K.N. Lee's Blog, page 59

The Top Secret "Leaked Files" have reached the United Kingdom!

Oh boy...I knew this would happen. When I heard that someone broke into the Netherworld division's vaults and stole classified documents, I knew it was only a matter of time before the secrets of the Netherworld would spill into the human world. 
Guess what. 
I was right. 
I just received an anonymous call directing me to a British website. 
Yes. My fears have come true. Koa Ryeo-won's interview for a Netherworld agent position has been leaked. Humans everywhere will now know the truth. 
We are not alone...
Click the files...but only if you can handle the truth.

The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld Blog Tour Continues...

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books A Million

Mysterious Mansion- Writing Prompt

You received a letter in the mail inviting you to an exclusive lunch at the local mansion. Everyone knows that the family that live in this mansion are...eccentric. As you walk up the stairs, what awaits you inside?

Writing Challenge With David Revilla!

The Challenge: In 3000 words or less, write about a woman or man that has been falsely imprisoned for half of their life. What do they do when they are finally proven innocent and set free?

The Result: Jack~ A Short Story by David Revilla
“Free?” The word tasted bitter in my mouth, like a candy that had lost its sweet taste.The judge looked at me, aged brow furrowed into many folds. “Did I stutter?” His condescending voice holds within it a tinge of venom. One would think he despised the idea of letting me go. I was, after all, Jack. “Yes, you are free to go.”The sound of the gavel was deafening, like the judge had a personal vendetta against the podium on which he rapped. I would have flinched were I not so flabbergasted. Truth be told, I expected to spend the rest of my life in prison. Men like me did not go free. Then again, there are no men like me. I am no mere man.I am Jack.I felt the strong hands of my guard grab me from behind. He firmly led me off from where I had been sentenced for the crime of murder. It seemed so long ago then, like I had just woken up from living someone else’s memory, my eyes fluttering open as I tried to discern my whereabouts.The guard led me down the vacant aisles, out of the courtroom, and into the hall where two more of his fellows, gruff, hard-looking men with dark eyes, muttered harsh words at my passing. I didn’t pay them any mind. I was free. One would think that would be a cause for joy and elation.But not for me.Do not misunderstand, I don’t to go back to prison. Prison was where the soul went to die. My soul was still intact, thank God, but…no. God and I have not spoken in a long time. I don’t know who I should thank for my newfound freedom or even if I should be thankful at all. I have spent the last 118 years in prison, my jailers doing everything humanely possible to bury me as deep as the ancient soil of England would allow; deeper than the cairns of old Celtic kings, to the very rooftop of hell if it were at all possible.118 years. It might seem ludicrous to you. But as I said, I am no mere man. I am Jack.To humanely incarcerate an inhuman man is no easy feat. Scotland Yard tried to bury my past, my legacy, along with me. As I was led out of the house of justice, my footfalls as stoic as the pale features of my face, I thought back to that night more than a century ago when my enemies, with connections in high places, tried to have me put away forever.Now that may seem like a long time to you, but as I am no man, I could have spent ten times ten that amount in jail and not aged a day. I am what you would call an immortal, blessed, and cursed, with eternal youth. Atropos herself cannot have me, though I have sent many an undead into her chilly embrace.Undead? Ludicrous, you say? Hardly.The guard released me and just like that I was free to go. I stepped through the double doors of the palace of justice and squinted in the afternoon sun. My eyes watered, a sting I had not felt in a very long time. I welcomed it. I embraced it. Though my sudden release had me considering all manner of paranoia-induced plotting at the hands of my enemies, I had come to realize one very apparent truth at that moment: they’d let me out into the sun.The sun.They didn’t win, I thought as my eyes began to clear. The undead hated the sun. In my incarceration, my one solace was in the belief that my actions had somehow stemmed the tide of evil from overtaking my beloved London, my city. In countless sleepless hours in the dark, the worst part was the fear of not knowing what had happened. Now that I am free and seeing my home for the first time in decades, I can breathe a sigh of relief the likes of which I didn’t know my lungs possessed.It was all still here. We had won.“Jack.” A voice from the past greeted me upon my return to the world of the living. I almost didn’t recognize him. While we immortal hunters may not age, we must adapt with the times. After more than a hundred years of being left out of the loop, I knew that clothing attire had undergone many changes while I was locked away. But this…“Abe?” I asked aghast. The portly fellow whom I had shared many a close call with looked no worse for the wear, unless one counted the cleanly-shaven head, thin mustache, and what I assumed to be some sort of formal suit, as unfortunate. Which I did. “Is that you?”Abe greeted me with a hug. Never one for formality, at least that much about old Abraham Van Helsing remained the same. I gasped as he let me go. “You look…different.”“And you,” he began with a laugh, “look exactly the same.” He pinched his rubbery nose. “Could do with a shower.”Abe put his arm around me and led me towards a strange four-wheeled vehicle that was oddly close to the ground. I recall seeing something of the like, before I was imprisoned of course, and my mind raced through a mental catalog of things long past. “Is that a...automobile?”“We’ve a great deal of catching up to do,” Abe said, and wasted no time in escorting me to the vehicle. As we approached, I caught site of a man dressed in black who opened the door for us. His face was completely covered, his black cap pulled tight over his pale face.“Abe?” I began as the man opened the back door to allow us inside. “Abe!” I said with more urgency, my heart suddenly racing.“It’s alright, Jack.” He waved the chauffer off as he entered the car behind me. The chauffer shut the door behind us and moved about, presumably, to start the vehicle. The cabin we had entered was spacious, enough for half a dozen people to sit around in a semi-circle comfortably and with ample legroom. Ahead I spotted the undead chauffer enter the driver side and start the automobile, which rumbled like a waking lion.Glancing at my old friend, I gasped my next statement. “That chauffer is undead.”“Quite right,” Abe agreed. Reaching into his pocket, the man pulled out—not a pipe, as he was well known for smoking, but a large cigarette. An earthy scent filled the cabin.“Smoke sir?” The chauffer asked in an inquisitor voice.“Yes, Ezekiel. Excuse me.” Reaching over, Abe pushed a button beside his chair and a thin black screen arose between us and the chauffer, cutting him off from sight. “There we are.” Abe leaned back as he looked at me. “Union types get all up in arms if we don’t respect our employees.”“Employees?” I bucked in my seat even though the vehicle felt as if it were moving on smooth ice. “You mean they serve us now?” Had our victory been that complete? No, I berated myself. My order had dedicated itself to eradicating the undead centuries ago. Ours was a holy struggle that began after the fall of Christ. We would never parlay with the dead.Abe’s laugh was irritating, the jowls of his cheeks bobbing. “Things have changed since you’ve been away, Jack. We don’t fight them anymore.”“We don’t?” I would have stood up were the ceiling not so low.“No.” Abe took another puff of his cigarette. “We work with them. Sometimes for them.” He chuckled at my obvious surprise. “Don’t look at me that way, Jackie. You had to have known things wouldn’t be the same once you got out.”“I didn’t expect to ever get out, Abe. Speaking of which,” I settled down somewhat, though my eyes kept glancing to the black screen. “How did you manage to get me out of there? I thought Scotland Yard had enough of a false case against me to put me away until Judgment Day.”“They did. They did quite a good of framing you.”“Framing me? How can I be framed for killing what’s already dead?” I still couldn’t believe it. “I thought you had connections in Parliament. I rotted in that prison for more than a century. What have you been up to all this time?”“A lot.” Abe glanced out the window. “Take a look out there, Jack. London’s not what is used to be. Damned liberals control everything now and everyone has rights as far as the new administration is concerned.”“Everyone?”“Everyone.” He glanced at me. “The undead walk freely among us.”“Bollocks!” I cried. “They would devour us all!”“Not so. A few years after your incarceration, our side met with theirs, made a hodgepodge of promises to one another and just like that, instant treaty. We now coexist together in racial harmony.”I could not believe it. “And you, Abe?”“I’m no Brutus, Jackie. I was just as shocked as you when I heard our moms and pops upstairs decided to play nice with the dead-heads. Just a moment,” he pushed the button that lowered the screen. “Oh Ezekiel, take the scenic route. Jack and I have a lot to talk about.”“Yes sir,” the undead said back before the screen went up again.“I wasn’t the only one, mind you. Rayne and Blake. Mike and Dee. We were all up in arms at first. But we had to commit else face expulsion from the order. Sen did that.” His face turned dour. “Haven’t heard from her since she stormed out back in Brussels. Word is she’s gone rogue somewhere in Bangkok. There’s a warrant for her arrest as…”“We hunt our own now?”“We don’t hunt anyone anymore,” Abe spoke up. “Take a look at me, Jackie. Do I look like I stroll through sewers and aqueducts late at night anymore?”“I daresay you’ve gone turncoat, Abraham.”“Now Jack. I know you’re frustrated, mad even, but you don’t know what it’s been like out here.”“Out here?” I almost exploded. “Out here! Do you have any idea what I’ve been through? What I’ve been forced to endure?” I could feel my hands clenching as if they’d meant to pummel ol’ Abe into a fat pulp. Honestly, the idea did sound appealing at the moment. “That year, 1888, I was at the forefront of an effort to stop an invasion! I was to hunt down those undead agents who were posing as prostitutes. They were preying on high-ranking government officials who frequented the Whitechapel district.”I leered at Abe. “We knew the undead would use the media to paint me as a murderer. A murderer, Abe. I saved King and Country and God only knows how many people from an influx of undead who would have placed their own people in Parliament and Buckingham Palace itself after the politicians were dealt with, turning England into the Eighth Circle of Hell.”I almost collapsed against my seat. Pinching my nose, for I could not comprehend what was happening around me, I spoke through troubled breath. “I knew there would be repercussions for my actions, that the undead would do everything in their power to stop me. That was where you were supposed to come in, Abraham.” I eyed him. “When they captured me, I expected to be tortured for information, but instead I was simply ‘put away’ in some dark hole while you talked to them, is that what you’re telling me?”“You would have broken eventually, Jack. We had to come clean else the order might not have survived the backlash.”“So you just all decided to leave me there to rot,” I demanded rather than asked.“Hardly. We spent the better part of the last century doing everything we could to get you out. A few of the lads and lassies wanted to mount a rescue mission, but by then we were in too deep with the negotiations and any hostility on the part of either side would have plunged England into civil war.”“It is our duty to fight the undead.”“It was our duty, Jack. We don’t work like that anymore.”My saliva tasted like poison, so betrayed I felt. Out the window I could see the streets of London filled with people. A few of them were wearing bizarre outfits. At first I considered it was just the changing of the times, but then I began to wonder if those individuals were in fact hiding something from the general populace, something they didn’t want known. How many of those pedestrians, I wondered, were the enemy in disguise?“It wasn’t easy, Jack. Believe me.”“I stopped believing in things while I was picking cockroaches off my bare feet.” I turned to him, hurt in my eyes. “All this time, the only thing holding me together was the thought of you, Blake, and the others fighting the good fight. I never lost hope that we would win.”“And we did win. In a sense.”“Peace with the undead is no victory.”“It’s no defeat, either,” he countered. “They didn’t wipe us out, Jackie. Humans still control England and Europe, for the most part.”I questioned him with my eyes.“The French, Jackie. Always the French.” He chuckled.I was in no laughing mood.Abe sighed. “Listen, Jack,”“What’s happened to you, Abe? What happened to us? To the good fight?”“The only good fight, Jackie, is the one where we get our people home alive. Not everyone is like us, if you don’t recall. Most of our people are just brave, hard-working men and women who have families to look after. When they die, who looks after their children?” He took another puff of smoke. “The armistice brokered a much-needed peace, one that saw many of our people grow old and live long, happy lives.”“And what about us?” I said.“As I said, we weren’t pleased at first, but with time we learned to accept the reality of the situation. We changed. They changed, Jackie.”I glared at the black screen.“They’re not all bad, mind you.”I turned on him. “How many friends did we lose?”“That was then.” The car pulled to a stop. “This is now.”I glanced out the window. “Where are we?” We’d stopped in front of an old building. Even though the years had updated certain features, I recognized the neighborhood almost immediately. “This is Dorset Street.”“Indeed it is,” Abe said as he waited for the dead-head chauffer to come around and open the door. I stayed in for a few seconds after he left, unsure of what was going on. “Come now, Jackie. Don’t be shy. These are your old haunting grounds.”He was right. Mary Jane Kelly was one of the undead lady-assassins I had slain back in 1888. She had been very good at enticing powerful men with her childish innocence and perk lips. I put an end to her dark exhibitions by removing her heart while in her quarters. Of course, her allies arrived on the scene and mutilated her body, which only served to sway further public opinion against me.“What are we doing here?” I asked Abe.“To get you some help, old boy.”“Help?” I glanced up at the building. It was unmarked with a white portico and a flight of stairs leading up to a set of double-doors. “I don’t understand.”“Exactly the point. You don’t understand because you refuse to accept things are no longer the same.”“What are you…?”He stopped me short. “This is where former hunters like you get the help they need to acclimate themselves to the current world. Think of it as an AA meeting…for immortals.”I still didn’t understand.Abe put his hand on my shoulder. “Listen, Jackie-boy. I know things are not the same as when you left them, but trust when I say that this place can help you. It helped me and most of the others back when we felt that there could be no peace between us.”“Is that it, then? Free me and expect me to acclimate myself to the times?”“We all had to do it, Jackie.”“But not all of us had to go to prison.”He sighed. “I’m sorry for that, Jack. I truly am. Believe me when I say I did everything possible to get you out sooner.”“But why here? Why now?”He stepped away. “Things slip through the cracks all the time. With all that was going on, is going on, it’s a wonder you were released as soon as now.”I glared at him.“We’re immortals, Jackie. What is time to us?”“Something we can never get back,” I said to him, and he walked back to his strange, long automobile. “Trust me, this place will help you. You’ll change soon enough.” And with that, he was gone, along with his dead-head chauffer.I looked back at the building, located in the same district as one of my most famous “murders.” Jack the Ripper, they called me then. I was hated and feared by the very people I had been trying to protect from the undead. I was captured, imprisoned, and forgotten—slipped through the cracks. I’d devoted my life to fighting monsters, and instead I was pegged as the monster, the one thing that waited underneath your bed or in your closet.Looking at the building before me, an old construct in a new and ever-changing city, I felt just as out of place, out of time. I only wanted to find someplace cold and dark and hide there like the monster people thought I was.End
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Energize (From the Logs of Daniel Quinn) by, Thomas Ray Manning

Blurb  A struggling mercenary. An enemy warship. A dangerous secret. When Captain Daniel Quinn discovers the location of a powerful energy source, he is forced to explore a mysterious planet, but in doing so he finds that the decisions he makes could lead to the downfall of an entire alien race.   Reviews 1. "Daniel Quinn is a struggling mercenary - struggling because he has a heart. First Contact will never be the same again.

Energizer is a first person narrative that is at times electric, sorrowful, inventive, astonishing, and ultimately totally unpredictable and original. I love Mr. Manning's writing style. The use of first person puts you firmly in Daniel's head and you are there for the duration of the book, experiencing every nuance with him.
The author's voice rings clear and true. His writing is wonderfully descriptive. He draws his scenes and characters in Technicolor. The space Daniel inhabits is tangible. The joy and pain he feels lifts your spirit or makes you cry.
By the time I reached the end of this book I felt as though Daniel and I were old friends. The conclusion was satisfying, and yet, we are given the hope that Mr. Manning will revisit Daniel so we might follow him into another thrilling episode." - Theresa Snyder, author of the Star Traveler Series 5/5   2. "Energize is truly an enjoyable novel filled with fantastic and memorable characters. The author, Thomas Manning, does such a wonderful job with every detail of this novel that I could clearly picture every scene. So whether you're a Sci Fi lover or not, this book is a must read!!!" - E.F. Rose, upcoming author 5/5   3. "Energize tells the story of Daniel Quinn, an ex-soldier of the Earth Star Alliance, cursed with a dark past and demons that continue to haunt him. Five years after being framed for a crime he didn't commit, he is a mercenary and captain of his own ship, partnered with humanities only artificial intelligence. Coerced into a contract he doesn't really want to take, he is forced to make choices that effect not only his future, but the future of a newly discovered planet and the species that inhabit it.

The story is solid and told from the first person perspective, with an easy flow and style that brings the characters and settings to life. Characters are fun and believable and the aliens, though humanoid in actions and emotions, are well thought out with a culture and language all of their own. Actions make sense, and there are no leaps of logic or convenient pieces of technology that often plague science fiction tales like this.

All in all, it is an excellent read and well worth the time I took to read it. I am looking forward to book 2 (Antagonize I think due for November 2013) and will pick it up as soon as it is available.

A good, solid 4* book." - Robert Jackson-Lawrence, author of The Chronicles of Benjamin Knight 4/5 Check out my interview with author, Thomas Ray Manning!  

Village Sacrifice- Writing Prompt

Write a story about the girl and the goat. Their village have tied them up as a sacrifice, but for whom?

An interview with the author of Energize, Thomas Ray Manning!

Meet the author of Energize, Thomas Ray Manning!
K.N. Lee: Thanks for stopping by Write Like a Wizard. It is a pleasure to host you today. Not too long ago we were sitting here and you were interviewing me about The Chronicles of Koa:Netherworld! 
Thomas: Yes! The tides have turned haven’t they? Mua ha haaaaaa *cough*. Thank you so much for interviewing me! It’s always a pleasure to converse with you!
K.N. Lee: Thank you. Now, Mr. Manning, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Thomas: Let’s see…I’ll be turning 32 in September but I still act like I’m 10. I have a wonderful wife and two amazing children! I graduated college with a BFA in Musical Theatre, and play the trumpet and saxophone. A few years ago I began my quest for writing a book that I felt was strong enough to be published, and released Energize through Amazon this past June. I had such a fun time writing it. I absolutely love using my imagination and creating something with it.
K.N. Lee: Where are you from?
Thomas: I live outside the city of Pittsburgh, Pa. Go Steelers! Go Pirates! (Truth be told I’m not a huge sports nut, but I might as well root for the home team right?)
K.N. Lee: What inspired you to write your first book?
Thomas: I think at the time I was reading so much, just flying through books to the point where my mind started to create new plots and stories. I was talking to a friend of mine one day and we both decided we would really like to write and publish books. It was around that time when Amazon’s KDP service really took off, and I thought I would take a chance. I made sure to read a lot more, looked up articles by authors on how to write, and then out of my ideas I picked the story I thought would be a great debut book.
K.N. Lee: Do you write full-time or part-time? How do you balance your writing life with your family/work life? 
Thomas: I would love to write full time! I really would! I have so many ideas just swimming through my head. I think my last count of books I want to write is around 21, no joke! Unfortunately I can only do it part time right now. During the day I work at my job, and then I come home to be with my family. After the kids go to bed is when I usually start writing. I try to keep it as balanced as I can, but family comes before anything, and work pays the bills, so those comprise the majority of my day.
K.N. Lee: Your debut novel, Energize, is very impressive. I found it well written, intriguing, and would have guessed you’d written scores of books prior to its publication. Can you tell the readers out there what Energize is about? -            Thomas: Thank you so much! That’s really great to hear! With any luck my next book will be even better! Energize is the story of Daniel Quinn, a captain and insignificant mercenary who discovers a secret. Somewhere among the stars there exists an energy source once thought to be myth. Attempting to sell the information for riches, Daniel is cornered by very dangerous people and is forced to travel to an unknown location and retrieve it. In order to find what he’s looking for, Daniel will have to overcome his fears, escape from his pursuers, and explore a mysterious planet. But as he learns more about the energy source he was sent to collect, he will find this job is not so easily accomplished, and the path he chooses will not only be the difference between honor and disgrace, but life and death.
K.N. Lee: I really enjoyed reading Energize! Daniel was such a great character that a reader can easily relate to. How cool is that bionic eye?! How did you come up with the title for Energize?
Thomas: I used Thesaurus! Honestly! The main theme behind Energize is energy and power, and I wanted the title to reflect that. After inputting a few words into the thesaurus website, I found the word energize and immediately knew that would be the title to my first book.
K.N. Lee: How did you come up with the idea?
Thomas: I am a huge science fiction fan. I love Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and then some! When I set out to write Energize, I really wanted to make it more of a personal story of just one man, as opposed to an ensemble story like so many others are. While there are plenty of characters in Energize, we only follow Daniel from beginning to end watching how he grows, reacts, and becomes a better person.

K.N. Lee: There was a great character arc. Good job! Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? -            Thomas: Absolutely! Always stand up for what you believe is right, and don’t let your past dictate who you are. Overcome any regrets you have in your past and instead look toward the future.
K.N. Lee: Set in a sci-fi world, how much of Energize is realistic?
Thomas: That’s hard to say considering Energize takes place about 100 years in our future, give or take a decade. I would like to think in a century we are out among the stars in ships. I tried not to make the technology too advanced. When Daniel lands on a mysterious, uncharted planet, then the book goes a little more into fantasy. 
K.N. Lee: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Thomas: Not really. I don’t use my personal life much when building a story. I essentially create a character I think would be fun to write about and then craft a story around them. Some characters and their reactions may be inspired by people in my life, but that would be the extent of it.
K.N. Lee: What books have most influenced your life most?
Thomas: How can I choose? Stories can teach us so many things. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter taught me that a young, courageous boy could beat the odds by trusting his friends and believing in himself. Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files taught me to never give up, and also how stories and characters can span over a dozen wonderful books! George R.R. Martin taught me how to piss off people by killing their favorite characters! In all seriousness though, Martin is an amazing author. They all are! That’s what makes an amazing book, is when you can walk away from it and found that you learned something valuable.
K.N. Lee : If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Thomas: Jim Butcher. No hesitation here. I was amazed by the characters he created, the style he writes in. I don’t think I would have ever written a first novel if it wasn’t for him, and I never even met him in person! His books are just ridiculously good, and he inspired me to write and release books just as good!
K.N. Lee: What book are you reading now? 
Thomas: I’m currently reading Hunted by Kevin Hearne, and Darkest Before Dawn by Robert Jackson-Lawrence.
K.N. Lee: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Thomas: I’m talking to one of them right now! Seriously, your Chronicles of Koa book is awesome! I also enjoy indie author Robert Jackson-Lawrence’s books. I just recently discovered author Richard Preston. His novel Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founds looks incredible! I’ll be starting that as soon as I finish my current reads. There are also a few aspiring authors still working on their books, people like J. Ramirez, Kristen Hope, and E.F. Rose who I’m looking forward to! I can’t wait to read them all! 
K.N. Lee: Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed, The Chronicles of Koa. What are your current projects?
Thomas: Right now I’m working on the next book in the Daniel Quinn series, titled Antagonize!
K.N. Lee: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
Thomas: Without a doubt it would be my best friend J. Ramirez. Over the last five years we’ve been motivating each other, pushing each other, and supporting each other in our aspirations to become published authors. 
K.N. Lee: Do you see writing as a career?           Thomas: That’s my goal! I would love make writing my career. As long as I can keep writing books that people enjoy, I don’t see any reason why that couldn’t happen! I sure hope it does!
K.N. Lee: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Thomas : I think I managed to get everything into Energize that I wanted. The reviews seem to agree! I actually removed a few things from the book before it went out to betas!
K.N. Lee: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?           
Thomas: I don’t actually. My earliest memory of writing is probably fifteen years ago when J and I would write random stories. Years before that in grade school I drew comic books. My artistic ability was non-existent, but it was more about the story in that comic that I wanted to create.
K.N. Lee: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Thomas: At the moment my manuscript of Antagonize is in its first draft, so I don’t want to release anything that could be altered at a later date. Fear not though! How about I reveal the synopsis for Antagonize?! Let’s do it! The neighboring planets Terra and Gaia have been at war for countless years. Now in the wake of a peace treaty, members of their council are being murdered. Far away on a desolate planet, Captain Daniel Quinn of the Kestrel Belle is pulled into the conflict by an unknown man in the hopes that he can help stop the bloodshed. Unfortunately for Daniel, the task is easier said than done considering there are more people who embrace the war than those who want it to end. As he attempts to track down the killer and resume the talks for peace, Daniel will come face to face with someone from his past, fight against armies of soldiers, and worst of all, go up against a highly trained mercenary who watches and taunts Daniel's every move.
K.N. Lee: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?         Thomas:  I suppose making sure that each character has his or her own distinct voice and personality is something I feel I struggle more than anything with. Even though Energize is a first-person book, there are still a lot of supporting characters, and I want to make sure that they’re different from each other. If you look at the characters Cessa and Sarah King, they both have similar views, they’re both ruthless and cold, but I still think they’re distinguishable characters.
  K.N. Lee: I really liked Cessa! She was such a dynamic character. She actually reminded me of Cara from the Sword of Truth novels. A true Mord-Sith! Who designed the cover?
        Thomas: Ronnell Porter designed my cover for me. I think he did a great job! He’s a really nice guy and a pleasure to work with. You can see some of his other covers, and what his services include here! - http://ronnelldporter.wix.com/design
K.N. Lee: What was the hardest part of writing your book?           Thomas: Honestly? Writing it lol! Throughout the process of writing it I kept doubting whether it would be good enough, whether I studied enough on the craft of writing and storytelling. Additionally I had a lot of trouble making consistent time for writing (Still trying to figure that one out today!).
K.N. Lee: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?           Thomas: I learned a couple of things actually. The story, no matter how long it’s stuck in your head or written down on an outline – it can still surprise the hell out of you. One minute you’ll be typing away and all of a sudden a light bulb turns on in your head and you’re like, “Whoa! I didn’t even think of going in that direction”. Also, I didn’t realize how amazing it feels to finish the book and see all these characters and worlds that you created come to life. It’s awesome!
K.N. Lee: Do you have any advice for other writers?          
Thomas: I do, and everyone’s heard it before, but it needs to be repeated over and over again - Do not stop writing! No matter what’s going on in your life, how your current books are selling, how nervous you are about releasing your first novel, don’t stop. It doesn’t matter if you write 5,000 words a day or 100. Be like Dory in Finding Nemo – “Just keep writing…just keep writing…just keep writing, writing, writing!”
K.N. Lee: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?           
Thomas: Thank you for reading my book! Also, feedback is important to me. Whether you liked Energize or didn’t like it, I would be grateful if you would leave a review. If you didn’t like it, tell me why so I can work harder the next time to grab your interest. You can even e-mail me! Just go to the contact page on my website – http://www.thomasrmanning.com
K.N. Lee: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?         Thomas: For the most part I just wanted to make sure I knew enough about the craft of storytelling. As much as I wanted to write a novel and release it for people to read, I wanted to make sure I had all the fundamentals that made a good book. I really took my time and spent a couple years reading and researching plot structure, character creation, story and world building. Once I was satisfied with the knowledge I acquired, then I set out to write my book!
K.N. Lee: What do you think about e-publishing versus technical publishing?          
Thomas: When you ask that, are you referring to eBooks vs. print? Or indie publishing vs. traditional? How about I touch on both? I love my Kindle, and since I bought it, my reading speed has doubled when compared to reading print books. I like the convenience of having one device with all my books on it, and it’s small enough to take with me wherever I go. Having said that, I think print books are also great. It’s nice to browse the book store and look at the covers and read the back to see if it’s a story you might enjoy. For the most part though, I buy my books on Kindle.
Now in regards to indie publishing vs. traditional, I think there’s a place in this world for both! I feel like there’s a wall between indie and traditional that shouldn’t be there. Traditional authors should be willing to read, feature, talk about indie books, while indie publishers do the same for traditional. Maybe some do, but like I said, from my perspective it seems like everyone just stays within their own group. I really enjoy the self-publishing route. I retain all creative control for my books, I get to choose the cover, and I pick my own deadlines. I can also write in whatever genre I want, regardless of what is the “hot genre” at the time. To be completely honest with you though, I would love to be picked up by a traditional publisher. It would be amazing to see my book in a physical book store. Another disadvantage for self-publishing is the cost of cover art, editing, ISBNs, etc. You have to spend a lot of money to publish your book in a professional manner, and with a family to feed and a house to pay for, I have a hard time finding the funds to do all that.
K.N. Lee: Do you have an agent or publisher? How did you go about finding one?           Thomas: I’m currently self-published. However, I did send out queries to seven agents concerning my first book, Energize. So far I’ve had one response and it was a rejection, but they were very nice about it! 
K.N. Lee: If you could live anywhere, where would it be?           
Thomas: Probably Ireland. I’ve heard it’s beautiful there, and being Irish myself, I would love to see where some of my ancestors lived!
K.N. Lee: Me too! I'd love to live in Ireland. If you could have any super power, what would it be?          Thomas: It would have to be a toss-up between flying and reading minds. I always choose reading minds though because if I could fly I’d most likely smack into a tree or plane! Reading minds would be great though! I constantly wonder what people are thinking!
K.N. Lee: Thank you for joining us on Write Like a Wizard!
For More on Thomas Ray Manning: Twitter: Website:  Blog: Energize:   

Breathe- a poem

Breathe K.N. Lee
Breathe inThe scent of loveSprinkled with brown sugarVanillaAnd blessings from aboveFresh And crispLike a perfect pearIt tastes even betterWhen the love is shared Being bittenBy the love-bug 
Set free
From loneliness's tug Sucked dry
And filled By its entrancing powerThe scent and sweet flavorIs one we'll both devour

Silence- a poem

Silence K.N. Lee
Silence can be a giftA curse Or a diseaseI wrap my arms around youAnd pray that you will somehow see
My silence is my spellSometimes it's way too loudIt beats me from insideBegging that I release it now!Made in the dark crevices hidden Deep inside my heartThis silence screeches I LOVE YOUBut I refuse to let it out
My spell creeps upon youGrips you with it's soft handsGlides warm fingers across your throatAnd begs that you'll understand 
What words could I sayTo express this painful bliss?Who can I trust to aid meWhen I feel a love like this?I wouldn't dare Wouldn't even thinkTo say those words aloudMy silence is my prison How will I knowIf you love me now?
Photo by Anna Goldman

Tome of Tales- writing prompt

The Tome of Tales was hidden centuries ago after a war was fought between the fairies and the elves. It contains the only spell that can save your family from a descendant of the elven race. What do you do? Do you journey to find this legendary book? 

Empty Your Heart- a poem

Empty Your Heart K.N. Lee
Empty your heartAnd make room for meI'd fight hordes and armiesCross deserts and Black Sea Become a slave to your willWith no will to be free
I'd like to haunt your dreamsWhile I sparkle and gleamWedge into your subconscious Sprinkle love dust And liquid lust
I'd wiggle inFind a slot in your memoryFor all I wantIs for you...To remember me