Ghosts of Koa: Vol. 1

[[deleted user]]

For over one hundred years the Civic Order and the Alchemic Order have held a shaky truce, peppered by violence and mistrust. But when Koa, a Civilian-born insurgency, bombs an Alchemist summit, the truce is shattered. Now, Koa is rising. War is coming. And all sixteen-year-old Zeika Anon can do is keep moving as she watches the lords of alchemy slowly overtake her home. But when clashes between Koa and the Alchemic Order put a final, deadly squeeze on the remaining Civilian territories, Zeika finds herself in the crosshairs of fate. She must walk the line between survival and rebellion against the Alchemists. On one side of the line awaits death. On the other, the betrayal of her civilization, her loyalties, and herself.

[[deleted user]]

I read the book Ghosts of Koa and I completely fell in love with it! I don’t think I’ve had such a strong reaction to a book since reading Flowers in the Attic. I loved the book so much that I tell anyone I know that likes fantasy that they should read it.

**SPOILER*** I thought the book was going to be about ghosts in a fraternity or something like that, but of course I was mistaken. Yeah, I bought the book based on the cover and didn’t read anything about it. But, I was hooked by the time someone gets their face punched off. Yes… Punched Off… I remember saying out loud What the F*!!! ***END SPOILER***

I love the name of the main character. Ezekiel it’s strong, masculine and Biblical and it’s given to a strong but still feminine female character, it’s even shortened in a feminine way to Zieka. Nice touch.

I was also extremely intrigued by the relationship that she has with her mother and the relationship that she has with her sister. I think the mother feels like she is caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to what she feels she has to do for the sake of her children.

***SPOILER*** I think Zieka is young enough to see things in black in white and even though she’s living in hell pretty much, she doesn’t see or understand the gray areas. Her mother’s choices to deal with an evil person, so Zieka really doesn’t have to face those choices herself, is truly a mother’s sacrifice. It’s obvious that Zieka doesn’t see it that way and attempts to shame her mother but her mother quickly puts an end that. However, choosing to deal with the devil, as it were, is what leads to her drug addition and that drug addictions costs her dearly. ***END SPOILER**

I think Zieka feels the burden of filling in for her mother and father in the life of her sister. But, Zieka is still a kid herself. So, I often felt very frustrated that they didn’t have anyone else to turn to. Their father provides enough for them to take care of themselves… but still. They’re just kids.

I do love the way she uses children in this book. I think the way she focuses on children in this book is what makes it feel truly post-apocalyptic. In the book the children are “protected” by the laws, but these laws make the children extremely vulnerable as well because there is war going on.

*** SPOILER*** The children in this book range in perspectives. Her sister is the quintessential child, full of innocence and goodness. You just want to love and protect her. Then there are the older children who are on the cusp, standing at that fork in the road… they can become good people or bad people, or good people that make bad choices… whatever the case may be. And then there are the children that are made into weapons… literally. The first time baby ashes are presented I just shuddered. But, I just couldn’t stop reading. ***END SPOILER***

If you cannot tell, I LOVE this book. I’ve already read the second volume and I am so looking forward to the third.

GREAT JOB COLBY R. RICE!!!

[Michael T]

Hey, everyone, my name is Michael, and I performed the audio book version of GoK. I'd be happy to answer any questions anyone has. You can find the audio book on iTunes/Amazon/Audible, and you can check out a decently spoiler-free interview I did with Colby here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQncR...

Also, Rasheedah, I thought it was amusing you bought it thinking it would be about a haunted fraternity. When I posted a link to the book on my FB page, a friend asked if it was about a haunted campground.

I have some codes to get a free copy of the audio book. Maybe I should think up a fun contest to give some away. Would people be interested?

[[deleted user]]

Michael T wrote: "Hey, everyone, my name is Michael, and I performed the audio book version of GoK. I'd be happy to answer any questions anyone has. You can find the audio book on iTunes/Amazon/Audible, and you can ..."

LOL... I know but I was so blown away by this book! I watched your interview earlier and it was great. I loved the Virgin Mary/Baby Jesus question. I hadn't thought of it that way, but it does correlate!

If you could run a fun contest, that would be amazing! I heard parts of the audio book in the interview and listeners would really enjoy the life you put into the reading!

[DaVaun]

Michael that sounds awesome! I haven't had the chance to listen to the audio version yet, but gathered nothing but rave reviews from what I've heard! When any contest is in the works, I'll be sure to share the link far and wide.

[DaVaun]

So...I don't want to rave too much about this book, but reeeally enjoyed it. Seriously Rice, where's the next part of the series?? :)

One thing I always love to hear is what gets authors going creatively. GOK is refreshing to me because it took the effort to create a fresh spin on the subjects of magic and creatures. There are so many different elements, but they all feel very cohesive and believable within the story world.

So my question is...how did you come up with all of this awesome stuff?

[Brandon]

Still reading the story, and I am fascinated by this gap that seems to exist between the haves and have-nots in this world. It has a lot of character and flavor of an urban fantasy/sci-fi mashup. Some elements are vaguely reminiscent of things I've seen in Full Metal Alchemist. What was your inspiration for this story?

[Colby]

Hi guys!! Wow, I'm so totally late to this discussion, it's ridiculous! Please don't stone me!

For one, thanks for all the amazing comments! I'm really humbled... and terrified, lol. Puts a lot of pressure on me for the next book! :-)

So, I'm going to answer all your Q's one at a time. Here goes...

[Colby]

Rasheedah wrote: "I read the book Ghosts of Koa and I completely fell in love with it! I don’t think I’ve had such a strong reaction to a book since reading Flowers in the Attic. I loved the book so much that I te..."

Thanks SO much, Rasheedah!! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. It was hard keeping all the balls in the air for Ghosts of Koa, especially being that SO many elements and people had to be introduced, but in a way that wasn't overwhelming.

With the absence of quite a few elements, I think Zeika deals with a lot of issues that I and many other kids deal with as children-- poverty, drug abuse, raising younger siblings, etc. Obviously some elements of the story are SUPER sensationalized and / or fictional, but aside from the alchemy, would still ring true with some of the kids I grew up with, and would resonate with many more children worldwide.

I love the world of alchemy and magic, but my primary focus was the characters, their truths, their struggles, and growth. I hope that came through! The second book is going to pump up certain elements (and Zeika's growth) big time, and I'm excited to finish and release it by this December. Thanks so much again for your enthusiasm!

[Colby]

Michael T wrote: "Hey, everyone, my name is Michael, and I performed the audio book version of GoK. I'd be happy to answer any questions anyone has. You can find the audio book on iTunes/Amazon/Audible, and you can ..."

MICHAEL! Big hugs! Thanks so much for coming to the book club! That's pretty rad.

Everyone, Michael T Bradley is really one of the BEST audiobook narrators / voice actors out there, and I got SUPER lucky when he agreed to come on as the GOK narrator! He totally brought all my characters to life and just NAILED it from page one.

Michael, a well-timed giveaway would be awesome if you feel like swinging it. I've planned one that's going to launch on the 15th with three prize levels, so it'd be awesome to have another one before, after, or even side by side! Your choice.

[Colby]

DaVaun wrote: "Michael that sounds awesome! I haven't had the chance to listen to the audio version yet, but gathered nothing but rave reviews from what I've heard! When any contest is in the works, I'll be sure ..."

Thanks so much, DaVaun! I really appreciate your comments! To be honest, it's always hard for me to talk intelligently about my "creative well", so to speak. Writing's such an organic, iterative process, ya know?

For example, when I first started writing "Ghosts of Koa", it looked NOTHING like what the novel is today. Nothing. I mean, seriously, it started off in spring 2009 as a children's (a *genuine* Roald Dahl-like) exploration into magic, alchemy, and guilds. I'd even made up a Peanut Butter guild or something like that, no joke, lol!

Then I started to feel a writer's void because I felt the story lacked the kind of gravity and emotional resonance that I was drawn to personally. So the series grew up. So did my writing, the themes, the characters, their issues, and plot complexity. Also, I did a LOT more research on alchemy, religion, and the connection between the two, and I found a very rich wealth of history and lore that I LOVED. It gave a lot of steam to the world I was trying to build, and all of that information, in turn, helped to inform the magic system, the caste system, the characters (and their issues), and the plot.

But the main glue, I think, is comprised of my characters and their issues. I'm excited to get more in depth with them (and their histories) in this next book. I admit, I deliberately set up the characters and their goals in the ways that will cause the most drama, because in reality, we as people are always dealing with conflicts of interest... it's just that in this case, the stakes are pretty high for everyone all round, I think.

Anyway, I'm rambling, but I hope that answers your question in some way! :-)

[Colby]

Brandon wrote: "Still reading the story, and I am fascinated by this gap that seems to exist between the haves and have-nots in this world. It has a lot of character and flavor of an urban fantasy/sci-fi mashup. ..."

Thanks so much, Brandon!! My inspiration... that's also a tough egg to crack. I never know how to answer that question! And trust me, I LOVE Japanese anime, but I never watched Full Metal Alchemist, if you can believe it.

I was definitely tempted to, though, when I realized that my book series was growing in a particular direction. But I ultimately decided against it, because I honestly didn't want my story to get convoluted and imitative. My writing confidence had already started to get crushed when one of my friends compared Ghosts of Koa to the Hunger Games (of which I had no knowledge until he mentioned it)... so I decided that I was done with looking into "similar" books. I think that helped me to really execute my story in the way I wanted to in the end.

In the end, I'd say my inspirations were some real life experience, reading a lot about alchemy, and developing characters in such a way that their voices, situations, and experiences determined their actions and motivations. For me, character is the ONLY element that allows me to keep writing... everything else is relatively ornamental.

So having said that, I hope that Ghosts of Koa and Full Metal Alchemist aren't spitting images of one another! I think the one leg up that I may have over FMA is that my series is going to go on a lot longer than the manga / anime, which (I hope) increases the probability that GOK and FMA will diverge.

Of FMA, I know that the main character is an Alchemist (with a metal arm), he has a younger brother that travels with him, and that there are militaristic elements trying to get ahold of alchemy and use it as a weapon (?? is all this right??). Still, I'm thinking / hoping that the resemblance stops there... with some obvious overlaps of the rules and system of alchemy, because I'm sure the FMA author and I pulled our alchemical information from the same or similar sources.

Either way, let me know! I'm interested to hear how the two overlap!

[Michael T]

I now really, REALLY want at least a throwaway line from Xakiah mentioning how he & Moss overthrew the Peanut Butter Guild years ago.

[Colby]

Michael T wrote: "I now really, REALLY want at least a throwaway line from Xakiah mentioning how he & Moss overthrew the Peanut Butter Guild years ago."

LOL! I'll brainstorm on it and get back to you. ;-)

[Michael T]

ORRRR there could be the Halls of Carver, as in George Washington ... ? THIS COULD TOTALLY BE A THING.

[DaVaun]

hahaha! Halls of Carver must happen somewhere. That'll be a great Easter egg in the movie, a quick pan across some ruins or something...

[[deleted user]]

Hey Colby!

Okay, I have a million and one questions but the first question I have is now that you face motherhood, do you connect with the characters, especially the young ones, in a different way?

[Denise]

I have been lurking on some of the threads and am very intrigued. Hopping over to nab my copy of the Fantasy Portal. I note one of the titles in the next volume set is The Final Page, will that be the end of this series or will there be more to come, and if the conclusion where are you headed next (writing wise of course LOL)?

[Michael T]

Denise wrote: "I note one of the titles in the next volume set is The Final Page, will that be the end of this series or will there be more to come"

Hey, Denise, I'm going to pop on here and answer this question. I'm hoping Colby is just suffering from "Goodreads doesn't let me know there are new posts unless I literally log in and inspect the forum" rather than anything bad. The Final Page will be part 2 of 10 (!!!) in this series. There will also be some spinoffs (The Books of Rai, exploring Caleb's past, being the first). Colby is one of those people who exemplifies a quote from my favorite book: "I see no value in modest ambitions."

[Denise]

Michael T wrote: "Denise wrote: "I note one of the titles in the next volume set is The Final Page, will that be the end of this series or will there be more to come"

Hey, Denise, I'm going to pop on here and answe..."

How awesome, thanks Michael :)

[Colby]

Rasheedah wrote: "Hey Colby!

Okay, I have a million and one questions but the first question I have is now that you face motherhood, do you connect with the characters, especially the young ones, in a different way?"

Hey Rasheedah! Sorry I'm so late (again). The reason being is that I'm currently facing motherhood with literally no sleep and lots of physical agony, at this point, lol.

Soo, you've asked a GREAT question! To be honest, my primary emotion that I've felt towards my younger characters as I continue to write?

TERROR.

Writing a book (for me) is terrifying in itself, but with the second novel in the series (The Final Page), there is a LOT of focus on the younger characters and how they are dealing with certain developments after the end of book 1.

I WISH I could talk more about these characters' challenges (outside of the usual teenaged hormones, insecurity, and angst), but I don't want to spoil the book! Still, a HUGE portion of The Final Page gives us an in-depth look at what being a "Ghost of Koa", or a child terrorist is like in the world of alchemy. It's just a place that, as a mother, I obviously don't want to think about or visit, but I have to.

Aside from the whole alchemic terrorist thing, my biggest challenge in connecting with the characters is being able to re-channel and remember the teenaged experience. I'm not an old bird quite yet, but I ain't no spring chicken, either, so I've had to start a journal to remember (both mentally and emotionally) the experiences that *I* had in high school and how I dealt with them. And then somehow, I have to take those experiences and set them in a context of war, famine, and survival.

I just hope that I can pull it off with authenticity. That's my first priority and my biggest challenge.

[Colby]

Denise wrote: "I have been lurking on some of the threads and am very intrigued. Hopping over to nab my copy of the Fantasy Portal. I note one of the titles in the next volume set is The Final Page, will that be..."

My dear Denise! SO sorry I'm so late in getting back to you. I'm 39-weeks preggo and dragging, both in my work and in places unmentionable. ;-) Thanks so much for your question, and I'm delighted to answer it!

Ooh, small surprise first, though: you're one of the winners of the Literary Lunchboxes from Monday's Giveaway!!! So, as promised, you'll be getting a FREE paperback, audiobook, and ebook copy of "Ghosts of Koa" as well as a coupon for a free ebook copy of the next book in the series, The Final Page! Woot!

I'll send you way more details in a follow up email, but I just wanted to say thank you so much for entering, and I hope you enjoy the prizes!

Okay, so back to your question, which Michael actually answered with his usual flair and wit: The Final Page is really only the second book of ten total in the entire series. (Not sure what possessed me to do this, but writers are notorious for being a little cray cray, lol!)

If you are so inclined, you can stay up to date on the entire "Books of Ezekiel" series here: http://www.colbyrrice.com/shop/the-bo...

And as Michael also mentioned, I am also writing and releasing spin-off series of BOE starting in 2015! So if you happen to fancy any of the characters in the main BOE series, we'll be having some private time with some of them as they navigate their own worlds.

It's been a lot of fun (and agony, of course) writing out these concepts, stories, and characters, so I hope you have just as much fun reading them!

Thanks again for your question, for being awesome, and please look forward to receiving that email from me! :-)

Best and happy reading,
Colby R Rice

[Michael T]

Colby wrote: "Denise wrote: "I have been lurking on some of the threads and am very intrigued. Hopping over to nab my copy of the Fantasy Portal. I note one of the titles in the next volume set is The Final Pag..."

After "The Books of Rai" will come "The Books of Carver: The Tragic Tale of One House's Desire for Creamy, Fatty Goodness for All, and the Evil Men Who Tore It Down."

[Denise]

Colby wrote: "Denise wrote: "I have been lurking on some of the threads and am very intrigued. Hopping over to nab my copy of the Fantasy Portal. I note one of the titles in the next volume set is The Final Pag..."

Wow thank you so much! I will be hopping over to the site to confirm I signed up for notices (think I did but sometimes the nutbunny brain gets confused LOL). I am looking forward to following the series :) Take care of you!