M. Joseph Murphy's Blog, page 5

BLOG TOUR - Interview with Genre-Bending Writer Maer Wilson

ABOUT THE BOOKMost of Thulu and La Fi's clients are dead. Which is perfect since their detective agency caters to the supernatural. But a simple job finding a lost locket leads to a big case tracking relics for an ancient daemon.
The daemon needs the relics to keep a dangerous portal closed. His enemy, Gabriel, wants the relics to open the portal and give his people access to a new feeding ground – Earth.Caught on live TV, other portals begin to open and the creatures of magic return to Earth. The people of Earth are not alone, but will soon wish they were.
When Gabriel threatens their family, Thulu and La Fi's search becomes personal. The couple will need powerful help in the race to find the relics before Gabriel does. But maybe that's what ghostly friends, magical allies and daemonic clients are for.
When the creatures of myth and magic return to Earth, they're nothing like your mother's fairy tales.
You can buy RELICS at these retailers:
Amazon - Kindle - Relics: Modern Magics Book 1 for KindleAmazon - Paperback - Relics: Modern Magics Book 1 (Paperback)Barnes & Noble - Nook - Relics: Modern Magics Book 1 for Nook

AUTHOR INTERVIEWLet’s start with an easy question: Sith or Jedi?
LOL…Best question, ever. Thanks for having me on your blog, Joseph. To answer your question - Sith! I actually play the MMO, Star Wars (Star Wars: the Old Republic), and my main characters are Empire - Sith.
Star Wars: The Old RepublicTo switch universes, which of the Star Trek races most closely matches your own personality?
Hmmm….Probably have to go TNG and Betazoid.

I can totally see that. In previous interviews (see here) you’ve stated that JK Rowling and George R.R. Martin are authors you can always count on to deliver a good story. What elements have to be in place for you to consider a piece of work a good story?
Character comes first for me. I need to be invested in the characters to love a story. Next, the story itself has to be solid and intriguing. What I love about Martin is that he keeps me guessing. He surprises me…a lot. With Rowling and Harry Potter, it was just the sheer pleasure of that world of magic, on top of the great characters.

I’ve read that you believe finding good beta readers is one of the most important parts of the writing process. How did you find your beta readers?
My beta readers came to me from all over. A few are folks I know personally. One is a fellow author I met through an online group, several are friends from my guild in the online Star Wars game. They each bring a different perspective to their comments and notes. Some catch typos, some address voice or story, but all are important to the process.

Many of my readers are authors looking for new and effective ways to promote their work. What have you found is the most effective way to reach new audiences? Also, what’s the best way you’ve found to keep in touch with your loyal fan base?
I’m not sure I’ve discovered the best way to reach audiences yet. I’m always trying new things, but Facebook and Twitter seem to be my go-to place to connect. My favorite way to stay in touch with my fans is through my street team. It’s not very big yet, but they get to see things before anyone else a lot of times. Such as the cover art for Magics: Modern Magics, Book 3 by M Joseph Murphy. (Thanks again for my gorgeous covers, Joseph!) Team Thulukan got a sneak peek at that last cover, even though the official cover reveal hasn’t happened yet.

Jen Ryan - EditorIn preparing for the re-release of your series, you’ve re-edited Relics. What elements do you think makes the new edition stronger than the previous edition?
My editor, Jen Ryan, and I cut some things in Part One that were bogging down the story. It’s been tweaked and tightened throughout. It’s also undergone a vigorous housecleaning for typos, punctuation and such.

Link: Imagine That Editing by Jen Ryan

I know your upcoming book, Magics, has some big changes in store. What comes next? Do you plan on continuing to work with the same characters? If not, what other types of books do you plan on writing next?
For now I think I’ll be done with the Modern Magics universe. I’m working on a Biography/Memoir that I may or may not finish any time soon. It’s based on the ten years I knew author Philip K. Dick.

However, I also have a Historical Fantasy that I began a couple years ago. It’s called The Journal and is about a witch killed back in the late 1400s, who returns every other generation to live one day. The story spans 550 years, so entails a lot of research. There’s also a SciFi series I’m ready to begin writing. So, most likely, one of those two will be the next project. Whichever one of the characters yells at me the loudest to tell their story.

Last question, most of your fans are probably aware you’re an avid gamer. What is your favorite game and why?
Ah, definitely Star Wars: The Old Republic. I moved to this game 3 years ago after 7 years in World of Warcraft. It’s taken the game a while to find its identity, but it’s a fabulous game to play. I love gaming for the social aspect of playing with other people. We communicate via voice programs, so it’s in real time. Gaming is a great way to stay young and in touch, too. This game has a lot to offer: space ships and cool planets. And who can resist shooting purple lightning out of your fingertips?

There’s always something to do and not enough time to do it all. I particularly enjoy raiding…think dungeons and dragons online in real time…only in the Star Wars universe. I’m a healer there, which means I keep the other players alive. Even though I play a Dark Side Darth, I find the juxtaposition of healing and being evil at the same time to be fun.

Anything you'd like to end with?
Joseph, thanks so very much for having me on your blog. What a fun interview! I greatly appreciate the opportunity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After a successful career being other people, and later teaching others the many tricks of that trade, Maer Wilson has decided to be herself for a while. Turns out she's a writer. She's always loved stories, especially fantasy, mystery and sci fi. Maer was born in the Year of the Dragon and has a dragon-themed room in her home, but sadly no dragons in the back yard. When she's not writing, Maer plays online video games, teaches college and reads. Maer is a partner in Ellysian Press, a small publishing house. She also co-hosts the literary podcast MythBehaving. Maer lives in the high desert of Southern Nevada with her three dogs, a chihuahua and two poodles.

Her books include Relics and Portals, Books 1 and 2 in the Modern Magics series. The upcoming third book in the series is Magics. There are also three novelettes in the series - “Ghost Memory,” “Unwanted Ghost” and “Ghost Dancer.” A fourth story, “Wedding Ghost” is also planned. You can find all books and novelettes in the Modern Magics series at Amazon.

For more info, you can visit Maer’s website at http://maerwilson.com/.  You can find Maer Wilson at these links:Maer’s Website: http://maerwilson.com/Maer on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Maer-Wilson/e/B00CDX29YW/Maer on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maer-Wilson-Author/149085628472833Maer on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MaerWilsonMaer at Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7040319.Maer_WilsonMaer at Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/maerw/boards/

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Check out the other hosts on the tour for chances to enter the Giveaway!11/10/2014      http://thesaucyreviewer.wordpress.com/11/10/2014      http://2ndbooktotheright.blogspot.com/11/10/2014      http://cubicleblindness.com11/10/2014      http://sallyawolfreads.blogspot.com/11/10/2014      http://victoriasimcox.blogspot.com/11/10/2014      http://carolhollandmarch.com/11/11/2014      http://danielledevor.wordpress.com11/11/2014      http://piecesofwhimsy.blogspot.com.au/11/12/2014      http://booksauthorsandpublishing411.com/11/12/2014      http://www.kirstinpulioff.com11/12/2014      http://pratr.wordpress.com/11/12/2014      http://www.weigandchris.com11/12/2014      http://constancephillips.com/11/12/2014      http://sheiladeeth.blogspot.com11/12/2014      http://councilofpeacocks.blogspot.ca/11/13/2014      http://anightsdreamofbooks.blogspot.com/11/13/2014      http://theshadowportal.blogspot.com/11/13/2014      http://www.lindseyrloucks.com/my-blog11/13/2014      http://jodyakessler.com/jody-a-kessler/11/14/2014      http://dennaholm.wordpress.com11/14/2014      http://cindyyoungturner.com/11/14/2014      http://dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com/

Maer Wilson MythBehaving - Podcast, Reviews, Book Tours

   

When to Change Your Cover Art and 5 Things to Consider

One of the benefits of the self-marketing movement is that for the first time authors have complete control over their cover art.

A Fallen Hero Rises is the second book I published. It has gone through several cover changes. Below you will see each of them in order. I'll also explain why they didn't work.


1st cover for A Fallen Hero RisesThis was the first cover I designed. I like the mix of colors. However, my name is far to small. The image also did not work well as a thumbnail. Additionally, the dimensions were incorrect making the cover seem warped on Amazon and Smashwords.

2nd Cover - A Fallen Hero RisesThe cover was updated for proper dimensions. It also works better as a thumbnail. However, my name is still too small. The biggest problem is it doesn't feel like a fantasy novel. Being unique is a double-edged sword. It's crucial that your audience be able to look at the cover and immediately determine genre. Which means it should share similar characteristics to other covers in the same genre.

3rd Cover- A Fallen Hero  RisesWhy it works: dragons. Nothing shows a book is an epic fantasy as quickly as putting a dragon on the cover. I like the image but I really screwed up the font. It's almost impossible to read as a thumbnail. Also look a the spacing between the letters. If you look closely you'll find they're uneven. The main reason I changed this, however, was the male figure. He's too old for the demographic. A Fallen Hero Rises is a YA epic fantasy featuring a 17 year old. This guy looks to be in his mid-twenties.

That brings us to the current cover.

I kept the same background and general colors but adjusted the shadow and midpoint levels. This makes the buildings easier to see. You'll notice the color palette is identical to the original cover. However, this cover feels more polished. It's also similar to current covers in the same genre. The font is much more legible and works extremely well as a thumbnail.

Now that you've seen the progression of covers, here are the 5 things I suggest you consider when updating your cover art.

1. Font and Verbage Are as Important as ImageToo often, focus is placed on the image used. It's often the use of font and placement of words that separate amateur and professional-looking covers. The font needs to identify genre and it has to "pop". Look at current best sellers in your genre to determine the types of font used. Don't get fancy. Don't get cute. Put as much time into choosing font and verbage on the cover as Coca Cola or Microsoft would before putting up a billboard.


2. Consider Your Target DemographicThe image has to resonate with your target demographic. Usually, a book with people on the cover is easier to relate to. Make sure the people on the cover speak to the target demographic. That's why most romance novels feature couples. Many erotica covers mimic the look of Fifty Shades of Grey for the same reason. To speed up the buying process, people need to be able to pigeon hole your book in a very specific genre with one look at the cover. If they can't place it into a genre, they won't likely read the blurb. If they don't like the blurb, they  probably won't buy the book. But that's a completely different blog post.

Usually, it is more important that your cover relate to genre expectations than being an accurate reflection on events in your book. Here's the perfect example: the Dresden Novels. On almost every cover in the series, Harry Dresden is shown wearing a fedora. It tells gives the sense of magic and mystery even though Dresden never wears a fedora. Ever.

Remember when Harry wore a hat?
Me neither.
3. Make Your Name ProminentRemember: you are building a brand. If they don't know your name, you can't build product awareness. Many writers do not have a background in marketing so building a brand is a complete mystery to them. In marketing terms, if you are a new writer you need to build Brand Awareness. For companies, their logo is their brand. For you, it is your name.

Link to Intro to Marketing Principles for Writers
Forbes - Why Brand Building is Important


4. ConsistencyAgain, you are trying to build brand awareness. You want people to look at a book cover and IMMEDIATELY know it's your cover. Look at all the covers for Stephen King or Dean Koontz. The fonts and color palettes are usually similar. This is especially important for your 5-10 books. If you update one cover, consider updating the other covers to build consistency

This article has several great tips on consistency: 5 Tips for a Great Book Cover

5. Don't over pay for cover art.One statistic states the average self-published book sells around 150-200 copies (source: 25 Things to Know When Self-Publishing). It doesn't make sense for most people to spend hundreds of dollars on one cover. If you plan on publishing many books, consider taking the time to learn Photoshop (and trust me, it will take many, many months to become an expert). If you don't have the time, there are many avenues to get inexpensive cover art. On the other hand, paying a small amount of money for a bad cover can be equally expensive. Like it or not, everyone judges a book by its cover, especially in the digital world.

Cover art is an important part of your branding as an author.


Check out A Fallen Hero Rises at the links below.
Amazon ebook              Kobo ebook                    iTunes ebook            Smashwords ebook
Paperback

The sequel, Demons of DunDegore, will be released November 18th, 2014. Pre-order using the links below
Amazon ebook
Smashwords
Paperback

Preview - Demons of DunDegore

Demons of DunDegore is book 2 in the Sword of Kassandra Series. It features a full-on zombie invasion on a classic epic fantasy world.

Keep reading for a sneak peak.

CHAPTER ONE
The day before the demons came, Grandwyn arrived in the city of DunDegore. He stood on the deck of a ship, his tiny fingers gripping the railing. No one seemed to take notice of him. Amid the wide-eyed faces of tourists coming to the holy land, he looked like an ordinary peasant boy. But he was much more than that.

A thin layer of early-morning mist blanketed the water between the boat and the approaching shoreline. Behind him, a crowd of strangers searched for signs of the legendary city. Two days ago, the ship had left the dock in Karaj Robat. After being on the water for so long, Grandwyn was eager to be back on solid ground.

Beyond the shore, thin pine trees shot up over thirty-feet tall. Grandwyn looked past the trees for his first glimpse of the ruins:  enormous structures of white stone as tall as mountains. Even from here, he could tell the ruins were ancient. Large chunks had crumbled away to reveal a metallic framework underneath. According to the brochure Grandwyn held in his hands, the metal never rusted or degraded despite being thousands of years old.

A woman in a blue dress stepped out of the crowd to stand beside him. “First time on the island?”

Grandwyn nodded.

The woman glanced down at him. “Aren’t you a little young to be travelling by yourself?”

“Who said I was traveling by myself?” Grandwyn crossed his arms and looked up at the woman. She looked to be the same age as his mother and was nearly as beautiful. Something in the way she looked at him made him feel uneasy. As if she wasn’t truly looking at him. “Besides, I’m not too young. I’m eight.”

“Oh.” The woman smiled. “That old? I stand corrected. Do you know the story behind the ruins?”

“Of course. Everyone knows the story. DunDegore was a Behersker city, one of the last to be abandoned when the ancient ones left for the stars. There are fifteen large buildings, the ones we can see from here, and a few dozen smaller ruins. No one knows exactly what they were used for. All we know is they’ve been there for as long as anyone can remember.”

“You’re very bright.” The smile slid from the woman’s face, her eyes grew cold and distant.

“Did I say something wrong?” Grandwyn asked.

“No.” The woman shook her head and her eyes refocused. When she spoke again, her voice was warm and comforting, almost motherly. “I just realized it’s been a very long time since I’ve talked to a child. I had a sister once. She was about your age when she…well, the last time I saw her. We were so innocent. Everything was one great big adventure.” She looked over her shoulder at a patch of shadows. “It’s not too late for you, you know. You could always stay on the boat. Head back home.”
Grandwyn took a step away from the woman. “Why would I want to do that? I’ve come all this way. It doesn’t make any sense to head home now.”

“No. I suppose you’re right.” The woman sighed and hung her head. “You and I are both on this ship until the very end. If you’ll excuse me, I hear someone calling me.”

The woman walked away and vanished into the crowd.

‘Strange,’ Grandwyn thought. ‘For a moment it sounded like she knew why I was coming here. Like she was afraid for me or something. But my mother was wrong. There’s nothing to fear. The fieldbenders will take me in and that will be that.’

The ship slid through the water as it followed the shore. As time passed, the sun burned off the early-morning mist and the docks came into sight. Twenty docking platforms stretched over more than a quarter mile. Crowds spilled out from dozens of large ships similar to the one Grandwyn was on. Many smaller boats were parked along the wooden piers. Grandwyn climbed up on the railing to look past the harbor, to where the city truly began. While not the largest city he’d ever seen, DunDegore was more grandiose than his hometown of FleshPrayer. Multi-storied buildings pressed close together. People milled through the narrow streets while scores of street merchants tried to sell them souvenirs.

As the ship approached the dock, the crew grew suddenly active. Moving with practiced speed, they tied the boat off and lowered the walkway. Passengers, most of them smiling, left the ship, suitcases in hand. Grandwyn stood with the rest of the tourists at the end of the pier next to a middle-aged woman selling flowers. He looked around for the woman in the blue dress. There was no sign of her.
He disembarked from the ship and entered the city, walking past open-air restaurants and the tacky gift stores. His destination was far from the tourist part of town. Grandwyn stopped in the doorway of The Sixth Tower Inn and took a piece of paper out of his pocket, verifying he’d come to the right place.

“This is it.” He refolded the piece of paper, put it back in his pocket, and stepped inside. The Inn still reeked of sweat and spilt beer from the night before. There were only two other people in the bar: an old man drinking by himself in the corner and a tall, plump southerner wearing a faded black uniform standing behind the bar.

“Boy,” said the man behind the bar. “Get your butt out of here. This be no place for children.”

Grandwyn took out his money purse. “Your name is Bentley, correct? I need a room, sir. My mother told me you rent them. You’ll remember her, my mother. You visited her the last time you were in FleshPrayer.”

The man narrowed his eyes, studying Grandwyn’s face. “Aye. I see the resemblance, now that you mention that.” He looked toward the front door. “Is she here, your mother?”

Grandwyn shook his head. “Not yet. She’ll be here in a few days. I’m to wait for her.” Approaching the bar, he reached up and placed a gold coin on the counter. Then he stepped back so he could look the man in the eyes. “This will cover us for the week, I believe.”

Bentley took the piece of gold, examining it for a moment before placing it in his pocket. “Will do. But why here? This gold could buy you much better rooms in DunDegore. Especially for someone as esteemed as your mother.”

“This is where I’m supposed to go. Can you show me to my room, please?”

Bentley wiped his hands with a towel and stepped away from the bar. He grabbed a key from the wall and motioned for Grandwyn to follow. They walked up two flights of steep stairs, stopping at a wooden door. Bentley opened the door and passed the key to Grandwyn.

“It’s not much, but it’s the best we got. No running water. Outhouse be out back. Take the stairs at the end of hall. Be careful heading down at night. It’s not lit. Rarely used, actually. Most of my guests only need a bed and a closed door. They usually leave after a few minutes.”

Grandwyn raised an eyebrow, confused. Bentley blushed.

“Sorry. I assumed you being from FleshPrayer and all you’d be used to that kind of talk. Forget what I said, kid. How old are you anyway?”

“Eight. Just turned.”

Bentley exhaled slowly. “What are you doing traveling by yourself? It’s a dangerous world out there. More so than ever if you believe the rumors.”

“You don’t say.” Grandwyn raised a hand. It crackled with purple energy. “I can take care of myself.”

Bentley took a step back. “What are you? Fieldbender?”

Grandwyn nodded and slipped out of his travelling cloak. “They don’t usually take initiates as young as me, but they say I’ve got potential. Both my parents trained as elmire ahk.”

Bentley straightened his shoulders and smoothed the folds of his uniform. “Might be best if you don’t show your abilities down below. Even though there’s a guild here in town, most people are scared of benders. And you being so young they might assume the worst. Think you’re fod sel-onde or something. Listen, why don’t I bring your meals up to you? We don’t get many children at The Sixth Tower Inn. We attract a certain type of patron.  I don’t want them trying to take advantage of you. I wouldn’t offer to do this for most guests, but your mom is something special.”

“Thanks.” Grandwyn nodded and waited for Bentley to leave. Then he closed the door, locking it. Looking around the room, he found a thin layer of dust covered everything, including the bedspread. “I suppose it could be worse. And it’s only for a night. Tomorrow, the fieldbenders will take me in. Or they’ll kill me. Either way it will be over.”

Grandwyn had lied. He wasn’t a fieldbender, not yet anyway. His abilities surfaced several months ago. Like fieldbenders, he could manipulate the reality field: His abilities included being able to  move things with his mind, shoot beams of energy from his hands, and create ice out of thin air. At first, he practiced in secret. One day, his mother discovered him creating ice sculptures. Terrified, she made him promise to stop.

“I love you, baby,” she had said as she kissed him on the forehead. “Nothing will ever change that. But if other people see what you can do, see what you are, they will want to hurt you. Kill you.”
“But why? Fieldbenders can do what I do. People don’t hurt them.”

She shook her head and pulled her clothes tighter around her body. “But, you’re not a fieldbender, Wynnie. They spend years in meditation and study, learning to do what comes to you naturally. You are fod sel-onde. You know what they do to people like you.”

“I’m not!” He stomped his foot and sparks of energy formed around his eyes. “I’m not a monster. I’m just self-taught. Let me go to Karaj Robat. They have the best fieldbender guild there and…”

His mother had placed her fingers over his lips. “Absolutely not. You can never go to Karaj Robat. If the fieldbenders there learn about you, they will end you. Promise me you will never go there.”

In the end, Grandwyn had promised. Which was why he was on the Isle of DunDegore instead. The fieldbender guild here was smaller but still respected. The journey here took almost two weeks. He escaped when his mother left town to attend a political conference to ensure he had a good head start. By now, she would have read his note and learned why he left. It was only a matter of time before her network of contacts tracked him to DunDegore. If he wanted a chance to plead his case to the fieldbenders, it would have to be tomorrow.

He warped the reality field in the room. In a flash, all the dust disappeared. He opened the window and leaned out. Fresh air blew his strawberry-blond hair around his face. Below, a gray-haired woman wearing a red uniform glanced up at him. Her face wrinkled with confusion. Grandwyn smiled and waved to her. She turned and walked away, but not before looking back at him over her shoulder.

***Torch Karehn looked back over her shoulder at the young boy in the window. For a moment, she thought she’d felt the reality field being manipulated. When she saw the child, she realized she must have been mistaken. He was far too young for a fieldbender.

‘Look at me,’ she thought. ‘Jumping at shadows. I need to control my nerves. With luck, we’ll find it soon. If not, if the worst happens, my flock will need me to be strong.’

The Sword of Kassandra was missing.

Torch Karehn was head of the local Aerie, a religious center for the Church of the Pheonides. When the Sword of Kassandra appeared months ago, she volunteered to transport the weapon to safekeeping at a local monastery. Working with Sirion, a fieldbender from Karaj Robat, she had crafted a security system to hide the sword at the monastery. Many forces in the world could use that weapon for evil things. And the system had been successful.

Until last night.

As she rushed through the streets, many waved to her. She forced herself to slow down, to smile back at them. Part of the burden of being a leader was to never let others see your stress. If the people of DunDegore saw the fear she felt inside, rumors would spread like wildfire. She stopped to shake hands with one of her flock, Mrs. Jonstone. She ruffled the hair of the woman’s son and pretended that everything was right with the world. Inside, she wanted to run.

Eventually she reached her destination. The front doors to the local fieldbender guild were tall and imposing: twenty-foot tall thick slates of metal-reinforced wood. Two guards armed with swords stood outside. Three months ago, the Sword of Kassandra had been recovered during an archeology dig. Ever since, the fieldbenders had become suspicious of strangers, heavily restricting admittance. Both guards recognized her as she approached and pushed the doors open for her.

Inside, away from the public eye, her composure melted. She leaned against a wall and stared down at her hands. They shook. She clenched them and took deep breaths until the shaking stopped.
The main foyer was empty. Most initiates would be in classes at this time of the morning. The man she needed to see would be on the second floor. She raced up the wide stone steps before her, no longer caring who saw the panic in her face. The fieldbenders could keep secrets.

She stopped in front of an open door. Inside, young men and women wearing the white robes of initiates stood in a circle, hands extended inwards. In the middle of the circle, purple energy swirled and twisted creating ornate shapes. This was Akashic energy, the foundation of the fieldbenders’ abilities. One of the initiates, a young man with brown hair, saw her. His eyes went wide in surprise. He lowered his hands and left the circle. The other initiates tightened the circle without hesitation to cover his absence.

“What are you doing here?” Instantly, he seemed to remember decorum. He bowed respectfully. “Apologies, mistress. I…”

Torch Karen grabbed his forearms. “We have no time for niceties, Mikhel. I need to speak to you.” She looked over Mikhel’s shoulder at the others. “Alone. Where can we ensure we’ll not be overheard?”

“This way,” Mikhel said. “There’s an empty classroom next door.”

Once inside the empty room, Torch Karehn sat on a bench and clasped her hands together tightly.
Mikhel remained standing. “Should I set up a shield?”

“No need. I’ll be brief. We have a disaster. Listen closely. I won’t have time to repeat this, and I need you to speak with your leaders.”

“You could speak with them directly.”

She shook her head. “I don’t have time to deal with inter-denominational politics. That’s why I came to you. I know you. Trust you. As soon as I leave here, I have to head to the Aerie and make preparations in case the worst happens.”

“What do you mean?”

Torch Karehn bit her lip. “Something happened at the monastery last night. We were attacked. The Sword of Kassandra was stolen.”

Mikhel sat down now. “But how? Sirion…”

“Sirion is dead.” She covered her mouth. “That’s the first time I’ve said it aloud. Whatever hit the monastery last night proved too powerful for him. What they did to his body…”

“Damnation.” Mikhel ran a hand through his hair. “We have to let the Sage know.”

Torch Karehn shook her head. “You know that’s not an option. Because of what happened with Defksquar, the Sage has distanced himself. He no longer trusts the fieldbenders.”

“But surely he’ll want to know. Defksquar isn’t even in Karaj Robat anymore. Rumor has it he’s deep undercover somewhere.”

“Wherever he is, he’s working for Karaj Robat. Contacting the Sage is not an option. I’ve known the Sage for a very long time. When his mind is made up, nothing can sway him. Believe me. I’ve tried. Now, I need you to focus, Mikhel. After I set up defenses at the Aerie, I’ll contact Elmontrazar. He left a nizarian device that allows communication across great distances. I’m going to ask him to send reinforcements. Speak with your leaders. Tell them to prepare.”

“Prepare for what?”

Torch Karen stood, her expression steely. “You know what the Sword is capable of. In the wrong hands…”

She could not bring herself to finish the sentence. From the expression on Mikhel’s face she didn’t need to.

Mikhel’s face paled. “I guess a part of me always knew this was going to happen. When I first went south to Karaj Robat and told them about the Sword, something told me things were only going to get worse. How much time do we have?”

Torch Karehn’s lower lip trembled. “We may already be too late.”


Demons of DunDegore will be released November 18th, 2014. Pre-order your copy today at the links below:

Ebook: Amazon  Smashwords
Paperback: Link available soon.

3 Reasons Why "How to Get Away with Murder" is Better than "Gotham"

HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER: Wallpaper Available Here


I have a new obsession. How to Get Away with Murder is the best new show of the season. I had high hopes for Gotham. Watching the first episode but that ended after the first episode. How to Get Away with Murder is instantly enjoyable. Want to know how?

Full Spoiler Alert: I'm not holding any punches and I'm not hiding anything. Stop reading now if you want to avoid spoilers.

1. Pretend Your Audience Has a BrainMany of the finer moments of How to Get Away with Murder are quiet, subtle moments shared between actors. At the end of the first episode, there is a moment between Professor Annalise Keating and her husband, Sam Keating. The body of a young woman has just been found. Here is what they say:

Annalise Keating: I think the boyfriend did it.
Sam Keating: I guess we'll find out

Here's what is implied by the actor's doing what actors are supposed to do:

It sounds like Professor Keating is talking about the young woman's boyfriend but she's actually saying she knows or believes her husband had an affair with the young woman and believes he killed her.

That is powerful storytelling.

Gotham assumes you are stupid making every easter egg so prominent a blind person could find them. Did we really need Poison Ivy to be standing behind plants to realize who she was? Groan.

CHARACTER POSTERS FOR GOTHAM

2. Solid Writing is More Important than Easter EggsComic book fans admit it: the reason you liked Gotham, wasn't because of Jim Gordon. The scene featuring the Wayne murders was well done. I enjoyed seeing Edward Nigma and Falcone. However, by the second time they showed Selina Kyle I was bored to tears. She does nothing in this episode except stand there and crouch. It's like the showrunners were more concerned with giving Catwoman screen time than actually giving her something to do.

How to Get Away with Murder did not waste time with an origin story. It hit the ground running with an active court case and let us discover the characters as they progress through events. Writing 101 says no back story until you are 1/3 through the work. Gotham tells us Jim Gordon used to be in the military. Try showing us instead. Have him deal with Post-traumatic stress disorder or, I don't know, act like a soldier.


3. Make Us Care About Your Heroes More than the VillainsGotham has potential. The characters are interesting and there are several strong actors in the cast. Most notable is Jada Pinkett Smith whose character, Fish Mooney, could carry the entire show. In fact, she kind of does. The villains in Gotham are far more interesting than Jim Gordon. There's only one reason for this: bad writing.

How to Get Away with Murder makes us like Wes Gibbins very quickly. They show us he's a nice guy in way over his head surrounded by smart, callous people. Professor Keating shows incredibly strength and a willingness to do anything to get win. One scene shows us she's cheating on her husband. The show trusts Viola Davis to convey the quiet despair as she watches her marriage fail because she's unable to conceive a child with her husband.

What does Gotham do? It throws in a completely unnecessary lesbian scene that does nothing to further the plot or make us connect with the characters.

 Link: Yes, 'How To Get Away With Murder' does star 'Harry Potter's' Dean ThomasCONCLUSIONI understand How to get Away with Murder and Gotham may seem like completely different genre shows. But they're not, really. The central plot of Gotham is "Who Killed the Waynes"? The central plot of "How to Get Away with Murder" is well, murder. At their hearts, both are supposed to be mysteries.

At the end of  Gotham, I didn't really care who killed the Waynes. That's a bad sign. There is no evident "Big Bad" in the show. Sure we see Falcone and Fish Mooney, but they don't feel like bad guys. Couldn't we get a hint of the Court of Owls? That would have me hooked, not a simple retread of stories we've all heard a hundred times.

Sound off in the comment section and let me know if you agree or disagree.

Links: Gotham: The Good, the Bad, and Ugly

To see how I helped someone get away with murder in my own writing, check out the link below.

How to get away with murder: make a deal with a demon & leave the planet. http://t.co/yGO2OdDZUn … #fantasy pic.twitter.com/GJi21Mdi5E
— Joseph Murphy (@Windswarlock) September 26, 2014

3 Things to Know When Updating Cover Art - My Work with Maer Wilson on Relics

"Relics" by Maer Wilson. Cover art by M Joseph Murphy
Cover art is a complete mystery to most writers. Don't believe me? Check out LousyBookCovers.com for hundreds of examples of  what NOT to do on a cover. To compound the issue, many cover artists take advantage of indie authors charging ridiculous amounts of money for bad cover art. 
I recently had the privilege of working with science fiction/fantasy author Maer Wilson on the updated covers for her Modern Magics series. She needed an updated cover when she moved to a new publishing house. Working with Maer I learned three important tips all indie authors need to know. 
1) Don't Pay in Full Until You're SatisfiedWould you pay a plumber before they fixed your pipes? Do you pay a DJ before the wedding?
Normally, when you hire a contractor, they may request a deposit up front but they don't send you the final bill until they've finished all the work. Maer had a few challenging experiences with previous cover artists. One fell out of contact with her after being paid but before finished versions were delivered. With another artist, there was a misunderstanding about the scope of work required. Thankfully, Maer had given each artist a deposit, paying for only half the work up front.
The lesson here: don't pay in full until you have a usable finished version. If the artist demands to be paid in full before they deliver any work, find a different artist.

2) Use Google Hangouts to Discuss RevisionTo discuss the first few revisions, Maer and I spoke back and forth over email and Facebook. She asked me to do something very simple. I misunderstood and ended doing much more work than necessary. Maer suggested we chat over Google Hangouts and it was the best thing ever.
I shared my desktop with her which allowed her to give me instant feedback on changes I made to the cover. This saved both of us significant amounts of time and, I believe, delivered a much stronger product.
3) Sometimes The Author Doesn't Know What They WantMaer told me there was only one thing she didn't want on her cover: people. All her previous covers were abstract images because she wanted to avoid having topless sexy people on her cover. I showed her two drafts of abstract covers (shown below). Then I showed her one with a person on it because a cover most urban fantasy covers have people on them. 
She liked it. Maer was surprised that she liked it but it wasn't like the covers she was used to seeing. Far too many urban fantasy books nowadays feature half naked people superimposed on a nature background. This almost never looks professional. The final result should look like a single piece of artwork, not a cut-and-paste job. 


BONUS POINT FOR COVER ARTISTS: Sometimes the Author Does Know What They Want Remember, the customer is always right. No one cares if the artist prefers one cover over another. Heck, maybe the artist is right. But if your employer is telling you to do something, you do it. You have entered into a contract and have a legal responsibility to make sure your client is satisfied.
CONCLUSIONSCover art doesn't have to be difficult. There is absolutely no excuse for having bad cover art. You can find several artist on Fiverr who are willing to do a cover with simple stock photos for $5. If you're not willing to invest $5 in a cover, you obviously don't take your writing seriously. On the other end of the spectrum, I've seen cover artists that charge over a $1000 for a cover. This is ridiculous unless they are a world-famous cover artist like Christian McGrath (artist for of the Dresden Files) or Alejandro Colucci (artist for the new Robin Hobb books).

Check out my website for other examples of my cover art. You'll also find a contact form and rates if you are interested in hiring me to do a cover for your book.
Cover Art by M Joseph Murphy

I'll also be featured on an upcoming episode of Maer's podcast to discuss the cover creation process.

Watch for a post next week in which I show you the numerous revisions we went through to get the final version.

For more details on Maer Wilson and when her books will be re-released, check out her links:
Website: MaerWilson.com
Twitter: @MaerWilson

Related Links:
10 Tips for Effective Book Covers
4 Steps to Create a Good Book Cover
Evolution of a Book Cover - Council of Peacocks
Tips for Designing Your Own Cover

Guardians of the Galaxy – Science Fiction or Fantasy?

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASYFor some, this is a touchy subject. Some get downright fanatical about the difference. For example, Star Wars, they say, is pure fantasy while Star Trek is pure science fiction. The distinction between the two depends on whom you ask. Here's one definition:
"While science fiction draws on and extrapolates from what we know about reality and science, fantasy invents what does not (and likely could not) exist in our reality."Source: What’s the difference between science fiction and fantasy?
In science fiction, the science or technology needs to be integral to the plot of the story. As Asimov "If you can take the Science out of the Fiction and still have a viable story in another genre, you did it WRONG."WHY THE DISTINCTION?If we’re honest, aside from submission editors, the only people who care about the distinction between science fiction and fantasy are science fiction fanboys. So why do they care? Superiority. They want you to believe that science fiction is inherently better than fantasy. Any fantasy author or reader knows this is ridiculous. In fact, fantasy, as a genre, may be the older genre of storytelling. (source: The Difference Between Fantasy & Science Fiction)

Although many become fanatical discussing the difference, I tend to agree with  Guy Gavriel Kay:


I'd suggest that the search for sharp distinctions in literary categories is quixotic, except for one thing: 'quixotic' connotes something heroic as well as (probably) delusional. I doubt there's anything heroic in the category fetish. We need them, as consumers (and by extension, publishers - and agents and authors - need them as suppliers) and I've never agreed with those who suggest that a straight alphabetical shelving system for all fiction in bookstores in the way to go. Having said that, it seems only common sense to note that many books will blur borders, many authors will shift categories, sometimes with reckless abandon (to the chagrin of marketing departments everywhere), and many readers will endlessly debate definitions of categories.

- Guy Gavriel Kay (Guy Gavriel Kay - Official Website )

SCIENCE FICTION VS. FANTASY QUIZ1. Is it Possible and Plausible?Well, it's as plausible as anything in Star Trek or Asimov's Foundation series.There is no magic in Guardians of the Galaxy. Starlord has various technical toys but is essentially Indiana Jones with better tools. Rocket is the result of genetic manipulation and cybernetics.

The only elements that appears mystical are the Infinity Stones. In the movie they are forged by the interaction of multiple universe. So, in a sense, their origin is tied to our current understand on quantum physics. Sorta.

For more on the Infinity Stones click here: Infinity Gems by Comic Vine

2. Is the Science/Technology Integral to the Plot?Absolutely. The central MacGuffin is a piece of technology. Every character in attempting to gain control of the Infinity Stone uses space-aged equipment to retrieve it. It could be said that one of the main characters is Starlord's mix tape, an old form of technology that keeps us tied to Earth even in the deepest part of space.

3. Does it Extrapolate from Known Science?Every device we see is an extension of a currently existing one. It gives the movie a very grounded feel. Again, the only item that appears unimaginable is the Infinity Stone...and it is supposed to defy explanation.

IT SHOWS THE SCIENCE BUT DOESN'T FOCUS ON ITOne of my favorite parts was something subtle many may have missed. Throughout the entire movie, we are SHOWN that Starlord wears a small black device behind his right ear but it is never discussed in conversation. This is a nod to a universal translator that allows various species to communicate with each other. But no one talks about it because it is a common, everyday part of the culture. If you think about it, when was the last time you had a conversation with your friends about the technology and purpose behind a phone. Everyone knows what it is so no one talks about it. Similarly, in Game of Thrones, no one talks about the lack of moon in the sky because no one has ever considered there should be a moon in the sky.

The ear piece is an example of how worldbuilding done properly. It is there for the people that are looking for it but doesn’t get in the way of the story. Over-explanation can ruin a story. Need I mention midichlorians?The Real Problem with Midichlorians

Source: Midichlorians ExplainedCONCLUSIONBased on these guidelines, Guardians of the Galaxy is best described as science fiction. However, you classify it, it is one of the best movies I've seen in years. I can't recommend this movie enough. If you haven't seen it yet, get off your computer, put away your phone, and go see it. You can thank me later.

LINKS TO GREAT ARTICLES ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASYScience Fiction & Fantasy: A Genre With Many Faces
The Difference Between Fantasy and Science Fiction
The Blurred Lines Between Science Fiction and Fantasy
Definitions of What Science Fiction Is and Is Not
History of Science Fiction and FatasyGuardians of the Galaxy - Official Website

3 Wolverine Stories That are Better Than The Death of Wolverine

In case you haven't heard, Marvel Comics is scheduled to kill off Wolverine. Since Wolverine is one of their most recognizable and bankable characters, no one with half a brain believes this is a death that will actually stick. In comics, almost no one stays dead forever. Most have very hasty resurrections. So why bother? Death of a character doesn't have any relevance if it's only temporary.

So here are three other shocking story lines Marvel could write that would generate media attention and drive up sales.

1. Wolverine Goes GayYes, I know Wolverine and Hercules had a gay moment in an alternate universe  but this could be different. None of this politically-correct "let's get married" type of gay man either. Go all out and reference Bryan Singer's sex scandal. Logan heads to Hollywood and engages in pool-party orgies with barely legal boys. He already wears lots of leather. It won't take much to turn him into a total, S&M sex addict. This would ensure you piss off everyone, gay and straight.

Sure it wouldn't do much to progress him as a character, like say killing him does. Turning him gay would be seen as nothing more than lazy writing and a stunt to drive up sales. Hint hint.
2. Wolverine Kills Vladimir Putin
Wolverine becomes convinced the Russian leader is the next Adolf Hitler and he decides to prevent WWII. There could be epic battles as Wolverine slashes his way through Russian tanks, survives a nuclear bomb, followed by a brief incarceration in Siberia. After the inevitable escape, Wolverine tracks down Putin and finds the Russian president in a power suit built by Tony Stark. Another epic battle is followed by Logan slicing off Putin's head.

If you're looking for controversy, this would pretty much take the cake. You could attempt the same thing with Kim Jong-Un but he would claim it was an act of war and threaten a nuclear strike.

North Korea Calls New Seth Rogen Film An Act of War

Apparently Kim Jong Un plans on watching #TheInterview. I hope he likes it!! http://t.co/5VrsgYlydE
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) June 20, 2014

3. Wolverine Becomes an Actual Frickin' Wolverine Picture it: Wolverine gets on the wrong side of an extradimensional baddy like Mephistopheles who turns him into a walking, talking wolverine.

I imagine him walking on two legs wearing the classical black and yellow uniform carrying a miniature magical sword called Snikt! He joins a crusade to stop an invasion from Narnia.It could happen.

Sure, it sounds ridiculous but the did it with Thor. Back in the 1980's, Loki turned Thor into a toad. And, when you think of it, it's no more ridiculous than killing Wolverine off. Again. In fact, Wolverine has already "died" almost as often as Jean Grey. Death is boring if the audience knows or believes it isn't permanent. And no one

ConclusionI've been a comics fan for over 30 years. It seems some major character "dies" every year. I know marvel has said "this time it's for real" but they said that about Captain America too. And Professor X. And Sabertooth. And...the list goes on and one.

In other words: Death of Wolverine = great big "yawn".

Release Day - Beyond the Black Sea: With Video

My third book, Beyond the Black Sea is now available. Here's the smart link to direct you to the Amazon in your country.myBook.to/BeyondtheBlackSea


For my Canadian supporters, if you want the paperback, it has to be ordered through Amazon.com, not amazon.ca. Here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Black-Sea-Activation-Volume/dp/0991950380


If you prefer Smashwords, or simply hate Amazon, you can purchase the book in a variety of electronic formats here:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/447394

Reptilians - Do They Exist and How They Influenced My Writing

I've always been fascinated by conspiracy theories. Years ago I ran, while researching ancient mysteries, I ran across a website run by David Icke. My first instinct was to roll on the floor laughing. Now, I'm not saying I believe any of it but you have to admit: it's pretty interesting fodder for a writer.

The Short StoryThe reptilians are supposed to be a race of shapeshifters who live at the center of the earth. Originally they came from the an alien star system, either the Draco, Orion, or Sirius system depending on whom you ask. They interbreed with humans to create a half-reptilian who have infiltrated every level of government, every religion, and every power structure on the planet. They are devil-worshipers, vampires, baby-eaters and, according to some, incredible lovers. Ick.

What We KnowDavid Icke has written several books on them. And he's not alone. As for hard, physical proof they exist, there is none. There are many witness reports, each one more mindblowing than the next. A quick search on youtube provides a plethora of 'video evidence'. Much of it is laughable. A few may be the sign of serious mental health problems. But not all of them.

Is  David Icke Insane?Many say David Icke is insane. I disagree. I've read a few of his books. If anything I would question his lack of objectivity. He's so far down the rabbit hole that he can no longer, in the the words of my father, 'tell shit from shinola'. But try to see things from his point of view. If you have that many people come to you, people who do not know each other, all repeating slight variations on the same story, wouldn't you be tempted to think there was something to their story.

He's been  accused of being antisemitic. This does not appear to be true. His words have been taken out of context, skewed, all in an effort to discredit him. There's really no need. If you want to attack him, focus on his academic credibility. For example, in a chapter on the importance of not believing everything you read, he quotes Hitler. The best part about it, the quote is actually from Richard Beltzer, a Jewish comedian. This is either incredibly ironic or he's crazy like a fox. Think about it. If there really is a race of shapeshifting lizards who control the world, would they let anyone who knew their secret live? Perhaps the only reason Icke is alive is because no one takes him seriously. Well, no one they deem important.


Is There Any Truth To It?Who knows. I've never seen one but I've seen enough weird stuff in life to realize that anything's possible. I've seen ghosts, UFOs and even the entities people call the Grays. I rarely speak about any of that stuff because I know it sounds crazy. I honestly don't give two swift you-know-whats if people believe me. I know if I was in their shoes, if I hadn't seen the things I'd seen, I wouldn't believe me either.

Even after everything I've seen, I like to think of myself as a skeptic. When I hear anyone use the term Annunaki or reptilians, my instinct is to roll my eyes and take a step back. Okay, maybe a few steps back. Most people I've met that talk about ancient aliens and global overlords probably belong in a padded room somewhere. Just because a few people agree on a "fact" doesn't make it real.

But just because you haven't experienced it doesn't meant it's not real.

How I Used Them in my WritingIn my novels, the reptilians are a race known as the edimmu. I've kept some elements of the mythos - shapeshifting abilities, live underground - but they are not part of the illuminati. Instead, they've been enslaved by the Orpheans, a race of shadowy beings imprisoned in a pocket dimension who torture humans and want to take over the planet. They are natives of Earth. In biblical times they were know as the Watchers. They taught humans advanced mathematics, the secrets of agriculture, any many other things. But their days of helping humans is long over. Now, they are something else.

David Icke's Secrets for Spotting the Reptilians Running the U.S. Government
Reptilians, Reptoids, and Lizard People

4 Fun Facts About Atlantis and Why What You Think is Wrong.

Source: Atlantis Pernah Wujud...I've always been fascinated with Atlantis, so much so that I made the protagonist of my series, Wisdom, survivor of the lost city. There is much misinformation spread about Atlantis. As you'll see below, most of what the average person believes is not true.
1. Plato is not the only ancient writer to mention AtlantisPlato's famous dialogue in Atlantis dates to around 350 B.C.
However, it is not the first mention of Atlantis in recorded history. Herodotus, ancient historian means the Atlantis ocean, rather than the Atlantic Ocean as we refer to it today.

"Herodotus could have chosen the adjectival inflection, atlantikos ("Atlantic"), meaning "of Atlas," in which case could be construed to refer to Mt. Atlas in Morocco; however he did not do so. Furthermore, I know of no major body of water named after a mountain." Source: Atlantis Quest

We also have Hellanicus of Lesbos (490-410 B.C.) mentioning a kingdom called Atlantis founded by Poseidon and ruled by Atlas, a son of Poseidon. If nothing else, this shows that Plato did not invent the name Atlantis.

Now a quick word about the "son of Poseidon." This may not mean he was a physical son. It's quite possible it is used in the same context as the saying "child of Christ" that we use today. If we say someone is a child of Christ, it simply means they are a devoted follower of Christ. Anyone claiming to be a real son or daughter of Christ would be seen as a looney. We'd think the same thing as someone claiming to be a son of Poseidon.

Timeline of Ancient Writings on Atlantis
Pre-Platonic Writings Pertinent to Atlantis

2. Edgar Cayce and AtlantisMuch of modern, "new age" beliefs about Atlantis come from Edgar Cayce. Perhaps the most famous american psychic of all time, Cayce is known as the "sleeping prophet". He would enter a trance and give readings to others. According to his son, Cayce gave over 14,500 readings in his life. Of those, 700 related to Atlantis. Source:  Edgar Cayce, The Sleeping Prophet, On Atlantis from source: The Hieronimus & Co Newsletter

Cayce claimed Atlantis was a very old land mass: over 200,000 years old. There was a series of three destructive events, not a single earthquake, that eventually sank the island. He claimed the island was very advanced technologically and had something similar to atomic power.

A.R.E.'s findings on Atlantis
Source:Did Atlantis Really Exist?
3. Atlantis was hugeContrary to what many people think,  Atlantis was not a single city. It was a continent. Legend says it you could see it from the Straights of Gibraltar as well as the coast of what is now Newfoundland, Canada. To the north, it was short journey to Great Britain. In the south, sections reached the Bahamas. Plato said the island was as large as Libya and Asia combined. To give you some context, here's a map of the ancient from the ancient world.

4. There is a Hole in Our HistoryThe world is filled with artifacts and locations our current ideas of history cannot explain. But they make perfect sense if Atlantis was real. Some suggest there was an ancient, global civilization with access to air travel and intercontinental trade. Sound ludicrous? Well explain any of the following:

1. Ancient Hieroglyphics in Australia
2. Stegosaurus Depicted at Angor Wat dates to 12th Century. We "discovered" it in 1877
3. Map from 1500s shows Antartica. We "discovered" it 1840
4. Vimana - flying machines mentions in Vedic texts from 16,000 B.C
5. Nasca lines in Peru that can only be seen from the air

Of course you could discount a few of these. But take 10 minutes and Google ancient mysteries. There are too many things that don't add up.

Links:

The Lost City of Altantis: The Facts