A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 132
July 25, 2017
Swift Six Author Interview – Stefon Mears #Fantasy #Bookbundle #Heroictales
Name: Stefon Mears
What attracts you to the genre in which you write?
I write in a number of genres, but since the Heroic Tales Bundle has one of my fantasy novellas, I’ll stick to fantasy for now.
I cut my teeth on the fantasy genre. As a small child, my picture books were children’s versions of Greek and Norse myths. After those came Uncle Wiggly and Kipling’s Just So Stories. After that, straight to Tolkien and Moorcock, Howard and Leiber. Anywhere I could find dragons or magic or both, I was happy.
That led naturally into playing Dungeons and Dragons, and suddenly I wasn’t just reading fantasy stories, I was playing interactive fantasy stories. From there to writing down my own was not a big step.
What piece of writing advice do you wish you’d known when you started your writing adventures?
Well, I’d love to go back to my teenage self and shove a copy of Heinlein’s Rules into my hand, but failing that, I’ll go with, “It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be finished.”
If you could have dinner with any famous person or character who would you choose?
The answers to questions like these will change any time you ask me, but for right now…
Famous person: I’d love to have dinner with Roger Zelazny. Partially because I’d love to pick his brain about writing, but more than that I’d love to hear his stories.
Character: Bilbo Baggins. He was the first fantasy character I remember really identifying with as a child, and I think it would make for marvellous conversation. Plus, the food would be amazing!
Who has been the greatest influence on your own work?
That’s a tough call. There are so many. I’d like to say Zelazny, because in many ways I think his work made me want to write. But it may be more honest to say Tolkien, because the wonder I found in his stories probably underlies everything I do.
Do you think the e-book revolution will do away with print?
No. I think it’s just given readers more options, which is always a good thing.
Which 3 books would you take to a desert island and why?
Three books. Whuf. Another one of those that will change every time it’s asked, but for right now…
The Complete Book of Amber by Roger Zelazny, which might be cheating because it’s ten novels in one, but it is a book. So, number of stories is a factor in this one, but also because these stories always fire off my imagination in a different direction.
The Ultimate Survival Manual (from Outdoor Life) for obvious reasons. And it’s not cheating, because I own a copy.
The Complete Enchanter by DeCamp and Pratt. Always gets me thinking along philosophical lines, which would probably be a good thing, since I’ll have a lot of time to myself.
Author bio and book synopsis
Stefon Mears earned his M.F.A. in Creative Writing from N.I.L.A., and his B.A. in Religious Studies (double emphasis in Ritual and Mythology) from U.C. Berkeley. Stefon’s short pieces have sold to magazines such as Fireside and Strange Horizons and anthologies edited by Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, Kerrie L. Hughes, and John Helfers. He has published eighteen books to date, including the Rise of Magic series.
Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short)
My book in this bundle is With a Broken Sword.
One knight stands between invaders and conquest.
His secret mission ended in an ambush. Now Ser Colin awakens on a battlefield under the bodies of his friends, the last knight still alive. And the invaders have seized the town of Three Bridges, with river access to the whole kingdom.
How can one lone knight lead a ragtag group of townsfolk to victory over warriors and wizards?
With a Broken Sword, a rollicking fantasy adventure full of magic and excitement. From Stefon Mears, author of Half a Wizard. Fans of Game of Thrones won’t want to miss this one!
Links
Website: www.stefonmears.com
Newsletter: www.stefonmears.com/join
Patreon: www.patreon.com/stefonmears
Social media
July 23, 2017
Review – Tempus Unbound #Fantasy – Janet Morris
Review for Tempus Unbound
5 stars
This particular Tempus/Sacred Band book is a little different – for a start, it’s all from Tempus’ point of view, and we have only Tempus himself, Cime and Askelon from the former books. Don’t let this put you off, there’s a host of worthies – not least Mano the mercenary from the future and bad guys to rival anyone in Sanctuary.
Called to Lemuria, a strange citadel between the worlds, and times it’s a chance to right wrongs if only you can work out WHICH wrongs. Tempus is lonely, alone save for his petulant and truculent god. Who is who, and who needs whom? That’s one of the questions asked as Tempus fights an old enemy in a new and unfamiliar world. The future is dark, and war will out. Strife is all and king of all. And so it was in his own time, and in this possible future. We see our hero struggle with technology he can barely imagine and his friends see power and courage they can barely comprehend. Gods, magic and tech fight as Tempus tries to save his sister, and save the world from his deadly sister. Choices are made, and regrets are put aside in the names of love and courage. Ideals are questioned, and truth is harsh.
As usual, the characters are supremely crafted, with a richness that brings emotion and a real sense of reality. In Morris’s world, anything is possible, and the reader believes it. These aren’t easy reads, they have a high level of violence, sex and themes that require the reader to engage their brain. But this, and the other Sacred Band/Tempus books are worth the time, and the brainpower. Rarely does a reader find a world so rich, or characters so enchanting, or writing so lyrical. The tempo of the book is a call to war, a call to stand for what is good, and a call to give all.
Heartily recommend this – even if you’re unfamiliar with the characters, and setting Tempus Unbound takes the reader on a journey from ancient times, to a future and it’s a thrilling journey and is a great intro to Tempus and his worlds.
July 22, 2017
Swift Six Character Interview – Ozena Lyn – Fantasy/Bundle/Dark Fantasy
Name: Ozena Lyn
Which book/world do you live in?
I live in Erana, as the humans call it. My home was Szendro, until it was destroyed by slavers – that’s in the Shimmering Forest.
The books I am in are called The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles, and The Shining Citadel.
Tell us about yourself: (Name, race/species, etc.)
I’m an elf, specifically a Forest Elf; elves were once the dominant race in Erana, but since the Plague, and the rule of the Order of Witch-Hunters the elves are lower than cattle. We are not free, and have no rights. Forest Elves tend to live in more traditional way, deep in the forest, or the wilderness but even there we are not safe. The Order or the Slavers can and do come at any time, believe me.
I am a huntress and archer by profession, and now a tracker. My father was the same, before he was killed many years ago. My mother was a craftswoman. Except for my sister and some more distant kin I had no family in Szendro but, in such communities, all elves are kin. We must be, for if we do not unite we will fall.
Many of the humans treat elves very badly, as I have said we have no rights under law and so maybe treated however the human wishes. We cannot move around the land without the required papers and with the consent of our owners. I am lucky, my human is kind and gives us much freedom. But many elves are not so fortunate.
I’m an adventurer – why should I recruit you to accompany me?
I am an archer adept, and a tracker. I was my old tutor’s best student – so he said. I won’t say I never miss, but it’s rare. I’m a fair swordswoman too. These days I know about poisons, stealth, concealment and how to kill efficiently. Once I was an innocent, niave you would say. That was before the Slavers came. There was not much to threaten us – except the odd bear or wolf. We were complacent. That will never happen again.
Archos (my human) tells me we would never have found the Shining Citadel without my skills. And the journey through the mountains and forest was very arduous.
Tell us about your companions? How do they see you?
Well, I hope Olek loves me! He does get exasperated, I know that. He is far more worldly than I and a good deal older. Sometimes I don’t understand the ways of the world beyond the forest, but I’m getting better.
Lord Archos – I haven’t a clue. We live in his house so I guess he likes me. Sometimes I feel second after him in Olek’s eyes. I know who he’d choose if he had to. Although I guess Olek has served Archos for more years than I have been alive – their bond is strong. Archos is not easy to live with. He is wise but often rather arrogant and he has a terrifying temper. He’s never used it on me, but I’d not like to truly cross him. Archos has powers beyond which not many can stand and, so I have been told, mages are passionate. That passion and emotion can fuel the magic. Most mages are weak and timid. They are treated even worse than elves – magic is forbidden – on pain of death, you see.
Archos is an Archmage – and revered by my society but often I feel rather stupid around the mages – Dii and Archos. They are far better educated and have seen so much more than I have. Magic is mysterious and dangerous – I can’t hope to understand it. I think he sees me as a child or an indulgence for Olek. I am very grateful for all his kindness but he is not an easy man to be around.
Dii and I are friends, she is kind and gentle. I can’t imagine what she’s been through. Dii will take my side sometimes if Archos and I disagree.
Th’alia – who joined us on our adventure to find the Citadel – does not like me. She is rude, not just to me but to everyone. I know she suffered at the hands of the Order but so has Dii, and Dii does not behave in such a way. Th’alia is supposed to be an Eltenda – a lore keeper and historian – but she thinks the old tales and the myths of our past are foolish. She does not believe and scorns those who do. She is highborn – nobility – and I am ‘just’ a hunter from a small village and humble stock.
What’s your most heroic exploit to date?
Finding the Shining Citadel! I was so worried we would never get there, we were lost and in trouble. We could not return home. It was finding the Citadel, find a way out of the forest or die trying. I still cannot believe it. This place is both the past and the future of the elves – a great city cloaked in magic with hundreds if not thousands of years of history. There are elves – well not living ones there but one day Lor’Athinis will be great again. It’s a secret if the Order ffindsout they will try and destroy it.
What’s your greatest failure?
My sister. You’ll have to read to find out more. Please don’t make me talk about it.
Where do you think you’ll be in a decade?
Dead, probably. The fight we undertake is dangerous. I doubt all of us will live. If I am still alive I’d like to be raising a family in safety and freedom. Elves have little – but we do have hope. We must, or fall entirely.
Do you have a great love? (This could be a person/trait/item)
Olek. The elven men in the village were all rather dull in comparison. But they are all dead now, or missing. Olek is so worldly; deadly and kind in equal measures. He taught me to be brave, that a woman and an elf can be equal to a man and a human. He has shown me the world beyond the Shimmering Forest, and I know I will always be safe with him. Because of Olek, and to an extent Archos, I am far more confident, far surer of my skills.
[image error]
Book Links
The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book I
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/2bPpspP
Amazon.com audio http://amzn.to/2iBgmQV
Amazon UK http://amzn.to/2i2KJfE
Amazon UK audio http://amzn.to/2iXfIdc
Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2iB9PWl
I-books http://apple.co/2j0pYW2
Audible UK http://adbl.co/2bGqZvO
Audible http://adbl.co/2hHT8El
The Shining Citadel
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/2c5LghC
Amazon UK http://amzn.to/2iqOXkr
Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2hHRv9K
I-books http://apple.co/2j0B4u8
Amazon UK http://amzn.to/2iOOWoB
Audible UK http://adbl.co/2iSW5GF
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/2j1DSnF
Audible.com http://adbl.co/2i3tf5t
Heroic Tales
BundleRabbit https://bundlerabbit.com/b/heroic-tales
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/heroic-tales
Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2u33Tfd
I books https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1257100962
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073T45HYB/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073T45HYB/
Author Bio
British-born Alexandra Butcher (a/k/a A. L. Butcher) is an avid reader and creator of worlds, a poet, and a dreamer, a lover of science, natural history, history, and monkeys. Her prose has been described as ‘dark and gritty’ and her poetry as evocative. She writes with a sure and sometimes erotic sensibility of things that might have been, never were, but could be.
Alex is the author of the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles and the Tales of Erana lyrical fantasy series. She also has several short stories in the fantasy, fantasy romance genres with occasional forays into gothic style horror. With a background in politics, classical studies, ancient history and myth, her affinities bring an eclectic and unique flavour in her work, mixing reality and dream in alchemical proportions that bring her characters and worlds to life.
Social Media links
Amazon Author page http://amzn.to/2hK33OM
Facebook Author Page http://bit.ly/FB2j0bbdZ
Twitter http://bit.ly/Twi2hJZ3h9
Goodreads http://bit.ly/GR2iqokvK
Library of Erana Blog http://bit.ly/Blog2iAWL3o
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-butcher-8342ab13b/
Tumblr https://libraryoferana.tumblr.com
Dirty Dozen – Character Interview – Gwyn Blaidd – Fantasy/Bundle
CHARACTER NAME: Gwyn Blaidd
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a Heroka of the wolf totem. The Heroka are a race of shapeshifters. We are linked to our totem species, drawing our vitality from them, with the power to control those animals and to take their form.
I’m over 100 years old and have been living a life of a recluse in my wilderness retreat, surrounded only by my wolf brothers. I’m not big on humans. I have my reasons. Probably something to do with them killing anyone I ever loved.
Tell us why you’re embarking on this adventure?
Didn’t have a lot of choice, did I? First an old friend, Ed Three Rivers, emails me. His granddaughter, Mary, has been killed. Maybe a wild animal. Maybe a Heroka. He wants my help.
Then Mitch Ducharmes, head of the Circle of the Heroka, shows up with a teenage girl, Caz, in tow. Her parents have been killed by the Tainchel (keep reading—I’ll get to them) but Caz escaped. Mitch has the bright idea that I’d be the perfect person to protect her. Yeah, right.
I tell Mitch no. I tell Ed no.
That changes when the Tainchel attack my home. They kill Mitch, almost kill me. I kill them instead. My secret retreat is secret no longer, and the Tainchel are hunting Heroka again. I need to find and face them, but the problem with finding a covert organization is, well, yeah—the covert part.
So I head to Thunder Lake, where Ed lives, with a reluctant teenage girl tagging along because she’s safer with me than alone. Why Thunder Lake? Because a killing with Heroka signs will attract the Tainchel to the town.
And that works for me.
Would you kill for those you love?
Been there. Done that. Told that story in “Spirit Dance” but it comes up again in this one, too. I didn’t think I had anyone left in the world to love, but I have lessons to learn on this journey.
Would you die for those you love?
I tried. She wouldn’t let me. I still wish…I still wish it had been me, not her.
What is your world like? How does it differ to mine?
You not been paying attention? The Heroka? A race of shapeshifters who are linked to the animals of their totem? Oh wait. That’s actually not different from yours. You just don’t know we exist. And we’d like to keep it that way.
Who is your greatest friend?
Ed Two Rivers, an Ojibwe and a human. Runs a store with his white wife, Vera, in Thunder Lake. He knows of the Heroka. He keeps our secrets. Now he needs my help to find out who—or what—killed his granddaughter, Mary. I knew Mary. Taught her to track, to hunt. Great kid. Now she’s dead. Dead like all the other friends I’ve had in my life. Ed’s the last.
No, that’s not true. There’s Gelert, the great Irish wolfhound (I like the irony) who is my pawakan, my animal companion of my totem who is bound to me as I am to him.
Who is your greatest enemy
The Tainchel, a covert operation of the Canadian intelligence agency CSIS, formed with the single goal of tracking down and capturing the Heroka. For scientific testing. Testing that we, the Heroka, generally don’t survive.
Tainchel. Old Scottish term: armed men advancing in a line through a forest to flush out and kill wolves.
The Tainchel developed specialized scanners from tests on early victims. Subtle differences in alpha wave patterns, infrared readings, and metabolic rates give us away, even in crowded cities.
What is your greatest weakness (we won’t tell).
I’m told I have a bit of a temper. Likely something to do with humans trying to kill my people all the time.
Do you believe in god(s)?
I’ve always been pretty ambivalent on the topic. My general response to anyone talking of gods and an afterlife has been a shrug and a “maybe.”
But after you’ve met the wolf spirit, Mahigan, and fought an indestructible supernatural flesh-eating monster, and walked in the Spirit World…
Well, let’s just say I’m more open to the idea now.
Within your culture what is the political structure.
The Heroka are all pretty independent. Yeah, some of us are herd or pack creatures, but we’re not big on being told what to do. The Circle of the Heroka is as close to a political structure we have. It’s elected. Reps from each of the totems, with one of them serving as the head. I headed security in the northeast once, under Mitch. That was before the ambush (keep reading).
What is your greatest fear?
The vitality of the Heroka is tied to the vitality of our totem animals. Human greed for land, for power, for resources, is destroying our wilderness, destroying the habitats of our totem species. As the animals dwindle, so does the strength of the Heroka. That’s why so many of us are environment activists. Sometimes the activism gets violent. Before you judge, remember—we’re fighting for our survival as a species.
Tell us about your greatest achievement
The ambush. My greatest claim to fame—or infamy. Depends who you ask.
It happened while I still ran security in the northeast. Once we finally realized the Tainchel existed and were hunting us, we set a trap. I leaked word about a gathering of Heroka planned for an isolated spot. At a full moon—figured they’d expect that touch.
About twenty Tainchel walked into the ambush. They were focused on capturing subjects, so they only had trank rifles.
They walked in. They didn’t walk out. We were all predator totems. Wolves, bears, the big cats, birds of prey. We didn’t take prisoners.
Like I said, we were fighting for our lives.
For the author
Books in which this character appears:
Gwyn Blaidd is the main character in Doug’s urban fantasy novel, THE WOLF AT THE END OF THE WORLD. He also appears in Doug’s award winning novelette, “Spirit Dance,” which is the prequel story to THE WOLF novel.
Links, short author bio…
Douglas Smith is an award-winning Canadian author described by Library Journal as “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction.” His fiction has been published in twenty-six languages and thirty-two countries. His work includes the urban fantasy novel, The Wolf at the End of the World, and the collections Chimerascope, Impossibilia, and La Danse des Esprits. His non-fiction guide for writers, Playing the Short Game: How to Market & Sell Short Fiction, is a must read for any short story writer.
Doug is a three-time winner of Canada’s Aurora Award, and has been a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award, CBC’s Bookies Award, Canada’s juried Sunburst Award, and France’s juried Prix Masterton and Prix Bob Morane. A short film based on Doug’s story “By Her Hand, She Draws You Down” won several awards at film festivals around the world.
His website is www.smithwriter.com and he tweets at twitter.com/smithwritr. You can sign up for his newsletter at http://www.smithwriter.com/mailing_list.
This book features in:
BundleRabbit https://bundlerabbit.com/b/heroic-tales
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/heroic-tales
Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2u33Tfd
I books https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1257100962
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073T45HYB/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073T45HYB/
July 20, 2017
Swift Six – Author Interview – Diane J Cornwell
First Glimpse of Secondary Worlds Fantasy Bundle
Name: Diane J Cornwell
What attracts you to the genre in which you write?
While writing my stories I do not consider genre, which leaves me free to follow my muse and have fun while writing. I only consider genre after finishing each story, but so far, thankfully, I stick to traditional genre descriptions.
What piece of writing advice do you wish you’d known when you started your writing adventures?
Ignore all advice and just have fun writing each story.
If you could have dinner with any famous person or character who would you choose?
David Attenborough, because I would ask him to do a documentary on dragons, showing them flying, breathing fire, resting on top of high mountains, and many other abilities of the dragons in my Tracker series.
Who has been the greatest influence on your own work?
Anne McCafffrey with her Pern series of dragons, Mercedes Lackey with her Valdemar series, and L. E. Modesett, Jr. with his Recluse series, as well as his Science Fiction stories.
Also, Tara Harper, Terry Goodkind, and many other great authors in different genres.
Do you think the e-book revolution will do away with print?
No.
Which 3 books would you take to a desert island and why?
I would not go to a desert island because the sun would blister my fair skin, but if I landed on a desert island by some freak of nature, I would call for a dragon to fly me back home.
Author bio and book synopsis
Please introduce yourself (250 words or so):
I do not like talking about myself so you can read my About the Author in the back of each story that my publisher wrote.
One thing people might not know about me is that I love all animals, and understand each and every one has an individual personality. And for some reason, animals and birds are not scared of me.
I have ordered magpies out of my back yard because they were scaring my Sussex hens. I told them they could go to my front yard. And they did. I have told many a stray dog to go home when I catch them outside the fence looking at my hens. They all go, eventually, when they realise I will not play with them. Even my resident blue tongue lizard in to my vegetable garden is not scared of me.
So, I live in hope that one day a dragon will land in my front yard, as it is the only space large enough for a dragon to land. I just hope I will hear it talk to me.
Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short)
Tracker Series – Fantasy
Rider (Novel)
Guard (Novel)
Judge (Novel)
Mage (Novel)
Broken Series – Science Fiction
Broken Faith (Novel)
Broken Land (Novel)
Broken Agreement (Novel)
Fire Starter (Short Story)
Young Adult Books – Science Fiction
Jazz’s Asteroid (Novel)
Machani Diplomat (Novel)
P.I. Robins – Cosy Mystery
Divided Loyalties (Novelette)
Galaxy Freight Series – Science Fiction
Crash Landing (Novelette)
Altien Rescue (Novelette)
Harry’s Detour (Novelette)
Crew Extraction (Novelette)
Evasive Action (Novelette)
Truth Revealed (Novelette)
Galaxy Freight Omnibus Edition
Sensing Danger Series – Science Fiction
Sensing Danger I: Rescue (Novella)
Sensing Danger II: Capture (Novella)
Sensing Danger III: Freedom (Novella)
Links
First Glimpse at Secondary Worlds Bundle
Publisher with links to distributors:
https://tiftpublishing.com/books-available/
Social media
https://dianejcornwell.wordpress.com/
July 19, 2017
Book Spotlight – Rider – Fantasy
Title: Rider, Book One of the Tracker Series
Author: Diane J Cornwell
Genre: Fantasy
Main character description (short).
The main character is Dallas, rider of Swift, a pure bred tracker horse who can manipulate magic energy called ichur, and communicate by sending images to the mind of any human that can see and manipulate ichur.
Dallas can create spells using the magic energy, even though he did not train at the Convane academy, and by law will be brain wiped if he is caught creating spells.
Synopsis:
Never admit to seeing ichur, the silvery residue of magic spells. Not if you want to stay under the radar of the Councillors of Convane.
Swift, a pure bred tracker horse who can smell the smallest trace of ichur, can also remove the magic energy from any human or talisman.
Dallas, rider of Swift, knows how to create a spell without leaving residue, even if he is not a trained mage.
Neither Dallas or Swift admit to seeing and using the magic energy. If they did, Dallas would have his ability to see ichur removed, and Swift would be given to an approved mage by order of the council.
A new fantasy series including mages, dragons, tracker horses and more.
Brief Excerpt 250 words:
Dallas stopped Swift outside an adobe brick single story house with a lean-to on the side filled with bales of hay. He guessed the building was over two decades old, because of the different coloured patches of straw covering the roof.
The two foot high woven twig fence had also seen better days, but, even though parts of the fence leaned inwards over weed filled flower beds, it still served the purpose of stopping children or small animals from entering the yard anywhere but on the path at the open gate.
A small framed male dressed in tattered clothes raced out the open front door, followed by a dark haired plump women waving a broom. “Stop! Thief!”
Swift took four paces to the right, and stopped at the end of the dirt path, blocking the male from leaving the yard unless he was prepared to jump over the twig fence. He did not see Swift or Dallas until it was too late, because he was focused on keeping out of reach of the female’s broom.
Dallas raised his staff and cracked the male over the side of his head, just above his ear. The male dropped to the ground and did not move.
Swift lowered his head and sniffed, even though Dallas could not see any silver glow around the now unconscious male.
“Thank you, sir.” The female poked the thief with the straw end of her broom, and when he did not move, she bent down and retrieved a small bunch of feathers from inside his shirt. “Not his!”
Why should readers buy this book (50 words max)?
If readers love stories of individuals fighting for the rights of all citizens, including mages, dragons, and tracker horses, they will love these stories, which are suitable for readers of all ages.
[image error]Links etc.
Publisher: https://tiftpublishing.com/books-available/rider/
Author: https://dianejcornwell.wordpress.com/
July 18, 2017
Swift Six Character Interview – Fairchild #Sci-fi #Bundle
Swift Six Character Interview
Character Name (Lady Danielle Cooper) Fairchild
Which book/world do you live in? Fairchild by Blaze Ward
Tell us about yourself:
I just want to fly, man. Nothing else. That adrenaline rush of free-jumping from 20,000 meters with nothing but a bodysuit and thermals, racing to capture a flag fifty kilometres away.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
I suppose my greatest strength is that drive. It got me out of my father’s house, and out from under his thumb. If he cut me off, I have friends, and we’ll have far grander adventures than anyone sitting in a boring corporate boardroom.
Weakness? The darkness. It’s in me. Deep. Infecting my dreams and my days. Sometimes, it gets so close that ending it would only take a few ounces of pressure on a trigger.
Name three important people/creatures/institutions in your world (such as lovers, pets, government institutions, leaders, gods etc).
The Michigan State University Department of Planetology and Xeno-Geology. (Thanks for the ride and the t-shirt, Chike.)
My brother Rudy, who lets me borrow his vintage ground vehicles with internal combustion engines. And doesn’t bitch too much about my driving.
Eleanor, who was programmed to be my minder, and turned into my friend. I’ve alive because she never gave up on me.
What does ‘heroism’ mean to you?
Coming out the darkness on the other side. Not everyone has the will to do that. I’ve known too many friends spiral down into drink, or drugs, or darkness. It scares me that I might follow them.
What do you think of your ‘creator’?
When are you going to write the next book, you bastard? I wanna go fly Fairchild’s Golden Eagle.
Give us your favourite piece of advice:
Buy the damned concert tickets and go see your favourite band before they’re all dead.
Links to book
July 17, 2017
Book Spotlight – The Forestal – Fantasy/Poetry
Basic Book Spotlight
Title: The Forestal
Author: Blaze Ward
Genre: Epic Fantasy Poetry
Links etc. – http://www.knottedroadpress.com/book/the-forestal/
“The opening”
Outcast
first: The Dawn of Hope
So many times I wanted to call you up
to apologize for everything
But there was always something else
to add
to the list of sins
One morning it was simply too much
I could no longer bear the weight
of the world
on my shoulders
when I had done so little
One mistake
became ten thousand
But when I sought to cry out
to end the farce
It became ten million
The only recourse left me
was to climb the highest mountain
Where you could not follow
and there find a kind of escape
Where the sins of mankind
were not mine alone to suffer for
You told me once
that you cared about me
In this dawn of a new year
I wonder if it might not be an end
to the night of madness
A dawn of hope
where the mistakes of yesterday
can be forgotten
In hopes of starting anew
without yesterday’s crimes
I had climbed the mountain in desperation
but looking back I see no path up
So I think I am safe here
where no one can follow
If we cannot end
this night of madness
I shall leave to make my own dawn
and forget you
to your high tower
and your troll
For I see the old desert
suddenly stretched out before me
It is
my own dawn of hope
Beginning
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July 16, 2017
Swift Six Character Interview – Keo of the Sword #Fantasy
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Character Name: Keo of the Sword
Which book/world do you live in? The formerly united Kingdom of Lamaira; more specifically, South Lamaira, which is controlled by the Magicians.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? My greatest strength is my loyalty to my friends and my willingness to keep going no matter how hard the going gets.
My greatest weakness is my naivety, because I grew up in a forest largely isolated from the larger world, so there is much about the greater world that I don’t know about.
Name three important people/creatures/institutions in your world (such as lovers, pets, government institutions, leaders, gods etc). The Good King is an important figure in my world, or was, before his death, because he founded the Kingdom of Lamaira and was the one who sealed away the demons who oppressed us.
And, of course, there are the Magicians who rule over my home land of South Lamaira. Unfortunately, they often use their magic to benefit themselves, rather than help the people they rule over.
There is also my childhood friend, Nesma, who is a Magician herself and lives in the capital city of South Lamaira. I have not seen her in over a year since she left our part of the country to become a Magician, but I have urgent news I need to share with her as soon as possible, so I will probably go visit her sometime soon.
What does ‘heroism’ mean to you? Being willing to defend those who cannot defend themselves.
What do you think of your ‘creator’? I think he’s a good man, although I don’t understand why he’s forced me to leave my forest to go on a quest across my country to warn my country’s rulers of the return of the demons. I can only hope he has a larger plan than I am aware of, because I do not feel particularly good about defeating the demons.
Give us your favourite piece of advice: Always show respect to your local Magician. Not only are they a rightful authority over your town or area, but they also know many mystical arts and spells which they can you to make your life hell.
Links to book
Ebooks:
Paperback:
July 15, 2017
Guest Post – Publishing on Bundle Rabbit – Barbara Tarn
So, you joined BundleRabbit… great! You’re just another hopeful author waiting to be picked up! And when you do get picked up, all you have to do is follow Diane’s advice – she is one of the authors of my first bundle and I couldn’t have said it better. She explains everything about how BR works for authors.
But wait, months go by and nobody requests anything. You see dozens of other great authors and start thinking… why not? Maybe I should become a curator! How hard can it be?
Putting bundles together at BundleRabbit is great fun, but it’s also exhausting. Not very hard, but there is a small learning curve.
First of all, you apply for “curator” status. Create a draft with your vision (it can include your book or not) and choose a release date, but check what else is coming out that month.
Try to book a release date that is not already taken. When too many bundles come out at the same time, even though they’re not in the same genre, it kind of clutters even BundleRabbit’s page… So please take a look at the calendar and select a date – and keep in mind it takes at least a couple of weeks for the whole publishing process, so it can’t be tomorrow because you’re so excited and just can’t wait!
Then you start browsing the marketplace. Since not all authors upload a preview, if you’re not already familiar with their work, I suggest you read at least an excerpt before choosing someone for your awesome bundle.
Even though BundleRabbit allows bundling from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 25 books, try to stick to 10, especially if it’s novels, and don’t price them too low. You can always make a sale for a holiday, a special occasion, etc.
Create a Sales Blurb telling about all the great stories included and in the About section write some kind of curator’s note – like how fun it was to gather these people together and things like that. Don’t just repeat the Sales Blurb or the Vision! And don’t forget to fill the Thank You note!
You only need to provide a 2D cover and a background image – BR will take care of making the 3D cover, cover fan and… contributor’s copy, plus the “ads” for each title. You can use the forum of the bundle at first to communicate with authors (I did it with the fantasy bundle to ask their world’s name), but then you better create a mailing list, since not everyone wants to check the BR forums (or gets the email notifications).
And when your bundle is publishing, and you see the contributor’s copy is ready, please tell the authors they can download their own copy by going to their dashboard – bundles you’re in – and to the book in the bundle (where they will also find the “ad” a few days later).
It’s up to you or not to make a Facebook page for the bundle(s). I made just one for all my SFF bundles, both the ones I curate and the ones I’m in. Send out clear messages to the authors: when the bundle will go live on BR (it goes on pre-order on Amazon, Apple, Kobo and Barnes&Noble), when you do a sale on BR – and if you have a bundle that allows coupons, ask the authors if they need any for their giveaways.
Try to coordinate the efforts to boost the signal! And have fun!
Barbara G.Tarn
http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com
www.unicornproductionsbooks.com
https://www.patreon.com/BarbaraGTarn
https://vimeo.com/user65901088
