crown of War, is at the editors. I'm shooting for a May 2014 release. This will be the final book in the Whill of Agora series. I began Whill of Agora in 2003. At the time I had no plans for publication, and the Kindle still had a few years to be invented. I thought it would be cool to write a fantasy adventure for my kids. I had no idea at the time that I was paving the road to my future writing career. Thanks everyone who has downloaded the books or bought the soft cover version, you've made my dreams come true. Book 4 ends the WOA series, but I plan to return to Whill, Raokore and Co, in the future. For now I'm going to delve into the many other Legends of Agora. There are so many stories to tell.
I have written the first book of a new Legends of Agora series. The Windwalker Archive Book 1: Talon, which is also at the editor, and will be released a few days before Whill of Agora #4. Talon takes place in Agora, on the barbarian island, Volnoss, a few hundred years before the events of Whill of Agora. I am very excited about this new series, and I think that readers of the Whill books will enjoy reading about the origins of Dirk's spirit wolf, Chief.
Thanks again for all your support. I hope to publish 4-6 books a year, so check back often for updates on new adventures!
Whill of Agora Book #4: A Crown of War, is at the editors. I'm shooting for a May 2014 release. This will be the final book in the Whill of Agora series. I began Whill of Agora in 2003. At the time I had no plans for publication, and the Kindle still had a few years to be invented. I thought it would be cool to write a fantasy adventure for my kids. I had no idea at the time that I was paving the road to my future writing career. Thanks everyone who has downloaded the books or bought the soft cover version, you've made my dreams come true. Book 4 ends the WOA series, but I plan to return to Whill, Raokore and Co, in the future. For now I'm going to delve into the many other Legends of Agora. There are so many stories to tell.
I have written the first book of a new Legends of Agora series. The Windwalker Archive Book 1: Talon, which is also at the editor, and will be released a few days before Whill of Agora #4. Talon takes place in Agora, on the barbarian island, Volnoss, a few hundred years before the events of Whill of Agora. I am very excited about this new series, and I think that readers of the Whill books will enjoy reading about the origins of Dirk's spirit wolf, Chief.
Thanks again for all your support. I hope to publish 4-6 books a year, so check back often for updates on new adventures!
